In October 2020, the officials released a statement asserting that the New York Post’s reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” The letter, which did not provide new evidence, claimed their experience in national security led them to be “deeply suspicious” of Russia’s alleged involvement in the matter.

After this letter, no evidence came to light proving the claims that the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation. However, due to the warnings by intelligence officials at the time, social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook suppressed the story leading up to the 2020 election.

The suspension of security clearances is part of Trump’s broader plan to address what he perceives as corruption within the intelligence community. It also coincides with Trump’s selection of Kash Patel as FBI director. Patel, a staunch ally of Trump, has been vocal about the need for reform within federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Lee strongly denounced Thao, albeit not by name, after the indictment’s announcement.

The allegations contained in the criminal indictment are devastating.  There should be no tolerance whatsoever for secret pay to play schemes that erode the public trust. Oaklanders expect and deserve leaders who have only one agenda—honest, accountable leadership that serves the…

— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLee_CA) January 17, 2025

Exactly how electing someone who represented Oakland for 27 years constitutes a fresh start remains unexplained.

It bears mention that Lee strongly opposed Thao’s recall. […]

— Read More: redstate.com

Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now

A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.

We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!

Reports indicated the ban would initially only prevent new users from downloading the app, but TikTok chose to fully brick the app well ahead of schedule. This adds to the pressure put on President Donald Trump, who has indicated he’d consider a 90-day extension before enforcing the ban to allow the Chinese company time to find an American buyer.

The biggest goal for TikTok to pull the plug early and go completely dark was to stay at the top of the news cycle before the Inauguration. They wanted Sunday shows to talk about them instead of unrelated topics like Joe Biden’s legacy or the Inauguration itself.

It may work. Their choice of words about being “fortunate” because of Trump could push the President closer to helping them. With 170 million users who have the opportunity to see the message, it positions Trump to be their hero. Considering most TikTok users are young and left-leaning, this could be seen as a “unifying” moment in the early days of Trump’s presidency.

President-elect Trump will use his Bible, which was given to him by his mother, and the Lincoln Bible. In 1955, he received this Bible to mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation at First Presbyterian Church, in Jamaica, New York.

The Bible is a 1953 revised standard version published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in New York and is embossed with his name on the lower portion of the front cover. The inside cover is signed by church officials and inscribed with the President’s name and details of when it was presented.

In addition to President Trump’s Bible, the Lincoln Bible will be used for this historic ceremony. The Lincoln Bible was first used on March 4, 1861, for the swearing-in of the 16th president. It has only been used three times since, by President Obama at each of his inaugurations and by President Trump at his first inauguration in 2017. The burgundy velvet-bound book is part of the collections of the Library of Congress.

The Vice President-elect will use a family Bible that belonged to his maternal great-grandmother. His “Mamaw” Bonnie presented it to him on September 22, 2003, the day he left home for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Paris Island, South Carolina. The Bible is a King James Version published by Thomas Nelson and Sons.

The controversy came to light just weeks before devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles County, raising questions about the city’s leadership and emergency preparedness. Williams, who was appointed by Bass in February 2023, has significant responsibilities, including oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department, Fire Department, and emergency management.

The FBI’s search of Williams’ Pasadena residence in mid-December was part of an investigation into a bomb threat he allegedly made earlier in the year. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) initially investigated but handed the case to the FBI due to Williams’ close ties with local law enforcement.

Despite the severity of the allegations, Williams has not been arrested or charged. His attorney, Dmitry Gorin, has publicly stated that Williams “strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations.”

Mayor Bass’s office issued a brief statement at the time of the raid, indicating that they take the matter seriously and that Williams was immediately placed on leave. However, since then, there has been no further comment from the mayor’s office regarding Williams’ status or the ongoing investigation.

This silence comes at a time when Los Angeles is grappling with the aftermath of recent wildfires, which have been among the most destructive in the city’s history, claiming lives and destroying thousands of structures. The absence of Williams from his role has sparked discussions about accountability, especially given his responsibility for public safety.

Critics have pointed to Bass’s decision to place Williams on leave, questioning her judgment, particularly in light of her absence from the city during the onset of the fires. Bass was in Africa at the time, a decision that has drawn significant criticism regarding her commitment to the city during a crisis.

The investigation into the alleged bomb threat and the mayor’s office’s response have intensified scrutiny on Bass’s administration, with many calling for transparency and accountability in how the city manages its public safety officials.

As the investigation continues, the exact impact on the city’s fire and emergency response capabilities remains a subject of speculation, with no clear updates from the mayor’s office on how they are addressing the void left by Williams’ absence.

