Is oral cancer usually caused by tobacco or alcohol history? Study finds over half of India’s patients…
According to the study, 57 percent of oral cancer cases observed in recent years have occurred among individuals with no history of tobacco or alcohol consumption.
Michigan sheriff who took off helmet, marched with protesters in 2020, launches bid to replace Gov. Whitmer
A high-profile sheriff in Michigan announced his bid to run for governor, replacing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. First elected sheriff of Michigan’s Genesee County in 2020, Chris Swanson’s announcement on Thursday marks his full leap into politics after speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August. The race is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested political battles of 2026. Swanson first gained national attention in May 2020, just days after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice. He famously took off his riot gear and marched alongside demonstrators after telling them: “I want to make this a parade, not a protest.” His bid comes as the Democratic Party seeks a new kind of candidate who can address top voter concerns such as immigration and public safety, issues Swanson plans to make central to his campaign. NEWSOM CHANGES TONE ON TRUMP FROM CAMPAIGN RHETORIC WITH FEDERAL WILDFIRE RECOVERY FUNDS AT STAKE Swanson formally announced his bid at Mott Community College, his alma mater, in Flint on Thursday night. He was joined by a packed house of more than 400 supporters from across the state. “When there’s a challenge, we will solve it. When there’s a crisis, we will bring calm. When there’s an opportunity, we will seize it,” Swanson said. “I believe everyone has value. Michigan has value. It’s why I’ve always tried to find ways to help and bring people together. I believe that together, we are tough enough to win for Michigan.” OUT OF POWER: DEMOCRATS DISORIENTED IN FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP AGENDA In entering the race, Swanson joins Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the Democratic primary, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II mulling a potential bid. On the Republican side, Aric Nesbitt, the top GOP state Senate leader, has announced his candidacy. U.S. Rep. John James ais lso considered to be a potential contender. Detroit’s once-Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan further shook up the race by entering as an independent. Swanson has never won a race outside of Genesee County and he will be competing in the primary against Benson, who has won multiple statewide races and raised millions of dollars. Swanson remains largely unknown outside his county, which is about 70 miles northwest of Detroit. The sheriff’s appeal as a non-traditional candidate could resonate in a battleground state like Michigan, where winning requires broad, cross-party support. In the 2024 election, Swanson was reelected with 65% of the vote in Genesee County — running nearly 14 percentage points ahead of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Swanson’s decision to remove his riot gear and march alongside protesters at a demonstration in Flint following Floyd’s May 2020 death sparked national attention and praise from prominent Democrats, including Whitmer and former President Barack Obama. He said this month that police had planned for a different response, but “as I was walking up, I thought, there’s got to be a better way.” TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DEPORT HAMAS SYMPATHIZERS ON CAMPUSES PROMPTS STUDENT NEWSPAPER TO DELETE NAMES It also helped propel him to an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in August, where he wore his sheriff’s uniform and endorsed Harris in a brief speech. The appearance was a rare show of law enforcement support for the then-vice president. Sheriffs in Michigan and across the country frequently aligned themselves with President Donald Trump during his tough-on-crime, anti-illegal immigration presidential campaign. Swanson’s background could boost his appeal in a general election, especially as immigration remains a top voter concern. However, he may face challenges in the Democratic primary, where some in the party have made calls to “defund the police” and reform law enforcement. “It’s time that we have a different type of candidate coming through the system, not just the next one up,” said Swanson. “People, I think, are hungry for something new and fresh. Certainly the party is. And I’m that person.” Swanson’s gubernatorial bid was first announced in The Associated Press.
