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TexasTowelie

TexasTowelie's Journal
TexasTowelie's Journal
December 14, 2025

Sen. Murphy: Trump, White House 'in the pocket of the gun lobby' - CNN



"President Trump has been engaged in a dizzying campaign to increase violence in this country," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said. He discusses the shootings in Rhode Island and Bondi Beach with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union."
December 14, 2025

Raphael Warnock urges people to find 'common humanity' amid shootings worldwide: Full interview - NBC News



In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) says Americans should “dig deep” into their “common humanity” in the wake of shootings on Brown University’s campus and at Australia’s Bondi Beach.
December 14, 2025

Special Report: Targeted shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach leaves multiple dead - NBC News



At least 11 people were killed in a shooting targeting the Jewish community at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach, and 29 people were taken to the hospital. NBC News’ Raf Sanchez reports on the terrifying scene and the shocking video that appears to show one of the shooters being disarmed.
December 14, 2025

ShamWow Guy Joins MAGA... Launches Anti-Woke Run For Congress - Rebel HQ



The ShamWow guy is now running for Congress to “end wokeism,” and it’s every bit as bizarre as it sounds. His pitch looks less like a serious campaign and more like another cash grab wrapped in culture war buzzwords. Richard Ojeda breaks it down on Rebel HQ.
December 14, 2025

Belarus to become Russia's missile platform - Eastern Express - TVP WORLD



Belarus is preparing to host Russia’s new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system, a deployment with continent-wide consequences.

Minsk claims it is a defensive step, but the system’s command structure and mobility suggest a forward posture designed for escalation. This episode breaks down who really controls Oreshnik, what the new missile base near Pavlovka reveals, and why Belarus – and not Russia – would be the first retaliatory target.

We examine the risks for NATO, Ukraine, and the entire region as warning times shrink and strike ranges expand.
December 14, 2025

Lovett Destroys Trump's Pathetic Attempts to Lie About His Flailing Economy - Lovett or Leave It



What a week! On Lovett or Leave it, Jon gets into Donald Trump’s reaction to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 60 Minutes interview, Trump’s lies on the economy and affordability, The Warner Brothers merger and the strength of Democracy.

CHAPTERS
0:00 - What a week!
8:43 - Ad break
11:15 - What a week! Cont.
December 14, 2025

"It's Over": Putin Can No Longer Control Kadyrov - The Russian Dude



For years, Vladimir Putin has sold the image of absolute control over Russia’s regions, projecting the illusion of a perfectly centralized “vertical of power.” But nowhere does that myth fall apart faster than in Chechnya. This video breaks down why Putin cannot truly control Ramzan Kadyrov, why the Kremlin pretends otherwise, and why this fragile arrangement is now cracking under the pressure of war, budget exhaustion, and political reality. Chechnya was never reintegrated into Russia like other regions. It was subcontracted. Putin traded money and autonomy for stability, allowing Kadyrov absolute internal control in exchange for public loyalty. That deal worked only as long as Moscow could afford it.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine consumes more than a third of the federal budget, the financial foundation of that loyalty is eroding. Chechnya survives on subsidies, not ideology, and loyalty rented with money becomes unstable when cash runs short. The video examines how Kadyrov’s allegiance is transactional, not patriotic, and why Putin cannot enforce obedience without risking another Chechen war. Real-world examples of open defiance expose the truth: Chechnya quietly reduced mobilization during Russia’s manpower crisis, and Kadyrov’s forces failed to act during the Wagner mutiny—both without consequences. In any other region, such actions would be treated as treason.

This analysis explains why Putin tolerates selective obedience, why he cannot afford to push back, and how Chechnya has become a dangerous symbol of Moscow’s shrinking authority. As the war drags on and Russia’s economy bleeds resources, the illusion of control grows thinner. Putin still pretends Chechnya is loyal, but behind the scenes, power is negotiated, not commanded. This is what the early collapse of central authority looks like: exceptions, special rules, and a leader forced to choose between losing in Ukraine or losing Chechnya.
December 13, 2025

After the United States agreed to lift sanctions on potash 123 prisoners were let go - DW News



Among those released was prominent opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova. She was one of dozens of political prisoners freed near the Belarus-Ukraine border. In neighboring Lithuania, Nobel peace prize winner Ales Bialiatski was let go at the US embassy in the capital Vilnius. Authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko agreed to the pardons as part of a US-brokered deal.

00:00 Belarus releases 123 political prisoners

01:18 Konstantin Eggert, DW Eastern Europe and Russia analyst

05:31 Hanna Liubakova, Belarusian journalist and political analyst with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center

10:20 Katia Glod, Belarus and Russia expert at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre and Center for European Policy Analysis

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 02:57 AM
Number of posts: 124,903

About TexasTowelie

Retired/disabled middle-aged white guy who believes in justice and equality for all. Math and computer analyst with additional 21st century jack-of-all-trades skills. I'm a stud, not a dud!
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