Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt says in a newly resurfaced video that he doesn’t want federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Los Angeles — which, at first glance, might appear to be a surprising take from the former reality star. Pratt, however, is not okay with criminals in his city; he wants just the opposite. The candidate explained that simply enforcing the law and cracking down on crime would eliminate the necessity for ICE agents to come to LA in the first place, and accused Democrat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and other “activist” mayors of playing politics and hurting their constituents in the process. “I don’t want ICE in LA — nobody wants ICE in LA, except Karen ‘Basura,’ apparently,” Pratt says in the video. The candidate routinely refers to Mayor Bass as Karen “Basura” — the Spanish word for “garbage.” “The way you keep ICE out of LA is by enforcing the law, not defying it,” he continued. “I look at what Mayor [Daniel] Lurie did in San Francisco — clearly, no friend of the Trump administration — but he called the president and made a deal. He vowed to have SFPD crack down on crime, and the president agreed to keep ICE out of the city. … You don’t see [any] riots, no crazy videos of ICE agents having chaotic arrests. That’s how it’s done.” “Why is it that only certain cities are having all this chaos with ICE?” he said. “They are in a lot of cities, but there are only problems in places like LA and Minneapolis. It’s not a Democrat/Republican thing. Memphis doesn’t have chaos. Liberal San Francisco doesn’t have the chaos, unlike LA.” The “common denominator” in these chaotic cities, Pratt argued, is “activist mayors using their city, their residents, their businesses as fodder for their political grandstanding, and people suffer as a result.” “By failing to enforce the law, Karen ‘Basura’ is guaranteeing that ICE will flood the city,” he said. “Unlike reckless mayors like Karen ‘Basura,’ adults put their egos aside. They live in the real world and they make deals to protect their communities, and that’s exactly how I will end the ICE raids in LA.” “Our city is not a political playhouse, it’s our home,” Pratt concluded. The video was first posted to Pratt’s Facebook page in February, but has since resurfaced on social media as the race between Pratt and Bass heats up. Bass is still the favorite to win, with Polymarket-style predictions placing Pratt at a 24-28% chance of pulling off an upset. However, recent polling shows a huge number of LA residents as “undecided,” which could run in Pratt’s favor. WATCH: Spencer Pratt has said he wants ICE out of L.A. – and that the person who REALLY wants these agents in Los Angeles IS Karen Bass. He is 100% correct. The way you keep ICE out of your city is to enforce the law. If you choose to let illegal alien criminals roam the streets -… pic.twitter.com/caHrNZAxb2 — OutspokenSamantha (@Outspoken_Sam) May 22, 2026

Parents just got another reason to side-eye the toy aisle. One popular squeeze toy sold at Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is now being recalled over something that sounds straight out of a nightmare: asbestos. More than 120,000 Orb Funkee squeeze toys are being pulled from shelves after officials warned on Thursday that the sand packed inside certain models may contain tremolite asbestos, a dangerous mineral linked to serious lung diseases and cancer. Yes, we’re talking about a children’s squishy toy. The recall specifically impacts certain “Funkee Monkee” squeeze toys sold nationwide between February 2025 and April 2026, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And while, thankfully, no kids have reportedly been hurt so far, the warning itself is enough to make a lot of parents do a double take. Officials say the danger comes if the toy breaks open and kids inhale particles from the sand filling inside. Asbestos exposure has long been associated with severe health problems, including lung scarring, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. In other words, not exactly the kind of thing parents expect to hear about a toy monkey sitting in a playroom. The recalled products include both a large gold Funkee Monkee toy and several smaller colorful versions. Parents are being urged to immediately take the toys away from children and stop using them altogether. The recalled Orb Funkee squeeze toys may contain fibrous tremolite (asbestos) in the sand, which can cause adverse health issues if inhaled. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) And the cleanup instructions honestly make the situation sound even worse. If the toy has ruptured and any sand leaked out, consumers are being told to wear gloves and a mask while cleaning it up, use damp cloths to avoid spreading particles into the air, then double-bag everything, including the toy, cloths, gloves, and even the mask itself. That is a real instruction tied to a children’s toy. The company behind the product, The Orb Factory, is offering refunds. Customers are being instructed to place the toy into a sealed heavy-duty plastic bag, tape it shut, and send a photo to the company to receive reimbursement. The affected toys reportedly sold for anywhere between $5 and $40. Parents can identify recalled models by checking for the date code “3102491A,” which appears on the hand of the large monkey toy or on the back of the smaller versions. And honestly, stories like this are becoming way too common lately. Between toy recalls, contaminated snacks, and household products suddenly getting pulled over health concerns, parents increasingly feel like they need a hazmat team just to survive a trip to the store. This time, though, officials are making one thing crystal clear: if your child has one of these squeeze toys, get it out of the house immediately.

