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What Happened Today – December 28, 2025

They built the weapons being used against them.

Brian Cole Jr. confessed to placing pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC the night before the January 6 riots in 2021. He told the FBI someone needed to “speak up” for people who believed the 2020 election was stolen. Pam Bondi and Kash Patel held a press conference to claim credit. They will never say the words “stolen election” in the same sentence as his motive.

In Georgia, the Republican Party filed an ethics complaint against an anonymous group spending $5 million on attack ads against Trump’s endorsed candidate for governor. They’re demanding donor disclosure and calling it a “dangerous precedent.” These are the same Republicans who fought campaign finance reform for decades. Citizens United was their victory. Now the dark money is pointed at them and suddenly transparency matters.

They’re losing by the rules they wrote and claims they made. Pay attention to who complains about the rules only when they’re losing.

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Today's Quote
Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but I was explaining to the president, President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding. Including supplying energy, electricity, and other things at very low prices.
Trump speaking to reporters after meeting with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago on December 28, 2025
Yesterday's Most Read

New reporting reveals cannabis CEO's 18-month lobbying campaign and seven-figure donations led to Trump's marijuana rescheduling, overriding Speaker Johnson and 22 senators.

Today’s GovBrief News


Foreign Relations 1 of 6

State Department announces $2 billion for UN humanitarian aid, down from $17 billion historically, warns agencies to "adapt, shrink, or die" and excludes Afghanistan and Gaza from initial funding.

17 countries included in first round

Source: The Independent

December 28, 2025

Foreign Relations 2 of 6

Trump says he "understands" Russia's opposition to ceasefire that would let Ukraine hold referendum, calls Mar-a-Lago talks with Zelenskyy progress toward peace deal.

Russia controls 20% of Ukraine

Source: BBC

December 28, 2025

Military 3 of 6

Trump claims US "knocked out" drug facility in Venezuela last week, which would be first land attack in military campaign that has killed at least 105 people at sea since September.

Military, CIA, White House declined comment

Source: The New York Times [gift link]

December 28, 2025

Justice Dept 4 of 6

Justice Department is using False Claims Act, traditionally for billing fraud, to investigate Google, Verizon and other federal contractors for maintaining diversity hiring programs.

Triple damages possible if DOJ wins

Source: The Wall Street Journal

December 28, 2025

Criminal Justice 5 of 6

Man accused of placing pipe bombs at DNC and RNC headquarters on eve of January 6 confessed and said someone needed to "speak up" for those who believed 2020 election was stolen.

Nearly 5 year investigation

Source: Newsweek

December 28, 2025

Fighting Back 6 of 6

Georgia Republican Party files ethics complaint against anonymous group spending $5 million on attack ads targeting Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones without disclosing donors.

Ads running since Thanksgiving

Source: The Associated Press

December 28, 2025