The longtime enemy of President Donald Trump and even longer career politician, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) suffered a reputational blow this week.
As it turns out, Schiff, who previously reported to work in the House of Representatives, may well have been trading in information, not to the benefit of the American people, according to Fox News.
A Democrat whistleblower told agents at the FBI that Schiff authorized a classified information leak related to the Russia collusion story.
The story was part of the investigation into Trump and Russia, and sometime in 2017, Schiff allegedly signed off on the leak to discredit Trump, according to newly released documents.
Who said what
According to an FBI 302 interview report, the whistleblower was a state intelligence staffer, affiliated with Democrats, who described himself as a friend to Schiff, and former House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes (CA), a Trump-aligned Republican.
The staffer said he believed the leak to be "unethical," "illegal," and “treasonous,” but said that he was assured there was nothing to worry about because Schiff thought the Constitution protected him from repercussions.
Kash Patel confirmed on Monday that he had handed over the documents to Congress, which were obtained and recently reviewed by reporters.
“We found it. We declassified it,” Patel said. “Now Congress can see how classified info was leaked to shape political narratives – and decide if our institutions were weaponized against the American people.”
Previous concern
Officials have stated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) wasn’t interested in pursuing Schiff when the allegations were brought in several years ago.
The department allegedly cited the same argument made by Schiff, that he would be shielded by the Constitution’s speech and debate clause.
The whistleblower spoke to the FBI most recently in 2023, and told agents at a field office that he was personally in a meeting with Schiff when the leak of classified information was authorized.
"When working in this capacity, [redacted staffer's name] was called to an all-staff meeting by SCHIFF," the interview report said.
"In this meeting, SCHIFF stated the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to [the] President of the United States DONALD J. TRUMP. SCHIFF stated the information would be used to indict President TRUMP.”
In a significant development, President Trump has declared federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., citing a severe crime crisis as the main concern, the Daily Wire reported. This federalization effort, including the deployment of 800 National Guard troops, has sparked fierce debate from local Democratic leaders about the overreach of federal powers.
The D.C. Police Union, representing over 3,000 officers, expressed support for President Trump's move, aligning with his views on the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
Contrasting Views from Local Government Officials
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Democrat-controlled city council have been vocal in their opposition, labeling the takeover unsettling and unprecedented.
The council further criticized this action by highlighting the current low crime rates in D.C., stating that such federal intervention is unwarranted given the district's lowest violent crime rates in 30 years.
Despite opposition, Bowser confirmed that under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the president's action is permissible, vowing to coordinate efforts to ensure public safety during this transitional period.
Detailed Federal Control Measures Over D.C. Police
The enforcement shift now places the MPD under the direct oversight of the Department of Justice, with DEA Administrator Terry Cole appointed to lead the force.
This change was announced on what President Trump described as "Liberation Day in D.C.," setting a tone of rescue and rehabilitation from the city's urban problems.
Alongside the police takeover, the federal government's decision to dispatch National Guard troops has escalated concerns about militarizing local policing efforts, raising questions about the troops' role and utility in a civilian policing context.
Union Endorses Federal Control as a Temporary Measure
The D.C. Police Union emphasized that federal oversight should be seen as a temporary expedient, not a permanent solution, aiming to support the MPD until it can operate effectively on its own.
The union's statement stressed the dire need for immediate actions to counter the crime spike, supporting swift measures to restore order and public confidence.
However, they also suggested that once crime is under control, the goal should be to hand back full control to a sufficiently staffed and supported local police force.
Assessing the Impact of Federal Intervention
As the federal intervention unfolds, its impact on local governance and community relations remains closely monitored by both supporters and critics.
The White House cites alarming crime statistics as a justification for the drastic measures, presenting them as necessary to restore law and order in the capital.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of this intervention will be measured by its ability to significantly reduce crime rates without eroding the local authority and community trust that are essential for long-term public safety.
New York City is shutting down the last of its notorious migrant hotels, marking the end of a dark chapter that saw well over 200,000 flood the city under Joe Biden's open border policy.
With border crossings at record lows under President Trump, the city announced the end of its $5.13 million contract with the Row NYC Hotel.
“We are proud to share that we will be closing another site — the Row Hotel, the last hotel in the city’s emergency shelter system — marking yet another major milestone in our administration’s recovery from this international humanitarian crisis,” Mayor Eric Adams told The New York Post.
The Biden crisis
As the border crisis peaked, New York City contracted with over 200 hotels and other make-shift facilities to house 238,000 people citywide.
