Category: News
MLB players union meets to prepare for potentially contentious labor negotiations in 2026
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Roughly a month after the Los Angeles Dodgers finished a scintillating seven-game World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Major League Baseball Players Association gathered in Arizona this week to discuss the future of the game and look ahead to a possible lockout next December.
Japanese stars headed by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have sparked record international interest, in-game attendance was up in 2025 for the third straight season, and a set of rule changes that began in 2023 has produced a faster-paced game that’s been widely lauded.
But the big-spending nature of the $500 million Dodgers — who were led by high-priced stars Ohtani, Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — highlighted baseball’s payroll disparity as the MLBPA prepares for a potentially contentious round of labor negotiations leading to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement Dec. 1.
Union head Tony Clark said formal bargaining will likely begin in the spring, consistent with previous negotiations.
“As an organization, you start preparing for the next round of bargaining as soon as the ink is dry on the previous one,” Clark said Thursday. “You’re constantly assessing the system, you’re assessing how it is that teams and players are responding to the system.
“A year away, you’re really drilling down on what that looks like.”
The eight-person executive subcommittee consists of 2025 Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, along with veterans Chris Bassitt, Jake Cronenworth, Pete Fairbanks, Cedric Mullins, Marcus Semien and Brent Suter.
There are also 30 player reps — one for each team.
“We have an outstanding group of player leaders,” Clark said. “We are better and stronger as an organization when players engage one another and are educated on the issues. We have that. It’s something we’re grateful for and something historically our organization has always had.”
Clark said the MLBPA’s main focus continues to be centered on a few large issues heading into bargaining. One is finding more ways to encourage all 30 teams to spend on the free-agent market to make teams as competitive as possible.
While the Dodgers have spent roughly $890 million over the last two years building back-to-back World Series champions, the Athletics have committed than $150 million over the same period. MLB is the only major U.S.-based professional sports league without a salary cap.
The players association is bracing to resist a renewed push for a cap. Demand for a cap from owners is what led to a 7½-month strike in 1994-95 and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.
Thirty years later, scars from that experience still remain. Clark made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1995.
“Knowing that there are teams who have the wherewithal to compete, that choose not to and how that affects the industry,” Clark said. “In an industry where not all 30 teams are committed to that, what does that mean? Are there things that we can do to address those concerns? There are.”
The other major issue is that the MLBPA would like to see more ways for younger players to be paid in a way that’s more consistent with their on-field value. Most players are eligible for salary arbitration after three years of MLB service time and can be free agents after six years.
The union made some gains in compensating younger players in the last round of bargaining. The minimum salary jumped to $700,000 in 2022 and will be $780,000 next year. And a $50 million annual pool was established for prearbitration-eligible players.
Associated Press reporter Ronald Blum contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/mlb-players-union-labor-negotiations/
Victim Mentality: Walz Whines About Driveby “Retard” Shoutings As Omar Suggests Trump Inciting Violence Against Her
Victim Mentality: Walz Whines About Driveby “Retard” Shoutings As Omar Suggests Trump Inciting Violence Against Her
Leave it to Democrats to try spinning a billionaire fraud against the American people into an attack on… them.
The saga began late last month when Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo and reporter Ryan Thorpe published a bombshell report alleging widespread, large-scale fraud schemes exploiting Minnesota’s welfare programs, primarily involving members of the state’s Somali immigrant community.
The centerpiece of their reporting focused on the infamous Feeding Our Future scandal, the COVID-era child nutrition program fraud labeled by federal prosecutors as the largest pandemic-related scheme in the nation. Rufo and Thorpe reported how fraudsters allegedly stole at least $250–300 million by claiming to feed millions of children while providing few or no meals. Many of the indicted individuals—over 70 charged by late 2025, with dozens convicted or pleading guilty—were Somali-Americans. Funds were reportedly used for personal enrichment, including luxury cars and real estate in the U.S., Turkey, and Kenya.
Rufo and Thorpe’s reporting expanded the scope to other programs, including Medicaid-funded autism services (where claims skyrocketed from $3 million in 2018 to $399 million in 2023, with disproportionately high diagnoses among Somali children) and Housing Stabilization Services. Overall, the pair of journalists estimated billions in taxpayer dollars stolen across multiple schemes under Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) watch.
The most shocking claim was that federal counterterrorism sources told Rufo that millions in stolen funds were remitted to Somalia via informal hawala networks, ultimately reaching the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Within days, President Donald Trump announced the revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali migrants in Minnesota and referred to Walz as “seriously retarded” in a late-night Thanksgiving Day post on Truth Social.
President Trump just called Tim Walz “The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota”
Happy Thanksgiving 🤣 pic.twitter.com/byyx8dbBjW
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) November 28, 2025
In a Thursday press conference, Walz complained that people are driving past the governor’s residence shouting retard thanks to the president roasting him.
“This creates danger,” Walz said about Trump’s post. “I’ve never seen this before, people driving by my house and using the R-word in front of people.”
“This is shameful,” he continued. “I have yet to see an election official—a Republican election official— say, ‘you’re right, that’s shameful. He should not say it.’” “We know how things go,” he added. “They start with taunts, they turn to violence.”
