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Year: 2023

Sen Ted Cruz calls out VP Kamala Harris for Palestinian sympathy push: ‘Undermining Israel’

Sen Ted Cruz calls out VP Kamala Harris for Palestinian sympathy push: ‘Undermining Israel’

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called out Vice President Kamala Harris for allegedly pushing President Biden and other administration officials to be more sympathetic towards Palestinians. His comments come after Politico reported Thursday that Harris has recently been pushing those in the Biden administration, including Biden himself, to be more sympathetic towards Palestinians and show more concern for the damage in Gaza. One person close to the vice president’s office told the outlet that the U.S. should start being “tougher” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement to Fox News, Cruz said “Since day 1 Biden administration officials have been pathologically obsessed with undermining Israel. Unfortunately and infuriatingly, that obsession continues in the aftermath of Hamas’s atrocities on October 7. The costs for America and Israel’s national security are catastrophic.” WHITE HOUSE REFUTES REPORT OF BIDEN-HARRIS SPLIT ON PALESTINIANS The source allegedly said that Harris has been “more forceful at seeking a long-term peace and two-state solution.” Harris’ Press Secretary Kirsten Allen told the outlet “there is no daylight between the president and the vice president, nor has there been,” adding the vice president and Biden “have been clear: Israel has a right and responsibility to defend itself; humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow into Gaza; innocent civilians must be protected; and the United States remains committed to a two-state solution.” WHITE HOUSE SILENT ON REPORTED BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STAFFERS PROTESTING PRESIDENT’S ISRAEL POLICY “I would caution the media about citing anonymous sources in the ‘orbit’ about sensitive national security conversations between the president and vice president that take place in the Oval Office,” Allen said. The report comes after Biden said during a fundraiser on Tuesday that Israel is losing global support. “And, folks, look, if you think about it, one of the things that Bibi understands, I think, now — but I’m not sure Ben-Gvir and his War Cabinet do, who I’ve spoken to several times — is that Israel’s security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the United States,” Biden said. “It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting it. But they’re starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”

Pentagon prepares to make ‘tough choices’ between US readiness and Ukraine support as funding package lingers

Pentagon prepares to make ‘tough choices’ between US readiness and Ukraine support as funding package lingers

Pentagon officials urged Congress to approve a supplemental funding package on Thursday, because ultimately, they said, the money the Department of Defense can pull down quickly to support Ukraine will dwindle, forcing leaders to make tough choices about funding the U.S.’s own readiness. Department of Defense spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Thursday that supplemental funding is necessary to provide additional support to Ukraine going into 2024. “We’ve got about…$4.4 billion left, I think now, with the most [Presidential Drawdown Authority] and about $1 billion left in replenishment funds,” Ryder said. “Certainly, we do retain the option to spend the $4.4 [billion]. SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SENATE WILL CANCEL PART OF HOLIDAY RECESS AS BORDER TALKS CONTINUE “But these are tough choices, because ultimately, at the end of the day, we start to have to make decisions about our own readiness and about our ability to continue to support Ukraine in the way they need to be supported on the battlefield,” he added. “So, again, this is why we’re urging Congress to pass that supplemental [funding] as quickly as possible.” Ryder opened up the press briefing saying the department applauds Congress’s passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. JAYAPAL TELLS FELLOW DEMS NOT TO ‘OUT-REPUBLICAN THE REPUBLICANS’ ON IMMIGRATION AND FUNDING TALKS The legislation, he said, authorizes a 5.2% pay increase for service members and civilian employees in the Pentagon, while also providing investments in America’s national security and military to meet the challenges of the 21st century. But he called on Congress to do more. “We continue to urge Congress to pass our urgent supplemental budget request to help stand by our partners and to invest in our defense industrial base,” Ryder said. CONSERVATIVE GROUPS, EX-BORDER OFFICIALS DEMAND LAWMAKERS REJECT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ BORDER COMPROMISE As of Thursday, lawmakers had not reached a deal on the supplemental package. Talks have been ongoing with senators and Biden administration officials this week, as Republicans have refused to pass some $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine unless it is tied to strict border security measures, such as immediate screenings for asylum processing and quicker expulsions for illegal entrants.  The total amount of supplemental aid the White House first requested in October amounts to roughly $106 billion and includes $14 billion to assist Israel.  Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

Satanic display inside Iowa State Capitol destroyed, man charged: officials

Satanic display inside Iowa State Capitol destroyed, man charged: officials

The Satanic Temple’s display inside the Iowa State Capitol was destroyed on Thursday, according to police. A spokesperson for the Iowa State Police told Fox News Digital that Michael Cassidy, 35, was arrested after allegedly tearing down the Iowa Satanic Temple’s Baphomet display.  He was charged with 4th-degree criminal mischief. In a text message to Fox News Digital, Cassidy confirmed he tore down the satanic display, which was erected last week by The Satanic Temple of Iowa to represent the group’s right to religious freedom. “It was extremely anti-Christian,” Cassidy told Fox News Digital when asked why he tore the statue down. THE SATANIC TEMPLE SETS UP PUBLIC DISPLAY INSIDE IOWA CAPITOL BUILDING: ‘VERY DARK, EVIL FORCE’ Cassidy previously ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2022 to unseat Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss. The former congressional candidate didn’t elaborate on why he tore the statue down, but posted a Bible verse Thursday night to X after being charged. “1 Peter 5:8 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” he posted. IOWA PILOT AIRBORNE AGAIN, 2 WEEKS AFTER SUSPECTED DUCK PLOWED THROUGH HELICOPTER’S WINDSHIELD In a Facebook post, The Satanic Temple of Iowa wrote that the display was “beyond repair.” “We ask that for safety, visitors travel together and use the 7 Tenets as a reminder for empathy, in the knowledge that justice is being pursued the correct way, through legal means,” the group wrote. “Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!” Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds condemned the display’s presence, but said it should be countered with more speech. “Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable,” Reynolds said. “In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the Nativity scene that will be on display ― the true reason for the season.” Co-founder of The Satanic Temple, Lucien Greaves, previously told KCCI Des Moines that the display would remain up for two weeks. “We’re going to really relish the opportunity to be represented in a public forum. We don’t have a church on every street corner,” Greaves said. “My feeling is if people don’t like our display in public forums, they don’t have to engage with them. They don’t have to view them.”