New CIA report finally reveals the secret plot to take down President Trump

In a blockbuster report, the CIA has belatedly exposed the rank corruption among top intelligence officials who connived to frame President Donald Trump and drive him from office during his first term.  

Their pernicious lie was that Trump colluded with Russia to rig the 2016 presidential election in his favor. The principal piece of so-called evidence was a document known infamously as the dossier.  

It was secretly financed by Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and Democrats, conceived by a foreign agent with a checkered past in espionage, and then brokered to solicitous collaborators at the FBI, CIA, the Department of Justice and the Trump-hating media.  

WHITE HOUSE WANTS OBAMA INTEL OFFICIALS ‘HELD ACCOUNTABLE’ FOR ROLE PEDDLING 2016 RUSSIA HOAX

The dossier was garbage, of course. The FBI largely debunked it before Trump was even sworn in and fired its author, Christopher Steele, for lying as a confidential human source. But the bureau concealed those inconvenient facts under then-Director James Comey and deftly exploited the document as a cudgel to bludgeon the newly elected president.  

Comey was aided and abetted by others in the intelligence community, including CIA Director John Brennan and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. This malignant force of unelected officials plotted to smear Trump with what is surely the dirtiest trick in political history.  

Recently, current CIA Director John Ratcliffe declassified and released an internal agency review of the machinations that helped fuel the Russia hoax. In a statement posted on social media, Ratcliffe stated, “All the world can now see the truth: Brennan, Clapper and Comey manipulated intelligence and silenced career professionals — all to get Trump.” 

BRYAN DEAN WRIGHT: JOHN BRENNAN WAS MY BOSS AT THE CIA. HE BELONGS IN PRISON

Citing previously hidden records, the review concluded that Brennan, in particular, pushed for the phony dossier to be included in the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) to catalyze a false narrative against Trump. Senior CIA experts on Russia objected but were sidelined and silenced.  

The CIA’s deputy director for analysis warned Brennan in writing that including the discredited dossier in any capacity jeopardized “the credibility of the entire paper.” Brennan didn’t care. The fiction penned by the ex-British spy conformed to the director’s preconceived fable that Trump colluded with Russia.  

The ICA, which was ordered by President Barack Obama, was rushed to completion just days before Trump’s inauguration. Brennan directed its composition and handpicked the analysts who compiled the ersatz information. To stifle dissent, 13 other key intelligence agencies were deliberately excluded. To put it bluntly, Trump was set up.  

According to the new CIA review, Comey and Clapper were all in on the scheme. In an interview with the New York Post, Ratcliffe said, “This was Obama, Comey, Clapper and Brennan deciding ‘We’re going to screw Trump.’” 

EX-OBAMA INTEL BOSS WANTED ANTI-TRUMP DOSSIER INCLUDED IN ‘ATYPICAL’ 2016 ASSESSMENT DESPITE PUSHBACK 

They knew the dossier was junk, which motivated them to prop it up as a reliable indictment of Trump. By incorporating it in the ICA they could leak and propagate both documents as mutual corroboration. It was a clever ruse. An illusion.  

Those of us who have long covered the bogus collusion story knew it long ago. In my 2019 book, “Witch Hunt,” I recounted how Brennan “insisted that the dossier be included in the classified intelligence report,” but then told Congress under oath that the dossier was “not in any way used as the basis for the intelligence community’s assessment.” Clapper’s testimony was nearly identical.  

Here is what I wrote in chapter 2: 

“Brennan and Clapper were spinning a deception. A prominent colleague contradicted them and produced documents as proof that they were not telling the truth. In a classified letter to Congress, National Security Agency director Michael Rogers disclosed that the uncorroborated document (the dossier) ‘did factor into the ICA’ report. Having been caught in a falsehood, Clapper then repudiated his earlier statement. Brennan continued to deny all of it, the contrary evidence notwithstanding.”  

CIA BEING RESTRUCTURED TO ELIMINATE ‘WELL-DOCUMENTED POLITICIZATION’: RATCLIFFE

Neither Brennan nor Clapper was ever prosecuted for perjury.  

None of that bothered news organizations. MSNBC promptly hired Brennan, while Clapper went to work for CNN. I described what they did from their media perches:  

“The two super spooks launched an all-out attack on Trump, exploiting their new television platforms to advance the toxic fiction that the president was a secret Russian asset who had ‘colluded’ with Putin. It didn’t matter to CNN that a House Intelligence Committee report determined that it had been Clapper who had leaked news of the phony dossier to the network before Trump had ever taken office.”  

The collusion narrative was a conspiracy itself. The collaborators knew it was a lie, but they manipulated the dossier and the ICA to peddle their fairy tale. With Hillary and her confederates, they engineered the hoax. Brennan even accused Trump of treason.  

DNI TULSI GABBARD REFERS ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE LEAKERS FOR PROSECUTION; DETAILS POSSIBLE MOTIVES

Comey also knew the dossier was spurious, as I wrote in chapter 4:  

“He knew exactly where the dossier came from and who paid for it. He used it as the primary basis for the warrants, used it as part of the nonpublic version of the intelligence community assessment, and used it to debrief President-elect Trump so that it could be leaked to the media in January 2017.” 

