President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by signing an executive order to declassify all remaining documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Everything will be revealed,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while signing the executive order Thursday, Jan. 23.
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The assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK Jr. have long been the subjects of widespread speculation and conspiracy theories. People have questioned whether the official narratives –– often involving lone gunmen –– are accurate, or if other forces were involved.
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The public has wondered if there are hidden details, concealed for decades, that could change our understanding of history.
President Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. The suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, told reporters he did not kill the president. Oswald was shot and killed two days later.
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 required the release of all documents related to JFK’s assassination by October 2017 — unless the president determined that the harm of releasing the files outweighed the public’s interest.
During Trump’s first term in office, he promised to release all the files. However, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., RFK’s son, told Tucker Carlson during an interview in August 2024 that former CIA Director and Trump’s then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressured Trump not to release the JFK documents.
“I talked to President Trump for the first time about that this week,” RFK Jr. told Carlson.
“What did he say?” Carlson asked.
“He said that, he said that Mike Pompeo begged him. And I don’t think I’m telling tales out of school here because he said the same thing to you,” RFK Jr. said.
“It’s true,” Carlson replied.
“But he said Mike Pompeo called him and said this would be a catastrophe to release these, you need to not do it,” RFK Jr. said.
People have questioned why all records related to a president’s assassination nearly 62 years ago have not been publicly released.
RFK Jr. has said he believes the CIA was involved in his uncle’s murder. He says keeping the remaining documents classified is the government’s way of covering it up.
After signing the executive order, Trump told his aide to give the pen he used to sign the order to “RFK Jr.”
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The executive order states that more than 50 years after their assassinations, “their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.”
Tags: Assassination, conspiracy theories, Donald Trump, Executive Order, JFK, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE GOOD ON A CAMPAIGN PROMISE SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DECLASSIFY ALL REMAINING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE ASSASSINATIONS OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY, HIS BROTHER SENATOR ROBERT F KENNEDY, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.
“EVERYTHING WILL BE REVEALED,” TRUMP TOLD REPORTERS IN THE OVAL OFFICE WHILE SIGNING THE EO.
THE ASSASSINATIONS OF JFK, RKF, AND MLK JR. HAVE LONG BEEN SUBJECTS OF WIDESPREAD SPECULATION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES. PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVES ABOUT THEIR DEATHS—OFTEN INVOLVING LONE GUNMEN—ARE ACCURATE, OR IF THERE WERE OTHER FORCES AT PLAY.
PEOPLE MAY WONDER IF THERE ARE DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDDEN FOR DECADES THAT COULD CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE RIDING IN A MOTORCADE IN DALLAS, TEXAS ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963. THE SUSPECT, LEE HARVEY OSWALD, TOLD REPORTERS HE DID NOT KILL THE PRESIDENT. OSWALD WAS SHOT AND KILLED TWO DAYS LATER.
THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992 REQUIRED ALL DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO JFK’S ASSASSINATION TO BE RELEASED BY OCTOBER 2017 – UNLESS THE PRESIDENT DECIDED THE HARM IN RELEASING THE FILES OUTWEIGHED THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST.
DURING TRUMP’S FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, HE PROMISED TO RELEASE ALL THE FILES.
HOWEVER, ROBERT F KENNEDY JUNIOR, RFK’S SON, TOLD TUCKER CARLSON DURING AN INTERVIEW IN AUGUST 2024, THAT FORMER CIA DIRECTOR AND TRUMP’S THEN SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO, PRESSURED TRUMP NOT TO RELEASE THE JFK DOCUMENTS.
“I TALKED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK,” RKF JR TOLD TUCKER.
“WHAT DID HE SAY?” TUCKER ASKED.
“HE SAID THAT, HE SAID THAT MIKE POMPEO BEGGED HIM. AND I DON’T THINK I’M TELLING TALES OUT OF SCHOOL HERE BECAUSE HE SAID THE SAME THING TO YOU,” RKF JR. SAID.
“IT’S TRUE,” TUCKER REPLIED.
“BUT HE SAID MIKE POMPEO CALLED HIM AND SAID THIS WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE TO RELEASE THESE, YOU NEED TO NOT DO IT,” RFK JR. ASSERTED.
MANY HAVE QUESTIONED WHY ALL RECORDS RELATED TO A PRESIDENT’S ASSASSINATION NEARLY 62 YEARS AGO HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.
RKF JUNIOR HAS SAID HE BELIEVES THE CIA HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS UNCLE’S MURDER AND KEEPING THE REMAINING DOCUMENTS CLASSIFIED WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S WAY OF COVERING IT UP.
AFTER SIGNING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD HIS AIDE TO GIVE THE PEN HE USED TO SIGN THE ORDER TO “RFK JR.”
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER STATES THAT MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THEIR ASSASSINATIONS, “THEIR FAMILIES AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUTH. IT IS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST TO FINALLY RELEASE ALL RECORDS RELATED TO THESE ASSASSINATIONS WITHOUT DELAY.”
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The Trump administration is preparing an executive order that would stop federal funding for gain-of-function (GOF) research, The Wall Street Journal reports. Gain-of-function is a controversial area of virus-related research that has been widely debated since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research modifies a virus to increase its transmissibility, virulence or ability to evade the immune system. Essentially, it makes the virus more dangerous and deadly than its natural state.
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Scientists in favor of GOF research argue that it can provide crucial insights into how viruses evolve and spread.
People familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously to the Journal, said the goal of the executive action would be to prevent U.S.-funded scientists from conducting GOF research on viruses that could threaten human health.
There is also a possibility that H5N1, also known as bird flu, could be exempt from the order.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and other Republicans have been critical of gain-of-function research. They claim that COVID-19 is the product of it and leaked from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Paul has accused Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of knowingly funding gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab with federal funds.
The origin of the COVID-19 pandemic remains undetermined. In October 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a declassified report asserting that it could not conclusively prove the origins of COVID-19.
The president has not finalized his executive action.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WOULD STOP FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS.
