News From Around the Web
#1 Chile Shifts Sharply Right as José Antonio Kast Wins the Presidency - Carrie Kahn and John Bartlett for npr, José Antonio Kast Rist, Sachin Jose, Inevitable West, Geiger Capital, and Trad West on X
Chile has taken a decisive turn to the right after José Antonio Kast, a hardline conservative, won the country's presidential runoff, following a campaign dominated by fears over crime, migration, and economic uncertainty. With over 99% of ballots counted, Kast, the leader of the Republican Party, secured over 58% of the vote. His rival, Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, who received just over 41% of the vote, called to concede defeat, writing on social media, "democracy spoke loud and clear." Outgoing President Gabriel Boric also phoned Kast to congratulate him. As results were confirmed, the streets erupted with honking car horns, and crowds waving Chilean flags packed one of Santiago's wealthiest districts, eager to hear the president-elect speak...
#2 GOP Lawmaker Drops FBI Whistleblower Bombshell About J6 Pipe Bomb Suspect - Travis Gettys for Raw Story, The Reckoning, MAGA Nation, cockyman, Kevin Grubb, ZeroSympathy, and L. Richardson on X
The Kentucky Republican and frequent foe of President Donald Trump claimed Friday afternoon on X that an FBI whistleblower approached him to claim that suspect Brian Cole Jr. couldn't possibly have planted pipe bombs in early 2021 at the headquarters for the Republican National Committee and the Democrat National Committee. "This is the third disclosure I’ve received from current and former employees of the government regarding the pipe bomb case in recent weeks," Massie posted. "These brave moral people could lose their jobs and wreck their careers, but they care deeply for our country. So, at the risk of editorializing, I will summarize what I learned from this newest disclosure in order not to disclose the identity of this whistleblower."
#3 FBI Ousts Reinstated Whistleblower Over Unauthorized Media Talks, ‘Poor Judgment’ - Michael Sinkewicz for FOX News, Steve Friend, New York Post/Steve Baker, Miranda Devine, Robert Barnes/John Nantz, Wannabe Defense Atty, NICOLE, and Kyle Seraphin on X
A former FBI agent and COVID-era whistleblower who was recently reinstated under President Donald Trump was fired Friday, according to a report. The FBI dismissed Steve Friend for "unprofessional conduct and poor judgment," according to a copy of a termination letter posted on X by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. An FBI source confirmed the firing but would not elaborate, saying it was a personnel matter. The FBI stated in the letter that Friend "participated in unauthorized interactions with the media, publicly disseminated media sources, and commented publicly on FBI matters and ongoing FBI investigations."
#4 Multiple Dead, Several Wounded After Mass Shooting at Brown University - FOX News, Nick Sortor, Preetha, Clay Travis, The Redheaded libertarian, Republicans against Trump, and Sara Rose on X
Brown University is grieving after a mass shooting in an engineering classroom left two students dead and nine others wounded during final exams. Hundreds gathered on campus in Providence to mourn the victims as investigators continued piecing together what happened inside the Barus and Holley building around 4 p.m. on Monday. Police say a person of interest was taken into custody early this morning, about 20 miles from campus, after geolocation data helped track him down. Authorities recovered two handguns and believe more than 40 rounds were fired...
#5 15 Dead in Shooting at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Event, Including Children - NBC News, Gautham Kumaresan, Irves, sᴜʀɪʏᴀ ʀᴀsɪɢᴀɴ, Sassafrass84/Durannomas, and Baba Banaras™/Prashant Sherigara on X
At least 15 people were killed, police said, with 27 other people still hospitalized, including a dozen who are in critical condition, after a shooting at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach in Sydney. Police identified the two suspects as a father and son, ages 50 and 24. Officers fatally shot the 50-year-old at the scene, while the 24-year-old “suffered critical injuries” and was hospitalized. Officials said the son may face criminal charges. Officials declared the shooting a terrorist event and said it was “designed to target” Jewish people. An event to mark the first day of Hanukkah was taking place at Bondi Beach, one of Australia's most popular tourist sites...#6 Rob Reiner and His Wife Have Died, Family Say, as Police Investigate Apparent Homicide - CNN, Sarah Fields, Collin Rugg, Andrew Kolvet, Peachy Keenan, MOMof DataRepublican, Megan Basham, and Rob Schneider on X
Legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, the producer Michele Singer Reiner, have died, according to a spokesperson for the family, who added, “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss.” Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives are at the Reiners’ home and are investigating an apparent homicide. Investigators were also interviewing a family member Sunday evening regarding the deaths, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN. Reiner’s prolific work included directing “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride,” and “A Few Good Men.” His breakout role was as Archie Bunker’s son-in-law on TV’s “All in the Family.”