People are driving by Tim Walz and calling him “retarded” 🤣
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) December 4, 2025
Then on Wednesday night, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who was born in Somalia and has deep ties to the Somali community in Minnesota, also played victim by claiming Trump calling Somalis “garbage” and demanding their deportation were creating a dangerous situation because his followers have “exhibited violence.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar responds to Trump’s attacks: He’s trying to ‘deflect’ from his ‘failures’
Watch the full video: https://t.co/v0DRknaiiC pic.twitter.com/bpZ0KxMxLf
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) December 4, 2025
“It creates fear. And there is a possible danger that a lot of the people who follow the president have exhibited violence in many cases, especially in my case, whenever he has said something about me that is derogatory or says I’m a threat to the country, I have gotten death threats,” Omar told CNN host Jake Tapper. “There are so many people that have been incarcerated over the years that have been encouraged by the president’s words. And so there is fear for Somalis, not just in Minnesota, but across the country, that some of these people might attack and harm them.”
What a couple of retards!
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/04/2025 – 20:30
El Molino in Carpentersville reopens with new owners at the helm
El Molino Mexican Restaurant in Carpentersville may have a new look, but the new owners plan is to keep its traditions alive while adding touches of their own.
“This place is too special for me. We’ve been hearing stories from returning customers about how much El Molino has meant to them,” co-owner Lorena Zepeda said.
Zepeda’s husband Miguel Diaz, who owns the restaurant with her, said those stories include tales of first dates, marriage proposals, post-funeral Mass meals and other significant life events that took place there over the last 41 years.
New decor touches at El Molino Mexican Restaurant in Carpentersville include paintings of the Virgin Mary and an angel, seen here, and a wall adorned with cowboy hats. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)
Gustavo Soto opened El Molino (“The Mill” in Spanish) at 2112 Elgin Road in March 1984, converting what had been a Dog N Suds into what most likely was Carpentersville’s first Mexican restaurant.
Zepeda and Diaz have been in the restaurant business for a long time too. They and Zepeda’s parents, Juan and Mary Zepeda, own and operate Taqueria Chapala, which has been open at 901 N. Liberty St. in Elgin for more than 16 years. Zepeda said her parents met and fell in love decades ago while working at what is now Masi’s Pizza in Carpentersville.
Over the years, Zepeda said her father became friends with Soto. Earlier this year he learned that Soto, who closed El Molino in April to remodel it, had instead decided to retire instead and was looking for a buyer.
“There’s so much history here. He wanted to sell to someone who would appreciate and continue that history,” Zepeda said.
The old pergola over the bar remains as part of the remodeled El Molino Mexican Restaurant in Carpentersville, which has new owners but the same recipes. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)
So in June, Zepeda and Diaz bought the business and continued renovating pretty much the entire interior. They held a soft opening in mid-November and a grand opening on Nov. 25.
“Everything is brand new but the (pergola) over the bar, which we kept to honor the El Molino history, and the front doors, which we are going to replace,” Diaz said.
The couple imported tables, chairs, furniture, lighting fixtures and artwork from Mexico to update El Molino’s look. Artwork includes paintings of the Virgin Mary, an angel and a La Catrina (skeleton in a dress). One wall is adorned with rows of cowboy hats with a saddle standing next to it. A book about Mariachi music rests on a table near the front doors.
Zepeda said she plans to occasionally feature Mariachi performers and other types of musicians playing for diners. She’s also working to add El Molino memorabilia to the decor.
As for the menu, Zepeda said it currently features Soto’s recipes, which focuses on cuisine found in central Mexico. That includes past favorites such as Tampiqueña- and Oaxaqueña-style skirt steaks and enchiladas de mole.
El Molino’s original chef Paulino Maldonado is also assisting in the kitchen, Zepeda said, and other staff has stayed on too. Her mother has tweaked the recipe for mole and contributed other suggestions for the food prep, all the while still helping the family run Taqueria Chapala in Elgin.
Menu items at the newly reopened El Molino in Carpentersville include chicken enchiladas de mole, left, and Tampiqueña-style skirt steak with Mexican fries, a tamale and guacamole. Both dishes come with beans and rice. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)
“My mother is the secret behind everything. She’s the boss,” she said.
Zepeda would like to add more of her own family’s touches to El Molino’s menu, which will reflect roots in Mazamitla, a town in the state of Jalisco, particularly recipes incorporating grilled chicken, for which Taqueria Chapala is known.
El Molino’s hours are 2 to 10 p.m. daily. Down the road, Zepeda said she would like to open at 7 a.m. to serve breakfast and lunch.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/molino-reopening-mexican-restaurant-carpentersville/
Admiral says there was no ‘kill them all’ order in Venezuela boat attack, but video alarms lawmakers
WASHINGTON — A Navy admiral commanding the U.S. military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean told lawmakers Thursday that there was no “kill them all” order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but a stark video of the attack left grave questions as Congress scrutinizes the campaign that killed two survivors.
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley appeared for a series of closed-door classified briefings at the Capitol as lawmakers conduct an investigation after a report that he ordered the follow-on attack that killed the survivors to comply with Hegesth’s demands. Legal experts have said such a strike could be a violation of the laws of military warfare.
“Bradley was very clear that he was given no such order, to give no quarter or to kill them all,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, as he exited a classified briefing.
While Cotton, R-Ark., defended the attack, Democrats who were also briefed and saw video of the survivors being killed questioned the Trump administration’s rationale and said the incident was deeply concerning.
“The order was basically: Destroy the drugs, kill the 11 people on the boat,” said Washington Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Smith, who is demanding further investigation, said the survivors were “basically two shirtless people clinging to the bow of a capsized and inoperable boat, drifting in the water — until the missiles come and kill them.”
