Ukraine’s Former Military Commander in Chief Delivers Chilling Message: WWIII ‘Has Begun’

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Kyiv’s former military commander in chief said the direct involvement of Russian allies in Ukraine means that World War III has officially begun.

“I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun,” former military chief Valery Zaluzhny warned Thursday, according to Politico.

Zaluzhny, who now serves as Ukraine’s envoy to the UK, said Kyiv’s conflict is now on a global scale following the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia earlier this month.

Along with the presence of North Korean and Iranian weapons on the frontlines, Zaluzhny said his nation was besieged by international forces, urging Kyiv’s allies to respond in kind.

“It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive with technology, but it is not clear whether it can win this battle alone,” he said. (Read more from “Ukraine’s Former Military Commander in Chief Delivers Chilling Message: WWIII ‘Has Begun’” HERE)

Matt Gaetz Is Withdrawing His Name From Consideration for Attorney General

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Firebrand former to future Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the nation’s attorney general and was expected to take a hammer to the weaponized processes the Department of Justice implemented under Joe Biden, has withdrawn his name from that nomination.

Gaetz said, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.

“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

Trump responded, “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” (Read more from “Matt Gaetz Is Withdrawing His Name From Consideration for Attorney General” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Lawmakers Act as Biden Admin Plans to Let Ukraine off the Hook for Massive Debt to Americans

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The Biden administration told Congress it plans to cancel $4.65 billion in debt owed by Ukraine, approximately half of an economic loan offered earlier this year.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the plans in a briefing on Wednesday. “So we have taken the step that was outlined in the law to cancel those loans, provide that economic assistance to Ukraine,” he said.

In April, Congress passed a supplemental funding package that earmarked $60 billion worth of aid for Ukraine, including $9 billion structured as a loan, with a provision that allowed the administration to forgive it, according to Miller.

Miller added that Congress could pass a resolution of disapproval to overturn the cancellation. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced such a resolution on Wednesday night. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., immediately said he would introduce a resolution to block the measure.

Such a resolution is unlikely to pass a Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Biden could veto it. The supplemental funding package gave the administration the power to forgive 50% of the loan, and the remaining 50% could be forgiven after January 2026. (Read more from “Lawmakers Act as Biden Admin Plans to Let Ukraine off the Hook for Massive Debt to Americans” HERE)

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Trump Picks Former Florida AG Pam Bondi to Replace Gaetz

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President-elect Donald Trump went from one Floridian to another Thursday, announcing that former Sunshine State Attorney General Pam Bondi would be his new pick to lead the Justice Department, hours after former nominee Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration.

“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump, 78, said in a statement on Truth Social. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!”

Gaetz, 42, was announced as Trump’s attorney general-designate Nov. 13, but withdrew earlier Thursday after failing to persuade a majority of Republican senators to support him. (Read more from “Trump Picks Former Florida AG Pam Bondi to Replace Gaetz” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Judge Rules MSNBC Pundit Potentially Defamed Trump Attorney

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A federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled an online claim made by a legal analyst at MSNBC against a former White House attorney in the Trump administration is potentially defamatory.

In September, U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan denied a motion from MSNBC legal analyst and attorney Andrew Weissmann to dismiss a complaint filed by Stefan Passantino, who represented former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson before she became the Jan. 6 Committee’s star witness.

Passantino had previously served as head deputy ethics counsel in the Trump White House and was Hutchinson’s attorney when she was initially questioned by the House Democrats’ Soviet-style inquisition run by then-Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney. Hutchinson fired Passantino, who was being paid by the Save America PAC, when she decided to change her testimony before the House committee and make a series of outlandish claims immediately discredited by her own named sources.

Passantino sued Weissmann last year after the former deputy to Special Counsel Robert Mueller claimed the Trump-world attorney “coached her to lie.”

“This is an insidious lie,” Passantino’s lawsuit reads. “Ms. Hutchinson even testified, under penalty of law: ‘I want to make this clear to you: Stefan [Passantino] never told me to lie. … He told me not to lie.” (Read more from “Judge Rules MSNBC Pundit Potentially Defamed Trump Attorney” HERE)

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Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray Refuse to Testify Before Senate Committee on Terrorism Threats to U.S.

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray refused to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on terrorism threats facing the United States.

Just hours before they were set to testify before the Senate on Thursday, a DHS spokesperson said Mayorkas and Wray would not be attending the hearing which was focused on terrorism threats facing the U.S. — including those arriving at the southern border.

“DHS and the FBI have offered to the Committee a classified briefing to discuss the threats to the Homeland,” the spokesperson said in part.

In response, Ranking Member Rand Paul (R-KY) said Mayorkas and Wray’s refusal to testify is “unacceptable”

“The American people deserve to hold these officials accountable for their actions under the Biden Administration,” Paul said in a statement. (Read more from “Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray Refuse to Testify Before Senate Committee on Terrorism Threats to U.S.” HERE)

Governor Gets Sued for Demanding Christians Pay for Others’ Abortions

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the far-left billionaire governor of Illinois, is being taken to court over his schemes that force state residents to make the choice between paying for abortions or going without health insurance entirely.

The case has been brought by the Thomas More Society on behalf of Students for Life of America, Midwest Bible Church, Pro-Life Action League, Right to Life, Clapham School, DuPage Precision Products and a list of individuals.

“For Christians and many other pro-life advocates, Illinois’ abortion-coverage mandate is fundamentally opposed to their religious beliefs and runs roughshod over their constitutionally protected conscience rights,” explained Peter Breen, of the Thomas More Society.

“Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his administration are on an uncompromising campaign to transform the Land of Lincoln into the nation’s abortion capital. In doing so, they have shown little-to-no regard for the rights of those who believe that all human life is worth protecting. We are proud to represent this coalition of clients in challenging this unconscionable mandate. There’s no reason for pro-life individuals and organizations to be denied the option to choose an insurance policy that exempts them from covering others’ elective abortions.” . . .

The filing in U.S. district court in Illinois explains Pritzker’s plan “requires health-insurance policies to cover elective abortions on the same terms as they cover pregnancy-related benefits. It also requires health-insurance policies to cover abortion-inducing drugs, and it forbids insurers to impose any cost-sharing arrangements such as co-pays or deductibles on this coverage.” (Read more from “Governor Gets Sued for Demanding Christians Pay for Others’ Abortions” HERE)

Mysterious Babbitt Shooting Witnesses Incited Rioters, Met Secretly With Capitol Police on January 6

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Two unidentified men who incited rioters on January 6, captured video throughout the U.S. Capitol for hours, and stood feet from Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt when she was shot are drawing new attention as the fourth anniversary of the tragic day looms.

A Blaze News video investigation found that the duo assisted and shadowed a large group of protesters from the Capitol’s West Plaza to the House Speaker’s Lobby before Babbitt was fatally shot.

The pair later met secretly with U.S. Capitol Police at the edge of Capitol grounds and shared at least one video clip as evidence before the Babbitt shooting investigation was even officially under way. Capitol Police did not make a video or audio recording of their talks with the men. One of the men sat in an unmarked squad car and showed USCP special agents at least some of his video, security footage reviewed by Blaze News showed.

The men have been the subject of intense social media speculation for some time. They warranted just a few paragraphs in the now-closed Babbitt shooting investigation conducted by the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department.

Nicknamed “Frick and Frack” by a YouTube satirist, the men have long been considered important material witnesses in the killing of Babbitt, 35, of San Diego. They have not been publicly identified, arrested by the FBI, or charged by federal prosecutors. (Read more from “Mysterious Babbitt Shooting Witnesses Incited Rioters, Met Secretly With Capitol Police on January 6” HERE)

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Is There Trouble Ahead for Pete Hegseth?

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President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated Pete Hegseth, a decorated war veteran, to helm the Defense Department. Hegseth, now a Fox News host, tapped to be our next secretary of defense triggered all the right people. Trump, with no election hanging over his head, is going balls to the wall regarding his picks, selecting people who will take baseball bats to these institutions to uproot the bad apples that are aiming to hamstring the incoming Trump presidency. They’re also terrible, borderline treasonous bureaucrats who need to be put out to pasture.

Yet, there’s the confirmation process. Mr. Hegseth, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), was nominated as attorney general, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was selected as health and human services secretary. There will be tough battles on the Hill. We’re at a stage where it’s too early to call, of course, but voters have approved of the Trump transition. Moreover, with all the baggage, it’s not wild to say that most, if not all, of Trump’s picks will be confirmed at this point. We might have some woman trouble ahead for Mr. Hegseth, however. They’re allegations that are well-known in this town. While these developments are not good, the one thing glossed over is that he was already investigated and cleared. Mr. Hegseth was involved in a sexual assault incident in California back in 2017 (via Newsweek):

Pete Hegseth entered into a settlement with the woman who accused him of sexual assault because he knew the allegation could get him fired from Fox News, his attorney has said.

It came out last week that Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, was investigated for sexual assault in California seven years ago. No charges were filed and Hegseth has “vigorously denied any and all accusations,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Vanity Fair.

(Read more from “Is There Trouble Ahead for Pete Hegseth?” HERE)

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Danish Navy Reportedly Boards Chinese Ship Suspected in European Undersea Cable Sabotage — Sweden’s Defense Ministry Put Freighter at the Time and Place of the Disruption

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The Danish Navy has boarded and detained the Chinese Bulk Carrier Yi Peng 3 in the Danish Straits, near the exit of the Great Belt, according to reports in Eurasia Daily and Defence24. The detention reportedly took place on the evening of November 18. Officials have not verified those reports, however. According to Financial Times sources, Swedish authorities are “carefully studying the Chinese vessel.”

Denmark has sent two ships, the HDMS Hvidbjoernen, an ocean patrol frigate, and the DNK Navy Patrol P525, a smaller patrol craft, to shadow the Chinese Bulk Carrier Yi Peng 3. Authorities suspect the Chinese vessel is connected with the cutting of two undersea internet cables that connect Finland and Sweden to Central Europe, reports MSN.

The undersea cable connecting Sweden to Lithuania was the first to be hit, sustaining damage around Sunday, Nov. 17; the Finland-Germany undersea cable was cut the following day. On Tuesday, the Sweden Ministry of Civil Defense announced that it had recorded the Yi Peng 3’s movements and placed it within the vicinity of possible sabotage events.

According to public records, the bulk carrier left Ust-Luga Anchorage, some 50 miles east of St. Petersburg in Russia, on Nov. 15, and its next destination was Port Said in Egypt. We don’t have any information on her crew or what type of cargo she’s carrying, though.

At the time of writing, Marinetraffic.com puts the Chinese ship in the middle of the Kattegatt, the sea bound by Denmark on the west and Sweden in the east. The smaller Danish patrol ship is immediately beside it, while the Hvidbjoernen is located some 15 to 20 miles southwest of the two vessels (although the website says that this position was last updated more than seven hours ago). (Read more from “Danish Navy Reportedly Boards Chinese Ship Suspected in European Undersea Cable Sabotage — Sweden’s Defense Ministry Put Freighter at the Time and Place of the Disruption” HERE)