US judge delays Trump buyout offer meant to thin out public servants
A United States judge has temporarily blocked a buyout package offered to federal workers as an incentive to resign from their jobs, part of a larger push under President Donald Trump to whittle down the scale of government. On Thursday, US District Judge George O’Toole suspended the administration’s deadline to accept the buyout, which was set for 11:59pm Eastern Time (03:59 GMT, Friday). O’Toole explained the additional time was needed for his court to consider arguments against the measure, brought by unions representing nearly 800,000 government employees. The federal court in Massachusetts will hear full arguments in the case starting on Monday. “It’s a glimmer of hope that the courts might help us and block the whole resignation programme,” one employee at the General Services Administration, which manages federal properties, told the Reuters news agency under condition of anonymity. During his campaign, Trump and allies, such as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, pledged to purge the federal government of workers and public employees that could pose an obstacle to their agenda. Advertisement On January 20, shortly after being sworn in for a second term, Trump told an arena of supporters he planned to rid the government of “Biden bureaucrats”, a reference to his predecessor, Joe Biden. “Most of those bureaucrats are being fired. They’re gone. Should be all of them, but some sneak through,” he said. But critics point out that career civil servants are nonpartisan employees – and they are essential to the smooth running of the government, even during transitions of power. The buyout offer, which promises to pay workers their salaries through October if they agree to quit, has been challenged in court by labour unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The Trump administration has warned that people who do not accept the offer could later lose their jobs anyway. US news outlets have reported that the Department of Education, which Trump has indicated he wants to abolish, told staffers the government could terminate their paycheques at any time. “We encourage federal workers in this city to accept the very generous offer,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt said on Thursday. She offered some pointed remarks to remote workers who were reticent about Trump’s mandate that they return to the office, too. “They don’t want to come into the office,” Leavitt said. “If they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout, and we’ll find highly qualified people.” Leavitt said about 40,000 federal workers had accepted the offer, accounting for about 2 percent of the government’s civilian workforce. Advertisement Not only has Trump questioned the political allegiance of federal workers, but he has also denounced the large workforce as evidence of government bloat. The federal government is the largest employer in the US, with more than two million workers spanning the military, education and more. Many federal workers say that the blitz campaign meant to thin out their ranks has left them feeling uncertain about the future. “In the halls, most people are stopping to ask one another what their decision will be, with many people saying they are scared because we are caught between two bad choices and very little time to make the decision,” a Department of the Treasury executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Adblock test (Why?)
Torres hat-trick leads Barcelona Copa del Rey rout at Valencia
Ferran Torres scores three of Barcelona’s first four goals in a 5-0 Copa del Rey quarterfinal win at Valencia. Ferran Torres fired a 30-minute hat-trick as Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 5-0 win at Valencia. The Barca forward opened the scoring in the third minute at Estadio de Mestalla on Thursday, as he burst through the home side’s offside trap to slot home a first-time finish. His second was a tap-in after Lamine Yamal struck the post. By the time the hat-trick was sealed, with a flick from Raphinha on the edge of the box and a drilled effort into the bottom corner, Barca had already put themselves out of sight with another breach of the Valencia backline by Fermin Lopez. Yamal, who had a quiet first half, was far livelier in the second and sealed the win in the 59th minute with a deflected effort, which wrong-footed the keeper. The Spanish international had already struck the post with a trademark curling effort after cutting inside onto his left foot. Ferran Torres of Barcelona scores his team’s fourth goal to complete his hat-trick [David Ramos/Getty Images] Barca, who opened their league season with a 2-1 win on the same ground, thumped Valencia 7-1 at home in the reverse fixture on January 26. Hansi Flick’s side, who are third in LaLiga, also hit seven at Valladolid in August. Advertisement Another mauling was on the cards for Carlos Corberan’s beleaguered side, who sit second bottom of the Spanish league – four points from safety with only four wins in 22 matches. Torres’s second strike had initially been disallowed for offside, only for VAR to intervene and overrule the referee’s assistant. The pause for the decision was about as much respite as the home side were to enjoy in a half of ruthless and relentless running from Barca. The ease with which they either sliced through the Valencia defence, as for the second and fourth goals, or broke clean through, as with the first and third, will be as great a concern for Corberan as it is a delight for Flick. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona scores his team’s fifth goal in a far quieter second half [David Ramos/Getty Images] To the relief of the home support, who were making their way to the exits as early as Barca’s third goal, the second half was a more sedate affair as the away side took their foot off the gas. Lopez’s hat-trick is the fastest for Barcelona since Samuel Eto’o registered three goals in the opening 28 minutes of a LaLiga match against Almeria in 2008. The record 31-time winners of the competition have not reached the semifinals since being eliminated by Real Madrid in 2022-2023, while they last won the competition in 2020-21, having been defeated by Valencia in the final two seasons before. Real Sociedad earlier booked their place in the last four with a 2-0 home win against Osasuna thanks to first-half strikes from Barrenetxea and Brais Mendez. Advertisement Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who meet in a first versus second league derby at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, booked their places in the semifinals with victories over Lagunes and Getafe, respectively, earlier in the week. Adblock test (Why?)
