Your First Look at Today's Top Stories

Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.

Sponsored By

DaybreakInsider.com

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Biden Administration Told Half-Truths About Cutting Funding to UNRWA

Guy Benson: You may have read that the Biden administration has frozen funds to UNRWA, the United Nations operation in Gaza, after explosive and credible allegations emerged that a dozen UNRWA employees were directly involved in the planning and execution of the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians. The Trump administration stopped funding this deeply corrupt organization back in 2018, then Biden quickly restored the money upon taking office. Now that this move has blown up in his face, Biden has belatedly and apparently temporarily stopped the cash flow to UNRWA. But as we saw with the Houthis climbdown, there’s a catch (Townhall). AG Hamilton: Jeryl Bier discovered that the State Department saying they were pausing funding to UNRWA only applies to new commitments. They plan to continue to use US taxpayer money to fund current projects despite evidence of the group abetting terrorism (X).

UNRWA Teachers Participated in Kidnapping, Murdering Israelis

Katie Pavlich: The United States temporarily suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency last week after it was revealed a number of UNRWA staffers were directly involved in the October 7th terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. As we get more information, the details about UNRWA’s direct involvement with Islamic terrorism get worse (Townhall). Reporter Hillel Neuer: Dossier Revealed: UNRWA Teachers Massacred and Kidnapped Israelis. The accusations are contained in a dossier provided to the United States government that details Israel’s claims against a dozen employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency who, it says, played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7 or in their aftermath (X). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Cutting off support to UNRWA – the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million Gazans – is unacceptable. Among an organization of 13,000 UN aid workers, risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible. The US should restore aid immediately (X).

Biden Administration Does Not Want to Escalate Tensions in the Middle East Despite Military Personnel Getting Killed in Terror Attacks

Joe Biden is the true face of weakness. National Review: National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday morning that the White House is not looking to escalate the conflict in the Middle East, even as Republicans urge the administration to retaliate against Iran directly after the country’s proxies killed three American troops and wounded 25 others in a drone strike on U.S. forces in Jordan on Sunday. “We are not looking for war with Iran,” Kirby said during an appearance on NBC’s Today. “Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options,” Kirby continued. Biden did not elaborate on his plans for retaliation, and Republicans are now pressing him to deliver a swift response to the drone attack (National Review RNC Research: Biden Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “We have not seen a situation as dangerous as the one we’re facing now across (the Middle East) since at least 1973” (X). Tom Cotton: My statement following the Iran-backed attacks in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members and injured 25 (X).

President Biden Is Responsible for the Border Crisis

If Biden really cared about the border, he could take steps to alleviate the crisis. Katie Pavlich: The facts show he doesn’t need Congress or a massive “comprehensive” immigration reform plan, as the White House press secretary continues present to the media, to start solving the problem. He simply needs to get out his pen to stop the unprecedented flow of illegal immigrants into the country. Here are five things he can do, today, to blunt the current invasion (Townhall). Speaker Mike Johnson: No, Mr. President, your policies DID create this crisis. Here are 64 times you and your administration undermined America’s border security (X).

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Resumes Working At The Pentagon

Daily Wire: On Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to work at the Pentagon for the first time since his secretive hospitalization for complications following a procedure to treat prostate cancer. Austin, 70, briefly addressed his health situation during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with cameras in the room to capture the remarks. “At this important time, I’m glad to be back at the Pentagon. I feel good and am recovering well — but still recovering — and I appreciate all the good wishes that I’ve received thus far,” Austin said (Daily Wire). CSPAN: SecDef Austin: “Let me start with my outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan…The president and I will not tolerate attack on U.S. forces (X).

