Germany, France Map Medical Plans for NATO‑Russia War Casualties

September 25, 2025

Germany and France are quietly preparing for the grim demands of a large‑scale war with Russia—structuring medical systems to manage thousands of battlefield wounded. Germany expects to treat up to 1,000 wounded troops daily, while France is readying hospitals for 10,000–50,000 casualties by 2026.

Germany’s military is adjusting medical logistics to meet the evolving nature of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine. Surgeon General Ralf Hoffmann warns that drones and rapid strike zones now complicate evacuation. The German plan emphasizes prolonged stabilization at or near the front lines, using hospital trains, buses, and airlift to move injured soldiers to Germany’s civilian hospital network.

Hospitals across Germany may contribute as many as 15,000 beds from a national capacity of about 440,000. Germany’s military medical corps, currently around 15,000 personnel, is slated for expansion to meet potential war demands.

France’s plan runs on a higher scale. The French health ministry has ordered civilian health systems to prepare for tens of thousands of wounded soldiers—including NATO allies—by early 2026. France intends to create regional medical transit centers near major transport hubs, funneling casualties into civilian hospitals once stabilized.

These moves indicate that European NATO members are shifting from theoretical deterrence to operational readiness. Military leaders long warned that conflicts with Russia would be intense, requiring not just weapons but robust casualty care systems. NATO is already coordinating medical evacuation plans across member states.

These preparations underscore a stark reality: NATO states now view a major war with Russia as a credible possibility—and are integrating defense and public health systems accordingly.

Meijer Confronts Biden Official Over Censorship History

September 25, 2025

Former GOP Rep. Peter Meijer directly confronted former Biden administration official Dan Koh during a televised discussion, calling out the administration’s record of pressuring social media companies to censor conservative viewpoints. The exchange centered on the reinstatement of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who had been allegedly suspended for political speech violations. Koh accused Republicans of attempting to silence dissenting voices.

Meijer pushed back, stating that the administration itself had coerced platforms like YouTube and Google into removing content it labeled as “misinformation.” He said hundreds of conservatives were deplatformed due to behind-the-scenes government pressure, often without clear violations of platform policies.

As Koh attempted to position Kimmel as a victim of political censorship, Meijer pointed out that the late-night host remains free to speak, unlike numerous conservative voices removed from platforms under government influence. He also referenced the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, stating that real silencing is occurring, and not from Republicans.

The confrontation highlights growing concern among conservatives that federal agencies have used their power to manipulate public discourse by targeting politically inconvenient speech.

Mets Broadcaster Slams Cubs’ Matt Shaw Over Memorial Absence

September 25, 2025

New York Mets announcer Gary Cohen publicly criticized Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw for skipping a key playoff‑race game to attend the memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Cohen called Shaw’s absence “weird,” saying leaving the team mid‑race “for any reason other than a family emergency” seems unusual.

The Cubs granted Shaw an exemption to miss the Sept. 21 game against the Reds—one they lost 1–0—in order to attend Kirk’s memorial in Arizona. Shaw said he was invited by Kirk’s widow and felt compelled by their personal friendship and shared Christian faith.

Cohen attempted to avoid politicizing his comment, but asserted that the decision was striking simply on its timing. “I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team … really strikes me as weird,” he said. Former MLB player and current broadcaster Todd Zeile, working with Cohen, called Shaw’s absence “unprecedented” and noted that the reason for missing the game was revealed only after it became a story.

Shaw defended his choice. He said he consulted with Cubs management and teammates and got their blessing before traveling to Arizona. He maintained he expected criticism but stood firm: his bond with Kirk was rooted in faith, and he believed attending the service was right.

The incident has sparked debate about where personal conviction conflicts with professional responsibilities, especially in high-stakes sports contexts.

$2.2 B California Solar Plant to Shut Down After Failing to Deliver

September 25, 2025

Solar Fraud Case — Solar Panel (Andreas Gücklhorn/Unsplash)

A $2.2 billion solar facility in California’s Mojave Desert—the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System—is slated to close in 2026 due to persistent inefficiency and cost overruns.

