Attorney General Todd Blanche is responding to questions about a Russian businessman who reportedly paid for two celebrations surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, as congressional Democrats seek records related to the arrangement. Umar Kremlev, a wealthy Russian businessman and president of the International Boxing Association, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward festivities surrounding Trump Jr.’s May wedding to Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas, according to reporting by ProPublica. Reuters reports that Kremlev paid for two post-wedding parties. The reports have drawn scrutiny from Democrats in Congress, who announced an investigation this week. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has questioned why Kremlev provided such an expensive gift and whether the arrangement raises concerns about foreign influence. Kremlev has documented connections to the Russian government. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship earlier this year. ProPublica reported that the International Boxing Association has also received financing from Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom. Trump Jr.’s wife said Kremlev is a friend who provided what she described as an “extraordinarily generous wedding gift.” She stressed that he paid for two after-parties rather than the wedding itself. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. has separately described Kremlev as a personal friend and said the two do not have a business relationship. President Trump, who did not attend the wedding, says he does not know Kremlev and has dismissed the controversy as “not a big deal.” Blanche was questioned Tuesday about whether the Justice Department would investigate the arrangement. The attorney general said he did not know Kremlev and questioned what specifically there would be to investigate. He also said he could not confirm a reporter’s characterization of Kremlev as a friend of Putin. Democrats are seeking additional information about the payments and Kremlev’s relationship with Trump Jr. No evidence has been presented publicly showing that the wedding gift was provided in exchange for an official U.S. government action, and Kremlev’s representatives have said he has not discussed political matters with Trump Jr.

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The Kennedy Center’s board has voted to close the Washington performing arts venue for renovations, as a legal battle continues over efforts to place President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic building. The board approved the closure Tuesday during a private meeting, according to people familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The planned renovation project is valued at approximately $257 million and comes as the Kennedy Center faces financial and infrastructure concerns. The board’s decision came hours after a federal judge blocked efforts to put Trump’s name back on the building or add it elsewhere on the center’s structure or grounds. The judge said doing so would violate an earlier court ruling that found Trump’s name had been added to the building illegally. The naming dispute began after the Kennedy Center board voted to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Trump’s name was subsequently added to the building. Opponents challenged the move in court, arguing that federal law gives Congress — rather than the Kennedy Center board — authority over the facility’s official name. The latest court order prevents the board from restoring Trump’s name while the legal dispute continues. President Trump says the Justice Department will appeal the ruling. The president has been closely involved with the Kennedy Center since returning to office, including becoming chairman of its board. The renovation project and the dispute over the building’s name remain separate issues, although both were discussed as the board considered the center’s future. Details about exactly when the Kennedy Center will close and how long the renovation will take are expected to be announced as planning moves forward.

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Prosecutors say Nick Reiner will not face the death penalty if convicted of killing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, at their Los Angeles home last year. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the decision Tuesday following a review of the case. The 33-year-old Reiner could still be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Hochman said prosecutors considered input from members of the Reiner family as well as mitigating factors before deciding not to pursue capital punishment. Reiner has twice pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. A grand jury indicted him in July. Prosecutors allege he fatally stabbed his parents after lying in wait at their home in December 2025. The death penalty had been an option because prosecutors alleged multiple victims, lying in wait and the use of a dangerous weapon. Reiner’s public defender welcomed the decision and said her client has a history of serious mental illness and struggles with self-medication. Those claims come from the defense and have not been adjudicated in court. The case has also generated a separate legal fight over money from a trust established for Reiner by his parents when he was a child. Reiner is seeking access to those funds in hopes of rehiring high-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson, who previously represented him before withdrawing from the case. Another dispute involves whether transcripts from the secret grand jury proceedings should be made public. Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romi Reiner, oppose their release, arguing that making details of the killings public would cause additional trauma. A judge is expected to hear arguments on that issue next month. Prosecutors do not expect Reiner’s murder trial to begin until next year.

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FBI Director Kash Patel is defending changes to the bureau’s hiring standards involving applicants with past connections to prostitution or bestiality, saying the revisions are intended to prevent victims of trafficking or abuse from being automatically disqualified from employment. Patel addressed the policy Tuesday during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill. The hearing covered a wide range of issues involving his leadership of the FBI. Under the revised standards, certain past conduct involving prostitution or bestiality is no longer necessarily an automatic disqualifier. Patel stressed that the change does not mean the FBI is broadly relaxing its standards for applicants. Instead, he said the revisions were designed to account for people who may have been victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation or other abuse and were forced to participate in acts beyond their control. Patel told senators that applicants are still subject to the FBI’s extensive background investigation and screening process. The circumstances surrounding an applicant’s past conduct can be considered before a final hiring decision is made. The issue came up as senators questioned Patel about changes made to FBI hiring policies under his leadership. Patel pushed back on characterizations that the bureau was simply allowing people involved in prostitution or bestiality to become FBI employees, arguing that such descriptions leave out the distinction between voluntary conduct and victimization. The broader hearing also included heated exchanges over Patel’s leadership of the bureau, the dismissal of agents involved in previous investigations of President Donald Trump, investigations into alleged media leaks and the FBI’s election-related activities. Patel defended his record and the bureau’s policies throughout the hearing, while Republican and Democratic senators offered sharply different assessments of the FBI’s direction under his leadership.

