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Eight people have been taken into custody by federal authorities concerning a massive smuggling operation that allegedly used the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to bring illegal and counterfeit goods into the United States from China.

It is estimated that the scheme, which involved dishonest truck drivers, warehouse owners, and logistics firms, smuggled at least $200 million worth of goods.

The lead orchestrator, another defendant, is still at large and is believed to be in China. The defendants are accused of breaking customs seals, smuggling, and conspiracy, among other offenses.

Brandy Passante, the passionate fan-favorite from Storage Wars, is igniting the internet at 44 with a collection of stunning photos that highlight her incredible curves, self-assured demeanor, and unapologetic authenticity, demonstrating that she still possesses it and more.

From touching family moments to alluring solo shots, her Instagram presents a daring blend of unfiltered beauty and bold self-expression—such as the now-famous candid in a green dress from a 2024 LA thrift event or the memorable combination of a red skirt and white tank that prompted fans to inundate the comments with fire emojis. Whether showcasing a new tattoo that represents her independence post-Jared or celebrating her curves without filters and without regrets, Brandy’s images transcend mere thirst traps—they are empowering declarations from a woman who has endured challenges, emerged stronger, and is fully embracing every moment of her spotlight.

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Recent poll reveals that most voters in Maine believe Senator Susan Collins should retire at the end of her current term rather than seek reelection.

The survey, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, found that 71% of Maine voters think Collins should not run for another term, while 21% support her continuing in office. Senator Collins, who was first elected in 1996, has served Maine for nearly three decades and is known for her reputation as a moderate voice in the Senate.

Breaking down the numbers, the poll shows that 84% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 57% of Republicans favor her retirement. Although there are no term limits for U.S. Senators, Collins’ current six-year term is set to expire in 2026.

Despite the polling numbers, Collins has expressed her intention to run for reelection. In a statement made last November, she indicated that her current focus is on legislative duties, particularly the appropriations process, but confirmed that she plans to campaign for another term.

Collins has historically found success appealing to a wide range of voters across party lines, which has helped her win reelection in a state that often leans Democratic. Her ability to secure support from independents and some Democratic voters has been a key factor in her political longevity.

Regardless of whether she decides to run, the upcoming 2026 Senate race in Maine is expected to be highly competitive. Maine has demonstrated a tendency to support candidates from both major parties depending on the political climate, and many observers predict that the seat will be closely watched nationally.

Senator Collins has played an influential role in several major Senate decisions during her time in office, and her potential retirement or reelection bid is likely to have a significant impact on the makeup of the Senate in the next term.

As Maine voters consider the future, political analysts suggest that the state’s independent streak will again play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the 2026 election.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino harshly criticized former Director James Comey over his “86 47” Instagram post, calling it another stain on the bureau’s reputation.

Bongino said Comey’s actions reflect failed leadership that current leadership is working to correct.

The post, widely interpreted as a call to remove the 47th president, was later deleted by Comey, who claimed it was misunderstood. Trump and others saw it as incitement.

Bongino reaffirmed the FBI’s role in supporting investigations of threats to public officials and emphasized ongoing reforms. The Secret Service interviewed Comey, and Director Patel hinted that major accountability steps may be announced within weeks.

Former President Joe Biden’s administration faced scrutiny after he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and a new book alleged a secretive inner circle, dubbed “the Politburo,” ran the presidency.

In Original Sin, co-authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper claim longtime aides and Biden family members like Ron Klain, Jill Biden, and Hunter Biden managed daily operations, shielding Biden from key decisions.

The book argues this group acted without voter approval, raising concerns over democratic accountability.

An anonymous aide reportedly said the plan for a second term was for Biden to “win, then disappear,” as unelected staffers governed. The group justified this, claiming Trump posed an “existential threat” to democracy.

This article was first published on April 14, 2025

Elon Musk fired back at critics of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by sharing a resurfaced clip of former President Barack Obama announcing a nearly identical initiative over a decade ago.

