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The Messianic Prophesies

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January 11: Fox News: Cuba beware, you may be next
President Trump signaled a hardline stance toward Cuba Sunday, vowing to halt all oil and financial support and urging the island nation to "make a deal" before it is "too late." Venezuela has long been Cuba's largest oil supplier. The warning comes as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to isolate regional allies of Venezuela following Maduro's capture. Venezuela's massive oil reserves – perhaps the largest in the world – have historically underpinned its influence across the region, particularly through subsidized shipments to allies like Cuba. Trump pledged to bring U.S. companies back to the forefront of Venezuelan oil production and exports, but first the country needs to be safe and incidents of violence contained. [See related story]

January 11: The Gateway Pundit: Philly Police Commissioner to Sheriff
Philadelphia County's scandal-plagued sheriff's disgusting anti-ICE press conference has officially backfired after the city's own police commissioner provided a valuable education lesson. Philadelphia County Sheriff Rochelle Bilal had unleashed a blistering attack on ICE Thursday, branding the federal agency "fake, made-up law enforcement" and threatening that any ICE agents who set foot in her jurisdiction will face arrest and prosecution. The most disturbing part was the sheriff's direct threat of physical confrontation against federal officers. She warned her office would not hesitate to use force or legal action against agents performing their constitutionally mandated duties. Hours following Bilal's grandstanding, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel issued a stinging statement that reminded the sheriff the real purpose of her job. It turns out she evidently thought she possessed authority that she did not have. Bethel concluded by reaffirming that the Philadelphia police will work in cooperation with all law enforcement officials, including those from ICE. How embarrassing for the Sheriff and for the people who elected her.

January 11: News Max: State Department; Americans should leave Venezuela
The U.S. State Department (DOS) warned Americans to leave Venezuela immediately amid growing security concerns following the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and reports armed pro-regime groups targeting U.S. citizens. In a DOS security alert, Saturday, it said it has received reports armed members of so-called colectivos — pro-government paramilitary militias loyal to the former regime — have set up roadblocks across parts of the country. The group are reportedly stopping vehicles and searching for signs that occupants are American citizens or supporters of the United States. The country currently carries a Level 4 alert [Do Not Travel advisory due to grave threats to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, crime, unrest, and failing health infrastructure]. While many Venezuelans who opposed Maduro's socialist regime have welcomed his removal, the country remains volatile, with armed loyalists still active in major cities and along key highways. Trump has said he would consider visiting Venezuela in the future once conditions improve, saying he believed it would eventually be safe.

January 10: Breitbart News:
CNN's Law Enforcement Contributor; ICE shooting in Minneapolis "likely legally justified shooting"
On Friday CNN's Law Enforcement Contributor Steve Moore stated that the new video of the shooting by ICE in Minneapolis "leads me to believe that this was likely a legally justified shooting" and while he wasn't ready to say whether the shooting was a justified shooting before the video, he now believes "a reasonable investigation will find that the officer was within the deadly force policy." He said "Legally justified means that a reasonable law enforcement officer — not a reasonable person on the street — but a trained law enforcement officer, believed that they were in imminent danger of losing their life or suffering grievous bodily injuries. It doesn't have to be lethal force if it paralyzes you. That's the type of thing. So, I believe, at that point, the officer was likely — and a reasonable investigation will find that -- the officer was within the deadly force policy."

January 10: News Max:
Mortgage rates lowest in three years as economy grows at 5.4% rate
Mortgage rates have fallen shapely from 8% under Biden to 5.7% currently. On Friday as Donald Trump said he is directing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, a rare federal push into the housing finance pipeline that is already reshaping rate expectations and reigniting debate over Washington's role in a market that has priced out many buyers. Trump said that under Biden, "…almost no young families could afford a home. With my focus on Housing Affordability, and after I authorized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest their cash, and buy $200 Billion Dollars in Mortgage Bonds, Mortgage Rates moved down to 5.7%." Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have operated under government conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis, do not originate home loans. Instead, they buy mortgages from lenders and either hold them or package them into mortgage-backed securities that can be sold to investors. The government intervention through mortgage bond purchases has precedent.

January 10: The Washington Times:
Bidding farewell to an old friend; The USS Nimitz (CVA-68) completes it's last deployment; decommissioning scheduled for 2026
In mid-December as the USS Nimitz steamed into Puget Sound and returned to its home port from what will be its last deployment as it is scheduled for decommissioning in Virgina later this year. It had just wrapped up a nine-month deployment, operating in the Indo-Pacific region and in the Persian Gulf, where it launched air strikes against Islamic State targets in Somalia. It also supported freedom of navigation efforts in the Arabian Sea, completing four transits through the tense Strait of Hormuz. It would be the last deployment for America's oldest operational aircraft carrier. Nimitz had traveled more than two-thirds of the planet during its last deployment. Named for Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, who led the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II, the carrier has taken part in nearly every major U.S. conflict and operation for more than 50 years. This ship provided fighter cover and launched airstrikes during Operation Desert Storm and Southern Watch in the 1990s, and the more recent Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.


January 9: Fox News:
Woman shot by ICE agent had been trained to disrupt ICE's law enforcement activities
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has characterized the actions of protestor Renee Good as an "act of domestic terrorism," alleging the she (he) been "stalking, impeding, and blocking" ICE officers for hours leading up to the incident. The New York Post reports, Renee Good had ties to an organized anti-ICE network in Minneapolis that trains participants to monitor and interfere with federal immigration enforcement operations. Apparently Good became involved with a group known as "ICE Watch," a coalition dedicated to documenting and disrupting ICE activity in the sanctuary city. Similar networks have emerged across the nation and linked to confrontations with federal agents, including incidents involving vehicles used to block or strike officers. An online video shows an ICE officer approaching the stopped SUV and attempting to open the driver's door before the vehicle moves forward. Another officer standing in front of the vehicle then fires his weapon at close range in self-defense.

January 8: Fox News:
Noem; Women shot by officers reportedly stalking and impeding ICE agents all day
Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Kristi Noem said at a press conference on Wednesday that the woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was reportedly "stalking and impeding" agents all day. Noem told reporters that ICE agents repeatedly instructed the victim, Renee Nicole Good, 37, to get out of her car and stop "obstructing" law enforcement but she didn't comply. The agency is labeling the incident as an act of "domestic terrorism."

January 8: News Max: Minnesota police association slams political leaders
A Minnesota police group issued a statement Thursday slamming political leaders, such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for "irresponsible, reckless rhetoric" following a fatal shooting by an ICE officer. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) warned that heated political attacks on law enforcement can have "real and dangerous consequences," especially as tensions rise nationwide over immigration enforcement operations. "The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association stands firmly behind law enforcement officers, accountability under the law, and the safety of every Minnesota community," Interim Executive Director David Titus said in the statement. Titus specifically called out political leaders who, in the aftermath of Wednesday's shooting, have attacked federal officers and inflamed anger in the streets. "Irresponsible, reckless rhetoric from political leaders such as Frey attacking law enforcement has real and dangerous consequences for officers on the street," Titus said. "When officers are vilified, demonized, or used as political props, it fuels hostility, emboldens bad actors, and puts lives directly at risk." The union urged elected officials to stop stoking tensions and allow investigators to determine what happened. The statement comes after Frey delivered a profanity-laced message aimed at ICE following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during a federal operation in Minneapolis.

January 7: The Post Newspaper: Fiddling with the Filibuster
The U.S. Senate needs to update its filibuster rules but doing so in a way that makes it more difficult to change those rules in the future once the current rules are changed. That doesn't mean the Senate should adopt the "nuclear option" of getting rid of the filibuster altogether. Start by requiring a physical presence of Senators on the chamber's floor instead of simply threatening to filibuster and stopping all legislative action as Chuck Schumer did for 43 days with the "Schumer Shutdown." Second require 60% of the members voting in the affirmative to change the filibuster rules going forward. And finally, consider lowering the number of votes needed to invoke regular cloture from the current 60 to 55. That would allow the Senate to actually get some work done! But -- and this is a key -- remember the chamber will not always be Republican dominated. At some time the Democrats will take over and one needs to ensure that a determined minority still has a voice and a part to play in the legislative process.

January 7: The Gateway Pundit:
House votes to advance the ObamaCare subsidies bill with nine GOP members supporting the "discharge petition"
The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 221-205 on the "discharge petition" to allow debate on a bill that would revive the Democrats' Obamacare subsidies. The final vote on the measure will be held Thursday. The bill would extend the expired Obamacare subsidies for three years. The nine GOP members were Fitzpatrick (PA), Bresnahan (PA), Mackenzie (PA), Lawler (NY), Salazar (FL), LaLota (NY), Valadao (CA), Kean (NJ), Miller (OH). Last year the Senate rejected more than a dozen dueling healthcare plans as Obamacare's enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. President Trump has repeatedly called for the 'Affordable Care Act' subsidies to be given to the consumers rather than the 'fat cat' insurance companies. If the House Democrat's bill is adopted by the House, the measure is likely dead upon arrival in the U.S. Senate and if by some miracle it was passed, it is highly unlikely the President would sign it, invoking a veto of the bill

January 7: News Max: President Trump orders the U.S. withdraw
from 66 international organizations – including UN organizations
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a presidential memorandum directing the U.S. to withdraw from 66 international organizations that the White House said no longer serve American interests. The directive orders all executive departments and agencies to stop participating in and funding 35 non-United Nations organizations and 31 U.N. entities that the administration concluded operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty. The White House said the action follows a review of every international intergovernmental organization, convention, and treaty that the U.S. belongs to, funds, or otherwise supports. The withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities the White House argues advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or address important issues so inefficiently that federal dollars are better spent elsewhere. In a fact sheet released Wednesday, the White House said many of the targeted bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength. The White House said American taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on such organizations with little return, while some of those groups criticize U.S. policies, advance agendas contrary to American values, or fail to achieve meaningful results despite large budgets. The memorandum represents the administration's most expansive pullback to date from multilateral engagement, extending Trump's long-running argument that international commitments must produce measurable benefits for Americans and must not constrain U.S. decision-making.

January 7: Fox News:
U.S. seizes two sanctioned tankers in Atlantic Ocean
The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) announced the seizure of the recently Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker in the North Atlantic Sea. Prior to the seizure the vessel painted Russian flag on the ship and claimed Russian flagging. The ship, originally called Bella 1 was sanctioned by the U.S. It was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro. "This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere," EUCOM said. "The operation was executed by DHS components with support from the War Department, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland." The ship had previously operated under the name Bella 1 before it changed its name and registry in an attempt to elude capture.

January 7: The Galveston County Daily News: Self-Interest verses Servant Leadership
In the recent past we've seen leaders seeking power for themselves, corruption not honest leadership, self-serving politicians who serve themselves, not the average citizen. They seek to commandeer power for their own ends, not honest leadership. As did our forefathers, we need to fight corruption and political self-interest, shed light upon tyrannical activities, and ensure nobody is above the law. We should elect leaders who will truly serve us, not themselves; both Democrats and Republicans alike. We need to support candidates who choose true leadership not self-interest.

January 6: The Washington Times:
Big loss for PRC; Maduro in U.S. Custody
Communist China is losing a key regional ally and major source of oil from the U.S. capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, whose leftist regime was a hoped-for part of Beijing's global expansion initiatives, security experts say. The U.S. operation took place shortly after a delegation of Chinese officials met with Maduro in Caracas. Analysts say his ouster highlights the limits of Chinese power. China denounced the military operation as a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty and international law and called for the U.S. to release Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who remain in U.S. custody in New York City. No Chinese nationals in Venezuela were harmed during the military strikes, but Cuba's government said more than 30 of its military and security personnel in the country were killed. Cuban security personnel were said to be providing security for Maduro and their casualties were likely the result of a U.S. bombing on a barracks and from fire Delta Force commandos. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the collapse of the Maduro regime is unwelcome news for Beijing, which he said is "no doubt furious and humiliated at having backed the wrong horse. The fact that Maduro was hosting a Chinese delegation just hours before his capture couldn't have been more fitting," Pompeo said. China is losing a key source of cheap and illegal oil as well as a chief strategic partner in Latin America, he said. "That means they can no longer use Venezuela as a beachhead for intelligence operations inside the United States or malign influence activities across the Western Hemisphere," he contended. "The message from President Trump couldn't be clearer: The days of undermining America in our own hemisphere are over." The difficult part will be making sure Venezuela's people will not be sold out to foreign dictators in the future, he added.

January 6: One America News Network:
Hilton terminates franchise over refusal to house ICE/DHS personnel
Hilton has terminated its franchise agreement with the independently owned Hampton Inn in Lakeville, MN, after the hotel refused to house federal immigration agents. The property has been removed from Hilton's systems and is no longer permitted to operate under the brand name. Hilton investigated and initially received assurances from the franchise owner that the issue was resolved, along with a public apology. However, after a video surfaced showing the hotel was still denying bookings to such agents, Hilton determined this violated company policies on non-discrimination and welcoming all guests. As a result, Tuesday Hilton announced that it was terminating the franchise agreement and removing the hotel from its systems, meaning it can no longer use the Hampton Inn or Hilton name. Apparently, Hilton learned from the Bud Light experience and acted accordingly!

January 5: The Daily Caller: Massive blockade break staged as "ghost ships" seek to leave Venezuela
At least 15 U.S. sanctioned oil tankers have reportedly are attempting to break through the American complete blockade of Venezuelan oil exports. After the apprehension of Nicolas Maduro, the tankers are attempting to flee using so-called "dark mode" tactics to evade capture. According to the N.Y. Times, the now-departed ships had been docked in Venezuelan ports for weeks. Tankers in the group used techniques employed by the modern "ghost fleet" of sanction skirting ships, including painting names of decommissioned vessels on ships' hulls, misrepresenting their positions, and leaving in coordinated fashion to escape the blockade. "The embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect," President Trump said Saturday during a press conference. "The American armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until United States demands have been fully met and fully satisfied." "The only real way for oil-laden tankers to break through a naval blockade is to overwhelm it with outbound vessels," Samir Madani, the co-founder of TankerTrackers.com. Reportedly all fifteen of the identified tankers are under U.S. sanctions Trump imposed on Dec. 16 against Maduro.

