Kimmel’s Bromance With Disgraced Eric Swalwell Burns Out, But Pro-Dem Bias Remains
Late-night broadcast television has become a wasteland of one-party rule that is long overdue for regulatory correction.Late-night broadcast television has become a wasteland of one-party rule that is long overdue for regulatory correction.'I think it's time': The 4 words that reportedly fired Bondi, and Trump's possible picks to replace her
President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on a short ride to the Supreme Court on Wednesday with just four words, a report says, and now rumors about her potential replacement are swirling around Washington.
Trump reportedly told Bondi, "I think it's time," to notify her of her firing the day before formally announcing her removal in a Truth Social post. Trump later announced her departure on Thursday, calling her a "Great American Patriot and a loyal friend" but reportedly privately expressing frustration with the lack of prosecutions against Democrats and her botched handling of the Epstein files.
'I'm not going anywhere.'
Needless to say, Bondi had become a sore spot for the administration, prompting her to become the second departure from Trump's Cabinet following former Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem.
Trump has since announced that Todd Blanche, Bondi's former deputy, would temporarily step in as attorney general while the president continues weighing his options to fill the slot long-term.
Trump's top pick continues to be EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who met with the president on Tuesday, according to one administration official. The meeting was about an unrelated topic, but the official told Blaze News that Trump floated the idea of Zeldin replacing Bondi. The next day, Trump informed Bondi of her firing.
RELATED: Bondi is OUT — and Trump already has a replacement in mind
While Zeldin is widely regarded to be the top choice, Trump has not yet made a formal announcement.
Other names have been circulating, although most of them would be considered long shots. Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas had been floated by onlookers, both of whom would likely sail through Senate confirmation. Critics quickly called out anonymously cited senators endorsing Lee for the role, saying they just want to get rid of one of the most conservative lawmakers.
"Senators who prefer working two and a half days a week are probably Lee’s biggest cheerleaders in taking another job," a senior Republican source told Blaze News.
Lee later set the record straight in a post on X, saying, "I'm not going anywhere."
RELATED: Bondi speaks out after ouster, still may have to testify before Congress
Another rumored candidate to be top cop has been Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently running a fierce campaign to oust Republican Sen. John Cornyn. The two have been facing off in a high-stakes primary that Trump was expected to weigh in on but so far has not done so.
Although Paxton is popular with the base, he would have to first be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on which his opponent sits. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina would also be a challenging committee vote to secure, not to mention Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who have known to defect on key floor votes.
Other possible candidates are some of Bondi's top DOJ officials, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and even Blanche. While Blanche has assumed the role in the interim, he has shut the door on any future Epstein investigation, telling Fox News that "it should not be a part of anything going forward."
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Bondi is OUT — and Trump already has a replacement in mind
President Donald Trump has officially fired Pam Bondi from her post as attorney general, and another administration official is expected to replace her.
Several reports indicated that Bondi's firing was imminent after months of prolonged scrutiny, particularly over her mishandling of the Epstein files, which quickly became an Achilles' heel for the administration. An administration official told Blaze News that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is Trump's top pick to replace Bondi after the two met and discussed the role on Tuesday.
'We love Pam.'
Bondi is expected to become the second Cabinet official to leave the administration, following the departure of former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump announced in a Truth Social post. "Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900."
RELATED: 'Catching you red-handed!' Massie gets sassy with Bondi over Epstein redactions
"We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General," Trump added. "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Tensions over the attorney general's performance reached a fever pitch after Bondi apparently failed to adequately comply with the law, which Trump himself signed, requiring the release of all Epstein files, prompting calls for her removal.
RELATED: Trump makes big appearance in Epstein files — just not the way Democrats may have hoped
Critics noted that the release of these files was repeatedly delayed and that the files had been at times improperly redacted to protect potential co-conspirators while revealing the identity of alleged victims. In a heated House Oversight hearing back in February, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) ripped into Bondi over the Epstein files rollout, saying it was "literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors."
During this hearing, Bondi also attempted to argue that the Epstein files were just another Democrat ploy to distract from Trump's accomplishments, infamously noting that the Dow Jones had surpassed 50,000 points.
