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Vance says ‘America First’ movement rejects ‘purity tests,’ welcomes critical thinkers

Vance says ‘America First’ movement rejects ‘purity tests,’ welcomes critical thinkers

Vice President JD Vance closed out AmericaFest 2025, Turning Point USA’s first convention since founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination, by telling a raucous crowd that the “America First” movement is open to free thinkers who love their country. Vance appeared shortly after Erika Kirk, who took TPUSA’s reins after her husband’s death in September, held a discussion with surprise guest Nicki Minaj. The vice president told the crowd that the political coalition forged by President Trump is strong enough to surmount disagreements within. AMERICAFEST HONORS TARGET EMPLOYEE JEANIE BEEMAN AFTER VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS CALM RESPONSE TO HARASSMENT “People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make our lives better,” he went on. “They know Democrats don’t care about anything other than trans-ing their kids.” Vowing to stand with “every patriot in this room to defend the country we so dearly love,” Vance dismissed conservative infighting that had gone on earlier in the conference, while not naming any of the podcasters or subjects involved. TPUSA SPOKESMAN SHREDS PODCASTER’S ‘DISTURBING’ DEFENSE OF PROTESTER WHO CELEBRATED CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH “President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests,” Vance said, as some of the earlier speakers name-dropped each other amid divisions over Israel, Ukraine aid and other controversial issues on the right. “We don’t care if you’re White or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between… [P]eople of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make their lives better. And they also know that the Democrats don’t care about anything other than maybe trans-ing their kids.” “So if you love America, if you want all of us to be richer, stronger, safer, and prouder, you have a home on this team. I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform, and I don’t really care if some people out there — I’m sure we’ll have the fake news media — denounce me after this speech.” CHARLIE KIRK ALLY WARNS GOP NOT TO TAKE GEN Z FOR GRANTED, CALLING FOR ‘SENSE OF URGENCY’ Later in the speech, however, he said that such infighting is not necessarily a sign of a weak or fractious movement. “Some of you are impatient at the pace of progress and my response to that is ‘Good,’” he said, appearing to refer to criticisms of the Republican Congress’ progress on the America First agenda. “I know some of you are discouraged by the infighting over any number of issues. Don’t be discouraged,” he added. VANCE, TRUMP JR.’S PLANS TO BOLSTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ‘POLITICAL LEGACY’ REVEALED: ‘HELP GROW IT’ “Wouldn’t you rather lead a movement of freethinkers who sometimes disagree than a bunch of drones who take their orders from George Soros?” he quipped. He said Charlie Kirk once told him that politics is not a “dress rehearsal or a game” but a series of decisions that will shape the future of a country. “My friends, commit to these things, and I promise you victory: I promise you closed borders and safe communities. I promise you good jobs and a dignified life. Only God can promise you salvation and heaven. But together we can fulfill the promise of the greatest nation in the history of the earth,” he said, as he closed his speech. ‘CAPTURED THE YOUTH’: HOW CHARLIE KIRK HELPED FUEL DONALD TRUMP’S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE During his address, he delved further into what is important to fulfilling “America First.” “We have far more important work to do than canceling each other — we have got to build, and President Donald Trump is a builder,” he said. “We’re building a better country right now. We build by adding, by growing, not by tearing down.” Vance declared that 2025 represented the first year in more than half a century with negative net-migration and that millions of illegal immigrants have either left the U.S. or been deported. “When you restore sanity at the border, it shows up everywhere else,” he said, pointing to rent costs, gas prices, inflation and unemployment declining. “We made it clear that in the United States we believe in hard work and merit –we don’t treat anybody [a certain way] because of their race or their sex, so we have relegated DEI to the dustbin of history which is exactly where it belongs.” He said that to honor Kirk’s life, the Trump administration will continue working to end the “scourge of left-wing violence” including by not only arresting Antifa members who throw bricks, but “who bought the brick — and we’re going to prosecute them too” — referring to shadowy, deep-pocketed leftist interests.