They knew the dossier was junk, which motivated them to prop it up as a reliable indictment of Trump. By incorporating it in the ICA they could leak and propagate both documents as mutual corroboration. It was a clever ruse. An illusion.  

Comey’s decision to purloin and leak additional FBI documents triggered — just as he planned — the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his dilating investigation of Trump that hobbled his presidency for two years.  

On the day that Mueller issued his report concluding that there was no evidence of a Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy, the sheepish Brennan conceded, “I don’t know if I received bad information, but I think I suspected there was more than there actually was.”  

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That’s quite the Jekyll-Hyde metamorphosis for a guy who enthusiastically endorsed the dossier and who kept claiming that “it was in line” with his own CIA sources, in which he “had great confidence.” That, too, was a fabrication, according to the newly released CIA review.  

What did Comey have to say?  In public, the master prevaricator dissembled and pleaded ignorance.  But before Congress, he was forced to admit that some of his actions would have been different had he known then what he knows now.  Not likely.  He was wedded to the artifice of collusion because he despised Trump. 

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has vowed a reckoning. She told Fox News, “We are digging deep to find everything that has been related to this, and I guarantee you there are some U.S. attorneys who are eager to see what we are finding — in some cases are already working their own cases to bring about that necessary accountability.”  

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Unless those who unscrupulously weaponized their immense power for political purposes are held to account, it will happen again. And again. The only remedy for lawlessness is justice.  

The reckoning awaits. 

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Mayor Johnson calls Trump actions ‘unconscionable’ as city absorbs over 51,000 migrants

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed Tuesday that his city “will not ever cooperate with ICE” 

“You know, again, it’s unconscionable at a time in which so many working people and poor people need government to show up for them, that this administration, the Trump administration, has caused so much consternation and division,” Johnson said Tuesday during a press conference.

Johnson was responding to a question about whether the city would “set up local police perimeters around schools to shield students from federal agents without warrants.” 

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHNSON TOURS ICE FACILITY, SAYS CHICAGO MAYOR IS ‘ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW’

“Look, we are welcoming city ordinance,” Johnson said. “Our local police department will not ever cooperate with ICE, whatever their constitutional authority is. That is obviously relegated to the Trump administration. All of our sister agencies, city departments have been thoroughly briefed by a corporate counsel, and I’ll pass it over to her in a second about what they can and cannot do.”

Johnson has been vocal about his criticism of ICE. 

Last month, he urged House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to “speak up” regarding ICE’s immigration enforcement that the mayor characterized  as “terrorism,.” 

Johnson has also said that Chicagoans should “rise up” against ICE.

The City of Chicago has allowed in over 51,000 illegal immigrants from the southern border since August 31, 2022.

ILLINOIS GOV. PRITZKER ACCUSED OF ‘INSULTING’ ICE WITH SANCTUARY POLICIES AS NOEM, ANGEL FAMILIES PROTEST

Last week, Trump “border czar” Tom Homan discussed attacks on ICE agents during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show” where he also criticized a new app called ICEBlock that is reportedly being used to track ICE agents. 

“Assault against ICE is up over 500%,” Homan said. “Now you’ve got an app that’s going to tell where ICE operations are going to. It’s only a matter of time before ICE agents are ambushed by some nut, like what happened in L.A., throwing them out a cocktail, throwing bricks at these officers. This is just disgusting at every level.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for comment.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital, “Democrat politicians are desperate to defend violent criminal illegal aliens over American citizens. It’s wrong. And it’s why the American people rejected the Democrats in November and sent President Trump back to the White House.”

“No matter how much Democrats try to defend criminal illegal aliens, President Trump and his Administration will always fight to protect the American people,” Jackson added. “President Trump is committed to carrying out the largest mass deportation operation in history by specifically targeting dangerous sanctuary cities that provide safe harbor to criminal illegals.”  

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Obama bros blast critics mocking Texas disaster victims: ‘We’re all Americans’

Former Obama aides blasted left-wing commentators on their “Pod Save America” podcast Tuesday for claiming the flood disaster in Texas is just desserts for the state supporting President Donald Trump’s reelection.

Several Democrats and media outlets across the country have been quick to politicize the devastating flooding in Texas that killed more than 100 people by blaming climate change, Trump, racism and government cuts.

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., demanded an investigation into various vacancies within the National Weather Service (NWS) in Texas related to warning coordination, suggesting Trump staff and budget cuts were to blame.

Co-host Tommy Vietor said that while questions about the effect of NWS cuts could be “an important question going forward, I could have done without the, like, instant, you know, leap to blame name-your-political-opponent for this tragedy on Twitter. I think that stuff is just gross.”

CNN PANEL RIPS ‘PARTISANS’ FOR HIJACKING TEXAS FLOOD TRAGEDY FOR POLITICAL GAIN

“I think the really gross stuff was, I saw some people be, like, ‘Well, Texas, you voted for Trump and this is what you get,’ and you’re like, ‘What the f—? Come on,'” co-host Jon Favreau said.

“We’re Americans. We’re all Americans. Don’t do that s—,” Vietor agreed. 

