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Trump Declares Strong US-China Relations Amidst Differences: Key Takeaways from His Beijing Visit

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Trump Declares Strong US-China Relations Amidst Differences: Key Takeaways from His Beijing Visit


BEIJING – As President Donald Trump concludes his whirlwind tour of China on Friday, he remains steadfast in his belief that relations between the United States and China are strong and improving, despite significant disagreements on issues such as Iran and Taiwan.

On the final day of his visit, Trump took to social media to assert that Chinese President Xi Jinping had praised his numerous achievements. Trump clarified that Xi’s comments about the United States potentially being a “declining nation” were directed at former President Joe Biden, not his administration.

However, Trump’s optimistic view of U.S.-China relations confronts some challenging realities concerning the most contentious issues between the global giants.

China has shown minimal public inclination to heed U.S. requests for greater involvement in resolving the Iranian conflict. Despite Trump’s remarks during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had offered assistance in private discussions, the White House feels China could do more to curb the export of Chinese-made precursor chemicals to Mexico. These substances are critical in the production of illicit fentanyl, a drug that has devastated many American communities.

During private discussions, Xi cautioned Trump that mishandling their differing perspectives on Taiwan, a self-governing island, could potentially lead the two leading global powers toward “clashes and even conflicts,” according to Chinese officials.

Trump and Xi are set to have more time together at Xi’s official residence in Beijing on Friday before the U.S. leader makes the long journey back to Washington.

Taiwan remains the most important issue for China

Xi’s sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over Thursday’s talks, even as Trump sought to play up the notion that the U.S. and China share a “special relationship.”

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that U.S. policy toward Taiwan was “unchanged” and cautioned that it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi’s comments as standard practice.

“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among senior aides to join Trump for the talks.

China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that Taiwan sits at the “core” of its interests and is key to ensuring a stable relationship with the U.S.

Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in December, the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.

But the U.S. has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump had said he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He’s also groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the U.S. for protection.

All the while, Trump has, with the threat of hefty tariffs and Biden-era incentives, prodded Taipei to agree to massive investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and to purchase billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. liquefied natural gas and crude oil. The attitude toward Taiwan has raised questions about whether Trump might be open to dialing back support for the island democracy.

Ma Chun-wei, an expert in China-Taiwan relations at Taiwan’s Tamkang University, said the elevated defense relationship between Washington and Taipei has caused China to toughen its rhetoric over Taiwan.

“For Xi Jinping, he must show that the Taiwan issue is in China’s hands. He must demonstrate this image, or else he would be criticized,” Ma said.

China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened

Iran was on the agenda when Trump sat down with Xi on Thursday for their two-hour meeting in the Great Hall of the People.

The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed since the start of the Iran conflict — needs to be reopened to support global energy demands, Trump told Fox News in an interview. About 20% of the world’s oil flowed through the strait before the war started on Feb. 28.

Trump said in the interview that Xi privately offered assistance on resolving the war, though it was unclear what that would mean, given China’s strategic partnership with Iran.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump said. “He said if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.”

The president also said Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing more U.S. oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.

Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices and threatens to plunge the global economy into recession if the conflict does not conclude soon.

“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters Tuesday shortly before flying to Beijing.

But before Air Force One could land in Beijing, Rubio said administration officials would make the case to the Chinese officials about why they should be invested in prodding Iran to come to terms to end the war.

“Economies are melting down because of this crisis,” Rubio offered aboard the presidential plane as he flew with Trump to Beijing. That dynamic, the secretary added in an interview Wednesday with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, will result in consumers “buying less Chinese product.”

“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio said.

Indeed, the Chinese, who have been critical of the U.S. and Israeli bombardment of Iran, hold unique leverage as Iran’s biggest trading partner. The Chinese government has managed to weather the economic damage caused by the war with the help of its strategic oil reserves, but that backstop is not limitless. Economists say the Iran conflict could still have a big impact on China’s export-driven economy.

Will Trump announce any major business deals?

The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn’t be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves, suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade.

Those could still come, with the U.S. side hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to buy U.S. soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated a commitment for China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the U.S.

The leaders on Thursday discussed increasing U.S. agricultural purchases by the Chinese and opportunities for both sides to expand investment into each other’s markets, according to the White House. Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the need for friendship and cooperation in U.S.-China ties as he spoke with U.S. business titans, including Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who were part of Trump’s delegation in Beijing.

“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication and actively safeguard a stable and healthy bilateral relationship” despite international turbulence, Li said.