White House teases major housing affordability plan as prices squeeze Americans

White House teases major housing affordability plan as prices squeeze Americans

White House economic director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that the Trump administration is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackling the housing affordability crisis. “Everybody in the whole Cabinet is working on trying to get housing to be more affordable,” Hassett told “Fox News Sunday.” He said the administration is preparing a sweeping proposal aimed at easing the burden on homebuyers, with details expected early in the new year. THE TOP 3 REASONS HOUSING HAS BECOME SO UNAFFORDABLE IN THE US MARKET – AND IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK “We are going to have a plan, a big plan, to announce sometime soon in the new year that’s going to be very good news for the American people who feel like it’s not affordable to buy a home anymore,” Hassett added. He also said that Cabinet officials plan to meet with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the days after Christmas to pitch and review policy proposals. “We have a big list of housing ideas that have been vetted very carefully by the Cabinet secretaries to present to the president in a week or two and we will see which ones he picks,” he added. TRUMP’S 50-YEAR MORTGAGE MAY BURDEN AMERICANS WITH MORE DEBT, EXPERTS SAY The administration’s push comes as housing affordability has become a political liability for Trump and a winning issue for Democrats. According to a Fox News national survey, 76% of voters rate the economy negatively, compared with 67% in July and 70% at the close of former President Joe Biden’s tenure. Voters largely blame Trump for the downturn, with about twice as many holding him responsible for the current economy as Biden, and three times as many saying his policies have hurt them personally. At the same time, approval of Trump’s handling of the economy has dropped to a new low, while disapproval of his overall job performance has climbed to record highs, even among some of his core supporters. Meanwhile, Democrats leaned heavily on affordability themes in state and local elections this fall and it paid off. In places like Virginia, New York and New Jersey, where voters have been squeezed by high housing costs and utility bills, Democratic candidates seized on Trump’s early economic moves, including his trade policy, to argue that his policies were worsening the affordability crisis rather than easing it. THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT COMES TO NYC: MAMDANI’S VISION FOR A MORE AFFORDABLE CITY They promised to curb energy costs, boost affordable housing and safeguard middle-class wages. The message struck a chord with voters and points to a broader reality: when many feel financially strained, the party that speaks most clearly to pocketbook concerns often wins. While Hassett declined to detail the proposals, the administration has previously discussed easing zoning restrictions and expanding longer-term mortgage products.  The challenge for Trump will be translating those ideas into relief for voters who increasingly question whether his affordability promises are being fulfilled.

Rapper Nicki Minaj teams up with new Turning Point USA leader Erika Kirk for Q&A session

Rapper Nicki Minaj teams up with new Turning Point USA leader Erika Kirk for Q&A session

Erika Kirk welcomed rapper Nicki Minaj as the surprise guest for a Q&A at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Sunday. The “Beez in the Trap” singer previously teamed up with the Trump White House, speaking at the United Nations in November to raise awareness about persecution against Christians in Nigeria. Rumors had grown that Minaj would make an appearance at AmericaFest, but it was not confirmed until she went on stage Sunday. “I’m honored to be here. I’m honored to be here,” Minaj said after Kirk welcomed her to the stage. She went on to praise both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying they are politicians who have an “uncanny” ability to relate to the American people. UN AMBASSADOR EXPLAINS HOW ‘UNLIKELY’ TEAM-UP WITH NICKI MINAJ CAME TOGETHER FOR GLOBAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PUSH “I love both of them,” she said of the two leaders. Despite previously supporting Democrats like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Minaj has increasingly shown support for Trump lately. On Nov. 1, Minaj posted a screenshot of a Trump Truth Social post where he said, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” She wrote, “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.” Minaj continued, “We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.” NICKI MINAJ TRANSFORMS FROM ‘QUEEN OF RAP’ TO TRUMP’S LEADING ALLY ON NIGERIA She thanked the “President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.” She has also repeatedly attacked California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his stance on transgender children. Kirk has stepped in as the chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA since the murder of her husband, late Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, in September. Kirk spoke at the conservative AmFest on Thursday, telling the crowd, “Here’s what I’ve learned the most in these last three months is that my husband, he deeply mattered on a multitude of levels, so much so that it proved even more once he was assassinated, how much of a peacemaker he was and how much of a coalition builder he was.” She added that both her husband and she would choose fight mode over flight in any situation.  “You don’t retreat,” she said. “Charlie would go wherever he needed to go, and I’m the same exact way … And you’ll learn that about me the more you get to know me. I know I’m new here, I’m new here, but you’ll learn.”

Epstein files: Whose names and photos are in the latest document drop?

Epstein files: Whose names and photos are in the latest document drop?

