Category: News
Juez dice que agentes de inmigración en Colorado sólo pueden arrestar a quienes podrían huir
Por COLLEEN SLEVIN
DENVER (AP) — Un juez federal falló el martes que los agentes de inmigración en Colorado sólo pueden hacer arrestos sin una orden judicial si creen que es probable que las personas que van a arrestar huyan.
El juez sénior de distrito R. Brooke Jackson emitió la orden en respuesta a una impugnación presentada por la Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles de Colorado y otros abogados.
Ellos representan a cuatro personas, incluidas solicitantes de asilo, que fueron arrestadas este año por el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) sin órdenes judiciales como parte de las operaciones de inmigración del presidente Donald Trump. La demanda acusa a los agentes de inmigración de arrestar indiscriminadamente a latinos para cumplir con objetivos sin evaluar lo que se requiere para detenerlos legalmente.
Jackson afirmó que cada uno de los demandantes tenía vínculos duraderos con sus comunidades y ningún agente razonable podría haber concluido que era probable que huyeran antes de obtener una orden para arrestarlos.
Antes de arrestar a alguien sin una orden judicial, los agentes de inmigración deben tener causa probable para creer tanto que alguien está en el país ilegalmente como que es probable que huya antes de que se pueda obtener una orden de arresto, según la ley federal, indicó. Jackson también señaló que los agentes de inmigración necesitaban documentar las razones por las cuales están arrestando a alguien.
Tricia McLaughlin, portavoz del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés), dijo que se trataba de un “fallo activista” y afirmó que la dependencia cumple con la ley.
“Las acusaciones de que las fuerzas del DHS participan en ‘encasillamiento racial’ son repugnantes, imprudentes y categóricamente falsas”, expresó en un comunicado.
El fallo es similar a uno emitido también este año en un caso presentado por otro capítulo de la ACLU en California que involucraba arrestos por parte de agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza. El gobierno ha apelado ese fallo.
Otro juez también había emitido una orden de restricción que prohibía a los agentes federales detener a personas basándose únicamente en su raza, idioma, trabajo o ubicación en el área de Los Ángeles después de encontrar que estaban realizando detenciones indiscriminadas. La Corte Suprema levantó esa orden en septiembre.
McLaughlin insinuó que el gobierno apelaría el fallo de Colorado.
“La Corte Suprema recientemente nos reivindicó en esta cuestión en otro lugar, y esperamos una mayor reivindicación en este caso también”, manifestó. ___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
HUD Launches Hotline To Crack Down On Crime, Illegal Immigrants In Public Housing
HUD Launches Hotline To Crack Down On Crime, Illegal Immigrants In Public Housing
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced the launch of a new national hotline that allows public housing residents to report on criminals and illegal immigrants in HUD-funded housing.
The hotline, 1-800-347-3735, can be used by residents to call the HUD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for reporting “criminals, illegal aliens, sex offenders, human traffickers, and those guilty of gang activity, drug distribution, and fraud,” Turner said at a Nov. 24 press briefing in Memphis, Tennessee.
Residents can also submit tips on the 24/7 monitored Hudoig.gov/hotline website.
Housing Secretary Scott Turner (R) with President Donald Trump in Washington on July 22, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
According to Turner, law enforcement personnel stand ready to assist with any complaints received through the hotline or website. The activity is coordinated with assistance from the FBI, the Department of Justice, and state and local partners.
He encouraged public housing residents to make use of the reporting platforms.
“We’ll clean up our public housing so that they can fulfill their function of sanctuaries for the most vulnerable people in our country, where American citizens can get a temporary hand up and then gain independence from government help,” the Housing secretary said, adding that the department wanted to assist American citizens specifically.
“Illegal aliens have no place in public housing. It’s outrageous that people who should not be here come across our borders, and now usurp spots and housing units that support American people.
“Establishing this hotline is an important step in fighting this injustice for both the people of Memphis and for Americans nationwide.”
Turner said the hotline was part of President Donald Trump’s effort to make the city safe again, which includes the Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force was set up following a Sept. 15 directive from Trump that ordered the National Guard and government agencies to assist in restoring law and order in Memphis.
More than 3,000 violent fugitives have so far been arrested by the task force since the operation began in October, Turner said. This includes more than 300 known gang members and up to 12 homicide suspects.
An estimated 6.8 million Americans rely on public housing assistance, based on data from the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH).
According to a September 2020 report from NCHPH, crime rates are higher in areas where Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) Health Centers are located than the national average. These centers provide medical services to patients living in public housing or in close proximity to it.
“There is an average of 505 violent crimes per 100,000 population in PHPC Health Center counties compared to the national average of 386 per 100,000,” the report reads.
Mixed-Status Families
Trump signed an executive order in February ordering agencies to ensure that “no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.”
Following the executive order, Turner issued a letter to HUD grant recipients and stakeholders in April, informing them that federal housing assistance benefits will no longer be granted to illegal immigrants.
“The Department will take steps to ensure that Federal resources are not used to support ‘sanctuary’ policies of State and local jurisdictions that actively prevent federal authorities from deporting illegal aliens,” the letter reads.
Meanwhile, in a Sept. 15 post, policy research group Urban Institute raised concerns about how HUD’s policies would affect mixed-status families in which members have varied immigration statuses.
The institute said that fewer than 1 percent of households receiving housing assistance are mixed-status and that the “HUD’s data request will have dire consequences” on this group, including psychological distress, financial hardship, and harm to children’s development.
HUD said in a Nov. 21 statement that it has supported housing affordability for more than 1 million Americans this year.
