Tuesday, December 16, 2025

​ December 16, 2025 Good morning, Welcome to the news for independent thinkers ​ Leading the News . . . ​ Australian police say Bondi Beach mass shooting was inspired by Islamic State group . . . Australian officials confirmed the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 during a Hanukkah celebration was an Islamic State–inspired terror attack. A father-and-son team carried out the assault; the father was killed by police, the son hospitalized. Investigators cite ISIS flags found in their vehicle. Twenty-five victims remain hospitalized, including children, underscoring how ideological violence again found soft targets in the West. Associated Press​ Politics Biden White House aided by activist "hate" cops . . . A year on, the Biden administration's priorities still read upside down: progressive ideology elevated, illegal immigration rewarded, and taxpayer-backed settlements flowing freely. Most alarming, officials relied on the Southern Poverty Law Center—an activist group with Antifa ties and a track record of smearing conservatives—to shape domestic terror policy. Its so-called hate monitoring has fueled real violence while targeting Christians, yet Democrats continue to treat it as gospel. Daily Signal​ ​ ​Trump Declares Fentanyl a 'Weapon of Mass Destruction'​ ​ White House weighs risks of a health care fight as ACA subsidies set to expire . . . The White House is nervously watching Republicans bicker over expiring health care subsidies, worried the mess could echo the failed Obamacare repeal that handed Democrats power in 2018. A looming premium spike, intraparty squabbling, and doubts about whether Trump's involvement would help or hurt have left the administration cautious. Behind the scenes, officials admit something must be done—but no one wants to own the fallout. Politico​ ​ Fake enrollees drained Obamacare cash with ease . . . A government watchdog found Obamacare wide open to fraud, approving and enrolling over 95 percent of fake applications it submitted. Insurers then pocketed thousands in taxpayer subsidies for people who never existed. The GAO report exposes reckless oversight and warped incentives, with agents and brokers still earning commissions for stuffing federal health plans—real or fake—while taxpayers foot the bill. Daily Signal​ ​ MTG's Last Legislative Push Before Resigning House Seat Aims to Deliver on MAGA Promise . . . The House is preparing to vote on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Protect Children's Innocence Act, a bill that would make transgender medical procedures for minors a federal felony. The measure targets surgeries, drugs, and interventions meant to alter a child's biological sex, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Despite Greene's looming resignation, the bill is advancing. Daily Signal​ ​ Trump sparks backlash with incendiary Reiner claim . . . President Trump ignited a firestorm after posting that the reported deaths of director Rob Reiner and his wife were politically driven, blaming what he called Trump derangement syndrome. The remark triggered swift bipartisan condemnation and rare, immediate blowback reminiscent of Trump's first term. Critics accused him of crossing a line, while allies quietly winced, as a late-night Truth Social post once again dominated the news cycle. The Hill​ ​ Trump sues BBC for $5B over doctored Jan. 6 clip . . . Donald Trump followed through on his threat, slapping the BBC with a $5 billion lawsuit after the network aired an edited program that stitched together remarks made nearly an hour apart to imply he called for violence on January 6. Despite an apology, Trump's lawyers argue the edits were deliberate, malicious, and impossible to make by accident—turning selective cutting into a blockbuster defamation fight. Just the News​ Culture Reporter slammed after smearing historic flag as extremist symbol . . . A USA Today reporter triggered backlash after labeling an Appeal to Heaven flag as a Christian nationalist symbol tied to January 6, despite its deep roots in the Revolutionary War. The flag was displayed outside a senior Education Department official's office, but critics say the reporting twisted history to fit a narrative. The episode reignited complaints about media ignorance and ideological framing masquerading as news. The Blaze​ ​ Trump floats marijuana reclassification, again . . . President Trump revived talk of reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, saying he's considering an executive order to move it to Schedule III. The pitch echoes campaign-era remarks and earlier White House hints, framed around expanding medical research. For now, it's familiar rhetoric without action—another trial balloon that signals openness while leaving both critics and supporters waiting for proof it's more than talk. Fox Business​ National Security Pentagon escalates misconduct probe after Kelly lawyer threat . . . The Pentagon moved to formally escalate its review of Sen. Mark Kelly after his attorney threatened legal action, turning a quiet inquiry into an official command investigation. Officials cited serious misconduct allegations tied to a political video involving Democratic veterans. The move signals rising tension between military oversight and partisan activism, with the department clamping down as scrutiny intensifies and legal posturing backfires. Washington Examiner​ Money CEOs Are Learning to Live With Trump's Turn to State Capitalism . . . Nvidia can sell a top chip to China again—but Washington takes a 25% cut. The deal captures Trump's hands-on style: government leaning into boardrooms, skimming revenue, nudging prices, and steering markets without outright ownership. It's a transactional system. Companies that play along get regulatory favors, tariff relief, and China access. The state wins leverage, and friendly capitalists win deals—leaving free markets squeezed from both sides. Wall Street Journal​ You should also know Nick Reiner went on meth-fueled outbursts as Rob, Michele threatened to kick him out . . . Nick Reiner's descent was marked by meth binges, violent outbursts, and repeated destruction of his parents' property before his arrest in their killings. Sources say he cycled through their guesthouse, smashing walls and spiraling out of control as drug use intensified. Insiders describe a volatile, sleepless presence increasingly unwelcome at home—a ticking time bomb ignored until it exploded. New York Post​ ​ ​Dramatic photos show Nick Reiner arrested for parents' murder after 'leaving a trail of blood' in motel room​ ​ Open campus security blamed after Brown shooting . . . A criminal profiler says Brown University's lax security turned the campus into a soft target after a gunman stormed a lecture hall, killing two students and wounding nine. Unsecured doors, limited cameras, and the shooter's continued escape point to glaring failures. Authorities believe the attacker knew the area well and planned the assault, exposing how open-campus policies can invite deadly chaos. Fox News​ ​ Trump announces Don Jr.'s White House engagement . . . President Trump delivered a family headline at a White House Christmas party, announcing that Donald Trump Jr. is engaged to model Bettina Anderson. The reveal came not through a press release, but straight from the president, underscoring how personal milestones now unfold on the national stage. The couple has been quietly linked since 2024, turning a holiday gathering into a political-era society moment. Breitbart​ ​ Help CTTN reach more people by forwarding it to your family and friends. Click below to write your message and share the signup link by email. ​ Or, you can share it on social media. ​​​​ Got this from a friend? Subscribe here and get Cut to the News sent to your Inbox every morning. ​ Have a great day! ​ Follow us ​​​​ 2302 Gallows Road #625, Dunn Loring, VA 22027 Unsubscribe · Preferences​ ​