Nicole Charky-Chami

Nicole Charky-Chami is a senior editor based in Los Angeles, writing and producing breaking news. She teaches journalism courses for UCLA Extension and previously taught at Loyola Marymount University. She has worked with the Los Angeles Times and Times Community News, Maria Shriver, Vertical Networks, attn:, Patch and City News Service. She is a Southern California native and Loyola University Chicago graduate.

'Get this man a catering cart': Internet ridicules Trump as he battles Mother Nature

The internet had a laugh as President Donald Trump appeared to struggle to walk down the stairs with an umbrella as wind and rain hit after Air Force One landed in Ohio on Tuesday.

Trump stepped off his plane at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, where a crowd was waiting for him before he headed to Marine One, en route to the Patriot Games in Geneva, Ohio. It happened just a day after reports surfaced that Trump had used Air Force One as a decoy while returning from Turkey under a credible terror threat in July, fleeing in a catering cart and being taken to another aircraft while reporters and White House staff remained on the plane.

The clip was shared by independent journalist Aaron Rupar on X.

"Trump still can't open an umbrella, struggles to get down stairs of Bribe Force One," Rupar commented, referencing the jet gifted to Trump by Qatar.

Others noticed the moment.

"Get this man a catering cart!" Nick Turse, senior reporter at The Intercept, wrote on X.

"This is the hardest thing he will do all day," strategist Vincent D. Monroy wrote on X.

"That’s 6,000% more wind than what a man Trump’s age can handle," liberal commentator Chris Robinson wrote on X.

"How long until he orders the umbrella be arrested?" progressive commentator Janice Hough wrote on X.

Trump still can't open an umbrella, struggles to get down stairs of Bribe Force One pic.twitter.com/oY2yGC2xsK
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2026

'Incoherent' Trump's vaccine order showed his health slipping before our eyes: analyst

Former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt argued on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's physical decline and incoherence have been mounting.

In a new video, the co-founder of the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project discussed how Trump's executive order this week to overhaul the childhood vaccine recommendations was a serious blow to American health as the president's health decline has been on full display.

"It's a real danger for America's children and their families because nobody knows what's up or down or right or left," Schmidt said. "We can all tell, however, there's something wrong with him. Donald Trump is turning into Jabba the Hutt right before our eyes. He can't sit up, stay awake. He can neither walk upstairs nor downstairs. He's incoherent."

Schmidt described how Trump's claims throughout the press conference on Monday revealed more proof of his deteriorating health.

"He's lost, angry, deranged in the middle of the night," Schmidt said. "And through it all, he's the most powerful man in the world. And what could go wrong?"

Paxton backers got donations from family vying to buy Epstein's 'Lolita Express': report

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton apparently received donations from a Texas family that once considered buying late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's "Lolita Express" plane, according to a new report on Tuesday.

A member of the Jaffe family donated nearly $6,000 to groups supporting the Texas Senate candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump after the Epstein files were released to the public, MS NOW reported.

The Jaffe family has appeared in two batches of the Epstein materials, which were released by the Department of Justice, according to MS NOW. Those documents revealed the family had appeared once for reportedly trying to purchase Epstein's notorious private plane, and "once for reportedly associating — according to an anonymous tipster — with scantily clad young women."

The Paxton campaign has not commented to MS NOW on the reporting.

A member of the Jaffe family denied any misconduct to MS NOW. And Doug Jaffe III told the outlet via email that he had "absolutely nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein or the Epstein files."

"I never met Jeffrey Epstein, had no relationship or association with him, and have no knowledge of the anonymous tip you referenced," he said in a written response.

Doug Jaffe III was in the Epstein files, MS NOW reported, and "mentioned in a 2020 anonymous tip call to the FBI National Threat Operations Center alleging possible sex and drug trafficking."

The caller told the FBI that in the early 2000s, Jaffe invited the caller to come to a villa in Mexico owned by his aunt during spring break.

"While there, the anonymous caller said they saw a 'scandalously' dressed young girl, and estimated her age as roughly 11 or 12," MS NOW reported. "Doug told ANON the girl was his niece, which she later found out what [sic] a lie," according to the FBI call log.

"Jaffe also, according to the caller, took the tipster to a club in Acapulco, Mexico, called Palladium, where 'young girls (possibly underage) were brought onto the stage and groped. The girls had their bras removed and breasts fondled,'" MS NOW reported.

The tipster “remembers seeing several of Epstein’s associates in the Villas [sic] guestbook" and reached out to the FBI just in case.

Scott Jennings faces wrath of skeptical CNN panel over McConnell claims: 'Is he aware?'