Since January 2025, the Federal Housing Administration, an agency under HUD, has insured mortgages for more than 700,000 homebuyers and refinance borrowers, which includes first-time homebuyers and senior citizens, it said.
During this period, the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae, has supported more than 430,000 Veterans Affairs loans, HUD said, adding that nearly a third of these loans went to first-time homebuyers.
“President Trump’s bold leadership is empowering HUD to use every tool at our disposal to make the American dream of homeownership a reality,” Turner said in a statement.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 11/25/2025 – 20:05
How Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams ‘has improved dramatically’ in the play-action passing game
On first-and-10 with 10:30 left in the third quarter Sunday, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams faked a handoff to Kyle Monangai, whipped around and planted the ball in Rome Odunze’s belly for a 14-yard gain with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. draped all over Odunze.
Set up at Pittsburgh’s 29-yard line, Williams found DJ Moore in the end zone on a seam route three plays later to pull the Bears ahead 24-21 in an eventual 31-28 victory.
Williams’ connection to Odunze was one of a handful of play-action passes over the middle that served as drive movers and vexed the Steelers secondary.
“You have to give those guys credit,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “They had some time on inside breaking routes. The quarterback (Williams) was highly accurate on play(-action) pass, turning his back to the defense and coming up and throwing.
“And sometimes you’ve got to give credit to the opponent. Certainly I do in this instance.”
Williams’ use of play action could be a big factor in Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Bears coaches noted how the Eagles like to put a “shell” on passing games to stifle explosive plays, but the numbers show the Eagles could be vulnerable to play action.
The Eagles give up the third-most play-action passing yards per game at 82.3, according to NFL Pro. They also allow the second-most yards after the catch over expected (plus-130) and the most expected points added (EPA) per pass against play action (plus-0.46).
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw play-action touchdown passes to wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford on Sunday night to spark a 21-point rally for a 24-21 upset of the Eagles.
NFL quarterbacks using play action isn’t unusual. What’s unusual in this case is Williams has been making it a much stronger part of his game than last season. As a rookie, he ranked 32nd in play-action usage — just 17.3%.
Through Week 12 this season, he has the third-highest play-action percentage (the rate of drop-backs using play action) at 32.0%, behind only the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford (36.3%) and the Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones (35.2%), according to NFL Pro.
Williams said its usage this season has been more about the benefits to the Bears offense as a whole than just his passing game .
“The stats of QBs when you can play under center — play actions, keepers, screens, the run game — it all affects and it all looks the same (to defenses), and that’s who we are,” Williams said. “Trying to make everything look the same but be different.”
That causes indecision for a defense, affording Williams more time in the pocket. And it also helps the running game.
“Our details (focus) on making sure everything looks the same when it is a play action or a keeper or a naked (bootleg), any of those things, making sure it looks exactly the same as a run,” Williams said. “Coach (Ben Johnson) does a good job of having the different screens and different motions and all these different things to also look the same, to be able to help the protection, help in the disguise of what we’re doing, kind of confuse the defense.
“It’s something we’ve worked on. It’s something that I’ve worked on, just getting consistent with footwork and delivering a good ball for the guys.”
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is tackled after a third-quarter catch against the Steelers on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at Soldier Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Williams’ 17-yard pass to Luther Burden III in the first quarter against the Steelers and his 20-yard strike to Moore late in the third — both on first down — are examples of deep play-action attempts that can keep defenders off balance and keep them honest in the run game.
It also works the other way around, with the running game setting up the play-action pass, center Drew Dalman said.
Play action “can definitely be challenging (for pass protection), but it’s what we want for sure,” Dalman said. “The scheme and the way we run the ball helps protect those play passes and gets more sell. And so that kind of all marries together well.”
Williams is plus-15.8 this season in EPA while using play action versus plus-3.5 without it. Last season he was plus-1.4 in play-action EPA and minus-70.8 with no play action, according to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats.
His completion percentage through 11 games is 62.8% with play action, 57.5% without it.
“He’s getting more comfortable there,” Johnson said. “It’s an area that he has improved dramatically since I got here, from springtime all the way up to this point. He’s got a lot more confidence throwing those things inside the numbers.”
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said the coaching staff didn’t have a lot of tape of Williams in play action last season. Coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron ran a different system.
But play action was “a huge part of Ben’s offense in Detroit,” Doyle said, as well as other systems to which he and Johnson were exposed.
“You always want to have the ability to hide the ball and turn your back to the defense,” Doyle said. “It really allows your run game to be tied into your play action and your movement game. And so we felt like it was an important element that we wanted in the offense.
“And Caleb has really embraced it. He’s done a great job of working through the nuances of those things, whether that be footwork, whether that is related to his eyes once he snaps his eyes around and getting them to the defense and being able to reassess. But he’s certainly come a long way from where we started.”
Bears tight end Cole Kmet catches a touchdown pass against the Cowboys in the second quarter Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
While some of Williams’ biggest throws have come over the middle — his game-winning touchdown pass to Colston Loveland against the Cincinnati Bengals out of shotgun or his play-action toss to Cole Kmet to spark the rout of the Dallas Cowboys — that area of the field hasn’t been as big a staple of the Bears’ offensive design as you’d think.
Among short-area throws — left, middle or right — the Bears have targeted the middle on the fewest plays (57) but have the highest completion percentage (75%), according to the NFL’s Game Statistics and Information System (GSIS). That percentage on short-middle throws ranks eighth in the league.
