Chris Salcedo urges Americans to reject leftists and their enablers in 2026 midterms

In an interview with journalist Christopher Rufo, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed a shocking statistic. Hundreds of billions in the U.S. budget are being thrown down the sewer on waste, fraud, and abuse each year. The information comes from the General Accounting Office (GAO). A GAO analysis found that between $233 billion and $521 billion was lost […] The post Sec. Bessent: The US Lost $233B-$521B to Fraud Alone in Four Years appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

WASHINGTON—The ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Good after she blocked federal officers with her car and then drove toward him with her vehicle has the staunch backing of the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday. Leavitt reiterated President Donald Trump’s position on the incident as she spoke to reporters outside the White House on a frigid Monday afternoon, tearing into protestors for opposing the ICE operations in Minneapolis — operations intended to make their community safer. “All weekend long, you had agitators and violent American citizens out in the streets of Minneapolis ‘protesting,'” Leavitt said. “Protesting what, exactly? Apparently, they are protesting the removal of heinous murderers and rapists and criminals.” The White House press secretary praised the ICE agents who continue doing their work despite the backlash from left-wing protestors. She specifically emphasized that the Trump administration has the back of the ICE agent who shot 37-year-old Good, described by her neighbors as a “warrior” member of an “ICE watch” group. “ICE is doing an incredibly important job that’s not just important to our homeland security, but our national security,” Leavitt said. “This administration will continue to stand wholeheartedly by the brave men and women of ICE, including that officer in Minneapolis who was absolutely justified in using self-defense against a lunatic who is part of a group, an organized group, to interject and to impede on law enforcement operations.” WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 12: U.S. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House on January 12, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) She added, “It’s disgusting what we have seen from the Left, and I think that it just shows you where the modern-day Democrat Party stands today in protecting illegal alien pedophiles and rapists and murderers over law-abiding American citizens and our brave men and women who serve in law enforcement.” The ICE agent who is currently under heavy scrutiny was previously dragged over 100 yards down the street as he chased an illegal immigrant who was convicted of “repeatedly sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter,” the Daily Wire’s Jennie Taer previously reported. The officer repeatedly tried to de-escalate the situation and gave the suspect the opportunity to comply, court documents show. According to the Department of Homeland Security, there has been a 1,300% increase in assaults on ICE agents, a 3,200% surge in vehicle attacks on ICE agents, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE agents. DHS blames this rise in violence against ICE agents on the “malicious rhetoric of sanctuary politicians.” Democrats across the board argue that the ICE agent killed Good without justification. Top voices like Zohran Mamdani outright accused the ICE agent of murdering Good, former presidential candidate Kamala Harris said the “Trump administration’s explanation of this shooting is pure gaslighting,” and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has repeatedly characterized ICE and their activities as dangerous to the public, telling ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis.” Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were quick to back the agent, citing videos of the incident showing that he shot Good after she drove her car into him. “I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” the president said in a post on Wednesday. “It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense.” Trump said at the time that “the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis.” “They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE,” he argued. “We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!” As for Vance, the vice president took the podium at the White House press briefing on Thursday and aggressively defended the administration’s immigration enforcement, backing the ICE agent and calling on reporters to pray for the man facing so much backlash, arguing that the agent “wishes he was not put in the position where he had to fire a gun to defend his own life.” “The way that the media, by and large, has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace,” he told the White House press, “and it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.”

