Tag: United States

Google Engineer, 29, Killed in Freak Accident on Popular Yosemite Trail
CALIFORNIA — A 29-year-old Google software engineer tragically lost her life earlier this month in a freak accident while hiking along a popular trail in Yosemite National Park, when a massive branch from one of the park’s iconic sequoia trees suddenly broke off and struck her.
Angela Lin, a gifted and respected engineer who previously worked for Salesforce and most recently for Google, had been hiking through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias on July 19 with her boyfriend, David Hua, and two friends when disaster struck.
According to Hua, the group was walking along the well-trodden trail when they heard a loud crack from above. “One big branch struck Angela, and then there were a bunch of smaller ones directly behind me,” Hua told SFGate.
By the time Hua opened his eyes after instinctively shutting them during the chaos, Lin was lying face-up on the ground, motionless, with blood pooling around her head. He immediately called 911 and performed CPR until a park ranger arrived to take over. Although an ambulance eventually reached the scene, Lin was never transported. Emergency responders said she likely died instantly from the blow.
“It was just unimaginable that something like this could occur,” Hua said in a phone interview, his voice trembling. “On such a popular trail, too.”
Angela Lin, a 29-year-old software engineer at Google. © LinkedIn/Angela Lin
A Promising Life Cut Short
Angela Lin’s tragic death stunned both the tech and academic communities. She had earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley, where she met Hua, and later completed her master’s in computer science at the University of Texas at Austin. She worked diligently through the ranks at Salesforce before joining Google, where she had been a software engineer for several years.
“We lost a loved and respected member of our team,” a Google spokesperson told The Post. “We’re very saddened by this tragedy, and our hearts are with their family and loved ones.”
Friends and former colleagues recalled Lin as exceptionally intelligent, warm, and humble. “Angela was obviously whip-smart, but she led with a simple and playful attitude,” said Ian Cook, a close friend from her Berkeley days. “That mix of confidence and humility put folks around her at ease.”
Richard Zhang, a research scientist who shared lab time with Lin in undergrad, remembered her kindness during crunch periods. “She’d stay through the late nights before a paper deadline and thoughtfully treat us to chocolate to keep our spirits up,” he said.
A Growing Pattern of Tragedy in Yosemite
Lin’s death adds to a list of recent tragedies in Yosemite. Last summer, Grace Rohloff, a college student, died after slipping and falling 200 feet from the Half Dome cables during a storm. In October 2024, 22-year-old Australian hiker Harry Partington was crushed by a falling tree on the Four Mile Trail. In 2015, two high schoolers were killed by a falling oak branch while sleeping in a tent, and in 2012, a concessions worker died under similar circumstances during a windstorm.
Yet what makes Lin’s case so uniquely unsettling is the complete lack of typical risk factors. Hua emphasized there was no wind, and Lin — known for her caution — had stayed on the trail and taken no dangerous detours.
“The sad thing is that Angela is the most cautious person you can be,” said Hua. “She stays on trails. She never goes off trails. Usually when you hear about these incidents, someone is doing something dangerous — like playing in water or near a cliff. But that wasn’t her.”
Frustration with Park Officials and Demand for Answers
In the wake of the tragedy, the Tuolumne Grove trail was closed for about a week. Park officials say an investigation is ongoing, but according to Hua and Lin’s loved ones, communication from the National Park Service has been minimal.
“We are seeking more information from the park service regarding this incident,” said Hua, “especially around trail safety, maintenance, awareness of problematic trees on popular trails, and future prevention of similar incidents.”
Yosemite public affairs officer Scott Gediman confirmed to SFGate that the investigation remains active. However, the park has not publicly addressed specific safety concerns related to the tree or trail.
The lack of transparency has left not only Lin’s loved ones but also bystanders emotionally shaken. One tourist who witnessed the incident created a Reddit thread titled “Tuolumne Grove Incident 7/19,” writing: “I am a tourist, but was on the scene of an extremely tragic freak accident… and it has been haunting me. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
The user added: “It hits so so hard because they were doing nothing wrong or careless… Life can be so cruel.”
A Devastating Loss for Many
As friends, coworkers, and strangers alike try to come to terms with the sudden loss of a young, vibrant life, Angela Lin is being remembered not only for her technical brilliance but also her kindness, humor, and steady presence.
“She was just the most thoughtful, grounded person,” said Hua. “We’ve been best friends since college. Her death is a devastating loss — to me, to her family, to everyone who knew her.”
July 29, 2025
The mayor states the New York City shooter blamed and targeted the NFL
Jessica Tisch, the New York police commissioner, said investigators were still trying to determine why the gunman opened fire. © Vincent Alban/The New York Times
The NFL was targeted in Monday’s attack by a gunman at the Manhattan building at which the league’s offices are located, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said in broadcast interviews Tuesday.
An NFL employee was “seriously injured” in Monday’s attack, Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a memo overnight.
“As has been widely reported, a gunman committed an unspeakable act of violence in our building at 345 Park Avenue,” Goodell wrote in the memo to league employees, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. “One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack. He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition.”
Adams said that the shooter, identified by authorities as 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, was targeting the NFL.
“From our preliminary investigation, he took the wrong elevator bank up to the NFL headquarters,” Adams told CBS. “Instead, it took him to Rudin Management. And that is where he carried out additional shootings and took the lives of additional employees.”
Adams said the shooter, who played high school football but did not play in college or in the NFL, wrote in a note that he believed he had the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
“He did have a note on him,” Adams said. “The note alluded to that he felt he had CTE, a known brain injury for those who participate in contact sports. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury.”
CTE can only be diagnosed definitively after death.
The league did not immediately release the identity of its injured employee. NFL staff members were at the hospital to support the employee’s family, according to Goodell.
“We believe that all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for, and the building has nearly been cleared,” Goodell wrote.
Four people were killed, including a New York City police officer, and one seriously injured when the gunman opened fire Monday evening inside the high-rise office building in Midtown Manhattan.
The gunman then fatally shot himself in the chest, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said at a news conference Monday night.
