Category: Uncategorized

The cost for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, is now forecasted to exceed $1 billion, which is nearly three times the initial estimated cost for the project.

Fox News, which confirmed the figure on the basis of newly released financial information, reported that the project also opened five years past schedule.

“While we continue to reconcile costs and plan ahead for additional capital improvements, we anticipate our total cost for constructing the campus is approximately $1 billion — again, all raised in private contributions,” Emily Bittner, the Obama Foundation’s vice president of communications, told Fox News.

“This includes investments in additional public art, insurance, scope changes in our Home Court, project management and exhibit installation, among other categories.”

It was supposed to open in 2021 after between $300 million and $350 million in construction costs.

But the Obama Presidential Center ultimately opened in June of this year, when costs were estimated at $850 million.

Beyond serving as a museum about the Obama administration, the building serves as the headquarters for the Obama Foundation.

The campus has a public library branch and an athletic center.

The building, unlike other presidential libraries, does not house original presidential records.

The newly released financials also show the Obama Foundation bringing in significant resources, even though fundraising varies from year to year.

In 2025, the entity brought in $151 million, a decline from $195 million in 2024.

In 2023, they had raised $129 million, and in 2022, they brought in a much stronger $311 million.

The Obama Foundation’s borrowing also increased as the project progressed, from $15 million at the end of 2025 to more than $63 million by July of this year.

The organization borrowed the funds to handle short-term costs related to the construction.

Brian Mittendorf, a nonprofit accounting professor at the Ohio State University, told Fox News that although the Obama Foundation has substantial resources, much of their assets are tied to the new campus.

“In terms of the organization’s overall financial health, again, I would say financial health looks quite good,” he described.

“They have a decent amount of cash, investments, liquidity, and so on. So it’s not like they’re in financial difficulty by any means.”

“Bottom line to me: I don’t see a short-term financial distress here, but I do see an organization that has tied up a lot of its resources in its buildings, which means more costs to come and the need for more revenues to make this sustainable,” Mittendorf added.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Obama Presidential Center Hits Jaw-Dropping Total Cost of Over $1 Billion, Tripling Past Estimates appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A giant wooden crucifix dislodged from the wall during Mass and fatally crushed a Catholic priest in Ecuador this weekend.

Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was celebrating Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador on Saturday when the crucifix fell on top of him.

In his last sermon, the priest told the parishioners to spend their time wisely because “one day we all die.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, one day we will all die, and the time we spent on trivial things will prove far less meaningful than the time we invested in God,” said Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari.

“The quality time we gave to Him, to our brothers and sisters, to our spouses, to our children, and to our families,” he said. “That is time well spent, dear brothers and sisters.”

Moments later, parishioners watched in horror as the crucifix fell on top of the priest and crushed him.

Worshippers rushed to help Father Sánchez Molinari.

“Father! Father!” a woman shouted as she called for an ambulance.

The Archdiocese confirmed the priest died of his injuries.

“We announce that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, CSsR, who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate, has departed to the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory,” the Archdiocese said in a statement.

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen,” the Archdiocese said.

WATCH (warning: distressing content):

The post Giant Wooden Crucifix Fatally Crushes Priest During a Livestreamed Mass as He Preaches About Death (VIDEO – Warning on Content) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

According to Campus Reform, “A coalition of left-wing student and community organizations is demanding that the University of Arizona in Tucson ban federal immigration agents from campus, provide free legal representation to individuals targeted by immigration enforcement, and cut ties with certain federal border security programs.”

This coalition of radical left groups announced this campaign on October the 12th sending a list of so-called demands to President Suresh Garimella and the Office of the General Counsel.

These leftist activists gave an ultimatum of 5 p.m. Oct. 23 to respond.

This so called “coalition” of leftists making demands includes “UA Resist, Feminists Organized to Resist, Create, and Empower (FORCE), Planned Parenthood Generation Action, Students for Socialism, the National Lawyers Guild’s campus chapter, DeFlock Tucson, and United Campus Workers of Arizona.”

Among the crazy radical demands this coalition is making includes “barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from university property, student housing, and Banner Hospital.”

They wish to have free lawyers for illegals among other absurd accomodations.

“Additional proposals include prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security from attending university job fairs, restricting the sharing of student information with federal immigration authorities, and removing surveillance equipment that tracks individuals without warrants.”

These demands and ideas are absurd and a disrespect of the rule of law yet one would not expect anything different coming out of today’s colleges.

“The coalition also demands the abolition of the National Center for Border Security and Immigration within the university’s Eller College of Management.”

These coalitions are a conglomarite of left wing and radical causes described on the schools own website as FORCE “a feminist group” and describes “Planned Parenthood Generation Action as an advocacy group focused on abortion and ‘reproductive health care.’

This activism comes on the heels of immigration enforcement affecting foreign students at U of A.

