Multiple sources familiar with the matter have reported that the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which advises U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on legal matters, has held several meetings to consider a federal ban on transgender-identifying individuals possessing firearms.

President Donald Trump is calling on European leaders to halt purchases of Russian oil, hoping to increase pressure on Moscow to participate in substantive negotiations in relation to Ukraine and the ongoing war.

The deranged transgender killer in Minnesota, Robin Westman, dumped his girlfriend of several years weeks before he murdered children. He complained bitterly about her “blue hair and pronouns.” Westman also complained about not being able to murder her because it “would really f*ck up” his plans to massacre kids. The evil 23 year-old maniac slaughtered […] The post The Sick Evil Rage of Robert Westman Who Hated His “Furry” Girlfriend appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) read Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) the riot act after his colleague claimed that it was “extremely troubling” to hear a nominee for a federal post claim that rights were given by God, not governments. The nominee in question was Riley Barnes, who previously worked in the U.S. State Department and has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Barnes said that he agreed with his boss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently said “that all men are created equal because our rights come from God, our Creator; not from our laws, not from our governments.” Kaine took issue with Barnes’ statement, and argued that only a theocratic government — such as the one in Iran — would attribute the source of rights to God rather than the law. “The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator — that’s what the Iranian government believes. It’s a theocratic regime that bases its rule on Sharia law and targets Sunnis, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians and other religious minorities,” Kaine claimed. “And they do it because they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator. So the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling.” “I think the the motto over the Supreme Court is ‘equal justice under law,’ — the oath that you and I take pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, not arbitrarily defined natural rights,” Kaine continued. WATCH: Our rights don’t come from government or the DNC. They come from God. @timkaine, I suggest the Dems go back and read the words of our Founding Fathers. pic.twitter.com/QRmhTcbbOH — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2025 Cruz pushed back on Kaine’s claims a short time later in the hearing, saying that it was the Virginia Senator’s comments that were of concern rather than Barnes’. “I just walked into the hearing as he was saying that, and I almost fell out of my chair, because that ‘radical and dangerous notion’ — in his words — is literally the founding principle upon which the United States of America was created,” said Cruz. Quoting former President Thomas Jefferson’s words from the Declaration of Independence, Cruz added, “‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator’ — not by government, not by the Democratic National Committee, but by God — ‘with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'”

Legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91. “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the company said in a statement. “In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory with respect, responsibility, and love.” Armani had missed his last three fashion shows due to being ill, per The Guardian, but was slated to attend the company’s 50th anniversary celebration later this month. Born in 1934 in Piacenza, Italy, Armani launched his fashion career by dressing window displays before shifting into menswear design in the 1960s. “I got into fashion almost by accident and then it slowly grew in me until it completely absorbed me, stealing my life away,” he said of his career, as the outlet noted. By 1975, Armani launched his own label, taking the stiffness out of traditional tailoring in favor of more fluid styles that became staples of power dressing in the 1980s. Hollywood celebrities helped make the brand a cultural sensation, with Richard Gere in “American Gigolo” being one famous example. The Armani brand turned into a global empire with everything from suits to fragrances to haute couture garments. It’s still a major player in the fashion industry today. The company earned $2.7 billion in profits last year, which represented a 5% decrease from the previous year. Hollywood embraced Armani and now they are mourning him, too. Julia Roberts shared a photo of herself posing with the late designer and added the caption, “A true friend. A Legend,” alongside the broken heart emoji.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts) “Producer Arnon Milchan sent me to the Armani store with a credit card to get a suit for the premiere,” actor Russell Crowe wrote on X. “That began a love affair with Armani suits that continues to this day.” “Mr Armani has made a deep contribution, to fashion, to design, to popular culture. His energy, vision and finesse has made a mark acknowledged around the globe,” the “Gladiator” star added in the lengthy tribute. “I adored him.” Spice Girls alum Victoria Beckham said on Instagram stories, “The fashion world has lost a true legend in Giorgio Armani—a visionary designer whose legacy will live on forever. I feel honored to have called him a friend.” Fellow fashion industry great Donatella Versace wrote on Instagram, “The world lost a giant today. He made history and will be remembered forever.”

