News You Missed While You Were Distracted by Charlie Kirk
I While cable hosts, viral pundits, and culture-war theatrics fought for your attention, major global and domestic events unfolded with real consequences. If you were scrolling past serious headlines, here’s what actually happened.
GOP Senators Blocked Release of Epstein Files In a unanimous GOP vote, every Republican senator opposed releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s network and dealings. That vote raises questions about transparency and accountability at the highest levels — and what powerful interests might prefer kept secret.
UN Votes to Recognize Palestine — 142 to 10 In a sweeping international move, the United Nations voted 142–10 to recognize the State of Palestine. This is a diplomatic milestone with broad geopolitical implications for peace negotiations, aid, and regional alignments. The vote marks a significant shift in global sentiment and will influence policy discussions for months to come.
Largest Civilian Maritime Humanitarian Mission Heads to Gaza A massive civilian flotilla — the largest maritime humanitarian mission in history — set sail for Gaza carrying supplies and volunteers. This mission underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis and the lengths civilians are willing to go to deliver relief where governments and international agencies have struggled.
Russian Drones enter NATO Airspace: Russian Drones Intercepted Dutch, German, and Polish fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian drones in what officials are calling the largest incursion into NATO airspace in decades. Despite the scale, the international response stopped short of escalation. That restraint — or inaction, depending on your viewpoint — deserves scrutiny: how prepared are NATO members, and what message does this send to Moscow?
March for the Constitution: A 100-Mile Protest to Congress A group of citizens walked over 100 miles to deliver a copy of the U.S. Constitution to Congress, protesting what they see as a growing erosion of civil liberties. Whether you agree with their methods or not, the march reflects widespread anxiety about rights, rule of law, and democratic norms.
Bolsonaro Convicted for Attempted Coup, Sentenced to 27 Years. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro — an ally of conservative figures including Donald Trump — was found guilty of attempting to overturn a free and fair election and trying to remain in power illegally. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison. The conviction is a stark reminder that threats to democracy exist beyond U.S. borders and that consequences can follow. (ON Monday The Trump Administration sanctioned the wife of the Judge who sentenced Bolsonaro and then revoked the visa of another official who criticized the decision).
These are not niche stories or slow-burn features. Each item affects geopolitics, democratic institutions, or human lives. Meanwhile, partisan personalities and viral distractions command headlines and airtime. If you want to stay informed, prioritize verified reporting and substantive coverage over the noise. The stakes are higher than any pundit’s hot take
Some Questions on 2 important Dates for Trump Supporters.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo
On January 6, 2021, at the urging of then president Donald Trump, a mob stormed our nations Capital. They were looking for revenge for what they had been told was a stolen election. They were chanting the names of Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence. Loudly chanting, “HANG MIKE PENCE”. They broke into many offices as Democrats and Republican alike ran for their lives. If not for the bravery of Capital police surely some lawmaker would have been killed or injured.
QUESTION 1-What would have happened if the rioters had gotten their hands on Nancy Pelosi, Mike Pence or another lawmaker? Would they have carried out their threats? Would the torture or death of a lawmaker been shown all around the world on CNN?
QUESTION 2-What would have happened on January 7 if the insurrection had been successful? Would Trump have rounded up his enemies? What would have happened to President Elect Joe Biden? Trump could not have let him stay free making speeches. 2020 was a free and fair election and Joe Biden won. In order for Trump to stay in power he would at least have to have Biden placed under house arrest where he would be unable to speak to the media.
QUESTION 3-If the insurrection was successful, what would happen to anyone who spoke out against it and against Trump and his supporters? Would they have been rounded up? Arrested? Jailed? Maybe even killed?Would mobs of Trump supporters go door to door demanding oaths of allegiance to Trump? Who knows what would happen to those who said “no”. Would a new armed force exist to pick up and jail, deport, beat up or kill anyone who even LOOKED like they might be an immigrant?
It is not a stretch to see this happening. To see how very close we were to losing our democracy.
In all that turmoil- would a foreign power seize the opportunity to launch an attack on US interests? Would countries that currently sell us goods decide that we were not a good risk because of our instability? Would US companies close down because of the instability and inability to get people to risk leaving their homes to got to work or even to the store for fear of being picked up because they looked different or spoke out against the dictator? Would foreign markets boycott our goods and place economic sanctions against us?
Would parts of the country secede from the US because they did not want to be part of this new dictatorship? Would an Army from one state attack another state?
This was all a VERY REAL possibility.
Now Trump is running again. He is the GOP favorite. He has NO policies. He just wants retribution. Trump is on the record saying, “ that we will root out Marxist fascist, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country”
Retribution has become Trumps campaign ideology.
He’s not running to accomplish anything. He’s talking about a personal agenda of using the United States government and The Presidency for retribution and revenge. His agenda for a second term is finishing the radical and extreme unfinished business of a Trump first term. He hasn’t given up on things like building his wall, withdrawing from NATO, withdrawing from South Korea and using the justice department to go after his political enemies. Those are all things that he tried to do wanted to do in his first term. Trump 2024 is not Trump 2016 or even 2020. He has eight years worth of grievances he has 91 felony charges against him.
Trump himself is a threat to American Democracy. He has the natural inclination and goals of an anti-democratic authoritarian leader. He wants to impose a police state. HE HAS SAID THIS.
Every administration wants to have loyalists. They want to surround themselves with people who believe the movement. That is fine. BUT this one is just too far. It has become a CULT. Where a person cannot believe science or fact. They can only believe what their dear leader has told them to. This idea was hatched at the end of the last Trump administration. It is called Schedule F. Schedule F is getting rid of people who are independent experts, The absolute enemy is Tony Fauci. They don’t want a scientist who is worrying about the entire countries national health what they want is someone who is loyal to Trump if Trump says, “ivermectin is the thing” that person will tell the country take your ivermectin. Related to that is the idea that they will also staff the national security and military space with people who share a similar skepticism about independent authority. They would review flag officers and general officers to try to assess whether they have loyalty to Donald Trump’s ideological project.
