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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is at it again. This time, she’s insisting her boss is the hardest-working president ever and that she sees it with her “own two eyes every day.”

Leavitt made these claims Monday in an interview on Fox News, after a blistering week of MAGA outrage over President Donald Trump’s decision last week to close the Epstein case, causing his most loyal supporters to lose their minds.

Karoline Leavitt and President Donald Trump (Photo: @karolineleavitt/Instagram)

“I just want to say to your audience there is not a more hard-working president than Donald J. Trump. I witness it with my own two eyes every day. That man is working around the clock. He hardly ever sleeps. He’s constantly thinking, not just about the problems in our country here, but around this world and how to solve them,” Leavitt claimed on “The Sean Hannity Show.”

“But he has spent more time playing golf and taking three-day weekends than any President in US history. She’s flat out lying about seeing him every day, unless she goes to MAL (Mar-a-Lago) with him….,” a user on X posted.

But he has spent more time playing golf and taking three day weekends than any President in US history. She's flat out lying about seeing him every day ,unless she goes to MAL with him….

— Wear your masks (@tonyver45) July 15, 2025

“And look at what he’s done on the world stage with bringing peace to the Middle East,” Leavitt continued.

The last time we looked, the war between Israel and Hamas is still raging in Gaza, with thousands of Palestinians dead and more dying every day. Not to mention the increased tensions between Iran and Israel, with the U.S. getting involved last month and attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.

News reports at the time indicated Trump gave the green light to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran on June 12, even as the U.S. nuclear negotiations with Tehran had been scheduled to continue on June 15 in Oman.

Leavitt went on to cite Trump’s attempts at bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiation table, which have hugely failed as Moscow keeps bombing Kyiv, and Russian President Vladimir Putin simply ignores Trump.

“This is a president who is a peacemaker-in-chief, and it cannot be understated how successful the first six months of this administration have been thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Leavitt added.

“And nobody spews more lies with their own two lips than Karoline Leavitt — and we witness it every single day,” Thomas St James posted on X.

And Machine Pun Kelly posted this: “He has never ‘worked’ a day in his life. He walks around pontificating about sh-t he doesn’t understand. That’s not work.”

A website dedicated to keeping track of Trump’s golfing habits, Didtrumpgoldtoday.com, is reporting the president has golfed 40 out of the last 177 days in office. Those numbers were determined using the president’s public schedule posted to Roll Call Factbase

The site estimates that Trump’s golfing trips so far have cost taxpayers an estimated $56 million. That’s based on the average price per round calculated by the cost per trip based on a 2019 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office on the cost of four golf trips Trump took during his first term in office.

‘Flat Out Lying’: Social Media Erupts After Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Claims He’s the Most ‘Hard-Working’ President In History

Details surrounding Gary Coleman’s passing have haunted fans and loved ones for years, so much so that his “Diff’rent Strokes” co-star Todd Bridges is now calling for the truth to finally come out.

Bridges is speaking out about Coleman’s ex-wife after a shocking lie detector test seemingly revealed she was not completely honest about the tragic events that claimed Coleman’s life in 2010.

Shannon Price’s explosive appearance on A&E’s “Lie Detector: Truth or Deception” has reignited a firestorm of suspicion around Coleman’s mysterious fall at his Utah home.

Todd Bridges is demanding the truth from Gary Coleman’s ex-wife Shannon Price after she failed a lie detector test about her role in the “Diff’rent Strokes” star’s mysterious 2010 passing. (Photos by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The beloved actor, known for his iconic role as Arnold Jackson and the catchphrase “What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” died at just 42 years old from intracranial hemorrhaging and cardiac arrest following what was officially ruled an accidental fall.

“What is she hiding? What really happened on that day?” Bridges demanded in an interview with Access Hollywood after watching Price’s polygraph examination for the first time. His pointed questions come after years of harboring private suspicions about Price’s role in Coleman’s transition.

Price was the person who called 911 after the fatal fall down the stairs.

“I believe that Gary Coleman… he deserves to have it really looked into a lot more,” Bridges stated, breaking his long-held silence on the matter.

The polygraph examination, administered by former FBI agent George Olivo, put Price through an intense questioning session that yielded disturbing results.

When asked three critical questions about her relationship with Coleman and the events surrounding his sudden passing, Price’s responses painted a troubling picture. The first two questions about whether she had ever struck Coleman during their relationship and whether she intentionally withheld aid after his fall both returned inconclusive results, as interpreted by Olivo.

However, the final and most crucial question proved to be her undoing. When Olivo asked directly if she had physically caused Coleman’s fall, Price answered “no,” but Olivo claimed the polygraph indicated deception.

“You failed the exam regarding Gary’s fall,” Olivo told her bluntly. “There is more to this story that hasn’t been told. The body never lies. The body always tells the truth.”

The public reaction to what A&E presented as Price’s failed polygraph test has been swift and unforgiving. After several outlets posted the results, readers chimed in with their suspicions.

“Her karma will catch up to her,” one social media user wrote, while another observed, “I agree with Todd Bridges! The police need to do something about the investigation, about the [passing] of Gary Coleman, who was one the best child actors back in them days! Shannon Price lied the whole time when she caused Gary Coleman to fall.”

The ex-wife of 80s TV star Gary Coleman 'fails' lie detector test after being asked about the fatal fall that ended his life.

Coleman passed away in 2010 after falling down the stairs at his Utah home.

His passing was ruled an accident; however, some accused Shannon Price of… pic.twitter.com/EoChlpOiC2

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 8, 2025

Others called for more serious consequences, with one user declaring, “She a damn liar and I don’t trust her.”

A third asked, “So she lied about his [passing], huh?”

Many picked up on what they deemed as Price’s nervous behavior during the test, with one astute observer noting, “When he started the lie detector she kept saying ‘I’m REALLY figity’! Like she was trying to make any excuse prior, you know, just in case, she failed the test!! It didn’t work…cuz she FAILED it!!!”

The lingering questions about motive continue to perplex those following the case, as one user pondered, “Did she have anything to gain? Usually there’s a motive, it doesn’t have to be monetary; spite? Revenge? Nothing adds up.”

The purported failed test has validated Bridges’ long-standing suspicions about Price, which he voiced previously in 2023.

He claimed that Coleman had confided in him just two months before his homegoing, expressing fears about his safety.

“The last conversation I had with Gary was he was worried about his safety with Shannon,” Bridges disclosed in his recent interview. Coleman had allegedly told his former co-star that he and Price were “always getting into it” and that “she’s stronger than me.”

Bridges claims he had previously kept his suspicions private, admitting, “I never publicly said it because I didn’t want to worry about being sued, but if she doesn’t pass this lie detector test, I can say what I want then.”

The relationship between Coleman and Price had been turbulent, marked by allegations of domestic violence and multiple police calls to their home. A year before his Coleman’s passing, the actor was arrested in Utah after a dispute with Price, released after posting $1,725 bail, according to CBS News.

Price, who had been divorced from Coleman since 2008 but continued living with him, has maintained her innocence throughout the years. She argued that Olivo was simply “relying on a machine” and emphasized that she was never charged in connection with Coleman’s transition. “There is a reason I am not in prison,” she insisted. “There is a legit reason for that. It’s because they did a thorough investigation.”

Price also made the controversial decision to remove Coleman from life support just two days after his fall, despite his living will requesting he be kept alive for 15 days before terminating treatment. What doctors didn’t know at the time was that Price and Coleman were no longer legally married, though she presented documentation naming her as the decision maker on his medical directive.

For Bridges, the polygraph test represents vindication of his long-held suspicions and a call to action. His public demands for truth reflect his belief that Coleman deserves justice, ensuring that questions surrounding his former co-star’s passing remain far from settled.

‘You Failed the Exam Regarding Gary’s Fall’: Todd Bridges Accuses Gary Coleman’s Ex-Wife of ‘Hiding’ the Truth as Lie Detector Results Raise Red Flags About His Final Moments

A suburban Atlanta father says what was meant to be a proud moment for his family’s small business turned into a painful and public lesson in discrimination when his disabled son, who uses a wheelchair, was ordered to leave their vending booth at Cumberland Mall during MLB All-Star Weekend in Atlanta.

“If my son can’t stay, then we can’t stay,” said Demond Crump Sr., who walked out of the mall with his wife and 32-year-old son, Demond Crump Jr., who has cerebral palsy. “We are leaving as well.”

The Henry County family was invited to participate in a special vendor showcase at the Cobb County mall after winning a Morehouse College pitch competition for their lifestyle brand, Reign. But as they were setting up shop on Friday, they say the general manager of the mall approached and told them their son had to go.

Demond Crump Sr. created a heartfelt video about an encounter he had with the general manager of the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta. (Photo: Instagram/Reignpads)

“We were setting up [and] we were told that my son couldn’t be there with us,” said Crump, according to Atlanta News First. “He needed to leave the mall. We were like, ‘huh? What do you mean?’ Like, he couldn’t be here as if he was in the way. We are his parents. We are able to watch him, see him, everything.”

Crump said he tried to reason with the manager, explaining that their son is an integral part of their company and always accompanies them. “I was talking to him man-to-man, father-to-father, like ‘man, this is my son you’re speaking of,’ and there was just no remorse,” he said.

Frustrated, the family packed up and left. Moments before exiting the mall, Crump recorded a Facebook video, later viewed by hundreds of thousands of times across various platforms. “I come to you with tears in my eyes,” he said in the post. The caption read in part: “Special needs people can’t come to the mall now?”

The Crumps say they were never given a clear reason at the time for why their son couldn’t stay, but they suspect it had to do with optics during the high-traffic All-Star Weekend. They were initially told one parent could leave with their son while the other stayed behind to run the table.

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“You’re saying that my son has to leave. And he’s like, ‘Yes,’ and I’m like, ‘What is he doing?’ This is my child. This is my son. He’s a human being. At this point, I’m really shocked,” Crump recalled.

Crump also claims that when he questioned the general manager directly about the decision, the response was dismissive. “And I said, ‘Sir, do you know this is discrimination?’” Crump recalled. “He said, ‘File whatever complaint you want. You guys can leave.”

In a statement sent to local media, Cumberland Mall’s ownership group, Brookfield Properties, addressed the backlash: “This was a deeply unfortunate situation. We are very sorry for our poor communication causing this misunderstanding. We have reached out to Mr. Crump and welcome his family to return to our shopping center.”

But Crump flatly rejected that explanation. “This was not a misunderstanding,” he said. “So, we don’t have any desire to return to the mall. We have no plans on doing that.”

He said the general manager also called him later in the day to apologize, citing “a safety issue” and offering to relocate the family to a different part of the mall — an offer the Crumps declined.

