This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The Democrats' years-long lawfare campaign against President-elect Donald Trump included a long list of cases, mostly felonies, in a long list of jurisdictions, over a long list of issues.

In the end it all will result in a "talking point … while it lasts."

That's according to constitutional expert Jonathan Turley, who has expressed his opinion that they likely never should have been launched.

The cases include fights over papers, fights over comments, fights over opinions and the like.

One that "remains," at least on paper, is the "hush money" claims created by anti-Trump Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who took business recording misdemeanors for which the statute of limitations had expired. He claimed they were felonies because they were in pursuit of other crimes that weren't specified, or even identified. The legacy media labeled it the "hush money" case because some of the payments involved distributions to Trump's lawyer, who paid a woman for silence about an affair that both "participants" deny happened.

"The 2024 election proved to be the largest verdict in history after years of lawfare and biased media reporting came to nothing. Merchan showed little self-awareness in claiming that he was only trying to avoid 'immeasurable damage to the citizenry's confidence in the Rule of Law' in continuing the case. Polls show the public saw these cases as lawfare and Merchan is widely viewed as causing precisely that 'immeasurable damage' with his handling of the case. Given this record, it may be fitting that the trophy from the New York case is a media talking point, while it lasts," he noted.

Multiple other lawfare cases against Trump already have been dismissed.

It is Juan Merchan, a judge in New York City, who facilitated Bragg's campaign against Trump.

He's delayed sentencing for months, a fact that has meant that Trump has not been allowed to appeal, so far. Now Merchan has said he will announce a punishment for Trump this week. He also suggested he doesn't plan to impose jail time.

Turley pointed out Trump detractors have "longed for" an "orange-jump-suit moment."

"They will likely be disappointed. As some of us noted after the verdict, this type of case would often result in an unconditional discharge or a sentence without jail time. That prediction became more likely after Trump was reelected in November. Limits on Trump's freedom or liberty would likely result in a fast reversal, and Merchan knew it," Turley explained.

He said one option was to "suspend" action on the case while Trump serves his second term as president, a scheme in which "Merchan would hold a leash on the president as a criminal defendant awaiting punishment."

But, Turley noted, "the whole point of a trophy-kill case is the trophy itself. Merchan will not disappoint. While indicating that he is inclined to a sentence without jail or probation, he will finalize the conviction of Trump just 10 days before his inauguration. In so doing, he will formally label the president-elect a convicted felon."

That, he said, will result in "punishment by soundbite."

In fact, Turley suggested, "Merchan seems at points to be writing the actual talking points for the talking heads. In his order, he states grandly that the jurors found that this 'was the premediated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world.'"

He explained the lawfare failure was clear, and even Joe Biden was disappointed that, "Attorney General Merrick Garland as insufficiently aggressive in pursuing Trump."

Turley explained the failings of the lawfare in the case that should be addressed at by higher courts: "Those appellate issues include charges based on a novel criminal theory through which New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg not only zapped a dead misdemeanor into life (after the expiration of the statute of limitation) but based a state charge on federal election law and federal taxation violations. So, after the Justice Department declined to prosecute federal violations, Bragg effectively did so in state court with Merchan's blessing. The issues also include Merchan's absurd instructions to the jury. The novel theory demanded a secondary offense, the crime that Trump was seeking to conceal by listing payments as legal expenses. Merchan allowed the jury to find that the secondary offense was any of an array of vaguely defined options. Even on the jury form, they did not have to specify which crimes were found. Merchan did not require even a majority, let alone a unanimous jury, to agree on what actually occurred. Under Merchan's instruction, the jury could have split four-four-four on whether this was all done to conceal a federal election violation, falsification of business records or taxation violations. Neither Trump nor the public will ever know."

Even one Democrat senator called the case total "b——."

Trump's response to Merchan was unvarnished:

He said Merchan's case was nothing but a "rigged charade."

The Article III Project, which advocates for the judiciary, similarly responded, revealing some of the conflicts that face Merchan's plans.

"Democrat Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan—who donated to Trump's opponents and whose adult daughter Loren is raising money off of this bogus case—once again proves he is partisan, corrupt, and dangerous. The Supreme Court must end this immediately," said Mike Davis, who helped win Senate confirmation battles for Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

ABC reported the case sentence will include an "unconditional discharge."

In fact, Trump's lawyers already have asked that the sentencing be put off while they appeal. They have asked a state appeals court to reverse Merchan's agenda to keep the case going with the sentencing.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – Middle East/Israel Morning Brief

Trump plans crippling sanctions on International Criminal Court

 

President-elect Donald Trump is thought to be planning devastating sanctions on the International Criminal Court immediately after his inauguration, with some sources suggesting an executive order could be forthcoming as soon as Jan. 21.

The sanctions package will target both individual ICC personnel, including judges and prosecutors, and the institution as a whole, Israel Hayom reported. The administration intends to classify the ICC as an organization threatening U.S. interests, employing designation procedures similar to those used by the U.S. State Department for terrorist organizations globally. This designation will trigger severe restrictions on anyone involved with the court's operations.

