‘Nuclear Option’: Trump Says Filibuster Should Be Eliminated As Government Shutdown Drags On
President Donald Trump is now calling for Republicans to eradicate the filibuster as the government shutdown continues for nearly a month.
https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/31/trump-shutdown-senate-gop-nuclear-option-filibuster-democrats/
A man charged with murdering Sophia Mason, the 8-year-old Hayward girl whose gruesome death nearly four years ago highlighted numerous failings in Alameda County’s child safety net, accepted a plea deal earlier this month and was released from jail.
Dhante Jackson was released from Merced County jail on Oct. 6 after pleading guilty to an accessory charge in Sophia’s death, his attorney and the Merced County District Attorney’s Office confirmed this week. His release was a result of having spent nearly three years in jail—nearly two years longer than the maximum sentence to which he pleaded guilty, according to his attorney.
The resolution of Jackson’s case leaves Sophia’s mother, Samantha Johnson, as the lone person still facing murder and child abuse charges in the girl’s death.
On Tuesday, Jackson’s attorney criticized Merced County prosecutors and Merced’s police force for their investigation and their alleged reliance on Johnson’s statements, suggesting “they just took her word for it.”
Todd Melnik, Jackson’s attorney, said he undertook a “painstaking” investigation to prove Jackson’s innocence on the murder charge. His efforts included pulling license plate reader data, reviewing Bay Area toll records, and administering a polygraph test to Jackson.
“Justice was clearly done, but it was justice delayed,” said Melnik, whose previous work to exonerate a murder suspect was highlighted in the 2017 Netflix documentary *Long Shot*. “Dhante never should have been arrested.”
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In March 2022, Sophia’s body was found decomposing in the bathtub of a Merced house after her relatives in Hayward—where she had spent much of her life—grew concerned about her well-being. The girl had been dead for at least a month before her body was discovered. She appeared extremely malnourished at the time of her death, which the Merced County coroner’s office ruled a homicide.
Police records show that Johnson, Sophia’s mother, had previously told authorities that Sophia was punished by being made to stay in a metal shed in their backyard. She also admitted to burning Sophia’s leg with a hot spoon as discipline and choking her on at least one occasion.
Johnson told investigators that she had removed Sophia from the shed after noticing the girl had “feces on her” and needed a shower. At one point, there was a “thud” in the bathroom, but Johnson did not investigate because Jackson said the girl wanted to be left alone, according to a police report.
The next day, Johnson assumed that Sophia had run away because the back sliding door was open. She did not notify authorities or ask for help looking for her daughter.
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Subsequent investigations by the Bay Area News Group uncovered deep deficiencies in the response by the Alameda County Department of Children and Family Services to repeated concerns about Sophia’s well-being during the last 18 months of her life. County social workers appeared to repeatedly ignore evidence of danger under the mother’s care and failed to promptly report allegations of abuse to law enforcement.
Alameda County had jurisdiction over the case because Sophia lived most of her life in Hayward. The revelations underscored systemic issues within Alameda County’s child welfare agency regarding how quickly employees responded to reports of child abuse and neglect.
These concerns remain unresolved. Just last month, California State Auditor Grant Parks issued a report claiming the county agency failed to meet state deadlines to investigate alleged child abuse and provide necessary physical and mental health care.
In May 2023, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors commissioned an inquiry into the handling of Sophia’s case. However, nearly two and a half years later, the outcome of that investigation and any formal findings have not been announced.
Sophia’s grandmother filed a lawsuit against the county and multiple social workers involved in Sophia’s case, alleging violations of more than a dozen state child welfare regulations during the last 14 months of the girl’s life, along with falsification of records to cover up their failures.
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In an interview Tuesday, Sophia’s aunt, Emerald Johnson, criticized the outcome of Jackson’s case, expressing she was “disappointed and disgusted,” and likened the resolution to “a slap in the face.” Emerald had called Alameda County’s child welfare agency multiple times while Sophia was still alive to raise concerns about the girl’s wellbeing under Jackson and Samantha Johnson’s care.
