For the past few weeks and as part of the “Don’t Give Up the Ship” operation, we’ve been told that the United States military has been blowing up random drug boats in the southern Caribbean, particularly close to Venezuela. Today, for the first time, we hear a Democrat discuss Operation Southern Spear with a perspective that goes beyond party orthodoxy. Watch as noted Sheetz enthusiast Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) goes on Chris Cuomo’s eponymous NewsNation show and completely destroys that narrative: WATCH: Sen. John Fetterman went on Cuomo and destroyed the War Crimes Hoax in less than a minute. CHRIS CUOMO: Topic switch. What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we're not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in… pic.twitter.com/3zuBMOY5bQ — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) December 17, 2025 CHRIS CUOMO: Topic switch. What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we're not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in Venezuela? JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. I- I thought- I thought it was pretty- comprehensive and of this. This idea- some things out in the media. It's kind of putting out this- the military's just picking off, you know, anybody that comes across, that's just not true. I mean, there's extensive intelligence and they know exactly who's on that boat and they know what's actually on that boat right now. And it’s quite frequently they- they decline to take it in to move on those things. When they move on those kinetic kinds of strikes, you know, they have absolute confidence that who's on it and what's on it. And that's exactly what it's about. They're not just going around randomly to shooting- shooting boats and those things. That's just not the fact. At all.  We were sold a bill of indiscriminate strikes against random targets, and potential war crimes. We were told that the destruction of these narcovessels were the illegal orders to which Slotkin, Kelly et. al kept constantly circling back to without evidence.   Of course, this narrative debunking didn’t happen on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or MS NOW. It happened on NewsNation, and on former ABC and CNN journalist’s eponymous show Cuomo. Just to drive the point home, Fetterman doubled down on what the operation is and is not: FETTERMAN: And it doesn't matter. If there's a boat there, they're going to take it out out there. They're actually, you know, very, very careful to make sure they're hitting the right people that have the right kinds of cargoes. A Democrat Senator debunking the left’s favorite talking points on Venezuela should be news. Cuomo, to his credit, allowed Fetterman to speak about what he saw and heard at the classified briefing, as opposed to just forcing a set of talking points upon his guest. So much of our media are devoted to narrative and anti-news. But not anymore. Watch the full transcript of the aforementioned segment as aired on Newsnation’s CUOMO on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025: CHRIS CUOMO: Topic switch. What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we're not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in Venezuela? JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. I- I thought- I thought it was pretty- comprehensive and of this. This idea- some things out in the media. It's kind of putting out this- the military's just picking off, you know, anybody that comes across, that's just not true. I mean, there's extensive intelligence and they know exactly who's on that boat and they know what's actually on that boat right now. And it’s quite frequently they- they decline to take it in to move on those things. When they move on those kinetic kinds of strikes, you know, they have absolute confidence that who's on it and what's on it. And that's exactly what it's about. They're not just going around randomly to shooting- shooting boats and those things. That's just not the fact. At all.  