Latest news with #Trump-supporting
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Truth Social's Perplexity search comes with Trump-friendly media sources
President Trump's social media company Truth Social unveiled a new search tool powered by AI answer engine Perplexity on Wednesday — but Truth Social users who run Perplexity searches may find their results limited to a narrow set of typically Trump-supporting media outlets. Why it matters: Increasingly, where you ask online matters as much as what you ask. Catch up quick: Trump Media & Technology Group on Wednesday said it was launching a public beta test of a search engine, Truth Search AI, powered by Perplexity. Perplexity has been seen as a nascent Google-killer and is often touted by investors as a possible acquisition target for the likes of Apple. How it works: Axios asked seven questions on both a logged-in Truth Social account and the free, logged-out Perplexity website … What happened on January 6, 2021? Why was Donald Trump impeached? What crimes was President Trump convicted of? Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election? What is Hunter Biden's laptop a reference to? Was Hillary Clinton ever charged with a crime? Is the new "Naked Gun" movie good? Between the lines: In most cases, the responses were generally similar — but the sources linked to the answers were not. In all seven responses on Truth Social, either was the most common, or the only, listed source of information. Other sources were Washington Times or Epoch Times. In contrast, answers via the public version of Perplexity returned a wider variety of sources, including Wikipedia, Reddit, YouTube, NPR, Esquire and Politico. Although the questions were matched and asked at roughly the same time, there was no source overlap. What they're saying: A Perplexity spokesperson tells Axios that Truth Social is a customer of Perplexity's API, which means it — like tens of thousands of other developers — is building tools to its own specifications, and with its own restrictions. Any customization, like limiting the sources for its answers, would happen entirely on the Truth Social side. While it's standard practice for platforms to put their own layers of rules and information on top of tools, search tools usually cast a broader net. Truth Social did not mention any restrictions in its announcement, although it did say it plans to "refine and expand our search function based on user feedback." Perplexity's Sonar API specifically includes the ability for users to customize sources, which the company noted in January was a top user request. The bottom line: When you ask a search tool a question, particularly in the age of AI, it's best to know exactly where your information is coming from, and whether there are any limits on what the tool will tell you. Expect more of this as governments and businesses increasingly put their thumbs on the AI scale to serve their interests.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Justice Department targets 35 ‘sanctuary' jurisdictions with lawsuits and funding threats
The US Justice Department released a new list of 35 "sanctuary jurisdictions" on Tuesday, targeting states and cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The list names 12 states, including California, New York, and Illinois, plus Washington D.C., 4 counties, and 19 cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston . This replaces a much larger list from May that included over 500 locations but was pulled after just three days due to errors and protests from mislabeled areas. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned these policies "impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk," vowing to continue lawsuits against them. The move follows President Trump's April executive order cracking down on resistance to deportation efforts. Sanctuary jurisdictions earn the label by restricting help to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), like refusing jail detainer requests, limiting information sharing about detainees' immigration status, or using local funds to aid immigrants. For example, Philadelphia and Montgomery County only honor ICE detainers with a judge's warrant, arguing holding people longer illegally risks lawsuits . The DOJ's list targets nine specific "defiance" factors, including training staff to avoid ICE cooperation and creating offices to help immigrants evade federal agents. Bondi's approach is more precise than Homeland Security's earlier botched list, which even included Trump-supporting rural counties that call themselves 'non-sanctuaries'. Despite the threats, the DOJ faces legal roadblocks. A federal judge in Illinois recently tossed a lawsuit against Chicago, ruling that the 10th Amendment lets cities refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. "If the state cannot control whether their employees share information, they cannot affirmatively opt out," wrote Judge Lindsay Jenkins, a Biden appointee . The administration has sued New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, Rochester, and four New Jersey cities since April. Meanwhile, some areas like Louisville and North Carolina have reversed sanctuary policies, while Florida and Texas now push local agencies to assist ICE. Local leaders pushed back strongly. Philadelphia officials insist they've received "no formal notification" of violations and are "confident" they follow federal law . Mayor Cherelle Parker avoids the term "sanctuary," calling it a 'welcoming city', a shift from her predecessor's confrontational style. Three Pennsylvania counties near Philly celebrated their removal from the list, with Chester County's Republican commissioner calling it proof they 'respect the rule of law". With funding cuts threatened but court challenges mounting, the battle pits federal deportation goals against local claims of safety and constitutional rights.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Clip of glam Sydney Sweeney expertly shooting targets goes viral as her ‘secret MAGA life' emerges after anti-woke ad
