Miranda Lambert is stepping up for her home state of Texas. Continue reading…

Last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a petition to release the full grand jury record from the Ghislaine Maxwell case. And, like clockwork, a federal judge has just blocked that effort. Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama appointee, denied the DOJ’s request to unseal the grand jury records from Ghislaine Maxwell’s case. Take a look: JUST IN: Manhattan Judge Paul Engelmayer — an Obama appointee — just BLOCKED the Trump admin’s effort to unseal the entire grand jury record from the Ghislaine Maxwell case. This means key testimony tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s network, potential high-profile names, and the full… pic.twitter.com/kswrun2Axp — Tony Lane (@TonyLaneNV) August 11, 2025 JUST IN: Manhattan Judge Paul Engelmayer — an Obama appointee — just BLOCKED the Trump admin’s effort to unseal the entire grand jury record from the Ghislaine Maxwell case. This means key testimony tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s network, potential high-profile names, and the full proceedings will stay hidden from the public. Pam Bondi petitioned for release on July 18, but Engelmayer claimed the government didn’t make a “compelling case” — even with the massive public interest. What are they protecting… and WHO?   Should these files be released? In effort to be transparent about the Jeffrey Epstein case, DOJ asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury records in the Ghislaine Maxwell case. Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama appointee, reviewed the material and rejected the request, writing this: https://t.co/WGFwQU1Gc3 pic.twitter.com/3i1IL4Iii9 — Byron York (@ByronYork) August 11, 2025 In his ruling, Judge Engelemayer said he is refusing to unseal the grand jury transcripts because they do not reveal anything new related to Maxwell or Epstein. He argued that the records definitely do not implicate anyone other than Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to see here, folks… Just shut up and take the judge’s word for it! The New York Post has more: US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said the transcripts revealed “next to nothing new” — in a scathing decision that ripped the Justice Department for overhyping the files, going so far as to suggest it was all a “diversion.” “There is no ‘there’ there,” Engelmayer wrote in his searing 31-page ruling finding that the DOJ failed to make a compelling case to disclose the grand jury testimony, which typically remains sealed. The “entire premise — that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein’s and Maxwell’s crimes, or the Government’s investigation into them — is demonstrably false,” he wrote. “The court’s review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence.” In a sharp jab, the judge said that the best argument for releasing the files was to demonstrate how “disingenuous” the DOJ has been in its arguments for unsealing the transcripts. “[One] might conclude that the Government’s motion for their unsealing was aimed not at ‘transparency’ but at diversion—aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such,” Engelmayer wrote. The judge also said that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, when asked to highlight any new pieces of information in the testimony, flagged only “scattered words, clauses and occasional sentences” that would provide “next to nothing new” for any member of the public interested in knowing more about Epstein’s sick sex schemes. The government had provided the judge with a copy of the transcripts and their highlighted portions on Friday. “The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor. They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein’s or Maxwell’s,” Engelmayer wrote. “They do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epstein’s or Maxwell’s crimes,” he continued. “They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein’s death. They do not reveal the path of the Government’s investigation.” I’m sorry, but if there really is “no ‘there’ there,” as this judge claims, then, why can’t we see it ourselves? Super sketchy… It’s notable that Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers did not want the transcripts released, either. The New York Times reported: Ms. Maxwell was arrested a year after Mr. Epstein’s death and in December 2021 was found guilty of sex trafficking and other charges. Her conviction was affirmed on appeal. She has asked the Supreme Court to review her case. Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers have argued that she had been scapegoated by federal prosecutors who had no one else to prosecute after Mr. Epstein died. The lawyers had resisted the government’s request to release the transcripts, writing that while Mr. Epstein is dead, “Ghislaine Maxwell is not.” “Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable and her due process rights remain,” they said. Hmm. This whole thing is very suspicious. What are they trying to hide? If there’s nothing “there”, why not just release it? Why do we have to take the judges word for it? — sarcastic savant (@super_dilly) August 11, 2025 Your thoughts?

