UN Warns of “Classroom a Day” Death Toll as Gaza Children Face War, Starvation, and Aid Blockades

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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached devastating new heights, with the United Nations reporting that an average of 28 children are dying every day due to ongoing bombardment, severe malnutrition, and restricted access to aid. That figure — the equivalent of a full classroom — highlights what the UN has called an unfolding catastrophe for an entire generation.

In a stark warning shared Tuesday, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) described the daily toll as “death by bombardments, death by malnutrition and starvation, and death by lack of aid and vital services.”

According to UNICEF and other aid agencies, children in Gaza are in desperate need of food, clean water, medical care, and protection. “More than anything,” the agency said, “they need a ceasefire, NOW.”

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, following a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel, the reported death toll in Gaza has surpassed 60,000 people, with more than 150,000 wounded, according to data from local health authorities.

The blockade and bombardment have led to 188 starvation-related deaths, including 94 children, amid what UN officials have described as a “man-made famine.”

For surviving children, the crisis has robbed them of any sense of normalcy or safety.

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have closed border crossings into Gaza, allowing only 86 trucks of aid per day, which accounts for just 14% of the minimum 600 trucks needed daily to meet basic needs, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

International pressure has pushed Israel to announce limited “humanitarian pauses” and conduct airdrop operations, but residents say the efforts have made little difference. On the ground, desperate civilians reportedly fight over scattered rations, with images showing crushed food tins and chaotic crowds at drop zones.

While the humanitarian community warns of starvation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected those claims, stating: “There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza. We enable humanitarian aid throughout the duration of the war.”

Former U.S. President Donald Trump openly disagreed with Netanyahu’s assessment, citing recent images of emaciated children. “Those children look very hungry,” he said last week.

Israel continues to assert that Hamas is interfering with aid distribution, allegedly diverting supplies for its own use. However, the United Nations has pushed back, stating there is no evidence of systematic looting and that when aid is permitted to flow at adequate levels, diversion largely ceases.

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Fort Stewart Soldiers Hailed as Heroes After Halting Base Shooting

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A mass shooting at Georgia’s Fort Stewart military installation was brought to a swift end on Wednesday thanks to the courageous actions of several soldiers who tackled the suspected gunman moments after he opened fire.

The alleged shooter, identified as 28-year-old Sgt. Quornelius Radford, reportedly used a personal handgun in the attack, which left five fellow soldiers wounded — three of whom required surgery. All injured personnel are currently in stable condition and are expected to recover.

Brigadier General John Lubas, speaking to reporters during a press briefing, credited the rapid response of servicemembers who witnessed the shooting.

“Soldiers who witnessed the shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the shooter so he could be brought into custody,” Lubas stated. “Their actions prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.”

The shooting occurred at Radford’s workplace within the base and involved his coworkers, according to Lubas. Authorities have not yet released a motive, though Radford is being interviewed by Army investigators.

Radford, who serves as an Automated Logistics Sergeant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, had no known combat deployments or disciplinary history prior to the incident. Officials are investigating how he managed to bring a firearm into a secured area.

“We’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of duty,” Lubas said, adding that base leadership remains confident in the installation’s overall security measures.

A potential DUI charge from May has surfaced during the investigation, though Lubas noted that this information only came to light during post-incident background checks and was not previously known to Radford’s chain of command.

Radford is currently in pre-trial confinement, and the case has been referred to the Office of Special Trial Counsel, which is expected to determine formal charges in the coming days.

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Former DOGE Staffer “Big Balls” Beaten Bloody in DC Carjacking Attempt by Juvenile Mob

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A former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer was left bloodied and concussed after a brutal attempted carjacking by a group of 10 juveniles early Sunday in one of the busiest areas of the nation’s capital, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old software specialist known by former colleagues as “Big Balls” — a nickname born from his bold LinkedIn tagline — was reportedly out with a female companion near downtown D.C. when the group of teens approached their parked car and made comments about stealing it.

Sensing danger, Coristine pushed his companion into the vehicle and confronted the group alone, according to a police report obtained by The New York Post.

“The gang tried to open the closed doors and slammed [Coristine] against the car extremely loudly while attacking him,” a source told reporters. His companion dialed 911 from inside the car as he was being beaten.

