Hunter Biden denies cocaine found in WH was his after FBI opens probe
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Where did CNBC rank Texas in quality of life? See the list.
The Lone Star State was recently named one of the worst states for quality of life, according to a CNBC study. Texas has a violent crime rate of 406 offenses per 100,000 people, which is 12% above the national average. The state has the nation’s lowest number of primary care doctors per capita, the second-lowest number of mental health providers, and it consistently has the highest rate of people without health insurance. Tennessee has the lowest score in CNBC’s quality ofLife metric, dubbing it the worst state to live in. The No. 1 spot belongs to the state with the best quality oflife.
The Lone Star State was recently named one of the worst states for quality of life, according to a CNBC study.
In 2024, Texas ranked as the worst state for quality of life, accumulating just 75 out of 325 possible points.
The quality of life ranking is a subsection of CNBC’s Best States for Business study. Points are awarded to states based on crime rates, environmental quality, health care and more, according to CNBC.
What makes life in Texas so bad?
According to the CNBC study, Texas’ weaknesses include health care, reproductive rights, worker protections and crime.
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In 2023, Texas ranked 17th among U.S. states for violent and property crimes. Texas has a violent crime rate of 406 offenses per 100,000 people, which is 12% above the national average. The state’s property crime rate is 17% above the national average.
According to CNBC, access to care for the average Texan is poor. According to the United Health Foundation, Texas has the nation’s lowest number of primary care doctors per capita, the second-lowest number of mental health providers, and it consistently has the highest rate of people without health insurance.
CNBC did give Texas thumbs-up for the state’s air quality and child care.
What are the best states for quality of life in 2025?
In this poll, the No. 1 spot belongs to the state with the best quality of life.
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8 (tie): Virginia (167 out of 265)
8 (tie): Nebraska (167 out of 265)
8 (tie): Massachusetts (167 out of 265)
7: North Dakota (171 out of 265)
6: Hawaii (173 out of 265)
5: Connecticut (179 out of 265)
4: Minnesota (189 out of 265)
3: New Jersey (201 out of 265)
2: Maine (207 out of 265)
1: Vermont (228 out of 265)
What are the worst states for quality of life in 2025?
Tennessee has the lowest score in CNBC’s quality of life metric, dubbing it the worst state to live in. Here’s which other states are at the bottom of the list.
9: Oklahoma (97 out of 265)
8: Arkansas (95 out of 265 )
7: Alabama (92 out of 265)
6: Georgia (89 out of 265)
5: Louisiana (87 out of 265)
4: Utah (87 out of 265)
3: Indiana (73 out of 265)
2: Texas (72 out of 265)
1: Tennessee (61 out of 265)
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: See where Texas ranks in quality of life according to CNBC
Hunter Biden breaks his silence on cocaine found in White House just weeks after FBI opened new probe
Former first son Hunter Biden has denied that a bag of cocaine found in the White House during his dad’s presidency was his in a bizarre new interview. The controversial former first son sat down for a three-hour interview just weeks after the FBI announced they would reopen the case of the mystery cocaine found two years ago. The renewed interest in the case comes after President Donald Trump said he was convinced the drugs belonged to “either Joe or Hunter” in an interview with Channel 5. Hunter was found guilty of three felony gun charges in June 2024 after he lied about his drug use on a federal background check form. In December 2024, then-President Joe Biden issued a full pardon to his son, throwing out his gun conviction and potential sentence. Hunter spoke about his father’s decision to drop out of his reelection campaign against Trump in the fall. He also opened up about his alcoholism in the wide-ranging interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, known for documentary-style independent journalism.
DRUG BUST Hunter Biden breaks his silence on cocaine found in White House just weeks after FBI opened new probe
HUNTER Biden has denied that a bag of cocaine found in the White House during his dad’s presidency was his in a bizarre new interview.
The controversial former first son sat down for a three-hour interview just weeks after the FBI announced they would reopen the case of the mystery cocaine found two years ago.
