Latest Marc Tamasco News | 91��

Dr Phil calls out Mayor Mamdani's wife after she reportedly liked social media posts about Oct 7 'hoax' claims

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:53 -0400

Dr. Phil McGraw called out New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, on his podcast, "The Real Story," Monday, after reports that her social media presence included liking posts critics say were celebrating the Oct. 7 massacre.

McGraw argued that being the spouse of the mayor of America's largest city "comes with a certain level of responsibility and scrutiny" and accused those who liked posts celebrating the Oct. 7 attacks of "standing with terror."

"For most Americans, it's nobody's business who you share your bed with. But that changes when you're married to one of the most powerful politicians in America. I'm talking about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji," he said.

"Being the spouse of the mayor of the largest city in America comes with a certain level of responsibility and scrutiny, and, right now, Dawaji deserves just a lot of that scrutiny."

MAMDANI SPARKS VIRAL OUTRAGE OVER DINNER PHOTO WITH MAHMOUD KHALIL INSIDE GRACIE MANSION: 'DISGRACEFUL'

Duwaji, a Houston-born illustrator who identifies as Syrian and married Mamdani in early 2025, liked several posts in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack that were critical of Israel, Jewish Insider first reported.

Duwaji also liked a February 2024 Instagram post claiming The New York Times’ investigation into sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack was "fabricated," according to The Free Press.

"She liked one post claiming the October 7th mass rape was a hoax and another showing Hamas militants breaking into Israel with tanks," McGraw alleged. "In case anyone has forgotten, on October 7th, Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages.

"It doesn't matter how strongly someone supports the Palestinian cause. Anyone who likes what happened on October 7th is not standing for human rights. They're standing with terror."

NYC MAYOR MAMDANI'S WIFE LIKED POSTS CELEBRATING OCT 7 TERROR ATTACKS BUT GETS SOFT TREATMENT FROM THE PRESS

As noted by McGraw, Mamdani defended his wife when confronted about the report, saying, "My wife is the love of my life, and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my city hall.

"I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city, and I believe that it's my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions," Mamdani added.

"Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7 was a horrific war crime and he has condemned that violence unequivocally," a City Hall spokesperson told Jewish Insider.

IRANIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST CALLS OUT MAMDANI OVER RESPONSE TO US-ISRAEL STRIKES

McGraw maintained that once Duwaji became the first lady of the United States' largest city, her actions that were once private no longer were, and her words began to carry more weight.

"When you're the spouse of the mayor of the largest city in America, and you're supporting the murder of hundreds of innocent Jews, trust me, that's not private, that's public," he said. "Mayor Mamdani, hear this clearly: When terror is excused, silence isn't neutrality. It's complicity."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital has reached out to Mamdani for comment.

91�� Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

CNN torched over 'bizarre' post about Pennsylvania teenagers charged with throwing bombs at a NYC protest

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:17:50 -0400

CNN is facing backlash on social media over a now-deleted Tuesday post on X about the two "Pennsylvania teenagers" who were charged with throwing bombs at a protest near Gracie Mansion in New York City on Saturday.

"Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather," the post read. "But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home. Here's what we know so far."

The suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat of Langhorne and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi of Newtown, traveled from Bucks County to Manhattan on Saturday, when police said they ignited and hurled explosive devices into a protest crowd outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence.

NYC MAYOR MAMDANI'S WIFE LIKED POSTS CELEBRATING OCT 7 TERROR ATTACKS BUT GETS SOFT TREATMENT FROM THE PRESS

Federal prosecutors charged the suspects with material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The post has now been deleted. CNN followed up with this explanation on X: "A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted."

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter was critical of his own outlet, writing in his newsletter Tuesday morning, "The story itself was solid. But the tweet was outrageous — and quickly addressed by CNN management." He added the outlet was "rightly criticized" for the post.

Social media users were also quick to call out CNN's "bizarre" framing of the incident, which failed to mention the words "terror" or "terrorist" anywhere in its post.

WARRANTS SERVED IN NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA AS FEDS LOOK INTO POSSIBLE NYC TERRORISM

"This is the weirdest framing," Examiner columnist Tim Carney wrote on X. "The major left-leaning outlets hate this story, but know they cannot ignore it, so they go to bizarre contortions."

Deputy editor of Jewish News U.K. Daniel Sugarman noted that the post would have been "extremely strange" even if it were posted the day after the attack occurred, but "given everything we now know about these [two] people and their motives, is journalistic malpractice."

"Wow. ISIS-inspired perpetrators commit a literal terrorist act, and this is what CNN comes up with?" media watchdog group HonestReporting questioned. "Oh, those poor ‘Pennsylvania teenagers,’ whose lives have ‘drastically changed’ because they made the conscious decision to throw bombs. When will the media stop employing narrative storytelling to infantilize perpetrators of ideologically motivated crimes?"

"Who writes this garbage?" Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., wrote on X. "They are radical Islamic terrorists."

Journalist Scot Bertram mocked the post by rewriting it to reflect the events of Sept. 11, 2001: "Nineteen men arrived at East Coast airports Tuesday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying a cross-country flight. But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change."

DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS NYPD TACKLING MAN WHO THREW ‘IGNITED DEVICE’ NEAR NYC MAYOR’S HOME DURING PROTEST CLASH

RedState writer Bonchie argued that CNN was doing "everything they can to make these Islamists [seem] like misguided victims."

"I don’t really understand this framing by CNN," News2Share editor-in-chief Ford Fischer wrote. "Couldn’t anybody who does something life-changing have ‘a normal day’ if they don’t do the thing?"

"Man you just gotta hate when two teenagers, who could’ve been enjoying the warm weather, have their life drastically changed because they accidentally brought a home made bomb that would’ve killed multiple people," Barstool Sports content creator Jack Mac mocked. "Oops! I did some terrorism! Can’t believe my life has changed!"

When reached for comment about the now-deleted post, CNN referred 91�� Digital to its new statement on X.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Stepheny Price, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Greg Wehner and CB Cotton contributed to this report.

Maher breaks down dispute between him and the president, declares he doesn’t have ‘Trump derangement syndrome’

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 17:00:41 -0500

"Real Time" host Bill Maher broke down his ongoing dispute with President Donald Trump on Friday, asserting he doesn't suffer from "Trump derangement syndrome," but rather, the president suffers from "Bill Maher derangement syndrome."

Following their seemingly cordial dinner at the White House in April 2025 — arranged by Trump and Maher's mutual friend, Kid Rock — the president took to Truth Social last month to blast the dinner with Maher as a "total waste of time."

During his "new rule" segment at the end of Friday's show, the "Real Time" host said, "Someone has to help Donald Trump understand that I don't suffer from Trump derangement syndrome. He suffers from Bill Maher derangement syndrome.

BILL MAHER CALLS OUT TRUMP'S 'BULLS---' TRUTH SOCIAL POST ATTACKING HIM

"Three weeks ago, I woke up to some things the president had written on his Truth Social media platform that somehow were not true. I don't know how they got in there. It's not like the president to just make things up when he's mad. But on this occasion, he did, which I forgive, but on Valentine's Day, that hurt."

Maher then went through a litany of accusations Trump made about him, such as the late-night host "immediately" requesting a vodka tonic and that he was "extremely nervous" upon meeting the president.

"But just to set the record straight, from what the president claimed, I didn't ask for the dinner. Our mutual friend asked me. It's on tape from my podcast. Also, I wasn't nervous and scared, and the dinner wasn't quick. I was there almost three hours, and it wasn't vodka. It was a margarita. I didn't ask for it right away. I had a drink before dinner, and then a couple more during. I was having a good time," he declared.

"So were you, Don, because we were talking like real humans, not like that crazy act you put on in public."

As described by Maher, Trump is someone who "wears his heart on his sleeve" and feels "hurt" when people like the "Real Time" host fail to recognize his accomplishments.

MAHER AND ANTI-TRUMP DIRECTOR ROB REINER CLASH OVER WHETHER RIGHT AND LEFT SHOULD STILL TALK WITH EACH OTHER

Maher went on to describe an alleged text exchange between himself and the president.

"You texted me soon after the dinner, complaining I was still part of the lunatic left. You should have won a Nobel Prize for ending wars. And I texted back, ‘Yeah, and I should have 120 Emmys.’ We argued for a while, and you ended by saying, 'Bill, you know what, don't change. I wouldn't know what to do with you if you did.'

"OK, that's the normal human being I saw the night we broke bread, and as long as I think there's even a spark of a possibility to bring that guy out more, I will not consider the dinner a waste of time."

Continuing, the late-night host made his case for why he doesn't have "Trump derangement syndrome."

"Let's go through the things you're butthurt about people not having noticed. Because some people do have TDS. But you know what? I've called people out for making hating you their entire reason to live. Get a life. Stop making him your whole personality," he argued.

"But Don, you have to take some responsibility for that because you make people crazy. Because you do things that are racist, misogynistic, anti-democratic and corrupt. But I'll prove now I don't have the dreaded TDS."

BILL MAHER SAYS HE CAN'T DENY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUCCESS DESPITE ACKNOWLEDGING HE WASN'T 'HIS CHOICE'

Maher noted that he never threw Trump "under the bus" after their meeting, even after being chastised for "[eating] steak with Hitler."

He also pointed out that he commended Trump for his success in restoring the country's southern border, the removal of violent criminals and the "taking out of Iran's nuclear capability," among others.

While Maher has been vocal about touting the president's wins, the comedian noted that he has "every right" to criticize things that don't match his "idea of success."

"ICE? Yeah, I'm glad you got rid of stone-cold criminals, but no one wanted the sadism and stupidity that went along with it. DOGE? A complete disaster. People died for no reason and it cut no government waste. Coal is not beautiful or clean. Criminalizing dissent is wrong and so is the juvenile trolling and suing people into silence," he argued.

"Don, there are things that you do that we, not just me, but we, I mean even the people who are too scared to talk to you straight, just don't get about you. Taking the side of autocrats instead of democratic allies around the world? Who hates Canada? And wind? You hate the wind?"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Closing out the segment, Maher referenced Democratic Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff's recent remark that those in the Trump administration are "the elites they pretend to hate."

"Free advice, if the Democrats ever learn to weaponize [Ossoff's] message, your MAGA movement is in big trouble," he concluded.

91�� Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately hear back.

