A Woman Who Called Herself A "MAGA Junkie" Now Regrets Voting For Trump After Getting Fired During The Government Purge
'I cried,' Jennifer Piggott told the network. 'It's a really scary thing, and I was embarrassed.'
She said targeting working-class Americans for layoffs 'just doesn't make sense' to her.
'I expected more from President Donald Trump,' she told CNN.
Another worker at the same facility who did not want to be identified retired rather than face a layoff to keep her health insurance. Like Piggott, she voted for Trump.
And like Piggott, she also seems to have some regrets.
'I'm for balancing the budget, that type of thing, but not in this context,' she said. 'It's just not right.'
Piggott and many others who were initially fired are now on paid administrative leave as the layoffs are challenged in court.
She was asked if she had a message for Trump himself.
'I expected better from you,' she said. 'I really did. I expected that you would do what was right and cut waste and fraud and all of those things that you promised us before we elected you in office, but you're not doing that. You're creating a disaster, and I don't know what America is gonna look like if this continues.'
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Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas Republicans approve Trump-backed congressional map to protect party's majority
Texas legislators on Wednesday approved a new state congressional map drawn at the behest of President Donald Trump to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats in next year's midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked passage. Republican legislators, who have dominated Texas politics for over two decades, have undertaken a rare mid-decade redistricting to help Trump improve their party's odds of preserving its narrow U.S. House of Representatives majority amid political headwinds. Legislators approved the new map in an 88-52 vote along party lines; under the body's procedural rules, final passage of the bill will require another vote that was expected later Wednesday. The map, which will have to be reconciled with the state Senate's version, has triggered a national redistricting war, with governors of both parties threatening to initiate similar efforts in other states. Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom is advancing an effort to redraw his state's map to flip five Republican seats. Democratic-controlled California is the nation's most populous state while Republican-led Texas is the second most populous. The Texas map would shift conservative voters into districts currently held by Democrats and combine some districts that Democrats hold. Other Republican states -- including Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri -- are moving forward with or considering their own redistricting efforts, as are Democratic states such as Maryland and Illinois. Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years after the U.S. Census to account for population changes, and mid-decade redistricting has historically been unusual. Whenever the maps are drawn, in many states, lawmakers manipulate the lines to favor their party over the opposition, a practice known as gerrymandering. Texas Democrats on Wednesday raised multiple objections to and questions about the measure. Representative John Bucy, a Democrat, said from the House floor before passage of the bill that the new maps were clearly intended to dilute the voting power of Black, Latino and Asian voters, and that his Republican colleagues bending to the will of Trump was deeply worrying. "This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism in real time," Bucy said. "This is Donald Trump's map. It clearly and deliberately manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress because Trump himself knows the voters are rejecting his agenda." Republicans argued the map was created to improve political performance and would increase majority Hispanic districts. Bucy was among the Democrats who fled the state earlier this month to deny the Texas House a quorum. In response, Republicans undertook extraordinary measures to try to force the Democrats home, including filing lawsuits to remove them from office and issuing arrest warrants. The walkout ended when Democrats voluntarily returned on Monday, saying they had accomplished their goals of blocking a vote during a first special legislative session and persuading Democrats in other states to take retaliatory steps. Republican House leadership assigned state law enforcement officers to monitor Democrats to ensure they would not leave the state again. One Democratic representative, Nicole Collier, slept in the Capitol building on Monday night rather than accept a police escort. Republicans, including Trump, have openly acknowledged that the new map is aimed at increasing their political power. The party currently controls 25 of the state's 38 districts under a Republican-drawn map that was passed four years ago. Democrats and civil rights groups have said the new map dilutes the voting power of racial minorities in violation of federal law and have vowed to sue. Nationally, Republicans captured the 435-seat U.S. House in 2024 by only three seats. The party of the president historically loses House seats in the first midterm election, and Trump's approval ratings have sagged since he took office in January. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas GOP passes Texas redistricting map to boost Trump in 2026