“Now, all of a sudden, you want to make amends,” Crump said. “Doesn’t work that way.”

The family has since hired an attorney and is considering legal action.

When contacted by Atlanta Black Star, the Crump family had no comment other than to say that their attorney would be addressing the situation moving forward.

‘You’re Saying That My Son Has to Leave’: Atlanta Family Outraged After Mall Staff Allegedly Discriminates Against Disabled Son During MLB All-Star Weekend, Plans to Sue

A shooting investigation in Mississippi is raising questions about the assault charges that authorities filed against a man who reportedly defended himself from several people who attacked him near a party.

The incident happened in Adams County, Mississippi, on July 11, according to local reports.

Deputies with the county sheriff’s office were called to a scene where someone had been shot near the site of a party.

A video screenshot shows men attacking Reginald Butler. (YouTube screenshot/WLBT 3 on Your Side)

At the shooting location, responding officers located a man with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A preliminary investigation revealed that two separate altercations had broken out in which multiple people attacked a man named Reginald Butler.

Video from the initial attack shows Butler trying to ride his bicycle across a bridge when one man shoved him to the ground. Then, at least three white men surround and begin attacking Butler.

“It was one of the most heinous things that you could see,” said Adams County Sheriff Travis Patton. “If you watch this video, it would make the average person who has passion in their heart get emotional.”

After the attack, Butler fled the area on his bicycle but later returned to the area, this time to a different bridge, where he encountered one of his attackers, who authorities identified as Cameron Taunton. Patton believes Butler went home and retrieved a gun.

Witness statements revealed that the individual exited his car, confronted Butler, and then began attacking him.

In response, Butler pulled out the weapon and fired several shots. One of the bullets hit his assailant in the chest and also struck the vehicle once.

Butler and the individual fled the scene. Deputies located Butler at his house, where they took him into custody. The man Butler shot was airlifted to a hospital.

Butler was also taken to a hospital to be treated for wounds he sustained in the assaults.

He was later jailed on aggravated assault charges.

When asked why Butler was charged, Patton told WLBT that initial evidence and witness statements suggested that the shooting followed “a series of altercations,” including Butler attempting to return to the scene after the initial assault, “which we now know isn’t completely accurate.”

“The decision to charge Butler with aggravated assault reflects the totality of circumstances at this stage,” the sheriff continued, “including whether the use of force met legal standards for self-defense under Mississippi law. All of this is being reviewed now that the video evidence has emerged and statements have changed.

Taunton and another man involved in the assault on Butler have been charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Authorities have identified the other man as Houston Lee Pretty.

The investigation is ongoing. Patton said his office has reached out to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI to help determine if this is considered a hate crime.

“That was a very emotional thing for this community. You can see the pain, the anger and the frustration,” the sheriff added.

‘The Totality of Circumstances’: Black Man Shoots One of His White Attackers Near Mississippi Party, But He’s Facing Charges While Cops Probe for Self-Defense, Hate Crimes

In an old clip resurfaced on Instagram on July 14 of actor Charlie Sheen revealed how Donald Trump’s cufflinks ended up in his possession, only to find out later they weren’t the real deal.

The actor sat with Graham Norton on his self-titled talk show in 2016, recounting a moment from five years earlier when Trump bestowed the cufflinks on him.

Charlie Sheen takes jabs at Donald Trump years after being gifted fake cufflinks by him. ((L) Photo by Sam Tabone/WireImage)) (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“I was at a dinner with my ex-wife Brooke and her family and about halfway through  I noticed Donald um staring at my watch,” said Sheen.

He claimed Trump then apologized for not being able to make it to his wedding with his now ex-wife Brooke Mueller. The apology proved to be unnecessary since, according to Sheen, Trump was never invited. 

“So he says, ‘But you know I want to give you an early wedding gift as a gesture from me and Melania [Trump],'” said Sheen.

He described Donald’s wife, the first lady, as “very sweet and very pretty” but notes she didn’t say a word during this exchange between him and her husband.

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According to Sheen, Trump goes on to say, “’These are platinum diamond Harry Winston’ and he pulls off his cufflinks and he gives them to me. And so I’m like ‘Oh gosh, Mr. Trump, you really shouldn’t do this.’ He goes ‘No, no. It’s the least I can do and you know have a great marriage’ and all that.”

Sheen and his ex-wife finalized their divorce in 2011 after tying the knot in 2008 but their marriage was marred by allegations and accusations including Mueller’s battle with drug addiction, a struggle that Sheen also dealt with before Mueller. 

On Christmas Day, Mueller accused Sheen of abuse, for which he received multiple charges including felony menacing, third-degree assault and criminal mischief. From their marriage, they welcomed their 17-year-old twin sons Bob and Max Sheen. 

Six months after receiving the cufflinks from Trump, Sheen told Norton that he had a jeweler come and appraise some items for him. On her way out, he remembered that he had Trump’s cufflinks and was “curious” about their worth. 

“She took the loop, spent about four seconds and kind of recoiled from it, much like people do from Trump. And so she says, ‘In their finest moment this is cheap pewters and bad zirconias.” 

Pewters are alloys which are a mixture of chemicals. They can be used to make inexpensive jewelry. Zirconias are stones that only visually resemble natural diamonds but aren’t of the same worth. 

Sheen added, “What does this really say about the man you know that he said here’s like a great wedding gift and it’s just a bag of dog sh-t.”

As the audience erupted in laughter, Sheen took another jab at Trump, “Is that the laughter I can hear coming from across the pond at our country about this charlatan.” 

Norton chimed in with a neutral response, and said, “it’s scary times all over the place.” 

But Sheen, who clearly is not a supporter of Trump said, “I have faith that good and decent people will make the right choice and the circus will leave town before it contaminates the oval office.”

Comedian DL Hughley reposted the clip to his Instagram with the caption, “DIRTY!!! #TeamDL.”

One of his fans chimed in, “The con never stops with that man. I believe this 100%.”

Another wrote, “He took “Fake it till you make” to a whole different level!”

Over the years, some celebrities have admitted to rocking fake jewelry for various reasons. Some may do it to keep up their luxurious appearance without blowing their money. Others do it for safety reasons. 

While Trump himself has never explained why he walks around with cheap cufflinks, other people have come out to reveal they too were gifted the same item from him. 

He also gave his mentor and the late famed lawyer Roy Cohn the inauthentic jewelry It wasn’t discovered that they weren’t real until Cohn’s partner Peter Fraser got them appraised after inheriting them.

Someone else came forward after Trump pretended to take down Vince McMahon in 2007 at a wrestling match. He claimed he lost one of his $50,000 “Trump Stamped” cufflinks but a source told The Post that the cufflinks weren’t even worth $100. 

‘Dirty’: Charlie Sheen Thought Trump’s ‘Diamond’ Gift Was Real, Then He Got It Appraised and What the Jeweler Said Left Him Stunned

A Black woman who was fired from her job as a city clerk in Haines City, Florida, will get $550,000 to settle her federal lawsuit against the city and its mayor for alleged racial discrimination, defamation, harassment and retaliation.

Erica Anderson was hired as a deputy clerk by Haines City in 2017 and then promoted to city clerk in 2020.

According to her lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida (and obtained by Atlanta Black Star), then-mayor Anne Huffman, who is also Black, bullied Anderson with harassing and derogatory comments, including telling her that she should stop wearing her hair in “Aunt Jemima Braids” and repeatedly referring to her as “unbecoming.”

Former Haines City, Florida, clerk Erica Anderson (right) settled a federal lawsuit in June 2025 against the city and its former mayor, Anne Huffman (left), whom Anderson alleged harassed her with racially discriminatory and defamatory comments and fired her after she complained about it. (Photos: City of Haines website and Facebook Page)

Anderson has a disabling skin and hair condition, the complaint says, and the mayor taunted her about her missing eyebrows and demanded she wear makeup to cover up her skin.

Huffman also told Anderson that she did not act “Black enough” or talk Black enough, and as a result, “would not be accepted by certain city neighborhoods,” the lawsuit says.

In 2021, Anderson claims she reported to the five-member city commission that a male vendor was sexually harassing her and making her feel uncomfortable. In response, instead of taking remedial action to stop the harassment, Huffman allegedly warned her, “Are you sure this is what you want to do to another Black man?”

In the spring of 2022, the complaint says Huffman targeted Anderson regarding her use of city credit cards, indicating that she had misused them. Haines City later cleared Anderson of any wrongdoing related to credit cards, but Huffman continued to harass and call her out at public meetings, to embarrass her, the lawsuit says.

On May 31, 2022, Anderson made a complaint to the city under the Florida Whistleblower’s Act alleging harassing, inappropriate, and discriminatory conduct by Huffman. In it, she detailed a hostile work environment, bullying, and psychological harassment that had caused her severe stress and anxiety and led her to seek medical care.

Huffman immediately retaliated, the complaint says, by threatening her reputation and credibility before the city commission and the public.

Two days later, after she filed her complaint, on June 2, 2022, Anderson’s then-fiancé, Barry Gaston, asked Huffman during a commission meeting how it was that she could serve in public office if she was a convicted felon. (Huffman “was arrested and prosecuted for felony grand theft and entered into a pre-trial diversion program,” Anderson claimed in a court filing in January). Huffman told Gaston to ask about “something relevant,” and when he persisted to ask about her criminal record, she kicked him out of the meeting.

Huffman then said, “As a point of clarification … and just for those of you who are not aware, that’s our City Clerk Erica Anderson’s other boyfriend.”

The complaint contends the mayor was “insinuating that Anderson was promiscuous,” and that her comments were defamatory and intentionally made to cause her humiliation and harm to her reputation.  

Anderson, who is now married to Gaston, insists in her complaint that she never had two boyfriends or ever discussed her personal life with Huffman, and says she was deeply embarrassed and left the public meeting in tears.

She continued to be upset at work over the next two weeks, crying at her desk. On June 16, 2022, she informed the city commission that she would be taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to a serious health condition that had developed from the hostile work environment.

The next day, the lawsuit says, Huffman sent an email to the city’s human resources director asking if the FMLA required employers to pay employees “the entire time they are not on the job” and also asked if they are required to “maintain the position during the time away?”

Huffman then began a campaign to get rid of Anderson while she was on leave, the complaint alleges.

On July 3, 2022, the mayor told the local newspaper The Lakeland Ledger regarding Anderson’s absence that she was “baffled by the whole thing,” that “It’s a hot mess,” and “The residents deserve more, we just don’t know where she is,” despite knowing that Anderson was on approved medical leave.

By July, she was diagnosed with depression, insomnia and anxiety, Anderson claims.

