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'Pray for rain': Internet skewers White House UFC design

3 hours agoFar Left

UFC revealed its design for the White House cage match fight event in June and the internet didn't hold back from mocking it.Construction for the UFC Freedom 250 stage was underway on Monday with the June 14 event slated to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday and President Donald Trump's own 80th birthday. While construction for the ballroom continued, two cranes were seen on hoisting up a metal arch for lighting over the stage.People online reacted to the design released by UFC over the weekend."Pray for rain," Chris D. Jackson, a political strategist and longtime election official with more than 132,000 followers, wrote in post on X."If he can do this he doesn't need a ballroom," Tracey Gallagher, an attorney and former Judge Pro Tem with nearly 13,000 followers, wrote in a post on X."I really hope they fly a flag with 48 stars and 11 stripes," political commentator Kes Bretagne wrote on X."While we are at war and inflation/energy costs are going through the roof," Gary Koepnick, who self-identifies as a veteran and has more than 44,000 followers, wrote on X.Pray for rain. https://t.co/DoUyIQcxwD— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) May 25, 2026

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Trump's 'tacky' White House makeover reaches new heights amid 'bug infestation': report

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4 hours ago

Trump's 'tacky' White House makeover reaches new heights amid 'bug infestation': report

President Donald Trump's latest White House makeover touches have taken a new turn as it becomes a "construction zone eyesore," The Daily Beast reported. Images on Monday revealed two cranes building a metal arch for lighting over the UFC Freedom 250 stage, just near the White House’s Executive Residence. As the ballroom construction has been ongoing, the White House "began looking more like an oversized event venue on Monday as crews prepared for the UFC extravaganza Trump is throwing on June 14 to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday and his own 80th," The Beast reported. This is all happening amid reports of a "bug infestation" that Dana White, UFC CEO and MAGA supporter, has expressed could be a problem for the large-scale event."President Trump just opened the Rose Garden two nights ago, and he invited me to dinner there. The amount of gnats that were flying around. I’m like, 'Holy s--t,'" White said during an episode of the Boardroom podcast."As soon as I got on the plane, I called my head of production and said, 'Yeah, let me tell you about the gnat situation tonight,'" White said. "So when you’re a fighter, think about that lighting grid, the amount of power in the lights… moths, gnats, and God knows what else."White said they could add fans surrounding the venue to help stop the bugs because "gnats have a hard time in the wind."

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People can't stop skewering dubious Trump claim that war is '95 percent done'

Alternet.org

6 hours ago

People can't stop skewering dubious Trump claim that war is '95 percent done'

On Sunday, CNN pundit Scott Jennings posted a lengthy tweet in which he attempted to explain that President Donald Trump's deal to end the war with Iran is 95 percent "done," saying that he'd been told that the first phase was complete, but that a second phase still needed to address issues like the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear program. As anyone who has been following the war's events unfold knows, however, arguably no two sticking points are larger than Hormuz and the nuclear question, making Jennings' assertion appear somewhat ridiculous. "Insider reporting from an unnamed White House official says the Iran deal is '95% done,' responded pollster Frank Luntz later that day. "The remaining 5% of negotiations are focused on Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz and turning over all nuclear material." With this simple statement, Luntz laid bare the absurdity of Jennings' claim, and by Monday, the internet had taken that absurdity and run with it."My plan to marry Scarlett Johansson is 95% done," declared one retweet. "The remaining 5% will focus on me meeting Scarlett Johansson, and then persuading her to marry me.""I am 95% done with a deal to buy a new house," said Economist Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom, offering a more practical example. "The remaining 5% of negotiations are focused on the price and whether the owners are actually willing to sell.""I’m 95% done with dinner," announced Angry Staffer. "I just have to decide what I’m eating, how I’m cooking it, and what store I want to shop at."Or as actor Bradley Whitford, perhaps best known for his time in the series The West Wing, jested, "Thrilled to report that my deal to play the new James Bond is '95% done.'”There were many, many more examples, and while hilarious, they speak to a trend that has become increasingly persistent over the course of the conflict: Americans do not believe that progress is being made, nor that they can believe Trump or his allies' assertions about it. Former CIA Director John Brennan said as much explicitly on Sunday, saying, "I tend to believe Iran more than I do Donald Trump, because he could not acknowledge the truth even when it is — he's slapped in the face with it repeatedly. And it's clear that he is flailing right now. He's trying to figure out how he's going to get out of this debacle that he has created." In the meantime, another poster is 95 percent done with her housework, and just has to "dust, vacuum, wash the dishes, do 3 loads of laundry, and make the beds."