Among deep throws, they’ve taken 22 shots over the middle — just two more than to the left and well behind their 45 to the right — and have completed them at the highest rate (55%), which ranks 10th in the league.
The middle also can get messy, where interceptions happen.
“Some guys get a little bit nervous and get a little bit afraid to do that. He’s not that tight,” Johnson said of Williams. “He’s always been a high-level seam thrower or bender versus two-high (coverage).
“But now, when you’re talking about the daggers or the drift routes (types of in-breakers) that we have in, he’s done a nice job of trusting the fact that he can turn his back to the defense and yet still flip around (and) make a decision whether to pull the trigger or not.”
That’s not to say Williams has played a clean game overall lately. Despite throwing for three touchdowns and finishing with a 104.3 rating Sunday, he completed just 19 of 35 passes (54.3%). Entering the game, his completion percentage above expected was minus-7.5, per Next Gen Stats.
On the field, he looked erratic, throwing too wide or behind his intended receivers or sailing some balls.
Related Articles
Chicago Bears Q&A: Could more games be flexed into prime time? And why are all these injuries popping up?
Column: ‘The Shuffle’ is one more documentary on the 1985 Chicago Bears, the team that keeps on giving
Montez Sweat is heating up at the right time for Chicago Bears: ‘Impact the game a little more each week’
Unlikely heroes keep arising for 1st-place Chicago Bears: Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Week 12 win
Backup LBs D’Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga help Chicago Bears defense keep rolling with the punches
Early in the first quarter from the Bears 44, Williams spun out of play action and had Moore open for a potential 21-yard completion, but he placed the ball on a low trajectory slightly behind Moore, who tried to slide to catch it, to no avail.
In the second quarter, again off play action, Williams threw a ball too high for Burden deep down the middle near the 50-yard line.
“I would like to see it brought down a little bit, yeah,” Johnson said Monday.
Williams said after the game: “In the beginning, it didn’t feel like I got into a good rhythm. I was missing passes and it was kind of weird. I wasn’t too frustrated, like a couple weeks ago (against the New York Giants) where I was just missing and I got supremely frustrated.
“I understood and I wrote on my notes for myself to stay positive for myself. … We’ll figure it out. We’ll go back and watch and figure out why.”
By Tuesday, he had figured out where he went wrong on those errant throws.
“My base got a little wide and things started getting high on me,” Williams told reporters at Halas Hall. “So just circling back to the small details that go into it. … That’s every single detail when it comes to my position, and so it was my footwork and just my legs not being under me.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/chicago-bears-caleb-williams-play-action-passing/
Interponen demanda para frenar arrestos de personas que se presentan a citas con ICE en San Diego
Por ELLIOT SPAGAT y VALERIE GONZALEZ
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Una semana antes de la audiencia programada de Chancely Fanfan ante un tribunal de inmigración en San Diego, el inmigrante haitiano de 31 años recibió una carta del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional instruyéndole que, al concluir la audiencia, se presentara con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE por sus iniciales en inglés) para lo que creía que se trataba de un control de rutina.
Una vez que Fanfan llegó acompañado de su esposa y su bebé de 11 meses para su audiencia en el tribunal y su cita con el ICE aquel 20 de octubre, fue arrestado por agentes de inmigración, quienes únicamente le explicaron que el gobierno así lo requería, indicaron sus abogados.
Fanfan no tenía antecedentes penales y se presentó a todas sus audiencias judiciales y controles con el ICE desde que llegó a Estados Unidos el año pasado, según la petición interpuesta el martes en el Distrito Sur de California. El Center for Immigration Law and Policy y el Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law han impugnado la detención de Fanfan y otras dos personas que fueron arrestadas después de presentarse a sus controles con agentes de inmigración.
“Los solicitantes no han tenido contacto penal desde que fueron liberados previamente de la custodia del DHS, y dos de los solicitantes no tienen antecedentes penales de ningún tipo”, según la petición, refiriéndose al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional por sus iniciales en inglés.
Los solicitantes fueron detenidos después de ingresar a Estados Unidos por o entre puertos de entrada. Después de ser evaluados, fueron liberados de la custodia federal.
La demanda afirma que a los inmigrantes se les está privando del debido proceso después de que previamente habían sido declarados aptos para su liberación, sólo para ser arrestados y detenidos cuando se les convocó repentinamente para reaparecer en una oficina del ICE. Muchos casos involucran a personas cuyos casos en la corte de inmigración fueron reabiertos.
El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional no respondió de momento a un correo electrónico en busca de comentarios.
El Centro de Derecho y Políticas de Inmigración de la Facultad de Derecho de UCLA señaló que, tan sólo en San Diego, ciertamente hay decenas de detenciones “y probablemente superan las 100”. La demanda solicita al juez que otorgue estatus de demanda colectiva, lo que podría significar que otros que fueron arrestados y detenidos en circunstancias similares podrían beneficiarse de un fallo favorable.
Un jardinero mexicano que ha vivido en Estados Unidos por más de 30 años estaba sentado el lunes en el suelo de un largo pasillo fuera de una sala de espera en la oficina del ICE en San Diego. Habló con The Associated Press con la condición de que únicamente se le identificara como Lorenzo por temor a posibles represalias.
Hace unos 10 años, la Patrulla Fronteriza arrestó a Lorenzo en un control de carretera en el sur de California. Compareció ante un juez de inmigración que cerró su caso y lo salvó de ser deportado. Durante años, no había tenido noticias de las autoridades migratorias hasta la semana pasada, cuando le dijeron que se reabriría su caso y debía presentarse ante el ICE el lunes. No dio seguimiento con AP después de su control.
