Maine Rep Laurel Libby won’t seek re-election, partners with Sentinel Action Fund in $4M boost for Sen Collins
EXCLUSIVE: Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican, announced on Monday she will not seek re-election in 2026, instead partnering with The Sentinel Action Fund, a conservative super PAC, to support U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and other Republicans in the state as part of the launch of a new network of organizations. “From Fort Kent to Wells, there’s no doubt that Maine is a uniquely beautiful state — but its true strength is its people who are hardworking, independent, and full of grit,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Everywhere I go, Mainers tell me they’re frustrated with the challenges our state faces but uncertain how to make a difference. I’m launching Lead Maine to help bridge that gap and empower more Mainers with the tools to shape our state’s direction and ensure we have strong leaders at all levels of government, from the Senate with Susan Collins down to the state and local levels.” Libby’s organizations will aim to educate and mobilize grassroots Maine residents and push for the state to be more conservative in which residents, families and businesses can thrive, according to the lawmaker’s press release obtained by FOX News Digital. Among the organizations will be a 501(c)4 nonprofit and a state PAC, with an overarching communication network, according to the release. Each organization will be dedicated to a different part of the political process to ensure conservatives can use various tools to engage and mobilize Maine residents. MAINE REP LAUREL LIBBY OPENS UP ON FIGHTING ‘CIVIL RIGHTS’ SUPREME COURT CASE AMID TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE “Maine needs a long-term, durable campaign infrastructure that grows our conservative grassroots movement and sets Republicans up for success in 2026 and beyond,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Lead Maine and its affiliated organizations are committed to building exactly that by educating and mobilizing citizens to drive meaningful societal and electoral change at both the state and national levels.” Libby is also partnering with The Sentinel Action Fund to create the Lead Maine Committee, a federal super PAC in which a conservative grassroots network will be used to reach voters in an effort to turn out support for Collins’ re-election next year, as well as other Republicans in future elections. The partnership will invest more than $4 million to support Collins’ re-election, according to a press release from The Sentinel Action Fund that was obtained by FOX News Digital. The Sentinel Action Fund’s backing of Collins represents the group’s first endorsement for the 2026 midterm election cycle. In 2024, the super PAC endorsed and supported U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, in their races. “2024 showed us the power and importance of a strong ground game and GOTV operation that communicates with voters early and often,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson told FOX News Digital. “With the midterm elections only 350 days away, we’re hitting the ground running in Maine as we announce Sentinel Action Fund’s new partnership with Laurel Libby and the Lead Maine Committee. We are thrilled to work alongside Laurel Libby, who has proven her dedication to standing up to Janet Mills and the radicalized Maine Democrats. She is a true leader for Mainers, and we look forward to a strong partnership to ensure Senator Susan Collins is re-elected in 2026.” Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, announced last month she would challenge Collins for her Senate seat. DELETED POSTS URGING VIOLENCE HAUNT DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFUL IN MAINE RACE “Maine deserves to have common-sense representation in Congress, and with a strong candidate, effective ground game operation, and an energized grassroots network, we can build and turnout the coalition of voters needed to win,” Anderson continued. “Sentinel Action Fund is pleased to announce our endorsement of Senator Susan Collins, and with it this important partnership with Laurel Libby and the Lead Maine Committee which will support Senator Collins’s re-election. Laurel’s grassroots experience and leadership in the state will make her an invaluable partner to our efforts to turn out voters early and on Election Day.” Anderson said the partnership and investment come ahead of a “pivotal midterm election cycle” and that Maine’s Senate seat will “play a critical role in securing and expanding the Republican Senate majority and protecting it is an essential step toward achieving a 60-seat majority,” adding that she looks forward to ensuring Collins retains her seat in the Senate. Libby added that Mainers “have a powerful voice, and with a strong network of support, we can work together to uphold the common-sense values and policies that will protect liberty and foster economic prosperity for generations to come.” “I’m excited to build a team that will empower Mainers to take part in shaping the future of our state,” she said. “A key part of this effort will be the Lead Maine Committee’s partnership with The Sentinel Action Fund to mobilize voters and ensure Senator Susan Collins is re-elected in 2026. Defending this seat, and expanding conservative influence in the Maine Legislature, are critical to protecting our values from the far-Left policies of Janet Mills and her accomplices.” Libby, a critic of policies allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports, made headlines earlier this year when she made a social media post on her government account that identified a transgender high school athlete by publishing the individual’s name and photos. The Maine House of Representatives censured her over the post, leading Libby to file a lawsuit against House leadership, arguing the censure was a violation of her First Amendment rights and disenfranchised her constituents. VETERAN WHO SERVED IN MIDDLE EASTERN WARS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEN. SUSAN COLLINS Lower courts initially denied her requests for an injunction, but the U.S. Supreme Court later ordered the restoration of her voting privileges while her lawsuit made its way through the appeals court. The Maine House in June fully restored Libby’s speaking and voting rights for the remainder of the legislative session. “I understand firsthand just how radical Maine Democrats have become,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Protecting
