The Democrats Lie About January 6th and Donald Trump Receives Votes for Speaker of the House

On today’s episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Kevin McCarthy losing a record thirteen rounds of voting for Speaker of the House, and NFL player Damar Hamlin waking and alert, after suffering a heart attack.

Mark Frost - Economist, Professor, Consultant, and Libertarian | Underrated Drummers, Indonesia, and the Nature of Capitalism

Tyler Nixon - Attorney, Media Relations Specialist | The Media Hate Democracy, Kevin McCarthy Has No Political Ideology, and Politicians Only Worry about Winning Elections

In the first hour, Lee spoke with Mark Frost about economics in Indonesia, cultural appropriation, and the United States election interference in Indonesia. Mark spoke about the Western influence in Indonesia and Barack Obama's younger life in Indonesia. Mark explained the positives on cultural appropriation and Americans who have learned to hate capitalism.

In the second hour, Lee spoke with Tyler Nixon about conservatism, Donald Trump nominated for Speaker of the House, and the January 6th anniversary. Tyler commented on Republican Congressman Dan Crensahw and Crenshaw labeling anti McCarthy voters "terrorists". Tyler talked about the establishment US politicians support for conflict in Ukraine and how Ukraine has been used for corrupt purposes.

New US speaker Kevin McCarthy scores first win as House passes rules package

The vote on the blueprint -- described by top Democrat Jim McGovern as a "ransom note to America from the extreme right" -- came on the heels of one of the most turbulent weeks ever in the lower chamber of Congress.

Divisive new Speaker Kevin McCarthy jumped the first hurdle in his leadership of the chaotic US House of Representatives Monday as lawmakers approved a rules package determining how his Republicans will govern.

The vote on the blueprint -- described by top Democrat Jim McGovern as a "ransom note to America from the extreme right" -- came on the heels of one of the most turbulent weeks ever in the lower chamber of Congress.

Lawmakers almost came to blows in the newly Republican-controlled House as McCarthy was forced to go through 15 rounds of voting over four days to overcome a far right blockade to his candidacy.

"And not just is Washington broken, but the way that this House has been running for the last few years has not been designed to address the problems of the people from across this country."

Democrats complain, however, that the deals McCarthy cut to win the speaker vote have severely curtailed the role of Washington's top legislator and have ceded power to the most extreme Republicans.

A publicly available 55-page rules package lays out Republican priorities for the remainder of Democratic President Joe Biden's term and the operating procedures the party will adopt.

One of the headline measures is a panel to investigate the "weaponization of government" that is expected to zero in on the Justice Department's investigations into former president Donald Trump

Much of the package is boilerplate conservative politics such as provisions forcing lawmakers to cover increased spending with cuts elsewhere rather than new taxes.

But it also allows a single member of either party to force a vote to oust the speaker, an insurance policy that right-wingers will use to hold McCarthy's feet to the fire.

And it requires the House to bring to the floor a variety of right wing priorities, with a vote due later Monday on withdrawing more than $70 billion in extra funding agreed for the Internal Revenue Service.

The White House said Biden would veto the "reckless" legislation, which it argued would add nearly $115 billion to the deficit over a decade by "enabling wealthy tax cheats."

McCarthy could only afford to lose four of his lawmakers at most, with every Democrat voting against the rules package, but it passed by 220 votes to 213 as only one Republican voted no.

Yet McCarthy's most controversial concessions remain clouded in mystery, as they were negotiated off the books with the far right House Freedom Caucus and weren't in the official package.

"We don't know what (conservatives) got or didn't get. We haven't seen it," South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace told CBS on Sunday.

"We don't have any idea what promises were made or what gentleman's handshakes were made."

McCarthy has agreed for example to give the Freedom Caucus outsized sway over the day-to-day handling of legislation, according to US media, ceding significant leadership powers to the right flank.

Even more controversial is a pledge for talks with conservatives on taking up a 10-year budget that freezes spending at 2022 levels.

This would mean slashed funding for federal agencies -- and a likely 10 percent decrease in defense spending that Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, the only Republican "no" vote on the rules package, called a "horrible idea."

The cuts would delight many fiscal conservatives, except that they are largely symbolic since they would be dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The upper chamber can bounce back House legislation with tweaks if it has objections, triggering compromise talks between the two sides of Congress.

