Trump administration to dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research – The Washington Post

The Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a leading Colorado-based institution for Earth and atmospheric science research. The administration cited concerns about “climate alarmism” as justification for the closure, marking a direct attack on scientific infrastructure studying climate change and global warming.

NCAR conducts fundamental research on atmospheric systems, weather patterns, and climate dynamics that informs policy decisions and public understanding of environmental trends. The facility’s dismantling would eliminate a major hub for peer-reviewed climate science and eliminate institutional capacity for atmospheric monitoring and modeling.

The timing of the announcement coincides with the Trump administration’s escalating attacks against Colorado’s Democratic elected officials, suggesting the action serves political retaliation rather than policy rationale. The closure exemplifies broader efforts to suppress climate research and defund institutions that contradict the administration’s anti-science agenda.

Dismantling NCAR removes independent scientific capacity to document climate trends and threatens the nation’s ability to understand atmospheric processes essential for weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection. The action prioritizes ideological opposition to climate science over institutional preservation and research continuity.

(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/12/17/trump-national-center-atmospheric-research-climate/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=bluesky,facebook,threads,twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAOvnWdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSeCCzP2GCweingyC6zHt-V11mfgLSKuNB2sgNbWmaoOWd_KCTuFzIlRXu84_aem_3ZrxZA21Dd1nEtiQyoDcjw)

‘An Appeal to Heaven’ flag seen hanging at Education Department office

A senior official at the U.S. Department of Education has displayed the "An Appeal to Heaven" flag outside his office, according to union leadership and department staff. The flag, historically tied to the American Revolution, has been adopted in recent years by evangelical Christian nationalist groups, the Proud Boys, and neo-Nazi organizations, and was carried by rioters during the January 6 Capitol assault.

Murray Bessette, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, has kept the banner hanging at the agency's Washington office. The flag's presence at an institution overseeing billions in federal education funding violates the separation of church and state and contradicts the agency's responsibility to serve all students regardless of religious affiliation.

Rachel Gittleman, president of the Education Department union, stated the agency "has no place for symbols that were carried by insurrectionists" and noted that employees have endured threats and harassment since January while now being forced to work under a symbol representing "intolerance, hatred, and extremism." The union directly linked the flag's display to ongoing demoralization within the department.

The Education Department did not confirm the flag's existence or address extremist associations. Deputy Assistant Secretary Madi Biedermann dismissed concerns as "imagined grievances" rather than addressing the documented history of the symbol's adoption by extremist movements.

The flag has appeared at multiple federal agencies and with high-ranking officials in recent months, including at the Small Business Administration in June and outside the vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in 2023. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also displayed the symbol outside his Capitol Hill office.

(Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/15/flag-appeal-to-heaven-education-department/87778953007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAOvHStleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeGxD1KOqmayUcnMh7ghzmxyHAYGXloFm0oOnqT9P-iDZsL_Ld74VKbBhHR6c_aem_jtc8a0ueUHKs5OzrVNTLGg)

White House: US ‘Lucky’ if Trump Stays in Office ‘Longer’

A White House spokesperson declared that the United States would be “lucky” if President Donald Trump remained in office beyond his current constitutional term, according to a statement provided to Axios on Thursday. The comment followed a Wall Street Journal report that Alan Dershowitz, Trump’s former impeachment lawyer, shared a draft book with the president examining whether a third presidential term could be legally permissible under the Constitution.

White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated: “There has never been an Administration that has accomplished as much in less than one year than the Trump Administration. The American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer.” The White House declined to clarify whether Trump is actively planning to run again in 2028, but the remark continues a pattern of public teasing about extended tenure that has defined his second term.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly promoted the possibility of another presidential run in 2028, sometimes presented as jest and sometimes as serious intent, deliberately blurring the line to confuse opponents. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump finds enjoyment in comments that are “driving people crazy,” while denying he would openly violate the Constitution. Trump has also marketed “Trump 2028” merchandise to provoke Democrats.

Dershowitz told the Journal that his forthcoming book, “Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?”, will examine constitutional ambiguities surrounding presidential term limits. He stated he advised Trump that “it’s not clear if a president can become a third term president and it’s not clear if it’s permissible,” while claiming he does not believe Trump will pursue a third term—a statement contradicted by the White House’s own language celebrating the prospect of Trump remaining “in office for even longer.”

