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HomeGeographiesNational/InternationalStories Speak Volumes (January 6-12): A Round-Up of National and International Stories

Stories Speak Volumes (January 6-12): A Round-Up of National and International Stories

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Compiled by Michael Hernandez, 1-12-25

There are so many stories making up the mosaic of national/international news that we can’t cover them all every week. The biggest stories now seem to be: the Trump transition, immigration (migrants and illegals), wars, weaponization of government (the deep state) against Trump and conservatives, our nation going bankrupt, massive inflation, climate change controversy and related expenses of government, industry attempting to address these issues, the Chinese threat, drones, national security, abortion, anti-Christian hate, terrorist attacks and Los Angeles fires. Here are just a few:

Jan. 6: Gateway Pundit By Jordan Conradson

GOP Lawmakers Interrupt Kamala Harris As She Reads Electoral Vote Totals And Confirms Her Own Loss, Kamala Looks Embarrassed

Kamala Harris was clearly not happy while presiding over Congress tallying the electoral votes from her massive electoral defeat last November, and GOP lawmakers put salt on an open wound with their response to her reading the totals and declaring Trump the next President of the United States.  After announcing that President Trump had won 312 electoral votes, she began to read her own final tally, but the lawmakers cut her off.

Jan. 6: Breitbart By Elizabeth Weibel

Biden Administration Releases 11 Yemeni Terrorists From Guantanamo Bay To Oman

The Biden administration released 11 Yemeni terrorists, who were captured after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, from Guantanamo Bay. While the men had been “approved for transfer by national security officials” more than two years ago, they were approved to be transferred to Oman on Monday, according to NPR News. Oman reportedly “agreed to help resettle them and provide security monitoring” for the 11 prisoners, who are described as being “former al-Qaeda members,” according to records from the U.S. Department of Defense.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/06/biden-administration-releases-11-yemeni-terrorists-from-guantanamo-bay-to-oman/

Jan. 7: Breitbart By John Nolan

Mark Zuckerberg Promises Less Censorship On Facebook As He Scraps Third-Party ‘Fact Checkers’

Mark Zuckerberg has announced major changes to Meta’s content moderation policies and practices on Facebook and Instagram, citing a desire to embrace free speech and avoid censorship. Zuckerberg’s changes begin with scrapping Facebook’s third-party “fact check” system which is notorious for its leftist bias.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is undergoing a major overhaul of its content moderation practices. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that the company will end its fact-checking program and replace it with a community-driven system similar to X’s Community Notes. The changes come as a response to what Zuckerberg perceives as a “cultural tipping point” towards prioritizing speech, influenced by the recent elections.

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2025/01/07/mark-zuckerberg-promises-less-censorship-on-facebook-as-he-scraps-biased-third-party-fact-checkers/

Jan. 7: Gateway Pundit By Antonio Graceffo

Biden Lawfare: An Interview with John Eastman

The Biden administration not only used the Justice Department to target President Trump and other prominent Republicans or outspoken conservatives but also went after the attorneys who represented them.

“If we don’t put an end to this pernicious lawfare, we will destroy the rule of law and the adversarial system of justice—and that, of course, is their intent,” said John Eastman, an attorney and academic who serves as a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank. Eastman’s career was derailed, and his life turned upside down, as a result of his efforts to persuade Mike Pence to refuse to certify the 2020 election results in January 2021. The United States Democracy Center reported that John Eastman was disbarred following a bipartisan bar complaint signed by 25 prominent figures, including former federal and California state supreme court judges, Republican officials, leading law professors, and ethics advisors from the George W. Bush and Obama administrations.

Attorney Robert Previto, who has been practicing law in New York for nearly 30 years, echoed concerns about the politicization of government agencies and the courts under the Biden administration. “Eastman and Giuliani are both correct in many of their observations about the weaponization of government agencies and the courts,” he stated. Previto warned of the grave consequences of such actions, emphasizing, “We cannot survive as a republic, individual liberty cannot survive, if our courts and our government abandon their historical neutrality toward those not in power and instead set their dangerous sights on prosecuting political opponents.”