While she was gone, the city demoted Anderson, and Huffman put the proposed termination of her employment on a city meeting agenda prior to her return to work. When she returned from leave on Sept. 22, 2022, the city commissioners voted to suspend Anderson with pay until the next commission meeting. Three days later, she was blocked from entering city facilities and accessing accounts.

Anderson then filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which the lawsuit asserts was a second whistleblower complaint. She gave a copy of the EEOC filing to the city commission and Huffman on Oct. 3.

The following day, Anderson was fired “without cause” after a 3-2 vote by the city commissioners, including Huffman (who, under the Haines city government structure, served as both a commissioner and mayor).

Prior to voting to terminate Anderson, Huffman and one of the commissioners had discussed their concerns over a backlog of city minutes and city ordinances that needed to be officially recorded, duties that the clerk’s office is responsible for. Other commissioners and city staff pointed out that the backlog of minutes had existed for years, prior to Anderson’s hiring, and that the city should give Anderson more time to catch up, given that she had just returned from a few months of leave, according to court documents.

The lawsuit says her firing by Huffman and the city was in retaliation for her complaints and for taking medical leave, in violation of the state whistleblower’s act and the FMLA.

It also accuses Haines City of racial discrimination and harassment, and Huffman of defamation for imputing to the public that “Plaintiff was promiscuous, was not truthful, and insinuated Plaintiff went on FMLA for suspicious reasons and was [AWOL – Absent Without Leave].”

For causing her economic and emotional damages and harming her reputation and career, Anderson sought a jury trial to award her compensatory damages, back pay and front pay, reinstatement to an equivalent position at the city, or a judgment making up for her monetary losses, as well as punitive damages.

In their answer filed in December 2023 and in other court documents filed more recently, the City of Haines and Huffman denied all of Anderson’s allegations.

The city asserted that she was fired for underperforming and had not proven any of her legal claims.

In March, U.S. District Court Judge William F. Jung denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, finding that prior to making her original complaint, the commissioners had individually given Anderson positive performance reviews.

Huffman, he wrote, gave her a “glowing review,” stating that Anderson “exceeded [her] expectations,” had an “exceptional” work ethic, and was “reliable,” “dependable,” and a “great asset to the city. … Indeed, the entire Commission had discussed giving Plaintiff a raise.”

Jung further noted that immediately after Anderson requested FMLA leave, “Ms. Huffman was angry and retributive, specifically asking if Plaintiff could be fired while on FMLA leave. … The City contemplated using tardy FMLA paperwork as a reason for firing Plaintiff, and ultimately suspended Plaintiff the very day she returned from FMLA leave. This is sufficient evidence of retaliatory … animus.”

The judge also ruled that Huffman’s “other boyfriend” comment at the June 2 Commission meeting was not made as part of her official job duties at the city and that she couldn’t claim immunity on the defamation claim.

He further observed that Anderson had “offered evidence of injury suffered as a result of the statement. She proffers reputational harm and emotional distress, plus resultant medical leave, treatment, therapy and economic harm.”

In April, the parties jointly agreed to dismiss the defamation claim against Huffman, leaving Haines City as the remaining defendant.

The case proceeded to trial in June, and on the second day, on June 17, the city and Anderson decided to settle, filing a notice of joint settlement with the court.

On July 3 the City of Haines commission voted to approve the agreement which stipulates that the city’s insurer will pay Anderson $550,000 and that the city will pay $2,500 to the insurer.

Anderson agreed to dismiss her claims against the city and to sign a release benefiting the city, which admits no liability in the matter. The parties will pay for their own attorneys’ fees and legal costs.

Kelly Chanfrau, Anderson’s attorney, told Fox13, “Erica is an amazing person. This never should’ve happened. She was an incredible city clerk, and she stood up for others so they don’t have to endure this.”

In an emailed statement to Atlanta Black Star, Merissa Green, a spokesperson for Haines City, noted, “The Second Amended Complaint contained four counts against Commissioner Anne Huffman (FMLA Retaliation, FMLA Interference, Defamation Per Se, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress). All counts against Commissioner Anne Huffman were either dropped or dismissed prior to the start of the trial in federal court.”

Reflecting that the judge had not yet approved the settlement between Anderson and Haines City, Green said while the city commission did approve the settlement on July 3, “the case is still technically open” and the city will not make further comment for now.

Stop Wearing ‘Aunt Jemima Braids’: Former Florida City Clerk Gets $550K Settlement After Mayor Insulted Her at Public Meetings, Implying She Was Promiscuous

 Donald Trump Jr.’s Public Display of Affection with New Girlfriend Backfires as Fans Call It a Cheap Shot at Tiger Woods

Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson have no problem showing public displays of affection.  

The Palm Beach socialite and the oldest son of President Donald Trump locked lips in front of photographers while on their way to the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey on July 13.

Donald Trump Jr. warned about his new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson. (Photos: @donaldtrumpjr /Instagram; @bettina_anderson/Instagram)

Don Jr., 47, and Bettina, 38, were caught kissing at Teterboro Airport. According to Page Six, the couple embraced PDA while waiting for President Trump and first lady Melania Trump to arrive at the site.

The romance between Don and Bettina reportedly began in 2024 after his failed engagement to former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Before his seven-year relationship with Guilfoyle from 2018 to 2024, Don married Vanessa Trump in 2005. The parents of five children officially ended their marriage in 2019. 

Vanessa, 47, is currently dating professional golf legend Tiger Woods, 49. In March 2025, Woods confirmed he is the boyfriend of the president’s former daughter-in-law.

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“Love is in the air, and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts,” Woods wrote about Vanessa on Instagram.

To further complicate the personal connections of the Trump family, Woods is a high-profile supporter of the Republican politician. The elder Donald also presented Tiger with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 during his first administration.

After getting inaugurated for a second non-consecutive term in January 2025, Trump invited Woods to the White House in February for a meeting, just weeks before the golfer’s social media hard launch with Lara.

Don’s decision to move on from Lara and Kimberly to Bettina sparked a lot of feedback online. In particular, images of the pair smooching and walking hand-in-hand on the Teterboro Airport tarmac led to Page Six readers mentioning Tiger.

Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Bettina Anderson can’t resist excessive PDA before President Trump’s arrival https://t.co/jpSuaRpZw3 pic.twitter.com/Q3LrTpY4lj

— Page Six (@PageSix) July 13, 2025

“PDA was planned to show Don’s ex Vanessa that he is more desirable than Tiger Woods,” read one comment. A similar response stated, “Vanessa and Tiger are winning! Notice how discreet and chill they are in comparison.”

A third said, “Lucky Jr., he doesn’t have to pack his 5 kids around with him every day. He’s childfree … Tiger Woods is bearing his 5 burdens now.”

A third commenter downplayed the romantic chemistry between Don and his new lady-friend by writing, “He honestly doesn’t look like he’s reciprocating the affection. It looks like she’s way more into him than he is into her.” 

On the other hand, one person posted, “I do not see Bettina lasting out the year. Donnie surely will trade her in for a younger model.” Another critic proclaimed, “You got to be real desperate to fall for a Trump?”

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President Trump’s first wife, Ivana Trump, gave birth to Don Jr. in December 1977. Ivana was also the mother of a daughter, Ivanka Trump, and a second son, Eric Trump, with the MAGA leader.

Don first met Vanessa in 2003 before tying the knot with the former model two years later. During their marriage, the couple had five children: Kai, 18, Donald III, 16, Tristan, 13, Spencer, 12, and Chloe, 11.

Kai has a common interest with her mother’s new beau. Like Woods, the teenager is a competitive golfer. The upcoming high school senior also built a following as a social media influencer.

Don’s present partner, Bettina, was born in December 1986 to entrepreneur Harry Loy Anderson Jr. and philanthropist Inger Anderson. The Columbia University graduate has worked as a model, and she founded The Paradise Fund nonprofit organization.

‘You Got to be Real Desperate to Fall for a Trump?’: Donald Trump Jr.’s Steamy Photos with New Girlfriend Raise Eyebrows as Critics Say He’s Trying to Compete with Ex-Wife Vanessa and Tiger Woods

It’s been almost a year since Memphis police lied on their police report, accusing a Black man named Mario Shaw of assaulting them when surveillance video clearly shows them attacking him by punching, kicking, tasering and biting him over a dispute with a neighbor about dog poop.

But as usual, the cops were cleared of any wrongdoing even though they could have been charged with a felony for lying in their report, according to a former cop, prosecutor and defense attorney who discussed the case on a video on his YouTube channel posted below.

However, the Ring video from Shaw’s home was enough for a judge to dismiss all charges against Shaw, including assault on a first responder, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication.

Mario Shaw, right, was brutally attacked by Memphis cops on his front porch (Photo: ABC24 Memphis)

Now the 49-year-old man is preparing to file a lawsuit against the Memphis Police Department, according to ABC24 Memphis, which obtained the video from Shaw’s home but was denied body camera footage from Memphis police who claim the incident is still under investigation by internal affairs.

“It destroyed my trust in the Memphis Police Department and ruined my mental [health],” Shaw told ABC24. “When I’m out driving around, I’m looking around worrying about a cop targeting me again.”

Memphis police tried to justify the actions of Memphis police officers Taiyuan Brooks and Kevin Shannon to local media by saying Shaw was “possibly armed” and that they used “less-lethal methods to safely take the suspect into custody.”

But the video makes one wonder why they even had to arrest him in the first place, since all Shaw was holding was a phone in his hand, asking for a police supervisor, telling the officers on the scene to get off his property.

Neighborly Dispute

The incident took place on July 25, 2024, right before midnight, after Shaw got into an argument with a neighbor regarding the neighbor’s dog defecating in his yard, the continuation of a long-running dispute between the two neighbors about their dogs.

The neighbor called police, accusing Shaw of being drunk and threatening him with a gun, local media reported.

When Memphis police arrived, Shaw said he stepped out of his home to talk to them to give his side of the story, but he noticed they began getting aggressive with him.

“I came out and talked to one of the officers and explained to him what was going on, I noticed that the officers seemed to be getting kind of aggressive,” Shaw told ABC24.

Shaw said he walked back into his home to call police and request a supervisor because the cops on the scene were scaring him. He then stepped out of his home with the phone in his hand, which is where the Ring footage posted by ABC24 begins.

The video shows Shaw standing on his front porch holding a phone to his ear as Officer Brooks stands at the end of the walkway to his front door, near the sidewalk at least 40 feet away.

“Get out from my yard!” Shaw tells the cop before turning back around to walk back inside his home. 

That was when Brooks runs up the walkway, grabs him and throws him on the ground, punching him several times in the back of the head.

