cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/39904354

whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uplo…

Lots of interesting things here, but here are a few key points:
- They are explicit about reviving the Monroe doctrine, specifically saying they need to readjust their military specifically to "address urgent threats" in the Americas
- A push to make their ~~vassals~~ allies build up their own military, saying "The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over" (kinda self aggrandizing but okay)
- There's a lot focusing on countering China, but around 80% is talking about economic and industrial stuff, there's surprisingly little about military, mostly saying that they need Japan and the ROK to step up, and also that they "[do] not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait." (which implies they wouldn't want Taiwan to declare independence either)
- Saying that Europe's undergoing "civilizational erasure", talks about immigration and free speech, and aiming towards "Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations" (sounds kind of like regime change?), and "Ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance"
- The Middle East section is basically glazing Trump's peacemaking skills, declaring that the US can step away because the region is stable now (not sure what to say about that)
- They want to pursue more trade and investment with Africa, also something about countering "Islamic terrorist activity"

House Speaker Mike Johnson is imploring his fellow Republicans to stop venting their frustrations in public and bring their complaints to him directly.

“They’re going to get upset about things. That’s part of the process,” Johnson told reporters Thursday. “It doesn’t bother me. But when there is a conflict or concern, I always ask all members to come to me, don’t go to social media.”

Increasingly, they’re ignoring him.

Cracks inside the GOP conference were stark this week as a member of Johnson’s own leadership team openly accused him of lying, rank-and-file Republicans acted unilaterally to force votes and a leadership-backed bill faltered. It’s all underscored by growing worries that the party is on a path towards losing the majority next year.

https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-troubles-midterms-trump-7a4a88479807ea15a8050129dbe19c0d

Fleeing an abusive home life, she went on to win a national Space Invaders tournament, taught herself to program and left a trail of popular games in her wake.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/technology/rebecca-heineman-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6U8.fFNu.yV23v_2fWCgL

cross-posted from: slrpnk.net/post/31080853

Fleeing an abusive home life, she went on to win a national Space Invaders tournament, taught herself to program and left a trail of popular games in her wake.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/technology/rebecca-heineman-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6U8.fFNu.yV23v_2fWCgL

A federal panel voted on Friday to recommend halting the at-birth shots for all infants, in a step toward Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goal of upending the nation’s vaccine policy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/health/kennedy-vaccine-committee-vote-hepatitisb.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6U8.ldTg.AGB0FRJHEBVj

https://sovereignmedia.online/gulf-states-vie-for-control-of-sudan-under-us-imperial-umbrella/

The FBI director’s use of resources is under intense scrutiny as he insists he’s “a steward of the taxpayer dollars.”

FBI Director Kash Patel has — on more than one occasion — ordered that the security detail protecting his girlfriend escort one of her allegedly inebriated friends home after a night of partying in Nashville, according to three people with knowledge of the incidents.

Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, asked FBI agents on her security team at least two times, including once this spring, to drive her friend home, and agents objected to diverting from their assignment, said the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss nonpublic matters. But Patel insisted they do as Wilkins requested and in one case called the leader of Wilkins’ security detail and yelled at him to do so.

News of the effort to deploy agents to provide security for a private citizen has spread through the bureau and beyond, as agents have grown increasingly concerned by Patel’s use of the bureau’s strapped resources, the people said.

Kash Patel ordered FBI detail to give girlfriend’s pal a lift home: sources

Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, asked FBI agents on her security team at least two times, including once this spring, to drive her friend home, and agents objected to diverting from their assignment.

^{Carol Leonnig (MS NOW)}

I didn't expect these movies to have anything in common thematically

::: spoiler spoiler

but they're both literally about moon guys making life real sad

:::

Also, both had an immersion breaking moment when someone I know from podcasting showed up halfway through the film.

And they're both great! Highly recommend to everyone here. I'm sure mostly everyone here has seen I Saw the TV Glow but Bugonia is another Lanthimos banger.

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros

New prepaid virtual network provider which doesn't know anything about you except your zip code. This proves other telecoms could do it too.

Cheapest plans currently start at 25/mo. So much more than minimalistic providers, but not outrageous.

Cross posted from: feddit.uk/post/40600495

After a years-long battle, the European Commission’s “Chat Control” plan, which would mandate mass scanning and other encryption-breaking measures, at last codifies agreement on a position within the Council of the EU, representing EU States. The good news is that the most controversial part, the forced requirement to scan encrypted messages, is out. The bad news is there’s more to it than that.

Chat Control has gone through several iterations since it was first introduced, with the EU Parliament backing a position that protects fundamental rights, while the Council of the EU spent many months pursuing an intrusive law-enforcement-focused approach. Many proposals earlier this year required the scanning and detection of illicit content on all services, including private messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. This requirement would fundamentally break end-to-end encryption.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of digital rights groups, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), we won a significant improvement: the Council agreed on its position, which removed the requirement that forces providers to scan messages on their services. It also comes with strong language to protect encryption, which is good news for users.

Continue reading here - eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/afte…

After Years of Controversy, the EU’s Chat Control Nears Its Final Hurdle: What to Know

^{Electronic Frontier Foundation}

cross-posted from: lemmy.zip/post/54387905

India's government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone firms to enable satellite location tracking that is always activated for better surveillance

schizoidman

2025-12-05 13:09:24

Exclusive: India weighs greater phone-location surveillance; Apple, Google and Samsung protest

India's government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone firms to enable satellite location tracking that is always activated for better surveillance

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/india-weighs-greater-phone-location-surveillance-apple-google-samsung-protest-2025-12-05/

India's government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone firms to enable satellite location tracking that is always activated for better surveillance

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/india-weighs-greater-phone-location-surveillance-apple-google-samsung-protest-2025-12-05/

Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia will boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest, after Israel was allowed to compete.

They were among a number of countries who had called for Israel to be excluded over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza, and accusations of unfair voting practices.

Despite calls for a vote on Israel's participation, members instead approved a new set of rules intended to protect the integrity of the contest.

Ireland's national broadcaster RTE said it felt that its "participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk."

In a statement, Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said that "participation under the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values ​​that are essential to us".

Spanish broadcaster RTVE added: "The board of directors of RTVE agreed last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was part of it."

"This withdrawal also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final... nor the preliminary semi-finals."

Continue reading here - bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cde6d8…

Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete

There had been calls for Israel to be excluded over the conduct of the war in Gaza.

^{Mark Savage (BBC News)}

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan warned that the Supreme Court's decision in the Texas redistricting case will lead to a "violation of the Constitution" of voter rights.

The Supreme Court issued an unsigned decision in favor of freezing the initial 2-1 U.S. federal court ruling against Texas Governor Greg Abbott's proposed redistricting map, a stay that could help Republicans pick up five additional U.S. House seats in next year's midterms.

"This Court’s stay ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race," Kagan wrote in her dissent. "And that result, as this Court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of the Constitution."

Kagan Warns Constitutional ‘Violation’ in Supreme Court’s Texas Map Ruling

The Supreme Court's decision freezes a lower court ruling that blocked Texas from using its new map.

^{Peter Aitken (Newsweek)}