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Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Mexican President Gives Biden List of Demands in Exchange for Helping with Border Crisis

How much of the $20 billion he is asking for going to go to the drug cartels? Fox News: Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador issued a lengthy series of demands detailing what the U.S. must offer in exchange for Mexico’s help in stemming the flow of migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border. Lopez Obrador’s demands came during a Friday press conference, which came roughly a week after he met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Mexico City in late December. The U.S. officials requested that Mexico boost its assistance in stopping illegal immigration. Lopez Obrador responded by demanding the U.S. give $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries, grant work visas to 10 million Hispanics who have worked in the U.S. for at least 10 years, end sanctions against Venezuela and halt the blockade of Cuba. The negotiations come at a critical time for President Biden, whose polling numbers on illegal immigration have been low throughout his presidency. The U.S. also suffered a surge of migrants at the border this fall, with roughly 240,000 monthly migrant encounters at the border in late 2023 (Fox News).

Biden Claims to Have Started the Civil Rights Movement in Speech

Spencer Brown: As part of his campaign of fear — due to his inability to campaign on his crisis-filled record and failing policies — President Joe Biden traveled to Charleston on Monday to deliver a speech at the Mother Emanuel AME Church where nine congregants were murdered by a white supremacist in 2015. As usual, Biden’s speech was off the rails in short order (Townhall). RNC Research: BIDEN: “I’ve spent more time in the Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, than most people I know, black or white, have spent in that church because that’s where I started a civil rights movement…” None of that is true (X). Reporter Bonchie: Today, Joe Biden claimed he attended a black church more than black people in Delaware and that he started the civil rights movement. And not a single fact-checker will say a word (X).

Israel Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Member in Airstrike

Fox News: The Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah said Monday that one of its top commanders has been killed in an airstrike. The strike on Jawad Al-Taweel – who led the group’s Radwan forces — was carried out by the Israeli military. Al-Taweel was traveling in a car with another Hezbollah fighter in the village of Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon when he was struck (Fox News). Hill: Since Israel took the fight to Gaza to defeat Hamas, Hezbollah has traded near-daily fire with Israel over the border. A broader war between Israel and Hezbollah has yet to break out, but conflict across the Middle East is threatening to spiral out of control as the attacks continue. The U.S. is also fighting against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea. More than 100 Hezbollah fighters have reportedly died since Israel and Hezbollah began trading deadly fire over the border (Hill).

William Penn Statue in Philadelphia to Be Taken Down for Inclusivity

National Review: The National Park Service (NPS) has announced it will be rehabilitating (via reduction) Pennsylvania founder William Penn’s Welcome Park to “provide a more welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience.” Named after the ship that bore Penn to that city of fraternal affection, the park is the site of his former Philadelphia home and the Slate Roof House. As part of this reimagining of Welcome Park, the park service has confirmed that “the Penn statue and Slate Roof house model will be removed and not reinstalled” (National Review). Just the News: Penn, a Quaker, was known for advocating for championing religious freedom and supporting amicable relations with local Native Americans (Just the News).

Palestinian Protesters Tag, Vandalize Los Angeles National Cemetery

National Review: Pro-Palestinian protesters defaced the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Sunday, a national burial space where more than 80,000 veterans of World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and more, are laid to rest. Protesters spray-painted “Free Gaza” on the entrance to the memorial and chanted “long live Palestine,” “there is only one solution,” “from the river from the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “Biden, Biden, you’re a liar,” according to video footage of the event. Hundreds of protesters held signs that read “ceasefire now,” “stop bombing Gaza,” “end the occupation now,” “stop the genocide,” and more. One sign read “Zionist Equals Nazi” (National Review). Attorney Sam Yebri: Today, pro-Hamas extremists in LA sunk to a new low vandalizing the venerable grounds of the Los Angeles National Cemetery, where 85K American heroes who sacrificed their lives for our freedom are interned. They even used a Nazi concentration camp symbol of an upside red triangle (X).

Biden Would Not Accept Resignation from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin if Offered One

Politico: President Joe Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he did not tell the White House about his emergency hospitalization. Beyond that, one official noted, the president would not accept a resignation if Austin were to offer one. The Pentagon had already announced that Austin wasn’t planning to resign (Politico). Sen. Tom Cotton: What’s worse, Sec Def. not telling President Biden he was in the hospital, or that no one at the White House noticed? It raises serious question about President Biden’s competence and leadership (X).

Republicans to Begin Impeachment Hearings Into DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Fox News: State attorneys general from the heartland will testify at the first impeachment hearing of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday and will describe the effect the ongoing migrant crisis has had on their states, despite their distance from the besieged border. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will testify about the impacts of the crisis on their states, as well as the legal challenges they have launched against the Biden administration’s policies. They are also expected to describe how they believe Mayorkas is not enforcing the law (Fox News). Axios: Republicans will have to navigate extremely tenuous vote math, with Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) leaving later in January and House Majority Steve Scalise (R-La.) working remotely until February. Their margin could be as narrow as just two votes, meaning they will need to get nearly all Republicans on side – including some, such as Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who continue to voice hesitance (Axios).

Explosion in Fort Worth, Texas Injures at Least 20 People

Fox News: A Fort Worth, Texas hotel was the scene of an explosion on Monday resulting in at least 21 injuries and a chaotic scene of destruction with windows, concrete, and a gaping hole in the sidewalk left in the aftermath. The Fort Worth Police Department reported that they were working a major incident in the downtown portion of the city and advised people to avoid the area, though it was later revealed by the city’s fire department that an explosion happened at the Sandman Hotel. Fort Worth Fire Department Public Information Officer Craig Trojacek said 21 people were injured from the explosion, with one person in critical condition, four listed in serious condition and the rest with minor injuries. He added that 14 people were transported to area hospitals (Fox News). Citizen Free Press: Big gas explosion at the Sandman Signature hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas (X).

More Jeffrey Epstein Documents Released by Court

ABC: A new round of court records from a lawsuit related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released Monday, which include photos from an accuser as well as an exhibit that mentions discredited allegations she made about Bill Clinton, Donald Trump Prince Andrew and Richard Branson. At least 17 documents were unsealed. More than 200 documents have been released since Wednesday. The records are part of a defamation lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Epstein, against his longtime companion Ghislaine Maxwell that the two settled in 2017 (ABC).

10.

JPMorgan Analyst Forecasts Biden Will Drop Out of 2024 Race

Fox Business: Pundits on both sides of the political aisle have speculated for months over whether President Biden might bow out of the 2024 presidential race as he faces increased scrutiny over his age and struggling poll numbers. Now, a top analyst at the nation’s largest bank suggests the possibility should not be ruled out. Michael Cembalest, the chairman of market and investment strategy for JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management, listed Biden dropping out of the race as one of his “10 predicted surprises” for this year in his 2024 “Pillow Talk” outlook (Fox Business).