President Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of issuing a fourth stimulus-style payment, this time in the form of a $2,000 dividend funded by tariff revenue.

But despite the buzz, Americans hoping for a holiday payout may have to wait.

On November 17, 2025, Trump addressed the timing of the proposed dividend, saying it would target “individuals of moderate income” and would likely be issued sometime in 2026, before the midterm elections.

He added: “We’ve taken in hundreds of millions of dollars in tariff money. We’re going to be issuing dividends later on… of thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income.”

Trump also emphasized that the plan would help reduce the growing national debt, stating that part of the tariff revenue would go toward paying down the $37 trillion debt while the remainder would be distributed as dividends.

However, he confirmed last Friday that checks will not be distributed before the holidays in 2025: “No, no. Not for this year. It’ll be next year sometime.”

What Is a Tariff Dividend Payment?

Unlike a traditional stimulus check, a tariff dividend would be funded by government revenue from tariffs, rather than general federal funds.

Economists have raised questions about feasibility.

For example, Erica York, a policy expert at the Tax Foundation, noted on X: “If the cutoff is $100,000, 150 million adults would qualify, for a cost near $300 billion. Only problem, new tariffs have raised $120 billion so far.”

As of Sept. 30, 2025, the federal government had collected $195 billion in tariff revenue, which falls short of covering the potential payout.

Officials suggest that future projected tariffs (estimated at $3 trillion over the next decade) could be used to fund the checks.

Who Would Qualify for the $2,000 Payment?

Trump has stated that the dividend would exclude high-income earners, focusing instead on middle- and lower-income Americans. Based on prior stimulus benchmarks:

1. Middle-class households earn roughly $55,820 to $167,460 annually (per Pew Research Center definitions).
2. Lower-income households earn less than $55,820.
3. High-income households earn above $167,460, though eligibility could vary depending on family size and state cost of living.

For comparison, previous pandemic-era stimulus checks under Trump provided payments to individuals earning up to $75,000, with couples receiving up to $150,000, while higher earners were eligible for reduced amounts.

Previous Proposals for Stimulus or Dividend Payments

This is not Trump’s first attempt at alternative payouts:

1. July 2025: Trump proposed tariff rebate checks, later introduced as the American Worker Rebate Act by Sen. Josh Hawley, with potential payments ranging from $600 to $2,400 per family. The bill has yet to pass Congress.

2. February 2025: Trump suggested a $5,000 “DOGE dividend” tied to efficiency savings identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Details remain limited.

Income and Regional Considerations

Income classification in the U.S. can vary widely by location (per Smart Asset):

1. High-income states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, New Hampshire, California (median household income above $95,000).
2. Low-income states: Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, Mississippi (median household income below $60,000).
3. High-income cities: Arlington, VA and San Jose, CA (median income above $136,000).
4. Low-income cities: Cleveland, OH and Detroit, MI (median income below $40,000).

Bottom Line: Don’t Expect a Holiday Check

While speculation about a fourth stimulus or tariff dividend continues online, there is no official confirmation from Congress or the IRS.

Americans should treat early reports cautiously to avoid misinformation or potential scams.

Trump has made it clear: any $2,000 tariff dividend checks are expected in 2026, not before Christmas 2025.

In a landmark announcement, the Department of Justice under former President Donald Trump revealed the largest Medicaid fraud bust in U.S. history, targeting a wide-ranging criminal enterprise accused of defrauding the American healthcare system of hundreds of millions of dollars. The announcement was made during a high-profile press conference, where federal officials outlined the scope of the bust and its implications for both the healthcare industry and future fraud prevention efforts.

Speaking at the podium, a senior DOJ official detailed the culmination of a multi-year investigation that involved coordination between federal, state, and local agencies, including the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.

“This case represents the most significant enforcement action in the history of Medicaid,” the official stated. “What we uncovered was a massive, coordinated scheme that exploited vulnerable patients and siphoned off taxpayer funds that were intended for the most needy Americans.”

