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Defiant Hegseth doubles down despite war crime accusations: We won’t use ‘kid gloves’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth refused to back down or apologize amid explosive new reporting that on his orders, military officials went out of their way to fire on survivors of suspected drug trafficking ships that were already taken out, which legal experts have said would be an open-and-shut war crime if true. Hegseth, who calls himself the “Secretary of War” under an unofficial department name change instituted by an executive order from President Donald Trump, issued a statement attacking the media, but also not denying anything that was reported.”As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” wrote Hegseth on X. “As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes.’ The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization. The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans to flood our communities with drugs and violence,” Hegseth continued. “The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narco-terrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them. Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U. S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict-and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command. Our warriors in SOUTHCOM put their lives on the line every day to protect the Homeland from narco-terrorists and I will ALWAYS have their back,” Hegseth concluded. All of this is occurring as Trump supporters push outrage against half a dozen Democratic members of Congress with military backgrounds, for publishing a video reminding servicemembers they have a legal duty to refuse unlawful orders.

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‘Love to see that happen’: MAGA attorney floats military raid to free Tina Peters

Tina Peters’ attorney is now openly floating the idea that President Donald Trump should use the U. S. military to break the convicted Colorado election denier out of state prison the latest escalation in a wave of far-right rhetoric surrounding her case. The comments came during a recent appearance on MAGA influencer Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, when attorney Peter Tickton was asked whether he believed Trump should dispatch the 101st Airborne Division to Peters’ Colorado facility to forcibly remove her. Tickton didn’t hesitate. “Do I think it should be done? For who I am, yeah I’d love to see that happen,” Tickton replied. Peters, the former Mesa County clerk convicted last year in a scheme to undermine the 2020 election, is serving a nine-year sentence for tampering with election equipment in 2021 after breaching voting machines. Her imprisonment has become a rallying point for MAGA activists, with Trump calling her a “political prisoner” and demanding her immediate release earlier this year. The attorney’s wild military raid idea comes as a bipartisan group of Colorado county clerks issued a rare joint statement urging Republican Gov. Jared Polis to keep Peters in state custody, following reports that federal officials have sought to have her transferred to the federal prison system. Meanwhile, rhetoric from Peters’ allies continues to intensify, according to a 9News KUSA report by Denver journalist Kyle Clark. He reported that MAGA podcaster Joe Oltmann, an influential figure in Colorado’s far-right circles and a Peters ally, went further this week, calling for the execution of Polis and other state officials for their handling of the Peters case, saying they should “hang by their neck until dead.”Polis has not said whether he plans to hand Peters over to federal authorities, but has agreed to meet with the clerks following their public plea.

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Trump takes 6-day vacation to Mar-a-Lago while Americans struggle with skyrocketing prices

President Donald Trump is heading to his Florida estate on Tuesday to get a jump on the Thanksgiving holiday. The president and First Lady will be staying at Mar-a-Lago for an extended break, returning to the White House early Sunday evening. As the First Family enjoys their six-day trip, Americans are increasingly dismayed at the state of the Trump economy, which is producing near-record-low consumer sentiment, rising and record prices at the grocery store, increasing unemployment, persistent inflation, and as the president recently declared tariff payments that are about to “skyrocket.”Inflation remains strong at 3. 0%. The unemployment rate is now the highest it’s been in nearly four years. Prices for items like beef, coffee, and bananas have increased by double-digit percentages. Major corporations have announced plans to lay off thousands or tens of thousands of workers. Millions of Americans are seeing their health care premiums for next year in some cases double or even triple. And according to one economist, there is a possibility that some parts of the country may already be in a recession. Another economist last week sounded the stagflation alarm. READ MORE: Family Food Costs Hit Record High Despite Trump Touting Cheaper Holiday DinnerAccording to guidance from the White House, published by Roll Call, the president and First Lady will head to Palm Beach, Florida, at 6 PM on Tuesday, after pardoning the presidential turkeys. The president has no public events scheduled on Wednesday. The only event scheduled for Thursday, Thanksgiving, is a 6 PM call with service members. On other Thanksgivings, some presidents have visited troops in person, even overseas, or volunteered at food banks. For Friday and Saturday, the president has no public events scheduled. On Sunday, the president and First Lady leave Palm Beach at 3 PM, headed for the White House. Last month, President Trump was sharply criticized as “tone deaf” for hosting a Great Gatsby-themed party as millions of Americans were poised to lose their SNAP benefits. READ MORE: Trump: Nearly All of Biden’s Pardons Including the Turkeys Are ‘Invalid’.

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Trump declares war as he calls Republicans ‘nasty liddle guy’ and ‘sick wacko’

At the same time that a judge in Maryland was dismissing cases filed by Donald Trump’s Department of Justice against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, the president was picking another fight on Truth Social. Now that long-time MAGA supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is resigning in January after she clashed with Trump and he sicced his supporters on her, leading to death threats, the president is focusing his attention on Sen. Rand Paul, with Trump putting the Kentucky Republican’s title, “Senator,” in quotes. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Whatever happened to ‘Senator’ Rand Paul? He was never great, but he went really BAD! I got him elected, TWICE (in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky!), but he just never votes positively for the Republican Party.”“He’s a nasty liddle’ guy, much like ‘Congressman’ Thomas Massie, aka Rand Paul Jr., also of Kentucky (which I won three times, in massive landslides!), a sick Wacko, who refuses to vote for our great Republican Party, MAGA, or America First,” he continued.“It’s really weird!!!” he added for good measure. You can see his post here.