Financial institutions worldwide will be required to terminate relationships with ICC personnel or face U.S. sanctions themselves. Mirroring actions taken against sanctioned Israeli citizens by the outgoing administration, ICC staff will find themselves unable to perform routine banking operations or use credit cards. Their economic activities will be effectively frozen, with exceptions only for essential needs such as food purchases. Furthermore, all U.S.-based assets belonging to ICC employees and the institution will be frozen.

The Trump team is taking a hard line against the international court over its issuance of arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for the IDFs conduct during the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza.

Iranian foreign minister: Another attack on our soil will cause 'all-out-war'

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke in a wide-ranging interview on China's CCTV about many different facets of the country's foreign policy. He said diplomacy and battlefield strategies must align as Tehran seeks to maintain its military power despite significant regional setbacks, reported Iran International.

"We are fully prepared for the possibility of further Israeli attacks," he said."I hope Israel will refrain from taking such reckless action, as it could lead to a large-scale war."

Amid speculation that Israel may escalate its response to ballistic missile and drone attacks by Iran's allies, Araghchi cautioned against the potential consequences of such actions. However, he underscored Iran's preference for diplomacy, highlighting the importance of reason in preventing conflict. "We believe that reason will ultimately prevail and prevent actions that could have serious consequences," he told the broadcaster.

3 dead, 9 wounded in Samaria shooting terrorist attack

 

A shooting terrorist attack on Monday next to the Samarian town of Kedumim, left three Israelis dead and nine wounded. The attack was filmed on a nearby security camera.

The car carrying the terrorists parks facing the road as it waits, one terrorist is seen exiting a car on the passenger's side carrying a rifle and another man is seen standing by the trunk of the car before the attack is launched and the two return into the vehicle and drive off.

Elad Winkelstein, a police officer and a father of two was identified as one of the victims of the murderous terrorist attack, reported Ynet. He managed to shoot at the terrorists before being hit in the head by a bullet. The names of two other victims, women in their 60s, have not yet been released for publication.

HTS fighters clash with Hezbollah operatives in Syria

 

Violent clashes erupted over the weekend between forces of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, which is controlled by the country's former HTS rebels, and Hezbollah terrorists. The clashes took place in the countryside west of Damascus, near the Syrian-Lebanese border, according to a report in the Jewish Press.

Hezbollah terrorists, with the help of drug traffickers with whom they have been cooperating, attempted to establish new positions in Syria. In response, the Syrian Ministry of Defense sent military reinforcements to thwart their attempts.

The sectarian violence, which seemed to have had a lid placed upon its combustible mix while Syria's former president Assad was still in charge, has been blown wide open again since his lightning-quick ouster. Syria's de facto ruling party is Sunni, with many of its fighters having fought bitter previous battles against Hezbollah's Shia militants.

Israeli intelligence missed explicit warning about Hamas' plans for Oct. 7 attack

 

Serious allegations were raised on Sunday regarding whether Israel's intelligence services missed explicit Hamas warnings on its Telegram channel about the kind of operation it had planned for Oct. 7, 2023.

Had posts published on Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels weeks prior to the Oct. 7 massacre been analyzed and monitored in Israel, the outcome of the events could have been very different, Lt.-Col. (res.) Jonathan Dahoah-Halevi argued in an article published recently by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, reported the Jerusalem Post.

At the center of Dahoah-Halevi's analysis is the figure of Maam Rashid al-Masri, also known as "Abu Hafs." Al-Masri, a Hamas Nukhba terrorist, (Hamas' elite commando unit) managed the Telegram channel named "Military Tactics" and co-founded the "Al-Qassam Brigades Dispatch" channel.

These channels were neither secret nor hidden – they were open and accessible to all. The "Military Tactics" Telegram channel even shared professional content showcasing the organization's level of preparedness and operational capabilities.

Israeli soldier who survived Nova festival massacre flees Brazil after fears of arrest warrant

 

A reserve IDF soldier who was vacationing in Brazil successfully managed to flee the country with his traveling companions after receiving a warning from Israel's Foreign Ministry that a federal court in Brazil was authorizing a criminal investigation into his actions while serving in Gaza.

Judge Raquel Soares Charelli authorized the probe on Dec. 30, according to news site Metrópoles. The reports in Brazilian media did not name the Israeli, who was a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, and who according to Israeli media reports fled the country. He was wanted for actions allegedly taken during his military service in the Israel Defense Forces, reported the Jewish News Syndicate.

Yuli Edelstein, chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said in response to the Brazilian move that he would convene a classified discussion into the prosecution of Israelis abroad. "I am embarrassed for Brazil and its government, who surrendered to the pro-Palestinian legal terrorism," the statement continued.

Blinken: Hamas backtracked when it saw pressure applied to Israel

 

The New York Times published an interview with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, in which he said, Hamas has refused to agree to release the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire for two reasons.

