Zerohedge

Authored by Michael Snyder via TheMostImportantNews.com,

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a truly Orwellian society where there is absolutely no freedom of speech, absolutely no freedom of religion and absolutely no freedom of the press?  

You may think that the rules that you are currently living under are bad, but the country that I am about to discuss exercises total control over the population.  In this nation, you can only choose a haircut off a pre-approved list, and smiling on the wrong day can literally get you sent to a prison camp.  Unfortunately, once you are sent to a prison camp you will be worked day and night until you either starve or drop dead.

Of course the country that I am talking about is North Korea.  

The following are 22 really bizarre facts about the most Orwellian society on Earth…

#1 The first “Great Leader” of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, is deeply revered in North Korea.  In fact, there are approximately 40,000 statues of Kim Il-sung scattered all throughout the nation.

#2 In North Korea, it is believed that “destroying a statue is the most hideous insult to our supreme authority and our people and is an act of war no less serious than an armed invasion”.

#3 Hanging up pictures of founder Kim Il-sung is compulsory for every household in North Korea.

#4 It is against the law for citizens of North Korea to smile on the 8th of July.  If you break this law, you can be sent to a prison camp or in some cases you could even be executed…

Everyone loves a smile. But what if there were laws on when you could do it? Sound nuts? Believe it or not, it’s against the law for North Koreans to smile on July 8, the anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s death.

If Citizens do happen to break the law for this rule, they could be sent to concentration camps or even pay with their lives. The same goes for being loud, drinking, or having a birthday party. So, whatever you do, don’t smile on July 8.

#5 After he died, the body of Kim Il-sung was embalmed and it still lies in state in Pyongyang.

#6 The same thing was done to the body of Kim Jong-il when he died…

North Korea has announced that the body of late leader Kim Jong-il will lie in state permanently at a palace in the capital, Pyongyang.

His body will be displayed at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace alongside his father, Kim Il-sung.

#7 The North Korean people were told that Kim Jong-il actually bowled a perfect game the first time he ever tried bowling…

Kim Jong Il’s mythology is no less extensive. His birth was hailed as “heaven sent” by propagandists, and state media has often touted impossible feats: He scored a perfect 300 the first time he tried bowling, and shot five holes-in-one the first time he played golf. Upon his death in 2011, the skies about the sacred mountain Paektu in North Korea allegedly glowed red.

#8 The Constitution of North Korea actually guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press…

Citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, demonstration and association.

The State shall guarantee conditions for the free activity of democratic political parties and social organizations.

#9 The Constitution of North Korea also guarantees freedom of religion…

Citizens have freedom of religious beliefs. This right is granted by approving the construction of religious buildings and the holding of religious ceremonies.

#10 In 1987, North Korea began construction on the Ryugyong Hotel, which would have been the tallest hotel in the world at that time if it had been finished on schedule in 1989.  Instead, construction of the bizarre 105 story skyscraper that somewhat resembles a pyramid was suspended in 1992, and the unfinished structure was just a massive concrete shell towering over Pyongyang completely empty for the next 16 years.  Work began once again on the project in 2008, but it is still unfinished to this day…

That pointy building in the center of the capital Pyongyang is the Ryugyong Hotel, also known as “the hotel of doom.” At a height of 1,079 feet (329 meters), it is the tallest unoccupied building in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Construction on the abandoned residence began in 1987 and has stopped and started several times over three decades due to North Korea’s economic woes.

#11 One of North Korea’s greatest national treasures is the Pueblo – a U.S. naval vessel that the North Koreans captured from “the imperialist Americans” back in 1968…

USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is a Banner-class environmental research ship, placed into service during World War II, then converted to a spy ship in 1967 by the United States Navy. She gathered intelligence and oceanographic information, monitoring electronic and radio signals from North Korea. On 23 January 1968, the ship was attacked and captured by a North Korean vessel, in what became known as the “Pueblo incident”.

#12 Current leader Kim Jong-un didn’t like the rules of basketball, and so he radically changed them…

Even the country’s sports are isolated from the rest of the world. Kim Jong-un apparently didn’t like the OG way basketball was played, so decided to rewrite it. The North Korean basketball rules say that slam dunks are worth three points and field goals in the final three minutes of the game are worth eight points.

#13 Police in North Korea are often given promotions when they are able to to identify and arrest Christians…

North Korea’s secret police, the Ministry of State Security, are incentivized with promotions when they apprehend Christians and other believers.

“Those charged with Christianity often face execution or are forced to live out the rest of their lives in political prison camps,” testified Inje Hwang, an investigator with Korea Future Initiative, during a webinar hosted by USCIRF.

#14 Children in North Korea are taught that Christian missionaries suck the blood of children…

Even children are taught from a young age to be suspicious of Christianity.

“In schools, young children are taught that Christian missionaries are spies of the countries who seek opportunities to invade North Korea and they’re shown graphic images of missionaries sucking the blood of children to show how malicious they are,” said Suyeon Yoo, co-director of Korea Future Initiative. “And they are taken to state-run exhibition halls where religious adherents are presented as murderers, spies, and where Bibles are displayed as trophies taken from enemies of the state.”

#15 Christians are executed in some of the most brutal ways imaginable in North Korea.  In one case, a group of Christians was crushed to death by a steamroller…

“While Interviewee 17 was in the North Korean Army, his unit was dispatched to widen the highway between Pyongyang and the nearby port city of Nampo. They were demolishing a vacated house in Yongkang county, Yongkang district town, when in a basement between two bricks they found a Bible and a small notebook that contained 25 names, one identified as pastor, two as chon-do-sa (assistant pastors), two as elders, and 20 other names, apparently parishioners, identified by their occupations. The soldiers turned the Bible and notebook over to the local branch of Department 15 of the Korean Workers Party (KWP), but the Party officials said it was up to the military police unit, Bowisaryungbu gigwanwon, to investigate. Tracked down at their place of work through the listing of occupation in the notebook, the 25 persons were picked up without formal arrest by the military bowibu. The interviewee was not aware of any judicial procedures for those seized. In November 1996, the 25 were brought to the road construction site. Four concentric rectangular rows of spectators were assembled to watch the execution. Interviewee 17 was in the first row. The five leaders to be executed – the pastor, two assistant pastors, and two elders – were bound hand and foot and made to lie down in front of a steamroller. This steamroller was a large construction vehicle imported from Japan with a heavy, huge, and wide steel roller mounted on the front to crush and level the roadway prior to pouring concrete. The other twenty persons were held just to the side. The condemned were accused of being Kiddokyo (Protestant Christian) spies and conspiring to engage in subversive activities. Nevertheless, they were told, “If you abandon religion and serve only Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, you will not be killed.” None of the five said a word. Some of the fellow parishioners assembled to watch the execution cried, screamed out, or fainted when the skulls made a popping sound as they were crushed beneath the steamroller. Interviewee 17 thought, at the time, that these church people were crazy. He thought then that religion was an “opiate,” and it was stupid for them to give up their lives for religion. He heard from the soldiers who took away the other twenty prisoners that they were being sent to a prison camp.”