The shelters ruined quality of life, bringing riotous parties, gang activity, and litter as taxpayers were forced to pay over $8 billion to care for the newcomers.
New York's luxurious accommodations for illegal aliens came to symbolize the backwardness of the Democrats' immigration agenda, which sowed chaos nationwide before it was forcefully rejected by voters in a crushing defeat last year.
Migrant shelter closing
The Row was the first luxury hotel in the city to be converted into a shelter in October 2022. The 1,300 room hotel is a short walk from Times Square, which is still feeling the impact of migrant crime.
Locals told the New York Post they are relieved the shelter at The Row is finally closing, noting the damage it caused to local business.
"Hallelujah. I’m happy that it’s happening,” one renter told the New York Post. “We pay a lot of money to live here, and it doesn’t seem fair.”
“There are people sitting here all day, littering, leaving food waste, water bottles…,” the resident said. “A lot of them have children, and there are women sitting around here smoking weed all day, the children are just playing on the street, on the bike lanes."
Trump brings order
Since Trump began his second term, border crossings have swiftly fallen to record lows, hitting a new low in July.
With the border crisis over, Adams has shut down 64 migrant sites, and the remaining 35,400 migrants have been absorbed into the city's homeless shelters, which house 92,000.
The lingering effects of the Biden-era crisis are still being felt across the city. Two Dominican men were arrested in July for shooting an off-duty Border Patrol agent in a park on the Hudson River.
The city's potential next mayor, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, is a radical leftist who has pledged to keep immigration agents out of the city if elected.
Senior House Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro was hospitalized Monday to treat a spinal condition.
The Connecticut lawmaker, who is 82, was treated successfully and is expected to undergo physical therapy before returning to work in September. Congress is currently out of town for the August recess.
Democrat hospitalized
“I am pleased to share that my surgery at Griffin Hospital was a success, and I am deeply grateful to Dr. Judith L. Gorelick and the entire care team for their skill and support. I also want to thank my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents for their well wishes and encouragement,” DeLauro said in a statement.
Spinal stenosis is a common condition in older people. It occurs when the spaces in the spine become narrow, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Dr. Judith L. Gorelick, a board-certified neurosurgeon, performed the surgery at Griffin Hospital in Derby.
19 terms?
DeLauro is a cancer advocate. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986, and was treated successfully thanks to early detection.
Seen as a liberal or progressive, DeLauro is easily recognized by her purple hairstyle and eccentric clothing.
The New Haven-based Democrat was first elected in 1990 after a fierce fight against Republican state senator Thomas Scott.
She has easily won re-election ever since, and is not letting age stop her from seeking a 19th House term in November.
Time for change
Congress has often been described as a gerontocracy, where senior lawmakers cling to their jobs well past the typical retirement age and sometimes remain until death.
The age question has gripped Democrats with particular force after three House Democrats died in office this year. Raul Grijalva, Sylvester Turner, and Gerry Connolly were all in their 70s.
Democrats are also still grappling with their crushing defeat in 2024, which saw their octogenarian standard-bearer, Joe Biden, end his presidential campaign midstream and pass the torch to his unpopular vice president, who lost resoundingly to President Trump.
DeLauro is the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which plays a key role in setting policy on federal spending. She is facing a primary challenge from a 40-year-old New Haven attorney, Damjan DeNoble, who says the party needs fresh blood.
“While Rosa DeLauro has done a great job for us, I think it’s time to pass the torch,” DeNoble said in an interview with the Connecticut Mirror. “The Democratic Party has proven itself to be very bad at at [sic] that.”
The Supreme Court has been asked to reconsider its landmark ruling Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized gay marriage nationwide more than a decade ago.
The long-shot request was made by Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who gained notoriety after she was jailed for refusing marriage licenses in the aftermath of the court's ruling. She was sued by a gay couple and ordered to pay $100,00 in emotional damages, plus $260,000 for attorneys fees.
"If there ever was a case of exceptional importance," her lawyer Matthew Staver wrote, "the first individual in the Republic's history who was jailed for following her religious convictions regarding the historic definition of marriage, this should be it."
Gay marriage revisited
In her petition to the Supreme Court, Davis argues that Obergefell was based on a "legal fiction" and that it has eroded the First Amendment's protections of religious freedom.
"The damage done by Obergefell’s distortion of the Constitution is reason enough to overturn this opinion and reaffirm the rule of law and the proper role of this Court," the petition says.