Police officers on patrol in the 1400 block of Swann Street NW — a well-trafficked area near Dupont Circle, about a mile north of the White House — witnessed the attack in progress and immediately intervened. The mob scattered, but two suspects — a 15-year-old male and a 15-year-old female from Hyattsville, Maryland — were caught and later identified by Coristine as his assailants. Both were charged with unarmed carjacking.

Coristine, who had his iPhone 16 stolen during the attack, sustained a broken nose, black eye, and concussion, and was treated at the scene by DC Fire and EMS personnel. He is reportedly recovering, according to a source close to the family.

The image of Coristine’s battered face quickly gained national attention after former President Donald Trump shared it Tuesday on Truth Social, calling the attack “disgraceful” and blaming local leadership for the spike in urban crime.

“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,” Trump wrote, threatening a federal takeover of the District if city officials “continue to fail to protect citizens and visitors.”

Marko Elez, a former DOGE colleague of Coristine’s, claimed he took the now-viral photo shortly after the attack and praised Coristine’s bravery.

“My friend Big Balls … is a hero,” Elez wrote. “He protected a young woman from an attempted carjacking by 8 thugs near Dupont Circle. Violence like this in the heart of DC is completely unacceptable.”

Elon Musk, who previously led DOGE before resigning in May, also weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), denouncing the attack — though he did not name Coristine directly.

Coristine left DOGE in June 2025, shortly after Musk’s exit. He had become a standout among the agency’s younger staffers, with his bold approach to government tech reform and larger-than-life personality.

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Sicko Arrested for Trading Child Porn with Ousted Republican

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An Oklahoma man was arrested for allegedly swapping child pornography with disgraced South Carolina state Rep. Robert “RJ” May over a month after the former lawmaker was booked.

Christian Soto, who has a lengthy criminal record including threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, was arrested in connection with the FBI’s probe into May’s online exchanges of more than 220 graphic files of child pornography.

Now, Soto faces additional federal charges including receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and prohibited possession of ammunition.

May (R-Lexington), a 38-year-old father of two, was arrested at his home in June after authorities found he used the online handle “joebidennnn69” to trade explicit content of young children and toddlers engaging in sex acts over five days last spring.

The three-term representative allegedly requested content of “bad moms” from Soto, who operated under the more stereotypical degenerate handle “randomcouplehere,” according to court documents obtained by KOCO. (Read more from “Sicko Arrested for Trading Child Porn with Ousted Republican” HERE)

Vance to Meet With FBI, DOJ Officials Over Epstein Strategy, Possible Maxwell Interview Release

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Vice President JD Vance is expected to meet with senior officials from the Department of Justice and the FBI to determine the administration’s next steps in handling the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — including whether to release the administration’s July interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, multiple sources confirm.

The high-stakes meeting will take place at the vice president’s residence and is expected to include Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, according to CNN and a source familiar with the planning who spoke to the Daily Caller.

The central topic of discussion will be how to craft a unified and credible response to mounting public and political pressure surrounding the Epstein case. During a two-day interview in July, Blanche reportedly questioned Maxwell about nearly 100 individuals allegedly tied to Epstein’s operations — a move many believed would lead to long-awaited transparency. However, expectations were dampened after a leaked memo, published by Axios, claimed that the investigation had concluded and no formal “client list” would be released.

Vice President Vance’s scheduled meeting comes amid growing frustration among the president’s base, many of whom feel misled after years of speculation surrounding Epstein’s network and the individuals allegedly involved. Former President Trump has recently attempted to downplay the investigation, calling the public narrative a “hoax.”

Following her interview with federal officials, Maxwell — who is currently serving a 20-year sentence — was quietly transferred from a federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Texas. Meanwhile, her legal team continues to push for privacy, filing a motion earlier this week to keep grand jury transcripts sealed in the Southern District of New York.

Public pressure has continued to mount for transparency, with one official telling the Caller, “You can arrest all the drug leaders and cartel leaders, but people want closure on this case, and the attorney general must find a better way to reconcile that.”

As the administration weighs whether to release the Maxwell interview — or potentially other sealed materials — the outcome of Vance’s meeting could signal a turning point in one of the most secretive and politically charged investigations in recent history.

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DOJ Requests DNI Documents Following Gabbard Criminal Referral on Russiagate Conspiracy

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) a request for a treasure trove of documents related to the ongoing federal investigation into the Obama administration’s Russiagate operation, The Federalist has learned. According to a letter to ODNI senior adviser Paul McNamara, which was obtained by The Federalist, the DOJ has requested from ODNI a wide array of documents about the Obama administration’s 2016 and 2017 attempts to frame then-President-elect Donald Trump as an agent of Russia who stole the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton.

