Monday, December 8, 2025

December 8, 2025

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Mamdani Urges Illegal Immigrants to Resist ICE, Drawing Fire Ahead of Mayoral Term . . . Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video urging illegal immigrants to "stand up" to ICE after a Chinatown raid was disrupted by protesters. Casting himself as a defender of the city's immigrant population, he outlined how to block federal agents from entering private spaces without a judicial warrant. The guidance—delivered with a "know your rights" tutorial—has stirred criticism, as opponents argue the message encourages evasion rather than cooperation with federal law enforcement. New York Times

Get ready for more adherence to Rules for Radicals out of NYC.

NYC Mayor-Elect Taps Nonprofit Leader Under Federal Scrutiny for Transition Team . . . Mamdani has appointed Wayne Ho, head of the Chinese-American Planning Council, to his Committee on Social Services despite an ongoing congressional probe into the nonprofit. House Homeland Security investigators launched the inquiry after a video appeared to show a CPC leader outlining ways illegal immigrants could avoid or impede ICE officers. Lawmakers warn the taxpayer-funded group may be advising migrants on evasion tactics, and the investigation remains active. Washington Free Beacon

Politics

Somali Scandal Could Sink Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's Political Career . . . A sweeping federal fraud case tied to a pandemic-era nutrition program is threatening Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's political standing. Prosecutors have secured more than 50 convictions involving schemes that siphoned hundreds of millions—and potentially up to $1 billion—intended to feed children during COVID. The scandal, which includes members of Minnesota's Somali community, has prompted Democratic allies to question whether Walz should forgo a third-term bid amid mounting scrutiny. Breitbart

Too bad, he'd be great for Republicans to have as a foil. Except that he is so annoying.

Greene Says Republicans Privately Mocked Trump Before 2024 Primary Win . . . Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed in a tense 60 Minutes interview that many GOP lawmakers ridiculed Donald Trump in private before abruptly embracing him once he secured the 2024 Republican nomination. The Georgia congresswoman, now outside Trump's inner circle, said colleagues mocked Trump's mannerisms and her support for him but shifted to public loyalty when he became the party's standard-bearer. Daily Mail

Trump Orders Food-Supply Task Force . . . The White House has launched a task force to identify obstacles in the U.S. food supply, with an initial report to Congress due in 180 days and a follow-up hearing after one year. The move follows new data showing annual inflation ticking up to 2.8% in September after a shutdown-related delay. Core inflation rose 0.2% monthly. Despite cooling prices, the Federal Reserve remains short of its 2% target set before the 2021 inflation surge. Washington Examiner

Supreme Court to Revisit Presidential Power After Allowing Firings at Two Agencies . . . The Supreme Court's emergency docket first took up Trump v. Wilcox, involving the removals of Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board. In May, the Court allowed the firings, indicating both officials likely exercised executive power and could be removed without cause. The unsigned order stopped short of defining exceptions and left broader questions for full review. The upcoming Slaughtercase will test those limits directly. Washington Examiner

This will decide whether there are three or four branches of government.

Trump Rebukes Texas Rep. Cuellar for Staying Democrat After Pardon . . . President Trump criticized Rep. Henry Cuellar for seeking re-election as a Democrat despite receiving a presidential pardon in a federal bribery case. Trump framed the move as disloyal, signaling he expected the gesture to help the GOP's slim House majority ahead of 2026. Cuellar defended his stance, calling himself a conservative Democrat focused on cooperation with the administration and emphasizing country over party as he reaffirmed his intention to remain in his party. Politico

National Park Fee-Free Days Shift, Dropping MLK and Juneteenth, Adding Trump's Birthday . . . The Trump administration is revising the nation's free-entry schedule for national parks, removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, National Public Lands Day, and the start of National Park Week from the 2026 calendar. In their place, the administration adds President Trump's birthday, a change critics say sidelines holidays honoring Black history. While presidents routinely update the list, civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers argue this year's revision marks a sharp departure from past practice. Fox News

Culture

F grades handed to 14 colleges in antisemitism 'report card' as Jewish students forced to hide identities . . . Nearly four in ten Jewish college students say they have concealed their identities, and 62% report being blamed for Israel's actions in Gaza, according to a new StopAntisemitism assessment. The group graded 90 campuses on their responses to antisemitism, issuing 14 failing marks, including for two New York schools. Columbia University, a focal point of anti-Israel protests, received an F, underscoring persistent concerns about hostile campus climates. New York Post

National Security

Twice-Deported Immigrant Charged in Charlotte Train Stabbing . . . Authorities in Charlotte say Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, a Honduran national deported twice, is accused of critically injuring a man with a large fixed-blade knife aboard a light-rail train on Friday. Homeland Security records show Solorzano-Garcia reentered the U.S. illegally multiple times, with prior arrests for violent offenses and convictions for robbery and illegal reentry. He was taken into custody after the attack, which has renewed concerns over repeat border crossings by offenders. Daily Wire

It's the same rail system in which Iryna Zarutska was tragically killed.

