The Trump administration moved more troops and military assets into the South Caribbean this week as the president continues to ratchet up pressure on Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military moved a large number of special operations aircraft, soldiers, and more equipment into the area this week, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deployment comes as the United States has begun to seize oil tankers known for transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil. In a press conference on Monday, Trump warned Maduro against playing “tough” with the U.S. military. “He can do whatever he wants. We have a massive armada formed, the biggest we’ve ever had – by far the biggest we’ve ever had in South America. He could do whatever he wants. It’s alright. Whatever he wants to do, if he wants to do something. If he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” said Trump. At least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and a C-17 cargo plane flew from the United States to the South Caribbean on Monday, according to WSJ. The aircraft carried troops and other equipment. Maduro has accused the Trump administration of pursuing colonialism in South America and of violating international law. U.S. military operations against drug trafficking began in international waters off the coast of Venezuela over the summer and have resulted in dozens of drug boats being sunk by U.S. missiles. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships During his first term, Trump called on Maduro to step down as Venezuela’s leader. Trump has increased pressure in the first year of his second term, raising a bounty on Maduro to $50 million and approving CIA operations in Venezuela targeting the dictator. The United States has seized at least two sanctioned oil tankers in recent weeks and pursued a third, according to reports. The president said on Monday that the United States would keep the oil and potentially add it to “the strategic reserves.” The decision to target Venezuela’s international oil business marks a significant escalation in the pressure campaign against Maduro. Oil is the foundation of Venezuela’s economy and accounts for much of the money used to maintain Maduro’s regime.

Even though Reba McEntire and Rex Linn didn’t tell the world until later, he popped the question last Christmas Eve. Though they haven’t nailed down wedding plans just yet, the pair looks forward to celebrating the holidays together and the one-year anniversary of their engagement. Rex and Reba recently told US Weekly about their holiday plans during an interview on the red carpet at The Voice season 28 finale on December 15. Reba said that she and Rex were “really looking forward to getting back to Tennessee, sitting in front of the fire, doing a lot of cooking, and getting caught up with family and friends.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reba McEntire (@reba) Reba McEntire and Rex Linn Have Holiday Plans Ready to Go This year, Reba McEntire said she’s letting Rex Linn do all the cooking for the holidays so she can relax. She’s not much of a cook, and that’s OK with her. Rex apparently does a pretty darn amazing job. “Oh, he’s a great — well, I don’t know about chef. But he’s the type that will spend three days on a recipe,” Reba said. Reba McEntire said that she and Rex will have fun during the holidays because that’s what happens when they’re together. She uses that motto for her life at home and at work. “Have fun. That is the best advice I’ve ever gotten. And Rex, my fiancé, says it all the time. Have fun no matter what you’re doing,” Reba said. “But before you get to have fun, you’ve got to be prepared, know your lines or your song, whatever it is, so you can go up there on that stage, when the lights come on, and the microphone is in your hand, you can have fun, because you know what you’re supposed to do. You’re prepared.” This story’s featured image is by Casey Durkin/NBC via Getty Images.

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The iconic voice that sings the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the animated special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” ensured the tune has stayed a classic for ages — but the man behind the voice was never given credit.“They needed somebody that could bring the Grinch, somebody who had a scowl that could match the Grinch. And that’s when the guy who was never named comes into the picture and walks into the studio,” Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck explains.“And somewhere in a Los Angeles recording booth late at night, I think 1966, he steps up into a booth, up to a microphone, and his voice is so deep, it’s almost as if it rolled out of the earth itself,” he continues.“He steps up to the microphone, and he records the now really super famous anthem in ‘The Grinch,’” he adds.The song may only be six verses, but while he recorded the song, the crew and those who worked on it said that “they knew that that performance would outlive all of them.”“They put it in the show. The show airs. Credits roll. His name’s not on it. Not a mention, not a whisper,” Glenn says.While he was never officially given credit, the man who delivered what Glenn calls “one of the most unforgettable performances in Christmas history” was named Thurl Ravenscroft.“His name is nowhere to be found, but it should be. And it should be remembered, because he’s great,” Glenn adds.Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Public DomainGilbert Stuart painted this portrait of George Washington in 1804, five years after the first president’s death. As the first president of the United States, George Washington is one of the most recognizable figures in American history. That’s thanks in part to his portrait on the $1 bill. Now, one of the original portraits by artist Gilbert Stuart that inspired Washington’s depiction on the currency is heading to auction. Stuart created many paintings of the first president, and this particular work of art was commissioned by James Madison in 1804. Experts estimate that it will sell for up to $1 million when it hits the auction block in January 2026. Gilbert Stuart’s Paintings Of George Washington This portrait will be sold as part of an auction organized by Christie’s in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Stuart’s painting is one of hundreds of pieces of “Americana” set to be sold at New York City’s Rockefeller Center in January. Public DomainGilbert Stuart, the artist behind some of the most famous portraits of George Washington. Gilbert Stuart was already a well-known portraitist when he was introduced to George Washington in 1794 through a letter written by John Jay, the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. The following year, Washington sat for Stuart for the first time, which resulted in the Vaughan Portrait. Then, in 1796, the president sat for Stuart two more times, leading to the Athenaeum Portrait and the Lansdowne Portrait. From these three paintings, Stuart went on to create dozens of replicas and copies. The Athenaeum is his most famous, even though he never finished the portrait. It was used to make the engraving that appears on the $1 bill today. Stuart also used the Athenaeum as a model when James Madison commissioned a portrait of George Washington in 1804, five years after the first president’s death. The 1804 Washington Portrait’s Long History Madison proudly displayed Stuart’s 1804 portrait of Washington for years, and it was eventually inherited by his son. By the 1850s, it had been purchased by businessman William Henry Aspinwall, and it was later owned by industrialist James W. Ellsworth and art collector William K. Bixby. Then, in 1951, it was gifted to Clarkson University in New York by Robert L. Clarkson, whose family had founded the institution. Public DomainGilbert Stuart’s unfinished Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington inspired both Stuart’s 1804 painting and the engraving on the $1 bill. In 1968, three members of the school’s Theta Xi fraternity stole the painting as a joke, thinking it was a reproduction. They quickly returned it when they learned the truth. As one of the men, Stephen Pazian, told The Washington Post, “We had the, ‘Oh, sh—’ moment.” All charges against them were ultimately expunged. Several years ago, the board of trustees at Clarkson University decided the painting may be better off elsewhere, as there is no art museum on campus. Now, the school hopes to use the proceeds to fund additional educational opportunities. In 2015, one of Stuart’s Athenaeum portraits sold for $1,062,500. The fact that this 1804 painting once belonged to James Madison only adds to its value, and experts expect that it will bring in anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million. After reading about the George Washington portrait that’s going up for auction, go inside the death of the first president. Then, learn seven shocking facts about the Founding Fathers. The post A Painting Of George Washington That Inspired His Portrait On The $1 Bill Is Heading To Auction appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Dear Zachary/FacebookBaby Zachary Andrew Turner, whose short life became the center of a devastating custody battle that ended in tragedy. On July 18, 2002, Zachary Andrew Turner was born into a nightmare. To the outside world, he was a happy, bright-eyed little boy, but behind every photograph was a dark secret: Zachary’s mother, Dr. Shirley Turner, had seemingly murdered his father while pregnant with him. Turner allegedly shot her ex-boyfriend, Andrew Bagby, to death in a Pennsylvania parking lot in November 2001, just a few weeks after conceiving Zachary. She then fled to Canada, where she had citizenship. While she was arrested in Newfoundland, a judge determined that she wasn’t a threat and released her on bail while she was awaiting extradition to the United States and trial for murder. Bagby’s parents moved to Canada to fight for custody of Zachary after his birth. They didn’t trust Shirley Turner. Their instincts turned out to be right. On August 18, 2003, when Zachary was just 13 months old, Turner strapped him to her chest and jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. Their bodies washed ashore not long after. From the moment he entered the world, Zachary Turner was caught between the people who loved him and a system that repeatedly failed him. His short life and violent death would later become the subject of one of the most heartbreaking documentaries ever made, Dear Zachary. Shirley Turner’s Alleged Murder Of Andrew Bagby Andrew Bagby built his life around helping others. In 1999, he was a third-year medical student at Memorial University of Newfoundland when he met Shirley Turner, who had recently earned her degree from the same school and was training as a resident physician. They began dating, and even when Bagby graduated and returned to the United States for a surgical residency, they still saw each other fairly frequently. Dear Zachary/FacebookAndrew Bagby, the father of Zachary Bagby, was allegedly murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Shirley Turner. Turner’s charm initially masked a long past of emotional volatility. As her relationship with Bagby progressed, he became unnerved by her dramatic mood swings and obsessive behavior. He tried to break up with her several times, and by the fall of 2001, he had decided to finally end things for good. Then, on the morning