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Sean Duffy Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Orders Airlines to Certify Merit-Based Pilot Hiring WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will require all commercial airlines to formally certify that pilot hiring decisions are based strictly on merit and qualifications. The new directive comes in the form of a mandatory “Operations Specification” (OpSpec), which requires U.S. carriers to affirm compliance with merit-based hiring standards. Airlines that fail to certify adherence could face federal investigation. “When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best,” Duffy said in a statement. “The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are the most qualified man or woman for the job. Safety drives everything we do.” The Department of Transportation said the action a...

  Yale University Yale Suspends Professor David Gelernter Pending Review of Communications With Jeffrey Epstein NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Yale University has suspended computer science professor David Gelernter from teaching duties while it reviews his past communications with Jeffrey Epstein, the university confirmed Wednesday. The action follows the recent release of Department of Justice files in late January that included previously undisclosed email correspondence between Gelernter and Epstein. According to documents made public, Gelernter exchanged emails with Epstein that included discussion of a potential software-related project. In one October 2011 email, Gelernter referenced a Yale student while describing a possible recommendation. “I have a perfect editoress in mind: Yale sr, worked at Vogue last summer, runs her own campus mag, art major, completely connected, v small goodlooking blonde,” Gelernter wrote in the message. The email was sent approximately three years after Eps...

Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth Among Officials Seen at Dan Scavino’s Wedding Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth Among Officials Seen at Dan Scavino’s Wedding at Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach, Florida — President Donald Trump and several senior administration officials were seen at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for the wedding ceremony of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Erin Elmore, director of the State Department’s Art in Embassies program. Scavino, one of Trump’s longest-serving aides, has been part of the president’s inner circle since 2015 and held multiple communications roles during Trump’s first term in office. He announced his engagement to Elmore in September, sharing a video of the proposal on X with the caption, “She said YES.” The ceremony drew numerous members of the administration, Cabinet officials, and members of the Trump family to the president’s Palm Beach estate. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the event with his wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio. Defense Secretary Pete Heg...

  Elon Musk Elon Musk Backs Trump’s Threat of Legal Action Against Grammy Host Trevor Noah After Epstein Joke WASHINGTON — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly voiced support for President Donald Trump after the president threatened legal action against Grammy Awards host Trevor Noah over remarks made during the live broadcast. During the 68th Grammy Awards, Noah congratulated Billie Eilish for winning Song of the Year before making a joke referencing Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The comment quickly drew attention online and prompted a sharp response from the president. Noah quipped that the Grammy was something artists want “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” before adding a second line referencing Epstein and former President Bill Clinton. The remarks marked one of the few political jokes in what had otherwise been a largely entertainment-focused ceremony. President Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the awards “virtually unwatchable” and criticizing...

  Anna Paulina Luna with Donald Trump House GOP Support ‘Surging’ to Tie SAVE Act to Funding Deal, Says Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) says momentum is building within the House Republican conference to force a vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by linking it to upcoming government funding legislation. In a post on X Thursday, Luna said another Republican lawmaker had pledged support for efforts to attach the SAVE Act to any bill the Senate sends back to the House as lawmakers race to avoid a potential partial government shutdown at the end of the month. “I have received a phone call from another Republican member who has stated that they will back us in our efforts at attaching the SAVE Act to any piece of legislation that Schumer sends back to the House,” Luna wrote. The Florida congresswoman has argued that the SAVE Act — which would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections — is unlikely to p...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr FLHSMV Announces Driver License Exams to Be Administered in English Only Starting Feb. 6 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced that, beginning Friday, February 6, all driver license knowledge and skills examinations across the state will be administered exclusively in English. The policy applies to every driver license classification, including tests that were previously offered orally. Until now, most non-commercial knowledge exams were available in multiple languages, while Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) exams were limited to English and Spanish. Under the updated guidelines, all knowledge and road skills testing will be conducted in English only. FLHSMV confirmed that its statewide testing system has been updated to reflect the change. Translation services will no longer be permitted during examinations, and any printed...

  Jeanette and Marco Rubio at CFP National Championship game in Miami Rubio Spotted at College Football National Championship as Indiana Stuns Miami in Historic Title Game MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The 2025–26 College Football Playoff National Championship was packed with political star power, high drama, and a historic finish as the Indiana Hoosiers captured their first national championship ever , defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27–21 at Hard Rock Stadium. Among the high-profile figures in attendance were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette Rubio , who were seen enjoying the game from a luxury suite as thousands of fans packed the stadium for one of the most anticipated nights in college football. Photos circulating from the event show Secretary Rubio dressed in a dark tailored jacket layered over a zip-up top , giving him a polished but relaxed game-day look. Jeanette Rubio appeared in a cream-toned outfit paired with a red accent scarf , blending eleganc...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr DOJ Sues Virginia Over Refusal to Provide Voter Rolls to Trump Administration Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia for allegedly refusing to turn over its full voter registration lists to the Trump administration, escalating a nationwide legal campaign over election data access. DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Affirmative Action Policies, Harmeet Dhillon Calls Program “Unlawful Discrimination” The lawsuit was announced by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and makes Virginia the 24th state — along with the District of Columbia — to face legal action for failing to provide statewide voter roll data upon request. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the legal action is part of a broader effort to enforce federal election transparency laws. “This Department of Justice has now sued 24 states for failing to provide voter roll data and will conti...