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House GOP subpoenas Pam Bondi over Epstein files
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi Tuesday over her handling of the Epstein files.
The committee voted to approve the subpoena requiring Bondi to appear for a deposition over the Department of Justice's handling of the investigation and in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In the subpoena, Comer said Bondi's deposition could "inform legislative solutions" to improve the government's response to sex trafficking and to "reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements" related to sex crimes.
'This subpoena is completely unnecessary.'
Although the subpoena refrained from harshly criticizing Bondi, it was ultimately greenlit on March 4 by committee Republicans who have expressed concerns about Bondi's leadership.
Every committee Democrat voted in favor of the subpoena, as well as Republican Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Michael Cloud of Texas, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
RELATED: Joe Kent resigns from Trump admin, says Israel forced US into Iran conflict
The DOJ called the subpoena "completely unnecessary," arguing that Bondi has "made herself available" to lawmakers with respect to the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“This subpoena is completely unnecessary," a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement. "Lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files for themselves at the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress."
RELATED: Watch: Bill Clinton defends Trump in Epstein deposition video
"She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow," the spokesperson added. "As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts.”
Bondi is now called on to appear before the committee on April 14.
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Epstein files were allegedly compromised by foreign hacker in 2023; FBI admits 'cyber incident'
The FBI Field Office in New York produced myriad documents pertaining to its criminal probe into child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested in a Feb. 17, 2025, letter to FBI Director Kash Patel that "thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein" were stored on site there.
Some of these documents were allegedly compromised in a hack years before the Department of Justice began publishing the heavily redacted Epstein files.
Reuters' source suggested that the hack appears to have been executed by a 'cybercriminal' rather than a foreign government.
The bureau revealed in 2023 that it was investigating a hack of its computer network, which it characterized as an "isolated incident that has been contained."
Multiple sources briefed on the matter told CNN at the time that FBI officials suspected the incident involved a bureau computer system used in the investigations of images of child sexual exploitation.
Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter and recently published DOJ documents, reported on Wednesday that the hack entailed a foreign actor's targeting of files related to the FBI's investigation of Epstein.
The hack reportedly took place after a server at the New York FBI office's Child Exploitation Forensic Lab was allegedly left exposed by Special Agent Aaron Spivack, who did not return Reuters' numerous requests for comment but has previously issued a voluminous statement on the matter.
Among the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in recent months is a 2024 statement from Spivack in which he addresses the allegations that he "improperly stored digital evidence at his residence"; "improperly handled, documented, and stored digital evidence and failed to secure [child sexual abuse material] within policy, resulting in a cyber intrusion"; and "exceeded the limits of his authority by contracting an outside company to develop computer software on behalf of the FBI."
Spivack — who apparently participated in the Epstein investigation — stated that the cyber "intrusion" happened on Feb. 12, 2023.
After logging into his computer to find a .txt file indicating that his network had been compromised, Spivack claimed that he ran an anti-virus sweep, which identified a potential threat. He said that he was unable, however, to remove the threat, as his "administrative privileges had been removed."
Spivack notified some of his colleagues, attempting to rectify the issue, then noticed that the main server was down, that other servers were malfunctioning, and that "the folders that contain our data was missing."
According to Spivack's timeline, he and others later noticed "strange IP activity that took place [on Feb. 12] from two IP addresses."
"The activity included combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation," stated Spivack.
It's unclear what particular files were accessed and whether they were downloaded, reported Reuters.
By 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2023, Spivack said, "we realized we were hacked."
The FBI reiterated that the "cyber incident" was an "isolated one" and said in a statement obtained by Reuters that "the FBI restricted access to the malicious actor and rectified the network. The investigation remains ongoing, so we do not have further comments to provide at this time."
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
Reuters' source suggested:
- that the hack appears to have been executed by a "cybercriminal" rather than a foreign government;
- that the hacker did not appear to realize he or she had hacked a law enforcement server; and
- that the hacker expressed revulsion at the presence of child sexual abuse images on the device and threatened to turn its owner over to the FBI.
