In the days following Donald Trump's presidential victory, an alarming surge in misogynistic rhetoric and threats against women has emerged online and in real life, according to a report from the Associated Press. Dubbed the 'emboldened manosphere', the trend has left many women feeling unsafe and compelled to take protective measures.

Sadie Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin profiled in AP's report, now carries pepper spray with her on campus. Her mother ordered self-defense kits for her and her sister.

This reaction stems from the rise of right-wing 'manosphere' influencers who have seized on Trump's win to amplify misogynistic content online.

A troubling trend is the appropriation of the pro-choice slogan "My body, my choice" into "Your body, my choice," a phrase that has spread rapidly online. Attributed to a post by far-right figure Nick Fuentes, it garnered 35 million views on its first day on X. The slogan has since appeared in middle schools, college campuses, and even on t-shirts — which were later removed by Amazon.

Online declarations calling to "Repeal the 19th" Amendment (which gave women the right to vote) have gained millions of views.

While Trump himself isn't directly amplifying this rhetoric, his campaign's focus on masculinity and repeated attacks on Kamala Harris's gender and race have contributed to the current climate. Dana Brown from the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics suggests that for some men, Trump's victory represents a chance to reclaim traditional gender roles they feel they're losing.

Despite the fear and disgust many women feel, some are fighting back. Perez and her peers are supporting each other, celebrating wins like female majorities in student government, and encouraging women to speak out against the misogynistic rhetoric. As Perez puts it, "I want to encourage my friends and the women in my life to use their voices to call out this rhetoric and to not let fear take over."

State Rep. Lucas Lanigan (R-Sanford) turned himself into the York County Jail Monday morning after a warrant was out for his arrest.

The warrant for Lanigan was for one count of domestic violence aggravated assault, which was based on reports given to the Sanford Police Department on Friday. According to information shared by Mark Dyer, major of support services and logistics for the department, Lanigan turned himself in around 9:30 a.m.

Dyer said the investigation is still ongoing.

Sgt. Colton Sweeney of the York County Sheriff’s Office said Lanigan will not be allowed to post bail until he goes before a judge, which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The Portland Press Herald reported that police searched for Lanigan over the weekend before he turned himself in.

Lanigan, who lives in Springvale and is wrapping up his first term as a state legislator, is up for reelection for his seat in the Maine House of Representatives. He is facing Democrat Patricia Kidder.

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Donald J. Trump's latest financial disclosure reveals a complex financial picture, balancing significant liabilities with various income sources. The former president faces over $100 million in liabilities from three civil lawsuits he lost in New York, including a $50 million bond for a civil fraud case and a judgment of $83.3 million in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse case.

Trump's current financial state was summarized in a new report in the New York Times.

Despite these legal challenges, Trump reports substantial income from various sources. His post-presidential books have been lucrative, with "Letters to Trump" bringing in $4.5 million, "A MAGA Journey" earning $505,763, and a Trump-endorsed Bible generating $300,000 in royalties. He also profits from licensing fees at Trump-branded properties in Dubai and Oman.

Trump's involvement in cryptocurrency and NFTs is notable. He holds over $1 million in cryptocurrency and received $7.15 million from an NFT licensing agreement. His wife, Melania, earned $330,609 from NFT sales and $237,500 for speaking at a Log Cabin Republicans event.

The disclosure also details Trump's holdings in Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social. He owns nearly 65% of the company, with 114 million shares of common stock subject to a lockup period.

Trump's resorts continue to be significant revenue sources. Mar-a-Lago reported $56.9 million in resort-related revenue, up from $52.3 million the previous year. Trump National Doral in Miami generated $160.1 million in revenue.

Other income sources include a Screen Actors Guild pension worth $90,776 and ongoing royalties from "The Art of the Deal." Trump also received $16.7 million in distributions from his investments in two office buildings managed by Vornado Realty Trust.

While the disclosure provides a broad overview of Trump's finances, it doesn't offer a complete picture of his net worth or the profitability of his businesses. The form often uses broad ranges for asset values and doesn't clearly define terms like "income" for some businesses.

NOW READ: Revealed: Trump deep in debt while foreign money keeps coming

Read the full report in the New York Times.