Trans women, girls barred from female sport under NCAA rule change
Transgender girls and women will no longer compete in female events at most college sporting events in the United States after a governing body’s decision to bar athletes who were born male. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the main governing body for college sport in the US, said on Thursday that it would limit competition in girls’ and women’s sport to female-born athletes only. The NCAA’s announcement comes after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order the previous day to deny funding to educational institutes that allow trans girls and women to compete in female sport. “The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes. We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions,” NCAA president, Charlie Baker, said in a statement. “To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.” Advertisement Baker said the change reflected the body’s commitment to “protect, support and enhance the mental and physical health of student-athletes”. “This national standard brings much-needed clarity as we modernise college sports for today’s student-athletes,” he said. The NCAA is by far the largest governing body for college sport in the US, with more than 500,000 student-athletes competing in its events each year. Other major umbrella organisations, such as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), oversee competitions with fewer than 100,000 annual competitors. US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, the United States, on February 5, 2025 [Leah Millis/Reuters] Trans women’s participation in sport has become a political lightning rod in the US, with advocates of LGBTQ rights calling for greater inclusion of trans athletes and critics arguing that their participation is unfair to girls and women. Opinion polls have pointed to growing public opposition to trans women competing against female-born athletes amid high-profile controversies involving the participation of athletes, such as college swimmer Lia Thomas. Thomas, who was born male and began hormone-replacement therapy in her late teens, won the NCAA Division I national championship in 2022 before being barred from women’s events by World Aquatics. Advertisement In a New York Times/Ipsos poll published last month, 79 percent of Americans said that trans women should not be allowed to participate in female sports, up from 62 percent in 2021. Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer who has joined a lawsuit against the NCAA over its decision to allow Thomas to compete in female events, welcomed the sporting body’s announcement. “I can’t even begin to tell you how vindicating it feels knowing no girl will ever have to experience what my teammates and I did,” Gaines said on X. Trump, who has signed four executive orders directed at trans people, repeatedly criticised efforts to further LGBTQ inclusion in sport and other areas of life during his election campaign. During a signing ceremony for his executive order on women’s sport on Wednesday, Trump said his administration would not “stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes”. LGBTQ advocacy organisations widely condemned Trump’s order as discriminatory and not based on facts. “We’ve known this day was likely to occur for a long time, as this administration continues to pursue simple solutions to complex issues, often resulting in animus towards the most marginalized communities in our country,” Athlete Ally, which champions the inclusion of LGBTQ people in sport, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Despite this executive order, we will continue to choose love, acceptance and curiosity with anyone interested in creating a future of sports where everyone belongs.” Adblock test (Why?)
US seizes second plane owned by Venezuelan government in Dominican Republic, citing evasion of sanctions
An aircraft used by a state-owned Venezuelan natural gas company to evade U.S. sanctions and export control laws for the benefit of the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was seized in the Dominican Republic Thursday, authorities said. The seizure of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft used by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural-gas company, came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Caribbean nation for talks with its president. “The seizure of this Venezuelan aircraft, used for evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering, is a powerful example of our resolve to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime accountable for its illegal actions,” Rubio wrote on X. “With the Dominican Republic and our regional partners, we will continue to counteract any scheme to evade U.S. sanctions.” TRUMP OFFICIAL TRAVELS TO VENEZUELA IN PUSH FOR MADURO REGIME TO TAKE BACK TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS The seizure stemmed from a 2019 executive order during President Donald Trump’s first term in office in an effort to prohibit American citizens from engaging in transactions with anyone who worked for or on behalf of PdVSA. In January 2020, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified 15 aircraft that fell under the order. PdVSA bought the plane from the U.S. in July 2017 and exported it to Venezuela, where it was registered under tail number YV-3360, the Justice Department said. Despite sanctions being levied on PdVSA, the plane was still serviced and maintained on multiple occasions using parts from the U.S., authorities said. The service included a brake assembly, electronic flight displays and flight management computers, all in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws. “The use of American-made parts to service and maintain aircraft operated by sanctioned entities like PdVSA is intolerable,” said Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department, along with its federal law enforcement partners, will continue to safeguard our national security by identifying, disrupting and dismantling schemes aimed at procuring American goods in violation of our sanctions and export control laws.” DHS SEC. NOEM ANNOUNCES END TO TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS Among its uses, the plane was allegedly used to take Venezuelan Oil Minister Manuel Salvador Quevedo Fernandez, who is also sanctioned, to an OPEC meeting in the United Arab Emirates and has been used to transport senior members of the Maduro regime. The aircraft was used in a continuation of the regime’s misappropriation of PdVSA assets, the DOJ said. In September, a plane owned by Maduro was also seized in the Dominican Republic. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) flew the Dassault Falcon 900EX back to the United States soon after. “Asset forfeiture is a powerful law enforcement tool, which we will continue to use aggressively to deter, disrupt and otherwise combat criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne. Maduro began his third six-year term as president last month despite widespread skepticism over the legitimacy of his election victory. International and domestic critics question the fairness of the electoral process. Maduro claimed victory by more than 1 million votes. However, opposition candidate Edmundo González is widely believed to have won by a landslide.
