Corrupt Judge Juan Merchan Demands Trump Appear on Jan. 10 for Sentencing

Ben Sellers
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Corrupt Judge Juan Merchan Demands Trump Appear on Jan. 10 for Sentencing

(Ben Sellers, Headline USA) New York Judge Juan Merchan, who had indefinitely suspended President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing following a Supreme Court ruling that upended the lawfare conviction last year, demanded that Trump appear virtually or in person to be sentenced in the porn star case.

Trump was summoned to appear before the court at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 10—just 10 days before he is again inaugurated as president.

Merchan insisted that there was “no impediment” to moving forward with the sentencing.

However, reports indicated that the disposition will be an “unconditional discharge,” with Merchan effectively acknowledging that he could not impose an actual sentence but did not want to simply expunge the case—and Trump’s “felon” status—from the record.

Trump was expected to file for a stay of the hearing, although Merchan has thus far rejected all efforts to dismiss the case.

The petty demand was the latest effort by Merchan to leave a black mark on the Republican leader, even after voters rendered their verdict by re-electing Trump in November—in what signaled a clear repudiation for the leftist abuses of the court system.

Merchan—whose daughter Loren received millions from Democrat politicians, including Democrat nominee Kamala Harris, for campaign work—refused to recuse himself in the case and made several rulings that were highly suspect, taking considerable liberties with the rule of law.

Judge Merchan himself was exposed as a Biden donor—also grounds for recusal under New York law.

Nonetheless, Merchan tried to deflect from his malpractice by accusing Trump of showing “disdain” for the court system during the contentious trial, which forced him off the campaign trail for several weeks.

The judge also imposed a sweeping gag order on Trump to prevent him from defending himself in the courtroom of public opinion and to prevent Trump from criticizing the judge’s own decisions.

Merchan was forced to delay the sentencing, initially set before the election, when the Supreme Court ruled in a separate lawfare case that presidents were protected by broad immunity for many official acts.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team of partisan prosecutors relied heavily on testimony from Trump administration officials, including former adviser Hope Hicks, in order to assert that Trump had been engaged in the cover-up of an effort to pay off accusers, including porn-star Stormy Daniels, ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump maintained his innocence, denying that he had engaged in the alleged extramarital affairs 10 years earlier, shortly after his wedding to third wife Melania Trump.

The case languished for seven years, with the Justice Department determining it had insufficient evidence to proceed with federal charges. However, the George Soros-funded Bragg, facing pressure from members of the Biden Justice Department, decided to try the case on the state level, despite its having exceeded the federal statute of limitations.

New York’s charges for the crime were misdemeanors, but Bragg used legal gymnastics to upgrade them to felonies. Merchan colluded with the prosecutors by allowing jurors to pick and choose the requisite second charge needed to make it a felony, without specifying what the actual crime was.

The case was one of at least six major cases in which leftist prosecutors targeted Trump through questionable interpretations of the law. He was found guilty in four cases tried in deep-blue New York.

In a civil case waged by Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump was ordered to pay nearly half a billion dollars for valuing his real estate holdings in a way that the far-left Judge Arthur Engoron thought was inaccurate.

Leftist judge Lewis Kaplan presided over another civil trial, ordering Trump to pay nearly $90 million for twice denying that the highly dubious claims of serial rape accuser E. Jean Carroll were legitimate.

Trump also faced two federal cases waged by ex-special counsel Jack Smith and a racketeering case waged by Fani Willis, the embattled district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia.

All of those cases were dropped or indefinitely delayed after the prosecutorial overreach failed to convict him prior to the election.

Several of the prosecutors have released statements expressing fear that they might now face legal accountability for their actions, with some calling on President Joe Biden to pre-emptively pardon them.

Ben Sellers is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/realbensellers.

