Along with the keys to the White House, victory in the 2024 presidential election came with the additional prize of presiding over a trinity of red-letter events in the American national calendar. Two are sporting: this year’s FIFA World Cup, and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, held in what should be the last summer of Donald Trump’s second and final term. The third is the semiquincentennial of the founding of the republic. Or, put more simply, America’s 250th birthday.

For its 250th birthday, America is being America

It is entirely fitting that the United States is so splintered on its semiquincentennial. Division, for the lion’s share of its history, has been its default.

By Nick Bryant for ABC’s Long Read

President Donald Trump has threatened Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, with a “bigger price” than the one paid by her recently captured predecessor Nicolas Maduro.

In the early hours of Saturday, American forces swooped over the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife and took them back to the US, where they will soon face charges of orchestrating a “narco-terrorism conspiracy.”

In Maduro’s absence, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has granted Rodriguez, who served as vice president, presidential powers and ordered her to immediately assume office in an acting capacity.

However, “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic in a phone interview on Sunday.

As public concerns over the AUKUS alliance rise – with expanding US bases in Australia and Donald Trump’s belligerent conduct, FOI documents reveal the Government is secretly expanding its ‘US Department of War Protest’ Force. Rex Patrick reports.

Most people won’t be aware that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has established a new command.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPAPc3w5_E

YES... WHAT HAPPENED...? 

OH... I SEE, TRUMP HAS GONE FROM F**KING WOMEN TO F**KING MEN WITH THICK MOUSTACHES, LIKE MADURO...

President Donald Trump announced on January 3 that the United States carried out a “large scale strike against Venezuela” and that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and removed from the country.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the United States blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday following US military strikes against Venezuela.

"Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson called on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security.

The chairman of the Jerusalem-based Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center has said it was the right decision to reject a request from Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to deliver a speech at the institution.

Kiev’s ambassador to Israel approached the center soon after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, asking if Zelensky would be allowed to address members of the national legislature and other officials at the site during an event which would be broadcast internationally. The request was turned down.

How is it possible that a young man with a video camera has done more to expose exorbitant fraud and corruption in one American state than all the giant billion-dollar legacy media combined?

For days after a 42-minute viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley exposed widespread fraud in Minnesota, where empty childcare centers and healthcare offices reportedly received millions in taxpayer money, the mainstream media remained silent on the issue. That’s very strange, given that it may be the largest fraud scandal in US history.

Woke politics forced the US media to ignore a $9bn scam
The Minnesota childcare fraud went unreported in legacy outlets for days because it was too ‘racist’ a story

Antizionist Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro and historian Samuel Biagetti explain why Israel is to blame for the increase in antisemitic attacks.

00:00 Australia’s list of antisemites and Israel’s response to Bondi Beach
01:05 Fox News panel on Bondi Beach
03:43 Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro responds: Israel makes antisemeitic indicidents go out
05:13 Gaza Operation Protective Edge
06:18 No one feels the need to prove the claim that globalizing the antifada is dangerous
06:52 Sam Biagetti responds: message boards =/= real life

Samuel Biagetti holds a doctorate in early American history. He uses his knowledge in his antique dealership, in producing the podcast Historiansplaining, in his writings, and in giving college-level lectures.

The segment reports that U.S. forces allegedly carried out a large overnight military operation in Venezuela, using air power and special forces to capture—not kill—President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The operation is described as a rapid “snatch and grab” that surprised Maduro before he could reach a fortified safe room, with President Trump praising its execution and claiming no American casualties.

Washington’s unprovoked aggression against Venezuela, and the likely coming ground attack, are an attempt at reimposing “proud, stable democracy” in the country, in the words of the US front surrogate, Maria Corina Machado.

When you decode the meaning of those words and the pretexts put forth for US aggression, you will find a remarkable culture of terrorism and gangsterism on display. Let us take a look.

Swim between the flags, the sign says… Amazingly, the flags that have been working for 100 years are now confusing if you believe the Aussie media… 

Unfortunate satire by Gus Leonisky

Apparently the flags are confusing the overseas visitors who can’t read, nor can hear the message on the loud speaker: SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS, YOU MORONS…” Gus added the “you morons” to make sure you paid attention… May be in German? “SCHWIMMT ZWISCHEN DEN FLAGGEN, IHR IDIOTEN…”

To make sure the Ukrainians don’t drown, the flag should be blue and yellow. For the Americans, the star spangled banner should be de rigour… The French would love their national flag used on the Aussie beaches so they can disobey as they usually do, in a revolution or two, and swim to their death while the “Marseillaise” drums along…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an appearance at the US president’s annual New Year’s Eve gala in Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday.

A brief video, first captured by Donald Trump’s social videographer Michael Solakiewicz, showed Netanyahu arriving at the party in a tuxedo alongside his wife Sara. 

The prime minister’s office later posted images to his X account. 

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue".

In a brief post on social media, he wrote: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," but gave no further details.

A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded by saying Trump should "be careful" if he intervened, warning of potential chaos across the Middle East.

At least eight people are reported to have been killed in Iran after almost a week of mass protests sparked by worsening economic conditions.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q4z33pnnyo

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on December 26 that Israel recognizes Somaliland as an independent state, US President Donald Trump was asked whether the United States would follow suit, especially given the talk of a plan to relocate Gazans to the newly formed state. Trump replied, “That’s an important question.”

“SOMALILAND”: IS NETANYAHU EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF BLACKMAIL?

by Mohammed Kawas