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‘Frog being boiled’: US troop deaths in Jordan incite Republican Iran hawks

Republican lawmakers in the United States have amplified their calls for President Joe Biden to take decisive action against Iran, after a drone attack killed three US troops along the Jordan-Syria border. But foreign policy experts and advocates fear the political pressure may send the US down an increasingly dangerous path towards direct confrontation with Iran. “I think it’s really scary how far the rhetoric has come and what that means for the decisions that policymakers will make,” said Jamal Abdi, the president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). “It really does feel like the frog being boiled in the water situation,” he said, referring to the allegory of an amphibian unaware it is being cooked in slowly warming water. For his part, Biden has promised the US will “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing”. On Tuesday, he told reporters he had decided how to proceed, without providing further information. Speaking to reporters on Monday, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby maintained the US is not seeking direct confrontation with Iran. He also did not link Iran directly to the attack. Nevertheless, Kirby said the US would respond appropriately to the “Iran-backed group” responsible for the deaths. Department of Defense spokesperson Sabrina Singh, meanwhile, told reporters the attack “has the footprints” of the Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah group — but that the agency’s assessment remained ongoing. “We don’t seek a war with Iran. We don’t seek to widen this conflict,” Singh said. “We have said and we will continue to call out the fact that Iran does fund and equip these groups and provide them the capabilities that they use to attack our service members, whether it be Iraq, Syria or Jordan.” On Tuesday, Kataib Hezbollah released a statement saying it had suspended its attacks against the US. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder also reiterated the administration’s stance on Tuesday, saying that the US had repeatedly “called on the Iranian proxy groups to stop their attacks. They have not, and so, we will respond in a time and manner of our choosing.” ‘Devastating military retaliation’ US military bases have faced more than 160 attacks since Israel’s war in Gaza began on October 7, but the drone attack on Sunday marked the first time US personnel have been killed. That fact has kicked hawkish members of the Republican Party into overdrive, as they appeal for more direct military action against Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham, for instance, called on the Biden administration to “strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces but as deterrence against future aggression”. Senator Tom Cotton likewise pushed for “devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East”. Other right-wing figures have also chimed in, including Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who called for “striking directly against Iranian targets and its leadership”. Stephen Miles, the president of Win Without War, a group that advocates for progressive US foreign policy, described the reaction as the equivalent of a knee-jerk. He quipped that some Republicans call for bombing Iran when they “think they lose their keys”. He considers the latest Republican appeals as adding fuel to an already hazardous situation. The Biden administration, he explained, already pursues a strategy of retaliatory strikes on groups that receive support from Iran in Iraq and Syria, as well as the Houthis in Yemen. That, in turn, could ratchet tensions over the Gaza conflict into a regional war. “I think, a lot of times, people think of these situations as big ‘set piece’ wars where the US makes the decision to intervene, and we pre-position all these troops and all these assets and go to war,” Miles told Al Jazeera. “The far more likely path … is that these kinds of tit-for-tat retaliatory strikes have the potential to really grow far beyond that.” “It doesn’t matter if folks in Washington or Tehran might not want a broader regional war,” he added. “These things can take on take on a life of their own.” Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, a think tank, said the Republicans calling for direct retaliation against Iran have fallen into two camps: Some “truly want war”, while others are simply attacking Biden’s perceived vulnerability during an election year. For the latter camp, a hawkish approach can pay dividends regardless of whether Biden acts. “They can push Biden to take military action, which I think they understand is not going to work out well,” he said. “Or Biden will not strike Iran, and then they will attack him for being weak. So they see this as a win-win from a political standpoint.” Looming presidential election The death of US troops has already brought Biden’s Iran policy to the fore of the 2024 presidential race. Republican presidential frontrunner and former President Donald Trump has seized on the moment, saying the attack “would never have happened” if he were in the White House. He has described his approach as “peace through strength”. But critics have pointed out that the Trump administration’s decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on January 3, 2020, brought the two countries to the brink of war. Since then, US bases in the Middle East have been regularly targeted, sometimes in explicit retaliation for the assassination. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has also called for “surgical strikes” on Iranian assets and officials outside of Iran. “There is this message being trotted out in an election year that somehow Trump was really tough on Iran, and that was beneficial, and Biden has been weak,” said the National Iranian American Council’s Abdi, whose group has long pushed for diplomatic solutions to the tense relations between the US and Iran. Abdi added that some Republicans have already sought to connect the attack with Biden’s wider Iran policy, which has largely resembled Trump’s, despite pledges to

