Category: Politics
Dr. Oz exposes alleged fraud in Los Angeles — so Gavin Newsom calls for investigation into his ‘racially charged’ claims
The head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted a video exposing alleged government funding fraud in Los Angeles, and the Democratic governor instead opened an investigation into the “racially charged” allegations.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz posted a video on his Instagram account showing businesses in Van Nuys that he suspected were fronts for criminal activity and fraud.
‘Given the historic sensitivities involved, we are taking these allegations seriously. Any and all acts of hate have no place in California.’
“What we have learned, there’s roughly $3.5 billion of fraud taking place here in Los Angeles, in hospice and home care,” Oz said. “It’s run, quite a bit of it, by the Russian-Armenian mafia; you notice the lettering and language behind me.”
He called L.A. County the “epicenter” for health care fraud in America.
“Criminals have corrupted the system so much that fraud is now almost expected,” he added. “President Trump has made it clear: We will not tolerate the patient harm or taxpayer funded theft any longer. More to come.”
However, the targeting of Armenian business owners by Oz, who is Turkish-American, led many to believe they were being racially discriminated against.
Rather than look into the claims of fraud, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he would investigate Dr. Oz.
“Our office is reviewing reports that Dr. Mehmet Oz targeted the Armenian American community in Southern California recently — making racially charged claims of fraud outside Armenian-owned businesses, including a popular bakery,” he posted on social media.
“Given the historic sensitivities involved, we are taking these allegations seriously,” he added. “Any and all acts of hate have no place in California.”
RELATED: Entire board of directors at charter school resigns after allegations of massive fraud scheme
Newsom was referring to hostility between Armenians and Turkish people over the 1.5 million Armenians that were killed beginning in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire, which is now Turkey.
Dr. Oz fired back at the governor.
“If there were a real defense for California’s fraud crisis, we’d hear it. CMS and law enforcement will keep doing the actual work: going after fraudsters, period.”
Garen Janbachian with the Armenian National Committee of America told KNBC-TV that the community was outraged that Oz was singling them out, and they denied allegations of fraud.
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‘He is no victim’: Sister of man shot by Border Patrol in Arizona tells anti-ICE protesters to stop defending him
While many on the left expressed outrage at the shooting reported near the U.S.-Mexico border by federal agents, the sister of the man shot says he’s “no victim.”
Very few details were initially available when the shooting 10 miles from the border was reported on Tuesday. One person was shot at about 7:30 a.m. and was in serious but stable condition.
‘He is no victim. He is a violent person. That’s who he always has been.’
The man was later identified as 34-year-old Patrick Gary Schlegel. Police said he had an active warrant for human trafficking when he was stopped and that two men rushed out of his truck after he drove away.
He eventually ran out of the truck and fired gunshots in the direction of a police helicopter pursuing him, which led to his getting shot and being injured in the leg and head.
Amber Schlegel, the man’s sister, told KOLD-TV Wednesday that he had placed many people in danger through his actions.
“To hear that he’s back running illegals again didn’t surprise me, but to hear that he actually fired at federal agents — that took me by surprise,” she said. “He is no victim. He is a violent person. That’s who he always has been.”
She said that she had already sought a protection order against him when he threatened her for speaking out against him.
“He’s where he should be,” she added. “Whether he recovers or not, he needs to be locked up for a very long time.”
Police said they found a handgun, a .45 pistol, and a cell phone in Schlegel’s possession.
The two men who were in his truck allegedly told police that they had paid Schlegel to bring them across the border. One claimed to have paid $8,000, while the other said he paid him $14,000.
The man is charged with assault on a federal officer and had many other previous run-ins with the law.
“Schlegel has a significant criminal history to include an active federal arrest warrant issued in 2025 by the U.S. Marshals Service for escape related to a previous smuggling conviction,” said Heith Janke, FBI special agent in charge in Phoenix.
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‘This isn’t organic’: Joe Rogan says Minnesota’s anti-ICE protests are ‘coordinated’ to induce chaos
Podcast giant Joe Rogan is leaning on investigative reporting from independent journalists to find the truth about left-wing protests in Minnesota.
Chats on the Signal messenger app that were “infiltrated” by reporter Cam Higby showed that a complex and coordinated network of left-wing groups have been working together to allegedly impede federal operations in Minnesota.