In his words, "There have been two major impediments, and they both go to what drives Hamas. One has been whenever there has been public daylight between the United States and Israel and the perception that pressure was growing on Israel, we've seen it: Hamas has pulled back from agreeing to a ceasefire and the release of hostages, wrote Caroline Glick on the Jewish News Syndicate.

"The other thing that got Hamas to pull back was their belief, their hope that there would be a wider conflict, that Hezbollah would attack Israel, that Iran would attack Israel, that other actors would attack Israel, and that Israel would have its hands full and Hamas could continue what it was doing."

Under harsh questioning from the Times' anti-Israel reporter Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Blinken revealed U.S. pressure on Israel began immediately after Oct. 7, 2023, and became a central feature of U.S. policy in relation to the war from its very earliest days. From the outset, the provision of unlimited supplies to Gaza – euphemistically referred to as humanitarian aid – has been the constant focus of U.S. pressure on Israel.

IDF on high-alert over fears of Iran taking 'extreme steps'

 

Israel's military is said to be in the highest state of preparedness in the coming days, as IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi warned about Iran's unpredictability as the country is roiled by a number of both internal and external factors.

The report, citing unnamed defense sources, says the caution comes as Iran faces multiple challenges following setbacks in Lebanon and Syria, according to the Times of Israel. It also points to Iran's plunging exchange rate, infrastructure problems and political unrest.

The sources also note the uncertainty for Iran ahead of the return of Donald Trump to the White House later this month.

Netanyahu receives 14-day medical reprieve from providing trial testimony as he recovers from surgery

 

The Tel Aviv District Court granted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 14-day postponement of his testimony in his corruption trial as he recovers from prostate removal surgery, reported the Jewish News Syndicate.

Netanyahu is facing bribery and breach-of-trust charges in three cases, labeled 1000, 2000 and 4000. The latter is the most serious, and the only one featuring bribery charges.

The judges wrote that other witnesses for the defense would testify during the 14-day period, according to Israel's Channel 14. The prosecution reportedly insisted that during that period Netanyahu observe the orders of his physicians, which have not been made public. Netanyahu underwent the surgery on Dec. 29 and was discharged from hospital on Jan. 2.

Iran increasing weaponry supply to Houthis in Yemen to maintain pressure on Israel

 

The Iran-backed Houthi forces have intensified their missile attacks, forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to seek shelter in the dead of night, deterring foreign airlines, and sustaining what may be the final major front in the ongoing Middle East conflicts, according to the Jewish Press.

Last Thursday, the Houthis launched their sixth missile attack on Israel in one week, with the strikes becoming increasingly frequent despite intense Israeli air raids targeting the group's critical infrastructure.

Iranian news outlets repeat the Houthis' jovial announcements of victory against the Jewish state, and on Sunday morning quoted the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces Brig.-Gen. Yahya Saree that the YAF missile force carried out a military operation targeting the Orot Rabin power plant in Hadera.

Syrian leader asks U.S. to pressure Israel to retreat

 

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, is urging the United States to put pressure on Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone it established on the border, including the Syrian section of Mount Hermon, according to All Israel news.

Israeli authorities stated they have received no formal communication regarding the request, but an official told Israeli channel Kan the country "would not compromise its security."

According to the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, Israel sees al-Jolani as a terrorist who is likely to act against Israel, with senior Israeli security officials describing him as a "wolf in sheep's clothing."

"The reality in Syria hasn't stabilized," stated Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. "The regime in Damascus is essentially a gang – not a legitimate government. Other areas, like Idlib, are controlled by Islamist groups with extreme ideologies."

Al-Sharaa has attempted to promote a more kindly face to his nascent administration, allegedly disavowing the more extreme Islamic radicalism of previous years. Outwardly it seems to have worked on some – many viewing him as an imperfect improvement on the butcher Assad – although Israel is certainly not one of those.

UNRWA denies report it will stop operating in Gaza, Judea and Samaria

 

UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, strongly denied a recent report it is preparing to end its activities in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria, in light of Knesset legislation passed that bans the organization's activities on Israeli soil, Ynet reported.

The denial comes after the report in the New York Times on Friday, which claimed that the agency "is preparing to close its activities due to new Israeli restrictions."

The report quoted Louise Wateridge, a senior UNRWA official, as saying the law would undermine the necessary coordination with Israel to deliver aid to the territories. According to her, "the lives of our staff will be at risk" if information is not shared with Israeli authorities.

Closing the operation "would be a massive impact on an already catastrophic situation," added Jamie McGoldrick, who was in charge of U.N. aid operations in Gaza and Judea and Samaria until April. "If that is what the Israeli intention is – to remove any ability for us to save lives – you have to question what is the thinking and what is the end goal?"

'Free Iran', 'Woman Life Freedom' slogans sprayed on walls of Iran's Damascus embassy

 

Bahar Ghandehari, an activist who opposes the Iranian regime, posted a video on Saturday that shows her spray-painting "free Iran" and "woman, life, freedom" on the outside walls of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

"I left a message for the criminal Iranian regime on its embassy in Damascus," she wrote. "For 14 years, the Iranian regime propped up Assad's dictatorship, crushing the Syrian revolution for freedom. Today, Assad and Khamenei are out of Syria. Soon, Iran will be free too."

