Uncensored Free Speech Platform

Trump says he ‘wasn’t aware’ of Lutnick’s 2012 visit to Epstein’s island
Are they actually going to vote on something real?

President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday that he wasn’t aware of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick‘s visit to Little St. James, an island previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump was asked about recent revelations regarding Lutnick and Epstein during a White House event, specifically whether he was aware about the 2012 visit to the island.

“No I wasn’t aware of it,” Trump said. “I actually haven’t spoken to him about it, but from what I hear, he was there with his wife and children.”

“I guess in some cases, some people were — I wasn’t. I was never there,” the president said. “Somebody will someday say that I was never there.”

Lutnick testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, where he faced significant questioning on the drama and detailed three specific meetings with Epstein, including a trip with his family to Little St. James. Days prior, the latest release of Epstein documents by the Justice Department showed that Lutnick, who had previously stated he severed ties with Epstein in 2005, had maintained sporadic contact with Epstein through 2018.

The commerce secretary lived next door to the disgraced financier and sex criminal in New York City. Lutnick told lawmakers Tuesday that the 2012 visit to Epstein’s island was for a family lunch.

“We had lunch on the island,” he said. “That is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children, with my nannies, and my wife all together. We were on family vacation. We were not apart. To suggest there was anything untoward about that in 2012 — I don’t recall why we did it.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, while briefing reporters on Tuesday, claimed that Trump had not lost confidence in Lutnick.

HISPANIC CONSERVATIVES ACCUSE HOUSE GOP HOPEFUL OF DEFRAUDING DONORS AND ACTIVISTS

You can watch Trump’s comments in full below.

THUNE: DHS Shutdown Very Likely
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is likely when the clock strikes midnight on Friday, due to a lack of agreement with Democrats on funding the agency.

“We don’t have a solution yet,” Thune, R-S.D., told reporters outside the Senate floor Thursday afternoon. “The Democrats, at least at the moment … have no interest in funding the Department of Homeland Security.”

Thune said leadership had been seeking unanimous consent to pass yet another funding extension for the department, but Democrats would not provide the votes.

At the end of the week, funding from the current short-term stopgap funding extension will expire, leaving the Coast Guard, national disaster response teams, and cybersecurity infrastructure unfunded.

The budget reconciliation bill passed in July 2025 has already provided billions in funding for border security and deportation operations under DHS’ umbrella.

Democrats have demanded restrictions on immigration law enforcement officers in the wake of the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

The White House and Senate Republicans have engaged with Senate Democrats’ demands for concessions such as prohibiting mask-use and requiring judicial warrants for deportations.

“The White House made, I think, what was a good faith effort … to try to get to an answer here … that will allow the government to stay open, and that was rejected by Democrats today,” said Thune. 

“The idea of not even allowing us to have an extended amount of time to negotiate this suggests to me, at least, that there isn’t a high level of interest in actually solving this issue.”

Thune added that the White House had provided legislative text the night before to Democrats that attempted to address their concerns, but “so far they’re not getting any kind of response from Democrats, even allowing us to continue this and allow the government to stay open.”

The Senate will recess next week, but Thune says he has told senators to “be available to get back here if there’s some sort of a deal they strike.”

On an optimistic note, Thune added, “I’m encouraged to hear that they [Democrats] are actually going to put together … a counterproposal” for DHS funding.

The post THUNE: DHS Shutdown Very Likely appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Congress investigates NASA over funding ‘bilateral collaboration’ with CCP
This looks less like justice and more like strategy.

EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) are pressing NASA on why the agency seemingly funded “bilateral collaboration with Chinese entities” through its research grants, according to a letter obtained exclusively by the Washington Examiner. 

The pair of congressmen honed in on the research of Stanford University professor Wendy Mao. Mao, according to a congressional analysis of academic publications, received federal support for 31 research projects she carried out alongside affiliates of the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, an entity that has appeared on the Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List since 2020 and whose parent organization has been on the list since 1997.

