FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants the Justice Department to investigate, and potentially prosecute, former Special Counsel Jack Smith over whether he "unlawfully took political actions to influence the 2024 election" against President Donald Trump.Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Smith of seeking to impact the 2024 election in his capacity as special counsel under the Biden-led Justice Department in a letter to the acting head of the Office of Special Counsel, Jamieson Greer, first obtained by Fox News Digital. KEY TRUMP NOMINEES STALLED BY SENATE DEMS PUTS PRESSURE ON GOP LEADERS"As the Office of the Special Counsel is tasked with ensuring federal employees aren't conducting partisan political activity under the guise of their federal employment, you're well situated to determine whether Smith broke the law," the Arkansas Republican wrote."Many of Smith's legal actions seem to have no rationale except for an attempt to affect the 2024 election results actions that would violate federal law," he continued.Smith was tapped by former Attorney General Merrick Garland to probe allegations that Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election results, and later investigated the handling of classified documents that were uncovered during a raid at Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound.'LOUDER BY THE HOUR': SENATE GOP WANTS THE EPSTEIN DRAMA TO END, BUT DEMOCRATS AREN'T LETTING IT GOCotton listed four instances during Smiths tenure where he charged that the prosecutor sped up trial dates and published information "with no legitimate purpose."In one example, Cotton accused Smith of fast-tracking the trial date and jury selection for his case against Trump related to his August 2023 indictment that was part of his 2020 election investigation.That indictment included four charges against the president, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.Cotton argued that, typically, defendants have more than two years to prepare for that kind of trial, and noted that the jury selection period was slated just two weeks before the Iowa Caucuses in 2024.He also charged that Smith skirted the normal appellate process and "failed to articulate a legitimate reason" the court should grant his request when Smith demanded a trial before the forthcoming election day, wanted an expedited review by the appeals court and then filed a petition with the Supreme Court to bypass the district court after Trump filed his defense with the District of Columbia District Court in December 2023.HOW TRUMP'S 'NO SHRINKING VIOLETS' DOJ IS DIGGING IN ON SCHIFF'S MORTGAGE DEALINGS AS LEGAL PERIL LOOMSCotton accused Smith of violating the Justice Departments "60-day rule," that prevents prosecutorial steps from being taken that could influence an upcoming election. That charge stemmed from Smiths move to file a brief following the Supreme Courts decision regarding presidential immunity, which was granted on Sept. 26, 2024, a little over a month out from the election.And that brief, Cotton noted, exceeded the normally allowed length four times over and included grand jury testimony "typically kept secret at this point in other proceedings.""These actions were not standard, necessary, or justified unless Smith's real purpose was to influence the election," Cotton said. "In fact, throughout Special Counsel Smith's tenure, he regularly used farfetched and aggressive legal theories to prosecute the Republican nominee for president. I would add that President Biden also called during the election for President Trump to be locked up.""President Trump, of course, vanquished Joe Biden, Jack Smith, every Democrat who weaponized the law against him, but President Trump's astounding victory doesn't excuse Smith of responsibility for his unlawful election interference," he continued. "I therefore ask the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Jack Smith or any members of his team unlawfully acted for political purposes."Fox News Digital reached out to Smith but did not immediately hear back.

