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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
I talked to two people Russia recruited to help Trump. It's no hoax.
Russia's role in the 2016 presidential campaign has been resuscitated by President Donald Trump in a desperate effort of deflection. We here in Palm Beach County, Florida, have firsthand information that what President Donald Trump calls the 'Russia, Russia, Russia hoax' was no hoax at all. Russia's role in the 2016 presidential campaign has been resuscitated by Trump in a desperate effort of deflection, as his own supporters call for transparency in the mountain of crimes against teenage girls still hidden in the Jeffrey Epstein files. So, lately, Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been bolstering the specious claim that Russian interference in the election of Trump in 2016 was mostly a fantasy cooked up by his political opponents in the United States. Gabbard blames the Obama administration for changing the intelligence assessment to focus on, as she put it, 'not if but how Moscow attempted to influence the outcome of the U.S. election.' This would be a good time to point out to anybody who imagines Gabbard is being truthful that there is no 'if' in Russia's attempt to support Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. There is only a 'how' – and to acknowledge that isn't treasonous. It's historically undeniable. Here's one way Russia got involved If you don't believe me, consider this: We here in Palm Beach County got a firsthand look at how Russian operatives used unwitting locals in an attempt to sway voters toward Trump. In the summer of 2016, Anne Marie Thomas, a choir singer in Jupiter, and Harry Miller, a retiree from Leisureville in Boynton Beach, were recruited over the telephone to be key players in a political rally held at CityPlace in West Palm Beach a few months before the election. These two politically active Trump supporters thought they were talking to college students from Texas who were organizing campaign events in Florida on that day. But according to a subsequent FBI investigation, the alleged U.S. college students were really operatives working out of a troll farm in Russia, organizing pro-Trump rallies in America. Opinion: Gabbard yells 'Russia hoax' to distract MAGA from Epstein for Trump. It won't last. The Russians used a Facebook group called 'Being Patriotic' and a Twitter account called 'March for Trump' to organize pro-Trump flash-mob rallies in about 20 Florida cities, the FBI later found. "On August, 20, we want to gather patriots on the streets of Floridian towns and cities and march to unite America and support Donald Trump!" the Russian trolls posted on another social media site called "Florida Goes Trump.' "Our flash mob will occur in several places at the same time." Russian operatives paid these Florida residents hundreds The Russian operatives sent Thomas a script and about $500 to $600, she later told me, to come up with a Hillary Clinton mask and a costume for herself. Miller was likewise paid hundreds of dollars by the Russians, which he used to buy materials from Lowe'sto build a cage in the back of his pickup, which would hold the imprisoned 'Hillary' in the Russian-provided script. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Thomas and Miller were eager stooges for this political pageant. 'It was fun,' Miller later told me. And it didn't bother Miller, he said, that he was duped by Russians meddling in the U.S. election. 'How would I know the guy was Russian?' he told me. 'He had an accent, but I thought he was one of those Muslims, and I figured, he was a new immigrant and I'd work with him because he wants to be involved.' Opinion: You're paying attention to the wrong conspiracy ‒ A message from the White House Thomas recruited her boyfriend to play Bill Clinton in their script, and came up with some of her own script enhancements in addition to the lines provided by the Russians. 'I wore a shirt that had prison number 09112012 on it,' Thomas told me about the date when a terrorist attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. 'That was my idea.' Russian election interference: There is no 'if,' only 'how' The script had Thomas (Hillary) with a skillet in her purse, which she was supposed to use to clobber her boyfriend, dressed in a Bill Clinton mask, as he was trying to grope young women passing by. 'In the script I was supposed to say, 'Where are my emails?' and they gave me some jokes,' Thomas said. Their little sidewalk pageant at CityPlace culminated in trying to get the crowd to chant 'Lock her up!' and having Thomas being placed in Miller's makeshift jail cell on his pickup. The Russians that masterminded this CityPlace event asked for pictures and videos. I'm guessing they wanted a keepsake for their handiwork, and probably a chance to show off their election-meddling skills to their coworkers over celebratory shots of vodka. This event came to light in 2018 when special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies with interfering in the 2016 presidential elections through fake social media accounts that helped Trump. Thomas and Miller were interviewed for hours by FBI agents, who found them to be unaware of their puppet masters. "They're trying to connect Trump to Russia," Miller told me. "But I was the guy dealing with the Russians, not Trump." So don't let Trump and Gabbard – who has been called 'our girlfriend Tulsi' on Russian state TV – get away with rewriting history to whitewash Moscow's attempts to subvert our elections. There is no 'Russia, Russia, Russia hoax." Russian campaign interference to help Trump happened right here in Palm Beach County. We have the receipts. There is no 'if.' Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, where this column originally published. He can be reached at FCerabino@ You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
SuViche Doral is a vibrant food destination where east meets west
In the heart of CityPlace Doral, there's a vibrant and fun food destination that represents a fusion of where East meets West in the most delicious way possible. SuViche Doral, one of four locations for this growing local brand, represents more than just a restaurant — it's a celebration that tells the story of Peru's rich culinary heritage. The name itself tells the tale. According to Chef Alvaro Machado, "SuViche means 'sushi and ceviche,'" revealing the little secret behind the restaurant's unique concept that also features hot dishes alongside their signature offerings. The atmosphere at SuViche is pure fun, featuring a colorful, playful design that doesn't take itself too seriously. The restaurant's swing chairs allow diners to literally swing while they eat, creating an interactive dining experience that sets it apart from traditional restaurants. The design reminds visitors of the colors of Peru, especially with decorative ropes that create an authentic Peruvian restaurant atmosphere. Machado notes that the restaurant serves a perfect blend of the surrounding business community and local families, reflecting Doral's strong family-oriented community. Customer Fernando Gonzalez praised the experience, saying the food is great, the service is awesome, and the waitstaff is super helpful in explaining the menu completely. SuViche's new happy hour, cleverly called "Saucy Hour," offers 50% off select drinks and features a new menu of crave-worthy bites. The crispy wonton tacos, which include spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and pork belly, are priced at $12 and have become a customer favorite for their perfect texture, seasoning, and fresh fish. Brunch is also a highlight at SuViche, featuring bottomless mimosas priced at $18 per person. The brunch menu showcases the restaurant's creative fusion approach with several standout dishes: Chicken and Camote Waffles: Sweet and savory combination featuring panko-fried all-natural chicken served with housemade sweet potato waffle mix and maple syrup Sweet and savory combination featuring panko-fried all-natural chicken served with housemade sweet potato waffle mix and maple syrup Lomo Saltado A Lo Pobre: A Peruvian classic featuring juicy tenderloin, fried eggs, rustic potatoes, red onions, lomo sauce, and sweet plantains A Peruvian classic featuring juicy tenderloin, fried eggs, rustic potatoes, red onions, lomo sauce, and sweet plantains Pork Belly Chaufa: A perfect blend of fried rice, plantains, and a crunchy fried egg that creates an amazing textural contrast Location and Hours SuViche Doral features an adorable outdoor space and is open seven days a week. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays, with an extended happy hour on weekends from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and during weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant offers a fantastic taste of international fusion cuisine right in the heart of Doral's dining scene. For more information, visit its page on
Toronto Star
16-06-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
This 190-year-old Toronto shipwreck was once a ‘very exciting discovery.' A decade later, it's rotting and forgotten
After more than a century buried under Toronto's streets, the CityPlace schooner set sail again. Only this time, the vessel's sail was long gone. Instead, it was lifted by a 125-tonne mobile crane and transported delicately on a flatbed truck. The boat — likely used to transport grain across the Great Lakes in the mid-1800s — had been sunk on purpose near the foot of Bathurst Street as Toronto expanded its shoreline. The find, during condo construction in 2015, was hailed as a 'very exciting discovery.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beloved Restaurant Chain Planta Closes First Location
