Michelle Obama addressed "rumors" about her family as speculation of divorce continues to swirl.
The former first lady tiptoed around the elephant in the room as she dismissed "negative energy" directed at her and her husband, who are rumored to be heading for a separation as some speculate that former president Obama is tied to Jennifer Aniston.
The divorce gossip started earlier this year after Michelle Obama failed to make appearances at major public events with President Obama, including Jimmy Carter's funeral and the inauguration of President Trump.
After a period of absence, Michelle returned to the spotlight last week to launch a new podcast, IMO, with her brother Craig Robinson.
While she did not comment on the alleged tensions in her marriage, she cited numerous examples of controversies over the years that have caused headaches for her family, including the rumors about President Obama's birth certificate.
"People always ask me and Barack how we stayed hopeful—not just during the eight years in the White House but beyond,” she said. “Because, let me tell you, there was a lot of negative energy coming our way—a lot of rumors, a lot of gossip," she said on the show.
Michelle Obama added that she never looks at the comments on her social media posts, pointing to "made up" claims from strangers.
“You cannot live through social media,” she said. “Don’t let that negative energy enter into your space," she added, "These are people who don’t know you. A lot of this stuff is made up, and it does not feed you.”
The comments about "rumors" and "gossip" were seen by some as a subtle response to the recent chatter of marital woes.
Like she has done before, Obama also shared some light-hearted criticism of her husband, poking fun at his difficulties with being punctual early on in their relationship.
“I was like, ‘Dude, a 3 o’clock departure means you’ve done all that,’ you know, it’s like, don’t start looking for your glasses at the 3 o’clock departure,” she added.
"He’s improved over 30 years of marriage, but that was a ‘you must adjust,'” she added.
The divorce rumors have spread even as President Obama is said to be romantically involved with Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston - who laughed off the "absolutely untrue" claims during an interview last year.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Removal would have been proper in 'a number of cases in our history'
Facing a long list of federal judges who have ruled against his agenda, including judges with documented personal biases on the disputes, President Donald Trump erupted on social media when one demanded that terrorists being removed from its shores for the security of America be returned.
He called for the judge's impeachment.
And that prompted Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to scold, in a fashion.
Without mentioning the president, Roberts explained, "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."
And that's right. Mostly. According to constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz.
He, in fact, said there are times when impeachment is the appropriate remedy.
"Impeachment is proper — Chief Justice [Roberts] is wrong when he says it's never proper for a decision — after the Dred Scott decision, for example, which declared black people not to be eligible for citizenship, impeachment would have been a proper remedy," Dershowitz said. "There have been a number of cases in our history where impeachment would have been a proper remedy, but not generally. Generally, appellate remedies are available, particularly in cases of this kind."
WND has reported that the judge criticized by Trump is James Boasberg, in Washington.
The president said on social media;
Boasberg interfered in Trump's responsibilities to make sure the U.S. is secure by opposing the president's decisions to deport a number of criminal illegal aliens, including some affiliated with a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aregua, whose members are considered terrorists.
Over the weekend, Boasberg ordered a halt to those deportations. Further, he claimed the authority to order planes carrying those deportees that already had taken off, and were in international airspace, to be returned to the United States.
The Trump administration let the planes continue to their El Salvador destination, explaining that the judge's order didn't have any authority over international territories. Further, the judge's verbal order and subsequent written ordered were different.
WND reported further, investigative journalist Laura Loomer revealed there appears to be a huge conflict of interest for Boasberg, suggesting he should have, under ethics standards, removed himself from the case.
She explained, "Less than 12 hours after I exposed Judge James Boasberg's conflict of interest with his daughter Katharine Boasberg, who works for a 501c3 called 'Partners For Justice' @PFJ_USA that gives criminal illegal aliens and gang members legal advice, Katharine Boasberg has DELETED her @LinkedIn page and her Instagram account. I have exclusively uncovered a massive CONFLICT OF INTEREST involving Judge James Boasberg, the Chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Boasberg recently made the decision to prevent the deportation of criminal illegal alien gang members on planes out of the country. This is enough for President Trump's legal team to push for a MOTION FOR RECUSAL for Judge Boasberg."
