Authored by Leo Hohmann via substack,

Syria is just the latest case of U.S. meddling and the timing could not be more suspicious…

The Biden administration has triggered another proxy war for Donald Trump to deal with when he becomes president next month.

The U.S. deep state is fighting a proxy war in Syria, which appears to be waged with the intention of further destabilizing the Middle East and stirring up another front in World War III.

Syria is collapsing under the weight of another U.S.-sponsored proxy Civil War, with the US, Israel and Sunni jihadists on one side and Russia, Iran, Assad, and Shiite jihadists on the other.

Al Nusra (which is comprised of Al-Qaida and ISIS affiliates) is taking over the country with the help of Turkey, a U.S. ally and key member of the NATO military alliance. These rebels have seized the city of Aleppo and many smaller towns and villages.

M. Dowling at The Independent Sentinel notes that “Jake Sullivan has said Al-Qaida is on our side in Syria.”

Jake Sullivan is Biden’s national security adviser and a key enabler, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, of the anti-Russia obsessed deep-state club that shares one thing in common. They all belong to the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dowling notes that Syria’s civil war started in 2011 after an uprising against President Bashar Assad’s rule. The U.S., Russia, Israel and Iran all have a military presence in Syria. Forces opposed to Assad, along with U.S.-backed rebels, control more than a third of the country and now Russia and Iran have launched a counter-offensive. Russia is very upset with Turkey for instigating the coup against Assad, likely with the direct assistance of the CIA.

The false narrative being proffered by the US mockingbird media is that a rag-tag coalition of so-called “noble rebels” has somehow organically emerged to save Syria from the dictator Assad. No, what we have here are Sunni jihadists backed by the U.S. and NATO fighting Shia jihadists backed by Russia.

As Dowling points out, “All jihadists are bad guys.” They are bad because as soon as they get in power one of the first things they do is start raping the Christian women and executing the Christian men. It happened in Iraq after Saddam Hussein was overthrown and it’s happening now in Syria.

Congress funded jihadist rebels in Syria for years. The chief war whores of the military-industrial complex, Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, led the way.

Graham is now turning on Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, because he’s afraid the Fox News host might not be fully on board with the U.S. forever wars.

Dowling quotes Joe Kent, a former chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army special forces, saying that the U.S. is “in an endless cycle of violence” and a “regime-change war” in Syria that the US has pushed.

The world is aflame and the regime in Washington appears to be dowsing it with gasoline in anticipation of handing the chaos over to Donald Trump to deal with as the 47th president.

Dowling ends her article with this truth bomb:

“We need to be out of Syria. We’re helping no one, certainly not Americans. This is another spear in World War III.”

The U.S. is also stirring the pot in the Eastern European country of Georgia, where protesters continue to be out in the streets. The U.S. is complicit in the deaths of more than half a million Ukrainians.

I would say we need to be out of every country in the world where there is no direct compelling national interest for America’s national security. Rein in the CIA and limit its actions strictly to intelligence gathering (no more fomenting of revolutions and coups) bring our boys home and return the concept of “defense” to our U.S. Department of Defense.

Authored by Felicity Bradstock via OilPrice.com,

• The rapid growth of data centers to support AI is significantly increasing global electricity demand.

• This surge in demand threatens to outpace the development of renewable energy sources.

• International regulations are needed to ensure tech companies use clean energy and minimize their impact on climate goals.

The global electricity demand is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades, largely due to an increased demand from tech companies for new data centers to support the rollout of high-energy-consuming advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). As governments worldwide introduce new climate policies and pump billions into alternative energy sources and clean tech, these efforts may be quashed by the increased electricity demand from data centers unless greater international regulatory action is taken to ensure that tech companies invest in clean energy sources and do not use fossil fuels for power.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report in October entitled “What the data centre and AI boom could mean for the energy sector”. It showed that with investment in new data centers surging over the past two years, particularly in the U.S., the electricity demand is increasing rapidly – a trend that is set to continue. 