#16 It has been estimated that over 150,000 people live in six giant North Korean concentration camps…

All the fanciful and funny myths about North Korea’s dictators cover up a disturbing truth, however: Some 154,000 North Koreans live in prison camps, according to South Korean government estimates. (Other international bodies put the number at closer to 200,000). There are six camps, surrounded by electrified barbed wire. Two camps allow for some “rehabilitation” and release of prisoners, according to “Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West” (Viking, 2012). The rest are prisons for life.

#17 The conditions that prisoners must endure in North Korea are absolutely deplorable…

Extrajudicial executions, rape, forced abortions, jail without trial, torture, starvation rations that leave prisoners so hungry some turn to eating insects.

These are just some of the abuses commonplace in North Korean prisons and other detention facilities, according to former detainees whose testimony forms the basis of a new report released by a human rights watchdog this week.

#18 A song entitled “No Motherland Without You” was written specifically for Kim Jong-il, and it is one of the most popular songs in North Korea.  It is regularly sung by the North Korean military.

#19 Most Americans don’t know that the North Koreans have developed a nuclear missile that can “reach anywhere in the U.S. mainland”…

North Korea said Monday leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to develop more powerful means of attack, days after the country’s first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in more than four years.

The statement suggests North Korea might perform additional launches or even test a nuclear device soon as it pushes to modernize its arsenal and increase pressure on the Biden administration while nuclear diplomacy remains stalled. Last Thursday, the North performed its 12th round of weapons tests this year, launching the newly developed, long-range Hwasong-17, which analysts say was designed to reach anywhere in the U.S. mainland.

#20 North Korea has successfully tested an undersea drone that is reportedly similar to Russia’s Poseidon doomsday weapon…

According to KCNA, the test was personally overseen by dictator Kim Jong-un, who wanted to warn the U.S. and South Korea they are causing a “nuclear crisis” with their “intentional, persistent, and provocative war drills.”

North Korea’s state Rodong Sinmun newspaper published a photo of Kim standing next to a large torpedo, which may or may not have been the undersea drone. The article also included photos that purportedly showed the drone maneuvering underwater and then kicking up a pillar of water, depth-charge style, when its test warhead detonated.

#21 Kim Jong-un has repeatedly threatened to nuke South Korea.  Here is just one example…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea if attacked, state media reported Friday, after South Korea’s president warned that if the North used nuclear weapons it would “face the end of its regime.”

The fiery rhetoric isn’t new, but comes at a time of tension on the Korean Peninsula and just weeks after North Korean state media released images of Kim visiting a uranium enrichment facility, which produces weapons-grade nuclear materials.

#22 Kim Jong-un has also threatened to “thoroughly annihilate” the United States…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported Monday, after he vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation.

Even knowing all this, I would love to visit North Korea someday.

But those that visit are certainly not guaranteed to get out alive.

A woman named Yeonmi Park knows what daily life in North Korea is like, because she was born there.  By the age of 13, she had literally witnessed people drop dead from starvation right in front of her eyes.  Thankfully, she was able to escape North Korea for a better life.

In 2016, Park transferred from the university that she was studying at in South Korea to Columbia University here in the United States.  Initially she was very excited to be able to study in this country, but once she started attending classes she quickly realized that “even North Korea isn’t this nuts”…

A North Korean defector said she viewed the US as country of free thought and free speech – until she went to college here.

Yeonmi Park attended Columbia University and was immediately struck by what she viewed anti-Western sentiment in the classroom and a focus on political correctness that had her thinking “even North Korea isn’t this nuts.”

It is so easy to mock North Korea, but the truth is that much of the rest of the world has been going down the same Orwellian path.

Hopefully there will be some positive changes now that a new administration is in power here in the United States.

But in most nations, basic freedoms are being eroded at a staggering rate.

Liberty is such a precious thing, and once it is lost it can be exceedingly difficult to ever get back.

Just ask the people of North Korea.

*  *  *

Michael’s new  book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

Update (2210ET): DNI Tulsi Gabbard announced on Tuesday that 100 individuals in the intelligence community have been identified as having “contributed to and participated in” the sick internal chat group who will be fired and have their security clearances revoked.

“There are over 100 people from across the intelligence community that contributed to and participated in this – what is really just an egregious violation of trust. What to speak of, like, basic rules and standards around professionalism. I put out a directive today that they all will be terminated and their security clearances will be revoked,” Gabbard told Fox News‘ Jesse Watters.

“But the thing here Jesse is – you’ve got to take a step back, because this is barely scratching the surface. When you see what these people are saying, and thanks to Chris Rufo for putting this all online – they were brazen in using an NSA platform intended for professional use, to conduct this kind of really, really horrific behavior. And they were brazen in doing this because, when was the last time anyone was really held accountable? Certainly not over the last four years. Certainly not over the last 10 maybe 20 years, and we look at some of the biggest violations of the American peoples’ trust in the intelligence community. So, today’s action in holding these individuals accountable is just the beginning of what we’re seeing across the Trump administration – which is carrying out the mandate the American people gave him.”

Watch:

BREAKING: Director of National Intelligence @TulsiGabbard says that the 100+ intelligence officials involved in the deep state sex chat will have their security clearances revoked. She says they were brazen in using a @NSAgov platform to have these horrific chats, because there’s… pic.twitter.com/COm8UiFcxZ

— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) February 26, 2025

*  *  *

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*  *  *

Update (1530ET): The National Security Agency (NSA) is now investigating federal employees within the intelligence community for allegedly misusing an internal agency messaging board to discuss all sorts of (transgender-heavy) sexual fantasies under the guise of DEI, officials tell Fox News.

