After Charlie Kirk Assassination, 9 In 10 College Kids Still Think The Real Violence Is Words

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Even in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, 91 percent of college students still believe that words can actually be considered violence, and a growing number of college students also believe that real, physical violence can be used to shut down speech.

A new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) tested college students’ views on speech in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, finding an overwhelming 91 percent majority equated words with violence. A still massive 79 percent majority expressed some degree of agreement with the belief that silence — saying nothing — can be a form of violence as well.

Put another way, only 9 percent of college students in America believe words are not violence, and only 21 percent believe you do not need to parrot politically correct propaganda in order to be considered non-violent.

Those numbers need to be understood in the context of nearly 40 percent of college students agreeing with the statement “If someone is using hate speech or making racially charged comments, physical violence can be justified to prevent this person from espousing their hateful views,” according to a 2025 survey from the Buckley Institute.

FIRE has tracked a similar phenomenon, finding in 2020 that about 20 percent of students justified violence in response to speech and in 2024 that number had increased to about 34 percent. FIRE’s new survey saw only a slight decrease to 32 percent of students supporting political violence to stop a speaker. (Read more from “After Charlie Kirk Assassination, 9 In 10 College Kids Still Think The Real Violence Is Words” HERE)

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Letting The Terrorists Win: Christmas Markets Ruined Following Attacks

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Authorities in Europe and the U.S. have closed or restricted many Christmas markets amid security concerns, moves that have followed years of terrorist attacks.

Although many mainstream outlets reject claims that there are mass full-scale closures of these markets, restrictions made by officials are leading larger markets to adapt, while leaving smaller markets in the dust.

Multiple German Christmas markets have closed while many others have beefed up their security, according to reports. This follows a 2024 terrorist attack, where a Saudi refugee allegedly drove a car through Magdeburg, Germany, killing six people and injuring nearly 300 more, according to Le Monde.

But this attack was merely the latest incident in a trend. In 2016, a terrorist killed at least 12 people by driving a tractor-trailer through a market in Berlin, according to Euro News. In 2017, six Syrian nationals, asylum seekers, were arrested on allegations of plotting an attack on an Essen market with bombs and firearms, according to their prosecutors. In 2023, a plot was uncovered to allegedly ram an explosive-laden vehicle into a market in Leverkusen, Euro News reported.

Markets in Overath, Rostock and Dortmund are facing closures this Advent, according to The Catholic Register. Multiple local officials cited security costs as one reason for Dortmund shuttering. A year and a half of negotiations between Overath officials and Christmas market organizers over who would pay for the heightened security expenses fell through, Chairman Andreas Koschmann of the city marketing association told the Rheinische Post. This forced the market to shutter. (Read more from “Letting The Terrorists Win: Christmas Markets Ruined Following Attacks” HERE)

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Trans Pervert Who Sexually Assaulted 13-Year-Old Girl Claims Jury Was ‘Hypnotized’ into Convicting Him

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A transgender-identifying pervert convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl told a judge he “wasn’t attracted to females” and claimed the police and jury were “hypnotized” into finding him guilty.

“Natalie Wolf,” a 47-year-old man born as Ryan Haley who pretends to be a woman, is accused of trying to grope a 13-year-old girl’s chest and touch her groin during an attack in Sutherland, England, the New York Post reported.

Wolf was convicted of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced on November 28 in Newcastle Crown Court to three and a half years in a male prison, according to the report.

During sentencing, Judge Gavin Doig read several notes he received from Wolf claiming there was a grand conspiracy to put him behind bars, the Newcastle Chronicle reported.

Wolf specifically claimed the victim “hypnotized” police officers and said the jury was also hypnotized into convicting him. He accused the victim of “lying through her teeth” and said, “I’m not even sexually attracted to females in that way,” according to the report. (Read more from “Trans Pervert Who Sexually Assaulted 13-Year-Old Girl Claims Jury Was ‘Hypnotized’ into Convicting Him” HERE)

Floods and Landslides in Indonesia Kill over 800

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Indonesian officials said on Tuesday that the death toll from flooding and landslides, caused by months of heavy rain and multiple devastating typhoons, has exceeded 800. More than 700 of those casualties were reported on the island of Sumatra.

The Indonesian disaster relief agency initially reported 753 fatalities on Sumatra over the past week, although it revised the number down to 708 later on Tuesday, without explanation. The combined death toll across Southeast Asia is over 1,350.