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Insiders reveal Vance taking political shots ahead of White House invite: report

Raw Story

7 hours ago

Insiders reveal Vance taking political shots ahead of White House invite: report

Vice President JD Vance snubbed Democratic state attorneys general in a White House invite for an upcoming meeting for his fraud task force, according to a Politico report on Monday.President Donald Trump named Vance "the face of the administration’s efforts to combat fraud" in March and the vice president has a meeting slated for Tuesday to continue the conversations with states as part of the new initiative to combat fraud. But what's happened behind-the-scenes was strategic, according to four administration insiders who spoke with Politico."Invitations for the hourlong meeting, set for Tuesday afternoon, were sent to Democratic attorneys general on Friday with a deadline to RSVP by Saturday, according to one of the people, who like others in this report, was granted anonymity to discuss nonpublic details," Politico reported. "Republican attorneys general were invited to the event about a week prior, the person said."The event was originally scheduled to only host Republican attorneys generals — but Vance reportedly later pushed back on that, one source told Politico. "About 15 Republican attorneys general — including Derek Brown of Utah, Marty Jackley of South Dakota, Raúl Labrador of Idaho, Gentner Drummond of Oklahoma and Todd Rokita of Indiana — are expected to attend, one of the people said," Politico reported. "Democrats are largely expected to skip the meeting, two people said, although some offices are expected to send other staffers, according to a third person."

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'Watching MAGA light itself on fire': Internet floored as Trump's foe opens door to 2028

Raw Story

8 hours ago

'Watching MAGA light itself on fire': Internet floored as Trump's foe opens door to 2028

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, left the internet surprised on Monday after announcing he might be considering a political comeback just days after losing his primary election to a President Donald Trump-endorsed challenger.Massie wrote in a post on X that he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the 2028 election — keeping the details vague."I filed with FEC for the 2028 House race. This allows me to raise funds to continue my political operations supporting my position as a current office holder and as a potential candidate for federal office. I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run," he wrote.On social media, political experts and commentators reacted to the news."Watching MAGA light itself on fire will be soothing and cathartic," former Arizona Republican congressman and veteran Adam Kinzinger wrote on X. "Thomas Massie for checkmate," White House columnist and podcaster Brian Karem wrote on X."The sign will stand as a placeholder," Jesse Lyons, a political commentator with more than 7,000 followers who self-describes as a "contrarian libertarian," wrote on X, sharing a Massie campaign sign on a grass lawn."Thomas Massie has officially filed a statement of candidacy, allowing him to begin raising money for a potential 2028 presidential run," Brian Allen, podcast host and political commentator with more than 301,000 followers, wrote on X. "That instantly changes the meaning behind a lot of what’s happening right now. Because Massie is no longer just fighting Trump politically. He’s positioning himself as a possible post-Trump alternative for the faction of the right that: distrusts foreign intervention, hates establishment Republicans, opposes surveillance expansion, views the GOP as drifting too far into loyalty politics, Epstein-class protectors, and fighting foreign wars. The Republican civil war is getting more real by the week."

