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Santa Clarita Is Using Your Tax Dollars to Silence a Reporter

The Truth News — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:47:51 +0000

Good Shepherd Media · Santa Clarita, California · Editorial

Opinion & Analysis

Santa Clarita Is Using Your Tax Dollars to Silence a Reporter

When a city government files a restraining order against a journalist for making phone calls to City Hall, something has gone very wrong in a place that calls itself a democracy.

Good Shepherd Media Editorial Board · Santa Clarita, CA
June 2026

The City of Santa Clarita recently took an extraordinary step: it filed a civil harassment restraining order against a local publisher — a journalist — for the act of calling City Hall to seek comment from the mayor on a matter of public concern. Let that sink in. A government entity, funded by you, the taxpayer, is using the civil courts to silence a member of the press.

This is not a hypothetical threat to press freedom. It is happening right now, in this community, under Case No. 26CHRO00913 at the Chatsworth Courthouse. The petitioners are the City of Santa Clarita and two named city officials. The target is a registered journalist operating a legitimate local news publication. The alleged offense? Approximately fifteen phone calls over ten days — not threats, not violence, not harassment in any meaningful sense of the word — but calls to a government office seeking access to elected and appointed officials.

“Calling your government is not harassment. Reporting on your government is not a crime. But suing a journalist for doing both is a profound abuse of power.”

What the City Did — and What It Cost You

Filing a restraining order is not a free act. City attorneys do not work for nothing. Every hour spent preparing petitions, appearing in court, and litigating this matter is billed to the public. Santa Clarita residents — who pay among the highest property tax rates in Los Angeles County — are footing the bill to suppress the very journalism that exists to hold their government accountable.

And what exactly did this journalist do to merit such a response? He called City Hall. He identified himself as a publisher. He sought comment on a matter of public concern. He announced his intent to report on a planned public assembly — a constitutionally protected activity — and took care to note explicitly that any gathering should not target private residences. That last detail is critical: far from inciting disorder, this journalist acted to prevent it.

The city’s response to this responsible journalism was not a press release, not a returned call, not a public statement. It was a lawsuit. It was a Temporary Restraining Order. It was an automatic firearms prohibition imposed under Penal Code § 29825 — a collateral consequence that strips a law-abiding citizen of a fundamental right without a trial, without a conviction, and without any finding of actual danger.

What the Restraining Order Actually Does

► Prohibits a journalist from contacting city officials — the very people he is constitutionally entitled to petition
► Triggers an automatic firearms prohibition under PC § 29825, even though no violence was alleged
► Chills newsgathering by any reporter who fears similar retaliation for persistent inquiry
► Diverts public funds from city services into litigation against a member of the press
► Creates a false public impression of domestic conflict where none exists

“A greedy incompetant mayor office and city council , a corrupt police officer, a trash company and a developer whose interests appear closely aligned with those in City Hall. The public deserves transparency, accountability, and government decisions made for the benefit of residents—not for the benefit of insiders.”

The First Amendment Is Not a Technicality

Courts have long recognized that petitioning the government for redress of grievances is not merely a right — it is the foundational act of democratic self-governance. The Supreme Court has held repeatedly that speech directed at public officials on matters of public concern occupies the highest rung of constitutional protection. Even speech that annoys, offends, or inconveniences those in power cannot be suppressed simply because the powerful find it uncomfortable.

California’s own legislature recognized the danger of powerful entities weaponizing litigation against speakers and reporters. It enacted the anti-SLAPP statute — Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16 — precisely to stop this kind of abuse. SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. The law exists because governments and corporations have a long history of filing lawsuits not to win, but to exhaust, intimidate, and silence those who dare to speak. When the defendant in such a case prevails, the law mandates that the plaintiff — here, the city — pay the defendant’s attorneys’ fees.

An anti-SLAPP motion has been filed in this case. The city will have to explain, in open court, why phone calls to City Hall by a journalist constitute legally cognizable harassment rather than constitutionally protected newsgathering. That is a question Santa Clarita residents deserve to hear answered on the record.

“A government that sues journalists is a government that fears scrutiny. And a government that fears scrutiny has something to hide.”

The Chilling Effect Is the Point

Make no mistake: even if this city ultimately loses in court, the filing of this action has already accomplished something. Other local journalists, bloggers, and citizens watching this case now know what awaits anyone who calls City Hall too many times, asks too many questions, or publishes something officials prefer to suppress. That knowledge changes behavior. It makes people hesitant. It makes reporters pull punches. That hesitation — that self-censorship — is the chilling effect the First Amendment exists to prevent.

Local government accountability journalism is already endangered. Newsrooms have collapsed across Southern California. The reporters who once filled city council chambers, read through budgets, and pressed officials for answers are gone. What remains, in communities like Santa Clarita, are a handful of independent publishers operating on shoestring budgets, filing records requests, attending meetings, and making phone calls — doing the unglamorous work of democratic accountability. When a city files a restraining order against one of those publishers, it is not merely attacking an individual. It is attacking the institution of local press itself.

What Santa Clarita Residents Should Demand

The residents of Santa Clarita deserve answers. They deserve to know why city attorneys authorized this action. They deserve a full accounting of how much public money has been spent litigating against a local journalist. They deserve to know whether city officials were personally involved in the decision to file, and what communications preceded that decision.

They also deserve a city government that understands the difference between harassment and journalism — between a threat and a phone call — and that responds to press inquiries with transparency, not lawsuits.

Until those answers are given, and until this action is withdrawn or defeated in court, Santa Clarita’s city government stands credibly accused of weaponizing public resources against the free press, chilling constitutionally protected speech, and betraying the trust of the taxpayers it was elected to serve.

That is a story that will continue to be told — no restraining order notwithstanding.

	Mayor Laurene Weste
	Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Ayala
	Councilmember Jason Gibbs
	Councilwoman Marsha McLean
	Councilmember Bill Miranda

Upcoming Public Hearing

Anti-SLAPP Special Motion to Strike
Case No. 26CHRO00913 · Los Angeles Superior Court, Chatsworth Courthouse
July 2, 2026 · This is a public proceeding. All residents are welcome to attend.

The city must show cause in open court why its action does not constitute a SLAPP — a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — targeting constitutionally protected press activity.

City of Santa Clarita Uses Public Funds to Sue Its Own Local Journalist

The Truth News — Fri, 08 May 2026 22:48:59 +0000

Good Shepherd Media

GOODSHEPHERDMEDIA.NET

SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2026  ·  VOL. 1, NO. 1

“TRUTH SERVES THE COMMUNITY”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT  ·  FIRST AMENDMENT  ·  CIVIL RIGHTS  ·  TAXPAYER ACCOUNTABILITY

Exclusive Investigation

Government Overreach

City of Santa Clarita
Uses Public Funds to Sue
Its Own Local Journalist

A restraining order filed by two city officials and the municipality itself targets a news publisher for phone calls to City Hall and plans to report on a public assembly — raising urgent First Amendment questions at taxpayer expense.

By Philip ·  Publisher, Good Shepherd Media  ·  Case No. 26CHRO00913, Chatsworth Courthouse

The City of Santa Clarita, along with two of its named officials, has filed a Civil Harassment Restraining Order against this publication’s own publisher — a journalist — after he made approximately fifteen phone calls over ten days to city offices seeking comment from the mayor on a matter of public concern.

No threats were made. No private home was targeted. The calls were placed to City Hall’s publicly listed numbers. Yet taxpayer resources are now being marshaled through the Los Angeles Superior Court to silence a local news publisher, in what legal observers say bears the hallmarks of a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — a SLAPP.

“The conduct at issue — calling a government office to seek comment and announcing intent to report on a public assembly — is constitutionally protected at its core.”

— Anti-SLAPP Motion to Strike, filed May 19, 2026

Among the most alarming collateral consequences of the temporary restraining order: an automatic firearms prohibition under California Penal Code § 29825 was imposed against the publisher — a sanction typically associated with domestic violence orders — despite no familial relationship of any kind between the parties and no allegation of violence.

The publisher had announced, in his capacity as a journalist, his intent to publish City Hall’s publicly available address in connection with a planned peaceful public assembly. Far from inciting any unlawful gathering, the announcement explicitly invoked Frisby v. Schultz warnings cautioning readers against approaching private residences — responsible journalism that legal experts say affirmatively reduces the very risks the city now claims to fear.

An Anti-SLAPP Special Motion to Strike under CCP § 425.16 was filed on May 19, 2026. A federal civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 has also been prepared, alleging retaliation against protected First Amendment activity by a government actor. Should the Anti-SLAPP motion succeed — as the legal framework strongly suggests it should — a SLAPPback action under CCP § 425.18 is anticipated, which would seek attorney’s fees and damages from the city directly.

Every dollar spent prosecuting this restraining order is a dollar of Santa Clarita taxpayer money spent suppressing local journalism. Residents deserve to know that.