Trump set to host Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince at the White House this week
President Donald Trump is set to host Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and influential Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House this week for high-level talks aimed at deepening economic and defense ties. “We’re more than meeting,” Trump said on Friday en route to Florida for the weekend. “We’re honoring Saudi Arabia, the crown prince.” While not formally a state visit, the plans include a welcome ceremony with military bands, a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office and a black-tie dinner in the evening. TRUMP’S GRAND PEACE STRATEGY IS BEARING FRUIT, IN MIDDLE EAST AND AROUND THE WORLD Prince Mohammed bin Salman serves as the kingdom’s powerful understudy to his 89-year-old father, King Salman. Widely regarded as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, he manages nearly all daily affairs of state and frequently represents the kingdom in international summits and diplomatic meetings. Tuesday’s meetings will mark Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to the White House in more than seven years. Trump said last week that he plans to discuss strengthening ties with the Saudi leader and hopes the kingdom will move toward formally recognizing Israel. “The Abraham Accords will be a part we’re going to be discussing,” Trump told reporters Friday. “I hope that Saudi Arabia will be joining the Abraham Accords fairly soon.” Such a move would build on Trump’s signature foreign-policy initiative, the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations during his presidency. The crown prince last visited the White House in 2018, just months before Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident journalist and critic of the kingdom, was murdered at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIES JAMAL KHASHOGGI REPORT BLAMING SAUDI CROWN PRINCE FOR JOURNALIST’S DEATH A subsequent CIA assessment concluded the prince had likely ordered the killing, though he has consistently denied involvement. Even so, Trump’s relationship with the crown prince appeared largely undeterred during his first term. Trump last met the crown prince during his first state visit of his second term to Riyadh in May, where he was welcomed with a fighter jet escort, an honor guard wielding golden swords and a parade of Arabian horses flanking his limousine. The Trump administration is also expected to finalize an agreement with bin Salman to allow Riyadh to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing a White House official. The two leaders are expected to sign several other economic and defense agreements during the crown prince’s visit to the White House on Tuesday, the report added.
Trump reveals Maduro ‘would like to talk’ as military options remain on the table for Venezuela
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wants talks with the U.S. as tensions mount between the nations, but stressed that he has not planned or authorized any land-based military strikes against the South American nation. Speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Trump said a recent U.S. designation of a Venezuelan-linked cartel gives the government the authority to target Maduro’s assets or infrastructure. He added that while such actions are possible, no decision has been made. “It allows us to do that,” Trump said. “But we haven’t said we’re going to do that…we may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk.” TRUMP NEXT EYES ‘LAND’ IN DRUG WAR, WARNS CARTEL BOATS ARE ‘NOT FASTER THAN MISSILES’ The president said his administration is keeping Congress informed about ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking through Venezuela and Mexico but emphasized that he does not need lawmakers’ approval to act. He said communication with Congress is meant to keep them aware, not to seek authorization. Trump added that he told Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials to meet with lawmakers and convey that the U.S. will not allow narcotics to flow through either country. “We like to keep Congress involved,” he said. “I mean, we’re stopping drug dealers and drugs from coming into our country.” TRUMP AGREES MADURO’S DAYS AS VENEZUELA’S PRESIDENT ARE NUMBERED IN ‘60 MINUTES’ INTERVIEW Trump warned members of Congress not to leak sensitive details about U.S. operations that could endanger military or intelligence personnel. Trump said he supports transparency but acknowledged that sharing classified information could put American lives at risk. “The only thing I don’t want them to do is leak information that’s very important and confidential,” he said. “And they put our military at risk or whoever is doing, you know, CIA, military, etc.” Trump said several countries are backing U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuela, describing the campaign as part of a broader fight against narcotics and illegal immigration. He accused the Maduro regime of releasing violent prisoners into the United States and said his administration is removing them. TRUMP SAYS VENEZUELA’S MADURO DOESN’T WANT TO ‘F*** AROUND’ WITH THE US “Yeah, we have great support because it’s all about drugs,” he said. “Well, in Venezuela’s case, it’s about drugs, and it’s also about thousands, hundreds of thousands, of people that they’ve released into our country.” He said the Biden administration bears responsibility for what he called a historic border crisis, pointing to the influx of migrants and criminals who entered under the previous administration. “Our country is doing so well,” Trump said. “But what the Biden administration did to our country should never be forgotten.” “The single worst thing they did is allow 20 or 25 million people to pour into our country,” he continued. “People from prisons, drug dealers, mental institutions, bad people, gang members – to allow that to happen to the United States, totally unchecked and unvetted,should never be forgotten.”