FAA: Boeing Still Needs Culture Change to Put Safety above Profits

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FAA: Boeing Still Needs Culture Change to Put Safety above Profits

(Headline USA) A year after a panel blew out of a Boeing 737 Max during flight, the nation’s top aviation regulator says the company needs “a fundamental cultural shift” to put safety and quality above profits.

Mike Whitaker, chief of the Federal Aviation Administration, said in an online post Friday that his agency also has more work to do in its oversight of Boeing.

Whitaker, who plans to step down in two weeks to let President-elect Donald Trump pick his own FAA administrator, looked back on his decision last January to ground all 737 Max jets with similar panels called door plugs.

Later, the FAA put more inspectors in Boeing factories, limited production of new 737s, and required Boeing to come up with a plan to fix manufacturing problems.

“Boeing is working to make progress executing its comprehensive plan in the areas of safety, quality improvement and effective employee engagement and training,” Whitaker said. “But this is not a one-year project. What’s needed is a fundamental cultural shift at Boeing that’s oriented around safety and quality above profits. That will require sustained effort and commitment from Boeing, and unwavering scrutiny on our part.”

Boeing on Friday issued an update on steps it has taken to improve safety and quality, including addressing concerns raised by employees and reinforcing their confidentiality protection.

Boeing, which couldn’t build new 737s during a seven-week strike by machinists last fall, said it has strengthened training for mechanics and quality inspectors. The company said it updated a system to display the names of employees who perform metal-stamping work.

The company also said it has “significantly reduced defects” in 737 fuselages built by Spirit AeroSystems, but it declined to provide numbers. Spirit is a key supplier that Boeing is in the process of buying for $4.7 billion.

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the door-plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Max jet. Despite a gaping hole in the side, pilots landed the plane safely in Portland, Oregon, and no serious injuries were reported.

A month after the accident, investigators said in a preliminary report that bolts used to help secure the panel were not replaced after work in a Boeing factory.

Whitaker said the FAA will review any recommendations that the safety board makes to improve FAA’s oversight work. Last summer, he admitted that FAA’s scrutiny of Boeing wasn’t good enough.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Jill Biden Continues Family Tradition of Receiving Expensive Diamonds from Asian Nations

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Jill Biden Continues Family Tradition of Receiving Expensive Diamonds from Asian Nations

(Headline USA) Although Hunter Biden was pre-emptively pardoned last month to protect against any criminal charges from his more than decade-long influence-peddling operations, that did not stop members of the Biden family from continuing the family tradition—including those living in the White House.

President Joe Biden and his family were given tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders in 2023, according to an annual accounting published by the State Department on Thursday, with first lady Jill Biden receiving the single most expensive present: a $20,000 diamond from India’s leader.

The 7.5-carat diamond from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was easily the most costly gift presented to any member of the first family in 2023, although she also received a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States and a bracelet, brooch and photograph album worth $4,510 from the president and first lady of Egypt.

The precious gemstone evoked Hunter Biden’s qui-quo-pro receipt of a 3-carat diamond valued at $80,000 from a Chinese businessman linked to a criminal drug-lord. Speculation abounded that Joe Biden’s weak stance in dealing with Chinese espionage, drug trafficking and other national-security matters might be linked to his son’s business interests, which also included a 10% cut for the “big guy.”

The U.S. president himself received a number of expensive presents, including a commemorative photo album valued at $7,100 from South Korea’s recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon, a $3,495 statue of Mongolian warriors from the Mongolian prime minister, a $3,300 silver bowl from the sultan of Brunei, a $3,160 sterling silver tray from the president of Israel, and a collage worth $2,400 from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Federal law requires executive branch officials to declare gifts they receive from foreign leaders and counterparts that have an estimated value of more than $480. Many of the gifts that meet that threshold are relatively modest, and the more expensive ones are typically—but not always—transferred to the National Archives or put on official displays.

The $20,000 diamond was retained for official use in the White House East Wing, according to a State Department document, while the other gifts to the president and first lady were sent to the archives.

Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for Jill Biden, said the diamond will be turned over to the archives after they leave office. She did not say what it was being used for.

Recipients also have the option to purchase the gift from the U.S. government at its market value, although that is rare, particularly with high-end items.

According to the State Department’s Office of Protocol, which compiles the list that will be published in Friday’s edition of the Federal Register, several employees of the CIA reported receiving lavish gifts of watches, perfume and jewelry, nearly all of which were destroyed. Of the gifts destroyed, they were worth more than $132,000 combined.

CIA Director William Burns received a $18,000 astrograph, which is a telescope and astrological camera, from an foreign source whose identity is classified. That is being transferred to the General Services Administration. But Burns reported receiving and destroying an $11,000 Omega watch, while numerous others did the same with luxury timepieces.

Below the rank of director, the CIA employees who reported gifts are not identified, but one of them logged an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch, a ladies Omega Constellation watch, a diamond necklace, earring bracelet, and a ring that were valued together at $65,100.

All of those were destroyed, according to the report, as was a $30,000 women’s jewelry set from the Libyan jeweler Al Grew consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings received by another CIA employee.

Another CIA employee reported receiving a men’s Yacht Master II Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch worth $18,700, another reported getting a lady’s Rolex Oyster Datejust watch valued at $12,500, and one other got a $7,450 Rolex Air King watch. All three of the watches were destroyed, according to the list.

Another employee reported receiving a collection of pricey Amouage Perfume worth $10,670, the destruction of which is pending, the report says.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Mike Johnson Re-Elected as House Speaker w/ No Votes to Spare

Ben Sellers
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Mike Johnson Re-Elected as House Speaker w/ No Votes to Spare

(Ben Sellers, Headline USA) House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., secured the 218 votes needed to hold his position in the first round of voting after two holdouts—Reps. Ralph Norman, R-N.C., and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, changed their respective votes supporting Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio. 

“The path of prosperity has long been paved by policies that put America and Americans first, and that is what we will champion in the 119th Congress,” Johnson said in his acceptance speech.

He said the No. 1 priority would be defending the nation’s borders—including support for President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation and border wall agenda.

“You said you’d work with us on that, Hakeem, and I’m counting on it,” Johnson joked after a conciliatory speech by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., that called for bipartisanship in the GOP-controlled Congress.

However, Johnson’s efforts to lead will not be easy, with divisions within the Republican Party also threatening to derail progress.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., made good on his pledge to deny Johnson support, even as last-minute negotiations with Trump allies appeared to be in progress after the initial voting.

Massie, considered to be a libertarian budget hawk, threw his support to House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., an establishment favorite.

Trump, looking to secure a smooth certification of the Electoral College votes, had earlier pressured other potential rogue Republicans, including Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.

However, the initial shortfall for Johnson underscored the precarious position that House Republicans will find themselves in, with no votes to spare after the departures of Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Mike Waltz, R-Fla., both of whom have been appointed to high-level positions in the Trump administration.

In addition to Massie, the GOP was missing the vote of Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., whose reason for being absent was unclear.

Also unclear is whether Norman and Self were able to secure any sort of leverage by agreeing to switch their votes in favor of Johnson.

Members of the Freedom Caucus were able to negotiate during the start of the previous Congress, in January 2023, by demanding that presumptive Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., submit to a set of rules changes that would effectively cede some of his power to set the agenda.

That came back to haunt McCarthy, however, when then-Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., invoked a motion to vacate the speakership after McCarthy capitulated to Democrats on a crucial budget negotiation.

Johnson, a relative unknown at the time, was the compromise candidate after several rounds of voting failed to elect more high-profile lawmakers, including Jordan, Emmer and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the current Republican Majority Leader.

Massie appeared on the debut of Gaetz’s new show on the One America News Network Thursday, during which he said that he would sooner cut off all his fingers than vote for Johnson, who has garnered some criticism also for his inability to stand up to Democrats.

Ben Sellers is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/realbensellers. 