The report states that in the U.S., annual investment in data center construction has doubled in the past two years alone. China and the European Union are also seeing investment in data centers increase rapidly. In 2023, the overall capital investment by tech leaders Google, Microsoft, and Amazon was greater than that of the U.S. oil and gas industry, at approximately 0.5 percent of the U.S. GDP.

The tech sector expects to deploy AI technologies more widely in the coming decades as the technology is improved and becomes more ingrained in everyday life. This is just one of several advanced technologies expected to contribute to the rise in demand for power worldwide in the coming decades. 

Global aggregate electricity demand is set to increase by 6,750 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030, per the IEA’s Stated Policies Scenario. This is spurred by several factors including digitalization, economic growth, electric vehicles, air conditioners, and the rising importance of electricity-intensive manufacturing. In large economies such as the U.S., China, and the EU, data centers contribute around 2 to 4 percent of total electricity consumption at present. However, the sector has already surpassed 10 percent of electricity consumption in at least five U.S. states. Meanwhile, in Ireland, it contributes more than 20 percent of all electricity consumption.

While the speed and manner in which AI use will grow remains uncertain, and efficiency improvements are expected to be made, electricity demand from data centers, cryptocurrencies, and AI could reach as much as 1,000 Terawatt Hours (TWh) in 2026 – roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan – compared to 460TWh today, the IEA predicts.

The organization calls for more public-private dialogue, with policymakers, the tech sector, and the energy industry coming together for discussions to manage both expectations and energy use. Greater international regulation of the tech sector is required to ensure that the growing electricity demand for data centers does not outweigh the green transition achievements currently being seen worldwide. 

There are growing fears that, if left unregulated, the electricity consumption of data centers could surpass the electricity demand of some U.S. cities or even states. Many data center developers are concerned about finding enough land to house new sites and enough clean power to run them. The facilities could increasingly require 1 GW of power or more, which is equivalent to around twice the 2023 residential electricity consumption of Pittsburgh. 

The president of Lancium, a company that secures land and power for data centers in Texas, Ali Fenn, explained that U.S. tech companies are in the “race of a lifetime to global dominance”. Fenn said, “They’re going to keep spending” because there’s no more profitable place to deploy capital. 

At the rate the advanced technologies are expanding, renewable energy sources will not be sufficient to meet the growing demands of the tech industry. Many tech companies are expected to use natural gas to power operations, particularly in the U.S. where the gas sector is set to continue expanding rapidly. 

Currently, many tech companies operate data centers with a capacity of around 40 MW. However, in the coming years, more firms are expected to invest in campuses of 250 MW or more. As a growing number of campuses of 500 MW or more emerge in the 2030s and 2040s, which is equivalent to the power needed for 350,000 homes, this could lead to a surge in demand for gas-generated electricity, following years of national investment in a green transition.  

While the U.S. is expected to see the greatest data center expansion in the coming decades, Europe’s data center power consumption is expected to nearly triple by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, China has invested over $6.12 billion in a national project to develop data centers in recent years, according to a senior government official. 

A joined-up approach to regulating the energy usage of data centers is required to prevent the anticipated rise in electricity demand from challenging the progress of the global green transition. Governments worldwide must establish clear regulations and limits on the energy use of tech companies for advanced technologies, such as AI, if they hope to meet Paris Agreement climate pledges. This may include requiring tech companies to fulfill their energy needs through clean energy sources, such as renewables and nuclear power, as well as slowing the pace of deployment of these technologies.  

Ukraine has launched another attack utilizing aerial and seaborne drones on Russia’s Crimean port city of Kerch, the Russian military confirmed Friday. 

The attack temporarily halted traffic on the large Crimea Bridge, which links the Black Sea peninsula to mainland Russia and has come under major attack several times since the Ukraine war’s start.

