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Monday, February 24, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom Asks Congress for $40 Billion to Rebuild Los Angeles

NBC: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires, which he said could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history… “Los Angeles is one of the most economically productive places on the globe, but it can only rebound and flourish with support from the federal government as it recovers from this unprecedented disaster,” Newsom wrote. Estimates of the total economic loss from the firestorm have been estimated to surpass $250 billion — with real estate losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires predicted to potentially top $30 billion, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. More than 16,200 structures were destroyed (NBC). Kevin Dalton: Gavin Newsom isn’t going to let a thing like blowing $128 BILLION on high speed rail, $9.5 BILLION on healthcare for illegal immigrants, and $24 BILLION on homelessness stop him from asking President Trump for $40 BILLION to rebuild from the wildfires he didn’t prepare for (X). Commentator TaraBull: Gavin Newsom is asking for 40 BILLION from the federal government but has 50 MILLION to ‘Trump Proof’ California against President Trump’s immigration policy. Gavin should have to resign before any funds are sent (X).

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Claims He is Willing to Resign in Exchange for NATO Membership

CNN: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he was “ready” to resign as leader if it meant it brought peace to his country, suggesting he could swap it for NATO membership. Asked at a press conference if he was ready to quit if it ensures peace for Ukraine, Zelensky said: “If it guarantees peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO.” The Ukrainian president previously said his country’s army will need to double in size if NATO denies it membership to the alliance. Earlier this month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Kyiv joining NATO was unrealistic (CNN). Politico: The remarks also followed the largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine since the start of President Vladimir Putin’s all-out invasion of the country, one day before the third anniversary of the war. The Ukrainian leader also said at the Sunday conference that the option of Ukraine’s joining NATO was “still on the table.” Following high-level talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said NATO membership for Ukraine was unacceptable to Moscow (Politico).

Ukraine’s Zelensky States $100 Billion Given By Biden Are Grants

Townhall: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stirred controversy by stating that he would be “ready” to resign if it would lead to peace in Ukraine— after President Donald Trump labeled him a “dictator” and refused to allow the United States to be a cash cow for the foreign nation. This statement, made amidst an ongoing agreement between Ukraine and Russia, comes after Zelensky said he doesn’t recognize Ukraine’s $500 billion debt, claiming that the Biden administration gave it to him as a grant— not a loan (Townhall). Collin Rugg: Ukraine President Zelensky says the billions of dollars that were given to him by the U.S. was a grant, not a debt owed to the United States. “I don’t even recognize $100 billion. We agreed with Biden that it was a grant, not a debt.” The statement comes as the Trump administration is currently pushing for a rare minerals deal with Ukraine (X).

Hamas Releases Six Hostages Saturday; Continue Torturing Current Hostages

Daily Wire: Hamas released six hostages on Saturday, the last living hostages slated for release under the first phase of the tenuous ceasefire agreement struck last month. The six hostages were turned over to the Red Cross for transport into Israel in three groups. The first released were 40-year-old Tal Shoham and 39-year-old Avera Mengistu, according to Fox News. Hamas terrorists escorted them to Red Cross vehicles after holding a staged ceremony in front of hundreds of cheering Palestinians. Israel has condemned such displays (Daily Wire). New York Post: The body of Shiri Bibas was finally returned to her family after twisted Hamas terrorists initially sent the wrong one. The proper remains were received on Friday and her identity confirmed by the Bibas family and Israeli officials on Saturday. “Our Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home,” the family said in a statement. “For 16 months, we sought certainty, and now that we have it. There is no comfort in it, but we hope for the beginning of a closure” (New York Post). Jews Fight Back: Hamas is pure evil. These sadistic, subhuman terrorists just dragged two Jewish hostages, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, to the release point—not to set them free, but to psychologically torture them. They forced them to watch as other hostages were let go, dangling their own freedom in front of them like a sick, twisted joke. And then they filmed them begging for their lives, begging to be brought home (X).