South Korea’s stunning comeback breaks Saudi Arabian hearts

Saudi Arabia dominated for much of the last 16 Asian Cup clash but it was South Korea who emerged victorious on penalties. Education City Stadium, Qatar – It was a case of so near yet so far for thousands of Saudi Arabia fans, whose team faltered in the penalty shootout in their round-of-16 match against South Korea and were knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. South Korea booked a quarterfinal date with Australia as their dogged display saw them win 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following extra time at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday night. Saudi Arabia dominated the game for much of normal time and enjoyed a 1-0 lead up until the dying moments of stoppage time but ultimately could not withstand the relentless South Korean attacks on their goal. Cho Gue-Sung scored the equalising goal in the ninth minute of added time to the delight of the few hundred South Korean fans among the 42,000 spectators. He later slotted in his team’s third penalty to put them one kick away from a famous comeback win. Hwang Hee-chan made no mistakes from the spot to spark wild celebrations in the Korean camp. South Korea fans at the Education City Stadium [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] The atmosphere and support were always going to be partisan in favour of the Green Falcons, whose supporters crossed Qatar’s only land border to make their presence felt in the country and the stadium. They sang and danced outside the venue before kickoff and occupied most of the seats inside it when the match was under way. The first half ended goalless but Saudi Arabia showed they were going to take the game to South Korea. There was hardly enough time for fans to settle back into their seats at the resumption of play when Abdullah Radif came off the bench to score for Saudi Arabia. If the Green Falcon’s army of fans were raucous before the goal, Radif brought the house down as he slotted past the South Korean goalkeeper. Saudi Arabia fans raucously cheered on their team [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera] Saudi Arabia maintained the tempo on and off the pitch for the next half hour but then began to run out of steam. South Korea’s substitutes took advantage and kept up the pressure on the Saudi Arabia goal. The ball hardly left the Saudi Arabia half in the last 10 minutes but, backed by their fans’ noise and their goalkeeper’s heroics, the men in green somehow clung onto their slender lead well into stoppage time. Every time a Korean player touched the ball, the boos were so loud they could probably be heard all the way back in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia fans, some of whom had already bought tickets for their team’s likely quarterfinal and semifinal, were not in the mood to return home yet. But as soon as Cho’s strike hit the back of Saudi Arabia’s net, the supporters fell silent and sunk into their seats. It was as if they knew their best chance had fallen through their hands. “Our team often dominates games but then let it all slip because they run out of steam towards the end,” Saudi Arabia fan Faisal Al Muatiri told Al Jazeera after the match. “It is becoming an increasingly familiar sight for us and the new coach needs to do something about it,” he said referring to Roberto Mancini. Hyun-Seok Hong runs with the ball [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Both teams created chances in extra time and Saudi Arabia came very close to sealing the win with a dramatic goal in front of their supporters in the second half of extra time but it was not to be. South Korean fans grew in confidence once the match went to penalties. “Our team has the experience and confidence of making strong comebacks,” South Korea fan Darren Lim said after the win. She then paused to wave and say “goodnight” to the heartbroken Saudi Arabia supporters making their way out. The Green Flacons will rue their inability to hold onto their lead as they fly back home. And the Taegeuk Warriors live to fight another day, on Friday against the Socceroos. Son Heung-min celebrates South Korea’s win [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Adblock test (Why?)

Texas Supreme Court pauses depositions in Paxton whistleblower case

The ruling by the all-Republican court came after former President Donald Trump told justices to leave Paxton alone.

California sued over Newsom-signed laws forcing companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions

A coalition of business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a federal lawsuit against the State of California over its two recently-enacted laws forcing companies to disclose climate data. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the laws violate the First Amendment, which prohibits states from “compelling a business to engage in subjective speech” and the federal Clean Air Act, which prevents states from regulating emissions in other states.  “We are proud of the leadership and innovation shown by America’s businesses in tackling climate change. Businesses and government need to work together to address the problem and that requires policies that are practical, flexible, predictable, and durable,” said Tom Quaadman, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness. “California’s corporate disclosure laws are the opposite of that and violate the First Amendment by forcing businesses to engage in subjective speech,” he continued. “California’s laws usurp the role of federal regulators, opening the door for other states to take an opposite approach to disclosure, leaving businesses and their investors caught in the middle of a political scrap between states.” INTERNAL EMAILS SHOW SEC COORDINATED CLIMATE DISCLOSURE RULES WITH AI FIRM SET TO FINANCIALLY BENEFIT According to Quaadman, the California laws will usher in duplicative and conflicting state-imposed requirements that will ultimately threaten the competitiveness of U.S. capital markets. He also said the cost of complying with the regulations will have negative impacts on businesses of all sizes, including small businesses. In October, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 253, which orders the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop and issue regulations by January 2025 that mandate businesses operating in California with total annual revenues exceeding $1 billion to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions to an emissions reporting organization. When he signed the legislation, Newsom acknowledged that the timelines included were unreasonable and called for the legislature to address those issues. He also expressed concern about the overall financial impact of the bill and instructed CARB to monitor the costs businesses would incur as a result of its regulations. DOZEN STATE GOP AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONERS LAUNCH PROBE OF US BANKS OVER ESG INVESTING: ‘IT MUST BE STOPPED’ “This important policy, once again, demonstrates California’s continued leadership with bold responses to the climate crisis, turning information transparency into climate action,” the governor said upon signing the bill. “However, the implementation deadlines in this bill are likely infeasible, and the reporting protocol specified could result in inconsistent reporting across businesses subject to the measure,” Newsom added. “Additionally, I am concerned about the overall financial impact of this bill on businesses, so I am instructing CARB to closely monitor the cost impacts as it implements this new bill and to make recommendations to streamline the program.” That same day, Newsom signed Senate Bill 261, which requires businesses operating in California with total annual revenues of more than $500 million to develop biennial reports detailing their climate-related financial risks beginning in 2026. The governor similarly called for CARB to monitor the financial implications of the law and said its timelines would need to be revised. The Chamber of Commerce — and co-plaintiffs American Farm Bureau Federation, California Chamber of Commerce, Central Valley Business Federation, Los Angeles County Business Federation and Western Growers Association — alleged in the lawsuit Tuesday that the state laws will force companies to disclose direct and indirect emissions which can be “nearly impossible for a company to accurately calculate.” WHITE HOUSE INTERVENED TO GRANT ‘QUASI-REGULATORY AUTHORITY’ TO FOREIGN GREEN GROUPS In addition, the lawsuit states that the laws attempt to impose a national standards since the regulations apply to companies that have even minimal business in California. “The Chamber and its partners will continue to fight back against illegal and excessive government overreach at the state and federal levels, especially micromanagement that undermines responsible efforts by businesses to address climate risks,” Quaadman said. After the lawsuit was filed, Democratic California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who crafted Senate Bill 253, blasted the Chamber of Commerce’s actions as “straight up climate denial.” “Why is the Chamber of Commerce working so aggressively to block basic transparency for the public? We know the answer,” Wiener said in a statement. “It’s not because of the Chamber’s bogus arguments about cost and implementation, since it’s both inexpensive and easy for corporations to make these disclosures. It’s not because of the Chamber’s bizarre and frivolous First Amendment argument.” “Rather, the Chamber is taking this extremist legal action because many large corporations — particularly fossil fuel corporations and large banks — are absolutely terrified that if they have to tell the public how dramatically they’re fueling climate change, they’ll no longer be able to mislead the public and investors,” he said. “The Chamber and large corporate polluters don’t want the public to know how much they’re strangling the planet with carbon emissions — that’s why they filed this baseless lawsuit.”