BBC mistranslates Pete Hegseth's speech on Iran, mistakenly swaps Iranian 'regime' with Iranian 'people'

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:49:34 -0500

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Persian mistranslated part of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's speech Monday on Iran, making it appear that the United States was targeting the Iranian "people" rather than the Iranian "regime."

During BBC Persian's broadcast of the war secretary's speech to audiences inside Iran, the network mistranslated the word "regime" as "mardom," which means "people" in Persian.

This mix-up led audiences to believe the Iranian people were being targeted by the U.S., when, in reality, Hegseth had said the Iranian regime was being targeted by American forces.

HEGSETH BLASTS BRITS, SAYS IRAN'S CHAOTIC RETALIATION HAS DRIVEN ITS OWN ALLIES 'INTO THE AMERICAN ORBIT'

"It turns out the regime that chanted ‘death to America and death to Israel’ was gifted death from America and death from Israel. This is not a so-called regime-change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it," Hegseth said.

When translated to Persian by the network, the war secretary's speech stated, "It turns out the people that chanted ‘death to America and death to Israel’ was gifted death from America and death from Israel.

The BBC has since issued a correction.

PETE HEGSETH CRITICIZES 'FAKE NEWS' COVERAGE OF IRAN STRIKES, SAYS ONLY TRAGEDIES MAKE FRONT PAGE

"This mistranslated word was a mistake, as a result of human error, during the live simultaneous translation of a speech. We issued a correction to Persian audiences on air and on social media," the network's statement said.

The Telegraph reported that Iran expert and Persian linguist Thamar Eilam Gindin argued that the BBC had "fundamentally altered the meaning" of Hegseth's speech.

"By mistranslating the English word ‘regime’ into the Persian word ‘mardom’ —meaning ‘people’—the BBC’s Persian service fundamentally altered the meaning of the U.S. secretary of defence’s speech, making it appear as though he were attacking all Iranians rather than the Islamic Republic," he explained.

"Among members of the Iranian diaspora in the West, with whom I am in regular contact, this incident reinforces what they perceive as a long-standing pro-regime editorial line at BBC Persian."

EX-BBC BOSS INSISTS ORGANIZATION DOESN’T HAVE ANTI-TRUMP BIAS AMID LAWSUIT OVER MISLEADING EDIT

When reached for comment about the error, the BBC pointed 91�� Digital to its original statement.

The BBC Persian X account also posted a correction. The English text for the post with video stated, "Correction and Explanation Regarding the Simultaneous Translation of the US Secretary of Defense's Remarks."

The network's translation error comes amid a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC by President Donald Trump.

The BBC has come under intense scrutiny over a 2024 Panorama documentary about Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech delivered before the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Critics called the documentary misleading because it omitted Trump's call for supporters to protest peacefully.

Trump sued the BBC in December for both defamation and for a violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for $5 billion apiece, seeking $10 billion total.

While ABC and CBS have both settled lawsuits with Trump in the past year, the BBC has vowed to fight the case. The sides agreed on John W. Thornton to serve as a pretrial mediator who will seek a resolution.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election. President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception and fake news," a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told 91�� Digital.

The BBC did not respond to an earlier request for comment about the lawsuit.

91�� Digital's Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Bill Maher flips script on Adam Schiff with quote from Obama administration on Libya and war powers

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:44:53 -0500

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was prompted by "Real Time" host Bill Maher on Friday into critiquing a quote from the Obama administration about its war powers in Libya, seeming to assume the statement was from the Trump administration about Iran.

"This statement from the administration: ‘The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest,’" Maher said. "That’s too vague for you?"

"Totally vague…" Schiff responded before being interrupted by the host.

NANCY PELOSI DOUBLES DOWN ON DEFENDING OBAMA'S STRIKES ON LIBYA WHILE ATTACKING TRUMP: 'READ THE LAW'

Before Schiff could get his entire thought out, Maher interjected, saying, "Okay. Because that’s from Obama about Libya."

The full quote from the Obama administration is dated April 1, 2011. It comes from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel: "The President had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force in Libya because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest."

The senator quickly shifted the conversation to Syria, saying former President Barack Obama initially argued he could "go into Syria without an authorization" from Congress until he and other officials pushed back.

"Ultimately, he did not go forward with going after [former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad], even though Assad was gassing his own people, because he thought he may lose the vote in Congress," Schiff explained.

DEMOCRATS PRESSURE MIKE JOHNSON TO KEEP HOUSE IN WASHINGTON OVER 'RAPIDLY DEVELOPING' IRAN OPERATION

"But I respect the fact that — that was important to him, and the fact that he did not have the support of Congress meant that we weren't going to go forward."

Moving the conversation to President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran, Schiff asserted that "we are unquestionably at war now," and that America's Founding Fathers made the "extraordinary decision" to give war powers to Congress instead of the president.

He noted that Alexander Hamilton warned that presidents would grow "too fond of making war" if they had the ability to do so without congressional approval.

"After Venezuela, after the earlier Iran conflict, after bombing Nigeria and Iraq and Syria, [Trump's] grown too fond of this," he argued. "And Congress… needs to step up, assert its role, or it's going to be gone for good, and then anytime a president, for any reason, anywhere in the world, for any length of time — will feel free to make war. And that would be hugely dangerous for the country."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

On Thursday, the House of Representatives narrowly voted to allow Trump to continue Operation Epic Fury in Iran.

A bipartisan resolution led by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., failed to pass after four Democrats joined most Republicans in sinking it, 212 to 219.

The legislation was aimed at blocking Trump from using the Armed Forces in the joint U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran, which would likely force the strikes to grind to a halt.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Trump administration, as well as the majority of Republicans in Congress, have insisted that the president has acted within his authority so far and are hopeful he will continue to do so.

91�� Digital's Elizabeth Elkind and Alex Miller contributed to this report.

Comedian Max Amini built a worldwide following; America is just catching up

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:01 -0500

Max Amini has long been one of stand-up's most successful under-the-radar headliners. Now, he's become the first Iranian American to headline Madison Square Garden, going from comedy's best kept secret to performing on its biggest stage.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1981 to a Persian family, Amini's bicultural upbringing painted the lens through which he views the world.

"I was born into this family who … promoted the Iranian culture in a very positive way to us," he told 91�� Digital before his sold-out show at MSG. "So, I learned all the best things about my culture. And I was very lucky to be raised in America in an environment that was very patriotic."

When he was 8 years old, Amini and his family left Arizona and moved to Iran, where they lived until he was 17.

‘SHAHS OF SUNSET’ STAR SAYS IRANIANS BACK MILITARY ACTION DESPITE US CRITICS

The comedian's stand-up reflects his international upbringing in a way that's digestible for people of all backgrounds, drawing fans from all over the world who resonate with his masterful storytelling.

"My fan base is people from all over the world, and it's probably the most exciting thing for my career. I cannot tell you how special I feel when I see — what my being, and what I talk about and how I perform relates to so many people," he shared. "It's magical. … I'm always focused on what [it is] that I'm meant to do with this."

Shortly after moving back to the U.S., Amini packed his bags once again — this time to attend UCLA.

That's where Amini's journey into the world of stand-up comedy began, noting that receiving his father's blessing inspired him to fully pursue his dream of becoming a performer.

"The moment for me that I decided that [I was] going to go all into stand-up comedy is, it was the blessing of my dad," he told 91�� Digital. "My dad, when I was going to college, he asked me, ‘What are you majoring [in]?’ And I said, 'Dad, I'm not sure. … I'm trying to figure it out.' And he goes, ‘What do you love? What do you really love?’

BRITISH IRANIAN ACTRESS ASKS 'WHERE ARE THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES' PROTESTING THE IRANIAN REGIME

"At the time, I loved my acting class. And I said, ‘Dad, I love performing,’" Amini continued. "So, he helped me follow my passion, and as soon as I decided that I'm going to go to acting school, I went to UCLA. and as I enrolled, I loved doing improv, and, so, I thought stand-up comedy might be something that is going to interest me.

"So, as soon I started stand-up comedy, it was magic. It was just like it was meant to be, and I feel like everybody has a life journey and if they listen to that voice inside they can figure it out… for me, it was that moment."

Amini's leap of faith has undoubtedly paid off because he's headlined sold-out shows around the world and recently reached the pinnacle of all performers' careers: selling out MSG.

Prior to his historic show, 91�� Digital asked the comedian what it meant to him to achieve this monstrous milestone.

"It feels surreal. ... I feel like, as a comedian, as a performer, when you sort of figure out your voice, then you just, you're into a space, and you want to do justice to that opportunity. You want to connect with those energies in the room. And that's all I'm thinking about right now.

"How lucky am I to have such incredible fans that all these people have decided that, 'Yeah, we're going to go see him.' And then this number of people happened to fill up the stadium. It's just insane," he added.

MY FATHER GAVE HIS LIFE FOR IRAN—TODAY'S PROTESTERS ARE LIVING HIS DREAM

In an era when politics and the culture war debates frequently bleed into entertainment, Amini made it clear he has no interest in bringing that division onto the stage.

"The beauty [of] stand-up comedy is you sort of take a perspective, and you decide that this is who I am, and you go on stage, and you present that. I never liked politics. I hate politics. I just can't tell you how much I feel like politics is negative. It's a power game, it divides people, it makes you lie, it makes you do things just to win for your party," he argued. "All this stuff is just — I'm very simple, I don't like the feeling of that complexity."

While he steers clear of politics, he hasn't shied away from speaking out against the injustices against the people of Iran.

Given his perch, Amini has taken it upon himself to advocate against the horrors facing the people of Iran and to "promote the idea [of] how important it is to respect human rights." Amini's interview with 91�� Digital took place before last week's coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the Ayatollah and dozens of other Iranian leaders.

"Freedom is something that today we understand is the most important thing for any human. If you can imagine how hard it is to be in any country as someone who lives in this beautiful country, can you imagine that they strip away all your rights?" he asked.

IN AN AGE OF OUTRAGE, COMEDIAN CHARLIE BERENS DOESN'T HAVE INTEREST IN THE POLARIZATION

"You're afraid of what you're saying. You can't do simple things in life – singing, dancing. You know, basic, basic things that we take for granted. Women cannot sing or dance in public. They cannot go out with their significant other freely, and people cannot exercise their beliefs, certain religions," Amini continued.

"It's very unimaginable for people who live in a free country, like the U.S. or European countries, that have so much respect for human rights."

