On Monday, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” DeSantis’s move comes after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declared the groups terrorist organizations last month, and President Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for his administration to designate chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.  The Florida order says the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology is “irreconcilable with foundational American principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and notes the group has a history of supporting violence and terrorist attacks, including political assassinations and attacks on civilians, in pursuit of a global Islamic caliphate. It further notes that members of the Muslim Brotherhood created Hamas in 1987, a United States-designated foreign terrorist organization responsible for killing 46 American citizens in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The order then links the Muslim Brotherhood to groups in the United States, stating that the Palestine Committee — a group created to raise financial and moral support for Hamas — founded CAIR in 1994. It adds that CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terror-financing case in American history and has been associated with individuals convicted of providing, or conspiring to provide, material support to designated terrorist organizations. “CAIR was founded by persons connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and was created, in the words of persons affiliated with CAIR, as ‘an official U.S. cover representing the Islamic community’ to conceal ties to Islamic extremist groups,” the order says. The order directs the Florida Highway Patrol to take all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by the designated groups and requires all executive and cabinet agencies to block any terrorist organization listed, or any person known to have provided material support or resources to such an organization, from receiving state contracts, employment, funding, or any other government benefits or privileges. CAIR, which calls itself “the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization,” fired back, calling the order “defamatory and unconstitutional” and accusing DeSantis of being “Israel First.”  “Like Greg Abbott in Texas, Ron DeSantis is an Israel First politician who wants to smear and silence Americans, especially American Muslims, critical of U.S. support for Israel’s war crimes,” CAIR National and CAIR-Florida said in a statement. “Governor DeSantis knows full well that CAIR-Florida is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades advancing free speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including for the Palestinian people.” The group added that they plan to defeat “Governor DeSantis’ latest Israel First stunt” in court.  Last week, Abbott called on the Trump Administration to strip CAIR of its tax-exempt status for its alleged ties to foreign terrorist organizations. He argued that federal investigators and court filings have identified CAIR as “a direct subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood” and as a “front group” for Hamas in the United States. He also cited a recent report that claims CAIR awarded $1,000 cash grants to college students who disrupted classes and intimidated or harassed fellow students “while celebrating Hamas’s October 7th attack.”  “Americans have generous hearts, and federal law wisely creates incentives to donate to nonprofit organizations that promote the public good,” Abbott wrote. “But charity must not become a backdoor to sponsor terrorism, endanger Americans, and subvert our democracy.” According to Trump, the “final documents are being drawn” for the Muslim Brotherhood to receive a foreign terrorist organization designation, which will be “done in the strongest and most powerful terms.”

Records related to the sex-trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell will be released after a federal judge granted a request from the Justice Department on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said that grand jury transcripts and materials from the investigation into Maxwell could be unsealed following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last month, The Hill reported. “The Act unambiguously applies to the discovery in this case,” Engelmayer ruled. With Engelmayer’s decision, hundreds more documents related to the investigation into Epstein and Maxwell’s sex trafficking crimes could soon be available to Americans. The Justice Department asked two federal judges in New York to unseal the grand jury transcripts in November as the Trump administration seeks to release more information and move past the Epstein case, an issue that has plagued the administration throughout President Donald Trump’s second term. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by Trump on November 19, requires the Justice Department to make Epstein-related documents public by December 19. Engelmayer said he remains concerned about the identities of victims being released and criticized the Justice Department for moving to unseal the grand jury documents in July “without giving notice to Maxwell’s and Epstein’s victims,” NBC News reported. Engelmayer’s order comes days after another federal judge ruled that grand jury documents related to the 2005 and 2007 investigations into Epstein should also be made public. U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith said that the bill calling for the release of the Epstein files signed by Trump last month prevails over the standard rules safeguarding the secrecy of grand jury documents. Maxwell, who preyed on young girls and brought them to Epstein’s multiple estates and infamous island, was convicted of five federal counts related to sex trafficking. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Earlier this year, Maxwell agreed to sit down with the Justice Department and answer questions on Epstein and his connections to wealthy and powerful people, including Trump. During her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell said that she “never saw any man doing something inappropriate with a woman of any age.” When asked about Trump, she said he was “always very cordial and very kind to me” and was “a gentleman in all respects.” Maxwell also said she disagreed with the Justice Department’s conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019. “I do not believe he died by suicide,” Maxwell said, but added that she had no idea who could have been behind his death. Maxwell is reportedly planning to ask the Trump administration to review an application for commutation. After her interview with the Justice Department, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security women’s prison.

