The CIA is reviewing its lethal force policies against drug cartels in Mexico and other countries, according to CNN. The agency is considering legal implications and potential risks, including the possibility of collateral damage to Americans.
Lawyers are examining potential liability for the CIA if an American is accidentally killed during operations, while concerns have been raised about cartel retaliation and the risk of escalating conflict.
The CIA can conduct lethal operations under specific legal authorizations.
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The CIA is assessing its lethal force policies related to drug cartels in Mexico and other countries, according to a new CNN report.
A U.S. official and other sources close to the matter told the outlet the agency is considering what actions it can legally take against drug cartels and any possible risks.
CNN reported that lawyers are looking into the CIA and its officers’ liability if an American is accidentally killed in an operation.
The review doesn’t say whether the Trump administration ordered the CIA to take these actions, but in January, the administration designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Is there a risk of retaliation?
Some U.S. officials told CNN they are concerned using lethal force could pose a high risk of collateral damage to Americans in other countries.
“Mexican cartels are not merely criminal organizations; they operate as paramilitary entities with deep financial resources, global supply chains, and sophisticated logistical networks that extend into the United States,” Livermore said. “Cartels are highly likely to retaliate and possess a substantial capacity for terrorism that, when coupled with their established presence within the United States, could escalate conflict.”
People familiar with the matter told CNN that authorities may hold the CIA accountable for its actions against drug cartels, especially if those actions lead to unintended consequences.
The U.S. intelligence community’s annual threat assessment recently highlighted drug cartels as a major threat for the first time in nearly two decades.
But, many national security officials say while cartels pose a significant issue, they aren’t a critical threat to the U.S.
Is it legal for the CIA to use lethal force?
The CIA can carry out lethal strikes or assist other nations in doing so, as long as the president authorizes it and complies with U.S. laws governing armed conflict, including the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The resolution allows the use of U.S. armed forces in specific circumstances.
Declassified CIA files reveal psychic effort to locate the Ark of the Covenant
In 1988, the CIA’s Project Sun Streak used psychic techniques to locate the Ark of the Covenant, employing “remote viewing” methods. The effort was part of a Cold War-era program exploring extrasensory perception.
Remote Viewer No. 032 described the Ark as a wooden, gold and silver container with winged figures buried in the Middle East.
Experts cautioned against interpreting the session as proof. They emphasized the need for physical evidence to substantiate claims.
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Recently declassified CIA documents revealed that in 1988, U.S. intelligence officials used psychic techniques in attempt to locate the biblical Ark of the Covenant.
U.S. intelligence launched the effort under a Cold War-era program called Project Sun Streak.
The CIA allegedly ran a "remote viewer" program where "psychics" were locating objects.
Apparently, the Ark of the Covenant was located by such a psychic, known as "remote viewer #032" …
Well, I'm sold! The stick figures by remote viewer #032 did it for me. Proof! pic.twitter.com/yXcN2hdpxa
The program trained individuals to use “remote viewing.” It’s a method that claims to access information about distant or unseen targets through extrasensory perception.
What did the remote viewer report about the Ark’s location and surroundings?
In one session, the CIA gave a subject identified only as Remote Viewer No. 032 coordinates without providing the target’s identity.
The actual target was the Ark of the Covenant, the ancient chest said to have contained the Ten Commandments.
The viewer described a container made of wood, gold and silver. The participant also said it had winged figures resembling angels. They described the object as coffin-shaped and buried in a dark, wet, subterranean location in the Middle East.
The viewer also reported seeing domed buildings resembling mosques.
The documents included sketches that depict a domed white structure, several humanoid figures labeled “mummies” and a winged creature marked as “seradin.”
Were historical and spiritual claims made about the object?
The notes said “entities” protect the Ark and permit its opening only when the time is “deemed correct.”
The viewer warned that any unauthorized attempt to access it would trigger destruction by forces “unknown to us.”
They said the Ark was meant to unite people and held ceremonial, spiritual and historical significance “beyond what we now know.”
Remote Viewer No. 032 linked its purpose to memory, homage and resurrection.
While the descriptions reflect religious and cultural narratives, the session’s content remains speculative and unverified.
How have experts responded to the document’s claims?
The CIA declassified the file in 2000.
Experts familiar with the agency’s remote viewing program, including former U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Joe McMoneagle, have cautioned against interpreting the session as proof of the Ark’s existence.