US House to Vote on Rules for 118th Congress Following McCarthy Concessions to Conference

The US House of Representatives on Monday will vote on adopting rules for the 118th Congress, following Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s deal with members of the House Republican Conference to alter the rules in exchange for supporting his leadership bid.

The lower chamber of Congress will consider adopting the new rules with first votes expected around 6:30 p.m. ET (23:30 GMT), the House Press Gallery said via Twitter. The session will be the seventh of the new Congress, with speaker elections having consumed most of the first legislative week.

©AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana

McCarthy brokered a deal with fellow House Republicans to change several House rules, including allowing a single member to call for the speaker’s removal at any time and limiting government spending.

The House will also consider on Monday the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, which would rescind unobligated amounts appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

West supplies Ukraine with expired weapons, says country’s envoy to London

©Photo : Facebook/BritishArmyPhotographers

Western countries supply Ukraine with weapons that have already expired, Ukrainian envoy to the United Kingdom Vadim Pristayko told the Newsweek magazine in an interview.

"Some of the equipment has expired dates. We joke that if you want to dispose of them, give them to us. We will send them in the right direction. In a normal, peaceful time, nobody would want it to talk in terms like that. But now, why not?" he said.

At the same time, Pristayko noted that recently there have been positive developments in the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. According to him, Kiev did not expect to receive Patriot missile defense systems. "We never expected a Patriot system. Seriously, this is a top of the line anti-ballistic missile system, which was totally out of the question. I guess tanks, helicopters and even planes are much easier now," he added.

Last week France announced deliveries of light tanks to Ukraine. Germany and the US then announced plans to deliver infantry fighting vehicles to the country. Germany also announced its intention to send a Patriot system to Kiev in addition to another such system previously promised by the US.

'Sources' Claim UK Could Give Challenger 2 Tanks to Ukraine

While Western countries have sent a bewildering hodgepodge of Soviet-era weaponry, NATO-standard artillery and lightly-armoured patrol vehicles to the Kiev regime, none have yet risked pitting their main battle tanks against Russian forces.

Western and Ukrainian 'sources' have claimed the British government is mulling a donation of its best tanks to Kiev to fight Russian forces.

The anonymous briefings to British TV news suggested Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government could donate 10 Challenger 2 main battle tanks (MBTs).

The Russian military destroyed the reinforcements of the Ukrainian troops with a massive blow.

"It would encourage others to give tanks," said the Ukrainian source. "It will be a good precedent to demonstrate others — to Germany first of all, with their Leopards… and Abrams from the United States."

US President Joe Biden approved the supply of 50 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) — lightly-armoured troop carriers mounting an autocannon and anti-tank missiles in a turret — and talked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz into adding 40 Marder IFVs last week. The latest dispatches came after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged an unspecified number of AMX-10 RC light tanks, reportedly up to 30, to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Eastern European nations have supplied hundreds of Soviet-era tanks to Kiev, types familiar to the Ukrainian army and which fire the same ammunition. But sending the supposedly more-advanced British, US and German tanks has been seen as a 'red line' in NATO member states, especially by Scholz.

However, Polish and Finnish ministers have tentatively offered to supply some of their German-made Leopard 2 or US M1 Abrams tanks if the major Western powers take the lead.

The Ministry of Defence did not confirm or deny the reports but merely reiterated it had "provided over 200 armoured vehicles to Ukraine to date — including Stormer vehicles armed with Starstreak missiles."

Like most western MBTs, the Challenger 2 is at least 50 per cent heavier than the latest Russian equivalents, as well as significantly longer and taller without boasting a more powerful gun or better armour protection. With add-on explosive-reactive and slat armour, the tank weighs in at 74 tonnes — compared to 48 tonnes for the Russian T-90M already fighting in the Donbass.

Russian Terminator BMPT in action as part of the special military operation in Ukraine (video courtesy of Russia’s MoD)

No new Challenger 2s have been produced since 2002, 21 years ago. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace revealed in March 2021 that 148 of the British Army's 227 operational tanks would be upgraded to the new Challenger 3 specification at a cost of around £1.3 billion — nearly £9 million per vehicle.

The UK and manufacturer Bae Systems have less at stake if the tanks are destroyed in combat, since the only export customer for the Challenger 2 is Oman. By contrast, the US has export M1 Abrams tanks to eight other countries, while 21 have bought the Leopard 2. Poland, which has already supplied at least 230 T-72 tanks to Ukraine, is set to have a mix of Leopard 2, Abrams and South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks in service.

