In a surprising turn of events, Xavier Becerra, a candidate vying for the governorship of California, opted to walk away from a sea of reporters on Wednesday. The gubernatorial hopeful was questioned persistently about his experience as Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden, particularly regarding his oversight of migrant children, an area he seemed reluctant to address.

Following a press gathering in Sacramento where Becerra was spotlighting state voting rights legislation, tied to his advisory work with the UCLA Voting Rights Project, he faced a barrage of inquiries concerning his administration of the HHS.

“Do you have any regrets about your HHS career?” inquired Titus Wu from The California Post, repeating the question as Becerra chose a quiet retreat, evading a direct response.

The Democrat was largely silent, sidestepping nearly all the questions directed at him, except for acknowledging that he would participate in a debate against his Republican opponent, Steve Hilton.

This charged moment unfolds as the issue of Becerra’s management of the migrant child crisis gains traction as a contentious topic in the California governor’s race.

Hilton has repeatedly hammered Becerra over the issue.

Becerra’s record has also drawn criticism from fellow Democrats during the primary campaign, making his time at HHS an increasingly uncomfortable topic on the campaign trail.

“Xavier Becerra wants to be governor while dodging questions from the press and a debate with me. What else do you expect from a lazy, arrogant, entitled ’empty suit’ 36-year machine politician who sent thousands of migrant kids to child traffickers to try and save his career?” Hilton posted on X.

Asked why Becerra declined to answer reporters’ questions, campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland said the candidate was on a tight schedule and needed to leave for a private event in Fresno.

“We’re going to spend a lot of time speaking with the journalists that he’s going to have to work with if he’s elected. Like I said, we’re going to be in Sacramento a lot,” Underland said.

During a televised event in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump humorously referenced his predecessor Joe Biden while making a quick move to prevent a toddler from falling off the stage.

Trump’s visit to Nevada on Wednesday was aimed at discussing his economic policies, which include initiatives like no tax on tips and introducing Trump Accounts.

While addressing the audience at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, the president spent just over an hour outlining his economic vision.

As his speech drew to a close, Trump welcomed Sandra and Brad, a Las Vegas couple, onto the stage. Sandra, who works as a casino waitress, and Brad, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, share two young children.

Sandra, visibly emotional, began her speech while their toddler son started to explore the stage, creating a lighthearted moment.

Trump spotted the boy approaching the edge of the stage and quickly rushed over to stop him before saying, ‘I don’t want him to be Biden and fall off the stage.’ 

The joke referenced an infamous 2023 incident when former President Biden tumbled on stage while handing out diplomas at a US Air Force academy graduation ceremony. 

Trump then returned to his position behind Sandra as she spoke at the podium, telling the audience: ‘It’s an honor to be here today. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done – enacting these policies that help our family.’ 

Trump smiled warmly as the casino waitress talked about working for tips and being motivated by her children. 

After her brief comments, Sandra gestured towards her toddler and said: ‘he did want to say a little something to you, Mr President.’ 

The mother took the boy’s hand and brought him over to Trump. He looked up at the president and babbled inaudibly before his mom picked him up and brought him closer to the microphone. 

Sandra prompted the boy to say, ‘Thank you for my Trump Account,’ which the toddler then repeated before the audience burst into cheering and applause. 

Trump also clapped and told the boy: ‘Good job!’ 

Sandra and Brad’s professions are exactly the kinds of jobs no tax on tips and overtime are meant to support, and because their boys are so young, they both qualified for Trump Accounts. 

No tax on tips and overtime was passed as part of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in early July last year. The policy allows people to deduct up to $12,500 in qualified tip or overtime earnings from their taxable income in federal tax filings. 

Joint filers can deduct up to $25,000, and it can be claimed on top of the standard deduction without itemizing taxes. 

Trump Accounts were passed on July 4, 2025, and came into effect on July 4 of this year. 

The accounts function as a kind of custodial-style traditional IRA for minors. Parents of any US citizen under 18 can open one in the child’s name and contribute up to $5,000 to it per year. 

The money is invested in mutual funds or exchange traded funds that track the S&P 500 or other equity indexes, with at least 90 percent going to US companies. The child gains access to the account and can begin withdrawing once they turn 18. 

Any US citizen child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who has a Trump Account opened in their name is eligible for a $1,000 seed deposit from the federal government.  

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — In a significant development following a tragic incident, the Florida Highway Patrol revealed on Wednesday the arrest of an individual connected to a fatal accident in St. Augustine.

Kevin Hoffman faces serious charges, including leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, driving under the influence (DUI) causing death, and vehicular homicide.