The comedian described the Iranian people as vibrant and modern despite how they are sometimes portrayed by the media.

"They're fun, they're hip, they're fashion forward. When you understand just their taste of music and the way they enjoy their gatherings and how they live, you'll be surprised [by] what the media shows and what the reality is," he told 91�� Digital. "So I hope everybody gets a chance to see that soon."

Amini characterized the solution to the situation unfolding in Iran as a "rescue mission" and said, "We need to go in that country and rescue the kidnapped people by a terrorist regime."

HOLLYWOOD’S SELECTIVE SILENCE ON IRAN EXPOSES THE LIE OF CELEBRITY ACTIVISM

"Historically, when a country is held in this situation, they are held hostage. There is a regime that is absolutely brutal, and they are killing their own people. The intervention is a must. And the rescue mission is the most beautiful act a country can do for these people," Amini continued. "They're screaming. They're screaming out for help."

During his performance at MSG, Amini dedicated part of his time onstage to speaking out against the Islamic Republic's treatment of the Iranian people, as well as presenting a short video highlighting what has been unfolding in the country.

Amini shared his plans for his career, including a new television-style podcast featuring a live audience.

"I want to become extremely — more consistent on my podcast. I'm creating a TV show-style podcast with a live audience. And, so, that's my next immediate project. When I go back to LA, I'm starting the production," he told 91�� Digital.

"I'm also working on a comedy series, and I'm really excited … because I'm creating some characters that have been on my mind, I want to say for maybe 15 years, but the opportunity is now becoming possible for me to do it."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Amini offered advice to the up-and-coming generation of comedians looking to make a name for themselves and further the art form.

"I'd just like to encourage all young comedians, all creators, to really trust your instinct, take risks and create, create, and create. We're in a very special era with tools, with the AI stuff. This is time to really hone and own and allow the young generation to take the comedy to whatever direction that they believe is pleasant. And we should just be a spectator and support," he said.

Far-left podcaster goes on profane anti-ICE, anti-Trump rant after winning GLAAD award

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:34:55 -0500

"I've had It" podcast host Jennifer Welch went on a profanity-laced tirade while speaking onstage at the GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday.

"I want to say something with my full chest — never obey in advance. F--- ICE! F--- Donald Trump! Free Palestine! And save trans kids!" Welch exclaimed while accepting her award.

GLAAD is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the LGBTQ community and hosts an annual awards show honoring media and entertainment figures who support that mission.

NEWSOM'S 'DISGRACEFUL' CALL FOR DEMS TO BE 'CULTURALLY NORMAL' IS 'DANGEROUS,' FAR-LEFT PODCASTER SAYS

Welch won this year's Outstanding Podcast Episode category and has gone viral over the last year for some of her more controversial takes.

In December, the far-left podcast host claimed that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk "justified" his own killing, reacting to a clip of his widow, Erika Kirk, condemning people for mocking or rationalizing his assassination.

"The person that I heard that justified his death was him," Welch said. "He’s the one that said on tape that if school kids die, but it means he gets to have a Second Amendment, then that’s what it’s going to be. He’s the one that justified it."

"And I believe at the time of shooting, he was talking about gun violence at the time. That’s wild to me, number one. And then for her — I want to get your opinion on this as a Black man — for her to say that people are dehumanizing Charlie Kirk," Welch told former CNN host Don Lemon on her "I've Had It" podcast.

CBS' Bari Weiss asking Erika Kirk during a town hall that aired that month about people mocking and celebrating her husband's assassination. Kirk called those people "sick," and said the internet was dehumanizing people.

MAMDANI'S WIFE LIKED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS 'CHEERING ON' HAMAS' OCT 7 MASSACRE OF ISRAELIS: REPORT

During another episode of "I've had it" in December, Welch slammed Erika Kirk as a "grifter" who should be "kicked to the curb" in the aftermath of her husband's assassination.

The podcast host condemned Erika Kirk for an interview she did with The New York Times at the DealBook summit in Manhattan. During the summit, Kirk spoke about the popularity of then-Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, noting, "What I don’t want to have happen is young women in the city look to the government as a solution to put off having a family or a marriage because you’re relying on the government to support you."

"You actually allow yourself to be afforded all of the luxuries of all of the civil rights fights that the suffragettes and other women fought for you to be able to be a full-time working mother, to be the CEO of a company," Welch said. "You just weaponize your gender to rubes so that you can grift off of them."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

The podcaster has a history of condemning White people and Christians, and argued that Erika Kirk is a disgrace to her own cause.

"You are an opportunistic grifter who weaponizes your gender to demean women, and you are a walking, talking, breathing example as to why nobody, number one, wants to be a Christian, and, number two, wants to be a female hypocrite such as yourself," Welch said. "Your language, your organization makes women less safe, all across the board. Your deceased husband was an unrepentant racist and a homophobe, and women are a lot more empathetic than you are, Erika."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Alexander Hall and Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

Mamdani's wife liked social media posts 'cheering on' Hamas' Oct 7 massacre of Israelis: report

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:58:46 -0500

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, allegedly liked several posts on social media "cheering on" Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis shortly after the attack took place, according to a new report.

"New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent the mayoral campaign distancing himself from the most radical anti-Israel elements of his leftist movement, but an examination of his wife’s social media activity reveals she liked multiple Instagram posts cheering on Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault," Jewish Insider reported.

"The posts liked by Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist, unambiguously celebrated the terrorist attack, which saw nearly 1,200 Israelis and foreign workers killed, thousands wounded, 251 civilians and military personnel kidnapped and numerous episodes of sexual assault."

The first post featured in the report, which was liked by Duwaji and shared on Oct. 7, 2023, was posted by "The Slow Factory" on Instagram, which describes itself as "a school, knowledge partner and climate innovation organization" that "center[s] the voices and ideas of the Global Majority (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) to share their knowledge outside the boundaries of institutions & oppressive systems."

MAMDANI'S RESPONSE TO TRUMP'S IRAN STRIKE SPARKS CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH: 'ROOTING FOR THE AYATOLLAH'

The post included a picture of a bulldozer breaching a barrier separating Israel from Gaza, as well as individuals riding on top of a captured Israeli Defense Force (IDF) vehicle, according to Jewish Insider.

The pictures included messages such as "Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation" and "Resisting apartheid since 1948" superimposed on them, with the slogan "Systemic change for collective liberation" shown on each.

The first post's lengthy caption argued that "if and when the occupation forces retaliate against this resistance" the people of Gaza would be "punished for wanting freedom from apartheid."

The subsequent posts allegedly liked by Duwaji were shared by "The People's Forum" Instagram account, which Jewish Insider claimed was part of "Shanghai-based Maoist tech mogul Neville ‘Roy’ Singham’s network of nonprofits promoting pro-China, pro-Russia and pro-Iran propaganda."

MAMDANI PLEDGED TO FIGHT FOR ALL BUT SCRAPPED ORDER JEWISH STUDENTS SAY PROTECTED THEM

"Duwaji, again using her personal account, liked two posts from protests the organization led alongside the Democratic Socialists of America and allied organizations in Times Square one day after the attack on Israel," the outlet reported. "Mamdani, then a state assemblymember, publicly criticized the rally at the time for ‘making light’ of Hamas’ massacre of civilians."

One of the "People's Forum" posts liked by the mayor's wife included the slogan "from the river to the sea," which Jewish Insider noted is "often understood as calling for the total elimination of Israel from the lands between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea."

"Duwaji did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and the mayor’s office would not answer questions regarding his feelings about her online activity, or whether they had discussed the Oct. 7 attacks at the time. Rather, his team repeated his standard line on the bloody terrorist rampage," Jewish Insider wrote.

"Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7th was a horrific war crime, and he has condemned that violence unequivocally," a City Hall spokesperson told the outlet.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI DODGES QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER IRAN IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE AYATOLLAH

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

Newsom suggests Israel is an 'apartheid state,' Netanyahu influenced Trump's actions in Iran

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:00:26 -0500

While speaking at an event for his "Young Man in a Hurry" book tour Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested Israel is an "apartheid state" and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influenced President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran.

Newsom told the event's moderators — "Pod Save America" co-hosts Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor — it was appropriate to classify Israel as an apartheid state.

"A lot of Democrats have looked at the Netanyahu regime and felt like, ‘You know what? We don’t like the trajectory he’s on. It’s time to rethink the U.S. relationship with Israel, especially military support.’ Where do you stand?" Vietor asked Newsom.

"Let’s talk about that. But the issue of Bibi is interesting because he’s got his own domestic issues. He’s trying to stay out of jail. He’s got an election coming up. He’s potentially on the ropes. He’s got folks, the hard line, that [want to] annex the West Bank. I mean, [Tom] Freidman and others are talking about it appropriately — sort of an apartheid state," the governor replied.

TRUMP SAYS HE MIGHT HAVE 'FORCED ISRAEL'S HAND' IN IRAN STRIKE DECISION AS CRITICS QUESTION WAR POWERS

According to Newsom, Israel's leaders "haven’t even been able to solve the Hamas question" over the last two years, questioning how they would successfully pull off "regime change" in Iran.

"I want to be careful here, but, you know, in so many ways, that influence in the context of the conversation of where Trump ultimately landed on this is pretty damn self-evident," he claimed.

Referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent remarks explaining why the Trump administration decided to strike Iran, Newsom continued to make the case that Israel played a part in that decision.

"And so Rubio may have been saying something else in the context of what he ultimately said, in terms of being sort of pulled into some of these things. But I will say this, [it] didn’t surprise me in this context," he told the moderators.

"I don’t know if it was Napoleon or whoever said — about a sword — the only thing you can’t use a sword for is sitting on it. And when you bring two aircraft carriers out there, and you assemble the kind of military force that Trump did over the last few weeks, it didn’t surprise me ultimately that they moved [in] that direction."

TOP ISRAELI MILITARY OFFICIAL REVEALS OPERATION AGAINST IRAN INVOLVED 'STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL DECEPTION'

Following Newsom's response, Vietor asked whether, down the road, the U.S. should consider "rethinking" its military support for Israel.

"It breaks my heart because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path, where I don’t think you have a choice but that consideration," the governor responded.

