Monday, November 24, 2025

November 24, 2025

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Ominous Newsom News: FBI Notifies Governor's Aides They Were Swept Into Corruption Probe . . . The FBI has alerted several current and former members of Gov. Gavin Newsom's inner circle that their communications were monitored during the corruption investigation of his ex–chief of staff, Dana Williamson. The surveillance, conducted from May to July 2024, did not necessarily target the aides but triggered mandatory notification once the probe became public. Daily Mail

The indictment alleges Williamson, Sean McCluskie, and two unnamed partners orchestrated the theft of $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to a former state official. Prosecutors say the group diverted the funds for McCluskie's personal use.

Politics

DOGE Folds Early as Trump-Era Efficiency Push Ends Quietly . . . The Department of Government Efficiency, launched by President-elect Trump in 2024 and fronted by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has dissolved months before its planned 2026 wrap-up. OPM Director Scott Kupor confirmed the effort no longer exists as a centralized office. Created to streamline federal bureaucracy ahead of the nation's 250th Independence anniversary, the initiative ends without a formal report, closing out a high-profile but short-lived bid to shrink government. New York P0st

Was this just for laughs?

Republicans Warn of 2026 Backlash as Economic Worries Mount . . . GOP lawmakers are sounding alarms after poor off-year results in states like New Jersey and Virginia signaled trouble ahead of the 2026 midterms. Senators say Republicans risk losing the House and narrowing their Senate majority unless they address voter frustration over a slowing economy, high prices, and rising health insurance premiums. Trump's declining approval rating is adding to concerns, though party leaders insist there's still time to reset their message before next November. The Hill

FBI Says Trump Rally Shooter Acted Alone After Sweeping Global Probe . . . The FBI has concluded that Thomas Matthew Crooks acted alone in the July 2024 shooting of President Trump at a Butler, Pa., campaign rally. Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino detailed the findings after a massive investigation involving 485 personnel and more than 1,000 interviews. Agents examined 13 devices and 35 associated accounts — including overseas emails — and say they found no co-conspirators or evidence of a cover-up, despite early speculation. Daily Caller

White House Prepares Two-Year Extension of ACA Subsidies in New Health Framework . . . The White House is preparing a health policy plan that would extend expiring Obamacare subsidies for two years while tightening eligibility, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The framework would mark President Donald Trump's direct entry into congressional talks aimed at averting sharp premium hikes for ACA enrollees if subsidies lapse. Officials have not confirmed details, calling current reports speculative, though an announcement could come as early as Monday as part of broader premium-stabilization efforts. Politico

Mamdani: Nice meeting, but Trump still a fascist . . . New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed past descriptions of President Trump as a "fascist" and "threat to democracy" during a Meet the Press interview recorded Saturday. Mamdani, who defeated Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa on Nov. 4, was pressed on the remarks after a notably cordial White House meeting between him and Trump. He stood by his earlier assessments, signaling little shift in tone as he prepares to take office. Daily Caller

Strategist Says Greene's Political Future 'Over' After January Exit . . . Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's upcoming departure from Congress is fueling speculation about her next move, but GOP strategist Shermichael Singleton says she has little runway left in politics. Speaking on CNN, he suggested Greene is more likely to shift into media than mount a viable statewide bid. Her exit follows a public split with President Trump, who pulled his endorsement after internal polling showed weak support for Greene in potential 2026 Georgia races. The Hill

Bessent Urges GOP to Scrap Filibuster if Democrats Trigger Another Shutdown . . . Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Senate Republicans should end the filibuster if Democrats force a January government shutdown, arguing they used the tactic to damage the economy during past standoffs. On NBC's Meet the Press, Bessent said his new editorial was meant to warn the Senate, claiming Democrats have turned to shutdowns after failing to block President Trump through courts or media. He argued the GOP should "immediately abrogate" the rule if another closure occurs. Daily Mail

Slotkin Walks Back Claims of Illegal Trump Orders to U.S. Military . . . Sen. Elissa Slotkin said she is not aware of President Trump issuing any illegal military orders, softening Democratic suggestions that troops might be told to disobey commands. Speaking on ABC's This Week, Slotkin said concerns came from younger service members seeking guidance, not confirmed misconduct. She noted legal questions surrounding recent Caribbean and Venezuela operations but acknowledged no clear evidence of unlawful directives from the president. Breitbart

What's going to happen is that if service members actually heard this dumb advice, they're going to end up with dishonorable discharges or worse after trying to interpret the law themselves..