The Justice Department announced Wednesday a “first-of-its-kind” indictment against 22 Chinese nationals and three Americans for allegedly engaging in an international drug trafficking scheme targeting the United States.  An indictment handed down Wednesday from a federal grand jury in Ohio takes aim at dozens of defendants and four Chinese companies for a plot to ship drug-cutting agents, used to dilute the product and increase its volume to boost profits, from China into America. All the defendants are charged with conspiring with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture and conspiring to launder money internationally. “Today’s announcement marks a first-of-its-kind international operation for the FBI targeting the fentanyl plague that has killed tens of thousands of Americans and indicting the companies and individuals in mainland China that manufacture the precursor chemicals fueling the destruction of our communities,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.  Prosecutors say that the companies used a number of Chinese nationals “located overseas” to negotiate for payments for illegal cutting agents to drug traffickers in Ohio. Cutting agents are often added to illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth.  The Chinese companies targeted include Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Company, Guangzhou Wanjiang Biotechnology Company, Hebei Hongjun New Material Technology Company, and Hebei Feilaimi Technology Company.  The Americans charged in the operation include 39-year-old Eric Michael Payne of Ohio and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Auriyon Tresan Rayford. Ciandrea Bryne Davis of Atlanta was also charged for her alleged role in using cryptocurrency to pay Chinese nationals associated with companies for the drug-cutting agents.  Payne is accused of purchasing several kilogram shipments of cutting agents from Chinese companies posing as legitimate pharmacies. He and the other Americans allegedly purchased at least 10 kilograms of fentanyl agents since 2022 that could be used in up to 150 kilograms of fentanyl mixture sold on the streets.  “Our indictment alleges that Chinese companies and affiliated foreign nationals intentionally and openly marketed, delivered, and exported to the United States controlled substances and other compounds that they knew would be used by domestic drug dealers to increase the yield and potency of fentanyl distributed in this country,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Dominick Gerace II. “As explained in court documents, these deadly drug mixtures were then sold directly into our communities here in southern Ohio.” The Chinese defendants were listed as Lihui Zhao, [name unknown], Shanhong Jiang, Yan Yang, Fengdi Zhang, Dehui Xia, Xing Wu Chen, Qing Lin Wang, Xiaojun Huang, Meixiang Yao, Zhanpeng Huang, Yuqing Feng, Dongjing Sun, Chengqi Nong, Tiduo Wei, Zhisong Nie, Jichao Zhu, Zhengzhe Yin, Changgen Du, Hongfei Wang, Huatao Yao, and Xuening Gao.

The FBI took a trove of documents, three computers, and two iPhones from former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s home during a raid on August 22, according to court records made public on Thursday. Among the boxes of documents were “typed documents in folders labeled ‘Trump I – IV’” and a white binder that was labeled, “statements and reflections to allied strikes,” the New York Post reported. The FBI raided Bolton’s home as part of an investigation over allegations that Bolton illegally snuck out national security files from the White House during President Donald Trump’s first term. The records also revealed that the former national security adviser, who is now a vocal Trump critic, is being investigated for allegedly violating two sections of the Espionage Act of 1917, according to the Post. While Bolton hasn’t been charged with any crime, if the feds go after him on those two charges, he could face up to 25 years in prison. Federal agents also swiped hard drives and USB drives during the raid, and agents were allowed to make Bolton unlock any devices, per the search warrant, CNN reported. According to previous court records, the feds are looking into whether Bolton revealed any sensitive national security information about Trump’s foreign policy during the president’s first term. After a back-and-forth with Trump officials, Bolton removed classified information from his book manuscript before he published it, according to court records. Bolton’s book, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir,” promises “the most comprehensive and substantial account of the Trump Administration.” The book was published in June 2020, less than a year after Trump fired Bolton as National Security Adviser. The Trump administration argued that Bolton’s book endangered national security. FBI officials told the Post that an investigation into Bolton’s handling of sensitive material was paused when former President Joe Biden entered office in 2021, and FBI Director Kash Patel reopened the investigation in February. “The [Biden administration] had probable cause to know that he had taken material that was detrimental to the national security of the United States, and they made no effort to retrieve it,” a senior FBI official said. “That was a friendly administration to [Bolton],” the official added. “They kept bashing [Trump] the entire time for ‘weaponizing law enforcement,’ and they — by politically stopping a righteous investigation — are the ones who weaponized law enforcement.” Bolton has not commented on the raid, but he has continued to criticize Trump’s foreign policy moves. Following the raid, President Trump claimed that he knew “nothing about it.” “I saw it on television this morning. I’m not a fan of John Bolton. He’s a real … lowlife,” Trump said. “He’s not a smart guy. But he could be a very unpatriotic guy … we’re going to find out. I know nothing about it.”

