Vice President JD Vance admitted to Joe Rogan that the release of files related to the case of convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein was fumbled by the administration.

Vance joined Rogan for a Joe Rogan Experience interview that dropped on Wednesday, and during a discussion about the Epstein files, Vance admitted the administration mishandled the release of thousands of documents to the public.

“If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty. We did mishandle it, especially the communications of it,” Vance said.

“What do you think should have been done?” Rogan asked.

“I think we should have just dropped everything at the very beginning and, like I was saying, it takes a little time to review the stuff, to find the stuff, to redact things where you have victims and so forth, but we should have just done it as quickly as possible,” Vance explained.

“But some of the stuff that was redacted, some of the names redacted, weren’t victims,” Rogan noted.

Multiple victims of Epstein red-flagged that their identities were briefly revealed in the files, leading to quick redactions by the Department of Justice. The files’ release faced bipartisan backlash over more redactions and the lack of prosecutions coming out of the release.

“I’ve looked into this and my understanding of this, having looked at a lot of this but not all of it, is that it is sometimes hard to draw a distinction between victim and co-conspirator,” Vance said.

The vice president claimed that some victims would be listed as co-conspirators, sometimes because they allegedly helped Epstein procure more girls.

“What DOJ tried to do is make that judgement as best they could and release as much as possible,” Vance said.

He admitted he believes there is a “broader conspiracy” involving Epstein and possible high-level blackmail, but he argued there isn’t enough to prove that.

“There’s a story there and, you know, I will go to my deathbed believing there is a story there, but I can’t prove it,” Vance said. “And I promise you there’s not some document, at least that I’m hiding, that allows us to prove exactly what was going on and how.”

Watch above via The Joe Rogan Experience.

The post JD Vance Admits to Joe Rogan Trump Admin Is ‘Guilty’ of Mishandling Epstein Files Release first appeared on Mediaite.

If you have an Android device, you likely download most of your apps from the Play Store. Maybe you sideload the occasional app from a website, or from your device's proprietary store (e.g., Samsung Store) but, for the most part, the Play Store is the go-to place for apps on Android. That seems to be changing.

While the Play Store isn't going anywhere, Google is making third-party app stores available through its own official app store. As reported by The Verge, starting July 22, developers will be able to roll out their own app marketplaces for users to download on the Play Store. Those third-party app marketplaces can then sell their own apps, as well as pull from apps that Google hosts on the Play Store. In fact, all apps created by U.S.-based developers will be made available on these third-party app marketplaces, unless those developers opt out.

While third-party app marketplaces can distribute apps outside of the Play Store, they are still subject to Google's rules. In fact, there's a host of requirements developers must follow, including terms regarding security, privacy, and user safety. In addition, app marketplace developers will need to pay Google $5,000 upfront for security and policy reviews to onboard Play Store apps, and will need to pay the fee annually.

Why are third-party app marketplaces coming to the Play Store now?

As The Verge explains, this decision is the byproduct of an agreement between Google and Epic Games. Epic Games has been taking Google and Apple to court for years, ever since Fortnite was pulled from both the iOS App Store and the Play Store. Epic Games was frustrated by both platforms' steep fees for developers, and, in protest, offered a way for users to pay Epic Games directly to skirt the fees—violating App Store and Play Store policies.

Back in 2021, a judge decreed that Google had an illegal monopoly over Android applications, and, as such, needed to allow third-party app stores to operate on its platform. Google has been trying to undo the ruling for nearly two years since, and nearly succeeded, by getting Epic Games to settle the case for $800 million. Google had agreed to allow third-party app stores, but not through its Play Store, which the judge found insufficient. Both Google and Epic Games were due in court on Thursday to continue the discussion, but Google has since withdrawn its motion. A spokesperson for the company shared the following with the judge:

"We’ve agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the U.S. Court’s injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining Android’s industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the U.S. Court’s injunction."

We won't know exactly how things will work until these third-party app marketplaces hit the Play Store. In theory, it should be a similar experience for users, since Google has such strict requirements for app marketplace distributors. But while Epic Games is sure to roll out a third-party app marketplace, we'll have to see who else decides to take the plunge. Apple offers third-party app stores, but only in the EU, where regulations force them to.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) appeared to pass gas as he was in the middle of a Senate floor speech on Tuesday.

