Champagne Communist: AOC Campaign Blows Nearly $50K on Luxury Hotels
Donor cash funds posh stays and limos while the socialist lectures America on inequality and “oligarchy.”
This Week in the World Affairs Brief
PARIS IS BURNING — AGAIN
Protests erupted in the French capital again this week, shocking the world at the degree of looting, property destruction and violence in this and other French cities. What began as student demonstrations over deteriorating schools and teacher shortages has expanded into a nationwide movement over the cost of living, fuel prices, declining public services and dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government—or any government for that matter. Parts of the movement have descended into looting, arson (110 vehicles cars were torched), violent confrontations with police, historic buildings in Marseille and Lyon attacked and Limoges’ historic town hall set ablaze. France’s uprisings make even the Antifa riots in the US look mild by comparison. Arrests mounted into the thousands, curfews were introduced in some areas, and police tried in vain to curtail looting and property destruction. About 2400 protestors have been arrested and 1900 police injured. Over 3,000 shops have been looted or destroyed with damages in the billions of Euros. Protests, some violent, also broke out in other parts of Europe. Despite the horrible damage, this is but the latest in France’s long history of violent protests, including the most famous events of the French revolution. This week, I’ll discuss what increasing public discontent like this portends for social instability in the future of Europe. To receive a free, one time copy of the Brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a sample on the left.
Also:
- Trump Continues to Play Up to Putin
- More War with Iran After Israeli Elections
- The Betrayal of MAHA by Trump
Daily News
Musk Clarifies Why Starlink Speed Limits Were Throttled In Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk personally ordered the cap. One of its sources said he and President Trump discussed the move before it took effect, while others said they spoke only after it became public, and some U.S. officials said Musk acted alone. Administration denials have been broad. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "there was no foreknowledge," Hegseth said "we haven't pulled anything back," and a White House official said "we didn't slow down Starlink at all." Trump has said he did not make the call but that Musk should not be blamed, AP noted.
More Than 18,000 Children Injected With Vaccines Under Anesthesia or Sedation at Colorado Hospital Since 2020
under anesthesia or sedation, “[a]dditional vaccinations are administered … particularly for children with neurocognitive conditions who are unable to tolerate vaccination without sedation.”
Space War Fears Rise as Russian Satellite Makes Dangerous Maneuver
The United States accused Russia of reckless conduct after its Kosmos-2612 military satellite maneuvered exceptionally close to the US-registered ICEYE-X36 satellite.
Hegseth Barred Trans Troops - Yet Navy And Marine Boards Are Voting To Keep Them
Military boards set up to push transgender troops out of the service are instead voting to keep many of them, the New York Times reported Friday, in a quiet break with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ban.
A Withdrawn Immigration Application, Corrected Tax Returns, And 'Military Officer' Father: Ilhan Omar Evidence Piles Up
A shared address: Omar and Elmi listed the same Columbia Heights, Minnesota, address on their 2009 marriage application. Ahmed Hirsi, the father of Omar's children, also used that address for a business license, according to the Post. Overlapping relationships and tax filings: Omar had her third child with Hirsi in 2012 while legally married to Elmi. The Post also cites joint tax returns Omar filed with Hirsi for 2014 and 2015, before her divorce from Elmi was finalized in 2017. Those returns were subsequently corrected.
Ukraine Officials Complain Starshield Restrictions Still Not Lifted, Despite Trump Assertions
Ukraine says its military forces continue to experience disruptions to critical battlefield communications, a day after President Trump declared that these restrictions had been removed. "President Trump called Elon Musk on Wednesday and asked him to lift restrictions on a military-grade version of Starlink in Ukraine that the SpaceX chief had throttled, U.S. officials said," The Wall Street Journal had initially reported Thursday.
Voters in 7 States Will Have Their Say on Property Tax Limits
States have been collecting far more money than needed, proponents of the ballot measures contend.
Why the French Riot
[T]he US media—mainstream and social—are reacting as if this has no precedent. It has several thousand years’ worth of precedent. It’s the way France has always been and will always be. Do I think it’s a good way to be? No. But it will never change. It must simply be accepted.
Russia is now hitting apartment buildings with drone strikes
Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv around 5:20 a.m. local time, after air raid alarms had been raised. The high-rise in Sviatoshynskyi district was hit around 7 a.m. – following attacks by drones during the night.
Starlink is getting dragged into Russia's hybrid war against the West
There have been several attacks against Starlink infrastructure across Europe in recent weeks. SpaceX's lucrative connectivity business has become a military and political target.
Attorneys for Andrea Shaw Ask Court to Dismiss Murder Charges, Accuse Prosecutors of ‘Misconduct’
Attorneys for Andrea Shaw, the Idaho mother whose twin toddlers died eight days after receiving vaccines, have moved to dismiss the grand jury murder indictment against her, citing prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury hearing. “When the facts come out to the court and to the public, it’s going to be shocking,” said attorney Rick Jaffe, who is representing Shaw. “Andrea Shaw did not kill her children, and that will be made abundantly clear.”
Up to 40 Million COVID Vaccine Doses Rejected Over Bacterial Contamination as HHS Knew of Endotoxin Failures: NY AG Lawsuit
A January 15, 2026, lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James reveals that bacterial contamination, including dangerous endotoxins, forced Emergent BioSolutions to abort or reject COVID-19 vaccine batches representing up to 40 million dose-equivalents, while federal health officials were involved in discussions of the manufacturing failures. Endotoxins are toxic bacterial components capable of triggering severe inflammation, septic shock, organ failure, and death.
