Your First Look at Today's Top Stories

Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Trump Proposes Relocating Residents of Gaza, US Takeover

Hill: President Trump on Tuesday suggested Palestinians should be permanently relocated out of the Gaza Strip and that the United States should take over the territory after it was reduced to rubble by more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas. Trump, who was alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a White House visit, doubled down on his suggestion that neighboring Jordan and Egypt take in those from Gaza. But Tuesday was the first time Trump was more clear about Palestinians not returning to their homes in the coastal enclave (Hill). Collin Rugg: President Trump says the United States is taking over the Gaza Strip as Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu listens. “This is just a demolition site. Virtually every building is down. They’re living under fallen concrete that’s very dangerous.” “The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site…” (X).

Trump Hosts Benjamin Netanyahu in White House

Times of Israel: Addressing around 200 reporters after an hour-long meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is “honored” to be the first foreign leader invited to the White House. “You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” says Netanyahu, listing Trump’s policies toward Israel in his first term, including leaving the Iran nuclear deal, brokering the Abraham Accords, and moving the embassy to Jerusalem (Times of Israel). Telegraph: Mr. Netanyahu credited Mr. Trump with pushing a Gaza ceasefire across the line as he met with the US president in the White House (Telegraph).

Pam Bondi Confirmed for U.S. Attorney General

Townhall: It’s official: We have a new attorney general, and her name is Pam Bondi. The Senate voted to confirm her on a 54-46 vote. With Bondi’s confirmation, President Donald Trump officially has his big four rounded out, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Townhall). Senate Cloakroom: Confirmed, 54-46: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #12 Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General (X).

Rep. Ilhan Omar Instructs Illegal Somalians How to Escape ICE

Libs of TikTok: Rep. Ilhan Omar is now advising Somalians who are in our country illegally on how to evade ICE (X). Elon Musk: She is breaking the law. Literally. Outright (X).

New York AG Letitia James Orders Hospitals to Ignore Trump’s Ban on “Gender Affirming Care”

Townhall: On Monday, Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James told hospitals that they would be violating state law if they complied with President Donald Trump’s ban on so-called “gender-affirming” care for people under age 19. In a letter, James told health care providers that failing to provide these harmful “treatments” and surgeries would violate New York state’s anti-discrimination laws. “Regardless of the availability of federal funding, we write to further remind you of your obligations to comply with New York State laws,” her letter reads (Townhall). Riley Gaines: Letitia James isn’t acting as an attorney general—she’s acting as an activist. I hope Pam Bondi will look into her unwillingness to comply with federal law (X).

China Announces 15 Percent Tariffs on American Imports

CNN: Beijing announced a broad package of economic measures targeting the United States on Tuesday, hitting back after US President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports. The fresh duties, announced by China’s Ministry of Finance, levy a 15% tax on certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars and pickup trucks. The measures take effect on February 10 (CNN). National Review: China, however, did not receive the same treatment. Trump is expected to speak with Xi later in the week, after which the tariffs on both sides could be temporarily paused if an agreement is made. The new tariffs bring about a renewed trade war between China and the U.S., the world’s top two economies. Trump began setting tariffs on China during his first term to punish the nation for engaging in unfair trade practices (National Review).

Trump Cuts Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelan Immigrants

Associated Press: President Donald Trump’s administration is ending protections that shielded roughly 350,000 Venezuelans from deportation, leaving them with two months before they lose their right to work in the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s order affects 348,202 Venezuelans living in the U.S. with Temporary Protected Status slated to expire in April. That’s about half of the approximately 600,000 who have the protection. The remaining protections are set to expire at the end of September. The termination notice will be published Wednesday and go into effect 60 days later (Associated Press). CBS: Biden extended TPS protections to a record number of people, offering them to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Ukraine and other countries in turmoil. It also reversed the first Trump administration’s attempts to terminate TPS programs for several countries, including El Salvador. Trump officials and many Republican lawmakers believe the TPS policy has been abused and improperly extended too often, despite the program’s temporary nature (CBS).

FBI Submits List of 5,000 Employees Who Investigated Trump

Townhall: Some Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are suing the Justice Department to block them from compiling the list of agents who worked on the anti-Trump cases that have engulfed the bureau for years… The Trump White House is cleansing the FBI and the DOJ of the cancers that have sullied the reputation of the institution, which had become a personal police force for the Democratic Party, specifically Joe Biden. Such a deep-state move shows the FBI is in total panic mode… The FBI has submitted over 5,000 agents and staffers who have worked on these cases. There are 38,000 total employees at the FBI, including some 13,000 agents (Townhall). Collin Rugg: Former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe says the FBI is in “utter disarray” thanks to Trump, says they are living in “terror” because their pensions, healthcare, and retirement are at risk (X).

Trump Responds to Iranian Threats Against Him, His Team: “If they did that, they would be obliterated”

Global News: U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he’s given his advisers instructions to obliterate Iran if it assassinates him. “If they did that they would be obliterated,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters while signing what he called a “tough” presidential memorandum calling for the U.S. government to impose maximum pressure on Tehran. “I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.” Federal authorities have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump and other administration officials for years. Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force (Global News). Townhall: DOOCY: Iran and their proxies have threatened to kill you and your team. TRUMP: That would be a terrible thing for them to do. If they did that, they would be obliterated. I’ve left instructions (X).

10.

Army Sees Greatest Recruitment Numbers in 15 Years Under Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Newsweek: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Army has hit its best recruitment numbers in 15 years, but according to Daniel Driscoll, President Donald Trump’s nominee for army secretary, it’s not enough. For the past decade, the nation’s military as a whole has faced an uphill battle in recruiting, squeezed by a shrinking unemployment rate and intensified competition from private sector employers offering higher salaries and comparable or superior benefits. However, the Army hit its recruitment target of 55,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, after bringing in fewer than 51,000 recruits each of the previous two years (Newsweek). Eric Daugherty: Pete Hegseth announces the U.S. Army had its best recruiting numbers in 15 years in January. “America’s youth want to serve under the bold & strong ‘America First’ leadership of President Trump” (X).

SUBSCRIPTION INFO: This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It is only sent to people who signed up from one of the Salem Media Group network of websites. We respect and value your time and privacy.
Unsubscribe from The Daybreak Insider
6400 N. Belt Line Rd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063
Copyright © 2025 Salem Media Group and its Content Providers. All rights reserved.