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Allison Robbert/AP Photo Fast-moving demolition and seemingly never-ending construction projects at the White House have come with a massive price tag, according to The Washington Post. So far, President Donald Trump’s laundry list of work at The People’s House is set to cost at least $927 million, according to the outlet, which reviewed confidential contracts and planning documents to produce that figure. Taxpayers are on the hook for most of the costs, though Trump has said private donations would foot some or all of the bill for various projects. Trump has moved quickly, and without the typically required Congressional approvals, on his desired projects, including the paving over of the Rose Garden; the demolition of the historic East Wing to make way for a controversial ballroom; construction of a new helipad and the renovation of the North Portico, for which workers placed a tarp emblazoned with the image of columns themselves. Documents reviewed by The Post included work to upgrade nearby Lafayette Square; the helipad, a new visitor screening center and other projects, with the East Wing work clocking in at $600 million alone. The ballroom was being funded with $400 million in private donations, a White House spokesman told the outlet. All told, the costs so far have soared past $900 million, with Trump’s Executive Branch finding the funds in part by transferring cash appropriated for other uses, including the Secret Service, according to the report. “President Trump continues to implement long-overdue and necessary renovations to beautify the People’s House as we celebrate our great Nation’s 250th anniversary of independence,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Post. “Thanks to the Builder-in-Chief, the White House will be properly glorified and remain in excellent condition for generations to come.” On Friday, an appeals court blocked construction of the ballroom because it lacked Congressional approval, prompting Trump to rage that the decision was a “national security threat.” He later posted images of a DronePort on the roof.The post Price Tag for Trump’s White House Renovations Reportedly Hits Eye-Popping Total — and Rising first appeared on Mediaite. [TheTopNews] Read More.

Fox News correspondent Alexandria Hoff reported Tuesday that campaign staffers for democratic socialist Francesca Hong denied the network crew’s access to the Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate’s primary watch party. Hoff tweeted that staffers claimed it was their “discretion” to choose which outlets to let in, and despite being “early in line” and having all the credentials, the team was turned away. We were early in line for the Francesca Hong watch party and registered/confirmed to attend, yet were told due to capacity organizers had “discretion” over which outlets to let in. No other crew (among dozens) before or after us was turned away. pic.twitter.com/qayLY40Keb — Alexandria Hoff (@AlexandriaHoff) August 12, 2026 The journalist later broadcast back to the studio from outside the venue as polls neared their close, explaining that Fox News had been denied entry while other outlets were allowed in. “We were hoping to do this live shot from inside the Hong campaign headquarters watch party,” the journalist told host Kayleigh McEnany. “We arrived with our confirmation materials, all the registration that we needed. At the front of the line, we were told because of capacity that they had the discretion to turn some away.” “It appears Fox News was the only media outlet turned away,” she noted, before continuing with her report. Fox News, however, was not the only outlet denied entry. New York Post columnist Isaac Schorr, formerly of Mediaite, tweeted that he was also turned away at the door. My coverage of @FrancescaHongWI's campaign has apparently failed to endear me to her. Her staff sicced security on me while I was waiting in line to attend her watch party. They told me they had an RSVP list, and after I pointed out I was on it, said they had an "approved" list. — Isaac Schorr (@isaac_schorr) August 12, 2026 “Will a Hong administration arbitrarily deny access to critical media the way her campaign is?” Schorr asked in a subsequent tweet. Hong later conceded the race after losing by a razor-thin margin of less than one percentage point to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who will now face Trump-endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) in November. Hong’s challenge was marked by headlines focusing on her past hot takes, including calls to abolish the police, prisons, and even Thanksgiving. Watch above via Fox News.The post Fox News Reporter Says Network ‘Turned… [TheTopNews] Read More.