The plant, opened in 2014 with backing from federal loan guarantees amounting to $1.6 billion under the Obama‑era Department of Energy, was designed with three 459‑foot solar towers and nearly 173,500 computer‑controlled mirrors (heliostats) to concentrate sunlight and produce steam. Despite its ambitious scale, it struggled to remain competitive with advancing photovoltaic (PV) solar technology.

Originally expected to operate through 2039, Ivanpah will now shut down more than a decade early. In early 2025, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) reached contract termination deals with the facility’s owners, setting in motion the shutdown process.

Critics argue the plant’s failure underscores systemic problems with government‑subsidized green projects. Its technology was overtaken by simpler, cheaper PV installations, and it required constant supplemental natural gas to maintain operations. In contrast, PV solar has rapidly dropped in cost and increased in efficiency over the past decade.

In practice, Ivanpah was less a success than a cautionary tale of government picking energy winners. Its early collapse reflects the pitfalls of investing heavily in unproven or inflexible technology. The loss also represents a burden on taxpayers and energy ratepayers who subsidized the project.

Trinity Alum Demands College Cut Ties with Conservative Scholar

September 25, 2025

A Trinity College alumnus is urging the school to rescind its invitation to conservative academic Adam Kissel, accusing him of promoting culture war politics rather than serious scholarship. The letter claims Kissel’s work distracts from “real issues” and argues Trinity risks its reputation by associating with him.

Trinity’s student newspaper, the Trinity Tripod, published the letter under the title “Trump’s Backdoor Into Trinity.” The writer contends that Kissel, a Heritage Foundation fellow, entered the faculty with minimal teaching experience and holds degrees in English, American literature, and social thought—qualifications the author deems weak for his assignment teaching “Theory & Philosophy of Markets.”

The author frames Kissel’s presence as part of a broader “culture war frenzy,” accusing him of targeting universities for alleged constitutional violations while ignoring what the letter describes as the current administration’s assaults on civil liberties. The letter also faults him for purported selective outrage—highlighting free speech concerns on campuses but overlooking immigration and visa‑revocation abuses affecting students globally.

Kissel’s critics argue that institutions like Trinity should guard against partisanship and maintain academic integrity. The alumnus asserts that Trinity’s leadership must reconsider the decision to host Kissel before reputational and institutional harm occurs.

The move highlights growing tensions on campuses over which voices are welcome in academic discourse—and whether institutional gatekeepers are upholding neutrality or tilting toward ideological alliances.

Michigan Professor Claims ‘Kirk Was No Friend of Academic Freedom’

September 25, 2025

A University of Michigan faculty leader has publicly rejected the notion that Charlie Kirk supported academic freedom. In a recent message to colleagues, he accused Kirk of targeting professors who hold views outside his conservative agenda—claiming Kirk’s efforts threatened free inquiry.

Professor Derek Peterson, chair of the UMich faculty senate, wrote that Kirk “was no friend of academic freedom.” He pointed to Kirk’s Professor Watchlist project as evidence: the list flags about 20 Michigan faculty members under the charge they promote “anti‑American values.”

Peterson acknowledged that his email aimed to promote “peace and civility,” not condemn Kirk’s character, but insisted that reasonable observers can disagree about his politics even while criticizing his methods.

The Professor Watchlist is a nonprofit initiative under Turning Point USA that publicizes faculty allegedly discriminating against conservatives or pushing leftist ideologies. Peterson argued Kirk’s list operates more as a partisan “hitlist” than a defense of free thought.

After Kirk’s death, tensions flared when some university-affiliated people reportedly mocked or celebrated his assassination. Those incidents drew institutional responses including firings and account reviews.

California Leads U.S. in Unemployment as Businesses Flee High Costs and Regulations

September 24, 2025

Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s repeated boasts about California’s economy ranking fourth in the world, the state is struggling to provide jobs for its residents. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California had the highest unemployment rate in the nation in August at 5.5%, a figure unchanged from July. The Golden State is one of only a handful of states with an unemployment rate above 5%, well above the national average of 4.3%.