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In a shocking twist, a recent trial has left many questioning the integrity of the justice system. The Lindsay Clancy murder case, which captivated the nation, ended in a mistrial after a lone holdout juror refused to convict the defendant. But what's behind this unexpected turn of events? In this episode, we dive into the details of the case and explore the surprising dynamics of the jury deliberations. The trial of Lindsay Clancy was a highly publicized case, with many expecting a guilty verdict. However, the jury's decision was far from unanimous, with 11 jurors voting not guilty by reason of insanity and one juror holding out. The holdout juror, a black man in his 30s, was a key factor in the mistrial, but what drove his decision? And what does this say about the state of the justice system in Massachusetts? The jury's deliberations were marked by a complex web of emotions and motivations, with some jurors seemingly swayed by the defendant's sympathetic story. But was this a case of justice being served, or was the jury's decision influenced by external factors? The host discusses the implications of this case and the potential consequences for the defendant and the justice system. Join us as we explore the fascinating and disturbing details of this case, and hear from the host's thoughts on the implications of this mistrial. Listen to the full episode to hear the host's analysis and insights on this shocking case and its potential impact on the justice system. Follow Carl Jackson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow Website: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com Store: https://CarlJacksonStore.com

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The controversial trial of Lindsay Clancy, who murdered her three children, has sparked significant public interest and debate. The jury, which was predominantly white with one Black juror, was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. The holdout, a Black man, maintained his belief in Clancy's guilt despite the pressure from the other jurors. This has led to intense scrutiny and threats against the juror and his family. The case raises questions about the role of race in jury deliberations and the public's reaction to high-profile trials. Clancy is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing, while the Plymouth County District Attorney deliberates on whether to retry the case.

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Larry Elder delves into several contentious issues, presenting data and perspectives from various sources. The discussion begins with the misconception about President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, highlighting the stark contrast between Democratic beliefs and the actual statements from Obama administration officials. The host then moves to address the pervasive belief among Democrats that Russia tampered with the 2016 election vote tallies, despite clear testimony from Obama's Homeland Security Secretary stating otherwise. Further, the conversation tackles the significant divide in perceptions regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, with a notable majority of Democrats believing in the occurrence of genocide, contrary to official statements. Finally, the host addresses the inflated statistics concerning police killings of unarmed black men, pointing out the stark difference between perceived and actual events, as evidenced by official data. This episode aims to clarify misconceptions and provide a more grounded understanding of these critical issues.

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Harvest with Greg Laurie, September 20, 2026

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lift its short-term interest rate for the first time in three years to fight stubbornly high inflation. Such a move Wednesday would put the central bank at odds with President Donald Trump’s demands. An increase in the Fed’s rate, currently about 3.6%, isn’t guaranteed but most analysts and economists expect a hike after a speech two weeks ago in which Fed Chair Kevin Warsh argued that the central bank had not yet achieved its goal of putting inflation in check.