Marco Rubio says Nicolás Maduro’s Cartel de los Soles to be designated a terrorist organization
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles, a powerful criminal network tied to Venezuela’s top leadership, will be labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The move appears to be an escalation in Washington’s stance toward the Venezuelan government and could lead to military action against the Maduro regime. In a statement, Rubio confirmed the U.S. will formally designate the cartel as an FTO later this month. The designation, which is to take effect Nov. 24, targets the criminal network allegedly led by Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and senior members of his regime. TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’ According to the State Department, “Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary.” “Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government,” the statement read. “The Cartel de los Soles, in coordination with other terrorist organizations including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, is responsible for terrorist violence across our hemisphere and for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.” RUBIO PROMISES MORE STRIKES ON VENEZUELAN CARTELS: ‘WE’RE NOT GOING TO SIT BACK ANYMORE’ The announced action is being taken under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the State Department to designate foreign entities engaged in terrorist activity. The designation will become official once it’s published in the Federal Register. The Cartel de los Soles had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorism. TRUMP ADMIN TELLS CONGRESS IT DETERMINED US ENGAGED IN FORMAL ‘ARMED CONFLICT’ WITH ‘TERRORIST’ DRUG CARTELS In an accompanying post on X, Rubio said: .@StateDept intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Headed by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro, the group has corrupted the institutions of government in Venezuela and is responsible for terrorist violence conducted by and with other designated FTOs as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe. The statement came as President Trump reiterated that the U.S. was intent on stopping drug dealers and drugs filtering into the country. “We’re stopping drug dealers and drugs from coming into our country,” Trump told reporters Sunday night. WASHINGTON’S SHADOW WAR: HOW STRIKES ON CARTELS THREATEN TO COLLAPSE MADURO’S REGIME “And I actually told Marco and some of the people our secretary of state is doing a great job, by the way. I said, ‘Go to Congress and let them know we’re not letting drugs come through Mexico. We’re not letting them come through Venezuela,’” he added. Trump’s comments came just after he said that the government may be having discussions with Venezuela as well as confirming whether the new cartel designation would mean the U.S. government could now target Maduro’s assets or infrastructure. “It allows us to do that,” Trump confirmed while mentioning talks with the Venezuelan leader. “We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk,’ he said before adding, “We’ll see what happens.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of State for comment.
