Report: Trump Scolded FBI Director for Undignified Behavior at Olympics

Ken Silva
-
0
Report: Trump Scolded FBI Director for Undignified Behavior at Olympics

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) President Donald Trump was reportedly displeased at FBI Director Kashyap Patel for his behavior on Feb. 22, when he joined the American men’s hockey players in the locker room Sunday for a rowdy celebration of winning the gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

Videos shared on social media showed a pumped-up Patel drinking beer from a bottle and spraying the rest around the locker room. After one of the players draped his gold medal around Patel’s neck, he joined the players as they jumped up and down.

According to NBC News, Trump wasn’t too pleased with the antics.

“Trump — who does not drink — told Patel he was unhappy not only with that scene, but also with Patel’s use of government aircraft for the trip to Milan,” NBC reported Friday, citing an anonymous source.

Patel has come under heavy criticism in recent months, especially for his personal use of the FBI jet. According to an FBI whistleblower, his personal travels even delayed the FBI’s response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September.

In the Kirk case, the FBI’s shooting reconstruction team was asked to fly to Utah to aid the investigation and process the scene.

“However, the team’s deployment was delayed by at least a day because of a Bureau plane and pilot shortage caused by the Director’s personal flights. FAA rules dictate the maximum flight duty, cumulative travel, and rest periods for pilots, and the FBI team could only travel after the pilots’ mandated rest periods were completed,” Sen. Dick Durbin said in a letter last week, citing the whistleblower.

Patel has also been taking heat for having FBI agents provide round-the-clock protection for his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, who doesn’t even live with him. The New York Times reported Saturday that Wilkins is escorted in her travels by Special Weapons and Tactics team members drawn from FBI field offices around the country.

An FBI spokesman said Wilkins needs the protection due to death threats.

Along with using taxpayer resources for personal benefit, Patel has reversed his position on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Patel previously expressed support for implementing warrant requirements for FISA 702, but he abandoned that position during his confirmation hearings—meaning he supports warrantless surveillance of Americans.

Patel also said that he’d shut down its headquarters and turn it into a “museum for the deep state.” Additionally, he’s yet to live up to promises such as that he’d release all the FBI’s files on notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

Ken Silva is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Journalist Obtains Full Bohemian Grove Membership List

Jose Nino
-
0
Journalist Obtains Full Bohemian Grove Membership List

(José Niño, Headline USA) Independent journalist Daniel Boguslaw published what appears to be the full 2023 attendance list for Bohemian Grove, a 2,700 acre ultra exclusive California retreat, revealing over 2,200 names in collaboration with nonprofit newsroom More Perfect Union, according to the investigation on Substack.

The Bohemian Club was founded in 1872 in San Francisco, originally as a gathering for journalists, artists and intellectuals. Over time it evolved into one of America’s most powerful social organizations, hosting corporate executives, politicians, Supreme Court justices and military leaders. Every summer, members gather at their private redwood compound along the Russian River for a two week encampment featuring the infamous Cremation of Care ritual, in which a giant effigy is burned before a 40 foot owl statue, per a report by Who Rules America.

Boguslaw drove to the Bay Area, identified a known member and showed up at that person’s office repeatedly for about a week. Eventually a courier approached him with the full list. A Bohemian Club member contacted by the San Francisco Standard confirmed it is a real membership list from 2023.

Notable names on the list include Paul Pelosi, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Charles Koch, Michael Bloomberg, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Heritage Foundation co-founder Edwin Feulner, television host Conan O’Brien and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. Henry Kissinger attended his final Grove before death, as did musician Jimmy Buffett. Notably absent was Donald Trump, who reportedly tried to join but was denied membership.

Perhaps the most substantive revelation involves direct connections between Grove gatherings and policy outcomes. A memo from the Reagan Library shows Reagan assistant Edwin Harper sending Alan Greenspan a paper discussed at Bohemian Grove titled “Social Security Reform Proposals.” The Reagan administration enacted Social Security cuts in 1983 whose effects persist today.

The investigation also found roughly a quarter of Heritage Foundation’s board were Bohemian Club members during the period Project 2025 was being drafted. Heritage co-founder Edwin Feulner, a Grove attendee through 2023, introduced Project 2025 at a Heritage event shortly before the 2023 encampment.

NewsOne reported that Bohemian Club’s spokesperson stated the organization “does not maintain public membership lists.”

Candace Owens Targets Erika Kirk in YouTube Special

Jose Nino
-
0
Candace Owens Targets Erika Kirk in YouTube Special

(José Niño, Headline USA) Candace Owens launched her Bride of Charlie docuseries by comparing media coverage defending Erika Kirk to COVID vaccine messaging while claiming the widow fabricated her upbringing.