Favreau disputed the idea that cuts to the NWS had anything to do with the tragedy, saying, “It seems like the National Weather Service, like I said, did send out a timely warning, it just didn’t get to people. And that’s, you know, not the Trump administration saying that, that’s independent meteorologists and experts have all said this.”

But he added that cuts could affect the reliability of forecasts during hurricane season.

OUTRAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER LIBERAL FIGURES POLITICIZING TEXAS FLOOD DISASTER

Several commentators have shared viral responses blasting the victims of the disaster.

“The people in Texas voted for government services controlled by Donald Trump and Greg Abbott,” added Ron Filipkowski, former federal prosecutor and the editor-in-chief of MediasTouchNews. “That is exactly what they (sic) getting.”

Texas pediatrician Christina Propst shared a social media post wishing that “MAGA” people affected by the flooding should reap the effects of what they voted for, while expressing hope that “non-MAGA voters and pets be safe and dry.”

“Kerr County MAGA voted to gut FEMA. They deny climate change. May they get what they voted for,” she said, adding, “Bless their hearts.”

Others incorporated race into the equation, including Sade Perkins, a former member of the Houston Food Insecurity Board, who slammed Camp Mystic, which has lost at least 27 young girls and counselors, as a “Whites-only girls Christian camp.” 

Her boyfriend, Reverend Colin Bossen, a senior minister at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, distanced himself from her remarks, “I want to be clear that I disavow her comments.” He added, “I apologize to my congregation,” he wrote. “I will continue to work to repair the harm this incident has caused.”

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Trump’s bill bypasses unions to give millions of families school freedom

President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will have a huge impact on education in the country, considered “the biggest piece of legislation that’s ever passed in school choice history” by establishing a federal tax-credit scholarship program.

American Federation for Children President Tommy Schultz told Fox News Digital that he has been working on the legislation for 10 years.

“Every state essentially will have the opportunity to potentially have school choice thanks to this tax-credit scholarship, which will allow any individual in America to donate $1,700 to a local scholarship group, and they can get a full 100% tax-credit, dollar-for-dollar tax-credit. And at the end of the day, this could help millions of families get access to the school of their choice,” Schultz said.

The American Federation for Children is a pro-school choice group, pushing to allow parents to send their kids to schools outside their neighborhood or opt out of going to public school. 

TRUMP SIGNS ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL’ BILL IN SWEEPING VICTORY FOR SECOND TERM AGENDA, OVERCOMING DEMS AND GOP REBELS

Trump signed the $3.3 trillion bill last week, including key provisions that would permanently establish individual and business tax breaks included in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and incorporate new tax deductions to cut duties on tips and overtime pay. 

What are the benefits of tax-credit scholarship programs?

The bill instituted a federal tax-credit scholarship, seeking to expand education opportunities in all 50 states.

“Tax credits are a funding mechanism for private school choice programs. Whereas in the states, you have scholarship programs – those are direct appropriations from the state government coffers,” Schultz said. 

Schultz added that the federal tax-credit scholarship program allows taxpayers to reduce their tax bill, the same type of mechanism on the state level.

“This one in particular allows individuals to invest in K through 12 educational opportunities for kids and particularly lower-income kids. This is just an unmitigated win for the school choice movement and for families all across the country,” Schultz said.

Tax-credit scholarships, usually operated at the state level, are a form of school choice that allows individuals or businesses to receive full (100%) or partial credits when they contribute to a nonprofit that provides private school scholarships. The tax code change is permanent because there is no expiration date in the law. 

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“It can’t be politically changed with a new administration in the way that if it was like many of what you see, the appropriate funds that come out of the Department of Education, which often have nefarious strings attached with local schools,” Schultz said. “This is a perfect model to bring to the federal government because it still respects the ability for states to operate their school choice programs, their public schools, and it’s also just a simple tax code change that allows you to pass this under the budget reconciliation rules.”

In order to be eligible for the federal tax-credit scholarship program, recipients must be under 300% of their area’s median income, based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development formula, covering 85-90% of families.

State governments will designate which scholarship groups can receive funds.

Federal government concerned about kids ‘trapped in a failing school’

When Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Education for comment on Schultz’s remarks, a spokesperson referred to Secretary Linda McMahon’s post on X, claiming that the bill “includes massive expansion in school choice.”

The federal government’s involvement in school choice indicates the growing momentum of the policy sweeping the country after several states passed universal school choice legislation, with New Hampshire being the most recent. 

EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR CHILDREN ACT: A TAX BREAK FOR THE RICH, NOT A LIFELINE FOR STUDENTS

Schultz argued that it was necessary for the federal government to get involved because the policy allows taxpayers to circumvent anti-school choice policies and provides them an opportunity to support school choice in states that do not have it.

“Look, our education system is in freefall. As you saw with the latest national report card data that came out, especially COVID, we’re down to 30 and 40-year lows in our educational outcomes,” he said.

Overcoming teachers unions and blue states

School choice policies typically face hurdles in blue states and where teachers’ unions have significant influence. Left-leaning teachers’ unions usually reject school choice measures since they claim it debilitates public school funding and resources. No Democratic-controlled state has passed school choice legislation.