Crimea has been hit on a semi-regular basis by Ukrainian drones and missiles, which often try to reach the Russian Navy’s Black Sea fleet’s operations in Sevastopol. Russia has reportedly in the last months been forced to transfer some naval assets to the Caspian Sea for greater protection.

According to regional media: 

The attack began around 5:00 a.m. local time and involved both aerial and naval drones, Crimean Wind said. Traffic across the Crimea Bridge was suspended beginning at 5:17 a.m.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defenses shot down one Ukrainian drone over Crimea overnight. The agency also reported that Black Sea Fleet naval aviation destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones that were headed towards Crimea.

“The first two sounded like explosions, one sounded like air defense work,” eyewitnesses were reported in the US-funded RFE/RL news outlet as describing.

Kiev has been encouraged to keep fighting, and use its high risk drone attacks (which tend to result in bigger Russian retaliation), given Washington has yet to pressure it into a negotiating stance. 

All sides are cautiously awaiting the Trump administration’s entry into the White House. But Biden is currently seeking to rush all weapons possible to the war-ravaged ally before leaving the Oval Office.

“The United States also plans to train Ukrainian troops outside the country and finalize $20bn in loans backed by frozen Russian assets, according to the briefing shared with the Guardian,” UK media writes.

“The strategy includes a final push of sanctions on Russia before US president-elect Donald Trump enters the White House. The move aims to weaken Russia’s war effort and enhance Ukraine’s leverage in future negotiations,” the report adds.

Authored by Philip Wegmann via RealClearPolitics,

Sen. Joni Ernst has not made up her mind about Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be secretary of defense, but despite the suggestion of some of her colleagues, the Iowa Republican told RealClearPolitics during a Thursday interview that she is not pursuing that role for herself.

“I am not seeking to be secretary of defense,” Ernst said after some on the left suggested she would make a better candidate than Hegseth and after critics on the right accused her of trying to sink his nomination for personal gain. A combat veteran herself, she explained that while “I absolutely have interest in the military,” her focus is on continuing her work in the Armed Services committee, not joining President-elect Trump’s cabinet.

Ernst, a senior member of the committee with jurisdiction over the nomination, met with Hegseth Wednesday as allegations about professional and sexual misconduct continue to dim his hopes of confirmation.

“I’ve known Pete for a very long time,” Ernst said of Hegseth, a former Fox News host and decorated veteran, adding, “I really appreciated the time that he took to sit down with me and walk through a number of issues.” The senator described the conversation as “thorough” and the nominee as “very forthcoming.” A sexual assault survivor, she confirmed that the two discussed the misconduct allegations during their 45-minute sit-down.

Hegseth denied all allegations of wrongdoing in a Wednesday interview with Megyn Kelly and vowed to fight on so long as he has Trump’s blessing.

While Republicans control the Senate, the margins are slim. They hold the upper chamber with just a three-seat majority and are expected to have just a one-seat majority on the committee next year that will handle Hegseth’s nomination. This makes Ernst a critical swing vote, and her initial hesitation over the nominee has made her a MAGA pariah.

Complained Donald Trump Jr., the son of the president-elect, in a social media post Thursday, “If you’re a GOP Senator who voted for Lloyd Austin but criticize Pete Hegseth then maybe you’re in the wrong political party!” Charlie Kirk, a confidant of the Trump family, noted that Ernst had supported Austin, the current secretary of defense, and accused the senator of “leading the charge against Hegseth.”

“No, no,” Ernst said of the accusation that she was working behind the scenes to sink the nominee, “and believe me, I have been feeling this.” The senator insisted that “there is absolutely no campaign against Pete,” adding that her focus remains strictly on ensuring a thorough and fair confirmation process.

The candidates change, she said, but the process ought to remain consistent. “If there had been allegations made against Gen. Austin,” she said of the current defense secretary who was confirmed with broad bipartisan support four years ago, “we would have gone through that process as well. I think anyone that comes in front of our committee deserves a fair hearing.”

