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1 hour ago
News
World

Israel Approves 19 New Settlements in the West Bank.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Israel’s cabinet approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, potentialy endangering the Gaza ceasefire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was announced this week concerning the West Bank, a region captured by Israel in 1967.

💬KEY QUOTE: Israel risks “undermining the [U.S.] 20 Point Plan [for ending the Gaza war] and prospects for the long-term peace and security,” said Hamish Falconer, Britain’s Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

🎯IMPACT: The approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50 percent under the current government.

IN FULL

Israel’s cabinet has approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, according to Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, prompting renewed friction with international governments and human rights groups who say the move violates international law and undermines peace. Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, said the decision raises the number of settlements in the West Bank to 210, up from 141 in 2022. The approvals also retroactively legalize several previously unauthorized outposts and establish new settlements on land from which Palestinians have been evacuated.

Israel’s incumbent coalition government has pushed aggressively to entrench Israeli presence in the West Bank. Critics argue the policy weakens diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.

British Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer criticized the decision, saying it risks “undermining the [U.S.] 20 Point Plan [for ending the Gaza war] and prospects for the long-term peace and security,” a key foreign policy goal of the Trump administration.

The settlement decision has heightened tensions between Israel and the United States. In October, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized an Israeli parliamentary move related to West Bank annexation, calling it “a very stupid political stunt” and saying, “I personally take some insult to it,” as he had been in the country. He added that “the policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.”

Relations were further strained in December after the White House strongly rebuked Israel for breaking a Gaza ceasefire, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that such actions could damage U.S.-led peace efforts. At the same time, Washington is continuing to provide substantial military support to Israel. Earlier this month, Congress passed a sweeping defense bill that includes roughly $650 million in aid for Israel, alongside further financial support for Ukraine.

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26 minutes ago
News

Somali ‘Medicaid Mogul’ Accused of Fraud, Family Allegedly Put Bounty on Reporter.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A nonprofit executive in Maine, Abdullahi Ali, is accused of Medicaid fraud, with his family allegedly placing a bounty on a journalist in Somalia who shared reporting on the allegations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abdullahi Ali, Gateway Community Services, whistleblower Christopher Bernardini, Governor Janet Mills (D), and Maine state Senator Matt Harrington (R).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Maine, December 2025, with related incidents in Somalia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You can’t rob a bank for millions of dollars. You shouldn’t be able to rob taxpayers of millions of dollars and get away with it. There absolutely needs to be a criminal investigation into this immediately.” – Matt Harrington

🎯IMPACT: The allegations highlight concerns over the misuse of taxpayer funds in the Somali community, and raise questions about oversight in Maine’s Medicaid and welfare systems.

IN FULL

Abdullahi Ali, executive director of Gateway Community Services in Maine, is facing allegations that his nonprofit defrauded taxpayers through Maine’s Medicaid program and the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Whistleblower Christopher Bernardini has alleged that Gateway submitted false documentation for services that were never delivered, resulting in reimbursements from state and federal funds.

During the period he was overseeing Gateway, Ali was also reportedly campaigning to become president of Jubbaland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia. Reports say Ali claimed he raised money for the Jubaland Somali army to purchase weapons, drawing scrutiny over potential foreign political and military involvement while managing a U.S.-funded nonprofit.

The controversy intensified after Steve Robinson of The Maine Wire reported that Ali had threatened a journalist in Somalia who had shared reporting on the allegations. Robinson said Ali’s family members, including his son and a cousin, have allegedly placed a bounty on the journalist’s head. Robinson has publicly questioned why Governor Janet Mills (D) continues to direct public funding to Gateway Community Services despite the claims.

Gateway Community Services has denied wrongdoing and characterized the accusations as racist. Bernardini and other former employees have provided detailed accounts alleging systematic fraud within the organization. Maine Republican state Senator Matt Harrington has called for immediate criminal investigations, saying the alleged misuse of taxpayer money highlights serious failures in oversight and accountability.

