It looks like Digital ID is being pushed ahead with no regard to public opinion. A whistleblower leaked an internal civil service job advert for an £81,000 Senior Civil Service (SCS) position. The role advertised [...] The post Whistleblower Exposes Cabinet Office Role For A Digital ID Deputy Director appeared first on The People's Voice.

The script for the horror hounds’ first foray into feature filmmaking is done, and despite its title, Spencer Charnas insists it won’t annoy Christians

January 20, 2025, marked the commencement of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort. Trump set out to hit a lofty goal of deporting one million illegal immigrants each year. Since Trump returned to office in January, federal immigration authorities have deported more than 605,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security. While the number is short of the president’s goal, it’s still a record breaker. For comparison, former President Barack Obama, nicknamed the “deporter in chief,” deported roughly 432,000 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2013 alone, according to federal data. In addition to the more than 605,000 illegal immigrants Trump has removed from the United States, roughly 1.9 million others have left on their own, according to DHS. Here are some of the worst of the bad hombres Trump has removed this year. Screenshot//leitooficial_30 on TikTok Infamous illegal migrant social media influencer Leonel Moreno was deported back to his home country of Venezuela in March. Moreno was known for encouraging other illegal migrants to exploit welfare programs as he waved around wads of cash and bragged about the government handouts he’d received. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships The viral TikToker crossed the border illegally in 2022 and was nabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Ohio in 2024 for failing to report to required check-ins with federal authorities. An immigration judge ordered him deported a few months later, but the Biden administration couldn’t get the Maduro regime to accept any deportation flights at the time. When Trump returned to office, that all changed and Moreno was shipped off to Venezuela. Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the illegal immigrant who was shielded by recently convicted Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan during a court appearance, was deported by the Trump administration, DHS said in November. Flores-Ruiz had a rap sheet that included charges for strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse. He had previously been deported in 2013. Flores-Ruiz was arrested in April by ICE officers who waited at the courthouse for the conclusion of his domestic abuse hearing. Investigators said Dugan had been informed of the agents’ presence and grew “visibly angry,” calling the situation “absurd,” according to witness interviews. Dugan directed the ICE agents to the chief judge’s chambers before returning to her courtroom and instructing Flores-Ruiz to exit through the “jury door” into a nonpublic area of the courthouse, according to court documents. ICE agents later found Flores-Ruiz outside the building and cuffed him following a foot chase. Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security The Trump administration also deported Mexican illegal immigrant Rafael Alberto Cadena-Sosa who ran a sex-trafficking ring in Miami, where he and members of his family lured girls as young as 14 from Mexico to the United States under false pretenses, according to DHS. The girls were promised jobs, but were instead forced into prostitution to pay their smuggling debts under the threat of violence, sexual assaults and death threats to themselves and their families. The women were trafficked for sex 12 hours a day, six days a week. Cadena accepted a plea deal and was convicted of involuntary servitude in 2015. ICE arrested him in San Pedro, California before he was deported. Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security The Trump administration deported Aldrin Guerrero-Munoz, who was sentenced to 32 years in prison for murdering his 3-month-old son in Minneapolis. While behind bars, Guerrero-Munoz was convicted for assaulting another inmate. ICE lodged a detainer with local authorities in Minnesota and received custody of him in October before they ultimately deported him, according to DHS. Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security ICE also deported South Korean illegal immigrant Jung Choi, who murdered her male companion’s wife and buried her body in a ravine near San Juan Batista, California, in 2017, according to DHS. She was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 11 years in prison. ICE recently deported her.

Congress might soon be getting a Gen Z conservative shakeup. Michael Alfonso, 25, is seeking to replace Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin’s Seventh Congressional District, as Tiffany is running for governor in 2026. The deep red seat was previously held by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is Alfonso’s father-in-law. Alfonso explained what it’s like being a Gen Z candidate to The Daily Wire’s AmericaFest pre-show earlier this month. “It’s going really well. I think everyone was worried about a 25-year-old running for Congress and everyone we’ve met, no matter how old or young, they’re excited to see someone that shows them that when the older generation is no longer here, there is still hope for the country,” he said. He also said that Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September has served as a motivator for him to get politically active in a more direct way. “I’ve heard it put that it was like seeing a family member die when Charlie got shot. And I think it changed a lot of paths in life. It’s the reason why I’m running for Congress sitting here, and I couldn’t be more appreciative to Turning Point for everything they do and bringing me to this event,” the Republican added, as he also spoke on a panel at the event with other Congressional candidates. His campaign comes as multiple reports have shown that Gen Z is more conservative than their parents’ generation, in addition to other research showing that young people are paving the way for increased church attendance, according to the Barna Group. On the issues, he said that immigration and inflation are his top concerns. “We need to make sure the government isn’t wasting our money on every single thing they do, and we need to make sure that the only people that are here in the United States being a burden or taking tax dollars from the system are United States citizens,” he said. His wife, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, specifically pointed out that her decision to get married young, as well as coming from a large family, is uniquely counter-cultural. “So we met for the first time in middle school, so we’ve known each other for a very long time, and I don’t know, I just think, why delay happiness? Why wait?” she said about meeting Alfonso. Her parents famously met on the MTV reality show “The Real World” in the 90s, and now have nine children together. “If you find someone who you love, who shares your values, why delay that?” she continued. “’I need to build my career or get a master’s degree before.’ You put all these restrictions on yourself, and the greatest joys in your life really are your family. It’s your husband, it’s your children,” Duffy-Alfonso added. “I know this because go what my parents demonstrated for me and my siblings… I think a lot of people think that they are going to be happier replaying life, and delaying marriage, and that’s usually not the case.”

