China Imposes Sanctions Against 20 U.S. Defense Companies Over Arms Sales to Taiwan

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Chinese Communist government on Friday imposed sanctions against 20 American defense-related companies — including Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and Boeing — and ten of their executives over arms sales to Taiwan.

China was infuriated by U.S. approval of an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan last Wednesday, one of the largest American weapons deals ever approved for the island. The deal still needs approval from the U.S. Congress before it can be completed.

The arms package includes self-propelled howitzers, Javelin and TOW missiles, Altius drones, and units of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a highly effective mobile long-range multiple rocket launcher.

Military analysts consider the HIMARS to be one of the best rocket artillery systems in the world. The system has performed so well in Ukraine that the Ukrainians are working on developing their own domestically produced version of it.

The Altius drones would also be a formidable addition to Taiwan’s arsenal, as the package includes both sophisticated networked reconnaissance drones and precision strike weapons. The Altius-700M strike drone is a small but deadly drone that can deliver a 33-pound anti-armor warhead at ranges of up to 100 miles. Taiwan received congressional approval to purchase the Altius-600 series of long-range recon drones in 2024. (Read more from “China Imposes Sanctions Against 20 U.S. Defense Companies Over Arms Sales to Taiwan” HERE)

Former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse Reveals Stage-4 Cancer Diagnosis: ‘It’s a Death Sentence’

/0 Comments/in , /by

Former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska announced on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage-four pancreatic cancer, candidly calling it “a death sentence.”

“This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die,” Sasse wrote in a post on X.

“Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do,” he continued.

Sasse, who is just 53 years old, noted, “I’ve got less time than I’d prefer.”

But he also expressed his eternal hope, noting that he is a Christian.

“As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come,” he wrote. (Read more from “Former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse Reveals Stage-4 Cancer Diagnosis: ‘It’s a Death Sentence’” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

New Epstein Files Ignite Firestorm: Disturbing Mansion Photos, Exposed Redactions — and Alleged Trump Flight Logs Rock Public Trust

/7 Comments/in , , /by

A new wave of documents and images from the Justice Department’s ongoing Epstein file release is shining a disturbing light into the late financier’s Manhattan townhouse — and sparking outrage after tech users uncovered that many of the government’s redactions can be bypassed with basic software tools.

The photos, taken inside Epstein’s sprawling Upper East Side mansion, reveal a trove of unsettling décor and role-play outfits, including childlike costumes, eerie taxidermy, and multiple pieces of artwork depicting children in inappropriate or compromising poses. One sculpture shows a ghostly bride figure gripping a rope in the home’s entryway. In another image, a framed picture of a young boy peering down his pants hangs on the wall.

Across the townhouse, more framed prints of children — along with bizarre props and staged costumes — add to what critics are calling a “window into Epstein’s twisted aesthetic.” The images were released as part of the DOJ’s compliance with a congressional deadline requiring the agency to turn over Epstein-related records.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the decision to publish only a portion of the files ahead of the deadline, arguing that certain materials must remain shielded to protect survivors and private information. But the department is now facing a new controversy — because some of the very redactions meant to obscure names and details can apparently be removed with a simple copy-and-paste.

Tech-savvy users online demonstrated that portions blacked out in Adobe Acrobat reappear when pasted into programs like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. The glitch quickly went viral, fueling accusations of government incompetence and raising questions about whether sensitive content has now been unintentionally exposed. The authenticity of those unmasked sections, however, has not been independently verified.

The broader document dump has already produced a wave of explosive — and in some cases never-before-seen — photographs of Epstein with powerful political figures and celebrities. Among them are images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and a shirtless Bill Clinton relaxing in a hot tub with an unidentified woman. Other photos show Clinton alongside Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during travels abroad.