The Supreme Court revealed on Wednesday that Ghislaine Maxwells appeal to her sex trafficking conviction will be among the many cases the high court reviews at a closed-door conference in September.The Supreme Court posted a brief notice indicating it plans to examine a petition from Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and associate, on Sept. 29, marking the first time the justices will have her case before them. The public could learn whether the high court plans to review Maxwell's case within days or weeks of that date.If the Supreme Court were to deny Maxwell's petition, she would have no appeal options left. If the high court were to grant it, that means it would review Maxwell's arguments that she was improperly prosecuted.GHISLAINE MAXWELL THREATENS TO DODGE EPSTEIN QUESTIONS UNLESS DEMANDS ARE METMaxwell was convicted by a jury in New York in 2021 of five counts involving sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy and sentenced to 20 years in prison.She appealed her conviction, arguing it should be tossed out because a plea deal Epstein reached with the federal government in 2007 immunized her and statutes of limitations for her actions had lapsed.Maxwell's case has reentered the spotlight in recent weeks after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI revealed that they had reviewed Epstein's case files and found no further information that they could release to the public. The DOJ and FBI also said they uncovered no further evidence that would allow them to bring investigative action against figures who may have been associated with Epstein, a wealthy financier and registered sex offender who died in 2019 while in prison awaiting trial.DOJ REJECTS GHISLAINE MAXWELLS APPEAL IN SCOTUS RESPONSEHowever, the administration faced intense blowback from MAGA supporters who felt Trump appointees, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, were reneging on promises to unveil revelatory information about Epstein's case.Trump, who was among the many prominent figures who once socialized with Epstein, said the topic was "sordid" but "boring" and dismissed questions about it. However, in the face of building pressure, the president demanded the DOJ take more action to release files.The Supreme Court signaling that it will review Maxwell's case comes at a delicate moment.After Trump's demands, the department asked the court to release a limited and redacted batch of documents from the grand juries' indictments of Epstein and Maxwell. Then, DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving her prison sentence, and questioned her for two days.Blanche's motives for the meeting remain unclear.Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, told reporters after the meeting that it marked the "first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened." She answered questions about "maybe about a hundred different people, and she didn't hold anything back," Markus said. He said they had not "yet" approached Trump about clemency. The president recently said, when asked by a reporter about the matter, that he is "allowed" to give Maxwell a pardon but that he had not considered it at this stage.The House Oversight Committee has also moved to pull back the curtain on Epstein's case by subpoenaing Maxwell to testify before the panel.Maxwell's attorney responded by saying she would need full immunity to testify and that she wanted to wait until after the Supreme Court responded to her petition.

You don't need to be a tech expert to keep your phone secure. You just need to know where to tap. From sneaky, data-hungry apps to overlooked settings that leak sensitive information, your iPhone or Android device may be exposing more than you realize.The good news? Making just a few tweaks to your settings can instantly boost your privacy, reduce tracking and give you more control over your digital life.Here are five safety-boosting settings you can (and should) turn on today. No complicated apps or tools required. Just smart, built-in features that protect your information behind the scenes.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join myCYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTERIS YOUR PHONE HACKED? HOW TO TELL AND WHAT TO DOThis article is based on tests conducted using an iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 18.5 and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with One UI 7.0 on Android 15. Results and instructions may vary depending on your device model and software version.Because your phone shouldnt sell your behaviorApps love your data, especially when it helps them target ads. On iPhone and Android, apps can track what you do across other apps and websites unless you say otherwise.Here's what to look for:You keep seeing the same weirdly specific ad after searching for something once. Or you download a game, and suddenly ads know your location, interests and habits.On iPhone:Settings >Privacy & Security >Tracking Toggle off"Allow Apps to Request to Track."On Android:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturerWHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?Settings > Google >All services >Ads Turn off "Ad personalization" or choose "Delete advertising ID" for more privacy.This wont block all ads, but it prevents apps from tracking your activity.Because anyone can see your texts, even when your phone is lockedBy default, many phones show message previews on the lock screen. Sounds convenient, until someone sees your two-factor authentication code, private message or bank alert over your shoulder.Youll want to change this if:On iPhone:Settings >Notifications >Show Previews Set to"When Unlocked."On Android:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturerGET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERESettings > Notifications > Lock Screen notifications Choose"Hide content" or, on some Android phones, it might say"Dont show sensitive content" (which hides sensitive content like message previews on the lock screen).Youll still get alerts, but whats inside stays private.Because that flashlight app doesnt need your locationOver time, apps can quietly collect more permissions than they need, accessing your camera, microphone, contacts or even location without you noticing. You might be giving away too much if:On iPhone:Settings >Privacy & Security TapLocation Services,Camera,Microphone, etc. to see what apps have access.On Android:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturerSettings > Security