Goodell wrote that the NFL is “deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded to this threat quickly and decisively and to Officer [Didarul] Islam, who gave his life to protect others.”
Those working in the NFL’s New York office should work remotely from home Tuesday, Goodell wrote, adding that it is “understandable if you prefer to take the day off.” He also wrote that there “will be an increased security presence at 345 Park Avenue in the days and weeks to come.”
Goodell told employees that there are grief counselors and other “significant resources” available to them.
“Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family,” Goodell wrote. “We will get through this together.”
Several NFL employees said they had left the building shortly before the shooter entered just before 6:30 p.m. Monday. One employee who had left about 10 minutes earlier said it is “hard to imagine something like this no matter how many times you read about” similar incidents.
Based on previous visits to the NFL offices, the building at 345 Park Avenue is set back from the street, with a large area in front that includes seating and often draws lunchtime crowds. The lobby has entrances from multiple sides. There is a security desk, generally with multiple security staffers seated there, at which any visitors must stop and be approved to enter. The elevators are located behind or to the left of the security desk, depending upon which entrance is utilized.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred yesterday in New York City,” the NFL Players Association, which is based in Washington, said in a written statement Tuesday. “345 Park Avenue is a part of our football family, and we at the NFLPA extend our sincere condolences and support to the people who work in this building and to the families of those who lost their lives. We also want to express our deep gratitude to the law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to those impacted.”
July 29, 2025
NYC mass shooter Shane Tamura had a note blaming the NFL for his CTE, despite never playing professional football
The crazed gunman who killed an NYPD officer and three other people in a Midtown skyscraper on Monday evening was carrying a note in his pocket that expressed grievances with the NFL and claimed he suffered from CTE – a brain injury linked to head trauma, sources told The Post.
Shane Tamura, 27, cited the NFL in the writings, which were found after he fatally shot himself in the chest on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Ave. – a swanky skyscraper that houses the football league’s headquarters.
The mentally ill shooter wanted to shoot up the NFL HQ — but “mistakenly went up the wrong elevator banks” and ended up on a higher floor, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed Tuesday.
Suspected shooter Shane Tamura is seen dead on the floor in surveillance video after Monday’s mass shooting. © Obtained by NY Post
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Nevada, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, multiple law enforcement sources said. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
In the ramblings, which was several pages long, Tamura blamed football for his apparent struggle with the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and pleaded for his brain to be studied in the wake of the massacre, law enforcement sources said.
He wrote addressing Terry Long, the former Pittsburgh Steelers player who was diagnosed with CTE after downing antifreeze to kill himself 20 years ago.
“Terry Long, football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the note stated, according to sources.
“You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.”
“Please study brain for CTE. I’m sorry. The league knowingly concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits,” he wrote. “They failed us.”
The NFL has offices on floors five through eight of the Park Avenue high-rise, and one of its employees was among those shot, though not fatally..
Mayor Adams confirmed early Tuesday that Tamura’s note “alluded to having CTE from playing NFL” — even though “he never played in the NFL.”
“It appears as tho he was going after the employees of the NFL,” the mayor confirmed on Fox 5.
“We’re still going through the suicide note to zero on in the exact reason but at this time it appears as if it’s something attached to his belief he experienced CTE from the NFL.”
Shortly after the shooting, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch directly called executives at Blackstone – another notable tenant in the skyscraper – to inform them that they weren’t the intended targets, sources said.
NYPD officers stand near shattered glass of the building where a crazed gunman killed four people. © REUTERS
Tamura, who lived in Las Vegas and had a known mental health history there, initially opened fire in the building’s lobby before taking the elevator up to the 33rd floor where he turned the gun on himself.
He also shot a fifth victim in the lobby of the building who survived the attack, police said.
The surviving victim appears to an NFL employee, as the league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, told staffers in a letter that one of their own had been “seriously injured” in the shooting.
Workers barricade themselves in their office during Monday’s mass shooting.
Meanwhile, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had earlier revealed the maniac gunman, who lived in Las Vegas, had a known mental health history.
Tamura, who worked a security guard at a Las Vegas casino, never played professional football.
But he did play in high school in California, when he was a described as a standout football player.
“It looked like the sky was the limit, and then it wasn’t anymore,” former classmate Caleb Clarke told NBC News. Ahead of his senior year, his coach told the Los Angeles Times that he expected “big things” from the running back and other star players on the team.
July 29, 2025
Shooter Kills three and Himself and NYPD Officer Didarul Islam
A New York City police officer and three other people were shot and killed inside a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday evening by a gunman armed with a high-powered rifle, police confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said surveillance video shows the suspect exiting a double-parked black BMW alone on Park Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets just before 6:30 p.m., carrying an M4 rifle in his right hand. He then entered the 44-story building at 345 Park Ave., turned right and immediately began opening fire on an NYPD officer.
Not long after, multiple 911 calls were received about an active shooter inside the building, Tisch said. The building contains offices for Blackstone, the NFL, KPMG and others.
NYPD Officer Didarul Islam killed in shooting
Didarul Islam, 36, worked out of the 47th Precinct in the Bronx. A four-year veteran of the force, Didarul was on a paid detail Monday as part of a program the NYPD has that allows officers to be employed by private companies to provide extra security, CBS News New York’s Naveen Dhaliwal reported.
© NYPD
Didarul leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young sons, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a late-night news conference.
“He was doing what he does best, and all members of the police department carry out. He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers,” Adams said. “He was an immigrant from Bangladesh and he loved this city. And everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God and believed in living out the life of a godly person. He embodies what this city is all about. He’s a true-blue New Yorker, not only in a uniform he wore but in his spirit and energy of loving this city.”
NYPD officers stand in line during the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman Monday evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner’s office, early on July 29, 2025, in New York. © ANGELINA KATSANIS / AP
Adams said two men and a woman were also killed in the shooting and another man is in critical condition. The mayor called the shooting “a violent, despicable attack,” adding, “No words can describe this act of evil, a man who takes the life of others who are innocent. And no words can fill the void left by this tragedy.”
The mayor said he met with Islam’s family earlier in the evening and told them how much he was admired for putting his life on the line.
