The Washington Times AI News Desk

Darth Vader crashes San Diego meeting to mock Flock spy cameras

A man in a full Darth Vader costume approached the microphone at a San Diego City Council committee hearing this week and delivered a sarcasm-drenched endorsement of the city's Flock surveillance cameras, telling members "the Emperor is a fan of Flock."

August 21, 2026

AOC rejected by Maoist DSA faction as 2028 speculation builds

DSA DIVORCE: A hardline caucus inside the Democratic Socialists of America is publicly rejecting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential 2028 presidential contender, accusing her of abandoning the socialist movement that helped launch her career.

August 21, 2026

White House calls Rosie O’Donnell ‘nasty woman’ after Kimmel stint

White House responds to ROSIE: "A nasty woman and a total slob whose brain has been completely destroyed by Trump Derangement Syndrome."

August 21, 2026

Meghan Markle offered U.K. acting role as Sussexes plan return

ROYAL RETURN? Meghan Markle has been offered a major role in an upcoming project based in the U.K., and the opportunity was one of several factors behind her and Prince Harry's decision to move their family back to Britain.

August 21, 2026

Academic who accused Cambridge professor of plagiarism suspended

Nathan Cofnas, the postdoctoral researcher whose plagiarism allegations preceded the resignation and death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, has himself been suspended by Ghent University in Belgium pending a disciplinary investigation.

August 20, 2026

Bill De Blasio says Americans are ‘hungry’ for vision from socialist left

Former NYC mayor BILL DE BLASIO on Democratic socialists: "There are specific leaders who have emerged out of DSA who are providing a vision that actually a lot of people in this country are hungry for."

August 20, 2026

Philadelphia police identify ‘Chucky’ mask suspect as Zymire Hughes, issue warrant

Philadelphia police have identified the man accused of terrorizing pedestrians near City Hall while wearing a "Chucky"-style Halloween mask, issuing an arrest warrant as authorities warn he may have already left the state. Zymire Hughes, 22, is wanted in connection with a string of incidents beginning Aug. 12, when police say he threatened and chased at least a half-dozen people around City Hall.

August 20, 2026

GLAAD report finds most Americans see no HIV stories in media

GLAAD MAD: The LGBTQ media advocacy group says in its annual State of HIV Stigma Report that most Americans have gone a full year without encountering a single story about someone living with HIV, a gap that GLAAD says is fueling stigma even as medical treatment for the virus has become more effective than ever.

August 20, 2026

Alabama tax preparer indicted in alleged scheme involving $65 million in paid refunds, DOJ says

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Alabama has indicted an Alabama tax preparer on charges of preparing false and fraudulent tax returns for clients and filing false and fraudulent returns for himself, according to the Justice Department.

August 20, 2026

‘Wonder Man’ actor says Marvel ‘optics’ obvious after Black-led project cuts

"Wonder Man" actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II says he understands how it looks that two of Marvel's Black-led superhero projects hit dead ends within a day of each other this summer: "I think the optics are obvious. If I'm a big business, if I'm Disney, if I'm Marvel, I don't want to be attached to these optics."

August 20, 2026

Darline Graham defends Taiwan flub, cites voters’ other concerns: ‘I don’t speak politician’

DARLINE GRAHAM defends debate flub: "I don't speak politician. I was just honest."

August 20, 2026

Vanity Fair writer says MAGA style is ‘perversion of the past’

Vanity Fair fashion writer Robin Givhan says MAGA style is "making us a whole lot uglier."

August 20, 2026

Kanawha County deputy indicted in alleged sexual assault of inmate, DOJ says

A Kanawha County Sheriff's Office deputy was charged in a federal indictment with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law arising from his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody, according to the Justice Department.

August 20, 2026

Mississippi man pleads guilty to evading $2 million in federal taxes

A Mississippi man pleaded guilty to evading payment of more than $2 million in federal income taxes, the Justice Department announced.

August 20, 2026

Demon Hunter band sues Netflix, AEG over ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ trademark

Demon Hunter Suing 'Demon Hunters': Christian metal band Demon Hunter has sued Netflix, alleging the streamer's blockbuster animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" infringes on the band's trademark and has already caused real-world confusion among fans.

August 20, 2026

Florida Dem Senate candidate Angie Nixon defends taking children to drag shows as ‘wholesome’

FL Dem Senate candidate Angie Nixon on children at drag shows: "There's no sexualization at a drag show. It's just people dressing up and singing and performing. I've taken my children to drag shows, and it's fun. It's entertainment. It's wholesome entertainment. And it's nothing wrong ... I don't get it."

August 20, 2026

Two D.C. residents indicted in Congress Heights fentanyl, crack cocaine ring

Two D.C. residents were arrested after being indicted on federal conspiracy charges involving fentanyl and crack cocaine distribution stemming from an alleged operation based at a Congress Heights apartment, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced.

August 20, 2026

Do we still need the Strait of Hormuz? A top Trump official says no

The Strait of Hormuz may not stay a vital oil chokepoint much longer. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicts new pipelines will make the waterway 'irrelevant' within two years.

August 20, 2026

Tim Robbins tells Democrats to drop the outrage and ‘get their stuff together’

Actor TIM ROBBINS on the Dems: "I got to say, there's got to be better ideas and better motivation for people to vote for Democrats. They have to get their stuff together. They really do."

August 20, 2026

Upstate N.Y. nurse killed with ghost gun in murder-suicide

A 30-year-old Cohoes, New York, nurse was shot and killed by her estranged husband Tuesday morning, just hours after she returned home from a family reunion in Georgia. The Cohoes police chief says the weapon was an unregistered so-called ghost gun, assembled from mail-order parts rather than purchased through a licensed dealer.

August 20, 2026