Congressional Perks: House members, staff get daycare, on-call doctor
Job perks like an on-call doctor, on-site daycare and millions of dollars for food, beverages and bottled water sound like something offered to employees of big tech firms.
But actually, taxpayers are paying for those perks for members of Congress and often their staff, an investigation by The Center Square found.
Since the 2019 fiscal year, taxpayers paid about $30 million for the Office of Attending Physician, which handles medical emergencies but also offers members routine care for just $650 a year, an analysis of congressional data shows.
At least $10 million was spent on the House Childcare Center that provides staff and members below-market-rate childcare starting at $1,100 a month, data and interviews show. With Washington, D.C., having some of the highest daycare costs, the perk is popular and there is a waiting list.
U.S. House staff and members also are feasting on taxpayer dollars with $30 million spent on food and beverages, and $4.1 million just on bottled water since 2019, an analysis of 3 million lines of House spending data shows.
House leadership and the Republican conference alone spent $122,000 on Chick-fil-A over the past six years. Former U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., led individual congressional offices by ordering nearly $15,000 in chicken sandwiches and chips from the popular fast food venue, The Center Square analysis showed.
Gillian Mason, executive director of Healthcare-NOW, a Texas nonprofit that advocates for universal single-payer health coverage, said it is great that lawmakers are getting good care at taxpayer expense but the average taxpayer has to struggle to get medical treatment.
“One of the reasons it is so difficult to push health care reform for regular people is our reps and senators aren’t seeing the full force of what is happening out there because they’re isolated,” said Mason, who conceded she did not know about the attending physician perk in Congress until The Center Square told her about it. “They like their publicly funded health care … but won’t give it to anyone else.”
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, was outraged by the spending of taxpayer money for items that aren’t vital to the operations of Congress.
“It’s not Congress valuing their employees, it’s the taxpayer paying for this,” he said. “It’s easy to spend someone else’s money. I mean, that’s the easiest thing in the world to do.”
Williams said there was a spreadsheet shared around Congress listing all the free lunches available to staff and members so no one is starving on Capitol Hill with or without taxpayers chipping in.
Since no one in Congress – though some individual Congress members’ communications directors provided email statements – would agree to an interview on the record about their spending of taxpayer money, The Center Square asked the Bipartisan Policy Center to explain why it thinks some of the spending is necessary. The center studies government efficiency and worked with the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to make suggestions to improve Congress…..
MTG hits back after Republican Jewish Coalition speakers go after Tucker Carlson
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Tuesday furiously condemned the speakers at the Republican Jewish Coalition event this weekend, who labeled her, Tucker Carlson, and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., as antisemites and Nazis.
“The recent speeches given at the RJC conference were filled with hateful rhetoric and lies about not only myself, but my colleague Thomas Massie, my good friend Tucker Carlson, and Americans who sincerely mean it when we say America FIRST,” she posted on X.
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No other country’s interest should come before our own.”
“But when actual Republican members of Congress and Senators and influential figures take to calling us ‘dangerous threats’ or even dare to call Tucker ‘Hitler’ and publicly announce to cancel us, they are not only doing exactly what Democrats did by calling Republicans ‘Nazis’ and Trump ‘Hitler’ but they are also trying to get us killed,” she contended.
“And what purely disgust me is that they know it.
They know exactly what they are doing and they are doing it on purpose,” she concluded.
Greene made her remarks in the wake of the RJC conference that featured prominent pro-Israel figures, including Mark Levin and Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., many of whom had choice words for Carlson and other critics of Israel.
AI Is ALREADY Enslaving Humanity, And You Cannot Stop It | Tim Pool Reacts
U.S. Blocks 6,525 Known or Suspected Terrorists in 2025 Amid Expanded Counterterrorism Measures
The U.S. government has thwarted an unprecedented 6,525 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) from entering the country in 2025, a dramatic increase attributed to the expanded classification of transnational criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
The surge in apprehensions follows the designation of groups such as Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Mexican drug cartels as FTOs earlier this year. This reclassification has enabled federal agencies to identify and block individuals affiliated with these organizations from crossing U.S. borders.
