Christians Slaughtered in Midnight Church Attack

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A horrifying new wave of violence has shaken the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Islamist militants stormed a Christian church and hacked worshippers to death with machetes while they prayed for peace.

The United Nations reports that at least 49 people, including nine children, were brutally killed during the attack, which took place at 1 a.m. last Sunday in the eastern town of Komanda. According to local sources, the congregation was gathered for an all-night vigil when members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — a rebel group tied to ISIS — stormed the church, mercilessly attacking everyone inside. Nearby homes were also set ablaze, and several villagers were abducted.

Global Condemnation

The atrocity has sparked worldwide condemnation. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department called the massacre a “cowardly act of violence against Christians in their place of worship,” adding, “The United States designated the ADF, also known as ISIS-DRC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2021. We strongly condemn this attack on innocent civilians.”

The United Nations’ stabilization mission in the region, MONUSCO, called the attack a “heinous act” and a serious violation of human rights and international law.

According to Illia Djadi, a senior researcher for Christian charity Open Doors, the attack is part of a broader strategy by the ADF to terrorize and destabilize Christian-majority regions of the DRC.

“The ADF have a very clear aim: they want to turn a large part of DRC into an Islamic caliphate, like the horrific one instigated in Iraq and Syria in 2014 by Islamic State,” Djadi said.

In an interview on Tuesday, Djadi warned that sub-Saharan Africa has become the “new epicenter of jihadism,” with Islamic State-affiliated groups expanding their reach. Christians make up an estimated 80–95% of the population in the DRC, making them frequent targets.

A Pattern of Bloodshed

This is far from the first time Christians in the DRC have been targeted. In February, 70 Christians were reportedly beheaded during a church massacre. The violence is even worse in neighboring Nigeria, where Pope Leo XIV recently lamented the “extraordinary cruelty” of attacks that killed around 200 people in a single incident in June.

According to Open Doors International’s 2025 World Watch List, 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide in the latest reporting period were in Nigeria alone — a staggering 69% of all recorded Christian deaths.

Despite a peace initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump between the DRC and Rwanda, attacks have continued in eastern Congo. The government is focused on combating the M23 rebel group in urban areas, leaving rural Christian villages like Komanda exposed to ADF brutality.

Trump Goes on Ballistic Rant and Drops Massive Tariff Bombshell That Will Batter Americans’ Pockets

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President Donald Trump on Sunday insisted there will be no exemptions in the tariffs after there was some confusion when it came to electronics.

‘NOBODY is getting “off the hook” for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!’ the president posted on Truth Social.

A notice released late on Friday suggested gadgets would avoid Trump’s 125 percent import tax on Chinese goods and even his sweeping 10 percent global tariffs.

But his administration clarified on Sunday that electronics would be subject to other tariffs.

‘There was no Tariff “exception” announced on Friday,’ Trump continued in his post.

‘These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff “bucket,”’ he continued. (Read more from “Trump Goes on Ballistic Rant and Drops Massive Tariff Bombshell That Will Batter Americans’ Pockets” HERE)

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Ghislaine Maxwell Names 100 People Linked to Epstein After Getting Immunity Deal

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Ghislaine Maxwell, the infamous Epstein accomplice, has started talking — and the list of names she’s giving federal investigators is reportedly explosive.

According to her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, Maxwell sat down with Justice Department officials this week for two marathon sessions — around nine hours total — and gave information on “100 different people” tied to Epstein. The talks were led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who reportedly gave her limited immunity in exchange for answering every question.

“This was the first time she’s been allowed to answer questions about what really happened,” Markus told reporters Friday. “The truth will come out about Epstein, and she’s the one giving those answers.”

Maxwell, 63, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and conspiracy. Her attorney says she didn’t take the Fifth once during questioning and that Blanche “asked her about everything imaginable.”

“If she lies, they can charge her,” Markus said. When a reporter reminded him she was already charged with perjury at one point, Markus fired back that those counts were dropped after her conviction.

Trump Connection?

Speculation is already swirling that Maxwell’s cooperation could be part of a bid for clemency from President Donald Trump. Markus called Trump “the ultimate dealmaker” and said his client was “treated unfairly” and “didn’t get a fair trial.”

Trump, however, brushed off questions on Sunday while in Scotland. “I don’t know anything about the conversation,” he said. “This is no time to be talking about pardons.”

“No One Is Above the Law”

Blanche himself teased the talks earlier in the week, posting on X: “No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits.”

Sources told ABC News that Maxwell reached out to the DOJ first, setting up the proffer agreement that protected her from having her statements used against her in court. These kinds of deals are typically offered when prosecutors want cooperation for bigger cases.

But Maxwell’s credibility is shaky. In 2022, the DOJ said she had shown a “significant pattern of dishonest conduct” and never took responsibility for her crimes. Still, Markus hinted that Epstein had struck a deal years ago that “no potential co-conspirators would be prosecuted,” suggesting the government may have broken that promise.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has previously hinted at releasing the so-called “Epstein client list,” but nothing has surfaced yet. Maxwell’s testimony could change that.

