Salem News Channel

NATO chief: 'Good luck' to Europe defending itself without US help

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insisted on Monday that Europe is incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support and would have to more than double current military spending targets to be able to do so. “If anyone thinks here … that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can’t,” Rutte told EU lawmakers in Brussels. Europe and the United States “need each other,” he said. Tensions are festering within NATO over U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threats in recent weeks to annex Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. Trump also said that he was slapping new tariffs on Greenland's European backers, but later dropped his threats after a “framework” for a deal over the mineral-rich island was reached, with Rutte's help. Few details of the agreement have emerged. The 32-nation military organization is bound together by a mutual defense clause, Article 5 of NATO’s founding Washington treaty, which commits every country to come to the defense of an ally whose territory is under threat. At NATO’s summit in The Hague in July, European allies — with the exception of Spain — plus Canada agreed to Trump’s demand that they invest the same percentage of their economic output on defense as the United States within a decade. They pledged to spend 3.5% of gross domestic product on core defense, and a further 1.5% on security-related infrastructure – a total of 5% of GDP – by 2035. “If you really want to go it alone,” Rutte said, “forget that you can ever get there with 5%. It will be 10%. You have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros.” France has led calls for Europe to build its “strategic autonomy,” and support for its stance has grown since the Trump administration warned last year that its security priorities lie elsewhere and that the Europeans would have to fend for themselves. Rutte told the lawmakers that without the United States, Europe “would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella. So, hey, good luck!”

The Rise Of The New Confederacy

Today, Josh breaks down the latest ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, where an agent fatally shot one of the individuals involved in the unrest. Josh explains why this flashpoint fits the broader Democratic playbook—weaponizing chaos, feeding the narrative machine, and turning criminals into martyrs—while noting that the facts still matter and the investigation is ongoing. Josh is then joined by Michael Doran, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, for a wide-ranging discussion on Iran, the administration’s next moves, and the broader fight for sanity on the Right. Doran also offers a bold prediction about what Iran’s leadership could look like one year from now.

On the Brink of War with Iran?

Minneapolis Police Not Supporting ICE?

Is the USA Preparing for War against Iran?

Is the USA Readying Itself for War against Iran?

What Should the Christian Response be to Minnesota?

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Moves Into Next Phase As Final Hostage Recovered

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that stopped the Israel-Hamas war. Monday’s announcement came a day after Israel’s government said the military was conducting a “large-scale operation” in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate the remains of Ran Gvili. The return of all remaining hostages, living or dead, has been a key part of the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase. Gvili’s family had urged Israel’s government not to enter the second phase until his remains were recovered and returned. Hamas says it now has committed to all terms of the ceasefire's first phase.

At least 18 deaths reported from colossal winter storm

The Northeastern U.S. is getting the last brunt of a massive winter storm that dumped snow, sleet and ice across much of the southern and eastern U.S. over the weekend. The colossal storm halted air and road traffic in many areas and sent temperatures plunging. At least 18 weather-related deaths have been reported. As the work week began, the heaviest snow fell from New York northward into New England. That's after heavy ice snapped branches and power lines in the South, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. In the meantime, arctic air was spreading in behind the storm and some communities in New York saw record-breaking subzero temperatures.

Trump & MN Gov. Walz On 'Similar Wavelength' After Call

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’ office says call with President Trump was ‘productive.' A Monday morning call between President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz about fatal shootings by immigration officers appears to have been well-received by both sides. “The Governor made the case that we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota,” Walz's office wrote in a release. Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both Minnesota residents and U.S. citizens, were fatally shot and killed by federal immigration officers in separate incidents in Minneapolis. Trump agreed to talk to the Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, Walz’ office said, and also agreed to look into either reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota or working with the state “in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.” Trump wrote in a social media post earlier Monday that the two “actually” seem to be on the same page in wanting to work together on immigration issues in Minnesota. He said the people the administration is seeking “are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession” and Walz “very respectfully, understood that.”

FAA: 7 Dead, 1 Survives Jet Crash In Bangor, Maine

The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private business jet crashed in a snowstorm at Maine’s Bangor International Airport. The Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying eight people crashed on takeoff Sunday night as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. The airport, about 200 miles north of Boston, shut down after the crash. Snowfall was heavy in many parts of the country at the time, and accumulation was beginning in Bangor. The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address as a law firm in Houston, Texas.

Winter Storm Sparks Massive Flight Cancellations

A massive winter storm is wreaking havoc on travel across the United States. Airlines canceled more than 11,400 flights on Sunday as snow, sleet, and ice swept from the Rockies to New England. Aviation analysts say this is the worst single day of cancellations since the pandemic, grounding nearly 30 percent of U.S. departures. Major airports in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. were hit hardest, and travelers should expect delays to continue for several days as crews work to recover.

Iran Warns U.S. As Naval Forces Move Into Region

Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, unveiling a mural in central Tehran depicting a damaged U.S. aircraft carrier and signaling serious consequences if the U.S. launches a military strike. The mural’s unveiling comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships are deployed to the region. President Donald Trump says the fleet’s movement is a precautionary measure, as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.

At Least 18 Dead After Massive Winter Storm Rips Through The U.S.

At least 18 weather-related deaths have been reported as snow, sleet, and ice swept from the South up through the Northeast, grounding flights, knocking out power and creating treacherous conditions on roads. Authorities say the fatalities are tied to dangerous travel, power outages and plunging temperatures, and emergency officials are urging people to stay off the roads and take precautions as cleanup and recovery continue.

Judge to Hear Arguments On Minnesota Immigration Crackdown After Fatal Shootings

A federal judge in Minneapolis began hearing arguments Monday on whether to temporarily halt the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, after two people were fatally shot by federal officers during the operation. The state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued the Department of Homeland Security following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, intensifying calls for limits on the federal presence. The case highlights tensions over federal immigration tactics and public safety concerns.