Lawmaker doubles down on claim that NJ drones are from Iran By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, DC Published: 19:56, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 19:58, 12 December 2024 e-mail Advertisement A congressman is standing by his bombshell claim that mysterious drones sighted over his state are coming from an 'Iranian mothership' off the east coast. Jeff Van Drew, A New Jersey Republican, repeated his assertion less than one day after the Pentagon said it is not true. He accused the Pentagon of being 'incredibly stupid and incredibly weak' when it comes to addressing the drones. 'I had credible individuals who have high security ratings, and they came to me and again, these are dependable, credible individuals that have security clearance that felt they wanted to clear the air,' Van Drew told Fox News on Thursday. 'They were in essence whistleblowers and said look, they believe there's a real possibility it could be Iran ,' the lawmaker insisted. 'There could be a ship out. Not right on the coast of New Jersey , not right there, but these drones as sighted by the coast guard are coming in and out of the ocean,' he continued. It came one day after Van Drew make the jaw-dropping claim point blank that his sources said Iran had launched a 'mothership' about a month ago where the drones are based, and it's now stationed off the coast. Van Drew argued Thursday the U.S. is not being told the truth and the American public are being treated as 'stupid.' His accusations came in response to the Pentagon, which shot down his initial claim almost immediately Wednesday afternoon. 'There's no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called "mothership" launching drones toward the United States,' said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh. She reiterated the Pentagon does not believe the drones are coming from a foreign adversary but also stated they are not U.S. military drones. 'The government claims it's not them. They say it's not them, so who is it?' Van Drew asked Thursday. The GOP lawmaker claimed the drones are not the 'backyard drones' of a hobbyist and more sophisticated than those commercially available. He said the U.S. needs some real answers, but when asked to respond directly to the Pentagon rejecting his Iran claim, Van Drew expanded his accusations. 'These drones very well could be launched from a ship,' he insisted. 'It could be hundreds of miles out at sea. These types of drones go much greater distances.' 'So there is a real possibility. Could it be China? Absolutely. Could it be something else? It sure could,' he said. Van Drew said 'they don't know what it is, what it's about. They haven't taken one down to analyze it.' He said even if officials give more information, it's 'a month too late.' But the Pentagon was not the only one to dismiss the lawmaker's 'mothership' claims. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also slammed Van Drew's original comments about the drones coming from Iran as a 'wild assertation.' He noted the FBI said there was zero evidence to support Van Drew's original claim. 'I'm not sure what he's been watching lately, but he might want to watch the news,' Murphy responded in a radio interview with WNYC. He has been in contact with the White House over the situation. The governor said he understands people are frustrated and called it a top priority. The FBI and local and state officials have been investigating the mysterious drone sightings that witnesses have spotted on numerous occasions. Residents have noted the unexplained cluster of 'drones' and a possible fixed wing aircraft for several weeks which have sparked concerns as they have been seen flying over sensitive locations, such as military instillations. A top FBI official told House lawmakers on Tuesday that they still do not know where the drones are coming from or who is responsible for them. But he did note some of the drones are believed to be bigger than those commercially available. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need. Pentagon Fox News New Jersey Politics Share or comment on this article: Lawmaker doubles down on claim that NJ drones are from Iran e-mailNo. 21 Creighton's Steven Ashworth doubtful for Players Era Festival opener against Aztecs
Defense Department going big on generative AI to 'meet critical warfighter problems'The targeted killing carried out in the early morning in Midtown Manhattan was shocking enough. The top executive of a major health care insurance company gunned down on his way to an investors' meeting. The reaction on social media was swift and cruel, the collective wrath of Americans fuming over too many medical claims denied by an industry that cashed in on their misery. As Boston College historian Heather Cox Richardson noted in her blog, Luigi Mangione, the alleged young killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, became an instant folk hero. Days later, when he was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, police found in his backpack a three-page handwritten note that expressed remorse but said, “These parasites had it coming.” The manifesto noted that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world but is 42nd in life expectancy. ( ) Mangione, the 26-year-old, Ivy League graduate and former high-school valedictorian, in his twisted way, has put health care coverage and its rising costs at the center of our public dialogue. President-elect Donald Trump has given Robert F. Kennedy Jr. permission to “ ” on reforming the health care system if he becomes secretary of Health and Human Services, a nomination that unnerves both Democrats and Republicans. But first, the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has to be confirmed by a majority of the Senate. His long career as an attorney and activist who confronts corporate power could boost his chances. He meets the moment that is now before us. “I always had the feeling that we were all involved in some great crusade,” Kennedy once , explaining how his early fights as an anti-corporate environmental lawyer led him to