Officer Shannon then runs up and starts tasering Shaw before kicking him several times. One of the cops also bit him twice, leaving him with a visible bite mark on his body.

Shaw said he spent about a week in jail before he was released.

Police Lies

The cops wrote in their report that Shaw was the aggressor and they were the victims.

“The suspect started to physically swing his fist at Officer Brooks striking him in the face,” the cops wrote in their report obtained by ABC24. 

“The suspect struck both Officer Shannon and Brooks, the suspect Mario Shaw started to then swing at both officers and also knocked their glasses off.”

The report makes no mention of the cops punching and kicking Shaw, but it does say they felt threatened because he was “possibly armed,” even though they found no gun on him.

Shaw told local media that when he was about to walk back inside, the cop ran up and said something like, “give me your hand.”

“So I put my arm out and I’m assuming he is going to put handcuffs on me, but he decided to start biting me,” Shaw told local media. “The assault just went on from there.”

Memphis police provided ABC24 with the following statement:

According to reports, the officers employed hard-hand techniques and less-lethal methods to safely take the suspect into custody. The officers were initially dispatched in response to a call from the victim, who reported that the suspect had threatened their life and was in possession of a firearm.

After a thorough review of the incident, it was determined that no disciplinary action was warranted. The Memphis Police Department remains committed to transparency and accountability.

However, ABC24 states that they have been requesting body camera footage since January and have yet to receive any.

Furthermore, the fact that the cop ran up to Shaw to attack him as he was walking back into his home using the excuse that Shaw was possibly armed was in complete contrast to officer safety training, according to attorney James White, who posts about police interactions on his YouTube channel, Southern Drawl Law.

“No police officer observing officer safety would ever rush towards a person they thought was armed,” he said. “An objectively reasonable police officer would have taken cover, probably drawn either a firearm or a taser, and started giving verbal commands to Mr. Shaw.”

“The way that they acted is completely inconsistent with what you would do if you were doing what they said they were doing in the report so it’s very clearly a false report, which is actually a C felony under Tennessee law.”

‘Clearly a False Report’: Black Man Kicked, Punched, Tasered and Bitten By Memphis Cops On His Own Porch. Then They Lie to Cover It Up, But He Had a Surveillance Camera

It appears siblings Willow Smith, 24, and Jaden Smith, 27, ended a recent lunch outing on a sour note.

Footage recently surfaced showing the children of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith meeting up at Bubby’s restaurant in Manhattan, New York City, on July 10. The two were spotted enjoying a casual meal together at the popular Tribeca eatery before noticing the cameras facing their direction.

Famous siblings Willow Smith and Jaden Smith had the internet talking after paparazzi caught them eating together in Manhattan. (Photo: @jadapinkettsmith/Instagram)

At one point, Willow seemed to notice that an unknown bystander was filming the two second-generation entertainers as they ate. The “Whip My Hair” singer appeared visibly annoyed.

Jaden remained seated with his back to the cameraperson while his sister prepared to leave. Several men, who appeared to be security guards, stood beside them.

One of the apparent bodyguards held his hand up, seemingly trying to block the camera shot, when Willow got up from the table. The video ends with Willow hugging her brother before darting away as Jaden sat back down at the table.

On July 11, The Hollywood Fix shared the clip of Willow and Jaden at Bubby’s in an Instagram post, where fans weighed in on their interrupted meal in the comments.

“She was out of there, ok! They had her fkd up,” one commenter jokingly wondered about Willow’s prompt exit.

Many peopel zooming in to notice the facial expression on both Will and Jada’s kids. “They just both looked so unhappy,” said one person, while another Instagram user pointed out, “They look so miserable. Be careful what you ask for, my people.”

Several additional commenters took issue with someone filming Willow and Jaden in the moment. One person declared, “Let people just eat in peace.”

Some theorized what was on Willow’s mind including, one person who wrote, “The way she kept staring at paparazzi like, ‘Damn, I can’t even enjoy eating lunch with my brother.’”

Another observer said, “No lie Jaden look so disappointed that he couldn’t finish talking and eating with his sister I love them, they are not hurting anyone just doing their things even with the fact that both parents are dysfunctional.”

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Willow and Jaden have both been in the public eye since they were children. Jada gave birth to Jaden in July 1998. He made his feature film debut in 2006’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” alongside his father.

Will and Jada welcomed their only daughter to the world in October 2000. Willow later had a role in her dad’s “I Am Legend” sci-fi film, which premiered in 2007. 

By 2010, Willow was charting on the Billboard Hot 100. “Whip My Hair” peaked at No. 11 on the weekly rankings and earned 3x-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Willow went on to drop six albums, including “Empathogen” in 2024. The NAACP Image Award winner also served as a co-host of her mother Jada’s now-canceled “Red Table Talk” show.

Jaden also released music projects such as “The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1” mixtape and “CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3″ studio LP. His filmography includes “The Karate Kid” motion picture and “The Get Down” television series.

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Will and Jada’s decision to raise Willow and Jaden in a nonconformist way has been met with criticism. The two celebrity heirs’ eccentric fashion choices and unconventional lifestyles have led to complaints directed at their parents.

“Staying out of kids’ space can teach them to be responsible for their own decisions and mistakes,” Jada said in 2008, per People. “Is it their room, or are they borrowing the space while they’re living in your house?”

The “A Different World” actress continued, “If it’s theirs, then they should be able to do whatever they want with it. If it’s their clothes, they have the right to do whatever they want with those clothes. We have to give them some freedom to be who they are.”

Following years of scrutiny, Will recently admitted that his and Jada’s parenting style may not have been the most effective method to rear his two youngest children. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star also has a 32-year-old son named Trey Smith with his first wife, Sheree Zampino.

“We made a very, very, very terrible mistake with our children, and we went with radical honesty. Don’t do it. I’m not advocating for it,” Will said during a June 2025 interview on the British radio show “Heart Breakfast.”

Jada initially met Will when she auditioned for “The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air” in 1994. They eventually began dating and married on December 31, 1997. Jada revealed the couple began living separately in 2016 despite opting to remain in a self-described “bad marriage for life.”

‘They Look So Miserable’: Willow Smith Storms Off Mid-Lunch with Jaden, Her Reaction Has Fans Buzzing with Theories

A Missouri police officer working off-duty security in the Kansas City suburb of Westport now faces both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit after a bystander captured video of him kneeing a restrained man in the neck during an arrest in July 2024.

Kansas City Officer Christopher Showalter was indicted last week by a Jackson County grand jury on a misdemeanor fourth-degree assault charge.

Video shows a Kansas City police officer kneeing a man in the face and chin. (Photos: Instagram/Kansas City Star)

According to court documents, Showalter allegedly caused “physical pain” to the victim, William Michael Hardy, by “slamming his face/chin against the concrete sidewalk and kneeing him in the face/chin while the victim was handcuffed and lying on his stomach.”

If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Showalter is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, July 15.

The incident occurred near the intersection of West 40th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on July 6, 2024. Hardy was riding his bicycle into Westport’s entertainment district when officers stopped him. Showalter’s report claims police had ordered Hardy to stop as he approached a screening area. However, a civil lawsuit filed by Hardy last month disputes that account, stating that no barricades were blocking the street at the time.

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Bystander video of the assault, reposted by the Kansas City Star on Instagram, appears to show Hardy already restrained when Showalter delivered the knee strike. In the footage, a bystander reacts in disbelief, exclaiming, “What? What the [expletive] was that for?”

“I think collectively we were all just pretty stunned,” one witness told the Kansas City Star.

The aftermath of the arrest sent Hardy to the hospital with a laceration to his chin. His lawsuit, filed in Jackson County Circuit Court, alleges assault, battery, and false imprisonment. It also names Chesley Brown International, the private security firm that employed Showalter, as a co-defendant, claiming the company is liable for the officer’s actions and failed to properly supervise him.

Hardy’s legal team contends Showalter forcibly removed him from his bicycle without cause, escalating the encounter unnecessarily. While the Kansas City Police Department is not named in the lawsuit, KCPD spokeswoman Officer Alayna Gonzalez told The Kansas City Star the department does not generally comment on pending litigation “to ensure fairness to all sides.” Questions regarding the indictment were referred to the Jackson County prosecutor’s office.

‘We Were All Just Pretty Stunned’: Kansas City Police Officer Caught on Video Kneeing Man in the Face While He’s Handcuff and Lying on His Stomach. Now Cop Is Facing Double Consequences

Michelle Obama is speaking her truth about entering a new chapter of life, and her candid reflections are resonating deeply with women while stirring up angst within her staunchest critics.

During a recent episode of her podcast “IMO,” the former first lady shared intimate thoughts about experiencing personal freedom for the first time in decades, sparking a complex dialogue about women’s autonomy, family obligations, and the right to prioritize oneself.

Michelle Obama’s comments about being “free” from family obligations draw criticism about her “entitlement” while supporters defend her right to prioritize herself. (Photo: @michelleobama/Instagram)

Co-hosting alongside her brother Craig Robinson, Obama opened up to guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, about reaching a pivotal life stage where her choices no longer revolve around supporting her husband’s career or managing her daughters’ daily needs.

The conversation was sparked while addressing a listener’s question about her 68-year-old mother Sharon, who is struggling with being an empty nester and relocating to a new city with her retired husband. The newness of her new life is a struggle for her.

Obama suggests this is really an issue of perspective.

“This stage in life for me is the first time that I have been completely free,” Obama explained. “Every choice that I make in my life is not about my husband, not about his career, not about what my kids need or where they’re going — it’s totally about me.”

She encouraged Sharon to embrace this transition as an opportunity for personal growth, emphasizing that getting older brings unique freedoms worth celebrating.

Obama’s transparency extends beyond this single conversation. She has spoken often about navigating life as an “empty nester” now that daughters Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24, have established independent lives. She has also talked about the freedom she feels post her life as the first lady.

The former first lady has also addressed speculation about her marriage that arose after she chose to skip President Trump’s second inauguration ceremony. She expressed frustration with society’s tendency to assume that independent female decision-making signals marital discord, noting how women often struggle with disappointing others when making personal choices.

Since leaving the White House nearly a decade ago, Obama has authored bestselling books and launched her lifestyle podcast, openly discussing challenges and triumphs throughout different life phases. Her journey from lawyer to first lady to independent creative professional represents a unique navigation of personal ambition within highly public roles.

The podcast comments have generated polarized reactions from people online.

“After hearing this, it’s hard not to see Michelle Obama’s words as the ultimate display of selfishness. Talking about being ‘completely free’ from her husband’s career and her children’s needs? Really? This isn’t empowerment; it’s entitlement,” one critic tweeted.

