https://drudge.com/user/LAMPLIGHTER+ New links and comments. en-us http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Wordzilla/0.58 10 https://drudge.com/news/293880/german-firefighting-robots-now-battling https://www.extremetech.com/defense/german-firefighting-robots-are-now-battling-blazes-in-ukraine Germany has provided a new package of humanitarian and emergency services equipment to Ukraine, including a raft of firefighting robots ... <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:opq5phhuquxppobexcp2cm4y/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp6nmvtgjm27" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreidv67mije5tpd4uremiosbwp2rcfdcp5umvuddogjn6rkhjkz5dv4" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang=""> German-Ukrainian joint venture ARX Industries plans to build thousands of autonomous frontline robots for the battlefield. united24media.com/war-in-ukrai ... <br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:opq5phhuquxppobexcp2cm4y/post/3mp6nmvtgjm27?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- UNITED24 Media (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:opq5phhuquxppobexcp2cm4y?ref_src=embed">@united24media.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:opq5phhuquxppobexcp2cm4y/post/3mp6nmvtgjm27?ref_src=embed">5:40 AM &Acirc;&middot; Jun 26, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:32:58 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293880/german-firefighting-robots-now-battling#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293880 news, 0.5 daily 293880 https://drudge.com/news/293873/doj-could-held-contempt-over https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-doj-epstein-files-contempt-b3032818.html A federal judge suggested that government lawyers could be held in contempt after he repeatedly pressed the Department of Justice to explain redactions in a tranche of challenged documents from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/app.bsky.feed.post/3msymw3o2uy26" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiglgdak6e54atoz67tmroelyyfszyng7kgpi5wtprcizhtvgx2cmy" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="en">Phang: What I want is the DOJ to follow the law. And what we have seen time and time again is this act of concealment and cover up by this DOJ to not release this information. I also want the files that Todd Blanche continues to sit on.<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3msymw3o2uy26?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- Acyn (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z?ref_src=embed">@acyn.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3msymw3o2uy26?ref_src=embed">5:52 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 13, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:33:46 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293873/doj-could-held-contempt-over#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293873 news, 0.5 daily 293873 https://drudge.com/news/293895/could-have-been-disastrous-flights https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/could-have-been-disastrous-flights-with-same-call-sign-converge-near-phoenix Flight-tracking data showed the planes converging along the same path while separated by about 3 miles horizontally and 2,000 feet vertically. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:38:22 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293895/could-have-been-disastrous-flights#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293895 discussion, 0.5 daily 293895 https://drudge.com/news/293890/trump-orders-navy-return-older https://apnews.com/article/trump-aircraft-carriers-steam-catapults-ffa9f3ce102ecd5d6126db03e901a56f The new mandate would likely cost billions of dollars and revert the Navy's most advanced ships to a system that takes more sailors to operate and is more difficult to maintain. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:jbvnehrrdqoulco4rf5gxg5r/app.bsky.feed.post/3msymjhnejx2t" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihjpowg57azcpq7dganaeqnvzzwjsiarkogvo4aovecel25t7haiy" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">Trump orders Navy to abandon carrier launch system, return to steam catapults reut.rs/4g7WsI6<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jbvnehrrdqoulco4rf5gxg5r/post/3msymjhnejx2t?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- Reuters (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jbvnehrrdqoulco4rf5gxg5r?ref_src=embed">@reuters.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jbvnehrrdqoulco4rf5gxg5r/post/3msymjhnejx2t?ref_src=embed">5:45 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 13, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:32:01 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293890/trump-orders-navy-return-older#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293890 news, 0.5 daily 293890 https://drudge.com/news/293872/trump-spend-least-900m-white-house https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6025430-trump-white-house-construction-costs/ The Trump administration is expected to spend at least $900 million on White House construction projects that will be fueled in part by taxpayer dollars without the approval of Congress, according to a new report from The Washington Post. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:33:18 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293872/trump-spend-least-900m-white-house#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293872 news, 0.5 daily 293872 https://drudge.com/news/293874/democratic-voters-making-clear-they-just https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2026-08-12/forget-left-vs-center-democratic-voters-are-making-clear-they-just-want-change Results in Democratic primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut have reiterated that Democratic voters are hungry for change, even as they remain divided over the party's ideological future. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvcm7jrmp2v" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreieo2z63ufxvsqsfcfqzu4frfgigtn45ucjh6feo74ainz2tnlhf6y" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="en">David Crowley: &quot;I especially want to thank Rep. Francesca Hong. Her campaign reminded people across Wisconsin that there are no long shots when it comes to believing in a better future and fighting to expand opportunities to every family ... the real opponent has always been Tom Tiffany.&quot; <br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3msvcm7jrmp2v?