Attorney Robert Previto highlighted the dangers of what he described as “lawfare” by a sitting administration, warning of its potential to erode democratic principles. He explained that totalitarianism, which he defined as “one-party rule or simply repression,” often begins by manipulating the scope of criminal statutes to target political opponents. He cited the cases of Eastman, Giuliani, and Trump as examples of this tactic, stating that it starts “under the color of existing law” but ultimately stretches the application of criminal statutes to a breaking point. “When this happens,” Previto warned, “the law loses its meaning—and its purpose—and becomes nothing less than a fulcrum for those in power to disempower the people.”

Jan. 7: Gateway Pundit By John Mills

China Cuts Undersea Internet Cables To Taiwan

In September, a group of journalists were hosted by Taiwanese national security experts to discuss the developing crisis of Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. The portion of the week-long visit at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, the Taiwanese Defense and Security Think Tank akin to MITRE, Rand, or The Aerospace Corporation, contained an urgent and compelling message.

In a replay of Baltic Sea undersea infrastructure attacks by Chinese ships in October of 2023 and November 2024, a Chinese-associated ship has now destroyed a major undersea cable off Taiwan. The location was just outside the 12-mile limit of territorial waters of Taiwan, north of the major Taiwan Port of Keelung at the northern end of the island nation of Taiwan. The water depth in this area is likely less than 500 feet. 

Jan. 7: Gateway Pundit By Christina Laila

Evacuations Underway as Massive 3,000-Acre Wildfire Rages Out Of Control In Pacific Palisades Amid Gusty Winds 

Evacuations were underway as a massive wildfire raged out of control and engulfed homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday. According to AccuWeather, wind gusts reached up to 65 miles per hour in Southern California on Tuesday. People panicked after they got stuck in traffic trying to flee the fire and abandoned their cars on Sunset Blvd. The cars were being bulldozed to make room for emergency vehicles.

Jan. 8: Gateway Pundit By Jim Hoft

State Farm Canceled Hundreds Of Pacific Palisades Homeowners’ Policies Before Devastating Wildfire Strikes

As wildfires ravage Southern California, homeowners in Pacific Palisades find themselves grappling with an unbearable reality: their homes are burning, and their insurance policies—once their safety net—were canceled just months ago by State Farm. In a move justified by the company as a strategy to avoid “financial failure,” State Farm canceled over 72,000 homeowners’ policies statewide, with Pacific Palisades—a now-charred affluent neighborhood—bearing a significant brunt.

State Farm announced in April 2024 that it would cancel a total of 72,000 policies in California, including 30,000 homes. About 1,600 insured homes in Pacific Palisades lost coverage due to this decision.

Jan. 8: Gateway Pundit By Christina Laila

New Fire Explodes “Out of Nowhere” In The Hollywood Hills Near The “Hollywood” Sign – Evacuations Underway

A new fire erupted in the Hollywood Hills near the “Hollywood” sign Wednesday evening. There is a mandatory evacuation for Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Hills. The new fire dubbed “The Sunset Fire” came out of nowhere and exploded. Numerous fires have been burning in the greater Los Angeles area since Tuesday and are still at zero percent containment.

Many Los Angeles fire hydrants are dry. Karen Bass slashed fire department funding by $17.6 million a few months before the fires. Governor Newsom and the state’s Democrat legislators do not allow for proper forest management so years of dry brush build up and fires explode with the gusty Santa Ana winds.

Jan. 9: CBS News By Carolyn Linton and Kathryn Watson

Jimmy Carter Laid To Rest In Plains, Georgia, After Funeral Service In Washington

Jimmy Carter’s state funeral was held at the National Cathedral on Thursday before the 39th president’s final journey back to Georgia for burial. President Biden gave a eulogy at the service, highlighting Carter’s “simple decency” and faith. “The very journey of our nation is a walk of sheer faith to do the work to be the county we say we are, to be the country we say we want to be — a nation where we all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Mr. Biden said.  President-elect Donald Trump who stopped by the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday to pay his respect to Carter, and the living former presidents— Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and George W. Bush — were all in attendance.

