It’s not only college football that has been the focus of my attention over the past three months. It is also the new American pastime that has taken over the kitchen tables of Southern women and is making its way into tailgates on a weekly basis across the country.It’s not a new recipe, or a new table design. Instead, it’s Mahjong.A simple walk to Tiger Stadium on the campus of Louisiana State University during the opening weekend of the college football season certainly changed my outlook on the newest trend sweeping the the nation, one expensive set at a time.LSU IS READY TO PARTY: LANE KIFFIN’S DEBUT BRINGS FIREWORKS TO DEATH VALLEY AFTER REVIVAL-LIKE BUILDUPIt started a few months earlier when I was first introduced to this game, thanks to a friend we’ll just call “Sam” for the sake of keeping the wild world of Mahjong between the groups that play it.I wouldn’t want to give away any secrets, and I would learn over time that this was on the same level as men getting together for a night of poker.The one thing I did not expect to see while making my way into a college football game was four ladies sitting at a table within a tailgate playing this game while others around them were immersed in your normal pregame activities that included alcohol.Did I just stumble into a whole new world?What was it about this game that led to women, and men, finding themselves sitting at a table covered in a ‘mat’ playing with ’tiles’ that were labeled differently and a rule pamphlet that was also used to stir up the same table of ‘craks’, ‘barns’ and ‘dots’.Yes, those are different items used to play Mahjong, which I still have no idea how to play.Also, it had unbeknownst to me, the game had made its way to other tailgates across college football that included Ole Miss, Alabama and Indiana. Yes, I know for a fact it’s being played at other tailgates across this country, even if I haven’t been able to see it firsthand just yet.And why were there so many different colors involved, or why did every playing surface look different?Turns out, I was on the cusp of being astonished at how much this was actually being played around college athletics.No, I’m not just talking about the wives of coaches who might get together on a weekly basis to discuss life while playing this game.I still remember, three or so months ago, when “Sam” told me i’d be surprised to know how many men participate in Mahjong as a way to decompress. More on that later, with a coaching twist.Now, for full disclosure, I have yet to learn the intricate details of this game, nor have I sat down to play a round.And, I’m not just talking about a hand of “cards.” These were elaborate get togethers, with women hosting game nights usually on a rotating basis, while some outings will take place in a local studio or room that could also be used as a storefront.COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S JERRY JONES? TEXAS TECH BOOSTER CODY CAMPBELL DEMANDS RETURN ON INVESTMENTThis turned into an investigative mission to find out how deep this whole Mahjong craze goes.It just so happens that there are actual stores that sell ’tiles’. playing ‘mats’, sets that include marketing agreements with the ‘Grateful Dead’.Yes, the band.How would I know about this?I’m sure by now you are wondering why in the world a sports writer would become so fascinated by a game that is played a majority of the time by women. It probably helps that “Sam” is so into this game that I have been running at system overload for months now, even though I enjoy hearing about these game nights that can most certainly be competitive.So, what did I do?This particular weekend had me in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, not far from home. Besides my algorithm on social media steering me toward different social media pages thanks to my curiosity, I needed to see what all the fuss was about.One google search later I found myself taking a detour on the way to Bryant-Denny Stadium to the Tuscaloosa Mahjong Parlor, just off the boulevard near the University of Alabama campus. The nerves I felt walking into this store were almost as intense as interviewing a head coach following a game, wondering where my brain would take me in the press conference setting.Luckily, Heather Bikes welcomed me into her store that is also home to a business ran by her husband, Steve, like I was just another friend on a random Friday afternoon.The colors were something I had never seen before, with boxes of “sets” stacked eloquently throughout the store. There were also ‘mats’, travel cases and just about anything else one could imagine needed for such a hobby.The awkward introduction by myself as a sports reporter looking to learn more about this game turned into a 45-minute conversation on nearly every single item for sale in this beautiful area designed just to sell the game known as “Mahjong.”And no, sorry guys, this hobby is not cheap.I had to do a double-take when I heard that the colorful “Grateful Dead” set that caught my eye would cost over $400, which I immediately texted “Sam” about in full disbelief.Not because it wasn’t worth it, but more so at how shocked I was to learn how this game had taken on a life of itself over the years, at least in the deep south, and if get caught in the storm it can be pricey. But don’t worry, guysI also didn’t know you could have a Mahjong “hookup” that could get you the same looking game equipment, but for a much cheaper price on what I would normally call the ‘black market’.It was also Heather’s husband, Steve, that reaffirmed my thoughts that this game was essentially the same as poker is for men. A way for women to gather within their communities to either let off some steam, congregate to share details of their life, or actually get into the competitive spirit.Yes, this can also get confrontational at times, with words being traded and attitudes checked at either the tailgate tent or the door to each hosting house.Turns out, this was more relevant than I had imagined, and not just outside the college football stadium in this case.For the sake of not giving other coaches ammunition to use within the group texts within the community of each conference, I decided to hold-off on actually naming the coaches who were drawn into this game by their wives or significant others.Also, there were coaches from six different conferences polled, so it would be hard to pin down a specific school.Thanks to “Sam” giving me the idea, along with a few sources with insider knowledge, I started randomly communicating with a number of college football head coaches to gauge whether they had been pulled