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Monday, December 23, 2024

Merry Christmas from Daybreak Insider. As we observe Christmas, we will continue tracking with news and stories you care about. Look for Daybreak Insider to return to your inbox on Friday, December 27. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Biden Signs Short-Term $100 Billion Funding Bill

Extends government funding through March 14. ABC: President Joe Biden signed into law the short-term funding bill on Saturday, according to a release from the White House. Biden signed the bill this morning after lawmakers sent it to his desk after late-night negotiations. The bill extends funding for the government until mid-March, has $100 billion for disaster aid, something the White House wanted, and extends funding for farmers (ABC). CBS: It does not address the debt ceiling, something Trump had demanded during the tumultuous back-and-forth over the course of the week. House Republicans instead vowed to address the issue in a future tax bill once Trump is in power. Johnson painted the measure as a “necessary step to bridge the gap” before Republicans take control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in January (CBS).

DNC Finance Member: "In the cult, you can't ask questions”

Newsmax: Democratic National Committee finance member, Lindy Li, told “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that leaving the Democrat Party was like leaving a cult. Li told Morgan that after she expressed criticism of how Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign was spending donor money, among which roughly $2 billion was garnered throughout the duration of the 2024 election, she was ostracized (Newsmax). Riley Gaines: “In the cult, you can’t ask questions. Leaving the Democratic Party or even questioning the Democratic Party is like leaving a cult…I don’t want to be a part of this tent.” – Kamala campaign advisor Lindy Li. Unquestioning conformity…or else (X). Townhall: Lindy Li has been a Democratic Party donor and operative who has scorched Earth on her party. She is aghast at the wasted money and shell-shocked that her colleagues thought Kamala Harris would win Iowa. Those moments made her realize this was a fugazi operation, admitting that if the people she had solicited money for the vice president’s war chest had known how it would be spent, they’d never have cut checks for this rat ship (Townhall).-

U.S. Military Strikes Houthi Military Forces in Yemen

Daily Wire: The U.S. military said in a statement on Saturday that it launched airstrikes against terrorist targets belonging to Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. The statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) comes after the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on merchant and naval vessels operating in and around the Red Sea for more than a year. The operation involved the use of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including F/A-18s (Daily Wire). U.S. Central Command: During the operation, CENTCOM forces also shot down multiple Houthi one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) over the Red Sea. The strike reflects CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment to protect U.S. and coalition personnel, regional partners, and international shipping (X).

Nancy Pelosi Provides $9 Million Covid Bailout to Napa Resort, Gains Millions in ROI

Real Clear Investigations: The Auberge du Soleil, a five-star hillside hotel and spa with a panoramic view overlooking the vineyards of Napa Valley, appears to be first-rate in all ways but one. While the glamorous resort, an hour’s drive from San Francisco, fills rooms that routinely go for $2,000 a night with A-list celebrities and tech titans, financial records suggest it did not provide much of a return to at least two of its investors – Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul. That changed when it received millions in congressionally authorized COVID-19 relief in 2020 and 2021. The Auberge du Soleil investment, held for decades by Paul Pelosi, has rarely turned a significant profit, according to Nancy’s financial disclosure forms. In some years, he has recorded a loss or a profit of between $50,000 to $100,000. But the year of the bailout money stands apart. In 2021, Pelosi’s ethics forms show that her family’s income from the resort surged to a range of $1 million to $5 million. The French Riviera-themed resort may not be most people’s idea of a struggling business in need of a government bailout, yet the Auberge du Soleil – which shuttered briefly at the outset of the pandemic before swiftly rebounding – received about $9 million from a series of special taxpayer-funded emergency relief programs (Real Clear Investigations). Mario Nawfal: Pelosi-backed ventures raked in $28M in taxpayer cash, leaving struggling small businesses behind. Her pizza chain, Piatti, also scored $15M, delivering its best year ever. While legal, critics say it reeks of privilege: luxury profits bankrolled by relief funds meant for ‘needy’ businesses (X).

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA): Trump Will Protect the American Way of Life

National Review: Senator John Fetterman (D., Pa.) on Sunday signaled he is open to supporting some of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, including his picks for Defense secretary and FBI director. ABC News’s Jonathan Karl noted that Fetterman recently met with Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and asked the senator if he believes he is qualified to hold the role (National Review). Collin Rugg: Senator John Fetterman says Trump won because he protects the American way of life, says Trump is not a fascist like Kamala Harris claimed. Fetterman says he knows a lot of Democrats in Pennsylvania who voted for Trump. “A lot of Democrats, especially in my state that I know and I happen to love people that voted for Trump and they are not fascists” (X).

