Wednesday, December 10, 2025

December 10, 2025

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Navy Secretary calls for 'wartime footing' in weapons production as China looms . . . Navy Secretary John Phelan has opened a new Rapid Capabilities Office to accelerate research, production, and deployment of weapons and ships, urging a "wartime footing" to meet rising challenges in the Pacific. Speaking to defense industry leaders in Washington, Phelan pressed for faster output as the Pentagon—under War Secretary Pete Hegseth—prioritizes deterring China. The move reflects concerns that the current defense industrial base cannot sustain the munitions and shipbuilding levels a future conflict may demand. Just the News

Politics

Democrat Wins Miami Mayoral Race in Break from Decades of GOP Control . . . Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami's mayoral race on Tuesday, becoming the city's first Democrat elected to the post in nearly 30 years. Higgins defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez—endorsed by President Donald Trump—by a wide margin in the Hispanic-majority city. The officially nonpartisan contest drew unusual national attention as a gauge of political sentiment in a key Florida stronghold, with networks calling the race less than an hour after polls closed. Reuters

Yet another bad sign for the midterms.

Trump Opens Mount Pocono Rally with Pennsylvania Job Gains . . . President Donald Trump launched his Mount Pocono address by spotlighting what he called a renewed economic upswing in Pennsylvania. He said his administration has added roughly 60,000 jobs statewide since January, including 4,000 in manufacturing, and noted that more than 40,000 residents have left food-assistance rolls. Trump framed the figures as evidence of a broader national rebound, emphasizing that Pennsylvania is "prospering again" under his return to the White House. Breitbart

GOP Rolls Out Counterplan as Senate Sets Up Duel Over Obamacare Subsidies . . . Senate Republicans have unified behind a proposal from Sens. Bill Cassidy and Mike Crapo to address expiring Obamacare subsidies, positioning it against a Democratic plan ahead of a Thursday vote. Majority Leader John Thune said the agreement gives the GOP a cohesive alternative, though both measures are expected to fall short. The clash highlights partisan divides over healthcare spending as lawmakers look to frame their approaches before subsidy deadlines hit. Fox News

Speculation Swirls Over Noem's Future at DHS Despite White House Support . . . The White House insists Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem remains secure in her post, but internal talk about potential successors is growing. Names circulating within the administration and on Capitol Hill include former Rep. Jason Chaffetz and outgoing Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The chatter follows mounting frustration over Noem's handling of DHS, concerns about mismanaged funding, and rising tension involving adviser Corey Lewandowski and Border Czar Tom Homan as the administration pushes its mass-deportation agenda. Politico

Georgia Democrat Refers To United States As 'World's Number One Bully,' 'The Great Satan' . . . Rep. Hank Johnson drew criticism after labeling the United States the "world's number one bully" and invoking the phrase "Great Satan" during an interview with host Dean Obeidallah. Johnson argued that America leverages its unmatched power over weaker nations, framing it as emblematic of global overreach. Critics say he echoed hostile rhetoric used by Iran's regime. Daily Wire

At least he thinks we're the "great" Satan on not some mediocre hack Satan. Americans are the best at whatever they do.

Dallas Pastor Enters Race to Succeed Crockett in Deep-Blue TX-30 . . . Dallas pastor Frederick Haynes, known for past praise of Louis Farrakhan and sharp criticism of Israel, has filed to run for Texas's 30th Congressional District after Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a Senate bid. Haynes leads Friendship-West Baptist Church, where Crockett is a frequent attendee, and has long been described as her mentor. Their close alliance is expected to give Haynes an early advantage as he seeks to replace the outspoken Democrat in the safely Democratic district. Washington Free Beacon

Police investigation finds Nancy Mace caused 'spectacle' at South Carolina airport

Trump Accuses Ilhan Omar of Marrying Her Brother . . . President Donald Trump renewed long-standing allegations surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar's marital history, telling Politico she had "married her brother" amid broader criticism of her stance on immigration enforcement. Questions about potential immigration fraud have trailed the Minnesota Democrat since a 2019 Minneapolis Star-Tribune report noted inconsistencies in her records. Trump's comments came as he criticized Omar for opposing recent ICE operations in Minneapolis following revelations of extensive welfare-fraud schemes tied to Somali networks. Daily Signal

Trump is so much fun.

National Security

Illegal Alien Involved in Shooting of 4 Police Officers and a Civilian . . . An illegal alien from El Salvador shot a civilian and multiple police officers in Omaha, Nebraska, last week. Juan Ayala Ramos, 28, is reported to have randomly shot 61-year-old Michael Kasper, critically injuring the man, outside a grocery store in Omaha as Kasper was loading groceries into his vehicle. Following the shooting, four police officers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The Daily Signal

Trump Reports Injured Guardsman Showing Signs of Recovery . . . President Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, that West Virginia National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, wounded in a recent Washington, D.C., shooting, has begun to show encouraging signs of recovery. Wolfe, 24, was one of three people shot in the incident that also claimed the life of 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. Trump said Wolfe had gotten out of bed for the first time, a development he described as a hopeful step forward. Breitbart

International

U.S. Strategy Slams EU Regulations as Business Tensions Rise . . . President Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy sharply rebukes Europe, arguing the continent's declining economic weight stems from stifling EU regulations that suppress innovation. The critique aligns with complaints from major U.S. CEOs frustrated by what they view as overreach in Brussels. Tensions escalated after the EU fined Elon Musk's X $140 million, prompting a backlash from Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the move an attack on American tech and consumers. Wall Street Journal

Europe can't stop complaining about how Trump is treating them. What they actually need to do is dismantle their beloved socialism and halt unfettered immigration from alien cultures.

Money

Trump Not Yet Decided, Prepares Final Interviews for Next Fed Chair as Search Narrows . . . President Donald Trump is set to begin a final round of interviews with candidates for Federal Reserve chair, starting with former Fed governor Kevin Warsh on Wednesday, according to senior administration officials. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett is also expected to meet with the president. Trump had previously signaled he already knows his choice. The forthcoming meetings mark the final stage of a closely watched selection process. Wall Street Journal

You should also know

DOE Moves to Jump-Start Nuclear Buildout with New Loan Program . . . The Trump Department of Energy plans to back as many as 10 new nuclear reactors through low-interest financing from its newly rebranded Office of Energy Dominance Financing. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the initiative aims to give the long-stalled nuclear sector a needed push toward a broader "renaissance." Wright detailed the effort during a visit to Idaho National Laboratory, where he emphasized that federal support could finally help advanced nuclear projects reach commercial deployment. Washington Free Beacon

Newly released Amelia Earhart documents reveal vivid details of Japan's role in search for doomed aviator . . . The National Archives has released more than 3,700 pages of newly declassified material on Amelia Earhart's 1937 disappearance, offering fresh detail on international efforts to find her. The documents include a memo recounting a July 1937 discussion between Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japan's ambassador, noting Japan deployed two ships and instructed officials across the Pacific to aid the search. The files provide a clearer record of U.S.–Japanese cooperation during the early investigation. Fox News

The documents reveal that her mother thought she was on a spying mission for the US.

Guilty Pleasures

Trans-Identifying Biden Official Outraged Trump HHS Changed His Nameplate . . . A former Biden-era health official, Admiral Rachel Levine, criticized the Department of Health and Human Services after the agency replaced his office portrait nameplate with his birth name, Richard Levine, during the recent shutdown. Levine called the move "petty" and "bigotry." Current HHS leadership defended the change, arguing that agency materials should reflect "biological reality" and support what they describe as "gold standard science" in public health. Daily Wire