Arab Fighters' Big Move After POUNDING Pro-Israel City For Two Days As IDF Watched Helplessly
US President Donald Trump has sounded alarm bells for India, issuing a direct 10% tariff threat on all BRICS nations. In his remarks, Trump warned that if BRICS forms 'in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly.' While he didn't name countries, India, one of the founding BRICS members, is firmly in the spotlight. The comments follow BRICS expansion and moves like BRICS Pay, a cross-border payment system aimed at reducing dollar dependency. Trump labeled these initiatives 'anti-American,' and pledged to block any US digital currency to defend the dollar. India, balancing ties with the US and the Global South, now finds itself in a strategic squeeze: stay aligned with BRICS or risk economic retaliation? With a 50% tariff slapped on Brazil and more threats looming, how will India navigate this geopolitical and economic crossfire?#donaldtrump #brics #india #indiaus #brics #trumptariff #dollarvsrupee #globaltrade #geopolitics #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews
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First Post
24 minutes ago
- First Post
New York, Michigan, Iowa...: Is Trump getting desperate to shape US midterms that are due in 2026?
Donald Trump is steering key Republicans away from statewide races to protect the GOP's narrow House majority in 2026 read more As the political calendar turns its attention toward the 2026 US midterm elections, President Donald Trump appears to be exerting increasingly overt control over Republican congressional strategy. In recent weeks, Trump has played a decisive role in shaping GOP candidacies across battleground states like New York, Michigan and Iowa. While his supporters hail this as party discipline in action, many view it as a calculated and possibly desperate attempt to prevent another electoral debacle like the 2018 House flip. The question now looms: is Trump consolidating power or compensating for vulnerability? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Keeping the House at all costs At the core of Trump's strategy is a single, obsessive goal: protecting the GOP's razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans control the chamber by only a handful of seats, a fact not lost on the president. According to reporting by NBC News, Trump has been personally intervening to dissuade vulnerable House Republicans from seeking higher office, thereby keeping reliable incumbents in place. The Associated Press quoted Trump campaign sources as saying that the move marks a departure from earlier cycles where Trump often endorsed insurgent Senate candidates without much concern for broader party dynamics. Now, the emphasis is on unity and incumbency especially in marginal districts. New York: Lawler stays put, Stefanik in waiting One of the clearest examples of this effort unfolded in New York. Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a swing district in the Hudson Valley that former vice president Kamala Harris won in 2024, recently confirmed he would not challenge Governor Kathy Hochul for the state's top job. While Lawler stressed the decision was his alone, he acknowledged that Trump had 'offered his perspective' during a private meeting. Lawler's re-election campaign was endorsed by Trump in May—an early signal that the president wanted him to stay in the House. Republican strategists see Lawler's decision as critical to retaining the seat in a high-stakes midterm. Meanwhile, this move potentially clears the gubernatorial path for Representative Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally whose name was floated after her nomination to the United Nations ambassadorship was withdrawn. Stefanik has indicated she will reveal her intentions after this fall's elections. As reported by NBC News, her possible candidacy highlights Trump's willingness to elevate allies from safer districts while reinforcing GOP infrastructure where it's most needed. Michigan: Avoiding a GOP civil war Trump's influence is equally visible in Michigan, where Congressman Bill Huizenga opted out of a Senate run after meeting with the president at the White House. The Associated Press revealed that Trump's priority was keeping Huizenga in the House to secure his west Michigan seat, rated 'likely Republican' by the Cook Political Report. Huizenga's exit from the Senate race effectively clears the way for former Congressman Mike Rogers, a Trump-friendly figure who has staffed his campaign with former Trump aides. Though Trump has not yet formally endorsed Rogers, insiders expect that move soon. While Huizenga has not officially announced a re-election bid, GOP operatives suggest his decision—shaped directly by Trump—is part of a broader strategy to avoid intra-party conflict in swing states and to maximise resources toward winnable districts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iowa: Nunn bows to Trump's midterm playbook In Iowa, Representative Zach Nunn had been considering a run for governor following Governor Kim Reynolds' decision not to seek re-election. However, after a conversation with Trump, Nunn chose to remain in the House. The district he represents is a Democratic target in 2026, having been won by only four points in the last cycle. Trump's endorsement of Nunn's re-election was quick and emphatic, with sources describing the congressman as a 'team player.' According to NBC News, this move is emblematic of Trump's new playbook which is of convincing lawmakers in contested districts that the national interest of the party outweighs individual ambitions. Representative Randy Feenstra, who holds a safer seat, is now among those considering a gubernatorial run. This supports the notion that Trump is willing to let GOP members seek higher office only when their departure doesn't threaten House control. A calculated silence in the Senate Interestingly, while Trump is taking a hands-on approach with House races, he has remained relatively circumspect when it comes to open Senate contests. In states like Georgia and North Carolina, Trump has not yet waded into contentious primaries. Political observers interpret this as a deliberate contrast to his previous, often chaotic, endorsement patterns. That said, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is widely expected to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis. This could create a high-stakes showdown that may yet draw Trump's attention. For now, his priority appears to be ensuring a stable, loyal and electorally viable House majority. Trump's direct involvement has not gone unnoticed. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama told The Hill that Trump now commands more influence over the Republican Party than any president he's ever seen. Tuberville also issued a warning to dissenters, stating that GOP lawmakers who refuse to align with Trump should prepare to face primary challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, not all Republicans are falling in line. Michigan's Representative John James has chosen to run for governor, a decision that reportedly displeased Trump. During a recent event, Trump jokingly suggested that James shouldn't be allowed to run unless his House seat could be adequately filled. Such moments illustrate the limits of Trump's control—even as most GOP lawmakers seem to heed his directives. As Lawler candidly put it in a media appearance, while Trump's opinion was valuable, 'I didn't get here by doing as told.' Desperation or discipline? Democrats, unsurprisingly, interpret these moves through a lens of weakness. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries framed Trump's interventions as coercion, saying that Republicans are being 'ordered' to stay in place because of their grim electoral prospects. Still, it's hard to ignore the effectiveness of Trump's manoeuvres. He's minimising damaging primaries, bolstering vulnerable districts and testing a more disciplined version of his political machine. This could either be the product of maturity in strategy or of nervous anticipation about what's at stake if the GOP fails to hold the House again. If Trump's campaign is marked by calculation rather than chaos in 2026, it may not be desperation at all but rather a serious, if ruthless, effort to ensure that history does not repeat itself. Whether that's enough to counteract traditional midterm losses remains to be seen. What's clear is that Trump intends to leave nothing to chance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Macrons sue American podcaster: The ‘Brigitte is a man' theory, and a rise in ‘transvestigation'
In a rare defamation lawsuit, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have accused American right-wing podcaster Candace Owens of spreading 'outlandish, defamatory and far-fetched fictions' against France's First Lady. In the suit, filed in the US state of Delaware on July 23, the Macrons said that Owens has used the false statement that Brigitte was 'in fact a man' to 'promote her independent platform, gain notoreity, and make money'. The lawsuit added that though they served Owens several retraction demands, presenting her the opportunity to retract her false claims, she chose to ignore them. The dubious claims regarding Brigitte's gender first appeared in public in 2021, in the run-up to the 2022 French Presidential elections. Since then, several far-right conspiracy theorists have fanned the rumours, especially on social media. The significant age gap between Macron has been another target of rumours. Let's take a closer look at the controversy surrounding the Macrons. In the court filings, the Macrons have said that a self-described independent journalist, Natasha Rey, first posted the claim that Brigitte was transgender and had stolen a woman's identity in a since-deleted Facebook post in May 2021. Rey went on to work with another investigative journalist, Xavier Poussard, and co-wrote publications regarding Brigitte's 'biological sex'. She then appeared in a YouTube video with Amadine Roy, a self-proclaimed spiritual medium. Rey repeated the claim that Brigitte was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux and had stolen the identity of Brigitte Trogneux. Jean-Michel is the First Lady's biological brother. Several conspiracy theorists have shared childhood photos of the siblings to claim similarity in their appearances. Rey and Roy also claimed that Brigitte's first husband, whom she was married to between 1974 and 2006, never existed and that she was not the mother of the three children from her first marriage. Who is Candace Owens, and how did she get involved? Owens, often described as a far-right political commentator, has millions of followers across social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. She first made her mark in French politics when she was invited to a right-wing convention in 2019, where she spoke against Macron. Before this, she had gained fame in American right-wing circles. Owens was born on April 29, 1989, in Connecticut. She studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island, but dropped out before completing her degree. She started gaining traction in 2016-17, given that she was a Black conservative who was supporting Donald Trump as President. She went on to work with Turning Point USA, an organisation that supports young conservative activists. She was a staunch advocate for 'Blexit', advising Black Americans to abandon the Democratic Party, for portraying them as 'victims.' She eventually joined The Daily Wire, a right-wing media house founded by Ben Shapiro. Owens was let go from The Daily Wire in 2024, just three years after she joined the organisation, for alleged anti-semitic statements in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Just before she departed from The Daily Wire, Owens published an episode of her talk show fanning the conspiracy theory around Brigitte, bringing global attention to the rumours. She later launched her independent talk show, Candace, on YouTube. In August 2024, she interviewed Poussard about the allegations. The episode was reportedly taken down by