The classified sessions with Bradley, alongside the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, provided fresh information at a crucial moment as Hegseth’s leadership comes under scrutiny. But they did little to resolve growing questions about the legal basis for President Donald Trump’s extraordinary campaign to use war powers against suspected drug smugglers. So far more than 80 people have been killed in some 20 strikes.
Late Thursday, U.S. Southern Command announced it had conducted another strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean following a pause of almost three weeks. There were four casualties, according to the social media post.
Lawmakers have not yet specifically authorized the use of military force against the alleged drug boats, and the Republican-controlled Congress has turned back attempts to put a check on Trump’s power to engage in the missile campaign, which Hegseth has vowed will continue. Several Democrats have called for Hegseth to resign.
Congressional investigation gets underway
Lawmakers want a full accounting of the Sept. 2 strike, which was the first in what has become a monthslong series of U.S. military attacks on vessels near Venezuela believed to be ferrying drugs. The Washington Post had reported that Bradley ordered the follow-on attack on the survivors.
But lawmakers who lead the House and Senate’s national security committees in Congress came away with different descriptions of what the two survivors were doing when they were killed.
Cotton said he saw them “trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound for United States back over so they could stay in the fight.”
He said there were “several minutes” between the first and second attacks, which consisted of four missile strikes. He said it was “gratifying” that the U.S. military was taking “the battle” to cartels.
But Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said, “what I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service.”
“You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel,” he said, and who “were killed by the United States.”
The survivors did not issue any distress call or other communications, though lawmakers were told it appeared the people had a hand raised, “waving” at one point during the attacks, Smith said.
Smith acknowledged there was likely cocaine on the boat, but he objects to the Republican administration’s rationale for continued attacks on alleged drug runners who may or may not be heading to the United States. “That’s really the core of the problem with all of this,” he said. “That incredibly broad definition, I think, is what sets in motion all of these problems about using lethal force and using the military.”
Who is Adm. Bradley?
At the time of the attack, Bradley was the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, overseeing coordinated operations between the military’s elite special operations units out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina. About a month after the strike, he was promoted to commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.
His military career, spanning more than three decades, was mostly spent serving in the elite Navy SEALs and commanding joint operations. He was among the first special forces officers to deploy to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. His latest promotion to admiral was approved by unanimous voice vote in the Senate this year, and Democratic and Republican senators praised his record.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has described Bradley as among those who are “rock solid” and “the most extraordinary people that have ever served in the military.”
But lawmakers like Tillis have also made it clear they expect a reckoning if it is found that survivors were targeted. “Anybody in the chain of command that was responsible for it, that had vision of it, needs to be held accountable,” he said.
What else are lawmakers seeking?
Underpinning Trump’s campaign against suspected traffickers is his argument that drug cartels amount to armed combatants because their cargo poses a threat to American lives.
Democrats are demanding the release of the full video of the Sept. 2 attack, as well as written records of the orders and any directives about the mission from Hegseth. None of the written orders or audio of verbal commands was shared with the lawmakers.
A White House Office of Legal Counsel memo providing a rationale for the strikes was dated after the fact, on Sept. 5. That memo remains undisclosed, and Democrats want it released.
Obtaining further information, though, will largely depend on action from Republican lawmakers, who have majority control of the committees, a potentially painful prospect for them if it puts them at odds with the president.
Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said that he and the Senate Armed Services Committee chair, GOP Sen. Roger Wicker, have formally requested the executive orders authorizing the operations and the complete videos from the strikes, among other items. The Trump administration has repeatedly denied their requests for basic information about the operation, Reed said.
Republican lawmakers who are close to Trump have largely stood by Hegseth and the administration’s decision to conduct the strikes.
Elsewhere, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and others see the U.S. military operation as part of an effort to prompt a government change in the South American country. Maduro on Wednesday acknowledged speaking last month by phone with Trump, who confirmed the call days earlier.
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/admiral-on-venezuela-boat-attack-kill-order/
ICE Arrests (Another) Afghan National Accused Of Supporting ISIS
ICE Arrests (Another) Afghan National Accused Of Supporting ISIS
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested an Afghan national on suspicion of providing support to the ISIS terrorist group, the third such arrest in a week, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement.
Jaan Shah Safi was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Waynesboro, Virginia. Safi is an “illegal alien terrorist who entered the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2021, in Philadelphia” under President Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program, the statement said.
He had applied for Temporary Protected Status, but his application was terminated once DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ended TPS for Afghans.
The TPS was terminated in May as Afghanistan no longer met the requirements for the designation, and “DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security,” Noem said at the time.
The DHS said that Safi was also found to provide weapons to his father, a commander of a militia group back in Afghanistan.
The Epoch Times could not ascertain whether Safi was given any legal representation.
This is the third arrest of a suspected Afghan terrorist in about a week.
The first case was that of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was arrested Nov. 26 on suspicion of shooting two National Guard members in Washington. One of the victims, Sarah Beckstrom, died afterward, and the other, Andrew Wolfe, remains in serious condition.
Lakanwal had worked with the CIA during the war in Afghanistan. Authorities charged him with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill, among other charges.
Noem said in a media interview that authorities believe Lakanwal became radicalized after he arrived in the United States through connections in his community and state.
A day before the attack and in a separate incident, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was arrested and charged with making bomb threats.
