Washington wakes up to a swirl of political escalation, federal investigations, internal power struggles, and even presidential pressure shaping Hollywood decisions.
FBI Opens Investigation Into Democrat Lawmakers Over Video Address to Troops
The FBI has launched an investigation into a group of Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video telling U.S. service members that they are not obligated to follow illegal orders — a message that immediately drew the ire of President Donald Trump and sparked concerns about politicizing the military and discord within the ranks.
Shortly after Trump labeled the group “traitors” and accused them of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH,” lawmakers confirmed the FBI had begun scheduling interviews with them.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former CIA officer, wrote on X that the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division appeared to open an inquiry into her “in response to a video [the President] did not like,” arguing it demonstrated exactly why they had issued the warning to military personnel.
The video features six lawmakers — all with prior military or intelligence backgrounds — saying, “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
House members involved in the video, including Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander, confirmed the FBI reached out through the House Sergeant at Arms.
The investigation is already raising questions about political speech, military authority, and the widening rift between the White House and its congressional critics.
Trump Considering Firing FBI Director Patel Amid Internal Turmoil and Public Controversies
A new report from MS Now indicates President Trump is weighing whether to remove FBI Director Kash Patel, citing growing frustration inside the administration and among Trump allies over Patel’s string of recent controversies.
According to three anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, Patel’s standing has weakened significantly. The concerns range from his use of a government jet and a taxpayer-funded protective detail for his girlfriend to frequent internal clashes with other Trump-loyalist officials.
Multiple high-profile missteps have fueled additional criticism:
- Patel incorrectly announced the capture of a suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination, only for authorities to release that individual shortly after.
- During a later press briefing, Patel ended his remarks with “See you in Valhalla,” triggering backlash for its bizarre and inappropriate tone.
- Conservatives have also criticized his handling of the Epstein files and the resource allocation for major investigations.
Despite growing pressure from Trump-aligned commentators online, the White House strongly denied that Patel’s removal is imminent. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized that Patel is “a critical member of the President’s team,” while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the reporting as inaccurate.
Still, the MS Now report notes that senior officials believe Patel is “on thin ice,” with top FBI official Andrew Bailey being discussed as a potential successor should Trump decide to make a change.
Hollywood Shake-Up: Trump Pushes Paramount to Move Forward With Rush Hour 4
In an unusual intersection of politics and entertainment, Paramount has decided to move ahead with distributing Rush Hour 4 — a project long stalled in development — following direct encouragement from President Trump on behalf of director Brett Ratner.
Producer Tarak Ben Ammar is reportedly finalizing financing for the film, while journalist Matthew Belloni confirmed that Trump personally advocated for Ratner, who has been sidelined in Hollywood for years due to 2017 sexual assault allegations he denies.
Paramount’s decision comes at a strategically delicate moment. Its parent company, David Ellison’s Skydance, is one of the major bidders to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the home of the original Rush Hour trilogy.
Several studios — including Warner Bros’ own New Line Cinema — had previously rejected the project.
With the president’s involvement nudging the film forward, the sequel will reunite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in a franchise that has generated $850 million globally, despite being dormant for more than 15 years.
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