The Fraud Scheme

According to DOJ sources, the fraudulent operation involved a network of medical professionals, healthcare companies, billing agents, and shell organizations. These entities were allegedly involved in submitting false claims for services that were either never provided, medically unnecessary, or grossly inflated in cost.

The suspects reportedly used a variety of tactics to disguise the fraudulent nature of their claims. Some recruited Medicaid recipients under false pretenses

As the execution date of September 30, 2026 draws closer, the state’s case against Pike stands in stark contrast to the portrait painted by her attorneys. Prosecutors have long emphasized the unimaginable cruelty of the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer: the luring into the woods, the prolonged torture, the carved pentagram, and the chilling decision to keep a piece of Slemmer’s skull as a trophy. These details cemented Pike in the public imagination as a remorseless teen killer, especially after investigators described her as almost gleeful while recounting the crime.

Yet the defense continues to insist that Pike’s story cannot be told without confronting the years of abuse, neglect, and untreated mental illness that shaped her adolescence. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD, Pike has, according to her legal team, transformed over nearly three decades in prison, showing remorse and insight into the horror she caused. Her case now sits at the intersection of trauma, accountability, and evolving views on executing those who committed atrocities as teenagers. As Tennessee moves forward, the looming execution forces a painful question: whether justice, in this rare and historic moment, is being served—or simply repeated.

Leavitt Tells Reporters Trump Has Been Much More Accessible Than Biden

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt presented a compelling statistic about how accessible President Donald Trump has been just a few months into taking office.

While speaking at a media event hosted by Axios co-founder Mike Allen, Leavitt highlighted the contrast between President Donald Trump’s accessibility and that of former President Joe Biden. She also noted how many in the media gave Biden a pass for dodging the media and largely “hiding” for four years while in office.

“You have tailed access to the ‘Associated Press,’ which reaches half the world’s population every day. The most definitive photo of President Trump, the fight, fight, fight photo after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, was made by Evan Vucci, who’s the chief photographer in Washington for the ‘Associated Press.’ Do you worry about history being lost with these new restrictions?” Allen asked Leavitt.

“I don’t view them as restrictions. We view them as opening access to more outlets, more voices, more news, journalists and outlets. We shouldn’t have a few outlets who have a monopoly over the briefing room or over that 13 person press pool that covers the president. And so we’ve actually ensured that more print outlets like Axios have a greater chance of being part of that 13 person press pool,” Leavitt began.

“There are thousands of outlets who have White House press credentials. There are hundreds that actually show up every day and cover the beat. Why should a single outlet have the privilege of being in that 13 person press pool every single day. And so the changes we’ve made have actually created more transparency, more accessibility, and greater access for a broad variety of outlets and a diversity of journalists, which I think is a good thing. And we’ve seen that play out,” Leavitt added.

“I mean, we started this. I think you’re all still getting your news, right? You’re still hearing about what the administration is doing every single day, because we have good journalists who are in that room covering the president every single time,” Leavitt said.

Allen jumped in and asked: “The counter to that is in a White House Correspondents Association’s statement about the White House changes to the position of wire services in the pool. And the statement says the government should not be able to control the independent media that covers it. Do you agree with that statement?”

“Well, I think that a small group of journalists who comprise the board of the White House Correspondents Association should not dictate who gets to go into the Oval Office and who gets to ride on Air Force One. There should be equal access for all outlets,” Leavitt responded.

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing. And if we were trying, by the way, to create positive press for the president, if we were trying to make it easier on him or on the administration, we wouldn’t allow some of these fake news leftist outlets in. But we continue to do that. No one has been restricted. We’ve just given more spots to more outlets and more voices,” she said.

Leavitt concluded, “It’s not about ideology. It’s just about increasing the wide variety of outlets that have access. And we live in a digital age, and we’re recognizing that at the White House. The president ran a nontraditional media campaign, which propelled him back to the highest office in the land. And we felt it was our responsibility to continue that in our coverage at the White House.”