Chat logs from the National Security Agency’s (NSA) “Intelink” messaging platform, obtained by researchers from the conservative Manhattan Institute reportedly via sources within the NSA, revealed employees from various intelligence agencies discussing their experiences with gender-reassignment surgery, artificial genitalia, hormone therapy, polyamory and pronoun usage. Some of these agencies reportedly include the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Naval Intelligence and the NSA.

After the interlink chat logs went viral following a report by journalist Chris Rufo, an NSA spokesperson told Fox that it was “actively investigating” the secret chats.

“NSA hosts the Intelink service for the Intelligence Community. As the service provider, NSA takes very seriously the allegations in this reporting, and, if accurate, they would be violations of longn-standing Intelligence Community policy,” the spokesperson said. “The Intelligence Community places great trust in those personnel that we authorize to access U.S. Government systems, and in return we expect full compliance with all laws, policies and regulations which govern our work.”

Newly minted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also weighed in on the chats, calling the behavior “unacceptable,” and saying that “those involved WILL be held accountable.”

This behavior is unacceptable and those involved WILL be held accountable. These disgusting chat groups were immediately shut down when @POTUS issued his EO ending the DEI insanity the Biden Admin was obsessed with. Our IC must be focused on our core mission: ensuring the safety,… https://t.co/CnpWYyhyNk

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) February 25, 2025

*  *  *

Update (1210ET): In response to the report on secret ‘kink’ chat rooms within the US intelligence community, former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Gen. Mike Flynn (Ret.) warned: “There are massive amounts of sickening chat rooms and groups the USIC maintains and many on government unclassified and classified systems.“

What’s more – these groups, which as you can see below, were full of mentally ill trannies, and “people communicating with each other in their own little code words who are in opposition to the @realDonaldTrump administration,” Flynn continued, suggesting that they represent “a massive CI (counterintelligence) problem and they need to be immediately shut down.”

Flynn suggests that “decent CI people” investigate them “to determine if subversive behavior is occurring, and if so, prosecute those conducting it AND then expose them.”

There are massive amounts of sickening chat rooms and groups the USIC maintains and many on government unclassified and classified systems. In them are people communicating with each other in their own little code words who are in opposition to the @realDonaldTrump…

— General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) February 25, 2025

If @GenFlynn says shutting down these chat networks will eliminate a key element of organized counter-resistance, then I believe him! @elonmusk

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) February 25, 2025

*  *  *

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While the left clutched pearls over one of Elon Musk’s DOGE employees who went by the name ‘Big Balls’ online a few years ago, they’ve been dead silent over a bombshell report from Chris Rufo revealing secret NSA “sex chats” that involved at least one CIA employee that go back two years – featuring discussions involving “sex, kink, polyamory, and castration.” And butthole zapping.

Both current and former NSA employees “provided chat logs from the NSA’s Intelink messaging program,” revealing all sorts of insane shit.

One popular chat topic was male-to-female transgender surgery, which involves surgically removing the penis and turning it into an artificial vagina. “[M]ine is everything,” said one male who claimed to have had gender reconstruction surgery. “[I]’ve found that i like being penetrated (never liked it before GRS), but all the rest is just as important as well.” Another intelligence official boasted that genital surgery allowed him “to wear leggings or bikinis without having to wear a gaff under it.”

These employees discussed hair removal, estrogen injections, and the experience of sexual pleasure post-castration. “[G]etting my butthole zapped by a laser was . . . shocking,” said one transgender-identifying intel employee who spent thousands on hair removal. “Look, I just enjoy helping other people experience boobs,” said another about estrogen treatments. “[O]ne of the weirdest things that gives me euphoria is when i pee, i don’t have to push anything down to make sure it aims right,” a Defense Intelligence Agency employee added. –City Journal

Yeah…

Oh my…

These trans employees discuss hair removal, estrogen treatments, and breast implants. “Getting my butthole zapped by a laser was . . . shocking,” said one trans-identifying DIA official. “Medical science is gonna give me tits one way or another,” said a Navy intel employee. pic.twitter.com/qXLtq0nk45

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) February 24, 2025

Both the CIA and NSA have confirmed the authenticity of the report…

BREAKING: The CIA has released a statement on the trans sex chats, claiming it “will be taking immediate action on this matter.” pic.twitter.com/iK33aLidai

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) February 25, 2025

BREAKING: An NSA spokesman has confirmed the authenticity of the secret sex chats and claims that the agency is taking administrative action against employees who “abused this system.”

This story is ongoing. More revelations coming tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/q822rMWjx6

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) February 24, 2025

Reminder that the Biden CIA was actively recruiting people with mental illnesses https://t.co/YnIGjef2ay pic.twitter.com/nFkoeIT0T9

— Lomez (@L0m3z) February 25, 2025

What in the cinnamon toast fuck?

Well … at least we know what they did last week 🤣🤣 https://t.co/C6vZeUTGSg

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2025

Update:

Nobody:

NSA chat logs: https://t.co/pET6gaSO9m pic.twitter.com/tAzkpzmZO5

— Dixon Uranus (@RealDixonUranus) February 25, 2025

*  *  *

There’s been ‘shock’ and disappointment among European as well as former US government officials at how the United Nations General Assembly vote went on Monday.

In something unprecedented while the Ukraine war has been on, now having reached the three-year mark, the United States voted alongside Russia to veto European attempts to strengthen language related to a resolution on the conflict’s anniversary.

In total 18 countries voted against the Ukrainian-drafted resolution at the UN General Assembly that condemned Moscow and called for a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.

Many observers thought the US would at least simply abstain; instead it opposed the motions alongside nations like Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, and Hungary.

The European-backed resolution, which was ultimately adopted with 93 votes in favor, expressed “concern over the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation,” and underscored its “devastating and long-lasting consequences for Ukraine, regional stability, and global security.”

It urged “de-escalation, an immediate ceasefire, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict” while demanding Russia’s “complete and unconditional withdrawal” from Ukrainian territory.

The explanation of US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea was very revealing, and marks a significant shift in perspective compared to the prior Biden admin. As journalist and war observer Dave DeCamp explains:

In remarks to the UN, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea referred to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an “escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war” and said the conflict started “11 years ago,” referring to the war that broke out in Ukraine following the US-backed coup in 2014 that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych.

