Thursday, December 18, 2025

Another Top CNN Star Bites the Dust.

Gloria Borger is leaving CNN after a nearly two-decade tenure with the corporate news network. The senior political analyst’s departure comes amid the media outlet’s continued struggles to generate revenue and attract viewers, forcing CEO Mark Thompson to consider layoffs for some of the outlet’s top on-air talent.

Since joining the network in 2007, Borger has been a prominent figure in much of CNN’s political and election programming, appearing frequently on The Situation Room and AC360. More recently, the senior political analyst merged as one of CNN’s top critics of President Donald J. Trump. In a 2022 column—citing now-debunked allegations leveled by the Democrat-controlled January 6 Select Committee—Borger wrote that Trump is “morally, intellectually and emotionally unfit for the office.”

Additionally, in 2021, Borger pushed the false claim that Trump’s legal team “lied” when they asserted the President was unaware that Vice President Mike Pence was in any danger during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Pence, who was at the U.S. Capitol when the riots initially broke out, was removed to a secure location by his Secret Service protection detail.

BLEEDING VIEWERS.

The National Pulse previously reported that CNN suffered a 13 percent drop in its prime-time viewership following Trump’s landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election. This past May, the network’s number of prime-time viewers hit a three-decade low. It is likely that the blatant anti-Trump partisanship of CNN’s on-air talent—as well as several incidents of false reporting—are behind the ratings collapse.

Navy veteran Zachary Young is currently suing the network, alleging he was defamed by a news segment claiming he charged excessive fees without guaranteeing safety or success during Joe Biden’s bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Additionally, a recent video segment aired by CNN claiming to document the rescue of a Syrian dissident from an Assad regime prison fell apart under scrutiny. While the network initially stated the Syrian man was named Adel Ghurbal, independent fact-checkers revealed the alleged prisoner was actually Salama Mohammad Salama—a notorious Assad regime torturer.

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Gloria Borger is leaving CNN after a nearly two-decade tenure with the corporate news network. The senior political analyst's departure comes amid the media outlet's continued struggles to generate revenue and attract viewers, forcing CEO Mark Thompson to consider layoffs for some of the outlet's top on-air talent. show more

Le Pen Wants an Early Election to Oust Macron.

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally (RN) party, wants an early presidential election as President Emmanuel Macron appoints his fourth prime minister of 2024. Le Pen, speaking to Le Parisien, stressed “the fragility of Emmanuel Macron” and the limited institutional tools at his disposal. The ‘Macronist’ faction in the French legislature has had no working majority since a snap election in July.

So far, Macron has maintained his intention to complete his second term, which concludes in 2027. However, Le Pen believes it is “over or almost over” for the French president, as he has “lost control everywhere.”

Le Pen, who has previously run against Macron, currently leads polls to succeed him by a significant margin. However, she is navigating potential obstacles, including an ongoing legal case concerning the alleged misappropriation of European Union (EU) funds by National Rally figures. If this lawfare effort is successful, Le Pen faces a five-year ban from national office, jeopardizing her presidential prospects.

Beyond these legal issues, Le Pen must contend with a French electoral system designed to uphold establishment party power. The system features a two-round voting process, often resulting in alliances between the far-left, center-left, and so-called center-right that thwart populist candidates.

However, dissatisfaction with the political establishment is growing. A recent poll indicates that 56 percent of French citizens support establishing a new republic, ending the Fifth Republic that began in 1958. Additionally, 75 percent expressed a negative view of Macron, reflecting citizens’ increasing frustration with the current leadership.

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Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally (RN) party, wants an early presidential election as President Emmanuel Macron appoints his fourth prime minister of 2024. Le Pen, speaking to Le Parisien, stressed "the fragility of Emmanuel Macron" and the limited institutional tools at his disposal. The 'Macronist' faction in the French legislature has had no working majority since a snap election in July. show more

Palestinians Sue State Department Over U.S. Military Aid to Israel.

Palestinians are suing the U.S. Department of State over the Biden-Harris government’s supply of military aid to Israel for its ongoing military campaign against the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. The lawsuit, which was filed in a U.S. federal court on Tuesday, alleges the American government is allowing Israel to circumvent a series of U.S. human rights laws enacted by former Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in 1997. According to the “Leahy Laws,” the United States cannot grant foreign military aid to a country if there is evidence of human rights abuses.

“My surviving family members in Gaza have been forcibly displaced four times since October, living in constant fear of indiscriminate Israeli attacks carried out with American weapons,” one of the plaintiffs, a Palestinian-American, said in a statement. “The U.S. government’s military assistance to these abusive Israeli forces, which our own laws prohibit, is enabling these Israeli harms to me and my family,” he added.

‘DOUBLE STANDARD.’