Fired Federal Election Commission leader rants on social media after removal by Trump: ‘This isn’t it’
President Donald Trump fired the U.S. Federal Election Commission Commissioner and Chair Ellen Weintraub, sending her a letter regarding her “removal.” Trump took office Jan. 20, and since then has taken on a massive government makeover, sidelining and firing hundreds of top agency officials and civil servants as he attempts to install more loyalists and downsize the bureaucracy. Weintraub, like many others, was in Trump’s crosshairs, but she did not appear to be standing down. “Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner & Chair of [the FEC],” Weintraub wrote Thursday in a post on X. “There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners — this isn’t it. I’ve been lucky to serve the American people & stir up some good trouble along the way. That’s not changing anytime soon.” HOUSE GOP DEMANDS FEC PROBE ‘POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL’ ACTBLUE FUNDRAISING AS DEM PLATFORM HAULS HARRIS MILLIONS Along with her post, Weintraub posted a copy of the letter from the White House. “Dear Commissioner Weintraub,” the letter states. “You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately. Thank you for your service on the Commission.” The letter was dated Jan. 31, 2025, and signed by Trump. FEC CHAIR: TRUMP IS ‘DAMAGING TO OUR DEMOCRACY’ WITH ‘BASELESS’ VOTER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS Weintraub took aim at President Trump in 2019, when she said his “baseless” claims about voter fraud were “damaging to our democracy.” She criticized the president during an appearance on CNN and claimed he was spreading information for which he had no proof. “I think it is damaging to our democracy,” Weintraub told host John Berman, “to spread information like that if there is no proof.” Weintraub insisted there was no evidence of rampant voter fraud in 2016, responding to Trump’s repeated claims to the contrary. Fox News Digital’s Joshua Nelson contributed to this report.
House Rep. Eli Crane says therapy dogs should be mandatory at hearings after joke about Dems’ mental stability
A House lawmaker Thursday jokingly suggested making therapy dogs a permanent fixture in committee hearings after voicing his concern about the “mental stability” of Democrats a day earlier. On Wednesday, as Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform discussed wasteful government spending, Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., asked about bringing in therapy dogs for his Democratic colleagues amid back-and-forth sparring between both sides. Crane asked committee Chair James Comer, R-Tenn., about bringing in the animals. GOP LAWMAKER SCRAPS WITH DEMOCRAT IN HEARING OVER TRANSGENDER ‘SLUR,’ BATHROOM RIGHTS: ‘NOT GOING TO HAVE IT’ “I’m worried about their mental stability,” said Crane. On Thursday, the committee met to discuss taxpayer money funding “gender-affirming care” for animals. The hearing, “Transgender Lab Rats and Poisoned Puppies: Oversight of Taxpayer Funded Animal Cruelty,” featured a witness from the White Coat Waste Project. In attendance were three beagles that were allegedly part of experiments conducted on the watch of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). WEST POINT DISBANDS GENDER-BASED, RACE CLUBS IN TRUMP’S DEI SWEEP “It was just yesterday in an Oversight hearing that I asked Chairman Comer if we could get some therapy dogs up here because of some of the meltdowns that were going on,” Crane said. “I had no idea I’d walk into this hearing today and see three beautiful beagle puppies. “And I have noticed that my mood has already improved. So, thank you guys for bringing them,” he added. “I think we should make it mandatory.” At Thursday’s hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., laid out how public funds were being used for animal experiments. “Last year, the White