and privacy >More privacy settings >Permission Manager Review permissionsby category.Revoke anything that doesnt make sense. Your phone will still work just fine.Because hackers love an open connectionBluetooth is great for headphones and smartwatches, but its also a known entry point for cybercriminals using "bluesnarfing" or other attacks to siphon data. The risk goes up if:Swipe down from the top right of your screen to access yourControl Center (iPhone) orQuick Settings (Android), and toggleBluetooth off (A blue stylized "B" symbol shaped by two angular runes resembling "" joined vertically)when not in use. Less is more when it comes to open channels.Because outdated phones are hacker magnetsSoftware updates dont just bring new features; they patch critical vulnerabilities that hackers rely on to break into phones.Red flags:On iPhone:Settings >General >Software Update >Automatic Updates Enableboth toggles.On Android:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturerSettings > Software Update >Auto-download or Auto-install updates (may vary by device)One of the simplest, strongest defenses you can set.You dont need a tinfoil hat to take phone security seriously, just a few quick changes to how your device behaves. Small things, such as hiding message previews, checking app permissions and disabling Bluetooth can make a big difference in protecting your personal information. And, remember, phone security isnt a one-time deal. Stay curious, keep your software updated and check in on your settings periodically, just as you would with your bank or email accounts.Got questions about phone safety? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactSign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join myCYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTERCopyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Israel-supporting Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres revealed on Tuesday he no longer has a relationship with some of his family due to his support for Israel."I've lost friends, all of you have lost friends there," he told a room full of Jewish students at the Israel on Campus Coalition Summit on Tuesday. "I'm no longer on speaking terms with with certain members of my family."Torres deep support for Israel has put him at odds with progressives in his party but the New York Democrat has only recently begun to express frustration with the Jerusalem government."No offense, but there are moments when I feel like the Israeli government has the worst PR operation that Ive ever seen," he told a room full of Israel-supporting students at the Israel on Campus Coalition Summit, some of whom applauded the remark.OBAMA ISSUES RARE STATEMENT ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE"If I have like a normal constituent who comes to me, is not anti-Israel, is not anti-Semitic, but expresses this concern about hunger in Gaza, I cannot tell her there's no issue," he said. "I cannot deny it. I cannot downplay that."The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that 60,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israels offensive campaign in Gaza to eradicate Hamas, and 154 have died from lack of food. President Donald Trump this week acknowledged theres "real starvation" in Gaza due to food shortages.Torres said that while he doesnt hold Israel responsible for that starvation, "I feel like we should be doing everything we can to ease the human suffering in Gaza."He claimed that Israel is held to a "double standard" because "no other country has been and has been expected to deliver food to its adversaries."PRO-ISRAEL DEM SAYS THOSE WHO WON'T DECRY HAMAS OVER OCT. 7 ATTACK 'HAVE NO BUSINESS' POSING AS HUMANITARIANSAid has been trickling into Gaza through the Israel-partnered Gaza Humanitarian Fund, which, since operations began on May 27, the group says has delivered more than 97 million meals.That "definitely contradicts the narrative that there's a deliberate policy of starvation," Torres said.However, Israeli forces guard distribution sites, and the United Nations which opposes GHF claims over 1,000 Palestinians have died seeking aid through the group. GHF, in turn, argues the U.N.s aid distribution has been entirely ineffective: U.N. data shows that only 8% of U.N. aid has reached its destination without being looted in the last 10 weeks, according to a Reuters report.Israel has said there is no widespread famine in Gaza, asserting photos are misleading or of isolated cases, but has started to pause fighting in large swathes of the strip for 10 hours a day to allow for a surge of aid by land and air.A ceasefire and hostage deal has so far evaded Israel and Hamas leadership. White House envoy Steve Witkoff is on his way to Israel for negotiations as of Wednesday, Axios reported.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his explanation for kicking Jeffrey Epstein out of his Florida home after revealing the disgraced financier "did something that was inappropriate" years before his arrest.Speaking to reporters while onboard Air Force 1 in Scotland on Tuesday, the president further elaborated on his revelation that Epstein "stole" workers employed at his Mar-a-Lago estate years ago, ultimately leading to the pairs eventual fallout."He took people," Trump said. "I said, Dont do that anymore, you know, they work for me. And he took beyond that. He took some others. And once he did that, that was the end of him."JEFFREY EPSTEIN THROWN OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO FOR HIRING THE HELP: TRUMPEpstein was then banned from Mar-a-Lago, Trump said.The two men reportedly stopped speaking in 2004 after Trump outbid Epstein in a bankruptcy auction for a coastal Florida estate, according to The Palm Beach Post. Epstein was arrested by the Palm Beach Police Department two years later after a grand jury indicted him on a single charge of soliciting prostitution.Trump explained Epstein poached several young women employed at his estates spa, including high-profile Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre."I think she worked at the spa," Trump told reporters. "He stole her, and by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know, none whatsoever."The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.GHISLAINE MAXWELL ASKS SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN CONVICTION CITING EPSTEIN IMMUNITY DEALGiuffre, who died by suicide in March, was a key figure in advocating for Epsteins arrest. She had said she was recruited to