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Tucker Carlson’s New Political Venture Sparks GOP Controversy

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A sharp division has emerged within the Republican ranks concerning the potential formation of a new political faction led by Tucker Carlson. This new entity aims to challenge the MAGA movement initiated by former President Donald Trump.

Among the prominent conservative figures rallying for this cause are former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, ex-Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Congressman Thomas Massie, and Joe Kent, a former Trump counterterrorism chief. They gathered in Maine over the weekend to deliberate on launching this fresh political initiative.

Marjorie Taylor Greene shared an image of the assembled group at Carlson’s cabin, stating, “We said no more foreign wars, and we meant it. We supported Donald Trump for making that promise, yet he has let us all down.”

Expressing their goals, Greene added, “Our pledge is an America First agenda that encompasses every American, regardless of political orientation. The movement is underway.”

The announcement of this potential new political platform has instantly sparked outrage among conservative circles online, with many labeling the participants as ‘turncoats.’

The White House, Meghan McCain, Laura Loomer and many other prominent conservative influencers bashed the gathering of ‘traitors.’ McCain noted in a podcast how those present represented ‘the biggest pieces of garbage in the conservative movement.’

But many other prominent right-wingers celebrated the new crew determined to take on MAGA. 

‘That’s a great group of Americans!’ far-right pundit Alex Jones responded to Greene’s post. 

Donald Trump's biggest right-wing critics are plotting their political futures. Pictured are (1) Carolyn Grace Moffa,  (2) Brian Glenn, (3) Marjorie Taylor Greene, (4) Tucker Carlson,  (5) Joe Kent, (6) Heather Kaiser Kent, (7) Thomas Massie

Donald Trump’s biggest right-wing critics are plotting their political futures. Pictured are (1) Carolyn Grace Moffa,  (2) Brian Glenn, (3) Marjorie Taylor Greene, (4) Tucker Carlson,  (5) Joe Kent, (6) Heather Kaiser Kent, (7) Thomas Massie

Greene was a former close ally of the President until he turned on her, labeling her a 'traitor' after she supported the release of the Justice Department's files on Jeffrey Epstein

Greene was a former close ally of the President until he turned on her, labeling her a ‘traitor’ after she supported the release of the Justice Department’s files on Jeffrey Epstein

‘I’ll be part of whatever this party below represents… America First > MAGA,’ shared Trump’s first-term National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.

‘Great group,’ commented popular influencer Sneako. 

The divide underscores the split allegiances emerging in the Republican Party that has been dominated by Trump for the past decade. 

What unites all of those who convened at Carlson’s cabin are their shared beliefs that the President has reneged on his campaign promises to lower prices and keep the US out of new wars. 

Kent, who resigned from the Trump administration earlier this year in opposition to the US war against Iran, recently said that he and other attendees had urged Carlson to run for the White House in 2028. 

‘I’d say all of us at one point in time told Tucker he needs to run, and Tucker’s been pretty public that he’s not going to run,’ Kent said on a recent appearance on The Young Turks show. 

‘So, we all made our pitch to Tucker as to why he should run, and hopefully he wakes up one day and Tucker says he’s going to run.’ 

Still, Carlson said as recently as late June that he was not planning on a presidential bid. 

Greene and Massie recently visited Costa Rica together, along with their spouses

Greene and Massie recently visited Costa Rica together, along with their spouses 

Tucker Carlson announced a 10-point policy platform on his show on Wednesday, just days after he was urged to run for president in 2028

Tucker Carlson announced a 10-point policy platform on his show on Wednesday, just days after he was urged to run for president in 2028

Capitalizing on the momentum stirred from the weekend post, Carlson announced a 10-point policy platform on his show Wednesday evening. 

The platform consisted of different buzzwords, including fair, sovereign, productive, beautiful, healthy, honest, optimistic, wise, decent and united.

The former Fox News host has turned into a beacon for Republicans discontented with Trump’s tenure.

He has slammed Trump for not representing an ‘America first’ agenda, has apologized for his past support of the Republican and has recently come out against many of his policy objectives, particularly the Iran war. 

Carlson has also become a vocal critic of Israel and the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, popular positions among the Republican base.  

However, despite all the fanfare, the White House does not see the new group as a threat.

‘The President is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress and continuing to lower costs for working families,’ White House Spokesman Davis Ingle has said. 

‘Meanwhile, this photo represents an embarrassing collection of mostly whiny turncoats who dramatically overestimate their influence and relevance.’

Actress’s Chilling Pre-Murder Comment Revealed: Inside Her Accessory Conviction in Double Homicide

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Just a month before Juri “Julie” Kibuishi and Samuel Herr tragically lost their lives, Rachel Buffett focused on bachelorette party plans. During this period, she allegedly encouraged a former friend named Audrey to try ecstasy, according to Audrey’s account.

Audrey claimed that Buffett even went so far as to suggest, “Well, if I slipped it in your drink, you wouldn’t know about it.”

Sharing her experience on the Investigation Discovery series “A Killer Among Friends,” Audrey explained that this unsettling exchange marked the end of their friendship for her.

Rachel Buffett in a dark blue jumpsuit listening inside a courthouse next to her attorney.

Rachel Buffett, once engaged to the convicted murderer Daniel Wozniak, sat alongside her attorney David Medina as Junko Kibuishi, the mother of victim Julie Kibuishi, addressed the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana on November 8, 2018. On that day, Judge Sheila Hanson sentenced Buffett to two years and eight months in jail for being an accessory after the fact. (Orange County Register)

Recalling the volatile dynamics of Buffett’s relationship with her fiancé, Audrey told News Media, “Whenever Rachel and [her fiancé] fought, especially when alcohol was involved, they’d lash out at those around them.” Audrey had been on the receiving end of such anger but noted that the incident during the bachelorette festivities was pivotal in her decision to cut ties.

Audrey said Buffett’s remark about secretly drugging her didn’t feel like an empty threat.