In a surprising revelation, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disclosed that he dumped a dead bear in New York City's Central Park nearly a decade ago. The admission, highlighted by Politico, came in a video released on social media Sunday afternoon, where Kennedy recounted the incident to actress Roseanne Barr.

Kennedy's decision to share this story appears to be preemptive, as he suggested in the video that he was addressing the incident ahead of a pending story in the New Yorker, which had inquired about it.

According to Kennedy, he did not kill the bear but found it already deceased, hit by another driver, during a falconing expedition in the Hudson Valley.

He initially planned to take the bear home to skin it but ended up driving directly to a dinner at Peter Luger Steak House in New York City. Faced with the dilemma of what to do with the bear carcass before heading to the airport, Kennedy decided to leave it in Central Park alongside an abandoned bicycle.

The story aligns with an incident reported by The New York Times in October 2014, where a dead bear was discovered in Central Park near an abandoned bicycle. At the time, the circumstances surrounding the bear's death and its appearance in the park were not publicly known.

Kennedy claimed he planted the bear with the bicycle to fit a narrative about a series of bike accidents in the city. He admitted to feeling nervous when the story was featured on "every television station," fearing he might be linked to the incident. "Luckily the story died after a while, and it stayed dead for a decade, and the New Yorker somehow found out about it," Kennedy stated in the video.

This unusual revelation comes at a time when Kennedy's presidential campaign has been facing challenges, with his poll numbers declining since President Joe Biden's exit from the race last month. It adds to a series of strange stories surrounding Kennedy, including a previous claim made during divorce proceedings that a worm had eaten part of his brain.

ALSO READ: Trump just entered his 'Fat Elvis' phase

A new book by political correspondent Meredith McGraw, titled "Trump in Exile," reveals the chaotic state of former President Donald Trump's political operation in the aftermath of his 2020 election loss and the January 6th Capitol riot.

The book, excerpted in Vanity Fair this week, details a frantic call Trump made to conservative consultant Susie Wiles in March 2022, pleading for her help to fix his disorganized campaign.

The excerpt provides insight into the internal struggles of Trump's post-presidency political machine and his efforts to maintain control over the Republican Party and highlights the challenges faced by Trump's team in organizing a cohesive political strategy while dealing with the fallout from the 2020 election and the events of January 6th.

According to McGraw, Trump's call to Wiles came as he and his son, Donald Trump Jr., were mounting a revenge campaign against Republicans who had spoken out against the Capitol riots. Trump reportedly told Wiles, "I don't know who's in charge. I don't know how much money I have. I don't know if they're stealing from me. I don't know who's who. I need you to fix it."

The book paints a picture of a Trump organization in disarray, with key figures like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner distancing themselves from Trump's political activities.

McGraw describes Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida club, as experiencing a "strange and empty time," having lost much of its social status following the events of January 6th and amid the ongoing pandemic.

ALSO READ: Trump just entered his 'Fat Elvis' phase

A February meeting of political advisers at Mar-a-Lago is described as particularly stark, with no set agenda and no one clearly in charge. However, the meeting did indicate that Donald Trump Jr. would play a larger role in the MAGA movement going forward.

The book also highlights Trump's intense focus on targeting Republicans who had opposed him, particularly former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).

McGraw writes that Trump's team believed his political fate rested on defeating Cheney, which they ultimately achieved when she lost the Republican primary to Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman in August 2022.

You can read the entire excerpt here.

A recent Forbes financial analysis has revealed that former President Donald Trump earned more money during his time in the White House than any other U.S. president in history.

According to the report, Trump's earnings between 2016 and 2020 amounted to more than $250 million, a result of his decision to maintain control of his business empire while serving as commander-in-chief.

The analysis, based on Trump's tax returns, bond filings and credit reports, shows how Trump's business fortunes fluctuated during his presidency. In 2017, despite a $25 million settlement related to Trump University fraud allegations, Trump was able to use this loss to his advantage on his tax filings. The following year saw significant profits from properties not bearing the Trump name, including two buildings in New York City and San Francisco that brought in $55 million.

However, Trump's businesses faced challenges, with income dropping at Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street in New York City, and losses mounting at his Washington D.C. hotel.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further impacted Trump's profits, with his hotels losing about $23 million and his management business shrinking from $29 million in 2017 to just $4.5 million.