GAIN-OF-FUNCTION IS A RESEARCH INTO VIRUSES AND IT’S BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH MODIFIES A VIRUS TO INCREASE ITS TRANSMISSIBILITY, VIRULENCE, OR ABILITY TO EVADE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ESSENTIALLY MAKE A VIRUS MORE DANGEROUS AND DEADLY THAN WHAT’S FOUND IN NATURE.
RESEARCHERS ARGUE IN FAVOR OF GAIN-OF-FUNCTION (GOF) RESEARCH BECAUSE IT CAN PROVIDE CRUCIAL INSIGHTS INTO HOW VIRUSES EVOLVE AND SPREAD.
PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER SPOKE ANONYMOUSLY TO THE JOURNAL SAYING THE GOAL OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTION WOULD BE TO PREVENT U.S.-FUNDED SCIENTISTS FROM CONDUCTING “GAIN-OF-FUNCTION” RESEARCH ON VIRUSES THAT COULD POSE A THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH.
THERE’S ALSO A POSSIBILITY H5N1 ALSO KNOWN AS BIRD FLU COULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE ORDER.
SENATOR RAND PAUL AND OTHER REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH AS THEY CLAIM COVID-19 LEAKED FROM THE LAB AT THE WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY.
SENATOR PAUL HAS ACCUSED DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, OF KNOWINGLY FUNDING GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH AT THE WUHAN LAB USING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.
SEN. PAUL: “DR. FAUCI, DO YOU STILL SUPPORT FUNDING OF THE NIH FUNDING OF THE LAB IN WUHAN?”
FAUCI: “SENATOR PAUL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU ARE ENTIRELY AND COMPLETELY INCORRECT. THAT THE NIH HAS NOT EVER AND DOES NOT NOW FUND GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH IN THE WUHAN INSITITUE OF VIROLOGY.”
THE ORIGIN OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC REMAINS UNDETERMINED. IN OCTOBER 2021, THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE RELEASED A DECLASSIFIED REPORT ASSERTING IT COULD NOT PROVIDE A CONCLUSION ON THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19.
THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ACTION HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED.
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A group of lawmakers is pushing a bill that would ban China from purchasing any land in the United States. The “Not One More Inch or Acre Act” is led by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama.
It would require land owned or “Influenced” by the Chinese Communist Party that’s considered a national security risk to be sold.
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The bill also asks President Donald Trump to take action to prohibit the purchase of public or private real estate in the U.S. by Chinese citizens or companies.
What are the bill sponsors saying about national security?
Sen. Cotton said in a statement, “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real estate.”
Sen. Britt added, “The CCP’s strategic acquisition of farmland, particularly near our military installations, isn’t just a national security risk, it is a threat to our economic and food security.”
The bill comes as national security concerns about China recently led to a temporary shutdown of Chinese-owned social media company TikTok in the United States.
How much land does China own in the U.S.?
According to a report by the Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China held 277,336 acres of agricultural and non-agricultural land in the U.S. by the end of 2023.
This accounts for less than 1% of all foreign-held acres in the U.S.
The report also notes that none of the U.S. land holdings are directly linked to the Chinese government.
What happens next?
If the act goes to a vote, 60 senators would need to back the measure.
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Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning at least seven Democratic senators would need to support the bill.
Tags: China, Chinese Communist Party, Donald Trump, Economy, Katie Britt, Kevin Cramer, Real estate, Tom Cotton
[Karah]
A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS IS PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD BAN CHINA FROM PURCHASING ANY LAND IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE “NOT ONE MORE INCH OR ACRE ACT” IS LED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS TOM COTTON OF ARKANSAS, KEVIN CRAMER OF NORTH DAKOTA AND KATIE BRITT OF ALABAMA.
IT WOULD REQUIRE LAND OWNED OR “INFLUENCED” BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY THAT’S CONSIDERED A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK TO BE SOLD.
THE BILL ALSO ASKS PRESIDENT TRUMP TO TAKE ACTION IN PROHIBITING THE PURCHASE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE REAL ESTATE IN THE U-S BY CHINESE CITIZENS OR COMPANIES.
COTTON SAID IN A STATEMENT “FOR DECADES, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS BEEN GOBBLING UP AMERICAN FARMLAND AND REAL ESTATE.”
WITH BRITT ADDING … “THE C-C-P’S STRATEGIC ACQUISITION OF FARMLAND, PARTICULARLY NEAR OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, ISN’T JUST A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK, IT IS A THREAT TO OUR ECONOMIC AND FOOD SECURITY.”
THE BILL COMES AS NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA RECENTLY LED TO A TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN OF CHINESE-OWNED SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY TIK-TOK IN THE UNITED STATES.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY AND THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE … CHINA HELD MORE THAN 275-THOUSAND ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE U-S BY THE END OF 20-23.
THIS ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF ALL FOREIGN-HELD ACRES IN THE U-S.
THE REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT NONE OF THE U-S LAND HOLDINGS ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
IF THE ACT GOES TO A VOTE, 60 SENATORS WOULD NEED TO BACK THE MEASURE. REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY HOLD 53 SENATE SEATS … MEANING AT LEAST SEVEN DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WOULD NEED TO SUPPORT THE BILL.FOR SAN KARAH RUCKER – I’M FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
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President Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion demonstrators who were convicted of civil rights violations and other crimes during the administration of former President Joe Biden. Some are still in prison; their sentences range from six months to five years.
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The pardons come just ahead of the March for Life, an annual event that draws tens of thousands to Washington.
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The demonstrators were found guilty of violating the FACE Act, which prohibits threats and physical obstruction at reproductive clinics or places of worship. When charged as a felony, it carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
To make the FACE Act violation a felony, prosecutors also charged some of the demonstrators with violating the KKK Act, a 19th-century law written to protect newly enfranchised Black Americans.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., asked President Trump to pardon six individuals. That includes Paul Vaughn, who said he was complimented by local police for the peaceful manner of his protest.
Vaughn told Congress about the moment he was arrested 18 months later.
“I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, staring down the barrels of both a pistol and an automatic weapon pointed at my head,” anti-abortion advocate Paul Vaughn said. “I later learned at the same time, three of my children, ages 12, 14 and 18, were being detained in the side yard on the edge of the woods by a fourth armed man.”
