FBI releases new video and info about DC pipe bomb suspect
Nearly four years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the FBI has released new video and information about the suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs at the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices the night before. The bombs didn’t detonate, but the FBI said they were “viable” and posed a risk to people.
In the newly released security camera video, the suspect can be seen planting a pipe bomb outside the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night of Jan. 5, 2021. A second pipe bomb was left close to the RNC headquarters the same night.
The FBI also released new information about the suspect, saying it believes the masked and hooded person is about 5 foot, 7 inches tall, and was wearing Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes.
According to the FBI, fewer than 25,000 pairs of those shoes were sold between August 2018 and the time of the attack.
Investigators are hoping the new video and information, along with a $500,000 reward, can help them solve the years-old mystery. While the bombs were planted the night before the attack on the U.S. Capitol, investigators said there’s no clear link between the events of Jan. 6 and the devices.
“President Biden as a human being is no longer capable of executing the duties of the commander-in-chief,” Li told News Nation. “We kind of have a shadow presidency of his inner circle of people.”
The report outlines Biden’s staff insulating him from both the public and donors due in part to his inability to answer free-ranging questions.
He has also been kept at a distance from senior Democrats in Congress and members of his cabinet like Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
“Well, I don’t want to get crucified again, but there are certain people around him, his senior advisors, who are essentially running the country,” Li said.
Li worked with Biden throughout the primary and general election in 2019 and 2020. She said back then he was fine. It wasn’t until 2023 that she noticed his decline.
The Wall Street Journal report gave insight into what the president has been like behind the scenes.
“At some events, the Biden campaign printed the pre-approved questions on notecards and then gave donors the cards to read the questions,” Li said. “Even with all these steps, Biden made flubs, which confounded the donors who knew that Biden had the questions ahead of time.”
In the wake of the debate that led to Biden dropping out of the race, he held a call with senior Democrats to reassure them about his ability to win. He reportedly became angry when challenged and ended the call abruptly. Biden dropped out of the presidential race eight days later.
‘Stay engaged’: Biden touts Democratic unity at DNC holiday event
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Democratic lawmakers at a holiday reception in Washington on Sunday, Dec. 15, reflecting on the administration’s achievements and urging continued political involvement. The two thanked party members for their involvement in Harris’ presidential campaign effort and Biden’s presidency over the past four years.
Biden highlighted legislation passed during his presidency, including the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which aimed to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. He emphasized the long-term impact of these initiatives on the nation’s economy, infrastructure and sustainability.
Harris thanked party members for their contributions to Democratic campaigns and efforts over the past four years. The event served as an acknowledgment of the party’s work during a period marked by legislative progress and challenges.
Biden expressed his commitment to remaining involved in party efforts after leaving office in January. He emphasized the critical role Harris would continue to play in the party’s future.
He told fellow Democrats to “stay engaged” and “never give up” as the nation prepares for a transition in leadership following the 2024 election results.
Biden and Harris encouraged supporters to remain active in shaping the party’s direction moving forward.
FEC filings reveal Dem finances following most expensive election in US history
One month after the election, new financial details have emerged regarding the Democratic and Republican National Committees and the parties’ top supporting PACs. Political candidates rely on several funding sources, including official party committees, campaigns and super PACs.
A significant amount of attention has focused on the Harris campaign, which reportedly raised more than $1.4 billion. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) reported nearly $50 million in the bank after the election.
Combined with the broader Harris campaign, the DNC and its affiliates had $84 million as of Nov. 25, following weeks of continued fundraising.
Meanwhile, Future Forward, the largest Democratic super PAC, ended the election cycle with nearly $50 million in debt, according to filings reviewed by the Washington Post. The unpaid bills are primarily related to media buys and advertising costs, according to filings.
The massive spending from all fundraising entities has come under scrutiny from high-profile Democratic strategists. James Carville, during a recent appearance on the “Politics War Room” podcast, called for audits of the financial statements.
“Without complete transparency, the campaign — we think — raised a billion and a half dollars,” Carville said. “Okay, we know that Future Forward, the last we saw, was $900 million, so we can assume that they got to a billion before the election. That’s two and a half billion dollars. We’re going to audit the campaign. We’re going to audit Future Forward. We’re going to audit the DNC so people can know.”
On the Republican side, the Republican National Committee and Trump’s campaign reported $124 million in cash following the election, according to FEC filings.
Billionaire Elon Musk contributed more than $250 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates. Filings state his donations went through the “America” super PAC and other affiliated groups.
The Harris campaign is still fundraising. Where does the money go?
Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign continues to actively fundraise. The solicitations come as reports reveal the Harris campaign is $20 million in debt after spending about $1.5 billion.
