Cruz Slams International ‘Kangaroo Court’ for Latest Anti-Israel Move

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, slammed the International Criminal Court Friday for issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Cruz said the ICC’s decision, made more than one years after Islamic terror group Hamas launched its deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, was an “absolute outrage” that raised questions over the legitimacy of the globalist court.

“Well, it is an absolute outrage, and, and the ICC already had very, very questionable legitimacy, but with this decision, the International Criminal Court has just become a kangaroo court,” the senator said on his Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast. “And frankly, that’s not fair to kangaroos.”

Cruz expressed concern that the ICC would make a similar move to the United Nation’s Resolution 2334 in Dec. 2016, a declaration stating Israel’s establishment of settlements “in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967″ was not legally valid.

“I’m worried in the next two months that they will try to do something very similar to what happened in December of 2016 with 2334, and I think that this ICC arrest warrant is shameful,” he said. “I also think the incoming Trump administration is going to stand very strongly against this absolutely disgraceful decision.”

Cruz acknowledged that not every Democrat is a member of the “pro Hamas” faction of the party, but said “just about every single Democrat is terrified of that faction.”

The Texas senator mentioned the anti-Israel protests on U.S. college campuses, singling out the days-long takeover at Columbia University in spring 2024.

He ripped Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his failure to crack down on the disruptive, antisemitic protests.

“When Columbia was having the antisemitic protest and the leaders of Columbia were talking to Schumer, Schumer told them, ‘Don’t worry about it. The Democrats, we don’t care. It’s only the Republicans who care about this,'” Cruz said. “Understand what that admission was, and that was out of Schumer’s own mouth, that we, the Democrats, don’t care about violent anti-Semites terrorizing students in Columbia University and other universities threatening Jewish students.”

Cruz continued to call out the Democrats for not speaking out on antisemitism.

“It’s not a priority for them. Why? Because they’re terrified by the pro Hamas faction of the party who supports the radicals and the anti Semites,” Cruz added. “That is tragically where we are.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and The American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

MSNBC Is Slammed for ‘Sick’ Article that Sympathizes with Laken Riley’s Killer

(Maire Clayton, Headline USA) Leftist outlet MSNBC faced backlash after publishing an opinion piece Thursday which appeared to sympathize with Laken Riley’s migrant killer.

“Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance,” the headline originally read.

After the outlet received an onslaught of criticism for the title, it was changed to “The guilt of Laken Riley’s killer was never in doubt.”

Donald Trump Jr. slammed the article in a social media post on X.

“You literally can’t make up this level of depravity,” Trump Jr. wrote. “These people are sick. The guy is a murderer.”

He elaborated on how everyone should be appalled with MSNBC.

“He’s an illegal alien that killed an innocent young woman but MSNBC would rather go to bat for him,” he continued. “However, much you hate MSNBC it’s not enough!”

Podcaster Joe Rogan had a simple yet to the point response regarding the title.

“What the f**k is this s**t,” Rogan asked.

Author Blaine Pardoe expressed how Riley was the true victim.

“Laken never stood a chance,” Pardoe wrote. “This guy got exactly what he deserved.”

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was brutally murdered by illegal Venezuelan migrant Jose Ibarra while on a run at the University of Georgia in February.

Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday in a bench trial.

After the verdict, President-elect Donald Trump wrote a message of support to Riley’s family and expressed how justice was served.

“Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have,” he said. “We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you.”

The president reiterated how important it is to secure the border and stop immigrant crime.

“It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!” Trump added.

Matt Gaetz Says He’s Not Returning to Congress

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) After Donald Trump’s effort to nominate former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as his Attorney General failed, some speculated that Gaetz would return to Congress.

After all, Gaetz won his election earlier this month, and could be sworn into the House again, some thought. Others speculated that Trump was playing a 3D chess move designed to maneuver Gaetz into the Senate seat left vacant by Marco Rubio, who was nominated to head the State Department.

But Gaetz dispelled those theories Friday in an interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

“I’m going to be fighting for President Trump. I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have,” Gaetz told Kirk. “But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.”

Gaetz said he has other goals he’s eager to pursue with his wife and family.

The former congressman withdrew himself from consideration on Thursday—just 8 days after being nominated.

Gaetz’s nomination triggered a pressure campaign by Democrats to release a House Ethics Committee report detailing sexual misconduct allegations, all which Gaetz has denied.

Trump responded to Gaetz’s withdraw on Truth Social by saying his ex-nominee has a “wonderful future.”

