Given the conservative majority on the supreme court, it’s not a certainty that the right will remain in place

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/15/trump-brithright-citizenship

Donald Trump probably will not be able to fulfill his stated aim of ending birthright citizenship in the US when he returns to the White House, but it is perhaps more conceivable than during his first term, according to legal experts.

The US constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the country, even if they are the children of undocumented immigrants.

The president-elect said he would eliminate that right during his first term and again recently said during a television interview that he planned to and could use an executive action or would “maybe have to go back to the people”.

The aim comes at the same time as Trump plans to carry out mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants during his second term – an ambition that has civil liberties groups and many Democrats bracing for economic and legal chaos and protests.

But if Trump were to try to use executive action to eliminate birthright citizenship, courts would probably strike it down because of language contained in the 14th amendment, according to scholars.

Still, given the conservative majority on the supreme court – and fact that one of the people considered a candidate for the court has argued that the provision does not apply to children of “invading aliens” – it’s not a certainty that birthright citizenship will remain in place, said Amanda Frost, a University of Virginia law professor and expert in immigration and citizenship law.

Proud Democrat voter, Ryan Routh, is going to be charged by the state of Florida for the attempted murder of a 6 year old girl as the FBI stymies any co-operation with Florida State as they work to sabotage the investigation into Proud Democrat Ryan Routh
Like most Democrats, Ryan is clinically insane, but unlike most Democrats, he's willing to admit it publicly
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/18/florida-trump-assassination-charges-00195106
Florida hits alleged would-be Trump assassin with state charges
The charges were related to a traffic accident during the police pursuit against Ryan Routh.

Florida filed the first state charges against the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, as state leaders criticize the federal investigation into the incident at his golf course in West Palm Beach September.

The charges against the defendant, Ryan Routh, aren’t for the acts on the perimeter of Trump’s golf course, where Routh was allegedly posted with his weapon and a Secret Service agent fired several shots in his direction before he fled. Instead, state law enforcement alleges he is responsible for a traffic accident that arose due to him fleeing the scene, which they say significantly injured a six-year-old girl. He was charged with attempted felony murder.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the charges Wednesday during a press conference in Stuart, Florida, near where Ryan Routh is being held.

“We felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf and her family,” Moody said.

Routh has already faced numerous federal charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and assault of a federal officer. He’s in federal custody and his attorneys recently said they were considering an insanity defense.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/us/politics/matt-gaetz-ethics-report-release.html
The House Ethics Committee secretly voted this month to release an investigative report into the conduct of former Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

The panel’s vote, which was reported earlier by CNN, paved the way for the release of the report after House members cast the final votes of the Congress this week and have left Washington to return to their districts, two of the people said.

It is an abrupt turnabout for the panel, which had previously declined to release the report. It came less than two weeks after House Republicans banded together to block a Democratic move on the floor to force the release of the report, instead returning the matter to the Ethics Committee for further consideration.

The haggling on Capitol Hill over the report intensified after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced last month that he had chosen Mr. Gaetz to lead the Justice Department, prompting anger and concern among members of both parties on Capitol Hill who were aware of serious allegations against him.

Since the spring of 2021, the Ethics Committee had been investigating Mr. Gaetz over an array of accusations, including that he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use and accepted gifts that violated House rules.

Mr. Gaetz has denied the charges.

https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/luigis-manifesto

Biden pardoned a slew of corrupt Democrat officials.
https://www.tampafp.com/biden-granted-clemency-to-multiple-public-officials-democrat-politicians-convicted-of-corruption/
Biden Granted Clemency To Multiple Public Officials, Democrat Politicians Convicted Of Corruption

Biden granted clemency last week to several Democrat politicians and public officials convicted on corruption charges.

Among the nearly 1,500 criminals whose sentences Biden commuted last week were at least three Democratic politicians and several other public officials, including a former judge notorious for putting thousands of kids behind bars for kickbacks.

Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan, one of two judges convicted in 2011 for his role in the “Kids for Cash” scandal, had his sentence commuted by Biden. Conahan and another judge received millions from sending children to private detention facilities where they had a business interest.

READ: Neo-Nazi Socialists Are Imploding At Record Numbers Nationwide

Several victims of the scheme spoke out against Biden’s decision.

Amanda Lorah, who was wrongly imprisoned, told Fox 59 it was a “slap in the face.” Sandy Fonzo, whose son committed suicide after being placed in detention, said she was “shocked” and hurt.

“Conahan’s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son‘s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power,” Fonzo said in a statement to The Citizen’s Voice. “This pardon feels like an injustice for all of us who still suffer. Right now I am processing and doing the best I can to cope with the pain that this has brought back.”

