The News Cycle is almost impossible to track these days. At least, to do so fully.
That’s where we come in.
In the Badlands News Brief, the Badlands Media team hand pick news items of interest from the previous days to give you an overview of the biggest goings-on relevant to the Truth Community.
Some items feature original (and subjective) commentary. Feel free to follow the corresponding link to see our writers’ corresponding Substack accounts and check out their other work.
Now, onto the news from Thursday, December 7 …
Hunter Biden indicted on nine tax charges, adding to gun charges in special counsel probe
Hunter Biden was indicted on nine tax charges in California on Thursday as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.
The new charges — three felonies and six misdemeanors — are in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware alleging Hunter Biden broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018. They come after the implosion of a plea deal over the summer that would have spared him jail time, putting the case on track to a possible trial as his father campaigns for reelection.
Hunter Biden “spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills,” special counsel David Weiss said in a statement. The charges are centered on at least $1.4 million in taxes Hunter Biden owed during between 2016 and 2019, a period where he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. The back taxes have since been paid. — AP News
Our Take: “It's impossible to ignore both the Convergence and Parallels between the legal campaigns against both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump.
While most would agree in being happy to see the former prosecuted while wanting the latter exonerated, the fact that the two most famous political names in the country (in the current zeitgeist,) are basically trading headlines depending on the day of the week strikes me as intentional.
Theories abound regarding Hunter as a potential Cooperating Human Source, and Donald Trump as a DOJ asset in the midst of deploying the Disclosure Defense strategy concerning the 2020 elections.
As
and I have discussed, is it possible that Narrative Shielding isn't just going to be applied to specific figures in the Info War, but institutions, such as the DOJ?Is the DOJ actually assisting Trump by providing him with shielding through trials he'll ultimately prevail in, while using both him and Hunter to set the very templates that will take the rest down?” —
Final GOP Debate Post-Mortem: Haley Hammered, DeSantis Dud, Christie Questioned, Ramaswamy Outs 'Real Enemy'
With the Iowa Caucuses 39 days away, the final four Republican presidential aspirants vying for second place behind the absent yet dominant former President Donald Trump took the stage at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the fourth time this year to make their case to voters.
The wide-ranging and often combative exchanges between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie may not have changed many already-settled minds, but did reveal that Ms. Haley’s polling surge has rivals - particularly Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy - zeroing in on her.
Yet, as John Haughey and Nathan Worcester detail below via The Epoch Times, by the end of the two-hour debate, it was Mr. Ramaswamy who was in the bullseye with Ms. Haley drawing an ovation for refusing to respond to his batting and Mr. Christie calling him “the most obnoxious blowhard in America.”
Mr. Ramaswamy at one point told Mr. Christie “to get the hell out of the race” because he has no chance to win and is just taking up space. — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “The fourth installment of the race for relevance took place Wednesday at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, with four contenders: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
It was combative and animated, but largely, it was just a show for neocons to continue deluding the electoral franchise that the inevitable — Trump 2024 — isn't actually inevitable.
In other words, it was entertaining, but unimportant.
Ramaswamy attacked all the candidates, effectively, while Haley attempted to explain away her obvious corruption. Christie tried to project strength while spending almost the entire evening leaning on a podium. Thoughts and prayers are with the podium. DeSantis was stronger than his prior performances but, let's be honest, that's a low hurdle. Christie called Ramaswamy, ‘the most obnoxious blowhard in America,’ begging questions about the last time the former NJ Governor looked in a mirror.
The topics included electability, foreign affairs, COVID-19 vaccines, border security, and immigration as well as China, Ukraine, Israel, and President Trump. Trump won, and Ramaswamy came in second.” —
“$24 Million From Foreign Nationals”: House Republicans Officialize Impeachment Inquiry Into Biden, Issue Resolution Prior To Scheduled Vote
In anticipation of the vote scheduled for next week, which will officially commence the Biden impeachment investigation, Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) has introduced a fourteen-page resolution endorsing the inquiry.
