Activists have erected a billboard near MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, with a message to troops: “Obey Only Lawful Orders.” The base is home to the US Central Command and US Special Operations Command. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/billboard-campaign-urging-troops-to-disobey-orders-from-trump-administration-launches-in-tampa/67-3e67456f-fd56-426a-8ec4-4070c3b09aed
Steve Herman
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi;
Former VOA News White House bureau chief;
Author, Behind the White House Curtain;
@JURISTnews@journa.host board of governors;
2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.;
Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame;
W7VOA on ham radio.
Posts
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Developers of an offshore wind project are asking a federal judge to block a Trump administration order that halted construction of their project, arguing the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind is essential to meet dramatically growing energy needs for new data centers. https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_efde441d-eda9-48f2-8e6e-9678f4e29242.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Fourteen people injured in a stabbing spree at a tire factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, during which an unspecified liquid was also sprayed. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/26/japan/crime-legal/shizuoka-stabbing-attack/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
The US has launched strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, according to President Trump.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office announces 115 detained suspects allegedly were planning attacks across Turkey, particularly targeting non-Muslims. https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkiye-rounds-up-daesh-suspects-plotting-christmas-attacks
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
The atmospheric river storm that has unleashed heavy downpours across Southern California — with some areas seeing more than a half-foot — is continuing to drench the region on Christmas Day. https://ktla.com/news/california/live-updates-widespread-flooding-continues-as-christmas-storm-soaks-southern-california/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
In central Boden, Sweden, police say they’ve responded to a “serious incident.” https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/vrQn9w/just-nu-polisinsats-i-boden
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
The Kilauea volcano livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/QSqQAoblFKk?si=eVblhkI_u5cPiLFc
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
In his Urbi et Orbi address, the pope’s pleas for peace includes: Ukraine/Russia, Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, DRC, Thailand/Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar), Haiti and Latin America. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-12/pope-leo-xiv-urbi-et-orbi-message-christmas-2025-peace-christmas.html
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/tarique-rahman-returns-home-after-17-years-exile-4065896
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
A car with a "Happy Chanukah" sign was set alight in Melbourne, Australia, on Christmas Day. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-25/happy-chanukah-car-firebombing-on-christmas-day-in-st-kilda-east/106178444
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Authorities in Maryland say a man was shot after attempting to run over ICE agents. https://www.wbaltv.com/article/police-man-shot-attempt-run-over-ice-agents-glen-burnie/69859546
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration’s stripping of an attorney’s security clearance for representing a whistleblower pivotal to the president’s first impeachment was a form of retribution and unconstitutional. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5662614-zaid-lawsuit-security-clearance-trump/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
A million more documents potentially related to the Epstein case have been located, according to the DoJ, which says lawyers are reviewing them to make legally required redactions to protect victims and it’ll release the files as “soon as possible.”
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
WaPo - ICE plans to speed up deportations by funneling new detainees to large-scale warehouses holding 5,000 to 10,000 people each, located in Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia and Missouri. Sixteen smaller warehouses would hold up to 1,500 people each. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/12/24/ice-immigrants-detention-warehouses-deportation-trump/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
The White House has ordered US military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing the "quarantine" of Venezuela, an American official tells Reuters.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Reuters - US Coast Guard waiting for additional forces to arrive before potentially attempting to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it's been pursuing since December 21. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-eyes-additional-coast-guard-assets-seize-fleeing-tanker-sources-say-2025-12-24/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Nieman Reports - The swift loss of US funding for global media since President Trump took office a year ago has devastated journalism in many countries where the independent press was already on precarious footing. https://niemanreports.org/myanmar-independent-media-innovates-collaborates-exile-usaid/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
(AP) — At least 16 files disappeared from the DoJ’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public. https://apnews.com/article/release-epstein-files-justice-department-trump-9290fcaad1cb6fcb1cbc1befabc01994
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
"Mr. Connally, he said, took him to one Middle Eastern capital after another that summer, meeting with a host of regional leaders to deliver a blunt message to be passed to Iran: Don’t release the hostages before the election. Mr. Reagan will win and give you a better deal." https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/jimmy-carter-october-surprise-iran-hostages.html?unlocked_article_code=9btoHijKag8-2wTr-g09DbMeVy7S_1j6Z5rkrjeZTlI0Rt9hhlqnTupoefgYz9fpTQGuSFsikVSnPDvq1uAojG8TFsQolZbZHCfbzVt9yTY0wv1BKzInzrmQSGROs-XwzMVsnQp3H6E2s02siZeF9Vpy8kA1bEdqXY3f5DGwyQHpcmzOUC3S7XysLi5oLFioPsoFhLuwbnr4p_hZza7xw-yY69ixnP9xSP2VhK8MV2FcXeoEdRisJdn4xOp_TrSXUJMD5xapsBfvyub7pw0MnAdwQPUNfyyS9nBFPdSZgRCnYxrFqxsjfTwa1brKE-m9eLU9-BI3DJn1mqqM4UZKkfc872NARUAUjuWK2ZzqiVCVU5z8sLTzhvw&smid=url-share
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
"The Government Accountability Project (GAP), a nonprofit whistleblower protection and advocacy organization, Thursday urged two US Congressional Committees to continue reviewing Twitter’s suspension of several journalists’ accounts." https://www.jurist.org/news/2022/12/congress-urged-to-investigate-twitter-journalist-suspensions/
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Executive Director, Jordan Ctr. for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice @ Univ. of Mississippi; Former VOA News White House bureau chief; Author, Behind the White House Curtain; @ JURISTnews board of governors; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow, Ohio Univ.; Nevada Broadcasters Assoc. Hall of Fame; W7VOA on ham radio.
Fact check: True. https://www.jurist.org/news/2022/12/twitter-lifts-ban-on-several-journalists-but-bars-jurist-journalist-in-residence-herman-until-elonjet-tweets-removed/