Midwest
Trump team made ‘early on’ attempts to recruit RFK Jr. as former president's running mate: report
People close to former President Donald Trump made attempts to recruit Robert F. Kennedy to serve as his running mate, according to a report which was subsequently denied by Trump’s team.
Citing a source in Trump’s orbit who is familiar with the matter, the New York Post reported that people close to the former president made “preliminary overtures” to Kennedy, a former Democrat candidate now running as an Independent, about the possibility of him serving as Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
“Trump operatives expressed an interest in Kennedy early on, but it was all premature,” one person familiar with the matter told the outlet, adding that it was “right out of the box when Bobby announced” in April 2023 that he was making a run for the White House.
TRUMP, RFK JR SIDE WITH TEXAS IN BORDER FIGHT WITH BIDEN ADMIN AS 25 STATES SHOW SUPPORT
People close to former President Donald Trump reportedly made “preliminary overtures” to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy about the possibility of him serving as Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. (Getty Images)
“Anything’s possible. I wouldn’t write it off by any means,” the source added.
However, Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 campaign, strongly denied the report.
“NO ONE from the Trump Campaign ever approached RFK jr (or ever will) – one of the most LIBERAL and radical environmentalists in the country,” LaCivita wrote in a tweet.
Kennedy, 70, initially launched a bid for president last year as a Democrat. However, amid conflicts with the Democratic National Committee tossing its total support behind President Biden in the 2024 race, he announced in October that he would instead be making an independent run for the White House.
One large donor to both the Trump and Kennedy campaigns told the outlet that the effort to recruit Kennedy to serve as Trump’s running mate is still very much alive amid Trump insiders.
“It’s very much behind the scenes at this stage. As we progress you might see it bubble up a little bit more,” the donor said. “Bobby can bring new people to the polls.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Trump’s and Kennedy’s campaigns but did not immediately receive a response.
Earlier this week, both Trump and RFK came down on the same side of the ongoing southern border crisis in Texas.
Kennedy said Texas was “right” to defend its borders amid what he regarded as the failed policies of the Biden administration.
VOTERS SHARE TOP RUNNING MATE CHOICES FOR TRUMP IF ELECTED: ‘IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE YOUNGER’
Earlier this week, Kennedy said Texas was “right” to defend its borders amid what he regarded as the failed policies of the Biden administration. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
“A country without borders is not a country at all,” he wrote in a post to X.
Trump said that all Americans ought to support Texas’ “commonsense measures” and vowed to work with Lone Star State Gov. Greg Abbott and other border states to “stop the invasion, seal the border, and rapidly begin the largest domestic deportation operation in history.”
“Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
With GOP primary victories in both Iowa and New Hampshire, Trump is poised to become the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. There has been speculation in recent weeks about whom the former president would select as his running mate.
Earlier this month, Trump remarked that he knew who his running mate is “going to be” during an Iowa Town Hall event put on by Fox News.
Former U.S. President and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks during a town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 10, 2024. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
“I can’t tell you that really, I mean, I know who it’s going to be,” Trump said when he was asked who his running mate will be in 2024.
It’s unclear who that selection would be, and few in his political orbit appear to have a good feel for whom Trump is leaning toward as his running mate.
“We’ll do another show sometime,” Trump said when pushed by host Martha MacCallum to “give us a hint.”
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed reporting.
This article has been updated to include a denial from Trump 2024 senior adviser Chris LaCivita
Read the full article from Here
Nebraska
Big Ten coaches give strange quotes about Nebraska football
Athlon Sports has released its annual quotes from anonymous Big Ten coaches about the upcoming college football season. After reviewing the quotes, it’s clear that the Big Ten’s coaches don’t think very highly of the Huskers and even made several strange statements about the current state of the program.
One coach criticized Nebraska’s handling of the quarterback situation. Opening day starter Dylan Raiola transferred after two years with the program. He transferred to Oregon, where he could redshirt in 2026 now that the Ducks’ starting quarterback, Dante Moore, is returning to Eugene next season.
In 22 career games at Nebraska, he threw for 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 69.1% of his passes. The 2025 season was cut short after suffering an injury in a loss against USC. In nine games this season, Raiola threw for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.
One coach believes Raiola’s departure could be the end for Nebraska football. The anonymous coach believes that Raiola was the glue that held Husker football together.
“They’re in a ton of denial with the quarterback situation. Dylan Raiola is as good as they get as a player and as a person; losing him, I thought he was their last hope. He was the pin that was holding that thing together.”