The appeal quotes from the conservative justices, who warned at the time of the Obergefell ruling that the court had bypassed a democratic debate to overturn centuries of tradition on marriage and the family.
Chief Justice John Roberts called the decision an "act of will, not legal judgment" that proclaimed a new right with "no basis in the Constitution."
Justice Samuel Alito, who has continued to criticize the decision, said the post-Obergefell world would be one in which religious believers will "whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes."
"But if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools," he wrote.
Shifting climate
Davis is urging the Supreme Court to send the issue back to the states, citing the Dobbs decision, which ended Roe v. Wade, as an example of the justices overturning an erroneous precedent. Legal analysts are skeptical that the request will go far, however.
An appeals court shut Davis down earlier this year, finding she is not protected by the First Amendment because she is "being held liable for state action."
Davis may get a friendlier hearing from the Supreme Court, which has moved to the right over the past decade. Some of the court's justices have expressed interest in revisiting the contentious gay marriage ruling, namely Alito and Clarence Thomas.
In her petition, Davis cites Thomas' concurrence in Dobbs, in which he urged the court to "reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell."
On the right, the defense of traditional marriage has long been relegated to the past, but some continue to view Obergefell as a mistake that led America down a path of moral confusion, setting the stage for the transgender movement that later swept the country.
While most Americans have come to regard the issue as settled, support for gay marriage has declined among Republicans, dropping from a high of 55% to 41% this year - and a handful of Republican states have publicly called on the Supreme Court to throw out its Obergefell ruling.
President Trump has endorsed Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for the state's 2026 gubernatorial race, The Hill reported. Jones is the second high-profile Republican to announce the intention to replace the term-limited current GOP Gov. Brian Kemp.
Jones announced his candidacy last month to much fanfare. According to his campaign ad, Jones said that he is in favor of keeping men out of women's sports, abolishing the state income tax, and addressing the fentanyl epidemic.
Jones has also been a staunch supporter of Trump's Make America Great Again agenda. The president announced he was supporting Jones in a post on his Truth Social on Monday.
Trump's hearty endorsement
Trump is backing Jones to become Georgia's new executive, emphasizing the state's importance while offering his strong endorsement. "Highly Respected and very popular Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, is running to be the next Governor of the Great State of Georgia, a very special place to me in that we had a BIG Presidential Election Win just eight short months ago, November 5, 2024," Trump wrote.
"As the first member of the Georgia State Assembly to Endorse 'DONALD J. TRUMP' for President, Burt was strongly committed to my Campaign in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and worked tirelessly to help us WIN. He has been with us from the very beginning," Trump continued.
The president said that Jones has been "tested at the most difficult levels and times" and "has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation," Trump said. The president also said that Jones will implement an agenda similar to his.
"As your next Governor, Burt Jones will fight hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Continue to Secure our now Secure Southern Border, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Burt Jones for Governor has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Trump concluded.
Georgia is a critical swing state for Republicans, and Trump clinched its 16 electoral votes in the 2016 and 2024 elections. He lost in 2020 and famously fell out with Kemp over it, which means a new Republican governor on Trump's side would go a long way to restoring party unity.
Healing the rift
According to the Associated Press, Georgia became the center of the controversy in 2020 over Trump's claims about a stolen election. He placed a call late in 2020 to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" the votes that would award the state to him instead of then-President Joe Biden.
The media and the Democrats tried to spin this as a shakedown, but Trump was asking for help in counting legitimate votes as he thought the election had been stolen from him. Raffensperger has used this as a springboard for his own self-serving narrative, but it bled over into the relationship with Kemp, who has denied election integrity problems.
"For nearly three years now, anyone with evidence of fraud has failed to come forward - under oath - and prove anything in a court of law. Our elections in Georgia are secure, accessible, and fair, and will continue to be as long as I am governor," Kemp said in 2024, according to Fox News.
Although Kemp didn't campaign with Trump, he eventually endorsed him against then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Now, if Jones becomes governor, it will put the feud to rest for good.
Trump is using his clout to help Republicans in Georgia far ahead of the next election, and that's a good sign. The president is as popular as ever, and it's clear that Trump wants to leave the party in a good position for the next presidential election and beyond.
The Nevada Supreme Court has sided with former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden to allow his civil lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell to proceed, NBC News reported. Nevada's highest court said in a 5-2 ruling that the NFL's preferred resolution through arbitration overseen by Goodell was "unconscionable."