into this lifestyle.”Dude, who told you I was playing?” one Power Four head coach responded to my question on whether they had ever played. “I use it as a way to relax, but unfortunately this damn game is addicting. I get home from the office and play a few rounds with my girls and wife.”But man, I thought we were competitive on the football field. This is a whole different animal. I did win a round last month, though.”Then, it was another message to an unsuspecting coach within another conference.”Alright, who gave me up? That’s some bulls—,” another Power Four coach jokingly replied. “Yea Trey, I probably play at least once every two weeks. When you sit down at the table, and you have all of those darn tiles, I was lost for the first couple weeks.”I’ve got my wife over here talking smack, and then I’m getting it from my sister. Then, if I come home and she has friends over, I like to get at least one game in before heading upstairs. Every now and then I’m allowed to sit for a few rounds until it’s time for me to leave the room so they can continue their night. If you’re going to play, you better lock in, because they don’t cut you any slack after a few practice rounds.”For full transparency, I sent inquiries to ten different head coaches over a two-day period asking if they had ever played Mahjong.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEOut of the 10, six of them let me know they had at least played the game, with five of them informing me that they actually partake on a monthly basis.”I’m so confused most of the time, but it also gives me something that allows me to spend some extra time with my daughters,” another head coach told OutKick. “So, if I get an extra hour a week with them over this game, I’ll one day figure out a way to beat them.”They don’t know it yet, but I’ve been watching tutorials online.”THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!And while I admit that I have not had enough time to sit down and learn the intricate details of this phenomenon that was first brought to my attention through “Sam’s” weekly game nights, I can now say that I at least understand the craze that comes with it.My wandering mind has sent me all across this country investigating stories related to college athletics.In no way did I expect to see Mahjong intersect with college football. But, I also got to see this game through someone else’s eyes, which will make this easier once I finally get the time to learn, I hope.I guess that’s the best part about my job.You learn something new every day, or at every tailgate.
(VIDEO) Trump Says He Approves of Flavio Bolsonaro Fleeing to the US After He’s Ordered to Surrender Passport by Brazilian Justice Alexandre Moraes – “The Election Was Very Strange”
Trump speaks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews
President Trump said on Wednesday that he approves of conservative Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of persecuted former President Jair Bolsonaro, fleeing to the US after his election was stolen and the regime targeted him.
Bolsonaro was the clear frontrunner, but the fix was in on election day.
Voting hours were extended by two hours on election day in an unprecedented move while Bolsonaro was leading. Lula da Silva pulled off a win after the extension was ordered by his personal attorney and Brazilian Justice Christiano Zanin.
Trump previously responded to the rigged election, highlighting the “very strange” extension.
“It looked terrible to me. I thought it was terrible-looking. I didn’t take sides, but it looked like another rigged election, frankly,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I didn’t take sides, but it was a terrible look for the world.”
Trump continued, “You know, elections have to be indisputable, and it looked very bad to me. I didn’t take sides. I didn’t endorse anybody or anything. But I watched the election, and it looked so, so corrupt, so terrible.”
WATCH:
Since the election, Bolsonaro has been ordered by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to hand over his passport after challenging the corrupt results.
Now, he has reportedly arrived in the United States, fleeing persecution from the Communist regime.
Overnight, upon returning to Washington, DC, from midterm rallies in Texas, Trump told reporters he “would certainly approve” of Bolsonaro coming to the US, but said that he had “heard he was in Argentina,” not America.
“The election was very strange, and I thought it was terrible,” Trump said. “Would I approve of it? Yeah, I would approve. It would be okay with me.”
“I didn’t take sides. Lula, I know. I know Flavio a little bit. I know the father very well. The father was treated really badly, I thought, but I wasn’t involved. That’s Brazil; it’s a different country,” he added. “I thought I’d stay out of that one. I thought the end result, you know, it’s fine the end result. But the way they got to the end result was terrible.”
WATCH:
The post (VIDEO) Trump Says He Approves of Flavio Bolsonaro Fleeing to the US After He’s Ordered to Surrender Passport by Brazilian Justice Alexandre Moraes – “The Election Was Very Strange” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
What Profits the New York Times to Gain ‘the World?’
Maybe the New York Times’ editors should travel more.
How the Senior Tax Deduction Interacts With Your Social Security Income
Anyone can use the standard tax deduction, but older adults now get an extra perk.
Recent temporary changes to the tax code via the One Big Beautiful Bill offer people older than 65 the ability to deduct an additional $6,000. That’s on top of the standard deduction. While up to 85% of Social Security benefits are taxable, the added deduction can help you get lower your taxable income and overall tax bill.
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What the deduction is (and what it doesn’t do)
The deduction is for $6,000 per person from tax years 2025 through 2028, and qualifying couples get to deduct $12,000 each year. That’s on top of the standard deduction, which ultimately reduces how much you pay in taxes.
While the tax deduction can reduce Social Security taxes, you can use it even if you delay Social Security benefits until you turn 70. As long as you are at least 65 years old, you can get an extra $6,000 deduction.
A $6,000 deduction does not reduce your final tax bill by $6,000. That’s what tax credits do, which is why they’re considered more valuable. Still, a $6,000 deduction will reduce your adjusted gross income by that amount for tax purposes. It’s an effortless way to save a few hundred dollars from your annual tax bill.