Later that day, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a former White House legal adviser during his first presidential term.

Bondi, if confirmed, would be the third woman to officially hold the job, following Bill Clinton appointee Janet Reno and Barack Obama appointee Loretta Lynch.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

‘Morning Joe’ 2.0: Sharpton Salivates over Pam Bondi Pick

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) MSNBC’s Al Sharpton gave Republican President-elect Donald Trump credit Friday morning for nominating Pam Bondi as attorney general to replace Matt Gaetz.

One day after meeting with senators on Capitol Hill, Gaetz announced Thursday his decision to drop efforts to be confirmed as Trump’s attorney general to avoid “becoming a distraction” from the Trump-Vance transition.

On Morning Joe, Sharpton told host Joe Scarborough that Trump did “the wise thing” by avoiding a scandal-ridden Senate confirmation process of Gaetz.

“Absolutely, I think it was the wise thing for the Trump people and for President-elect Trump to to withdraw him now because a long-term spectacle of days and weeks would only damage them even more,” he said.

Sharpton criticized Gaetz as being “never qualified” to be attorney general—but he praised Bondi, the first female attorney general of Florida, on her ability to do the job.

“I talked to people that I know in Florida last night that are on the civil rights side. We have a chapter now, she actually networked there,” Sharpton said. “Bondi is certainly on the right, but she is one who’s qualified to become attorney general in terms that she’s handled cases, she’s managed offices.”

Sharpton suggested some questions may need to be answered about Bondi’s role in Trump University. However, he made clear that no “glaring” flaw exists regarding her character.

“There’s no glaring things in terms of her values and morals,” he said. “I think it was better for Trump—not that I’m a Trump person at all—but it was better for him and certainly better for the American public to get Gaetz off the scene.”

Trump announced Bondi’s nomination on Truth Social hours after Gaetz withdrew his name from the position.

For nearly 20 years, Bondi worked as a prosecutor.

As Florida’s attorney general for eight years, Trump said Bondi did an “incredible job” cracking down on drug trafficking, particularly when it came to reducing fentanyl deaths.

“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans–Not anymore,” Trump statement read in part. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and The American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Former NBC News Anchor Calls for Democrats to Ditch ‘Suicidal Empathy’

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams called for Democrats to ditch their “suicidal empathy” toward minority groups Wednesday on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Meyers said Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s message was more effective on the electorate than expected, asking Williams if he agreed that Democrats must recalibrate their outreach strategies to voters.

The Late Night host mentioned Trump donning a sanitation worker’s vest while sitting in a trash truck after President Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage” days before the election.

“They need to reach out to America again. And be less about what’s called ‘suicidal empathy,’ worrying so much about minority groups in society and in your party that you win the argument, but you don’t win the election,” Williams said of Democrats. “This is up to them to decide. Are they tired of winning the argument but not the election?”

Meyers asked the former NBC anchor if Democrats “were wrong to think” they were on a winning streak in the context of their victories before Trump first took the scene in the 2016 election.

Williams urged Democrats to stop looking at polling data and to look to betting odds instead.


Earlier in their conversation, Williams told Meyers that Democrats need to completely reform their party if they want to win future elections.

“It is tough love time for the Democratic Party,” he said. “I think it needs to be striped down and rebuilt. That means a change in leadership.”

Willams questioned why Biden even attempted to run for a second term.

“I want to know who thought it was a good idea that Joe Biden stand for another four years at 80 years of age and 37 percent popularity,” Williams said. “So, then that saddled the party with a British-like short campaign season for them.”

The former NBC News anchors said it was “insulting” for Democrats to tell working-class voters that the economy was doing great under the Biden-Harris administration.

He said it is “probably insulting as well” for working-class voters to see illegal migrants receive more handouts from the government than they do.

On the Harris-Walz camouflage hats, Williams said that piece of Democrat campaign merchandise was also out of touch.

“Their party has gone quinoa, while the rest of America is eating at Cracker Barrel,” he said. “And so, it was kind of an ironic use of something millions of Americans put on their heads to start their day every day.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and The American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

NYC Bakery Offering a $300 Donut, Covered in Edible Gold

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) Would you buy a $300 donut? That’s a hard no for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I like donuts.

I mean, I really like donuts. I’ve been known to make reckless U-turns when I see a Krispy Kreme hot light flashing.

But $300 for a donut?

Nope.

But wait…

What if the donut was coated in 24-karat gold?