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Associated Press writers Huizhong Wu and Simina Mistreanu in Bangkok and Darlene Superville and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Budget Response: Key Insights on Tax Reform, Migration Limits, and Welfare Reductions

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In brief

  • Angus Taylor has delivered his first budget supply speech, laying his vision for a “fairer Australia”.
  • The opposition leader proposed tax reform and migration cuts to boost housing supply.

Angus Taylor’s response to the budget emphasized strategies to limit migration, enhance housing development, and reduce taxes.

In his inaugural budget reply, the opposition leader outlined his blueprint for creating “a fairer, freer, and better Australia,” while also taking aim at the recent budget unveiled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier this week.

“This isn’t the Australia we’re familiar with today. However, we’ve experienced it before, and we can experience it again. We can reclaim our quality of life and safeguard our lifestyle,” Taylor stated.

“This begins by standing up against the attack on ambition embedded in Labor’s budget. Labor is barring young Australians from the same wealth-building and prosperity opportunities that older generations enjoyed,” he added.

The Coalition’s proposal includes limiting international migration, comprehensive tax reforms, curbing welfare for immigrants, establishing a housing infrastructure fund, and increasing defense spending.

Here are six policies the Coalition is proposing:

1. Cap migrant intake to the number of new homes

The opposition leader announced a “far-reaching and unprecedented housing policy”, which he said was “also an immigration policy that puts Australians first”.

The plan caps net overseas migration to the number of new homes built in the country over the previous year.

Net overseas migration is the difference between the number of people arriving in Australia and the number of departures, and also includes temporary migrants like foreign students.

“Never again will a government be able to bring in more people than our housing can support,” Taylor said.

“The Coalition will deliver one of the biggest cuts to immigration in Australian history. Our immigration cut will complement our plan to lift immigration standards.”

But he said he couldn’t provide any exact immigration targets two years out from the next federal election.

The federal budget forecasts 295,000 migrants this financial year, falling to 225,000 by the 2027/28 financial year.

That’s well below the post-pandemic high of more than 550,000, when a flood of migrants re-entered the country as borders reopened — but still higher than pre-COVID levels.

The Coalition is also planning to tighten restrictions on temporary migration, including international students, though it hasn’t specified which visa types will be affected.

The opposition leader added that the Coalition will deport “70,000” overstayers from Australia.

“Those who criticise the law being enforced must explain why their sympathies lie with illegal overstayers instead of with migrants and Australians who abide by the law,” he said.

2. Index tax to inflation

Taylor unveiled a wide-reaching new tax proposal, which he described as “the biggest tax reform in a generation”, saying it will end “the inflation tax”.

Under the proposed two-stage plan, income tax will be indexed to inflation. This means a typical taxpayer could save about $250 annually in the first year, increasing to roughly $1,000 by year four, according to the Coalition’s forecasts.

The lower two brackets — covering people earning between $18,201 and $135,000 — would be indexed from 2028-29, Taylor said.

The top two tax brackets would also be indexed from the 2031-32 financial year.

“This is generational tax reform. It’s fair, simple and honest. It will back Australians to work hard, take risks, and invest in their future. It will force government to respect your money,” Taylor told parliament on Thursday night.

Raising tax brackets in line with inflation each year would cost the budget billions of dollars.

But it would also end bracket creep, where pay rises push workers into higher tax brackets, even though inflation means they may not be any wealthier.

Subsequent governments have chosen not to index brackets, instead announcing a tax cut every few years.

During periods when the mining sector rakes in windfall profits, Taylor also announced the Coalition would bank 80 cents in every dollar of resource revenue into a “future generations fund” for “nation-building infrastructure”.

3. Restrict welfare for non-citizens

Taylor said the Coalition would claw back billions of dollars in savings by cutting welfare for non-citizens.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme, Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and the Family Tax Benefit would be for Australian citizens only, he said.

According to the opposition leader, this policy will save billions of dollars.

“If you commit to Australia, Australia will commit to you. After all, the taxes paid by hard-working Australians should support Australians,” he said.

In a later interview with the ABC, Taylor said the decision was about “putting Australian citizens first”.

“Citizenship is a privilege. And it’s something we want people to get something from,” he said,

4. Introduce a new fund to boost housing

Taylor also proposed a $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund that will be directly available for local councils and developers.

“From my first day as opposition leader, I said I wanted to re-establish home ownership as the centrepiece of the Australian dream,” he said.