Alokozay had posted social media videos threatening to blow up a target in Fort Worth, Texas.
The three are among 190,000 Afghan nationals who were resettled in the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome, later renamed Enduring Welcome.
Regarding Safi, Noem said, “This terrorist was arrested miles from our nation’s capital where our brave National Guard heroes … were shot just days ago by another unvetted Afghan terrorist brought into our country.”
On Dec. 2, the Trump administration suspended the processing of immigration applications from 19 countries, including Afghanistan and Somalia, citing national security and public safety concerns.
The Epoch Times reached out to Afghan Support Network, a nonprofit that focuses on the welfare of Afghan refugees, for comment and did not receive a response by publication time.
Overhauling Vetting Process
When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, the Biden administration initiated the Operation Allies Welcome program to resettle thousands of Afghan nationals in the United States, including those who worked alongside U.S. authorities in the war-torn nation over the previous two decades.
“It’s the biggest national security failure in the history of the nation,” border czar Tom Homan said in a media interview on Sunday, noting that the DHS inspector general came out with a report at the time stating multiple failures in the vetting process.
“People need to understand, in these third world nations, they don’t have systems like we do. So a lot of these Afghans, who did get here to get better, they had no identification at all. Not a single travel document, not one piece of identification. And we’re going to count on the people that run Afghanistan, the Taliban, to provide us any information who the bad guys were or who the good guys are? Certainly not.”
Noem said in a Dec. 1 post on X that many Afghan nationals brought into the country were “military-aged men” who were not vetted for security clearance.
Homeland Security is currently overhauling the vetting process for aliens, requiring the country of origin to cross-reference biometric data and criminal history, screening social media accounts, and directing individuals to check in every year, Noem said.
According to the State Department’s travel advisory, Afghanistan’s security situation remains extremely unstable, with the highest critical-level threat to U.S. citizens.
All Afghanistan provinces are dangerous for travel, with targeted or random hostile acts perpetrated by the country’s citizens. “U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals are primary targets of terrorist organizations,“ warned the advisory.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/04/2025 – 20:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ice-arrests-afghan-national-accused-supporting-isis
Federal Watchdog Reveals Rampant Obamacare Fraud; 90% Of Bad-Doc Applicants Approved In Undercover Test
Federal Watchdog Reveals Rampant Obamacare Fraud; 90% Of Bad-Doc Applicants Approved In Undercover Test
A new bombshell report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) details a long-running vulnerability in the Affordable Care Act exchanges, showing that weak verification controls continue to expose federal subsidies to significant fraud and abuse.
“Preliminary results from GAO’s ongoing covert testing suggest fraud risks in the advance premium tax credit (APTC) persist,” the report reads. “The federal Marketplace approved coverage for nearly all of GAO’s fictitious applicants in plan years 2024 and 2025, generally consistent with similar GAO testing in plan years 2014 through 2016.”
According to the report, GAO conducted undercover tests by creating fictitious applicants with fake identities and fraudulent or never-issued Social Security numbers to see how the federal Marketplace would respond. Over the past two years, 90% of those fake applicants were approved for subsidized coverage despite lacking required documentation. In plan year 2024, all four of GAO’s fabricated applicants were approved and received about $2,350 per month in subsidies paid to insurers, even though they failed to provide proof of Social Security numbers, citizenship, or income. GAO scaled up the test for 2025 to 20 fake applicants; 18 were still enrolled as of September 2025, generating more than $10,000 per month in subsidies
More broadly, GAO’s preliminary analyses identified vulnerabilities related to potential SSN misuse and likely unauthorized enrollment changes in federal Marketplace data for plan years 2023 and 2024. Such issues can contribute to APTC that is not reconciled through enrollees’ tax filings to determine the amount of premium tax credit for which enrollees were ultimately eligible. GAO’s preliminary analysis of data from tax year 2023 could not identify evidence of reconciliation for over $21 billion in APTC for enrollees who provided SSNs to the federal Marketplace for plan year 2023. Unreconciled APTC may not necessarily represent overpayments, as enrollees who did not reconcile may have been eligible for the subsidy. However, it may include overpayments for enrollees who were not eligible for APTC.
A big problem with reconciling these Obamacare subsidies is when someone uses a Social Security number that doesn’t actually belong to the person getting the insurance. GAO’s early look at federal Marketplace data found more than 29,000 Social Security numbers in 2023 that showed over a full year of subsidized coverage. One number was used so many times that it totaled more than 26,000 days of insurance across more than 125 plans – the equivalent of more than 71 years of coverage tied to a single number.
The pattern continued in 2024, with nearly 66,000 Social Security numbers being linked to more than a year of subsidized coverage. This can result from identity theft, fake identities, or simple typing errors. According to the GAO, determining the true owner of a Social Security number can be complicated, so it’s examining these cases and other examples of overlapping coverage more closely.
CMS officials say the federal Marketplace lets people sign up even when a Social Security number is already in use. They claim this helps the real owner of the number get coverage in cases of identity theft or simple typing mistakes. The system uses a model that analyzes various pieces of personal information to distinguish applicants, and CMS runs this check monthly to clear out duplicate accounts. They also say applications with repeated Social Security numbers are supposed to go through a data-matching process in which people send in documents to verify their identities. However, even with those explanations, the setup makes it far too easy for fake applicants to slip through, and clearly, they do. The way the system works gives fraudsters plenty of room to abuse Social Security numbers long before anyone notices.
