The New York Times admits the Obama DOJ “found some evidence” Rep. llhan Omar (D-MN) married her brother so he could obtain a green card.
The post Nolte: NY Times Admits Obama DOJ Found Evidence of Ilhan Omar’s Suspected ‘Sham Marriage’ appeared first on Breitbart.
Where GDP Growth Came From: Investment Boom Powers U.S. Economy Despite Tech Sector’s Import Dependence
Where the economic growth came from in the third quarter.
The post Where GDP Growth Came From: Investment Boom Powers U.S. Economy Despite Tech Sector’s Import Dependence appeared first on Breitbart.
DOJ’s ‘Operation Ghostbusters’ aims to crush massive student aid fraud scheme involving fake students
Federal law enforcement authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown dubbed, “Operation Ghostbusters,” to dismantle an international student aid scheme that investigators estimate has been operating since 2021, “potentially reaching several hundred million dollars” in taxpayer losses. Announcing the first wave of enforcement actions Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald revealed that organized syndicates have systematically stolen the identities of working Americans who never applied to college, using their information to enroll fictional “ghost students” at institutions nationwide and siphon federal financial aid directly into offshore accounts.”These are not isolated errors,” McDonald said at a news conference Thursday. “This is organized fraud at scale. Some use super intelligence to fill out college applications and complete coursework.”Some even create the appearance of a fake student in an online classroom to trick schools into believing a real person is present.”The sprawling operation currently spans more than 40 open cases across 26 FBI field offices and has already produced indictments against five defendants, as well as the international seizure of more than $750,000 in laundered cryptocurrency tied to networks in Kenya. Prosecutors allege that after tuition and fees were settled, leftover grant and loan disbursements were siphoned through domestic “money mules” and funneled abroad – including through fronts like a Nairobi safari company º– leaving unsuspecting victims facing ruined credit and bills for an education they never received.This is breaking news. Check back here for updates.
Survivor of Mao’s cultural revolution speaks out on Kylian Mbappe fallout in China over laughed-at meme
Global soccer star Kylian Mbappe laughing at a meme involving China’s late dictator Mao Zedong has resulted in days of backlash, TV blackouts, lost sponsors, and what is at least being presented as utter hysteria around the country. One woman who grew up in China during Mao’s Cultural Revolution is not only pushing back against her home country’s reaction, but also calling out how blatantly ridiculous the situation is.Xi Van Fleet, a Chinese-American author and anti-communist activist, joined Fox Business on Thursday, and when asked about Mbappe’s practically immediate apology, she laid out the reality of the situation.”This is really interesting, because most of the people in China have no idea what Mbappe said,” she began. “They were told that he insulted China. You have no freedom of speech, you have no freedom of press, you don’t know what really happened. You just do what the government tells you to do.”Is Mao not a dictator? I lived my entire youth under Mao, and there is no one who doesn’t know anyone else who died because of Mao’s rule. He killed up to 80 million Chinese. Calling him a dictator is not even appropriate. He is a tyrant, and he is a mass murderer.”The controversy involving China and Mbappe started after a recent interview on The Bridge, a French talk show hosted by Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, when the 27-year-old Frenchman laughed about a meme with his face imposed on an image resembling Mao. One of Mbappe’s most popular nicknames is “The Dictator,” hence the meme and joking around.BOBBY BURACK: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ JOINS LEBRON JAMES, JOHN CENA, OTHER ATHLETES IN BENDING THE KNEE TO CHINATHE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!China’s rulers did not find anything funny about Mbappe’s interaction with the meme. Several Chinese sponsors severed ties with him, and state-run CCTV stopped airing La Liga matches in China, the top-flight league in Spain that features Real Madrid and 19 other clubs.La Liga issued the first public apology, which was then followed by Mbappe, and eventually an apology came from Real Madrid. The Spanish club initially expressed that Mbappe’s “personal expression” would not affect commercial connections in China, nor did he intend to offend the Chinese people. CCTV responded by demanding a formal apology from the club, which it obliged to on Wednesday.For Xi, the swift apologies from Mbappe and all involved are frustrating, and as she explained, she would have advised the soccer star to go a different route.”The truth will set you free; know who Mao was and then you should stand by what you said,” she explained.