“This is not 1960 anymore. It’s 2026.” Rep. Wesley Hunt delivered that blunt message during a fiery hearing Wednesday as Republicans unloaded on Democrats and the controversial Southern Poverty Law Center over years of “Jim Crow 2.0” rhetoric surrounding voter ID laws and election integrity measures. And Hunt was clearly done being polite about it. The Texas Republican tore into Democrats for repeatedly comparing modern voting laws to segregation-era America, arguing that today’s political rhetoric has completely lost touch with what actual Jim Crow looked like. Sitting beside giant side-by-side images showing segregation-era scenes next to modern Americans simply showing ID at voting booths, Hunt described what actual racial discrimination looked like in America. “Jim Crow was a time when black Americans could not sit in classrooms with white Americans,” Hunt said. “It was colored-only water fountains. It was beatings in the streets. It was lynchings.” Then the hearing got personal. Hunt recalled how his own father had to enter restaurants through the back door in New Orleans just to buy a sandwich because black Americans were barred from using the front entrance. “That is precisely why it is so offensive to compare that era of legalized discrimination and racial terror to showing a photo ID at the voting booth,” Hunt said. The hearing itself centered around growing backlash involving the SPLC after outrage erupted over a recent Department of Justice indictment over accusations that donor funds were funneled toward organizations linked to racist or extremist activity. Republicans argued the controversy raises serious questions about whether the SPLC has spent years profiting off fear and political division while presenting itself as an authority on extremism. Hunt did not hold back. “The Democrat Party survives on manufacturing grievance,” he said. “They want emotional manipulation. They want outrage. They want division.” The congressman also pointed to something Democrats rarely know how to respond to: black Republicans consistently winning in majority-white districts. Hunt noted that he, along with fellow Republican lawmakers Byron Donalds (R-FL), John James (R-MI), and Burgess Owens (R-UT), all represent overwhelmingly white constituencies. “Nobody cares about what we look like,” Hunt said. “We are being judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.” For conservatives frustrated by years of “Jim Crow 2.0” rhetoric surrounding voter ID laws, the hearing quickly became another reminder of how dramatically the conversation around race and voting has shifted since Democrats first sounded alarms over Georgia’s election law years ago. Back then, critics predicted widespread voter suppression and comparisons to segregation-era America dominated headlines for months. Instead, Georgia later posted record turnout numbers — including strong minority participation. Now Republicans like Hunt are increasingly arguing that comparing modern voter ID laws to actual segregation is not just inaccurate, but deeply insulting to Americans who truly lived through Jim Crow.

