FYSA - Civil Unrest & Terrorism: In TX, five defendants pleaded guilty in federal court in Fort Worth to providing antifa-linked material support to terrorists following a July attack outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas. Prosecutors said the group supported antifa-aligned extremists and participated in an assault involving gunfire and fireworks that wounded an Alvarado Police Department officer responding to the scene. The charges followed a Trump executive order designating antifa-aligned entities as...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - 2nd Amendment: In Adair, IA; a former police chief, Bradley Wendt, was convicted for using his law-enforcement position to unlawfully obtain post-1986 machine guns—firearms that civilians cannot legally acquire under the Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act—then renting them to private citizens for profit. In his appeal before the Eighth Circuit, the Justice Department argued that precedent such as United States v. Fincher remains fully controlling even after New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The DOJ maintains that post-1986 machine guns are categorically outside Second Amendment protection because they are “highly dangerous and unusual,” a legal formula courts use to exclude certain weapons from constitutional coverage. This position directly challenges arguments that Bruen broadened the Second Amendment to cover modern weapons not commonly owned by civilians because of federal prohibitions. Debrief: If the Eighth Circuit affirms the DOJ’s argument, it would reinforce a major dividing line in Second Amendment jurisprudence: semiautomatic firearms remain protected under Br...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA: Summary of Recent Developments (SORD)

》In Wilmington, DE, officers conducting a late-night stop at Canby Park West on November 24th found a loaded Glock pistol, extra magazines, and an armored plate in the vehicle of 25-year-old Luqman Khan, a Pakistani-born male who told police he wanted to be a martyr. Police recovered a notebook containing a hand-drawn diagram of the University of Delaware Police Station with entry and exit points marked and a specific officer ide...

》In Minnesota, federal and state investigations into extensive public-assistance fraud involving Somali-American networks continued as prosecutors examined Medicaid autism-therapy billing, housing programs, and the Feeding Our Future food-aid operation. 78 defendants have been charged and more than 50 have pleaded guilty, with court records describing fabricated meal counts, shell companies, and false service claims. Fraudulent autism-therapy spending rose from about $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023 as providers increased from 41 to 328. An investigative report stated that part of the fraud proceeds moved through Somali hawala channels and reached the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab with estimations projecting that Minnesota taxpayers were the largest funders of Al-Shabaab du...

》In Los Angeles, CA, 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel was arrested after authorities said he shouted anti-ICE statements and threw two Molotov cocktails toward entrances of the downtown federal building that houses ICE and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Nei...

》Nationally, an FDA memorandum referenced in legal filings stated that several pediatric deaths occurred following COVID-19 vaccination, and federal liability protections under the PREP Act c...

》Nationally, the FBI issued a procurement request seeking drones equipped with artificial-intelligence tools, including real-time facial-recognition and other analytic capabili...

》In Norman, OK, a University of Oklahoma student received a zero grade on a psychology assignment after including Biblical beliefs in her paper that multiple genders and self-identified identities are sinful. The instructor, a transgender (male currently identifying as a female) was p...

》Nationally, a recall was issued for millions of bags of shredded Colby Jack and related cheese products s(old at Target, Wal-Mart, and Aldi) after testing indicated possible metal-fragment conta...

》Nationally, mass-killing data from AP/USA Today/Northeastern University recorded 17 mass-killing incidents in 2025, the lowest total since tracking began in 2006, with the defin...

Field Notes - Infrastructure / Government Oversight: On November 24th the federal government announced the Genesis Mission, an executive order signed by President Trump, directing the Department of Energy to build a unified national AI platform that merges federal supercomputers, national-lab research, decades of scientific data, and advanced modeling tools into one coordinated system. The order outlines a Manhattan-Project-style restructuring of U.S. science, where AI systems will generate hypotheses, run simulations, analyze results, and automate large portions of energy, nuclear, materials, quantum, medical, and climate research. It also places Apple-, Google-, and DOE-level infrastructure under a single framework managed through DOE leadership and White House oversight. While the initiative promises faster breakthroughs and tighter national-security control over critical technologies, it also centralizes enormous amounts of sensitive scientific data and computing power into one platform — creating a single point of failure that, if compromised or mismanaged, could expose intellectual property, research pipelines, and national-securi...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Civil Unrest / Societal Collapse / Citizen Actions / Extremism Brief: National Summary