“You can’t rob a bank for millions of dollars. You shouldn’t be able to rob taxpayers of millions of dollars and get away with it. There absolutely needs to be a criminal investigation into this immediately,” Harrington stated.

The Maine case has been compared to major Medicaid and welfare fraud prosecutions in Minnesota, where federal authorities have charged suspects tied to nonprofit and social services networks with submitting fraudulent claims for services that were never provided. In one recent Minnesota case, a Somali-linked defendant pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from Medicaid and food assistance programs. Federal prosecutors have said those schemes were part of a broader network “that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money.”

Federal estimates suggest that Somali-linked welfare fraud in Minnesota could reach as high as $9 billion, spanning programs related to food aid, housing, and healthcare. Critics argue that lax enforcement and political concerns about appearing discriminatory allowed the schemes to continue for years.

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2 hours ago
NatSec
News

U.S. Targets Third Oil Tanker Near Venezuela.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuelan waters, identified as the Bella 1.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Coast Guard, Venezuelan authorities, and the sanctioned Bella 1 tanker.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Near Venezuelan waters, as of Monday morning.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned ‘dark fleet’ vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.” – U.S. official.

🎯IMPACT: This marks the second sanctioned oil tanker seizure near Venezuela in recent days, increasing tensions with the Maduro regime.

IN FULL

U.S. authorities are pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuelan waters, according to reports. The vessel, identified as the Bella 1, is believed to be heading toward Venezuela to load fuel. The Bella 1 was sanctioned by the United States in June 2024 for transporting cargo on behalf of a Hezbollah-linked company associated with the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). A U.S. official said, “The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned ‘dark fleet’ vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.” The official said the tanker is operating under a false flag and is subject to a judicial seizure order.

Other reports claim that the tanker is flying Panamanian flags and previously carried Venezuelan oil to China in 2021. Reuters also reported that, according to tankertrackers.com, the vessel has transported Iranian crude in the past.

The pursuit follows the U.S. seizure of another oil tanker, the Centuries, earlier on Sunday near Venezuela. That Panama-flagged vessel was reportedly bound for Asia when it was intercepted. U.S. forces have carried out multiple similar operations in recent weeks, including a high-profile boarding in which American personnel were filmed airdropping onto a seized tanker.

These actions come amid a broader U.S. crackdown on Venezuela. Earlier this month, President Donald J. Trump ordered a full blockade of sanctioned oil tankers departing from or heading to the country, escalating pressure on the government of Marxist strongman Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has reaffirmed the administration’s policy, saying, “President Trump has been clear: the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers departing from, or bound for, Venezuela will remain in full force until Maduro’s criminal enterprise returns every stolen American asset.”

In response to the seizures and the blockade, Venezuela has moved to protect its oil shipments. The Venezuelan navy has begun escorting tankers leaving the country’s ports, a step the government says is necessary to defend its sovereignty and commercial interests.

The Maduro government has strongly condemned the U.S. actions. Venezuelan officials have described the seizures as acts of “piracy” and have called on the United Nations Security Council to address the issue at an upcoming meeting. Maduro himself denounced the U.S. operations on social media, labeling them “Corsair Piracy.”

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2 hours ago
Culture
News

Trump Admin to Cut Smithsonian Funding for Refusing to Comply with DEI Review.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from the Smithsonian Institution unless additional documentation is submitted for a content review, related to an executive order aimed at rooting out divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) inspired exhibitions and celebrating America.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley, and the Smithsonian.

📍WHEN & WHERE: A letter was sent on Thursday addressing the issue, involving eight Smithsonian museums under review.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The overwhelming majority of requested items remain outstanding.” – Russell Vought and Vince Haley.

🎯IMPACT: Federal funding for Smithsonian museums is now conditioned on adherence to President Donald J. Trump’s executive order and compliance with the review process.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from the Smithsonian Institution unless the museum system provides additional documentation for a federal content review. In a letter sent Thursday to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley and White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought said the materials previously submitted “fell far short of what was requested, and the overwhelming majority of requested items remain outstanding.”

