The end of Eric Swalwell. His promising career tarnished by heresy and pressures from the establishment to bow out. Should have played the Trump card and deny it. Donald J. Trump managed through sexual allegations to be the 45th/47th President Of The United States.
Not only dropping out the California governor's race, but he will resign from the House of Representatives which opens a seat.
Now for the remaining months, someone has to fulfill the term.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a former Democratic frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, resigned from Congress on Monday amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Swalwell announced his resignation in a statement posted to his X account, while still denying some of the allegations made against him in recent days.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell said in the statement.
Swalwell, 45, came to Congress in 2013 and had been a top contender in the California governor’s race before suspending his campaign on Sunday. He briefly ran for president in 2019. But the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday that a former congressional aide to Swalwell alleged a series of sexual encounters while he was her boss. The woman alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to give consent.
CNN also reported on Friday that three other women alleged “various kinds of sexual misconduct” by Swalwell, including unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
Swalwell has repeatedly denied these allegations.
His resignation came amid growing calls for his expulsion from his congressional colleagues over the weekend and as the House Ethics Committee announced on Monday it was opening an investigation into his conduct.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell said in his statement on Monday. “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) had announced her plans to introduce a resolution to expel Swalwell.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) was one of a sizable group of Democrats who said they would support such a resolution. Fernandez on Sunday said she would introduce a separate expulsion measure to remove Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) who has been dogged by allegations that he had an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Gonzales, who admitted to the affair and said he would not run for reelection, announced in post to X on Monday he would file his retirement from office when the House returns on Tuesday.
“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all,” Gonzales said. “When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.”
The U.S. continues ratcheting up its pressure on Iran.
The president said he will block the Strait of Hormuz to prevent countries that have no issue with Iran from delivering its goods.
Iran has banned U.S. and Israel from the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald J. Trump is also salty that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was defeated after a 16 year term. The Hungarian leader was closely aligned with the president. Vice President JD Vance en route to Pakistan for his failed talks with Iran went to Hungary to endorse Orbán.
The U.S. blockade on Iran is not going to work in Trump’s favor. Matter of fact, many of the world leaders are going to force the United States to end the war.
One call from Benjamin Netanyahu and here we go again.
The president also raised concerns when he attacked Pope Leo and posted an image of himself depicted as Jesus the Nazareth.
Former lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene had she stayed in Congress would have called for either impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president.
The U.S. military was poised to begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, as Trump sought to ratchet up pressure on Iran in a move that risks driving oil prices even higher and reigniting the war. Iran responded by threatening all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
“Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for NO ONE,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported Monday. “NO PORT in the region will be safe,” according to a statement from the Iranian military and the Revolutionary Guards.
U.S. Central Command announced that from 10 a.m. EDT, or 6:30 p.m. in Iran, the blockade would be enforced “against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.” It said that would include all of Iran’s ports on the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said it would still allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a step down from Trump’s earlier threat to blockade the vital waterway, where 20% of global oil transited before fighting began.
The real president is Benjamin Netanyahu.
The announcement halted the limited ship traffic that resumed in the strait since the ceasefire, according to a report from Lloyd’s List intelligence. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire, down from roughly 100 to 135 vessel passages per day before the war.
The blockade threat came after marathon U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement on Saturday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the talks stalled after Iran refused to accept American terms to refrain from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has demanded compensation for damage caused by U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war on Feb. 28, and the release of Iran’s frozen assets.
Later Sunday, Trump extended his feud over the war with Pope Leo XIV, lashing out in a Truth Social post that called the Catholic leader “terrible on foreign policy” after Leo denounced the war and demanded that political leaders stop and negotiate peace. The pontiff pushed back Monday, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration.
The blockade could have far-reaching effects
The blockade is likely intended to pile pressure on Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil since the war began, much of it likely carried by so-called “dark” transits that evade Western government sanctions and oversight.
The price of U.S. crude rose 8% to $104.24 a barrel following the blockade announcement, and Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 7% to $102.29. Brent crude cost roughly $70 per barrel before the war in late February.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support Monday for Trump’s “strong stance to impose a naval blockade on Iran.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told BBC radio Monday that Britain will not be part of a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in response to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz and that Britain is “not getting dragged into the war.”
Iran continues to win the war of ops.
Iran says ‘if you fight, we will fight’
A chorus of top-ranking Iranian officials threatened retaliation. Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser and a former Revolutionary Guard Commander, wrote on X that the country’s armed forces had “major untouched levers” to counter a Hormuz blockade.
Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran’s side in the talks, addressed Trump in a statement on his return to Iran: “If you fight, we will fight.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later said the strait remained under Iran’s “full control” and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a “forceful response,” two semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported.
During the 21-hour talks this weekend in Pakistan, the U.S. military said two destroyers had transited the strait ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran denied it.
No word on what happens after ceasefire expires
Vance, who led the U.S. side in the talks in Pakistan, said Washington would need “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon.”
Iranian negotiators could not agree to all U.S. “red lines,” said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe positions on the record. Those red lines included Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon, ending uranium enrichment, dismantling major enrichment facilities and allowing retrieval of its highly enriched uranium, along with opening the Strait of Hormuz and ending funding for Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi rebels.
