Category: The Washington Free Beacon
‘National Disgrace’: Largest Federal Workers’ Union Rips Into Democrats, Demands Government Reopening
With the government shutdown nearing the one-month mark, the nation’s largest union representing federal workers, a close Democratic ally, is demanding that Democratic senators join Republicans in passing a House-approved resolution to reopen the government.
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How China can use GPS against us — a disaster waiting to happen
China has developed multiple ways to avoid using a global positioning system — if it needs to — in the event it launches an attack on the West’s systems.
Using a combination of Cold War-era technology and advanced GPS methodology, China — in conjunction with other American adversaries — has insulated itself from attacks on its systems in order to achieve an operational edge for its most crucial technologies.
‘The United States and a lot of our Western allies are kind of uniquely vulnerable right now.’
GPS provides the required background for telecommunications networks, electric grids, banking systems, and also mass transport. In addition, it guides precision munitions and military equipment, while providing conventional navigation for the average person in their car or smartphone.
Aiden Buzzetti, president of the pro-America nonprofit Bull Moose Project, told Return in an exclusive interview that the United States is out in the open in terms of a potential GPS-related attack.
“We know that the Russians jam GPS … in the Baltics, the commercial flights in Sweden and Finland, and that general region will run into issues because of GPS interference by the Russians,” Buzzetti told Return. “The North Koreans do it, too. Basically all of the the main adversaries of the United States in some way or another practice GPS jamming. Whether it’s Iran going after bases … it’s a pretty consistent theme across the board.”
Because of this ongoing threat, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia have all built a layer of protection surrounding their use of GPS.
“The United States and a lot of our Western allies are kind of uniquely vulnerable right now,” Buzzetti explained. “We rely a lot on the satellite signals, but in their own countries, they’ve been using some older technologies, some Cold War-era technologies and then newer terrestrial technologies to make sure that they’re not vulnerable to the same kind of attacks that we are.”
The technology Buzzetti is referring to ranges from unique and seemingly outdated to complex and futuristic.
RELATED: America doesn’t need to copy the Chinese. We need to beat them.
Aiden Buzzetti, president of the Bull Moose Project
In a report about securing the U.S. 5G network and GPS infrastructure, Bull Moose wrote that enemies of the state have been hard at work “future-proofing” their positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities.
The same countries have engaged in “navigation warfare,” the document alleges, but have continuously implemented the following systems to give themselves a decisive strategic edge in electronic warfare:
Loran-C radio navigation network
This radio navigation system, first implemented in the 1950s, uses a receiver to determine its position by listening to low-frequency radio signals transmitted by radio beacons.
Operating at 100 kHz, China has continued its ongoing usage and integrated its systems with South Korea’s and Russia’s to create the regional Far East Radio Navigation Service, established in 1989.
Simply put, Loran-C is an old radio system that ships and planes use to calculate distance through the help of signals from radio towers.
Inertial navigation systems/quantum positioning
These systems use motion sensor and a computer to continuously calculate position based off a previously determined fixed point. In quantum positioning for example, gyroscopes and accelerometers are used to determine velocity and orientation without the use of external signals, unlike a GPS.
Gyroscopes measure angular velocity, while an accelerator measures the proper acceleration of an object, meaning how fast an object is speeding up or slowing down.
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A cell tower for 5G network among buildings is pictured on January 1, 2021 in Qingdao, Shandong Province of China. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images
LEO satellites
In addition to these methods, China has significantly increased its use of low-Earth orbit satellites, launching dozens at a time as recently as this summer, along with launches dating back to 2024.
The result is now a network of LEO satellites that provides faster communication (internet), surveillance capabilities, and support for GPS systems that are much harder to jam than medium Earth orbit GPS signals.
Essentially, they could be considered China’s version of Starlink.
“China is ensuring that no single point of failure can knock out its navigation capabilities,” Buzzetti said, adding that if the United States does not work to shore up its systems, it could be vulnerable to attacks that take down entire categories of essential infrastructure. Because China has been diligent in ensuring it does not rely on GPS, he suggested, the United States should re-examine the companies that lobby and work within the United States on communications projects and, where necessary, abandon them.
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‘Whiny’ Kamala Harris teases presidential run despite polling worse than the Rock
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has teased another presidential run despite her historic 2024 loss and widespread unpopularity.
Even after her brutal electoral loss in November, Harris said in a recent interview that her political career was “not done” and that serving in public office was “in [her] bones.”
‘They put you as an outsider, even behind Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.’
“I am not done,” Harris said. “I have lived my entire career a life of service, and it’s in my bones, and there are many ways to serve.”
“I have not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I am doing right now.”
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Although Harris teased the idea of being the first female president, the interviewer gave her a blunt reality check. The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg pushed back, pointing out that she’s simply not popular enough to be a politically viable candidate.
“But when you look at the bookies’ odds, they put you as an outsider, even behind Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson,” Kuenssberg said. “I mean, is that underestimating you?”
