Lara Trump to step down from RNC post amid rumored Senate bid



Lara Trump announced that she will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee amid a speculated Senate run in the state of Florida.

Lara was first elected to serve as RNC co-chair alongside Michael Whatley in March of this year, replacing former chair Ronna McDaniel. Lara is now reportedly eyeing the Florida Senate seat following President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Republican Sen. Marco Rubio to serve as secretary of state in the incoming administration.

Lara is among the potential candidates to replace Rubio, confirming to the Associated Press on Sunday that she would 'seriously consider' the Senate bid.

Since stepping into her role at the RNC, Lara set her sights on surpassing fundraising records, ramping up election integrity measures, and increasing turnout of low-propensity voters.

"We accomplished all three," Lara said in a Sunday post on X. "The job I came to do is now complete and I intend to formally step down from the RNC at our next meeting."

This announcement came less than a month after Rubio's appointment sparked rumors about potential successors. Given Rubio's likely confirmation, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida will have to appoint a successor who will serve in the Senate through 2026 before holding a special election to fill the seat through 2028.

Lara is among the potential candidates to replace Rubio, confirming to the Associated Press on Sunday that she would "seriously consider" the Senate bid.

“If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like," Lara said of the potential Senate appointment. "And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it."

Florida is now facing a total of three congressional vacancies. In addition to Rubio, Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz and former Rep. Matt Gaetz were both tapped to serve in the upcoming administration. Gaetz, who was recruited for attorney general, resigned from the House after his nomination and later withdrew his bid altogether. Waltz was nominated to serve as national security adviser and has stated that he will resign on January 20, the day of Trump's inauguration.

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Social media influencer nearly gets away with Target thefts, but cops notice her flaunting shoplifted goods on TikTok: Police



A Florida mom allegedly stole several items from Target by using a barcode trick — but police said she posted incriminating evidence on her popular TikTok account that alerted authorities to her purported crimes.

Marlena Velez, 22, hosts a TikTok page that boasts more than 356,000 followers and receives millions of views. Her "marlenavelezz" account features mom content with her two small children and also highlights products.

'She essentially incriminated herself.'

But the Cape Coral Police Department accused her of stealing hundreds of dollars in merchandise from a Target store.

The alleged caper commenced Oct. 30 when the loss prevention team at a Target in Cape Coral caught a woman using the self-checkout register without scanning the products' actual barcodes. Instead, the woman allegedly scanned a fake barcode with cheaper prices.

Police in a press release: "Sixteen items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen. The total loss of the stolen items was valued at $500.32. Officers verified this with Target’s security cameras."

Police shared a video screenshot of the suspect on its social media pages and asked the public to help identify the unknown woman.

An anonymous tipster saw the social media post and identified the suspect as Velez. The tipster also provided police with her social media accounts.

"Officers then found Marlena’s TikTok account, which documents her getting ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to Target," the police said in a statement. "Marlena documents herself picking out items inside the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store."

The Oct. 30 TikTok post appears to have been deleted from her social media account, but police downloaded the incriminating video before it was scrubbed from her page.

Police on Nov. 21 arrested Velez, and she was booked into the Lee County Jail.

She was charged with one count of petit theft of more than $100, less than $750.

“She essentially incriminated herself,” Officer Riley Carter, the police department's spokesperson, told the Express Tribune. “Social media gave us an unexpected lead, which expedited her identification and subsequent arrest.”

Velez reportedly has a history of theft.

WBBH-TV reported that she was arrested in 2019 for allegedly stealing her friend's car and crashing it.

Amanda Santana — Velez's former high school friend — told the news outlet, “I went to the parking lot, and I’m looking around for my car, and I can’t find it, so I actually, like double-checked, looked on every side, and I was like, 'Where is my car?'”

Santana continued, "We figured out that she went and crashed my car and totaled it into a ditch at a Dunkin' on Cape Coral Parkway."

Police confirmed that the then-17-year-old Velez was arrested in October 2019 and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.

Santana claimed, “There's a restitution that she has not paid for. And actually, not even a dime that she has paid for."

In July 2023, police records show Velez was arrested for shoplifting kitchen items worth $63 from a Walmart in Cape Coral.

The police report noted that security camera footage captured "a female, later identified as Marlena Velez, in the self-checkout under ringing items by scanning one item, then placing another item underneath the scanned item ..."

Velez pleaded no contest to the charges and completed an anti-theft course. She was on probation for six months until last month.

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'He has his own agenda': Mark Zuckerberg dines with Trump — does he want to make America great again?



Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg reportedly had dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Florida golf club on the day before Thanksgiving.

