One of President Biden’s final foreign policy decisions in the White House to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list has caused criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Sources tell The Associated Press that senior Biden administration officials who previewed the plan say dozens of political prisoners and others considered by the U.S. to be unjustly detained would be released by the end of the Biden administration at noon on Jan. 20.
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The Catholic Church has been negotiating with Cuba’s communist-run government to facilitate the prisoner release.
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The plan would also ease some economic pressure on Cuba, as well as a 2017 memorandum issued by then-President Donald Trump toughening U.S. position toward Cuba.
Reaction from Republicans
Republican officials are criticizing Biden’s choice, including Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., who said on X, “Cuba is a leading sponsor of terrorism harboring, training and enabling Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist enemies of the U.S.”
Once again, the Democrats have BETRAYED the Cubans!
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) January 14, 2025
Shame on the entire Biden Administration for taking Cuba off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.
Cuba is a LEADING sponsor of Terrorism, harboring, training & enabling Hamas, Hezbollah & other terrorist enemies of the USA. pic.twitter.com/4u9slVJCae
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also weighed in on the decision.
“These moves do incredible damage to American national security and send a message to our adversaries that they can rely on outgoing democrat administrations – and wait out pressure from republican administrations – to continue engaging in terrorism and other aggression against Americans,” Cruz said in a statement.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the decision.
“The Biden administration continues on its quest to leave as much wreckage behind on its way out the door as possible,” DeSantis said on X.
The Biden Administration continues on its quest to leave as much wreckage behind on its way out the door as possible. Cuba should not be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The communist dictatorship in Cuba is one of the most repressive regimes in the world and…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 15, 2025
Reaction from Democrats
Florida’s Democratic Party is also criticizing Biden. Democratic Party chair, Nikki Fried, released a statement disagreeing with the action.
“While any return of political prisoners from the clutches of communist Cuba is cause for celebration, the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people continues to be one of the biggest human rights violations of the last century,” Fried said on X.
The Florida Democratic Party condemns the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) January 14, 2025
Statement below: pic.twitter.com/fD3pcYj27K
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. disagrees with the administration’s decision as well.
“Do the majority of Cuban Americans support the removal of Cuba, an adversary of the U.S., from the list of state sponsors of terrorism?” Torres said on X. “If the answer is ‘no,’ then why is the Biden administration unnecessarily alienating Cuban Americans?”
Do the majority of Cuban Americans support the removal of Cuba, an adversary of the US, from the list of state sponsors of terrorism?
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) January 15, 2025
If the answer is ‘no,’ then why is the Biden Administration unnecessarily alienating Cuban Americans? I agree with the Florida Democratic… https://t.co/X9YDDl67gE
However, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., applauds the decision.
“I welcome the Biden administration’s steps to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list – a long overdue action that will help normalize relations with our neighbor,” Omar said in a statement.
Will the decision stay?
The move probably won’t last though, with President-elect Trump’s team likely to reverse the decision.
His choice for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has backed punitive measures against the island’s government.
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Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in January 2021. He said Cuba hadn’t followed through on commitments it made to President Barack Obama in 2015.
Cuba was one of just four nations designated as state sponsors of terrorism, along with North Korea, Iran and Syria.
Tags: Cuba, Donald Trump, Florida, Ilhan Omar, Joe Biden, Marco Rubio, Prisoners, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz
[Karah]
ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FINAL FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE … TO REMOVE CUBA FROM THE STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM LIST IS IGNITING CRITICISM FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
SOURCES TELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS … SENIOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO PREVIEWED THE PLAN SAY DOZENS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND OTHERS CONSIDERED BY THE U-S TO BE UNJUSTLY DETAINED WOULD BE RELEASED BY THE END OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AT NOON ON JANUARY 20TH.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH CUBA’S COMMUNIST-RUN GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE THE PRISONER RELEASE.
THE PLAN WOULD ALSO EASE SOME ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON CUBA, AS WELL AS A 2017 MEMORANDUM ISSUED BY THEN-PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOUGHENING U-S POSITION TOWARD CUBA.
REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS ARE CRITICIZING BIDEN’S CHOICE … WITH SOUTH FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR SAYING CUBA IS A LEADING SPONSOR OF TERRORISM HARBORING, TRAINING AND ENABLING HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH AND OTHER TERRORIST ENEMIES OF THE U-S.
It’s embarrassing .. because Blinken as you know in the house foreign affairs committee told me repeatedly that he was not thinking of taking cuba off the list of terrorist countries and now he called by office and said that biden directly from the office that he had to take cuba off the list.
TEXAS REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ RELEASED A STATEMENT … SAYING IN PART “THESE MOVES DO INCREDIBLE DAMAGE TO AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY AND SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR ADVERSARIES THAT THEY CAN RELY ON OUTGOING DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATIONS – AND WAIT OUT PRESSURE FROM REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS – TO CONTINUE ENGAGING IN TERRORISM AND OTHER AGGRESSION AGAINST AMERICANS.”
FLORIDA REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS CONDEMNED THE DECISION … “THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES ON ITS QUEST TO LEAVE AS MUCH WRECKAGE BEHIND ON ITS WAY OUT THE DOOR AS POSSIBLE.”
FLORIDA’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ALSO CRITICIZING BIDEN’S DECISION …. WITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, NIKKI FRIED (freed) RELEASING A STATEMENT ON X … “WHILE ANY RETURN OF POLITICAL PRISONERS FROM THE CLUTCHES OF COMMUNIST CUBA IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION, THE REGIME’S TREATMENT OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF THE LAST CENTURY.”
NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE RITCHIE TORRES DISAGREES WITH THE ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION AS WELL … POSTING TO X …
“DO THE MAJORITY OF CUBAN AMERICANS SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF CUBA, AN ADVERSARY OF THE US, FROM THE LIST OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM?
IF THE ANSWER IS ‘NO,’ THEN WHY IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION UNNECESSARILY ALIENATING CUBAN AMERICANS?”
HOWEVER, MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR APPLAUDS THE DECISION, SAYING IN A STATEMENT “I WELCOME THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S STEPS TO REMOVE CUBA FROM THE STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM LIST – A LONG OVERDUE ACTION THAT WILL HELP NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBOR.”
THE MOVE PROBABLY WON’T LAST THOUGH … WITH PRESIDENT ELECT TRUMP’S TEAM LIKELY TO REVERSE THE DECISION.
HIS CHOICE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO – HAS BACKED PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE ISLAND’S GOVERNMENT.
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO DESIGNATED CUBA AS A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM IN JANUARY 20-21 … SAYING CUBA HADN’T FOLLOWED THROUGH ON COMMITMENTS IT MADE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 20-15.