VATICAN CITY — In a meeting between Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, the Vatican prioritized the return of hostages in a statement on the Gaza conflict, aligning with Israel’s position that their release is key to ending the war. The Holy See Press Office confirmed Herzog’s audience with the pontiff at the Apostolic Palace, followed by talks with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. In a statement issued in Italian and translated by The Daily Wire, the Vatican stressed that “with willingness and courageous decisions, as well as with the support of the international community, the release of all hostages can be achieved, a permanent ceasefire can be reached urgently, [and] the safe entry of humanitarian aid into the most affected areas can be facilitated.” VATICAN CITY—The following statement was just issued by @HolySeePress: “Today, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience at the Vatican Apostolic Palace the President of the State of Israel, His Excellency Mr. Isaac Herzog, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal… https://t.co/V6OtLO1qGo pic.twitter.com/bGEnAWkSDs — Bree A Dail (@breeadail) September 4, 2025 The prioritization of hostages marked a notable emphasis in the Vatican’s message, and one that Pope Leo XIV has also reiterated, reflecting Israel’s insistence that no resolution can move forward until those taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, are returned. While the statement, issued by the Holy See press office, also mentions the two-state solution as “the only way out of the ongoing war,” the press office did not attribute that position directly to Pope Leo XIV.  Cardinal Parolin, who has led the Secretariat of State since 2013, has long been a central figure in Vatican diplomacy, shaping deals that include the Holy See’s controversial recognition of the State of Palestine in 2015. Parolin’s role in Wednesday’s discussions highlights his influence. As Secretary of State, Parolin remains responsible for both Vatican foreign policy and relations with local churches, including Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Wednesday’s statement acknowledged the “historical value” of ties with Israel and underscored the role of Christian institutions across the Middle East in promoting education, social cohesion, and stability. President Isaac Herzog, in a statement released in Italian following the meeting, underscored the alignment between himself and the Pope. “I am deeply grateful to Pope Leo XIV for the warm welcome I received today at the Vatican. First and foremost, Israel is doing everything possible to bring home the hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas. Israel longs for a day when the peoples of the Middle East—the Children of Abraham—will live together in peace, cooperation, and hope.” Sono profondamente grato a @Pontifex Papa Leone XIV per la calorosa accoglienza ricevuta oggi in Vaticano. Prima di tutto, Israele si sta impegnando in ogni modo possibile per riportare a casa gli ostaggi tenuti in brutale prigionia da Hamas. Israele anela a un giorno in cui i… pic.twitter.com/jiRLu75olf — יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) September 4, 2025 Herzog added that “all leaders of faith and goodwill must be united in calling for the immediate release of the hostages as a first and essential step toward a better future for the entire region.” He also stressed Israel’s commitment to religious freedom, to the protection of Christian communities in the Holy Land and the broader Middle East, and to working for peace and stability. “The Pope’s inspiration and leadership in combating hatred and violence and promoting peace throughout the world are appreciated and vital,” Herzog said. “I look forward to deepening our cooperation for a better future of justice and compassion.”