A federal judge excoriated the Trump administration Monday after hundreds of trees were cut down at a historic Washington, D.C., golf course over the holiday weekend, accusing government lawyers of ignoring her warnings and destroying their credibility with the court.

“I am thoroughly unamused right now,” U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said during an emergency hearing over the removal of trees at East Potomac Golf Links, a public course President Donald Trump wants to transform into a championship-level venue.

Government lawyers acknowledged that approximately 430 trees had been removed Saturday, with another 299 slated for removal.

Reyes had repeatedly instructed the government to notify the court and preservationists before undertaking significant work at the course. Instead, officials filed notice at 4:55 p.m. Friday, shortly before the holiday weekend, and began cutting trees early Saturday.

“I trusted you all not to do precisely what you have done,” Reyes told government lawyers. “On what universe did anyone in your offices think that that was acceptable?”

When Justice Department attorney Marissa Piropato said government lawyers had done their best to provide notice, Reyes fired back: “You did your absolute worst.”

The judge temporarily halted further tree removal until at least Tuesday afternoon, warning that violating her order could trigger contempt proceedings.

The National Park Service maintained that the work was part of a restoration plan dating to 2019, before Trump’s proposed redevelopment. Officials said the project would restore the course’s original landscape and improve safety.

But a Park Service official testified Monday that none of the trees removed Saturday had been identified as hazardous. Two officials also acknowledged there was no urgency to the work, according to the Post.

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Preservationists suing the administration argue that the tree removal is part of a larger effort to remake the century-old public course without completing required environmental and historic-preservation reviews.

Reyes said she would reconvene the hearing Tuesday to question additional Interior Department officials about why the work proceeded over the holiday weekend.

“I have no faith that the government isn’t going to cut them down unless there’s an order in place not to do so,” she said.

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Actress Selma Blair was arrested Sunday night after allegedly attempting to open an airplane door midflight and assaulting two flight attendants aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York, according to multiple reports.

Blair, 54, allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another during the confrontation, TMZ first reported Monday.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that officers responded to Delta Flight 938 after it arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 11 p.m. Sunday. Two flight attendants reported injuries, and one was transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

Blair was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation. The FBI is investigating the incident.

A representative for the actress told TMZ that she had experienced a medical emergency. “Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct,” the representative said. “Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.”

The nature of the reported medical emergency has not been disclosed.

Blair, known for her roles in “Cruel Intentions” and “Legally Blonde,” publicly revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018. She has since become an advocate for people living with the chronic neurological disease. In April, Blair said she remained in remission but continued to experience fatigue and other lasting symptoms. There is no confirmed connection between her MS diagnosis and Sunday’s incident.

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Delta said in a statement to Variety that it has “zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior,” adding that passenger and crew safety is its priority.

The airline said the flight landed ahead of schedule despite the incident.

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A five-minute shopping trip to Brooklyn has turned into a multimillion-view social media feud for Kelly Clarkson, who accused a novelty shop of treating her like Julia Roberts’ character in *Pretty Woman* — all over a $15,000 mechanical singing bird.

Clarkson visited Art of Play, a high-end shop on Atlantic Avenue, on Saturday and said an employee looked at her as though she couldn’t afford its merchandise.

“Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy,” Clarkson wrote on X, adding that an employee offered to find her something comparable.

Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale. But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman. For sure, check it out 👎

— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026

“Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” she wrote, suggesting others visit the store if they enjoyed being treated like Roberts’ character in the 1990 film.

The object at the center of the dispute was Molly, a mechanical yellow bird mounted on the store’s wall and used in its magic shows.

this being the bird kelly clarkson wanted to buy😭 https://t.co/jnjtJlkbJw

— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) October 11, 2026

Art of Play responded Sunday that Molly was permanently attached to the wall and wasn’t for sale, although it acknowledged that Clarkson’s description of the encounter would resonate with anyone who had felt judged while shopping.

“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” the business wrote on Instagram, describing the backlash as a “surreal experience.”

Clarkson disputed the explanation, saying she had pointed to a $15,000 price tag and been told the bird was available. She accused the employee of looking her up and down before offering to find her something comparable.

“So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” Clarkson wrote.

Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with 👍 so the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen as you elevator eyed me saying in a condescending tone “yes, it’s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can.” That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it ✅
And by the way, I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things. I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business. It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.
Your store is really cool.
Unfortunately, you aren’t.

— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026

In a subsequent statement, Art of Play said a nearly identical bird made by Seattle artist Bliss Kolb was available for $15,000. The store also said it offered Clarkson a German-made alternative priced at $2,000, but that she left before seeing it.

The business said it had contacted Clarkson privately in hopes of resolving the disagreement.