“This was his dad’s only son. I think about Jordan, my child, and it is unimaginable to experience a loss of this magnitude,” Adams said.
The names of the other people killed and the person injured are being withheld, pending family notification.
“Tonight we mourn four New Yorkers, including one of New York’s Finest, taken in an act of senseless violence,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on social media. “Our hearts are with their loved ones and everyone affected by this tragedy, and we honor the first responders who bravely ran toward danger.”
An NFL employee was seriously wounded and was hospitalized in stable condition, according to a message NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent to employees. The NFL told New York employees to work from home Tuesday while the building remains a crime scene.
What the preliminary investigation reveals
After shooting the officer, the gunman shot a woman who had taken shelter behind a pillar and then proceeded through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire, officials said.
He then made his way to the elevator bank, shooting a security guard who had taken cover behind the security desk. Another man who was wounded told police at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital he was shot in the lobby, Tisch said.
A surveillance photo of the suspected gunman who shot multiple people, including an NYPD officer, in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
The police commssioner said at one point the gunman was waiting for an elevator to arrive, and when it did, a woman emerged, but he allowed her to walk by unharmed. The gunman then took the elevator to the 33rd floor, the site of Rudin Management, and “began walking the floor, firing rounds as he traveled,” Tisch said, adding one of the victims was shot and killed on that floor.
“He then proceeds down the hallway and shoots himself in the chest,” Tisch said.
What police know about gunman Shane Tamura
Tisch said the vehicle Tamura exited on Park Avenue was registered to him. Inside, officers found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, ammunition and magazines, a backpack and medication prescribed to Tamura. No explosives were found.
The commissioner said preliminary findings show Tamura drove the vehicle across the country to get to New York City, traveling through Colorado on Saturday, Nebraska and Iowa on Sunday, and passing through Columbia, New Jersey at 4:24 p.m. on Monday.
A photo of the weapon used by the suspected gunman who opened fire in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025, according to law enforcement sources. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
According to law enforcement in Las Vegas, Tamura had a documented mental health history, Tisch said.
His motive remains under investigation. Tisch said investigators are working to figure out why he targeted 345 Park Ave. specifically.
After reports of the shooting, the building was placed on lockdown and the area was blocked off, police said.
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Nevada, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, multiple law enforcement sources said. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
The NYPD and Adams asked the public to avoid the vicinity of East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Tisch said officers from the NYPD’s Special Operations Division were conducting a secondary sweep of the building.
“I want to be very clear: We believe this to be a lone shooter and there is no longer an active threat to the public,” Tisch said.
“Pure evil came to the heart of our city.”
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry spoke about the shooting and reflected on Islam’s dedication to the NYPD and the city.
“This is a devastating night for our city, for our police department,” Hendry said. “Pure evil came to the heart of our city and struck innocent people and one of our police officers who was protecting those people. We lost four people tonight, and our hero brother, who gave his life for this city. He was a hard-working police officer who was proud, we know from hearing from his family, to put on that shield and the uniform of a New York City police officer. Every day he went out and did his job.”
Hendry said the loss of Islam will serve as a great motivator going forward as the investigation continues.
“The hearts of every New York City police officer right now [are] hurting,” Hendry said. “We’re hurting for our brother police officer who we lost. We’re hurting for that family. We’re hurting for all the victims, and hurting for all the families of the victims. And we’re all asking why? Why did pure evil come here? And we know our police department and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to get those answers.”
July 29, 2025
Four dead, including an officer, after New York City office tower shooting
NEW YORK — A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle Monday, killing four people, including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said.
The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the NFL and Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, as well as other tenants.
The gunman, identified by authorities as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, had a ‘documented mental health history,’ according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, but his motive was still unknown.
“We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,” Tisch said.
The rampage happened at the end of the workday in the same part of Manhattan where the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare was gunned down outside a hotel late last year.
Surveillance video showed the man exiting a double-parked BMW just before 6:30 p.m. carrying an M4 rifle, then marching across a public plaza into the building. Then, he started firing, Tisch said, killing a police officer working a corporate security detail and then hitting a woman who tried to take cover as he sprayed the lobby with gunfire.
The ambulance carrying the body of Didarul Islam exits NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. © AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
The man then made his way to the elevator bank and shot a guard at a security desk and shot another man in the lobby, the commissioner said.
The man took the elevator to the 33rd floor offices of the company that owned the building, Rudin Management, and shot and killed one person on that floor. The man then shot himself, the commissioner said. The building, 345 Park Avenue, also holds offices of the financial services firm KPMG.
The officer killed was Didarul Islam, 36, an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years, Tisch said at a news conference.
“He was doing the job that we asked him to do. He put himself in harm’s way. He made the ultimate sacrifice,” Tisch said. “He died as he lived. A hero.”
© OpenStreetMap contributors
One man was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, Mayor Eric Adams said. Four others got minor injuries attempting to flee.
Adams said officials are still “unraveling” what took place.
Officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines and ammunition in Tamura’s car, Tisch said. They also found medication that belonged to Tamura, she said.
The residence of Shane Tamura, identified as the gunman in the fatal shooting at a Manhattan office building in New York City and who was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound is seen on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev. © AP Photo/Ty O’Neil
Rudin is one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in New York City. The company dates back to 1925 and is still managed by members of the Rudin family.
Tisch said there were no indications so far that Tamura had prior connections to the real estate industry or to the city.
No one answered the door at the address listed for Tamura in Las Vegas.
Islam, the slain officer, leaves behind two young boys, and his wife is pregnant with their third child, Tisch said.
Witnesses heard ‘rapid fire’
Local TV footage showed lines of people evacuating the office building with their hands above their heads in the hours after the killings.
Nekeisha Lewis was eating dinner with friends on the plaza when she heard gunfire.
“It felt like it was a quick two shots and then it was rapid fire,” she told The Associated Press.
Windows shattered and a man ran from the building saying, “Help, help. I’m shot.” Lewis said.
A New York police officer stands watch on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. © AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
Jessica Chen told ABC News she was watching a presentation with dozens of other people on the second floor when she “heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor.”