What the Record Shows

The publisher placed calls to City Hall’s public line — not to any private residence or personal number. The two named petitioners were unknown to the publisher during the calls, undermining the legal requirement that harassing conduct be “directed at” a specific person.

Phone carrier records obtained by this publication contradict a screenshot exhibit submitted by petitioners purporting to show the publisher’s number — raising authentication questions under California Evidence Code §§ 1400–1402.

A lawfully made audio recording of a responding police officer, admissible under PC § 148(g) and Askins v. DHS, has been identified as impeachment evidence against petitioner testimony.

Key Legal Claims

► CCP § 425.16 Anti-SLAPP Motion (filed)
► 42 U.S.C. § 1983 — First Amendment retaliation
► California Bane Act, Civil Code § 52.1
► CCP § 425.18 SLAPPback (pending outcome)
► Second Amendment — unlawful arms prohibition

“A greedy incompetant mayor office and city council , a corrupt police officer, a trash company and a developer whose interests appear closely aligned with those in City Hall. The public deserves transparency, accountability, and government decisions made for the benefit of residents—not for the benefit of insiders.”

Analysis

Legal Precedent Cuts Against the City — And Its Lawyers Know It

A 2026 California Court of Appeal ruling, Ortiz v. Saenz, directly mirrors the facts here: a restraining order sought against a government critic. It was struck down.

Courts have repeatedly held that speech directed at government officials on public concern matters occupies the highest tier of First Amendment protection. US v. Popa established that even heated or repeated calls to public offices may not be criminalized when the subject is a public concern. The Santa Clarita restraining order tests that boundary directly — and at public expense.

The case echoes Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach (2018), in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that a city’s retaliatory lawsuit against a resident critic violated the First Amendment. The parallels are striking: a local government using its institutional weight and legal apparatus to burden the speech of a persistent critic rather than engage with the substance of his reporting.

The Anti-SLAPP statute was designed precisely for this scenario. If the motion succeeds, the city faces mandatory fee awards to the prevailing defendant. Every dollar spent prosecuting this restraining order is a dollar of Santa Clarita taxpayer money spent suppressing local journalism. Residents of the Santa Clarita Valley deserve to know exactly how their money is being used.

	Mayor Laurene Weste
	Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Ayala
	Councilmember Jason Gibbs
	Councilwoman Marsha McLean
	Councilmember Bill Miranda

Good Shepherd Media LLC  ·  dba Good Shepherd Media  ·  goodshepherdmedia.net  ·  Santa Clarita, California

Case No. 26CHRO00913  ·  Los Angeles Superior Court, Chatsworth Courthouse  ·  Published May 8th, Updated June 4, 2026

Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner – President Trump Rushed to Safety

The Truth News — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:43:47 +0000

Shooting at White House – President Trump Rushed to Safety

4/25/2026

Suspect in custody after shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

President Trump was rushed off the stage, and he and his Cabinet members are all safe.

https://goodshepherdmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Shooting-at-White-House-President-Trump-Rushed-to-Safety.mp4

Here’s the latest

• President Donald Trump said a suspect “armed with multiple weapons” charged a security checkpoint before shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC. Trump was rushed off stage, and he and his Cabinet members are all safe.

• The suspect — who is in custody — will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said. Authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from California, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

• A US Secret Service officer was shot in their protective gear and hospitalized. The officer has since been released from the hospital, according to USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi.

• CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton when he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed.

What we know so far about gunman’s attack on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Armed commandos stand by as special guests are evacuated from the back of the Washington Hilton after shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday.

Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

A suspected gunman is in custody after storming a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner –– forcing President Donald Trump, cabinet members and a ballroom full of guests to scramble to safety.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California native, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives and “exchanged fire” with law enforcement officers when he was intercepted and taken into custody, interim Washington, DC, Police Chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters.

A motive has not been determined, and the suspect is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday. He faces two charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

Here’s what we know so far about the attack:

Carroll said the attacker appeared to be “a lone actor” and is believed to have stayed at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner took place. Police have secured the hotel room and are examining what’s inside.
A Secret Service officer who was shot during the attack has been released from the hospital. The officer’s ballistic vest “helped us avoid a potential tragedy,” a Secret Service spokesperson said.
Authorities said the suspect was not struck by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
According to public records, the suspect worked as a teacher and video game developer in Southern California. He studied engineering and is a graduate of the California Institute of Technology, according to materials shared with CNN.
Trump noted his security team was not aware of any threats prior to Saturday’s dinner.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton when he saw the gunman “clearly on the ground shooting” steps away from him. A police officer threw Blitzer to the ground after the assailant opened fire.
The attack has been condemned by lawmakers in the US and leaders across the world –– many expressing relief over Trump’s safety and praising the swift law enforcement response.

President Trump rushed from White House Correspondents’ Dinner after shots fired, suspect held

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump and other top officials were evacuated from the head table in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel at the annual event after apparent gunshots were heard at the venue Saturday night.

FBI secures alleged home of suspect in WHCD shooting, search warrant pending

The suspected home of the man accused in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting has been secured by the FBI and local law enforcement, Fox News has learned.

The suspect was identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to a law enforcement briefing to Fox News Digital.

A federal judge in the Central District of California is expected to sign a search warrant, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told Fox News.

Once the warrant is approved, the FBI will be able to search the suspect’s home. Obtaining the warrant could take several hours.

Torrance mayor responds after resident identified as suspect in WHCD shooting

The mayor of Torrance, California, issued a statement after a city resident was identified as the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

The suspected gunman was identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to a law enforcement briefing to Fox News Digital.

“Tonight, our community joins the nation in condemning the violent incident that occurred in Washington, D.C., during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Mayor George Chen said in a statement.

“We are grateful to the federal law enforcement officers and first responders whose swift actions helped prevent further harm, and we wish the injured agent a full recovery,” he added. “We are aware of reports identifying the suspect as a resident of Torrance.”

Chen emphasized the suspect does not represent the city.

“While that connection is deeply troubling, one individual’s alleged actions do not define our city or the values of the more than 143,000 residents who call Torrance home,” he said. “Torrance is a community built on respect, diversity, hard work, and public safety.”

“The City of Torrance stands firmly against political violence, extremism and acts of hatred in any form,” Chen continued. “We reject attempts to sow fear or division, whether here at home or anywhere in our country.”

Chen said the city will continue working with law enforcement.

“In moments like this, we are reminded that our shared values are stronger than the actions of any one person,” he added.

Secret Service official says gunman ‘stopped at first contact’ after WHCD shooting

Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn praised law enforcement’s response after a California man allegedly opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, striking an agent.

The agent was shot in the vest after the gunman entered the Washington Hilton, rushed past a magnetometer and opened fire. The agent is OK.

“Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy,” Quinn said in a statement. “He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact.”

“The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead,” he added. “Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners.”

The suspected gunman was identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to a law enforcement briefing to Fox News Digital.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday the suspect is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

FBI descends on suspect’s home as investigators race to build profile in WHCD shooting

Investigators are quickly building a profile of the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting as federal agents move in on his California home.

The suspected gunman was identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to a law enforcement briefing to Fox News Digital.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, said authorities can rapidly compile detailed information about the suspect.

“Right now, tonight, federal agents know his name,” Pack told Fox News. “That name is running through every database the government owns. Criminal history, military service, mental health flags, travel records, known associates, prior contacts with law enforcement.”

Pack said investigators can gather critical information within minutes.

“That process takes minutes, not days,” he said. “Within the hour, prosecutors were likely already on the phone with judges seeking warrants. Digital warrants for his phone, his email, his social media accounts, his search history. Physical warrants for every address associated with his name.”

FBI agents arrived outside the suspect’s home in Torrance early Sunday.

“Those residences are being secured right now,” Pack said. “Agents are establishing a perimeter, making sure nobody enters or leaves, and waiting for a warrant.”

He added that evidence inside the home could provide key insight into the suspect’s motive.

“What is inside that residence, whether it is a manifesto, weapons, materials, a journal, correspondence, will tell investigators more about motive than almost anything else,” Pack said. “The physical space a person lives in is a biography.”

Pack said investigators are already working to reconstruct the suspect’s movements leading up to the shooting.

“The timeline reconstruction has already started,” he said. “Agents are working backwards from the lobby of the Washington Hilton and they will not stop until they reach the moment this began in his mind.”

Suspect in WHCD shooting acted alone, had multiple weapons, DC police say

The man accused of opening fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday is believed to have acted alone and was found with multiple weapons, according to the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.

The suspected gunman was identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to a law enforcement briefing to Fox News.

DC police said they recovered two firearms and multiple knives.

A Secret Service agent was shot in the vest and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting renews spotlight on Trump ballroom push

The shooting inside the venue hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has renewed attention on President Donald Trump’s push for a secure White House ballroom — an idea he argues could help reduce such risks.

Trump pointed to the incident to criticize the hotel as insufficiently secure, promoting a new ballroom with features like reinforced materials.