President Joe Biden Looks to Garner Taylor Swift’s Endorsement

Daily Caller: President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is working to get the endorsement of Taylor Swift to help drive young voters to the polls in 2024, according to The New York Times. While Biden’s reelection team works to focus its messaging around former President Donald Trump, who is likely to become the Republican presidential nominee, the campaign is also focused on working with social media influencers and celebrities to push Biden’s message. On the list of potential endorsements is Swift, who endorsed Biden in 2020 and has about 279 million followers on Instagram (Daily Caller). Newsweek: Exclusive polling conducted for Newsweek by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found that 18 percent of voters say they’re “more likely” or “significantly more likely” to vote for a candidate endorsed by Swift. Seventeen percent said they would be less likely to vote for a Swift-backed candidate (Newsweek). Matt Walsh Show: Will Taylor Swift swing the 2024 election (X)? Forbes: President Biden’s campaign is gearing up for November’s general election by planning a reelection bid dominated by abortion rights (X).

Rockets Launched Into Israel; No Casualties Reported

Times of Israel: Air raid sirens sound in Tel Aviv for the first time in more than a month, indicating rocket fire from Gaza. Sirens also sound in Rishon Lezion, Holon, Bat Yam and other areas in the center (Times of Israel). Jerusalem Post: Some 11 rockets were fired from southern Khan Yunis, 6 of which were intercepted. A car in Rishon Lezion was hit; no casualties or injuries were reported (Jerusalem Post). Bari Weiss: What happens when the sirens sound in Tel Aviv. This is the highway right at the airport (X).

Ripcurl Brand Drops “Soul Surfer” to Promote Trans Surfer

Townhall: Last year, Hamilton made headlines when she came out against policies allowing biological male surfers who think they’re “trans women” to compete against biological women. In her statement, she threatened to boycott the World Surf League over the policies. Hamilton, who has surfed since she was 8, grew up in Hawaii and gained worldwide attention after she returned to her sport after losing her arm in a shark attack when she was 13 years old. The 2011 movie “Soul Surfer” is based on her life. Hamilton’s stance on transgender athletes caused Rip Curl to sever ties with her. Last week, Sasha Lowerson, 44, a “transgender” surfer, was featured on the company’s Instagram profile as part of the brand’s “Meet the Local Heroes of Western Australia” campaign. Several women’s sports advocates, including Riley Gaines, sounded off about the company’s decision to drop Hamilton and promote Lowerson. Shortly after, Rip Curl reportedly removed the post about Lowerson (Townhall). Riley Gaines: Ripcurl suddenly knows what a woman is. They’ve also since deleted all posts promoting a male surfer posing as a woman after dropping Bethany Hamilton. They want you to forget about their contempt for women. Don’t (X). Taylor Silverman: It appears Ripcurl has removed this post of a man dressed up as a woman from their Instagram Ripcurl women. This won’t undo the damage they have already done to their company. It will only make trans activists hate them too (X).

Ford Announces 2023 EV Fleet Will Get AM Radio Capabilities

Insider Radio: Last May, Ford announced it would continue to offer AM radio to drivers of two of its 2023 electric vehicles, despite saying earlier they were ditching AM. “For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software update,” CEO Jim Farley said. The carmaker tells Inside Radio they have already started offering the update and will continue in stages across the nation. Farley said last year that Ford decided to include AM on all 2024 Ford and Lincoln Motor vehicles after speaking with policy leaders about “the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system.” While a significant move for broadcasters as they work to convince other carmakers to do the same, Ford is so far not committing to AM beyond the current model year (Insider Radio). Ford Authority: Ford and some of its rivals previously argued that AM radio – or amplitude modulation, as it’s otherwise defined – is no longer needed thanks to the fact that users can still listen to AM music, news, and podcasts via internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, digital, and satellite radio options, but critics worry that its removal could pose a significant communication problem during emergencies, which prompted this pushback in the first place (Ford Authority).

10.

Denver Looks to Evict Illegals Beginning in February

NBC: Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver over the past year, making a city with a population of just over 710,000 the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas. The influx is taking a toll on the city’s public safety net. Starting Feb. 5, Denver will limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and send those who exceed their stay out onto the streets (NBC). Townhall: In addition, the city’s “safety net” hospital, Denver Health, is reportedly asking the federal government for aid covering $10 million in unpaid medical bills due to illegal immigrants. Reportedly, nearly 3,000 illegal immigrant children, mostly from Venezuela, have enrolled in the Denver Public School system since July. One school principal told the outlet that he receives five to 10 new immigrant students per week (Townhall).