She and others ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door.
“We were honestly really, really scared,” she said, adding that she texted her parents to tell them that she loves them.
Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running.
“It was like a crowd panic,” said Anna Smith, who joined the workers pouring back into the finance office building. They remained there for about two hours before being told they could leave.
Tisch says she believes two officers were working in different parts of the building as part of a program where companies can hire NYPD officers to provide security.
The building where the shooting happened is in a busy area of midtown, located a short walk north from Grand Central Terminal and about a block east of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Through late July, New York City is on pace this year to possibly have its fewest homicides and fewest people hurt by gunfire in decades. But the city’s corporate community has been on edge since last December, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed outside a hotel hosting a conference.
The man charged in that killing, Luigi Mangione, is awaiting trial. Prosecutors accuse him of killing Thompson because he was angry at perceived corporate greed, particularly in the health insurance business. He has pleaded not guilty.
July 29, 2025
Trump may live to regret suing Murdoch for libel regarding Epstein’s birthday card
Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Rupert Murdoch in New York County Supreme edit. © Alan Woodward/The NewYorkBudgets
Donald Trump has never shied away from a fight. In fact, it’s practically his brand. But in launching a $10 billion libel lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, and two Wall Street Journal reporters over a birthday card allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump may have walked into a legal minefield of his own making.
The lawsuit centers around a Journal story detailing a bizarre 2003 birthday card supposedly authored by Trump to Epstein. According to the article, the note contained several typed lines framed by the outline of a naked woman, hand-drawn in thick marker. The letter reportedly included a third-person conversation between “Trump” and Epstein, with enigmatic phrases such as “enigmas never age” and the cryptic sign-off: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has vehemently denied authorship of the card. In a furious social media post, he declared: “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” He further asserted the note was a forgery fabricated by “unnamed Democrats,” and called the Journal a “useless rag,” promising “a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved.”
For Murdoch, 93, and Trump, 78, this isn’t their first confrontation. The media mogul’s outlets — most prominently Fox News and the Journal — were skeptical of Trump during the 2016 primaries before eventually aiding his path to the presidency. Their relationship has since oscillated between strategic alliance and mutual contempt. But this lawsuit could mark a definitive rupture.
The legal hurdles Trump faces are towering. The landmark Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) still stands — despite Justice Clarence Thomas’s wish to revisit it. Under Sullivan, public figures suing for libel must prove “actual malice” — that the publisher knowingly printed falsehoods or acted in reckless disregard for the truth. That’s a near-impossible standard to meet when the defendant is The Wall Street Journal, not a tabloid like the National Enquirer.
Moreover, reports suggest the card came from Department of Justice archives. If so, the Journal’s sourcing may have been both legitimate and well-documented. Dow Jones has vowed to “vigorously defend” its reporting, stating, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our journalism.”
If Trump hoped to intimidate Murdoch into silence or submission, he may have miscalculated. Libel suits, historically, are double-edged swords — especially for the plaintiff. They often invite forensic dissection of the very allegations the plaintiff seeks to bury. Legal legend Roy Cohn, Trump’s onetime mentor, famously advised clients: “Never sue for libel.” The reasons are obvious. Oscar Wilde, Alger Hiss, Gen. William Westmoreland, and Ariel Sharon all sued — and saw their reputations battered further. Some even ended up in prison.
Trump’s reputation is already uniquely impervious to additional tarnish. A New York jury found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll. He’s been convicted of 34 felony counts related to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. His boasts about women and his own sexuality — including in the notorious Access Hollywood tape — are publicly etched in American memory.
So what’s the damage here, really?
Legal analysts suspect Trump’s motivations may have more to do with uncovering sources through discovery than restoring his name. His lawyers have already requested that Murdoch be deposed quickly, citing his advanced age and reported health concerns. “I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies,” Trump posted. That may sound like bravado, but it betrays an ulterior aim: flushing out who leaked the card and what else they may know.
But discovery cuts both ways. Murdoch’s attorneys will be free to interrogate the origins and nature of Trump’s long, checkered relationship with Epstein — one that spanned at least 15 years. How close were they? Did Trump know about Epstein’s illegal activities? Did he ever participate, enable, or turn a blind eye? Why did their relationship allegedly sour in 2004 over a Palm Beach mansion? Was that really the end?
Those depositions may expose far more than Trump bargained for — not just about his ties to Epstein, but about his broader conduct and associations.
Trump has filed and settled media lawsuits before. He reportedly reached a $15 million agreement with ABC after George Stephanopoulos mistakenly said he had been “convicted of rape.” A recent $16 million CBS settlement over a 60 Minutes segment seemed more about easing Paramount’s merger path than Trump’s legal merit. But those cases were relatively tame compared to what this Journal suit could unleash.
Murdoch’s legal team is not likely to blink. While The Wall Street Journal ran a curious follow-up story on Epstein’s “Birthday Book” that included letters from Bill Clinton and billionaire Leon Black, it offered little new insight — possibly a strategic nod or an effort to show editorial balance. But sources close to the matter insist Murdoch has no intention of settling.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein with President Bill Clinton at the White House in 1993. © THE WILLIAM J. CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY/MEGA
And perhaps he shouldn’t. Trump is often at his most reckless when wounded. Peggy Noonan aptly observed that “he fights even when he will hurt himself, because the fight is all.” But in this case, the fight may well invite ruin. Trump could inadvertently open the floodgates to evidence, testimony, and revelations far more damaging than a birthday card.
He may soon learn what every good trial lawyer knows: In libel litigation, the courtroom is often the last place you want your secrets to surface.
July 29, 2025
Midtown Office Shooting Leaves 4 Dead, Including Off-Duty Officer; Gunman Dies by Suicide
New York – A 27-year-old man wearing body armor and carrying an M4 assault rifle shot and killed four people, including an off-duty police officer, in a Midtown Manhattan office building Monday evening before killing himself, officials said.
A fifth victim was critically injured in the shooting, officials said. In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that victim is one of its employees and was listed in critical but stable condition.
The shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. in an office building at 345 Park Ave. at East 52nd Street, which contains the headquarters for the investment company Blackstone and the National Football League, sources told ABC News.
The suspect, identified as Shane Tamura, carried a note in his pocket claiming he suffered from CTE, asked that his brain be studied and made references to the NFL, police sources told ABC News.
Police said he had a documented mental health history and played high school football.
The three-page note was described by sources as rambling and contained references to the NFL sources described as vague.
A surveillance photo of the suspected gunman who shot multiple people, including an NYPD officer, in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
After barricading himself on the 33rd floor, Tamura, a Las Vegas resident, was found dead from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
During a news conference Monday evening, Tisch said preliminary information suggests the suspect traveled cross-country in a BMW from Las Vegas before arriving in New York City.
Tamura had a license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Nevada. “We believe this to be a lone shooter,” Tisch said.
Police say Tamura emerged from a double-parked BMW Monday evening with an M4 rifle.
A security camera image shows Tamura holding a long gun and walking outside the office building.
He entered the lobby of the Midtown tower alone and immediately opened fire on an NYPD officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets.
He made his way to the elevator bank, where he shot a security guard, Tisch said. He then went up to the 33rd floor, where he shot another person before shooting himself in the chest, she added.
Detectives are actively trying to determine why the suspect went to the 33rd floor – whether he specifically was headed there or if he simply wound up on that level. Rudin Management, the real-estate company, is located on that floor.
Officers searched the suspect’s vehicle after the shooting, where they found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, ammunition and magazines, a backpack, “and medication prescribed to Mr. Tamura,” Tisch said. He had a documented history of mental-health problems, Tisch said.
The motive is currently under investigation, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said earlier on Monday.
In total, four people were shot dead plus the shooter in what Mayor Eric Adams called a “violent, despicable” act.
The deceased included NYPD officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct, who came to the U.S. from Bangladesh and who Adams said he had been on the force almost four years. He was working security in the building while off duty.
“Early tonight, I met with the officer’s family. I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line,” Adams said.
Islam was married with two young boys, and his wife was pregnant with a third child.
The officer, and the surviving male civilian were taken to New York Presbyterian, where the civilian is in critical but stable condition.
Two other civilians, one male and female, both killed in the shooting, were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Police say another female was the victim found dead on the 33rd floor.
A witness inside the Midtown office building at the time of the shooting, detailed to NY Budgets what it was like at the scene as colleagues hid in lockdown, unsure of what was unfolding.
A photo from inside the 32nd floor showed how employees barricaded the door.
“The only thing between me and the door was a chair flipped over,” Jessica Chen said of the initial moments of the lockdown. “I texted my parents ‘I love them,’” she continued.
“Nothing can describe that feeling,” Chen added.
Chen went on to say that she recalled doing active shooter drills in school and said she often wondered what she would do in this kind of scenario. “It’s unfortunate that all Americans could think this through,” Chen said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on the situation.
KPMG, an accounting firm that also has offices in the building, released a statement after the shooting, saying, “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement,” the company said.
Across the country, several squad cars from Las Vegas Metro Police have convened at entrances to the gated neighborhood where the purported suspect in the midtown Manhattan shooting was believed to have a home.
Detectives will be working throughout the night and the days ahead to piece together a profile of the man responsible.
Investigators are working to see where and when the gunman bought the high-powered rifle used in the rampage.
Detectives are now scrolling through thousands of surveillance cameras to pin point the gunman’s movements, minute by minute.
July 29, 2025
The continuing saga of the Hunter Biden cover-up
Hunter Biden in U.S. News Papers. © The NewYorkBudgets
In Washington, the worst-kept secrets are often the most dangerous ones. And in the case of Hunter Biden, the attempt to keep those secrets buried has created a scandal less about personal misconduct and more about how deeply politicized our justice system has become. The more we learn, the more it becomes clear: the cover-up is still very much underway — and it reaches the highest levels of American power.
This month, Hunter Biden reemerged on the national stage not to answer questions, but to posture as a victim — blaming Republicans, the media, and even some Democrats for his legal troubles. But far more revealing than his public statements was the quiet release of explosive congressional testimony from special counsel David Weiss, the man who has overseen the increasingly murky, five-year federal investigation into Hunter’s business dealings.
Weiss told the House Judiciary Committee that investigators lacked the evidence to charge Hunter under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a claim that flies in the face of years of frustration expressed by IRS agents on the case. Those agents — Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler — risked their careers and reputations to blow the whistle on what they saw as a systemic campaign of obstruction by senior DOJ officials, particularly when leads brought them close to Joe Biden.
According to their forthcoming book The Whistleblowers vs. the Big Guy, the IRS team had compelling evidence that Hunter Biden’s business model revolved around foreign lobbying while his father was Vice President — including for Burisma, the corrupt Ukrainian energy giant that paid him up to $1 million a year; Chinese government-linked firms like BHR and CEFC; and clients in Romania and Kazakhstan. All roads, they say, led to “Political Figure 1” — DOJ’s euphemism for then–Vice President Joe Biden.
In fact, the very first email revealed from Hunter’s now-infamous laptop was from a Burisma executive thanking him for arranging a meeting with his father the previous night. That wasn’t just a casual hello. Hunter had reportedly invited his dad to a private dinner at Café Milano in 2015, attended by businessmen from Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan, as confirmed by his former associate Devon Archer in congressional testimony.
Emails showed that Hunter’s lobbying firm, Blue Star Strategies, was retained to influence U.S. officials — a textbook FARA violation. When IRS agents tried to include references to Joe Biden in search warrant requests, they were explicitly told to remove them. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf reportedly wrote in August 2020, “There should be nothing about Political Figure 1 in here.”
Why? Optics.
Wolf also blocked a warrant for a guesthouse on Joe Biden’s Delaware property where Hunter had been living. Even after agents found a July 30, 2017 WhatsApp message in which Hunter demanded $10 million from a Chinese executive — while claiming his father was physically present with him — they weren’t allowed to confirm Joe’s location at the time using geolocation data.
“I am sitting here with my father,” Hunter wrote. “We would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled… I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows… you will regret not following my direction.”
