Actor Nolan Freeman, known for roles in NCIS and The Rookie, has been arrested for purported involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6. Records obtained by POLITICO allege Freeman ‘occupied’ the Capitol for approximately 28 minutes, alongside fellow Trump supporters, after gaining entry through a damaged window.
Capitol Police video indicates Freeman joined others inside the building around 2:23 PM, dressed in a red hoodie beneath a black jacket and wearing a red cap with white lettering. He exited the building around 2:49 PM.
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Freeman is charged with obstructing an official proceeding and unauthorized presence within a governmental building. He’s also accused of employing disruptive language, allegedly obstructing the orderly function of Congress.
On June 27, 2023, FBI agents visited Freeman at his Nevada residence. When questioned about his presence at the Capitol on January 6, he requested to consult with an attorney. Data subpoenaed from American Airlines revealed that Freeman traveled to D.C. on January 4 and returned on January 8.
Freeman, last seen on TV in a 2019 NCIS episode, was summoned to a Nevada Court on March 19. His next appearance is on April 2. According to the Justice Department, more than 1,358 persons have been charged regarding the Capitol riots, with a considerable number accused of attacking law enforcement.
Conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca was also charged this week for her involvement in the January 6 riots. Her alleged crime was touching a table.
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❓What Happened: Donald Trump Jr. is launching an online firearm store called GrabAGun, aiming to make firearms more accessible and fill gaps left by corporate policy changes.
👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump Jr., investor Omeed Malik, GrabAGun CEO Marc Nemat, and attorney Colion Noir.
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📍 Where & When: Announced on June 3, 2025, with plans to go public soon.
💬 Key Quote: “This is giving [the public] an opportunity with ‘grab a gun,’ to shop the way they shop virtually everything else.” — Donald Trump Jr.
⚠️ Impact: The platform seeks to restore access to firearms and accessories, offering a streamlined online shopping experience while adhering to federal regulations.
IN FULL:
Donald Trump Jr. has announced the upcoming launch of an online firearm retailer, GrabAGun, which he and his partners have described as the “Amazon of guns.” The platform aims to provide a streamlined shopping experience for firearms and accessories while adhering to federal safety regulations.
Speaking to the media on June 3, Trump Jr. explained the motivation behind the venture, highlighting a growing demand for firearms among groups not traditionally associated with gun ownership. “There’s women coming into the marketplace for self-defense,” he said. “There’s a younger generation that’s shifting to the conservative side that understands the need to exercise their Second Amendment.”
GrabAGun will allow customers to purchase firearms online, though federal law requires the weapons to be picked up from authorized and licensed dealers, where standard background checks will be conducted. However, accessories such as scopes and ammunition can be shipped directly to consumers’ homes.
Trump Jr., an avid marksman and hunter, emphasized the venture’s role in filling a void created by changing corporate policies. “Walmart used to be the largest retailer of firearms in America. Corporate policies change, you can no longer have that access,” he noted. “This is covering that void.”
The company has already announced a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) led by investor Omeed Malik, who has previously backed conservative ventures including Tucker Carlson‘s media startup and the “anti-woke” online marketplace Public Square. Malik described the GrabAGun platform as a way for Americans to “buy guns and ammunition online just like you can on Amazon because we have a Second Amendment right.”
The website offers a wide range of products, including rifles, shotguns, small arms, ammunition, and outdoor equipment such as tents and camping gear. Trump Jr. will join the company’s board when it goes public, alongside gun influencer and attorney Colion Noir.
Additionally, Trump Jr. and Malik announced plans for a new social club in Washington, D.C., named the Executive Branch, which will cater to the city’s elite with a $500,000 membership fee.
❓What Happened: Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald J. Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination.”
👤Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Rand Paul, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senator Chuck Schumer.
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🧾Key Quote: “Shame on those who voted for it,” Musk wrote on X.
⚠️Fallout: The rebuke could signal an impending rift between Musk, who recently departed the administration, seemingly on good terms, and President Trump.
📌Significance: Musk’s break with the Trump administration is his most direct since leaving government service at the end of May.
IN FULL:
Elon Musk lashed out at President Trump’s landmark tax and spending legislation on Tuesday, calling the bill a “disgusting abomination” and accusing lawmakers of saddling Americans with unsustainable debt.
Musk’s remarks came just days after his departure from the Trump administration, where he had served as the frontman for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative aimed at cutting government waste, with mixed results.