The review is part of a broader initiative launched by the administration this past summer to examine exhibits and other public programming at several Smithsonian museums. Officials said the goal is to ensure compliance with President Donald J. Trump’s executive order seeking “to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” The order directs museums to evaluate whether their exhibits, educational materials, and events reflect “American ideals” and to make corrections if content is deemed ideologically driven or divisive.

The Smithsonian Institution, founded in the mid-19th century, includes 21 museums, 14 research centers, and the National Zoo. It is one of the nation’s leading cultural and research organizations, responsible for preserving and interpreting American history, science, and culture for the public. Recent years have seen controversy over some programming choices, including events featuring drag performers.

The White House has tied federal funding for the museums directly to compliance with the content review process. Administration officials have emphasized that failure to provide the requested documentation could jeopardize ongoing funding, signaling a heightened level of oversight of how federal dollars support cultural institutions.

Image by Geiserich77.

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3 hours ago
Immigration
News

Migrants Offered $3,000 Christmas Bonus to Self-Deport Before 2026.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a $3,000 “exit bonus” for migrants who voluntarily self-deport by December 31, 2025, using the CBP Home app.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The program is active through December 31, 2025, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.” – Kristi Noem

🎯IMPACT: DHS reports 1.9 million migrants have voluntarily self-deported since January 2025, with tens of thousands utilizing the CBP Home app.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its voluntary self-deportation initiative by increasing the financial incentive for migrants living in the United States to $3,000 if they leave the country by the end of December. The program, promoted through the CBP Home app, is designed to encourage migrants to depart voluntarily rather than face arrest and removal by federal authorities.

In addition to the cash payment, DHS is offering free airfare to eligible participants returning to their home countries and waiving certain civil fines or penalties associated with unlawful residency, provided they leave voluntarily. The incentive was previously set at $1,000 but has now been tripled as part of what the department has described as a seasonal push to increase participation.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the program reflects the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy. “Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” Noem said in a statement.

She added that since President Donald J. Trump began his second term in January 2025, 1.9 million migrants have voluntarily left the United States. “Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program,” Noem said in a recent news release.

The CBP Home app, which replaced the earlier CBP One platform, allows users to notify the government of their intent to leave and track their departure without being placed in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. DHS officials say the app is also used by people who legally cross the border, such as those traveling regularly between the U.S. and Mexico. A DHS spokesman confirmed that tens of thousands of migrants have used the app to exit the country, though the agency has not released precise figures.

The voluntary departure program comes as the administration intensifies formal deportation efforts. Federal officials have indicated that ICE is approaching a goal of roughly 600,000 deportations in 2025, marking one of the largest annual removal totals in recent history. The scale of the effort has drawn attention across the political spectrum, including from John Sandweg, a former acting ICE director under former President Barack Obama, who called the current deportation numbers “a remarkable accomplishment.”

Administration officials have also linked the enforcement push to economic effects. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said mass deportations are helping lower rents by easing pressure on housing markets, arguing that reduced illegal immigration benefits American workers and families.

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4 hours ago
News
Politics

RINOs Flee Heritage for Mike Pence Org.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Liberal and neoconservative Heritage Foundation staffers are exiting the nonprofit for former Vice President Mike Pence’s organization, Advancing American Freedom (AAF).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mike Pence, Advancing American Freedom, and the Heritage Foundation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 22, 2025, Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Why these people are coming our way is that Heritage and some other voices and commentators have embraced big-government populism,” Pence claims.

🎯IMPACT: The shift shows Pence, who turned against President Donald J. Trump after the 2020 election, is continuing his efforts to crystallize the former Republican establishment around him.

IN FULL

Advancing American Freedom (AAF), the advocacy organization led by former Vice President Mike Pence, has seen an influx of around 15 staff members from the Heritage Foundation. The moves underscore growing divisions between America First conservatives and the old guard of liberal interventionists and neoconservatives in and around the GOP, with Pence seemingly seeking to establish himself as their leading man.

