Three Things You Need to Know - October 25, 2017

Clinton campaign and DNC colluded on Trump dossier.

Get ready to put on your ultimate shocked face. We finally know who funded Fusion GPS and the infamous Trump Dossier. What used to be thought of as just “unknown Hillary Clinton supporters” is now known AS... the actual Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC. I’ll give you a few seconds to recover from the shock. I’m sure no one in America actually suspected the Democratic leadership was behind this thing.

The truth is that those involved in funding this thing have been lying about it for over a year. We STILL wouldn’t know today if weren't for a federal subpoena for Fusion GPS’ bank records. The law firm retained by the Clinton Campaign and the DNC released Fusion from their client-confidentiality obligation yesterday. So now we know.

The timeline is starting to become clear. A Republican client, whose identity is still unknown, hired Fusion GPS to dig up information on Trump during the primaries. Apparently, there was nothing worth using so the contract ended. Around April 2016 the law firm representing the Clinton Campaign and the DNC picked up the payments to Fusion so they could keep digging. It was then that Christopher Steele, the former British MI6 agent, was hired and began compiling the Trump Dossier. The dossier began circulating around Washington soon after.

Steele’s dossier eventually made its way to the FBI, and it’s been reported that the information within helped kick off the Trump/Russia investigation. Did the FBI use that to obtain the FISA warrant to spy on the Trump Campaign? These questions have new meaning now that we know who was giving the orders and cutting the checks.

But wait, this gets worse. Fusion GPS was also hired by another law firm back in 2013 who was representing Natalia Veselnitskaya. Remember her? She’s the Russian lawyer that met with Don Jr. in Trump Tower. Veselnitskaya and Fusion GPS were helping the Russians get the Magnitsky Act overturned.

So let’s get this straight. Fusion GPS has been employed directly or indirectly by: the Russian’s, the Clinton Campaign, the DNC, and was almost given money by the FBI. The latter of which may have based some of their Russia collusion investigation off of information given to them by a firm that was employed not too long ago by agents of the Kremlin.

How’s that Russia collusion investigation looking now? Are they even looking at the right people?

We can’t afford to trade a Flake for a bigger flake.

Regret.

It’s a complicated and torturous emotion.

Yesterday, regret about the state of affairs in the White House led Arizona Senator Jeff Flake to not seek re-election.

Jeff Flake’s speech wasn’t a thinly veiled criticism of the President. It was an outright condemnation.

There’s an element of bravery in speaking out, however, let’s not overstate how brave it is to look at the polls, see yourself down by 30, and quit. Still, as an elected representative, it’s his responsibility to speak out like he did yesterday, if he believes he must.

I know I worry about the nastiness, the belittling, and division coming from our own elected officials, too.

I have definitely had my differences with Jeff Flake in the past as you might know. Conservatives had great hope for him, and he’s been an incredible disappointment.

Let’s remember that this is a guy who refused to fight to defund Obamacare in 2013. He joined the ‘Gang of Eight’ and took a pro-amnesty position. Flake voted to confirm Loretta Lynch as attorney general.

He was for raising the debt ceiling without spending cuts.

He has consistently advanced gun control legislation, funding for Planned Parenthood and was for the Iran nuclear deal.

Do not laud him as the conservative knight in shining armor. The truth is Flake was in a difficult position. He was facing a tough primary challenge from Kelli Ward, a populist candidate backed by Steve Bannon, and instead of facing a loss, Flake pulled a legacy move.

Personally, I’m happy Flake is out. But, who we replace him with is important. We don’t want another John McCain - but we also don’t need a Bannon mouthpiece.We can’t afford to trade a Flake for a bigger flake.

The unmasking of Hollywood scum continues.

“You can run, but you can’t hide!”

His maniacal threat echoed through her body and sent her adrenaline into overdrive.

She was running as fast as she could, but he was still trailing her in his town car.

Aspiring actress Stephanie Kearns will always remember that night filmmaker James Toback assaulted her in Central Park.

“It was like a horror movie,” she said.

Unfortunately, Kearns experience with Toback is shared by hundreds, you heard that right, hundreds of women according to a new bombshell investigative report by the LA Times.

Today Show anchor Natalie Morales and veteran actress Julianne Moore have spoken up about their creepy encounters with Toback.