The tragic events unfolded on the evening of July 8, when officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, alongside St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies, responded to a collision at the intersection of SR-16 and US-1. Reports indicated that a Tesla, traveling at an excessively high speed, collided with a woman on a scooter. The victim, identified as Delinda Ronette Heinrich, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Kevin Hoffman, who was driving the Tesla, attempted to flee the scene before subsequently crashing his vehicle. He was admitted to a local hospital, where investigations revealed his blood alcohol content was .212, markedly above Florida’s legal limit by .132.

Following his release from medical care, Hoffman was apprehended at his residence by law enforcement officials, as confirmed by the Highway Patrol.

Dashcam video shared by the sheriff’s office shows the crash from a law enforcement vehicle in the area.

A Canadian woman was arrested by Florida deputies, as revealed in police body camera footage, after she allegedly provided a false identity during a traffic stop. The arrest took a dramatic turn when investigators found a dozen fraudulent ID cards inside her car.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister shared bodycam footage from July 29, which depicts the deputies pulling over a vehicle in Tampa due to malfunctioning taillights and tag lights.

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Bryce Swanson, initially gave deputies the name “Brianna Valenzuela”. She claimed to possess a driver’s license but admitted she didn’t have it on her at the time, according to the authorities.

“After initially claiming to have a license, Swanson admitted to deputies that she neither had an ID nor had ever held a valid driver’s license,” Chronister mentioned in a post on X. “Upon searching her car, they discovered 12 driver’s licenses, all featuring her photo but with varied names and birthdates.”

According to authorities, Swanson is a Canadian national who overstayed her visa.

The body camera footage shows a deputy questioning Swanson about her identity after she said she was visiting Florida from New York in a rental vehicle.

“I live in New York,” Swanson said. “I’m here in Florida literally just visiting friends and stuff right now.”

The deputy pointed out she did not have any New York identification.

“Your story’s not making a lot of sense to me, right?” the deputy said. “You say you live in New York, but you don’t have any ID in New York.”

When the deputy again asked how she could live in New York without any identification, Swanson replied, “I’ve never had a driver’s license or anything like that.”

Deputies then searched the vehicle and found what investigators described as numerous fraudulent identification cards.

“All these are fake,” one deputy said in the video before placing Swanson under arrest.

Swanson was booked into the Orient Road Jail and charged with driving without a valid driver’s license and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer.

She is being held without bond because of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, according to jail records.

News Media has reached out to ICE for comment.

What a turkey.

Francesca Hong, a Democrat aligned with socialist principles and currently vying for the position of Wisconsin governor, once stirred controversy by denouncing Thanksgiving as a celebration of colonialism. Now, in a surprising twist, she claims it’s actually her favorite holiday.

In a recent interview on Politico’s Playbook podcast, the candidate sought to retract her November 2021 comments, where she had called for Thanksgiving to be canceled—a post she has since deleted.

“Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday,” Hong declared, light-heartedly adding, “I don’t want to cancel it; I genuinely love it.”

In a conversation with host Irie Senter, she confessed that Thanksgiving holds a special place in her family as a “big event,” although she also described herself as “kind of a curmudgeon when it comes to holidays overall.”

During the height of the Covid pandemic in November 2021, Hong issued a blistering public-service announcement on her X account to “cancel Thanksgiving” — and raged that it “should have been done in 1621.”

“If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it,” she wrote in her since-deleted post, referring to the spread of smallpox that killed many indigenous Americans.

The socialist darling’s Thanksgiving hatred is not an anomaly though, as she has gotten worked up about at least seven US holidays in social media posts — including Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, Halloween and Mother’s and Father’s days.

Her bizarre backtrack comes after her interview on CNN Monday, where she issued a 46-second word salad response when asked by host Kaitlan Collins if she still believes Thanksgiving should be canceled.

Despite being asked point-blank, Hong wasn’t able to give a “yes” or “no” answer. 

“I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 was a Thanksgiving meal.,” she waffled to Collins.

“I always think my hospitality background and owning a restaurant for 7-8 years, that bringing folks around the table to share conversation and build community is always a good thing. But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities. So I think there I wanted to make sure people understood there are multiple views, but views can evolve.”

“And the position I’m running for right now — and I think my background as a chef will actually help me become a better governor that’s able to bring more people to the table,” she added before Collins ended the interview. 

In a significant show of support, JD Vance has stepped forward to back WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, encouraging her to “keep speaking her mind” amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her remarks about transgender athletes.

