The US military conducted another lethal strike in the eastern Pacific, targeting a boat suspected of carrying narcotics and killing four individuals. This marks the 22nd such strike since September, resulting in at least 87 fatalities. The Pentagon faces growing questions about the legality of these attacks, particularly after reports of the defense secretary’s directive to “kill them all.” Legal experts are challenging the administration’s justification, which claims these actions are lawful under the rules of war, with some highlighting that killing incapacitated individuals is a violation of the law.
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The EU has found X in violation of the Digital Services Act’s transparency obligations, citing the deceptive design of its blue checkmark, a lack of transparency in its advertising library, and a failure to provide data access for researchers. This marks the conclusion of one segment of the ongoing investigation, with other areas such as content moderation still under review. Unlike X, TikTok avoided a fine after agreeing to modify its service’s design following a similar probe. Companies that comply with EU rules can avoid fines; the DSA allows for penalties up to 6% of global annual turnover, potentially impacting X and its broader corporate structure.
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El Fasher, Sudan, now resembles a massive crime scene, with mass graves and cremations sites evident following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) seizure of the city. Satellite imagery reveals the city to be eerily empty, with markets overgrown and livestock removed. While the exact death toll is unknown, one briefing suggested at least 60,000 have been killed, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for, and international experts have declared the city to be in famine. Despite RSF pledges, humanitarian organizations and UN officials have been denied access to deliver aid or investigate atrocities, and the RSF is currently under investigation for war crimes regarding their attack on the Zamzam displacement camp.
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President Trump has replaced architect James McCrery II with Shalom Baranes for the White House ballroom project. McCrery, who advised against Trump’s plans to drastically increase the ballroom’s size, reportedly departed the project due to the inability of his team to meet the project’s demanding deadlines and Trump’s desire to expand the project. The new architect brings decades of experience designing government buildings in Washington, D.C. The expansion, initially estimated at $200 million, has ballooned to $300 million and Trump aims to have it completed by 2029, even though no official public review has taken place.
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In a recent unsigned decision, the Supreme Court allowed Texas’s redistricting map to proceed, a move that could benefit Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Justice Elena Kagan, writing in dissent on behalf of the liberal justices, warned that this decision would violate the Constitution by placing voters in districts based on race, citing the U.S. District Court’s finding of likely racial gerrymandering. While the ruling does not determine the constitutionality of the map, it allows Texas to proceed with the contested districts, despite arguments that the map dilutes the power of minority voters. This decision drew strong reactions from both Republican and Democratic leaders.
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A recent Harvard Institute of Politics survey revealed significant anxieties among young Americans. The survey indicated widespread pessimism about the country’s direction, with the majority viewing the US as a democracy in trouble. Economic concerns are paramount, with many young adults anticipating a less prosperous future than their parents. Furthermore, the survey highlighted low approval ratings for political figures and the majority using AI platforms.
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A federal grand jury in Virginia has declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, days after a judge dismissed the earlier case against her, which alleged bank fraud and false statements. The cases against James and Comey were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the government could attempt to indict them again. This is a rare occurrence, as grand juries rarely decline a prosecutor’s request to indict. James, who has previously brought charges against Trump, released a statement praising the grand jury’s decision, calling the charges baseless and a weaponization of the justice system.
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President Putin has reiterated that Russia will take the Donbas region, either by force or through the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, rejecting any compromise on ending the war. This follows talks with a US delegation where a modified peace plan was discussed, though Putin stated Moscow disagreed with parts of the plan. The Kremlin is now awaiting a response from the US, while Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of stalling ceasefire agreements. European leaders have expressed concerns over the negotiations, with some fearing the US might compromise on Ukrainian territory without sufficient security guarantees.
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On December 5th, the Ukrainian OSINT monitoring group DeepState reported that Russian forces executed a captured Ukrainian soldier in the village of Sviato-Pokrovske in the Bakhmut district. Video evidence, released by Russian sources, depicts a Ukrainian soldier surrendering before being shot at close range, with the footage appearing to document a war crime. DeepState stated that this execution of a prisoner of war violates international law. This incident follows an earlier criminal investigation into the alleged execution of other Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Donetsk region.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that some aspects of the U.S. proposal to end the war in Ukraine are unacceptable to the Kremlin after a meeting with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Although Putin described the talks as “necessary” and “useful,” he also indicated that the process is still in the early stages and some provisions were impossible for Moscow to accept. Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued, with ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage. While U.S. officials are spearheading negotiations, European leaders are seeking to involve China in pressuring Russia towards a ceasefire.
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John Q. Hosedrinker