DNC chair candidates unanimously reveal the party's not done accusing Americans of racism and misogyny



The Democratic National Committee will pick a new chair on Saturday to replace Jaime Harrison. Ahead of the party's election, MSNBC co-hosted an event Thursday with Georgetown University affording potential replacements with an opportunity to discuss their proposed messaging strategies and how they might win back the multitudes of voters the party has done its apparent best to alienate.

All eight candidates for chair — among whom Minnesota's Ken Martin and Wiconsin's Ben Wikler are reportedly the front-runners — made abundantly clear during the forum that the Democratic Party will not jettison the failed identity-centered thinking and messaging that helped them lose the White House and both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart, who with former Biden campaign official Symone Sanders and former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki put questions to the candidates whenever the crowd was able to refrain from interrupting, asked, "How many of you believe that racism and misogyny played a role in Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat?"

All the candidates raised their hands.

"That's good. You all pass," said Capehart, who then stated as though it were a fact that President Donald Trump "consistently employed racist and misogynistic rhetoric on the campaign trail."

— (@)

Blaming racism and misogyny may have been an easy way to account for Harris' relative unpopularity; however, doing so deterred Democrats from addressing the issues actually driving voters away, such as their candidate's radicalism; Harris' positional weakness on important matters such as the cost of living, the fallout of open-border policies, and crime; her monomaniacal focus on attacking Trump; her choice of running mate; her candidacy's reliance on the effective voiding of the Democratic primary elections; the strength of her competitor's pitch; and the sense that a Harris administration would simply continue failing where former President Joe Biden left off.

'This DNC chair race is important for sending a signal to voters that Democrats have learned a lesson and will do things differently going forward.'

For instance, rather than figure out why Harris' promise of legal dope wasn't enough to win over black male voters or why the very suggestion might come across as deeply offensive, former President Barack Obama presumed the once-reliable Democratic voting bloc just wasn't "feeling the idea of having a woman as president."

Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost (Fla.), seeing similar polls indicating an aversion to Harris, suggested in October that "there's still a lot of this bigotry in this country in terms of sexism, in terms of racism, and we still have to work at getting over that."

Democrats' allies in the media have played the same losing game.

Ahead of her first failed presidential run, Harris suggested America might not be "ready for a woman and a woman of color to be president of the United States of America."

ABC News dutifully raised the question, "Is Kamala Harris proof that America isn't ready for a woman of color as president?"

Alicia Jones, a black Howard University alumna, told the liberal outfit at the time, "I didn't vote for Barack Obama just because he was black. I voted for him because he was smart. I voted for him because he had a record that showed me the things that he did. It didn't matter that he was only a senator for five minutes."

"I think that what she did was dirty. And I think she's way beyond and way above what she did," Jones added, referring to Harris' statement.

Following Harris' crushing defeat last year, Fox News resident Democratic commentator Juan Williams said, "I'm not sold on this idea that it was the cost of eggs."

"I worry that it was, 'Well, I'm not voting for this woman.' Or 'I'm not voting for this black woman,'" said Williams.

Williams' fellow panelists pointed out that the identity-centered explanation for Harris' loss was undercut by various factors, including Trump's simultaneous drop in support among whites and increase in support among black men and Hispanics, and by black male voters' stated reasons for ditching Democrats.

Disputing German economist Isabella Weber's assertion that "many working Americans felt that Democrats had abandoned them with respect to their pocketbook struggles and ended up casting a ballot for Trump," the Nation's race-obsessive "justice correspondent" Elie Mystal adopted a similar line to Williams, claiming that Harris' loss was "not the economy, stupid. Trump ran on pure, unadulterated white identity politics and hate, and white-hot hate won."

"This DNC chair race is important for sending a signal to voters that Democrats have learned a lesson and will do things differently going forward," Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told the Guardian. "If it sends a signal that we stand for the status quo and want to do everything the same, that will be a turnoff both to the Democratic base and to swing voters who want to see that Democrats are doing something different."

By the candidates' show of hands, it appears that Democrats are keen to keep attributing past and future losses not to remediable messaging and policy issues but to imagined bigotry.

