This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
During COVID, the federal government handed out trillions of dollars.
American taxpayers bought massages chairs for a teachers' lounge in Montana, spent $6.6 million on a sprinkler system at a Colorado Springs golf course, paid $2,000 for a bowling party in Connecticut, another $10 million on rodeos because of course rodeos are needed, $7,675 on a marching band and some $2,400 on "swag."
Stunningly, given the circumstances, some money wasn't spent. And one U.S. senator says in just one part of that program, intended to help state and local governments, there was $65 billion left over. She wants it back.
"The COVID cash bonanza was a $4.5 trillion all-you-can-eat buffet of waste, fraud, and abuse, with the cost eaten by taxpayers," Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, confirmed. "At $38 trillion in debt, the federal government shouldn't have secret slush funds or be spending them on golf carts, bowling parties, and high school drag shows. While too much money has already been sent out the door, we have a chance to return the remaining $65 billion to the American people."
Her legislative plans targets money that was part of a $350 billion allocation for state and local governments to cope with the economic fallout from COVID and all those business shutdowns.
According to a report at the Washington Stand, the $350 billion went to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, and the Economic Policy Innovation Center said the motivation there was "to replace state and local tax revenue based on the assumption that these governments would experience shortfalls like those experienced during previous recessions."
But, the organization revealed, "The reduction in state and local revenues never materialized to the extent that Congress anticipated at the time of enactment."
So various officials decided to use the money, allocated in a bill signed by Joe Biden, for other projects, and there was little to no oversight.
EPIC has confirmed, "More than $185 million has been approved for projects related to golf courses (such as updating irrigation systems or buying golf carts), more than $400 million has gone to improve swimming pools, almost $80 million has gone to sports stadiums, $34 million has gone to building tennis and pickleball courts, $10 million has gone to rodeos, and one town even got $15 million to install showers and a commercial kitchen at a site to host the circus and local flea market."
Enough, said Ernst.
She is going after unspent money in that allocation, as well as funds under "the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Divisions M or N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act of 2021, the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020."
Her bill calls for the funds to be put in the general fund of the nation's Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Just four days after President Trump warned of U.S. military action in Nigeria with "guns-a-blazing" over the killing of Christians, the commander in chief on Wednesday issued a video statement amplifying his threat, as he stressed, "The killing of Christians is not going to happen."
"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands and thousands of Christians are being killed," Trump said. "Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a country of particular concern, that's a legal definition.
"When the Christians or any such group is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria – 3,100 vs. 4,476 worldwide, what horrible numbers – something has to be done."
The president continued: "I am asking Congressman Riley Moore together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee to immediately look into this matter and to report back to me – and I mean, like, immediately.
"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. It's not only Nigeria, it's all over. We stand ready, willing and able to save our great Christian population around the world. This is not going to happen. The killing of Christians is not going to happen."
The official designation for Nigeria came last Friday, and on Saturday the president went public with the military warning.
"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities," Trump said.
"I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"
Pop star Nicki Minaj has already expressed her gratitude to Trump for highlighting the plight of Nigerian Christians.
"Reading [the president's statement] made me feel a deep sense of gratitude," wrote Minaj.
"We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don't have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
"Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it's dangerous to pretend we don't notice.
"Thank you to the president and his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let's remember to lift them up in prayer."
Speculation that ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi will retire is mounting, with Democrats saying they believe she will make an announcement after Election Day, NBC reports.
Rumors of retirement have dogged the 85-year-old Pelosi for years, but the leftist politician has kept a tenacious hold on power, defying her critics.
Insiders told NBC that Pelosi will likely leave on a high note after the expected passage of Proposition 50, Democrats' partisan redistricting proposal in California.
“I wish she would stay for 10 more years,” one House Democrat from California told NBC. “I think she’s out. She’s going to go out with Prop 50 overwhelmingly passing, and what a crowning achievement for her to do that.”
A fixture on Capitol Hill for years, Pelosi ranks as one of the most influential and wealthiest politicians in the country. Her finances have come under close scrutiny in recent years, fueling calls to ban stock trading by lawmakers.
A House Democrat leadership aide said, “I think she’s preparing to exit the stage," adding, "We will not fully appreciate the time we have spent with her."