A CLIP of Sydney Sweeney blasting targets at a shooting range has gone viral - as she's adopted by the MAGA movement and praised by Trump. The video resurfaced after President Trump heaped praise on the actress's "anti-woke" American Eagle jeans advert and she was revealed to be a registered Republican. Advertisement 9 A clip of Sydney Sweeney practicing at a firing range has resurfaced in light of the revelation of her Republican leanings Credit: instagram/@sydney_sweeney/ 9 Sydney had never revealed how she voted, though people are now seeing clues from over the years Credit: Instagram 9 Sydney Sweeney is the star of American Eagle's latest, controversial ad campaign Credit: American Eagle The clip from 2019 shows a younger Sydney expertly burying rounds into a series of human-shaped dummies at the firing range. She appears well-practiced, skilfully banging two bullets into each in quick succession without so much as a flinch. At the end, she flashes a smile to the camera and holsters the weapon. Since Sydney starred in the controversial American Eagle jeans ad, clues that point to her living a secret MAGA life have emerged. Advertisement The 27-year-old grew up in a small, Catholic, Trump-supporting town in Washington with her father, mother and younger brother Trent - and has previously said she had a "religious" upbringing. After accepting her breakout Euphoria role, Sydney revealed she had been nervous about how her community would react. She told Stylecaster in 2021: "What's crazy - and this is going to sound really bad- is when I first got sent the audition, I was too nervous to go do it. "I grew up in a smaller town with my family, who are a little more conservative, and I was like: 'They're going to kill me if I do something like this.'" Advertisement A surprise party she threw for her mom's 60th birthday drew considerable attention when pics were shared of the guests wearing MAGA-style hats and "Blue Lives Matter" shirts. And now, she has starred in the American Eagle ad which has seriously riled voices on the left, who claim it promotes a racial ideal, but delighted the right who hail it as the "end of woke advertising". Trump pours praise on Sydney Sweedy amid 'good jeans' American Eagle ad storm as her voter registration revealed The ad makes a play on the words "jeans" and "genes" - and the main tagline is "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans". It's been claimed that the promotion of Sydney's blonde hair and blue eye traits suggests they are superior to alternative genes. Advertisement Sydney hasn't publicly commented on the furore stirred up by the ad, but made her first appearance at a screening of her upcoming film "Americana" on Monday. She was heckled by a fan who shouted: "Stop the ad, that is being racist," according to TMZ. 9 Sydney flashes a smile after smashing it at the firing range Credit: instagram/@sydney_sweeney/ 9 Sydney sweeney caused controversy by posting Maga-themed pics from from her mom's 60th Credit: Instagram Advertisement 9 Sydney Sweeney is most famous for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus Credit: Instagram However, she got into her vehicle without responding. American Eagle defended its advertisement, but removed the video from its social media accounts. It then emerged over the weekend that the actress has been a registered Republican since June 2024 - and she soon received praise right from the top. Advertisement President Trump was delighted when a reporter told him about Sydney's political leanings, and promptly declared that he "loves" her "fantastic" ad. He said on Sunday night: "That's one I wouldn't have known but I'm glad you told me that. 9 Trump's Truth Social post on Monday, where he doubled down on his support for Sydney Sweeney Credit: X 9 Sydney Sweeney was revealed to be a registered Republican since June 2024 Credit: Getty Advertisement 9 The ad's tagline 'Sydney Sweeney had great jeans' ignited major controversy Credit: American Eagle 'If Sydney Sweeny is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.' Trump then doubled down on his enthusiastic support and cemented the American Eagle ad as a bastion of the "anti-woke" agenda. He declared in a Monday morning Truth Social post that the campaign is "the HOTTEST" and went on to slam "woke" companies like "stupid" Jaguar and Bud Light for their own advertising. Advertisement Jaguar recently put out an ad with models dressed in brightly-coloured, flamboyant clothing - but no cars or the brand's logo. Trump insisted the British manufacturer, whose CEO resigned on last week, should have learned from Bug Light - which suffered a boycott and major losses after an advert featuring a transgender influencer. The President's conclusion: "Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be."
