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Montana Officials Deny Viral Midair ‘Explosion’ Video Amid Concerns Over Chinese Spy Balloon

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A viral video depicting what appeared to be an explosion over Billings, Montana Friday night was met both with skepticism and concern amid widespread reports of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the state earlier in the week.

“We’re monitoring the situation. I’m talking to our National Guard to find out if they have additional information,” Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) told Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson in an on-air interview shortly after the video was posted.

Later in the evening, the City of Billings reported on its Twitter account that they confirmed with Montana’s Disaster Emergency Services and Gov. Gianforte that there were no explosions “in, around, or across” the state. In addition, the City of Billings said the video “can not be substantiated.”

The “explosion” video, posted by an account called @MMtTreasures, appeared to show a vertical pillar of white smoke or vapor, a flash of light, and something falling from the sky. In the text accompanying the video, @MMtTreasures also describes seeing a jet and witnessing what she described as an “explosion.”

(Read more from “Montana Officials Deny Viral Midair ‘Explosion’ Video Amid Concerns Over Chinese Spy Balloon” HERE)

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U.S. Military Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon; Senator Says China Sent Balloon to Send ‘a Message’: They Believe U.S. Is ‘in Decline’

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By Townhall. The U.S. military shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon on Saturday as it made its way over the Atlantic Ocean.

Shortly after the government announced the Chinese spy balloon was shot down, President Joe Biden said he authorized the Pentagon to do so days ago.

“I ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible,” Biden told reporters on Saturday, adding “they decided without doing any damage to people on the ground they decided that the best time to do that was when it got over water outside within a 12 mile limit.”

Biden continued to claim that he ordered them to shoot down the balloon on Wednesday, adding “they said to me let’s wait for the safest place to do it.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the president did give him orders to take the balloon down on a few days ago, however, the military decided to wait until the surveillance balloon was no longer a risk to American lives. (Read more from “U.S. Military Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon” HERE)

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Rubio Says China Sent Balloon to Send ‘a Message’: They Believe U.S. Is ‘in Decline’

By ABC News. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that despite China’s claims otherwise, they sent a balloon into the U.S. to send a message about the country’s sway across the globe.

“The key part here is they knew exactly what they were doing and there was a message behind it,” Rubio told ABC “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

“They understood that it [the balloon] was going to be spotted, they knew the U.S. government would have to reveal it, that people were gonna see it over the sky. And the message they were trying to send is what they believe internally, and that is that the United States is a once-great superpower that’s hollowed out, it’s in decline,” Rubio said.

The balloon’s presence over Montana caused the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop for the Billings airport on Wednesday. But U.S. officials only announced the vessel was over the country late Thursday, after it had already flown down from Alaska. The military chose to wait to strike the balloon until the risk to civilians was minimized, defense officials have said. (Read more from “Rubio Says China Sent Balloon to Send ‘a Message’: They Believe U.S. Is ‘in Decline'” HERE)

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Another Chinese Spy Balloon Discovered; China Claims Balloon Is Researching Weather; ‘Shoot Down the Balloon!’: Trump Calls for Chinese Spy Balloon to Be Destroyed

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By Patrick Reilly. Another Chinese spy balloon is currently making its way over Latin America, Pentagon officials said Friday night.

“We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. . .

The report of a second balloon comes after Pentagon officials announced Thursday that a high-altitude balloon had been spotted flying over sensitive sites in the western US to collect information. . .

“While we won’t get into specifics in regards to the exact location, I can tell you that the balloon continues to move eastward and is currently over the center of the continental United States,” Ryder said Friday, adding that the balloon will likely be over US airspace for “a few days.”

Ryder described the balloon as “maneuverable,” noting that it “has changed its course, which is again why we’re monitoring it.” He said military officials will continue to assess their “options,” without ruling out shooting it down eventually. (Read more about the Chinese spy balloon HERE)

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Chinese Spy Balloon Researching Weather Says Foreign Ministry

By Breitbart. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday initially denied any knowledge of the huge surveillance balloon floating through American airspace, then claimed it was a weather research “airship.”

The Pentagon responded to baffled questions about why the incredibly well-funded U.S. military was unable to detect, thwart, or destroy the balloon by claiming that attacking it could jeopardize people on the ground in Montana.

