Unfortunately for correspondent Aaron Gilchrist (and the crew), while ABC and CBS seemingly gave their political correspondents the day off, NBC’s Today made him trek out to the White House on a cold, post-Christmas Thursday morning to do a live shot to help them pearl clutch over President-elect Trump’s social media posts. They were left concerned by Trump’s Christmas foreign policy posts about acquiring new territory for the U.S. and reacquiring some old. “Back here at home, there are new questions this morning about President-elect Trump's ideas to claim new territory overseas, after he fired off a series of social media posts on Christmas Day, suggesting that the U.S. should expand into Canada and Greenland and take control over the Panama Canal,” announced fill in anchor Laura Jarrett. After noting that Trump has been “brain-storming policy ideas on social media” for a while, Gilchrist noted that Trump had a new fixation with the Panama Canal given their high usage fees which largely effect U.S. shipping since we’re the largest beneficiary: The President-elect starting off a holiday Truth Social post, expressing frustration about the U.S. pouring money into repairs for the Panama Canal. That's after he all already said that he would demand control of the canal back if Panama doesn't ease usage fees. And this comes as he also named his pick for ambassador to that country, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera. What went omitted was the fact that Democratic President Jimmy Carter was the one who gave away U.S. control of the vital maritime traffic passage.     Up next was Trump’s “musings” about acquiring Canada as the U.S.’s 51st state, or at least having hockey legend Wayne Gretzky take over as prime minister: And Trump's musings about potentially expanding U.S. power didn't really stop there. He went on to wish a merry Christmas to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and again suggested the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state. There was another post where he also encouraged former hockey star Wayne Gretzky to run to replace Trudeau. Trump then ends the post with a mention of Greenland, saying yet again that the U.S. could obtain the nation for national security needs, Laura. As for the oversees reaction to Trump stirring the pot, Panama and Denmark (the owner of Greenland) were not amused: JARRETT: Aaron, there are countless questions about how this is supposed to work in reality, but what are the leaders of these countries saying? GILCHRIST: Well, these leaders are all really pushing back on these ideas from Mr. Trump. Panama and Denmark both insisting that they are not selling anything. Gilchrist did note that Trump’s comments didn’t necessarily mean military conquest was on the table, but rather they could just be “some sort of strategic positioning, or if they're just plain internet trolling.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: NBC’s Today December 26, 2024 7:13:30 a.m. Eastern LAURA JARRETT: Back here at home, there are new questions this morning about President-elect Trump's ideas to claim new territory overseas, after he fired off a series of social media posts on Christmas Day, suggesting that the U.S. should expand into Canada and Greenland and take control over the Panama Canal. NBC's Aaron Gilchrist is at the White House with the very latest on all of this. Aaron, good morning. What are Mr. Trump's intentions here? AARON GILCHRIST: Well, Laura, good morning. Trump's brain-storming policy ideas on social media has been a key feature of his campaigns and his first term in office. There were no signs of him slowing down over Christmas day, either. The President-elect starting off a holiday Truth Social post, expressing frustration about the U.S. pouring money into repairs for the Panama Canal. That's after he all already said that he would demand control of the canal back if Panama doesn't ease usage fees. And this comes as he also named his pick for ambassador to that country, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera. And Trump's musings about potentially expanding U.S. power didn't really stop there. He went on to wish a merry Christmas to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and again suggested the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state. There was another post where he also encouraged former hockey star Wayne Gretzky to run to replace Trudeau. Trump then ends the post with a mention of Greenland, saying yet again that the U.S. could obtain the nation for national security needs, Laura. JARRETT: Aaron, there are countless questions about how this is supposed to work in reality, but what are the leaders of these countries saying? GILCHRIST: Well, these leaders are all really pushing back on these ideas from Mr. Trump. Panama and Denmark both insisting that they are not selling anything. And it remains to be seen if all of these comments amount to real foreign policy goals, some sort of strategic positioning, or if they're just plain internet trolling, Laura. JARRETT: Fair enough. Aaron Gilchrist at the White House for us, thank you.