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Why the Panama Canal matters more than ever to US security



The Panama Canal, far from being a relic of a bygone era, remains a critical asset that the United States cannot afford to ignore — especially when foreign adversaries like China are capitalizing on its strategic location.

For more than a century, the canal has been vital to U.S. national security and economic interests. But when President Donald Trump recently made waves by suggesting that the U.S. should consider repurchasing it, many were quick to dismiss him as a provocateur. His remarks were not baseless, however, and he hasn’t been the first U.S. president to assert sovereignty over the critical trade route.

Trump’s call to repurchase the canal was not a random or reckless suggestion — it was a recognition of the strategic importance of this vital asset.

In 1976, Ronald Reagan declared, “The Panama Canal Zone is sovereign U.S. territory.” Following in Reagan’s footsteps, Trump declared in a series of Truth Social posts that the canal is a “vital national asset” due to its pivotal role in U.S. trade and military logistics. Indeed, the canal handles around 40% of the world’s cargo, with approximately 72% of its traffic tied to U.S. ports. This means that the U.S. depends on the smooth operation of the canal for both its economy and its security.

Moreover, the canal plays a critical military role: It is the quickest route for U.S. naval ships to transfer between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, saving thousands of miles that would otherwise require a dangerous and time-consuming detour around South America. In times of crisis, those extra 8,000 miles make all the difference.

History sets the stage

Panama exists as an independent nation because of U.S. intervention. In 1903, when Colombia refused to allow the U.S. to build the canal, the U.S. supported Panama’s independence, ensuring the new country would grant America control over the Canal Zone. The U.S. built the canal at a tremendous cost — both in dollars and in human lives — and the strategic importance of this waterway has never diminished.

However, in the 1960s and ’70s, rising anti-colonial sentiments led to growing resentment in Panama toward U.S. control. Amid these tensions, the U.S. transferred control of the canal to Panama under the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaty. Despite the good intentions of that agreement, the transfer of control has created a vacuum that other nations, most notably China, are eager to fill.

China’s expansion demands a US response

China’s growing influence in Panama is not just an economic concern — it’s a national security threat.

China has been aggressively expanding its footprint in Latin America, and Panama has been one of its primary targets. Chinese companies now manage key ports along the canal, and Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has solidified Panama’s role as a critical part of China’s global strategy. Moreover, China is building a fourth bridge over the canal and has used telecommunications infrastructure to establish a firm presence in the region.

The most worrying aspect of China’s involvement is its potential for military leverage. The Panama Canal is a chokepoint — a strategic vulnerability in global trade and military operations. If tensions between the U.S. and China were to escalate, Beijing could use its influence over Panama to disrupt U.S. access to the canal, with severe consequences for both U.S. trade and naval operations.

Trump’s call to repurchase the canal was not a random or reckless suggestion — it was a recognition of the strategic importance of this vital asset.

Under current circumstances, the canal’s control is increasingly falling under the sway of a nation that does not share U.S. interests. With Chinese tech companies like Huawei involved in the region and Chinese-built surveillance systems monitoring the canal, the risk of espionage or sabotage cannot be ignored.

A threat to national sovereignty?

While Panama’s president may assert that the canal “belongs to Panama,” the reality is that the canal’s significance extends far beyond Panamanian borders. It is a key asset in the global balance of power, and its strategic importance to U.S. national security cannot be overstated.

Trump was right to bring it back into the spotlight. If we are to maintain our status as a global superpower, we must ensure that our vital trade routes and military chokepoints remain under friendly control.

The Panama Canal is not a relic of American imperialism, as the media is attempting to portray — it is a linchpin in the U.S. economy and defense strategy. As China’s influence continues to grow in Latin America, we must re-evaluate our position on the canal. Trump’s stance may prove essential for safeguarding America’s future. The time to act is now, before the canal becomes yet another piece of infrastructure that is no longer in America’s sphere of influence.

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Trump team reveals the TRUTH about the New Jersey drones



The first press conference for the youngest White House press secretary in our nation’s history, Karoline Leavitt, went better than anyone expected.