ALSO READ: Trump 'caught himself' admitting his campaign is stumped by Harris during rally: CNN

Despite these setbacks, Trump's office buildings proved to be a "short-term savior," according to Alexander, thanks to long-term leases with marquee tenants. The analysis underscores how Trump's unprecedented decision to retain his business interests while in office allowed him to continue generating substantial personal wealth throughout his presidency.

Read the entire report here.

In a comprehensive analysis of Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance's views on women and children, several controversial statements and policy positions have come to light. Vance, who was recently named as former President Donald Trump's running mate, has faced renewed scrutiny over his past comments and beliefs. A recent analysis by journalist Judd Legum details Vance's views.

Vance has repeatedly criticized childless politicians, most notably referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as a "childless cat lady" who "doesn't really have a stake" in the country's future. He has extended this criticism to other Democratic leaders, suggesting that those without children should be excluded from leadership positions. However, it's worth noting that Harris is a stepmother to two children, a fact that contradicts Vance's characterization.

The Ohio senator's views on family structure are equally contentious. In a 2021 speech, Vance argued against women leaving violent marriages, suggesting that the sexual revolution's emphasis on personal happiness had negative consequences for children. When questioned about this stance, Vance deflected, citing higher rates of domestic violence among non-married couples.

Vance has also proposed controversial voting policies, suggesting that parents should have more electoral power than non-parents. He has advocated for giving votes to children, with parents controlling those votes, effectively giving families with children more influence in elections.

Despite his professed support for families, Vance has criticized efforts to make childcare more affordable. He labeled universal daycare as a "class war against normal people," implying that parents who use daycare value their jobs more than their children. This stance is at odds with the reality many American families face, with childcare costs often exceeding typical mortgage payments.

On reproductive rights, Vance has taken a hardline stance. He opposed a Department of Health and Human Services rule protecting the privacy of women seeking reproductive healthcare, arguing that abortion records should be available to law enforcement. Vance has also called for federal action to prevent women from traveling out of state for abortions, citing concerns about disproportionate impacts on Black women.

As Vance's views come under increased scrutiny, they raise questions about the potential impact on policy should the Trump-Vance ticket prevail in the upcoming election.

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In a surprising turn of events, two Arizona Republican state lawmakers have found themselves at the center of a political storm after sharing a debunked conspiracy theory about President Joe Biden. The theory, which has been thoroughly discredited, suggests that the President is using body doubles to make public appearances, according to the Arizona Mirror.

State Senator Wendy Rogers, representing Flagstaff, sparked controversy when she shared a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) that falsely claimed First Lady Jill Biden was simultaneously in Paris and Washington, D.C. This claim was quickly debunked by PolitiFact, which reported that the First Lady had left for France shortly after the President's address to the nation, and the photos in question were taken hours apart.

Not to be outdone, Representative Joseph Chaplik of Scottsdale also joined the fray by sharing a similar post. This one, originally from former CBS journalist Sharyl Attkisson, speculated about the potential use of a "flawless" body double for the President. Attkisson, known for promoting debunked theories in the past, was herself reposting content from a user who had been accused of fabricating their identity online.

The conspiracy theory didn't stop there. Senator Rogers went on to share additional posts claiming that President Biden had mysteriously grown taller, and even more outlandishly, that he had died and it was being covered up. When approached for comment on their posts and the credibility of their sources, both lawmakers remained silent.

This incident is not an isolated one in the world of political conspiracy theories. Similar unfounded claims have been made about other politicians, including Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. These theories often find fertile ground in online communities dedicated to complex and far-reaching conspiracy narratives.

While it's easy to dismiss such theories as harmless speculation, experts warn of the potential damage they can cause to public trust and the democratic process. As social media continues to amplify even the most outlandish claims, the responsibility falls on both politicians and the public to critically evaluate information before sharing it.

In the end, there remains no credible evidence to support the claim that President Biden or any member of his family is using body doubles.

NOW READ: Field for Harris VP pick narrowed to 3

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has ordered Balanced Nutrition Inc., a nonprofit organization led by Yolanda Hill, wife of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, to repay over $132,000 in federal funding. This order comes after the agency found "serious deficiencies" in the organization's operations, according to NC Newsline.