Jackson’s plea deal this month has reopened painful wounds regarding how Sophia’s case was handled.
“I feel like she was failed while she was alive, and now she’s being failed again in her death,” Emerald Johnson said.
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Merced police quickly named Jackson as a suspect alongside Samantha Johnson—his girlfriend—after discovering Sophia’s body in their home. Authorities arrested Samantha Johnson swiftly; however, a manhunt for Jackson stretched across the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California.
Jackson was arrested in September 2022 following an extensive investigation, which included executing over 20 search warrants—often focusing on cell phone data—and spending hundreds of hours analyzing forensic information.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta personally announced Jackson’s capture at a press conference, expressing his outrage.
“This case left me damn angry that a girl had been subjected to so much abuse,” Bonta said.
“We shouldn’t be here; little Sophia should still be alive today. She should be playing. She should be learning. She should be growing up. She should be pursuing and chasing her dreams,” he added.
“Those accused of her murder must pay a steep price for their abhorrent crimes,” Bonta concluded.
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The criminal proceedings against Jackson and Samantha Johnson have dragged on for years, with Jackson cycling through multiple attorneys and questions arising regarding Samantha Johnson’s mental wellbeing. Neither defendant has faced a preliminary hearing, where a judge determines if sufficient evidence exists to send the case to trial.
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*Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter.*
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/29/man-held-in-death-of-8-year-old-sophia-mason-released-from-jail-after-plea-deal/
Un operativo federal contra inmigrantes sembró el miedo en un vecindario de Chicago cuando agentes enmascarados lanzaron gas lacrimógeno cerca de una escuela primaria, dejando a decenas de niños aterrorizados.
La agencia Associated Press informó que el hecho ocurrió en el barrio de Logan Square, una zona históricamente hispana, durante una acción de la Patrulla Fronteriza en el marco de la Operación Midway Blitz de la administración Trump.
Entre las víctimas del caos estaban los hijos de Molly Kucich, de 2 años y 14 meses, que se encontraban en un café infantil cercano. “Mi hijo solo repetía ‘mami, mami’ y no podía dejar de temblar”, relató Kucich a AP. La madre corrió desde el supermercado tras recibir la llamada de su esposo, quien mencionó “una redada” y “gas lacrimógeno”.
Testigos dijeron a AP que los agentes federales actuaron desde una camioneta blanca sin identificación. Videos, señaló la agencia de noticias, muestran cómo el gas se dispersó en medio del tráfico y alcanzó a peatones y escolares. Padres desesperados condujeron por las aceras para rescatar a sus hijos.
La propietaria del Café Infantil Luna y Cielo, Vanessa Aguirre-Ávalos, contó que las niñeras escondieron a los niños en una habitación trasera mientras se escuchaban gritos y bocinas. “Una de ellas me rogó que si se la llevaban, me asegurara de que los niños llegaran a casa”, narró la mujer a AP.
### El DHS defiende el operativo migratorio
El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional defendió el operativo y alegó que los agentes “fueron obstaculizados por manifestantes”, según una declaración citada por la agencia. Sin embargo, vecinos y maestras afirmaron que no hubo aviso previo ni advertencias antes del uso del gas.
La maestra Liza Oliva-Pérez, ciudadana estadounidense, contó que vio cómo un hombre enmascarado lanzaba las bombas lacrimógenas mientras ella almorzaba frente a la escuela. “Me trataron como si fuera una criminal”, dijo a AP. “Tuve que fingir que no pasaba nada para no asustar a mis alumnos”, añadió.
Niños pequeños asocian las sirenas con agentes de inmigración y padres consultan terapeutas para manejar la ansiedad de sus hijos.
Las calles de Logan Square, según constató AP, ahora lucen vacías, con carteles que dicen: “ICE lanzó gas lacrimógeno en este vecindario. Nadie está a salvo hasta que todos lo estemos”.