The majority of the accounts are not verified yet, but most of the women accusing the filmmaker of misconduct follow a similar script. He approached them on the streets on Manhattan, offered them a part in an upcoming movie, and made unwanted sexual advances on them.

Toback, 72, denies the allegations. He claims that it has been “biologically impossible” for him to engage in the behavior described by his accusers for the last two decades.

Whether that is true or not, time will tell.

Look, there have always been creeps in the movie business ready to take advantage of women and leverage power over them.

But Hollywood is learning a hard lesson right now in light of Harvey Weinstein.

This kind of behavior cannot be enabled anymore. The degradation of women in the film industry is unacceptable and Hollywood’s silence for the past few decades won’t soon be forgotten or forgiven.

MORE 3 THINGS

Transgender opera in Columbia? 10 SHOCKING ways USAID spent your tax dollars.

MANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

The government has been doing what with our tax money!?

Under the determined eye of Elon Musk, DOGE has rooted out the corruption that permeates USAID, and it turns out that it's worse than we thought. Glenn recently read a list of atrocious causes that were funded by USAID, and the list was as long as it was shocking.

Since the January consumer index report was published today, one thing is clear: eggs are bearing the brunt of inflation. That's why we illustrated the extent of USAID's wasteful spending of YOUR taxpayer dollars by comparing it to the price of eggs. How many eggs could the American people have bought with their tax dollars that were given to a "transgender opera" in Colombia or indoctrinating Sri Lankans with woke gender ideology? The truth will shock you:

1. A “transgender opera” in Colombia

USAID spent $47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia. That's over 135,000 eggs.

2. Sex changes and "LGBT activism" in Guatemala

$2 million was spent funding sex changes along with whatever "LGBT activism" means. That equates to over 5.7 million eggs!

3. Teaching Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid binary-gendered language

USAID forked over $7.9 million to combat the "gender binary" in Sri Lankan journalism. That could have bought nearly 23 million eggs.

4. Tourism in Egypt

$6 million (or just over 17 million eggs) was spent to fund tourism in Egypt. If only someone had thought to build some impressive landmarks...

5. A new "Sesame Street" show in Iraq

USAID spent $20 million to create a new Sesame Street show in Iraq. That's just short of 58 million eggs...

6. Helping the BBC value the diversity of Libyan society

$2.1 million was sent to the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) to help them value the diversity of Libyan society (whatever that means). That could have bought over 6 million eggs.

7. Meals for a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda

$10 million worth of USAID-funded meals went to an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group. That comes up to be just shy of 29 million eggs.

8. Promoting inclusion in Vietnam 

A combined $19.3 million was sent to two separate inclusion groups in Vietnam inclusion groups in Vietnam (why where they separated? Not very inclusive of them). That's over 55 million eggs.

9. Promoting DEI in Serbia's workplaces

USAID sent $1.5 million (4.3 million eggs) to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.”

10. Funding EcoHealth Alliance, tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology's "bat research"

EcoHealth Alliance, one of the key NGOs that funded the Wuhan lab's bat virus research, received $5 million from USAID, which is equivalent to 14.5 million eggs.

The bottom line...

So, how much damage was done?

In total, approximately $73.8 million was wasted on the items on this list. That comes out to be 213 million eggs. Keep in mind that these are just the items on this list, there are many, many more that DOGE has uncovered and will uncover in the coming days. Case in point: that's a lot of eggs.

POLL: Should Trump stop producing pennies?

SAUL LOEB / Contributor, Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

On Sunday, February 9th, President Trump ordered the U.S. Mint to halt the production of pennies. It costs the mint three cents to produce every penny, which Trump deemed wasteful. However, critics argue that axing the pennies will be compensated by ramping up nickel production, which costs 13 cents per coin.

In other news, President Trump promised on Truth Social that he would be reversing a Biden-era policy that mandated the use of paper straws throughout the federal government. From potentially slashing entire agencies to saying farewell to pennies and paper straws, Trump is hounding after wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

But what do you think? Was Trump right to put an end to pennies? And should plastic straws make a comeback? Let us know in the poll below:

Should Trump stop the production of pennies? 

Do you agree with Trump's reversal of the plastic straw ban?

Was this the most PATRIOTIC Super Bowl yet?