A man in a suit claps his hands and smiles while standing with other in the House of Represenatives.
Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor claps and smiles after delivering his 2026-27 budget reply speech in Canberra. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

“My goal is more houses for Australians and a fairer go for young Australians.”

The fund will go towards the development of essential infrastructure for home building, such as water and sewer systems, utilities and access roads.

“With this support, we will unlock 400,000 new homes,” Taylor said.

On budget night, Labor committed a further $2 billion towards a $1.5 billion fund with a similar remit.

5. Lift the ban on nuclear

Taylor also took aim at Labor’s net zero agenda, arguing it had created reliance on “expensive, sometimes-on, industrial-scale renewables” that had driven power prices higher.

“Australians have been fed the lie that our economy can function on solar, wind, and batteries alone,” he said.

Taylor said the Coalition will back “any technologies that can deliver affordable and reliable energy in this country, that includes coal, gas, hydro, batteries and renewables in the right places, and it will include nuclear power too.”

He said if elected, a Coalition government would also “lift the ban” on nuclear energy.

He added that “a Coalition government will work with coal-fired power plant owners to keep them running as long as hard as possible to get electricity prices down”.

Taylor also pledged that the opposition will invest $800 million for new fuel storage to provide one billion litres of additional capacity.

6. Boost defence

On national security, Taylor announced a Coalition government would develop a National Security Strategy and appoint a dedicated National Security Adviser, with defence spending at its core.

“Unlike Labor with its accounting trickery, the Coalition will commit to spending at least three per cent of GDP on defence,” he said.

Labor’s current spending is around 2.8 per cent of GDP, with plans to reach 3 per cent by 2033.

With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.

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Heroic Dad Drives Family to Safety After Being Shot at In-N-Out Drive-Thru

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Heroic Dad Drives Family to Safety After Being Shot at In-N-Out Drive-Thru

Authorities in Oregon have detained two individuals linked to the shooting of a father who managed to drive himself to the hospital after being hit in the head by a bullet. The incident occurred while he was leaving an In-N-Out drive-thru with his wife and two young sons.

On Wednesday, police apprehended Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, and Gabriel “Alex” Javier, 18, both hailing from Salem.

The duo is facing several charges, including first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment of another person, all tied to the February 9th shooting of Marcio Garcia.

According to the Keizer Police Department, a search of Armenta-Lagunas’ apartment yielded multiple firearms. Javier was taken into custody later that same day. Meanwhile, authorities continue to look for a third suspect, 22-year-old Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, who is regarded as armed and dangerous.

Anthony Taylor-Manriquez mugshot.

Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, 22, remains at large after the shooting of Marcio Garcia, who was struck in the head while exiting a fast-food drive-thru. (Keizer Police Department)

Garcia, 28, was in a car with his wife and two children, ages 2 and 7, when shots rang out near the burger chain. The gunfire shattered the car windows and struck Garcia in the head; his wife and children were uninjured, police said.

Images of firearms and money.

Authorities recovered multiple firearms from Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, during his arrest, police said. (Keizer Police Department)

“In the middle of chaos and fear, while he was injured and in pain, he somehow found the strength to drive us out of the scene to safety,” his wife wrote in an online fundraiser. “He protected our family before thinking of himself. That is the kind of man and father he is.”

Images posted online showed the bullet that was removed from Garcia’s head during surgery in February, according to his wife. She also noted that Garcia did not suffer major brain damage and is currently recovering at home.

A bullet taken from the head of Marcio Garcia. and a car.

Images show the bullet taken from Marcio Garcia’s head and the family car riddled with bullet holes.  (GoFundMe)

“The doctors told us what we already believe—this is nothing short of a miracle,” she said. “Now he faces a long road of rest, healing, and recovery.”

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Discover the Hidden Gems: Bike Trails, Disc Golf, and Wildlife Adventures at Kickapoo State Recreation Area

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Discover the Hidden Gems: Bike Trails, Disc Golf, and Wildlife Adventures at Kickapoo State Recreation Area


OAKWOOD, Ill. — Nestled within nearly 4,000 acres of natural beauty, Kickapoo State Recreation Area offers a diverse landscape filled with trails, water bodies, and abundant wildlife. Each year, more than a million visitors are drawn to the park’s expansive offerings, whether for hiking, biking, boating, or camping adventures.

Amanda Brennan from WCIA 3 had the opportunity to explore the park with Tim Edison, the site superintendent, providing viewers with an exclusive look behind the scenes. For the full tour, check out the video above.