Balanced Nutrition, established by Hill in 2015, has been assisting child care centers in applying for and receiving federal funding for children's meals. However, according to a letter sent by DHHS on Friday, the nonprofit improperly billed the federal food program. The issues included excessive administrative costs, inadequate documentation for some food purchases, and buying items not permitted for the childcare program.

The total amount Balanced Nutrition is required to repay is $132,118.86. DHHS clarified that this repayment is separate from the Notice of Serious Deficiency, which requires the organization to document proposed corrective actions.

One specific issue highlighted by DHHS was the employment of Kimberly Cephas, Hill's daughter, without proper disclosure of the relationship. This violates program regulations, as DHHS approval is required for such hires. The agency is seeking reimbursement for labor expenses claimed for Cephas.

Earlier this year, Hill abruptly announced the closure of Balanced Nutrition, citing her husband's campaign for governor as the reason. This decision came as the state was preparing to conduct a compliance review of the organization. Hill later accused DHHS of targeting Balanced Nutrition due to her husband's political position. Since then, she has refused to meet with DHHS officials.

Despite officially shutting down Balanced Nutrition on April 30, Hill is still required to respond to DHHS requests. This is because the agency had already scheduled a compliance review to begin two weeks prior to the closure date. The letter from DHHS notes that Hill has not responded to multiple attempts by the state agency to set up a meeting to discuss the findings.

DHHS has made several attempts to schedule an in-person exit conference through various means of communication, including email, telephone, and written correspondence. However, they have received no response from Hill or the organization.

Balanced Nutrition now has a two-week deadline to submit a plan of correction for the earlier finding of "serious deficiency." This situation highlights the importance of proper management and transparency in organizations receiving federal funding, especially those with potential political connections.

NOW READ: Field for Harris VP pick narrowed to 3

Vice President Kamala Harris has narrowed her potential list of running mates to three candidates, according to Bloomberg News.

Bloomberg reported on Saturday that Harris is considering a wide range of vice presidential candidates from the Democratic Party's bench. However, sources familiar with the process indicate that a short list has emerged, featuring three elected officials with nationwide appeal: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign confirmed to Bloomberg that the Vice President has "directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates," but declined to provide further details. Media reports suggest that Harris is expected to make her decision by August 7th.

Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, secured a decisive victory in the 2022 election. Prior to his governorship, the 51-year-old Democrat served as Pennsylvania's Attorney General from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure as Attorney General, Shapiro gained recognition for his investigations into clergy sex abuse and his efforts to protect voting rights. He has also been at the forefront of combating the opioid crisis and human trafficking in Pennsylvania.

Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut, currently serves as the junior United States Senator from Arizona. He won his Senate seat in 2020, defeating Republican incumbent Martha McSally. Before entering politics, Kelly had a distinguished career as a naval aviator and astronaut, participating in four space shuttle missions between 2001 and 2011. In the Senate, Kelly has focused on issues such as veterans' affairs, science and technology, and climate change. He's also been a vocal advocate for gun control, co-founding the organization Americans for Responsible Solutions with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Known for his moderate stance, Kelly brings valuable experience in border issues, an area where Harris has faced criticism.

Tim Walz, the current Governor of Minnesota, first took office in 2018. Before his governorship, Walz served in the U.S. House of Representatives. His background includes careers in education and the military, having enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1981 and serving for 24 years. As governor, Walz gained national attention for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his response to the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

As the vetting process continues, political analysts and the public alike will be watching closely to see who Harris selects as her running mate, a decision that could significantly impact the upcoming election.

In his new book "The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism", political observer Joe Conason accuses former President Donald Trump of defrauding his MAGA supporters by raising hundreds of millions of dollars under the guise of an "election defense fund" after the 2020 presidential election.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to promote his book, Conason, a longtime political commentator, made the case that Trump is deeply embroiled in grifting and scamming his own conservative base.

The book's foreword was written by George Conway, a self-described "honest conservative" who has been highly critical of Trump.

READ: 'Stop electing stupid people': Rage as Marjorie Taylor Greene flunks American history test

Conason explained that his book "tells a story of how conservatives got to the point where they are milking their own constituents for every penny they can squeeze out of them on false pretenses in almost every case." He described Trump's post-election fundraising as the "epitome" of this problem on the right.