Its original response ended with a pointed reference to one of the singer’s biggest hits. “As a talented popular singer once said ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’” the store wrote.

By Monday morning, Clarkson’s original post had been viewed more than 40 million times, according to The New York Times. The dispute has divided social media users between those sympathetic to Clarkson’s experience and others who say her enormous platform has unleashed disproportionate backlash against a small business.

Clarkson rejected the suggestion that supporting small businesses meant overlooking poor treatment.

“I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business,” she wrote. “It’s not that hard to be kind.”

Art of Play said it has contacted Clarkson privately in hopes of clearing up the dispute.

The post Behind Kelly Clarkson’s “hazel eyes”: A $15K bird appeared first on Salon.com.

Federal agents searched the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, on Monday morning as part of a criminal investigation, following months of public accusations against the congresswoman by President Donald Trump and members of his administration.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant authorized by a federal judge, according to the Associated Press and The Washington Post.

“This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

The department did not disclose the scope of the investigation or what agents were seeking. Fox News reported, citing unidentified sources, that investigators were examining immigration paperwork completed by Omar’s late father when she was a child.

The search follows repeated allegations of immigration fraud from Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, who previously said he discussed potential legal action against Omar with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Omar, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Somalia, has repeatedly denied the allegations. Federal officials have not publicly presented evidence substantiating them.

Trump has frequently singled out Omar, an outspoken critic of his administration and one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress. His attacks have included calls for her to leave the United States and repeated references to a Minnesota welfare fraud scandal in which Omar has not been accused of wrongdoing.

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The search comes just three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections — and after voting has already begun in Minnesota.

Absentee voting in the state opened Sept. 18, according to the Minnesota secretary of state’s office. Omar is seeking reelection to Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis.

The Justice Department has longstanding policies discouraging investigative actions intended to influence elections. Federal officials have not explained whether election-related considerations factored into the timing of Monday’s search.

Omar’s office had not issued a public response to the search as of the latest reporting. No charges have been announced.

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American Eagle is standing by its fall denim campaign starring “Euphoria” and “Anyone But You” star Sydney Sweeney after a wave of criticism accused the ads of leaning into racially coded language and imagery.

The campaign hinges on a pun: Sweeney talks about inherited traits before a male voiceover says, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”

In some ads, “genes” is crossed out and replaced with “jeans.” What AE framed as playful wordplay struck a nerve with critics, who argued it echoed historic eugenics rhetoric, particularly given the ad’s focus on her physical appearance like her blond hair and blue eyes.

Social media reaction was swift, with detractors calling it “tone‑deaf” and “Nazi‑coded,” while supporters, especially conservative commentators, praised the joke and dismissed the outrage as performative.

On Friday, American Eagle posted a statement to Instagram defending the campaign: “This is about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story,” the company wrote, adding, “Great jeans look good on everyone.” The retailer noted that proceeds from Sweeney’s campaign will go to Crisis Text Line to help victims of domestic violence.

Sweeney herself has stayed silent. Still, the uproar has boosted visibility for the brand, driving spikes in online engagement and even a reported uptick in AE’s stock price — suggesting that in the culture‑war economy, controversy can be as valuable as the clothes themselves.

The post American Eagle defends “Great Jeans” campaign after backlash appeared first on Salon.com.

American Eagle’s new fall campaign starring Sydney Sweeney is under fire—not for the jeans, but for the tagline: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”

The phrase, used in bold on billboards in Times Square and Las Vegas, was designed as a denim pun. But online, many saw something else: “great genes,” a phrase historically used to celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness. This makes this campaign seem to be a tone-deaf marketing move.

And it’s not like they were being subtle about it. One campaign advertisement literally has Sweeney “painting” over the words “great genes” to become “great jeans.”

“Maybe I’m too … woke,” one viral post read, “but getting a blue-eyed, blonde, white woman and focusing your campaign around her having perfect genetics feels weird…” Others described the slogan as too close to “master race” propaganda and said it echoed eugenics-era language used to validate and promote the superiority of white beauty.

Eugenics movements in the U.S. often promoted the idea of “good genes” to encourage reproduction among white, able-bodied people while justifying the forced sterilization of others. Critics say those ideas still show up in modern advertising and influencer culture, often unexamined.

American Eagle has not addressed the backlash directly. The campaign features Sweeney modeling a limited-edition “Sydney Jean” denim collection that benefits Crisis Text Line (a helpline for victims of domestic violence), along with AR filters, AI try-ons and massive 3D billboards in Times Square and Las Vegas.

