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Category: News
February 4, 2025
News
Politics
World

Democratically Elected Populists Excluded from Major Security Conference.

Germany’s populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been denied an invitation to a major global security conference after organizers claimed the party does not believe in peace through dialogue. Christoph Heusgen, the Munich Security Conference chairman, cited the AfD’s departure from Germany’s Bundestag (federal parliament) during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and their stance on aid to Zelensky as factors.

Starting February 14, the conference will gather global leaders, lawmakers, and senior defense officials to discuss security matters. Historically, regardless of orientation, German political parties are typically invited to this annual security dialogue. The exclusion of the AfD is seen as a move to further isolate populists in Germany as they rise in the polls.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently appeared via video link at an AfD campaign event in Halle, Germany, voicing support for the party. Earlier, Musk had taken to social platform X, expressing that the AfD was key to Germany’s future in a conversation with party co-chairwoman Alice Weidel.

While the AfD is polling at over 20 percent ahead of this month’s German federal election, putting it in second place, Musk’s intervention in German politics is not popular among the public. A poll found only 19 percent of Germans viewed Musk favorably in the country.

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Germany's populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been denied an invitation to a major global security conference after organizers claimed the party does not believe in peace through dialogue. Christoph Heusgen, the Munich Security Conference chairman, cited the AfD's departure from Germany's Bundestag (federal parliament) during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and their stance on aid to Zelensky as factors. show more
February 3, 2025
News
Politics
Sports

Bret Baier to Interview Trump at Mar-a-Lago for Super Bowl Pregame.

Fox News announced on Monday that Bret Baier, the network’s chief political anchor, will interview President Donald J. Trump during the Super Bowl LIX pregame coverage. The interview is scheduled to air on Sunday, February 9, at 3 PM ET and will be broadcast from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

This marks Baier’s first one-on-one interview with Trump since June 2023. According to Fox News, the discussion will cover the administration’s initial policies and the political environment.

The interview comes after a whirlwind of executive orders signed in the first weeks of President Trump’s second term, including scrapping DEI departments and ordering U.S. Marines to help secure the southern border.

Interviews with the sitting president on Super Bowl Sunday became a tradition under former President Barack Obama. President Trump continued the tradition but skipped the interview in 2018 during his first term. Last year’s Super Bowl drew the largest television audience since the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, with over 123 million viewers. Nielsen data claimed that over 202 million people watched at least part of the game. This year’s game will see the Kansas City Chiefs—looking for their third straight Lombardi Trophy—square off against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former President Joe Biden skipped the Super Bowl interview last year, and Bloomberg’s senior Washington correspondent Salena Mohsin questioned whether Biden simply could not handle a live interview at the time. Later that year, when Biden debated President Trump, it became more apparent than ever that the now-former president had suffered a mental decline, and Vice President Kamala Harris soon supplanted him as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Fox News announced on Monday that Bret Baier, the network's chief political anchor, will interview President Donald J. Trump during the Super Bowl LIX pregame coverage. The interview is scheduled to air on Sunday, February 9, at 3 PM ET and will be broadcast from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. show more
February 3, 2025
News

Elon Musk Criticizes Reagan-Era National Endowment for Democracy.

Elon Musk, billionaire tech entrepreneur and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald J. Trump, has publicly criticized the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). On the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk labeled the organization a “SCAM” and asserted it is “RIFE with CORRUPTION.”

Established in 1983 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, the NED is a supposedly independent nonprofit that claims to be dedicated to bolstering democratic institutions worldwide. It allocates over 2,000 grants annually for nongovernmental group initiatives across more than 100 countries, primarily funded by U.S. government allocations through Congress. Many allege it squanders funds on undermining conservative governments in allied nations such as Hungary while boosting leftist media and politicians.

Recently, Musk revealed plans to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Aid Development (USAID), citing it as “beyond repair.” President Donald J. Trump has expressed support for Musk’s budget-cutting efforts, acknowledging they sometimes disagree but praising Musk’s commitment to reducing spending.