It's not the first time such a situation has arisen for a judge working on a lawfare case against Trump. When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wildly claimed that business reporting misdemeanors, for which the statute of limitations already had passed, actually were felonies and put Trump on trial, Judge Juan Merchan allowed testimony from a former porn star and a convicted perjurer to be used against Trump to obtain a conviction.
It also was revealed that Merchan's daughter is a Democrat operative who was advising campaigns, and making money off the decisions her father was making against Trump in court.
Boasberg is continuing his agenda this week, demanding the Trump administration answer his questions about why it didn't order the airplanes to turn around mid-flight, exactly what time they took off, and more.
He is insisting his "equitable powers" should attach to a plane even if it has departed the U.S. and is in "international airspace."
Trump has been using the Alien Enemies Act and other federal laws to deport known criminal illegal aliens.
The unprecedented work by trial court judges to block Trump's agendas, including deporting criminal aliens, eliminating fraud, waste and corruption in the executive branch spending, and more, already is being described by analysts as a constitutional crisis for the country.
The Washington Examiner explained, "A grave threat to democracy was revealed during the first weeks of President Donald Trump's second term. But it does not emanate from the White House. Judges, acting in coordination with left-wing activist groups, are abusing the judicial power to thwart the will of the people and undermine temperate and deliberate jurisprudence."
Already some of the questions, especially about nationwide injunctions from local judges, have been submitted to the Supreme Court.
The report explained, "The power of courts to enjoin parties from taking action to prevent harm to a litigant is older than the Constitution, stretching back to English common law. This tradition is preserved in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which allow a party to secure a preliminary injunction if he establishes that 'he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.'"
It continued, "This is a high bar. It typically means a court's power to limit a party's actions is confined to named plaintiffs in the suit. This can make challenges to federal government actions tricky because any national policy, such as a nationwide employer vaccine mandate, could affect almost everyone."
Nationwide injunctions historically have been used rarely, except against President Trump, who has been targeted by dozens and dozens from often leftist judges.
The Supreme Court, in fact, has expressed concern over the multitudes.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
PALM BEACH, Florida – Is it possible that President Donald Trump will actually run again for president in 2028 and win?
The answer is yes, according to former Trump aide and popular talk-show host Steve Bannon.
"I'm a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028. So I've already endorsed President Trump," Bannon told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo Tuesday night.
"A man like this comes along once every century, if we're lucky. We've got him now, he's on fire, and I'm a huge supporter, and I want to see him again in 2028."
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."
When Cuomo mentioned the term limits, the host of "War Room" responded: "We're working on it. I think we'll have a couple of alternatives, let's say that. We'll see what the definition of term limit is."
"We've had greater long shots than Trump 2028," Bannon said.
Regarding his strategy, he noted: "We're not prepared to talk about it publicly, but in a couple of months, I think we will be."
When Cuomo brought up the possibility of insurrection or revolution, Bannon rejected that, saying, "We're huge believers in democracy."
"We're in the middle of a 1932-type realignment if we can continue on and continue to have populist nationalist policies."
Bannon also hammered federal judges for their blocking of Trump policies, especially the deportation of criminal illegal aliens, as he pushed for their impeachment.
"More of these radical, neo-Marxist judges that are working in coordination ought to be impeached."
He accused U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who is working to stop deportations, of "stepping into President Trump's role" as commander-in-chief and "making command decisions that a military commander would make."
Cuomo wondered how patriotism aligns with attacking government institutions, and Bannon explained that reforming institutions is central to Trump's mandate.
"The American people understand that our institutions have to be either purged or they have to be reformed," Bannon said, "everything from the Justice Department to the FBI to the intelligence community to the Pentagon, across the board."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
'Brittany had one condition for them'
A married Indiana teacher is facing dozens of charges after allegedly asking three underage boys to "gangbang" her while wearing a mask from the horror film "Scream."
Prosecutors in Martinsville, Indiana, say five more victims are accusing former Morgan County teacher Brittany Fortinberry of sexual abuse, with some of the boys as young as 13 when the alleged group sex took place.
The new allegations come after the 31-year-old former instructor was originally charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and sending explicit messages, pictures and videos to other children at Eminence High School in Martinsville.
