Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making waves due to his stance on eliminating junk food from the American diet, and specifically the ability to purchase such food and drink on welfare programs such as the food stamp program.

According to Live Now Fox, Kennedy recently announced at a Martinsburg, West Virginia event that states will now have the authority to ban people from buying sugary soft drinks on the food stamp program, otherwise known as SNAP. 

The effort to give states the power to make the decision comes as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" mission, which has been both widely celebrated and criticized from all angles.

However, he's not the only one calling for the ban, as several members of Congress already have bills in the works to accomplish similar outcomes.

What's going on?

Kennedy, who was chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Health and Human Services department, made his stance on the issue clear in an X post.

"I commend the 24 states pushing MAHA bills to clean up our food system, improve school lunches, submit waivers to SNAP, and promote patient choice," Kennedy said on X.

"This state leadership adds leverage to the Trump administration’s drive to Make America Healthy Again. I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP. If there’s one thing we can agree on, it should be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for lower income kids. I look forward to inviting every Governor who submits a waiver to come celebrate with me at the White House this fall."

Oklahoma Republican Rep. Josh Breechan agrees, saying that taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for the unhealth lifestyles of those on food stamp programs.

"If someone wants to buy junk food on their own dime, that’s up to them," he said. "But what we’re saying is, ‘Don’t ask the taxpayer to pay for it and then also expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab for the resulting health consequences.'"

Social media reacts

Many social media users cheered Kennedy for making the announcement.

"Thank you @SecKennedy for making America healthy again, I never realized how our own food companies and pharmaceutical companies were literally killing U.S. with the crap they put in our foods/medicines until you came along. We appreciate all that you do!!!" one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "A critical milestone achieved in the fight to Make America Healthy Again with West Virginia being the first trail blazing state to pass SNAP reform. Looking forward to seeing more states follow their lead!"

Only time will tell if additional states enact similar policies.

Serious rumors of an impending divorce between former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama have circulated for months, especially in the wake of the former president being seen alone at public events.

However, according to The Washington Times, the former first lady finally addressed the rumors during a recent podcast interview, pushing back on them and insisting that her "independent" decisions sparked the false rumors.

The rumor mill ramped up significantly after Michelle Obama didn't attend the late President Jimmy Carter's funeral ceremony and then skipped out on President Donald Trump's inauguration.

During the podcast interview, the former first lady strongly denied that she had divorce in the cards.

What did she say?

Michelle Obama broke her silence during an interview on "Work in Progress," a podcast hosted by actress Sophia Bush.

"That’s the thing that we as women struggle with: disappointing people," Obama said. "So much so that this year people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. That they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing."

She essentially mocked those circulating the rumors, insisting that she was simply making independent decisions that had nothing to do with the state of her marriage.

"This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions herself," Obama added. "It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me."

The Washington Times noted:

Married to Mr. Obama since 1992, Ms. Obama pointed out that her roles as first lady and mother to daughters Sasha and Malia often meant deferring to the needs of others.

“I have to make sure the girls are OK, or my husband’s president, so I can’t do that,” she said. “Now, I can’t blame my decisions and indecisions on anyone other than me.”

Social media reacts

Users across social media reacted differently to the news, with some speculating that the Obamas could already be separated, while others think the rumors are simply just rumors.

"Soooo, they’ve separated already then," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "The way Michelle handled this… Iconic. No time for rumors when you’re out here living your best life."

Only time will tell if the rumors have any truth to them.

 

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A congressman from Texas is suing the federal government for $2.5 million over the "unlawful harassment" he faced following the Jan. 6, 2021, protests and riots at the Capitol.

Rep Troy Nehls, R-Texas, charges that a Capitol police officer forced his way into Nehls' congressional office without consent, then photographed materials in the room, including a whiteboard with a discussion of proposed firearms legislation.

Then the authorities followed up with an investigation by other officers.

Significant is the claim that the police violated the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which provides vast protections for members of Congress doing their duties.

The first count charges "intrusion on privacy," for the entry of the officer into the congressman's private office and taking pictures.

"As a direct result of the exposure of his notes, his notes were photographed, and he was subjected to a criminal investigation. His reputation was impaired. He became concerned that he had been spied upon and that it could happen again to him. He suffered indignity and mental and emotional distress," the complaint, filed in Texas, charges.

Then there is the "publication of private facts," which the police, while doing that, violated the Speech and Debate Clause the First Amendment, and the Fourth Amendment.

The third charge involves trespass, as the officers physically entered Nehls' congressional office without consent.