In posts on his X platform, Musk said the bill would raise the deficit to $2.5 trillion and was filled with “outrageous” pork-barrel provisions. “Shame on those who voted for it,” he wrote.
The bill, passed by the House in May, would extend Trump’s first-term tax cuts, cut taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, boost border security and defense spending, and raise the debt ceiling to $4 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated it would increase the deficit by at least $600 billion in the coming fiscal year.
President Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, responded to Musk’s criticism by saying the America First leader “already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.”
Members of the administration, such as Stephen Miller, have explained to Musk that substantial cuts cannot be achieved in the “one big beautiful bill” because it is a reconciliation bill. Under the law, the reconciliation process can only impact discretionary spending. Most federal agency budgets, which Musk’s DOGE cuts impact, are considered nondiscretionary spending, and must be dealt with separately.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke with Musk about the bill for 20 minutes earlier this week and noted that its phasing out of certain tax credits may affect Musk’s Tesla company. “I just deeply regret he’s made this mistake,” Johnson said.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he won’t support the measure if it includes raising the debt ceiling. “The GOP will own the debt once they vote for this,” Paul said.
So far, Trump has held fire against Musk, who is also avoiding attacking Trump directly, instead stressing that the bill is “Congressional.” However, Trump has fired back against Rand Paul on social media, arguing he has “very little understanding of the bill” and that “the people of Kentucky can’t stand him.”
Despite the friction, Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled the GOP would “proceed full speed ahead.” The administration has set a July 4 deadline to pass the legislation.
READ:
I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.
This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.
Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance will attend the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Usha Vance, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, and Kennedy Center officials.
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📍 Where & When: Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.
💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” President Trump said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”
⚠️ Impact: The opening night performance is nearly sold out, with ticket sales exceeding $3 million, and the Kennedy Center is undergoing revitalization efforts under new leadership.
IN FULL:
According to officials, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will join Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance for the opening night of the musical Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 11. The production, a staple of Broadway and West End history, is set to make a significant debut at the Washington, D.C. venue.
President Trump, who has often played songs from Les Misérables at his rallies, expressed enthusiasm for the production. “I love the songs, I love the play,” Trump remarked. “I think it’s great—we may extend it.”
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell highlighted the excitement surrounding the event. “Les Misérables is proving to be a huge hit,” Grenell stated. “Opening night is going to be electric.”
Officials at the Kennedy Center have reported strong ticket sales, with the first two weeks of performances nearly sold out and generating over $3 million in revenue. A spokesman noted that sales have exceeded expectations, surpassing typical timelines.
The opening night will feature a red carpet event, with select media invited to attend. Attendees are also encouraged to walk the red carpet, adding to the evening’s grandeur.
Last month, a significant number of actors expressed an intent to boycott President Trump’s appearance at a performance of Les Misérables. Grenell reacted, suggesting that performers engaging in such boycotts would not be welcome. “[T]he Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” he warned.
President Trump emphasized his commitment to restoring the Kennedy Center, which he described as previously neglected. “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” he said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”
Under Trump’s personal chairmanship, the Kennedy Center is working to bolster its financial sustainability. The venue, which includes affiliates such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, is aiming for larger endowments and long-term growth.
Grenell announced the season’s performances last month, completely free of left-wing ideological performances like drag shows.
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❓What Happened: The Trump administration has requested that countries submit their best trade deal proposals by June 4 to avoid the reimposition of reciprocal tariffs on July 8.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, global trade partners, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett.
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📍 Where & When: International trade negotiations, deadline set for June 4, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: U.S. Trade Representative spokesman: “Productive negotiations with many key trading partners continue at a rapid pace.”
⚠️ Impact: Foreign governments wishing to avoid the reimposition of President Trump’s paused “Liberation Day” tariffs must make their best offer in the next 24 hours. Any foreign trade partner that fails to submit a proposal will see additional trade duties imposed on them by the Trump administration.
IN FULL:
The Trump administration is giving global trade partners until Wednesday, June 4, to submit their best proposals for trade agreements to avoid the reimposition of reciprocal tariffs next month on July 8. A draft letter from the U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, requests that foreign nations wishing to avoid the reimposition of trade duties outline their commitments on tariffs, non-tariff barriers, digital trade, and quotas for purchasing U.S. goods.
According to the letter, the proposals will be reviewed within days by U.S. trade officials who will develop a “possible landing zone” for a trade deal to expedite negotiations ahead of the looming July deadline. “Productive negotiations with many key trading partners continue at a rapid pace. It is in all parties’ interest to take stock of progress and assess any next steps,” a spokesman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said after the letter became public.