The language from Shea marks a significant shift from the Biden administration, which always referred to the war as an “unprovoked” Russian invasion despite the history of US and NATO involvement in Ukraine.

Shea said that the many UN resolutions that have demanded a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine have failed to end the conflict. “Since the start of the war 11 years ago, the United Nations has repeatedly condemned Russia’s blatant violations of the UN Charter. Multiple resolutions of the General Assembly have demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine,” she said.

“Those resolutions have failed to stop the war. It has now dragged on for far too long, and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine, in Russia, and beyond,” Shea added.

The White House position appears to be less concerned with endlessly wrangling over blame, and more with finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. 

“Generations of Ukrainians and Russians have died unnecessarily as the war has brought the world closer to a nuclear confrontation,” Amb. Shea continued. “The longer it continues, the greater the suffering for both nations. This war must end now.”

Several reports have in the wake of the vote collected quotes expressing outrage over the “shameful” vote…

• Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt described it on X, formerly Twitter, as a “shameful moment in US history.”
• Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul was among those who condemned the American vote as “one of the most shocking foreign policy events of my lifetime.”
• Another former diplomat, Steven Pifer, ex-U.S. envoy to Kyiv, posted on X: “how appalling was US vote on UN resolution on just, lasting peace to settle Russia Ukraine war?”
• Republican Senator John Curtis (R-UT) said on X that he was “deeply troubled by the vote at the UN today which put us on the same side as Russia and North Korea.”
• Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley did not criticize the U.S. vote directly but posted on X that “we must choose a side, and it should never be the side of dictators.”

But in the end, as the Trump administration tries to pursue a truce deal in Eastern Europe, the US had simply introduced its own resolution at the UNGA that called for peace in Ukraine, but the whole showdown and divide resulted after European countries added an amendment that inserted anti-Russian language.

Via The Cradle

The head of Iraq’s National Intelligence Service, Hamid al-Shatri, stated on Monday that Baghdad sent direct messages to Damascus about security threats posed to Iraq by ISIS cells in the Syrian desert regions.

During a session of the Baghdad Dialogue conference on Monday, Shatri stated that “The recent events in Syria represent a turning point in the region,” expressing his hope that “this will contribute to enhancing stability, despite some concerns related to the presence of armed groups and places of conflict in the region.”

In December, militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an ISIS offshoot, took power in Damascus, toppling the government of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad after 14 years of war. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), a former deputy to deceased ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, appointed himself president of Syria last month.

Shatri added that “Iraqi and Syrian arenas are closely interconnected, and what is happening in Syria directly affects Iraq, and vice versa, and Iraq has sent clear security messages to Syria about the threats posed by some extremist groups, as Iraq has been harmed in the past period by sending suicide bombers and narcotics across the border.”

Shatri explained that “Iraq attaches special importance to the issue of fighting the terrorist ISIS gangs, as there are still cells affiliated with these gangs in areas such as the desert of Homs and the Levant.”

He pointed out that there are about 30,000 displaced people in Syrian camps from 60 nationalities, in addition to 9,000 ISIS members detained in prisons under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country’s northeastern Hasakah Governorate.

Among these are 2,000 Iraqis. “We want to know how the new Syrian administration will deal with this file,” Shatri stated. He also expressed his concern about the weapons that were seized by some armed groups, including ISIS, after the fall of Assad’s government.

Shatri stressed that “Iraq continues to send messages and communicate with the Syrian leadership to achieve positive results, and there is interaction with it.”

In recent months, Iraq has been repatriating its citizens held in prisons in Hasakeh, including Al-Hol camp, where many family members of ISIS militants have been detained for years.

On February 11, Qasim al-Araji, Iraq’s National Security advisor, affirmed that “Al-Hol camp must be emptied.” In January, the Iraqi parliament passed a controversial amnesty law that could lead to the release of thousands of prisoners who fought for Al-Qaeda and ISIS between 2004 and 2018.

A copy of the law seen by Reuters shows that those found guilty of terrorism can request a retrial if they allege a confession was extracted under duress.

Sunni blocs in the Iraqi parliament have been pushing for the law as many of those in prison on such charges are Sunni Muslims. Sunni lawmakers estimate that at least 30,000 Sunni prisoners will have the chance for a retrial, Reuters added.

The amnesty law has been sharply criticized by leaders of Iraq’s Yezidi community, who fear the releases could help spark a new wave of violence against them.

If you know you know pic.twitter.com/fTIJxxj6b8

— Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) February 24, 2025

In 2014, Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani partnered with ISIS to carry out a genocide against the Yezidi religious minority in the Sinjar region of Iraq. Thousands of Yezidi men were massacred, while their women and young girls were taken as sex slaves by the extremist group. Hundreds of thousands were forcibly expelled from their homes and lands in Sinjar. Many continue to live in tents in refugee camps in the Iraqi Kurdistan region 10 years later.

Masoud Barzani and his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) enjoy close relations with the US, Israel, and Turkey.

Authored by blueapples,

I hate writing in the first person but the following is really just meant to express my immense frustration with the Epstein Files™ (credit to Rudy Havenstein) hype. At this point, I have no idea why anyone in their right mind can consider the forthcoming disclosure of the documents as anything but a marketing ploy designed to coax people into believing that the deep state is being drained. While the Trump administration has markedly improved from its first term in tackling the bureaucracy of Permanent Washington compared to its first term, the exception to every rule once again has proven to be its subservience to the State Of Israel. With Epstein’s all but irrefutable intelligence connections to Israel being a central dimension of the pedophile honeypot trap that he was running, scrutiny of the release of the files has to be viewed through the lens of that obsequiousness.

Cause for that concern has been amplified following statements made by a whistleblower alleging that members of the FBI have started destroying evidence related to Jeffrey Epstein that is slated for release. The whistleblower, a self-described “indefinitely suspended FBI agent” going by the name Garret O’Boyle, confirmed reports from a source he knows in the FBI to veteran journalist Michael Shellenberger that the files are being deleted.

FBI whistleblower @GOBactual confirmed to me that a source inside FBI said FBI employees were destroying evidence on servers, and that he informed @Kash_Patel

I hope he & @AGPamBondi @JohnRatcliffe @elonmusk @realannapaulina are preventing this.