The proposal, however, faces legal and political hurdles. Courts are weighing whether the administration bypassed required approvals, while critics question the cost and potential impact on the historic complex.

The planned 90,000-square-foot space would seat about 650 guests and replace the East Wing, marking a major change to the White House footprint. Supporters frame it as a largely privately funded security upgrade, while opponents see it as an unnecessary overhaul.

While the White House has hosted countless ceremonial events, it has never had a dedicated ballroom. The new structure would fill that gap, replacing the historic East Wing with a space built to accommodate large-scale gatherings.

Secret Service chief praises response after gunman charges WHCD security checkpoint

U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised law enforcement’s response after a 31-year-old California man allegedly opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, striking a Secret Service agent.

An agent was shot in the vest after the gunman entered the Washington Hilton, rushed past a magnetometer and opened fire. The agent is OK.

“Tonight we saw exactly what our brave men and women do each and every day to protect our protectees,” Curran said in a statement. “It’s not easy, and I will tell you that they performed admirably. We got to see what they do. And that individual, when he charged a checkpoint, was apprehended.”

“It shows that our multi-layered protection works,”Curran continued. “And I’m grateful to our partners that help assist us with building these sites and protecting these sites.”

Homeland Security chief praises Trump’s leadership after WHCD shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin commended President Donald Trump for showing “incredible composure and leadership” following a shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

“Thankfully, President Trump, the First Lady, all members of the Cabinet, the media, and guests are safe,” Mullin said in a post on X. “@POTUS has displayed incredible composure and leadership tonight.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement personnel for their quick and heroic actions,” he added. “An investigation is ongoing, and we will provide updates as they become available.”

Trump was escorted from the Washington Hilton after shots were reported near a security screening area. One suspect has been taken into custody.

Pelosi calls WHCD shooting a ‘terrifying act of violence,’ praises law enforcement

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacted to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, calling it a “terrifying act of violence.”

“It is a great relief that the President, First Lady and everyone in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is safe following a terrifying act of violence inside the venue,” Pelosi said in a statement.

“The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present,” she added.

Pelosi also expressed concern for those affected.

“As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents,” she said.

Pelosi’s husband was attacked with a hammer at their San Francisco home in 2022.

Suspect identified in White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

The suspected shooter involved in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been named, Fox News can confirm.

Cole Allen, 31, was identified via a law enforcement brief to Fox News. He is from Torrance, California.

Allen was potentially a guest at the Washington Hilton, according to law enforcement.

DC US attorney says suspect in WHCD incident faces federal charges, more possible

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that the individual who rushed toward the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is facing federal charges, with more likely to follow.

Pirro said the suspect, who has not been identified, is currently charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

“Right now, the defendant is being charged with two counts — 924(c), using a firearm during a crime of violence, and a second charge under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon,” Pirro said during a news conference.

She said the suspect is expected to be arraigned in federal district court Monday and could face additional charges.

“But make no mistake, there will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,” Pirro added.

Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown

The shooting near President Trump and several Cabinet members at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is intensifying scrutiny of the Democrats’ funding standoff in Congress, which has left the Department of Homeland Security — including the Secret Service — in a prolonged funding lapse.

The incident comes as the standoff stretches past 60 days, with Democrats blocking funding measures and rejecting multiple Republican-backed proposals to reopen the department. The dispute, centered on immigration enforcement policy, has raised concerns about resources for agencies including the Secret Service, FEMA and the Coast Guard, all of which fall under DHS.

The episode adds to a series of recent security threats involving Trump, underscoring the strain on federal protective services. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting the president, vice president, their families and other senior officials, has faced growing demands in recent years.

Last week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran warned lawmakers the agency is not adequately staffed to handle major upcoming events, including the FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympics and the next presidential cycle — highlighting mounting concerns about staffing and resources.

Trump praises law enforcement response after gunman rushes WHCD event

President Donald Trump praised law enforcement Saturday night after a gunman rushed toward the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“He charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room,” Trump said during a news conference from the White House.

“He was moving,” Trump added. “He was really moving.”

Trump commended the responding officers for their quick reaction.

“The reaction time was great,” he said. “Boy, those guys — they had their guns drawn. By the time he was there, they were shooting. I thought they were very impressive. And if I didn’t, I’d let you know.”

Acting AG says charges coming soon after shooting near WHCD

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Saturday night that charges are expected to be filed soon following the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“This investigation is ongoing,” he said during the briefing at the White House. “I expect you will see charges filed shortly.”

“The charges should be self-evident given the conduct,” he continued. “But as you’ll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else that we can get on this guy.”

Trump delivers White House address after White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting incident

President Donald Trump delivered a statement from the White House briefing room following the shooting incident that led to the evacuation of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner earlier tonight.

“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons,” Trump said, praising Secret Service and law enforcement for acting “very quickly” to stop the suspect.

Trump was rushed from the Washington Hilton after shots were reported near the screening area, with law enforcement later confirming a suspect was taken into custody.

Trump confirmed the shooter was taken down and said one officer was shot at close range but saved by a bulletproof vest. “I just spoke to the officer… he’s in great shape,” Trump said.

Adding to the surreal scene, many members of the press in the briefing room arrived directly from the Hilton and were still dressed in black tie attire for the president’s remarks.

Trump posted photos and video of the suspect on Truth Social to accompany his remarks.

Trump also framed the moment as striking at the heart of the purpose of the event, saying, “this was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties, with members of the press. And in a certain way, it did, because the fact that they just unified us to a room that was just totally unified, it was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see.”

He said the surveillance video released on Truth Social was meant to show “the violence of this thug that attacked our Constitution,” but also “how quickly Secret Service and law enforcement acted on our country’s behalf.”

Trump went on to argue the incident showed a need for tighter security, saying the Washington Hilton is “not a particularly secure building” and tying that to his ballroom under construction at the White House, with “drone proof” protections and “bulletproof glass.”

He also linked the scare to a broader pattern of threats, saying, “this is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would be assassin who sought to kill,” and urged Americans to “recommit with their hearts” to “resolving our differences peacefully.”

At several points, Trump returned to the idea that the dinner should not be canceled outright, saying, “we’re not going to let anybody take over our society,” and vowing the event would be held again “within the next 30 days,” “bigger and better and even nicer.”

The president added that he “fought like hell to stay,” but was ultimately told by security, “please, sir,” because agents still did not know of additional threats.

Speaker Johnson praises first responders after shooting outside WHCD

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., thanked first responders for quickly responding to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

Johnson was attending the event at the Washington Hilton hotel with his wife, Kelly.

“Kelly and I were at the event tonight, and we’re thankful no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe,” Johnson said in a post on X.

“We’re grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control,” he added. “Praying for our country tonight.”

Scalise reacts after shooting near WHCD, praises law enforcement response

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who was shot in the hip by a gunman during a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in 2017, reacted to the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the brave members of law enforcement who acted quickly to protect all of us attending tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” he said in a statement.

“This is an event meant to bring people together,” he added. “Violence has NO place in our country.”

White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue ‘Hinckley Hilton’ known for Reagan shooting history

Locals indelicately call the location of the White House Correspondents Dinner — the Washington Hilton Hotel — the “Hinckley Hilton” because of the shooting of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, by a man named John Hinckley Jr., who fired six shots at Reagan in a matter of seconds.

One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest, seriously wounding him. Three other people were also hit, including Press Secretary James Brady, a police officer and a Secret Service agent.

Secret Service agents pushed Reagan into the car and rushed him to George Washington University hospital, where he underwent surgery and survived.

Hinckley was arrested at the scene and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Secret Service agent shot by gunman outside White House Correspondents’ Dinner, expected to be OK

A gunman entered the Washington Hilton hotel, rushed past a magnetometer and opened fire, striking a Secret Service agent in the vest, Fox News has learned. The agent is OK.

The suspect has been detained. The individual has not been identified.

Erika Kirk seen in tears backstage during White House Correspondents’ Dinner evacuation

An emotional moment unfolded backstage at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as attendees awaited more information about the incident.

Erika Kirk was seen running through the backstage area in tears, saying, “I just want to go home,” according to a pool report.

Her late husband, Charlie Kirk, was murdered last year while touring for Turning Point USA on the Utah Valley University campus.

She was escorted out of the building through a rear exit as guests were being held and security assessed the situation.

Lawmakers react after incident at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Reactions from congressional lawmakers poured in Saturday night following a security scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he was at the event and was pulled into a secure room by Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.

“I am at the #WHCD,” Moskowitz wrote in a post on X. “I want to thank law enforcement, Capitol Police. I personally want to thank Steve Scalise, who grabbed me into a secure room.”

Scalise was shot in the hip by a gunman during a morning practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2017.

Trump says White House Correspondents’ Dinner to be rescheduled in 30 days, orders evacuation

President Donald Trump said law enforcement has requested all attendees leave the White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue following the earlier shooting incident.