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings was grilled during a live broadcast after claiming he spoke with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)— again — and that the longtime Republican told him Tuesday that he was planning to return to Congress.

Jennings told the group of commentators that he spoke with the GOP senator on the phone, describing his condition as "improving position." He indicated that McConnell had said he's continuing his recovery and will return to Washington, D.C. after the recess to complete his final term in Congress, which ends in January 2027.

CNN anchor Pamela Brown asked Jennings to clarify how he was communicating with McConnell, whether he called the senator or an aide.

"He called me directly from his phone today," Jennings said. "We've had a relationship for a long time. I worked on a lot of his campaigns over the years, so it's not unusual for us to chat. But in today's case, he was really up on the campaigns. You know, he's a political operative at heart. We talked a lot about the Michigan Senate race. We talked about Maine a little bit, talked about just the map in general."

New York Times journalist and CNN contributor Lulu Garcia-Navarro expressed skepticism and asked why the public hadn't heard from McConnell.

"Scott, why isn't he calling in to a credible news organization? I mean, why is he talking to you and not talking to—" Garcia-Navarro asked.

"You saying it's not credible to call me, Lulu?" Jennings joked.

"I'm saying it's totally credible," Garcia-Navarro responded. "But as you said, you're calling your friend ... I'm just wondering how you view that. Why isn't he calling in to even one that he would consider friendly, like Fox News? That's the prevailing question."

Jennings suggested that McConnell might not be comfortable talking about his health, especially as a polio survivor.

The panel asked Jennings multiple questions to gather more information.

"Does he know about all of the brouhaha around this?" Garcia-Navarro asked.

David Chalian, senior vice President, Washington Bureau chief and political director for CNN, had a similar thought.

"Is he aware of the whole swirl?" Chalian asked.

Brown pointed out that McConnell hasn't voted since June, asking if he has spoken with any constituents since he was hospitalized.

"He told me today, he said, 'I know this is an unusual circumstance. I'm sitting here. The doctors tell me I don't have any life-threatening issues. It must seem rather strange,'" Jennings said. "I got the feeling he's somewhat aware of it and, frankly, somewhat frustrated by it."

'That supposed to scare people?': Photo of Karoline Leavitt's attack notes sparks mockery

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt may have inadvertently exposed a MAGA strategy for a recent conservative television appearance, critics argued on Tuesday.

Leavitt snapped a photo of her notes and shared it on social media on Monday just as she was preparing to speak with Fox News personality Sean Hannity. Patriot Takes, an X account focused on researching and monitoring right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy, noticed the detail.

"Karoline Leavitt’s note inside her Fox News media van reminds her to say 'extreme liberal Democrats' while on air with Sean Hannity," the social media account noted.

Leavitt, who speaks on behalf of President Donald Trump, has often used that term to describe people who oppose the president and his policies. During her Fox News segment Monday night, she claimed that under President Trump, Americans were safer and the country was more affordable.

"We cannot allow these radical extreme far left liberals to take power," Leavitt said during the interview. "We have steady progress under President Trump right now. If these radical extreme liberals are given a chance at power in Washington, D.C., they will try to obstruct this president and turn our country into a communist hellhole with every extreme liberal policy that they try to implement."

Commentators on social media responded to Leavitt's notes.

"Extreme liberalism, that supposed to scare people?" User Vinny, who frequently shares progressive content, wrote on X.

"Because she says it so seldom? No, she has to write it down because she doesn't know what she's talking about. Why should she be any different from the rest of this ugly, corrupt, fiscally incompetent & non-democratic administration?" Fiona Kenny, Canadian liberal commentator, wrote on X.

"Extremely Radical Republicans," Helen Self, a progressive commentator, wrote on X.

"It’s wild how passionately she peddles the same daily lies and misinformation as her Daddy, acting like the rest of us live on the moon and somehow missed what’s actually happening in this country. What a disgrace of Administration," Reyes Ruiz, an X user who frequently comments on MAGA talking points, wrote on X.

Karoline Leavitt’s note inside her Fox News media van reminds her to say “extreme liberal Democrats” while on air with Sean Hannity. pic.twitter.com/vPQ4XcJfOG
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 11, 2026

Katie Miller goes off the rails attacking reporter behind bombshell Trump story

Stephen Miller's wife, Katie Miller, had a meltdown on Tuesday, slamming the reporter who revealed President Donald Trump had used Air Force One as a decoy to evade an assassination threat.

Miller unleashed her anger on Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe, who had described how Trump had ditched his high-security aircraft and jumped inside an airport catering truck before boarding a secret plane that flew out of Turkey in July, The Daily Beast reported. The White House had claimed Trump was on Air Force One.