Los arrestos en los controles del ICE en San Diego parecen haberse acelerado desde principios de octubre. Lynn Devine, una observadora voluntaria, vio el lunes a una mujer esposada que era escoltada por dos agentes hacia un ascensor.
“Estaba mirando al suelo. Le dije que estaba rezando por ella”, señaló Devine.
Un juez federal decidirá si libera a los tres solicitantes y si declara ilegales estas detenciones.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
FBI To Interview Lawmakers In “Illegal Orders” Video
FBI To Interview Lawmakers In “Illegal Orders” Video
FBI agents are seeking to interview lawmakers who appeared in a video telling members of the military not to obey illegal orders, the lawmakers said on Nov. 25.
The FBI contacted the sergeants at arms for the House of Representatives and Senate, requesting interviews with the lawmakers, Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) said in a joint statement.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they stated.
“We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who also participated in the video, said on X that the FBI has “appeared to open an inquiry into” her over the video.
“This isn’t just about a video. This is not the America I know, and I’m not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution,” she wrote.
As Zachary Stieber reports for The Epoch Times, The FBI did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
In the video, released on Nov. 18, members said they wanted to speak to service members and people who work in the Intelligence Community. They said that the audience should disobey orders that are illegal. Deluzio said that “you must refuse illegal orders.”
“Your vigilance is critical,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) added later. “And know that we have your back,” Slotkin said.
No allegedly illegal orders were specified in the video, and after posting the video, lawmakers have largely declined to list specific examples during television appearances beyond referring to how President Donald Trump has been accused of telling officials in 2020 that they should shoot protesters in the legs.
“If we wait until the moment that he gives a manifestly unlawful order to a young soldier, then we have failed them,” Crow said on CBS over the weekend.
“We have to start that conversation now and get people thinking about the distinction, which is exactly what we did.”
Trump has accused the Democrats of seditious behavior and suggested they should be arrested and charged.
Military officials announced Monday that Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy officer, is under investigation for allegedly violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law, including one law that bars actions intended to interfere with the “loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States.”
“The video made by the ‘Seditious Six’ was despicable, reckless, and false,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement.
“Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of ‘good order and discipline.’ Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion—which only puts our warriors in danger.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington that the White House supports the investigation.
“You can’t have a functioning military if there’s disorder and chaos within the ranks—and that’s what these Democrat members were encouraging,” she said.
In an interview that aired on X on Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel said career analysts and agents will make any determination on the Democratic lawmakers who urged members of the military to disobey illegal orders, when asked what his reaction to it was.
“Is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation or is there not? And that decision will be made by the career agents and analysts here at the FBI,” Patel said in the interview.
When asked if the FBI was involved, Patel said, “based on the fact that it’s an ongoing matter, there’s not much I can say.”
Tyler Durden
Tue, 11/25/2025 – 19:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fbi-interview-lawmakers-illegal-orders-video
Israel anuncia apertura de oficina de negocios en Buenos Aires para aumentar el intercambio
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Israel ha decidido ampliar la sintonía política con el gobierno argentino de Javier Milei a los negocios.
El canciller israelí Gideon Sa’ar, de visita en Argentina, anunció el martes la apertura de una delegación económica en Buenos Aires para explorar “oportunidades de inversión mutua”.
“Nuestros gobiernos son muy cercanos. Queremos fortalecer los lazos económicos y entre los pueblos”, dijo el funcionario israelí al encabezar la inauguración del Foro Empresarial Israel-Argentina.
“Queremos incrementar drásticamente nuestras inversiones en Argentina”, adelantó.
La apertura de una oficina de negocios es el último de los guiños entre l os gobiernos de ultraderecha de Benjamín Netanyahu y Milei, que evidencian una sintonía inédita entre ambos países.
Milei se encuentra entre los mayores partidarios del gobierno israelí en lo que respecta a líderes mundiales, en momentos en que Israel enfrenta un creciente aislamiento por su invasión de Gaza en respuesta a los ataques liderados por Hamás el 7 de octubre de 2023. Aunque nació y se crió como católico, Milei ha mostrado un creciente interés público en el judaísmo e incluso ha expresado intenciones de convertirse.
El mandatario argentino se encolumnó detrás de Israel apenas asumió en 2023. Viajó ya dos veces a ese país y anunció que mudará la embajada argentina de Tel Aviv a Jerusalén en 2026. Su postura contrasta con la de la mayoría de los gobiernos de América Latina, donde Bolivia y Colombia han roto relaciones con Israel.
“Argentina ha sido y sigue siendo un socio confiable en el lado correcto de la historia. Creemos en Argentina bajo el liderazgo del presidente Milei”, valoró Sa’ar.
Israel por su parte anunció vuelos directos Tel Aviv–Buenos Aires operada por EL AL, aunque la medida todavía no se instrumentó.
Argentina cuenta con la mayor comunidad judía de Latinoamérica. El país sudamericano sufrió dos atentados terroristas en 1992 contra la embajada de Israel en Buenos Aires y en 1994 contra una mutual judía, que dejaron más de un centenar de víctimas.
“Contamos con una gran comunidad judía en Argentina y una gran comunidad de inmigrantes argentinos en Israel”, destacó Sa’ar. “Este es un importante puente humano que puede contribuir al establecimiento de estas sólidas relaciones económicas”.
El intercambio comercial entre ambos países superó los 580 millones de dólares entre enero y septiembre de este año, según cifras oficiales difundidas por la cancillería argentina. Argentina exportó principalmente carne bovina y maíz e importó herbicidas y tecnología israelí.