Michigan–Shanghai Research Ties Scrutinized After Spike in Security Breaches . . . A series of national security cases at the University of Michigan has been tied to its engineering partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a Chinese institution with links to the Communist Party. Since late 2024, federal prosecutors have charged at least 12 Chinese nationals at Michigan with security-related offenses, including photographing military exercises at Camp Grayling. Washington Free Beacon

International

Hamas Regains Grip in Gaza Despite Heavy Losses and Reduced Territory . . . Following Israel's partial withdrawal under an October cease-fire, Hamas has rapidly reestablished order in areas it still controls, deploying police, punishing rivals, and imposing fees on select imports. Though two years of war have killed senior commanders, depleted weapons, and left the group governing less than half of Gaza, Israeli and Arab intelligence assessments say Hamas remains functional and resilient. Analysts note the group was severely damaged but not defeated, retaining core authority on the ground. New York Times

China's Export Rebound Pushes Trade Surplus Beyond $1 Trillion . . . China's exports rose 5.9% in November after an October dip, lifting its trade surplus to a record $1.08 trillion for the year's first 11 months. Imports edged up nearly 2%, while total exports reached $330.3 billion, beating forecasts. Shipments to the U.S. fell sharply—down almost 29%—as China widens its reliance on markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The surplus has already surpassed all of 2024, underscoring China's shifting global trade strategy. Associated Press

Money

Powell Confronts Internal Rifts and Political Heat as Fed Nears Rate Cuts . . . Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell enters his final months in office navigating renewed inflation pressures, weakening job growth, and a sharp split inside the central bank over policy priorities. The once-steady consensus on rates has fractured just as the Fed prepares for potential cuts. Outside the institution, Powell faces sustained criticism from President Trump and contenders vying to replace him, with White House adviser Kevin Hassett viewed as the leading candidate. New York Times

You should also know

Teens Charged in Killing of Florida Girl Found Burned on Trail . . . Authorities in Santa Rosa County say two teenage boys are accused of killing 14-year-old Danika Troy and setting her body on fire along a wooded trail near Pace, Florida. Danika had been reported missing by her mother the day after the attack, unaware the killing had already occurred. A passerby found the remains off Kimberly Road, prompting an investigation officials describe as exceptionally brutal. Fox News

Baylor Athletics Leans Into Faith as Hundreds of Athletes Are Baptized . . . Baylor University, the nation's largest Baptist school, has begun tracking athlete baptisms after years of players publicly committing to their faith. The school's sports programs, known for blending competitive athletics with a Christian mission, have seen hundreds of athletes baptized over the past five years. Players say Baylor offers a rare environment where faith is as prominent as football, reflecting a campus culture that encourages spiritual identity alongside athletic performance. Daily Wire

Dick Van Dyke Credits Long Life to Quitting Smoking and Drinking Decades Ago . . . Approaching his 100th birthday on December 13, Dick Van Dyke says giving up alcohol and cigarettes years ago is central to his longevity. Speaking at a private event at his Malibu home, the screen legend reflected on working with Walt Disney in the early 1960s, noting he may be the last surviving collaborator. Van Dyke joked about Disney's heavy smoking and admitted he once smoked plenty himself before dropping the habit for good. Daily Mail

WATCH: Trump MC's Kennedy Center Honors . . .

Guilty Pleasures

New Zealand man accused of eating Faberge pendant inspired by Bond movie as police wait for evidence . . . A 32-year-old man in Auckland is accused of swallowing a NZ$33,000 Fabergé octopus pendant while attempting to steal it from Partridge Jewelers on Nov. 28. Police arrested him inside the store and placed him under medical observation as they wait for the pendant to pass naturally. Investigators say no evidence has surfaced yet. The suspect appeared in Auckland District Court the next day and has not entered a plea. NewNation

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