The deduction does not affect the income thresholds that are used to determine whether your Social Security benefits are taxable. If you qualify, you can claim the senior deduction on Schedule 1-A when you’re doing your taxes whether you claim the standard deduction or itemize.
Income limits for the senior deduction
The $6,000 senior deduction gets a little smaller for every dollar above $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for a single filer, and $150,000 for a couple filing jointly.
It’s a gradual cliff, with single filers completely ineligible for the $6,000 deduction if their MAGI reaches or exceeds $175,000. The limit is $250,000 in MAGI for couples filing jointly.
How and why to stay up to date on the rule
The current tax code has this rule expiring in 2028 — though that could change if Congress passes legislation that extends it.
You can confirm the current rules on the IRS’s website before filing your taxes. It’s an extra tax break you can count on for now, but it’s a good idea to be attentive in 2027 and 2028 when details about the rule’s future may be established.
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Election Interference? Apple News Targets GOP Issues with 84-0 Negative Coverage Before Midterms
MRC Original
A new Media Research Center analysis found that Apple News has been targeting GOP issues with negative coverage, raising the question: Is Apple engaging in election interference in the lead-up to the midterms?Just weeks before the midterm elections, Apple News promoted more than 80 stories with headlines that negatively framed the issues Republicans care about most, a stark contrast to the complete absence of stories with headlines portraying those same issues in a positive light. The MRC analysis, spanning Apple News’s top 20 stories each morning, found that Republican voters relying on Apple News for information were fed about five stories per day that negatively characterized their top 10 policy priorities, including immigration, law and order, drug enforcement and others. This review adds to MRC’s growing body of evidence that the platform’s editors continue to curate its feeds to push a left-wing political agenda, even as the news app faces scrutiny from the Trump administration. Bozell decried the editorial decisions of Apple News, saying the news app and its multi-trillion-dollar corporation are attempting to interfere with the midterm elections.“Apple News ran 84 negative headlines on Republican priorities and zero positive ones,” said MRC President David Bozell. “Zero! My dentist finds more good news in a root canal. Millions of voters open that app before they vote, and Apple’s editors are in there like a bartender who waters down only one party’s drinks. Come on, Apple, tell us who picks these stories and why Republicans got the whole bad-news buffet.” MRC’s Findings:Of the 117 stories from outlets Apple News promoted about GOP-aligned issues during the review period, 84 stories’ headlines (or 72%) were negative and 33 (or 28%) were neutral. None of the headlines promoted by the news app presented GOP issues in a positive light.In short, Apple News ensured that immigration was framed through court defeats and sensationalist stories; the economy through high gas prices; law and order through positive portrayals of police abolition; cuts to government through accusations of radicalism; foreign policy through portrayals of America’s adversaries as warriors; and efforts to curb waste through claims of unlawful cuts.The Apple News findings are consistent with previous MRC investigations, which found that Apple News has systematically shut out right-leaning outlets, failed to promote scandals involving Democrats and the DNC, and favored publications with a history of endorsing Democratic candidates, among many other examples.Apple’s Massive Reach and Its Reliance on Left-Wing SourcesApple News’s massive and growing reach — approximately 125 million monthly visits in America — is precisely why its editorial decisions matter. The app comes preinstalled on every iPhone (roughly 150.7M users in America) and can push headlines directly to millions of Americans, even when they aren’t actively seeking out its coverage.That reach makes Apple News and other digital news gatekeepers a powerful conduit for left-leaning stories and partisan talking points. MRC has already revealed how Apple News has an almost complete ban on stories from right-leaning outlets. This latest analysis examined how the app’s reliance on left-leaning outlets is shaping coverage of issues that matter most to Republican voters.MRC identified 10 key Republican-aligned issues based on a series of recent polls: (1) immigration and border security, (2) economic growth and prosperity, (3) law and order, (4) reducing the federal deficit and government spending, (5) combating drug abuse and the opioid crisis, (6) national security and foreign policy, (7) low taxes and cutting waste, (8) countering terrorism, (9) education reform and school choice, and last but not least (10) protecting the unborn. MRC then reviewed Apple News’s coverage of these issues from Sept. 15 to Sept. 30 and identified 117 relevant stories. Of those, 84 (72%) framed Republican-aligned issues negatively, while the remaining 33 (28%) were neutral. Not a single story’s headline presented these issues in a positive light.Although Apple News aggregates content from numerous publishers, its story selection, rankings and headline presentation influence which perspectives are most shared with potential voters. This raises an additional concern: Is Apple misrepresenting the service it provides to iPhone owners in violation of consumer protection laws?In response to previous MRC investigative reports, an Apple spokesperson made a series of admissions that could land the news apps in legal trouble. One Apple spokesperson previously told the New York Post that it promotes stories from a wide range of outlets from across the political spectrum.The spokesperson specifically claimed that Apple “provides access