The United States Government has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, President Donald Trump announced.

The Senate voted Thursday to reject health care bills offered by each party, as the U.S. heads for a cliff with steep Obamacare premium hikes for millions of Americans set to hit next month. The failed votes raise the likelihood that enhanced Obamacare subsidies passed in 2021 will expire at the end of this year and cause premiums to double on average […] The post Two Healthcare Plans Were Rejected in the Senate appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

President Trump urged the Senate Republicans to ditch the blue slip, especially after seeing how many leftist judges there are who are killing his agenda. President Trump sounded the alarm to Senate Republicans and Chuck Grassley who are allowing Democrats to block his judge and US attorney nominations through the “blue slip tradition.” END IT, […] The post Sen. Thune Will Not Ditch the Blue Slip appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

When twice-deported Honduran illegal immigrant Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia allegedly fatally stabbed a passenger on a North Carolina train, the incident immediately drew national attention. “Another stabbing by an Illegal Migrant in Charlotte, North Carolina,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “What’s going on in Charlotte? Democrats are destroying it, like everything else, piece by piece!!!” But North Carolina had become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate well before Trump’s post. The Department of Homeland Security has been conducting “Operation Charlotte’s Web” in the region, which has yielded over 400 arrests so far, according to WBTV. Michael Whatley, a Republican Senate candidate in the state and the former Republican National Committee chairman, told The Daily Wire that immigration-related woes are no surprise, as the Biden-era crisis turned “every state, including North Carolina, into border states.” The Republican is poised to face off against Democrat Roy Cooper, North Carolina’s former governor, in one of 2026’s most hotly competitive races If elected, the Republican said that “we need to make sure that ICE is going to be funded,” along with Border Patrol. He also took a jab at Cooper, who left office at the start of this year, for his immigration stances. The Democrat vetoed House Bill 10 last November, which would have required sheriffs to work with ICE. His veto was overturned by the North Carolina General Assembly. “He has set up a revolving door for criminals in North Carolina,” he said. “He is fighting harder for criminals and illegal aliens than for his own constituents as governor.” “When we talk about going into the Senate, ultimately it’s a vote, and it’s going to be a vote for the president and his agenda, or it’s gonna be a vote for Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer and the rest of the card-carrying woke mob that Roy Cooper belongs to,” Whatley continued. “Roy Cooper is the only candidate who spent his career prosecuting violent criminals and keeping thousands of them behind bars as attorney general, and signing tough-on-crime laws and stricter bail and pretrial release rules as governor,” a Cooper campaign spokesman told The Daily Wire. Whatley also pushed back on the notion that some Trump voters were surprised at how immigration enforcement was going to be conducted. On the campaign trail, signs even said “Mass Deportation Now.” “The fact is, the American people voted for security. They voted for safe communities and safe kids, right? They voted to shut down the border. They voted to deport violent, criminal, illegal aliens,” Whatley said. “President Trump made it very clear that that was his plan. So any voter who was voting on those issues knew that the president was going to be moving very forcefully to get this done. And that we’re seeing those protests and in a lot of different places is a little bit surprising to me,” he continued. “But you also have paid organizations that are out there, you know, fomenting these protests as a very real point.” Whatley said that immigration is likely to be a top issue once again in 2026, along with the economy. “We need the economy to be clicking. I think ultimately the economy is the most important factor when people vote, right? We need to create jobs, we need to raise wages, we need to lower costs,” he said. “And the American people need to feel like we have a very strong economy. All signs right now are pointing towards us having a very strong, robust economy.”