Initially introduced in April on what was billed as “Liberation Day,” President Donald J. Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs after foreign nations scrambled to open bilateral trade negotiations and high volatility disrupted global financial markets. The letter suggests that the Trump White House is making its final push to encourage a handful of nations to come to the table, with only weeks left in the 90-day tariff pause.
Notably, the letter warns trade partners against relying on courts to overturn the tariffs, emphasizing that President Trump intends to continue the program through all available legal avenues. A lawfare campaign spearheaded by Democrats saw two federal courts rule that Trump’s emergency declaration, citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and used to justify the reciprocal tariffs and a 10 percent global tariff, was unconstitutional. However, a federal appeals court has stayed those decisions pending ongoing litigation.
Kevin Hassett, director of President Trump’s National Economic Council (NEC), has said that 24 bilateral trade deals are nearing finalization. It is speculated that a number of smaller, less economically developed nations with weak export and import markets will likely not face the reimposition of tariffs regardless of whether they reach an agreement with the United States. However, indications are that the Trump White House will reimpose trade duties against major trading partners like the European Union (EU) and developed nations who do not comply.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: A 37-year-old illegal immigrant was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a minor placed in his care under the former Biden government’s unaccompanied minor sponsorship program.
👥 Who’s Involved: Wilson Manfredo Lopez-Carillo, the victim (a 16-year-old girl), Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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📍 Where & When: Palm Beach County, Florida; incidents occurred in February 2024, with the arrest on May 22, 2025.
⚠️ Impact: The case highlights serious vulnerabilities in the former Biden government’s program for placing unaccompanied minors with sponsors, raising concerns about child safety and vetting processes. Notably, the arrest comes after President Donald J. Trump ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s handling of unaccompanied minor placement.
IN FULL:
An illegal immigrant in Florida has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl placed in his care under the Biden government’s program for unaccompanied minors, overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Wilson Manfredo Lopez-Carillo, 37, was taken into custody by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on May 22, charged with three counts of sexual assault on a minor.
The victim, a 16-year-old girl, arrived in the U.S. in August 2023 and was placed in a household that included Lopez-Carillo, according to redacted police documents. Authorities say the assaults occurred in February 2024 when other adults in the home were absent. The victim initially refrained from reporting the incidents due to threats and fear of retaliation.
Police documented that Lopez-Carillo allegedly grabbed the girl, took her to his bedroom, and assaulted her multiple times. On one occasion, he reportedly offered her $100 to stay silent, which she refused. The victim eventually sought refuge with a church friend, who later became her legal guardian.
On a phone call between the victim and Lopez-Carillo, police were able to record him “attempting to justify his actions” and “to downplay their significance.” The police documentation states: “When confronted about the possibility of a pregnancy, due to unprotected sex, he mentioned giving [the victim] a pill.” Lopez-Carillo is currently held without bail.
The case has reignited scrutiny of the Biden government’s handling of unaccompanied minors. Critics argue the ORR program, which placed minors with loosely vetted sponsors, leaves children vulnerable to exploitation. Over 120,000 unaccompanied minors have entered the U.S. annually under this policy, often placed in homes of unrelated adults with limited oversight.
Federal whistleblowers and reports have described the program as a taxpayer-funded human trafficking scheme, with one-third of minors reportedly untraceable within 30 days of placement. In February, President Donald J. Trump ordered HHS to launch an investigation into ORR and, if possible, begin locating unaccompanied minors who were lost under Biden.
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❓What Happened: A Chinese academic at the University of Michigan has been charged with smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States, one that federal prosecutors describe as a potential agroterrorism weapon targeting food crops.
👤Who’s Involved: Chinese national Yunqing Jian, her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit.
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🧾Key Quote: “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America,” said interim U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon.
⚠️Fallout: The pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, can devastate wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and produces toxins harmful to livestock and humans; Liu supposedly intended to research it at Jian’s university lab.
📌Significance: The case highlights growing national security concerns over Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked academic infiltration, as this marks the second case in a week involving Chinese nationals with ties to the University of Michigan facing federal charges.
