A Russian man has been convicted in a London court of beating a woman in a crime reported by the youngest son of U.S. President Donald Trump. Barron Trump called London police more than a year ago after witnessing a man assaulting his friend during a short video call. Matvei Rumiantsev was convicted Wednesday of assault with bodily harm but acquitted of rape and choking charges. Trump didn't testify but told police he placed a late night video call to his friend and was startled when it was answered by a bare-chested man who then turned the phone around and he could see the woman being beaten.
The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts Wednesday, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last year. With the economy growing at a healthy pace and no signs of deterioration in hiring, Fed officials likely see little reason to rush any further rate cuts. While most policymakers do expect to reduce borrowing costs further this year, many want to see evidence that stubbornly-elevated inflation is moving closer to the central bank’s target of 2%. According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation was 2.8% in November, slightly higher than a year ago.
Josh begins with an update on the now weeks-long stand-off between the Trump administration and the Democrat-led "sanctuary" insurrectionary bastions, such as Minnesota. Is President Trump taking his foot off the gas pedal, or is he committed to seeing this immigration enforcement mission through? The stakes are high—not merely for Minnesota, but also for other would-be insurrectionists throughout the country.
Josh also explains why Trump is stepping into the chaotic Pacific Palisades wildfire clean-up, now that it's been over a year since the tragedy. Finally, he explains why he is now part of a new initiative—the Greater Than Campaign—to overturn the Obergefell Supreme Court decision and restore traditional one-man/one-woman marriage policy to We the People, and also provides an update on the long-overdue retrieval of the final Israeli hostage in Gaza and what it could portend for regional peace.
At least two federal agents who were involved in Saturday’s fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis have been placed on administrative leave, two U.S. media outlets said on Wednesday.
The Department of Homeland Security said the two immigration agents who discharged their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti were put on leave as part of standard procedures, Fox News reported.
MS NOW earlier reported that agents involved in the shooting of Pretti were being put on leave, citing an unnamed source.
Representatives for DHS could not be immediately reached to confirm the reports.
Immigration agents on Saturday fired multiple shots at Pretti, an ICU nurse at a hospital for veterans. His death was the second fatal encounter between Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month, sparked a national uproar.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has said it is reviewing the shooting.
FBI agents are executing a search warrant at the Fulton County elections office near Atlanta. An agency spokesperson confirmed the action on Wednesday. The search is taking place at the county's main election office in Union City, just south of Atlanta.
Trump has long insisted that the 2020 election was stolen even though judges across the country and his own attorney general said they found no evidence of widespread fault that tipped the contest in Democrat Joe Biden’s favor.
He has long made Georgia, one of the battleground states he lost in 2020, a central target for his complaints about the election and memorably pleaded with its then-secretary of state to “find” him enough votes to overturn the contest.
Last week, in reference to the 2020 election, he asserted that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did.” It was not clear what in particular he was referring to.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in August 2023 obtained an indictment against Trump and 18 others, accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That case was dismissed in November after courts barred Willis and her office from pursuing it because of an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from a romantic relationship she had with a prosecutor she had appointed to lead the case.
The FBI last week moved to replace its top agent in Atlanta, Paul W. Brown, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a non-public personnel decision. It was not immediately clear why the move, which was not publicized by the FBI, was made.
The Department of Justice last month sued the clerk of the Fulton County superior and magistrate courts in federal court seeking access to documents from the 2020 election in the county. The lawsuit said the department sent a letter to Che Alexander, clerk of superior and magistrate courts, but that she has failed to produce the requested documents.
Alexander has filed a motion to dismiss the suit. The Justice Department complaint says that the purpose of its request was “ascertaining Georgia’s compliance with various federal election laws." The attorney general is also trying to help the State Election Board with its “transparency efforts under Georgia law.”
A three-person conservative majority on the State Election Board has repeatedly sought to reopen a case alleging wrongdoing by Fulton County during the 2020 election. It passed a resolution in July seeking assistance from the U.S. attorney general to access voting materials.
The state board sent subpoenas to the county board for various election documents last year and again on Oct. 6. The October subpoena requested “all used and void ballots, stubs of all ballots, signature envelopes, and corresponding envelope digital files from the 2020 General Election in Fulton County.”
The Justice Department sent a letter to the county election board Oct. 30 citing the federal Civil Rights Act and asking for all records responsive to the October subpoena from the State Election Board. Lawyers for the county election board responded about two weeks later, saying that the records are held by the county court clerk. They also attached a letter the clerk sent to the State Election Board saying that the records are under seal in accordance with state law and can’t be released without a court order.
The Justice Department said it then sent a letter to Alexander, the clerk, on Nov. 21 requesting the documents and that she failed to respond.
