National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Trump says he will inform Congress of plans to strike land-based cartel targets in Venezuela | 23 Oct 2025 | President Trump said Thursday he will inform Congress of his plans to attack land-based cartel targets in Venezuela as he looks to expand his thus-far seaborne military campaign. “We’re going to go [to Congress]. I don’t see any loss in going — no reason not to,” Trump told reporters at a White House event touting a federal crackdown that’s arrested roughly 3,200 alleged drug cartel members over the past month. “You know they will always complain, ‘Oh, we should have gone.’ So we’re going to definitely,” Trump said. Trump has threatened land-based strikes for weeks after the administration on Sept. 2 began targeting vessels smuggling drugs off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. “I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. Okay? We’re going to kill them, you know, they’re going to be like dead, okay?” Trump said.

Trump announces military strike kills narcoterrorists, destroys drug submarine | 18 Oct 2025 | President Donald Trump said Saturday that a U.S. military strike destroyed a “very large drug-carrying submarine” in the Caribbean this week, killing two suspected narcoterrorists and capturing two others alive, while releasing video of the strike. In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said the vessel was carrying mostly “fentanyl and other narcotics” toward the U.S. on a “well known narcotrafficking transit route.” He claimed the interdiction prevented as many as 25,000 American overdose deaths. “It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE,” Trump wrote. “U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl… There were four known narcoterrorists on board. Two of the terrorists were killed. The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution.”

Putin-Trump summit ‘not completely off the table’ – White House | 23 Oct 2025 | A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not completely off the table,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing on Thursday. Trump called off a planned summit with Putin in Budapest a day earlier, after it was announced last week following a conversation between the two leaders. Leavitt was asked to comment on the decision and the recent U.S. sanctions on major Russian oil companies. “A meeting between these two leaders is not completely off the table. I think the president and the entire administration hopes that one day that can happen again,” she replied.

White House growing increasingly frustrated with Israel | 23 Oct 2025 | The White House is growing increasingly frustrated with Israel just two weeks after President Donald Trump triumphantly announced a deal to end the war in Gaza and bring peace to the Middle East. The mounting frustrations come as a succession of senior officials are passing through Israel this week looking to keep a fragile ceasefire in place. They see some recent developments — the Israeli Defense Force’s counter-attack in Gaza on Sunday, and the Knesset’s vote in favor of West Bank annexation, which Trump has ruled out — as detrimental to the already fragile agreement between Israel and Hamas. Vice President JD Vance delivered a “firm message” from President Donald Trump during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were granted anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

Trump signs historic Gaza peace deal in Egypt: ‘It took 3,000 years to get to this point’ | 13 Oct 2025 | Donald Trump has with a stroke of the pen formally solidified the Israel-Hamas peace plan following the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. The president was surrounded by world leaders from across the Middle East in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Monday to conclude the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. “This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up too. It’s going to hold up,” Trump said while signing the document. The president proclaimed the signing as a turning point in the region for peace. “This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for,” Trump added.

U.S. judge permanently blocks Israeli spyware firm NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp | 18 Oct 2025 | A U.S. federal court has issued a permanent injunction preventing Israel’s NSO Group from attempting to breach WhatsApp, which is Meta’s internationally popular messaging platform. The judge reduced the punitive damages awarded to Meta from 167 million to just 4 million. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton on Friday results from a legal battle that began in 2019 when Meta accused NSO of using its Pegasus spyware to unlawfully target WhatsApp users. The software is known for its ability to exploit software vulnerabilities and enable undercover surveillance… NSO had previously warned the court that such a restriction on interacting with WhatsApp would severely threaten its business model, arguing that being cut off from WhatsApp would “put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk” and could even “force NSO out of business.”

Trump is forced to board Air Force One via small stairs due ‘increased security measures’ after suspicious structure was discovered near airport | 20 Oct 2025 | Donald Trump was forced to board Air Force One on Sunday via the small stairs due to heightened security measures after a suspicious hunting stand was discovered nearby. The President left Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday to return to Washington, D.C., after the suspicious structure was discovered on Friday. A White House official said the discovery led to the implementation of heightened security measures on Sunday as Trump returned to the airport. FBI Director Kash Patel said the “elevated hunting stand” was “within sight line” of the Air Force One landing zone. It was found perched in a tree near where Trump usually exits the presidential jet. There was no ammunition found nearby, and the finding was described as an odd collection of pipes.