CUOMO: So we heard from the president today. He kind of expanded the circle here and said it's not just about drugs. It's about oil. And they are a terr- the whole regime. The whole country is a foreign terror organization,” a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out until they return what they stole from us.” What did they steal and what do you make of this? FETTERMAN: Yeah, well it makes it that Iran is involved on that. And Russia is involved in that. And China as well too. I mean, a lot of these things, I mean, that's sanctioned oil right now. And those are the kinds of funds that support regions like in Iran is as well too. And absolutely, right now it's not a plan to like a land war and invade Venezuela and that, but seizing those kinds of oil tankers, and it's undeniable that that's oil that's going to support Iran. And those are kinds of funds that are used, all kinds of illicit things with terrorism. So- so for me, it makes a lot of sense based upon what I've seen. CUOMO: Senator, why were you not willing to go along with Senator Rand Paul, Republican, obviously- and other Democrats with his War Powers resolution to require the president to come and make a show to the Congress before continuing with unilateral military plans and actions? FETTERMAN: I think it's- I think what's happening right now is consistent and I think that to me it's not unreasonable to compare that to what would president Obama's been doing during his presidency, and he was using drone hits and he took out thousands of people and terrorists. And, of course, if I was in the Senate that time, I would have supported those as well too. You know, that's the President and you have some kind of discretion and kinds of things. Now, I don't think anyone in the Senate would support like a full on land- land invasion or putting American boots on in Venezuela. But currently right now, that's not what's happening. And there is extensive cooperation with nations in the region. And these are not just random strikes. They know exactly that it's in and that's not- and again, it's been very clear that they decline on, often, kinds of boats when they can't be absolutely sure exactly what's on it and who's on it, including no women and children or anything. CUOMO: I get you with what you’ve seen that you have more comfort that they’re- they’re following the evidence. Right now, of course, their problem is they haven't been making any show of evidence until very recently with this meeting and a couple of others. The difference, you know, with President Obama and my personal opinions about how that war was prosecuted aside, he did have the 2001-2002 authorizations for use of military force. There is no such thing hee that gives power to the president to do what he's doing. FETTERMAN: Again, well, what I'm saying is what I, at least for me, what I've heard there are these are very specific targeted and targeted boats and they know exactly who's on it, what’s in it there as well, too. And this also involves the oil tankers. Now that's oil. And that's- that's supporting Iranian regime.  CUOMO: Listen, I get it and I wouldn't want to be in the debate on the side of “I want to protect the drug dealers” or “I want to protect Iran and oil”. But it is essentially sending a message that the President of the United States says you get a death sentence if you are trafficking in drugs. And that's certainly not the sentence and punishment. If you are convicted domestically, but isn't that what we're saying here that, hey, we think you are trafficking in drugs- we’re going to kill you. You okay with that? FETTERMAN: Yeah, I mean, and right now I think if you do- if you would describe when, you know, 75,000 Americans are dying of overdoses, and they really absolutely know that what's on those boats and is on those boats as well, too. And those- are those are organizations and gangs designed as essentially terrorist organizations for that. Now, I know it's it's different kinds of definitions here. But for right now, you know, I you know, I emerged from that now and I feel comfortable where they are not just blowing up random boats.  CUOMO: Gotcha. FETTERMAN: And it doesn't matter. If there's a boat there, they're going to take it out out there. They're actually, you know, very, very careful to make sure they're hitting the right people that have the right kinds of cargoes. CUOMO: Senator Fetterman, I appreciate your candor. I appreciate you taking the opportunity as always. If I don't get to speak to you before, I’ll reach out. But I wish you the best for the holy days, for Christmas, for the New Year's. And thank you for being on the show at NewsNation. FETTERMAN: Chris, thank you for having me. I'm always have me back. CUOMO: I hope you get it done and I hope you get some relief for these 20-24 million people who need these subsidies. It’s good to know you’re fighting for that. FETTERMAN: I sure hope so.  CUOMO: All right. Thank you, Sir. FETTERMAN: Thank you too, we could all be- we could all be Santa Claus, but no- for me, it’s like “I’m here to vote for that. I'm here. I sure hope so. But thank you. Thank you for having me on. COUMO: Santa Claus would be great. Just not being The Grinch would be good enough. Take care, Senator. Thank you very much. FETTERMAN: All right. Thank you.  