“Why these people are coming our way is that Heritage and some other voices and commentators have embraced big-government populism,” Pence said of the defections. Specifically, Pence accuses Heritage—previously seen as an establishment organization—of having “fallen” and “abandoning its principles,” citing its lack of unconditional support for prolonging a forever war in Ukraine, backing for some of President Trump’s tariffs, and embrace of Big Pharma skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary.

Andy Olivastro, Heritage’s chief advancement officer, criticized the exiting employees in a statement, calling their departures acts of “disloyalty” and affirming that the organization’s core objectives and leadership remain firm despite the personnel changes.

Certain Heritage and now-former Heritage staffers have been particularly exercised by Heritage leader Kevin Roberts defending former Fox News Tucker Carlson’s decision to interview anti-Zionist streamer Nick Fuentes, insisting Carlson “remains and, as I have said before, always will be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation.”

Pence seems unlikely to mount a bid for the presidency in 2028, having garnered next to no support in the 2024 primaries, but Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is reportedly mulling a bid after discussions with pro-Israel figures such as Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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5 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Culture

Museum Attacks ‘White, Western Santa’ for Promoting ‘Patriarchy,’ ‘Colonial Gaze.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A museum in Britain published a blog post calling for Santa Claus to be “decolonised,” criticizing him as “colonial” white patriarch.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Brighton and Hove Museums, its Joint Head of Culture Change Simone LaCorbinière, and British taxpayers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The blog post was published recently on Brighton and Hove Museums’ website.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The tale of a white, Western Santa who judges all children’s behaviour has problems.” – Simone LaCorbinière

🎯IMPACT: The museum’s woke critique of Santa Claus has sparked backlash, with critics calling it a misuse of taxpayer funds.

IN FULL

A blog post by Brighton and Hove Museums in the United Kingdom is under scrutiny for suggesting that Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, should be “decolonised.” The post, authored by Joint Head of Culture Change Simone LaCorbinière, complains that “a white, Western Santa who judges all children’s behaviour has problems.”

“[W]ho decided Santa should be the judge of children’s behaviour in every community? How can he assess, for example, Indigenous children practicing their own cultural traditions?” the blog post demands, apparently without irony.

Asserting that the Santa tradition “asks us to accept colonial assumptions of cultural superiority,” LaCorbinière goes on to suggest that there is something sinister in “having an old white man supervise the elves’ work” at Santa’s workshop. He argues that the traditions should be amended to “Put Santa to work in the factory alongside the elves [to show] him and the elves as equal.”

More broadly, LaCorbinière suggests that Santa should be recast as “a more diverse character”—presumably non-white—”who celebrates cultural exchange,” and that the concept of Santa “rewarding children based on a Western binary of ‘naughty/nice'” should be eliminated altogether. Santa should also be demoted to just one of many “winter gift-givers,” alongside several “Mother Christmases,” because “Patriarchy and colonialism went hand in hand” and it is necessary to “Show the next generation that men don’t have to be in charge.”

The museum, which received £900,000 (~$1,212,000) in taxpayer funding in October, has faced criticism for its stance since the blog post was publicized in the British press. “There are parts of the establishment in this country whom I genuinely believe are mentally unwell,” commented Sarah Pochin, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party. “Father Christmas is too white? … The Wokerati are becoming more deranged and detached from reality by the day.”

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5 hours ago
Media
News

Larry Ellison Puts ‘Personal Guarantee of $40.4 Billion’ Into Paramount Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Paramount has amended its $108 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, addressing concerns raised by WBD’s board.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, and Oracle chairman Larry Ellison.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on December 22; the ongoing negotiations involve major media companies in the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Larry Ellison has agreed to provide an irrevocable personal guarantee of $40.4 billion of the equity financing for the offer and any damages claims against Paramount.” – Paramount.

🎯IMPACT: Paramount’s revised bid intensifies competition with Netflix for WBD’s assets, while regulatory and shareholder concerns remain.