GAO notes that its “covert testing is illustrative and cannot be generalized to the enrollee population.”
This report lands in the middle of an active policy fight on Capitol Hill over whether to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies, giving Republicans fresh evidence for their arguments about the program’s structural problem, validating their long-standing criticisms of Obamacare. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) called the report a “smoking gun” showing how a flawed system, protected by Democrat policies, has pushed tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to insurers through identity fraud.
Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) argued that Democrats’ temporary expansion of subsidies worsened fraud, harmed patients, and hid deeper affordability problems. “Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today,” Guthrie said. “The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/04/2025 – 19:40
Citan indulto de Trump a expresidente hondureño como motivo para pedir indulgencia para exlegislador
Por LARRY NEUMEISTER
NUEVA YORK (AP) — Una abogada defensora mencionó el jueves el reciente indulto que el mandatario estadounidense Donald Trump otorgó al expresidente hondureño Juan Orlando Hernández al momento de solicitar a un juez que tratara con indulgencia a un exlegislador hondureño condenado por asociación delictuosa para traficar drogas.
La abogada Kristen Santillo dijo que el indulto a Hernández hacía que fuera injusto obligar a su cliente de 65 años, Midence Oqueli Martínez Turcios, a pasar prácticamente el resto de su vida en prisión mientras otros que “son los más poderosos, que tienen más dinero… van a ir a casa”.
El juez Lewis A. Kaplan, quien alguna vez presidió un caso civil de abuso sexual contra Trump, sentenció a Martínez a 21 años y 10 meses en prisión. Si bien reconoció que las disparidades en las sentencias son un factor que los jueces deben considerar, también dejó en claro que Martínez estaba siendo sentenciado principalmente por sus crímenes.
“Es mi trabajo aplicar la ley”, declaró el juez. “Hago mi trabajo”.
Señaló que la autoridad para emitir indultos se estableció en la Convención Constitucional de 1787 a 1789, la cual le otorgó poderes de indulto a Trump “que le fueron confiados y no tienen restricción legal de la que yo tenga conocimiento”.
“Eso es todo lo que voy a decir sobre eso”, agregó el juez.
Kaplan presidió el año pasado la segunda fase de un juicio civil derivado de las afirmaciones de la columnista E. Jean Carroll de que Trump abusó sexualmente de ella en el probador de una tienda departamental de Manhattan en 1996. Un jurado le otorgó una compensación de 83,3 millones de dólares en daños.
Ese fallo se produjo menos de un año después de que otro jurado le otorgó a Carroll 5 millones de dólares en daños después de llegar a la conclusión de que el actual mandatario abusó sexualmente de ella y posteriormente la difamó, luego de que la columnista reveló el ataque en su autobiografía publicada en 2019.
Trump no asistió al primer juicio, pero testificó durante el segundo, el cual se centró únicamente en el monto de compensación que debería pagar. Kaplan limitó severamente lo que se le podía preguntar a Trump, y su testimonio duró menos de tres minutos. En un momento, Kaplan amenazó con expulsar a Trump del tribunal después de que los abogados de Carroll se quejaron de que se le podía escuchar haciendo comentarios a su equipo legal como “es una cacería de brujas” y “esto es una verdadera farsa”.
Martínez no habló durante su audiencia de sentencia del jueves. Fue acusado formalmente ante el tribunal federal de Manhattan en julio de 2018, y las autoridades hondureñas lo arrestaron en diciembre de 2022. Fue extraditado a Estados Unidos en marzo siguiente y apenas en agosto del año pasado se declaró culpable de asociación delictuosa para importar cinco kilogramos o más de cocaína entre 2004 y 2014.
La fiscalía había solicitado una sentencia de 30 años en prisión, argumentando que Martínez “trabajó directamente con una de las organizaciones de narcotráfico más reconocidas y poderosas de Honduras durante una década”.
En documentos judiciales presentados antes de la sentencia, el gobierno desestimó el argumento de Santillo de indulgencia sobre la base de que otros funcionarios hondureños recibieron mejor trato.
“Aquí, por supuesto, el acusado era un exoficial militar y congresista que no sólo participó directamente en una operación a gran escala de tráfico de drogas, sino que también fue responsable de los asesinatos de varias personas, algunas de las cuales incluso fueron secuestradas y torturadas por el propio acusado, antes de su muerte”, escribieron los fiscales.
En sus argumentos por escrito, Santillo buscó una sentencia de una docena de años, mencionando el contraste en la situación de su cliente con la de otros procesados en el caso que “vivieron en el lujo y acumularon significativos activos por sus actividades de narcotráfico”.
Martínez, dijo su abogada, “vivió modestamente, trabajó duro en el campo, incluso mientras era congresista, y tiene pocos activos”.
También mencionó la posible disparidad con la indulgencia hacia otros “que ocuparon posiciones de poder mucho más altas que la del señor Martínez en Honduras, que jugaron roles más críticos en el tráfico de drogas, y que se encontró que participaron en actos de violencia comparables, si no mayores, en Honduras”.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
El Mundial ampliado comienza a tomar forma con el sorteo del viernes
Por RONALD BLUM
WASHINGTON (AP) — La FIFA ha invitado a más equipos que nunca a un Mundial cuyos precios lo hacen asequible quizá para el 1% de los aficionados del mundo. El proceso para determinar qué partidos disputarán los equipos en un certamen ampliado a 48 naciones y dónde jugarán comienza con el sorteo de este viernes en el Centro Kennedy para las Artes Escénicas.