A Looming Mexican Coup?
A Looming Mexican Coup?
On November 15th, incendiary protests engulfed over 50 cities across Mexico.
The Western media has universally adopted the narrative disaffected local “Gen Z” sought to vent their righteous rage against the government, over corruption, and the administration’s purported ties to drug cartels. Footage of law enforcement clashing with demonstrators spread like wildfire, and many outlets widely emphasised how the upheaval injured at least 120 people. Few acknowledged the overwhelming majority of those hurt – 100 – were police officers.
A New York Times report made the insurrectionary designs of those causing mayhem on Mexico’s streets clear.
“The goal of this march is precisely to remove the President, and to show we are angry, that the people are not with her,” one protester was quoted as saying.
Oddly absent from mainstream coverage of the hullabaloo was any recognition President Claudia Sheinbaum enjoys popularity of which Western leaders can only fantasise.
Polls throughout her first year in office indicate 70 – 80% of the public support her.
Sheinbaum has charged the fiery demonstrations were “inorganic”, “paid for”, and “a movement promoted from abroad against the government.” There are strong grounds to believe this was absolutely the case. For one, a key local amplifier of the protests, and supposed police brutality, was media outlet Animal Politico. The National Democratic Institute, a wing of avowed CIA front the National Endowment for Democracy, lists the organisation among its “partners”. Mexican newspaper Milenio has documented in detail the news site’s voluminous US funding.
Furthermore, former Mexican President Vicente Fox attended the protests, and posted extensively on social media in support of the demonstrators. In 2001, he was bestowed NED’s Annual Democracy Award. Another prominent supporter was oligarch Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico’s third-richest man. In March 2023, in conjunction with the shadowy Atlas Network, he launched Universidad de la Libertad, to “advance free-market principles, business development, and innovation” in the country.
Atlas Network comprises a web of libertarian think tanks, bankrolled by major US corporations, with deep and cohering ties to Western foundations and intelligence cutouts, including NED. The Network itself doles out millions annually “supporting pro-freedom organizations” worldwide. A longtime beneficiary of its largesse is the Venezuela-based Center for the Dissemination of Economic Information (CEDICE), which operated at the forefront of the April 2002 US-orchestrated coup that temporarily ousted elected President Hugo Chávez.
Fast forward to today, and Washington again appears to be plotting the Venezuelan government’s downfall. A huge military buildup around the country, and belligerent actions in the Caribbean supposedly intended to thwart drug trafficking operations directed by Caracas, could be harbingers of all-out invasion. The widely-admired Sheinbaum, who stands steadfastly opposed to US machinations in Latin America, represents a significant barrier to realising that goal. It stands to reason the Empire must neutralise her first, before training its crosshairs elsewhere in the region.
‘Legal Justification’
It may be no coincidence the foreign-sponsored upsurge of anti-government agitation that unfolded in Mexico followed not long after murmurings the Trump administration is considering inserting US forces and intelligence operatives into the country, to conduct aggressive covert operations supposedly targeting cartels. On November 3rd NBC reported this “new mission” would represent “a break” with the approach of past US governments, which have hitherto “quietly deployed CIA, military and law enforcement teams” to “support local police and army units” battling drug syndicates:
“If the mission is given the final green light, the administration plans to maintain secrecy around it and not publicize actions associated with it, as it has with recent bombings of suspected drug-smuggling boats…Under the new mission…US troops in Mexico would mainly use drone strikes to hit drug labs and cartel members and leaders…Some of the drones that special forces would use require operators to be on the ground to use them effectively and safely.”
Similar action was previously mooted in April, prompting a firm rebuke from Sheinbaum. The President declared: “The US is not going to come to Mexico with the military. We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out.” However, NBC notes while Washington “would prefer to coordinate with the Mexican government on any new mission against drug cartels…officials have not ruled out operating without that coordination.”
US military action being waged inside Mexico without state approval would represent an absolutely egregious and unprecedented breach of the country’s sovereignty. Moreover, at Washington’s demand, Sheinbaum has already deployed 10,000 troops to the US border, significantly increased fentanyl seizures, and extradited 55 senior cartel figures Stateside. These escalations are nonetheless seemingly insufficient, raising obvious questions as to whether an ulterior motive lies behind the Trump administration’s new mission – for which elite military and CIA personnel have apparently already begun training.
One explanation could be Sheinbaum representing a potent barrier to regime change in Caracas – a monstrous objective for which Trump strived over much of his first term in office, that has become turbocharged over recent months. Sheinbaum has publicly rubbished the US President’s claims there is evidence linking Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to drug dealing, called for constructive dialogue between the pair, and repeatedly condemned extrajudicial US airstrikes on boats purportedly ferrying drugs, which have killed scores of potentially innocent people.
US strike on supposed narco-terrorists, September 2025
Those attacks, which began in September, are widely perceived to be a prelude to all-out US invasion of Venezuela, and have frequently been conducted in Mexico’s territorial waters. In addition to openly admitting they aren’t certain targeted boats are in fact ferrying narcotics, and the identities of victims are unknown, Trump administration officials have struggled to provide any legal justification whatsoever for the deadly strikes. On October 30th, a classified bipartisan Congressional briefing was convened, at which government representatives attempted to explain their rationale.
Attendees from both primary US political parties “were not happy with the level [of] information that was provided, and certainly the level of legal justification that was provided,” Republican Mike Turner complained. Meanwhile, Democrat Sara Jacobs declared, “I’m not convinced that what they said was accurate,” concluding the administration’s strategy “is actually not about addressing” the flow of narcotics into the US, or crushing Latin American drug smuggling networks. Her comments may be more illuminating than she intended.