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Biden got it “absolutely wrong” and created “a lot of pain” in his state, according to the Penn Capital Star.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boeing-starliner-crew-return-to-earth-delayed-again-nasa-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams/

The People’s Republic of China has improved its ability to project power globally despite corruption purges and a shrinking economy, the Pentagon’s annual report card on the Chinese military says. According to the report, China now has more than 600 operational nuclear warheads as of mid-2024, 100 more than last year and 200 more than the year before that. The Pentagon projects that China will field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 and that the force will continue to grow further through 2035, in line with last year’s projections.
Main Report: https://files.catbox.moe/9zqxid.pdf

TLDR: https://files.catbox.moe/38fzsw.pdf

Brief: https://www.defense.gov/news/transcripts/transcript/article/4009708/senior-defense-official-briefs-on-2024-china-military-power-report

Talks:
https://airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-report-china-project-power-global
https://csis.org/events/discussion-defense-departments-2024-china-military-power-report
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/18/pentagon-annual-report-on-chinese-military-and-security-developments

It'll be even worse next year, when they have less of a mandate than they do now.
Local shills better buckle up
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5044208-house-republicans-fume-speaker-johnson-cr/

House Republicans are fuming at Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) handling of an end-of-year measure to extend government funding until March, saying it is more like a sprawling omnibus — which they abhor — than a simple temporary funding measure.

The continuing resolution (CR), which will keep government funding at current levels through March 14, is also set to include $100.4 billion in disaster aid for those affected by hurricanes earlier this year and $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, lawmakers said, among other provisions.

“It’s not a CR, which is a continuation of the budget. It’s turning into an omnibus,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said.

The final text of the measure has not yet been released, as congressional leaders work through the remaining hangups ahead of Friday’s funding deadline. But as the package begins to come into clear focus, Republicans of all stripes — including hard-line conservatives, committee chairs and moderates — are hammering away at Johnson for its contents, the process he followed to craft it, and how he plans to bring it to the floor for a vote.

“It’s a total dumpster fire. I think it’s garbage,” said Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. “This is what Washington, D.C., has done. This is why I ran for Congress, to try to stop this. And sadly, this is happening again.”

“We get this negotiated crap, and we’re forced to eat this crap sandwich,” echoed Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), another Freedom Caucus member. “Why? Because freaking Christmas is right around the corner. It’s the same dang thing every year. Legislate by crisis, legislate by calendar. Not legislate because it’s the right thing to do.”

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c9q7yx0nwgvo

"No divestment witout remediation!" Na di demand of some Niger Delta environmental activists wey carry protest go Rivers State Government House for Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria.

Di protest by environmental advocacy groups like Social Action, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, We The People and some local communities dey ask Nigeria President Bola Tinubu not to allow international oil companies (IOCs) to go on wit di divestment process wen dem never clean up di many sites wey oil spillage don damage across di Niger Delta region.

Dr. Prince Edegbuo of Social Action explain to BBC say dem want make President Tinubu maintain Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) rejection of Shell request to sell dia remaining shares for Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC to Renaissance Consortium.

E say oda international oil companies like TotalEnergies dey also attempt to sell dia stakes for SPDC and oda Nigeria onshore oil assets, kon add say approving di sale of Shell SPDC share go send a dangerous message to all multinational corporations wey dey operate for Nigeria say dem fit extract di resources, leave devastation behind and waka comot witout any consequences.

"Any approval of Shell and Total request to divest go weaken regulatory independence, ignore di interests of di Niger Delta communities, jeopardise di environmental and social wellbeing of di region for generations to come and e go undermine Nigeria sovereignty."

"Our demand na say dem no fit do divestment witout di clean up of all di communities across di Niger Delta wey oil spill from dia facilities don damage finish!" Na di position of Ken Kentebe of HOMEF.

Proud Democrat voter, Ryan Routh, is going to be charged by the state of Florida for the attempted murder of a 6 year old girl as the FBI stymies any co-operation with Florida State as they work to sabotage the investigation into Proud Democrat Ryan Routh
Like most Democrats, Ryan is clinically insane, but unlike most Democrats, he's willing to admit it publicly
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/18/florida-trump-assassination-charges-00195106
Florida hits alleged would-be Trump assassin with state charges
The charges were related to a traffic accident during the police pursuit against Ryan Routh.

Florida filed the first state charges against the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, as state leaders criticize the federal investigation into the incident at his golf course in West Palm Beach September.

The charges against the defendant, Ryan Routh, aren’t for the acts on the perimeter of Trump’s golf course, where Routh was allegedly posted with his weapon and a Secret Service agent fired several shots in his direction before he fled. Instead, state law enforcement alleges he is responsible for a traffic accident that arose due to him fleeing the scene, which they say significantly injured a six-year-old girl. He was charged with attempted felony murder.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the charges Wednesday during a press conference in Stuart, Florida, near where Ryan Routh is being held.

“We felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf and her family,” Moody said.

Routh has already faced numerous federal charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and assault of a federal officer. He’s in federal custody and his attorneys recently said they were considering an insanity defense.