We urgently need disclosure! https://t.co/hhEU2z9r8i

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) February 25, 2025

According to the source, FBI employees have been deleting sensitive files on Epstein that have been siloed into secure FBI servers since before newly sworn in director Kash Patel took over as head of the bureau. Due to the nature of the technical infrastructure storing the files, the whistleblower has claimed that the deletion of the evidence would render it completely unrecoverable. While Patel’s confirmation as FBI Director was celebrated as a seminal moment ushering in a sea change against the deep state, it appears that it’s been business as usual since he took over the post last week. Patel famously promised to shut down the J. Edgar Hoover building and “make it a museum to the Deep State” on day 1 of his tenure. While Patel did deploy over 1,000 FBI agents into the field from Washington, the Hoover building remains open and the most duplicitous members of the bureau are still operating at large by deleting crucial Epstein files.

The revelation by this whistleblower comes as massive frustration over the handling of the release of the Epstein Files™ has become increasingly vocal. When news broke on Friday, February 21st that the files were waiting on the desk of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the announcement was met with adulation as speculation regarding who would be exposed ran rampant across X. Just 4 days later, that adulation has turned to aggravation with Bondi coming under fire for the delay in releasing the files being a sign that suspicion that their release would be little more than a limited hangout designed to protect major players for political reasons has been merited.

That premise is such a paradoxical contradiction of the Trump administration’s self-avowed commitment to put America First and expose the Deep State that is has apparently opened a rift in the space-time continuum and transported the United States to an alternate dimension where Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar is starting to sound like the voice of reason.

The AG still not releasing the EPSTEIN FILES is weird and raises the question of who she might be protecting 🤔

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 25, 2025

Anna Paulina Luna, the Republican House Representative of Florida’s 13th Congressional District, who has also taken the lead of a task force designed to examine the widespread release of previously secretive documents declassified by the Trump administration ranging from Epstein to the JFK assassination to 9/11 joined critics of Bondi in directing her frustration at how the document disclosure is being carried out. Luna revealed that she has made several attempts to contact officials at the Department Of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the release of the files but that none of those attempts have been responded to.

On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.

The DOJ has not responded.

Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG.@AGPamBondi what is the status of the…

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 25, 2025

The public’s dissatisfaction with how the document disclosure is being carried out has unfairly put the likes of Rep. Luna in the crosshairs as she has been on the receiving end of similar criticisms to those levied at AG Bondi. However, while the task force she will lead to examine the Epstein Files™ may be little more than kabuki theater, neither Luna nor the task force have any declassification authority to do anything other than encourage the DOJ, DNI, and other high ranking officials in the Trump administration deliberating upon when to release the files to expedite the process.

In addition to airing her frustration at AG Bondi, Luna also spoke about the gravity of the claim about Epstein evidence being deleted that has been confirmed by Shellenberger. Luna confirmed that she intends to have a call with the whistleblower to discuss his claims. She stated that while the FBI employees deleting files have not yet been identified, she intends to pursue prosecution of those confirmed with doing so under any applicable charges; including treason.

🚨Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Sends DARK Threat to Those Committing Treason By DESTROYING FBI Documents:

“You will be charged with treason. Do not burn documents. We will find you and hold you accountable.” pic.twitter.com/yS6lZVABCK

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 25, 2025

When remaking on Shellenberger’s report, Luna attested that she still has the full faith of FBI Director Kash Patel and his newly appointed Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Luna expounded upon her thoughts, stating that the intent behind setting up the task force aimed at examining the wide array of forthcoming declassified files was done especially to combat the resistance from Deep State actors to disrupt their release. However, with the whistleblower confirming to Shellenberger that the deletion of the files has been going on since the task force was assembled, their threat to reign in those nefarious actors has proven to be toothless to this point.

The elephant in the room that no one seems to be discussing amidst all this drama is precisely what files are being deleted and why. Speculation rightfully is directed at Epstein’s connection to the intelligence community, a connection that was literally confirmed by former Trump administration Secretary Of Labor Alexander Acosta. During his consideration for the position in 2017, Acosta stated that he was instructed to approve a non-prosecution agreement offered to Epstein in 2008 to avoid any federal charges when he was a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Of Florida. In that role, Acosta was overseeing the prosecution of Epstein following his arrest in Palm Beach, Florida for charges of sex trafficking minors. Acosta explained the reason behind approving the agreement to Trump administration officials by stating “I was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone.” 

Acosta may be gone, but let his words live on: “had ‘been told’ to back off, that Epstein was above his pay grade. ‘I was told Epstein “belonged to intelligence” and to leave it alone,’ he told his interviewers in the Trump transition” https://t.co/abWJUCVpJM pic.twitter.com/Fbg2EIEwnL

— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) July 12, 2019

The resurfaced controversy surrounding the non-prosecution deal for Epstein that was approved by Acosta ultimately led to his resignation from his post as Secretary Of Labor. However, Acosta was not the only Trump administration official with ties to Epstein. Just 2 months following the short jail sentence Epstein served on state charges following his arrest in Palm Beach, the notorious pedophile was seen with hedge fund manager Wilbur Ross, who served as Trump’s Secretary Of Commerce from 2017 to 2021. Ross was spotted with Epstein then alongside former CEO of Apollo Global Management, Leon Black, who resigned from his position in 2021 following an investigation into his ties with Epstein.

The culmination of the Alexander Acosta saga with Epstein is the closest thing to irrefutable proof that Epstein was connected to the intelligence community that has ever come to light. With concern over what is being hidden by the deletion of files regarding Epstein that are due to be released, his connection to the intelligence community is one of many considerations that has to be taken into account about what is going to be kept from the public’s eyes. Epstein’s main conspirator in his sordid crimes, Ghislaine Maxwell, was the daughter of Robert Maxwell, who has long been speculated to have been a secret agent for the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence office that is equivalent to the CIA. By proxy, that suspicion has led to speculation that the intelligence agency Epstein was associated with was the Mossad as well.

Any connection Epstein had to the intelligence community is likely to supersede the rank and file organization of agencies that the public understands about it. In all likelihood, Epstein was being used as an intelligence asset by multiple intelligence agencies from different countries in a coordinated effort, including the CIA, MI6, and the Mossad, although that beckons questions about where his true loyalty lied. Ominously, that same question can be raised about the senior Trump administration officials overseeing the release of the Epstein Files™. While those tasked with releasing the evidence have been outspoken critics of the CIA and overarching intelligence apparatus that serves the pervasive will of the Deep State, the one common denominator of concern that links all of them together — from AG Pam Bondi to FBI Director Kash Patel/Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and even Rep. Luna — is their unequivocal support for the State Of Israel. That underlying interest raises questions about whether any evidence implicating the Mossad will ever see the light of day.