'Far more than an uncomfortable ride home'

'post-Proposition 50 state of mind'

'Gwen Stefani shills for the right-wing ... app Hallow'

All three suffered gunshot wounds, police said

Gutman apologized for being touched by Robinson's text

'Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the lights in front of the octagon'

Movies & TV Holiday Cheer Five Lesser-Known Horror Movies Set at Christmas ‘Tis the season for jolly jump scares, demonic Santas, and general mayhem! By Lorna Wallace | Published on December 9, 2025 Comment 0 Share New Share I never seem to tire of rewatching classic or nostalgia-inducing Christmas movies in December—I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the first two Home Alone movies—but as a horror lover, I’m also always on the lookout for films that add some frights into my festive viewing. Black Christmas (1974) and Gremlins (1984) are, of course, staples of the Christmas horror subgenre, but those aren’t the only films that add a little darkness to the bright holiday. Below are five lesser-known horror gems set at the most wonderful time of the year. Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) There are two ways to tackle the first two Silent Night, Deadly Night movies. Either watch the first one and then skip the first 40 minutes of the second, or skip the first movie entirely and just jump right into the second. This is because most of the first section of Part 2 is a highlight reel of scenes from the first movie. I started with Part 2, which kicks off on Christmas Eve with main character Ricky (Eric Freeman) being interviewed in a psychiatric hospital after going on a killing spree. Through flashbacks to the first film, we learn that Ricky’s parents were murdered when he was a baby by a man dressed as Santa. This traumatic event, paired with an equally traumatic upbringing in an orphanage, led to his older brother, Billy (Robert Brian Wilson), also becoming a Santa-clad killer. And now, it’s Ricky’s turn to don the red suit. Don’t go into this film expecting a serious slasher; it falls firmly into the goofy so-bad-it’s-good category. While this style of movie isn’t for everyone, I think that Eric Freeman’s over-the-top performance—complete with some of the funniest eyebrow acting I’ve ever seen—is a joy to watch. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Although set at Christmas, Rare Exports is basically devoid of Yuletide cheer, giving viewers a version of Santa that is nothing like the traditional jolly old Saint Nick. But while the halls might not be decked, this Finnish movie features plenty of wintery atmosphere in addition to its unique take on the iconic Christmas figure. Rauno (Jorma Tommila) and his son Pietari (Onni Tommila) are struggling to connect after the loss of their wife and mother. Rauno is a reindeer herder and after many of his animals are killed, he sets up a pit in attempt to capture the wolves that he thinks were responsible. But on Christmas Eve the trap turns up another prize: Santa Claus. This Santa is essentially a feral animal and Rauno, Pietari, and their crew aren’t exactly sure what to do with him. Rare Exports is a creative take on Finnish folklore and mixes a dash of dry humor into its fantasy horror concept. The resulting film is certainly strange, but it’s also a refreshing change of pace from the sometimes overwhelmingly capitalistic and saccharine parts of Christmas. Better Watch Out (2016) Have you ever wondered what the injuries that Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) inflicts upon Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) in Home Alone would look like if they weren’t being played for laughs? It’s only a small part of the film, but Better Watch Out goes some of the way to exploring that idea. The movie starts with Luke’s (Levi Millier) parents going out for a December date night and 17-year-old Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) coming over to babysit. Despite being five years her junior, Luke decides he’s now old enough to have a shot with her romantically—something that she obviously doesn’t go along with. The night is already off to a weird start, but things get even worse when a gun-wielding intruder breaks in. The rest of the movie’s runtime is filled with twists aplenty, intentionally infuriating characters, and a fair bit of blood splattered onto the Christmas decor. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) Anna and the Apocalypse is a zombie movie that’s also a Christmas movie that’s also a musical that’s also a comedy. That’s a lot of different elements to balance, but I’d say the film mostly pulls off the eclectic mix of genres. The titular Anna (Ella Hunt) is a teenager who lives in the fictional Scottish town of Little Haven. It’s the last day of school before Christmas break, but rather than being a day of festive fun, everything turns to chaos when a zombie virus spreads through the town. Armed with an oversized decorative candy cane filed to a sharp point, Anna bands together with her classmates in an attempt to survive—all while occasionally breaking out into song. I do wish there were a few more Scottish accents peppered throughout the cast (I’m Scottish, so this is probably just a me problem), but the film more than makes up for that with its zombie gags, creative kills, and catchy tunes. The Lodge (2019) If it’s a cold, snowy atmosphere you’re after in your Christmas horror, then look no further than The Lodge. Riley Keough plays Grace, who as a child survived the mass suicide of an extremist cult. She’s now engaged to Richard (Richard Armitage), who she met while he was researching the cult, but his two kids (Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh) give her a frosty reception. Richard decides that forced proximity and holiday cheer is just what everyone needs in order to bond, so they all spend Christmas at his snow-blanketed lodge in Massachusetts. But not long after arriving, Richard is unexpectedly called away by work, leaving Grace with two kids who seem intent on hating her. It’s already a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, but it doesn’t take long for their Christmas getaway to take a truly sinister turn. I’ll not reveal the exact horror elements of this film because I think it’s best to just let yourself be taken on the ride. Just know that while my other picks for this list have leaned into the fun side of horror, The Lodge is a bit more serious and psychologically disturbing. Although not an over-populated genre, there are definitely other examples of Christmas horror out there, so please leave your own festively frightful suggestions in the comments below![end-mark] The post Five Lesser-Known Horror Movies Set at Christmas appeared first on Reactor.