“In its public announcement, the coalition accused the university of “ongoing silence and complacency” while students and workers face immigration enforcement.”

These students have clearly been brainwashed to believe the leftist talking points demonizing immigration enforcement and the rule of law.

As of yet the University has not accepted these unreasonable demands whether they will in the future remains to be seen.

The audacity of leftist students to make demands of university officials shows an inverse sense of right and wrong.

The post Student Groups Make Demands! Leftist Coalition Demands University of Arizona Ban ICE appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron finally responded to the Islamo-Marxist riots and, unsurprisingly, he chose to blame his fellow French citizens. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, however, is calling the rioters exactly what they are….thugs.

Originally framed as ‘student’ protests that ignited over so-called crowded classrooms and teacher shortages, the protests expanded to other cities and countries and became violent as Muslim migrants used them as an excuse to take over the streets.

The violence has spread to Italy, Albania and Belgium.

The Gateway Pundit reported that Italy’s wave began on October 5, when students occupied high schools in Turin and Rome. By October 15, dozens of schools were occupied from Milan to Naples.

During the national “No Meloni Day” strike on October 16, the left-wing collective Osa claimed 400,000 students marched nationwide. In Turin, protesters threw stones and bottles at police. The Questura reported three minors arrested for aggravated resistance, two of them carrying pepper spray and one carrying stones, and said more than 50 protesters had been identified. In Rome, hooded protesters threw firecrackers and paper bombs at the Education Ministry, and high school students burned U.S. and Israeli flags.

On Saturday, thugs attacked the Cathedral in Milan.

Total chaos outside the symbol of Christianity in Milan, the Cathedral. Paper bombs, firecrackers, cars destroyed, attacks on police, insults and shouting right in front of the Duomo. No Italian, not even the worst, would dare to light fires and shoot fireworks against the Duomo. An insult that cannot be explained and forgotten.

— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) October 17, 2026

Meloni said on X, “Once again, the women and men of the Law Enforcement Forces have had to face the violence of criminals who, even through organized groups, exploit demonstrations to seek confrontation and sow chaos.”

“To all of them goes my full solidarity and sincere thanks. Because they were there to safeguard the safety of citizens, workers, merchants, and all the people who have the right to live their city without fear and without seeing it laid to waste and set ablaze by gangs of thugs.”

“We stand with you.”

Ancora una volta, le donne e gli uomini delle Forze dell’Ordine hanno dovuto affrontare la violenza di delinquenti che, anche attraverso gruppi organizzati, sfruttano le manifestazioni per cercare lo scontro e seminare il caos.

A tutti loro va la mia piena solidarietà e un ringraziamento sincero. Perché erano lì per tutelare la sicurezza dei cittadini, dei lavoratori, dei commercianti e di tutte le persone che hanno diritto di vivere la propria città senza paura e senza vederla messa a ferro e fuoco da bande di teppisti.

Siamo con voi.

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) October 18, 2026

Read more:

From Milan to Tirana: Europe’s Student Riots Reach Italy and Albania

The post Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Calls Out ‘Gangs of Thugs’ Rioting Across Europe appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Portland State University took the weird step of “using what its architecture firm calls a ‘Critical Race spatial lens,’ incorporating a ‘decolonized library’ and other spaces intended to expand how students engage with science, according to a Campus Reform report.

“BORA Architecture, the firm behind the project, describes the design as an effort to address “historical inequalities” in science education.”

In case there was any ambiguity as to what this was referring to, “BORA says it engaged black, indigenous, and other students of color in discussions that influenced its design decisions.”

“Our design process leveraged a Critical Race spatial lens to address historic inequalities in science education,” the firm states.

Apparently Portland State never got the message that “we don’t need to do this anymore.”

The era of Wokeness and CRT may be over in much of the country, but clearly that has not reached the so-called institutes of “higher learning”.

“BORA also describes a community gathering room, a food and plant teaching kitchen, and a “decolonized library” as spaces that “push beyond typical Westernized lab offerings.”

As usual, Western culture is being demeaned in academia; sadly, this has become par for the course.

“Political scientist and professor Bruce Gilley criticized the terminology in a post on X, writing, “My university’s new science building features a ‘decolonized library’ and alternatives to ‘Westernized lab offerings.’”

 

 

“In a follow-up comment, Gilley wrote, “And remember, only conservatives ‘ban’ books. Leftists merely ‘decolonize’ them.”

This was a courageous comment for a professor to make in today’s schools groupthink.

“The firm’s project description does not specify which traditional laboratory offerings it considers “Westernized” or explain precisely how the Critical Race framework altered the building’s scientific facilities.”

CRT, like DEI, is not educational but rather undermines education and instead promotes an agenda based on race and ethnicity.