It also came with some truths uncovered by the Trump administration about what was happening in New Jersey under the Biden administration — specifically, the mysterious drones that plagued the skies for months.

“Before I turn to questions, I do have news directly from the president of the United States that was just shared with me in the Oval Office, from President Trump directly, an update on the New Jersey drones,” Leavitt began.

“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational, and private individuals that enjoy flying drones,” she continued.


“In time, it got worse, due to curiosity. This was not the enemy,” she added.

“Those are words directly from President Trump’s mouth,” Stu Burguiere tells Glenn Beck on “The Glenn Beck Program.” “I don’t think he’s lied about it, and I don’t think he would. So I’m not shocked by where that landed.”

However, they’re not totally convinced we’ve been given all the information available.

“I’m not satisfied, and I know President Trump is not satisfied with these things either. That’s a good opening statement, what I’d like to see is the transparency of, ‘Here are the documents from the FAA approving these things,’” Glenn says.

“I’d like to see the documentation,” he continues. “It would help, because we don’t trust anything anymore. I do trust Donald Trump to tell us the truth, because I do believe he answers to us. I do believe that he doesn’t have any ulterior motive.”

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Conservative columnist kicked off British show after pointing out Dems' hypocrisy after air collision



Kurt Schlichter, an author and columnist at Townhall, got into a testy exchange with a British news host while discussing President Donald Trump's reaction to the air collision that took place at Washington, D.C.'s main commercial air hub, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

A U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines flight as the plane was landing, resulting in no survivors. Over 60 people died in the collision. Trump pointed to how the Obama and Biden administrations pushed the Federal Aviation Administration to diversify air traffic controllers because there were too many white men in the jobs, resulting in the industry's shortage of air traffic controllers.

When Trump was asked about his comments during Thursday's White House press briefing, Trump said he knows DEI policies are partly to blame for the tragedy because he has "common sense. And, unfortunately, a lot of people don't."

'I guess I'm lucky I didn't get arrested for criminal wrongthink!'

"Do you think it's appropriate for the president of the United States within 24 hours, when you have 67 families grieving, is it really appropriate to indulge in this unevidenced speculation, when surely what he should be doing is encouraging the flight investigators to get to the truth?" LBC host Iain Dale asked Schlichter.

Schlichter, a U.S. Army veteran and attorney, said in his career, he never had to be encouraged to do his job correctly.

"As for the timing, well, I'd like to see the memo about when the timing's right. All I know is every time some psychotic leftist murderer goes on a shooting spree, within 40 seconds, I get told I need to disarm myself. ... So I'm going to need to know the rule ..." Schlichter replied.

"Can you get this numbskull off our program, please? I never want to speak to him again," Dale interjected. "He is the kind of person that makes America look ridiculous on the world stage."

Dale shared the segment on his X account to show "the 4 minutes that provoked me to throw this deranged, bigoted Trump supporter off my show last night. It doesn't happen often, and no doubt some think I should've let him continue with his awful bulls**t, but I've absolutely no regrets."

"The host booted me off the air — 'Never have him on again!' I refused to back down on the President's DEI attack and rejected the idea that the President should not criticize the uncriticizable. The host guy was most upset. Can't wait to share the clips. I guess I'm lucky I didn't get arrested for criminal wrongthink!" Schlichter said after the show.

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggests 10-minute quarters, claims league's ratings are 'fine'



NBA commissioner Adam Silver floated several new ideas to make NBA games more globally appealing and line up with how the sport is played internationally.

Silver said that while he believes fans like what they've been seeing on the court, there is room for improvement to make the game more consistent with how it's played in other countries.

This included decreasing the length of a quarter from 12 minutes to 10 minutes.

"The NBA is the only league that plays 48 minutes. And I would be, I am, a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I'm not sure that many others are," Silver said.

The commissioner's reasoning was in direct reference to modern TV formats that he felt audiences are used to.

"I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent with, sort of, modern television habits," he said on the "Dan Patrick Show."

"People in arenas aren't asking us to shorten the game. But I think as a television program, being two hours, it's Olympic basketball, it's two hours, you know, college basketball."

