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Thursday, April 25, 2024

Speaker Mike Johnson Takes the President of Columbia University to Task for Failing to Protect Jewish Students

Washington Examiner: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faced chants and boos from pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to drown out House Republicans‘ speeches as they called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign over rising antisemitism on campus. Johnson was joined by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Virginia Foxx (R-NC) on Wednesday to blast Shafik for “failed” leadership and her inability to keep Jewish students safe on campus. The members had met with Shafik and encouraged her to restore order, Johnson said, but they did not leave the meeting feeling confident that she would act accordingly (Washington Examiner). Speaker Mike Johnson: Administrators at Columbia have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibly – keeping students safe. I join my colleagues in calling on President Shafik to resign. Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are targeted on campus (X). Andrew Solender: Columbia students are chanting “from the river to the sea” at Mike Johnson (X).

Columbia University Caves, Extends Deadline for Student Antisemitic Encampment to Disperse

National Review: Columbia University administrators backed down after setting a midnight deadline for anti-Israel protesters to disperse, saying instead that the university had decided to extend negotiations for an additional 48 hours after the student protesters agreed to make some concessions short of complying with university rules and disbanding the camp they set up seven days prior. The students are protesting Columbia’s financial relationship with companies that do business with Israel and U.S. support for Israel’s ongoing war effort against Hamas sparked by the terrorist organization’s mass civilian slaughter on October 7 (National Review).

Princeton University Students Preparing to Hold an Encampment, Have List of Demands

National Review: Princeton University students are preparing to establish an anti-Israel protest encampment. A draft of a press release titled “Princeton Gaza Solidarity Encampment Demands” states that the “goal” is to “put pressure on the Princeton University administration to divest and disassociate from Israel, and to call attention to the University’s active contribution to ongoing genocide and human rights catastrophe.” The group is demanding that 1) Princeton call for an immediate cease-fire and “condemn Israel’s genocidal campaign,” 2) commit to full transparency in its investments 3) dissociate and divest its endowment from direct and indirect holdings in companies that “profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, occupation, and apartheid policies,” 4) divest from private fossil-fuel companies 5) disclose and end research funded by the Department of Defense 6) “refrain from any form of academic or cultural association with Israeli institutions and businesses 7) “cultivate affiliations with Palestinian academic and cultural institutions” and 8) stop sponsoring and facilitating programs like Birthright Israel trips and Tiger-Trek Israel, and relations with the Tikvah Fund (National Review). Steve McGuire: A recruiting document shows they know they’re breaking the rules but don’t expect serious consequences. They say they “have a trained security team, pro bono legal support, and ‘faculty members on our side to negotiate with administration’” (X).

Harvard Students Ignore Warnings, Begin Pitching Tents in Harvard Yard

CBS: Pro-Palestinian protests began at Harvard University on Wednesday with students putting up tents on Harvard Yard. Harvard is the latest college campus to see protests inspired by Columbia University students against the Israel-Hamas war. Similar protests started earlier this week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and Emerson College (CBS). Colling Rugg: The move comes just days after Harvard restricted access to the Yard to only Harvard ID holders. The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee is demanding that Harvard “divest from Israel’s war in Gaza.” Before the Yard invasion, the school warned that setting up tents or tables would result in disciplinary action (X). Harvard Professor Barak Sella: Within the hour of creating the “Liberated Zone” (liberated from who??), Harvard students are chanting “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution!” My Harvard friends should ask themselves, were you silent when your peers called for direct violence toward Israelis (X)?

Senate Approves $95 Billion Foreign Aid Bill

Washington Post: The Senate overwhelmingly passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill on Tuesday, delivering billions of dollars in weapons and support to key U.S. allies Ukraine and Israel despite some opposition from both parties’ bases. The legislation, which passed by a 79-18 vote, had seemed all but dead for several months due to opposition in the GOP-led House.The funds help Biden deliver on his promise to the nation’s NATO allies to continue to aid Ukraine as it enters its third year fending off Russia’s invasion. Passage of the legislation marks the first significant new tranche of aid passed by the U.S. Congress to the beleaguered nation in more than a year (Washington Post). Axios: The bill includes $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and Palestinians, $8.12 billion for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. The Israel portion contains roughly $9.5 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Gaza — a measure insisted on by Democrats. At Republicans’ request, the bill structures some of the Ukraine aid as a forgivable loan. It also will allow the U.S. to seize frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. This version of the bill also includes a potential ban on TikTok if the Chinese-owned company Bytedance does not divest from the social media app. They have up to a year to do so (Axios).