The Thomas More Society, an anti-abortion nonprofit law firm, asked the president to pardon 21 individuals. The group said those convicted are upstanding individuals who were targeted by the Biden administration.
“Only after Dobbs was decided did they begin rounding up pro-lifers, all around the country, for incidents that occurred years before Dobbs was even decided. And they’ve thrown the proverbial book at them,” Steve Crampton, senior counsel of the Thomas More Society, told the House in December.
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In a speech in February 2024, President Trump said some anti-abortion activists were found guilty of “outrageous” charges and pledged to review the cases when in office.
Tags: Abortion, Anna Paulina Luna, Arrest, Crime, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Lawsuit, Pardon, Prison, Reproductive rights, Washington DC
[RAY BOGAN]
President Trump pardoned 23 pro-life demonstrators who were convicted of civil rights violations and other crimes during the Biden Administration.
[RAY BOGAN]
Some are still in prison, their sentences range from six months to five years.
[RAY BOGAN]
The demonstrators were found guilty of violating the FACE Act which prohibits threats and physical obstruction at reproductive clinics or places of worship. When charged as a felony, it carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
[RAY BOGAN]
To make the FACE Act violation a felony, prosecutors also charged some of the demonstrators with violating the KKK Act, a 19th century law written to protect newly enfranchised Black Americans.
[RAY BOGAN]
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., asked President Trump to pardon six individuals. That includes Paul Vaughn who said he was complimented by local police for the peaceful manner of his protest.
[RAY BOGAN]
He told Congress about the moment he was arrested 18 months later.
[PAUL VAUGHN]
“I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch staring down the barrels of both a pistol and an automatic weapon pointed at my head. I later learned at the same time three of my children, ages 12, 14 and 18, were being detained in the side yard on the edge of the woods by a fourth armed man.”
[RAY BOGAN]
The Thomas More Society, a pro-life, non-profit law firm, asked the President to pardon 21 individuals. The group said those convicted are upstanding individuals who were targeted by the Biden Administration.
[STEVE CRAMPTON]
“Only after Dobbs was decided did they begin rounding up pro-lifers, all around the country, for incidents that occurred years before Dobbs was even decided. And they’ve thrown the proverbial book at them.”
[RAY BOGAN]
The pardons come just ahead of the March for Life, an annual event that draws tens of thousands to Washington DC.
[RAY BOGAN]
In a speech in February 2024, President Trump said some pro-life activists were found guilty of “outrageous” charges and pledged to review the cases when in office.
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President Donald Trump brought his message to the world stage on Thursday, Jan. 23, giving a special address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the event featuring leaders in global government and business, the president touted his priorities, including investment in America, easing the regulatory environment and tariffs.
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During the president’s opening remarks, he trumpeted investments he has secured for the U.S. since winning the election.
On U.S. investment
“SoftBank has announced between a $100 and $200 billion investment in the U.S. economy because of the election result,” he said. “And just two days ago, Oracle and OpenAI announced a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure. Other companies, likewise, have announced billions and billions and billions, adding up to trillions of investment in America.”
But it’s not just the private sector getting ready to write checks.
“Saudi Arabia will be investing at least $600 billion in America, but I’ll be asking the crown prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out to around $1 trillion,” Trump said.
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On inflation
The president talked about taking action to reduce the burden of high prices on Americans.
“On day one, I signed an executive order directing every member of my cabinet to marshal all powers at their disposal to defeat inflation and reduce the cost of daily life,” he said. “And I’m also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil. You got to bring it down … If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately.”
A barrel of Brent crude oil traded around $76 on Thursday. Overall, the consumer price energy index is down 0.5% over the 12 months ending in December. Gasoline prices are down 3.4% on the year. Inflation on all consumer prices tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics rose 2.9% for the year ending in December.
On interest rates
“I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately,” he said, turning his attention to the Federal Reserve. “And likewise, they should be dropping all over the world. Interest rates should follow us.”
Trump pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates is nothing new. He publicly fought with Fed Chair Jerome Powell about the issue during Trump’s first administration.
After raising the benchmark interest rate to levels not seen in decades to combat inflation, the Fed began cutting rates in September 2024. However, as inflation starts to pick up again, probability markets are betting on just one rate cut in 2025. The Federal Open Market Committee projected two cuts for the year during its December meeting.
On regulation
Trump said his administration has begun “the largest deregulation campaign in history, far exceeding even the record-setting efforts of my last term.”
“I have promised to eliminate 10 old regulations for every new regulation, which will soon put many thousands of dollars back in the pockets of American families to further unleash our economy,” he added.
On American manufacturing
Trump continued to promote making products in the U.S., doubling down on tariffs for companies making products outside of the country.
“If you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff, differing amounts, but a tariff which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars, and even trillions of dollars, into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt,” Trump said. “Under the Trump administration, there will be no better place on Earth to create jobs, build factories or grow a company than right here in the good ‘ole USA.”
Global reactions to Trump’s trade policies
Attendees of the global forum talked heavily about Trump’s trade policies well before he addressed the event remotely.
“If we have tit-for-tat retaliation, whether it’s 25% tariff (or) 60%, and we go to where we were in the 1930s, we’re going to see double-digit global GDP losses,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said at an event in Davos on Thursday. “That’s catastrophic. Everyone will pay, everyone. And the poor countries will pay even more.”
“Second, if we just do, not quite tit-for-tat, but even a version of that, let’s say we break into two trading blocs and we’re not trading across the world, and we layer in trade policy uncertainty,” Okonjo-Iweala added. “We’ve done that work, too. We are going to lose 6.4% of real global GDP in the longer term. That’s like losing the economy of Japan and Korea combined.”
Despite that warning, Okonjo-Iweala said she was approaching things with “cautious optimism.”
“Everybody thought that by today or tomorrow we would get an executive order with 60% tariffs or 30% and so on,” she said during a separate panel Wednesday, Jan. 22. “So far, we’ve seen the request for a slew of studies and investigations of the various trading partners and various types of trade agreements to see the impact on the United States. That’s a bit encouraging.”
European reaction to trade relationships
Earlier in the week, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen addressed trade cooperation with partners like China.