The request comes on the heels of the declassification and public release of records from late 2016 and 2017 which show how top intelligence and law enforcement officials — including former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former DNI James Clapper — conspired to fabricate a narrative that Russia meddled in the 2016 election in order to elect Trump. The declassified records showed that top intelligence experts objected to the narrative, highlighted myriad issues with the so-called intelligence used to support false claims about Trump, and even told Brennan that he was misrepresenting facts and ignoring counter-evidence as part of a push to attack Trump, cripple his transition, and even hijack his presidency.

Fox News reported on Monday that the DOJ had authorized the empaneling of a federal grand jury to investigate whether Comey, Brennan, or other top Obama administration officials committed any crimes as part of their operation to use the nation’s top intelligence and law enforcement agencies to smear Trump.

The DOJ letter from a federal prosecutor, which was sent in response to a request from Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard for the DOJ to investigate any potential criminal wrongdoing related to the production of the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that claimed without evidence that Russia sought to elect Trump in 2016, asks for 12 different categories of documents related to Gabbard’s criminal referral.

“Pursuant to the authority and director of the United States Attorney General, I have been assigned responsibility for investigating this criminal referral,” the letter states. (Read more from “DOJ Requests DNI Documents Following Gabbard Criminal Referral on Russiagate Conspiracy” HERE)

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Clinton Subpoenas Shock D.C. as House Expands Epstein Files Probe

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In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing congressional probe into the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, House Republicans have issued sweeping subpoenas to former federal officials — including Bill and Hillary Clinton — demanding testimony and records tied to Epstein’s long history of sex trafficking and alleged government cover-ups.

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), announced Tuesday that it is seeking sworn depositions from more than a dozen high-profile figures, including former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, as well as six former U.S. Attorneys General. The Department of Justice has also been ordered to produce unredacted records — dubbed the “Epstein Files” — by August 19.

The move comes just days after the DOJ interviewed Epstein’s notorious accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. According to her legal team, Maxwell answered questions about “100 different people” and has been subpoenaed again to appear before Congress, potentially signaling a shift in strategy as her appeal heads to the Supreme Court.

“The facts and circumstances surrounding both Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell’s cases have received immense public interest and scrutiny,” Comer wrote in his letters, emphasizing the need for full transparency into the federal handling of Epstein’s prosecution and connections.

Among the most notable names on the subpoena list are:

Former President Bill Clinton, who flew aboard Epstein’s private jet at least 26 times.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, scheduled to testify on October 9.

Former FBI Directors James Comey (Oct. 7) and Robert Mueller (Sept. 2).

Former AGs Bill Barr, Jeff Sessions, Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Alberto Gonzales, and current AG Merrick Garland.

Clinton representatives have not commented on the subpoena. Legal experts note that former presidents may claim executive privilege, though such claims often face limitations in congressional investigations.

The broader investigation intensified after the July 6 release of a DOJ-FBI memo stating no “client list” was found, despite public assurances from Attorney General Pam Bondi that thousands of pages of Epstein-related material were under review. Former Epstein associate Maxwell was questioned again later that month.

President Trump has called for full disclosure of the Epstein records, asserting on Truth Social that the American people “have a right to know.” He also criticized the DOJ for “overpromising and under-delivering” on its handling of the case.

Trump’s political rivals have long attempted to tie him to Epstein due to a past social acquaintance. However, Trump says he cut ties with Epstein in the mid-2000s and has consistently supported full public release of any credible records.

As pressure mounts, observers are questioning whether Maxwell will begin cooperating more fully in exchange for clemency — and whether the Clintons or others will actually appear before Congress as scheduled.

Majority of U.S. Adults Say Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Ad Is Just Fine, Despite Woke Backlash

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Despite a wave of outrage from certain corners of the internet, a recent poll shows that the majority of U.S. adults view American Eagle’s ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney as perfectly acceptable.

The ad, which features the Euphoria and White Lotus star alongside the tongue-in-cheek slogan “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” drew criticism from progressive commentators online who claimed it carried offensive connotations — with some going so far as to allege connections to white supremacy and eugenics. But most Americans aren’t buying it.