Hours after the Monday edition of ABC’s Good Morning America refused to ascribe motive to the attack in Sydney, Australia on a Hanukkah celebration or label it either anti-Semitism or radical Islamic terror, the network’s flagship evening newscast World News Tonight and Tuesday’s Good Morning America promptly engaged in a serious clean-up mode. Hong Kong-based correspondent Britt Clennett arrived to take over the Sydney coverage and immediately hit the right notes: CLEAN-UP on aisle 'World News Tonight' -- ABC foreign correspondent Britt Clennett immediately does a 180 in Sydney from the Faith Abubey segment on 'Good Morning America' in using the word anti-Semitism and tying the shooters to ISIS and radical Islam pic.twitter.com/GGPawY1pe3 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 16, 2025   “[N]ew details on the father and son who authorities say carried out that anti-Semitic massacre at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach....Tonight, law enforcement sources telling ABC News the two shooters are 50-year old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed. Sources say they pledged allegiance to ISIS, and shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ while opening fire. Authorities say two ISIS flags, weapons, and IEDs were recovered,” she reported before focusing on the victims. Clennett also surfaced on Tuesday’s Good Morning America to share Australians were “holding vigils for the 15 people killed in that anti-Semitic attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.” She reiterated the claims about the Islamists having expressed support for ISIS with ISIS flags in their car and IEDs having been recovered, but backed down on the part about “Allahu Akbar.” “The son was previously investigated for possible ties to a Sydney-based, ISIS-linked group but officials don’t believe the father and son were part of a wider cell,” she added. Monday’s NBC Nightly News also shifted towards reality in comparison to Today. Anchor Tom Llamas announced a pivot to “that deadly anti-Semitic terror attack in Australia” and former longtime NBC correspondent Sara James — who lives in Australia as the head of Fulbright Australia — covered the “new video showing the horror” as “two terrorists unleashed an anti-Semitic rampage.” “[I]t comes after a growing number of recent disturbing anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, including a Melbourne synagogue fire bombed, a Jewish deli set ablaze, Jewish homes vandalized, and cars burned. Jewish residents say the government has ignored warning signs,” she added. Like Clennett, James returned on Tuesday’s Today. Co-host Savannah Guthrie gave the lead in about “the anti-Semitic attack” by two men “motived by ISIS.” Importantly, James rebutted Clennett’s suggestion about the two not having any wider ties by noting Australian “[o]fficials today saying the pair had last month traveled to a region in the Philippines known for militant activity.” The one thing that didn’t change in the coverage was CBS News continuing to show moral clarity. On Monday’s CBS Evening News, foreign correspondent Anna Coren told viewers “[m]any in the Jewish community have told us, while the attack came as a shock, it, sadly, wasn’t unexpected.” She also spoke to Sheina Gutnick, the daughter of Reuven Morrison, who “fled persecution in the former Soviet Union 50 years earlier” only to die in Sunday’s attack while trying to fight off one of the gunman. According to Coren (via per Gutnick), Morrison had “feared his adopted homeland was no longer safe” as “[a]nti-Semitic incidents have increased since the October 7 attacks and war in Gaza, synagogues firebombed and vandalized.” When Coren asked “who has failed you and your family and your father,” Gutnick echoed comments from two survivors hours earlier: The Australian government is to blame. They have had the warning signs for so long. The Jewish community has been begging and begging and begging for action. They have failed us, they have betrayed us, and they have so much innocent blood on their hands. Coren closed by inadvertently proving the Jewish community’s point about a lack of concern from the Labor-run government as their reaction thus far has been “pledg[ing] to make sure it can’t happen again” through more gun control even though “Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.” Along with what was largely a re-air of Coren’s piece on Tuesday’s CBS Mornings, the co-hosts also brought in Noa Tishby, a bestselling author and former Israel Special Envoy for Combating anti-Semitism, to discuss the context in which the terror took place Down Under: Really solid interview on Tuesday’s ‘CBS Mornings’ with @NoaTishby about anti-Semitism and emphasizing the reality that this threat has been ignored by the Australian government for years ahead of Sunday’s anti-Semitic terror attack by two radical Islamists. Great moment right… pic.twitter.com/WxabxrOmFL — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 16, 2025 King then asked if she concurred with what two survivors had said on Monday’s show, which is the Labor government has “blood on [their] hands”: WATCH: On @CBSMornings, @NoaTishby SLAMS the Australian government for failing to thwart the rise in anti-Semitism leading up to Sunday’s anti-Semitic terror attack.... “[W]e need to understand this, consider your Intifada globalized. That’s what’s going on right now. The… pic.twitter.com/Bbp2QgqYUF — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 16, 2025 Dokoupil followed up and correctly put this weekend in the context and was followed by co-host Nate Burleson wondering what each and every one of us — from governments to individuals — can do to combat anti-Semitism: Important point on ‘CBS Mornings’ with @TonyDokoupil noting Sunday’s anti-Semitic attack in Australia did not happen in a vacuum and how so many have crossed the line from criticizing the Israeli government to harming Jews writ large... Dokoupil: “Noa, we are talking about… pic.twitter.com/nQ53TPo63C — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 16, 2025   To see the relevant transcripts from December 15, click here (for ABC) and here (for CBS).

