FBI Director Kash Patel's lavish spending spree on taxpayer-funded job perks has become too much even for one leading Republican lawmaker. Patel has been widely condemned by Democrats and other critics for using a private FBI plane to fly across the country on personal trips, as well as making the bureau buy a fleet of flashy armored BMWs so he didn't have to ride around in the Chevrolet Suburbans typically used by FBI directors. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has now written to Patel asking that Patel, 46, provide information to the House and Senate Judiciary committees, which have been scrutinizing his spending, MS NOW reported.
It's still unclear what has caused more than a thousand people to fall ill with a condition that can cause "explosive" diarrhea, but it is clear that some states have been more impacted than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, between the start of May and mid-June, at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis had been reported in the U.S. Cases of the parasite-based sickness are common each year from May through August, but some states are seeing larger-than-average spikes in cases. Michigan alone has confirmed nearly 1,000 cases so far. On average, the state usually sees about 50 cases a year.
A park that President Donald Trump bragged that he had "renovated" for $16 million suddenly had its water turn a murky brown this week, the latest in a string of his D.C. beautification "disasters." read more
If Republicans are really looking for election fraud, they might want to check on their own party members. read more
The Secret Service advised President Trump not to leave the NATO Summit in Turkey on the newer Qatari-gifted Air Force One, according to a Wednesday report. Sources familiar with the matter said the president flew out of Ankara on the older Air Force One out of an abundance of caution for a potential threat from Iran, although no threats were explicitly identified, The New York Times reported. The Secret Service referred The Hill to the president's Truth Social post made earlier in the day when asked about the assessment from officials. Trump wrote that the Qatari plane "was sent earlier to RAF Mildenhall, so we could show the wonderful Servicemembers, as per the entire Base's request." "They were very excited, picture enclosed. It was on our way back to the States from Turkey, with virtually no deviation of flightpath," he added.
Aug. 26, 2025, 8:12 AM CDT / Updated Aug. 26, 2025, 2:00 PM CDT
By Aria Bendix
A federal-state partnership that monitors for foodborne illnesses quietly scaled back its operations nearly two months ago.
As of July 1, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) program has reduced surveillance to just two pathogens: salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News.
Before July, the program had been tracking infections caused by six additional pathogens: campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio and Yersinia. Some of them can lead to severe or life-threatening illnesses, particularly for newborns and people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.
www.nbcnews.com
Nice going, stinky.