Category: Politics
Obamas were to meet Rob Reiner and his wife on the day they were killed, Michelle Obama says
Former first lady Michelle Obama revealed that she and her husband were scheduled to have dinner with Rob Reiner and his wife on the day they were found stabbed to death.
Obama made the revelation while a guest on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on Monday evening. The Obamas had been longtime friends of the Reiners.
‘They were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about, and they cared about their family, and they cared about this country.’
Reiner, a famed director and actor, was found dead next to his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, at their home in Los Angeles. Police said they have arrested their son, Nick Reiner, who reportedly has had struggles with mental illness and drug addiction.
“We were supposed to be seeing them that night, last night, and we got the news,” Obama said to Kimmel.
She said they had known the Reiners for several years and described the as “some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know.”
She also appeared to take a swipe at the statement made by President Donald Trump criticizing Reiner after his death.
“They are not deranged or crazed. … They were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about, and they cared about their family, and they cared about this country, and they cared about fairness and equity, and that is the truth,” she added.
Nick Reiner had also reportedly gotten into an alarming fight with his parents during a party at the home of Conan O’Brien the evening before their deaths.
RELATED: Hollywood icon Rob Reiner, wife found dead in their home; police are calling it a homicide
Carl Reiner was best known for his part in producing and directing classic movies that include “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally …,” and “The Princess Bride.”
Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Blood was reportedly found at a hotel he was staying at after the fight with his parents.
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‘His recovery is miraculous’: Mother of National Guard member shot in DC attack gives hopeful update on his condition
The mother of Andrew Wolfe said that he is making a “miraculous” recovery weeks after getting shot in the head in an alleged terror attack in Washington, D.C.
Wolfe and Sarah Beckstrom were patrolling D.C. as West Virginia National Guard members on Nov. 26 when an armed man attacked them. Beckstrom died from her injuries, and Wolfe was grievously injured.
‘Everyone has said his recovery is miraculous and we all know why God is so good!’
Wolfe was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment. On Saturday, MedStar neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Mai released a statement about Wolfe’s progress.
“He is now breathing on his own and can stand with assistance — important milestones that reflect his strength and determination,” Mai said. “Based on these improvements, he is now ready to transition from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation as the next step in his recovery journey.”
His mother, Melody Wolfe, also released an update on his recovery progress.
“Andy is continuing to make HUGE improvements. He was sitting in a chair today for a few hours and was moving more of his right side. I asked if I could kiss him on his cheek, and he pulled me in close and let me give him a kiss, and then held me close with his arm around my neck,” the statement reads.
“It was the most precious gift he could give me,” she added.
“Then this evening he decided he was going to set the bar higher, and he started to smile and chuckle a little when his friends … were there talking with him! They were sharing pictures of Andy and his silliness, and he smiled and would even shake his head a little. So many people were able to witness this tonight!”
She went on to say that his communication abilities have greatly increased, although he is not able to communicate verbally yet.
“Everyone has said his recovery is miraculous, and we all know why God is so good!” she added. “He has worked through the hands of the knowledgeable and caring staff at the hospital, he has given our son the strength needed to heal, and he’s made sure Andy has been surrounded by so much positivity and love!”
RELATED: MS NOW reporter gets obliterated for unbelievable comment about National Guard attack
Wolfe’s family thanked everyone for their prayers on his behalf.
“We know he will continue to improve at a rapid pace and know your prayers are making the difference,” the family said. “Please continue as God heals Andrew and gives him the strength to return to work, the West Virginia National Guard, and his new mission of being a light into this world. The support we’ve received from Andy’s military family, his hometown community, and people across the nation has been extraordinary.”
The suspect in the attack was arrested and identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghani who had fought in missions for the CIA and fled to the U.S. after the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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Ocasio-Cortez claims ICE is targeting 6-year-olds in her district during crazed speech on immigration
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York argued against the political rhetoric on immigration from the Trump administration in an alarmist speech in Congress.
The congresswoman accused the administration of betraying the campaign promise to focus on deporting illegal aliens with criminal records in the speech Tuesday. She also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeted 6-year-olds in her district.
‘That myth, that ideology, is that our immigrant neighbors are our enemies and more dangerous than us.’
