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Thursday, December 28, 2023

Poll: Young Americans Have Favorable Opinion of Osama Bin Laden

Daily Mail: One in five young Americans has a positive view of 9/11 mastermind and Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden. The alarming survey also found three in 10 Gen Z voters believe the views of the anti-Semitic terrorist leader who slaughtered thousands of innocent people were a ‘force for good.’ Family members of 9/11 victims said the findings are ‘horrifying’ and proof of a startling trend suggesting some in the younger generation are growing sympathetic to terrorists. Bin Laden orchestrated the 2001 hijackings that killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. He was also behind multiple plots that have slain countless others around the world (Daily Mail). Daily Wire: In October, a survey conducted by Cygnal showed that a majority (57.5%) of Muslim Americans believed Hamas was “justified” in its terrorist attack against Israel. While most Muslim Americans defended Hamas’ actions on October 7, 75% of all Americans condemned Hamas for attacking Israel and murdering around 1,200 people (Daily Wire).

Navy Downs Ballistic Missiles Launched by Houthi Terrorists

Just the News: The U.S. Navy shot down a barrage of anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones launched in the Red Sea over a 10-hour period by the Houthis in Yemen, U.S. Central Command said. A dozen one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land attack cruise missiles were shot down Tuesday by the USS Laboon destroyer and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which has been stationed in the Middle East since October after Hamas attacked Israel, officials said. The 10-hour barrage began around 6:30 a.m. local time. No injuries were reported and no damage to ships occurred. The ballistic missiles were provided to the Houthis by Iran (Just the News). Fox News: Nearly 100 drones operated by the Houthis have been shot down since Oct. 17. The group has attacked more than 21 international vessels in the region, which has disrupted global shipping. Major shipping companies, including Denmark-based giant Maersk, have been avoiding the Red Sea and sending their ships around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, adding costs and delays (Fox News).

California Mandates Stores Include “Gender Neutral” Toy Section for Children

Fox News: California stores with more than 500 employees will soon be fined for not having a “gender-neutral” toy section once a new state law kicks in Jan. 1. The bill, signed in 2021 by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, will force stores that sell childcare items or toys to pay a $500 fine should the store fail to create a gender-neutral toy section for kids 12 years old and under. A childcare item, according to the legislation text, “means any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething.” Traditional boys and girls sections won’t be outlawed, but a gender-neutral section must also be created (Fox News). Just the News:Opposition from the Pacific Justice Institute claimed, “the author’s intent is to impose a de-gendered ideology and viewpoint on retailers” and that “parents do not need politicians’ help to pick out appropriate toys for their children.” Similar bills failed in 2019 and 2020 before AB 1084 was passed in 2021 (Just the News).

Austrian University Parts Ways with Harvard Over Antisemitism Debacle

Jerusalem Post: The Lauder Business School, a notable institution in Vienna catering to a diverse student body, including Israelis, has recently announced the cessation of its collaboration with Harvard University. This decision arose amidst concerns regarding the escalation of antisemitism on the Harvard campus and the perceived lack of appropriate response from its leadership. According to a statement on behalf of the Austrian university, the partnership, which commenced in 2014 as part of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School, symbolized Lauder Business School’s “dedication to global educational collaborations.” However, the unfolding events at Harvard have prompted a reevaluation. “In light of the recent developments, Lauder Business School has decided to withdraw from this network, thereby expressing solidarity with the Jewish student community at Harvard,” the school stated (Jerusalem Post). National Review: Harvard has seen donors pull money from the school following the Hamas invasion of Israel in early October that led to the deaths of over a thousand people. Immediately following the atrocities, student groups issued statements supportive of the Palestinian terror group’s massacre. “Today’s events did not occur in a vacuum,” a joint letter signed by dozens of Harvard student groups argued. “The apartheid regime is the only one to blame” (National Review).

Biden Announces Final Aid Package for 2023 of $250 Million for Ukraine

CNN: The US State Department announced a $250 million Ukraine military aid package on Wednesday, the last such package the US will provide to Ukraine until Congress approves the Biden administration’s funding requests. “This package provides up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. This package marks the limit of the US’ ability to provide weapons to Ukraine without additional funding from Congress (CNN). Associated Press: The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles. President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs. It includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, with about half to replenish Pentagon stocks. It also includes about $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Other funds would go for security needs in the Asia-Pacific (Associated Press).