Miller lashed out at Lamothe in a post on X, resharing his quote with her own commentary.

"There is some loser out there super pleased and fulfilled with himself because the leftist media is giving him attention and telling him how brave he is," Miller wrote.

Journalists and some White House staff apparently did not know Trump had taken a separate flight due to the credible threat, instead believing they were on the same plane as the president.

Lauren Boebert's son caught using N-word in texts related to his latest case: report

Tyler Boebert, the son of MAGA Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), allegedly used racial slurs in an explicit text exchange related to his child sexual exploitation case, TMZ reported on Tuesday.

In an arrest affidavit, the 21-year-old was accused of filming a sex tape in 2024, when he was 18 and his girlfriend at the time was 17, according to TMZ. He was arrested Sunday on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a child and faces three felony charges. He was released after posting bond.

"The docs say the 43-second sexually explicit video was sent to an ex-boyfriend of the girl," TMZ reported.

The former girlfriend, whose name was not released, told police that she did not know how her ex-boyfriend and other people had obtained a copy of this video, which was allegedly shot at his home.

"Another alleged text convo shows Tyler and a third party using the N-word multiple times," according to TMZ. "An unidentified person wrote Tyler, 'You make people miserable.'"

And according to the affidavit, Tyler responded in the message allegedly saying, "You were [worse] than me. You had n------ waiting at the driveway while with me."

The other person in the text messages said, "Stop talking n----," and Tyler reportedly responded with "Free speech yo. Literally love America."

His mother had released a statement in response to his arrest.

"I love my son," Lauren Boebert said in a statement. "We take these allegations very seriously and pray for everyone affected during this challenging time."

In 2024, Tyler Boebert pleaded guilty to attempted identity theft after a string of vehicle break-ins. He faces two sentencing hearings next month in separate cases.

Disaster as Trump's 'sinking' golf course renovation project reaches sand trap: report

President Donald Trump's plan to renovate a Washington, D.C. golf course has taken a hit even before the first tee shot, according to a new report on Tuesday.

Trump had announced construction would start on Sept. 1 at the municipal golf course at East Potomac Park, which is also known as Hains Point, but several issues have derailed the project so far, Mother Jones reported.

"Water from the Potomac River floods its sidewalks and drowned the city’s dreams of a modern swimming facility," according to Mother Jones. "Now, it threatens to wash out Trump’s golf fantasy and leave behind a disaster that will make the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool look like a minor embarrassment."

Trump wanted to rush the build, but he might have missed a "glaringly obvious flaw in his plans," Mother Jones reported.

Rebecca Miller, the executive director of the DC Preservation League, an organization that has sued the Trump administration over its golf course project, put it bluntly.

"Let’s be honest," Miller told Mother Jones. "The island is sinking."

Construction at the location could cause serious water issues.

"The existing East Potomac golf course is basically flat, making it perfect for beginning and amateur players," Mother Jones reported. "But championship courses require such technical features as deep bunkers, water hazards, and dramatic slopes. Because of the park’s high water table, the only way Trump could create those sorts of enhancements is to bring in tons of new fill to pile on top of the existing land mass, which only will create more problems."

The project could ultimately backfire, causing flooding across the National Mall, specifically at the Jefferson Memorial, which was just secured by a new $100 million taxpayer-funded seawall.

US District Court Judge Ana Reyes refused to block further work on the golf course, but she made clear she had doubts about Trump's intentions, according to Mother Jones. In July, Reyes ordered the administration to develop a plan for keeping the court regularly informed before any bulldozers arrived.

"I don't want another demolished East Wing," Reyes said. "I don't want another demolished Reflecting Pool."

People opposing the project warn it could end up like the swimming pool plan that never came to be.

"This is a municipal site," Miller said. "This is not Pebble Beach, and it doesn’t need to be."

Trump's alarming four words on seizing elections light up internet: 'Take him at his word'

President Donald Trump's comments about the midterm elections and declaring a national emergency drew outrage on Tuesday.

Trump suggested during an interview with conservative television and radio host Wayne Allyn Root on Real America's Voice that he could enact the unprecedented move for the federal government to take control over elections.

"You have the right to declare a national security emergency for elections. If you do this in the next month, we will get photo ID, proof of citizenship, and a limit to mail ballots," Root, a MAGA ally, suggested to Trump.

"Let me just say stranger things have happened. I'll leave it at that," Trump said.

Media experts and political commentators questioned Trump's remarks.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper said it was time to take the president seriously.