McMoneagle was one of the original remote viewers involved in early experiments. He said the 1988 session appeared to be a training exercise, describing its content as unverifiable.
McMoneagle emphasized that without physical evidence, such claims remain unsupported.
“If someone claims that remote viewing proves the existence of something, such as the Ark of the Covenant, they must produce the Ark to substantiate their claim,” he told The Jerusalem Post.
What is the Ark of the Covenant and why does it matter?
The Hebrew Bible described the Ark of the Covenant as a sacred chest the Israelites built under Moses’ direction. They placed the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments inside it and kept it in the inner sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Ark disappeared after the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE, and its location has remained unknown for centuries.
Trump suggests Oswald may not have acted alone in killing of JFK
Recently, President Trump questioned the idea that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating former President John F. Kennedy. The statement is at odds with the official FBI retelling.
The president’s comments came in response to a question over whether he believed “Oswald killed JFK?”
Trump said, “I do, and I’ve always thought that. Of course, was he helped?”
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President Donald Trump recently seemed to question whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of John F. Kennedy, a statement at odds with the FBI’s conclusion on the infamous killing.
What’s the context?
Trump’s remarks came in an interview with OutKick founder and conservative radio host Clay Travis during the weekend of March 21 on Air Force One.
Trump’s comments came in response to a question over whether he believed in the official telling of Kennedy’s death, being asked if, “Oswald killed JFK?”
Trump responded, saying, “I do, and I’ve always thought that. Of course, was he helped?”
The renewed conversation around JFK
The president’s remarks came as tens of thousands of files on the assassination of JFK were recently released by his administration. Trump also called the findings “somewhat unspectacular” in the interview.
The release of thousands of pages of files detailing the JFK assassination has sparked renewed interest in the notorious historical event that has long been the subject of widespread conspiracy theories and speculation.
The FBI held roughly 25,000 interviews in the wake of the killing of JFK, ultimately determining that 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald, a U.S. Marine, shot and killed the president, acting alone, and was murdered days later by Texas nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
What do the newly released documents say?
Much of the findings in the recent files have already been examined.
The pages released by the Trump administration mention a claim by CIA informant and former U.S. Army Capt. John Garrett Underhill Jr., which states that a small group within the CIA was responsible for the killing of JFK, an accusation known to the public. The pages also feature known claims of Oswald being observed in the former Soviet Union as a “remarkably poor shot.”
Despite these theories, the FBI concluded that Oswald was the lone killer in the case.
Trump previously said he doesn’t believe the released documents are anything “earth-shattering.”
What is the bigger picture?
Trump pushed for transparency in releasing the JFK files and vows to release other classified documents, including those linked to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
CIA expands secret drone flights to find fentanyl labs over Mexico: Report
The United States is ramping up efforts to hunt down fentanyl labs by secretly flying drones over Mexico. U.S. officials told The New York Times that the expanded flights are part of the Trump administration’s enhanced efforts to combat drug cartels.
U.S. officials told the Times that the effort is part of a secret program by the CIA, which began under former President Joe Biden.
Under the program, the CIA is reportedly not authorized to use the drones for lethal strikes, instead using them to gather intelligence on drug smuggling operations and passing it along to Mexican officials.
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The United States is escalating efforts to shut down fentanyl labs by flying drones over Mexico. U.S. officials told The New York Times on Tuesday, Feb. 18, that the expanded flights are part of the Trump administration’s enhanced efforts to combat drug cartels. Officials said it’s part of a previously undisclosed covert program by the CIA, which began under former President Joe Biden.
How are the drones being used?
The officials added the CIA is not authorized to use drones for lethal strikes. Instead, it will use them to gather intelligence on drug smuggling operations and pass it along to Mexican officials.
Officials said the drones go “well into sovereign Mexico.” They have proven successful in identifying fentanyl operations by detecting the chemicals released into the air from drug labs, according to U.S. officials.
Under the Biden administration, sources told the Times, the Mexican government was slow to take action against labs identified. However, the Mexican government did use the intelligence to make arrests.
The Times said that the Trump administration doesn’t intend to use drones for strikes on the labs. However, it does want the labs dismantled.
The publication noted that if Mexico doesn’t destroy the labs, the Trump administration will consider alternative moves.