BLUF: Pro-Venezuelans rally in 65 cities to oppose attacks on narco-terrorists; Anti-ICE extremists mobilize to disrupt law enforcement operations, attack police, disrupt businesses; Pro-Palestinians disrupt shoppers;

》In Washington, DC on Nov 16th; pro-Venezuelan protesters rallied outside the White House opposin...

》In St. Paul, MN on Nov 18th; federal agents from ICE, the FBI, and the DEA carried out a court-authorized search-warrant operation at Bro-Tex, Inc., a paper distributor in an industr...

》In Midtown Manhattan on Black Friday, 70+ pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted shopping on Fifth Avenue by storming a Zara store, blowing whistles, waving Palestinian flags, and chanting “They fund the genocide” and “Zara is a genocidal company.” NYPD said four people were arrested—one on a criminal-trespass charge and three on summonses—before the group marched on to other retailers such as Apple and Microsoft while accusing the companies of complicity in violence against Palestinians. In Lo...

》On November 29th, the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, pro-Palestinian organizations mobilized demonstrations around the world, including large marches in New Yo...

》Nationwide on December 6th; multiple far-left, socialist, and pro-Palestinian activist groups including ANSWER, CODEPINK, The People...

》In Tucson AZ on December 5th; ICE and DHS conducted coordinated warrant services tied to illegal immigration and tax violations involving the Taco Giro restaurant chain. Protesters, anti-ICE, community members supporting Arizona Democrats, and news reporters gathered outside one location. In less than an hour, rioters deployed to the area after being mobilized on WhatsApp and other online messaging platforms. The main coordinating groups were Rapid Response Tucson, a local immigrant-defense network that helped rally people on-site, and supporters aligned with broader immigrant-rights advocacy. National Latino organization Mi Familia Vota strongly condemned the federal response and expressed solidarity with the rioters who disrupted the operation and failed to disperse upon order. Agents used pepper spray, tear gas, and pep...

》Nationwide; anti-ICE activists disrupted business at Home Depots to protest ICE and CBP operations. The protesters purchased ice scrapers en masse, one customer at a time, at registers then wa...

》Nationwide; the Party for Socialism and Liberation conducted pro-Venezuelan protests in 65 cities. Prote...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Supply Chain: The Trump administration announced a $12 billion aid package for U.S. farmers affected by low crop prices and the impact of his trade policies. Up to $11 billion will be distributed as one-time pay...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Cybersecurity: President Donald Trump announced the “One Rule” executive order that would federalize regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), replacing a patchwork of state-level rules with a single national standard. He advised that companies should not have to obtain 50 different state approvals to operate AI technologies, stating that a unified federal framework is necessary to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race. The proposed order would likely preempt state AI laws and could involve enforcement mechanisms such as federal funding restrictions or legal action against states with restrictive regulations. In January, Trump directed the federal government to promote artificial intelligence development while rolling back parts of President Biden’s 2023 AI executive order. The January order instructed agencies to review and, where permitted by law, suspend rules seen as limiting AI deployment, and to prepare a national AI action plan focused on economic comp...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Government Oversight / Civil Unrest: New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video explaining how residents could resist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducting operations in NYC. He said ICE cannot enter private homes, schools, or non-public work areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge, and advised people to state that they do not consent to entry and to keep doors closed if such a warrant is not presented. He told viewers they may remain silent, advised that ICE lies, residents should not assist ICE, a...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Terrorism: Florida Governor DeSantis issued an order labeling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations under Florida law. The designation aligns Florida with earlier moves by Texas officials who adopted similar labels. The order signals that Florida agencies are to treat these grou...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

2nd Amendment Brief: National Summary

BLUF: CA ammo-background-check law revived pending en banc review; DOJ opens Second Amendment Section in Civil Rights Division; U.S. Education Department funds national 2nd Amendment curriculum; NY bill proposes standards for public firearms and ammunition purchases; NC changes rules for returning firearms after domestic-violence protective orders; Albany County NY treats flare guns as firearms and restricts sales.