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3 Hunter Biden, who denied that the bag of cocaine in the White House was his Credit: Getty
3 The bag of cocaine was found inside the White House complex in July 2023 Credit: U.S. Secret Service
3 Former President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on November 29, 2024 Credit: AFP
The Secret Service found cocaine in the White House in July 2023 and closed the investigation just 10 days after the discovery, blaming a lack of evidence.
Speculation swirled that Hunter, 55, was responsible for the dime-sized bag because of his long and well-documented history of substance abuse.
Now, in an interview with popular YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, Hunter broke his silence on the scandal.
“I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and I’m incredibly proud of that,” Hunter said during the interview.
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“Why would I bring cocaine into the White House and stick it into a cubby outside of the situation room in the West Wing?”
In May, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced that the agency is looking into cases with “potential public interest,” which includes the found cocaine.
Bongino said he would receive weekly briefings about the FBI’s progress in investigating these cases and asked people to send in tips.
The renewed interest in the case comes after President Donald Trump said he was convinced the drugs belonged to “either Joe or Hunter” after returning to the White House.
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Hunter was addicted to crack for years, and many of his drug-fueled antics were caught on videos leaked from his laptop in another White House scandal.
His rare interview with Channel 5 comes after Callaghan, known for documentary-style independent journalism, told his subscribers it would be the “craziest interview ever.”
New twist in Biden cocaine scandal two years after discovery of dime-sized bag forced entire White House to be evacuated
Hunter, who has recently fallen into financial trouble, said he was interested in speaking to Callaghan after they met through mutual friends because he enjoyed his interview style.
The former president’s son went on to speak about his history with drugs during the conversation, which appeared to be casual and full of expletives.
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“I was drinking so much alcohol, almost a handle of vodka a day,” he admitted.
“And alcohol is the most destructive drug, not just to your body, but it puts you in more danger than any other drug that I’ve ever experienced.”
He continued, “And then you add on top of that the amount of crack that I was using at the time.
“And crack cocaine, in terms of your physical health, is not as dangerous as the situation that you put yourself in to be able to obtain it.”
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Hunter was found guilty of three felony gun charges in June 2024 after he lied about his drug use on a federal background check form.
Then, in December 2024, then-President Joe Biden issued a full pardon to his son, throwing out his gun conviction and potential sentence.
Hunter spoke about his father’s decision to drop out of his reelection campaign against Trump in the fall.
He said the former president had an “absolutely horrible” debate against Trump that prompted the decision to step down.
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“He’s 81 years old, he’s tired as s**t. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep,” Hunter said about his dad.
“He gets up on the stage and looks like he’s a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every f**king story that anybody wants to tell.”
Joe Biden announced in May that he has an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
FBI investigates cocaine at Biden White House
The FBI is launching a new investigation into the 2023 discovery of cocaine at the White House during Joe Biden’s term. The discovery of a small bag of cocaine in a cubby near the entrance to the West Wing two years ago sparked outrage, including from Donald Trump. The Biden family was away from Washington when the drugs were discovered and a spokesman said that the allegations were “incredibly irresponsible” The podcaster-turned-FBI deputy director will receive a weekly briefing on the progress of the case. Mr Bongino also ordered an investigation into a 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade. The perpetrator has never been publicly identified.
Dan Bongino, the podcaster-turned-FBI deputy director, made the announcement on X, adding that he will receive a weekly briefing on the progress of the case.
The discovery of a small bag of cocaine in a cubby near the entrance to the West Wing two years ago sparked outrage, including from Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate at the time, who said it was implausible the drugs could belong to anyone beyond Mr Biden or his son Hunter.
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The Biden family was away from Washington when the drugs were discovered and a spokesman said that the allegations were “incredibly irresponsible”.
The small bag of cocaine was found near the entrance to the West Wing of the White House – Dept of Homeland Security
Mr Bongino also ordered an investigation into the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Shortly after swearing in, the director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest. We made the decision to either re-open, or push additional resources and investigative attention, to these cases,” Mr Bongino said.