CUBA WAS ONE OF JUST FOUR NATIONS DESIGNATED AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM — ALONG WITH NORTH KOREA, IRAN AND SYRIA.
FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER… FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
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A group of global experts is proposing a new way to diagnose obesity. Under new recommendations released Tuesday, Jan. 14, obesity would no longer be determined solely by body mass index (BMI).
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A person’s BMI is determined using a person’s height and weight. Under the new recommendations, other factors would also be taken into account, including waist circumference and evidence of health problems linked to being overweight.
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A new report published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Journal also introduced two new diagnostic categories: clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity. People diagnosed with clinical obesity would meet BMI and other markers of obesity, and have evidence of organ, tissue or other problems caused by excess weight, like heart disease, high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease or chronic severe knee or hip pain.
Those with clinical obesity would be eligible for treatments, including diet and exercise interventions, and obesity medications. People with pre-clinical obesity are at risk for those conditions but have no ongoing illness yet.
The 58 experts behind the recommendations said under the new criteria, about 20% of people who used to be classified as obese would no longer meet the definition and about 20% of people with serious health effects but lower BMI would now be considered clinically obese.
The new definitions have been endorsed by more than 75 medical organizations around the world, but it’s not clear how widely or quickly they could be adopted.
[Karah Rucker]
A GROUP OF GLOBAL EXPERTS IS PROPOSING A NEW WAY TO DIAGNOSE OBESITY.
UNDER NEW RECOMMENDATIONS RELEASED TUESDAY – OBESITY WOULD NO LONGER BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY BODY MASS INDEX – OR B-M-I.
A PERSON’S B-M-I IS DETERMINED BY USING A PERSON’S HEIGHT AND WEIGHT.
UNDER THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS, OTHER FACTORS WOULD ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT – INCLUDING WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE AND EVIDENCE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS LINKED TO BEING OVERWEIGHT.
A NEW REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY JOURNAL ALSO INTRODUCES TWO NEW DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES: CLINICAL OBESITY AND PRE-CLINICAL OBESITY.
PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH CLINICAL OBESITY WOULD MEET B-M-I AND OTHER MARKERS OF OBESITY – *AND* HAVE EVIDENCE OF ORGAN, TISSUE OR OTHER PROBLEMS CAUSED BY EXCESS WEIGHT… LIKE HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, LIVER OR KIDNEY DISEASE OR CHRONIC SEVERE KNEE OR HIP PAIN.
THOSE WITH CLINICAL OBESITY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENTS, INCLUDING DIET AND EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS AND OBESITY MEDICATIONS.
PEOPLE WITH PRE-CLINICAL OBESITY ARE AT RISK FOR THOSE CONDITIONS – BUT HAVE NO ONGOING ILLNESS YET.
THE EXPERTS BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATIONS SAY UNDER THE NEW CRITERIA – ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE CLASSIFIED AS OBESE WOULD NO LONGER MEET THE DEFINITION… AND ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS BUT LOWER B-M-I WOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED CLINICALLY OBESE.
THE NEW DEFINITIONS HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY MORE THAN 75 MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD – BUT IT’S NOT CLEAR HOW WIDELY OR QUICKLY THEY COULD BE ADOPTED.
FOR MORE OF YOUR LATEST HEALTH HEADLINES DELIVERED RIGHT TO THE PALM OF YOUR HAND MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
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After more than a year of fighting in Gaza, Israel and Hamas may finally be close to signing a ceasefire agreement. Hamas allegedly accepted a draft ceasefire agreement from Qatari mediators on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 14.
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The agreement called for a three-stage ceasefire, the first of which would include the release of 33 hostages, mostly women and children, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
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The terms of the second phase would be negotiated while the first phase was still being carried out. The same goes for the third phase — its terms would be negotiated during the second phase.
It’s a complicated framework that could very easily fall apart.
Israeli media initially reported government officials would vote on the agreement Thursday, Jan. 16, but on Wednesday, Jan. 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied Hamas agreed to any kind of ceasefire. He threw into doubt whether any hostages would be released anytime soon, which incited more calls for Netanyahu to step down.
The Israeli leader is accused of continuing the war for political motivations.
Several reports claimed a deal was struck, and that the Israeli government would vote on it. But until a ceasefire goes into effect, the conflict continues.
Around 100 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas in Gaza. Not all of them are believed to be alive, and every day a deal isn’t made, the likelihood of bringing any of them home alive drops.
President Biden made remarks on Wednesday as well, saying, “At long last, I can announce a ceasefire, and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas.”
The president said that the deal is structured in three phases, with the first phase lasting six weeks, including a full ceasefire, withdrawal of the IDF from the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women, the elderly and the wounded. Americans are part of that hostage release as well, according to Biden.
Biden said that in exchange, Israel will release Palestinian prisoners, with a surge in humanitarian assistance then set to begin. After that, phase two of the negotiations will begin, which the president says will be a “permanent end of the war.” If negotiations take longer than the six week period, he said, “the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations continue.”
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When phase two begins, there will be an exchange of the remaining living hostages as well. At that point, the temporary ceasefire will become permanent. Finally, in phase three, Biden said the remains of deceased hostages will be returned to their families, and a, “major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin.”
Biden said the details of the deal will need to be implemented by the incoming Trump administration, and that there are “genuine opportunities for a new future,” in the Middle East.
This story has been updated with statements from President Joe Biden during a meeting with the press on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
[Ryan Robertson]
AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF BRUTAL FIGHTING IN GAZA, ISRAEL AND HAMAS MAY FINALLY BE CLOSE TO SIGNING A CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT. DEPENDING ON WHICH SIDE YOU LISTEN TO.
NEWS BROKE LATE TUESDAY THAT HAMAS ACCEPTED A DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR A CEASEFIRE FROM QATARI MEDIATORS. THE AGREEMENT CALLED FOR A THREE-STAGE CEASEFIRE. THE FIRST OF WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE RELEASE OF 33 HOSTAGES, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IN EXCHANGE FOR PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD IN ISRAEL.
THE TERMS OF THE SECOND PHASE WOULD BE NEGOTIATED WHILE THE FIRST PHASE WAS STILL BEING CARRIED OUT. LIKEWISE FOR THE THIRD PHASE. ITS TERMS WOULD BE NEGOTIATED DURING THE SECOND PHASE.
IT’S A COMPLICATED FRAMEWORK THAT COULD VERY EASILY FALL APART, BUT LIKE I SAID, IT’S SOMETHING HAMAS REPORTEDLY AGREED TO ON TUESDAY.