be Epsteins masseuse by Ghislaine Maxwell while she was employed at Mar-a-Lago.While Giuffre was not involved in Epsteins criminal prosecutions, she remained central to the case.Trumps statements came one day after he told reporters he "never had the privilege of going to [Epsteins] island.""I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island," Trump said during a Monday meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. "In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didnt want to go to his island."TRUMP DROPS EPSTEIN-LINKED NAMES THAT MEDIA OUGHT TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT AMID FILES FIRESTORMMaxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in procuring young girls for the disgraced financier.Last week, Maxwell was subpoenaed to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee regarding the scope of Epsteins crimes. Maxwells legal team has since said she will only speak if granted immunity, which the panel rejected."The Oversight Committee will respond to Ms. Maxwells attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony," a spokesperson said.JEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE REOPENS FOCUS ON GHISLAINE MAXWELL AS DEPUTY AG STEPS INJust days later, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche traveled to Florida to meet with Maxwell at a federal courthouse, where she answered questions regarding Epstein, according to her attorney.Additionally, Maxwells legal team filed a brief on Monday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of her 2021 conviction. Her attorneys claim she should have been included in a 2007 non-prosecution deal Epstein made with authorities that spared him from facing federal charges in Florida.The Department of Justice has asserted that the agreement did not encompass Maxwell.EPSTEIN, MAXWELL GRAND JURIES RELIED ON TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITNESSES, DOJ FILING REVEALSThe Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss taking up Maxwells appeal on Sept. 29.Maxwells legal team has also said she would "openly and honestly, in public," if granted a pardon by Trump a move the president acknowledged is within his rights to consider but added that he has not been asked to do so yet."She welcomes the opportunity to share the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case from the beginning," Maxwells lawyers previously said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The World Athletics Council announced Wednesday that athletes wishing to compete in female categories at the World Championships are required to undergo a "once-in-a-lifetime test" for eligibility.The test will be for the SRY gene, "a reliable proxy for determining biological sex" with a cheek swab or blood test, the organization said in a release."The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women's sport. It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling. The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology."The organization announced the potential test in March, when Coe said the testing was "necessary" to protect women's sports.The specific gene "provides instructions for making a protein called the sex-determining region Y protein. This protein is involved in male-typical sex development, which usually follows a certain pattern based on an individual's chromosomes," according to Medline Plus.Coe, who was in the running to become the International Olympic Committee chief, said in November the Olympics needed a clear policy to protect female sports.World Athletics, the governing body for track and field sports around the globe, tightened its regulations on trans athletes to exclude transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category.Since the organization decided on this testing months ago, the NCAA has faced calls to enact similar protocols. The NCAA changed its requirements on transgender athletes competing in female sports shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order.Trump signed the "No Men in Womens Sports" executive order in February to keep biological males from playing in girls and womens sports. The NCAA said a "student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a womens team."The previous policy, which had been in place in 2010, allowed biological males to compete in the women's category after undergoing at least one year of testosterone suppression treatment.Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Freshly back from his vacation to Uganda, Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani dodged reporters questions Wednesday morning on a mass shooting that killed four, including 36-year-old NYPD officer Didarul Islam.Mamdani, a socialist who has previously called for defunding the police and for disbanding the special unit that responds to mass shootings, met with the officers family Wednesday morning but avoided questions from reporters after the meeting. The candidate spent an hour with Islams family, according to the New York Post.He was photographed hugging one of the deceased officers family members as he left.FLASHBACK: ZOHRAN MAMDANI PLEDGED TO 'DISBAND' KEY POLICE UNIT THAT HANDLES MASS SHOOTINGSOn Monday evening a lone gunman, later identified as Shane Tamura, walked into a Midtown Manhattan office building and opened fire, killing four people before turning the gun on himself.The four people killed in the shooting were identified as Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, security guard Aland Etienne and Julia Hyman, an associate at Rudin Management.While still in Uganda, Mamdani responded to the shooting by saying, "Im heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts."NYC SOCIALIST WOULD-BE MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI THROWS LAVISH WEDDING BASH IN UGANDAIn light of the tragedy, however, Mamdani is getting renewed attention for a recent pledge to eliminate the NYPDs Strategic Response Group, a key police department responsible for riots, civil disorder and shootings.In December, Mamdani claimed that the NYPD had deployed the SRG to "harass + arrest striking @teamsters."Mamdani pledged: "As Mayor, I will disband the SRG, which has cost taxpayers millions in lawsuit settlements + brutalized countless New Yorkers exercising their first amendment rights."MAMDANI'S PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' STANCE RESURFACES AFTER DEADLY MANHATTAN SHOOTINGMamdani is holding a news conference regarding the shooting on Wednesday afternoon.