Despite the controversy, the campaign caused American Eagle stock to spike by as much as 16%. Analysts pointed to meme stock behavior, a viral surge driven by retail traders on Reddit and Stocktwits, not by fundamentals. Like GameStop or AMC before it, AEO became a momentary favorite based on online buzz and speculation.

One commenter summed up the tension: “It’s not just about the jeans. It’s about who gets to be the face of America’s ‘best genes.’”

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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the Trump administration’s proposal to livestream the execution of a convicted mass murderer Sunday, brushing aside concerns that the broadcast could turn him into a martyr, something the editorial board of the “New York Post” argued might result from a public viewing.

The proposal calls for publicly broadcasting the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.

When CBS’ “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan asked whether broadcasting Hasan’s execution could encourage radicalization by turning him into a martyr, Mullin offered a blunt response: “No one has to watch it.”

“I don’t see an elevated risk at this point at all because of this,” Mullin said, arguing that the execution would demonstrate the consequences of attacking Americans.

“I give absolutely zero thought to the way that this man dies,” he added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that Hasan would be executed by firing squad Dec. 3, with the proceedings livestreamed to the public. The execution would be the first carried out by the U.S. military since 1961.

Secretary Hegseth was asked about the execution of Nidal Hasan:

“No-brainer—execution by firing squad…

Of course we’re doing it at Fort Hood. We’re going to do it at 1 o’clock—which is when he did it. It’s going to be soldiers with rifles executing the firing squad.”

— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) October 8, 2026

The proposal has drawn objections from lawmakers in both parties. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, urged the Pentagon to reverse what she called a “gruesome decision,” warning that the broadcast could provide Hasan with the notoriety and martyrdom he seeks.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., also condemned the proposal, saying public executions belong to oppressive dictatorships, not the United States. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said he supports Hasan’s death sentence but opposes broadcasting it.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., warned that livestreaming the execution could provide material for terrorist recruitment.

Others have defended the proposal. Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Dallas and a longtime Trump ally, argued that public executions demonstrate the sanctity of human life. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., also expressed support.

Vice President JD Vance has questioned whether the livestream will actually happen, but won’t watch it if it does. And President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would ultimately decide.

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The controversy comes less than two weeks after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike, who survived two doses of lethal injection drugs Sept. 30. Pike later regained consciousness, and her attorneys have sought to preserve evidence from the botched procedure.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee ordered a review of the failed execution, which has intensified scrutiny of capital punishment methods as the administration considers broadcasting Hasan’s death.

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Russian forces struck Ukrainian energy infrastructure Sunday after President Donald Trump declared an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, raising questions about an agreement that Moscow has yet to publicly confirm.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!”

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported continued Russian attacks, including strikes on energy facilities in Kyiv and Kharkiv after Trump’s announcement.

“Today, there was a statement from the President of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been secured,” Zelenskyy said in a video posted to X. “This is good news for everyone – and it is important that it become reality.”

Today, there was a statement from the President of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been secured. This is good news for everyone – and it is important that it become reality.

Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian “shaheds” all day today. There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening.

Overall, this past week alone, the Russians have carried out more than 200 strikes on our electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine, and another 17 strikes this week targeted gas and oil facilities. They have killed more than 150 of our people, and more than 700 people have been wounded.

Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps. Putin had one answer to all of them – “nyet.” We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace.

Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received all the appropriate orders. We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia – and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said.

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2026

He said Russian drones remained active over Ukraine throughout the day and that a power plant in Kharkiv had been attacked Sunday evening.

“Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader welcomed the proposed ceasefire but emphasized that Kyiv was still waiting for details from Washington and a response from Moscow.

“Ukraine supports such a step, and we have stated that, but now Russia’s response is needed,” Zelenskyy wrote after speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

I am grateful to @MarkJCarney for his sympathy for Ukrainians amid the ongoing Russian strikes. The Prime Minister is very well informed about our defense needs, particularly anti-ballistic defense and preparations for winter. It is very good that Canada has become actively involved in developing the FREYJA anti-ballistic system jointly with Europe. This is exactly what can provide greater protection not only to Ukraine but also globally.

Of course, we also discussed the energy ceasefire announced by the President of the United States. Ukraine supports this step, and we have stated so, but now we need a response from Russia – what Russia will say to the American President and whether it will stop striking our energy infrastructure.

I thank everyone who helps defend Ukraine and advances clear, fair steps toward peace! Thank you to Canada and Mark personally for their full support!

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2026

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s armed forces had received appropriate orders, although he did not specify what those instructions entailed.

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The announcement came amid tensions over Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports, a move intended to lower fuel prices. Trump subsequently criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested that Zelenskyy should be replaced.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would stop striking Russian refineries if Moscow ended its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, provided the arrangement included credible guarantees.

