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Incoming Democrat Senators Signal Openness to Impeaching Health Secretary Kennedy
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-VT), expected to chair the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, said he is open to impeaching Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“I am absolutely open to that,” Sanders said regarding Sen.-elect Annie Andrews’ (D-SC) call to remove Kennedy. “The bottom line is we need a secretary of HHS who is concerned about the health and well-being of our kids and all Americans, not involved in crazy conspiracy theories.” He stated the committee will bring Kennedy in and ask tough questions not previously posed. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) said he cannot wait to grill the secretary. Andrews, a pediatrician, has pledged to pursue impeachment as Democrats prepare to control Congress.
Why It Matters
Democratic plans to target the health secretary with impeachment and endless hearings threaten to stall reforms aimed at reducing chronic disease and restoring parental rights over medical decisions for children. Such political warfare prioritizes pharmaceutical interests and past failed public health policies over the health outcomes Americans have demanded, weakening trust in government institutions.
Former Maine Governor Secures Rare House Flip in Second District
Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage won Maine’s open 2nd Congressional District Thursday after ranked-choice tabulation produced a 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent edge over Democrat Matt Dunlap. The Associated Press called the race once state officials finished the count. LePage replaces retiring Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) in a district President Donald Trump carried by 9 points in 2024.
This marks one of only three Republican House flips and the only one not helped by redistricting. Democrats flipped about 44 seats. LePage, who once called himself “Donald Trump before Donald Trump,” will be New England’s sole Republican in Congress after Sen. Susan Collins lost.
Why It Matters
LePage’s win keeps a conservative voice from rural Maine in Congress and proves voters in a Trump-leaning district can reject the national Democratic wave. It prevents a total left-wing House monopoly that would otherwise ram through unchecked progressive policies without any regional counterweight.
Alito Warns Congress Can Defund Supreme Court Operations
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr., appointed by President George W. Bush, said Thursday that Congress holds the power to defund the high court and halt its activities.
“Congress can turn off the lights at the Supreme Court and stop everything from happening if they want to defund their activities,” Alito stated during remarks at the Federalist Society’s Antonin Scalia Memorial Dinner. He stressed that judicial independence must be preserved. “If that is eliminated, then the Constitution as adopted in 1789 will no longer be the same.”
Alito noted that some lower court judges have issued unjustified orders obstructing presidential policies in recent years. “They are dedicated, and they are skillful, but they’re not perfect, and they make mistakes,” he said. “And in some instances, I think they have gone far astray in abuse of their powers.” Article III of the Constitution bars any reduction in justices’ compensation.
Why It Matters
Congressional power to choke off the Supreme Court’s operational funding threatens the constitutional Separation of Powers and the independent judiciary the Framers established. When lower courts issue sweeping orders that block elected executives without solid legal footing, they substitute their will for the people’s, eroding the rule of law that protects every American from arbitrary government.
Ocasio-Cortez Suggests Impeaching Supreme Court Justices Over Rulings
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Democrats should leave all options open, including impeaching Supreme Court justices, because the Court has “kind of legalized a lot of his criminality.”
“There are so many criminals in this administration, it’s hard to figure out who should be, you know, the order of operations,” Ocasio-Cortez stated. “There are going to be many, many, many investigations. I imagine many subpoenas, and we have to follow wherever the evidence takes us.” She added that the Court has legalized such conduct and that impeachment is on the table. Ocasio-Cortez has previously called for the impeachment of all six conservative justices. Democratic members have named Justices Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Gorsuch in past impeachment demands.
Why It Matters
Calls to impeach Supreme Court justices for issuing rulings that protect executive authority threaten the constitutional independence of the judiciary and the Separation of Powers. Treating judicial decisions as high crimes invites political retaliation against the Court and undermines the rule of law that safeguards individual rights from temporary majorities in Congress.
