Ryan Mueller
The Latest
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Bradley Under Fire: Second Strike on Venezuelan Survivors Sparks Legal Crisis and Political Fallout
A U.S. naval operation off the coast of Venezuela has escalated into a high-stakes legal and political crisis as Admiral Frank Bradley faces mounting scrutiny for authorizing a second strike on survivors of a disabled vessel on 2 September. 
A U.S. naval operation off the coast of Venezuela has escalated into a high-stakes legal and political crisis as Admiral Frank Bradley faces mounting scrutiny for authorizing a second strike on survivors of a disabled vessel on 2 September. -
Student Loans Alert: Major Rule Shifts Coming in 2026, Analysts Say ‘Prepare for Added Costs’
A sweeping overhaul of federal student lending under President Donald Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is set to reshape how millions of students finance higher education beginning in 2026, prompting warnings from policy analysts that borrowers should prepare for higher debt burdens and reduced access to federal aid. The Department of Education's changes, which affect loan limits, repayment structures and eligibility for forgiveness, represent the largest restructuring of the federal loan system in more than a decade. 
A sweeping overhaul of federal student lending under President Donald Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is set to reshape how millions of students finance higher education beginning in 2026, prompting warnings from policy analysts that borrowers should prepare for higher debt burdens and reduced access to federal aid. The Department of Education's changes, which affect loan limits, repayment structures and eligibility for forgiveness, represent the largest restructuring of the federal loan system in more than a decade. -
Data Review Undercuts Claims of 1,000% Surge in ICE Officer Assaults as Noem’s Tactics Face Scrutiny
A new analysis of federal court filings is challenging claims by the Trump administration and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have surged by more than 1,000%, reframing the debate over whether public violence is rising or whether enforcement tactics themselves are escalating confrontations. 
A new analysis of federal court filings is challenging claims by the Trump administration and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have surged by more than 1,000%, reframing the debate over whether public violence is rising or whether enforcement tactics themselves are escalating confrontations. -
Trump Rallies Behind Hegseth as War-Crimes Inquiry Expands Into Formal Congressional Review
President Donald Trump has begun publicly shaping the narrative around allegations facing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, using a series of remarks and posts to suggest the controversy is politically motivated while placing growing responsibility on Hegseth himself. The strategy follows a Washington Post report alleging that Hegseth ordered U.S. forces to "kill everybody" aboard a vessel during a Sept. 2 maritime operation in the Caribbean-an account the Pentagon has denied and which has triggered congressional oversight. 
President Donald Trump has begun publicly shaping the narrative around allegations facing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, using a series of remarks and posts to suggest the controversy is politically motivated while placing growing responsibility on Hegseth himself. The strategy follows a Washington Post report alleging that Hegseth ordered U.S. forces to "kill everybody" aboard a vessel during a Sept. 2 maritime operation in the Caribbean-an account the Pentagon has denied and which has triggered congressional oversight. -
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.