The plaintiffs in the case contend the U.S. is engaging in a double standard by supplying Israel with military aid. In the legal filing, they claim it is “reasonable to assess” that the Jewish State—using American-supplied weapons—violated international law in the course of its military operations in Gaza. These violations, they argue, should trigger the Leahy Laws, barring any further support. Hamas-aligned Gaza health officials claim 45,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict. However, Israel has consistently claimed its military has made every effort to minimize civilian casualties.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to maintain that the allegations of a double standard in how the U.S. treats Israel compared to other nations are unfounded. In May, the Department of State—in a report to Congress—claimed insufficient evidence existed to trigger the Leahy Laws. The report did state, however, that the department continues to monitor Israel’s compliance with both the foreign military aid statute and international human rights laws.

The U.S. government has allocated approximately $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel since the start of the country’s war against Hamas over a year ago.

Image by Naaman Omar via Wikimedia Commons.

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Palestinians are suing the U.S. Department of State over the Biden-Harris government's supply of military aid to Israel for its ongoing military campaign against the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. The lawsuit, which was filed in a U.S. federal court on Tuesday, alleges the American government is allowing Israel to circumvent a series of U.S. human rights laws enacted by former Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in 1997. According to the "Leahy Laws," the United States cannot grant foreign military aid to a country if there is evidence of human rights abuses. show more

New NATO Member Warns Against Deploying Western Troops in Ukraine.

One of NATO’s newest member states is urging caution among European leaders discussing so-called peacekeeping operations in Ukraine once the conflict has ended. On Tuesday, Finland‘s President Alexander Stubb addressed the issue before a defense cooperation summit in Tallinn, Estonia. He emphasized, “We should not get ahead of ourselves” when considering operations in Ukraine.

Stubb expressed concern over the significant number of European troops that would be needed for such an operation. He noted that a proper peacekeeping force would require at least 150,000 soldiers. He explained that maintaining this operation over time would necessitate up to 450,000 peacekeepers annually. “Perhaps this discussion has gone off the rails, so to speak,” Stubb remarked.

Instead of deploying peacekeeping forces, Stubb suggested that security guarantees for Kiev should take precedence in discussions about future peace negotiations.

Recently, discussions among leading NATO countries have revived the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine in various capacities. However, Russia strongly opposes such proposals, considering them a significant escalation, and has warned of potential conflict.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin accused the West of crossing his previously stated “red lines” this week. Putin previously stated that allowing Ukraine to launch long-range Western missiles into Russia would be considered an act of war. Despite the warning, the Biden-Harris regime gave Ukraine the green light to launch ATACMS missiles into Russian territory after Harris lost the U.S. presidential election.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has stated he intends to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and negotiate a ceasefire. Leaders in Britain and France seem opposed to peace talks, but they are much less important to the Ukrainian war effort than the U.S.

Image via Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

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One of NATO's newest member states is urging caution among European leaders discussing so-called peacekeeping operations in Ukraine once the conflict has ended. On Tuesday, Finland's President Alexander Stubb addressed the issue before a defense cooperation summit in Tallinn, Estonia. He emphasized, "We should not get ahead of ourselves" when considering operations in Ukraine. show more

Russia Says It Has a Cancer Vaccine.

Russia’s Ministry of Health has announced the development of a cancer vaccine slated for free distribution to patients in early 2025. The announcement was made by Andrey Kaprin, director of the Radiology Medical Research Center. Russian state media reports that the vaccine will be used to treat cancer patients and not administered to the general population as a means of prevention.

The vaccine is reportedly tailored to individual patients, aligning with Western cancer vaccine development approaches. Details regarding the specific cancers it targets, its efficacy, and the logistics of its rollout have not been disclosed as of the time of publication. The vaccine’s name also remains confidential.

Cancer remains a significant health issue in Russia, with over 635,000 cases recorded in 2022. Colon, breast, and lung cancers are reportedly the most prevalent forms. Personalized vaccines, like the one Russia claims to have developed, are custom-made using genetic material from a patient’s tumor. These vaccines are designed to train the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cell proteins and antigens.

Research into personalized cancer vaccines is ongoing worldwide. In the United States, the University of Florida tested a similar approach in patients with glioblastoma. The vaccine generated a robust immune response within 48 hours of administration, according to study lead Elias Sayour. Meanwhile, trials in the United Kingdom are examining a personalized melanoma vaccine. This has reportedly shown promise in increasing survival odds for severe skin cancer.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Russia's Ministry of Health has announced the development of a cancer vaccine slated for free distribution to patients in early 2025. The announcement was made by Andrey Kaprin, director of the Radiology Medical Research Center. Russian state media reports that the vaccine will be used to treat cancer patients and not administered to the general population as a means of prevention. show more

Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Almost Killed Girl, Six, During Escape, Feds ‘Stonewalling’ State Investigators.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced on Wednesday that Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate Donald J. Trump on September 15, faces an attempted felony murder charge for causing severe injuries to a six-year-old girl during his escape. However, she complains the federal authorities have “stonewalled” the state-level investigation into Routh.