In July 2024, Axios published a story titled “Biden’s media evasion,” revealing that the Democrat held fewer press conferences and media interviews than any of the last seven presidents at the same point in their term. At that time, Biden had conducted only 164, compared to Trump’s 468.

The acting head of the Internal Revenue Service plans to step down after disagreeing with the decision to share tax data on illegal immigrants with federal law enforcement.

Commissioner Melanie Krause will become the third IRS leader to leave the agency since the start of the year. The agency has been turbulent because left-wing ideologues have decided to follow their political leanings rather than their pledge to serve as non-partisan government employees.

On Monday, the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security finalized an agreement allowing taxpayer data to be shared with federal immigration authorities to assist in locating undocumented immigrants.

According to the Washington Post, officials from the Treasury Department, under which the IRS operates, had largely sidelined Krause recently as they pushed to grant immigration authorities access to private taxpayer information, likely because they knew she would oppose the agreement.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed the data-sharing agreement, despite warnings from IRS attorneys that the arrangement likely violated federal privacy laws, the report said.

“Melanie Krause has been leading the IRS through a time of extraordinary change,” a Treasury spokesperson said in an emailed statement confirming her resignation.

Without mentioning the data agreement, the spokesperson noted further that the agency was “in the midst of breaking down data silos that for too long have stood in the way of identifying waste, fraud, and abuse and bringing criminals to justice.”

Krause’s predecessor, Doug O’Donnell, stepped down as acting commissioner after declining to sign a similar data-sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security in February. The last Senate-confirmed IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, resigned on President Donald Trump’s first day in office.

Krause has chosen to apply for a deferred resignation program currently offered by the IRS, according to a source familiar with her decision. The individual, speaking on condition of anonymity, said her decision to step down was influenced in part by concerns over the recently finalized data-sharing agreement, Reuters noted.

The IRS began implementing sweeping workforce reductions on Friday, dismantling its civil rights office and initiating mass firings that could eliminate up to 25% of its staff.

The cuts are part of a broader overhaul of the federal workforce that has already resulted in the loss of more than 200,000 jobs. President Donald Trump has appointed billionaire Elon Musk to lead the effort to restructure and streamline the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.

Earlier this month, Musk told Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz that “magic money computers” within the U.S. government are generating payments “out of thin air,” leaving lawmakers clueless about federal spending.

Speaking on Cruz’s podcast, Musk revealed that 14 such systems exist within the U.S. Treasury and other agencies, transferring large sums without the necessary evidence to justify the payments.

Musk claimed that in departments housing one of these systems, reported spending could be off by as much as 5 percent of the budget when presented to Congress, while Cruz suggested that these improper payments could potentially total “trillions” of dollars.

“They’re mostly at Treasury,” Musk said about the computers discovered by his U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, “but there’s some at [Health and Human Services], there’s one or two at State, there’s some at [the Department of Defense].”

“I think we’ve found now 14 magic money computers. They just send money out of nothing,” he told the Texas Republican senator.

Expounding on DOGE’s discovery, the unconventional entrepreneur explained that the presence of these computers prevents the Treasury Dept. from fully informing lawmakers about the federal government’s total spending.

“You may think that government computers all communicate with each other, synchronize, and accurately calculate where funds are going, making the numbers you see as a senator the real ones. They’re not,” he said.

A Surprising Arrival

Robert Whitman expected a rundown shack. Instead, a vibrant homestead stretched before him. Lush green fields, blooming gardens, and neatly painted fences surrounded a charming, well-kept house. The property radiated warmth, prosperity, and care.

Stepping out of his luxury car, disbelief washed over him. Children’s laughter echoed from the garden. Three lively toddlers played joyfully, giggling with a contagious energy. They were Jason’s children, unmistakably carrying their parents’ features—blond hair and warm smiles.

A Strong, Radiant Presence

Emily, the “country girl” Robert had dismissed, emerged from the house. She shone with quiet confidence, her presence commanding respect. She greeted him warmly, her composure hinting at someone who had faced challenges and thrived.

