The ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, November 27th 2024 Recap
President Biden Proclaims Thanksgiving, October Economy Updates, Sanctions on Venezuela, Trump Nominates Special Envoy to Ukraine, and WAY MORE Actual News
Welcome to a newsletter with news, not clickbait.
It is my pleasure to inform you.
Before we begin..
NOTE: I will not be taking time off this week - please expect all newsletters as scheduled.
Livestreams:
Thursday 11/28 - AM livestream only
Friday 11/29 - AM & PM livestreams as planned
President Biden proclaims Thursday, November 28, 2024, as a National Day of Thanksgiving
“I encourage the people of the United States of America to join together and give thanks for the friends, neighbors, family members, and communities who have supported each other over the past year in a reflection of goodwill and unity.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Connects with Troops During the Holidays
This week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III reached out to U.S. service members stationed both at home and abroad through video calls and phone conversations to express gratitude and offer encouragement during the holiday season. Drawing from his 41 years of military experience, Austin emphasized the importance of camaraderie and teamwork, particularly during deployments that take service members away from their families.
During each call, Austin invited soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to introduce themselves and share details about their roles and locations. He expressed heartfelt thanks on behalf of the nation, acknowledging their sacrifices and highlighting the vital work they do to ensure security and peace. Austin also shared personal lessons from his career, reminding troops to "take care of your people," a principle that has guided him throughout his leadership journey.
The conversations balanced the serious with the festive, as Austin inquired about Thanksgiving meals, morale events, and football predictions, offering a touch of holiday spirit. His outreach reflects his broader leadership approach, which prioritizes the well-being of military personnel and their families through initiatives like pay raises, affordable childcare, and improved housing.
In his holiday "morale calls," Austin connected with several key military units:
Through these calls, Austin reminded service members of their critical role in maintaining global peace and security, and reinforced the nation's deep appreciation for their service.
National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard on October 2024 PCE and Third Quarter 2024 GDP:
Today’s data show inflation has fallen to 2.3%, similar to the level before the pandemic, while our economy has continued to expand by nearly 3% per year. After a hard-fought recovery, we are making progress for working families. Gas prices are close to $3.00 per gallon—the lowest for any Thanksgiving week since the pandemic—and the cost of a Thanksgiving meal has fallen two years in a row, providing needed relief during the holidays. Household incomes are up almost $4,000 more than prices during this Administration. Let’s build on this progress and lower costs for key items like housing and medicine, and not squander it with sweeping policies that would raise prices for working families.
ICYMI: Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Sent Trump a Fiery Letter Yesterday; Today He Tweets About “Resolved” Conflicts
The letter (also featured in yesterday’s newsletter)
“Dear President-elect Donald Trump,
I am writing to you regarding your statement on Monday, November 25, concerning migration, fentanyl trafficking, and tariffs.
You may not be aware that Mexico has developed a comprehensive policy to assist migrants from different parts of the world who cross our territory en route to the southern border of the United States. As a result, and according to data from your country’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP), encounters at the Mexico–United States border have decreased by 75% between December 2023 and November 2024. Moreover, half of those who arrive do so through a legally scheduled appointment under the United States’ CBP One program. For these reasons, migrant caravans no longer arrive at the border.
Even so, it is clear that we must work together to create a new labor mobility model that is necessary for your country, as well as address the root causes that compel families to leave their homes out of necessity. If even a small percentage of what the United States allocates to war were instead dedicated to building peace and fostering development, it would address the underlying causes of human mobility.
On another note, and for humanitarian reasons, Mexico has consistently expressed its willingness to help prevent the fentanyl epidemic in the United States from continuing. This is, after all, a public health and consumption problem within your society. So far this year, Mexican armed forces and prosecutors have seized tons of various types of drugs, 10,340 firearms, and have detained 15,640 individuals for violence related to drug trafficking.
Furthermore, the Mexican Congress is in the process of approving a constitutional reform to classify the production, distribution, and commercialization of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs as a serious crime without bail. However, it is publicly known that the chemical precursors used to produce this and other synthetic drugs are illegally entering Canada, the United States, and Mexico from Asian countries. This underscores the urgent need for international collaboration.
