Month: May 2025

Credit: USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

When USAID came under the microscope of DOGE, people on the left absolutely flipped out. They all acted like USAID was above reproach and that the world would come to an end if it wasn’t fully funded.

Not only did the world not end, but now we’re learning that a senior officer for the organization has been charged with bailout fraud from the pandemic.

We are probably going to see fraud like this uncovered for years to come.

The Daily Wire reports:

USAID Contracting Officer Charged With Pandemic Bailout Fraud

A USAID employee in charge of managing contracts for the agency created a fake company to fraudulently secure coronavirus benefits for himself, federal prosecutors said Friday.

“Yusuf Akoll worked as a Senior Procurement Contract Specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development,” according to a previously unreported court document. “From at least in or around March 2021, and continuing through at least in or around August 2021, Akoll [made] materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements…that resulted in Akoll receiving two [Paycheck Protection Program] loans totaling approximately $16,666 that he was not entitled to receive.”

Prosecutors said that in November 2020, Akoll registered a company in Virginia called Naagode Consulting LLC, then applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under the coronavirus bailout package, claiming he worked at Naagode and the money was necessary to prevent job losses.

Only companies in operation in February 2020 were eligible, so he falsely said it was established in January 2020. To establish a loss of income, he said the company had $40,000 in income in 2019 when it actually had no income, prosecutors said.

Is anyone really shocked by this?

PPP loans were paid out to Yusuf Akoll despite massive red flags, including the fact that he was a full-time USAID employee and the company he claimed the bailout for wouldn’t match up with state corporate records or federal tax records.https://t.co/iLheH4PDEe

— Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) May 10, 2025

Not content to create fake companies to steer money to friendly political insiders & CIA shell companies, turns out folks at USAID were also creating fake companies to send money to themselves https://t.co/0v9Fp5YSgK

— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) May 10, 2025

It looks like the scrutiny received by DOGE was more than justified.

The post REPORT: USAID Officer Charged With Pandemic Bailout Fraud appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Oil rig

The blue state of Hawaii is suing oil companies over climate change, but for some strange reason they have exempted one refinery that has executives who give a lot of cash to Democrats. What an odd coincidence.

The entire conversation about climate change should have ended the instant that leftists began targeting Teslas and Tesla dealerships over DOGE. It proved that the left doesn’t really care about this issue, they just want what they want.

The lawyers for the oil companies will surely point this out, if they’re smart.

The Washington Free Beacon reports:

Hawaii Sues Oil Industry for Causing Climate Change—But Spares State’s Largest Refiner Whose Executives Donate to Dems

The State of Hawaii filed a major lawsuit against a dozen major oil companies and the nation’s largest oil industry group, accusing them of marketing and selling products that have caused higher temperatures, increased sea levels, more frequent flooding, coastal erosion, and more intense heat waves.

But Hawaii’s sprawling complaint—which prosecutors hope will force oil industry defendants to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages—excluded Houston-based Par Pacific and its subsidiary Par Hawaii, the oil company that operates Hawaii’s sole petroleum refinery and remains the state’s leading supplier of gasoline and jet fuel. That means prosecutors spared a company that is likely the single largest driver of the emissions in the state.

The complaint makes just one reference to Par’s Hawaii refinery, chastising ExxonMobil for supplying crude oil to the facility that is then ‘refined on Hawaii and distributed to consumers.’ In addition to ExxonMobil and the American Petroleum Institute, BP, Chevron, Shell, Equilon Enterprises, Sunoco, Aloha Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Woodside Energy Hawaii, BHP Hawaii are all listed as defendants.

Could it be any more obvious what’s happening here?

Surprise: Hawaii Sues Oil Industry for Causing Climate Change—But Spares State’s Largest Refiner Whose Executives Donate to Demshttps://t.co/PzB9FWmGZ3 pic.twitter.com/pr9DzjFJB0

— AG (@AGHamilton29) May 9, 2025

Between this and the Tesla vandals, I’m pretty sure that clinches “climate change” as definitely a partisan racket and probably a hoax

— Victor Morton (@vjmfilms) May 9, 2025

These refineries are (D)ifferent, just like Bernie Sanders’ jets https://t.co/zO22GOQrYP

— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) May 10, 2025

Any serious judge would laugh this lawsuit right out of the courtroom.