The year in pop culture gave us reality stars smiting governors, a Coldplay concert going viral for nothing music-related, and a pop star’s career crashing upon re-entry. And even though late-night TV had begun to fizzle out years ago, in 2025, Stephen Colbert and co. watched their gigs finally go up in smoke. It’s impossible to look back on the last 12 months and not gawk at late-night propagandists getting their just desserts. For Colbert of “The Late Show” fame, that meant getting a time-release pink slip. Someone finally crunched some serious numbers behind the scenes and realized Colbert’s DNC agenda is costing CBS a pretty penny … $40 million a year, to be precise. So Colbert was forced to read his professional obituary on-air. And the show won’t even go on without him. Come May, “The Late Show” heads to the dustbin of history alongside eight-track tapes and TiVo devices. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images Fellow progressive Jimmy Kimmel was spared that fate, but not by much. The ABC host insinuated MAGA nation fired the bullet that killed conservative hero Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, setting off a series of events that led to Kimmel’s week-long suspension. He got his job back and a tepid show of support via a one-year contract extension. The damage was done. Kimmel’s “Man Show” past and irreverent shtick is no more. Now, he’s more likely to cry on-camera than make us howl. His only hope is that Colbert’s audience tunes in for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” come May, delaying his show’s inevitable cancellation. On the film front, theaters once again struggled to reclaim their pre-pandemic mojo. The box office receipts looked awfully similar to 2024, hardly a golden age for theatrical attendance. Films like “Superman,” “Thunderbolts” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” failed to duplicate that ol’ superhero magic, leaving it to video game adaptations like “A Minecraft Movie” to pick up the slack. At least we weren’t subjected to “Skibidi Toilet: The Movie.” Not yet, at least. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s far-Left agenda got a workout via “One Battle After Another.” The Paul Thomas Anderson screed so overtly progressive even some Antifa types might cry foul. And, of course, it’s bound for Oscar glory come March. Speaking of Oscars, 2025 saw an awards hopeful crash and burn in record time. The woke musical comedy “Emilia Pérez” seemed likely to dominate awards season until we learned some of the less-than-progressive comments made by its trans lead, Karla Sofia Gascón. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce finally made their courtship official, but the best news for football fans is that his Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs. That means no more obligatory “Taylor is crying/cheering/laughing” shots interrupting the NFL action. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images Sylvester Stallone capped a remarkable career by picking up a Kennedy Center Honor at long last, courtesy of former reality show star and two-term president Donald Trump. The 79-year-old legend also defied Father Time by returning for the third season of Taylor Sheridan’s “Tulsa King.” Of course, it would be impossible to recap entertainment in 2025 without a tip of the hat to Taylor Sheridan, television’s undisputed king of rugged episodic dramas. From “The Mayor of Kingstown” to the “Yellowstone” franchise, Sheridan’s shows keep attracting A-list talent and plenty of eyeballs. And he’s positioned to strike gold again in 2026 with the release of the next “Yellowstone” spinoff, “Y: Marshals,” starring Luke Grimes. Sheridan made headlines once again in 2025 by signing a mega-deal with NBCUniversal and having his “Landman” series skewer the “p***ed off millionaires” of “The View.” Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Stagecoach The devastating Palisades fires should have roasted Governor Gavin Newsom’s political fortunes for good. Not quite, but reality show alum Spencer Pratt made it his mission to shame both Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass for their extreme incompetence. “Having the people in charge of the town they just let burn down make any decisions in rebuilding it … seems crazy to me,” Pratt said in one of many well-earned rants. Podcaster Adam Carolla piled on, filing vlog posts decrying the lack of progress on the home building front all year long. HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” became the show everyone talked about at the cyber-water cooler – AKA Elon Musk’s X. This season’s ick factor likely played a part, thanks to guest star Sam Rockwell’s disturbing revelations to that brotherly buss with Ah-nold’s son getting too much attention. And while the culture remains hopelessly divided on political grounds, Americans did unite to mock a Coldplay concert moment that went insanely viral. A Kiss Cam caught Kristin Cabot canoodling with her boss, Andrew Byron, a moment that proved inescapable for anyone remotely online. Netflix remained atop the streaming heap, and its plans to swallow Warner Bros. will have sizable implications for Hollywood and beyond. The streamer’s signature show, a four-episode saga dubbed “Adolescence,” caught everyone by surprise. Each installment, shot in a single take, captured a young boy in the weeks following his arrest for a shocking murder. Must-see TV? Perhaps, but it left audiences feeling queasy for the next generation. If that wasn’t enough, 2025 had us focus on the Sean Combs trial. Sure, we cracked wise about baby oil sales, but the particulars of P. Diddy’s life and alleged crimes made us wonder what else is happening behind the scenes in Hollywood that we won’t hear about for years to come? Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for KP And then there’s Katy Perry. The “I Kissed a Girl” superstar headed into space, or at least a small part of it, via Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard rocket. The experiment became social media fodder, in part due to the “astronaut’s’” inflated sense of self. Perry might have been better off staying in orbit. She experienced not one but two concert accidents, watched her choreography get roasted on social media, and capped 2025 by winning a legal victory over a dying military veteran. She’ll be lucky to Dance with Any Stars come 2026. * * * Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at HollywoodInToto.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Politics may often feel gridlocked, but this year we witnessed powerful examples of what’s possible when courage meets action. In our Best of 2025 Politics roundup, we’re featuring policies and leaders that pushed for equity, justice, and real-world solutions that ripple far beyond the headlines. New York City officially launched enforcement of its mandatory composting program, making compost separation a requirement for all residents as of April. The city’s goal: reduce landfill waste and curb greenhouse gas emissions by diverting organic matter into a separate compost stream. Curbside composting is now expected across the city and is collected on the same day as recycling. Residents must place food scraps, yard waste, and other compostable materials in brown bins provided by the city or in properly labeled and secure containers no larger than 55 gallons. The New York City Department of Sanitation emphasized simplicity and accessibility. “New Yorkers have been clamoring for years for a curbside composting program that’s normal,” said department spokesperson Joshua Goodman. “No special rules, no off days, no starts and stops… but a regular, easy-to-use Sanitation service.” Enforcement begins with fines, sparking mixed reactions To ensure compliance, the city has started issuing fines to property owners who fail to separate organic waste. Owners of smaller buildings (up to eight units) can be fined between $25 and $100, while owners of larger buildings face fines of up to $300 for repeated violations. According to city data, nearly 2,000 fines were issued during the first week of April. While initial enforcement efforts involved written warnings starting in October 2024, the city has now shifted to formal penalties. Some New Yorkers have raised concerns about this approach. “My concern is that, instead of doing outreach, we’re focusing on fear-mongering,” said Lou Reyes, a composting advocate, in an interview with Grist. Participation is rising, but critics urge more transparency Despite the debate, early results suggest the new rules are working. Compost collection in early April rose to 2.5 million pounds, up from 737,000 pounds during the same time last year. Still, advocates say outreach and education are just as important as enforcement. In cities like San Francisco, where composting has long been mandatory, public engagement has been key to success. “I would say our biggest tool that the department uses is education,” said Joseph Piasecki of the San Francisco Environment Department. “We will call, we’ll put boots on the ground… and be like, ‘How can we help you be successful?’” Another sticking point in New York is what happens to the compost after it’s collected. Some of the city’s organic waste is turned into biogas, which critics argue can create emissions and leave behind waste that ends up in landfills. A portion is sent to the Staten Island Compost Facility, while smaller amounts are processed at out-of-state composting centers. By contrast, cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco use compost to fertilize farmland, reducing landfill use and supporting soil health. A step forward, but challenges remain New York City’s composting enforcement marks a major step in scaling up its sustainability efforts and addressing the city’s low composting rate, which has hovered around five percent. However, the road ahead may not be smooth. A bill has already been introduced in the City Council to roll back the composting mandate, according to PIX11. Supporters of composting are urging city leaders to double down on community education and expand transparent, sustainable end-uses for organic waste. While the rollout is still in its early stages, one thing is clear: New York is aiming high, and the next phase of the program will determine whether the city can build a composting culture that sticks.   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Politics may often feel gridlocked, but this year we witnessed powerful examples of what’s possible when courage meets action. In our Best of 2025 Politics roundup, we’re featuring policies and leaders that pushed for equity, justice, and real-world solutions that ripple far beyond the headlines. Norway officially closed the chapter on fur farming, marking a significant victory for animal welfare advocates. Once home to nearly 300 fur farms, the country has now phased out the industry entirely, with the last farmers shutting down operations ahead of the given deadline of February 2025. This move places Norway among a growing list of nations that have decided fur farming belongs in the past, not in modern society. For decades, fur farming was a staple of Norway’s agricultural landscape. Minks and foxes were bred in small wire cages, destined for luxury fashion markets. However, shifting public attitudes, mounting ethical concerns, and political pressure have led to the industry’s decline. The final decision to ban fur farming was made in 2018, with a phase-out period designed to help farmers transition to other livelihoods. Now, as the deadline