‘The idea that this is an organic protest — these riots are organic — is nonsense.’
The chats, reviewed by Fox News, allegedly detailed socialist, communist, and Marxist-Leninist cells in the United States organizing protests after the death of Alex Pretti. In fact, the report said that agitators were already mobilized to the scene of the death before it happened.
Color me shocked
Rogan explained on his podcast that the riots and anti-government protests in the state are akin to a color revolution, which he described as a “a coordinated effort to cause chaos.”
“This is a very coordinated thing,” Rogan told commentator Andrew Wilson on episode No. 2444 of “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
“The idea that this is an organic protest — these riots are organic — is nonsense. It’s provably nonsense because now they have access to the Signal chats,” he continued.
Rogan made it clear that he did not believe that Pretti should have been shot but said he understands that federal agents were operating under chaotic circumstances.
RELATED: Klobuchar running for Minnesota governor on anti-ICE platform
‘Coordinated effort’
The Austin-based comic made the distinction that it was not Immigration and Customs Enforcement that shot Pretti, rather it was Customs and Border Protection that was brought in to assist ICE.
These agents have been “harassed outside of any hotel they’re at. People blow horns. They try to smash into the hotel. They doxx them,” Rogan explained, which he said is the reason why so many agents are wearing masks.
“It’s a coordinated effort.”
Pretti was reported to have a gun with two magazines on him at the time of his death; Rogan, who has displayed intricate knowledge of weapons over the years, discussed the nuances of concealed carry licenses with Wilson, who said he had experience in teaching weapons training.
“If you know anything about concealed carry, if you are a concealed carry holder and you are carrying not just a pistol, but two full magazines as well, you do not ever physically engage with someone,” Rogan explained. “You also are supposed to carry your license on you, and you’re supposed to have ID on you.”
Pretti was reportedly not carrying ID on him at the time of his death.
Rogan went on, “When you go to what’s supposed to be a peaceful protest and you’re fully armed like that with two magazines, it’s kind of crazy, right? Like … why do you need so many bullets?”
RELATED: ‘More arrests to come’: Bondi shares photos of anti-ICE agitators now charged with crimes
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images
Welcome diversion
The comedian was careful not to get himself into legal battles over the story but overall cited the riots in Minnesota as distractions that have been welcomed to draw attention away from billions in fraud abuse in the state.
“There would be a reason why you would want to distract from all that fraud,” he added.
Recently new footage of Pretti from 11 days before his death has surfaced. The video showed Pretti swearing at federal agents, spitting at them, and even kicking the taillight off of a vehicle containing federal agents as it was driving away.
Outlets and witnesses had previously described Pretti as simply a “calm observer.”
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Tim Walz asks if civil war is breaking out — and gets bombarded with brutal mockery
As agitators continue to interrupt federal immigration operations in Minnesota, the state’s governor is tossing gasoline on the conflagration by implying a civil war is erupting.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz asked if the violence in Minnesota was akin to that at Fort Sumter, which famously precipitated the Civil War of the 1860s.
‘That is literally the dumbest f**king thing anyone has ever said in the history of anything.’
“I mean, is this a Fort Sumter?” Walz asked rhetorically in an interview with the Atlantic.
“It’s a physical assault,” he added. “It’s an armed force that’s assaulting, that’s killing my constituents, my citizens.”
The failed vice presidential candidate was referring to the lethal shooting of Renee Good, who had driven her car into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and a second lethal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti, who interfered with an operation while armed with a gun.
While many have been calling for a calming of heated rhetoric, the comments from Walz were widely ridiculed on social media.
“What a complete and total dumbass. Good grief,” replied CNN commentator Scott Jennings.
“Tim Walz is, to put it mildly, not the sharpest tool in the shed,” responded Mike Coté of the Spectator.
“That is literally the dumbest f**king thing anyone has ever said in the history of anything, and quoting it as though it were not condemns the Tweeter as well,” replied John Podhoretz of Commentary.
“Walz, once again, proves he is a moron who both lacks the context for the (horrible and inaccurate) historical analogies he uses and also is not lowering the heated rhetoric. The fact Harris thought this guy was some kind of positive is astounding,” said another user.
Others pointed out that Walz appeared to misunderstand his own comparison.
