WORLD NEWS
Israel Starts Pumping Seawater Into Gaza Tunnels, After Russia Warned Against ‘War Crime’
Israel’s previously reported somewhat far-fetched sounding plan to flood Gaza’s underground network of tunnels, to flush out and kill Hamas operatives, is actually happening.
“Israel’s military has begun to pump seawater into Hamas’s vast complex of tunnels in Gaza, according to U.S. officials briefed on the Israeli military’s operations, part of an intensive effort to destroy the underground infrastructure that has underpinned the group’s operations,” The Wall Street Journal reports Tuesday. Water is being pumped from the nearby Mediterranean Sea.
Netanyahu: ‘We Will Destroy Hamas’ Regardless of ‘International Pressures’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told soldiers on Wednesday that Israel “will destroy Hamas” regardless of “international pressures.”
Netanyahu made his comments in conversation with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, a day after the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, and after U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Israel for what he called, without evidence, “indiscriminate bombing.”
Is This The End For Zelenskyy?
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Western public has been sold the story of a Ukrainian front united in its unwavering commitment to a total military victory over Russia. Over the past few weeks, however, this narrative has started to crumble.
Despite the failure of Ukraine’s Nato-backed counteroffensive, which is now universally accepted, Zelenskyy continues to stick to the maximalist victory-at-all-costs narrative — that Ukraine must go on fighting until it retakes every inch of lost territory, including Crimea, and that Putin should not be negotiated with. This is understandable: he has staked everything on achieving that objective — anything less would probably mean the end of his political career.
Climate Crazies Wage Coordinated Attacks on Christmas Trees in Seven Cities in Germany
Radical climate activists launched a series of coordinated strikes against public Christmas trees throughout Germany on Wednesday morning in response to the supposed climate “catastrophe”.
The so-called ‘Last Generation’ green activist group sprayed public Christmas trees with orange paint in Berlin and six other German cities on Wednesday morning, including festively adorned trees in Potsdam Square and the tree outside the nearby Federal Council building in Berlin.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
FBI, DHS Warn of Heightened Threat Through Holidays
Three federal agencies issued a public safety warning on Tuesday night, saying that the threat of violence — especially by lone actors — in the United States is heightened through the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) warned of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter” as a result of the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
“Although this announcement is not in response to any specific plotting activity, these targets likely remain attractive to lone actors inspired by a range of ideologies due to their accessibility and symbolic nature,” the agencies said in the release.
Republicans to Launch Contempt Proceedings After Hunter Biden Defies Subpoena
Republicans are preparing to launch contempt proceedings against President Joe Biden’s son after he defied a subpoena to testify behind closed doors.
“Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings,” Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a joint statement on Dec. 13. “We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden.”
Mr. Biden, 53, appeared outside the U.S. Capitol earlier on Dec. 13 but said he would only testify in public, defying a subpoena.
Supreme Court Accepts Case Challenging Jan. 6 Obstruction Charges
The petition of Joseph Wayne Fischer challenges the Department of Justice’s use of evidence-tampering law to prosecute Jan. 6 defendants.
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a Jan. 6 defendant’s appeal of the Department of Justice’s novel use of evidence-tampering law to prosecute hundreds of defendants for obstruction of Congress.
A miscellaneous order released by the high court on Dec. 13 granted the petition of Joseph Wayne Fischer, challenging the most widely charged felony in Jan. 6 cases, which carries up to 20 years in prison.
The Fischer case is one of three identical petitions for case review by Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with corruptly obstructing an official proceeding, namely a joint session of Congress convened for the counting and certification of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump put EPA on course to end animal testing; Biden has started it up again
Jasper was “a very good rabbit,” according to the EPA researchers who kept him. But that didn’t earn him a full retirement.
The Environmental Protection Agency decided to euthanize Jasper earlier this year after he developed health issues from being forced to stay in a wire cage. His caretakers ruled that “humane euthanasia” was a better option than transferring him to an alternative, saying it was too much of a burden for a lab to provide the daily socializing the bunny would need.
Jasper‘s death is part of a broader retreat on animal testing by the Biden administration according to the White Coat Waste Project, a watchdog group that shared documents exclusively with The Washington Times detailing EPA‘s reversal.