To most, this message was not only a glaring contradiction of Joe Biden’s repeated claim that he “never discussed business” with his son, but also strong circumstantial evidence of his involvement in influence-peddling. Yet investigators were denied the ability to pursue it.
“The message was clear,” wrote Shapley and Ziegler. “Although we were investigating Joe Biden’s son — who, it seemed, had often involved his father in his shady overseas business dealings — none of our materials were supposed to mention Joe Biden.”
When warrants were denied, when lines of inquiry were shut down, when Hunter’s attorneys were tipped off — it wasn’t incompetence. It was protection. And it was political.
Compare this with how the FBI handled investigations of Donald Trump. The bureau treated the unverified Steele dossier — funded by the Clinton campaign — as legitimate evidence, using it to launch a full-blown surveillance operation. They raided Trump’s home in Florida over classified documents. They indicted his associates for FARA violations, including Paul Manafort. And when whistleblower Gal Luft provided DOJ officials with early evidence implicating Hunter and Jim Biden in Chinese influence schemes, not only was his information buried, but Luft himself was later charged with FARA violations and now sits jailed in Cyprus.
The selective enforcement is staggering. It seems FARA is used as a sword against political enemies — but becomes invisible when it implicates the sitting President’s son.
Even when Weiss finally brought felony tax and gun charges against Hunter, it was only after the sweetheart plea deal unraveled under scrutiny. That original deal would have immunized Hunter from further prosecution — even over future FARA violations. Weiss stripped Shapley and Ziegler from the investigation after suspecting whistleblowing activity. The Office of Special Counsel has since found that the IRS illegally retaliated against them for protected disclosures to Congress.
Meanwhile, the mainstream press has continued to downplay or ignore the core allegations: that Hunter Biden monetized his father’s position — and that Joe Biden, despite repeated denials, may have known, enabled, or directly participated in the scheme.
In the closing days of his presidency, Joe Biden reportedly considered — and may still pursue — a broad, retroactive pardon for his son that could sweep away lingering legal risks, including those stemming from the CEFC deal, Romanian payments, and other offshore transactions dating back over a decade.
At every stage — from laptop censorship, to law enforcement interference, to media disinterest — the effort to protect the Bidens has been unmistakable. And the result is not just the slow death of this investigation. It’s a chilling message to every future whistleblower and investigator: some people, and some families, are simply untouchable.
The Hunter Biden saga is no longer just about one man’s poor choices. It’s about the institutional corruption that has metastasized around him — a rot so deep that even the truth struggles to survive.
Until that changes, the cover-up continues.
July 29, 2025
Minnesota Man Accused of Killing Neighbor He Believed Was an Alien, According to Charges
Charges say a southern Minnesota man last week shot and killed his older neighbor, whom he believed to be an alien.
The 38-year-old man from Windom, Minnesota, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to a criminal complaint filed in Cottonwood County on Friday.
The Windom Police Department says they were called to the 1400 block of 12th Avenue at approximately 5:19 a.m. Wednesday on a report of a shooting.
Officers found the victim, a 70-year-old woman, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was able to speak to an officer, telling them she believed she was shot but did not see a firearm. She added that the suspect had called her, saying he needed help, and that she had gone to his house about 45 minutes earlier.
The woman was transported to the Windom Hospital, where she later died. An autopsy found she had been shot seven times. She died due to blood loss from the gunshot wounds, according to the provisional report.
Jamie Voelker Cottonwood County Jail
A witness told investigators the suspect had woken him up to sit on the couch when he began talking about aliens, allegedly stating he thought his neighbor, the victim, was an alien, and that an alien ship was coming to take them, according to the complaint. The witness recalled seeing the victim, hearing gunshots and seeing flashes, then the victim leaving.
Charges say the witness was scared and ran to their neighbor’s house, where they found her on the floor. That’s when they called 911.
While police were responding to the shooting, the complaint says dispatch informed officers around 5:30 a.m. that a woman called saying a man had broken into her nearby home on the 1200 block of River Road.
Upon arriving at the residence, police reported seeing a significant amount of broken glass and blood within the entrance, and hearing the sound of moaning and running water coming from the bathroom area.
Inside the bathroom, charges say officers found the suspect in the bathtub. Police removed him and placed him in handcuffs, noting the water in the tub was blood-stained.
The suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment before going to jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 8.
July 28, 2025
Turns out California’s $20 minimum wage increase cut 18,000 jobs, a study shows
A new economic study released this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has found that California’s landmark $20-an-hour minimum wage law for fast food workers has resulted in the loss of approximately 18,000 jobs in the state’s fast-food sector—representing a 3.2% decline compared to similar employment trends nationwide.
The research, conducted by economists Jeffrey Clemens, Olivia Edwards, and Jonathan Meer, examined employment data before and after the implementation of Assembly Bill 1228 (AB 1228), which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in April 2024 and took effect on April 1, 2024. Prior to the law, California’s minimum wage for fast food workers stood at $16 per hour.
“Our median estimate translates into a loss of 18,000 jobs in California’s fast-food sector relative to the counterfactual,” the researchers wrote.
- Fast-food employment in California fell by 2.3% to 3.9%, depending on the model used.
- Nationally, fast-food employment grew by approximately 0.10% during the same period.
- Prior to AB 1228’s enactment, California’s fast-food industry was tracking closely with national employment trends.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters in Sacramento, Calif. on July 25, 2025. © AP
The authors concluded that the job losses occurred despite overall economic stability in the state and growth in other employment sectors. The wage hike coincided with a period of expansion in the broader U.S. labor market, making the contraction in California’s fast-food sector more striking.
In response to rising labor costs, many franchise owners across California have either reduced staff, cut hours, or turned increasingly toward automation and digital kiosks to offset payroll pressures.
Fast food giants like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Jack in the Box have begun piloting AI-drive-thru systems and robotic food preparation stations, according to internal industry reports.
Private equity firms and hospitality-focused investment funds are now closely watching regulatory movements in California and beyond, with some advising caution before expanding labor-intensive operations in high-wage jurisdictions.