The Biden administration allowed roughly 18,000 known or suspected terrorists into the country, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent testified to the House Homeland Security Committee Thursday. Kent revealed that 2,000 of the 18,000 known or suspected terrorists were let into the country as part of the Biden administration’s program to bring Afghans to the United States following the botched troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. He also said that the 18,000 number doesn’t include the “unknown” number of terrorists the Biden administration allowed in after they crossed the border. “We’re working right now hand in hand with DHS and with the FBI to run down this 2,000 — the Afghans that came here under Operation Allies Welcome who have ties to terrorist organizations, and additionally the other 16,000 individuals with ties to terrorist organizations that Biden let into our country,” Kent said. “That is probably the top terrorist threat that we face right now and that doesn’t include the individuals that came here illegally through the open border, that number alarmingly remains unknown at this time. We’re trying to figure out who those individuals are as well,” he added. NEW: @NCTCKent just testified during the annual Worldwide Threats to the Homeland hearing that about 18k known or suspected terrorists came into the country under the previous administration— “And that doesn’t include the individuals who came here illegally through the open… pic.twitter.com/7VSIrgJ0IS — Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) December 11, 2025 The top counterterrorism official cited the Biden administration’s admission of the Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., last month, killing one of them. He said the Biden administration created a “ruse” to allow him into the country. “These are individuals who under normal circumstances would never be allowed to enter our country because of their ties to jihadi groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, yet the Biden administration not only let them into the country and in many cases facilitated their entry into the country, just like the entry of the Afghan terrorist who committed the terrorist attack here just before Thanksgiving, killing one of our National Guard members and wounding another,” Kent said. “That Afghan was brought into the country as a group of over 100,000 Afghans who were brought here during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. These individuals, despite what has been reported, were not vetted properly to come into the United States,” he added.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Ionic Mineral Technologies (Ionic MT) has recently uncovered what may be one of the most significant critical-mineral reserves in the United States while mining clay at Utah’s Silicon Ridge. Originally leasing the land to produce nanosilicon for lithium-ion batteries, the company unexpectedly identified high-grade concentrations of 16 critical minerals, including lithium, alumina, germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium, niobium, and scandium. Independent testing confirmed the deposit is a halloysite-hosted ion-adsorption clay, similar to geological formations in China that supply a major share of global rare-earth output. Because the deposit is shallow, accessible, and located on pre-permitted land with extensive infrastructure, Ionic MT says extraction could begin quickly. CEO Andre Zeitoun argues the find has far-reaching implications for national security, as these minerals are indispensable for advanced semiconductors, electric vehicles, fighter jets, and artificial-intelligence hardware. The discovery comes amid heavy geopolitical tension over China’s control of critical mineral markets. China produces roughly 70% of the world’s rare earths and processes about 90%, giving it enormous leverage over global supply chains. Recent Chinese export restrictions have alarmed American industry and policymakers, though a temporary one-year delay won through recent trade negotiations offers a short window for the United States and allies to expand production and processing capacity. It is this strategic vulnerability that has galvanized Marco Rubio’s leadership on the issue. In July 2024, in another move to counter Communist China, Rubio introduced the Critical Mineral Supply Chain Realignment Act of 2024. imposing aggressive, escalating tariffs on Chinese-controlled electromagnets, permanent magnets, batteries, solar components, and other key technologies. Tariffs would reach 800% on Chinese goods, while non-allied nations would face 25% duties, all designed to push supply chains toward American and allied producers. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships Rubio argued that the United States must break China’s “critical mineral industrial monopoly,” warning that Beijing’s near-total control of end-to-end supply chains — mining, refining, and magnet production — posed economic and national-security dangers. Rubio has also spearheaded bipartisan pressure — partnering with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and others — urging the White House and the Export-Import Bank to prioritize financing for domestic and allied processing, refining, and metallurgical capacity. Their joint letters emphasized that demand for critical minerals was soaring while the United States remained dangerously dependent on China, which often controls “nearly 100%” of the entire supply chains. They argued that only rapid investment, coordinated with allies such as Australia, could counter China’s dominance. Utah’s newly revealed deposit — supported by the state’s already diverse critical-mineral portfolio — represents not just an industrial opportunity but a strategic asset. State leaders echo Rubio’s warnings: securing reliable domestic sources of these minerals is essential for U.S. energy independence, defense needs, and long-term technological competitiveness.

