Budgetary allocations for select government offices, commonly termed “intelligence” and “confidential” funds, are typically exempt from standard auditing procedures in order to preserve the secrecy of the operations they support. While such exemptions may be justifiable for safeguarding national security and law enforcement objectives, their application to civilian agencies without clear security functions is harder to defend. The secrecy surrounding these funds creates a fertile ground for misuse. The legislative challenge lies in establishing stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent fraud and ensure that these funds serve their intended purposes effectively. This is the apparent aim of the ongoing hearings in the House of Representatives, focusing on the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during Vice President Sara Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. The first critical question is whether the OVP and DepEd—both civilian agencies entities—require confidential funds at all. If they do, what level of auditing and oversight is appropriate? Under normal circumstances, such issues might not capture much public attention. However, the current inquiry is complicated by its political undertones. The spotlight is on Sara Duterte’s use of confidential funds both as incumbent vice president and as former education secretary, even though hers is not the only office with such allocations. The timing of the investigation—coinciding with Sara Duterte’s public break from the Marcos administration, of which she was a key member—raises suspicions about the real motive behind these hearings. Her supporters allege this is part of a calculated move to discredit her as a contender in the 2028 presidential elections. Regardless of political motivations, the separate Senate and House inquiries into Sara Duterte’s budgets are exposing glaring systemic weaknesses in our governance system. These hearings highlight how populist leaders like Sara Duterte exploit these dysfunctions to gain enormous power and maintain it. The crux of the problem appears to be the unrestricted access to public funds with minimal accountability. These funds are often used to distribute political patronage, secure compliance with illegal directives, or sustain an ecosystem of political operators, troll farms, loyal media, bodyguards, and even assassins. Those who resist can be intimidated, coerced, or silenced. This is governance at its darkest—a form of criminal politics. While such practices are not unique to one administration, the Vice President’s father and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s tenure arguably made them the cornerstone of his rule. Enabled by obsequious politicians, a complicit police force, a subdued judiciary, a silenced press, and a fearful bureaucracy, his brazen and whimsical presidency found no need for transparency and accountability. The people seemed satisfied so long as he appeared to deliver results. Yet, all presidencies end. Without a political party to anchor his influence, Rodrigo Duterte’s power quickly vanished after his term, though his popularity persisted for some time. The Marcos administration rode to power in part by recruiting Sara Duterte to be the vice president. Now, the fallout from the collapse of their dynastic alliance has thrust the government into a situation that tests the Marcos administration’s seriousness about strengthening the rule of law and reforming governance. The breakup has been ugly—marked by accusations of betrayal, broken promises, and incendiary rhetoric. In her latest outburst on Nov. 23, a defiant Sara Duterte unleashed a torrent of expletives and threats against the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House during an impromptu press conference at her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte’s office. If words could kill, there would be decimation in the upper echelons of government. This is no longer mere political theater. As the saying goes, when elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. The public’s growing frustration with their leaders drains the energy needed for national progress. Calls for people power are already surfacing on social media. While another Edsa revolution seems unlikely, the current climate of distrust and disillusionment only deepens the country’s political malaise. —————– [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Hoover was 20 for 32 for 252 yards with an interception. Eric McAlister had eight catches for 87 yards and a TD for the Horned Frogs (9-4). TCU's defense also had a solid day, holding Louisiana-Lafayette (10-4) to 209 yards, including 61 on the game’s final possession. Ben Wooldridge was 7-for-20 passing for 61 yards for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He also threw an interception. The Horned Frogs put together a fast start. Hoover found DJ Rogers for a 3-yard TD pass, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive on the game's opening possession. After Lou Groza Award winner Kenneth Almendares missed a 54-yard field goal for Louisiana-Lafayette, TCU went right back to work. McAlister's 1-yard touchdown reception finished a 10-play, 63-yard drive and gave the Horned Frogs a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Kyle Lemmermann kicked two field goals and JP Richardson added a 20-yard touchdown reception as TCU opened a 27-0 halftime lead.