Actor Charlie Sheen is back in the headlines, but this time for a good deed. The former star of Two and a Half Men sent $1,000 to one of the victims of the Cincinnati Brawl. Sheen sent $1,000 to Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, who started a fundraising campaign for Holly, one of the brawl’s victims. USA Today provided more details on Sheen’s donation: Charlie Sheen is supporting one of the victims of the Cincinnati brawl that went viral. Sheen, 59, responded to an X post from conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson, revealing that he was the anonymous $1,000 donor to an online fundraiser Johnson created for a woman named Holly, who was reportedly knocked unconscious during the violent brawl on July 26. “My Ohio connections run deep, and what happened to you will NOT be tolerated by the ‘true’ Ohioans (Like yourself), as justice will reign supreme,” the note on the donation read, signed with Sheen’s initials. “Heal well, young lady, and know that we are all rooting for you!” The “Two and a Half Men” alum’s parents, actors Martin Sheen and Janet Sheen, were both born in Dayton, Ohio, although Janet Sheen grew up in Cincinnati. The couple met in school in New York City, where Charlie Sheen was born. Johnson told Sheen he was “saving a life” with his donation. Sheen replied on X: “I was merely following your gracious lead.” “The speed at which you and Sen (Bernie) Moreno hatched the donation plan, was stunning and compassionate and as patriotic as it gets,” he continued. “You both reminded all of us of the America we remain proud to call home. Keep up the great work, and to Holly, ‘we’ have your six.’” Sheen said, referencing that they had her back, signing off the note with “xox. cs,” his initials. Take a look at the X exchange here: Benny! I was merely following your gracious lead! The speed at which you and Sen Moreno hatched thedonation plan, was stunning and compassionate and as patriotic as it gets. You both reminded all of us of the America we remain proud to call – home. Keep up the great work, and to… — Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) August 5, 2025 Here’s footage of the brawl: “The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable.” Four suspects have been identified for their role in a violent brawl on the streets of Cincinnati, Ohio. Police say it was a sudden dispute following a verbal altercation and are working to identify… pic.twitter.com/lgP0QBVTD7 — Fox News (@FoxNews) July 28, 2025 The aftermath: Fourth slugger busted in Cincinnati brawl as new video shows moments before melee https://t.co/rzBMCrJfUC pic.twitter.com/breDKXayj6 — New York Post (@nypost) August 2, 2025 Fox News reported an update on the individuals arrested for the brawl: The update comes the same day all six individuals arrested in connection with the viral beating in downtown Cincinnati have been indicted by a grand jury and are facing additional charges. Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, are each charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital. “What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know and love,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said. “These charges hold those involved in the attack accountable.”

Vice President JD Vance just shared his wish for Elon Musk to join back with MAGA. In an interview with The Gateway Pundit‘s Jim Hoft, VP JD Vance sent a message to Elon Musk, calling it a “mistake” for him to break off from President Trump. He laid out a clear argument for Elon Musk to “come back into the fold” before midterms. Watch VP Vance’s message to Elon here for yourself: BREAKING JD Vance just called on Elon Musk to come back into MAGA before the Midterms. HUGE “I think it’s a mistake for him to try to break from the president – my hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold” I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS pic.twitter.com/XDgKFpoIDR — MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) August 11, 2025 For those who prefer to read, here’s a transcript: JD Vance: He’s obviously got a complicated relationship right now with the Trump White House. My argument to Elon is like, you’re not going to be on the left, right? Even if you wanted to be. And he doesn’t. They’re not going to have you back. That ship has sailed. And so I really think it’s a mistake for him to try to break from the president. So my hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold. But, I don’t think he’d take my call right now about anything. I kid, I’m sure he would take my call. But, obviously the drama around him and the White House in the last couple of months, again, my hope is it kind of cools down a little bit. Because he did help us a lot in the election. The president even says, all frustration, Elon was a very critical part of the team last election. And so, my hope is by the midterms, things are kind of back to normal. Jim Hoft: Right. That would be nice. JD Vance: Knock on wood…we’ll see. Jim Hoft: Yeah, I was going to ask that question. JD Vance: You know, knock on wood. I always say, my attitude is that I try to be sort of pretty big tent about this stuff. Like, if you’re patriotic, you’re not trying to stick your knife in the back of the president, you’re not trying to betray the movement, I don’t care about these minor little disagreements and issues. We have to kind of win with the whole movement together. That’s kind of the attitude that I try to take. It’s nice to see that VP JD Vance isn’t holding any grudges against Elon Musk and wants to see him reconcile with President Trump. Elon Musk would be a great asset to have during midterms, as he was during last election cycle. And, it already appears that he is beginning to have a change of heart towards the MAGA movement. While Elon Musk said he was going to form him own party, called the “America Party” last month, he hasn’t actually taken the necessary steps to follow through with this. However, he has donated millions of dollars to Republican PACS. Business Insider reports: Elon Musk hasn’t gone “founder mode” on building the America Party just yet. On July 5, enraged by the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” and encouraged by the results of an online poll, Musk said he would form a new political party in the United States. Over a month later, he hasn’t taken any of the formal steps necessary to do so, and he hasn’t publicly mentioned the idea in weeks. That’s despite praise from Mark Cuban and a warning from the head of the Democratic Party that Musk’s effort should be “taken seriously.” In the meantime, several polls have indicated that while many Americans are hungry for a third party, far fewer are interested in one founded by Musk. This week, one of his top aides at both DOGE and xAI announced that she was breaking off to start her own podcast. Musk has also remained a major GOP donor as he’s toyed with the idea of starting a third party and feuded with President Donald Trump, according to campaign finance records made public at the end of July. The tech titan gave a total of $15 million to several GOP super PACs on June 27, including: $5 million to MAGA Inc, which supports Trump; $5 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which supports GOP senators and Senate candidates; $5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, which supports Republican House members and candidates. Those donations came just days before Musk said he’d form the America Party — and weeks after he first floated the idea at the beginning of his feud with Trump. It would be great to see Elon Musk back with President Trump in some capacity, even if that just means giving him and the Republicans he endorses during the midterms his support. If you want to watch Vice President JD Vance’s full interview with Jim Hoft, you can do so right here:

It was an extremely wet weekend in Wisconsin. Wisconsin experienced torrential rain over the weekend in the state’s Southeast region, resulting in historic flooding. In response to the flooding, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard to assist in recovery efforts. Take a look at some of the scenes from the flood: Drone video captures historic flooding along the Menomonee River in Wauwatosa, near Mount Mary University. Get live updates here: https://t.co/U4gNreTFBI pic.twitter.com/X9wSC2qndi — TMJ4 News (@tmj4) August 10, 2025 Massive #Flood#Wisconsin, #USAugust 10, 2025 pic.twitter.com/UjyHwZnwms — Science Joy (@InsideOurBodies) August 11, 2025 We are tracking a major flash flood in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with structures along the river inundated and debris piling up on the railroad track bridge! Over 10 inches of rainfall from overnight. Crests may still be coming with recent heavy rainfall pic.twitter.com/z4NTS2sQjt — Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) August 10, 2025 Fox 6 Now reported on the flooding more in-depth: Southeast Wisconsin saw historic and dangerous flooding this past weekend (Aug. 9-10). A flood warning remained in effect until 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11. However, several river flood warnings remain in effect for several counties. Catastrophic flooding has impacted Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, and other surrounding communities. Multiple counties have declared a state of emergency, and Governor Evers has approved help from the National Guard. More videos of the flooding: Torrential rain caused flooding in southeast Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, with some areas recording more than a foot of rain. pic.twitter.com/BMIh0uVcUF — AccuWeather (@accuweather) August 10, 2025 Cars were abandoned and rail lines were submerged after record flooding hit Wisconsin. https://t.co/Qp17yD1lYM pic.twitter.com/ZBlHSyvSAx — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 11, 2025 AP reported the city of Milwaukee is currently drying out from the flood: The Milwaukee area began drying out Monday after weekend rain hit unofficial records in Wisconsin of more than 14 inches (36 centimeters) in less than 24 hours, leading multiple rivers to flood at record-high levels, washing out vehicles, flooding basements and cutting power to thousands of homes. No fatalities had been reported as of Monday morning from the storms that began Saturday night and stretched into Sunday. Road closures were more isolated Monday as flood warnings continued in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Ozaukee counties. About 2,000 homes in the area remained without power as of Monday afternoon. Residents couldn’t believe what they saw as rains pounded the area Saturday night. Colby McMillan and a friend were driving home around 11 p.m. in Milwaukee when their car stalled out in what McMillian thought was just puddle.Then the water started coming in under the door. “As the water was coming in, it was like, ‘What is happening?’” McMillan said Monday. “It was very, very shocking to me. We had to get out of this car and out of the rain. I had never seen anything like this before.”

Vice President JD Vance expressed his hope that, by the time of the midterm elections, SpaceX CEO and former special government employee (SGE) of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk, will realign himself in support of the Trump administration.