Special Counsel Jack Smith Files Motion to Deny Trump from Making “Political Attacks” During Trial

Fox News: Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed another motion with the district court, which seeks to tamp down what former President Donald Trump’s legal team can tell a jury in his federal trial currently scheduled for March. The motion, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is seeking to limit what statements Trump can make leading up to his scheduled March 4 federal trial on alleged 2020 election interference. That includes a request to prevent Trump from telling the jury he is being prosecuted by the DOJ in coordination with President Biden, as well as suggestions by Trump of undercover agents fomenting violence at the Capitol riots, and of “foreign influence” in the 2020 election. The motion seeks to prevent Trump from telling jurors about the potential punishment he could face if convicted, as well as blaming law enforcement agencies for a lack of preparation in advance of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot (Fox News). Townhall: The Trump campaign released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, noting that Smith as “so obsessed” and “so sad” (Townhall). Legal expert Mike Davis: Jack Smith and Judge Chutkan just want to convict Trump before the election. This is lawfare. And election interference (X).

LAPD to Allow Illegal Immigrant Police Officers to Carry Guns

Just the News: Los Angeles Police Department’s oversight committee approved new guidelines allowing illegal immigrant police officers to be armed at all times. In 2022, California passed a law allowing those authorized to work under President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order for those who entered the country illegally as minors to become police officers. LAPD graduated its first DACA recipient earlier this year, and is set to graduate a class of nine DACA recipients in spring of 2024, thus making the question of whether or not DACA recipients should be able to carry their firearms off duty a matter of serious debate. Under state and federal law, illegal immigrants are prohibited from having firearms. However, DACA recipients are allowed to carry firearms in the course of their law enforcement duties. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners unanimously approved a policy outline detailing how DACA recipients can carry their firearms off the job based on the fact that a police officer is effectively on-duty 24/7. Until LAPD officially adopts a policy in full — and not just an outline — DACA recipients will not be able to carry their firearms off duty (Just the News).

Iran Increases Stockpile of Highly Enriched Uranium

Wall Street Journal: Iran has tripled production of nearly weapons-grade uranium in a move likely to deepen its confrontation with the West as Tehran helps allied militias to attack Israel and U.S. forces in the region. Iran’s decision to triple its production rate of near-weapons-grade uranium marks the collapse of quiet diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran to ease tensions. It comes amid a proliferation of flashpoints between the U.S. and Iran, whose proxies have repeatedly traded fire with U.S. forces in the Middle East since the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct. 7. U.S. and European navies are also shooting down drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea. Iran is the only country in the world that isn’t a declared nuclear power currently producing 60% enriched uranium, which can be converted to weapons-grade material within days. U.S. officials have said it would take Iran less than two weeks to convert enough 60% material into a form that could be used in a nuclear weapon. Experts say Iran already has a sufficient stock of highly enriched uranium to fuel three weapons (Wall Street Journal). Daily Wire: Richard Goldberg, a former Trump administration official and senior adviser at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, called the news a “catastrophic policy failure on every level” (Daily Wire).

Church Nativity in Italy Features Gay Parents of Baby Jesus

New York Post: A church nativity scene in Italy that features two mothers of the baby Jesus instead of Mary and Joseph figurines has been blasted as “dangerous” and “blasphemous” by conservatives — who are calling for it to be taken down. Father Vitaliano Della Sala defended the depiction of the birth of Jesus on display at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in Capocastello di Mercogliano outside Naples. “I wanted to show with this scene that families are no longer just the traditional ones,” Della Sala said. But an online petition by Pro-Vita & Famiglia, a pro-life group, called on the bishop in the province of Avellino to intervene because it argued that the scene legitimized same-sex parenting and surrogacy (New York Post). Townhall: Having children via surrogacy is illegal in Italy. Della Sala is known for “LGBT and left-wing causes.” Reportedly, Della Sala said that his attitude falls in line with Pope Francis, who recently allowed priests to bless same-sex couples (Townhall).

10.

Biden Goes on Vacation After Just Returning from Another Vacation

Daily Mail: Joe and Jill Biden have escaped Washington D.C. and landed on the Caribbean island of St. Croix for a vacation and a free stay at the home of billionaire Democratic donors. The president and first lady stepped off Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon with their 19-year-old granddaughter Natalie, the daughter of their late son Beau, for the break on the sunny beaches of the U.S. Virgin Island. The family will ring in the New Year as Biden faces continued questions about his 2024 prospects, dire polls and an increase in attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East (Daily Mail). Townhall: Biden heads to vacation one day after returning from vacation (X). RNC Research: Biden has arrived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he’ll spend the rest of the year at the beach. Biden has spent 417 days — 39% of his presidency — on vacation (X).