The issue stems from a November 2021 lawsuit Gruden filed against the league after emails he sent to an NFL employee, which contained offensive language, were leaked to the press. He contends those leaks were intentional and damaged his career with the Raiders and beyond.
The rules of the NFL mandate that any conflict of this nature must go through arbitration, which Gruden fought on the basis that he is no longer an employee of the organization. The Nevada Supreme Court would eventually agree with his assertion in its decision on Monday.
The NFL claimed that its Constitution and Bylaws confer "full, complete, and final jurisdiction and authority to arbitrate . . . [a]ny dispute . . . that in the opinion of the Commissioner constitutes conduct detrimental to the best interests of the League or professional football." The court disagreed, calling that rule "unconscionable" and agreeing with him that it "does not apply to Gruden as a former employee."
Inciting incident
According to a report in Sports Illustrated in October 2021, the NFL's review of some 650,000 emails over 10 years uncovered Gruden's use of offensive language in messages to an employee. His messages contained "misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ comments."
The review was being conducted as part of an investigation into workplace conduct at the Washington Commanders, the team that was formerly the Washington Red Skins until 2019. Then-team president Bruce Allen was often on the receiving end of Gruden's messages as the two were former co-workers at the Raiders the first time, between 1998 and 2001, and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The emails involved in the investigation were sent while Gruden was an employee at ESPN and using his personal account. Allen was using his team email account, which was the catalyst for the NFL's ability to leak information about what Gruden said.
Some of the emails include Gruden's opinions against the NFL's decision to employ female referees and for allowing football players to protest during the national anthem. Gruden also had strong opinions about Goodell for forcing coaches to draft gay players, including the first openly gay player, Michael Sam.
Gruden's Future
Because of the controversy, many believed Gruden should never work in football again. He has been working for Barstool Sports following the controversy, according to Fox News, but he longs to return to coaching football.
In a YouTube video chronicling his recent visit to Georgia, Gruden said he was there in the hopes of finding a way back to coaching, even if it is through collegiate sports. "I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the [Southeastern Conference]. I would love it," Gruden said.
"Hopefully, I’m not done. I’m about to make a comeback," the Super Bowl-winning coach added. "Hopefully, some of these guys that fell off my branch, if you say it that way, maybe they can hire me 'cause I’m looking for a job." There are some signs of hope as he was associated with the New Orleans Saints following his 2021 ouster from the Raiders and was restored to the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor.
"I don’t care if I coach at Jones Junior High. I’m going to coach again. I’m still coaching. I’m just not on a team officially, but I do have some private assignments I work on, and I wear some gear when I’m watching the games that nobody knows about who I’m pulling for," Gruden said.
Of course, what Gruden said was objectionable, but ruining his career for life does not seem fitting for some offensive things he said in what he thought were private emails. Gruden will have a chance to be heard in court and, with any luck, may see his career restored as well.
More than 100,o00 Americans have applied for 10,000 positions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the agency put out a call for hiring late last month, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ICE removed certain restrictions on who can be an ICE agent as well as offering incentives to those hired, including options like a signing bonus of up to $50,000 and student loan forgiveness.
Only two weeks after beginning the recruitment effort, more than 100,000 applications have been received.
"Our country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News Digital in a statement. "This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland."
Requirements
Applicants must pass medical screening, drug screening, and a physical fitness test to be hired, the agency said.
In addition to field agent positions as deportation officers and criminal investigators, ICE is seeking some general attorneys, positions that may carry lower risks than field agent positions.
The ICE website describes the danger of these jobs as follows:
ICE law enforcement officers should expect a certain level of risk when performing their duties; however, they are expertly trained and every precaution is taken by ICE when it comes to protecting its officers' well-being.
The number of assaults on ICE agents has spiked 1000%, or more than 10 times what it was, due to recent immigration protests across the country.
Will it be in time?
Republicans in Congress recently allocated $30 billion in funding to hire the new agents; that works out to $300,000 per agent in salary, training costs, benefits, and other costs.
Time Magazine cautioned that it could take a significant amount of time to hire, train, relocate, and deploy that number of new agents, however.
"You’re talking three years before you see a significant increase of ICE agents on the street, which is the end of the administration,” predicted Obama-era ICE Director John Sandweg.
The hirings will be necessary to keep pace with a Trump goal to deport 3,000 illegal immigrants per day and 1 million in his first year in office.
Internal ICE data reported by NBC News suggested that deportations are far below those numbers, at about 15 to 17,000 per month in June and July.