Taking to his X platform, Musk reposted a 2011 video of Obama launching the “Campaign to Cut Waste,” an effort to reduce unnecessary government spending. Musk captioned it, noting the similarities: “Sounds exactly like DOGE.”

In the video, Obama even joked that he was putting then–Vice President Joe Biden in charge of the campaign, saying, “Nobody messes with Joe.”

Obama highlighted several examples of what he called “pointless waste and stupid spending that doesn’t benefit anybody” uncovered early in the campaign—including the continued funding of a website for a folk music group called the “Fiddlin’ Foresters.”

Below is a transcript of the exchange:

Obama: “Everyone knows that getting rid of the deficit will require some tough decisions, and that includes cutting back on billions of dollars in programs that a lot of people care about. But what should be easy is getting rid of the pointless waste and stupid spending that doesn’t benefit anybody, waste we should be getting rid of even if we didn’t have a deficit. Sure, some of these cuts aren’t that big, but no amount of waste is acceptable. Not when it’s your money, not at a time when so many Americans are already cutting back. Just as families are living within their means, government should too. Did you know the federal government pays for a website devoted to a folk music ensemble made up of forest rangers? They called the Fiddlin’ Foresters. I’ll put their music on my iPod, but I’m not paying for their website. And there are hundreds of similar sites that we should consolidate or just get rid of. By the way, you’re not only paying for websites no one needs. You’re paying for thousands of buildings all across the country no one uses.

Obama: For the last decade, the government’s owned a massive and completely empty warehouse in the middle Brooklyn, for example. Now, the government hadn’t been able to sell this building and others like it because of red tape, main Washington politics, that held things up for years, but we’re finally cutting through all that and plan to get rid of these buildings in the months ahead. We need to step up our game. We need to go after every dime. We need to make government work for you. That’s why, starting today, I’ve asked the vice president to lead a renewed effort to hunt down misspent tax dollars in every agency and department of this government. We’re calling it the campaign to cut waste, and I know Joe’s the right man to lead it, because nobody messes with Joe.”

Biden: “There’s a new standard by which the government is going to function from this point on. The American people are entitled to transparency. Look, a lot of this depends on new sophisticated methods, but it also — it also, we know, depends on relentless focus on making this a priority; focus that can’t be delegated. We’re holding ourselves accountable and we’re deeply committed and focused on making government function better. We’re not just eliminating fraud and waste. We hope to be instilling an entire new culture that not only our administration, but every succeeding administration will, in fact, pursue. We’re going to give you the government you expect and deserve.”

The clip of Obama was originally recorded as he prepared for his 2012 re-election campaign.

Some commenters on Musk’s repost argued that the initiative ultimately had little impact on curbing federal spending.

Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said during an interview with Fox News that the biggest reason Democrats like Sen. Adam Schiff of California and others “fear” Kash Patel leading the FBI is because he knows their roles in perpetuating the “Russian collusion” hoax during President Donald Trump’s first term.

“I think, too they are very fearful of Kash Patel because Kash Patel knows what Adam Schiff and some of the others did with Russia collusion, and they know that he — knows the dirt on them, if you will, and I think they’re fearful of what he’s going to do and what he’s going to reveal and what he’s going to make known to the American people,” Blackburn told host Charlie Hurt.

“And they recognize that one thing Kash Patel is very devoted to is bringing transparency to what’s going on in Washington,” Hurt replied, which drew agreement from Blackburn.

“So to what degree with RFK Jr.. like Tulsi Gabbard do you think Democrats might hold it against them?” Hurt asked. “Because I think you’re right. I think that one of the things that really, really enraging them is that these are former Democrats, and they feel like they have to — I think it just drives them crazy and makes them so mad that these are Democrats who found a way to work on common sense solutions with President Trump.”

Blackburn responded: “You’re exactly right about that. It does make them angry, and so they’re wanting to punish them and the way they can punish them is to withhold their vote or to slow down their nomination. RFK Jr.. is going to do a great job at HHS and I tell you one thing.