Cabo Verde, Curazao, Jordania y Uzbekistán aparecerán en el evento principal del fútbol por primera vez en el torneo del próximo año, que se celebrará del 11 de junio al 19 de julio en 16 sedes en Estados Unidos, México y Canadá.
“Estoy bastante optimista porque para clasificarte necesitas vencer a los otros equipos de tus confederaciones, y eso es un signo de calidad”, expresó el jueves Arsene Wenger, exentrenador del Arsenal, mientras se instalaban alfombras rojas en el Centro Kennedy. “Los equipos no están acá por casualidad”.
Se espera la presencia del presidente estadounidense Donald Trump y de su colega mexicana Claudia Sheinbaum, junto con el primer ministro de Canadá, Mark Carney. En lugar de artículos de fútbol, la tienda de regalos del Centro Kennedy todavía estaba llena de calcetines de Shakespeare, Beethoven y Verdi junto con estantes de cascanueces rojos y blancos, propios de esta temporada del año.
Los 11 mejores equipos del escalafón mundial se han clasificado. Italia, el 12mo, está entre las 22 naciones que compiten en los repechajes por las seis plazas finales que se decidirán el 31 de marzo.
Liderada por el capitán Lionel Messi, quien cumplirá 39 años durante el torneo, Argentina intenta convertirse en la primera nación en ganar Copas del Mundo consecutivas desde Brasil en 1958 y 1962. Messi buscará extender su récord de 26 partidos jugados y entra con 13 goles mundialistas en su carrera, a tres del récord de Miroslav Klose.
Los partidos se jugarán en 11 estadios de la NFL junto con tres en México y dos en Canadá, donde se realizan obras de construcción para agregar 17.000 asientos temporales al BMO Field, elevando la capacidad a alrededor de 45.000. La asistencia superará el récord de 3,59 millones, establecido en 1994.
“Básicamente establecimos el nuevo tono en términos de asistencia, en términos de rodear el torneo con mucho entretenimiento y glamour”, manifestó Alan Rothenberg, organizador principal de la Copa del Mundo de 1994 en Estados Unidos. “Hicimos muchas cosas que rompieron el hielo respecto a cómo presentar el Mundial como algo más que un torneo de fútbol”.
La FIFA anunció precios iniciales de entradas que van de 60 a 6 mil 730 dólares. Advirtió que serían dinámicos, en comparación con los precios de entre 25 y 475 dólares para el torneo de 1994 en Estados Unidos. Se ha negado a publicar una lista completa de precios, como lo había hecho para cada otra Copa del Mundo desde al menos 1990.
El organismo rector también está vendiendo pases de estacionamiento por hasta 175 dólares para un solo partido, una semifinal en Arlington, Texas.
El portavoz de FIFA, Bryan Swanson, no respondió a una solicitud para que el presidente de FIFA, Gianni Infantino, hablara sobre los precios de las entradas.
Sesenta y cuatro naciones participarán en el sorteo, el 30% de los miembros de FIFA, pero sólo 42 países tienen asegurados lugares. Entre los equipos de repechaje, Albania, Kosovo, Nueva Caledonia y Surinam intentan llegar a la Copa del Mundo por primera vez.
Con la expansión, los dos primeros equipos de cada uno de los 12 grupos avanzan junto con los ocho mejores equipos en tercer lugar. Algunas naciones podrían llegar a la nueva ronda de dieciseisavos de final con tres puntos.
“Creo que vamos a estar en muy buena forma”, opinó Tab Ramos, exmediocampista de Estados Unidos. “Tenemos un buen equipo, así que no estoy tan preocupado como en el pasado por este sorteo”.
Los sistemas informáticos de Opta Analyst proyectan que Estados Unidos tiene un 0,9% de probabilidades de ganar la Copa del Mundo. Los estadounidenses no han llegado a las semifinales desde la primera Copa del Mundo en 1930.
España encabeza el pronóstico con un 17%, seguida de Francia (14,1%), Inglaterra (11,8%), Argentina (8,7%), Alemania (7,1%), Portugal (6,6%), Brasil (5,6%) y Holanda (5,2%).
En un nuevo giro, la FIFA informó que los cuatro mejores equipos en el ranking —España, Argentina, Francia e Inglaterra— evitarán enfrentarse entre sí hasta las semifinales si es que terminan primeros en sus grupos de la primera ronda.
Las ciudades sede para la mayoría de los enfrentamientos y los horarios de inicio no se anunciarán sino hasta el sábado. En 1994, sólo hubo siete partidos nocturnos.
Los lugares donde una selección jugará sus encuentros de la fase de grupos estarán restringidos a una región (oriental, central y occidental).
El sorteo de la Copa del Mundo de 1994 en Las Vegas fue apolítico, con actuaciones de Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, James Brown y Vanessa Williams, además del comediante Robin Williams, quien llamó a la pantalla del sorteo “el tablero de lotería más grande del mundo” y gritó “¡Bingo!” cuando se seleccionó a Grecia.
Este sorteo parece ser más parecido a la ceremonia del torneo de 2018 en Moscú, inaugurada por el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin. Se espera que Trump, quien ha hecho campaña por un Premio Nobel de la Paz, reciba el propio galardón de la paz de FIFA que Infantino estableció después de viajar a varios eventos con el presidente estadounidense.
