Keeping Howie in our thoughts and prayers đ€
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Howie Mandel, widely known for his quick wit, energetic comedy, and engaging presence on television, has always been a figure many people admire and enjoy. However, behind the laughter and the bright lights, Mandel has been open about his personal struggles with health, especially his mental health. Over the years, heâs shared candidly about living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conditions that affect a significant part of his life and that he has chosen to discuss publicly to help break down stigma and foster understanding.
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Mandelâs openness about his mental health journey is both courageous and commendable. Many people may not realize just how common these conditions are, and hearing someone as famous as Howie openly discuss his experiences helps normalize these struggles. His honesty is especially powerful because it shows that mental health issues do not discriminateâanyone can be affected, regardless of success or fame. By sharing his story, Mandel has become a voice of advocacy, encouraging others who might be suffering in silence to seek help or simply to feel less alone in their struggles.
Living with OCD, Mandel has spoken about how the disorder manifests in his life. For him, itâs not just about being tidy or having certain routines, but rather about intense, sometimes overwhelming thoughts and compulsions that can interfere with daily life. He has described feeling trapped in a cycle of repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control. These experiences are often misunderstood, and Mandelâs willingness to discuss them helps shed light on what living with OCD truly entailsâthe persistent challenge of trying to maintain control amidst chaos.
ÂSimilarly, Mandel has been open about managing ADHD, a condition that affects his concentration, impulse control, and overall focus. For many, ADHD is often associated with childhood, but it continues into adulthood for a significant number of people. Mandel has shared stories about how it impacts his work and personal lifeâmoments where heâs struggled to stay organized or where his mind races in different directions at once. His honesty helps others realize that these difficulties are real and manageable, especially with support and understanding.
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What makes Mandelâs honesty even more inspiring is his dedication to helping others understand these conditions better. He has used his platform to speak out during interviews, public appearances, and social media, sharing insights from his own experiences. His goal is to reduce stigma, which often leads to silence and shame, and to promote a message of acceptance. Recognizing that mental health is just as important as physical health, Mandel openly advocates for people to seek help, find support, and not be afraid of vulnerability.
ÂHis journey hasnât been without struggles, but his story is ultimately one of resilience. Through therapy, medication, and a strong support network, Mandel has learned to manage his conditions. More importantly, he has learned to use his voice to raise awareness. Many fans and followers have expressed gratitude for his candor, describing how his openness has helped them feel less isolated in their own mental health battles. Itâs a reminder that even those in the spotlight face challengesâsometimes just like usâand that healing often begins with honesty and understanding.
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In a world that often values perfection and glosses over struggles, Howie Mandel stands out as someone who openly embraces his imperfections. His journey with OCD and ADHD reminds us that mental health issues are part of the human experience and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Through his courage and advocacy, Mandel continues to make a positive impact, encouraging others to confront their own challenges with the same resilience and honesty he exemplifies.
 ÂJohnson Pushes Back on âWar Powersâ Vote Amid Iran Strikes
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Monday that passing a war powers resolution would strip President Trump of his authority to continue military operations in Iran, warning that such a move would present a âfrightening prospect.â
Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) plan to push for a vote on a war powers resolution this week, which would require Congressional authorization before Trump can use military force against Iran again. They argue that the operations in Iran put U.S. troops at risk and are not representative of an âAmerica Firstâ agenda.
According to a source who spoke to The Hill, the resolution is expected to be brought to the floor on Thursday.
âI think the idea that we would move a War Powers Act vote right now, I mean, it will be forced to the floor, but the idea that we would take the ability of our commander in chief, the president, take his authority away right now to finish this job, is a frightening prospect to me,â Johnson told reporters after a briefing on the operation.
âItâs dangerous, and I am certainly hopeful, and I believe we do have the votes to put it down. Thatâs going to be a good thing for the country and our security and stability,â he added.