"I mean, to say this is in America’s interest, at a time when affordability is at crisis levels, where you had an administration who literally got elected saying this is exactly the opposite of what they would ever consider doing, the fact that we are in this now regional war, all these proxies, the fact that we — and you know, all the grift and the corruption that also marks a huge part of this," Newsom added.

"And that’s a real conversation we need to have, this Board of Peace, and the piece that the Witkoff family’s getting, and the piece that Kushner is getting, and the piece that Trump Jr. is getting," he added.

When reached for comment, the White House referred 91�� Digital to the following statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt: "President Trump’s courageous decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is grounded in a truth that presidents for nearly 50 years have been talking about, but no president had the courage to confront: Iran poses a direct and imminent threat to the United States of America and our troops in the Middle East."

The statement continued, "The rogue Iranian Regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of American citizens and soldiers over the years – and that ends with President Trump."

NETANYAHU INSISTS US AND ISRAEL'S STRIKES ON IRAN WON'T LEAD TO 'ENDLESS WAR'

While speaking to reporters on Monday, Rubio explained the Trump administration's decision to strike Iran.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action," Rubio said. "We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces. And we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them … we would suffer higher casualties."

He emphasized Tuesday that the decision ultimately rested with President Trump.

"The president determined we were not going to get hit first," Rubio said. "If you tell the president of the United States that if we don’t go first, we’re going to have more people killed and more people injured, the president is going to go first."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Zohran Mamdani dodges question about whether Iran is better off without the ayatollah

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:44:27 -0500

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to dodge a reporter's question about whether Iran is better off without Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a press conference Tuesday.

Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, was killed in an Israeli military strike in Tehran last week.

"Mr. Mayor, do you think Iran is better off without the ayatollah?" a reporter asked.

While Mamdani acknowledged the regime's "systematic repression" of its own people and that it's "killing thousands" of Iranian protesters, he did not answer whether the country is better off without the dictator.

IRANIAN JOURNALIST URGES TRUMP TO 'FINISH THE JOB,' SAYS IRANIANS FEAR 'WOUNDED REGIME'

"I've said before that the Iranian government has engaged in systematic repression of its own people, even killing thousands of Iranians who were seeking to express the most basic forms of dissent earlier this year," Mamdani responded.

"It is a brutal government, and I've also said that while I may be a young mayor, I am old enough to remember the devastating consequences of our country pursuing a war with the intent of regime change in that very same region not that many years ago."

Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to 91�� Digital's request for comment.

Last week, the mayor faced backlash on social media over his post condemning the U.S. attack on Iran that led to the killing of Khamenei.

KHAMENEI IS DEAD — AND IRANIANS DARE TO HOPE FOR FREEDOM AGAIN AFTER DECADES OF TYRANNY

On Saturday, as a joint strike on Iran by the United States and Israel was developing, Mamdani slammed the Trump administration's decision in a post on X that has been viewed roughly 20 million times.

"Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression," Mamdani wrote.

"Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change."

Mamdani said Americans prefer "relief from the affordability crisis" before speaking directly to Iranians in New York City.

IRAN'S SENIOR CLERICS ‘EXPOSED’ AFTER BUILDING STRIKE IN QOM, SUCCESSION CHOICE LOOMS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The post was quickly called out by conservatives on social media, making the case that Mamdani's response appeared sympathetic to Iran's regime.

Pete Hegseth criticizes 'fake news' coverage of Iran strikes, says only tragedies make front page

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:46:58 -0500

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticized what he called "fake news" coverage of President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran during a Tuesday press conference, adding that the U.S. is "laser-focused" on its mission of severing Iran's "pathway to nuclear weapons."

Hegesth told reporters that the military operation in Iran is "simply a reality check," and with the "combination of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and combat power, will control Iran and will control it soon."

"Sure, Iran will still be able to shoot some missiles and still be able to launch one-way attack drones at civilian targets and their proxies will attempt to attack our embassies, bases and soft targets. They are terrorists, after all, and they need to target civilians because they can't fight toe-to-toe. But we will find them and kill them," the War secretary asserted.

SEN. KENNEDY PRAISES TRUMP'S RESOLVE ON IRAN, SAYS 'WORLD IS SAFER TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S DONE'

"This is what the fake news misses. We’ve taken control of Iran's airspace and water without boots on the ground. We control their fate. But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front-page news," he continued. "I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step."

Six American military service members have been killed amid Iran's retaliation over U.S. and Israeli attacks over the weekend.

Hegseth reiterated his past remarks about the administration's goals for its military operation in the region.

"As I said Monday, the mission is laser-focused. Obliterate Iran's missiles and drones and facilities that produce them, annihilate its navy and critical security infrastructure, and sever their pathway to nuclear weapons," he declared. "Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb. Not on our watch. Not ever."

HEGSETH SAYS THE LEADER BEHIND EFFORT TO ASSASSINATE TRUMP HAS BEEN 'HUNTED DOWN AND KILLED' IN IRAN

Referencing the past "endless" negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program, the War secretary lauded Trump's decisive action and "moral clarity" in addressing the issue.

"This is why President Trump’s moral clarity on Iran today is so vital. Unlike the past where vague red lines and endless negotiations let Iran fund terror and inch ever so slightly toward a bomb, this president sees the threat plainly and acts decisively," he said. "No more half measures, especially when Iran is at its weakest. No more letting Tehran play for time while our people pay the price."

"[Trump's] leadership ensures that we finish what we [started], and that we protect our war fighters by crushing the enemy before they can strike again," Hegseth added.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

During a press conference on Monday, the War secretary echoed a similar message about the media's coverage of the administration's strikes against Iran, asserting that the conflict would not escalate into an "endless" war.

"To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars,’ stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless," Hegseth declared. "Our generation knows better and so does this president."

U.S. forces have struck more than 1,700 targets across Iran in the first 72 hours of Operation Epic Fury, according to a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) fact sheet — a sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and neutralizing what officials describe as imminent threats.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Israeli military's latest wave of airstrikes in Iran dealt a serious blow to the country's brutal internal security apparatus, opening the door for a potential uprising.

During the strikes, Israel "dropped dozens of munitions on the Basij and internal security command centers that are subject to the Iranian terror regime," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Wednesday. "The targeted command centers were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran and maintain the regime’s situational assessments."

91��' Morgan Phillips and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

Swalwell pressed on Democrats' resistance to fully funding DHS amid Iran threat

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:14:49 -0500

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., was asked Tuesday whether it's time for Democrats to agree to "fully fund" the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to "protect the homeland" amid threats from Iran.

"So you were just talking about how important it is for DHS to protect the homeland," host Pamela Brown said during CNN's "The Situation Room." "And I wonder what you say to Republicans who say, ‘Look, given the change in circumstances, given this war in Iran, it is time for Democrats to come together and fully fund DHS so it can do its job, especially in this moment?’"

"I see protecting the homeland is also protecting the vulnerable immigrants who are running through the fields and factories where they work, or the woman who’s been dragged by her hair and thrown into an unmarked van, or the allies in Minnesota, you know, a nurse named [Alex] Pretti and a mom named [Renee] Good who were publicly executed," Swalwell responded.

DHS issued a memo over the weekend warning of potential cyber and lone wolf terror attacks following U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran.

STEVE SCALISE RIPS DEMOCRATS FOR 'PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES' WITH DHS SHUTDOWN AMID IRAN THREAT

The congressman was referring to the shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents during anti-ICE protests in Minnesota in January.

Continuing his argument, Swalwell said that if Republicans could "put in place reforms that end that — that stop the roving terror — Democrats are with them."

"But [DHS] also [has] plenty of funding from, you know, H.R. 1, the ‘big brutal bill,’ to continue to operate," he added. "And so we're asking for reforms that protect everyone in the community, not just the priorities of going after the most vulnerable."

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

KRISTI NOEM TO FACE SENATE GRILLING OVER MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTINGS AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS WEEK 3

The Trump administration submitted to Senate Democrats what it called a "serious" offer to reopen the government last week.

"Yesterday, the White House made another serious counteroffer," a White House official told 91�� Digital last Friday. "Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief."

It’s the second offer from the White House in an ongoing back-and-forth that has left DHS without funding for two weeks.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., both acknowledged receiving the offer in a joint statement Friday.

DHS REMAINS UNFUNDED AS IRAN SLEEPER CELL FEARS SPIKE NATIONWIDE AMID SECURITY WARNINGS

"We have received the White House’s counteroffer and are reviewing it closely. Democrats remain committed to keep fighting for real reforms to rein in ICE and stop the violence," they said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Alex Miller contributed to this report.

Arizona senator says US no longer 'world power' over handling of Iran conflict

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:30:31 -0500

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said Monday that the United States is no longer a "world power" after engaging in a conflict with Iran "on somebody else’s word."

"I mean, I guess we’re not a world power anymore," Gallego told MS NOW host Chris Hayes. "I was in some pretty hard times during the war at a very young age. And it just drove me mad."

Gallego’s comments came in response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told reporters at a press conference earlier that day, "We knew there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties."

Hayes played a clip of Rubio's comments and cited Gallego's post on X reacting to Rubio's remarks that read, "So Netanyahu now decides when we go to war? So much for America First."

EX-OBAMA ADVISOR WARNS IRAN MILITARY STRIKES 'MIGHT' LEAD TO CIVILIAN MASSACRES, OVERLOOKING PROTESTER DEATHS

Gallego, who served in the Iraq War as a U.S. Marine, argued that the Trump administration did not enter the conflict in Iran of its own volition.

"The fact that these guys just went to war on somebody else’s word — nobody decided to say, ‘Hey, you know what? What is the best interest of the men and women of my country first?'" the senator said. "Nobody decided to go and be like, ‘Guess what? Don’t go to war. If you go to war, we’re not giving you the intelligence. We’re not going to give you the support. We’re not going to give you the bombs.’ All these things you could have done."

"Instead, [the Trump administration] said, ‘You know what? We’re going to go with you,’" Gallego continued. "And I think that really pisses me off, to be honest."

PELOSI'S WAR POWERS FLIP-FLOP EXPOSED IN RESURFACED OBAMA-ERA CLIP CONTRADICTS TRUMP CRITICISM ON IRAN

The senator continued, lamenting that "young American men and women are dying because of these idiots," and drawing a comparison to what was taking place at the beginning of the Iraq war.