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Radically-Left Maryland Senator Launches Bid To Replace Schumer As Senate Democratic Leader
US Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) officially launched his bid Thursday night to replace longtime Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the party’s Senate leader. Van Hollen said Americans called for new leadership after the midterms. “In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption. To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn’t about any one person – it’s about answering that call. That’s why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader,” he wrote.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) backed the challenge immediately, stating the public wants a party that stands up to special interests and fights for working families. Schumer responded that he welcomes discussion, is proud of securing 55 seats and counting, and has the votes to continue as leader. Incoming members including Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) endorsed Van Hollen, while others such as Adam Hamilton of Kansas have called for fresh leadership.
Why It Matters
This progressive assault on Schumer reveals the radical left’s stranglehold on the Democratic Party. Elevating activists who prioritize ideological purity over governing competence threatens Senate operations and Western norms by advancing agendas that undermine free enterprise, border security, and traditional institutions.
Son of Former CIA Director John Brennan Charged With Child Pornography Transportation
Kyle Brennan, the 40-year-old son of former CIA Director John Brennan, was arrested by FBI agents at his workplace in Herndon, Virginia, on Friday and charged with a felony count of transportation of child pornography.
A sworn affidavit filed in the Eastern District of Virginia states that an FBI review of Brennan’s iPhone observed approximately 88 images that appeared to depict minor girls, including prepubescent girls, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The document describes one image of a female toddler and another of a pubescent girl whose wrists and ankles were bound and whose mouth was gagged. A Virginia judge signed the complaint on Friday. Brennan was scheduled for a first appearance in federal court that day. His phone had been obtained during a 2024 traffic stop.
Why It Matters
The arrest of the adult son of a former high-ranking intelligence official on charges involving the sexual exploitation of children exposes the failure of elite institutions to prevent predators from operating in positions of proximity to power. Such crimes destroy the lives of the most vulnerable and demand rigorous prosecution without regard to family connections or political status.
Peltola Widens Lead Over Sullivan as Ranked Choice Data Favors Democrat
Democrat Mary Peltola expanded her lead over Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) to 5,800 votes in the latest count, her largest margin of the race. The Alaska Division of Elections Nov. 12 report shows Peltola with 125,157 first-choice votes, or 49.08 percent, to Sullivan’s 119,357, or 46.8 percent. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has 4,199 votes. Peltola leads the combined total of both Sullivans by 1,601 votes.
Ranked-choice data indicate that more voters who selected Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. first ranked Peltola next than ranked the senator. A preliminary tabulation projects Peltola winning the final round 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent. Peltola stated that “the numbers so far tell a clear story - we are squarely on track to win this race.” Ranked-choice tabulation is set for Nov. 18.
Why It Matters
The presence of a same-name candidate on the ballot, combined with ranked-choice rules that transfer votes in ways that favor the Democrat, undermines the principle of one person, one vote and allows electoral gamesmanship to decide a Senate seat. Such tactics erode public confidence in the integrity of American elections and the fairness of representation in Congress.
Omar Claims Ignorance of Federal Probes After Capitol Hill Meeting
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) told reporters Tuesday that federal agencies never informed her of the grounds for investigations into her. She said she is not sure if the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are each pursuing independent probes.
“No, no,” Omar said when asked if she had been told the exact basis. “I’m not sure. You probably have more details on that.” One probe examines possible fraudulent immigration paperwork by Omar or her father. Another reviews financial disclosure discrepancies, confirmed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Agents searched her Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12 and seized her phone and other items. Omar said most items have been returned. She met with lawyers for two hours that day after winning re-election.
Why It Matters
A sitting member of Congress claiming complete ignorance of the legal basis for federal raids on her home and dual probes into her immigration history and finances raises fundamental questions about accountability. Such opacity undermines public trust in the integrity of elected officials and the equal application of immigration and financial disclosure laws that bind every American.
ON THIS DAY IN 1982:
Following a national salute in Washington, D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—designed by Maya Lin and inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 fallen or missing service members—was formally dedicated on the National Mall.