ISRAELI MEDIA INITIALLY REPORTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WOULD VOTE ON THE AGREEMENT ON THURSDAY, BUT, ON WEDNESDAY ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANHAYU’S OFFICE DENIED HAMAS AGREED TO ANY KIND OF CEASEFIRE, THROWING INTO DOUBT WHETHER ANY HOSTAGES WILL BE RELEASED ANYTIME SOON, AND INCITING MORE CALLS FOR NETANYAHU TO STEP DOWN. THE EMBATTLED ISRAELI LEADER IS ACCUSED OF CONTINUING THE WAR FOR POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS.
NOW, TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF REPORTS THAT A DEAL WAS STRUCK, AND THAT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WILL VOTE ON IT. BUT UNTIL A CEASE-FIRE ACTUALLY GOES INTO EFFECT, THE CONFLICT CONTINUES.
AROUND 100 HOSTAGES ARE BELIEVED TO STILL BE HELD BY HAMAS IN GAZA. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE, AND EVERY DAY A DEAL ISN’T MADE THE LIKELIHOOD OF BRINGING ANY OF THEM HOME ALIVE DROPS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M RYAN ROBERTSON. FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING ON THE WAR IN ISRAEL, BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
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More than a dozen attorneys general across the U.S. signed a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. They urged him to reconsider his company’s rollbacks of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, commonly called DEI.
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“In particular, we are concerned that Walmart’s decision to phase out supplier diversity programs, close down the Center for Racial Equality and equity training for staff, and remove the words ‘diversity’ and ‘DEI’ from company documents and employee titles risks undermining important social progress and anti-discrimination efforts,” the letter said.
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Walmart is the world’s largest retailer. It’s among multiple companies that publicly announced either the rollback or halting of DEI initiatives following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to end affirmative action at colleges in 2023. McDonald’s, Harley-Davidson, Meta, Amazon and Lowe’s also joined Walmart in ending their DEI programs.
Walmart’s policy changes included no longer considering race and gender when making decisions about suppliers, ending various diversity programs and removing the words diversity and DEI from documents in favor of landing about belonging.
The attorneys general who signed the letter are from California, Hawaii, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Vermont and Rhode Island.
They insisted that scaling back from DEI is bad for business and that such policies on diversity are critical in preventing discrimination against minorities and other groups. Now, they are calling on Walmart’s CEO to respond and discuss the matter.
Walmart has not yet responded.
MORE THAN A DOZEN ATTORNEYS GENERAL HAVE SIGNED A LETTER TO WALMART CEO DOUG MCMILLON URGING HIM TO RECONSIDER HIS COMPANY’S ROLL-BACKS OF ITS DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, COMMONLY CALLED DEI.
THE LETTER SAYS, “ In particular, we are concerned that
Walmart’s decision to phase out supplier diversity programs, close down the Center for Racial
Equality, end equity trainings for staff, and remove the words “diversity” and “DEI” from
company documents and employee titles risks undermining important social progress and
antidiscrimination efforts.”
WALMART IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST RETAILER. IT IS AMONG MULTIPLE COMPANIES THAT HAVE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED EITHER THE ROLLBACK OR HALTING OF DEI INITIATIVES FOLLOWING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING TO END AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AT COLLEGES IN 2023. CONSERVATIVE GROUPS HAVE FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST SOME COMPANIES AND THEIR DIVERSITY-ORIENTED HIRING PRACTICES.
AS A RESULT, MCDONALDS, HARLEY-DAVIDSON, META, AMAZON, AND LOWE’S AMONG OTHERS HAVE JOINED WALMART IN ENDING THEIR DEI PROGRAMS.
Walmart’s policy changes include no longer considering race and gender when making decisions about suppliers, ending various diversity programs, and removing the words “diversity” and “DEI” from documents in favor of language about “belonging.”
THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL WHO SIGNED THE LETTER ARE FROM CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSECHUSETTS MINNESOTA, NEVADA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, ILLINOIS, VERMONT AND RHODE ISLAND.
THEY INSIST THAT SCALING BACK FROM DEI IS BAD FOR BUSINESS AND THAT DEI POLICIES ARE CRITICAL FOR PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MINORITIES AND OTHER GROUPS.
THEY ARE NOW CALLING ON THE WALMART C-E-O TO RESPOND AND DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THEM.
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Inflation continued to head in the wrong direction in December. Consumer prices rose 2.9% on the year, hotter than the 2.7% rise in November.
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On the month, prices rose 0.4%, the highest monthly rise since February. In November, prices rose 0.3%.
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It’s the third month in a row the key inflation gauge rose. It’s now at its highest point since July, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Experts believe the December rise in prices is fueled by higher food and energy costs. The energy index rose 2.6% on the month but is still down 0.5% on the year, while food is up 0.3% on the month and 2.5% on the year. Food prices are up about 25% over the past five years.
Core inflation, which strips out the more volatile food and energy indexes, came in slightly cooler than expected at 3.2% on the year, after several months at 3.3%. On the month, core prices rose 0.2%. Core inflation has not fallen below 3.2% since April 2021.
After peaking at 9% in June 2022, overall consumer prices started their long descent toward the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target. The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level seen in decades to restrict the money supply and depress inflation.
In September, consumer price inflation reached 2.4%, but since then has climbed in the opposite direction.
“While we do not believe progress in the fight against inflation is going into reverse, we do see it stalling this year as earlier tailwinds to disinflation from supply chain improvements and lower commodity prices have faded and as fresh headwinds from trade policy are likely to emerge,” Wells Fargo economists Sarah House and Aubrey Woessner wrote in a note previewing the December report.
New trade and immigration policies from the incoming Trump administration are also Federal Open Market Committee member minds. The committee sets the Fed’s rate.
In December, members projected overall inflation will increase slightly in 2025, while core inflation will decrease.
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“Almost all participants judged that upside risks to the inflation outlook had increased,” minutes from the meeting read. “As reasons for this judgment, participants cited recent stronger-than-expected readings on inflation and the likely effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy.”
In that December meeting, members still forecast two interest rate cuts in 2025. However, probability markets are penciling in just one cut in July as of Wednesday morning.
The latest consumer inflation report follows last week’s jobs report. It showed the U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December, roughly 100,000 more than expected.
Tags: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Economy, Energy, Federal Funds Target Rate, Federal Reserve, food, Gas prices, Inflation, Interest rates, Labor Department, rate cut, U.S. Economy, Wells Fargo
Simone Del Rosario:
If you didn’t get a 2.9% inflation raise this year, you’re making less than you were a year ago.
That’s how much consumer prices rose on the year ending in December, after rising 2.7% in November.
It’s the third month in a row the key inflation gauge has gone up. It is now at its highest point since July, according to Labor Department data.
