A federal appeals court ruled in favor of allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access data from the Department of Education, the Treasury Department, and the Office of Personnel Management after previously being blocked by a lower court in February.

A train with 35 Union Pacific cars has derailed in Palo Pinto County near Gordon, Texas. 

Big Media loses it over Trump's plans for White House: Rob Finnerty

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is convening an emergency top-level summit ahead of critical Ukraine negotiations in Alaska. Politico calls it “extraordinary.” Ukrainian President Zelensky will be on the call. If they think they can force President Trump to continue the war, I believe they are mistaken. The Europeans are panicking over possibly losing the West’s […] The post Germany Has an Emergency War Summit on Ukraine Tomorrow appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

In the grand tradition of “Cocaine Mitch” McConnell (R-KY), “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip accidentally gave President Donald Trump a new nickname that, if anything, will only make him sound cooler. Phillip began a roundtable discussion with a reference to Trump’s decision to invoke Section 740 of the Home Rule Act and deploy federal resources in Washington, D.C., in an effort to tackle the rampant violent crime that has been plaguing the city and putting residents and visitors at risk. WATCH: CNN’s Abby Phillip: “Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City.” That makes President Trump sound SUPER COOL! Don’t think that was Abby’s intention at all. pic.twitter.com/DeNP1nUVwh — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 12, 2025 “Let’s get right to what America is talking about,” she began. “Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City. The President of the United States has declared himself Crime Fighter in Chief, and he’s taking over Washington’s police force. It is a move that the D.C. Mayor is calling ‘unsettling and unprecedented.'” The immediate response from Trump voters was to embrace the nickname, flooding X with memes and comments referring to Trump as Batman. “I voted for this,” one posted with an AI-generated image of Trump as Batman with Vice President JD Vance as Robin. I voted for this. https://t.co/WRMux4ElcV pic.twitter.com/nkA1jUNTE1 — Burt Macklin (@BurtMaclin_FBI) August 12, 2025 “I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be,” another added, including an image of Trump in the iconic cape and cowl. I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be. https://t.co/dLq87STYp8 pic.twitter.com/PyWsExDKhC — Christian Martinez (@C_RMartinez) August 12, 2025 “We call this stumbling upon truth,” one quipped in response to Phillip’s comment. We call this stumbling upon truth https://t.co/DVDeXONGdD — Derek. (@SuitablePolitic) August 12, 2025 “Ya’ll really trying to make @realDonaldTrump look even more badass aren’t you?” another asked. Yall really trying to make @realDonaldTrump look even more badass aren’t you @abbydphillip ? https://t.co/zUFO9jYZaA pic.twitter.com/0vHPK70QZo — Rollo (@SportsRollo) August 12, 2025 And of course, a number pointed out the fact that years ago — when asked by a young boy if he was Batman — Trump said that he was: “I am Batman!” CNN’s Abby Phillip: “Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City.” President Trump: “I am Batman” https://t.co/GiwUHsSO8X pic.twitter.com/HfTcPkfGHp — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 12, 2025