The premiere episode titled “A Wrinkle in Time” aired on Wednesday and garnered approximately three million YouTube views in less than 24 hours. 

Owens described the mainstream media response to her investigation as psychological manipulation.

“The mainstream media, of course, Zionists implied, are effectively telling you to roll up your sleeves and get the vaccine. Again, dopes. Tyler Robinson did it. Erica Kirk is grieving. Please allow her to do so in the privacy of the billion dollar charity that she took over,” Owens stated.

She defended her investigation by comparing it to coverage of other public figures.

“No one blinked when entire investigative series and books were written about Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Meghan Markle. ’cause they’re public figures. I’ve effectively endured 10 years in politics with nonstop exposes and investigations into my background. But we’re told Erica is somehow untouchable.”

The episode centered on claims that Kirk fabricated her background as being raised by a single mother. Owens played a clip from The Charlie Kirk Show where Erika stated “my dad was a stay at home dad for a few years and I gotta say it was really sweet and really special.”

“The only problem is that it’s just not true. Erica was not raised by a single mother, at all. Erica’s father Kent Brofey, by the way, he’s Kenneth Brofey, but he goes by Kent was always in her life, so much so that for entire years of her childhood, Kent was actually a stay at home dad,” Owens claimed.

The episode delved into Kirk’s family history, alleging her maternal great grandmother “was just constantly being arrested for running illegal slot machines” after immigrating from Syria. Owens also examined Kirk’s attendance at a charter school called Tesseract, which she noted was located in a building owned by a Jewish school.

Owens’ remarks triggered criticism from prominent conservative figures. Conservative media personality Ben Shapiro called Owens “an evil, twisted human being” and “a true vampire” in a video posted on X. He stated, “She is making money off the murder of Charlie Kirk by literally implicating his widow and everyone else at TPUSA in that murder, and then trying to dig up pseudo-dirt on the wife of the person who was murdered.”

I don’t know what to call that, other than evil trash.” Shapiro urged Erika Kirk to “sue the living hell out of Candace Owens” according to The  Hollywood Reporter.

Meghan McCain called the series “Pure, unadulterated, f**king evil” on X, writing “Who in God’s name would put a woman whose husband was brutally assassinated in front of the entire world through this? I am so upset by this, I am just so deeply sorry Erika and her family have to be put through this.” 

Conservative political activist Laura Loomer characterized the docuseries as “depraved” and a “total harassment of a woman trying to be graceful and carry on her husband’s legacy.” 

Erika, for her part, has not publicly responded.

José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino 

 

3 American Jets Shot Down During Iranian Attacks

Headline USA Editor
-
0
3 American Jets Shot Down During Iranian Attacks

(Headline USA) Three American fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire Monday during an Iranian air assault, the U.S. military said.

All six crew members safely ejected from the F-15E Strike Eagles and were in stable condition after being recovered, the U.S. said.

An attack by Iranian aircraft, missiles and drones was underway at the time the planes were shot down.

Iranian state television claimed that Iran had targeted one of the U.S. planes that crashed in Kuwait without elaborating.

Explosions could be heard as one of the planes fell from the sky in flames, said witness Ahmed al-Asar, who rushed to the scene with about a dozen others as an airman parachuted to the ground.

Al-Asar initially thought it was an Iranian pilot, but recognized he was American before rescuers whisked him away.

Kuwait said its air defenses had accidentally shot down the jets as part of its support for the U.S. combat operation in Iran, U.S. Central Command said.

“The U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” the military said. “Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”

The cause of the incident was under investigation, the U.S. said.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press.

Susan Rice’s Anti-Trump Tirade May Have Sank Netflix Deal: Report

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Susan Rice’s Anti-Trump Tirade May Have Sank Netflix Deal: Report

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Susan Rice’s recent anti-Trump threats may have played a key role in Netflix’s failed attempt to buy CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a Friday report.

Rice, a current Netflix board member and former Obama-Biden official, came under fire for issuing a threat against companies working with President Donald Trump. 

Speaking on the Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara podcast last week, Rice warned that media companies, Big Tech, universities and others that “take a knee” to Trump would be “held accountable” if Democrats returned to power. “I think they’ve got another thing coming,” Rice said. 

In response to Rice’s comments, President Donald Trump said, “Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences.” 

According to New York Post columnist Charles Gasparino, one senior Trump regulatory official suggested Rice’s remarks did not make Netflix’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery “any easier.” 