Experts believe the December rise in prices is fueled by higher food and energy costs. The energy index rose 2.6% on the month but is still down 0.5% on the year. Food is up 0.3% on the month and 2.5% on the year. Food prices are up about 25% over the past five years.
Core inflation, which strips out the more volatile food and energy indexes, came in slightly cooler than expected at 3.2% on the year. That comes after several months stuck at 3.3%. Core inflation has not fallen below 3.2% since April 2021.
“Excluding food and energy, the inflation picture looked better,” Wells Fargo economists wrote in a note.
After peaking at 9% in June 2022, overall consumer prices started their long descent toward the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target. The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level seen in decades in order to restrict the money supply and depress inflation. In September, consumer price inflation reached 2.4%, but since then has climbed in the opposite direction.
Wells Fargo economists said, “We believe the resiliency of the U.S. labor market, stickiness in inflation and uncertainty emanating from federal economic policy will keep the [Federal Open Market Committee] on hold for the next several months.”
The FOMC sets the Fed’s interest rate policy. The group confirmed new trade and immigration policies from the incoming Trump administration are also on their minds. In December, members projected overall inflation will increase slightly in 2025, while core inflation will decrease.
Minutes from their December meeting showed almost all participants thought the upside risk to inflation increased. “As reasons for this judgment, participants cited recent stronger-than-expected readings on inflation and the likely effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy.”
In that December meeting, members still forecast two interest rate cuts in 2025, though probability markets are penciling in just one cut in July as of Wednesday morning.
The latest consumer inflation report follows last week’s jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December, roughly 100,000 more than expected.
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As we kick off the new year, the United States is confronted with a range of complex and serious threats from adversaries aiming to compromise U.S. security across multiple domains. To clarify the challenges ahead, host Ryan Robertson highlights key insights from a Mitchell Institute panel called “The Dangers We Face,” featuring four Air and Space Forces senior leaders.
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Also featured in this episode:
- CENTCOM strikes targets in Yemen.
- Congressional continuing resolution will impact the U.S. Marine Corps’ retention efforts.
- Seven soldiers awarded Medals of Honor.
- Weapon of the Week: Axon Vision’s AI-based counter-drone defenses detect, track and neutralize unauthorized drones in real time, enhancing security and minimizing risks to sensitive areas.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
Tags: Air and Space Force, Air Force, Military Defense, Military Drills, U.S. Air Force, U.S. military, U.S. Space Force
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
HELLO AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF ‘WEAPONS AND WARFARE’, FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M YOUR HOST RYAN ROBERTSON. JUST AHEAD ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE…
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
EVEN AS THE CALENDAR TURNS TO A NEW YEAR, PREVIOUS YEARS’ PROBLEMS STILL LOOM LARGE FOR OUR MILITARY LEADERSHIP. THIS WEEK, HEAR FROM A PANEL OF FOUR-STAR GENERALS ON THE DANGERS WE FACE AS 2024 TURNS INTO 2025.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
PLUS, LEANING ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PROVIDE A VIRTUAL DOME OF PROTECTION FOR TROOPS ON THE GROUND. SEE WHY AXON VISION’S AI-DRIVEN COUNTER U-A-V TECHNOLOGY IS OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
BUT FIRST SOME HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
TALK ABOUT ENDING THE YEAR WITH A BANG.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ON DECEMBER 31st, GUIDED-MISSILE DESTROYERS FROM THE U.S. NAVY’S HARRY S. TRUMAN CARRIER STRIKE GROUP LAUNCHED TOMAHAWK LAND ATTACK MISSILES AT IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI COMMAND AND CONTROL, WEAPON PRODUCTION, AND STORAGE FACILITIES IN YEMEN.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE STRIKES TOOK PLACE WITHIN THE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND IN THE RED SEA. U.S. DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAID THE STRIKES WERE A RESPONSE TO ESCALATING HOUTHI THREATS IN THE REGION, INCLUDING ATTACKS ON SHIPPING ROUTES AND ALLIES.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAID THE OPERATION HIGHLIGHTS THE U.S. COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING STABILITY AND PROTECTING INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LANES FROM DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY HOUTHI-ALIGNED FORCES.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT IS WARNING THAT CONGRESS’ INABILITY TO PASS A DEFENSE BUDGET MEANS THE CORPS WILL END THE FISCAL YEAR UNDERMANNED. SPEAKING AT THE REAGAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORUM EARLIER THIS MONTH, GENERAL ERIC SMITH TALKED ABOUT THE DAMAGE ANOTHER CONTINUING RESOLUTION WOULD HAVE ON THE MARINES RE-ENLISTMENT EFFORTS.
[GEN. ERIC SMITH]
“We have Marines who have stepped up to reenlist. We’ve offered them bonuses to reenlist. They said OK we’re in. We’re gonna relist for four years and they expect to have that promise completed their families expect to have that promise completed and when it’s not, then they tend to look elsewhere and the one thing that we can’t buy back is manpower.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
GENERAL SMITH WENT ON TO SAY THAT NUMBER COULD EVENTUALLY MEAN THE LOSS OF 3,000 TO 4,000 MARINES, THE EQUIVALENT OF AN INFANTRY REGIMENT.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE CURRENT CONTINUING RESOLUTION EXPIRES MARCH 31. THE LAST TIME CONGRESS COMPLETED THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS ON TIME WAS 1996.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
STAYING IN D-C, EARLIER THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT BIDEN BESTOWED THE MEDAL OF HONOR POSTHUMOUSLY TO SIX MEN AND ONE LIVING RECIPIENT AT A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY. FIVE OF THE HONOREES WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THE KOREAN WAR, AND TWO FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN THE VIETNAM WAR, INCLUDING THE ONLY LIVING RECIPIENT ARMY SPECIALIST 4TH CLASS KENNETH DAVID.