The resolution, which is scheduled for markup on Tuesday, December 12 and is therefore on track for a vote on Wednesday, reads:
“Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes…”
Rep. Armstrong said in a statement:“It’s time for the House to take the next step in the Biden impeachment investigation and adopt an impeachment inquiry resolution. The White House and multiple witnesses have repeatedly refused to cooperate with the investigation and have rejected subpoenas. Despite this refusal, the investigation has uncovered alarming details that demand further scrutiny,”
“The Biden family and associates received more than $24 million from foreign nationals. Joe Biden received $200,000 from his brother, James Biden, the same day James received a $200,000 loan from a failing rural hospital operator. Joe Biden also received $40,000 in laundered Chinese money from his brother and sister-in-law. It’s become clear that the Biden family sold influence around the world using Joe Biden’s name as the product. An investigation in any jurisdiction around the country would move forward if it had these facts. A vote on an impeachment inquiry puts the House in the best position to prevail in court and uncover the truth,” — Vigilant News
Our Take: “Some would suggest that it's more likely that Biden will die of old age before he’s impeached by these Congressional Republicans. There are over 100 weak, capitulating , certified RINOs who regularly vote whichever way the political establishment dictates.
On the other hand, it'd be a riot if the Democrats in the Senate voted to convict Biden in order to ensure that he doesn't run in 2024. It's not completely outside the realm of possibility, as unlikely as it may be.
It's my firm contention that Biden won't be the candidate come summer. Gruesome Newsom has been preparing for the Presidency since the 90s, and he won't pass this opportunity by, I guess the question is will Biden make it to Super Tuesday and then back out due to ‘health concerns,’ or will this Impeachment actually go somewhere?” —
Biden Administration Tells Israel Aim to Wrap Up War Against Hamas by January
Officials from the Biden administration have marked the start of 2024 as the target date for ending Israel’s massive military campaign against terror group Hamas.
Officials have told their Israeli counterparts that this is not a deadline but a target. According to the administration, Israel is close to exhausting the extensive ground invasion it launched in late October in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre and should switch to more focused efforts to bring down Hamas.
“The gap between us and the Americans is around three weeks to a month — nothing that cannot be resolved,” an Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
Israel has said throughout the war that, at some point, it would significantly scale down its current Gaza fighting force of armored divisions, hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles, and many thousands of fighters.
Instead, it will mount targeted raids on pockets of Hamas resistance like the tactics it employs in the West Bank against Palestinian terrorists suspected of planning attacks against Israeli forces in the West Bank or Israeli civilians. — The Foreign Desk
AND …
Americans 'Should Be Worried' About Potential Chinese Invasion Of Taiwan: Joint Chiefs Of Staff Chairman
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., expressed concern about the potential invasion of Taiwan by communist China, stating that Americans "should be worried."
When asked about the possibility of such an invasion during an interview at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Dec. 2, Gen. Brown pointed to Hong Kong as an example, stating: "Just think about what happened in Hong Kong. ... We all should be worried whether it's going to happen or not. And part of the reason why deterrence is so important is so that conflict does not occur."
Since Beijing enacted the national security law in Hong Kong in 2020, the city has seen a significant erosion of the freedoms promised by the Chinese communist regime when the former British territory was handed over to the mainland in 1997. Authorities have suppressed protests, imprisoned pro-democracy activists, and banned gatherings, including the annual Tiananmen Square massacre vigil.
Gen. Brown also said that Beijing is putting pressure on Taiwan and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region for "their own gain."
His remarks align with the recent findings of the Reagan National Defense Survey that host Shannon Bream presented during the interview, in which 73 percent of respondents said they were somewhat concerned about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. — The Epoch Times
Our Take: “This week, the Biden Admin spun itself into knots with its warmongering, deploying the following Narratives simultaneously:
Funding for the Ukraine Proxy War is quickly evaporating, and a complete cessation in such funding would result in Russia 'winning' against the United States in a war that has nothing to do with us, thereby coding the Proxy War concept into the Collective Mind.
Funding for the Israel Proxy War has yet to get off the ground, and the Biden Admin is apparently seeing public support (or lack thereof) metrics dropping by the hour (see the first point for the reason why,) so they've pivoted to calling for deescalation, calling for Israel to secure its 'victory' by January.
The Joint Chiefs issued a warning about the pending 'invasion' of Taiwan by China in an attempt to seed the next Proxy War/funding Narrative.
