Trump: ‘I’d Like to See’ Mark Walker Confirmed as Religious Freedom Ambassador

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President Donald Trump said Thursday he would like to see the Senate confirm his nominee for the post of Religious Freedom ambassador, former Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC).

During an executive order signing to establish a national policy framework for artificial intelligence, Breitbart News asked the president if he would like see Walker confirmed before Christmas.

When Trump asked if something came up, Breitbart News emphasized that Walker was nominated in April and has yet to receive a confirmation hearing from Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chair Jim Risch (R-ID).

“I’m hearing very good things about him… I’ve always found him to be a high-quality person. Yeah, I’d like to see that happen,” Trump responded.

He also lauded Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for his work in confirming nominees. (Read more from “Trump: ‘I’d Like to See’ Mark Walker Confirmed as Religious Freedom Ambassador” HERE)

Report Highlights High Welfare Usage Among Somali Refugee Households in Minnesota

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Newly compiled figures from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) show that the overwhelming majority of Somali refugee–headed households in Minnesota rely on at least one form of public assistance, underscoring a significant gap between refugee families and native-born residents.

The analysis draws on a decade’s worth of Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data. According to CIS, 81 percent of Minnesota households led by Somali refugees utilize one or more public welfare programs. This includes 27 percent receiving cash assistance, 54 percent using food stamps, and roughly 73 percent enrolled in Medicaid.

By comparison, just 21 percent of native-born Minnesotan households participate in any welfare program, with far lower rates for each category — 6 percent receiving cash aid, 7 percent using food stamps, and 18 percent enrolled in Medicaid.

The numbers rise further for Somali-headed households raising children. The ACS data indicates that about 89 percent of these families depend on at least one safety-net program. Medicaid enrollment alone reaches 86 percent, while 62 percent receive food stamps and 23 percent rely on cash assistance.

“Nearly every Somali household with children receives some form of welfare,” CIS researcher Jason Richwine noted in his analysis.

Meanwhile, among native Minnesotan families with children, only about 30 percent use any form of welfare — with 6 percent on cash aid, 10 percent using food stamps, and 28 percent covered by Medicaid.

The disparities extend beyond public benefit usage. According to the same data, more than 66 percent of Somali refugees in the state live in or near poverty. In contrast, fewer than 20 percent of native-born Minnesotans fall into that category.

Language proficiency also remains a major hurdle. While virtually all native-born Minnesotans report speaking English “very well,” nearly 60 percent of Somali refugees say they do not — including many who have lived in the state for over a decade.

Educational differences add another layer. Only 5 percent of native Minnesotans lack a high school diploma, compared to almost 40 percent of Somali refugees. More than a quarter of Somali adults who have been in Minnesota for at least 10 years still report not having completed high school.

Minnesota is now home to nearly 80,000 people of Somali ancestry, despite having virtually none in 1990. The state hosts one of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the United States, a population that has grown quickly due to refugee resettlement over the past three decades.

U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Major Escalation Against Maduro

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The United States has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela — a striking move that significantly expands Washington’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro and his government.

On December 10, 2025, U.S. forces — including the United States Coast Guard (USCG), along with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security, and other military elements — boarded and seized the tanker named Skipper. The vessel was reportedly carrying heavy crude oil that the U.S. says was sanctioned under laws targeting illicit oil trading.

President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure at a White House roundtable, calling it “a large tanker, very large — the largest one ever seized.” He said the decision was taken “for very good reasons.”

Venezuela’s economy depends heavily on oil exports. With this tanker seized — and pressure mounting on other shipments — Caracas faces disruption in its primary revenue stream. Many analysts view this move as a key escalation, shifting from sanctions and limited maritime actions to direct interdiction.

The government in Caracas immediately condemned the move, calling it “an act of international piracy” and “blatant theft.” They vowed to defend national sovereignty and to bring the case before international bodies.

It remains uncertain whether the U.S. will seize additional vessels. The Trump administration appears poised to maintain or intensify pressure. Some analysts warn that continued tanker seizures could signal a shift toward a de facto oil blockade.

Vance Heads to Pennsylvania as White House Intensifies Affordability Push

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Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pennsylvania next week as the White House ramps up its nationwide effort to sell the administration’s affordability message, according to two sources familiar with the planning.