Jonathan Harounoff, international spokesman for the Israeli mission to the United Nations in New York, told JNS that the messages that Ghandehari wrote on the building are "significant."

"Like the people of Iran who, unlike their brutal regime, seek peace and prosperity, we're seeing signs of ordinary Syrians disavowing the actions of the Iran-backed Assad regime and murderous 'axis of resistance' in pursuit of liberty and peace," he said.

Israeli government outlines $1 billion framework to start returning residents of the North by March 1

 

The Finance Ministry on Sunday presented a NIS 3.4 billion ($934 million) compensation plan to help bring thousands of evacuated residents of Israel's battered northern communities back home in early March, after more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah, reported the Times of Israel.

"The key to returning home is security and we are not going to compromise on this matter," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, at a press conference in Jerusalem. "Residents of the north are returning to a different security reality, and we will make sure that quiet is maintained for years."

The announcement of the return-to-home plan comes after extended delays and numerous complaints from residents of Israel's northern communities, who have been internally displaced for more than a year.

Are Afghanistan and Pakistan about to go to war with each other?

 

Afghanistan, led by the Taliban, and Pakistan appear to be heading towards war, highlighting the dangers of supporting erratic, unpredictable elements, according to a report in Israel Hayom.

Just a week ago, at least 46 people were killed and six injured in Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika Province. The Taliban government condemned the attack, claiming most victims were refugees from Waziristan, and vowed retaliation. Meanwhile, Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously to the AP, said the operation aimed to dismantle a training facility and eliminate insurgents in the area.

The tensions between these two nations have deep historical roots, and the current escalation is merely the surface of a long-standing rivalry divided by a contentious border.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said Saturday that he will work together with fellow Pennsylvania GOP Senator Dave McCormick for "a better Pennsylvania."

The two had dinner together and had a "great discussion," Fetterman said to reporters at the opening of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, one day after McCormick was sworn in as the state's junior senator.

Fetterman said he would miss his "dear friend" Bob Casey, whom McCormick defeated, but he looks “forward to making a new one and working with him.”

After meeting with President-elect Donald Trump's Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Collins as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Fetterman said he would vote to confirm her.

"Doing my job"

He acknowledged that they have different views, but said she "has a strong background."

Fetterman has met with several of Trump's nominees, which makes him different from most Democrats.

He doesn't know why that should be unusual, he said.

“Some I can vote for, like the incoming Secretary of Agriculture, or [Secretary of State nominee and Florida Sen.] Marco Rubio or Representative [Elise] Stefanik, and there’s others, perhaps, that I will not,” Fetterman said. “But whoever I vote [for], it’s going to be an informed choice. And I see that as doing my job. I don’t see that as controversial.”

Unique viewpoints

Fetterman has come a long way since he was elected only weeks after having a stroke that rendered him less than articulate for a while (unflattering comparisons were made to President Joe Biden's frequent gaffes and stumbling over words).

He has taken a unique position among Democrats on several issues in the last year, including vocal, unconditional support for Israel after it was viciously attacked by Hamas in October 2023.

More recently, he said that while he supports legal immigration and his wife Gisele was undocumented, he also wants a secure border.

He expects to support legislation to that end that will likely be put forward by Trump when he gets into office.

He's always been someone who marches to his own beat--he is known for wearing hoodies and athletic shorts on the campaign trail and the Senate floor rather than professional attire.

While there is much Republicans still disagree with him about, he has earned a somewhat grudging respect for his willingness to buck the party line.

In the final weeks of the Biden presidency, the Biden administration announced a ban on certain natural gas water heaters as part of its climate change agenda.

The new ban will remove non-condensing, natural gas-fired water heaters from the shelves by 2029 meaning that poor and elderly Americans living in smaller builders will have to shovel out more money to buy more expensive water heaters.

The regulation stipulates that the new tankless gas water heaters must use 13% less energy than today’s least efficient tankless models.

Furthermore, this regulation was released on the day after Christmas without any kind of announcement.

Clearly, President Biden didn't want Americans to notice that he had just made energy even more expensive for poor Americans so there was no announcement and the release was disguised on a day when many Americans were spending time with their families so as to attract as little time as possible.

Cost Of Living Increase

This callous and cruel decision will cost elderly and poor Americans more upfront for energy costs for minimal savings in energy over the long term.

Matthew Agen, the American Gas Association’s chief counsel for energy, responded to the new regulation by saying, "The final rule is a violation of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which prohibits DOE from promulgating a standard that renders a product with a distinct performance characteristic unavailable."

Hopefully, that accusation means that there will be an extensive legal battle coming to stop this regulation before it can take effect.

Agen continued by saying, "Forcing low-income and senior customers to pay far more upfront is particularly concerning. DOE’s decision to go ahead with a flawed final rule is deeply disappointing."