What is the Trump administration saying?
During a visit to the southern border in February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t rule out cross-border raids to find cartels. During the trip, he told reporters that, “All options are on the table.”
Are there other efforts ongoing against cartels?
As Straight Arrow News recently reported, there have been rumblings under the Trump administration that the CIA may play a bigger role in cracking down on cartels.
The U.S. military is also playing a role in the fight against drug traffickers. The military has increased surveillance flights along the southern border. It has recently used spy planes to collect data on international criminal organizations.
The head of the U.S. Northern Command told reporters on Thursday, Feb. 13, these flights and other U.S. intelligence operations are meant to give Mexican officials information to aid them in addressing “cartel violence” militarily.
CIA may play larger role in combating Mexican cartels under Trump: Report
The CIA may expand its role in combating Mexican drug cartels under President Trump, with a focus on disrupting cartel networks. CIA Director John Ratcliffe plans to apply counterterrorism strategies to the counternarcotics mission.
The U.S. will increase support for anti-drug forces in Mexico and the region. However, it’s unclear whether U.S. personnel will directly target cartel leaders.
Former officials warn this could strain U.S.-Mexico relations.
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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) could take on a larger role in battling Mexican drug cartels under President Donald Trump, The Washington Post reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
Mexican drug cartels are known to be powerful and violent criminal organizations primarily involved in trafficking drugs over the United States’ southern border, as well as human trafficking.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe plans to shift agency resources to its counternarcotics mission and disrupt the cartel networks, one person told The Post anonymously. Ratcliffe intends to use lessons learned in counterterrorism operations and apply them to the cartel mission.
“Countering drug cartels in Mexico and regionally is a priority for CIA as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to end the grave threat from narco-trafficking,” a CIA spokesperson told The Post in a statement. “Director Ratcliffe is determined to put CIA’s unique expertise to work against this multifaceted challenge.”
The plan will prioritize increased U.S. support for anti-drug forces in Mexico and the wider hemisphere, sources say. However, it’s unclear whether U.S. military special operations or CIA personnel will be tasked with directly targeting cartel leaders in Mexico.
Former intelligence and military officials caution that this could provoke a fierce backlash. The Post reports that they say it could harm U.S. relations with Mexico, including counternarcotics cooperation.
Another anonymous Pentagon official said there are no such plans in the works.
On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order giving Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other cabinet officials two weeks to decide which cartels and other foreign groups would be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
The executive action aims to “ensure the total elimination of these organizations’ presence in the United States and their ability to threaten the territory, safety, and security of the United States.”
That two-week deadline has lapsed, and, citing U.S. officials, The New York Times reports that “The State Department plans to designate six Mexican cartels: the Sinaloa cartel, Jalisco New Generation cartel, the Northeast cartel, the Michoacán Family, the United Cartels, and the Cartel del Golfo.”
CIA offers buyouts to entire staff despite recruitment struggles
The CIA offered buyouts to its entire staff Tuesday. The deal will allow employees to resign and receive pay and benefits for about eight months.
The CIA wants to align with President Trump’s policies for the agency –– targeting China and drug cartels.
This is the first time buyouts have been made to an intelligence agency.
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The CIA offered buyouts to its entire staff on Tuesday, Feb. 4, allowing employees to resign and receive pay and benefits for about eight months. According to multiple reports, the offer is being made to help the CIA align with President Donald Trump’s priorities for the agency—targeting China and drug cartels.
In addition to the buyouts, the Wall Street Journal reported the CIA is implementing a hiring freeze and rescinding some job offers to individuals who don’t fit the new plan.
“Director [John] Ratcliffe is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administration’s national security priorities. These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy,” a CIA spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.
The Trump administration offered buyouts to almost 2 million federal workers on Jan. 28, but defense and national security officials were excluded. This is the first known time the buyouts were made available to an intelligence agency.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told Straight Arrow News that the CIA is struggling with recruiting because young people can’t bring their phones to work.
“So we’re trying to help them be able to recruit the workforce they actually need. And the idea of just randomly offering unfunded buyouts without going through Congress is overreach,” Kelly said.
Democrats, including Kelly, have said Congress needs to approve funding to pay employees who aren’t working.