The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceNEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge wins his second AL MVP award after leading MLB with 58 home runs.Conservative activist Laura Loomer has sharpened her attack of X, formerly Twitter , owner Elon Musk , accusing him of "totalitarian censorship" on Saturday for her criticisms of H-1B visas, which Musk supports. Newsweek has reached out to Musk via email for comment. Why It Matters Loomer, a loyal Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporter, has taken to social media to criticize the debate over H-1B visas as she has taken aim at Musk for his remarks on supporting H-1B visas, which allow employers to hire skilled workers from other countries for specialized jobs which require college degrees or significant experience. Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX who has been appointed by the President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the "Department of Government Efficiency" or (DOGE), alongside Vivek Ramaswamy , has been a staunch ally and financial backer of Trump's in this year's election cycle. However, most recently Musk, a South African naturalized U.S. citizen, is finding himself at odds with MAGA supporters over H-1B visas as they have long pushed for stricter immigration policies. What To Know In a Saturday post on X, Loomer shared a screen recording of posts over H-1B visas and accused Musk of "totalitarian censorship" claiming that labeling the posts on the platform as "probable spam" is retaliation for criticisms of the policy. "@elonmusk why are you labeling 75% of the replies on my account as 'probable spam'? This is an abuse of power & everyone in MAGA needs to call this behavior out. This is not what we voted for. This is totalitarian censorship and retaliatory behavior over protected free speech," Loomer wrote. Loomer previously accused Musk of "full censorship" after her premium account on the social media site was deactivated. She is not the first to accuse Musk of censorship as at least 14 conservative accounts said late Thursday or Friday that X had revoked their blue verification badge, according to NBC News. While Musk has not responded to the accusations, he posted Thursday what he called "a reminder" on X, writing that the site's algorithm automatically reduces the reach of a user if they're frequently blocked or muted by other credible users. "If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly," he wrote. A rift over H-1B visas erupted after Loomer criticized Trump's appointment of Indian-born entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as his senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence (AI). On X, Loomer noted Krishnan had previously argued that the H-1B visa should be expanded, which she claimed was "in direct opposition" to the Trump agenda. Musk, meanwhile, defended legal migration in an X post on Friday. "The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend," he wrote. Musk, the world's wealthiest man , has benefited from the H-1B program personally and professionally. He first came to the United States on a J-1 academic visa that he says transitioned into an H-1B. Tesla is also among the companies to rely on the program, having hired 724 H-1B workers in 2023. However, MAGA evangelists, like Loomer, believe Musk's influence within Trump's circle serves his own interests. On X, Loomer singled out Musk and his tech allies, including Box CEO Aaron Levie and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel , alleging that the new DOGE initiative for government efficiency is just a cover for sending funds to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. What Are People Saying Loomer on Thursday via X : "President Trump's most loyal fighters with the biggest audiences in MAGA are all anti-Big Tech and we are nauseated with Big Tech bros who think we are peasants and dumb. The Big Tech sleepovers & fake love fest at Mar-a-Lago will be over soon you guys. Just hold the line." Ramaswamy on Friday posted on X: "I've said it countless times in the last 2 years & will say it again: the H-1B system is badly broken & should be replaced with one that focuses on selecting the very best of the best (not a lottery), pro-competitive (no indentured service to one company), and de-bureaucratized." Sidharth Ram, a data architect and immigrant from Chennai, India, wrote in a post on X: "Anyone opposing high-skilled immigration is fundamentally anti-American. This nation was built by immigrants who drove innovation, from Albert Einstein revolutionizing science to Sergey Brin reshaping technology. High-skilled immigrants create jobs, fuel economic growth, and ensure America stays ahead globally." He added: "Groups like #USTECHWorkers, operating with shady funding from external forces and amplified by figures like Laura Loomer, are nothing more than propaganda machines designed to weaken America's competitive edge. Their agenda isn't about protecting jobs—it's about stoking division and fear." What Happens Next While Musk's approach to H-1B visas is at odds with the cultural and economic protectionism espoused by those in the MAGA movement, it is unclear what Trump plans to do regarding H-1B visas. Trump suggested during an interview on the All-In podcast in June that international students graduating from American universities should be given green cards . "If you graduate or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country," he said. Once