Rep. Mike Collins will win the Republican Senate runoff in Georgia, project the Associated Press and NBC News. Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, will now face Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. Ossoff narrowly defeated then-Sen. David Perdue, a Republican, in 2020, in the same election Joe Biden won Georgia. In 2024, Donald Trump won the state. The race is considered “leans Democrat” by the Cook Political Report. To retake control of the Senate, Democrats will need to gain four Senate seats this election cycle. Ossoff almost immediately criticized Collins as an “extremist” in a X post Tuesday night. “Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate Mike Collins is a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. Collins, who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, voted to double health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians, for the Iran War, and for the Trump tariffs,” wrote Ossoff. Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate Mike Collins is a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. Collins, who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, voted to double health insurance…— Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) June 17, 2026 With 70.9% of the votes in, Collins led former college football coach Derek Dooley by twelve percentage points, 56% to 44%. Dooley was endorsed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. while Trump endorsed Collins. “A very successful Businessman prior to becoming a distinguished U.S. Congressman, Mike has brilliantly served his Community, during a career loaded with accolades and wins, always fighting tirelessly for our America First Agenda,” Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday. “As your next Senator, Mike will continue to work hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Strengthen our incredible Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.” Collins gained prominence after introducing the Laken Riley Act following the murder of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant. Since its passage, Collins has emphasized public safety as a central campaign issue. After a contested Republican primary between health care executive Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Jackson is projected by the Associated Press to become the GOP nominee Jackson will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election. Bottoms has been endorsed by former President Joe Biden. Jones, who received an endorsement from Trump in August 2025, campaigned on advancing the president’s America First agenda if elected governor.

California accounted for more than 80% of all federal welfare cash assistance provided to households headed by illegal immigrants in 2024, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. The report found that $759 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance was provided to 85,277 households nationwide in which a child qualified for benefits while a parent was living in the United States illegally.  No state came close to California’s share of spending, with $617.5 million. The second-place recipient, New York, received just $47.5 million—less than one-tenth of California’s total. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, was created to provide temporary assistance to low-income families. TANF recipients are generally required to work and are limited to 60 months of benefits over a lifetime. Because parents living in the country illegally are generally ineligible for TANF benefits, assistance in these cases is provided on behalf of eligible children living in the household. Unlike traditional TANF recipients, these child-only cases are not subject to federal work requirements or the program’s five-year lifetime limit, allowing benefits to continue until a child turns 18. The report’s authors noted that the arrangement creates a disparity between American families receiving TANF and immigrant households receiving child-only benefits. “The result is a striking disparity: needy American families are held to TANF’s central work and time-limit rules, while households headed by immigration-status-ineligible parents can receive child-only cash assistance under a structure that bypasses those rules and can allow support to continue from birth through age 18.” The report estimated that affected households received an average of roughly $742 per month, or about $8,900 annually.  Between 2001 and 2024, approximately $18.3 billion in TANF assistance was distributed through these child-only cases, while their share of the total TANF caseload increased from 5.8% to 10%. The report further noted that the current structure conflicts with Congress’ original intent for welfare reform, citing language stating that “aliens within the Nation’s borders [should] not depend on public resources to meet their needs.” Despite that policy goal, TANF has continued to provide child-only benefits on behalf of eligible children living with parents who are ineligible because of their immigration status. The report also found that, of the 85,277 affected households receiving TANF assistance in 2024, approximately 91.4% were also enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. “In most cases, TANF cash assistance is layered on top of additional taxpayer-funded support and can even serve as a qualification for SNAP,” the report said. 

