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    Read the Manliest Christmas Card Ever, Courtesy of General Patton

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6
    no data, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    The Christmas season brings together family and friends to share memories of seasons past and discuss the true meaning of the holiday.

    One little-known moment in America’s history is worth sharing with friends this Christmas season…

    During a decisive point during the Battle of the Bulge, General George S. Patton’s Third Army became bogged down in its drive to relieve the legendary 101st Airborne Division trapped at Bastogne, Belgium. 

    The besieged Americans has just successfully defended the vital crossroads town from a German force that outnumbered them by nine-to-one but frigid winter conditions had grounded the Allied air force, neutralizing their advantage in the air and leaving Americans at severe risk.

    With little hope of survival left Patton turned to his faith and requested Rev. Msgr. James Hugh O’Neill, chaplain of the Third Army, compose what became known as the “Weather Prayer.” 

    Here’s what it said:

    “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.” 

    On the reverse side of the prayer card distributed to every GI under his command, Patton wrote:

    “To each officer and soldier in the Third United States Army, I wish a Merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God’s blessings rest upon each of you on this Christmas Day. — G.S. Patton, Jr., Lieutenant General, Commanding, Third United States Army.”

    A Christmas miracle brought clear skies the next day and American ground attack aircraft decimated the Nazis’ armored spearheads and the rest was history…

    Trump Speaks Out Ahead Of Hush Money Trial Kickoff

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
      -
      2
      Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      Former President Donald Trump made history on Monday as the first former or current U.S. president to ever face a criminal trial in a case that also made him the first former chief executive to be criminally indicted.

      Monday marked the start of Trump’s first criminal trial in a matter involving a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.

      Monday’s trial begins with jury selection in which hundreds of New Yorkers must be whittled down to 12 people and six alternates. That process is expected to last at least several days before opening arguments begin and star witnesses take the stand.

      Around 9:30 am Trump entered the Manhattan courtroom flanked by his defense team, including Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles.

      Trump spoke briefly before entering the courtroom, calling the case an “assault on America” and a “political persecution.”

      “It’s an assault on America. And that’s why I’m very proud to be here,” Trump said as his remarks were carried live across major broadcast networks.

      Trump is also charged in three other criminal indictments: one in Georgia over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss there, a federal indictment also involving the 2020 election and Jan. 6, 2021, and a federal case in Florida involving the potential mishandling of classified documents after he left office.

      Former President Trump’s hush money judge on Monday declined to recuse himself from the trial currently underway, refusing Trump’s latest demand that he step aside over his daughter’s employment at a firm that works for prominent Democrats. 

      Justice Juan Merchan’s denial, made from the bench on the first day of Trump’s first criminal trial, eliminates what could have been an eleventh-hour curveball before jury selection begins. He said the motion relied on “a series of references, innuendos and unsupported speculation.” 

      Trump Announces Plan To Drop Sanctions On Syria

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
      -
      0
      By The White House from Washington, DC - President Trump and The First Lady Participate in an Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony, Public Domain,

      President Donald Trump announced the United States will soon drop sanctions against Syria.

      During lengthy remarks on Tuesday, Trump laid out his vision for the Middle East, sharing a major announcement: He intends to drop sanctions against Syria.

      “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said in a speech in Saudi Arabia, his first stop on the first international tour of his second term in office. 

      “In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that we must all hope will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” he said. “So I say good luck, Syria.”

      The nation was cut off from the global financial system under ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s government, imposed during 14 years of civil war. 

      Trump called the sanctions “brutal and crippling” but “important” at the time.

      Trump said both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan had encouraged him to lift the sanctions. 

      “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump quipped. 

      U.S. sanctions had slapped financial penalties on any foreign individual or company that provided material support to the Syrian government and prohibited anyone in the U.S. from dealing in any Syrian entity, including oil and gas, and Syrian banks were effectively cut off from global financial systems. 

      Trump also revealed he has invited Saudi Arabia to join his historic Abraham Accords.

      “It has been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords,” Trump said at a Saudi Arabia investment conference. “And it’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia, a place I have so much respect for … will soon be joining the Abraham Accords. I think it will be a tremendous tribute to your country.”

      Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, at the end of his first term in office. Now, he is hoping to see Saudi Arabia join it as well.

      During lengthy remarks, Trump laid out his vision for the Middle East. Minutes later, he made a second major announcement: He intends to drop sanctions against Syria.

      New Poll Shows MAGA Candidate Overtaking Incumbent By Double Digits

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
      -
      2

      Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is trailing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) by a whopping 16 points in the 2026 Republican Senate primary, according to an internal poll reported by Punchbowl News on Monday.

      The poll from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) found Paxton leading with 50% support to Cornyn’s 34%, with 17% undecided.