“I really believed Rachel would have drugged me at her bachelorette party because she thought it would be fun,” she said.

Audrey looking away during an interview about Rachel Buffett.

Audrey, a former friend of Rachel Buffett’s, speaks out in the episode “Staging a Murder” premiering Aug. 10, 2026, at 9 p.m. on ID. (Investigation Discovery)

Audrey walked away from the friendship. Buffett later reached out by text, inviting Audrey to be a bridesmaid and asking if she could come over.

About a month after Audrey ended the friendship, Kibuishi was found shot to death in Herr’s apartment, while Herr was missing.

Buffett, an actress, was not accused of carrying out the murders or helping her then-fiancé, Daniel Wozniak, commit them. In 2018, an Orange County, California, jury found her guilty of two felony counts of being an accessory after the fact after prosecutors accused her of lying to and misleading investigators.

Rachel Buffett taking a silly picture with her then-fiance Daniel Wozniak.

Rachel Buffett is the ex-fiancée of Southern California man Daniel Wozniak, who’s on death row for a double-murder. (Investigation Discovery)

News Media reached out to Buffett for comment about Audrey’s allegations. The case is explored in the episode “Staging a Murder” airing Aug. 10.

“Rachel and Dan loved each other, but they also got on each other’s nerves,” said Audrey. “It was fine when they were sober, but then when they got drunk, they were always more aggressive. They would argue and fight. I remember one time when he was drunk, I yelled ‘F— you’ to him, and I threw my shoe at him, hitting him in the back.”

Daniel Wozniak embracing Rachel Buffett.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy alleged Rachel Buffett “lied, dodged questions and changed her story” while being interviewed by detectives who believed Daniel Wozniak was involved in two slayings. (Investigation Discovery)

Audrey’s friendship with the couple wasn’t always tumultuous. She met Buffett in college while they were studying theater.

“I just remember her being fun and bubbly,” said Audrey. “I thought, ‘That’s the type of person I want to hang out with.'”

At a party, she crossed paths with mutual friends Kibuishi, a dancer, and Herr, a U.S. Army veteran.

Sam Herr wearing an Army sweatshirt.

Sam Herr was murdered on May 21, 2010. He was 26. (Investigation Discovery)

“I just remember them being delightful, funny, warm and loving,” said Audrey. “They were good people. You could tell they were good people.”

The buzz among the friend group was Buffett’s engagement to Wozniak, a community theater actor. They planned to get married on May 28, 2010. A week before the wedding, Kibuishi and Herr were killed.

Herr’s father, Steve Herr, became worried because his son wasn’t answering his phone and had failed to show up for a planned visit. He went to his son’s apartment and let himself in. Everything appeared normal until he reached the bedroom and discovered Kibuishi’s body. She was partially clothed and had been shot in the head. Herr was missing.

Steve Herr, Sam's father, during an interview.

Steve Herr, Sam Herr’s father, is interviewed in ID’s “A Killer Among Friends.” (Investigation Discovery)

“By then, I wasn’t invited to the wedding because I stopped being friends with Rachel and Dan,” said Audrey. “I told her I didn’t want to be in the wedding. But when I heard the news, I was so confused. My brain couldn’t wrap around the idea of what happened.”

“I thought, ‘What did they get themselves mixed up in?’” said Audrey. “Maybe they got drunk. Maybe they got blackout drunk.”

Wesley Freilich sits during an interview.

Wesley Freilich, who knew Daniel Wozniak, spoke out about the case. (Investigation Discovery)

At first, police thought Herr had killed Kibuishi before fleeing. But that theory began to unravel when investigators discovered someone was still withdrawing money from Herr’s bank account.

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Raquel Herr embraces Junko Kibuishi outside the courtroom in Santa Ana, Calif.

Raquel Herr, the mother of murder victim Samuel Herr, embraces Junko Kibuishi, the mother of murder victim Julie Kibuishi, outside the courtroom after Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson sentenced Rachel Buffett, the former fiancée of convicted killer Daniel Wozniak, to two years and eight months in jail for accessory after the fact in Santa Ana, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2018. (Staff Photographer)

Police traced the transactions to teenager Wesley Freilich, who told investigators that Wozniak had given him Herr’s ATM card and instructed him to withdraw money. Police arrested Wozniak at his bachelor party. After repeatedly changing his story during questioning, Wozniak confessed. Asked why he committed the murders, he replied, “Money and insanity.”

Sam Herr wearing a bright green shirt.

Daniel Wozniak tried to frame victim Sam Herr (pictured here), for Julie Kibuishi’s murder. (Investigation Discovery)

“From what I found out, he was racking up tons of credit card debt,” said Audrey. “That’s a poor excuse. There’s no excuse to do what he did.”

Despite their falling out, Audrey said she called Buffett after Wozniak’s arrest.

Rachel Buffett sits in superior court during opening statements in her trial.

Actress Rachel Buffett told NBC’s “Dateline” after her ex-fiancé’s arrest that she was innocent. (MediaNews Group via Getty Images)

“Even though I had completely lost trust in her as a human, I was still expressing sorrow for the difficult hardship she must have been going through, knowing that the love of her life that she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with did something atrocious,” she said.

“It’s a life-shattering thing to have happened. But then she responded, ‘You just want to talk to me because you want your five minutes of fame. You don’t really care about me.’”

Junko Kibuishi speaks in Orange County Superior Court with her husband Masa beside her.

Junko Kibuishi, mother of murder victim Julie Kibuishi, speaks in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, California, on Nov. 8, 2018. (Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

“Is that what you are thinking right now?” said Audrey. “It was mind-boggling. There was such a disconnect. I was completely taken aback by that reaction. To me, that is not the reaction of a woman who just found out her fiancé was a murderer.”

Daniel Wozniak holding a shotgun away from the camera.