This decision from the Biden administration is yet another decision that will force Americans to pay more for energy in the name of combatting climate change.

Poor Americans now have to pay hundreds more for more expensive heaters to reduce emissions by some incalculably small amount. These kinds of decisions affect Americans living on fixed incomes the most while the elites will never feel the impact of these absurd regulations.

Anti-Business Move

Furthermore, this regulation completely destroys Rinnai America, a company that has invested $70 million to build a 360,000-square-foot factory in Georgia to build non-condensing gas water heaters.

Frank Windsor, president of Rinnai America, told the Washington Free Beacon that, "When the rule goes into effect, all that manufacturing will basically be irrelevant. A lot of the major equipment that we've invested in will basically have to be scrapped."

So not only is this regulation putting more burden on poor Americans but it could destroy hundreds of jobs in Georgia should Rinnai America have to shut down.

When President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, he should immediately rescind this regulation and ensure that Biden's spiteful last regulations aren't allowed to impact the American people.

Thomas Markle, father to the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has announced his decision to move from the United States, fearing he may never meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.

Markle, seeking a life change, is exploring a move to Southeast Asia while Meghan is preparing for the launch of her new Netflix series "With Love, Meghan," which has already sparked public debate, The Sun reported. 

The 80-year-old, once residing in Mexico, has spent a decade in California. Despite living just 250 miles from Meghan, he has remained distanced from her and the royal family. Feeling "stuck," he desires fresh connections and "kindness" in new surroundings.

Former Royal Family Member Struggles With Separation

Thomas's separation from his daughter followed critical health issues around her wedding and controversial paparazzi photos. Meghan's comments in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey reflect the strain, noting the challenge of reconciling their relationship. Despite this, Thomas maintains hope, stating that his "door is always open" to Meghan.

As Thomas contemplates his move, Meghan's new Netflix venture stands in the spotlight. "With Love, Meghan," debuts on January 15, 2025, highlighting her involvement in activities like walking through gardens and arranging flowers, infused with a theme of joy and creativity over perfection.

Meghan Markle's New Netflix Show Faces Criticism

While anticipation builds, public reception of the show has been mixed. Observers note similarities to existing celebrity shows and accuse Meghan of emulating others, with alleged imitation of recipes and even Princess Kate's beekeeping depicted in the show.

Despite these criticisms, Meghan emphasizes her focus on joy and creativity through various pursuits. Her unique approach involves surprise elements meant to demonstrate her personal touch. "We're not in the pursuit of perfection," Meghan mentions in her show trailer.

Estranged Father Expresses Regret And Hope

For Thomas, the lack of contact with his grandchildren, who have been pivotal figures in royal news, is a source of regret. His intention to connect, he admits, remains unfulfilled, highlighting a personal void that accompanies his public persona.

His decision to relocate from a place he has called home for a decade signifies more than geographical change. It's a symbolic step towards embracing positive experiences in new surroundings.

Meghan Markle's Pursuit Of New Ventures

In contrast, Meghan's pursuit of new ventures represents her ongoing creative ambitions. Her Netflix endeavor reflects a continuity of her interest in media, aligning with broader themes she has previously explored.

Meghan's engagement with activities like beekeeping and community interactions underscores her commitment to themes of joy. These themes resonate within the overarching narrative of her program, which seeks to elevate ordinary moments.

Seeking Peace Amid Public Scrutiny

The contrasting narratives of father and daughter embody distinct journeys. For Thomas, relocating represents a quest for peace and novelty. Meanwhile, Meghan's exploration of fresh creative directions, despite public scrutiny, remains ongoing.

Thomas's sentiments offer insight into familial estrangement, while Meghan's public engagements offer elements of her identity beyond royal titles. These narratives intertwine within the context of their shared family history, marked by past discord.

Both Meghan's initiative and Thomas's intended move exemplify personal aspirations, albeit expressed diversely. Their stories intersect, each reflecting their contemporary reality, bound by their historic lineage yet distinct in their individual pursuits.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

It was big news that President Joe Biden awarded George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom over the weekend, the highest decoration a U.S. civilian can receive, intended for individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

Past recipients have included great Americans from Helen Keller, Neil Armstrong and Martin Luther King Jr. to Antonin Scalia, Rush Limbaugh and Billy Graham.

So, what has George Soros done to deserve the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

Soros' name is typically preceded by the words "billionaire philanthropist," but that already poses a problem. Philanthropists donate money and property to needy individuals and institutions for the purpose of advancing human welfare, security and happiness. Indeed, with its anthro root, philanthropy literally means "love of mankind."

For decades, however, Hungarian-born left-wing "billionaire philanthropist" George Soros – to get right down to it – has supported, advocated and bankrolled everything subversive, destructive and evil.