The post Hawaii Sues Oil Companies Over Climate Change – Exempts One Refinery That Donates to Democrats appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Screenshot: Congressman Tim Moore / X

Congressman Tim Moore (R-NC) has revealed a clandestine network of underground tunnels beneath the U.S. Capitol, exposing what he calls “hidden passageways” that have remained largely unknown to the American public.

In a video posted to X, Moore lifted a floor panel to reveal a steep staircase, which appeared to have graffiti on both the entrance and the steps.

According to the congressman, this tunnel may have played a role in the British invasion of 1814, when the Capitol was attacked and burned during the War of 1812.

Tim Moore:
This is one of the neat things about the U.S. Capitol, of course. This building—construction started in the 1700s—has all sorts of little hidden passageways. You saw I just pulled this cover up. You can see, if we get the camera to come over, but you can see there’s a passageway.

These are long stairs that used to be here but were closed off. We’re just off of what’s called Statuary Hall, which at one time was the actual House chamber, and it’s right outside there. But this is just an example of some of the little hidden secrets in the Capitol.

One of the things we do when we bring tour groups in—if it’s a small enough group, it’s a big group of people, but if it’s a small group—we’ll actually take them down this hall.

Believe it or not, my big self has actually gotten down, and more importantly, out of this hall. I’m not going to debut that again today, but suffice to say, I’ve been able to live, tell about it, and get out of there.

It goes all the way down to an old staircase, and I’m told—I can’t verify this—but I’m told that this staircase, which opens to the outside if you go down, was one of the staircases British soldiers used when they breached the Capitol during the War of, I think it was, 1814, when they actually attacked Washington.

When they came in, it was one of the stairs that British soldiers actually came up. There’s a lot of amazing history in this building. When folks come from North Carolina, we try to show things that, if it’s a small enough group and the timing is right, you can actually let folks go down there.

The kids seem to love it. A lot of older folks—not so much. But it’s just one of the neat things about the Capitol, as well as the other day-to-day things that folks see all the time. Thought I might share that with you.

WATCH:

Come with me to see one of the hidden secrets of the Capitol!

The Lincoln Room is one of my favorite spots to bring visitors — when President Lincoln was serving in the House, he sat by the fireplace in this room to read his letters, but the most interesting part of the room is… pic.twitter.com/hp36jfQrk4

— Congressman Tim Moore (@RepTimMooreNC) May 9, 2025

The post Sitting Congressman Reveals Secret Underground Tunnel Beneath U.S. Capitol — Claims There are Still Hidden Network of Passageways Still Unknown to Public (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with representatives from China on Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to reports, Saturday’s meetings lasted eight hours. At one point the Chinese took a break but talks resumed shortly afterward.

Bessent is expected to meet with the Chinese again on Sunday.

China send Vice Premier He Lifeng to the Geneva talks.
The US sent Scott Bessent to lead the trade talks.

*BESSENT, CHINA’S HE CONCLUDE TALKS FOR SATURDAY: SOURCE

*US-CHINA TRADE TALKS TO CONTINUE SUNDAY: SOURCE pic.twitter.com/z1ZwPRE9Ig

— Investing.com (@Investingcom) May 10, 2025

Economists do not expect a major breakthrough this weekend, but even symbolic progress could support the stock markets on Monday morning, especially export, consumer and tech stocks.

The post US Treasury Secretary Concludes Talks with China after 8 Hours of Meetings – Trade Talks Will Resume Sunday appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Texas DPS pursue human smuggler on high-speed chase. Footage from 5/1/25. Posted 5/8/25

President Trump has kept his promise to the American people to seal the border. Illegal crossings are down over 99 percent. Thanks to the previous four years under crooked Joe Biden, millions of illegals are in the United States. The challenge of deporting these individuals may take years, especially with activist judges interfering with ICE.