“Epstein was an intelligence asset for people in the Middle East… I don’t know which country though.”

Are you serious??

Bro, he was a Mossad agent and everyone know this but you. @dbongino
pic.twitter.com/HBKbrr6l7w

— Vincent James (@davincentjames) February 24, 2025

Kash Patel’s first order of business for America?…

Make sure Americans “wake up and prioritize Israel.” pic.twitter.com/2joT3J4ZwN

— Vincent James (@davincentjames) December 1, 2024

Bibi in the House🇺🇸. @netanyahu pic.twitter.com/ABv3zhBm2R

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) July 25, 2024

Like support for Israel, the tangled web woven by the Epstein network defies the partisan divide that is the foundation of the false dichotomy of the two-party system the uniparty masquerades behind in an effort execute its divide and conquer strategy over the American people. Although many Trump administration officials past and present are implicated as associates of Epstein, the same can be said for their Democratic counterparts. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton were known to be close associates of Epstein, with he and Maxwell visiting the White House over a dozen times during the 1990’s and continuing to visit them as private citizens years after Clinton left the Oval Office. Pictures of Bill Clinton aboard the Lolita Express, with victims or Epstein, and documentation of him in Epstein’s flight logs have circulated for years like the abundance of evidence that entered into the public domain long ago.

What those common denominators show is that any attempt to obfuscate the full scope of who was involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes is a testament to how strong the bonds that form the uniparty are. While President Trump has challenged the status quo in Washington since returning to the Oval Office, the Epstein Files™ release will be the litmus test of whether he is truly committed eviscerating the Deep State or if his actions are designed to do nothing more than cement the faction he leads within it as its ruling elite.

Update (2040ET): House Republicans were finally able to pass Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) budget bill Tuesday evening despite a mid-day revolt from conservative hardliners.

Passing along party lines by a vote of 217-215 with the exception of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) who voted no with the Democrats, the passage of the package was a key step to move President Trump’s agenda forward, though there are still several hurdles to clear – primarily the Senate.

Going into the vote, GOP Reps. Massie, Spartz (R-IN), Davidson (OH), and Burchett (TN) were expected to be the final holdouts – however they all flipped to a yes except for Massie.

Trump also gave the vote an 11th hour boost, working the phones to convince the holdouts to flip.

The House’s resolution lays out a $1.5 trillion floor for spending cuts across committees with a final target of $2 trillion, as well as a $4.5 trillion ceiling on the deficit impact of any GOP plan to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, The Hill reports. It also includes $300 billion in additional spending on the border and defense, as well as a $4 trillion debt limit increase.

In addition to the fiscal conservative holdouts, GOP leaders also had to win over moderates concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid in the ultimate Trump agenda bill. The resolution directs the Energy and Commerce Committee — which has jurisdiction over Medicaid — to find at least $880 billion in cuts, a figure that some lawmakers said could not be reached without significant slashes to the social safety net program. -The Hill

Now, of course, the House must reconcile with the Senate – which passed its own budget resolution last week using a different strategy.

*  *  *

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House Republicans took a major step toward enacting former President Donald Trump’s policy vision on Tuesday, advancing a budget resolution that could set the stage for a high-stakes showdown within the GOP. But with hardline conservatives digging in their heels, the bill’s fate remains uncertain.

In a narrow 217-211 vote along party lines, the House approved the procedural rule for the budget resolution, clearing the way for a final vote. The GOP’s spending blueprint aims to push Trump’s domestic agenda—border security funding, energy policy shifts, and tax cuts—through Congress.

But the measure is hanging by a thread, as a group of conservative deficit hawks is refusing to budge. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) acknowledged the uncertainty, telling reporters, “There may be a vote tonight, may not be. Stay tuned.”

Rebel Republicans Threaten to Tank Budget

At least four GOP lawmakers—Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Victoria Spartz (IN), Warren Davidson (OH), and Tim Burchett (TN)—have vowed to oppose the final resolution, enough to sink the measure unless Johnson can win over last-minute holdouts.

Massie, an outspoken budget hawk, didn’t mince words. “I was a lean no before this meeting, now I’m a no,” he told reporters Tuesday, slamming the budget’s spending numbers as reckless.

“If the Republican plan passes under the rosiest assumptions, which aren’t even true, we’re gonna add $328 billion to the deficit this year, we’re gonna add $295 billion to the deficit the year after that, and $242 billion to the deficit after that, under the rosiest assumptions” Massie warned, adding “Why would I vote for that?”

With the GOP’s razor-thin House majority, Republicans can only afford to lose one of their own votes if Democrats remain united in opposition. That slim margin is making Johnson’s job even tougher as he tries to broker a compromise.

A Balancing Act Between Conservatives and Moderates

For weeks, GOP leadership has been wrangling members from both ends of the ideological spectrum. Conservative hardliners have been pushing for deeper spending cuts, while moderates are concerned about slashes to programs like Medicaid.

Some moderates, however, appear to be coming around. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), who had previously raised concerns, signaled on Tuesday that he was softening his stance. “I’m in a better place [than] where I was yesterday,” he told reporters after meeting with leadership.

The budget resolution sets a floor of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, a target of $2 trillion in reductions, and a $4.5 trillion cap on the deficit impact of extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. It also carves out $300 billion for border security and defense, alongside a controversial $4 trillion increase in the debt limit.

Johnson and his leadership team have been scrambling to shore up support, but the opposition from Massie and other fiscal hawks presents a serious roadblock. If the measure fails, it would be another embarrassing setback for House Republicans, who have struggled to unite behind a cohesive spending strategy.

The House is scheduled to take a final vote on the budget resolution around 6 p.m. Tuesday – but that timeline is now in limbo. With tensions running high, all eyes are on whether Johnson can twist enough arms to push Trump’s budget vision through.

Stay tuned.

