STORIES ON THIS BEAT
Trump Says Hegseth Is Staying—But an Impeachment Fight Could Be Days Away
President Trump says he intends to keep Pete Hegseth despite mounting pressure after Republicans’ midterm losses. With a Republican-led impeachment push already underway and Democrats preparing to take control of Congress, the Pentagon chief faces a fight that goes beyond his job security.
Millions for Resettlement, Billions in Fraud Claims: What Minnesota’s Money Trail Actually Shows
A report linking millions in Minnesota refugee resettlement funding to broader fraud scandals raises important questions, but several claims need clarification. Here’s what the money figures mean, how the organizations differ and why separate investigations should not be treated as one proven scheme.
Old Family Posts, New Political Firestorm: What the Abdul El-Sayed Brotherhood Claims Actually Show
Abdul El-Sayed’s denial of Muslim Brotherhood ties has sparked scrutiny of old family posts and political donations. Here’s what the available records establish, why a $200,000 contribution needs clarification, and which accusations go beyond the evidence.
He Won Reelection—Now Rich Schaffer Faces Reported FBI Scrutiny Over Vote-Buying Claims
Rich Schaffer won reelection as Suffolk County Democratic chairman, but reported FBI contacts are bringing new scrutiny to allegations of vote-buying and job-related pressure. Schaffer denies wrongdoing as questions remain about the messages, recordings and whistleblower complaints behind the controversy.
Kansas Senate Race Explodes Over 20-Year-Old Church Abuse Case: What Records Actually Show About Adam Hamilton and Convicted Offender Scott Moore
A new Roger Marshall campaign ad accuses Democratic Senate challenger Adam Hamilton of “protecting a pedophile” after teenage boys reported disturbing encounters with church volunteer Scott Moore in 2005. Hamilton denies a cover-up and says he would handle the initial allegations differently today. Court records show the church failed to notify police after the first reports, but did contact law enforcement a year later, barred Moore from youth work and eventually assisted in the case that led to his conviction. Now a painful case from two decades ago has become one of the biggest controversies in Kansas’ 2026 Senate race.
Columbia’s Gates Have Been Locked for Years—Now NYC Is Threatening to Sue Over a 73-Year-Old Deal
New York City has dramatically reversed its position in the long-running fight over Columbia University’s locked campus gates. Mayor Zohran Mamdani says the city will take “prompt legal action” unless College Walk is reopened to the public, while Columbia insists the walkway is private property and says controlling access is necessary to protect students and academic operations. At the center of the dispute is a $1,000 deal dating back to the 1950s and two very different interpretations of what New York City actually gave away.
“It’s a Scam”: Lauren Boebert Blasts Explosive Claims She Had Sex With 3 Staffers—But the Ethics Filing Faces a Major Procedural Problem
Rep. Lauren Boebert is forcefully denying a sworn filing that accuses her of sexual relationships with three congressional staffers and an alleged $200,000 payment involving a former aide. But the controversy has an unusual twist: House Ethics rules appear to prevent the filing from being accepted as a formal complaint this close to Election Day. That does not necessarily stop the committee from examining the underlying information on its own.
Mayor Mamdani & City Hall Are Feeding Talking Points to 200 Influencers: Some Are Getting Taxpayer Money
A new Columbia Journalism Review investigation has pulled back the curtain on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s expanding social media operation, revealing a private Signal group where influencers receive daily City Hall talking points, video clips, event invitations and access to officials. The influencers are not paid for ordinary coverage, but some receive taxpayer-funded contracts for separate city messaging campaigns, raising new questions about disclosure, public records and where government communication ends and political promotion begins.
He Admitted “Mistakes Outside My Marriage”—Then a Woman Told House Ethics His Conduct Wasn’t Consensual
California Rep. Jimmy Gomez acknowledged making “personal mistakes” outside his marriage while insisting every encounter was consensual. Days later, attorneys for an unnamed woman said she told House Ethics investigators that Gomez sexually harassed and assaulted her. Now the five-term Los Angeles congressman is facing a formal ethics investigation, growing political fallout and an unresolved scandal just months before voters decide whether to send him back to Congress.
Hugh Hefner Warned the FBI About Jeffrey Epstein in 2005, Lawsuit Says — So Why Did a Playboy Playmate Wait 15 Years for a Follow-Up?
A newly amended lawsuit makes a stunning claim: Playboy founder Hugh Hefner repeatedly contacted the FBI in 2005 after Playmate Audra Lynn Christiansen told him Jeffrey Epstein had allegedly raped and trafficked her. According to the filing, federal agents did not follow up with Christiansen until 2020, 15 years later and after Epstein was already dead. Now 32 Epstein survivors are asking a federal court whether the government should be held accountable for warnings they say went unanswered.