In 2010, a week before Rachel Buffett and Dan Wozniak were supposed to get married, authorities said Wozniak killed and dismembered 26-year-old Samuel Herr of Costa Mesa. Wozniak also shot Herr’s friend, 23-year-old Julie Kibuishi. (Investigation Discovery)

Buffett has maintained that she had no advance knowledge of the murders.

“We were close for so many years,” said Audrey. “No matter what I thought, I was still going to treat her like a human being. At that point, it had only been a few months since we ended our friendship.”

Daniel Wozniak's mugshot

Daniel Wozniak was sentenced to death in 2016 for the double murder of Samuel Herr and Juri “Julie” Kibuishi. (Investigation Discovery)

Prosecutors said Wozniak killed and dismembered Herr as part of a plot to steal $62,000 he had saved from his military service. They said Wozniak then killed Kibuishi and tried to frame Herr for her murder. Hours after killing Herr, Wozniak performed in the musical “Nine” at a community theater.

Matt Murphy speaks at news conference as Steve and Raquel Herr, parents of murder victim Samuel Herr, listen.

Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy speaks during a news conference as Steve and Raquel Herr, parents of murder victim Samuel Herr, listen after Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson sentenced Rachel Buffett to two years and eight months in jail for accessory after the fact in Santa Ana, California, on Nov. 8, 2018. (Staff Photographer)

“I’m innocent, and that’s what hurts me most in this whole situation is they’re trying to say I’m something I’m not,” Buffett told NBC’s “Dateline.”

In 2012, Buffett was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors later said she lied to police and misled investigators while trying to protect Wozniak.

A close-up of Daniel Wozniak.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said Google searches from Daniel Wozniak’s computer in 2010 showed queries like “how load shotgun” and “how to hide a body.” (Investigation Discovery)

Wozniak was sentenced to death in 2016. In 2018, Buffett was sentenced to 32 months in jail following her conviction on two felony counts of being an accessory after the fact.

Rachel Buffett sits in superior court with her attorney David Medina during opening statements in Santa Ana.

Rachel Buffett sits in superior court with her attorney David Medina during opening statements in her trial on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, in Santa Ana, California. (MediaNews Group via Getty Images)

Audrey said she still wonders who sent the text messages she received from Buffett’s phone after their friendship ended.

“Were they really from her? Or did Dan use her phone? I don’t know.”

The experience also changed how Audrey chooses her friends.

Audrey cries during an interview.

Audrey told News Media this was her first on-camera interview about the case involving Dan Wozniak and Rachel Buffett. (© 2026 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All rights reserved.)

“It’s OK to be nice and respectful to people without inviting them into your life,” she said. “I [remember] the quote from ‘Into the Woods’: ‘Nice is different than good.’ And I think that is something to think about when you’re out there making friends. Nice is different than good.”

Sugar Season 2 Finale: Cast and Showrunner Share Exciting Prospects for Season 3 with Sugar, Djen, and Charlotte

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Sugar concluded its tumultuous second season on August 7, leaving audiences with a heap of pressing questions as the final credits fade.

Warning: Spoilers follow for Sugar Season 2, Episode 8.

Let’s rewind: John Sugar, played by Colin Farrell, wrapped up the chaos after surviving the Fire Sale incident, which included eliminating Lieutenant Vega (Tony Dalton) and the subsequent arrest of those involved. As this chapter ended, Sugar aimed to pursue a blossoming romance with Charlotte, portrayed by Laura Donnelly. However, a jaw-dropping twist revealed she was not who she seemed. Charlotte had known Sugar’s identity long before their paths crossed and was, in fact, working for his sister, Djen (Mireille Enos). Unbeknownst to Sugar, Djen never left Earth and is very much alive!

While relieved his sister is safe, Sugar is mortified to discover she isn’t the same. Djen, having invested years in developing a weather-controlling technology, has sold it to a select group under the guise of combating global warming. Yet, what she confides in Sugar is that her true intention with the technology has a darker side.

Colin Farrell shared with Decider over Zoom, “Finding her was almost more devastating than her disappearance, because she’s altered. It’s a change he can’t quite pinpoint. They barely reunite when it’s clear there’s a threatening undercurrent. He’s scared because of her immense intellect and potential. There’s a shadow over her now that is baffling to him. Exploring their connection in potential future seasons, contemplating how they might find each other again, fascinates me.”

“There’s a darkness that’s fallen over her that he doesn’t quite understand. So the idea of how to bring them back together or what kind of contact they would have in future seasons, if we get to explore them… is really interesting to me.”

Colin Farrell, Sugar

As of Sugar‘s Season 2 finale day, Apple TV had yet to renew the series for a third season. But should Sugar get the green light, Farrell and showrunner/EP Sam Catlin feel there’s more of John Sugar’s story left to explore, and includuing his layered relationship with Djen.

“We wanted her to be a character that had power and agency, and wasn’t just a damsel in distress. And someone worthy of Sugar’s admiration, and certainly his love. The more we talked, we were like, ‘What if she actually has more than agency? Maybe she set up the whole thing, and she’s quite powerful and a cautionary tale for Sugar going forward. Like, what can happen when you stay too long?’” Catlin told Decider. “She also has certain personality traits that Sugar doesn’t, in terms of ambition and greed, and all of those things that are going to make her a real problem for him going forward.”

Sugar, Sugar's sugar

Apple TV

By the end of Season 2’s finale, Sugar was reeling from the emotional whiplash of finding, then losing his sister again. But Djen wasn’t the only women weighing on him. Charlotte’s betrayal left him heartbroken and questioning if their romance was all an act.

“I think 100%, her feelings were genuine. And I think that is the complication for Charlotte. As time goes on through the course of the season, she’s more and more torn, because she has genuinely fallen in love with this man,” Donnelly told Decider. “For her, the hope that she managed to continue was that maybe he would want to come on board. Because I think she also does genuinely believe that she’s doing the right thing following Djen’s plan for the world. I think she had hope there that those two things could come together. When it becomes really clear that that’s not the case, I think that that will be devastating for both Charlotte and Sugar. Do I think that there could be a future reconciliation? I’d love to think so, but that’s not my call.”