to news spanning a wide range of topics from more than 3,000 publications including the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Bloomberg, USA Today, Washington Examiner, New York Post, CBS News, local outlets, and more.” MRC analyses have consistently shown that Apple’s representations are unfounded. The Federal Trade Commission previously issued an official warning to Apple that it must comply with its terms of service and not make false representations to its customers. MRC’s latest study adds to the growing list of evidence that Apple is not complying with its legal responsibilities. How Apple News Spun the Republican IssuesImmigration Enforcement and Border Security Most of the stories appearing on Americans’ Apple News screens cast immigration enforcement in a negative light, focusing on legal defeats and ICE missteps while even portraying actions that could be viewed as lenient or pro-immigration by the Trump administration negatively.For instance, on Sept. 26, Apple News promoted an Axios article under the headline: “Trump-appointed judge again holds admin in contempt over deportation.” The story, as shown on Apple News, prominently displayed an image of Donald Trump’s head at the end of a gavel. A separate Politico article, promoted by Apple News on Sept. 17, spun the administration’s handling of Salvadoran TPS negatively, even as it left protections in place rather than terminating them after a Sept. 9 deadline. The Apple-promoted article claimed that the administration’s silence “has plunged an immigrant community of around 200,000 people into limbo, leaving them uncertain when, or if, they will be allowed to stay in the U.S.” Other negative headlines targeting immigration and border control included: “Immigrants held in small outdoor cages at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Florida, investigators find,” by the BBC (promoted on Sept. 15).“US judge blocks Trump limits on how long foreign students, journalists can stay,” by Reuters (promoted on Sept. 15).“ICE arrests keep soaring. Here’s why they are not leading to more deportations,” by Reuters (promoted on Sept. 15).“ICE agent wanted in Metro Surge shooting is booked into Hennepin County Jail,” by The Minnesota Star Tribune (promoted on Sept. 17).“ICE wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in rapid push to expand detention capacity, government watchdog finds,” by CBS News (promoted on Sept. 25, and again on Sept. 26).These and other articles circulated by Apple News show a clear bias in the stories which Apple has chosen to promote about immigration enforcement and border security. Instead of giving equal coverage to the Republican and Democrat perspectives, one of the most prominent news apps has selectively included stories which shine a negative light on the Republican side of the immigration issue. Apple News could have offered readers a broader perspective on issues central to Republican voters by promoting stories from the wide range of news sources readily available to its editors. MRC identified alternative stories that offered different perspectives, including coverage highlighting positive developments and policy outcomes on issues important to Republican voters. These include:“Trump DHS hits 16 straight months with 0 releases at the border,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 16.“The Trump Administration Rightly Revives the ‘Public Charge’ Debate,” by National Review, published on Sept. 23.“This is what Democrats’ immigration policy would be,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 27.“They claimed their hands were tied on the border. Trump just proved it was all a lie,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 28.Economic Growth and ProsperityThe Trump administration’s economic policies and initiatives aimed at boosting prosperity were not spared from Apple News’s negative spin either. Like the stories Apple promoted about immigration, the news app ignored all positive stories about the Trump economy while highlighting numerous stories that characterized the president’s policies in a negative light. An NPR human-interest story, which Apple News promoted on Sept. 21, claimed that JD Vance’s proposal to address increasing child care costs did little to solve the underlying issue. NPR proffered that “critics,” none of whom it named, “pointed out that not all grandparents can or want to provide care, many older people need care themselves, and it would do nothing to address the lack of government investment in the childcare system.”On Sept. 19, Apple News promoted an NBC News story that touched on homebuyers amid increasing mortgage rates and housing prices. The story described the current market as “discouraging” and blamed the U.S. war on Iran as one of the culprits. “Mortgage rates were on a downswing earlier this year, hitting 5.99% in late February. But ever since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, they have skyrocketed,” the Apple-promoted story lamented.Other headlines targeting economic growth and prosperity:“The price of diesel keeps rising. Why it’s about to hit American consumers,” by The Christian Science Monitor (promoted on Sept. 20).“How the surging cost of going out is changing American life,” by The Washington Post (promoted on Sept. 20).“How the U.S. got oil shipments moving and what it would take to bring prices down,” by The Washington Post (promoted on Sept. 30). (In the subtitle: “Crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to approach prewar levels. But analysts expect fuel prices to remain high.”)Alternative stories and headlines that Apple News could have promoted included:“US economy notches remarkable new record, sparking cheers: ‘Good job everyone,’” by Fox News, published on Sept. 17.“Proof Trump’s economy is better than they’re telling you,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 23.“Trump, good economic news, and the midterm elections,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 17.