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Friday, January 5, 2024

DOJ Sues Texas Over Law Deeming Illegal Immigration a Crime

Townhall: The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas on Wednesday over its new law making illegal immigration a state crime. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state was left to “fend for itself” due to President Biden’s “deliberate inaction” on border security. He added, “The bill provides a mechanism to order an illegal immigrant to return to the foreign nation from which they entered.” DOJ alleges the law is unconstitutional, however (Townhall). National Review: The Justice Department is also involved in the legal battles attempting to remove Texas’s concertina-wire fencing and buoy barriers, the latter of which were ordered to be removed by a federal appeals court in early December. That order was subsequently dismissed a week later. The fights regarding the razor wire and floating barriers are still ongoing (National Review).

Townhall: The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas on Wednesday over its new law making illegal immigration a state crime. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state was left to “fend for itself” due to President Biden’s “deliberate inaction” on border security. He added, “The bill provides a mechanism to order an illegal immigrant to return to the foreign nation from which they entered.” DOJ alleges the law is unconstitutional, however (Townhall). National Review: The Justice Department is also involved in the legal battles attempting to remove Texas’s concertina-wire fencing and buoy barriers, the latter of which were ordered to be removed by a federal appeals court in early December. That order was subsequently dismissed a week later. The fights regarding the razor wire and floating barriers are still ongoing (National Review).

Shooting at Iowa High School Injures Three People, Shooter Dead

Daily Mail: The suspected Iowa school shooter, who injured three people including the principal, before turning the gun on himself, has been identified as a school senior. Dylan Butler, who is a senior at Perry High School, was named as the suspected gunman by local news outlet WHO 13. Police have not confirmed the identification. One of the three people injured was the school’s principal, Dan Marburger, who was rushed to hospital and is currently in surgery for his gunshot wounds. The other two people injured were students (Daily Mail). Libs of TikTok: Perry High School shooter identified. This is allegedly his TikTok account which was already scrubbed. He posted this photo before the shooting from the school bathroom. He appears to be part of the LGBTQ community with the flag in his bio. In another post he put the hashtag genderfluid. In another video he acted out a shooting exchange. Obviously a broken, mentally ill person (X).

ISIS Takes Credit for Mass Bombing in Iran Killing 84, Injuring Hundreds

Wall Street Journal: Islamic State said in a statement that two of its operatives had detonated explosive belts… (WSJ). Just the News: ISIS on Thursday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Iran at a memorial for slain Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. The attack left dozens dead and hundreds injured. CNN reports that 84 people are dead and 284 injured. This is the deadliest attack in Iran since the Iranian revolution (Just the News). CBS: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “harsh response” to Wednesday’s bomb attack on crowds gathered to mark the anniversary of the 2020 assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, as Iran observed a day of mourning Thursday (CBS).

U.S. Strikes Iranian Militia Commander in Iran

Washington Post: A U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on Thursday killed an Iran-linked militia commander and risked accelerating the regional fallout from Washington’s support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza, even as the Biden administration scrambles to contain the bloodshed. Explosions occurred in the central part of the city, rattling windows and prompting Iraqi authorities to close off streets nearby. Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, a militia that has claimed several attacks on U.S. forces, said in a statement that its deputy commander of operations in the Baghdad region, Mushtaq Jawad Al-Saidi, known as Abu Taqwa, was killed in a strike at a logistical support headquarters on Palestine Street (Washington Post). Times of Israel: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that the US-led international coalition bears responsibility for the “unjustified” attack on an Iraqi security force. The past week saw deadly blasts in Iran and the killing of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in an alleged Israeli strike in Lebanon (Times of Israel).

Americans Purchased 15.8 Million Guns in 2023

Washington Examiner: Americans purchased nearly 16 million firearms last year, a solid rejection of President Joe Biden’s gun control agenda, according to new FBI background check data. This week, the agency reported conducting 29.8 million background checks in 2023, the fourth highest ever. When non-sales checks were filtered out, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the industry’s trade group, said that translated into an estimated 15.8 million actual sales last year. In December alone, the 53rd month in a row of sales over 1 million, NSSF said that there were 1,775,834 gun buys. That is likely to surge this year because Biden has promised to put gun control at the center of his liberal agenda (Washington Examiner). Hill: FBI background checks for firearm sales more than doubled in a decade, from 9 million in 2005 to 23 million in 2015. Five years later, in pandemic-scarred 2020, the bureau conducted nearly 40 million background checks (Hill).

