WASHINGTON—This town has been abuzz since it awoke this morning to find a bombshell New York Times story featuring excerpts from a forthcoming interview with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. In the piece, excerpts from a series of interviews with the reporter Chris Whipple, Wiles sounds off on everything from her boss (“an alcoholic’s personality”) to the vice president (“been a conspiracy theorist for a decade”) and even her friend Pam Bondi (the attorney general “completely whiffed” the Epstein files).  The White House set to work disavowing the report, which Wiles dismissed as a “disingenuously framed hit piece.” But while the Beltway wondered if this spelled the end of Wiles’s West Wing tenure — and if that was what she wanted — media junkies may have picked up on another oddity of the piece. Chris Whipple, who has written several books about White House chiefs of staff, did not conduct his interviews for the Times. He conducted them for Vanity Fair, part of a longer profile on the Trump Cabinet. But the Times didn’t simply scoop Vanity Fair. It published its story in conjunction with the magazine, which dropped its two-part interview with Wiles just as the Gray Lady published her story. The Times clearly had inside information from Whipple and Vanity Fair — including the number of interviews he had conducted and the nature of the piece he was planning — and included a reference to having heard corroborating audio of the Wiles interviews from Whipple. Reporters are so competitive that they hardly even want to collaborate with their colleagues. Why would Vanity Fair tip its hat to the Times in this way? The answer may lie in Vanity Fair’s old magazine history. In his recent memoir “When The Going Was Good,” former Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Graydon Carter recalls the magazine’s work on “The Holy grail of journalism scoops”: the identity of Deep Throat, the anonymous source who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein blow the doors off the Watergate scandal. Reporting out the story, which named former FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt as Deep Throat, took two years, and involved a healthy amount of cloak and dagger, Carter recalls. “We set up a special room at the magazine, an office within the office. We papered the glass doors and kept it locked when not in use. We also put the story on a separate server, one that wouldn’t be accessible to anyone at Conde Nast, the parent company of Vanity Fair.” The Vanity Fair team waited until just before publication day to reach out to Woodward and Bernstein for comment. When they did, the duo was not immediately responsive — though, as one of Carter’s deputies informed him, “word was trickling out and the phone lines at Vanity Fair were already jammed.” Carter’s thinking in this moment sheds some light on today’s New York Times bombshell: The big trouble here was the lead time. This was before magazines had digital editions, so we had to edit the story, photograph the story, lay out the story, check the story, print the issue, ship the issue, and then wait for newsstand people all around the world to open their boxes of the magazine and start selling copies. With a monthly magazine, you have ten days to two weeks between the time it leaves the printer and when it appears on newsstands. During this period, the issue is completely out of our control, and we had problems before with printers tipping off someone else to a hot story. “We couldn’t afford to wait until the magazine hit the newsstands,” Carter concludes, “so we decided to release the story even before we shipped it to the printers.” “In those days, you didn’t just announce news with a tweet,” he notes. “You released it in successive waves to selected press outlets. Or you released it all at once and wide to the right services, newspapers, and television news divisions. Which is what we did with our Deep Throat story. Just before we released it to the wire servers, Beth Kseniak, our head of communications, gave the scoop to ABC News, which broke into regular programming with the story. By the following day, it was front-page news all around the world.” Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships Of course, today’s media landscape is not the same as it was in 2005 when the Deep Throat story broke. Vanity Fair has a digital edition, and you certainly can break a story with a tweet — and people often do. But Vanity Fair still has its flagship print magazine, and it stands to reason that drumming up some online interest ahead of publication could drive magazine sales. Releasing the juiciest excerpts to the Times, moreover, could ensure that politicos and news junkies who don’t frequently thumb through the nation’s premier society magazine may pick up the next issue of Vanity Fair, or at least toggle over to the website for the full story. It’s fitting, too, that this story in particular would be the one that inspired the magazine to dip into its old playbook. As tempestuous as the Trump White House seems to be, this go around, the president and his team — no doubt thanks in a large part to Wiles — have managed to keep major stories of infighting to a minimum. A chatty chief of staff and some dishy palace intrigue is, for everyone but the White House communications team, a bit of a throwback to old school Washington. What better time for Vanity Fair to return to its ink-stained roots.

