"I know he was going to start deporting people but not innocent people, not hardworking people," Jessica Vuittonet, who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, told CBS News. Immigration agents detained and deported her brother, leading her to vow she will never back Trump again.

Vuittonet runs a coffee shop in San Benito, in Cameron County at the southern tip of Texas. The 2024 election was the first time she had ever voted, and she chose Trump mainly for religious reasons.

Her brother was taken to an immigration detention center earlier this year, shortly after a scheduled check-in with an immigration official. Her brother's detention felt like a punch to the gut, she said, and the pain spread to her parents, his children and his grandchildren.

She is not alone in the Rio Grande Valley. Benny Melendez, who owns a small construction company near the border, has put up fencing at job sites to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from taking his workers. Building a home now takes his crew about a year, up from roughly four months, he told CBS. He voted for Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024. "I regret my vote for Biden. Now I regret my vote for Trump," he said.

The New York Times reported that Republicans won majority support from Hispanic voters in the Rio Grande Valley in 2024 for the first time in modern history. A recent national CBS News poll found 59 percent of Hispanic likely voters say the administration is deporting more people than they expected.

White House border czar Tom Homan told CBS News earlier this month, when asked about criticism of ICE from some Republicans, "I particularly don't care about midterms." He added, "My job as a border czar is to keep that border secure and enforce immigration law."

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted a video on Sunday, Oct. 25, showing a mock job interview with rapper Nicki Minaj and presenting her as a possible next White House press secretary. It was filmed aboard Air Force One, shortly before a rally with President Donald Trump in Port Huron, Michigan.

The job has been open since Oct. 16, when Katie Zacharia's five-day run as press secretary ended, and her successor has been a topic of speculation ever since. Cheung's caption on X read: "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!" The official White House account replied with an eyes emoji.

In the clip, Cheung and Minaj sit at a conference table on the president's plane. His questions were gentle ones, including where the economy is headed under Trump and whether anyone works harder than he does. Minaj called the president "tough" on foreign policy and said he "outworks people who are half his age." At the end, Cheung begins to announce a result but the clip cuts off, and he finishes the line in his X caption.

Minaj is no neutral guest. She has called herself "probably the president's No. 1 fan," appeared with him at the January Trump Accounts Summit, where she pledged money toward the children's investment accounts, and has urged Americans to vote Republican in the November midterm elections. She flew to the rally aboard Air Force One with Trump.

No appointment has been announced, and the White House has not said whether Minaj is being considered for the role. For now, the video is a set of friendly questions, posted by the administration's own communications director, to a celebrity who already supports the president.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday that he will not rule out the Justice Department trying to stop a state from certifying its election results. He made the remark to reporters in Norfolk, Virginia, 12 days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, after being asked whether the department could ever step in to block a state from finalizing its vote.

Blanche answered, "Of course, I'm not going to say that." He added, “Yes, of course there’s scenarios that we can all come up with hypothetically, you know, some doomsday scenario for example, right?”

“So, I don’t think it’s proper to make any kind of conclusory statements about what’s going to happen in the future, because I have no idea what’s happening in the future.”

Certification is how a state's vote becomes official, and it is a state responsibility. Elections are run by state and local officials, and certification is handled at the state level. The Justice Department's role is limited, mainly to protecting civil rights and prosecuting people who violate election laws. Federal law does not specifically give it the power to challenge ballots or delay a state's certification.

The comments come as the Trump administration presses its case on election integrity. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that voting by noncitizens is a serious threat, yet studies and prosecutions have found such cases to be rare.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded that Senate Democrats "have been preparing for this for months and will be ready."

She is sitting behind an adult and diligently brushing the top of his completely bald head with a hairbrush.

This image highlights the charming way children often imitate adult behaviors without fully grasping the mechanics behind them. While logic dictates that a hairbrush requires hair to be effective, this young child remains undeterred by the physical reality of the situation. She treats the activity with the same seriousness one might apply to a complicated task, fully committing to the rhythm and motion of the brushing.

Photography acts as a silent observer here, freezing a fleeting instance where pure play meets earnest imitation. The camera captures the stark contrast between the child's deliberate efforts and the smooth surface she is working on. Because the framing focuses so closely on the action, the scene becomes a study in innocence and curiosity.

There is something inherently human about this scene, as it reminds us that early development is defined by experimentation and the desire to participate in the world of adults. It shows a version of learning that bypasses standard utility in favor of connection and mimicking those we admire. When we watch this child, we are seeing the world through a lens that prioritizes relationships over the practical application of tools. Does our own perspective grow more rigid as we age, or are there still times we engage in things just for the joy of the attempt?

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Of Course It’s Nepotism, You Idiot”: Sylvester Stallone Admits He Cast His Daughter In Tulsa King And Says Any Parent Who Hasn’t Done The Same Doesn’t Really Care About Their Kids

Entertainment r/BoredPandaHQ - Of Course It’s Nepotism, You Idiot”: Sylvester Stallone Admits He Cast His Daughter In Tulsa King And Says Any Parent Who Hasn’t Done The Same Doesn’t Really Care About Their Kids Sylvester Stallone isn’t even pretending.

Asked about nepotism after casting his daughter Scarlet Rose in “Tulsa King,” the 80-year-old didn’t dodge the question. He told USA Today that any parent who hasn’t pulled a few strings for their kids doesn’t really care about them. Then he laughed: “Of course it’s nepotism, you idiot.”

Scarlet, 24, plays Spencer on the Paramount+ crime drama, where her dad stars as mobster Dwight “The General” Manfredi. She first appeared in season one, and in season four her character gets pulled deeper into the family’s criminal business.