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WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday that the FBI had discovered new information regarding the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. "It is new information about the shooter and about his background, about his history and that stuff that we didn't know before," Blanche told reporters during a White House press conference, without elaborating. The comments from Blanche came hours after Trump claimed on social media that new information was found about the assassination attempt and alleged without evidence that it was really a "Democrat Plot, to get me out of the Election." Investigations into the shooting have found the shooter acted alone and produced no evidence Democrats had anything to do with the shooting. Trump added that ex-FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed in his first term but later grew to hate, "should pay a price" for how the department responded to the assassination attempt "and certainly for the things he said." Blanche, who was Trump's personal lawyer at the time of the assassination attempt, said during the briefing that he was with Trump as the investigation into the shooting was playing out, trying to ascertain what happened. "His frustration and concern about what the former director was doing is something that is not new," Blanche said. The Justice Department and FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wray could not be reached for comment.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities charged a dozen people Tuesday for fraudulently collecting more than $10 million in government childcare payments in Southern California, when the operators had few or even no actual children attending their facilities. The charges, jointly announced in San Diego by the Justice Department and the criminal investigations division of the IRS, are the latest effort by the Trump administration to investigate and charge alleged cases of fraud and waste in government programs. The 12 defendants said they were operating licensed, at-home childcare facilities in the San Diego area, submitting attendance records and documenting when each child attended and for what times, in order to collect payments from government childcare subsidy programs. However, federal prosecutors say these at-home facilities rarely, if ever, had children. Defendants fraudulently collected from government programs for months or, in some cases, years, prosecutors said. The federally funded childcare assistance programs are intended to help low-income families afford childcare so parents can work or go to school. After parents are accepted in the program, they select a childcare provider and the government reimburses the provider directly. But they don’t get enough money to cover all eligible families, forcing many eligible parents on growing waitlists. It is this federally funded program that led to these defendants to operate these “ghost” daycares, prosecutors said. “There were no children," Colin McDonald, head of the Justice Department's fraud enforcement division, told a news conference. “There were no daycares. But the taxpayers were paying for all of it.” The department's fraud division was created in April and this was the first indictment of its type since. All 12 defendants were arrested Thursday and the charges against them were unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors said the investigation continues. Federal prosecutors say some of the defendants were not even in the country when they were submitting claims for childcare payments. One defendant, Turkiya Alawad, 63, was found to be outside the U.S. between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 30, 2024, but at the same time, submitted and collected for childcare payments for the dates they were away, prosecutors say. Another defendant, Abdulrahman Alawad, 25, claimed to provide childcare to children in March and April but surveillance footage allegedly shows children entered Alawad’s facility only once, on the day a state inspector showed up. Alawad is alleged to have received more than $300,000 in payments from childcare programs in 2025. Other defendants collected more than $1 million in childcare subsidy payments, prosecutors said. Jared Koopman, head of the IRS criminal investigations division, told reporters the defendants then used the proceeds to purchase luxury homes, send money overseas through wire transfers, and make large cash withdrawals. “These are taxpayer-funded programs designed to help working families, children and vulnerable communities," Koopman said. “When those funds are diverted for personal profit, families lose, honest providers lose, taxpayers lose and the public trust in these programs is damaged." While several of the defendants have similar last names, the Justice Department's McDonald told reporters each investigation and indictment was reached independently. The indictments in California have similarities to what happened with Minnesota-based Feeding Our Future. Federal prosecutors charged Feeding Our Future with scamming Minnesota and federal taxpayers out of millions of dollars of childcare and meal subsidies. The alleged daycare fraud case in California is larger than the one with Feeding Our Future, which submitted roughly $4.6 million in claims to the childcare assistance program. However, the Feeding Our Future case was much more focused on fraud in meal subsidy programs than childcare. The operator of the Feeding Our Future’s childcare facility, Fahima Mahamud, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges in July. The facility's leader, Aimee Bock, was convicted and sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison in May for fraud and conspiracy charges. She has appealed her conviction. Nearly 80 people have been charged and dozens have been convicted since federal authorities announced their first indictments related to the fraud happening at Feeding Our Future in 2022. The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division had been investigating these childcare facilities going back to at least February. While the IRS is mostly known for the enforcement of tax law, the investigations division is one of the arms of the federal government that often focuses on white-collar crimes. The Trump administration has put a heavy emphasis on investigating and charging alleged fraud and abuse of government benefit programs. Vice President JD Vance chairs the administration’s task force on the effort. McDonald said the public should expect more investigations and indictments in the coming months. But some of their efforts have faced criticism and legal challenges. In December, Vance amplified a YouTube video of a popular right-wing influencer accusing childcare providers of running scams. State authorities visited the centers and found nearly all of them operating normally. Nonetheless, the administration used the specter of fraud to launch an unprecedented immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Officials later attempted to freeze federal funds for childcare in five Democratic-led states, but were halted by a lawsuit.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. war against Iran has cost the Department of Defense more than $38 billion through Aug. 1, and will continue costing up to $3 billion a month or more depending on the intensity of the conflict, according to an assessment released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CBO said the war is expected to contribute to inflation into the first quarter of 2027, making inflation roughly 0.5 percentage points higher than they had previously estimated. That's driven largely by the reduction of oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to shipping through the Red Sea. The estimate, prepared in response to a request for information from the top Democrat on the House Budget committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle, largely aligns with a previous estimate from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pinned the costs at $37.5 billion, according to his Senate testimony. The estimates come largely from replacing munitions and equipment lost in battle, the CBO said, and do not include costs related to U.S. military personnel killed or injured in the conflict or longer term veterans’ healthcare and disability compensation. Boyle said that beyond with the war's human toll, “this nonpartisan CBO report makes clear that the war has also cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and counting, while continuing to drive up costs.” “Donald Trump and Republicans have spent years telling Americans that we cannot afford to help families here at home,” Boyle said in a statement, "but apparently they can find tens of billions of dollars, and potentially much more, for a reckless war that is leaving Americans to pay the price.” The findings come as voters eye the war and high prices heading toward the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, where Republicans now hold majority power in the House and Senate. The war, which started Feb. 28, is now in its seventh month, with no signs of a quick end to the on-off conflict. The White House made a request for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding in June, largely for the war effort, but Congress has not approved it. CBO said the portion of that request that appears to be directly related to the conflict, $42.3 billion, is about 10% larger than CBO’s estimate of DoD’s costs. The Defense Department declined to respond to CBO's request for information for its report, which was a break from norms. The budget office said it relied on government databases and public reports, and as a result, its estimates “are subject to considerable uncertainty.” A Pentagon inspector general report Monday said the war has resulted in “strategic inventory shortfalls.”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday nominated the wife of “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Kimberly Greenwood was among a list of nominees the Trump administration sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. Later Monday, Kimberly Greenwood posted on Instagram a picture with her husband and Trump as she thanked the president for the nomination. “Mr. President, thank you for believing in me and entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity to serve,” she wrote. Her husband, Lee Greenwood, is one of Trump's favorite singers, whose signature patriotic anthem has been his chosen walk-on song at political events for years. Trump even went into business with Lee Greenwood, selling a $59.99 "God Bless the USA Bible,” with him. In his own Instagram post praising his wife and her nomination, Lee Greenwood said his wife had worked with Trump for 18 years while the president owned the Miss Universe Organization and Kimberly Greenwood directed state pageants. Kimberly Greenwood's nomination, which must be confirmed by the Senate, calls for her to serve concurrently as U.S. ambassador to Barbados and, without additional compensation, as ambassador to the Caribbean countries of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Presidents on both sides of the aisle have rewarded donors and key supporters with a significant slice of sought-after ambassadorships. Democratic President Joe Biden selected prominent Seattle business leader and Democratic donor Roger Nyhus to serve in the same role for which Trump has nominated Kimberly Greenwood. Most political appointees from the donor-and-supporter class have little impact on foreign policy. Occasionally, they have been the source of presidential headaches. Trump on Monday also nominated outgoing U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, to serve as his top envoy to Riyadh. Hunt is near the end of his second term representing his Houston-area district. He finished third in the March 2026 Texas Republican primary for the U.S. Senate behind Ken Paxton and John Cornyn. If confirmed, Hunt will head to Riyadh a difficult moment in the Middle East as the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran continues with no end in sight and as fighting between the Saudis and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen intensifies. Before politics, Hunt was a U.S. Army officer who served as a diplomatic liaison in Saudi Arabia. Hunt in a posting on X said he understood “the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the profound responsibility of this position." The White House on Monday also announced Trump’s nominees for vacant ambassadorial roles in Haiti, Somalia, Djibouti and Suriname. During his first term, Trump’s appointees included hotelier and $1 million inaugural contributor Gordon Sondland, who served as chief envoy to the European Union. Sondland provided unflattering testimony about Trump during his first impeachment, which centered on allegations Trump sought help from Ukrainian authorities to undermine Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Sondland was later fired by Trump. Trump donor-turned-envoy Jeffrey Ross Gunter left locals in relatively crime-free Reykjavik, Iceland, aghast over his request to hire armed bodyguards. In Britain, Ambassador Robert “Woody” Johnson faced accusations he tried to steer golf’s British Open toward a Trump resort in Scotland and made racist and sexist comments.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian territory if allies secure a Russian commitment not to hit Ukraine’s infrastructure. His comments Monday follow President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia and Ukraine agreed not to target each other’s energy infrastructure. Trump has urged Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, blaming these attacks for a global diesel shortage. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says Russian drone strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border show Moscow’s desperation. Rutte pledged Monday to increase alliance support for Ukraine after the drone attacks on Sunday. Poland says it will increase security along its border with Ukraine after the attacks.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The board of the Kennedy Center has voted to close the facility over financial issues and a dispute over putting President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic performing arts venue. That's according to people familiar with the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, a federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding Trump’s name to the structure or grounds, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building.