Article generated from corporate media reports.

Melania said this time would be different. The difference is that I know where I will be going, the rooms where we will be living, and the process.”

“The first time was challenging. We didn’t have much of the information,” Melania stated. “The information was [withheld] from us from the previous administration… So it’s a very different transition this time around.”

“I have the plans. I already packed them, and I have selected the furniture. So it’s a very different transition this time, the second time around,” she continued.

Michelle Obama has already said she won’t attend Trump’s second inauguration. However, her husband, Obama, confirmed he would be at Trump’s January 20 swearing-in ceremony. According to the Daily Mail, Michelle told allies that she refuses to “be fake” by appearing to welcome Trump’s incoming presidency. On the contrary, Obama has said he supports the “unity” the new administration promises to bring. […]

— Read More: townhall.com

Trump acknowledged that he hasn’t made a final decision but highlighted the complexity of the situation, suggesting that an extension might be “appropriate.” He mentioned that any decision on this matter would probably be announced on his first day in office.

This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law set to ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its U.S. operations to an approved buyer by Sunday. The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, gives the sitting president the authority to grant a 90-day extension if there is significant progress towards a sale.

Despite Trump’s earlier administration’s efforts to ban TikTok over national security concerns, his stance has shifted. This change might be influenced by his recent engagement with TikTok for political campaigning, gaining significant traction among younger voters.

The Biden administration has stated it would not enforce the ban in its final days, leaving the decision to Trump. Meanwhile, TikTok has warned of potential service disruption if there isn’t a clear assurance from the government, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

This move has been met with mixed reactions online, with some seeing it as a softening stance towards China, while others view it as an opportunity for TikTok to sort out its ownership issues.

The exact terms of any extension or the conditions TikTok might need to meet are not yet public, but the focus remains on finding a legal and acceptable solution for TikTok’s operations in the U.S.

Article generated from legacy media reports.

AAPLOG’s letter asks Republicans consider the importance of pro-life causes during the confirmation hearings of Dr. Marty Makary, the nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the nominee for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) director and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The organization called for the administration to revisit the safety of the abortion pill, which has already faced several legal challenges due to claims that numerous precautions were ignored in order to rush its approval.

“As you know, HHS has the most influential role of any governmental agency over those of us practicing life-affirming medicine and in ensuring the protection of conscience rights,” the letter, shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation, reads. “As such, the leaders of the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and HHS overall are vitally important nominees for our confidence in the advancement of life-affirming policies over the next four years. We are heartened to hear the positive reports regarding the meetings many of you have had with these nominees on these topics.”

The medical organization proposed the nominees be asked to commit to enforcing stronger safety regulations around the abortion pill mifepristone and that they reconsider allowing the drug to be prescribed through telehealth. The nominees should also be asked to stand up for conscience rights for medical students and state a gestational limit they would impose on abortion, the letter stated.

Nominees are also asked to uphold “[t]ransparency, not ideology” when it comes to research and data surrounding abortion, according to the letter. […]

— Read More: www.lifenews.com

Senators voted 61-35 to invoke cloture, often referred to as “breaking the filibuster,” setting up a likely Monday vote on final passage. Friday’s vote was the final procedural hurdle to halt a final vote on the bill.

The Laken Riley Act would require DHS to take into custody illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill, named after the 22-year-old nursing student who was brutally murdered last year in Georgia by an illegal alien released into the United States interior, passed the House on January 8.

The two Senators from Riley’s home state of Georgia, both Democrats, split their votes. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is up for reelection in 2026, voted for the legislation, while Sen. Raphael Warnock, who does not face voters until 2028, voted against it.

If the bill passes Monday as expected, it will return to the House for another vote due to the Senate amending the bill. That amended version will breeze through the House and to President Donald Trump’s desk. […]

— Read More: www.breitbart.com

U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen in September of 2023 ruled that the Biden administration could not codify the program as a memorandum and that efforts to do so violated immigration law, according to The Hill.

The Appeals court decision only upheld Hanen’s ruling for the state of Texas, thereby suspending the program in the Lone Star state, and said the judge was incorrect in halting the program nationwide, per CNN.

The court ruled that Texas was the only state to demonstrate “sufficient evidence that DACA has caused the harms it alleges and that those costs would be partially alleviated if DACA were enjoined.”

The state had argued that “DACA recipients impose over $750 million in annual costs on the state, those costs are traceable to and exacerbated by the Final Rule, and a favorable judgment against DACA would at least partially alleviate Texas’s harm,” the judges wrote, according to Bloomberg Law. […]

— Read More: justthenews.com