      Paxton, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, officially announced his candidacy last month. He is positioning himself as a more pro-MAGA alternative to Cornyn, who hardline Texas conservatives have painted as a moderate. Cornyn, Texas’s senior senator, has held his seat since 2002 and served in Senate leadership. He was a leading contender to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as GOP leader, but eventually lost the race to Sen. John Thune (R-SD).

      Cornyn faced backlash over his work in crafting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun safety law passed in 2022 after a massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

      The legislation included enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 and was the first major federal gun control measure in decades.

      Punchbowl News reported in a hypothetical three-way GOP primary, Paxton leads with 44%, followed by Sen. John Cornyn at 34% and Rep. Wesley Hunt at 19%, according to an internal Tarrance Group poll conducted April 27 to May 1.

      In general election matchups against potential Democratic challenger Colin Allred, Cornyn leads by six points.

      Report: Trump Proposes Changes To White House Landscape

        By
        Madeleine Jackson
        -
        5

        President Donald Trump is reportedly mulling making significant changes to the White House Rose Garden.

        The New York Times reported that designers have already drafted various options. One of the variables that they are considering is whether to use “limestone or an easily interchangeable hard surface, with the possibility of installing hardwood floors for dancing.”

        White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded to the story by saying that Trump was seeking to spice up the historical structure.

        “The White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades, so President Trump is taking necessary steps in order to preserve and restore the greatness and glory of ‘the People’s House,’” he said.

        During his first term in office, First Lady Melania Trump redesigned the Rose Garden. It’s not clear what she thinks about the new plans.

        The Department of the Interior’s National Park Service maintains the White House grounds, including the Rose Garden.

        The report said that Trump also wants to “hang a grand chandelier from the ceiling of the Oval Office” and is thinking about building a ballroom inside the White House.

        CBS Parent Company In Talks To Settle Trump’s Lawsuit: Report

          By
          Madeleine Jackson
          -
          1

          CBS parent company Paramount has entered discussions with President Donald Trump to settle a $10 billion lawsuit brought by the president

          Trump sued after CBS  aired an edited interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who at the time was Trump’s opponent in the presidential race.

          The Times reported that Shari Redstone, who is Paramount’s controlling shareholder, stands to make billions on a pending sale of the company to Skydance:

          Settlement discussions between representatives of Paramount and Mr. Trump are now underway, according to three people with knowledge of the talks. There is no assurance, though, that they will result in a deal, and it is unclear what the terms of any such deal might include.

          Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, strongly supports the effort to settle, according to two people with knowledge of her thinking. Ms. Redstone stands to clear billions of dollars on the sale of Paramount, the media empire founded by her father Sumner Redstone, in a deal with Skydance, an entertainment company backed by the billionaire Larry Ellison and run by his son David.

          A settlement would be an extraordinary concession by a major U.S. media company to a sitting president, especially in a case in which there is no evidence that the network got facts wrong or damaged the plaintiff’s reputation.

          The heart of Trump’s lawsuit centers on a question directed at Harris about the Middle East from Bill Whitaker. A preview of her response aired during Face the Nation was different from the response viewers of 60 Minutes saw. Trump’s lawyers argued CBS made Harris look better in primetime by airing a crisper response.

          “CBS News said that Ms. Harris had given one lengthy answer to Mr. Whitaker’s question, and that the network followed standard journalistic practice by airing a different portion of her answer in prime-time because of time constraints,” the Times said.

          Trump in Hot Water Again After Posing with Infamous Philly Mob Boss

            By
            Madeleine Jackson
            -
            7

            Trump is facing criticism after a photo emerged of him with the infamous Philadelphia mon boss, Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino.

            Trump posed for the photo obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer with Merlino earlier this month at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach. The two, along with an unidentified third man, flash Trump’s customary “thumbs-up” hand signs and smiles while wearing golfing attire.

            “President Trump takes countless photos with people. That does not mean he knows every single person he comes in contact with,” said a Trump spokesperson after The Inquirer shared a copy of the photo with his campaign.

            Merlino was convicted in 2001 in a racketeering case and served a decade in federal prison and is known for connections to mob with operations in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. After his release, he relocated to Boca Raton, Florida before being arrested again in 2018 on a gambling-related charge.

            Trump has recently come under fire for his contact with controversial public figures like Kanye West and Nick Fuentes.

            Last year Trump hosted a dinner while the rapper also known as Ye was in the middle of his anti-Semitic, pro-Nazi meltdown. West was also accompanied by Nick Fuentes, one of the most infamous white nationalists and Holocaust deniers in the country. Trump has asserted that he was unaware Fuentes would be attending the dinner.

            Melania Missing From Famous Trump Christmas Celebration, This Is Why

              By
              Madeleine Jackson
              -
              1
              The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

              Reports reveal former First Lady Melania Trump spent her holidays with her ailing mother.