Iranian officials said talks fell apart over two or three key issues, blaming what they called U.S. overreach. Qalibaf, who noted progress in negotiations, said it was time for the United States “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.”
Neither Iran nor the U.S. indicated what will happen after the ceasefire expires on April 22.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue in the coming days. Iran said it was open to continuing dialogue, state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whose country has supported mediations efforts, suggested that if there is progress in dialogue the ceasefire could be extended for 45 to 60 days to allow for more negotiations.
Iran’s nuclear program is a key sticking point
Iran’s nuclear program was at the center of tensions long before the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,055 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and damaged infrastructure in half a dozen countries.
Tehran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but insists on its right to a civilian nuclear program. The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump later pulled the U.S. out of, took well over a year of negotiations. Experts say Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, though not weapons-grade, is only a short technical step away.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is retiring from Congress and suspending his bid for governor.
Remember, Swalwell said he will not take AIPAC money. Guess what happens next?
The Democratic Party is the weak opposition to the Republican Party. The Republicans are knee deep in fascism. They will literally destroy the world if they can protect the status quo.
Keep white men in power. Continue going to war on behalf of Israel. Keep billionaires richer while the working class dies on the assembly line. Let America continue to take away freedoms from the vulnerable to protect the elite.
Yeah, vote blue no matter who....
And sure enough we will get Elissa Slotkin, Josh Gottheimer, John Fetterman, Ritchie Torres, Jared Moskowitz, Greg Landsman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Henry Cuellar.
Yeah, we will have Nancy Pelosi call protesters paid members of the Chinese Communist Party.
Or Hakeem Jeffries explain things with his hands while throwing out a strongly worded letter.
Maybe Cory Booker can do another 25 hour filibuster and then take pictures witn Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hell, let Raphael Warnock tell us that Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for radical change while voting to keep funding Israel as it is conducting a genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
Hey, Chuck Schumer said his mission is to keep the Democratic Party committed to the protection of our greatest ally Israel.
Oh, Bernie Sanders wants to stop funding Netanyahu. He will still fund Israel though.
Even Analilia Mejia will change her tune when J Street pours a stack into a closely watched campaign race.
Consenting adults having sex whether they're married, having an affair, engaging in a relationship of the opposite sex, engaging in a relationship of the same sex, engaging in a relationship with transgender Americans, engaging in a relationship with adult content creators, engaging in a relationship with prostitutes or escorts is not my business.
Having sex with anyone who intoxicated is a huge risk. Many inebriated people make decisions that cause cognitive issues. If a woman or man is drunk and has sex with a random stranger or the victims is too drunk to make decisions, many see it as sexual assault under the guise of consent. People who engage with drunk people often take a risk of an allegation of sexual abuse, theft or murder.
It is best to allow the drunk person to detoxify by letting them sleep in their filth. Bars and restaurants have the legal obligation to not allow drinks to people ininebriated.
If you leave your drink unattended, make sure you throw it away.
Again, heresy not an indictment or conviction.
A bunch of wussy ass punks. Swalwell should no longer talk to these assholes.
I am suspending my campaign for Governor.
To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.
I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.
Swalwell posted on X about an hour into this post.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said in a social media post.
His announcement came as Democrats quickly abandoned him after the allegations were published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle and later CNN that he had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.
There are no friends in Congress. Just colleagues. Acquaintances. A bunch of people who write bills to make life worse for Americans. The Congress barely does its job to write bills pass legislation and do what's best for the country.
They rather worry about personal business than the government's business.
Like the roads are seriously crumbling and we are facing extreme weather. But let's worry about some lawmaker's sex life.
We got the fucking President of the United States starting World War III and protecting his pedophile buddies. He is a fucking felon and sexual predator.
Democrats would abandon a candidate over allegations and people who are controversial. Republicans elect them.
Pardon us. We going to more trouble.
Cancel culture will depress Democrats momentum.
Continued support of Israel will eventually led Democratic leaning voters to third party and independent candidates. Thus in six months, the Democrats will see a lackluster turnout.
Polls do not determine outcomes. It is the voter. Both Republican and Democrat lawmakers are completely out of touch. We are coming to a point where political violence is imminent. Someone who is gassed up will start harming politicians or themselves.r
It's a coming.
A growing number of Democrats urged the congressman both to quit the race and resign his seat in Congress. His statement made no mention of resigning from Congress. The allegations came as Swalwell became a leading contender in the race for California governor to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Over the weekend, with Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign already teetering, Democrats in Congress began to call for his resignation from the House. Some even said they would support the rare step of expelling him should he refuse to step aside.
Fellow California Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna and Sam Liccardo said Swalwell should resign, as did Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal said Sunday. “This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated.”
Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
It all added to the mounting political pressure on Swalwell, who has already seen his most prominent supporters, including Sen. Adam Schiff and powerful labor unions, pull their endorsements and call for his exit from the race. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said he was immediately ending his role.
With the House returning to session Tuesday, the question of whether to expel Swalwell could come to a head quickly. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Saturday that she would be filing a motion to start the process.