‘Big Problems’
On top of clearing a beachhead for invading Venezuela, Sheinbaum could be earmarked for removal by Washington because, from the CIA’s perspective, the Mexican President’s hardline crackdown on local cartels may be proving too successful for her own good. Within six months of taking office, police and security forces dismantled 750 drug labs across the country, arrested close to 20,000 cartel operatives, and seized over 140 tons of narcotics. Drug barons who evaded capture have been forced into hiding, while suffering multimillion dollar losses.
Mexican authorities arrest high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member, February 2025
Markedly, these efforts largely haven’t been conducted in coordination with Washington. This raises the prospect that individuals and groups ensnared by Sheinbaum’s anti-cartel crusade – which has been praised in many quarters – might one way or another have been working for and/or with the CIA. Investigations by veteran deep state researcher Peter Dale Scott reveal how since World War II, the core component of any international drug cartel’s success has consistently been maintaining a clandestine relationship with US intelligence.
Indeed, per Scott, it is difficult if not impossible to prosper in the narcotics trade without the CIA’s protection. A palpable illustration of this phenomenon is provided by the Guadalajara Cartel’s extraordinary rise. After its founding in the late 1970s, the group rapidly became one of North America’s largest drug suppliers. Key to its success was its covert bond with Mexico’s Federal Security Directorate (DFS), which was created by and enjoyed a deeply intimate relationship with the CIA.
In return for a 25% cut of the Guadalajara Cartel’s profits, the ultra-violent drug syndicate was not only insulated from legal repercussions, but actively assisted by DFS. Joint US-Mexican anti-drug efforts in the early 1980s deliberately targeted solely minor traffickers, eliminating the Cartel’s competition. Resultantly, by 1982 Mexico had replaced Colombia as the States’ leading supplier of marijuana, and was providing up to 30% of the country’s cocaine. All along, the CIA and DEA did and said nothing, despite full cognisance of the Cartel’s activities.
Guadalajara might still be in business today, were it not for its February 1985 kidnap, brutal torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Salazar. Allegations the CIA and DFS colluded in his killing, to conceal their complicity in the Latin American drug trade, have long-abounded. Nonetheless, Salazar’s slaying was so sickeningly savage it led to sizeable US public and political pressure for Mexican authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Within four years, several of the Cartel’s leaders were jailed, and the enterprise folded.
Enrique Salazar’s mutilated corpse is returned to the US
There is no knowing whether Sheinbaum has inadvertently trodden on the ‘wrong’ person’s toes in her battles against organised crime in her country. Yet, the violent protests have evidently provided Washington enormously useful ammunition. Commenting on the unrest, Trump remarked, “I looked at Mexico City over the weekend. There’s some big problems there…I am not happy with Mexico.” He added military action “to stop drugs” there was “OK with me.” The opening salvo in a new US war may have just been fired.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 11/25/2025 – 19:15
Graham Schwab will see familiar face when Oswego plays for 8A state title. ‘Friends since elementary school.’
For Oswego’s Graham Schwab, this weekend’s big game in Normal is going to have multiple layers. More than a Class 8A state championship trophy will be on the line for the junior fullback.
Neighborhood bragging rights will also be at stake when Schwab takes the field for the Panthers, with junior cornerback Isaac Saldana lining up on the opposite side of the ball for Mount Carmel.
“Obviously, it’s gonna be a tough game,” Schwab said. “Isaac has been one of my friends since elementary school and we still live pretty close to each other.”
Schwab, junior safety Dontrell Young, sophomore running back Ammar Banire — all now playing for Oswego — and Saldana were a close-knit group at Thompson Junior High.
That’s when the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Schwab, who also plays basketball and baseball at Oswego, started up with football.
“Isaac went to (Wheaton) St. Francis freshman and sophomore years and transferred to Mount Carmel for this year,” Schwab said. “He and I golf together sometimes and we still talk pretty frequently.”
Over the past few weeks, as both teams headed toward a possible matchup in the final game of the season, those conversations and texts picked up.
When the teams meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium, Mount Carmel will be aiming for its 17th state championship in football. The Caravan have been bumped up a class after winning the last three Class 7A titles.
Everyone expected Mount Carmel (13-0) to be there. Not many thought Oswego (11-2) would be.
The Panthers have won two state championships, and current coach Brian Cooney had a hand in both. He was a senior linebacker on the 1992 team that won the 4A title, and in 2003 when Oswego won again in 7A, Cooney was on the staff of former coach Karl Hoinkes.
Oswego’s Graham Schwab (22) reacts after scoring a TD against Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Oswego on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Cooney confirmed this team for Oswego reminds him of his championship team as a player.
“The year before, we reached the semifinals and lost to Providence,” Cooney said. “Everyone thought that 1991 team, with more D-I kids on it, was supposed to play for the title.
“We thought last year we had the players to make a run, but these kids this year decided that was good but they’re gonna do it this year.”
Schwab pointed out that he thinks the team’s bond this season is better and made it easier to bounce back from close losses to Yorkville and Minooka.
As for playing against Saldana, “it’s going to be fun,” according to Schwab.
“He’s on defense, I’m on offense,” Schwab said. “We’re gonna be lined up across from each other. I can’t ever remember ever trying to block him, but I’m about to.”
Last week, Schwab delivered a key block on a Lockport cornerback to spring Banire for a 63-yard touchdown run, one of two key plays that led to Oswego’s 10-7 victory.