Russia to Purchase Short-Range Ballistic Missiles From Iran to Utilize Against Ukraine

Wall Street Journal: Russia is planning to buy short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, a step that would enhance Moscow’s ability to target Ukraine’s infrastructure at a critical moment in the conflict, U.S. officials said. Moscow’s plans have provoked deep concern within the Biden administration and come as support wanes in Congress for continued U.S. military assistance for Ukraine. Lawmakers have yet to pass a bill that would provide additional funding for Ukraine (Wall Street Journal). Fox News: A United Nations Security Council resolution adopted after the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that prohibited Iran from exporting or importing some types of missiles and drones, as well as military technology used to produce and operate missiles, without the council’s approval, formally expired in October. Russia’s Foreign Ministry, however, said the U.N. ban on Iranian missile sales no longer needed to be followed (Fox News).

Seattle Reaches Record-Breaking Levels of Fentanyl Deaths in 2023

Daily Wire: The Seattle area notched a grim record for deaths that involved fentanyl last year, with more than a thousand fatal overdoses. King County saw a total of 1,284 fatal overdoses from drugs and alcohol in 2023, and 1,060 of them involved fentanyl, according to county data. Another 72 suspected overdoses from last year are pending toxicology reports. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is about 50 times more potent than heroin, has been on the rise in the U.S. for years, but last year’s numbers are more than a 30% spike over 2022, which saw 717 fentanyl-related deaths in King County (Daily Wire).

Connecticut Women Travels to Vermont for Assisted Suicide

Daily Wire: A Connecticut woman will become Vermont’s first nonresident to die by medically assisted suicide. 76-year-old Lynda Bluestein traveled from Connecticut to Vermont on Wednesday to prepare for her scheduled death. Bluestein’s son, Jake Shannon, told News 12 Connecticut that Bluestein will take a lethal injection on Thursday morning. Bluestein said the state of Connecticut was “cruel” for not allowing medically assisted suicide. Supporters of assisted suicide also commonly refer to the practice as medical aid in dying (MAID), physician-assisted death, and aid in dying. In addition to Vermont, nine other states and Washington, D.C., allow medically assisted suicide: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and the state of Washington. However, only Vermont and Oregon allow nonresidents to obtain it (Daily Wire). ABC: While medical aid in dying is still a point of contention for many, as of 2018, a Gallup poll found that 72% believe doctors should be able to help terminally ill patients die while a slim majority, 54%, believe it is morally acceptable (ABC).

UN Women UK Appoints Trans Model as Organization’s First “UK Champion”

Daily Mail: When it comes to being an ambassador for women, surely being a biological woman yourself is the minimum requirement. Not according to UN Women UK, the United Nations charity supposedly dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls across the country. Because 36-year-old model and broadcaster Munroe Bergdorf, who was born a man but now identifies as a woman, has been appointed as the group’s first ‘UK champion’ – an ambassadorial role tasked with helping to empower the female of the species. The best way to empower women would be to give them senior positions such as this one. But perhaps UN Women UK believe no woman in the country can do the job as well as one who was born a man (Daily Mail)? Fair Play for Women: UN Women has made a point of demonstrating that it considers males can become women. It’s disappointing to see the UK committee go so far as to select a male to represent women. Their credibility is in tatters (Fair Play for Women).

10.

NYC Mayor Adams to Sue Bus Companies for Transporting Illegal Immigrants to City

ABC: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a lawsuit against 17 bus and transportation companies helping to send asylum-seekers to the city as it deals with major budget issues surrounding the crisis. The city is seeking $708 million in the lawsuit to cover costs for caring for migrants. The lawsuit has yet to be reviewed by the county clerk. The lawsuit cites section 149 of the New York Social Services law, which requires “any person who knowingly brings, or causes to be brought a needy person from out of state into this state for the purpose of making him a public charge … shall be obligated to convey such person out of state or support him at his own expense.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stood in support of the lawsuit as well (ABC). Townhall: Eric Adams is now suing bus companies who bring illegals from the southern border to New York City (X).