The Speaker’s Lobby: Happy New Year as shutdown showdown draws to a close
The Senate did not drag out final passage of the interim spending bill to end the government shutdown. Oh, you may think that happened. Especially after the Senate broke a filibuster on the bill just before 11 p.m. ET Sunday night. So why didn’t the Senate just go immediately to final passage? After all, the plan had to go to the House. Flight delays were piling up. Federal workers were at the end of their rope, going without paychecks. SNAP benefits were in limbo. So why not just step it up? Well, it’s more complicated than that. And believe it or not, the Senate kind of did step it up. At least from the Senate’s perspective. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: PAUL STANDS FIRM AGAINST SPENDING BILL AS SHUTDOWN CLOCK TICKS There were several Senate factions not ready to vote right away to end the shutdown last Sunday. It was clear the Senate would eventually pass the bill to fund the government. That’s to say nothing of the worsening impacts of the shutdown on a nearly hourly basis. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican who broke with his party and voted no on the test vote to break a filibuster on the deal to re-open the government. Paul voted nay because he wanted a change in the bill regarding hemp. The measure prevents “unregulated sales” of “intoxicating hemp-based” products at gas stations and small retailers. It preserves the sale of non-intoxicating CBD in other hemp-related products. So, if the Senate got 60 votes Sunday night to break the filibuster and only needs 51 to pass the bill, why was the Senate stymied by Paul or even others? Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told reporters there was a senator asking for a vote on an amendment that would hold members’ pay in escrow during future government shutdowns. This would be in addition to Paul, asking for a vote on an amendment related to hemp policy. Paul’s request was previously known. But this additional ask underscores the precarious balance of any unanimous consent agreement in the Senate. Once one senator gets something, others are likely to ask for something for themselves. Paul told reporters that he believed leadership was happy to give him his vote. But Paul said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., blocked that for a short period. Meanwhile, Mullin said Democrats went “radio silent” on whether they were willing to yield back debate time to speed up consideration of the bill. Any one senator could drag this process out for days, so their cooperation would be crucial in bringing the shutdown to a quick end. It’s about speed. Buckle down for this next part. It gets complicated. SENATE DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS REACH DEAL TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT The vote on Sunday night was on breaking a filibuster to proceed to the original House-passed spending measure from September. That needed 60 yeas. Therefore, the Senate had just broken a filibuster to begin work on the bill. That’s all. By rule, the Senate can run out 30 hours of debate after breaking the filibuster, unless Paul relents. That would have gotten us to a minor procedural vote to actually get on the bill by dawn last Tuesday morning. That is, unless there was an agreement with Paul – or for that matter – other Democratic senators to expedite things. But wait. There’s more. The intention of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., – and this was done with a wink and a nod to secure an agreement on Sunday – was for him to file what’s called a “substitute” amendment. A substitute simply removes the House’s old bill text and replaces it with the new spending package. But because this is a substitute amendment, Thune must then “file cloture” to break a filibuster on that. By rule, Thune could not do that until this past Tuesday. Cloture petitions require an intervening day before ripening. So that means the Senate could not vote to break a filibuster on the substitute (e.g. the new bill) until last Thursday. Again, that needs 60 yeas. And if there was no deal, the Senate could bleed out another clock before voting yes or no on the substitute. Presumably, that would have been on Friday. But we’re not done yet. TRUMP ENDS SHUTDOWN, FACES BACKLASH AND MAKES SURPRISE EPSTEIN MOVE AMID CHAOTIC WEEK If the Senate would have adopted the new text on Friday, then Thune would have had to file cloture again on the underlying bill, wait a day (Saturday) and then have a vote to break a filibuster on that (again needing 60) on Sunday. This scenario meant that the Senate would finally pass the newly revamped spending bill on Monday. And it would mean that the House would not have tackled the bill until this coming Tuesday or Wednesday. So that really would have stretched out the government shutdown. That said, this was probably never going to happen. That’s just doing things by the book. But it’s also why it was in the interest of Thune to get a deal with Paul to accelerate things. Otherwise, Paul or the Democrats who oppose the bill could have slowed things down and extended the shutdown. But consider for a moment that if the left really wanted Democrats to stand and fight, there’s a group of core Democrats who are upset that their party relented. But then again, they had an opportunity to stretch out the shutdown and opted not to do so. There was also a smattering of Democrats who were more than happy to have others vote to open the government – even though they wanted to do so but weren’t willing to vote yes. They relied on the yes votes – or courage – of their colleagues. And Paul was upset at the hemp provision. “It’s really contemptuous,” said Paul of the hemp issue. “I’m not looking to hold things up. I’m looking to try to get things done.” Paul said his “goal is to condense the time.” He