January 5: News Max:
Gov. Newsom (D-CA) decides to extend immigrant CDLs, draws sharp criticism
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is drawing sharp criticism after his administration extended thousands of commercial truck-driver's licenses for foreign nationals flagged in a federal audit, defying the Trump administration's demand that the permits be revoked by Monday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Wednesday that California "does not have an extension" and that the deadline to revoke what he called "illegally issued, unvetted foreign trucker licenses" remains Monday. California could lose nearly $160 million in federal transportation funding if the state fails to comply. The California Department of Motor Vehicles, however, announced it was delaying cancellations until March 6, 2026, saying it needed additional time to avoid wrongly canceling drivers who may still be legally qualified. The dispute centers on 17,299 "non-domiciled" commercial driver's licenses that California issued to noncitizens, which state officials later said contained discrepancies tied to immigration and work authorization documentation. Reportedly the U.S Department of Transportation has already withheld $40 million over the dispute and threatened additional penalties if California misses the Monday deadline.

January 5: Fox News:
Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams slams Harris and other Democrats for their opposition to the apprehension of Nichols Maduro
Just two days after posting a social media video signaling his freedom from government office, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams slammed fellow Democrats over their response to President Trump's operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. This weekend, Adams openly weighed in by thanking Trump for "hit[ting] the cartels where it hurts" through Maduro's detention and sharply criticizing former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden's approach to the Venezuelan strongman. "I have seen firsthand how Nicolás Maduro destroyed Venezuela and turned it into a narco-state. Millions fled. Thousands landed in New York City," he said. "Now in U.S. custody, the man who helped flood our streets with fentanyl is finally being held accountable. American lives were destroyed because of him," he continued. Former Vice President Harris had said Trump's detaining of Maduro "do[es] not make America safer" and that the despot being an "illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise*(TURLEY LINK) … The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to," she contended completely disregarding the displaced Venezuelans who dancing in streets across the country, indeed, across the globe, upon getting the word of Maduro's apprehension.

January 4: Fox News: Turley Explains the legal basis for abducting Maduro
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Sunday that Nicolus Maduro was not the head of state but a criminal dictator who took control after losing democratic elections. However, while noting the purpose of the capture, Trump proceeded to declare that the United States would engage in nation-building to achieve lasting regime change. He stated that they would be running Venezuela to ensure a friendly government and the repayment of seized U.S. property dating back to the government of Maduro's mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Washington, DC is full of self-proclaimed Trump haters. However, there good elements in Trump's approach. First, he is the most transparent president in our lifetime, with prolonged press conferences and a brutal frankness about his motivations. Second, he is unabashedly and undeniably transactional in most of his dealings. He is not ashamed to state what he wants the country to get out of the deal. In Venezuela, he wants a stable partner, and he wants oil with benefits flowing to both the U.S. and Venezuelan people. Chávez and Maduro had implemented socialist policies that reduced one of the most prosperous nations to an economic basket case. They brought in Cuban security thugs to help keep the population under repressive conditions, as a third of the country's population fled to the United States and other countries.

After an extraordinary operation to capture Maduro, Trump was faced with socialist Maduro allies on every level of the government. He is not willing to allow those same regressive elements to reassert themselves. The problem is that, if the purpose was regime change, this attack was an act of war, which is why Rubio stressed that the operation was for a law enforcement purpose. Courts have routinely dismissed challenges to undeclared military offensives against other nations. Most Democrats were as quiet as church mice when Obama and Hillary Clinton attacked Libya's capital and military sites to achieve regime change without any authorization from Congress. They were also silent when Obama vaporized an American under this "kill list" policy without even a criminal charge but because it's Donald Trump doing it they are coming out of the woodwork.

January 4: The Gateway Pundit:
Sec. State Rubio explained why Congressiona consultation was not required with Maduro arrest
Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the Trump Administration's capture of Nicolas Maduro on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday and gave a thorough explanation of why the administration did not need congressional approval to execute the strikes in Venezuela and arrest Maduro. The action "couldn't require congressional approval because this was not an invasion; this is not an extended military operation," Rubio said, noting that they couldn't afford leaks that would risk the lives of US troops. "This was not an attack on Venezuela. This was a law enforcement function to capture an indicted drug trafficker, and of course, we needed the Department of War to support it because they do have anti-aircraft missiles that could shoot down those helicopters." Rubio declared "We will seek congressional approval for actions that require congressional approval, but otherwise they will get congressional notification. This is not an operation that requires congressional approval," he stressed. "In fact, this is an operation akin to what virtually every single president for the last 40 years has conducted. The difference is that when it's Donald Trump, you know, all these Democrats go bonkers."

January 4: Breitbart News: Venezuelans celebrate the arrest of Maduro
Reportedly hundreds of revelers chanted and celebrated outside a Brooklyn lockup as Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were hauled inside to face federal narco-terrorism charges. The ousted couple were greeted at the Brooklyn Detention Center with the boisterous crowd triumphantly applauding, jeering, and chanting "down with the dictator," "shame on you," and "dirty scumbag!" Venezuelan national Ronny Chirinos was reportedly one of more than 200 opponents who eagerly waited outside the prison for more than an hour in the bitter cold for the ousted dictator to arrive in cuffs. "It's such a joy to see the dictator fall, but the regime hasn't fallen yet," the 21-year-old, who relocated from Maracay to the Big Apple three years ago due to Maduro's regime. One person, Noah Kagan, shared that his wife, her family and all her friends are from Venezuela. "This is the greatest thing that has happened to their country in 25+ years. He (Maduro) turned the #1 wealthiest country in South America, #1 country for oil reserves, #1 country for Miss Americas, #1 country for tallest waterfall and so many more special things… Into a place that I personally cannot even visit for fear of getting kidnapped and ransom," Kagan said, adding that "basic medicine is not available" and that the "power goes out daily," among other issues.

January 3: Fox News: Nichols Maduro captured, on U.S. soil, on the way to jail
Deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn late Saturday night after being transported by helicopter from the Drug Enforcement Agency in Manhattan after being processed. The helicopter convoy flew past the Statue of Liberty en route to Brooklyn, a moment broadcast live as part of the transfer. Outside the detention center, bystanders gathered behind barricades, some cheering and jeering while waving Venezuelan and American flags and recording the arrival on their phones. Maduro is expected to remain in federal custody as he prepares to face narcoterrorism and weapons charges in the Southern District of New York.

January 3: News Max: Trump:
U.S. will run Venezuela until "Proper Transition" takes place
The United States will remain and "run" Venezuela until a "proper transition" can take place with its government, President Trump said in his news conference Saturday, following the overnight strikes on Venezuela and the arrests of President Nicholas Maduro and his wife. "We're there now, but we're going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place." Trump said. The latest strike, he added, may not be the only one that will be undertaken. "We are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so," said Trump. But "The first attack was so successful, we probably don't have to do a second, but we're prepared to do a second wave, a much bigger wave, actually," Trump continued. Meanwhile, the removal of Maduro and the ensuing results "will make the people of Venezuela rich, independent and safe, and it will also make the many, many people from Venezuela that are living in the United States extremely happy," said Trump. "They suffered," he said. "So much was taken from them. They're not going to suffer anymore," Trump contended.

January 3: The Daily Caller: Administration warns Cuba it could be next
Donald Trump warned brutal world leaders such as Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel that what happened to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could happen to them. Trump announced in a Truth Social post that U.S. military forces protected a law enforcement operation to arrest Maduro and his wife in Caracas early Saturday morning. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said at the press conference that current members of the Cuban regime could meet the same fate as Maduro. "Cuba is an interesting case, Cuba is not doing well right now," Trump said. "The people have suffered for many, many years and I think that Cuba is going to be something we'll end up talking about because Cuba is a failing nation right now, very badly failing nation and we want to help the people." Secretary of State Rubio said, "Suffice to say that Cuba is a disaster… …it has no economy and [is in] total collapse." Most of the Venezuelan spy agency was Cuban, Sec. State suggested. "One of the biggest problems that Venezuela has: they have to declare independence from Cuba," he concluded.

January 3: Fox News: Turley; Trump Administration on solid ground in nabbing Maduro
The Trump operation to grab Nicolas Maduro is on solid ground according to legal scholar Jonathan Turley. It comes not long after the 37th anniversary of the similar capture of Manuel Antonio Noriega on December. 20, 1989. Noriega was convicted of drug and money laundering offenses and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The operation was to execute an existing criminal warrant and responding to an international drug cartel – a legal framework similar to that used to apprehend Noriega. Legal precedent supported the apprehension of the Panamanian leader as it does with Maduro. There is an outstanding federal criminal indictment against Maduro, which is the basis for the action taken by the administration. The Democrats who are denouncing the operation as unlawful might want to review past cases, particularly the decision related to the Noriega prosecution after his capture by the administration of President George H.W. Bush, Turley suggested. Trump does not need congressional approval for this type of operation. Turley pointed out that residents from both parties have launched lethal attacks regularly against individuals (i.e., Barack Obama, who killed an American citizen under this "kill list" policy). If Obama can vaporize an American citizen without even a criminal charge, Trump can't capture a foreign citizen with a pending criminal indictment without prior congressional approval, Turley asked.

In his appeal, Noriega argued that his arrest violated international law under the head-of-state immunity doctrine. The district court rejected Noriega's head-of-state immunity claim because the United States government never recognized Noriega as Panama's legitimate ruler — Similarly the U.S. has not recognized Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. The United States for the Eleventh Circuit rejected Noriega's immunity claim and legal experts believe the same will happen if Maduro offers up a similar argument. Meanwhile, the actions by Trump will also have a major impact on foreign policy. The Monroe Doctrine has just become the Trump Doctrine. This action not only confronted Venezuela but also Cuba, which was supplying the security around Maduro. Presumably, Cuban security may have been involved in the firefight. While cutting off vital oil to Cuba, the Trump Administration just delivered a blow against the Cuban regime which is already facing major economic difficulty.

January 2: The Gateway Pundit: 9th Circuit strikes down California ban on open carry in 2-1 decision
A US Appeals Court on Friday in a 2-1 decision struck down a California law banning people from openly carrying firearms. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals cited a 2022 Supreme Court ruling and said California's ban on open carry is unconstitutional. US Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote the majority opinion and blasted the state of California for banning open carry for 95% of its population. California banned open carry on all counties with populations greater than 200,000 – which is 95% of the state the ruling states. Judge VanDyke said California' ban on open carry is unconstitutional. "For most of American history, open carry has been the default manner of lawful carry for firearms. It remains the norm across the country—more than thirty states generally allow open carry to this day, including states with significant urban populations," he wrote. He said many states allow open carry and California has a history of open carry. "Similarly, for the first 162 years of its history open carry was a largely unremarkable part of daily life in California. From 1850, when California first became a state, until the Mulford Act of 1967, public carry of firearms in California (open or concealed) was entirely unregulated. And when California first deviated (or considered deviating) from this practice, its reasons for doing so were less than morally exemplary," he contended.

January 2: The Washington Times: Trump; ready to retaliate if Iran starts targeting protestors
Records show that over 2,400 executions have been carried out by Iran in 2025. Meanwhile President Trump said the U.S. is ready to retaliate against Iran if the Islamic republic starts targeting protesters. Demonstrations have been flooding the streets of Iran, partly because of its struggling economy. "If Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," Trump posted Friday on Truth Social. "We are locked and ready to go." At least seven people have been killed amid the protests, now in their sixth day, as demonstrators chant against the Iranian government.

January 2: The New York Times: Off duty ICE officer shoots active shooter on New Years Eve
A heroic off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent thwarted a possible active shooting by gunning down his neighbor as the man was firing shots into the air at their Los Angeles apartment complex, the feds said. The agent, who hasn't been identified publicly, jumped into action when his neighbor opened fire with a rifle at the complex in Northridge, California on New Year's Eve, authorities said. Police are still probing the shooting but the Department of Homeland Security quickly defended the agent, insisting his bravery saved lives. "In order to protect his life and that of others, he was forced to defensively use his weapon and exchanged gunfire with the shooter," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. According to police, the officer returned fire killing the shooter and then immediately called 911 to report the shooting.

January 1: The Gateway Pundit: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith tells House
Judiciary Committee Trump didn't have a first amendment right to question the 2020 election
The House Judiciary Wednesday released a transcript and video of Jack Smith's closed-door testimony to Congress. Smith appeared last month for a closed-door testimony before the Committee. He was called to testify over what GOP lawmakers called his "partisan and politically motivated" Trump prosecutions. Smith was appointed as Special Counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 one day after Trump announced his 2024 bid for the White House. He brought multiple indictments against Trump in 2023. During his deposition, Jack Smith said his prosecutors framed the case against Trump as a fraud case rather than a First Amendment issue. "Fraud is not protected by the First Amendment, so in my mind it was important to make that clear in the indictment…" Smith said as he boasted about the case 'prevailing' in the district court in which an Obama-appointed Judge presided. Smith claimed Trump did not have a First Amendment right to question the election, contending doing so was fraudulent – even though there are still questions about irregularities in that election. In the end all of Smith's cases were either overturned by the Supreme Court or withdrawn following Trump's reelection.