The Russian diesel deal has also drawn objections from U.S. lawmakers. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis questioned its legality Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” warning that easing pressure on Moscow could have deadly consequences.

Trump announced a similar energy ceasefire in September, but neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed that agreement, and attacks continued.

The post Zelenskyy rallies allies as Putin stalls in potential ceasefire deal appeared first on Salon.com.

“Saturday Night Live” took aim at President Donald Trump‘s Nobel Peace Prize complaints and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s plans for a televised military execution, turning two of the administration’s latest controversies into punchlines.

Colin Jost opened Saturday’s show portraying Hegseth welcoming sailors home from the USS Abraham Lincoln, wearing an ammunition belt filled with miniature bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

After congratulating the crew on completing thousands of combat missions with “zero casualties, zero flight mishaps, and zero working toilets,” Jost’s Hegseth offered an update on developments back home.

“In December, as we get into the Christmas spirit, we’re gonna execute a guy in a wheelchair on live TV,” he announced. “That’s right, public executions are back,” he continued, joking that anyone who survived the firing squad would have to fight boxer Jake Paul.

The sketch also mocked a controversial Department of War logo, with a sailor asking whether it featured a Nazi eagle. “It’s an American eagle with a Nazi vibe,” Jost’s Hegseth replied.

James Austin Johnson later appeared as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announcing plans to expand cold and flu season to include listeria, measles and “trench brain.”

Later, Jost returned to the Weekend Update desk, opening with what he called a “tragic developing story” involving Trump. “It’s that President Trump has sadly not won the Nobel Peace Prize,” Jost said, introducing a clip of the president complaining about the award’s recipient.

“He’s genuinely angry that he didn’t win the Peace Prize,” Jost said, pointing to Trump’s military actions before adding, “And he still thought, ‘This is my year.’” Jost compared Trump’s expectations to believing he might win an Oscar for *Tom & Jerry*.

Michael Che returned to the execution controversy, joking that the Pentagon’s proposed livestream would mark the first public execution in the United States since “a couple of weeks ago,” drawing groans from the audience.

Saturday’s episode was hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, with Rosalía as musical guest.

The episode also featured an unscripted moment when host Shane Gillis accidentally dropped an uncensored F-bomb during a Green Eggs and Ham parody. Gillis broke character after realizing his mistake, prompting cast member Mikey Day to incorporate the slip into the sketch. Gillis apologized during the show’s closing credits.

The post “SNL” declares “public executions are back” appeared first on Salon.com.

Newly released NYPD body-camera footage showing the aftermath of an immigration enforcement shooting in New York City has intensified scrutiny of federal agents who shot a man with his 5-year-old son in the car.

The footage shows officers arriving Thursday in Marble Hill to find Oscar Belgal, 28, wounded, handcuffed and seated on the ground. NYPD officers rendered aid and rushed him to a hospital. Police later located his unharmed son with a family member.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the shooting in an initial social media post, saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had shot a New Yorker while his child was in the vehicle.

This afternoon in Marble Hill, a New Yorker was shot by an ICE agent in a residential neighborhood. Early reports indicate agents surrounded him and a 5-year-old child in his car before firing multiple rounds. We believe the child was physically unharmed.

This is an unconscionable and incredibly serious situation. I have called the President; when we speak I will demand that he ends all ICE enforcement actions in our city. I will not stand by while ICE agents terrorize our communities.

Our thoughts are with the injured New Yorker and his family tonight. We are praying for his recovery.

Get ICE out of our neighborhoods. Get ICE out of our hospitals. Get ICE off our streets. Get ICE away from our children.

Abolish ICE.

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 8, 2026

ICE defended the operation, alleging that Belgal, a Dominican national with a criminal record, accelerated his vehicle toward federal agents who feared for their lives. The agency also accused him of gang involvement.

On October 8, at approximately 4:00 PM ET, ICE officers were conducting a targeted enforcement operation in the Bronx, New York, to arrest a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic with a prior criminal conviction for grand larceny, and multiple prior arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession. He has associations to the Trinitarios gang, the same gang who brutally shot a CBP officer last year.

This criminal illegal alien was arrested by the NYPD on December 7, 2023, but was released into the community a few days later by reckless Democrat sanctuary policies that put American lives at risk.

During the incident, an ICE officer discharged his weapon and the criminal illegal alien was injured.

ICE officers immediately rendered aid. The individual is alive and at a local hospital. The FBI and HSI are on the scene. The incident remains under investigation. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

When dangerous illegal aliens are released back onto the streets by radical sanctuary politicians, our officers are forced to make arrests at large in the community in unpredictable and dangerous environments. Our officers should not have to risk their lives, and innocent Americans should not have to face unnecessary danger, because sanctuary politicians refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement.