“I think 100%, her feelings were genuine. And I think that is the complication for Charlotte. As time goes on through the course of the season, she’s more and more torn, because she has genuinely fallen in love with this man.”

Laura Donnelly, Sugar

If Sugar does land a Season 3 renewal, both stars adored sharing scenes together. So it seems like Charlotte’s return has real potential, especially if she’s still working with Djen. Story-wise, Farrell also told Decider that he had a “lovely” time portraying the new side of Sugar that explores romance despite the dangers.

“It was lots of fun to play a sincerely awkward [man], because he doesn’t even just let himself fall in love. He can’t help but fall. You’re out of control. There’s nothing to grip. You’re falling. And so he finds himself there, swimming in these waters that he’s never swam in before. And it’s as it can be in the world of romance. It’s intoxicating, euphoric, confounding, nerve-wracking, all those things,” the star/EP said. “He finds himself in a very uncomfortable position with Charlotte. And Laura was just amazing to work with. She just brought so much truth to everything, and heart, and humor, and sensuality. She really carried herself as a throwback to a bygone era in a way. That sensuality of the femme fatale, but also the sweetness as well.”

Colin Farrell and Laura Donnelly resting their heads on each other in "Sugar"

Photo: Apple TV

A longtime fan of Farrell’s work, Donnelly echoed the sentiment. “I think he’s really one of the greats. In terms of the acting, it was so free and easy. Everything just felt like it was there to be played with. He’s very generous as an actor, and made everything feel very spontaneous. I really just had to react to the truth behind his eyes,” she recalled. “He brings such grace, and humor, and generosity, and time for everybody. And I think a huge aspect of it is that he has absolutely still got a completely unsinkable wonder at the process of making film and TV. He loves working with the crew. He makes everybody feel like it’s somewhere they want to be. And his treatment of everybody else really sets the bar.”

While fans wait for updates on future of the compelling Apple TV, here’s what we know about a potential Sugar Season 3.

Sugar Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV.

Virginia Community Uproar: Data Center’s Impact on Hundreds of Families Sparks Controversy

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For five years, Terry Smith and her sister, Sherry, have called the cozy cul-de-sac on Little Mountain Drive home.

Smith often describes her Virginian neighborhood as a peaceful enclave where conversations among neighbors are common, forming their cherished piece of the American dream.

However, this tranquility is under threat as local authorities plan to construct a 900-megawatt data center at Summit View Business Park, just a quarter-mile away from Smith’s residence in Rocky Mount, close to Roanoke.

‘It’s practically in my backyard,’ Smith, aged 53, shared with the Daily Mail. ‘In our quiet neighborhood, the silence is only ever broken by friendly chats.’

Smith finds it inconceivable that the planners have overlooked the profound effects on those living right next to the proposed development.

She and the 100 or so households in her section of the neighborhood are worried the proximity of the data center will destroy their home values and their sanity.

‘I just feel the Board of Supervisors is not considering the lifelong impact of the environment,’ she said. ‘And I don’t feel like they’re considering the people who are affected immediately, like myself and the cul-de-sac.’

Smith estimated up to 500 to 700 homes are within a mile of the proposal site and all of them will be irreparably harmed by the addition, she told the Daily Mail.

Terry Smith and her sister, Sherry, have lived at the end of the cul-de-sac on Little Mountain Drive for the last five years. Now, their piece of paradise might become a hellscape if a new data center is built

Terry Smith and her sister, Sherry, have lived at the end of the cul-de-sac on Little Mountain Drive for the last five years. Now, their piece of paradise might become a hellscape if a new data center is built 

Smith worries her home value and sanity will decreased dramatically if the center is built

Smith worries her home value and sanity will decreased dramatically if the center is built 

‘I’m trapped!’ Smith said. ‘We’re all trapped. I cannot sell my house.’

If she were to try, she’d have to disclose that a data center that is connected to Crusoe AI, may be built practically in her backyard, which she said would be an impossible selling point. 

‘Everybody here is stuck,’ she said. ‘If I was to try to get rid of my house, I’d have to give it away, basically. Me and my sister would lose thousands of dollars, so would everyone else in the neighborhood.

‘And where would we go? Because we wouldn’t have a down payment, we would take a loss on the house if we got rid of it.’

Smith, alongside many other residents, attended the Board of Supervisors meeting last month to express their complaints and concerns.

A representative of a local church also attended, where he begged officials to understand how the noise pollution from the data center would affect worship services, but more importantly, funerals.

‘Imagine trying to have a funeral service there,’ Smith said. ‘Half a mile from the data center and all the noise pollution. You wouldn’t be able to hear a preacher make remarks, you wouldn’t be able to hear family say graveside remarks about their loved one.’ 

Smith and her sister have only lived in the neighborhood for five years, after moving in May 2021. Since joining the neighborhood, she hasn’t seen a home go up for sale, as many make the town of 5,000 their forever home.

'It's literally in my backyard,' Smith, 53, told the Daily Mail. Pictured is the area where the center is proposed to be built

‘It’s literally in my backyard,’ Smith, 53, told the Daily Mail. Pictured is the area where the center is proposed to be built 

Virginia has the most data centers in the country with 641

Virginia has the most data centers in the country with 641 

Even in the newer section of town, which has dense pine trees to help block out the noise, Smith isn’t positive it will be enough to maintain quality of life.

‘I completely understand the need for these facilities, but they need to be placed practically,’ she said.

Across the nation, citizens’ lives are increasingly becoming disrupted by these noisy facilities, but none more than Virginians, whose state houses the most data centers in the country. 

Virginia has the highest number of data centers with 641, according to Pew Research. This is followed by Texas at 510 and California with 294. New York has 134. 

Vermont has the least amount with three, according to Pew Research. 