Judge Leon Takes on DOJ’s Case in Clark Disbarment Lawsuit

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Judge Leon Takes on DOJ’s Case in Clark Disbarment Lawsuit

Inset: Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon (U.S. District Court). Background: President Donald Trump listens during a ceremonial swearing in of Paul Atkins as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).

The bar authorities in Washington, D.C., are currently embroiled in a lawsuit initiated by the federal government, with proceedings now under the scrutiny of one of the president’s most vocal critics in the judiciary.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia began handling the case, known as U.S.A. v. Fox, this past Thursday. The case is named after Hamilton P. Fox, the chief disciplinary counsel for the D.C. Bar.

The Trump administration’s lawsuit aims to nullify and prevent any disciplinary measures taken against Jeffrey Clark, a former lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice who was recently disbarred in Washington, D.C. Clark’s disbarment stems from his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in favor of then-President Donald Trump.

As is customary, the case was assigned to a judge through the district’s randomized selection process. This method may have provided a strategic advantage for the defendants in this unprecedented case.

Through a complex “assignment deck” system within a broader “automated system,” Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by President George W. Bush, has been designated to preside over the case.

When assigning civil or criminal cases to federal judges, there is no general process observed throughout the country. Instead, judicial selection is typically handled by each court at the local level — and explained via published rules or a standing order. Initial case assignment, however, is usually made to achieve a random result.

In the District of Columbia, the general assignment rule is that “cases shall be assigned to judges of this Court selected at random.”

And that random assignment has already rankled some allies of the White House.

Earlier this year, Leon issued an expressive order — one featuring over a dozen exclamation marks — blocking construction of Trump’s much ballyhooed $400 million East Wing ballroom.

Last summer, Leon ruled the president had “likely” acted illegally by trying to appoint a lone member to an agency he gutted with the help of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In a May 2025 order using at least 27 exclamation marks, Leon ruled against Trump’s efforts to target a disfavored law firm.

Now, the famous judge’s exclamatory diction may find a place in an eventual ruling on the propriety of certain attorney discipline.

On Wednesday evening, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the federal district’s bar association as well as several associated figures and entities – including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit – alleging multiple constitutional violations over the strict discipline various attorney licensing authorities meted out to Clark, culminating in his disbarment.

“The D.C. Court of Appeals’ disciplinary authorities are punishing a former Department of Justice official for preparing a deliberative and pre-decisional draft letter that was never issued,” the 26-page complaint begins. “No one disputes that the letter reflected the official’s sincere view of the law and facts; instead, Defendants are punishing him over an internal disagreement that remains the subject of litigation nearly six years later.”

The thrust of the DOJ’s lawsuit is that bar authorities at every level in Washington, D.C., have been captured and controlled by foes of the 45th and 47th president who have, in turn, waged an illegal effort to interfere with Trump, his allies, and the federal government writ large.

“As our complaint and history make clear, the DC Bar has long acted as a blatantly partisan arm of leftist causes,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “No more.”

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Trump administration is largely premised on the federal preemption doctrine — a legal concept sourced from the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“D.C. courts have been treated as local, not Federal, institutions,” the filing reads. “States may not regulate agents of the United States in the lawful performance of their duties, and agents of the United States cannot be liable to answer to state courts for the performance of those duties.”

To hear the DOJ tell it, the government “is harmed by the “investigations, proceedings, and threats of discipline against Mr. Clark and other current and former” federal attorneys.

Clark was subject to such investigations based on an unsent draft letter falsely claiming the DOJ “identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple states, including the state of Georgia.”

The specification of charges said that Clark violated D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(a) and (c) (“in that respondent attempted to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, by sending the proof of concept letter containing false statements”) and Rules 8.4(a) and (d) (“in that respondent attempted to engage in conduct that would seriously interfere with the administration of justice”).

The so-called “proof of concept letter” is the draft Clark compiled that would have urged legislatures in states where Trump lost to “send an unauthorized slate of electors to Congress,” the charges note.

The lawsuit says the discipline here is something far afield — and focused entirely on lawyers who worked for the government.

“Defendants have treated Federal Government attorneys differently than non-Federal Government attorneys,” the filing goes on. “As far as the United States is aware, Defendants have never punished a non-Federal Government attorney for drafting or attempting to disseminate a deliberative and pre-decisional draft document, or in any comparable circumstances.”