“I don’t have a campaign against Pete,” she reiterated.

“I just want to make sure the process is able to play out and that we’re thoroughly vetting him. I do believe that Pete deserves to have a hearing. All the rumblings out there are absolutely false. My role as a senator is to make sure that we are putting to bed any rumors, any anonymous whatever,” she continued.

“We just need to make sure that he is thoroughly vetted and that he has his opportunity to go in front of the committee, recount his service, and rebut any allegations,” she concluded.

Democrats have already made their own conclusions. They think the nominee is already sunk. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said as much before telling the Washington Examiner that if Trump swapped Ernst for Hegseth, Democrats would begin with “a very favorable inclination” to confirm her. Added Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, “she would have significant bipartisan support.”

Ernst is not entertaining those suggestions, and even as Trump reportedly seeks a potential backup plan should Hegseth withdraw, the senator said she isn’t seeking out an alternative.

Asked about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose name has been floated as a Plan B, Ernst replied, “I do think he would be a good candidate for this position. But as I’ve told reporters, as they ask me in the hallway, Hegseth is the nominee, and the president will determine who that nominee is.”

Trump will assume office in January of next year, and confirmation hearings are not expected until the end of that month. The former, and now future, president believes he has a historic mandate after becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades. John McLaughlin, Trump’s longtime pollster, told RCP that opposition to his nominees incurs inherent risk and a potential primary challenge.

“Republicans are totally behind his agenda and are totally supportive of him putting the right people in place so he can solve the country’s problems,” McLaughlin said in a Thursday interview. “If certain Republican senators side with the Democrats, they do so at their own peril.”

Ernst insisted that her focus is not on politics and only on discovering “what the truth is.”

“It’s all about making sure that the nominee is properly vetted,” she said of the process that will begin in earnest early next year. Added the senator, “That’s why it’s important that we continue through the hearing, and he’ll have his day in front of the public, and all of this can be sorted out.”

There will be plenty of time, Ernst said, to go back and sort through “all the anonymous this-and-that-and the-other.” She noted that thus far, all the allegations have been made anonymously in the press and that no accuser has come forward publicly. “I mean, people need to really come forward if they have information,” she said. “They need to be willing to put their name to it.”

Tonight at 8 PM Eastern, expert oil and gas analysts will debate the future of the energy sector in a live, premium-only event only on ZeroHedge. Join us for a deep dive, featuring two highly respected strategists with contrasting views: Paul Sankey, the bear, and Josh Young, the bull.

The Bear:

Paul Sankey is a renowned oil analyst with over three decades of experience, known for his independent and bold market calls. Sankey founded Sankey Research in 2020. His current outlet, oil price to decline for the following reasons:

1. Global Supply Stabilization: While oil prices are currently high, there is limited price elasticity of supply, meaning higher prices have not led to increased production, especially from major oil producers like Saudi Arabia and OPEC+.

2. Venezuela Production Resumption: The Biden administration has granted Chevron a license to resume oil production in Venezuela, which could add 200,000 barrels per day back into the market, easing supply concerns.

3. OPEC+: Political instability in countries like Iran and Venezuela, along with the ongoing protests in China, could have mixed effects on the oil market. However, OPEC+ may respond by adjusting their production strategies, potentially leading to a price correction.

4. Strong U.S. Market Fundamentals: Despite bearish sentiment, the U.S. has emerged strong from mid-term elections, with global energy crises providing a backdrop for continued demand, although high oil prices may still encourage supply adjustments.

The Bull: 

Josh Young, Chief Investment Officer at Bison Interests, brings nearly two decades of expertise in oil and gas investing. Even with a Trump “drill baby drill” win, he remains as a strong advocate for the bullish potential of the oil and gas industry, particularly within the E&P space.

1. Demand Outpaces Supply in 2024: Global oil demand has exceeded supply by 0.58 mbd (million barrels per day), leading to unexpected inventory draws and lower U.S. oil stock levels, which are at a 20-year low.