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) October 9, 2026

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at least one federal agent fired seven rounds, striking Belgal in the neck. Surveillance footage shows armed, plainclothes officers approaching his vehicle but does not capture the shooting itself.

The incident sparked demonstrations across the city, including a Friday march from Foley Square to federal immigration offices in Manhattan.

Mamdani said he unsuccessfully appealed to President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release Belgal. He subsequently called for ICE’s abolition.

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Belgal’s attorneys said he was transferred to New Jersey after the shooting before being returned to federal detention in Brooklyn. A judge has restricted his transfer and temporarily blocked his deportation while his legal challenge proceeds.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called for a “full and transparent investigation conducted without fear or favor.”

The Bronx district attorney’s office is investigating. ICE has not publicly released its own body-camera footage of the shooting.

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President Donald Trump lashed out at the Nobel Peace Prize committee and its 2026 winner, South African human rights jurist Navi Pillay, declaring Friday night that he deserved eight prizes for his foreign policy accomplishments.

“I know nothing about this woman, and neither does anyone else!” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post. “I don’t know what the woman has done.”

Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, received the prize Friday for her decades of work advancing international law and accountability for atrocities.

“In actuality, I should have won 8 Nobel Peace Prizes, not just 1,” Trump wrote, listing conflicts involving India and Pakistan, Israel and Hamas, and six other pairs of countries or parties he claims to have brought to peace.

His assertion that he has settled eight wars is disputed, with some conflicts unresolved and his role in others contested.

Trump also accused Pillay of hating Israel, apparently referring to her leadership of a U.N. commission that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects those findings.

Pillay’s career includes challenging apartheid in South Africa and serving on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she helped establish legal precedents recognizing sexual violence as an act of genocide.

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Trump called the Nobel decision an “indelible stain on Norway” and accused the committee of being “Radical Ideologues who are Anti-Democracy, and Enemies of Civilization!” The committee operates independently of Norway’s government.

The president renewed his complaints Saturday morning, listing his diplomatic achievements and asking why neither he nor the United States received the award.

“WOW!” he concluded.

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President Donald Trump lashed out at Fox News on Sunday morning for not covering his campaign rallies — while the network was covering his campaign rallies.

Trump took particular issue with “Fox & Friends Sunday,” complaining in a lengthy Truth Social post that the program wasn’t giving enough attention to his Saturday rally in Ohio or recent appearances in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma.

“Sad to see that Fox & Friends (Sunday) is not covering our packed house and incredibly enthusiastic (beyond!) Rally last night in Ohio,” Trump wrote.

But shortly before Trump published his complaint, “Fox & Friends” aired a segment about the Ohio rally focused on his comments about artificial intelligence data centers.

Trump nevertheless warned that his supporters wanted to see his rallies on Fox “or they will very quickly stop watching. Like I am doing right now!” Apparently, posting while watching the network he said he was tuning out.

The president accused Fox of spending too much time talking to “Communists, Socialists, and Dumocrats, often without rebuttal,” and singled out “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov.

“We don’t like stupid Jessica Tarlov, and all of the others, that are forced down MAGA’S throats,” Trump wrote.

Trump also offered his own explanation for Maria Bartiromo‘s recent departure from Fox Business, claiming the longtime host was fired “because she complained about not being allowed to cover ‘TRUMP.’”

Fox announced last month that it was parting ways with Bartiromo after more than 12 years. Her departure followed reports that she shared confidential internal guidance about the network’s Trump coverage with the White House. Bartiromo’s attorney disputed reports that she had been fired.

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Trump concluded by telling Fox what he believes the network should be covering. “Cover our ‘happenings,’ and not the opposition to Greatness for America,” he wrote, warning that Fox could otherwise end up with ratings comparable to CNN or MSNBC.

“Remember, Fox tried this act once before, and almost went out of business,” Trump added. “That can happen again!”

The post Trump demands Fox cover more Trump appeared first on Salon.com.

Sen. John Kennedy criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday for publicly sharing what appeared to be Sen. Tom Cotton‘s cellphone number, saying the president can go from “zero to a-hole in three seconds.”

The Louisiana Republican was asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether Trump’s attack on a fellow Republican over daylight saving time helps the party just one month before the midterm elections.

“Every now and then there are disputes in Congress that have existential significance for Western civilization,” Kennedy said. “Daylight saving time is not one of them.”

In his typical folksy ramble, Kennedy defended Cotton, R-Ark., who has opposed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent. “Tom is a rock star senator,” Kennedy said. “If you get between him and what’s best for Arkansas, he’ll devour you like a light snack.”

