She Was MAGA’s Antitrust Star — Then Her Relationship With Pam Bondi Imploded

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Assistant Attorney General for antitrust Gail Slater announced on Thursday that she was leaving her post, bringing an end to a turbulent year in the role that saw her gradually fall out of favor with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Slater, who gave no explanation for her departure, was lauded at the start of the administration as a tip of the spear for “MAGA antitrust” and the populist economics of Trump 2.0. Several Trump loyalists and populist MAGA allies expressed disappointment at the announcement. But sources told the Caller that it didn’t take long for her relationship with Bondi, and her deputy, Todd Blanche, to deteriorate.

One source familiar with the situation told the Caller that there were three big reasons for Slater’s ousting: an unauthorized trip to Paris, allegedly lying to Bondi about a controversial merger, and leaks to the press about divisions within the antitrust team at DOJ.

Slater was given a decision earlier this week to resign or be fired from the Department of Justice, the same source told the Caller. A different source with knowledge of the firing said President Trump makes the final call on those who are confirmed by the Senate.

That source, as well as a senior Trump administration official, said many within DOJ believed Slater was undermining pending cases because she was on rocky terms with Bondi. Slater was disobeying requests from Bondi, and went on a pricy trip to Europe despite being told not to, the administration official told the Caller. (Read more from “She Was MAGA’s Antitrust Star — Then Her Relationship With Pam Bondi Imploded” HERE)

Transgender Dropout Who Killed Family, 6 at Former School Posted About Dream of Becoming ‘Petite’ Woman

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The transgender high school dropout who slaughtered his mom and stepbrother before gunning down six others at his former school in Canada had whined online about his 6-foot-tall frame making it impossible to live out his dream as a “petite” woman.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, aired his grievances about transitioning as well as his obsession for guns in a series of online posts in the years before unleashing hell at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday, the Telegraph reported.

“Do I have a good build type for HRT [hormone replacement therapy]?” Van Rootselaar wrote in a since-deleted post on a trans-community forum.

“Any advice is appreciated, should I put on weight or anything? Work out?”

In one post from March 2020, Van Rootselaar, who described himself as “MtF” — or male-to-female — wrote: “I’m pre-HRT 15yo, I’m super skinny, so that sometimes makes me feel kinda good!”

“But I’m Pre-HRT and my expectations are minimal for chest growth, and I’m 6ft tall! Why can’t I be petit an [sic] smol [small]?” (Read more from “Transgender Dropout Who Killed Family, 6 at Former School Posted About Dream of Becoming ‘Petite’ Woman” HERE)

Who Are the Six Men Named in the Unredacted Epstein Files?

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By The Guardian. Ro Khanna, the US congressman, publicly revealed the names of six men whose identities were redacted from the Jeffrey Epstein files, including Leslie Wexner, a billionaire retail magnate, whom the FBI appeared to have labeled as a co-conspirator.

The Democratic representative of California disclosed the names during a floor speech on Tuesday, following a visit to the Department of Justice, where he and Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, spent two hours reviewing unredacted documents.

The six men named by Khanna are Wexner, the Victoria’s Secret founder; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World and an Emirati billionaire businessman; and four others identified as Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov.

Khanna did not provide evidence of wrongdoing against any of them nor have they been charged with a crime in connection with Epstein.

“If we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3m files,” Khanna said during his floor speech. (Read more from “Who Are the Six Men Named in the Unredacted Epstein Files?” HERE)

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Epstein files: Congresswoman says she has own list of names to depose

By News Nation. In the aftermath of Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna reading the names of six previously redacted names in the Jeffrey Epstein files, Congresswoman Nancy Mace says she has her own list of people she would like to subpoena in the case.

“I took a lot of notes. I saw a lot of names,” the South Carolina Republican said during a Tuesday appearance on “Katie Pavlich Tonight.” “I wanted to look at the documents of the people who have not been arrested or investigated. A lot of that information is still redacted.” . . .

Mace stated in her findings she found names of several women who were possible co-conspirators with Epstein.

The names belong to “adult women who were recruiting young women and potentially underage individuals to give to Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “Really disgusting behavior. These are people that I want to have brought in, tesitfy and answer some very tough questions.”

“I’m very concerned as a survivor about protecting the personal information, the names of underage children of some of these women that was put out in the public. And it’s also, it’s shaming. It’s victim shaming,” Mace said. (Read more from “Epstein files: Congresswoman says she has own list of names to depose” HERE)

Unsealed Affidavit Reveals Basis For FBI’s Fulton County Election Office Search

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The affidavit supporting an FBI search of Fulton County’s election offices was unsealed on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee, a Trump appointee, ordered the unsealing of documents pertaining to the government’s seizure of ballots and other materials related to the 2020 election in January.

Some allegations of impropriety relating to the voting process in 2020 “have been disproven while some of those allegations have been substantiated, including through admissions by Fulton County,” FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans wrote in an affidavit.

“This warrant application is part of an FBI criminal investigation into whether any of the improprieties were intentional acts that violated federal criminal laws,” Evans wrote.