“It's true,” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Tuesday amid reports that newly-declassified documents show that President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) pressured the FBI to conduct the infamous 2022 raid of then-former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home – even though the FBI repeated warned that such a raid was unwarranted. “Received shocking new docs 2day from DOJ & FBI showing FBI DID NOT BELIEVE IT HAD PROBABLE CAUSE to raid Pres Trump's Mar-a-Lago home but Biden DOJ pushed for it anyway,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced in a X.com post Tuesday. “Based on the records Mar-a-Lago raid was a miscarriage of justice. Read for urself,” Grassley added, linking to the documents posted online, which detail communications between DOJ and FBI. "It's true – we just turned over documents to Capitol Hill to be made public showing the FBI told DOJ they did not have probable cause for raiding President Trump's home in Mar-a-Lago but DOJ 'didn't give a damn' and did it anyway," Patel confirmed in a X.com sharing a Fox News report. As one document by the FBI’s Washington Field Office (WFO) notes: “WFO does not believe (and has articulated to DOJ, CES), that we have established probably cause for the search warrant for classified records at Mar a Lago. DOJ has opined they do have probable cause, requesting a wide scope including residence, office, storage space.” Multiple documents include comments revealing that the FBI concluded that, without new information or witnesses, existed no probable cause to justify raiding Trump’s home in search of mishandled classified documents: “WFO ADIC has advised we will not do the SW (search warrant) unless director is received by DD. WFO would like to propose a second path. Which I would be more than happy to discuss. “Continued investigation and additional interviews have not found any witness who has reported seeing classified records at Mar a Lago since the return of records via [redacted] compliance on June 3, 2022.” “Very little has been developed related to who might be culpable for mishandling the documents." "Absent a witness coming forward with recent information about classified on site, at what point is it fair to table this?" "It is time consuming for the team, and not productive if there are no new facts supporting PC (probable cause)?" If a raid must be conducted on former President Donald Trump’s home, one document notes, “The FBI intends for the execution of the warrant to be handled in a professional, low key manner, and to be mindful of the optics of the search.” But, the documents also note that Biden’s DOJ had no desire for the raid to be either low key, professional or mindful, Fox News explains: “The FBI did not believe it had probable cause to raid President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in 2022, but moved forward amid pressure from the Biden Justice Department, with an official saying he didn’t ‘give a damn about the optics’ of the search, newly declassified documents reviewed by Fox News Digital reveal.”