Terrorist Targets Christmas Market in Germany; Injures Over 200 People

CNN: At least five people have been killed — including a 9-year-old child — after a car plowed into a bustling Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday. Over 200 people were injured, including about 40 people with critical injuries. The suspected attacker is a 50-year-old doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who officials say has lived in Germany since 2006. He is believed to be a former Muslim who renounced his faith and became increasingly anti-Islam. Prosecutors said he may have been unhappy with how Germany treats Saudi refugees, but they are still determining his motive. Saudi authorities warned their German counterparts about the suspect multiple times, sources told CNN. Saudi Arabia considers him a fugitive and previously requested his extradition, a source said, adding that German authorities refused due to concerns for the man’s safety there (CNN). Visgrad24: Protests against mass-immigration erupt in Germany tonight after the Magdeburg terror attack. The protesters are chanting: “Deportations now” (X).

Lara Trump Withdraws Her Name From Consideration to Replace Senator Marco Rubio

USA Today: Lara Trump, President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law who served as co-chair of the Republican National Convention during the 2024 election, said Saturday she is removing her name from consideration to replace Sen. Marco Rubio. Speculation had swirled among political observers that Lara Trump, one of Donald Trump’s top allies, would fill Rubio’s spot in the upper chamber after Trump tapped him to serve as secretary of state (USA Today). Lara Trump: After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate… I remain incredibly passionate about public service and look forward to serving our country again sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wish Governor DeSantis the best of luck with this appointment (X).

Trump Threatens to Reclaim the Panama Canal Because of High Fees

National Review: President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to take back control of the Panama Canal if Panama does not stop charging “ridiculous” fees to use the vital shipping route. Panama currently charges fees for boats and ships to pass through the canal ranging anywhere from $0.50 to $300,000, depending on the size and purpose of the vessel. The U.S. uses the canal more than any other country, accounting for more than three quarters of the cargo traveling through the passage each year (National Review). Trump War Room: The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question (X).

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) Went Missing for Six Months; Found in Home for Dementia Patients

Townhall: Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) was AWOL for months. She was “missing”—no one knew where she was, which was made more conspicuous apparently with the mountain of missed votes. Calls to her office went straight to voicemail. When Congress was barreling toward a total shutdown this week, which has been averted, Dallas Express wanted to know how Congresswoman Granger would vote on the continuing resolution. They found her office locked, with no staff in sight. Now, we know where she has been for weeks: an assisted living facility that specializes in those living with dementia (Townhall). Reporter AG Hamilton: A major scandal that her staff didn’t come forward and everyone else missed it until now (X). Libs of TikTok: She’s been in office since 1997. She’s 81 years old. TERM LIMITS (X).

10.

Joe Biden Kept Gold Star Families Waiting for Three Hours While He Napped on Air Force One

Daily Mail: Joe Biden kept the grieving relatives of the Marines killed in Afghanistan waiting for three hours while he napped on Air Force One on the tarmac before a dignified transfer, multiple military families have told Daily Mail. The shocking allegation comes today amid growing calls for the Biden administration to be investigated over its scandalous cover-up of the president’s ailing health. Biden, it has emerged, has not been present for key moments of his presidency, nor has he been involved in major decisions like the disastrous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. Joe Biden kept the grieving relatives of the Marines killed in Afghanistan waiting for three hours while he napped on Air Force One on the tarmac before a dignified transfer, multiple military families have told Daily Mail. The shocking allegation comes today amid growing calls for the Biden administration to be investigated over its scandalous cover-up of the president’s ailing health. Biden, it has emerged, has not been present for key moments of his presidency, nor has he been involved in major decisions like the disastrous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 (Daily Mail). Collin Rugg: According to family members who spoke to the outlet, Biden “couldn’t pull it together.” “Biden made us wait an extra three hours to receive the bodies of our de*d family members because he couldn’t pull it together,” sister of Rylee McCollum, Roice said. Roice added that a military officer told her that Biden was napping on the plane (X). Jim Banks: The Afghanistan catastrophe was the low point of the worst presidency of my lifetime. Such a lack of respect for our servicemembers, military families and veterans (X).