During the Biden administration, Soros' name has most often been heard in conjunction with funding dozens of radically pro-criminal district attorneys across America, many of them household names due to the spectacular explosion in violent crime they have enabled: "Soros DA Larry Krasner" (Philadelphia), "Soros DA Kim Foxx" (Chicago), "Soros DA Chesa Boudin" (San Francisco) and scores of others, from George Gascon (Los Angeles) to Marilyn Mosby (Baltimore) to Kim Gardner (St. Louis), 75 in all – each elected because of massive infusions of Soros cash into their campaigns. In turn, the "Soros DAs" have transformed America's most beautiful, dynamic and storied cities into degraded, crime-infested hellscapes of skyrocketing murder, rape, robbery, rioting, arson, drug abuse, wild mass-shoplifting episodes and other mayhem, leading not only to widespread property loss, suffering and death, but also to major exoduses by those with the means to relocate.

Of course, the most notorious and high-profile examples of Soros-funded legal chaos involve the lawfare cases against President Donald Trump, including New York's Soros-funded Attorney General Letitia James (who openly campaigned on a promise to prosecute Trump) and Soros-funded Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose bizarre case against Trump has resulted in the judge demanding to sentence Trump just days before he is inaugurated as America's 47th president.

And yet, radical-progressive prosecutors constitute just one recent manifestation of Soros' "philanthropy."

He funds efforts to legalize dangerous drugs, he supports euthanasia and assisted suicide, and he funds Black Lives Matter. He is for socialism and globalism and open borders and "defunding the police." He's for devaluing America's currency – once telling the Financial Times that "an orderly decline of the dollar is actually desirable" – even though that amounts to an outright theft of Americans' life savings and investments. He favors the destruction of American sovereignty in favor of "global governance." He doesn't like Israel and has supported her enemies. He detests fair elections and truthful news coverage, and indeed funds organizations that daily attack the only free press America currently has (including Soros-funded attacks on WND and this writer).

In short, if it's immoral, subversive and anti-American, Soros favors, organizes and funds it. If it's noble and freedom-producing, like free markets, fair elections and constitutional government, he sets up and funds organizations to undermine and destroy it.

Why? What is really going on inside the mind and soul of George Soros?

'Messianic fantasies … the creator of everything'

Even though conservatives generally regard him as akin to the evil emperor in "Star Wars," the "Empire's" shadowy and malevolent behind-the-scenes power, George Soros simultaneously represents the lifeblood – indeed, life itself – to hundreds of organizations on the far left. They see him as a messianic figure, a revered leader, a godfather – almost a god, who provides good things for his children.

Indeed, Soros admits he wants to re-create the world in his image – like a god. That characterization is not opinion, hyperbole or rhetorical flourish: Living out "messianic fantasies" and openly likening himself to a "some kind of god" is precisely how George Soros – ironically, an atheist and self-hating Jew – describes himself in his more candid moments.

"I fancied myself as some kind of god," Soros once wrote. "If truth be known, I carried some rather potent messianic fantasies with me from childhood, which I felt I had to control, otherwise they might get me in trouble."

When the British online newspaper The Independent asked Soros to explain these extraordinary statements, he responded: "It is a sort of disease when you consider yourself some kind of god, the creator of everything, but I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it out."

As Rachel Ehrenfeld and Shawn Macomber wrote in a revealing Los Angeles Times op-ed, "George Soros: The 'God' Who Carries Around Some Dangerous Demons":

Soros has proved that with the vast resources of money at his command he has the ability to make the once unthinkable acceptable. His work as a self-professed "amoral" financial speculator has left millions in poverty when their national currencies were devaluated, and he pumped so much cash into shaping former Soviet republics to his liking that he has bragged that the former Soviet empire is now the "Soros Empire."

Now he's turned his eye on the internal affairs of the United States. Today's U.S., he writes in his latest book, "The Bubble of American Supremacy," is a "threat to the world," run by a Republican Party that is the devil child of an unholy alliance between "market fundamentalists" and "religious fundamentalists." We have become a "supremacist" nation.

… Despite his reputation as an international philanthropist, Soros remains candid about his true charitable tendencies. "I am sort of a deus ex machina," Soros told the New York Times in 1994. "I am something unnatural. I'm very comfortable with my public persona because it is one I have created for myself. It represents what I like to be as distinct from what I really am. You know, in my personal capacity I'm not actually a selfless philanthropic person. I'm very much self-centered."

Soros was more succinct when he explained his life philosophy to biographer Michael Kaufman. "I am kind of a nut who wants to have an impact," he said.

Yet Soros' remarkable visions – many would say delusions – don't end there, as Ehrenfeld and Macomber explain:

"Next to my fantasies about being God, I also have very strong fantasies of being mad," Soros once confided on British television. "In fact, my grandfather was actually paranoid. I have a lot of madness in my family. So far I have escaped it."

Except he hasn't "escaped it." Not only has George Soros succumbed to a form of madness, but he's been imposing his insanity on the United States of America. And that is precisely why Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Soros has mightily helped Biden (and the neo-Marxist lunatics behind him) push a once-great nation ever further into social, economic, governmental, legal, moral and spiritual chaos.

