The FBI issued an urgent warning as cybercriminals weaponize AI technology to harvest family photos from social media and create fake kidnapping scenarios that threaten American families’ safety and financial security. FBI Issues Critical Warning About AI Photo Manipulation Scams The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a public service announcement on December 5, 2025, warning Americans about sophisticated virtual kidnapping scams exploiting artificial intelligence technology. Cybercriminals harvest family photographs from public social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, then manipulate these images to create convincing fake evidence of abductions. The scammers contact victims via text messages, claiming to hold family members captive while demanding immediate ransom payments through wire transfers or cryptocurrency. Social Media Oversharing Enables Criminal Exploitation The scam capitalizes on Americans’ widespread habit of sharing personal family moments online without proper privacy settings. Data from the Entrust Cybersecurity Institute reveals that deepfake incidents occurred every five minutes worldwide in 2024, representing a staggering 244% increase in digital forgeries. Criminals specifically target high-resolution family images posted publicly, exploiting the treasure trove of personal information available through social media platforms and data broker services that sell personal details to anonymous buyers. Sophisticated Psychological Manipulation Tactics These virtual kidnapping schemes employ calculated psychological warfare designed to overwhelm victims with fear and urgency. Scammers send timed messages containing altered photos or videos showing supposed captives in distressing situations, often combined with spoofed phone numbers and explicit threats of violence. The FBI emphasizes that no actual kidnappings occur, but the emotional manipulation proves highly effective in extracting quick payments from panicked family members who receive these fabricated “proof-of-life” communications. Unlike traditional phone-based extortion schemes from the early 2010s, modern variants incorporate AI-enhanced visual deception, making fake evidence increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. The scammers exploit natural parental instincts and family bonds, creating artificial emergencies that bypass rational decision-making processes. This represents a disturbing evolution from previous voice-cloning scams that the FBI has tracked since 2023, demonstrating how criminals continuously adapt emerging technologies for financial exploitation. Detection Methods and Protection Strategies Law enforcement officials advise scrutinizing suspicious images for telltale inconsistencies that reveal AI manipulation or basic photo editing. Common detection markers include missing personal features like scars, tattoos, or distinctive markings, as well as unnatural body proportions or lighting that appears inconsistent with the supposed scenario. Cybersecurity experts recommend establishing family code words for emergency situations, maintaining private social media profiles, and avoiding real-time location posting that provides additional targeting information for potential scammers. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center encourages victims to report incidents immediately, including screenshots of suspicious messages, rather than complying with ransom demands. This coordinated law enforcement response aims to track criminal patterns and protect other families from similar exploitation. However, the absence of detailed arrest information suggests that these internationally based scam operations remain challenging to prosecute, underscoring the critical importance of prevention through improved privacy practices and public awareness. Sources: FBI warns of fake kidnapping photos used in new scam – Fox News AI-generated kidnapping scams are coming – Axios Scammers harvesting Facebook photos to stage fake kidnappings, warns FBI – Malwarebytes Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams – FBI IC3

Senator Bernie Sanders demands a federal moratorium on new data centers, threatening America’s AI leadership and handing the edge to China in a critical tech race. Sanders’ Moratorium Call Targets AI Boom Senator Bernie Sanders posted an Instagram video in mid-December 2025 urging a federal moratorium on new data center construction. He seeks time to evaluate AI and robotics impacts, warning of job losses in trucking and retail from automation. Sanders argues unchecked development enriches billionaires while harming workers, fitting his long push against Wall Street greed. This comes as U.S. data centers drive a $7 trillion global surge, with 40% stateside countering tariff strains and high borrowing costs. Conservative Backlash Frames It as Sabotage National Review’s December 18 headline dubbed it “The Bernie Sanders Plan to Sabotage the Future,” portraying the proposal as socialist resistance to AI progress. Reason.com criticized it on December 17 as an effort to pause growth amid economic reliance on tech infrastructure. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council accused Sanders of fearmongering, ignoring facts about AI productivity gains. Americans for Prosperity warned a moratorium cedes ground to China, risking U.S. dominance in the global tech race. Historical Pattern of Anti-Growth Policies Sanders’ call aligns with decades of progressive agendas targeting innovation. His 2014 12-point plan pushed wage hikes, climate measures, and Social Security expansion. Precedents include the Fracking Ban Act prohibiting new permits by 2025 and the End Polluter Welfare Act slashing fossil fuel subsidies. Critics note this AI pause echoes speculation taxes and infrastructure halts, prioritizing worker protections over capitalist dynamism that President Trump’s policies unleashed through deregulation and tax cuts. Impacts and Unlikely Path Forward A moratorium would halt permits, delaying construction jobs in Virginia and Texas while chilling $7 trillion investments. Short-term, it exacerbates tariff pressures; long-term, it endangers the AI space race against China. Sanders claims it prevents inequality and funds transitions like the Just Transition Act, but experts dismiss automation fears as overstated since tech boosts productivity. No bill introduced as of December 21; bipartisan support for AI growth makes passage improbable, deepening divides while bolstering Sanders’ base. President Trump’s America-first approach contrasts sharply, securing over $1 trillion in AI investments and obliterating barriers to innovation that Sanders seeks to impose. Sources: Sanders Senate Issues Page Brookings: An Economic Agenda for America – Conversation with Senator Bernie Sanders Reason: Bernie Sanders Wants to Pause New Data Centers to Stop the Economy From Growing Too Much

Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean shocked fans when she announced her sudden departure from work, sparking wild speculation about her health and future with the network. Twenty Years at Fox Leads to Difficult Decision Janice Dean built her career over two decades at Fox News, transitioning from meteorologist to beloved Fox & Friends host. Her consistent presence made her departure announcement in November particularly startling for viewers accustomed to seeing her bright personality each morning. The veteran broadcaster chose Instagram to break the news personally, wanting to control the narrative before speculation spiraled out of control. Hi! pic.twitter.com/5khDVOH7BV — Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) December 18, 2025 Multiple Sclerosis Forces Broadcasting Break Dean revealed health issues requiring immediate attention prompted her work hiatus. She lives with multiple sclerosis, a progressive autoimmune disease attacking the brain and spinal cord. The condition demands careful management through adequate rest, something her grueling television schedule prevented. Her 2:30 a.m. wake-up calls for morning television became unsustainable as her condition progressed. The Cleveland Clinic explains that multiple sclerosis affects each patient differently, with symptoms and complications varying widely. Rest remains crucial for managing the disease effectively, making Dean’s decision both medically necessary and professionally challenging. Addressing Death Rumors Head-On Speculation reached concerning levels when rumors suggested Dean was “on her deathbed.” She responded decisively through a December Instagram video, directly confronting the false narratives circulating online. Her straightforward approach reflected her commitment to transparency with viewers who have followed her career for years. One more post… I wanted to let you all know that I’m taking a break from work (and social media) for a bit. I’m ok, but I’ve had some health issues that require rest and time to heal. My bosses at Fox have been kind and understanding, and I feel blessed to be able to take a… pic.twitter.com/fkLM5R6I0U — Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) November 12, 2025 Dean explained that without slowing down, “something bad would happen.” This honest assessment demonstrated her proactive approach to health management rather than reactive crisis response. Her willingness to prioritize long-term wellness over short-term professional obligations shows remarkable wisdom. Family Time Becomes Unexpected Gift The forced break allowed Dean to experience moments previously impossible with her demanding schedule. She expressed genuine joy about waking up with her children, highlighting the personal cost of early morning television commitments. This silver lining perspective demonstrates resilience in facing health challenges. Dean mentioned a spiritually healing trip to Rome with Sean, suggesting she’s approaching recovery holistically. Fox News management’s understanding response enabled her to focus on healing without career pressure. Her gratitude toward network executives reflects professional relationships built over decades of dedicated service. The combination of family support, medical necessity, and employer flexibility creates optimal conditions for her eventual return to broadcasting.

The conservative movement’s most prominent youth gathering just became a battlefield where former allies now wage ideological warfare from the same stage. When Conservative Icons Collide at Youth Rally Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix was supposed to showcase conservative unity. Instead, it became the venue for an unprecedented public fracturing between movement heavyweights. Ben Shapiro delivered a scathing attack on fellow conference speakers, specifically targeting Tucker Carlson for “platforming controversial people” and condemning broader populist trends within conservative media. The Daily Wire co-founder’s speech represented more than typical political disagreement—it exposed fundamental philosophical divides about America’s future direction. The choice of venue made this confrontation particularly striking. AmericaFest targets high school and college conservatives, positioning itself as the premier networking and ideological training ground for young activists. Shapiro’s decision to launch his attack from this platform suggests he views the battle for conservative youth as critically important to the movement’s long-term trajectory. The Language That Sparked Additional Controversy Shapiro’s use of “that is retarded” while denouncing populist positions created a secondary controversy beyond the ideological clash. The phrase immediately drew criticism from disability rights advocates and sparked debate within conservative circles about rhetorical standards. Some viewed it as unnecessarily inflammatory language that damages the movement’s broader appeal, while others defended it as a rejection of progressive speech policing. This linguistic choice reflects deeper tensions within conservatism about maintaining traditional discourse versus adopting more provocative communication styles. The incident highlights how language itself has become a battleground for defining what acceptable conservative rhetoric looks like in the post-Trump era. Roots of a Two-Year Ideological War The AmericaFest confrontation represents the latest escalation in a conflict that began during the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Candace Owens, then a Daily Wire host alongside Shapiro, made comments critical of Israel’s Gaza response that Shapiro characterized as antisemitic. Their public disagreement quickly spiraled into accusations about loyalty, truth-telling, and the proper conservative position on foreign conflicts. Owens subsequently left The Daily Wire, though the exact circumstances remain disputed. Since then, both figures have built separate media empires while occasionally trading barbs. The AmericaFest incident suggests their professional divorce has only deepened their ideological differences rather than providing space for reconciliation. The Broader Stakes for Conservative Movement Direction Shapiro’s critique