》In CA on December 1st; the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived California’s 2019 law requiring background checks for all ammunition p...

》Nationwide on December 4th; the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division opened a Second Amendment Section, described in public materials as responsible for investigating patterns or practices of Second Amendment infringements and pursuing litigation, amicus briefs, and enforcement actions related to the right to keep and bear arms. Advocacy groups on both sides of the gun-policy debate acknowledged that the new office will focus on state and local licensing, permitting, and other governm...

》Nationwide on December 2nd; the U.S. Department of Education awarded roughly $908,991 over two years to the University of Wyoming’s Firearms Research Center through the Amer...

》In NY on December 8th; Senate Bill S8608 was introduced in the state legislature to regulate how state agencies and certain public entities purchase firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories. The bill would require that public purchases go through licensed dealers and comply with defined standards, and it directs state officials to consider factors such as safety, accountability, and traceability when contracting for firearms-related products. Debrief: The bill was introduced by state Democrats and seeks to target firearm businesses that are less restrictive. The bill states that agencies "only purchase firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories from dealers who do not sell unserialized gun build kits or firearm precursor parts." Bec...

》In NC; Section 20 of the 2025 Public Safety Act (Senate Bill 429) took effect on December 1st, changing how sheriffs handle firearms, ammunition, and permits surrendered under domestic-violence protective orders. Sheriffs may now return surrendered firearms to a defendant without a new court order once a protective order expires or is denied, after verifying through a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check that the person is not prohibited from possessing firearms and has no disqualifying charges, and third-party owners have expanded opportunities to request return of their proper...

》In NY (Albany County) on December 8th; the Albany County Legislature passed a local law treating flare guns similarly to firearms in response to a series of incidents, including a July 4th episode that led to a house fire and a shooting death. The measure makes it a misdemeanor to sell a flare gun to anyone under 21, sets fines for violations, and prohibits felons from possessing or using flare guns “unlawfully against the person or property of another,” wi...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - National Security: The U.S. Department of War announced the implementation of GenAI.mil as a secure generative-AI platform. It will be accessible to roughly 3 million military, civilian, and contractor personnel, initially using Google Cloud’s Gemini for Government to support controlled unclassified (IL5) tasks such as document drafting, imagery and video analysis, and admin...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Commercial Oversight: Concerned Women for America (CWA), a U.S.-based conservative advocacy organization, conducted an analysis of Netflix children’s programming and reported that 33% of TV-G, TV-Y, and TV-Y7 noscripts contained LGBTQ+ characters, themes, storylines, or messaging. 41% of G-rated series included LGBTQ+ content described as 18% “Explicit,” 19% “Meta,” and 4% “Implied”. LGBTQ+ content on TV-Y7 programming was largely labeled “Explicit”. 21% of TV-Y programming cont...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - Terrorism / Major Crime: In Sydney, Australia at Archer Park near Bondi Beach on December 14th, a mass shooting occurred during a public Hanukkah event, killing 15 civilians and one attacker and injuring at least 43 people, including children and elderly victims. The suspects were identified as a father, age 50, initially described as a Lebanese national of Palestinian descent, who was shot and killed by police, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, a Pakistani national who survived and was taken into custody, with authorities describing the attack as an antisemitic terrorist act targeting the Jewish community, while the investigation into specific planning, affiliations, and individual motive statements remained ongoing at the time of reporting. Initial reporting suggests Sydney police were on scene for approximately 20 minutes before engaging the suspects. A Muslim male bystander intervened and disarmed one suspect before reportedly being shot by another suspect. Investigators stated that the father and son suspects had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, were previously known to Australian counterterrorism authorities, and an ISIS flag w...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - Major Crime: In Providence, RI on December 13th, a mass shooting occurred inside the Barus and Holley Building at Brown University, resulting in 2 students killed and 9 people wounded by gunfire. An Army veteran from Wisconsin was initially detained as a person of interest but was later released as the search for the suspect continued. No motive has been officially confirmed, with investigators stating the motive remained under investigation and no verified ideological, religious, or political driver publicly established. Only one vi...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - National Security / Global Conflict: In Syria on December 13th; two U.S. Army soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush attack in central Syria near Palmyra while on a joint U.S.–Syrian patrol supporting ongoing counter-ISIS/counterterrorism operations. Three additional U.S. service members were wounded in the attack. U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon attributed the ambush to a lone Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) gunman, who was engaged and killed by partner forces. President Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” against those responsible, calling the attack an ISIS assault on U.S. and Syrian forces and affirming that it would not go unanswered. The patrol was in a part of Syria described as not fully under government control. This incident marks the first U.S. combat fatalities in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad over a year ago. A Pentago...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - Terrorism: In Southern California on December 15th; the FBI announced the arrest of four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group accused of plotting coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings using improvised explosive devices at multiple locations. TILF planned attacks “at five locations targeting two U.S. companies at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the Los Angeles area.” The company-related locations were described as commercial logistics facilities, possibly “Walmart- or Amazon-like distribution centers.” The suspects were located in a remote desert area (Mojave Desert) while testing explosive materials. They communicated through encrypted channels (a Signal chat noscriptd Order of the Black Lotus). Prosecutors stated the group’s ideology combined anti-capitalist and pro-Palestinian motivations. Officials said the arrests disrupted a planned mass-casualty attack, and investigators indicated the case remains active with the possibility of additional charges or related arrests. TILF was also planning a series of pipe bombings at ICE locations in CA in January and February 2026. The Turtle Island Liberation Front - LA Chapter describes itself on social media as being devoted to “liberation through decolonization and tribal sovereignty.” Later, the FBI ann...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