Secret Service uncovers suspicious hunting stand nested in tree with direct line of sight to Trump’s Air Force One | 19 Oct 2025 | The FBI is investigating another potential oversight in President Trump’s security. A suspicious hunting stand was found nested in tree with a direct line of sight to Air Force One in Palm Beach on Thursday. Donald Trump landed at the airport in Florida the following day. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital: “Prior to the President’s return to West Palm Beach, USSS discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone. No individuals were located at the scene. The FBI has since taken the investigatory lead, flying in resources to collect all evidence from the scene, and deploying our cell phone analytics capabilities.” The Secret Service was “working closely” with the FBI as well as law enforcement in Palm Beach County.

Major airports issue ground stops due to air traffic controller staffing shortages amid government shutdown | 23 Oct 2024 | Three major U.S. airports issued ground stops or delays Thursday, all attributed to staffing shortages amid the federal government shutdown. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C., was the first to issue a ground delay program Thursday, noting flights were pushed back an average of 30 minutes due to staffing issues. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York later issued ground stops due to staffing, halting all departures from the two major airports. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the probability of the ground stops being extended is “medium,” or 30% to 60%.

Senate Democrats Reject Funding for Essential Government Workers, Including Air Traffic Controllers and Military | 23 Oct 2025 | The “Schumer Shutdown” began on October 1, and the Senate has voted 12 times — and failed 12 times — to reopen the government because Schumer wants to give illegal aliens healthcare. On Thursday, Senate Democrats rejected funding for essential government workers, including air traffic controllers, TSA, and military. 60 votes were needed to invoke cloture to advance the bill. Fox News reported: Democrats blocked a Republican-led attempt to provide essential government workers with paychecks amid an ongoing, 23-day shutdown, calling the bill overly selective and incomplete. That bill, proposed by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Todd Young, R-Ind., failed in a 54-45 vote, where 60 votes were needed to advance the bill over the threat of a filibuster. Only three Democrats, John Fetterman, D-Pa., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., voted with Republicans.

Biden DOJ chiefs personally signed off on Trump investigation in bombshell memo | 23 Oct 2025 | Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Thursday released an April 2022 Justice Department memo showing then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, then-Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and then-FBI Director Christopher Wray personally approved an FBI investigation into alleged efforts by Trump campaign associates to obstruct Congress’s certification of the [stolen] 2020 election. Grassley posted the four-page memorandum on X, saying it proves top Biden administration officials “personally approved” the case — which he referred to as “Arctic Frost” — and that it “unleashed unchecked government power at the highest levels.” The Iowa Republican added, “My oversight will continue.”

New Jersey GOP sounds alarms about ballot security in key county ahead of tight gov election | 19 Oct 2025 | The New Jersey Republican Party is sounding the alarms over the Democratic-controlled Passaic County Board of Elections’ alleged refusal to allow security cameras to monitor ballot storage areas for this year’s tight gubernatorial election. Passaic County’s Board of Elections is also accused of refusing to enforce “basic sign-in and sign-out logs” for individuals accessing mail-in ballots, according to the Garden State GOP. The crucial county — which President Trump won in 2024 in a stunning upset — has a history alleged election irregularities. “In recent years, Passaic County has been home to infamous voter fraud schemes and among the slowest counties to count ballots and certify elections in the entire state,” New Jersey Republican Party Chairman Glenn Paulsen said in a statement Saturday.

DOJ warns California officials to ‘stand down or face prosecution’ after threats to arrest ICE agents | 23 Oct 2025 | U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal letter to top California officials Thursday, warning them against any attempts to arrest or impede federal law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws. The letter, addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom; state Attorney General Rob Bonta; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, stressed that federal agents and officers are carrying out lawful duties, and any interference by state or local officials is both “illegal and futile.” The letter was sent after Pelosi, the former House Speaker, and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., issued a statement Wednesday threatening to arrest federal agents if they break California law.

