Obama Defends Ilhan Omar After Federal Raid on Her Home

Getty Images
Elizabeth Weibel

18 Oct 2026736

Former President Barack Obama defended Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after agents with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit conducted a raid on her home as part of an immigration fraud investigation.

In a post on X, Obama argued that “it is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs,” saying that is “exactly” what President Donald Trump’s administration is doing to Omar.

Obama went on to note that Omar came to the United States “with her father when she was 12 years old,” and added that “five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen.”

“If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately,” Obama said. “But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically.”

The former president went on to highlight how Omar graduated from college, worked “as a community organizer,” and became “the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S.”

Ilhan Omar Ignites Firestorm After Referring to U.S. as the “Goxxamn States” at Bogus ICE Hearing

Jewish Breaking News 

Jan 19, 2026

The comments were made  at a St. Paul event billed as a Democratic “field hearing,” titled “Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Deadly Assault on Minnesota.”  Omar condemned the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement and accused federal agents of spreading fear through immigrant communities.

READ MORE: https://jewishbreakingnews.com/ilhan-...

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"Close Borders, Save Europe": Afroditi Latinopoulou’s Vision for Europe

 "Close Borders, Save Europe": Afroditi Latinopoulou’s Vision for Europe

The Financial Express

Oct 13, 2026 

At a political gathering in Italy, Greek politician Afroditi Latinopoulou delivers a forceful critique of the European Union, accusing Brussels’ institutions of undermining national sovereignty, traditional values and democratic accountability. Aligning herself with right-wing European figures including Matteo Salvini and Viktor Orbán, she calls for tighter borders, mass deportations and a rejection of policies she associates with the EU establishment. Her speech also attacks what she describes as excessive bureaucracy, state intervention and the political left, while emphasising the themes of nation, religion and family. Latinopoulou presents the debate as a struggle over who should shape Europe’s future: national governments and their citizens, or institutions based in Brussels. This report examines the arguments and political rhetoric behind her challenge to the European project.

When Silence Is Eloquence | Our High Calling - October 14

 

Peter Thiel slams Obama, Pope Leo in new ‘Antichrist’ lectures

The tech billionaire accused them of using AI concerns to “boost their own popularity,” according to recordings obtained by POLITICO.

 

Peter Thiel made the remarks in his latest "Antichrist" lecture series in Nashville, according to recordings obtained by POLITICO. | Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images

By Calder McHugh

10/08/2026 1:48 PM EDT


Tech billionaire Peter Thiel is escalating his attacks on critics of artificial intelligence, accusing former President Barack Obama and the pope of exploiting the public’s fears about AI, according to exclusive recordings of closed-door lectures obtained by Decoded by POLITICO.

In a new series of talks in Nashville, Thiel singled out the two leaders as he sharpened his warnings about the Antichrist — a figure who he sees as stopping the progress of technology and advocating for a “one world government” of regulation.

“Many people know that AI is politically unpopular and want to leverage that to boost their own popularity,” Thiel said. “Both Obama and the pope fall into this category. Obama knows the Democrats have no ideas,

 but they can at least oppose AI.”

The former president recently urged Democrats to come up with a more comprehensive plan on AI.

Thiel was even more critical of Pope Leo XIV, suggesting his focus on AI was an attempt to divert attention from the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandals.

“He needed something politically popular to distract from the church’s child sex abuse scandals, and he found it in AI,” Thiel said, referring to the pope’s first encyclical on AI.

Satanic prayer causes uproar at city council meeting

CHAD DRURY Courier staff writer


OTTUMWA — An invocation at the beginning of Tuesday's Ottumwa City Council meeting overshadowed everything else that took place over the course of 80 minutes.

Resident and former council member Matt Dalbey read a satanic prayer — capped off by "Hail Satan" — to kick off the meeting at City Hall, leading to a reaction from New Life Center pastor Rick Bick during a contentious opening few minutes of the meeting.

In a private message, Dalbey said the prayer is used by the Satanic Temple of Iowa, of which he is a member, "but has nothing to do with the belief in a satanic deity."

The Satanic Temple of Iowa is "a resolutely non-theistic" religious organization that follows seven core tenants, according to its website.

Soon after Dalbey left the podium and after the council, staff and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Bick had his turn, and was out of turn with the meeting's protocol of speaking on agenda items.

"Let's just reverse this curse that was put on our city. That 'Hail Satan' is not welcome here," Bick said.

Council member Cara Galloway, who has never stood for an invocation, said that Bick should speak during the portion of the meeting where citizens can speak on either agenda or non-agenda items; Bick spoke after the roll call was taken and the council was to discuss the consent agenda.

"It needs to be done now," he said. "I appreciate what Ms. Galloway is saying, but that was a curse put on the city. Most of you know that, and we need to just stop and reverse it."

Mayor Benjamin Foote then called for a 30-second moment of silence "to reflect on whatever it is we need to reflect on at this time," but again, Galloway said "it was time to move forward" before being overruled by the mayor.