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
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Fact Check: Monks thanked Trump for role in peace talks between Cambodia and Thailand. Here's context
Claim: A group of Cambodian monks thanked U.S. President Donald Trump in summer 2025 for ending a war between Cambodia and Thailand. Rating: What's True: Cambodian monks on a march for peace thanked Trump for his role pressuring the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand to agree to a ceasefire following an armed conflict between the two countries. What's False: While Trump contributed to the truce, he did not "end a war" between Cambodia and Thailand. The ceasefire occurred after 5 days of armed conflict at the border between the two countries, not a sustained war, and a ceasefire refers to a temporary pause in conflict, not a permanent end. In August 2025, a claim spread online that a group of Cambodian monks had thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for ending a war between their country and Thailand. Many of the posts included one or more images that appeared to show monks in orange robes holding signs with pictures of Trump's face. The rumor spread on X, Facebook and Instagram. One post spreading the claim, from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, received over 45,000 likes on X as of this writing. These posts need context. It is true that a group of Cambodian monks thanked Trump for his peacemaking efforts. However, they expressed gratitude to the U.S. president for his role in helping broker a temporary pause in fighting, also known as a ceasefire, between Cambodia and Thailand — not for permanently ending any war between the two countries. As a result of the July 28, 2025, ceasefire agreement, Cambodia and Thailand paused fighting in a five-day armed conflict at the neighboring countries' border. While the territorial dispute resulted in the deadliest escalation of violence between Cambodia and Thailand since 2011, neither side officially declared war — and journalists and diplomats, as of this writing, have largely not described it as such. Thus, we rate this claim a mixture of truth and falsehood. Monks thanked Trump On Aug. 10, 2025, a group of Cambodian Buddhist monks participated in a march for peace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, amid reports that the two neighboring countries accused the other of violating the ceasefire. Some of these monks carried signs with a picture of Trump that said: "Thank you! Mr. President." Images of the march and these signs were available through Getty Images, a reputable image bank. Several credible news outlets, including Reuters, also published various pictures and videos of the monks with their posters, further indicating that monks did, in fact, hold up portraits of Trump alongside a message of thanks. According to Reuters, the march "stopped briefly at the US embassy to show gratitude to Trump for initiating the ceasefire agreement." Why the monks thanked Trump On July 26, 2025, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he spoke to the leaders of both countries to "request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, which is currently raging." In his post, he added that he told both countries he would not negotiate any trade deal with either side until the fighting stopped. Two days later, Thailand and Cambodia came to a ceasefire agreement. At the time of Trump's threat, both countries faced a potential 36% U.S. tariff that would have begun on Aug. 1. Three days after the ceasefire announcement, the White House announced a reduction in the tariff rate for both countries to 19%. In a July 31 exclusive, Reuters reported that Trump's call "prompted Thailand to join ceasefire talks." Snopes cannot independently verify Reuters' report. However, according to multiple reputable outlets, after Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, and Cambodia's prime minister, Hun Manet, agreed on the ceasefire, both thanked Trump. (They also thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who hosted the peace talks, and China, whose diplomats participated in the meeting.) On Aug. 7, Hun Manet also posted a letter on Facebook nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize "for his crucial role in restoring peace and stability at the border between Cambodia and Thailand." Thus, reputable reports and statements from Cambodia and Thailand's leaders indicated Trump had a legitimate and significant role in the ceasefire agreement. With this context, it is clear that the monks' thank you signs referenced Trump's efforts to broker a ceasefire. Trump helped pause a conflict, not 'end a war' While Trump referred to the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand as a "war" in his Truth Social post, neither Cambodia nor Thailand have officially declared war against each