Yeah, this cocaine sniffing Luna. Takes pictures with Trump. She is aware that 15 members of her Republican conference are sexual predators, adulterers and deviants.
This bitch lied about her past. So miss me with that bullshit.
Expulsion votes in the House are rare and require a two-thirds majority, but there is recent precedent for taking the step. Republican George Santos of New York in 2023 became just the sixth member in House history to be ousted by colleagues for his conduct.
Huffman, Jayapal and Leger Fernández said they would vote to expel Swalwell from the House, though they said they also support expelling Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who is running his own campaign for governor, said both Swalwell and Gonzales “need to go home” and that he would vote to expel them both.
Khanna also indicated support for congressional action against both lawmakers.
“So, it depends on if it’s worded in a fair way,” Khanna said. “But this shouldn’t be about politics. Anyone who abuses young girls and staffers should not be in the United States Congress.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday about allegations that Swalwell sexually assaulted a woman in 2019 and 2024. The woman said she did not go to police at the time of the assaults because she was afraid she would not be believed.
The woman worked for Swalwell when the first alleged assault occurred in 2019, while the 2024 assault allegedly occurred at a charity gala, the Chronicle reported. In both cases the woman said she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.
The paper didn’t name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.
The alleged 2024 incident occurred in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday that it was investigating. That office urged anyone with knowledge to contact its special victims division.
After the allegations surfaced, Swalwell said Friday in a video on social media that he would spend the weekend with family and friends and share an update “very soon.” He is not running for reelection for his House seat.
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They’re absolutely false. They did not happen, they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have,” the congressman said.
Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker who remains a dominant force in California politics, said the “serious allegations” must be investigated. She said she spoke to Swalwell and suggested that be done “outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and his leadership team also called for an investigation and for Swalwell to end his campaign for governor.
Jayapal and Donalds appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and Khanna was interviewed on “Fox News Sunday.”
"Democrats can pull victory from the jaws of defeat by coalescing around Porter." pic.twitter.com/ARv2DN73Ex
Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions.
Republicans continue to offer extremely unpopular ideas. They will find out the risk of supporters being turned off by their policies.
Former president Joe Biden, former vice president Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party failed at understanding what is more important to the country. President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the Republican Party have already failed at understanding as well.
Both parties support of Israel had made some Arab Americans, Muslim and young voters vote against them. Israel has cost Biden a second term and Harris a historical victory.
We got a lot a work to do.
The Republican Party is becoming a bunch of big government nannies who want to push culture wars into federal laws. This overreach will generate backlash due to the hypocrisy they've carried as small government and freedom loving patriots.
First things first, the Democrats must focus on issues that matter to all Americans. The economy for one thing is a big issue. We are witnessing the potential for a catastrophic crash thanks to Trump's war with Iran, these damn tariffs, his fly off the handle policies and this partial government shutdown.
If the Democrats are motivated to talk about how the policies of the past are not working, they better start talking now.
Capitalism isn't prospering for the middle class or the lower class. This trickle down economics is not benefiting the working class. The need to be honest about capitalism being a disaster has to be addressed.
The Democratic Party is still supportive of capitalism which is rooted in white supremacy, economic inequality and greed.
The policies the Republican Party are presenting are status quo. They are becoming the big government nannies they tagged the Democratic Party for years as.
The Republicans worship greed, hate, getting in people's businesses and sexual predatory behavior. If a Democrat has a sex scandal that doesn't involve legal ramifications, fucking ignore the allegations. I am serious. If there is no criminal conviction, it's an allegation.
Ignore the calls to leave but clearly state why you carry baggage. Because if you care about changing the city, district or state you want to represent, your personal problems cannot outweigh the actual problems constituents face.
The two party system is wearing thin. Republicans have a favorably of 34%. The Democrats have a favorably of 32%.
This is the Democratic Party in a nutshell.
Both parties are not doing enough to solve America's problems.
If progressives need to divorce the Democrats, the time is now. I am not voting for the status quo.
I am going to vote for a candidate that focuses on issues that impact the growth of this flawed nation. Not distractions or words. Words do not pay the rent. They do not feed the families. They do not pay my bills. Words do not control the movement of policies.
No more slogans.
It's noise.
Folks, the Democrats must end the rules of engagement. They need to kick out the filth.
End their support of Israel, stop pandering to win votes, embrace embarrassments and stop trying to be friends with MAGAland.
Blue MAGA is a threat too. Because they are too cozy with religion, apartheid, income inequality and racism.
The Democratic Party is now conservative while the Republican Party is now fascist.
The Democrats are ignoring the progressive base.
No more happy clappy liberal.
I am sorry Stephanie Miller, Laurie Daniels Favors, Zerlina Maxwell, Reecie Colbert, Clay Cane and Thom Hartmann: we ain't winning on being positive. I think it time to go negative and embrace the right's definitions of the left.
I am not advocating for violence but I will no longer condemn it if it's done in the name of politics. I am tired of trying to push for issues that are ignored.