The hacker — whom the FBI allegedly spoke to on video chat but was unable to identify or locate — may have acted alone, but Jon Lindsay, an associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, suggested that the hack demonstrates the files' potential intelligence value.
"Who wouldn’t be going after the Epstein files if you’re the Russians or somebody interested in kompromat?" Lindsay told Reuters. "If foreign intelligence agencies are not thinking seriously about the Epstein files as a target, then I would be shocked."
Reuters indicated it was unable to "establish the result of the bureau's internal investigation" regarding Spivack or connect with FBI agents identified in the documents as being involved in the investigation.
Spivack stressed in his 2024 statement, "I have rescued more exploited children than anyone in the NYFO and in most of the Bureau. All I wanted to do was to better the Bureau. I did not know how to do everything right, but I always did the right thing and everything I did was with good intentions. I love this job. I was not reckless."
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DB Sweeney: 'Protector' star finds Hollywood longevity without selling his soul
A young D.B. Sweeney circled a juicy role in the 1989 miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” based on the best-seller by Larry McMurtry.
Sweeney later demurred, opting for a somewhat smaller part. Why? Playing “Dish” Boggett meant sharing scenes with Robert Duvall. And that, he figured, would be priceless.
'There’s so much desperation. People want to be famous so bad, that energy leads to some dark pathways.'
Good call.
Lessons from a master
“He was my hero,” Sweeney tells Align of the legendary actor, who passed away at 95 last month. “I learned more from film acting from him than anybody else.”
Sweeney marveled at Duvall’s meticulous approach to his craft, like hiring a real-life tracker at his own expense so that he could better capture that skill set for a single scene. Duvall also called in a “quick-draw specialist” to hone his skills with a firearm.
“He wasn’t just being thorough or method-y,” Sweeney says. “It was all very specific to what his character is going to do in the movie.”
And, Sweeney adds, Duvall had fun along the way. Always.
Those lessons hit home for the rising star, who landed key roles early in his career with films like “Gardens of Stone” (1987), “Eight Men Out” (1988), and “The Cutting Edge” (1992).
Troubling subject
He’s been working ever since, including a part in 2024’s “Megalopolis,” Francis Ford Coppola’s return to filmmaking after a 13-year pause.
Now, he’s co-starring in “Protector,” an action yarn hitting theaters today in which a military veteran (Milla Jovovich) is forced to use her skills to save her daughter from human traffickers. Sweeney describes his role as like the corrupt cop Brian Dennehy played in 1982’s “First Blood.”
He says the new film has some of that Sylvester Stallone hit in its creative DNA, along with the 2008 smash “Taken.” The troubling subject matter hit home for Sweeney, from the unending Epstein files saga to his own experience around major cultural events.
“It’s a huge problem,” he says of sex trafficking.
“Protector” casts Jovovich as a heroine who uses her military background for good. It’s a far cry from how Hollywood depicted soldiers during the 2000s, a time when many films showed the darkest side of the U.S. military.
Think “Redacted” (2007), “Lions for Lambs” (2007), and “Green Zone” (2010).
Nailing the details
More recent films like “Thank You for Your Service” (2017) and “American Sniper” (2014) showed a more balanced side to the modern soldier. Sweeney credits part of that shift to studios leaning on military veterans as advisers. That not only helps nail the smaller details but influences storytelling in general.
That has impacted him, too.
He worked on the CBS series “Jericho,” a postapocalyptic thriller that relied on military veterans for military accuracy. Sweeney bonded with the veterans advising the show along the way.
At 64, Sweeney is still working in an industry that’s convulsing under the weight of new technologies and streaming wars. AI fears aren’t make-believe, he warns.
“I’m worried about actors being replaced with digital avatars. That’s a real thing,” he says. It helps that “Protector” relied on old-school stunt work over CGI trickery. He says that’s what could help his fellow artists: a reliance on authenticity over digital ones and zeroes.
“It’s one thing AI can’t master,” he says.
Mega moviemaking
His time on the set of “Megalopolis” reminded him how hard it can be to shoot a film, above and beyond the standard-issue struggles like budget constraints and evasive sunlight. The film endured brutal headlines tied to sexual harassment allegations against the 80-something Coppola.