Nebraska will have a new opening day starter in 2026. The Huskers have a QB room that includes TJ Lateef, UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea and Virginia transfer Daniel Kaelin.
Colandrea comes to Nebraska following a breakout junior year with the Rebels. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native finished the 2025 season throwing for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 65.9 completion percentage.
The former Rebels’ play earned him the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award. Before UNLV, Colandrea played two seasons at Virginia. In 19 games, he totaled 4,083 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Another Big Ten Coach went after coach Matt Rhule, saying the Husker staff has too much turnover to maintain continuity.
“(Head coach) Matt Rhule has some great aspects. He can make you run through a wall, but there’s just always so much turnover with his staff. I know that it’s a tough environment for those coaches to be in. Rhule makes it like that on purpose because he doesn’t want you to get comfortable. I don’t want to say his model isn’t going to work, but I don’t know.”
Rhule is breaking in several new staff members in 2026. Geep Wade (offensive line), Rob Aurich (defensive coordinator) and Tyler Yelk (safeties coach) join the Huskers this season.
Nebraska opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Ohio Bobcats visit Memorial Stadium. Kickoff time is set for 11 a.m. CT and the game can be seen on FS1.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
North Dakota
The Worst Prisons In The USA: Where Does The ND State Pen Rank?
Prison Life in North Dakota
Every time we cross the Expressway overpass in Bismarck, you get a quick glimpse into prison life in North Dakota. Occasionally, you will see inmates in the yard doing various forms of outdoor recreation. The barbed wire that surrounds the North Dakota State Penitentiary is a sobering reminder that this is not where any sane person would ever want to spend any part of their life.
I met one of our listeners recently who works at the State Pen in Bismarck, and I got a chance to ask her some questions I’ve always wondered, mostly what life is like behind bars. “Is it like prison life in the movies?” She didn’t have a bright picture to paint, and that’s probably the way it should be, to help steer individuals away from a life of crime.
Oskari-Kauko Värä
I was surprised to find out that at least some of the inmates have tablets and are allowed to go online; their online experience is very controlled. I was also told prisoners are allowed to listen to the radio, something I already knew, as I have received calls from convicts making requests before. You kind of feel the pressure behind those requests, “play it or else”. Ha!
I plan to request a tour in the future using my media credentials and give you more insight into what it’s like behind bars at the North Dakota State Penitentiary.
Marina Nezhinkay
The 20 Worst Prisions in America
Did the North Dakota State Pen make the list? Nope. According to MoneyInc, these are the worst prisons that even the most hardened criminal would want to avoid.
20. Ely State Prison – Ely, Nevada
19. Folson State Prison – Folson, California
18. Penitentiary of New Mexico – Santa Fe, New Mexico
17. William C. Holman Correctional Facility – Atmore, Alabama
16. Sing Sing Correctional Facility – Ossining, New York
15. San Quentin State Prison – San Rafael, California
14. Louisiana State Pen – Angola, Louisiana
13. Rikers Island – New York, New York
12. Reeves County Detention Complex – Pecos, Texas
11. Julia Tutwiler Prison – Wetumpka, Alabama
10. Pelican Bay State Prison – Crescent City, California
9. United States Pen Marrion – Marion, Illinois
8. Idaho Correctional Center – Kuna, Idaho
7. United States Penitentiary Tucson – Tucson, Arizona
6. Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary – Leavenworth, Kansas
5. Orleans Parish Prison – New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Men’s Central Jail & Twin Towers Correctional Facility – Los Angeles, California
3. Tent City Jail – Phoenix, Arizona
2. Allan B. Polungky Unit – Livingtonston, Texas
1. US Penitentiary Administrative Maximum – Florence, Colorado
States with the most born-and-bred residents
Gallery Credit: Stacker
The 15 BEST Small-Town Cafes In North Dakota
Ohio
Ohio auditor describes how widespread Medicaid fraud affects taxpayers | Fox News Video
Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber discusses fraud within Ohio’s Medicaid program and explains how big government programs are exploited by individuals.
Lawrence Jones questions Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber about the widespread Medicaid fraud affecting taxpayers. Faber explains that big government programs like Medicaid, operating on a trust-based system, are easily exploited. He highlights disproportionate home healthcare utilization by the Somali community in Columbus, emphasizing that inadequate controls allow people to lie, steal, and cheat the system.
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