January 1: The Epoch Times: Trump's leadership in 2025,
no moss growing under his feet
Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has rapidly reshaped America's domestic and international priorities. In the first year of his second term, his administration enacted sweeping tax reform, deported millions of illegal immigrants, imposed tariffs to balance trade relations, brokered several peace deals, overhauled U.S. foreign policy, and among other things, ordered the federal government to recognize only two sexes—male and female. Here are a few highlights:
- Border Security: Illegal immigration dropped to the lowest numbers in recorded history, without requiring legislative action by Congress
- Trade Policies: Trump started using tariffs as a foreign policy tool, resulting in foreign governments making bilateral concessions in order to have access to U.S. markets and massive income and investment coming to the U.S.
- Foreign Policy Shift: The Trump administration has increased its focus and resources paying attention to the Western Hemisphere while not abandoning Isreal and Middle Eastern nations in efforts to bring negotiated peace deals.
- Sweeping Tax Reform: Trump got the "Big Beautiful Bill" enacted in about half the time it normally takes Congress to act. In doing so he made the Trump I tax cuts permanent, eliminate taxes on tips and social security payments, and cut spending. And,
- Introduced a "common sense" agenda: Shortly after his inauguration, Trump introduced reforms on public health and safety, climate, energy, education, gender ideology, and more through dozens of executive orders including excluding biological men from competing in women's sports.

January 1: The Gateway Pundit: Obama-appointed judge clears the way for ICE to use Medicaid data to locate and deport illegal aliens
In a major victory for border enforcement and the rule of law, a federal judge has cleared the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use Medicaid data to locate and deport illegal aliens, rejecting a coordinated legal assault by Democrat-run states attempting to shield unlawful migrants from federal authorities. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of the Northern District of California denied blue states' attempt to block ICE from using Medicaid data delivering a rebuke to sanctuary-state lawfare. A coalition of blue states filed suit to stop the Trump administration from accessing Medicaid records, claiming the move violated privacy laws and administrative procedures. In his ruling, Chhabria said federal law explicitly authorizes DHS to obtain identifying information -- such as citizenship status, addresses and phone numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid ID numbers -- from other federal agencies in order to carry out immigration enforcement. The judge also ruled privacy laws expressly allow disclosures for law enforcement purposes, including immigration enforcement, and that the Medicaid data at issue does not fall under the ACA's exchange-data restrictions. He noted further that the Privacy Act does not even apply to illegal aliens in the first place.

January 1: News Max: AG Bondi Teases 2026 Obama-Biden Lawfare Reckoning
Attorney General Pam Bondi is signaling that a decade of Washington lawfare could soon face a reckoning, with 2026 possibly being the year the Justice Department's investigation reaches a decisive point. Bondi said she has directed U.S. attorneys and federal agents to pursue what she described as "instances of government weaponization nationwide." She framed the alleged abuses under the Obama and Biden administrations not as isolated episodes, but as part of a conspiracy that stretched from the origins of the Trump-Russia probe through later investigations targeting President Donald Trump and his supporters.

December 31: The Gateway Pundit:
The SAVE Act – Requiring Proof of Citizenship in order to vote in Federal Elections
Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is calling out the radical left for blocking the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act and the do-nothing Republican-controlled Senate. The SAVE Act passed the House in April 216–208. The legislation would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register and vote in federal elections. The bill aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections. Under current law, voters are not required to present proof of citizenship — such as a passport or REAL ID — when voting in elections for President, the U.S. House, or the U.S. Senate. In Texas, moves were made in the State legislature to enact a similar requirement for all state and local elections. The measure died in the Texas House. Yours truly testified before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee on a Constitutional Amendment that would require U.S. citizenship a requirement for voting in state and local elections.

December 31: Breitbart News: Iran reportedly executes over 2,200 dissidents in 2025
Iran's clerical regime reportedly closed out 2025 with what an Iranian opposition coalition described as an unprecedented surge of state killings — as the group's president-elect warned the mass hangings amount to "a crime against humanity" and a desperate bid for "survival" by a system that fears an "explosive society." The year-end tally, published Wednesday by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) — an Iranian opposition group — puts the number at more than 2,200 executions nationwide in 2025, including 376 hangings in December alone, which it said capped the bloodiest year recorded under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 37-year rule. The NCRI said executions in 2025 were more than double the prior year, asserting the regime carried out roughly 120% more executions than in 2024 (1,006), 160% more than in 2023 (853), and about 280% more than in 2022 (582). The opposition coalition says the regime has increasingly turned to the gallows as its internal crises deepens.

December 31: Fox News: Iran in shutdown as protesters
storm governor's office, crowds chant 'Death to Khamenei'
Iran ground to a near standstill Wednesday as businesses, universities and government offices closed under a government-ordered shutdown amid protests caused by a growing political and economic crisis. Video footage shows crowds chanting, "Death to Khamenei!" and "Shame on you, shame on you!" as anger appears to spread across the country, with a particular focus on bazaar-led protests in Tehran. Some of the most dramatic scenes were reported in the city of Fasa in south-central Iran. Video circulating online shows demonstrators hurling objects at the gates of a government complex and shaking them until they opened. According to Reuters opposition groups have reported that protesters stormed the governor's office, prompting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces to open fire, Military helicopters were seen flying over the city, apparently to intimidate residents and prevent the unrest from spreading. In Kermanshah, in western Iran, bazaar merchants were seen confronting security forces while chanting, "Dishonorable, dishonorable," according to video footage. The one-day shutdown affected 21 of Iran's 31 provinces, including Tehran, as President Masoud Pezeshkian sought to contain mounting public anger fueled by inflation, currency instability, and declining living standards. Apparently the mass killings by the regime, as reported by Breitbart News, have failed to put a damper upon the protests.

December 31: The New York Post: Minnesota election policies raise corruption and fraud concerns
A controversial Minnesota election policy that allows a single registered voter to "vouch" for up to eight people seeking same-day registration is under fire amid the state's massive fraud scandal tied to its Somali community. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State the registered voter must go with a person, or people, they are vouching for to the polling place and sign an oath verifying their address. "A registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming the person's address. This is known as 'vouching.' Reportedly a registered voter can vouch for up to eight voters." As long as the prospective voter can prove they live in the state, proof of ID can include a driver's license or learner's permit from any of the 50 states, a passport, an expired ID, military ID, or high school or college ID. Vouching is then used to verify a potential voter's residence in the precinct. The practice of same day registration and the vouching process opens the voter rolls to possible fraud and given the fraud allegations coming to light in Minnesota the light of truth is being shined upon the state.

December 30: News Max: ICE blasts Politico reporter
for appearing to encourage violence against federal agents
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Tuesday blasted a Politico reporter, accusing him of posting a social media comment that appeared to encourage violence against federal agents investigating fraud in Minnesota's child care system. Reportedly, Politico senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein posted comments about independent journalist Nick Shirley's visits to multiple Somali-run child care centers in the Minneapolis area, saying "At some point, the amateur effort to knock on doors of home daycares intersects with robust stand-your-ground laws." ICE responded to the post saying, "You would think a 'Senior Legal Affairs Reporter' for Politco would know better than to tweet something inciting violence against federal agents." White House deputy assistant Sebastian Gorka added, "The idea that [Gerstein] conflating what, a burglar breaking into your house and being allowed to use deadly force against that burglar, as opposed to a young reporter who's getting to the bottom of billions of dollars of bilked taxpayer funding…" "That quote, unquote legal expert is doing what the left always does, which is normalizing violence," Gorka added. Shirley's reporting has surpassed 2.2 million views on YouTube and more than 127 million views on Twitter (X) as of Tuesday night. In response the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) promptly dispatched agents to Minneapolis to conduct its own investigation. DHS posted, "Our agents are conducting a massive operation to identify, arrest, and remove criminals who are defrauding the American people at daycares, healthcare facilities, and other suspected sites. We will not stop until we've rooted out this rampant fraud plaguing Minnesota," DHS contended.

December 30: The Gateway Pundit:
Federal report discloses yet another massive Biden-era taxpayer scandal
A bombshell federal report has blown the lid off yet another massive Biden-era taxpayer scandal — this time inside the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to HUD's own Fiscal Year 2025 Agency Financial Report, more than $5 billion in rental assistance payments during the final year of the Biden regime were flagged as "questionable" or improper, exposing systemic failures, nonexistent oversight, and breathtaking incompetence at the federal level. Among the revelations: tens-of-thousands of payments were made to people who were already deceased, and thousands more went to recipients who may not have even been eligible to receive taxpayer-funded housing assistance in the first place. Buried in the HUD report is a stunning admission that federal systems failed to stop payments to 30,054 deceased individuals who were either still listed as active tenants or continued receiving rental assistance after their deaths.

December 30: Fox News: Musk describing MN Gov. Walz's
response to fraud allegations plaguing Minnesota
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk didn't mince words describing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and former Democrat Vice Presidential nominee, as the state faces investigations into multiple alleged fraud schemes plaguing it's social services system. Walz has faced increased scrutiny in recent weeks amid these investigations, while some have labeled Minnesota a "hub of fraudulent money laundering activity." "Traitor Tim Walz," Musk said in a Tuesday social media post. His comments came in response to another post on social media joking about a caller informing personal finance expert Dave Ramsey on his radio program about Walz's leadership as governor. Specifically, the post pointed out that Walz raised taxes and burned through billions in a state surplus, and now is under scrutiny stemming from several key fraud schemes targeting the state's Medicaid program and other federally funded programs that feed children.

Meanwhile, Fox News further reported a whistleblower in Maine has accused its health services company of bilking taxpayers out of millions in Medicaid funds resulting in its spigot shut off this week as the state Department of Health moved to halt payments from MaineCare which has Somali ties. Gateway Community Services is a Portland company run by a Somali-born man who ran for president – the U.S. equivalent of governor – of Jubaland, Somalia, for what would have been a four-year term beginning in 2024. Ali's campaign manifesto includes a point saying he would create "robust security infrastructure" to counter Al-Shabab, while reports out of Minnesota claim their Somali-tied funds may have ended up in the hands of the terror group. Media outlet the Maine Wire reported the state will seek more than $1 million in payments made in 2021 and 2022, with Maine's Department of Health spokesperson Lindsay Hammes saying the agency will "continue to hold providers to the highest standards and ensure accountability in the use of public funds."

December 29: The Gateway Pundit: Trump confirms attack on drug loading facility in Venezuela
President Trump has revealed that the US had "knocked out" a drug facility in Venezuela as the campaign against foreign drug cartels and the Maduro regime intensifies. The strike last Wednesday comes days after Trump said the U.S. may start targeting facilities on land which he said were much easier then drug boats on open waters. Trump confirmed Monday the strike on a "dock area where they load the boats up with drugs."

December 29: Reuters(published by News Max):
Pentagon clears the way for F-15 sale to Israel
Boeing was given an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15 Israel Program, the Pentagon said on Monday, after President Trump ‍met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. "This contract provides for ⁠the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft," the Pentagon said. The ‍Pentagon said the contract involved foreign military sales ⁠to Israel. The U.S. has long been by far the largest arms supplier to its closest Middle East ally. Contract work will be performed ⁠in St. Louis, ‍and was expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2035, the Pentagon ‍said in a statement.

December 29: The Washington Times: More cases coming to light of non-citizens voting
Jose Ceballos never attained U.S. citizenship, yet voting records show he managed to cast ballots in at least two dozen elections dating back to 2006. He may have been voting before that, but that is as far back as the Kansas secretary of state's records go. The fact that Ceballos served as mayor of Coldwater, a town near the Oklahoma border makes this even more astonishing. Ian Roberts, an illegal who was serving as the superintendent of public schools in Des Moines, Iowa, was arrested and it became known he had been registered to vote in Maryland for years prior to 2016. But reportedly these two cases are just marquee examples of illegal voting, there are more. This year federal authorities have brought cases against at least 10 other immigrants, accusing them of casting ballots despite not having attained U.S. citizenship. Carlos Jose Abreu was sentenced to 65 months in prison for illegal voting. Haoxiang Gao, who voted in 2024 fled the U.S. to avoid prosecution. Canadian Denis Bouchard has reportedly voted in North Carolina for more than 20 years. The advent of the Trump administration marked a major shift in the issue. The Justice Department has been conducting a review and so far, it has run 47.5 million names from states' voter rolls and found "several thousand noncitizens" registered to vote, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon revealed this month. Texas has independently announced it ran its 18 million-name voter list through the federal database and flagged about 2,800 potential noncitizens. In Texas, as in many other states registrants simply check a box saying they are citizen but nobody ever checks. Proof of citizenship is not required in order to register. In Galveston County, TX a person voted illegally in five elections until authorities stumbled across information that he was not a U.S. citizen.

December 28: News Max: ICE "at-large" arrests skyrocket in "Blue States" where local law enforcement is barred from cooperating
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been forced to change tactics, shifting away from local jails and into neighborhoods and worksites as sanctuary policies shield illegal aliens from transfer to federal custody. Reportedly this change has driven a surge in "at-large" arrests. Apparently, ICE logged roughly 17,500 at-large arrests in September and was on pace to exceed that figure in October. These totals far surpass any month in records dating to October 2011. According to the Washington Post ICE is making more than four times as many at-large arrests per week as it did during President Trump's first term. "At-large" arrests include detentions made at workplaces, immigration check-ins, and other public locations and, unlike arrests made at local jails, "at-large" arrests pick up undocumented residents who may not have a criminal past. In June, September, and October, those arrests apparently accounted for more than half of ICE's monthly total for the first time since April 2023. "The majority of those we are arresting are criminals and national security threats," Border czar Tom Homan said, adding that when ICE is blocked from jails, agents inevitably encounter and arrest other illegal immigrants as well. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said 70% of those arrested by ICE have criminal convictions or pending charges in the U.S., with some also having records in their home countries.

