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Another top Trump health official quits over moves that harm children's health

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s spokesperson was the second high-ranking official to leave the Trump administration in two days in protest, citing the administration's move to greenlight selling flavored vapes that "appeal to children," according to a New York Times report on Wednesday.

Rich Danker wrote a letter to President Donald Trump just 24 hours after FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary quit for the identical reason, The Times reported.

The Times obtained Danker's letter, which included a warning "that authorizing flavored e-cigarettes would draw more children into vaping and increase their risk for a number of health issues, from addiction to cancer." Danker did not blame Trump and wrote that the president had "twice restored our prosperity and national security against all odds."

"The letter cited unnamed 'senior H.H.S. officials,' other than Mr. Kennedy, who were behind steps including a new policy posted on the F.D.A. website on Friday, in which the agency said it would take steps to remove illicit e-cigarettes from the market and allow sales of those that have already crossed hurdles toward agency approval," according to The Times.

The exodus has left the Department of Health and Human Services reeling, with three major positions now vacant.

Danker has become the second top spokesperson for Kennedy to leave the administration. His predecessor, Thomas Corry, resigned after just two weeks, also in protest over Kennedy's controversial handling of a measles outbreak in Texas.

MAGA candidate caught at posh Bel Air Hotel — after campaigning from a trailer: report

MAGA Los Angeles Mayor candidate and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt has claimed that death threats prompted him to check into a famed hotel and apparently ditch his trailer, raising questions among his critics.

Pratt, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades during the devastating January 2025 fire, has claimed throughout his campaign that he lives in a trailer on the property with his family. But TMZ reported on Wednesday that he's now staying at the posh Bel Air Hotel while his wife, TV personality Heidi Montag, has been living in Carpinteria, a coastal town just north of Los Angeles County, with their two children.

TMZ asked Pratt to clarify his comments about living in an Airstream, which he has claimed he and his family lived in during an attack video targeting Democratic candidates in the mayor's race.

"We asked Spencer if he has ever lived in the trailer, and he said no, adding, 'I have never told anyone I lived there.' However, in the campaign ad, he says squarely, 'This is where I live' as he stood in front of the trailer," TMZ wrote in a post on X.

He later doubled down in an interview on TMZ Live, denying that he misrepresented where he lives.

"That is where I live, period. I don't need to sleep there every night. I don't need to go number two on that toilet. That is where I live," Pratt said.

The move caught the attention of several public figures who sounded off on the news.

"Right, because he's filthy rich and the trailer was a media stunt, much like his entire campaign," former Obama speechwriter and co-founder of Crooked Media Jon Favreau wrote on X.

"Wait, so it turns out he’s been lying this whole time?" Los Angeles housing and policy consultant Joe Cohen wrote on X.

"Bad reality tv star, loves ICE, loves Alex Jones, Temu Trump," internet personality Hasan Piker wrote on X.

"Lol," Josh Billinson, who produces social media, podcasts and video for Semafor, wrote on X.

"I'm telling you, this dude is a Trojan horse," James Li, independent journalist and co-host of YouTube series "The Today-ISH Show w/ James Li and Dani Love," wrote on X.

'Glaring': Speculation abounds as Melania noticeably absent from husband's China trip

President Donald Trump's high-stakes three-day China visit has revealed one person conspicuously missing — his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.

Trump was accompanied to Beijing with his cabinet, his son Eric, and daughter-in-law Lara, and 16 corporate CEOs, The Daily Beast reported. And hours before taking off to leave the United States, the first lady's office dropped a cryptic confirmation in a statement to the South China Morning Post, without any explanation for why she would miss out on the trip.

"First Lady Melania Trump is not travelling this time," Melania's spokesperson said.

When pressed for additional details, her team went silent.

The snub marks the latest chapter in what insiders describe as a widening rift between the first couple.

"The move comes amid speculation about the first lady increasingly breaking with her husband as she seems to be trying to charter her own course," The Beast reported. "Trump and his White House aides were reportedly blindsided last month when she called a surprise press conference to read a statement declaring she had no ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The move appeared only to revive the scandal that Trump himself had been eager to put to rest."

Melania has been noticeably absent at the White House throughout the second Trump administration and often does not travel with the president. And although first ladies don't always attend trips, the questions around her attendance have raised eyebrows.