Until this year, the highest number of KSTs apprehended during a single administration was 1,903 under the Biden administration, with 64%—1,216 individuals—intercepted at the northern border between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, as reported by The Center Square.
In the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, the NCTC identified nearly 1,200 alleged terrorists illegally present in the U.S., including 750 with ties to MS-13, Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and other criminal networks, according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
By October, the NCTC had added more than 35,000 KSTs to the federal Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS), a centralized repository of biographical and biometric information shared among law enforcement agencies, including CBP and Border Patrol.
NCTC Director Joe Kent stated that these efforts have prevented over 6,525 KSTs from entering the U.S., a figure he described as “just the tip of the iceberg.” The TSDS has been instrumental in enabling law enforcement to identify and intercept individuals who might have otherwise entered the country under previous administrative policies.
CBP’s enforcement statistics for fiscal 2025 reveal that the majority of KSTs—2,782—were apprehended at southwest border land ports of entry (POEs), while 284 were intercepted at northern border land POEs. Between ports of entry, Border Patrol agents apprehended 61 KSTs at the southwest border and none at the northern border.
This marks a significant departure from previous years, when the northern border consistently recorded the highest number of KST apprehensions. In fiscal 2023, for example, 487 KSTs were apprehended at the northern border, compared to 83 at the southwest border…..
Ukraine’s Drones Hit Industrial Targets 800 Miles Inside Russia as Battle for Pokrovsk Intensifies
Ukrainian forces launched drone strikes deep inside Russian territory this week, with one incident reaching nearly 800 miles into Russia’s Bashkortostan region. The assault coincided with escalating fighting around the contested city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have intensified their push.
Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Habirov confirmed Tuesday that two drones targeted an industrial site in Sterlitamak. Though he said the drones were shot down and reported no injuries, local authorities acknowledged an explosion at the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant caused a partial collapse of the water treatment facility. The plant, which manufactures rubber and aviation fuel, has not been previously reported as a target of Ukrainian attacks.
The strike marks one of Ukraine’s deepest drone incursions into Russian territory since the start of the war, nearly four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion. Ukraine’s use of domestically-produced long-range drones has unnerved Russian officials and disrupted oil refineries, supply lines, and industrial hubs vital to the Kremlin’s war effort.
Further west, explosions were also reported in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, about 500 miles from Ukraine, in an area containing oil and petrochemical infrastructure. Russian authorities did not confirm any specific damage, though the Ministry of Defense claimed that 85 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across multiple regions.
On the Ukrainian side, officials said Russia conducted heavy bombardment of the Dnipropetrovsk region using a barrage of drones, missiles, and artillery, killing one civilian and injuring 11 others, including two children. According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 130 strike and decoy drones and seven missiles of various types during the night.
The conflict also came close to NATO territory. Romania’s Defense Ministry stated that Russia executed two overnight attacks on Ukrainian Danube River port facilities near the Romanian border. Romanian air force officials deployed two pairs of fighter jets on air policing missions after observing explosions on the Ukrainian shore….
U.S. demands Hamas disarm; India values its strategic partnership with Israel TV7Israel News 04 Nov.
1) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blames Hamas for violating President Trump 21-point peace plan.
2) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan notes that President Trump 21-point plan may contradict Ankara’s foreign Policy.
3) Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar asserts New Delhi’s deep appreciation of its strategic partnership with the State of Israel.
Germany increases 2026 Ukraine aid, but will not send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine
The German government plans to increase financial aid to Ukraine by €3 billion in its 2026 budget, despite its own budget crisis.
This brings total aid to €8.5 billion, aimed at artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and replacing two Patriot systems.