The visit comes just days after President Donald Trump launched his year-long economic tour with a stop in Wilkes-Barre, where he argued that his policies are easing financial pressure on American families. Vance is scheduled to deliver remarks near Allentown on Dec. 16, focusing heavily on the administration’s argument that it is reversing what it calls an affordability crisis left behind by Democrats.

A spokesperson for the vice president said Vance’s remarks will underscore that “making America affordable again is the number one priority of the Trump administration,” pointing to the White House’s tax cuts and domestic investment initiatives as evidence of progress.

“President Trump has made enormous strides in reversing the affordability crisis left behind by Democrats,” the spokesperson said. “The benefits of the Trump economic agenda have only begun to kick in and there is more work to be done in the new year.”

During his Wilkes-Barre speech, the president told supporters that Americans should already be feeling relief as prices cool, particularly for groceries. He also reiterated his claim that Democrats’ renewed focus on affordability is a “hoax,” arguing they are responsible for the economic strain families have experienced in recent years.

Vance is expected to echo Trump’s message, reinforcing the administration’s argument that Republican leadership is stabilizing the cost of living after years of inflation. His visit also reflects a broader GOP effort to reclaim political ground on the issue after Democrats saw notable gains in the November elections by making affordability a centerpiece of their campaigns.

Recent polling shows the depth of voter concern. A Politico survey released this week reported that 46 percent of Americans believe the cost of living is the worst they can remember. Among 2024 Trump voters, 37 percent agreed. The poll surveyed 2,098 adults between Nov. 14 and 17 and had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

The administration’s renewed messaging drive also mirrors tactics used by former President Joe Biden, who spent much of his term traveling the country to promote what he called “Bidenomics.” As economic perceptions deteriorated, Biden and his team ultimately abandoned the branding effort amid criticism that it failed to match voters’ lived experience.

With Republicans now working to position themselves as the party best equipped to bring costs down, Vance’s Pennsylvania stop marks one of the earliest high-profile outings in what is expected to be a sustained push heading into the new year.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Princess Met Several Times With Jeffrey Epstein — Who Invited Her to His Now-Infamous Private Island

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Princess Sofia of Sweden met several times with late pedophile billionaire Jeffery Epstein — who once invited her to his now-infamous private Caribbean island, emails revealed.

The 41-year-old royal — who was a lingerie model and reality TV actress before marrying Prince Carl Philip in 2015 — first met the disgraced financier through a mentor, Barbro Ehnbom, in 2005, according to emails published Tuesday by the Swedish outlet Dagens Nyheter.

“This is Sofia, an aspiring actress who just arrived in New York. She’s the girl I told you about before I left, who I thought you might like to meet,” Ehnbom, a Swedish businesswoman, reportedly wrote to Epstein in December 2005.

“Maybe we can visit before you go on holiday?” she added in the email, along with a photo of the then-model, Sofia Balthazar-Winslow.

“I’m in the Caribbean. Does she want to come for a couple of days? I’ll send a ticket,” Epstein replied — inviting her to Little Saint James, where he was accused of sex trafficking minors.

Princess Sofia turned down the offer, according to the Swedish royal family, but later met Epstein multiple times. (Read more from “Princess Met Several Times With Jeffrey Epstein — Who Invited Her to His Now-Infamous Private Island” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

ICE Locks Up Pedophiles, Other Violent Illegal Aliens as DHS Launches ‘Worst of the Worst’ Searchable Site

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement is locking up more pedophiles and violent criminals as the Department of Homeland Security launches a new “worst of the worst” searchable website.

A press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News highlighted the Monday arrests of five criminal illegal aliens.

“Americans may be busy with Christmas parties and shopping, but the mission to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens never stops — and neither does ICE law enforcement,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated.

“Every day, our law enforcement are removing the worst of the worst from across our nation,” McLaughlin continued. “Just yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, armed robbers, and drug traffickers. Thanks to our new website, Americans can see for themselves the criminal illegal aliens that we are arresting and removing from their communities.”

ICE nabbed Juan Aucenjio-Natalio, a Mexican national who was previously convicted in Fort Bend County, Texas, for indecency with a child by exposure. (Read more from “ICE Locks Up Pedophiles, Other Violent Illegal Aliens as DHS Launches ‘Worst of the Worst’ Searchable Site” HERE)

US Deploys Fighter Jets to Venezuelan Coast in Closest Approach Yet

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The U.S. deployed two fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela Tuesday, marking what appeared to be the closest known approach of military aircraft to Venezuelan airspace to date, according to reports.