Jimmy Fallon was wheeled onto The Tonight Show stage inside a catering cart Tuesday night, as he trolled President Donald Trump’s extraordinary reported escape from an assassination threat with an opening gag. The late-night host emerged from a cart labeled “catering,” clutching a Diet Coke and a McDonald’s bag, as he seized on a report that Trump was secretly snuck away from Air Force One in an airport catering truck while leaving Turkey last month. “Well, guys, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but it’s being reported that, last month, when President Trump left a summit in Turkey, he was facing security threats from Iran,” Fallon told his audience. “So, he boarded Air Force One, then snuck off the plane and hid in the back of an airport catering truck.” Fallon then imagined Trump waiting out the danger inside: “With everything going on in the world, Trump was like, ‘Just leave me in here, OK? Just leave me in. Let me know when the war is over.’” The bit followed a Washington Post report detailing an elaborate security operation to get Trump out of Turkey on July 8, a day after the U.S. renewed military strikes on Iran. Trump initially boarded the familiar blue-and-white Air Force One in view of TV cameras in Ankara, according to the report. Minutes later, he and several aides quietly left through another door and entered a catering truck raised to the aircraft. The vehicle carried Trump to an Air Force C-32A, a modified Boeing 757, which then flew him to Britain. Reporters and some White House staff remained aboard the other aircraft, unaware the president had left. One U.S. official described that plane as a “decoy.” “Today, everyone was like, ‘Well, at least he has one exit plan,’” he joked, before adding: “That’s right, Trump hid in a catering truck while [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio hid in Trump’s carry-on bag.” “Yeah, everyone knew Trump was off the plane because it wasn’t flying at its normal 45-degree angle,” he cracked. “Something’s off. We’re going up.” Watch above via NBC.The post Jimmy Fallon Mocks Trump’s Secret Catering Truck Escape in Show Opening first appeared on Mediaite. [TheTopNews] Read More.

(Hong campaign via AP) David Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, halting progressives’ bid for another major victory in a key battleground state. Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, emerged from the exceptionally close contest to claim the nomination, with a 3,000-vote margin, and will advance to a November showdown with Trump-backed Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI). The moderate Democrat is seeking to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor and campaigned on the argument that he offered Democrats their strongest chance of winning the purple state, which Trump won in 2024, in November. The result comes just one week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, energizing the party’s far left and raising hopes that Hong could follow with another upset in the Midwest. Crowley’s margin was less than one percentage point. The result left Hong eligible to seek a recount, but because the margin exceeded 0.25 percentage points, her campaign would have been required to cover the cost. Hong instead chose to concede. Hong’s challenge came without endorsements from progressive heavyweights Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and her late campaign was marked with headlines focusing on her past hot takes, including calls to abolish the police, prisons, and even Thanksgiving. Crowley did not address supporters Tuesday night and was expected to appear at a Democratic unity event on Wednesday.The post Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong Concedes After Falling Agonizingly Short in Razor-Thin Wisconsin Primary first appeared on Mediaite. [TheTopNews] Read More.

Mike Lindell, the CEO and founder of MyPillow, is refusing to concede Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Lindell, who was endorsed in the race by President Donald Trump, lost to state Rep. Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. With more than 95% of the expected vote in, Demuth led Lindell 43% to 32%. Lindell is a longtime supporter of Trump and a 2020 election denier. Like Trump, the pillow man has falsely alleged the 2020 election was rigged against the president. In 2025, Lindell was found liable for defamation against a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, which Lindell, Trump, and others falsely claimed helped rig the election for Joe Biden. Lindell was ordered to pay the employee, Eric Coomer, $2.3 million in damages. “I’m down by 20,000 votes with 277,00 votes left to count,” Lindell said as votes were being counted on Tuesday night. “Now, would you give up if you got 277,000 left to count? And these are the day-of votes, which haven’t been counted yet. These were all mail-in and early votes for Lisa Demuth. So, I mean, why would I say here and go, ‘Ok, I can’t make up 20,000 [with] 277,000 left to count?’ So, that’s where we’re at.” Moreover, Lindell suggested something nefarious was afoot. Kirsten Swanson of KSTP TV in St. Paul reported that Lindell had alleged there were irregularities in the vote count. “Lindell will not concede,” Swanson said. “Claims there are anomalies in the numbers that his teams will be looking into overnight.” In a Truth Social post hours before Lindell’s defeat, Trump made one last push for his preferred candidate. “Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today,” the president wrote. “Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections. Go out, NOW, and VOTE for Mike Lindell for Governor. He will not let you down.” Demuth will go on to face Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), who coasted to victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.The post Trump-Backed Mike Lindell Refuses To Concede Governor’s Race, Alleges Voting Anomalies first appeared on Mediaite. [TheTopNews] Read More.