In the stock market, fast food restaurant chains with a heavy California footprint have experienced mixed performance. While some brands have maintained stability due to menu price adjustments, others have seen narrowing profit margins.
A Q2 earnings report from a California-based Yum! Brands franchisee cited labor costs increasing by 18% year-over-year, with executives forecasting continued pressure through 2026.
Critics of the law say the findings validate long-held concerns about minimum wage mandates in highly competitive, low-margin sectors.
Rachel Greszler, an economic analyst for The Heritage Foundation, wrote in a recent Daily Signal op-ed:
“When it comes to central planning, history keeps the receipts: Wage controls never work… The consequences of this wage hike should be a warning sign—especially for cities like Los Angeles, which recently passed a $30 wage law for airport and hotel workers.”
McDonald’s employees on strike rally for higher minimum wage in Los Angeles, Calif. on Nov. 29, 2016. © Getty Images
In a Monday editorial, The Wall Street Journal called the idea that a major wage increase would spur economic growth “magical thinking.” The editorial also criticized New York City mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, both of whom support similarly aggressive wage proposals.
“These guys will never learn because they don’t want to see the world as it really is,” the WSJ board wrote.
Tara Gallegos, Deputy Director of Communications for Governor Newsom, dismissed the study’s conclusions, noting its links to the Hoover Institution, which she claims has a record of publishing “misleading information” on labor issues.
Gallegos pointed to a February 2025 study from UC Berkeley that analyzed employment data from April to December 2024, which found:
- Wages increased 8–9% for covered workers.
- No negative effects on non-covered workers or overall fast-food employment.
- Number of fast-food establishments grew faster in California than elsewhere.
- Menu prices increased modestly—by only 1.5% on average, or about $0.06 on a $4 hamburger.
Gallegos also cited an article from the San Francisco Chronicle (Oct. 2024) that said many of the doomsday predictions around AB 1228 “did not materialize.”
The Fast Food Council, created under AB 1228, has the authority to raise the minimum wage annually beginning January 1, 2025. This has raised new questions from both businesses and economists about the long-term viability of California’s fast-food sector under escalating labor costs.
Labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), maintain that the $20 wage has lifted thousands of workers out of poverty and boosted local economies via increased consumer spending.
Meanwhile, employers, especially small-business franchisees, warn that without offsetting subsidies, tax breaks, or exemptions, continued hikes may further drive automation and business closures.
As cities like Los Angeles move toward even higher minimums ($30 by 2028), California appears poised to remain the national battleground in the debate over wage policy and economic trade-offs.
July 27, 2025
Idaho Murder Investigation: Detectives Reveal Insights on Targets, Motive, and Interrogation of Kohberger
IDAHO — For the first time since Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the chilling murders of four University of Idaho students, the lead investigators and prosecutors have offered a detailed account of the case that shocked the nation.
Speaking exclusively with ABC News, Idaho State Police Lt. Darren Gilbertson and Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson shared critical insights into the investigation, the possible motives, and their chilling face-to-face interaction with the now-convicted killer.
A Scene of Horror at 1122 King Road
On the morning of November 13, 2022, authorities discovered a brutal crime scene at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho. Inside the off-campus residence, four students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin — had been stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning.
Lt. Gilbertson, who walked through the scene shortly after the murders, described the house’s common areas on the second floor as deceptively normal. “It looked like what you would expect a house full of college kids to look like,” he said.
But upstairs and in the bedrooms, the horror unfolded.
In Xana Kernodle’s room, her body lay on the floor, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was found dead on the bed. His blood had seeped through the structure, visible from the outside of the house.
On the third floor, Goncalves and Mogen were found together in Mogen’s bed. Goncalves’ injuries were described as “unique” and showing a “horizontal pattern” — though investigators remain uncertain about what caused them.
Police also discovered a knife sheath left behind — a key piece of evidence that would ultimately lead to Kohberger.
Four University of Idaho students were found dead at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, November 2022. © Angela Palermo/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The Hunt for a Suspect
The investigation initially yielded few leads. But in December 2022, forensic analysis of the DNA found on the knife sheath pointed authorities to Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. criminology student at Washington State University, just across the state border in Pullman.
Once Kohberger’s identity was uncovered, investigators conducted an extensive probe into his life — his digital footprint, financial activity, and physical movements.
“We figured out everything about him: his life, his behaviors, his routines,” said Gilbertson. According to court records, Kohberger’s phone had been near the victims’ house at least 12 times prior to the murders, dating as far back as August 2022. Most of those visits were in the late night or early morning hours.
However, after the murders, “every bit of that changed,” Gilbertson said. “His phone never comes to Moscow again.” Except for one chilling anomaly: Kohberger’s phone pinged near the home between 9:12 a.m. and 9:21 a.m. the morning after the murders.
“My hunch is that it was curiosity,” Gilbertson said. “He had to be wondering, ‘Why is nothing happening?’”
A photo posted by Kaylee Goncalves a few days before their deaths shows University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. © Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram
The Interrogation
When Kohberger traveled back to Pennsylvania for winter break, police tracked him closely. He was observed wearing gloves in public, even at a pharmacy. On December 30, 2022, police arrested him outside his family home.
Gilbertson participated in the initial interrogation. “We started with just very general questions about Pullman, about WSU … he spoke at length,” he recalled. However, when the officers mentioned Moscow, the atmosphere changed.
“As soon as we mentioned that, then he stopped,” Gilbertson said. “He said, ‘I don’t want to talk anymore.’ He denied knowing anything about Moscow and immediately requested an attorney.”
Who Was the Target?
Despite intense investigation, a clear motive remains elusive.
“He’s the only one that has the ‘why,’” Gilbertson said. “And oftentimes that ‘why’ may only make sense to him.”
Prosecutor Thompson added that Kohberger attempted to delete digital evidence from his devices, suggesting an attempt to “sanitize” his trail. No concrete link between Kohberger and the victims has been established, though Thompson believes either Kaylee Goncalves or Madison Mogen was the intended target.
“It’s more likely than not he did not expect to encounter Xana and the others up and about,” he said. Kernodle had been awake around the time of the murders, likely to retrieve a food delivery.
