Latest news with #WarNotes
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Fighting = Winning
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. Ozarks manhunt: The search for the former police chief turned convicted murderer turned prison escapee sounds like something out of a movie — except movie plots have to be believable. The former cop walked out of jail in a guard uniform Now, he's on the run in the rugged mountains of southern Missouri and northwest Arkansas What a story — it's summer, the brush is thick, and the weather's warm. We need Tommy Lee Jones, aka Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in 'The Fugitive.' Watch tonight: Survivalist Dave Canterbury joins us with why the former chief has the upper hand — and how the longer he stays out of jail, the better chance he has. Exclusive: The rest of the world forgot about East Palestine. To be fair: The rest of the world never really cared, but NewsNation did. And we are back — Rich McHugh is on the ground and tonight comes to us with new and exclusive reporting about how the victims still don't have the help they were promised. In the end, Elon Musk chose not to fight. At some point, he left the stage. Officially, he left yesterday, but he faded away from the political field of battle like the proverbial old soldier. I say 'at some point' because I can't remember exactly. It proves he was just the latest bit player in 'The Trump Show' — Trump's words, not mine. I am on a movie kick today — aside from 'The Fugitive' (see above), Rachel and I watched 'The Thomas Crown Affair' last weekend. 'Regret is usually a waste of time,' Crown told a business rival. But boy, would I love to ask Elon Musk, 'Was it worth it? Any regrets?' The world's richest man and business disruptor of our time thought he could change Washington. Washington didn't change him; it spit him out. He didn't fight; he just left. Last night, as news broke that a trade court overturned Trump's tariffs (who knew there even is a trade court?), the Washington and New York establishment rejoiced over a HUGE victory against Trump. In real time, Chris Cillizza and I told you it wouldn't matter. If Trump won an appeal on the right to unilaterally tariff, he wins. For the record, he won at the appeals court today. If Trump loses at the Supreme Court, he still wins because he can call himself a victim fighting against the swamp If Trump uses the court decision as a way out from most of his tariffs, he wins Rule No. 1 of Trump: He always wins. He sets the game up that way. Trump wins when he is fighting — remember what he said after getting shot? The swamp beat Trump in his first term; in his second term, he just won't stop fighting. To be fair: Trump learned he didn't have a choice. He realized early in 2021 he either fought or went to jail. It was and is about survival. 📖 He wrote about this in 'Art of the Comeback' nearly 30 years ago. Musk is the world's richest man. He didn't need to fight, and maybe that is his regret. But boy, it's still interesting Musk is gone but not really out. Stephen Miller's wife is going to work for Musk full-time now. Was it worth it for Musk? To be fair, he tried and then learned all the Republican promises to change Washington are just empty talk. Regrets are usually a waste of time, and Trump seems to understand that. He knows he's winning when he is fighting. Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: True Power
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. No irony! Not to be outdone by his 'Sparticus' moment, Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., is comparing his marathon Senate speech to Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech — his book 'Stand' is out in November. Check out the cover of his new book about his marathon (without using the facilities) 'Stand,' and you'll understand what I mean. Watch tonight: Famed entertainer and businessman Ice Cube joins us tonight. Arthur C. Brooks writes in The Atlantic about why young people are so unhappy these days. There is a rural versus urban divide here that comes into play. Ice Cube will tell us how to help the least privileged among us focus on what matters to find happiness. Role model: Ice Cube has been married to his wife for 33 happy years. Maybe he is onto something. The president of the United States is often referred to as the most powerful man in the world. How powerful? Well, remember all those pictures of Elon Musk at the Resolute Desk, the talk of a co-president and more? Where is Musk now? He's on 'CBS Sunday Morning' and talking to the Washington Post, grasping for relevance and redemption. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it,' he said to CBS. 'DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,' he told The Washington Post. The liberal crew who loved Tesla still trash his cars — literally. His SpaceX rocket exploded last night — many Americans rejoiced. Trump and MAGA remain unchecked Intrigue: Musk reportedly tried to kill a data center deal with the United Arab Emirates because his company wasn't included Is that why Musk is suddenly so talkative? It's not all bad — Tesla stock, the main source of his wealth, is up 101% in the last year. But, he's not riding on Air Force One anymore, or staring in Oval Office press conferences. We have not heard reports of his own cabin at Bedminster. The world no longer hangs on his every word. Like many who thought Trump needed them or were indispensable and irreplaceable, Musk is now grasping for relevance and redemption. And for those keeping score, Trump is more powerful than ever. Former President George W. Bush coined the phrase 'soft bigotry of low expectations' (OK, maybe it was his speech writer Michael Gerson), but now, 20 years late,r the city of San Francisco just went all in. Public schools in San Francisco are considering 'grading for equity.' Homework and class participation won't impact grade Students can retake the final exam Students can turn in