Jason followed, holding one child’s hand. He looked different—mature, content, and genuinely happy. Responsibility and love marked his face, the signs of a man embracing life fully.

“Father,” Jason said, extending a firm handshake. No bitterness lingered, only a sincere welcome. Robert, momentarily speechless, felt pride swell within him as he accepted it.

“Jason… this place,” Robert said, gesturing around, “it’s incredible.”

Jason chuckled. “It’s not just me. Emily has been amazing. Together, we’ve made this place something special.”

Building a Life Together

Emily arrived with refreshments. “We’ve worked hard,” she said, meeting Robert’s gaze with kindness. “When Jason came here, we decided to make the most of it. We turned the land into an organic farm and launched a small bed and breakfast. People love escaping the city.”

Robert’s skepticism melted. He had expected struggle, failure, and regret. Instead, he found innovation, success, and genuine happiness. The harsh words he once directed at his son now felt absurd. Guilt pricked at him for past judgments.

An Apology and Reconciliation

“Emily, Jason,” Robert began, clearing his throat, “I owe you both an apology. I was wrong. Seeing this… I can’t express how proud I am.”

Jason and Emily exchanged a knowing glance. “We’re glad you’re here, Dad,” Jason said sincerely. “We’d love for you to be part of our lives—and the kids’ lives, too.”

A visit meant to mock turned into reconciliation. Robert spent the day with his family, watching his grandchildren play and learning about the life Jason and Emily had built.

True Wealth

Robert realized that true wealth isn’t money or status. It’s love, resilience, and creating beauty despite adversity.

The man who once disinherited his son left enriched—not with possessions, but with the legacy of love and strength Jason had forged in a rural village.

Supreme Court Gives Donald Trump Admin Win

President Donald Trump achieved a significant triumph at the U.S. Supreme Court, garnering support from normally liberal justices.

The court annulled a lower court injunction that was obstructing the president from revoking the protected legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants presently living in the United States.

The ruling was 8–1 in support of the president’s position, with the sole dissent originating from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by former President Joe Biden.

The ruling facilitates the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke Biden-era Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 300,000 Venezuelan migrants residing in the U.S.. It permits the administration to proceed with the immediate deportation of these migrants, as asserted by the administration’s legal representatives.

During his address to the Supreme Court last month, U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer asserted that the lower court had exceeded its jurisdiction.

He stated that “the district court’s reasoning is untenable,” asserting that the program “involves particularly discretionary, sensitive, and foreign-policy-laden judgments of the Executive Branch concerning immigration policy.”

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem rescinded Temporary Protected Status in a February memo, with an effective date in April.

On October 3, 2023, Venezuela was again recognized for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) owing to exceptional and temporary circumstances that hinder the safe repatriation of Venezuelan nationals.

Following an assessment of the prevailing situation in the country and consultations with relevant U.S. government agencies, the Secretary of Homeland Security has concluded that Venezuela no longer satisfies the criteria for the 2023 designation.

It has been concluded that allowing the designated Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is against the national interest.

The memo stated, “Consequently, the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuela is being revoked.”

“On March 9, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to his assessment of ‘extraordinary and temporary conditions’ in Venezuela that hindered the safe return of its nationals, asserting that allowing these individuals to remain temporarily in the United States aligns with U.S. national interests,” it stated.

The memo stated, “On September 8, 2022, former Secretary Mayorkas prolonged the Venezuela 2021 TPS designation for 18 months.”

On October 3, 2023, Secretary Mayorkas prolonged the Venezuela 2021 TPS designation for an additional 18 months, expiring on September 10, 2025.

He also designated Venezuela for 18 months, referring to this decision as a ‘redesignation’ (Venezuela 2023 designation), which expires on April 2, 2025, thereby establishing two distinct and concurrent Venezuelan TPS designations. Refer to the Extension and Redesignation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status.

On January 17, 2025, Secretary Mayorkas announced an extension of Venezuela’s TPS status from 2023 for an additional 18 months.