Most of Marylands congressional delegation joined forces to gain access to what Sen. Angela Alsobrooks described as a "shameful, secret place" where ICE detainees were being processed in Baltimore.Alsobrooks and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the latter of whom made deported suspected human trafficker Kilmar Garcia a cause clbre, joined Reps. Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore, Johnny Olszewski Jr. of Baltimore County, Sarah Elfreth of Elkridge and Glenn Ivey of Prince Georges at the facility.The scene resembled a more peaceful version of a similar visit by several New Jersey lawmakers to an ICE detention facility in Newark, where Rep. LaMonica McIver was arrested for allegedly accosting officers.Unlike Newarks jail-type complex, the Baltimore ICE office is more contained within the larger George Fallon federal building near Charles Center.DEMOCRATS CELEBRATE RETURN OF SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKER KILMAR ABREGO GARCIAOfficials said the office is also a processing center and not a detention facility, with small numbers of detainees being matriculated through at any one time.Alsobrooks told reporters she wanted to "shine a light [on] evil that is persisting in darkness," while Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said the participants simply wanted a "publicity stunt" in order to be featured on network news.In separate remarks, Alsobrooks added it is Congress job to make sure the Baltimore detainees treatment is "not inhumane" and that overall the episode was "distressing."She said several doors were locked, employees covered their faces and a woman who identified herself as a facility director could not offer lawmakers a hard count of who was being held there."We will continue to insist that the humanity of the people who are housed in those facilities will be respected," she added.Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told "Special Report" on Tuesday that Democrats are to blame for the high number of criminal aliens released in Maryland particularly in Prince Georges County. Alsobrooks previously served as the county executive, and Ivey currently represents the area in the House.GRAHAM MOCKS DEMOCRATS AS DEA CHIEF PICK CONFIRMS MS-13 GANG TATTOOSDHS Secretary Kristi Noem also fired back at the delegation on X, saying Van Hollen was "protecting monsters over American victims," highlighting four illegal immigrants arrested on charges including possession of child porn, sexual abuse of a minor and conspiracy to commit murder.But the Maryland Democrats appeared undeterred."This president doesnt give a rats a-- about any of us," Alsobrooks said, while Mfume added at a press conference that DHS denial of a tour violates a law allowing federal lawmakers to conduct oversight of immigration facilities and that ICEs actions do not "bode well here in Baltimore.""It's another sad day here with the Trump administration and their decisions to do illegal activities and ignore the Constitution," Ivey said while standing outside the Fallon building."When I got turned away from the door in El Salvador [to visit Garcia], I wasn't surprised because that's basically an authoritarian regime. But I was really disappointed that that's going to happen here in the United States of America, that you'd get the same reaction you would in a third-world country."Two members of Marylands delegation did not participate in the Baltimore ICE visit.Rep. April McClain-Delaney, a Democrat who represents the deep-red Maryland panhandle and some wealthy liberal Washington suburbs, did not travel with the delegation.Neither did the Old Line States last remaining federal Republican officeholder.House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, who represents Ocean City, instead lambasted the spectacle and said he stands with immigration enforcement authorities.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"These Maryland lawmakers didnt lift a finger to stop illegal immigrants and MS-13 gangs from pouring into our state, but now theyre staging sit-in stunts for cameras to keep illegals in Maryland," Harris tweeted."Spare us the show."Alsobrooks appeared to slam Harris in response, according to Maryland Matters, suggesting that as the lone Marylander aligned with the White House, he should be advocating for denied FEMA monies for victims of major flooding in Cumberland and Luke."It would be great to be able to get his assistance in getting the disaster relief that people need," she said, as CBS News reported the relatively conservative populace there is "frustrated" with Trump.Trump said in June that he wants to "wean off" FEMA disbursements and shift the burden to states similar to plans for the education bureaucracy.Fox News Chad Pergram and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

Canceled late-night host Samantha Bee admitted Tuesday that Stephen Colberts late-night show "hemorrhaging" money and viewers is the main reason its getting canceled.Bee, whose TBS late-night program, "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," was canceled in 2022, reacted to CBS announcing the end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on the "Breaking Bread with Tom Papa" podcast."You know, these legacy shows, like they are hemorrhaging money with no real end to that in sight," she told the host, comedian Tom Papa.SCHIFF, WARREN DEMAND TO KNOW IF CBS IS ENDING STEPHEN COLBERT'S LATE SHOW FOR POLITICAL REASONSCBS announced earlier this month that it would cancel "The Late Show" next May at the end of its broadcast season, clarifying that the cancellation was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."A report from Puck News journalist Matt Belloni revealed that Colberts show lost "more than $40 million a year."Many prominent liberals and Democratic