2. Slowing Non-OPEC Production Growth: Growth in non-OPEC production is slowing, with key sources like the Permian Basin and Guyana contributing less in 2025 compared to previous years, leaving a production shortfall.

3. Rising Demand in Developing Economies: Stronger-than-expected demand growth, particularly from India and China, is putting additional strain on global oil supply. China’s record oil imports are a key factor.

4. Market Tightness and Price Volatility: With continued demand growth and production struggles, oil supply shortages could persist, leading to significant price volatility, similar to the 2020-2022 price surge.

5. Potential Geopolitical Risks: Ongoing geopolitical tensions, like potential disruptions in the Middle East, could further tighten oil supplies and push prices higher.

The “Macro Tourist” Kevin Muir — a former RBC trading desk strategist and author of a great macro newsletter — will moderate the debate with his broad market knowledge and over three decades of trading experience.

Key Questions to Answer:

– Will the Trump Administration be bullish for oil and gas?  

– How will conflict in the Middle East impact prices?

– Is the Green New Deal movement dying?  

Tune in to the live debate exclusively on ZeroHedge’s front page, available only to premium and professional subscribers. If you have not already done so, subscribe here to get unique insights on how you should be trading energy into 2025. Any strategist can talk their book. See how they perform under scrutiny only on ZeroHedge.
 

Since launching ZeroHedge in 2009, our mission has been to cut through the bullshit and provide you with an authentic, unfiltered platform for news and conversation from all over the world. Having earned your trust over the past 15 years, curating the world’s incessant newsflow – while battling the censorship industrial complex through subscriptions and partnerships – we have decided to create our own store to showcase the best products and services to help you avoid “buying shit you don’t need”.

Here’s what you can find:

Supplements

We’re proud to carry a full line of supplements from IQ Biologix, including nootropics, protein, creatine, colostrum, sleep aids, weight loss, coffee and much more. Enjoy 5% off for 2 of the same item, or 10% off for three or more – plus subscribe & save an additional 10%.

Coffee

In addition to IQ Biologix infused Smart Blend, check out our new ZeroHedge coffee! Organic and GMO-free, we’ve got both medium and dark roast. Discounts of up to 10% for multiple bags, and another 10% for Subscribe & Save.

Preparedness

After searching long and hard, we’ve found two excellent brands of emergency food – Prepper All Naturals, which offers upscale, clean, hormone-free beef, and ReadyWise, a longtime player in the emergency food business.

We’ve also got water filters, go-bags, generators & more!

SiPhox Blood Testing

IQ Biologix has partnered with SiPhox Health for the ultimate at-home blood testing suite. Buy one, or subscribe to track your health throughout the year – then log into the IQ / SiPhox dashboard to monitor your results. You can also upgrade your kit for specific needs – including a hormone panel, a metabolic panel, and a thyroid panel.

Anza Knives

Made in Santee, California, Anza hand-made knives start life as heavy-duty high carbon steel files, which are meticulously crafted into masterpieces that fit well in the hand and have never let us down.

ZeroHedge Multitool

Solid in the hand, the ZeroHedge multitool is perfect for any situation. Includes pliers, knife, saw, screwdrivers, wire cutter, bottle opener and more.

ZeroHedge Gear

How could we possibly launch a store without gear? Check out our waxed-canvas hats, shirts, sweatshirts, tumblers, water bottle, and more!

Whether you’re looking to optimize your health, ensure you’re ready for whatever comes next, or express your unique worldview, our store is your one-stop destination.

Dive in, gear up, and embrace a lifestyle of readiness, resilience, and individuality with ZeroHedge. And thank you for your support!

International shipping available soon…

Authored by Debra Heine via American Greatness,

The Biden regime has quietly revoked the veterans hiring preference for civil service jobs and promotions, which since the 1944 Veterans Act gave eligible veterans preference over others for appointments in federal civil service selection, a memorandum obtained by American Greatness shows.