Survivors and Miraculous Escapes
Two surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were spared during the attack. Mortensen reportedly saw a masked man inside the home holding a container-like object with both hands.
“Dylan was so vulnerable,” Thompson said. “That young woman had an angel watching over her.”
The Courtroom Outcome
On July 2, 2025, weeks before the trial was set to begin, Kohberger pleaded guilty to all charges. As part of the plea deal, the death penalty was taken off the table, sparking mixed reactions from victims’ families.
“I respect and recognize that not everybody agrees with the decision we made,” Thompson said. “But we had something that a trial would have never given us — his sworn acknowledgment that the charges are true.”
Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole for the murders and the maximum 10 years for burglary.
“This murderer is now in the custody of the Department of Correction,” Thompson said. “That door is closed behind him and it’s not gonna open again till he’s dead.”
Bryan Kohberger, 30, appears for his sentencing hearing after he was convicted in the 2022 stabbing deaths of four Idaho college students, at the Ada County Courthouse, in Boise, Idaho, July 23, 2025. © Kyle Green/via Reuters
No Full Confession — and No Murder Weapon
Critics questioned why Kohberger’s plea deal didn’t include a confession or the murder weapon’s location.
“There was no legal way we could have compelled those,” said Thompson. “And quite frankly, there is nothing he could have said that I think would have been credible. He’s manipulative.”
Closure, But Not the End
As Moscow and the University of Idaho community try to heal, law enforcement officials remain mindful of the emotional toll the tragedy has left.
“This case is never going to be over and done with,” Thompson said. “The court case will, but for everybody who’s been affected by it — no.”
Though the final chapter has been written in court, the memory of Kaylee, Madison, Xana, and Ethan will continue to resonate through a community forever changed.
July 26, 2025
Democrats Receive Lowest Rating in 35 Years, Wall Street Journal Poll Shows
Democrats Receive Lowest Rating in 35 Years
Democrats Receive Lowest Rating in 35 Years
The Democratic Party’s Brand Is Cooked

Republican
Democratic

In a striking shift heading into the 2026 midterms, a new Wall Street Journal poll finds that the Democratic Party’s standing among voters has plunged to its lowest level in more than three decades, with Republicans gaining the edge on nearly all key policy issues, including the economy, border security, and education.
The poll, conducted this month among 1,500 registered voters, shows only 36% of respondents hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party—its lowest rating since 1990. In contrast, 48% view the Republican Party favorably, with a growing number of independents citing disillusionment with progressive social policies and concerns over the economy.
Democrats Lose Ground on Pocketbook & Cultural Issues
Although former President Donald Trump continues to face skepticism over his rhetoric, legal battles, and past policy missteps, Republicans are still seen by voters as stronger on critical issues:
- Economy: 52% trust Republicans vs. 38% for Democrats
- Inflation/Cost of Living: 54% Republican, 36% Democrat
- Immigration/Border: 61% Republican, 28% Democrat
- Education: 48% Republican, 41% Democrat
- Foreign Policy: 45% Republican, 40% Democrat
Notably, younger, college-educated voters—long considered Democratic-leaning—are now more divided. Some cite discomfort with what they describe as “cultural overreach” on gender identity, race-based equity programs, and campus speech restrictions.
“The messaging has veered too far from the kitchen table,” said James Wells, a 42-year-old independent from Ohio. “I care about wages, debt, jobs—not whether someone’s pronouns are being respected on a college campus.”
Cultural Backlash and Media Trust Gaps
Critics say the Democratic Party has alienated working- and middle-class voters, particularly white and Hispanic men, by appearing out of step on issues such as family values, public safety, and freedom of speech.
A plurality of voters now say they believe the mainstream media favors Democrats, with growing support for alternative voices and platforms. Podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan, Patrick Bet-David, Candace Owens, and Russell Brand have gained millions of followers disillusioned with traditional outlets.
“You can’t trust CNN or MSNBC anymore. But you also can’t trust some of these Republicans either,” said Danica Monroe, 29, in Arizona. “That’s why I listen to long-form podcasts now. It feels more honest.”
America First Rhetoric Gains Steam
The poll also shows rising support for policies once deemed radical:
- Tariffs on Chinese goods: 63% support tariffs, with 37% saying they’d back even a 400% tariff on key imports to protect U.S. industries.
- Strict immigration controls: 71% say the border crisis is out of control.
- Gender and sports policies: A majority supports banning biological males from participating in women’s sports.
The Republican agenda of “America First” economics, immigration crackdowns, and cultural conservatism is increasingly resonating—even among former Democrats.
Democrats’ Support Falters Among Key Voter Groups
While Democrats still dominate among Black voters and some liberal suburban women, they’ve seen erosion among:
- Latino men: Support dropped from 58% (2020) to 44% (2025)
- Young white working-class voters: Dropped from 49% to 33%
- Independent women: Now evenly split, 45% each for GOP and Dems
Political analysts say that while the Democrats’ messaging appeals to educated elites and urban activists, it is failing to connect with voters in swing states and small towns.
👀 Trump’s Legal Woes Continue – But MAGA Army Stands Firm
Despite ongoing legal scrutiny—including his handling of classified documents and associations with controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein—Donald Trump’s political base remains energized.
In a recent campaign stop, Trump vowed to “release all Epstein files” if re-elected in 2026, drawing cheers from his supporters. Critics say this is a political stunt, but it has reignited interest in transparency surrounding elite misconduct.
“If Trump exposes the truth, even some liberals will vote for him,” said one voter in Georgia.
What It Means for 2026 and Beyond
With just over a year before the midterms, the numbers paint a challenging landscape for Democrats. Economic anxiety, culture wars, and distrust of institutions appear to be tipping momentum toward Republicans.
Party Favorability (July 2025) Democratic Party Republican Party
Favorable 36% 48%
Unfavorable 56% 42%
Undecided 8% 10%
Unless Democrats can recalibrate their message and reconnect with everyday concerns, 2026 may deliver a wave election that reshapes the political map—again.
July 25, 2025