"This wrongfully interfered with the congressman's possessory interests and deprived him of the use, enjoyment, and privacy of his office. The Congressman suffered indignity and was deeply offended by the audacity of a police officer's trespass on his private congressional office," the filing said.

Finally is the police violation of constitutional rights.

Police "lacked probably cause or a reasonable suspicion to believe that the congressman was engaged in criminal activity," the filing said.

Officers failed to obtain a search warrant and actually lacked "lawful justification" for entering.

"The action of Officer [Kevin] Dias and treating the matter as a criminal investigation was a form of retaliation for the congressman's exercise of free speech and outspoken criticism of the Capitol Police," the case charges.

The filing charges that police actually claimed that the door to Nehls' office was "wide open" when the facts reveal it was not.

Building managers said the door could not have remained open due to automatic closing systems.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The iconic image of President Trump raising his fist, blood streaming down his face, just moments after an assassination attempt last summer is causing some stir online.

The president has replaced a portrait of former President Obama in the White House Entrance Hall with an artist's rendering of the Butler, Pennsylvania, photo.

The White House posted a brief video on X revealing the new artwork:

Another post drew attention to the fact a portrait of Obama had once hung in the same spot.

And, predictably, some were unhappy with the change, as evidenced by the following post and response:

Red State reported that the Obama portrait was still there, just positioned elsewhere in the Entrance Hall. And The Hill acknowledged it's "not unusual for the presidential portraits at the White House to be rearranged after a new commander in chief enters the Oval Office."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Saturday in West Palm Beach, President Trump was presented with a life-size bronze statue of himself posing with his fist in the air in defiance – just moments after an assassin's bullet nearly took his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year.

Former congressional candidate Anthony Constantino, the CEO of Sticker Mule, gifted the president the monument, which will be a permanent fixture at his Trump International Golf Club.

Dubbed "The Defiance Monument," the 7-foot-tall statue sits atop a stone pedestal with Constantino's name engraved on it.

"The president was in a happy, joking mood, which was great to see," said Constantino, according to a statement.

Trump and Constantino met at the monument before the president went out to play a round of golf. According to the statement, they were joined by Roger Stone, who's become an adviser and friend to Constantino, as well as Bo Loudon, a friend of Barron Trump.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order repealing a 13,000-word restriction on the amount of water that can flow through a showerhead, The Western Journal reported.

“Overregulation chokes the American economy and stifles personal freedom. A small but meaningful example is the Obama-Biden war on showers,” Trump wrote in the executive order.

Joking around

Trump joked with reporters about the restriction and its impact on his shower regimen.

“In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” he said as he signed the order, a video posted to X showed.

“I have to stand in the shower 15 minutes until it gets wet,” Trump said. “It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous."

The real impact

Trump also said he believed that people just used more water over a longer period of time from a restricted showerhead.

“And what you do is you end up washing your hands five times longer, so, same water,” he continued. “We’re going to open it up, so that people can live.”

“Any time you see a new faucet you know it’s going to be a long wash of the hands. … It’s a big deal.”

A fact sheet about the order said it would “end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure and make America’s showers great again."

"Excessive regulations"

“The Order frees Americans from excessive regulations that turned a basic household item into a bureaucratic nightmare. No longer will showerheads be weak and worthless,” it continued.

Trump originally rescinded the regulation during his first term, but former President Joe Biden re-imposed it when he got into office.

"Americans pay for their own water and should be free to choose their showerheads without federal meddling,” the fact sheet further said.

Trump further noted that his predecessor “aggressively targeted everyday appliances like gas stoves, water heaters, washing machines, furnaces, dishwashers, and more, waging war on the reliable tools Americans depend on daily.”

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A Space Force commander who dispatched an email to her command, undermining President Donald Trump, has been relieved of her duties.

A report at Military.com explained that Col. Susannah (Susan) Meyers told members of her command at a Greenland Base about her personal political preferences following a recent visit by Vice President JD Vance and his family.

Trump, of course, has suggested over and over that Greenland become part of the United States, prompting some fretting on the part of officials there, and in Denmark, which is its parent country.

After Vance's visit, Meyers told her supporting officers that she "spent the weekend thinking about Friday's visit — the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you."

She continued, "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."

She was subsequently relieved of her command.

Meyers was the chief of the 821st Space Base Group.

"I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly — together," her messaging said.

Military.com explained, "President Donald Trump and Vance have repeatedly spoken about their desire for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, which is a territory of fellow NATO member Denmark. Both Trump and Vance have also said they support the Greenland people's right to self-determination, though polling has suggested a vast majority of residents there do not want to become part of the U.S."

