Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/heavily-redacted-epstein-files-trickle-out-australia-comes-for-the-guns-israel-quintuples-its-pr-budget/
Epstein Files
Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges and serving a 20-year sentence, has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Southern District of New York to challenge her convictions, citing what her filing describes as newly discovered evidence. The self-represented petition alleges constitutional violations, including withheld exculpatory information, false testimony, and misrepresented facts from civil actions, FBI litigation, and Jeffrey Epstein estate documents. It lists nine grounds for relief, supported by depositions and records not available at trial. The filing coincides with the Department of Justice’s release of heavily redacted Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The released materials include photos of Bill Clinton in a monitoring station, recording equipment, hard drives, references to David Copperfield, and images with “Lolita” quotes on women’s bodies, as well as redacted passports from Eastern European countries and a text message about recruiting an 18-year-old. Additional documents are anticipated, with redactions to protect victims; officials have stated that no major new revelations have surfaced.
Australian Politics
In response to the Bondi Beach shooting, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a national program to collect and destroy hundreds of thousands of firearms, modeled on the 1996 buyback scheme. States and territories will manage collection and compensation, with the Australian Federal Police responsible for destruction, as part of efforts to improve public safety amid elevated security concerns. Some public commentary has criticized the measure as ineffective against terrorism, arguing it burdens law-abiding citizens without addressing ideological threats.
Geopolitics
The Israeli Knesset has approved a $729 million public relations campaign for 2026, nearly five times the previous year’s budget, according to an announcement by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The initiative, described by officials as a national security measure, seeks to improve Israel’s global image through social media, press, and civil society efforts worldwide. Current approaches reportedly include training American Christian pastors as ambassadors and using media segments to highlight Israeli innovations. Reports also suggest that some tactics aim to counter perceptions of genocide by emphasizing concerns about radical Islam. A commissioned study reportedly finds limited effectiveness for such efforts until the Gaza conflict ends, citing widespread international views of Israel as an apartheid state and distinguishing opposition to Israel from support for Hamas. Israeli officials have defended the expenditure as essential for countering anti-Israel narratives on social media, while critics have questioned its scale and potential for influencing public opinion abroad.
The United States has approved an $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan, the largest such sale on record, including 82 HIMARS launchers with ATACMS missiles, 60 howitzers, UAV systems, Javelin and TOW missiles, and other equipment valued at more than $1 billion each for software and drones. The sale is intended to strengthen Taiwan’s defensive capabilities. China has warned that the package risks turning the island into a “powder keg” and accelerating military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry described the move as support for independence forces, stating it will backfire and fail to contain China, particularly given the missiles’ range that could reach the mainland coast. The approval follows a $330 million package last month, despite ongoing efforts to improve U.S.-China relations. Taiwanese officials have welcomed the deal as vital for modernizing defenses against regional threats, underscoring U.S. commitment to the island’s security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that any NATO blockade of the Kaliningrad exclave, located between Poland and Lithuania, would result in a full-scale armed conflict. In his annual news conference, Putin said such threats would be eliminated, potentially leading to a large-scale international war. He also criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for what he called preparations for war against Russia, noting that the U.S. National Security Strategy does not list Russia as an adversary. NATO’s Rutte has countered by urging alliance members to prepare for potential conflict with Russia, citing the Ukraine invasion as evidence of ongoing threats without directly addressing the Kaliningrad remarks.
Health
A new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that it is acceptable for pediatricians to dismiss families who refuse vaccines, departing from previous guidance that recommended continuing care and addressing hesitancy. The report, published in a JAMA Pediatrics opinion piece, argues that such dismissals could undermine collective public health efforts and solidarity among clinicians, noting that most pediatricians do not dismiss such patients and thus shoulder additional burdens from those who do. The authors emphasize pediatricians’ role in promoting vaccination through sustained engagement, rather than prioritizing individual practice concerns. The policy is described as optional, aimed at maintaining herd immunity, though critics have called it coercive and a departure from patient-centered care.
US Politics
Documents released by Senator Chuck Grassley outline a timeline of what he describes as alleged sabotage in FBI and DOJ investigations into the Clinton Foundation from 2010 to 2016. According to the documents, predication stemmed from monitored calls involving donor Sant Singh Chatwal and reported foreign influence attempts on Hillary Clinton’s campaign. By 2015, field offices in New York, Washington, and Little Rock had initiated probes into foreign contributions allegedly exchanged for favorable treatment, including the Uranium One deal and partnerships with Frank Giustra, based on confidential sources and reporting from the book “Clinton Cash.” The documents claim that FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and DOJ officials, including Sally Yates, blocked overt investigative steps, subpoenas, and interviews due to concerns over Clinton’s potential presidency. Headquarters directives, including from Director James Comey, reportedly consolidated the efforts under tight oversight, with no major actions approved until after the 2016 election, effectively halting the probes. Subsequent investigations from 2015 to 2019, including under the Trump administration, reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing, leading to the closure of related inquiries.