“Federal agents are in a recalcitrant state trying to enforce federal law, and the governor of that state wonders if it’s Fort Sumter without stopping to puzzle out which side that makes him in the analogy,” replied Charles C.W. Cooke of National Review.
RELATED: Tim Walz says Democrats need to be ‘meaner’ and ‘bully the s**t out of’ Trump
“Uh. Yeah. That is a more apt comparison than he probably realizes. Once again, democrats starting a Civil War to keep their slaves. (Walz, dude, you are the bad guy),” said another user.
Walz is under investigation for allegations that he obstructed investigations into massive fraud in the Minnesota Somali community. He has since dropped his re-election campaign for the governor’s office.
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Top Oklahoma Democrat forced to resign after trying to pay Ethics Commission with a forged check
A Democrat Oklahoma state representative is resigning after she got caught trying to pay the Ethics Commission with a forged check.
Rep. Ajay Pittman, whose district includes part of Oklahoma City, announced her resignation Wednesday after pleading guilty to a felony charge related to the forged check. She was in her fourth term.
The Democrat had previously agreed to pay $12,000 in restitution and a fine over similar accusations in 2020 and 2022.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said that part of the sentence for Pittman included her resigning from her office.
“I believe stepping aside allows my district to be served without distraction,” Pittman said. “Leadership is not only about holding office, but it’s also about knowing when to close a chapter with grace and clarity.”
Pittman was accused of violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act in relation to campaign finance records, as well as forgery and embezzlement. Investigators searched Pittman’s office in October.
Drummond said that she forged a check to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to avoid paying back funds to her campaign account.
“Public officials hold a sacred trust with the people they serve,” read a statement from Drummond in a press release. “When that trust is violated for personal gain, it strikes at the very heart of our institutions. This office will continue to hold elected officials accountable when they abuse their positions and betray the public’s confidence. No one is above the law in Oklahoma.”
Pittman also received a deferred sentence of seven years and has to pay full restitution for the campaign funds she is accused of embezzling.
RELATED: Congresswoman’s staffer indicted for spreading her intimate videos and photos online
The Democrat had previously agreed to pay $12,000 in restitution and a fine over similar accusations in 2020 and 2022.
Pittman either authored or co-authored more than 160 pieces of legislation during her time in the legislature. KOCO-TV said she was an influential and prominent politician in Oklahoma.
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‘STOP THE SCAMS!’ Trump announces new office in DOJ dedicated to investigating fraud
With more and more fraud being investigated and exposed across the country, the Trump administration has created a new office specially dedicated to prosecuting these types of crimes.
On Wednesday night, President Trump announced the creation of the office and his nominee to run it.
‘My Administration has uncovered Fraud schemes in States like Minnesota and California, where these thieves have stolen Hundreds of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars.’
“I am pleased to nominate Colin McDonald to serve as the first ever Assistant Attorney General for National FRAUD Enforcement, a new Division at the Department of Justice, which I created to catch and stop FRAUDSTERS that have been STEALING from the American People,” Trump said on Truth Social. “My Administration has uncovered Fraud schemes in States like Minnesota and California, where these thieves have stolen Hundreds of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars.”
Trump called McDonald a “very Smart, Tough, and Highly Respected AMERICA FIRST Federal Prosecutor” and promised that the administration would “RESTORE INTEGRITY” to the federal programs.
RELATED: ‘PLAYING WITH FIRE!’ Trump responds to Minneapolis Mayor Frey’s latest act of defiance
Todd Blanche and Pam BondiPhoto by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
“STOP THE SCAMS!” Trump concluded.
McDonald, though not a well-known figure on the national stage, has a resume built for the new position.
For example, McDonald successfully prosecuted a large-scale conspiracy in 2020 that the judge in the case called “staggering in its breadth, its scope, and its audacity.”
The conspiracy case, which involved multiple people including the former police chief of Honolulu, brought multiple charges and sent several people to prison for years.
Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general under Pam Bondi, signaled his approval of the choice on X: “Colin is a rockstar, who was instrumental in our team’s mission of Making America Safe Again. He is a consummate prosecutor who loves God, family, and country and will serve the President and the American people well.”
Likewise, ambassador and chief of protocol Monica Crowley cheered on the decision: “President Trump is putting an end to the United States of Fraud.”
The announcement was made amid ongoing talks between the Trump administration and the leadership of Minnesota, one of the primary hot spots of widespread fraud.
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