December 28: One America News Network:
Judicial Watch raises alarm over Secret Service's ability to protect the President
Judicial Watch recently shared concern over the Secret Service's continued lax security, pointing toward the September incident at a restaurant in which protesters were able to get within arm's reach of the President. Following two assassination attempts and a change in Secret Service leadership, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton continues to raise alarms surrounding the Secret Service's continued security failures. The incident in question revolves around Trump's early September visit to Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, in which Code Pink protesters managed to secure a reservation at a table next to the president, shouting chants before being escorted out. Alongside President Trump at the dinner were Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

December 27: The Gateway Pundit:
Migrant truckers file suit against California for cancelling their CDLs
A group of non-U.S. citizen and temporary resident truck drivers has launched a class-action lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and its director, Steve Gordon, accusing the agency of unlawfully planning to revoke nearly 20,000 commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) due to administrative blunders. The suit, filed on December 23 in Alameda County Superior Court, claims the DMV's actions stem from federal pressure and violate state law by denying drivers the chance to correct errors or reapply. The controversy erupted after a federal audit disclosed the state had improperly issued thousands of non-domiciled CDLs, licenses for non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents with temporary work authorization, by setting expiration dates that exceeded drivers' legal presence documents. The belief is that the audit was motivated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's threat of withholding $40 million in federal funds over lax CDL enforcement including the inability of license holders to read English. The plaintiffs allege the DMV's cancellations are "arbitrary and capricious," punishing workers for the agency's own mistakes without due process. Many affected drivers are Sikh immigrants who now make up a large population of the state's trucking industry, transporting freight, operating school buses, and handling essential services. The suit seeks to certify the class, halt cancellations, compel the DMV to allow reapplications, and declare the actions unlawful. In October, Jashanpreet Singh, an illegal alien from India, caused a deadly multi-vehicle pileup in Southern California, killing three innocent people and injuring four others when his big rig slammed into traffic. [See Related Story]

December 27: The New York Post: Iran declares war against U.S., Isael, and Europe
Iran's president declared they were in a "total war" with the US, Israel and Europe, just as Tehran looks to rebuild its nuclear capabilities and strengthen ties with Hamas. Masoud Pezeshkian made the bold statement in an interview published in state media Saturday. "In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees," he said. "This war is worse than the one launched against us by Iraq. On closer inspection, it is far more complex and difficult," he said, in reference to the 1980-88 war with Iran's western neighbor. The claims come amid UN sanctions on Iran — orchestrated by France, Britain and Germany — due to the regime's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons. It also follows the 12-Day War with Israel in June, when the Jewish state obliterated much of the Islamic Republic's nuclear capabilities — with the assistance of devastating US airstrikes. As tensions between the Middle Eastern rivals ramps up, a Tehran-backed candidate is also likely to win a major election to a leading role with Hamas. Khalil al-Hayya, a Palestinian politician, is expected to beat out Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal in an election for head of the group's political bureau, which could be decided in the coming days, sources said.

December 26: News Max:
Patel; FBI will be moving its headquarters with an eye to beefing up operations in the field
FBI Director Kash Patel has outlined the plan to shut down the Hoover Building, the longtime home of the FBI, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to downsize federal agencies and get more federal workers outside Washington, D.C. Patel said "After more than 20 years of failed attempts, we finalized a plan to permanently close the FBI's Hoover headquarters and move the workforce into a safe, modern facility… …When we arrived, taxpayers were about to be on the hook for nearly $5 billion for a new headquarters that wouldn't open until 2035. We scrapped that plan. Instead, we selected the already-existing Reagan Building, saving billions and allowing the transition to begin immediately with required safety and infrastructure upgrades already underway," Patel said. "Once complete, most of the HQ FBI workforce will move in, and the rest are continuing in our ongoing push to put more manpower in the field, where they will remain." Patel continued, "This decision puts resources where they belong: defending the homeland, crushing violent crime, and protecting national security. It delivers better tools for today's FBI workforce at a fraction of the cost."

December 25: The Epoch Times:
U.S. Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria
President Donald Trump announced a "powerful and deadly strike" targeting the ISIS terrorist group in northwest Nigeria on Dec. 25. The President said on Truth Social that the terrorists targeted have been "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!" He said the group had not heeded warnings, leading to the Christmas night strike. "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was," the U.S. president wrote. "The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. "May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

December 25: The Gateway Pundit:
Another southern neighbor elects conservative leader
What was already clear during the first months of the Donald Trump administration became official with the release of the new National Security Strategy: the US will support the patriotic forces both in Europe and in the Western Hemisphere. This strategy is already bearing fruit in Latin America (LATAM), where the right-wing political parties are beginning to gain the upper hand. On December 24th the conservative candidate for Honduran President, Nasry Asfura, who has been backed by Trump, was declared the winner – more than three weeks after the November 30 election. The vote results were plagued by delays, technical problems and allegations of fraud. Asfura ran on a broad pro-business platform saying private investment was necessary to move the country forward, while his political agenda focused on jobs, education and security. Reportedly the results were so close and the ballot processing system so chaotic that around 15% of the tally sheets, comprising hundreds of thousands of ballots, had to be counted by hand to determine the winner. The ruling leftist party LIBRE, obliterated in the polls, denounced an 'electoral coup', as protests tried to disrupt the manual count.

December 25: News Max: Preparations for boarding tanker are underway
U.S. military forces are tracking an oil tanker linked to Iran and Venezuela after the vessel refused orders to stop and submit to boarding. The tanker, known as the Bella 1, was spotted in the Atlantic Ocean after making a series of abrupt course changes while traveling near Venezuela. The Wall Street Journal reported that American military commanders said the ship is significantly larger than any Coast Guard cutter and initially declined to comply when approached, prompting the Pentagon to assemble additional personnel and equipment. More than five days into the operation, preparations are underway for possible forced boarding, including the deployment of a Maritime Special Response Team, a Coast Guard unit trained to board noncompliant or hostile vessels. The Bella 1 is sanctioned for allegedly transporting Iranian oil on behalf of groups designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. The Treasury Department has also linked the vessel to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. The vessel is owned by Turkey-based Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises, which did not respond to requests for comment. According to maritime tracking firm Kpler, Bella 1 has engaged in practices associated with shadow fleets, including disabling its transponder, conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers at sea, and falsely claiming registration under a foreign flag.

December 24: The Epoch Times: Big tax relief projected for middle class in 2026
The chief executive of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said during a Tuesday interview that 94% of middle-class Americans will see some form of tax relief next year. "You're going to look at probably 94%-plus of middle-class Americans getting a boost, your tax rates coming down, and getting the benefit going forward," said IRS CEO Frank Bisignano, who is also the commissioner for the Social Security Administration, during an interview with Fox Business. He added that Social Security recipients will see "up to a $6,000 benefit as [the Trump administration is] committed to the benefits of Social Security not being taxed," adding "it will be the biggest refunds that we've ever seen." "It's one of the most amazing pieces of tax work ever done. And if you think about it, $1,000 today will be worth $500,000 at age 60," Bisignano said, referring to the Social Security-related tax relief. Bisignano's comments come after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett have both projected significant refunds in the 2026 tax year due to the piece of legislation that was signed into law over the summer by President Donald Trump.

December 24: The Daily Caller:
Obama appointed judge hand Trump victory on H-1B visa fees
A federal judge handed President Trump a major victory Tuesday night in his effort to rein in the massive flow of cheap, foreign labor into the United States. D.C. District Judge Beryl Howell upheld Trump's authority to slap a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The ruling marks the latest action against a visa program adored by big business, but long accused of displacing American workers, particularly those in the tech industry. The Trump administration's decision to make approvals of new H-1B applications contingent upon a $100,000 payout is within the power Congress delegated to the White House under immigration law, Howell wrote in her 56-page decision. "The lawfulness of the Proclamation and its implementation rests on a straightforward reading of congressional statutes giving the President broad authority to regulate entry into the United States for immigrants and nonimmigrants alike," the judge wrote. Trump, whose appeal to working-class voters across the country helped propel his 2024 presidential victory, signed a proclamation in September that restricted entry under the H-1B visa program unless accompanied by the six-figure fee. The White House framed the move as a way to ensure U.S. employers would only be importing the most valuable of foreign talent while not hastily replacing American workers. The $100,000 fee does not apply to existing H-1B holders or those who submitted applications before Sept. 21, according to the administration.

December 24: The Gateway Pundit:
Emergency federal complaint filed to force EAC to vacate the certification of some dominion voting machines
VoterGA announced it has filed an emergency federal complaint intended to force the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to vacate the 2019 certification of the Dominion Democracy Suite 5.5-A (DDS 5.5A) voting system currently used in Georgia. The complaint is based on unrefuted expert witness testimony showing the voting system does not meet, and never met, 2005 EAC security requirements that formed the basis to certify the system in 2019. The complaint comes on the heels of a similar petition to the EAC. The EAC agreed to take the petition into consideration but declined to provide any permanent or interim relief stating their procedures would not let them do so. VoterGA sought interim relief to postpone the original certification until such time it can be permanently vacated. Their request was based on federal law that states: "When an agency finds that justice so requires, it may postpone the effective date of action taken by it, pending judicial review." VoterGA is joined by the original state petitioners, the Dekalb County Republican Party, as well as the Chatham County Republican Party and individual petitioners Richard J. Armstrong and VoterGA co-founder Garland Favorito. The case was filed in the U.S. Southern District of Georgia by attorneys Jonathan Miller and Harry MacDougald.

December 24: The New York Post: DNC drowning in debt heading into the midterms
The Democratic Party's principal fundraising committee saw donations slump in the second-to-last month of the year, recording just a $12 million campaign war chest and almost $16 million still in debt due to a loan taken out the previous month, Federal Election Commission filings show. The fundraising doldrums come amid party infighting over whether to release a 2024 autopsy report on the failed Biden-Harris campaign and pressure ahead of the critical 2026 midterms, in which Democrats want to retake Congress. The Democrat National Committee listed a little more than $12.6 million cash on hand, $10.7 million raised and $15.9 million in debts in its FEC filing for November, with national Republicans accusing their opponents of "drowning" in their obligations to pay off bills.

December 24: Fox News: Prominent RI-D tries to throw her weight around
with officer making a DWI stop; it didn't work!
A prominent Rhode Island Democrat was captured on police bodycam video asking an officer, "You know who I am?" before her arrest during a recent DWI traffic stop. Maria Bucci, 51, who is the chairwoman of the Democratic committee in Cranston, RI – the second-largest city in the state – is now reportedly facing a misdemeanor DUI charge following a traffic stop on Dec. 18 in East Greenwich. "You know who I am right?" Bucci is heard telling an East Greenwich police officer just moments after he said he smelled alcohol in her breath and described her driving as erratic. "I don't know who you are miss," the officer responds. "You can start throwing out names and start doing out what you need to do, it's not going to work with me, I'm telling you right now, I'm not the guy for that."

December 23: The Daily Caller:
California Teachers can no longer hide children's gender identities from parents
California teachers can no longer hide children's gender identities from their parents following a permanent injunction issued Monday in a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by teachers who felt a moral duty to protect children and strongly objected to being dishonest with parents about their kids, as the state's "Parental Exclusion Policies" required them to do. Several California Department of Education policies were "designed to create a zone of secrecy around a school student who expresses gender incongruity," according to the court order, preventing teachers and school staff from sharing vital information with parents. "Today's incredible victory finally, and permanently, ends California's dangerous and unconstitutional regime of gender secrecy policies in schools," Paul M. Jonna, special counsel at Thomas More Society, which represented the teachers and parents in the lawsuit, said in a statement following the decision. "The Court's comprehensive ruling—granting summary judgment on all claims—protects all California parents, students, and teachers, and it restores sanity and common sense. With this decisive ruling from Judge Benitez, all state and local school officials that mandate gender secrecy policies should cease all enforcement or face severe legal consequences."

December 23: The Washington Times:
Trump handed a "Christmas Gift" of good economic news
President Trump and the Republican led Congress got a boost Tuesday from three straight months of solid economic growth, handing them a timely talking point as they head into a midterm election cycle where the economy is shaping up as voters' top concern. The U.S. economy grew at a 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, according to estimates from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That's the fastest pace in two years and an uptick from the 3.8% growth posted in the second quarter. The report on gross domestic product, which represents the value of all goods and services across the economy, covers July, August and September. The government shutdown delayed the release of the data. The President quickly claimed credit, saying the numbers vindicate his administration's tariffs on imports. The levies may have pushed prices higher, but they haven't produced the inflation surge many economists anticipated.

December 22: The Epoch Times:
Trump wants to build new class of naval vessels
On Monday President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new fleet of large warships, to be called "Trump-class" battleships, as part of his vision to build a "Golden Fleet." The new initiative comes as the Navy has seen setbacks in its shipbuilding efforts in recent decades, including the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program last month. While increasing our naval capabilities is a plus, there remains the question of where they will be built since the U.S. has limited shipbuilding capabilities – in both shipyards and the skilled personnel to staff them. Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the president referenced the Iowa-class battleships of the World War II era, saying the new battleship class will represent "100 times the force, the power." "I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large — largest we've ever built — battleships," Trump said. "There's never been anything like these ships. These have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term." Trump stated that the plan is to begin with two ships, expand to 10, and eventually increase the total to between 20 and 25. Their armament is reported to include hypersonic missiles, nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles, electromagnetic railguns and high-powered laser systems, alongside standard naval guns and vertical launch cells, aiming for dominant firepower.

December 22: News Max: Trump: It would be smart for Maduro to step down
President Trump said Monday it would be "smart" for Venezuelan President Maduro to step down, as U.S naval forces pressed a blockade on the South American country's oil wealth. Venezuela's key ally Moscow, however, expressed its "full support" for Maduro's government, as Washington has dialed up military operations and threats against Caracas. Asked by reporters if Washington's threats were designed to force Maduro to leave office after 12 years, Trump said: "That's up to him, what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that." Under orders from Trump, U.S. forces have since September launched strikes on boats that Washington claims were trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. More than 100 people have been killed — some of them fishermen, according to their families and governments. Last week, Trump also announced a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" sailing to and from Venezuela. Allegedly Maduro is using oil money to finance "drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping."