The goal of the veterans’ preference law was to “provide a uniform method by which qualified veterans [could] receive special consideration for federal employment,” according to Military.com.

By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in hiring from competitive lists and in retention during reductions in force.

New guidelines from the Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service (DCPAS) now stipulate that “veterans’ preference should be considered on an equal basis as other qualified candidates.”

The week before Thanksgiving,  DCPAS Director, Daniel Hester sent civilian personnel the memo in an email detailing an “Extension and Amendment of the Government-wide Direct Hire Appointing Authority for Scientific, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics Positions, Acquisitions, and Cybersecurity and Related Positions.”

“The purpose of this e-Advisory is to provide the widest dissemination on the Extension and Amendment of Government-wide Direct Hire Appointing Authority for STEM, Acquisitions, and Cybersecurity Positions,” the memo states.

“Direct Hire Authority (DHA) is an appointing authority that allows federal agencies to expedite the hiring process for positions where there is a critical hiring need or severe shortage of candidates. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has extended and amended the Government-wide Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for critical STEM, acquisitions, and cybersecurity roles, allowing expedited hiring for positions with severe candidate shortages. This authority supports the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) goal to attract top talent to key mission-critical roles. OPM has identified STEM, acquisitions, and cybersecurity roles as critical hiring needs, warranting the extension of direct hiring authorities to streamline recruitment and reduce hiring timelines. New amendments to the DHA also expand coverage to include criminal investigation and data science positions at specific grade levels. This hiring flexibility enables federal agencies to bypass standard competitive procedures to fill positions urgently needed for federal operations.”

The memorandum states that under the updated authorities, “individuals may be appointed to competitive service career, career-conditional, term, or temporary position, without applying veterans’ preference and competitive rating and ranking procedures at the grade levels.”

A source from the U.S. Air Force told American Greatness:

“This is government-wide hiring has ramped up like never before seen. They are literally packing the federal workforce with as many loyalists and subversives as they can. Worst of all, they think it is their duty to do so.”

He added:

“Since DEI is getting pettifogged rather harshly (and rightly so) this is yet another way they can worm into the bureaucracy—at the expense of veterans.”

The source told American Greatness that “veterans are being cast aside for this new workforce (wokeforce).”

Tab 1_DCPAS Message 2024115 – Extension of the Government-wide Direct Hire Appointing Authority for STEM Positions, Acquisitions, and Cybersecurity and Related Positions

Tab 2_DCPAS Hiring Authorities Matrix -Updated October 2024

Tab 3 Supplement Guidance – OPM Extension and Amendment of DHA for STEM Positions Aquisitions and Cybersecurity and Related Positions (1)

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

It appears no liberal Christmas is complete without the ultimate stocking stuffer: an actual stocking to wear over your face while rioting. While not yet selling face coverings for anonymous violence, Crooked Media, co-founded by former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, is selling a line of Antifa items for liberals wanting to make a statement against any “Peace on Earth.” (As of this posting, Antifa items were still being sold on the “Crooked Store” site). You can now proudly wear your “Antifa Dad” hat to signal your support for political violence and deplatforming. It is the ultimate naughty gift list for putting the slay back into your Sleigh Bells.

These liberal hosts and their “POD SAVE AMERICA” show have been featured on various shows and courted by figures like Hillary Clinton.

There is no apparent backlash for their support of one of the most violent groups in the world, which routinely attacks journalists and anyone who holds opposing views. Imagine the media response if a conservative site started selling “Proud Boy” items.

Yet, Crooked Media is now offering liberals the chance to buy “ANTIFA” onesies for babies, a T-shirt for toddlers reading  “ANTIFA” and other items.

Just to make sure that everyone understands the support for the violent group, a spokesperson for Crooked Media told Fox News Digital that the clothes it has listed on its website “are not a joke.” The spokesman added that “all toddlers are antifa until their souls are broken by capitalism.”