Crypto Mogul Do Kwon Pleads Not Guilty in 1st US Court Appearance

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Crypto Mogul Do Kwon Pleads Not Guilty in 1st US Court Appearance

(Headline USA) South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Hyeong Kwon pleaded not guilty Thursday to a freshly unsealed indictment released in time for his first U.S. court appearance.

Kwon entered the plea in Manhattan federal court two days after his extradition from Montenegro.

The indictment alleges that the man dubbed by some as “the cryptocurrency king” lied to investors from 2018 to 2022 to fool them into pouring money into Terraform Labs, the Singapore crypto firm he cofounded.

Authorities say investors worldwide were harmed by the $40 billion crash of Terraform Labs’s cryptocurrency.

The May 2022 collapse came despite the company’s claim that TerraUSD was a “stablecoin” that could be relied upon.

Kwon did not speak during his court appearance, except to acknowledge that he understood English.

His lawyer, Andrew Chesley, entered not guilty pleas to two separate versions of the indictment charging him with conspiracy, along with commodities, securities and wire fraud.

A money laundering charge was added Thursday.

Chesley and another defense lawyer, David Patton, declined comment as they emerged from the courtroom. Their client was returned to a federal jail after the lawyers consented to his detention.

The superseding indictment accused Kwon of deceiving investors by telling them that Terraform had developed novel reliable financial technologies enabling it to turn blockchain technology into a self-contained decentralized financial world with its own money, payment system, stock market and savings bank.

“In fact,” the indictment said, “Kwon’s constructed financial world was built on lies and manipulative and deceptive techniques used to mislead investors, users, business partners, and government regulators” about Terraform’s business.

“Behind the scenes, core Terraform products did not work as Kwon advertised, and were manipulated to create the illusion of a functioning and decentralized financial system in order to lure investors,” it added.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Kamala Harris Butchers the Pledge of Allegiance

Julianna Frieman
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Kamala Harris Butchers the Pledge of Allegiance

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris butchered the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday, the day she swore in U.S. senators from the 119th Congress.

“Join me in pledging allegiance to our flag,” the defeated Democrat presidential candidate said to senators before proving exactly why President-elect Donald Trump quashed his bid with a historic victory.

Harris recited three words correctly before appearing to forget the Pledge of Allegiance.

She said, “I pledge allegiance to the United States of America…,” before trailing off and demonstrating her lack of leadership with a very unconfident “…the United States of America,” as she seemed to follow the collective voice of the chamber.

Social media users were fast to call out Harris for her embarrassing gaffe.

“OMG. Kamala Harris just messed up saying the Pledge of Allegiance,” popular conservative X user Libs of TikTok wrote. “Thank God Trump won.”

X influencer @amuse commented that Harris is “one heartbeat away from becoming our next president,” speculating that the vice president’s flub could be attributed to her Canadian roots or just plain drunkenness.

“We may never know,” @amuse added.

Political commentator Nick Sortor called Harris a “joke,” while X user @BehizyTweets insulted the vice president as an “imbecilic witch.”

Harris was not the only high-profile politician to spark conversation on social media. Her replacement, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, was spotted laughing as the failed 2024 candidate swore in members of the next Congress.

“Loving the smile JD Vance is giving Kamala Harris as she swears in the new US Senators,” Rep. Mike Johnson’s rapid response director, Edgar B. Barrios, wrote on X.

Trump supporter @MAGAVoice chimed in by saying, “I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING,” in all capital letters with a laughing emoji, adding, “WE ARE SO BACK.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

What Is Turo, the App That Rented Cars Involved in 2 New Year’s Terrorist Attacks?

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What Is Turo, the App That Rented Cars Involved in 2 New Year’s Terrorist Attacks?

(Headline USA) Two deadly incidents on New Year’s Day—an attack being investigated as an act of terrorism in New Orleans and an explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas—both involved vehicles that were rented on Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing company.