All of the above can be read Bicamerally; the Deep State isn't getting the Wars they wanted or needed, but we are getting the Stories we need.” —
Washington Post Reporters, Other Employees Launch 24-Hour Strike
In the biggest fallout between the outlet's management and labor since the 1970s, reporters and other employees at the unjustifiably esteemed Washington Post have declared a 24-hour strike, following 18 months of negotiation that failed to placate them.
"Despite a year and a half of efforts, Post management has refused to bargain in good faith for a fair contract that keeps up with inflation and our competition," The Washington Post Guild said in a statement announcing that workers were walking out, with the strike in effect all Thursday, from midnight to midnight. The strike will include more than 700 employees, the union said, "including reporters, editors, cartoonists, visual journalists, advertising sales people and circulation drivers."
The union's grievances include "pay equity, raises that keep pace with inflation and our competitors, remote work policies, mental health supports, and a buyout package that seeks to reduce our workforce by 10 percent." Seeing the demand for mental health benefits, we can't help but think of Post reporter Taylor Lorenz, who -- despite having lived a charmed life -- memorably broke down crying on MSNBC, claiming she was the victim of PTSD and suicidal ideation springing from public reaction to her work. — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “The video announcing this strike was a bunch of overpaid shills bragging about their participation in state-sponsored propaganda. I feel the same way about this strike as I do about the Hollywood strikes.
These propagandists need to realize that optimization and automation — the mandate to do more with less to maximize corporate profits — came for most of us 10+ years ago. But this one — so-called journalists from WaPo whining about the corporate trend that claimed the jobs and livelihoods of regular people finally coming for them — is particularly grating.
Real journalists would know that this outcome was inevitable. Corporations and politicians have been pushing universal basic income as an inevitable outcome of the transformation, and many of these journalists pushed that message like good little comrades. They never thought it would come for them. They thought they were exempt, essential, elite. That's adorable. They're middle management.
Jeff Bezos must be laughing at this ‘strike’ considering he could easily replace each one of them with Generative AI. To the propagandists crying in their poke bowls: First they came for the back office, but you weren’t in the back office, so you stayed silent. When they came for you, there was no one left to care.” —
DOJ: Russian Hackers Employed a “Sophisticated Spear Phishing Campaign” Against Us Intelligence Officers.
The Justice Department (DOJ) alleged on Thursday that hackers acting on behalf of the Russian government targeted U.S. intelligence officers in a “sophisticated spear phishing campaign” designed to influence elections in the United Kingdom.
The operation “stole information used in foreign malign influence operations designed to influence the U.K.’s 2019 elections,” according to the DOJ. It effectively hacked into computer networks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and other NATO member states.
individuals associated with the conspiracy were named in a federal indictment unsealed by the DOJ on Thursday. The indictment had been returned by a federal grand jury in San Francisco on Tuesday.
The DOJ asserts that Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko, an officer in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and Andrey Stanislavovich Korinets are the two individuals charged. One count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and one count of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud have been filed against each of them.
The defendants, along with other unindicted co-conspirators, were members of the so-called “Callisto Group,” according to the DOJ. — Vigilant News
Our Take: “Even more narrative seeding, with this article serving multiple strategic purposes.
First, we are further planting the idea in the mass consciousness that Russia is going to somehow undermine our ‘democratic election,’ as if the US Government isn't already doing a good enough job of that on its own.
Second, this also keeps the threat of a major cyber attack fresh in people's minds when you couple this story with the Iranian hackers story from just a few days ago.
It's my guess that this kind of targeting is a regular occurrence, the question should be ‘why are they telling us this now?’” —
Zelensky Will "Pay For His Mistakes" Says Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko
Volodymyr Zelensky failed to prepare Ukraine properly for the war with Russia and will “pay for his mistakes,” warned Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
The former heavyweight boxing champion made the comments to Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten.
Klitschko was asked if he was surprised to see Zelensky’s popularity declining across the country.
“No. People see who is effective and who is not, and there were and are many expectations. Zelensky is paying for the mistakes he made,” he responded. — Modernity News
Our Take: “Klitschko is your run-of-the-mill celebrity endorsed by and who endorses the Establishment Deep State; he's also a Ukrainian (read: Azov-sympathizing,) nationalist who opposed the Donbas referenda.