After hearing this, it's hard not to see Michelle Obama's words as the ultimate display of selfishness. Talking about being 'completely free' from her husband's career and her children's needs? Really?
This isn't empowerment; it's entitlement. The speculation about her marriage… pic.twitter.com/YKfUvU0shJ

— Hosna (@DOGEQEEN) July 13, 2025

Supporters quickly countered this perspective, with one defender writing, “Disagree. Her life has been in service to his career for decades. She raised her kids, she never got to follow her career path. Why can’t she complain now if she wants to? Her work is done.”

Criticism extended, with one person saying, “Never thought I would say this but I almost feel sorry for Barak. almost….?

Another asked, “Starting over? Is she divorcing Barack?”

However, many women found inspiration in Obama’s honesty, particularly those in similar life stages.

“Honestly I don’t see what’s wrong with what she’s saying. She did have to live for her husband & her kids. She’s just tired. She’s acknowledging. Doesn’t mean anything,” one person shared on X.

While Obama’s reflections challenge traditional expectations, they also offer validation to women who have spent decades prioritizing others’ needs over their own aspirations.

The conversation reflects broader generational shifts in how women approach aging, independence, and self-advocacy. And with Obama’s platform amplifying discussions like this, she is giving voice to many women who feel just like she does — albeit never from the perspective of a former first lady.

‘I Almost Feel Sorry for Barack’: Outrage Ensues as Michelle Obama Claims She’s Happy to Be ‘Free’ from Tending to Barack’s Career and Their Daughters 

The Supreme Court of Florida ruled that two Black attorneys who publicly criticized a judge’s decision to reverse a $2.75 million jury award for a Kenyan doctor who sued a hospital system for racial discrimination in 2021 should be suspended from practicing law for 30 days.

In their opinion issued on June 26, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, the seven justices on the court unanimously found that Florida civil rights attorney Jerry Girley and his daughter Brooke Girley, who holds an “of counsel” position in his firm, had engaged in professional misconduct and “impugned the qualifications and integrity” of a Florida judge by making public statements suggesting he was racist and that he had overturned the jury’s verdict because the plaintiff was Black.

In 2021, Jerry Girley represented Baiywo Rop in a civil lawsuit against Adventist Health System before the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Rop, a native of Kenya, alleged that Adventist Health wrongfully terminated him from its residency program due to discrimination based on race, national origin, and disability. The complaint also alleged retaliation.

Civil rights attorneys Brooke Girley (left) and Jerry Girley (right) were suspended by the Florida State Bar for professional misconduct after criticizing the ruling of a Florida judge in a race discrimination case. (Photo: Girley Law Firm Yelp Page)

In 2014, during the first year of his radiology residency, Rop had become ill from an auto-immune disease and began to display symptoms such as chronic red eyes, memory loss and numbness, which inhibited his academic performance, his lawsuit said.

After taking two weeks off to address his medical condition, he requested additional medical leave and offered to do a rotation in Kenya while he was absent, which he said his program director initially supported, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

But other faculty members said Rop was lazy and needed to stop smoking marijuana, the lawsuit said, statements Rop found discriminatory, and which prompted him to complain to program managers. While he was negotiating a solution to remain in his residency, he was fired, with Adventist Health citing poor performance.

After Girley presented Rop’s case to the court, Adventist Health moved for a directed verdict dismissing all of his claims. The presiding judge, Judge Kevin Weiss, granted the health system’s motion on Rop’s claims of discrimination based on national origin and disability. However, he put off ruling on Rop’s claims of discrimination based on race and retaliation for a later date.

At the conclusion of the trial, a six-member jury returned a verdict in favor of Rop, finding that he proved that his race was a motivating factor in the decision to terminate him, and awarded him compensatory damages in the amount of $2.75 million. The jury rejected the retaliation claim.

A week after the jury’s verdict, Judge Weiss ruled on Adventist Health’s earlier motion for a directed verdict based on the racial discrimination claim and decided in favor of Adventist, finding that Rop failed to prove his case for unlawful discrimination based on race under the Florida Civil Rights Act.

After the trial court entered its verdict order, Brooke Girley reposted on her social media posts by her brother Brian Girley, who handles social media for the firm:

“Today in Orlando Florida a white Judge stole justice from a black doctor. After being awarded by a jury $2.75 million for discrimination a judge reversed their verdict. We need help getting this out.” She posted a photo of Weiss along with another message saying “a white judge stole justice from a black doctor.”

Brooke Girley also made comments of her own on social media regarding Judge Weiss and the Rop case, such as “[T]his is an injustice. One judge shouldn’t be able to overturn a jury verdict,” and “The judge did this own [sic] his on [sic] too. No one filed any post-trial motions.”

She further stated: “I don’t believe he had the authority to make this ruling and we need to hold him accountable.” In other posts, she commented, “[S]ounds like he needs to be investigated. #RemoveJudgeWeiss,” and “[T]he court system is a sham!”

She also stated in one post that “[t]he [Dred] Scott rule still applies in 2021: ‘A black man has no rights which a white man is bound to respect.’ Y’all, we can’t let this stand. #RemoveJudgeWeiss.”

In another post, Brooke Girley posted a message claiming that “[E]ven when we win, it only takes one white judge to reverse our victory. … This is an injustice and cannot stand.”

She also posted about organizing a protest rally to “bring attention to fact [sic] that judges are allowed to overturned [sic] jury verdicts and erode our civil rights.”

Meanwhile, in the days after Weiss entered his new verdict, Jerry Girley participated in a couple of online interviews about the case. He suggested, the Supreme Court opinion said, that judges actively make decisions to reduce or preclude monetary awards for Black litigants in discrimination cases and that Judge Weiss was racially biased and exceeded his authority by unlawfully reversing the $2.75 million verdict awarded to Rop.

YouTube video in which attorney Jerry Girley said a judge’s verdict was “a theft” to the community. (Video: BlackLoveUnited)

Among other things, Girley said in a video on a church-based YouTube channel, BlackLoveUnited, “We have gotten jurors to agree with us that discrimination has occurred but consistently we have had judges cut the money, find ways to ensure that our clients at the end of the day did not get paid. Now that’s what happened last Friday,” and “[t]he $2.75 million that was taken by the stroke of a judge’s pen, that was a theft,” “a theft to the community.”

“In our view, in our humble and respectful view, the judge substituted his judgment for the judgment of six people who sat for six days through all the evidence and came to a clear conclusion of what they thought happened,” Girley continued.

The Florida Bar found that the statements by both attorneys violated their oath of admission to the bar, which requires attorneys “to maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers” by repeatedly making suggestions that Judge Weiss was racist and exceeded his authority in reversing the verdict awarded to a Black litigant.

The court agreed, also finding Jerry Girley guilty of conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, noting his statements were widely disseminated, eroded confidence in the justice system, and that “Judge Weiss even received death threats and had to secure additional security for his protection.”

In their briefs, the Girleys argued that their statements about the judge’s ruling were protected by their First Amendment right to free speech.

The court opinion countered that restrictions are imposed on lawyers’ speech by state bar rules, which prohibit them from “mak[ing] a statement that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge.”

It noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld that attorneys must maintain respect to courts of justice and judicial officers, and that “includes abstaining out of court from all insulting language and offensive conduct toward judges personally for their judicial acts.”

In her brief filed in September seeking a review of the bar’s recommendation to discipline her, Brooke Girley argued that “the Bar is attempting to shoot the messenger.”

A graduate of Duke Law School and Yale Divinity School, and a law professor at Delaware Law School, Girley noted that she is a “long-time civil rights advocate and scholar who regularly speaks out against injustice. What [Girley] did in the summer of 2021 was no different than what she has always done. … The Bar simply does not like the content of the Respondent’s speech because it calls out systemic injustice.”

She denied that she ever explicitly called Weiss a racist, and asserted that she had retweeted critical statements made by her brother, and posted “a quote from the infamous Dred Scott case, and the broad critique of the court as a ‘sham.’”

Brooke Girley further argued that she “has voiced such critiques of systemic racism prior to this case and continues to do so as a professor. So what is the difference here? What the Bar is effectively doing here is saying to the Respondent that she can theoretically comment on racial injustice, but she cannot say words that make the Bar feel uncomfortable.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida filed two amicus briefs in support of the Girleys last year when the bar suspended them.

“The Florida Bar’s actions will have the effect of silencing attorneys who speak out against injustice,” said Jerry Edwards, staff attorney at the ACLU of Florida. “The right to criticize the government, including the judiciary, is foundational to our First Amendment protections. There are no special circumstances in this case that justify deviating from this principle.”

The amicus briefs, the ACLU said, “highlight a glaring hypocrisy: while prominent Florida-licensed attorneys like Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz, and Marco Rubio have made similar critical statements about the legal system without facing any sanctions, the Girleys are being punished. This selective enforcement starkly exposes a double standard that undermines fairness and equality under the law. This is precisely the type of hypocrisy the Girleys were fighting against, highlighting their point that there seems to be a separate standard for Black and brown people.”

The 30-day suspensions of both attorneys take effect 30 days from the June 26 ruling, allowing them time to close their practices, unless they notify the court they do not need the time. They cannot take on any new legal business during their 30-day suspension. Jerry Girley was also ordered to attend The Florida Bar’s Professionalism Workshop. The Florida Bar was awarded costs of $3,643 from Brooke Girley and $5,357 from Jerry Girley.

‘A Glaring Hypocrisy’: Florida Supreme Court Under Fire for Punishing Two Black Attorneys After They Publicly Criticized White Judge Who Reversed $2.7M Jury Award for Black Doctor

Veteran actor John Goodman showcased his slimmer frame while attending a Hollywood event.

Goodman, 73, appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of the “Smurfs” movie on July 13. The ex-college football player voiced the Papa Smurf character in the upcoming motion picture.

John Goodman’s weight loss transformation sends fans into a frenzy. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

Photographers captured Goodman on the star-studded “blue carpet” as he posed for pictures while wearing a navy blue suit, a gray patterned tie, and brown loafers.

The former “Roseanne” star has lost significant weight since his Emmy Award-nominated run as family patriarch Dan Conner on the classic television series, which originally ran from 1988 to 1997.

Goodman reportedly was close to hitting the 400-pound mark at one point in his life. According to the New York Post, the Missouri native has shed 200 pounds over the past 15 years.

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“I just stopped eating all the time,” Goodman stated in a 2016 interview. “I’d have a handful of food, and it’d go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically.”

He continued, “In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a 6-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits.”

“Then this time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise,” Goodman said. “I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still anymore. And it gives me the energy to work, ‘cause work is very draining.”