All the Hollywood celebrities are out and showing their absolute rage — but not at the Iranian government mowing people down in the streets. As cataclysmic events take place in Iran, with apparently hundreds or thousands of protesters being shot to death, a number that has even been estimated to be 10,000, it’s good to know the folks in Hollywood have their priorities straight.  The Golden Globes were held on Sunday night, providing an opportunity for members of the Hollywood contingent — who prize their pseudo-morality over everyone else’s — to make a stand. After all, they’ve made stands on issues as far back as Tibet in the 1990s (which they conveniently have now forgotten all about). Remember when last year, a bunch of Hollywood celebrities pranced around like fools, claiming that a genocide that was not happening was, in fact, happening, and criticized the State of Israel for defending its own existence.  This year, they have a different cause because, hey, new day, new cause. Now, what could that cause be? The cause of the Iranian people who are out in the streets risking their own deaths to defy the mullahs? The people of Iran, many of whom are secular and westernized in their attitudes toward the state? Are those the people toward whom Hollywood directs all of its sympathies? Are they sparing a moment for those people?  Of course not.  Hollywood put on a show at the Golden Globes, and everything was about ICE and LGBTQ and Bari Weiss taking over CBS, because, you see, these are the real threats.  According to people in Hollywood, you should have your eyes focused like a laser beam on the predations of ICEt enforcing the law with regard to illegal immigration and deporting people for welfare fraud. You should have your eyes focused like a laser beam on Bari Weiss taking over CBS News and preventing it from its long history of inaccurately reporting the news.  You should be focused like a laser beam on the terrible predations that affect LGBTQ+- people all over the United States. It is an act of bravery to stand up at the Golden Globes and virtue signal on behalf of the LGBTQ+- community. So last night, a bunch of celebs showed up and decided — as our Moral Guideposts, the lodestars of our civilization — that the chief things you need to worry about as an American are ICE, LGBTQ+-, and Bari Weiss. Hostess Nikki Glaser began the evening by going after the most deserving target, who deserved her absolute rage: Bari Weiss and CBS News. Mark Ruffalo showed up and said it was hard to pretend anymore that we don’t live in a “dictatorship.” Thus saith the man who wears a tux at the Golden Globes and gets paid millions of dollars to play the same character that he has played in every other miniseries and movie for the last two decades. “We have a woman, Renee Good, was murdered in our streets of America today, and we got literally stormtroopers running around terrorizing. And as much as I love all this, I can’t. I don’t know if I can pretend like this crazy stuff isn’t happening. It’s so hard to pretend anymore,” he complained. It’s hard for him to pretend? He’s an actor. This is a person who spent the last two years basically standing on behalf of terrorist groups in the Middle East. But it’s very hard for him to pretend that there aren’t “stormtroopers” wandering the streets. You know what’s cool about being able to say that sort of thing? There aren’t stormtroopers wandering the streets — because throughout history, when there were stormtroopers wandering the streets, celebrities didn’t get to go on camera and talk about how there were stormtroopers wandering the streets. In fact, there are many places on Earth where the stormtroopers do wander the streets. For example, Iran, where there are stormtroopers shooting people in the head for protesting. Did Ruffalo have a word for them? Nope. He had a little pin that read, “Be Good,” referencing Renee Good. Hollywood always seems to pick the side that opposes law enforcement or opposes the West. “The guy’s a convicted felon or convicted rapist. He’s a pedophile,” Ruffalo said of President Trump. “He’s the worst human being. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we’re all in a lot of trouble. So this is for her. This is for the people in the United States who are terrorized and scared today. I know I’m one of them. I love this country. And what I’m seeing here happening is not America.” He slandered the president of the United States as a pedophile, called him the worst person in the world, for, among other things, extraditing Nicolás Maduro — a Marxist dictator responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands and probably hundreds of thousands of people and the exile of literally millions of people. That, to Mark Ruffalo, is a big moral problem. Not a word to spare for the millions marching in the streets in Iran right now, thousands of whom are getting mowed down by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ariana Grande also showed up wearing her ICE Out pin, the new hot thing in Hollywood. Frankly, any amount of weight added to her garment puts her at risk of falling over. Wanda Sykes showed up to talk about LGBTQ+-, saying, “You know, there’s some people pissed off that a queer black woman is up here doing the job of two mediocre white guys.” This is where Hollywood puts its priorities. There are people on earth literally putting their lives at risk, their bodies on the line for their own freedom. And Hollywood has nothing to say to them. Nothing. Are you seeing protests on campuses in favor of the Iranian people right now? Have you seen a single protest? You have not. Have you seen a single mass protest by all of these international-law-loving, human rights-adoring left-wingers, the Zohran Mamdani wing of the Democratic Party, in favor of the protesters in Iran, who simply want their horrifying theocratic regime gone? You have not. Have you seen a single comment from Democrats, beyond a kind of “thoughts and prayers?” You have not. Have you seen protests in the streets? You have not. Have you seen calls for material aid? You have not. It’s sad-sack nonsense, because there are people in the world who are doing something courageous and incredible right now. And Hollywood and the Left are gladly looking the other way.