Dalbey's invocation was within the scope of the city's invocation policy, which was approved Jan. 20, with Galloway the only council member to vote against it. In part, the policy says:

Zohran Mamdani Condemns Israel’s Gaza Genocide, Says New York Taxes Fund War Crimes

Gaza Genocideupdated 31m ago2 min read

New York mayor says U.S. tax money funds war crimes in Gaza On the third anniversary of Oct. 7, he highlighted U.S. complicity in Gaza genocide

Image: Al-Markaz al-Filastini lil-Iʿlam

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Bill Maher DESTROYS Robert De Niro and George Clooney for Bashing America From $10M Mansions

 

On Pope Leo’s World Day of Migrants, Cardinal McElroy Indicts Trump’s War on Immigrants

Preaching on the Good Samaritan for World Day of Migrants, Washington’s archbishop named Minneapolis, a five-year-old used as bait, and a nation that “passed on by.” He told Catholics to fight every dimension of it.

Christopher Hale




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Cardinal Robert McElroy stood at the ambo of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Sunday evening, less than a mile from the White House, and told Washington’s Catholics that their country has spent a year and a half walking past a man left bleeding by the road.

“For the last year and a half, the people of the United States have witnessed the suffering of the undocumented in our midst, purposely and strategically magnified by our government,” the archbishop of Washington said, “and for the most part, we have simply passed on by.”

The Mass marked the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which Pope Leo XIV devoted this year to children under the theme “Even Just One of These Children.” McElroy preached on the Good Samaritan. He borrowed a rule from one of his seminary scripture professors: in any parable, look for the character you most dislike, “and that is you.”

For Americans in 2026, he said, that character is the priest who crossed to the other side of the road (and the Levite who followed him).

The parable came second. McElroy opened with what he called the two great legacies that shape America’s duty to the stranger: the command in Deuteronomy that “you shall not violate the rights of the alien or the orphan,” and the words Emma Lazarus wrote for the Statue of Liberty. “There was a time when these words brought tears to every American,” he said of the poem. “Now they are shunned, riddled with conditions, or ignored altogether because they remind us of what we have become.”

Vatican Secretary of State Addresses United Nations General Debate, 81st Session | #UNGA

Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill detained in Qatar, released after hours of questioning

Barbara O’Neill. Photo: Barbara O’Neill/Instagam


Barbara said she was told she was not subject to a travel ban and was allowed to leave Qatar, returning to Dubai, where she is now with her husband

PUBLISHED: Sat 26 Sept 2026, 12:12 PM

By:
Salma El Omla

Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill was arrested in Qatar and later released, according to a video shared on her official Instagram handle.

In the clip, Barbara recalled the incident, saying that the arrest took place at around 9 pm when she was preparing to go to bed.

She said that around 8 men arrived at her accommodation, one of whom identified himself as being from Qatar’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and told her that she had to accompany them to the police station.

She said that a policewoman accompanied her while she changed before she was taken to the police station.

'Incredibly unnerving'

Barbara described the experience as 'incredibly unnerving' and said she became emotional while being questioned. “I did cry,” she said, recalling that an officer asked why she was crying and told her that they had not hurt her.

She said the entire experience has 'been really upsetting'.

Barbara said that she told the officer that she had “done nothing wrong”. She claimed that the authorities eventually decided that she did not pose a threat to public safety and allowed her to return to her hotel instead of keeping her in a cell overnight and to come back at 7am instead.



She said she returned as directed and spent around five hours at the police station, accompanied by two women, one of whom she referred to as her “Middle Eastern daughter”.

She said she was later questioned by the head prosecutor and two lawyers, who told her, 'No, you don’t have a ban. You can travel.'

Barbara said that she was subsequently allowed to leave Qatar and returned to Dubai, where she is now with her husband, Micheal, who also appeared in the video.

The couple did not provide details about the specific allegation or offence that led to Barbara’s arrest.
Health claims under scrutiny

Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill has gained an international following for promoting natural remedies, nutrition and lifestyle-based approaches to health. However, some of her health claims have faced criticism from medical and health authorities.

In August, Egypt’s Medical Syndicate called for action over a training course O’Neill was scheduled to present in El Gouna, Hurghada, in November, citing concerns over what it described as misleading and unverified health claims.

The syndicate said it had taken urgent measures to protect public health and prevent the promotion of medical information that is not supported by scientific evidence.

It also said O’Neill is not licensed to practise medicine in Egypt and referred to a permanent prohibition issued by Australian authorities following an official investigation.

Source

Gov. Andy Beshear invokes faith to defend veto of 'anti-trans' bill, slams JD Vance's Christianity

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during an event titled "How Democrats Can Connect with America" at the Center for American Progress on Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has suggested that opposition to taxpayer funding of trans procedures for minors that cause irreversible harm, such as infertility and impaired sexual function, is un-Christian.

In a wide-ranging interview with USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page to promote his new book, Go and Do Likewise, Beshear addressed whether he plans to run for president in 2028, and listed Democratic candidates up for election in November who he says offer an alternative for Christian voters who can’t get on board with Republicans and the Trump administration's agenda.