2nd Amendment Brief: National Summary

BLUF: Major criminal and terrorist-linked attacks in the U.S. and abroad have increased calls for gun control.

Following the Brown University campus shooting on December 14th, lawmakers and public figures have increased calls for additional gun control measures that violate the 2nd Amendment. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr publicly called again for “common-sense gun control laws,” urging citizens and lawmakers to act to reduce gun violence. Indian American political leaders including Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Pramila Jayapal also issued statements calling for stronger gun safety laws and legislative action to address recurring mass shootings. Debrief: Specific federal proposals frequently discussed by gun safety advocates include universal background checks for all firearm sales, “red flag” or extreme risk protection laws that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed dangerous by the government, and bans or restrictions on certain standard-capacity and semi-automatic center-fire rifles (referred to as assault-style weapons by activists). Expect additional attempts to weaken the 2nd Amendment in the wake of high-profile and mass shootings.

///BREAK

After the December 14th presumed terrorist attack and mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, state premiers (e.g., NSW Premier Chris Minns), and Australia’s national cab...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Government Oversight / National Security / Privacy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection published a Federal Register notice on December 10th proposing to require travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to provide up to five years of social media history as a “mandatory data element” when applying through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Entry into the U.S. by immigrants from the 42 countries in the VWP (the U.K., Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and others), who normally can visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, would be dependent on disclosure of social media activities. The proposed changes would also expand data collection to include past telephone numbers, email addresses, family information, and additional high-value data fields, with CBP stating that the purpose is to strengthen vetting of visitors for national security and public safety; however, the policy is not yet final and not currently enforceable until after the comment period (February 9th, 2026) and any subsequent agency review and approval. CBP sai...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Supply Chain: Global crude oil markets in December 2025 are in a state of oversupply with inventories elevated and demand growth modest, pressuring prices and leaving storage ample outside of isolated regional capacity constraints. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a substantial surplus continuing into 2026 despite sanctions reducing supply from Russia and Venezuela, with total global supply growth still outpacing demand growth. Crude benchmarks such as WTI and Brent have traded around the mid-$50s to low $60s per barrel recently, reflecting this surplus and weak demand signals. Separately, the U.S. has intensified actions against Venezuelan oil exports by targeting sanctioned tankers and announcing a blockade of shipments, which has partially disrupted Venezuela’s oil flows and filled local storage to near capacity. However, Venezuela’s output accounts for less than 1 percent of global crude supply, so its reduced production has had only limited direct market impact to date. Onshore and offshore oil storage and supply do exist globally and in the U.S. as concerns and claims of “no storage” are confused by the excess supply. Global inventories remain elevated due to oversupply, with oil held in onshore tanks, strategic reserves, and offshore floating storage. The U.S. produces about 13–14 million barrels per day, mostly onshore, plus roughly 1.8–1.9 million offshore, and holds hundreds of millions of barrels in commercial storage and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Debrief: The combination of weak demand, full storage