“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump said he will deliver a press conference from the White House briefing room in about 30 minutes and confirmed that the first lady, vice president and all Cabinet members are “in perfect condition.”

The president also said the event will be rescheduled within 30 days.

Trump to deliver statement after White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting incident

President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a statement in the White House briefing room following the shooting incident that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the update on X as Secret Service continues to assess the situation.

The president’s remarks are expected in approximately 30 minutes, or 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time.

Posted by Jasmine Baehr

Breaking News4 hours ago

Secret Service confirms suspect in custody after shooting near Correspondents’ Dinner screening area

The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, officials said.

“The president and the first lady are safe along with all protectees,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

One individual is in custody, according to officials.

The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is continuing to investigate.

Trump praises Secret Service, says ‘shooter has been apprehended’ after Correspondents’ Dinner scare

President Donald Trump said the suspect involved in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner security scare has been apprehended, praising Secret Service and law enforcement for their response.

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON,’ but will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement,” he added.

Trump said a final decision on whether the event will fully resume is expected shortly.

Trump expected to return to White House Correspondents’ Dinner after shooting suspect neutralized

President Donald Trump never left the White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue and remained nearby following the security scare that briefly disrupted the event, Fox News can confirm.

Trump was moved to a secure holding area as a precaution and “wants the show to go on,” according to Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.

Sources familiar with the situation told Fox News an individual attempted to get through security screening with a gun but was stopped by Secret Service before entering the ballroom. The suspect has since been taken offsite.

Attendees from the head table were moved down the hall as agents worked to determine whether there were any additional threats. Officials have since indicated there are no ongoing threats, and the building is not being evacuated.

Staff are now working to reset the head table as the dinner prepares to resume.

Head table evacuated as Trump, First Lady escorted out of White House Correspondent’s Dinner

Chaos erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner when gunshots were heard and President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the Washington Hilton ballroom Saturday night.

Video from inside the event showed attendees diving under tables and taking cover as panic spread through the room.

Fox News’ John Roberts reported from the ballroom that shots were fired and that he had heard the suspected shooter was engaged by Secret Service.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier said he also heard shots fired, but noted they did not appear to originate from inside the ballroom.

Sources told Fox News the individual never made it inside the ballroom, was taken into custody and removed from the scene.

President Trump was seen being quickly escorted out of the room by security and White House officials tell Fox News Digital both he, the First Lady and Karoline Leavitt are safe at this time.

It remains unclear what prompted the incident.

President Trump, First Lady arrive at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were announced at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, making a long-anticipated entrance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Vice President JD Vance is also in attendance and was announced before the Trumps made their entrance.

The night’s program is getting underway as guests settle in for speeches, roasts and what’s expected to be a closely watched appearance.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at White House Correspondents’ Dinner with wife Jeanette

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night alongside his wife, Jeanette Christina Dousdebes Rubio, as red carpet arrivals continued at the Washington Hilton.

Rubio, dressed in a black tuxedo, appeared composed as he entered the venue, while his wife drew attention in an elegant strapless gown.

The appearance comes as Rubio remains at the center of ongoing foreign policy tensions, including developments related to Iran, as top administration officials gather for the annual event.

Bret Baier, wife Amy arrive at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier arrived at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night alongside his wife, Amy Baier, as red carpet arrivals wrapped up at the Washington Hilton.

Baier, host of “Special Report,” wore a classic black tuxedo, while Amy stood out in a strapless metallic floral gown paired with a statement necklace.

Trump departs White House for Correspondents’ Dinner

President Donald Trump departed the White House Saturday evening en route to the Washington Hilton for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where he is set to attend for the first time as commander in chief.

Trump’s appearance marks a notable shift after skipping the event during his first term, with the president expected to join journalists, lawmakers and celebrities for the annual gathering.

The dinner, a longstanding Washington tradition, is known for its mix of speeches, glamour and comedic roasts.

Taylor Lorenz spotted wearing mask years after pandemic at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

“Independent” journalist Taylor Lorenz was seen arriving at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night wearing a black face mask, drawing attention on the red carpet years after pandemic-era restrictions were lifted.

Lorenz, a controversial media figure, has previously faced criticism after a 2024 post referred to former President Joe Biden as a “war criminal.”

She joined other journalists, lawmakers and high-profile guests at the Washington Hilton for the annual event, where President Donald Trump is expected to attend later in the evening.

Karoline Leavitt attends White House Correspondents’ Dinner ahead of maternity leave

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt arrived at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, appearing on the red carpet just a day after wrapping her final workday before maternity leave.

Leavitt, who is expecting her second child, a baby girl, wore a long-sleeved, sheer black shimmering gown as she joined administration officials, journalists and other guests at the Washington Hilton.

Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in American history, is also already a mother to son Nicholas or “Niko,” born in July of 2024.

Protesters rally outside White House Correspondents’ Dinner over Iran war

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Washington Hilton on Saturday night as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner got underway, with demonstrators holding signs reading “No war on Iran.”

Roughly 75 protesters were seen outside the venue, voicing opposition to the war in Iran as journalists, lawmakers and high-profile guests arrived for the annual event.

The demonstration unfolded just steps away from the red carpet, adding a note of political tension to the evening as President Donald Trump is set to attend the dinner for the first time as commander in chief.

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against the Iranian regime on Feb. 28.

Corke shares White House Correspondents’ Dinner ‘bingo card’ predictions on ‘The Big Weekend Show’

Fox News correspondent Kevin Corke previewed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with a tongue-in-cheek “bingo card” on The Big Weekend Show, sharing moments he expects could play out during the night.

The card included potential references to “fake news,” jabs at the media, a possible teleprompter glitch and even a “Hilton chicken roast,” a nod to the dinner’s long-running traditions.

The other panelists also shared their picks for the night during the segment.

This will be the first time President Donald Trump has attended the storied annual event as commander in chief.

Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon arrives at correspondents’ dinner in leopard print gown

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon arrived at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night wearing a leopard print gown as guests continued to make their way down the red carpet at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

McMahon was among a number of administration officials and media figures attending the annual event, which brings together journalists, lawmakers and high-profile guests for an evening of speeches and roasts.

FLASHBACK: Obama tried to make Trump a punchline at 2011 dinner before rise stunned Washington

President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday, marking his first appearance at the annual event as commander in chief after skipping it throughout his first term.

The decision puts Trump back at a Washington ritual long tied to his fraught relationship with the press and political establishment.

His return also revives memories of the 2011 dinner, when President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked Trump from the dais in a moment that later became a widely discussed part of Trump’s political story.

“Donald Trump is here tonight,” Obama said at the 2011 dinner. “Now, I know he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald.

“And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” he continued.

Trump had publicly called for the release of Obama’s birth certificate, which the State of Hawaii did release that year.

The exchange underscored longstanding tensions between Trump and the Washington establishment that predated his entry into politics. Speculation mounted that the jabs helped fuel Trump’s eventual decision to launch a presidential run, culminating in a stunning upset victory in 2016.

Trump denied that Obama’s 2011 jokes prompted his candidacy, telling The Washington Post in 2016 that “there are many reasons I’m running, but that’s not one of them.”

“Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he’d be running as a joke,” comedian Seth Meyers added when he took the podium that night.

Trump told Fox News’ “The Five” earlier this year he was treated “rudely and crudely” during the dinner, which he said influenced his decision not to attend while he was first in office.

“The press was so nasty, I just – so I didn’t do it,” said Trump.

He once again denied it was the 2011 dinner that sparked his interest in running for office.

“There is this theory: I was there while Barack Hussein Obama was speaking, and he was hitting me a little bit. Actually, it was very nice, and I was actually – I loved it. I really loved it,” said Trump.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella.

Jacqui Heinrich arrives at White House Correspondents’ Dinner with fiancé Brian Fitzpatrick

Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich arrived on the red carpet Saturday night alongside her fiancé, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., as guests began filing into the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Heinrich was among the early arrivals at the Washington Hilton, where journalists, lawmakers and celebrities gathered for the annual event.

President Donald Trump is expected to attend the dinner later in the evening, marking his first appearance at the event as commander in chief after skipping it during his first term.

Heinrich and Fitzpatrick were engaged last summer after the Pennsylvania congressman proposed in Provence, France.

Trump to headline 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time as president

President Trump is attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday for the first time as commander in chief after boycotting the annual event last year and each year during his first term.

The dinner will take place Saturday, April 25, at the Washington Hilton.

“The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge,” Trump posted on his Truth Social last month, adding that it would be his “Honor to accept their invitation.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association’s president, Weijia Jiang, said the organization was “happy” with the president’s decision to attend.

“For more than 100 years, the journalists of the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed an evening with the president,” Jiang said in a statement last month. “We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him.”