Zuckerberg was first spotted on the property around 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time before reports were confirmed later in the evening.

A Meta spokesperson told CBS News that Zuckerberg was "grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner and the opportunity to meet with members of his team about the incoming Administration."

Stephen Miller, Trump's former adviser and now deputy chief of staff, said that while Zuckerberg has his own interests, he assured the Trump team that he's hoping to help revive the country.

"Mark, obviously, he has his own interest, and he has his own company, and he has his own agenda,” Miller said in an interview, according to the Associated Press. "But he's made clear that he wants to support the national renewal of America under Trump’s leadership."

— (@)

The relationship between Trump and Zuckerberg has been a contentious one, with Trump being kicked off Facebook after January 6, 2021, with the social media platform claiming that his posts had potentially encouraged violence. Trump's account was then restored in 2023 but with reported "guardrails."

Any restrictions were allegedly lifted in July, before Trump's 2024 election victory, potentially allowing Trump to reach his combined 65 million followers across Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta.

That same month, Trump posted a warning on Truth Social that he considered sending those committing election fraud to prison, directly referencing Zuckerberg.

"If I’m elected President, we will pursue Election Fraudsters at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time. We already know who you are. DON’T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!" Trump wrote.

Prior to Trump's re-election, UFC fighters Michael Chandler and Jorge Masvidal pontificated on why Zuckerberg has seemingly made a shift in his attitude since being interviewed by Joe Rogan and appearing at UFC events.

"I just think Zuck started training, that testosterone started going through the roof. ... He realized what being a sovereign individual means," Chandler explained. "You don't know how not sovereign you are until you stand in front of a man, and he beats the crap out of you, and then you pick yourself back up and you do it again, or you get choked out and then you got to get up and do it again."

Chandler continued, "I think Zuck has started to realize that, and now he's starting to lean over [to the right] a little bit."

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'What a farce': Gov. DeSantis slams California's ongoing vote counting weeks after election



Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized California on Wednesday for its ongoing ballot counting weeks after the November 5 election.

DeSantis wrote in a post on X, "We are on the eve of Thanksgiving and California still hasn't finished counting votes. Post-election day ballot 'dumps' continue to net Democrat votes over two GOP incumbents."

'No one believes this isn't completely shady.'

He raised concerns that the ongoing ballot counting could reduce the Republican House majority to "a razor thin" margin of 220-215.

“What a farce,” DeSantis declared.

The Republican National Committee reported that it has already filed lawsuits against several states, including California, for counting mail-in ballots after Election Day.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley called it "absurd." He noted that California allows ballots received a week after Election Day to be counted, adding that it has taken the state "almost a month to count them."

"Every vote in every state matters, and the RNC will work with our state parties and candidates to ensure Election Integrity across the country. It is clear that we need real election reforms to Protect the Vote in California," Whatley declared in a post on X.

He stated that the RNC and the California Republican Party "have been on the ground with attorneys and observers across the state throughout the process of voting, curing, and counting."

Fox News Digital reported that the RNC partnered with the National Republican Congressional Committee and Elon Musk's America PAC to launch a ballot-curing operation in California.

Gates McGavick, senior adviser to Whatley, told the news outlet, "The RNC, NRCC, and CAGOP's election integrity operation was on the ground in California before Election Day, on Election Day, and has continued working ever since November 5th. Our attorneys and trained volunteers are in place to ensure transparency throughout the election process."

The vast majority of voters in California opt to mail in their ballots, which has reportedly slowed down the tabulating process. During the 2022 election, nearly 90% of the votes cast were via mail-in ballots.

Due to California's prolonged ballot counting, several local races still have not been called, including House bids for the 13th and 45th Congressional Districts.

Former Acting Director of U.S. National Intelligence Richard Grenell commented on the sluggish vote counting.

Grenell wrote on X, "No one believes this isn't completely shady that California is still counting votes."

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) called on California to lose an electoral vote for every day it spends after Election Day counting the ballots.

Even Musk also commented on the state's slow progress, stating, "India counted 640 million votes in 1 day. California is still counting votes."

The California Secretary of State’s office stated earlier this month, “Counting every vote takes time, but at the CA Secretary of State’s office, we’re committed to ensuring every eligible vote is counted. Final results will be certified on December 13th. Thank you for your patience as we work to protect your voice in our democracy!”

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How a suspected murderer impregnated an alleged killer in prison without ever touching her: 'I can't believe it worked'



A Florida man accused of murder impregnated a female alleged killer while they were in prison — but the pair never touched each other.

Daisy Link, 29, is charged with second-degree murder after she allegedly killed her husband in 2022.

'Not gonna lie, this is gonna go down in history.'