“Trump Lands $54 Billion For Alaska Pipeline After Half A Century Of Promises,” by The Daily Wire, published on Sept. 30.Law and Order/Crime Prevention Apple News’s apparent disdain for law and order was evident in its Sept. 22 promotion of another NPR story echoing the left-wing push to defund or abolish the police.The story — headlined “How unarmed 911 teams are reshaping public safety in nearly 100 cities” — champions policing alternatives to potentially dangerous crimes like trespassing, panhandling and loitering. In essence, the story is reinforcing the leftist campaign to shift police responsibilities to social services.Apple News also promoted an Associated Press story about changes to FBI hiring policies that Democrats have used to attack the bureau’s director, Kash Patel. Another Apple-promoted Associated Press article focused on a judge’s ruling against President Donald Trump’s proposed restrictions on mail-in ballots, which the administration has described as necessary to prevent unlawful voting. Using unfavorable language such as “stark defeat,” the Sept. 15 article took an overtly negative position towards the Trump administration. Alternative headlines and stories that Apple News could have promoted include:“Kash Patel to tout ‘largest’ year-to-year violent crime drop in US history,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 15.“Bill Maher credits Trump’s ‘kick-a–’ crime approach as violent offenses fall across America,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 26.“EXCLUSIVE: Inside Trump’s Memphis Crime Crackdown One Year Later,” by The Daily Wire, published on Sept. 29.“DOJ announces $25 million ANGEL grant program as it hosts violent crime victims,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 24.Reducing Federal Deficit, Government Spending, Size and PowerOne of Trump’s campaign promises was to shrink the size of the federal government and crack down on wasteful spending. Since taking office, his efforts to deliver on those promises have been portrayed as controversial and straight-up illegal in Apple News’s coverage.“Trump Guts the Biden-Era Rule That Forced Cars to Be More Fuel Efficient,” by The Washington Sun (promoted on Sept. 28).Words like “guts” alongside phrases such as “forced cars to be more fuel efficient” carry an aggressive, destructive connotation that presents Trump’s reversal of fuel-efficiency standards as an act of dismantling rather than a change in regulatory policy.Other headlines included:“EPA eliminates rule that limits planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants,” by The Associated Press (promoted on Sept. 15).“Iran war cost hits $38 billion, forecast to rise $3 billion a month, CBO says,” by Reuters (promoted on Sept. 16).“Americans Are About to Lose Access to Cheap Gray-Market Prescriptions From Canada,” by The Wall Street Journal (promoted on Sept. 24).“The Trump administration weakens fuel efficiency standards for new cars,” by NPR (promoted on Sept. 29).Apple News circulated coverage from outlets whose framing leans against Republican policy priorities, giving prominent visibility to narratives that portray conservative deregulation as destructive while giving less immediate attention to arguments about reducing regulatory burdens, lowering vehicle costs and expanding consumer choice. Apple News could have promoted stories about inflation being below Biden-era levels, employment being near record highs, or the massive surge in foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Such angles were shown in the following stories and headlines that Apple News did not promote:“Trump’s EPA reforms are a huge boost to manufacturers, but there’s more red tape to cut: expert,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 17.“Trump just canceled the swamp’s credit card. Good,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 28.“White House Claws Back $810 Million Going To Left-Wing Passion Projects,” by The Daily Wire, published on Sept. 28.National Security and Foreign Policy Apple News’s promoted coverage of the Trump administration’s strong foreign policy focused heavily on stories that painted the United States negatively, while describing foreign foes, like Iran and Yemen’s Houthis, as grandiose, defiant and even peaceful.For instance, Iran coverage portrayed Tehran as diplomatic and sympathetic.A Reuters article, promoted by Apple News on Sept. 27, used clearly positive and even peaceful language towards Iran, while painting the U.S. in decidedly anti-peace terms: “Iran insists on diplomatic solution after Trump rejects peace plan,” read the headline. This perspective was clearly reflected in numerous other stories related to foreign policy.“Iran’s President Gets Rare Opportunity to Make His Case to the World,” by The Wall Street Journal (promoted on Sept. 22).“Hundreds of thousands attend Iran’s biggest government-organized rally since the war began,” by The Associated Press (promoted on Sept. 19).“UN mission finds grounds to believe US committed war crimes in Iran, and Tehran crimes against humanity,” by Reuters (promoted on Sept. 17).Other promoted headlines cast Trump’s foreign policy in a negative light.Greenland: “Trump hails Greenland security deal that falls short of takeover,” by The Washington Post (promoted on Sept. 20).United Nations: “Threats, boasts, walkouts: the key takeaways from Trump’s U.N. speech,” by Apple Podcasts (promoted on Sept. 23).Israel: “Trump’s planned sale of controversial bombs to Israel is largest in years,” by The Washington Post (promoted on Sept. 16). China: “Trump used to slam China. Here’s why he’s now rolling out the red carpet for Xi,” by The Associated Press (promoted on Sept. 21); and “Trump welcomes Xi for a White House summit set to be high on pageantry, low on substance,” by NBC News (promoted on Sept. 24).Rather than emphasizing controversy surrounding Trump’s foreign policy, Apple News could have promoted stories highlighting the administration’s diplomatic objectives, national security priorities and efforts to advance American interests abroad.Possible alternative stories and headlines Apple News could have included:“Foreign policy expert details Trump’s victories in week jam-packed with diplomacy,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 25.