The investigation stems from former Trump campaign lawyer Kurt Olsen’s referral, according to the affidavit. Olsen joined the administration in October. (Read more from “Unsealed Affidavit Reveals Basis For FBI’s Fulton County Election Office Search” HERE)

NFL Star Shot Just Hours After Super Bowl

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Keion White, a defensive lineman for the 49ers, was shot on his ankle early Monday morning in San Francisco.

According to the 49ers organization, per the NFL, White underwent successful surgery Monday afternoon. The injuries that White suffered are not career-threatening. The franchise stated that they “will provide further updates when appropriate.”

Police in San Francisco said they issued a response to a shooting that occurred at a business on Mission Street’s 1700 block, happening at approximately 4:06 a.m. local time. The victim was located by police with a gunshot wound. Aid was provided by responding police, who also called paramedics to the scene. Authorities stated that the victim was transported to a hospital in the area where he would receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

(Read more from “NFL Star Shot Just Hours After Super Bowl” HERE)

US To Pay United Nations Billions

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The Trump administration will send an initial payment toward billions in overdue United Nations dues within weeks.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz told Fox News Digital the payment comes with strings attached. He rejected claims that America bears responsibility for the organization’s cash crisis.

“The United States pays to the U.N. system more than 180 countries combined,” Waltz said. “We have historically been the largest supporter of the U.N., but under President Trump, we’re demanding reform.”

Waltz said the administration’s pressure has already produced results. The U.N. agreed to cut nearly 3,000 headquarters positions and approved its first budget reduction in 80 years. The organization also plans to reduce global peacekeeping forces by 25%.

The U.S. owes roughly $2.19 billion to the U.N.’s regular budget as of early February, according to Reuters. America also carries an additional $2.4 billion in unpaid peacekeeping assessments and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals. (Read more from “US To Pay United Nations Billions” HERE)

Here’s Where Prosecutors Should Look For More Evidence Of Somali Daycare Fraud

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A lot has been made of the Nick Shirley videos claiming to “prove” that dozens of companies owned and allegedly operated by Somalis as daycare centers were involved in defrauding the federal government out of hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars. And although these videos show numerous daycare facilities with boarded-up windows, broken doors, untreated snow-covered sidewalks and parking lots, no operating phone numbers, no playground equipment, and most importantly zero children at them during regular working hours, this circumstantial evidence only lays the groundwork for identifying hundreds of potential fraudsters.

The corporate media, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and other leaders on the American left have dismissed Shirley’s videos as unsubstantiated propaganda and/or “racist,” but in fact prosecuting those involved with these sham daycare centers should be relatively easy, using an assortment of readily available financial records.

It is undisputed that Somali daycare centers received millions of federal dollars either directly or through various state-sponsored programs funded by federal grants. And since either Minnesota or the federal government made ACH or other electronic payments directly to these businesses, they already know which business bank accounts to pursue.

By now, the Department of Justice should have issued federal criminal subpoenas for records related to all these accounts. And since banks are typically required to respond to criminal subpoenas within 1 to 2 weeks, the feds already should have lists of which business entities were paid, their business type (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, general partnership, etc.), their employer identification number, and lists of authorized account signers. With this data and the accompanying monthly bank statements, tracing disbursements from these business accounts will be the next phase of any investigation.

Of course, if large transfers were made to other bank accounts, the DOJ should repeat the subpoena process until all disbursements are found. If these efforts uncover large cash withdrawals from these accounts, this would indicate large-scale fraud, since legitimate businesses operating in present-day America pay almost all operating expenses electronically or by bank ACH — never by cash. If these centers used paper checks, information regarding who was paid and how much would be readily discernable from copies of cancelled checks. (Read more from “Here’s Where Prosecutors Should Look For More Evidence Of Somali Daycare Fraud” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Epstein Death Files Ignite New Firestorm as Prosecutors’ Statement Appears Dated Before He Died

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Newly released files tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s federal case are fueling renewed controversy after revealing a draft statement attributed to prosecutors that appears to be dated one day before Epstein was officially found dead in his Manhattan jail cell.

The document surfaced as part of the Justice Department’s latest Epstein disclosure and is among at least 23 records labeled as statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. A review of the tranche shows multiple versions of similar statements, many with inconsistent redactions—some leaving phone numbers or names exposed, while others are almost entirely blacked out.

One draft, however, stands out.

It bears a date of August 9, 2019—the day before Epstein was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on the morning of August 10, where he was later pronounced dead while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The pre-dated statement is attributed to then–U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman and reads in part:

“Earlier this morning, the Manhattan Correctional Center confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein […] had been found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead shortly thereafter.”

The draft also describes the moment as “disturbing” and emphasizes prosecutors’ continued commitment to Epstein’s victims.

What it does not include is a cause of death—something that appeared in the finalized version released publicly the following day.

Screenshots of the document quickly circulated online after the files were released.

X user @rschmied posted dryly:

“Just a version of the Epstein death announcement dated Friday, August 9th, day before he died in the official announcement which is dated the 10th. Carry on.”