The lawsuit further argues that punishing attorneys for their draft is likely to chill their work overall — including their “zealous advocacy and candor” on behalf of the government. Therefore, the lawsuit argues, such discipline interferes “with the President’s and Attorney General’s prerogatives.”

And the federal government does not have to countenance such interference under the preemption doctrine, the lawsuit argues.

“Weaponizing state bar discipline against Executive Branch attorneys in this way chills them from giving candid legal advice to others in the Executive Branch, including the President and Attorney General,” the lawsuit reads. “To permit these proceedings is to allow state bar authorities to control the Executive Branch. That is not the law.”

Supreme Court Upholds Access to Key Abortion Pill Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

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Supreme Court Upholds Access to Key Abortion Pill Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

WASHINGTON — In a pivotal decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld the availability of a widely-used abortion medication, mifepristone, maintaining current access rules amid ongoing legal proceedings.

This ruling permits women to continue obtaining mifepristone, the drug commonly used in medical abortions, through pharmacies or mail-order services without necessitating a doctor’s in-person consultation. This accessibility is expected to persist, at least until the case progresses further, potentially reaching the Supreme Court once more.

The justices responded to urgent requests from mifepristone manufacturers contesting a federal appeals court’s decision. This lower court ruling sought to reinstate in-person doctor visits and discontinue mail deliveries of the drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which authorized mifepristone for abortion use in 2000, had lifted the in-person requirement five years ago.

FILE - Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., March 16, 2022.
FILE – Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., March 16, 2022.AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, File

Anti-abortion advocates, expressing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, are pressuring the FDA for a swift review aimed at imposing stricter controls on mifepristone. These restrictions could potentially curb its prescription via telehealth services. The administration, however, states that such reviews require time.

Amidst these developments, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned earlier this week following significant criticism from political allies of former President Trump, including anti-abortion activists.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and similarly aligned groups had called on Trump to fire Makary over the slow pace of the mifepristone review.

The court is dealing with its latest abortion controversy four years after its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

The case before the court stems from a lawsuit Louisiana filed to roll back the Food and Drug Administration’s rules on how mifepristone can be prescribed. The state claims that the policy undermines the ban there, and it questions the safety of the drug, which has repeatedly been deemed safe and effective by FDA scientists.

Lower courts concluded that Louisiana is likely to prevail, and a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mail access and telehealth visits should be suspended while the case plays out.

The drug is most often used for abortion in combination with another drug, misoprostol. Medication abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023, the last year for which statistics are available.

The current dispute is similar to one that reached the court three years ago.

Lower courts then also sought to restrict access to mifepristone, in a case brought by physicians who oppose abortion. They filed suit in the months after the court overturned Roe.

The Supreme Court blocked the 5th Circuit ruling from taking effect over the dissenting votes of Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Then, in 2024, the high court unanimously dismissed the doctors’ suit, reasoning they did not have the legal right, or standing, to sue.

In the current dispute, mainstream medical groups, the pharmaceutical industry and Democratic members of Congress have weighed in cautioning the court against limiting access to the drug. Pharmaceutical companies said a ruling for abortion opponents would upend the drug approval process.

Debate over the safety of mifepristone has churned for more than 25 years. The FDA has eased a number of restrictions initially placed on the drug, including who can prescribe it, how it is dispensed and what kinds of safety complications must be reported.

Despite those determinations, anti-abortion groups have filed a series of petitions and lawsuits against the agency, generally alleging that it violated federal law by overlooking safety issues with the pill.

Trump’s administration has been unusually quiet at the Supreme Court. It declined to file a written brief recommending what the court should do, even though federal regulations are at issue.

The case puts the administration in a difficult place. Trump has relied on the political support of anti-abortion groups but has also seen ballot question and poll results that show Americans generally support abortion rights.

Both sides took the administration’s silence as an implicit endorsement of the appellate ruling.

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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, N.J.

Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Revelation of Maureen Galindo’s Previous Career in Sexual Wellness Emerges in Campaign Trail

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Revelation of Maureen Galindo’s Previous Career in Sexual Wellness Emerges in Campaign Trail

A Democratic candidate vying for a newly created congressional seat in Texas presents herself as a family therapist, though her background includes an intriguing chapter involving astrology-themed “sex therapy.”

Maureen Galindo, a 38-year-old single mother aspiring for a legislative role, has an unconventional career history that has come to light in a recent report, despite her efforts to erase her past from the web.