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- Aaron Rupar (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc?ref_src=embed">@atrupar.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3msvcm7jrmp2v?ref_src=embed">10:09 AM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:32:02 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293874/democratic-voters-making-clear-they-just#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293874 news, 0.5 daily 293874 https://drudge.com/news/293882/flock-ceo-says-goal-isnt-dystopian https://www.newsweek.com/flock-ceo-says-goal-isnt-a-dystopian-future-12316078 Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley pushed back against claims that the company's expanding network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is contributing to a surveillance state, telling Newsweek that transparency and accountability are central to the company's approach as it unveils new privacy protocols this week amid widespread backlash and protests. The technology executive told Newsweek in a Tuesday video interview that Flock's "end goal isn't a dystopian future of surveillance; it's one where we all feel safe." Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:34:09 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293882/flock-ceo-says-goal-isnt-dystopian#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293882 discussion, 0.5 daily 293882 https://drudge.com/news/293850/ny-judge-unseal-maxwell-related-grand-jury https://www.courthousenews.com/new-york-judge-orders-unsealing-of-ghislaine-maxwell-related-grand-jury-subpoenas/ The depositions ordered unsealed on Tuesday pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act formed the basis for two since-dismissed perjury counts of a superseding indictment brought against Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and longtime sex trafficking partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:mkwxfz7bq27fpprbuzqiqjxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvope2tge2k" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreidj3ntorrtpbccgxygquhihxiburnckpyhvb4e567donvq4c5u47e" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">A federal judge cleared the way for documents to be unsealed to provide greater insight at part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:mkwxfz7bq27fpprbuzqiqjxd/post/3msvope2tge2k?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- RadarOnline (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:mkwxfz7bq27fpprbuzqiqjxd?ref_src=embed">@radaronline.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:mkwxfz7bq27fpprbuzqiqjxd/post/3msvope2tge2k?ref_src=embed">1:46 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:32:58 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293850/ny-judge-unseal-maxwell-related-grand-jury#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293850 news, 0.5 daily 293850 https://drudge.com/news/293851/trump-wont-dismiss-declaring-national https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/11/donald-trump-save-america-act-senate-voting-emergency/91263315007/ President Donald Trump isn't dismissing the possibility that he could declare a national security emergency in an attempt to establish new voting restrictions that have stalled in the Senate, telling an interviewer that "stranger things have happened." <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:xjc7mkotpenvhh6ffewkdpyn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mst33z3hg22s" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreie4jynpm7grh23dvrmpexmlxw477lydazq4x55mkll3rgs3fp2u3u" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="en">A right-wing host urged Trump to declare a "national security emergency" to bypass Congress and impose sweeping new election restrictions. Trump's response was chilling.<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xjc7mkotpenvhh6ffewkdpyn/post/3mst33z3hg22s?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- MeidasTouch (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xjc7mkotpenvhh6ffewkdpyn?ref_src=embed">@meidastouch.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xjc7mkotpenvhh6ffewkdpyn/post/3mst33z3hg22s?ref_src=embed">12:50 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 11, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:31:05 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293851/trump-wont-dismiss-declaring-national#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293851 news, 0.5 daily 293851 https://drudge.com/news/293854/credit-card-debt-rises-126t-nearing https://abcnews.com/US/credit-card-debt-rises-126-trillion-nearing-time/story?id=135556533 Americans' credit card debt reached $1.26 trillion, increasing by $21 billion in the second quarter of this year, according to new data Tuesday from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:dtwphuxvtvimwtra5yh4ujt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3msu56i3k5f2i" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreigdgiawxqrzikpo37bw3tykqqmxismrouhxahpejrxp6e4ngvjrbu" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">Americans owe more than a trillion dollars in credit card debt, up 60% from just five years ago. https://to.pbs.org/4wnlIAe<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dtwphuxvtvimwtra5yh4ujt4/post/3msu56i3k5f2i?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- PBS News (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dtwphuxvtvimwtra5yh4ujt4?ref_src=embed">@pbsnews.org</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dtwphuxvtvimwtra5yh4ujt4/post/3msu56i3k5f2i?ref_src=embed">11:00 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 11, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:33:42 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293854/credit-card-debt-rises-126t-nearing#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293854 news, 0.5 daily 293854 https://drudge.com/news/293856/pirro-quietly-empanels-rare-special-grand https://allchronology.com/2026/08/12/jeanine-pirro-quietly-empanels-rare-grand-jury-after-infuriating-trump-and-no-one-knows-who-it-is-targeting/ Jeanine Pirro has taken the highly unusual step of convening a special grand jury in Washington, D.C., less than two weeks after angering President Donald Trump by abandoning a vandalism prosecution he publicly demanded. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:k5nskatzhyxersjilvtnz4lh/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvmxlvo262c" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiajs6oqxp5bt3rsetjtnp4uiyd67ohayh3hwas5vcovzyrf7ohmn4" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">Exclusive: The Justice Department has convened a special grand jury in Washington. Unlike a typical grand jury, it can issue a potentially damaging report about an investigation even if prosecutors lack enough evidence to bring charges. https://wapo.st/4zf0O95<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:k5nskatzhyxersjilvtnz4lh/post/3msvmxlvo262c?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- The Washington Post (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:k5nskatzhyxersjilvtnz4lh?ref_src=embed">@washingtonpost.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:k5nskatzhyxersjilvtnz4lh/post/3msvmxlvo262c?ref_src=embed">1:15 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:31:52 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293856/pirro-quietly-empanels-rare-special-grand#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293856 news, 0.5 daily 293856 https://drudge.com/news/293835/kennedy-center-ordered-pay-250k-jazz https://variety.com/2026/music/news/kennedy-center-to-pay-jazz-musician-sued-cancel-trump-1236832214/ A judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. must pay a jazz musician $252,000 in legal fees and costs ... <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:ln72v57ivz2g46uqf4xxqiuh/app.bsky.feed.post/3msthkjxreb27" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiejg4zb2w3ydy5wm5q64dkxzo5nwgxqemobzjfmfzdsav3ipn2zpi" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance to protest Trump&#x27;s name being added to the complex. In June, a superior court judge dismissed the Kennedy Center&#x27;s lawsuit against Redd. n.pr/4x0W2e0<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ln72v57ivz2g46uqf4xxqiuh/post/3msthkjxreb27?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- NPR (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ln72v57ivz2g46uqf4xxqiuh?ref_src=embed">@npr.org</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ln72v57ivz2g46uqf4xxqiuh/post/3msthkjxreb27?ref_src=embed">4:33 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 11, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:33:18 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293835/kennedy-center-ordered-pay-250k-jazz#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293835 news, 0.5 daily 293835 https://drudge.com/news/293830/doj-trumps-outside-advisers-shielded https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-outside-advisers-executive-privilege-justice-dept-office-legal-counsel/ President Trump's outside advisers -- individuals who are not employed by the federal government - may now be protected from future congressional and legal investigations, according to a new opinion from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:masb2g3gji3tr4rycdjrgiuw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mst5d3kvws24" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiaozeuo64mhytiszsup4tffzp6kqhhkltujbyzfxacmpywg356weu" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="">President Trump&#x27;s outside advisers -- individuals who are not employed by the federal government -- may now be protected from future congressional and legal investigations, according to a new opinion from the Justice Department&#x27;s Office of Legal Counsel.<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:masb2g3gji3tr4rycdjrgiuw/post/3mst5d3kvws24?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- CBS Mornings (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:masb2g3gji3tr4rycdjrgiuw?ref_src=embed">@cbsmornings.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:masb2g3gji3tr4rycdjrgiuw/post/3mst5d3kvws24?ref_src=embed">1:30 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 11, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:32:44 -0400 LampLighter https://drudge.com/news/293830/doj-trumps-outside-advisers-shielded#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293830 news, 0.5 daily 293830 https://drudge.com/news/293833/new-surveillance-tech-links-your-phone https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/08/new-surveillance-tech-links-your-phone-to-your-license-plate/ Ars Technica writes about how coupling road cameras with bluetooth signals could be used to track people and phones together. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:fa3rwygrp2ebgwdiq6sjn2te/app.bsky.feed.post/3msstg3abtc2k" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreigjdgegabgllrsoyep7lt2uigk7emvjcgqfyjzilp5wjyejrf26jm" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="en">New surveillance tech links your phone to your license plate theconversation.com/new-tech-add ... <br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fa3rwygrp2ebgwdiq6sjn2te/post/3msstg3abtc2k?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- Jennifer Ouellette (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fa3rwygrp2ebgwdiq6sjn2te?ref_src=embed">@jenlucpiquant.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:fa3rwygrp2ebgwdiq6sjn2te/post/3msstg3abtc2k?ref_src=embed">10:32 AM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 11, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:31:47 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293833/new-surveillance-tech-links-your-phone#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293833 news, 0.5 daily 293833 https://drudge.com/news/293829/trump-medias-quarterly-loss-widens-238 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-medias-quarterly-loss-widens-238-million-20-million-year-earlier-2026-08-11/ Its second-quarter net loss jumped to $238.1 million from about $20 million a year earlier, the company said in a statement. <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:2w45zyhuklwihpdc7oj3mi63/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqvsfpw6x2v" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiag45obvg2ndcex3bq45e7u3v4zg246jzixeocijwos7otv64sqym" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"><p lang="en">Monday's tumble erased two weeks worth of gains made by Trump Media.<br><br><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2w45zyhuklwihpdc7oj3mi63/post/3msqvsfpw6x2v?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> -- Forbes (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2w45zyhuklwihpdc7oj3mi63?ref_src=embed">@forbes.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2w45zyhuklwihpdc7oj3mi63/post/3msqvsfpw6x2v?ref_src=embed">4:10 PM &Acirc;&middot; Aug 10, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:31:01 -0400 lamplighter https://drudge.com/news/293829/trump-medias-quarterly-loss-widens-238#discuss tag:drudge.com,2005:weblog.293829 news, 0.5 daily 293829