“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)
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.
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“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)
“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)
“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)
