Trump Picks Deputy Homeland Security Advisor

Trump (R) has chosen a Miami Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge, as His Nominee for Deputy Homeland Security Advisor.

In His current role, Anthony W. Salisbury “manages all of HSI's complex Federal Law Enforcement investigative programs related to National Security and smuggling violations, including counter-proliferation, financial crimes, commercial fraud, human trafficking, human smuggling, narcotics smuggling, transnational,” Trump shared in a Post on Truth Social.

He has previously served as the Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director of HSI in Miami, and Supervised the Activities of HSI Offices throughout the Republic of Mexico, as the Deputy Attaché.

In His Post, Trump wrote: “Tony will bring his vast Law Enforcement, counter-narcotics, and counter-cartel experience to the White House where he will serve under Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor.”

In September, Salisbury spoke about His Department after the Seizure of a Plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"Today's actions is just a testament that HSI, as the principle investigative arm of Homeland Security, we have the expertise, we have the reach, and we have the global partnerships in order to affect change against anybody including powerful government heads that think they are untouchable," He said at the time, from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

U.S. nearly $1 billion in Ukraine Aid

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday, announced a $1 billion Military Aid Package for Ukraine, as He forcefully argued for U.S. Leadership around the World. “The troubles of our times will only grow worse without strong and steady American leadership,” Austin said in His Fourth Consecutive Appearance at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California.

The Package, which includes more Drones and Ammunition for a Critical Rocket system, brings the Total U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine, to $62 billion since the War started nearly Three years ago, a Key component of keeping Kyiv in the Fight. Russia has suffered more than 700,000 Battlefield Casualties since the War began, Austin said, and “squandered” more than $200 billion.

The U.S. has led a Coalition of Countries to Arm and Equip Ukraine’s Military since February 2022, and Austin said it would be a Mistake to Abandon Kyiv. “This administration has made its choice. So has a bipartisan coalition in Congress,” said Austin. “The next administration must make its own choice.”

Though the outgoing Defense Secretary did Not mention Trump (R), His Arguments for American Engagement Internationally Contrasted sharply with the Trump's promise of “America first.” Trump has repeatedly cast Doubt on the Value of U.S. Aid to Ukraine, and J.D. Vance has said in the past, that Russia isNot an Existential Threat to Europe.

Austin’s Message on the Importance of Aid to Ukraine, came the same day Trump met Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky in Paris, before the Reopening of Notre Dame. The Two met in the Élysée Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron, for just over an Hour Saturday. Zelensky described it as a “good and productive trilateral meeting” in a Post on Social Media afterward.

“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way,” He said, adding that “President Trump is, as always, resolute.”

But Key Members of Trump’s Incoming Administration have Questioned the Value of Foreign Aid in general, and Military Aid to Ukraine Specifically.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Co-Chair of Trump’s Commission to Cut Government Spending, said He intends to examine whether Foreign Sid is worth the Taxpayer Dollars. “How does that actually advance a purpose that serves the US taxpayer in the best interests of the United States of America?” Ramaswamy asked Rhetorically on C-SPAN last week.

Austin Argued that it is precisely this Foreign Engagement that helps Preserve and Uphold what He refers to as the Rules-based International Order. In a look back at His time as Defense Secretary, Austin highlighted Increased U.S. Military Cooperation with Japan and the Philippines, as well as New Agreements with ansd India.

“The world built by American leadership can only be maintained by American leadership,” the outgoing Secretary said.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

In New Role Raskin to Battle Trump

After Leading the Second Impeachment Trial of Trump (R), and then serving as a Member of the Select Jan. 6th Committee, Jamie Raskin (D-MD, 8th District) is readying for a New Role come January, 2025: Democrat’s Lead Constitutional Watchdog in Congress.

This week, after Relinquishing His Party’s Top slot on the House Oversight Committee, Raskin looks to have Secured the Ranking Member position on His Chamber’s all-important Judiciary Committee. The Committee jockeying doesn’t mean He thinks, there won’t be any Action in Oversight under the incoming Trump Administration.

“Oh, I think it's going to be all over the place,” Raskin told Raw Story at the Capitol Friday. “It's like they tell the little kids in soccer, ‘don't bunch, spread out’ — we need people everywhere, you know, defending constitutional institutions and principles.”

On Monday, Raskin Infuriated 17-term Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY, 12th District) by Challenging Him for the Top slot on the Judiciary Committee, but by Wednesday, Nadler bowed out of the Contest because His Support withered on the proverbial vine.