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, who came into power in January, has taken steps to protect environmental issues, such as air quality, and introduced the first-of-its-kind statewide energy consumption tax on data centers.

‘Under Governor Spanberger’s leadership, Virginia has taken landmark action to make sure data centers pay their fair share for energy use, protect air quality, and prevent families from shouldering the cost of new energy infrastructure investments by data centers,’ her office told the Daily Mail.

‘Governor Spanberger was proud to propose and sign into law a first-of-its-kind, $1.2 billion statewide energy consumption tax on data centers and more than a dozen other bills focused on addressing Virginians’ concerns – including by enforcing stricter requirements on backup generators and giving local leaders more tools to assess the impacts of data centers.’

Governor Abigail Spanberger, who came into power in January has introduced a statewide energy consumption tax on data centers and told the Daily Mail she is taking a 'different tune' than her predecessor

Governor Abigail Spanberger, who came into power in January has introduced a statewide energy consumption tax on data centers and told the Daily Mail she is taking a ‘different tune’ than her predecessor 

Previous Governor Glenn Youngkin said he had wanted to make the state the data center capital of the world, despite resident pushback

Previous Governor Glenn Youngkin said he had wanted to make the state the data center capital of the world, despite resident pushback 

Previous Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin had proposed making The Old Dominion State the data center capital of the world, but Spanberger’s office told the Daily Mail that she is ‘taking a different tune.’

‘While the previous administration encouraged data center growth without critical energy and environmental standards, Governor Spanberger will listen to Virginians and work to make sure data centers adhere to strict standards that protect families from higher electricity rates, strengthen grid reliability, and keep surrounding communities strong,’ the governor’s office said.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul was the first to put forth a statewide moratorium last month, which will block building new data centers over 50 megawatts in the Empire State for a year. 

Earlier this year, California voted on its first-ever anti-data-center legislation in Monterey Park, near Los Angeles. 

More than 85 percent of voters voted to prohibit the construction of new centers in the city in June. 

Monterey Park became the second city in the nation to pass legislation against data centers. 

Port Washington, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, was the first in April to vote to restrict any future data centers.

Wannie Park, founder of PADO AI, which helps data centers with energy management, told the Daily Mail that if AI companies want to continue to build facilities, they will have to start taking the human effect into account. 

Wannie Park, founder of PADO AI, which helps data centers with energy management, told the Daily Mail that if AI companies want to continue to build facilities, they will have to start taking the human effect into account

Wannie Park, founder of PADO AI, which helps data centers with energy management, told the Daily Mail that if AI companies want to continue to build facilities, they will have to start taking the human effect into account

‘As AI demand skyrockets, developers are realizing that ignoring local concerns around power grid strain, rising electricity costs, and resource allocation leads directly to regulatory roadblocks and public pushback,’ he told the Daily Mail. 

‘Moving forward, early community engagement, transparency, and demonstrating direct local benefits will be just as critical as securing land and power.’

And for residents who wish data centers be moved to desert areas far away from civilians, Park said this is a fever dream, as the facilities need access to a strong power grid, network connectivity and water sources to survive.  

‘Developers can’t simply run away from populated areas – they have to learn to be better neighbors where the power and fiber already exist,’ he said. 

Gainesville Man Charged After Alleged Attempt to Ram Car with Child Inside

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Staff report

In Gainesville, Florida, K’mari Deonta Atkins, aged 24, was apprehended last night following accusations of assaulting a woman by slapping and choking her, barring her from leaving, tailgating her in a friend’s car, and attempting to provoke a crash by abruptly braking while a child was on board.

Around 9:30 p.m. on August 6, Atkins, in a fit of rage, allegedly went to the woman’s home uninvited. He reportedly approached her aggressively, lifted the child present, and placed the young one on the couch. During the altercation, Atkins is accused of shoving the woman to the ground and choking her, during which he pulled off her wig while shouting at her.

Afterwards, as Atkins eventually rose, the woman attempted to leave; however, Atkins allegedly stood in her way, insisting that she could not go. She reportedly expressed feeling unsafe about departing because of Atkins’s intimidating behavior and words.

Further complicating matters, Atkins is said to have confiscated her phone and keys, thereby blocking her from reaching anyone for help. When a friend of hers called, Atkins answered the phone, which led the friend to overhear the dispute. Concerned, the friend contacted another acquaintance to assist in picking up the victim.

The victim said Atkins was still blocking the door, so she left the residence through a bedroom window without attracting Atkins’s attention.

After some time passed, Atkins noticed the victim was not in the residence, so he took her vehicle to look for her, allegedly leaving the child unattended on the couch. He found her near the front office of her apartment complex, where he allegedly tried to hit her with the vehicle. The victim reportedly stopped walking, argued with Atkins, and then got into the car with him to go back to her residence.

The victim’s friend arrived and yelled at the victim to leave, so the victim picked up the child and left with her friend.

Atkins allegedly followed them in the victim’s car, driving at a high rate of speed next to the friend’s car; he then allegedly drove in front of the friend’s vehicle and hit the brakes twice in an attempt to cause a crash. Meanwhile, the victim’s friend called 911 and stayed on the phone with dispatch, updating the call-taker with their location.

A Gainesville Police Department officer caught up with both vehicles in the 6000 block of Newberry Road and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Atkins was driving.

Post Miranda, Atkins reportedly said he went to the victim’s residence to pick up the child, and they got into an argument; he said the victim threw a plastic toy at him, which hit him in the lip. The officer noticed some swelling on Atkins’s lip, but when he asked Atkins about it, Atkins reportedly said he had not noticed any swelling or blood.

Atkins reportedly said the victim had taken his car keys and jumped into her friend’s car, so he decided to follow her in her vehicle. He said he was only following her so he could get his keys back.

The officer reported that video showed Atkins swerving in front of the vehicle with the victim, her friend, and the child inside and slamming on the brakes twice in an attempt to force the vehicle to crash.