From the very beginning, Trump has a strong man’s natural attraction to what it in Russia would be called the “power ministries” and understanding he who controls the guys with guns control the power structure. In 2020 there was a backstage confrontation between Trump, and both the senior civilian and military leadership of the Pentagon as well as the Attorney General. It was about the very question of Trump, potentially seeking to use the power ministries for his own political advantage first through shows of strength in photo ops and then in an even more menacing way. Using the military as part of his unprecedented effort to overturn the 2020 election results. Given that he’s already contemplated doing that; given that he’s already clashed with people; you need to assume that this is a very real part of his second term agenda. It flows directly from his experience in the first term of wanting to do this and being stymied.
What would happen in 2028? Would he allow another election? Would he come up with a reason why the election in 2028 needed to be delayed indefinitely? His supporters stormed the US Capital once. Given a chance would they do what is necessary to disrupt the election or primary process?
Not only should Donald Trump’s actions disqualify him from being president, the entire idea of another Trump presidency should scare the hell out of you. You can dislike Biden, you can dislike the democrats, but if you like our republic you cannot vote for Trump. Not in the primary, not in the general.
Every community in our state is facing many challenges. While I was out canvassing and speaking with constituents this fall I heard a list of so many problems.
Crime and cleaning up our cities parks.
Finding solutions for our un-housed population
The lack of affordable housing
Mental Health.
Ever-rising taxes (not feeling that we are getting the level of service for what we pay.
The appearance of non-transparency in the governing process
New Hampshirites are fiercely proud of our independence BUT Consistent with the Northern New England tradition of strong legislative oversight of local government, New Hampshire is not known as a home rule state. All powers of local government in New Hampshire stem from the legislature, and few freedoms have been delegated to units of local government.
In short, In order for the local municipality to do anything, we have to be given the power by the state.
In the current House of Representatives the Republican Party has a narrow majority (198-195 with a few open seats).
Here are some mod the bills the New Hampshire GOP has spent time on.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20
RELATING TO: Declaring independence from the United States of America.
PROVIDING THAT: If the National debt reaches $40 Trillion, NH shall declare independence and proceed as a sovereign nation.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gerhard, Merr. 25
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
ANALYSIS: This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution amends the constitution to provide that if the US national debt reaches $40 trillion, New Hampshire shall secede from the union.
NH House Republicans are pushing another secession bill in 2024. Meanwhile, NH House Democrats aim to strengthen democracy by introducing HB 1426 to establish independent redistricting.
Let’s focused on what matters — not culture wars and conspiracy theories
HOUSE BILL 1482
AN ACT relative to the sale of human blood and organs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gerhard, Merr. 25; Rep. T. Mannion, Hills. 1
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
ANALYSIS This bill provides that the state of New Hampshire shall not prohibit, restrict, or regulate the private sale, purchase, use, possession, or donation of human blood or organs in the state.
HOUSE BILL 1294-FN
AN ACT relative to prohibiting the state of New Hampshire from enforcing the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency.
ANALYSIS- This bill states that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has no constitutional validity in this state, and requires that the New Hampshire department of environmental services provide for all environmental protection in this state.
HOUSE BILL 1073-EN
AN ACT: Relative to repealing the prohibition of simulated explosives .
SPONSORS: Rep Santonastaso, Ches. 18
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
ANALYSIS- This bill repeals the prohibition on the placement of simulated explosives. The only realistic purpose for a simulated explosive device is to scare or terrorize someone. It makes no difference if a GUN is real or realistic (but fake), or if it is real but not loaded if it is used to scare or terrorize someone.. The only difference is that if you use a fake gun, your sentence might be a bit lighter because it is evident that you never intended to actually kill anyone. But why don’t we make it easier to terrorize the public.
HOUSE BILL 1276-FN
AN ACT relative to repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles except by or to minors.
ANALYSIS- This bill prohibits the parking of electric vehicles in parking garages.
There’s a car fire roughly every five minutes in America. The vast majority of them never make the news. But if a Tesla or a Chevy Bolt catches fire? It’s probably on the front page nationwide and going viral online. YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT EV FIRES
HOUSE BILL: 1473
AN ACT: relative to social-emotional learning in public schools.
I. For the purposes of this section, “social emotional learning” means:
(a) Any evidence-based or non-evidence-based programming that promotes school and/or civic engagement nd/or builds an equitable learning framework that creates or uses evidence-based benchmarks, standards, surveys, activities, learning indicators, programs, policies, processes, professional development, or assessments that address non-cognitive social factors including but not limited to, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, and/or other attributes, dispositions, social skills, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs. feelings, emotions, mindsets, metacognitive learning skills, motivation, grit, self-regulation, tenacity, perseverance, resilience, and/or intrapersonal resources.
HOUSE BILL 1599-FN
AN ACT relative to the use of artificial intelligence for personal defense.
SPONSORS: Rep. Santonastaso, Ches. 18
COMMITTEE:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
ANALYSIS- This bill affirms that, under the second amendment to the United States Constitution, a person may use autonomous artificial intelligence for defense purposes, subject to specified limitations.
HOUSE BILL 1634-FN
AN ACT relative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.
SPONSORS: Rep. A. Lekas, Hills. 38
COMMITTEE: Education
ANALYSIS- This bill removes the household income criteria from eligibility requirements for the education freedom account program.
HOUSE BILL 1248-FN
AN ACT relative to restrictions on access to abortion.