Texas DPS pursued a human smuggler on a high-speed chase in Webb County driving a white Chevy Malibu. During the pursuit, the smuggler, Ruby Martinez, slowed down and let an illegal alien bail out of the vehicle. Martinez then took off and continued to evade the trooper until they did a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. The smuggler was taken into custody for human smuggling and evading arrest.

One illegal alien was handed over to the Border Patrol.

Watch:

NEW VIDEO: @TxDPS Troopers arrested a human smuggler in Webb County after a high-speed chase. The female driver, Ruby Martinez of Laredo, tried to evade arrest and let an illegal immigrant bail out while the vehicle was still moving.

Troopers safely ended the pursuit using a PIT… pic.twitter.com/I0ZFiUCAE0

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) May 8, 2025

DPS troopers made a separate arrest in Val Verde County during a traffic stop. Two human smugglers were arrested, and two illegal immigrants were handed over to the Border Patrol.

Watch:

MUST WATCH: A traffic stop in Val Verde County leads to a human smuggling arrest.

A @TxDPS Trooper stops a Ford F-150 and finds two illegal immigrants—one from Colombia, one from Mexico—concealed under a blanket on the rear floorboard.

The driver and passenger, from Odessa and… pic.twitter.com/DsbE0oTGBL

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) May 9, 2025

Texas has led the way in pursuing illegal aliens and securing their State even during the hostile Biden regime’s efforts to stop them. Operation Lone Star was launched in 2021 by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in an effort to stop deadly drugs like fentanyl from entering the US. In addition, the operation included efforts to deter illegal immigration with the support of Texas DPS and the Texas National Guard.

Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution clearly states the US Government’s responsibility to protect the nation from an invasion. It was intentionally ignored for four years under the Biden regime.

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.” Article IV, Section 4 of the US Constitution.

Rule of law is back.

The post Texas DPS Pursue Human Smuggler on High-Speed Chase, Illegal Alien Bails out of Moving Car (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Judge Jefferson Griffin (L); Judge Allison Riggs (R) (Credit: North Carolina Judicial Branch)

The Republican challenger in North Carolina’s Supreme Court race conceded to the Democrat incumbent this week after a federal judge issued a ruling on the disputed ballots.

A federal judge earlier this week ordered North Carolina to certify Democrat Allison Riggs as the winner of the hotly contested Supreme Court race.

Last month, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that most of the 65,000 questionable ballots must count in the hotly contested judicial race.

The North Carolina Supreme Court race previously headed for a recount due to a close final tally as the Democrat pulled ahead two weeks after Election Day.

Democrat incumbent Sarah Riggs closed the race with 2,770,818 votes to GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin’s 2,770,193 votes.

The race went to a recount since the vote difference is fewer than 10,000 votes.

Republican Griffin was leading the race until all of a sudden Democrat Riggs overcame her opponent weeks after the election.

After several parties submitted briefs to the court late last month, US Chief District Judge Richard Myers, a Trump appointee, ordered the North Carolina elections board to certify Allison Riggs as the winner.

“The State Board SHALL certify the results of the election for Seat 6 based on the tally at the completion of the canvassing period on December 10, 2024,” Judge Myers wrote, according to Fox News.

Judge Myers delayed his order for one week to give Griffin time to appeal his ruling, but the Republican conceded on Wednesday.

“While I do not fully agree with the District Court’s analysis, I respect the court’s holding — just as I have respected every judicial tribunal that has heard this case,” Griffin said in a statement to The Associated Press, “I will not appeal the court’s decision.”

“I wish my opponent the best and will continue to pray for her and all the members of our court system here in North Carolina. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of North Carolina,” Griffin said.

The post Republican Challenger in North Carolina’s Hotly Contested Supreme Court Race Concedes to Democrat Incumbent appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

After a 53-year-long space adventure, the decommissioned Soviet space probe Kosmos 482 probe came crashing down to Earth today, and plunged into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia.

The reentry took place at 2:24 a.m. ET (0624 GMT or 9:24 a.m. Moscow time) over the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia, according to Russia’s space agency Roscosmos.