"There is zero reason to not take Trump at his word that he and his team are planning sonething [sic] alarming to disrupt the midterms and beyond," Tapper wrote on X.

Journalist and conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild called out the comments.

"Once again, Donald Trump is not a wizard. He can't just manifest things into existence by saying them or with a tweet. There is no 'right' to do this in US law, nor is there any mechanism that would enable any of this to happen. Both people in this conversation are deranged," Rothschild wrote on Bluesky.

Others raised their concerns.

"Trump has no legal authority to do this, but that doesn't mean he won't try," criminal defense lawyer Scott Greenfield wrote on X.

"Not even hiding their intentions," wrote X account Wu Tang is for the Children, a political commentary account.

"So, knowing Trump lies about everything but continuing to support him anyway, does that mean you will have no problem with him calling a state of emergency in order to take over the elections?" X account Chippy D Pools, a frequent progressive political commentator, wrote.

There is zero reason to not take Trump at his word that he and his team are planning sonething alarming to disrupt the midterms and beyond. https://t.co/WzNKfAmkDZ
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) August 11, 2026

Trump's 'unforgivable' secret plot left Americans as 'sitting ducks': analysis

President Donald Trump's plane-swap plan "to save his own skin" exposed a darker reality behind how he treats the American public and press corps, an analyst reported on Tuesday.

After it was revealed that Trump used a food truck to avoid a potential Iran terror threat, "might seem like an amusing caper," it was actually a "cowardly plot hatched by Trump, Pete Hegseth, Dan Caine and Trump’s security staff," reported David Gardner for The Swamp, The Daily Beast's Substack.

"For a start, the president has been caught in a bare-faced lie to the American public," Gardner wrote. "For some reason, he cannot understand that the media is the proxy of the people. To mislead the press is to mislead the country."

But that wasn't the only revelation behind what happened.

"Worse—way worse—was Trump’s acceptance that the White House press corps, his own White House and military officials and the flight crew were expendable as long as he was safe from what must have been a credible Iranian terror threat," Gardner wrote.

This bombshell had a different outcome, and "left Americans as sitting ducks."

"We already knew he dodged going to Vietnam because of spurious bone spurs. But that was just Trump," Gardner wrote.

"This was unforgivable," Gardner added.

Pete Hegseth haunted by weird germ theory after cameras catch him wiping snot in his hair

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was caught wiping his nose and hair on Monday — and critics definitely noticed.

Hegseth was at the renaming ceremony for Joint Base Lindsey Graham in South Carolina when he used his hand to wipe his nose and then slick back his coif, The New Republic reported.

Some critics shared their reactions on social media.

"This is a man who does not wash anythiiiing," Michelle Kinney, a Democratic strategist, posted on X.

"One time on Fox & Friends he said he never washed his hands and didn’t believe germs were real and I got a really funny angry email from Fox PR for blogging about it," Josh Billinson of Semafor posted on X.

"A little dab'll do ya," Scott Greenfield, a criminal justice lawyer, posted on X.

In 2019, the former Fox News host had claimed during a segment that he hadn't washed his hands in 10 years.

"Germs are not a real thing. I can't see them; therefore, they are not real," he said at the time.

The questionable move comes as Hegseth's approval rating has plummeted, according to The New Republic, citing reporting from CNN analyst Harry Enten. Enten called it the "lowest of the low" as the administration sees low satisfaction among voters.

"Twenty-two points underwater, and this has been something that's been going on throughout the entire administration," Enten said. "He has been underwater in every single poll that I could find. That is his job disapproval rating being above his job approval rating, and Iran has not helped."

Pete Hegseth wipes his nose, then runs his hand through his hair pic.twitter.com/CXml9BpeER
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2026

Trump insiders quietly killed plot to dump scandal-plagued MAGA Republican: report

President Donald Trump's team told Republicans in Ohio to back off on trying to oust Rep. Max Miller as allegations of domestic abuse surfaced, according to reports on Monday.

Ohio GOP leaders were considering pressuring Miller to end his reelection campaign as the MAGA lawmaker had continued to deny the serious accusations and was determined to remain in the race, Politico reported. Trump administration officials called Republicans in the state to urge them not to push him out.

"They basically told us to back off and let the voters decide," one Ohio Republican involved in the Trump admin and GOP leadership talks told Politico.

But now, GOP insiders have warned that Miller's seat could be vulnerable for a Democratic win and the "allegations could haunt Miller," according to Politico.

Miller will face off in November against union ironworker Brian Poindexter, who has focused on targeting high gas prices and the Iran war as talking points throughout his campaign.