assignments late Attendance won't impact grade Students can pass with a 'C' for grades 41% and up Points for creativity: Even a 4th-grade Leland inventing his dream school couldn't have come up with this. But seriously: Even if we assume good intentions by the most progressive, the real victims are the kids. If underprivileged kids are taught that standards don't matter, how will they ever excel outside of the 'woke' world? Common sense: Late today, the San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent issued a statement following the backlash against this policy, 'I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community. Right now we need to continue to focus on balancing our budget, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust.' The San Francisco proposal joins the Seattle anti-Christian riot as one more big city disaster that Democrats will have to answer for. I listen to a lot of news and read a lot too — have for decades. I just never understood how important Harvard is — especially its foreign students. Things I have learned: Without government-funded medical research at Harvard, everybody is going to die All the international students will go to Beijing, and China will take over the world A $53 billion endowment isn't that much — they really need federal money Without foreign students paying full tuition, Harvard won't be able to function Without academic freedom at Harvard, we may never know about important things like critical race theory Without Harvard researchers figuring it out: Normal folks won't know how privileged they are We will never fully realize how feminist poetry contributed to oppressing lesbians in the 1970s You get the idea. Lots of powerful people went to Harvard, and many of their kids go to Harvard But it's weird — all their powerfu,l rich alumni are on TV screaming about how important Harvard is, but I haven't heard any of them willing to open their wallets to 'save' the school What I never ever realized is how good Harvard is at PR. They should stop reading their own press releases — they are not indispensable (just like Elon Musk). Moreover, Harvard loves the fight with Trump as much as Trump loves the fight with them. What they don't realize is that they will lose. After all, Harvard is mostly just PR. Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Trump's Patience Runs Out
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. Reflection: I hope you had a meaningful Memorial Day weekend — I have never liked saying 'happy' Memorial Day weekend. More than 160 years since the Civil War, it's hard to imagine anyone could add meaning or context to the magnificent words of Sullivan Ballou, a major in the Rhode Island volunteers whose letter to his wife remains for all time: 'Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and how foolish I have often times been! . . . But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always; and, if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.' Even if you know and love the letter and its poetic prose, take a minute and read Elliot Ackerman's essay about Ballou's letter. Ackerman writes, 'Sullivan Ballou and I are separated by centuries. He lived in a country I scarcely recognize. But what I understand is the letter he wrote, one that seeks to reach across time, across the barrier between life and death, one that would allow him to continue living in the memories of those he left behind. It is a reminder that Memorial Day is not only for those who died, but also those who go on living without them. Ballou's letter isn't about death; it's about life: the 'soft breeze' on Sarah's cheek; 'the cool air' on her temple.' DEI on the farm: NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin is out with some incredible reporting about a Biden-era DEI program that encouraged minority farmers not to repay loans — YIKES! Watch NewsNation all night for more reporting on the story. Zoom out: Years of DEI initiatives have turned off a generation of male voters, white and minority alike. Now, Democrats want to spend $20 million to study the 'syntax' of how men talk, according to New York Times reporting. Republicans could only be so lucky. Subtle switch: The New York Times came out with a piece over the weekend: 'Six Months Later, Democrats Are Still Searching for the Path Forward.' Trump appeared visibly angry over the weekend when complaining about Putin and Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine — he now joins Bush, Obama and Biden, who all thought they could deal honestly with Putin and got rolled. Click here to see Trump's threat. Told you: We predicted this — and so did Bill O'Reilly in our '100 Days of Trump' special. Trump and Putin talked during the transition, and Putin promised Trump a deal. Shockingly, Putin keeps trying to escalate while refusing to engage in good-faith negotiations. Trump is embarrassed he can't deliver on his promise to end the war (never mind that he said he would do it on or before Day 1 in office). Watch: Putin keeps sending heavier and heavier attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Reporting: NewsNation's Kellie Meyer says the White House could announce new sanctions against Russia 'soon.' Look back: Biden's three-year policy of giving Ukraine enough to fight but not enough to win didn't work — never mind his unwillingness to crush Russia economically. Look forward: MAGA and Team Trump successfully turned Republicans' opinion toward favorability or at least toleration of Putin. Watch tonight: We'll talk to Erick Erickson tonight on whether Trump can turn them back. Bonus: Trump had no public events today. He stood up to Putin over the weekend, the stock market continues to climb, and he's allowing Democrats in disarray stories to dominate coverage — is he getting more disciplined? This weekend, Democrats (and their friends in the media) started to understand the problem of them covering for Biden. Everything they accused and now accuse Trump