The political left, regardless of whatever country they are in, is notorious for creating emotional drama for the purposes of propaganda.  They are also notorious for accusing their ideological opponents of committing the exact kind of crimes they are actually guilty of.  Their fundamental strategy is to take the words of their opponents and twist them into a fantastical narrative of villainy.  Add a professional agitator personality like Donald Trump into the mix and you have a recipe for pearl clutching on an epic scale.  

Trump’s calls for tariffs on Canada and Mexico have elicited a highly dramatic response, with both government’s pretending as if the policy is an act of war.  Specifically, his prodding assertions that Canada should become the “51st state” have Canadian officials in an uproar.  

Podcaster Joe Rogan recently noted that when he asked Trump about the controversy, Trump stated that “It was a joke at first, and then he started to think it might be a good idea”.  Whether one agrees with this or not, anyone with any sense understands that it’s highly unlikely for a number of reasons that Canada will ever become part of the United States.  It is fun to play with the premise, though.

For Canadian leftists the idea is not a joke.  They are treating it as a precursor to US invasion.  

Chrystia Freeland, a Canadian MP, Deputy Prime Minister and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Board of Trustees, is running with the manufactured outrage.  Freeland announced her candidacy for Prime Minister this week and defined her campaign platform almost exclusively as an anti-Trump platform.  She claims that her run as PM was inspired by fears that Donald Trump intends to “invade Canada”, a threat she intends to courageously stand against.

“I met a little 4 year old girl, she asked me, whether if I could prevent Trump from invading our country. And that’s why I’m standing to be the Liberal Party leader, and to become the next Prime Minister of Canada.”

Chrystia Freeland’s opening statement at the French debate. pic.twitter.com/xu4wqDYph9

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 25, 2025

First and foremost, whenever leftist candidates conjure a story from thin air they often claim an “innocent child asked them a frightening question” which inspired them to take action.  In all likelihood the four-year-old girl Freeland talks about doesn’t exist other than in her own mind.  Second, Freeland is jousting at windmills because no one in the Trump Administration has suggested such an invasion.  

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” he doesn’t think the president has “any plans to invade Canada.”  His remarks follow multiple reports that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a closed-door meeting of business leaders last week that the Trump administration “keeps talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state.” 

Freeland says Trump represents ‘the greatest threat to Canada since WWII’.  Oddly, Freeland’s own family was a part of that threat.  Her Grandfather on her mother’s side, Michael Chomiak, was a Ukrainian Nazi collaborator who ran a propaganda newspaper called Krakivski Visti.  

The Ukraine Archival Records held by the Province of Alberta has a large file on Chomiak, including his own details about his days editing the newspaper Krakivski Visti. Chomiak noted he edited the paper first in Crakow (Cracow), Poland and then in Vienna. The reason he edited the paper in Vienna was because he had to flee with his Nazis colleagues as the Russians advanced into Poland.   

Globe and Mail reported that, “Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland knew for more than two decades that her maternal Ukrainian grandfather was the chief editor of a Nazi newspaper.”  Despite this fact, she has often cited her grandfather as inspiration for her political career.  Freeland has been called out on multiple occasions for revising her family history and painting her grandfather as a “refugee fleeing the Nazis”.  The information on her grandfather was initially labeled “Russian disinformation”, but it turned out to be true.

Freeland is not necessarily culpable for the actions of her ancestors, but as a close member of the authoritarian Davos crowd within the WEF, it looks like Freeland is making her Nazi grandfather proud.  Freeland argued during the Liberal leadership French Debate that free speech similar to that in the US should not be tolerated when it comes to negative views on open immigration.

“We can’t allow the kinds of comments about immigrants that we’re hearing coming out the U.S. at the moment. We can’t have that in Canada.” Chrystia Freeland at the Liberal leadership French Debate. pic.twitter.com/VcRdRNSulb

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 25, 2025

It should also be noted that Freeland was a rabid supporter of draconian forced vaccination mandates during the pandemic scare in Canada.  It would seem that Canadian citizens have a lot more to fear from Chrystia Freeland as PM than they do from Donald Trump.           

Au thored by JoJo Novaes and Connie Lai via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Mold is more than just an aesthetic problem in a home; it can also pose a threat to your health. Exposure to mold has been linked to conditions, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and even cognitive issues like brain fog.

In the “Health 1+1” program, Shao-Hung Wang, professor and chair of the Microbiology, Immunology, and Biopharmaceuticals Department at National Chiayi University in Taiwan, discussed the increasing number of mold-related poisoning incidents in recent years. He cited the 2004 contamination of Pedigree dog food, which led to kidney failure in approximately 6,000 dogs in Taiwan alone. More recently, in March of last year, toxic puberulic acid was found in red yeast rice supplements from Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a drug-maker company, resulting in over 100 deaths.

During the program, Wang outlined effective strategies for mold prevention and removal, including essential cleaning products to help keep it at bay.

Health Risks of Indoor Mold

Beyond foodborne mold poisoning, indoor mold contamination is also a serious concern.

In damp environments, mold toxins can trigger allergic reactions and, in some cases, even severe asthma symptoms, Wang noted. He cited a 2023 review indicating that in old, moisture-prone buildings, mold growing on structures can release mycotoxins into the air. These airborne toxins, or bioaerosols, can be unknowingly inhaled by residents, leading to various health issues.

A recent review in the journal Toxicology found that exposure to environmental mycotoxins may compromise the blood-brain barrier, allowing these toxins to enter the central nervous system. This disruption can potentially trigger oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, both of which are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Common Mold Habitats in Your Home

Mold thrives in damp, humid environments where nutrients are readily available, making certain areas of the home particularly susceptible, Wang noted.

Bathrooms and Kitchens

Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly susceptible to mold, especially on silicone sealants, countertops, and hard-to-reach areas.

These spaces tend to have high humidity, and organic matter—such as soap residue from bathing or food scraps in the kitchen—can serve as nutrients for mold growth.

Furniture and Wall Crevices

Mold can also form on furniture, walls, and ceilings.

For example, the paint or varnish on wooden wardrobes may provide nutrients for mold. In humid, poorly ventilated conditions, mold spots often appear behind closets or in corners.

Mold also tends to grow in hidden areas, sometimes producing a musty odor even when no visible mold is present.

Basements

Poor ventilation in basements makes them prone to moisture buildup, creating ideal conditions for mold growth—especially on wooden wall panels.

Potted Plants and Drip Trays

The soil in potted plants and the water collected in drip trays are also common breeding grounds for mold.