The phrase “there is more to the story” is an understatement when it comes to what is currently unfolding in Michigan. The University of Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore Wednesday, citing an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. That itself is huge news for one of the nation’s premier football programs, but buckle up. There’s more. In just a few short hours, Moore was terminated from his head coaching position and is now in the custody of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, according to booking records, though no charges have been filed at this time. It appears that Moore was initially taken into custody by the Pittsfield Township Police Department. Pittsfield police said it took an unnamed suspect into custody Wednesday evening as part of an assault investigation. According to the department, a man was taken into custody in the 3000 block of Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Pittsfield Township — this is just a few miles south of the University of Michigan. The suspect was then booked into the Washtenaw County Jail, where he awaits his first court appearance on Friday. Officials with the department said the incident doesn’t appear to be random in nature, and there is no ongoing threat to the community. The Daily Wire reached out to Pittsfield Police Thursday morning in reference to Moore’s case and was told no further details on this case are being shared at this time. The police department directed The Daily Wire to a press release involving an assault investigation. The university said that it fired the 39-year-old coach following an investigation into Moore’s improper relationship with a staff member. “U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel Manuel said on Wednesday. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.” An author who has covered Michigan Football for decades said in an interview Thursday morning with Fox 2 Detroit that Moore and his staffer were investigated this summer and both denied any relationship. Bacon said Wednesday that story changed when the staffer reported the relationship to the university. “She went on the ‘hill’ (where administration offices are) with the receipts, the text messages, the emails, the documents and so on laying out the details of the relationship,” Bacon said on Fox 2. Bacon then opened up about what allegedly led to Moore being taken into custody. “He broke into the employee’s home in Pittsfield Township…grabbed a knife apparently and threatened to harm her and harm himself,” Bacon said. Bacon also said that Moore is being monitored by mental health professionals while in custody. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Wednesday after the firing that Michigan investigated Moore this fall after receiving a tip about the situation with the staffer, but the university didn’t find credible evidence. On Wednesday, however, university officials presented “overwhelming” evidence against Moore, and he was quickly dismissed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Thursday morning, “What we haven’t heard yet is Sherrone Moore’s side of this, and he gets his say in this particular situation as well. I do know that he felt like people had it in for him for an awful long time there while he was at Michigan. He felt like there were people who are out to get him. So all these things can all be true.” The firing comes days after National Signing Day, when Moore landed a No. 12-ranked recruiting class. Before the drama unfolded on Wednesday, Moore was part of another controversy. Earlier this season, he served a two-game suspension for the illegal advanced scouting scheme involving former Michigan Football staffer, Connor Stallions. Moore leaves Michigan with a 17-8 overall record. His final loss was against rival Ohio State. Biff Poggi will serve as Michigan’s interim head coach in the Citrus Bowl against Texas on December 31.

A rapidly growing measles outbreak in South Carolina is forcing hundreds into quarantine and exposing how years of confused public health messaging and weak border controls can ripple through American communities. SOUTH CAROLINA MEASLES OUTBREAK—THE CATASTROPHIC COST OF OPEN BORDERS The rapidly escalating measles outbreak in South Carolina, forcing hundreds into quarantine, is the shocking plot exposed that proves the catastrophic cost of open borders and institutional failure. This highly contagious, imported disease is exploiting the immunity gaps created by confused public health messaging and the Deep State agenda that prioritized ideological projects over securing the nation’s perimeter. The forced quarantines are a stark reminder of the tyrannical tactics of the pandemic era returning, but this time, the blame rests squarely on Washington’s deliberate failure to screen and protect the border. This represents a profound betrayal of public trust in basic government functions. Polymarket gives a 16% chance of a new pandemic in 2026 But the signals coming from U.S. dairy farms suggest the real risk may be higher A virus with a 48.6% fatality rate is now spreading through U.S. cattle, and it’s only one mutation away from human-to-human transmission….… pic.twitter.com/siNniY9VDq — wincy.eth (@gusik4ever) December 2, 2025 ELITE ARROGANCE AND THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY The elite arrogance of the previous administration—which poured resources into climate symbolism and expansive migrant programs—led to the catastrophic failure of core responsibilities like disease screening at the border. This mismanagement created the foreseeable catastrophe: an imported disease reaching communities with vulnerable immunity gaps. Furthermore, years of shifting narratives and mandates during the COVID era have left conservatives so skeptical that essential health measures now collide with individual liberty, complicating the response. The New Left’s prioritization of ideological purity over public safety has left American communities exposed. How the WHO Dictated the COVID-19 Pandemic—And How It's Already Dictating the Coming Bird Flu Pandemic A warning for Congress and American citizens.@zeeemedia @NicHulscher WHO assumed operational control of the global COVID response on Day 1 (Dec 31, 2019) by issuing the… pic.twitter.com/a1OC9MuKnD — Jon Fleetwood (@JonMFleetwood) December 10, 2025 INSTITUTIONAL SUBVERSION: THE DISASTROUS COST OF GLOBAL CONTROL The South Carolina outbreak is an act of institutional subversion that reveals the disastrous cost of globalist mindsets that downplay national sovereignty. The virus exploits every weakness in the system, and the primary weakness was the open border. With Trump back in the White House, the focus must shift immediately: prioritize border security, demand transparent and targeted policy that respects constitutional limits, and use this outbreak as an early test for a restrained, common-sense health policy that earns back public trust. The system rewards spending, not success.