I haven't been alone in floating the theory that, while Zelenskyy was installed by Deep State oligarch Igor Kolomoisky in order to fill a familiar template of Prussian Proxy President, I believe Zelenskyy was then caught in a pincer with the advent of the 2016 Trump Presidency.
On the one side, he was offered a political and even legal deal by Trump, also known as 'the perfect phone call.' On the other, he was offered a peace deal with Putin, and partial reunification with the Russian Federation.
We've been told he refused both, and yet, the Net Effects of Zelenskyy's 'leadership' has been the utter bungling of the war effort, the near complete destruction of the Azov battalion, and the utter dissolution of Ukraine's credibility on the world stage.
[They] know he betrayed them. Too late.” —
BONUS ITEMS
Guyana Situation Rapidly Deteriorates As Maduro Arrests Opposition Figures Amid Joint Military Drills With US
The situation in Guayana is rapidly deteriorating, as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has issued arrest warrants for opposition politicians who are challenging his move to annex oil-rich Essequibo.
As Charles Kennedy of OilPrice.com reports; Maduro has officially placed the disputed territory of oil-rich Essequibo under military jurisdiction, putting oil exploration and production operations of Exxon and Chevron at risk.
Following a Sunday referendum, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared the return of Essequibo, which represents some two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, to Venezuela.
According to T&T News, Venezuela’s Prosecutor's Office has issued arrest warrants for a dozen opposition members, including former National Assembly head Juan Guaido and three members of staff of opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado. The three are charged with conspiring against the Sunday referendum to annex Essequibo. — ZeroHedge
Elon Musk: Disney CEO Bob Iger "should be fired immediately"
X owner Elon Musk called for Disney CEO Bob Iger to be fired Thursday.
The big picture: The outburst comes as a growing number of X's biggest advertisers, including Disney, paused ads on the platform after Musk backed an antisemitic conspiracy theory, leaving the company's ad business in limbo.
Media Matters for America also released a report last month on ads running on X next to pro-Nazi content, which contributed to the advertiser exodus. X Corp. filed a lawsuit against the left-leaning nonprofit for defamation.
Driving the news: "He should be fired immediately," Musk said on X, referring to Iger. "Walt Disney is turning in his grave over what Bob has done to his company."
In a separate tweet, Musk questioned why Disney is not pulling its ads from Meta after New Mexico sued the social media giant over allegations of child sexual abuse protection failures.
Representatives for Disney did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Of note: Musk pushed back on advertisers boycotting X at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York last week.
"If somebody's gonna try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f**k yourself," Musk said. "Don't advertise."
While on stage at the event, he looked out at the audience and presumably addressed Iger, who spoke on stage earlier.
"Hey Bob, if you're in the audience, that's how I feel. Don't advertise," Musk said. — Axios
We hope you enjoyed this brief look back at the major news items you might have missed in this ever-escalating and ever-accelerating news cycle as the Information War continues to rage on around us.
As always, if you have any thoughts on these news items or the MANY others swirling in the digital ether, drop into the comments below to share them with your fellow Badlanders.
Badlands Media will always put out our content for free, but you can support us by becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. Help our collective of citizen journalists take back the narrative from the MSM. We are the news now.
Do not miss Tucker’s interview with Alex Jones!! I caught it over on Zerohedge, which played the whole X interview and included text highlights.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/if-people-think-things-are-bad-now-tucker-and-alex-jones-talk-deplatforming
A little confused why this isn’t in today’s Brief? Nevertheless, Thank You Badlanders ❤️🙏
Can’t remember where I read it just recently (an article about possible picks Trump is considering for VP) but it stated that Melania favors Tucker.
Have a great weekend everyone❤️🙏🇺🇸🌎 The Great Awakening…We Will Not Fall!
Ryan gives us another priority reminder - "It's my guess that this kind of targeting is a regular occurrence, the question should be ‘why are they telling us this now?'”
For all of the upcoming family gatherings, where my being awake seems to be treated like having the oncoming car on a dark country highway keep its brights on - "squint, cringe and curse" - having a few of these Socratic-type questions might prove more effective than my best arguments. Reminds me of my early days in management when my mentor told me: "Even if you know the answer, it is always better to ask the question - people will always accept their own voice as speaking truth, before they will yours."
Thank you all!