IN FULL:
Federal prosecutors have charged a Chinese postdoctoral scholar at the University of Michigan with attempting to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States that is classified as a potential agricultural terrorism weapon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleges that 33-year-old Yunqing Jian and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, conspired to bring multiple strains of Fusarium graminearum—a fungus known to destroy food crops—into the country for unauthorized research.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Detroit, Liu arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July 2024 on a B2 tourist visa. During inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers found hidden plant samples in his bag. Liu initially lied about the materials, claiming someone else had placed them in his belongings. He later admitted the samples were strains of the crop-destroying fungus and that he had smuggled them into the U.S., supposedly to conduct research in Jian’s lab at the University of Michigan.
The complaint describes the pathogen as responsible for billions of dollars in global agricultural damage annually. The toxin it produces is also known to cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in livestock and humans.
Jian, a Chinese citizen with a doctorate in plant pathogens from Zhejiang University, allegedly received financial support from a government-funded Chinese foundation and maintains ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). She is now charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud.
Interim U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon called the allegations “of the gravest national security concerns,” citing the deliberate concealment of the biological material. Liu reportedly admitted to intentionally hiding the samples in tissues to evade detection and indicated plans to clone them if initial experiments failed.
The case follows another incident last week in which a former University of Michigan student from China was charged with illegally voting in the 2024 U.S. election and fleeing the country to avoid prosecution. The Trump administration is currently moving to revoke the visas of Chinese students in the U.S., focusing on those with CCP links.
Jian is expected to appear in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Liu has since returned to China. Authorities continue to investigate the scope of the scheme.
❓What Happened: Vietnam has agreed to purchase over $2 billion in U.S. agricultural products in an effort to ease trade tensions and avoid a 46 percent tariff threatened by President Donald J. Trump.
👤Who’s Involved: President Trump, Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture Do Duc Duy, U.S. farmers—especially in Iowa—and companies including Westinghouse Electric, SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin.
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🧾Key Quote: The Vietnamese agriculture ministry confirmed five memoranda of understanding for $800 million in purchases from Iowa alone over the next three years.
⚠️Fallout: Vietnam, which holds one of the largest trade surpluses with the U.S., is seeking to avoid stiff retaliatory tariffs by shifting its import strategy and deepening commercial ties with American producers.
📌Significance: The move marks a significant win for Trump’s America First trade agenda, delivering tangible benefits to U.S. farmers while pressuring foreign governments to rebalance trade deficits.
IN FULL:
Vietnam announced Tuesday that it will sign deals worth more than $2 billion with the United States to purchase American agricultural products, as the Southeast Asian nation works to head off a looming 46 percent reciprocal tariff proposed by President Donald J. Trump.
The agreement, unveiled during a U.S. visit by Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy, includes five memoranda of understanding to purchase products such as soybean meal, corn, wheat, dried soybeans, and dried distillers’ grains (DDGS). The deals will significantly boost agricultural imports from the United States over the next three years.
In particular, the agreements cover $800 million in purchases from the state of Iowa—up from a previous average of just $44 million per year, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Vietnam currently has the third-largest trade surplus with the United States, behind only China and Mexico. The surplus has placed it squarely in the crosshairs of President Trump’s tariff policy, which aims to realign America’s trade relationships and support domestic industry and agriculture.
The agricultural purchases are part of a broader effort by Vietnam to smooth over its trade imbalance. The country is preparing for a third round of trade negotiations with U.S. officials in the coming days, following what it called “positive progress” during earlier discussions in Washington.
In addition to the agricultural deals, Vietnamese officials met with representatives from American firms, including Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and Google, and signed an agreement with Westinghouse Electric to cooperate on nuclear power development.
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❓What Happened: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking the public to report facilities or individuals performing surgeries on minors under the guise of “gender-affirming care.”
👥 Who’s Involved: The FBI, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and President Donald J. Trump.
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📍 Where & When: Announcement made via social media on Monday; the issue has been addressed in executive orders and memos earlier this year.
💬 Key Quote: “Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care.” — FBI statement.
⚠️ Impact: Federal law enforcement is signaling a focus on investigating and holding accountable those involved in controversial medical practices on minors.
IN FULL:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has called for public assistance in identifying individuals or facilities allegedly conducting surgical procedures on children under the guise of “gender-affirming care.” In an announcement shared Monday on social media platforms, the agency emphasized its commitment to protecting minors.
“Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care,” the FBI’s post read.
Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care.
Report tips of any hospitals, clinics, or practitioners performing these surgical…
The announcement follows broader federal initiatives, including an executive order signed earlier this year by President Donald J. Trump titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” The order declared it is federal government policy not to support or fund procedures aimed at transitioning minors and pledged to enforce laws limiting such practices.
