I did a whole research project on this in grad school. Companies reap over $300 BILLION a year in free labor from customers using self-checkouts. If they’re not going to pay customers, they can shave some price.
MCCONNELL releases a photo - and statement.
“To my fellow Kentuckians –
“When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate.
“You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct – I can’t help it.
“But at the same time, I’ve had more than my share of experience with physical vulnerabilities. Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges. They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital.
“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.
“I can assure you that I’ve been a good patient. At my age, I tend to do what my doctors tell me to do. I’ve submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident. And I’m continuing to do everything they ask to speed my recovery. In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength.
“As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you. I’ve been working closely with my legislative staff on current issues, and with my Kentucky team who help me provide timely constituent services across our Commonwealth. I’ve also been keeping in touch with my Senate colleagues on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between.
“You’re right to expect your representatives to work hard for you. And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work. But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.
“I’ll keep working hard to get back on the Senate floor as soon as possible. And I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my recovery. Until then, I’m so grateful for your prayers and well wishes.”
MCCONNELL releases a photo - and statement.
“To my fellow Kentuckians –
“When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate.
“You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct – I can’t help it.
“But at the same time, I’ve had more than my share of experience with physical vulnerabilities. Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges. They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital.
“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.
“I can assure you that I’ve been a good patient. At my age, I tend to do what my doctors tell me to do. I’ve submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident. And I’m continuing to do everything they ask to speed my recovery. In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength.
“As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you. I’ve been working closely with my legislative staff on current issues, and with my Kentucky team who help me provide timely constituent services across our Commonwealth. I’ve also been keeping in touch with my Senate colleagues on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between.
“You’re right to expect your representatives to work hard for you. And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work. But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.
“I’ll keep working hard to get back on the Senate floor as soon as possible. And I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my recovery. Until then, I’m so grateful for your prayers and well wishes.”
BREAKING📷 A woman donated $1 million to Trump's super PAC. Three weeks later, her son a convicted tax criminal was pardoned. His pardon application literally mentioned her donation.
Her name is Elizabeth Fago. Her son, Paul Walczak, had pleaded guilty to federal tax crimes. The pardon application filed on his behalf explicitly cited his mother's million-dollar donation to MAGA Inc. as a reason he deserved clemency. Trump signed the pardon. Walczak walked free and was relieved of more than $4 million in restitution he owed.
That is one entry on a donor list of 58 people who gave a million dollars or more.
MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC, has now raised over $305 million since the 2024 election five times more than any presidential super PAC in history at this stage. The Brennan Center called it "completely unprecedented." Ninety-six percent of it came from donors giving $1 million or more. Sixty-two percent from those giving $5 million or more. This is not a grassroots operation. It is a pay-window.
Here's what the donor list actually shows.
https://t.co/s5GJV5zpIa's parent company, Foris Dax, gave $30 million — while it was under SEC investigation for allegedly trading unregistered securities. The SEC investigation was quietly dropped in March 2025, two months after the donation.
The Winklevoss twins gave $1 million — also while their crypto platform Gemini was under SEC investigation. That investigation was dropped in February 2025.
Energy Transfer, the Texas pipeline company, and its CEO Kelcy Warren gave a combined $25 million — while Energy Transfer was actively suing a federal regulatory agency in court.
OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife gave $25 million — as the Trump administration was actively shaping AI policy in Silicon Valley's favor.
Then there are the appointments. Benjamin Landa gave $5 million then became Trump's ambassador to Hungary. Kelly Loeffler and her husband gave $5 million she now runs the Small Business Administration. Warren Stephens gave $2 million now ambassador to the United Kingdom. Jared Isaacman gave $2 million now NASA administrator.
And Isabela Herrera, a 25-year-old self-employed financial consultant whose only prior political donation was $20 to Pete Buttigieg in 2020, somehow contributed $3.5 million to MAGA Inc. Her father a Venezuelan billionaire facing federal bribery charges was pardoned by Trump in January 2026. Campaign Legal Center has filed a formal complaint with the FEC alleging she was a straw donor for her father.
This is not dark money. This is public record.
Every dollar, every favor, every pardon. Filed with the FEC. Sitting in plain sight.
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Lieu: The president is not well. He has tremendous difficulty staying awake on the job. He has repeatedly fallen asleep at Cabinet meetings, at White House events, at a Memorial Day ceremony, and most recently at a very loud NBA game last night.
The White House needs to explain why Donald Trump keeps going to the hospital and taking cognitive tests.