By comparison, neighboring western states are doing better: Utah came in at 3.3%, Arizona and New Mexico at 4.1%, and Oregon at 5%. Washington stood at 4.5% while Colorado posted 4.2%.

Dr. Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, says California’s sky-high cost of living, punitive regulations, and aggressive minimum wage laws are driving employers out and stalling job creation. “It’s too costly for companies to hire people here,” Winegarden said. Businesses are increasingly allowing workers to live out of state to avoid the costs of California’s expensive housing and taxes.

One key factor in the job losses is the $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers, which has forced restaurants to lay off staff and shift toward automation. “Those kiosks cost money, and they may not have been worth the expense if you could pay someone less than $20 an hour,” Winegarden explained. Fast food job losses have been significant, with companies like McDonald’s increasingly using touch screens instead of front-line employees.

Additionally, California residents are burdened with the highest gas prices in the country—averaging $4.655 a gallon, compared to the national average of $3.171.

California’s modest job gains—just 3,800 new payroll jobs in August—are largely in the healthcare and retail sectors, driven by an aging population rather than business expansion. Manufacturing, meanwhile, continues to stagnate. High-profile companies have relocated to states like Texas, further weakening job growth.

Winegarden acknowledged California’s ranking as the world’s fourth-largest economy, but pointed out this shift came only because Germany’s economy contracted. “We’re not adding enough jobs,” he warned. “We’re averaging less than 4,000 jobs a month.”

He concluded that California’s economic recovery will require substantial policy reforms, including scaling back minimum wage hikes and slashing burdensome business regulations. He also dismissed tax incentives for Hollywood productions as ineffective. “A better way to win the game is to have an environment where you don’t have to bribe someone to stay,” he said.

Trump Economy Mortgage Rates Drop as Investment Surges

September 24, 2025

The Trump administration is touting a major economic resurgence as a result of its renewed pro-growth, pro-energy, and pro-investment agenda. At a press conference this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted key indicators showing that the U.S. economy is rebounding strongly under President Donald Trump’s leadership—just months after he returned to office.

Leavitt pointed to a significant drop in mortgage rates, with 30-year fixed rates now averaging 6.13%, according to CBS News and Mortgage News Daily. That’s the lowest rate in three years and marks a major reversal from the 7% range seen during much of the Biden administration. “That’s a $250 decline in your monthly mortgage payment, or nearly $3,000 a year,” Leavitt said. Trump, she added, is aiming to push those rates even lower, as was achieved during his first term.

Gas prices have also dropped, thanks in part to Trump’s renewed focus on American energy dominance. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that in 2025, Americans are spending less than 2% of their disposable income on gasoline—down from 2.4% in the prior decade and the lowest share since 2005, excluding pandemic-era figures. “We are producing more energy, paying less for it, and putting American families first,” Leavitt said.

The cost of owning and operating a new vehicle has fallen by nearly 6% over the past year. Meanwhile, retail sales have surged more than 5% from last year, real wages are rising, and blue-collar workers are experiencing the fastest wage growth in six decades. This marks a clear reversal from the inflation-heavy conditions seen under the Biden administration.

Leavitt also spotlighted soaring financial markets, noting that the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq have all reached record highs, boosting the value of Americans’ retirement accounts and investment portfolios.

Foreign and domestic investments in the U.S. have reached historic levels, nearing $9 trillion. That figure includes $1.4 trillion from the United Arab Emirates into American manufacturing, $600 billion from Apple into technology and artificial intelligence, and $500 billion from NVIDIA into similar sectors.

“This is the Trump economy at work—lower costs, higher wages, booming markets, and investment in America,” Leavitt said. The administration sees these gains as evidence that restoring American energy, deregulation, and manufacturing remain the key to long-term economic strength.