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'Is this the day?' Internet spirals over Trump's third hospital visit in 13 months

Raw Story

10 hours ago

'Is this the day?' Internet spirals over Trump's third hospital visit in 13 months

Reports of Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Walter Reed Medical Center sent social media into a frenzy on Monday, with reactions ranging from alarm to dismissal — and one popular influencer asking the question many were thinking but few were saying out loud."Is this the day?" wrote a liberal social media influencer and self-identified U.S. Air Force veteran responding to the Daily Mail's breaking news alert about Trump's third hospital visit in 13 months.Not everyone shared the sense of urgency.Conservative influencer Catturd, one of the most followed accounts on X and popular with MAGA entities, pushed back hard on the coverage. "Any headline you're reading about Trump being rushed to the hospital is a lie," they wrote, adding in a separate post: "This is a routine annual physical. Garbage headline."A more measured critique came from European correspondent Bastian Brauns, who questioned the Daily Mail's "breaking news" framing entirely. "This is not really 'Breaking,'" he wrote. "The White House informed about Trump's visit of Walter Reed Medical Center already on May 11th. So this sounds more like sensationalism."The White House has described the visit as a routine medical and dental checkup. Trump has previously visited Walter Reed in April 2025 for his annual physical and returned in October for what the administration called a "scheduled follow-up."

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White House gunman had previous run-ins with Secret Service, court documents show

BBC News

12 hours ago

White House gunman had previous run-ins with Secret Service, court documents show

The suspect previously obstructed a White House entry lane in June of 2025 and told Secret Service agents he was Jesus Christ.

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Blanche revamps push for Trump’s ballroom after White House shooting

The Hill News

13 hours ago

Blanche revamps push for Trump’s ballroom after White House shooting

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the shooting near the White House over the weekend reiterates the need for President Trump’s ballroom. Blanche, in a federal court filing on Sunday, argued the incident “underscores the critical need for top level, state of the art security at the White House, including the Ballroom.” The filing was…

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Photos show White House ruined by 'construction chaos' as Trump ignores voter concerns

Alternet.org

13 hours ago

Photos show White House ruined by 'construction chaos' as Trump ignores voter concerns

New photos of the White House show it immersed in what the Daily Beast calls “construction chaos” as President Donald Trump continues to prioritize his vanity projects over voter concerns. The grounds were already swamped with construction as Trump’s controversial ballroom project progresses regardless of vocal opposition, and now “the People’s House” is being further blighted by renovations as the president prepares to mark his 80th birthday with UFC cage matches in front of the White House this June.According to Republican operatives who spoke with the Daily Beast, the construction projects don’t just look ugly, but are sending a negative message to Americans struggling with skyrocketing prices and a spiraling economy due to Trump’s war with Iran. “For voters, the message that is coming from the White House is Trump is focused on vanity projects and foreign policy,” said one operative. “And those are things that voters don’t care about.” “Trump continues to talk about things that no one cares about,” agreed another. With 90 percent of Americans reporting an affordability crisis, Trump is persistent in his denial. When asked about the economic downturn, he claimed, “This is peanuts. I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. It won’t be much longer.” He made the statement while standing in front of his ballroom construction “eyesore.”In early May, Trump was even more blunt about where he places the American pocketbook on his list of priorities. When asked how much the finances of Americans factored into his war considerations, he declared, “Not even a little bit… I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.”At the same time, Trump is asking for big money to pay for his vanity projects, which continue to grow in number. For the ballroom alone, he’s demanding that Congress provide as much as $1 billion, even though he began the project saying its $400 million price tag would be paid by private donors. On top of that, he wants an estimated $100 million to build a 250-foot arch that will loom over DC, has allocated $40 million for a statuary garden, is pouring over $13 million into repainting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (a project that has already been botched), has spent untold sums renovating the White House to align with his taste for golden trim, and the list goes on.While the White House UFC event will supposedly be paid for by the fighting organization, Trump’s decision to hold it at all has been criticized as unpresidential, even by some in the MMA community. Star fighter Brandon Royval, for example, has referred to it as “some kind of Hunger Games type f—— s——.”

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