Coat Waste Project exposed more than $10 million in taxpayer funds that were spent creating transgender mice, rats and monkeys,” Mace said. “These DEI grants funded painful and deadly transgender experiments that forced lab animals to undergo invasive surgeries and hormone therapies at universities across the country.” Before yielding to ranking member Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, Mace said wasteful government spending on animal cruelty is a “nonpartisan issue.” “The U.S. government spends in excess of $20 billion a year conducting experiments on animals,” Mace said. “We spent over $1 million to find out if female rats receiving testosterone therapy were more likely to overdose on a date rape drug. That’s what your taxpayer dollars were being spent on.” Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Trump reveals slew of picks for big jobs, including friend of Mike Pence, billionaire’s wife
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a slew of picks for big jobs, including director of the U.S. Marshals Service and three ambassadors. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced Gadyaces “Gady” Serralta will serve as the next director of the United States Marshals Service. “Gady is a lifelong public servant, with 34 years of Law Enforcement experience,” Trump wrote. “I nominated him in my First Term to serve as the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, and he has done an incredible job for the past six years.” Serralta previously served as a major for the Miami-Dade Police Department and as police chief in Palmetto Bay, Florida, Trump said. ‘LIES AND SMEARS’: TULSI GABBARD RAILS AGAINST DEM NARRATIVE SHE’S TRUMP’S AND PUTIN’S ‘PUPPET’ “Gady will work with our GREAT Attorney General Pam Bondi to make sure that we restore Law and Order, and Make America Safe Again,” Trump wrote. The president also announced a number of ambassadors, including Thomas Rose, who will serve as the United States ambassador to Poland. “Thomas is a highly respected businessman and commentator, who had a successful radio show on Sirius XM for almost a decade, and served as the Publisher and CEO of The Jerusalem Post,” Trump wrote. “He will make sure our interests are represented in Poland, and always put America First.” The Jerusalem Post reported in 2016 that Rose was former Vice President Mike Pence’s “longtime friend and unofficial surrogate.” Michael E. Kavoukjian will serve as the next United States ambassador to Norway, Trump announced. “Michael is a brilliant attorney, who currently serves as a Senior Partner at White & Case, where he has led complex commercial litigation teams around the World,” Trump wrote. Kavoukjian previously worked as a CIA operations officer and is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, Trump said. Trump announced Melinda Hildebrand, wife of billionaire businessman Jeffery Hildebrand, will take over as United States ambassador to Costa Rica. “Melinda is an incredibly successful businesswoman and philanthropist,” Trump wrote. “She will fight tirelessly to protect America’s Interests abroad, especially in Trade and Immigration.” Hildebrand is the vice chair of the Hildebrand Foundation, vice president of Hilcorp Ventures Inc. and president and owner of River Oaks Donuts. RFK JR’S CONFIRMATION HEARING GOES OFF RAILS AMID MULTIPLE CLASHES WITH DEM SENATORS: ‘REPEATEDLY DEBUNKED’ Nicholas Merrick will serve as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic. “Nicholas is a highly respected businessman and teacher, who leads Kenny and Lisa Troutt’s $1.6 Billion family office,” Trump wrote. He was previously the CFO of two publicly traded telecommunications companies and has served on several large pension boards. Merrick received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard University. As of Wednesday, 11 of Trump’s Cabinet nominees have been successfully confirmed by the Senate.