The officer also noted that Atkins and the victim have a history of domestic violence, referencing an incident report during 2026.

Atkins has been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and domestic battery. He has no local criminal history, but his full criminal history is unavailable because the documents are not posted for offenses involving minors. Senior Judge Bo Bayer ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Mamdani’s Surprising Accent in Viral Video Sparks Online Buzz

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I’ve recently started revisiting HBO’s hit comedy series, Veep. This show features a fictional female vice president whose self-centered nature, unchecked ambition, and numerous cringeworthy blunders present a stark contrast to Kamala Harris’s composed demeanor. Remarkably, the series maintains a timeless quality as it cycles through familiar political themes such as “filibuster reform” and the challenge of encouraging children to swap their video games for exercise.

The humor in Veep is compelling (though a word of caution, it often ventures into crude territory). By steering clear of naming any political parties, the show takes a refreshingly equal opportunity approach to lampooning the entire political landscape.

One episode captures a particularly hilarious moment when the vice president, amid her presidential campaign, stops by a pig-pickin’ event in North Carolina. Although hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, she instinctively adopts a Southern drawl while interacting with attendees—a testament to her chameleon-like political tactics, saying whatever is necessary to win a vote.

Doesn’t this ring a bell when you think of modern-day politicians? Many seamlessly adjust their accents based on their audience and location, leaving an impression of insincerity—a hallmark trait of political figures today.

This brings us to the intriguing case of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his accent. In his recent interviews, Mamdani carries the unmistakable tone of a true New Yorker. Despite being born in Uganda, his consistent residence in the US since 1998 suggests a natural adoption of a New York-American accent.

However, a video surfaced on social media Friday that showed a younger Mamdani and an entirely different accent. He was helping to promote one of his mother’s films and, well, this is not the Mamdani we’re used to hearing.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is setting off an online frenzy after a nearly decade-old interview resurfaced showing him speaking with a noticeably different accent while discussing his Ugandan roots.

The 2016 clip features Mamdani talking about life in Kampala while promoting his mother Mira Nair’s Disney film, ‘Queen of Katwe,’ for a South African radio station.

Okay, fine. He’s talking with a South African radio station about his childhood in Uganda, so maybe a little “code-switching” was going on. It happens.

It’s still weird, though. There have been other video clips of young Mamdani floating around over the years and he doesn’t sound anything like he does in that video. Taken together, they raise an amusing question: Just how many versions of the Mamdani accent are there? And who is the real Zohran Mamdani?


Top Police Official Reportedly Drives Getaway Car in Gang Shooting Linked to Mayor’s Sorority Sister

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A suburban New York police official, accused of being the getaway driver for her son’s purported gang-related shooting, is said to have secured her leadership position through connections with the mayor’s office.

Jennifer Lackard, 49, and her 20-year-old son, Chase, were arrested by the New York Police Department on Tuesday. This arrest comes in relation to a drive-by shooting that targeted rival gang members near the Bronx Criminal Court on June 29, according to court documents.

Before her arrest, Lackard served as the deputy commissioner of wellness for the Mount Vernon Police Department.

image shows photo of city official

Jennifer Lackard, 49, is facing charges for allegedly driving the getaway car while her son executed a gang shooting, according to police reports. (City of Mount Vernon)

Mount Vernon is located just north of New York City, bordering the Bronx.

Lackard and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard are Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, according to the New York Post.

In her former position, Lackard was tasked with police reform, civilian complaint review board implementation and officer wellness.

Police official in front of NYPD vehicles

Jennifer Lackard served as a deputy police commissioner with the Mount Vernon Police Department. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News via Getty Images; Mt. Vernon Police Department)

When she was hired the city said, “Lackard brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to the City of Mount Vernon has worked on the community level as President of the Station of Hope prison re-entry ministry at Grace Baptist Church and organizer of the Re-Entry Meetup for Westchester County since 2015.”

NYPD officers and detectives investigate after Chase Lackard, son of Deputy Police Commssioner of Mount Vernon was shot and wounded by police

NYPD officers and detectives investigate after Chase Lackard, 19, was shot and wounded by police on White Plains Road near Lafayette Ave. in the Bronx on Nov. 22, 2024, in New York City. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

In a 2020 interview with Gothamist, she “acknowledged the leap of faith it took for the department to give her the position,” and she had “never worked for a police department,” prior to landing the position.

image shows city hall

The City of Mount Vernon hired Jennifer Lackard in July 2020. (Getty Images: Ward Dewitt)

She previously held advisory roles on the Westchester County Probation Advisory Board and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Implementation Task Force.

In a statement posted on social media, the City of Mount Vernon said in part, “Effective immediately, the City of Mount Vernon has terminated Jennifer Lackard’s employment. The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and do not stem from any conduct associated with the Department or the performance of her official responsibilities.”

NYPD officers and detectives investigate after Chase Lackard, son of Deputy Police Commssioner of Mount Vernon was shot and wounded by police

NYPD officers and detectives investigate after Chase Lackard, 19, was shot and wounded by police on White Plains Road near Lafayette Ave. in the Bronx on Nov. 22, 2024, in New York City. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

News Media has reached out to Patterson-Howard and Delta Sigma Theta for comment.

Attorneys for Jennifer and Chase Lackard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Wisconsin Case Update: Accused in Lily Peters Murder and Assault Ruled Unfit for Trial

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The trial for the accused murderer of 10-year-old Lily Peters, whose body was discovered in the woods of Wisconsin, has been called off. Her alleged killer, her cousin, will not face a court trial for the heinous crime.

Carson Peters-Berger, now 18, was slated for a jury trial in November, facing charges of homicide and sexual assault for the brutal killing of Lily Peters in April 2022. This case has drawn significant attention due to the shocking nature of the alleged crime.

On Wednesday, Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell revealed a resolution hearing set for August 26, as reported by WEAU. This hearing is intended to conclude the case against Peters-Berger, more than four years after the tragic events unfolded.

