‘Pete’s A Patriot’: More Than 100 Veterans And Supporters Rally For Hegseth’s Pentagon Nomination

More than 100 former Navy SEALs, military veterans, and other supporters gathered in Washington, D.C. on Monday to back Pete Hegseth’s nomination as the next secretary of defense. The rally comes ahead of Hegseth’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

“These are warfighters. That’s who support[s] Pete. That’s who’s on this podium. These are men and women who put it on the line for our country. And they’re telling you the way it is,” former Navy SEAL Bill Brown said.

Monday’s presser comes amid a series of unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing in the workplace leveled against Hegseth by alleged anonymous sources leading up to Tuesday’s confirmation hearing. Laundered by America’s corrupt corporate media, some of these claims appear to stem from a former disgruntled employee. They have also been heavily disputed by Hegseth’s former colleagues and associates.

A woman also previously accused Hegseth of sexual assault following a purported 2017 sexual encounter between the two. Prosecutors declined to press charges due to a lack of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” according to reports.

Several veterans in Monday’s gathering are former Navy SEALs who participated in the GI Go Fund’s Navy SEAL Hudson River Swims, a charity event involving former SEALs, “fellow veterans and military supporters in a swim across the Hudson River to honor our military veterans, their families, and all of those who died during 9/11 and the wars that followed that fateful day.” Hegseth previously partook in the swim during his time as a Fox News host. (Read more from “‘Pete’s A Patriot’: More Than 100 Veterans And Supporters Rally For Hegseth’s Pentagon Nomination” HERE)

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Federal Judge Clears Way for Release of Jack Smith’s Report on Trump Election Interference Case

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Justice Department may release a report by former special counsel Jack Smith detailing his election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump.

South Florida US District Judge Aileen Cannon in a signed order denied a request by two of Trump’s former co-defendants seeking to block the report, clearing the way for its release as soon as midnight.

The co-defendants, presidential valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira, are accused of conspiring with the former president to conceal sensitive national security files at the Palm Beach, Fla, resort.

Cannon also ruled that a hearing should be held Jan. 17 to determine whether the portion of the report covering that case will see the light of day, given its “contested factual and legal issues.”

The 2020 election case, however, has no bearing on the indictment against Nauta and De Oliveira, she noted. (Read more from “Federal Judge Clears Way for Release of Jack Smith’s Report on Trump Election Interference Case” HERE)

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Man Detained With Blowtorch Near Wildfire ID’d as Illegal Alien, Not Charged With Arson: Report

The man with a blowtorch who was arrested last week in the Los Angeles area, where a number of wildfires have wreaked havoc over the past several days, is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, according to a new report.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared new details in a post to X on Sunday evening, noting that he got his information from insiders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged w/ arson,” Melugin said.

“I’m told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California’s Sanctuary State law,” Melugin added. “I’m told Sierra-Leyva will have a court appearance tomorrow. Again — he has not been charged w/ arson and is in custody only on a probation violation at the moment, as multiple agencies have been interviewing him.” (Read more from “Man Detained With Blowtorch Near Wildfire ID’d as Illegal Alien, Not Charged With Arson: Report” HERE)

Newsom Attacks Trump (VIDEO)

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) claimed Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President-elect Donald Trump was politicizing wildfires in Southern California.

Reporter Jacob Soboroff asked, “President-elect Trump has blamed you for this crisis. He’s called you incompetent. What’s your response?”

Newsom said, “Well, I called for him to come out, take a look for himself. We want to do it in the spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist. He’s the president-elect. I respect the office. We have a president of the United States that within 36 hours provided a major disaster declaration over a text. We had support from the President of the United States, Joe Biden, with 100% reimbursement, all the resources you could hope for, imagine, constant communication. I’d like to extend that to the president-elect. I don’t know what he’s referring to when he talks about the Delta smelt in reservoirs. The reservoirs are completely full, the state reservoirs here in Southern California. That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us. Responding to Donald Trump’s insults, we would spend another month. I’m very familiar with them. Every elected official that he disagrees with is very familiar with them.”