Stacey Abrams: “The attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), is an attack to democracy”

Daily Wire: Twice-failed Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams claimed during a recent interview that discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies were a crucial part of democracy, education, and the economy. Abrams, who denied the results of her first gubernatorial race, made the remarks late last week during an MSNBC interview with Al Sharpton (Daily Wire). Steve Guest: Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate STACEY ABRAMS: “The attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), is an attack to democracy” (X).

Idaho States Case to Protect Lives of the Unborn Before the Supreme Court

Hill: Idaho’s state Senate minority leader said the Supreme Court’s coming decision on her state’s abortion ban makes her “queasy,” as conservative justices heard arguments Wednesday in the latest abortion battle before the high court. The Court heard oral arguments on the Biden administration’s mandate that hospitals that receive Medicare funding provide an abortion if its necessary to stabilize the health of an emergency room patient (Hill). Alliance Defending Freedom: Today, Idaho stood up for life and the rule of law—and we were proud to stand with them. As the Biden admin attempts to abuse federal power, Idaho is standing firm. Its law protects and provides life-saving care for EVERYONE—both pregnant women and their unborn children. It’s right in line with EMTALA. It reflects the will of the people. It affirms the truth: that life is a human right (X). Washington Post: Conservative Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism Wednesday that federal law can require hospitals to provide emergency abortion care in states with strict bans on the procedure, marking the latest legal battle over abortion access since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago (Washington Post).

Biden Angers Catholics by Making Sign of the Cross to Show Support for Abortion

Washington Examiner: President Joe Biden has enraged Catholic Church regulars with his latest show of approval for abortion, a Vatican red line. On Tuesday in Florida, where he blasted the state’s impending six-week abortion ban, Biden blessed himself with the sign of the cross when the woman introducing him referenced Florida’s shorter window for abortion (Washington Examiner). CatholicVote: This. Is. VILE! President Biden makes the Sign of the Cross at an abortion rally in Florida! You cannot be Catholic and support abortion! You cannot invoke GOD and promote Death (CatholicVote)!

Hundreds of Athletes Sign Letter to NCAA Urging Them to Allow Biological Men to Compete Against Women in Athletics

Townhall: More than 400 current and former Olympic, professional and collegiate athletes signed a letter to the NCAA urging them to not ban so-called “transgender” athletes from women’s sports. Separate letters from over 300 academics and about 100 advocacy groups were also sent to the NCAA. Among the signatories were left-wing activist athletes like Meghan Rapinoe and Sue Bird. The issue of transgender athletes competing against women garnered attention when Will “Lia” Thomas competed on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania after competing on the men’s team for three years. Predictably, Thomas robbed women of awards and opportunities. Not to mention, female athletes were forced to share a locker room with Thomas. After this controversy, the NCAA adopted a sport-by-sport approach to the issue of transgender athletes. Swimming’s governing body then barred transgender people from competing against women, and Thomas launched a “secret” legal battle to overturn this policy (Townhall). Letter to NCAA: To deny transgender athletes the fundamental right to be who they are, to access the sport they love, and to receive the proven mental and physical health benefits of sport goes against the very principles of the NCAA’s Constitution (Letter to NCAA).

10.

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Has Evacuated Over 700 U.S. Citizens From Haiti

Washington Examiner: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced Wednesday that Florida has rescued over 700 United States residents from Haiti, which has become increasingly hostile. The 722 rescues come a little more than a month since Florida’s Division of Emergency Management began its operations on March 20. The division will ensure that those rescued will have access to the resources they need, including food, water, medical treatment, and transportation home. “The State of Florida doesn’t shy away from doing the right thing and helping Americans in need,” DeSantis said in a press release. “I’m proud to announce that despite the lack of cooperation from the federal government, more than 700 Americans have been successfully evacuated from Haiti to Florida” (Washington Examiner). Ron DeSantis: I am proud to announce that Florida has now rescued over 700 Americans from Haiti. Florida stands ready to help when Americans are in need. I want to thank FLSERT and all state agencies who worked tirelessly to bring these folks back home safe and sound (X).