You must also be aware of the illegal trafficking of firearms into my country from the United States.
Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce these weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours.
President Trump, migration and drug consumption in the United States cannot be addressed through threats or tariffs. What is needed is cooperation and mutual understanding to tackle these significant challenges.
For every tariff, there will be a response in kind, until we put at risk our shared enterprises. Yes, shared. For instance, among Mexico’s main exporters to the United States are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived in Mexico 80 years ago. Why impose a tariff that would jeopardize them? Such a measure would be unacceptable and would lead to inflation and job losses in both the United States and Mexico.
I am convinced that North America’s economic strength lies in maintaining our trade partnership. This allows us to remain competitive against other economic blocs. For this reason, I believe that dialogue is the best path to understanding, peace, and prosperity for our nations. I hope our teams can meet soon to continue building joint solutions.”
Trump’s response (new).
In other words, when you vote for a reality star, you end up with a reality show.
DHS and DOL Announce Additional H-2B Visas for FY 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have issued a temporary final rule (TFR) providing an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2025. These supplemental visas aim to assist U.S. employers in industries such as hospitality and tourism, landscaping, seafood processing, and others who are unable to find U.S. workers available, willing, and qualified for temporary jobs.
“There are employers across the country that would suffer greatly without H-2B workers. Authorizing these supplemental visas helps U.S. employers fill those positions,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “It helps fuel our economy and reduce irregular migration while also providing a safe and lawful pathway to the United States for noncitizens who are prepared to work.”
MAGA Critics Accuse Biden of Targeting Musk with $6 Billion Rivian Loan
The Biden administration's $6 billion loan to electric vehicle maker Rivian, intended to support a new factory in Georgia, has sparked backlash from MAGA supporters. Critics argue that the loan, part of Biden's broader climate policy push, is a political move aimed at undermining Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Figures like Vivek Ramaswamy and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have condemned the funding as an inefficient use of taxpayer money, with some claiming it targets Musk due to his political affiliations.
My thought: So, when Tesla, SpaceX, and other Musk companies get support, that's perfectly fine? Understood.
Trump Transition Team Plans to Bypass FBI Vetting for Political Appointees
Donald Trump’s transition team intends to fast-track security clearances for political appointees by granting them on the first day of the new administration, postponing FBI background checks until after Trump takes office. This approach is a continuation of Trump’s disdain for FBI vetting, which has been a source of tension since the agency shared transition records during the Russia investigation. By bypassing the initial FBI check, the Trump team hopes to avoid complications in the Senate confirmation process and expedite security clearances. Trump has previously criticized the FBI as part of a "deep state" conspiracy, and views the clearance process as ultimately within the president’s discretion, rather than dependent on FBI recommendations.
TikTok CEO Summoned to European Parliament Over Controversial Romanian Election
"Romania is a warning bell: Radicalization and disinformation can happen all over Europe with harmful consequences," said Valérie Hayer, head of the liberal Renew Europe group.
The European Parliament has summoned TikTok's CEO to address concerns about the platform's role in Romania's recent shock election. Reports indicate that Romanian presidential candidate Georgescu gained viral traction through tactics resembling those of the Shor network in Moldova. According to investigative journalists at G4Media, Telegram channels employing paid “volunteers” coordinated centralized messaging to amplify social media influence.
The case raises questions about the role of social platforms in fostering radicalization and disinformation, with implications for electoral integrity across Europe.
QUICK NEWS
Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to Reuters, his primary aim is to re-establish basic contact between the U.S. and North Korea. Further objectives have not been outlined, as current global crises, including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, take precedence. During his first term, Trump held three meetings with Kim Jong-un, marking a historic shift in U.S.-DPRK relations.
U.S. forces on Nov. 26 struck Iranian-aligned militia groups in Syria in retaliation for the fighters attacking American bases. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on the social platform X that it struck a weapons storage facility and that a battle damage assessment was underway to determine the impact of the strike.
A new counteroffensive is the only way forward to success for Ukraine, the commander of its Armed Forces recently told a small group of milbloggers. “Victory is impossible if the Armed Forces work only in defense,” said Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to Ukrainian military journalist Kirill Sazonov’s recent post on Telegram. “We have to seize the initiative and counterattack. We have and we will. Where and who – you will see.”
