Setting aside the assembly of research notes for topics and issues I am following; I turn to send a simple message on this holiest of holy nights. I am thankful for you in ways I will never be able to convey.

When we say “Merry Christmas” do we think about it?

This is the day of great joy, the greatest joy of all.  Tonight, we celebrate a loving and purposeful blessing provided to us by our Creator.  The universal truth. The pure perfection of a loving Child born in the most ordinary fashion for us, to us, to guide and share the most blessed and purposeful message that could ever be delivered to mankind: We are Loved.

The message in the story of Christ’s birth is pure love.  Sit in the peace created by our acceptance and join together in joy.

Years from now, it is unlikely anyone will remember that thing they unwrapped.  What they will remember, what will have much greater impact, is a message from YOU to THEM that they matter, that they too are loved.

Think about what “Merry Christmas” means, when you say it.

The Merry Christmas moment provided by you, will NEVER be forgotten.

That look in your eye or sound of your voice that reaches them and emphasizes their value, their worth, their importance; that is the gift they will remember in great detail, forever.

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As we noted yesterday, lawyers representing former CIA Director John Brennan are sending proactive letters to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida {SEE HERE}.  However, some of the information included in the letters intended to be exculpatory is actually damning against their defense position.

You have to go deep in the weeds to see it, but if you understand the details of the events, the information being revealed by Brennan’s lawyers is the opposite of helpful to his case.  As an example, there is a citation included in a footnote of the December 22, 2025, [fn #20 page 6] letter that links to a March 31, 2022, letter sent to John Durham.

Here’s page 6 of the 2025 letter.

Compare the underlined section to the 2022 letter sent to John Durham.

In 2025, Brennan is telling the Florida court the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) conclusion was confirmed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in a “very serious review.”  However, in 2022 Brennan told John Durham that Robert Mueller never interviewed him or offered an assessment of the ICA; Mueller just regurgitated it.

So, which is it?

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The European Union, France and Germany are furious at the U.S. State Department and Marco Rubio for issuing visa bans against European political figures who are involved in censorship under the guise of combating online hate and disinformation. Brussels said Wednesday it will “respond swiftly and decisively” against the “unjustified measures.”

[SOURCE]

The first EU political group to be targeted with the visa bans includes French former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, who was one of the architects of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Also: Imran Ahmed, the British CEO of the U.S.-based Center for Countering Digital Hate, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of the German non-profit HateAid, and Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the first five people targeted with visa bans “have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.”

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Representative Kristin Robbins claims there are multiple millions in assisted living program fraud, while highlighting failures in basic internal controls and ongoing payments indicted individuals. Federal Education Secretary Linda McMahon, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and Rep. Robbins have all urged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to step down.

Governor Walz says he accepts accountability; however, he blames pre-existing vulnerabilities and pandemic-era program expansion. Walz now claims his reforms will include tighter provider screening, enhanced audits, and cooperation with federal prosecutors. [SOURCES] All of this is happening as the scale of the fraud is yet to be fully identified.

MORE FRAUD 🚨 immigrants from Somalia have been buying homes in Minnesota, paying cash and saying they’re being used as “home healthcare”

The state isn’t checking on the homes, many sit empty and are billed to the state for services. Making millions every year

Minnesota realtor… pic.twitter.com/fvMqxMwoD2

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) December 23, 2025

I’m curious if this widespread issue of Somali immigrant fraud is the reason why Tim Walz was selected by Kamala Harris to be her VP candidate in 2024.

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[I present this with a qualifier that will become clear in a few days. Christmastime is not the time for such conversations, yet. However, thankfully we do not yet need to go too deep into motivations – we will soon.]

Secretary of State, National Security Advisor and National Archivist Marco Rubio, presents a short year in review recap of some of the topline geopolitical issues. WATCH:

Secretary Rubio has been doing a stellar job in his dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.  He has been one of the standout cabinet members in 2025 and deserves thankful recognition for his efforts.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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This is very interesting.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced [Press Release Here] an operation to target money service businesses on the southern border.

The objective is to identify targeted financial transaction businesses who participate in money laundering for cartel and criminal activity.

WASHINGTON— Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a multi-tiered operation targeting more than 100 U.S. money services businesses (MSBs) operating along the southwest border. These MSBs—which provide financial services outside of a formal bank—are being examined for potential non-compliance with regulations designed to detect money laundering and combat illicit finance. FinCEN’s operation resulted in the issuance of six notices of investigation, dozens of examination referrals to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and over 50 compliance outreach letters.

“At President Trump’s direction, the Treasury Department is utilizing all tools to stop terrorist cartels, drug traffickers, and human smugglers,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “This sweeping operation will help root out potential cartel-related money laundering from the U.S. financial system.”

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Former Republican Senator Ben Sasse has announced on X that he has stage four metastatic pancreatic cancer and will likely soon die. His full announcement is below:

BEN SASSE – “Friends – This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.

I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.” Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all.

Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have. Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.”

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The data was delayed by the government shutdown, but today the Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the third quarter GDP {DATA HERE} showing a very strong 4.3% growth.  The second quarter was also revised up to 3.8%.

Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter, showing increases in consumer spending, increases in exports, and government spending offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased boosting the overall GDP number.

[SOURCE]

This result is similar to the GDP growth rate cycle we previously saw in 2017 as the MAGAnomic policies and investments into the domestic economy begin to show up. While consumer confidence has struggled due to affordability issues, consumer spending going into the holiday season was very strong.

WASHINGTON – US real gross domestic product rose at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding the 3.3% expected and more than the 3.8% growth in the second quarter.

“The increase in real GDP in the third quarter reflected increases in consumer spending, exports, and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment,” the Bureau of Economic Analysis said.

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