Details regarding the proceedings of the hearing remain unclear, as Judge Steven Gibbs from Chippewa County has ordered the court records to be sealed, limiting public access to information.

Peters-Berger was just 14 years old at the time he allegedly committed the murder, leaving Lily Peters’ violated body abandoned in a wooded area, an act that has haunted the community ever since.

Peters’ father reported his daughter missing after she failed to return home from her aunt’s Chippewa Falls residence at 9 a.m. on April 24, according to Fox9.

Two hours after her expected arrival home, Peters’ father found her abandoned bike near the woods in Chippewa Falls.

A search party of volunteers discovered her partially naked, abused corpse the next morning in the wooded area off a walking trail.

Her death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma and strangulation.

Peters-Berger allegedly told police he had been walking the trail with his younger cousin when he asked her to explore off the path before he allegedly launched into the deadly sexual attack, according to a criminal complaint viewed by the outlet.

The older cousin was carrying his hoverboard while Peters carried her bike.

The teen admitted to police that “when they left the house it was already his intention to rape and kill [Lily],” the complaint stated.

When they were off the trail, Peters-Berger said he punched his cousin in the stomach, knocked her to the ground, hit her three times with a large stick before strangling her to the point of death.

He sexually assaulted his cousin after believing she was dead, he told police.

The teen then allegedly got scared, ran home, changed his clothes and showered.

He returned to Peters’ body the same night after hearing she was reported missing, and dragged her body a few feet further before covering her in leaves.

Peters-Berger was arrested days later and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault of a child.

The teen has been held in jail on a $1 million cash bond since his arrest.

During his time behind bars, prosecutors successfully sought to try Peters-Berger as an adult and the teen’s identity was made public after it was initially not released because he was a juvenile.

Attorneys for Peters-Berger had requested a change in venue and certain jury selection requirements, arguing they would get an unfair trial in Chippewa County because of the extensive media coverage of Peters’ death.

Judge Gibbs granted the changes, and jury selection was set to be held between October 21 and 22, with the 10-day trial kicking off on Nov. 2.

Peters-Berger faced life in prison if he was found guilty in the trial.

Angelina Jolie Looks Tense Amidst Ongoing Legal Clash with Brad Pitt

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Amidst a contentious legal saga with ex-husband Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie was recently spotted in Beverly Hills, her demeanor notably somber. The ongoing dispute centers around the ownership and management of Chateau Miraval, their shared French winery.

On Friday, the 51-year-old star, whose brother James Haven revealed his sexual orientation as gay, was seen in the city, tending to some private errands while maintaining a low profile.

The dispute over the vineyard has escalated into a legal affair set to hit the courts with a trial scheduled for February 2027, pitting the former power couple against each other once again.

Jolie opted for a laid-back yet sophisticated look, sporting black trousers paired seamlessly with a matching sweater during her outing.

Complementing her ensemble, she wore simple black flats and elegantly carried a black leather purse, draped over her arm, epitomizing understated style.

The actress’s long locks flowed down in light waves past her shoulders and she also opted for a pair of stylish shades. 

Angelina Jolie, 51, cut a glum figure in Beverly Hills this week amid an ongoing and bitter legal battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt over their French winery Chateau Miraval

Angelina Jolie, 51, cut a glum figure in Beverly Hills this week amid an ongoing and bitter legal battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt over their French winery Chateau Miraval

The star kept it casual during her latest outing wearing a pair of black trousers as well as a black sweater

The star kept it casual during her latest outing wearing a pair of black trousers as well as a black sweater

Jolie was spotted climbing out of a sleek vehicle inside what appeared to be a parking garage before heading to her next destination.  

Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Jolie for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Jolie and Pitt’s legal showdown took a dramatic turn this week when the F1 actor asked the court to order the Maleficent star to turn over financial records. 

He asked the court to order the actress to produce records showing her income from 2017 to 2019, after she claimed to have ‘largely put her career on hold’ and forewent ‘years of compensation’ following their 2016 separation. 

Jolie allegedly agreed to produce financial records from the years 2017 to 2021, but has apparently only produced documents for the years 2020 and 2021.

In court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Pitt’s lawyers allege Jolie has been withholding specific financial documents despite agreeing to produce said records. 

Jolie’s Cross-Complaint alleges that, after the parties’ 2016 separation, she put her career on hold, “forgoing years of compensation”; that Pitt possessed “substantial leverage and control” over her due in part to her financial condition at that time.

‘And that by 2019 she concluded she needed to sell her interest in Miraval to obtain “financial independence” from him,’ Pitt’s filing reads. 

Jolie and Pitt's legal showdown took a dramatic turn this week when the F1 actor asked the court to order the Maleficent star to turn over financial records; seen in 2014 in L.A.

Jolie and Pitt’s legal showdown took a dramatic turn this week when the F1 actor asked the court to order the Maleficent star to turn over financial records; seen in 2014 in L.A. 

In court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Pitt's lawyers allege Jolie has been withholding specific financial documents despite agreeing to produce said records; seen in 2024 in Venice

In court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Pitt’s lawyers allege Jolie has been withholding specific financial documents despite agreeing to produce said records; seen in 2024 in Venice

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‘On February 23, 2026, Jolie withdrew both her agreement to provide declarations responsive to Request Nos. 81 and 82 for the full 2017-2021 period and her agreement to produce participation statements from that same period.’

They allege she instead provided ‘supplemental responses limiting her production to 2020 and 2021, and later produced profit participation statements and tax returns for those two years only as well.’

They are now seeking to produce documents showing her annual income and profit participation statements from 2017 to 2019.

‘Prior to the IDC [Informal Discovery Conference], Plaintiffs proposed that Jolie stipulate that she was not under economic pressure before January 1, 2020, and that Pitt did not exert economic coercion on her from 2017 to 2019. Jolie declined.

‘At the IDC, the Court then separately proposed limiting the scope of Jolie’s testimony concerning her earnings and compensation. 