A 42-yard field goal by senior kicker Kaleb Stumpenhorst clinched the win.
Oswego’s Graham Schwab (22) slips a tackle against Lane Tech during a Class 8A second-round playoff game at Lane Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Talia Sprague / The Beacon-News)
Schwab, meanwhile, is third on the team in rushing and receiving with 93 carries for 435 yards and 14 catches for 110 yards. He had 16 carries for 104 yards against Plainfield South in Week 4.
Soon after, Schwab moved to fullback to free up opportunities for Banire.
“We had to get him on the field,” Schwab said. “You could see he was going to help the team.”
The same can be said for Schwab. Cooney called him an excellent utility player.
“We’re comfortable with the ball in Graham’s hands,” Cooney said. “He still plays tailback and runs the ball. In fact, when we could not have a fumble late against Maine South in the quarterfinal, he was the kid who got the ball. We rely on him to do a lot.”
Senior Dekker Zelensek starts at tailback. Schwab’s move gets all of three on the field.
“I’ll block for my guys and get them into the end zone,” Schwab said. “That’s fine with me as long as we’re winning games. We have been, so it’s perfect.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/graham-schwab-oswego-ihsa-football/
Daily Horoscope for November 26, 2025
General Daily Insight for November 26, 2025
We’re making progress, even if we can’t see it just yet. Romantic Venus supports expansive Jupiter, and so our generosity is heightened. Cooperation could also come more naturally, especially once expressive Venus trines disciplined Saturn at 6:48 PM EST. Simple promises should be easier to keep when we’re with good company! To cap things off, the temperamental Moon challenges chatty Mercury, so we may need to keep an eye on our tone. With care and affection, success in any current arena is almost guaranteed.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Honest feelings make hard talks easier — or bearable, at least. Joint custody of anything, from a living space to a child, is today’s focus. That’s thanks to Venus in your sharing sector aligning with disciplined Saturn in your 12th House of Privacy. You may raise the topic of a budget or schedule change. The universe supports such discussions. A simple review of things at home can let off pressure and deepen closeness. Choose plain words to ensure that you’re understood.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Words mean things! Okay, maybe that’s usually obvious, but it needs to be said right now. Tender Venus is reaching from your compatibility sector to embrace good-natured Jupiter, encouraging you to consider your communication with your loved ones. Give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to potential miscommunications regarding your schedules. If a promise feels vague, ask for a clearer time. Specific details help you (and them) feel cared for. Name simple needs, and come through for the needs of others.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Tiny tweaks can smooth over routine bumps. Venus and Saturn work together, uniting your sensible 6th house and your motivated 10th house. Whether or not you normally write down a specific to-do list, try doing so today. Knowing exactly what you have to do should make it easier to get it done! It’ll also help you touch base with anyone affected by your current efforts (or whose activities would affect you). Thinking ahead is the best way to stop potential tangles from entrapping you.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Lighthearted fun feeds your caring heart. Your 5th House of Recreation hosts Venus as she hugs Jupiter — who’s currently in your loyal sign. Inspiration is everywhere! Pay attention to the things that make you happy today, even little ones like the crunch of leaves underfoot or the warmth of your favorite jacket. If someone needs reassurance, offer a caring hug. Your presence could be enough to steady emotions and keep the mood from falling, even during tough moments. There is always room for joy!
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Two viewpoints can coexist at once — despite any loud claims to the contrary. The tetchy Moon squares trickster Mercury, affecting both your amicable 7th house and traditional 4th house. A minor misunderstanding is at risk of puffing up far bigger than necessary. If a partner or roommate raises a home chore complaint, hear them out. Whether it’s actually reasonable, though, is up to you. Everyone deserves to feel seen, but not every issue is worth fighting over. Aim for fairness above all else.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Plain words make complicated plans feel possible at this time. Thankfully, Venus and Saturn’s trine across your talkative 3rd house and direct 7th house should help you speak your mind. It’s possible that you’ll need to rewrite a few messages — especially if they were first drafted out of irritation. If someone rambles, make an effort to keep track of the main point. They’ll likely be grateful that someone’s paying attention. When it’s your turn to speak, remember: concision is key.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Practical choices can still be enjoyable. The emotional Moon is in your 5th House of Frolicking, squaring cerebral Mercury in your 2nd House of Tangible Assets. If fun plans bump into financial walls, don’t panic. You can still have fun without blowing your budget. To avoid as much stress as possible, pay attention to the price tag before you make plans. Visiting a public park or watching a movie at home are both great options for inexpensive joy. Happiness shouldn’t be locked behind a paywall.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Your presence speaks before you say anything. Free-loving Venus trines karmic Saturn, helping you present yourself with warmth without making rude individuals think they can walk all over you. You may speak first in a meeting about the plan, trusting your natural poise to ensure people take you seriously. You’d also be wise to lean into creativity, because its charm can boost your confidence and magnify your social power. Leading with kindness doesn’t damage your authority — in fact, it can earn lasting respect.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
You can’t be “on” 24-7, and today is a good day to acknowledge that. With Venus in your quiet 12th house trining Saturn in your congenial 4th house, resting is even more vital than usual. Don’t worry about getting too much done (though doing a calm chore like folding laundry could be quite soothing). The main focus is patience with yourself and loved ones. There’s no need to rush! Instead, give your intuition time to work out the wisest course of action.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Friends should currently respond well to steady, thoughtful leadership. Beautiful Venus fortifies jovial Jupiter, allying your friendship quadrant and your partnership zone. Your social circles may need someone to set up plans that feel truly fair. Perhaps you’ll host a community meet-up after work or work out who’s bringing what to the friend potluck. Taking a steady approach to group plans should keep things moving in a respectful, focused manner. Lead with patience, because your team won’t function half as well without it.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
A quick check-in can calm swirling thoughts. Your self-presentation and first impressions take the spotlight as the intuitive Moon squares mental Mercury, so reactions could show on your face before words even form. A boss might question a timeline, or your audience may push for changes, particularly if you work in the public eye. Be proud of the work you do, even if they don’t understand its depth. You can defend your work without being defensive — just keep your cool.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Tiny worries may hurt a lot at the moment, but you’re capable of banishing them. Stepping back to look at the big picture is a great place to begin. Delightful Venus trines direct Saturn, combining the powers of your curious 9th house and personable 1st house. With Saturn in your sign, a mentor likely has great advice to offer about whatever’s going on. Even if they haven’t been in your exact circumstances, their experience can soothe any anxieties about your path ahead.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/daily-horoscope-for-november-26-2025/
Chicago Cubs begin remaking the bullpen with veteran Phil Maton in what’s their biggest offseason challenge
Bullpen volatility from year to year often presents one of the biggest challenges a major-league team faces when constructing a roster.