The list, published by the Department of Commerce, catalogues entities believed to be involved “in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States” as well as those at risk of becoming adversarial to America. HPSTAR is affiliated with China’s nuclear weapons program, according to the Commerce Department. Mao herself concurrently held a position at HPSTAR, which her father founded, while conducting federally funded research.

Mao’s ties to Chinese state research entities were documented by the Stanford Review in December 2025.

In one of Mao’s publications, she collaborated with a researcher from the University of Science and Technology of China, a state-run institution, while receiving funding from NASA. Over the course of this research, Mao and her co-authors utilized the Chinese state university’s supercomputing center as well as U.S. government facilities, which Grassley and Moolenaar said constitutes “a direct or material reliance on PRC state infrastructure.”

“The publication lists only Stanford and Chinese co-authors yet explicitly acknowledges NASA funding, which — absent an FBI-certified congressional waiver — raises questions about potential violations of the Wolf Amendment,” the lawmakers wrote of the research. 

A 2019 aerial view of Stanford University in California is seen. Stanford is a private university that was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford. (JasonDoiy/Getty Images)

The Wolf Amendment is a federal law that bans bilateral cooperation between NASA-funded researchers and Chinese entities. 

Domestic researchers can obtain FBI waivers to circumvent the Wolf Amendment in certain circumstances. 

Grassley and Moolenaar, in a second letter obtained …

US lawmakers warn Taiwan to ‘meet the moment’ as China stages invasion-style drills
Notice what's missing.

FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of senior U.S. lawmakers is urging Taiwan to dramatically boost its defense spending, warning that political gridlock in Taipei risks undermining deterrence as China escalates military pressure around the island.
Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del., along with Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Ami Bera, D-Calif., sent a letter of 34 lawmakers Thursday to leaders of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan expressing "serious concerns" that a proposed special defense budget could be only partially funded.
"We hope you will support a robust, multiyear special defense budget … that adequately meet(s) the moment and send(s) a clear signal of Taiwan’s will to defend itself," the lawmakers wrote.
The warning comes as Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, pushes for a major multiyear defense package aimed at strengthening the island’s asymmetric warfare capabilities — including missiles, air defense systems, drones and reserve force training — designed to make any Chinese invasion or blockade far more costly.
US MOVE ON VENEZUELA SPARKS TAIWAN COMPARISONS AS LAWMAKERS DEBATE CHINA THREAT
But the proposal has become entangled in a fierce domestic political battle.
Opposition parties that control Taiwan’s legislature have resisted fully approving the special defense budget, arguing for revisions and greater oversight. The standoff has fueled concern in Washington that delays could weaken Taiwan’s readiness at a time when Beijing is intensifying military operations near the island.
The People’s Liberation Army has conducted multiple large-scale exercises around Taiwan in recent months, including drills simulating encirclement and blockade operations. Chinese aircraft routinely cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait and enter Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, while Chinese vessels have increased activity in surrounding waters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control.
"The threat posed by the People’s Republic of China against Taiwan has never been greater," the U.S. lawmakers wrote, citing growing military pressure and coercive actions designed to "undermine Taiwan’s will to resist."
The letter also acknowledges mounting frustration in Washington over delays in U.S. weapons deliveries to Taiwan, noting that the United States must address its own "massive backlog" of approved arms sales.
CHINA’S ENERGY SIEGE OF TAIWAN COULD CRIPPLE US SUPPLY CHAINS, REPORT WARNS
"For our part, the U.S. must address the massive backlog in weapons deliveries to …

Dems dig in, guarantee shutdown with block of DHS funding
What's the endgame here?