US forces kill 3 narco-terrorists in Eastern Pacific lethal strike operation targeting drug networks
U.S. forces carried out a lethal strike Saturday on a narcotics vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific, killing three suspected narco-terrorists in international waters, according to U.S. Southern Command. The strike brings the total number of suspected narco-terrorists killed to 82, with three survivors, in an ongoing U.S. campaign targeting drug-smuggling vessels tied to designated terrorist groups. In a post on X, U.S. Southern Command said intelligence confirmed the vessel hit in Thursday’s strike was smuggling narcotics along a known trafficking route. The command described the strike as a “lethal kinetic operation” conducted in international waters as part of a broader effort to disrupt transnational criminal networks. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced the official launch of Operation Southern Spear, a new mission targeting narco-terror networks across Latin America. US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN 16TH EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS Hegseth said on X that U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Spear will lead the mission to defend the homeland and dismantle narco-terrorist networks across the Western Hemisphere. “This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” Hegseth said. The U.S. carried out its 20th strike on suspected drug-trafficking boats last week, killing four alleged narco-terrorists, according to a Pentagon official. WATCH: COAST GUARD SEIZES COCAINE, SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN PACIFIC VIPER RAID Since early September, strikes across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean have destroyed dozens of vessels, many tied to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional. The campaign began Sept. 2 with a strike that killed 11 alleged members of Tren de Aragua and continued through October and November with a series of targeted operations that eliminated dozens more across known trafficking routes. CHINA MOVES INTO VENEZUELA AS MADURO REGIME GETS BEIJING LIFELINE AMID US TENSIONS U.S. forces have hit submersibles, fishing boats, and high-speed vessels, including one ELN-affiliated craft that drew criticism from Colombia’s president after three men were killed. Several strikes took place near Venezuela’s coast, while others occurred in the Eastern Pacific, where most recent operations have been concentrated. The Navy previously announced it would lead Operation Southern Spear under the U.S. 4th Fleet and Southern Command, employing “long-dwell robotic surface vessels, small robotic interceptor boats, and vertical takeoff and landing robotic air vessels.” Fox News Digital’s Mitch Picasso contributed to this report.
Zelenskyy moves to ‘clean up’ Ukraine’s energy sector as corruption scandal rocks leadership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new efforts to “clean up” the nation’s energy sector amid a corruption scandal and near-constant attacks from Russia. Zelenskyy met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Sunday morning, saying he called on lawmakers to revamp the leadership at the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and the State Energy Supervision Inspectorate, in addition to other efforts to expunge Russian influence in the sector. “In full coordination with law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies, ensure the renewal of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency and to promptly complete the competition for the position of Head of ARMA so that the new Head of the Agency can be selected by the end of this year,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. He further called on lawmakers to “promptly conduct an audit and prepare for sale the assets and shares in assets that belonged to Russian entities and to collaborators who fled to Russia. All such assets must operate one hundred percent in Ukraine’s interests – to support our defense and to contribute to Ukraine’s budget.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STAYS SILENT AS MASSIVE UKRAINE CORRUPTION SCANDAL ROCKS ZELENSKYY’S INNER CIRCLE The new energy initiative also comes after a former associate of Zelenskyy’s was accused of being the mastermind behind a $100 million embezzlement scheme involving nuclear energy. Tymur Mindich, who was once Zelenskyy’s business partner, was identified by Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs as being the orchestrator of a scheme involving top officials and Ukraine’s state nuclear power company. Prior to the scandal, some feared Mindich’s growing influence over Ukraine’s lucrative industries that he had access to because of his ties to Zelenskyy. Mindich allegedly exerted control over loyalists who then pressured contractors for Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear power company, demanding kickbacks to bypass bureaucratic obstacles. The requested kickbacks were reportedly as high as 15%. Zelenskyy himself was not implicated in the investigation. FORMER ZELENSKYY ASSOCIATE ACCUSED IN $100 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME The new effort comes as Zelenskyy says that his team is “working to ensure another start to negotiations” on ending the war with Russia. “We are also counting on the resumption of POW exchanges – many meetings, negotiations, and calls are currently taking place to ensure this. I thank everyone who is helping. Thank you to everybody who stands with Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote. Ukraine’s president further said that he is preparing for a full week of diplomacy with Greece, France and Spain, as well as renewed negotiations over prisoner of war exchanges with Russia. Zelenskyy will meet with officials in Greece on Sunday to discuss natural gas imports, while talks with France on Monday and Spain on Tuesday will center on bolstering Ukrainian air defenses. Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Skies at stake: Inside the US-China race for air dominance