[PRESIDENT BIDEN]
“These are heroes of different ranks, different positions and even different generations. They are heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty. Heroes who all deserve our nation’s highest and oldest military recognition. The Medal of Honor.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ARMY GENERAL RICHARD CAVAZOS, CORPORAL FRED MCGEE, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WATARU NAKAMURA, P-F-C. CHARLES JOHNSON AND PRIVATE BRUNO ORIG WERE POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED FOR THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS DURING THE KOREAN WAR. WHILE THE LATE CAPTAIN HUGH NELSON JR WAS RECOGNIZED WITH SPECIALIST DAVID FOR THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
FOR MOST OF US A NEW YEAR CAN FEEL LIKE A NEW START, A RESET ON THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL. AND WHILE THAT’S TRUE FOR SOME THINGS, THE HARD FACT IS THE PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED IN 2024, WILL MOST LIKELY REMAIN AS WE START ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THAT’S PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. ESPECIALLY AS EACH BRANCH OF THE DOD WORKS TO MODERNIZE THEIR FORCES.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AT THIS YEAR’S AIR, SPACE, AND CYBER CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE AFA, THE COMMANDERS OF NORAD, U.S. CYBER COMMAND, U.S. SPACE COMMAND, AND U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND GATHERED TO TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS WE CURRENTLY FACE. AND THAT’S THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK’S DEBRIEF.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AS 2025 BEGINS, AMERICA’S NATIONAL DEFENSE FACES AN ARRAY OF EVOLVING THREATS. FROM RISING TENSIONS WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA TO THE CHALLENGES POSED BY NON-STATE ACTORS, THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF PROBLEMS TO PREPARE FOR. AS THE COMMANDER OF NORAD, GENERAL GREG GUILLOT EXPLAINS, THOSE THREATS HAVE GROWN FROM REGIONAL CONCERNS TO GLOBAL ONES.
[GEN. GREG GUILLOT]
“What we face today is a variety of threats in all domains, from multiple adversaries and from all avenues approach, not just from the from the north. And these threats can threaten us from much further away than even just a couple of years ago.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IT’S THAT KIND OF REACH THAT HAS THE ATTENTION OF FORMER U.S. TRANSPORTATION BOSS, THE NEWLY RETIRED GENERAL JACKIE VAN OVOST, WHO CITES CYBER VULNERABILITIES BOTH HOME AND ABROAD.
[GEN. JACKIE VAN OVOST]
“What we’re talking about is winning without fighting. Sound familiar? There? In that every day. And then finally, we talk about the long range threat, the long range threat to mobility missions specifically designed to touch us. And these are the risks we see playing out today on an active basis around the globe.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AS FAR AS WHO STANDS AS AMERICA’S BIGGEST THREAT ACROSS ALL SPECTRUMS, THE PANEL WAS VERY POINTED IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. NOT ONLY IS THE P-R-C HEAVILY INVESTED IN A MILITARY BUILD-UP, THEY ARE INTENSELY FOCUSED ON CYBERWARFARE. AS GENERAL TIMOTHY HAUGH, COMMANDER OF U.S. CYBER COMMAND, POINTS OUT, IT’S A MULTI-PRONGED OFFENSIVE.
[GEN. TIMOTHY HAUGH]
“We want to expose this threat first is where PRC has been targeting, the intellectual property of our industry, which is really the foundation of our economy and the underpinnings of our department’s security. Also how they look at, over time, the critical infrastructure of the United States, we’ve exposed how they target our critical infrastructure and what that means for us as a nation, that we have a competitor that is willing to use those type of tactics to target not only the department but our citizens.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AND THOSE ARE JUST THE THREATS HERE ON TERRA FIRMA. AS U.S. SPACE COMMAND’S TOP BOSS, GENERAL STEPHEN WHITING, EXPLAINS, THE U.S. IS ALSO WORKING TO DEFEND THE NATION FROM THREATS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE LAND-BASED AS BOTH CHINA AND RUSSIA CONTINUE TO WORK ON WAYS TO DISRUPT AMERICA’S SPACE-BASED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. AND THEY AREN’T STOPPING THERE.
[GEN. STEPHEN WHITING]
“The PRC in particular has gone to space for the same advantages that we have, not because it’s cool. I mean, it is, but that is not why they’ve gone to space. It’s to give themselves the ability to operate on ocean wide, on continental wide, on global scales. And so they have gone to space to enable their air force, their army, their navy, their Marine Corps, to be more precise, more lethal and more far ranging. And we’ve got to deal with that fact to make sure that we help protect the joint force from the space enabled attack of others.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ANOTHER AREA OF GROWING CONCERN FOR U.S MILITARY LEADERSHIP, THE ARCTIC. INCREASING LEVELS OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA HAS AMERICA’S ATTENTION. IN FACT THE TWO ADVERSARIES EXERCISED TOGETHER IN THE BERING STRAIT IN SUMMER OF 2023.
[GEN. GREG GUILLOT]
“But it shows on a daily basis that the Arctic is is a an area where a number of nations are showing interest, not only for military purposes, but also for scientific purposes. And it takes up 52% of our AOR so we spent a lot of time looking at that, how we adapting to that is pursuing sensors that go from sea floor all the way up to space in multiple layers and domains to make sure that we can detect all of those adversaries, not at the ranges that we did 510, years ago, but much further away. Because of the increased complexity and capability of their weapons.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
A CAPABILITY THAT THE GENERALS POINTED OUT WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW. AND WHILE THOSE CHARGED WITH DEFENDING THE U.S. MAY NOT YET HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR, THEY DO SAY THEY THINK THEY’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN SECURE COMMUNICATIONS AND ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITHIN U.S. CYBER COMMAND AND ITS COMPONENTS WILL ENHANCE CYBER SECURITY AND THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO AI-ENABLED CYBER ATTACKS.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
SPEND ANY TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT’S EASY TO FIND EXAMPLES OF UKRAINIAN DRONES INFLICTING DAMAGE ON RUSSIAN TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
LESS VISIBLE, HOWEVER, ARE EXAMPLES OF COUNTER-DRONE EFFORTS. AND THERE’S A FEW REASONS FOR THIS, PRIMARILY THE TECHNOLOGY ISN’T AS ADVANCED AS THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. BUT PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THIS VERY ISSUE. THAT’S WHY AXON VISION AND THEIR UAV COUNTER-AI IS OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AXON VISON’S CO-FOUNDER AND CTO, IDO ROZENBERG, SEES THE PROBLEM FACING GROUND TROOPS IN MODERN COMBAT VERY CLEARLY WHEN IT COMES TO DRONE WARFARE.
[IDO ROZENBERG]
“Because what it is called loitering ammunition is basically a fixed wing or quadcopter drone that is used as kind of like a guided missile, but unlike those kind of missiles, they’ll fly very slow and low, meaning they’re under the radar dome. So that’s why most militaries have a lot of issues with this, this type of loitering ammunition.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
SIMPLY PUT, MODERN AIR DEFENSES WEREN’T BUILT TO DEFEND AGAINST A THREAT THAT COULD BE AS SMALL AS A SHOEBOX. THAT’S WHERE AXON VISION’S A-I-BASED COUNTER-DEFENSE SYSTEMS COME IN. USING A SUITE OF SENSORS TO AUTOMATICALLY DETECT, TRACK AND CLASSIFY TARGETS TO PROTECT THE BATTLESPACE.