extends beyond personal grievances to fundamental questions about conservative foreign policy and alliance-making. His attack on “Trump-over-everything” mentality challenges the personality-driven politics that have dominated right-wing media since 2016. By condemning those who platform pro-authoritarian voices, Shapiro positions himself as defending traditional conservative principles against populist drift toward conspiracy theories and strongman sympathy. The fact that Turning Point USA continues to book all these figures suggests that organizational leaders prefer managing factional tensions rather than choosing sides. This approach treats ideological combat as content that energizes the base, even if it undermines movement cohesion. Whether this strategy ultimately strengthens or fractures conservative youth organizing remains an open question that will likely determine which faction emerges dominant. Sources: Post-Gazette: Turning Point USA Conference Coverage Fox News: Ben Shapiro Denounces Tucker Carlson at AmericaFest

A brutal Omaha gas-station shootout that left four officers wounded and an illegal alien dead is a stark reminder of how past open-border policies keep endangering American communities. Gas Station Shootout Leaves Officers Wounded and Suspect Dead Omaha police recently confronted 28-year-old Juan Melgar-Ayala, an illegal alien suspect tied to a prior shooting, at a local gas station after reports connected him to midweek gunfire in the city. Officers moved in believing they were dealing with an armed, dangerous offender who had already proven willing to pull the trigger in a neighborhood setting. The confrontation quickly escalated into a gun battle, as the suspect opened fire and turned a busy commercial location into a combat zone. During the exchange of gunfire, four Omaha police officers were injured, underscoring how quickly routine policing can turn deadly when violent criminals are allowed to roam freely inside the country. Witnesses saw officers taking cover around gas pumps and squad cars as bullets shattered glass and sent bystanders scrambling for safety. Responding units closed surrounding streets while medics rushed wounded officers to area hospitals, where they were treated for injuries sustained while trying to protect their community from a known threat. Watch Nebraska police go head-to-head in a deadly shootout with a violent illegal alien from El Salvador. Juan Melgar-Ayala — an illegal with a long rap sheet — shot a 61-year-old man in the chest before turning a grocery store into a war zone. Police moved in fast, engaged, and… pic.twitter.com/gVpDbayhLd — Hans Herberg (@HANSFORNJ) December 5, 2025 How a Preventable Threat Reached Omaha Streets Police later confirmed that Melgar-Ayala was in the United States illegally and already on law enforcement radar as a criminal suspect, raising immediate questions about how he remained free to menace Omaha neighborhoods. Under years of lax border enforcement and limited interior deportations, many violent offenders slipped through the cracks, shielded by bureaucratic delays, sanctuary policies, and political reluctance to prioritize citizen safety. Local officers once again faced the immediate consequences of failures made hundreds of miles away in Washington. Previous administrations often treated illegal immigration as a political chess piece, softening enforcement, narrowing deportation priorities, and downplaying public safety concerns in favor of ideological narratives about borderless compassion. That approach left communities like Omaha dealing with the downstream reality: officers forced into shootouts with people who should never have been in the country at all. For residents, the incident reinforced a sense that their safety had been traded away to satisfy activists, lobbyists, and globalist talking points disconnected from life on the ground. Border Security, Police Safety, and Public Trust The shootout illustrates how immigration policy is not an abstract debate but a direct law-and-order issue that shapes everyday risks faced by patrol officers and families at ordinary places like gas stations. When illegal aliens with criminal histories are allowed to move unimpeded through towns and cities, local police become the last line of defense against threats that federal policy should have neutralized earlier. Each failure to detain, remove, or block reentry gives dangerous offenders another chance to ambush officers and terrorize neighborhoods. Under President Trump’s renewed focus on border security and enforcement, the stated priority is shifting decisively back toward protecting American citizens and legal residents first. Closing loopholes, restoring cooperation with local law enforcement, and cutting off incentives that draw criminal traffickers and repeat offenders are all designed to prevent scenarios like Omaha from repeating. For many conservatives, this represents a long overdue correction after years when Washington elites dismissed concerns about crime tied to illegal immigration as exaggerated or bigoted, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Douglas County, NE: Illegal alien Juan Melgar-Ayala is accused of shooting a man then dying in a shootout with police that injured officers. https://t.co/95JK8kvQTG pic.twitter.com/lrgZ93FagJ — Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) December 5, 2025 What This Means for Communities Moving Forward For Omaha residents, the gas station shootout is likely to accelerate demands for tougher immigration enforcement, stronger cooperation with federal authorities, and an end to any local policies that might shield criminal noncitizens from removal. Citizens watching four officers carried away in ambulances understand instinctively that safer borders mean safer streets, fewer violent confrontations, and less strain on already overburdened police departments. The expectation now is that national policy will finally match that common-sense reality instead of ignoring it. Families across the Midwest and beyond look at incidents like this and see a litmus test of whether leaders truly value the rule of law, the badge, and the Constitution over ideological experiments. When illegal aliens with criminal records are quickly identified, detained, and removed, police can focus on homegrown crime instead of cleaning up problems imported by deliberate federal neglect. The Omaha case stands as a sobering lesson—and a rallying point—for those insisting that border security is not optional, but essential to preserving American lives and freedoms.