“He is going to help us find these 300,000 children. I’ve been trying to find these kids since it was 75,000, and the Biden Administration has never responded to where these children are. RFK is going to get in there. He’s going to rework CMS with Dr. [Mehmet] Oz. He is going to work with [Dr.] Marty Makary to straighten out the FDA. He’s going to work with Dr. [Jay] Bhattacharyaat NIH,” Blackburn said.

“You’re going to see transparency. People want to know what really happened with COVID. I think we’re going to be able to find out what happened,” she added.

“Notably, Bhattacharya was a critic of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and was the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, Murthy v. Missouri, where he argued that he was ‘unfairly censored’ on social media by the government for his views on the issue,” notes the Consortium of Social Science Associations regarding the professor of health policy at Stanford University’s nomination by Trump.

“While the case gained national attention, it was ultimately unsuccessful in a 6-3 ruling,” the organization noted further.

Of his NIH nominee, Trump said, “Dr. Bhattacharya will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.”

A former federal prosecutor, Patel was appointed as senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Select Committee on Intelligence in 2017 and later served as senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate at the U.S. National Security Council in 2019.

He previously worked as a senior aide to then-Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) during Nunes’ tenure as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. In that role, Patel played a pivotal part in assisting Republicans with investigations into Trump and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Patel played a key role in drafting the 2018 Nunes memo, which accused the FBI of misconduct in its application for a surveillance warrant on a Trump 2016 campaign aide.

However, when a couple perceived as “different” decides to have a child, the conversation shifts—often toward scrutiny and criticism.
Most people experience unsolicited opinions when it comes to having children. Society often imposes an unspoken expectation: find a stable job, meet a partner, get married, and start a family. Those who choose not to have children are frequently questioned and sometimes even judged.

A Surprise That Changed Everything
Over 20 years ago, Patti White from California received life-changing news. Her daughter, Lisa, who has Down syndrome, announced she was pregnant. While many people with Down syndrome live independently, hold jobs, and maintain relationships, it is rare for a man with Down syndrome to father a child. This made Lisa’s pregnancy both unexpected and groundbreaking.

At the time, Lisa was 29, had lived on her own for over a decade, and worked full-time at Goodwill. She was in a committed relationship with a man who also had Down syndrome. Though they lived separately, they had a healthy adult relationship, and Lisa’s mother had spoken to her about topics like birth control and safe sex.

Patti vividly recalls the moment she learned she was going to be a grandmother. “I had just returned from lunch when I heard Lisa’s voicemail: ‘Hi, Mom, I just wanted you to know you’re going to be a GRANDMOTHER!’” The news left Patti in shock. “My mind went in all directions. How could this be? Her boyfriend has Down syndrome!”

Patti White Facebook
Facing Judgment and Challenges
Lisa’s decision to have a child was met with criticism. Many outsiders deemed it irresponsible and questioned her ability to be a good mother. Some of her friendships even suffered, as parents feared Lisa would influence their daughters to want children as well.

Despite the judgment, Lisa’s family stood firmly by her side. Her pregnancy was considered high-risk, and she received close medical supervision. She attended childbirth classes, had a pregnancy coach, and experienced the typical symptoms of pregnancy, including morning sickness and fatigue.

Her son, Nic, was born four weeks early and, like his parents, has Down syndrome. Though Lisa and Nic’s father initially tried to raise him together, their arrangement didn’t work out. Tragically, Nic’s father passed away when Nic was just five years old.

A Mother’s Love and an Inspiring Journey
Lisa, with the unwavering support of her mother, raised Nic to be a thriving, independent young man. Now 24, Nic is a college graduate who deeply appreciates the love and dedication of the women who raised him.

“I have two moms. My mom Lisa is my greatest future in my life. She gave me life, love, and birth, and she is always wonderful and beautiful,” Nic once said.

