Topic: Foreign Nationals

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the "rank insubordination" at USAID, noting that the agency refused to cooperate with the new administration's audit. Rubio explained that while the State Department has been cooperative in issuing waivers for essential foreign aid, USAID officials acted as if they were a global entity independent of U.S. national interests. The administration is currently deciding whether to fold necessary aid functions back into the State Department.

NPR interviewed a member of the Azov Battalion, a Ukrainian paramilitary unit with neo-Nazi affiliations that was folded into the National Guard. The report discusses the group's role in defending Mariupol and the presence of foreign fighters from the U.S. and Europe. Facebook recently overturned its ban on content related to the group.

Attorney Lee Dundas explains the implications of President Trump's 2018 Executive Order 13848, which declared a national emergency regarding foreign interference in U.S. elections. The order provides the government with broad powers to address unauthorized access to election infrastructure. A report from the Director of National Intelligence is expected by December 18th.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of defending the US Constitution against "designing men" and election fraud. A 2018 Executive Order regarding foreign interference in US elections is highlighted, which mandates a DNI assessment 45 days after an election. The hosts suggest the President may have anticipated the current challenges to election integrity.

FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub issued a public statement clarifying that it is illegal for political candidates to solicit or accept anything of value from foreign nationals. This was a direct response to President Trump's comments about Norway or other countries providing opposition research. The segment also explores the specific exemptions of the Hatch Act, which generally exclude the President and Vice President.

CBS News coverage suggests that the chemical attack occurred just days after the Trump administration signaled that Bashar al-Assad could remain in power. The hosts question the logic of Assad launching a gas attack immediately after receiving a diplomatic reprieve. They also introduce Ambassador Nikki Haley's role at the UN and her stance on the Syrian regime.

President Obama signed a continuation of a national emergency regarding Belarus, citing human rights abuses and undemocratic elections. Critics argue the real reason for the designation is Belarus's strategic role in Vladimir Putin's energy pipelines. The move is seen as a way to exert pressure on Russia's allies under the guise of promoting democratic values.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies that Edward Snowden's disclosures have caused "profound damage" to national security and put lives at risk. Clapper refers to Snowden's "accomplices," a term the media interpreted as a threat to journalists like Glenn Greenwald. Clapper claims adversaries are "going to school" on U.S. intelligence methods due to the leaks.

President Obama's previous remarks on the necessity of foreign aid are revisited. He argued that such assistance is a fundamental national security tool rather than charity, intended to prevent more costly wars. The hosts suggest this rhetoric was designed to protect the funding of the Egyptian military regardless of political upheavals.

Despite Brazil's status as a rising "BRIC" economy, observations from the Brasilia airport suggest systemic inefficiencies. An anecdote describes airline employees using luggage conveyor belts as a primary means of personal transportation within the terminal.

The hosts analyze media reports suggesting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is mentally unstable or suffering from substance abuse. They critique an MSNBC segment featuring former UN official Peter Galbraith, who claims Karzai is prone to tirades and may be using drugs. The discussion frames these allegations as a coordinated character assassination by the Council on Foreign Relations and the White House following Karzai's lack of cooperation with U.S. interests.