Cunningham found herself at the heart of a contentious cultural debate recently after expressing her belief to ESPN that young girls in sports should not have to compete against “biological men.” These comments have stirred considerable discussion and debate.

Facing intense backlash, Cunningham has become a polarizing figure. Criticism has poured in from both fans and sports figures alike, including a notable response from Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Reeve showed her stance by donning a t-shirt that declared ‘Trans Kids Belong’ during a game against Cunningham’s team, the Indiana Fever.

This heated debate has now reverberated up to the highest echelons of government discourse. Vice President Vance has publicly urged Cunningham to “keep going” and remain steadfast despite the intense opposition she faces.

‘Sometimes when you’re courageous in this country, some of the worst people in the world try to attack you,’ Vance told Fox News.

“What I would tell Sophie and anybody else is: keep speaking your mind,” Vance stated. “You’re actually inspiring a dozen people for every individual who criticizes you.”

‘And we cannot take our country back, we cannot save the United States of America, unless you have people of courage who are speaking their mind.

‘The thing about courage is it’s contagious. When you see one person – even if they have the mob come after them – speak their mind in a courageous and honest way, it inspires a lot of people to do the same. So I would tell Sophie to keep going.’

Since Cunningham’s comments went viral, Indiana Fever games have seen both pro- and anti-trans protests.

In Minnesota, protestors on each side of the debate clashed outside Target Center, while Lynx coach Reeve was seen in an animated discussion with Cunningham at the side of the court while she wore her ‘Trans Kids Belong’ shirt. 

‘I respect her for coming up in person,’ Cunningham said on Wednesday. ‘I think a lot of people hide behind screens and love that type of thing. She had stories about her point of view and I had stories about my point of view and we left with love and respect and I think that’s what it’s all about.’

Reeve, meanwhile, had previously said: ‘I think it’s great… both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate. 

‘There are some things that we have in common, and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it’s how you handle things. It was nice to be in person, for sure.’

Reeve, who also serves as the Team USA coach, added: ‘I come from a space of inclusion… the narrative that I think is problematic is to suggest that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports.

‘This is what’s bothersome. There is a faction of people in our country that are making this a massive issue.’

When Caitlin Clark was asked about her teammate’s comments, she said: ‘I think, for us, it’s not really a discussion we really have in our locker room.

‘I think it’s for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That’s what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn’t do that tonight.’

A second reporter then followed up with a question on the same subject, to which he was met by Clark saying: ‘I just answered for you.’

The renowned video game company, Electronic Arts, has officially welcomed new ownership.

Renowned for blockbuster hits like “Battlefield” and “The Sims,” the California-based gaming titan announced on Tuesday the completion of its monumental $55 billion sale. The new controlling entities include Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, with the latter being managed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

This acquisition has set a historic precedent as the largest private equity buyout ever recorded in the sector. With the deal now finalized, industry observers are speculating about the potential transformative shifts awaiting the gaming landscape.

In an enthused statement, Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, expressed a commitment to “invest boldly and accelerate innovation,” aiming to craft the next wave of games and experiences that captivate countless gamers globally. Meanwhile, Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor and head of international investments at PIF—who has overseen PIF’s minority stake in EA for five years—vowed substantial investment towards EA’s expansion, particularly leveraging artificial intelligence in game creation.

While some analysts view EA’s transition to a private entity as a move that could liberate the company from the relentless pressures of public market demands, other experts caution about the $20 billion in debt burdened onto the deal. Such financial strain raises the specter of potential layoffs and significant cost-reduction strategies looming on the horizon.

And many eyes are on Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Critics are wary about what this new ownership could mean for EA games down the road.

“With this deal, Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner just bought access to 700 million players worldwide,” U.K.-based campaign #BlockTheEADeal wrote in an online petition that previously called on regulators to challenge the buyout. “With the increased use of AI in the creative sector and video games, the potential for data misuse by a Foreign Sovereignty is high and poses significant international security risks.”

In a Tuesday statement, Kushner maintained that EA had “created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people” and that Affinity was “excited to support the company as it continues to reach new audiences.”

Meanwhile, organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also been highly critical of Saudi Arabia’s overall investments in sports and esports – with some accusing the nation of “sportswashing” to distract international attention from human rights abuses.

PIF has increasingly upped its gaming investments over the years. Beyond EA, the sovereign fund is also a minority investor in fellow gaming giant Nintendo and has a large esports portfolio, including competitive gaming platforms like ESL FACEIT. EA’s “Madden NFL” and “EA Sports FC” (formerly FIFA) will now also fall under that umbrella.

Now that the transaction is complete, EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash per share. And the company’s stock is no longer trading on the public market.