Appeals Court to Fast Track Trump Immunity Case
Defense attorneys argue that this is an improper rushing of proceedings.
A federal appeals court on Wednesday agreed to special prosecutor Jack Smith’s request to expedite former President Donald Trump’s appeal to dismiss his Washington, D.C., election case based on presidential immunity.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an order outlining a streamlined briefing schedule and calling for oral arguments, with the date to be set later.
According to the order, President Trump’s opening brief is due by Dec. 23. The order emphasized that issues and arguments should be raised in the opening brief, discouraging new points in the reply brief for consideration.
“The court ordinarily will not consider issues and arguments raised for the first time in the reply brief,” reads the order (pdf).
This decision follows statements by the attorneys representing President Trump accusing the special counsel’s office of election interference in a recent appeals court filing after Mr. Smith requested to expedite the appeal so that the case can go to trial on March 4, 2024. March 4 is Super Tuesday, the U.S. presidential primary election day.
“The prosecution has one goal in this case: To unlawfully attempt to try, convict, and sentence President Trump before an election in which he is likely to defeat President Biden,” the defense attorneys wrote.
“This represents a blatant attempt to interfere with the 2024 presidential election and to disenfranchise the tens of millions of voters who support President Trump’s candidacy.”
Federal Judge Pauses Trump Jan. 6 Case
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has paused court proceedings in the election case against former President Donald Trump, pending his appeal to dismiss the case entirely based on presidential immunity.
“The court agrees with both parties that Defendant’s appeal automatically stays any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Defendant,” she wrote. “The court hereby stays the deadlines and proceedings scheduled by its Pretrial Order.”
Judge Chutkan clarified that this would pause the pretrial deadlines, not vacate them.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Issues Warning to Trump: ‘MAGA Would Revolt’
The Georgia Republican was responding to comments made by Lara Trump on Wednesday.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) warned that “MAGA would revolt” if former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were to be included in a potential Trump administration, referring to speculation about Ms. Haley’s future.
The former president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said in an interview that she could not rule out whether the former South Carolina governor would serve as his vice president. “Never say never,” she said in response to a question from NewsNation host Eric Bolling about whether Ms. Haley could serve as his No. 2.
“I thought you were gonna say Trump–Chris Christie talk, which you’d have a better chance of [President] Joe Biden running with [former President] Donald Trump than Chris Christie at this point,” Ms. Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, told the host.
Is wokeness and crime so bad in DC, the city is losing sports teams too?
Washington Wizards And Washington Capitals Are Moving To Virginia
The Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals will be moving from downtown D.C. to northern Virginia by 2028, billionaire majority franchise owner Ted Leosis said Wednesday, a confirmation that comes days after state lawmakers approved the building of a $2 billion sports and entertainment district in Alexandria.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Tesla is recalling over 2 million vehicles because the Autopilot system doesn’t do enough to prevent drivers from misusing it, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.
It comes as a result of the NHTSA’s two-year investigation into Tesla, which will remain open as it monitors “the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies,” an agency spokesperson told Business Insider.
The investigation has seen the NHTSA review 956 crashes in which Autopilot was believed to be in use.
“Automated technology holds great promise for improving safety but only when it is deployed responsibly,” an NHTSA spokesperson said. “Today’s action is an example of improving automated systems by prioritizing safety.”
Fed holds rates steady, indicates three cuts coming in 2024
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate steady for the third straight time and set the table for multiple cuts to come in 2024 and beyond.
With the inflation rate easing and the economy holding in, policymakers on the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep the benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%.
HEALTH
First Ever CRISPR Gene-Editing Therapy Approved in the US
Clinical trial findings showed both treatments could reduce pain from vaso-occlusive events, hallmarks of sickle cell disease.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CRISPR and lentiviral vector-based gene therapies for treating sickle cell disease in patients aged 12 years or older.
“Today’s actions follow rigorous evaluations of the scientific and clinical data needed to support approval,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
The two therapies are Casgevy, a CRISPR-based gene therapy manufactured by Vertex, and Lyfgenia from Bluebird Bio, which does not use CRISPR but lentiviral vectors to edit genes.
Can Ending Inflammation Help Beat Depression?
Ending inflammation may help beat depression and reduce your risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Before taking what pharma offers, consider these options.