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Clip of glam Sydney Sweeney expertly shooting targets goes viral as her ‘secret MAGA life' emerges after anti-woke ad
A CLIP of Sydney Sweeney blasting targets at a shooting range has gone viral - as she's adopted by the MAGA movement and praised by Trump. The video resurfaced after President Trump heaped praise on the actress's "anti-woke" American Eagle jeans advert and she was revealed to be a registered Republican. 9 A clip of Sydney Sweeney practicing at a firing range has resurfaced in light of the revelation of her Republican leanings Credit: instagram/@sydney_sweeney/ 9 Sydney had never revealed how she voted, though people are now seeing clues from over the years Credit: Instagram 9 Sydney Sweeney is the star of American Eagle's latest, controversial ad campaign Credit: American Eagle The clip from 2019 shows a younger Sydney expertly burying rounds into a series of human-shaped dummies at the firing range. She appears well-practiced, skilfully banging two bullets into each in quick succession without so much as a flinch. At the end, she flashes a smile to the camera and holsters the weapon. Since Sydney starred in the controversial American Eagle jeans ad, clues that point to her living a secret MAGA life have emerged. The 27-year-old grew up in a small, Catholic, Trump-supporting town in Washington with her father, mother and younger brother Trent - and has previously said she had a "religious" upbringing. After accepting her breakout Euphoria role, Sydney revealed she had been nervous about how her community would react. She told Stylecaster in 2021: "What's crazy - and this is going to sound really bad- is when I first got sent the audition, I was too nervous to go do it. "I grew up in a smaller town with my family, who are a little more conservative, and I was like: 'They're going to kill me if I do something like this.'" A surprise party she threw for her mom's 60th birthday drew considerable attention when pics were shared of the guests wearing MAGA-style hats and "Blue Lives Matter" shirts. And now, she has starred in the American Eagle ad which has seriously riled voices on the left, who claim it promotes a racial ideal, but delighted the right who hail it as the "end of woke advertising". Trump pours praise on Sydney Sweedy amid 'good jeans' American Eagle ad storm as her voter registration revealed The ad makes a play on the words "jeans" and "genes" - and the main tagline is "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans". It's been claimed that the promotion of Sydney's blonde hair and blue eye traits suggests they are superior to alternative genes. Sydney hasn't publicly commented on the furore stirred up by the ad, but made her first appearance at a screening of her upcoming film "Americana" on Monday. She was heckled by a fan who shouted: "Stop the ad, that is being racist," according to TMZ. 9 Sydney flashes a smile after smashing it at the firing range Credit: instagram/@sydney_sweeney/ 9 Sydney sweeney caused controversy by posting Maga-themed pics from from her mom's 60th Credit: Instagram 9 Sydney Sweeney is most famous for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus Credit: Instagram However, she got into her vehicle without responding. American Eagle defended its advertisement, but removed the video from its social media accounts. It then emerged over the weekend that the actress has been a registered Republican since June 2024 - and she soon received praise right from the top. President Trump was delighted when a reporter told him about Sydney's political leanings, and promptly declared that he "loves" her "fantastic" ad. He said on Sunday night: "That's one I wouldn't have known but I'm glad you told me that. 9 Trump's Truth Social post on Monday, where he doubled down on his support for Sydney Sweeney Credit: X 9 Sydney Sweeney was revealed to be a registered Republican since June 2024 Credit: Getty 9 The ad's tagline 'Sydney Sweeney had great jeans' ignited major controversy Credit: American Eagle 'If Sydney Sweeny is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.' Trump then doubled down on his enthusiastic support and cemented the American Eagle ad as a bastion of the "anti-woke" agenda. He declared in a Monday morning Truth Social post that the campaign is "the HOTTEST" and went on to slam "woke" companies like "stupid" Jaguar and Bud Light for their own advertising. Jaguar recently put out an ad with models dressed in brightly-coloured, flamboyant clothing - but no cars or the brand's logo. Trump insisted the British manufacturer, whose CEO resigned on last week, should have learned from Bug Light - which suffered a boycott and major losses after an advert featuring a transgender influencer. The President's conclusion: "Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be."