#7 SpaceX Sets $800 Billion Valuation, Confirms 2026 IPO Plans - Loren Grush and Ed Ludlow for Yahoo! Finance, Ricardo, LiaSue, FARZAD.FM, Alexander Bittan/Ed Ludlow, flexo, and Evan on X
SpaceX (SPAX.PVT) is moving forward with an insider share sale that values Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite maker at about $800 billion, setting up what could be the largest initial public offering of all time. In a company message seen by Bloomberg on Friday, SpaceX said it’s preparing for a possible public offering in 2026 that would be aimed at funding an “insane flight rate” for its developmental Starship rocket, artificial intelligence data centers in space, and a base on the moon...
#8 Trump Vows Retaliation for Killing of Americans in Syria - PBS, NEWSMAX/Elizabeth, RC, MEgazeta, Elena, and 41NBC/ WMGT-DT on X
President Trump is vowing to avenge the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter in Syria. And U.S. officials tell PBS News the shooter had ties to ISIS and had infiltrated Syrian security forces. The Pentagon said the two soldiers, members of the Iowa National Guard and the interpreter were ambushed by a lone gunman in the historic city of Palmyra, about 130 miles northeast of Damascus. They were taking part in ongoing counterterrorism missions. The gunman was killed, and according to a U.S. official, he was already under investigation for his ties to ISIS. Mr. Trump paid tribute to the three as he left the White House this afternoon for the Army-Navy football game...
#9 Stefanik Calls on Feds to Ramp up Bid-Rigging Probe of Hochul Homecare Contract After ‘Bombshell’ Email Emerges - Rich Calder for New York Post, NEWSMAX, Reddit.Gamer, Donna Horn, and Graceann Pepe on X
Rep. Elise Stefanik is demanding the feds ramp up its probe into alleged Hochul administration bid-rigging on a $1 billion Medicaid homecare contract — after newly surfaced emails revealed state officials met with reps for the winner two weeks before bidding began. Stefanik — an upstate Republican planning to challenge Democratic Gov. Hochul in next year’s gubernatorial race — sent a Dec. 9 letter to US Attorney General Pamela Bondi saying “recent bombshell allegations have surfaced” — including an April 4, 2024 email from the state Health Department’s Medicaid Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Lothrop, to top executives at Georgia-based Public Partnerships LLC. In the email, obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request by government watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy, Lothrop invites PPL reps to an online meeting with her and three other state officials.
#10 Ron DeSantis Lays Groundwork for Possible 2028 Presidential Run - NewsFactsNetwork, A Man of Memes/Steven Schick, Cryptid Politics, Susan Renaud, Karen Fichtner, and Independent Gal on X
With the 2025 political calendar winding down, attention is already shifting toward the 2028 Republican presidential primary, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is increasingly signaling that he may not be finished on the national stage.
DeSantis, who unsuccessfully challenged President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination in 2024, is term-limited as governor but has remained active on high-profile issues that resonate with Republican primary voters. Among them is a potential mid-decade redistricting effort in Florida that could add several GOP-leaning House seats, depending on the outcome of a pending Supreme Court case involving racial gerrymandering. DeSantis already reshaped Florida’s congressional map in 2022, boosting Republicans’ advantage in the delegation...