Pero el evento principal es la extracción de esferas de los bombos para conformar los grupos. Las estrellas retiradas Tom Brady de la NFL, Shaquille O’Neal de la NBA y Wayne Gretzky de la NHL junto con el tres veces Jugador Más Valioso de la Liga Americana Aaron Judge ayudarán en una ceremonia que será dirigida por el ex capitán de Inglaterra Rio Ferdinand.
“Hay angustia y miradas de puro terror y decepción y/o alegría y euforia de los entrenadores y del personal”, comentó Alexi Lalas, exdefensor de Estados Unidos y ahora analista principal de fútbol de Fox. “Realmente se vuelve algo tangible para la gente”.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Nvidia CEO Stuns Rogan With Jaw-Dropping AI Prediction
Nvidia CEO Stuns Rogan With Jaw-Dropping AI Prediction
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang presented Joe Rogan’s audience with a vision of AI so dominant it could rewrite reality itself.
Huang layed out a future where human knowledge completely takes a backseat to silicon brains in the very near future.
“In the future… maybe two or three years, 90% of the world’s knowledge will likely be generated by AI,” Huang told Rogan, his tone matter-of-fact as if charting tomorrow’s weather.
NVIDIA CEO blows Joe Rogan away with a staggering prediction about AI.
HUANG: “In the future… maybe two or three years, 90% of the world’s knowledge will likely be generated by AI.”
ROGAN: “That’s crazy.”
HUANG: “I know, but it’s just fine.”
ROGAN: “But it’s just fine?”… pic.twitter.com/1D7mozBIRN
— Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) December 3, 2025
Rogan, no stranger to wild ideas, shot back: “That’s crazy.”
“I know, but it’s just fine,” Huang replied coolly.
“But it’s just fine?” an incredulous Rogan pressed.
“Let me tell you why,” Huang offered, stating “It’s because, what difference does it make to me that I am learning from a textbook that was generated by a bunch of people I didn’t know, or… knowledge generated by AI computers that are assimilating all of these and resynthesizing things. To me, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of difference.”
Huang didn’t consider that when AI hallucinates facts or parrots woke nonsense from its training data cesspools, it becomes a tool ripe for manipulation by those who peddle stuff like climate hysteria or open borders.
Huang’s brushing aside AI safety fears isn’t bold; it’s blind to how this tech could supercharge ideological insanity if left unchecked.
However, in a rare show of spine from Big Tech, Huang declared President Trump “our president” and urged America to rally behind him, exposing the petty sabotage from those who can’t stomach success unless it’s their guy calling the shots.
He looked straight at Joe Rogan and said: “President Trump is my president. He is our president,” adding “Just because it’s President Trump, [many] want him to be wrong.”
“I think the United States, we all have to realise he is our president. We want him to succeed because… it helps everybody, all of us succeed,” the CEO added.
If you only have 30 seconds to watch Joe Rogan’s podcast today, this is the moment you need to see.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang just delivered a pro-Trump message no other tech giant (not named Elon Musk) would dare say.
He looked straight at Joe Rogan and said: “President Trump is… pic.twitter.com/TPUnXEFnNP
— Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) December 3, 2025
The remarks comes amid Huang’s whirlwind D.C. tour, where he huddled with Trump and Senate Republicans to slash export red tape on AI chips, warning that patchwork state regulations could cripple U.S. dominance.
Huang lobbied hard against bills like the GAIN AI Act that would kneecap U.S. chip sales abroad. It was a “wise” move by Congress to spike it, Huang said, equating it to other “detrimental” policies that’d hand the AI edge to Beijing.
China is already nipping at our heels on multiple fronts, Huang warned, with their Belt and Road Initiative funneling cash into tech that could eclipse American innovation overnight.
Trump’s energy push, defying the green zealots who’ve vilified fossil fuels, gets Huang’s nod as a game-changer, the kind of grit that’s “saving the AI industry” by powering data centers without apology.
Trump, ever the dealmaker, called Huang a “smart man” post-meeting, signaling the kind of pro-growth alliance that’s already turbocharging the economy.
Earlier this week, Elon Musk teased his “Galaxy Mind” venture, solar-powered AI satellites orbiting deep space, mashing SpaceX launches, Tesla batteries, and xAI brains into a cosmic supercomputer.
Musk sees it as humanity’s insurance policy, beaming our knowledge off-planet before some black-swan disaster wipes the slate.
Can an optimistic vision of AI overcome the darker side? There are currently frightening fakes flooding culture like digital termites. As we highlighted, the likes of “Solomon Ray,” a chart-topping “soul singer” unmasked as pure AI slop.
AI is not just mimicking hits, it’s spawning them, with one in three daily streams now machine-made. Platforms like Deezer admit 97% of people can’t spot the fraud, turning art into an algorithmic con.
Huang’s “no difference” line ignores how these ghosts erode soul, authenticity, and jobs—paving the way for a world scripted by code, not creators.