As reported by Gasparino: 

“My sources say the DOJ indicated to Sarandos it had antitrust concerns about the WBD deal despite his argument that competition from YouTube negates them. 

But Rice’s remarks didn’t make Sarandos’ job any easier, I am told by people close to the administration. One senior Trump regulatory official even quipped with a laugh that Sarandos should have ‘let Susan Rice tag along’ to his DOJ sitdown. 

A Netflix rep said Sarandos’ meeting was unrelated to Rice and set up two weeks ago. Rice could not be reached for comment.” 

Her comments coincided with a White House meeting between the Department of Justice and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos over antitrust concerns regarding the deal. 

Shortly thereafter, Netflix stepped away from the bidding, stating that the financial terms were no longer attractive after it was outbid by Paramount Skydance. 

Netflix Vice President for Communications Emily Feingold did not return Headline USA’s request for comment when reached by phone. 

Embattled Tony Gonzales Gave Raise to Staffer Who Burned Herself Amid Affair Scandal 

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Embattled Tony Gonzales Gave Raise to Staffer Who Burned Herself Amid Affair Scandal 

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Scandal-laden Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, reportedly gave a generous raise to the late aide he allegedly had an affair with and later burned herself when the relationship was exposed. 

Congressional records show Gonzales’s office paid Regina Santos-Aviles thousands in additional pay in 2024, the same year the two allegedly became romantically involved, according to the Uvalde Leader News. 

The salary increases amounted to a 26% boost but were halted after Santos-Aviles’s husband, Adrian Aviles, became aware of the alleged relationship, the outlet reported. 

In sum, her annual base salary rose from $47,500 to $68,000 from December 2021 until her death on Sept. 14, 2025. According to the outlet, the raises were not extended to Santos-Aviles’s colleagues, despite holding the same position. 

As reported by the Uvalde Leader News: 

“Between 2022 and 2023, her quarterly pay increased from just under $12,000 to $13,500, according to statements of disbursement published by the House of Representatives — a roughly 13% raise. That year, Paula Michelle Fagan made $14,500 per quarter. When Benjamin Shipkey took over Fagan’s position, he made $14,000 per quarter, and got $7,500 in ‘other compensation’ for his first quarter.” 

In 2024, Santos-Aviles’s quarterly base salary jumped to $17,000, bringing her total reported income to $73,000. That figure was $19,000, or 35%, more than her total salary a year earlier. 

Details of Santos-Aviles’s salary surface as Gonzales faces growing calls to resign from Congress following her death. Her widow, Adrian Aviles, described her suicide as the result of emotional turmoil after the alleged affair became public. 

In addition, reporting in recent weeks has surfaced alleging text messages between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales in which Gonzales reportedly referenced anal sex, asked about her favorite sexual position, and requested a “sexy” photo.

Several GOP lawmakers have demanded that Gonzales resign or suspend his re-election campaign amid the scandal. 

Gonzales has denied having an affair with Santos-Aviles and claimed he is being extorted by Aviles’s attorney, Bobby Herrera. 

In statements to the media, Herrera clarified that he only reached out to Gonzales’s attorneys to propose a potential settlement under the Congressional Accountability Act, which governs workplace rights and protections against harassment for congressional staffers. 

NYC Pakistan-Owned Hotel Took $146M for Illegals but Owes $13M in Taxes

Luis Cornelio
-
0
NYC Pakistan-Owned Hotel Took $146M for Illegals but Owes $13M in Taxes

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The Pakistani government owes New York City taxpayers millions in unpaid taxes despite making nearly $150 million through the Roosevelt Hotel by housing illegal aliens. 

The Roosevelt Hotel, owned by Pakistani International Airlines, a quasi-state entity, has $13.6 million in overdue property taxes and nearly $1 million in unpaid water bills, according to the New York Post. 

The hotel became a hub for illegal aliens after then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams entered contracts allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens to live on the premises. 

According to the Post, the Roosevelt Hotel processed more than 173,000 of the 232,000 illegal aliens in the city.  

Taxpayers paid a total of $146.6 million, or $202 per room each night, for roughly 2,600 illegal aliens each night from May 2023 through June 2025. 

Among those staying at the formerly luxury hotel was Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan gang member serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia. 

The unpaid property taxes stem from a payment agreement with the city’s Department of Finance in September 2023, which required the hotel to pay $573,361 on Jan. 2. But as noted by the Post, that half-a-million-dollar bill again went unpaid, as did the $3.9 million half-year installment. 

But New Yorkers expecting those bills to be paid could be out of luck. 

The hotel recently entered a deal with the federal government to redevelop the landmark property, which could allow the Pakistani government to avoid future taxes. 