I will now be an independent. I will not support the Republican Party or Democratic Party any longer. I am going to stay progressive on most issues involving domestic and social issues. Show some conservative stances on finances giving that things are more expensive and the focus is more on home meals and no longer eating out.
I am no longer tolerating mass texts from Democrats. No more polls. No more we need you.
I will not worry about Biden, Trump or any future president. They will have costly mistakes and proven successes. I must accept it.
If the Democrats get their act together, maybe they might have a shot in 2026. No reference to gun violence.
Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head home empty handed. The president goes to Miami during a partial government shutdown to watch a UFC fight. Sen. John Fetterman (I-PA) once again appears on Fox to denounce the Democrats and America's frustration with the policies of Congress.
Which one should I decide on doing?
Well Iran of course.
The vice president was demanding the Iranian government open up the Strait of Hormuz to their interests. They want their uranium enrichment. They want to the government to dissolve. They want Iran to stop supporting the resistance of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Iran said kick rocks.
Iran demands the end to the aggression. They want the U.S. and Israel to pay for all the war damages. They want total control of the Strait of Hormuz to be shared by them and Oman with fees paid in Yuan. They want Israel out of Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. They want Benjamin Netanyahu and all Israeli leadership dissolved.
The Iranians said that the U.S. and Israel will be forbidden access for an indefinite period of time.
The Iranians also released a series of videos that reached out to the U.S. basically making the president and Western agenda look foolish.
The United States and Iran ended a historic round of face-to-face talks early Sunday without reaching an agreement and the fate of the fragile, two-week ceasefire still unclear.
Vance, who led the U.S. delegation during the 21 hours of talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, said negotiations finished without a deal after the Iranians refused to accept American terms to refrain from developing a nuclear weapon.
Now if this was former vice president Kamala Harris, the Republicans and Fetterman would criticized this as appeasement. The junk food media would be zeroed in on Harris if she failed to reach a deal with a country the U.S. has hostilities with.
There was no immediate comment from the Iranian delegation or the Pakistani mediators.
The discussions began Saturday, a few days after a fragile ceasefire was announced as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets entered its seventh week.
Vance said he remained in constant communication with President Donald J. Trump and others in the administration during the negotiations.
“But the simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” Vance told reporters. “That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”
No he wasn't in contact with the president.
The president had time to go to a UFC fight. He barely pays attention to the daily briefs he gets from DNI chief Tulsi Gabbard.
The vice president said he spoke with Trump “a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours” and also spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the United States Central Command.
Vance is lying. The president sent Vance because Iran warned if the U.S. sent Witkoff and Kushner, they were not going to talk. Iran is on high alert of Israeli attempts to assassinate their delegation. That's why they wanted it in Islamabad.
Witkoff and Kushner
Israel would not try to kill any Iranian or Pakistani.
Pakistan has nuclear weapons and is not in the mood for Israel trying to derail this.
Two Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press, said a third round of discussions between the delegation heads had finished and the talks would resume after a break.
Then the U.S. vice president addressed the press, announced there was no agreement and went to the airport to leave Pakistan.
Trump had said he would suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks. Vance’s comments did not indicate what will happen after that time period expires or if the ceasefire will remain in place.
President Donald J. Trump, Tiffany Trump, Michael Boulos, Kai Trump and Ababella Kushner at the UFC Championship 327. Trump has time to do this but not solve the many crises of his second term.
U.S. Says Its Destroyers Moved Through The Strait Of Hormuz
The U.S. military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran’s state media, however, said the joint military command denied that.
“We’re sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” Trump told journalists as talks continued and the time approached 2 a.m. in Islamabad. He called negotiations “very deep.” Iranian state TV noted what it called “serious” differences.
The U.S. delegation led by Vance and the Iranian one led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.
Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the most direct U.S. contact had been in 2013 when President Barack Obama called newly elected President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. Obama’s secretary of state, John Kerry, and counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif later met during negotiations toward the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — a process that lasted well over a year.
Now the far broader talks featured Vance, a reluctant defender of the war who has little diplomatic experience and warned Iran not to “try and play us,” and Qalibaf, a former commander with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard who has issued some of Iran’s most fiery statements since fighting began.
Iran Sets ‘Red Lines’ Including Compensation For Strikes
Iran’s state-run news agency said the three-party talks began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met.
Iran’s delegation told state television it had presented “red lines” in meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including compensation for damage caused by U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war on Feb. 28 and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.
Reflecting the high stakes, officials from the region said Chinese, Egyptian, Saudi and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate talks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.
In Tehran, residents told The Associated Press they were skeptical yet hopeful after weeks of airstrikes left destruction across their country of some 93 million people.
“Peace alone is not enough for our country because we’ve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs,” 62-year-old Amir Razzai Far said.
In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the war.
This is what happens when you put a troll in crucial talks. Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif express frustration that the U.S. refuses to accept Iran's terms.
U.S. Sending Forces To Help Mine-Clearing On The Strait
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. Around a fifth of the world’s traded oil had typically passed through on over 100 ships a day. Only 12 have been recorded transiting since the ceasefire.