Intermittent inflammation is critical to support life, but chronic inflammation is linked to depression and many chronic diseases that are the leading causes of mortality worldwide, such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetes
Data show medications that reduce inflammation help reduce symptoms of depression, including in those with treatment-resistant depression. Medications like alpha interferon spike the inflammatory response and increase the risk of psychosis and depression
Early life stressors that induce inflammation can increase the risk of chronic diseases and are associated with more stubborn forms of depression. Inflammation in the brain is also associated with fibromyalgia and may be linked to reduced cognitive function in older adults
Black seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties that were studied to help lower the inflammatory response to COVID-19. Other nutrients that help lower inflammation include ginger, omega-3, vitamin E, turmeric and bromelain
Power Mall Products to try for inflammation:
- Black Seed-Plus Capsules & Oil of Black Seed (black seed is high in vitamin E, & omega-3s as well!)
- Super Krill Oil (high in Omega 3)
- Vitamin E Tocotrienols (60 CT)
- CurcuminX4000
- Optivida Digestive Enzymes (contains curcumin and bromelain)
Weight loss giants pay millions to doctors amid rising concerns over drug side effects
Surpassing the 40 percent mark, the current U.S. adult obesity rate has reached 42.4 percent, casting a glaring spotlight on the gravity of the nation’s obesity crisis. Impressively, this signals a remarkable 26 percent surge in the national adult obesity rate since 2008.
As the obesity epidemic rages on, there’s a skyrocketing demand for weight loss medications. Yet, the potential drawbacks of these drugs take center stage in a recent study featured in JAMA Network. Adding to the complexity, these medications often come with a hefty price tag, and insurance coverage remains inconsistent.
GLP-1 agonists – Big Pharma’s financial triumph at the cost of personal health
The class of obesity drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists proves to be a financial triumph for Big Pharma. However, these medications tread a delicate line, revealing a dual impact. Firstly, the weight loss drugs within the GLP-1 category come at a steep cost, presenting a financial burden for patients. More significantly, the toll on personal health emerges as a substantial concern, as outlined below.
The extensive study referenced involved 4,144 individuals grappling with obesity, with a cohort opting for the brand-name weight loss drug Saxenda, also recognized as liraglutide. Additionally, 613 participants took semaglutide, alternatively known as Rybelsus, Ozempic, and Wegovy, while another 654 were administered bupropion-naltrexone.
A myriad of side effects accompanies these weight loss drugs, including:
- Thyroid complications with potential cancer implications
- Signals for self-harm
- Anesthesia-related complications
- Impaired vision
- A ninefold increase in the risk of pancreatitis, indicating pancreas inflammation
- A fourfold greater risk for bowel obstruction
Moreover, long-term risks, potentially including cancer, loom on the horizon. The widespread prescription of GLP-1 agonists for both weight loss and blood sugar regulation is prompting concerns within the medical community. Despite mainstream media shedding light on the side effects of obesity medications, the demand for these drugs continues to surge.
Reasons for bleeding gum during brushing
Are you constantly battling with swollen and painful gums? Do you find that even gentle brushing leads to gum recession? It’s time to consider whether these issues might be linked to problems with your blood sugar control.
In the United States, periodontal disease is alarmingly common, affecting 47.2% of adults over 30 and a staggering 70.1% of those 65 and older. This silent oral health crisis has implications that go far beyond oral health. Recent medical findings underscore a worrying link between periodontitis and systemic diseases, particularly diabetes.
As the prevalence of diabetes is expected to more than double globally by 2050, reaching an estimated 1.3 billion people, understanding and managing the relationship between periodontal health and diabetes becomes critical.
Systematic reviews reveal a bidirectional relationship between these two conditions. Periodontitis not only increases the risk of developing diabetes but also complicates diabetes management, leading to a poorer prognosis.
The Interconnected Risk
Studies indicate a fourfold increase in the risk of developing diabetes in patients with periodontitis compared to those with healthy gums[6], and a 53% increase in risk linked to severe periodontitis[5].
Among non-diabetics, those with periodontitis have significantly higher levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin resistance[7], suggesting a strong potential connection between periodontitis and elevated diabetes risk.