The files also include a newly publicized prosecutor email alleging that President Donald Trump flew on Epstein’s jet more frequently in the 1990s than previously reported — including several flights where Maxwell was also on board. The email does not accuse Trump of any crime, and the Justice Department has emphasized that some of the allegations in the records are “untrue and sensationalized,” stating that if any credible wrongdoing existed, it would have already surfaced. [via Reuters:]

In an email dated January 7, 2020, the unidentified prosecutor wrote that flight records showed Trump had flown on Epstein’s private jet eight times during the 1990s. Among those were at least four flights on which Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was also aboard. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping late financier Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.

In a social media post in 2024, Trump said he “was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island.” There was no allegation in the prosecutor’s email that Trump had committed any crime. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the email.

On one flight described in the newly released records, the only three passengers were Epstein, Trump and a 20-year-old woman whose name was redacted. “On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case,” the document stated.

Epstein’s world — and the powerful orbit around him — continues to ignite public anger and suspicion as each new batch of files drops. And with the DOJ promising more releases in the coming weeks, pressure is mounting for full transparency — along with renewed scrutiny over how such sensitive records are being handled.

Winter Storm Poised To Bring Snow and Ice to the Northeast Christmas Night

/1 Comment/in , /by

Holiday travelers across the Northeast can expect relatively smooth conditions heading into Christmas — but forecasters warn a fast-moving winter storm is lining up to bring snow, ice and hazardous roads shortly afterward.

Meteorologists with the FOX Forecast Center say a brief window of calm weather will give way to a wintry mix beginning Christmas night and continuing into Saturday. While the exact track of the storm is still taking shape, confidence is growing about the timing and potential impacts across several states.

The system is expected to spread rain, snow and freezing rain across the region starting Friday, with the most active period lasting into early Saturday. Snow accumulation is likely from the Catskills and Poconos through parts of the tri-state area, including New York City and portions of New Jersey and Connecticut.

Preliminary projections suggest many communities from central New Jersey through NYC and southern Connecticut could pick up around 3–5 inches of snowfall, with some localized totals possibly reaching 5–8 inches depending on how long colder air lingers.

As the storm approaches, Winter Weather Advisories or Winter Storm Warnings are considered likely.

A strong high-pressure system over Quebec is also contributing to an elevated risk of icing — particularly in central Pennsylvania — where forecasters say ice accumulation could reach one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch. A few isolated pockets may see even more, which could trigger scattered power outages and slick, dangerous roads.

Areas from State College, Pennsylvania, extending south toward Frederick, Maryland, are currently highlighted as zones with the greatest potential for impactful ice. Drivers in those regions may face treacherous conditions from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning.

The good news: the system is expected to move quickly. Road conditions should begin improving by Saturday afternoon as precipitation tapers off and crews work to clear affected areas.

However, the break may be brief. Forecasters are already monitoring another storm system projected to swing through the Northeast late in the weekend and into early next week, potentially bringing another round of rain and snow in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local forecasts, prepare for possible travel disruptions, and stay alert for updated advisories as the storm path becomes clearer.

Trump Admin Bars Five ‘Egregious’ Europeans From Entering U.S. Due to ‘Extraterritorial Censorship’

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The State Department is barring five “egregious” European figures in the “global censorship-industrial complex” from entering the US, it revealed Tuesday.

State Department officials contended that those five Europeans flouted a visa policy rolled out in May restricting those who work to censor protected speech in the US from entering the country.

“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Tuesday.

“The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship. Today, [the State Department] will take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the United States.”

“We stand ready and willing to expand this list if others do not reverse course.”

(Read more from “Trump Admin Bars Five ‘Egregious’ Europeans From Entering U.S. Due to ‘Extraterritorial Censorship’” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

‘Christmas Lawyer’ Who Went to War with HOA Spends Windfall on Holiday Cheer

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The “Christmas Lawyer” was facing the possibility of owing a huge amount of money over a lawsuit that he previously won over a festive Christmas display that was also helping raise money for childhood cancer. The Supreme Court kicked the case to the appellate court. Then everything turned around.