Touting his record of governing an overwhelmingly Republican state, Beshear recalled how he vetoed what he described as “the nastiest anti-trans bill that my state had ever seen,” and falsely claimed it would have eliminated “all medical coverage whatsoever to children” and take away parents’ rights in making healthcare decisions.

“I remember explaining because it’s how I authentically think and believe that if I believe all children are children of God, I shouldn’t want people picking on these kids,” he added.

Beshear made similar comments on “The View” earlier this year as he invoked the parable of the Good Samaritan to justify his position of supporting body mutilation for teens struggling with gender confusion or same-sex attraction.

Tensions rise at the United Nations General Assembly

 

Kremlin says UN Security Council should add new permanent members, keep veto power that Erdogan urged scrapping

By ReutersSeptember 22, 20266:38 AM EDT

The United Nations emblem can be seen at the entrance to the general assembly hall as the United Nations prepares for world leaders to convene for the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York City, US, September 21, 2026. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado 

MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Russia believes the UN Security Council should expand its number ​of permanent members beyond the ‌current five, and that the existing veto system should remain, the Kremlin said ​on Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ​was responding to a question ⁠from reporters about Turkish President Tayyip ​Erdogan's call to abolish both ​permanent membership and the veto.

Erdogan has long criticised the council, saying its veto-carrying permanent ​members - Britain, China, France, Russia ​and the US - are not reflective of the ‌international ⁠community and are unable to take swift decisions.

Peskov said Russia wanted the council to be reformed, and the permanent ​membership ​expanded.
"At the ⁠same time, we believe that the institution of ​permanent members of the Security ​Council, ⁠as well as the right of veto, are very important elements of ⁠the ​entire structure of ​the United Nations," he said.


Reporting by Dmitry Antonov Writing ​by Alessandra Prentice Editing by Mark Trevelyan

Source

UN chief: Many countries say 'if superpowers can violate the law, why can't we?'

 

BREAKING: Man shot by ICE officer in Austin is illegal immigrant from Venezuela, DHS sources say

Church ‘con­don­ing oppres­sion of women’

Arch­bishop accused of send­ing ‘deeply troub­ling mes­sage’ after present­ing award to Islamic scholar

Dame Sarah Mul­lally with Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, who praised Osama bin Laden


By Charles Hymas and Tony Diver
20 Sep 2026


THE Arch­bishop of Can­ter­bury has been accused of con­don­ing the repres­sion of Muslim women after she gave an award to an Islamic cleric who hon­oured Osama bin Laden.

Dame Sarah Mul­lally was pic­tured with Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, an Islamic scholar, and his wife, who was wear­ing a niqab so that only her eyes were vis­ible, when he received his award on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that Bin Laden orches­trated.

In a let­ter to the Arch­bishop, Rebecca Paul, the shadow cul­ture sec­ret­ary, and Nick Timothy, the shadow justice sec­ret­ary, asked her to explain how Lam­beth Palace decided to go ahead with such a con­tro­ver­sial award, which caused “ser­i­ous repu­ta­tional dam­age” to the Church of Eng­land.

They also asked what changes were going to be put in place to pre­vent a repeat and whether she recog­nised the “deeply troub­ling mes­sage the cere­mony and pho­to­graph con­veyed about the dig­nity and free­dom of women”.

They wrote: “The Church of Eng­land teaches the equal dig­nity and worth of men and women. Yet you presen­ted the award along­side Mr Ashrafi’s wife, whose face was con­cealed by a niqab so that only her eyes were vis­ible and Lam­beth Palace sub­sequently pub­lished that image.

“This could appear to con­done one of the most repress­ive mani­fest­a­tions of Islam, one that denies women basic freedoms over how they dress, whether they may show their faces and how they inter­act with oth­ers.

“At this very moment, women in Afgh­anistan face viol­ence for refus­ing to cover, while women in Iran have been imprisoned and bru­tally attacked for res­ist­ing com­puls­ory veil­ing. Nor is coer­cion con­fined to other coun­tries: many women and girls in Bri­tain also face coer­cion and cul­tural pres­sure to veil them­selves too. It is import­ant for you to reflect on what mes­sage this con­veys to women fight­ing for the freedoms that we take for gran­ted.”

Piker says US is 'worse than al-Qaida,’ renewing scrutiny of El-Sayed ties

 

Mamdani, Letitia James announce new immigrant protections

Mamdani, Letitia James announce new immigrant protections

Fox News

Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hold a press conference to announce new legal action aimed at protecting immigrant families.

Americans Are Stealing Food Now And Stores Are Locking Everything Up

Americans Are Stealing Food Now And Stores Are Locking Everything Up

Epic Economist

Sep 12, 2026

There are two separate things going on in this video, and it matters that they do not get blurred together. The first is what somebody says once they are caught. Hardly anybody argues they did not do it — they argue about what it was for, and the sentence that keeps surfacing is some version of I needed to feed my family. That may be true and it may be a line, and there is no way to tell which from the outside.

The second thing is not people at all. It is equipment. A camera counting you. A check at the door. A glass case you have to ring a bell for. All of it signed off as an answer to the first thing, and all of it landing on the ninety-nine who paid. That is the part nobody explained to anyone who shops in one of these stores, and it is the part this video is really about.