Goodman’s transformation was apparently the result of adopting a Mediterranean diet, giving up alcohol, and embracing exercise. The sport of boxing became a regular part of his routine as well.

John Goodman’s weight loss transformation: 1990s vs. 2016 vs. 2025. (Photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images; @smurfsmovie/Instagram.)

“It’s usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork. It’s great,” Goodman explained in a 2023 interview.

People shared their thoughts on Goodman’s trimmed-down appearance in Los Angeles over the weekend. The Daily Mail comment section was filled with mixed reactions.

“Well done. I hope he has a better life with the weight loss,” commented one fan of “The Righteous Gemstones” cast member.

In contrast, one person wrote, “He’s taking it too far and is too thin.” A harsher comment read, “I can just imagine all that loose skin hanging underneath his suit.”

Another said, “Yes, you can lose 60 pounds, but your skin is permanently stretched out to fit the old weight.”

John Goodman shows off slimmed-down figure at ‘Smurfs’ premiere after 200-pound weight loss https://t.co/JujQG4eIMN pic.twitter.com/RK19V3z3YZ

— New York Post (@nypost) July 14, 2025

“He is obviously much healthier due to his fantastic weight loss – he just doesn’t look it,” suggested a commenter.

One person declared, “Looks like a completely different man.” Someone else enthusiastically added, “Wow, he’s barely recognizable. Great actor.”

Goodman became a household name during his time on “Roseanne” alongside stand-up comedian Rosanne Barr. The ABC sitcom reached No. 1 in the television ratings in 1989-1990, its second season.

“Roseanne” was revived in 2018 before being canceled later that year after Barr’s controversial Twitter remarks. The program was later rebranded as “The Conners” with Goodman as the lead.

Beginning in 2019, Goodman began portraying Eli Gemstone in “The Righteous Gemstones.” The comedy-drama’s fourth season ended on May 4, 2025.

“Smurfs” will debut in North America on July 18. In addition to Goodman, the Chris Miller-directed movie features Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, and more.

‘Looks Like a Completely Different Man’: John Goodman’s Dramatic Weight Loss Has Fans Doing a Double Take Amid Claims the Actor’s Gotten ‘Too Thin’

Maurice McKoy thought he was in for a memorable dining experience last week — but not like this.

While on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Maryland pastor visited Salt & Honey Grill, a restaurant he’d heard buzz about online. 

Maurice McKoy speaks about his experience at Salt & Honey Grill in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo: Facebook/Maurice McKoy)

“A TikTok sensation,” he called it. But instead of a nice dinner, McKoy walked out feeling humiliated, sharing what he described as a racist confrontation with the restaurant’s owner in a Facebook livestream that has since gone viral.

The incident unfolded at Salt & Honey Grill, on North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, after McKoy’s wife asked for adjustments to her steak. 

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“My wife sent back the steak because it wasn’t cooked to her liking,” McKoy said in his livestream on July 9. The dish was returned to their table unchanged, he said, and they were told, “that’s the way it’s supposed to be.” McKoy pushed back, arguing that the customer should have the meal prepared the way they want.

“But that wasn’t the topper, guys,” he continued. 

McKoy said the restaurant’s owner came over to their table, claiming he had searched Google for what a medium-well steak should look like — and insisted theirs was correct. When that explanation didn’t resolve the issue, McKoy said the conversation took a sharp turn. 

“He told my wife and I that Black people are not welcome in his establishment, and that I can leave and I’m barred from his restaurant,” McKoy said. He also alleged the owner told them “that Black people play with his money too much.”

McKoy broadcast his description of the encounter on Facebook, where it drew hundreds of thousands of views and sparked a flood of online reactions, ranging from outrage to skepticism. While many have rallied behind the couple and pledged to boycott the restaurant, others question what exactly happened and whether the full story was being told.

In a Facebook post on July 10, Salt & Honey Grill offered a different account of the incident. The restaurant denied any racist behavior, saying McKoy and his wife had requested that several dishes be remade and were served by “both valued Black team members” who “did their best to accommodate these requests.”

“When it became clear we could not meet their expectations,” the statement read, “we offered to cover the entire bill.” The restaurant said it then informed the couple they would no longer be served.

“At no point were any comments made about race or any group of people,” the statement added. “Our only goal was to protect and preserve a healthy working environment for our staff and a peaceful dining experience for our customers.”

McKoy claimed the owner refused to give his name during the encounter. Public records show the restaurant is owned by Donald Asllanaj and his family, who also own Donald’s Pancake House, located down the street at 2600 North Kings Highway, according to The Sun News.

Comments on the restaurant’s Facebook page were mixed in response. Some longtime patrons defended the business and the owners, sharing their own positive experiences. Others sided with McKoy, saying they’ll no longer spend their money at the restaurant.

‘Black People Are Not Welcome’: Maryland Pastor Says He Faced Racial Discrimination at Viral South Carolina Dinner. Owner’s Statement Slams Claim

Ellen DeGeneres is making it clear where she stands when it comes to supporting her friend Rosie O’Donnell and fellow entertainers against political intimidation.

The former talk show host used her massive social media platform to publicly support O’Donnell after President Donald Trump threatened to revoke O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship, turning what started as a personal feud into a broader conversation about constitutional rights and the limits of presidential power.

(Photo by Michael Rozman/Warner Bros; Photos of Rosie O’Donnell @chattingjason (JasonChatting) Wiki Commons Media/ & Photo of Donald Trump by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

DeGeneres posted to her 135 million Instagram followers a carousel on Sunday, July 13, featuring screenshots of both Trump’s inflammatory social media post and O’Donnell’s fierce response.

Her simple but powerful message, “Good for you,” accompanied by a tag of O’Donnell’s account, sent a clear signal of support that resonated across social media platforms.

The overwhelming response from DeGeneres’ followers reflected the public’s concern about the escalating rhetoric.

“The planet is dying and he’s fighting with celebrities,” one user wrote, capturing the sentiment that the president’s priorities seemed misplaced.

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A post shared by Ellen DeGeneres (@ellendegeneres)

Another supporter declared, “In a world of Donald’s… be a Rosie!!” while a third person pointed out the timing: “Imagine being President of the United States and tweeting this about Rosie O’Donnell.”

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, July 12, announcing he was giving “serious consideration” to revoking O’Donnell’s citizenship, claiming she was “not in the best interests of our Great Country.”

The statement marked a dramatic escalation in their nearly two-decade feud, transforming personal animosity into what legal experts immediately recognized as an unconstitutional threat.

EPIC Trump TRUTH :

Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want… pic.twitter.com/bOMrzZBg9B

— Taxman (@TaxmanTm) July 12, 2025

The legal reality quickly became clear as constitutional scholars weighed in on the impossibility of Trump’s proposal. The 1967 Supreme Court case Afroyim v. Rusk established that the U.S. government cannot revoke an individual’s citizenship without their consent, while the 14th Amendment protects citizenship for all people born on U.S. soil.

Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell University, explained to Newsweek that “a president cannot unilaterally revoke someone’s citizenship,” noting that denaturalization requires specific procedures typically reserved for cases involving fraud or misrepresentation.

The legal consensus reflected what many Americans already understood about constitutional protections, with one social media user noting, “You can’t legally take someone’s citizenship just because you don’t like them.”

O’Donnell fired back from her current home in Ireland, where she moved with her 12-year-old child Clay just days before Trump’s inauguration.

One of her defiant Instagram responses featured a photo of Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein and positioned herself as everything the president “fears.”

She described herself as a “loud woman, mother who tells the truth” and an American who “got out of the country b4 u set it ablaze.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rosie O’Donnell (@rosie)

In a powerful contrast, she wrote, “You lie, you steal, you degrade –
I nurture, I create, I persist. You are everything that is wrong with America –
and I’m everything you hate about what’s still right with it you want to revoke my citizenship?”

She continued taking a jab at Trump’s appearance. She said, “Go ahead and try, King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. I’m not yours to silence,
I never was.”

The feud between Trump and O’Donnell stretches back to December 2006, when O’Donnell, then co-hosting “The View,” criticized Trump’s moral authority during a Miss USA pageant controversy. Their conflict became a cultural touchstone, reaching its most memorable moment during a 2015 presidential debate when Trump’s response to questions about his treatment of women was simply, “Only Rosie O’Donnell.”

Megyn Kelly: "You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals.”

Donald Trump, our President: “Only Rosie O’Donnell.”

He’s not wrong… pic.twitter.com/WiaFYDEqH0

— Ryann McEnany (@RyannMcEnany) March 12, 2025

O’Donnell’s decision to move to Ireland reflects her stated belief that Trump represents a danger to the country. In her response, she called him “a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity,” adding that she stands “in direct opposition [to] all he represents — so do millions of others.”

The incident has sparked broader concerns about presidential overreach, with one commenter warning, “His rants about removing citizenship from Americans isn’t helping make him look sane or democratic. Americans should be very worried.”

While legal experts agree Trump lacks the authority to follow through on his threat, the statement itself signals a troubling willingness to use the presidency as a platform for personal vendettas, making DeGeneres’ public support all the more significant in demonstrating that celebrity voices can still unite against threats to constitutional democracy.

‘The Planet is Dying and He’s Fighting with Celebrities’: Rosie O’Donnell Fires Back, Ellen DeGeneres Sends Signal to Her 135M Fans After Donald Trump Threatens to Remove O’Donnell from the U.S.

Seventy years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, a Black man says he faced the same situation in Fargo, North Dakota, where the driver told him to move seats even though the bus was almost empty.

Xavier Davis was heading home to Minnesota when a Jefferson Lines driver instructed him and another Black passenger to move to the back. White passengers were allowed to sit where they wanted, he said. The driver threatened to call police when the two objected.

Xavier Davis files lawsuit after bus driver forces him to the back of the bus. (Credit KARE11 Video Screengrab)

Last week, as the two-year anniversary of the incident approached, Davis filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court, accusing company and the driver of racial discrimination. 

“This is a true story in 2023,” Davis told The Forum at the time. “I’ve seen it on TV. I’ve seen it in the history books, but I never actually had a white person tell me to go to the back.”

The driver didn’t ask anyone else to move—just Davis and another Black passenger, Jarvis Greenhill, who happened to board at the same time but was headed to a different city. “Back in the day, that would have been OK,” Davis said. “Today? No. We’re paying customers just like everyone else.”

The lawsuit follows a Minnesota Department of Human Rights investigation that found probable cause that Davis was singled out because of his race.

“In 1955 Rosa Parks took a stand and we are not going back, not ever again,” said Davis’ attorney Sam Savage. “They are refusing to take accountability, and the only thing we can do is make it right by awarding him full money justice. That’s the only justice available.”