As has been established, the American public, by electing President Trump, has rejected wokeness, yet many colleges continue to impose the woke agenda on the student body.

The post Wokeness On Steroids! Portland State science features ‘decolonized library,’ ‘Critical Race spatial lens’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This must have been a rough call for CNN – do we report it, or ignore it?

The US Chamber of Commerce endorsed Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in his race against flake James Talarico.

The Chamber of Commerce is not deluded by this nutty soft socialist.

Of course, Talarico’s insane past statements are catching up with him.

Here are a few of his verbal gems from the past few years.

** “We could make prisons obsolete. It’s hard to imagine a world without prisons, but it was also hard to imagine a world without telegrams and cassette tapes.”
** Support for teaching DEI in schools and other progressive education priorities.
** Border framing: It should be “like a front porch—it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door.”
** ‘Christian nationalism'(?) is “worship of power.”

This guy is a flake.

CNN reported:

The US Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, giving the GOP candidate a boost as he scrambles to shore up support from traditional Republicans in a tight race.

The endorsement comes months after Paxton defeated the chamber’s original choice in the contest, Sen. John Cornyn, in a contentious primary runoff. Paxton, the state attorney general, now faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in decades.

The post Chamber of Commerce Makes Big Endorsement in Race Between Ken Paxton and Crazy Socialist Talarico appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Fox’s Rachel Campos-Duffy traveled to Panama to interview Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Before the US military arrested Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve, opposition leader María Corina Machado was rescued and smuggled out of the country by a nonprofit veteran rescue organization in early December of last year.

In 2025, Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

During her conversation with Campos-Duffy, Machado warned Americans about the reality of socialism and the ‘false promises’ of Democrats as the midterms approach.

Campos-Duffy teased the interview sharing, “Meanwhile, I took a trip myself over to warm Panama. I wasn’t there very long, but as these Democrats are pitching socialism in races across the country, I spoke with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who fled that country that was once the wealthiest, richest country in all of Latin America, and then of course it was destroyed by socialist policies.”

“Maria and I talked, And she warned Americans about being led astray by the Democrats’ false promises.”

In a clip from the interview, Campos-Duffy asked, “You’re someone in a very unique position to talk about socialism. What would be your message to the American people as they enter into their midterms?”

Machado responded, “What I ask people that live in freedom is really to look at history.”

“Communism, socialism brings misery, violence, separation, and oppression.”

“And once you lose your freedom, once you lose democracy, it’s so hard to gain it back.”

“And, and if you know someone from Venezuela, wherever you are in the United States or any other place, talk to them. Ask them how our nation was deceived.”

Watch:

WOW: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado just sent a warning straight to American voters.

Asked what Americans should know about socialism heading into the midterms, she said: “Communism, socialism. It brings misery, violence, separation and oppression. And once you lose your freedom, once you lose democracy, it’s so hard to gain it back.”

Venezuela was once one of the richest countries in Latin America. Socialism wrecked it. Now people there dig through trash to eat.

She said to ask any Venezuelan how their country was “deceived.” Listen to her.

Free stuff always comes with a price.

— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) October 17, 2026

During the full interview, in addition to her warning about socialism, Machado discussed her efforts to return to Venezuela, after already making several attempts, the situation after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, and her message to President Trump.

She thanked President Trump on behalf of the Venezuelan people for his actions, noting it took vision, force, strength, and determination. She also urged him to “finish the task” and complete the process so that a full democratic transition, including free elections, becomes his major legacy.

“First of all, as I did when I met him, I would start by saying, on behalf of the Venezuelan people, how grateful we are. Because taking Maduro to face justice opened a great door for a path to freedom. And as I said before, it took vision, force, strength, determination. And it had to be done.”

“Secondly, we have to finish the task. And I believe this is going to be his great legacy.”

Watch the full interview here:

The post Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Warns Americans About Democrats’ ‘False Promises’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Senator Dave McCormick appeared on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream to discuss a potential reprieve from sanctions on Russia.

President Trump wants to grant a reprieve from sanctions mainly because of the burden Americans are facing from high fuel costs, including diesel.

Senator McCormick said that a reprieve from sanctions is not something he would support, but he understood the President’s intentions to help the US economy and its struggle with fuel prices.

“Senator Dave McCormick, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Welcome back to the show, Senator,” Bream said.

“The letter urges the President to scrap the deal. What’s your position?” Bream asked regarding a bipartisan letter sent to President Trump.

“Let’s put this in perspective. I 100 percent support the President’s goal of ending the war in Ukraine and simultaneously bringing down fuel prices,” McCormick said.

“We made a lot of progress on that by opening up the Strait. About 65 percent of the volume through there by encouraging the Europeans to export more diesel,” McCormick continued.

“I think we also need to keep the pressure on Putin, so I would not be in favor of giving a reprieve on the sanctions,” McCormick said.

