BIG FUNDRAISING PUSH on FIREHOSE FRIDAY

Hey, everyone …

It’s a FIREHOSE FRIDAY at the freedom movement’s daily newspaper. We’ve got at least 108 news stories, opinion pieces, and audio/video links lined up for you today — maybe more by the time you read this — and that much content doesn’t fit well in an email edition, so it’s all here at our web edition.

THANK YOU to long-time supporter CF and subscribing contributors BT and TM! Their combined $15 in donations yesterday brings our year-end fundraiser total to $1,698.84!

Our goal is $5,501, but it’s actually $2,750.50 — once we’ve raised the former, supporter GL will “match funds” to get us to the latter.

But we MUST get to that $2,750.50 mark to get the “match.” We’re $1,051.66 short.

Can we wrap the fundraiser up this weekend? Yes we can, if YOU support the freedom movement’s daily newspaper at:

https://news.rationalreview.com/support-rrnd

Please do that … and have a happy, healthy, and prosperous weekend!

Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily

UT: Tyler Robinson, accused of shooting Charlie Kirk, appears in courtroom for first time in person

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

“Tyler James Robinson, the Utah man charged with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, was in court in person for the first time on Thursday …. Before Thursday, Robinson had attended his hearings via a video feed from the Utah County jail, where he has been held since he was arrested in September. Three issues were argued on Thursday: a request from the media for access to what occurred during a closed hearing on Oct. 22; a request from prosecutors to amend or clarify the publicity or ‘gag’ order in the case, which governs attorneys and the media; and a request from a group of news organizations, spearheaded by The Salt Lake Tribune, who have asked Graf to allow them to weigh in on any closure requests or any other proposed limitations.” (12/11/25)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/12/11/tyler-robinson-accused-shooting/

Tanzania: Opposition calls for transitional government after disputed election

Source: ABC News

“Tanzania’s main opposition party called Thursday for the establishment of a transitional government after a disputed election that it was barred from taking part in, saying the current government has ‘no legitimacy.’ John Heche, vice chair of the opposition party Chadema, said the United Nations and African continental bodies should oversee a transitional government and a fresh, fair election. He said the Oct. 29 election, which the ruling party won by more than 97%, was null and void, and called for the dissolution of the Tanzanian electoral body.” (12/11/25)

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/tanzania-opposition-calls-transitional-government-after-disputed-election-128315997

Bulgaria: Prime Minister Resigns in the Face of Mass Protests

Source: New York Times

“Bulgaria’s prime minister resigned on Thursday after less than a year in office, acknowledging ‘the voice of the people’ after mass protests against his government in recent weeks. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament in the capital, Sofia, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced he was stepping down, becoming the latest in a revolving door of prime ministers to leave over the past four years. His departure was fomented by continued economic instability in one of the European Union’s consistently poorest countries. Bulgaria is set to join the eurozone on Jan. 1.” (12/11/25)

https://archive.is/03d7n

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from ICE custody

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“A judge has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly [sic] deported and brought back to the US to face criminal charges, from immigration custody. US District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland said since returning to the US, Mr Abrego Garcia was re-detained ‘without lawful authority’. The order means he can at least temporarily return to his home in Maryland. The Department of Homeland Security said the decision was ‘naked judicial activism’ and ‘lacks any valid legal basis’. The case became a focal point in the administration’s crackdown on immigration after he was deported to El Salvador in March, despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation. Judge Xinis wrote in her ruling that the government did not have a removal order, which blocks it from deporting Mr Abrego Garcia ‘at this juncture’.” (12/11/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78vz2v85mpo

US Navy delivers report to Hegseth on potential punishment of Kelly for mentioning the law

Source: CNN

“The US Navy has submitted its recommendations on potential punishments, if any, for Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his participation in a video that reminded US troops they have a duty to refuse illegal orders, a Pentagon official told CNN on Thursday. Those recommendations have been submitted to the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel ‘where they are providing a legal review and input,’ the official said. It was not immediately clear what recommendations were included in the report. … The Trump administration has argued that by emphasizing service members’ legal duty to disobey unlawful orders, Kelly and the other Democratic lawmakers were inciting troops to disobey lawful orders.” (12/11/25)

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/11/politics/navy-report-kelly-illegal-orders-video

Austria: Pols pass headscarf ban for under-14s in schools

Sourced: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]

“Austria’s lower house of parliament has passed a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools after a previous ban was overturned on the grounds that it was discriminatory. Lawmakers passed the new legislation on Thursday by a large majority, meaning that girls younger than 14 will not be permitted to wear headscarves that ‘cover the head in accordance with Islamic traditions’ in all schools, with non-compliance fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros ($175-930). In 2019, the country introduced a ban on headscarves for under-10s in primary schools, but the Constitutional Court struck it down the following year, ruling that it was illegal because it discriminated against Muslims, going against the state’s duty to be religiously neutral.” (12/11/25)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/11/austrian-lawmakers-pass-headscarf-ban-for-under-14s-in

Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado vows to bring award back to Venezuela

Source: Reuters

“Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado said she planned to take her award back to Venezuela, but declined to say on Thursday when she would return to her home country after leaving in great secrecy to receive the honour. The 58-year-old engineer had secretly left Venezuela for Oslo in defiance of a decade-long travel ban imposed by authorities and after spending more than a year in hiding. ‘I came to receive the prize on behalf of the Venezuelan people and I will take it back to Venezuela at the correct moment,’ she told reporters at Norway’s parliament, dressed in white, declining to say when this would be. When Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize in October, she dedicated it in part to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he himself deserved the honour.” (12/11/25)

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nobel-peace-prize-laureate-machado-says-will-bring-award-back-venezuela-2025-12-11/

Venezuela: Regime Paves Way for Withdrawal From International Criminal Court

Source: US News & World Report

“Venezuela’s national assembly ‌on ​Thursday unanimously voted to repeal ‌a law which ratified the Rome Statute, ​paving the way for the country to withdraw from the ‍International Criminal Court (ICC), which is ​investigating human rights abuses in the country. The president ​of ⁠the ruling party-dominated assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, said the law would have immediate effect. Maduro is expected to sign the repeal so the ‌country can formally notify the ICC it intends to withdraw.” (12/11/25)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-12-11/venezuelan-lawmakers-pave-way-for-withdrawal-from-international-criminal-court

MN: Lindell announces run for governor

Source: United Press International

“Mike Lindell, creator of the MyPillow and a noted conspiracy theorist, has announced he is running for governor of Minnesota. Lindell is a longtime friend and supporter of President Donald Trump and is known for saying that voting machines in the United States are rigged and can flip elections. Though he’s lost lawsuits for his election denials, he is still saying that the 2020 election was stolen. He enters a crowded field of Republicans vying for Gov. Tim Walz’s office, including speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Lisa Demuth, former state senator and 2022 Republican nominee for governor Scott Jensen, lawyer Chris Madel and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.” (12/11/25)

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/12/11/mike-lindell-mypillow-minnesota-governor/9461765486561/