The president had skipped the event in years past, saying that decision was due to the press being “extraordinarily bad” to him.

source 1, 2

US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies aged 84

The Truth News — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:06:36 +0000

US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies aged 84

US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson died aged 84 on Tuesday morning surrounded by relatives, according to a statement released by his family.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr,” the family said, adding that he died “peacefully”.

The cause of his death has not been released, but Jackson had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and was in hospital late last year.

Tributes poured in for the prominent activist, who twice ran to be the Democratic presidential nominee, including from the first black US president, Barack Obama.

Jackson is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their children: Santita, Jesse Jr, Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline and Ashley.

Jackson’s family said in their statement that his “unwavering commitment to justice, equality and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity”.

“A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless from his presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilising millions to register to vote – leaving an indelible mark on history,” they added.

Alongside working with Martin Luther King Jr and running for president in 1984 and 1988, Jackson is remembered as the founder of a non-profit organisation focused on social justice and civil rights, the Rainbow PUSH coalition.

Calling Jackson a “true giant”, Obama said in a statement that Jackson’s “two historic runs for president” had “laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land”.

Obama added that his wife Michelle “got her first glimpse of political organising at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager”.

“For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history,” the Obamas also said.

“From organising boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect.”

Jackson was admitted to hospital last November, and doctors said he had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative condition called PSP in April 2025, revising an earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease that Jackson had said was made in 2015.

Both diseases affect the brain, nervous system and muscle control. Many people with PSP are initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s because a number of the symptoms overlap, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association and the group CurePSP.

Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson became involved in politics at an early age. He rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leader in Martin Luther King Jr’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was with King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968.

Over the course of his career, Jackson built a movement to bring America’s increasingly diverse population together, with a message that centred on poor and working-class Americans.

After his presidential runs, Jackson later positioned himself as an elder statesman within the Democratic Party.

His son Jesse Jackson Jr is a former US congressman.

Getty Images

Jackson was remembered by politicians and friends as an agent of change and a transformative leader

Shortly after his death was announced, politicians and other public figures took to social media to mourn the loss of Jackson.

US President Donald Trump said he knew Jackson “long before becoming president”.

“He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts,'” Trump said. “He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people!”

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, a former secretary of state, also shared tributes, saying they were friends with Jackson for “almost 50 years”.

“Reverend Jackson championed human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives,” they said.

House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that Jackson “was a legendary voice for the voiceless”.

The Democrat added: “For decades, while labouring in the vineyards of the community, he inspired us to keep hope alive in the struggle for liberty and justice for all.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the civil rights leader “never stopped demanding that America live up to its promise”.

“He marched, he ran, he organised and he preached justice without apology,” Mamdani said.

King’s daughter Bernice said Jackson had “devoted his life to lifting people in poverty, the marginalised, and those pushed to society’s edges”.

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, who worked closely with Jackson during the civil rights movement, said Jackson was a “consequential and transformative leader who changed this nation and the world”.

“He told us we were somebody and made us believe. I will always cherish him taking me under his wing, and I will forever try to do my part to keep hope alive,” Sharpton said.

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Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. (1941-2026)

Jesse Jackson speaking during an interview in July 1

Courtesy Library of Congress (LC-DIG-ppmsc-01277)

Long before he became a minister, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket, Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), and founder of the Rainbow Coalition, Jesse Louis Jackson impressed his family and close friends as a person destined for greatness. Born Jesse Burns in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 8, 1941, to Helen Burns, a 17-year-old unwed high school student, and Noah Robinson, her older married neighbor, young Jesse took the surname Jackson from his adopted father, Charles Jackson, who later married Burns. Insecure because of the circumstances of his birth, Jackson decided to become a father figure and a leader of his people.

Tall and imposing at 6’4”, Jackson became a star high school quarterback and earned a football scholarship at the University of Illinois in 1959. After one year at Illinois, he transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) University in Greensboro, North Carolina, partly because he was not allowed to play quarterback. At A&T, Jackson used his oratorical skills and charismatic personality to become the student body president. Encouraged to test his leadership skills, Jackson led his first march to downtown Greensboro in 1962. Jackson pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while at A&T. Under the guidance of A&T President, Dr. Samuel Proctor, Jackson enrolled at the Chicago Theological Seminary to train for the ministry. Jackson was ordained a Baptist minister in 1968, although he left the Seminary two years earlier to work full-time in the civil rights movement.

Jackson’s introduction to the Movement came in 1965 when he traveled to Selma, Alabama, to join in the campaign for voting rights. While there, Jackson met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the man who would launch his career as a national civil rights leader. Through King’s influence, Jackson quickly established himself prominently within King’s organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. When SCLC launched its first northern campaign in Chicago in 1966, Jackson was put in charge of its Operation Breadbasket, which used boycotts and selective buying campaigns to win contracts for Black businesses and jobs for Black workers. During the years Jackson headed Operation Breadbasket (1966 to 1971), the campaign generated over three thousand jobs for Southside Chicago residents and increased the area’s income by $22 million. Despite its success, Jackson and Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Dr. Martin Luther King’s successor at SCLC, clashed. In 1971, Jackson left the organization and founded Operation PUSH, where he continued his campaign of economic empowerment.

By the early 1980s, Jackson had acquired a national reputation as a racial justice activist. That reputation was enhanced when, in 1983, he traveled to Syria and made a dramatic personal appeal to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to secure the release of a captured American pilot, Navy Lt. Robert Goodman, who had been shot down over Lebanon. In June 1984, Jackson traveled to Havana to meet with Cuban President Fidel Castro to negotiate the release of 22 Americans being held by Castro’s government.

In 1984, following the success of his Syrian mission, Jesse Jackson mounted the second major effort by an African American (after Shirley Chisholm in 1972) to seek the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He and his followers adopted the term “Rainbow Coalition” to describe the broad coalition of groups of color, working poor, gays and lesbians, and white progressives that Jackson hoped would propel him to the nomination and eventually the White House. Despite controversial anti-Semitic remarks made during the campaign, Jackson ran a surprisingly strong race, winning primaries in five states, including Michigan. Jackson garnered 21% of the primary vote but gained only 8% of the delegates and ultimately lost the nomination to former Vice President Walter Mondale.

Jackson mounted a second effort in 1988, this time winning more than seven million primary votes across the nation in another failed attempt to win the nomination. After winning the South Carolina primary, finishing second in the Illinois primary, and winning the Democratic caucus in Michigan, Jackson briefly emerged as a leading contender. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis recaptured the lead with wins in the Colorado and Wisconsin primaries, forcing Jackson to drop out of the race.

Jesse Jackson did not make another bid for the presidential nomination and, since 1992, has functioned as a power broker within the Democratic Party. In 1990, he won the largely ceremonial position of District of Columbia’s statehood senator, a platform from which he argued for statehood for the nation’s capital. In 1997, Jackson launched the Wall Street Project, which encouraged African Americans to become stockholders to use their leverage to force changes in corporate culture and behavior. Two years later, Jackson engaged in personal diplomacy once again when, during the Kosovo War, he traveled to Belgrade to meet with Yugoslav (now Serbian) president Slobodan Milosevic, where he secured the release of three U.S. prisoners of war. In 1999, he brokered a cease-fire in war-ravaged Sierra Leone.

Both his supporters and critics described Jackson as bold, defiant, and controversial. He has received praise for inspiring the poor with speeches punctuated by catchphrases such as “I am somebody” and “keep hope alive.” Critics, however, blamed Jackson for mounting blatantly self-promoting campaigns that exploited racial grievances and inflamed racial outrage. The revelation that Jackson, married since 1962, fathered a child in 2001 with Rainbow Coalition staffer Karin Stanford, sullied his well-crafted public image as a moral leader. Nevertheless, Jesse Jackson remained enormously popular both in the United States and abroad. Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84, closing a career that reshaped modern civil rights activism and Black political life.

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Maduro Captured by U.S. Military in under 5 hours – Spies, drones and blowtorches: How the US captured Maduro

The Truth News — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 13:11:44 +0000

Maduro Captured by U.S. Military in under 5 hours – No Troops Lives Lost!

Spies, drones and blowtorches: How the US captured Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife arrived in New York on Saturday evening after the U.S. captured them overnight in a stunning escalation of the Trump administration’s push for a regime change.

Key Facts

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state just before 5 p.m. EST, multiple outlets reported.

Maduro landed in the U.S. after President Donald Trump declared “we’re going to run the country until such time we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” in an address to the nation Saturday afternoon.

He said “we’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars and fix the badly broken infrastructure” in Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest oil reserves, among several comments Trump made suggesting the takeover is at least somewhat tied to the oil industry.

Just before delivering the address, Trump posted a photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima wearing an eye covering, headphones, a gray tracksuit and holding a water bottle while a Drug Enforcement Administration agent is holding his arm.

Describing the operation, dubbed “Absolute Resolve,” Trump said “overwhelming American military power—air, land and sea—was used to launch a spectacular assault . . . like people have not seen since World War II” in action he said was designed to bring “outlaw dictator Nicolás Maduro to justice.”