of doing, they were doing themselves. Watch Alex Thompson discussing a Biden aide talking about White House staffers running the country. In Thompson's words, aides were willing to do 'undemocratic things.' If that isn't a threat to democracy, what is? And yet time and time again, Democrats and the media looked the other way because they didn't want to help Trump. The problem for Democrats isn't that they hid Biden's health or, in the case of the media, that they covered for Biden. The problem is that any criticism of Trump now seems hollow. Fair question: They must answer why they were so unconcerned when Biden actually did what they are now accusing Trump of. Tweet of the weekend: From Glenn Greenwald: 'Jake Tapper — at the age of 56 and after 30 years in what one may loosely call 'journalism' — pretends to have just woken up and realized what is, in fact, the first axiom of Journalism 101: politicians and governments lie and journalists shouldn't blindly believe them (😲).' Quote of the weekend: Scott Pelley of CBS News gave a commencement speech at Wake Forest University this weekend where he said, 'In this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack … And insidious fear is reaching through our schools. Our businesses, our homes and into our private thoughts. The fear to speak in America!' OK, Pelley … You mean like all the people deplatformed and canceled for questioning COVID-19 vaccines? Or those who were called conspiracy nuts for questioning Biden's health? Or like all the years that '60 Minutes' focused on hatred of Trump? You get the idea. What would President Newsom Do? You should ask yourself after that watching a video of mass 'unrest,' aka riots, in Los Angeles. What would President Pritzker Do? Ask yourself that after watching Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declare celebration for 'Africa Day.' For those keeping count, 24 people were shot and three died in his city over the weekend. Democrats nationally will own the problems of their biggest cities, but their 'leadership' is far too scared to force change. Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Taking Stock
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. Memorial Day: On Memorial Day a few years ago, I asked a Gold Star family what their son would have thought about the 'celebrations' (barbecues, trips, sales) that seem to totally miss the point of honoring and visiting our war dead. He would have wanted to be remembered, they said, but then everybody celebrates the freedoms he died for. That has always stuck with me. Coming sacrifice: JD Vance, speaking at the Naval Academy, issued an ominous warning, saying the 'era of uncontested U.S. dominance is OVER.' 'Harvard Derangement Syndrome': Harvard psychology professor Steve Pinker opines in The New York Times, 'As the country's oldest, richest and most famous university, Harvard has always attracted outsize attention. In the public imagination, the university is both the epitome of higher learning and a natural magnet for grievances against elites.' Be fair: Pinker is a big deal and has criticized his university before — it took guts. Watch tonight: He joins us to discuss Harvard's fight against President Trump. Memorial Day marks the start of summer; Labor Day, the end of summer; and the Christmas holidays mark the end of the year. During those three times, we collectively take stock of where we are as a country and how we feel. We are with family and friends, relaxed with extra days off. On Memorial Day specifically, we are excited about the summer ahead, the long days and the warm evenings. It's the time of graduations, weddings, coming summer vacations and more. So, where are we? Gas prices are lower than last year Today's national average: $3.19 One year ago: $3.61 Prices of groceries and the like are up about 50 cents across items Eggs are up about $1.64 from last year, according to data from NBC News The stock market is significantly higher (10%) One year ago, former President Biden was one month away from his disastrous debate Today, Trump's approval rating is minus-1.8% This time last year, Biden's approval rating was minus-15% This time last year, only 24% of Americans said the country was on the right track Now, it's nearly double that: 43% The percentage of Americans who said the country is on the wrong track dropped 68% to 50.9% This must be good, right? Looking at the 'right track' versus 'wrong track' perspective feels better to me than looking at the strictly political views in presidential approval ratings. Common sense tells us people are more optimistic about the direction of the country towards traditional values, but perhaps less optimistic about the economy, especially if you look at the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. How much of that is because of the media coverage? Last year, the media told us how great the economy was, but this year, they tell us President Trump is driving us off a fiscal cliff. A question: Where is Biden this weekend? Why aren't reporters camped out in Rehoboth, Delaware, to ask questions when he gets ice cream? What about Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti? They formed the so-called 'Politburo,' as described by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Have you seen their pictures anywhere outside of NewsNation? Have any reporters tracked down and followed former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.? Where are they this weekend? Read more from Kim Strassel at The Wall Street Journal. Why has the Biden story disappeared so quickly? Trump's crypto coin dinner replaced it — what are you going to be talking about this weekend? President Trump's crypto coins or former President Biden? On the eve of Memorial Day weekend five years ago, a mob surrounded and assaulted me outside the White House at a Black Lives Matter protest that turned into a riot. That summer, looting and rioting became acceptable. Police became the enemy. COVID-19 lockdowns didn't matter so long as you were protesting. A neo-Marxist worldview of the oppressed versus the oppressor, based on our relative wealth and power, took over the country. In other words, we lost our minds. Five years later, a gunman shouting 'Free Palestine' executed two Israeli diplomats on the streets of Washington, D.C. We can argue the exact percentage of causation, but Black Lives Matter morphed into the pro-Hamas movement. It's largely the same leaders with the same agenda driven by the same ideology. Don't worry: The American media's hearts and minds are still with Black Lives Matter (and the pro-Hamas types) in believing that white people are the problem. Today, NBC wrote, 'The number of white nationalist, hate and anti-government groups around the U.S. dropped slightly in 2024, not because of any shrinking influence but rather the opposite. Many feel their beliefs, which include racist narratives and so-called Christian persecution, have become more normalized in government and mainstream discourse.' Today from The New York Times: 'The slaying of two Israeli Embassy workers cast a harsh spotlight on pro-Palestinian groups in the United States. Activists, who were already being scrutinized, could face further pushback.' Yes, the video of George Floyd dying illustrated a real problem: The (sometimes) legitimate complaints about overzealous 'racist' policing. Well-intentioned kids and white suburban moms joined the protests and put up Black Lives Matter signs. In reality, the problem of race relations in America is now worse. America's major cities are worse off. Just take a look at New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Philly and Atlanta. Was it worth it? Are the people whom the Black Lives Matter movement was supposed to help better off? Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Colliding Forces
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. 1 in 7: I am thoroughly convinced Rachel is among the 1 in 7 who would dump their partner to save their dog, according to a new study. It's an interesting question — staying with your partner vs. your dog dying? And are you among the 1 in 7? If so, why? If not, why not? We'll share some of the best responses on air Thursday! Hottest take: From our buddy Erick Erickson, who writes on X, 'I'm still not convinced this is anything other than a hostage situation with Stockholm Syndrome.' The news: Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old CAPTOR girlfriend are now engaged Once again, we're saying that the only people allowed for public shaming are old men dating young women. Why can't we all be happy for love?! Politics is pretty simple: What's bad for your enemy is good for you. The growing scandal around former President Biden's health is bad for Democrats and great for Trump — oh, the irony. The more the media focuses on Biden lying and those covering for him, the more maneuvering room Trump gets to pass his 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' The more Democrats answer for their constant assurances about Biden's health when he was president, the less credibility they have on anything. Let's start with the Biden cover-up and media redemption attempt. First off — many in the media haven't learned from their mistakes For example, a 'CBS Mornings' guest (and Biden lackey) explained without any anchor pushback that the White House doctors wouldn't have tested Biden's PSA numbers to save money. It was equally laughable when White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered age questions by saying the staff can't keep up with him Oh yes, like the time she was on with Jake Tapper. Wait – isn't Jake Tapper the guy who just wrote a book about the cover-up?! Right, now you are understanding. Watch tonight: We'll talk to Alex Thompson, the reporter who actually dug into Biden's health — and paid a real price — in his first NewsNation interview about his book with Jake Tapper, 'Original Sin.' Was it really a cover-up if nobody was questioning it? What else is Biden covering up with his cancer diagnosis? A Biden spokesperson tells NewsNation, 'President Biden's last known PSA was in 2014. Prior to Friday, President Biden had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer.' Why on Earth should we believe them? How many of their interviews are with public officials (now spilling beans on Biden's mental lapses) who openly lied to the American public during their time in office? Do they deserve protection? The Biden legacy issue could determine Trump's presidency. Here is how: Trump knows his 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is his first, last and best chance to enshrine his legacy in law. Because of the 60-vote supermajority in the Senate required for most bills, Republicans must pass everything in a bill through 'reconciliation.' Personal privilege: Much like the body positivity movement demanding acceptance of fat people as healthy and beautiful, MAGA wants us to believe massive spending bills and big (fat) government are beautiful. Neither is true. When it comes to the government, big is not beautiful — I am an unapologetic fiscal conservative — the old-fashioned kind. Precious few of us are left. Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is high risk, high reward — as are most things with Trump. He can afford to lose a couple of Republican votes … but that's it. Trump destroyed one of Democrats' biggest talking points by reportedly telling Republican congressmen don't 'f**k with Medicaid.' So now what? — Trump's political genius strikes again For moderate Democrats, it will be difficult to vote against the bill. They love big government. They think it's beautiful. There's no cuts to Medicare — and it includes a continuation of Trump tax cuts. The next three weeks combine the explosive (Biden's health) with the mundane (tax legislation on Capitol Hill). Who said summer in Washington can't be fun? Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
