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FBI Thwarts ISIS-Linked Plot

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The FBI foiled an ISIS-linked terror attack on New Year’s Eve. A North Carolina man allegedly intended to use knives and hammers to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant in support of ISIS.

In early December, Christian Sturdivant, 18, shared an image on social media depicting Jesus with text that read, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” Sturdivant later began communicating with an undercover employee whom Sturdivant believed was a member of ISIS. During these communications, Sturdivant said, “I will do jihad soon,” and declared he was “a soldier of the state.”

“On Dec. 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife,” the Department of Justice explained in a news release. “This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISIS’s propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries.”

“The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “The message from the FBI is clear — anyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system.”

In September, a New York man was sentenced to 108 months in prison after he attempted to provide support to ISIS and plot an attack. Court documents explain that Awais Chudhary, 25, pledged allegiance to ISIS’s then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and began to plan a knife or bomb attack. He sought to carry out the attack at specific locations such as pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway and the Flushing Bay Promenade.

Maduro Open to U.S. Talks

Maduro
(Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he is open to discussions with the United States surrounding drug trafficking.

In an interview with journalist Ignacio Ramone, Maduro said of the U.S. government, “What are they seeking? It is clear that they seek to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force.”

“The U.S. government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready,” he added. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”

In December, Maduro issued a letter to leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean, condemning the United States for what it claims is “state piracy” and accusing it of engaging in “extremely serious aggression.”

The letter warned of the “escalation of extremely serious aggression by the Government of the United States of America, the effects of which transcend my country’s borders and threaten to destabilize the entire region and the international system as a whole.” Maduro added that the U.S. military’s presence in the waters is a “direct threat.”

The Venezuelan leader went on to compare the United States’ military presence to the rise of Nazism. “In the 1930s, the silence and passivity of the international community in the face of the rise of Nazism led to an unprecedented human tragedy: the Holocaust and a world war,” the letter read. “Today, historical differences aside, the logic is the same: if the unilateral use of force, the execution of civilians, piracy, and the plundering of sovereign states’ resources are tolerated, the world is headed toward a scenario of global confrontation of unpredictable proportions.”

Venezuela has also arrested American citizens as President Trump escalates pressure on the country.

SBA Suspends Thousands Amid Minnesota Loan Fraud

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The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it has suspended thousands of Minnesota borrowers after uncovering widespread fraud.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler wrote on X that the agency “reviewed thousands of potentially fraudulent pandemic-era PPP and EIDL loans approved in Minnesota.” The agency then “took action to suspend 6,900 Minnesota borrowers amid suspected fraudulent activity.” The borrowers were approved for 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans worth an estimated $400M.

“These individuals will be banned from all SBA loan programs, including disaster loans, going forward. We will also refer every case, where appropriate, to federal law enforcement for prosecution and repayment,” Loeffler added. “After years, the American people will finally begin to see the criminals who stole from law-abiding taxpayers held accountable – and this is just the first state.”

The SBA administrator sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) in December, stating that the agency was “halting the disbursement of federal funds to SBA resource partners operating in the state of Minnesota, totaling over $5.5 million in annual support.”

Loeffler explained in the letter that the state “became the epicenter of the largest fraud scandal of the pandemic, and recent indictments and convictions indicate that fraud is endemic to the state-administered welfare programs in your state.” She added that the “volume and concentration of potential fraud is staggering, matched in its egregiousness only by your response to those who attempted to stop it.”

The Department of Health and Human Services has also frozen federal child care payments to Minnesota amid a widespread fraud scandal hitting the state. HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill announced the move on social media, writing, “We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade.”

Argentina Creates Bloc Targeting Socialism

Javier Milei
(Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images)

President of Argentina Javier Milei announced that he is working toward creating a ten-country bloc to combat socialism.

“Is a new bloc of pro free-market countries being formed?” a reporter asked Milei, who responded, “Well, it seems that our region has awakened from the nightmare of 21st-century socialism. People are discovering that it is indeed a farce.” He noted that socialism’s “well-intended veneer is nothing but a maudlin, lying, misleading story so that a group of outlaws can take the power and impoverish the people.”

Upon being asked further about the block, Milei stated, “We haven’t named it yet, but there is already a group of ten countries working on it, and we will continue to move forward,” Milei said. “We are trying to form a bloc, in which our proposal is to embrace the ideas of freedom and stand up to the cancer of socialism in its various forms, whether it be socialism of the 21st century socialism or wokeism, not to mention the more extreme versions.”

Sources told local newspaper La Nación that several countries have “already signed joint statements in relation not only to criticism of Chavismo in Venezuela, but also to support the actions of the United States in the Caribbean Sea and the elections in Honduras, resolved in favor of Asfura, the Washington candidate.”

Argentina is “enthusiastic” about the increase of criticism towards socialism, the report noted.

In November, Milei invited New Yorkers to relocate to Argentina to flee Mamdani’s New York City. “I would like to dedicate these words especially to New Yorkers,” he said. “You will now live under a communist government. Know that if things get complicated, you will always be well received on our land if you seek to prosper.”

