“The Minnesota Vikings’ team plane was forced to turn around during the team’s flight to New Jersey for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Their team plane experienced mechanical issues shortly after departing Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport while en route to Newark Liberty International Airport, according to a team spokesperson. The Vikings were expected to arrive in Newark later Saturday night after boarding a second plane. ‘Shortly after departing, the team plane experienced mechanical issues that required a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The team will board a second plane momentarily and is now expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later tonight,’ the team said in a statement. Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers commented on an Instagram post of the news, writing, ‘We’re ok.'” (12/20/25)
“On 16 December, 2025, President Donald Trump announced what he called ‘a total and complete blockade’ of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. Delivered via his personal media platform, the statement was sweeping in its implications. Trump declared that Venezuela was ‘completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America’, and he made clear this would not end until all Venezuelan ‘oil, land, and other assets’ were returned to the United States. But beneath the dramatic language lies a far more dangerous truth: this action marks a breach of US constitutional limits, a perilous expansion of executive authority, and a break with both legal precedent and historical norms of dispute resolution. At its core, this naval blockade (undeclared, unauthorized, and now operational) poses a direct challenge to the War Powers Resolution, a congressional statute designed specifically to prevent precisely this kind of unilateral military escalation.” (12/20/25)
“Political factions in Iraq have been maneuvering since the parliamentary election more than a month ago to form alliances that will shape the next government. The November election didn’t produce a bloc with a decisive majority, opening the door to a prolonged period of negotiations. The government that eventually emerges will be inheriting a security situation that has stabilized in recent years, but it will also face a fragmented parliament, growing political influence by armed factions, a fragile economy, and often conflicting international and regional pressures, including the future of Iran-backed armed groups. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s party took the largest number of seats in the election. Al-Sudani positioned himself in his first term as a pragmatist focused on improving public services and managed to keep Iraq on the sidelines of regional conflicts.” (12/20/25)
“It seems like a lifetime ago, mostly because it was, when I was a health policy analyst at a conservative think tank. During my interview for the job, my future boss said something true then, and it still rings true today: On the issue of health care, Democrats are evil and Republicans are stupid. While Republicans are, generally, stupid on health care, it doesn’t have to be that way. Republican Members of Congress view health care as ‘a Democrat issue,’ much the way Democrats view national defense as a Republican one. It’s not like they can’t understand the issues involved, it’s that they’re afraid to – they’re afraid to get out over their skis. They have the mental capacity, but more content in the back of their underpants than the front to really engage with it.” (12/21/25)
“Two theme parkgoers were trapped more than 100 feet in the air for more than 30 minutes this week after a roller coaster in Texas malfunctioned. The Circuit Breaker roller coaster at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin unexpectedly stopped at the first drop, leaving Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, dangling at a 90-degree angle Wednesday night, KXAN-TV reported, citing a publicist representing the two men. ‘For more than 30 minutes after the ride stopped, family members reported receiving no clear updates, while witnesses said staff provided conflicting explanations, including comments that the riders ‘weren’t strapped in currently,’’ the publicist’s news release said, People magazine reported. ‘A sensor triggered a ride delay,’ the Circuit of the Americas told Fox News Digital in a statement Saturday. ‘It was resolved, and the ride proceeded without incident.'” (12/20/25)
“Waymo halted service in San Francisco as of Saturday at 8 p.m., following a power outage that left approximately 30% of the city without power. The autonomous cars have been causing traffic jams throughout the city, as the vehicles seem unable to function without traffic signals. ‘We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services given the broad power outage in San Francisco,’ Suzanne Philion, a Waymo spokesperson told SFGATE via email Saturday night. ‘We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work.’ Pedestrians posted videos on X Saturday of Waymo cars stuck at intersections with their lights flashing. The widespread power outage is affecting around San Francisco 130,000 customers and began as early as 9:40 a.m. in parts of the city.” (12/20/25)
“Last week, I reported on concerns that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was discouraging support for a bipartisan discharge petition to finally advance the exceedingly popular policy of ending congressional stock trading. Discharge petitions signed by a majority of House members get a guaranteed floor vote. The speculation was that Jeffries would rather keep the concept of a trading ban alive for campaigning (and maybe protect Democrats who want to keep trading) than take advantage of the ongoing rebellion against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to make tangible progress. I would say this is wholly confirmed now. The Democratic leadership is filing their own discharge petition on a stock trading ban, countering one from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) that has 74 signatures, including 15 Republicans, more than enough for a House majority if all Democrats sign on.” (12/19/25)
“Two students were murdered by an unknown monster at Brown University over the weekend and the odds are pretty high you don’t know their names. I don’t blame you; you don’t have to, and, unless you knew them, you have no real reason to. But I bet you know the names of some of those left-wing gun control students who’ve formed anti-Second Amendment groups and have gone on to become progressive cable news celebrities. Seems odd, doesn’t it? Until you realize that not all victims are created equally. It’s a deviant sect on the left that only cares about people’s well-being if those people agree with them; everyone else is disposable. Unless, that is, Democrats can use their deaths to advance their agenda, then they’ll pretend to care.” (12/18/25)
“Over the past week, Romania has been rocked by protests against corruption. Like many of its neighbors, the Eastern European nation has seen similar uprisings for more than a decade. This time, however, many protesters have appealed to people’s better angels. They lean toward affirming principles of governance rather than merely opposing evil acts. One chant favored during the protests, for example, is ‘Justice, no corruption’. Another is ‘Integrity, not complicity’. One protest sign reads: ‘Respect for honest magistrates’. In the midst of the demonstrations – which focus on a media report that some judges helped officials avoid trials on corruption charges – hundreds of judges and prosecutors signed an open letter. It supports whistleblowers inside the judicial system who, despite threats of punishment, bravely expose wrongdoing. ‘Truth and integrity must not be penalised but protected,’ the letter stated.” (12/17/25)
“Trying to accelerate Ukraine’s entry into the European Union makes sense as part of the U.S.-sponsored efforts to end the war with Russia. But there are two big obstacles to this happening by 2027: Ukraine isn’t ready, and Europe can’t afford it. As part of ongoing talks to end the war in Ukraine, the Trump administration had advanced the idea that Ukraine be admitted into the European Union by 2027. On the surface, this appears a practical compromise, given Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s concession that Ukraine will drop its aspiration to join NATO. However, the idea of accelerated entry for Ukraine has not been met with widespread enthusiasm in Europe itself. Diplomats in Brussels dismissed the notion as ‘nonsense: There needs to be an appetite for enlargement that isn’t there’. There are two big problems with Ukraine’s rapid accession, the first being readiness and the second cost.” (12/18/25)