"These idiots that are just willing to sacrifice U.S. men, U.S. women, without any real thought about what they’re doing and what the consequences are going to bring to these families," he asserted. "You know, it’s just I feel like — I feel like I’m repeating, you know, what I saw 20 years ago. I don’t really know what else to tell you."

Later in the interview, Gallego slammed President Donald Trump, arguing the administration had not properly planned the campaign and that such action could have unintended consequences.

"This president hasn’t planned longer than a couple of days," the senator claimed. "To keep saying it’s going to be a day, day two, two weeks, four weeks, five weeks, who the heck plans wars like that? That is not professionalism. That is not top-rate military planning for all outcomes. And that’s why there’s six men dead and maybe even more going forward, because this administration did not plan for it."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

On Monday, Trump sent an official notification to Congress about the U.S. strikes against Iran, justifying the military action.

In a letter obtained by 91��, Trump told Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, that "no U.S. ground forces were used in these strikes" and that the mission "was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities."

When reached for comment, the White House directed 91�� Digital to the following statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt: "President Trump’s courageous decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is grounded in a truth that presidents for nearly 50 years have been talking about, but no president had the courage to confront: Iran poses a direct and imminent threat to the United States of America and our troops in the Middle East. The rogue Iranian Regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of American citizens and soldiers over the years – and that ends with President Trump."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Longtime Trump critic George Conway suggests US is 'terrorist state' after Iran strikes

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:14:32 -0500

George Conway, a former conservative lawyer and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, suggested Saturday the United States is a "terrorist state," hours after it joined Israel in carrying out military strikes against Iran.

"Perhaps the terrorist state with nuclear weapons is …. {checks notes} … the United States of America?" Conway wrote on X.

The U.S. and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Iran Saturday dubbed Operation Epic Fury after Trump warned of possible U.S. intervention if Tehran refused a sweeping nuclear deal and as deadly anti-regime protests unfolded.

IRAN'S TERROR PROXIES FROM IRAQ TO LEBANON SAY READY TO RESPOND TO US-ISRAEL ATTACKS

Before Conway suggested his own country was acting as a "terrorist state," he posted similar criticisms of the U.S. on X.

In one post, Conway said he was "hopeful" that the "war in Iran will bring needed democratic change to … the United States of America."

"Remember, the dim-witted megalomaniacal narcissistic psychopath who has just started a major regional war in the Middle East has unfettered control of approximately 5,177 nuclear warheads," he wrote in another post, seeming to call out Trump.

JOHN FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS OPPOSED TO IRAN STRIKES, BACKS TRUMP'S DECISION TO ACT

Conway wasn't the only high-profile American calling out the U.S. for its actions in Iran.

Author Jason Hickel accused the U.S. and Israel of being "the single greatest threat to humanity," claiming the countries bombed Iran "in the middle of negotiations" while simultaneously "genociding Palestinians."

"Bombing Iran in the middle of negotiations, while starving Cuba, while genociding Palestinians, while threatening to invade Greenland… the US and Israel are the single greatest threat to humanity and it’s not even close. We are all forced to live in the nightmare they create," Hickel wrote on X, Saturday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

During an appearance on MS NOW Saturday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, called for members of Congress to put aside their loyalty to Trump, who she referred to as the "orange man," and focus on their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution.

"Right now, what we are clearly witnessing is lawlessness yet again from this administration. And my question to my colleagues in a very serious way is, will you put aside your loyalty to this orange man and actually focus on your loyalty and your oath to the Constitution, which says that only Congress has the power to declare war?" she asked.

Prior to these comments, MS NOW's Ali Velshi noted that while "we can have a debate about whether we should be having a war with Iran, and we don’t really have much of a debate about whether the Iranian regime is a bad regime," Congress was not consulted prior to the strikes.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"No, we were not, and that’s the problem," Crockett responded. "There are people that will land on all sides of this conflict and what should be happening or shouldn’t be happening. But the one thing that I want to remind the American people of is that we have a Constitution, and, frankly, as members of Congress, we swore an oath to the Constitution as well as the president."

91�� Digital reached out to the White House for comment on the various critics.

John Fetterman breaks with Democrats opposed to Iran strikes, backs Trump's decision to act

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:30:39 -0500

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" Saturday and broke from Democrats who have come out in opposition to President Donald Trump's decision to launch a joint military offensive carried out by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

Prior to Saturday's strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran, several members of Congress, including longtime Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., came out in opposition to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets.

The group of four Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress and four other members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees call themselves the Gang of Eight.

Fetterman was asked by 91��' Lawrence B. Jones why he had decided to break from those within his own party and some Republicans who didn't agree with Trump's decision to strike Iran.

AMERICA STRIKES IRAN AGAIN — HAS WASHINGTON PLANNED FOR WHAT COMES NEXT?

"Well, because that was always the right thing," he responded. "You can just put out, you know, tweets and statements, you know, to support peace, but to actually create real peace, you have to do these kinds of actions just like what [just] happened. Just like last year too, when they — to destroy [Iran's] nuclear facilities."

The senator argued that "peace is possible after these kinds of steps," which he said is why he supports the actions taken by the United States and Israel against the Iranian regime.

"I fully support these kinds of things, and I'm proud to stand with our military and Israel through this and that was the right thing," he added.

Co-host Ainsley Earhardt referenced Fetterman’s post on X following news of the strikes against Iran in which he wrote, "President Trump has been willing to do what's right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel."

HISTORIC US-ISRAEL STRIKES ON IRAN UNDERWAY AS TEHRAN FACES REGIME SURVIVAL TEST

Earhardt asked the senator for his response to those like Massie and his Democratic colleagues who oppose the operation.

"I'd like to remind my colleagues over in the House that Iran massacred 30,000 of their own people right now. This war is not about the Iranian people, it's about this poisonous regime, and that's why I'm proud to stand with our military. I'm proud to stand with Israel too," he asserted.

"I might be a Democrat, but in this specific case, the president is absolutely correct to do these kinds of actions, and now we have Israel's back. And now that's why it's entirely the path for peace in that region."

Fetterman added that he "never thought" the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. would work out and that there is now an opportunity for "real peace" in the region.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Later on in the interview, Jones noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had confirmed that the Gang of Eight was given a "heads-up" prior to Operation Epic Fury taking place. He asked Fetterman, "from a congressional standpoint," what he'd like to hear from the Trump administration about the operation, considering "this has the potential of lasting weeks."

"Well … we don't know how long it would last, but I would look back what happened in June when Israel had the war against Iran. And it took just a couple [of] days for Iran to beg for a ceasefire. Israel was able to achieve air supremacy after like two to three days," he contended.

"So, we [will] see how long it will last, but now America here right now is in the part of that and [Iranian] targets were being effectively picked off."

Fetterman added that he'd seen reports of Iranian citizens "laughing" when they heard news of strikes hitting the compound home of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, in downtown Tehran on Saturday morning.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Eric Mack contributed to this report.

Nick Shirley alleges potential voter fraud loophole in California that could enable illegals to vote

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:00:56 -0500

Independent journalist Nick Shirley discussed a possible voter registration loophole in California that he suggested could allow illegal immigrants to vote during a Wednesday appearance on "The Riley Gaines Show."

During his discussion with Gaines, Shirley recounted visiting San Diego County's Registrar of Voters office last week, where he said he asked an employee why a government-issued ID is not required to register to vote.

"Because when you sign your affidavit, you're swearing that you're telling us the truth. And we compare the signature that you put on your application to the signature that you sign…" the employee responded.

REPUBLICANS SHRED 'NONSENSE' DEM CLAIMS AGAINST TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID BILL

Shirley then asked the woman whether not requiring identification "leaves any room for error" in the registration process and whether illegal migrants are voting in the state.

The employee denied the notion that illegals could be voting and asked Shirley how that would be possible.

"If they don't have their ID, and they could just sign on behalf of ‘Richard Sherman,’ then they could technically vote, right?" he proposed.

"Yeah, but they would be lying…" she responded, later adding that she doesn't believe illegal immigrants would abuse the state's registration process in order to vote.

NOEM BACKS SAVE AMERICA ACT, SLAMS 'RADICAL LEFT' OPPOSITION TO VOTER IDS AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP

Gaines asked Shirley whether the employee was simply naive as to how the system could be abused or if she was "attempting to be politically corrupt." The host added that she was amazed by how "gullible [the employee] was to believe that there aren't bad actors out there who would be intentional in some sort of fraud in the voting realm" as Shirley allegedly exposed.

"Yeah, and God bless this lady because she's just doing her job, right? It’s not her responsibility for what's happening in California, but it just goes to show how easy it would be for anyone to vote," he argued.

Shirley went on to share that he was contacted by a noncitizen who said they traveled to California just to show how easy it was to illegally vote in the state.

"I mean, somebody reached out to me after I posted that video, and [they were] like, ‘I actually am a Canadian and I came down to California to vote just to show you how easy it was,’" he claimed.

DEMOCRAT CLAIMS SAVE ACT WOULD BLOCK MARRIED WOMEN FROM VOTING; REPUBLICANS SAY THAT'S WRONG

Earlier in the show, Shirley noted that there are "lots of [other] locations as well that have a ton of people registered to vote."

"And some of them are UPS stores… others are these colleges that have 50 people registered at a college [or] university where there should be thousands of people registered," he continued. "So [there are] a lot of these irregularities within their voter rolls that would be very much solved if people just had to present their own IDs."

When reached for comment by 91�� Digital, the California secretary of state‘s press team replied, "The recent social media allegations claiming California has widespread election fraud is simply a new version of old erroneous claims that spread misinformation. These social media posts are rife with inaccuracies that illustrate nothing other than a lack of unfamiliarity [sic] with California election law."

With regard to the specific claim about UPS stores, the office disputed Shirley's assertions, saying, "Per California Elections Code section 2150(a)(3), an affiant must provide their place of residence. Neither private UPS mailboxes nor PO Boxes are considered a place of residence."

The press team noted that to register to vote in California, an eligible voter must fill out a form with identifiable information, political preference and affirm their citizenship under the penalty of perjury. Additionally, proof of residence and registration is needed for first-time voters to cast a ballot in a federal election.

MORE THAN 500,000 CALIFORNIANS DEMAND VOTING OVERHAUL, BACK ‘STRAIGHTFORWARD’ ID LAW

Regarding the idea that there is fraud where more than one individual is registered to vote, the office said there could be multiple reasons, including "because it is the nearest physical location to which they spend most of their time; more than one registered voter lives in dormitories with the same address; individual and haven’t had the chance to re-register yet."