A 40-minute game would likely help with players' complaints about "load management," a buzzword that has trended in the league for a couple seasons, referring to players wanting more rest and having to manage their output.

In theory, saving eight minutes per game for 82 games is the equivalent of shaving off about 13 or 14 games, something Silver said he would be a fan of.

"I don't think most fans would be disappointed if it was a two-hour presentation instead of — our game is actually about two hours and fifteen minutes."

'Ratings are fine.'

At the same time, Silver shrugged off a couple of wild ideas from host Patrick.

These included eliminating three-point shots from the in-season tournament and lighting up the court "like a pinball machine" to indicate when three-pointers are allowed.

The only other suggestion Silver briefly mentioned was two free throws for a foul on a three-point shot but not in the last two minutes of the game.

Silver also boldly claimed that "ratings are fine" for the NBA, a viewpoint that hasn't been shared by analysts like Colin Cowherd. The host suggested in December that NBA ratings were down as much as 48% year-over-year.

Others, like Shaquille O'Neal, have disagreed with Silver's suggestion that no one has a problem with the game on the court, too.

Shaq has stated multiple times that he felt an excess of three-point attempts have made the game less exciting, particularly because more long-distance shooting means less dunking.

Silver fell back on the idea that he was just floating suggestions because he was asked; however, as Patrick pointed out, league owners will soon be getting together to vote on any changes.

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Trump's new lawyers move to appeal New York criminal conviction over 'misuse' of law



President Donald Trump secured a new legal team as he moves to appeal the New York criminal conviction where a jury found him guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Earlier this month, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an "unconditional discharge," meaning the president would not face jail time, fines, or probation supervision. While the sentencing did not interfere with Trump's ability to return to the White House for his second term, it officially solidified his felony convictions and, in doing so, allowed the appeal process to begin.

'The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent.'

During his sentencing, Trump called the case a "setback for New York" and its court system.

"It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election, and obviously that didn't work," Trump stated.

"I got indicted over calling a legal expense a legal expense," he continued. "I just want to say I think it's an embarrassment to New York."

Trump's new legal team, led by Robert Giuffra with Sullivan & Cromwell, filed a notice to appeal on Tuesday, formally starting the process.

Giuffra and several other Sullivan & Cromwell attorneys — James McDonald, Morgan Ratner, Jeff Wall, and Matthew Schwartz — are expected to submit a legal brief in the coming months to make the case for an appeal of the convictions.

Trump was previously represented by attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove in the New York case that accused him of hiding hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Since Trump's November presidential election victory, Bove has become the acting deputy attorney general for the Department of Justice. Trump nominated Blanche as deputy attorney general. He is currently awaiting confirmation.

Giuffra stated, "President Donald J. Trump's appeal is important for the rule of law, New York's reputation as a global business, financial, and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials."

"The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal," he continued.

The appeal will first be heard in New York's Appellate Division court and then move to the state's highest court, the State Court of Appeals in Albany.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will have an opportunity to respond to Trump's argument for the appeal.

Bragg's office did not respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

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Sens. Wyden & Warren slam RFK Jr. for conflicts of interest, but campaign donor records SCREAM hypocrisy



In yesterday’s heated confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s poised to fill the role of health and human services secretary, was attacked repeatedly by Democrat senators who hurled accusations at him, cherry-picked from his books and podcast interviews, asked him loaded questions, and interrupted him every time he tried to speak.

It was clear that their aim was to villainize Kennedy as a money-grubbing conspiracy theorist with a conflict of interest.

One of the worst offenders was Democrat Senator Ron Wyden (Ore.), who accused Kennedy of prioritizing money above Americans’ health.

“Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines. He has made it his life's work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids lifesaving vaccines. It has been lucrative for him and put him on the verge of immense power. This is the profile of someone who chases money and influence wherever they lead, even if that may mean the tragic deaths of children,” he said.

Hmmm … it almost sounds like he’s protecting Big Pharma.

Which, of course, is exactly what he’s doing. One look at his campaign donors tells you all you need to know.

Sara Gonzales brings the receipts.