The State Department just escalated its fight against terrorism by designating a Pakistani separatist group’s suicide wing as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, revealing how these militants have evolved into a sophisticated threat targeting Chinese infrastructure and civilian transportation. State Department Targets Pakistan Separatist Suicide Wing The State Department announced August 11, 2025, that it designated the Majeed Brigade as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, clarifying that this unit operates as the suicide and special operations wing of the Balochistan Liberation Army. This upgrade from the group’s previous 2019 Specially Designated Global Terrorist status activates stronger legal penalties including immigration restrictions and material support prohibitions. The designation specifically identifies Majeed Brigade as an alias rather than a separate organization, closing potential loopholes in counterterrorism enforcement. The BLA emerged in the 2000s as a Baloch ethnonationalist militant organization seeking independence for Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The Majeed Brigade formed around 2010 as the BLA’s elite unit, named after Majeed Langove Sr. and Jr., and conducted its first suicide attack in December 2011. Since then, the group has maintained a sustained campaign of asymmetric warfare targeting Pakistani security forces, civilian infrastructure, and increasingly Chinese-linked projects tied to the Belt and Road Initiative. Deadly Train Attack Triggers Enhanced Sanctions The March 2025 seizure of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar represented a significant escalation that prompted the FTO designation. Majeed Brigade operatives killed 31 passengers and held over 300 hostages during the multi-day incident, demonstrating the group’s capability for complex territorial operations. The State Department also cited 2024 suicide bombings near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority complex as evidence of the group’s sustained threat to regional security and international stakeholders. West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center identified 2024 as pivotal for the insurgency, with operations designed to seize and hold territory rather than conduct traditional hit-and-run attacks. The group has introduced female suicide attackers since 2022 and pioneered multi-day complex assaults on military installations including coordinated attacks on camps in Noshki and Panjgur in 2022. These tactical innovations reflect a strategic evolution beyond conventional insurgency methods toward more sophisticated terrorist operations. Chinese Infrastructure Becomes Primary Target The designation comes as BLA attacks increasingly target Chinese investments in Pakistan’s China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, particularly around the strategic Gwadar Port. The group views these projects as symbols of Pakistani state control and foreign exploitation of Baloch resources, making Chinese workers and infrastructure frequent targets. Regional security analysts note that the insurgency’s focus on disrupting Belt and Road projects elevates international concern about Pakistan’s ability to protect foreign investments and maintain stability in the resource-rich province. Breaking: State Department adds South Asian group to terror list https://t.co/fKwbYcao8J — Just the News (@JustTheNews) August 11, 2025 The FTO designation imposes additional financial and legal constraints on the BLA’s support networks while signaling stronger U.S. commitment to countering terrorism that affects regional stability. However, experts warn that administrative sanctions alone are unlikely to address core grievances driving the Baloch insurgency, including political marginalization and disputes over resource control. The group has demonstrated resilience through tactical adaptation and decentralized operations, suggesting continued security challenges for Pakistan despite enhanced international pressure on facilitator networks. Sources: Majeed Brigade – Wikipedia The Baloch Insurgency in Pakistan: Evolution, Tactics, and Regional Security Implications – CTC West Point US lists Balochistan Liberation Army, Majeed Brigade in Pakistan as terrorist groups – Anadolu Agency Balochistan Liberation Army – Wikipedia

A new budget battle looms in Congress, threatening another government shutdown and pitting conservative values against Senate compromises. House GOP Faces Division Over Budget Mega-Bill As the government funding deadline approaches, the House GOP is entangled in internal conflicts over a key budget “mega-bill.” The proposed package, which integrates tax policy, immigration enforcement, and defense spending, has stalled due to pushback from the House Freedom Caucus. This hard-right faction objects to the Senate’s revisions and the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) projection of a $3.4 trillion deficit increase over the next decade. The GOP’s struggle is emblematic of a broader strategic challenge: achieving near-total unity in a narrowly divided House, while also satisfying Senate demands for bipartisan support. The Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold means that any final deal must include Democratic backing, a reality that has sparked frustration and resistance from conservative House members. Strategic Challenges in Avoiding a Shutdown The core dilemma for House Republicans lies in balancing conservative principles with the structural necessity of Senate approval. The Freedom Caucus, formed in 2015, has historically leveraged its influence to steer GOP leadership toward more conservative positions. However, the Senate’s requirement for bipartisan deals often leads to compromises that are unpalatable to this faction, increasing the risk of gridlock and government shutdowns. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team are navigating these treacherous waters, trying to maintain conference unity while crafting a package that can pass the Senate. The involvement of the White House in lobbying House holdouts underscores the high stakes and limited intraparty leverage. Potential Outcomes and Implications As the legislative clock ticks, the House GOP’s path forward remains fraught with challenges. In the short term, the risk of missing appropriations deadlines looms large, potentially leading to reliance on stopgap measures that require Democratic support. This scenario could deepen internal fractures within the GOP and weaken the leadership’s bargaining power. Looking ahead, the persistent tension between House conservative demands and Senate constraints is likely to institutionalize bipartisan endgames for funding. This cycle of procedural leverage, late compromises, and shutdown brinkmanship may continue to plague congressional negotiations, impacting taxpayers, federal agencies, and key sectors like defense and energy. The broader economic implications are significant, as the CBO’s deficit projections complicate claims of fiscal restraint and may affect market perceptions of the U.S. fiscal outlook. Politically, repeated failures to pass rules and reliance on cross-party coalitions could influence electoral dynamics, particularly in swing districts. Sources: House narrowly approves Trump-aligned budget framework and outlines House-Senate differences/timing House GOP struggles to advance mega-bill; rule held open; HFC-led objections; CBO deficit estimate; Senate changes on immigration/clean energy; named members opposing/withholding Freedom Caucus background and 2023–2024 precedents: suspensions, rules fights, reliance on Democrats, Johnson-Schumer topline deal context GOP leaders seek White House help to sway HFC holdouts on rule passage “`