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“The Height Of Hypocrisy”: Charity Founder Gets Eight Years For Embezzling Millions

The founder of a charity that helped low-income workers cover emergency bills has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for spending millions of dollars in donations on himself. Keith Taylor, 59, of New York, founded Modest Needs around 2002, and U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon sentenced him, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced Wednesday. He pleaded guilty in August 2025 to defrauding the charity and its donors and to evading more than $1 million in federal income taxes.

Keith Taylor, founder and former CEO of the Modest Needs Foundation

Modest Needs was a 501(c)(3) that used crowd-sourced funding to help people living paycheck to paycheck with unexpected costs such as medical bills or a broken appliance. Prosecutors say Taylor embezzled more than $2.5 million from the charity and its donors since at least 2015 and used it to fund his own lifestyle.The list of what the money bought is the heart of the case. Taylor regularly ate at Per Se, Jean-Georges, Masa and Marea, sometimes twice a day, and spent more than $320,000 of charity funds at New York restaurants and steakhouses. Donations also paid over $300,000 of the rent on a 30th-floor apartment in a midtown Manhattan skyscraper, more than $100,000 to food delivery services, and bills for his electronics and his own medical care. Another $270,000 went straight into his personal brokerage account.”Keith Taylor embezzled millions from a charity for low-income families to pay for his own lavish lifestyle,” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said. “This is the height of hypocrisy.” He added that Taylor “shattered the trust of those who believed in the mission of the charity, denying essential help to vulnerable individuals and families in genuine need.”Taylor was arrested in June 2024, and prosecutors say the spending did not stop. He purportedly resigned and was barred from the charity’s bank accounts as a condition of pretrial release, yet he kept using its money for meals, medical expenses and the rent on the luxury apartment, in violation of those conditions.To cover himself, Taylor invented a board of directors, then claimed it had approved his spending and overseen the organization. He listed acquaintances as board members on the charity’s tax forms and website, among them a bartender, a friend and his house cleaner. None attended a meeting, and none knew they had been named.The tax case is separate. For at least 2017 through 2024, Taylor filed no personal income tax returns and paid no tax on the millions he took from the charity, evading more than $1 million in federal income taxes.Along with the eight years in prison, Taylor was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,118,237 in forfeiture and $4,144,645 in restitution. IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s special agents investigated, and the Public Corruption Unit is handling the prosecution.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/02/2026 – 21:30

At this point, it’s reasonable to wonder if the voters who determine the Associated Press Top 25 poll are even trying anymore.It’s been a recurring problem in recent years, with the first part of the 2026 season showing once again that many poll voters are either not paying close enough attention, or are hopelessly consumed, or confused, by specific pro-conference or pro-team biases.That observation was even more evident with the release of this week’s poll, which has conclusively demonstrated, yet again, that preseason polls are given far too much importance and that no other conference gets the special treatment the SEC receives.YES, THE SEC IS STILL GETTING RIDICULOUS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE AP TOP 25 POLLFirst? The Texas Longhorns. Texas has two poor quality losses this year, to the Oklahoma Sooners and a home loss to the Florida Gators. They have the miraculous escape over Ohio State, and a win over Ole Miss. They’re No. 10 in the country. Texas Tech has just one loss, a bad one at Cincinnati, but two “ranked” wins in a surprisingly strong Big 12 Conference. They’re No. 13.We’ve had an entire offseason and half a season with SEC coaches, cough Lane Kiffin cough, complaining about moving to a nine-game schedule and demanding preferential treatment for their schedules, all while they’re already getting it.Missouri is No. 19, for some reason, despite an extremely unimpressive resume of providing losses for other SEC teams. They were blown out 31-3 by Ole Miss, lost to what’s clearly a mediocre Mississippi State team, though at least that was with Kamario Taylor, but their big win over Florida now looks much less impressive considering the Gators’ collapse.But the biggest problem? Their ridiculous handling of that Florida team and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Exclusively because of their conference affiliation.Florida has two impressive wins, over Ole Miss and Texas, but has three awful losses. Not one, not two, but three losses. They were blown out 45-17 at Missouri, blown out 38-19 by South Carolina, and blown out 27-8 by Georgia. That 27-8 loss was just on Saturday. Why are they ranked?CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEYou could make the case that the Gators deserve to be in the top 25 had their three losses been even remotely close. They weren’t. This is a deeply flawed team that is capable of flashes of brilliance against some opponents. They shouldn’t be ranked. And they wouldn’t be, if their jersey patch didn’t have the SEC logo on it.Meanwhile, Northwestern isn’t ranked, despite having just two losses. Two close losses, to Indiana and a still-feisty Oregon Ducks team.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!South Carolina also has three losses, yet not only are they ranked, they’re No. 23. At least Florida can point to Ole Miss and Texas, but the Gamecocks jumped into the top 25 after beating a very mediocre Oklahoma team. They lost to Mississippi State, Kentucky, and were blown out 49-18 by Alabama. While they did beat Tennessee, there’s little to justify being ranked with three losses this early in the season.ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!To be fair to the SEC, the voters’ handling of Notre Dame is also bizarre. The Irish have taken advantage of an easy schedule this year, going 7-1 with wins over Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Stanford and Navy. They lost their only “tough” game on the road at BYU. So why are they No. 4, ahead of an undefeated UCLA and one loss Indiana team? The Hoosiers, after all, lost in close fashion to Ohio State, with starting QB Julian Sayin. They’ve won everything else.UCLA hasn’t lost at all, the only team in the Big Ten or SEC able to say that. Sure, they’ve had a pretty easy schedule, but they have wins over Wisconsin at home and Oregon on the road…how’s that any different from Notre Dame? Especially considering, again, they haven’t lost?SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTERThe reality here is that poll voters are hopelessly committed to brand names. Whether those brand names are at the team or conference level. After Kiffin and Sarkisian have spent weeks complaining about the SEC’s schedules and how they’re handled, it’s clear that the AP Poll is giving them an enormous amount of deference, likely undeservedly so.The reality is that the SEC this year, and the Big Ten for that matter, are filled with teams that are far less talented than in years past. NIL and the transfer portal have flattened out college football, and brand names matter less than ever. You’d think that watching Indiana win a national championship would show voters that the traditional pathways and powerhouse programs should not be given the benefit of the doubt.Some of this will sort itself out as November plays out, but there’s no question that the AP Poll will impact the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. The ones that actually matter. It’s clear that they shouldn’t.