“Buyouts require appropriated money,” Kelly said. “We did not appropriate money for this. If this is something the administration wants to pursue, they should come to the Intelligence Committee in the Senate and the House, and we could talk about it. We could debate it.”
The buyout offer to the general workforce does not appear to be very popular. As of Tuesday, approximately 20,000 federal employees, or roughly 1% of those eligible, had told the government they would accept. The White House said it expected up to 10% to take the deal.
CIA analysis says COVID-19 ‘more likely’ came from lab leak
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said Saturday, Jan. 25, that the COVID-19 pandemic “more likely” started with a lab leak rather than originating from animals, according to its latest analysis. The agency said, though, it would continue evaluating any new intelligence reporting.
“CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting,” a CIA spokesperson said in a statement.
For years, the CIA said it could not conclude the origins of the virus that killed more than one million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.
However, in the final weeks of the Biden Administration, former national security adviser Jake Sullivan ordered a new review of the virus’ origins and former CIA director Bill Burns told the agency it needed to take a side.
The decision to release that assessment marks one of the first made under the agency’s new Trump-appointed director, John Ratcliffe, who took over the CIA on Thursday, Jan. 23.
While Ratcliffe has believed COVID-19 started in a lab in Wuhan, China, agency officials told The New York Times that its analysis was in the “works for some time” and did not “bend its views to a new boss.”
“The conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely was reached by the China-WHO joint expert team based on field visits to relevant laboratories in Wuhan.”
Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman
China refuted the CIA’s claim in a statement Monday, Jan. 27. “The conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely was reached by the China-WHO joint expert team based on field visits to relevant laboratories in Wuhan,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “This has been widely recognized by the international community and the scientific community.”
The CIA joins other agencies, like the FBI and the Energy Department, in believing the coronavirus most likely came from a lab leak and not from an infected animal at an outdoor market, which other intelligence agencies have favored.
The FBI and Energy Departments differ, however, on which labs they believe started the leak.
Colombia accepts deported migrants after tariff showdown with Trump
The showdown between the Trump administration and Colombia over deported migrants is over, but what happens to the tariffs the president threatened to impose? And much-needed rain in Southern California brings new concerns to the region. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
Colombia accepts deported migrants after tariff showdown with Trump
The Trump administration claimed a quick and decisive victory after Colombia agreed to allow the U.S. to transport repatriated migrants back to the South American country.
Early Sunday, Jan. 26, Colombia blocked two U.S. military planes carrying deportees from landing. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the U.S. “can’t treat Colombian migrants like criminals.”
President Donald Trump responded to the move on Truth Social, announcing “emergency 25% tariffs” on all imports from Colombia — which would be raised to 50% in a week, a travel ban for Colombian citizens and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the U.S.
Within hours, Petro threatened a 25% retaliatory tariff increase on the U.S. in a series of social media posts objecting to the use of military planes and the treatment of migrants.
However, by late Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Colombia’s government agreed to the “unrestricted acceptance” of migrants from Colombia “without limitation or delay.”
Leavitt added tariffs and financial sanctions will be held in reserve but not signed. Still, the visa sanctions against Colombian officials and stricter customs inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo ships, ordered by Trump earlier Sunday, will remain in effect “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Leavitt’s statement said other countries should take notice and fully cooperate in accepting its deportees who were in the U.S. illegally.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire moves forward after weekend issues
Early Monday, Jan. 27, Qatar announced an agreement was reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the hostage release, which is set for Thursday, Jan. 30, will include civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud and female soldier Agam Berger.
As of Monday morning, Palestinians are now allowed to return to northern Gaza on foot. They were set to start returning on Saturday, Jan. 26, but Israel put that on hold because of Yehoud, whom Israel said should have been released on Saturday.
However, Israel did release 200 Palestinian prisoners Saturday as part of the second phase of an exchange in the ceasefire deal that saw Hamas release four female Israeli soldiers.
Trump weighed in on the issue over the weekend, suggesting most of Gaza’s population be temporarily resettled in other countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, to “just clean out” the war-ravaged enclave. Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority rejected his idea.
Bird feathers found in engines of crashed South Korean plane: Report
Authorities investigating last month’s deadly passenger jet crash at South Korea’s Muan airport said they found evidence a bird may have caused the plane to go down.
A preliminary report, released Monday, said duck feathers and blood stains were found in both engines of the jet that crashed into a concrete structure that houses a “localizer,” killing 179 of the 181 people on board. The localizer aids in the navigation of an aircraft approaching the runway.