Lawmakers are jetting from Washington, D.C., without a deal to prevent a partial government shutdown. 
Their departure comes after the Senate was unable to send a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to President Donald Trump’s desk. 
Senate Democrats doubled down on their demands for stringent reforms to immigration enforcement, and bucked multiple attempts to keep the agency open on Thursday.
DHS FUNDING BILL FAILS AFTER SCHUMER REJECTS TRUMP’S ICE REFORM OFFER
With both chambers now on their way to a weeklong recess, the agency is expected to shutter at midnight Friday. Unless a deal is struck before lawmakers return, DHS will be shut down for at least that period of time.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., made the call to send lawmakers home, and noted that if negotiations made a breakthrough they would be on 24-hour notice to return. But talks, for now, are somewhere between baby steps and stuck. 
"What it appears to me, at least at this point, is happening is the Democrats, like they did last fall, they really don't want the solution," Thune said. "They don't want the answer. They want the political issue." 
SCHUMER, DEMS CHOOSE PARTIAL SHUTDOWN AS NEGOTIATIONS HIT IMPASSE
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus blocked an attempt to pass the original DHS funding bill and a subsequent two-week funding extension. 
Their resistance comes after the White House unveiled the legislative text of the administration’s counter-offer, which several Senate Democrats balked at Thursday morning. 
"The administration doesn't actually want to reform ICE," Schumer said. "They never do it on their own. That is why we need — we are fighting for — legislation to rein in ICE and stop the violence."
Senate Democrats have demanded a stringent list of reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They weren't persuaded by border czar Tom Homan that operations in Minneapolis would be drawn down as negotiations continue.
It was a déjà vu moment from months earlier, when Thune repeatedly tried to peel Democrats away from Schumer during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history but failed to break their blockade.
SHUTDOWN CLOCK TICKS AS SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON DHS FUNDING DEMANDS
While there was optimism that negotiations were moving in a positive direction earlier this week, those hopes appeared to have shattered. 
"At this point, it seems clear that the Democrats are going to walk away from that bipartisan conversation," a senior White House official said. "They're going to shut the …

Can anyone make an argument in favor of Pam Bondi as attorney general?

I’m not shocked that she was chosen — I understand the political and strategic reasons behind the decision. What I find troubling, though, is her behavior, which often comes across as unprofessional and divisive. I struggle to see how that conduct helps build trust, credibility, or unity, especially in a role that carries so much responsibility.
That said, I’m genuinely open to hearing another perspective. If there are substantive reasons people believe she is the right choice — whether based on experience, policy positions, effectiveness behind the scenes, or long-term strategy — I’d appreciate hearing that case. I’m trying to understand what supporters see that I may be missing?

FBI warns AI playing growing role in romance scams ahead of Valentine’s Day
This deserves loud pushback.

The public is increasingly vulnerable to romance scammers who use artificial intelligence to achieve a veneer of authenticity, according to the FBI.

The bureau cautioned that criminals are using fake accounts on social media platforms, dating apps, and other avenues to scam victims, particularly ahead of Valentine’s Day, when thousands are defrauded annually through romance schemes, resulting in losses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the age of AI, those with ill intent are now wielding the technology to fortify scams, making it easier for criminals to gain trust, establish relationships, and convince victims to hand over money or sensitive financial information, according to the FBI. 

“Romance scammers are master manipulators who exploit trust and emotion, and they are becoming more sophisticated by the day with the use of artificial intelligence,” FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani said this week. 

Scammers can utilize AI to generate realistic photos, videos, and voice messages, as well as to write emotionally persuasive communications that mimic genuine relationships, making it easier to manipulate victims. By exploiting AI to create authentic-looking images for fictitious social media profiles and videos for private communications, criminals are making it harder for the public to distinguish truth from fiction, according to the FBI. 

In San Francisco alone, the FBI’s local division reported more than $40 million lost to romance scams last year. It’s a problem faced around the country, as FBI data from 2024 showed that more than 17,000 people reported being victims of romance scams, totaling more than $672 million in losses. Additionally, officials note that many cases go unreported. 

Shelley Lynch with FBI Charlotte said scammers can start by immediately complimenting victims to gain their trust, and then can guilt them into making payments for travel costs and other necessities. Over 500 people in North Carolina fell victim to romance or confidence scams in 2024, losing a total of $18.8 million, or an average of $36,000 per person, according to FBI data.

“[Scammers] are especially aggressive ahead of Valentine’s Day. Really looking for somebody they can exploit, to part them from their money,” Lynch told WRAL News.

In many scenarios, criminals engage in cryptocurrency scams after they’ve gained trust.