[IDO ROZENBERG]
“So what we did, we built kind of an optical radar, but using thermal images and cameras to pick up those drones when they’re getting really close. So we’re kind of in the domain of personal protection, or tactical protection of counter UAs, and not very long range, but but for the maneuvering forces, for armed vehicles and system that you can spread out in the field.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ROZENBERG TELLS US AXON VISION’S TECH IS ALREADY IN USE IN ISRAEL AND CAN BE FITTED FOR USE IN WHATEVER WEAPON STATION THE END-USER WANTS.
[IDO ROZENBERG]
“So our system called Edge RCWS, can connect to every remote weapon station. Can be formed automated a assault rifle up to 120 meter, 120 millimeter main dive attack cannon, so it can connect to each any, any different type of remote organization.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IT’S THE KIND OF INNOVATION THAT AMERICAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP SAYS IT’S LOOKING FOR AS IT CONTINUES TO MODERNIZE AND PREPARE FOR ANY FUTURE CONFLICTS, SOMETHING ROZENBERG ALLUDED TO DURING OUR VISIT.
[IDO ROZENBERG]
“So we have been hearing for the past kind of year or so that kind of the US has kind of figured out, hey, maybe we can be in active conflict very soon. It’s a matter of literally a decision being made and signed. So they kind of figure out that most of the kind of long range programs are not going to be sufficient for the next kind of conflict. So we’re hearing a lot kind of deep hunger them saying, hey, if it’s working somewhere, just bring it here. Americanize it, and we’ll put it on our systems.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ROZENBERG SAYS DEALING WITH THREATS OFTEN COMES DOWN TO SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS, AND THEIR AI IS BUILT TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF DETECTION, DECISION-MAKING, AND ACTION THAT KEEPS OPERATORS IN THE FIGHT WITH AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE DELIVERY OF AMERICAN-MADE, EUROPEAN-DONATED F-16s TO UKRAINE HAS RECENTLY SEEN SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS. IT’S A STORY WE’VE BEEN FOLLOWING FROM THE START HERE AT WEAPONS AND WARFARE, AND IT’S THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK’S COMMS CHECK.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IN EARLY DECEMBER, UKRAINE TOOK DELIVERY OF A SECOND BATCH OF F-16s FROM DENMARK, ON THE SURFACE THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE A GOOD THING. BUT A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS THEY STILL HAVE JUST A HANDFUL OF PILOTS TRAINED TO FLY THE FOURTH-GENERATION FIGHTER.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM, UKRAINE’S GOVERNMENT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT’S CUTTING TRAINING TIME BY THREE MONTHS SO NEW F-16 PILOTS CAN FILL COCKPITS FASTER.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY SAYS UKRAINE HAS DOZENS OF SEASONED COMBAT PILOTS READY TO RECEIVE CROSS-TRAINING IN THE AMERICAN FIGHTER.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
STILL, ONLY A FEW OF THEM CAN BE TRAINED AT A TIME BECAUSE ALMOST ALL F-16 FIGHTER TRANSITION TRAINING SLOTS ARE FILLED BY AMERICAN PILOTS AND AMERICAN ALLIES.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WHILE THOSE SLOTS ARE AT A PREMIUM, THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR UKRAINE SEEMS TO BE A SHORTAGE OF PILOTS WITH THE NECESSARY LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, WHICH HAS REPORTEDLY HINDERED THE TRAINING OF THE UKRAINIAN AIRMEN.
[JAKE SULLIVAN]
“We’ve had a limited number of pilots train not because we’re not prepared to train them. We are, as many as possible, but because the Ukrainians do not have the pilots to be able to build a full F-16 capability.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WHILE THOSE COMMENTS SEEM TO BE AT ODDS WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, THE FACT REMAINS THE F-16 OPERATES IN ENGLISH, AND A LACK OF FLUENCY SLOWS A PILOT’S ABILITY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AS FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? STAY TUNED.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ALRIGHT FOLKS, THAT’S GOING TO JUST ABOUT DO IT FOR US THIS WEEK ON WEAPONS AND WARFARE.
WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL TO PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS–AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE HERE AT THE SHOW YOU CAN–
OUR EMAIL IS WEAPONS AND WARFARE AT S-A-N DOT COM.
OKAY, FOR THIS WEEK’S WRAP–I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHT JOBS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK AND NEXT… AND MAYBE LONGER–
PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMPS CABINET PICKS ARE GOING THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.
AMONG THEM–PETE HEGSETH FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND TULSI GABBARD FOR DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
THEY BOTH COME WITH SOME SERIOUS BAGGAGE, AND I DON’T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO EVERYTHING–BUT THAT BAGGAGE MAY ULTIMATELY PREVENT THEM FROM SERVING ON TRUMP’S CABINET.
LET’S START WITH PETE HEGSETH–
BEYOND THE ACCUSATIONS OF PHILANDERING AND EXCESSIVE DRINKING–
WHICH HE PROMISES TO STOP IF CONFIRMED–
THE MAN JUST DOESN’T HAVE A RESUME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS REALLY ANY SECDEF BEFORE HIM.
YES, HE WAS A MAJOR AND SERVED OVER-SEAS…AND I ADMIRE HIS PASSION FOR WANTING TO MAKE THE U-S MILITARY INTO A MORE LETHAL FIGHTING FORCE, BUT FACTS ARE FACTS.
THE HIGHEST RANK HE ACHIEVED IN THE MILITARY WAS THAT OF MAJOR. THE MOST SOLDIERS A MAJOR WOULD COMMAND IN THE ARMY WOULD BE A BATTALION–OR AROUND 1,000 SOLDIERS.
THE PENTAGON EMPLOYS MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE…THAT’S LEADERSHIP ON ANOTHER LEVEL… AND IT’S NOT REALLY CLEAR HOW MUCH BUDGET EXPERIENCE HE GOT HOSTING THE WEEKEND MORNING SHOW ON FOX NEWS.
THEN THERE’S TULSI GABBARD–THE ONE TIME DEMOCRAT WAS ALSO A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD–THE BRUTAL DICTATOR AND PUTIN PUPPET WHO USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS ON HIS OWN PEOPLE…AMONG THE OTHER ATROCITIES HE COMMITTED.
WHILE I WOULDN’T GO SO FAR AS TO CALL HER COMPROMISED LIKE SOME IN CONGRESS HAVE…GABBARD DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO USE THE SAME LINES AS RUSSIAN PROPAGANDISTS. SHE ALSO FALLS HARD FOR INTERNET CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND WHILE SHE’S NOT THE ONLY POLITICIAN OR MEDIA FIGURE TO DO SO…I’D PREFER IT IF THE HEAD OF U-S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIDN’T.