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/white-house-says-us-would-be-lucky-if-trump-stays-in-office-longer/)

Uncategorized

JD Vance Responds to Bombshell Susie Wiles Story

Vice President JD Vance responded to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles calling him a “conspiracy theorist” in a Vanity Fair article. Wiles also described Trump as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” called Budget Director Russell Vought a “right-wing absolute zealot,” and characterized Vance’s Trump support as politically expedient rather than principled.

At a Pennsylvania economic event, Vance acknowledged the label but redefined conspiracy theories as “something that was true six months before the media admitted it.” He cited opposition to masking young children during COVID-19 and claims about Biden’s cognitive fitness as examples he now frames as validated positions.

Vance suggested the administration will reduce media access following the Vanity Fair story, stating the White House should give “fewer interviews to mainstream media outlets.” He framed this as a lesson learned from Wiles’s candid remarks being published.

Despite the criticism, Vance defended Wiles’s loyalty to Trump, contrasting her with other officials who he claims say one thing publicly and act differently behind closed doors. He praised Wiles for never being disloyal to the president, positioning her as trustworthy despite her damaging comments to the press.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/jd-vance-fires-back-says-he-hopes-trump-admin-has-learned-lesson-after-susie-wiles-called-him-a-conspiracy-theorist-in-vanity-fair/)

Dershowitz tells Trump the Constitution is unclear on third term, WSJ reports     | Reuters

Donald Trump reviewed a draft manuscript by lawyer Alan Dershowitz arguing the Constitution may permit a third presidential term, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dershowitz claimed he told Trump during an Oval Office meeting that constitutional language on presidential term limits is ambiguous, contradicting the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly bars anyone from being elected president more than twice.

The 22nd Amendment, ratified after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms, states unequivocally: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Dershowitz’s unpublished book, titled “Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?”, examines scenarios potentially circumventing this restriction.

Trump has previously signaled interest in circumventing constitutional term limits. He spent months publicly teasing the idea of testing the Constitution’s language before stating in October that he would not pursue a third term, calling the restriction “too bad” but acknowledging it prevented him from running again. Trump’s pattern of attacking institutions and officials who oppose him extends to questioning constitutional boundaries when they constrain his power.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to the report by stating “the American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer,” signaling openness to the idea without committing to it. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump “knows he can’t run again,” creating contradictory messaging from the administration.

Trump has continuously falsified that he lost the 2020 election to widespread voter fraud, a claim rejected by numerous investigations and courts. His willingness to entertain arguments that constitutional limits may be negotiable reflects a broader pattern of treating constitutional constraints as obstacles rather than foundational law.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lawyer-dershowitz-told-trump-constitutionality-third-term-is-unclear-says-wsj-2025-12-17/)

Mark Levin Hails Trump as ‘The First Jewish President’

Fox News host Mark Levin declared Trump “the first Jewish president” during a White House Hanukkah reception on December 17, 2025, stating Trump should be remembered “for a thousand years” by Jewish people. Trump confirmed Levin’s statement, claiming he is “the first Jewish president to serve two non-consecutive presidencies” and asserting, without evidence, that “bad things happened on the second one. Namely, the election was rigged.”

Levin first made the same declaration about Trump in 2019, stating it would be “an honor” to recognize him as such a president. The Fox News host has maintained this characterization despite previously criticizing Trump administration policies, writing in October that there were “echos of Biden” in the White House and repeatedly attacking Trump allies including Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson.

Trump’s claim of a “rigged” election contradicts documented election results and court findings across multiple jurisdictions. No credible evidence supports assertions that the 2020 election was fraudulent, and courts rejected over 60 lawsuits challenging election integrity.

The characterization of Trump as a Jewish president lacks religious basis. Trump is Presbyterian; his daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism to marry her husband, Jared Kushner, but Trump himself is not Jewish by faith or heritage.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/foxs-mark-levin-hails-trump-as-the-first-jewish-president-at-hanukkah-reception/)

Trump orders ‘total and complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday via Truth Social, escalating military and economic pressure against Nicolás Maduro’s government. Trump stated that U.S. military assets surround Venezuela and demanded the country return oil, land, and assets to the United States, exposing the operation’s economic objectives beyond stated anti-drug efforts.

The blockade targets Venezuela’s primary economic lifeline amid existing international sanctions on its oil sector. Trump has repeatedly indicated that U.S. companies should regain access to Venezuela’s oil reserves—the world’s largest—if Maduro is removed from power. State-owned Petroleos de Venezuela controls the petroleum industry, though Houston-based Chevron operates under a sanctions carve-out that Trump revoked in March before conditionally reissuing it.

