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Monday, December 22, 2025

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1 hour 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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32 minutes 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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2 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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3 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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3 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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4 hours ago
News

Vance to Fuentes: ‘Eat S**t.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance has hit back against Nick Fuentes and his followers, known as Groypers, for their attacks on Second Lady Usha Vance and his children.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Nick Fuentes, and the Groyper movement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made during an exclusive interview with UnHerd at the vice president’s residence, December 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat s**t.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: Vance stressed that, despite his disdain for Fuentes, he is far less of a concern than liberals using their institutional power to discriminate against white people.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a sharp rebuke to streamer Nick Fuentes and his followers, known as Groypers, over the weekend, after months of abuse directed at his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children. “Let me be clear,” he said in an interview with UnHerd. “Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki [the former Biden press secretary] or Nick Fuentes, can eat s**t. That’s my official policy as Vice President of the United States.”

Fuentes, who opposed President Donald J. Trump and his team ahead of the 2024 election and was briefly a member of the Kanye West campaign team, is an outspoken critic of “organized Jewry in America.” Addressing these views, Vance stated that “Antisemitism, and all forms of ethnic hatred, have no place in the conservative movement. Whether you’re attacking somebody because they’re white or because they’re black or because they’re Jewish, I think it’s disgusting.”

“I think that Nick Fuentes, his influence within Donald Trump’s administration, and within a whole host of institutions on the Right, is vastly overstated, and frankly, it’s overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign-policy conversation about America’s relationship with Israel,” Vance continued.

Of his own views on Israel, the Vice President said the Jewish State was an “important ally,” but stressed that, “we should be able to say, ‘We agree with Israel on that issue, and we disagree with Israel on this other issue.’ Having that conversation is, I think, much less comfortable for a lot of people, because they want to focus on Nick Fuentes.”

Notably, the Trump administration has clashed with the Israeli government a number of times in recent months, particularly over a strike in Qatar and the treatment of Christians.

Despite his disdain for Fuentes, Vance argued that the streamer should be much less of a concern to people worried about discrimination than liberals with institutional power who have “For the past five to 10 years… go[ne] all in on the idea that discriminating against whites in college admissions and jobs is not just OK, but affirmatively good.”

“It pisses me off that Fuentes calls my kids ‘jeet,’ and I appreciate that Ro Khanna would never do that,” he said, referring to a slur for Indian people. “You know what pisses me off a million times more? That Ro Khanna, AOC, and Chris Murphy would deny them jobs and opportunities because they have the wrong skin color,” he added.

Full interview here.

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December 20, 2025
News
World

Australian PM Targets Law-Abiding Gun Owners Following ISIS-Inspired Beach Massacre.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a plan to confiscate firearms from law-abiding gun owners following a terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anthony Albanese, the migration-background suspects in the terrorist attack, and law enforcement officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on December 14 during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, with Albanese’s announcement made on Friday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme.” – Anthony Albanese

🎯IMPACT: Proposed restrictions include limiting firearms ownership, stricter licensing, and a mass firearm collection and destruction initiative.

IN FULL

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of the left-wing Labor Party, announced sweeping new gun control proposals following a deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14. The attack involved an Indian migrant and his son, who allegedly opened fire on the crowd, killing 15 people and wounding 40 others. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son was injured and taken into custody. Authorities said the attack was inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).

In response to the attack, Albanese has argued that Australia must strengthen its firearm laws, rather than its immigration laws. “Sunday’s deadly ISIS inspired antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach highlights the need to finish the job… on gun reform,” he said. Albanese revealed that one of the attackers was a licensed firearm owner who legally possessed six guns, saying, “There is no reason someone living in the suburbs of Sydney needed this many guns,” he added.

The proposed measures would place limits on the number of firearms an individual may own, restrict firearm licenses to Australian citizens, and allow criminal intelligence agencies to play a role in assessing license applications. Albanese said the government anticipates large-scale confiscation of weapons, stating, “We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed” through a mandatory buyback scheme.

State and territory governments will be responsible for collecting surrendered firearms and compensating owners, while the Australian Federal Police will oversee their destruction.