"Her absence is all the more glaring because it follows a trend that has stood out in Trump’s second term: She’s been appearing alongside him less and less on state visits," according to The Beast.

Trump gets shot across the bow as 3 frustrated Republicans defect to help Dems

New signs of strain were bubbling up among Republicans on Wednesday after three GOP lawmakers sided with Democrats on a vote to end the Iran war, Politico reported.

The war has grown more unpopular among Americans as gas prices soar and Republicans consider the economic fallout ahead of the midterm elections, according to Politico. The 49-50 vote on Wednesday was the closest the Senate has come to having a war powers vote as the Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to tamp down its military operation, "which several Republicans have signaled would be a turning point for their support."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) supported the resolution, joining Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) broke with Democrats again to oppose the vote.

"Paul has supported all seven attempts to rein in Trump, while Collins broke ranks for the first time last month, just ahead of the 60-day benchmark," Politico reported.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told Politico before the vote that he expected Republicans to oppose the war sooner, but that was not the case.

Many Republicans have "still opted not to cross Trump, a sign of his continued sway over the bulk of the party." But Kaine and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the resolution's co-sponsor, think that GOP lawmakers could be pressured by the economy to change their minds.

"We know what our colleagues are hearing. We know what they’re hearing from their constituents, and we’re starting to hear doubt creep into their words," Kaine told Politico. "There will be a day — and it might be soon, I believe — where the Senate will say to the president, ‘stop this war.’"

Trump official buried in mockery after ridiculous claims in hearing: 'Very dumbest people'

Reactions were mounting after a top Trump official made astounding claims at a congressional hearing Wednesday, calling solar power the "cheapest form of energy," saying high gas prices were "exciting," and warning that broken fountains at the nation's capital could cause "serious injury."

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was answering questions from lawmakers about multiple projects tied to President Donald Trump's 2027 budget request before the House Natural Resources Committee in Washington, D.C.

Several leaders pressed Burgum to respond to questions about why the Trump administration had made certain moves. During a moment between the Trump cabinet member and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), Neguse questioned why a contractor was awarded a $13 million federal contract to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

"My understanding is a no-bid contract is reserved for situations where delay would cause serious injury. What's the injury with the reflecting pool?" Neguse asked.

The internet reacted to the comments and interactions.

"The very dumbest people are destroying our country," Lisa Needham, attorney and Daily Kos writer, posted on Bluesky.

"Joe always sounds like he's about to bust out laughing at these fools," abortion advocate and Democratic communications strategist Laura Chapin wrote on Bluesky.

"Burgum is not this stupid. He just hopes enough Americans are," Mark Jacob, former Chicago Sun-Times editor and author, wrote on Bluesky.

"No healthcare or lowering the cost of living, but there's a GOD D--- FOUNTAIN CRISIS we must take care of now????" Shannon Spohn, owner of Bayou Communications Consulting, wrote on X.

"I had no idea there was a city wide fountain crisis. Alert the military!! Oh wait, they’re busy with another Trump autocorrect fiasco. God help us," Chris Robinson, liberal political commentator, wrote on X.

Congressman laughs in Trump official's face over claim high gas prices are 'exciting'

A Democratic lawmaker laughed at a Trump administration official during a congressional hearing on Wednesday after the cabinet member made a peculiar claim that soaring gas prices were "exciting."

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) pressed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to answer questions about the rising costs at the pump for Americans as Burgum testified about President Donald Trump's 2027 budget request before the House Natural Resources Committee in Washington, D.C.

"Mr. Secretary, while you're funneling billions into these vanity projects, gas is up by an average of $1.40 a gallon from last year," Huffman said.

"In March, President Donald Trump posted this message. He said, 'the United States is the largest oil producer in the world by far, so when oil prices go up we make a lot of money," Huffman said, making air quotes with his hand while saying "we," and asking, "Who's the we?"

Burgum responded to Huffman's question.

"It could be states, the federal government, the American people, when we collect royalty rates on oil production on federal lands and so prices are higher than there's more revenue coming into the system," Burgum said.

But Huffman wasn't satisfied with that response.

"So this is good for American families that they're paying $1.40 more for gas?" Huffman asked.

"I'm not saying that, but I'm thrilled that they're paying about a buck less than they were during the Biden administration. I mean, that's exciting," Burgum said. "And these prices are going to drop quickly again because now we actually have supply, you know prices are based on supply."

Huffman interjected and called out Burgum's claims.