Kennedy also called Trump a friend before searching for a way to describe the president. “The president, as we know, can be sometimes — um — he exists loudly,” Kennedy said. “He can be tempestuous. He can go from zero to a-hole in three seconds.”

“I don’t think he should have given out Tom’s cell phone number,” Kennedy added. “I don’t think that’s going to help convince Tom.”

Trump spent much of Saturday attacking Cotton for opposing the Sunshine Protection Act, publishing what he said was the senator’s cellphone number and urging Arkansas voters to call him. The president demanded that Republicans “LOCK THE CLOCK” and argued that permanent daylight saving time would provide more afternoon sunlight.

The exchange came after Kennedy offered a blunt assessment of Republicans’ position heading into November. He called cost of living the election’s biggest issue and warned his party against dismissing voters’ economic concerns.

“Telling them not to believe their own lying checkbooks is not going to work,” Kennedy said. “Some of that is our fault,” he added. “We should have done more.”

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Kennedy may also be looking beyond this year’s elections. Asked directly whether he was considering running for president in 2028, Kennedy answered, “Yeah.”

The 74-year-old senator said he currently plans to seek reelection to the Senate but would consider a White House bid if he became dissatisfied with the Republican field.

“If a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers and one of the goobers might win, and I think I can do a better job,” Kennedy said, “I would consider running.”

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“Saturday Night Live” imagined a Republican Party scrambling for a winning message ahead of the midterm elections and finding little help from some of its biggest names.

The show’s cold open featured Republican strategists trying to record campaign ads as the party’s prospects were described as “looking bleak,” cycling through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before President Donald Trump stepped in.

Marcello Hernández’s Rubio initially delivered his appeal in Spanish, only to abandon the pitch and admit that he, too, had been duped.

“Oh my God! He tricked us!” Rubio exclaimed, before rattling off Trump’s conflicts with Venezuela, Iran and Canada.

McConnell, played by Mikey Day, was wheeled onto the set and struggled to deliver his lines, while Jeremy Culhane’s Vance was quickly dismissed after introducing himself.

“We can just AI this,” one of the strategists concluded.

Colin Jost’s Hegseth then barged into the shoot and urged Republicans to “do the gayest thing ever and vote,” while parodying the defense secretary’s recent emphasis on religion and culture-war issues at the Pentagon.

“I’m putting God back in war and it’s working,” Jost said. “Our soldiers are praying a lot more than they used to.”

But James Austin Johnson’s Trump eventually decided he had the solution to Republicans’ problems.

“If the Republicans win, I’ll give everyone $5,000,” Johnson said. “And that is not a bribe because I have no intention of following through on that promise.”

Trump has repeatedly promised a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. The proposal, which would require congressional approval, could cost more than $1 trillion.

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The sketch ended with Republican strategists asking Trump to prerecord a message celebrating a GOP victory.

“We did it! We won! Nobody has ever won so much before!” Johnson declared.

Then they asked him to record another message in case Republicans lost: “We did it! We won!”

The post “Oh my God! He tricked us!”: SNL’s Rubio and others panic over midterms appeared first on Salon.com.

President Donald Trump has found his latest political opponents: Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the nation’s clocks and, apparently, darkness itself.

Trump unleashed a series of Truth Social posts Saturday demanding that Cotton stop opposing legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent, arguing Americans deserve more “SUN” in the afternoon.

“If Tom Cotton were putting Arkansas first, he would give them an extra hour of daylight,” Trump wrote.

The Sunshine Protection Act, originally co-sponsored in 2023 by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and former Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), would eliminate the twice-yearly clock change by making daylight saving time permanent. It would not actually increase the amount of daylight, but shift an hour of it from the morning to the evening by the clock.

Trump escalated the dispute by posting what he said was Cotton’s cellphone number and urging Arkansans to call him. Cotton has remained opposed, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would force children to travel to school before sunrise during winter.

No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter. Arkansans don’t want their kids going to school in the pitch…

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) October 3, 2026

Other Senate Republicans, including Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, have also opposed the measure.

Trump offered several arguments for permanent daylight saving time, including that “CRIMINALS DON’T LIKE WORKING IN THE LIGHT” and that changing clocks in church steeples and municipal buildings is difficult.

He also posted an Oct. 1 letter from PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp supporting permanent daylight saving time. Rolapp cited an industry estimate that additional evening daylight could produce 23 million more rounds of golf and $1 billion in annual revenue.

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Trump claimed a previous U.S. experiment with permanent daylight saving time ended because lawmakers used it as a “negotiating chip” for other legislation.

That’s not what happened.