Aguirre-Ávalos, quien abrió su centro para enseñar español a niños, dijo que considera mudarse: “No nos quieren aquí. Siempre seremos blanco de ataques”.
Mientras tanto, familias de ciudadanos y migrantes —legales e indocumentados— viven con un temor constante. “Esto no es vida”, dijo una de las niñeras entrevistadas por AP. “Ya huimos una vez de la guerra, y ahora parece que la guerra volvió a alcanzarnos”, expresó.
https://eldiariony.com/2025/10/29/el-terror-que-dejan-en-ninos-de-chicago-las-redadas-migratorias-esto-no-es-vida/
**Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins Urges George Soros to Fund SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown**
Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins on Tuesday encouraged liberal billionaire George Soros to provide funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through November.
With SNAP benefits set to expire this Saturday due to the ongoing government shutdown, this appeal comes at a critical time for millions of Americans relying on the program.
In an interview with CNN’s Boris Sanchez, Rollins stated that her department does not have the legal authority to distribute any contingency funds to continue the benefits beyond the current deadline.
As the deadline approaches, the future of SNAP funding remains uncertain, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to support vulnerable populations dependent on this essential program.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5577654-snap-benefits-usda-rollins-soros/
The judge stated that she believes the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that the mass firings were illegal and exceeded the scope of authority.
https://journalnow.com/news/nation-world/crime-courts/article_7238c9e0-47c6-56a3-90cc-640d2496802e.html
A California mother has accused an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contractor of engaging in unwelcome sexual harassment. According to the complaint, the contractor repeatedly contacted the plaintiff through various means, including phone calls, video calls, and text messages. Disturbingly, he also sent her pictures of himself naked with an erect penis and videos of himself masturbating.
The complaint further alleges that the contractor attempted to coerce Reyna Mendoza for sexual favors, reportedly stating words to the effect of, “If you’re good to me, I’ll be good to you.”
Reyna Mendoza came to the United States from Mexico as a teenager, fleeing domestic violence, her family told KCRA 3. Although she has lived in the U.S. for nearly 40 years, she has been required to check in regularly with ICE through BI Incorporated.
BI Incorporated is a private company that provides electronic monitoring and supervision services for people involved in the criminal justice and immigration systems. Their services include GPS monitoring and ICE supervision programs. BI is a wholly owned subsidiary of The GEO Group, a large private prison and detention company. While BI operates under GEO’s corporate umbrella, it focuses specifically on monitoring and case management rather than managing detention facilities.
The Sacramento Police Department is currently investigating the allegations, a spokesperson confirmed to The Sacramento Bee.
### What People Are Saying
“It’s obviously very suspicious because all along the defendants that we are suing have been working very hard to cover up the sexual harassment,” said Reyna Mendoza’s lawyer, Israel Ramirez, in an interview with KCRA 3. “We’re still investigating this. We want all the facts to come out and we want the individuals who have harmed her to be brought to justice.”
Francisco Govea, Reyna’s son, shared his frustration with KCRA: “It’s really hard when you’re trying to speak up to the authorities about what’s going on and they dismiss it. Who do you ask for help at that point?”
ICE responded to the allegations on its website, emphasizing its stance: “ICE has zero tolerance for all forms of sexual abuse and assault, retaliation for reporting sexual abuse, or staff neglect or violations of responsibilities that may contribute to such incidents. ICE takes every allegation seriously and will hold perpetrators accountable for their sexual misconduct.”
### What Happens Next
Mendoza’s family told KCRA 3 that Reyna has been communicating with her attorneys from Mexico and plans to continue participating in the legal proceedings remotely.
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**EDITOR’S NOTE:** This story includes discussion of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 in the U.S.
https://www.newsweek.com/woman-deported-after-reporting-sexual-harassment-by-ice-contractor-10951512
BOSTON — The House is set to vote Wednesday on a sweeping early literacy reform bill.