"There's a real disconnect here," Huffman said. "Americans are not celebrating this spike in gas prices, that you seem to think is just great. And your only answer is to harken back to the depths of the pandemic."

Burgum tried to argue again, and Huffman chuckled at his remarks.

"Americans are paying $1.40 more a gallon and there's no end in sight to this energy crisis created by the war in Iran," Huffman added. "They're the ones who can't afford to keep the lights on and keep food on the table, but the 'we' that's making a lot more money — let's be honest about it — are the big oil billionaires."

Jen Psaki mocks Patel with supercut of clips bragging about his drinking

MS NOW host Jen Psaki revealed that FBI Director Kash Patel wasn't shy about his drinking in the past — before he was the agency's top leader — sharing a video highlighting multiple moments where he openly talked about it.

Patel, who testified in a hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C., faced questions about allegations of heavy alcohol use following reports of misconduct and footage of him chugging and spraying beer in the locker room at the Olympics with the U.S. Men's Hockey team after they won the gold medal in Milan, Italy.

"Patel has spent a lot of time and energy denying these specific stories about his alleged drinking," Psaki said. "But we already know a good deal about his drinking habits from public accounts and things he said publicly."

In one of the clips, Patel told MAGA influencer Benny Johnson that he predicted people would talk about his drinking.

"Can I be the first one to say that if I ever go before a Senate confirmation they're going to call me an alcoholic," Patel said, wearing a MAGA hat and cracking open a beer during an episode of "The Benny Show."

Psaki reacted to the video.

"His words, not my words," she said. "I mean the guy had enough foresight to joke that he might one day face questions about his drinking. But now that he's in a big, important government job, he's very clearly outraged by those very questions from the Senate."

It's not like Kash Patel was ever shy about talking about his drinking habits before he was the FBI director.

[image or embed]
— The Briefing with Jen Psaki (@briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social) May 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM


Evasive Trump official scolded to his face as Dem gives him all he can handle

Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) gave a Trump official a piece of her mind on Tuesday, delivering a direct rebuttal to a Trump administration official who she argued was dodging her questions.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner was testifying about his department's 2027 budget request before a House Appropriations subcommittee when Torres started to press him about funding for Californians whose lives and homes were impacted — and many destroyed — during the fires in January 2025 in Southern California.

"It is a disaster, and yes, they deserve the help. When is the administration going to submit a disaster package for California?" Torres asked.

Turner said that he visited Altadena and the Palisades, that he spoke with families and community members, who are interested in rebuilding.

"Yes, but when is the administration going to submit that request?" Torres said.

Turner tried to push back on Torres' question.

"If you're not able to answer that question today," she said.

Turner interjected but did not speak directly to Torres' inquiry.

"Part of the problem, from what I understand and talking to the locals, is with local leadership and the stewardship of those dollars prior," Turner said.

But Torres wasn't having it.

"I would like to have an opportunity to discuss with you and your staff at length — since you're not able to give me an answer here today — there shouldn't be any mention of any supplemental, like the illegal Iran war, without giving California what it needs," she said. "California pays $275 billion more in federal taxes than it receives in federal funding. Every single program, every agency in this government is subsidized by hardworking Californians that have been injured [by] no fault of their own and they deserve a government that is responsive to their needs."

Noem leaves waterfront Coast Guard home that 4-star admiral got 3 hours to vacate: report

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem no longer lives at the waterfront Coast Guard home that once housed a four-star admiral who was fired by President Donald Trump and evicted from her home with only three hours to vacate before Noem got to live in the house instead.

Noem left her digs after Trump fired her from DHS in March and named her Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a Western Hemisphere security initiative — but it took her more than two months to make the move, MS NOW producer Steve Benen reported on Tuesday.

Noem was among several Trump cabinet members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have taken over residences normally used for high-ranking military officers, Benen noted. Her move into the Coast Guard home displaced Adm. Linda Fagan, the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the first woman to lead a branch of the U.S. military — a fact that apparently "meant very little to the Republican White House", Benen said.

"Making matters worse, The Wall Street Journal reported a few weeks ago that Noem remained in the waterfront Coast Guard home for a month after her ouster from the Department of Homeland Security," Benen wrote.

"It took a while, but 'The Rachel Maddow Show' confirmed that Noem finally has exited Coast Guard housing, clearing the way for the current Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Kevin Lunday, to move in," Benen added.

Whether Noem has moved into other government housing remains an open question.

'Stick to podcasting': Senator tees off on embattled FBI director Kash Patel

A longtime Democratic leader on Tuesday had a serious message for FBI Director Kash Patel as Patel scrambled to respond.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) expressed concerns about Patel's leadership of the FBI during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. Patel, who was testifying before lawmakers, pushed back against claims of excessive alcohol use and other allegations of misconduct.

"I am deeply concerned about the reports that your leadership has not been serious," Murray said. "We need somebody at this agency who is focused on solving criminal cases, not passing out branded bourbon or jetting around the globe. Your job is to be reachable... If you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting. Leave law and order to people who really do care about justices and appearances, that is really critical. It's what I am really deeply concerned about and so are many people."

Murray was referencing recent reporting from The Atlantic that Patel has been distributing personalized, FBI-branded bottles of Woodford Reserve bourbon to bureau staff and civilians during official business. The Atlantic also reported that Patel transported cases of the bourbon on a Department of Justice plane during a February trip to the Winter Olympics in Milan, where he was filmed celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team and reportedly left a bottle behind in the locker room.

Patel attempted to defend his tenure, sharing a paper with apparent stats titled "FBI 2025 & 2026 under Trump administration," outlining his accomplishments since he took the top position.

"If people want to continue the baseless, fraudulent personal attacks at me. That's great. Keep the target on me, but the mission has never been better," Patel said.

Murray responded again.

"I appreciate the work of our FBI agents, but leadership, serious leadership is a concern," she added. "And we are seeing the pictures of passing out branded bourbon and what happened at the Olympics, jetting around the globe, all the rest of it, and that I will say, again, Mr. Chairman, is of deep concern to me."

'Great job': Trump heaps praise on top official he pushed out

President Donald Trump named a new acting director for the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday after the president reportedly signed off on a plan to oust FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

Trump announced the news on his Truth Social platform ahead of his trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping. Makary is the latest in a string of high-profile Trump administration officials to depart, following the firings of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as the resignation of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer amid a misconduct investigation.

"I want to thank Dr. Marty Makary for having done a great job at the FDA," Trump wrote. "So much was accomplished under his leadership. He was a hard worker, who was respected by all, and will go on to have an outstanding career in Medicine. Kyle Diamantas, a very talented person, will be put in the Acting position."

Trump's warm public statement stood in contrast to days of reporting that he had signed off on a plan to fire Makary last week. Speaking to reporters before departing for China, Trump offered a less flattering assessment, saying Makary "was having some difficulty" and declining to say whether he had asked the commissioner to resign.

Makary's ouster followed sustained pressure from within the administration and from outside allies. He had resisted approving the sale of flavored e-cigarettes — a move that reportedly prompted Trump to confront him directly — and faced mounting criticism from anti-abortion groups over a stalled safety review of mifepristone, one of two pills used in medication abortions.

Kyle Diamantas, the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, will serve as acting commissioner while the White House identifies a permanent replacement.

Yelling match breaks out as Patel snaps: 'Only person slinging margaritas was you!'

Yelling broke out between FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) during a congressional hearing on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Van Hollen was questioning Patel during the Senate Appropriations Committee when the line of questioning grew heated.

"Multiple reports, including reporting by The Atlantic, have alleged excessive episodes of drinking, unexplained absences and behavior that concerned current and former FBI DOJ officials," Van Hollen said.

Van Hollen asked Patel, who has publicly denied the accusations and filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic following the report, if he would testify before Congress about whether the allegations are categorically false.

"Unequivocally, categorically false," Patel responded.

"So there have been no occasions during your tenure when FBI personnel were unable to promptly reach you?" Van Hollen asked.

Patel denied the allegations and said he maintains constant communication with the agency, White House and federal and state law enforcement officials.

"So there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you?" Van Hollen pressed.

"Nope, it's a total farce. I don't even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn't make it credible because you say so," Patel said.

"It's been written and documented," Van Hollen said, pushing back on Patel's claims.

Patel and Van Hollen started arguing when the back-and-forth fired up, with Patel snapping at the Democratic lawmaker.

Patel went on offense, lobbing a pair of unverified personal attacks at Van Hollen. He claimed the senator had been "slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar" during Van Hollen's trip to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported by the Trump administration. Van Hollen has denied that claim, saying a Salvadoran government official placed the drinks on the table and that neither he nor Abrego Garcia touched them.