“$1.5 million [in donations] from the health care industry,” she says, reading from campaign donation records.

Some of the donors include Molina Healthcare, a “vaccine manufacturer,” “Quest Diagnostics lab testing,” who only gets richer the sicker you get,” says Sara, and “Novo Nordisk,” which is in the “diabetes” branch of health care.

“Yes, Senator Wyden, let's talk about conflicts of interest. Let's talk about placing money over the health and safety of our children,” she condemns.

By no means was Senator Wyden the only reprobate on the panel, though. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was arguably even worse.

In her first line of questioning, Warren asked Kennedy if he would vow not to take money from any company in the medical industry for at least four years following his role at HHS. Kennedy agreed without pushback and even laughed that drug companies would never give him money anyway.

However, in her next line of questioning, Warren took a dramatic turn.

“I want to know if you will commit right now that not only will you not go to work for drug companies, you won't go to work suing the drug companies and taking your rake out of that while you're a secretary and for four years after,” she said, leading to a heated exchange with Kennedy, during which he accused her of trying to get him to agree to not sue vaccine companies.

Why would Warren want to prevent Kennedy from suing Big Pharma?

Again, campaign donation records paint a clear picture.

“She takes $748,158 donor dollars from the health care industry … almost $126,000 from pharmaceuticals, $108,000 from hospitals, and she has also accepted a donation from Beverly Sackler,” who is the matriarch of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed OxyContin.

“But she wants to talk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about any potential conflicts of interest?” asks Sara.

“These people are disgusting. They act like they care about the health and safety of not only American children but Americans everywhere, and meanwhile, they are profiting off of these pharmaceutical companies.”

To see the campaign donation receipts from other senators who accused Kennedy of having a conflict of interest, watch the clip above.

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Ex-Obama policy adviser sentenced to prison for flying to UK to rape a child



Rahamim Shy, a former senior adviser in the Obama administration, was convicted and sentenced to prison Wednesday for traveling to Britain to rape a 9-year-old girl and for possessing "indecent photos of a child."

The U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service indicated that Shy, a New Jersey investment banker who served as a senior adviser in former President Barack Obama's Treasury Department, traveled from New York to Bedfordshire, England, in February 2024, after a month of scheming to meet a schoolgirl with "cuddly toys and condoms" in his luggage.

Prosecutor Lorraine Telford stated, "Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification."

"It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child," added Telford.

'Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.'

The pedophile connected with a woman on an online forum as well as on messaging apps who he was led to believe was the grandmother of a young girl. According to the CPS, Shy told the supposed grandmother, who went by "Debbie," in "acute detail the disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl and that he was fully prepared to travel to England to do so."

In his online communications, Shy suggested it was a "tad late" for his intended victim to start sexual activity and indicated it would be an "honor" for him to become "her first."

What Shy didn't know at the time was that the 9-year-old girl didn't exist and her supposed grandmother was actually an invention of the Bedfordshire Police, reported the Telegraph.

Shy flew to Gatwick Airport on Feb. 23, 2024, then drove to Bedford where he discovered "Debbie" was an undercover cop.

In addition to finding items on his person that "demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her," arresting officers also found "indecent images of children" on Shy's phone as well as messages to other people expressing an interest in molesting children.

The pedophile's defense argued that since he was in the U.S. at the time that he was plotting to rape a child, he was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution. The Luton Crown Court did not buy what Shy's lawyers were selling.

Shy was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison.

"The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat," said Telford.

In addition to working in the Obama Treasury Department from 2008 to 2014 — at one point getting deployed to Afghanistan to advise the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force — the Daily Mail reported that Shy worked under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and provided strategic policy analysis to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Vermont Border Patrol agent's fatal shooting tied to radical trans murder cult



The fatal shooting of a Vermont Border Patrol agent on Inauguration Day has been tied to a radical leftist cult whose members claim to identify as transgender.

Border Patrol agent David "Chris" Maland, 44, was tragically shot and killed while performing a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont, on January 20.

'The victim was a witness to a crime who the defendant intentionally killed for the purpose of preventing his testimony in a criminal proceeding.'