Meanwhile, a Democratic official in Pelosi's San Francisco fiefdom said, “Most people think it is highly unlikely that she will run for another term."
Primary challengers have already started to line up for Pelosi's seat, including California state senator Scott Wiener, a notorious radical.
During a Monday appearance on CNN, Pelosi demurred when asked about her plans.
“I have said I won’t do anything until Preposition 50, so tomorrow night will be very fraught with meaning for all of us. I want to win big, I think we can win big, and I don‘t want to be spending time on whatever I might be doing. I want to spend my time on what we‘re doing, working together to get out the vote,” Pelosi said on CNN.
Pelosi's retirement, when it comes, will be a pivotal moment in American politics.
The first female Speaker of the House, Pelosi was the Democrats' ruthless leader in the chamber for nearly two decades, including the entirety of President Trump's first term. She served two separate stints as Speaker before resigning from leadership after the 2022 midterms elections.
She has played a more muted role in Trump's second term, which has been a difficult time for Democrats as they have drifted without a sense of direction.
Her handpicked successor in the House, minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, has struggled to lead Democrats with the same discipline that Pelosi had.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
On the eve of Election Day in New York City, President Donald Trump urged citizens of the Big Apple to vote – not for Republican Curtis Sliwa, but for Democrat-turned-Independent Andrew Cuomo, as he does not wish "Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani" to be the next mayor.
"A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani," Trump said Monday on Truth Social.
"Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!"
Trump gave a lengthy explanation for his plea, saying: "If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!
"It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don't want to send, as President, good money after bad. It is my obligation to run the Nation, and it is my strong conviction that New York City will be a Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster should Mamdani win.
"His principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful. I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE.
"He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!"
Last month, the president was asked directly about the contest by Maria Bartiromo of Fox News, and Trump appeared hesitant, saying, "I guess I haven't made a decision really."
"I think it's not good to have a communist. Would I rather have a Democrat than a communist? Barely. They're almost becoming the same thing."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A federal appeals court is scheduled on Monday to hear about the discrimination used by the University of Maine system against a Christian church which won a bid to purchase disused school property, but then was rejected because of its beliefs.
A report from Liberty Counsel, which is working on behalf of Calvary Chapel Belfast, explained the lower court claimed that it was fine for the school system to cancel the church's winning bid "despite evidence of religious animus and numerous irregularities in the bidding process."
"Calvary Chapel Belfast rightfully won the University of Maine System's first bidding process, and the appeals court will have the chance to ensure the university honors that bid," explained Liberty Counsel chief Mat Staver. "The church participated in the bidding process in good faith, but UMS then unlawfully rescinded their winning bid due to its religious beliefs after community backlash but under the excuse of procedural deficiencies. Such discrimination is unlawful, and an injunction is necessary to restore the church's bid award and stop these unconstitutional actions."
The fight started several years ago, when in November 2024, the church fought back when school officials rescinded the winning bid for the Hutchinson Center.
The rescission was because of "public, legislative, and donor outcry over" the Christian beliefs of the church.
The church sought an injunction, and Liberty Counsel argued on its behalf that UMS officials deviated from their bidding procedures, accepted invalid appeals form the losers, and "cited relocating an Internet hub from the building as a 'cost-avoidance deficiency' as the reason for rescinding the initial award."
Liberty Counsel explained, "Subsequently, UMS held a second, rigged bidding process that awarded the building to a secular bidder."
Despite evidence, the legal team noted, Stacey Neumann, a judge, rejected the request for an injunction.
Pending now is the argument from Liberty Counsel that "decisions from at least four other appeals courts make clear that when adverse government actions follow in sequence after 'bigoted community opposition,' any 'direct and circumstantial evidence' of discriminatory intent is 'valid.'"
All that's needed for problems to occur is for the government decisionmaker to "knowingly act on the objections" of those who are intentionally discriminating.