America’s frustration with congressional stock trading exploded after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) trades were exposed by Autopilot investment app co-founder Chris Josephs. Five years later, lawmakers may finally be forced to respond. On Monday, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) introduced the “Stop Insider Trading Act,” delivering a sharp message to his colleagues. “If you want to trade stocks, you should go to Wall Street,” he said. “We are very excited by this bill as we believe it is the most reasonable one proposed to date,” Josephs told The Daily Wire. Steil’s bill would prohibit lawmakers from buying individual stocks during their tenure, though it would not force them to divest securities they owned before taking office. And while their buying power is limited to index funds, their selling power is left largely unrestricted. Lawmakers would be able to sell individual securities as long as they provided notice at least seven days before the trade. The legislation does not put limits on other types of investments such as real estate, bonds, or commodities. Josephs said the bill meaningfully tightens the rules. “Although it’s not perfect, it has stricter penalties and forces politicians to buy broader market index funds, which are much harder to insider trade on.” The bill doesn’t just end with lawmakers; it puts the same restrictions on their spouses and dependent children. Previous efforts have drawn criticism for potentially limiting the careers of the children of the lawmakers. Addressing those concerns, the legislation limits coverage to minor children and adult children still claimed as dependents on a lawmaker’s tax return. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) takes credit for getting this legislation to the floor. “After years of insider trading, the discharge petition we brought forward and the members both Democrat and Republican who chose to put their names on it to stop the individual trading of stocks has finally worked,” the lawmaker said. “A bill is expected to be passed out of committee as early as this week that will prohibit members of Congress from buying individual stocks.” Previously, Luna argued that half-measures are insufficient. “The only way to close the loophole is to ban congressional stock trading in its entirety.” Along with Luna’s support, Steil says he has support from House GOP leadership, who have promised to give it a floor vote once the legislation is debated and amendments to the text are considered. Steil looks at the legislation as “an opportunity to regain America’s trust.” However, the bill is not the only recent effort to attempt to “regain the country’s trust.” In 2020, several senators were accused of trading stocks after private COVID briefings, triggering bipartisan outrage. From 2021 to 2023, multiple bills were introduced, including mandatory blind trusts and outright trading bans, but none became law. Any proposal would ultimately require lawmakers to vote to restrict their own trading, a hurdle Congress has repeatedly failed to clear. Josephs acknowledged the familiar pattern. “We’ve seen this rodeo before though, so still lots to come on if it’ll actually pass, but it definitely is a step in the right direction.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into major grocery store chains in the state for potentially misleading consumers by spraying organic-labeled produce with pesticides. “I’m investigating major grocery chains for spraying organic produce with pesticides without telling consumers,” Paxton posted to X on Monday. “It’s not only wrong for grocers to mislead consumers about chemicals being sprayed on their food—it may very well be illegal.” NEW: I’m investigating major grocery chains for spraying organic produce with pesticides without telling consumers. It’s not only wrong for grocers to mislead consumers about chemicals being sprayed on their food—it may very well be illegal. pic.twitter.com/lMK2yawntb — Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) January 12, 2026 Consumers who spend money on organic produce generally expect that harmful synthetic pesticides are not being used, though some naturally derived pesticides are permitted on organic foods. Paxton said the pesticide in question is called Produce Maxx, which is an EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticide containing high concentrations of hypochlorous acid and considered a form of chlorine. More than 50 retail brands across 10,000+ stores in North America use Produce Maxx, according to PolitiFact. It’s unclear how many spray “organic” foods as well. “Consumers buying organic produce assume they haven’t been treated with pesticides,” a press release from Paxton’s office said. “They don’t know that stores are spraying pesticides on the organic produce while it’s on the shelf.” If a customer is unaware of such in-store spraying, they might not wash their organic produce. This is an issue since federal law “requires produce sprayed with chlorine to be rinsed with drinking water before consumption to maintain USDA organic certification,” the release explained. “Many grocery stores hide their misting equipment and Produce Maxx containers from customer view and provide no signage or warning labels about the pesticide treatment and the need to wash the organic produce,” the office charged. “There should be no shortcuts when it comes to food safety, and my office will ensure that Texas consumers are not misled about the state of the produce they purchase,” Paxton said. If Texas grocery stores continue using antimicrobial pesticides like Produce Maxx on organic produce, they must disclose this to customers, while also including instructions to rinse this food before consumption, he said. Related: ‘Drink Up, America’: USDA’s Whole Milk Promo Has The Perfect Trump Twist