Purple State Bans Sanctuary Cities

New Hampshire
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New Hampshire’s law banning sanctuary cities has taken effect. Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the bill in May.

“As of today, sanctuary cities are officially banned in New Hampshire,” Ayotte said in a statement. “We will never go the way of Massachusetts and their billion-dollar illegal immigration crisis.”

Under HB 511, law enforcement agencies are required to comply with immigration detainers “if safe to do so and prohibits state and local government entities from adopting sanctuary policies to prohibit or impede the enforcement of federal immigration law.” Law enforcement groups may not investigate an inmate’s citizenship status unless it is connected to a violation of New Hampshire law.

SB 62 prohibits the impediment of law enforcement agencies from “applying for entry or entering into an agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in a federal 287(g) program pursuant to 8 U.S.C. section 1357(g).”

“I said from the beginning that we won’t let our state go the way of Massachusetts and their billion-dollar illegal immigrant crisis,” Ayotte said upon signing the bills, adding, “New Hampshire will never be a sanctuary for criminals, and we will keep working every day to remain the safest state in the nation.”

Earlier this year, the Justice Department published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions in the United States, threatening legal action against the cities unless they comply with federal immigration law. States listed include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. The DOJ further listed several counties and cities across the country impeding federal immigration enforcement actions.

Trump Threatens Iran as Protests Escalate

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President Trump vowed to assist protesters as unrest continues in Iran, warning that the U.S. will take action if protesters are killed.

“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP”

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s national security council, wrote in response to the threat, “With the statements by Israeli officials and @realDonaldTrump, what has been going on behind the scenes is now clear. We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors, and Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests. The American people should know — Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian similarly noted that the “response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any oppressive aggression will be harsh and regrettable.”

Iranian protests stem from the currency collapse. Several protesters were killed this week, and numerous others have been arrested. According to the Associated Press, Iran’s rial dropped to 1.42 million to the dollar on Sunday. The report indicates that the protests are the largest since 2022.

Protesters in multiple locations chanted slogans including “Death to the dictator,” with some demanding the resignation of Iran’s political leadership amid severe economic hardships, American Faith reported. Tehran shopkeepers and business owners joined national strikes, shuttering shops in protest of economic instability.

Mamdani Pledges to Implement Socialist Agenda

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to implement his socialist agenda on January 1.

“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism. If our campaign demonstrated that the people of New York yearn for solidarity, then let this government foster it,” Mamdani said, adding, “Because no matter what you eat, how you pray or where you come from, the words that most define us are the two we all share, New Yorkers.”

He went on to vow to increase the government. “To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this: No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorker’s lives,” Mamdani said.

“I was elected as a Democratic socialist, and I will govern as a Democratic socialist,” he went on to declare. Mamdani drew upon ideas from Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), stating, “As the great Senator from Vermont once said, ‘What’s radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life.'”

Mamdani’s first executive order revoked those issued by former Mayor Eric Adams on or after September 26, 2024. The second executive order established several deputy mayors, including one for housing and planning, economic justice, operations, and health and human services.

The democratic socialist was the first New York City mayor to be sworn in on a Quran. According to The New York Times, three Qurans were used.

“It’s a highly symbolic choice because we’re about to have a Muslim mayor swearing in using the Quran but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda,” Hiba Abid, a library curator from which one of the Qurans is housed, said. “It really brings together here elements of faith, identity and New York history.”

Medicare’s Drug Price Bombshell, 79% Cuts Hit Big Pharma

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Drugs (freestocks/Unsplash)

Negotiated lower costs for 10 widely used prescription drugs under Medicare went into effect Thursday, marking the first implementation of price limits authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The changes cap what drug manufacturers can charge Medicare plans for select medications, but it remains unclear how much of those savings will flow directly to Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage enrollees, given the complexity and opacity of drug pricing and reimbursement.

Under the law, the Department of Health and Human Services was required to negotiate maximum fair prices for 10 popular prescription drugs each year, beginning in 2026. Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first set of negotiated maximum prices, with reductions ranging from 38% to 79% below the drugs’ listed prices. List prices represent manufacturers’ sticker prices, but actual costs paid by insurers and patients are often different due to rebates, discounts, and other adjustments.

The 10 drugs covered by the initial negotiation round include medications used to prevent blood clots, treat diabetes, autoimmune conditions, blood cancers, and heart failure. They are: Eliquis, Enbrel, Entresto, Farxiga, Imbruvica, Januvia, Jardiance, NovoLog/Fiasp insulin, Stelara, and Xarelto.

Among the negotiated price changes, the blood thinner Eliquis — the most widely used drug on the list, with nearly 4 million Medicare Part D users in 2023 — saw its maximum price cut by 56%. The listed price for a 30-day supply dropped from $521 to $231 under the new negotiation.

Januvia, a diabetes medication, experienced the largest percentage reduction, with its list price falling from $527 to $113 for a month’s supply. Insulin products Fiasp and NovoLog, both manufactured by Novo Nordisk, saw their listed prices slashed by 76%, from $495 to $119 per month.