After all, Soros' proclamation in his 1995 book, "Soros on Soros" – "I do not accept the rules imposed by others. … And in periods of regime change, the normal rules don't apply" – amounts to a moral code of total lawlessness and blind arrogance. And it is precisely this "the-normal-rules-don't-apply-to-me" philosophy that has been embraced not only by Soros, but by the entire America-destroying leftist ruling regime, on top of which the puppet Biden has been precariously perched for four years.

So, of course he must pay homage to his godfather and benefactor, George Soros – the super-wealthy atheist with "potent messianic fantasies" who admits he's a "self-centered" "nut" with "fantasies about being God."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A top Republican in the U.S. Senate is warning the congressional push for tax cuts could be endangering U.S. border security, and therefore the lives of American citizens.

"I'm very worried," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel.

"I'm very worried that if we don't put border first and get it done, it's going to be to a nightmare for our national security. We've got millions of illegal immigrants that President Trump has promised to deport, and he should. Why are we doing mass deportation? Because we had mass illegal immigration," he continued.

"Laken Riley's murderer was released because there was no bed space to hold him, and he was paroled, and he raped and killed the girl. Right now, we have 41,000 beds. Under the Trump plan, we're going to go to 150,000 beds.

"We're going to double the number of ICE agents to find people and kick 'em out. We're gonna finish the wall, and put technology on the border to shut it down. That costs $100 billion. I'm willing to offset the $100 billion with cuts in other places, but there's no way in hell Democrats are going to give us $100 billion for mass deportation.

"Every day we delay is a dangerous day for America. 3,000 Americans died from fentanyl poisoning every two weeks. I've never seen so many threats to our nation as I do now.

"It started with Afghanistan. ISIS is on the move. They're coming here. Last year we found eight people from Tajikistan that were affiliated with ISIS. I wrote a letter to [Sen. Chuck] Schumer saying let's have a hearing about ISIS-K in Afghanistan. He blew me off for an entire year. Now he wants a hearing about New Orleans.

"The threats to our nation are large. I want the tax cuts. $4.7 trillion, they will ruin the economy if they expire at the the end of the year. I will try to be a team player here, but I want to tell the American people from my point of view, the number one job is to secure the nation for the federal government.

"Our border is broken. I wanted it fixed by February the 17th. To the tax-cut wing of the party, I am with you, but if you hold border security hostage to get tax cuts, you're playing Russian roulette with our national security."

"So count me in for cutting taxes, but my purpose on this show today so the warn Americans that that this broken border is a national security nightmare. Donald Trump has a plan to fix it. It costs $100 billion. If we can get him the money, that's all he needs to fix it for four years. No Democrat is going to help us, folks. If you think they're going to help us, you shouldn't be allowed to drive."

Graham also is pushing to approve President-elect Trump's Cabinet picks "sooner rather than later."

"When President Trump left office, we had the most secure border in American history. The caliphate was destroyed, ISIS was destroyed and Iran was in a box, we killed Soleimani, the Iranian revolutionary guard leader. The last four years have been a freakin' disaster. They rolled back every policy that worked on the border. They went back into the Iran nuclear agreement giving the ayatollah hundreds of millions of dollars that's used for terrorism.

"The confirmations, do 'em now, do 'em quick. Get 'em all done in January, February. We need our team on the field. We need an FBI director, we need an attorney general, we need 'em all. Get hit done. We gotta get it done. We're under attack here. We're at war. … We're under siege here!"

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

When the history books start discussing Joe Biden's presidency, there will be no lack of blunders to mention. Afghanistan, inflation, the border, transgenderism for all, abortion, making taxpayers pay for student loans they didn't take out.

But as 2024 drew to a close, a report in the Washington Stand identified the biggest three issues that stand out from the pack as Biden's biggest blunders as president — the issues that turned the greatest number of Americans against him.

Washington Stand senior writer Joshua Arnold explained that Biden "careened from one crisis to the next" during his time in the White House, which ends in just days.

That cost him "the trust of the American people."

First among the biggest is Biden's foreign policy, highlighted by his disastrous withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

Biden ordered that "despite warnings from his advisors of the consequences that might follow such a decision. Without U.S. support, the democratic government in Afghanistan quickly folded to the aggression of Taliban militias. As a result, the Taliban captured $83 billion worth of U.S. military equipment, and a suicide bombing killed 13 U.S. servicemembers at the Kabul airport before the evacuation was completed."

Biden actually "threw away" 20 years of opposition to the Taliban and left the terror-linked organization "stronger than ever."

Catastrophically, he had America abandon local allies and even left behind America citizens there "with no way home."

Biden's second big blunder category was the economy.

"When President Biden assumed office, Congress had already passed multiple stimulus packages totaling trillions of dollars during the mandatory shutdowns in response to COVID-19. As a result, the Consumer Price Index inflation rate rose from 1.4% in January 2021 to 5.4% in June 2021. By this point, it should have been obvious that the U.S. government needed to take immediate, corrective action," the report said.