The legislation aims to address and reverse what leaders are describing as “troubling trends” in student reading rates across the state.
Lewis Hamilton recently opened up about the penalty he received during the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix.
The incident occurred during the race on Sunday, impacting his overall performance and race strategy.
Hamilton shared his thoughts and reflections on the situation, providing insight into the challenges he faced on the track.
Stay tuned for more updates and detailed analysis of the race and its key moments.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-lewis-hamilton-calls-fia-s-double-standards-gets-penalized-f1-mexico-gp-others-escape-punishment
**Rep. Eric Swalwell Demands 2028 Democrat Candidates Pledge to Tear Down Trump’s Planned White House Ballroom**
*By OAN Staff | Katherine Mosack | 5:07 PM, Sunday, October 26, 2025*
United States Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is calling on potential Democrat presidential candidates for 2028 to pledge to dismantle President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
On Sunday, the Democrat congressman posted on X:
“Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.”
Swalwell added in a comment that he would find it acceptable if the next Democrat president were to “rename it the Barack Obama Ballroom,” though the White House has not suggested any name for the space.
“But a Trump monument to corruption will not stand,” he concluded.
Swalwell is the latest Democrat to oppose the new addition to the White House, despite the project being fully funded by the president and private donors, putting no cost on American taxpayers.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the “fake outrage” over the project, noting that “nearly every single president who has lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own.”
Indeed, former President Barack Obama added a basketball court while in office.
During the Obama administration, many state dinners were held on the South Lawn under a tent, requiring guests to use portable restrooms. The new 90,000-square-foot ballroom will have the capacity for approximately 650 seated guests, allowing dinners and receptions to be held indoors.
President Trump even mentioned possibly holding the inauguration in the ballroom. This may provide some extra security to high-profile individuals, compared to open-air venues like the one in Pennsylvania where Trump was shot in the ear last summer.
Most of the White House remains untouched by the new construction, including the West Wing, the Executive Residence, and both the east and west colonnades. The East Wing, which has held the First Lady’s office and other staff office spaces along with a nuclear bunker, will be expanded to accommodate the grand ballroom.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also criticized the building project, which has drawn scrutiny on her own treatment of the White House when her husband, former President Bill Clinton, left office. The couple took furniture and other “gifts” from the People’s House and ended up returning $28,000 worth of furnishings. The Clintons also reimbursed the White House an additional $86,000 for items taken.
Their daughter, Chelsea Clinton, who lived in the White House from ages 12 to 20, wrote on X:
“The erasure of the East Wing isn’t just about marble or plaster; it’s about President Trump again taking a wrecking ball to our heritage, while targeting our democracy, and the rule-of-law.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom has also repeatedly criticized the project. This has drawn attention to his own state’s ongoing renovations of the Capitol building in Sacramento. The project began shortly before he entered office with an estimated cost of less than $550 million but has grown to more than $1 billion under his governance, and it is fully funded by taxpayers.
Conservatives have jokingly diagnosed those who take offense to the independently funded, $300 million ballroom with “BDS,” also known as “ballroom derangement syndrome.”
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https://www.oann.com/newsroom/rep-eric-swalwell-demands-2028-democrat-presidential-candidates-to-pledge-to-destroy-trumps-ballroom/
A dose of direct democracy is influencing the off-year elections this November, as voters across six states will decide on 24 statewide ballot measures, according to Ballotpedia. These measures tackle critical issues ranging from redrawing congressional maps and gun control to election integrity. Texas alone will feature 17 of these initiatives on its ballots, as reported by the State Court Report website.
Here are the seven key ballot initiatives to watch ahead of Election Day, November 4.
### 1. Newsom’s Gerrymandering Power Grab – California Proposition 50
California’s Proposition 50 would shift the authority to draw congressional maps from the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by voters in 2010, back to the state Legislature. If approved, this change is likely to flip five Republican-held U.S. House seats to Democrats.