In 2016, Patti shared an emotional update on Facebook, celebrating their incredible journey:

“This is my daughter, Lisa, clowning with her son, Nic. They both have Down syndrome. This year is a landmark for all of us—she turns 50, and he turns 20. Our goal when she became pregnant was for her to know him and have a relationship with him. After all these years, we can honestly say they have overcome the odds and share tremendous love for each other and their small little family unit. She is a single mom, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Lisa and Nic’s story is a testament to resilience, love, and the importance of defying expectations. Their journey challenges societal norms and serves as a powerful reminder that people with Down syndrome can live fulfilling lives, build meaningful relationships, and create loving families of their own.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on Saturday that the bureau will begin releasing information that has previously been kept under tight wraps, including cases many Americans believe were concealed for political or institutional reasons.

Bongino, a former NYPD officer, Secret Service agent, and conservative commentator, took to X to share that his office has already begun cooperating with Congress and the public by providing long-requested information. Among the cases he highlighted were the attempted assassination of Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip from Louisiana, the Nashville Christian school shooting, the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation, and the origins and cover-up of COVID-19.

Crossfire Hurricane was the name of the investigation into President Donald Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia to steal the 2016 election, a narrative that turned out to have been completely fabricated with the assistance of his then-rival, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“In just the couple of months since we’ve sworn in we’ve responded to requests for information on the attack on Rep. Scalise and members of Congress, the Nashville attack, Crossfire Hurricane, the COVID cover-up and more. We are working with the DOJ on the [Jeffrey] Epstein case and, as the AG [Pam Bondi] stated, there are voluminous amounts of downloaded child sexual abuse material that we are dealing with,” Bongino noted in the lengthy post.

“There are also victim’s statements that are entitled to specific protections. We need to do this correctly, but I do understand the public’s desire to get the information out there,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the FBI is forming a multi-agency security team to safeguard Bongino 24 hours a day, including within agency headquarters.

Last week, a message sent to FBI agents — known as a canvass — requested volunteers to temporarily leave their roles and serve on a protective security detail for Bongino, NBC News reported, citing anonymous sources.

The canvass sought agents willing to relocate for 30 days of temporary duty to provide round-the-clock protection for Bongino, according to two former FBI officials familiar with security details. Full-time protection could require as many as 20 agents, they noted.

The request for 30-day “temporary duty assignments” (TDYs) indicates that the security detail will consist of a rotating group of agents volunteering to leave their regular duties.

The creation of this security detail seems to contradict one of FBI Director Kash Patel’s top priorities: reallocating FBI agents from headquarters to the field, where he argues they can more effectively combat crime, NBC said, though the outlet failed to provide further details as to why Bongino actually needs the security detail in the first place.

A single agent was assigned part-time to accompany the previous deputy director, Paul Abbate, to certain events, according to current and former officials. Abbate also carried his own service weapon, they noted, and had a full security detail only during overseas travel.

Two former FBI officials familiar with the matter said that Bongino’s current bodyguards have accompanied him inside secure FBI facilities, including headquarters in Washington. They added that typically, directors walk around headquarters without their security details.

It doesn’t seem likely that Bongino’s security detail would have been OK’ed without the approval of FBI Director Kash Patel and perhaps even Attorney General Pam Bondi. But again, NBC provided no information as to why the deputy director felt the need for a security presence.

The report did say, however, that Bongino could be qualified by the FBI to carry a weapon himself, but that he’s instead chosen the security detail.

A federal judge in Texas has blocked parts of the Biden administration’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidance that extended Title VII protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled that the EEOC’s interpretation of “sex” in Title VII is “contrary to law.” The lawsuit was brought by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which argued the guidance forced businesses to accept “radical gender ideology.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the ruling as a win for “biological reality,” while the EEOC noted it lacks a quorum to formally rescind the guidance.

Critics say the decision rolls back protections for LGBTQ+ workers, while supporters claim it upholds legal clarity and common sense.