The report said investigators will examine the jet engines and concrete structure further to determine the role each played in the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil.
Rain brings relief to wildfire-devastated Los Angeles area
Thousands of South California residents displaced by deadly wildfires hope to return to their homes, or what remains of them, Monday, as the area sees its first significant rainfall in months.
A slow-moving rainstorm settled over Southern California on Sunday, bringing much-needed relief as three major wildfires, now mostly contained, scorch the already devastated area.
However, this morning, major concerns about mudslides, flash flooding, and toxic ash emerged. Experts said rain that falls on recently burned areas picks up contaminants from ash, charred vehicles, and other debris and can carry pollutants into the ecosystem and water supply.
Forecasters said rain showers will continue into Monday afternoon.
New CIA analysis says COVID-19 outbreak ‘more likely’ came from lab leak
The CIA now says the COVID-19 pandemic “more likely” started with a lab leak rather than originating from animals. However, the agency said it would continue evaluating any new intelligence reporting.
On Saturday, a CIA spokesperson said the pandemic’s “research-related origin” is “more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting.”
However, analysts said they have “low confidence” in that assessment, despite former CIA Director Bill Burns telling the agency it needed to look at the existing evidence again and come down on one side or the other.
The decision to release that assessment marks one of the first made under the CIA’s new Trump-appointed director, John Ratcliffe, who took over the agency on Thursday, Jan. 23.
The country has argued over the origin of COVID-19, with other agencies like the FBI and the Energy Department believing the coronavirus most likely came from a leak in a lab in Wuhan, China, and not the theory of an infected animal at an outdoor market, which other intelligence agencies have favored.
Chiefs to meet Eagles in Super Bowl rematch
Super Bowl LIX is now set for Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will play for the title in a rematch from two years ago.
The Chiefs will attempt to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
The defending champs knocked off the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in a thriller at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ran for two touchdowns while its defense held off Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills led going into the fourth quarter 22-21, but Mahomes led his team down the field twice, including a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker with just over three minutes left.
In the first game of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles put up 55 points — the most ever in a conference championship game — and routed the upstart Washington Commanders 55-23.
Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley ran for three touchdowns, including a 60-yarder on the team’s first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also showed up to play, running for three touchdowns, as well.
South Korean president reacts to arrest after massive police operation
The death toll rises slightly as relentless Southern California wildfires continue to burn. And President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary wins over a key senator for his confirmation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
South Korean president arrested in massive police operation
After weeks of avoiding arrest, South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is in custody after a massive law enforcement operation Wednesday morning, Jan. 15.
Investigators with the country’s anti-corruption agency arrested Yoon for questioning in multiple criminal investigations related to his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, including accusations of leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty in South Korea.
Following his arrest, which saw around 3,000 police officers descending on his residence, Yoon released a pre-recorded video message calling the investigations “illegal,” saying “rule of law in this country has completely collapsed” and adding that he only agreed to cooperate with the investigation to prevent violence. The embattled president avoided arrest for weeks, holed up in his fortified residence and surrounded by his presidential security team.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has been taken into custody, but he again reached out to his supporters decrying the investigation as illegal and that he was complying with the warrant to avoid "bloodshed."#SouthKorea#news Here is the break down: https://t.co/mn8CM5nRoIpic.twitter.com/Qks6ganmiU
Officials said that so far, Yoon has refused to answer investigators’ questions or comment and will not allow the sessions to be recorded.
The anti-corruption agency has 48 hours to request a court order for a formal arrest on a charge of attempting a rebellion or release Yoon. If Yoon is formally arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days before transferring the case to public prosecutors for indictment.
South Korea is a key American ally. The U.S. has nearly 30,000 troops stationed there. In addition, President Joe Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit in Washington, D.C. in April 2023.
Southern California wildfire death toll rises to 25, ‘dangerous situation warning’ issued
The National Weather Service issued a warning that the Los Angeles California area is “not out of the woods yet,” even though winds were not as strong as expected on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Wind gusts are forecast to pick up Wednesday, with a dangerous situation warning in effect from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Evacuation orders remain in place for 88,000 Los Angeles residents. About 90,000 others remain in evacuation warning zones, meaning they might need to leave at a moment’s notice. A total of 6 million people are under a critical fire threat.