“It is time to pursue a more balanced relationship with China in a spirit of fairness and reciprocity,” von der Leyen said Tuesday, Jan. 21. “This new engagement with countries across the world is not only an economic necessity, but it’s a message to the world. It is Europe’s response to rising global competition. We want more cooperation with all who are open for it.”
Meanwhile, the bloc faces a tariff threat from Trump.
“From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly,” he said Thursday. “They have a large tax that we know about, and a VAT tax, and it’s a very substantial one. They don’t take our farm products, and they don’t take our cars. Yet they send cars to us by the millions.”
“So we have hundreds of billions of dollars of deficits with the EU, and nobody’s happy with it,” he added. “And we’re going to do something about it, but nobody’s happy with it.”
“Our first priority will be to engage early [with the U.S.], discuss common interests, and be ready to negotiate,” von der Leyen said in Davos. “We will be pragmatic, but we will always stand by our principles.”
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Not mentioned by Trump: the Panama Canal
While Trump did not mention the Panama Canal during his speech, his previous comments are top of mind for some participants at Davos.
“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” Trump said Monday, Jan. 20.
But Panamanian leaders aren’t concerned about Trump’s plans.
“Panama is moving forward. Panama is not distracted by this type of pronouncements,” President Jose Raul Mulino said Wednesday in Davos. “Over time, we have been an ally and friend of the United States, partners to a large extent, [sharing] important benefits, not only through the canal but also a participant, as a main user of the canal, transporting goods from Panama and to the United States.”
“It doesn’t worry me because that in strict law is an impossibility,” he added. “Misinformed, of course, but that also leads us to think that from this, shall we call it, crisis, there must also be opportunities to work on other issues that interest us with the United States.”
Tags: Canada, China, Donald Trump, Economy, European Commission, European Union, Mexico, Oil, OPEC, OpenAI, SoftBank, Tariff, Trade, U.S. Economy
[Donald Trump]
“What the world has witnessed in the past 72 hours is nothing less than a revolution of common sense. Our country will soon be stronger, wealthier and more united than ever before.”
[Simone Del Rosario]
President Donald Trump brought his “America First” policies to the world stage on Thursday. In a remote address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president talked about his very early accomplishments and policy priorities. The annual gathering is full of leaders of business and government.
It’s in front of them Trump touted major investment promises by Japan’s Softbank, OpenAI, and a new deal with Saudi Arabia.
[Donald Trump}
“Saudi Arabia will be investing at least $600 billion in America, but I’ll be asking the Crown Prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out to around $1 trillion.”
[Simone Del Rosario]
The White House said Trump’s call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was his first with a foreign leader. It said the two talked about the kingdom’s “international economic ambitions” and how they “increase the mutual prosperity,” according to reports.
Trump said his early actions are meant to reduce the burden Americans feel from high prices.
{Donald Trump}
“On day one, I signed an executive order directing every member of my cabinet to marshal all powers at their disposal to defeat inflation and reduce the cost of daily life,”
And I’m also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil.
If the price came down, the Russia, Ukraine war would end immediately. Right now, the price is high enough that that war will continue.
[Simone Del Rosario]
A barrel of Brent Crude traded around $76 on Thursday, down from more than $100 a barrel in the first months of Russia’s invasion. Gasoline prices are down 3.4% over the last 12 months and the overall energy index is down half a percent. That’s according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation as a whole rose 2.9% in 2024.
Consumer inflation is starting to heat up again, though it’s far from the recent peak of 9%. The main tool the Federal Reserve used to bring down inflation was hike its benchmark interest rate. After significant progress, the Fed cut its rate three times last year, but probability markets are forecasting just one cut in 2025.
[Donald Trump}
“I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately. And likewise, they should be dropping all over the world. Interest rates should follow us.”
[Simone Del Rosario]
Pressure to lower interest rates is not a new move. During Trump’s first stint in the White House, he often pressured Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower the benchmark interest rate. The higher the rate, the more expensive borrowing is for everyone.
Meanwhile, the president hit on the deregulation efforts and the impact it will have on Americans.
[Donald Trump Trump}
“My administration has also begun the largest deregulation campaign in history, far exceeding even the record setting efforts of My last term.”
“I have promised to eliminate 10 old regulations for every new regulation, which will soon put many thousands of dollars back in the pockets of American families to further unleash our economy”
[Simone]
On the world stage, President Trump touched on his favorite word for increasing revenue: tariffs.
[Trump}
“If you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff, differing amounts, but a tariff which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars, and even trillions of dollars, into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt. Under the Trump administration, there will be no better place on Earth to create jobs, build factories, or grow a company than right here in the good ‘ole USA.”
[Simone]
Even before his appearance, Trump was a major topic of conversation in Davos. The head of the World Trade Organization warned of the impacts of a global trade war.
[Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | Director-General, World Trade Organization]
“If we have tit-for-tat retaliation, whether it’s 25% tariff (or) 60% and we go to where we were in the 1930s we’re going to see double-digit global GDP losses. Double Digit. That’s catastrophic. Everyone will pay, everyone. And the poor countries will pay even more.”
[Simone]
That said, now that Trump has taken office, she says she is cautiously optimistic about his intentions.
[Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | Director-General, World Trade Organization]
First, everybody thought that by today or tomorrow we would get, you know, an executive order with 60% tariffs or 30% and so on. So far, we’ve seen the request for a slew of studies and investigations of the various trading partners and various types of trade agreements to see the impact on the United States. that’s a bit encouraging,
[Simone]
On that note, Trump has recently taken aim at the European Union.
[Donald Trump}
“From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly. They have a large tax that we know about, and a VAT tax, and it’s a very substantial one. They don’t take our farm products, and they don’t take our cars. Yet they send cars to us by the millions”
[Simone]
Earlier this week, he issued a tariff threat to the bloc, but the European Commission president welcomed working with the U.S.
[URSULA VON DER LEYEN | PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION]
“Our first priority will be to engage early (with the US), discuss common interests and be ready to negotiate. We will be pragmatic, but we will always stand by our principles.”
[Simone]
Off the table at Trump’s Davos speech was talk of the Panama Canal, something he referred toreferenced in his inaugural address.