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Elon Musk, billionaire tech entrepreneur and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald J. Trump, has publicly criticized the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). On the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk labeled the organization a "SCAM" and asserted it is "RIFE with CORRUPTION." show more
February 3, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Despite Gun Control, Ten Dead in School Shooting in This European Country.

Multiple people have been shot at a school in Europe’s most deadly country for gun violence, with police confirming that the shooter is dead and media reporting that at least ten victims have died. The shooting took place at a school for adults studying secondary education in the Swedish city of Örebro, with police reporting that several of their officers had also been shot at, but none were injured.

The incident occurred in the early afternoon of February 4, around 2:10 PM. Police said that there was no longer any danger as the perpetrator is believed to have shot himself.

While some social media users have claimed the shooter was Syrian, this remains unsubstantiated as of the time of publication, with Swedish police only describing him as “a man.”  Some Swedish media claim that an automatic firearm was used during the shooting, but this is also unconfirmed.

Swedish police officer Lars Hedlin told Swedish media that police had ordered people in the area of the school to remain indoors. Officers have deployed officials to other schools in the area as a precautionary measure.

The shooting is just the latest in Sweden, which has become the country with the most deadly shootings in the entire European Union in recent years. This is despite the high-immigration country having relatively strict firearms ownership laws compared to the United States, with pistols being difficult to acquire legally and automatic weapons effectively banned.

Image by Patrick Buechner.

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Multiple people have been shot at a school in Europe's most deadly country for gun violence, with police confirming that the shooter is dead and media reporting that at least ten victims have died. The shooting took place at a school for adults studying secondary education in the Swedish city of Örebro, with police reporting that several of their officers had also been shot at, but none were injured. show more
February 3, 2025
Immigration

America’s Birthright Citizenship Laws Make It an Outlier Among Peer Nations.

The United States is an outlier among wealthy, developed nations in that it has almost no restrictions on birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli (“right of the soil”) citizenship. Under the current interpretation of U.S. law, any child born on American soil—even if both parents are illegal immigrants—is granted citizenship. According to legal precedent, only the children of diplomats and other similar foreign officials are explicitly excluded. President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order to end the practice, but this is subject to a legal challenge.

While Canada also allows unrestricted birthright citizenship, the practice is far less common in Europe and Asia. In fact, not a single European state allows for unrestricted birthright citizenship—with most requiring either one parent to be a citizen or legal permanent resident and, in some cases, mandating that at least one of the parents reside in the country for a set period.

Historically, Europe experienced significant migration waves, particularly post-World War II and during the following economic reconstruction period. This led to spontaneous, often unregulated, immigration. European countries initially expected migrants to return home after their labor was no longer required, but regulations evolved over time. By the 1970s, amid economic challenges, restrictions became more common, altering naturalization policies. Notably, the United Kingdom shifted from a jus soli to a more jus sanguinis (“right of blood”) citizenship norm, requiring parental citizenship to obtain British nationality. As of 2004—when Ireland abolished its expansive jus soli laws—Europe ceased offering unrestricted birthright citizenship entirely.

Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand have followed similar paths, with Australia abolishing jus soli citizenship in 1986 and New Zealand following in 2006. In Asia, birthright citizenship is extremely rare, with most countries imposing strict conditions to attain citizenship.

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The United States is an outlier among wealthy, developed nations in that it has almost no restrictions on birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli ("right of the soil") citizenship. Under the current interpretation of U.S. law, any child born on American soil—even if both parents are illegal immigrants—is granted citizenship. According to legal precedent, only the children of diplomats and other similar foreign officials are explicitly excluded. President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order to end the practice, but this is subject to a legal challenge. show more
February 3, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Corruption

DEI Musicals, Transgender Operas, and Meals for al-Qaeda: A Catalog of USAID Waste.