Congress enacted year-round daylight saving time during the 1970s energy crisis, but public support plummeted amid dark winter mornings and concerns about children traveling to school before sunrise. Congress reversed course before the experiment was scheduled to end.

By Saturday afternoon, Trump had discovered another problem with darkness.

“A table full of very distinguished people just told me that they HATE, immediately after a mandatory time change, going home at night – and it’s DARK,” Trump wrote. “It’s depressing!”

As of publication, the clocks are still scheduled to fall back for most of the country on Nov. 1.

The post “It’s Dark! It’s Depressing!”: Trump demands Tom Cotton release the sun appeared first on Salon.com.

President Donald Trump is sending more than 20 million Medicare recipients a one-time $90 payment — less than half the cost of a single month’s standard Medicare Part B premium — just weeks before the midterm elections.

Trump announced the payments late Friday on Truth Social, describing them as “Checks” of nearly $100 for “wonderful Seniors.”

The White House clarified that eligible recipients will receive $90, mostly through direct deposit beginning in early October. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026.

The payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, established by Congress in 2008 to fund improvements to Medicare’s fee-for-service program. The White House said approximately $2 billion is available in the fund and that it has never previously been used to make direct payments to Medicare recipients.

Trump called the fund a “pointless ‘Slush Fund’” that Democrats had used for “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse for their Special Interest friends.”

Most Medicare Part B recipients will qualify, although people whose premiums are paid by Medicaid and higher-income recipients who pay an income-related adjustment will not, according to the White House.

The payments are the latest in a series of cash promises from Trump as Republicans approach the Nov. 3 midterms. His administration has also announced $500 refunds for nearly 1 million Affordable Care Act enrollees who it says were overcharged under the Biden administration.

Trump used the same Truth Social post announcing the $90 Medicare payments to renew another, substantially larger promise.

Americans, he said, “can also rest assured” that a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” would be distributed to every U.S. citizen “if, and when, the Republicans win the Midterm Elections!”

The administration has not detailed how such a $5,000 payment would be funded or enacted.

The post Trump has $90 for his “wonderful Seniors” appeared first on Salon.com.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is putting religion closer to the top of the Pentagon’s chain of command.

Hegseth announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs during his State of the Force address Wednesday. The office will report directly to Hegseth and advise Pentagon leadership on religious policy, funding and the “spiritual readiness” of U.S. service members.

“No staff filters, no bureaucratic dilution — a direct line to the secretary,” Hegseth said.

The office will also oversee the Armed Forces Chaplains Board and advocate for funding for religious programs across the military.

The Pentagon memo establishing the office says it cannot “compel religious participation” or diminish the rights of service members, civilian employees or family members “of any faith or no faith.”

But Hegseth introduced the ostensibly inclusive office using explicitly Christian language once again.

“Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armor of God because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual,” Hegseth said. “God is good. Evil is not. And America’s military must understand the difference.”

Hegseth also criticized what he called the military’s previous embrace of “political correctness and secular humanism” and claimed fewer than 5% of service members identify as nonreligious.

“So 95% of our force recognizes an Almighty God,” he said.

The Pentagon’s most recent publicly released data, from 2019, found roughly 70% of active-duty personnel identified as Christian. Nearly a quarter had an unknown or unclassified religious affiliation.

The office follows a series of changes Hegseth has made to religious life in the military. The Pentagon this year condensed more than 200 religious affiliation codes to 31, initially eliminating specific classifications for atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans and Wiccans, among others.

Hegseth has also hosted Christian worship services at the Pentagon. During one service in March, he prayed for God to enable U.S. troops to inflict violence “against those who deserve no mercy.”

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Religious liberty groups have challenged those services in court, arguing that Hegseth is using his government office to promote Christianity.

Hegseth says the new office instead ensures religious freedom throughout the military.

“We’re placing spiritual health at the same level as physical health,” he said.

The post Hegseth puts on the “full armor of God” and sets up a sacred “direct line” appeared first on Salon.com.

President Donald Trump’s motorcade approached 100 mph on wet highways Thursday after bad weather grounded his aircraft — and the president boasted about the high-speed trip in real time.

Trump was traveling from a campaign event at a Peterbilt Motors plant in Denton, Texas, to a rally roughly 90 miles away in Durant, Oklahoma, when stormy weather disrupted his travel plans. The president would typically make the trip by air, but conditions prevented planes and helicopters from landing in Oklahoma.

Rather than postpone the rally, Trump opted for the presidential motorcade.

“The Beast is going faster than it has ever gone before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the heavily armored presidential limousine.

Reporters traveling with the president confirmed the unusually speedy trip. A White House press van reached 98 mph at one point as the motorcade traveled north toward Oklahoma, according to Reuters and CBS News.