“President Trump ran on a promise to the American people that ICE would go after the worst of the worst. … What we have seen is that ICE is not overwhelmingly going after criminals,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“In fact, over 70% of people currently detained in detention facilities do not have a criminal record,” she added. “So, who are they going after? They are going after 6-year-olds in my district. They are going after students and permanent residents for their political views. They are going after Americans born and raised in the United States. And time and time again Trump has floated taking away citizenship from U.S. citizens based on their ethnicity.”
Ocasio-Cortez might have been referring to an incident where a 6-year-old was reportedly picked up by ICE in Queens along with her mother and deported to Ecuador.
AOC went on to attack the immigration “myth” she accused the administration of advocating.
“That myth, that ideology, is that our immigrant neighbors are our enemies and more dangerous than us,” she continued. “And they sustain that myth because if everybody believes it, they can get away with robbing all of us.”
She then accused Republicans of taking funding from food assistance, health care, and other social services in order to funnel it to ICE, which she called a “secret police program.”
While immigration activists have demanded that all enforcement efforts end, some Democrats have settled on the messaging that President Donald Trump’s deportation policies are too extreme.
RELATED: Ocasio-Cortez gets hammered over embarrassing mistake she made at CNN town hall
Ocasio-Cortez is believed by some to be positioning herself to run for even higher office, and some are calling for her to run for president in 2028.
If she decided to run for the U.S. Senate, she could challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is up for re-election in 2028.
Her ambitions have been criticized by many on the far left who accuse her of abandoning her extremist base in order to widen her appeal to moderates and centrists of the party.
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DOGE program is successfully shrinking the federal workforce, new jobs report suggests
Following some significant delays due to the Democrat-imposed government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has finally released its long-anticipated jobs report for November and October.
On Tuesday, the November jobs report, including partial data from October, was released, showing an unemployment rate at 4.6%, up 0.2 percentage points since September 2025 and up 0.4 percentage points since November of last year.
‘The report on December’s employment data, released in early January ahead of the next meeting, will likely be a much more meaningful indicator for the Fed when it comes to deciding the near-term trajectory.’
The labor market reportedly added 64,000 jobs after losing 105,000 jobs in October, according to available data.
Most of the jobs lost came from the federal government as part of DOGE’s buyout program, which went into effect at the end of September. Government employees who opted into the buyout were still listed as employed until their scheduled exit in October.
RELATED: Yuge win! New jobs report exceeds expectations, reversing Biden-era trends | Blaze Media
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
CNN explained that federal employment dropped precipitously in October, with 162,000 jobs lost, as a result of the Department of Government Efficiency’s work. DOGE’s “fork in the road” deferred resignation policy reportedly went into effect on September 30, though it was established earlier in the year.
The new report was originally scheduled to be released on December 5, but the release was delayed due to the 43-day government shutdown which affected data collection for both October and November.
Given the delays and fragmented data, experts have suggested that the November 2025 jobs report will not pull much weight in the Federal Reserve’s decision-making.
Kay Haigh, global co-head of fixed income and liquidity solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, told Fox News: “Chair [Jerome] Powell commented last week that the report would likely be affected by shutdown-related distortions, making it a less reliable gauge of the labor market’s health than usual. The report on December’s employment data, released in early January ahead of the next meeting, will likely be a much more meaningful indicator for the Fed when it comes to deciding the near-term trajectory.”
The jobs report for December is set to be published on January 9.
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Australian PM says suspect in Bondi Beach massacre had been investigated for terror ties; vows to pass more gun control laws
The prime minister of Australia vowed to take whatever action is necessary to prevent more horrific terrorist attacks but immediately turned to gun control as the answer.
He also revealed that one of the two suspects in the massacre had been previously investigated over Islamic terror ties to a cell in Sydney.
‘What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the comments Monday after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach and massacred at least 15 people.
“The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws,” he said.
Among the proposals to further restrict gun ownership is a limit on the number of guns a person can own as well as a review of gun permits held over a period of time.
The two gunmen were shot by police during the attack and were identified as a father and son. The 50-year-old father died of the gunshot injuries, but the son survived and is in custody. He is hospitalized in serious condition.
Albanese went on to confirm that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization had previously investigated the younger suspected gunman for six months in 2019 over ties to an Islamic State cell in Sydney.
“He was examined on the basis of being associated with others, and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence,” Albanese added.