              A source close to the former first lady told Fox News Digital that she did not attend the Trump family Christmas celebration at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this week so that she could spend time with her ailing mother. 

              “Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family,” a source close to Melania Trump told Fox News Digital. “It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother.” 

              Page Six reported that Melania’s mother, Amalija Knavs, is in the hospital and is very sick.

              Former President Donald Trump and Melania’s son, Barron, attended the Christmas dinner with his father and other family members at Mar-a-Lago.

              The former first lady, in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this year, said she fully supports her husband’s presidential campaign and looks forward to “restoring hope for the future and leading America with love and strength” during a possible second term in the White House. She told Fox News Digital it would be a “privilege” to serve as first lady again. 

              An unidentified source told Page Six that Trump recently struck a deal with Melania to step up her public appearances as the former First Lady has opted to largely stay out of the spotlight in recent years.

              “Trump and his family are so secure that he will become president again that insiders at Mar-a-Lago say he’s reached an agreement with Melania to step up top-tier diplomatic appearances in 2024,” the source reportedly told Page Six. “Melania realizes it’s her time to join the ranks of historic First Ladies and leave her mark on history … she feels better prepared for her potential role the second time around.”

              DHS Hires Law Firm for Assistance in Potential Mayorkas Impeachment

                By
                Madeleine Jackson
                -
                10
                NEW YORK CITY (September 11, 2022) Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas lays flowers for USSS Master Special Officer Craig Miller and participates in the September 11th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City, NY. (DHS photo by Sydney Phoenix)

                The Biden administration is on the brink of impeachment proceedings.

                On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it has hired a law firm to aid in responding to the potential GOP House-led impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

                According to reports from The Hill, the contract, signed with New-York based firm Debevoise & Plimpton, comes a week after a second article of impeachment was filed by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

                “The Department of Homeland Security has retained outside counsel to help ensure the Department’s vital mission is not interrupted by the unprecedented, unjustified, and partisan impeachment efforts by some Members of Congress, who have already taken steps to initiate proceedings,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

                “DHS will continue prioritizing its work to protect our country from terrorism, respond to natural disasters, and secure our borders while responding appropriately to the over 70 Congressional committees and subcommittees that have oversight of DHS.” 

                DHS doesn’t have any staff on hand with expertise in such a matter, an agency official told The Hill, and said the scale of legal assistance needed will depend on how the GOP decides to proceed with its probe. Still, the department declined to outline other financial details of the retainer.

                Republicans have yet to take any action on the resolutions, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other Republican leaders have pledged what could be lengthy investigations ahead of an eventual impeachment.

                The impeachment of Cabinet officials is rare and hasn’t occurred since 1876.

                Will Lackluster Midterm Results Deter Trump 2024 Announcement?

                By
                Madeleine Jackson
                -
                4
                Gage Skidmore Flickr

                Tuesday’s midterms produced lackluster results as ballots continue to be tallied across the country. While the red tsunami appeared to be more of a wave Republicans and Democrats are still waiting to know which party will control the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday morning.

                The midterm results have spurred questions about Trump’s potential plan to announce his third presidential campaign next week. The former president has been heavily involved throughout the midterms but some are left wondering if Trump will push his announcement.

                During an interview with Markie Martin on NewsNation ahead of the midterms Trump noted he’s made over 300 endorsements.

                “You’ve endorsed more than 330 candidates this election cycle,” Martin said. “Tonight, win or lose, the results for Republicans, how much of that will be because of Donald Trump?”

                “Well, I think if they win, I should get all the credit. And if they lose, I should not be blamed at all, okay?” Trump said. “But it’ll probably be just the opposite. When they win, I think they’re going to do very well, I’ll probably be given very little credit even though in many cases I told people to run and they ran and they turned out to be very good candidates. You know, they’ve turned out to be very good candidates.”

                “But usually what would happen is when they do well, I won’t be given any credit and if they do badly, they will blame everything on me,” he continued. “So I’m prepared for anything, but we’ll defend ourselves.”

                Advisers close to Trump say the former president is certainly running but he’s yet to make any formal announcement as doing so will link him to specific election laws.

                During a Monday evening rally in Ohio, former President Trump declared he plans to make a “big announcement” next Tuesday.

                “I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.,” Trump said toward the end of a rally near Dayton, Ohio, where he was campaigning for a host of candidates in the state, including Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance.

                “We want nothing to distract from the importance of tomorrow,” Trump said.

                Vance won his race against Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan Tuesday night.

                “I can’t thank President Trump enough for his support,” Vance said. “His endorsement and the work he did to drive turnout – including a huge rally in Dayton on election eve – made all the difference in this race, and led us to the largest battleground victory in the nation.”

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