Sweeney, who first worked with the legendary director on “Gardens of Stone,” has the auteur’s back.
“I was there almost every day. He’s a hugger,” he says of Coppola. “He doesn’t have a pervy bone in his body.”
Those salacious reports, plus talk of the film’s massive budget ($120 million), hurt the film’s box office tally.
“The movie got put into a box before anyone has seen it,” he says.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: DB Sweeney on surviving Hollywood and moving to 'Megalopolis'
Staying in the light
Some actors who came of age alongside Sweeney saw Hollywood’s seedy side. Think Charlie Sheen, his co-star in “Eight Men Out.” Sheen is currently on a comeback of sorts after years of hard living and outlandish behavior.
Sweeney didn’t follow that path, but he saw it all the same.
“I was invited to all the biggest parties, a dark underbelly with drugs and sex. … I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew this is not for me,” he says. “I gravitated toward using my celebrity for sports tickets. That’s a much more wholesome world to me.”
Others weren’t so fortunate, and he understands why.
“There’s so much desperation. People want to be famous so bad, that energy leads to some dark pathways. You’ll do anything to get that fame,” he says. “People talk about selling their soul to Satan for fame. It’s figuratively true.”
Bill Gates’ double affair admission: Glenn Beck says he could be the first American jailed over Epstein — here’s why
Following the Department of Justice’s third and largest Epstein file dump, Bill Gates admitted to having two affairs — one with a Russian bridge player and another with a Russian nuclear physicist.
These confessions might land the tech billionaire in hotter water than the kind that results from typical cheating scandals, Glenn Beck says.
“This is not about infidelity,” he says, but rather about a potential “honeypot operation.”
Gates’ unfaithfulness is neither a “private” nor a “personal” matter, Glenn says, because the bridge player, Mila Antonova, whom Gates admitted to having an affair with, “was financially assisted by Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein had already been convicted of sex crimes.”
“According to the DOJ released emails, Epstein attempted to use that relationship to pressure Bill Gates. That’s not gossip. That’s leverage,” he explains.
But there’s another layer that paints an even more compelling picture: “Antonova, the Russian bridge player, she was photographed with Anna Chapman,” who was “part of a Russian spy ring that was rolled up by the FBI in 2010,” Glenn says, adding that Chapman is “the daughter of a former KGB officer [and] deported intelligence asset.”
The suggestion that these two women are “hanging out” sounds both “dangerous and strategic,” he argues.
“Because Bill Gates is not just one of the wealthiest men in the world. His foundation influences global health policy. ... His technology platforms, even worse, are embedded in our government systems. He has real relationships tied to military and federal contracts,” Glenn declares. “He’s not a private citizen. He is a national security interest and risk.”
He then paints a hypothetical but chilling picture: “A wealthy American titan in a compromising relationship with a foreign national, facilitated or financially entangled by a convicted blackmailer with global connections.”
He asks pointedly: “If you were running an intelligence service in Russia, what would you call that? I would call that a honeypot operation.”
“If you were looking for leverage over someone with global vaccine influence, agricultural control, networks, data, infrastructure access, advisory roles across all kinds of administrations (his systems are tied into our Pentagon and everything else), you don’t need proof of wrongdoing. You’d only need the threat of exposure,” he adds.
“This is the convergence of Russian nationals, Epstein leverage attempts, ... known intelligence-linked figures, government and military influence, and financial entanglement. That’s a very wicked brew.”
While none of this suggests that Gates is guilty of “espionage” or was “knowingly part a foreign plot,” it does suggest something else, Glenn says: “He was in the position where someone could apply pressure.”
Given Gates’ connections to government, military, the Pentagon, and AI development, the mere possibility that he was susceptible to foreign manipulation could be cause for prosecution, Glenn suggests.
Since similar scandals have already rocked powerful people in Europe and elsewhere, he wonders if accountability is finally “coming home to America,” where thus far, no elites have faced criminal charges or prosecution for ties to Epstein.
Will Gates be the first?
To hear more of Glenn’s analysis, watch the video above.
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