[Donald Trump – Inaugural Address]
China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.
[Simone]
Now, Panamanian president Jose Raul Mulino did address the comments in Davos, although he downplayed it.
He said Panama is not distracted by Trump’s pronouncements, but perhaps there’s an opportunity there to work on issues that interest both parties.
For more on the Saudi Arabia investment we mentioned at the top of this video, search “Saudi Arabia” for this story at SAN.com or on the Straight Arrow News app.
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Complaints of media bias against CBS, ABC and NBC have been revived under President Trump’s new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr. These complaints, which allege bias in election coverage, were dismissed last week by former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who served under the Biden administration.
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However, with Carr taking over leadership of the agency this week, the FCC will now continue investigating these complaints.
The allegations claim that affiliates of these major networks “distorted” their broadcasts to favor former Vice President Kamala Harris over then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during the height of the 2024 election cycle.
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In a move that reversed his predecessor’s decision, Carr stated that the dismissal of the complaints was “premature” and based on an “insufficient investigation,” warranting “further consideration.”
Under Carr’s leadership, the FCC will now take a second look at three complaints filed by the law firm Center for American Rights.
The three complaints in question are as follows:
- WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, is accused of bias for favoring Kamala Harris over Donald Trump during the September presidential debate.
- New York’s WCBS-TV, a CBS affiliate, is accused of “news distortion” due to the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.
- New York’s WNBC-TV, an NBC affiliate, is accused of violating the FCC’s “equal-time rule” when Kamala Harris appeared in a cameo on “Saturday Night Live” the weekend before the presidential election.
The equal-time rule mandates that broadcast stations provide equal coverage to competing political candidates. Rosenworcel, who dismissed the complaints in question, argued that Trump had been given equal airtime the following day during a NASCAR race and an NFL “Sunday Night Football” game. She also stated that the FCC should not be used as “the president’s speech police.”
During the election cycle, President Trump had called for ABC, CBS and NBC to lose their broadcasting rights over the issues outlined in the complaints. While national networks are not licensed by the FCC, the agency is responsible for licensing local network affiliates. This is why the complaints target the individual local affiliates.
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The agency has the authority to impose a range of penalties on broadcast stations, including hefty fines and even revoking licenses. However, the FCC has stated that it rarely intervenes, due to the delicate balance between “news distortion” and the First Amendment rights to a free press.
Had Rosenworcel dismissed the complaints a few weeks earlier, it would have prevented Trump’s newly appointed FCC chair from reviving the cases. As it stands, under Carr’s leadership, the complaints will now undergo further review.
Tags: 2024 Elections, ABC, CBS News, Donald Trump, FCC, Kamala Harris, Media Bias, NBC, Saturday Night Live
[Karah Rucker]
COMPLAINTS OF MEDIA BIAS AGAINST CBS, ABC, AND NBC HAVE BEEN **REVIVED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NEW “FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION” CHAIR “BRENDAN CARR.”
THE FCC CHAIR UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION “JESSICA ROSENWORCEL” HAD DISMISSED THE COMPLAINTS OF BIASES IN ELECTION COVERAGE LAST WEEK.
BUT UNDER CARR – THE FCC WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINTS –
CLAIMING THESE AFFILIATES “DISTORTED” THEIR BROADCASTS TO FAVOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS OVER NOW-PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DURING THE HEAT OF THE ELECTION CYCLE.
FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR – TAKING OVER THE FEDERAL AGENCY THIS WEEK –
AND IMMEDIATELY REVERSING HIS PREDECESSOR’S DECISION TO DISMISS THREE BIAS COMPLAINTS.
THE NOW FORMER FCC CHAIRWOMAN CALLED THE COMPLAINTS “A WEAPONIZATION” OF THE AGENCY’s LICENSING AUTHORITY –
SAYING THE COMPLAINTS WERE “AT ODDS” WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT’S PROTECTIONS OF A FREE PRESS.
BUT CARR SAYS THE DECISION TO DISMISS THE COMPLAINTS WAS DONE “PREMATURELY” BASED ON AN “INSUFFICIENT INVESTIGATION” THAT DESERVES “FURTHER CONSIDERATION.”
HERE’S THE THREE COMPLAINTS THE FCC WILL BE LOOKING AT–
ALL FILED BY THE LAW FIRM “CENTER FOR AMERICAN RIGHTS”.
AN ABC AFFILIATE IS ACCUSED OF BIAS – FAVORING HARRIS OVER TRUMP – DURING THE SEPTEMBER PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.
A CBS AFFILIATE IS ACCUSED OF “NEWS DISTORTION” IN THE WAY 60 MINUTES EDITED ITS INTERVIEW WITH HARRIS.
AND AN NBC AFFILIATE IS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING AN “EQUAL TIME FCC RULE” WHEN “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” FEATURED KAMALA HARRIS IN A CAMEO THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE “EQUAL TIME RULE” REQUIRES BROADCAST STATIONS TO GIVE EQUAL COVERAGE TO COMPETING POLITICAL CANDIDATES.
WHEN ROSENWORCEL DISMISSED THE “EQUAL TIME RULE” COMPLAINT – SHE SAID TRUMP WAS GIVEN AIRTIME THE NEXT DAY DURING A NASCAR RACE AND AN NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME –
AND SAID THE FCC SHOULDN’T BE “THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH POLICE.”
DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE –
TRUMP HAD CALLED FOR ABC, CBS, AND NBC TO LOSE BROADCASTING RIGHTS OVER THE ISSUES DETAILED IN THESE COMPLAINTS.
NATIONAL NETWORKS ARE **NOT LICENSED BY THE FCC — **BUT THE FCC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LICENSING INDIVIDUAL STATIONS – LIKE LOCAL NETWORK AFFILIATES.
WHICH IS WHY IN THE COMPLAINTS – A LOCAL AFFILIATE IS THE NAMED TARGET.
ACCORDING TO THE FCC’S OWN WEBSITE –
THE AGENCY HAS THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE A VARIETY OF PENALTIES ON A BROADCAST STATION – THAT INCLUDES HEFTY FINES AND REVOKING LICENSES –
BUT THE FCC SAYS IT “RARELY INTERVENES” –
DUE TO THE FINE LINE BETWEEN “NEWS DISTORTION” AND “FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.”