“Every kid in America deserves the chance to get access to the best school of their choice,” Schultz said.

“And if the political power of the unions is stopping states from building out robust options for their kids, and they’re trapping kids in the district schools that they don’t want to go to, but are forced to go to, is all the more reason that a simple tax code change would allow for a huge revolution in the ability for families all across the country to choose the best schools for their sons and daughters, especially for lower-income families that are desperately seeking these options.”

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Doctor points to 11 key risk factors of Alzheimer’s and recommends specific changes

Research developments in Alzheimer’s disease, including newly approved blood tests for early detection, have helped patients get diagnosed sooner.

As the common dementia has been on the rise among younger individuals, the spotlight is on ways to prevent or slow the disease.

Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist, brain imaging doctor and founder of Amen Clinics in California, spoke with Fox News Digital in an interview about Alzheimer’s risk and management.

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“Alzheimer’s starts in your brain decades before you have any symptoms,” he said. “So, a 59-year-old woman I diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease likely had negative changes in her brain in her 20s.”

“It’s really never too early to think about protecting your brain and your mind.”

Amen, who also authored the book “Preventing Alzheimer’s,” confirmed that half of Alzheimer’s cases are preventable, according to recent findings.

This can be done through nurturing brain health and treating the 11 major risk factors that “steal your mind,” he said.

“It’s really never too early to think about protecting your brain and your mind.”

To remember the factors that can help ward off Alzheimer’s, Amen created the acronym “BRIGHTMINDS” as follows.

B- Blood flow

Low blood flow is the No. 1 brain imaging predictor of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the doctor.

Alcohol, marijuana, caffeine, nicotine, sedentary behavior and excess weight or obesity can all decrease blood flow, thus should be avoided.

To promote blood flow, Amen suggests “walking like you’re late,” which could entail walking 30 minutes a day — alternating between three minutes of normal walking and three minutes of fast walking.

“Do that five times for 30 minutes, and it increases blood flow to your brain,” he said. 

R – Retirement and aging

Along with retirement and aging can come a slowdown in learning and cognitive activity, leading to a higher Alzheimer’s risk, Amen said.

‘I’M A NEUROLOGIST — HERE’S WHY DEMENTIA IS RISING AND HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK’

He encourages retirees to learn something new every day to keep the brain active and healthy.

I – Inflammation

Inflammation is a “major cause” of psychiatric issues, Amen revealed, as well as conditions like cancer, arthritis and heart disease.

Flossing is an easy way to reduce inflammation in the gums and help prevent gum disease, which is a gateway to brain disease, according to the doctor.

G – Genetics

“Genes aren’t a death sentence,” Amen said. “What they should be is a wake-up call.”

The doctor said everyone should take steps to discover which diseases run in the family and then follow a daily prevention program.

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“I have heart disease and obesity in my family,” he said. “I don’t have heart disease, and I’m not overweight. Why? Because I’m on an obesity heart disease prevention program every day of my life.”

H – Head Trauma

Concussions and head trauma are a “major cause” of psychiatric problems, Amen described, and should be avoided.

“Don’t text and drive,” he warned.

T – Toxins

Some well-known toxins like alcohol, marijuana and other drugs are known to have negative impacts on overall health.

But some not-so-obvious toxins can include lead, mold, mercury from fish, and even general anesthesia, Amen cautioned.

“You always want to support your organs in detoxification,” he said. “Drink more water, as it helps flush things through your kidneys … eat more fiber for your gut, and hold the alcohol.”

Amen also suggested eating brassicas, which include vegetables in the cabbage family, as they have a detoxifying effect.

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The expert also highlighted the benefits of sauna use as a detox tool.

“The people who take the most saunas have the lowest incidence of Alzheimer’s disease,” he stated.

M – Mental Health

A healthy mental state will help support a healthier brain, experts agree.

“Stop believing every stupid thing you think,” Amen advised.

I – Immunity and Infections

Keeping your body healthy and immune from infections is key to overall health, according to Amen.

The doctor suggested optimizing vitamin D intake, which can help support the brain and immune system.

N – Neurohormones

The brain specialist recommends having a hormone balance check done every year, as any imbalances can interfere with the brain and increase Alzheimer’s risk.

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D – Diabesity

“Diabesity,” a term referring to the parallel occurrence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, can be a major threat to overall health, the doctor warned.

“You really want to care about your weight,” Amen said.

Weight and diet play an important role in brain health, as Amen’s research has shown that as weight increases, the size and function of the brain decreases.

“Genes aren’t a death sentence. What they should be is a wake-up call.”

“Being overweight, you automatically have 10 of the 11 risk factors, because being overweight lowers blood flow, accelerates aging, increases inflammation and changes your hormones in a negative way,” he said.

“Be mindful of only loving food that loves you back.”

S – Sleep

Sleep is crucial for a high-functioning mind, as an adequate night’s slumber “washes” the brain every night, Amen noted.

Better sleep translates to improved memory, energy, blood flow and decision-making, the doctor said, and should be a priority when working to prevent Alzheimer’s. 