Governor Gavin Newsom and most Democrats support the measure. The pro-Newsom campaign has raised $106.4 million, dwarfing the $44.3 million raised by opponents. In fact, 95% of all spending for ballot measures in 2025 has been directed toward Proposition 50, according to Nicole Fisher of Ballotpedia.
Newsom frames this move as a response to recent redistricting in Texas that favored Republicans. Former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy have campaigned against the change.
Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, noted, “Democrats have a big spending advantage. They turned it into a partisan, nationalized fight, and framed it as a tit-for-tat between California versus Texas.”
### 2. Election Integrity on the Maine Ballot – Question 1
Maine voters will weigh in on a measure that introduces voter ID requirements and new absentee voting rules. Maine is unique in not requiring voter ID, while 36 other states have some form of voter ID law, and 24 demand photo ID.
Opponents of the measure have raised $1.7 million compared to $802,000 from supporters, per Ballotpedia. A University of New Hampshire poll reveals the electorate is nearly split: 49% oppose, 48% support, and 3% remain undecided.
If passed, Maine’s Question 1 would require voters to present photo ID both in-person and when voting absentee. It would limit municipalities to one ballot drop box each and require a bipartisan group of election officials to collect ballots from drop boxes.
Kondik explains, “Voter ID is something voters generally support, but it’s the absentee voting rules and other pieces that seem to be giving some voters pause.”
Other provisions include the state providing free photo ID cards to voters without driver’s licenses upon request and prohibiting absentee ballot requests made through family members.
### 3. Democrat Governor Opposes Gun Control in Maine – Question 2
Maine’s Question 2 proposes an “extreme risk protection order,” allowing family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily limit a person’s access to firearms.
Interestingly, Democratic Governor Janet Mills opposes the measure, urging voters to reject it. She argues, “The so-called ‘red flag’ measure has been billed as strengthening gun safety measures—but in reality, it will undermine the safety of the public.” Mills notes that existing laws already permit courts to remove dangerous weapons from individuals who pose risks.
Supporters have raised over $843,000, while opponents have collected less than $65,000. Polling is tight, with 22% of voters still undecided, according to the University of New Hampshire.
Nicole Fisher commented, “Both questions in Maine are neck-and-neck, with a lot of undecided voters.”
### 4. Only Citizens Voting in Texas? – Proposition 16
In Texas, Proposition 16 proposes a constitutional amendment to ban noncitizens from voting. Fourteen states have already passed similar statewide bans, with eight enacting them just last November.
These bans partly respond to local governments in California, Illinois, Maryland, Vermont, and the District of Columbia allowing noncitizens to vote in certain local elections—such as for mayor or school board.
The Texas measure received bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature. Recently, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson reported that as many as 2,724 noncitizens were registered to vote in the state.
### 5. Tough on Crime in Texas – Proposition 3
Texas voters will also consider Proposition 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that denies bail for individuals charged with serious crimes. These include murder, capital murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury with a weapon, aggravated kidnapping, robbery, sexual assault, indecency with a child, and human trafficking.
Governor Greg Abbott supports the amendment, which passed both legislative houses overwhelmingly with bipartisan backing.
### 6. First-in-Nation Parental Rights Amendment – Texas Proposition 15
Proposition 15 in Texas seeks to add parental rights to the state constitution, granting parents the final authority over their children’s care and upbringing. If passed, Texas would be the first state to enshrine such rights constitutionally, though 26 other states have “parents bill of rights” laws.
“This would primarily give parents more rights in court for legal challenges,” said Nicole Fisher. Issues affected may include gender policies, contraception, and other controversial school matters.
The measure enjoys unanimous support in the Texas Senate and broad bipartisan support in the House.
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These ballot initiatives highlight the significant role that direct democracy plays in shaping policies on some of the most contentious issues in the nation. Voters in these states have critical decisions ahead that will influence political power, voting rights, public safety, and family matters for years to come.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/10/26/6-ballot-measures-watch-november/