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has released thousands more documents relating to the prosecution of the late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, including photographs of prominent figures he spent time with. But campaigners behind the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compelled the Justice Department on Friday to release all files still sealed, say far too much information in them has been redacted. Furthermore, according to US media, at least 16 of the files – which they said were disclosed late – have since “disappeared” from the website where they were released. The deleted files included a photograph showing President Donald Trump. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump signed into law after it passed through Congress in November, required the government to release all remaining unclassified material in its possession relating to Epstein’s and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking cases. Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison for her part in the scandal. Despite heavy redaction of many of the documents, which has angered Democrats and some Republicans alike, there is some new information about the powerful people who associated with the disgraced late financier. The Justice Department said it will release more documents in the coming weeks. Here’s what we know about what’s been released so far: A painting of former US President Bill Clinton wearing a dress is displayed inside the Manhattan home of Jeffrey Epstein in this image from his estate released by the US Justice Department on December 19, 2025 [Handout/US Justice Department via Reuters] What’s new in this tranche of Epstein files? This is just the latest release of documents relating to the prosecution of Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. The first tranche of about 950 pages of court documents was made public in early 2024. Advertisement One document released this time around confirms that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was tipped off about the convicted sex offender’s crimes nearly a decade before he was first arrested. In September 1996, Epstein survivor Maria Farmer complained to the FBI that the late financier was involved in child sex abuse. Farmer said officials failed to take steps to investigate. While the name of the complainant is redacted in the document relating to this complaint to the FBI, Farmer has confirmed it was made by her. Now in her 50s, Farmer said in a statement via her lawyers after the release on Friday that she feels “redeemed” and this was “one of the best days of my life”. “I want everyone to know that I am shedding tears of joy for myself but also tears of sorrow for all the other victims that the FBI failed,” she said. Newly released transcripts of grand jury proceedings also include testimony from FBI agents who described interviews that they conducted with girls and young women describing their experiences of being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein. The youngest interviewee was 14, according to local media. One woman, then aged 21, told a grand jury that Epstein had hired her when she was 16 to perform a sexual massage and that she had gone on to recruit other girls to do the same. “For every girl that I brought to the table, he would give me $200,” she said. They were mostly people she knew from high school, she said, adding that she told them that if they were under age, “just lie about it and tell him that you are 18.” Much of the material published had already been circulating in the public domain after years of court action and investigations. However, many of the new photos – some of them heavily blacked out – feature well-known public figures. From left from second from left, Ghislaine Maxwell, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and former US President Bill Clinton are seen in this image, part of the latest trove of documents from US government investigations into Epstein [Handout/US Justice Department via Reuters] Who features in the newly released photos? Among the documents released on Friday are photographs in a folder labelled “DOJ Disclosures”. Most of the photographs were seized by the FBI during various searches of Epstein’s homes in New York City and the US Virgin Islands. New photos show the musicians Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in photographs with Epstein and at times with other people whose faces have been blacked out. In one image, Jagger can be seen sitting between Epstein and former US President Bill Clinton. Popstar Jackson is also pictured standing next to Clinton and posing for a photo with Epstein in front of a painting in another. From left, Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Diana Ross are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice [Handout/US Justice Department via Reuters] Other famous men featured in the newly released photos include the actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Chris Tucker, billionaire Richard Branson, former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew – and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson. Advertisement In one black and white image, Andrew can be seen lying across the laps of five people whose faces have all been blacked out while Maxwell stands behind them. The Justice Department did not include any details about the contents or context of the photos. Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice [Handout/US Justice Department via Reuters] Virginia Giuffre, who was one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers and who died by suicide in April aged 41, accused Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse when she was 17. He settled a lawsuit with her in 2022 but continued to deny the allegation. Another prominent figure among the photos is Clinton. One photo shows him in a swimming pool with Maxwell and another person whose face has been blacked out. Another photo shows the former US president in a hot tub with a woman whose face is also

UNICEF tells Al Jazeera what Gaza urgently needs but doesn’t have

UNICEF tells Al Jazeera what Gaza urgently needs but doesn’t have

NewsFeed ‘The scale of needs is so huge.’ As Gaza’s displaced Palestinians suffer from winter storms after surviving two years of genocidal war, UNICEF’s Jonathan Crickx explains how many clothes, blankets and tents are needed to save children from dying. Published On 21 Dec 202521 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)

Mo Salah focused on Egypt success at AFCON with Liverpool crisis behind him

Mo Salah focused on Egypt success at AFCON with Liverpool crisis behind him

Liverpool and Egypt star forward Mohamed Salah is centred on winning his first Africa Cup of Nations title. By News Agencies Published On 21 Dec 202521 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Egypt captain Mohamed Salah ‌has put aside his travails at Liverpool and is focused on Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ‍success with his national ‍team, coach Hossam Hassan said on Sunday. Egypt’s talisman is at the tournament in Morocco on the back of a fiery outburst after being dropped by the Premier League champions, but his comments and subsequent apology to teammates have had no impact on his form, Hassan ⁠said ahead of Egypt’s opening Group B match against Zimbabwe in Agadir on Monday. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “Salah’s morale in training is ​very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and ‍I believe he will have a great tournament with his country,” said the coach. At 33, it is arguably Salah’s last chance to win an elusive trophy with Egypt and add international honours to an impressive collection of medals at club ‍level. “I believe Salah ⁠will be among the best players at the tournament, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world. “I support him technically and morally, because we cannot forget that Salah needs to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” Hassan added. Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, right, will pair with Mohamed Salah to form an awesome front-line attack for Egypt at AFCON [File: Ahmed Mosaad/NurPhoto via Getty Images] Liverpool struggles on the backburner Salah goes into Monday’s match having last started for Liverpool in their 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League at the end of November. He was dropped for the next game against West ​Ham United, and after a draw with Leeds United on December 6, lashed ‌out at the club and Liverpool coach Arne Slot, telling journalists he felt he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season and suggested that he may not have long left at Anfield. Advertisement Hassan said he had kept in ‌touch with his captain throughout the controversy. “There was constant communication with Mohamed Salah during what I don’t want to call a crisis because any player ‌can have a difference of opinion with his coach at his ⁠club.” Salah has not scored since Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the start of November, including an outing with Egypt in a friendly against Uzbekistan last month. “The same situation happened with Salah when he went through a period of not scoring goals with ‌Liverpool,” Hassan told reporters. “Then he returned to the right path through the national team, and as a result, he came back at a level even better than before. I believe he will deliver a strong ‍tournament alongside his teammates.” Salah has twice been a Cup of Nations runner-up, in 2017 and 2021. Egypt have won a record seven AFCON titles, but their last success was in 2010. Adblock test (Why?)