“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” director Chris Columbus said that he’s still tormented by Donald Trump making a cameo in the 1992 film. Columbus referenced the popular pop culture moment during an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, saying Trump’s seven second appearance in the movie has “become this curse.” “It’s become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone,” Columbus lamented. “I can’t cut it. If I cut it, I’ll probably be sent out of the country. I’ll be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so I’ll have to go back to Italy or something.” “Home Alone 2” followed up on the popularity of the first film. It showed the McAllister family taking a trip to Florida, only the youngest son, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), winds up by himself in New York City. He’s pursued by the same two burglars from the first film, Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci). “We screened the film in Chicago, and when that moment came onscreen the audience went crazy,” Columbus added. “They cheered and they cheered and they thought it was hilarious. I think I know a lot about comedy, but I don’t, obviously, because I never thought that was going to be considered hilarious.” Columbus told Business Insider in 2020 that Trump insisted he be included in the film, but Trump said the opposite is true. “We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie,” the director said during an interview for the film’s 30th anniversary. President Trump addressed Columbus’ claims three years later in a Truth Social post. “I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” he wrote. “They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.” Trump continued, “Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie. Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success … Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!” During the new interview, Columbus stated, “Years later, it’s become this curse. It’s become this thing that I wish it was not there. What’s going through this guy’s mind? He said I was lying. I’m not lying. He said I begged him to be in the movie, but there’s no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie. But we were desperate to get the Plaza Hotel.”

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is aggressively courting Canadian tourists, painting the state as a safe haven from the Trump administration. Newsom launched a tourism campaign targeted at Canadians on Monday as the state attempts to bring back tourists who have canceled vacations in the United States over President Donald Trump’s treatment of Canada. In one video message, Newsom said California and Canada “have always shared so much in common.” “Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don’t let that ruin your beach plans,” the governor added. “California is the ultimate playground — over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset. From our iconic beaches and national parks to world-class wine, food, and outdoor adventure — there’s something here for everyone.” “Here in California, we have plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of love for our neighbors up north,” Newsom stated at the end of the video. As Trump hits Canada with a 25% tariff and repeatedly suggests that the nation should become the 51st state, some Canadians are nixing their plans to travel to the United States. Last year, nearly two million Canadians visited California, spending around $3.7 billion in the Golden State, the governor’s office stated, according to The Los Angeles Times. Canada has also started a billboard campaign in the United States against Trump’s tariffs. According to Global Affairs Canada spokesman John Babcock, the billboards are part of an “educational campaign to inform Americans” about the costs of tariffs. Earlier this month, the Canadian government retaliated with a 25% tariff on over $20 billion worth of U.S. goods. Despite President Trump saying he had an “extremely productive call” with Canada’s new Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, the trade war between the two countries has shown no signs of cooling down in the near future. In the meantime, Newsom — who is expected to run for president in 2028 — is reaching out to Canadian tourists and seeking to further develop economic and political relationships with Canada. On Monday, the governor met with British Columbia Premier David Eby “to discuss opportunities for expanding California’s partnership with British Columbia on climate & trade.” “As tariffs threaten jobs & businesses on both sides of the border, California remains a steady, reliable partner open for business,” Newsom said.

The Trump administration’s Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions Tuesday against four different cartel drug lords accused of peddling fentanyl into the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched the sanctions against four different individuals associated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM), a violent Mexican drug cartel that has smuggled illegal aliens and deadly drugs into the United States and is designated as a foreign terror organization. “Today’s action underscores our commitment to intensify the pressure on violent drug cartels like LNFM, who continue to traffic deadly fentanyl and other drugs, smuggle illegal aliens over our Southwest border, and attack law enforcement,” Bessent charged. “The Trump Administration will continue to use all available tools to target the cartels and other violent organizations that attempt to exploit our communities and harm Americans.” The sanctions freeze any and all property owned by these four individuals currently present in the United States and require financial institutions to immediately report them to Office of Foreign Assets Control. Their cartel, the Treasury Department pointed out, traffics people, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States and carries out kidnappings and murders in Mexico. The sanctions specifically target four siblings, including the co-leaders of the cartel, Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga. The State Department recently announced cash prizes of $5 million and $3 million, respectively, for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the two cartel leaders. The Treasury also hit two siblings of Johnny and Jose, Ubaldo Hurtado Olascoaga and Adita Hurtado Olascoaga, with sanctions. “Ubaldo oversees sicarios, or hitmen, for LNFM and has illegally mined and extracted mercury and uranium for the organization,” the Treasury wrote, adding that “Adita has trafficked arms for her brothers from the United States into Mexico to use against rival cartels in Mexico” and has laundered drug proceeds for the foreign terror organization. These sanctions come after the Treasury announced an earlier round of sanctions against six people tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, another notorious criminal organization that is now designated as a foreign terror organization.

Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has waited over three months to call a special election for a vacant state legislature seat, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without representation, but ensuring her party’s slim control over the legislature. Whitmer’s delay is being blasted by Michigan Republicans as a political trick to keep the GOP from gaining a seat in the state senate. The district’s previous state senator, Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, was elected to the U.S. House in November. With the vacancy, Democrats maintain a one seat majority in the body, 19-18. “It’s all politics,” Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt said in an interview with The Daily Wire. He argued that Whitmer is delaying the special election because Republicans have a shot at winning the seat.  The 35th state Senate District is a competitive electoral region that encompasses Bay City, Midland, and Saginaw. “Right now, there are 270,000 people who have gone without a senator for going on four months now,” said Nesbitt, who is running for Michigan governor in 2026. “And who knows how much longer Whitmer is going to deprive them of representation.” Whitmer, who has been the target of criticism after she was photographed hiding from cameras in the White House, has addressed the delay, but she hasn’t given any specifics on when she will officially schedule the election. The governor told WCMU last week, “At some point there will be one, but I don’t have an announcement to make yet.” “I haven’t made a determination yet,” she added. “There are a number of times in the year that we could call it for, and I just haven’t made a decision yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as, as soon as I do.” The governor’s office did not respond to The Daily Wire when asked if Whitmer was planning on announcing a special election date soon. Michigan law leaves the scheduling of special elections to fill vacancies completely up to the governor, and there is no deadline for how soon a special election must be called. Republicans suspect that Whitmer’s political calculations are likely the reason for the delayed special election. Whitmer is in the final year and a half of her second term, a stretch that could prove pivotal for the Democrat’s legacy and future political aspirations. Keeping Democrats ahead of Republicans by one seat for as long as possible could be a preferable option for the governor instead of risking a GOP pickup in a special election. “You gotta remember, a year and a half ago — November of 2023 — Whitmer called a special election for two state House Democrat seats within two weeks after the November municipal elections, when the House got tied 54-54,” Nesbitt added. Republicans are confident that they can pull off a win in the 35th District, relying on the momentum gained by President Donald Trump in 2024, who won Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties. Michigan Republicans also took control of the state House in the 2024 election. Republican state Rep. Bill Schuette, who represents all of Midland County, told The Daily Wire that Whitmer’s delay “is a disservice to the people of the entire region,” adding that holding a special election as soon as possible shouldn’t be a partisan issue. “It’s about representation,” he said. “I’ve heard from small businesses and people in our community as well who are seeing our budget being debated, and they say, ‘Hey, we only have half of a voice when our state’s multi-billion-dollar budget is being debated,” Schuette added. “That’s not fair.” Whitmer has been blasted for focusing on her recent book tour and potential 2028 presidential aspirations while still serving as governor. The governor was the subject of ridicule last week when she visited Trump in the Oval Office but hid her face behind a folder as members of the media attempted to snap photos of her. “Her most recent comment about the special election is she hasn’t had time to make a decision yet. Well, you know what she has had time to do? Go on trips to the United Kingdom and Ireland and Spain,” Schuette said. “We all saw her hiding her face in the Oval Office. How about doing your job here at home, calling a special election and giving people their voice?”

'[Trump's] standing up for people who have no advocates'

Round of applause to this school district

by Derek Hunter, Townhall: No adult should go by an “ie” or “y” variation of their name – Billy, Timmy, etc. Once puberty hits, any man with self-respect prefers to drop it to sound less like a buddy and more like an adult. CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan doesn’t care. While it’s not “Donny,” and maybe it […]