‘Again, Jolie declined the proposal. Instead, Jolie confirmed at the IDC that she may argue at trial that Pitt used Miraval as leverage to control her and that her decision to put her career on hold bears on why the proposed NDA was allegedly abusive. The parties therefore did not resolve the dispute.

‘The Requests seek information directly bearing on financial assertions Jolie pleaded: that she forwent “years of compensation,” that Miraval was her “most important asset.”

‘And that Pitt’s control over Miraval distributions gave him “substantial leverage and control” over her during the period leading to her 2019 decision to sell her stake in Chateau Miraval.’

They are now seeking to produce documents showing her annual income and profit participation statements from 2017 to 2019; seen in June in NYC

They are now seeking to produce documents showing her annual income and profit participation statements from 2017 to 2019; seen in June in NYC 

One of the requests ‘seeks documents sufficient to show Jolie’s earned income during the period between her separation from Pitt through 2019 – the year Jolie allegedly decided she needed to sell Miraval.’

And the other request ‘seeks documents sufficient to show Jolie’s earnings from the profit-sharing bonuses she received during that period from her earlier acting and directing roles.’ 

Yet, in a previous legal filing, Jolie hit back at Pitt’s characterization of her remarks for ‘financial independence’, claiming she was misquoted.

She also noted she has already provided financial records despite having ‘no obligation to do so.’

‘Pitt claims that Jolie has put her entire financial condition at issue going back to 2017 because of her allegation that she was seeking “financial independence.” (IDC Statement at 3:2-6.),’ a documented filed in June stated.

‘But Pitt’s selective quote misleadingly fails to include the entirety of her allegation. Jolie does not allege that she was seeking financial independence in the abstract; she alleges that she was seeking “financial independence from her ex-husband [Pitt].”‘

The document also stated that the actress ‘never alleged that she was in financial distress – her allegations are clear that she sought to untangle her financial life from the ex-spouse she was divorcing. That distinction is dispositive.’

It further notes: ‘Pitt also inaccurately ties his demand for a coercive NDA to Jolie’s financial condition, but here too his summaries are not accurate.’

Yet, in a previous legal filing, Jolie hit back at Pitt's characterization of her remarks for 'financial independence', claiming she was misquoted; seen in 2015 in Hollywood

Yet, in a previous legal filing, Jolie hit back at Pitt’s characterization of her remarks for ‘financial independence’, claiming she was misquoted; seen in 2015 in Hollywood

It further notes: 'Pitt also inaccurately ties his demand for a coercive NDA to Jolie's financial condition, but here too his summaries are not accurate'; seen in 2024

It further notes: ‘Pitt also inaccurately ties his demand for a coercive NDA to Jolie’s financial condition, but here too his summaries are not accurate’; seen in 2024 

It was later added that, ‘The issue is not whether Jolie needed the money – the issue is that she was trying to untangle her life and her finances from her controlling and abusive ex husband. That distinction makes all the difference.’ 

They also allege digging into Jolie’s finances from 2017-2019 pose a ‘serious invasion’ of her ‘privacy rights.’ 

The F1 actor first sued Jolie in February 2022, alleging she had secretly sold her half of their French winery, where the former couple married in 2014, without his consent.

The star claimed that he and Jolie had an implied agreement that neither would sell their share to a third party without the other’s approval, a deal Jolie’s side has denied ever existed.

Two years after their marriage, it came to an explosive end after the pair got into an alleged physical altercation while on a private flight with their six children and Jolie later filed for divorce.

The pair welcomed three children together during their romance: Shiloh in 2006 and twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008.

They also adopted two more, Zahara and Pax, and Pitt legally adopted the son that Angelina had adopted before they got together, Maddox.

Since they split, the two stars have been embroiled in one of the most publicized legal battles in Hollywood history over custody of their children, as well as the winery that they once owned together.

In May 2021, after years of duking it out in court, Pitt and Jolie were officially granted joint custody of their six children, but one month later, the judge’s decision was thrown out.

The F1 actor first sued Jolie in February 2022, alleging she had secretly sold her half of their French winery, where the former couple married in 2014, without his consent; seen in June in NYC

The F1 actor first sued Jolie in February 2022, alleging she had secretly sold her half of their French winery, where the former couple married in 2014, without his consent; seen in June in NYC 

Pitt has since moved on romantically and has been dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon for the last few years; the couple seen in June in Paris

Pitt has since moved on romantically and has been dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon for the last few years; the couple seen in June in Paris 

And in late 2024, it was revealed that the former couple had reached a divorce settlement following a lengthy, eight-year battle. 

The fallout from their split has gotten progressively uglier.

Zahara, Vivienne, Maddox, Shiloh and Knox have all stopped using their father’s last name. It’s unclear where Pax stands.

Pitt has since moved on romantically and has been dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon for the last few years.

Ivory Buchanan Charged in Chicago Hit-and-Run Injuring Jamie Drozier on 61st Birthday

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Charges of attempted murder have been filed against a woman involved in a hit-and-run incident that occurred last month on Chicago’s North Side.

Police have taken Ivory Buchanan, a 41-year-old from Evanston, into custody as of Thursday.

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Buchanan is accused of driving the vehicle that struck and wounded 61-year-old Jamie Drozier in the 6100 block of North Ravenswood Avenue, situated in the West Rogers Park neighborhood, on July 26.

Drozier’s friends grew worried when he failed to respond to their calls and texts on his birthday, the same day the collision took place. This prompted them to report him missing and distribute flyers around his Edgewater neighborhood.

According to neighbor Ann Regan, Drozier was attempting to cross at the intersection of Ravenswood and Ridge when a vehicle hit him, resulting in head injuries.

Regan said Drozier lives alone and has no living relatives, but that a close friend was staying by his side at the hospital.

Police said Buchanan is charged with first-degree attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery.

Further information was not immediately available.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

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