in office, Trump could struggle to placate those in business who believe skilled legal migration boosts the U.S. economy and those of his supporters who think it takes place at the expense of American workers.INDEPENDENCE — Jamie Jones earned runner-up, three girls placed top-5 and six girls left the Mustang Invitational with winning records for the Sumner-Fredericksburg/Wapsie Valley co-op Saturday. “Overall, we are very satisfied with our first outing and proud of how hard each of the girls fought in this loaded tournament,” head coach Alicia Jones said. “There are always things that maybe don’t exactly go exactly the way we wanted but that’s how we learn and grow and that’s what we will focus on in moving forward. We had a lot more good come away from the day and are super proud of how hard each of the girls fought and competed from match to match.” The junior grappler, Jones, placed second at 155 pounds, losing by fall to Waverly-Shell Rock’s Amalia Djoumessi in the championship. Djoumessi earned a 3-point takedown 27 seconds in, got a three-point nearfall 22 seconds later and finished off the pin a few seconds later. “In the past, this has been one of the hardest tournaments of the season,” said the younger Jones, who went 3-1 with two pins and a major decision. “One, because it is the first competition date, and because there are a ton of good teams. “We had a successful start to our season with finishing 12th. At the end of the day the success wasn’t if we were high on the podium — it was the little things we did well, and what we saw we need to work on.” Senior 130-pounder Isabel Christensen went 4-2 and placed fourth. She collected four pins. “I was very happy with how everyone did,” she said. “It was a hard tournament, and these are the ones where you need your teammates the most. To cheer you on and support you. That’s what our team does best, supporting each other.” Four others garnered four victories during the tournament: Braelyn Suckow (110, 4-1), Cameryn Judisch (115, 4-2), Ella Pitz (125, 4-2) and Ella Schares (140, 4-1). Wapsie Valley’s Schares went 1-1 in pool play to fall into the consolation bracket, then reeled off three victories with three pins to place ninth. “It’s incredible the atmosphere our team has built,” she said. “There were so many great teams there and we all wrestled our hearts out and gave it everything. I’m so excited to see where this season leads us.” Suckow walked the same path: A 1-1 pool play record, then three consecutive pins. “It was a very good opportunity to learn what I need to do to improve for the next tournament and the rest of the season,” Suckow said. “Other than that, I’m proud of how the day went for everyone.” Judisch placed fifth, with four pins. “It was one of the hardest tournaments there will be this season but I’m proud of how we went out and competed,” she said. “Only up from here.” Pitz went 1-1 in pool play and lost, but ended on three straight pins. “I am very happy with how everybody wrestled today with it being such a big and hard tournament and can’t wait to see how far we go this season,” she added. Wapsie Valley’s Emerie Parkes (1-4, 130) and Maleena Sander (105) each snagged their first varsity win of the season, and career for Sander. Parkes won by pin and Sander won, 14-8. She led a close match with Waterloo West’s Elynn Smith, 6-5, after one period, and 11-8, after four minutes. She snagged a takedown late in the third for the final margin. “It was a great first tournament to start my wrestling career,” she said. “I’m super thankful to the coaches and my teammates for all they’ve taught me. Even though I lost most of my matches I’m really happy I could see some more experienced girls wrestle and know what’s coming.”
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ylie Kelce, wife of former Eagles center Jason Kelce, isn't holding back. Fresh off the announcement of her fourth pregnancy, In a candid Instagram reel, Kylie opened up about how these remarks have affected her, delivering both humor and honesty that fans can't get enough of. Kylie addresses viral comments After sharing her pregnancy news, Kylie was flooded with responses, but one comment struck a nerve-and sparked a hilarious clapback. , suggesting Kylie needed to "bring her genes" to this pregnancy. The mother of three didn't miss a beat in her reply. "We are so lucky that my husband makes cute girls," Kylie said, adding with a laugh, " She even joked that Wyatt's resemblance to Jason was so uncanny that, "if I hadn't pushed her out myself, I wouldn't believe I had any part in making her." The trolling didn't stop there. Kylie admitted that the internet now insists her second daughter, , Travis Kelce-a comparison that Kylie doesn't find amusing. "I was blonde. I had one dimple. I very much feel as though Ellie could pass for looking like her mom," she argued. However, she's taking the comments in stride, quipping, Kylie's big move But Kylie isn't just clapping back-she's leveling up. , Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce, where she promises to be raw and unfiltered. "On Not Gonna Lie, you're going to hear my brutally honest opinions on motherhood. I'm not going to stop cursing in front of my kids. social media trends, and more, featuring a lineup of exciting guests. With her fourth child on the way and a burgeoning podcast, Whether she's addressing trolls or diving into viral entertainment stories, Kylie Kelce is a force to be reckoned with-and this is just the beginning.