IF THE FORMER FCC CHAIR WOULD HAVE DISMISSED THESE THREE COMPLAINTS A FEW WEEKS EARLIER –
THEN IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED TRUMP’S FCC CHAIR FROM BEING ABLE TO REVIVE THE CASES.
BUT THE COMPLAINTS WILL NOW GET A SECOND LOOK BY THE AGENCY UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP.
THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.
DOWNLOAD THE SAN MOBILE APP FOR FREE TODAY
AND SIGN UP FOR NEWS NOTIFICATIONS FROM SPECIFIC REPORTERS OR ON SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU.
FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to make his first foreign trip to a region of debate in Latin America. Sources familiar with Rubio’s plans told Bloomberg News that the secretary of state will travel to Panama as soon as next week.
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The U.S. State Department has yet to confirm Rubio’s travels.
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What Trump and Rubio are saying
The trip comes as President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal. He cited high fees for naval and merchant ships, among other issues, as reasons to regain control.
The crucial international passageway has raised its rates for all vessels and restricted the number of ships allowed to pass through due to low water levels.
Trump also accused China of operating the canal, a claim refuted by Panama’s president.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said the country has not and will not be relinquishing control of the canal to any other nation, including the U.S.
The Trump administration argued Beijing could use ports controlled by Chinese companies to turn the canal into a “choke point” against America.
Rubio echoed those concerns during his confirmation hearing. He argued potential Chinese control of the canal threatens national and economic security.
“If these companies control both ends of that canal in a time of conflict, and the Chinese tell them, ‘Shut it down and don’t let the U.S. go through there,’ we’ve got a big, big problem,” Rubio said. “A big economic problem and a big national security and defense problem.”
What experts are saying
However, researchers studying Latin America contended these concerns don’t hold up because ships do not have to pass through Chinese ports to enter or exit the canal. They said the ports are only needed for the loading and unloading of goods.
“It would take an act of war” by China to shut down the canal, one researcher said.
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More than just Panama
U.S. officials told Politico that Rubio’s trip will also include visits to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. These countries are major passageways for undocumented immigrants trying to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rubio previously promised to work with countries in the region to curb illegal immigration.
Tags: Panama Canal, Secretary of State, China, Donald Trump, People’s Republic of China, Marco Rubio, State Department, United States, Panama, Dominican Republic, Trade, South America
[CRAIG NIGRELLI]
NEWLY CONFIRMED SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK TO A REGION OF HOT-DEBATE IN LATIN AMERICA.
SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH RUBIO’S PLANS TOLD BLOOMBERG NEWS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL TRAVEL TO PANAMA.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS YET TO CONFIRM RUBIO’S TRAVELS.
THE EXPECTED TRIP COMES AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CALLED FOR THE U-S TO RETAKE CONTROL OF THE PANAMA CANAL UNLESS FEES FOR NAVAL AND MERCHANT SHIPS ARE REDUCED AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
THE CRUCIAL INTERNATIONAL TRADE PASSAGEWAY HAS RAISED ITS RATES FOR ALL VESSELS AND RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OF SHIPS ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH AS WATER LEVELS HAVE DROPPED.
TRUMP ALSO ACCUSED CHINA OF OPERATING THE CANAL, A CLAIM REFUTED BY PANAMA’S PRESIDENT, WHO SAID THE COUNTRY HAS NOT AND WILL NOT BE RELINQUISHING CONTROL OF THE CANAL TO ANY OTHER NATION, INCLUDING THE U-S.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARGUES BEIJING COULD USE PORTS CONTROLLED BY CHINESE COMPANIES TO TURN THE CANAL INTO A “CHOKE POINT” AGAINST THE U-S.
RUBIO ECHOED THOSE CONCERNS DURING HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING, ARGUING POTENTIAL CHINESE CONTROL OF THE CANAL THREATENS NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY.
[MARCO RUBIO]
IF THESE COMPANIES CONTROL BOTH ENDS OF THAT CANAL IN A TIME OF CONFLICT, AND THE CHINESE TELL THEM, ‘SHUT IT DOWN AND DON’T LET THE U.S GO THROUGH THERE,’ WE’VE GOT A BIG, BIG PROBLEM. A BIG ECONOMIC PROBLEM AND A BIG NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE PROBLEM.
ALTHOUGH, RESEARCHERS STUDYING LATIN AMERICA, CONTEND THESE CONCERNS DON’T HOLD UP BECAUSE SHIPS DO NOT HAVE TO PASS THROUGH CHINESE PORTS TO ENTER OR EXIT THE CANAL. THE PORTS ARE ONLY NEEDED FOR THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF GOODS.
ADDING, “IT WOULD TAKE AN ACT OF WAR” BY CHINA TO SHUT DOWN THE CANAL.
U-S OFFICIALS TELL POLITICO, RUBIO’S TRIP WILL ALSO INCLUDE VISITS TO GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR, COST RICA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
THESE COUNTRIES ARE MAJOR PASSAGEWAYS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO REACH THE U-S SOUTHERN BORDER.
RUBIO PREVIOUSLY PROMISED TO WORK WITH COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO CURB ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.
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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he plans to invest $600 billion in the United States. The commitment comes from President Donald Trump’s first call with a foreign leader in his second term.
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President Trump confirmed the news Thursday, Jan. 23, during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“I’ll be asking the crown prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion,” Trump said. “And I think they’ll do that because we’ve been very good to them.”
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What will the $600 billion go towards?
The crown prince’s commitment builds on the president’s promise to increase investment in the U.S.
He said he wants to revive manufacturing and is threatening steep tariffs against governments acting against U.S. interests.
State-run Saudi news agency, SPA, reported the crown prince wants to use the $600 billion to expand investment and trade with the U.S. over the next four years.
During the call on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the crown prince said the kingdom looks forward to capitalizing on partnerships and opportunities created by the new administration’s reforms, which could achieve “unprecedented economic prosperity.”
How is the relationship between Trump and the crown prince?
SPA nor Trump have given details on where the investments would be placed but the crown prince’s announcement could strengthen his ties with Trump.