The Russian MoD’s briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

• Russian Forces eliminated more than 50 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed two infantry combat vehicles and three other vehicles in the Kharkov region;



• The Russian Army eliminated more than 60 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed three armored combat vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Krasny Liman;








• The Russian Army eliminated more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed three infantry combat vehicles, one armored carrier and four other vehicles near Donetsk;



• Russian troops eliminated more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two armored combat vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Pavlovka and Shevchenko settlements (DPR);



• Russian Forces hit 89 Ukrainian artillery units at their firing positions;



• The Russian Army destroyed three Ukrainian ammunition depots in the DPR and in the Kharkov region;



• Russian troops destroyed two US-made AN/TPQ-50 radar stations in the DPR;



• Russian servicemen destroyed a US-made M777 artillery system in the LPR;



• The Russian Army destroyed two Polish Krab artillery systems, as well as two Ukrainian Akatsya self-propelled howitzers and one D-30 howitzer in the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region;



• Russian Air Forces shot down two Ukrainian aircraft and one helicopter in the DPR;



• Russian air defenses destroyed eight Ukrainian UAVs, as well as intercepted ten HIMARS and Uragan rockets.

More than 7000 nurses go on strike in New York City

© AP Photo / Craig Ruttle

More than 7,000 nurses at two hospitals in New York City went on strike early Monday morning demanding better pay, better working conditions and more staffing.

The strike began at 6 a.m. after nurses at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai Hospital in Harlem failed to reach an agreement with hospital administration during a bargaining session Sunday night, according to the New York State Nurses' Association.

"These nurses are dedicated professionals who provide quality patient care under unimaginable conditions day in and day out that were exacerbated by the pandemic," Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, a labor union, said in a statement Monday. "Now they are faced with the added challenge of short staffing that has reached critical levels and could compromise their ability to provide the best quality care to their patients."

"It is time for the hospitals to treat these nurses fairly, with the dignity and respect they deserve, and to negotiate in good faith, quickly, to ensure nurses can get back to serving their communities by providing superior care to their patients," the statement continued.

Strikes are occurring at three locations in the Bronx and one location in Manhattan and will occur until 7 p.m.

In a statement, Montefiore Medical Center said it offered a 19.1% compounded wage increase and promised to create more than 170 new nursing positions ahead of the strike.

"We remain committed to seamless and compassionate care, recognizing that the union leadership's decision will spark fear and uncertainty across our community," the statement read.

Mike Segar/ReutersStriking union nurses from the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) walk the picket line outside Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx borough of New York City, Jan. 9, 2023.
Mike Segar/Reuters

Mount Sinai told ABC News in a statement it also offered a 19.1% increased wage proposal but that nurses rejected the offer.

"Our first priority is the safety of our patients. We're prepared to minimize disruption, and we encourage Mount Sinai nurses to continue providing the world-class care they're known for, in spite of NYSNA's strike," Mount Sinai officials said.

Mount Sinai said it was preparing for the strike by "diverting a majority of ambulances," starting "to cancel some elective surgeries ... perform emergency surgery only," "starting to transfer patients" to other hospitals and medical centers, and "working to safely discharge as many patients as appropriate," according to an internal memo obtained by New York ABC station WABC.

Striking union nurses from the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) walk the picket line outside Montefiore Hospital, Jan. 9, 2023, in New York.
Mike Segar/Reuters

Gov. Kathy Hochul called for binding arbitration Sunday night to avert a strike, but union officials did not accept the proposal.

"Gov. Hochul should listen to frontline Covid nurse heroes and respect our federally protected labor and collective bargaining rights," NYSNA said in a statement. "Nurses don't want to strike. Bosses have pushed us to strike by refusing to seriously consider our proposals to address the desperate crisis of unsafe staffing that harms our patients."

The NYSNA also urged New Yorkers to not be fearful or concerned about seeking medical care due to the shrike.

"To all of our patients, to all New Yorkers, we want to be absolutely clear: If you are sick, please do not delay getting medical care, regardless of whether we are on strike," the organization tweeted. "In fact, we invite you to come join us on the strike line after you've gotten the care you need."

Russian Forces Take Village of Bakhmut Under Control

©Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskyi / Go to the mediabank

The Defense Staff of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said on Monday that the Russian forces had taken control of the village of Bakhmutskoe near the town of Soledar and northeast of Bakhmut (also known as Artyomovsk).