Patel also alleged, without evidence, that Van Hollen had run up a $7,000 bar tab at a Washington, D.C. establishment. Raw Story could not independently verify the claim, and no corroborating reporting exists.

"FBI Director Patel, come on," Van Hollen said.

Kash Patel hit with blistering line of questioning over 'gross dereliction of duty'

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) fired off serious questions on Tuesday during a congressional hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel, pressing the agency's leader over allegations of heavy alcohol use and reports of Patel purging agents who were linked to Trump investigations.

Van Hollen directly spoke to Patel about the concerns he has and laid out multiple reports that he found troubling during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.

"Because what we are learning about what's happening at the FBI is anything but normal," Van Hollen said. "Director Patel, as you ask for more taxpayer resources, we cannot look away from the credible, extremely troubling reports about your misconduct at the FBI."

"Director Patel, I don't care one bit about your private life and I don't give a damn about what you do on your own time and your own dime, unless and until it interferes with your public responsibilities," Van Hollen said. "Being the director of the FBI is an awesome responsibility and when your private actions make it impossible for you to perform your public duties, we have a big problem. You cannot perform those public duties if you are incapacitated. And Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home, are extremely alarming. If true, they demonstrate a gross dereliction of your duty and a betrayal of public trust. I cannot imagine ever having to worry about former FBI Directors Wray or Mueller spending multiple weekends drinking heavily at the Poodle Room in Las Vegas."

Patel has denied these reports.

"The problem with your leadership is it does not end there," Van Hollen added. "We're also witnessing a litany of other abuses — political firings of trusted career agents whose only fault was following the facts and the law, that includes the firing of agents and staff from a special counterintelligence unit that monitored threats from Iran, weaponizing the FBI to seek political revenge on former FBI Director James Comey and others, using FBI investigative resources to go after journalists who write stories that you don't like."

Trump lashes out at Michelle Obama in inflammatory post

President Donald Trump got personal on Tuesday, posting a video attacking former First lady Michelle Obama and praising Vice President JD Vance.

Trump shared the video clip on his Truth Social platform. It said "watch the difference in thinking" and featured different cuts from frank conversations around parenting and life in the White House, and juxtaposed them in a split-screen targeting Obama's comments. It aimed to "contrast" Obama's statements with Vance's remarks on family life, taking a swing at the Democrat and "the perpetual victims, that the left are, where they see oppression in everything."

The president has often taken jabs at Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, during and prior to the 2016 presidential campaign, throughout his first presidency, and after leaving office. He has criticized their policies, statements and appearances. A post he shared in February on his Truth Social platform depicting Barack and Michelle as animals has been condemned, despite the president defending it.

Outrage as Todd Blanche threatens reporters: 'Trump is coming for you'

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters who receive classified information about Department of Justice investigations that they could face legal consequences, The Hill reported on Tuesday.

The subpoena warning comes as alarm has heightened over the White House's efforts to target news organizations that have criticized the Trump administration. According to recent reports from CNN and The Wall Street Journal, Trump has been pressuring the DOJ to pursue subpoenas connected to Iran war operation leaks in an effort to identify their sources.

"To the media asking about DOJ investigating the leaking of classified information: Prosecuting leakers who share our nation’s secrets with reporters, in turn risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers, is a priority for this administration," Blanche wrote in a post on X early Tuesday.

"Any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material," Blanche wrote.

Blanche's aggressive move raised questions among media experts who reacted to the DOJ leader's announcement.

"If you report the truth about the Iran war, Trump is coming for you," Jennifer Schulze, a former local television news executive at WGN, NBC and ABC stations with more than 40,000 followers, wrote on Bluesky.

"Just a totally chill torching of the First Amendment because why not, none of these people ever had any interest in the Constitution in the first place outside election-year rhetoric," NYT-bestselling author, columnist and lawyer Seth Abramson, who has more than 373,000 followers, wrote in a post on Threads.

"Todd Blanche publicly warned reporters to expect subpoenas after Trump handed him a stack of news articles labeled 'treason,' targeting journalists who reported Pentagon warnings about the Iran war risks before Trump launched it five days later," Thomas Wellborn, political commentator and data engineer who has more than 22,000 followers, wrote on Bluesky.

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