The death toll from the fires rose to 25 on Tuesday. The Eaton and Palisades fires — burning for a full week — are now considered the most destructive and second-most destructive wildfires in Southern California history.
The Palisades fire remains the largest, scorching nearly 24,000 acres of land. It is only 18% contained, a small improvement from Tuesday’s 14% containment.
The Eaton fire spans about 14,000 acres and is now 35% contained. The Auto fire in Ventura County grew slightly from 56 to 60 acres but is now 47% contained, according to CalFire’s latest update.
As of Wednesday morning, five fires continued to scorch the region, with winds forecast to hit 70 miles an hour later Wednesday and into Thursday, Jan. 16.
Pete Hegseth faces tough questions on Capitol Hill
Late Tuesday night, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Fox News she’d vote to confirm Hegseth. She was on the fence ahead of the hearing, and many Democrats hoped she would vote no. Her support for Hegseth could put him over the top.
The hearings continue Wednesday for several nominees, including Trump’s picks for attorney general, Pam Bondi; secretary of state, Marco Rubio; and CIA director, John Ratcliffe.
Find Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan’s full recap of Tuesday’s proceedings here.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission files lawsuit against Elon Musk over X shares
Elon Musk, one of the heads of Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, faces a new lawsuit over his social media company X. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Musk.
Since Trump appointed Musk to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency during his second term, it’s unlikely the incoming Trump administration will pursue this lawsuit.
US watchdog sues Capital One, alleges bank cheated customers out of $2B
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing Capital One, saying the bank misled consumers about its offerings for high-interest savings accounts and cheated customers out of more than $2 billion in interest payments.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, focuses on Capital One’s promises and handling of its “360 Savings” accounts. The Bureau said despite promoting 360 Savings as an account that provides one of the nation’s highest interest rates, Capital One froze its rate at a low level for at least several years, even as interest rates rose nationally.
The CFPB said that at the same time, Capital One created “360 Performance Savings,” which saw a much higher growth rate but did not notify 360 Savings account holders about the new offering and instead “worked to keep them in the dark.”
The lawsuit alleges the company marketed the products similarly to obscure their distinction and banned employees from “proactively telling” those with 360 Savings accounts about 360 Performance Savings.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to impose civil penalties on Capital One and provide financial relief to those impacted.
Musicians come together for benefit concerts to support wildfire victims
With the wildfires in California impacting so many people and uprooting people’s lives, entertainers are coming together to hold benefit concerts to support the victims.
Ringo Starr is taking the famous song lyrics, “I get by with a little help from my friends,” seriously. The former Beatles drummer is holding a two-night benefit concert this week in Nashville. It will feature guest performances from Jack White, Sheryl Crow and “War and Treaty.”
Funds from the concert, which will air as a special on CBS later this year, will be directed to the American Red Cross.
Live Nation is gearing up for its benefit concert, titled “FireAid,” to be held on Jan. 30. Sources told TMZ the response from musicians has been so overwhelming that the event will likely be held in two different venues.
Live Nation is expected to announce the lineup within days.
78% of Americans believe government is withholding drone details
A recent CBS News/YouGov poll reveals that 78% of Americans believe the government is withholding information about the recent surge in drone sightings along the U.S. East Coast. About half of respondents view the drones as a potential national security threat, with concerns heightened among those suspecting foreign involvement.
According to federal agencies, residents have documented more than 5,000 drone sightings in recent weeks.
Officials say the majority of incidents involve lawful drones, misidentified aircraft or celestial objects. Despite these assurances, public skepticism remains high.
The issue has drawn attention from Capitol Hill, where intelligence officials recently briefed lawmakers behind closed doors. Representatives from agencies like the CIA and Department of Defense stated there’s no evidence linking the drones to foreign actors or malicious activity.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby indicated the sightings likely involve commercial, hobbyist or law enforcement drones.
Some lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the briefing. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., criticized the lack of detailed information. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., called for additional data to support claims that “manned aircraft” were mistaken for drones.
Speculation about foreign involvement persists. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, suggested some drones could be linked to China. McCaul described the drones as “adversarial.”
As investigations continue, the gap between official explanations and public perception remains significant. Federal agencies face mounting pressure to provide clearer answers as concerns about the sightings grow.