Galindo is running for the Texas 35th Congressional District and is a certified marriage and family therapist with Exulted Sex Therapy. Her practice tackles various issues, ranging from “pleasure and orgasm disorders” to living a celibate life, as detailed on the company’s website.

Back in 2022, she operated a unique business in Bexar County, Texas, called Cosmic Kinks Tarot, which was centered around astrology.

According to the Daily Mail, this venture offered services like “kinky birthchart readings” and “live tarot therapy,” aiming to “empower individuals through the exploration of their sexuality, spirituality, and the stars.”

Galindo explained in a statement to the outlet that she “supported people in developing healthy and safe sexuality” using popular astrology methods combined with sex education — not formal therapy, since she wasn’t licensed at the time.

The sexpert has frequently flip-flopped between describing herself as a “community psychologist” and a therapist on the campaign trail.

Texas has three licenses that permit the practice of psychology. Only people who have already obtained a relevant doctoral degree can apply — a credential Galindo notably lacks.

The Lone Star state also offers a separate psychologist license, which Galindo does not have, according to records seen by the outlet.

Galindo told the outlet that she has “a Masters in Community Psychology.”

Her alma mater, Concordia University, did offer a Master of Arts in Community Psychology before it shut down in 2020.

Galindo faces stiff competition from Johnny Garcia, reigning Democrats’ preferred candidate for the new seat in the 35th District.

The self-described “Old School Democrat” isn’t doing herself any favors.

Galindo is currently facing a firestorm of backlash for her repeated antisemitic comments and promotion of decades-old conspiracy theories.

On Wednesday, Galindo accused Garcia of seeking to influence Bexar County’s human trafficking networks — with backing from the “billionaire Zionists” who control it.

“[Zionists] are also infiltrating our local governments, the Israeli billionaire Zionists. So, I think it’s important to expose that and call it out,” Galindo told The Current.

She separately claimed that “billionaire Zionists and their puppets” pushed the New York Times to publish dual “hit pieces” on her.

Then, on Thursday, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest weighed in and condemned “hateful rhetoric” spouted by “individuals seeking public office,” though it didn’t reference Galindo by name.

Two Republicans are facing off for the same district seat in their own primary in late May.

The high-stakes race was spurred by the new congressional district map passed by Texas Republicans in August 2025.

As many as five Democratic seats could flip in the midterm elections.

Keystone Heights Resident Arrested in Online Sting for Alleged Attempt to Meet Minor for Sexual Purposes

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Keystone Heights Resident Arrested in Online Sting for Alleged Attempt to Meet Minor for Sexual Purposes

Timothy Jones, aged 44, made his way from Keystone Heights to Lake City, where he encountered law enforcement officials, as reported by the Lake City Police Department.

LAKE CITY, Fla. — On Thursday, a man from Keystone Heights was apprehended during a sting operation orchestrated by the Lake City Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).

Jones faces allegations of traveling from Clay County to Lake City with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with an individual he believed to be an underage girl.



This story continues below.

The Lake City Police Department explained that the operation involved detectives who assumed the identities of teenage girls. They posted fictitious ads on a website frequently used to set up sexual meetings.

Authorities revealed that Jones engaged in sexually explicit discussions with undercover detectives, whom he thought were minors. Subsequently, arrangements were made for him to visit Lake City for a planned encounter. Upon his arrival, ICAC detectives detained him, charging him with three felonies, including first-degree sexual assault on a victim under 15.

The Lake City Police Department said Thursday that additional arrests are possible as the investigation continues.

“Protecting children from individuals who use the internet to prey on minors remains one of our highest priorities,” Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler said in a statement. “These investigations are proactive efforts to identify dangerous offenders before a child becomes a victim. I want to thank our ICAC detectives and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and continued partnership in keeping our community safe.”

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt Call It Quits: Shocking Breakup Just Months After Baby’s Arrival

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Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt Call It Quits: Shocking Breakup Just Months After Baby’s Arrival

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt have reportedly ended their relationship five months after welcoming their daughter, Scottie.

The former Saturday Night Live star, 32, and the model, 30, have parted ways, with Davidson’s hectic work schedule being a significant factor in the breakup.

According to a source who spoke with The Sun, Elsie felt she needed more support at home following Scottie’s birth, which was challenging due to Pete’s frequent travel for work. Elsie has previously discussed the sacrifices involved in becoming a mother.

The source added, “It was tough for Pete because he needs to work to earn a living.”

Another insider revealed that the breakup is recent, and both are now fully concentrating on their daughter. “Finding the best co-parenting arrangement is their main focus,” the insider shared.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Davidson and Hewitt’s representatives for comment. 