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TO HIS SUPPORTERS. HE BUCKS TRENDS–HE DOESN’T PLAY BY THE ESTABLISHED RULES– AND AFTER DECADES OF STAGNANT LEADERSHIP IN D-C I UNDERSTAND….IN FACT, MAYBE I OVER-STAND
BUT WE WERE TOLD BY PRESIDENT TRUMP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE RUNNING THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS –
SO, WHEN IT COMES TO PETE HEGSETH AND TULSI GABBARD… LET’S JUST SAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP, I THINK YOU CAN FIND BETTER PICKS.
FOR SENIOR PRODUCER BRETT BAKER, VIDEO EDITOR BRIAN SPENCER, AND GRAPHICS ARTIST DAKOTA PITEO–I’M RYAN ROBERTSON WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, SIGNING OFF.
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A ceasefire could soon be on the horizon in Gaza. Two officials say Hamas has accepted a draft agreement that would halt its war with Israel.
An Israeli official told the Associated Press that the two sides were still finalizing the details. However, the deal could wind down more than 15 months of fighting, which started when Hamas launched attacks into Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking hundreds more as hostages.
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Since then, Israel has launched strikes and invaded Gaza, killing at least 46,000 people based on official Palestinian estimates. A peer-reviewed academic study published last week in the top medical journal, The Lancet, suggested that the number could be as high as 64,000.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested the sides were nearing a deal.
“I believe we will get a ceasefire,” Blinken said. “And whether we get there, the remaining days of our administration or after Jan. 20, I believe the deal will follow closely the terms of the agreement that President Biden put forward last May, and our administration rallied the world behind.”
Under the proposed deal, the two sides would fulfill terms in three phases.
Phase one, the first 42 days, would see Hamas release 33 hostages and Israel release 30 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli soldiers would move further out from the center of Gaza, while displaced Palestinians would move back in.
During phase two, which encompasses the following 42 days, Hamas would release the remaining hostages in exchange for a to-be-determined number of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza.
Phase three would involve exchanges of dead bodies between the two sides, the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings, and a plan to rebuild Gaza.
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While officials suggest this is the closest the two sides have come to a deal, previous talks have fallen apart. And the agreement could break if either side fails to meet its requisites during any phase.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also need his cabinet to approve the deal.
Tags: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, Middle East, Middle East Crisis, Palestine
LAUREN TAYLOR: A ceasefire could soon be on the horizon in Gaza … with two officials saying Hamas has accepted a draft agreement that would halt its war with Israel.
An Israeli official told the Associated Press that the two sides were still finalizing the details, with those involved speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.
A deal could wind down more than 15 months of fighting, which started when Hamas launched attacks into Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking hundreds more as hostages.
Since then, Israel has launched strikes and invaded Gaza, killing at least 46,000 based on official Palestinian estimates and a peer-reviewed academic study published in top medical journal The Lancet last week suggesting the number could be as high as 64,000.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested the sides were nearing a deal.
ANTONY BLINKEN / Secretary of State: “I believe we will get a ceasefire. And whether we get there, the remaining days of our administration or after January 20th, I believe the deal will follow closely the terms of the agreement that President Biden put forward last May, and our administration rallied the world behind.”
LAUREN TAYLOR: Under the proposed deal, the two sides would fulfill terms in a few phases. Phase 1, the first 42 days, would see Hamas release 33 hostages and Israel release 30 Palestinian prisoners, as well as Israeli soldiers moving further out from the center of Gaza and displaced Palestinians coming back in.
In phase 2, the second 42 days, Hamas would release the remaining hostages in exchange for a to-be-determined number of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza.
Phase 3 would then involve exchanges of dead bodies between the two sides, as well as the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings and a plan to rebuild Gaza after the war.
While officials suggest this is the closest the two sides have come yet to a deal, previous talks have fallen apart before both sides could finalize an agreement. And the deal could break if either side fails to meet their side of the deal in any phase.
Before the deal takes full effect, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would need his cabinet to vote to approve the deal after Israel and Hamas finalize the terms.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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South Korea’s anti-corruption agency says authorities arrested the country’s impeached president, Yoon Suk-Yeol. The arrest wraps up a weekslong showdown that saw the president holed up in his secured residence.
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The episode also follows a period of instability since Yoon briefly declared martial law in South Korea last month, prompting the country’s parliament to impeach him.
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It is the first time authorities in South Korea have arrested a sitting president. Yoon faces questioning as investigators explore whether he led an insurrection, a crime punishable by life in prison or death.
The news led to an outcry from supporters outside Yoon’s house and celebrations from anti-Yoon demonstrators. They chanted, “Your time is up,” and “Resign.”
Yoon sparked national protests after declaring martial law in the middle of a budget showdown and a probe into whether he leveraged his influence to help a business associate.
At the time, Yoon claimed his martial law decree was based on alleged election hacking and “anti-state” North Korean sympathizers.
He reversed the decision after the protests. All the while, members of the legislature got around a military blockade to meet in their chamber and vote to override the martial law declaration.
Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the country’s parliament, including a dozen of his own party members, voted to impeach him.
After his arrest, Yoon released a recorded video calling all the investigations illegal.
Anti-corruption authorities can legally hold Yoon for up to 48 hours but would need an arrest warrant to hold him for longer.
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An impeachment trial started on Tuesday, Jan. 14. However, it was quickly adjourned after Yoon failed to attend. South Korea’s constitutional court has up to six months to issue a ruling on the impeachment vote.
LAUREN TAYLOR: South Korea’s anti-corruption agency saying authorities arrested the country’s impeached President Yoon Suk-Yeol.
It wraps up a weekslong showdown where the president holed himself up in his secured residence … and follows over a month of instability since Yoon briefly declared martial law in the country last month, prompting the country’s parliament to impeach him.
It is the first time authorities in South Korea have arrested a sitting president. Yoon faces questioning as investigations explore whether he led an insurrection, a crime punishable by life in prison or death in South Korea.
PROTESTERS: (chanting in Korean)
LAUREN TAYLOR: The news led to an outcry from supporters outside Yoon’s house but sparked celebrations from anti-Yoon demonstrators, with opponents chanting phrases including “your time is up” and “resign.”
Yoon sparked national protests after declaring martial law in the middle of a budget showdown and a probe into whether he leveraged his influence to help a business associate.
He reversed the decision after the protests, as well as members of the legislature getting around a military blockade to meet in their chamber and vote to override the martial law declaration.
Yoon currently cannot use the power of the presidency, with his powers suspended after the country’s parliament, including a dozen members of Yoon’s own party, impeached him.
After his arrest, Yoon released a recorded video statement in which he called all the investigations illegal.
Anti-corruption authorities can legally hold Yoon for up to 48 hours and would need an arrest warrant to hold him for longer.