The Daily Mail reports: "The boy told Detective Williams that Fortinberry, 'would always make him food and would buy him anything he wanted' including 'vapes, weed, and THC carts (cartridges)', according to his affidavit.
"He made claims about several instances where Fortinberry allegedly plied him and friends with mushroom pills before encouraging them to touch her sexually.
"'Brittany would peer pressure them if they didn't want to take the shrooms,' the affidavit reads. 'Brittany would grab their arm she would say, "just let it happen."'
"His mom told cops that her son claimed that, 'Brittany would put the shrooms on a peanut butter sandwich so they couldn't taste them.'
"The boy claimed there was once occasion where Fortinberry picked him and two friends up and took them to the mall, before calling their parents to ask if they could spend the night.
"Once there, the then 13-year-old alleged Fortinberry ordered him and his two friends to have group sex with her, despite the youngsters all being underage.
"'Brittany had one condition for them to have the gangbang with her and that was that they had to wear a Scream mask to f**k her,' the affidavit states. …
"The latest alleged victim claims Fortinberry picked him and two friends up from the mall and took them back to her home where they engaged in a 'gangbang'. The boy, who was 13 at the time, claims Fortinberry's husband Nicholas was aware of the alleged abuse."
WTHR reports Nicholas Fortinberry has been charged with intimidation and failure to report, and prosecutors have filed to increase Brittany's bond from $20,000 to $150,000.
The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville confirmed Fortinberry was hired as a substitute teacher Oct. 24, 2023, before resigning on Jan. 9, 2024.
The district issued a statement indicating:
"The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville was notified of serious allegations against a former employee. The District is fully cooperating with law enforcement and remains committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for all of the MSD of Martinsville students.
"This former employee was hired as a substitute teacher on October 24, 2023, obtained a State-issued Emergency License, and resigned from the MSD of Martinsville on January 9, 2024; the resignation was not related to sexual misconduct allegations.
"During the individual's employment period with the MSD of Martinsville, there were no identified reports of sexual misconduct to the administration or the anonymous tip line. We want to assure families that the MSD of Martinsville conducts a full criminal background check for all new employees, as part of the standard hiring procedures. The background check report indicated no criminal activity for this former employee.
"The safety of the MSD of Martinsville students is our number one priority. As such, the District encourages students and parents to report concerns through the STOPit anonymous reporting system for the MSD of Martinsville. Thank you for your attention to this communication."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has offered a simple solution that would allow Congress to fix the problem of leftist and activist judges blocking President Donald Trump's agenda to cut fraud and waste from government spending, secure the border and more.
Some of the judges hearing the more than 100 lawsuits leftists have filed against Trump already have documented leftist leanings. One even ordered jets carrying deportees to El Salvador be turned around in the air and the terror suspects returned to the U.S.
Members of Congress have talked about impeachment, or removing the funding for those judges.
DeSantis' plan is something else: Just have Congress withdraw the courts' jurisdiction over those issues.
A report from Fox News explains Congress actually can do just that.
"Congress has the authority to strip jurisdiction of the federal courts to decide these cases in the first place," he explained on social media. "The sabotaging of President Trump's agenda by 'resistance' judges was predictable — why no jurisdiction-stripping bills tee'd up at the onset of this Congress?"
He said the instructions simply could be added to a "must-pass" bill."
DeSantis was responding to earlier suggestions from Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, that Congress defund the activist judges.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Extremists are vandalizing, destroying cars because of owner's work to help America
Anti-Trump radicals who have, sometimes violently, opposed the president plans to help Americans by eliminating waste, fraud, corruption, even criminal activity, from the government's spending, have been warned.
They could be subject to long prison terms for domestic violence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has released the following statement:
The vandalism, or worse, has been reported in multiple states on Tesla vehicles, because Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, also is working as chief of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency to shut down waste of Americans' tax dollars.
There's even a website that has purported to publish the names of Tesla owners, actually suggesting they express their "flair" for artistry with a spray can.
President Trump has explained it's likely not just random vandalism, but there is a strategy, and the presence of powerful and wealthy interests, behind it: "I do think this is an act of domestic terrorism. When we catch those people, you will find out that they were paid by people who were very highly political on the left."