The Chicago Cubs pulled all the right levers this past season in building a relief corps that was one of the best in baseball in the first half and helped them win their first postseason series since 2017. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office is charged with trying to reload a bullpen that returns only Daniel Palencia from its high-leverage arms.
“It’s an opportunity in a lot of ways; in some ways, it is a challenge,” Hoyer said earlier this month. “We need a number of guys. We hit on a lot of guys last year, so we’ll probably look at the same thing. We’ll look at small trades, we’ll look at small deals, we’ll look in major-league free agency. But, yeah, we do need to add a number of arms back there.
“But the good news is we have somewhat of a blank canvas back there. We’re not saddled by any underperformers or anything like that. We just need to go out and find good arms and give guys opportunities, and I think our defense, our pitching group does a good job with those guys on that.”
The Cubs took their first step in overhauling the bullpen Tuesday by signing veteran right-hander Phil Maton, 32, to a two-year contract with a 2028 club option.
Although he doesn’t possess elite velocity — his fastball averaged 90.6 mph in 2025 — Maton’s deception within his four-pitch mix helped him strike out 81 batters in 61 1/3 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Over his last four seasons with five teams, Maton posted a 3.33 ERA, 121 ERA+ and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Hoyer and the Cubs haven’t been inclined to give out multiyear contracts to relievers. It’s a market they largely have avoided, but the organization is willing to go down that route if it believes in the fit, which came to fruition with Maton.
While they don’t have an appetite for free-agent deals with relievers that go beyond three years and want to avoid tying up potentially bad money in that area of the roster, the Cubs will continue to be active in the relief market this offseason as they essentially build their 2026 bullpen from scratch.
“It’s not my favorite thing to do. I prefer shorter commitments in the bullpen, but I’ll never say never,” Hoyer said. “We offered some last year (and) we didn’t win the bidding. So it’s not a hard and fast rule, but you can guess that we’re probably going to be more focused on shorter commitments.”
The Cubs took a varied approach to putting together the 2025 bullpen, from a minor-league deal with a big-league camp invitation (Brad Keller) and an in-season minor-league trade for a player who hadn’t been in the majors since 2021 (Drew Pomeranz) to signing a 38-year-old reliever coming off his worst season (Caleb Thielbar) and a trade-deadline acquisition (Andrew Kittredge) that gave manager Craig Counsell another reliable late-inning option.
“We are proud of the decisions we made in the last couple of years in the bullpen and the ability to get more out of some guys that people thought we were going to be able to — we made some mistakes there, too, to be sure,” general manager Carter Hawkins said earlier this month. “As we look to this year, the fact that we had some success doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable to take perceived risks on players, but we see it as a really rewarding challenge.
“If we could find guys that fit our price range that had less variance and more sure things, that would make me feel really good. But we’ll continue to look for that while at the same time looking for undervalued players as well. I don’t think we’re ever comfortable, and the day you get emboldened is the day you start making really big mistakes.”
Keller remains an intriguing option to return to the Cubs, but he might have pitched his way out of what the team would feel comfortable paying the 30-year-old right-hander. In his first full season relieving, Keller produced a 2.07 ERA and 187 ERA+ in 69 2/3 innings.
Cubs pitcher Brad Keller yells in celebration of a 4-3 win over the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 8, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
“We told Brad when we were having our exit meetings after our last game that we had an awesome time with him (and) we’d love to repeat that,” Hawkins said. “We’ll see how it all plays out. Hard to say exactly where his market, our markets are going to be, but that’s definitely a guy that we would love to see in the Cubs uniform again.”
Beyond arms for the big-league bullpen, the Cubs also will be looking to bolster their internal depth through minor-league free agency. Relief options are an internal weakness, which could become problematic in the event of injuries or ineffectiveness at the major-league level.
The current 40-man roster features six pitchers who were used in a big-league bullpen during the 2025 season — Maton, Palencia, Porter Hodge, Luke Little, Gavin Hollowell and Ethan Roberts — with Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown having experience starting and relieving and Jack Neely and Riley Martin having spent the entire year at Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs can be aggressive, taking advantage of their roomy 40-man roster that currently has only 31 players, by making offseason waiver claims to add depth and experience to the bullpen.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/chicago-cubs-bullpen-phil-maton/
