GOP vs Trump, Jack Smith, FlyDubai: Week in Review

Representative Thomas Massie characterized the use of these funds as “completely legal in banana republics,” while the White House maintained the spots were not campaign ads because Trump is not on the ballot and they lack a call to action.

The rhetoric used in Trump's taxpayer-funded ads is identical, word-for-word, to his 2024 campaign speeches, featuring phrases about 'liberating America' and 'demolishing the deep state'.

Ethics groups have issued warnings that these advertisements may violate federal appropriations legislation, which Trump himself signed in February, prohibiting the use of federal funds for propaganda; the visual content in the taxpayer-funded ad also precisely matches video played during Trump's 2024 convention.

Trump's advisors admit facing challenges in appealing to the independent and swing voters who were instrumental in his victory two years prior, a struggle Trump attributes to ignorance, stating, 'I don't know' when questioned about Republican difficulties in retaining seats.

Hinson had publicly expressed concern that Iowans were struggling due to the financial burdens imposed by the war, creating an ironic juxtaposition with her current alignment with the former president.

The session was characterized as an 'interrogation and a series of insults,' largely perceived as a performance tailored for Donald Trump, who desires Smith to face repercussions for his investigations.

Senator Eric Schmitt accused former special counsel Jack Smith of weaponizing the Department of Justice against political adversaries to an unprecedented degree in U.S. history, labeling him a 'total dirt bag' on the record during the hearing.

Smith later clarified that Schmitt's allegations were based on a factual error, as the Senator confused the NBA's 'Hawks' with the NCAA's 'Hawkeyes,' undermining the credibility of his accusations.

Senator Katie Britt's visible reaction to the correction regarding Senator Schmitt's factual error quickly went viral, circulating widely across online platforms.

Despite being corrected, Senator Schmitt appeared on Charlie Kirk's show to celebrate the interaction, where Kirk continued to falsely assert that Schmitt 'caught' Smith at the Atlanta game, perpetuating misinformation.

Special Counsel Jack Smith reiterated his resolve not to be deterred by threats of prosecution, even as two key figures leading Trump's 'grand conspiracy' investigation abruptly resigned.

Kurt Holen, who supported Trump's 2020 election claims, and Joseph DeGeneva both departed from the probe, with DeGeneva citing ethical concerns and stating that there was no evidence to support indictments.

FlyDubai suspended flights to Israel following an attempted terrorist attack in the cockpit of one of its planes, which resulted in the aircraft plunging 20,000 feet in 35 seconds, nearing the speed of sound.

The co-pilot, despite being stabbed, managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to subdue the assailant, identified as an Omani national now in Saudi Arabian custody, and preventing what Israeli officials described as a potential 9/11-style disaster, though motives remain unconfirmed.

Adam Polo, a passenger on the FlyDubai flight, recounted a sudden and extreme loss of altitude, describing it as feeling 'a thousand times' more intense than any rollercoaster ride, as onboard systems like air conditioning and multimedia failed during the descent.

The violent drop caused passengers who were standing in the aisles to be thrown to the floor, while the co-pilot, an Indian citizen who survived the stabbing, is now in stable condition.

Passengers aboard the FlyDubai flight heroically intervened after the cockpit attack, using zip ties to subdue the assailant, who offered minimal resistance once taken down.

Dr. Shoam Musay provided emergency medical care to the stabbed pilot, who was intermittently unconscious during the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and is now recovering in a Saudi hospital.

A new court date for the White House media ban case has been set for the same day that CNN's temporary restraining order against the White House is due to expire; if the order is not extended, CNN, along with other media outlets, could once again lose their White House credentials, a situation exacerbated by Trump's decision to exclude CNN from the Air Force One travel pool earlier today.

Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton is in an unexpectedly tight race against Democrat James Tallerico in the historically red state, with a Fox News poll showing Tallerico leading 51% to 49%.

Paxton, despite outspending Tallerico nearly five to one and receiving a substantial $131 million in support from the GOP in just 17 days, attributes his recent drop in polling to Trump's midterm convention.

The Republican candidate faces significant legal challenges, including felony securities fraud charges, bribery, and obstruction of justice allegations, adding pressure to his campaign.

Donald Trump asserted that his convention was a "tremendous success" and claimed it garnered four times the viewership of the NFL.

A fact-check reveals that the NFL game airing simultaneously attracted over 25 million viewers, while Trump's speech reached approximately 3 million viewers.

The NFL game therefore rated more than eight times higher than Trump's convention, directly refuting his claim.

In a related development, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly begun shifting Pentagon briefings toward media outlets more favorable to Trump, including Mike Lindell's network, which is known for asking supportive, non-critical questions.

Donald Trump held a rally in Alabama tonight, marking his first major political rally there since 2017, despite the state being a safe Republican stronghold where he previously won by 31 points.

The visit occurs just 32 days before the midterms, coinciding with some of the lowest approval ratings of his term.

This historically low rating reflects widespread voter disapproval of the administration's economic performance and other key projects.

The substantial decline indicates significant public discontent with the government's handling of economic issues.

The economy added only 29,000 jobs, a figure significantly below the 90,000 jobs predicted by economists, indicating a slowdown in job growth.

The unemployment rate for Black Americans increased from 6% to 7%, marking the largest one-month spike in 14 years.

This rise in unemployment, particularly among Black Americans, highlights a challenging economic landscape ahead of the upcoming election.