IN FULL

Paramount and its controlling shareholders, the billionaire Ellison family, said Monday they have revised their $108 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), seeking to address concerns previously raised by WBD’s board while maintaining a hostile posture toward the company.

Paramount reiterated its offer of $30 per share in cash for WBD and disclosed that Oracle chairman Larry Ellison is now personally backing the financing. In a statement, the company said, “Larry Ellison has agreed to provide an irrevocable personal guarantee of $40.4 billion of the equity financing for the offer and any damages claims against Paramount.” Paramount also increased its breakup fee from $5 billion to $5.8 billion, matching the fee included in a competing proposal from Netflix and making it one of the largest such fees ever proposed in a merger.

The revised bid comes as WBD is already moving forward with a separate agreement to sell its film studio, television assets, HBO network, and streaming business to Netflix. Paramount’s offer differs sharply, as it seeks to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery rather than a limited set of assets. Paramount has argued that its proposal would face fewer regulatory hurdles, pointing to the Ellison family’s recent success in securing government approval for the acquisition of Paramount itself earlier this year.

The takeover effort unfolds amid broader upheaval at Paramount. In 2024, the company cut nearly 800 employees across CBS News and other divisions as part of cost-cutting measures. It has also faced legal pressure, including efforts in 2025 to seek a settlement in President Donald J. Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the company. At the same time, Paramount has pursued growth initiatives, including a multibillion-dollar deal securing exclusive U.S. rights to UFC programming.

Tensions inside CBS News have also drawn attention. Bari Weiss, recently installed as Editor-in-Chief, pulled a 60 Minutes segment from broadcast, prompting internal criticism. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi wrote to colleagues, “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”

Image by Oracle PR.

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6 hours ago
News
Politics

Ted Cruz Weighs Challenge to Vance for Presidency in 2028.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is contemplating a run for the presidency in 2028, likely contending against Vice President J.D. Vance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ted Cruz, J.D. Vance, and Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025, Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I just don’t understand what the platform would be,” said Hal Lambert, a GOP donor who helped organize Cruz’s 2016 presidential bid, of a potential rerun in 2028.

🎯IMPACT: The potential 2028 GOP primary could become a battleground over the party’s identity, with Cruz challenging the influence of figures like Carlson.

IN FULL

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has reportedly told Morton Klein, the president of the Zionist Organization of America, that he is considering a run for the presidency in 2028, after the latter held a meeting with him to discuss “Jew hatred and Israel bashing” on the right. This would likely pit Cruz against Vice President J.D. Vance, who has said he will discuss a potential 2028 run with President Donald J. Trump after the midterms.

Cruz recently clashed publicly with influential conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who has become increasingly skeptical of Israel since his ouster at Fox News. Cruz has accused Carlson of having “decided Jews are the source of all evil in the world,” and has been pushing the GOP to support Israel more uncritically in general. These moves suggest any 2028 bid may focus on a return to an unconditionally pro-Israel, neoconservative-type foreign policy. Notably, Cruz has faulted Vance, who said he regards Carlson as a friend despite some disagreements over the weekend, as overly isolationist on foreign affairs.

Last month, reports suggested the Trump administration was frustrated with Cruz for using his position in Congress to disrupt aspects of the Trump agenda, such as appointments. “The roadblocks that Ted is putting up in front of the President’s nominee for NASA administrator… only serve as a desperate attempt to relaunch a political career as a protest candidate,” a source said, adding that “Ted has been terribly unserious as of late.”

There is some question as to who Cruz’s 2028 constituency would be, however, with Hal Lambert, a GOP donor who helped to organize his 2016 run, saying, “I just don’t understand what the platform would be.”

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7 hours ago
1A
News

Rubio Warns Against European Censorship Encroaching on Americans’ Free Speech.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concerns over the erosion of free speech in Europe during a year-end press conference.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Trump administration, the European Union (EU), the British government, and organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Rubio spoke at his year-end press conference in December in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Are we going to live in a world where some American puts up a social media post and then gets to some airport somewhere and is arrested?” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Rubio emphasized the need for a robust response to free speech concerns in Europe, warning of implications for Americans and global platforms.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that declining free speech protections in Europe could have direct consequences for Americans, saying the issue is a top priority for the U.S. State Department. Speaking at a press conference, Rubio questioned, “Are we going to live in a world where some American puts up a social media post and then gets to some airport somewhere and is arrested?”