“These cases are the DC pipe bombing investigation, the cocaine discovery at the prior administration’s White House, and the leak of the Supreme Court Dobbs case. I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us then please contact the FBI,” he added.
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Previous investigations into the cases, by the Secret Service and the Supreme Court, respectively, ended without identifying who was responsible for the cocaine or the judgment leak.
Mr Bongino previously claimed that he was in touch with whistleblowers who told him they were “suspicious” that evidence from the White House cocaine bag “could match a member of the inner Biden circle”.
Dan Bongino will receive a weekly briefing on the progress of the cocaine case – 2018 Getty Images
The publication of the Supreme Court’s opinion ending the constitutional right to abortion in Politico on May 2 2022, provoked ire from Mr Trump, who described the source of the leak “slime” and demanded that the journalists involved be imprisoned until they revealed who it was.
Mr Bongino also announced more resources for the FBI’s investigation into the placement of pipe bombs at the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington.
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The bombs, which were later defused, had been planted the night before Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying Mr Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
The perpetrator has never been publicly identified.
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Hunter Biden breaks his silence on cocaine found in White House just weeks after FBI opened new probe
The Secret Service found cocaine in the White House in July 2023 and closed the investigation just 10 days after the discovery, blaming a lack of evidence. In an interview with popular YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, Hunter broke his silence on the scandal. Hunter was addicted to crack for years, and many of his drug-fueled antics were caught on videos leaked from his laptop in another White House scandal. The former president’s son went on to speak about his history with drugs during the conversation, which appeared to be casual and full of expletives. He also spoke about his father’s decision to drop out of his reelection campaign against Trump in the fall. He said the former president had an “absolutely horrible” debate against Trump that prompted the decision to step down. He was found guilty of three felony gun charges in June 2024 after he lied about his drug use on a federal background check form.
The controversial former first son sat down for a three-hour interview just weeks after the FBI announced they would reopen the case of the mystery cocaine found two years ago.
Getty
U.S. Secret Service
AFP
The Secret Service found cocaine in the White House in July 2023 and closed the investigation just 10 days after the discovery, blaming a lack of evidence.
Speculation swirled that Hunter, 55, was responsible for the dime-sized bag because of his long and well-documented history of substance abuse.
Now, in an interview with popular YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, Hunter broke his silence on the scandal.
“I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and I’m incredibly proud of that,” Hunter said during the interview.
“Why would I bring cocaine into the White House and stick it into a cubby outside of the situation room in the West Wing?”
In May, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced that the agency is looking into cases with “potential public interest,” which includes the found cocaine.
Bongino said he would receive weekly briefings about the FBI’s progress in investigating these cases and asked people to send in tips.
The renewed interest in the case comes after President Donald Trump said he was convinced the drugs belonged to “either Joe or Hunter” after returning to the White House.
Hunter was addicted to crack for years, and many of his drug-fueled antics were caught on videos leaked from his laptop in another White House scandal.
His rare interview with Channel 5 comes after Callaghan, known for documentary-style independent journalism, told his subscribers it would be the “craziest interview ever.”
Hunter, who has recently fallen into financial trouble, said he was interested in speaking to Callaghan after they met through mutual friends because he enjoyed his interview style.
The former president’s son went on to speak about his history with drugs during the conversation, which appeared to be casual and full of expletives.
“I was drinking so much alcohol, almost a handle of vodka a day,” he admitted.
“And alcohol is the most destructive drug, not just to your body, but it puts you in more danger than any other drug that I’ve ever experienced.”
He continued, “And then you add on top of that the amount of crack that I was using at the time.
“And crack cocaine, in terms of your physical health, is not as dangerous as the situation that you put yourself in to be able to obtain it.”
Hunter was found guilty of three felony gun charges in June 2024 after he lied about his drug use on a federal background check form.
Then, in December 2024, then-President Joe Biden issued a full pardon to his son, throwing out his gun conviction and potential sentence.