Local officials on Sumatra said downed power lines, blocked roads, and fuel shortages were complicating efforts to deliver food and medicine. The Indonesian military has provided support by airdropping supplies, but some of the supplies they delivered were damaged on landing.

The flooding in Sumatra’s northwestern province of Aceh was so severe that supplies of drinking water are running low, forcing local residents to clean and drink muddy flood water.

A hunger crisis is looming in the hardest-hit areas, and the public is increasingly frustrated that the central Indonesian government has not declared a national emergency. Indonesian social media is filled with complaints about the insufficient disaster relief budget, which was cut in half from last year’s funding. (Read more from “Floods and Landslides in Indonesia Kill over 800” HERE)

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell files to run for Minnesota governor

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MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell filed paperwork Wednesday to run for Minnesota governor.

While the paperwork doesn’t certainly mean he is running, Lindell said he is 98% sure he is. The CEO filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board to run as a Republican against Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN).

He told Minnesota Public Radio that he would make a decision as early as Dec. 11.

Lindell is a conservative personality also known for his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election. He owns Lindell TV, which has Pentagon press credentials alongside other conservative outlets and influencers.

A judge ruled in September that the MyPillow CEO defamed voting machine company Smartmatic for his claims that the machines “rigged” the 2020 election. He supported President Donald Trump against former President Joe Biden then. (Read more from “MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell files to run for Minnesota governor” HERE)

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Tensions Rise as U.S. Pressures Israel to Change Course in Syria

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According to Israeli officials, the raid was one of many preemptive missions designed to disrupt jihadist groups before they could entrench themselves in southern Syria — an increasingly volatile region following the collapse of the Assad regime last year.

But what unfolded afterward — an ambush on Israeli forces and a wave of retaliatory airstrikes — quickly transformed an isolated counterterrorism action into an international crisis stretching from Damascus to Washington.

The clash took place on the first anniversary of the Assad regime’s fall, a day that began with orchestrated pro-government celebrations. Those demonstrations rapidly spiraled into protests, fueled by outrage over Israeli military activity on Syrian soil. What Israelis framed as an essential strike against terrorism was denounced by Syrians as a blatant violation of sovereignty and an early test of whether their new leadership could defend national dignity.

Seeking to contain the escalation, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack traveled to Damascus on Monday for talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The United States has been working to stabilize Syria’s fragile transition and probe the possibility of future security cooperation between Jerusalem and Damascus.

But the White House’s reaction suggested frustration. Shortly after Barrack’s meeting, President Donald Trump posted a pointed message on Truth Social praising Syria’s new leader for his “hard work and determination” and urging Israel to maintain a “strong and true dialogue” with Damascus so as not to hinder Syria’s evolution into a “prosperous State.”

The timing — and the tone — made Washington’s message clear: Israel’s escalating operations are seen as complicating a diplomatic opening the Trump administration considers historic.

Senior U.S. officials have signaled growing impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s posture. One administration source quoted in Axios said Netanyahu was “seeing ghosts everywhere,” warning that Israeli strikes risk weakening Sharaa at the exact moment Washington believes he may be willing to engage Israel on regional security.

The fallout comes at a pivotal moment for Trump’s Middle East agenda. The president has championed a security pact between Israel and Syria as a cornerstone of what he envisions as a wider regional peace — complementing a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and the expansion of diplomatic normalization initiatives.

The administration has already lifted sanctions on Syria and welcomed Sharaa to the White House, betting that reintegration into the global community will steer Damascus toward cooperation against ISIS and a more stable regional order.

In a statement after Trump’s public warning to Israel, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the two leaders had spoken and discussed “expanding” peace agreements, and that Trump had invited the prime minister to Washington once again — part of an ongoing pattern of close, high-level coordination between the longtime allies.

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Marine Recruiter Pleads ‘No Contest’ After Being Held at Gunpoint by Homeowner

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A Marine Corps recruiter who entered a Michigan home in the middle of the night and stabbed an 11-year-old girl was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison — and got on his knees in court as he begged for forgiveness.

Ricardo Perez Castillo, 25, pleaded no contest to assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, and second-degree assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct in the June 15, 2024 attack, according to the Kent County Prosecutor’s office.

“This case is disturbing on so many levels,” Judge Christina Mims said at last week’s sentencing, WOOD Grand Rapids reported. “What you engaged in was — just what comes to mind is a real-life horror movie or a horror show where you’re stabbing this child. It’s just by the grace of God that she wasn’t killed.” . . .