MSNBC Cancels Joy Reid’s Show in Network Restructuring

Fox News: MSNBC is canceling Joy Reid’s program “The ReidOut” as part of a major network shakeup, Fox News Digital has learned. Reid’s 7 p.m. ET program will be replaced by a show featuring Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris, Alicia Menendez and RNC Chair turned MSNBC host Michael Steele. Reid will host the final “ReidOut” this week…MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, is planning to announce additional programming changes across dayside, weekends and primetime. Jen Psaki, current host of “Inside with Jen Psaki,” is expected to end up with more airtime (Fox News). Libs of TikTok: Joy Reid has been FIRED. Turns out calling your political opponents racist Nazis every night for an hour doesn’t get viewers (X).

Border Patrol Replacing USAID Headquarters Building in D.C.

Fox News: The downtown Washington, D.C., Ronald Reagan building will undergo a dramatic shift as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes over the longtime headquarters of the Agency for International Development (USAID)… The news comes after a federal judge on Friday declined to keep in place a temporary block that was preventing President Donald Trump from removing all but a small number of USAID staffers, clearing the way for the administration to continue its dramatic cuts to federal departments (Fox News). Acyn: Trump: We have ended the scam of USAID, the agency’s name has been removed from its former building and that space will now house agents from customs and border patrol (X).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Defends JD Vance’s Speech

Politico: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to Vice President JD Vance’s defense on Saturday, blasting the “elites” who were outraged by Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference last week. She denounced the “American liberal leftism” that she said was being replicated in Europe, and said Vance was right in his speech about the greater threat to the continent… Vance made waves in Munich with his “America First” address that left European leaders stunned, and without the guidance they had hoped for on the U.S.’s approach to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Now, Meloni is echoing Vance and President Donald Trump’s talking points — saying Europe has been “sacrificed on the altar of wokeness, bureaucracy and mercantilism” (Politico).

Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition With Pneumonia, Lung Infection

Associated Press: Pope Francis was conscious but still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen Sunday as he remained in critical condition with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said. Prayers for him poured in from around the world, from his native Argentina to the seat of Sunni Islam in Cairo to schoolchildren in Rome (Associated Press). Daily Wire: While Vatican officials have not discussed contingency plans, Pope Francis himself has previously acknowledged the possibility of resignation should his health prevent him from effectively leading the Catholic Church. As previously reported, he signed a resignation letter in 2013, entrusting it to the Vatican’s Secretary of State for use in the event of incapacitation (Daily Wire).

FBI Director Kash Patel Also Chosen to Lead the ATF; Dan Bongino New Deputy Director of the FBI

Washington Post: FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to be sworn in early this week as the acting director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Justice Department officials familiar with the matter… Patel will have the unusual responsibility of operating two large and consequential agencies that are part of the Justice Department (Washington Post). NBC: The ATF, a law enforcement agency housed in the Department of Justice, is responsible for enforcing federal laws regarding the illegal use, sale and trafficking of firearms and explosives, as well as the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products (NBC). Charlie Kirk: Great patriot and dear friend Dan Bongino has just been named Deputy Director of the FBI. This is incredible news!! Thank you Dan Bongino for the sacrifice I know this is in service to our country. America just got a huge upgrade (X).

10.

Germany’s Christian Democratic Union Wins Election

CNN: Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to return to power with the far-right Alternative for Germany as second-largest party, exit polls show, after snap elections dominated by concerns over immigration, the economy and the return of Donald Trump. The CDU’s party headquarters were filled with cheers and applause on Sunday evening as the exit polls were revealed and it became clear that the opposition party was set to become the largest group after Sunday’s election. Outside the building, a small group of protesters had gathered to demonstrate against what they perceive as party leader Friedrich Merz’s hard line on immigration… The CDU will claim 28.8% of the vote in Sunday’s election, meaning Merz – an old-school conservative who has never held a government role previously – will become the new chancellor of Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and most populous state (CNN). British Patriot: Mobs of left wing protesters are making a scene in Germany following the AfD’s significant achievement of capturing 20% of the vote in today’s election. This is how the left acts, revealing them as the true Fascists. Europe needs to wake up (X). Donald Trump: MUCH LIKE THE USA, THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY GOT TIRED OF THE NO COMMON SENSE AGENDA, ESPECIALLY ON ENERGY AND IMMIGRATION, THAT HAS PREVAILED FOR SO MANY YEARS (Truth).

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