Senate Democrats are rejecting Republican overtures to end the government shutdown, leading to accusations that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is keeping the government hostage until all of his partisan demands are met. A slew of Democrats told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Tuesday that they would not support ending the shutdown in exchange […]

'Uncertain financial landscape'

When people think of the troubles of daily life, one of the things they might consider is how they find it difficult to unwind after a hard day at work. Settling in for a good night’s sleep, or even struggling to keep their focus when working on personal projects, often leaves people feeling frustrated. However, […]

'I realize how privileged I am'

News Rian Johnson Rian Johnson Compares His Upcoming Sci-Fi Project to a ’70s Paranoid Thriller Unfortunately, Johnson also makes it clear that he’s not returning to Star Wars anytime soon. By Matthew Byrd | Published on October 21, 2025 Photo: TriStar Pictures Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: TriStar Pictures Speaking with Empire as part of the Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story press tour, Rian Johnson briefly spoke about his highly anticipated, and incredibly mysterious, upcoming project. While Johnson wasn’t ready to share too many new details about the project (likely because it’s incredibly early in development), he did drop this tantalizing tidbit. “The most exciting thing right now is this idea I have in my head for the next thing I’m gonna make, and I think ultimately, that’s all you can do, is just kind of follow your nose,” says Johnson. “If I had to define it genre-wise, I’d say it harkens back to the ’70s paranoid thrillers. It’s got a light sci-fi element to it.” The ‘70s paranoid thrillers Johnson refers to include movies like 3 Days of the Condor, The Parallax View, The Conversation, and a variety of other generally incredible films that deal with individuals who find themselves caught in the middle of conspiracies. Though often associated with the ‘70s, it’s a concept that has been spiritually and directly revived over the years thanks to movies like Enemy of the State, Rebel Ridge, and even Captain American: The Winter Soldier. Given Johnson’s previous works and general interests, it’s easy enough imagining him contributing to that subgenre. The “light sci-fi elements” line is especially interesting. In a previous interview with Rolling Stone, Johnson said his next project is actually a revitalization of a sci-fi idea he had while working on Looper. “Right after I made Looper, I spent several years trying to crack this sci-fi idea that I had,” said Johnson. “Ultimately could not make it work. I never really got those gears I described to connect. So it just felt like a high concept that didn’t have any innards. But elements of that ended up working their way into the thing that I’m developing next. So, everything comes around,” For what it’s worth, it sounds like Johnson’s next project may have shed some of its headier ideas over the years but is still being referred to as at least some kind of sci-fi story. Naturally, any sci-fi stories Johnson works on should pique your interest given his immaculate additions to the genre thus far. If it happens to have elements of a paranoid thriller in it, so much the better. Unfortunately, Johnson also made it clear that he’s probably done with the Star Wars universe for the foreseeable future. “That cog will be turning the rest of my life. I love Star Wars,” said Johnson regarding the possibility of him returning to the franchise. “And if some day it makes sense to come back to it, for both of us, it would be the most wonderful thing in the world.” Tragic, though you really don’t want to belong to a club that won’t have Steven Soderbergh as a member. [end-mark] The post Rian Johnson Compares His Upcoming Sci-Fi Project to a ’70s Paranoid Thriller appeared first on Reactor.

The Justice Department could investigate Biden administration emergency response employees who “systematically” avoided helping disaster survivors who displayed yard signs or flags supporting Donald Trump or the Second Amendment.  The practice goes back to 2021, according to an internal review by the Department of Homeland Security released Tuesday.  The report, issued by the DHS Privacy Office, also found Federal Emergency Management Agency staffers collected information about the political beliefs of disaster survivors and used that information to delay assistance. “The federal government was withholding aid against Americans in crisis based on their political beliefs—this should horrify every American, regardless of political persuasion,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a public statement. “For years, FEMA employees under the Biden administration intentionally delayed much-needed aid to Americans suffering from natural disasters on purely political grounds,” Noem added. “They deliberately avoided houses displaying support for President Trump and the Second Amendment, illegally collected and stored information about survivors’ political beliefs, and failed to report their malicious behavior. We will not let this stand.” Noem ordered an internal review on the matter based on a whistleblower who reported last year that, after Hurricane Milton in 2024 in North Carolina, FEMA employees were directed to bypass homes with Trump signs. Then-FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said it was an isolated incident.  The DHS internal probe showed this was a pattern that also occurred during multiple disasters dating back to 2021 during Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.  The DHS referred the findings to the Department of Justice for further investigation and potential prosecution. It also referred the case to the DHS Office of the Inspector General. “FEMA violated the Privacy Act of 1974 by collecting and maintaining prohibited information about individuals’ political beliefs and used this irrelevant data to make unfair decisions, such as bypassing select homes during disaster relief efforts,” the report says.  The DHS Privacy Office says it will issue clear recommendations to FEMA to address these violations and prevent future ones. The DHS also instructed FEMA to implement rigorous oversight and auditing mechanisms. The post Probe Finds Biden’s FEMA ‘Systematically’ Withheld Assistance From Trump Supporters appeared first on The Daily Signal.