Scientific American, a 179-year-old magazine published by the German-British Springer Nature Group, appears increasingly keen to dirty itself with politics rather than engage in clean science. Just weeks after Laura Helmuth stepped down as the magazine's editor in chief after an ugly rant in which she effectively called over 77.3 million Americans who voted for President-elect Donald Trump both "fascists" and "bigoted," and months after the magazine pushed gender ideologues' pseudoscientific narrative, Scientific American published a piece claiming that Trump's choice of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to run the National Institutes of Health is "the wrong move for science and public health." Extra to insinuating that Bhattacharya was not actually censored during the pandemic and arguing that the destructive approach championed by the scientific establishment during the pandemic was not authoritarian, the author of the piece, Steven Albert, concern-mongered that Trump's pick might prioritize Americans' personal autonomy if confirmed as head of the NIH. Debate over therapeutics, health protocols, and the origin of COVID-19 was stifled during the pandemic. Bhattacharya, among the experts whose views were suppressed at the urging of Biden health officials, refused to uncritically accept the prevailing wisdom of medical establishmentarians who advocated for lockdowns, vaccine mandates, masking for kids, and other ruinous COVID-19 policies. Bhattacharya, a professor of health policy at Stanford University, co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which suggested that geriatrics and other higher-risk groups should engage in shielding, whereas healthy individuals should "immediately be allowed to resume life as normal." According to the declaration, healthy individuals were better off catching the virus and developing natural immunity. Scientific establishmentarians keen on coercive medicine and blanket lockdowns attacked Bhattacharya for proposing this alternative approach. President Joe Biden's former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci called the declaration "total nonsense." Former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins conspired to issue a "quick and devastating takedown" of Bhattacharya's criticism. In the weeks since Trump announced that Bhattacharya would "restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research," establishmentarians have resumed their attacks on the esteemed epidemiologist both at home and abroad. 'Pitting personal autonomy against the application of science to policy is fine for vanity webcasts and think tanks.' Steven Albert, Hallen chair of community health and social justice at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health, jumped on the bandwagon, griping in the pages of Scientific American about Bhattacharya's criticism of the "authoritarian tendencies of public health" and his advocacy for turning "the NIH from something that's sort of how to control society into something that's aimed at the discovery of truth to improve the health of Americans." "The claims of authoritarianism are a screen for pushing a particular agenda that is likely to damage the NIH. Bhattacharya's science agenda is political: to set concerns for personal autonomy against evidence-based public health science," wrote Albert. "This is not appropriate for NIH leadership." Albert expressed concern that Bhattacharya's apparent prioritization of Americans' God-given and Constitution-secured rights over health policy might prompt him to take a stand against "enforced vaccine requirements for children attending public schools" or perhaps even against the introduction of fluoride in drinking water, which the National Toxicology Program recently admitted can cause mental retardation in kids at the exposure levels seen in various places around the country. "Pitting personal autonomy against the application of science to policy is fine for vanity webcasts and think tanks, but inappropriate for NIH leadership. If he would rather focus on promoting personal autonomy in pandemic policy, perhaps he is being nominated to the wrong agency," wrote Albert. Albert further suggested — in the pages of a magazine that not only platformed the claim on the heels of a rushed vaccine rollout that "there is no question that the current vaccines are effective and safe" but also echoed the discredited thesis of a paper in its sister journal that the COVID-19 virus likely had zoonotic origins — that Bhattacharya's critical views "are one more unfortunate legacy of the COVID pandemic." Albert defended the failed pandemic policies that Bhattacharya previously criticized, claiming that "science supported school closures, work-from-home policies, large gathering restrictions in public spaces, and face mask requirements as effective ways to lower hospital surges and buy time for vaccine development." The "science" that Albert trusted in the case of school closures clearly needed the kind of second-guessing advocated by Bhattacharya, given that the closures put multitudes of school children years behind in math, reading, science, and general learning and have been linked to massive spikes in mental illness, suicide, and obesity. After making the grossly ahistoric claim that "it is not authoritarian to use science for policy" and accusing Trump of dealing in falsehoods, Albert claimed that "income inequality and access to health care," not "authoritarianism in science or public health," were responsible for the devastation wreaked upon the country during the pandemic. Albert wrapped up his hit piece by complaining about Bhattacharya possibly decentralizing the agency's functions and shifting NIH grant funding to the states; banning dangerous gain-of-function research and experiments using aborted baby parts; and depoliticizing science. In response to Bhattacharya's nomination last month, Matt Kibbe, BlazeTV host of "Kibbe on Liberty" and "The Coverup," which recently featured the epidemiologist, noted, "Jay Bhattacharya was deemed a 'fringe epidemiologist' by former NIH Director Francis Collins, who demonized him for asking obvious questions about the government's authoritarian response to COVID. Now, Jay will take the helm at NIH and clean house of all those who corrupted public health and did so much damage to Americans during the pandemic. Karma is a b****." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here