Teresa "Milo" Youngblut, a 21-year-old Washington state resident and the driver of the vehicle, is accused of fatally shooting Maland. She currently faces two charges of assault with a deadly weapon and an additional charge of resisting or impeding federal law enforcement.

Felix "Ophelia" Bauckholt, a German national, was a passenger in Youngblut's vehicle and was shot and killed during the altercation.

The Post Millennial's Andy Ngo reported that both Youngblut and Bauckholt identified as transgender.

According to authorities, the guns in Youngblut and Bauckholt's possession are owned by a person of interest in other murders.

Court filings read, "Her [Youngblut] associations with other individuals suspected of violent acts also warrants caution."

"The individual who purchased the firearms the defendant and Bauckholt possessed on January 20, 2025, is a person of interest in a dual-homicide investigation in Delaware County, Pennsylvania," it added.

The court filing appears to be referring to Michelle Jacqueline Zajko, a bioinformatics researcher who claims to identify as transgender nonbinary.

Zajko's parents, Rita and Richard Zajko, were killed in early 2023. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unsolved.

Michelle Jacqueline Zajko has been linked to a radical group known as the "Zizians," a transgender vegan militant cult.

Ngo reported that the militant group's members are all highly educated and "hold fringe, esoteric ideological beliefs about transhumanism and animal rights."

The leader of the group, Jack LaSota, who also goes by "Ziz" and Andrea Phelps, is a male who identifies as a female. LaSota is accused of influencing his followers to commit murders.

LaSota has a warrant out for his arrest in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. However, Zizians claim that he is deceased.

Ngo reported that LaSota's followers appear to have created a fake obituary, claiming he died in 2022 for the purpose of evading law enforcement. However, a source stated that LaSota had been living with Bauckholt and other cult members in an Airbnb in North Carolina since 2023.

In November, Youngblut applied for a marriage application with Maximilian Bentley Snyder, 22.

Last week, Snyder was arrested in California for the murder of Curtis Lind, 82.

In November 2022, three Zizian cult members who were accused of squatting on Lind's California property allegedly attempted to murder the owner.

Despite being repeatedly stabbed and impaled by a sword, Lind survived the attack. Lind, who lost an eye in the assault, shot two of his alleged attackers, killing Amir "Emma" Borhanian.

The other two alleged assailants, Suri Dao and Alexander "Somni" Leatham, are scheduled for trial in April for the attempted murder of Lind. Court filings revealed that the suspects had tried to escape custody, and both were described as "extremely dangerous."

On January 17, Lind was stabbed to death by an assailant wearing a mask and black beanie. Snyder, who has been taken into custody, was accused of lying in wait to murder Lind to prevent him from testifying against the other Zizian cult members.

According to court filings, "The victim was a witness to a crime who the defendant intentionally killed for the purpose of preventing his testimony in a criminal proceeding."

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Senate confirms Trump's interior secretary



The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), President Donald Trump's pick to preside over the Department of Interior, on Thursday.

Like many of Trump's nominees, Burgum was confirmed with great bipartisan support in a 78-18 vote. Burgum is the eighth nominee in Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed.

While Burgum and several other nominees enjoyed bipartisan approval, others are facing a tougher confirmation battle.

"Governor Burgum knows that America’s natural resources are our greatest national asset," Republican Senate Leader John Thune (S.D.) said in a statement Thursday. "In the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt, he believes energy can be a big stick to promote peace and prosperity, but we have to be able to leverage our resources. Too often under the Biden administration, the Interior Department was the tip of a spear in restricting the development of America's resources."

"I look forward to working with him to protect our public lands and leverage some of America’s greatest assets for a safer, more prosperous future," Thune added.

While Burgum and several other nominees enjoyed bipartisan approval, others are facing a tougher confirmation battle.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed after three Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, voted against the nominee. As a result, Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote to confirm Hegseth.

Other nominees are also apparently heading for close confirmation votes. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for the Health and Human Services Department; Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped to serve as director of national intelligence; and Kash Patel, who was recruited to head the FBI, all endured tense confirmation hearings in the Senate this week.

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