Others pointed to additional details from the release that further muddy the waters.

One post from @DMichaelTripi claimed:

“NEW: Noose allegedly used by Jeffrey Epstein collected at the scene of his death has been determined to have not been used in Epstein’s ‘suicide’ according to DOJ Inspector General.”

Beyond paperwork discrepancies, the files also provide fresh insight into Epstein’s mental state in the days leading up to his death—details that complicate the official narrative.

According to a suicide risk assessment dated August 1, 2019, just nine days before he was found dead, Epstein told prison psychologists he would never kill himself, citing religious beliefs.

The report states:

“He said he is Jewish and he said in his religion suicide is against the religion.”

Now, with a prosecutor’s statement seemingly dated before Epstein’s death, inconsistently redacted records, disputed forensic details, and fresh insight into his mindset, the latest document dump has reignited debate over whether the full truth has ever been told.

People Are Getting an Old-Timey Sailors’ Disease on GLP-1s

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Top dietitians in Australia this week are waving a red flag about an unforeseen impact of the GLP-1 class of weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

In a new systematic review of existing research, led by professor Clare Collins of the Newcastle School of Health Sciences in New South Wales, Australia, it appears that very few global trials of the drugs have taken into consideration what and how much patients are eating while using them.

This, experts have said, means many patients have been functionally malnourished — sometimes developing serious vitamin deficiencies like scurvy.

Part of what makes these drugs so effective for weight loss and diabetes management is their ability to suppress appetite. But not eating, or not eating enough of the right stuff, is simply not a sustainable path forward for anyone, regardless of whether or not they’re using a GLP-1. And dietitians are calling for more oversight.

“A reduction in body weight does not automatically mean the person is well-nourished or healthy,” Collins told the Australian Financial Review. “Nutrition plays a critical role in health and right now it’s largely missing from the evidence.” (Read more from “People Are Getting an Old-Timey Sailors’ Disease on GLP-1s” HERE)

Newly Released Epstein Files Drag Trump’s Former Inner Circle Back Into Spotlight

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The latest release of Jeffrey Epstein-related records has shed new light on the breadth of the disgraced financier’s relationships with influential figures connected to President Donald Trump, even years after Epstein’s initial arrest and conviction on state prostitution charges.

The Justice Department’s newly published tranche—part of a court-ordered disclosure mandated by Congress—includes more than three million pages of documents, along with tens of thousands of emails, photos, and videos. While many of the materials contain unverified or unsubstantiated claims, the sheer volume has reignited scrutiny of Epstein’s social and political reach and the government’s handling of the case.

Trump himself has long maintained that he severed ties with Epstein well before Epstein’s 2019 death by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The president has not been accused of any proven wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and no direct evidence implicating him in sex trafficking or abuse has emerged from the latest release. Nevertheless, Trump’s name appears frequently in the documents—tens of thousands of times across thousands of files—often in news articles Epstein circulated or in tips submitted to federal authorities.

The Justice Department has emphasized that inclusion in the files does not equate to evidence of illegal activity. By law, the department is required to release documents even when they include unproven allegations. Some materials remain redacted, though officials have not provided a detailed explanation of what was withheld or why roughly two-and-a-half million pages have yet to be released, a delay that has fueled accusations of a potential cover-up.

Beyond Trump, the files highlight continued contact between Epstein and several prominent figures associated with the president’s orbit. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among those whose names appear in correspondence showing friendly exchanges with Epstein after his conviction. None of the documents released so far provide direct evidence that any of them engaged in criminal conduct.

Emails included in the release show Epstein maintaining casual, even cordial, relationships. In one 2019 exchange, Epstein asked Bannon whether he had received an Apple Watch sent as a Christmas gift and later invited him to visit New York. Bannon replied that he was in Texas “building a wall.” Other records suggest a closer relationship between Epstein and Musk than Musk has publicly acknowledged, including a 2012 email in which Musk asked Epstein about upcoming parties and expressed interest in socializing rather than a “peaceful island experience.”

The files also contain a wide array of claims—many unverifiable—about powerful figures across politics, business, and royalty. Individuals such as Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Prince Andrew, and Lord Mandelson are mentioned, all of whom have denied wrongdoing. Some documents reveal Epstein privately expressing contempt for Trump in messages to author Michael Wolff, underscoring the complicated and shifting nature of their past relationship.

Among the most serious allegations involving Trump are FBI notes summarizing tips and claims, including references to a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault when the accuser was a minor and an interview in which an Epstein victim alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell once introduced her to Trump at a party. Trump has repeatedly denied all such accusations, and there is no public evidence that the FBI deemed these claims credible. The Justice Department has stated that the allegations against the president contained in the documents are false.

Speaking from the Oval Office this week, Trump urged the public to “move on” from Epstein, saying he had not personally reviewed the millions of pages released. Political analysts note that, so far, the disclosures have not delivered definitive revelations that would significantly alter Trump’s standing with either critics or supporters.