Oz Says HHS is Deferring $1.2 Billion More From California Medicaid Funding
Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced in the Oval Office on Oct. 20 that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is deferring an additional $1.2 billion in Medicaid funding from California over concerns of widespread fraud in its state healthcare programs.
Undercover Video Throws El-Sayed’s Senate Campaign Into Chaos
El-Sayed "has people from overseas that donate to him," Beckwith said. Asked whether that was allowed, he acknowledged it wasn't.
Pollster Cited by NY Times, Other Outlets Says It’s Fake
Wedgewood Polling said it engaged in an experiment to see how easy it is for a fabricated polling firm to gain traction and be taken seriously.
Donald Trump Jr. Privately Breaks With His Father On Foreign Policy: Report
The president's eldest son has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the nearly eight-month conflict behind closed doors, despite carefully avoiding any public criticism of his father. Two anonymous sources who reportedly spoke directly with Trump Jr. said the MAGA leader has repeatedly questioned the military campaign, a position in line with his longstanding opposition to U.S. involvement in foreign wars.
Why France?
The lesson to learn from France right now is that assimilation doesn’t happen by accident.
Feds have DNA evidence that could prove Ilhan Omar wed her brother, committed immigration fraud: sources
People familiar with the years-long criminal probe said the feds have made use of whistleblowers, government records and now obtained DNA in an effort to substantiate decade-old allegations that Omar — and possibly members of her family like her father — defrauded immigration authorities.
Federal Judge Suspended After Panel Found Her Unfit for Duty
It also found that Brown had been making inappropriate comments, including racial insults; claiming without proof that orders were being entered in cases she oversaw without her permission; making racial insults to judges and court staffers; and “sending copious and bizarre emails to court staff and judges, including emails in the middle of the night, and copying and/or blind copying others who have no reason to be copied on such emails.”
NY, Feds Raid Programs Suspected of Fraud in New York City
The FBI and state officials launched an operation in New York City on Oct. 20 to crack down on Medicaid fraud.
Macron Vows Rioters ‘Must Pay’ as France Surveys Wreckage of Worst Unrest in Years
France tallies 2,397 arrests and nearly 1,000 injured officers after Saturday’s violence, as looting flares again in Paris and politicians trade blame.
Feds Arrest 28 Foreign Nationals In California Monday For Illegal Voting
Federal agents arrested more than two dozen foreign nationals across California on Monday, for fraudulently registering and voting in U.S. elections. Specifically, the 28 suspects are being charged with a combination of illegal voting, making a false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to vote, and “knowingly depriving the residents of California of a fair and impartial election process,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter announced at a news conference in Los Angeles.
Russia Intercepts Over 600 Drones Even After Trump Called Ukraine's Attacks On Refineries A 'Disgrace'
Drones have also persisted on the capital, with nearly 100 Ukrainian UAVs having been shot down between Thursday night and Friday, local authorities reported. But Ukraine is also getting pummeled, with whole regions without electricity in a northwest region of the country. A recent Russian assault on the eastern city of Kharkiv killed three people and injured five.
Russia Celebrates 'Historic Moment' After Trump Formally Waives Graham Act Sanctions
It was expected to take effect soon, as part of a big Washington ramping up of pressure to further strangle the Russian economy and thus starve Putin's war machine. Trump has informed Congress that he must waive the new sanctions package because it is in the US national interest, at a moment he's desperately trying to get diesel prices under control amid both the Iran war and Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Chinese Researchers Unveil Plans For Tank That Can Remain Submerged For Two Hours
Rather than designing separate vehicles for every environment, researchers are experimenting with interchangeable modules that could allow a single platform to perform multiple roles. The proposed vehicles would also incorporate drones to help clear obstacles and potentially accelerate amphibious landings.
Ukraine's Starlink & Starshield Services Restored, Officials Say
Starshield is the military version of Starlink, which offers satellite internet connectivity for consumer and commercial use. The temporary disruptions to Ukraine's Starshield access, which were reported on Oct. 14, come amid increased tension between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Adding more confusion to this whole scenario, around midday on Friday, President Trump told a gaggle of reporters that he "didn't know who gave the order on Starshield," to slow it down, claiming further that "it wasn't us."
US Law Wasn’t Built for How China’s Spies Operate in America
Experts told The Epoch Times that Beijing conducts most of its U.S. intelligence operations through people already living inside the country, relying on tasks that are largely lawful—making introductions, hosting events, logging attendee lists, or looking up individuals. These activities unfold across student clubs, hometown associations, campaign fundraisers, and university forums—the very institutions an open society intentionally keeps accessible. In Pauken’s case, his role was to identify individuals the Justice Department called “new recruitment targets” for his Chinese handlers.
Another Mass Shooter Stopped By Armed Citizen In Oregon
Three children and one adult are dead following an active shooter situation at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon on Thursday afternoon. The suspected active shooter is also dead after an armed civilian chased the shooter into the school and killed him.
DOJ Sues California After Flagging 20,000 ‘Likely Noncitizens’ Registered to Vote
Prosecutors asked the court to order California to sequester suspicious ballots.