China deployed military aircraft and ships to track and monitor a U.S. Navy plane transiting the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Nov. 26, Beijing said, as the two nations continue to spar over self-ruled Taiwan. The U.S. Navy’s 7th fleet said in a statement a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the strait’s international space “in accordance with international law.”
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump does not intend to spare crude oil from his planned 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, sources told Reuters on Tuesday, as the oil industry warned the policy could hurt consumers, industry and national security.
Mark Zuckerberg met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago this afternoon, the NYT reports.
Alec Baldwin in Italy: “After Trump's victory, "half the people in the country are very unhappy, it’s a very difficult time ... Americans are really uninformed about reality, what's really going on — climate change, Ukraine, you name it ... Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information."
Australian Broadcasting Corporation boss Kim Williams comments on the “Joe Rogan effect”.
Trump Nominates General Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia
Former President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired U.S. Army general and former national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, is known for his bold proposals for addressing the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. His approach, particularly his “Srebrenica Plan,” aims to bring an end to the war that began in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Kellogg’s proposed plan for ending the war involves freezing the current battle lines and bringing both Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table. Under the "Srebrenica Plan," Russia would retain control over the territories it has occupied, while Ukraine would adopt a neutral stance, disarming itself and relying on European Union peacekeepers for protection. The plan seeks to create a diplomatic path to peace while acknowledging the challenging realities of the conflict.
In an interview with Voice of America, Kellogg outlined a formal policy to achieve a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement, suggesting that the U.S. should continue providing arms to Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression during or after a potential peace agreement. However, Kyiv would be required to agree to enter peace talks with Russia as a precondition.
To encourage Russia’s participation in these negotiations, Kellogg proposes delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership for an extended period, in exchange for a "comprehensive and verifiable" peace deal that includes security guarantees for Ukraine. While Ukraine would not be expected to abandon its goal of regaining all territory seized by Russia, the plan advises that Kyiv focus on diplomatic means and acknowledge that the recovery of these lands may take years.
Kellogg’s strategy also suggests partial sanctions relief for Russia as an incentive for the Kremlin to move toward peace, alongside the introduction of levies on Russian energy exports to help fund Ukraine's long-term reconstruction.
Reuters: US urges Ukraine to lower mobilization age to 18 years old
A senior US official has reportedly said that this could change the situation on the front.
“What matters now is manpower. The Russians are indeed making steady progress in the east, gradually pushing back Ukrainian forces near Kursk. Mobilization and an increase in the number of troops can significantly affect the current situation on the battlefield,” he said.
U.S. Sanctions Maduro Allies Over Electoral Undermining and Repression in Venezuela
The United States has imposed sanctions on 21 individuals aligned with Nicolás Maduro, including security forces and high-level officials, for their roles in undermining Venezuela's electoral process and repressing the Venezuelan people. Despite Edmundo González Urrutia's election as president in July, Maduro continues to falsely claim victory and engage in widespread human rights abuses, including killings and mass detentions of protestors. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, target those responsible for repressing democratic opposition. With these actions, the U.S. has now sanctioned 180 Venezuelan officials and imposed visa restrictions on nearly 2,000 individuals, reaffirming its commitment to holding Maduro's regime accountable and supporting democratic freedoms in Venezuela.
Suspicion of Sabotage: Chinese Ship Linked to Severing Critical Data Cables
Investigators are examining the possibility that a Chinese vessel deliberately severed two vital data cables by dragging its anchor for more than 100 miles. The investigation now focuses on whether Russian intelligence directed the ship's captain to carry out the act of sabotage, according to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident. If proven, this would mark the latest in a series of attacks on European infrastructure that law enforcement and intelligence agencies believe Moscow has orchestrated. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated Beijing's commitment to working with global partners to safeguard international submarine cables and infrastructure, in line with international law.
Happy Thanksgiving from the ISS!
I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving.
I am deeply grateful for you.
Please watch the replay of today’s AM ACTUAL NEWS on YouTube
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That’s it from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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