Probably still no. But it’s a little more intriguing.

And it is an option.

Angelina Bakery on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is offering a bombolone (an Italian cream filed donut) encrusted with pure gold flakes. It is also adorned with edible jewels and diamond pearls.

You can get one for a cool $300 – and however much time and money it takes you to get to New York City.

I’m not going to lie, gold and jewels aside, the donut looks delicious.

TikTok food influencer Cornelia posted a video of herself opening the black Tiffany box to reveal the pastry in all its opulent glory. You can watch it HERE.

Now, you might wonder, what would I do with a gold donut?

Well, you would presumably eat it.

Yes – you can eat gold. I’m not certain why you would want to, but you can certainly do it. The gold will pass right through your digestive system, affording you an opportunity to – well – poop gold!

Angelina Bakery isn’t the first establishment to sell food coated in gold. I’ve seen gold-coated steaks, chicken wings, cake, and even gold-infused beer.

This may seem like a big waste of money, but as Jonathan “Foodgōd” Cheban, who helped create golden chicken wings, there is a psychological aspect connected to gold food.

“You know why gold’s important to me? Because gold makes me feel like I’ve made it. If I’m eating gold, it means I’ve put in a lot of years of hard work, because to be able to eat gold, it feels very rich, it feels very decadent, it feels ‘take the top off the Maybach,’ it feels, like, really special.”

This makes me feel like I just maxed out my credit card.

Still, I can see where he’s coming from.

Humanity has a long-time love affair with gold. We hang it around our necks and wear it on our fingers. And more fundamentally, gold is money.

Think about it; you couldn’t sell a donut coated in aluminum for $300. Customers would just think you forgot to remove the foil. But when you serve a donut covered in gold, people realize it’s something special.

That’s because gold is special.

But I’m still not sure why you’d want to eat it.

I mean, I don’t really need to eat gold to feel like I “made it.” If  I have “made it,” I’ll still feel that way eating a Krispy Kreme donut on my couch watching an NHL game – with the bonus that I’m not wasting gold.

But you know, you do you. If you want to eat a $300 gold donut, go for it!

However, if you’re more interested in preserving and growing your wealth, you might want to call Money Metals (800-800-1865).

We don’t have a hot light, but we can help you invest in high-quality gold bars and coins. And you don’t have to eat them. We can store them for you in our state-of-the-art vault that is bigger than Ft. Knox!

Is Silver a Safe Haven Asset?

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) We generally think of gold as a safe haven asset. But what about silver?

Since the silver price tends to be more volatile than gold, and because more than half of silver demand comes from industrial use, you might not think of silver as a haven. But historically, silver has outperformed gold during periods of geopolitical and financial uncertainty, as shown by a recent report by Capitalight Research prepared for the Silver Institute.

What do we mean by safe haven?

Investors prefer a safe haven asset during times of political or economic uncertainty. They expect haven assets to maintain their price and possibly rise during chaotic times, even as most traditional assets fall in price. A safe haven’s performance during these periods tends to hedge a portfolio, minimizing overall losses.

During periods of geopolitical uncertainty such as war, terror attacks, and significant political shifts (like the recent presidential election in the U.S.), investors tend to shun risk due to the high levels of uncertainty. They turn to safe-haven assets to preserve the overall value of their portfolios until the crisis passes.

Assets with little counterparty risk tend to make the best safe havens. Counterparty risk is the possibility that the party on the other side of a transaction might not fulfill its obligation. As the report points out, “This risk is critical in financial markets as it can lead to significant disruptions, especially in interconnected systems where the failure of one entity can trigger a cascade of defaults.”

Silver and Geopolitical Tumult

According to the analysis by Capitalight Research, silver has performed well during times of geopolitical chaos. For instance, safe haven demand as Ukraine tensions escalated reversed the previous downward trend in the silver price that occurred during the second half of 2021 as investors anticipated Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Capitalight analyzed silver’s performance during several geopolitical upheavals dating back to 1979.

The events in red represent those that had a noticeable impact on the silver price.

One-day events, such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the terror attack on the Boston Marathon in 2013, didn’t have much effect on the silver price.

Several military conflicts also failed to drive safe-haven buying in the silver market, including the U.S. bombing of Libya in 1986 and the 1989 invasion of Panama.

“Although these were conflicts between countries, the perception was that these events would not escalate to the point of significant negative impact on overall economic conditions and/or did not present a significant increase in counterparty risk.”

However, the 12 highlighted events in the chart did drive significant safe-haven demand for both gold and silver.