The incident occurred on July 13, 2023, when Davis boarded a Jefferson Lines bus in downtown Fargo with Greenhill. The driver — identified by Jefferson Lines as Koby McFarlane but listed as “John Doe” in the complaint — told both men to sit at the back of the bus.

When they objected, the driver insisted it was company policy to board passengers from back to front. White passengers were allowed to sit wherever they liked. A video Davis shared with The Forum shows the driver threatening to call police if the two men didn’t comply.

Reluctantly, both men moved. Later, the driver would claim he believed the two Black men were traveling together and smelled like marijuana — assertions the Human Rights Department concluded were based on “discriminatory and stereotypical expectations.”

Commissioner Rebecca Lucero wrote in a January 2025 memo that the driver’s actions were “rooted in the trope that a Black man questioning Driver’s decision was somehow threatening or disruptive.” She found no evidence that Davis did anything to warrant police involvement.

According to the memo, Jefferson Lines failed to provide any legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the driver’s behavior. The company told Davis after the incident that their policy was to seat passengers on a first-come, first-served basis, directly contradicting the driver’s justification.

McFarlane, in his incident report, doubled down, citing passenger comfort and his personal preference for back-to-front boarding to avoid people being hit by luggage in the aisle. Jefferson Lines issued McFarlane a verbal warning one month later for violating the company’s seating policy.

Four months after the incident, Davis filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The lawsuit filed this week seeks damages “far in excess of $50,000” for emotional distress, as well as punitive damages and a civil fine. The complaint argues that the discrimination was especially egregious given the symbolic weight of bus seating in the history of American civil rights.

“Directing a black person and only a black person … to sit in the back of the bus given the iconic status of Rosa Parks’ act of civil disobedience, and subsequent social movement, is direct evidence of discrimination in the context of American history,” Savage wrote in the complaint.

A trial could take place as early as late 2026. Davis and his legal team have tried for months to reach a resolution through mediation, but Jefferson Lines has declined to settle. “They just are unwilling to do the right thing,” Savage said.

Jefferson Lines, one of the largest bus companies in the U.S., operates in 14 states. The company’s chairman, Charlie Zelle — who also chairs the Metropolitan Council — told the Star Tribune he no longer oversees daily operations. A company spokesperson said they could not comment on pending litigation but added, “We remain committed to addressing this matter through the appropriate legal channels.”

The lawsuit isn’t the first time Jefferson Lines has faced such accusations. In 2009, Michelle Jordan said a driver told her and her 3-year-old daughter to sit in the back of the bus on a trip from Minneapolis to Milwaukee. Jordan, the only Black passenger on board, refused. They were kicked off in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, and left outside a convenience store while the driver called police.

As Davis pushes forward with his lawsuit, he does so not just in pursuit of damages — but to make a broader point.

“Ms. Parks’ defiance has become iconic as a symbol of resistance to racial injustice and has been universally praised,” Savage wrote. “We are not going back.”

‘We’re Not Going Back’: White Bus Driver Accused of Reviving Jim Crow Playbook After Ordering Black Man to the Back and Threatening to Call Cops — Now There’s a Lawsuit

Brad Pitt is no stranger to comments about his striking looks, but recently, the conversation has centered on how he appears to be aging backward.

An Instagram account for a Turkish plastic surgeon consultant, @LetsTalkSurgery, shared a video of Pitt leaving his hotel and walking into a frenzy of adoring fans and paparazzi. Aside from how he graciously spoke to fans and apologized for not being able to spend time with them, the account insinuated that Pitt’s ability to be a real-life ‘Benjamin Button’ was due to several “well-done” plastic surgery procedures.

The account began their caption commenting on the 61-year-old’s alleged cosmetic work, “It’s GOOD. Like… really good.”

They then went on to claim that fans began speculating that Pitt had undergone plastic surgery when he started filming his new blockbuster, “F1: The Movie.”

“There were even some photos going around showing what looked like a scar behind his ear. Lately, I’ve seen him on my feed a lot and honestly, if he did get a facelift, the results 2–3 years later still look amazing,” they added. The account ended their caption, declaring that men getting plastic surgery shouldn’t be a taboo topic, especially when done right.

“Men get facelifts too. Men get plastic surgery too. And when it’s done right like Brad, like Bradley Cooper the outcome looks clean. Natural. Undetectable.”

The account’s suggestion quickly sparked a debate on whether Pitt’s transformation could be attributed to genetics and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, or if surgical intervention played a role.  

“Good tasteful work,” said one follower.

This person suggested that “Face lifts, PRP injections, embryonic stem cell injections, who knows what else” were responsible for his refreshed look.

And this follower hinted at the way Pitt has been able to beat any allegations. “The key is to leave the eyes alone. Every time someone touches the eyes, they look funky (Dane Cook, for example). You can see his light facelift scars in his new movie F1.”

While another person came with rumored receipts. “He had per reports and photographs ,in and out of surgeon’s office, an eye lift, all the dermabrasions, Botox, the works, no?”

Despite the account’s theory, some fans claimed that the two-time Oscar winner’s glow-up was entirely natural.

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A post shared by Turkey Plastic surgery | Eman Jama (@letstalksurgery)

“I don’t think it was a facelift, getting out of that toxic marriage and giving up drinking will do wonders for your looks, not to mention a stunning new girlfriend,” stated one fan.

Another shared the same sentiment. “Nah , I just think he stopped drinking , no more scowls and bloat.”

“No, he looks like post-healing from the trauma and terror caused by Angelina Narcissistica. She sucked his life energy, soul and health and you can see it in the photo,” stated one fan, while throwing a stray at Pitt’s former wife, actress Angelina Jolie.  

Countless other followers agreed that Pitt looked “great” for his age and with or without surgery, and that he will always “be the blueprint” for a Hollywood handsome.

Conversations around Pitt’s possible surgical alterations have made headlines for years.

Several medical professionals have created TikTok videos highlighting the reasons behind his remarkable transformation.

One states that a lifted lower face, a more defined jaw, a smaller nose bridge and smoother skin around the cheeks are all giveaways for great surgical procedures. Pitt has never admitted to having surgical work and often gives elusive answers when asked about how he has found the fountain of youth.

@drjb.aesthetics Brad Pitt treatment breakdown #bradpitt #bradpittedit #celebrityface ♬ original sound – Dr Jonny

During his 2022 “Bullet Train” premiere, he told a reporter this secret couldn’t be attributed to eating right or meditating, but that he had “a lot of lovely people” in his life and that he “stayed creative.”

And while on the red carpet of the 2025 Golden Globes, famed journalist Kevin Frazier asked the actor, “We’re the same age, how the hell do you still have all that damn hair?” With laughter, Pitt answered, “I don’t know, but I have other problems, and we’ll talk about those later. How many times do you wake up in the middle of the night?” The hint at age-related nocturia got a smirk out of the journalist who admitted, “Oh, yeah, no, I’m there too.”

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A post shared by Íconos (@upso.iconos)

‘Male Facelift Done Right’: Brad Pitt Stuns with Fresh New Look at 61 Just as Divorce from Angelina Jolie Officially Ends

Something set off podcaster Megyn Kelly. The former Fox News star lashed out at Chelsea Clinton in a series of spiteful social media posts after Clinton posted a thread about disaster relief organizations working to help flood victims in central Texas.

The state is still reeling from catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend that killed more than 120 people and left more than 170 others missing.

Megyn Kelly unleashes on Meghan Markle during a segment on “The Megyn Kelly Show” (Screenshot “The Megyn Kelly Show”)

The former first daughter started her thread simply with “members of the Clinton Global community are on the ground in Texas, supporting families, communities and ongoing search and rescue efforts.”

Clinton went on to list 14 nonprofits, including the American Red Cross and Americares, that are helping residents of flood-ravaged Kerr County, and the surrounding area get back on their feet. And she provided links to the organizations, not the Clinton Global Initiative.

Then of course the trolls came out to play, with X users posting on her thread, urging people to ignore Clinton’s list, accusing her family of stealing money, asking where the Clintons were during other natural disasters, and many others urging X users not to donate to any of Clinton’s preferred charities.

That’s when Kelly jumped in, boosting Clinton’s post. “The replies to this post are AMAZING,” a gleeful Kelly said.

Clinton actually responded to the spiteful post. “Hi Megyn – I’m sure any of the organizations I mentioned which are on the ground in Texas would welcome your support. I would be happy to put you in touch directly. We all need to support those impacted by the tragic floods in Kerr county and surrounding areas.”

Kelly responded, again, giving her a snide slap-down. “Chelsea, what we are seeing in the replies to your post is that while you love to play fake philanthropist, absolutely no one wants your family of grifters anywhere near those suffering in Texas, Haiti or anywhere else.”

And a poised Clinton again gave her a calm response: “Hi Megyn – we’re proud to partner with & support these organizations. I don’t receive a cent & never have from these or the Clinton Foundation. Supporting vital work in Texas matters most now. Hope you will highlight relief efforts on your X timeline – apologies if I missed them – & show.”

What happened to "now's not the time to politicize?"

She's not even pointing fingers of blame at anyone (like I am), she's literally just trying to help out in a bad situation. You have money AND a platform — you could put it to much better use than screeching at her, why not…

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) July 11, 2025

“Chelsea Clinton is sharing how organizations working with Clinton Global are helping Texans but you’re sharing comments from trolls,” X user Craig Minassian accused Kelly as several X users came to Clinton’s defense.

Another wondered, “Megyn is a bad person… used to admire her… has she even posted about relief efforts or is she just trolling people?”

One user offered Kelly a solution, “What happened to “now’s not the time to politicize?” She’s not even pointing fingers of blame at anyone (like I am), she’s literally just trying to help out in a bad situation. You have money AND a platform — you could put it to much better use than screeching at her, why not team up with her? Why are you so miserable?”

Others went after Kelly’s snarky posts, too, pointing out the potential failure of the Trump administration to quickly mobilize federal assistance.

“While children were drowning and FEMA had its hands tied because of an order that blocked ANY spending over $100,000 without Kristi Noem’s express approval, Kristi Noem was doing a fashion show. Children died because Kristi Noem was busy doing a fashion show,” EverProactive wrote.

While children were drowning and FEMA had its hands tied because of an order that blocked ANY spending over $100,000 without Kristi Noem's express approval, Kristi Noem was doing a fashion show.

Children died because Kristi Noem was busy doing a fashion show. https://t.co/XcXLVbW3u5 pic.twitter.com/dnP3XODN9s

— See you all on BlueSky or TikTok or YouTube. (@EverProactive) July 11, 2025

Noem is requiring her approval on all contracts and grants totaling more than $100,000 as a way to control costs, but CNN reported Thursday that may have slowed down the federal response to the floods.