"As of January 9, 2023, the Russian armed forces liberated Bakhmutskoe on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," the Defense Staff wrote in its Telegram channel.

The Ukrainian-held town of Bakhmut, which is an important transport hub for supplying Ukrainian troops in Donbass, is located on the territory considered by DPR to be its part. Several highways and railroads go through the town. Both the Russian and Ukrainian forces have been fighting fiercely to capture the area over past few months.

Russian troops destroy 200 combat helicopters in Ukraine operation, top brass reports

Russian forces have destroyed 200 Ukrainian combat helicopters since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation: 367 warplanes, 200 helicopters, 2,856 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,460 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 972 multiple rocket launchers, 3,793 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,978 special military motor vehicles," the spokesman said.

Russian forces struck amassed Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in the Kupyansk area, eliminating over 50 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk area, Russian forces inflicted damage by firepower on the amassed Ukrainian military personnel and equipment in the areas of the communities of Sinkovka, Kislovka and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

In the area of the settlement of Dvurechnaya in the Kharkov Region, Russian forces also destroyed an enemy subversive/reconnaissance group, the general added.

"The Ukrainian army’s irretrievable losses in that area amounted to over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles and three motor vehicles," he said.

Russian forces delivered air and artillery strikes, eliminating over 60 Ukrainian troops in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman area, air strikes and artillery fire inflicted damage on the enemy units in areas near the settlements of Stelmakhovka and Nevskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Serebryanka and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lozovaya in the Kharkov Region," the spokesman said.

As a result, Russian forces eliminated over 60 Ukrainian servicemen, three combat armored vehicles and three pickup trucks, the general specified.

Russian forces continued their advance in the Donetsk area, inflicting damage on Ukrainian army units by combined firepower along the entire engagement line, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk area, Russian forces continue offensive operations, inflicting damage on Ukrainian army units by combined firepower along the entire line of engagement," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, the enemy’s losses in that area amounted to over 80 Ukrainian troops, three infantry fighting vehicles, an armored personnel carrier and four motor vehicles, the general specified.

Russian forces destroyed over 40 Ukrainian troops in the southern Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the southern Donetsk area, Russian units inflicted damage by firepower on the amassed manpower and equipment near the community of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

During the battles in the past 24 hours, Russian forces destroyed over 40 Ukrainian military personnel, two combat armored vehicles and three pickup trucks, the general specified.

Russian forces eliminated two Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Two Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups were eliminated north of the settlements of Pavlovka and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian troops destroyed two US-made counter-battery radars in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Two US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar stations were destroyed in the counter-battery warfare in areas near the settlements of Verkhnekamenskoye and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian fighter aircraft shot down a Su-25 ground attack plane, a MiG-29 fighter and a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 and MiG-29 planes in areas near the settlements of Rovnoye and Grodovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down near the community of Verolyubovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian troops destroyed three Ukrainian ammunition depots in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Kharkov Region over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery struck 89 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, enemy manpower and military hardware in 126 areas. Three Ukrainian ammunition and missile/artillery armament depots were destroyed in areas near the settlements of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lozovaya in the Kharkov Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed a US-made M777 howitzer at a firing position in the Lugansk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the community of Ivanovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, an M777 artillery system of US manufacture was destroyed at a firing position," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed two Polish-made Krab artillery systems, two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers and a D-30 howitzer over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In areas near the settlements of Zvanovka and Serebryanka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and also Novodanilovka and Stepnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, two Ukrainian Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers and also a D-30 howitzer were obliterated at firing positions," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense forces destroyed eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 10 rockets of multiple launch rocket systems over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities destroyed eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Chervonopopovka, Golikovo and Poltava in the Lugansk People’s Republic, and also Velikiy Vyselok in the Kharkov Region," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian air defense forces "intercepted 10 rockets of HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems in areas near the settlements of Zugres and Dokuchayevsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Peremozhnoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the general said.

Moscow Carries Out Retaliation Operation in Response to Kiev Strike on Makeevka

©Sputnik / РИА Новости / Go to the mediabank

In response to the Ukrainian attack on the city of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian armed forces carried out a retaliation operation, killing more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers in the city of Kramatorsk by a massive missile strike, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"Over the past day, Russian intelligence has discovered and reliably confirmed through several independent channels the temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces in the city of Kramatorsk. There were more than 700 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory No. 28 and more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory No. 47. As a result of a massive missile strike on these points of temporary deployment of units of the Ukrainian armed forces, more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen were destroyed," the ministry said.