Out of power: Democrats disoriented in fight against Trump agenda
It’s a new season for Congressional Democrats. And that’s not always a good thing. New seasons bring change. New players. New coaches. New approaches. The problem is finding the right approach. Especially when you’re on the outside looking in. SPENDING SHOWDOWN: REPUBLICANS WILL NEED TO CORRAL VOTES – BUT THEY HAVEN’T ASKED, YET Democrats are now the loyal opposition. Effectively locked out of power in Washington as Republicans control the executive branch and both bodies of Congress. Democrats have lobbed entire landfills at President Trump since 2015. Some of it worked – a little bit. But certainly not enough to permanently sidetrack Mr. Trump. He executed one of the most extraordinary, improbable comebacks in world political history. On the TV show “The Office,” secretary Pam Beesly noted that she only got ten vacation days a year. “I try to hold off taking them for as long as possible,” said Beesly. “This year I got to the third week in January.” So far, Democrats are flailing as they try to challenge President Trump in his second term. So, they’re dusting off some old plays from a tired, dog-eared playbook. Like Beesly, they waited as long as they could. It took precisely 16 days before a Democrat threatened to impeach the President. DEMOCRATS CALL FOR ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST TRUMP AMID GAZA COMMENTS Rep. Al Green, D-Tex., prepped the first articles of impeachment against President Trump in 2017. He didn’t do so until October of that year. But now, Green is ready to impeach the President. “I did it before. I laid the foundation for impeachment. And it was done. Nobody knows more about it than I. And I know that it’s time for us to lay the foundation again. On some issues, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all,” said Green. But two previous impeachments failed to suppress Mr. Trump. If nothing else, the impeachments may have emboldened him. Especially since despite the House impeaching him, he survived two Senate trials. But Democratic leaders are leery of impeachment freelancing. “This isn’t a focus of the Democratic Caucus,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. “We’ve laid out our strategy. Legislative. Litigation. Outreach. Communication. That continues to be the focus.” Democrats are united in their opposition of President Trump. But finding a unifying, resonant message is another thing. SOCIAL MEDIA, TEAM TRUMP REACT TO CORY BOOKER’S ‘MELTDOWN’ OVER ELON MUSK’S USAID CRACKDOWN “In the United States Senate, we will not cooperate!” thundered Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. “We’ll cooperate with no appointments when it comes to the State Department!” “There should be hundreds of thousands and millions of people descending on Washington, DC!” declared Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. “We must resist. We must be in the streets!” said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif. Democrats used to have only one target. That was President Trump. “They have no rudder. They have no vision. They have no clear leader,” observed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “The only message they have is anti-President Trump.” THE SPEAKER’S LOBBY: A PALPABLY UNFAIR ACT But opponents evolve. The arch-enemy of Batman was always the Joker. But the Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman were worthy foes, too. And so Democrats now have a new nemesis: Elon Musk. Democrats are peppering him with inflammatory rhetoric. “A godless, lawless billionaire. You know who elected Elon? This is the American people. This is not your trashy Cybertruck that you can just dismantle, pick apart, and sell the pieces of,” said squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. “God damn it. Shut down the Senate. We are at war. Any time, any time a person can pay $250 million into a campaign, and they’ve been given access to the Department of Treasury of the United States of America. We are at war,” said Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J. “We will not take this sh*t from Donald Trump and Elon Musk.” “What we not going to do is stand around while they pull this bullsh*t that they’re trying to pull right now,” excoriated Rep. Jasmine Crockett,. D-Tex., of Musk and DOGE. “You all know he likes to pal around with Putin, right? He’s trying to turn us into Russia.” MUSK’S DOGE TAKES AIM AT ‘VIPER’S NEST’ FEDERAL AGENCY WITH GLOBAL FOOTPRINT “He is a low down, dirty, no good person that along with Trump cannot be trusted,” said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. “We have got to tell Elon Musk, nobody elected your ass.” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt blasted Democrats for their incendiary language. “President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American people to make this government more efficient. He campaigned across this country with Elon Musk vowing that Elon was going to head up the Department of Government Efficiency,” said Leavitt. “For Democrat officials to incite violence and encourage Americans to take to the streets is incredibly alarming. They should be held accountable for that rhetoric.” But at least one Democrat urges discipline for his colleagues when attacking the President – or Musk. “There’s going to be a lot of balls coming down to the plate. And I’m only waiting for a strike when I’m going to start to swing,” said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn. Democrats executed another gambit Wednesday. They kept the Senate in session all night to postpone the confirmation of Budget Director nominee Russ Vought. The Senate broke a filibuster earlier on Wednesday. But Vought is someone who would have great influence over DOGE and potentially efforts by the administration to withhold or contour spending. Since the Senate voted to end the filibuster around 1 pm et Wednesday, Democrats opted to burn all time available to them just to protest Vought and DOGE. SENATE DEMOCRATS SPEAK ALL NIGHT AGAINST TRUMP OMB NOMINEE, DELAYING CONFIRMATION VOTE “Russ Vought represents a very specific view of presidential power, which is essentially unitary executive,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, at 1:45 am et Thursday. “It’s this view that once you win, you’re basically a monarch.” A cavalcade of Democrats seized the floor