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Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Missile Corvette Near Finnish Coast in Baltic
Ukrainian drones struck the Russian Buyan-M class corvette Naro-Fominsk in the Gulf of Finland early Wednesday, Ukraine’s Security Service said. The missile ship, armed with Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, was hit near Gogland Island about 28 miles from Finland’s coast and returned toward St. Petersburg.
Finnish forces detected the strike in international waters and reported no immediate threat to the country. Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem said an explosion occurred on the vessel around 5:30 a.m. before it sailed back to port. The strike occurred during a wider Ukrainian drone operation that damaged oil tanks at the Ust-Luga port.
Why It Matters
Ukraine’s ability to hit Russian warships in the Baltic forces Moscow to divert scarce assets from the main front while exposing the vulnerability of its shadow fleet protection near NATO waters. This keeps pressure on the aggressor and signals the free world will not let Russian naval power operate unchallenged nearby.
Beijing Operates Monitoring Hubs in US to Police Chinese Diaspora Report Finds
A report from Safeguard Defenders states that Beijing operates more than 1,247 overseas liaison points across at least 91 countries to monitor and police Chinese diaspora communities. Over 40 alleged monitoring outposts function in the United States, with New York hosting at least 10, followed by San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.
The hubs are embedded in diaspora organizations under the United Front Work Department. More than 10 police forces from five Chinese provinces coordinate with prosecutors, courts, and justice bureaus. The report alleges that Beijing rebranded rather than dismantled its overseas police operations after earlier exposures. These points collect intelligence and suppress dissent among overseas Chinese.
Why It Matters
Foreign police operations on U.S. soil that target diaspora communities for surveillance and intimidation violate American sovereignty and the constitutional protections of free speech and association. Such networks allow an authoritarian regime to export repression inside the United States and chill the rights of residents who fled that system.
US Air Force Responds to Unauthorized Drone Activity at RAF Lakenheath
U.S. Air Force Security Forces personnel responded to suspected unauthorized drone activity over Royal Air Force base Lakenheath in England on Friday. A spokesperson confirmed the incident resulted in no harm to personnel, aircraft, or civilians. “This evening, USAF Security Forces personnel responded to suspected unauthorized drone activity over RAF Lakenheath,” the spokesperson said. Officials continue to work with host nation counterparts to ensure safety.
A shelter-in-place emergency alert was issued across the base. The incident follows recent relocations of U.S. military aircraft from other bases in England after reported security threats. Earlier this year, seven British nationals were arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack near RAF Fairford, a base previously used by the U.S. Air Force. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there were strong indications that Iran played a part in that earlier incident.
Why It Matters
Unauthorized drone incursions over U.S. bases hosting American aircraft and personnel expose vulnerabilities in the defense of forward-deployed forces and allied territory. Persistent probing of critical infrastructure by unidentified actors raises the risk of intelligence gathering or attack that could compromise American military readiness in Europe.
Microsoft Cites Network Upgrade Bug as Cause of Global Outlook Outage
Microsoft said Friday a global Outlook outage was caused by a bug during a network capacity upgrade. The company addressed the issue and is restoring service gradually. “We are deeply sorry for the disruption this incident has caused our customers and partners,” Microsoft stated. “We know the trust they place in our services and take that responsibility extremely seriously.”
The outage began Thursday and crippled Exchange Online, affecting calendars, Copilot and SharePoint. Recovery advanced in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America by Friday morning with intermittent issues. Microsoft extended email timeouts to 48 hours. Indian airlines IndiGo and Air India reported support problems. OpenAI and Anthropic integration issues began to subside.
Why It Matters
This outage lays bare the reckless concentration of critical communication infrastructure in one corporation. A single coding error paralyzed email and productivity tools for millions, including governments and airlines. Such fragility threatens economic stability and national security when private monopolies control the pipes of modern commerce without adequate redundancy or accountability.