The incident occurred as Schumer was talking about President Donald Trump’s war in Iran. On C-SPAN’s broadcast, the sound of a fart could be clearly heard.

“Now on Iran and the NDAA,” Schumer said before the fart. “When all the Trump administration can say about his disastrous war with Iran is that Vietnam was worse. A point Trump made yesterday, he reveals the scale of his failure. This is what Donald Trump said. The only thing he can say is Vietnam was worse. Oh my God! A war that killed close to 50,000 Americans, a war that lasted almost a decade, a war that ripped America apart.”

Moments after the sound, Schumer appeared to confirm it was indeed a fart when he chuckled.

The clip was first captured and posted online by The Blaze, and countless viewers poked fun at the senator. Conservative commentator Mark Kaye suggested the moment was a prime example of why term limits were needed for lawmakers.

The Republic National Committe account RNC Research also posted the clip, saying Schumer “broke wind on the Senate floor.”

Others joined in to roast Schumer.

Watch above via C-SPAN

The post WATCH: Chuck Schumer Appears to Rip a Massive Fart During Senate Floor Speech first appeared on Mediaite.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) will appoint Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of Lindsey Graham (R-SC), to fill the late senator’s vacated Senate seat, various reports said on Monday afternoon.

Graham Nordone, one of Graham’s only family members who was adopted by her brother after the death of their parents, will be named to succeed him on Monday, according to multiple reports. The official announcement was scheduled for 4 pm on Monday.

Politico’s Jonathan Martin wrote on social media, “It’s happening: @henrymcmaster will appoint Darline Graham Nordone to fill out the rest of her brother’s Senate term this year, per a Repub familiar.”

The appointment will come two days after the 71-year-old’s sudden death on Saturday.

On Monday morning, Graham Nordone was recommended by both President Donald Trump and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R) as the best choice to take over.

“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

“Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the senate term,” Scott added in an X post. “After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and our country.”

Watch above via Fox News.

The post ‘It’s Happening’: Lindsey Graham’s Sister Reportedly Chosen to Fill His Senate Seat first appeared on Mediaite.

Apple's "27" era is nearly here, including macOS 27. The upcoming update might not offer as many new features as some past macOS revisions, but it has one really big one: Alongside a number of quality-of-life upgrades, macOS Golden Gate includes a few major Apple Intelligence updates, including Siri AI. But if the only benefit I get from updating to macOS 27 is that my M1 iMac runs a bit smoother, I'll be happy.

Apple's new updates, including macOS 27, aren't officially here yet. They'll likely drop sometime in the fall for all compatible devices. That said, your compatible Mac can run macOS Golden Gate right now: Since June's WWDC conference, Apple has been beta testing its new updates with registered developers. That means if you're okay taking on the risks, you can try out macOS 27 right now.

Don't install the macOS 27 beta before understanding the risks

It's tempting to try out fresh features before the general public, especially when they're as high-profile as Siri AI. But before you install a beta of macOS 27 on your machine, you should be aware of the risks. Betas are not finished software, which means they can ship with bugs and glitches that wouldn't normally make it to an official update. You might install the macOS 27 beta on your Mac and find it works perfectly well, or you may encounter a bug that prevents you from using your computer as you normally would. It's a bit of a gamble.

The caveat is that the developer beta is currently safer than it was at launch. Apple has spent about a month beta testing its updates with developers before releasing them to a larger pool of users. As such, many of the more overt or critical glitches have likely been identified and patched. That doesn't mean the macOS 27 developer beta is entirely free of glitches, of course. You should make sure to back up any important data before installing the beta. Make sure all photos, documents, messages, etc. are saved somewhere secure, and not just included in an iCloud backup, in the event you lose data through the beta process.

Still, I recommend that most users wait for at least the public beta before testing out macOS 27. Apple said its public betas will be out sometime in July, so there shouldn't be much more of a wait. Apple will continue to release developer beta updates first before releasing the public beta equivalent, which offers some extra protection for users who want to lessen the risk of major bugs or glitches.