Imbruvica, a treatment for certain blood cancers used by about 17,000 Part D enrollees in 2023, saw the smallest negotiated reduction. Its list price dropped from $14,934 to $9,319 per month, a 38% decrease.

Whether Medicare beneficiaries see meaningful savings depends largely on the specific Part D or Medicare Advantage plan in which they are enrolled. Although all Part D plans and Advantage plans that include drug coverage are required to cover the 10 negotiated medications, out‑of‑pocket costs and benefit designs vary by insurer.

The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is designed to reduce overall Medicare spending on prescription drugs and strengthen the long‑term financial stability of the program. As the policy continues to roll out, patients and lawmakers alike will be watching to see how effectively negotiated savings translate into lower costs at the pharmacy counter.

Washington Tax Rollback Bills Could Save Piano Teachers

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State Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, has introduced two bills aimed at reversing tax hikes recently enacted by Democrat lawmakers in Washington. The proposed legislation targets controversial taxes that Dufault says unfairly impact everyday Washingtonians, including piano teachers, CPR instructors, and small bullion dealers.

The first measure, House Bill 2101, seeks to exempt live presentations from the state’s retail sales and use tax, as well as roll back a business and occupation (B&O) tax expansion that penalizes instructors teaching small groups.

“Under the new rules, if you teach one person at a time, you’re exempt from B&O tax,” Dufault explained. “But if you teach a group — like a piano class or CPR session — you’re suddenly hit with a new tax burden. That’s punishing people who are providing essential services to our communities.”

According to Dufault, the tax changes passed earlier in 2025 caught many off guard, including food banks, nonprofits, and local educators. “There was no consideration for how these changes would hurt regular people trying to make a difference,” he said.

The second proposal, House Bill 2093, would reinstate sales tax exemptions for purchases of gold and silver bullion, which have historically been treated as investment assets.

“Idaho and Oregon don’t tax bullion,” Dufault noted. “If we don’t reverse this, Washington’s coin shops will be wiped out as people simply take their business across state lines. This is about protecting small businesses and respecting the nature of investment purchases.”

Despite Democrat control of the legislature, Dufault hopes the bills will gain traction during the 2026 session, though he acknowledges the focus may shift to a proposed “wealth tax” targeting those with incomes over $1 million.

Dufault warned, “If people think this won’t trickle down, they’re wrong. Federal income taxes started the same way — now two-thirds of Americans pay them. If an income tax is passed here, it won’t stop at millionaires. It’ll hit everyone.”

Hollywood Massacre, 17,000 Jobs Wiped Out in 2025

hollywood sign
(Ahmet Yalçınkaya/Unsplash)

Hollywood’s film, television, streaming, and news industries suffered massive job losses in 2025 as the media’s decline accelerated, costing tens of thousands of workers their livelihoods. According to The Wrap, the entertainment sector shed up to 17,000 positions last year — an 18 percent increase in layoffs compared with 2024 — underscoring the industry’s shrinking influence and economic footprint.

News divisions across broadcast, cable, digital, and streaming lost approximately 2,254 jobs through November 2025. While that figure was lower than the more than 4,500 cuts seen in 2024, the broader trend points to continued contraction. Industry leaders attributed layoffs largely to corporate restructuring and consolidation as major media companies seek to streamline operations amid falling revenues and shifting audience habits.

Merger activity marked the year as well. The Federal Communications Commission approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, while Warner Bros. Discovery moved closer to a pending sale expected to reshape its workforce. Even Disney, which has largely resisted the scale of layoffs seen elsewhere, continued trimming staff across divisions.

Many analysts say artificial intelligence played a central role in the employment downturn. A World Economic Forum report predicts that 41 percent of companies globally plan layoffs over the next five years as AI displaces human labor. Hollywood has already felt the effects; one June report estimated up to 200,000 jobs may be lost or never created due to AI’s impact on content production and distribution. The Wrap noted that AI‑related cuts totaled about 71,000 in 2025.

Paramount led industry layoffs, shedding around 2,000 employees. Other companies felt the pain too: Comcast’s Versant cable division eliminated 150 jobs (roughly seven percent of its workforce), and Disney cut nearly 800 positions worldwide. Warner Bros. saw modest cuts of about 100 in 2025, but analysts warn layoffs could soar — potentially up to 6,000 — once its acquisition is finalized.

Los Angeles’ film industry also continued its decline. By the end of 2024, Hollywood had already lost 100,000 jobs — a 30 percent drop — as productions moved to other states, Canada, Mexico, or overseas. By April 2025, Los Angeles ranked just sixth in film and TV production activity. Deadline reported that the downturn persisted through the third quarter.

Traditional media faced similar challenges. Dotdash Meredith slashed 143 jobs, and after rebranding to People Inc. cut another 226. The Washington Post reduced staff by four percent, CNN eliminated 200 positions, PBS laid off 15 percent of its workforce, and CBS News canceled digital ventures while cutting positions. Business Insider cut 21 percent of its staff, and outlets including Variety, Rolling Stone, and Billboard also reported layoffs.

With economic pressures mounting and technology reshaping the landscape, media job losses show no sign of slowing as the industry enters 2026.

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