"The record shows that [UMS] acted in the wake of extraordinary religiously motivated opposition from UMaine donors, faculty, alumni, and the disappointed bidders," wrote Liberty Counsel. "By granting an appeal from a losing bidder that was highly 'infected' with religious animus, as well as overruling its own procurement experts, and disregarding the competitive negotiated procurement process, UMS made a decision that resulted in religious discrimination," the legal team said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A new report has documented how California has declared war on Christian parents, calling them a danger to children, yet endorsing adults who promote to kids the ideology of removing their private parts because they are the ones who are "safe."
It's all over the transgender ideology, which promotes giving chemicals to children and mutilating their bodies surgically in the mistaken assumption that a boy can become a girl, or vice versa. In fact, being male or female is embedded in the human body down to the DNA level and doesn't change.
The report is posted at Revolver, which cited California's new law, SB 407, which requires foster parents to push the leftist ideology to children they have in their care.
The idea was from state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who has been described as "California's most dangerous lawmaker."
He is "a whole 'nother level of fetish and perversion," the report states.
Previously he helped decriminalize "loitering for prostitution" in the state, so predators and pimps now can target vulnerable girls more easily.
The report explains the new law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, "requires all prospective and current foster parents to demonstrate the 'capacity, ability, and willingness' to affirm a child's self-identified sexual orientation or gender identity as part of the licensing and recertification process."
That means Christians who for years have served the neediest of California's children, those in foster care, now are being excluded.
"But it's perfectly 'safe' for kids to be in a home with foster parents who encourage them to remove their private parts. That makes sense …," the report said.
Revolver continued, "But what's happening in California boils down to one thing… it's all about enforcing the left's religion… where government plays god. The all-knowing state now decides what you're allowed to believe, and if your faith doesn't align with its gender-obsessed ideology, you're disqualified from helping others."
Legal experts, in fact, have warned that the next step is to brand "all Christian parents 'unfit,'" if they don't push transgenderism.
Government officials in the state have claimed that failing to "affirm" transgenderism actually poses a "risk or threat" to the child.
"The California Family Council (CFC) recently received a call from a foster father who, along with his wife, had provided temporary care to multiple young children over several years. Despite their history of offering loving homes, their social worker denied the renewal of their foster care license because they could not commit to affirming any identity a child might choose. This was a marked departure from previous practices, where their belief[s] were accommodated, and they were not assigned LGBTQ-identified children," the report noted.
Kevin Snider of Pacific Justice Institute told Revolver of the impact.
"The implications of SB 407 and the recent Directive from the Dept. of Social Services is that foster families holding religious or traditional views on gender and sexual orientation are unqualified to provide care for foster children. California parents may think, 'This doesn't concern me — I'm not a foster parent.' In fact, it does concern you. There is now a very small step for the state to deem any parent as unfit to raise their own children if the family holds a view that contradicts the state's ideology on gender and sexual orientation. This could result in a visit by Child Protective Services with tragic consequences for the home."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump's work on the White House includes, as Democrats have raged, a new ballroom.
To seat some 999 people for state functions, it essentially will replace the East Wing, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in costs are being funded by donors – not taxpayers.
The leftists immediately erupted, like California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell, with wild ideas that Democrat presidential hopefuls must pledge to take a wrecking ball to what will be a federal building on day one.
But evidence now confirms that Trump's ability to renovate in style is online.
He posted images a finished bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom suite in the White House.
He said, "I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there!" he posted online.
See the results:
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The report said a Trump administration official confirmed the two nations have an "understanding" and China is not going to "impose the rare earth controls that they proposed."
And China is buying shiploads of soybeans, a development that will please American farmers.
"We have a deal. Now every year we'll renegotiate the deal," Trump said on Air Force One. "All of the rare earth has been settled, and that's for the world."
Rare earths are needed for American products including smartphones, electric vehicles, medical equipment, satellites and more.
China's chief even delivered an unexpected surprise, thanks to Trump for promoting peace around the globe. Trump has, in fact, worked to bring to a halt local conflicts in many locations.
"A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed the progress between the two countries in a statement regarding the Trump-Xi summit," the report said.
"The leaders of China and the United States just met in Busan, South Korea, and discussed in depth issues such as China-U.S. economic and trade relations, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in economic and trade fields. China is willing to work with the United States to jointly safeguard and implement the important consensus reached at the meeting between the two heads of state," the China statement confirmed.