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing efforts toward U.S. space superiority, with priorities including a return to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program, establishment of a lunar outpost by 2030, and preparations for Mars missions. The policy focuses on protecting national security interests via next-generation missile defenses, addressing threats from low-Earth orbit to cislunar space, and incorporating commercial capabilities. It seeks to attract $50 billion in private investment by 2028, deploy lunar nuclear reactors by 2030, and streamline acquisition processes to prioritize commercial solutions. Implementation will be coordinated by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, including plans for spectrum management, international partnerships, and updates to previous directives. Experts have raised concerns about the feasibility of the timelines, citing past delays in programs like Artemis and potential conflicts with international space treaties on nuclear activities.
Energy
Centrus Energy has started construction of new AC100M centrifuges at its Ohio facility to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) for commercial use, representing the first domestic enrichment effort since the closure of the last U.S. plant in 2013. The project is backed by Department of Energy funding, partnerships such as with South Korea, and recent capital infusions, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, including 25% from Russia. As a U.S.-owned entity, it will produce unobligated fuel for government applications like naval reactors and research, unlike foreign-owned facilities such as Urenco. Initial LEU production is expected in 2029, with the company already providing high-assay LEU; its shares increased 14% following the announcement. Despite the progress, the U.S. continues to rely on imports for a significant portion of its enriched uranium needs, with initial output not anticipated until 2029.
Economy
RRP Semiconductor Ltd., an Indian company, experienced a stock surge of over 55,000% in 20 months through December 17, 2025, making it the top performer among companies valued above $1 billion worldwide. The increase was fueled by social media promotion, a small free float of about 2%, and retail investor interest in AI and semiconductors, despite reported negative revenue of 68.2 million rupees and a net loss in the latest quarter, along with only two full-time employees. The firm, renamed from G D Trading in early 2024 following a takeover by founder Rajendra Chodankar, has indirect ties to India’s semiconductor initiatives through a related private entity but has not begun manufacturing or sought government incentives. Regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Board of India, are investigating the surge for potential violations, while the Bombay Stock Exchange has limited trading to once a week; shares have declined 6% from their peak amid warnings about risks in the AI sector. Indian exchanges have issued cautions to investors about speculative excesses in AI-related stocks, highlighting overvaluation risks in the absence of operational progress.
Sources
Israel’s $729 Million PR Blitz: Weaponizing Algorithms to Counter Gaza Backlash
Israel’s Knesset just approved a massive 729 million dollar PR blitz nearly five times last year’s spend. Your algorithm is about to get weaponized.
Trump’s Executive Order: Securing U.S. Space Superiority and Lunar Return by 2028
returning Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program, to assert American leadership in space
Ghislaine Maxwell Petitions to Overturn Convictions, Citing Newly Discovered Evidence in Epstein Case
Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell on Wednesday asked a federal court to toss out her sex trafficking convictions and resulting 20-year prison sentence, citing “newly discovered evidence.”
US Approves Record $11.1 Billion Arms Package to Taiwan, Defying China’s Warnings
US Approves Largest Taiwan Arms Package In History At Over $11BN
India’s Phantom AI Darling: 55,000% Stock Surge Ignites Bubble Alarms
World-Beating 55,000% surge in India AI stock fuels bubble fears
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Australian PM Orders Surrender and Destruction of Hundreds of Thousands of Firearms Post-Terror Attack
We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme.
AAP’s Shift on Dismissing Vaccine-Refusing Families Risks Eroding Pediatrician Solidarity
The AAP recently issued a clinical report that stated it is an “acceptable option for pediatric care clinicians to dismiss families who refuse vaccines,” representing a clear shift from their previous guidance
Exposed: The Timeline of Sabotage in the Clinton Foundation Probe
The Clinton Foundation investigation was sabotaged from the start.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
China Warns Record US Arms Package to Taiwan Risks Igniting Regional War
warning that the deal risks turning the island into a “powder keg” and plunging the region into “military confrontation and war.”
Centrus Energy Ignites Domestic Uranium Revival with Centrifuge Buildout, Stock Surges 14%
The long awaited buildout of Centrus Energy’s uranium enrichment facility is finally underway as the company announced this morning it has begun constructing new centrifuges to support commercial production of low-enriched uranium (LEU).
DOJ Releases Heavily Redacted Epstein Files: Photos Emerge, But No Bombshells
TL;DR – A solid collection of new pictures and files with massive redactions throughout, and no bombshells yet.
Putin Warns NATO Blockade of Kaliningrad Would Ignite Full-Scale War, Rails Against Satanic Globalists
An attempt to blockade the Kaliningrad region would escalate the conflict to an unprecedented level, potentially up to a large-scale military conflict. Everyone has to understand this.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The Jerusalem Post, Reuters, Sky News, Space.com, The New York Times, Wikipedia, Just The News, The Times of India, and ZeroHedge.