On Saturday, Trump said on social media that the U.S. had begun “clearing out” the strait.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon,” U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper later said. The U.S. statement about the destroyers added: “Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran was entering negotiations with “deep distrust” after strikes on Iran during previous talks. Araghchi, part of Iran’s delegation in Pakistan, said Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if attacked again.
Iran’s 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Iran’s “regional allies,” explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.
The United States’ 15-point proposal includes restricting Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait.
Israel And Lebanon Will Have Direct Negotiations
Israel pressed ahead with strikes in Lebanon after saying there is no ceasefire there. Iran and Pakistan have disagreed.
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office has said, after Israel’s surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the countries lack of official relations.
The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
Comedian and actor Dave Chappelle is part of Yellow Springs, Ohio. He practically invests millions into the progressive leaning village in the conservative Greene County.
The local public radio station WYSO which operates from Antioch College has a satellite station inside the Dayton Arcade. There was talk that the radio station was going to leave its original location to move to Dayton to be incorporated in the iHeartMedia Dayton center in the Arcade.
Chappelle put a stop to that.
He put millions into reinvesting the Union Schoolhouse and made it the permanent location for WYSO.
WYSO operates as the NPR/APM radio station for the Miami Valley.
Chappelle stood on the front lawn of a newly restored 19th-century schoolhouse Thursday, joining neighbors and local officials as a small-town radio station secured its future in the community he calls home.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked two historic moments: Chappelle's restoration of the Union Schoolhouse and WYSO's relocation of its new broadcast facility inside it, bringing together distinct efforts to keep the station rooted in Yellow Springs at a time when local media outlets face mounting challenges.
“It’s like our lifeblood in the community,” Chappelle told The Associated Press about the station, recalling how its possible departure to nearby Dayton would have been “a crushing blow” for Yellow Springs.
More than 200 people gathered outside the former Union Schoolhouse, where Chappelle attended along with his wife, mother, station leaders and village officials, including Yellow Springs Mayor Steve McQueen and Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss, to celebrate the opening the schoolhouse and the 68-year-old station into its next chapter.
The Union Schoolhouse was originally built in 1872 and once served as one of the village’s earliest integrated schools before later housing municipal offices and small businesses. After sitting vacant for years, it was purchased in 2020 by Chappelle’s real estate company, Iron Table Holdings.
The property has since been transformed into a modern, multiuse space, with WYSO occupying the lower floors, while Chappelle’s offices will be based on the top floor.
For Chappelle, the investment was as much about preservation as development.
“If you have the opportunity like I did, to invest in your community, then it’s one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made,” he said. “In some ways it feels dutiful. Other times I feel proud. ... but ultimately, I'm doing it because I want to, not because I have to.”
The move comes at a time when local media outlets across the country face shrinking resources, shifting audiences and increased competition from digital platforms.
Chappelle said stations like WYSO serve as a stabilizing force. He described it as “a beacon for sanity,” offering “a solid baseline of truth in context” in an increasingly fragmented information landscape.
“I grew up listening to WYSO since high school, and they’ve always been here connecting to the people,” said Mark Willis, a Yellow Springs resident. “They’re not out of a big city. They’re not subject to censorship by a sponsor. They tell the truth, they tell the stories, and it’s rare these days. To see them growing instead of shrinking is beautiful.”
Rather than simply donate funds, Chappelle financed the redevelopment of the building itself, allowing the station to remain locally rooted while maintaining editorial independence.
“Dave has never made a suggestion about our programming,” said Luke Dennis, general manager at WYSO. He said the new facility transforms how the station connects with the public, offering performance space, gathering areas and expanded capacity for programming.
“We belong to the community,” Dennis said.
Public radio stations in smaller markets have faced mounting pressure in recent years, from funding challenges to audience fragmentation.
Dennis said the investment positions WYSO differently. “We’re in a place of strength,” he said.
Yellow Springs has long been central to Chappelle’s life. Though he grew up in Maryland, he spent summers in the village, where his late father worked as the dean of students at Antioch College.
Now living on a 39-acre farm with his wife and their three children, Chappelle has become deeply embedded in the town. He has invested in local properties, opened a comedy club in the downtown area and hosted events that draw national attention, including performances in a nearby cornfield during the pandemic.
Chappelle has also taken an active role in local affairs, speaking at town meetings and supporting community initiatives.
As residents gathered and later filtered through the restored building, the moment marked more than a ribbon-cutting.
“I'm more determined and inspired that these institutions flourish and stay of the people,” Chappelle said after the ceremony. “The only way they can do that is the people supporting them. I'm hopeful more than worried."
Dave Chappelle does not like taking photos unless he approves of them. At many of his comedy events, he requires all attendees to leave cell phones in their vehicles or place them inside a pouch. He takes his art very seriously. The moment a cell phone camera is seen during his performance, he will abruptly stop and leave the stage.
He resides between Washington, DC and Yellow Springs, Ohio.
The comedian is controversial for his acts. He has driven criticism and praise for his comedy.
He faced criticism for comedy aimed at Israel, transgender Americans, former president Joe Biden and President Donald J. Trump.
He was praised for supporting Palestinians, Black Lives Matter, Duchess Meghan and Muslims.