The U.S. and Israel conducted joint military strikes against Iran on Saturday after weeks of threats from Trump, who had called for regime change in Tehran. Johnson wrote on the social platform X that Congressâs bipartisan âGang of Eightâ was âbriefed in detail earlier this week that military action may become necessary to protect American troops and American citizens in Iran.â
On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Iranian military and regime were racing to achieve âimmunityâ for its ongoing nuclear weapons program, meaning the ability to develop enough ballistic missiles to shield itself and the program from destruction. Thatâs why Trump chose to act now, he added.
Trump told CNN on Monday morning that the âbig waveâ of the operation is yet to come. When he was asked how long the war will last, the president said, âI donât want to see it go on too long. I always thought it would be four weeks. And weâre a little ahead of schedule.â
On Monday, Johnson told reporters he believes Trump âwas acting well within his authorityâ as commander-in-chief to protect the country.
âItâs not a declaration of war. Itâs not something that the president was required, because itâs defensive in nature and in design and in necessity, to come to Congress and get a vote first. And if they had briefed a larger group than the Gang of Eight, you know, thereâs a real threat that that very sensitive intelligence that we had, you know, might have been leaked or something,â he said.
âSo, this is why the commander in chief of our armed forces has the latitude that any commander in chief, any president always has, because they have a set of information that is sensitive, timely and urgent, and they have to be able to act upon it. They did that.â
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has urged lawmakers to support the war powers resolution, stating in a CNN interview on Monday that Trump needs to be constrained.
Presidents from both parties have taken action on behalf of the country in the past. Also, every president since the act was passed in the early 1970s has said they believe it unconstitutionally limits a presidentâs Article II authorities.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Ilhan Omar While Aboard Air Force One
What began earlier this month as a viral White House jab at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has now turned into a broader campaign offensive, with President Donald Trump doubling down on his criticism of the Somali-born congresswoman and the Somali refugee community in the United States.
Omar said during an October appearance on The Dean Obeidallah Show that she was not worried about losing her U.S. citizenship or being sent back to Somalia, where she was born.
âI have no worry, I donât know how theyâd take away my citizenship and like deport me,â Omar said. âBut I donât even know why thatâs such a scary threat. Iâm not the 8-year-old who escaped war
anymore. Iâm grown, my kids are grown. I could go live wherever I want.â
On Nov. 10, the White House posted on X a 2024 photo of Trump waving from a McDonaldâs drive-thru window, replying to a clip in which Omar said she was unconcerned about being deported.
The photo â taken during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania â quickly circulated online and was widely interpreted as a taunting âgood-byeâ message aimed at the Minnesota lawmaker.
Now, the feud has reignited. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump referenced the allegation that Omar had entered the U.S. through a fraudulent marriage.
âShe supposedly came into our country by marrying her brother,â he said. âIf thatâs true, she shouldnât be a congresswoman, and we should throw her the hell out of the country.â
The president also broadened his remarks to criticize Somali immigration overall.
âSomalis have caused us a lot of trouble, and they cost us a lot of money,â Trump said. âWhat the hell are we paying Somalia for? We have Ilhan Omar who does nothing but complain about our Constitution and our country! Weâre not taking their people anymore â in fact, weâre sending them back.â
Trump has often accused Omar of being âanti-American,â previously telling her and other progressive âSquadâ members to âgo backâ to their âbroken and crime-infested countries.â Omar responded earlier this month by calling Trump a âlying buffoonâ and saying his story about Somaliaâs president refusing to take her back was fabricated.
The White House has signaled that it will not walk back the presidentâs latest statements. A senior aide said Trump was âreminding voters that Americaâs generosity should never be repaid with contempt.â
Omarâs family fled Somaliaâs civil war in 1991 and spent several years in a Kenyan refugee camp before settling in the United States. She was elected to Congress in 2018, becoming one of the first Muslim women and the first Somali-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The renewed confrontation underscores the political tension between Trump and radical members of the âSquad.â It comes amidst growing concerns about immigration policy and the vetting of immigrants in the aftermath of an Afghan refugeeâs shooting of two National Guard members over the Thanksgiving holiday.