Maduro was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, according to an unsealed indictment, the same four charges he faced in 2020, though the fresh indictment also names his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra and Flores as co-defendants.

For months, US spies had been monitoring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s every move.

A small team, including one source within the Venezuelan government, had been observing where the 63-year-old slept, what he ate, what he wore and even, according to top military officials, “his pets”.

Then, in early December, a planned mission dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve” was finalised. It was the result of months of meticulous planning and rehearsals, which even included elite US troops creating an exact full-size replica of Maduro’s Caracas safe house to practise their entry routes.

The plan – which amounted to an extraordinary US military intervention in Latin America not seen since the Cold War – was closely guarded. Congress was not informed or consulted ahead of time. With the precise details set, top military officials simply had to wait for the optimal conditions to launch.

They wanted to maximise the element of surprise, officials said on Saturday. There was a false start four days earlier when US President Donald Trump gave approval, but they opted to wait for better weather and less cloud cover.

“Over the weeks through Christmas and New Year, the men and women of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met and the president to order us into action,” General Dan Caine, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, told a news conference on Saturday morning.

‘Good luck and godspeed’

The order from the president to begin the mission finally came at 22:46 EST on Friday (03:46 GMT on Saturday).

“We were going to do this four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, and then all of a sudden it opened up. And we said: go,” Trump himself told Fox & Friends on Saturday, hours after the overnight raid.

“He said to us, and we appreciate it… good luck and godspeed,” Gen Caine said. Trump’s order came shortly before midnight in Caracas, giving the military most of the night to operate in darkness.

What followed was a two-hour-and-twenty-minute mission by air, land and sea that stunned many in Washington and around the world.

In terms of scale and precision, it was virtually unprecedented. And it drew immediate condemnation from several regional powers, with Brazil’s President Lula da Silva saying the violent capture of Venezuela’s leader set “yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community”.

Trump did not follow the mission from the White House situation room. Instead, he was surrounded by his advisers at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he watched a live stream of the operation flanked by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“It was an incredible thing to see,” Trump said on Saturday. “If you would have seen what happened, I mean, I watched it literally like I was watching a television show. And if you would’ve seen the speed, the violence… it’s just, it was an amazing thing, an amazing job that these people did.”

In recent months, thousands of US troops have deployed to the region, joining an aircraft carrier and dozens of warships in the largest military build-up in decades as Trump has accused Maduro of drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism, and blown up dozens of small boats accused of ferrying drugs through the region.

But the first signs of Operation Absolute Resolve were in the skies. More than 150 aircraft – including bombers, fighter jets and reconnaissance planes – were ultimately deployed through the course of the night, according to US officials.

“It was very complex, extremely complex, the whole manoeuvre, the landings, the number of aircraft,” Trump told Fox News. “We had a fighter jet for every possible situation.”

Loud explosions were heard in Caracas at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT), and plumes of smoke were seen rising over the city. “I heard a huge sound, a loud bang,” reporter Ana Vanessa Herrero told the BBC. “It moved all the windows. Immediately after I saw a huge cloud of smoke that almost blocked the entire view.”

She added: “Planes and helicopters were flying all over the city.”

Soon, videos showing numerous aircraft in the skies – and others showing the apparent aftermath of explosions – began to circulate widely on social media. One showed a convoy of helicopters flying at low altitude over Caracas as smoke rose from apparent detonations.

“We woke up at around 01:55 to the roar of explosions and the hum of planes flying over Caracas,” one witness, Daniela, told the BBC. “Everything was plunged into absolute darkness, illuminated only by the flashes of nearby detonations.”

She added: “Neighbours were messaging in the condominium group chat, all confused and unaware of what was happening [and] frightened by the blasts.”

BBC Verify has examined a number of videos showing explosions, fire and smoke in locations around Caracas to identify exactly which sites were targeted.

So far, it has confirmed five locations including Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, an airfield known as La Carlota and Port La Guaira, Caracas’ main conduit to the Caribbean Sea.

“The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” he said. “It was dark and it was deadly.”

‘They knew we were coming’

As strikes rang out around Caracas, US forces made their way into the city. They included members of the elite Delta Force, the US military’s top special mission unit, sources told the BBC’s US news partner CBS. They were heavily armed – and carried a blowtorch in case they had to cut through the metal doors of Maduro’s safe house.

The troops arrived at Maduro’s location shortly after the strikes began at 02:01 local time, according to Gen Caine. Trump described the safe house as a military “fortress” in the heart of Caracas, saying: “They were in a ready position waiting for us. They knew we were coming.”

The troops took fire when they arrived, and one of the US helicopters was hit but was still able to fly. “The apprehension force descended into Maduro’s compound and moved with speed, precision and discipline,” Gen Caine said.

“They just broke in, and they broke into places that were not really able to be broken into, you know, steel doors that were put there for just this reason,” Trump remarked.

It was only as the operation – which also saw Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, seized – was unfolding that Rubio began notifying lawmakers about the action, a decision which has since prompted anger from some in the US Congress.

“Let me be clear: Nicolas Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorisation and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless,” said top Democrat Chuck Schumer, the party’s leader in the Senate.

Briefing Congress ahead of time would have endangered the mission, Rubio told reporters during the news conference on Saturday. “Congress has a tendency to leak,” Trump added. “This would not be good.”

Getty Images

The US struck several locations around Caracas, including Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex

In Maduro’s compound, as elite US troops flooded in, Trump said the Venezuelan president – who has reportedly increased his reliance on Cuban bodyguards in recent months – attempted to flee to a safe room.

“He was trying to get to a safe place, which wasn’t safe, because we would have had the door blown up in about 47 seconds,” Trump said.

“He made it to the door. He was unable to close it. He got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that [room].”

When asked if the US could have killed Maduro, an authoritarian leader who took over the presidency in 2013, if he had resisted arrest, Trump said: “It could have happened.”

On the US side, “a couple of guys were hit”, he said, but no US service members were killed.

In a statement on Sunday, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said a “large part” of Maduro’s security team and “soldiers and innocent civilians” were killed in the US operation.

The US had previously offered a $50m (£37m) reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. But by 04:20 local time on Saturday, helicopters were leaving Venezuelan territory with Maduro and his wife on board, in custody of the US Department of Justice and en route ultimately to New York, where they are expected to face criminal charges.

Almost exactly an hour later Trump announced the news of his capture to the world. “Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice,” he said.

crucial Quote

“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” Trump said Saturday afternoon, in response to a question of whether U.S. troops will have a presence in Venezuela after Maduro’s capture. In a subsequent question about troop presence, Trump said “there would be a presence in Venezuela as it pertains to oil.” He said “we’re going to make sure that country is run properly” and “we’re designating people, we’re talking to people” to run Venezuela. He said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in to take over for Maduro, and “she’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.” Rodríguez contradicted Trump in an address later Saturday, insisting the Venezuelan government stands firmly behind Maduro, repeatedly calling him Venezuela’s “only president” and calling the attacks “an unprecedented military aggression.”

What We Don’t Know

It is unclear how long the U.S. will administer Venezuela, whether troops will end up being deployed to the country and exactly what the benchmark would be for the U.S. ending its direct oversight. Trump said Saturday that “a group” will run Venezuela, and though he did not state who would fully compose it, he motioned toward Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine and said it would “largely” be them “for a period of time.” It is not known who could lead after U.S. involvement ends, with Trump saying Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado—a Venezuelan opposition leader who voiced support for Maduro’s capture—lacks “the support or respect within the country” to be a successful leader. Trump also did not explicitly state which American oil companies could be involved in the Venezuela’s oil industry moving forward.

What To Watch For

Trump and Rubio suggested the actions in Venezuela should be considered a warning sign for other Latin American countries that have poor relations with the U.S., specifically Cuba and Colombia. “I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about because Cuba is a failing nation right now,” Trump said in response to a question about whether there’s a message for Cuba. “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned,” Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants, said. Trump also reiterated his comments that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom Trump has accused of sending cocaine into the U.S., “has to watch his ass.” Trump also mentioned Mexico in his Fox News interview Saturday morning, claiming Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum “is not running Mexico” because “the cartels are running Mexico.” The president said the U.S. is “very friendly” with Sheinbaum, but “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico.”

Tangent

Trump warned Venezuelan officials in an interview with Fox News “if they stay loyal [to Maduro], the future is really bad, really bad for them,” but said “most of them have converted.” He also dismissed concerns being raised by some lawmakers that he did not seek proper congressional approval for the strikes, telling the network, “they should say ‘great job,’ they shouldn’t say ‘oh, gee, maybe it’s not constitutional.’ You know the same old stuff that we’ve been hearing for years and years and years.”

