Ryan Mueller
The Latest
-
Illinois Senate Race 2026: Don Tracy Wins GOP Primary With $2.1M Haul, Faces Juliana Stratton in Solid Democratic Seat
Don Tracy, a 75-year-old Springfield attorney and former state party chairman, won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in Illinois, setting up a November contest against Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in a race widely viewed as favoring Democrats following the retirement of longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. 
Don Tracy, a 75-year-old Springfield attorney and former state party chairman, won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in Illinois, setting up a November contest against Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in a race widely viewed as favoring Democrats following the retirement of longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. -
Pentagon Spent $22M on Steak and Lobster in One Month—Fact Check Shows Troops, Not Pete Hegseth, Were Served
Claims that Pete Hegseth spent $20 million in taxpayer funds on steak and lobster dinners for himself have circulated widely online, but a closer examination of Pentagon data and watchdog reports shows the spending reflects broader military food procurement during a fiscal year-end surge rather than personal use. 
Claims that Pete Hegseth spent $20 million in taxpayer funds on steak and lobster dinners for himself have circulated widely online, but a closer examination of Pentagon data and watchdog reports shows the spending reflects broader military food procurement during a fiscal year-end surge rather than personal use. -
NCTC Director Joe Kent Resigns After Iran Strike, Says ‘Iran Posed No Imminent Threat’
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned following the U.S.-Israel strike on Tehran, breaking publicly with Donald Trump's Iran policy and warning that "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation," according to a resignation letter that underscores divisions within the administration's national security leadership. 
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned following the U.S.-Israel strike on Tehran, breaking publicly with Donald Trump's Iran policy and warning that "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation," according to a resignation letter that underscores divisions within the administration's national security leadership. -
IRS Refund Delays Hit 830,000 Taxpayers as Paper Check Phaseout Collides With $3,742 Average Refund
More than 830,000 taxpayers are facing possible refund delays this filing season as the Internal Revenue Service pushes filers away from paper checks and toward direct deposit, a transition that is arriving just as average refunds rise sharply. IRS data for the week ending Feb. 27 show the average refund climbed to $3,742, up from $3,382 a year earlier, while total refunds issued reached $136.6 billion to 36.5 million taxpayers. 
More than 830,000 taxpayers are facing possible refund delays this filing season as the Internal Revenue Service pushes filers away from paper checks and toward direct deposit, a transition that is arriving just as average refunds rise sharply. IRS data for the week ending Feb. 27 show the average refund climbed to $3,742, up from $3,382 a year earlier, while total refunds issued reached $136.6 billion to 36.5 million taxpayers. -
Obama ‘Unfinished Business’ Video Sparks 2028 Speculation Despite Constitutional Two-Term Limit
A short video posted by the Obama Foundation on X has ignited a wave of online speculation about Barack Obama and the 2028 presidential election, after the former president appeared in a teaser clip declaring he had "unfinished business." The video, released on March 15, quickly circulated across social media platforms, prompting debate about whether the message hinted at a political comeback. 
A short video posted by the Obama Foundation on X has ignited a wave of online speculation about Barack Obama and the 2028 presidential election, after the former president appeared in a teaser clip declaring he had "unfinished business." The video, released on March 15, quickly circulated across social media platforms, prompting debate about whether the message hinted at a political comeback. -
Gregory Bovino, Face of Trump Immigration Crackdown, to Retire From Border Patrol - Report
Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol official closely associated with President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown, plans to retire at the end of the month, according to two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials who spoke to NBC News. 
Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol official closely associated with President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown, plans to retire at the end of the month, according to two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials who spoke to NBC News. -
300+ TSA Officers Resign During DHS Shutdown as Unpaid Wages Trigger Hour-Long Airport Security Lines
Hundreds of officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have resigned after going weeks without pay during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff, worsening security delays at major U.S. airports as winter storms and the spring-break travel surge strain already thin staffing levels. 
Hundreds of officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have resigned after going weeks without pay during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff, worsening security delays at major U.S. airports as winter storms and the spring-break travel surge strain already thin staffing levels. -
Melania Trump’s ‘Often Alone at the Top’ Remark Revives Speculation Over Ivanka Trump Relationship
First Lady Melania Trump stirred renewed speculation about her relationship with Ivanka Trump after telling attendees at a March 12 event honoring American women leaders that she is "often alone at the top," a remark that quickly reverberated through political and media circles given long-standing rumors of tension within the Trump family. 
First Lady Melania Trump stirred renewed speculation about her relationship with Ivanka Trump after telling attendees at a March 12 event honoring American women leaders that she is "often alone at the top," a remark that quickly reverberated through political and media circles given long-standing rumors of tension within the Trump family. -
Trump Says U.S. ‘Obliterated’ Kharg Island Military Targets as Iran Threatens Retaliation on Gulf Oil Facilities
President Donald Trump said U.S. forces had "obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, a key Persian Gulf energy hub, prompting Tehran to warn that any attack on its oil infrastructure would trigger retaliation against energy facilities tied to U.S. interests across the Gulf region. 
President Donald Trump said U.S. forces had "obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, a key Persian Gulf energy hub, prompting Tehran to warn that any attack on its oil infrastructure would trigger retaliation against energy facilities tied to U.S. interests across the Gulf region. -
Kristi Noem Awarded $1 Billion Border Wall Contracts to Firm Accused of ‘Human and Weapons Smuggling’
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved $1 billion in border wall construction contracts for SLSCO Ltd, a Texas-based firm previously accused in court filings of employing undocumented migrants and arming them as security guards, according to government records and legal documents tied to the company's past operations. 
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved $1 billion in border wall construction contracts for SLSCO Ltd, a Texas-based firm previously accused in court filings of employing undocumented migrants and arming them as security guards, according to government records and legal documents tied to the company's past operations.