Hunter spoke about his father’s decision to drop out of his reelection campaign against Trump in the fall.
He said the former president had an “absolutely horrible” debate against Trump that prompted the decision to step down.
“He’s 81 years old, he’s tired as s**t. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep,” Hunter said about his dad.
“He gets up on the stage and looks like he’s a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every f**king story that anybody wants to tell.”
Joe Biden announced in May that he has an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Stand-your-ground laws linked to higher homicide rates, new report finds
Stand-your-ground or shoot first laws remove the legal duty to retreat before using deadly force in a self-defense situation. These laws evolved from the centuries-old castle doctrine, which permitted individuals to use force to defend themselves in their own homes. Florida enacted the first such law in 2005, and the policy drew national attention in 2012 after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a private citizen. At least 35 states have laws that expand the castle doctrine to apply beyond the home, according to a separate analysis by the RAND Corporation. The new Everytown report comes as legislatures in at least a handful of states have recently debated whether to expand or roll back self-defence protections. 11% to 11% increase in monthly homicide and firearm homicide rates nationwide from 1999 to 2017, a JAMA report says. More than 700 additional gun deaths each year in states with such laws, Everytown estimates.
Stand-your-ground laws, which are in effect in more than half of U.S. states, are associated with higher homicide rates, increased racial disparities in legal outcomes and broader public costs, according to a new report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control research and advocacy group.
Stand-your-ground or shoot first laws remove the legal duty to retreat before using deadly force in a self-defense situation. These laws evolved from the centuries-old castle doctrine, which permitted individuals to use force to defend themselves in their own homes.
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Modern stand-your-ground statutes expanded this principle to apply in public spaces. Florida enacted the first such law in 2005, and the policy drew national attention in 2012 after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a private citizen.
Over the years, these laws have gained traction in state legislatures with strong backing from gun rights organizations. At least 35 states have stand-your-ground statutes or laws that expand the castle doctrine to apply beyond the home, according to a separate analysis by the RAND Corporation.
A standalone 2022 study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Network found that stand-your-ground laws were associated with an 8% to 11% increase in monthly homicide and firearm homicide rates nationwide. Several Southern states –– Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana –– saw increases of 10% or more.
States that have adopted stand-your-ground laws have seen gun homicides rise by up to 11% annually from 1999 to 2017, according to the JAMA report. That equates to more than 700 additional gun deaths each year, according to estimates in the Everytown report.
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Nick Suplina, the senior vice president of law and policy at Everytown, said in a written statement that stand-your-ground legislation gives “free license to shoot and kill” and ought to be rejected. “Shoot First laws do nothing to protect our communities from violence,” Suplina wrote.
The new Everytown report comes as legislatures in at least a handful of states have recently debated whether to expand or roll back self-defense protections.
At the same time, the national conversation around firearm policy continues to grow, with ongoing discussions about red flag laws, safe storage, rapid-fire attachments and other gun-related measures.
A 2023 national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 58% of Americans support stand-your-ground laws. Support was highest among Republicans at 81% and independents at 57%, while 60% of Democrats said they opposed such laws.
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People are more likely to carry guns in public in states with stand-your-ground laws, which also increases the risk of gun theft and violent confrontations, according to research cited in the Everytown report. These laws also are linked to higher rates of gun homicide among adolescents and more unintentional shootings involving children and young adults.
Researchers at Everytown analyzed FBI data from 2019 to 2023 and found that in stand-your-ground states, homicides involving white shooters and Black victims were ruled justifiable four times more often than when the roles were reversed. In Michigan, that disparity was more than twelvefold.
The report also cited research suggesting that in domestic violence cases, women who claimed self-defense were more likely to be convicted and received longer sentences compared to others.
Beyond the legal outcomes, gun homicides linked to stand-your-ground laws cost an estimated $11 billion annually, according to Everytown. That includes $500 million in direct taxpayer expenses tied to law enforcement, courts and medical care, the report says.
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Stateline reporter Amanda Hernández can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org.
Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.