Joan Depaz, 23, was arrested in October 2020. According to prison records, he's charged with first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, battery, and criminal mischief.

The two inmates say they communicated with each other through the air conditioning vents in their prison cells.

"You would knock on it, and you can hear the people from the different floors. You would stand on the toilet actually to be able to talk to them," Link told WSVN-TV. "Being in isolation for so long, you begin to spend hours and hours talking to this person, you know, to the point where it’s almost as if you’re in the same room with them."

Link said she and Depaz would pass notes and pictures through the A/C vents.

Eventually they developed a romantic relationship despite never meeting each other.

Depaz had a dream of being a father, but it didn't seem possible since he was facing a lengthy prison sentence if convicted for his alleged crimes.

"I always really wanted to have a baby. And I’m not gonna get to do that for a really long time," Depaz said. He then told Link, "So if I had to choose somebody, you know, it would be you. And she was like, ‘Yeah, we could do that.’”

Depaz devised a plan to make his dream come true.

"I told her a way that one of my friends had showed me through the vent," he explained. "Because the vents are like [an] L-shape, really. It drops right into my vent, from her room, she could throw a pen into the vent, and it’ll land right into my vent.”

Link added, "We had figured out a way to drop the line. It was a line that we had established out of like bedding material."

Depaz said he put semen in plastic wrap "every day like five times a day for like a month straight."

Link recalled, "He would kind of like roll it up, almost like a cigarette, and he would attach it to the line that we had in the vent, and I would pull it through." She said she placed that in a yeast infection applicator and "administered it."

Link stated, "I don’t know what my fate is, you kind of don’t know what’s yours. If we’re gonna go out, might as well just go out with a bang, you know? If it works, it works. But it definitely did."

Link said she got pregnant after just a few attempts, and that she was "very excited" and "ecstatic."

WSVN asked Dr. Fernando Akerman — a fertility specialist and the medical director of the Fertility Center of Miami — if a woman could get pregnant through the method the inmates alleged. Akerman said it's possible but noted that the chances are less than 5%.

On June 19, Link gave birth to a baby at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

The baby is now living with Depaz's mother.

“I can’t believe it worked," Link stated. "I think everything happened for a reason."

“She’s a miracle baby, she’s a blessing,” Link said. “She could be anything. I think that she’s gonna be something great.”

DNA results show Depaz is the father.

When Depaz was asked if he ever had any physical encounters with Link, he said "never."

The pair are now being detained in different jails while they await their trials: Depaz is housed at the Metro West Detention Center; Link is at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. They still talk on the phone and see their daughter during video visits.

"Over here I’m like a celebrity," Depaz excitedly exclaimed. "Not gonna lie, this is gonna go down in history."

The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department has launched an internal affairs investigation to determine how this could have happened without authorities knowing.

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Trump-endorsed Floridian launches bid to replace Mike Waltz following administration nomination



On Tuesday, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine of Florida announced his bid to replace Republican Rep. Mike Waltz after securing an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.

Fine is running to replace Waltz after Trump tapped the outgoing congressman to serve as national security adviser in the upcoming administration. Waltz confirmed Monday that he would resign from his post on Inauguration Day.

'It is my belief that President Trump is our nation's last, best chance to right the ship.'

“I’m proud to announce that I’m going to be running for the 6th Congressional District of the state of Florida,” Fine told Fox News on Tuesday. “Whether it’s fighting inflation to make America affordable again, closing the border to make America safe again, or standing up for Israel and standing up to China, I’m ready to go.”

Trump also endorsed Fine on Monday ahead of his official announcement, noting his allegiance to the MAGA movement.

"A Harvard Educated, Successful Businessman, and Highly Respected State Legislator, Randy has been an incredible Voice for MAGA, and the Great People of Florida," Trump said. "In Congress, Randy will be an INCREDIBLE Fighter who will work tirelessly with me to Stop Inflation, Grow our Economy, Secure the Border, Champion our Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Restore PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH."

In response, Fine praised the president-elect and pledged to work alongside him.

"Clearly Mom wasted no time once she made it upstairs," Fine said. "Mr. President, G-d saved you on that day in Butler so that you could save the world. It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers."

Fine resigned from his state Senate seat on Tuesday amid his campaign launch, just one month into his term. His resignation will go into effect beginning March 31.

"It is my belief that President Trump is our nation's last, best chance to right the ship," Fine said in his resignation letter. "And with his statement this weekend, he believes I can help. I owe it to those same children that I entered office to serve to join that fight. While I am sorry that my service in the Senate will be abbreviated, it seems that my path will return me to a People's House where I will fight for Floridians under the familiar title of Representative."

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