"As I’ve said before, if the accusations against Max Miller are proven true, he should be in prison, not in Congress. It’s unfortunate that Miller has chosen to keep putting his ex-wife and her family through this nightmare in the public spotlight," Poindexter said in a statement. "But let me be perfectly clear. I got into this campaign to fight for my neighbors and for working people across this district. That continues to be my north star."

Miller had until 4 p.m. Monday to decide if he would leave the race, but has continued to deny the allegations against him.

"It comes at a time when Republicans cannot afford to lose any members of their slim majority without risking a House Democratic takeover in 2027," according to Politico. "Ohio’s 7th Congressional District was, just weeks ago, considered safely red; now, Republicans have polling that shows Miller underwater in his district."

'Trump is OUT': President yet again appears to fall asleep in Oval Office

President Donald Trump yet again appeared to fall asleep on Monday after he signed an executive order reducing the recommended childhood vaccine schedule.

Trump was in the Oval Office where he was meeting with several administration officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, to discuss the overhaul to the vaccine schedule.

People noted that Trump's eyes were closed during the press event, in a moment captured on video.

Independent journalist Aaron Rupar shared a clip of Trump apparently dozing off at his desk.

"Holy s--- Trump is OUT," Rupar wrote on X.

Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta shared a meme, "I take a nap right here," with a child lying down in the sand in a post on X.

X account Open Source Intel, which has more than 1.6 million followers, also mocked the president's demeanor.

"The President has been working hard," Open Source Intel posted.

Others sounded off on Trump's apparent snooze.

"Looking very awake and alert sir!" Matt Rein, influencer and creative partnerships manager for the Democratic Party, wrote on X.

"Out like a light," Bluesky account GottaLaff, a progressive political commentator with more than 40,000 followers, wrote.

"I love how they all pretend to not notice him passed the f--- out," author Joshua A. Walker wrote on Bluesky.

holy shit Trump is OUT pic.twitter.com/8XQ2iBmQoW
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2026

Trump-linked AG rants about assault charges after WNBA player fouls MAGA star

Trump ally and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier was furious after "MAGA darling" Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was fouled by Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington — and dropped a legal threat he couldn't actually pursue.

Uthmeier was responding to the WNBA game in Chicago where Cunningham went up for a layup when Carrington hit the Fever player with her arm, The Daily Beast reported on Monday. He argued that he would have charged Carrington with "assault and battery."

Carrington ended up getting ejected from the game.

"The WNBA knows better than to play games down here in Florida, because I’ll be charging people with assault," Uthmeier said. "I should probably clarify… assault and battery."

Cunningham made headlines over her views on transgender players in women's sports, The Beast reported.

She recently told ESPN her goal was to shield young girls from having to compete against biological men in sports or share locker rooms with them.

Cunningham was dubbed "MAGA Barbie" by Complex for her online following and engagement with conservative accounts on social media.

Florida does not have a WNBA team.

'Trump is terrified': Expert decodes desperate push behind GOP's midterm meddling

Republicans in Congress should be wary of the midterms as voters will have the opportunity to check their power, a political expert argued on Monday.

Svante Myrick, president of the progressive advocacy group People For the American Way, wrote in an op-ed for The Hill about how the upcoming fall "elections will give voters a chance to hold them accountable for their failures."

After Senate Republicans voted to confirm President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, they "abandoned" the role of providing checks and balances to stop an autocratic ruler. And instead of prioritizing struggling American families, they decided to confirm the "Trump regime’s utter corruption of the Republican Party."

"Rather than act as an independent branch of government, they have acted as if their primary duty is to carry out President Trump’s dictatorial demands and protect him from any real oversight or accountability," Myrick wrote.

GOP lawmakers have continued a "larger pattern of congressional Republicans failing the American people," Myrick explained. Current polling indicates Democrats could secure victories as a result of this.

"It helps explain the appeal of progressive candidates who have been winning elections with truth-telling about the Trump regime and calls for a government that works for all of us, not just the Mar-a-Lago set," Myrick wrote.

"Trump and his team see the same polls," Myrick wrote. "Trump is terrified of a Congress that might actually hold him accountable for his lawbreaking and corruption. That’s why they’re so intent on interfering with the elections to make it harder for millions of people to vote."

Myrick explained why the midterms will be so important.

"That’s why we the people must hold him accountable," Myrick added. "We must hold his congressional enablers and collaborators accountable. We must do everything we can to mobilize voters this fall — and to protect our elections from every corrupt scheme Trump and his supporters can come up with to try to stop Americans from exercising their right to steer our country toward a better future."