The notification was predicated on Secretary Mayorkas’s assessment on January 10, 2025, that the criteria for the designation remained satisfied. Refer to INA 244(b)(3)(A), (C), and 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A), (C).

In the January 2025 announcement, Secretary Mayorkas neither explicitly extended nor terminated the 2021 designation for Venezuela.

The announcement made it easier for all eligible Venezuelan TPS recipients to apply for TPS by the new deadline of October 2, 2026, regardless of whether they were under the 2021 or 2023 designations, as stated in the DHS memo.

On January 28, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem annulled former Secretary Mayorkas’s decision from January 10, 2025, reinstating the prior status quo.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of the Northern District of California suspended Noem’s initiative in March, finding that the depiction of migrants as potential criminals was “unfounded and replete with racism.”

As of late October 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that more than 527,000 people have been deported (removed) since Trump took office on January 20, 2025.

DHS says there were 1.6 million voluntary leaves out of a total of about 2 million departures.

The agency believes these numbers will continue to increase on a monthly and yearly average with more funding and resources.

Sally Field, celebrated for her work in Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, and many other classics, has long stood out in Hollywood for embracing natural aging. Now 76, she has spent her career resisting industry pressures that often encourage women to alter their appearance, choosing instead to appreciate the strength and wisdom that come with time.

Her journey began on television with shows like Gidget and The Flying Nun before she transitioned into a successful film career. Over the years, Field has delivered memorable performances in beloved films such as Norma Rae, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Smokey and the Bandit. Her talent has earned her two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmys, and several other honors that highlight her remarkable impact on the industry.

In February 2023, Field received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, where she delivered a warm and humble speech reflecting on her decades of work. Appearing radiant in a black gown and embracing her naturally gray hair, she spoke about her deep love for acting and the joy it continues to bring her.

Field has openly shared her perspective on aging, acknowledging the pressures many face in Hollywood while encouraging self-acceptance. She believes in honoring one’s authentic self and views aging as a privilege rather than something to resist. Her confidence and grace continue to inspire fans, making her a powerful example of beauty, resilience, and staying true to oneself.

WHOA: ‘Mystery Man’ Who Donated $130 Million to Pay US Troops During ‘Schumer Shutdown’ IDed

We’re now 25 days into what’s being called the Schumer Shutdown — Democrats are still holding the government hostage over a laundry list of left-wing demands. They apparently thought Republicans would just roll over and fund every one of their pet projects without question.

On Thursday, Democrats once again showed just how little they care about ordinary Americans by tanking a bill that would have temporarily provided pay to essential federal workers. Classy move.

But by Friday, there was a silver lining. President Trump announced that an anonymous donor had stepped up with a $130 million contribution to help pay the troops during the shutdown. Then, on Saturday, The New York Times revealed the identity of that Good Samaritan — Timothy Mellon, the reclusive billionaire heir to the Mellon banking fortune.

It is important to note that while this story is receiving widespread media coverage, neither Mellon nor Trump has confirmed its accuracy as of this writing. However, the Wyoming resident has made significant donations in the past. For instance, the day after Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsification of business records in 2024, as part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ efforts against him, he donated an impressive $50 million to a Trump PAC.

Despite his immense wealth (estimated by Forbes at $14.1 billion) and recent history of donating large sums, Mellon remains somewhat of a Mystery Man:

Mr. Mellon, the heir to the Pittsburgh-based Mellon banking family, also has been the biggest donor to independent candidate Robert F Kennedy’s campaign.

The BBC has contacted Mr. Mellon for comment about his political donations.

Known as a recluse, the Wyoming-based Mr. Mellon avoids the spotlight and social circles of other US billionaires.

Mellon isn’t your typical billionaire — he’s a bit of an old-school adventurer. A passionate aviator, he once funded an expedition to uncover what really happened to Amelia Earhart, the legendary pilot who vanished over the Pacific in 1937. In 1998, he even purchased the name, logo, and branding of the defunct Pan Am airline to use for his railroad ventures. (Pan Am Railways was later acquired by CSX Corporation in 2022.)