Following the assassination attempt, Routh fled north on Interstate 95, leading to law enforcement shutting down traffic in both directions. His apprehension in Martin County precipitated a multi-car crash on the highway, which nearly resulted in the death of the young girl.

Moody stressed that Florida investigators faced significant resistance in their efforts to independently investigate Routh’s actions, saying the state authorities “offered to be a partner” to the federal authorities, but “we immediately were confronted with a lack of willingness to allow us access to the crime scene, an unwillingness to provide evidence that was collected, an unwillingness to allow us to accompany witness interviews, and the list goes on and on.”

“[P]rosecutors and federal agents… made known that they intended to shut down our investigation and invoke federal jurisdiction in doing so,” she added.

FROM THE TOP.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder described this obstruction as political, originating from “way above the men and women of the FBI.”

“This was not normal from our federal partners. This was not ground-level FBI agents. This came from much higher, way above those FBI agents,” he said.

Governor Ron DeSantis is backing Moody, saying, “The feds have stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance. The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed.”

In October, Florida filed a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland for obstructing Florida’s investigation.

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Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced on Wednesday that Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate Donald J. Trump on September 15, faces an attempted felony murder charge for causing severe injuries to a six-year-old girl during his escape. However, she complains the federal authorities have "stonewalled" the state-level investigation into Routh. show more

Bannon’s War Room, CFP’s Kane Beat Corporate Media in ‘Most Influential’ List.

Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon and Kane, who runs CitizenFreePress.com, have both beaten out stiff competition from corporate media networks and personalities in the Mediaite Most Influential List 2024.

The list underscores significant changes in media dynamics, spotlighting new figures gaining traction due to the transformative political scene.

Kane, a keen reader and supporter of The National Pulse, came in at 21 out of 75 on the list, with Mediaite stating: “It’s a testament to the power of the Drudge Report that it took two decades for a viable competitor to emerge. Now it’s here in the Citizen Free Press, a buzzy and fast-paced compendium of links that flanks Drudge from the right.

“CFP has surged in recent years, building a large audience for those who want to read conservative friendly news from a wide range of sources – including legacy outlets like The New York Times and CNN. If the site does anywhere in the ballpark of the 350 million pageviews in traffic per month it says it does, CFP is driving the intra-conservative conversation in a way few can even fathom (and Mediaite can attest to the fact that a CFP link is a huge traffic driver).

“Kane, the mysterious proprietor of the site, is open about the fact that he sought to mimic the success of the Drudge Report. In an interview this year, Kane revealed Steve Bannon and other stars of Trumpworld helped grow CFP from a page read by a few thousand people to a behemoth being eyed by venture capitalists looking for the next fledgling media giant. Kane continues to run the site by himself, working 18-hour days to keep links fresh. That means it’s not just the site’s influence, but Kane’s choices for what to include that are often driving the national conversation.”

Of Bannon’s War Room, placed 34th, Mediaite states: “The greatest media checks on Trump 2.0 will likely not come from the president-elect’s left, but rather his right. And the man who helped build Trump 1.0 has established himself as one of the few with the ability and willingness to take Trump on for not being conservative enough.

“Already, Steve Bannon has made clear that the defeat of Matt Gaetz’s attorney general bid was a shot to the solar plexus — and warned Trump that he should not have waved the white flag. Should his frequent guest Kash Patel find himself in deep water during his confirmation fight to become FBI director, Bannon’s sure to raise hell. (Pity the moderate Republican who finds himself on the business end of a Bannon rant.) And no foe is too powerful for Bannon to not only challenge, but to rattle.

“You can be sure the folks at 1211 Avenue of the Americas pay heed to Bannon’s frequent attacks on Rupert Murdoch. Bannon’s War Room is a daily must-listen for MAGA diehards and those who want to understand them. What you hear on War Room today you’re very likely to read in a Truth Social post tomorrow. And the guests you see on War Room — like Patel, former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, and incoming White House trade advisor Peter Navarro — are far more likely to influence public policy than the type of backbench Democrat you often see on MSNBC. The greatest testament to how big of a year Steve Bannon had? The fact that he made such an impact while spending a third of it behind bars. Just imagine how much influence he will have with a full 12 months of freedom and unfettered access to his audience.”

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Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon and Kane, who runs CitizenFreePress.com, have both beaten out stiff competition from corporate media networks and personalities in the Mediaite Most Influential List 2024. show more

Congress Sneaks Pay Hike and Obamacare Opt-Out for Members Into Mammoth Spending Bill.