"However, at that point, Biden was asking Congress to pass another $4 trillion worth of spending on a progressive wish list. So, in June 2021 Biden claimed that inflation was 'transitory' and that 'no serious economist' thought unchecked inflation was on the way. Biden only convinced Congress — then controlled by his own party — to spend about half that amount, broken into separate bills."

The result was that Biden's inflation peaked at 9.1% in July 2022, and over his term, his inflation is continuing even now to cost consumers more than 20% for the same products and services as before he was elected.

He even resorted to "falsehoods" that inflation was 9% when he took office, which even leftists were unable to ignore. Actually, inflation was below 2% when he took office.

Third was immigration.

"When President Biden took office, he rescinded Trump administration policies that had effectively slowed the number of illegal border crossings down to a trickle — most notably a policy allowing for expedited deportation of migrants with no legitimate asylum claim and a policy requiring migrants to remain in Mexico while their asylum claims were adjudicated. These policy changes inspired more foreigners — not only from Latin America but from all over the world — to make the dangerous journey to America's southern border. Illegal border crossings surged to unheard-of levels: 3.2 million in FY 2023, 2.9 million in FY 2024, and a sum total of more than eight million encounters during Biden's four years in office, besides 1.7 million known 'gotaways,'" the report said.

In fact, the Biden administration's schemes to address the entry of illegal aliens actually brought them into the country "faster."

Among the problems that developed was the entry of suspected terrorists and criminal gangs that actually are now trafficking children "to force them into prostitution."

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made a surprise move this week with regard to Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA).

According to Breitbart, Schumer, who still leads the upper chamber for a few more weeks, appointed Schiff to the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees judicial appointments. 

Schiff's appointment will echo his time in the House, where he served on the House Judiciary Committee for years.

The California lawmaker also served on the California Senate Judiciary Committee while serving in the state Legislature.

What's going on?

Schiff received a number of plum appointments from Leader Schumer, including a seat on the Judiciary; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Environment and Public Works; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

The California Democrat released a statement on his X account following the assignments.

"I just received my Senate committee assignments: Judiciary, Agriculture, Small Business, and Environment & Public Works. These assignments will allow me to help build a stronger economy, support our agriculture industry and small businesses, and protect our democracy and planet," Schiff wrote.

He also released a longer statement thanking Schumer for the assignments.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on four committees of keen interest to all Californians," Schiff said in a statement.

He added, "These assignments will allow me to work directly on the high cost of housing and other inflation issues, to support our critical agriculture industry, to address crime and public safety concerns, to support our small businesses, to attack fentanyl, to reform our broken immigration system, to preserve and protect our environment, to deliver vital water and transportation infrastructure, to protect our democracy, rights and our freedoms, and so much more. I’m committed to working across the aisle to deliver for Californians in the U.S. Senate and eager to get started."

Social media lights him up

Many across social media torched Schiff after he announced the news.

"You belong in jail," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "Your actions on the Russia hoax should disqualify you from Judiciary."

Like other conservative Supreme Court justices, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh dealt with a scary incident in 2022 after a man showed up outside of his private residence with the intent to assassinate him.

According to The Hill, new details have emerged regarding the suspect, including that he told authorities killing Kavanaugh would "make the world a better place" and admitted that he had planned the assassination attempt for a month prior to the incident. 

The new details emerged from fresh court documents released on Friday.

The suspect, Nicholas Roske, will face trial beginning in June. There was no plea deal reached and he was charged with one count of attempting to assassinate a Supreme Court justice.

What's going on?

The transcript of Roske's conversation with authorities came after he filed a motion "arguing his statements are inadmissible and he was unconstitutionally searched."

He reportedly told a special agent at the local police station, "My plan was to kill Mr. Kavanaugh and then myself."

The Hill noted:

His public defenders argue Roske was not read his constitutional rights before police questioned him outside the conservative justice’s home. When authorities interviewed him at the police station hours later, Roske hadn’t validly waived his rights, his attorneys said.

The new documents shed light on Roske's mental health issues. For example, Roske connected his intention to kill Kavanaugh with being "actively suicidal."

Not surprisingly, Roske was sparked to go through with the attempt after expressing frustration over the leaked Supreme Court draft that indicated the high court was set to overturn Roe v. Wade.

"I’ve been suicidal for a long time, and when I saw that the leaked draft, it made me upset and then it made me want to — I don’t know. I was under the — I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him," the suspect told authorities at the time.

Radical leftist for sure

Roske also told cops that he was frustrated at the high court's consideration of "loosening gun restrictions."

"Hearing that this person that I was already upset with was planning on making it easier for people to do stuff like that, you know," Roske said.

Roske had previously been placed on three psychiatric holds.

Roske’s public defenders wrote, "Here, the government does not claim that there was a search warrant for any of the searched items. Thus, the search of the suitcase, backpack, and gun case along with the seizure of their contents are only lawful if the police officers’ conduct fits within one of the narrow exceptions to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement."

 

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