of Nov. 5, 2001, 28-year-old Bagby was found shot to death in a parking lot at Pennsylvania’s Keystone State Park. Almost immediately, suspicion centered on one person: Turner. Turner’s past relationships had been volatile. She was possessive and prone to explosive emotional outbursts. Bagby had finally ended their tumultuous relationship in the days before his death, telling friends he was exhausted and ready to move on. But Shirley Turner wasn’t. HandoutAndrew Bagby with Shirley Turner, whose tragic relationship ended in his murder and the death of their son, Zachary. On the night of Nov. 4, Bagby agreed to meet Turner one last time to bring closure to their relationship. Instead, it became the last time anyone saw him alive. Investigators would later learn that Turner had driven nearly 1,000 miles to confront him. Within weeks, Turner revealed that she was pregnant with Bagby’s child. That baby was Zachary. The Life Of Zachary Andrew Turner By the time investigators knew about Shirley Turner’s pregnancy, she had already fled to Canada. She was arrested on Dec. 12, 2001. American police were almost certain that Turner had killed Bagby, but despite their evidence and Turner’s erratic behavior, a series of legal missteps and judicial failures allowed her to remain free. This devastating chain of events would ultimately claim the life of Zachary Andrew Turner. While U.S. officials pushed for Shirley Turner’s extradition, Canadian courts claimed that she wasn’t a threat. A judge released her on bail even though she was awaiting trial for murder. She was allowed to walk free — and she was allowed to retain custody of her newborn son. HandoutShirley Turner holding little Zachary Turner. Andrew Bagby’s grieving parents, Kathleen and David Bagby, immediately moved from California to Newfoundland to fight for custody of Zachary Andrew Turner. They dedicated their lives to protecting the infant and became the only stable, loving presence he had. But whenever Turner demanded her child back, the courts forced the Bagbys to comply. As Turner awaited extradition, her behavior grew increasingly volatile. According to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, she harassed a new love interest, calling him more than 200 times in a single month. She lied about being pregnant again. She stalked him, threatened him, and left alarming messages. Professionals who assessed Turner seemed to minimize every red flag, though. She was labeled as “stressed” rather than dangerous and “overwhelmed” rather than violent. Meanwhile, the Bagbys documented Turner’s behavior, pleading with child welfare officials to protect Zachary. However, Turner repeatedly portrayed herself as a misunderstood single mother, and Zachary remained in her care. David and Kathleen BigbyZachary Andrew Turner with his grandparents, David and Kathleen Bigby on Christmas 2002. During Zachary Andrew Turner’s first birthday party, the baby reached for his grandmother instead of his mom. Turner became visibly upset. “He obviously loves you more than me,” she snapped. “So why don’t you take him?” The last time Kathleen and David Bagby saw Zachary alive was during a court-ordered visitation on August 17, 2003. They strapped him into his car seat and kissed him goodbye. As Turner drove away with him, Kathleen felt an overwhelming sense of dread. The next day, both Shirley and Zachary Turner were dead. The Night Of The Murder-Suicide On August 18, 2003, Shirley picked up a prescription for lorazepam, a powerful sedative often used to treat anxiety. She fed a large dose of the drug to Zachary in his bottle and took a handful of the pills herself. Then, she drove to a wharf in Conception Bay South. With Zachary strapped tightly to her chest, Turner jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. The CBC reported at the time that a couple walking their dog along the beach discovered her body washed up the next morning. Rescuers then found Zachary Andrew Turner just yards away from his mother. He was only 13 months old. Tango7174/Wikimedia CommonsConception Bay South, the waterfront where Shirley Turner jumped into the Atlantic with baby Zachary strapped to her chest. An autopsy later confirmed that Zachary had been heavily drugged before his death and was likely unconscious when he drowned. A homicide investigation later concluded what everyone already knew: This was not an accident. It was murder. The child the Bagbys had fought so desperately to protect had been killed by the one person the courts insisted should have custody of him. In the years that followed, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby’s childhood friend, completed the documentary he had begun after Bagby’s murder. Originally, it was meant as a gift — a way for Zachary to someday know the father he’d never meet. However, what was supposed to be a tribute to Bagby became a record of every systemic failure that led to Zachary Turner’s death. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father devastated audiences worldwide. In 2006, Canada enacted Bill C-464, also known as “Zachary’s Bill,” allowing courts to deny bail to individuals accused of serious crimes when the safety of a child is at stake. Zachary Andrew Turner’s death exposed the unthinkable consequences of prioritizing an accused killer’s comfort over a child’s safety. The bill passed in 2010. Zachary’s story had changed the law, but it was far too late to save him. After reading the tragic story of Zachary Andrew Turner, learn about the Atlanta child murders. Then, go inside the story of Shelly Knotek, the serial killer mom who was released from prison. The post The Tragic Story Of Zachary Andrew Turner, The One-Year-Old Who Was Murdered By His Own Mother appeared first on All That's Interesting.