From new stealth bombers to AI-enabled drones, the U.S. and China are reshaping airpower for a Pacific showdown – each betting its technology can keep the other out of the skies. The U.S. is charging ahead with its next-generation F-47 fighter, while China scrambles to catch up with jets designed to match the F-35 and F-22. After a brief program pause in 2024, the Air Force awarded Boeing the contract in March for the F-47, a manned sixth-generation fighter meant to anchor America’s next air superiority fleet. The first flight is expected in 2028. At the same time, the B-21 Raider, the stealth successor to the B-2, is deep into testing at Edwards Air Force Base. The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 Raiders – each built to survive inside heavily defended Chinese airspace. The Pentagon is also betting on Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs – drones designed to fly alongside fighters as “loyal wingmen.” Prototypes from Anduril and General Atomics are already in the air. Officials say CCAs will let one pilot control several drones at once. China outpaces the rest of the world in the commercial drone market, but that doesn’t necessarily give it the advantage from a military perspective. “I’m not sure that’s really true. In terms of high-end military drones that are really important to this fight, the U.S. still has a pretty significant edge.” said Eric Heginbotham, a research scientist at MIT’s Center for International Studies. He pointed to the Air Force’s stealth reconnaissance platforms – the RQ-170 and RQ-180 – and upcoming “loyal wingman” drones designed to fly with fighters as proof that the U.S. still leads in advanced integration and stealth technology. HIGH STAKES ON THE HIGH SEAS AS US, CHINA TEST LIMITS OF MILITARY POWER China’s airpower modernization has accelerated as the U.S. reshapes its force. Beijing has zeroed in on three priorities – stealth, engines and carriers – the areas that long held its military back. The Chengdu J-20, China’s flagship stealth fighter, is being fitted with the new WS-15 engine, a home-built powerplant meant to rival U.S. engines. “It took them a while to get out of the blocks on fifth generation, especially to get performance anywhere near where U.S. fifth gen was,” Heginbotham said. “The J-20 really does not have a lot of the performance features that even the F-22 does, and we’ve had the F-22 for a long time.” Meanwhile, China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was commissioned this fall – the first with electromagnetic catapults similar to U.S. Ford-class carriers. The move signals Beijing’s ambition to launch stealth jets from sea and project power well beyond its coast. Together, the J-20, the carrier-based J-35, and the Fujian give China a layered airpower network – stealth jets on land and at sea backed by growing missile coverage. Chinese military writings identify airfields as critical vulnerabilities. PLA campaign manuals call for striking runways early in a conflict to paralyze enemy air operations before they can begin. Analysts believe a few days of concentrated missile fire could cripple U.S. bases across Japan, Okinawa and Guam. “The U.S. bases that are forward deployed – particularly on Okinawa, but also on the Japanese mainland and on Guam – are exposed to Chinese missile attack,” said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “In our war games, the Chinese would periodically sweep these air bases with missiles and destroy dozens, in some cases even hundreds, of U.S. aircraft.” Heginbotham said that missile-heavy strategy grew directly out of China’s early airpower weakness. “They didn’t think that they could gain air superiority in a straight-up air-to-air fight,” he said. “So you need another way to get missiles out – and that another way is by building a lot of ground launchers.” The two militaries are taking different paths to the same target: air dominance over the Pacific. The U.S. approach relies on smaller numbers of highly advanced aircraft linked by sensors and artificial intelligence. The goal: strike first, from long range, and survive in contested skies. China’s model depends on volume – mass-producing fighters, missiles, and carrier sorties to overwhelm U.S. defenses and logistics. “U.S. fighter aircraft – F-35s, F-15s, F-22s – are relatively short-legged, so they have to get close to Taiwan if they’re going to be part of the fight,” Cancian said. “They can’t fight from Guam, and they certainly can’t fight from further away. So if they’re going to fight, they have to be inside that Chinese defensive bubble.” Both sides face the same challenge: surviving inside that bubble. China’s expanding missile range is pushing U.S. aircraft farther from the fight, while American bombers and drones are designed to break back in. Heginbotham said survivability – not dogfighting – will define the next decade of air competition. “We keep talking about aircraft as if it’s going to be like World War II – they go up, they fight each other. That’s not really our problem,” he said. “Our problem is the air bases themselves and the fact that aircraft can be destroyed on