December 21: The Washington Times:
Judge's conviction on obstruction charges vindicates ICE arrests in courthouses
The Trump administration landed its first major victory in its bid to quell anti-ICE resistance with the conviction of Hannah Dugan, the Wisconsin state judge who obstructed officers trying to arrest an illegal immigrant in her courtroom. Brad D. Schimel, the U.S. attorney whose office led the prosecution, said the case was also a victory for the principle that immigration officers should be permitted to make arrests in courthouses. That is increasingly a contentious matter, with states such as New York adopting bans on arrests in state courthouses. Schimel suggested that such restrictions are misguided, as they remove a key location where arrests can be made in a controlled environment with reduced danger of weapons, which are prevented by security at courthouse doors, and other forms of chaos. He said that's true for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as well as for anyone else. "Here they were carrying out their sworn responsibility to execute an arrest warrant. When they perform their duties, they should reasonably be entitled to do so in the safest possible conditions," he contended. "When someone, especially a sworn public official, puts them in unnecessary danger by obstructing those efforts to make an arrest as safely as possible, they must be held accountable," he concluded.

December 21: Fox News:
USCG in pursuit of third Venezuelan oil tanker
The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela as President Trump intensifies his pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro with a sweeping blockade targeting illicit oil shipments. The tanker, called Bella 1, is apparently flying a false flag to evade US Forces. Bella 1 was placed under U.S. sanctions in June 2024 under counterterrorism authorities, according to the Treasury Department, which said the vessel was part of a shipping network linked to a U.S.-designated Houthi financial facilitator. Vessels in that network have been used to transport sanctioned oil, including Iranian crude, and the proceeds are directed to militant groups, U.S. officials have said in describing the basis for the sanctions. "The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion," a U.S. official said. Reportedly the ship has not been boarded thus far. The officials did not provide where it was operating while being pursued. The pursuit comes days after Trump announced a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. If seized, the Bella 1 would become the third tanker apprehended by U.S. authorities.

December 20: The Epoch Times: Second oil tanker seized in international waters
On December 20th members of the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted and seized an oil tanker that last docked in Venezuela, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced. "In a pre-dawn action early this morning the U.S. Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela," Noem announced. "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you," she contended. Department of Homeland Security identified the seized ship as the motor tanker Centuries. Publicly available commercial ship data indicate that the Centuries has operated under the flag of Panama.

December 20: Fox News: DOT Secretary update on illegal DCL truck drivers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy offered an update on his agency's work alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in cracking down on an influx of illegal immigrants given a non-domiciled commercial driver's license (CDL) without proper vetting, which has led to several deaths on America's highways. "First off, President Trump has been a remarkable leader. What he cares about is making government work better, making sure he's implementing the right policies for the American people. Not the rich, not the powerful, but average, everyday Americans," Duffy said when asked about the Department of Transportation's (DOT) crackdown on the trucking crisis. Duffy sprang into action earlier this year after an Indian national who authorities said was issued a CDL by California allegedly killed a carload of people after he attempted an illegal U-turn on Florida's Turnpike. Duffy expanded his efforts, warning Pennsylvania's PennDOT and other agencies after illegal immigrants captured out of state were found to have non-domiciled CDLs issued by blue state agencies. In PennDOT's case, an agency official told Fox News Digital a Philadelphia resident named in the sweep had not drawn any red flags in a federal database it used to verify him. "As you've seen, Homeland Security focused on the border and illegal migrants in the country. What we found at DOT is a different set of problems," Duffy said, adding that too many states have offered licenses to ineligible foreigners.

December 20: The Gateway Pundit:
Eighteen-year old accused of fatally stabbing classmate charged with murder
A black 18-year-old accused of fatally stabbing his white 16-year-old classmate in a classroom at Baytown Sterling High School in Baytown, Texas, has been charged with murder and is being held on a $3 million bond. Aundre Matthews reportedly killed his classmate, a Sterling High School sophomore Andrew Meismer, in what prosecutors say was a fight over a vape pen. "Defendant followed the complainant to the bathroom, searched his pockets, did not find the pen, but instead found a pair of scissors on the complainant's person. He took the scissors and put them in his own waste band," prosecutors told the judge. It was later in an empty classroom, where a witness "heard cries for help and observed this defendant holding the complainant in a chokehold with the defendant's arm around his neck," the prosecutor said. "Witness Davis attempted to remove the arm from the neck of the complainant, but this defendant would not remove his arm. He observed blood coming from his neck and the complainant's body." Matthews's attorney told reporters that the judge will decide whether to revoke or change the bond during a January 7 hearing.

December 19: News Max: DOJ appeals decision on James and Comey
The Justice Department said it will appeal rulings that threw out criminal cases against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. The decision comes after federal judges dismissed both cases on procedural grounds, creating legal roadblocks for prosecutors seeking to revive charges against two figures. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration rejects claims that the prosecutions were retaliatory and described the appeals as necessary to ensure accountability and equal application of the law. In the case of James, prosecutors charged the New York attorney general with bank fraud and making false statements connected to mortgage-related financial disclosures, according to court filings summarized by Reuters and Bloomberg Law. The Justice Department argues that dismissing the case on appointment grounds allowed a technicality to shield alleged misconduct from judicial scrutiny. The Comey case centered on charges that the former FBI director made false statements and mishandled official records following his departure from government. Justice Department officials said in appellate filings that allowing dismissals to stand would set a precedent preventing prosecutions of powerful officials based on procedural missteps unrelated to guilt or innocence. The department said the appeals are meant to clarify appointment authority and preserve the government's ability to pursue cases involving senior public figures. The appellate court is expected to set a briefing schedule in the coming weeks.

December 19: Fox News: Shooter at Brown University found dead in New Hampshire
The suspect behind the deadly Brown University shooting and the killing of an MIT professor died by suicide days before he was found dead in a New Hampshire storage unit, authorities confirmed Friday, as investigators continue searching for a motive behind the attacks. Autopsy reports indicate Claudio Manuel Neves Valente died of a self-inflicted gunshot two days before the body was discovered. The examination confirmed Neves Valente died from a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a suicide. The ATF and FBI, working through the Connecticut State Police forensic laboratory, positively matched one of the guns to the weapon used in the Brown shooting. The second gun was matched to Loureiro's killing, authorities said.

December 19: The New York Post:
FBI/AFT break up terror plot planned for New Years Eve
Zachary Aaron Page, a 32-year-old who identifies as a trans woman and has been accused of plotting a New Year's Eve bombing spree against companies in the Los Angeles area, was denied bond Friday morning and will remain in a men's jail after begging to be transferred to a women's facility. Prosecutors argued that Page — who worked as an audio engineer and in a warehouse — is a flight risk and danger to society, while Page's attorney argued he does not pose a threat. Page is one of five suspects charged in an alleged far-left extremist plot tied to the Order of the Black Lotus, a splinter group of the anti-capitalist Turtle Island Liberation Front. Law enforcement said he offered to get weapons for the group, even though he had no weapons himself and has never shot a gun. The bomb-making equipment seized by law enforcement was enough to "blow up a car" and possibly "an entire house."

December 19: Fox Business: Large tax refunds predicted next year
A leading contender to become President Trump's next Federal Reserve chair said the administration expects larger tax refunds and higher take-home pay next year, as many Americans continue to express concerns about affordability. "We are going to see the biggest refund cycle ever in the history of America, and people are going to get massive refund checks," National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said in an interview on Thursday. "We're expecting just that part of it alone to be worth a couple-thousand-dollar refund … the numbers are striking." During his Wednesday evening address, President Trump said the administration expects "the largest tax refund season of all time" next spring and claimed many families would save between $11,000 and $20,000 annually.

December 18: Breitbart News: Inflation drops way below anticipated levels
Inflation unexpectedly fell in November, providing relief to U.S. consumers and supporting President Trump's contention that the inflation crisis that began during his predecessor's administration has been overcome. The consumer price index rose 2.7% from a year ago, the Department of Labor said. The report was delayed by the shutdown of the federal government that stretched from early October through mid-November. "Very simple, we are making America great again tonight," Trump said in a prime-time speech to the nation Wednesday night. "After 11 months, our border is secure. Inflation is stopped. Wages are up. Prices are down." Consumers paid less in November for hotel stays, recreation, and clothing. Shelter prices, which include rent and a measure of the cost of residential homeownership, rose by just 0.2% over the two-month period since the prior report, suggesting the slowest pace of inflation in nearly five years. Food prices rose just 0.1%, the slowest rate of grocery inflation in several months. Compared with September, consumer prices were up a very mild 0.2%, much less than expected.

December 18: The Daily Caller:
Fairfax County VA releases illegal immigrant with ICE hold, perp is now accused of murder
An illegal immigrant with several prior charges was freed from jail in Fairfax County, Virginia, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requesting his detention — and went on to allegedly kill a man Wednesday, the agency said. Marvin Morales-Ortez of El Salvador was in the country illegally before police say he gunned down a Reston resident, according to an ICE spokesperson. In addition to ignoring ICE's detainer request, the county dropped his charges of assault causing injury, brandishing or pointing a firearm, assaulting law enforcement and disorderly conduct that he received between August 2023 and September 2025, court records show. "Fairfax County failed the victim by refusing to work with ICE and releasing this criminal alien onto Virginia streets instead of safely into ICE custody," an ICE spokesperson said. "If Fairfax County would have simply worked to uphold our nation's laws, then this tragedy may have never happened."

December 17: Fox News: House passes legislation to lower healthcare costs
The U.S House of Representees passed a bill they say will lower healthcare costs for a broad swath of Americans by roughly 11%. It's a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) who has been managing deep divisions within his party on the topic of healthcare as insurance premiums are set to spike across the country in a matter of weeks. One glaring issue that remains unresolved are the "Temporary" ObamaCare subsidies which were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic but are set to expire at the end of this year. The legislation passed 216 to 211 with only one Republican, Thomas Massie (R-KY), voted against it along with all House Democrats.

December 17: The Daily Caller:
DA Willis comes apart at the seams in front of state senate committee
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis erupted Wednesday while testifying before a special Georgia Senate committee scrutinizing her prosecution of President Trump. Judge Scott McAfee agreed to toss the racketeering case in November after the prosecutor who inherited Willis' beleaguered effort pushed him to take it off "life support." During her testimony, Willis accused members of the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations of "trying to intimidate [her] for five years" and said "threats" against her had made it impossible to live in her own home during that time. Lawmakers established the special committee in January 2024 to examine allegations of "various forms of misconduct" against Willis regarding her prosecution of Trump and other individuals for pushing to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcome in Georgia. Willis defied a subpoena in September 2024 to testify to the committee about her alleged misconduct.

December 17: The Epoch Times:
Trump Highlights Measures to Drive Down Costs in Prime-Time Address
President Trump told the nation his administration is prioritizing the American economy and reducing the cost of living during a prime-time address from the White House on Dec. 17. "Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I'm fixing it," Trump said, highlighting his accomplishments since taking office and previewing his agenda for the next year. "Here at home, we're bringing our economy back from the brink of ruin." The president showed a chart demonstrating the difference between price increases under the Biden administration and the decreases since his second term began in January. "I am bringing those high prices down and bringing them down very fast," he said. Trump remarked about the economy, border security, and foreign policy accomplishments, among other topics, in his second prime-time speech to the country this year.

December: 17: Fox News: Brown University shooter identified
Authorities have identified the suspect in Saturday's mass shooting at Brown University, which left two students dead and nine injured during a finals week review session, as the same man believed to have carried out the murder of a renowned nuclear scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology days later. His name is Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, according to Providence police. He was found dead Thursday evening after law enforcement officers in tactical gear were seen outside a storage unit linked to him in Salem, New Hampshire. Neves-Valente, 48, was a Portuguese national and studied at Brown from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001 to study physics, according to Brown President Christina Paxson. But he went on a leave of absence and ultimately withdrew in 2003.

December 17: iHeartMedia/KTRH:
Minnesota fraud case gets bigger by the minute while Governor Walz (Dem) turned a blind eye
With the massive Minnesota fraud case getting bigger by the day, Democrat Governor Tim Walz announced that he is putting together a new 'fraud prevention' program. According to multiple reports, Walz has known about the fraud for years, so the big question is, why didn't he do this years ago when he first found out about it? "Well, because he didn't want to at that time" said Alex Plecash, chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, "It's a mess that they didn't want to get into, and by investigating I think there was also a feeling that they'd be rubbing the wrong way with constituencies that they count on for getting votes." Walz, the former Democrat candidate for Vice President, didn't act, even with whistleblowers disclosing what was happening. Reportedly, The Trump administration has launched a 'strike team' to deal with the rampant Minnesota fraud.

December 16: The Gateway Pundit:
FBI didn't believe it had probable cause to raid Mar-a-Lago in 2022
According to emails, the FBI did not believe it had probable cause to raid Mar-a-Lago in 2022 but descended on Trump's Florida estate amid pressure from Biden's corrupt Justice Department. Biden's FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and seized boxes of records from Trump's Florida estate. More than 3 dozen machine-gun-toting agents descended on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, and by November, Biden's DOJ appointed a special counsel to investigate the documents stored at the Florida residence. The raid came after the National Archives (NARA) visited Mar-a-Lago in early 2022 and demanded documents from Trump. Court documents revealed Biden's FBI authorized the use of deadly force during their raid on Mar-a-Lago authorized by US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Corrupt FBI agents released staged photos of the 'classified' documents laid out on the floor of Mar-a-Lago.

December 16: Fox News: 201 House Dems vote against bill
named after 20-year-old American killed by illegal immigrant teen
201 House Dems vote against bill named after a 20-year-old woman with autism who was killed by a 16-year-old from El Salvador, Walter Javier Martinez, in 2022. Martinez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April. The legislation passed in a 225-201 vote. Just seven Democrats voted with Republicans in favor of the bill. Martiez came to the U.S. illegally as an unaccompanied minor and was a member of the notorious S-13 gang, according to a press release from the Maryland State Attorney's Office in Hartford County.