German officials see a need to support Ukraine amid growing Russian military pressure, as stated by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
However, Germany will not send Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles due to risks and complexity.
The increase in aid reflects Berlin’s commitment to support Ukraine through military and civilian assistance, emphasizing, “We will continue our support for as long as is required to defend against the Russian war of aggression.”
Trump: California Redistricting Vote Under Criminal Investigation Amid GOP Seat Elimination Effort
President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that California’s redistricting vote is under “very serious legal and criminal review,” calling the measure a “giant scam” aimed at erasing Republican congressional power through 2030.
Californians headed to the polls Tuesday to vote on Proposition 50, a measure pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom to implement a new congressional map that would eliminate five GOP House seats. Trump condemned the proposal as unconstitutional, citing the dominance of mail-in ballots and alleged exclusion of Republican voters from the process.
“The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “All ‘Mail-In’ Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are ‘Shut Out,’ is under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!”
Truth Social post
The redistricting proposal comes amid California Democrats’ efforts to redraw congressional lines following disputes with Texas lawmakers over their own district maps. The new California map would reduce the number of GOP-held seats from nine to four, building on 2024 election results that saw Democrats win 43 of the state’s 52 congressional districts.
Critics have raised concerns over ballot harvesting, unsecured drop boxes, mail-in voting lacking chain of custody, and widespread use of ballot curing. The redistricting initiative has drawn sharp criticism for what opponents say is a systematic attempt to disenfranchise Republican voters and solidify Democrat dominance through 2030.
“The five California Republicans targeted by the redistricting plan include Representatives Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41, and Darrell Issa in District 48,” KCRA reported…..
From Bathrooms to Train Platforms, Britain Is No Safe Place for Women
We don’t envy women in the U.K. They have to fight for their rights and freedoms on two fronts. On one hand, they’ve got the trans activists who refuse to acknowledge the biological reality of women and protect their rights. Just the other day, the U.K. Equalities Minister said rules about single-sex bathrooms and other spaces could be delayed by a year as the government runs “studies” on the “impact” on business. The U.K. branch of Glamour Magazine also named a bunch of men its “Women of the Year” in defense of “trans rights.”
On the other hand, they have to deal with the ongoing influx of migrants from nations where women are — at best — second-class citizens. This is just one example of the abuse and harassment British women face for doing normal things like waiting for a train.
What’s especially sick is that the abuser wore a mic to record the encounter for “content.”
Of course, if this woman were to say something to her harasser or physically protect herself, she’d be brought up on charges and accused of being racist.
Earlier this year, Martyna Ogonowska lost her appeal after being sentenced to 17 years in prison for stabbing a man who was sexually assaulting her.
That makes it worse.
And given who’s going to be running New York soon, this is a timely reminder.
In the past decade, the U.K. has seen a massive increase in the number of reported rapes and sexual assaults. In 2012, there were around 16,000 such cases, and in 2024, that number was over 70,000.
Schumer pushes shutdown into record books after rejecting GOP bill a 14th time
Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ attempt to reopen the government for a 14th time, all but ensuring that the government shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history.
The move to again reject the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) comes as winds of optimism and exhaustion have swept through the upper chamber. Lawmakers are engaging in more bipartisan talks, and more believe that an off-ramp is in sight.
Still, Tuesday morning’s vote against the CR came as the shutdown matched the previous 35-day record set in 2019, and it all but ensured that it would surpass that unfortunate milestone later on in the evening.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his Democratic caucus are still largely entrenched in their position that unless an ironclad deal on expiring Obamacare subsidies is struck, they won’t reopen the government.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer squarely placed the blame for the healthcare issue on Republicans and President Donald Trump as Americans got notices of increased premiums over the weekend.
“The only plan Republicans have for healthcare seems to be to eliminate it, and then to tell working people to go figure it out on their own,” he said. “That’s not a healthcare plan. That’s cruel.”