Vance had criticized Denmark, claiming that incursions by China and Russia had put the territory at risk.

A report at Fox said Space Force confirmed Meyers was removed "due to loss of confidence in her ability to lead."

"Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties," the statement read.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

One group already considering legal challenge to Democrats' agenda

An analysis of a new gun control plan in Colorado described it as "monumentally unconstitutional," but that didn't deter leftist Gov. Jared Polis from signing it into law.

The analysis, from RedState also called the law "insanely unconstitutional," and as proposed would have banned the production and most sales of semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 "(which would be bad enough on its own) but also makes essentially all modern-day handguns illegal as well."

The state now bans the manufacture and most sales of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines, unless a purchase jumps through a laundry list of new demands from the state.
"To say this is blatantly unconstitutional is an understatement. The Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia vs. Heller that firearms in common use are protected under the Second Amendment for 'traditionally lawful purposes.' That includes self-defense. Semi-automatic handguns and rifles with detachable magazines are the most commonly used guns in the United States. It's not even a question that this gun control law runs afoul of Supreme Court precedent. That means that Polis signed something that he has to know is illegal, making this move all the more insidious," the analysis revealed.

Colorado, which has moved to the extreme left in recent years under the dictates of homosexual Gov. Jared Polis, is no stranger to losing at the Supreme Court. It tried to demand that business owners speak only its approved messaging and lost – twice. It tried to remove President Trump from the 2024 ballot, and lost. It now is facing another significant loss – in its agenda to insist that counselors in the state speak only its approved messaging and promote transgenderism's chemical treatments and body mutilations.

The analysis noted, "The stakes here could not be higher. If Colorado gets away with this, you can kiss the Second Amendment goodbye. If a state gets away with largely banning semi-automatic handguns, it can get away with banning any type of firearm. This is the most radical gun control legislation to ever be signed, and it must be fiercely opposed.

A report at the Center Square said the law actually allows a purchase of such a weapon but only after a buy endures a "firearms safety course" and obtains an "eligibility card" from their local sheriff.

They also must prove they've completed a "firearm education course."

Meg Froelich, a Democrat who pushed for the new restrictions on the Second Amendment, claimed the solution is that purchasers must be required to finish "a rigorous safety training course and acquire a permit to purchase the most deadly weapons on the market to ensure that they are not a danger to themselves or our communities."

The California State Shooting Association responded, after Polis' signature, that the state is in "direct assault on the Second Amendment."

The law "imposes unprecedented restrictions on the purchase of semi-automatic firearms through a burdensome permit-to-purchase scheme," the association said in a statement sent to The Center Square.

ABC reported the move by the state run by Democrats in the legislature and governor's office is seen as part of a "longrunning Democratic campaign."

A legal challenge already is being considered by the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.

The report noted that the leftists' logic was that by disallowing detachable magazines, mass shooters couldn't quickly reload: they would have to do that bullet-by-bullet when their weapon had only a permanently attached magazine.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The United States is at odds with Mexico over its allowance of millions of illegal aliens to arrive at, and cross, America's southern border.

Americans further take offense at the tons of drugs, including the dangerous fentanyl, that are shipped from Mexico into the United States.

Then there are the drug cartels themselves, which President Donald Trump now has designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

Now it's water.

President Trump said, "Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, but Mexico is unfortunately violating their Treaty obligation. This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly. Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers.

"Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers. THAT ENDS NOW! I will make sure Mexico doesn't violate our Treaties and doesn't hurt our Texas Farmers. Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty. My Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, is standing up for Texas Farmers, and we will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!"

The Hill explained Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum admitted her country had failed to meet its obligations.

She claimed that was caused by drought.

Cruz confirmed, "I can tell you, Mexico is in the process now of negotiating with the State Department to provide for the water. We're going to get the water. And that's a great victory in America."

The original agreement requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. from the Rio Grande every five years, while the U.S. sends 1.5 million acre-feet of water every year to Mexico from the Colorado River.

An acre-foot of water, by volume, is the water needed to cover one acre of land one foot deep. It's about 326,000 gallons.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Aircraft was heading toward New Jersey when the 'chopper blade flew off'

The crash of a helicopter that spun out of control and crashed into the Hudson River in New York has killed a family of five plus the pilot.

The New York Post said the victims included Agustin Escobar, president of Siemens in Spain, along with his wife and their three children.

One witness reported the helicopter heading toward New Jersey when the "chopper blade flew off."

"I don't know what happened to the tail, but it just straight-up dropped. It dropped feet away from Holland Tunnel, and I can't imagine if it hit it," Avi Rakesh said to NBC.

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