The hit list announces, "If you're on the hunt for a Tesla to unleash your artistic flair with a spray can, just step outside—no map needed!"
The hit list, called DOGEQuest, comes "amid a series of violent attacks targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships. The FBI and ATF are investigating damage to Cybertrucks at a dealership in Kansas City," according to HeadlineUSA.
Amid dozens of instances of vandalism, hundreds have rioters also have gathered at Tesla dealerships.
A federal judge has blocked the Department of Government Efficiency's effort to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development, Fox News reported. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ordered all employees reinstated, even those on administrative leave in another pusbhak against President Donald Trump's agenda.
DOGE was created to cut the size of the government. Republicans believe organizations like USAID are wasteful and that DOGE has a right to slash whatever is redundant or useless in the federal budget.
Chuang, an Obama appointee, didn't see it that way. On Tuesday, the judge wrote that DOGE's move "shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including its apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID officer, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways."
The judge also claimed the cuts "not only harmed the plaintiffs, but also the public interest, because they deprived the public’s elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency created by Congress." This case promises to be one of several that will test the court's power to stop Trump.
It's clear that the mission of DOGE is just too challenging for Democrats, who rely on government spending to entice voters to continue to pull the lever for them. However, they really have focused their ire on DOGE's leader, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.
Many have questioned the legality of allowing Musk to operate in the government as an adviser to Trump. Chuang laid the groundwork for requiring Senate confirmation for Musk under the Appointments Clause of the Constitution.
In the meantime, DOGE cannot make any more cuts to USAID. In a separate decision, U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali previously ruled that the Trump administration must pay off contractors for work already completed while admonishing it for "unlawfully impounding" almost $2 billion in aid.
Ali demanded the Trump administration pay $1.9 billion in foreign aid that was already promised by a deadline of Feb. 27. The judge claimed that withholding payments due overstepped the powers of the executive branch.
"Here, the executive has unilaterally deemed that funds Congress appropriated for foreign aid will not be spent. The executive not only claims his constitutional authority to determine how to spend appropriated funds, but usurps Congress’ exclusive authority to dictate whether the funds should be spent in the first place," Ali said.
These judges have cut DOGE off at the knees through these decisions despite all of the apparent waste that's already been uncovered. Just after DOGE's investigation effort was underway, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt outlined some of the most egregious expenditures.
A video of her statement was shared to X, formerly Twitter, by Libs of TikTok last month. Leavitt said there were some "insane priorities" the agency used taxpayer dollars to fund.
"$1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia's workplaces; $70,000 for production of a DEI musical in Ireland; $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia; $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru. I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going toward this crap..." Leavitt said.
Press Secretary details some of the insane spending from USAID over the past few years:
- $1.5 million for DEI in Serbia
- $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland
- $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia
- $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru pic.twitter.com/F6oskM4QSK— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 3, 2025
DOGE did its job by rooting out some of the most wasteful uses of money from one of the most useless government sectors. These judges are thwarting that noble mission at the moment, but the White House is scrambling to mount a counterattack on these efforts.
Rhode Island State Rep. Enrique Sanchez found himself in legal trouble after an incident on February 3, resulting in his arrest on charges of driving under the influence. Sanchez was pulled over in Cranston, Rhode Island after allegedly stopping at a green traffic light and parking at an intersection, leading officers to suspect he was intoxicated.
Sanchez was charged with driving under the influence but has pleaded not guilty despite observable signs of intoxication noted by police officers, the Daily Mail reported.
The arrest unfolded when Sanchez was seen at an intersection, stopped inexplicably at a green light. Officer Chavelle Lopez approached Sanchez's vehicle and reported detecting an alcohol odor coming from him. In a mix-up, Sanchez handed over his debit card instead of his driver's license, which prompted further suspicion.
Upon interacting with Sanchez, Officer Austin Smith noted the strong scent of alcohol, urging him to be honest about drinking. Despite these observations, Sanchez refused to confirm whether he had been consuming alcohol, attributing his behavior to the effects of Adderall, a medication he takes for ADHD.