The department is asking a judge to declare that the clerk’s “refusal to provide the election records upon a demand by the Attorney General” violates the Civil Rights Act. It is also asking the judge to order Alexander to produce the requested records within five days of a court order.
The State Election Board in May 2024 heard a case that alleged documentation was missing for thousands of votes in the recount of the presidential contest in the 2020 election in 2020. After a presentation by a lawyer and an investigator for the secretary of state’s office, a response from the county and a lengthy discussion among the board members, the board voted to issue a letter of reprimand to the county.
Shortly after that vote, there was a shift in power on the board, and the newly cemented conservative majority sought to reopen the case. The lone Democrat on the board and the chair have repeatedly objected, arguing the case is closed and citing multiple reviews that have found that while the county’s 2020 elections were sloppy and poorly managed there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
The conservative majority voted to subpoena a slew of election records from the county in November 2024. A fight over that subpoena is tied up in court.
President Trump is putting Iran on notice –again– about nuclear weapons. The president used a social media post to urge Iran to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons. Or, he warned, “the next attack will be far worse.” He said “time is running out” and noted that a U.S. “armada” of warships was headed to the region. Iran said it would retaliate if the U.S. attacks. The Iranian government said it “stands ready for dialogue…but if pushed, it will defend itself and respond like never before.”
President Trump and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are sparring online over the federal government’s immigration operation in the city. Mayor Frey said he “appreciated the conversation” he had this week with the president’s border czar, Tom Homan, who has been dispatched to Minnesota. But Frey said he wants the Homeland Security operation to end and that Minneapolis “will not enforce federal immigration laws.” President Trump responded by saying the mayor is “playing with fire” and that Frey’s statement “is a very serious violation of the law.”
President Trump is touting the creation of a new savings tool for America’s children. The Trump Accounts will be established for babies born during the years of the Trump administration, and money will be invested in the stock market. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.
Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of collecting cellular data from Android users without their permission.
The preliminary settlement, filed in federal court, covers users of Android-powered devices dating back to November 2017. While Google denied any wrongdoing, it agreed to change its data practices and require user consent for future data collection.
As part of the settlement, eligible users could receive up to $100 each, pending court approval. The agreement also makes it easier for users to opt out of data transfers and updates the Google Play terms of service to disclose these practices more clearly.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers may seek up to $39.8 million in legal fees, which represents 29.5% of the settlement fund.
A trial had been scheduled for August 5, but the settlement avoids a lengthy courtroom battle.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to tell Congress that the Trump administration is prepared to take new military action against Venezuela if the country’s interim leaders stray from U.S. expectations, according to prepared testimony released ahead of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
Rubio emphasized that the United States is not at war with Venezuela and that the interim government is currently cooperating, but said the administration would not rule out using additional force if necessary.
His remarks come on the heels of a U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
In his prepared statement, Rubio said the United States is “prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail” but added it is his hope that such action will not be required.
The planned testimony is expected to highlight divisions in Congress over U.S. policy toward Venezuela, with some lawmakers questioning how far the administration should go in using military leverage to influence the country’s political direction.
Rubio’s warning underscores ongoing tensions over U.S. foreign policy in Latin America as the administration balances military deterrence with diplomatic efforts.
House Democrats help Mike Johnson end government shutdown Trump Bounces Back to >>House Democrats help Mike Johnson end government shutdown Trump Bounces Back to 50% Approval; Nearly 60% Say Melania Trump Media Coverage is Biased NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother taken from home as expert raises alarming new theories amid lack . . . . <<
After a three-decade career in newspaper, radio and television, Bruce Hooley >>After a three-decade career in newspaper, radio and television, Bruce Hooley hosts The Bruce Hooley Show! Weekdays from 11am-1pm on 98.9fm The Answer <<
Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential >>Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential campaigns, and a former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush. Now, he’s on a mission to arm listeners with common sense, crush liberal narratives, and help shape the . . . . <<
Join Bill Gunderson live every morning while he hosts the nationally syndicated >>Join Bill Gunderson live every morning while he hosts the nationally syndicated radio program Best Stocks Now. Listen as Bill breaks down the market daily and shares the best stocks in the market today. <<
Jack Windsor is founder and editor-in-chief of The Ohio Press Network and now >>Jack Windsor is founder and editor-in-chief of The Ohio Press Network and now the host of The Windsor Report Weekdays 4-6pm on 98.9fm The Answer <<
Salem Media, our partners, and affiliates use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize site content, and deliver relevant video recommendations. By using this website and continuing to navigate, you consent to our use of such technologies and the sharing of video viewing activity with third-party partners in accordance with the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy laws.Privacy Policy