The Hill
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Conservatives divided on value of Ghislaine Maxwell testimony
Republicans are divided on the value of Ghislaine Maxwell as she takes center stage in the Jeffrey Epstein files saga. Some view the convicted sex trafficker as the key to unlocking additional information about the Epstein enigma — such as revealing high-powered abusers of young women who have not faced legal consequences for their crimes, or secret arrangements Epstein had that enabled his abuse. But others warn that Maxwell, who was complicit in the abuse and previously faced perjury charges (on which she was not convicted), is not a reliable witness and deserves no special treatment. Hanging over Maxwell's discussion with the Department of Justice and the House Oversight Committee's subpoena of Maxwell is her desire for a pardon or commutation. President Trump hasn't ruled out a pardon for Maxwell, but hasn't indicated he is considering one, either. Trump said Monday that 'I'm allowed to give her' a pardon, but 'nobody's approached me.' Some conservatives are slowly cracking the door to that possibility. Newsmax host Greg Kelly suggested last week that Maxwell 'just might be a victim.' 'Maybe she never deserved to be in there [prison] in the first place …. Prosecutors prosecuted President Trump over nothing. I don't know, but I'm skeptical of everything and everybody these days,' Kelly said. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has emerged as a top GOP Trump antagonist in Congress and is pushing to force a vote on a bipartisan measure to direct the DOJ to release more Epstein material, expressed openness to a Maxwell pardon or commutation on NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday. 'That would be up to the president. But if she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there. And whatever they need to do to compel that testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of,' Massie said. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), on the other hand, has emerged as one of the most prominent figure urging caution when considering those kinds of sweeteners for Maxwell testimony. 'If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence at least,' Johnson said Sunday, also on 'Meet the Press.' 'It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing … So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would,' Johnson said. Trump-supporting commentator Jack Posobiec has also raised skepticism about Maxwell, saying her motive is very clear in wanting to reduce her sentence or get a full pardon. Maxell, he said, 'needs to provide receipts and names' 'If Ghislane Maxwell wants anything from the Department of Justice, there need to be names, there needs to be receipts … Who did what, where did it happen and you also have to provide information that is able to back up the credibility of the accusation,' Posobiec said last week. Maxwell has already sat for a two-day interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and was reportedly granted limited immunity before doing so. Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, said in a statement to NewsNation on Friday that it was a 'thorough, comprehensive interview.' 'No person and no topic were off-limits. We are very grateful. The truth will come out,' Markus said. Blanche said the department would share more information 'at the appropriate time.' Maxwell on Monday formally appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of overturning her conviction. The Justice Department has opposed her appeal. Often left out of the flurry of Epstein drama over the last few weeks are the effects of the developments on Epstein's victims. Independent journalist Tara Palmeri, who has reported extensively on the Epstein case over the years, reported that survivors of the abuse from Epstein and Maxwell feel betrayed by the Justice Department and others going to her. 'It's very backhanded. Why don't they go to the survivors? Why is she being called the Rosetta Stone? The victims know everything too. They were eyewitnesses,' Marijke Chartouni, one of Epstein's survivors,said in Palmeri's 'The Red Letter.' Further reading: Todd Blanche takes the helm of Ghislaine Maxwell talks, from my colleagues Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee in their newsletter, The Gavel. Welcome to The Movement, a weekly newsletter looking at the influences and debates on the right in Washington. I'm Emily Brooks, House leadership reporter at The Hill. Tell me what's on your radar: ebrooks@ Not already on the list? Subscribe here A wave of conservative scrutiny is crashing on a key FDA official: Vinay Prasad, the FDA's chief medical and scientific officer and the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. It started with conservative provocateur Laura Loomer, who has spent months digging up dirt on Trump administration appointees to raise alarm about what she calls a 'vetting crisis' that is putting Trump antagonists in positions of power. Prasad, Loomer said, is a 'progressive leftist saboteur undermining President Trump's FDA' — highlighting his self-described support for progressive Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Wall Street Journal editorial board member Allysia Finley expanded on that criticism in an opinion piece on Monday that dubbed Prasad a ' Bernie Sanders Acolyte in MAHA Drag.' She criticized the FDA for in recent weeks for rejecting disease therapies, and noted Prasad's previous stated skepticism of the 'Right to Try' law — which Trump signed in his first term — that is intended to allow terminally ill patients wider access to drugs not yet approved by the FDA. The irony is that Prasad has also gotten praise from the 'Make America Healthy Again' crowd over his stances and policies on COVID vaccines. Robert Goldberg, vice president of The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, noted that phenomenon while slamming Prasad in RealClear Health. 