Today, Dec. 9, 2025, marks an important anniversary in the lead-up to our country’s upcoming Semiquincentennial: The Battle of Great Bridge. Though less well known than either Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Great Bridge was nonetheless a critical victory—both strategically and in boosting Patriot morale at a time when the struggle for American independence was still in its infancy. The Battle of Great Bridge opened the war for Virginia in what is now the city of Chesapeake, just miles away from where the war would eventually end in Yorktown. Events began to unfold shortly after the “Shots Heard Round the World” in April 1775, when the Virginia House of Burgesses voted to authorize new and existing militias to arm themselves as a means of self-defense. Responding to this perceived act of rebellion, Lord Dunmore, who would consequently be the Old Dominion’s last Royal Governor, resolved to dissolve the legislature, thereby lighting a powder keg over who would control the colony’s military supplies. After a series of skirmishes between Loyalists and Patriots following his orders to seize the gunpowder supply in the colonial capital of Williamsburg, Lord Dunmore, fearing for his safety, fled to the port city of Norfolk and its sizable Royal Navy presence. By October, Lord Dunmore had acquired enough supplies to begin a campaign of suppression aimed at muzzling the colonists’ cries for freedom. Calling up reinforcement under General Thomas Gage, the British commander-in-chief in North America, infantry from the 14th Regiment of Foot began raiding nearby towns for provisions. Later, the memory of such abuses would go on to inform the Framers of the Constitution when drafting the Third Amendment. At the time, anger was an understatement on the part of the colonists, who had responded to the injustices committed by the British by capturing a ship near Hampton on October 12th, resulting in the casualties of several sailors. In response, Lord Dunmore decreed on November 7th the imposition of martial law and the offer of emancipation to any slave willing to fight for the Crown, and Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment eventually grew to 300 men. Along with the Queen’s Rangers, a homegrown regiment of Virginian Loyalists, the Ethiopian Regiment worked to reinforce the defensive maneuverings of the 14th Regiment, a formation based out of Yorkshire, England with limited knowledge of the terrain. The House of Burgesses, now operating as the Virginia Convention, ordered Col. William Woodford of the 2nd Virginia Regiment to lead his 400-strong militia alongside 100 volunteers of the Culpeper Minutemen to march on Norfolk shortly after Lord Dunmore’s proclamation. For both sides, the stakes were high. Upon his arrival in Norfolk, Lord Dunmore ordered the fortification of the overpass alongside the Elizabeth River in the village of Great Bridge. At the time, this was the only route to and from North Carolina. The British hoped to suppress the colonists’ rebellion through a strategy of divide and conquer by isolating Southern port cities such as Charleston and Savannah, creating an insurmountable bottleneck that would fatally fracture any sort of solidarity among the thirteen colonies. Col. Woodford and his men, however, saw opportunity. Virginia’s population distribution at the time was radically different from today. Instead of a sprawling metropolis, Northern Virginia along the Potomac then boasted only the small village of Georgetown. In the 18th century, Virginia’s population was most densely concentrated in the Tidewater region. The only British military presence in the colony were the three aforementioned infantry units and the naval presence in Norfolk. Simply put, if the Patriots could drive the British out of Norfolk, they could consolidate control in Virginia. At Great Bridge, the three British infantry units established Fort Murray, their only land-based force in the colony. On December 2nd, Col. Woodford and his forces arrived at the bridge, preparing for battle. Both sides had to contend with faulty intelligence, though ultimately it worked immensely in favor of the Patriots. British intelligence also failed to anticipate reinforcements from the North Carolina militia that swelled Col. Woodford’s command to 700 men fit for service. Despite this, Col. Woodford prepared for the worst, owing to rumors that the British would be reinforced by Scottish Highlanders, which turned out to be partially true owing to the Highlanders’ limited arms training. As the battle commenced, Col. Woodford focused on entrenchment rather than an all-out assault. Expecting an attack that never came, British Captain Charles Fordyce prematurely exclaimed, “The day is ours!” The emboldened British, lulled by a false sense of impending victory, began to gradually approach the Patriot defensive line, but this turned out to be a trap. After a gut-wrenching moment of silence, the Patriots opened fire, cutting down Captain Fordyce and twelve privates. On the side of the Virginia Patriots, black freeman William Flora distinguished himself, engaging a whole platoon of British soldiers to slow their advance and by the Patriots enough time to man their defenses. The British quickly retreated to Fort Murray and then onward to Norfolk. Following the Battle of Great Bridge, the British presence in Virginia would be reduced to a shadow of what it once was, and the British fled the burning city of Norfolk in January 1776. Although briefly using the nearby city of Portsmouth as a landing point for raids, Lord Dunmore soon sailed north to New York City in August 1776, never to return to Virginia. In remembering Great Bridge 250 years later, we honor more than a tactical victory—we honor the character of the people who secured it. Col. William Woodford and the men who followed him were not fighting for glory, nor from certainty of success, but from the conviction that free people can chart their own destiny. Their courage in the swamps of Tidewater set a precedent that would echo all the way to Yorktown. America was not born in comfort or inevitability; it was built plank by plank, sacrifice by sacrifice, by ordinary men and women who refused to accept that tyranny was their inheritance. The post Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Great Bridge, Virginia appeared first on The Daily Signal.