Pete Davidson, 32, and Elsie Hewitt, 30, have reportedly split five months after welcoming their daughter Scottie; The who are seen in 2025

Pete Davidson, 32, and Elsie Hewitt, 30, have reportedly split five months after welcoming their daughter Scottie; The who are seen in 2025

Amid news of their split, the tired new mom got candid about motherhood via social media on Thursday, admitting she felt like a ‘zombie’ after finally wrangling her daughter down for a nap.

‘When u finally get screaming baby down for a nap and u exhale and sit with urself for a sec and realize u haven’t breathed for an hour or peed all day,’ she wrote over a selfie on her Instagram Stories. 

‘The silence is deafening,’ she added.

In another selfie from the couch she wrote, ‘I am a zombie.’ 

When Davidson and Hewitt went public last March and announced her pregnancy a month later, his diehard fans clung to hopes that he had placed his turbulent past behind him and was settling down to the comforts of home and hearth.

Gone was the high-octane tumult of his dating history with celebrities like Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Kate Beckinsale and Kaia Gerber.

He and Hewitt welcomed his baby in December and, as he pivoted to fatherhood, he spent a rumored $200,000 removing his prodigious sprawl of tattoos.

But whispers have recently been circulating of trouble brewing between the couple.

Davidson recently added fuel to the fire with a telling remark he made while attending the 30th Annual Webby Awards on Monday.

While accepting a Special Achievement Award for his impact in the comedy space, Davidson told the audience he is ‘still dead inside.’

The SNL alum and the model called it quits on their relationship in part due to Davidson's busy schedule; The duo pictured in 2025

The SNL alum and the model called it quits on their relationship in part due to Davidson’s busy schedule; The duo pictured in 2025

'Pete has been traveling so much for work, but Elsie was craving more support from him at home after their daughter was born,' a source told The Sun

‘Pete has been traveling so much for work, but Elsie was craving more support from him at home after their daughter was born,’ a source told The Sun 

'It was very hard for him because, obviously, he has to work to make money,' the source added. Another insider noted the split happened recently; Davidson pictured in an Instagram snap with his daughter

‘It was very hard for him because, obviously, he has to work to make money,’ the source added. Another insider noted the split happened recently; Davidson pictured in an Instagram snap with his daughter

Amid news of the split, the tired new mom got candid about motherhood via social media on Thursday, admitting she felt like a 'zombie' after finally wrangling her daughter down for a nap

Amid news of the split, the tired new mom got candid about motherhood via social media on Thursday, admitting she felt like a ‘zombie’ after finally wrangling her daughter down for a nap

'When u finally get screaming baby down for a nap and u exhale and sit with urself for a sec and realize u haven’t breathed for an hour or peed all day. The silence is deafening,' she wrote on her Instagram Stories

‘When u finally get screaming baby down for a nap and u exhale and sit with urself for a sec and realize u haven’t breathed for an hour or peed all day. The silence is deafening,’ she wrote on her Instagram Stories 

In public, Davidson has painted a rosy portrait of his household, gushing that ‘Dad life is f***ing awesome’ and that Hewitt is ‘a fantastic mom,’ to People.

However, a source recently told the Daily Mail: ‘Not one of Pete’s friends is surprised that there are relationship issues with him and Elsie.’

The insider explained: ‘This is what he ends up doing always. She was also warned well ahead of time in their relationship to be careful with him, because Pete loves to self-sabotage a good thing.’

Davidson’s ‘insecurities are such a crutch for him in his life that he uses humor to make sense of it all,’ the source elaborated.

‘Making him the funny guy that all the girls want to fix, when he just might be unfixable. He rushes into a relationship, it’s all hot and heavy and exciting and before the person he’s dating knows it, they are in an intense all or nothing relationship not knowing how to continue it or stay in it with that continued intensity.’

The insider added: ‘And now they are parents, which they love, but the pregnancy was unplanned and their dynamic immediately changed when she became pregnant, and they are trying to figure out the next steps as they want to be together for their kid, but it just might not be their endgame.’

At the time, the Daily Mail’s source said Hewitt and Davidson are not ‘fully broken up, but it is absolutely leading to it.’

Davidson, whose father Scott lost his life as a fireman on 9/11, did not want the relationship to end ‘because he wants his daughter to have the luxury of having a complete family, something he wasn’t afforded himself,’ the source said. 