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U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Department of Justice will investigate "anybody associated" with AI if they violated the law. "As far as AI is concerned, there's a lot of criminal laws," Blanche said. "So if anybody associated with AI violates criminal law, we'll investigate that." His comments come after Trump called AI risks a 'hoax,' saying there is a 'SICK conspiracy' against AI and data centers.

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Here's what's trending with our partners at Townhall.... Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is refusing to participate in a debate with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Rogers' campaign says he objects to moderator Roop Raj, citing concerns about bias. El-Sayed will participate, leaving an empty podium for Rogers. Read more on Townhall.com: https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/09/15/mike-rogers-debates-n2682999

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the iconic performing arts venue in a move meant to recognize his renovation efforts. In the ruling Tuesday, Judge Christopher Cooper said restoring Trump's name in any way would violate an earlier ruling that the name was illegally added to the building. The judge said defendants "cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”

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Kash Patel Reveals FBI Has Caught ALL 10 FBI Most Wanted Fugitives

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Technologists claim AI will bring the end of Humanity. Trump's solution? A president with a high IQ. ------- M and M Extra! If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place. Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be with zero apologies. Like and subscribe to youtube.com/@MandMExtra for more content. Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwMRurHjD-q-sft3OQfbxop8 Check out highlight clips from all our shows: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwPQn44WIEh9LfT3hP1lng9w