other over the border conflict as of this writing, based on a search for news articles about a war declaration. The New York Times reported that Wechayachai warned on July 25 that the border dispute "could develop into war," suggesting that Thailand's leader, at least, did not consider the conflict a "war." On occasion, journalists and experts will refer to a conflict as a war even if the countries have not officially proclaimed it as such. In fact, the Merriam-Webster definition of war includes any "open and declared armed hostile conflict between states and nations," a criteria that Cambodia and Thailand's July 2025 border conflict technically met, despite the lack of official declaration. According to the United Nations, the conflict displaced more than 131,000 people in Thailand and over 4,000 in Cambodia. The Associated Press reported on July 26 that at least 32 people had died. Still, the AP, the United Nations and the U.S. State Department have not, as of this writing, referred to the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict as a war. The AP, long considered the standard for journalistic language, "considers the number of casualties, the intensity of fighting, the involvement of each party, and what each country was calling the conflict" to determine whether it describes a conflict as "war" to avoid diminishing the word's importance. As such, the claim that Cambodian monks thanked Trump for "ending a war," while somewhat accurate, may have misrepresented the scope or nature of the conflict as well as the subsequent peace talks. Al Jazeera Staff. "Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire: Will It Stop the Deadly Fighting?" Al Jazeera, 28 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Bartlett, Kate. "Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire. What's behind the Conflict?" NPR, 28 July 2025, "Cambodia-Thailand: Border Violence Turns More Violent and Deadly — Expert Comment." ACLED, 8 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Cheang, Sopheng, and Jintamas Saksornchai. "Tensions Linger despite Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia." AP News, 29 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "CNBC-TV18 on Instagram: 'over 2,500 Cambodian Buddhist Monks Marched, Carrying Banners and Flags to Promote Peace with Thailand. The Monks Also Thanked US President Trump for Supporting the Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire, Following the Worst Border Clashes between the Two Nations in over a Decade. #Cambodia #Thailand #BorderClashes #Trump #Cnbctv18digital.'" Instagram, 11 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "Definition of War." Merriam-Webster, Drury, Flora. "Why Are Thailand and Cambodia Fighting at the Border?" BBC, 24 July 2025, "Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates." The White House, 31 July 2025, "How the AP Decided to Refer to the Conflict between Israel and Iran as a War." AP News, 20 June 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Manet, Hun. "ស្របតាមសំណូមពររបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរទាំងក្នុងនិងក្រៅប្រទេស និងដើម្បីជាការថ្លែងអំណរគុណចំពោះឯកឧត្តមប្រធានាធិបតី Donald Trump..." 7 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Nachemson, Andrew. "Thailand, Cambodia Border Tensions Continue as Talks Conclude in Malaysia." Al Jazeera, 7 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Narin, Sun, et al. "Thailand Warns of War with Cambodia as Deadly Clashes Enter 2nd Day." The New York Times, 25 July 2025, "On Ceasefire Deal between Cambodia and Thailand." U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand, 8 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "Over 2,500 Cambodian Buddhist Monks Marched, Carrying Banners and Flags to Promote Peace with Thailand. The Monks Also Thanked US President Trump for Supporting the Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire, Following the Worst Border Clashes between the Two Nations in over a Decade." 11 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Reuters. "Cambodian Buddhist Monks March to Support Peace with Thailand | REUTERS." YouTube, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Reuters Staff. "Thailand and Cambodia Trade Accusations but Fragile Truce Holds." Reuters, 30 July 2025, Ry, Roun, and Reuters. "A Buddhist Monk Holds a Portrait of U.S. President Donald Trump during a March for Peace, in Phnom Penh." Reuters Connect, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. ---. "Buddhist Monks Hold Portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump during a March for Peace, in Phnom Penh." Reuters Connect, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. Saksornchai, Jintamas, and Sopheng Cheang. "Tens of Thousands Flee Thailand-Cambodia Fighting." AP News, 25 July 2025, "Secretary Rubio's Phone Call with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak - United States Department of State." United States Department of State, 27 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. TANG CHHIN Sothy , and AFP. "A Cambodian Buddhist Monk Holds a Placard Showing a Portrait of US..." Getty Images, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. TANG CHHIN SOTHY, and AFP. "A Cambodian Buddhist Monk Holds a Portrait of US President Donald..." Getty Images, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. ---. "Cambodian Buddhist Monks Take Part in a March for Peace in Phnom Penh..." Getty Images, 10 Aug. 