December 17, 2025 – Short News

Vance sells job rhetoric while the numbers turn negative and actually calls it A++++! und nennt das tatsächlich A++++!

JD Vance has celebrated the Trump administration’s economic policy as a comeback and promised to reward companies that create jobs in the United States. At an event in a warehouse, he spoke of good wages and of no longer rewarding outsourcing. At the same time, the latest labor market data paint a different picture. While 64,000 jobs were added in November, 105,000 were lost in October. The unemployment rate stands at 4.7 percent, the highest since 2021. Vance shifts responsibility to the previous administration and calls for patience. He says broken structures cannot be repaired in a single day. For many, this sounds like an excuse for uncertainty that this policy itself has helped create. The message is clear: first the story, then reality.

Hegseth blocks transparency as video of boat strike remains secret

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is refusing to release the full video of a boat strike in which survivors were also killed. He says no unedited material classified as top secret will be made public. At the same time, the video is to be shown to selected members of the relevant committees, accompanied by commentary from a Navy admiral who approved the operation. Democrats accuse the administration of dodging accountability. Chuck Schumer speaks of a briefing without substance and calls the material disturbing. Adam Schiff wants to force a vote so that Congress and the public can at least see an appropriate version. Critics warn of a creeping expansion of military authority without sufficient oversight. The administration is relying on secrecy as political pressure grows.

Bible verses against ICE as Minneapolis police chief takes a stand

The police chief of Minneapolis is facing heavy criticism after an unusual statement. In a public assessment of ICE raids, he turned to the Bible and indirectly defended people without legal status. He recalled that Mary and Joseph themselves were considered outsiders and forced to seek shelter in a stable. The comparison was deliberate and aimed at compassion rather than punishment. Critics reacted with outrage and accused him of abusing religious imagery to defend criminal, illegal immigrants and attack federal agents. It should be noted that nearly all of the attacks have come from officers themselves, something we can personally confirm. Supporters saw it as a moral intervention in an increasingly dehumanized debate. The police chief made clear that this was not about justifying lawbreaking, but about how people are treated. The reactions show how deep the divisions have become. Even religious language has turned into a political battlefield, and a police chief who shows humanity while also pointing to legal violations becomes a target.

Washington designates Clan del Golfo as a terrorist organization

The Trump administration has triggered another escalation in its Latin America policy. The US State Department has officially designated the Colombia based Clan del Golfo as a foreign terrorist organization and as a specially designated global terrorist group. The designation brings harsh sanctions and opens the legal door to military or other direct action. The government describes the group as a violent and powerful structure with thousands of members whose main source of funding is cocaine trafficking. That money, Washington says, is used to finance armed violence. The group is blamed for attacks on public officials, security forces, and civilians in Colombia. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has made similar designations for at least thirteen groups in Latin America and launched more than twenty military strikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels. The line between drug enforcement and military intervention is shifting further.

Ukraine security guarantees instead of NATO as peace plan takes shape

In talks over a possible end to Russia’s war of aggression, a model is gaining traction that promises security guarantees without NATO membership. According to sources close to the negotiations, Europe would lead a multinational land, sea, and air presence to protect Ukraine. The United States would oversee ceasefire monitoring and verification with international participation. President Zelenskyy says an agreement is very close, even if not perfect. The fate of occupied territories remains decisive. Russia signals it does not want a temporary pause, but a solution that secures its objectives. For Ukraine, the central question is whether such guarantees would be politically binding and whether the US Senate would approve them. Much remains unresolved, but the direction is clear: protection through arrangements, not membership.

Travel bans expanded as Trump’s isolation policy enters another phase

The Trump administration has expanded existing entry bans once again, adding five more countries to the list. Citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria are now barred from entering the United States. In addition, travel with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority has been fully restricted. Officially, the move is justified by security concerns following the arrest of an Afghan national linked to an attack on National Guard members. In practice, Trump is continuing a central policy of his first term. Migration is once again not treated as a differentiated issue, but broadly framed as a threat. The measure affects millions of people without individual assessment and deepens a global policy of exclusion that prioritizes political symbolism over legal safeguards.

