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Friday, November 22, 2024

Biden Loosens Immigration Restrictions Just Before Trump Takes Office

Fox News: The Biden administration is loosening some key immigration restrictions ahead of President-elect Trump’s second term, opening the door for thousands more illegal immigrants to enter the country. Trump has indicated that he could declare a national emergency and use military assets to carry out mass deportations. The Biden administration, however, is taking steps to make Trump’s plans for the border more difficult. The Biden Department of Homeland Security is launching an ICE Portal app in December that will allow migrants to skip their in-person check-ins at an ICE office and instead check in with immigration officials via an app on a phone or computer. The app reportedly has severe glitching issues and does not track a migrant’s location if he or she is using an Android phone or laptop (Fox News). Charlie Kirk: Unbelievable! With just 60 days until President Trump is sworn in, the Biden administration is trying to make it easier for illegal migrants by allowing them to skip in-person check ins and instead use a new customs and immigration app (X).

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Finally Concedes Election to Dave McCormick (R)

Good riddance. Fox News: Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey on Thursday announced he has conceded the race to Republican candidate Dave McCormick, putting an end to a lengthy automatic recount in the Keystone State more than two weeks after Election Day. Casey said in a statement that he called McCormick to congratulate him. “I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate,” Casey said in the statement. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last” (Fox News). Scott Presler: VICTORY! Disgraced Bob Casey has officially conceded in Pennsylvania. Congratulations to Senator-Elect Dave McCormick! We won’t forget that democrat Bucks County commissioners tried to steal this election. We’re still coming for your seats (X).

International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

Wall Street Journal: The International Criminal Court said Thursday it has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with top Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif… The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant allege they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, including the use of starvation as a weapon and directing attacks against civilians. The court said it didn’t find grounds for bringing a charge of extermination, a finding that would rule out charges approaching genocide. The warrants pose a challenge for Israel’s efforts to rally support on the world stage, potentially putting Netanyahu and Gallant at risk of arrest if they travel to countries under ICC jurisdiction. The warrants also put the ICC’s reputation on the line, with the U.S. and Israel criticizing it for investigating a democratic nation that was responding to an attack by a U.S.-designated terror organization (Wall Street Journal). Rep. Mike Waltz: The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the U.S. government. Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January (X). Tom Cotton: The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants. Let me give them all a friendly reminder: the American law on the ICC is known as The Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it (X).

Trump Names Former Florida AG Pam Bondi as Nominee for Attorney General

This, after Matt Gaetz had withdrawn his nomination. New York Post: President-elect Donald Trump went from one Floridian to another Thursday, announcing that former Sunshine State Attorney General Pam Bondi would be his new pick to lead the Justice Department, hours after former nominee Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration (New York Post). Charlie Kirk: MSNBC is melting down over Pam Bondi as Attorney General: “We should all fear her because she’s competent.” “She actually knows how to do this job.” “She knows what she’s doing about immigration.” “She is a dangerous and effective pick” (X). Collin Rugg: Matt Gaetz withdraws himself from being Trump’s Attorney General pick, says his confirmation was becoming a “distraction to the critical work” of the Trump transition (X).

Russia Fires Suspected ICBM at Ukraine

Wall Street Journal: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against further escalation after Moscow fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads at Ukraine for the first time. On Thursday, Putin said Russia had used a new type of missile, called Oreshnik, to strike a major Ukrainian defense plant. The missile, which carried a conventional, nonnuclear warhead, appeared to have greater range and speed than previous weapons Russia has used in the war, weapons experts said. In Washington, U.S. officials called the missile a new intermediate-range experimental model, one that was fired by Moscow as part of its continuing effort to deter the West from helping Ukraine. The Russian government notified the U.S. of the missile firing in advance, U.S. officials said. A U.S. and Russian agreement that entered into force in 1988 calls on the two sides to notify each other of long-range ballistic missile launches. A separate multinational accord also calls for notification of ballistic missile launches (Wall Street Journal). Washington Times: Ukrainian air force officials said Thursday morning that the missile, part of a salvo that included more conventional missiles, was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan oblast, traveling about 460 miles to target infrastructure in the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine. Russian ICBMs have a range of more than 6,000 miles, enough to be able to strike the U.S. heartland (Washington Times).

Homeland Security Hearings Cancelled After Mayorkas, Wray Declared No-Shows

Katie Pavlich: Disgraced Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray were set to testify Thursday in front of the Senate Homeland Committee about threats facing the United States. They didn’t show up. “Americans deserve transparent, public answers about the threats we face. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray’s refusal to speak publicly about their department’s work will only increase the concerns that many Americans have about our nation’s security at a challenging time, flout the Committee’s efforts to conduct responsible oversight, and will deal a serious blow to trust in our government,” Democratic Chairman Gary Peters released in a statement about their absence. “Their claims that they can only relay such information and respond to questions in a classified setting are entirely without merit.” “It cannot be the practice of the Executive Branch to deny the public critical information and disregard Congress’ constitutionally recognized right to conduct oversight,” he continued (Townhall). General: Homeland Security hearings have been suddenly postponed after FBI Director Christopher Wray and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refused to testify (X).

Biden Administration Announces $275 Million in Military Aid to Ukraine

Daily Wire: The Biden administration announced that it would provide Ukraine with another $275 million in military aid as it amps up support for the country before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. would give Ukraine ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, TOW missiles, landmines, small arms and training equipment, and a variety of other ammunition and drones (Daily Wire). Antony Blinken: We will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs to succeed on the battlefield and prevail in its defense against Russia’s aggression (X).

Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan Accepts Texas’ Offer to Use Land for Deportation Operation

Hill: Tom Homan, President-elect Trump’s pick as “border czar,” said the incoming Republican administration will “absolutely” use the gifted Texas land as a part of their deportation program. “We absolutely will. When we find somebody, a targeted enforcement operation, when they get arrested, they’ll be detained,” Homan said during his appearance on Fox News’ “’The Ingraham Angle” (Hill). Townhall: The comment comes after Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham offered the incoming Trump administration more than 1,400 acres in the Rio Grande Valley to “allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history” (Townhall).

North Korean General Injured in Ukraine’s Missile Strikes

Wall Street Journal: A senior North Korean general was wounded in a recent Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk region, Western officials said Thursday. It is the first time that Western officials have said that a high-ranking North Korean military officer has become a casualty in the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict. More than 10,000 North Korean troops are deployed in Kursk as the Kremlin tries to repel Ukrainian troops who mounted an offensive there in August. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in October any North Korean troops that fought in Ukraine will become “fair game and fair targets” for the Ukrainians (Wall Street Journal).

10.

California Reminds People Why It Dislikes Businesses

HotAir: There’s nothing worse than a nasty surprise after a rough patch in life or a particularly tough year in a business… As if the restaurant business anywhere wasn’t exciting enough on its own – especially in California – it looks as if he’d had one of those blind-sided surprises (HotAir). Chef Andrew Gruel: We just ran payroll. The payroll taxes were 2K higher than calculated. We called the payroll company. They explained (in summary) that California has a budget shortfall, and the federal government wants money back that it lent California for UI that it “lost.” They are making up for it by having business owners pay it. Keep in mind that it was around 10% of our total payroll. When people say, “Why isn’t California business-friendly?” remember this (X).