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "The Ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand." U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand, 28 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "The Ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand - United States Department of State." United States Department of State, 28 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. The White House. "Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Continues Enforcement of Reciprocal Tariffs and Announces New Tariff Rates." The White House, 7 July 2025, Titthara, May, and Jonathan Head. "Cambodia and Thailand Agree to 'Immediate and Unconditional Ceasefire.'" BBC News, edited by Ayeshea Perera, 28 July 2025, Trump, Donald J. "Just Spoke to the Prime Minister of Cambodia Relative to Stopping the War with Thailand. I Am Calling the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Right Now, to Likewise Request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, Which Is Currently Raging. We Happen to Be, by Coincidence, Currently Dealing on Trade with Both Countries, but Do Not Want to Make Any Deal, with Either Country, If They Are Fighting — and I Have Told Them So! The Call with Thailand Is Being Made Momentarily. The Call with Cambodia Has Ended, but Expect to Call Back Regarding War Stoppage and Ceasefire Based on What Thailand Has to Say. I Am Trying to Simplify a Complex Situation! Many People Are Being Killed in This War, but It Very Much Reminds Me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, Which Was Brought to a Successful Halt." 26 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025. "UN Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Displace Thousands; Security Council Meets." UN News, 25 July 2025, Wongcha-um, Panu, and Poppy Mcpherson. "Exclusive: Trump's Call Broke Deadlock in Thailand-Cambodia Border Crisis." Reuters, 31 July 2025, Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Gov. Newsom reacts to Bed Bath & Beyond's refusal to open stores in California
LOS ANGELES – Bed Bath & Beyond announced that its comeback will not include locations in the largest state in the nation. Marcus Lemonis, Bed Bath & Beyond Executive Chairman said in a statement issued Aug. 20 that the company will not open a brick-and-mortar location in California. Lemonis said that the state, home to over 39 million people, will be served solely through delivery. "We're taking a stand because it's time for common sense," the statement reads. "Businesses deserve the chance to succeed. Employees deserve jobs that last. And customers deserve fair prices. California's system delivers the opposite." The company is attempting to make a comeback after filing for bankruptcy and closing all its stores in 2023. It reopened its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home near Nashville on Aug. 8. "After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed," California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office said in response to the announcement on X. "We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store." Lemonis replied to a post from the governor's personal X account proposing pro-business reforms for the state. "We will target opening 300 small to midsize neighborhood stores thru our Kirklands investment," Lemonsis wrote. "You are a smart man and I know the post below is out of frustration." California critic claims Bed Bath & Beyond decision 'isn't about politics' In the statement, Lemonis claimed that the decision "isn't about politics." However, the statement repeatedly attacked regulatory policies passed in the state. "California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America," Lemonis wrote. In a Feb. 5 appearance on Fox Business, Lemonis called a California law requiring corporations with revenues of more than $1 billion to report their greenhouse gas emissions a "crazy law." Lemonis also fought San Joaquin County when Camping World, for whom Lemonis serves as CEO, installed an oversized flag pole to fly an American flag without proper permits – county officials told the Los Angeles Times in 2024. "Camping World has a habit of installing flagpoles that are quite large in size, but they do it without pulling permits," San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti told the Times. "This is a self-inflicted issue, but as a business owner and someone who understands marketing, it's brilliant." The Times reported that the flag in front of the location in the Northern California town of French Camp had been taken down from the 130-foot flagpole during the permitting process for an undisclosed amount of time. Lemonis told Sacramento Fox affiliate FOX40 that he ordered the store to fly the flag again in August 2024 saying, "If we felt like we were putting people in danger or causing any issues with air traffic, which would absolutely not be okay, then I wouldn't do it."