They developed a good relationship during Trump’s first term when he pursued major deals with the kingdom, including arms sales.
Saudi Arabia does rely on U.S.-made weapons and defense systems, which could be part of this investment round.
Will the price of oil come down?
The new multi-billion dollar deal is huge even by Saudi Arabia’s standards. The country is known for its massive oil wealth.
The deal amounts to around 55% of the country’s gross domestic product, according to World Bank Data.
Trump on Thursday, Jan. 23, also talked about working with Saudi Arabia to bring the cost of oil down.
“You gotta bring it down, which frankly I’m surprised they didn’t do before the election,” Trump said. “If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately.”
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According to the White House, the two discussed bringing stability to the Middle East and fighting terrorism on the call.
[Simone Del Rosario]
600 *BILLION* DOLLARS – THAT’S HOW MUCH SAUDI ARABIA’S CROWN PRINCE SAYS HE PLANS TO INVEST IN THE UNITED STATES. THE COMMITMENT COMES FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST CALL WITH A FOREIGN LEADER SINCE HIS INAUGURATION.
I’ll be asking the crown prince.. He’s a fantastic guy .. to round it out to around one trillion .. and I think they’ll do that because we’ve been very good to them.
TRUMP CONFIRMED THE NEWS THURSDAY DURING A SPEECH AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS, SWITZERLAND.
THE CROWN PRINCE’S COMMITMENT BUILDS ON THE PRESIDENT’S PROMISE TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN THE US …
HE SAYS HE WANTS TO REVIVE MANUFACTURING – AND IS THREATENING STEEP TARIFFS AGAINST GOVERNMENTS ACTING AGAINST U-S INTERESTS.
STATE RUN SAUDI NEWS AGENCY, S-P-A, REPORTS CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN WANTS TO USE THE 600 BILLION TO EXPAND INVESTMENT AND TRADE WITH THE U-S OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
DURING THE CALL WEDNESDAY, THE CROWN PRINCE SAID THE KINGDOM LOOKS FORWARD TO CAPITALIZING ON PARTNERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION’S REFORMS, WHICH COULD ACHIEVE QUOTE “UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.”
NEITHER S-P-A NOR TRUMP HAVE GIVEN DETAILS ON WHERE THE INVESTMENTS WOULD BE PLACED, BUT THE CROWN PRINCE’S ANNOUNCEMENT COULD STRENGTHEN HIS TIES WITH TRUMP.
THEY DEVELOPED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP DURING TRUMP’S FIRST TERM WHEN HE PURSUED MAJOR DEALS WITH THE KINGDOM, INCLUDING ARMS SALES.
SAUDI ARABIA DOES RELY ON U-S MADE WEAPONS AND DEFENSE SYSTEMS, WHICH COULD BE PART OF THIS INVESTMENT ROUND.
THE NEW MULTI BILLION DOLLAR DEAL IS HUGE EVEN BY SAUDI ARABIA’S STANDARDS. THE COUNTRY IS KNOWN FOR ITS MASSIVE OIL WEALTH.
IT AMOUNTS TO AROUND 55 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, ACCORDING TO WORLD BANK DATA.
TRUMP ON THURSDAY ALSO TALKED ABOUT WORKING WITH SAUDIA ARABIA TO BRING THE COST OF OIL DOWN.
you gotta bring it down.. Which frankly Im surprised they didnt do that before the election.. That didnt show a lot of love… I was a little surprised by that. If the price came down the Russia Ukraine war would end immediately.
ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE TWO DISCUSSED BRINGING STABILITY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND FIGHTING TERRORISM ON THE CALL.
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Houthi rebels from Yemen have now released the crew of the Galaxy Leader after holding them hostage for more than a year. The ship was headed from Turkey to India in late 2023 when the rebels seized it in the Red Sea.
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What has been happening?
The Iranian-backed Houthis began overtaking ships in the Red Sea, which is a major trade route between Asia and Europe, as well as the Gulf of Aden, shortly after the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October of 2023. The Houthis say they hijacked the Galaxy Leader over its connection to Israel.
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Why release the hostages now?
The Houthis say the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas led them to free the 25 crew members, who hail from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Mexico. Now free, the former hostages appeared jubilant as a flight from the Royal Air Force of Oman took them to safety.
The Houthi rebels have indicated they will stop seizing ships in the Red Sea corridor, as long as the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire holds. Reports indicate that over the past year and a half, they have sunk two vessels and killed four people. Other cargo ships were forced to sail around South Africa to avoid the danger.
White House reaction
Upon taking office this week, President Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign-based terror organization.
The White House released a statement, saying, “Under President Trump, it is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and thereby end their attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.”
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The United Nations special envoy to Yemen called the release of the Galaxy Leader a step in the right direction.
Tags: Houthi, War, Iran, Donald Trump, Terrorism, Israel, Yemen, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Gaza, hostage
[Craig Nigrelli]
HOUTHI REBELS, FROM YEMEN, HAVE NOW RELEASED THE CREW OF THE GALAXY LEADER AFTER HOLDING THEM HOSTAGE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR IN THE RED SEA.
THE SHIP WAS HEADED FROM TURKEY TO INDIA IN LATE 2023 WHEN THE REBELS SEIZED IT.
THE IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHIS BEGAN OVERTAKING SHIPS IN THE RED SEA, WHICH IS A MAJOR TRADE ROUTE BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE, AS WELL AS THE GULF OF ADEN, SHORTLY AFTER THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS BROKE OUT IN OCTOBER OF 2023. THE HOUTHIS SAY THEY HIJACKED THE GALAXY LEADER OVER ITS CONNECTION TO ISRAEL.
THE HOUTHIS SAY THE RECENT CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS LED THEM TO FREE THE 25 CREW MEMBERS, WHO HAIL FROM THE PHILIPPINES, BULGARIA, UKRAINE AND MEXICO.
NOW FREE, THEY APPEARED JUBILANT, AS A FLIGHT FROM THE ROYAL AIR FORCE OF OMAN, TOOK THEM TO SAFETY.