December 16: News Max:
Australian authorities focusing on the wrong target; not guns but blatant hatred of Jews
Australia is missing the real story behind the Bondi Beach attack by focusing on guns instead of what Ruthie Blum, a former adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu she called "blatant Jew hatred." "Listen, you know, the left always blames guns when there's Islamist terrorism or any kind," she said. Since the attack Australian authorities have said a father and son were suspects and were believed to be motivated by Islamic State ideology. Reportedly homemade Islamic State flags were found in a car registered to one of the suspects. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians to come together and said terrorists seek to create division and undermine social cohesion. But Blum rejected that framing. "His statement was just so pathetic," she said. "I mean, what he said was terrorists seek to sow division, societal division or social division. That's nonsense. These are Islamist terrorists." Blum said the threat extends well beyond one group label and reflects a broader ideology she believes targets the West. "It doesn't matter that it's ISIS or Hamas or Hezbollah or the Houthis or Iran," Blum contended. "There are Sunnis, there are Shiites. "The radicals want to destroy the West. They want to kill Jews, and they want to kill Christians."

December 16: iHeartMedia/KTRH:
House Speaker Mike Johnson announces the details of their new health care plan
The plan is meant to replace the COVID-era Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Speaker Johnson (R-LA) detailed the five key points of the plan, saying it "reduces premium costs through cost-sharing reduction payments, brings pharmacy benefit manager transparency and removes the hidden costs of prescription drugs, allows small business owners and independent workers to form association health plans, provides more choice for employees to customize their health care plans, and protects small businesses from regulatory overreach." He praised the new plan, pointing to Congressional Budget Office projections that show just the first provision would reduce premiums by at least 11 percent across the board. He compared that to the Democratic proposal, which only lowers premiums by less than 6 percent for around 7% of consumers. He says the Democrat plan doesn't actually lower the cost of health care premiums—it simply hides their true cost with taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies.

December 16: The Post Newspaper:
A Christmas Message: Yeshua is Born in Bethlehem
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah during this time of advent it is appropriate to look at what the Tanach (the Old Testament) says about the coming Messiah. Jesus (Yeshua) said to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27) 'You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?' Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

December 15: Breitbart News:
Judge faces trial for helping illegal migrants evade ICE agents
The federal trial for a Wisconsin judge who is accused of helping an illegal alien escape the custody of immigration officials has begun in Milwaukee today. Milwaukee Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted by a grand jury in May for helping an illegal alien escape from U.S. Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials in April. Dugan is accused of discovering that ICE agents were searching for illegal alien Eduardo Flores-Ruiz inside a Milwaukee courthouse. She then reportedly helped him escape ICE by spiriting him out through the judge's private hallway where he re-entered the public elevators while ICE officials were searching for him in the courtroom. The FBI later arrested Judge Dugan and charged her with "obstruction' for helping Flores-Ruiz escape custody. As the trial began Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Alexander criticized Judge Dugan's actions and insisted, "The judicial robe that the defendant wore in the public hallway that morning did not put her above the law. Flores-Ruiz has since been deported back to his home country of Mexico.

December 15: The Daily Caller:
Fetterman (D-PA); Rot within American left is allowing antisemitism extremism to fester
Democrat Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said Monday that a "rot within the American left" has allowed antisemitic extremism to fester. At least 15 people were killed Sunday when two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where hundreds gathered for the annual Chanukah by the Sea event, Australian officials and media report. Fetterman tore into his own party after the deadly shooting saying Democrats have grown comfortable excusing extremist language instead of confronting terrorism against Jews. "Here in my own party, I've been incredibly disappointed. People are trying to pretend these kinds of words and terms like, 'From the river to the sea' or to 'Globalize the Intifada' and all those other things," Fetterman said. "We all know what this means. And I refuse to pander to that. And, for me, it's been a rot within the American left and within my party. Call it what it is and stand with Israel, which is the one nation in the region that lives and protects those kinds of values."

December 15: News Max: Rabbi; Australian Prime Minster has blood on his hands
Australia's prime minister "has blood on his hands" after the deadly shooting targeting Jews in Sydney, Rabbi Yaakov Menken said. Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values described the attack as an escalating global wave of antisemitism, one that has now turned lethal at the start of Hanukkah. Attackers at Bondi Beach killed 15 people attending a Jewish Hanukkah gathering. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it antisemitic terrorism. While noting that the Jewish community has endured hatred for generations and will "always persevere," Menken warned that the latest violence is not a localized political dispute but part of what he called a "very well-funded Muslim Brotherhood supported terror campaign globally targeting Jews and Jewish communities." "This is not about Israel," Menken contended, arguing the broader target is Jewish life itself — synagogues, community events, and ordinary families simply gathering in peace. Menken pointed to Australia's recent decision — alongside France, Britain, and Canada — to recognize a Palestinian state as a reckless move that, in his view, "reward[s] terrorism" and invites more bloodshed.

December 14: Breitbart news: At least Twelve Dead; Eleven plus shooter, in Australia
Twelve people, including one terrorist, were killed in what has been designated a terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. An additional 29 people were injured and a second terror gunman was arrested after the local Jewish community was directly targeted, according to Australian media. A Chanukah by the Sea event with upwards of 1,000 attendees was scheduled to take place near a children's playground from 5pm and had begun when the attack began at the iconic beach. NSW State Premier Chris Minns said the attack was "designed to target Sydney's Jewish community." What should have been a "night of peace and joy" was "shattered" by a "horrifying, evil attack", he added. There were well over 1,000 people in attendance tonight, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. Reportedly two state police officers were among those shot.

December 14: Fox News: [See YouTube Video]
Australia: Muslim bystander disarms suspected shooter in Australia Hanukkah attack
Harrowing footage from the Hanukkah shooting in Sydney, Australia, shows a bystander tackling and disarming one of the gunmen on Sunday. The footage shows the bystander sneak up on the shooter as he is firing on victims off-screen. The man then tackled the shooter and wrenched the gun away from him. He then turned the weapon on the shooter, but did not fire. The hero has been identified by Australian media as Ahmed al-Ahmad, 43. The man's cousin, Mustafa al-Ahmad, told Australia's News 7 that Ahmed was shot once in the arm and once in the shoulder. The injuries came when the second gunman fired on Ahmed after he tackled the first man. "He's a hero. One hundred percent a hero. Once we saw on social media, he's one hundred percent a hero," Mustafa told the outlet. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We saw an action of a brave man – turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him – that stopped one of these terrorists from killing innocent Jews."

December 14: The Gateway Pundit:
Biden legacy in jeopardy as Biden Library faulters in fund raising efforts
In September, it was revealed that Joe Biden wants to build his presidential library in Delaware. But raising the money for this project may be a challenge for him. The New York Times is now reporting that the Biden library foundation did not bring in a single new donation in the entire year of 2024. They have not shared their information for 2025, which suggests it probably was not much better. Critics are saying the project seems pointless on its face. What is going to be featured in the library? The autopen? Pictures of thousands of people rushing the southern border? Apparently those who had nothing but praise for Biden when he was in office are holding on to their pocketbooks.


December 13: Breitbart News: Trump receives heroes welcome at the Army Navy game
President Trump received a hero's welcome at the Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, where he tossed the coin to decide the kickoff. Those in attendance greeted Trump with a host of cheers during his introduction ahead of the toss. Head referee Tim Rich thanked Trump for his "leadership and… continued support of our servicemembers and our veterans," adding, "It's an honor to have you here today." Trump responded that it was a "great honor" to attend. A flyover and the national anthem were also part of the opening ceremonies. Navy won by a score of 17-16.

December 13: One America News Network:
Alleged Brown University shooter in custody (Then again, maybe not!)
Rhode Island authorities responded to a report of an active shooter on campus at Brown University and have reportedly arrested a suspect. In text messages and voicemails to students, school administrators warned of an active shooter near the Barus and Holley engineering building, citing the Department of Public Safety. The first school alert, sent at 4:22 p.m. EST, read, "Urgent: There's an active shooter near Barus & Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself. Stay tuned for further safety information." At 4:51 p.m., the second alert added that Brown and Providence Police were at the scene, along with emergency medical personnel, and one suspect was in custody. The school stated that it was cooperating with "multiple law enforcement agencies on site." Students were instructed to continue to shelter in place until further notice.
[Since this report was published the person who was apprehended has been released]

December 13: News Max:
Trump Vows 'Very Serious Retaliation' for Death of 3 Americans in Syria
President Trump said Saturday that "there will be very serious retaliation" after two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in an attack in Syria that the United States blames on the Islamic State group. "We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter," Trump said. "Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well. This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them. The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack." Trump told reporters at the White House that Syria's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was "devastated by what happened" and stressed that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops. The attack on U.S. troops in Syria was the first with fatalities since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year ago.

December 12: The Washington Times:
DOJ goes to appeals court to head off leftwing Democrat Judge contempt citation
The Trump administration rushed to a federal appeals court Friday asking judges to head off activist Judge James Boasber's investigation into whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should face a criminal contempt of court investigation over controversial deportation flights. Justice Department lawyers said the Judge is upending the separation of powers between government branches by holding in-person hearings Monday and Tuesday to get to the bottom of the events of March 15, when, despite the judge's directives when three deportation flights to El Salvador were completed. In addition to crossing constitutional lines, it also trods upon attorney-client privilege, DOJ attorney Tiberius Davis told the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. This court must take action to stave off a looming and entirely unnecessary 'constitutional confrontation' between the executive and judicial branches," Davis contended when urging the appeals court to get involved. Boasber's ruling to ground the aircraft reportedly happened after the planes were airborne over international waters.

December 12: Reuters(Published by News Max):
The U.S. withheld intelligence info from Israel under the Biden Administration
According to six people familiar with the matter, U.S. intelligence officials temporarily suspended sharing some key information with Israel during the Biden administration over concerns about its conduct of the war in Gaza. In the second half of 2024, the U.S. cut off a live video feed from a U.S. drone over Gaza, which was being used by the Israeli government in its hunt for hostages and Hamas militants. Reportedly the U.S. also restricted how Israel could use certain intelligence in its pursuit of high-value military targets in Gaza, two of the sources said. Three of the unidentified (non-attributable) sources said officials were concerned that Israel had not provided sufficient assurances that it would abide by the law of war when using American information. Under U.S. law, intelligence agencies must receive such assurances before sharing information with a foreign country. Given the debacle over the use of the auto-pen, it is unclear whether Biden was made aware of the withholding of the suspension of information sharing or, if he did know, the extent to which his alleged cognitive ability allowed him to understand what was happening.

December 12: Fox News:
If you want federal dollars don't cut corners with federal requirements
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the federal government will yank tens of millions of dollars from New York state if they do not "come into compliance" with rules pertaining to the granting of commercial driver's licenses. He gave the state 30 days to come into compliance. "Fifty-three percent of New York's non-domiciled CDLs were issued unlawfully or illegally," he said. "We're holding New York accountable for issuing non-domicile commercial driver's licenses to truckers illegally." If they fail to comply "…we'll withhold $73 million," he continued.
[See Related Story]

December 11: The Gateway Pundit:
Senate fails to pass either of the competing healthcare bills
The Senate failed to advance a Republican healthcare plan in a 51-48 vote on Thursday. GOP Senator Rand Paul voted with the Democrats on this measure. Senators Bill Cassidy (LA) and Mike Crapo (ID) introduced the bill. It would allow Obamacare tax subsidies to expire and expand health savings accounts. The legislation needed 60 votes to advance. A separate, Schumer-backed healthcare bill also failed to pass the Senate on Thursday. Obamacare's enhanced premium tax credit will expire at the end of 2025.

December 11: The Daily Caller: Former Speaker Gingrich forecasts
when nation will experience the economic boon Trump is working toward
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted Thursday that Americans will feel a "Trump boom" by July 4 of next year. President Trump told supporters at a Pennsylvania rally Tuesday that data and price trends show the economy is improving and Americans are beginning to see relief in the costs of core household expenses. Gingrich said he expects people to feel the impact of Trump's policies next spring. "I'm not at this point very worried. This is about where I thought we'd be. It's why I thought getting the Big, Beautiful Bill through by July 4 mattered. I have the hunch that all next spring, much like you saw at the stock market today, all next spring, the American economy is going to recover. Things are going to get better," Gingrich proclaimed. "People are going to feel better. And by July 4, I believe, people are going to feel that there's a Trump boom versus the Democrats' gloom. And I think that choice will be pretty decisive." Gingrich said voters have not yet fully felt Trump's domestic policy push because the White House spent a month laser-focused on foreign policy crises in the Middle East, Russia, Iran and South Korea.

December 11: Associated Press
(Published by News Max): Crack down on the Shadow Fleet
An oil tanker was steaming near the coast of Guyana recently when its location transponder showed it starting to zigzag. It was a seemingly improbable maneuver and the latest digital clue that the ship, The Skipper, was trying to obscure its whereabouts and the valuable cargo stored inside its hull: tens of millions of dollars' worth of illicit crude oil. Wednesday, U.S. commandos fast-roping from helicopters seized the 1,090-foot ship — not where it appeared to be navigating on ship tracking platforms but some 360 nautical miles to the northwest, near the coast of Venezuela. The seizure marked an escalation in President Trump's efforts to pressure strongman Nicolás Maduro by cutting off access to oil revenues that have long been the lifeblood of Venezuela's economy. It may also signal a broader U.S. campaign to clamp down on ships experts and U.S. officials claim are part of a shadowy fleet of rusting oil tankers that smuggle oil for countries facing stiff sanctions, such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran. "There are hundreds of flagless, stateless tankers that have been a lifeline for revenues, sanctioned oil revenues, for regimes like Maduro's, Iran and for the Kremlin," said Michelle Weise Bockmann, a senior analyst at Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks such vessels. "They can no longer operate unchallenged."

Experts say many of the ships are barely seaworthy, operate without insurance and are registered to shell companies that help conceal their ownership. The vessels often transfer their cargoes to other ships while at sea, further obscuring their origins, experts said. Wednesday's seizure could mark a turning point, experts said, foreshadowing a possible oil blockade that could deter smuggling from even some of the shipping industry's worst actors. "The cost of doing business with Venezuela just went way up," said Claire Jungman, director of maritime risk and intelligence at Vortexa, an oil analytics firm. "These are very risk-tolerant operators, but even they don't want to lose a hull. A physical seizure is an entirely different category of risk than falsifying paperwork and bank fines."