“I think there are all kinds of polls that will tell you a variety of things,” Harris said. “I’ve never listened to polls. If I listened to polls, I would have not run for my first office or my second office. And I certainly wouldn’t be sitting here in this interview.”
Losing to Trump in all seven swing states and in the popular vote indicated a resounding rejection from the American people. Even still, Harris seems to remain hopeful of the presidency, which critics attribute to simple self-delusion.
“Kamala came across as a whiny, delusional, angry and bitter woman who cannot accept that she was a terrible candidate who got the shellacking she deserved at the ballot box,” Piers Morgan said in a post on X. “No chance she ever gets another go at it.”
RELATED: Democrats feign outrage as Trump administration shutdown layoffs hit: ‘They seem to be enjoying it’
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Although Harris made clear that preliminary polls won’t deter her from weighing her options, the failed candidate may have some stiff competition.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California also hinted at a presidential bid in a recent interview with CBS, saying he would be lying if he didn’t acknowledge the possibility.
“Who the hell knows?” Newsom said. “I’m looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. That’s the question for the American people.”
When pressed about whether he would consider running after the 2026 midterms, Newsom admitted that it was a real possibility.
“Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom replied.
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Trump’s ‘chainsaw’ ally wins key election in South America
Since taking office in December 2023, Argentina’s self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” President Javier Milei has successfully taken a “chainsaw” to his leftist predecessors’ ruinous policies and rescued his nation from an economic death spiral.
Despite delivering significant results, the fate of the Argentine president’s libertarian agenda and his nation’s continued support from the U.S. were conditional on the success of Milei’s Freedom Advances party in Sunday’s midterm elections.
Fortunately for Milei and his anti-left alliance with the United States, the Freedom Advances party prevailed over its leftist rivals in almost every district in the country, securing nearly 41% of the national vote — far and above the result reportedly expected by the Milei government.
Milei’s party picked up 64 seats in the lower house of the Argentine National Congress and 12 seats in the Senate. The ruling party exceeded the threshold necessary to sustain Milei’s presidential vetoes.
President Donald Trump congratulated Milei “on his Landslide Victory” early Monday morning, noting, “Our confidence in him was justified by the People of Argentina.”
“He’s making us all look good. Congratulations Javier!” added Trump.
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Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images
“The [Argentine] president is fighting 100 years of bad economic history and policy,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at an Oct. 14 Cabinet meeting where Milei was present. “There’s a midterm election coming up. We think he’s going to do quite well and then continue his reform agenda.”
Bessent indicated that whereas the Obama administration “wasted” an opportunity to support Latin American governments when they moved center-right politically, the Trump administration is forming economic bridges with like-minded nations that “want to do the right thing.”
‘The entire country confirmed its will to irreversibly change the destiny of our homeland.’
In the case of Argentina, whose stability Bessent indicated was “in the strategic interest of the United States,” American support recently came in the form of a $20 billion currency swap — a lifeline bypassing the International Monetary Fund that is aimed at economically stabilizing the country — and the possibility of $20 billion more in private credit.
Trump underscored the importance of the election and noted that if Milei and his party didn’t win, the U.S. would “not be generous with Argentina.”
“Our approvals are somewhat subject to who wins the election because if a socialist or — in the case of New York City — a communist wins, you feel a lot differently about making an investment,” said Trump, suggesting further that the U.S. wouldn’t waste money supporting a government kneecapped by or captive to a leftist philosophy.
Milei noted in his victory speech that when the new lawmakers take their congressional seats in December, Argentina “will have the most reformist Congress in Argentina,” and his party will work to make Argentina “the most free country in the world,” reported the Buenos Aires Herald.
“Today, the entire country confirmed its will to irreversibly change the destiny of our homeland,” added Milei.
Florida Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R) stated on Sunday, “Milei is the moral reference for the hemisphere, the exact opposite of Maduro. He’s proving that freedom, capitalism, and democracy still work. President Trump recognizes that, and together we can help Latin America prosper with those same values.”
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‘Last Days’ brings empathy to doomed Sentinel Island missionary’s story
It would be easy to demonize John Allen Chau, the Christian missionary who died while trying to bring the Bible to a remote tribe. The 26-year-old could have introduced new diseases to the North Sentinel Island community, causing serious harm. He also vowed to invade a community that craves isolation above all.
Now imagine a Hollywood film capturing Chau’s short, dramatic life. The industry isn’t known for sympathetic close-ups on faith, to be generous.
‘Whenever we go into places where we’re not comfortable, the first thing is, “I have to impose my point of view. Here’s my worldview.”‘
Yet veteran director Justin Lin (“Star Trek Beyond,” the “Fast & Furious” franchise) took a less expected path in bringing the young man’s life to theaters.
Justin Lin. Photo: Giles Keyte
Quick to judge
“Last Days” stars Sky Yang as John, a determined Christian who vowed to do something remarkable with his life. He risked everything to travel to the North Sentinel Island, hoping to share Jesus Christ’s message.