Angel Reese is logging off. Well, mostly.After the Atlanta Dream dropped Game 7 of the WNBA Finals to the Golden State Valkyries, the forward announced a six-month break from her podcast.Reese took to social media to tell followers she is stepping away from “Unapologetically Angel.” She made it clear that she needs to dedicate the offseason to herself.Reese is heading to Florida for the break to spend time with her boyfriend, Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. The rest of the plan is to rest, lift weights, build her brand and find “peace.”Over the past year, Reese used the mic to complain that her WNBA salary could not cover her $8,000 monthly rent, lectured Cam Newton on why men must pay every bill, and took routine swipes at Caitlin Clark fans. The feed never lacked for eye-rolls.The media break follows a rough finish on the court. Atlanta reached the finals for the first time since 2013, but the Dream dropped Game 7, 68-63.Reese struggled to score during the elimination game. She logged 33 minutes but managed only eight points on 3-for-7 shooting. She grabbed 12 rebounds but gave away four turnovers. Over the seven-game series, she coughed up the ball 27 times, setting a WNBA Finals record.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!After dropping Game 7, she declared she had “nothing to hang my head about.” Naturally, out came the playbook: every defeat is a lesson, a championship is “delayed, not denied,” and she wants more. It was textbook deflection.CASUAL BASKETBALL FANS GOBSMACKED AT HORRIBLE ANGEL REESE HIGHLIGHTS FROM AN ACTUAL WNBA FINALS GAMEThe Dream front office might prefer an appetite for ball security. For the next six months, the basketball world gets a welcome breather from her weekly studio declarations. Reese claims she will return to work after her Florida stay.Whether the time away produces better fundamentals on the court remains to be seen.Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday threatened anyone who ‘interferes’ with California’s ballot counting in an unhinged video message on the eve of the midterm elections.
Newsom slammed President Trump and warned that poll watchers who ‘meddle’ in California’s ballot counting will be hit with felonies.
“Donald Trump is trying to throw out 20,000 California ballots and intimidate election workers. Let me be clear, if you interfere with our elections, California will come for you. No presidential pardon will save you,” Newsom said.
“If you interfere with our voters, you will be prosecuted with a felony. If you tamper with our ballots, you will face justice. It doesn’t matter who gave the order. Meddle in California’s elections and California will come for you,” Newsom said.
Newsom continued, “And don’t count on a pardon. The President can’t pardon you out of California justice.”
“Two months ago I signed a law giving our state prosecutors new tools to make sure of that. We saw this coming. We passed 13 election protection bills. We sent $40 million to counties to hire staff and count ballots faster,” Newsom said.
Newsom warned that his election security task force is watching for “misinformation and threats at the polls.”
Gavin Newsom said 135 lawyers will be on standby on Tuesday to hunt down anyone who challenges California’s corrupt elections.
WATCH:

Earlier Monday the DOJ filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court.
“Congress has made it “unlawful for any alien to vote” in any federal election. 18 U.S.C. 611. Enforcing that exclusion of aliens is “part of the sovereign’s obligation ‘to preserve the basic conception of a political community,’”” Sauer wrote.
“The only way to preserve the district court’s ability to grant relief to the United States after a full merits proceeding, therefore, is to segregate the challenged ballots now. That remedy would not cause any undue hardship to California,” the DOJ’s Solicitor General John Sauer wrote earlier Monday in a petition to the Supreme Court.
The US Supreme Court later Monday denied the Trump Administration’s last-minute bid to force California to segregate 20,000 ballots mailed to non-citizens.
“The application for injunction pending appeal presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied,” the unsigned order said with no noted dissents.