Bream asked Senator McCormick what the late Senator Lindsey Graham would think of the latest developments with Russia and Putin.

The late Senator had introduced a bill with sanctions against Russia that received bipartisan support.

“What do you think your friend Lindsey Graham would think of these developments?” Bream asked.

“Lindsey and the President have been very aligned from, you know, 12 months ago where the President laid out a vision for bringing peace to Ukraine and Russia,” McCormick said.

“The key to that in my opinion, among other things, is keeping the pressure on Putin, and that’s why is signed up to Lindsey’s bill,” McCormick said.

“This war started under Joe Biden, but it can end under President Trump if we keep the pressure on Putin,” McCormick said.

Watch:

WATCH: @SenMcCormickPA says he “would not be in favor of giving a reprieve on sanctions,” adding that the U.S. needs to keep the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. https://t.co/DecLzOocK9

— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) October 18, 2026

The post Senator Dave McCormick Weighs in on Giving a Reprieve on Sanctions on Russia – (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message below and working with them through the links below which benefits Gateway Pundit. We appreciate your support!)

That old pillow on your bed is already flat. Your neck is stiff, and you are up again at 3 a.m. flipping it over like that will fix it.

“Years ago, like you, I found myself extremely frustrated with my pillow going flat,” says Mike Lindell. “I would wake up in the morning with a sore arm, my neck would hurt, my fingers would be numb, and I would toss and turn all night not knowing why. So finally, I decided to do something about it.”

He created MyPillow, with its patented interlocking fill. It moves with you, holds the loft you fluff it to, and does not go flat or clump, so you sleep through instead of flipping the pillow at 3 a.m.

People who got the Premium MyPillow talk about waking up rested, and a pillow that still has its shape in the morning. A stomach sleeper said it was the first one that worked. Another bought three more for the family after it came out of the washer like new.

A Queen Premium MyPillow is $29.98 when you use promo code TGP. A King is $5 more with the same code, and both are made in the USA.

Now, they are Buy One, Get One Free:

You fluff it to the height you want and it stays there, whether you sleep on your side, your back, or your stomach. The cover is 100% cotton, you can wash it and dry it, and it carries a 10-year warranty.

Mike’s guarantee is blunt. “I guarantee that your MyPillow will be the most comfortable pillow you’ll own or YOUR MONEY BACK.” If you send it back within 60 days of receipt, for any reason, you get 100% of the purchase price back, less shipping, and you pay the return shipping.

On the TGP discounts page, a Queen is $29.98. Orders over $100 ship free.

Go there and put the Queen (or the King) in your cart.

Use promo code TGP to get the $29.98 price.

The post Time To Upgrade Your Old Pillows With Mike’s Made-In-America Queen For $29.98 – Now They’re Buy One, Get One Free appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

As France burns and French President Macron spends time partying rather than leading, the pro-Israel group Israel War Room trolled the French government with their tongue-in-cheek advice.

The ongoing violent and destructive Islamo-Marxist riots are attacking businesses, citizens, and destroying historic buildings.

After Europe has arrogantly lectured Israel on its response to the October 7 terrorist attacks targeting civilians, Israel War Room offered the same advice to the French that they were forced to listen to while burying murdered infants and praying that hostages would come home alive after being abused, raped, and tortured in captivity.

The group shared on X, “We call on France to exercise restraint when dispersing the freedom fighters on the streets of Paris.”

“These brave warriors for justice must receive immediate humanitarian aid, and their safety must be guaranteed in accordance with international law.”

“Failure to comply will leave us no choice but to bring a case before the ICJ, in close cooperation with that renowned champion of human rights, Afghanistan.”

We call on France to exercise restraint when dispersing the freedom fighters on the streets of Paris. These brave warriors for justice must receive immediate humanitarian aid, and their safety must be guaranteed in accordance with international law. Failure to comply will leave us no choice but to bring a case before the ICJ, in close cooperation with that renowned champion of human rights, Afghanistan.

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 18, 2026

Others got in on the opportunity to point out woke Europe’s hypocrisy.

Sarah Adams added, “A two state solution in France is the only solution, I think we can get a commission from the Taliban to help broker the ‘peace deal’.”

@IsraelWarRoom A two state solution in France is the only solution, I think we can get a commission from the Taliban to help broker the “peace deal”

— Sarah Adams (@sarahadams) October 18, 2026

@IsraelWarRoom I feel like a two state solution is the answer for French problems.

— Matt (@PrometheanPrt) October 18, 2026

@IsraelWarRoom “From the ocean to the seine, Paris will be free again”

— Nemo (@theoremipsum) October 18, 2026

The post Pro-Israel Group Trolls French Government on How to Respond to Protestors: “We call on France to exercise restraint when dispersing the freedom fighters on the streets of Paris” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.