He continued, “That was not a state system reservoir that the President-elect was referring to as it relates to the Delta and somehow connecting the Delta smelt with the fire which is inexcusable because it’s inaccurate also incomprehensible to anyone who understands water policy in the state.” (Read more from “Newsom Attacks Trump (VIDEO)” HERE)

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Marsha Blackburn Demands Answers About the FBI and Their DEI Priorities

This year began in tragedy, as a man drove his truck, one with an ISIS flag, into those celebrating on Bourbon Street. He also got out and began firing. Police killed the suspect, Shamsud Din Jabbar, but not before he killed 14 people. There’s been plenty of concerns about how law enforcement, including the FBI, handled the terrorist attack, making it even more necessary for Kash Patel to be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s FBI director. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), in a recent episode of “Unmuted with Marsha” weighed in on all of this, with a sneak peak exclusive shared with Townhall.

For such an episode, the first of this year, Blackburn spoke with Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker.

The senator began by asking Swecker about the security barriers on Bourbon Street being down, broken, and in the process of being replaced. Blackburn had some pretty pertinent questions, “why was there no backup plan for this? How in the world could a law enforcement entity look at this and not have a proper backup plan to keep the public safe?” To add more embarrassment for the city, the police chief didn’t even know about the barriers.

Swecker offered that the issue was “complacency and incompetence,” adding, “I mean, there’s no other way to explain it.” He also spoke to the exact role that the FBI played in investigating the terrorist attack, and why they have not done such a great job.

“The city of New Orleans, and all law enforcement and the FBI, the agencies that are responsible for managing this type of event. Now the FBI is not primary, but they have an intelligence role to play. Nothing bad had happened in a long time, so they got complacent,” he offered. Swecker also reminded that having such barriers “is not an alien concept to them,” given that they have the Sugar Bowl every year, have had the Super Bowl, and Mardi Gras is a big annual celebration. New Orleans gets a multi-million dollar grant for security because of such events. (Read more from “Marsha Blackburn Demands Answers About the FBI and Their DEI Priorities” HERE)

Greenland Leaders Ready to Talk With Trump After Prez-Elect Expressed Interest to Make Territory Part of America

Greenland’s leader Múte Egede said he is prepared to enter into negotiations with President-elect Trump about the future of the mineral-rich arctic territory — but warned his people had no interest in becoming Americans.

At a press conference Friday in Denmark, which exercises nominal sovereignty over Greenland, Egede said he accepted that Greenland was “a place that the Americans see as part of their world” and that while he has not spoken with Trump, he was open to “discussions about what unites us.”

“We are ready to talk,” he said. “Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions.”

Egede was joined at the press conference by his Danish counterpart Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Greenland had been a colony of Denmark since the 18th century and became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953.

In 2009 the island won the right to secure independence if they ever voted to do so — something Egede supports. (Read more from “Greenland Leaders Ready to Talk With Trump After Prez-Elect Expressed Interest to Make Territory Part of America” HERE)

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Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns After Finishing Trump Investigations

By Daily Caller. Special Counsel Jack Smith resigned from the Department of Justice on Friday, days after finishing his criminal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump and ahead of his inauguration.

According to a footnote in a court filing sent to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Saturday afternoon, Smith concluded his investigations on Tuesday and would depart from the DOJ on Friday. The court filing from DOJ officials asked Cannon not to further extend a court order she issued in January to block the release of Smith’s report into Trump temporarily. (Read more from “Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns After Finishing Trump Investigations” HERE)

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Trump Says Jack Smith Is a ‘Disgrace’ After Special Counsel Resigned From DOJ: ‘He Left Town Empty Handed!’

By Fox News. President-elect Trump blasted special counsel Jack Smith as a “disgrace” to himself and the country following Smith’s resignation from the Justice Department.

Smith’s resignation was announced in a court filing Saturday.

“The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10,” a footnote in the filing said.

Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday to criticize Smith for his investigations into the incoming president.

“Deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DOJ. He is a disgrace to himself, his family, and his Country. After spending over $100,000,000 on the Witch Hunt against TRUMP, he left town empty handed!” Trump wrote. (Read more from “Trump Says Jack Smith Is a ‘Disgrace’ After Special Counsel Resigned From DOJ: ‘He Left Town Empty Handed!’” HERE)

Here Are Trump’s Options For Dealing With An Imminent Nuclear Threat That Festered Under Biden

Iran has largely been left unchecked by the Biden administration in its goal to become a nuclear power, presenting President-elect Donald Trump with a significant foreign policy challenge that has few easy solutions.

Iran, with its current stockpiles, can make a nuclear weapon with 60% enriched uranium in just one week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a November bulletin. The president-elect will have to choose a path quickly upon assuming office, such as renegotiating a deal to halt or slow Iran’s progress, military intervention or re-tooling sanctions that have so far been ineffective.

“The United States needs another Middle East war like it needs a hole in the head,” Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, told the DCNF. “There are all kinds of angles from which escalation could happen, and Trump openly campaigned as a Peace Through Strength leader, not a warmonger. With that said, a lot turns on what Trump’s closest advisers will do to shape the president’s understanding of the options. Unfortunately, we’re heading to a fork in the road.”

The first, and perhaps most direct option, is a military strike from the U.S. on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump advisers have reportedly expressed concern that Iran’s progress may be too far in, and a military strike may be the only option, according to Axios. Israel would be a prime candidate to assist with a strike, as it has conducted similar operations in the past.

“The Trump Administration is committed to reestablishing peace & stability in the Middle East. President Trump will keep all options on the table as it relates to the Iran Regime including Maximum Pressure,” Brian Hughes, Trump-Vance transition spokesperson, told the DCNF. (Read more from “Here Are Trump’s Options For Dealing With An Imminent Nuclear Threat That Festered Under Biden” HERE)

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Wife Of American Detained By Taliban Reveals What Biden Told Her In Long-Awaited Call

Anna Corbett, the wife of Ryan Corbett, an American being held hostage by the Taliban, said that she doesn’t believe President Joe Biden will bring her husband home in his final days in office, she shared in an interview with the Daily Caller.

The White House announced Sunday that Biden called the families of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi — the Americans detained by the Taliban since 2022 – to discuss the “government’s continuing efforts to reunite these three Americans with their families.” The wife of Ryan Corbett, Anna Corbett, told the Caller that the phone call, despite 16 prior trips to D.C., was the first time she and the president had spoken in the nearly two and a half years since her husband was taken hostage. During the 30 minute phone call, Biden expressed that they were unable to get a deal done and because of such, Ryan would not be coming home in the final days of his administration, Anna told the Caller.

“He gave us about 30 minutes, I would say, on the call, and he was very gracious, but basically said he is not bringing Ryan home, and that was very disappointing to hear that we come this far,” Anna told the Caller.

“It seems like the administration is haunted by Afghanistan, and there is a deal on the table. I don’t have all the details, but it seems like there is a way to bring Ryan home, and it’s not being taken. So that just adds to the disappointment,” Anna told the Caller.

The White House National Security Council referred the Caller to its announcement on the call when asked if the president had told the families he was unable to bring their loved ones home. The read out of the call adds that Biden “emphasized his Administration’s commitment to the cause of bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained overseas.”

(Read more from “Wife Of American Detained By Taliban Reveals What Biden Told Her In Long-Awaited Call” HERE)

Trump Trolls Harris by Posting Parody Conversation Between Him and Obama at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral Mocking VP

President-elect Donald Trump trolled Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday by posting an online parody conversation based on a viral video of him chatting up former President Barack Obama during Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

The seemingly friendly chat between Trump and Obama on Thursday raised eyebrows and left observers wondering what the pair discussed leading up to the 39th president’s memorial service at the National Cathedral.

Trump jokingly filled in the gaps when he posted a parody video on Truth Social with fake audio dubbed into the real video.

“I knew you’d win,” a dubbed Obama told Trump after sitting down.

“Oh really? Come on,” a faux Trump replied. “Anyone could beat her.” (Read more from “Trump Trolls Harris by Posting Parody Conversation Between Him and Obama at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral Mocking VP” HERE)

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