December 10: The Epoch Times: U.S. Navy seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela
On Wednesday the United States reportedly seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in what appears to be an escalation in the administration's campaign against the country over drug trafficking. "We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually," Trump said at the White House, adding that "other things are happening" in the area. He said he would discuss the situation further in the future. Reports are that the tanker was heading for Cuba. The move is a new development in the administration's pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alongside U.S. military strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats since September. The U.S. military has built up its largest presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on the drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Oil exports are Venezuela's main source of revenue. The country has had to deeply discount its crude to its main buyer, China, because of growing competition with sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran.

December 10: Fox News:
House passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
The House passed the NDAA Wednesday, punting the yearly legislation that governs Pentagon spending to the Senate. The vote was 312 to 112, with 18 Republicans and 94 Democrats voting "no" on the bill that authorizes $901 billion in War Department spending. Hardline conservatives had spoken out against the bill over the inclusion of Ukraine funding at $400 million per year for two years. Other provisions strictly curtail Trump from reducing troop presence in Europe and South Korea, while withholding 25% of War Secretary Hegseth's travel budget until the Pentagon hands over raw footage of the strikes on alleged narco-trafficking boats near Venezuela. The bill gives a 4% pay raise to enlisted personnel while eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and cracking down on antisemitism. The bill also mandates FBI disclosure of information on its investigation of presidential and other candidates under the Biden Administration. One major section of the bill establishes an outbound investment screening system, requiring U.S. companies and investors to alert the Treasury Department when they back certain high-risk technologies in China or other "countries of concern." Treasury can block those deals outright or force annual reporting to Congress. Another provision bans the Pentagon from contracting with Chinese genetic sequencing and biotech firms and from purchasing items such as advanced batteries, photovoltaic components, computer displays, and critical minerals originating from foreign entities of concern like China.

December 10: Associated Press (Published by News Max):
House version of healthcare bill doesn't include ObamaCare tax credits
The House GOP healthcare package set to be unveiled on the floor next week doesn't include Affordable Care Act tax credits. "We have some low-hanging fruit that every Republican agrees to. Democrats won't, remember. They don't actually want to fix this problem," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said. "You're going to see a package come together that will be on the floor next week that will actually reduce premiums for 100% of Americans who are on health insurance, not just the 7%," he contended. Johnson who vowed to bring something on healthcare to the floor before the end of the year, said Democrats' plan to extend COVID subsidies "is devoid of any reforms to clamp down on the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse." The tax credits have been at the heart of fierce discussions in Congress in recent weeks, with Democrats insisting that they be extended to help Americans with rising health costs. The Senate is expected to vote this week on a Democrat legislation to extend the subsidies without major changes but it seems unlikely to pass in its current form.

December 9: News Max: Trump talks about affordability
President Trump hit the road Tuesday night to tout his economic successes during a rally in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that could prove key to Republicans holding the House in the 2026 midterm elections. "I have no higher priority than making America affordable again," said Trump. Our message is that we are bringing down the high prices. "And again, they [the Biden Administration] caused high prices, and we're bringing them down." They gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history. And we're bringing those prices down rapidly. "… the only thing that's really going up big, it's called the stock market. And your 401(k) — that's going up," he said. The event was held at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, a working-class town in a northeastern Pennsylvania district "Democrats talking about affordability is like Bonnie and Clyde preaching about public safety," pollster Peter Allocco said. "And they really are truly the enemy of the working class when they do it. You know, our oil prices are coming down very substantially. Energy prices. And honestly, with that, everything comes down because there's nothing nearly in the category of oil — you wouldn't even know what second is," he contended. The White House noted that real wages for hourly workers have seen their largest increase under any administration in nearly 60 years. "When Biden and congressional Democrats had power, they blew up our economy, sent prices soaring," Trump said.

December 8: Fox News: New York City; it gets worse,
New mayor selects convicted armed robber to public service transition team
Reportedly Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has chosen a formerly incarcerated rapper to serve on his City Hall transition team as he prepares to take office in New York City Jan. 1. The controversial selection comes as Mamdani, who won November's election on a progressive platform, assembles his transition team. According to past reports Mysonne Linen, 49, was convicted of two felony robberies in the late 1990s. According to the New York Daily News, a Bronx jury is said to have found him guilty in two armed robberies of taxi drivers. He faced up to 25 years in prison and ultimately served seven years. Mamdani's decision to place Linen on committees that shape the city's public-safety vision prompted backlash. The group Jews Fight Back wrote on X: "Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC's crime and policing policy," calling the move "insane."

December 8: The Epoch Times:
Crockett (D-TX) enters U.S. Senate race as Allred drops out Rep
. Jasmine Crockett launched her bid for the U.S. Senate on Dec. 8, entering the race to unseat Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The announcement came the same day that former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, the 2024 Democratic nominee, ended his campaign and said he would run for a U.S. House seat in the recently redrawn 33rd Congressional District. At the rally Monday, Crockett told supporters that some Democrats had urged her to stay in the House as a strong voice, but that Texas needed her "to have a bigger voice" in the Senate. She said she could have "played it safe" and stayed in Congress, but said that "this moment we're in now is life or death. It's all or nothing. It's now or never." Allred said his decision was meant to avoid a divisive Democratic primary as Crockett moved forward with a campaign launch that had been widely expected for days. Texas State Rep. James Talarico—who gained national attention earlier this year amid the Texas Democrats' quorum break—has also announced he is running for the Senate seat that Crockett has set her sights on.

December 8: Reuters (published by News Max): Greenland Meetings
The new U.S. ambassador to Denmark, PayPal co-founder Kenneth Howery, will meet officials from Greenland and Denmark in Nuuk this week on his first visit to the Arctic island, amid tensions over President Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the semi-autonomous territory. Relations between Denmark and its longtime ally, the United States, have been strained since Trump started considering a closer relationship with Greenland.

December 7: Daily Caller: Dr. Oz Threatens To Cut Off Federal Funding
Unless Tim Walz (D-MN) Addresses Alleged Medicaid Fraud
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz issued a 60-day ultimatum to Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Sunday, threatening to cut federal funding over more than $1 billion in alleged Medicaid fraud. "This is a clear dereliction of duty," Oz wrote posted on Twitter (X). "Everyone from Gov. Tim Walz on down needs to be investigated, because they've been asleep at the wheel." The scheme involved bad actors exploiting state programs. Oz said you've probably heard the news by now: Minnesota fraudsters stole over $1 billion from Medicaid. And you deserve an explanation. He said his staff has told him we've never seen anything like this in Medicaid. Oz said scammers used stolen taxpayer dollars to buy luxury cars, purchase overseas real estate and offer kickbacks to parents who enrolled children at fake treatment centers. Some funds may have reached the Somalian terrorist group Al-Shabaab, according to his statement. CMS has already shut down the housing program and frozen provider enrollment in several of the abused programs. Oz now demands Minnesota provide weekly fraud updates, freeze high-risk provider enrollment for six months, verify all current providers and submit a corrective action plan. "The message to Walz is clear: either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we're done footing the bill for your incompetence," Oz said!

December 7: The Washington Times:
Chief Justice Roberts blocks ruling that threatened Trump personnel moves
Chief Justice John Roberts has placed a hold on a lower court ruling that had suggested judges could step in to hear cases where the normal machinery of the executive branch wasn't working. Just hours after it was requested, Roberts ordered the 4th U.S. Circuit of Appeals to temporarily withhold its ruling that sought to give anti-Trump opponents a new avenue to challenge presidential personnel moves. Solicitor General John Sauer called the 4th Circuit's efforts an open invitation to "legal mischief." At issue is a Justice Department gag rule requiring immigration judges to get approval from the administration before speaking publicly about immigration policy. Immigration judges are employees of the Executive Branch, not part of the independent judiciary created by Article III of the Constitution. The National Association of Immigration Judges sued to stop the policy but lost in district court, where the judge said it was a personnel grievance that first must go to the Merit Systems Protection Board. That's an independent agency tribunal set up to hear federal personnel matters. But the 4th Circuit, in a 3-0 ruling, said the MSPB doesn't appear to be working properly, and so in those cases, litigants can go straight to the regular courts. Sauer contended that the 4th Circuit's ruling creates a new loophole in the law, violating the Civil Service Reform Act, which channels personnel disputes into the MSPB.

December 7: News Max: Tom Cotton: Keep Hitting Cartel Drug Boats
Sen. Tom Cotton, (R-AR) Sunday defended the Trump administration's strikes on boats "crewed by associates and members" of drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations and urged that they continue. Cotton -- the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee who had attended briefings on the operation — said the mission's purpose is straightforward: "Destroy these drug boats" that he said are pushing narcotics toward U.S. shores and fueling overdose deaths across the country. "The order, like the entire operation, is to destroy these drug boats, which are running drugs into our country from foreign drug cartels and traffickers that are killing hundreds of Arkansans every year and hundreds of thousands of Americans," Cotton said. Meanwhile NBC News -- gas lighting -- reported that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of all 11 people aboard a targeted vessel, suggesting that the target was the people on the boat and not the boat itself. Cotton pushed back hard on earlier media reports suggesting the U.S. struck "helpless survivors" after an initial hit. Cotton said such a characterization was wrong and insisted the men were not "floating in the ocean on a wooden plank or in life jackets." He argued a follow-on strike was lawful and necessary "to make sure that its cargo was destroyed," adding, "It is in no way a violation of the law of war."

December 7: The Gateway Pundit:
Secretary of War Hegseth on Drug-Boat Strike: No Public Evidence of an Illegal Order
Pete Hegseth spoke at the Reagan library defending the Pentagon's lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, insisting that President Trump has the authority to use military force "as he sees fit." He argued that the operations, which have killed more than 80 people since September, are justified because the traffickers work with designated terrorist organizations. Hegseth compared them to al-Qaida operatives and warned that any group bringing drugs into the United States would continue to be targeted and sunk. Under U.S. law there is no requirement for a formal declaration of war before the United States can use lethal force against terrorists; Congress can authorize force by statute, and the president independently has self-defense authority. Reportedly, Adm. Bradley told members of Congress that all 11 people aboard the suspected drug-smuggling boat struck on Sept. 2 were on an internal U.S. military target list, meaning they had been pre-approved for lethal action. Bradley apparently said intelligence had identified each individual and validated them as authorized targets under President Trump's campaign against narco-terrorist vessels. Bradley also reportedly told lawmakers he ordered additional strikes because the survivors remained lawful targets, the drugs remained intact, and the vessel might still float or drift.

December 6: One America News Network: Secretary of War; The Vision of Peace
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a keynote speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Friday, outlining the Trump administration's vision for "peace through strength." He said that the Trump administration is reviving Reagan's approach after post-Reagan Republican "hawks" abandoned the former president's policies of disciplined and limited use of military for "grandiose, nation-building, moralistic and rudderless wars." The perpetual post-Reagan wars fought in Afghanistan and Iraq inform Trump's strategy, Hegseth said, focusing on clear and achievable objectives, and building up the military to negotiate peace from a position of strength. "Out with Utopian idealism, in with hard-nosed realism," was the key phrase of Hegseth's address. The Trump administration is also aiming to rebuild after four years of the Biden administration, which Hegseth argued was characterized by "wokeness, weakness, war." During the years between Trump's two presidential terms, war broke out between Ukraine and Russia and between Israel and Hamas. Hegseth also declared that the fight against "narcoterrorism" under the Trump administration would be dealt with rigorously. "These narcoterrorists are the al-Qaeda of our hemisphere and we are hunting them with the same sophistication and precision that we hunted al-Qaeda," the secretary stated. "We are tracking them, we are killing them, and we will keep killing them so long as they are poisoning people with narcotics so lethal that they are tantamount to chemical weapons." "In our hemisphere there is no safe haven for narcoterrorists," Hegseth contended.

December 6: The Epoch Times:
Appeals court: Trump may fire members of independent labor boards
A divided federal appeals court ruled 2-1 on Dec. 5 that President Donald Trump may fire members of independent labor boards. The ruling in Harris v. Bessent was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A lower court had previously upheld the constitutionality of federal laws that prevent presidents from removing members of the boards without cause. However, the circuit court ruled that the president may fire Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) before their terms expire. Both Harris and Wilcox were Biden-appointees. In the majority opinion Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas wrote that the issue is whether Congress "may constitutionally prohibit the President from removing members of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board without cause." The appeals court found that "Congress cannot restrict the President's ability to remove NLRB or MSPB members" because the two boards wield "substantial executive power."

December 6: News Max: U.S. followed the law in striking drug boat twice
U.S. commanders followed the law in the second strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt said Saturday, while dismissing accusations that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued any blanket directive to kill survivors and calling the controversy a politically driven storyline. "Look, the story was ludicrous," Holt said. "… the CEO of the world's largest enterprise [Defense Department], nearly $1 trillion in budget authority, doesn't have time to decide who lives and dies on a battlefield." Instead of the gas lite scenario offered by the legacy media Holt outlined what actually happened. "When we got to the tapes, what really happened is you got two combatants who, rather than just sit there and await rescue, go back to the boat, start trying to save whatever drugs they can because they want to get back into this fight," he said. "Maybe one of their fellow drug runners is going to come get them." So, the second strike was to obliterate the boat and the drugs the occupants were trying to save, the target was the boat, not the two remaining narco-terrorists. Meanwhile, Holt called for an investigation into six Democrat lawmakers and their video calling on members of the military to disobey what they called unlawful orders from the Trump administration.