SpaceX and Tesla owner Elon Musk recently donated to several Republican campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The donations signal that the world’s richest man is once again planning to use his influence to back the GOP, just months after he floated the idea of launching a third party amid a public feud with President Donald Trump. Musk “cut big checks” for Republicans as the party seeks to hold onto both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterms, Axios reported, citing two sources. Musk also reportedly suggested he would make more donations to Republicans in the future. Musk spent around $240 million backing Trump and Republicans in 2024 through his political action committee and was then given an advisory role in the White House, which he used to push for major cuts to government spending. Musk’s time in the White House, however, was short, and amid a bitter falling out with Trump and the GOP over the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” he said in May that he would dial back his spending on future elections. “I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at the time, adding, “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.” In early June, the feud between Musk and Trump escalated, with the president saying that Musk “just went CRAZY,” and Musk firing back by accusing Trump of covering up the Epstein files. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk said in a now-deleted social media post. The entrepreneur’s relationship with Trump has appeared to heal since his dramatic exit from his position as the president’s adviser. Trump and Musk were seen chatting during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in September. Musk also attended a dinner at the White House for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month. Musk’s reported donations to Republicans come after he had dinner with Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles last month, Axios reported. Vance hosted the dinner at the vice president’s residence, and Musk’s wealth manager, Jared Birchall, was also in attendance. The donations will be made public when campaign finance reports are released next month. Republicans are preparing for a hotly contested election cycle as they defend their majorities in the House and the Senate. Current polls and public opinion suggest that Democrats are poised to take control of the House, which would severely limit Trump’s agenda for the final two years of his term. During his feud with the president, Musk also said that Trump would have lost the 2024 election without him and claimed “Dems would control the House.”

Powerball hypes nine “hot” numbers to lure dreamers chasing instant wealth, but statisticians warn it’s a classic gambler’s trap preying on hardworking Americans’ hopes. Powerball’s Hot Numbers Hype Stats trackers identify nine Powerball numbers with elevated recent draw frequencies, such as pairs like 61-69 appearing 15 times together. Sites like LottoAmerica and LotteryExtreme list these as “hot” based on data through the December 16, 2025 draw, totaling 3,144 since 1998. Examples include numbers like 6, 11, 13, and 21, drawn frequently in recent months. This trend contrasts with “cold” numbers like 26, overdue for 286 days since January 1, 2025. Three weekly draws since August 2021 accelerate frequency shifts. Media spotlights these to spark interest as jackpots roll over. Random Draws Defy Patterns Multi-State Lottery Association oversees Powerball with certified equipment ensuring each draw’s independence. The current matrix, set since October 7, 2015, selects 5 from 69 white balls and 1 from 26 red Powerballs. Every combination faces identical 1 in 292.2 million jackpot odds. Lottery sites including Powerball.net stress past frequencies reveal no predictive edge. Washington’s lottery data shows long-term leaders like 03 and 12 at 100 draws each since inception, yet variance normalizes over time. Lotteries repeat that hot streaks stem from natural probability swings. Lottery Evolution and Operations Powerball began January 5, 1992, under MUSL, serving 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Draws occur at 10:59 PM ET on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Matrix changes, like 2015’s expansion, adjusted odds while boosting prizes. The 2021 schedule increase added data volume for stats analysis. State lotteries such as Iowa, Missouri, Connecticut, and Washington publish frequencies to inform players responsibly. MUSL maintains integrity through rigorous protocols, generating billions in sales that fund public education at about 30 percent of proceeds. Historical precedents include post-2016 $1.586 billion jackpot coverage with similar hot/cold stories across eras. Version-specific stats, like high 61 frequency in 2005-2009, underline transience of trends. Economic Realities and Player Risks Current jackpot stands at $151 million annuity or $69.3 million cash after no recent winners. Tickets cost more with 10x multipliers under $150 million jackpots. Short-term, hype drives sales; long-term, revenue sustains without altering randomness. Players risk addiction, especially in low-income groups over-indexing participation. States benefit from steady funds for programs with minimal political friction. Broader effects reinforce lotteries as entertainment, mirroring Mega Millions patterns. Probability experts invoke independent trials and the law of large numbers, dismissing gambler’s fallacy where recent hot numbers seem “due” to continue or cold ones to hit. Optimists play for fun; data shows equal 1/69 white ball chances per draw. Sources: LottoAmerica Powerball Statistics LotteryExtreme Powerball Top Statistics Powerball.net Statistics Iowa Lottery Powerball Frequency