Illegal Alien’s Trucking Companies Received $36K From Taxpayers Before Deadly Indiana Crash – Report | 23 Oct 2025 | An illegal immigrant truck driver accused of causing a fatal semi-truck crash in Indiana reportedly owned companies that raked in taxpayer m-ney before the crash. A Fox News report on Thursday gave more details about the suspect, identified as Borko Stankovic, who was involved in the wreck on October 15 that left one person dead. “PPP records cataloged by ProPublica show that two of Stankovic’s companies…received a combined 36,082 in l-ans from the COVID-19 era funding program. Business registration records from both Illinois and Indiana show Stankovic owned both companies,” the outlet said. The man is accused of having a suspended Illinois CDL that belonged to a relative, but no valid CDL with his name on it. In a press release Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the suspect had been in the United States illegally since early 2011 when his nonimmigrant visa status expired, noting he had previously been arrested in New York for resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

NY man who bragged he was planning to attack ICE agents with firebombs at ‘No Kings’ rally nabbed | 18 Oct 2025 | A deranged upstate man was arrested in New York City Saturday afternoon after allegedly claiming he had firebombs that he planned to use at a “No Kings” protest to attack federal agents — a bust that comes as some of the anti-Trump rallies around the U.S. spiraled out of control. David Cox, 54, was hit with terrorism charges after bragging to a stranger at a Kwik Fil gas station in Owego, about 198 miles from the Big Apple, Friday night that he had weapons in his trunk and planned to “fight ICE agents” at a Manhattan rally, police and sources said. The innocent bystander then reported the threat to cops after Cox left the gas station. The NYPD tracked down the Newark Valley lunatic after his car was flagged by a license plate reader, nabbing him around 2:25 p.m. Saturday.

Senator and top doctor makes heinous death wish for Trump at No Kings rally | 19 Oct 2025 | A Democratic senator and doctor appeared to wish death upon President Donald Trump at a [Soros-funded] No Kings rally over the weekend. Connecticut State Senator Saud Anwar was all smiles at a protest on Saturday afternoon as he held up a sign stating: “Cholesterol, do your job!” alongside images of fried chicken, a burger and French fries. High cholesterol — which the doctor was seemingly wishing upon Trump — increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death. A user suggested he should “have his medical license revoked” over the sign. “Connecticut Senator Dr. Saud Anwar, a physician, owes his constituents, the medical community, and the nation a full and public apology. How dare he call for our nation to have its’ President become gravely ill or die,” someone else wrote.

Leftist Protesters Spotted Wearing Frog, Cat, Dinosaur Costumes at ‘No Kings’ Protests | 18 Oct 2025 | Leftist protesters were spotted wearing inflatable frog, cat and dinosaur costumes during [Soros-funded] “No Kings” protests held at various locations around the United States on Saturday. In a video posted to X by USA Today, one person was seen wearing a Halloween-like mask while holding a sign with the words, “It’d be less scary with us in office instead.” Behind that person was someone wearing a skull ghost Halloween mask. Two people wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes with pink “No Kings” signs were also seen in the video. In the video, another person can be seen wearing an inflatable cat costume.

Ex-Long Island Rep. George Santos released from NJ prison hours after Trump commuted 7-year sentence | 18 Oct 2025 | Disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) walked out of prison a free man Friday hours after President Trump commuted his 87-month prison sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos, 37, had served less than three months — a total of 84 days — of the sentence handed down by a federal judge in April when he was released from FCI Fairton, a medium security prison in Fairfield Township, NJ, at around 11 p.m., his lawyer Joseph Murray told The Post. “God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history!” Murray wrote in a note posted on Santos’s X account late Friday night… Santos’s lawyer also thanked Greene, noting she “fought like a lion on George’s behalf,” as well as Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and several Trump administration officials.

Trump commutes prison sentence of former New York GOP Rep. George Santos | 17 Oct 2025 | President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Friday that he commuted the sentence of disgraced former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., after several campaign finance violations. “George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump wrote. “I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal came up again…This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” President Trump added. “George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.”

Luigi Mangione got beaten up by 7 ‘ladyboys’ in Thailand months before UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting – report| 21 Oct 2025 | Luigi Mangione was once roughed up by a group of transgender women during a wild night out in Thailand in the months before he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a new report claims. The 27-year-old accused assassin allegedly bragged to friends over WhatsApp about his crazy outings backpacking through Asia before he returned to the U.S. and allegedly shot Thompson in Midtown in Dec. 2024, the New York Times reported Tuesday. In one eyebrow-raising message, Mangione claimed he had been beaten up by seven “ladyboys” — a colloquial term for transgender women — and shared a photo of his battered arm, according to texts reviewed by the outlet.