In April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it had already taken steps to implement the executive order, including setting up an extensive review of existing literature regarding best health practices for children with gender dysphoria.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has echoed these sentiments, stating in an April memo, “The Department of Justice will not sit idly by while doctors, motivated by ideology, profits, or both, exploit and mutilate our children. Under my watch, the Department will act decisively to protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of care.”
❓What Happened: Residents in Ohio, frustrated with rising property taxes, are advancing a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish them in the state.
👥 Who’s Involved: Citizens for Property Tax Reform, led by homeowner Beth Blackmarr and Keith Davey of Save Our Seniors, is spearheading the campaign.
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📍 Where & When: Ohio, with the Ohio Ballot Board approving the measure for signature collection in late 2023.
💬 Key Quote: “I suspect it’s because they built a wobbly tower of property tax law over these decades and they’re afraid to pull one of the blocks out.” — Beth Blackmarr, leader of Citizens for Property Tax Reform.
⚠️ Impact: If successful, Ohio homeowners could save thousands, but local governments warn of potential funding shortfalls for public services.
IN FULL:
Ohio residents are taking matters into their own hands in response to soaring property taxes, advancing a proposal to eliminate property taxes through a constitutional amendment. Citizens for Property Tax Reform, a grassroots group led by Lakewood homeowner Beth Blackmarr, is spearheading the initiative, which has gained traction amid growing frustration over rising bills.
The Ohio Ballot Board recently approved the measure, allowing the group to begin collecting signatures. To qualify for the November ballot, organizers must gather at least 413,000 valid signatures from registered voters across half of Ohio’s 88 counties by July 1, 2024.
Blackmarr, whose home’s assessed value surged by 51.9 percent last year, described the financial strain caused by the state’s property tax system. She criticized Ohio lawmakers for failing to address the issue, stating, “I suspect it’s because they built a wobbly tower of property tax law over these decades and they’re afraid to pull one of the blocks out.”
The push for property tax reform comes as Ohioans face a 23 percent increase in median property taxes from 2019 to 2023, surpassing the national average of 21.6 percent. Despite its reputation for affordable housing, Ohio currently ranks eighth in the nation for effective property tax rates.
While the proposal has garnered support from homeowners, critics warn of potential consequences. Local governments rely heavily on property taxes, which generated $18.5 billion in 2023, to fund public services.
Ohio lawmakers are considering nearly 20 additional bills aimed at reducing property taxes. However, the Citizens for Property Tax Reform campaign represents a direct effort by voters to address the issue themselves. If the measure reaches the ballot, Ohioans will decide whether to abolish property taxes or maintain the current system.
❓What Happened: PBS and its signature children’s show, Sesame Street, face accusations of “grooming” children after posting LGBTQ Pride Month content on social media.
👥 Who’s Involved: PBS, Sesame Street, Congressional Republicans, including Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
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📍 Where & When: The controversy unfolded online on platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram during LGBTQ Pride Month.
💬 Key Quote: Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) said the post was “evil and should infuriate every parent in America.”
⚠️ Impact: Renewed calls from Republicans to defund PBS and NPR, with a House vote on this issue expected soon.
IN FULL:
PBS and its iconic children’s program Sesame Street are under fire following a social media post celebrating LGBT Pride Month. The post, shared on X and Instagram, featured an image of multi-colored puppets forming the shape of a Pride flag, accompanied by the message: “On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let’s build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy Pride Month.”
The post drew swift criticism, particularly from members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). The group, whose membership remains undisclosed, responded with a meme of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) captioned, “I am once again asking PBS to stop grooming children.”
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) also condemned the post, labeling it “evil” and urging parents to take notice. On X, she demanded, “DEFUND!!”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) echoed her sentiments, referencing a separate Sesame Street clip from 2020 featuring Queer Eye host Jonathan Van Ness, and stating, “Federal funds aren’t for grooming.”
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) joined the criticism, accusing PBS of “grooming children on American taxpayers’ dime” and calling for accountability from the broadcaster’s executives.
On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let’s build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy #PrideMonth! pic.twitter.com/6JJFhxO9dC
The controversy comes as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, prepares for a House vote on defunding PBS and NPR. Greene has publicly declared her intent to vote “YES” on the measure.
This debate follows President Donald J. Trump’s executive order to halt taxpayer funding for PBS and NPR, citing the need for public broadcasting to remain “fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan.” NPR has since filed a lawsuit seeking to block the presidential directive.
According to the Associated Press, PBS and NPR collectively receive approximately $500 million annually through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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