Mr. Biden declared Thursday a national day of mourning for Carter. Thursday’s services capped six days of remembrance for Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Following the honors in Washington, it was his wish to be buried in his hometown of Plains, next to his beloved wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter.

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/president-jimmy-carter-funeral/

Jan. 9: Gateway Pundit By Christina Laila

Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Request to Stop Sentencing in Hush Money Case – Roberts and Barrett Side with Left-Leaning Justices

The US Supreme Court will not stop Judge Merchan from sentencing Trump after a New York Appeals court earlier this week denied Trump’s request to delay Friday’s sentencing. Five Justices denied Trump’s bid to stop Judge Merchan’s sentencing. The four conservative justices would have approved Trump’s application to delay the sentencing. Chief Justice John Roberts and Amy Comey Barrett sided with the far-left justices on the court. “Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have granted Trump’s application for a postponement of sentencing, the majority wrote,” CBS News reported.

Jan. 9:  Gateway Pundit By Jordan Conradson

Former Congresswoman Debbie Lesko Calls For “Comprehensive Audit Of Entire Election System” In Maricopa County After Being Sworn In As County Supervisor

Former Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, upon taking office as a Maricopa County Supervisor Monday, announced plans to audit Maricopa County’s election system.  “It is very important to a lot of my constituents,” she said. After she was sworn in, Lesko gave a speech outlining her priorities while in office. Among those priorities was election integrity and pushing for a “comprehensive audit of the entire election system in Maricopa County.”

Jan. 9:  Gateway Pundit By Jim Hoft

Fire and Fury: Overpaid Bureaucrat Responsible for Filling Up Fire Hydrants in LA County Rakes In $750K Per Year — The City’s Highest Paid Employee

The recent failure of fire hydrants in Los Angeles County to provide water during a critical fire-fighting effort raises serious questions about the competence and priorities of local officials. How is it possible that in one of the wealthiest regions in the country, essential infrastructure such as fire hydrants is not adequately maintained or inspected?

Reports have surfaced that a Los Angeles County official responsible for this simple task of overseeing fire hydrant maintenance. In April 2024, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) nominated Janisse Quiñones as the new head of the Department of Water and Power (DWP), with an approved annual salary of $750,000. This is nearly double the salary of her predecessor, Marty Adams, who only made $447,082 annually.

The DEI CEO and chief engineer of the LADWP, Janisse Quiñones, attributed the issue to an unprecedented strain on the water system. “Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure,” Quiñones continued. “If there’s a message you take away from me today, is, I need our customers to really conserve water — not just in the Palisades area, but the whole system because the fire department needs the water to fight the fires,” Quiñones added.

Jan. 9: Breitbart By Paul Bois

Officials Suspect Arson As Cause Of One L.A. Fire, Suspect Detained

Police reportedly have been investigating the Kenneth fire in Woodland Hills near the southside of the San Fernando Valley as possible arson and have detained a suspect, according to a local Fox News affiliate. News of the arson investigation erupted late on Thursday hours after the fire grew past 800 acres with mandatory evacuations.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/09/report-kenneth-fire-in-woodland-hills-possible-arson-suspect-detained/

Jan. 10: Fox News By Chris Pandolfo, Greg Wehner and Elizabeth Pritchett

More Than 10,000 Homes and Businesses Destroyed, At Least 10 Dead

As deadly wildfires spread and thousands of Los Angeles County residents flee for their lives, there are brave Americans who are going toward the danger to fight the flames.

John Mixson, a retired U.S. Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue aircraft commander, knows the risks posed to the crew members battling the fires. Crews resumed flights Wednesday after being grounded since Tuesday evening. “There’s several different hazards involved that’s unique to the operation that they do,” Mixson told Fox News Digital.