Skeptics of stricter gun laws often point to incidents in jurisdictions with heavy regulation. Earlier this year, a mass shooting at a school in Sweden left multiple people dead despite the country’s strict firearm ownership rules. In the United States, a 2023 mass shooting in Baltimore, an area with extensive gun laws and reduced policing, left two people dead and dozens injured, renewing arguments that gun control alone does not prevent violent crime.

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December 20, 2025
Bonkers Britain

UK Politician Resigns Far-Left Green Party Whip After Slavery Arrest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A councillor in Lancashire, England, has resigned the Green Party whip amid a criminal investigation linked to “modern slavery.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Councillor Sohail Asghar, Lancashire County Council, and local police.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred in Accrington, England, on November 6, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[Councillor] Asghar has voluntarily given up the Green Party whip because there is an investigation.” – Cllr Gina Dowding

🎯IMPACT: Cllr Asghar now sits as an Independent on the council, amidst ongoing inquiries into alleged modern slavery.

IN FULL

Sohail Asghar, a local councillor in Lancashire, England, has given up the Green Party whip following his arrest as part of a police investigation into alleged modern slavery offences. The arrest took place in Accrington on November 6, 2025, when police detained Asghar and two other suspects. Lancashire Police confirmed the arrests were linked to an ongoing investigation into suspected modern slavery. All three were later released on bail while inquiries continue.

Councillor Gina Dowding, leader of the Green group on Lancashire County Council, claimed that Asghar stepped down from the whip voluntarily. She said, “Cllr Asghar has voluntarily given up the Green Party whip because there is an investigation,” adding: “This will remain the case until the investigation is completed.”

Despite relinquishing the Green Party whip, Asghar has not resigned from the council. He continues to sit as an Independent member of Lancashire County Council and remains part of the Progressive Lancashire Group in opposition.

Police have stated that the investigation remains active and that offences being considered include slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labor, and making threats to kill. No charges have been brought at this stage.

“Modern slavery” refers to situations in which people are exploited and unable to leave due to coercion, threats, abuse of power, or deception. It can involve forced labor, human trafficking, or other forms of severe exploitation. Although often associated with organized crime or illegal working, recent cases have drawn attention to how modern slavery can exist within professional, institutional, and even diplomatic settings, sometimes complicated by claims of legal immunity or jurisdictional protection.

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December 19, 2025
News

Trump Admin Slams Democrat County for Releasing Illegal Immigrant Murderer: ‘Blood on Their Hands.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record was released by police in Northern Virginia and allegedly killed a man in his home a day later.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspected shooter, 23-year-old Marvin Morales-Ortez, police, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The murder occurred on Wednesday in Northern Virginia, following Morales-Ortez’s release from custody on Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The sanctuary politicians of Fairfax have blood on their hands. They should have turned this serial criminal illegal alien over to ICE law enforcement—instead they chose to RELEASE him back into Virginia neighborhoods.” – DHS spokesman

🎯IMPACT: The release and subsequent murder have reignited debates around sanctuary policies and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

IN FULL

Federal officials are criticizing Northern Virginia leaders after an illegal alien who had been released from local custody was arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing a day later, renewing debate over sanctuary-style policies and refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement. The suspect, 23-year-old Marvin Morales-Ortez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, had been jailed in Fairfax County on charges of malicious wounding and brandishing a firearm. Prosecutors dropped those charges, citing insufficient evidence and the victim’s inability to testify, and Morales-Ortez was released. The following day, police allege, he killed a man.

Court records show Morales-Ortez has faced at least seven criminal charges in Fairfax County since 2020, including assault and first-degree murder. He has one conviction, a theft offense that resulted in a $300 fine.

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office said it followed the law in releasing Morales-Ortez and stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not obtain a judicial warrant to keep him detained. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strongly disputed the county’s handling of the case. “To honor a detainer, officials do NOT need a judicial warrant,” a DHS spokesman said. “The sanctuary politicians of Fairfax have blood on their hands. They should have turned this serial criminal illegal alien over to ICE law enforcement—instead, they chose to RELEASE him back into Virginia neighborhoods.”

