$25 million to uncover fraud

By OC Tribune Staff on October 21, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

DONALD TRUMP and J.D. Vance at a 2024 campaign rally (Shutterstock).

A $25 million program to urge members of the public to help uncover fraud in the U.S. government was announced on Tuesday in Washington by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program would pay up to $30,000 for a tip that leads to a “major fraud enforcement.”

The operation would be administered by the Justice Department.

Trump said he would decide who gets the money when one or more person claims to provide the tip. “I will be the arbitrator of all of these decisions,” said the President.

Vance spoke in favor of the campaign to reduce fraud – as yet unspecified – in the federal government.

“The president has said it must stop. It is stopping. And if you want to help up stop it, you get to share in the rewards.”

U.S. back to sending intelligence to Ukraine

The United States has resumed sharing military intelligence with Ukraine about Russian missile and drones strikes against his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

According to United Press International, he said that his military will again get early warning of attacks on his nation, information which – in some reporting – was cut off last week.

“Now it works. It’s great,’ said Zelensky. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have cooled and warmed over the course of the four-year war. The conflict began in February 2022 with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, once a part of the now-defunct Soviet Union.

Hundreds of thousands of deaths – many among civilians – have taken place since the conflict began. This war follows on a less-bloody incursion when Russia seized the Ukrainian province of Crimea.

High court not Trump’s pet, but …

Elena Kagan, one of three liberal justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, said on Tuesday that the high court was getting unjust criticism for allegedly being a rubber stamp for President Donald Trump’s policies.

In remarks at Catholic University Law School in Washington, D.C., she referred to the accusations as a “bum rap,” reports USA Today.

She cited the court’s rulings against Trump’s position on tariffs, birthright citizenship and the attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook as evidence of its independence.

Kagan did concede that a “deeply conservative” court did assist in cutting some campaign finance regulations and damaging the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Weather: Things will be cooler, then warmer

Our West Orange County cities will see some sunshine and some rain over the next few days. The forecast for Wednesday is for afternoon showers with a daytime high of 76 and an overnight low of 63. Thursday is expected to bring morning thundershowers with temps of 71 (60). Friday calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 74 and a low of 57. Saturday should warm to 79 (60) with lots of sun.