“Why Trump’s India policy is working,” by the Washington Examiner, published on Sept. 24.“Trump Announces Historic Deal With Greenland,” by The Daily Wire, published on Sept. 18.Lowering Taxes and Cutting WasteLowering taxes and cutting waste are among the top issues for Republicans heading into the midterm elections. Yet some stories promoted by Apple News emphasized backlash against the Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal spending, while others portrayed the administration itself as wasteful.Apple News promoted multiple stories highlighting criticism of Trump’s decision to claw back $810 million in federal funds previously approved by Congress. The coverage sided with lawmakers’ objections to the move, which they called “unlawful.” Separately, these stories framed the administration’s use of its rescission authority as extraordinary. Some of the stories Apple News promoted were headlined:“Lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘unlawful’ move to cut $810 million in federal funds,” by NBC News (promoted on Sept. 27).“Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back nearly $1B in spending approved by Congress,” by The Associated Press (promoted on Sept. 26).Apple News also highlighted the Trump administration’s decision to cut Affordable Care Act coverage for individuals who are believed to have been fraudulently enrolled. An NBC News story, promoted on Sept. 23, framed the cancellations around the loss of health coverage, even though it impacted people who may not have qualified for subsidies or whose enrollments lacked key information, such as Social Security numbers. Notably, the story itself acknowledged that health experts and the Congressional Budget Office had identified significant problems with enrollment fraud. Its subheadline, however, highlighted skepticism toward the administration’s crackdown on fraud: “Health policy experts say Affordable Care Act fraud exists, but they question the administration’s claims about the scale.” By contrast, Apple News could have promoted the following headlines, which highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to uncover fraud and waste in government spending but were not featured by the app.“Trump administration uncovers $1.2B in suspected COVID contract fraud tied to Biden-era spending,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 24.“Office of Personnel Management uncovers $500M in fraud and waste in federal health benefits programs,” by Fox News, published on Sept. 29.“JD Vance Makes Promise To Daily Wire After Bombshell Reporting,” by The Daily Wire, published on Sept. 22.Apple’s Sordid History of Running Cover for the LeftThese most recent examples of Apple News pushing a political agenda come on the heels of many other instances of anti-Republican bias in what the major News Apps have chosen to promote. MRC has recently conducted studies that have found multiple examples of blatant attempts to cover up scandals, misrepresent information and exclude positive stories about Republicans and conservatives.For example, a study published on August 21 found that Apple News promoted 72 times more stories from left-leaning outlets than from AllSides-rated right-leaning outlets. A total of only 1% of the stories came from right-leaning outlets (as rated by AllSides), while 72% came from left-leaning outlets. The remaining 27% of stories were from center outlets. In all, Apple News published only eight GOP victory stories out of the 5,417 analyzed. A separate MRC study, published Jan. 29, examined Apple News as well as other tech titan news aggregators (Google News, Microsoft’s MSN, and Yahoo News) and their coverage pertaining to federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. The study found that the news aggregators ran a total of 118 stories with headlines on ICE operations in Minnesota. Out of these 118 articles, 101 (85.6%) were negative or lacked crucial context, while only 16 (13.6%) headlines were neutral. Only one story (less than 1%) gave ICE positive coverage. Further evidence of Apple News and other major news aggregators’ bias appeared in an October 6 MRC Special Report examining Apple News’s coverage of the Democratic National Committee’s financial troubles. The report found that Apple News featured none of the 78 stories identified by MRC about the DNC’s debt crisis between January 1 and September 28, despite 14 of those stories coming from outlets the news app regularly promotes. MRC Free Speech America Intern Abel Jones contributed crucial research for this report.Methodology: MRC reviewed the top 20 stories promoted by Apple News each day from Sept. 15 through Sept. 30. Researchers analyzed the headlines and identified stories related to the 10 issues that Republican voters ranked as their top priorities. MRC then analyzed the content of those stories, examining how the issues were framed, whether crucial context was excluded, which perspectives were emphasized or excluded, which sources and viewpoints were given prominence through quotes and their placement in articles, and whether potentially inflammatory language was used. To determine the 10 issues, MRC reviewed polls identifying the issues most important to Republican voters and averaged their findings. The polls were: Gallup 2026, US Polling Data S’26, Pew Research 2026, AP & NORC, YouGov, Fox News Poll, Impact Research/WSJ/National Research Inc. and IPSOS & Reuters. The resulting list was: (1) immigration enforcement and border security; (2) economic growth and prosperity; (3) law and order and crime prevention; (4) reducing the federal deficit and government spending; (5) combating drug use and the opioid crisis; (6) strong national security and foreign policy; (7) lowering taxes and cutting waste; (8) countering terrorism; (9) education reform and school choice; and (10) pro-life policies and abortion restrictions.