Trump accused Maduro of using “stolen oil” to finance terrorism, human trafficking, and criminal activity. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that the administration’s military campaign aims to pressure Maduro to step down, contradicting earlier framing focused solely on narcotics interdiction. Venezuela’s government condemned the announcement as “a reckless and serious threat” and “a grave violation of International Law,” noting that blockades constitute acts of war under international treaties.

A 1961 Justice Department memo regarding Cuban tensions established that blockades are justified only when a state of war exists. Trump’s military operations in the region, including threatened ground invasions, follow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement of “Southern Spear,” a hemisphere-wide military operation targeting suspected drug operations.

The blockade represents an explicit shift from counternarcotics justification to resource seizure, with Trump signaling intent to restore American corporate control over Venezuelan petroleum assets previously nationalized in the 1970s. Venezuela’s oil is sold primarily to China due to existing U.S. sanctions imposed since 2005.

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/16/politics/blockade-venezuela-sanctioned-oil-tankers)

Trump defends his criticism of killed Hollywood director Rob Reiner

President Trump attacked Hollywood director Rob Reiner after Reiner’s death, posting on Truth Social that the director died from “Trump derangement syndrome” and calling him “very bad for our country.” Trump repeated these criticisms to reporters in the Oval Office, describing Reiner as “deranged” and falsely suggesting the director was involved in Russia collusion claims, providing no evidence for either assertion.

Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday. Police arrested their son Nick on suspicion of murder but have not indicated any motive or suggested that Reiner’s political views or criticism of Trump factored into the deaths.

Trump’s remarks drew rebukes from senior Republicans. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican critic of Trump, called the comments “inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered.” Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a Trump supporter, stated the deaths were “a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies” and should be “met with empathy.” Senator John Kennedy criticized Trump for speaking, suggesting the president should have remained silent.

Reiner was a lifelong Democrat and prominent liberal activist who frequently criticized Trump, calling him “mentally unfit” in 2017 and describing his administration as “full-on autocracy” in October. Trump acknowledged his antagonism toward the director, stating he “was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form.”

This follows Trump’s pattern of attacking political opponents after their deaths. In 2019, following Senator John McCain’s death, Trump said he “was never a fan” and “never will be.” That same year, Trump made remarks about deceased Democratic lawmaker John Dingell that were widely interpreted as suggesting damnation, with the White House later claiming Trump was “just riffing.”

(Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7413d9xvkeo)

‘This is truly insane’: Trump stuns with eye-popping multi-million-dollar purchase – Raw Story

President Trump personally purchased between $1 million and $5 million in Intel corporate debt between August and October, according to financial disclosures released in November. This transaction occurred simultaneously with the Trump administration’s decision to secure an $11 billion government stake in Intel, giving the U.S. a 10% ownership position in the company.

Trump has also purchased up to $6 million in Boeing corporate bonds, with a separate purchase of $500,000 to $1 million in Boeing bonds made in September, close to Boeing receiving an $877 million Defense Department contract. Since January, Trump has purchased a minimum of $185 million worth of bonds across multiple companies.

The administration characterizes its broader corporate investment strategy as driven by national security interests, committing over $10 billion in taxpayer funds to minority stakes in at least nine companies involved in steel, minerals, nuclear energy, and semiconductors, with the majority of deals struck in October and November. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast stated this purchase pattern would constitute “a huge scandal” in a normal administration, while journalist Ryan Grim called the situation “truly insane.”

Trump’s personal investments in companies receiving substantial government contracts and funding directly conflict with federal ethics standards prohibiting self-dealing and conflicts of interest. The lack of mainstream media coverage of these transactions has drawn criticism, with observers noting the administration’s pattern of leveraging taxpayer resources to benefit the president’s personal financial interests.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674341799/)

Trump’s Post Attacking Rob Reiner After Stabbing Death Draws Immediate Outrage

President Trump posted on Truth Social accusing Hollywood director Rob Reiner of dying from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” linking Reiner’s criticism of Trump to his murder less than twenty-four hours after reports of his death. Trump doubled down when questioned by reporters, stating Reiner was “a deranged person” and “very bad for our country,” without evidence connecting political beliefs to the killing.

Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday. Their 32-year-old son was booked on suspicion of murder; police provided no indication that the couple’s political views factored into their deaths.

Trump’s attack triggered rare backlash from MAGA-aligned Republicans, some of whom called for him to retract the comments. The criticism underscored the inconsistency of conservative demands for civility—prominent conservatives had called for public shaming, firings, and prosecution threats against those who spoke negatively about Charlie Kirk following his assassination.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/us/politics/trump-rob-reiner.html)

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