Concerns over speech restrictions in Europe have increasingly drawn scrutiny from the Trump administration. In July, the State Department posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “in Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments. This Orwellian message won’t fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom.”

Reports from Britain suggest that approximately 30 people are arrested each day over online messages considered offensive. Human rights organizations, including Alliance Defending Freedom and Amnesty International, have raised concerns about speech regulations in other European countries, including France and Germany, where arrests related to social media posts have risen in recent years.

Rubio specifically criticized the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping regulatory framework that allows the European Commission—the bloc’s unelected executive—to fine technology companies for failing to address so-called disinformation and “illegal content”. He pointed to ongoing enforcement actions against X, noting, “As you recently saw, you know, X is facing this massive multi-million dollar fine that they’re going to have to pay, I guess, because they want to continue to operate.”

Dr. Adina Portaru, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom International, said the DSA’s reach extends far beyond large technology firms. “The DSA can impact anyone, can impact content creators and influencers and preachers and political dissidents and any kind of content online can be regulated by the DSA through its architecture,” she said, warning that the law lacks sufficient safeguards for lawful freedom of expression.

The Trump administration has framed European enforcement actions as not only a threat to domestic speech within Europe, but also to Americans whose content is accessible overseas. Administration officials have argued that penalties imposed on U.S.-based platforms amount to an attack on American free speech rights and have reportedly discussed potential responses, including travel bans on European officials involved in censorship enforcement.

Rubio emphasized the importance of addressing the issue with allied nations, saying shared democratic values, including freedom of speech, must remain central to transatlantic cooperation.

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7 hours ago
NatSec
News

Denmark Panics as Trump Appoints Greenland Envoy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. announced the appointment of a special envoy to Greenland, prompting the Kingdom of Denmark to demand respect for its sovereignty.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, envoy Jeff Landry, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025, across the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland.” – Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen

🎯IMPACT: The announcement has reignited tensions between the U.S. and the Danish government over the Trump administration’s interest in taking over Greenland.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s decision to appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) as a special envoy to Greenland has intensified diplomatic tensions between the United States, and the Kingdom of Denmark. In a joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen—whose party favors gradual independence from Denmark—stated, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland.”

Notably, however, polls suggest a majority of Greelanders support independence from Denmark, but a larger majority do not support breaking away if it means losing the financial support the island receives from Denmark, which accounts for a large share of its economy. Despite Nielsen’s rhetoric against the Trump administration’s interest in acquiring Greenland for the U.S., it is very possible that Greenlanders could be persuaded to vote for some form of protectorate status, provided the U.S. can make them a better offer than Copenhagen.

Greenland, which is majority indigenous rather than ethnic Danish, controls most domestic affairs, while Denmark manages defense and foreign policy. The two, along with the Faroe Islands, comprise the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm. Home to roughly 57,000 people, the island holds significant strategic value due to its Arctic location, mineral and freshwater resources, and proximity to continental North America, making it an increasing focus of global geopolitical competition.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he plans to summon the U.S. ambassador to address the present situation, emphasizing that Denmark expects its territorial integrity to be respected.

Reports suggest increased U.S. intelligence and political activity tied to Greenland. Washington has also shifted the island’s military oversight to a U.S. command focused on homeland defense, signaling its importance in American security planning. At the same time, Greenlandic officials have explored broader international partnerships, including closer cooperation with China, which has likely increased the Trump administration’s sense of urgency in securing the island.

The European Union (EU) is supporting Denmark as one of its member states—although Greenland left the bloc in the 1980s following a referendum—stressing the inviolability of its borders.

Image by NordForsk/Terje Heiestad.

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