'A few vaccine-hesitant soundbites and critiques of lockdowns, and suddenly he's portrayed as a maverick ally of the populist right. But don't be fooled,' Goldberg wrote. Some on the right, though, are suspicious of ulterior motives behind the wave of criticism. Daily Caller reporter Emily Kopp noted the criticism of Prasad coincides with the FDA asking drugmaker Sarepta Therapeutics to stop distribution of its therapy for a muscle-wasting disease after three patients on its therapy or a similar one died. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, for his part, defended Prasad when asked about Loomer's attacks in a Politico's podcast The Conversation with Dasha Burns that premiered Sunday. 'Look, there's not a political bone to his body,' Makary said. 'He's an impeccable scientist. I think one of the greatest scientific minds of our generation.' TARIFF TOLD-YOU-SOS Defenders of President Trump's tariff strategy are doing a big round of I-told-you-so on the heels of a tariff agreement with the European Union announced over the weekend. The deal came ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for the president's tariff increases to kick in unless countries strike a deal with the U.S. — tariffs that rocked financial markets after 'Liberation Day' in April, but have been met by a much calmer Wall Street ahead of this deadline, CNBC reports. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posted on X on Sunday: 'Where are the 'experts' now?' Circulating rapidly in conservative circles is a clip from liberal commentator Bill Maher saying 'I would have thought — and I gotta own it — that these tariffs were going to f—ing sink this economy by this time — and they didn't.' For Republicans, the tariff deal is feeding into their narrative of Trump being underestimated and beating the odds. 'The experts mocked him. The media laughed. Democrats panicked. But President Trump reshaped global trade, and WON for America,' Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) posted on X. The EU-US deal includes a 15 percent tariff on European exports including autos; an agreement for the EU to buy $750 billion worth of American energy; and no EU tariffs on certain American exports including aircraft and some generic drugs, per the New York Times. ON MY CALENDAR Wednesday, July 30: Breitbart News hosts a discussion with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, co-sponsored by the Alfa Institute and CGCN, at 9:30am. Wednesday, July 30: The Cato Institute hosts discussion on the impact of tariffs on wine and whiskey — followed by a wine and whiskey tasting — featuring Scott Lincicome, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) at 4 p.m. Monday, August 25 to Thursday, August 28: State Policy Network Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La. THREE MORE THINGS Tiffany Justice is the new national grassroots leader at Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the conservative think tank, the group is announcing today. She was a co-founder at Moms for Liberty and as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, launched the group's Parental Rights Initiative and founded the Parental Rights Network. Kevin Roberts, president of Heritage Action and the Heritage Foundation, called Justice a 'force or nature' in the announcement; Justice said she aims to 'unite Americans around commonsense, conservative solutions that strengthen families, protect freedoms, and deliver real results.' 2028 watch: Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to endorse Vice President JD Vance in a potential 2028 run — a notable statement given President Trump once listed both Rubio and Vance as people who could lead the MAGA movement after he leaves office. In an interview on Fox News's 'My View with Lara Trump,' Rubio said: 'I think JD Vance would be a great nominee … if he decides he wants to do that.' Israel-Gaza divide: There's a fissure emerging among some of the loudest personalities in the House GOP over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — or even recognizing that there is one. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) notably decried the situation on X on Monday: 'I can unequivocally say that what happened to innocent people in Israel on Oct 7th was horrific. Just as I can unequivocally say that what has been happening to innocent people and children in Gaza is horrific. This war and humanitarian crisis must end!' But Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), on the other hand, claimed in a post on X on Sunday: 'There is no starvation. Everything about the 'Palestinian' cause is a lie.' WHAT I'M READING