Olympics tap former Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy to lead opening and closing ceremonies
It’s wild to think that we’re under two years away from the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and with the clock ticking, organizers have been forced to call in the big guns for the opening and closing ceremonies.And by big guns, I mean the Hollywood producer often credited with ruining “Star Wars.”According to The New York Post, organizers had to make a switch when their original choice to lead the ceremony charge, Peter Rice, took a job as Chief Content Officer at Netflix.LA 2028 OLYMPICS’ SAFETY PLAN RELIES ‘TOO MUCH ON POLICE’ AND HOMELAND SECURITY, LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS SAYWhile he’ll stay on as an executive producer, Kennedy — who led Lucasfilm after George Lucas sold the company to Disney and rode off into the double Tatooine sunsets with his billions and flannel shirts — will cobble together a team of producers for both ceremonies.The opening ceremony is set to take place on July 14 at the Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium at the same time.”This appointment reinforces LA28’s commitment to harness the unparalleled creativity, cultural influence and storytelling power of the entertainment capital of the world,” a statement from organizers reads. “Ceremonies that are distinctly Los Angeles and leave a lasting impression on the global stage.”Okay. Kennedy is without a doubt a legend in Hollywood and produced massive movies like “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Back to the Future” and “Jurassic Park.”‘THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU’ IS A PRIME EXAMPLE THAT DISNEY’S STAR WARS IS ON LIFE SUPPORTBut have they seen any of the Disney-era Star Wars movies (aside from “Rogue One,” that one was pretty good)?!In fact, OutKick’s own Ian Miller has written at length about the many missteps Disney has made with the franchise under Kennedy’s watch.Kennedy was also ripped in a 2023 “South Park” special titled “South Park: Joining the Panderverse.”It’s wild for an Olympics in a city packed with creative people to go with someone whose stock might be at its lowest after her time leading Lucasfilm.If this was the ’84, ’96, or ’02 Games, solid choice.Post-“The Acolyte?” Not so much.Of course, the opening and closing ceremonies aren’t likely to taint the entire Games. Then again, I didn’t think the sequel trilogy could taint “Star Wars” for me.And, well, here we are.
Is Your Social Security Taxable? Where Your State and Income Put You
Social Security can be a significant income source for many people in retirement. But it’s important to understand whether — and how much — taxes will chip away at your benefits.
Your location and income play key roles in determining how much you’ll have to pay, if you even get taxed at all. Here’s how to figure out whether your benefits will be taxed and how to determine which rate to expect.
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How federal taxes are determined
The combined-income formula is the federal test that determines if your benefits are eligible for taxation. It requires adding up your modified adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest and one-half of your Social Security benefits.
For single filers, if your combined income is below $25,000, you don’t pay federal taxes on your benefits. If you are in the $25,000 to $34,000 range, up to 50% of your benefits may be eligible for taxation. Finally, you may be eligible for up to 85% of your benefits being taxed if your combined income exceeds $34,000.
The math works differently for married couples. If their combined income is under $32,000, none of their benefits are taxed. The $32,000 to $44,000 threshold results in up to 50% of your benefit being taxed, and earning more than $44,000 in combined income results in up to 85% of your benefits being eligible for taxation.
How state taxes are determined
Most states do not tax benefits, including Washington, D.C. Only eight states tax benefits, and most of them have income-based exemptions.
Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont are the only states that tax Social Security, but you may be exempt depending on your age and income.
What else to know about the taxes on Social Security
While up to 85% of your benefit may be eligible for taxation if you are in the highest threshold, that doesn’t equate to a 85% tax rate. Any amount of your benefit that is eligible for taxation goes through the same tax rates as ordinary income.