Pada tanggal 1 Januari, pukul 00:01 waktu Moskow (21:01 Desember 31 GMT), artileri Ukraina menembakkan enam roket HIMARS ke titik penempatan sementara unit militer Rusia di area Makeevka, dengan dua roket dicegat oleh pertahanan udara, pertama kata Wakil Kepala Direktorat Utama Militer-Politik Angkatan Bersenjata Rusia, Letnan Jenderal Sergey Sevryukov. Empat roket menghantam gedung tempat prajurit Rusia ditempatkan, menewaskan 89 tentara.

Russian Special Op: World’s Most Powerful Mortar Wipes Out Ukrainian Army Targets - Video

Sputnik has obtained a unique video of a Russian 2S4 Tyulpan (Tulip) self-propelled heavy mortar carrier destroying one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ fortified positions during Moscow’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.

In the 34 second clip, powerful explosions are seen in the distance, which are the work of a 2S4 Tyulpan deployed by a drone operator of the Russian army’s First Slavic Brigade.

The Tyulpan is considered to be the most powerful self­-propelled mortars in the world; the 240 mm caliber explosive has a range of about 20 kilometers (about 12 miles).

At such a range, the Russian mortar is capable of obliterating fortified buildings, manpower and armed vehicles of a potential enemy.

Russia has been conducting its special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The Russian army has been carrying out high-precision strikes, targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure and doing its best to avoid unnecessary casualties among civilians.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the operation aims to protect people, “who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.” Putin stressed that the ultimate goal of the operation is the liberation of eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself.

At the disposal of RIA Novosti were footage of the work of the Russian "Grad" in the special operation zone.

The reconnaissance of the 1st Slavic brigade noticed the enemy's company stronghold in one of the forest belts, and after the transfer of data, it was decided to use the Grad to destroy the maximum territory of the defensive position. The footage shows that most of the missiles fall exactly on target.

Unique footage of a tank duel in the Donbass came into the possession of RIA Novosti. Three tanks of the ZVO of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against two Ukrainian ones. In the footage, two tanks were used as "bait", while the third approached imperceptibly from the flank at a distance of less than 500 meters and opened fire on the enemy. As a result, the Ukrainian army has minus one vehicle.

Ukrainian Special Services Prepare Major Anti-Russia False Flag in Kharkov Region, MoD Says

The provocation will reportedly use dug-up and disfigured dead bodies from local cemeteries to accuse Russia of war crimes.

Kiev is organizing a large-scale false flag op using the bodies of naturally-deceased civilians to accuse Moscow of committing war crimes, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Sunday.

"The special services of Ukraine have prepared a new large-scale anti-Russian provocation aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and accusing Russian servicemen of allegedly committing war crimes," the statement said.

RIA Novosti has received unique footage of the defeat of one of the military units of the Ukrainian military by the world's most powerful self-propelled mortar 2S4 "Tulip" in the special operation zone.

The drone operator of the 1st Slavic Brigade corrects the fire with 240-millimeter projectiles, which are designed to destroy fortifications, large concentrations of equipment and enemy manpower. The footage shows precise hits on the target and volumetric explosions destroying the solid concrete fortifications of the Ukrainian military facility.

On the eve of Orthodox Christmas, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine led work to open graves in cemeteries in the villages of Kazachya Lopan, Veliky Burluk, Shipovatoye and Khatnoye in the Kharkov region, where local residents who died of natural causes were buried from February 24 to September 6, 2022, while the abovementioned settlements were controlled by the Russian forces.

The Defense Ministry clarified that "after the exhumation, the bodies of Ukrainian citizens were additionally disfigured and thrown into specially prepared "pits" on the outskirts of the abovementioned settlements to create a false "evidence base" of alleged "torture" and "executions" of civilians by Russian military personnel.

The ministry added that the representatives of the Ukrainian special services and law enforcement agencies are taking photos and recording videos of the exhumated bodies, and, in the presence of fake "witnesses", simulate the work of "forensic experts" and other "procedural actions."

"Unable to achieve any success on the battlefield, the Kiev regime uses these inhuman methods in attempt to retain attention of the western audience and convince its foreign partners to continue supporting it," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian MoD’s latest statements on the Ukraine crisis:

▪️ The combined group of troops has been observing a ceasefire along the entire line of contact in the area of the special military operation since 12 noon Moscow time on January 6. At the same time, the Kiev regime has continued to shell residential areas and Russian positions with artillery over the past 24 hours.