YouTube. In February this year, she published an eight-part series called Becoming Brigitte, repeating the claims about the First Lady. Poussard also appears in one of the episodes. She alleged that Macron and Brigitte were blood relatives and made even more baseless claims that Macron was a product of a CIA programme called 'MK Ultra' that brainwashed people to create 'Manchurian candidates' (someone who acts against the interests of their country under the influence of another country). How have the Macrons responded? Brigitte had filed a libel complaint against Rey and Roy after they published their video in December 2021. In September last year, a lower court had ordered the two women to pay €8,000 in damages to Brigitte and €5,000 to her brother. But an appeals court overturned the decision earlier this month. Brigitte has now taken the fight to France's highest appeals court. In the court filing for their lawsuit against Owens, the couple have denied all charges, and stated that in official retraction demands, they have explicitly confirmed to Owens that Brigitte was a biological woman, that she and the President were not related, and that he has not participated in any government 'mind-control programmes'. In May, when a video of Brigitte seemingly shoving Macron aboard their plane during a trip to Vietnam went viral, the President addressed the online misinformation targeting them. 'I see many crazies spending a lot of time interpreting these videos,' Macron said, clarifying that he and his wife were just joking around. In the court document, the Macrons have said that they have been a subject of a 'campaign of global humiliation'. 'Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust,' the document read. 'Faced with this relentless and unjustified smear campaign, the Macrons are left with no choice but to seek relief through this Court to set the record straight, and prevent further harm,' it added. The Macrons have elaborated on their relationship as well. The document stated that Macron met Brigitte, who was a teacher and a mother of three at the time, as a high school student. They shared a passion for literature and theatre, and formed a 'deeper intellectual bond'. The document clarifies, 'At all times, the teacher-student relationship between Mrs. Macron and President Macron remained within the bounds of the law.' A rise in 'transvestigation' Brigitte is not alone in facing the slew of online hatred and disinformation campaigns around her gender. According to GLAAD, a non-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation, several public figures are targeted by hate-driven conspiracy theories that accuse them of being 'transgender', sparking pseudo-scientific 'investigations' into their appearance, conduct and past. This is referred to as 'transvestigation'. Former First Lady of the US Michelle Obama, pop star Taylor Swift, tennis player Serena Williams, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, among others, have also been targets of this malicious online campaign. These so-called transvestigators subscribe to beliefs rooted in transphobia, building on prejudices against the transgender community. They often use these allegations to discredit and ridicule women or men in positions of power, spark defamatory gossip about popular celebrities, and body-shame. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump calls Tulsi Gabbard ‘hottest in the room'. It has a Obama connection
US President Donald Trump called Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard 'the hottest' during a reception with Republican lawmakers at the White House on Tuesday. The remark came a day after Gabbard filed a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing former President Barack Obama and his top intelligence officials of a 'treasonous conspiracy' to undermine Trump's 2016 election victory. 'She's like, hotter than everybody. She's the hottest one in the room right now,' Trump said. Turning to House Speaker Mike Johnson, he added, 'Speaker, she's hotter than you right now, speaker. She's the hottest person in the room right now, speaker.' Trump also praised Gabbard's move to hold the Obama-era officials accountable, saying, '[Gabbard] found out that Barack Hussein Obama led a group of people and they cheated in the elections and they cheated without question. She has all the documents, she has everything that you need. You've found things that nobody thought we'd ever find. Very happy and very honoured to have you with us. We're very proud of you, Tulsi.' 🚨President Trump: 'Where's Tulsi? She's the hottest one on the room right now, because she found out with certainty…Barack Hussein Obama led a group of people, they cheated without question!' — Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) July 23, 2025 The report, which was recently made public, claims to uncover Obama-era communications that show attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2016 elections. It points that there was no tampering with vote totals, but implies that the lack of direct interference undermines broader findings of Russian involvement with conclusions that several bipartisan investigations have upheld. Trump praised Gabbard's revelations, stating, 'Tulsi, great job, and I know you have a lot more coming.' He also renewed his accusations against former President Obama, calling the effort to tie him to Russia a 'treasonous conspiracy' aimed at sabotaging his 2016 campaign. The report claims the Obama administration's intelligence figures manufactured the narrative that Trump had colluded with Russia, describing it as the 'groundwork' for a years-long coup attempt against the Trump presidency. However, between 2019 and 2023, four independent watchdog investigations confirmed that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election. Trump, throughout his presidency, dismissed those findings as a 'hoax.' Responding to the renewed claims, Obama's spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush issued a rare statement: 'Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.'