“This problem will be solved, as the president’s made clear, one way or the other.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered that blunt warning while hinting the Trump administration could be on the verge of a major breakthrough with Iran after weeks of escalating tensions tied to Operation Epic Fury and the growing standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program. Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Rubio repeatedly teased that behind-the-scenes negotiations are actively underway and suggested a major development could come within days. “There may be news later today,” Rubio said. “There may not be. I hope there will be. I’m not sure yet.” Rubio’s comments also come as Trump appears to be quietly reshuffling his schedule because what’s happening between the United States and Iran is becoming increasingly serious behind the scenes. Trump announced Friday that he would skip Memorial Day weekend plans and miss Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration in the Bahamas in order to remain in Washington during what he described as an “important period of time” for the country. Trump previously told reporters he had “a thing called Iran” preventing him from fully committing to attending the wedding. The Trump administration has continued ramping up pressure on Iran following Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear-linked facilities earlier this year. Since then, tensions across the Middle East have continued boiling over as the White House pushes Tehran to back down from several key demands. Among the administration’s biggest conditions: Iran must fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions and hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Rubio suggested that progress may finally be happening. “There’s been some progress done, some progress made,” Rubio said. “Even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done.” He added that the administration could potentially have something to announce “later today, tomorrow, or in a couple days.” The Strait of Hormuz is now turning into one of the biggest pressure points in the entire Iran showdown. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the narrow waterway, meaning any disruption could immediately send shockwaves through the global economy and energy markets. Rubio also reiterated one of President Donald Trump’s biggest red lines: Iran can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. “They need to turn over highly enriched uranium. We need to address that issue. We need to address the issue of enrichment,” Rubio said. At the same time, Rubio emphasized that Trump still prefers to resolve the conflict diplomatically instead of militarily, though he made clear the administration believes the issue will ultimately be resolved regardless. “These are the president’s points consistently,” Rubio said. “His preference is always to solve problems such as these through a negotiated diplomatic solution.” Meanwhile, Iran appears to be publicly signaling some openness to negotiations for the first time in weeks. Iranian officials confirmed that Tehran is working to finalize a “memorandum of understanding” with the United States through talks reportedly being mediated by Pakistan. Still, Iranian officials are simultaneously insisting the United States has “nothing to do” with how the Strait of Hormuz is managed, showing just how shaky any possible agreement still is. Rubio previously warned during a NATO foreign ministers meeting earlier this month that if Iran refuses to cooperate, the United States and its allies may ultimately be forced to intervene. “Then someone’s going to have to go in and do something about it,” Rubio said at the time.

NASCAR legend Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia triggered sepsis and a cascade of overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family Saturday morning. “The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family said. “The family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time.” He was 41 years old. The new details emerged less than 48 hours after Busch’s sudden death stunned fans, drivers, and teams across the NASCAR world just days before one of the sport’s biggest races of the year. Busch suffered a medical emergency Wednesday at a General Motors facility in Concord, North Carolina. According to a 911 call, someone at the scene told dispatchers Busch was struggling to breathe, felt extremely hot, believed he was going to pass out, and was coughing up blood. “I’ve got an individual that’s experiencing shortness of breath, very hot and thinks he’s going to pass out and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller said. Busch was transported to a Charlotte-area hospital. On Thursday morning, Richard Childress Racing announced he would miss the Coca-Cola 600 because of what was described at the time as a “severe illness.” Just hours later, NASCAR confirmed Busch had died. News of Busch’s death quickly sent shockwaves through the racing community. “Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family said in a joint statement Thursday. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation.” Over more than two decades behind the wheel, Busch became one of the winningest and most recognizable drivers in NASCAR history. He captured two Cup Series championships and recorded 234 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, more than any other driver the sport has ever seen. Known to fans as the face of “Rowdy Nation,” Busch built a reputation as one of racing’s fiercest competitors. Even critics and rivals acknowledged his extraordinary talent and relentless drive to win. Despite reportedly dealing with sinus-related health issues earlier this month at Watkins Glen, Busch continued racing and even picked up a Truck Series win at Dover just last week. Busch was in the middle of his 22nd Cup Series season driving for Richard Childress Racing. Away from the track, he spent years mentoring young drivers and helping guide his son Brexton’s growing racing career. He is survived by his wife Samantha, children Brexton and Lennix, his brother Kurt Busch, and other family members. NASCAR confirmed the Coca-Cola 600 will still be held this weekend, with Austin Hill set to drive Busch’s car.