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Monday warned countries against doing any business with Iran, promising that any such countries will pay a tariff on their business with the United States. “Effective immediately,” the president shared on Truth Social, “any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.” “This Order is final and conclusive,” he added. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump’s post comes as demonstrations throughout Iran challenging the cleric-controlled system rock the Iranian regime. Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Morning Wire this week that the demonstrations are the most consequential challenge to the Iranian government’s legitimacy since the birth of the Islamic theocracy in 1979. “Iranians pushed past reform, Iranians pushed past the ballot box and found the street to be the best way to contest the state and make their case,” Taleblu explained, “not just to their fellow compatriots and citizens, but to the world that they seek wholesale political change – not evolution, not musical chairs at the top, not another fig leaf, not putting lipstick on a pig.” TEHRAN, IRAN – JANUARY 12: People join a pro-government rally on January 12, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Stringer/Getty Images) Iranian authorities have restricted citizen access to the internet for five days now as the protesters chant “Death to Khamenei,” referencing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian security forces are responding to the unrest with violence: U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that 503 protesters in Iran have died. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the president is ready to use military force against Iran if necessary. In June, the United States struck and obliterated Iran’s nuclear sites under Operation Midnight Hammer, destroying the country’s nuclear program for the time being. “I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table,” Leavitt shared during a gaggle with reporters outside the White House. “Diplomacy is always the first option” for the president, she noted. “He told all of you last night that what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately,” Leavitt said. “The president has shown that he is unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.” And the president himself said on Sunday that Iranian leaders called him to negotiate, saying: “I think they are tired of being beat up by the United States.” The president shared that a meeting is being set up, but noted that he may “have to act” before that meeting occurs “because of what’s happening.” He also told reporters that he and his military are “very seriously” considering their options given the violence in Iran: “There seems to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed. These are violent — if you call them leaders, I don’t know if they are leaders — they rule through violence.” “We’ll make a determination,” the president said.

Sometimes, as parents, we have to teach our children tough lessons. It’s important that they understand the difference between right and wrong from a young age. We’ve probably all heard a story about a small child who took a toy or a piece of candy from a store, and their mom or dad made them return it and apologize. Even though it might be scary or embarrassing in the moment, the child probably won’t do it again. A little girl named Lilly from Connecticut learned that dialing 911 isn’t a joke, and her parents made sure she apologized. Lilly Wrote an Apology Letter for Her 911 Call The North Haven Police Department shared a copy of Lilly’s handwritten note on Facebook. The little girl admitted she had called 911 and wanted the police to know how sorry she was. She sent a handwritten note. “Sorry for calling 9-1-1 on Des 21 I thot it was a play phone,” she wrote. “I won’t do it again.” The New Haven Police Department wanted Lilly to know they forgave her for making the 911 call. “Lilly, We got your letter. It’s ok. Things happen…,” the police department shared. The police department’s post went viral, and people loved seeing the compassion. “At least she knows what 911 is and now knows it’s not a play thing. Beautiful letter Lilly!” Someone wrote. “Hey, at least she was practicing an important skill. Kudos Lilly for knowing how to reach heroes, and kudos to the parents for teaching her to follow up on an innocent mistake,” another person agreed. Many shared their own 911 stories. “I called 911 when I was like 4 cause our fan wouldn’t turn on and my parents were asleep and I was hot so I called and turns out it wasn’t plugged in,” someone recalled. “My daughter did this when she was at her dad’s for the weekend. I sped right over with a clay face mask on and in a Snuggie. The cops laughed at me and told me go back home and enjoy your night off,” another parent shared. “thank you Ansonia PD.” This story’s featured image can be found here.

Sheinelle Jones and her late husband, Uche Ojeh, had a very special connection. The pair met in college and shared a 17-year marriage, during which they had three children. Doctors diagnosed Uche with brain cancer in 2023, and he died in May 2025. During his illness. Sheinelle stepped away from her duties at the Today Show to care for her ailing husband. Following his death, Sheinelle remained home with her family before returning to work in September. In December, Today Show executives named her as Hoda Kotb’s permanent replacement for the 4th hour of the show, now called Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. @jennasheinelle “Now it just feels like confirmation because here we are two years later and he’s like, told you. ” Sheinelle recalls a text from Uche encouraging her to take on the co-host seat on the 4th hour. #JennaAndSheinelle ♬ original sound – TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle The Debut of “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” Brought Tears During the January 12 debut, Sheinelle told Jenna about a text message she’d received from Uche years before his death. “When Hoda announced that she was leaving, he was really sick, and he wasn’t talking as much, but I could talk to him, and he could send me emojis and stuff like that, and that would be how we talked,” she explained. At the time, Uche sent Sheinelle a screenshot of an article about Hoda’s retirement, along with several emojis encouraging Sheinelle to go for it. “It didn’t even register for me. He kept trying to go back to it, and I was like, ‘No, we gotta save your life first. I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about you,'” Sheinelle said. “So now, it just feels like confirmation because here we are like two years later and he’s like, ‘Told you.’” Today with Jenna & Sheinelle shared the clip on social media, and fans loved the sweet moment. “I am so happy you have found this new home. I have loved your style, caring, and compassion since day one. This is the perfect place for you,” a fan wrote. “Their marriage is such a testament of God’s promise to her and her family because even though she lost this person, he is still guiding her path through the memories of stuff they shared and it’s very inspirational,” another person added. This seems like such a wonderful partnership, and we look forward to the future of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. This story’s featured image can be found here.