Trump UN Escalator Security Breach Sparks Investigation

September 24, 2025

Capital One — Donald Trump with Melania Trump and Barron Trump (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

The White House is calling for an immediate investigation after a reported security breach at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning, where an escalator carrying President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump suddenly stopped while they were ascending. The incident, which took place in a heavily secured area of the UN building, has raised serious concerns within the Secret Service and the administration about potential intentional interference by UN personnel.

According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, two escalators were operating to transport dignitaries to the next level of the UN building. As First Lady Melania stepped onto the left escalator, it continued moving. President Trump followed moments later, but the escalator abruptly stopped once he stepped on. The right escalator remained operational throughout the incident. The First Lady, followed by the President and their security detail, quickly adapted and walked up the halted escalator stairs.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement shortly after, demanding swift accountability if any intentional action was taken by United Nations staff to disrupt the President’s movement. “If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt confirmed that the U.S. Secret Service is investigating the event. RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree cited sources within the Secret Service community who described the incident as highly concerning, especially given the recent July 13 attempt on President Trump’s life where he was grazed by a bullet. “President Trump was stalled and vulnerable,” one source reportedly said.

The growing alarm within security circles reflects fears that such breaches—whether acts of negligence or intentional sabotage—expose the President to undue risk, especially in high-profile international venues like the United Nations. The fact that only one of the two escalators stopped, and at the precise moment Trump stepped on, has fueled speculation that the incident was more than a mechanical glitch.

Leavitt emphasized that accountability is non-negotiable. “If we find that these were UN staffers who were purposefully trying to trip up President Trump and FLOTUS, well, there better be accountability for those people,” she stated.

The United Nations has not yet responded to requests for comment on the escalator stoppage or whether internal staff had access to override controls. The situation continues to develop as security officials assess whether the incident was an act of sabotage or a technical failure.

Washington Conservative Initiative Signature Theft Sparks Outrage

September 24, 2025

washington dc — Vlad Tchompalov/Unsplash

Signature gatherers for Let’s Go Washington (LGW), a conservative political action committee backing initiatives on parental rights and protections for girls in sports, faced a series of coordinated attacks this week, according to LGW officials. Within just two days of launching their campaigns, gatherers reported theft, intimidation, and threats in at least three separate incidents across Washington.

“This all happened within the last day,” said LGW Communications Manager Hallie Balch, calling the situation “incredibly disturbing.” The group, founded by entrepreneur Brian Heywood, is pushing forward with two initiatives focused on family and female athlete protections. But those efforts have quickly become the target of aggressive opposition.

In Clark County, a store manager allegedly blocked gatherers using shopping carts and actively discouraged customers from signing the petitions. In Tacoma, an individual pretended to sign but instead defaced completed signature sheets, while an accomplice threatened the gatherer with violence if she didn’t leave the Walmart premises. In Bonney Lake, thieves stole eight completed signature sheets and fled into nearby woods. Surveillance footage has been provided to police.

Heywood condemned the incidents on social media, accusing opponents of using “intimidation, vandalism, violent threats, and theft” to suppress voter engagement. Washington Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh echoed those concerns, saying the disruptors exhibited behavior consistent with “professional agitators,” not grassroots opponents.

Balch emphasized that the targeted harassment isn’t just about stolen paperwork — it puts signers’ private information at risk. “Best case scenario: They just destroy it. Worst case: They hunt these people down,” she warned.

Despite the threats, public support for LGW’s initiatives appears to be growing. “We’re getting all these people saying, ‘Just send it to me and I’ll collect signatures on my own,’” said Balch. “We’re going to get these signatures no matter what they try to throw at us.”

Balch called on state leaders — including the attorney general, secretary of state, and governor — to uphold democracy and protect voters’ rights. As of Tuesday, LGW had received no response from any of those offices.

Washington’s Director of External Affairs for the Secretary of State’s Office, Charlie Boisner, acknowledged that the state has laws to protect voters and the signature-gathering process, but did not specify if enforcement actions were underway.

The initiative campaigns are continuing, but the PAC has confirmed that it is working closely with law enforcement and considering further action to ensure the safety and integrity of the democratic process.