Dean Cain, who played Superman in a previous TV series, signed up as an honorary ICE agent to support hte effort.
Bo Hines, the Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, has resigned to pursue opportunities in the private sector, The Hill reported.
Bo Hines's departure follows closely after the publication of a detailed digital assets regulation report by the White House Crypto Council.
Hines announced his resignation on Saturday via the social media platform X, marking a significant transition in his career from public service to private endeavors.
From Presidential Appointment to Crypto Leadership
Appointed late last year by President Trump, Hines was tasked with leading the Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, focusing heavily on pioneering strategies for blockchain and cryptocurrency integration into the U.S. regulatory framework.
Under his leadership, the Council recently finalized a comprehensive 166-page report addressing various facets of digital asset management, including taxation and banking regulation.
This report has been pivotal in setting the stage for more structured crypto oversight in the U.S., envisioning clearer regulatory paths for cryptocurrency stakeholders.
Significant Contributions in Digital Asset Regulation
President Trump signed the GENIUS Act in July, establishing a foundational legal framework specifically for stablecoins, which was a direct outcome of recommendations from the Crypto Council.
The passage of this monumental bill is part of a broader government initiative to ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry, maintaining a competitive edge internationally.
Hines played an integral role in the drafting and conceptualization of this major legislation, boosting America's stature as a global leader in the crypto realm.
A Fond Farewell and Future Plans
David Sacks, the AI & Crypto Czar of the White House, praised Hines for his exemplary service and significant contributions to America's policy on cryptocurrencies.
"Serving in President Trump’s administration and working alongside our brilliant AI & Crypto Czar as Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council has been the honor of a lifetime," Hines reflected on his tenure.
"As I return to the private sector, I look forward to continuing my support for the crypto ecosystem as it thrives here in the United States," confirmed Hines, signaling his ongoing engagement with the industry.
Continuity and Transition of Leadership
With Hines's departure, the onus to continue the vital work of the Crypto Council falls to Patrick Witt and Harry Jung, who have been critical supporters of implementing the Council’s recommendations.
"We’re sorely going to miss Bo, but fortunately, we have a deep bench at the White House, with Patrick and Harry ready to step up and help us get the Clarity Act passed," stated David Sacks, showing confidence in the continuing leadership.
This transition marks a new chapter for the White House Crypto Council as they work to further refine and implement crypto regulations under the Clarity Act.
An appeals court has formally rebuked James Boasberg, the district court judge who infamously ordered President Trump to turn around deportation flights.
In a 2-1 decision, the court reversed the Obama appointee's finding that the Trump administration acted in criminal contempt when it ignored his far-reaching attempt to micromanage immigration policy - an effort the appeals court called "troubling" in its implications.
The ruling is a significant victory for Trump in his battle with "activist" judges who have sought to override his authority.
Judicial overreach
To many on the right, Boasberg became the face of a judicial tyranny when he ordered Trump to reverse deportation flights to El Salvador that were already in progress under the Alien Enemies Act.
The Trump administration ignored the extraordinary demand, and the Supreme Court later overturned Boasberg's original order blocking Trump's flights.
Still, Boasberg launched contempt proceedings to punish what he called a "solemn mockery" of the Constitution's separation of powers.
Slapped down
A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court took a sharply different view of the matter and threw out Boasberg's finding of "probable cause."
Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both Trump appointees, said Boasberg overreached by using threats of criminal prosecution to exercise pressure on the administration's conduct of foreign policy.
"The order forces a coequal branch to choose between capitulating to an unlawful judicial order and subjecting its officials to a dubious prosecution," Rao said.
Boasberg's intervention in the case "raises troubling questions about judicial control over core executive functions" like immigration and the prosecution of criminal offenses, said Katsas, who also noted that Boasberg's order was unclear, making it impossible to say whether the administration defied it willfully.
Abuse of power
Rao and Katsas also noted that Boasberg's contempt threats came after the Supreme Court tossed his original order blocking flights. Beyond that point, he "no longer had authority to coerce compliance," Rao said.
"The attempt to do so with the threat of criminal contempt was both unlawful and a clear abuse of discretion, particularly because the coercion was directed at the Executive’s conduct of foreign affairs," she wrote.
Dissenting, Obama appointee Cornelia Pillard echoed Boasberg's warning about ignoring court orders.
“Our system of courts cannot long endure if disappointed litigants defy court orders with impunity rather than legally challenge them. That is why willful disobedience of a court order is punishable as criminal contempt," she wrote.