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Attorney General Todd Blanche is responding to questions about a Russian businessman who reportedly paid for two celebrations surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, as congressional Democrats seek records related to the arrangement. Umar Kremlev, a wealthy Russian businessman and president of the International Boxing Association, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward festivities surrounding Trump Jr.’s May wedding to Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas, according to reporting by ProPublica. Reuters reports that Kremlev paid for two post-wedding parties. The reports have drawn scrutiny from Democrats in Congress, who announced an investigation this week. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has questioned why Kremlev provided such an expensive gift and whether the arrangement raises concerns about foreign influence. Kremlev has documented connections to the Russian government. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship earlier this year. ProPublica reported that the International Boxing Association has also received financing from Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom. Trump Jr.’s wife said Kremlev is a friend who provided what she described as an “extraordinarily generous wedding gift.” She stressed that he paid for two after-parties rather than the wedding itself. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. has separately described Kremlev as a personal friend and said the two do not have a business relationship. President Trump, who did not attend the wedding, says he does not know Kremlev and has dismissed the controversy as “not a big deal.” Blanche was questioned Tuesday about whether the Justice Department would investigate the arrangement. The attorney general said he did not know Kremlev and questioned what specifically there would be to investigate. He also said he could not confirm a reporter’s characterization of Kremlev as a friend of Putin. Democrats are seeking additional information about the payments and Kremlev’s relationship with Trump Jr. No evidence has been presented publicly showing that the wedding gift was provided in exchange for an official U.S. government action, and Kremlev’s representatives have said he has not discussed political matters with Trump Jr.

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The Kennedy Center’s board has voted to close the Washington performing arts venue for renovations, as a legal battle continues over efforts to place President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic building. The board approved the closure Tuesday during a private meeting, according to people familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The planned renovation project is valued at approximately $257 million and comes as the Kennedy Center faces financial and infrastructure concerns. The board’s decision came hours after a federal judge blocked efforts to put Trump’s name back on the building or add it elsewhere on the center’s structure or grounds. The judge said doing so would violate an earlier court ruling that found Trump’s name had been added to the building illegally. The naming dispute began after the Kennedy Center board voted to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Trump’s name was subsequently added to the building. Opponents challenged the move in court, arguing that federal law gives Congress — rather than the Kennedy Center board — authority over the facility’s official name. The latest court order prevents the board from restoring Trump’s name while the legal dispute continues. President Trump says the Justice Department will appeal the ruling. The president has been closely involved with the Kennedy Center since returning to office, including becoming chairman of its board. The renovation project and the dispute over the building’s name remain separate issues, although both were discussed as the board considered the center’s future. Details about exactly when the Kennedy Center will close and how long the renovation will take are expected to be announced as planning moves forward.

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Prosecutors say Nick Reiner will not face the death penalty if convicted of killing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, at their Los Angeles home last year. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the decision Tuesday following a review of the case. The 33-year-old Reiner could still be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Hochman said prosecutors considered input from members of the Reiner family as well as mitigating factors before deciding not to pursue capital punishment. Reiner has twice pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. A grand jury indicted him in July. Prosecutors allege he fatally stabbed his parents after lying in wait at their home in December 2025. The death penalty had been an option because prosecutors alleged multiple victims, lying in wait and the use of a dangerous weapon. Reiner’s public defender welcomed the decision and said her client has a history of serious mental illness and struggles with self-medication. Those claims come from the defense and have not been adjudicated in court. The case has also generated a separate legal fight over money from a trust established for Reiner by his parents when he was a child. Reiner is seeking access to those funds in hopes of rehiring high-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson, who previously represented him before withdrawing from the case. Another dispute involves whether transcripts from the secret grand jury proceedings should be made public. Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romi Reiner, oppose their release, arguing that making details of the killings public would cause additional trauma. A judge is expected to hear arguments on that issue next month. Prosecutors do not expect Reiner’s murder trial to begin until next year.

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FBI Director Kash Patel is defending changes to the bureau’s hiring standards involving applicants with past connections to prostitution or bestiality, saying the revisions are intended to prevent victims of trafficking or abuse from being automatically disqualified from employment. Patel addressed the policy Tuesday during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill. The hearing covered a wide range of issues involving his leadership of the FBI. Under the revised standards, certain past conduct involving prostitution or bestiality is no longer necessarily an automatic disqualifier. Patel stressed that the change does not mean the FBI is broadly relaxing its standards for applicants. Instead, he said the revisions were designed to account for people who may have been victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation or other abuse and were forced to participate in acts beyond their control. Patel told senators that applicants are still subject to the FBI’s extensive background investigation and screening process. The circumstances surrounding an applicant’s past conduct can be considered before a final hiring decision is made. The issue came up as senators questioned Patel about changes made to FBI hiring policies under his leadership. Patel pushed back on characterizations that the bureau was simply allowing people involved in prostitution or bestiality to become FBI employees, arguing that such descriptions leave out the distinction between voluntary conduct and victimization. The broader hearing also included heated exchanges over Patel’s leadership of the bureau, the dismissal of agents involved in previous investigations of President Donald Trump, investigations into alleged media leaks and the FBI’s election-related activities. Patel defended his record and the bureau’s policies throughout the hearing, while Republican and Democratic senators offered sharply different assessments of the FBI’s direction under his leadership.