THE CENTER SQUARE—No U.S. troops will be on the ground in Gaza, Vice President JD Vance reassured Americans during a visit to Israel on Tuesday. “There are not going to be American boots on the ground in Gaza. The president of the United States has made that very clear,” the vice president reiterated during a news conference. Vance also expressed optimism about the ceasefire plan after a turbulent weekend, during which two Israeli soldiers were shot and killed, threatening to upend the week-old ceasefire as part of the first phase of President Donald Trump’s agreed-upon 20-point peace plan between Israel and Hamas. “Look at what we’ve seen the past week. It gives me great optimism the ceasefire is going to hold, and if we get from where we were a week ago to a long-term, durable peace between Israel and Gaza. There are going to be moments where it looks like things aren’t going particularly well. But given that, and given the history of conflict, I think that everybody should be proud of where we are today. It’s going to require constant effort,” the vice president said. Despite the vice president’s optimism for lasting peace, the president issued a dire warning to Hamas on Tuesday morning. “Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and ‘straighten [out] Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us,” the president posted on Truth Social on Tuesday morning. “There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!” the president added. The vice president reiterated the president’s message, adding that they are still working toward peace. “We know that Hamas has to comply with the deal, and if Hamas doesn’t comply with the deal, very bad things are going to happen … in order for us to give it a chance to succeed, we’ve got to be a little bit flexible,” said Vance. The vice president said that the U.S. will oversee the coordination of the security plan, reconstruction efforts, and ensure that aid reaches its intended destination. The vice president addressed concerns regarding some countries participating in the security operations, stating that the details still need to be worked out and agreed upon by Israel. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has been instrumental in securing the peace deal, underscored that “no reconstruction funds will be going into areas that Hamas still controls.” “As far as the demilitarization goes, once the ISF is up, there needs to be a security force that they can feel safe from that in order for it to be the transition to be complete … . There are considerations happening now in the area that the IDF controls, as long as that can be secured, to start the construction as a new Gaza, in order to give the Palestinians living in Gaza a place to go, a place to get jobs, a place to live,” Kushner told the press. The vice president also addressed questions regarding the killings of Palestinian civilians by Hamas. He warned that Hamas cannot kill their fellow Palestinians as part of the agreed-upon 20-point peace plan, requiring the terrorist group to disarm totally. He warned that Hamas must “behave itself,” reiterating the president’s warning that if they don’t, they will face severe consequences. The vice president’s visit comes a week after Trump’s historic visit to the region, meeting with Israeli leaders as well as leaders from Arab, Muslim, and European countries vowing to play roles in securing peace in Gaza. Originally published by The Center Square The post Optimistic at Peace Plan, Vance Vows: No US ‘Boots on Ground in Gaza’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