December 6: Fox News: Jensen: Former Democrat VP candidate Walz
directly responsible for welfare scandal and potentially a coverup
As the city of Minneapolis faces a $1 billion welfare scandal, Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen said about his belief that Gov. Tim Walz is not only directly responsible for the controversy, but suggested that a "cover up" that's "worse than Watergate" is at play. Walz's role in what's been labeled by prosecutors as the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country, stemming from allegations that the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future and its associates defrauded federal child-nutrition programs for hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 aid, has been a major topic of conversation in the gubernatorial race in recent weeks. "In Minnesota, I don't think that there's any way to cut it other than to say the buck has to stop somewhere," Jensen exclaimed. "And it's always been that the buck stops at the governor's desk. Arguably, the governor is the CEO of the state of Minnesota and the business of the government. And Tim Walz has been derelict in doing his duties, and he's absolutely corrupted common sense." The dereliction, Jensen explained, is evident when one examines a timeline he says shows Walz knew about Feeding Our Future fraud far earlier than he has admitted and then misled Minnesotans about his administration's response.

December 5: Breitbart News: SBA uncovers fraud among MN Somali community
The Small Business Administration has discovered that the fraud among the Somali community in Democrat Gov. Tim Walz's Minnesota is still growing with its finding of one million dollars in PPP loan fraud. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler took to her X account to report finding the massive fraud of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was launched to save businesses struggling to survive the oppressive government policies meant to address the COVID crisis in 2020. "Numerous individuals and nonprofits indicted in the $1 billion Minnesota COVID fraud scandal, including Feeding Our Future, received SBA PPP loans in addition to other state and federal funding," she wrote. "I have ordered an investigation into the network of Somali organizations and executives implicated in these schemes. Despite Governor Walz's best efforts to obstruct, SBA continues to work to expose abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, full stop," she contended.

December 5: One America News Network:
Netflix to acquire Warner Brothers and Streaming Service
Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, the legacy Hollywood giant behind "Friends," to buy its studio and streaming business for $72 billion. The acquisition would bring two of the industry's biggest players in film and TV under one roof and alter the entertainment industry landscape. Beyond its namesake television and motion picture division, Warner owns HBO Max and DC Studios. And Netflix is ubiquitous with on-demand content and has built its own production arm to release popular titles. "For more than a century, Warner Bros. has thrilled audiences, captured the world's attention, and shaped our culture," David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement Friday. "By coming together with Netflix, we will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world's most resonant stories for generations to come."

December 5: Fox News:
The Supreme Court to hear Birthright Citizenship case this term
The Supreme Court Friday agreed to review the legality of President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship in the U.S., a landmark case that stands to profoundly upend the lives of millions of Americans and lawful U.S. residents. Oral arguments in the case are expected to be held sometime between February and April next year, with a ruling expected by the end of June. At issue is Trump's executive order signed on the first day of his second presidential term, which seeks to end birthright citizenship for nearly all persons born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, or parents with lawful temporary status in the country. Trump's order seeks to clarify the 14th Amendment, which states, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Trump administration officials have focused their case on the "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" provision of the 14th Amendment, Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued in appealing the case to Supreme Court that the clause, in their view, had been misinterpreted.

December 4: News Max:
Supreme Court clears Texas redistricting maps for use in 2026 midterm election
The Supreme Court Thursday paved the way for Texas to use its redrawn congressional map, a major victory for Republicans who could gain as many as five seats in the 2026 midterm elections. The justices granted Texas' emergency request to block a three-judge federal district court ruling that barred the map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Attorney General Ken Paxton (TX) said, "This map reflects the political climate of our state and is a massive win for Texas and every conservative who is tired of watching the left try to upend the political system with bogus lawsuits." The high court said Texas is likely to win when the case comes back on the merits. In the brief order, the justices said the state satisfied the "traditional criteria for interim relief" and faulted the lower court for "at least two serious errors" in striking down the map.

December 4: The Gateway Pundit: 2021 Pipe Bomber Unmasked: Affidavit Revels How FBI identified Brian Cole
After nearly five years, the alleged January 6 pipe bomber was arrested by the FBI Thursday. Brian Cole, 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was taken into custody and charged with use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. Cole reportedly planted pipe bombs at the RNC and DNC headquarters on January 5, the night before the Capitol riot. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino on said during a press conference on Thursday that the FBI solved the case without any new tips or witnesses. Instead, they apparently identified him based upon his phone pings and transaction history on his credit cards. Allegedly Cole purchased multiple items consistent with components that were used to the manufacture the pipe bombs. The fact that no new tips or witnesses were need to solve the case raises the question why the FBI under the Biden Administration didn't accomplish the same result.

December 4: The Daily Caller:
Second Grand Jury "No Bills" NY AG mortgage fraud case reversing the findings
of the first grand jury; however, James may not be out of the woods just yet
A federal grand jury refused Thursday to reindict New York Attorney General Letitia James. The grand jury rejected Department of Justice's (DOJ) second attempt to bring mortgage-fraud charges just 10 days after a federal judge tossed the original case, one source told CNN that the decision should not be interpreted as a clean win for James, saying the department could ask a third grand jury to consider the allegations. A federal grand jury indicted James in October on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) had referred James to the DOJ in April for allegedly falsifying mortgage documents tied to a Virginia home. FHFA Director William Pulte said she misrepresented the property as her primary residence to obtain a better mortgage rate, even though she is required to reside in New York as its attorney general.

December 3: The Washington Times:
Standby, Dems may be shutting down the Government again in January
Standby, Dems may be shutting down the Government again in January – bribery over healthcare subsidies Democrats, believing they have the political upper hand on a health care cliff they created, are rebuffing Republican alternatives to extending enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month. A small number of vulnerable Republicans are trying to tweak and temporarily extend those subsidies, the central issue in the government shutdown this fall. "We have a few days to prove that we care, that we're going to try," said Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) who was appointed to fill J.D. Vance's seat when he became Vice President.

December 3: The Gateway Pundit:
NATO countries agree to purchase $1 Billion in U.S. weapons for Ukrainian defense
European ministers gathered in Brussels this week to announce yet another round of massive arms spending for Ukraine, even as their own citizens face an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, increasingly strained social services, and rising violent crime. NATO officials from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland pledged hundreds of millions more in U.S.-made weapons under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) scheme. Amid Russian gains on the battlefield, they insist Ukraine must be armed "to keep the fight going." The alliance offered these commitments while being accused of attempting to sabotage peace talks. Foreign ministers repeated the familiar claim that Russia shows "no willingness to negotiate," but offered no explanation for why diplomacy has failed after years. Ordinary Europeans, meanwhile, are left footing the bill for the conflict. Canada, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, and the U.K. all announced new contributions, pushing the total put toward U.S.-made weapons bound for Ukraine toward $5 billion this year alone. Unlike under the Biden Administration, these weapons will be purchased not given by the U.S.

December 3: One America News Network:
Jurors and Minnesota Attorney General's jaws dropped as progressive judge overturns $7.2M taxpayer-fraud conviction of Somali man
A Hennepin County judge appointed by Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) has overturned a jury's guilty verdict against a Somali man convicted of orchestrating a $7.2 million Medicaid fraud scheme, prompting outrage from jurors, and even some Democrats. Abdifatah Yusuf, 44, the man at the center of the Medicaid fraud case, is a Somali immigrant who arrived in Minnesota in the early 2000s. On November 14th, District Judge Sarah West issued a 55-page order acquitting Yusuf on all six counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle, despite a jury finding him guilty in August last year after deliberating for less than two hours. He was released immediately following the ruling. Yusuf and his wife were accused of using their company, Promise Health Services, LLC, to submit fraudulent claims for personal care assistant services that were never provided or were billed at inflated rates. Prosecutors say the couple pocketed millions, including more than $1 million transferred directly to Yusuf's personal account and $387,000 withdrawn in cash. In her ruling, Judge West claimed that the state's case relied "too heavily on circumstantial evidence" and failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Yusuf personally participated in the fraud, calling the evidence "troubling" but insufficient for conviction. It's worth noting that judges typically never override a jury's guilty verdict in a criminal case. Jurors speaking to a local media outlet expressed disbelief. One said the panel found the evidence "overwhelming" and felt the ruling undermined months of work. The Minnesota Democrat Attorney whose office prosecuted the case, immediately appealed the acquittal, calling the lefty judge's order "highly unusual."

December 2: Fox News:
Trump voids all documents auto-penned under the Biden Administration
President Trump announced on Truth Social Tuesday that he would "fully and completely" terminate any documents signed by former President Joe Biden's autopen, including pardons and commutations. "Any and all Documents, Proclamations, Executive Orders, Memorandums, or Contracts, signed by Order of the now infamous and unauthorized 'AUTOPEN,' within the Administration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., are hereby null, void, and of no further force or effect," Trump wrote. "Anyone receiving 'Pardons,' 'Commutations,' or any other Legal Document so signed, please be advised that said Document has been fully and completely terminated, and is of no Legal effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The post confirms Trump is doubling down on potential action after announcing last week he would void any executive orders signed using the autopen from former President Biden. The list of possibly voided pardons does not include former President Biden's son Hunter, as that was signed by hand. The New York Times reported that the alleged autopen pardon list includes Dr. Anthony Fauci and brother James Biden.

December 2: The Epoch Times:
Alleged shooter of National Guardsmen pleads not guilty
A lawyer for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, entered the plea during a virtual court appearance. Lakanwal appeared from a hospital bed. He is accused of killing Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, near the White House on Nov. 26. He came to the nation's capital from the state of Washington and was ordered to be held without bond. "No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community," said D.C. Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond. "It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind," she added. Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder, three counts of assault with the intent to kill while armed, and criminal possession of a weapon. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14. "There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree," said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro on Fox News' "Fox & Friends."

December 2: News Max: Federal Judge halts, at least temporality,
Trump prohibition on Medicaid funds going to Planned Parenthood
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Trump's effort to stop Medicaid dollars from flowing to Planned Parenthood in 22 states. The ruling halts, at least for the moment, enforcement of a Republican-backed provision designed to prevent taxpayer dollars from indirectly subsidizing abortion providers. Supporters of Trump's plan noted in the court record that while Medicaid is barred by the Hyde Amendment from funding abortions directly, its reimbursements for other services help sustain Planned Parenthood's nationwide abortion infrastructure. Despite Hyde's limits, Democrat and Republican administrations alike allowed federal reimbursements for Planned Parenthood's non-abortion services, a practice repeatedly criticized in congressional testimony by some lawmakers who argued the money still supported the organization's broader abortion operation. The legal tide shifted in June when the Supreme Court issued its Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic ruling, a decision in which the court held that Medicaid recipients cannot sue to force a state to keep Planned Parenthood in the program. Because the Supreme Court has repeatedly sided with states seeking to restrict abortion funding and access, legal analysts said it is highly likely the Trump administration and Republican state officials will push this case toward the justices as well. A Supreme Court review offers the possibility of firmly establishing states' authority to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion-linked groups, a goal Trump and his allies have promoted in policy speeches and legislative briefings.

December 1: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston:
New auto registration requirements in effective in Texas
The State of Texas has officially implemented new restrictions for registering a vehicle. The DMV now requires proof of up-to-date photo identification, such as a valid driver's license or passport. The change is designed to crack down on illegal aliens purchasing, registering, and driving vehicles throughout Texas. Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, a former Border Patrol officer, said the requirement will serve as a valuable tool for broader border enforcement. "It will be a roadblock to assist law enforcement," Cleveland said. "Being able to determine where someone is from and access the additional information contained in a vehicle registration will make a real difference." He noted that vehicle registration already falls under his office's responsibilities in Terrell County and expressed confidence that the new rules will have a positive impact. He emphasized that the change should have no negative effect on American citizens.

December 1: The Daily Caller:
Indian national in country illegally, cause of fatal crash involving a California CDL
An Indian man accused of killing two individuals in a horrific highway crash entered the United States unlawfully under the Biden administration. Rajinder Kumar, who was arrested in late November for allegedly causing a fatal accident along a stretch of Oregon highway, is an Indian national who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2022 before obtaining a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) from the State of California, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contends. The highway accident in Oregon was just the latest fatal crash allegedly caused by an illegal migrant truck driver released into the country by the Biden administration and given a CDL by California officials. Oregon State Police contend the 32-year-old Kumar jackknifed his semi-trailer and blocked both lanes along Highway 20 in Deschutes County on Nov. 26. A Subaru Outback collided with the semi-trailer, killing both the driver, William Micah Carter, and a passenger, Jennifer Lynn Lower. [See Related Story]

December 1: The Washington Times: Who should adjudicate asylum claims?
The Supreme Court Monday tried to sort out whether federal judges must defer to immigration courts when they hear appeals of asylum claims, in a case that could help speed up some deportation cases. At issue is the way Congress wrote immigration law and whether it intended the executive branch, which runs the immigration courts as a part of the Department of Justice, to be insulated from at least some second-guessing by the circuit courts of appeals. Assistant Solicitor General Joshua Dos Santos told the high court that the immigration courts — both the initial immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals — have built up substantial knowledge in this area and circuit judges should accept their findings when they look at the specific facts of a case, such as what type of persecution an asylum-seeker claims to have faced back home. "The agency has expertise here to apply to deciding those questions," he said during oral arguments. Asylum is political protection granted to foreigners in the U.S. who prove they would face persecution if forced to return to their homes. It's similar to refugee status, which is for those seeking protection while not yet on U.S. soil.

December 1: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston:
There could be thousands of illegal voter registrations in Harris County
The Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has announced an investigation into Harris County for allowing voters to register using a P.O. box as their residential address — a practice that has been prohibited by state law for several years. One of the key architects of that law is now speaking out against Harris County's failure to enforce it. State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R) said, "It's preposterous that the Harris County Voter Registrar can't implement the law. That bill was passed four years ago!" Others have asked how a person can live inside (or reside in) a post office box? Bettencourt's formal complaint — citing the county's ample time to comply — is what triggered Secretary Nelson's investigation. He warned that continued noncompliance could carry serious consequences. "The Secretary of State could take over the voter registration process for Harris County and even recommend the removal of an officeholder," Bettencourt explained. "This is a tough law."