CHANDAN KHANNA / Contributor | Getty Images

The 2025 Super Bowl demonstrated Trump’s vision of a new America.

On Sunday, February 9th, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the biggest sporting event of the year. But this wasn't just a victory for Eagles fans. For those watching, it became apparent that American culture has changed, the zeitgeist has shifted, and America has become cool again. While remnants of woke culture lingered, they felt out of step next to the parade of American Flags and patriotic messaging that dominated the national event. The message was clear: America is back.

Everybody knows that the commercials are the best part of any Super Bowl, and last night's game was no exception. As Glenn has pointed out, while some of the ads still carried woke messages (like Nike's), many more captured the newly kindled patriotism felt nationwide. Here are four of the best commercials from last Sunday that make this the most patriotic Super Bowl yet:

1. Rocket: "Own the Dream"

This touching commercial by the financial services company, Rocket, states "Everyone deserves a shot at the American dream," while showing images of people returning home and building families. The ad included a cover of John Denver's iconic song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and featured an in-stadium sing-along, live from the Super Bowl.

2. Secret Service: "A History of Protection"

Donald Trump made history by being the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, which required the efforts of hundreds of Secret Service agents to ensure his safety. The Secret Service boasted of this feat during their minute-long commercial, which lauded American values and achievements and featured iconic American imagery.

3. Brad Pitt: "Huddle Up"

The Super Bowl introduction celebrated snapshots of American achievement accompanied with a powerful commentary about unity narrated by Brad Pitt. The message is clear: Americans can achieve great things when we work together. The ad conjures up American ideals such as hard work, ingenuity, self-sacrifice, and teamwork.

4. Jeep: "Big Game"

Movie star Harrison Ford appeared in Jeep's Super Bowl commercial to promote freedom and to remind us that "freedom isn't free." Ford treks through the mountains while ruminating on what freedom means in America and the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it.

How Trump is WINNING at the Panama Canal

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

Despite the doubts of the nay-sayers, Trump's Panamanian plans have already borne fruit.

Shortly before his inauguration, President Trump drew national attention to the Panama Canal. He reminded Americans of just how important the canal is for the U.S. and highlighted the Chinese influence that has been slowly taking control of the vital passage ever since America handed it over to Panama.

President Trump was immediately mocked and ridiculed by the Left, who called him delusional and an imperialist. However, earlier this week, Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made a trip to Panama and spoke with the Panamanian President, José Raúl Mulino, and Rubio made some serious headway. As Glenn has explained, Trump's boisterous talk is part of his strategy. Invading Panama was never the goal, just one of several options to get what America needed, and after Rubio's visit, it seems like America's needs will be met.

Here are the TOP THREE takeaways from Marco Rubio's visit to Panama:

1. Marco Rubio makes headway

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

On February 2nd, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha and President José Raúl Mulino where they discussed critical regional and global challenges, including the canal. Rubio drew attention to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal in which the U.S. promised Panama ownership of the canal on the condition of its guaranteed neutrality. Rubio argued that China's growing influence qualified as a breach of the treaty and that it gives the U.S. the power to take necessary measures to rectify the faults, given Panama doesn't act. As of this week, reports say Panama agreed and promised to take immediate action to purge Chinese influence from canal operations.

2. Panama is ditching China's Belt Road

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

After his meeting with Rubio, Panamanian President Mulino agreed that Panama would step away from China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). The BRI is a Chinese effort to establish China as the main economic power in developing nations across the world. In 2017, Panama signed on to this initiative, and China's influence in the small nation has exponentially grown. However, after Rubio's visit, President Mulino has not only stated that Panama will not renew its agreement with China, but moreover, the country will also look for ways to back out of the agreement early. This is a massive win for the Trump Administration and the American people.

3. The Chinese may lose their ports on the canal

MARTIN BERNETTI / Contributor | Getty Images

Shortly after Rubio left Panama City, two lawyers spearheaded the effort to kick out a Chinese company that controls two major ports on the Panama Canal. The Chinese company—CK Hutchison Holdings—has operated one port on both ends of the canal since 1997, which could potentially give China a massive degree of control over traffic. After analyzing the contract, the Panamanian lawyers argue that the contract is potentially in violation of the Panamanian constitution and should be revoked. It is unclear if the constitutional issues relate to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, but even on its own merit, this is a huge victory for America.