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The Trump administration’s strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels will be a failure if they do not ultimately result in toppling socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested to reporters Tuesday. President Donald Trump has kept objectives in Venezuela unclear for months as the administration rapidly builds up forces in the […]

Cat fight!

'I'm actually going to walk the walk'

one major victory

LEHIGH VALLEY, Penn—When Vice President JD Vance recalled his grandmother’s choice between putting food on their table and paying for her medications, he arose as the Republicans’ secret weapon on affordability messaging.  “I know what it’s like for a woman who’s trying to support a grandson but can’t afford her prescription drugs because pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of the United States of America,” he said in Allentown, Pennsylvania Tuesday. “I remember what it’s like when you have to choose between putting food on the table or getting the prescription that you need to stay healthy. And that is not a life that Donald Trump or I want for the citizens in the greatest country in the world.”  Vance held a rally at Uline Shipping Supplies in Lehigh, Pennsylvania, as part of his and the president’s domestic tour touting the administration’s affordability agenda.  While President Donald Trump has repeatedly called affordability a Democrat “hoax,” Vance assured Pennsylvanians the administration understands the economic hardship many Americans are experiencing.  “This month, we are fighting for you every single day, and I don’t want you to think for one second that because Joe Biden gave us the worst economy in the world, that we forget it,” he said. “No, we know. We know exactly what we’re left with. We know exactly the consequences that it’s caused for so many of our great families all across Pennsylvania. And I promise you, there is no person more impatient to solve the affordability crisis than Donald J. Trump, the president of the United States.”  Vance related his own childhood growing up in poverty in Appalachia to the current affordability crisis.  “I never forget where I come from,” he said. “I never forget who I serve, and I know that there is so much more progress. I remember my grandmother in times like this during the holidays.”  “I was in a particularly hard math class in high school, and she said, ‘What do you need to do?’ Well, in this class, my grades weren’t so good, and she went out, even though she could not afford even the essentials in life, she went out and got me a calculator, a very expensive calculator so that I could do well in this math class,” he said. “I remember what it feels like for American families when you have the government take $3,000 out of your pocket through higher taxes and higher inflation.”  Vance is surprised when Democrats campaign on affordability because they are to blame, he said.  “Democrats say, you know, ‘Things aren’t affordable. This isn’t affordable. This has gotten more expensive. Drugs have gotten more expensive. Housing has gotten more expensive.’ And you know what? They’re right? And it was because of them,” he said. “It ain’t that hard. If you go back to the four years of the Biden administration, why did housing get so expensive? Double in price during the Biden administration? It’s because Joe Biden let in 20 million illegal immigrants who took homes that, all by right, go to American citizens and to the people of this great state.”  He said it’s impossible for Trump to instantly fix the economy, but change is coming.  “I hear these Democrats talk about this as if you were going to fix these problems in a single day,” he said.  “It takes a little bit of time to fix something that was so fundamentally broken, and so when I hear the Democrats talk about the affordability crisis that they created, it’s a little bit like, you know, Charles Manson criticizing violent crime. Look in the mirror, my friend, you are the cause of the problem, and Donald J. Trump’s administration is the solution to the problem that you created,” he continued.  When asked by The Daily Signal how he would like Congressional Republicans to address health care costs, he said, “Republicans and Democrats [will] have to figure out what can be passed together” on health care.  