The story ended tragically, but Lin’s film portrays Chau as a kind-hearted lad whose complicated life led him to his fate. Lin isn’t a Christian, but he treated the material with care and empathy. That wasn’t his first reaction.
“It’s very easy to judge and dismiss. That’s what I did when the story broke,” Lin told Align of the initial news reports, the kind of “hot take” that swiftly decried Chau’s fateful decision. “It didn’t sit well with me that I was so quick to judge and dismiss him.”
A father’s story
An Outside Magazine feature on Chau’s life had a powerful effect on the filmmaker. The story shared Chau’s father’s perspective on his late son, among other details.
That rocked Lin.
“I have a teenage son. As a parent, I know exactly what he was going through, how you’re trying to impart your wisdom, make sure they’re not going through any hardships,” he said. “What I learned from that article was that if you do it on your timeline, and your son is not ready, you just miss each other.”
The project didn’t involve fast cars or intergalactic travel, but the change of pace spoke to the veteran filmmaker.
“I really wanted to try something different,” added Lin, even if he wouldn’t have the kind of blockbuster budget at his back.
“It’s going to be a run-and-gun, small crew,” he imagined before reading more from the real Chau’s diary. “In John’s writing, he was clearly inspired by adventure novels and Hollywood films. … I’m going to honor that and be the signpost for our film. … It’s an intimate story, but it has to feel like a big Hollywood film.”
He called in some professional favors to give the film a Tinsel Town sheen that otherwise might not have been feasible.
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Still courtesy Pictures from the Fringe
Fresh perspectives
Lin approached Chau’s faith delicately, while acknowledging the dubious decisions he made along the way. A mid-film romance ends unexpectedly, for example, allowing for fresh perspectives on Chau’s quest.
That balance came via an extensive effort on the director’s part.
“Whenever we go into places where we’re not comfortable, the first thing is, ‘I have to impose my point of view. Here’s my worldview.’ I made that commitment early on to say, ‘No,’” he said. “Taking three years of my life [for this film] … was to connect with his humanity.”
More with less
“Last Days” looks as lush as a $100+ million film, the kind that Lin routinely delivers. He didn’t have those resources nor an A-list cast to bring John Chau’s life to the big screen. Yang is a minor revelation, while Ken Leung’s turn as the young man’s father is heartbreaking.
Lin has a knack for doing more with less.
“I made a credit card movie for $250,000, and that movie opened the door and gave me all these opportunities,” said Lin of “Better Luck Tomorrow,” his 2002 breakthrough made by maxing out his personal credit limit. The film earned $3.8 million theatrically, a tidy sum given the budget. Hollywood swiftly came calling.
“Last Days” may have an indie sensibility, but Lin still felt the pressure to “nudge” the film in certain directions. The real Chau refused to be “boxed in” by society, yet the film industry tried to do just that with the film.
“Can you make this a Christian movie?” he recalled of the behind-the-scenes chatter about “Last Days.” … I didn’t understand or even appreciate that kind of nudge. … ‘If you really wanna be marketable, you should do more of this.’ Those conversations for me ended very quickly.”
“That is a challenge with independent films … the temptation. … ‘If I give you all this money, can you cast my son?’ Those are all choices you encounter,” he said.
Lin will find himself on more familiar ground with the upcoming “BRZRKR,” based on the Boom! Studios comic book co-created by Keanu Reeves. The “John Wick” star served as an angel investor in “Last Days.”
“I didn’t grow up wanting to make action movies, but I ended up enjoying the process,” he admitted.
The public got a sneak peek at “Last Days” during the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, months before its Oct. 24 theatrical rollout. The post-screening Q and A left him hopeful he had accomplished what he had set out to do with the film.
“Five minutes in, they could find a common bridge in [the film],” Lin recalled. “We need that now more than ever.”
Trump Builds Diplomatic Momentum Securing Peace, Trade Deals Ahead Of Looming Meeting With China
‘I’m very honored to have done it. We’ve saved millions of lives’
‘We All Have a Trump Problem’: UN Official Angling for Role in Post-War Gaza Has History of Bashing Trump
A senior U.N. official jockeying for a prominent role in implementing President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan has a history of bashing Trump on his personal X account. Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in Gaza, has advocated for foreign leaders to boycott the president and warned the world has “a Trump problem,” among many other insults in more than two dozen social media posts reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon.
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US-China trade deal ‘really going to depend’ on Trump, Xi talks, trade official says
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer touted progress on a trade agreement with China but said he thinks the deal’s ultimate success depends on President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Greer was asked how close U.S. officials are to getting the deal “across the finish line.” “It’s really…
How Trump’s Asia Pivot Can Pack a Punch
As Donald Trump boards Air Force One for the first East Asia trip of his second term, he is confronting the main challenge facing the United States and the one that will define his legacy: the ongoing competition with China. There are reasonable grounds for optimism in the White House, but fending off the communist