In Yellow Springs, when you see Dave, treat him just like everyone else. He doesn't want to be looked as a major celebrity when he is spotted around Yellow Springs, Dayton or Cincinnati.
I was saving this for the Cash Fever series. Too bad the issue gotten worse for rapper Offset.
Kairi Cephus is a 34 year old rapper, producer and media personality who was formerly part of the hip-hop group The Migos.
Offset along with Quavo and Takeoff were from Lawrenceville, Georgia but aligns with Atlanta's southern rap scene.
He is the father of six children. Three of his children comes from his former wife, rapper Cardi B. She has him on a restraining order and he has a court order for child support.
He also is struggling. Offset left Quality Control Music to run solely as a Capitol and Motown Records artist.
Offset is really finding himself in some financial issues. His friends and former allies believe he has a huge vice problem. Besides the women, the alcohol, the weed and the failure to commit to doing his job as an entertainer, he has a gambling problem.
A drinking problem. A sexual problem. A lot of anger issues.
Again, it's not my business to worry what people do in their private lives. However, it is newsworthy to find out why the rapper was shot in Hollywood, Florida.
Most who often play are either a family member, co-worker or friend who has a gambling addiction.
So here's the public service announcement.
Most lotteries and casinos offer help for problem gambling. I want to acknowledge this.
The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700). The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.
You can get help if you, a loved one or friend is dealing with drug abuse.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
It is a difficult thing to tell a family member, friend, co-worker or a player of a gambling venue. But if see something, say something. It may save a life.
The signs of problem gambling include:
The person constantly borrowing money from friends, family, loan facilities or banks.
The person is always taking more out to chase the jackpot (or clout).
The person loses track of time or misses appointments due to gambling.
The person is running late on paying bills or dues.
The person feels like "playing it back" is the only way to win.
The person is getting agitated over wins and losses.
The person is using alcohol or drugs to ease stress.
The person damages property at casinos or lottery retailers.
The person deliberately asks others to claim prizes to avoid paying child support, spousal support or owed taxes.
The person uses false ID, false social security numbers or gives wrong information to avoid taxes or has known status as a banned guest or voluntarily excluded player (self-prevention/restricted gambler).
The person is restless and feel the only way to relax is to gamble.
The person is jeopardizing relationships, their jobs and their social life in order to gamble.
The person repeatedly lies about wins and loses.
The person is trying to curb problem gambling but never achieves the goal.
The person has trouble adjusting to increases in lottery prices and rule changes.
The person usually holds up lines in businesses due to inconsistent demands or repetitive calls of plays and bets.
The person often uses phone apps to purchase lottery tickets and sports bets without consideration of funds.
The person is upset when family members, friends or frequent winners win jackpots or prizes.
These are the hard truths about problem gambling. You know someone or have a problem. That's why it's important to know your limits when you gamble.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Offset confirmed that the rapper was in stable condition, but his exact condition was unknown. Police said the injuries were not life-threatening.
“Offset has been released from the hospital and he is up and walking,” a representative for Offset said on Friday. “We’re incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and the entire hospital staff who took such great care of him.”
The rapper shared his own statement on social media Friday, writing, “Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me and showed me love! I’m good….but I’m planning to be better! I’m focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses...”
Lil Tjay is county lockup on aggrevated assault with a deadly weapon.
“Life’s a gamble and I’m still playing to win,” he concluded.
Earlier this week, officers detained two people. The rapper Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, was arrested in connection with the altercation that occurred before the shooting, the Seminole Police Department in Florida said. He was charged with disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
The second person detained at the scene has not been charged and investigators were working to identify others involved, police said in a statement Tuesday.
Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, launched his career with Migos, one of the most popular hip-hop groups of all time. The Atlanta trio is celebrated for their rapid-fire triplet flow, an often-imitated delivery that changed the trajectory of trap.
The group had several multiplatinum selling singles, including “Bad and Boujee,” which went No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, “Stir Fry,” and “Narcos.” Migos released four full-length albums across their career.
More than three years ago, Offset’s cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.
As a solo artist known for his idiosyncratic style — a melodic, aggressive finesse — Offset has released three full-length albums.
He was also previously married to the rapper Cardi B. The pair were secretly wed in September 2017 in Atlanta. In 2024, Cardi B announced that she filed for divorce. They have three children together.
Democrats will throw candidates under the bus for allegations. Republicans will elect them even if they're convicted felons, sexual predators and seditionists.
Again, Democrats are their own worst enemy. They rather cancel people than focus on the issues that matter. While I don't give two fucks who becomes governor of California, I know about eight of the candidates are pro Israel. There is no convictions or indictments.
No just rumors and basically heresy.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a frequent target of the Trump Administration, Fox and the far right is once again hog tied in a scandal.
Remember he said he will not take AIPAC money.
He ran for president in 2019-2020. He is a frequent guest on progressive radio, CNN and MS NOW.
As he is leading in the campaign for governor in a packed jungle primary, the ops got to him.
Does Israel, Roger Stone, Republicans and Tom Steyer ring a bell?
They were his biggest threats besides the Republican lightweights Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and far right British American agitator Steve Hilton.