Couples and single filers can file Form W-4V to withhold a portion of every Social Security check for taxes. While it results in less income right now, it also prevents an April surprise in the form of a big tax bill.
People who do not withhold any of their benefits over time risk a large tax bill that they may not be able to pay. Anticipating your tax rate and withholding some of your Social Security makes it easier to plan around taxes when April arrives.
And remember, you don’t have to guess how much you’ll owe in taxes on your Social Security benefits. You can put last year’s numbers into the IRS Publication 915 worksheet to see how much you will owe. It offers a valuable snapshot of what you can expect to pay so that you can be better prepared.
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You Can’t Declare a Culture Into Existence. You Have to Build One
Nuveen’s CEO has the right instinct about culture.But “listen and learn” is a sentiment, not a behavior.
This Company Will Pay You $112 an Hour to Play GTA 6 and Give Your ‘Honest Verdict’
One lucky gamer will earn roughly $900 and a free copy of the most anticipated video game in years.
Russert All But Offers Land Acknowledgment in Defending California
MS NOW via SnapStream
MS NOW’s co-host Luke Russert questioned the names on California voter lists during Tuesday’s The Weeknight, and did all but offer a land acknowledgment in emphasizing the state’s Hispanic roots and past as past of Mexico.In anticipation of California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla’s comments on Trump’s preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, Russert used the DOJ’s compilation of names connected to potential voter fraud in the state to assume racially motivated attacks.Co-host Michael Steele claimed California would resist the DOJ’s attempts to turn over voter records. This led to Russert’s question: “…What names are on that list?”Russert attempted to make the age-old, emotional stronghold that the administration’s attempts of uncovering voter deception was to target Americans with Latino heritage. Before referencing Latino surnames that Trump could use to link potential noncitizen voters, Russert answered his own question by linking his own familial ties to California:And I think in a state like California, I mean, my wife’s family is from there. She had family members who are in California who was part of Mexico. What are the names of the cities in California? Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, right? So, if we have a list of names and you have Gonzalez on there, you have Gallegos on there. What are we getting at? There’s Latino names in California, and we are going to match them up against other places?The irony? Liberal, elitist outlets often revisit the “stolen land” narrative during public events or ceremonies in discussion of indigenous identity. Yet, that historical context was absent. Instead, Russert flipped the conversation to make the argument that an individual’s Mexican ancestry automatically gives them the right to vote in elections, no matter their voter status:And so, I look at that and I just go, this is an administration that’s going to hone in on specific names? Who was there first? I mean, that’s a serious question, right? Who’s more Californian?Apparently, California’s history is only worth remembering when it fits the liberal media’s narrative.The transcript is below. Click “expand” to read:MS NOW’s The WeeknightOctober 27, 20267:04:10 p.m. Eastern(…)MICHAEL STEEL: What they’re trying to do here, Luke, is just manufacture a list of names, and to justify that and to really sort of confirm their suspicions, they want the list from California. Now, California is very strict about its list. It does not, I can tell you, as a former state official, states protect those lists.Even though, yeah, your campaign, Symone, may call and say, hey, we want to spend some money to get a list, that data is selected. It’s not everything about the voters that you want to get your hands on. So, it matters. Those voter rolls matter because they contain a lot of information.LUKE RUSSERT: And who, what names are on that list?STEEL: Right!RUSSERT: Right? And I think in a state like California, I mean, my wife’s family is from there. She had family members who are in California who was part of Mexico. What are the names of the cities in California? Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, right?So, if we have a list of names and you have Gonzalez on there, you have Gallegos on there. What are we getting at? There’s Latino names in California, and we are going to match them up against other places?And so, I look at that and I just go, this is an administration that’s going to hone in on specific names? Who was there first? I mean, that’s a serious question, right? Who’s more Californian?(…)
Arizona Dog Tests Positive For Screwworm As Fears Of Livestock Crisis Rise
The detection of the once-eradicated flesh-eating fly in an Arizona dog marks its spread to a third U.S. state, stoking fears for an already depleted cattle herd.