A North Carolina school district agreed Monday to pay $95,000 to settle a student’s lawsuit after her school painted over her tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk shortly after his assassination. A high school junior at Ardrey Kell High School secured permission to paint “Freedom 1776” and “Live Like Kirk—John 11:25” on the school’s “spirit rock,” a large boulder that often features messages on political topics. Yet, within hours, she learned from social media that officials had ordered the “Live Like Kirk” portion painted over. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education agreed to adopt a new student speech policy, issue a public statement exonerating the student, and pay $95,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees, Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the student, announced Monday. “What happened to this student is outrageous,” Travis Barham, a senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement on the settlement. “School officials should never censor, punish, or shame a student simply for sharing her views.” “Charlie Kirk boldly defended open and respectful discourse on school grounds literally until his last breath, and this courage inspired many across the country, including our client, whom Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials treated so abominably,” Barham added. “It is long past time for school officials to learn that they cannot promote student viewpoints they like while punishing students whose views they dislike.” School Accusations After the school painted over the student’s tribute to the Turning Point USA founder, officials sent out an email accusing her of “vandalism” and saying that law enforcement was conducting an investigation. The day after that, officials called her out of class to write an official statement describing her actions and forced her to show them her phone logs. The officials later unveiled a now-superseded speech code that only allowed “positive school spirit” and messages that “uphold the inclusive values of our school community.” The code explicitly banned students from expressing religious messages on the rock. When the officials formally concluded that the student, her parents, and her friends had not committed vandalism, they quietly closed the investigation with no apology and claimed they never accused or investigated her. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education issued a statement after the adoption of the policy, WNCN News Raleigh reported on Tuesday:“The Board has settled the case of G.S., a minor v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. The Board has adopted a new Student Free Speech policy that addresses ‘spirit rocks’ and other expressive activities. Although previously communicated to the community on October 11, 2025, the Board reaffirms and clarifies the following: The students’ painting of the Ardrey Kell spirit rock on September 14, 2025, did not violate the Code of Student Conduct or other school system policies in place at the time. It was not an act of vandalism, and the school did not report the incident to law enforcement. The Board regrets that the student had this experience.” Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Kirk died on Sept. 10, 2025, after suffering a bullet to the neck. Prosecutors say that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering him, said he intended to snuff out Kirk’s “hate.” Conservatives across the country paid tributes to Kirk, but some on the left celebrated or dismissed his death. President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into leftist-motivated violence in the wake of the assassination, and companies have distanced themselves from nonprofits that criticized Turning Point USA. In John 11:25, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Christians point to such passages to emphasize Jesus’ gift of eternal life to those who believe in him.

The United States has gone four days without congressional authorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702, a key component of America’s national security. The federal government relies on it to surveil foreigners without a warrant, looking for potential threats to the country. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggests that confirming a director of national intelligence could be the key to unlocking FISA. “Jay Clayton is an imminently qualified individual to become the new director of national intelligence,” Thune told members of the press Tuesday afternoon. “We are looking forward to processing him this week.” FISA's Section 702—which grants the feds authority to surveil foreigners without a warrant—expired Friday after Congress failed to reach a deal. Now, Trump says he won't support any extension unless it's attached to the SAVE America Act, which requires voter ID and proof of…— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) June 15, 2026 Senate Democrats previously blocked the FISA extension after President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence, claiming he was not up for the job and unfit to oversee FISA. Since Democrats seem warmer to the idea of Clayton over Pulte, it is not impossible Clayton will be officially confirmed by the end of the week. Thune noted that Clayton’s “vision, experience, judgement, and competence” are all characteristics that qualify him for the job, even though Clayton has no experience or official background in intelligence. It was great meeting with Jay Clayton today. As US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay has prosecuted terrorists and international cartels, and that will be helpful national security experience for this next role. I look forward to his swift confirmation to be our… pic.twitter.com/TyjbKsX9pA— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) June 16, 2026 As a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Clayton did deal with some intelligence matters, Thune said. However, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not sound as convinced. Even though some Democrats, including Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, have been optimistic about Clayton, Schumer said they are “waiting for the hearing” to see if he is qualified. “You can ask any Democrat; there are lots of questions about Clayton that have to be answered,” Schumer said. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for overseeing the intelligence community. The United States Intelligence Community includes 18 independent federal agencies and departments, including the Department of Defense and every branch of military intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thune said FISA “needs to be fixed quickly” and he is “hopeful the Democrats will cooperate.” Jay Clayton’s experience combatting a wide range of national security threats makes him an excellent choice to lead ODNI. I look forward to his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/qCmIKNl7p4— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 15, 2026 Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stood next to Thune for roughly 10 minutes but did not answer a single question regarding FISA or Clayton’s confirmation hearing. Clayton will appear before the committee for his confirmation hearing Wednesday; the committee will have an opportunity to vote on his confirmation Thursday. If the committee moves the nomination along, he could be confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate by the end of the day, leaving a more realistic FISA opportunity for the following week. Thune highlighted the “unprecedented” situation congressional Democrats have put the country in. “Trump is the first president in history not to have a civilian nominee confirmed either by voice vote or by a unanimous consent,” he said, adding that it is the “Democrat process” to drag on confirmations.