Which Macs are compatible with macOS 27?

While every iPhone that supports iOS 26 also supports iOS 27, the same isn't the case for macOS. Even if your Mac runs macOS 26, there's no guarantee it's compatible with macOS 27. In fact, this year marks Apple's official departure from Intel, as none of its Intel-based Macs support macOS 27. Here's the official list:

• MacBook Neo

• MacBook Air with Apple silicon

• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon

• iMac with Apple silicon

• Mac mini with Apple silicon

• Mac Studio

• Mac Pro with Apple silicon

Essentially, if your Mac's chip has an "M" in its name (e.g., M1, M5), it's compatible with macOS 27.

How to install the macOS 27 developer beta

If you're okay with the risks of installing a developer beta, you'll first need to enroll your Apple Account in the developer program. There used to be a $99 paywall here, but there is now a free option for anyone who just wants to try the developer beta. Once enrolled, head to System Settings > General > Software Update, then click the (i) next to "Beta Updates." Click "Off" next to "Beta Updates," then choose "macOS 27 Golden Gate Developer Beta." From here, hit "Done," then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update.

Money talks — and it’s telling Fox News host Tomi Lahren the GOP has a problem in Texas.

Lahren on Saturday vented Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R) is “flawed” while talking about the state’s race on The Big Weekend Show.

She shared her concern after co-host Johnny Joey Jones told her Democratic candidate James Talarico had raised more than three times as much dough as Paxton between April and June — with Talarico pulling in about $30 million and Paxton receiving $9 million during that time.

“Now I’m not saying fundraising is everything, but it is one of the metrics to show the energy behind a candidate,” Jones said. “Do you think this is more of kind of like a pro-Cornyn hangover, like get through the primary but then the Republicans will coalesce around Paxton? Or is it that he’s a flawed candidate or is it that Talarico is that energetic to Democrats?”

“I think that Democrats see Talarico as like, ‘if we can win Texas with Talarico, we can do anything!'” Lahren said. “So I think that there’s this delusional thirst for it, which I think is gonna end up being futile.”

She continued, “But I will say that, we do have a flawed candidate on the right, we just do.”

Lahren said lame duck Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has proven he can win elections in the past and could “probably do it again,” while Paxton — who was backed by President Donald Trump in the primary — has his work cut out for him this year.

“I think at the end of the day he’s going to pull out a victory,” Lahren said. “But I love that we can laugh at Talarico because he’s so easy to laugh at — I would just caution Republicans from laughing too hard. I would hate for us to look ridiculous.”

Watch above.

The post Tomi Lahren Calls Out GOP Senate Hopeful Ken Paxton on Fox News: ‘We Do Have a Flawed Candidate On the Right’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

FBI Director Kash Patel is being called out for stoking conspiracy theories about the death of Lindsey Graham.

In a post to X early Sunday, the FBI director paid homage to the late South Carolina Senator — who died suddenly at the age of 71.

“Senator Lindsey Graham was a devoted public servant, a fierce defender of our nation, and a true patriot who dedicated his life to the people of South Carolina and the United States,” Patel wrote. “Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who knew him during this devastating time.”

But it was the last line of Patel’s post which raised eyebrows.

“The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available,” Patel wrote.

The comment was immediately called out by critics.

“A genuinely reckless end of this tweet,” The Bulwark’s Sam Stein wrote.

Others called out the FBI director as well:

Some on the far-right have already spread conspiracy theories about Graham, who died from “a brief and sudden illness,” according to his office. Emergency personnel reportedly responded to a person at Graham’s home suffering from cardiac arrest.

But the official reports have done little to dampen speculation among the conspiracy theory crowd. Indeed, Laura Loomer — one of those who has been pushing the theories most vociferously — promptly shared Patel’s post.

“The @FBI is now investigating Senator Lindsey Graham’s sudden death and is ‘assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available,'” Loomer wrote. “It’s imperative that the FBI conducts their own toxicology report on Senator Graham. The DC crime lab is incompetent.”

——

The post ‘Reckless’: Kash Patel Called Out for Stoking Lindsey Graham Conspiracy Theories With Cryptic X Post first appeared on Mediaite.