Ryan Mueller
The Latest
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Congress Opens Bipartisan Probe Into Alleged Hegseth-Ordered Killings in Caribbean Strike
Congressional leaders have launched a rare bipartisan investigation into allegations that former Acting Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed U.S. forces to carry out what national-security lawyers say could constitute war crimes during a September maritime strike in the Caribbean. 
Congressional leaders have launched a rare bipartisan investigation into allegations that former Acting Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed U.S. forces to carry out what national-security lawyers say could constitute war crimes during a September maritime strike in the Caribbean. -
Trump’s $2,000 Stimulus Plan Faces Major Revenue Gap, Making Payments Before 2026 ‘Highly Unlikely’
Talk of a new $2,000 federal stimulus check has accelerated across social media in recent weeks as President Donald Trump continues promoting what he calls a future "tariff dividend." But neither the Internal Revenue Service nor Congress has approved any such payments, and budget analysts say the proposal faces steep legislative and financial hurdles. Despite widespread speculation that Americans could see new direct payments in 2025, there is no federal program in motion, and experts warn the rumors are creating space for misinformation and fraud. 
Talk of a new $2,000 federal stimulus check has accelerated across social media in recent weeks as President Donald Trump continues promoting what he calls a future "tariff dividend." But neither the Internal Revenue Service nor Congress has approved any such payments, and budget analysts say the proposal faces steep legislative and financial hurdles. Despite widespread speculation that Americans could see new direct payments in 2025, there is no federal program in motion, and experts warn the rumors are creating space for misinformation and fraud. -
Trump Pledges ‘Full and Complete’ Pardon for Hernández as Honduras Vote Nears, Presses Voters to Back Asfura
President Donald Trump said he intends to issue a "full and complete pardon" to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker serving a 45-year sentence in the United States, while tying future U.S. financial support for Honduras to the outcome of the country's upcoming presidential election. The announcement, posted on Truth Social days before Hondurans vote, also included Trump's endorsement of conservative candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura. 
President Donald Trump said he intends to issue a "full and complete pardon" to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker serving a 45-year sentence in the United States, while tying future U.S. financial support for Honduras to the outcome of the country's upcoming presidential election. The announcement, posted on Truth Social days before Hondurans vote, also included Trump's endorsement of conservative candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura. -
Trump Clashes With Reporter Over Afghan Vetting, Calls Journalist ‘A Stupid Person’ During White House Exchange
President Donald Trump reignited tensions with the press on Wednesday after berating a journalist who questioned his claims about the vetting of an Afghan national accused in the fatal shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The confrontation unfolded during a press conference on November 27, intensifying scrutiny of the administration's response to the attack and its renewed push for sweeping immigration restrictions. 
President Donald Trump reignited tensions with the press on Wednesday after berating a journalist who questioned his claims about the vetting of an Afghan national accused in the fatal shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The confrontation unfolded during a press conference on November 27, intensifying scrutiny of the administration's response to the attack and its renewed push for sweeping immigration restrictions. -
NASA Faces Backlash Over Blurry 3I/ATLAS Images as UN Launches Global Planetary-Defense Drill
International scrutiny intensified this week as NASA faced criticism over its blurry images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, just as the United Nations activated a global planetary-defense drill tracking the visitor's approach to Earth. The object, discovered July 1 by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, will reach its closest distance on December 19, passing roughly 170 million miles from Earth. The UN's International Asteroid Warning Network, or IAWN, has launched a two-month exercise to test detection and response systems in what officials describe as a major practice scenario. 
International scrutiny intensified this week as NASA faced criticism over its blurry images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, just as the United Nations activated a global planetary-defense drill tracking the visitor's approach to Earth. The object, discovered July 1 by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, will reach its closest distance on December 19, passing roughly 170 million miles from Earth. The UN's International Asteroid Warning Network, or IAWN, has launched a two-month exercise to test detection and response systems in what officials describe as a major practice scenario. -
Transcript Shows U.S. Envoy Coaching Russia on Praise Strategy as 28-Point Ukraine Plan Emerges
A leaked diplomatic transcript has ignited controversy in Washington after revealing that a senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump coached Russian officials on how to flatter the president while pushing a contentious peace plan for Ukraine. The document, obtained by Bloomberg News, details a 14 October conversation in which Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, advised top Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov on rhetoric that could influence Trump's posture on negotiations. 
A leaked diplomatic transcript has ignited controversy in Washington after revealing that a senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump coached Russian officials on how to flatter the president while pushing a contentious peace plan for Ukraine. The document, obtained by Bloomberg News, details a 14 October conversation in which Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, advised top Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov on rhetoric that could influence Trump's posture on negotiations. -
DHS Denial Fails to Calm X Users After Viral Nov. 20 Screenshot Claims Agency Was 'Created in Israel'
Confusion over the origins of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official account on X escalated into a weekend-long controversy, after users claimed the platform's new location-tracking feature briefly listed DHS as "based in Israel." The episode unfolded as X struggled to stabilize the rollout of its "About this account" tool, which shows a user's country of activity and was first spotted by users on Nov. 20. 
Confusion over the origins of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official account on X escalated into a weekend-long controversy, after users claimed the platform's new location-tracking feature briefly listed DHS as "based in Israel." The episode unfolded as X struggled to stabilize the rollout of its "About this account" tool, which shows a user's country of activity and was first spotted by users on Nov. 20. -
Whistleblower Says Ghislaine Maxwell Gets 'Cuddle' Sessions With Prison Dog, Fueling New Scrutiny
Ghislaine Maxwell's incarceration has drawn renewed scrutiny after a Bureau of Prisons whistleblower alleged she is receiving privileges not afforded to other federal inmates, including opportunities to "cuddle" with a prison service dog. The claims surfaced following Maxwell's transfer from a Florida detention center to the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, and have prompted new debate about whether her high-profile status continues to influence her treatment. 
Ghislaine Maxwell's incarceration has drawn renewed scrutiny after a Bureau of Prisons whistleblower alleged she is receiving privileges not afforded to other federal inmates, including opportunities to "cuddle" with a prison service dog. The claims surfaced following Maxwell's transfer from a Florida detention center to the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, and have prompted new debate about whether her high-profile status continues to influence her treatment. -
Trump Faces Backlash After Calling Reporter 'Quiet, Quiet Piggy' During Air Force One Exchange
President Donald Trump's exchange with a Bloomberg reporter aboard Air Force One has triggered renewed scrutiny of his treatment of women, after he responded to a question about newly released Jeffrey Epstein files by telling her, "quiet, quiet piggy." President Donald Trump's exchange with a Bloomberg reporter aboard Air Force One has triggered renewed scrutiny of his treatment of women, after he responded to a question about newly released Jeffrey Epstein files by telling her, "quiet, quiet piggy." -
NYC Policing: Mamdani Reaffirms 35,000-Officer Force in High-Stakes White House Meeting
New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's first Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump turned into an unusual political moment Friday, as the two men publicly navigated past attacks while outlining areas of potential cooperation on affordability and public safety. The exchange, which included Trump interrupting a reporter's question about whether Mamdani still believed he was a "fascist," quickly became one of the most discussed political clips of the week. 
New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's first Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump turned into an unusual political moment Friday, as the two men publicly navigated past attacks while outlining areas of potential cooperation on affordability and public safety. The exchange, which included Trump interrupting a reporter's question about whether Mamdani still believed he was a "fascist," quickly became one of the most discussed political clips of the week.