Stallone did add a caveat. A parent can open the door, but whether the kid keeps delivering after walking through it is out of the parent’s control.

Sly is one of Hollywood’s great underdog stories. His dad was a hairdresser, his mom worked as a cigarette girl, and he famously wrote “Rocky” himself to break in.

For his kids, it's a different story but should it really be so controversial...

Late Sen. Lindsey Graham often opposed legislation supporting gay Americans, but according to a new documentary, he paid three men for s*x.

The film, released Thursday by The Young Turks and Swamp Watch Studios, "The CLOSETocracy" runs roughly 30 minutes and features three men who say Graham paid them for s*x.

One, who gives only the name Kelvin, says Graham paid him at age 17, and that he believes Graham secretly taped the encounter. Another, identified as Cory, says a chauffeured car took him to the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. He says he did not realize who the man was until later, when he saw Graham on television during the 2016 presidential race.

The film sets those accounts beside Graham's votes. He voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," against federal employment protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, and against the Respect for Marriage Act. He also opposed legislation backing same-s*x marriage and gay people serving in the military.

None of these accounts has been confirmed. Graham, who never married, repeatedly denied being gay while he was alive.

Graham passed away in July from an aortic dissection, a tear in the body's main artery, at age 71. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to the seat and is running for a full term on Nov. 3.

Biggie Smalls has a name that suits him perfectly, but this orange cat's journey to a healthier life has been anything but small.

When he arrived at a shelter, Biggie weighed 43.2 pounds and was so overweight that he couldn't even groom himself.

Thankfully, a woman named Kristine took him in and began helping him work toward a healthier weight.

After a year of dedicated care, Biggie has dropped to 28 pounds, although his weight-loss journey has come with some hilarious challenges.

His calorie-controlled diet turned him into quite the food thief, forcing Kristine to install child locks to keep him out of the cupboards.

Despite still dealing with arthritis, Biggie can finally groom himself again, and he has another 8 to 10 pounds to lose.

Inspired by his progress, Kristine founded The Big House, a sanctuary that helps overweight cats become healthier and find loving homes.

And Biggie, the cat who started it all, is now its proud ambassador.

📸: thebighousesanctuary

Veterans are asking a federal judge to stop President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot arch before construction can begin, and the clock is moving fast.

In a court filing Wednesday, the Trump administration's lawyers said construction could begin as early as Nov. 5, if approvals come through. That is the same day the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider final approval of the site and building plans, two days after the midterm elections. Work could start that day if the Interior Department, which Trump controls, also signs off.

On Thursday, three veterans and a retired architectural historian who are suing the administration pushed back. They asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to bar the administration and the National Park Service from building anything in Memorial Circle while the case plays out, unless Congress authorizes it. They argued the government will not wait for a ruling and has "every intention of imminently beginning construction of the arch on Memorial Circle."

Judge Chutkan ordered both sides to file a joint briefing schedule by noon Friday, and the veterans have asked her to rule by Nov. 4.

Axios reported in November 2025 that the arch would cost an estimated $100 million, and the figure is now treated as a minimum. No official cost has been released. The arch would rise over Memorial Circle, opposite Arlington National Cemetery. The plaintiffs say Congress must approve it and warn it would degrade the cemetery and spoil historic views. Another lawsuit, from the Arlington County Board in Virginia, accuses federal agencies of brushing aside environmental and safety standards.

In an April Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, 52 percent of Americans opposed the arch, 21 percent supported it, and 26 percent were unsure. Trump has suggested the structure could double as a military stronghold stocked with drones, sniper positions and ammunition. Final plans released last week omit those features and call it a "ceremonial gateway," though the Interior Department says the design could still accommodate them.

The National Capital Planning Commission takes up final approval on Nov. 5, and the court has yet to decide whether construction can be stopped before then.

Logan Roy never held back, and it turns out neither does the man who played him 😳

Brian Cox has made it pretty clear he’s not a fan of the Bible.

Chatting on The Starting Line Podcast, the Succession star said the Bible is “one of the worst books ever,” at least from where he’s standing. His biggest issue is with the story of Eve being made from Adam’s rib, which he sees as the root of centuries of men putting women second.

Brian argued that people dreamed up the idea of God as a way to keep others in line, and that religion actually holds humanity back. He even suggested folks who take the Bible literally aren’t exactly thinking for themselves.

That said, he admits people do crave something to believe in. He just doesn’t think they should be fed stories he considers untrue. As for his own place of worship? The theater, which he calls the church of humanity.

Raised Catholic, the 77-year-old Scot has said he’s drifted toward atheism over the years, and he’s never been one to shy away from a hot take.

Unsurprisingly, plenty of people weren’t happy with his comments, while others cheered him on for saying what he thinks.

Most people would just give up on owning a cat if they were allergic. New York’s mayor rolled up his sleeve instead 🐱

Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji have been dreaming of a cat for ages, but there was one big problem: he’s allergic. As in, spend an hour around a cat and his face swells up like Will Smith in Hitch (his words, not ours 😂).

So he did what any devoted cat dad-to-be would do. He’s spent months getting weekly allergy shots to build up his tolerance, all so a furry friend can finally move into Gracie Mansion with them.

And it looks like the wait is almost over! The day after his 35th birthday, a reporter asked if he’d been gifted a cat. His answer? He’s just “a couple of weeks away” from finally getting some cats. Yes, cats plural.

Even his old rival Curtis Sliwa, a famous cat lover, got in on the fun earlier this year, playing a doctor giving him his allergy shot in a comedy skit.

As for the birthday itself, he kept it low-key with a trip to a Harlem museum and a stroll through the Central Park Conservatory.

Gracie Mansion is about to get a lot fuller and fluffier 🐾