Idaho lawyer Jeremy Morris spoke to Fox News Digital about his staged elaborate holiday displays in defiance of his former homeowners association that led to a protracted legal battle.

The case was overturned by the judge after he was previously awarded $75,000 in 2019. He then appealed to the 9th Circuit in 2020, before his saga got all the way to the Supreme Court. When the case reached SCOTUS, it was kicked back to the appellate court and the HOA reached a settlement, leaving Moore triumphant.

“They (HOA) ended up paying us significantly more, ironically, than the jury awarded us many years ago. The jury previously awarded us $75,000 (in 2019), and I will tell you that we actually settled for significantly more than $75,000,” Morris said.

Instead of going through another trial, there was a mediation because the HOA realized Morris would keep appealing. According to Morris, the HOA, which he calls “grinches,” “undoubtedly paid over a million in attorney fees to overturn the $75,000 verdict” over the years, resulting in paying Morris more than the jury awarded him. (Read more from “‘Christmas Lawyer’ Who Went to War with HOA Spends Windfall on Holiday Cheer” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Foreign-Born Mayor Can Literally Barely Speak English

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Lawrence, Massachusetts, Mayor Brian De Peña — a Dominican Republic native — requested a Spanish interpreter during a Friday hearing tied to a state police-oversight case, according to The Daily Wire.

The episode lit up social media and renewed questions about how a big-city mayor functions in government and legal settings when he says he needs translation help, the Wire reported. The interpreter flap also landed as De Peña is already feuding with Massachusetts’ top elections office after the state flooded Lawrence polling sites with monitors and police, according to NBC Boston.

“Today, I received many complaints, and I see many people, you know, not happy because the state interferes when the people need somebody for support,” De Peña said during the city’s Nov. 4 election, NBC Boston reported.

The interpreter request surfaced in a Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission proceeding listed as a “Hearing in the Matter of William Castro,” a multi-day case scheduled in December. The Daily Wire reported De Peña asked to use his personal assistant as a translator, and the presiding judge rejected that request. (Read more from “Foreign-Born Mayor Can Literally Barely Speak English” HERE)

Photo credit: YouTube Screenshot

DOJ Releases Shocking Fake Video of Jeffrey Epstein Suicide as Part of File Dump

/4 Comments/in , , /by

By New York Post. The DOJ on Monday released shocking footage that appeared to be a recreation of Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide in his Manhattan jail cell — and it briefly set the Internet on fire until it was revealed to be fake.

The video was posted without explanation to the Justice Department’s website as part of its Epstein file dump — with the footage just the latest item among a trove of documents and images to be revealed after the complete horde was ordered released in November.

The grainy, 12-second, computer-generated clip showed a white-haired man in an orange jumpsuit struggling and jerking his head about while kneeling at the base of a jail-cell bunk bed.

But a closer examination of the clip showed things were not quite right – with a pile of orange prison clothes strewn about the ground looking like puddles without any texture, and the door to the jail cell not matching the one in Epstein’s behind-bars compartment. (Read more from “DOJ Releases Shocking Fake Video of Jeffrey Epstein Suicide as Part of File Dump” HERE)

_________________________________________________________

AG Pam Bondi threatened with fines for ‘coverup’ of ‘dozens’ of Epstein FBI witness docs — ‘back up plan’ in works

By New York Post. The congressmen who forced the Justice Department to release files on notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein say Attorney General Pam Bondi is protecting powerful men by heavily redacting records — and are threatening to fine her $5,000 per day for contempt of Congress, with a “backup plan” if that doesn’t work.

Bondi is seeking to head off the mounting outcry over missing Epstein files by pledging to investigate and prosecute any credibly accused perpetrator, though skeptics claim victims already have laid out chargeable claims to investigators in “dozens” of unpublished FBI interview memos.

