Israeli President Calls BS on Trump’s Pardon Claim

Source: The Daily Beast

“Israel’s president has pushed back on Donald Trump’s claim that the two had spoken and that a pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu was ‘on its way.’ Isaac Herzog, 65, disputed what Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago while beside Netanyahu, who is accused of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery — charges which he denies. … ‘There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted,’ his office said, according to CNN. Rather, Herzog’s office said he had spoken to a Trump aide and gave ‘an explanation’ about ‘the stage of the process in which the request currently stands.’ … In June, the president called for either the cancellation of the trial or a pardon for his ally, ‘who has done so much for the State’ during the Israel-Iran conflict.” (12/29/25)

https://archive.is/TfmYq

Thomas L. Knapp

Aargh! Letters of marque would unleash Blackbeard on the cartels

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Michael Vlahos

“Just saying the words ‘Letters of Marque’ is to conjure the myth and romance of the pirate: Namely, that species of corsair also known as Blackbeard or Long John Silver, stalking the fabled Spanish Main, memorialized in glorious Technicolor by Robert Newton, hallooing the unwary with ‘Aye, me hearties!’ Perhaps it is no surprise that the legendary patois has been resurrected today in Congress. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced the Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act on the Senate floor, thundering that it ‘will revive this historic practice to defend our shores and seize cartel assets’. If enacted into law, Congress, in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, would license private American citizens ‘to employ all reasonably necessary means to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories the person and property of any cartel or conspirator of a cartel or cartel-linked organization.'” (12/29/25)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/letters-of-marque-cartels/

Steve Trinward

We Are Going to Win

Source: Liberal Currents
by Adam Gurri

“Trump did not begin with as strong a hand for authoritarian consolidation as many thought. Orban, for example, came to power with a tidal wave of popularity, into a unicameral parliamentary system overseeing a unitary government. Trump, by contrast, won narrowly in 2024. … Still, there was no question that he and his people were going to try to consolidate an authoritarian regime, whatever hand they were dealt, the second they were able to take the White House again. And try they have. … But so far, it has been a failure, one that has backfired on them rather than strengthening their position. Trump’s narrow support among the public has vanished.” (12/30/25)

https://www.liberalcurrents.com/we-are-going-to-win/

Thomas L. Knapp

CA: Regime gives up on federal high-speed rail funding

Source: Politico

“California has ended a lawsuit challenging the termination of $4 billion in federal grants for its controversial high-speed rail project, ceding its claim to federal funding that the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to withdraw. … The California High-Speed Rail Authority said in a statement that the agency has decided to cut ties with the Trump administration, which has also threatened other pots of federal funding tied to the planned rail line connecting Los Angeles to the Bay Area. ‘This action reflects the state’s assessment that the federal government is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing high-speed rail in California,’ the statement said.” (12/29/25)

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/29/california-gives-up-on-federal-high-speed-rail-funding-00707136

Thomas L. Knapp

That Non-Science Stink

Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob

“Not long ago we were screamed at: ‘Trust the Science!’ So those of us paying attention came to distrust the scientists. Especially ‘scientists’ in positions of political power. Sadly, tragically, more than one scientific discipline has been perverted in shockingly non-scientific ways. A hidebound denialism about new data has crept in. Sure, it is about the money, but often we catch a whiff of ideology.” (12/30/25)

https://thisiscommonsense.org/2025/12/30/that-non-science-stink/

Thomas L. Knapp

How Trump Can Push Europe to Secure Ukraine

Source: The American Conservative
by Andrew Day

“Both Ukraine and Russia, before making a deal, want some assurance that the other won’t treat peace as a mere pause in fighting and then restart the war at an opportune moment. As always in the high-stakes game of international politics, no leader wants to be a sucker, and every state tends toward paranoia about its security. … There’s a creative way out of this impasse. Moscow has indicated it would permit [sic] Kiev to join the European Union. And the EU has a mutual defense arrangement that would amount to a long-term security guarantee for Ukraine if it joins the Union.” (12/30/25)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/how-trump-can-push-europe-to-secure-ukraine/

Thomas L. Knapp

Moody’s Cuts Budapest’s Rating to Junk Due to Row With National Regime

Source: US News & World Report

“Ratings agency Moody’s has ‌downgraded ​Budapest’s credit rating to Ba1 ‌from Baa3 and placed it on review for a further ​reduction, citing its weak liquidity and a financial dispute with Viktor Orban’s national government. The downgrade ‍comes at a delicate time ​for Budapest, which is run by the liberal mayor Gergely Karacsony, as ​nationalist Prime ⁠Minister Orban will likely face parliamentary elections in April. The centre-right opposition Tisza party is leading most polls. … ‘Ongoing legal disputes over the tax amount, which exceeds the funding received from the central government, add system instability and jeopardize the budgeting process and cash balances,’ Moody’s said, adding the ratings ​also reflected the partial freezing of European Union funds to Hungary.” (12/30/25)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-12-30/moodys-cuts-budapests-rating-to-junk-due-to-row-with-national-government

Thomas L. Knapp