In emails to supporters, the Harris campaign asked for anywhere from $50 to $500 so it can, “defend those that are within the margin of recounts or certain legal challenges.”
The emails asked supporters to “rush” donations to the Harris Fight Fund Program. However, the money is first allocated to the Democratic National Committee, according to the fine print.
Officials will break donations down in three ways. The first $41,300 of a person’s donation will go to the DNC. The next $3,000 will go toward the Harris for President Recount Account. Officials would split the last $510,000 between Democratic state parties around the country.
A Harris campaign fundraising email explains how donations are divided.
If donors want their money to go directly to the recount account, rather than the DNC, they have to inform the campaign via email.
On Monday, Nov. 18, the DNC Staff Union announced staffers were being laid off with one day’s notice and no severance. The Harris-Walz campaign gave staff three weeks of severance.
One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own.
The union criticized senior leadership and blamed it on “callous and short-sighted mismanagement.” The cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover, according to the union. Many of who were laid off included employees were told their positions would remain after the election.
Those impacted by the DNC layoffs include employees who had worked there for decades and expecting parents.
Dem super PAC plans GOP resistance event, Google hosting afterparty
Priorities USA, a top Democratic super PAC, is gathering digital activists in Washington, D.C., to evaluate its campaign efforts and strategize ways to oppose the Republican agenda. The meeting will conclude with a happy hour co-hosted by Google, sparking fresh debate over Big Tech’s political involvement.
The event, dubbed the 2024 Digital Retrospective, aims to analyze the organization’s digital mobilization efforts following Vice President Kamala Harris’ election loss.
According to an invitation obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the summit will discuss lessons learned from the campaign and prepare for deeper planning sessions in the coming months.
Priorities USA’s major donors include billionaire financier George Soros and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The group spent $75 million on digital mobilization during the 2024 election cycle.
In the invitation, the super PAC quoted Harris’s concession speech.
“This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves,” the invitation said.
Google confirmed its role in hosting the post-meeting happy hour but distanced itself from the political discussions. A Google spokesperson said its political sales team regularly hosts events for advertisers on both sides of the aisle.
The involvement of Big Tech in political events has drawn attention amid growing scrutiny. President-elect Donald Trump has long accused Google of bias, claiming it manipulates search results to disadvantage him.
On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to address these concerns but ruled out breaking up the company, citing its importance in countering China.
Adding to the tension, Trump nominated former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to become his attorney general. Gaetz is a vocal supporter of antitrust legislation targeting Big Tech. He previously praised the Biden administration’s efforts to hold Google accountable.
The event highlights the intersection of corporate influence and political strategy as tech companies face mounting criticism from both sides of the aisle.
Union questions if Harris campaign debt contributed to DNC mass layoffs
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is facing backlash after laying off staff members with just one day’s notice and no severance, according to the DNC Staff Union. The union has sharply criticized the party’s leadership, accusing them of “callous and short-sighted mismanagement” following the mass layoffs, which they argue go far beyond typical post-election turnover.
Many of those laid off had been assured their jobs would be secure after the election. Some of those had even worked for the DNC for decades.
One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own.
In a statement, the union condemned senior leadership for leaving loyal employees in a difficult position, scrambling to cover essential expenses like rent, medical bills and child care.
The union also pointed out a disconnect between the Democratic Party’s public values and its treatment of its own staff. They said, “the principles we champion on the national stage have been disregarded in our own workplace.”
The layoffs have fueled concerns about the DNC’s financial stability, particularly in light of the financial scrutiny surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
Harris’ campaign raised over $1.5 billion. However, it has come under fire for its spending practices.
Harris’ campaign is also reportedly in significant debt. NewsNation reports the campaign is $20 million in the red.
The Associated Press reported that the campaign continues to send fundraising appeals asking for donations without explicitly stating the funds are to pay off campaign liabilities.
In light of these issues, the DNC Staff Union is demanding two things. The first is severance for the laid-off workers. The second is full transparency from DNC leadership about the layoffs and the party’s financial situation.
Biden, Harris, Walz, Clooney: Dems point fingers after loss to Trump
Democrats are searching for answers after Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign collapsed on Election Night. President Joe Biden, Gov. Tim Walz and even actor George Clooney are all being blamed by some within the Democratic Party.
Some party members trace the loss back to when Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024. Several Harris campaign advisers told The Associated Press that Biden should have stepped aside earlier in the election cycle.
Andrew Yang, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, agreed.
“The biggest onus of this loss is on President Biden,” Yang said. “If he had stepped down in January instead of July, we may be in a very different place.”
David Plouffe, a top adviser to Harris’ campaign, called the loss “devastating.” He noted the campaign had to “dig itself out of a deep hole.” Plouffe deleted his social media accounts after his comment.
