A Failed Secret Mission in North Korea, and a Government Shutdown Deadline, Your Friday News Quiz

The first Trump administration killed North Korean civilians in a botched secret operation on North Korean soil. Trump did not inform Congress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwn371XO31s

Why small-time criminals burned a London warehouse for Russia’s mercenary group Wagner

“By the time the fire was out more than £100,000 worth of goods had been destroyed including communications equipment for Starlink satellites, which have proved vital on the frontline in the war in Ukraine.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czjkke22gv9o

Pam Bondi fires three Jan. 6 prosecutors, sending another chill through DOJ workforce

If fired for appropriately investigating the president or his allies, then this is a great degradation of the rule of law. The U.S. cannot call itself a strong democracy when administrations can punish people for proper legal investigations. Future prosecutors and investigators will have to think twice before investigating any potential crimes by Trump or his friends. 

“At least three federal prosecutors who worked on cases against Jan. 6 rioters were fired Friday by the Justice Department, according to more than half a dozen current and former officials familiar with the dismissals.

A copy of one of the dismissal letters seen by NBC News was signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, notifying the recipient that they were “removed from federal service effective immediately.” No reason for the removal was stated in the letter.”…”The Trump administration in late January fired probationary federal prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases and prosecutors who worked on former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump. The administration also demoted some career prosecutors who worked on the Capitol siege investigation.Probationary workers are either recent hires or have taken new positions.The firings on Friday, though, marked the first time that career prosecutors who had worked Jan. 6 cases and who were past their probationary period of federal employment had been fired.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pam-bondi-fires-two-jan-225031625.html

The Administration That Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters Is Trying to Jail a Guy Over a Protest Banner

“Trump’s Justice Department is trying to jail a guy for trespassing on federal property in order to mount an illegal protest — a nonviolent version of what the president pardoned 1,500 people for doing.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/05/08/ed-martin-jan-6-trump-pardon-protester-00334168

Inside US Right-Wing Militias: Their Role In Jan 6th And The Republican Party | Joshua Kaplan | TMR

Sometimes violent militias grew stronger with Trump’s rise and are motivated by supporting him.

Facebook cracking down on these groups actively hurt their ability to recruit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y27jpnf2WO8

Was the Las Vegas Bombing a Case of the Afghan War Coming Home?

“The attack on Nimruz was, in fact, worse than what came before. Rather than the usual strikes on empty buildings at night, the U.S. military bombed buildings full of people during the day, and it was “the first time that UNAMA had received allegations of civilian casualties of such a scale,” according to the UNAMA report.”

https://reason.com/2025/01/06/was-the-las-vegas-bombing-a-case-of-the-afghan-war-coming-home/

At least 11 Baltic cables have been damaged in 15 months, prompting NATO to up its guard

At least 11 Baltic cables have been damaged in 15 months, prompting NATO to up its guard

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nato-deploying-eyes-sky-baltic-050639580.html