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In a shocking twist, a recent trial has left many questioning the integrity of the justice system. The Lindsay Clancy murder case, which captivated the nation, ended in a mistrial after a lone holdout juror refused to convict the defendant. But what's behind this unexpected turn of events? In this episode, we dive into the details of the case and explore the surprising dynamics of the jury deliberations. The trial of Lindsay Clancy was a highly publicized case, with many expecting a guilty verdict. However, the jury's decision was far from unanimous, with 11 jurors voting not guilty by reason of insanity and one juror holding out. The holdout juror, a black man in his 30s, was a key factor in the mistrial, but what drove his decision? And what does this say about the state of the justice system in Massachusetts? The jury's deliberations were marked by a complex web of emotions and motivations, with some jurors seemingly swayed by the defendant's sympathetic story. But was this a case of justice being served, or was the jury's decision influenced by external factors? The host discusses the implications of this case and the potential consequences for the defendant and the justice system. Join us as we explore the fascinating and disturbing details of this case, and hear from the host's thoughts on the implications of this mistrial. Listen to the full episode to hear the host's analysis and insights on this shocking case and its potential impact on the justice system. Follow Carl Jackson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow Website: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com Store: https://CarlJacksonStore.com

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The controversial trial of Lindsay Clancy, who murdered her three children, has sparked significant public interest and debate. The jury, which was predominantly white with one Black juror, was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. The holdout, a Black man, maintained his belief in Clancy's guilt despite the pressure from the other jurors. This has led to intense scrutiny and threats against the juror and his family. The case raises questions about the role of race in jury deliberations and the public's reaction to high-profile trials. Clancy is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing, while the Plymouth County District Attorney deliberates on whether to retry the case.

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Larry Elder delves into several contentious issues, presenting data and perspectives from various sources. The discussion begins with the misconception about President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, highlighting the stark contrast between Democratic beliefs and the actual statements from Obama administration officials. The host then moves to address the pervasive belief among Democrats that Russia tampered with the 2016 election vote tallies, despite clear testimony from Obama's Homeland Security Secretary stating otherwise. Further, the conversation tackles the significant divide in perceptions regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, with a notable majority of Democrats believing in the occurrence of genocide, contrary to official statements. Finally, the host addresses the inflated statistics concerning police killings of unarmed black men, pointing out the stark difference between perceived and actual events, as evidenced by official data. This episode aims to clarify misconceptions and provide a more grounded understanding of these critical issues.

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Harvest with Greg Laurie, September 20, 2026

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lift its short-term interest rate for the first time in three years to fight stubbornly high inflation. Such a move Wednesday would put the central bank at odds with President Donald Trump’s demands. An increase in the Fed’s rate, currently about 3.6%, isn’t guaranteed but most analysts and economists expect a hike after a speech two weeks ago in which Fed Chair Kevin Warsh argued that the central bank had not yet achieved its goal of putting inflation in check.