For diabetics, the presence of periodontitis can lead to poorer blood sugar control[8], a primary task in diabetes management, and subsequently to a higher risk of severe complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular diseases[9–10]. Poor glycemic control can precipitate the early onset of these complications.
Furthermore, the severity of periodontitis is strongly correlated with an increased risk of developing a range of complications[11], including diabetic foot, proteinuria, cardiovascular complications, and higher mortality rates[12].
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IPCC Scientists Demand Dictatorial Powers Over Climate Change Polices\
Now, a group of IPCC scientists have come forward during COP28 to demand authority and unilateral power to set and enforce climate change policies for every nation on Earth.
That a single group of deluded technocrat scientists should declare themselves to be the sole enforcers of their own crackpot “science” is patently insane. If they are not summarily stopped, it will give them the dictatorial power to implement every facet of Agenda 21, 2030 Agenda, Global Biodiversity Assessment, etc.; in other words, it will be a total scientific dictatorship.
Meet The Cave-Men (And Women) Of The Anti-Human Death-Cult
As world leaders gathered over the weekend for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, they faced an uncomfortable reality check from the conference president Sultan Al Jaber, who stated, “there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C,” warning that their fossil-fuel policies would “take the world back into caves.”
Nevertheless, no lesser mind than Vice President Kamala Harris pledged another $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund at the summit, seeking to help developing countries adapt to the “climate crisis” as well as decreasing fossil fuel production, according to CNN.
The cult-like worship of (and escalation of) these policies is what led to tonight’s discussion between Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger, author of the must-read “Apocalypse Never”, highlighting the increasingly obvious disconnect between global elites and the general public – most specifically in the context of environmental policies.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
Lawmakers are divided on how to reform foreign surveillance program
Congress is set to extend a key foreign surveillance program through April, but lawmakers are divided on how to reform program going forward.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Chinese hackers target US infrastructure: Report
A new report claims China has been initiating more cyber attacks and has a greater plan to cripple the U.S. through hacking.
The report from the Washington Post reveals alleged state-sponsored Chinese hackers may have breached more than two dozen systems over the past year alone.
Experts believe this could be part of the country’s long game to distract, or worse, infect American commerce and infrastructure if a conflict erupts over Taiwan.
The hackers are allegedly targeting critical infrastructure such as water utility in Hawaii, a port on the West Coast and some oil and gas pipelines, the report said.
Chinese hackers have even been accused of trying to bust into the Texas power grid over the past summer, according to the Washington Post.
American cyber security officials believe some of this activity is part of a state-sponsored Chinese operation called Volt Typhoon. An advisory went out about this back in May.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
DIY Rabbit Hutch: 8 Free Plans for Building a Perfect Outdoor Home
How to Preserve Onions- 5 Different Ways!
Learn how to preserve onions, using 5 different methods, so you can enjoy your onion harvest all year long!
2ND AMENDMENT
New Mexico Governor Pushing Ban on AR-15s, Other Semiautomatics
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is pushing a ban on AR-15s and other semiautomatic rifles in an upcoming 30-day legislative session in her state.
The Santa Fe Reporter noted Grisham wants to do what Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) unsuccessfully attempted at the federal level. Heinrich, together with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), put forward the Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE), and it went nowhere.
Breitbart News reported the focus on the AR-15’s gas operation came some 64 years after the gun was designed to use spent gas from a shell casing to reset the bolt group and ready the gun for the next round. The rifle is still just a semiautomatic, firing one round per trigger pull just like a Glock or Smith & Wesson handgun, but the gas from a spent shell casing replaces recoil in working the action.
An armed New Mexico homeowner last week warned an intruder banging on his door late at night that he’d shoot if the intruder entered — and when the intruder kicked the door open, the homeowner kept his promise.
What are the details?
Police in Clovis — which is near the west Texas border — said a Rosa Boulevard resident called 911 around 11 p.m. Dec. 4 reporting someone was trying to break into his home.
While officers were responding, the homeowner called 911 again, stating the person had forced his way into the home, and the caller said he shot the intruder, police said.
The intruder was taken to a hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in Lubbock, Texas, police said.
Clovis police detectives began investigating and learned the homeowner was awakened by the intruder banging on his front door, police said. The homeowner didn’t recognize the individual on his porch and told him through the closed front door to go away and that police had been called, police said.
