By Aaron Parnas•December 29, 2025•6 min read•Foreign Policy
Good morning everyone. It is already a consequential start to the day. We learned that the United States may have carried out its first land strike on Venezuela without congressional approval. China announced large-scale military drills around Taiwan. Iran’s president declared the country is in “total war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe. At the same time, Congressman Massie says Attorney General Pam Bondi is redacting the names of accused sex offenders in the Epstein files.
This week is shaping up to be an extremely busy one. I am also planning a year-in-review before the new year, so please stay tuned for that. Based on everything we have witnessed over the past several weeks, it has never been more important to remain independent. If you are able, I ask you directly to consider subscribing before the end of the year. Subscriptions are the reason I am able to do this work full time.
Donald Trump said the United States “knocked out” a major facility in Venezuela as part of expanded military action against alleged drug trafficking, marking what could be the first known U.S. land strike in the campaign after months of attacks on boats, though the White House offered no details and NBC News has not independently confirmed the strike.
Congressman Thomas Massie is now alleging that Attorney General Pam Bondi is redacting the names of accused sex offenders in the Epstein files:
The U.S. House faces a January 30 government funding deadline with only three of twelve appropriations bills passed, as disputes over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, discharge petitions, and limited legislative days raise the risk of another shutdown despite leadership efforts to finalize remaining bills.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, a close ally of Donald Trump, launched an expletive-filled online tirade at MAGA influencers criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi, insisting the statute of limitations does not block Justice Department action related to Jan. 6 and accusing conservative critics of spreading misinformation.
The Justice Department says a Virginia man arrested for placing non-detonated pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee on Jan. 6, 2021 believed conspiracy theories about a “tampered” 2020 election, planned to attend a pro-Donald Trump protest, but claimed he disliked both parties and was not openly political. Read the full filing from the DOJ here.
President Donald Trump is making high-stakes foreign policy gambles at year’s end by hosting talks with Volodymyr Zelensky and Benjamin Netanyahu to push Ukraine and Gaza peace efforts while also ordering U.S. military strikes against ISIS targets and escalating pressure abroad, highlighting his effort to secure a peacemaker legacy amid rising political and strategic risks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is in a “full-fledged war” with the United States, Israel and Europe, citing continued pressure after Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and resumed harsh sanctions, as tensions persist despite a ceasefire ending the brief Iran–Israel conflict.
Rep. Mike Turner defended U.S. airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria as a continuation of America’s ongoing fight against the group, saying the Christmas Day strikes were coordinated with Nigeria’s government and consistent with Donald Trump’s broader counter-ISIS policy. When asked whether Trump stood on the side of Russia or Ukraine, he could not give a clear answer:
China launched large-scale joint military drills encircling Taiwan as a “stern warning” to pro-independence and “external interference” forces after tensions over U.S. arms sales and comments from Japan, prompting Taipei to place its forces on high alert and condemn Beijing as destabilizing regional peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with a more cautious Donald Trump in Florida seeking tougher action against Hamas and warning about Iran’s missile advances, even as strains over Gaza, Syria and broader Middle East strategy underscore a relationship driven by mutual political need rather than trust.
Heavy winter rains flooded displacement camps across the Gaza Strip, worsening conditions for Palestinians living in damaged tents and contributing to deaths from hypothermia, as Netanyahu traveled to the United States for talks with Donald Trump on the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire amid mounting calls for more humanitarian aid.
Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters today that the United States has offered a 15-year security guarantee in a draft peace proposal to end the war with Russia, but he is urging a much longer commitment of up to 50 years as negotiations with Donald Trump advance and remain about 90 percent agreed
Zelensky further said Ukraine will not withdraw from the Donbas, warning such a move would pose major risks and would be rejected by the Ukrainian public in any referendum, making it unacceptable for Ukraine.
According to The Hill, a multi-agency human trafficking sting in San Diego County rescued 19 victims and led to the arrest of four men during the annual “Home for the Holidays” operation, with officials including California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighting tougher new state laws and a continued focus on victim support and accountability.
Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries after his car crashed into a stationary vehicle on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria, killing two people, according to police in Ogun State, with the former world champion taken to hospital as authorities launched an investigation into the fatal collision.
Good news:
A chance act of Christmas kindness in Cardiff turned into a lifelong bond when Rob and Dianne Parsons invited Ronnie Lockwood, an autistic and formerly homeless man, into their home, where he lived as part of the family for 45 years, contributed deeply to their children and community, and was later honored with a community wellbeing center named after him following his death.
Researchers at University of British Columbia Okanagan identified the key plant enzymes that create mitraphylline, a rare anti-cancer compound found in trace amounts in tropical plants, a breakthrough led by Thu-Thuy Dang and Tuan-Anh Nguyen that could enable greener, scalable production of powerful new cancer and anti-inflammatory medicines.
Lifelong friends Pat DeReamer and Mary Wheaton have exchanged the same birthday card back and forth every year since 1944, a tradition now spanning 81 years that earned a Guinness World Record and continues to mark both women’s birthdays well into their 90s.
A lost grey seal pup was rescued after swimming about 20 miles up the River Bure in Norfolk and becoming tangled in a fisherman’s net, after which the underweight pup, later named Sunshine, was taken to an RSPCA shelter and is now recovering, with rescuers believing it likely strayed from the major seal colony near Sea Palling and Horsey Gap.