Kimmel Conspiracy Theorizes About Votes Not Being Counted
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel appeared to admit on Tuesday that he believes history began yesterday. During his monologue, Kimmel cited the long-standing precedent of the DOJ sending observers to polling places around the country as evidence that the Trump administration may not allow the votes to be counted during next week’s midterm elections.Kimmel began by urging his audience not to take a Democratic win for granted, “You know, we’re exactly a week away from the midterm elections, which will decide whether Republicans retain control of Congress or whether it was stolen by a caravan of woke dog-eating transgender immigrants. The polls show Democrats have a strong chance of taking the House and very possibly the Senate. Although, I don’t know. I don’t know if I believe the polls. And I’ll tell you something, after what happened to Guillermo on Dancing with the Stars, who the hell knows with these elections?” Jimmy Kimmel appears to think history began yesterday, “Whatever the case, you must get out and vote. Every vote counts. Assuming the Trump administration allows the states to count the votes. We learned that the Department of Justice is going to send 1,000 staffers to observe… pic.twitter.com/C93hahlnkD— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) October 28, 2026 Continuing to implore his audience to vote, Kimmel added, “Whatever the case, you must get out and vote. Every vote counts. Assuming the Trump administration allows the states to count the votes. We learned that the Department of Justice is going to send 1,000 staffers to observe poll workers as they count the votes and to counter that, democratic advocacy groups are planning to send thousands of their own volunteers to watch the watchers watch the people counting the votes, but why does it have to—I don’t know. Remember the good old days when the weirdest thing about voting was the smell of the school auditorium?”It is true that the number of DOJ staffers going to observe the election is a record-high, but the concept itself has been around for years. There is no reason to believe that the DOJ’s observers will be doing anything out of the ordinary, but the idea that they might helps liberals like Kimmel scare people into voting under the guise they need to vote in such large numbers that the results are steal-proof.Here is a transcript fort the October 27 show:ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live!10/27/202611:40 PM ETJIMMY KIMMEL: You know, we’re exactly a week away from the midterm elections, which will decide whether Republicans retain control of Congress or whether it was stolen by a caravan of woke dog-eating transgender immigrants. The polls show Democrats have a strong chance of taking the House and very possibly the Senate. Although, I don’t know. I don’t know if I believe the polls. And I’ll tell you something, after what happened to Guillermo on Dancing with the Stars, who the hell knows with these elections?GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. They stole it from me, yeah. They stole it from me!KIMMEL: Whatever the case, you must get out and vote. Every vote counts. Assuming the Trump administration allows the states to count the votes. We learned that the Department of Justice is going to send 1,000 staffers to observe poll workers as they count the votes and to counter that, democratic advocacy groups are planning to send thousands of their own volunteers to watch the watchers watch the people counting the votes, but why does it have to—I don’t know. Remember the good old days when the weirdest thing about voting was the smell of the school auditorium?
ABC/CBS/NBC Evening Newscasts Push Negative News for GOP, Hide Bad News for Democrats
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MRC Original Graphic
With early voting already underway, the Big Three (ABC, CBS, NBC) networks have filled up their evening news shows with campaign stories that seem like they’re meant to dissuade conservatives from going to the polls this month. They’ve also dutifully avoided (for the most part) talking about scandals and gaffes of Democratic candidates. A Media Research Center study of ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts for the past month (September 28 – October 26) found that they filled their campaign stories with (56 minutes, 44 seconds) of bad news to just (18 minutes, 53 seconds) of negative news for Democrats. So audiences getting their campaign news from the broadcast evening news programs, and all the online news feeds which feature their content, were three times as likely to see negative news about Republicans than Democrats. MRC analysts timed statements by anchors, reporters, politicians and voters to determine what themes were being pushed in their campaign stories. Evening Newscasts Hype Bad News for RepublicansNetwork evening news shows kept pushing the narrative of this being a bad cycle for Republicans, as they pushed the themes of Republicans running scared in red states, because of the dark cloud hanging over them of low approval polls for Trump; high gas and grocery prices; and the Iran war. Overall, ABC’s World News Tonight spent the most amount of time (23 minutes, 49 seconds) on negative news for the Republicans this cycle. NBC Nightly News came in second with 16 minutes, 35 seconds of bad campaign news for the GOP. CBS Evening News wasn’t that far behind with 16 minutes, 20 seconds of midterm blues for Team MAGA. The campaign story on the October 5 edition of CBS Evening News was typical of the coverage: Both CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil and correspondent Ed O’Keefe offered up the following doomcast for the GOP: WATCH: A month out, the Elite Media evening news is locked on two types of political story: “Republicans in Disarray” or polling DOOM!1!1! pic.twitter.com/uTBB07kRI1— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 6, 2026 TONY DOKOUPIL: Election Day is four weeks from tomorrow and President Trump is back on the campaign trail, not in an effort to gain ground on Democrats but to protect what has historically been Republican-friendly territory. ED O’KEEFE: Tony, what’s notable about being in Nebraska tonight- this is the fifth Republican-controlled state the president has been in since last Thursday. Why all the focus on red states? Well, it’s designed to turn out the president’s base. He understands the GOP candidates are struggling because of the state of the economy. New CBS News polling shows 70 percent of voters say Trump’s policies are making prices go up.”Another theme pushed was Republican candidates criticizing or running away from the President. All three networks reported on Politico releasing audio of Texas Senate Republican candidate Ken Paxton being critical of the President. On the October 5 edition of NBC Nightly News, correspondent Ryan Nobles played up the story: RYAN NOBLES: Tonight, with Republicans under pressure before the midterms, new campaign criticism apparently aimed at the White House from a Trump-endorsed Republican candidate in the key state of Texas. Politico, citing two people at the event reporting Ken Paxton privately told donors last month his campaign is being run from D.C. instead of the Lone Star State. “I don’t control the message or what we’re doing,” he said. His campaign telling Politico Paxton was referring to outside SuperPACs, and Paxton recently blasted the president’s midterm convention. Evening Newscasts Skip or Downplay Democratic Candidate ScandalsWhile there have been plenty of gaffes and scandals involving Democratic candidates this cycle, they’ve gone largely unreported on the evening news programs. The following are just some of the gaffes and scandals that have gotten zero coverage on the Big Three evening newscasts: Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan’s multiple connections to the fraud cases in Minnesota and her grade inflation scandal. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra blatantly lied about his family background. During a September 30 CNN debate, Becerra claimed that his parents “came to this country with $12, and they settled in California.” He also told Ana Navarro his father came to America in his 20s with $12 in his pocket. But an obituary said his father was born in Sacramento.Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson forced to apologize for anti-Israel comments. According to NBC News Center Maine (so NBC Nightly News producers were certainly aware): “Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson is apologizing for comments he made this week in a NEWS CENTER Maine candidate profile interview about Israeli ‘genocide’ in Gaza. In reiterating his view that that the three-year-old Israel-Gaza war ‘is a genocide,’ Jackson said in the interview, ‘There are people here in Maine that don’t like to use that term only because, you know, they’re Jewish and, you know, what that means to them with the Holocaust.’The evening newscasts did manage to spend (only) 18 minutes, 53 seconds on Democratic candidate scandals. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood were brought up in an interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas. NBC Nightly News was the only newscast to bring up specific tweets from Sayed’s half-sister. So far, CBS Evening News and ABC World News Tonight haven’t touched the specific tweets. Llamas managed to press El-Sayed in an interview aired on the October 14 edition of NBC Nightly News: TOM LLAMAS: But newly revealed past tweets from El-Sayed’s half-sister appearing to call his answer into question. These tweets have emerged now. “Had an amazing talk with my mom about her activism in the Muslim Brotherhood during the early 70s while she was in college. #respect.” MOHAMMED EL-SAYED: Talking about me? Me?LLAMAS: “My family has long been MB.” Let me finish. “Praying for all my family that supports the MB in Egypt.” Can you just explain it?Aside from Sayed’s scandal, the network evening news shows also mentioned the DOJ’s raid on Minnesota Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C. home. Although they dutifully noted the supposed unprecedented nature of the timing, as expressed by correspondent Jay O’Brien on the October 12 edition of ABC’s World News Tonight: “The Justice Department traditionally avoids taking public steps in political investigations within 60 days of an election.” O’Brien also added Omar’s spin: “Tonight, Omar defiant, calling this ‘political intimidation’ and ‘an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement’, adding, ‘I will not be silenced.’” Evening Newscasts Did Manage to Squeeze in Some Good News for RepublicansIt should be mentioned that some good news for Republicans this cycle managed to get on the air, as it came mostly through soundbites from the President, Vice President J.D. Vance, administration spokespeople, GOP candidates and voters. But even then it only tallied 7 minutes of airtime. As for good news for the Democrats? It all came in the form of bad news for Republicans, as listed above. The following piece from Nancy Cordes – aired on the October 1, CBS Evening News – is an example of good news for Trump that the newscasts mostly brushed past:CORRESPONDENT NANCY CORDES: Trevor Theriot wouldn’t go quite that far today, but he did say things are going well for him.TREVOR THERIOT: We’re growing at eight percent. To me, that’s success.CORDES: Theriot owns a medical device manufacturing company here in Denton. He says the research and development credits in Trump’s “big beautiful bill” helped him a lot and that tariffs have incentivized him to build more of his products here in the U.S.”Stories like this were the rare exception. By the newscasts primarily filling their campaign stories with doom and gloom for Republicans, while barely mentioning any of the bad news for Democrats, they’ve spun a narrative that promotes excitement among leftist voters and depression for conservative voters.
Federal Reserve expected to pass on interest rate hike, for now
The Federal Open Market Committee is set to make its latest interest rate decision Wednesday with the expectation that it will leave rates unchanged.
King Charles tells Bahamians he recognizes ‘great suffering of the past’
King Charles kicked off a tour of the Caribbean amid growing calls for an apology and reparations for Britain’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
YOU DON’T SAY: Hasan Piker Event in Minneapolis REQUIRED ID to Get in and Barred Entry to the Press (VIDEO)
Screencap of Twitter/X video.
According to the left, it is racist to require IDs to vote, but not when it comes to attending an event with radical leftist streamer Hasan Piker.
In order to get into his recent event with Ilhan Omar, attendees had to show their ID and go through ‘airport style’ security.
Also, organizers barred the press from entering. Isn’t that what authoritarians do? Isn’t that what we have been told by the left?
In the video below, you can see a security person explaining to people in line that they are going to have to present their IDs.
Watch:
The line of the “sold out” Hasan Piker event.
ID was required to enter the event.
The irony. pic.twitter.com/S8FJmOnAYO
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) October 27, 2026
MPR News has the details on barring the press:
Left-wing livestreamer Hasan Piker and Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar joined DFL state Sen. Omar Fateh on Monday evening for an event some Democrats criticized as divisive.
Piker is a self-described democratic-socialist and popular figure with many younger progressives who feel unrepresented by the Democratic Party. He has backed Democratic candidates like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.
Some Democrats, including governor hopeful U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, criticized Piker for past statements they deemed offensive and chided Omar and Fateh for appearing with someone they deem a polarizing figure on the eve of an election.
The event billed as “I’m the Host Now!” was held at the Theatre in the Round, a small venue with 245 seats in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. The event was advertised as a curated conversation series hosted by Fateh and organized by a local group, Baddies 4 Progress, and communications firm Haus of C.
MPR News was invited to cover the event, then denied access at the last minute by Fateh, who said media was barred because of space concerns.
If people can obtain an ID to attend a Hasan Piker event, they can present an ID to vote.
This is pretty easy for most people to understand.
The post YOU DON’T SAY: Hasan Piker Event in Minneapolis REQUIRED ID to Get in and Barred Entry to the Press (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.