Six-figure salaries sizzle in roles that ‘no other industry’ can offer

Waiting tables or serving up food in the drive-thru may seem like a first step into the workforce – but for some it could pave the path that leads to a big-money job.

Amid a nationwide restaurant worker shortage, many brands are finding ways to attract and retain their employees while offering big bucks and benefits to those who wish to work long-term or climb the ladder.

“One of the best things about our industry is the ability to have upward momentum, to start off as a server and work your way up to manager and then to regional vice president, maybe even chief operating officer or CEO,” Brandon Coleman – CEO of Cotton Patch Cafe and formerly TGI Fridays – told Fox News Digital. “That’s something that our industry provides that no other industry really provides.”

“[The] goal for me is that we have enough benefits where 100% of our staff are taking advantage of something, which means that we’ve covered a good dynamic group,” Bartaco President and CEO Anthony Valletta also told the outlet. “But I think that’s the way you have to really kind of think about the benefit offering[s] to your team now.”

OLIVE GARDEN, LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE PLAN OVER 40 OPENINGS IN COMING YEAR

According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurant job growth has slowed in recent months. The industry added 6,500 jobs in June as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking the third consecutive month of decelerating growth.

Though positive employment growth is expected in 2025, current levels in certain sectors, like full-service restaurants, are still below pre-pandemic levels.

“I think that the biggest challenge is the evolving workforce,” Valletta said. “There are so many different generations that are looking for different things right now in terms of what they want out of a workplace. Like, now is probably one of the hardest times.”

“We lost a lot of the workforce during COVID. Some are coming back, but you’re managing so many different generations,” he expanded, “and all those different generations want something different out of you as an employer… it’s not a one-size-fits-all like it was even 10 years ago.”

Both heads of Bartaco and Cotton Patch Cafe say the No. 1 thing they look for when hiring candidates is a personality and cultural fit. The brands offer various fiscal incentives for being a full-time employee, including instant pay, college tuition assistance, 401(k) and retirement plans, fitness membership perks and even language classes.

Plus, nowadays, the pay in the fast-casual game can be eye-opening – a Chipotle executive recently told Business Insider that its regional vice presidents can earn up to $600,000 per year.

“If you’re not willing to increase pay, if you’re not willing to create profit-sharing programs, pay for tuition, if [you’re] not willing to put these perks in place or, most importantly, if you’re not willing to invest in training team members, then it makes it very difficult to hire, attract and retain good talent,” Coleman said.

“That salary is absolutely realistic because what happens in the restaurant industry is that, if you are motivated and driven and willing to adapt and learn as you go, you can move up very quickly,” he continued. “It’s one of the most amazing things about the restaurant industry… that upward mobility. If you want to move up through the management ranks, and you’re willing to put in the effort and work that’s required, you can move up quicker than any other industry, really.”

“We spend a lot of time focusing on what’s important to the team in terms of overall compensation. I think that makes it very appealing, everything from whether it’s mental health or learning languages or just the pay structure itself… trying to make sure that they’ve got a voice,” Valletta added.

Hourly team member turnover is about 130% at Cotton Patch Cafe, just below the national average; Bartaco’s CEO noted that management tends to stay in one position for 18 months, while hourly employees stay for “not very long.”

Based in Texas and its surrounding states, Coleman feels Cotton Patch Cafe’s local pull helps maintain staff in ways that more national chains, like Bartaco, can’t. Valletta made a similar argument.

“That [$600k] salary is absolutely realistic because what happens in the restaurant industry is that, if you are motivated and driven and willing to adapt and learn as you go, you can move up very quickly.”

– Brandon Coleman

“Being a regional chain is an advantage. When I was CEO of TGI Fridays, I made it a point to go out and visit as many restaurants as I could. But with such a large system, it was difficult to see every team member, to know every team number, and to reach out and actually have a conversation with all of our great team members out there,” Coleman pointed out.

“At Cotton Patch Cafe, being a regional brand, I know that myself, our COO and many of our other senior executives are able to get into the restaurants on a more regular basis.”

“I think it actually becomes a little more challenging [as a national brand] because you’ve got different state-by-state regulations and legality that you have to kind of follow through,” Valletta said, “where if you’ve got some regionalization, you can kind of double down a little bit.”

Looking ahead to the next era of restaurant workers, the industry leaders agree they must prove it to be a more sustainable and attractive career path – not just a stopgap job.

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“For the next generation of workers like Gen Z, the restaurant industry needs to continue to adapt our philosophy of how we approach work,” Coleman said. “The restaurant industry is going to continue to come under pressure from other opportunities for entry-level workers. It’s our job to invest in the technology, to build a strong culture, and to take care of our team members so that we can become more competitive in attracting that talent.”

“The key that we really focus on and what the industry needs to do is really focus and develop an individual as a leader,” Valletta added. “I think so many times we’ve trained a lot of great tacticians. People are very good at the day-to-day operation of a restaurant. But really, it’s about leadership. And leadership is not something you can teach in a handbook.”

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Trump makes major move in House Oversight Committee’s Biden cover-up probe

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s White House is waiving executive privilege for a key member of former President Joe Biden’s inner circle, Fox News Digital has learned.

Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor was set to testify this week in House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s probe into allegations that Biden’s senior aides covered up his mental and physical decline while president.

“In light of the unique and extraordinary nature of the matters under investigation, President Trump has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest, and therefore is not justified, with respect to particular subjects within the purview of the House Oversight Committee,” a letter to O’Connor sent by the White House, obtained by Fox News Digital by a source familiar, said.

“These subjects include your assessment of former President Biden’s fitness for the office of the president and your financial relationship with the Biden family.”

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When reached for comment, an attorney for O’Connor confirmed receipt of the letter from the White House Counsel’s Office.

Comer subpoenaed O’Connor last week after the physician refused to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview with House investigators.

O’Connor’s lawyers petitioned for a delay over the weekend, however, calling the scope of the probe “unprecedented.”

“We are unaware of any prior occasion on which a Congressional Committee has subpoenaed a physician to testify about the treatment of an individual patient,” O’Connor’s legal team wrote. “And the notion that a Congressional Committee would do so without any regard whatsoever for the confidentiality of the physician-patient relationship is alarming.”

A House Oversight Committee spokeswoman called their letter a “delay tactic to stonewall the Oversight Committee’s investigation.” 

The deposition date has not been changed, and O’Connor could risk defying a congressional subpoena if he does not appear.

The Tuesday letter from the White House counsel’s office read, “The extraordinary events in this matter constitute exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress. Evidence that aides to former President Biden concealed information regarding his fitness to exercise the powers of the President — and may have unconstitutionally exercised those powers themselves to aid in their concealment — implicates both Congress’ constitutional and legislative powers.”

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“After balancing the Legislative and Executive Branch interests, as required under the accommodation process, it is the President’s view that this presents and exceptional situation in which the congressional need for information outweighs the Executive Branch’s interest in maintaining confidentiality, especially given the Executive Branch’s own interest in determining the validity of prior executive actions,” the letter said.

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Former top Biden aides and the ex-president’s current allies have insisted there was no cover-up in the Democratic White House. But Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance followed by his stunning exit from the presidential race raised questions about the octogenarian’s fitness for office.

Comer has summoned a number of former top Biden aides for closed-door interviews, including O’Connor, former Chief of Staff Ronald Klain, and former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Former staff secretary Neera Tanden appeared for a transcribed interview last month.

Zohran Mamdani advocated radical plan to redistribute housing to the homeless

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s candidate for New York City mayor and a self-proclaimed socialist, is once again garnering backlash for previous comments he has made espousing language steeped in radical socialist and communist ideology. 

Mamdani, this time, is getting blasted for calling on the government to “seize” luxury condos to house the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The unearthed remarks, stemming from a March 2020 social media post, followed news of separate rediscovered remarks from Mamdami touting the need to “de-commodify” housing through replacing luxury condos with communal-style living that would include things like shared laundry facilities and food co-ops.

“The oligarchs who want us to return to work to goose the stock market are the same ones with thousands of luxury condos as investment properties, sitting empty while NYers die on the streets & in shelters,” Mamdani wrote on social media in response to a news report claiming the first homeless person in New York City with the coronavirus had passed away amid the pandemic.

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“Seize these properties,” Mamdani demanded in his post, written while campaigning for the New York State Assembly. “House the homeless. Enact a #HomesGuarantee.”

Mamdani’s comments on housing were similarly scrutinized after a video of him published online by nonprofit advocacy group The Gravel Institute showed the NYC mayoral candidate discussing the need to turn housing from a private commodity to a public one. In part, during the video, Mamdani called for establishing “community land trusts to gradually buy up housing on the private market and convert it to community ownership.” In more simplistic terms, Mamdami explained his housing idea would essentially aim to replace luxury condos with communal-style living that would include things like shared laundry, kitchens, food co-ops, bathhouses, pharmacies, lecture halls, swimming pools and more. 

“If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing,” Mamdani says. “In other words, moving away from the status quo in which most people access housing by purchasing it on the market and toward a future where we guarantee high quality housing to all as a human right.”

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Other comments rooted in radical socialist and communist ideology from Mamdani have surfaced in recent weeks as well.   

Critics have also pointed to comments that Mamdani made at a Young Democratic Socialists of America conference in 2021, during which the then-State Assembly member told attendees not to compromise on goals like “seizing the means of production.”

Meanwhile, current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who left the Democratic Party to run as an Independent, slammed Mamdami this week for explicitly quoting communist revolutionary thinker Karl Marx. 

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The post Adams shared included nothing more than the following simple message shared by Mamdani: “Each according to their need, each according to their ability.”

To the less politically-inclined social media user, the message might seem innocuous, but, in reality, it is a direct quote from Karl Marx, a revolutionary socialist who penned the infamous “Communist Manifesto” with fellow socialist political philosopher Friedrich Engels during the late 19th-century.

President Donald Trump has referred to Mamdani as a “100% Communist Lunatic” and vowed to “save New York City” from Mamdani if he gets elected, suggesting a willingness to withhold federal funds from the city if Mamdani doesn’t “behave.”