As discussed in my new book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” I explore the history of Antifa as a movement that began in Germany:

“Antifa originated with European anarchist and Marxist groups from the 1920s, particularly Antifaschistische Aktion, a Communist group from the Weimar Republic before World War II. Its name resulted from the shortening of the German word antifaschistisch. In the United States, the modern movement emerged through the Anti- Racist Action (ARA) groups, which were dominated by anarchists and Marxists. It has an association with the anarchist organization Love and Rage, which was founded by former Trotsky and Marxist followers as well as offshoots like Mexico’s Amor Y Rabia. The oldest U.S. group is likely the Rose City Antifa (RCA) in Portland, Oregon, which would become the center of violent riots during the Trump years. The anarchist roots of the group give it the same organizational profile as such groups in the early twentieth century with uncertain leadership and undefined structures.”

Despite the denial of its existence by figures like Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), I have long written and spoken about the threat of Antifa to free speech on our campuses and in our communities. This includes testimony before Congress on Antifa’s central role in the anti-free speech movement nationally.

As I have previously written, it has long been the “Keyser Söze” of the anti-free speech movement, a loosely aligned group that employs measures to avoid easy detection or association.  Yet, FBI Director Chris Wray has repeatedly pushed back on the denials of Antifa’s work or violence. In one hearing, Wray stated, “And we have quite a number” — and “Antifa is a real thing. It’s not a fiction.”

We have continued to follow the attacks and arrests of Antifa followers across the country, including attacks on journalists.

Some Democrats have played a dangerous game in supporting or excusing the work of Antifa. Former Democratic National Committee deputy chair Keith Ellison, now the Minnesota attorney general, once said Antifa would “strike fear in the heart” of Trump. This was after Antifa had been involved in numerous acts of violence, and its website was banned in Germany.

Ellison’s son, Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, declared his allegiance to Antifa in the heat of the protests this summer. During a prior hearing, Democratic senators refused to clearly denounce Antifa and falsely suggested that the far right was the primary cause of recent violence. Likewise, Joe Biden has dismissed objections to Antifa as just “an idea.”

It is at its base a movement at war with free speech, defining the right itself as a tool of oppression. That purpose is evident in what is called the “bible” of the Antifa movement: Rutgers Professor Mark Bray’s Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.

Bray emphasizes the struggle of the movement against free speech: “At the heart of the anti-fascist outlook is a rejection of the classical liberal phrase that says, ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’”

Bray admits that “most Americans in Antifa have been anarchists or antiauthoritarian communists…  From that standpoint, ‘free speech’ as such is merely a bourgeois fantasy unworthy of consideration.”

Now, liberal families can bring a small part of that political violence into their homes for the holiday to pledge that there will be no peace or silent nights so long as opposing views are heard. Antifa has gone retail, and there is no better way to celebrate political violence and rage than your Antifa onesie.

With tensions rising after the election, the embrace of organizations like Antifa will only fuel calls for violent action. Liberal figures like ex-Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz have even conveyed support for the assassination of  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.

It is not the time to go full naughty list to celebrate a group that regularly beats reporters and others with opposing viewpoints. While this may appeal to your own special smash-mouth Santa, tis the season for political violence.

*  *  *

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, has left the door open to returning to the Republican Party – a move that would upend the political dynamics in the nation’s largest city. In a pair of Friday morning interviews, Adams – who was a member of the GOP from 1995 to 2002, refused to rule out a switch back to the Republican Party.

“I’m a part of the American party,” Adams told NY1 when asked directly about his political future. He reiterated the sentiment in a subsequent interview on PIX11, emphasizing that his allegiance lies with “American values” over partisan lines. “No matter what party I’m on or vote on, I’m going to push for American values,” he declared, urging leaders to work beyond political affiliations to solve voters’ problems.

🚨 #BREAKING: NYC Mayor Eric Adams does not rule out re-joining the Republican Party.