President Donald J. Trump’s Rapid Response team has cataloged some of the wasteful spending disbursed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which looks set to be abolished as an independent entity and absorbed into the U.S. State Department after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) concluded it was beyond saving.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the Rapid Response team noted that USAID has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and promoting transgenderism. For instance, $1.5 million was spent to promote DEI in Serbian workplaces, and $70,000 was spent on a “DEI musical” in Ireland.

In Latin America, USAID allocated $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia, $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru, and $2 million for sex changes and LGBT activism in Guatemala.

Spending beyond the realm of DEI and transgenderism also appears questionable, with $2.5 million spent promoting electric vehicles in Vietnam, resulting in the construction of just one battery station. $6 million was directed towards boosting tourism in Egypt.

Even more controversially, USAID funded a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations and EcoHealth Alliance, which had connections to research at the Wuhan lab. USAID funding was also used to provide al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in Syria with meals.

Similarly, USAID funds were used to support poppy farming in Afghanistan, bankrolling the Taliban, and bolstering the international heroin trade.

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President Donald J. Trump's Rapid Response team has cataloged some of the wasteful spending disbursed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which looks set to be abolished as an independent entity and absorbed into the U.S. State Department after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) concluded it was beyond saving. show more
February 3, 2025
William Upton
News

USAID to Merge into State Department, Confirms Secretary Marco Rubio.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is assuming the powers of acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after the agency—which oversees tens of billions of dollars in foreign assistance—saw its funding frozen by President Donald J. Trump. USAID has long been the target of Republican scrutiny over its funding of foreign programs that promote far-left and anti-American ideologies.

“The attitude that USAID has adopted over the years is ‘No, we are independent of the national interests, we fund programs irrespective of whether it is aligned or not aligned with the foreign policy,'” Sec. Rubio said. “That’s ridiculous—these are taxpayer dollars.”

The National Pulse reported earlier on Monday that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk—who is heading up the Trump White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—had said USAID would be abolished entirely. Early Monday morning, Musk said, “We’re in the process of shutting down USAID. The reason for that, as opposed to simply trying to do some minor house cleaning, is that, as we got into USAID, it became apparent that what we have here is not an apple with a worm in it. But we have actually just a ball of worms.” He went on to describe the agency as “hopeless.”

However, neither President Donald J. Trump nor any senior White House officials confirmed Musk’s assertions. “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision,” Trump told the press at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday.

USAID employees received an email last night informing them that the agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., would be closed to official personnel on Monday and directing them to work from home.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is assuming the powers of acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after the agency—which oversees tens of billions of dollars in foreign assistance—saw its funding frozen by President Donald J. Trump. USAID has long been the target of Republican scrutiny over its funding of foreign programs that promote far-left and anti-American ideologies. show more
February 3, 2025
Media

CNN Primetime Ratings Plummet in January.

CNN’s viewership collapse shows no signs of reversing, with the corporate media network seeing a 14 percent decline in its primetime audience in January compared to the same month in 2024. Notably, CNN‘s audience among the key 25-54-year-old viewer demographic declined year-over-year by five percent. Additionally, the network’s total viewership for its full 24 hours of programming is down nine percent compared to last January, with the key viewership demographic declining by seven percent.

Similarly, MSNBC also saw a significant decrease in its audience numbers. Compared to January last year, MSNBC’s primetime total viewership fell by 33 percent, with a 41 percent decline in the 25 to 54 age demographic. Over its entire 24 hours of programming, the far-left corporate news network saw a 34 percent and 42 percent drop in viewers, respectively.

CNN and MSNBC have faced declining viewers and revenue over the past year, prompting both networks to lay off staff and cut on-air “talent.” In May 2024, CNN’s primetime ratings hit a record 30-year low—prompting CEO Mark Thompson to initiate cost-cutting measures, including layoffs. Meanwhile, MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast, is exploring selling the media property to cut its losses.