However, Mamdani has rejected claims he is a “communist.” In response to Trump’s criticism of being a “communist,” Mamdani directly refuted the claim during an interview with NBC News.

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“No, I am not,” Mamdani responded when asked point-blank by NBC’s Kristen Welker. “I have already had to start to get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I’m from, who I am, ultimately, because he wants to distract from what I’m fighting for. And I’m fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower that he has since then betrayed.

“When we talk about my politics, you know, I call myself a Democratic socialist — in many ways, inspired by the words of Dr. [Martin Luther] King from decades ago, who said, ‘Call it democracy, call it Democratic-Socialism, there has to be a better distribution of wealth for all of God’s children in this country.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdami and his campaign for comment on this article, but did not receive a response.

All the best day 2 deals from Amazon Prime Day, from iPads to solar generators

The second day of Amazon Prime Day is here, with new deals added. From today until July 11, Amazon has deals on pretty much anything you can think of, including tools, solar generators, headphones and more. 

Tech enthusiasts can keep scrolling for the latest and greatest Apple products and TVs that are heavily discounted. Or, scroll down to find some luxury beauty products you can add to your daily routine.

DIYers who need to upgrade their toolbox can find a handful of power tools in our list below that are significantly discounted. And, if you’re looking to get a better night’s sleep, scroll to find Amazon’s best sleep deals. Outdoor enthusiasts looking to upgrade their gear or redecorate their patios can also find some of the best outdoor deals below. 

Best overall Prime Day deals

Oura Ring 4: $296.65 (15% off), originally $349

Apple Airpods Pro 2: on sale for $149 (40% off), originally $249 

Philips Sonicare rechargeable electric toothbrush: on sale for $69.95 (36% off), originally $109.96

Greenworks 21-inch cordless lawn mower: on sale for $337.49 (33% off), originally $499.99

DeWalt cordless drill and impact driver: on sale for $129 (50% off), originally $259

Breville Barista Express espresso machine: on sale for $549.95 (27% off), originally $749.95

Google Nest Smart thermostat: on sale for $97.99 (25% off), originally $129.99

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState: on sale for $24.99 (44% off), originally $45

Jackery solar generator 1000 v2 with 200W solar panel: on sale for $664 (49% off)

Original price: $1,299

This solar generator set includes a Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable power station and a Jackery SolarSaga 200W solar panel to create a self-sufficient energy system. The generator can store 1070Wh (Watt-hours) of energy, enough to power a fridge for up to a day, or keep Wi-Fi running for about four days.  

Apple iPad: on sale for $279.99 (20% off)

Original price: $349

The iPad, which is the latest model available, is the ultimate affordable tablet, complete with an A16 chip, delivering an incredibly fast user experience. The retina 11-inch display rivals the competition thanks to its True Tone adjustments that automatically adjust the screen depending on where you are and the conditions to give you the best picture. There’s an impressive 128 GB of storage, all the way up to 512 GB.

An artist’s dream, the iPad has a compatible Apple Pencil that makes drawing ultra-realistic. Note that the iPad doesn’t support the newest Apple Pencil Pro. The magic keyboard folio turns your iPad into a fully functioning laptop and detaches and attaches with a simple click.

To protect your iPad, a hard cover iPad case (that comes in nearly any color) and a screen protector are a must. They’ll prevent cracks and scratches from everyday wear and tear. 

Shark pet cordless vacuum cleaner: on sale for $149 (50% off)

Original price: $299.99

Shark’s cordless pet vacuum cleaner has a 40-minute runtime, so you can tackle every room in your house on a single charge. The vacuum transitions seamlessly from carpet to hardwood, sucking up dust, pet hair and other messes. The low-profile design makes the vacuum lightweight and easy to maneuver. 

Best Prime Day tech deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 smartphone: $1,599 (21% off), originally $2,019.99

Amazon Fire TV Stick: on sale for $24.99 (50% off), originally $49.99

55-inch Amazon Fire TV: on sale for $339.99 (26% off), originally $459.99

Samsung Odyssey G3 27-inch gaming monitor: on sale for $129.99 (43% off), originally $229.99

Amazon Echo Show 8: on sale for $109.99 (27% off), originally $149.99

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: on sale for $79.99 (56% off), originally $179.99

Amazon Kindle Scribe: on sale for $309.99 (31% off), originally $449.99

Apple Watch Ultra 2: on sale for $649.99 (17% off), originally $779

Mini drone with 4K UHD camera: on sale for $159 (20% off), originally $199

Apple Watch Series 10: on sale for $279 (30% off)

Original price: $399

The Apple Series 10 watch features a water temperature sensor that shares information about your swim workouts and a depth sensor. You can also get notifications if you have a high or low heart rate or if the watch detects an irregular heart rhythm. 

The watch also has many of the same features as your iPhone. You can send a text, take a call, listen to music and podcasts, use Siri and get notifications from your calendar and other apps. 

Apple AirPods 4: on sale for $89 (31% off)

Original price: $129

Redesigned with comfort in mind, the Apple AirPods 4 have a better fit so they won’t fall out of your ears as often. The sound quality has also improved from previous AirPod generations. Now you get a theater-like sound quality no matter what you’re listening to. AirPods are also sweat-, dust- and water-resistant, making them a more durable earbud option. 