Sanchez's refusal to cooperate continued as he declined to take a field sobriety test. Instead, he suggested using a ride-hailing service to get home safely. However, the officers proceeded with his arrest under suspicion of impaired driving, resulting in an overnight detention.
When faced with the charges, Sanchez entered a not guilty plea for driving while intoxicated. He also contested lesser infractions related to chemical testing refusals and traffic breaches.
On February 19, Sanchez's driver's license was suspended in response to his refusal to undergo the chemical test. However, he was granted a "hardship license," allowing him to operate a vehicle with specific conditions for work and legislative duties.
The legal proceedings progressed with the case being escalated to the state's Superior Court on February 24. This move followed mounting scrutiny and public demands for Sanchez's resignation, adding to the lawmaker's challenging situation.
Despite facing pressure from various quarters, including calls for his resignation, Sanchez maintained a stance of neither admitting guilt nor apologizing for the incident. Instead, he opted to address his constituents on February 10, expressing gratitude for their patience during this turbulent period.
He emphasized his commitment to his role as a public servant, acknowledging that the experience had deepened his understanding of his responsibilities. While Sanchez's remarks conveyed appreciation, he stopped short of accepting blame or conceding any wrongdoing.
The arrest of a sitting state representative has drawn significant attention and provoked diverse reactions. Discussions surrounding Sanchez's ability to fulfill his duties have ensued within the community and political circles.
Critics argue that the incident undermines the public's trust in their elected officials, calling into question Sanchez's future as a state representative. Meanwhile, supporters point to his record of serving constituents and urge due process as the legal case unfolds.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened awareness about the consequences of impaired driving and leadership accountability. Sanchez's legal battle could serve as a pivotal moment for both the political landscape in Rhode Island and broader conversations about public officials facing legal challenges.
In his message to Rhode Island residents, Sanchez reiterated his dedication to representing their interests. He stated, "I love my work and the work I do to help better the lives of all the people of this state," affirming his commitment to serving the public.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: 'We're going to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone again, whether they're Republicans, Democrats, or independents'
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday morning on FBN's Mornings with Maria.
During his segment, Secretary Bessent announced that the two IRS whistleblowers were promoted to leadership roles in the Treasury Department.
Finally, people of integrity and courage are being rewarded for their actions.
IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley, and Joseph Ziegler, testified on the government prosecutors' preferential treatment of Hunter Biden. The two men stepped forward in 2023 and testified that Hunter Biden did not pay taxes on millions of dollars in international money schemes and was given a sweetheart deal from far-left investigators.
Shapley said Biden-appointed US Attorneys blocked charges against Hunter Biden. Gary Shapley said two Biden-appointed US Attorneys blocked charges against the president's son, Hunter Biden.
These two men later told Catherine Herridge in a 2024 interview that the IRS targets conservatives and helps to hide evidence for Democrats.
"We knew that the laptop was real. The DOJ knew that the laptop was real." The first whistleblower added, "The FBI knew the laptop was real." Whistleblower Two explained, "There were a lot of overt actions that we were not allowed to take because we had an upcoming election."
"When we were doing the interviews, the prosecutors specifically said that we were not allowed to ask about 'the big guy' because they knew it was Joe Biden."
The "Big Guy" refers to kickbacks going to Joe Biden from the family's illicit business dealings with foreign officials.
Herridge then asks the whistleblowers to reveal how they've been punished for revealing what they saw taking place at the IRS.
Their answers were stunning. After they went public about the Biden family's corruption and how top Biden officials were ignoring their wrongdoing, they continued to be targeted in their department.
On Tuesday, Secretary Scott Bessent made national news by announcing that the IRS whistleblowers were being moved to leadership positions.
Honesty and integrity matter to the Trump administration.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Says 10 police officers responded to her home despite no emergency
Late Monday night, Juanita Broaddrick, one of the women who claims President Bill Clinton raped her, says she was "swatted," with 10 law-enforcement officers and a SWAT team coming to her home.
Along with a video, Broaddrick posted on X: "Well, I just got swatted. About 10 police and swat team showed up. They said the caller said there were 2 masked men and people inside had been shot. This s–t needs to stop."
In the last couple years, there has been an increase in bogus calls to law enforcement, causing officers to show up at the homes of conservative politicians or activists, guns drawn.