[Unidentified captive : “ Goodbye, and thank you very much. I can go home now”]
THE HOUTHI REBELS HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL STOP SEIZING SHIPS IN THE RED SEA CORRIDOR, AS LONG THE ISRAELI/HAMAS CEASEFIRE HOLDS. REPORTS INDICATE OVER THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF, THEY HAVE SUNK TWO VESSELS AND KILLED FOUR PEOPLE. OTHER CARGO SHIPS WERE FORCED TO AVOID GETTING HIJACKED BY GOING AROUND SOUTH AFRICA.
UPON TAKING OFFICE THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP DESIGNATED THE HOUTHIS AS A FOREIGN BASED TERROR ORGANIZATION.
THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING “Under President Trump, it is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources and thereby end their attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.”
THE UNITED NATION’S SPECIAL ENVOY TO YEMEN CALLED THE RELEASE OF THE GALAXY LEADER – HEARTWARMING NEWS – AND A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
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Congress passed the first bill of its new session on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation into law. The Laken Riley Act passed Congress with bipartisan support.
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The bill, named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented migrant in February 2024, will require immigrants who are in the country illegally and arrested for certain nonviolent offenses –– like burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting –– to be detained in jail until trial.
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The bill also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government if immigration policies harm residents.
The House passed the act earlier this month by a vote of 263 to 156. 46 Democratic representatives voted in favor of the bill.
The Senate passed the bill with amendments on Monday, Jan. 20, as 12 Democratic senators crossed the political aisle to support it. The House then passed the revised version on Wednesday.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., voted to pass the Laken Riley Act, though he said in a statement that the bill “isn’t the legislation I would have written.” Nevertheless, Warnock added, “I hope today’s vote is a genuine step toward true bipartisan cooperation to secure and strengthen resources at our southern border, smooth our asylum processes, and find a dignified solution for the scores of law-abiding undocumented Georgians working on our farms and in our communities.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., did not vote in favor of the bill. He released remarks last week on the matter, saying in part: “We Democrats want to see our broken immigration system fixed. We worked with Republicans last year on the strongest immigration bill in a decade. While I do not support this particular bill, I stand ready to work with both sides to pass smart, effective, and common-sense legislation to secure our borders and reform our immigration system.”
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student attending Augusta University in Georgia. Last February, when she went out for a jog, Jose Ibarra murdered her. Ibarra is a Venezuelan migrant believed to have ties to the notorious prison gang Tren de Aragua.
Authorities arrested Ibarra twice –– once in New York and once in Georgia –– on unrelated crimes in the months leading up to Riley’s murder. Authorities released him before trial.
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In December 2023, a warrant was issued for Ibarra’s arrest after he missed a court date for a shoplifting case in Georgia.
House Republicans passed the Laken Riley Act last year. However, the Democratic-controlled Senate did not bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
Tags: Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Immigration, migrants, Raphael Warnock, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate
CONGRESS PASSES ITS FIRST BILL OF THE NEW SESSION AND NEWLY SWORN-IN PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE LEGISLATION INTO LAW.
THE LAKEN RILEY ACT PASSED CONGRESS WITH BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT.
THIS BILL, NAMED AFTER A GEORGIA NURSING STUDENT WHO WAS MURDERED BY AN UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT IN FEBRUARY 2024, WILL REQUIRE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED FOR CERTAIN NONVIOLENT OFFENSES LIKE BURGLARY, THEFT, LARCENY, OR SHOPLIFTING TO BE DETAINED IN JAIL UNTIL TRIAL.
THE BILL ALSO ALLOWS STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF RESIDENTS ARE HARMED BY IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
THE HOUSE PASSED THE ACT EARLIER THIS MONTH BY A VOTE OF 263 TO 156 – WITH 46 DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVES VOTING IN FAVOR.
THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL WITH AMENDMENTS MONDAY WITH 12 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS CROSSING THE POLITICAL AISLE TO SUPPORT THE MEASURE.
THE HOUSE THEN PASSED THE REVISED VERSION WEDNESDAY.
GEORGIA DEMOCRATIC SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK VOTED TO PASS THE LAKEN RILEY ACT SAYING IN A STATEMENT THE BILL WAS NOT WHAT HE WOULD HAVE WRITTEN ADDING: “I HOPE TODAY’S VOTE IS A GENUINE STEP TOWARD TRUE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION TO SECURE AND STRENGTHEN RESOURCES AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, SMOOTH OUR ASYLUM PROCESSES, AND FIND A DIGNIFIED SOLUTION FOR THE SCORES OF LAW-ABIDING UNDOCUMENTED GEORGIANS WORKING ON OUR FARMS AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.”
SENATE MINORITY LEADER, CHUCK SHUMER DID NOT CAST A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. HE RELEASED REMARKS LAST WEEK ON THE MATTER SAYING IN PART: “WE DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEE OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM FIXED. WE WORKED WITH REPUBLICANS LAST YEAR ON THE STRONGEST IMMIGRATION BILL IN A DECADE. WHILE I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR BILL, I STAND READY TO WORK WITH BOTH SIDES TO PASS SMART, EFFECTIVE, AND COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION TO SECURE OUR BORDERS AND REFORM OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.”
LAKEN RILEY WAS A 22-YEAR-OLD NURSING STUDENT ATTENDING AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY IN GEORGIA LAST FEBRUARY WHEN SHE WENT FOR A JOG AND WAS MURDERED BY JOSE IBARRA, A VENEZUELAN MIGRANT BELIEVED TO HAVE TIES TO THE NOTORIOUS PRISON GANG, TREN DE ARAGUA.
IBARRA HAD BEEN ARRESTED TWICE – ONCE IN NEW YORK AND ONCE IN GEORGIA – ON UN-RELATED CRIMES IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE RILEY’S MURDER AND AUTHORITIES RELEASED HIM BEFORE TRIAL.
IN DECEMBER 2023, A WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR IBARRA’S ARREST AFTER HE MISSED A COURT DATE FOR A SHOPLIFTING CASE IN GEORGIA.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASSED THE LAKEN RILEY ACT LAST YEAR, HOWEVER, THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SENATE DID NOT BRING THE BILL TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.
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Center 38%
Right 34%
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143 other sources covering this story
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Center
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29
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