In testimony Wednesday on Capitol Hill, a Pentagon official placed the cost of the Defense Department's Operation Epic Fury at about $25 billion, a figure that did not fully account for damaged or destroyed equipment or U.S. military installations damaged. read more
Former Homeland Security Secretary and noted slayer of puppies Kristi Noem is drawing criticism after reports that, nearly two months after her firing, she appears to still be living in government housing typically reserved for top Coast Guard leadership. read more
U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed in an April 30 congressional hearing that Russia is supporting Iran in the current war with the United States. read more
The far-right Daily Wire faced mass layoffs this week " gutting the team of the long-prominent outlet initially founded by conservative activist Ben Shapiro. According to The Wrap, "Ben Shapiro's right-wing media company confirmed the layoffs in a statement to media on Friday afternoon, saying that impacted staffers are 'a number of teams' and layoffs were largely concentrated to its Nashville headquarters. 'Today, The Daily Wire made a difficult decision to restructure the organization, which included layoffs to a number of teams,' a spokesperson said." The Daily Wire has been the focus of drama in previous years, one of the biggest incidents being the firing of right-wing star Candace Owens for pushing antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Florida's Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd took aim at MAGA influencer and Jan. 6 riot participant Craig Long on Friday after the pro-Trump figure was caught in a human trafficking sting operation. The sheriff laughed at a press conference that the arrest would provide the influencer with "some content for his social media." "Then there's Craig Long we arrested " some of you may recognize him," Judd said, speaking during a press conference announcing that the sting operation had yielded 266 arrests. "He's an influencer, he also owns Craig Long Fitness in Tampa, [Florida] " he was [soliciting]. Did I tell you that he's married? That he's got 125k followers on Instagram, 560k followers on TikTok? Well, I'm gonna give him some content for his social media today." According to CBS-affiliate 10 Tampa Bay, Long, 41, was a participant in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and is an influential MAGA influencer and strong supporter of President Donald Trump.
Another J6 feral trumper was arrested during the same sting.
Another arrest highlighted by Judd was Ryan Yates of Odessa. Yates' arrest report was not available at the time of this report, but PCSO said he was caught on camera entering the undercover location (a hotel room), talking to the undercover detective and taking his pants off.
Yates was sentenced to six months in prison for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, in which supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Yates was later pardoned by the president.
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