The office added it was an unsubstantiated claim that California doesn't check IDs or verify voter identities.

"California voters are generally not required to  show identification before they cast their ballots. However, if a voter is voting in a federal election for the first time after registering online or by mail and did not provide their driver's license number, California identification number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their registration form, they will be asked to show a form of identification when they go to the polls," the office said.

"If a driver's license number, California identification number or the last four digits of the Social Security number are not provided, a registration cannot be validated through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the Social Security Administration (SSA), therefore the voter would be required to provide acceptable identification before registration is complete and they can vote.  

"Forms of acceptable identification include, but are not limited to a passport, a credit or debit card, a utility bill, and a military identification card."

JAMES COMER INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF NONCITIZENS FOUND ON KEY SWING STATE'S VOTER ROLLS

After posting his investigation into the alleged "breeding ground for voter fraud" in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office account on X reposted the video, mocking Shirley's findings.

"After hyping ‘massive fraud’ for a month, Nick came up empty — so he posted a video about a Republican who committed voter fraud, got caught, and was prosecuted," the post began, referencing a California woman who was charged with several felonies after she illegally registered her dog to vote and cast two ballots under the canine's name.

"Slow Shirley is welcome to extend his visit and enroll in California’s free community college. He clearly needs it," Newsom's press office concluded.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

When reached for comment by 91�� Digital, Antonia Hutzell, the program coordinator for the San Diego Registrar of Voters, said the registrar "follows all state and federal laws and regulations as it relates to processing voter registrations and maintaining the voter rolls."

She added, "Anyone registering to vote in California must attest (sign), under penalty of perjury that they are eligible to vote and that the information provided is true and correct. (EC §§ 2111, 2112, 2150)."

The representative stated that in order to vote, a person must provide a California driver’s license, state ID card number or offer the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Hutzell concluded, "The San Diego County Registrar of Voters is committed to administering transparent, secure and accurate elections and follows all applicable laws to ensure that eligible San Diego County residents have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote."

Newsom's office did not immediately respond to 91�� Digital’s requests for comment.

91�� Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.

In an age of outrage, comedian Charlie Berens doesn't have interest in the polarization

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 06:00:23 -0500

In an era when politics and the culture war debates often spill into entertainment, comedian Charlie Berens is betting that audiences are hungry for something else — a break from the outrage and a room united by laughter.

Berens told 91�� Digital he has no interest in adding to the polarization that has driven so many people away from one another. He would rather use his comedic talents to bring people together.

"I think there's enough polarization going on right now to where I just don't have much interest in that," he said. "I have interest — more in finding ways to bring us together, like out to a club or out to a theater or whatever."

DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH SAYS PODCASTING MEDIUM BECAME 'A WASTE,' LOST ITS SOUL WHEN IT BECAME POLITICAL

"I think when you get people in the same room, and you get people who may not connect on other things, connecting over something just gives more touchpoints to know that even if someone has an opposite view to you, they're not the devil, you know? You gotta have common ground."

Born and raised in Wisconsin alongside his 11 siblings, Berens explores in his newest special, "Neighborly," how growing up in a large Midwestern Catholic family has shaped how he sees the world.

"My first special was sort of about the Midwest and this is more about the world from a Midwest guy's perspective," he said. "It's also got a lot, it goes deeper into my family. I love gambling with my grandma. I love fishing with my family, and it's kind of just a lot of stories about growing up. I'm one of 12 kids, so I'm mass-produced — I got that going for me."

Berens' first exposure to comedy didn't come from his first open mic set or competing for laughs at the school lunch table — it came from sitting around his family's kitchen table.

He explained to 91�� Digital that, with such a big family, every dinner turned into a stage.

"If you're going to say something, you better make sure what you're saying is good because it's either going to make people laugh or people are going to use it to make themselves laugh at you."

COMEDIAN JEFF DYE ON LEAVING LOS ANGELES AND THE POLITICS DRIVING COMEDY’S NEW DIVIDE

"When you're having dinner in a family of 12 … the food isn't the only thing getting roasted," he joked. "Everybody is just going after each other. So it's fun… it's a fun way to grow up. I don't think I'm the funniest one in my family — in fact, not by a long shot — but it makes for an entertaining way to grow up."

While most of the roasting among one another was typically off the cuff, the comedian shared a Berens family Christmas tradition they call "gimmicks," which takes place alongside their "Secret Santa" gift exchange.

"You pick one person, obviously be nice to that person, get that person a gift and then you kind of say what you did for them on Christmas Eve. But the thing we all really look forward to is after you do that, then you get to … roast that person," he told 91�� Digital, adding that it's his favorite part of the holiday season.

Before launching his stand-up comedy career, Berens worked in a field not typically associated with laughs — journalism, where he says he infused his reporting with a comedic touch.

JIM GAFFIGAN SAYS COMEDY AUDIENCES ARE TIRED OF POLITICAL DRAMA AND JUST WANT TO LAUGH AGAIN

"I started working in local news and doing YouTube news early on in my career. And that was sort of like the early 2010s, mid 2010s … where there was this reshaping of journalism, and comedy journalism… It was always a mix between traditional journalism and kind of like infotainment, almost where you try to make the news engaging to get people to watch," he explained to 91�� Digital.

"A lot of what it was, was sort of headline and then adding some punch lines in there or some banter," the comedian continued. "I think that kind of got me into the sort of structure of comedy — of like headline, punch line, headline, punch line — it just gets you in the rhythm of writing one-liners… So maybe that helped ease me into the comedy."

As comedy adapted to an increasingly digital world, specials shifted from being released on vinyl records, CDs and television, to primarily existing on streaming services and websites like Netflix and YouTube.

While that evolution has helped comedians expand their reach, Berens argued that rapid technological advancement may also be distracting people from what matters most.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"If you just look at technology … how technology is moving exponentially, and you have artificial intelligence now. So, it touches on sort of the absurdity of what that is and that's happening on one end, but on the other end of it, you have taking your grandma to the casino," he contrasted. "Just the observations of something as simple as that, you can find … technologically speaking, we're always looking for more and more and more, but what we have right in front of us is so great and so beautiful."

"If we just take sort of a moment off of our phone to acknowledge that, maybe we won't always be seeking this next best thing," he added.

For Berens, comedy isn't about thrusting his beliefs onto the audience or scoring political points. It's about filling the room with people from all walks of life and uniting them under the umbrella of laughter and togetherness.

His special "Neighborly" premiered on Dec. 1, 2025, and is currently streaming on YouTube.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Jon Stewart admits media 'squandered' trust with Trump-Russia collusion hype, other claims

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:59:29 -0500

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart argued on his podcast Wednesday that the media may have "squandered" audience trust after creating a "hype machine" around stories such as the President Donald Trump-Russia collusion investigation.

While speaking with MS NOW host Ali Velshi on "The Weekly Show," Stewart told his guest: "I think within the media, it gets back to — you talked about it earlier — you said, 'It's about what you earn with your audience.' And I wonder if, in media, they've squandered some of that based on those incentives."

"So, for instance, we'll go back to, like — there's always that rush of, like, 'Now we've got Trump, and the Mueller report, and it's Mueller time,' and all these things. And the hype machine that generates that, whether it was for action in Iraq or accountability through these special counsels — that it raises an expectation of its audience," he continued.

DAN GAINOR: TRUMP DEFEATED THE PRESS LIKE DAVID SMACKED GOLIATH. CAN THEY RECOVER?

In 2019, then-Attorney General William Barr released the conclusions of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report. It did not establish a link by Trump or his campaign to conspire with Russia to sway the 2016 election.

Velshi added that the hype generated by the media around stories like the Mueller report acts as a "dopamine rush" for audiences.

Aside from raising expectations, Stewart said such coverage also leads audiences to expect those involved to face consequences for their reported actions — which may never come.

"The more you run on that hamster wheel, or gerbil wheel … I wonder if that begins to numb your audience to consequence. And is that where the trust has been lost?" he asked. "That not only is it about holding to account, but it's about tempering their expectation."

JON STEWART DISMISSES CALL TO RUN FOR OFFICE, WARNS NOT TO TRUST TV STARS AS POLITICAL LEADERS

Velshi agreed, saying that the media could present themselves differently.

He added that while it's fine to add "a little dressing" to news coverage to grab the audience, it's also important to relay the "important stories."

"It can't all be the world's on fire all the time, because then nobody thinks there's a fire. It can't all be breaking news, because then nothing is breaking news," the MS NOW host said. "It can't all be about this is the thing that's going to take Trump down, because, actually, your goal needs to be more important and more sustaining than taking Trump down. It needs to be fixing our society as it relates to incentives in media, as it relates to poverty, as it relates to healthcare."

He noted that the issues he listed "are not actually terribly hard fixes," and are all "things that the world can do" given the technology we have today.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Velshi then returned to warning about the "real danger" that comes from "associating everything with Trump."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"There's a real danger in associating everything with Trump, because Trump will go away," he said. "And you'll still have all these problems. And you'll still have this movement of 35% of Americans who trust nothing and want to tear it all down. We have to fix the system. And that means people understanding the system and understanding their role and their agency."

Jasmine Crockett under fire after reportedly having armed guards remove 'white girl' reporter from rally

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:34:53 -0500

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is facing criticism online after she reportedly had armed security guards remove The Atlantic staff writer Elaine Godfrey from her Senate campaign rally on Monday.

Godfrey reported that she was "thrown out" of Crockett's rally after being labeled a "top-notch hater" by Crockett's team.

"Right before armed guards escorted me from the rally and left me on the edge of a Texas-county road, I was informed that I was no longer welcome at an event that I had already attended," Godfrey wrote on Thursday.

CARDI B ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT FOR TEXAS SENATE, DECLARING 'VOTE FOR MY SISTER'

She said she had spent about an hour at the Lubbock rally for Crockett’s Senate campaign before being approached by a woman with a badge after joining other reporters.

"'Are you Elaine?' she asked. I recognized her from the entrance of the event, where I had identified myself as she’d waved me into the building’s press area. Yes, I answered. 'Her team has asked you to leave,' she said. When I asked why, the staffer looked at her phone and read dutifully: ‘They just said, "Elaine from Atlantic, white girl with a hat and notepad. She’s interviewing people in the crowd. She’s a top-notch hater and will spin. She needs to leave,"’" Godfrey wrote.

