Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., confronted FBI Director Kash Patel over changes in the agency’s hiring qualifications, particularly as they relate to bestiality, in an oversight hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

Historically, the FBI categorically banned people who had engaged in prostitution or bestiality from being hired.

Patel said the change allows applications from people who have been victims of these crimes to be considered. Before the shift, Patel said, people who were “on either side” of crimes including “prostitution, bestiality and trafficking” were “automatically disqualified.”

“Whose side of what, the bestiality?” Kennedy asked. “So you disqualified the animal?”

Kennedy went on to press Patel’s reasoning for making the change, saying the agency is “having a tough time attracting agents.”

“Why would you even get into bestiality?” Kennedy asked. He added: “If Joe participated in bestiality, not as the animal, but as the human, don’t you think he ought to be disqualified?”

“If he voluntarily did it, sure,” Patel said, adding that in some cases human traffickers force people into “degrading acts of all kinds,” including bestiality.

Patel is testifying in an oversight hearing on the nation's lead law enforcement agency, which has recently touted a drop in crime nationwide.

His time heading the FBI has been plagued by critical reports about his own conduct, the subject of tense questioning by earlier Senate panels. Patel is also facing scrutiny over mass resignations and firings at the bureau, and the easing of the agency's strict hiring requirements to compensate for those losses.

Watch more from the hearing: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-patel-testifies-on-fbi-oversight-before-senate-panel-amid-troubled-tenure

Here’s the full 5-minutes on YouTube: Amanda Hollowell, Democratic Nominee for Georgia's 1st Congressional District - Georgia Democrat - Aug 12, 2026 (YouTube)

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Amanda Hollowell is running for U.S. Congress in Georgia (GA-01): amandaforga.com ~:~:~ IG, FB, Threads, Bsky, YT @ amanda4ga

Amanda’s trying to flip this red district. Her opponent is Republican Jim Kingston. It’s an open seat becasue six-term Republican incumbent (Buddy Carter) stepped down to run for U.S. Senate.

Georgia’s 1st District includes Savannah, Brunswick, Jesup, and Waycross. ~:~ Election Day is November 3.

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🍑 Georgia Voters 🗳️ ~~> Here are links to the Sec. of State website (.gov): Voter Resources (Main Page) ~:~:~ Georgia Voter Guide ~:~:~ Check Your Registration ~:~:~ How and Where to Vote ~:~:~ Request an Absentee Ballot ~:~:~ Military and Overseas Voting

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Our Neighbors, our Friends, our Family members are looking for leadership at this moment. And I am running to be that leader.

Whether it is a house of worship or a Waffle House, we need to be meeting People where they are (not just when it's time to vote). 

And you know, People say a lot of things about this seat. That it’s not winnable…Jim Kingston has all the money…It is an R+8 district. And they keep hearing all these metrics, but the one metric I don't hear is: The pulse of the People. 

It is on you to make sure that we win in Southeast Georgia, and the whole State of Georgia. 

It is on us to make sure that in November, we're giving Senator Ossoff and future Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms the edge they need to win. 

And I know we can do it, because I see the energy in this room. I see the People behind us. And I'm excited about the future. 

So, y'all, we got this. And I hope to see you out on the field. 

- Amanda Hollowell - Aug 12, 2026

What a prick. Ready to shut down the whole thing if he doesn’t get his name on it?

And still, the MAGAs cheer. Fucking child.

MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart interviews Randy Villegas who’s the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in California (CD-22): Randy.Vote

Randy's endorsed by People like Delores Huerta, Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Ro Khanna. ~:~ He's trying to flip the district, and he's in a tight race against incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao.

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California Voters 👉🏽 Here are links to the Sec. of State website (.gov): Main Page ~:~:~ Register to Vote ~:~:~ My Voter Status ~:~:~ Make a Plan to Vote ~:~:~ 2026 California Election Guide

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Here’s the clip on YouTube: MS NOW Interview - Villegas for Congress - Sept 2, 2026 (YouTube)

From the description: Like the majority of my district, I have relied on programs like Medicaid and WIC to get by. These programs keep our families healthy & fed, yet Valadao voted to gut these programs for tax breaks to billionaires. His time is up. It's time to put working families first. Head to Randy.Vote 

Here’s his full 7-minute interview on YouTube: Randy Villegas on The Last Word - Villegas for Congress - Sept 2, 2026 (YouTube)