Tuesday, December 9, 2025

December 9, 2025

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Supreme Court Signals it Will End Limits on President's Power to Remove "Independent" Agency Chiefs . . . The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears ready to overturn Humphrey's Executor, the 1935 precedent restricting a president's ability to remove officials from independent agencies. The case centers on Donald Trump's firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and whether such dismissals fall within core executive authority. Several justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, suggested the Court may soon strengthen presidential control over the administrative state. Daily Signal

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Argues Presidents Should Not Be Able to Fire Government Experts

A Key Question for the Supreme Court: What About the Fed?

Politics

Trump Plans Full-Scale Campaign Push Ahead of Midterms, Aide Says . . . President Trump will hit the road aggressively over the next year to bolster Republicans in the midterms, according to chief of staff Susie Wiles. She said the president will effectively "campaign like it's 2024," aiming to make the elections a referendum on his leadership. Trump begins the push Tuesday with a stop in Pennsylvania. Daily Mail

He will focusing on selling the economy.

Rahm Emanuel Urges U.S. to Adopt Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Minors . . . Rahm Emanuel, weighing a 2028 presidential bid, is calling for a national ban on social media access for children under 16, mirroring Australia's new restrictions. Citing addiction risks and declining adolescent well-being, he plans to launch the push in a video posted as the Australian ban takes effect. Emanuel argues lawmakers must curb Big Tech's influence and prioritize adult guidance over algorithm-driven platforms, aiming to elevate online safety as a defining policy issue. Politico

GAO Fraud Findings Fuel GOP Push to Block Obamacare Subsidy Extension . . . Fiscal conservatives are seizing on a recent Government Accountability Office report alleging tens of billions in potential fraud and mismanagement within Obamacare subsidies as they work to stop a temporary extension of enhanced premium credits set to expire this year. The GOP remains split on whether to negotiate with Democrats, but opponents say the findings underscore deeper program flaws. Washington Examiner

Trump's former lawyer Alina Habba resigns as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey

CROCKETT LAUNCH: Jasmine Crockett Announces Bid for Texas Senate Seat . . . Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett has formally entered the 2026 Senate race, filing her candidacy ahead of a planned announcement in Dallas. The progressive congresswoman rolled out a stark campaign video showing her silently listening to past insults from President Donald Trump, signaling a combative framing for the race. Daily Signal

Culture

Activist Group Markets Children's Book Praising Abortion as a "Superpower" . . . Shout Your Abortion is promoting a new book for children ages 5–8 that portrays abortion as a positive, even empowering act. Titled Abortion Is Everything, the book ships in January 2026 and aims to explain the procedure and its "feelings" to young readers. The group's description frames abortion as a "uniquely human superpower" that helps people shape their futures—messaging likely to intensify criticism from parents and pro-life advocates. Breitbart

ABC extends Jimmy Kimmel's contract for one year

David Spade Criticizes Mall for Avoiding "Christmas" at Tree-Lighting Event . . . David Spade is calling out organizers of a mall tree-lighting ceremony for avoiding any mention of Christmas. Speaking on his "Fly on the Wall" podcast, the 61-year-old comedian said the event was deliberately branded as a generic "tree-lighting ceremony," despite featuring a Christmas tree. Spade argued the omission reflects a broader trend of downplaying the holiday, questioning why organizers would strip the event of its traditional identity. New York Post

According to the calendar, December 25 is Christmas, not "Holiday." Do Jews and Muslims really object to Christmas trees?

National Security

The F-47: Next Generation Air Dominance . . . U.S. has moved into the next era of air power, awarding Boeing the Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance program. Announced March 21, 2025, the deal launches development of the F-47, a sixth-generation fighter slated to replace the F-22A and echoing the WWII P-47 in name. The $20 billion award covers prototype construction and potential limited production, positioning the F-47 as the future backbone of U.S. air superiority. Daily Signal

New Tool Allows Americans to Learn Identities of Illegal Aliens Arrested in Their Communities

International

Zelensky Rejects Territorial Concessions, Undercutting Trump Peace Plan . . . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flatly rejected a key element of Donald Trump's latest peace proposal, insisting Monday that Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia. After meeting with European leaders, Zelensky said Ukrainian, international, and moral principles forbid giving up land—an uncompromising stance that could effectively sink Trump's plan. Washington Post

Money

Trump Says U.S. Will Take 25% Cut as Nvidia Allowed to Export H200 Chips to China . . . President Trump announced the U.S. will permit Nvidia to export its advanced H200 chips to approved Chinese customers under a deal requiring the company to pay the government a 25% share. Trump said he informed China's Xi Jinping of the arrangement, framing it as compatible with national security. The decision delivers a major win for Nvidia. Wall Street Journal

Altman Orders "Code Red," Refocuses OpenAI on Improving ChatGPT . . . OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has directed the company to halt side projects—including its Sora video generator—for eight weeks to concentrate on upgrading ChatGPT, signaling a major strategic pivot amid growing competition from Google. The move reflects an internal divide between OpenAI's long-term quest for advanced AGI and its need to satisfy mainstream users now. Altman's directive suggests the company must prioritize product polish and consumer appeal to maintain its edge and ensure stability. Wall Street Journal

Guilty Pleasures

Drone drops steak and crab legs for prisoner feast but South Carolina guards find it first . . . Carolina prison officials say a drone dropped a contraband package into Lee Correctional Institution packed with steak, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, marijuana, and cartons of cigarettes. The stash was discovered Sunday in the Bishopville facility's yard, along with the seized drone. Authorities are investigating, and no arrests have been made. The Department of Corrections shared the find under "#ContrabandChristmas," joking the intended recipients were likely "crabby" about the interception. Associated Press

This is cute, but how long until a drone drops some loaded AR-15's into a prison yard?

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