become an anti-government health crusader. In the Trump era, there’s a market for speaking truth to power if power is defined by elite Democrats or the Deep State. Challenging the existing order is what Trump wants Kennedy to do, and it’s what Kennedy wants to do. The fury over UnitedHealthcare’s 32 percent denial rate—high by industry standards—cries out for someone with the courage to defy the existing order and its army of well-paid lobbyists. Deny, depose, defend—the watchwords of an insurance industry that did well for itself, but not enough for others. RFK Jr. has stayed quiet during this interregnum while his record is being scrutinized and senators weigh their options—except his daughter-in-law as CIA director to investigate the agency’s possible involvement in his uncle’s 1963 assassination. RFK Jr.’s daughter-in-law meets with Trump’s chosen CIA director about possible job — Nick Baumann (@NickBaumann) Democrats are not going to save Kennedy if Republicans are willing to sink him. It would take four Republicans to short circuit his nomination. But if he’s going to win anyway, I could see some Democrats rolling the dice. Maryland Sen. Cory Booker, for example, loves the healthy living agenda that RFK Jr. celebrates. Vermont’s Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are natural fits for his anti-corporate positions. Paul Equale, a longtime lawyer and former lobbyist parts company with RFK Jr. on vaccines but, like others randomly questioned, is “right there with him on corn syrup and Big Ag and unhealthy food.” “During the Trump era, if someone is half right, liberals have to be a little bit gratified,” Equale tells the Daily Beast. Whether RFK Jr. makes it through the gauntlet depends on how much political capital Republicans will expend in their face-off with Trump. “RFK Jr. has such a wide range of toxicities, I can’t imagine any sane Democrat going for him,” Jonah Blank, a former Senate staffer, told the Daily Beast. “If Jared Polis were a senator, maybe,” he added, referring to the Democratic governor of Colorado who has cheered Kennedy’s nomination. Polis took heat for telling CNN, “I truly believe that RFK is not beholden to big pharma.” He also called the Kennedy scion “somebody who means what he says when he cares about reducing chronic disease through better nutrition” who can “do some good for public health.” Democrats lost the presidential election despite a strong economy and a legislative record that rivals FDR—not to mention a GOP presidential candidate who was a convicted felon, serial fabricator, adjudicated sexual abuser and an anti-immigrant , among other things. Trump did what Democrats failed to do: He tapped into the anger that our political and economic systems are not working for most Americans. “Trump cynically fuels the flames of discontent so he’s both the arsonist and the fireman while Democrats are just looking at the fire and saying how awful it is,” says the former Democratic Senate staffer. After Jan. 20, Trump will bear the burden of all the problems he blamed on Biden, including the accessibility and cost of health care. If RFK Jr. is confirmed as HHS secretary, will Trump give him free rein to assail the health insurers in charge? Where will budget cuts be made so Trump can fulfill his promise to extend tax cuts for billionaires? At last count, Trump has named eleven billionaires to his Cabinet. One thing we know, he’s not going to make them worse off. Will he listen to the multitude of voices on social media demanding change when that change could be costly for himself and his party?
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CALIFORNIA 83, SACRAMENTO STATE 77The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has signed the 2025 Appropriation bill of N675 billion into law. The bill passed by the Edo State House of Assembly was tagged: ‘Budget of Renewed Hope for A Rising Edo’. Speaking at the Government House, Benin City, Okphebholo said the budget would revive the economy of Edo State and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the State. He said: “I have just signed into law, a budget of 675,220,058,858.52 tagged a renewed Hope budget for a rising Edo. It is hoped that the 2025 approved budget will revive the economy of Edo State and deliver the dividend of democracy to the good people of the state.” He also mentioned that, in preparing the budget, special care was taken to ensure that a larger percentage was appropriated for capital expenditure. He stressed the administration’s commitment to embarking on a massive capital project in the new fiscal year. The Governor further commended the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and other members of the Assembly for the speedy consideration of the budget. Speaking earlier while presenting the bill to the governor, Rt Hon. Agbebaku said the budget was significantly increased from the initial sum of N605 billion to ensure more funds is allotted to the agricultural sector. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate NowLight & Wonder, Inc. Announcement: If You Have Suffered Losses in Light & Wonder, Inc. ...
Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Prices Offering of Series A Preferred StockLOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves, the Lakers announced Thursday. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It's unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers' next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. James missed his first game of his record-tying 22nd NBA season when the Lakers beat Portland at home last Sunday. That absence also was attributed to his foot injury. James is averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds for the Lakers (13-11), who have lost seven of 10 after a 10-4 start. The Lakers upgraded starter Austin Reaves to questionable for the game at Minnesota after he missed LA's previous five games with a pelvic bruise. Anthony Davis is listed as probable with left plantar fasciitis. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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