It looks like New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is feeling quite confident after his first general election debate. Despite being a self-avowed socialist, the young Democrat upstart seems likely to be the next mayor of the “financial capital” of the United States. Just as remarkably, Mamdani is apparently willing to pal around with Islamists just weeks before the election. On Saturday, Mamdani, who is a New York State assemblyman, released a photo of himself smiling with Democrat City Councilman Yusef Salaam, one of the Central Park Five, and Imam Siraj Wahhaj. Wahhaj isn’t just some ordinary imam. He is a radical Islamist. Then U.S. Attorney Mary Joe White labeled him an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Wahhaj was never charged in the case, but several members of his mosque were. Here’s what the Post had to say about the photo: “Lefty NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gleefully campaigned this week with a notorious, gay-hating Brooklyn imam who is an unindicted co-conspirator in 1993 World Trade Center bombing and who has been linked to other terrorist activity in the United States—including urging ‘jihad’ on the Big Apple.” Needless to say, some of the survivors and witnesses of the 1993 bombing weren’t too happy about the photo-op. Mamdani lashed out at his critics and said they were attacking him for his “faith,” but many were quick to take to social media to dredge up clips of Wahhaj calling America a “garbage can” and celebrating jihad. This is Siraj Wahhaj, a radical Islamist extremist who thinks that America is “filthy,” that it’s “an honor to die in Jihad,” and that politics is a “weapon to use in the cause of Islam.”This is the person that NYC communist mayoral candidate Zohran Mandani looks up to.New… pic.twitter.com/nTKgtTccd5— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 20, 2025 Mamdani’s Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa, blasted him for posting photo. He called Wahhaj “dangerous.” Siraj Wahhaj is dangerous. This is disturbing to see. Wahhaj tried to sue me years ago and lost. He did it to threaten me for looking into his alleged crimes. “A Brooklyn jury took almost no time to decide Curtis Sliwa did not libel an imam who sued the Guardian Angels founder… pic.twitter.com/IIKedQFkEW— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) October 19, 2025 Vice President JD Vance remarked on the photo on X. I’ve been reliably informed that Democrats are opposed to any kind of political violence, so I look forward to them universally condemning Zohran Mamdani for campaigning with an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorist plot that killed 6 New Yorkers. pic.twitter.com/opk2er6BnB— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 18, 2025 President Donald Trump weighed in too, saying that it would be a “disaster” if such a man became mayor of New York. ?Trump is trying to WARN NYC about how HORRIBLE Mamdani would be if he wins."We can't have a COMMUNIST in charge! It's gonna be very TOUGH for him!"Mamdani is a PROUD communist and an ally of islamic extremism.It CAN'T HAPPEN! pic.twitter.com/kSXbWO91aH— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) October 21, 2025 This photo with a radical imam would have likely been a smaller deal if it wasn’t part of a consistent pattern from Mamdani and his cohorts. Mamdani has notable refused to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” and only went as far as to say he would “discourage” its use. In an interview last Wednesday with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum, Mamdani repeatedly dodged whether he thought Hamas should disarm, as is required in the recently signed Middle East peace agreement. When challenged about his non-answer in Thursday night’s mayoral debate, he said, “Of course I believe they should lay down their arms,” which, of course, is not the same thing as giving up their weapons. In 2017 Mamdani made a rap video celebrating the Holy Land Five, the directors of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development who were convicted in 2008 for giving millions of dollars in support to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. In the song he uses the lyrics, “My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look them up.” Yes, I suggest you do. Whatever Mamdani’s actual current beliefs, it’s clear that the self-avowed socialist is perfectly happy to hook his wagon to various Islamists. He’s certainly not willing to disavow their causes. The fact that he’s the clear frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, whatever the circumstances of the election, is stunning. After all, despite New York’s connection to far-left politics, it’s still the location of 9/11, of the worst terrorist attack on American soil that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people. Maybe this is just how things work out in a society detached from history, where millions of young people slurp up propaganda about how Osama bin Laden had a point. It does show just how far gone the Democratic Party is at this point that they’ve presented New York voters with the choice of voting for a socialist who also pals around with radical imams. That’s quite a package. Most Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, have come around to supporting this man, including offering their endorsements. There have been a few wobbly holdouts, like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, but even that tepid resistance seems to be crumbling. As I previously noted, Mamdani represents the zeitgeist of the Democrat Party base. He’s collected under his banner a collage of seemingly incongruous groups whose uniting principles seem to revolve around anti-Americanism and opposition to Trump. It’s a growing coalition that is dangerous not just to New York City but to the whole country. The post Democrats Gave New Yorkers the Choice to Vote for a Socialist … Who Pals Around With Islamists appeared first on The Daily Signal.

German Court Gives Thumbs Up to LinkedIn Deletion of True COVID Info

“John Brennan lied to Congress. Today, we referred him to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced Tuesday, providing the full content of the referral. “We write to refer significant evidence that former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Brennan knowingly made false statements during his transcribed interview before the Committee on the Judiciary on May 11, 2023,” Chairman Jordan explains in his letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi: “While testifying, Brennan made numerous willfully and intentionally false statements of material fact contradicted by the record established by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the CIA.” “Making false statements before Congress is a crime that undermines the integrity of the Committee’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight,” Jordan writes. At issue are Brennan’s comments in testimony regarding the infamous and debunked Steele Dossier used by the CIA and FBI to perpetrate the Trump-Russia Hoax. The letter introduces three assertions “that support an investigation into whether Brennan made false statements at his transcribed interview”: “Brennan falsely denied that the CIA relied on the discredited Steele dossier in drafting the post-election Intelligence Community Assessment.” “Brennan falsely testified when he told the Committee that the CIA opposed including the Steele dossier in the ICA.” “Brennan falsely denied that the CIA relied on the discredited Steele dossier in drafting the post-election Intelligence Community Assessment.” In each case, Chairman Jordan cites documents declassified by the Trump Administration that expose Brennan’s claims to be false. One declassified document quoted by Chairman Jordan reveals Brennan made prejudicial statements and insisted on the use of the discredited dossier: “According to a CIA memorandum declassified by the Trump Administration, when two CIA mission center leaders confronted Brennan with ‘specific flaws’ in the dossier, Brennan disregarded their concerns, ‘appear[ing] more swayed by the [d]ossier’s general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns.’ “Brennan later ‘formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’ “Similarly, the HPSCI report notes that when senior CIA officers demanded that Brennan remove the Steele dossier from the ICA, Brennan ‘refused to remove it.’ When the officers presented evidence of the dossier’s ‘many flaws,’ Brennan responded, ‘Yes, but doesn’t it ring true?’ “Ultimately, Brennan ‘had to order [the dossier] included over the objections of [CIA] professionals.’”