Consenting adults having sex whether they're married, having an affair, engaging in a relationship of the opposite sex, engaging in a relationship of the same sex, engaging in a relationship with transgender Americans, engaging in a relationship with adult content creators, engaging in a relationship with prostitutes or escorts is not my business.
Having sex with anyone who intoxicated is a huge risk. Many inebriated people make decisions that cause cognitive issues. If a woman or man is drunk and has sex with a random stranger or the victims is too drunk to make decisions, many see it as sexual assault under the guise of consent. People who engage with drunk people often take a risk of an allegation of sexual abuse, theft or murder.
It is best to allow the drunk person to detoxify by letting them sleep in their filth. Bars and restaurants have the legal obligation to not allow drinks to people inebriated.
Also, if you leave your drink unattended, make sure you throw it away.
Again, heresy not an indictment or conviction.
In a stunning political reversal, prominent supporters of Swalwell’s campaign for California governor withdrew their support Friday after the congressmember denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.
Swalwell was among the leading Democrats in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. But in just hours, he saw his most prominent supporters - including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and powerful labor unions - drop their endorsements and call for his exit from the race.
Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate who has avoided engaging in the contest to replace him, said in a statement: “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn’t endorsed in the race, said the “serious allegations” must be investigated.
“As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign,” she said in social media posted by her staff.
The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state. The exodus of support threatened to cripple Swalwell’s campaign, less than a month before voters receive mail ballots in advance of the June 2 election.
Many claim Roger Stone has a role in the women making allegations against Swalwell.
This turmoil in the race came after the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people whom she had told about it. She told the newspaper she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed.
The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019 when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity gala, the newspaper reported. She said in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.
Tara Reade all over again.
Again, I take all allegations seriously but this is a timing issue like when Reade tried to force a scandal to Ryan Grim as Joe Biden was considered the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. She eventually left the United States and gained sanctuary in Russia.
The Republicans dropped her like a bad cold. I still have disdain for Grim despite agreeing with him on Israel having too much influence in U.S. politics.
Swalwell would be outside of his wife when these allegations occurred. It is hard to prove since these allegations run in 2019 and most recently 2024.
Seems like its an op. Because if she was sexually assaulted during his 2020 presidential bid (later House reelection bid), how come this didn't come to light as he declared his bid?
I am not dismissing it. I am totally done with this moral high ground cancel culture bullshit. Democrats need to get the facts before they start burning at the stake.
Swalwell denied the woman’s account and suggested they were part of an attack due to his campaign’s momentum.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell said in a statement. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
The paper didn’t name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.
The woman received a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell’s attorney, the Chronicle reported. The attorney, Elias Debaie, confirmed he sent out at least one letter and called the allegations “baseless.”
Swift backlash from prominent Democrats
On Friday afternoon, Schiff said in a social media post he’s “deeply distressed” by the allegations, calling for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said he’s immediately ending his role.
“The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay,” Gomez said on social media.
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and California Rep. Adam Gray also said they’re yanking their support. Mark Ramos, who heads the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, called on Swalwell to end his campaign.
Powerful labor unions, including the California Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association, said they’re suspending their support. The California Federation of Labor Unions said it’s “acting urgently” on next steps.
A spokesperson for House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the allegations require a “serious and thorough investigation.”
“These brave women must be heard and respected,” spokeswoman Christie Stephenson said in a statement. “It is imperative that the investigation follow the facts, apply the law and take place immediately.”
President Donald J. Trump, Erika Kirk and Republican lawmakers have scandals out the ass. Yet, Republicans will continue backing them regardless.
Growing calls for Swalwell to drop out
Uncorroborated and nonspecific rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female staffers have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle’s story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. At a Tuesday campaign event in Sacramento, he told reporters he’s never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern.
CNN also reported that several women accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate sexual messages.
Swalwell earlier this week announced a series of campaign functions he’s planned around the state, but canceled the scheduled event Thursday in Palm Springs.
Swalwell is among several leading Democrats in the crowded field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he immediately came under pressure from all other Democratic rivals to withdraw from the race.
Tara Reade accepts an award in Moscow. This woman alleged Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. She fled to Russia claiming that the U.S. Justice Department was investigating her. She claimed Biden sicced the DOJ on her. The allegations were in 2020. The Trump Administration and his DOJ had an open inquiry.
Swalwell, originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. Swalwell, who is married and has three children, is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021.
Yet, President Donald J. Trump is a convicted felon, an adjudicated sexual predator, a seditionist, a habitual liar, a sundowning geezer and twice impeached president won.
He won in 2016 and 2024. In 2024, he won the popular vote. The first time in over 20 years. The last Republican to win the popular vote was George W. Bush.
California itself makes up the seventh in economic strength. The U.S. is ranked fourth.
Gavin Newsom, the current governor is hinting a run as well as former vice president Kamala Harris who both are from California. However, their support of Israel will doom them.
Trump, Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison and Vince McMahon are rich, powerful sexual predators. They have the billions to scrub away their deviant behavior.
