• Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal: Yesterday, Federal Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to the District of Columbia was illegal. This ruling comes in response to a lawsuit raised by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who called Donald Trump’s action an “involuntary military occupation” and praised Cobb’s decision as a victory for DC’s home rule. Cobb ruled that Trump overstepped his authority, noting that the Constitution gives Congress oversight authority of DC. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded to the ruling, stating, “President Trump is well within his lawful authority to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C., to protect federal assets and assist law enforcement with specific tasks. This lawsuit is nothing more than another attempt — at the detriment of D.C. residents — to undermine the president’s highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C.” The Trump administration pledged to appeal.

• Air traffic control bonuses: One aspect of good leadership is rewarding exceptional service. Some 776 air traffic controllers out of 10,000 never missed a single day despite working without pay during the government shutdown. Those 776 who went “above and beyond” will receive a $10,000 bonus in addition to back pay. The more than 9,000 controllers who had a less-than-perfect attendance record will not receive a bonus. President Trump suggested the bonus idea, along with docked pay for those who skipped shifts, but there are no plans to dock pay at this time. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association reports that only 311 of its members will receive the bonus, meaning some managers must be included in the total figure.

• Flying with dignity: “Let’s bring civility and manners back,” urges Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a new ad bemoaning the unruly state of air travel in America. The ad begins with images of air travel in a bygone era, when travelers wore suits, shook hands, and greeted one another with a smile. It then takes a sharp turn, showing the fistfights, arguments over reclining seats, and pajama-clad travelers that have become all too common today. Duffy asks travelers if they’re helping pregnant women with their luggage, dressing with respect, keeping control of their children, or saying “please” and “thank you.” “It’s not your imagination,” Duffy remarked on X, “traveling has become more uncivilized!” Indeed, the FAA has reported a 400% increase in outbursts on airplanes since 2019. Let’s hope Secretary Duffy can jumpstart a new “golden age” of air travel with polite, well-dressed passengers.

• The CDC’s vaccine-autism amendment: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rescinded its language on childhood vaccines and autism. Prior to Wednesday, the CDC’s statement on the subject read: “Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). No links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and ASD.” That language has been replaced with the following: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism." It further adds key points, stating, "Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities. HHS has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.” This is quite the reversal for the CDC, which will likely fuel more claims of politicization and public distrust of the agency.

• Arctic Frost update: The investigation into Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost probe continues to heat up. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan revealed yesterday that his phone records from January 2020 through April 2022 were improperly subpoenaed. Verizon claims to have uncovered its own compliance with the subpoena as part of its investigation and handed it over to Jordan at the first opportunity. Verizon’s explanation may not survive scrutiny, as the company has already taken flak for simply complying with the subpoena without even attempting to push back as AT&T did.

• Iran nukes IAEA deal: Iran announced that it has ended an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency it signed in September that would have allowed the nuclear watchdog to relaunch inspections of the nation’s nuclear facilities. Tehran said that it distrusts the IAEA’s “credibility and independence.” Iran took this action in response to the IAEA’s request that Tehran provide it with accurate data on its nuclear materials and facilities “without delay.” Since President Trump green-lighted the bombing of Iran’s nuclear development facilities in June, Iran has rebuffed outside efforts to assess the state of its nuclear development efforts. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran was interested in making a “fair and balanced” deal and was ready for negotiations. Trump acknowledged this sentiment this week, claiming that Iran “very badly wants to make a deal,” which he would be open to considering.

• Pollaganda predicts a blue-wave midterm: Polls are very often propaganda, e.g., the 2024 Des Moines Register poll that showed Kamala Harris ahead in Iowa by three points. However, polls can be useful measures of the electorate when carefully examined. An NPR poll released this week shows Democrats securing 55% of the vote in a generic congressional race. It’s the largest lead Democrats have seen in a poll since 2017. However, other results in the poll seemingly contradict that lead — Democrats take the majority of the blame for the government shutdown, for instance. President Trump’s approval rating is at its lowest point this term, which political pundit Ben Shapiro attributes to two factors: affordability and the Epstein files. Epstein seems unlikely to be a swing issue a year from now, but affordability fits strategist James Carville’s famous maxim, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Republicans should focus on affordability if they want to win in 2026.