That leaves a clear Lane for the Four-Term Marylander, to Secure the blessing of Democratic Leaders when they meet on Tuesday to Officially decide the Face of their Party in some of Congress’ Hottest Committees. As a Constitutional Lawyer by trade, Raskin says His Skills will be more beneficial to His Party atop the sometimes arcane Legal Committee on Capitol Hill.

“The assault on the federal workforce and the professional civil service are likely to be headquartered in Oversight, but the attack on the Justice Department, the FBI and the rule of law are going to be centered in the Judiciary Committee,” Raskin said.

After Trump and the GOP expanded their Electoral Appeal in November, Raskin says He hopes to start a New Conversation with the American People, the One His Party Failed to make stick this Election year, when the New Administration takes over Washington in the New year.

“The problem is that I've not heard of any agenda other than instrumentalizing the Department of Justice and the FBI for purposes of political retaliation and revenge. You know, that's not generally advanced as a proper principle for the U.S. government,” Raskin said. “It’s a sign of how far the discourse has shifted that this has become normalized.”

Democrats already successfully Sidelined Trump’s initial Attorney General Nominee, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL, 1st District), but the New AG Nominee, former Trump Defense aAtorney and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R), has Democrats worried as well. And Trump’s Pick to Lead the FBI, Kash Patel (R), is the Pick that has Democratic Lawyers like Raskin really Freaking out.

“He's somebody who embodies the ethos of using the government as a partisan and political instrument for the will of the president,” Raskin said. “Again, that's a massive departure from decades of understanding that the president does not get involved in particular cases, and we have to try to uphold that traditional understanding as much as we can.”

Raskin replied: “They have been attacking the Department of Justice for ‘lawfare’ and for partisan weaponization as preparation for implementing their own plans to do precisely that. They want to make it seem as if it's somehow normal and bipartisan — it's not. You really can't find an example of any president — with the potential exception of Richard Nixon — who directed the Department of Justice to engage in criminal investigations and prosecutions targeting his political foes.”

With Raskin readying to take over as the Top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, His current Vice-Ranking Member on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY, 14th District), jumped in the Race to Replace Raskin as their Party’s Top Democrat on that High-Profile Committee. It’s a part of what many Democrats hope is a Makeover, after the Party was Trounced this Cycle.

Two other Senior Democrats, 11-term Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ, 7th District) and David Scott (D-GA, 13th District), are also being Challenged for their Party’s Top Slots, respectively, the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees.

Younger Congressional Democrats see these shake-ups as essential for the Party’s Vitality moving forward. As for His Plan to Play Defensive Offensive in January, 2025, Raskin says He hopes to Confront the ‘Deep State’ Myth that’s metastasized in today’s GOP. “I hope that we're going to be advancing a strong vision of what it means to live in a free and democratic society. That means playing defense against authoritarian maneuvers and violations of people's rights.” Raskin said.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

AZ's City of Douglas Donates Land for Commercial Port of Entry

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officials say the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry, in Douglas, processed over a billion dollars of Products last year. A New Commercial Port and Upgrades to the existing Port will Increase their Productivity.

On Wednesday, the City of Douglas Donated Land they own by the Southern Border to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The New Commercial Port of entry will be built West of that Land. The City has been trying to give the Federal Government the Land for many years.

“I had no idea it would be so hard to give away land," said Cochise County Board of Supervisor, Ann English. The Project is called Douglas Two Port Solution.

"This is a catalyst for economic development for the United States, for Cochise County and for Douglas,” English said. "This is not a final thing. This is a catalyst for future development, to keep our young people here, to keep our economic development growing, and make people feel good about wanting to live in Douglas."

The addition of a New Port doesn't just benefit the City of Douglas, because the Products that come across TYravel across the State and the Country.

“Although this is a great project for the City of Douglas, for Cochise County in the state of Arizona, what's going to happen here in the next several years is going to impact the rest of the United States,” said District Director for Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-7th District), Ruben Reyes.

A New Commercial Port frees up the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry from Commercial Drivers, decreasing Wait-Time for Commuters. “We'll process more commodities in an efficient and timely manner while ensuring safety and security,” said Port Director, Martin Gomez.

The Project costs over 250 million dollars, most of the Funding coming from the Federal Government, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Donated Land gives the Federal Government a place to build for Free.

“This land transfer is a critical step in making the new port a reality," said Regional Commissioner for Public Buildings Service for the U.S. GSA, Sukee Kang. "This project underscores our commitment to the development of a more efficient and enhanced two-point solution.”

Part Two of the Project is to Update the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry, since there haven't been any Upgrades to the Building since 1993.

GSA Officials say they will Award the Contract for the Upgrade Project next month. Construction on the New Port is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2025.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NYC Council Passes City of Yes Plan

The City Council, has Approved Mayor Eric Adams’ (D) City of Yes Plan, which aims to tackle the Housing Crisis.