Key Background

Maduro and his wife were at their home in the Ft. Tiuna military base in Caracas when the U.S. “bombed” and “carried out what we would call a kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country,” Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told the Associated Press. In addition to Caracas, the U.S. also conducted strikes in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira overnight, Venezuelan officials said. No U.S. military personnel were killed in the strikes, though Trump suggested several were injured when a helicopter was hit. The strikes follow a months-long U.S. military campaign against Venezuela the Trump administration has said is designed to target drug cartels. The U.S. has conducted dozens of strikes on vessels in the Caribbean it alleges were being used to smuggle narcotics into the U.S., killing more than 100 people. The U.S. military has also built up its presence in the Caribbean, intercepted Venezuelan oil tankers in recent weeks and conducted a drone strike on a dock in Venezuela last month, The New York Times previously reported. The U.S. views Maduro—whom the Trump administration has accused of being a “narco-terrorist”—as a fugitive and offered an award of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima after he was captured by the U.S. military overnight Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

The White House

source

The Kipling Poem – The Perfect Blueprint for Becoming a Successful Man

The Truth News — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:58:11 +0000

The Kipling Poem – The Perfect Blueprint for Becoming a Successful Man

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

success is the target unrelenting success!

Analysis

“If—” by Rudyard Kipling is a famous poem offering paternal advice on how to live a virtuous and resilient life, emphasizing stoicism, self-control, and humility. It outlines a series of “if” conditions, suggesting that if one can remain calm under pressure, handle success and failure equally, persevere through setbacks, and maintain integrity while interacting with all social classes, they will become a “Man” in the fullest sense.

Key themes and advice

Composure: Keep your head when others lose theirs; trust yourself when doubted.
Resilience:Treat triumph and disaster as impostors; if you lose everything, start again without complaint.
Integrity:Don’t lie when lied about; don’t give way to hate; don’t appear too good or talk too wise.
Humility: Walk with kings but keep the common touch; don’t let foes or loving friends hurt you.
Perseverance: Force your body and heart to keep going when exhausted; fill the “unforgiving minute” with meaningful action.

Context

Written around 1895 and published in 1910 in Rewards and Fairies.
Structured as advice from a father to his son.
Often seen as a guide to Victorian-era stoicism and self-mastery.

Unearthed 1997 Wired Article Predicted The 21st Century With Insane Accuracy

The Truth News — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:10:59 +0000

Unearthed 1997 Wired Article Predicted The 21st Century With Insane Accuracy

In 1997, predictions for the future ranged from technological optimism for a “Long Boom” to concerns about increasing economic inequality and cyberwarfare. The internet was a dominant theme, though it was still in its early days, with most users on dial-up connections.

Apocalyptic predictions:

Some sensationalist predictions made around 1997 involved apocalyptic events, largely pushed by psychics or other fringe figures. However, more mainstream concerns focused on the “Y2K bug,” which predicted widespread computer malfunctions at the turn of the millennium.

Technology predictions:

The tech landscape of 1997 included dial-up internet and new computers with MMX technology. Predictions from this era include:

The continued acceleration of Moore’s law and its impact on technological progress.
The growth of handheld computing devices and mobile internet access.
The expansion of the World Wide Web past 1 million websites.
The eventual obsolescence of traditional advertising due to adaptation and dominance of new digital media.
A miscalculation on how long it would take for computers to beat humans at the game of Go; one expert predicted it would take a century.

Key Predictions That Came True:

Digital Currencies: The authors anticipated the rise of private, decentralized forms of money that would bypass governments — remarkably similar to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Decline of Nation-States: They predicted that as wealth and information moved online, traditional governments would lose control over money, taxation, and citizens who could operate globally through digital systems.
Cybercrime & Cyber Warfare: They foresaw new forms of conflict in cyberspace, where power would shift from physical to digital battlegrounds.
Remote Work & Digital Nomadism: The authors envisioned a future where highly skilled individuals could live and work anywhere, leveraging technology to achieve independence from centralized systems.
Wealth Disparity & Political Polarization: They warned that technology would create new elites — “sovereign individuals” — while destabilizing traditional economic and political structures.
Another 1997 warning came from Wired magazine’s July 1997 cover story, which predicted enormous technological progress but also flagged potential crises that could derail it — including pandemics, climate change, and soaring energy costs.
Together, these 1997 insights painted a surprisingly accurate picture of the 21st century — an age of digital power, decentralization, and disruption that defines our world today.

The Long Boom: A History of the Future, 1980–2020

We’re facing 25 years of prosperity, freedom, and a better environment for the whole world. You got a problem with that?

Predictions from Wired magazine

In its July 1997 cover story, Wired magazine presented two contrasting visions of the future.

The “Long Boom” (The Optimistic Vision):

Widespread economic expansion for 25 years.
Increased prosperity and unprecedented opportunity.
An improved environment.
Opportunities for social justice.

“10 Things That Could Go Wrong” (The Pessimistic Counterpoint):

A new Cold War between the U.S. and China.
Technological busts that fail to deliver on promises.
Russia’s descent into a kleptocracy or threatening nationalism.
The breakdown of European integration.
A major ecological crisis leading to climate change and food supply disruptions.
A major rise in crime and terrorism causing society to retract.
The overwhelming of health systems by dramatic increases in cancer due to pollution.
Soaring energy prices.
An uncontrollable plague that kills millions.
A cultural backlash that halts progress.

In 1997, Wired Magazine Predicts 10 Things That Could Go Wrong in the 21st Century: “An Uncontrollable Plague,” Climate Crisis, Russia Becomes a Kleptocracy & More

Hydrogen-powered cars. Biological, then quantum computing. Gene-therapy cancer treatments. An end to the War on Drugs. Reliable automatic translation. The impending end of the nation-state. Man setting foot on Mars. These are just a few of the developments in store for our world by the year 2020 — or so, at any rate, predicts “The Long Boom,” the cover story of a 1997 issue of Wired magazine, the official organ of 1990s techno-optimism. “We’re facing 25 years of prosperity, freedom, and a better environment for the whole world,” declares the cover itself. “You got a problem with that?”

Since the actual year 2020, this image has been smirkingly re-circulated as a prime example of blinkered End-of-History triumphalism. From the vantage of 2021, it’s fair to say that the predictions of the article’s authors Peter Schwartz and Peter Leyden (who expanded their thesis into a 2000 book) went wide of the mark.

https://goodshepherdmedia.net/homer-simpson-predicted-the-mass-of-the-higgs-boson-14-years-before-cern/

But their vision of the 21st century hasn’t proven risible in every aspect: a rising China, hybrid cars, video calls, and online grocery-shopping have become familiar enough hardly to merit comment, as has the internet’s status as “the main medium of the 21st century.” And who among us would describe the cost of university as anything but “absurd”?

Schwartz and Leyden do allow for darker possibilities than their things-can-only-get-better rhetoric make it seem. Some of these they enumerate in a sidebar (remember sidebars?) headlined “Ten Scenario Spoilers.” Though not included in the article as archived on Wired’s web site, it has recently been scanned and posted to social media, with viral results. A “new Cold War” between the U.S. and China; a “global climate change that, among other things, disrupts the food supply”; a “major rise in crime and terrorism forces the world to pull back in fear”; an “uncontrollable plague — a modern-day influenza epidemic or its equivalent”: to one degree or another, every single one of these ten dire developments seems in our time to have come to pass.

“We’re still on the front edge of the great global boom,” we’re reminded in the piece’s conclusion. “A hell of a lot of things could go wrong.” You don’t say. Yet for all of the 21st-century troubles that few riding the wave of first-dot-com-boom utopianism would have credited, we today run the risk of seeing our world as too dystopian. Now as then, “the vast array of problems to solve and the sheer magnitude of the changes that need to take place are enough to make any global organization give up, any nation back down, any reasonable person curl up in a ball.” We could use a fresh infusion of what Schwartz and Leyden frame as the boom’s key ingredient: American optimism. “Americans don’t understand limits. They have boundless confidence in their ability to solve problems. And they have an amazing capacity to think they really can change the world.” In that particular sense, perhaps we all should become Americans after all.

in the same year A BOOK DID THE SAME!

The Sovereign Future: How a 1997 Book Accurately Predicted 2025

Predictions from The Sovereign Individual

Written by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg and published in 1997, The Sovereign Individual made many predictions related to the internet’s influence.

The decline of the nation-state: Governments were predicted to lose control as individuals and businesses adopted decentralized, digital systems.
The rise of digital currencies: The authors foresaw private, decentralized money, an idea that aligns with modern cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
The online economy and cybercrime: The book accurately predicted the growth of the online economy as well as the increase in cybercrime and cyber warfare.
Social stratification: The authors predicted the internet would widen the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots”.
The emergence of remote work and a “digital nomad” lifestyle.
Disruption of traditional jobs: The book predicted that automation, AI, and global competition would make many traditional jobs obsolete.
Changes in education: Digital content and online education were predicted to transform how learning is delivered.

source

The Best Chili Recipe

The Truth News — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:54:51 +0000

The Best Chili Recipe

The Best Chili Recipe is one that is loaded with beef and beans and absolutely full of flavor… just like this one! Chili is hands down one of my husband’s favorite meals (and I love it because it’s easy to make)!