Early Wednesday, 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans’s famed French Quarter—killing 14 people who were celebrating the New Year. And police fatally shot Jabbar in a following firefight.

Just hours after, outside of President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives also burst into flames.

The person inside, identified as active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, died. Officials later said he suffered a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion.

Turo said it is “shocked and saddened” Wednesday’s events and that “our hearts are with the victims and their families.”

The company added that is “outraged by the misuse of our marketplace by the two individuals who perpetrated these acts.”

While both incidents involved vehicles rented through Turo, the FBI has said that is has found “no definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion.

Still, the incidents have put a spotlight on the car-sharing platform. Here’s what we know about Turo.

What is Turo?

Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing company. The online platform allows car owners to rent their own vehicles directly to other nearby drivers, or “guests.”

“Hosts” set their prices, availability and delivery options for renters to choose from and book via Turo’s website or app.

Billing itself as “the world’s largest car sharing marketplace” today, Turo says it operates through a network of hosts across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and France.

The origins of the San Francisco-based company date back almost 15 years, with its first trip completed in May 2010 and nationwide launch later arriving in 2012. The platform was originally introduced as “RelayRides,” but rebranded to Turo in 2015.

Over the last 12 years of operating history, Turo says it collected data from over 90 million booked days, 27 million trips, 8.6 billion miles driven as of Sept. 30, 2024. Less than 0.1% of those Turo trips ended with a serious incident such as a vehicle theft, the company said Thursday.

How was Turo used for the cars involved in these New Year’s Day events?

Again, investigators have not found any definitive connections between Wednesday’s attack in New Orleans attack and following explosion in Las Vegas. But both incidents involved vehicles rented on Turo.

Authorities have said that the Cybertruck involved in the Las Vegas explosion was rented through the Turo app in Colorado.

Kevin McMahill, the elected sheriff of Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, said Wednesday that authorities knew who rented this truck, but were not releasing the name until investigators determine if it is the same person who died.

On Wednesday, Turo confirmed that both the Cybertruck and the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack were rented using the platform.

What else has the company said?

Turo has said it’s sharing any information it has with law enforcement as investigations continue. The company has also noted that the individuals involved did not have criminal backgrounds that would have identified them as security threats. It said every Turo renter is screened through a “multi-layer, data-science-based trust and safety process.”

The men involved in the incidents had valid driver’s licenses, clean background checks, and were honorably discharged from the U.S. military, Turo noted Thursday.

“They could have boarded any plane, checked into a hotel, or rented a car or truck from a traditional vehicle rental chain,” the company said. “We do not believe these two individuals would have been flagged by anyone—including Big Rental or law enforcement.”

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

ESPN Cuts Out National Anthem, Moment of Silence After New Orleans Terror Attack

Julianna Frieman
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ESPN Cuts Out National Anthem, Moment of Silence After New Orleans Terror Attack

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) ESPN faced backlash following its Sugar Bowl broadcast Thursday after cutting out the national anthem and moment of silence commemorating the 14 killed on Bourbon Street in the New Orleans terror attack that postponed the highly anticipated college football game.

Viewers were left fuming on social media after the Disney-owned network failed to air both important moments in honor of Americans murdered by the ISIS-inspired 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar’s vehicular mow-down.

ESPN did broadcast the national anthem or moment of silence because of the “awkwardness” of cutting short a commercial break, a source told the New York Post.

The network went to a commercial break right before the moment of silence and after its “SportsCenter” pre-age interview with Tim Tebow, the source explained, so ESPN returning to the middle of the anthem was “making it hard to cut it,” according to the outlet.

Despite axing both patriotic moments, ESPN aired a pre-recorded message from President Joe Biden to open its broadcast.

ESPN followed the Democrat’s video by showing a montage of football fans, police and the city of New Orleans as play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough spoke about the terror attack.