The $5 billion Plan will Rezone New York City for the first time in Six Decades. It is estimated to create more than 80,000 New Housing Units over 15 years, according to Adams.

Developers will be able to expand Housing Plans by 20%, as long as they includeAaffordable Housing Units.

Here’s What Will Happen:

- Changing Parking Mandate Rules.

- Greenlighting Homes above Storefronts. br />
- Legalizing Basement Apartments.

- Affordability Requirements in Low-Density Neighborhoods.

- Funding and Tax Relief for Accessible Dwelling Unit Developments (Backyard Cottages).

= Promises to work toward more Libraries and Community Centers.

$5 Billion in Costs

- $2 billion for Infrastructure.

- $2 billion for Affordable Housing Development by Financing Private, Mitchell-Lama, and NYCHA. br />
- $1 billion for Public Housing, comes from the $1 billion from New York State.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Special Counsel Smith Required to Submit Trump Findings to DOJ Before Leaving

Special Counsel Jack Smith is required to Submit to the Justice Department (DOJ) a Report summarizing the Results of Hhis dual Investigations into Trump (R), an action that will put a Formal End to His Ttwo-year Probe, and one that will punt all next steps, including whether to make Public the Results of the Report, to outgoing Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Smith, a longtime Prosecutor who worked in The Hague and at the DOJ, including as Chief of the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, was tapped by Garland in 2022 to Investigate both the alleged effort by Trump and His allies to Overturn the Results of the 2020 Election, as well as Trump's keeping of allegedly Classified Documents at His Florida Residence.

DOJ Regulations Mandate that a Special Counsel submit to the Attorney General a Confidential Report, detailing the Findings of their Investigation after it is concluded, and Explaining any Prosecution or Declination Decisions they reached as a Result of the Probe.

In Smith's Case, the Prosecution Decision is Immaterial, given Trump's New Satus as President-Elect and longstanding DOJ Policy against bringing Criminal Charges against a Sitting President. Could the Report be used to Impearch the Future President?

But Smith still must Outline the Investigation and its Findings in His Report to Garland, who will then Decide whether to Share it Publicly.

Notably, Garland has opted to Release the Reports from Two other Special Counsels whose Investigations concluded during His Tenure, Publishing both the Summary Reports submitted by John Durham, who was tapped by then-Attorney General Bill Barr in 2019, to Review Law Enforcement and Intelligence Gathering during the 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Origins of the Trump-Russia Probe, as well as the Final Report from Robert Hur, a former U.S. Attorney whom He tapped in 2023, to Investigate President Biden's (D) handling of Classified Documents.

These Reports were made Public, at the same time as they were Shared with Members of Congress. But it is unclear whether Garland will move to do the same with Smith's Findings, given their Sensitivity and Trump's Status as President-Elect.

Smith has long pointed to Dec. 2nd as the Deadline for His Team to submit their Final Status Reports to the Federal Judges in the D.C. and the 11th Circuit Courts, Summarizing the Results of their Investigations into the Cases against Trump, which were Dismissed without Prejudice late last month.

Garland has the Authority to decide whether to make Smith's Report Public before Biden leaves Office, or whether to punt it to the incoming Trump Administration.

Smith's Team stressed in their most recent Court Filing, that their Motion-to-Vacate the Case is based solely on the Office of Legal Counsel Policy, and Not on the Merits of the Investigation itself.

"That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind," Smith’s Office wrote in their Motion to Dismiss the Election Interference Case. "The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have," they added.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Confirms 2nd Danish Delivery of F-16s

Denmark has delivered a Second batch of F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine, President Zelenskyy said Saturday, as he traveled to Paris to meet with Top Politicians and Dignitaries.

In a message on Telegram, Zelenskyy praised Denmark and lamented a lack of Dedication from other Allies.

“The first batch of planes provided by the Danes are already shooting down Russian missiles: rescuing our people and our infrastructure. Now our air shield is reinforced even further,” He said. “If all partners were so determined, we would have been able to make Russian terror impossible.”

The Announcement comes as Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Region marks a day of Mourning for 10 People killed in a Russian Attack on Friday.

A further 24 people, including Two Children, were Injured, when a Missile struck a local Service Station, said Regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov. Another Three People were Killed in a Strike on the Ukrainian City of Kryvyi Rih Friday.

Addressing the Attacks, Zelenskyy said that Russian President Vladimir Putin did Not seek “Real Peace."

Putin “only seeks the ability to treat any country this way, with bombs, missiles, and all other forms of violence,” Zelenskyy said. “Only through strength can we resist this. And only through strength can real peace be established.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker