'He's genuinely concerned'

'My neighbors are collectively showing their asses'

'I don't support those policies'

'All the GOP has to do is not screw it up'

'I made a very serious threat'

Big changes

LIVE UPDATES — ICE Shoots, Kills Driver In Minnesota

Ohio’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy selected Senate President Rob McColley as his pick for lieutenant governor in this year’s election, prompting approval from a number of state Republican and conservative leaders. Henry Gomez with NBC News first confirmed the pick on Tuesday night. He also referenced a Monday night column from McColley published in The Columbus Dispatch, “Vivek Ramaswamy loves America and Ohio. ‘Identity politics’ be damned.” NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy has picked Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate for lieutenant governor, his campaign confirms to NBC News.The new GOP ticket will make its debut Wednesday night in Cleveland.— Henry J. Gomez (@HenryJGomez) January 6, 2026 Ramaswamy will give a special address in Cleveland on Wednesday evening, and is expected to make the official announcement of McColley in front of supporters. Current and former Ohio state legislators and conservative leaders swiftly approved the selection of McColley, casting him as well-liked, an effective leader, and a conservative legislator especially on the issues of education and taxes. The president of the Ohio-based Center for Christian Virtue, Aaron Baer, celebrated the “OUT OF THE PARK PICK” on Tuesday night on X. LETS GO!! OUT OF THE PARK PICK. @VivekGRamaswamy has a bold vision for Ohio to vault us out from the middle of the pack and make us a LEADER in the nation. Rob is the right man to help make this happen. Here’s the man I’ve seen through the years at the statehouse? https://t.co/sUaNhR7yLY— Aaron Baer (@aarbaer) January 6, 2026 Baer shared the stage with McColley and The Daily Signal President Rob Bluey last October, at a summit in Columbus hosted by the Center for Christian Virtue. McColley and Bluey spoke with Baer and took questions on family policy and the government shutdown. Rob’s Christian faith is evident for all to see. He was one of the speakers at CCV’s Essential Summit this year, calling Christians to put their faith in action and stand for the family. pic.twitter.com/NVdjYr5yYL— Aaron Baer (@aarbaer) January 6, 2026 Several other Ohio political figures shared their excitement with The Daily Signal. “Senate President McColley is an incredible pick for Vivek as they work to build a state of excellence,” state Rep. Adam Mathews told The Daily Signal. “From tax cuts to regulation reform to affordability, these two have the bold vision and the practical skills to best lead Ohio.” State Rep. Gary Click also spoke highly of McColley to The Daily Signal. “Out of a crowd of super qualified candidates, Vivek made a strong pick for L.G.,” he shared. “Rob McColley makes a great ticket even greater. The first major choice a governor makes is who will be his running mate. Vivek nailed it and the future of Ohio grew just a little bit brighter tonight.” Click added that “McColley is a proven leader who we know will bring results because he already has a history of doing so.” Others initially speculated to be picks for lieutenant governor also celebrated the news on social media. I applaud @VivekGRamaswamy For his selection of @Rob_McColley for LG. They will make a great team and compliment each other in Ohio’s Executive Branch. The best is yet to come. ???https://t.co/w0ptrC1XA9— Rep Gary Click ?? ?? (@clickforohio) January 6, 2026 Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is running for state auditor, called McColley a “conservative champion.” .@Rob_McColley is a conservative champion and a sharp policy mind. I’ve had the privilege of working with him in the state senate and now as Secretary of State, and I'm honored to call him a friend. @VivekGRamaswamy has laid out a series of bold and innovative ideas, and Rob has… pic.twitter.com/kp0OpCcSUJ— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) January 7, 2026 State Sen. Kristina Roegner, who is running for treasurer, praised McColley as an “EXCELLENT choice.” Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou, who will be among those present in Cleveland on Wednesday for the official announcement, released a statement praising McColley and referenced being “united,” a sentiment he’s stressed before regarding this race. He also highlighted Ramaswamy’s fundraising numbers, with the candidate raising nearly $20 million in 2025. pic.twitter.com/dVF6hv5QEE— Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) January 6, 2026 Triantafilou referred to McColley as “a young yet highly seasoned legislator who knows how to get things done in Columbus.” McColley is 41 and has served time in both state legislative chambers since 2015. Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican who has served in U.S. Senate since last January, congratulated McColley on X on Tuesday night and referenced their “shared roots in northwest Ohio.”Husted previously served in many roles in Ohio state politics, including most recently as lieutenant governor. He is running for re-election this November, and appeared at an event with Ramaswamy in September where the two endorsed each other. As a former Lt. Governor, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to my friend @Rob_McColley on being selected as lieutenant governor nominee by Vivek Ramaswamy. Our shared roots in northwest Ohio make this moment even more special.As Lt. Governor, Rob has the opportunity…— Jon Husted (@JonHusted) January 7, 2026 Donovan O’Neil, the state director for Americans for Prosperity for Ohio, highlighted the selection as an “OUTSTANDING pick” and also referenced how McColley earned the organization’s Taxpayer Torch Award in 2019. The Cook Political Report has rated the gubernatorial race as “Likely Republican,” giving Ramaswamy a significant edge. Some polls have shown a potentially tightening race between Ramaswamy and Democratic candidate Amy Acton, however. On Wednesday morning, NBC reported that Acton picked David Pepper, a former Ohio Democratic Party chair, to be her running mate. Current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has already served for two terms and cannot run for a third consecutive term, according to state law. He endorsed Ramaswamy for governor on Wednesday. My statement endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor and Rob McColley for Lieutenant Governor: pic.twitter.com/f3Db1FRtYZ— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 7, 2026 The post Vivek Ramaswamy Has Selected His Running Mate appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations and current president of the U.N. Security Council, has a role in a Cincinnati health care company which faced federal scrutiny over a Medicaid fraud conviction, HHS confirmed Monday.  “I can confirm public speculation that Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN and President of the Security Council, is in fact associated with Progressive Health Care Services, a home health agency in Cincinnati,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill posted on X. “HHS has previously taken action against Progressive in response to a conviction for Medicaid fraud.” “More to come,” O’Neill added. I can confirm public speculation that Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN and President of the Security Council, is in fact associated with Progressive Health Care Services, a home health agency in Cincinnati. HHS has previously taken… pic.twitter.com/zWIlC63Qer— Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill (@HHS_Jim) January 5, 2026 HHS’ National Provider Identifier system lists “Abukar D. Osman” as “president & CEO” of Progressive Health Care Services Inc., located on Boudinot Avenue in Cincinnati. The company did not respond to calls from The Daily Signal to the number listed on the registry. HHS declined to provide further information on the alleged Medicaid fraud connection. “By statute we cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation,” Bethany McCorkle, communications director for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, told The Daily Signal Tuesday. Scrutiny for Somali Community The U.S. Somali community is facing renewed scrutiny in the wake of multiple fraud scandals in Minnesota. The Minneapolis nonprofit Feeding Our Future reported fake food distribution sites while collecting federal child nutrition assistance in a $250 million fraud scheme. The office of U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen has charged at least 78 defendants connected to the scheme, and 56 of them have pleaded guilty. Authorities have also filed charges in a $14 million fraud case involving an autism program and a multi-million dollar fraud case involving housing stabilization services. One federal prosecutor has estimated Medicaid fraud in the state to have exceeded $9 billion. According to the Associated Press, around 89% of the defendants in the wide-ranging fraud cases trace their descent to Somali immigrants. Minnesota state Rep. Kristen Robbins, a Republican, previously told The Daily Signal that while Somalis make up a majority of defendants in the cases, “some of the best whistleblowers have come from the Somali community.” Somali refugees come to the U.S. to escape the civil war in their homeland, which has dragged on for more than 30 years. Piracy, grinding poverty, and the influence of radical Islamist groups like Al-Shabaab continue to trouble the East African country. Somalia at the U.N. The U.N. General Assembly elected Somalia to join the Security Council for a two-year term as a non-permanent member in June 2024. Osman, as the Somali representative on the Security Council, manages the council’s schedule and presides over its meetings as president for January 2026. The Daily Signal reached out to the Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to the United Nations for comment and did not receive a response by publication time. The United Nations declined to comment for the story. The post Somalia’s UN Ambassador Associated With Fraud-Connected Ohio Health Company, HHS Confirms appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Judge Dugan Resigns, Will Retain Pension