NEW: @VP tells @DailySignal “Republicans and Democrats [will] have to figure out what can be passed together” on healthcare. “Of course, the president is going to drive a lot of that process. We're still reviewing some of these legislative texts as they come up. We believe that… pic.twitter.com/TgHWKIxcfQ— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell (@TheElizMitchell) December 16, 2025 “I’ve probably read a dozen different pieces of legislation that are floating out there,” he said. “Again, it’s going to come to the point where Republicans and Democrats have to figure out what can be passed together.” “Of course, the president is going to drive a lot of that process,” he continued. “We’re still reviewing some of these legislative texts as they come up. We believe that we can solve this problem. But again, the nature of our system, we’re going to work with Congress to make sure we get something that’s good for the American people through the Congress.”  Vance said the U.S. has the “weirdest health insurance system in the world, where we tax money from all these great Americans out here, and then we give boatloads of money to the insurance companies.” “Why don’t we give that money to the American people and let them buy insurance that works for them and their families?” he asked. “If you look at insurance company profits, they have been skyrocketing ever since Obamacare was passed. The insurance companies have done very well under Obamacare.” He said the administration is working to get to a health care policy that works for Americans.  “We don’t care if the insurance companies do well, great,” he said. “If they do poorly, that’s their problem. We are here to fight for the American worker and make health insurance affordable for them.” The post ‘I Know What It’s Like’: Vance Shines as Republican Messenger on Affordability appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Dr. Kevin Roberts, former university professor and current president of The Heritage Foundation, has launched a new docuseries in anticipation of America’s 250th anniversary titled “The Next Frontier.”  “Today, the Left doesn’t just forget history; they rewrite it,” Roberts says in the trailer that dropped this week. “This is our heritage. This is our fight. This is our America. Join us. Make America beautiful again, by honoring what made us great.”  Today, the Left doesn’t just forget history—they rewrite it. Monuments like @SabinHoward’s WWI memorial are more than bronze and stone; they are a visible reminder of our national heartbeat.Watch my full conversation with Sabin Howard on the first episode of The Next Frontier:…— Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) December 15, 2025 The monthly episodes, roughly 25 minutes long, will be set in Washington, D.C. and sites across the country. Roberts will be on location where American history was made and where it is being made today.   The host will be joined by guests who are experts in their respective fields. From renowned artists to elected officials, they will be discussing what makes our country great and the biggest issues Americans face.    The first episode, “Make America Beautiful Again,” premiered Monday night. Roberts was joined by master sculptor Sabin Howard at the World War I Memorial in Washington, one of Sabin’s most famous works. Honoring the soldiers who fought in World War I, the two dove into the role monuments play in our modern lives and the importance of preserving our heritage.   “This project brought me back to the foundations of like, who am I in service of?” Howard said, explaining what creating the memorial meant to him. “And that’s what this is about, a soldier’s journey. We’re in service of something else way bigger than ourselves.”  Episode 1 of The Next Frontier with Kevin Roberts drops Monday, December 15! The first guest is @SabinHoward—the sculptor of “A Soldier’s Journey,” the sculpture at the heart of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/c8c5sxlMKX— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) December 13, 2025 Upcoming episodes will find Roberts at locations across the country, like the recently closed U.S. border and a military production site. Episodes will launch once a month and can be found wherever you get your episodes of “The Kevin Roberts Show with Larry O’Conner”. They’ll also be available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Ricochet, YouTube, and more.  The post Kevin Roberts Goes on ‘Offense’ With New Docuseries appeared first on The Daily Signal.