The National Pulse reported last week that CNN cut ties with rabid anti-Trump host Jim Acosta after removing him from its morning lineup. Acosta was offered the option of hosting a program on CNN’s midnight to 2 AM time slot, which he reportedly declined. In December, the network saw the departure of long-time political correspondent and analyst Gloria Borger. Like Acosta, Borger has a long history of making partisan and biased attacks on President Donald J. Trump.

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CNN's viewership collapse shows no signs of reversing, with the corporate media network seeing a 14 percent decline in its primetime audience in January compared to the same month in 2024. Notably, CNN's audience among the key 25-54-year-old viewer demographic declined year-over-year by five percent. Additionally, the network's total viewership for its full 24 hours of programming is down nine percent compared to last January, with the key viewership demographic declining by seven percent. show more
February 3, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Immigration

WATCH: Demonstrators Blocking Freeway to Protest Trump Deportations Wave Foreign Flags.

Thousands of demonstrators, many waving foreign flags, took to the streets in Los Angeles on Sunday, protesting against President Donald J. Trump’s deportation efforts. The demonstration led to significant disruptions when participants blocked U.S. Route 101, one of the state’s major freeways.

The protesters initially gathered at Olvera Street, a location with historical ties to the eras of Spanish and Mexican control over the area. From there, they marched on Los Angeles City Hall. As the demonstration progressed, participants moved onto U.S. 101, blocking all lanes and causing significant traffic disruptions.

The blockage resulted in traffic congestion stretching in both directions and affecting surface streets in the vicinity. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that it took over five hours for the freeway to be cleared and fully reopened to traffic. However, CHP Lieutenant Matt Gutierrez confirmed on Sunday evening that despite the extensive disruption, there were no arrests.

Similar protests by climate activists in Britain have led to severe injuries and even deaths, with motorists diverted onto alternative routes involved in crashes, and people en route to hospital significantly delayed.

President Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, has vowed that the mass deportations the America First leader promised on the campaign trail will be executed “with no apology.”

“We’re going to do this operation with no apology. We’re going to make our communities safer. Once we lock that border down and continue this operation, you’re going to see fentanyl deaths decrease, illegal alien crime decrease, sex trafficking decrease. It’s all for the good of this nation, and we’re gonna keep going. No apologies, we’re moving forward,” he said.

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Thousands of demonstrators, many waving foreign flags, took to the streets in Los Angeles on Sunday, protesting against President Donald J. Trump's deportation efforts. The demonstration led to significant disruptions when participants blocked U.S. Route 101, one of the state's major freeways. show more
February 3, 2025
News
Politics

Musk Says Trump Has Agreed to Shut Down USAID.

Tech mogul Elon Musk, recently appointed to lead President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has announced plans to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on X Spaces, Musk stated, “We’re shutting it down,” indicating that President Trump concurred with him after a detailed discussion about the agency, which funds non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities across the globe.

“We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” Musk posted on X. However, despite these declarations, President Trump has not officially confirmed a decision to dismantle USAID fully.

The move comes against a backdrop of actions by the administration that signal skepticism about the agency. USAID’s funding was recently frozen, and many of its employees were placed on leave.

Officially, USAID is supposed to assist charities and poor countries—including Taliban-ruled Afghanistan—but there are widespread allegations the agency is funneling U.S. taxpayer cash into overtly leftist political projects and losing billions to corruption.

In 2023, under the former Biden-Harris regime, USAID pushed transgender and abortion activism. The agency also gave cash to NGOs such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which was involved in the first Democrat-backed impeachment of President Trump.

While the OCCRP claims to be politically neutral, its co-founder, Drew Sullivan, has been anything but neutral on social media, pushing the narrative that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Catholic-inspired tattoos are “far right,” for instance.

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Tech mogul Elon Musk, recently appointed to lead President Donald J. Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has announced plans to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on X Spaces, Musk stated, "We're shutting it down," indicating that President Trump concurred with him after a detailed discussion about the agency, which funds non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities across the globe. show more