According to the Post, the arrangement might trigger a federal tax exemption, as the U.S. Department of State often asks city governments to grant exemptions when foreign governments purchase U.S. properties. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the agency has not “received” such a request but warned that prior charges “must still be paid.”

Biden Rehires Staffer Who Threatened to ‘Destroy’ Female Journalist 

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Biden Rehires Staffer Who Threatened to ‘Destroy’ Female Journalist 

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Does the name TJ Ducklo sound familiar? It should. The former Biden communications aide who famously threatened a female reporter in 2021 has now been brought back once again by Joe Biden. 

Ducklo, who did not respond to Headline USA’s request for comment sent to his cellphone, drew widespread condemnation five years ago after he threatened to “destroy” Politico reporter Tara Palmeri.  

At the time, Palmeri was pursuing a story about his relationship with fellow reporter Alexi McCammond, who later called him a “toxic ex.” Ducklo even accused Palmeri of being jealous of his relationship. 

Despite Biden having promised to fire “on the spot” staff who mistreat others, Ducklo was only suspended for a week without pay after his Palmeri threats were exposed. 

He later resigned from the White House, rebuking his own words and actions as “abhorrent, disrespectful, and disgusting.” 

Ducklo’s exile did not last long. After his resignation, he worked for Nashville Mayor John Cooper and was later recruited in 2023 by Biden’s re‑election campaign. 

Now, he’s back in the fold, serving as a spokesperson for Biden’s post-White House office. Ducklo confirmed the news in an X post on Friday, waving hand emojis at a Politico Playbook report. 

Ducklo’s rehiring may not surprise everyone, given that Biden himself has long faced accusations of sexual misconduct.  

In March 2020, Tara Reade, a former congressional staffer, accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, when he was a U.S. senator representing Delaware.  

Biden denied the accusations but had previously apologized for his inappropriate behavior with women. 

“Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future,” Biden said in 2019. “That’s my responsibility and I will meet it.” 

Reade was one of eight women who came forward with allegations against Biden, including former Nevada assemblywoman Lucy Flores and former congressional aide Amy Lappos. 

9 People Wounded in Cincinnati Nightclub Shooting

Headline USA Editor
-
0
9 People Wounded in Cincinnati Nightclub Shooting

(Headline USA) A shooting early Sunday at a crowded Cincinnati nightclub and concert venue wounded nine people, police said. There were no immediate arrests.

The shooting victims were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Adam Hennie, the city’s interim police chief, said at a news conference.

About 500 to 600 people were in the Riverfront Live nightclub when shots rang out at 1 a.m., Hennie said. He declined to provide additional details, citing the integrity of the investigation.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was helping in the investigation.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

CIA: Ayatollah Khamenei to be Replaced by Someone More Extreme

Headline USA Editor
-
0
CIA: Ayatollah Khamenei to be Replaced by Someone More Extreme

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) Before the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Saturday morning and killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the CIA assessed that if the Iranian leader were killed, his rule would likely be replaced by “hardline” figures from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Reuters has reported.

The report said that the assessment was produced over the past two weeks as the US was building up its forces in the region and preparing to launch the war. The New York Times reported that the CIA had been tracking Khamenei for months and knew that he would be at his compound in Tehran meeting senior Iranian officials on Saturday morning, where he was hit by a joint US-Israeli strike.

Since Khamenei’s death, the Iranian government has created a council, headed by Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, to govern the country until Iran’s “Assembly of Experts” chooses a new supreme leader. Killing Khamenei does not appear to have impacted Iran’s military operations as Iranian missiles and drones continue to hit targets across the region, including in Israel and countries hosting US military bases.

During previous confrontations with the US, including the 12-Day War in June 2025 and when President Trump assassinated Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the IRGC’s Quds Force, Iran’s response to the US attacks was minimal and more symbolic, as it provided notice ahead of time. But now, Iran has targeted multiple US bases, and there’s no sign Tehran is interested in de-escalation.

According to an unconfirmed report from Israel’s Ynet, after killing Khamenei, President Trump sought a ceasefire, but the idea was rejected by Iran. Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, says that leadership in Tehran now believes that if it agrees to a ceasefire without inflicting enough costs on the US, the US and Israel will just attack again in the future.

“Iran understands that many in the American security establishment had been convinced that Iran’s past restraint reflected weakness and an inability or unwillingness to face the US in a direct war,” Parsi wrote on X. “Tehran is now doing everything it can to demonstrate the opposite – despite the massive cost it itself will pay. Ironically, the assassination of Khamenei facilitated this shift.”

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

 

1...237238239...3,817Page 238 of 3,817