Castillo — a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter — made his way into a home in the 8000 block of Ella Terrace Court in Rockford through a side door in the early morning hours of June 15 before grabbing a knife from the kitchen and then taking off his pants and underwear. . .

Castillo allegedly walked into the bedroom where the homeowners daughter and her 11-year-old friend were sleeping, and stabbed the 11-year-old girl multiple times before he was stopped by the homeowner, who held him at gunpoint until police arrived. (Read more from “Marine Recruiter Pleads ‘No Contest’ After Being Held at Gunpoint by Homeowner” HERE)

Twisted Online Cult Targeted Kids as Young as 11 to Create Child Porn — then Urged them to Commit Suicide: Feds

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A Queens man and four other members of a twisted online cult terrorized and blackmailed children on gaming platforms into performing sick sexual acts on camera – then gave their terrified victims instructions on how to kill themselves, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

The five deranged men belonged to “Greggy’s Cult,” which exploited Discord, a messaging app, and gaming networks, such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, to prey on children as young as 11 from 2019 to 2021, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Hector Bermudez, 29, of Queens, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned in federal court.

“No child should ever be terrorized or exploited online, and no online platform should give refuge to predators,” US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

“The Department of Justice will continue to protect children, support survivors, and hold accountable anyone who preys on the vulnerable — online or offline — with every tool we have.”

Prosecutors said the accused pedophiles held video calls on the digital platforms, coercing children nationwide to perform sexually explicit acts – sometimes with household objects – which they recorded or screenshot and then circulated online or among themselves. (Read more from “Twisted Online Cult Targeted Kids as Young as 11 to Create Child Porn — then Urged them to Commit Suicide: Feds” HERE)

Trump Administration Eyes Major Expansion of Foreign Entry Restrictions

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The Trump administration is preparing to dramatically broaden U.S. travel restrictions in response to last week’s deadly attack on two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House, with officials signaling that as many as 30 nations may soon be added to a new immigration blacklist.

A senior administration source confirmed that the list — which already targets 19 “countries of concern” — is set to grow “significantly,” and could continue expanding based on evolving security assessments.

“We will be announcing the list soon,” a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday, declining to identify specific countries. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who has taken a hard-line stance on immigration, teased the announcement Monday night on X, calling the proposal a “full travel ban.”

In her post, Noem urged Trump to include “every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies” on the restricted list. She argued the United States cannot allow foreign nationals to “slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS.”

“WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE,” she wrote in all caps.

The proposal comes amid a sweeping crackdown following the Thanksgiving eve shooting that killed National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, outside the White House complex. Authorities arrested 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of opening fire during a confrontation.

The attack has reignited security concerns surrounding Afghan resettlement programs and immigration vetting processes.

Prior to the shooting, the White House had already announced a freeze on asylum decisions and ordered a review of more than 720,000 green card holders from the 19 countries currently on the restricted list.

The State Department has since paused all visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports.

Lakanwal’s immigration history is now under intense political scrutiny. A former member of a CIA-backed elite Afghan military unit that helped battle the Taliban, he was evacuated to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome — a program launched by the Biden administration following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He was granted asylum in April, placing him on track to obtain a green card next year.

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Trump Admin To Probe Federal Subsidies Pushing Kids On Screens At School

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The Trump administration is looking for ways to crack down on the enormous amount of screen time children are exposed to in school — a phenomenon that has been subsidized heavily by the federal government for years.

Every other week, it seems, Americans hear about more negative, often long-term effects of children being placed in front of smart phones or other screens, ranging from stunted learning and depression, to weight gain and body dysmorphia.

Arielle Roth, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), told The Federalist in an interview that her office is going to look into how the government has been exacerbating the problem through policies that push more in-school instruction and homework toward children spending countless hours on screens.

“Much of policy makers’ focus has been on banning cell phones in schools, and while that’s important, it only scratches the surface of what parents are worried about. When you talk to most parents, their concern isn’t just cell phones — it’s that their children are on school laptops and devices for large portions of the school day, starting at very young ages,” Roth said. “I think we should be asking about what’s driving these trends. That includes looking at how federal programs and funding streams may be accelerating excessive screen use in the classroom.”

Roth, as head of NTIA, is the chief advisor to the president on telecommunications policy. (Read more from “Trump Admin To Probe Federal Subsidies Pushing Kids On Screens At School” HERE)

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