A little more than 20 minutes after his first post, Trump offered another update.

“I’m almost there Oklahoma — 10 minutes!” he wrote.

Trump ultimately arrived in Durant nearly two hours behind schedule. Once onstage, he gave supporters his own account of the decision to make the drive.

Trump said aides had warned him that the weather was too bad to take either a helicopter or plane and suggested canceling the Oklahoma appearance. He instead asked how fast his presidential limousine could travel.

“We could go close to 100 miles per hour,” Trump recalled being told.

“Get your asses in that car,” Trump said he responded. “We’re going to Oklahoma.”

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The president was in Oklahoma as part of a 32-day campaign blitz ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, campaigning in Durant for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei and U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Hern after appearing with Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas.

Trump said he refused to skip Oklahoma in part because of his electoral history in the state, telling the crowd that he had won all 77 counties in each of his three presidential campaigns.

No injuries were reported during the high-speed motorcade. Trump did not provide a measured speed for the Beast itself. The speed limits on the roads between the two cities range from 45 mph to 75 mph depending on the stretch of road.

The post Get in, loser! We’re going to Oklahoma appeared first on Salon.com.

British counterterrorism police are investigating a possible Iran connection after five men were arrested near a U.S.-used air base on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

Police received a call shortly after midnight Sunday about three suspicious vehicles apparently traveling toward RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, near the southern Welsh border. Armed officers stopped the vehicles and arrested five men in nearby Whelford on suspicion of explosives offenses.

The men were later also arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, according to Counter Terrorism Policing.

Investigators are examining whether the suspected plot is linked to Iran, according to multiple reports. A source familiar with the investigation told Reuters that an Iran-linked motive is considered the leading possibility, while Russian sabotage and an Islamist plot are also being examined.

British authorities have not publicly identified a motive or said who they believe was behind the alleged plot.

RAF Fairford has played a role in U.S. military operations during the war with Iran. American B-1 and B-52 bombers have operated from the base, including for strikes on Iranian missile sites.

Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards warned Britain in July against allowing U.S. bombers to operate from Fairford, saying bases used for attacks on Iranian territory could become legitimate targets.

Police established a roughly 400-meter cordon around the vehicles while an explosive ordnance disposal team examined them. About 85 nearby households were advised to evacuate as a precaution.

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President Donald Trump said Sunday that U.S. and British authorities had worked together on the investigation and claimed the suspects intended to cause “big damage.”

“We had them under investigation,” Trump told reporters. “They were looking to do big damage to our fort.”

British authorities have not publicly confirmed Trump’s characterization of the alleged plot or said how long the suspects had been under surveillance.

“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said.

Police said the immediate incident has been contained, but the investigation remains ongoing.

The post Five arrested near UK-US base in Iran terror probe appeared first on Salon.com.

Two veteran FBI counterterrorism officials were demoted after investigators determined allegedly harassing calls to a top White House aide’s wife did not warrant further investigation, according to multiple reports.

Michael Burgwald, who led counterterrorism operations at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and his deputy, Courtland Rae, were removed from their leadership positions Friday and reassigned to FBI headquarters.

The shakeup followed an investigation into allegedly threatening and harassing calls received by Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

A field office team reviewed the calls but found they did not meet the threshold for an FBI investigation and identified no connection to terrorism, CNN reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

That conclusion reportedly caused friction with FBI leadership.

Bloomberg Law, which first reported the demotions, said Washington Field Office leadership was dissatisfied with the pace of the investigation and that the Miller family shared those frustrations. FBI Director Kash Patel was also displeased with the office’s progress, according to the outlet.

The FBI and White House have pushed back on suggestions that the Millers or Patel ordered the personnel changes.

Washington Field Office chief Darren Cox said he made the decision himself.

“Director Patel did not order this decision,” Cox said. “This was a personnel decision made at the Washington field office level alone based on our constant evaluation of mission needs.”

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said the Millers had never met or interacted with Burgwald or Rae.

“Senior leadership at the FBI determined they were stifling investigations into very serious threats and made a unilateral decision to remove them,” Bis said.

Details about the calls themselves have not been made public, leaving unclear what investigators reviewed or why they concluded the messages did not warrant further FBI action.

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The reassignments also remove decades of counterterrorism experience from the Washington office as the United States remains at war with Iran.

Burgwald is a West Point graduate who has received multiple attorney general’s awards. Rae helped oversee the FBI’s response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Both officials also worked on investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

The Millers and their children moved from their Virginia home into military housing last year amid what the White House has described as a campaign of stalking, doxing and threats against the family.

The post “Very serious threats”: FBI officials demoted after Katie Miller theats probe appeared first on Salon.com.