As you can see by the following chart, the percentage increase in the silver price was generally bigger than gold’s:

Excluding the Iranian hostage crisis, the average increase in the silver price was 15 percent. Gold’s price increase averaged 12 percent.

Silver During Financial Crises

Silver has also historically provided a safe haven during financial crises.

We saw this most recently during the 2023 banking crisis precipitated by the Federal Reserve’s rate increases. During that time, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank went under, and other banks struggled as bond portfolio losses wrecked their balance sheets. The Federal Reserve managed to paper over the crisis with a bailout.

During that time, gold charted a 23.7 percent gain.

After the 2008 financial crisis and through the Great Recession, silver rose by $40. That was a 495 percent increase from the underlying trend.

Through the same period, gold rose 238 percent.

Capitalight summed it up succinctly.

“Investors seek silver for its safe haven quality during periods of political and economic uncertainty.”

It’s clear from this analysis that silver’s role as a safe haven is underappreciated in the investment work. Investors should consider holding silver in their portfolio to take advantage of its hedging properties.

You can download the full Capitalight report HERE.

Antifa Terrorist Sentenced to 9 Years Imprisonment for Bombing Alabama AG’s Office

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) An Antifa supporter who detonated a bomb outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in February was sentenced Thursday to nine years imprisonment for “the malicious use of an explosive device.”

According to the indictment and other court documents, the defendant, Kyle Calvert, left an explosive device outside of the Alabama AG’s Office in the early hours of Feb. 24. The device was made with fireworks, nails, metal screws and material soaked in a gasoline or lighter fluid substance, and it was hidden inside a coffee container, prosecutors wrote in a court document. No injuries or major damage to nearby buildings were reported.

At the same time, law enforcement found stickers that were placed around the AG’s office with phrases such as, “Support your local antifa.”

Investigators used traffic cams and other surveillance footage to track the suspect’s vehicle, finding that it belonged to Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama.

Investigators also found Calvert’s social media had displayed some of the same stickers left at the AG’s office. Along with “support your local Antifa,” his stickers had phrases such as, “My body. My Choice,” “Fuck work let’s riot,” “Arm the Homeless,” and, “Topple All Hierarchies.”

“He caused immediate alarm with co-workers, who were concerned Calvert’s strange behavior and with the stickers on Calvert’s Toyota Camry which read, ‘BE GAY DO CRIME.’ Calvert was further described as a ‘loner’ who avoided eye contact with everyone, wore all black-colored clothing, and avoided speaking to other employees,” the DOJ said in a filing.

Along with his leftist politics, conservative reporter Andy Ngo found that Calvert is apparently non-binary.

During his plea hearing, Calvert reportedly admitted to manufacturing the device and to using nails and screws as shrapnel. He also admitted placing stickers with graphics advocating for various political ideologies, including for Antifa.

Despite all that, Calvert denied being an Antifa member, the DOJ’s Thursday press release said.

The court docket also shows that the DOJ dropped the “possession of a firearm of destructive device” charge of against Calvert on Thursday. The motion was handled orally, so it’s unclear why the charge was dropped. Calvert’s sentencing memoranda are sealed for reasons that are also unclear.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Airline Employees Recruited as DEA Informants, Paid Thousands to Snitch on Passengers

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) The DOJ Inspector General issued an advisory to the Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday, warning that its use of confidential informants on commercial airlines could violate the Fourth Amendment.

Earlier this year, the DOJ-OIG launched a review of the DEA’s interdiction activities after receiving several allegations of abuse. The DOJ-OIG has issued multiple reports over the decades about DEA agents racially profiling minorities when asking to conduct “consensual” searches at airlines.

In its most recent investigation, the DOJ-OIG said it learned of a DEA office that has a confidential informant who is an employee of a commercial airline. That informant—referred to in the report as a confidential source—has for years been receiving a percentage of cash seized from passengers based on the informant’s tips.

“Specifically, we learned that for the past several years this [confidential source] has sent the DEA office information from the airline’s reservation system identifying passengers who purchased tickets to certain U.S. cities within 48 hours of the travel so that the DEA could, among other things, approach those passengers at the airport and seek their consent to search their carry-on luggage,” Thursday’s report said.

The DOJ-OIG recounted an example of the DEA informant’s work. On one morning earlier this year, the informant told the DEA about five individuals traveling to a major U.S. city and scheduled to leave approximately 3 hours later.