Noem has insisted all week that federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, responded as intended.

“FEMA’s been deployed and we’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA, streamlining it, much like your vision of how FEMA should operate and it’s been a much better response to help these families get through this terrible situation,” Noem said pandering to Trump during a cabinet meeting Tuesday.

But Trump has spent the first months of his presidency gutting federal agencies and laying off thousands of federal workers, including at FEMA and the National Weather Service, which was missing key positions in Texas when the flood struck.

Other news reports indicated just over 80 FEMA agents were in Texas by Saturday, more than a day after the Guadalupe River rose some 25 feet in a couple hours just before dawn Friday morning. That’s far fewer staffers than would normally deploy for a disaster of the magnitude that unfolded in central Texas. More than 300 arrived at the beginning of the week, days after the deadly tragedy.

‘Why Are You So Miserable?’: Social Media Rushes to Chelsea Clinton’s Defense As She Refuses to Back Down from Megyn Kelly’s Attack On Disaster Relief Efforts In Texas

It was 2:30 a.m. in 2023 when Jeremiah Roberson began experiencing car trouble as he was driving on an interstate highway through Butts County, Georgia, so he called 911 for help.

Roberson’s car was still drivable so the dispatcher advised him to drive to a nearby gas station which he did.

But when Butts County sheriff’s deputies pulled into the gas station in response to his call, they ended up beating, choking and tasering him so badly that it led to the arrest of one of the deputies.

Jeremiah Roberson, left, was tasered and choked by Butts County sheriff’s deputy Dennis Lee Tippens, right, who ended up resigning from the Georgia law enforcement agency and convicted on simple battery. Now Roberson is suing. (Photos: facebook.com/jeremiah.roberson.73932, facebook.com/brandy.shannon1 and body camera video)

Last week, Roberson, 33, filed a lawsuit against the three deputies involved in his arrest, accusing them of excessive force and failure to intervene each other to stop the abuse which included two deputies tasering him for nearly two minutes even though he never tried to run or fight with them.

The incident led to the resignation and conviction of Butts County sheriff’s deputy Dennis Lee Tippens – the first deputy to taser Roberson who also placed him in a chokehold. Tippens was sentenced to one year probation after pleading guilty to simple battery.

The second deputy to taser him for almost two minutes was Kyle Allen who was not arrested but was suspended by his department for three days as well as placed on 12-month probation within the department.

And there is no record of any disciplinary action against the third deputy, John Allen, who did not taser him but also did not intervene to stop the abuse.

Three weeks after the arrest, Roberson was cleared of all charges in the “interest of justice,” the claim states.

Watch the video below showing the deputies repeatedly tasering him, causing his body to convulse while ordering him to stop moving.

“An Act of Aggression”

The incident took place on July 3, 2023, while Roberson was driving on Interstate 75 through Butts County when he began having car trouble and called 911, believing they would help him.

Roberson, who lives in Henry County, which is just north of Butts County, followed the dispatcher’s advice to drive to the local JP Travel Center gas station which remains open 24 hours a day.

Roberson was standing next to his car with the hood up when Tippens pulled into the gas station in response to his call. Roberson also had his door open.

The deputy first examined the engine but then noticed a can of beer inside Roberson’s car so he called for backup which led to deputies Kyle and John Allen to arrive.

The three deputies surrounded Roberson while Tippens asked Roberson about the beer can, getting the reply that it had been left there by a passenger. Kyle Allen also searched Roberson for drugs or guns but found nothing.

Roberson, who told the deputies he had not been drinking, agreed to take a breathalyzer test to prove it, the claim states.

The lawsuit also states that when Tippens attempted to raise the breathalyzer device to Roberson’s mouth, Roberson “reflectively raised his hands to stabilize it,” which angered Tippens, especially when it happened at least three times, calling it “an act of aggression.”

But Roberson repeatedly apologized, telling the deputy his reflective reaction was a result of prior trauma.

According to the lawsuit obtained by Atlanta Black Star:

Tippens told Roberson that if he raised his hands toward the breathalyzer again, Tippens would consider it an “act of aggression” and that Roberson “would hit the concrete.” 

The bodycam video shows that the movements of Roberson’s hands were not acts of aggression, and no reasonable person could have considered them acts of aggression, or acts that would place any of the Defendants or any other person, including Roberson, in any danger. 

Throughout this exchange, Roberson continued apologizing for his reflexive movements in reaching towards the breathalyzer. 

Tippens moved the breathalyzer toward Roberson’s mouth again, and Roberson again reflexively reached towards it in a non-aggressive manner that was in the form of preparing to guide the breathalyzer so that it did not strike him in his face. 

The three deputies then tackled Roberson to the ground, causing his head to hit against his car and against the concrete ground as Roberson repeatedly apologized.

Tippens then tasered Roberson for two minutes before Kyle Allen did the same. Tippens then placed Roberson in a chokehold while Kyle Allen continued to taser him.

Meanwhile, the third deputy, John Allen, stood by watching, doing nothing to stop the torture.

At no point did John Allen tell Tippens not to continue using the taser on Roberson. 

At no point did John Allen tell Kyle Allen not to continue using the taser on Roberson. 

At no point did John Allen tell Tippens not to utilize the chokehold on Roberson. 

Roberson was writhing and screaming in pain while being continuously tased by Kyle Allen and Tippens.

The deputies then picked him up and threw him into the back of a patrol car before transporting him to the Butts County Jail where he was placed in a solitary holding cell.

Less than three weeks later on July 21, 2023, all charges were dismissed against Roberson in the interest of justice, including three counts of obstruction of an officer, one count of an open container violation and one count of having an expired tag.

Tippens resigned from the Butts County Sheriff’s Office on August 3, 2023 and was charged with misdemeanor simple battery on August 9, 2023, according to online court records from Butts County.

He pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 6, 2023, and was sentenced to 12 months probation with credit for time served for one day, indicating he may have spent the night in jail after his arrest.

‘Hit That Concrete’: Georgia Man Called 911 for Help with His Car. Deputies Mercilessly Tased Him Over a Simple Hand Gesture They Called an ‘Act of Aggression’ — and It’s All on Video

When Henry Louis Gates Jr. set out to trace the family tree of America’s first pope, he had no idea he was about to uncover one of the most diverse and complex ancestries in his decades-long career.

The Emmy-nominated host of PBS’ “Finding Your Roots” discovered that Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, shares bloodlines with some of the world’s biggest celebrities while also carrying the profound legacy of both enslaved people and enslavers in his family history.

According to the New York Times, the genealogical journey revealed connections that stretch across continents and centuries.

Through a maternal ancestor born in the 1590s, the 69-year-old pontiff is ninth cousins several times removed to an impressive roster of A-list figures including Angelina Jolie, Justin Bieber, Canadian Prime Ministers Pierre and Justin Trudeau, Hillary Clinton, and pop star Madonna.

Gates took to social media with a quip that played on the pope’s position as a cleric and Madonna’s hit song, “Like a Prayer.”

It’s like a prayer… and a plot twist.

Through a distant relative @madonna and Pope Leo are related! Read more about the Pope’s ancestry here: https://t.co/j28uJr3NNX https://t.co/CEpzBb4VB3 pic.twitter.com/l9c7n213Bs

— Henry Louis Gates Jr (@HenryLouisGates) June 16, 2025

This remarkable web of relationships traces back through French-Canadian lineage.

Gates, 74, was able to trace Pope Leo’s ancestry back an astounding 15 generations, uncovering stories that span from 16th-century Spanish nobility to the complex racial dynamics of New Orleans. The research revealed a rich tapestry of African ancestry, with the Pope descending from a long line of individuals — at least 17 — who were identified in various records as “mulatto,” “mulatress,” “mulâtress créole,” “free person of color” and “quadroon.”

“On Saturday, my wife, the historian Dr. Marial Iglesias Utset, and I were granted the profound honor of a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to present him with a copy of his family tree,” Gates shared on Instagram following their July 5 meeting.

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A post shared by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (@henrylouisgates)

The moment represented the culmination of extensive research conducted in collaboration with genealogists at American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami.

Among the most significant discoveries was the Pope’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Martínez Ramos, who was born in Haiti, as noted in the 1900 U.S. Census, and later resided in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward, a historically Creole neighborhood. This connection to Haiti adds another layer to the Pope’s African heritage.

The research also uncovered the profound contradiction within the Pope’s ancestry — he descends from both enslaved people and enslavers. His fourth-great-grandfather François Lemelle enslaved at least 20 people, while his second-great-grandfathers Joseph Aristide Baquié and Eugène Grambois enslaved three and five people respectively. Charles Louis Boucher de Grandpre, who served as Spanish governor of the Baton Rouge District, owned at least 11 enslaved people while also fathering Celeste Olympe de Granpre, the Pope’s third-great-grandmother, who was listed as a “free quadroon.”

“She and I had worked with an outstanding team of researchers to publish it in The New York Times Sunday Magazine and were deeply grateful for the chance to walk His Holiness through the branches of his family tree, sharing stories of his ancestors back to his 12th great-grandparents who were born some 500 years ago,” Gates continued in his heartfelt social media post about the Vatican meeting.

The genealogical research also revealed the Pope’s diverse geographical roots, with 40 ancestors from France, 24 from Italy, and 21 from Spain. New Orleans, where many of his ancestors settled, served as a crucial melting pot where French, Spanish, Native American, and African cultures intersected. By 1805, more than half of the city’s population was composed of enslaved and free people of color, making it the perfect backdrop for the Pope’s multicultural heritage.

Many fans chimed in online to express their amazement over the moment. One wrote, “Whoa, this is incredible,” while another added, “What an amazing meeting.” Others echoed the sentiment with comments like “Wow, just wow.”

Beyond the ancestral revelations, it makes sense that Pope Leo XIV has garnered attention for his outspoken criticism of immigration policies.

Before his historic election, the then-Cardinal Prevost challenged deportation practices through social media, posting “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” in response to the deportation of a Maryland father despite a court order.

Despite their policy differences, President Trump offered congratulations following the papal election, posting: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”

For Gates, the experience of presenting this research to the Pope represented a career highlight. “This was one of the most meaningful and deeply moving moments of our lives,” he reflected, noting that after more than a decade of genealogical work, the Pope’s roots make for one of the most diverse family trees his team has ever created.

The discovery serves as a powerful reminder of how America’s complex history of race, immigration, and identity continues to shape even the highest levels of global leadership.

‘Whoa’: Pope Leo XIV Shock to Learn He Has Black Grandparents, Celebrity Cousins and Enslaved Ancestors