Trump said, "Additionally, China has agreed to continue the flow of Rare Earth, Critical Minerals, Magnets, etc., openly and freely." He also said a deal is being developed for China to purchase American energy.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel withdrew his name "due to a vicious witch hunt orchestrated by far-left outlets desperate to derail President Trump's agenda to drain the swamp."
What they had done was claim that he had been accused of sexual harassment.
The result is a $150 million defamation lawsuit by Paul Ingrassia against Politico and a reporter, Daniel Lippman.
A report in the Gateway Pundit, for whom Ingrassia served for a time as a contributor, revealed the development.
The report said the lawsuit comes "just days after Ingrassia was forced to withdraw his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel" because of that "vicious witch hunt."
Ingrassia announced, "I have just filed a $150,000,000 defamation lawsuit against Politico and Daniel Lippman. Very proud of all the hard work done by my absolutely incredible legal team – the Truth will finally come out, and Justice will be served!"
The case was brought in Virginia and confirmed by his counsel, Edward Andrew Paltzik of Taylor Dykema PLLC. It was triggered by Politico's October 9 article by Lippman titled "Key Trump nominee accused of sexual harassment."
Paltzik said such claims are "categorically false" and confirmed Ingrassia "has never sexually harassed anyone – full stop."
Paltzik told the Gateway Pundit, "Paul Ingrassia's case is about one of the most substantial threats to the future of Western Civilization and to our one-of-a-kind Republic in particular: the Far Left's weaponization of journalism. We can no longer afford to sit back and just hope against hope that the situation will improve. Only by fighting back in the courts against this weaponization, which is exactly what Mr. Ingrassia is courageously doing, will prevail against this scourge."
Ingrassia earlier withdrew his name from contention for the OSC position, pointing out that several senators had succumbed to the damage campaign from Politico.
"I do not have enough Republican votes at this time," he confirmed.
According to a report from the Washington Examiner, Ingrassia also is the current White House liaison for the Department of Homeland Security.
There also was an issue with Politico reporting text messages involving Ingrassia, texts that have not been confirmed.
"Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted," charged Paltzik. "However, arguendo, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters 'Nazis.'"
Those could be "outright falsehoods, doctored, or manipulated," the lawyer said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
While President Donald Trump continues his trade-focused mission in the Far East, the commander in chief is irked by what he calls "fake ads" showing his polling levels "at low levels," and is now urging a ban on such commercials.
Shortly after arriving in Japan on Monday, Trump posted a lengthy message on Truth Social, stating: "After winning THREE Elections, BY A LOT, I am now getting the best Polling Numbers that I have ever received.
"People see how strong the Economy is, the Trillions of Dollars of Investment pouring into our Country, the Record Setting Strong Border (After years of millions of criminals pouring through it, totally unvetted and unchecked!), ending 8 wars in eight months, no men playing in women's sports, no transgender for everyone, rapidly falling Energy prices, and much more!
"Despite all of this, the Radical Left Losers are taking fake ads, not showing REAL Polls, but rather saying that I'm Polling at low levels.
"These are the people that I've been beating for years, and am continuing to do so, but by even bigger margins. These ads should not be allowed to run because they are FAKE!
It was not immediately clear to which specific ads about polling Trump was referring.
Just last week, as WorldNetDaily reported, Trump pulled the plug on trade negotiations with Canada, where the economy relies in significant ways on the United States, over what he called a "FAKE" ad that appears to be trying to influence the U.S. Supreme Court's looming decision on tariffs.
Further, that Canadian ad may actually misrepresent President Ronald Reagan, whose words it uses.
Trump responded to that spot, saying: "The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. The ad was for $75,000,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HERBY TERMINATED. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT."
The Hill explained, "Trump in August announced a 35 percent tariff on all Canadian goods, though products covered under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement were exempt. Canada is one of the United States' top trading partners, and their economies are heavily intertwined when it comes to certain products. But Trump has repeatedly argued the U.S. does not need Canadian goods, and that Canada is far more reliant on America for its economy."
In fact, the Reagan Foundation confirmed the ad manipulated Reagan's words, and it announced it was reviewing its legal options"