Wang recommends placing plants in sunlight regularly and replacing soil immediately if mold appears.

Household Appliances

• Air Conditioners: Air conditioners tend to accumulate moisture, while indoor air contains skin flakes that serve as nutrients for mold.
• Washing Machines: Constant exposure to water makes washing machines prone to mold growth. Wang recommends having them professionally inspected at least once a year and periodically using mold removers to clean the interior.
• Dishwashers and Dryers: While high temperatures during washing and drying may help, they are not always sufficient to eliminate mold and spores completely. Mold can persist, particularly on rubber seals that do not come into direct contact with heat.

When drying clothes, Wang suggests using anti-static dryer sheets or wool dryer balls, as static electricity can attract mycotoxins. Whenever possible, let clothes dry in the sun after machine drying— this helps reduce static while breaking down particles that may contain fungal toxins.

Preventing Mold Growth

A musty smell in a room is a key indicator of excessive humidity.

A 2024 study showed that increasing air circulation promotes evaporation, helping to keep indoor surfaces like tiles dry. This prevents mold spores from germinating and inhibits mold growth.

In addition to ensuring proper ventilation, using a dehumidifier is essential when relative humidity exceeds 60 percent. Pairing it with an air purifier can further help remove fungal spores, mold fragments, and mycotoxins from the environment.

Safe Mold Removal Methods

If mold develops on walls or silicone surfaces at home, a variety of commercial mold removers are available in spray and foam form. However, Wang cautioned against mixing mold removers with other cleaning or disinfecting agents, as this may trigger harmful chemical reactions. If a mold remover is unavailable, bleach can be used as an alternative.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Bleach Solution:

1. Dilute bleach at a 1:100 ratio with water.
2. Soak a paper towel in the solution and place it over the mold-affected area.
3. Let it sit for one to three hours.
4. Scrub the area with a sponge or scouring pad.

For severe mold growth, use a higher concentration of bleach at a 1:10 ratio. However, when applying a high-concentration solution, be sure to leave the room to avoid inhaling fumes that can irritate the respiratory tract.

The phase one of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage/prisoner exchange deal has held through multiple rounds of captive releases. US National Security Advisor Mike Walz, after six Israelis were recently freed on Saturday, has said it was Hamas’ fear of Trump that made this possible.

“Hamas is listening to the president … 29 hostages are alive today and reunited with their families because the whole world listened when President Trump said there would be all hell to pay after the Biden administration couldn’t get this done for 15 months,” Waltz told “Fox & Friends” on Monday.

The timeline of the deal seems to back this assessment – that indeed it was anticipation the Trump presidency would push the deal over the line. That deal had been agreed to on January 19, 2025 – literally the day before Trump was inaugurated.

“The needle we are trying to thread now is getting all our hostages out. At the same time though, Hamas will not rule Gaza. Period,” Walz continued in his comments. “They have a couple of off-ramps that we put on the table, but Hamas will not rule Gaza. They will not cause another Oct. 7. And we will work with Israel to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Both sides have lately warned the ceasefire’s collapse could be imminent, especially given that Hamas has released nearly all the hostages on a stage and ‘graduation’ of sorts complete with propaganda posters denouncing Netanyahu and ‘Zionist terrorism’…

“Israel will not overlook the inhumane, degrading ceremonies that humiliate our hostages for propaganda,” Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said at a press briefing.

Israel has delayed release of all Palestinian prisoners agreed to, but hundreds have been transferred, amid Palestinians celebrations especially in the West Bank.

At the same time, Israeli forces have ramped up West Bank operations, which has included the escalation of sending tanks into some refugee camps. This comes after several attempted bus bombings over the weekend.

Spokesman for Hamas’ political bureau Basem Naim days ago described, “Unfortunately, Netanyahu and his government have been rejecting to engage with the second phase while only one week is left from the first phase. We believe that again, these are dirty games from the right-wing government to sabotage and undermine the deal and to send a message of willingness to go back to war.”

It’s anything but certain whether the truce will hold into phase two and phase three, the details of which have yet to be fully defined or publicized. 

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

The White House on Tuesday said that 1 million federal employees responded to a mass email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) asking them to list five things they had accomplished in the past week.

“We’ve had more than one million workers who have chosen to participate. … I actually participated in it myself. It took me about a minute and a half,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in response to a reporter’s question about the OPM email deadline, describing what was asked in the email as something “very simple” that can be accomplished in a few minutes.

Leavitt confirmed that the email was an idea from Elon Musk and that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he leads, helped OPM craft the email. She also said that federal workers need to respond to this email unless told otherwise by their agency heads.

However, agency leaders “are responsible for their specific workforce,” Leavitt said. “This is true of the hirings and firings that have taken place.”

The email drew a lawsuit from unions, businesses, veterans, and conservation organizations, arguing Musk had violated the law by threatening mass firings in a social media post referencing the OPM email. Meanwhile, OPM told agencies that employees are not mandated to respond to the email.

Over the weekend, Musk signaled that people who don’t respond to the mass email would be considered to have resigned from their jobs.

Musk wrote on Saturday on social media platform X that “all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” and that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”

He later said that the email was designed to determine whether certain employees are even working, adding that he believes fraud is rampant.

“In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks,” he stated.

“In other words, there is outright fraud.”

The OPM sent out its email request afterward.

“Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager,” the message said.

However, it said nothing about the potential for employees to be fired for noncompliance.

One Million Workers Responded to Musk Email, Leavitt Says

So 2 million govt workers don’t exist/don’t know how to check email/can’t be bothered to write a 5 minute email?

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 25, 2025

Musk on Monday balked at the pushback, saying federal workers “hate even the tiniest amount of accountability” and continued to warn they could be fired.

“Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance,” he wrote on X, which he owns.

“Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”

When asked on Monday about Musk’s comments and the email, President Donald Trump indicated that he was supportive of the effort.

“What he’s doing is saying, ‘Are you actually working?’” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. 

“And then, if you don’t answer, like, you’re sort of semi-fired or you’re fired, because a lot of people aren’t answering because they don’t even exist.”

The president said Musk and DOGE have found “hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud,” suggesting that federal paychecks are going to nonexistent employees.

Musk’s posts on X and the OPM email came shortly after Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that he wants Musk to “get more aggressive” in his efforts to downsize the federal workforce and eliminate fraud, abuse, and waste.