An impeachment trial started Tuesday and South Korea’s constitutional court has up to six months to issue a ruling on the impeachment vote.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 39%
Center 29%
Right 32%
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489 other sources covering this story
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Center
50
Leaning Right
54
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President Joe Biden is making some final foreign policy moves with less than a week left in office. His latest actions address U.S. relations with two adversaries: Cuba and China.
Biden will drop Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and reverse some of then-President Donald Trump’s actions tightening U.S. policies toward Cuba.
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In return, Cuba will release hundreds of political prisoners before Biden leaves office, according to senior Biden administration officials speaking anonymously. In total, Cuba says it will release 553 people as part of the deal, brokered by the Catholic Church.
President-elect Trump will have the power to reverse the declaration. His pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is the son of Cuban immigrants who fled before the current ruling communist government took power in 1959. Rubio has called for more sanctions against Cuba.
Biden also sent Congress notice asking them to approve agreements with three Asia-Pacific countries: Thailand, Palau and the Marshall Islands.
All three deals could help the U.S. build alliances in a region where China is asserting its control.
The deal with Thailand is a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement that calls for sharing unclassified nuclear equipment to help Thailand produce energy.
Meanwhile, the deals with Palau and the Marshall Islands are free association agreements. The U.S. provides services like disaster relief and postal infrastructure in exchange for a U.S. military presence in the countries.
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The incoming Trump administration has not signaled major opposition to these deals. The president-elect will work to rein in China’s global influence during his term.
Tags: Asia, China, Foreign aid, Joe Biden, National Security, Nuclear energy, People’s Republic of China
LAUREN TAYLOR: With less than a week left in office, President Joe Biden is making some final foreign policy moves. His latest actions addressing the U.S. ‘s relationship with two adversaries: Cuba and China.
Biden will drop Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and reverse some of the actions then-President Donald Trump took in tightening U.S. policies toward Cuba.
In return, Cuba will release dozens of political prisoners before Biden leaves office, according to senior Biden administration officials speaking anonymously.
In total, Cuba says it will release 553 people as part of the deal brokered between the U.S. and Cuba by the Catholic Church.
President-elect Trump will have the power to reverse the declaration. His pick for Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants who fled before the current ruling communist government took power in 1959. Rubio has called for more sanctions against Cuba.
Biden also sent Congress notice asking them to approve agreements with three Asia-Pacific countries: Thailand, Palau and the Marshall Islands.
All three deals could help the U.S. build alliances in a region where China has worked to assert control.
The deal with Thailand is a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement to share unclassified nuclear equipment to help Thailand produce energy,
And the deals with Palau and the Marshall Islands are free association agreements, where the U.S. provides the countries with services like disaster relief and postal services in exchange for the U.S. having a military presence in the countries.
The incoming Trump administration has not signaled major opposition to these deals, with the former president working to rein in China’s global influence during his first term.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Jan. 14, where he was grilled about his past behavior and qualifications. Hegseth acknowledged past mistakes, which include alleged infidelity and excessive drinking.
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“I’m not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth also said many of the accusations against him, including sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of nonprofits, are false smears.
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“All they were out to do Mr. Chairman was to destroy me,” Hegseth said. “And why did they want to destroy me? Because I’m a change agent and a threat to them because Donald Trump was willing to choose me, to empower me, to bring the Defense Department back to what it really should be, which is warfighting.”
The hearing became personal when Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., brought up an incident in California in 2017. A woman accused Hegseth of raping her at a hotel during a work event; Hegseth said the encounter was consensual. Police never charged him but he did sign a non-disclosure agreement with the woman.
“I am shocked that you would stand here and say you were completely cleared,” Kaine said. “Can you so casually cheat on a second wife, and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before, and you tell us you were completely cleared? How is that a complete clear?”
“Senator, the child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God, and she’s 7 years old,” Hegseth responded.
Republicans came to Hegseth’s defense, painting him as a good man who has been redeemed.
“How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to resign from their job? And don’t tell me you’ve never seen it because I know you have,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said. “And then how many senators do you know have gotten divorced for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down?”
Democrats went back on the attack, citing Hegseth’s qualifications and his previous statements about women in combat.
“You’ve said, ‘I don’t want women, I don’t want moms.’ What’s wrong with a mom, by the way? Once you have babies, you, therefore, are no longer able to be lethal?” Sen. Kristin Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said. “You’re basically saying women, after they have children, can’t ever serve in the military in a combat role. It’s a silly thing to say.”
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That was also an important issue for Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a veteran.
“As secretary of defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?” Ernst asked.
“Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high,” Hegseth responded.
After the hearing, multiple Republicans shared their intention to vote for Hegseth. They expressed confidence that he’ll be confirmed.
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services committee Wednesday where he was grilled about his past behavior and qualifications. Hegseth acknowledged mistakes he’s made, which according to accounts include infidelity and excessive drinking.
Pete Hegseth: “I’m not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny.”
But he also said many of the accusations against him, which include sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of nonprofits are false smears.
Pete Hegseth: “All they were out to do Mr. Chairman was to destroy me. And why did they want to destroy me? Because I’m a change agent and a threat to them because Donald Trump was willing to choose me, to empower me, to bring the Defense Department back to what it really should be, which is war fighting.”
The hearing got extremely personal when Senator Tim Kaine brought up an incident that took place in 2017 in California. A woman accused him of raping her at a hotel during a work event, he said the encounter was consensual. He was never charged by the police but signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA: “You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that would stand here and say you were completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife, and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before and you tell us you were completely cleared. How is that a complete clear?”
Pete Hegseth: “Senator the child’s name is Gwendolyne Hope Hegseth and she’s a child of God and she’s seven years old.”
Republicans came to Hegseth’s defense and painted him as a good man who has been redeemed.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin R-OK: ““How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to resign from their job? And don’t tell me you’ve never seen it because I know you have. And then how many senators do you know have gotten divorced for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down?
Democrats went back on the attack though regarding Hegseth’s qualifications and his previous statements about women in combat.
Sen. Kristin Gillibrand, D-NY: “You’ve said I don’t want women, I don’t want moms. What’s wrong with a mom, by the way? Once you have babies you therefore are no longer able to be lethal? You’re basically saying women after they have children can’t ever serve in the military in a combat role. It’s a silly thing to say.”
That was also an important issue for Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a veteran.
Sen. Joni Ernst R-Iowa: “As Secretary of Defense will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?”
Pete Hegseth: “Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high.”
After the hearing, multiple Republicans came out to share their support for Hegseth. They expressed confidence that he’ll be confirmed.
Media Landscape
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Left 28%
Center 47%
Right 25%
Bias Distribution
176 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
176
Leaning Left
36
Center
60
Leaning Right
32
Last Updated
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