Week of 02/19: FREECABLE TV’s Top 10 Stories

Unidentified Objects: ‘No indication of aliens’

Politico - At least once or twice this weekend, the thought that probably crossed everyone’s mind with regards to the numerous sightings of unidentified objects in the sky: Could it be aliens? White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre this week wasted no time squashing that question after U.S. forces shot down three unidentified objects over the weekend. “I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no — again no indication — of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns,” Jean-Pierre said from the White House podium. “I wanted to make sure that the American people knew that, all of you knew that and it was important for us to say that from here because we’ve been hearing a lot about it.”

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Biden Criticized Over Handling Of Unidentified Objects

ABC - As the U.S. military continues to shoot unidentified objects out the sky at an alarming rate, President Joe Biden has remained largely silent about the most recent takedowns. "We have been, I think, as transparent as we can be," White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters this week as he tried to defend the President. "I won't speak for the president's personal speaking schedule, but, I mean, he has been deeply engaged in every one of these decisions." He has been kept informed, including as of this morning, on what's going on with recovery efforts."

Watch more: https://youtu.be/f6BaVxGFtak

Nikki Haley's Presidential Bid

TheGuardian - Republican Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and a UN ambassador under Donald Trump, has formally launched her campaign for President this week, calling on Americans to reject the “stale ideas and faded names of the past” and to instead put their faith in a “new generation” of political leaders. “America is not past our prime. It’s just that our politicians are past theirs,” Haley said. And perhaps in relations to her campaign ideals, Haley has vowed to enforce term limits for members of Congress and “mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75, a population that includes both Joe Biden, who is 80, and Trump, who is 76, should she become the President.

Watch more: https://youtu.be/u7YUsyJTTGU

UFOs More Common Than We Think

FOX - Ryan Graves, a former F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot, said this week on Fox New's "Hannity" that he had previously encountered a UFO and reported his sightings to the Pentagon and Congress. So, when news broke out that the U.S. military shot down three high-altitude objects over Alaska, Canada, and Lake Huron, Graves wasn’t all that surprised. "We would fly our jets off the Eastern seaboard in our working areas with our F-18s. And once we upgraded our radars, we started noticing objects in our working areas that we weren't expecting to see," Graves said. "They do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground," Graves added. "They do, however, present a risk to civil aviation and potentially an intelligence collection threat. And we'll get to the bottom of it."

Watch more: https://youtu.be/mljQRYLM2yU

U.S. Balloons In China Airspace

NBC - China said this week that high-altitude balloons belonging to the United States had flown over its airspace without permission more than 10 times since early last year. “It is nothing rare for U.S. balloons to illegally enter other countries’ airspace,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing. “The U.S. should first reflect upon itself and change course instead of smearing other countries.” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby have since responded to these allegations, stating, "We are not flying surveillance balloons over China."

Watch more: https://youtu.be/nLyrqH57LzY

Black Hawk Helicopter Crashes In Alabama

CBS - Two members of the Tennessee National Guard were unfortunately killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed this week near Huntsville, Alabama, during a routine training mission, the agency said. The deceased guardsmen were the only two people aboard the helicopter, the Tennessee National Guard said in a statement, and no one on the ground was injured by the crash. The names of the two victims were not immediately released. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Tennessee National Guardsmen, and our prayers are with their families during this heartbreaking tragedy," Brig. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee's adjutant general, said in a statement. "We ask Tennesseans to join us in supporting their families during this time of unthinkable grief."

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Buffalo Mass Shooter Sentenced To Life

ABC - Emotions boiled over this week as Buffalo mass shooter Payton Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility parole. "There is no place for you or your ignorant, hateful and evil ideologies in a civilized society. There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances. The damage you have caused is too great and the people you have hurt are too valuable to this community," Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan told Gendron. "You will never see the light of day as a free man ever again."

Watch more: https://youtu.be/llI3kRvS4EI

China Warns U.S. Against Escalation

NBC - Concerns and tensions continue to grow between China and the United States as China accused the U.S. of escalating the dispute over the downed surveillance balloon this week. When asked about Biden’s potential remarks thus far, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said this week that the U.S. “cannot ask for communication and dialogue on one hand, while sharpening differences and escalating crises.” Furthermore, an early sign of rising hostility came when Beijing declined Washington’s request for a secure call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterpart, National Defense Minister Wei Fenghe. China later added that it declined the call because the U.S. had not “created the proper atmosphere for dialogue.”

Watch more: https://youtu.be/Zu6BCS5rCso

Biden Remains ‘Fit For Duty’

CNBC - President Joe Biden reportedly remains “fit” to conduct his duties as president, according to a medical memo released by the White House following a routine physical exam this week. “President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency,” White House physician Kevin O’Connor said in a five-page memo. O’Connor added that his assessment was based on a “comprehensive review” of Biden’s medical history and a detailed physical examination that included specialty consultations at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Watch more: https://youtu.be/R61InNyzL8U

"Sharper Rules" Are Coming With Regards To Spy Balloons

PBS - President Joe Biden said this week that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting much of the country. Biden said he hoped the new rules would help “distinguish between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not... [but] make no mistake, if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people I will take it down.”