Following the publication of Godfrey's article, Crockett told CBS journalist Shawna Mizelle on Wednesday that there was "no evidence" the Atlantic reporter was kicked out of her campaign event. She added that it was "silly season" and suggested that Godfrey had previously been sued for defamation.

JASMINE CROCKETT TRASHES TRUMP, BOYCOTTS HIS SPEECH: 'THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR UNION IS GRIM'

In response to the congresswoman's claim that there was a "specific journalist" at the event who has a "history of being less than truthful" and had previously lost a lawsuit against Crockett, The Atlantic reporter wrote: "Perhaps she was thinking of someone else, because that’s not something that has ever happened to me."

Social media users were quick to criticize Crockett, questioning whether she was ready for "primetime" following the alleged incident.

"This is so bad by @JasmineForUS," wrote former CNN journalist Chris Cillizza on X. "Not ready for primetime sort of stuff."

Journalist Zaid Jilani similarly questioned "how in the world" Crockett expects to "win over enough Texans" if she "can’t get along with Atlantic magazine reporters," many of whom, he noted, "vote Democrat."

A pro-Democrat Mormon account on X argued that if Crockett "cannot handle questions from The Atlantic, and can't do it without her staff calling the reporter a ‘white girl....top notch hater’ she will never survive the election."

TEXAS DEMOCRAT CRIES FOR VOTING TALARICO OVER CROCKETT BECAUSE 'WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN'

"Amateur night in Texas from the entire Crockett team," wrote another X user.

"Apparently, Jasmine Crockett has a problem with critical media," wrote former Bulwark editor-in-chief Charlie Sykes.

This isn't the first controversy stemming from Crockett's reaction to Godfrey's reporting about her.

Godfrey was the staff writer behind a profile piece for Crockett in July that reportedly received backlash from the Texas representative after including comments from fellow House Democrats "without telling her first."

"She was, she told me, ‘shutting down the profile and revoking all permissions,’" Godfrey wrote at the time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The piece was still published and included comments from other Democratic figures.

Crockett's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

Stephen Colbert rips Hakeem Jeffries' 'silent' SOTU protest as 'bold rebrand of doing jack squat'

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:21:31 -0500

On Tuesday's broadcast of "The Late Show," host Stephen Colbert tore into House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., over his guidance for a "silent" protest of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address as a "bold rebrand of doing jack squat."

"For Democrats who did attend [the State of the Union], Hakeem Jeffries urged members not to make a scene, an approach he dubbed ‘silent defiance,' which I believe is a bold rebrand of doing jack squat," Colbert said.

"As Martin Luther King once said, ‘Shhhh,’" he added, displaying a mock quote from Dr. Martin Luther King.

SENATE DEM SAYS HE LEFT THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T ENDURE 'HOURS OF TRUMP'S LIES'

91�� Digital reached out to Jeffries for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Prior to Tuesday's State of the Union, Jeffries asked members of his caucus to approach the State of the Union in one of two ways.

"The two options that are in front of us [are] to either attend with silent defiance or not to attend and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion," Jeffries said at a press conference last week.

Several Democrats decided to attend the "People's State of the Union" event near the Lincoln Memorial instead of Trump's address held at the U.S. Capitol.

NANCY PELOSI STUMBLES ON CNN AFTER BEING PRESSED ON CALL-OUT AT SOTU OVER CONGRESSIONAL STOCK TRADING

The event, described as a rally, was organized by MeidasTouch and MoveOn Civic Action, a pair of left-leaning media and activist groups, and focused on criticisms of Trump’s first year back in office.

The event drew senators like Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; and Tina Smith, D-Minn.

On the House side, Democrats who said they'd be in attendance included Reps. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz.; Becca Balint, D-Vt.; Greg Casar, D-Texas; Veronica Escobar; D-Texas, Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; John Larson, D-Conn.; Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif.; Delia Ramirez, D-Ill.; Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.; Emily Randall, D-Wash.; and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J.

5 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES SKIP TRUMP STATE OF THE UNION AFTER KEY TARIFF RULING

Earlier in the show, Colbert touted those members of the Democratic Party who opted out of attending the president's address.

"One of the big stories tonight was who wasn't there. Roughly 50 Democratic members of the House and Senate plan to forgo the speech," he noted, citing The Wall Street Journal. "I wish we were one."

"The folks who skipped included Sens. Chris Murphy, Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley, as well as ‘Merk Manly-Manly Merken.’ Mork and Mindy, Marky Mark and Megan Markle," Colbert joked.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A smaller group of Democrats previously announced they would be skipping the State of the Union but would not be attending the counter event, including Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine.

91�� Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this report.

Nancy Pelosi stumbles on CNN after being pressed on call-out at SOTU over congressional stock trading

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:30:54 -0500

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN Tuesday, when she was asked to respond to President Donald Trump singling her out while speaking about congressional stock trading during his State of the Union address.

"There was one moment, Madam Speaker, where he called you out specifically around, of course, congressional stock trading. What do you say back to him?" CNN's Kasie Hunt asked.

"I say back to him, as that's what members said, look at your own self," Pelosi responded haltingly. "The inference he wants to draw is there was something wrong with that, which there wasn't, and if there was, people get prosecuted for it. For a long time now we've been trying to pass this law. It doesn't have — now it has more support than it had before, and —"

TRUMP SHAMES DEMOCRATS IN VIRAL STATE OF THE UNION CHALLENGE ON MIGRANT CRIME: ‘FIRST DUTY’

Before the former House speaker could finish her thought, Hunt interrupted, noting that Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., "stood and applauded" when the president spoke about the topic.

"Well, we all did. I did too," the former House speaker shot back. "He said, ‘Did Nancy stand up?’ Yeah, I did too. A lot of people stood up, a lot of Democrats stood up."

Trump called out insider trading on Capitol Hill during his address on Tuesday, urging Congress to "pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay" while also taking a shot at Pelosi.

"Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information," Trump said, prompting members of both parties to stand.

Trump responded, "They stood up for that. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Did Nancy Pelosi stand up — if she’s here? Doubt it."

TRUMP AWARDING PURPLE HEART TO NATIONAL GUARDSMAN DURING STATE OF THE UNION GETS POSITIVE MARKS FROM VOTERS

Pelosi and her venture capitalist husband, Paul, have long drawn scrutiny for his lucrative trading during her long career in politics, during which the couple has become exceptionally wealthy. The New York Times reported in December on the "widespread perception that she was on the wrong side of the debate over congressional stock trading" which had put an "asterisk" on her legacy.

The Stop Insider Trading Act, introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., would ban members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks and require advance public notice before any sale, aiming to go beyond the 2012 STOCK Act’s reporting requirements.

A source familiar told 91�� Digital that Pelosi was applauding until Trump called her out.

91�� Digital previously reached out to Pelosi's office for comment, but did not receive a response.

SPEECHWRITERS SPLIT AFTER TRUMP’S RECORD-BREAKING SOTU: ‘LIVING IN HIS OWN REALITY’ VS. ‘RESOUNDING SPEECH’

Trump also announced a new retirement savings proposal for workers without access to employer matching, promising the federal government would match contributions up to $1,000 a year so more Americans can benefit from market gains.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Andrew Mark Miller and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Man with Tourette syndrome 'deeply mortified' after shouting racial slur at awards show

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:14:51 -0500

The audience member with Tourette syndrome who shouted a racial slur during a broadcast of the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) issued a statement expressing mortification about the incident on Monday.

John Davidson, who has severe Tourette syndrome and was the inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated biographical film "I Swear," was heard shouting the n-word while Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. During other portions of the program, Davidson was heard shouting profanities, including "f--- you" and "shut the f--- up."

In the statement, Davidson said he has always been "deeply mortified" that his involuntary tics could be considered "intentional or to carry any meaning."

KATE MIDDLETON DAZZLES ALONGSIDE HOLLYWOOD STARS KATE HUDSON AND EMMA STONE AT THE 2026 BAFTAS

"I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I SWEAR, which more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome," Davidson stated.

"I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing."

Earlier in his statement, Davidson thanked BAFTA and everyone else involved in the awards ceremony "for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast," adding that he appreciated the announcement before the broadcast began that "my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs."

PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON FEAR ANDREW ARREST WILL DAMAGE KING CHARLES'S ONGOING HEALTH RECOVERY: EXPERTS

"I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me," he continued. "In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning."

Actor Alan Cumming, who hosted the BAFTAs, addressed the situation on-air during the broadcast.

"You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience," Cumming said. "Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

The BBC issued an apology after failing to remove the profane language when the pre-taped show aired.

"Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer," a BBC spokesperson told 91�� Digital.

Some critics of the way the situation was handled took to social media.

"Asking for more grace for the person who shouted a racist slur instead of for Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who had to push through being embarrassed in front of their peers. But that’s often the expectation — that Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanized so that other people don’t feel bad," former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill wrote.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Colbert-Talarico interview being investigated by Democrats after FCC dust-up

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:14:46 -0500

Amid controversy over "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert’s claim that he was barred from airing his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico last week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened an official inquiry into CBS’ parent company, Paramount, on Monday requesting "all records" related to the decision.

Talarico's interview on "The Late Show" last week sparked controversy after Colbert accused CBS of blocking the interview amid what he described as the FCC's crackdown on the longstanding candidate equal time rule.

CBS denied Colbert's claim, telling 91�� Digital last week, "THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico."

STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS AND THE FCC: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEATED MEDIA FEUD

In a letter to Paramount CEO David Ellison, exclusively published by Status, Blumenthal — the ranking member of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) — demanded all documentation and communications related to the company's decision not to air Colbert's interview with Talarico.

The senator argued that Paramount's decision "raises the alarming prospect" that the company is "willing to silence free speech" in hopes of currying favor with the Trump administration.

"I write regarding Paramount’s apparent willingness to censor critical news and satire at the behest of the President, particularly as it is attempting to acquire Warner Bros. in part by promoting its close ties to the White House," the letter reads.

"Paramount’s acquiescence to political pressure from Federal Communications Commission ('FCC') Chair Brendan Carr, preventing Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, raises the alarming prospect that Paramount is willing to silence free speech to elicit political favors from the Trump Administration," Blumenthal continues.

"I therefore write to request records and information related to Paramount’s communications with the FCC and the White House, and its interventions into the editorial decisions of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the letter added.