▪️ The Armed Forces of Ukraine fired 11 mortar shells at Russian positions in the Krasny Liman direction.

▪️ The Armed Forces of Ukraine opened artillery fire in the Zaporozhye region 31 times. In the Kherson and Krivoy Rog directions, the enemy launched 17 artillery attacks. Russian forces returned fire against all the AFU's positions from which the shelling took place, and suppressed them.

▪️ Two assault groups of the 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repulsed in the Krasny Liman direction.

▪️ One attempt by Armed Forces of Ukraine units from the 110th Mechanized and 79th Airborne Assault Brigades to attack Russian positions in the DPR was thwarted.

▪️ Anti-aircraft defenses destroyed four UAVs in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

▪️ Five Uragan and HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and one US-made HARM anti-radar missile were intercepted in the DPR.

▪️ Some 360 airplanes and 199 helicopters, 2,843 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 air defense missile systems, 7,441 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 972 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,787 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,957 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Putin in Christmas greetings notes church’s role in supporting special operation fighters

©Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended Christmas greetings to Russians and Orthodox believers, noting the role of church organizations in supporting the participants of the special military operation.

"I’m extending my hearty Christmas greetings to you! This bright holiday that’s loved by everyone inspires people for kind deeds and intentions, serves to establish in the society such enduring spiritual values and moral guidelines as mercy, compassion, goodness and justice," he said.

The president noted the constructive contribution that’s made by the Russian Orthodox Church and other Orthodox denominations in Russia in the unity of the society, preservation of our historical memory, the rearing of the youth and the strengthening of the institution of the family.

"Church organizations pay priority attention to interethnic and inter-religious peace and accord in our country, take care of those who need help, support our fighters that participate in the special military operation. That large, multifaceted, truly self-sacrificing work is worthy of the sincerest respect," he said.

As he ended his greetings, Putin wished to Orthodox Christians and everybody who marks Christmas health, success and all the best.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch sends Christmas greetings to Russians

Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill has extended Christmas greetings to Russians and wished them to care about their close ones, show mercy and help the needy.

"Let’s remember that there are no obstacles for God. He knocks at the heart of every person and expects our readiness to show goodness, mercy and compassion. Let’s care about each other, give attention to relatives, our close ones, friends and colleagues at work and help the needy and the unfortunate, visit the sick and the frail," he said in televised greetings overnight.

The church leader noted that the holiday is marred by military operations and the Russian Orthodox Church prays and mourns for the people that were killed or wounded during the special military operation in Ukraine.

Putin Christmas Ceasefire, Further House Speaker Votes, Cuba Visas

The US president announces new immigration proposals, and a new study sheds light on the origins of human writing and calendar use.

Political cartoonist, columnist, and author Ted Rall joins Misfits hosts Michelle Witte and John Kiriakou to discuss the ongoing House leadership election as it enters its third day of votes, Joe Biden’s trip to Kentucky with Mitch McConnell, the January 6th sentencings on the eve of the anniversary of the Capitol riot, and mass layoffs at Amazon.

Journalist and author Arnold August discusses how Washington has abandoned the Havana Syndrome theory; the exodus from Cuba and the increase in Cuban migration to the US, the economic and social crises in Cuba, and how much blame for them can be laid at the feet of Washington’s decades-long blockade.

Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine and author of four books Jeremy Kuzmarov discusses whether new weapons deliveries from NATO countries to Ukraine could change the course of the war, the 36-hour Orthodox Christmas ceasefire announced by Putin, possible inroads between Syria and Turkey, and a private company spy firm Anomaly 6 used in the Syrian and Ukrainian conflicts.

Whistleblower at banking giant UBS Brad Birkenfeld discusses the Justice Department’s refusal to offer transparency in their dealings with Hunter Biden case amid House GOP’s intent to begin Congressional investigations.

Director of the Center for Social Housing and Public Investment Will Merrifield discuss how downtown Washington, DC, has remained vacant since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, what Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing to fill these vacancies amid a housing crisis, the mass transfer of public land to private developers in the District, and whether the conversion of commercial buildings for residential use is feasible.

The Misfits also discuss the human trafficking lawsuit against the leader of the Church of Scientology, a new covid variant, and a possible deal to return the Parthenon marbles to Greece.