There’s a lot of politicians that have a drinking problem…”

— Sen. Markwayne Mullin on why Pete Hegseth, who reportedly performed his morning talk show smelling like booze, is fit to be defense secretary.

WATER OVER THE DAMASCUS

The Biden administration faces a dramatic new challenge in the Middle East with only weeks to respond, after 50 years of dictatorship in Syria came crashing down unexpectedly over the weekend.

Syrians took to the streets to celebrate Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s flight to political asylum in Russia yesterday, a moment that ended a half-century of his family’s brutal rule. Assad’s departure follows a decade of deadly civil war that claimed over 500,000 lives, only to come unstuck in a lightning 11-day assault by rebel forces. It’s a shocking development that scrambles the geopolitics of the Middle East at warpspeed, with huge implications for the U.S., Israel, Russia, Iran and others.

Dramatic scenes unfolded as Assad’s regime collapsed. Political prisoners stepped into the sunlight, dazed, after release from jails and torture chambers. One man had been held for 42 years. Scores of women were freed from a notorious underground prison. Critics of the regime who had gone missing were reunited with weeping family members. Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani — a former al-Qaida commander who distanced himself from the group — appears poised to chart the country’s future. He claims to be religiously tolerant and accepting of pluralism, though the United States and United Nations designates his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a terrorist organization. Nonetheless, the Biden administration said it’s already taking some steps to help stabilize the country.

Assad’s downfall comes with sweeping geopolitical implications. The U.S. will want to block any resurgence of Islamic terrorism, in a country where there are now 900 U.S. personnel helping rebels fight the Islamic State. Russia and Iran have been dealt a setback, losing a key regional ally that allowed them to project power throughout the Middle East. Israel, meanwhile, lost an enemy — although it has hardly gained an ally. Israel may no longer have to fear Iran-backed groups in Syria as a major threat, pending who takes over next. Israeli troops entered Syria immediately to form a buffer zone.

The U.S. needs to play a supporting role in helping Syria rebuild, experts told What A Day. But Donald Trump’s inauguration is only six weeks away, and he’s already making his hands-off approach to Syria crystal clear.

The U.S. should expect (and allow) some bumpiness as Syrian rebels try to build a government that works best for them, said Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration. “This is a human story for Syrians above all,” Rhodes said on Pod Save The World, adding that it’s better the U.S. didn’t force regime change. “None of us should expect ideal democracy in Syria in six months. I mean, we’re still working on it here in the United States, 250 years later.”

Syrians must determine the future for Syria, agreed Matt Duss, who worked as Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-VT) foreign policy adviser. The United States, however, “can take immediate steps” to provide aid, unwind sanctions, and start reconnecting Syria to the global economy, Duss told What A Day. Charles Lister, a prominent Syria expert, the U.S. maintaining communication with HTS “is crucial” going forward.

President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t want to engage. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. Okay pal, let’s cool it with the all-caps for once. This is the same guy who tried to pull U.S. troops out of the country during his first term in office, while they were fighting Islamic State militants. It would probably be “for the best” if Trump doesn’t meddle around in the country, Rhodes said.

Another factor in how Trump may handle the issue could be Tulsi Gabbard, his pick to lead America’s spy agencies. Tulsi has earned a reputation as an Assad sympathizer ever since she secretly traveled to Syria to meet with him. Yep, that’ll do it! Despite his brutal dictatorship, Gabbard said that “Assad is not the enemy of the United States.” These recent events are very likely to complicate her confirmation process even further.

Donald Trump says he doesn’t want to interfere with how Syria rebuilds after the Assad regime’s demise. You could say he’s taking Gabbard’s advice — and embracing “the spirit of Aloha.”

OFFICER BIG MAC

The manhunt that obsessed the internet all week has come to an end — but one that’s raising fresh questions.

Police arrested Luigi Mangione, named a “strong person of interest,” in connection with the killing of the UnitedHealthcare executive in New York City last week. The guy was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while eating McDonald’s — which he apparently loves — after an employee recognized him. Police found a gun, a silencer, a fake New Jersey ID and a manifesto bashing health insurance companies on him. He is facing preliminary gun charges.

It didn’t take long before social media users (who have been awkwardly thirsting over the shooter’s surveillance pictures) found his profiles. On X, Mangione’s account rose from a few hundred followers to over 180,000 today, and it’s not slowing down. One person claimed to have found his Spotify (which showed him listening to the Charli XCX “brat” remix album). He reportedly graduated valedictorian from an all-boys high school in Maryland before attending the University of Pennsylvania.

Mangione’s Goodreads account is of particular interest, because it seems to offer more clues about his mindset. He may have had a serious back injury, judging from an X-ray picture on his X profile and the books he read, including some about the health care industry. Reviews on some political books also showed his ideology: “When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive.”

Mangione’s last book logged on Goodreads was “The Lorax,” which he rated five stars. Shortly before that, he gave The Unabomber manifesto book a four-star review. The account is now private.

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WHAT ELSE?

Donald Trump said that members of the congressional committee who investigated the Capitol riots should be jailed on “Meet The Press.” Jason Miller, one of his senior advisers, tried to walk back those comments today. Trump also said he’d “very quickly” pardon people who participated in the riots. Great. Nice.

Trump also said he’d try to end birthright citizenship for people born in the United States, but signaled that he’d be willing to compromise with Democrats on allowing Dreamers (people who were brought to the U.S. as children) to remain here.

More than 130 human rights organizations — and even Pope Francis — urged President Joe Biden to commute federal death sentences before Trump takes office. Trump is expected to expand the federal death penalty, which more than 70 percent of countries around the world have abolished.

Trump used a photo of himself with First Lady Jill Biden to promote his new perfume and cologne line, touting it as “a fragrance your enemies can't resist!” Each bottle is $199, but the second one you buy is 50 percent off, which is how you know it’s the good stuff. Presumably he’ll call his next installment Eau de Authoritarianism.

Our friends at the Strict Scrutiny podcast spoke with ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio, the first known trans person to argue in front of the Supreme Court. He argued the case on gender-affirming care last week and speaks candidly about the oral argument. Give it a listen!

Historic news out of Syria: Bashar al-Assad's regime has fallen and the brutal dictator has fled the country after rebel factions launched a staggering assault that took down the government in just a matter of days. This is the beginning of the end for Syria's 13 years of civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. On a bonus episode of Pod Save The World, Tommy and Ben discuss this pivotal moment, its implications for Syria's future, and how U.S. policy may adapt. The episode is out now, with a new one dropping on Wednesday - tune in to Pod Save The World wherever you get your podcasts.

The Environmental Protection Agency banned two chemicals in everyday items (like furniture care and car repair products) that are known for causing cancer. Don’t love that those were in the products at all, but I’ll take it.

Swifties, rejoice: Pop star Taylor Swift’s Eras tour brought in a record $2 billion over the last two years, doubling the gross ticket sales of any other concert in history, according to the New York Times. You’re wild for that, and I respect the dedication.

The musical “Emilia Pérez” led the Golden Globes after receiving 10 nominations. Other contenders like “Wicked,” “Conclave” and “The Brutalist” also received nods. I was happy to see Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice” — which Trump called “politically disgusting hatchet job” — got a couple nominations, too! Woo!

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