“One of the most apparent ones is the low altitude above hilly terrain in high wind conditions, which is what they’re battling now.” Air crews working to contain the wildfires are grappling with several obstacles as well. Mixson pointed out that through the smoke these crews must also avoid other aircraft, terrain and everyday hazards such as radio towers.

In addition to the stressful conditions, operators in firefighting aircraft also have to handle populated areas carefully. This means navigating how to put out the blaze while dealing with not only “personal property, but personnel and life.”

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/southern-california-los-angeles-fires-live-updates-1-10-2024

Jan. 10: Fox News By Alexandra Koch

LA Mayor Karen Bass Rejects Assistance From FDNY; Newsom Accepts Help From Mexico Crews

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass rejected an offer from the New York (City) Fire Department to help battle deadly wildfires scorching the Golden State, the New York Post reported.

As of Friday morning, the California fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and buildings in the Los Angeles area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently agreed to pay for more firefighters after the state reported it was beyond capacity. New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker extended the offer in “recent days,” according to the report. JetBlue agreed to pay for the firefighters’ fares to the city. Mexico is sending crews to help contain the Eaton Fire, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday via X. “California is deeply grateful for President @ClaudiaShein’s support as we work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires,” Newsom wrote. “Our partnership and shared commitment to helping communities in need is greatly valued.”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/la-mayor-karen-bass-rejects-assistance-fdny-newsom-accepts-help-mexico-crews

Jan. 10:  Fox News By Alexandra Koch

Gov. Newsom Cut Fire Budget By $100M Months Before Lethal California Fires

A review of last year’s California state budget shows California Gov. Gavin Newsom cut funding for wildfire and forest resilience by more than $100 million. The budget signed in June and covering the 2024-25 fiscal year, eliminated $101 million from seven “wildfire and forest resilience” programs, according to a report from Newsweek. The California fires, responsible for destroying more than 10,000 buildings in the Los Angeles area, are still not contained.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gov-newsom-cut-fire-budget-100m-months-lethal-california-fires

Jan. 10: Fox News By Brooke Singman

Donald Trump Sentenced With No Penalty In New York Criminal Trial, As Judge Wished Him ‘Godspeed” In 2nd Term

President-elect Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge on Friday after being found guilty on charges of falsifying business records stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s yearslong investigation. 

The president-elect attended his sentencing virtually after fighting to block the process all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Trump sat beside his defense attorney Todd Blanche.  Judge Juan Merchan did not sentence the president-elect to prison, and instead sentenced him to an unconditional discharge, meaning there is no punishment imposed: no jail time, fines or probation. The sentence also preserves Trump’s ability to appeal the conviction. “After careful analysis, this court determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction is an unconditional discharge,” Merchan said Friday. “At this time, I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts.” Merchan added, “Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office.” Before Judge Merchan announced the sentence, Trump called the case a “tremendous setback for the American court system.” 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/donald-trump-sentenced-no-penalty-new-york-criminal-trial-judge-wishes-him-godspeed-2nd-term

Jan. 11: Gateway Pundit By Joe Hoft

President Trump Wants To Change The Name Of The Gulf Of Mexico

President Trump held his first press conference on Tuesday after Congress certified him the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Monday. During his press conference from his home in Mar-a-Lago, President Trump made headlines when he announced he was changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump announced he plans on renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Jan. 11: Breitbart By Hannah Knudsen

Rep. Dusty Johnson: Trump ‘Quintessential Deal Maker’; No Danger In Exploring A Panama Canal Purchase

There is no danger in exploring a purchase of the Panama Canal, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) said during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday, discussing President-elect Donald Trump’s ideas and his status as the “quintessential deal maker.” Johnson, who recently introduced the Panama Canal Repurchase Act, told Breitbart News Saturday that there is no harm in inquiring about such a purchase.

https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2025/01/11/exclusive-rep-dusty-johnson-trump-quintessential-deal-maker-no-danger-in-exploring-a-panama-canal-purchase/

Jan. 11: Gateway Pundit By Cullen Linebarger

Greenland PM Announces He’s “Ready to Talk” To President Trump As Denmark Sends A Private Message To Team Trump Regarding Island’s Future