“I have noted relevant reports. We are gathering and verifying the facts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said when asked about the balloon.

“China is a responsible country and we always act in accordance with international law. We have no intention to violate the territory or airspace of any sovereign country,” she insisted. (Read more from “China Claims Alleged Chinese Spy Balloon Is ‘Civilian Airship’ Researching Weather” HERE)

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‘Shoot Down the Balloon!’: Trump Calls for Chinese Spy Balloon to Be Shot Down

By Breitbart. Former President Donald Trump is calling for the Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States to be shot down.

“SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning, after the Pentagon confirmed Thursday evening that a Chinese spy balloon had been floating over the U.S. for several days.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Thursday:

The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic, and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”

A senior defense official told reporters during a briefing, “We are confident that this high-altitude surveillance balloon belongs to the [People’s Republic of China].” (Read more from “‘Shoot Down the Balloon!’: Trump Calls for Chinese Spy Balloon to Be Shot Down” HERE)

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Biden Refuses to Answer Questions About Chinese Spy Balloon (VIDEO)

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On Friday morning, President Joe Biden delivered scheduled remarks on the economy following the release of January’s jobs report — but that wasn’t what was on Americans’ or reporters’ minds.

You see, more Biden lies about inflation and jobs aren’t really what’s notable after the Chinese Communist Party claimed ownership of the spy balloon that was spotted floating over the northern U.S., above a military installation, where some of America’s intercontinental ballistic missiles are housed. China laughably claimed the balloon is just a “civilian airship” that merely floated off-course…to be conveniently located above a prime first-strike target if China wanted to cripple America’s ability to respond to hostile incoming.

Biden knows that it’s another crisis of his leadership, which is why he said on Friday morning that he was “not gonna answer any questions” on topics other than the economy:

(Read more from “Biden Refuses to Answer Questions About Chinese Spy Balloon (VIDEO)” HERE)

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Canada Says It Is Monitoring ‘Potential Second Incident’ Linked to Chinese Alleged Spy Balloon

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The Canadian Armed Forces revealed late Thursday that it is monitoring a “potential second incident” related to the discovery of a massive Chinese balloon over Montana that the Communist Party claimed had drifted off course and coincidentally landed near American military sites of high importance.

The Pentagon confirmed late Thursday that it had identified what it suspected was a Chinese surveillance balloon over Montana, near an area housing nuclear missile silo fields. A Pentagon spokesman insisted the balloon was “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.” Pentagon officials reportedly opted not to shoot the balloon down, despite the overt national security threat it causes, out of concern that debris from the destroyed balloon could hurt people on the ground.

The Communist Party of China confirmed on Friday that the balloon originated in China, but claimed it unintentionally drifted into sensitive U.S. airspace due to “force majeure.”

The balloon has caused a growing international scandal for left-wing President Joe Biden, who is facing criticism from the right for not acting to take down the balloon and reportedly moved to postpone a planned trip to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday. Hours before the reported postponement, reports indicated that China had agreed to schedule a meeting between Blinken and dictator Xi Jinping.

The Canadian government waded into the fray with a statement confirming that it is working “with American partners and continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard Canada’s sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats.” It also suggested the existed of either a second Chinese alleged spy balloon or of a second incident involving the same balloon.

(Read more from “Canada Says It Is Monitoring ‘Potential Second Incident’ Linked to Chinese Alleged Spy Balloon” HERE)

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U.S. Officials Respond to Beijing’s Explanation for Why Spy Balloon Is Hovering Over Several States

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U.S. officials on Friday disputed claims from the People’s Republic of China that a Chinese surveillance balloon detected over the northern United States was a “civilian airship” that had blown off course.

A senior U.S. Defense official told Fox News that the balloon was launched from mainland China. The Pentagon does not believe that this was a weather balloon that flew off course. There was no “force majeure” that caused the Chinese surveillance balloon to enter U.S. airspace, as China’s foreign ministry spokesperson had claimed.

“This was intentional,” the senior U.S. official said.

The balloon is currently flying at 60,000 feet, which is higher than most U.S. warplanes or aircraft can fly. Multiple Republican lawmakers and former President Trump – who declared his candidacy for president in 2024 in November – have called on President Biden to shoot it down. . .