The F/A-18 jets were observed on Flightradar24 flying for roughly 30 minutes over the waters north of Venezuela, the Associated Press reported.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the short mission as a “routine training flight” designed to demonstrate the aircraft’s operational reach.

The official also did not disclose whether the jets were armed but did emphasize that the operation remained entirely within international airspace.

Tuesday’s dual flight follows months of heightened U.S. military activity in the region. (Read more from “US Deploys Fighter Jets to Venezuelan Coast in Closest Approach Yet” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Trump Accuses Ilhan Omar Of Marrying Her Brother

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President Donald Trump accused Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota of marrying her brother during an interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns released Tuesday.

Questions about whether Omar committed immigration fraud have dogged the Somali-born Minnesota congresswoman since she was elected to Congress in 2018, with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune uncovering inconsistencies regarding her marital history in a 2019 report. Trump took aim at Omar, who has attacked operations by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into the Minneapolis area to target illegal immigrants from Somalia after revelations into at least $1 billion in welfare fraud, some of which allegedly went to the radical Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabaab, during his appearance on “The Conversation.”

“I want to see people that contribute. I don’t want to see Somalia,” Trump told Burns. “I don’t want to see a woman that, you know, marries her brother to get in and then becomes a congressman, does nothing but complain.”

Omar claimed during a Sunday appearance on “Face the Nation” that Somalis in Minnesota were also victims of the welfare fraud scheme.

“All she does is complain, complain, complain and yet her country is a mess. You know, it’s one of the worst in the world,” Trump said. “Let her go back, fix up her own country. So no, Somalia, and I was right about it.” (Read more from “Trump Accuses Ilhan Omar Of Marrying Her Brother” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Nancy Mace Turned ‘Minor Miscommunication’ Into Profanity-Laced ‘Spectacle’ at SC Airport: Police Report

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Rep. Nancy Mace let a “minor miscommunication” blow up into a profane “spectacle” when she repeatedly cussed at cops for being late to escort her through a South Carolina airport, an internal investigation has found.

Mace (R-SC), 47, had expected Charleston Airport Police to walk with her to her gate promptly after being dropped off on the morning of Oct. 30 — but flew into a rage when a supervisor who misidentified her car delayed the congresswoman’s meetup with law enforcement, according to the 10-page report.

The South Carolina gubernatorial hopeful arrived at an unexpected location in a “grey/silver BMW” rather than a “white” one, as the supervisor — who the report said “read the email quickly and pass[ed] on incorrect information unintentionally” — had stated.

Use of the encrypted app Signal — which “[n]o other protectee” uses for communicating with officers — and complications due to the “high personnel turnover” rate in Mace’s office also “exacerbated” the situation, added the Nov. 12 report by Charleston Airport Police Chief James A. Woods.

“While it is clear that we hold a certain level of responsibility in miscommunicating the color of Congresswoman Mace’s vehicle, it’s also equally clear that her continued failure to follow established procedures at the checkpoint is what turned a minor miscommunication over the color of a vehicle into the spectacle that this issue has become for our employees and airport workers,” it concluded. (Read more from “Nancy Mace Turned ‘Minor Miscommunication’ Into Profanity-Laced ‘Spectacle’ at SC Airport: Police Report” HERE)

Florida Federal Judge Green-Lights Publication of Epstein Grand Jury Testimony

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A Trump-appointed federal judge in Florida has ordered the public release of grand jury transcripts from the first federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of underage girls, which took place during the mid-2000s.

That investigation ended without any charges. In 2007, however, federal prosecutors in Florida did indict Epstein, who managed to obtain a plea deal, copping to relatively minor charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He was given an 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County Jail—with daytime work release—and served about 13 months.

Back in July, a different judge, at the request of the Trump administration, had declined to demand release of records from the earlier investigation. On Friday, however, US District Judge Rodney Smith, whom Trump appointed to the bench in 2018, stated that the Epstein Files Transparency Act that President Donald Trump signed into law on November 19, “overrides” rules that prohibit the public disclosure of “unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials”—including grand jury transcripts.

This same law compels the Department of Justice, federal prosecutors, and the FBI to release, by mid-December, materials they collected during their investigations into Epstein going back at least as far as the mid-2000s Florida case. The DOJ has not yet announced a timeline for making the information publicly available. (Read more from “Florida Federal Judge Green-Lights Publication of Epstein Grand Jury Testimony” HERE)