Congressmen have surreptitiously inserted two self-serving provisions into their latest continuing resolution (CR): a pay raise for themselves and an opt-out from the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Congress had actively blocked cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for its members since 2009, embedding prohibitive language in spending bills while allowing other federal employees to receive such increases. However, in a sly maneuver, lawmakers have now included a provision on page 15 of the new CR that effectively reverses this longstanding policy.

For years, many in Congress have advocated for salary increases, claiming that the salary freeze has deterred people from entering politics. In 2022, Congress introduced a program allowing members to receive reimbursements for lodging and meal expenses in Washington, D.C., yet this has not been enough for some. The current annual salary for members stands at $174,000. A Congressional Research Service report suggests that if lawmakers had received raises annually, their 2024 salary would be $243,300.

In addition, the CR includes a provision allowing members of Congress to sidestep Obamacare and revert to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). This move contradicts the original intent of the Affordable Care Act, which mandated that lawmakers and certain officials utilize the same health exchanges as the general public.

This particular exemption was not present in earlier drafts of the CR’s health title, surprising even some key Democrats upon its late revelation in the final text released Tuesday evening.

Image via GPA Photo Archive. 

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Congressmen have surreptitiously inserted two self-serving provisions into their latest continuing resolution (CR): a pay raise for themselves and an opt-out from the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Congress had actively blocked cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for its members since 2009, embedding prohibitive language in spending bills while allowing other federal employees to receive such increases. However, in a sly maneuver, lawmakers have now included a provision on page 15 of the new CR that effectively reverses this longstanding policy. show more

Trump Warns Liz Cheney ‘Could Be in a Lot of Trouble’ After J6 Witness Tampering Report.

President Donald J. Trump has warned former Congresswoman Liz Cheney “could be in a lot of trouble” after a congressional report accused her of tampering with January 6 Committee witness Cassidy Hutchison. The Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight found that Cheney, then the Vice Chairwoman of the January 6 Committee, “tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge.”

“Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that ‘numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI,'” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, offering thanks to subcommittee chairman Rep. Barry Loudermilk on for “a job well done.”

Specifically, the subcommittee report says Cheney’s “secret communication with a witness [was] improper and likely violates 18 U.S.C. 1512.”

Fellow Trump administration turncoat Alyssa Farah Griffin often acted as a go-between for Hutchinson and Cheney, with conservative commentators such as Jack Posobiec questioning whether Griffin helped Cheney to persuade Hutchinson to change her testimony. The subcommittee report suggests Hutchinson likely perjured herself while giving testimony to the January 6 Committee—but the FBI’s failure to turn over crucial documents has made this difficult to verify definitively.

Infamously, Hutchinson claimed President Trump “lunged” for the steering wheel of the presidential limousine after his driver refused to take him to the Capitol on January 6—a claim the driver categorically refuted in evidence to the January 6 Committee, which was suppressed until March this year.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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President Donald J. Trump has warned former Congresswoman Liz Cheney "could be in a lot of trouble" after a congressional report accused her of tampering with January 6 Committee witness Cassidy Hutchison. The Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight found that Cheney, then the Vice Chairwoman of the January 6 Committee, "tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge." show more
Migrant Crime

Notorious Drug Lord Returns to Mexico After U.S. Prison Term.

A notorious Mexican drug lord has been arrested in Mexico after U.S. authorities deported him following a lengthy prison sentence. Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, former leader of the Gulf cartel, was extradited to the U.S. in 2007. He completed 14 years of a 25-year sentence before U.S. officials deported him. Upon arrival in Mexico, Mexican authorities took him into custody and transferred him to Altiplano, a maximum-security prison near Mexico City.

Cárdenas Guillén now faces charges for drugs, organized crime, and money laundering in his home country. Samuel Olson, Chicago Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), stressed the importance of removing an “international fugitive.”

Cárdenas Guillén, 57, is from Matamoros, a city on the U.S.-Mexico border. He earned the nickname “El Mata Amigos” or “Friend Killer” for his violent tactics. He recruited former Mexican special forces soldiers to form the brutal Zetas group, known for extreme violence.

Captured in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in 2003, Cárdenas Guillén was convicted in the U.S. in 2010. The U.S. Justice Department accused him of threatening an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Texas. This was over a failed drug delivery involving nearly a ton of marijuana.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has promised to crack down on the Mexican cartels, stating last year that he views them as “unlawful enemy combatants” and could allow the U.S. military to operate against them.

Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, claimed this year that the cartels were also using thousands of drones at the border to aid in their operations.

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A notorious Mexican drug lord has been arrested in Mexico after U.S. authorities deported him following a lengthy prison sentence. Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, former leader of the Gulf cartel, was extradited to the U.S. in 2007. He completed 14 years of a 25-year sentence before U.S. officials deported him. Upon arrival in Mexico, Mexican authorities took him into custody and transferred him to Altiplano, a maximum-security prison near Mexico City. show more