As we head into a momentous election year, with state and national legislative seats up for grabs, even let-them-eat-cake Republicans are scrambling to sound sympathetic to today’s hard-hit working-cl...

On Tuesday, December 23, the U.S.

Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.

Text SIGN PSFWDS to 50409 — I am urging you to demand the full, unedited video of the September 2 strike in the Caribbean and to open immediate hearings into the legality of this operation and the broader campaign of lethal force the Trump Administration is conducting without proper authorization. Members of Congress who viewed the September 2 footage described a deeply disturbing scene. Rep. Jim Himes said he saw two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, clinging to a destroyed vessel—killed by the United States. He called it one of the most troubling things he has ever seen. Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley has now admitted the survivors were not communicating with anyone, contradicting earlier justifications leaked to the press. Instead, he argued they might someday “continue their mission” because the wreckage could contain cocaine. A source familiar with the briefing called this rationale “f*cking insane.” Legal experts agree: even if the administration’s dubious claim of an “armed conflict” were true, killing shipwrecked or incapacitated survivors is manifestly unlawful under the Geneva Conventions, the UCMJ, and maritime law. Meanwhile, the killing campaign continues. As the Guardian reports, the Pentagon has now conducted its 22nd strike, killing four more men in the eastern Pacific, bringing the death toll to at least 87 people since September. The Pentagon and White House are visibly struggling to explain the legal basis for these attacks. Disturbingly, The Independent reports that Pete Hegseth pressured Admiral Alvin Holsey, then-head of U.S. Southern Command, to stop questioning the “murky” legality of the strikes, telling him: “When you get an order, you move out fast and don’t ask questions.” Holsey was pushed out after raising concerns. Members of both parties have raised serious alarms. Rep. Mike Turner warned that Congress lacks accurate information and noted that even if the people aboard these boats were guilty of drug crimes, they are not subject to capital punishment. Turner and Sen. Rand Paul have also warned that these attacks appear to be laying the groundwork for military action in Venezuela, about which Congress has received no lawful notification under the War Powers Resolution. Sen. Jack Reed said the briefing “confirmed [his] worst fears” and demanded the release of the complete, unedited footage. Sen. Paul said the video of shipwrecked survivors being bombed “should be shown to every American.” At the same time, extremists are celebrating the killings online, and Hegseth has publicly encouraged them. Congress must now: 1. Obtain and release the full September 2 video. 2. Hold immediate hearings on legality and oversight. 3. Compel sworn testimony from all involved officials. 4. Suspend or remove anyone responsible for unlawful killings. 5. Prevent any unauthorized expansion of hostilities, including toward Venezuela. This is urgent. Please act now.

Let’s all sing the holiday classic: “All I want for Christmas… Is Something Not Made of Plastic.”

These days, with so much economic greed and political meanness in the news, it’s hard to lift your head up and notice the common goodness and community spirit that’s actually flourishing all around us...

One of the agents allegedly told her the document was “fake,” while another reportedly remarked: “Anyone can make that."

Text SIGN PZHAOX to 50409 — I write with deep respect for our military, our veterans, and the rule of law. What happened this week requires Congress to act. This morning, President Trump called a group of military veterans in Congress “traitors” and said they should be “ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.” By mid-morning he escalated to: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Their “crime,” in his eyes, was releasing a short video reminding active-duty military and intelligence personnel of their most basic legal duty: they must refuse illegal orders. This is settled law under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and established by precedent such as the Calley case. The Army Field Manual explicitly states that “superior orders” is not a defense for unlawful actions. The lawmakers Trump targeted are not fringe figures — they are veterans and intelligence officers. Senator Elissa Slotkin served with the CIA. Senator Mark Kelly served as a Navy captain. Representatives Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan, and Crow all served our country in uniform or intelligence roles. Their message was patriotic and rooted in military tradition, ending with the Navy’s famous line: “Don’t give up the ship.” I. The Chain of Command Is Already Under Strain This message was timely. Senior JAG officers have raised concerns that recent strikes on small boats near Venezuela may be extrajudicial killings. Eighty-plus non-combatant deaths could expose service members to criminal liability. Yet their legal objections were reportedly overruled — something that puts troops at risk and undermines trust in the chain of command. Meanwhile, Congress is asserting its War Powers Act responsibilities because the administration has conducted military operations for more than 60 days without authorization. Both parties are raising alarms. In this context, it is vital that service members are reminded of their legal obligations. Instead of respecting that, the President demanded arrests, trials, and executions. II. Threatening Veterans in Congress Is an Abuse of Power Fox News legal analyst Andy McCarthy — no liberal — clarified immediately: “There is no insurrection or sedition without the use of force. Disobeying an unlawful order is required.” The President is therefore calling for capital punishment for lawful speech that restates the controlling law governing the military. If any American citizen posted that a President should be hanged, the Secret Service would rightly investigate. Yet Trump is allowed to threaten sitting Members of Congress with death for fulfilling their constitutional duties. III. Why Congress Must Act A President who calls for the arrest and execution of veterans in Congress for reaffirming military law has violated the oath of office. This undermines civilian oversight of the military, destabilizes command integrity, and endangers the republic. For the sake of our service members, our Constitution, and our national security, I urge you to begin impeachment proceedings immediately.

The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.