“None of the five had a prior relevant criminal history. Thus, any consensual encounter would have been based solely on the fact that within the previous 48 hours they had purchased tickets, some of which were one way, to fly to a major U.S. city that is a significant business center,” the DOJ-OIG report said.

“The DEA had no additional information to suggest that these five passengers might be engaged in illegal activity.”

Despite their clean track record, the DEA approached one of the travelers at the airport and asked to conduct a consensual search. The traveler declined, but then a DEA task force officer seized the person’s bag. The traveler then decided to stay with his bag instead of boarding the flight.

“The DEA TFO then told the traveler that they could either consent to the search of the bag or the DEA would detain it further and seek a search warrant. The passenger eventually told the DEA that it could search the carry-on bag and signed a consent form,” the DOJ-OIG report said.

“No cash, drugs, or other contraband was found when the DEA searched the bag, and the bag was returned to the traveler. By that time, the traveler had missed their original flight. The traveler made a video and audio recording of this encounter on a personal recording device, and an edited version of the video and audio has been made public.”

The DOJ-OIG found multiple flaws with how the DEA handled the situation, including the fact that its agents weren’t wearing body cameras. And because of the delay caused by the travelers initial refusal to be searched, the DEA was unable to search the other four people, the report added.

The DOJ-OIG said it’s still investigating the DEA’s use of informants. But thus far, investigators have found numerous legal risks.

“Among them are whether the DEA’s multiyear payments to a Limited Use CS could result in a finding that the CS is acting as an agent of the DEA, thereby rendering the CS a government actor for Fourth Amendment purposes,” the Inspector General report said.

“It also raises questions as to whether CSs employed by private transportation companies may be violating state law by providing passenger data to the DEA (in the absence of a subpoena) in the increasing number of states that tightly regulate business use of consumer data,” the report said.

“Additionally, Limited Use CSs provide information to the DEA without direction about suspicious activity or behavior that could be indicative of criminal activity.”

After the DOJ-OIG told the DEA about its findings, on Nov. 12 the agency suspended its practice of approaching passengers for consensual searches—unless the activity is either connected to an existing investigation or “approved by the DEA Administrator based on exigent circumstances.” The DOJ-OIG also recommended a number of reforms to the DEA’s consensual-search program, to which the agency agreed.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Bob Casey Concedes Pa. Race After Failed Illegal Recount

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Former Sen. Bob Casey, D–Pa., conceded the race after corrupt election officials failed to steal the Senate seat for him during the recount after his Republican challenger, David McCormick, was declared a winner.

McCormick’s campaign recently told the Washington Free Beacon that Casey received just four votes in the counties that have completed the recount process.

“While it is Senator Casey’s prerogative to seek a recount, it is a waste of time and taxpayer money,” McCormick communications director Elizabeth Gregory said. “With four counties done, there has been virtually no change in the result. We expect this pattern to be repeated everywhere.”

Soon after Democrats realized they couldn’t steal the election from Republicans, Casey conceded the race.

“During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: ‘All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.’ Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime,” Casey stated.

As expected, conservatives celebrated the recent news on Twitter.

“It’s official! Bob Casey has finally conceded. After dragging the state through a recount that cost the taxpayers an estimated $1 million dollars, Bob Casey finally admitted to what we all already knew…Dave McCormick won the election and will be the next United States Senator from Pennsylvania!” Republicans from the now-infamous Bucks County wrote.

Founder of Early Vote Action Scott Presler also celebrated McCormick’s victory.

“VICTORY! Disgraced Bob Casey has officially conceded in Pennsylvania. Congratulations to Senator-Elect Dave McCormick! We won’t forget that Democrat Bucks County commissioners tried to steal this election. We’re still coming for your seats,” he wrote.

Presler also directly addressed Casey under the politician’s post in the comments section.

“It was an honor helping to defeat you & elect future Senator Dave McCormick. Your election denialism did serious damage to democrats in Bucks County, as well as Shapiro’s image. We won’t forget that you tried to steal the election. Congratulations, President Trump,” he wrote.

Conservative commentator Rogan O’Handley also responded to the recent news by stating that Casey “has to feel very pathetic right now.”

“Not only did he lose the Pennsylvania Senate race as an incumbent, but they cheated like crazy in Philadelphia and Bucks County, and he still lost. It’s humiliating!” he wrote.

Libs of TikTok also reminded everyone that the fight isn’t over and that every person who “violated the law in PA during the election cycle needs to be investigated and held accountable.”