Breaking News

Federal prosecutors have charged top executives at the subprime auto lender Tricolor with conspiring to defraud lenders and investors of the now-bankrupt company.Tricolor, which went out of business in September, specialized in offering loans and selling used cars to buyers without Social Security numbers or credit histories, often undocumented immigrants. The federal indictment claims that Tricolor founder and CEO Daniel Chu oversaw a scheme to defraud lenders to the tune of billions of dollars.“Fraud became an integral component of Tricolor’s business strategy,” said Jay Clayton, US at

Executives at subprime auto lender Tricolor face fraud charges following bankruptcy

Israel fires mortar into Gaza residential area, wounding at least 10

Senate sends Trump annual defense policy bill without changes to address bipartisan concerns on aircraft safety

Election|US

Young Democrat launches primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in Mississippi

A 33-year-old antitrust lawyer with ties to major Democratic politicians is challenging U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to represent Mississippi's 2nd congressional district. Evan Turnage is the latest in a trend of young Democrats looking to oust the party's old guard and rebrand the party after the 2024 election. “The same old playbook from the '90s isn't going to work anymore,” Turnage said. “We are dealing with Big Tech firms and social media and AI, and we need members of Congress who know how to navigate that terrain.” The Yale-educated atto

Machado has left Oslo after the Nobel Prize ceremony, her spokesman says

‘Never been done before’: What to know about Europe’s controversial plan to use Russia’s frozen assets

Election|Sports

Former Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron ends campaign for Alabama lieutenant governor

Former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron announced Wednesday that he is ending his campaign for lieutenant governor of Alabama to pursue a sports-related opportunity. McCarron did not disclose the details of the new position but said “football is calling my name once again.” The announcement comes two months after McCarron announced his bid for office. “My football position will require the same 100% focus, commitment, and attention that I was prepared to give to the office of lieutenant governor, so it is time to end my campaign,” McCarron sai

Climate scientists face the loss of a critical research center — and vow to fight back

McBride says Republicans are ‘obsessed with trans people’ as bills restricting youth access to gender care come to a vote

US News

See all »

Crime|Election|Interview|US|World

Jack Smith tells lawmakers his team developed 'proof beyond a reasonable doubt' against Trump

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers in a closed-door interview on Wednesday that his team of investigators “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that President Donald Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to portions of his opening statement obtained by The Associated Press. He also said investigators had accrued “powerful evidence” that Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents from his first term as president at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and by obstruct

Crime|Political|US

Jack Smith testifies in closed-door hearing that it was his decision to charge Trump, according to testimony obtained by CNN

Former special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday defended his criminal investigation into President Donald Trump in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee as he faces scrutiny from Republican lawmakers.“The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions, as alleged in the indictments returned by grand juries in two different districts,” Smith said in portions of his opening statement obtained by CNN.Smith was called to testify about Trump’s alleged mishandling and retenti

Candace Owens won’t take back conspiracies about Charlie Kirk’s death after meeting with Erika Kirk

Norman Podhoretz, contentious and influential neo-conservative, has died

Economy|Finance|Political|US|World

Trump orders ‘total and complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was ordering a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving from Venezuela, ratcheting up pressure against leader Nicolás Maduro’s regime and suggesting an economic motive to the US’ military campaign in the region.Punctuating the words “total and complete blockade” in capital letters in a Truth Social post, Trump pointed to the large collection of US military assets in the region, suggested more could be coming and took aim at Maduro’s regime by name. He also suggested Venezuela give up land, oil and assets

Crime|Entertainment|US

Who is Nick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson?

Los Angeles-based Alan Jackson – who has taken on a number of famous clients in his work as a defense attorney – says he is representing Nick Reiner following Reiner’s arrest in the murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested late Sunday, hours after his parents were found dead inside their Brentwood home. He is being held without bail.Jackson said it was not clear when a first court appearance for Reiner would take place. He told CNN on Tuesday that his client had not been medically cleared to be transported from jail to the courthouse.A former Los Angel

Federal judge indicates he won’t halt the White House ballroom project

Full video showing follow-up strike on alleged drug boat won’t be released to the public, Hegseth says

World News

See all »

Business|Crime|Entertainment|World

The Latest: 4 Republicans join Democrats on extending ACA subsidies, defying Speaker Johnson

Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans. House Republican leaders have instead pushed a GOP health care bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums people will soon endure as the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire. Trump says he will address the nation on Wednesday night: Tr

Interview|Political|World

Susie Wiles offered unflattering assessments of her colleagues to Vanity Fair. In return, they showered her with praise

Of all the blunt assessments White House chief of staff Susie Wiles shared with Vanity Fair over the past year, perhaps her sharpest words were aimed at Attorney General Pam Bondi.In remarks the magazine published Tuesday, Wiles said that Bondi “completely whiffed” in her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files — an issue that has animated many of President Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters and generated months of political headaches for the White House.Bondi, however, quickly stood by her “dear friend” and fellow Floridian, joining others in publicly closing ranks and inste

What to know about the upcoming Epstein files release

Accused gunman in Bondi Beach shooting charged with 15 counts of murder

Business|Entertainment|Technology|World

Warner Bros recommends investors reject Paramount's offer in favor of Netflix's

Warner Bros. Discovery is recommending its shareholders reject an unsolicited buyout offer from Paramount Skydance in favor of a rival bid from Netflix it said will better serve their interests and the entertainment company's audiences. The Warner board said in a letter to shareholders on Wednesday that Paramount’s “inferior” offer carried “significant risks and costs,” in large part because it relies heavily on borrowed money – whereas the Netflix offer is backed by a company worth more than $400 billion. Warner, which owns the Warner Bros. Pictures mo

Asia|Crime|World

The Philippines’ long battle against Islamist extremism is back in the spotlight following Bondi attack

As Australian authorities try to retrace the steps and understand the motivations of the Bondi Beach gunmen who killed 15 people on Sunday, one key focus has emerged: their travel to the Philippines last month, shortly before the attack.Officials say father-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram journeyed to a southern part of the archipelago nation that has endured a painful history of Islamic extremism.They stayed in the country for nearly a month; then, two weeks after departing, they carried out their massacre on the famed Sydney beach, targeting a Jewish celebration in what was Australia’s wors