According to a YouGov poll conducted on August 1, 2025, which surveyed 3,509 U.S. adults:

52% said they found the ad’s wordplay appropriate

16% considered it inappropriate

32% were unsure

The data indicates a clear divide based on political affiliation. While 64% of Republicans viewed the ad as appropriate, support was more modest among Democrats (46%) and independents (49%).

The survey was conducted online and designed to reflect a representative national sample across gender, age, race, region, and political leaning.

The White House even weighed in. When asked about Sweeney’s rumored Republican registration while returning from New Jersey, President Donald Trump quipped, “If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.”

American Eagle, meanwhile, has likely welcomed the controversy: their stock value has reportedly risen following the ad campaign’s release. Sweeney herself has not commented publicly on the backlash.

Illegal Chinese Immigrant and Accomplice Charged in High-Stakes U.S. Microchip Smuggling Case

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Two Chinese nationals — one of whom is residing in the United States illegally — are facing serious federal charges for allegedly smuggling advanced U.S. microchips designed for artificial intelligence applications to China in violation of U.S. export laws, the Department of Justice announced.

Chuan Geng, of Pasadena, California, and Shiwei Yang, an illegal immigrant from El Monte who overstayed her visa, have been charged under the Export Control Reform Act. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.

According to the federal affidavit, the pair operated an El Monte-based business, ALX Solutions Inc., from October 2022 to July 2025. The company allegedly exported tens of millions of dollars’ worth of sensitive AI-related GPUs and high-performance microchips to China without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Rather than ship the items directly, Geng and Yang allegedly routed their exports through Singapore and Malaysia — countries frequently used as transshipment hubs to mask illegal activity. These shipments were also paid for by companies based in China and Hong Kong, not by the entities listed on export records.

One shipment in December 2024, along with more than 20 others, included chips described by federal investigators as “the most powerful GPU chip on the market”, designed specifically for cutting-edge AI functions, such as autonomous vehicles, diagnostic tools, and other military-adjacent or sensitive technology.

Incriminating evidence was reportedly found on the pair’s mobile devices, including messages about using Malaysia to circumvent export regulations.

Yang was arrested on Saturday, while Geng turned himself in later the same day. The case is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin S. Scott, Joseph Guzman, and Jenna Long of the Central District of California, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

“This case underscores the ongoing threat posed by foreign actors seeking to undermine U.S. technological advantages,” said one DOJ official familiar with the investigation.

Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests or charges may follow.

Biden Debate Performance Blamed on Stutter, Not Mental Decline, Adviser Tells Congress

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In closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee, a senior White House official defended President Joe Biden’s controversial debate performance by attributing his struggles to a lifelong stutter rather than any signs of cognitive deterioration.

Bruce Reed, who served as deputy chief of staff for policy, reportedly told congressional investigators that concerns about Biden’s mental fitness are unfounded. According to a source familiar with the proceedings, Reed emphasized that the president’s verbal slips during the debate were a result of his known speech impediment, not mental decline.

Reed has been a longtime Biden confidant, previously serving as chief of staff during Biden’s vice presidency and playing central roles in both of his presidential campaigns. His comments came as part of a transcribed interview during an ongoing investigation into the president’s health and decision-making process.

The timing of the June debate — widely criticized by both parties — was not, according to Reed, a reaction to voter concerns about Biden’s age or stamina. Instead, it was scheduled early to “get ahead of early voting and the 2024 Olympics,” Reed testified.

Reed also confirmed that Biden’s team anticipated questions about a cognitive exam ahead of the ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos. According to the same source, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s personal physician, allegedly dismissed the value of cognitive tests, calling them “meaningless.”

Reed was not the only senior Biden official to testify. Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon, both key White House advisers, also spent hours in closed-door sessions last week. Ricchetti reportedly supported Reed’s explanation of the president’s performance, while Donilon said he had no knowledge of the controversial use of an autopen — an automated signature device — in signing official correspondence.

Meanwhile, other figures close to the president have declined to testify openly. Anthony Bernal, who previously served as chief of staff to First Lady Jill Biden, along with aide Annie Tomasini and Dr. O’Connor, all invoked their Fifth Amendment rights during committee questioning, according to sources.

The Oversight Committee continues to examine whether White House staff have been forthright with the American public about the president’s health and whether internal protocols are in place to ensure transparency at the highest levels of government.

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