Best Prime Day beauty deals

Andalou Naturals Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid Serum: on sale for $14.69 (46% off), originally $26.99

Laifen SE Lite Hair Dryer: on sale for $69.99 (30% off), originally $99.99

Briogeo Scalp Revival rosemary pre-wash oil: $22.40 (30% off), originally: $32

Pro Ceramic Ionic hair straightener brush: on sale for $21.73 (27% off), originally $29.86

24k gold under eye patches: on sale for $21.24 (39% off), originally $34.99

Gillette Venus ComfortGlide white tea women’s razor: on sale for $13.69 (19% off), originally $16.99

Professional teeth whitening kit: on sale for $18.99 (37% off), originally $29.99

Medicube Zero Pore Pads: on sale for $14.90 (52% off), originally $31.00

Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects: on sale for $29.99 (35% off), originally $45.99

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean electric toothbrush: on sale for $149.96 (46% off)

Original price: $279.96

For an advanced clean, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrush achieves up to 20 times more plaque removal and helps you get healthier gums. It can also help remove stains much more effectively than a manual toothbrush. 

You can choose from five different brushing modes and three intensity levels. Plus, the brush will alert you if you’re using too much pressure, which can also help your gums stay healthy. 

Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex ionic hair dryer system: on sale for $199 (20% off)

Original price: $249.99

Dry your hair the professional way with a Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex. The dryer provides ultra-fast drying with no heat damage. In seconds, airflow reaches up to 100 mph, and you can adjust the temperature level to keep your scalp comfortable. Featuring a 360-degree rotating nozzle, you can adjust the dryer to any angle to get the perfect style. When you’re done, the handle folds up, making this the perfect travel hair dryer. 

Best Prime Day tools deals

Greenworks cordless drill and impact driver set: on sale for $89.99 (31% off), originally $129.99

DeWalt oscilating tool: on sale for $179 (10% off), originally $199

276-piece tool kit with drill: on sale for $99.98 (21% off), originally $125.99

DeWalt circular saw: on sale for $299 (14% off), originally $349

Craftsman 4-piece power tool combo kit: on sale for $149 (25% off), originally $199

Tietoc 6-Inch Mini Electric Chainsaw: on sale for $39.99 (33% off), originally 
$59.99

Bosch 5-tool combo kit: on sale for $499 (17% off)

Original price: $599

Bosch’s five-tool combo kit includes an impact driver, hammer drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, a work light and two batteries. The impact driver works as both an impact wrench and a driver. The lightweight reciprocating saw is just over six pounds, so it’s ideal for easy DIY projects. 

DeWalt jig saw: on sale for $99 (52% off)

Original price: $205

DeWalt’s jig saw has an anti-slip comfort grip that makes controlling the saw easier. The all-metal blade is easy and quick to change, while the adjustable dust blower keeps your line of sight clear while you’re cutting. The saw is battery-powered, making quick work of all your DIY projects. 

Best Prime Day sleep deals

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt + cooling 3-inch king mattress topper: on sale for $398.99 (20% off), originally $499

EGOHOME 14-inch king memory foam mattress: on sale for $599 (14% off), originally $699.99

Sealy Dreamlife 12″ hybrid mattress-in-a-box: on sale for $624.19 (22% off), originally $799

Sweetnight queen hybrid mattress: on sale for $168.31 (40% off), originally $279.99

Neo Sleep 8-inch twin cooling gel memory foam mattress: on sale for $93.58 (42% off), originally $159.98

Casper Sleep Element medium firm mattress: on sale for $416.50 (30% off)

Original price: $595

The Casper Sleep Element medium firm mattress is designed to be luxurious. There’s a top layer of breathable foam that promotes airflow, so you don’t sleep hot. The cover is also made from recycled materials that can withstand years of consistent use. 

This mattress conveniently comes in a box. All you need to do is unroll it on top of your bedframe and wait a few hours for it to puff up on its own.  

Casper original king pillow 2-pack: on sale for $114.75 (25% off)

Original price: $153

Casper’s original king pillows have a cover made from 100% cotton that’s washable and comfortable to lie on each night. Packed with microfiber fill, you get the feel of a soft pillow with some added support. 

Best Prime Day outdoor deals

Coleman Classic 3-burner propane camping stove: on sale for $129.99 (41% off), originally $220.99

Ninja FrostVault 65 quart cooler: on sale for $265 (24% off), originally $349.99

GCI outdoor comfort pro rocker camping chair: on sale for $72 (20% off), originally $90

Pop-up privacy shower pod for camping: on sale for $30.60 (23% off), originally $39.99

Mountain House Freeze-Dried Backpacking & Camping Food: on sale for $9.10 (24% off), originally $11.99

100ft solar outdoor string lights: on sale for $42.59 (29% off)

Original price: $59.98

Add some light to your backyard with this 100-foot set of outdoor string lights. The lights last eight to 12 hours depending on how much sun they get. You can also set them to automatically turn on as soon as it gets dark. The lights are shatterproof and waterproof, making them safe for long-term outdoor use.