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WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday that the FBI had discovered new information regarding the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. "It is new information about the shooter and about his background, about his history and that stuff that we didn't know before," Blanche told reporters during a White House press conference, without elaborating. The comments from Blanche came hours after Trump claimed on social media that new information was found about the assassination attempt and alleged without evidence that it was really a "Democrat Plot, to get me out of the Election." Investigations into the shooting have found the shooter acted alone and produced no evidence Democrats had anything to do with the shooting. Trump added that ex-FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed in his first term but later grew to hate, "should pay a price" for how the department responded to the assassination attempt "and certainly for the things he said." Blanche, who was Trump's personal lawyer at the time of the assassination attempt, said during the briefing that he was with Trump as the investigation into the shooting was playing out, trying to ascertain what happened. "His frustration and concern about what the former director was doing is something that is not new," Blanche said. The Justice Department and FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wray could not be reached for comment.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities charged a dozen people Tuesday for fraudulently collecting more than $10 million in government childcare payments in Southern California, when the operators had few or even no actual children attending their facilities. The charges, jointly announced in San Diego by the Justice Department and the criminal investigations division of the IRS, are the latest effort by the Trump administration to investigate and charge alleged cases of fraud and waste in government programs. The 12 defendants said they were operating licensed, at-home childcare facilities in the San Diego area, submitting attendance records and documenting when each child attended and for what times, in order to collect payments from government childcare subsidy programs. However, federal prosecutors say these at-home facilities rarely, if ever, had children. Defendants fraudulently collected from government programs for months or, in some cases, years, prosecutors said. The federally funded childcare assistance programs are intended to help low-income families afford childcare so parents can work or go to school. After parents are accepted in the program, they select a childcare provider and the government reimburses the provider directly. But they don’t get enough money to cover all eligible families, forcing many eligible parents on growing waitlists. It is this federally funded program that led to these defendants to operate these “ghost” daycares, prosecutors said. “There were no children," Colin McDonald, head of the Justice Department's fraud enforcement division, told a news conference. “There were no daycares. But the taxpayers were paying for all of it.” The department's fraud division was created in April and this was the first indictment of its type since. All 12 defendants were arrested Thursday and the charges against them were unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors said the investigation continues. Federal prosecutors say some of the defendants were not even in the country when they were submitting claims for childcare payments. One defendant, Turkiya Alawad, 63, was found to be outside the U.S. between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 30, 2024, but at the same time, submitted and collected for childcare payments for the dates they were away, prosecutors say. Another defendant, Abdulrahman Alawad, 25, claimed to provide childcare to children in March and April but surveillance footage allegedly shows children entered Alawad’s facility only once, on the day a state inspector showed up. Alawad is alleged to have received more than $300,000 in payments from childcare programs in 2025. Other defendants collected more than $1 million in childcare subsidy payments, prosecutors said. Jared Koopman, head of the IRS criminal investigations division, told reporters the defendants then used the proceeds to purchase luxury homes, send money overseas through wire transfers, and make large cash withdrawals. “These are taxpayer-funded programs designed to help working families, children and vulnerable communities," Koopman said. “When those funds are diverted for personal profit, families lose, honest providers lose, taxpayers lose and the public trust in these programs is damaged." While several of the defendants have similar last names, the Justice Department's McDonald told reporters each investigation and indictment was reached independently. The indictments in California have similarities to what happened with Minnesota-based Feeding Our Future. Federal prosecutors charged Feeding Our Future with scamming Minnesota and federal taxpayers out of millions of dollars of childcare and meal subsidies. The alleged daycare fraud case in California is larger than the one with Feeding Our Future, which submitted roughly $4.6 million in claims to the childcare assistance program. However, the Feeding Our Future case was much more focused on fraud in meal subsidy programs than childcare. The operator of the Feeding Our Future’s childcare facility, Fahima Mahamud, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges in July. The facility's leader, Aimee Bock, was convicted and sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison in May for fraud and conspiracy charges. She has appealed her conviction. Nearly 80 people have been charged and dozens have been convicted since federal authorities announced their first indictments related to the fraud happening at Feeding Our Future in 2022. The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division had been investigating these childcare facilities going back to at least February. While the IRS is mostly known for the enforcement of tax law, the investigations division is one of the arms of the federal government that often focuses on white-collar crimes. The Trump administration has put a heavy emphasis on investigating and charging alleged fraud and abuse of government benefit programs. Vice President JD Vance chairs the administration’s task force on the effort. McDonald said the public should expect more investigations and indictments in the coming months. But some of their efforts have faced criticism and legal challenges. In December, Vance amplified a YouTube video of a popular right-wing influencer accusing childcare providers of running scams. State authorities visited the centers and found nearly all of them operating normally. Nonetheless, the administration used the specter of fraud to launch an unprecedented immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Officials later attempted to freeze federal funds for childcare in five Democratic-led states, but were halted by a lawsuit.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. war against Iran has cost the Department of Defense more than $38 billion through Aug. 1, and will continue costing up to $3 billion a month or more depending on the intensity of the conflict, according to an assessment released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CBO said the war is expected to contribute to inflation into the first quarter of 2027, making inflation roughly 0.5 percentage points higher than they had previously estimated. That's driven largely by the reduction of oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to shipping through the Red Sea. The estimate, prepared in response to a request for information from the top Democrat on the House Budget committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle, largely aligns with a previous estimate from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pinned the costs at $37.5 billion, according to his Senate testimony. The estimates come largely from replacing munitions and equipment lost in battle, the CBO said, and do not include costs related to U.S. military personnel killed or injured in the conflict or longer term veterans’ healthcare and disability compensation. Boyle said that beyond with the war's human toll, “this nonpartisan CBO report makes clear that the war has also cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and counting, while continuing to drive up costs.” “Donald Trump and Republicans have spent years telling Americans that we cannot afford to help families here at home,” Boyle said in a statement, "but apparently they can find tens of billions of dollars, and potentially much more, for a reckless war that is leaving Americans to pay the price.” The findings come as voters eye the war and high prices heading toward the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, where Republicans now hold majority power in the House and Senate. The war, which started Feb. 28, is now in its seventh month, with no signs of a quick end to the on-off conflict. The White House made a request for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding in June, largely for the war effort, but Congress has not approved it. CBO said the portion of that request that appears to be directly related to the conflict, $42.3 billion, is about 10% larger than CBO’s estimate of DoD’s costs. The Defense Department declined to respond to CBO's request for information for its report, which was a break from norms. The budget office said it relied on government databases and public reports, and as a result, its estimates “are subject to considerable uncertainty.” A Pentagon inspector general report Monday said the war has resulted in “strategic inventory shortfalls.”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday nominated the wife of “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Kimberly Greenwood was among a list of nominees the Trump administration sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. Later Monday, Kimberly Greenwood posted on Instagram a picture with her husband and Trump as she thanked the president for the nomination. “Mr. President, thank you for believing in me and entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity to serve,” she wrote. Her husband, Lee Greenwood, is one of Trump's favorite singers, whose signature patriotic anthem has been his chosen walk-on song at political events for years. Trump even went into business with Lee Greenwood, selling a $59.99 "God Bless the USA Bible,” with him. In his own Instagram post praising his wife and her nomination, Lee Greenwood said his wife had worked with Trump for 18 years while the president owned the Miss Universe Organization and Kimberly Greenwood directed state pageants. Kimberly Greenwood's nomination, which must be confirmed by the Senate, calls for her to serve concurrently as U.S. ambassador to Barbados and, without additional compensation, as ambassador to the Caribbean countries of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Presidents on both sides of the aisle have rewarded donors and key supporters with a significant slice of sought-after ambassadorships. Democratic President Joe Biden selected prominent Seattle business leader and Democratic donor Roger Nyhus to serve in the same role for which Trump has nominated Kimberly Greenwood. Most political appointees from the donor-and-supporter class have little impact on foreign policy. Occasionally, they have been the source of presidential headaches. Trump on Monday also nominated outgoing U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, to serve as his top envoy to Riyadh. Hunt is near the end of his second term representing his Houston-area district. He finished third in the March 2026 Texas Republican primary for the U.S. Senate behind Ken Paxton and John Cornyn. If confirmed, Hunt will head to Riyadh a difficult moment in the Middle East as the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran continues with no end in sight and as fighting between the Saudis and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen intensifies. Before politics, Hunt was a U.S. Army officer who served as a diplomatic liaison in Saudi Arabia. Hunt in a posting on X said he understood “the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the profound responsibility of this position." The White House on Monday also announced Trump’s nominees for vacant ambassadorial roles in Haiti, Somalia, Djibouti and Suriname. During his first term, Trump’s appointees included hotelier and $1 million inaugural contributor Gordon Sondland, who served as chief envoy to the European Union. Sondland provided unflattering testimony about Trump during his first impeachment, which centered on allegations Trump sought help from Ukrainian authorities to undermine Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Sondland was later fired by Trump. Trump donor-turned-envoy Jeffrey Ross Gunter left locals in relatively crime-free Reykjavik, Iceland, aghast over his request to hire armed bodyguards. In Britain, Ambassador Robert “Woody” Johnson faced accusations he tried to steer golf’s British Open toward a Trump resort in Scotland and made racist and sexist comments.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian territory if allies secure a Russian commitment not to hit Ukraine’s infrastructure. His comments Monday follow President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia and Ukraine agreed not to target each other’s energy infrastructure. Trump has urged Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, blaming these attacks for a global diesel shortage. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says Russian drone strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border show Moscow’s desperation. Rutte pledged Monday to increase alliance support for Ukraine after the drone attacks on Sunday. Poland says it will increase security along its border with Ukraine after the attacks.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The board of the Kennedy Center has voted to close the facility over financial issues and a dispute over putting President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic performing arts venue. That's according to people familiar with the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, a federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding Trump’s name to the structure or grounds, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building.

