“Democrats on Friday released 19 new photos from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, showing him alongside President Trump and former President Clinton. … Democrats said they had obtained 95,000 new photos from the Epstein estate. The 19 they released online include images of Epstein and several notable figures. The images posted by Oversight Democrats included a black-and-white photo of Trump with six women. The women’s faces are covered with black boxes to prevent their identification. Another photo shows condoms with a cartoon image of Trump on each package along with the words ‘I’m HUUUUGE!’ … The photos released by Democrats show a number of famous people with Epstein, including Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser, as well as Clinton, filmmaker Woody Allen, attorney Alan Dershowitz and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.” (12/12/25)
“South Korea’s former acting leader Choi Sang-mok was indicted Thursday on charges related to the brief imposition of martial law in December 2024 by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, becoming the latest high-profile figure embroiled in legal troubles over the case. Choi is one of three top Yoon administration officials who served as caretaker presidents after Yoon was impeached and removed from office over the martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into massive political turmoil. Yoon is now in jail while facing a high-stakes criminal trial on rebellion charges. Dozens of high-level officials and military commanders of the Yoon administration have also been arrested, indicted or investigated over their roles in Yoon’s martial law debacle and other allegations.” (12/12/25)
“Reddit has filed a lawsuit in Australia’s High Court aiming to overturn the country’s under-16 social media ban, Reuters reported. The forum platform called the law contrary to Australia’s constitution as it intrudes on free political discourse. It also argued that Reddit shouldn’t have been included in the ban since it isn’t a social media site, based on the law’s definition. The action is likely to set in motion a protracted legal battle, given Reddit’s resources and its popularity in Australia. Australia’s minimum age social media ban, the first of its kind in the world, went into effect on December 10. The ten platforms affected, including Reddit, must bar underage users or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). Platforms are using a variety of means to determine age, including age inference based on activity and selfies.” (12/12/25)
Once we’ve raised $2,750.50, supporter GL will “match funds” to get us to the goal of $5,501 … after which, I’ll stop talking about money ENTIRELY for the remainder of 2025, and MOSTLY until October of 2026.
If you think your prospective contribution is “too small to bother with,” you’re almost certainly wrong. $2.50, $5, or $10 makes a real difference, and if you value our publication in that amount and can afford to, I hope you’ll help out via:
“Indiana Republicans have withstood immense pressure from President Donald Trump — and ignored threats on their lives — to defeat his plan to redraw the state’s congressional map, dealing him one of his most significant political setbacks since his return to the White House. The GOP-controlled state Senate on Thursday voted down the map that gerrymandered two more safe GOP seats, undercutting the party’s chances at holding control of Congress next November. The failed vote is the culmination of a brass-knuckled four-month pressure campaign from the White House on recalcitrant Indiana Republicans that included private meetings and public shaming from Trump, multiple visits from Vice President JD Vance, whip calls from Speaker Mike Johnson and veiled threats of withheld federal funds. The members held out in spite of pipe bomb threats, unsolicited pizza deliveries to their homes, and swattings of their homes.” (12/11/25)
“President Vladimir Putin thanked the Russian army on Thursday after commanders told him that their forces had taken full control of the town of Siversk in [Donetsk], but Ukraine’s military said it remained in control there. Reuters could not verify the battlefield claim around Siversk, a longstanding target in Russia’s slow drive to capture all of Donetsk [People’s Republic]. Commanders told Putin that the capture of Siversk, a town with a pre-war population of over 10,000 people, was a stepping stone towards taking Sloviansk, one of the two biggest cities in Donetsk still under Ukrainian control. … The Ukrainian military’s Operation Task Force East unit, writing on Facebook, said: ‘In the Sloviansk direction, the city of Siversk remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.'” (12/11/25)
“US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. ‘We want to have one central source of approval,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. It will give the Trump administration tools to push back on the most “onerous” state rules, said White House AI adviser David Sacks. The government will not oppose AI regulations around children’s safety, he added. The move marks a win for technology giants who have called for US-wide AI legislation as it could have a major impact on America’s goal of leading the fast-developing industry. AI company bosses have argued that state-level regulations could slow innovation and hinder the US in its race against China to dominate the industry, with firms pouring billions of dollars into the technology.” (12/12/25)
“Thailand’s prime minister dissolved parliament on Friday, paving the way for general elections early next year as deadly border clashes continue with neighbour Cambodia. The move comes earlier than expected and just three months after Anutin Charnvirakul – of the conservative Bhumjaithai party – became prime minister when his predecessor was removed from office over an ethics violation.” (12/12/25)
“A federal grand jury has declined to indict Letitia James, the New York attorney general, on mortgage fraud charges for the second time in a week, according to a person familiar with the matter, in an embarrassing blow to the Trump justice department as the president has sought retribution against one of his political rivals. The department has attempted to twice file new charges against James after a judge dismissed an indictment against her after determining the prosecutor handling the case had not been properly appointed. … James was charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement in connection with a home in Norfolk, Virginia in 2020.” (12/11/25)
“The Libertarian National Committee is pursuing restitution from former national chair Angela McArdle over payments made to Freedom Calls, LLC, a fundraising firm contracted during her tenure that was linked to her partner without prior disclosure. The organization said it issued a demand letter this month. … A Special Investigatory Committee was appointed by the LNC to look into the situation further following McArdle’s resignation. In its 94-page report, the committee concluded that McArdle engaged in ‘gross fiduciary violations,’ failed to disclose conflicts of interest, and misused donor funds for unauthorized activities. It also found that the LNC ultimately paid Freedom Calls around $45,600 while receiving only a fraction of that amount back in donations.” (12/11/25)