Huang’s vision thrills, but it demands guardrails. Truth over woke programming, and America over adversaries.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/04/2025 – 19:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/nvidia-ceo-stuns-rogan-jaw-dropping-ai-prediction
Daily Horoscope for December 05, 2025
General Daily Insight for December 05, 2025
A gentle steadiness returns after early friction. We start with the emotional Moon opposing fiery Mars, stirring debates and quick reactions that ask us to breathe and choose softer words. By contrast, action-oriented Mars trines healing Chiron at 5:03 pm EST, opening lanes for repair where brave steps and honest apologies turn misunderstandings into trust. As the nurturing Moon enters Cancer later, home comforts steady us, so evening plans feel calmer and our hearts stay generous. Choose patience now so it can speed tomorrow’s progress.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
When effort meets healing, paths open easily. Learning expands as a flowing trine lights your 9th House of Travel and Higher Learning, encouraging brave plans and honest questions that open new doors. Even as Chiron in your 1st House of Self and Identity exposes old doubts, you can share a bold idea with warmth and still be clearly heard. Consider asking for something you need right now — your steady courage turns curiosity into real movement. Small steps today make next week easier.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
This afternoon favors heartfelt, practical choices. Your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources receives supportive flow from a Mars-Chiron trine, making brave talks about money and trust feel doable and surprisingly warm. Even as your 12th House of Solitude and Closure surfaces private worries, you can slow the pace, breathe, and suggest one clear next step. You may agree on a shared account rule for gifts today. Clear boundaries keep connection warm without draining resources. Choose clarity over speed to protect precious energy.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
How can you turn conflict into progress? Tensions soften into teamwork as a supportive trine lights your 7th House of Partnerships, inviting honest words that aim to repair rather than win. You may suggest a check-in with a coworker over coffee. Negotiated agreements protect care and keep projects moving smoothly. Even if old misunderstandings echo, your 11th House of Friends offers backup, so a trusted ally can mirror your point and ease the conversation. Your patience will encourage others to meet you halfway.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Cancer, your caring nature finds brave footing today. Fiery Mars trines healing Chiron from your 6th House of Work and Health, turning effort into gentle progress and making routines easier to adjust without guilt. You may renegotiate a deadline by explaining your bandwidth. Your body knows its limits and deserves kind scheduling that supports your whole self. Even as your 10th House of Career pushes for perfection, you can prioritize rest and still deliver consistent results that make everyone feel supported. Protect your rhythm so results arrive without strain.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Warm courage melts worry into useful focus. Warrior Mars in your 5th House of Creativity and Romance trines wise Chiron, turning nervous jitters into enthusiastic spark and helping you share your talents with heart. You might pitch your idea in a meeting, because generous attention shines when you relax into authentic expression. Even if your 9th House of Big Ideas tempts you to overpromise, you can choose one fun deliverable and wow people without overwhelm. Lead with warmth and watch support gather quickly.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Clarity lands as small steps build confidence. Home choices feel easier as a harmonious trine focuses your 4th House of Home and Family, inviting steady fixes that protect comfort and restore order. You may rearrange a room or start a gentle budget talk at dinner. A thoughtful structure supports care and lowers stress. Even as your 8th House of Shared Resources stirs deeper feelings, you can move slowly and still create firm, fair boundaries that everyone respects. Keep your options open and heart steady.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
When courage softens pain, bridges appear. Ambitious Mars trines tender Chiron from your 3rd House of Communication, helping you say hard truths with kindness and turn a sticky thread into useful dialogue. You might call a sibling to resolve a mix-up Appreciation and truth together open doors honesty alone could not. Even as your 7th House of Partnerships holds a different viewpoint, you can outline shared goals and leave room for style differences. Balance truth with care to keep bridges strong.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Scorpio, your insight cuts through the noise. Your 2nd House of Money and Values gains a boost from a flowing trine today, helping you choose quality over impulse and recommit to what matters. You may cancel a subscription after checking usage. Focused attention protects resources without sacrificing goodwill or momentum. Even as your 6th House of Work and Health adds new tasks, a simple budget routine keeps momentum and lets you feel in control. Invest in quality so daily life feels easier.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Are you ready to lead with heart? Fiery Mars trines therapeutic Chiron through your identity and first impressions, energizing your voice and giving courage to act on a vision without second-guessing. Pitch a plan to the right person, and go bold with it! Your natural optimism lands as confidence rather than pressure. Even as your 5th House of Creativity invites many playful options, you can focus on one direct expression and let it set the tone. Say yes bravely, because courage invites good company.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
By evening, resolve comes with steadiness. Quiet work goes further than loud hustle as a trine supports your 12th House of Solitude and Closure, making private repair feel unexpectedly productive and kind. You may take a quiet walk before replying, because reflection turns raw feelings into clear, calm choices gently. Even as your 4th House of Home asks for caretaking, small boundaries around chores or visits protect your energy and keep care sustainable today. Gentle pauses now will sharpen tomorrow’s drive.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Confidence grows as friends rally behind you. Your 11th House of Social Networks receives supportive flow today, inviting community help and making it easy to coordinate plans that move causes forward. You might post a call for volunteers on your social channels — coordination beats going solo and saves time for meaningful work. Even as your 3rd House of Communication buzzes with side chats, you can simplify threads and set one agenda everyone can follow. Lean on allies so momentum builds at the right speed.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Soft feelings guide bold, simple choices. Your 10th House of Career and Status benefits from an easy trine, helping you share your work with quiet confidence and set a clear public goal. Request specific feedback from a trusted mentor, because clarity makes your gifts visible and guides your next brave step. Even as your 2nd House of Money nudges practical concerns, you can choose one step that honors both your values and your current bandwidth. Name your goal kindly and let trust grow.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/daily-horoscope-for-december-05-2025/