  FBI Director Kash Patel  &  Deputy Director Dan Bongino  in a Single Frame 🚨 BREAKING: FBI Investigating Robbery of Journalist Nick Sortor’s Camera During Minneapolis Protest MINNEAPOLIS — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the theft of independent journalist Nick Sortor’s camera after a dramatic confrontation in Minneapolis, authorities and social media posts show. Sortor, a conservative independent reporter, says his $1,000 camera was grabbed by a suspect during protests Sunday in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis . Video shared on social platforms appears to show an individual snatching the camera while Sortor was sitting in his vehicle, prompting him to pursue the suspect on foot. In the footage, Sortor’s hand becomes briefly trapped in the door handle of a red Kia as the vehicle sped away. ( dailycaller.com ) The incident gained widespread attention after Sortor and fellow video journalist Cam Higby shared clips and co...

  Donald Trump EU Threatens to Halt U.S. Trade Deal as Trump’s Greenland Tariff Dispute Reignites Transatlantic Tensions Brussels/Rome — Relations between the European Union and the United States are once again sliding into turmoil as fresh tariff threats from President Donald Trump jeopardize last summer’s EU-U.S. trade agreement and prompt growing calls in Brussels for retaliation. The latest standoff centers on Washington’s warning of new tariffs of up to 25% on countries that deployed troops to Greenland — a move European officials see as direct economic coercion tied to Trump’s renewed push to bring Greenland under U.S. control. The escalation has revived fears of a broader trade war just months after both sides narrowly avoided one. Senior EU officials confirmed Sunday that ambassadors from the bloc’s 27 member states convened emergency talks to assess next steps, including whether to formally prepare the EU’s powerful Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) — a legal mechanism desig...

  Marco Rubio U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Marco Rubio to Attend 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony; Trump Not on Delegation List ROME, Italy — U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead an official American delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and attend the highly anticipated opening ceremony , the White House announced Saturday. The Milan–Cortina Winter Games are set to begin on Feb. 6 , and Vance will represent the United States at the event, underscoring Washington’s support for Team USA and international sports diplomacy. He will be accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Second Lady Usha Vance , U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta , and a group of celebrated Olympic gold medalists. The Parade of Nations — a centerpiece of the opening ceremony — will take place primarily at San Siro Stadium in Milan , expected to be filled with roughly 60,000 spectators . In a historic first, parts of the procession will also unfold at three additional locati...

Julia Letlow (Image Source - Twitter) JUST IN: US President Donald Trump Endorses Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate in Louisiana, Challenging Sen. Bill Cassidy Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald J. Trump has officially endorsed Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow for the United States Senate, signaling strong support for her potential challenge against incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) . In a lengthy statement shared publicly, President Trump praised Letlow as a “highly respected America First Congresswoman” and a “total winner,” highlighting her loyalty, leadership, and service to Louisiana. Trump said he has known Letlow well, has seen her perform under pressure, and believes she would continue delivering for the people of the state if elected to the Senate. Trump noted that Letlow is considering launching a Senate campaign and emphasized that Louisiana is a state he “won big” multiple times. He added that if she enters the race, she would have his “complete and total endorse...

  Photo "Donald Trump" by  Dan Scavino 🚨 BREAKING: Trump Administration Prepares Emergency Power Auction to Force Big Tech to Fund $15B in New Electricity Generation Washington, D.C. — In an unprecedented intervention into U.S. energy markets, President Donald Trump and a coalition of Northeast governors are preparing to announce an emergency power auction that would require major technology companies to finance billions of dollars in new electricity generation to support the nation’s rapidly expanding data center infrastructure. According to officials familiar with the plan, the administration will direct PJM Interconnection — the regional grid operator serving 13 states and more than 67 million Americans — to conduct a one-time “emergency reliability auction.” The auction would offer long-term, 15-year power contracts aimed at jumpstarting the construction of new power plants, with an estimated $15 billion in new generation capacity at stake. The core objective is to shift...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Affirmative Action Policies, Harmeet Dhillon Calls Program “Unlawful Discrimination” Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, challenging its affirmative action hiring policies and accusing state agencies of engaging in race- and sex-based discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, seeks to dismantle the state’s affirmative action framework, arguing that it violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by giving preferential treatment based on race, color, national origin, and sex. According to the Justice Department, Minnesota’s policies require state agencies to use demographic goals when hiring, which federal officials say unfairly disadvantages applicants who are not classified as part of an “underrepresented group.” “When Minnesota gives preferences to employees or prospective employees on the b...