Senator Schmitt accuses ex-special counsel Jack Smith of perjury over basketball game confusion

If any evidence were needed that Republicans have no credible dirt on former special counsel Jack Smith, Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing provided it in abundance.

During the hearing, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) asked Smith whether he had attended an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks on February 3, 2024, in Atlanta. For context, Schmitt noted that this was the day after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis revealed her affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade.

"I definitely did not go to a Hawks game," Smith answered, adding that he had not spent any time in Atlanta and had never met with Willis or Wade.

Schmitt then accused the former special counsel of perjury.

The Missouri Republican's staff displayed a poster board that Schmitt claimed showed text messages from Smith's team discussing plans to attend the Hawks game. Almost immediately, the board was taken down.

Smith was unable to respond to the accusation, noting, "You just took it down really quick." Schmitt refused to display the board again, instead calling Smith a "dirtbag."

Later, Smith clarified that he remembered attending a college basketball game in February 2024 between the University of Maryland and the University of Iowa, where Caitlin Clark had played.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) offered a possible explanation: "Could it then be that University of Iowa was the Hawkeyes?"

Schmitt interjected that Klobuchar was trying to "rehabilitate the witness." He insisted that the text messages—which he had not allowed anyone to review—"could have obviously been related to the prosecution that was coordinated in his office in Atlanta."

"I think people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag, and not get the teams wrong," Klobuchar responded.

Shortly after, Klobuchar confirmed Smith's account.

"The game was in fact in Maryland, Mr. Smith," she said. "And I would just say, for a U.S. senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, which I knew knowing my Midwestern sports, and imply that you were in another city, that you were somehow involved that day in what was happening in Georgia and then call you a dirtbag is something that deserves an apology."

A closer examination of the text messages Schmitt attempted to display showed they made no mention of the "Hawks," further undermining his line of questioning.

Republicans appear so desperate to attack Smith—who stated he found proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" that President Donald Trump committed "serious crimes" related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election and retain classified documents—that they are resorting to ill-informed conspiracy theories.

Later Tuesday, Schmitt attempted to defend himself in an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show.

"It was the only NBA or NCAA Men's game going on that time in Atlanta. He claimed later that he was at another game," Schmitt said. "My job is to ask the questions, he's already—and if that's what his answer is, then that's what his answer is."

Schmitt admitted he was not seeking facts but rather a gotcha moment.

"Jack Smith has lied under oath time and time again, and so the purpose of today is just to get him to answer a bunch of questions and to see if he ensnares himself in more lies because he's done that before," Schmitt said.

However, the lawmaker's lazy research—and conservatives' dismissal of women's sports—appears to have undermined his efforts.

This story has been updated.

Trump Administration Unveils "Unhackable" AI Chatbot—With Caveats

The Trump administration's new, ultra-secure AI chatbot—described as "damn good"—cannot be hacked, officials claim. Yet.

The technology, hosted on America.gov, was unveiled during a summit Tuesday morning. It is designed to serve as the new public face of the federal government, allowing citizens to access government information through a familiar chatbot format.

In brief remarks, Donald Trump pledged that the platform was built with cutting-edge technology that would not save or risk user data.

"With America.gov, for the first time in history, the government is offering an experience that matches and in some ways even exceeds the state of the art," Trump said.

"It's built from the ground up with your privacy and security in mind," Trump continued. "They've used a brand new technology—it's absolutely brand new. It's amazing, people don't even have access to it for the most part, to ensure that your personal information is not collected or stored and your conversation disappears when you leave and everything stays totally private."

However, his confidence had limits.

"Cannot, in theory, be hacked into," Trump added, ad-libbing that when "they figure a way to do that, we'll end it."

"Because they always figure a way, right?" Trump said. "If anything does happen. We think it might not happen."

The site was created by Airbnb co-founder and U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, with the goal of centralizing government databases and websites for easier public access, creating a pathway for users to access federal information without navigating the "maze" of government websites.

The administration stated the platform could eventually serve as a waypoint for passport applications, name changes, campsite reservations, and Medicare plans.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders Faces Right-Wing Backlash Over Welfare Ad

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is facing criticism from conservative figures over an ad featuring a white man playing video games who got off welfare thanks to the state's work requirement.

Several conservative personalities attacked the ad for depicting "Brad," who chooses not to work and plays video games on his couch, rather than targeting right-wing stereotypes of women and people of color receiving government assistance.

"This Republican ad calling out welfare leeches uses a young white male named 'Brad' as the villain," posted Matt Walsh. "Meanwhile, back in reality, women are significantly more likely to be on welfare than men. And black people are astronomically more likely to be on welfare than white people. So the number of single young white male 'Brads' abusing the welfare system is minuscule. Practically non-existent. But of course Republicans don't have the balls to do this ad with 'Shaniqua' as the villain."

Failed far-right Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback also criticized the ad.

"White men named Brad don't typically commit welfare fraud," Fishback wrote. "I'd recommend you start with the baby-momma with a BMW who just got back from her Carnival Cruise."

"Almost zero white men under the age of 62 are on welfare. 69% of all immigrant classes are on welfare. The GOP is filled with anti White leftist," wrote right-wing poster Paul (@WomanDefiner).

Right-wing influencer RAMZPAUL said Sanders "needs to apologize for her blood libel."

"Sarah Huckabee never had a real job. Her daddy was a two-time governor. She never worked in the private sector. She never served in the military. Her entire qualification was her daddy," the influencer added. "Maybe she should be cut off the taxpayer funds and get a job as a waitress. She may also want to cut down on the Cheetos."

Sanders doubled down on the post Tuesday, writing: "Some critics online don't like my welfare work requirement ad. Next thing you know they'll say I should have used cookies instead of cheese balls. If you are able-bodied you should not collect welfare simply because you choose not to work. Period."

Despite MAGA outrage, statistics show that in Arkansas, between 52 and 54 percent of SNAP (food stamp) recipients are white, as are 57.8 percent of those on Medicaid. However, Sanders's program may not solve problems, as adding work requirements does not reduce poverty and, in some cases, makes people poorer. Regarding programs like healthcare assistance, most recipients are already working.

As one commentator noted, Sanders has only ever held political jobs thanks to her father, former Arkansas Governor and current U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and has never had to apply for a real job herself.

Jack Smith: "Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt" of Trump's Crimes

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Tuesday that President Donald Trump committed "serious crimes."

In his opening remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Smith reiterated the findings of his two indictments against the president.

"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation," Smith said. "If asked whether to prosecute a former president today based on the same facts, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat."

"The charges against President Trump were the result of the evidence. Grand juries in two separate districts reached this conclusion based on his actions, as alleged in the indictments they returned. Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power."

"After leaving office in January of 2021, President Trump illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago social club and repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents. Highly sensitive national security information was held in a bathroom and ballroom where events and gatherings took place," Smith said.

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