The homeowner also warned the person he was armed with a gun and would shoot the intruder if he entered the residence, police said.
Moments later, the intruder kicked open the homeowner’s front door and entered the home, police said, adding that the homeowner again warned the person he was armed.
Concerned for his safety as well as the safety of others in the home, the homeowner fired one round at intruder, after which he fell to the ground, police said.
The homeowner said he called 911 again saying he shot intruder and to send an ambulance, police added.
The wounded intruder was listed in stable but critical condition in the Lubbock medical facility, police said.
COVID RELATED NEWS
Final Batch of Pfizer Documents Released by FDA 800 Days After COVID Vaccine Approval
The FDA released the final batch of documents it relied upon in licensing Pfizer’s Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16 and up—more than 800 days after the agency approved the shot.
The documents are “finally in the hands of the public, where they belong,” the Informed Consent Action Network said in a press release. “Now, independent scientists and researchers can see everything FDA saw when it made its decision that this vaccine was ‘safe and effective.’”
The recent documents disclosed as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show the agency knew its safety monitoring system was “not sufficient” for assessing the risk of heart conditions associated with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine when it licensed the company’s “Comirnaty” vaccine.
Certain COVID-19 Vaccines Linked to Elevated Risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
As the rate of vaccination increases so has the incidence of GBS—particularly after viral vector-based vaccines such as AstraZeneca.
As the vaccination rate continues to rise, an increasing number of side effects are being reported. Research indicates that COVID-19 viral vector-based vaccines increase the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) by three to four times compared to mRNA-based vaccines.
CANCEL CULTURE
Get Woke, Go Broke: Donations to Harry and Meghan’s Charity Collapse by $11 Million
Where did the money go? That would appear to be an entirely fair question for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to ask as a U.S. tax filing for their Archewell charitable foundation reveals it made a loss last year on the back of a $11 million year-on-year collapse in donations.
The foundation, started two years ago by the pair to “uplift and unite communities, both local and global, online and offline,” according to its website, disclosed in a tax filing Tuesday the non-profit organization received just over $2 million in charitable contributions in 2022, compared to $13 million in 2021.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Plans ‘No Whites’ Christmas Party
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, has come under fire for planning a “no whites” Christmas Party that specifically sought to exclude white members of the city government.
Wu’s aide issued an apology this week after she mistakenly sent an invite for the mayor’s “no whites” Christmas Party to all members of the Boston City Council when only the “Electeds of Color” were meant to receive the invite.
Seattle Teen Fails Quiz for Stating Only Women Can Get Pregnant
A Seattle high schooler had points deducted from a quiz for stating that only women can get pregnant, the student’s mother explained Sunday.
The Chief Sealth International High School tenth grader reportedly failed a true-false quiz in his Ethnic Studies World History class after marking two statements as “true”: “All men have penises,” and “Only women can get pregnant.”
When grading the quiz, titled “Understanding Gender vs. Sex,” his teacher marked those two answers as incorrect, causing him to fail, the boy’s mother told the Jason Rantz Show on Sunday.
GOOD NEWS
House Formalizes Biden Impeachment Inquiry
The House of Representatives has formalized its impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, giving it legal teeth amid expected court battles.
The House of Representatives on Dec. 13 formalized its impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, a move expected to give more firepower to Republicans’ efforts to compel the provision of documents and testimony from the White House and the Biden family.
All Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, which passed 221–212.
The passage came hours after the president’s son Hunter Biden defied a subpoena to provide testimony at a closed-door hearing before Republican investigators. Instead, Mr. Biden showed up outside of the Capitol and demanded that he testify at a public hearing instead. Top Republicans say they will now initiate contempt proceedings against Mr. Biden.
ICYMI
VIDEO: Johnny Depp throws Meghan Markle out of the Pogue’s frontman Shane MacGowan’s funeral service (Markel showed up to promote her new documentary)!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5FmdyYtHE&t=5s
Beach Boys Member Jeffrey Foskett Dies at 67
Beach Boys member Jeffrey Foskett died on Monday at the age of 67 after a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
“I’m so heartbroken that my dear friend Jeff Foskett has passed,” Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “Jeff was always there for me when we toured and we couldn’t have done it without him.”
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