- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) giving a pretty unimpeachable analysis of this GOP Congress and their sycophancy to Trump.

After weeks of deliberation following South Africa’s landmark accusations of genocide against Israel, judges in the World Court reached a decision. 
 

• The International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and increase efforts to help civilians, but stopped short of ordering the ceasefire sought by South Africa, which brought the case to The Hague. It’s not quite the outcome hoped for by many Palestinians. But does represent a significant legal setback for Israel, as the country had hoped to get the case thrown out entirely. 
   

• The ICJ found that “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention.” The ruling requires Israel to prevent and punish any public incitements to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and to preserve evidence related to such allegations. The judges also ruled that Israel must take measures to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Fifteen of 17 judges on the panel voted in favor of imposing these provisional measures, including the court’s president from the United States, Joan Donoghue.
   

• So what happens now? Well, Israel is required to submit a report to the court on steps it has taken to comply with the orders within one month of today’s ruling. The process of the courts examining the merits of the case could take years. Israeli Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu has called the charges of genocide brought against Israel “outrageous” and said that the country would defend itself by any means necessary. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocked the ruling, posting on X, “Hague Schmague.”

The ICJ’s ruling lacks immediate practical consequences, but its implications are deeply symbolic for both Israelis and Palestinians. For Israel—which was was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust—to be directly ordered to comply with the Genocide Convention (also created in response to the Holocaust) sends a powerful message. 
 

• The United Nations Agency that facilitates aid to Palestinians, known as UNRWA said that it had dismissed several employees accused of being involved in the October 7 Hamas attack, and has launched an official investigation. Israel had previously accused the agency of fueling anti-Israeli sentiment, which the U.N. has repeatedly denied. The head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini said that the dismissals were carried out to “protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.” No evidence of wrongdoing has yet been uncovered, but Lazzarini said that if any UNRWA worker is found to have been involved, they “will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.” 
   

• Lazzarini did not specify how many of UNRWA’s 13,000-person workforce in Gaza had been accused, but the U.S. State Department released a statement noting that the allegations involved 12 people. The State Department release asserted that it has “temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.” It also commended UNRWA for its “critical role in providing lifesaving assistants to Palestinians,” and said the administration welcomes the U.N.’s announcement of a “comprehensive and independent” review of the agency. 
   

The United States is UNRWA’s largest donor, so the suspension of aid at a time when more than 93 percent of the population in Gaza experiences “crisis levels of hunger,” will be a major blow to the agency’s already-stretched resources. Lazzarini stated that the goal of the independent investigation will be to “establish the truth without delay.” 

New year, new tour shows, same need for comedy as a coping mechanism as the news cycle spits out its weekly glob of horrors! We have so much in store for you, but to kick us off, Lovett or Leave It will be coming to Washington, DC on April 25 for another barnburner of a show at The Lincoln Theatre. Trust us—you won’t want to miss this one. Join our Friend of the Pod subscription service for exclusive access to pre-sale tickets today!

A New York City jury ordered disgraced former president Donald Trump to pay columnist E. Jean Caroll $83.3 million for defaming her in 2019 by derisively denying her accusation that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 90’s. The sum exceeded even the amount Carroll’s lawyers’ explicitly asked for. Trump called the ruling “absolutely ridiculous” and vowed to appeal. Carroll’s lawyers used Trump’s own testimony from the civil fraud trial brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James (in which he bragged about how much money he has) as proof that he could afford such a hefty fine. But there’s little hope that Carroll will be awarded the money anytime soon. Trump’s appeal means that the $83 million will be held by the court during what could be years of legal battles. He could also secure a bond, which would not require him to pay the full amount up front. The civil fraud case is due to be decided next week, which could add significantly to Trump’s list of legal debts. State Attorney General James is seeking $370 million from the Trump Organization, as well as banning him from doing business in New York real estate for life.

A bipartisan group of over two dozen members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to President Biden on Friday arguing that he must seek congressional authorization before launching additional strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. 

Nearly a dozen mainstream media outlets have gutted their staff and newsrooms since the beginning of the year, including the Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, Business Insider, and the New York Daily News. 

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing the assisted-living industry for answers on Thursday in a hearing about the industry-wide problems of inadequate staffing, high costs, and a lack of transparency about insufficient care and preventable deaths of elderly residents. 

The NFL issued a ruling that players on the two teams competing in the Super Bowl will be prohibited from gambling during the week of the game, which will be held in Las Vegas this year. 

Washington D.C. saw temperatures nearing 80 degrees on Friday, 35 degrees above average. Okay climate change, you got us!

The Justice Department formally concluded its investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) and settled the case with the New York executive chamber. According to the settlement, Cuomo “repeatedly subjected [current and former state] female employees to unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact; ogling; unwelcome sexual comments; gender-based nicknames; comments on their physical appearances; and/or preferential treatment based on their physical appearances.” The executive chamber, DOJ concluded, “failed to effectively remediate the harassment on a systemic level,” and senior staff in the Cuomo administration were aware of the behavior and retaliated against some of the women involved. The chamber will be forced to implement a variety of new preventative measures, some of which have already been adopted by the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY).

Liberal activist group MoveOn announced it will spend more than $32 million this year to back President Biden and other Democratic congressional candidates across the country. And from how the polls are looking, we’ll need it!

Inflation continued to trend downward in December and consumer spending was up, further indications of a rebounding economy.