After much concern that the spacecraft could hit populated areas, it appears that Kosmos 482 fell ‘harmlessly’ into the sea.

Watch: Kosmos 482 seen in the skies over Peru.

Soviet Spacecraft Kosmos-482 Crashes in Pacific Ocean pic.twitter.com/hu53v7BUdq

— Black Hole (@konstructivizm) May 10, 2025

Space.com reported:

“Earth isn’t the planet that Kosmos 482 was supposed to land on. The spacecraft was part of the Soviet Union’s Venera program, which sent a fleet of probes to Venus in the 1960s, ’70s, and early ’80s.

Kosmos 482 launched toward Earth’s hellishly hot sister planet in 1972, but a problem with its rocket stranded the spacecraft in an elliptical orbit around Earth. For the next 53 years, atmospheric drag pulled the probe down slowly but surely, leading to today’s dramatic denouement.”

Reported image of Kosmos 482 reentry.

Usually, large chunks of space junk break apart in reentry, but Kosmos 482 may have made it down in one piece because it was designed to survive entering Venus’ dense atmosphere.

“Kosmos 482 is about 3.3 feet (1 meter) wide and weighs about 1,190 pounds (495 kilograms). If it didn’t break apart during reentry, it likely hit Earth’s surface going about 150 mph (240 kph), according to Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek.

In that scenario, “the kinetic energy at impact is similar to that of a [16 to 22 inches] large meteorite fragment,” Langbroek wrote in a blog post recently.”

Watch: Kosmos 482 returns to Earth 53 years after failing to reach Venus.

In 1972, the Soviet Union launched the Kosmos 482 probe toward Venus. After 53 years, it’s now returning to Earth.

Credit: The One Space Guy YT pic.twitter.com/osgTNLIdMu

— Engaging Topics (@EngagingTopics) May 3, 2025

AI-generated image depicts Kronos 482 at the bottom of the Ocean- Social media/X.

Read more:

SPACE JUNK: Half a Century After Launched, Decommissioned Soviet Spacecraft Will Fall Back to Earth This Week – Most Populated Cities in the Planet Are on Its Deadly Trail

The post Old Decommissioned Soviet Spacecraft Kosmos 482 Plunges Into Indian Ocean After Failing To Reach Venus, and Spending More Than Half a Century in the Earth’s Orbit appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Massive 300-poud bear killed a man and his dog.

Another week, another gruesome bear attack: this time a fatal one, claiming the life of an elderly man and his dog.

And – mind you – not in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, or any other of the mountainous states, but in Florida.

A massive black bear, reported to weigh 300 pounds, mauled to death an 89-year-old Florida man and his devoted dog — the first ursine killing in state history.

New York Post reported:

“Robert Markel’s granddaughter called 911 on the morning of May 5, after seeing a 263-pound bear killing her dad’s dog right outside his camper, situated on her property in Jerome — about 70 miles south of Fort Myers.”

When Collier County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, it was too late for the dog.

And his owner, Markel, was missing.

“It wouldn’t be long though before his remains were located 100 yards from the camper. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found some of the killer bear’s DNA inside the camper and on the dog’s corpse.

Officials searched the area and found three bears, which they fatally shot and [tested] for DNA to identify which was responsible for the horrific killings.”

A forensic test found the remains of the man inside one of the bears’ stomachs.

As of now, it’s unclear whether Markel was killed before or after his dog.

“The FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 prior incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people since the 1970s, when comprehensive records began being kept,” authorities explained.”

This incident is second bear mauling in the Sunshine State in 2025.

Read more:

Outrage as Connecticut Father Arrested and Charged for Killing Bear Threatening His Two Children

The post 300-Pound Black Bear Mauls Florida Man and His Dog in First Ursine Killing in the State appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

On Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a return to merit at all military service academies ordering that the instittutions no longer consider race, ethnicity or sex for admissions.

The DOD memo, the “Certification of Merit-Based Military Service Academy Admissions,” notes, “The Military Service Academies (MSA) are elite warfighting institutions with long histories of producing world class military officers.”