California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration is considering ways to shield illegal aliens from President-elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming deportation efforts.According to an internal memo obtained by Politico this week, the administration drafted a plan titled “Immigrant Support Network Concept,” which would create “an Immigrant Support Network comprised of regional ‘hubs’ to connect at-risk individuals, their families, and communities with community systems — such as legal services, schools, labor unions, local governments, etc.”'He’s going to use taxpayer resources to protect who exactly?'Politico reported that the draft is vague on the specifics of the plan, which is reportedly still under review. However, it noted that the hubs would provide illegal aliens with referrals to service providers and share “critical” information to coordinate statewide policies in response to Trump’s deportation efforts.The California Department of Social Services would allocate state funds to qualifying nonprofit organizations.The draft notes that funding for the plan would be earmarked for “community outreach, partnership, legal services staffing positions, and approved administrative costs associated with hub operations.” It is unclear how much funding the program would require.The draft indicated that the DSS is still assessing potential interest in the plan, Politico also reported. The final proposal is expected to be unveiled by mid-January.Theresa Mier, a DSS spokesperson, told the news outlet, “The administration continues to collaborate with the Legislature to finalize a thoughtful special session funding proposal, which is on track to be signed into law before January 20, 2025.”Another DSS spokesperson, Scott Murray, told the New York Post, “This document is an internal and deliberative draft document meant for internal discussions as part of a number of possible considerations given the incoming federal administration’s public remarks.”“It is not a final proposal,” he remarked.A representative for Newsom’s office told the news outlet that the draft document appears to be “preliminary” and at the “department level,” indicating that the governor has not yet reviewed it.Newsom has vowed to “Trump-proof” California by pushing through legislation that would create roadblocks for the incoming administration, and he has also ensured that Attorney General Rob Bonta has the funds to file legal action against Trump. Newsom asked state legislators for $25 million for potential lawsuits against the Trump administration.California launched more than 100 lawsuits against Trump during his first term.Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener has also proposed a bill seeking $60 million in taxpayer funds to form an “immigrant detention representation and coordination program,” Politico reported.Former United States Border Patrol Chief Ron Vitiello responded to the leaked internal memo.Vitiello told Fox News, “This is destructive leadership shown by Gavin Newsom in California.”“Now he wants to use the state’s funds and the state infrastructure to flout federal law,” he continued. “This is a state that has some of the highest income taxes in the country, some of the highest sales tax in the country, and about a $68 billion deficit.”“He’s going to use taxpayer resources to protect who exactly? People who are in the country illegally, who broke the law to be here,” Vitiello added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

EAGLE PASS, Texas — Shelby Park has undergone a dramatic transformation due to the Biden-Harris border crisis and the state of Texas' effort to reduce the number of illegal crossings. From shipping containers to razor wire to chain-link fencing, the park by the Rio Grande resembles a hardened military base.December 18 marked the United Nations' International Migrants Day. In Southern Mexico, immigrants told Blaze Media they were trying to reach the United States on that day because of a rumor indicating that the border would be open for them. Ultimately, there was not a massive surge in the area, but officers remarked that last Wednesday was busier than it had been during the past few weeks.While illegal crossings are down compared to this time last year, illegal immigrants are still making their last attempts to enter the United States before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in less than a month. What has played out since the Texas National Guard took over Shelby Park — and what largely has prevented Border Patrol from entering the park since it is under state control — is a game of cat and mouse for illegal border-crossers.The group ran straight toward the white and green pickup and turned themselves in to be processed.If Texas state troopers catch suspected illegal immigrants on private property, instead of turning them over to Border Patrol, the troopers will arrest them for trespassing. If National Guardsmen encounter them, the soldiers will not open the gates to let them in and, in some cases, will even repel them with pepper balls if they get too rowdy. As if to highlight how ridiculous the border crisis has become, illegal immigrants actively seek out and run toward Border Patrol agents so they can be released into the United States after being processed. Blaze Media witnessed the "game" in real time while embedded with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers. The FWC has been sent by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to Texas to support Operation Lone Star, an initiative of Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R). Driving along the fortified, though temporary, fencing with the FWC, Blaze News spotted a group of 20 illegal immigrants who had gone through a hole in the first fence of the border and were climbing over the second fence, which had concertina wire on top. When they realized the group was not Border Patrol, the last few people scrambled over the fence.Once all were through, they ran toward the next road, where a Border Patrol pickup was racing to meet them to ensure that they were not attempted "gotaways." They were not. The group ran straight toward the white and green pickup and turned themselves in to be processed.The catch-and-release practice is expected to end on the first day of Trump's presidency along with the CBP One app that has allowed would-be illegal border-crossers to enter through a port of entry. The shell game has provided cover for the Biden-Harris administration to claim that border numbers are down.It remains to be seen what will happen in Mexico when the immigrants who are still making their way north do not make it to the border before January 20. The immigrants in Mexico said they are still determined to get to the U.S.-Mexico border, even if they arrive after Trump is officially president.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Let's See If These Cable Nets Doubling Down on TDS Boosted Post-Election Ratings (Spoiler: NOPE!)

Community Notes Destroys the New Yorker's Terrible Hot Take on J. Edgar Hoover and Kash Patel

Trump Unleashes Christmas Tweetstorm: Rips Biden for Commuting Sentences, Suggests Great PM for Canada

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., took to social media Wednesday to continue his offensive against a House Ethics Report about him that was released this week.

The House vote to determine the next speaker is scheduled for Jan. 3, three days before a joint session of Congress is set to certify President-elect Donald Trump's election victory.

A majority of investors surveyed by CNBC said President-elect Donald Trump will improve the economy after he takes office.