President Trump has been unduly mocked by Democrats and corporate media journalists regarding his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark. But he now has the Danes and Greenland’s full attention. Trump for months has pushed for purchasing the world’s largest island. He argues that Greenland becoming part of America is absolutely necessary for national security. The Arctic island is rich in natural resources and holds immense geopolitical value due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle and the presence of U.S. military assets, including Thule Air Base. Moreover, China and Russia are circling Greenland seeking to take advantage of the islands enormous potential. Buying Greenland would enable the U.S. to seize control of the Arctic and deal a heavy blow to the ambitions of their two biggest global adversaries.

Jan. 11:  Breitbart By Elizabeth Weibel

L.A. Water Chief Knew Fire Hydrants Not Working, Reservoir Offline

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones had knowledge that the Santa Ynez Reservoir was offline, and that fire hydrants were not working, according to a recent report. Insiders with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFP) reportedly told the DailyMail that Quiñones, who was hired in May on a $750,000 salary, is “being blamed” by the LAFD for leaving the Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Pacific Palisades disconnected as wildfires began in the Los Angeles area.

Additionally, Quiñones is also being blamed by LAFD for leaving fire hydrants broken for several months, according to the outlet. “Sources” told the outlet that since being hired “at LADWP, Quiñones oversaw the shutdown and emptying of a reservoir in the Pacific Palisades during brushfire season.” Prior to her current role, Quiñones has worked for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) as a senior vice president between 2021 to 2023. The electric company “went bankrupt over liability for several massive wildfires in California,” according to the outlet:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/11/report-l-a-water-chief-knew-fire-hydrants-not-working-reservoir-offline/

Jan. 11: Gateway Pundit By Margaret Flavin

Medical Director Of the Texas Medical Board ‘Retires’ After Planned Parenthood Ties Exposed

Dr. Robert Bredt, the medical director for the Texas Medical Board since 2012, has ‘retired’ from his role after his tie to Planned Parenthood was exposed. A recent legal document exposed that Bredt has been working for Planned Parenthood of South Texas Laboratory since 2011, overseeing the operation and administration of the lab.

Jan. 11: Breitbart By Olivia Rondeau

California Utilizing Hundreds Of Inmates To Fight Ongoing L.A. Fires

Over 900 prison inmates are among the more than 7,500 emergency personnel fighting the raging wildfires that are devastating portions of Los Angeles, California, state corrections officials said. “As of today, 939 Fire Camp firefighters have been working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread, including 110 support staff.,” California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) told NPR on Friday.

Though California has been utilizing incarcerated firefighters — and other laborers — for over 100 years, the practice is controversial and has been banned in Colorado, Vermont, Nebraska, Utah, Alabama, Oregon and Tennessee in recent years, according to Jurist News. Inmates in states that allow it, including California, are often paid little to no money for hours of strenuous work, though the U.S. Constitution’s Thirteenth Amendment makes it clear that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude” is legal, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”

According to the CDRC, inmates are part of the fire brigade program voluntarily, and are paid just $5.80 to $10.24 per day, with additional pay being supplied during emergencies.

https://www.breitbart.com/environment/2025/01/11/california-utilizing-hundreds-of-inmates-to-fight-ongoing-l-a-fires/

Jan. 12:  NewsMax By Eric Mack

Former NATO Commander: Adding Greenland ‘Not A Crazy Idea’

President-elect Donald Trump has said the importance of Greenland to national and global security cannot be overstated and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis agreed. “It’s not a crazy idea.  We could do an awful lot in terms of business, investment, box out the Russians, box out the Chinese, and work very closely with Greenland. It sits at the very top of the North Atlantic; it protects approaches to our own country/ It’s geographically very important. It’s full of strategic minerals, rare earth, probably a lot of gold. It’s got a lot of natural resources.”

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/greenland-nato-arctic/2025/01/12/id/1194745/


Michael Hernandez, from California is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at [email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes.”

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