JASMINE CROCKETT REVEALS COLBERT HASN'T INVITED HER ON SHOW SINCE FUROR OVER TALARICO INTERVIEW

Blumenthal claimed that the "longstanding exception" to the equal time rule for "news interviews" has allowed shows like Colbert's "to interview candidates without equal time for several decades."

Despite this apparent exception, the Senator contended that "CBS apparently abruptly chose to use the FCC announcement to pressure or require Mr. Colbert to stop the broadcast of the interview."

"FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s announcement clearly seeks to insert the FCC into broadcasters’ editorial decisions by declaring that it will enforce the equal time rule over what it deems as programming ‘motivated by partisan purposes,’ targeting what the Chair Carr labeled ‘the fake news,’" Blumenthal wrote.

"As FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated, while the legality of the guidance is questionable, ‘it does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor and control speech,’ a position taken by other experts in FCC law," he added.

The FCC announced in late January it was providing guidance to broadcast networks to adhere to the "statutory equal opportunities requirement," citing the Communications Act of 1934, "including their airing of late night and daytime talk shows."

Blumenthal argued that the FCC's "distortion of the equal time rule" represented a "radical departure from Congressional intent and decades of rulings from Democrat and Republican-led Commissions," including rulings that found Phil Donahue, Jerry Springer, Howard Stern and Jay Leno "were exempt."

FCC CHAIR RIPS COLBERT 'HOAX' AFTER CBS DENIED BLOCKING TALARICO INTERVIEW, SAYS MEDIA FELL FOR IT

Later on in the letter, the senator questioned why Paramount decided to "preemptively comply, rather than stand up for the First Amendment and challenge any attempted enforcement," demanding records of communications between the company and the FCC, including "any attempts" to obey the rule.

When reached for comment by 91�� Digital, a spokesperson for Paramount replied with the following statement: "We have received the letter and are reviewing it carefully. We appreciate and respect the Senator's interest in this issue."

"As CBS noted before: ‘THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. THE LATE SHOW decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options,’" it added.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Bill Maher calls out Trump's 'bulls---' Truth Social post attacking him

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:10:52 -0500

On Friday's episode of "Real Time," host Bill Maher responded to President Donald Trump's Truth Social post from last week, where he called the late-night host a "jerk" and said it was a "total waste of time" hosting him at the White House last April.

"See, I woke up Saturday morning to a blistering social media text from him. Went on and on. Valentine’s Day, by the way," Maher said. "He was very mad at me because I didn’t get his joke about how China is gonna make Canada give up hockey. You know, I think we’re going to have to workshop that one for a while."

In a lengthy post, the president took aim at Maher over his recent comments mocking Trump for suggesting that China would end all hockey in Canada as the two countries deepen their economic ties.

BILL MAHER CALLS VIEWERS WHO STOPPED WATCHING AFTER HIS TRUMP DINNER 'IDIOTS' IN HEATED DEFENSE

"Sometimes in life you waste time!" Trump began the post. "T.V. Host Bill Maher asked to have dinner with me through one of his friends, also a friend of mine, and I agreed. He came into the famed Oval Office much different than I thought he would be.

"He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself and, to soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic.’ He said to me, ‘I’ve never felt like this before, I’m actually scared.’ In one respect, it was somewhat endearing!"

Trump went on to call the "Real Time" host a "highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT" whose television ratings "are so low that nobody will learn about his various Fake News statements" about him.

COMEDIAN BILL MAHER REGRETS RIFT WITH JIMMY KIMMEL, WORRIES THEY MAY NEVER SPEAK AGAIN

Maher addressed these insults from the president directly, saying, "[Trump] went off on me and said, you know, the dinner we had was a waste of time. Well, I didn’t think it was. And then I’m a jerk, and I’m at low ratings, lightweight, and all this s---. Because I never stopped criticizing him. I never said I would."

The late-night host joked that he now knows "how women feel" when a guy "buys you dinner and then expects you to put out," adding that he's "not that guy."

Aside from responding to Trump's attacks over him being critical of his administration, Maher also addressed the president's claim that he "immediately" asked for a cocktail upon arriving at the White House.

"And a lot of other stuff he said that wasn’t really true, that, you know, I immediately asked for a drink. OK, ‘he immediately wanted a vodka,’" he recalled. "OK, it was a margarita. It was not a vodka, and it wasn’t immediately. I had a drink before dinner, as people do."

BILL MAHER FIRES BACK AT DAVE CHAPPELLE'S 'STUPID' COMMENTS ON FREE SPEECH IN US, SLAMS CELEBRITY ACTIVISM

Maher also denied that he was nervous or scared, as Trump claimed in his post.

"He said, I was nervous and scared, no confidence. Bulls---!" he declared. "It’s so funny, because I got so much s--- from the left for reporting honestly that, in person, he was very different, very nice, very gracious. And then he says, ‘No, he was scared.’"

"I’m like the Democrats with an election. I just can’t win!" Maher concluded.

91�� Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

In April 2025, Trump ally Kid Rock orchestrated a sit-down dinner between himself, the president, Maher and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

After his visit to the White House, Maher described the meeting with Trump as cordial and even gave the president a few compliments.

"You can hate me for it, but I'm not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured," Maher said. "And why isn't that in other settings? I don't know, and I can't answer, and it's not my place to answer. I'm just telling you what I saw, and I wasn't high."

Democrats have ‘done Jasmine Crockett dirty,’ in attempt to wound campaign, GOP strategist tells MS NOW

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:27:33 -0500

GOP strategist Matthew Bartlett appeared on MS NOW's "The Weekend" Saturday, where he argued that Democratic staffers and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" staff did Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, "dirty" earlier this week after not having her on Colbert's show.

Crockett's opponent in Texas' Democratic Senate primary, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Texas, appeared on "The Late Show" Tuesday, sparking controversy after Colbert accused CBS of blocking the interview amid what he described as the FCC's crackdown on the longstanding equal candidate time rule.

On Friday, Crockett said that she had still not been invited to appear on Colbert's show. She previously stated she "received a phone call" on Tuesday, informing her that CBS was told "they could go ahead and move forward with the interview of James Talarico," as long as it provided her, and the other candidate in the race, Ahmad Hassan, with equal time.

BOEBERT JOKES ABOUT ENDORSING CROCKETT IN TEXAS' SENATE RACE TO GIVE HER DEMOCRATIC RIVAL A BOOST

CBS denied Colbert's claim that it blocked his interview with Talarico from airing, telling 91�� Digital on Tuesday, "THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico."

MS NOW's Jonathan Capehart asked Bartlett what he thought of the controversy.

"As a conservative, I think there's been a lot of political maneuvering that has been quite impressive. This notion [that] Trump [was] going to stop Colbert in order to stop Talarico — people kind of went with this narrative," he responded. "I'm not sure it's true. I think, candidly, they've actually done Jasmine Crockett dirty."

COLBERT SKEWERS CBS FOR DENYING DEEP-SIXING OF CANDIDATE INTERVIEW, WHILE KIMMEL HOSTS DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER

Bartlett added that he doesn't believe the narrative of President Donald Trump suppressing the interview with Talarico "is reality," and that the state representative "got a nice little bump from this" in terms of fundraising.

Following up on Bartlett’s claim, Capehart asked who the "they" was that he believed had done Crockett "dirty."

"I would say, some of the Colbert media folks and some of the Democratic, you know, staffers with Talarico here," he argued. "So I'm not sure. You know, everyone likes to be the victim. I'm not sure Talarico is the victim of Trump's suppression. I think Jasmine Crockett might be the victim of a false media narrative."

FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON STEPHEN COLBERT CENSORSHIP CLAIMS

Similar to Bartlett's claim that Talarico likely received a "nice little bump" in fundraising, Crockett told MS NOW's Jen Psaki on Tuesday that the controversy probably gave her opponent "the boost he was looking for."

91�� Digital reached out to CBS and Talarico for comment. Talarico's campaign declined to comment.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Latest Marc Tamasco News | 91����

Dr Phil calls out Mayor Mamdani's wife after she reportedly liked social media posts about Oct 7 'hoax' claims

CNN torched over 'bizarre' post about Pennsylvania teenagers charged with throwing bombs at a NYC protest

Maher breaks down dispute between him and the president, declares he doesn’t have ‘Trump derangement syndrome’

BBC mistranslates Pete Hegseth's speech on Iran, mistakenly swaps Iranian 'regime' with Iranian 'people'

Bill Maher flips script on Adam Schiff with quote from Obama administration on Libya and war powers

Comedian Max Amini built a worldwide following; America is just catching up

Far-left podcaster goes on profane anti-ICE, anti-Trump rant after winning GLAAD award

Mamdani's wife liked social media posts 'cheering on' Hamas' Oct 7 massacre of Israelis: report

Newsom suggests Israel is an 'apartheid state,' Netanyahu influenced Trump's actions in Iran

Zohran Mamdani dodges question about whether Iran is better off without the ayatollah

Pete Hegseth criticizes 'fake news' coverage of Iran strikes, says only tragedies make front page

Swalwell pressed on Democrats' resistance to fully funding DHS amid Iran threat

Arizona senator says US no longer 'world power' over handling of Iran conflict

Longtime Trump critic George Conway suggests US is 'terrorist state' after Iran strikes

John Fetterman breaks with Democrats opposed to Iran strikes, backs Trump's decision to act

Nick Shirley alleges potential voter fraud loophole in California that could enable illegals to vote

In an age of outrage, comedian Charlie Berens doesn't have interest in the polarization

Jon Stewart admits media 'squandered' trust with Trump-Russia collusion hype, other claims

Jasmine Crockett under fire after reportedly having armed guards remove 'white girl' reporter from rally

Stephen Colbert rips Hakeem Jeffries' 'silent' SOTU protest as 'bold rebrand of doing jack squat'

Nancy Pelosi stumbles on CNN after being pressed on call-out at SOTU over congressional stock trading

Man with Tourette syndrome 'deeply mortified' after shouting racial slur at awards show

Colbert-Talarico interview being investigated by Democrats after FCC dust-up

Bill Maher calls out Trump's 'bulls---' Truth Social post attacking him

Democrats have ‘done Jasmine Crockett dirty,’ in attempt to wound campaign, GOP strategist tells MS NOW

Latest Marc Tamasco News | 91��