the air base.” US NAVY SEA HAWK HELICOPTER, F/A-18F SUPER HORNET FIGHTER JET GO DOWN IN SEPARATE SOUTH CHINA SEA INCIDENTS China, he warned, is preparing for that reality while the U.S. is not. “They practice runway strikes in exercises, they’re modeling this stuff constantly,” Heginbotham said. “Unlike the United States, China is hardening its air bases. The U.S. is criminally negligent in its refusal to harden its air bases.” Cancian’s war-game findings echo that vulnerability. He said U.S. surface ships and aircraft would likely have to fall back under missile fire in the opening days of a conflict. “At the initial stages of a conflict, China would have a distinct advantage,” Cancian said. “Now, over time, the U.S. would be able to reinforce its forces, and that would change.” The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026–27 budget will determine how fast the U.S. can build out its F-47s,
Michelle Obama says America ‘not ready’ for woman president: ‘We saw in this past election’
Former first lady Michelle Obama said Americans are “not ready” to elect a woman to the White House, citing former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential election loss to President Donald Trump. Obama made the comments to a crowd of women at the Brooklyn Academy of Music while promoting her new book, “The Look.” “As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said on Friday. MICHELLE OBAMA RELEASING STYLE BOOK AFTER LOOKS ‘CONSTANTLY DISSECTED’ IN WHITE HOUSE “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not,” she continued. The former first lady went on to say that she does not believe men in America are comfortable with a woman leading them. “You know, we’ve got a lot of growing up to do, and there’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it,” Obama said. HARRIS REVEALS CRUDE HYPOTHETICALS ON ABORTION, VIAGRA REHEARSED BEFORE TRUMP DEBATE In her book, which was released on Nov. 4, Obama touches on her journey with fashion, hair and beauty, as well as her time in the White House as the first Black woman to serve as first lady. She wrote that women in politics are often judged based on their physical appearance instead of their ability to lead. “During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my own way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way,” Obama wrote on Facebook in June while promoting her book ahead of its release. “‘The Look’ is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the power of authenticity. My hope is that this book sparks conversation and reflection about the ways we see ourselves — and the way our society defines beauty,” she added.
Laura Loomer teases Georgia move after President Trump says he wants Marjorie Taylor Greene primaried
Conservative commentator Laura Loomer set off a fresh wave of speculation Saturday by openly teasing a possible move to Georgia after President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in a blistering late-night Truth Social post. Loomer, a staunch Trump ally with roughly 1.8 million followers on X, posted that the president told her he wanted Greene “primaried,” then asked her audience a pointed question. “Should I move to Georgia?” she asked. Her post, paired with Trump’s Truth Social message calling Greene a “ranting lunatic,” immediately triggered questions about whether Loomer is positioning herself as a potential challenger in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. TRUMP DROPS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ENDORSEMENT, CALLS HER A ‘RANTING LUNATIC,’ HINTS AT BACKING PRIMARY RIVAL Greene has not responded to Loomer’s posts. Loomer and Greene have publicly attacked each other throughout the year, with their exchanges escalating sharply since summer. In August, the two clashed over Loomer’s criticism of Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg, sparking a days-long volley of insults. Saturday’s posts show Loomer revisiting and escalating those accusations. She described Greene as “no friend to MAGA,” accused her of disloyalty dating back to 2021 and brought up claims about Greene’s political alliances during the 2022 midterms. TRUMP GIVES EX-ALLY GREENE NEW NICKNAME AFTER DROPPED ENDORSEMENT, SAYS SHE BETRAYED ‘ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY’ Several of Loomer’s follow-up posts Saturday referenced Greene receiving public support from Democrats, adding fuel to an already volatile public feud. Trump’s public break with Greene, which he delivered in a lengthy statement late Friday, removed one of the Georgia Republican’s most valuable political assets, the president’s personal endorsement. In his post, Trump said Greene had become consumed with “complaining,” claimed she had “turned left” politically and said conservative voters in Georgia were already considering a primary challenge. He added that he would give “Complete and Unyielding Support” to the “right person” who enters the race. Trump did not name any potential challengers. While Loomer has not announced a campaign, her suggestion of a possible move to Georgia came within hours of Trump’s statement and quickly fueled speculation online that she could test the waters. If Loomer relocates and enters the 2026 primary, it would pit two highly visible right-wing firebrands against each other in one of the most closely watched House districts in the country. Georgia’s 14th District remains deeply conservative, meaning the primary is typically the decisive contest. A high-profile rivalry amplified by Trump’s public intervention would almost certainly attract national attention, campaign money and intense media coverage. For now, Loomer has offered no formal announcement, only the question.