As certain as the Sun rising in the East and as inevitable as death and taxes is the likelihood of ABC’s The View commentator Ana Navarro coming on CNN air and endumbening our political discourse with a galaxy-brain take on any of the issues of the day. Last night’s “Thunderdome” appearance was no exception, as Navarro delivered a mind-melting theory on why THREE narcovessels were hit in the Eastern Pacific last night. Watch Scott Jennings turn away in exhaustion as Navarro proceeds to claim the boat strikes were…intended to distract from fallout over President Trump’s reaction to the horrendous murders of film director Rob Reiner and his wife. TDS BRAIN WORMS: Ana Navarro claims that today's boat strikes are designed as a distraction from...Trump's remarks on Rob Reiner. pic.twitter.com/ipPCX2JvrC — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) December 16, 2025 ANA NAVARRO: ‘Cause (Trump's) been trying to convince the American people that fentanyl comes from Venezuela- BAKARI SELLERS: It does not.  NAVARRO_ -which it does not. It comes mostly from Mexico, with the ingredients coming from China.  SELLERS: China. Or the black market. NAVARRO: At least these boat strikes are on the right- in the right ocean because every other boat strike has been in the Atlantic, off the coast of Venezuela. And that is not a route that drug dealers use to bring drugs into the United States. The Pacific coast- and we don't know if it was off the coast of Mexico, off the coast of Central America- Venezuela does not have a coast on the Pacific Ocean. So at least now he's striking the right- the right ocean. I think part of this is to distract, to distract from the fact that I think that Rob Reiner… no, you might laugh, but I think he's getting criticism from Republicans. And I always think that- that part of what Trump does is to distract. He does all sorts of things. He’s a master distractor. SCOTT JENNINGS: He’s been striking boats for months. Did he know Rob Reiner was going to get murdered in September? NAVARRO: Because he's trying- no, because he's trying- the reason he's been shooting boats for months is because he's trying to convince the American people to justify- he's trying to get- JENNINGS: You said it was a distraction. NAVARRO: Yeah, to justify regime change in Venezuela. I, for one, am in favor of regime change in Venezuela. I wish it wasn't- I wish the U.S. wasn't going alone. I wish we had an international coalition putting pressure on Maduro, who is a bad guy, destabilizing all of the Western Hemisphere, and he is anti-American. He's a horrible human being oppressing the people of Venezuela. But yes, the strikes off the coast of Venezuela, nothing to do with drug importation into the United States. The- JENNINGS: I disagree. Those drugs do go all over the hemisphere- they also go to Europe. NAVARRO: They go to Europe!  JENNINGS: They go all over the world. NAVARRO: They go to Europe. They’re not coming to the United States. Navarro, whose role in media seems to be to play the Latino minstrel variant of the box wine-laden and terminally online AWFL, actually suggested that THESE boat strikes were intended to distract from whatever fallout- although they’ve been ongoing for months. This is precisely the point Jennings made while attempting to deliver a rational response to such nonsensical lunacy. Navarro would reluctantly express her support for the mission to dislodge the Cartel of the Suns from power in Venezuela. Even then, her Trump derangement surfaces. “I like what’s happening, but NOT LIKE THIS.” She really means “not by Trump.” Navarro’s theory of distraction is, of course, peak TDS brain worms. Unfortunately, peak TDS brain worms is what passes, with few notable exceptions, for news analysis and debate at CNN.   

It’s probably safe to say that the work bromance shared between former CNN colleagues Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon was over. During the Monday night edition of Cuomo’s eponymous show, the NewsNation host blasted social media algorithms for feeding people largely hate and animus. He quickly pivoted to calling out Mediaite for feeding into it by running an article about Don Lemon attacking President Trump for his “pee pee,” as Cuomo put it. “And I will tell you what the algorithm will not,” Cuomo proclaimed in his opening monologue. “The online reactions to these tragedies are part of the problem. Selective outrage calculated for clicks, playing to social media platforms that amplify animus by design.” It was that design, Cuomo argued, that was responsible for why things seeming so bad and getting worse: In fact, a big reason that it seems the bad guys are winning – and I don't just mean bad people; I mean, bad ideas, bad manners, bad takes, bad fakes, bad everything is because we still allow the most dominant media tool in the history of the world, social media, to design algorithms that preference the profane, insults, anger, outrage. The more provocative, the more profit, the more it is amplified and delivered it to everybody that they can. That is the game and everyone is playing, which is why the media overall is playing to those algorithms.   