figures have speculated the network had cut the show for political reasons, a notion both Papa and Bee said could be the case, but they also admitted that the show was a financial drain that no one was watching.Papa said, "I mean the show loses $40 million a year.""Yep," Bee replied."So thats a reality," the host said. Bee agreed: "Thats a reality."TWITTER BIDS GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE TO SAMANTHA BEE'S TBS SHOW: THE DEATH OF COMEDY IN ONE SHOW"The parent company is trying to curry favor with the president. So thats a reality," he added.Bee replied, "Yeah, I think both things are true. I think both things are just true and real. Like it definitely was hemorrhaging money."Papa agreed and Bee continued, saying that "legacy shows" like Colberts and other late-night hosts are floundering financially.She then went on to note that people are not watching these shows like they used to."People are just not tuning in remotely, comparatively to how they used to. Well, people are literally on their phones all the time for one thing, so they dont necessarily need a recap of the days events. Theyre very well-versed in what has happened," Bee added.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREReferencing the popular Netflix thriller "Squid Games," Bee quipped that people would "really rather watch like people just absolutely murder each other in a South Korean game show just like watching people fall off cliffs to relax at night before nodding off."Elsewhere, Bee mentioned how President Donald Trump having to sign off on a merger between CBSs parent company, Paramount, and Skydance, probably exerted some pressure on the network to do something about Colbert, whose show is very anti-Trump."It is also true that when the president of the United States has to give his sign-off on a corporate merger, the thing you cant do is make jokes about him. Hes a thin-skinned idiot. And we know, hes like a pernicious cancer."For that reason as well, she told Papa it was a "no-brainer" that the network decided to let Colberts show go.

The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it would be officially imposing sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the jurist leading a criminal investigation against former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.News of the sanctions comes after President Trump threatened a 50% tariff on products from Brazil unless the country stopped what Trump has described as an "unjust" and politically motivated case against Bolsonaro that is charging the former Brazilian president with organizing an attempted coup. A notice announcing the sanctions from the Treasury Department alleged De Moraes has been using his position to authorize "arbitrary" pre-trial detentions, suppress freedom of speech and target political opponents."Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies," Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutionsincluding against former President Jair Bolsonaro.""Todays action makes clear that Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten U.S. interests and the freedoms of our citizens," Bessent added.TRUMP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END TO UNJUST TRIAL OF FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONAROAs a result of the sanctions, all of De Moraes's property and assets that are located within the United States, or that are in the possession of any U.S. persons, have been frozen. That also includes any assets where De Moraes has a 50% or more stake.Any corporations or financial institutions that engage in certain transactions or activities deemed to violate the sanctions against De Morae also risk exposure to sanctions themselves, the Treasury Department also indicated.The Trump administration's sanctions against De Moraes stem from the president's first-term Executive Order 13818, which declared a national emergency with respect to human rights abuses and corruption around the world. The 2017 executive order, according to the Treasury Department, builds on the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act passed in 2016, which allows the president and the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to impose sanctions on foreign officials responsible for human rights violations.TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEFENDS US AND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY WITH NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST FOUR ICC JUDGESRumors the U.S. might levy sanctions targeting De Moraes were reported earlier this month as Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo, was reportedly working closely with the White House to push the United States to impose sanctions. De Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice, has been leading the case against Bolsonaro, steering key developments in the case as its official "rapporteur," which followed an 884-page report by the Brazilian Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet detailing a scheme alleging Bolsonaro and 33 others participated in a plan to remain in power despite losing to currentPresident Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.The case against Bolsonaro alleges the attempted coup involved the systematic sowing of national distrust in the electoral system among the populace, drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legality, and pressuring top military brass to go along with the plan and inciting a riot in the capital.A panel of justices on Brazils Supreme Court accepted the charges against Bolsonaro in March, and ultimately ordered the former leader to stand trial. All five justices ruled in favor of accepting the charges, which included accusations involving a plan to poison Bolsonaro's successor and kill a Supreme Court judge.