FIRST ON DAILY SIGNAL–Fraudsters who used podcasts, TikTok, and other platforms to boast and give tutorials on how to steal from the federal government now face an investigation by the arm of Congress that reviews wasteful spending. The Government Accountability Office will review online forums where people share tips on how to defraud federal agencies, namely the Small Business Administration, the office stated in a letter last week to Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business Committee. Some of the bragging culprits have already been charged. David Powner, the GAO’s acting managing director for congressional relations, wrote that the office would “review matters related to the extent to which individuals defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) share their fraud tactics, particularly online, and how agencies are monitoring and preventing the dissemination of these tactics.” Ernst on June 2 made the request for an investigation, citing numerous examples of online boasting about fraud. In Georgia, podcaster Jonathan Dupiton, whose motto was “F.R.A.U.D. is Dope,” with the letters being an acronym for Finally Rich After Unstoppable Determination, was sentenced in April in the Northern District of Georgia for being part of a scheme that drained $3.8 million from the California unemployment insurance system, a federal-state-funded program. In July 2022, a rapper put his fraud into lyrics on YouTube about getting wealthy from a pandemic scheme involving unemployment insurance money he wasn’t entitled to. Fontrell Antonio Baines, 33, known as “Nuke Bizzle,” was sentenced to more than six years in prison for combined fraud, gun, and drug charges. Ernst asked the GAO to probe the extent to which fraudsters share tips online and the effectiveness of their advice, as well as the extent to which government agencies monitor online information-sharing. The senator is also the chair of the Senate DOGE Caucus, short for Department of Government Efficiency, which initially aimed to assist the White House DOGE efforts. Now the caucus is working with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President JD Vance. Some federal employees have used their positions to actively participate in fraud schemes. In January, federal prosecutors in Georgia charged Attallah Williams with being part of a scheme to steal more than $3.5 million from four separate COVID-19 emergency relief programs by obtaining employment at both the SBA and Internal Revenue Service. Williams pleaded guilty in February, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s report to Congress. “Also, while employed as an SBA loan officer, Williams used social media to recruit individuals who, under her instructions, submitted fraudulent applications to SBA for EIDL funds,” the report said. “Williams improperly approved those applications in exchange for a share of the proceeds.” “Williams left SBA for a position as a tax examining technician at the IRS,” the inspector general report continued. “She continued to use social media to recruit individuals who, with her assistance and instruction, submitted fraudulent tax documents to the IRS to claim payments under the Employee Retention Tax Credit program. This scheme also entailed Williams receiving a share of the proceeds.” In her letter, Ernst specifically noted a report from 2022 about a self-described con artist named Danielle Miller who applied for 10 SBA loans and eventually received $1 million in fraudulent payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You can go on Telegram and join a group of scammers, and they’re all just bragging and sending pictures,” Miller told New York Magazine in 2022. “You just put in the search for whatever you’re interested in. So say it’s SBA loans—you type in E-I-D-L or just S-B-A. And then there’s a bunch of chats of people just selling SBA information.” In September 2023, a federal court in Boston sentenced Miller to five years in prison with three years of supervised release.