Author: Darnell Thompkins

Oprah Winfrey has said she will close the school for underprivileged girls she established in South Africa two decades ago, with the shutdown scheduled for the end of next year, a move that will affect students, staff and long-term plans tied to the institution. Oprah Winfrey announced that the school she set up in South Africa two decades ago will close at the end of next year. The decision comes after years of running the program and supporting generations of students from underserved communities. The announcement has already prompted questions about what happens next for those connected to the school.…

Fire crews in southwestern France battled persistent hot spots from a vast wildfire that scorched an area reported to be four times the size of Paris and forced thousands of residents to leave their homes. Firefighters spent Friday focused on containing the final active zones of a blaze that grew into a massive threat across the region. Crews moved cautiously, working to prevent flare-ups while stabilizing perimeter lines and protecting nearby communities. Officials described a landscape still smoldering in places even as cooler, more favorable conditions slowly reduced immediate danger. Teams used a mix of ground crews and aerial resources…

The administration let a 25-day window to ask the Supreme Court for a rehearing close without filing, shifting the fight over birthright citizenship from the courtroom to Congress. The White House publicly vowed immediate action after a 6-3 Supreme Court decision struck down the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship, yet the Justice Department filed nothing before the 25-day rehearing deadline. That silence effectively ends any prompt judicial reversal and forces the dispute back into the political arena. No formal explanation came from the DOJ or the White House about why the deadline was allowed to pass unused. The mismatch…

CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins told Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” that President Trump has little tolerance for reporters who challenge him directly, and the exchange highlights the fraught relationship between a combative press corps and an administration that answers back hard and fast. Kaitlan Collins spoke on a late-night program about the kind of pushback that comes when reporters press the president on tough topics. Her observation captures a broader pattern: when questions are framed as confrontations instead of information gathering, the White House often responds with sharp rebuttals. That dynamic has been a defining feature of recent coverage and…

The WNBA fined and suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton for five home games, according to the league, after she allegedly cursed at two teenage fans of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. The league announced a punishment that combines both a monetary fine and a multi-game suspension for a team owner, an action that highlights how professional sports organizations are policing conduct at games. Fans and team officials noticed the incident during a recent matchup, and the WNBA opened an inquiry that led to the penalty. The decision underscores the league’s stated commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment…

Ukrainian troops improvised with Cold War trainers, Russian and Ukrainian strikes escalated across borders, and U.S. politics and policy — from Trump to Graham — shaped the diplomatic and military backdrop. Video released by Ukraine’s 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade shows a soldier firing from the rear cockpit of a Yak-52 trainer to take down Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones over Odesa. The two-person crew used a piston-engine, open-cockpit plane decades old, with the pilot identified only as “Stanislav” in the front seat while a soldier leaned out and engaged incoming unmanned threats. The footage underlines a hard truth: when missiles…

The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence in a 51-47 party-line vote, ending a prolonged standoff rooted in disputes over his testimony about the 2020 election and replacing an acting leader whose tenure stirred controversy. The Senate vote split cleanly along party lines, with every Republican backing Clayton and every Democrat opposed, producing a 51-47 confirmation that hands President Trump a Senate-confirmed DNI for the first time since Tulsi Gabbard left the post in May. Republicans pointed to Clayton’s prosecutorial record and prior government service as proof of competence, while Democrats framed their opposition around his refusal…

Fauci has returned to the public stage frequently, and that steady visibility raises questions about influence, accountability, and the role of scientists in shaping policy and public opinion. For months, Anthony Fauci has shown up in interviews and events with steady regularity. The pattern is notable because he is not an elected official, yet his voice still carries weight with policymakers and media outlets. That visibility deserves close, clear-eyed scrutiny from anyone who cares about transparent public governance. According to his own website, Fauci has given interviews and public remarks at least 10 times since January. Those appearances are numbers…

The Federal Reserve left its policy rate unchanged again in late July 2026, with Chairman Kevin Warsh insisting the move was not a pause even though it marked the fifth straight meeting without a hike. Markets watched for clarity; households and businesses kept feeling the ripple effects of high prices and stubborn borrowing costs. Published Jul 29, 2026. The Federal Reserve kept the key policy interest rate unchanged for the fifth consecutive meeting, but Chairman Kevin Warsh would not characterize it as a pause. That line carries weight because it signals a Fed trying to thread a needle: avoid shocking…

A former football teammate says he will sue social media users for defamation after being accused online in connection with the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. The man at the center of the online allegations is a former teammate of Nolan Wells and is moving to challenge those claims in court. He says he was wrongly accused on social platforms of involvement in the 18-year-old’s death, and his legal team is preparing a defamation lawsuit against anonymous and identified users. The situation highlights how fast accusations can spread and the real consequences for people named on social media. Social posts…