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Los Angeles City Hall became a crime scene after a man allegedly jumped to his death.

LaPaglia tore into the country music star, speculating that his personality "clearly changed" after he managed to slim down.

LaPaglia tore into the country music star, speculating that his personality "clearly changed" after he managed to slim down.

Key Takeaways From DNI Nominee Jay Clayton's Confirmation Hearing

Authored by Timothy Frudd via The Epoch Times,

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton shared his vision for the Intelligence Community during his confirmation hearing for the position of director of national intelligence (DNI) on July 15.

Clayton, who was nominated last month by President Donald Trump, faced questions from lawmakers regarding the independence of the DNI and key national security issues facing the United States.

The hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee was held on July 15 after President Donald Trump canceled Clayton’s initial June 17 hearing.

Trump canceled the initial DNI confirmation hearing after accusing Democrats of breaking an agreement to remove acting DNI Bill Pulte, who was appointed last month, in return for the approval of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) extension.

Pulte was appointed by the president after former DNI Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation from the office to support her husband, Abraham Wilson, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

​Here are some key takeaways from the hearing.

Mission Objectives

As part of his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Clayton emphasized that he would work to increase the American public’s trust in the DNI office, the Intelligence Community, and the federal government.

He said the DNI office’s mission is to ensure that the president, Congress, policymakers, and military leaders are provided the “best possible intelligence in a timely, objective, and independent manner.”

“If confirmed, I will work to strengthen the coordination and communication between the Intelligence Community and the people we serve,” he said.

Clayton told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he would approach the role Trump nominated him for with a “mission-focused” and “team-oriented” perspective.

He said he would work with the committee members to develop the Intelligence Community’s commitment to its mission, strategic objectives that advance its mission, and metrics that help assess and improve its operations.

Journalists Subpoenaed

During the July 15 hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) questioned Clayton regarding the Southern District of New York’s recent decision to subpoena journalists at The New York Times.

The journalists were subpoenaed by the Southern District of New York, which he currently leads as U.S. attorney, after reporting on concerns regarding the safety of the president’s new Air Force One aircraft.

While Wyden suggested that the subpoenas represented a “flagrant attack on journalists,” Clayton testified that he is “absolutely committed to” and respects both the First Amendment and the role of the press.

He said he could not discuss the specifics of the investigation at the public hearing as it remains ongoing.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said the subpoenas appeared to have been issued in a “quite aggressive way” since they were issued to the journalists at their homes instead of their place of business.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) questioned how quickly the subpoenas were issued and whether Clayton or anyone from his office consulted with the White House or the Department of Justice beforehand.

Clayton repeatedly said the Southern District of New York’s office followed its protocols, which include consulting the Department of Justice, and said the time frames for issuing subpoenas depend on facts and circumstances.

“I’m confident that the procedures that we have in place to protect the First Amendment and protect the freedom of the press and not result in intimidation of journalists or the like were followed,” he said.

Election Integrity

Clayton was pressed multiple times by the committee’s Democratic senators throughout the hearing to give his views on the 2020 presidential election and the security of U.S. elections.

In response to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, asking whether former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Clayton confirmed he was not an “election denier.”

“Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States,” he said. “Let me just be clear. We have substantial work to do ... in improving our electoral processes.”

Clayton emphasized that one of the responsibilities of the DNI role was dealing with foreign interference in U.S. elections, something he said he was “gravely concerned about.”

Asked about his prior criticisms of U.S. election integrity, Clayton said the United States can take steps to improve ballot access while strengthening election integrity.

“I’m a big believer that we can have better access than we’ve ever had before and better integrity than we’ve ever had before,” he said.

Top Threats

After being questioned about the 2020 election, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) asked Clayton to share his view of the top threats currently facing the United States.

Clayton suggested that the top threats include terrorism, drug trafficking, cartels, and traditional U.S. adversaries.

Trump’s DNI nominee said the United States currently faces terrorism threats from many sources.

Clayton also warned that drug trafficking and fentanyl deaths presented an “incredible threat.”

However, he said the United States has “done a good job” of reducing the danger.

While Clayton did not list specific countries, he said the combination of cartels, militaries, and businesses in certain countries was very dangerous.

He also said Russia, China, and Iran remained threats to the United States.

Clayton said his experience as the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission would allow him to be “extremely helpful” in understanding and using economic strategies against traditional U.S. adversaries.

He told the committee that some of the “most formidable threat actors” are the countries that are the most well-funded.

Clayton suggested that U.S. adversaries not only look for “traditional ways” to harm Americans but also for economic ways to harm Americans.

He said the Intelligence Community should provide an understanding of the economic consequences of various actions.

Artificial Intelligence

Clayton said the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to an increased need for oversight and controls to protect the American public.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) described AI as a “game changer” and warned that Americans could view the technology as a threat, especially if the government used it to collect personal data.

He asked Clayton how the Intelligence Community would use AI to gather information while also protecting the privacy of U.S. citizens under his leadership.

If confirmed, Clayton said that the Intelligence Community would continue to collect necessary data to provide “a good intelligence product” while respecting Americans’ Fourth Amendment privacy rights.