Arabella Advisors Splinters Into New Left-Leaning Funding Network . . . Sunflower Services, a newly formed public benefit corporation backed by New Venture Fund and related progressive nonprofits, has taken over Arabella Advisors' fiscal-sponsorship operations after Arabella abruptly ceased business on Nov. 17. Former Arabella CEO Himesh Bhise will now lead a separate entity, Vital Impact. The moves suggest a structural rebrand rather than a retreat, preserving the influence of a major liberal dark-money network under fresh names. Daily Signal

Culture

Rubio's DEI Rollback Draws Unexpected Praise Inside State Department . . . Secretary Marco Rubio's decision to unwind the State Department's diversity, equity, and inclusion framework is earning support even from some employees who describe themselves as far-left. Posts on an unofficial Foreign Service Reddit forum criticized the prior DEI system as performative and unfair. Rubio's policy includes offering restitution to staff the Biden administration allegedly passed over for promotions under new DEI criteria, signaling a sharp course correction inside the department. Daily Signal

Marco 2.0 continues to pile up MAGA wins.

Panthers' First Transgender Cheerleader Says Dismissal Was Bias . . . Justine Lindsay, the NFL's first transgender cheerleader, says the Carolina Panthers cut him because he is transgender, describing the decision as deeply disappointing after three seasons with the TopCats. Lindsay, who previously indicated he wouldn't return next year, now argues he wanted to continue and wasn't dropped for performance. While expressing appreciation for the organization, he maintains the move reflects bias rather than standard roster changes. Breitbart

It looks like a cheerleader, it walks like a cheerleader, and it quacks like a cheerleader, but it's not a cheerleader.

National Security

FBI Director Patel Scolds SWAT Team for Leaving Girlfriend Unescorted . . . FBI Director Kash Patel allegedly erupted at an Atlanta SWAT team after agents left his girlfriend, singer Alexis Wilkins, unattended during her national anthem performance at the NRA's April convention. Patel had assigned the team to shadow her, but agents reportedly departed after determining the venue was secure. Patel later reprimanded the unit's commander, calling the decision a breakdown in command and a lapse in protective duty. Daily Mail

International

U.S. and Ukraine Refine Peace Plan After Geneva Talks . . . The White House said Washington and Kyiv made progress in Geneva on an updated framework for ending Russia's war, calling the discussions constructive. Officials offered no specifics but stressed that any agreement must protect Ukraine's sovereignty and ensure a durable, just peace. Both sides acknowledged more work is needed and committed to continue intensive negotiations in the coming days as they shape a final proposal. Wall Street Journal

Zelensky's Former Press Secretary Urges Kyiv to Accept Peace Deal . . . Former Zelensky press secretary Iuliia Mendel urged Ukraine to take a proposed peace agreement, warning the country is "bleeding out" as losses mount. In a series of posts on X, she argued that continued resistance to negotiations ignores battlefield realities, saying Ukraine is losing people, territory, and economic stability. Mendel also faulted the EU for lacking a coherent strategy while continuing major energy payments to Russia, underscoring her call for a pragmatic end to the war. Breitbart

Israel Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander in First Beirut Strike Since June . . . Israel hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, killing Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in its first strike on the Lebanese capital in months. Lebanese officials reported five dead and 25 wounded. Israel said Tabtabai had been rebuilding Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces, warning the group against rearming a year after their last conflict. Hezbollah signaled the attack risked fresh escalation ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit. Associated Press

Guilty Pleasures

Missouri Judge's Elvis antics result in early retirement . . . A suburban St. Louis judge who donned an Elvis wig and played the singer's music during court sessions has agreed to a deal that will end his judicial career early. Judge Matthew Thornhill faces a six-month unpaid suspension, followed by 18 months of continued service before resigning from the St. Charles County Circuit Court. Associated Press

No jailhouse rock on the courthouse, please.

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