However, his caucus’ resolve showed signs of weakening on Monday, when a group of nearly a dozen Senate Democrats met behind closed doors to discuss a way out.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he was optimistic about the shutdown coming to an end soon, but he wasn’t confident that it would be by the end of this week.
He noted that Republicans have made a plethora of options available to Senate Democrats, including guaranteeing a vote on the expiring subsidies, or “whatever their Obamacare bill is,” after the government reopens. When asked if he believed lawmakers were close to reaching an end, he said, “I hope close.” …
Christians Persecuted and Killed around the World
In 2025, there is no part of the world that is safe for Christians. Leftist prosecutors in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States criminalize fundamental tenets of the Christian faith as discriminatory forms of “hate speech.”
Chinese communists replace images of Jesus Christ with portraits of Xi Jinping. Hindus beat and murder Christians in India. Islamic nations sentence Christian converts to death.
Nigerian Muslims attack Christian churches during prayer services and torture and murder so many Christian worshipers as to constitute genocide. The assassin who murdered Christian martyr Charlie Kirk allegedly did so because he believes that Charlie’s Christian teachings were “hateful.”
It is a dangerous time to be a Christian. Michael Snyder wrote an illuminating article a couple weeks ago entitled “Most of the Population of the World Lives in a Nation Where Christians Are Being Persecuted.” In a sober analysis, he takes the reader on a tour of Christian persecution, torture, and mass slaughter around the planet.
Children in China are prohibited from attending Christian church services, and the Chinese Communist Party rewrites Bible verses to support official pronouncements from the State. Sharing the gospel online is a crime, and Christian pastors are regularly arrested and “disappeared.”
In India, Hindu terrorists set Christian churches and Bibles on fire and beat up and murder Christian parishioners. Muslims in Indonesia hunt down Christians as if they were animals.
Muslims in Nigeria have massacred or abducted a hundred thousand Christians over the last six years and have destroyed some 20,000 Christian churches and schools. Islamic governments in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran discriminate against Christians, punish them ruthlessly for their beliefs, and execute anyone brave enough to convert to Christianity.
In North Korea, Christianity is outlawed, and practicing Christians who are discovered are summarily executed or condemned to death in labor-intensive concentration camps.
The corporate news media do not report on the systematic persecution and killing of Christians around the world. On Friday, President Trump attempted to do journalists’ jobs for them by addressing the ongoing genocide of Christians in Nigeria.
On Truth Social, the president wrote, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. … The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!” Nigerian Christians desperately hope that President Trump will find a way to save their brothers and sisters.
Muslims’ slaughter of Christians in Nigeria is so horrific that even left-leaning commentator Bill Maher describes it as a genocide much worse than anything that is happening in Gaza. “They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country,” Maher told his studio audience a few weeks ago. “Where are the kids protesting this?”…..
Presler: Voting Machines Down in Three Red Districts of New Jersey as Election Day Heats Up
Just before 8:00 a.m., Presler reported via X that three red districts in Cumberland County saw their machines go down.
Other conservatives on the social media platform highlighted the news and urged people not to skip out on voting.
“Election machines have gone down in multiple locations across CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ – where Republicans are outperforming their 2024 turnout by double digits, Scott Presler says. Isn’t that suspicious. STILL VOTE! DO NOT let it deter you!” Eric Daugherty of Florida’s Voice News said:
Turning Point USA Spokesman Andrew Kolvet echoed Daugherty’s statement, writing, “Scott Presler is reporting that voting machines are down in 3 conservative districts in Cumberland Country, NJ. Shenanigans abound but do not be deterred!! Will update as we hear more… Vote Vote Vote.”…
This won’t end well…
Humanoid robots like One X’s “Neo” are being sold as helpful companions, but beneath the charm lies a warning: automation isn’t freeing us—it’s replacing us. As AI merges with robotics, convenience becomes control and humanity itself turns expendable.
Newsfeed News.com 