“The airship is from China. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.” (Read more from “U.S. Officials Respond to Beijing’s Explanation for Why Spy Balloon Is Hovering Over Several States” HERE)

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‘Absolutely Not’: Swalwell Claims His Relationship With Suspected Chinese Spy Didn’t Compromise U.S. Security

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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) claimed during an interview on Sunday that his past relationship with a suspected Chinese spy did not compromise U.S. national security.

Swalwell made the remarks during an interview broadcast on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday while talking about being booted off the House Intelligence Committee.

“Did you put yourself in a vulnerable position in any way, so that this alleged Chinese spy could have benefited or even learned American secrets?” Bash asked.

“Absolutely not,” Swalwell responded. “But, Dana, don’t take my word for it. Take the FBI’s word for it. They never talk about ongoing investigations. And former Chairman [Adam] Schiff knows this, as a member of the Gang of Eight. Three different times, they came out and said two things. All I did was help them and, also, I was never under any suspicion of wrongdoing.”

(Read more from “‘Absolutely Not’: Swalwell Claims His Relationship With Suspected Chinese Spy Didn’t Compromise U.S. Security” HERE)

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Warning: Odds of China-Taiwan Conflict ‘Very High’ (VIDEO)

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House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said on this week’s broadcast of “Fox News Sunday” that the possibility of war between China and Taiwan is “very high.”

Anchor Shannon Bream said, “I want to start with this reports of a top general who is making a comment about a potential war with China in 2025, get your reaction to this. NBC News is citing a memo to his officers with this quote, ‘I hope I am wrong,’ he says to them. ‘My gut tells me will fight in 2025.’ That’s being met with a lot of different reactions, some skepticism this is attributed to the opinion of one man. What do you make of that?”

McCaul said, “I hope he’s wrong as well. I think he’s right, though, unfortunately.”

(Read more from “Warning: Odds of China-Taiwan Conflict ‘Very High’ (VIDEO)” HERE)

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Massive Liberal Charities Steered Millions to Chinese Groups Tied to Its Government

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Two of the largest liberal charities in the United States handed millions of dollars in grants to entities in China linked to the Chinese Communist Party, documents show.

The Bill and Melinda Gates and Ford foundations, two highly influential nonprofit groups influencing left-leaning causes, combined in 2021 to give over $39 million to China, according to their latest tax forms. Some of these funds were directed to Chinese universities and government agencies involved in military research to further the CCP’s global influence, filings reveal.

“If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we need to heavily scrutinize every American dollar that goes to CCP-affiliated entities,” Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) told the Washington Free Beacon. . .

The bulk of the $39 million steered to China came from the Gates Foundation, which Microsoft founder Bill Gates launched in 2000 with his then-wife, Melinda Gates. The foundation sent roughly $30 million to Chinese entities, according to tax forms. (Read more from “Massive Liberal Charities Steered Millions to Chinese Groups Tied to Its Government” HERE)

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Oversight Committee Calls on University of Pennsylvania to Provide Information on Anonymous Chinese Donations

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House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is calling on the University of Pennsylvania to provide information about anonymous Chinese donations to the university affiliated with the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.

He wrote a letter to university President Liz Magill on Wednesday over concerns of foreign influence after the recent discovery of classified documents in President Joe Biden’s former office at the center, which is part of the Ivy League institution.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating President Biden’s possible illegal handling of sensitive, highly classified documents. Recent reports reveal President Biden’s attorneys discovered Obama-Biden Administration documents in an unsecured closet at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement—a Washington, D.C.-based think tank affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania,” Comer wrote.

Comer blasted the president’s lax security over classified documents, arguing that the committee needs information on China’s donors to determine if there are national security threats.

“President Biden’s pattern of mishandling classified documents is alarming. The Committee is concerned about who had access to these documents given the Biden family’s financial connections to foreign actors and companies. The American people deserve to know whether the Chinese Communist Party, through Chinese companies, influenced potential Biden Administration policies with large, anonymous donations to UPenn and the Penn Biden Center,” he wrote. (Read more from “Oversight Committee Calls on University of Pennsylvania to Provide Information on Anonymous Chinese Donations” HERE)

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