“AI is going to greatly amplify that collection ability, which amplifies the need for oversight and controls to protect our citizens,” he said. “I think we should just recognize that that’s the case.”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the committee’s chairman, told lawmakers he planned to hold a committee business meeting early next week to vote on Clayton’s nomination before sending it to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Tyler Durden Wed, 07/15/2026 - 21:45

The best is yet to come. That’s the warning MLB insider Buster Olney issued to the rest of the league as the Dodgers chase a third consecutive World Series title. On “First Take,” Olney chose the Dodgers to go all the way in 2026. MLB insider Buster Olney believes the Dodgers are only beginning to...

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"Asymmetric Warfare Boom" Accelerates As US Army Awards Neros $500 Million For FPV Attack Drones

Defense startup Neros has secured a US Army contract valued at up to $500 million to supply the military with Ukraine-style, low-cost attack drones, reinforcing our view that the "Asymmetric Warfare Boom" is now underway.

As we have told readers, the Department of War's massive push to procure inexpensive, attritable autonomous systems, ranging from loitering munitions and ground robots to drone boats, will create a procurement supercycle and investable opportunities across both public markets and privately held defense companies.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the Neros contract, offering more color on the deal:

Now Neros has secured a contract with the Defense Department valued at up to $500 million to supply its drones to the Army, the company said. The contract underscores the Army's push to become a more modern and leaner force by increasing its drone purchases from around 50,000 a year to at least 1 million within around the next two years, Army officials have said.

Neros's contract comes by way of an Army program designed to provide infantry with first-person-view drones. FPV drones, as they are known, are equipped with cameras that transmit real-time video to a headset worn by the pilot, and with explosives that detonate when they crash into targets. Ukraine builds and uses them in enormous quantity, and with great effect, demonstrating to the world how FPVs can function as low-cost suicide bombers.

. . .

Neros may have cracked the code on both fronts. The company said it is building 1,200 drones a week at its facility in Southern California, and has a plan to reach one million drones a year by 2028. It has to be at least that many, Hichwa said, for China to pay attention.

Latest in drone M&A space:

• "Arms Race Has Started": War Unicorns Enter M&A Phase As Ondas Snaps Up Kamikaze Drone Maker DZYNE

Public companies flagged by analysts at Piper Sandler as benefiting from the US military's drone procurement cycle include AeroVironment, Ondas, Red Cat, AEVEX, Redwire, Insitu, and Teledyne FLIR, while private names include Anduril, Skydio, Shield AI, Quantum Systems, Performance Drone Works, DZYNE, Firestorm Labs, and Neros.

Read the report here. 

Tyler Durden Wed, 07/15/2026 - 21:20

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Trump Endorses MyPillow's Mike Lindell For Minnesota Governor

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he is endorsing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell as the Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, saying he is one of “America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots.”

“Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!” Trump wrote via his Truth Social platform, calling Lindell “the ‘Pillow Man.’”

The president added that “nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity.”

Trump was referring to backlash against the MyPillow brand in response to Lindell’s statements following the 2020 presidential election that significant fraud was involved in the contest.

In response, Lindell wrote on X that he is “honored” to have received Trump’s backing.

Lindell is part of a Republican field competing in an Aug. 11 primary for the state’s seat in a bid to replace outgoing Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection. The announcement came after scrutiny of his state’s handling of a widespread fraud scandal that also drew federal attention.

The GOP list includes Minnesota Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth. On the Democratic side, longtime Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) headlines the field.

In a separate post on Wednesday, Trump criticized Klobuchar as “corrupt” and “incompetent” before he accused Minnesota’s elections of being rigged against Republicans since President Richard Nixon won the state in the 1972 presidential election. He reiterated his support for Lindell in his post.

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Responding to Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, Klobuchar wrote in a post on X: “Mike Lindell is Donald Trump’s choice. I hope to be Minnesota’s.”

While the Trump administration and Republicans have focused on childcare and other welfare fraud accusations in Minnesota, Democrats, including Klobuchar, have focused on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown that involved federal officers killing two Minnesotans earlier this year, which drew protests in Minneapolis. Klobuchar has mostly avoided direct mention of the childcare programs and fraud inquiries.

Walz, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, has disputed the Trump administration’s characterizations and said that his administration has moved to tackle fraud in Minnesota, including a statement in December that they “have made systematic changes” to the state’s government.

The Department of Justice has charged dozens of defendants in Minnesota fraud-related cases, and a large majority of them are of Somali origin, with dozens of convictions. The FBI also launched numerous investigations into allegations of fraud at state healthcare and home care providers accused of criminal activity.

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In June, Lindell told a local radio station that, to win the state’s governor’s race, Republicans “need name recognition, which I have.” Previewing a possible battle between him and Klobuchar ahead of the midterm election, he added, “You don’t have the marketing I have and the money I have to raise to market this against Amy [Klobuchar] come fall.”

Klobuchar’s office did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Tyler Durden Wed, 07/15/2026 - 20:55

Mayor Karen Bass is betting big on her signature housing agenda, unveiling what City Hall calls the largest affordable housing project approved under her fast-track Executive Directive 1.