Me. Swelwell, Hasan Piker, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and so many others could be destroyed because of a sex scandal. The personal problems do not put food on people's plates. It does bring paychecks home.
Personal business is not government business. Since when does my focus got to be on the "he said, she said stuff?"
We are practically buried alive by all this chaos by that 79 year old crumungon president.
Whether Swalwell stays in the race or not is depending on the voters. If they care more about this than lowering grocery prices, lowering gas prices, fixing bridges, stopping wildfires, make Hollywood to film capital of the world, fixing potholes, stopping gun violence, save the water infrastructure and stopping the chaos of Trump, vote for that.
A woman comes forth with allegations that Byron Noem, the husband of former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem wa going to leave her and transition into a woman.
The junk food media is now zeroed in on the trouble marriage of Kristi and Byron Noem.
It was an open secret that Kristi was in a romantic affair with Corey Lewandowski.
Lewandowski was ousted as deputy press secretary when Noem was fired.
The Daily Mail, a British far right tabloid mostly obsessed with Duchess Meghan of Sussex, former vice president Kamala Harris and Black on whatever crime stories interviewed Shy Sotomayor, a model who does cosplay and is dominatrix.
She just generated 15% more support on her platform thanks to this.
Consenting adults having sex whether they're married, having an affair, engaging in a relationship of the opposite sex, engaging in a relationship of the same sex, engaging in a relationship with transgender Americans, engaging in a relationship with adult content creators, engaging in a relationship with prostitutes or escorts is not my business.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.
You can get help if you, a loved one or friend is dealing with drug abuse.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Bryon Noem allegedly dresses up in women boob suits. He dresses up to attract men and women. It is an open secret. So I guess that's why Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski have that special friendship. The former first gentleman and husband of the disgraced Trump Administration officials made her life more chaotic.
Look, he isn't in the federal government and its own business. Not my place to judge.
However, the controversy keeps the former Homeland Security chief and former South Dakota governor had that MAGA makeover. It must have trigger Byron to be like his wife.
Kristi was a former South Dakota state lawmaker, U.S. House member, governor and Homeland Security secretary in President Donald J. Trump's second administration.
Shy Sotomayor cosplay as Dragon Ball Z fighter Android 18.
She felt a lot of pushback over opening during the pandemic, the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline which went through reservations. The tribal groups have permanently banned her and her family from the land. Eight of the nine tribal groups have banned her from entry.
Her handling of ICE led to the deaths of Americans. It was marred with agents who raped women, allowed people in treatments to die, detaining children under 12, pushing for more armed protection, losing her purse, having a food allergy, allowing Lewandowski travel with her frequently, allowing him to fire people without proper protocols, spending on personal expenses and so many other issues under watch led to her eventual firing.
Noe, shattered by the explosive new report that her husband leads a cross-dressing double life in which he chats online with fetish models.
Noem told The Independent the claims in the report were “not all true.” He did not elaborate when asked for more information.
The 56-year-old was reported to have been in an on-off relationship online with Shy Sotomayor, a 30-year-old sex worker known as Raelynn Riley, since 2016, she claimed in an interview with the Daily Mail, published Friday.
It is the latest in a series of exposés on the husband of the recently ousted Homeland Security Secretary, who has been keeping a low profile since the story broke last week.
Sotomayor shared recordings of phone calls and screenshots of messages she said she exchanged with Bryon Noem, where he said she was “so much better” than his wife. He also expressed wanting to transition to become a woman, the messages showed.
In one recent message, the South Dakota insurance boss said he wanted to change his name to Crystal “so bad,” and that he wanted plastic surgery. “I want to be your trans bimbo bitch,” the messages showed.
Sotomayor, from Colorado Springs, is the second online model to go public about her interactions with Bryon Noem after Nicole Raccagno—whose Instagram name is “plastictrophybimbo”— previously told the Mail that he was in love with her.
Bryon Noem made similar declarations to Sotomayor, she said, and in one message told her, “I can see us leaving our spouses for each other.”
Sotomayor said she first connected with Bryon Noem in 2016 but he cut off contact “abruptly” in 2020, around the time that his wife was elected governor of South Dakota, where she ran on a platform of conservative Christian values.
The thrill is gone.
She did not learn his true identity until they reconnected in October 2025, she said, where he “just popped back into my life like a little groundhog.”
“Is it because of everything going on right now with ICE?” Sotomayor asked.
“And life,” Bryon Noem replied.
On January 31, the model said she asked Bryon Noem how he could be with his wife in light of her aggressive immigration crackdown and that she was “unlikable.”
“I do like my wife and I know you don't,” he replied.
“She's a good person,” Bryon Noem reportedly said in defense of his wife. “You are amazing though,” he added, in reference to Sotomayor.
Sotomayor claimed she pressed the husband how he could be with his wife “after everything she’s done.”
“He urged her not to believe everything she reads in the news,” the Mail reported, adding that he mused having a phone call with Sotomayor that night.
“Can talk to you tonight, but I will regret it tomorrow,” he said. “Because I'm still with her.”
Kristi Noem was said to be barely showing up for her new role at the State Department after being ousted by Trump in March, the Mail reported Thursday.