The case comes amid a series of recent high-profile crimes involving illegal aliens that have drawn national attention. For instance, federal authorities have reported arresting an illegal alien who allegedly attempted to join ISIS after previously being released into the country, and DHS has blamed sanctuary laws in California following a fatal DUI involving an illegal immigrant.

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December 19, 2025
War

Putin Claims Ukraine Unready for Peace as Kiev Strikes Tanker in Mediterranean.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine seems unwilling to negotiate peace, while Kiev claimed a significant strike on an alleged Russian “shadow fleet” tanker in the Mediterranean.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the European Union (EU), and the U.S. government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025, during Putin’s annual news conference in Moscow, with separate developments in the Mediterranean Sea and Brussels, Belgium.

🎯IMPACT: Heightened tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and the West, with the EU agreeing on a $100 billion aid package for Kiev, and Russia vowing retaliation for attacks on its tanker fleet.

IN FULL

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims Ukraine is unwilling to negotiate an end to the war, reiterating demands that Kiev accept territorial concessions and demilitarization, conditions Ukrainian leaders have consistently rejected. Speaking during his annual news conference, Putin claimed Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” and are advancing along the eastern front, portraying Moscow as holding the upper hand nearly three years into the conflict.

Ukraine, however, continues to resist both militarily and diplomatically. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Kiev has maintained that recognizing Russian control over occupied territories would undermine its sovereignty and encourage further aggression. Ukrainian officials have also rejected demands for demilitarization, arguing that it would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has announced a drone strike on a Russia-linked oil tanker operating in the Mediterranean Sea. Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency confirmed it targeted the Oman-flagged tanker Qendil, describing it as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to evade Western sanctions and finance its war. Ukrainian officials said the vessel was a legitimate military target under international law and reported that it was empty at the time of the strike.

Putin dismissed the attack as an attempt to drive up insurance costs for Russian shipping but warned that Moscow would respond. The strike marked a notable expansion of Ukraine’s campaign to disrupt Russian revenue sources beyond the immediate battlefield.

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) leaders meeting in Brussels agreed on a roughly $100 billion aid package for Ukraine, structured as an interest-free loan backed by the EU budget. The funding is intended to support Ukraine’s military operations and economic stability for the next two years. However, proposals to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s defense failed due to internal divisions.

As fighting continues, diplomatic discussions remain stalled. Some Western-backed proposals have floated the idea of Ukraine pursuing European Union membership rather than NATO as part of a potential settlement, paired with long-term security guarantees.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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December 19, 2025
William Upton
News

DOJ Begins Releasing Epstein Files: What We Know So Far.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began releasing the federal government’s trove of files pertaining to deceased pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein late Friday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, former President Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s victims, JPMorgan, and banking executive Jes Staley.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The DOJ began releasing the first tranche of files late Friday, December 19, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that additional material on Epstein will be released over the coming weeks, with the DOJ still reviewing documents to ensure the identifying information of victims and legal minors is redacted.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began releasing the federal government’s trove of files pertaining to deceased pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein late Friday. While thousands of pages of documents were released in the initial tranche, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that additional material on Epstein will be released over the coming weeks, with the DOJ still reviewing documents to ensure the identifying information of victims and legal minors is redacted.

Following the release, two items have drawn significant attention, the first being a series of photographs of former President Bill Clinton in a pool where another individual has their face blacked out—indicating they are likely one of Epstein‘s victims. In a second photo taken from what appears to be the same evening, Clinton can be seen in the pool along with the unknown individual and Ghislaine Maxwell.

However, the most illuminating item appears to be part of a grand jury filing, which alleges that former JPMorgan senior executive Jes Staley purposefully cultivated a close relationship with Epstein. This is alleged to have occurred when Staley served as the chief of JPMorgan’s private banking arm, which provided financial services for clients with at least $10 million in assets. In 2023, the bank paid a $75 million settlement stemming from its relationship with Epstein.

The National Pulse reported in October of this year that Epstein‘s banking and investment activities were more extensive than previously known, involving multiple banks and major transactions with hedge funds. The true extent of Epstein’s investment portfolio and banking ties was revealed after his estate provided Congress with a list of over 20 banks where he held accounts.

You can access the DOJ’s “Epstein Library” here.

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