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U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Department of Justice will investigate "anybody associated" with AI if they violated the law. "As far as AI is concerned, there's a lot of criminal laws," Blanche said. "So if anybody associated with AI violates criminal law, we'll investigate that." His comments come after Trump called AI risks a 'hoax,' saying there is a 'SICK conspiracy' against AI and data centers.

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Here's what's trending with our partners at Townhall.... Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is refusing to participate in a debate with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Rogers' campaign says he objects to moderator Roop Raj, citing concerns about bias. El-Sayed will participate, leaving an empty podium for Rogers. Read more on Townhall.com: https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/09/15/mike-rogers-debates-n2682999

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Kennedy Center from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the iconic performing arts venue in a move meant to recognize his renovation efforts. In the ruling Tuesday, Judge Christopher Cooper said restoring Trump's name in any way would violate an earlier ruling that the name was illegally added to the building. The judge said defendants "cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.”

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Kash Patel Reveals FBI Has Caught ALL 10 FBI Most Wanted Fugitives

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Technologists claim AI will bring the end of Humanity. Trump's solution? A president with a high IQ. ------- M and M Extra! If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place. Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be with zero apologies. Like and subscribe to youtube.com/@MandMExtra for more content. Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwMRurHjD-q-sft3OQfbxop8 Check out highlight clips from all our shows: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwPQn44WIEh9LfT3hP1lng9w

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