• Global warming sets COP30 ablaze: On Thursday, a blaze broke out at the UN’s annual climate conference being held in Belém, Brazil. The fire engulfed the pavilion roof of a section of the COP30 conference facilities known as the “Blue Zone.” Firefighters quickly contained it, and no injuries were reported. The incident is being investigated. According to reports, UN officials had instructed Brazilian authorities to address several concerns at the conference facility, including the unbearable heat and an insufficient number of security personnel. COP30’s “Blue Zone” was described as an area “for official negotiations, the Leaders’ Summit, and national pavilions.” Apparently, all that focused talk of global warming was enough to ignite an actual fire.

• “Quiet. Quiet, piggy”: After President Trump’s first election in 2017, we pleaded with him to adopt our editorial policy when dealing with obnoxious people: “Don’t swap spit with a jackass.” We hoped he would curb his penchant for petulant insults, which become distractions from his agenda. Now, some insults are earned and clever, but most back then were just juvenile. But since taking office in 2025, a very different Trump has emerged, and the petulant insults have almost disappeared. Almost. Last Friday, in a noisy Air Force One exchange with Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucey, amid serious questions about serious matters, she rudely pressed Trump on a 2019 Jeffrey Epstein email that the Left claims implies Trump “knew about the girls.” What Trump knew was that Epstein was trying to recruit women from Mar-a-Lago, and Trump expelled Epstein from the club in 2007, describing him as “creepy.” The two hated each other from then on. Responding to Lucey’s question, Trump said, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.” The Leftmedia have now elevated “Piggy” to front-page news. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “He calls out fake news when he sees it. He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration.” Another White House official said, “This reporter behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way towards her colleagues on the plane.” Of the insult, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar concluded as do many: “President Trump is a very picturesque and difficult and different type of politician. But I always say that I look at his policies and not at his personality.” Bottom line: The appropriate response to Lucey, as Trump says to other leftist reporters, is “Fake news!”

• Déjà vu: Chicago woman set on fire by career criminal In another preventable attack, a 26-year-old woman riding a Chicago train got into an argument with a 50-year-old man who then proceeded to pour liquid on her and set her on fire. The man was caught on video saying, “Burn alive, b***h!” The perpetrator, who was taken into custody, has a lengthy arrest history and was previously freed by a judge after he assaulted a social worker. “The person of interest,” according to Fox News, “has 22 prior arrests since 2016 and 53 criminal cases in Cook County dating back to 1993, including nine felonies that led to guilty pleas — though only two resulted in jail time, CWB Chicago reported.” The woman is in critical condition with severe burns. This follows Gov. JB Pritzker’s claims that Chicago is “safe” and “doesn’t need the National Guard.” These horrific crimes will continue until the judges who release criminals back onto the streets are held accountable for the violations that are perpetrated on law-abiding citizens.

• Catholic schools in Nigeria raided by suspected Muslim terrorists: The Christian Association of Nigeria and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora condemned an early Friday morning attack on two Catholic schools where armed men kidnapped children, teachers, and a security guard. This comes after Nigeria has been officially labeled as a Country of Particular Concern due to Christian persecution, as well as after President Trump threatened to pull aid from the country if it didn’t start protecting its citizens from the multiple Muslim attacks and killings that have been plaguing the country. It’s time to stop threatening and act before more lives are destroyed and lost.

Headlines

• Ukraine agrees to enter negotiations on U.S.-backed plan to end war with Russia (Daily Signal)

• Eric Swalwell running for California governor (CBS News)

• Former GOP aide allegedly stages Jussie Smollet-style hoax (Not the Bee)

• House Ethics Committee investigating Cory Mills (Daily Signal)

• U.S. banks shelve $20 billion bailout plan for Argentina (WSJ)

• Judge Boasberg rules Meta does not have monopoly power in social media (Breitbart)

• Scientists okay HHS report that found almost nothing to support “gender-affirming care” for kids (NY Post)

• Federal judge separates male inmates from female prison population (National Review)

• Humor: Do you have what it takes to be a professional journalist? Here are nine qualifications (Babylon Bee)

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