How to Make Chili

While I sometimes make crockpot chili, this easy version is great for a weeknight meal!

Seasonings:

The seasonings in this recipe are chili powder and cumin. Store bought or homemade chili powder work well in this recipe.
What is in Chili Powder? Sweet paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, oregano and cumin.
Mix Chili Powder into the raw ground beef before cooking to ensure every morsel is seasoned to perfection.

How to Cook Chili

Brown the beef, onions, garlic and some of the chili powder.
Drain any fat.
Simmer Add remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered.

To Thicken Chili

When making chili on the stove, I simmer it uncovered which allows the chili to naturally thicken without having to add cornstarch or flour. While thickening chili by simmering is the best option, you may not always have time to let it reduce. If you don’t have time to simmer it to thicken you can sprinkle in a little bit of cornmeal or make a cornstarch or flour slurry and add it in.

If you can spare a few extra minutes, just let it simmer uncovered.

Variations

Spice Level This chili is just right for our liking but you can increase or reduce the spice level to your liking. For extra heat, leave the seeds in your jalapenos or add a few dashes of hot sauce or a sprinkle of chili flakes.

Ground Beef Any ground meat will work in this recipe from chicken to turkey. If your meat has a lot of fat, be sure to drain it before simmering.

Beer I love the depth of flavor that a bit of beer adds. Feel free to skip the beer and use extra broth.

Swap the Spices Spice up your chili any way you’d like. To make a tex-mex chili, toss in a packet of taco seasoning.

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion diced
1 jalapeño seeded and finely diced
4 cloves garlic minced
2 ½ tablespoons chili powder divided, or to taste
1 teaspoon cumin
1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
19 ounces canned red kidney beans drained and rinsed
14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices
1 ½ cups beef broth
1 cup beer (Flat Tire Ale is nice touch)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
1 teaspoon red wine vineager
1 teaspoon mustard powder
a spring of freshly chopped oregano is a nice touch
salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine ground beef and 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder.
In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Drain any fat.
Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45-60 minutes or until chili has reached desired thickness.
Top with cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro or other favorite toppings.

Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

Beer can be replaced with extra broth. (Flat Tire Ale is nice touch)

Any ground meat will work in this recipe. (beef is best)

Optional toppings: sour cream, red or green onion, cheese, jalapenos, cilantro, avocado & lime wedges, tortilla chips

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Toppings for Chili

I always put out a collection of toppings… and while everyone has a different idea as to what goes with chili I have a few staples:

sour cream
red or green onion
cheddar cheese or monterey jack
jalapenos
cilantro, avocado & lime wedges
croutons or tortilla chips

Is Chili Healthy

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 5

Servings8 servings

source

Homade Chili Powder for use in the Chili

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Total Time 5

Servings 1 /3 cup of seasong

Ingredients

\]\\\\

⅛ cup paprika
½ teaspoon smoked paprika optional
1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Store in a sealed container up to 1 year. (remember only use 2 ½ tablespoons of this powder for the chili receipe)

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

source

Rite Aid closes down all remaining stores after bankruptcy

The Truth News — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 18:15:49 +0000

Rite Aid closes down all remaining stores after bankruptcy

Pharmacy chain filed for bankruptcy twice in 2 years before closing all remaining stores

Rite Aid officially closed all of its remaining stores on October 4, 2025, marking the end of the pharmacy chain’s 63-year history. The company announced its final store closures on its website after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in May 2025, leading to the nationwide shutdown.

Key details about the closure:

Date: The final stores closed on or around October 4, 2025.
Reason: Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in May 2025, which forced the company to liquidate its assets and close its remaining locations.
Prescription transfers: Customer prescriptions were transferred to other pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger, as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
Company statement:The company issued a statement on its website thanking customers for their years of support and providing information for former customers to obtain their pharmaceutical records.

Rite Aid officially closed its remaining stores nationwide in early October 2025. The final store closings concluded a years-long process of decline and bankruptcy.

Key events leading to the closure:

Initial bankruptcy: Rite Aid first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023. It emerged as a private company in September 2024 but continued to face financial challenges.
Second bankruptcy: After struggling to keep stores stocked, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a second time in May 2025.
Asset sales: In May 2025, Rite Aid announced it would sell the pharmacy prescriptions from most of its stores to competitors like CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger.
Final store closures: The final sales and closures were completed by early October 2025, with an announcement from the company that all stores were officially closed.

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid closed all of its locations after filing for bankruptcy twice in less than two years.

The retailer posted a brief announcement on its website.

“All Rite Aid stores have now closed,” the site states. “We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.”

The website offers former customers their pharmacy and immunization history, as well as assistance with finding pharmacies that their prescriptions were transferred to.

Customers inside a Rite Aid store in New York, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The drugstore chain operated in the U.S. for more than 60 years. The company had opportunities to merge with Walgreens in 2017 and Albertsons in 2018, but rejected both, according to Investopedia.

Back in 1987, Rite Aid was the largest drug store chain in the U.S. with more than 2,000 stores, according to the financial media website.

A Rite Aid store in Oak Park, Michigan, U.S., on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (Emily Elconin/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

The pharmacy chain was driven to file for bankruptcy protection in 2023 due to mounting debt and sluggish sales from heightened competition coupled with hundreds of lawsuits connected to its role in the opioid crisis. Rite Aid quickly initiated a store optimization plan that involved immediately closing 154 of its 2,284 stores.

Over the course of the restructuring, Rite Aid closed hundreds of additional stores, leaving it with a footprint of about 1,245 locations by the time of its second bankruptcy filing in May 2025.

A person leaves a Rite-Aid on Oct. 16, 2023, in the Crown Heights neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)

Its first restructuring reduced the U.S. pharmacy chain’s debt, although it still had $2.5 billion in liabilities when it emerged as a private company owned by its lenders in 2024. The company also failed to address its long-term business challenges of inflationary pressures and increased competition by pharmacy chains Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Amazon. source

Decode Your Produce! Know Your PLU Codes GMO, Organic, Conventionally Grown ETC….

The Truth News — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:41:14 +0000

Decode Your Produce! Know Your PLU Codes GMO, Organic, Conventionally Grown ETC….

PLU (Price Look Up) codes are a standard system of numbers on small stickers used by grocery stores to identify bulk produce items, especially when different varieties have different prices. For consumers, these codes can indicate how an item was grown.

PLU codes are sticker numbers on fruits and vegetables that identify them for pricing and inventory control, with the first digit indicating the growing method: a 4-digit code (or a 5-digit code starting with 3) is for conventionally grown produce; a 5-digit code starting with 8 means it’s genetically modified (GMO); and a 5-digit code starting with 9 indicates it’s organic. The codes are administered by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) and are a voluntary system to help consumers and retailers, though some information is optional.

Key Points

PLU codes are assigned by the IFPS, a global coalition of produce associations.
While most PLU codes are assigned by the IFPS, not all produce items have stickers.
Washing the produce will remove the sticker, as they are not always food-grade.

The key to deciphering a PLU code is the number of digits and the first digit.

How to read PLU codes:

4-digit codes: (usually starting with 3 or 4) indicate conventionally grown produce. Four-digit codes: A four-digit PLU code, typically starting with a 3 or 4, indicates that the produce was grown conventionally. This method uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and is the most common growing practice.
5-digit codes: starting with 8 mean the produce is genetically modified (GMO). Five-digit codes starting with “9”: A five-digit code that begins with the number 9 signifies that the item was grown organically. This means synthetic materials were not used and the product was produced in compliance with organic standards. For example, a conventional banana is 4011, while an organic banana is 94011.
5-digit codes: starting with 9 mean the produce is organically grown. Five-digit codes starting with “8”: A five-digit code starting with the number 8 indicates the produce is a genetically modified organism (GMO). However, these codes are very rare in practice, as many companies choose to simply label GMO produce with the conventional 4-digit code.

Why PLU Codes Matter

Convenience:

They allow cashiers and customers to quickly and accurately identify produce items, which is especially helpful for varieties that look similar.
Consumer Choice:

They make it easier for shoppers to choose between conventionally grown, organically grown, or GMO produce based on their preferences.

Key takeaways

Not mandatory: PLU codes are administered by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) but are not required by government regulation.
For shoppers, not cashiers: While PLU codes were originally developed for efficient checkout, they also provide consumers with information about how their food was grown.
Organic vs. conventional: The most useful information for most consumers is the difference between conventional (4-digit code) and organic (5-digit code starting with 9) growing methods.
GMO codes are uncommon: Because PLU codes are voluntary, you are unlikely to encounter a code starting with an 8 for genetically modified produce. The Non-GMO Project suggests looking for their butterfly label if you want to avoid GMOs.