While Mellon’s $150 million donation is undeniably generous, it raises questions about how — or whether — those funds can legally be used while Schumer continues to hold the government hostage with his shutdown tantrum:

The Pentagon accepted his grandson’s donation, but might not be able to use the funds: the Ant deficiency Act bars agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress during a shutdown.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

Let’s hope the administration finds a way to put that money to use and get our troops paid — because if there’s anyone who shouldn’t be caught in the crossfire of Washington’s political games, it’s the men and women who wear the uniform.

A night of intense violence inside a prison in southwest Ecuador left at least 31 inmates dead on Sunday, according to the country’s national prisons agency, SNAI. The deadly unrest erupted before dawn in the coastal city of Machala, shocking nearby residents who reported hearing gunfire, explosions, and cries for help coming from behind the prison walls.

Authorities Confirm Deaths but Details Remain Unclear

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), SNAI said 27 prisoners died from asphyxiation and “immediate death by hanging.” The agency did not release further information about the circumstances, and officials emphasized that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation. Forensic teams were dispatched to the site to verify the causes of death and identify the victims.

Earlier in the day, authorities had confirmed four other deaths linked to the same outbreak of violence. Tactical police units were deployed shortly after riots began around 3:00 a.m., ultimately regaining control of the facility.

Injuries Reported and Motive Under Investigation

In addition to the fatalities, at least 33 inmates and one police officer were injured, SNAI reported. The agency did not indicate whether the incident was tied to ongoing disputes between rival criminal groups, though gang-related violence has become a frequent trigger for prison uprisings in Ecuador.

Officials noted that the riot appeared to have been sparked by a reorganization of prisoners following the opening of a new maximum-security facility. Such transfers often heighten tensions among incarcerated members of competing gangs.

Ecuador’s Prisons: Epicenters of Criminal Conflict

Ecuador’s penitentiary system has been at the center of regional security concerns. Prisons have become operational hubs for drug-trafficking gangs, whose violent power struggles have left more than 500 inmates dead in recent years.

A 2024 report by Insight Crime described the prison system as the “epicenter” of organized crime in the country, with criminal networks coordinating operations both inside and outside the facilities.

President Daniel Noboa’s administration has pledged to confront the crisis, repeatedly attributing the violence to powerful gangs fighting for territorial control and influence over lucrative trafficking routes.

A Pattern of Deadly Riots

Sunday’s tragedy is the latest in a series of brutal prison clashes that have shaken Ecuador:

• September 2025: A riot in the same Machala prison left 14 inmates dead and another 14 wounded, with prisoners reportedly using guns and explosives.
• Days later: Another 17 inmates died during a riot in the northern city of Esmeraldas. Authorities found decapitated bodies and shared shocking images of the aftermath.
• Since 2021: Ecuador has seen multiple prison massacres, including the country’s deadliest in Guayaquil, where more than 100 inmates were killed.

These outbreaks have left families desperate for information, often waiting for hours outside prison gates, hoping for news about their loved ones.

A Nation on the Front Lines of Global Drug Trafficking

Ecuador’s geographic position between Peru and Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producers, has turned the small nation into a major transit point for the global drug trade. Government statistics indicate that more than 70% of the world’s cocaine shipments now pass through Ecuadorian ports.

This surge in drug-related activity has fueled violence nationwide, transforming Ecuador—once considered one of the region’s safer countries—into one of Latin America’s most dangerous.

A Crisis Rooted in the Prison System

Experts warn that the ongoing wave of violence cannot be addressed without significant reform inside Ecuador’s prisons. Insight Crime notes that the foundations of the crisis are deeply tied to the criminal structures that have evolved within the penitentiary system, where gangs wield enormous influence.

As investigations continue into the deadly Machala riot, Ecuador faces mounting pressure to restore control over its prisons and curb a crisis that has already claimed hundreds of lives.