Bromance shattered. Chris Cuomo denounces Mediaite and his former CNN buddy Don Lemon as being part of the problem with American political discourse and playing to bad algorithms: "I remember a day when you would not have a media web sites like Mediaite featuring - as part of a… pic.twitter.com/Ppj12tYMVd — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) December 16, 2025   Using mocking finger quotes, he took aim “a media websites like Mediaite” for feeding into the algorithms. Specifically, he drew his viewers’ attention to an on-screen graphic that showed Mediaite’s reporting about obscene comments Lemon (Cuomo’s former handoff banter buddy) made about Trump’s genitals: I mean, I remember a day when you would not have a [uses finger quotes] media websites like Mediaite featuring - as part of a commentary in a situation like this - a guy saying F you to the president of the United States and making fun of the size of his pee pee. This is what Mediaite believes is worthy to feature as a critique of the president in a situation where someone is found murdered? “No, of course not,” Cuomo answered his own question. “They've surrendered value, ethics, anything like that for profit.” It’s worth noting that Mediaite was owned by Cuomo’s former NewsNation buddy Dan Abrams. Insisting he was not condoning it but rather saying he understood why they were acting that way, Cuomo pointed out that that was the incentive structure: And of course they would. It's called the news business, it’s called the media business. They want the clicks, so does he [President Trump]. That's why he said what he said. They're both right. Look, it’d be easy to say, ‘no, they both suck. This is terrible. They should be better than that.’ But they're not wrong about how to get more reach. This is what is rewarded! That's what sucks. Elsewhere in his opener, while other outlets were still playing the ‘we don’t know their motive’ game when it came to ISIS terrorist attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, Cuomo didn’t pull his punches when blaming Islamic extremism.   Cuomo also speaks the truth many in the media won't or get squeamish about: "Extreme Islamists are the enemy of Muslims and Christians and Jews alike. It is not Jews attacking Christmas festivals and terrorizing towns all over the globe. It is extreme Islamism." pic.twitter.com/pEhxwlKkOK — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) December 16, 2025   “And while calling people Islamophobic may work for the algorithm. It doesn't work for me,” he proclaimed. “Extreme Islamists are the enemy of Muslims and Christians and Jews alike. It is not Jews attacking Christmas festivals and terrorizing towns all over the globe. It is extreme Islamism.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: NewsNation’s Cuomo December 15, 2025 8:03:30 p.m. Eastern (…) CHRIS CUOMO: society. And I will tell you what the algorithm will not. The online reactions to these tragedies are part of the problem. Selective outrage calculated for clicks, playing to social media platforms that amplify animus by design. In fact, a big reason that it seems the bad guys are winning –and I don't just mean bad people; I mean, bad ideas, bad manners, bad takes, bad fakes, bad everything is because we still allow the most dominant media tool in the history of the world, social media, to design algorithms that preference the profane, insults, anger, outrage. The more provocative, the more profit, the more it is amplified and delivered it to everybody that they can. That is the game and everyone is playing, which is why the media overall is playing to those algorithms. I mean, I remember a day when you would not have a [uses finger quotes] media websites like Mediaite featuring - as part of a commentary in a situation like this - a guy saying F you to the president of the United States and making fun of the size of his pee pee. This is what Mediaite believes is worthy to feature as a critique of the president in a situation where someone is found murdered? No, of course not. They know better than this but they have surrendered this subjective. They've surrendered value, ethics, anything like that for profit. And of course they would. It's called the news business, it’s called the media business. They want the clicks, so does he [President Trump]. That's why he said what he said. They're both right. Look, it’d be easy to say, ‘no, they both suck. This is terrible. They should be better than that.’ But they're not wrong about how to get more reach. This is what is rewarded! That's what sucks. And by the way, they’re no different than the President. He says what he says to provoke for profit. I’m not saying I like it. I'm not saying I condone it. I’m saying I understand why they do it. And yes, I do believe there is a link. I think social media is not just a reflection of us. I think it's a fun house mirror. I think it is perverting us and its exaggerating us in our most grotesque form. (…) And while calling people Islamophobic may work for the algorithm. It doesn't work for me. Extreme Islamism is not me condemning all Muslims. It's protecting Muslims from this fringe. Okay? Extreme Islamists are the enemy of Muslims and Christians and Jews alike. It is not Jews attacking Christmas festivals and terrorizing towns all over the globe. It is extreme Islamism. And no, it is not simply ‘in solidarity with Gaza,’ because they're attacking everywhere, places that are pro-Palestinian and places that aren't. And if Gaza were such a rallying cause, why do so many Arab countries refused to take them in? (…)