“This is where the survivors have named other men who either raped them or visited Epstein’s rape island or covered up the abuse,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

“What the American people want to know [is]: Who are these other powerful financiers [and] powerful politicians who trafficked these women, or abused these women as girls or covered it up?” Khanna told The Post in an interview

“That is in those witness interviews, the FBI interview memorandum. They have not released a single one.” (Read more from “AG Pam Bondi threatened with fines for ‘coverup’ of ‘dozens’ of Epstein FBI witness docs — ‘back up plan’ in works” HERE)

_________________________________________________________

More than a dozen newly-released Jeffrey Epstein files vanished from Justice Department website

By New York Post. More than a dozen files tied to notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein mysteriously vanished from the Justice Department’s website just one day after the agency released the massive, long-awaited trove of documents and photos to the public, according to reports.

At least 16 files — among thousands available Friday — were taken down with no explanation from the government, leading to criticism from Democrats on Capitol Hill.

The missing docs included images of nude female paintings — and according to the Dems, a picture of a desk that had numerous framed photos on it and some photos piled in an open drawer.

The images that could be seen on the desk included snaps of former President Bill Clinton, pope Benedict XVI and others.

In the open drawer, a previously released image showing President Trump posing at an event with Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and First Lady Melania Trump apparently could be seen, according to a social media post about the allegedly missing images by the Democrats on X. They said the image was “file 468.” (Read more from “More than a dozen newly-released Jeffrey Epstein files vanished from Justice Department website” HERE)

Brother Of Trans Woman Who Murdered Parents Blames ‘Reckless’ Prescription Of Sex Change Hormones

/0 Comments/in , /by

A Utah woman received two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life in prison Friday after pleading guilty to murdering her parents, as her brother blamed what he called the reckless prescription of sex-change hormones.

Mia Bailey received two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the murders of her parents, Joseph Bailey, 70, and Gail Bailey, 69, according to a news release from the Washington County Attorney’s Office. The court added up to five years for aggravated assault stemming from the same attack.

Prosecutors said Bailey broke into her parents’ Washington City home on June 18, 2024, and shot her father twice in the head and her mother four times. After killing her parents, Bailey fired shots through her brother’s bedroom door while he and his wife barricaded themselves inside, according to prior reporting by KUTV.

Police arrested Bailey the following day and charged her with 11 felony counts tied to the double homicide and the attempted killing of her brother. She later pleaded guilty in November, admitting in court documents that she intentionally shot and killed her parents, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Defense attorney Ryan Stout urged the judge to impose concurrent sentences, arguing Bailey had no criminal record and suffered from severe mental illness that left her functioning at the level of a young child. Court records listed diagnoses that included autism, psychosis, schizophrenia, ADHD and OCD, with possible bipolar disorder, The Salt Lake Tribune stated. (Read more from “Brother Of Trans Woman Who Murdered Parents Blames ‘Reckless’ Prescription Of Sex Change Hormones” HERE)

TPUSA AmericaFest Attendees Reveal Their Least Favorite Trump Official

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Young conservatives appear to be rallying around Vice President JD Vance but are much less impressed with Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to a straw poll of individuals who attended Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest.

Nearly 85% of respondents said they would support Vice President JD Vance as the 2028 Republican primary nominee. Bondi, meanwhile, was far and away the least popular of President Donald Trump’s cabinet secretaries among AmericaFest attendees, though more than 60% still approved of her leadership.

Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk said Friday the conservative youth outreach organization would put its organizing infrastructure behind the vice president if he chooses to mount a presidential bid. Her slain husband, Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk was also enthusiastic about seeing Vance succeed Trump before his assassination in September.

“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” Mrs. Kirk told thousands of attendees during the first day of the weekend-long event.

Turning Point Action is planning to post representatives in all of Iowa’s 99 counties to support Vance ahead of the 2028 primary, the Wall Street Journal reported. (Read more from “TPUSA AmericaFest Attendees Reveal Their Least Favorite Trump Official” HERE)