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino: ‘I’ll Never Be the Same’ After Shocking Corruption Revelations

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In a striking statement on X (formerly Twitter) this past Saturday, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino declared that recent revelations have “shocked [him] down to [his] core,” vowing that he will “never be the same” after what he has learned.

“During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening,” Bongino wrote in his post.

Bongino said he and FBI Director Kash Patel are making it a top priority to root out public corruption and address the “political weaponization” of both law enforcement and intelligence operations.

“The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations. It is a priority for us,” he stated.

The deputy director hinted at alarming findings uncovered during ongoing investigations.

“But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned,” Bongino said.

While Bongino did not provide specific details, he pledged that the investigations will be conducted “by the book” and in full accordance with the law, promising Americans the truth.

“We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law. We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not ‘my truth,’ or ‘your truth,’ but THE TRUTH,” he wrote.

Bongino concluded his message with a patriotic note: “God bless America, and all those who defend Her.”

At this time, it remains unclear what specific revelations Bongino was referring to, but his comments have sparked intense speculation and raised questions about potential political interference within the nation’s top law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Cluster of Potentially Fatal Disease Cases Found in Major City Has Health Officials on Alert

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The city health department has launched an investigation after a cluster of Legionnaire’s disease cases were identified in Harlem over the weekend — with officials urging New Yorkers to take precautions.

Five cases of the potentially fatal pneumonia-like illness were diagnosed in the Manhattan neighborhood in recent days, although no deaths have been reported, the department said.

“Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Toni Eyssallenne said in a statement.

“Legionnaire’s disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early,” Eyssallenne said. “But New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older, those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin.”

Although potentially lethal if not treated in time, Legionnaire’s disease is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics if caught in time, the department said. (Read more from “Cluster of Potentially Fatal Disease Cases Found in Major City Has Health Officials on Alert” HERE)

‘That’s Why I Made the Referrals’: Trump CIA Chief Drops Bomb – Brennan, Comey and Hillary Clinton Could Face Indictment

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe dropped a bomb on Sunday when he clearly told Fox’s Maria Bartiromo that it’s possible there could be “criminal prosecution” of several high profile Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, and even Ratcliffe’s own predecessor, former Obama CIA chief John Brennan.

Ratcliffe made the remarks to Bartiromo on the latest Sunday Morning Futures from Fox News, in an interview that lasted almost 12 minutes, in which the two discussed the administration’s ongoing investigations into the origins of the infamous Steele Dossier, the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation, and other events related to the so-called “Russiagate” accusations made against President Donald Trump as both a 2016 presidential candidate and throughout his term in office — not to mention, the Hunter Biden laptop scandal.

“For a four-year period of time, the truth about the origins of the Russia collusion hoax was hidden from the American people,” Ratcliffe told Bartiromo on Sunday morning. “And, unfortunately, Maria, as you recall, those same people were already at that point in time onto their next hoax, the Hunter Biden laptop. This was a month before the 2020 election.”

The two discussed the evidence that Ratcliffe says he has against multiple high profile former members of the Barack Obama administration in relation to those events. President Obama has been a frequent recent target of Trump, as well as DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who recently floated a charge of “treason” against the former president.

Bartiromo asked Ratcliffe whether the statute of limitations might interfere with any possible criminal proceedings, and Ratcliffe pointed out several instances of the individuals he’d named testifying that were still within the limits. (Read more from “‘That’s Why I Made the Referrals’: Trump CIA Chief Drops Bomb – Brennan, Comey and Hillary Clinton Could Face Indictment” HERE)

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Heartbreaking Video Shows Family’s Tearful Send-off of Teen Whose Organs Were Donated after Being Hit by Alleged Drunk Illegal Immigrant

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A heartbreaking video shows the final moments of a Wisconsin teen’s life that was allegedly taken by an illegal immigrant drunk driver as his family gave their final goodbye before his organs were donated.

Tearful family and friends surrounded the lifeless body of 19-year-old Brady Heiling as doctors wheeled him on a stretcher through a hospital hallway, according to a video posted by his mother, Jen Heiling. Draped across the front of the gurney was a sign that read “DONATE LIFE,” a nod to his organ donation.

“Brady Allen Heiling you are soooooo LOVED!…” his mother wrote in the emotional post.

Loved ones bid the teen, who was hooked up to a breathing machine, farewell as they leaned onto his chest and cried out.

Heiling, along with his “love” Hallie Helgeson, 18, tragically died after an illegal immigrant drunk driver hit them while driving the wrong way on an interstate outside Madison, officials said.

Honduran national Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila, 30, was drunk and driving her SUV the wrong direction on a highway outside Madison when she allegedly struck a vehicle and killed the two teens on July 20, according to police. (Read more from “Heartbreaking Video Shows Family’s Tearful Send-off of Teen Whose Organs Were Donated after Being Hit by Alleged Drunk Illegal Immigrant” HERE)

Federal Judge Blocks a Major Provision in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

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A federal judge has halted enforcement of a provision in the 2025 Reconciliation Act that would cut Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.

The provision would have prohibited Medicaid reimbursements to any abortion provider affiliated with the organization that performs elective abortions and receives over $800,000 in funding.