“Wow @espn didn’t air the national anthem or the moment of silence for the New Orleans terror attack victims per @burackbobby and they continue to label the terror attack a ‘truck attack’ on screen,” OutKick host Clay Travis wrote on X.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had one scathing word for ESPN’s omission of both commemorative moments, writing “pitiful” in a repost of Travis’s criticism.

Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo called ESPN’s apparent snub a “travesty” and called the omitted moments at the Caesars Superdome “moving” and “beautiful.”

”Shocker. Disney-owed ESPN doesn’t represent most Americans, especially football fans,” Outkick personality Riley Gaines added.

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

America Won’t Fall for Multi-State ‘Quad-demic’ Mask Mandates

Julianna Frieman
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America Won’t Fall for Multi-State ‘Quad-demic’ Mask Mandates

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Some states reinstated mask mandates as so-called health “experts” claim holiday social gatherings have caused an increase in four different types of viral infections, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

The “quad-demic” consists of a surge in infections caused by the flu, COVID-19, the respiratory illness RSV and norovirus, commonly called the stomach flu, according to the outlet.

Headlines about the quadruple threat emerged just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, fresh after talk about the risk of bird flu fell flat.

Aurora Health Care, a hospital in Wisconsin, announced that starting on Jan. 6, visitors will be required to mask up “when in contact with patients or in congregate areas, including patient rooms and others areas designated by signage,” WLUK reported.

Several counties in California, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, along with the City of Berkeley, enacted mask mandates first effective in November until March 31, 2025.

In some counties, the order only applies to medical workers—but stricter counties extent their mandate to visitors or residents, CBS News reported.

Multiple hospitals in Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey have also implemented mask mandates, which were proven not to stop infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the guise of protecting people against the reported winter surge of diseases, various reports said.

In New York, government officials including Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams also reportedly called for people to wear face masks on public transportation, NBC 4 New York reported in June.

Dr. Joe Bresee, an infectious disease “expert” with two decades of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experience, told the Daily Mail, “What we are seeing now is an increasing amount of respiratory disease and norovirus that is really all over the U.S.”

Social media users were skeptical of mask mandates resulting from what some called the “quad-demic.” One X user questioned if reports were “more fear-mongering,” while others warned as early as Dec. 2024 that the apparent attempt to return to COVID-19 “utter deception and evil” would not be welcomed.

X user @NoNonsense2 pointed out that the rise of the “quad-demic” began just weeks before Trump’s second term.

Popular podcaster Dan Bongino slammed the Daily Mail’s report by saying, “Absolutely incredible how little public health officials have learned from betraying us during COVID. Mask stupidity is peak human ignorance.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Downtown Omaha Loses Power for Hours after Garbage Truck Gets Stuck in Sinkhole

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Downtown Omaha Loses Power for Hours after Garbage Truck Gets Stuck in Sinkhole

(Headline USA) A large portion of downtown Omaha lost power for several hours Thursday after a garbage truck got stuck in a sinkhole where utility lines had become exposed.

The truck became stuck around 8 a.m. with its nose tilted down into the sinkhole and its rear wheels lifting several inches off the ground. The sinkhole is more than 10 feet deep and a number of utility lines were exposed when the hole formed at an alley entrance, firefighters said.

City Engineer Austin Rowser told the KETV television station that officials had been concerned about the alley and put up a barricade to keep vehicles from driving down it. Rowser said the driver of the Waste Management trash truck moved the barricade to drive through the alley.

Waste Management of Nebraska disputed that the driver moved a barrier. The company said in a statement that the driver saw caution signs on the sidewalk as he crossed 16th Street but no barriers blocked his route into the alley, so he drove into it.

Waste Management said its internal investigation supports the driver’s observations, and that it is cooperating with the city’s investigation.

The Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District utilities shut off electricity and gas service to the surrounding area while the situation was investigated.

The Omaha Fire Department said the garbage truck was removed by early afternoon and power was restored. Natural gas service was restored to the area Thursday evening.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

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