Davidson recently fueled speculation about their split at the 30th Annual Webby Awards on Monday, as he told the crowd he is 'still dead inside' while accepting an award

Davidson recently fueled speculation about their split at the 30th Annual Webby Awards on Monday, as he told the crowd he is ‘still dead inside’ while accepting an award 

The couple announced they were expecting a child last July

The couple announced they were expecting a child last July

Davidson and Hewitt started dating in March 2025; Pictured in 2025

Davidson and Hewitt started dating in March 2025; Pictured in 2025

Hewitt meanwhile ‘would like that to happen as well, but dealing with Pete can be very overbearing,’ the insider acknowledged.

Hewitt recently shed light on the ‘sacrifice’ of welcoming a child into the world as she celebrated her first Mother’s Day in an Instagram post.

‘We’re all here because of a mother’s sacrifice to make herself your first home. i got to be Scottie’s,’ she wrote in the caption. ‘greatest honor of my life. happy mother’s day.’

Her post did not feature any photos of Davidson, only snaps with her and Scottie.

As recently as January, Davidson was fondly floating the prospect of marrying Hewitt and giving baby Scottie a sibling, via Us Weekly.

‘We want her to have a friend, for sure,’ said the onetime Saturday Night Live funnyman. ‘We love the idea of her being a big sister.’

Hewitt concurred: ‘The idea of making another one and making a sibling is something I’ve already been like: “I want to do it again.” They’re so tiny when they come out, and they grow so fast. It’s crazy.’

Davidson and Hewitt started dating in March 2025 and announced her pregnancy that following July. 

Supreme Court Overturns Conviction: Death Row Inmate Released on Bond After Three Last Meals

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Supreme Court Overturns Conviction: Death Row Inmate Released on Bond After Three Last Meals

Richard Glossip, a former death row inmate, is set to be released on bond while he awaits a retrial related to a 1997 murder case. Glossip, who came close to execution on three separate occasions, had even prepared three last meal requests during his time on death row.

Judge Natalie Mai, after reviewing the substantial evidence in Glossip’s case, determined on Thursday that there was no basis to deny bail to the long-time prisoner, originally convicted of first-degree murder in 1998.

The judge ordered that Glossip’s bond be set at $500,000. As a condition of his release, he must remain in Oklahoma and will be monitored electronically.

Former death row inmate Richard Glossip walks to a courtroom inside the Oklahoma County Courthouse

In a significant development earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court nullified Glossip’s conviction and death sentence. The court found that prosecutors had not corrected the false testimony of key witness Justin Sneed, who admitted to the killing but avoided execution by implicating Glossip.

The ruling comes after the U.S. Supreme Court in February overturned Glossip’s conviction and death sentence, finding prosecutors failed to correct false testimony from key witness Justin Sneed, the admitted killer who avoided execution by testifying against Glossip.

The high court ordered a new trial, citing concerns that jurors never heard critical information about Sneed’s mental health history and credibility.

In Thursday’s order, Mai noted the unusually extensive record developed over nearly three decades of litigation and said the state could not meet the high constitutional standard required to deny bail in a capital case.

Former death row inmate Richard Glossip sits next to his lawyer Don Knight

Former death row inmate Richard Glossip sits next to his lawyer Don Knight in an Oklahoma County courtroom in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Glossip’s attorney, Don Knight, said that Glossip ate a remarkable three last meals and will get the chance “to taste freedom.”

“We are extremely grateful that Judge Natalie Mai has granted Richard Glossip a bond.  In doing so, she rejected the State’s claim that there is a strong case for guilt. For the first time in 29 years of being incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, during which he faced nine execution dates and ate three last meals,” Knight said.

“Mr. Glossip now has the chance to taste freedom while his defense team continues to pursue justice on his behalf against a system that the United States Supreme Court has found to be guilty of serious misconduct by state prosecutors. Mr. Glossip is deeply grateful to the many thousands of people who have expressed support for him over the years and now looks forward to the day when he is exonerated and truly free from this decades-long nightmare.”

Former death row inmate Richard Glossip leaves to an Oklahoma County courtroom

Former death row inmate Richard Glossip leaves an Oklahoma County courtroom in an Oklahoma County courtroom in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

He was convicted for the 1997 killing of his former boss, Barry Van Treese. The motel owner was beaten to death by Sneed, a maintenance worker, but state prosecutors said Glossip ordered him to carry out the crime in a murder-for-hire plot.

Glossip has been incarcerated since January 1997.

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