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Whitehouse

All articles tagged with #whitehouse

politics9 days ago•4 min saved

Whistleblower accuses Kennedy Center of rushed renovations to appease Trump

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse released a whistleblower letter alleging the Kennedy Center bypassed contracting rules and rushed cosmetic renovations to please Donald Trump, with no-bid deals and expensive, supposedly unnecessary work (painting columns white, tile removal) that critics say wasted taxpayer money; costs cited include a $4.4 million deal awarded after work began and about $1.5 million in repairs, plus an $8 million contract for an experienced contractor. A May court ruling later required Trump’s name to come off the building, underscoring Congress’s authority over the center. The episode is framed as part of broader Trump reshaping of Washington, including personnel changes at the Kennedy Center board.

via Al Jazeera|

#governmentcontracting #kennedycenter #politics

politics9 days ago•3 min saved

Whistleblowers accuse Kennedy Center of rushed renovations for Trump's World Cup events

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says whistleblowers allege the Kennedy Center rushed renovations and bent contracting rules to prepare for events including a Trump-hosted FIFA ceremony, citing rusting reflecting pool, a controversial $8m no-bid flooring contract, and a torn bathroom floor; Whitehouse has asked for documents by July 23; the Center denies bypassing rules and notes ongoing oversight, after previously securing $257 million for renovations.

via The Guardian|

#kennedy-center #no-bid-contracts #politics

politics27 days ago•10 min saved

Crypto policy chief courts compromise on bill that could curb Trump-linked ventures

White House crypto policy lead Patrick Witt is negotiating a bipartisan version of the Clarity Act, aiming to deliver regulatory clarity for digital assets while Democrats push ethics provisions that could restrict Trump’s own crypto ventures, forcing Witt to balance Trump interests with Senate demands ahead of an August deadline.

via Politico|

#congress #crypto #ethics

politics28 days ago•1 min saved

Hubris and chaos allegedly derailed Trump’s second term, new book argues

A new summer nonfiction release, Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, argues that Trump’s hubris, improvisation, and reliance on a tight inner circle undermined his second presidency, detailing episodes such as Netanyahu steering him toward war, mishandling the Epstein files, Trump’s mockery of leaders, and his personal direction of attacks on enemies with Roger Stone cited as a key confidant.

via Semafor|

#haberman #politics #regime-change

crime28 days ago•5 min saved

Two More Arrests in Multistate Plot to Attack White House UFC Event

The FBI arrested William Lee Spartacus Falkner (Washington) and Jordan W. Rincker (Missouri) as part of a multi-state probe into a planned attack on the White House UFC Freedom 250 event on June 14, charging them with conspiracy to murder; they appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma and Kansas City, respectively. The investigation uncovered drone-enabled attack plans, weapon transfers, and encrypted communications among co-conspirators, with earlier arrests of others and a broad effort by federal, state, and local partners to disrupt the plot. Conspiracy to murder carries up to life in prison, and prosecutors say they will continue pursuing those involved.

via Department of Justice (.gov)|

#conspiracytomurder #crime #drones

sports1 month ago•1 min saved

Paramount+ hits 17 million for UFC Freedom 250, far below billion-forecast hype

Paramount+ reported 17 million total viewers for UFC Freedom 250 (US and Latin America) from the White House, a seven-fight card where all bouts ended in KO/TKO and the main event saw Justin Gaethje defeat Ilia Topuria by TKO after Topuria's corner stopped the bout with one round to go; the numbers set a Paramount+ exclusive-live-event record but were vastly below Rubio's billion-viewer forecast, with 15.26 million US and 1.67 million Latin American viewers.

via USA Today|

#nielsen #paramount #sports

crime1 month ago•2 min saved

Five Arrests in FBI-Disrupted White House UFC Attack Plot

The FBI disrupted a multi-state plot to attack a UFC event on the White House South Lawn; five people were arrested as charges are expected to be unsealed, after investigators learned of the threat on June 10, with officials noting possible plans including drones with explosives and snipers, and the Secret Service pursuing accountability.