According to Conason, in the weeks after the 2020 election, Trump "booked a quarter of a billion dollars" by telling his supporters he was setting up an "official election defense fund." However, the money did not actually go towards challenging the election results. Instead, it ended up in a super PAC controlled by Trump, which he could use for his own personal legal defense and other expenses.

This accusation fits into a broader pattern that Conason sees within the conservative movement. He argues that many Republican leaders and figures have been exploiting their supporters through dishonest and fraudulent means.

Conason's book aims to expose this "grifting" and "scamming" that he believes has become rampant on the right. The context here is important. "The Longest Con" comes at a time when Trump is facing a growing number of legal challenges, including criminal indictments in New York, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

Conason's claims about Trump's post-election fundraising tactics seem designed to further undermine the former president's credibility among his core supporters.

Additionally, Conason's accusations reflect a longstanding criticism of Trump's business practices and his tendency to take advantage of his followers.

Throughout his career, Trump has been accused of running various scams, such as the failed Trump University, and repeatedly stiffing contractors and vendors who have done work for him.

By highlighting Trump's alleged exploitation of his own voters, Conason is tapping into a broader narrative about the former president's unethical behavior and his willingness to prioritize his own interests over those of his supporters.

The book's title, "The Longest Con," suggests that this pattern of grifting and fraud has been a defining feature of Trump's political rise and the conservative movement more broadly.

Overall, Conason's appearance on "Morning Joe" and the claims made in his new book represent a scathing indictment of Trump and the state of American conservatism. By exposing what he sees as rampant dishonesty and self-serving grift, Conason aims to hold the former president and his allies accountable and to shed light on the deeper problems plaguing the conservative movement.

Watch the segment below or at this link:

MSNBC 07 08 2024 07 05 55 youtu.be

The world was caught off guard by Donald Trump's "America First" approach and skepticism towards traditional alliances like NATO when he took office in 2016.

In 2016, no one in the world was ready for President Trump. America’s NATO allies aren’t making the same mistake this time.

During his presidency, Trump frequently criticized NATO allies for not spending enough on defense and threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance if members didn't increase their military budgets.

This time around, as Trump eyes a potential return to the White House in 2024, a new article from Politico suggests that NATO allies and other nations are scrambling to position themselves for a second Trump term. Based on his previous tenure, they anticipate a Trump administration would be defined by isolationism, confrontation with allies, and a laser focus on countering China rather than Russia.

According to the article, countries are taking three main steps to prepare:

First, there is extensive personal outreach to Trump and his advisers, in the hope of building relationships that will help minimize conflict.

Second, there are policy shifts aimed at pleasing Trump and his political coalition, chiefly by soothing Trump’s complaints about inadequate European defense spending.

Third, there are creative diplomatic and legal measures in the works to armor NATO priorities against tampering by a Trump administration.There are also bipartisan efforts underway in Congress to make it harder for a president to withdraw from NATO without Congressional approval.

The preparations highlight how Trump's past criticism of NATO as "obsolete" and his transactional view of alliances has fundamentally reshaped international relations.

Allies that once hoped Trump's tenure was a mere blip now view "Trumpism" as an entrenched ideology they must contend with.

However, some analysts warn that personal outreach and policy concessions may prove futile given Trump's unpredictable nature.

One adviser is quoted saying, "We don't know - and I think nobody knows, exactly - what he will do."

There are concerns Trump could be even more disruptive in a second term without constraints from advisers like Jim Mattis and H.R. McMaster, who acted as a check on his "America First" instincts during his first presidency.

While panic about a complete U.S. withdrawal from NATO has subsided, the alliance remains anxious about Trump's ambivalence towards collective defense, given his past threats to abandon allies that don't pay their fair share. Some former officials have indicated limits on how far the U.S. would go to defend NATO members like the Baltic states against Russian aggression.

Ultimately, the extraordinary preparations underway globally represent a plausible strategy for stability under a Trump presidency, the article argues. But it concludes that much still depends on the whims of Trump himself, who one European diplomat described as an "loose cannon" whose policies "don't really work" by traditional standards.