nears, the country is making good on its promise to shut the industry down for good. The fight for change: how Norway arrived at a ban The push to end fur farming in Norway was not an overnight decision. It was the result of years of activism, investigations, and changing public sentiment. Animal welfare organizations, including the Norwegian Society for the Protection of Animals, played a critical role in exposing the inhumane conditions on fur farms. Undercover footage showed animals in distress, suffering from untreated wounds, and exhibiting signs of severe psychological stress due to extreme confinement. As these images circulated, the public response was overwhelming. By 2018, opinion polls indicated that the majority of Norwegians supported ending fur farming. A petition calling for a ban garnered 35,000 signatures, adding further momentum to the cause. The government, responding to both public and political pressure, announced its decision to phase out the industry entirely. “This decision reflects the values of our society today,” said a spokesperson for the Norwegian government. “We have seen the strength of feeling on this issue and have listened.” Ethical concerns: why fur farming had to go At the heart of Norway’s decision lies a fundamental ethical debate: should fashion justify suffering? While fur has long been associated with luxury, the reality of fur farming tells a different story. Minks and foxes, naturally wild and active animals, were confined to small cages with little room to move. Deprived of their natural behaviors like swimming for minks and roaming vast territories for foxes, many exhibited stress-related behaviors, such as pacing and self-mutilation. Investigations frequently uncovered animals with open wounds, infections, and missing limbs, highlighting the industry’s failure to provide even the most basic level of care. Scientific studies backed up these concerns. The Norwegian Veterinary Association, along with numerous animal welfare experts, concluded that fur farming was fundamentally incompatible with modern standards of humane treatment. Unlike other forms of livestock farming, there was no practical way to raise fur-bearing animals without causing severe distress. As public awareness of these issues grew, consumer attitudes also began to shift. Many major fashion brands including Gucci, Prada, and Burberry have distanced themselves from fur, choosing ethical alternatives instead. The market for fur was shrinking, making Norway’s decision not just a moral choice, but an economically sound one. Transitioning away from fur: what happens next? Banning an industry doesn’t happen without consequences, and Norway has taken steps to support affected farmers. Recognizing the economic impact, the government introduced a compensation plan worth approximately $50 million to help fur farmers transition to new forms of income. Some farmers have moved into other types of agriculture, while others have sought opportunities in tourism, renewable energy, or entirely different industries. However, the transition has not been without challenges. Some fur farmers have contested the decision, arguing that the government’s financial assistance does not fully cover their losses. Lawsuits have been filed, and debates continue over whether the compensation plan is adequate. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about what will happen to the land where these farms once operated, some of which are located in environmentally sensitive areas. Despite these challenges, Norway’s government remains firm in its stance. The focus now is on ensuring a smooth transition while prioritizing animal welfare and ethical business practices. A global trend: the future of fur farming Norway’s decision to end fur farming is part of a larger global shift. In recent years, several European nations such as the United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium have banned fur farming. Others, like France and Italy, have implemented restrictions or species-specific bans. Meanwhile, growing pressure from activists has led to calls for an EU-wide ban. The fashion industry has also played a significant role in this transformation. As demand for fur declines, high-end brands are increasingly opting for sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives. Innovations in synthetic fur and plant-based materials have proven that luxury and ethics can coexist. Even in countries where fur farming remains legal, the industry is facing mounting challenges. California became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of fur, and other regions are considering similar measures. The European Union has received over 1.5 million signatures on a petition calling for a total ban on fur farming, signaling that change is on the horizon. Looking ahead: a shift in values Norway’s fur farming ban is about more than just one industry; it reflects a broader shift in how society values and treats animals. The decision sends a clear message: ethical considerations must take precedence over outdated traditions. As more countries take steps toward banning fur farming, the global conversation around animal rights continues to evolve. This moment is also a reminder that change is driven by collective action. The fur industry did not disappear on its own. It was the result of decades of activism, consumer awareness, and political will. Every decision, from the brands we support to the policies we advocate for, has the power to shape the future of ethical fashion and animal welfare. Norway’s ban is not just an end, it is a new beginning. It sets the stage for a world where compassion leads the way, proving that progress is possible when we choose to prioritize kindness over cruelty.   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.