US District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that this measure violates multiple constitutional protections — especially for Planned Parenthood affiliates that do not provide abortions. She argued that the provision “burdens the exercise of Planned Parenthood Federation and its Members First Amendment rights of association and is thus subject to strict scrutiny review.”

Her argument was that the government does not possess the authority to compel organizations to disaffiliate from Planned Parenthood by using the threat of withholding federal funds — especially when the affiliation is expressive and based on shared values and advocacy.

Talwani referred to the longstanding political effort to defund the organization based on its advocacy rather than its abortion services. She pointed to the provision, which says the measure is “designed to ensure nearly all of the entitites covered are Planned Parenthood Members.”

(Read more from “Federal Judge Blocks a Major Provision in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill'” HERE)

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Why Candace Owens Has the Upper Hand — After the Macrons Sued Her for Claiming France’s First Lady Was Born a Man

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The lawsuit brought by President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, against an American podcaster, Candace Owens, marks an extraordinary appearance by the president of the Fifth Republic in America’s legal system.

Monsieur Macron, though, could have an uphill climb in his effort to hold Ms. Owens accountable for claiming his wife was born a man, and is also Mr. Macron’s father. The lawsuit, docketed at Delaware superior court, alleges that Ms. Owens pursued “a relentless year-long campaign of defamation against the Macrons.”

In March, Ms. Owens broadcast a video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” She has regularly surfaced the issue to her 4.5 million followers on YouTube. She has broadcast a multi-part series titled “Becoming Brigitte.” She is also selling merchandise related to the podcast — a T-shirt portraying Ms. Macron as Time magazine’s “Man of the Year.”

To win their suit, though, the Macrons will have to prove a lot more than just the basic fact that Ms. Macron was born female, which could presumably be resolved by a simple medical examination. The Macrons must clear the high bar of American defamation law — notwithstanding Ms. Owens’s contention that the Macrons are “blood relatives committing incest” and that Mr. Macron was elected via a “mind-control” experiment spearheaded by the CIA.

The Supreme Court, in New York Times Co. V. Sullivan, held that for a plaintiff who is a public figure to land a verdict for defamation, he or she has to prove “actual malice.” That means that the defendant knowingly lied with respect to the claims at issue or acted with a “reckless disregard” for the truth of those claims. This means that the burden rests on the Macrons to prove that Ms. Owens either does not believe her own statements about Mrs. Macron or that she was exceedingly reckless. (Read more from “Why Candace Owens Has the Upper Hand — After the Macrons Sued Her for Claiming France’s First Lady Was Born a Man” HERE)

Details Buried In Recently Declassified Docs Further Implicate Obama In Russia Hoax

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Documents released over the last month have exposed a post-election plot designed to derail President Donald Trump’s first term. The recently declassified material reveals former President Barack Obama sought to continue the Russia-collusion hoax Hillary Clinton had launched during the presidential campaign by directing select members of his intelligence community to craft the deceptive Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. However, a close reading of these documents reveals Obama holds even more culpability than previously discussed.

As The Federalist reported earlier, the CIA’s review of the ICA established Obama not only knew of and “condoned the politicalization of the intelligence community, but that the former president directed the politicalization.” According to the CIA’s “lessons learned” analysis of the deceptive ICA released by the Obama Administration, on December 6, 2016, then-President Obama directed “then-Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper to conduct a comprehensive review of all available intelligence and provide the IC’s best assessment of Russian activities related to the election,” ordering Clapper to complete the review before Trump’s inauguration. And according to former CIA Director John Brennan, the White House worked with him to “established crucial elements of the process,” including directing the CIA to take “the lead drafting the report.”

That White House-directed process included sidelining the National Intelligence Council (“NIC”) which, under standard protocols held “control over drafting assignments, coordination, and review processes” for intelligence assessments. Not only that, but Brennan — the man Obama charged with leading the drafting of the ICA — also marginalized CIA and ODNI analysts, ignoring their conclusion that intel did not support the view that Russia “aspired” to help Trump win the 2016 election. Brennan also trumped the analysts’ objection to referencing the Steele dossier in the text of the ICA and including a summary of the Clinton-funded fake dossier in an annex to the report.

Last week’s release of the House Permanent Selection Committee on Intelligence’s (“HPSCI”) report summarizing the results of its investigation into the drafting of the ICA exposed further corruption behind the assessment that falsely reported Russia aspired to help elect Trump. That 46-page report revealed how, after the election, Brennan ordered the publication of three substandard intelligence reports which, along with the Steele dossier, “became foundational sources for the ICA judgments that Putin preferred Trump over Clinton.”

The HPSCI report also detailed the flaws in that intel, as well as how the ICA further misrepresented what the belatedly created intelligence reports stated. The HPSCI report further highlighted the extensive evidence omitted from the ICA — intel which conflicted with the Obama-ordered assessment’s conclusion that Russia aspired to help Trump. The Federalist summarized these top take-aways last week. (Read more from “Details Buried In Recently Declassified Docs Further Implicate Obama In Russia Hoax” HERE)