Many former Harris campaign staffers spoke anonymously to media outlets, some blaming Biden for the loss. They expressed frustration at the late timing of Biden’s exit.
“We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost,” one Harris aide told Politico.
The national campaign? Nothing. Zero. They had no respect, no coordination. I didn’t even have one conversation with the lady.
Bob Brady, Philadelphia Democrat Party Chairman
While those close to Harris blame Biden, other Democrats are pointing fingers at Harris herself. In Philadelphia, where the city’s Democratic National Committee Chair Bob Brady was outspoken. He criticized Harris’ campaign as “incompetent” and said it failed to support local Democratic leadership.
“The national campaign? Nothing. Zero. They had no respect, no coordination. I didn’t even have one conversation with the lady,” Brady said. “They didn’t even do the right thing by giving us the resources we need. And they want to blame us? And now I understand someone in her camp is blaming Joe Biden? Can you imagine blaming Joe Biden for her loss? She lost, he didn’t lose.”
“We knocked more than two million doors in the weekend leading up to Election Day, which is two million more doors than Bob Brady’s organization can claim to have knocked during his entire tenure as party chairman,” a senior adviser to the Harris campaign said.
Lindy Li, a Harris surrogate, also reflected on Harris’ choice of running mate. She questioned whether replacing Gov. Tim Walz with a more moderate option, such as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, would have changed the race.
“The blame game has started,” Li said. “One of the things that are top of mind is the choice of Tim Walz as vice presidential candidate. A lot of people are saying tonight that it should have been Josh Shapiro. Frankly, people have been saying that for months. I know a lot of people are probably wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket.”
As some Democrats argue that Biden waited too long to pass the torch, others are questioning whether he should have stepped aside at all.
Prominent figures, including George Clooney, are now being mocked online for their calls for Biden to exit the race. Clooney had written an op-ed in The New York Times, urging Biden to end his campaign and allow the party to nominate a new candidate.
Journalist Joshua Hartley shared a screenshot of Clooney’s piece on X, mocking the suggestion with the caption, “Thank you, George Clooney.”
Meanwhile, progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was re-elected in Vermont on Tuesday, Nov. 5, took to X to offer his own critique. In a post that responded to the infighting within the party, Sanders said the issue lay with the Democratic Party itself.
“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Sanders wrote. “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”
Harris surpasses Trump with $1.6 billion campaign fundraising high
Vice President Kamala Harris surpassed former President Donald Trump in fundraising with $1.6 billion. That’s compared to over $700 million for Trump over the course of his presidential campaign.
Harris raised $928 million for her official campaign, $364 million for the Democratic National Committee and another $307 million for a joint fundraising committee.
Harris pulled in $222 million in September alone. Trump raised $63 million. Those numbers are both down compared to 2020 when Biden raised $281 million and Trump raised $81 million.
As far as spending goes, Harris continued to outspend Trump on advertising. About $222 million of the $270 million that Harris’ campaign spent in September was on media buys and production costs. Trump spent about $53 million on media costs out of the $78 million his campaign spent in September.
The public will get an even better financial picture of both campaigns when they submit their earnings for the first half of October on Thursday, Oct. 24.
RFK Jr. suspends campaign and backs Trump as Kennedy siblings react
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy announced he is suspending his campaign on Friday, Aug. 23. The twist comes after many speculated that the third-party candidate would drop out of the race on Friday. However, RFK Jr. also threw his support behind former President Donald Trump.
“My name will remain on the ballot in most states,” Kennedy said. “If you live in a blue state, you can still vote for me without harming or helping President Trump or Vice President Harris.”
Although he’s not dropping out of the race, RFK Jr. said he is withdrawing his nomination from any swing state where he could have an impact.
“In about 10 battleground states, where my pressure would be a spoiler, I’m going to remove my name, and I’ve already started that process and urge voters to not vote for me,” Kennedy said.
RFK Jr. said his reasons for supporting Trump relate to the Republican candidate’s stance on the war in Ukraine, free speech and “the war on children.” Kennedy said he made his decision after a phone call with Trump shortly following the attempted assassination of the GOP nominee for president in July.
However, Kennedy said he believed that he would have won the presidential election in “an honest system.” He also claimed censorship and difficulties filing as a third-party candidate makes it nearly impossible to win. Kennedy has filed requests to be taken off the ballot in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
There was reaction to RFK Jr.’s decision almost immediately after he made his announcement, including from his siblings, who issued a statement following the endorsement of former President Trump.
“Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear,” the statement read. “It is a sad ending to a sad story.”
In the statement, the Kennedy siblings also expressed their support for Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for vice president in 2024. As for former President Trump, he acknowledged the endorsement and thanked RFK Jr. for his support.
“I want to thank Bobby,” Trump said. “That was really nice.”