Blockade against Venezuela as Trump orders military pressure at sea

Donald Trump has ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers headed for Venezuela. The move follows the seizure of a tanker off Venezuela’s coast by US forces and is seen as a further escalation against Nicolás Maduro. Trump claims Venezuela is using oil revenues to finance drug trafficking and crime. Critics warn of a dangerous gray zone between sanctions and military intervention. Using the Navy to enforce economic measures raises serious questions under international law and sharply increases tensions in the Caribbean. Political pressure is mounting while a clear strategy for what comes next remains absent.

Hepatitis B vaccination reversed as health agency comes under fire

The US health agency CDC has withdrawn its decades long recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth. In the future, vaccination will only be advised if the mother tests positive or if no test result is available. In all other cases, parents and doctors will decide. Medical associations are alarmed. They warn of preventable illnesses and new outbreaks. Prevention is being turned into an individual choice. Scientific precaution is pushed aside as health policy becomes further politicized.

Josh Shapiro calls out the lie as public confrontation with JD Vance breaks convention

At a public appearance, Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor Josh Shapiro took an unusually direct stance. Without hedging or qualification, he accused JD Vance of deliberately lying to the American public. The charge was not framed as a political jab, but as a direct challenge. Shapiro made clear that this was not about differing opinions, but about verifiable facts. Those who spread false claims, he said, undermine trust and responsibility at the same time. The moment stood out because it cut through standard political rhetoric. No evasion, no tactical silence. Instead, a clear line. For many observers, that was precisely what made it remarkable: a leading Democrat publicly saying what is often only hinted at. The message was unmistakable. Truth is not optional, it is a prerequisite.

Internal White House clash as chief of staff criticizes attorney general over Epstein files

An unusually open conflict has emerged inside the White House. Chief of staff Susie Wiles sharply criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Epstein files. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Wiles said Bondi had completely misjudged public expectations, especially among a highly engaged political audience. She recalled that earlier this year Bondi distributed binders to political commentators that contained no new information. She also said Bondi publicly claimed that a witness or client list from Epstein was on her desk, which was simply not true. Wiles spoke of binders full of nothing and of a claim that raised false hopes. After the interview was published, Wiles described the article as a biased portrait but did not dispute any of the statements attributed to her. The episode shows how deep tensions have become even within the innermost circle of the Trump administration.

Judge on trial as case over alleged help in escape carries wider implications

In Wisconsin, a judge has ruled that criminal proceedings against Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan will continue. We have reported on this case several times. Dugan is accused of helping a migrant evade arrest. Colleagues testified in court that they were shocked by her behavior. Investigators said her actions made the operation more dangerous for officers. The case is one of the few in which legal accountability for state actions against migrants has not simply faded away. It illustrates how polarized the climate has become. Between humanitarian motives and criminal liability runs a line that is being drawn ever more tightly in political terms.

Lawsuits, criticism, control as Trump’s power politics play out on every level

Alongside foreign and domestic escalations, Trump is continuing his legal offensive. With a ten billion dollar damages lawsuit against the British broadcaster BBC, he accuses the outlet of targeted election interference and defamation. At the same time, the White House is defending sweeping interventions in administration, research, and environmental programs while rejecting corruption allegations. Ethics experts speak of a system in which political proximity and economic advantage are increasingly intertwined. As Trump uses public power to pressure personal and political opponents, transparency and oversight continue to erode.

Protests at federal courthouse as clergy allow themselves to be arrested

In San Francisco, clergy chained themselves together outside a federal courthouse to protest immigration policy. Firefighters had to cut the chains. Several people were arrested. The action remained peaceful, and the courthouse was closed for the day. Organizers deliberately sought to disrupt operations. Their aim was attention, not confrontation. Religious symbols met state power. The images spread nationwide.