via The Guardian|

#attackplot #crime #fbi

sports1 month ago•5 min saved

Gaethje Claims UFC Crown in White House Spectacle

Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria to win the UFC undisputed lightweight title at a White House event marking 250 years of American independence, a spectacle attended by Donald Trump; Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira to become interim heavyweight champion, as thousands watched from the South Lawn.

via BBC|

#gaethje #mma #sports

sports1 month ago•19 min saved

White House hosts historic UFC Freedom 250 fight night for America’s birthday

UFC Freedom 250 was staged on the White House South Lawn for America's 250th birthday, with Donald Trump cage-side as Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria to win the lightweight title and Ciryl Gane knocked out Alex Pereira to capture the interim heavyweight belt; the event drew heavy security and a host of VIPs, while Dana White called it a success and ruled out a repeat.

via CNN|

#americas250thbirthday #danawhite #donaldtrump

sports1 month ago•46 min saved

Gaethje claims lightweight title on White House lawn as Freedom 250 entertains Trump birthday spectacle

Justin Gaethje stunned Ilia Topuria to win the UFC lightweight title on the White House South Lawn during UFC Freedom 250, as Ciryl Gane captured the interim heavyweight belt; the card also delivered multiple knockouts and high-profile moments, with fights featuring Diego Lopes, Bo Nickal, Mauricio Ruffy, Josh Hokit, and Sean O’Malley, plus the spectacle of Trump’s birthday and political turbulence around the Iran deal, all broadcast on Paramount+.

via AP News|

#freedom250 #gaethje #sports

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Amazon findings spur White House ban on Anthropic’s Fable access

The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon cybersecurity research and conversations with the White House helped trigger an export-control directive blocking Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for foreign nationals, a move Anthropic disputes as a jailbreak and which further restricts access for many of its researchers; the development underscores ongoing tensions between the government and Anthropic over security, surveillance, and weapons use that have colored their past interactions with Mythos access.

via The Verge|

#amazon #anthropic #fable

politics1 month ago•1 min saved

White House Drops New UAP Files, Spotlighting Orb Footage

The White House released a fresh tranche of UAP records—featuring videos of red and yellow orb-like objects, observer recollections, diagrams, and decades‑old notes—showing ongoing government monitoring and investigation of suspected sightings, including near sensitive facilities. The materials do not conclude that these are aliens or pose a national security threat. The disclosures follow Trump’s declassification push, echo Obama-era interest, and arrive as Spielberg’s new extraterrestrial film opens, fueling renewed public attention.

via Axios|

#declassification #disclosure #politics

sports1 month ago•3 min saved

Heat, Thunder and Bug Swarms Loom Over White House UFC Showdown

The White House South Lawn hosts an outdoor UFC event that could be disrupted by mid-90s heat, humidity, thunderstorms, and a swarm of insects. Dana White cites rain, lightning, and bugs as major risks, with an entomologist predicting abundant insects from midges to mosquitoes. A canopy will shelter fighters, but forecasters say weather could be the bigger challenge as fighters, including Michael Chandler, stay unfazed for the historic spectacle.

via Axios|

#insects #outdoorevent #sports

politics1 month ago•15 min saved

Trump seeks cuts to DNI staff as he names acting intelligence chief

President Donald Trump said he wants his newly named acting director of national intelligence to cut staff at the DNI, signaling a push to shrink the U.S. intelligence apparatus as his administration reorganizes leadership.

via AP News|

#dni #intelligence #politics

sports1 month ago•185 min saved

UFC Freedom 250 set for White House South Lawn in a high-profile birthday spectacle

Trump will host UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on June 14, drawing more than 90,000 spectators for main bouts Gaethje–Topuria and Pereira–Gane; UFC is covering an estimated $60 million. The venue features a massive lighting grid nicknamed “The Claw,” with pre-fight events and a parade of tickets allocated to military members, White House staff, VIPs, and Ellipse-watch party attendees (millions of general public tickets). Weather is a key risk and the military will monitor conditions closely; the only thing likely to stop the outdoor show is lightning. Critics call the plan a gimmick, but UFC and the White House view it as a major branding moment and media draw.

via CNN|

#outdoor-event #security #sports