“The Department owes it to our Nation, our Service members, and the young Americans applying to the MSAs to ensure admissions to these prestigious institutions are based exclusively on merit. This ensures only the most qualified candidates are admitted, trained, and ultimately commissioned to lead the finest fighting force in history.”

“Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces.”

The memo outlined that the Secretaries of the Military Departments will need to certify, within 30 days, that, for the upcoming 2026 MSA admissions cycle, as well as all subsequent admissions cycles, will:

1) Apply no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex; and
2) Offer admission based exclusively on merit.

The move effectively ends affirmative action efforts at all three military service academies.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman and Senior Advisor, Sean Parnell remarked, “Today the Secretary of Defense directed the Secretaries of the Military Departments to certify their admissions are race-, ethnicity-, and sex-blind.”

“Within 30 days, the Military Service Academies (MSAs) must confirm that admission will be based exclusively on merit for the 2026 admissions cycle and beyond. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will oversee compliance with this guidance.”

“The MSAs are the cornerstone of the Department’s efforts to produce the world-class military officers required to lead a ready, lethal fighting force that is prepared to deter war and defend our nation. Policies like this enable the Department to develop a strong officer corps, foster a culture of excellence, and achieve the mission, now and in the future.”

In January, The Gateway Pundit reported that President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders to root out leftist ideology from the military and prioritize lethality.

On January 27, the President signed four executive orders focused on the military, including the “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” Executive Order and the “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” Executive Order.

These orders direct every element of the U.S. military to “operate free from any preference based on race or sex” and root out gender insanity and made-up pronoun usage, respectively.

In February, the United States Naval Academy announced the closure of the institution’s DEI offices to fall in line with President Trump’s Executive Orders.

The post Secretary of Defense Hegseth Orders Return to Merit at Military Academies With End to Race Consideration in Admissions appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Federal prosecutors in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking case are facing a serious obstacle just days before opening statements: one of their key witnesses has gone missing.

Known in court documents as “Victim 3,” the woman is reportedly unreachable and no longer in communication with either the prosecution or her legal counsel, according to Mail Online.

She does not live in New York, where the trial will begin on Monday.

On Wednesday, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that even if contact is re-established, she still may not show up.

Victim 3 was expected to provide “very personal and explosive details” regarding alleged abuse by Combs.

Back in April, prosecutors had assured the court that she “did not wish to use a pseudonym during her testimony,” suggesting she was prepared to go public.

Defense attorney Teny Geragos demanded that the prosecution confirm by the end of the week whether it still intends to call Victim 3 as a witness.

WTF?! Key Diddy witness “Victim 3” has gone MISSING, per Daily Mail

Opening statements are set to begin next week and federal prosecutors have been scrambling to get ahold of her

She was set to deliver “very personal and explosive details” concerning abuse she allegedly… pic.twitter.com/tW62umbCKR

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 9, 2025

The case took a further turn in April when a third superseding indictment added an extra charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

In total, Combs faces five counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking, tied to four alleged victims.

Prosecutors claim these women were forced to take part in drug-fueled sex events, described as “freak offs.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his legal team arguing the accusations stem from consensual relationships with former partners.

“These are not new allegations or new accusers,” they said. “These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends.”

”This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion,” they added.

Comey emphasized that “many, many acts of racketeering” remain part of the case even without Victim 3.

Victim 1, singer Cassie Ventura, will testify under her real name, while Victims 2 and 4 have been granted pseudonyms.

Jury selection is underway. So far, 45 people have advanced after filling out detailed questionnaires to assess whether they can judge the case impartially.

No Jury Selected Yet in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial, as Prosecution and Defense Prepare for Monday’s Opening Statements and ‘Victim One’ Cassie Ventura Testimony

Combs, who appeared in court with a greying beard, told the judge he felt “a little nervous” and asked for a bathroom break.

He recently rejected a plea deal and could face life in prison if convicted.

The post Prosecution’s ‘Star Witness’ Mysteriously Disappears Days Before P Diddy’s Sex Trafficking Trial Begins appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.