About 25 people are being treated at hospitals from the attack, and about 10 people are in critical condition.
RELATED: Chuck Schumer gives stunningly tone-deaf remarks following Australia attack
Video from the attack showed a brave man tackle one of the suspects and wrestle away his weapon. He was identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a father of two girls and the son of refugee parents from Syria.
He was later shot in the incident and is recuperating at a hospital. A donation page set up for the heroic man has raised over $1.9 million.
“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations, and it is forever tarnished by what has occurred last evening,” Albanese said.
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Leslie Jones wants every ICE employee to go to prison: ‘Y’all know y’all did wrong stuff!’
Comedienne and actress Leslie Jones opined that the proper way to set things right is to send every employee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to jail.
The former Saturday Night Live cast member made the comments while being interviewed by Nicolle Wallace on “The Best People” podcast.
‘I just want a reckoning. I want a reckoning. Y’all know y’all did wrong stuff. You know some of the stuff you did was so wrong.’
Jones said there should be a reckoning after the midterm elections.
“Girl, I’m hoping, this is what I’m hoping, that midterms, people come out and vote like crazy to switch it over, and then the reckoning comes,” Jones said to a laughing Wallace.
“That’s why I want all, everybody that work for ICE, I want them in jail,” she added. “I just want a reckoning. I want a reckoning. Y’all know y’all did wrong stuff. You know some of the stuff you did was so wrong. I need a reckoning. Because that’s, to me, that’s the only thing that’s gonna make it right.”
She also called for some accountability for others involved in politics.
“You see somebody that’s doing something completely terrible, like some of these influencers, these crazy folks, and we let them go because freedom of speech, of course, but there should be accountability,” she added.
“Gravity, like things should fall,” Wallace chimed in.
Video of Jones’ comments were widely circulated on social media.
RELATED: Conservative writer posts same Tweet as ‘Ghostbusters’ actress — see what happened
Mass deportations have been a large part of President Donald Trump’s agenda in order to combat the influx of illegal aliens after four years under the Biden administration. Some of those efforts have been stymied by legal challenges.
Fox News said ICE did not respond to a request for comment about Jones’ wishes.
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USA Today reporter crushed with backlash after calling ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag ‘Christian nationalist’
A USA Today reporter is facing fierce backlash after reporting that a top education official had hung a “Christian nationalist” symbol at his office — but it turned out to be an “Appeal to Heaven” flag.
Zach Schermele posted an image of the flag hung at the office of Murray Bessette, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. The flag has a long historical tradition in the U.S. going back to the Revolutionary War.
‘Can we get a reporter with room temperature IQ or better?’
“A controversial Christian nationalist flag is hanging outside the D.C. office of a top Education Department official, the agency’s union and an employee who has observed it firsthand told me,” Schermele wrote on social media.
“The flag, which was raised by rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection,” he added, “is adorning the office of Murray Bessette, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.”
His bizarre accusation was widely mocked on social media.
“We’re not doing this again. We’re not letting leftist media ignorance of American history demonize a patriotic flag dating back to the Revolutionary War and the Continental Navy. Proud to have it outside my office!” Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah responded.
“Reminder: this is not a ‘Christian nationalist flag.’ It was commissioned by George Washington himself, was designed by his personal secretary, and has long served in official & unofficial capacities as a flag of Maine & Massachusetts,” Dan McLaughlin of National Review replied.
“Can we get a reporter with room temperature IQ or better?” another detractor said.
“Attacking a revolutionary war flag that celebrates natural rights is a good way to announce you hate America’s founding principles,” Second Amendment activist Kostas Moros said.
Schermele did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
RELATED: Lindsey Graham lectures Alito for flag, Mike Lee hits back: ‘Every right to hang whatever flag’
Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck summarized the historical significance of the flag when Alito was smeared for displaying it.
“That was the symbol of New England since the 16th century. Why? Because New England had big pine trees. Why was that important? Because they could build ships and build them for England or whoever and ship giant masts, which were hard to find because nobody had the giant pine trees that New England had,” Beck said.
The image also referred to a peace tradition among Iroquois Indians to ease tensions between warring nations.
“So, it is also the symbol of the tree of peace,” he added. “It was also on the coinage produced by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and it became the symbol of the colonial iron resistance as well as a multi-tribal support for independence now.”
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