Alina Habba Resigns as US Attorney, Blames ‘Politicized’ Courts

 https://www.newsweek.com/alina-habba-resigns-us-attorney-new-jersey-11175799

President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Alina Habba, said Monday she is resigning as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, ending her effort to remain in the post after a federal appeals court ruled she had been serving unlawfully.

Habba, 41, rose to prominence as one of Trump’s most outspoken legal defenders during his four years out of office, representing him in civil cases and appearing regularly on cable news as his “legal spokesperson.” Despite her public profile, she had limited federal prosecutorial experience before her appointment to the powerful New Jersey post, which oversees federal criminal and civil enforcement across the state.

"JUST MURDER!" Veteran SLAMS Hegseth's excuses for boat strikes

The Incompetence Undermining Trump’s Agenda

Dem rep: ‘Pretty clear’ Trump administration does not want boat strike video released

 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5637591-adam-smith-trump-administration-drug-boat-video/?tbref=hp

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said Sunday it is “pretty clear” that the Trump administration does not want to release video of a second strike on an alleged drug boat in September. 

“If they release the video, then everything that the Republicans are saying would clearly be betrayed to be completely false,” Smith added.

Pete Hegseth speaks amid fallout on boat strikes

‘Relax’ is not a winning economic message

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/12/06/economy-consumers-affordability-vance-johnson/

Republicans have a holiday message for cash-strapped Americans: chill out.

“Relax,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) advised on Thursday, assuring voters they will feel better once provisions from the Big Beautiful Bill kick in next year. “We are exactly on the trajectory of where we’ve always planned to be. Steady at the wheel, everybody. It’s gonna be fine."

There’s nothing as soothing as being told to calm down when you’re struggling to pay for groceries, let alone Christmas presents.

Consumers don’t see it that way. Gallup said Thursday that its Economic Confidence Index has slipped seven points to -30, its lowest reading in 17 months. Consumers estimate they will spend an average of $778 on holiday presents, down from $1,012 at this point last year. Growing numbers are using buy now, pay later services, another indication people feel strapped for cash. Data released Wednesday by ADP showed an unexpected drop in private payrolls by 32,000 last month.

Report Double-Strike Vessel Was Not Bound for U.S. Sparks Reactions Online

 https://www.newsweek.com/report-double-strike-vessel-was-not-bound-for-u-s-sparks-reactions-online-11166875+

In September, U.S. forces struck a vessel in the Caribbean suspected of transporting narcotics. According to CNN, Bradley, who oversaw the operation, told lawmakers that the allegedly drug-laden boat was preparing to rendezvous with a larger vessel destined for Suriname, not directly to the United States. Intelligence suggested plans to transfer drugs midsea, CNN reports.

Bradley maintained in his congressional briefing that there was still a "possibility the drug shipment could have ultimately made its way from Suriname to the U.S," CNN reports, citing sources. The thought "justified" striking the smaller boat. The outlet reports that the U.S. military "was unable to locate" the larger vessel.

Trump: Military 'won't refuse' my orders

 https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/donald-trump-military-orders-republican-debate-220234

Donald Trump says he would have no problem getting the United States military to execute his orders, even ones that might be illegal under international law.

"If I say do it, they're gonna do it," Trump said. "That's what leadership is all about."

Former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden said last Friday that if a President Trump were to order the killing of terrorists' families, as he has said he would do, the military would be obliged to disobey.

Asked what he would do if the military disobeyed, Trump seemed to think that would not be an issue.

"They're not gonna refuse me. Believe me," Trump said, remarking that in the Middle East, "they're chopping off the heads of Christians and anybody else that happens to be in the way" and that waterboarding terror suspects would be acceptable. Trump then went on to hit Ted Cruz for vacillating on torture in past debates.

In explaining why killing the families of terrorists would be justified, Trump referred to the families of the 9/11 hijackers. "They knew what was happening. The wife knew exactly what was happening," Trump said.

Hegseth want to legalize war crimes

Hegseth is lying

'Trump is trying to silence me': Sen. Mark Kelly speaks out about Trump and Hegseth's threats

Grand jury refuses to reindict Letitia James in mortgage fraud case

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/04/letitia-james-reindictment-trump/

The refusal by a grand jury in Norfolk was an unusual event — grand juries seldom reject a prosecutor’s case. It marks a major defeat for President Donald Trump, who has made a priority of prosecuting James, a longtime foe. As New York attorney general, James brought a civil fraud case against Trump and his real estate empire, which resulted in a verdict that Trump and others in his company had committed fraud.

Trump is fighting the Institute of Peace in court. Now, his name is on the building

 https://apnews.com/article/trump-institute-of-peace-6545c0101a02b677359f2732b019bf6a

 The Trump administration has renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace after President Donald Trump and has planted the president’s name on the organization’s headquarters despite an ongoing fight over the institute’s control.

It’s the latest twist in a seesaw court battle over who controls the U.S. Institute of Peace, a nonprofit think tank that focuse

On Wednesday, the State Department said it renamed the organization to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.” The new name could be seen on its building, which is near the State Department.

Watchdog finds Hegseth violated Pentagon protocol in ‘Signalgate’ affair

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/03/hegseth-signalgate-inspector-general-report/

The inspector general inquiry centers on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the unclassified commercial messaging app to share highly sensitive U.S. attack plans.

The Pentagon’s top independent watchdog has determined that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated security protocols and endangered U.S. troops and objectives by using a personal device to share sensitive operational details on the unclassified messaging app Signal, according to people familiar with the findings in a forthcoming report.