❌

Normal view

‘So appalling’: Obama rebukes Trump over Rep. Ilhan Omar investigation

18 October 2026 at 21:27

Former President Barack Obama issued a rare statement Sunday rebuking the Trump administration for targeting the president’s political enemies, namely for launching a federal investigation into Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

“It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say,” Obama said in a lengthy statement shared on social media. “But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.”

The remarks come after federal agents raided Omar’s Washington D.C., home last week, confiscating her laptop, cellphone and passport, as well as other notebooks and documents related to her and her family’s immigration.

“To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old,” Obama said, noting that both she and her father became naturalized citizens five years after arriving from Somalia.

In diatribes against Democrats, President Donald Trump has repeatedly singled out Omar, whom Obama described as “one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics.”

Trump has called Omar “garbage” and broadly condemned Somalis. Vice President JD Vance has also joined in, at one point claiming in March, without evidence, that Omar “definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.”

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said last week that her office is investigating potential improprieties related to Omar’s financial disclosures, but the search warrant that authorized agents to seize Omar’s belongings listed potential violations related to immigration, not finances.

Lawyers for Omar have demanded the immediate return of all of her property.

Omar has not been charged with a crime and has denied wrongdoing, accusing the Trump administration of “political intimidation.”

“Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case,” Obama wrote on Sunday. “Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.”

The search came just weeks ahead of the pivotal midterm elections. Obama weighed in as he prepared to take his star power to Michigan next weekend to campaign for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson.

The former president added that “the fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.”

The post ‘So appalling’: Obama rebukes Trump over Rep. Ilhan Omar investigation appeared first on MS NOW.

Trump Decides Not To Add New Sanctions on Russia Under Lindsey Graham Act

18 October 2026 at 21:24
President Trump has decided not to impose new sanctions on Russia and tariffs on Russian trading partners under a new law named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, at least for now. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act became law last month and gives Trump the power to add new economic sanctions […]

Ukraine Hits Oil Sites in St. Petersburg as It Launches Over 1,000 Drones at Russia

18 October 2026 at 20:48
Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot and an oil export facility in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday, setting the facilities on fire as Ukraine continues targeting Russian oil infrastructure despite President Trump claiming he’s opposed to such attacks. Aleksandr Beglov, the governor of St. Petersburg, said on Telegram that one person was killed and five […]

New Yorker Caught ‘Exposing Himself’ To Young Girl Offers Pedophile Hunters $50,000 In Cash To Release Him

18 October 2026 at 20:21

A viral video out of Brooklyn shows a man surrounded by residents on Ditmas Avenue after he allegedly exposed himself to a young girl on Friday, October 16, with bystanders revealing he offered $50,000 in [...]

The post New Yorker Caught ‘Exposing Himself’ To Young Girl Offers Pedophile Hunters $50,000 In Cash To Release Him appeared first on The People's Voice.

CHEGA leader announces emergency legislative package for housing

18 October 2026 at 20:00
He may not know the difference between a citizen and a hamburger, but André Ventura and his right wing party CHEGA are winning with the Portuguese electorate. Image: Miguel A Lopes/ Lusa

With Portugal’s housing crisis now taking centre stage, President of CHEGA, André Ventura, has announced that his party will present an “emergency legislative package” for housing – accepting that it

The post CHEGA leader announces emergency legislative package for housing appeared first on Portugal Resident.

Big Pharma’s Body Count: Prescription Drugs Now the Leading Cause of Death, Surpassing Heart Disease and Cancer

18 October 2026 at 19:57

A landmark re-analysis of drug mortality data has delivered a verdict the medical establishment has spent decades avoiding: pharmaceuticals have overtaken heart disease and cancer to become the single leading cause of death. Psychiatric drugs [...]

The post Big Pharma’s Body Count: Prescription Drugs Now the Leading Cause of Death, Surpassing Heart Disease and Cancer appeared first on The People's Voice.

In Endorsement Message, Trump Says He Wants a Netanyahu-Led Israel To Help ‘Finish the Job’ Against Iran

18 October 2026 at 19:47
President Trump on Sunday issued a strong endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the upcoming October 27 Israeli elections and said that if Netanyahu lost, the US would have to “finish the job” against Iran without Israeli support. “Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for […]

Anthropic commits billions to a 'public benefit fund'

18 October 2026 at 19:46
Co-founder and CEO of Anthropic Dario Amodei looks on as US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the press after a meeting with technology executives about artificial intelligence at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 29, 2026. The gathering comes quickly after tech giant OpenAI's cancellation of the release of its newest model due to safety concerns, and a series of revelations that the technology had gone rogue. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
Anthropic said on Sunday that it wants to create a new LLC to fund public-interest initiatives.

Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images

  • Anthropic said it wants to create a new LLC with the company's stock as its sole asset.
  • The new LLC, a charitable organization, would receive larger stakes as the company grows.
  • An initial 5% stock funding is "subject to stockholder approval," Anthropic said.

Anthropic said on Sunday that it would set aside large portions of its wealth to support initiatives it believes are in the public interest.

In a blog post, the AI colossus said it aims to establish a separate LLC that would use Anthropic shares to make donations to nonprofits or "direct distributions to specific populations."

The new LLC, called the "Anthropic Public Benefit Fund," would receive larger stakes as the company grows. The company said an initial funding round of 5% of Anthropic's shares is still subject to stockholder approval.

"The Anthropic Public Benefit Fund will have increased flexibility and scale, enabling us to pursue our mission in new ways," the company said.

A 5% stake in Anthropic is worth about $48 billion, according to the company's most recent valuation in May.

In 2025, rival frontier AI company OpenAI established a similar nonprofit foundation with a multibillion-dollar stake in the company to fund public-benefit initiatives.

Read the original article on Business Insider

❌