outside specific bottlenecks, and geopolitical disruption in Venezuela means crude prices are unlikely to “skyrocket” solely due to the Venezuelan situation unless several conditions converge: a materially larger supply disruption (much greater than Venezuela’s current ~700,000–900,000 bpd), meaningful declines in global inventory stocks rather than isolated regional storage limits, and a genuine acceleration in demand growth. The IEA’s forecast of ongoing surplus suggests that, absent such broader shocks, crude prices will remain range-bound rather than move sharply above $80-$100 per barrel. A sudden U.S. military escalation targeting Venezuelan infrastructure could reduce Venezuelan exports further, but given the small share of global supply, the market can absorb several hundred thousand barrels per day through alternative sources (e.g., increased Canadian, U.S. Gulf Coast, or Middle Eastern exports) without a sustained major price spike. Conversely, if demand weakens further and inventories keep rising, the risk is that prices fall below current levels again, though structural factors like OPEC+ supply discipline and geopolitical risk premiums can temper declines. Broad statements about “no on-shore or inland oil storage in the world” are not supported; global storage and floating storage, tankers and stra...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

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Government Oversight Brief: Epstein Files

BLUF: The DOJ released a partial, redacted tranche of Epstein-related records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, removed some files shortly after posting citing victim-privacy review, denied redacting politicians’ names, and stated more disclosures are forthcoming, while the materials released do not establish new criminal allegations but have fueled scrutiny over transparency and selective redactions.

The Department of Justice published a partial collection of documents and photographs on December 19–20 pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates disclosure of unclassified Epstein-related materials. The public repository includes tens of thousands of pages of records, photos, flight logs, and some grand jury material. At least 16 files that appeared on the DOJ website, including one showing President Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell, were removed from the online library within a day of posting. The DOJ has stated that the removals and ongoing review are to address redactions to protect victims’ identifying information and that further disclosures will continue, while lawmakers from both parties have criticized the scope and completeness of the release and raised questions about compliance with the statutory deadline.

High-profile individuals appearing in newly released Epstein-related images or photo batches include Bill Clinton (former U.S. president), Michael Jackson (singer), Kevin Spacey (actor), Chris Tucker (comedian and actor), Mick Jagger (musician, The Rolling Stones), Diana Ross (singer), Prince Andrew (British royal, Duke of York), Richard Branson (entrepreneur, Virgin Group founder), Bill Gates (technology executive, Microsoft co-founder), Larry Summers (former U.S. Treasury Secretary), Sarah Ferguson (former Duchess of York), David Brooks (journalist and columnist), Sergey Brin (technology executive, Google co-founder), David Blaine (magician and performer), and Noam Chomsky (academic and author); some photos originated from estate or congressional releases rather than the DOJ’s current online repository.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the DOJ “will bring charges against anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. We reaffirm this commitment, and ask any victim to please come forward with any information pertaining to any individuals who engaged in illicit activity.” The Justice Department stated that it is not redacting the names of any politicians.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded to complaints regarding redactions, saying, “The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law — full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim.”

Debrief: (CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)