THE AGE OF AI IS HERE — HOW SHOULD IT BE REGULATED?

They claim to have earned large profits through trading …

George Santos asks ‘self-adgrandizing whore’ Nancy Mace to list names in Epstein case
This looks less like justice and more like strategy.

Former New York GOP Rep. George Santos asked Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) to “go on the House floor” and list the names she’s seen in the investigation on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mace said on X that she will provide a “list of names” she wants to depose in the Epstein case to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY). She added that if these people “don’t want to show up to be interviewed, they should be subpoenaed.”

Santos, however, said he is “so done with the theatrics,” and claimed Mace said she has seen names that will make “everybody’s heads spin.”

“B****, name names. Name names! ‘Oh, I don’t want to get sued!’ Bulls***, go on the House floor, pull out a special order, schedule it, the whole country will watch!” Santos said in a video on X. “And guess what? You’re protected by the debate and speech clause. Go name names or shut up, you self-adgrandizing whore!”

Hey @NancyMace here’s an idea!
Do it or STFU!
— George Santos (@Georgesantos) February 12, 2026

The speech or debate clause says that senators and representatives will be “privileged from arrest” while attending sessions “of their respective Houses.”

JOE ROGAN SAYS HE’S IN THE EPSTEIN FILES ‘FOR NOT GOING’: ‘NOT EVEN A POSSIBILITY’

Mace wrote on X she sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi after the Justice Department “quietly” removed some documents in the Epstein files “from their public website.” She added that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump signed in November, requires “the release of ALL unclassified records.”

We sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding answers after the DOJ quietly removed some documents in the Epstein files from their public website.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the release of ALL unclassified records, with redactions to protect victims,…
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) February 12, 2026

The Washington Examiner reached out to Mace’s office for comment.

What is Trump's beef with MD Gov. Wess Moore?
Why resist verification?

The National Governor's Association (NGA) canceled its annual dinner at The White House after, according to the NGA, only Republican Governors were invited by the White House. Trump then claimed he invited every Governor except CO Gov. Pollis and MD Gov. Moore. It's pretty clear his beef with Pollis is the Governor's refusal to pardon Tina Peters, the election official sentenced to 9 years for helping unauthorized persons access and steal voting machine data. I don't understand what his beef with Moore is, other than the fact he's Black and a Democrat. Does anyone know of any other reason for this?

Two Israelis become first people to be charged over using state secrets to influence Polymarket
Law enforcement shouldn't be political.

Two Israelis on Monday became the first people charged with using classified information to earn money on the online betting site Polymarket.

Polymarket, an online gambling website that allows users to bet on virtually anything, has become best known for its prediction markets on major world events. Concerns about insider trading among officials have grown along with the market’s popularity, and on Thursday, the first known charges against people who used classified information to enrich themselves on Polymarket were unsealed.

The new title belongs to an Israel Defense Forces reservist and a civilian, both of whom used classified Israeli information to bet tens of thousands of dollars on when Israel would strike Iran. They were charged with committing serious security offenses, bribery, and obstruction of justice, the Israel Security Agency announced three days after the indictments.

One of the insiders was noticed by social media users over a month before he was caught. On Jan. 6, user Senzer noticed a Polymarket wallet by the name of ricosuave666 that had earned $152,000 across four successful bets on the Israel-Iran war — three guessing when it would begin and one guessing when it would end.

His most lucrative bet was made the week of the strike, betting nearly $34,000 that Israel would strike Iran by that Friday. When Israel launched its massive air campaign in the early hours of Friday, the user nearly quadrupled their sum, winning a profit of nearly $129,000.

IN FOCUS: THE US AND ISRAEL HAVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES IN IRAN

Rumors had been circling in the Israeli press for weeks regarding a security affair involving Polymarket. After an Israeli court partially lifted a gag order around the affair, releasing the core allegations and who was investigating, some relief was had, as the perpetrators weren’t high-ranking officials as originally feared.

The indictment also didn’t include charges that the perpetrators had an “intent to harm state security,” Ynet reported.