The post WATCH: Newsom Threatens Anyone Who ‘Meddles’ in California Elections in Unhinged Video Message on Eve of Midterms appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Rep. Byron Donalds speaks at Trump rally in Fort Myers, Florida – October 23, 2026
Flooding across Florida has led to polling location changes in multiple counties ahead of tomorrow’s elections. 
Extreme flooding is causing the relocations, with election officials warning of additional changes pending weather developments.
Voters in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties have been moved to different locations, according to NBC affiliate WPTV.
This comes as GOP Rep. Byron Donalds holds a lead over Democrat David Jolly in the polls.
Republican Senator Ashley Moody also holds a wide lead over radical left Democrat Angie Nixon in the Senate race.
NBC reports:

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven counties along the Atlantic seaboard that are being hit with flash flooding and extreme precipitation.
So far, at least four precincts in St. Lucie County, which Donald Trump won with 54% of the vote in 2024, have had to be moved because of flooding concerns as the region is hit with “historic” levels of rain ahead of Election Day. Five polling locations in Brevard County also have been moved because of inclement weather and for the “safety and security” of election workers, according to Tim Bobanic, the county’s elections supervisor.
About 22 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in Palm Bay, Florida, the hardest-hit community, prompting water rescues and evacuations, according to Robert Haley, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Melbourne.
“The biggest issue is we have a number of roads that are impassable, and the ground is totally saturated. So it’s going to take days for that water to recede,” Haley said. “We knew that there was potential for significant rainfall and flash flooding, but the amount certainly exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
Haley said roads were closed, at least temporarily, in Palm Bay, West Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierre and Port St. Lucie, among other areas. Showers are expected to continue into Tuesday, and Haley said there is about a 5% chance of flash flooding on Election Day itself.

 This is a developing story. 

The post Developing: Florida Flooding Causes Vote Center Closures in 4 Counties appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Tusk Cries ‘Russian Interference’ As Opposition Pushes No-Confidence Vote For Court Takeover

Recent days have seen Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk thrust into the international spotlight after what’s been widely dubbed a forced takeover of what’s supposed to be an independent top court, the Constitutional Tribunal.Another key official, Poland’s Supreme Court First President Zbigniew Kapiński, has joined the growing chorus of those condemning Tusk’s actions as tantamount to orchestrating a coup d’état.”These actions bear the hallmarks of a coup d’état,” Kapiński declared Monday, in reference to the chaotic events kicked into motion Friday night.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, AFP/Japan Times

According to more of Kapiński’s remarks as quoted in The Hungarian Conservative:Kapiński insisted that Bogdan Święczkowski remained the legitimate president of the Tribunal and warned that the government could attempt a similar takeover of the Supreme Court itself. Appointed to his current position by President Karol Nawrocki in May, he argued that nothing comparable had happened since the introduction of martial law in communist Poland.The Supreme Court chief has also convened an extraordinary General Assembly of judges for Tuesday, 3 November, to discuss threats to Poland’s constitutional order and adopt an official position on the crisis.When The Economist notes that democracy is being blown up…Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal is supposed to embody democratic stability, but has spent the past decade as a battleground for fights between populists and liberals. The latest conflict looks like a full-blown constitutional crisis.The Polish legal system includes several top courts, with the Supreme Court being the highest court of appeal for common civil as well as military courts.Tusk tripling down…Instead of backing down, Tusk is vowing to see through the sitting of his judges, which essentially started by force on Friday night:Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has vowed to see through a contested overhaul of the country’s constitutional court, declaring that “in certain matters, there can be no compromise”.In a prime-time television address on Saturday night, Tusk was defiant, despite overnight protests that saw riot police drafted to protect the court’s building, saying the shake-up was vital to restore a tribunal crippled by years of political disputes….Defending the action, Tusk said “there was never any doubt that the court in the form imposed by PiS was not a genuine court”, citing adverse rulings from European tribunals.He went on to reject opposition (as well as some international) outrage as akin to “a thief snatching an elderly woman’s handbag, running off, and when he is caught, he screams that he is subjected to violence.”And cue Tusk supporters lobbing the ‘Russian interference’ charge to explain their actions…Tusk further stated: “Let’s call things for what they are: for years, there have been organisations and politicians in Poland who seek to destroy democracy and the rule of law. It is no coincidence they find support among pro-Russian forces globally.”Could this keep escalating toward more coup-plotting and house-cleaning of political rivals?The opposition, however, is increasingly vocal in calling for Musk’s government to resign altogether, pushing a broader no-confidence vote.🚨🇵🇱 Polish MP Bosak is demanding the RESIGNATION of Tusk’s government for the attempted coup in Poland:Bosak outlined 5 demands:1.⁠ ⁠Withdraw police from the Constitutional Tribunal.2.⁠ ⁠Allow its judges, leadership and security personnel to resume their duties.3.⁠…— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 2, 2026
As a reminder, President Karol Nawrocki after disembarking his plane upon his abrupt return to Warsaw Friday night, had physically attempted to gain entry into the Constitutional Tribunal amid unpredented breaking out at the top legislative and legal review body.Tusk’s pro-European government has said the suspension is necessary to restore judicial independence, while critics from the opposition have likened it to full-blown and obvious judicial coup.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/02/2026 – 20:50