Whenever a local restaurant files for bankruptcy, it always brings some sorrow, because nobody wants their business to end in bankruptcy. But, sometimes the only way to move forward is to cut one's losses and move on. Restaurants filing for bankruptcy have become very common the past few years, and that trend is continuing with one beloved restaurant chain. A chain of vegan restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware earlier this month, and now, that chain has closed its first location. Planta, founded in 2016, is a plant-based restaurant chain. The company has locations across the United States and in Canada, including restaurants in New York, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Washington, D.C. and Toronto. Now, Planta has closed the first of its locations following filing for bankruptcy. The restaurant's location in West Palm Beach, FL, at CityPlace officially shut its doors on May 20. Assistant manager Jessie Gregory, who worked at the West Palm Beach location for more than two years, told the Palm Beach Post that workers were informed on May 20 that they were closing and that it would be their final shift. Gregory also told the publication that "they had received no warning and despite the bankruptcy filing reported May 12, the buzz at the CityPlace restaurant was that they'd be 'staying open.'" Gregory says the restaurant employed around 30 people and that a few workers were offered the chance to transfer to the Fort Lauderdale, FL, location, although the company didn't make it clear how much work the employees could get at that location. Gregory also said that working at a vegan restaurant meant a lot to her, because she is vegan, so the restaurant's mission was congruent with Gregory's lifestyle. "I put a lot of energy into being a good employee and helped them whenever they needed it," she told the Palm Beach Restaurant Chain Planta Closes First Location first appeared on Men's Journal on May 24, 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Bankrupt restaurant chain starts shuttering locations
Bankruptcies and store closings seem to be all over the news this year - a trend that was happening even before President Donald Trump announced his tariffs plan on April 2. The looming impact of tariffs has spooked many businesses. Unfortunately, their fears are rational. With the pressure of new levies on both large and small businesses, it's almost certain that we will see many forced to either downsize or throw in the towel this year. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While some stores are such staples that it's hard to imagine them closing, for some it's happening anyway. Joann, a fabric and craft store that customers have loved since its opening in 1943, was forced to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice in the last year and is in the process of closing all its stores, a process that should be completed by May 31, 2025. Related: Beloved retailer in Chapter 11 bankruptcy angers customers Another company that declared Chapter 11 this year is 23&Me, which announced the news in mid-March. The DNA company once had a valuation of $6 billion, which is a far cry from the $256m Regeneron Pharmaceuticals paid for it earlier this week. While a Chapter 11 bankruptcy doesn't always mean the end for a company, it does mean it needs a way to restructure its debt. In some cases the companies sells its assets to do this, as 23&Me did. In others, the best way to handle it is to simply close all the locations if the company is a chain. And that's exactly what one casual restaurant is doing now, after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. Image source: Ebener/picture alliance via Getty Images National vegan restaurant chain Planta has closed the first of its locations only a few weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The first location to close is the West Palm Beach location at CityPlace, which officially shuttered on May 20. "Assistant manager Jessie Gregory, who had worked at the West Palm Beach location for over two years, said they were informed on Tuesday, May 20 that they were closing and that it would be her and her coworkers' final shift," per a report in The Palm Beach Post. "Gregory said they had received no warning and despite the bankruptcy filing reported May 12, the buzz at the CityPlace restaurant was that they'd be 'staying open,' she said." Planta has also closed its South Beach location and the Williamsburg location in Brooklyn, New York, according to the website. Related: Historic college suffers complete financial collapse after bankruptcy The plant-based chain previously operated in 18 locations in seven states, including Florida, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Los Angeles, and Toronto. Planta has not announced what will happen to the locations that are still operating. Planta, which is owned by Miami Beach-based CHG US Holdings, cited its reason for the bankruptcy as "inflationary pressures on input costs and consumer pullback as driving factors behind its bankruptcy," according to a court filing. "The debtor's largest unsecured creditors include landlord 8461 Melrose Avenue, owed over $613,000; law firm Saul Ewing Arstein & Lehr LLP, owed over $316,000; landlord 13 W 27 Leasehold LLC, owed over $203,000; landlord Friedman Properties, owed over $180,000; and Baldor Specialty Foods, owed over $176,000," reports TheStreet's Kirk O'Neil. Related: Home Depot local rival closing permanently after 120 years The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