He was a Republican from 1997-2001. pic.twitter.com/O16WlJrLzt

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 6, 2024

Adams’ comments come amidst heightened tensions within the Democratic Party, sparked by his growing relationship with President-elect Donald Trump. While most Democrats have criticized Trump, Adams has avoided open conflict, even praising Trump confidant Elon Musk for his efforts to streamline government operations, Politico reports.

The mayor is scheduled to meet with incoming border czar Tom Homan next week to discuss federal immigration policies. Adams has signaled tentative support for deportation plans targeting undocumented immigrants with serious criminal offenses, a position that aligns more closely with Trump’s immigration platform than his own party’s stance.

Adams’ relationship with Trump takes on added significance in light of his ongoing legal battles. The mayor faces a five-count federal indictment, and Trump’s incoming administration is poised to replace the U.S. Attorney prosecuting Adams. Trump, who has repeatedly framed his own legal troubles as politically motivated, has expressed empathy for Adams’ predicament. Speculation has swirled that the president-elect might extend a pardon to the mayor, further entwining their political fortunes.

Despite his openness to a Republican pivot, Adams insists he plans to run for reelection next year as a Democrat. “That is what I’m proposing to do,” he told reporters Friday. However, his lukewarm endorsement of the Democratic Party and his past GOP affiliation leave room for doubt.

Adams’ critics see his comments as a calculated effort to hedge his bets as Trump prepares to wield significant influence over New York City’s political and legal landscape. Local Democrats have expressed frustration, with some questioning whether Adams is using his position to align himself with Trump’s administration for political gain.

Adams defended his controversial stance with a bold parting message: “Those who don’t like it, they will cancel me,” he said. “I say: Cancel me. I’m for America.”

Authored by Michael Washburn via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A judge on Dec. 6 directed the jury in the Daniel Penny trial to continue deliberating after jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the top charge of manslaughter.

Penny was charged with manslaughter in the second degree and criminally negligent homicide in last year’s subway choking death of Jordan Neely.

“At this time, we are unable to come to a unanimous vote on Count One, manslaughter in the second degree,” the jurors said in a note to the judge. The jurors had been deliberating since Tuesday.

In response, Judge Maxwell Wiley directed the jurors to keep deliberating in an attempt to reach a unanimous decision in what is known as an Allen charge.

The defense had objected to the issuing of an Allen charge and asked the judge to order a mistrial, saying, “We are concerned that the giving of an Allen charge under these circumstances would be coercive.”

The judge said that after further deliberation, the jury still might not arrive at a unanimous verdict, in which case there will be another trial with a different jury.

The courtroom at 100 Centre Street in lower Manhattan has been alternately crowded and near-deserted in these final days of the trial, as the jury has briefly returned to review evidence again and the judge has held brief conversations, some of them contentious, with the lawyers.

Penny’s trial on that charge and the second count has been going on since the first week of November. The jury finally began its deliberations on Tuesday afternoon, following summations from the defense and prosecution at the start of the week.

Since beginning its deliberations, the jury has made a number of requests, including for the replay of footage from the scene of the May 1, 2023, incident in which Jordan Neely died, for a chance to review portions of the trial transcript, and for clarification of the judge’s instructions regarding self-defense and the use of deadly force.

One of the requests, for a readback of part of the cross-examination of medical examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris, prompted the judge on Dec. 5 to seat the jury and have two people read from the transcript aloud in the courtroom. The cross-examination addressed the medical and factual basis on which Harris made her determination that Neely died an asphyxial death, and whether she had given due consideration to other possible factors.

While anticipation of a verdict in the controversial case has run high, Neely’s father has retained legal counsel to pursue civil action against Penny. On Thursday, the father’s lawyer filed a lawsuit against Penny before the Supreme Court of New York.

The complaint in that lawsuit states that the plaintiff is pursuing action through the highest court in the state because lower courts would not be able to grant the full damages that the lawsuit seeks.