Fox News Politics: Biden’s border reckoning

Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail.  Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. What’s Happening?  – Biden family money man testifies at closed-door House hearing – Speaker Johnson facing rebellion from moderate Republicans – Supreme Court Justice speaks out on job frustrations Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday took aim at what he called “baseless” and “false” allegations leveled against him by House Republicans who are preparing a vote to advance articles of impeachment against him. “I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted,” Mayorkas said in a lengthy letter to House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green. The committee is meeting to advance two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, accusing him of refusing to follow immigration law and of breaching public trust. A vote is expected later in the day, likely along party lines, moving the articles to a House vote at a future date. President Biden has expressed frustration at the turn of events. On the border, he said that he’s done all that he can do, but needs more authority. “… just give me the power,” Biden said. BIDEN’S SHARP TURN: Admin sounds alarm on Middle East months after declaring it ‘quieter’ than it’s been in decades …Read more GIVING UP?: Biden claims ‘I’ve done all I can do’ to secure border …Read more ‘LODGED BASELESS COMPLAINTS’: Cori Bush blames DOJ investigation on ‘right wing’ groups …Read more ‘HATRED OF JEWS’: GOP lawmaker calls out Biden for funneling money to pro-Hamas group, puts forward bill to stop it …Read more ‘ILL-ADVISED’: Thune slams Biden admin’s abortion policy, says SecDef should handle approvals …Read more MANCHIN’S WIFE: Sen. Joe Manchin’s wife hospitalized after car crash in Alabama …Read more SEEING RED: Speaker Johnson facing rebellion threat from new group of angry Republicans …Read more ‘NOT NORMAL’: James Carville doubles down on warning media, Biden campaign against normalizing Trump …Read more HISTORIC AD BUY: Biden super PAC targeting battleground states with biggest advertising spending purchase in US history …Read more MONEY MATTERS: Hispanic community leader raises big bucks in quest to flip Democrat-held border congressional seat …Read more TRUMP IN ILLINOIS: Illinois Elections Board punts Trump eligibility question …Read more FIREWORKS AVERTED: RNC preps major meeting after scuffle over naming Trump presumptive nominee …Read more LOCKDOWN: Georgia DA Fani Willis’ alleged lover asks for protective order in divorce case …Read more RULES FOR THEE: ‘Defund’ cheerleader accused of stealing taxpayers’ $$ to pay husband’s private security firm …Read more GASSED: Ohio attorney general advocates for nitrogen gas executions …Read more ‘I LIVE IN FRUSTRATION’: Sotomayor speaks out about sitting on Supreme Court …Read more ‘THE RIGHT TIME’: Journalist ‘surprised’ Justice Sotomayor hasn’t ‘retired’ from Supreme Court …Read more ‘IT’S YOURS!’: E. Jean Carroll invites MSNBC host on luxury shopping spree with ‘Trump’s money’ …Read more ‘ANOTHER F—ING WAR’: WATCH: MSNBC host caught on hot mic uttering curse word about Biden …Read more Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Eric Schwerin ‘not aware’ of Joe Biden role in Hunter’s biz; ex-associate blasts ‘carefully worded’ testimony

Hunter Biden’s business partner Eric Schwerin told congressional investigators Tuesday that he did not have insight into foreign payments the Biden family received, and said he is “not aware” of any role President Biden had in Hunter Biden’s business activities, sources familiar told Fox News Digital. Schwerin appeared behind closed doors for a transcribed interview before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees Tuesday as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. In his opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital, Schwerin told the committee that he “performed a number of administrative and bookkeeping tasks for then-Vice President Joe Biden related to his household finances” between 2009 and 2017. Schwerin testified he also helped Biden’s accountants in their preparation of his taxes and his annual financial disclosure statements. One of Schwerin’s former business associates told Fox News Digital that Schwerin’s opening statement sounded “coordinated,” adding that emails and transactions could contradict Schwerin’s “carefully worded” statement when pressed by House Oversight investigators. HOUSE GOP TO HEAR ADDITIONAL WITNESS TESTIMONY FROM HUNTER BIDEN BUSINESS PARTNERS AMID IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY Schwerin’s interview before the committees Tuesday was his first formal testimony. He met with staff of the House Oversight Committee last March. Schwerin said he met Hunter Biden while working in the Clinton administration at the Commerce Department, and after government service, joined the first son at a law and lobbying firm. Schwerin co-founded Rosemont Seneca Partners along with Hunter Biden and other colleagues – a firm he described as a “consulting and investment firm that offered development and public policy advisory services to a wide range of clients.”  HUNTER BIDEN PAID JOE BIDEN FROM ACCOUNT FOR BIZ THAT RECEIVED PAYMENTS FROM CHINA: COMER “In the course of performing these duties, I had the ability to view transactions both into and out of Vice President Biden’s bank accounts while he was vice president,” Schwerin said in his opening statement. “Based on that insight, I am not aware of any financial transactions or compensation that Vice President Biden received related to business conducted by any of his family members or their associates nor any involvement by him in their businesses. None.”  Schwerin also said he “cannot recall any requests for Vice President Biden to take any official action on behalf of any of Hunter’s clients or his business deals – foreign or domestic.”  “In fact, I am not aware of any role that Vice President Biden, as a public official or a private citizen, had in any of Hunter’s business activities. None,” he said. Schwerin testified that regarding his interactions with Biden, he “never asked him to take any official actions for the benefit of Hunter’s clients or any other client.” “Furthermore, I have no recollection of any promises or suggestions made by Hunter or myself to any clients or business associates that his father would take any official actions on their behalf. None,” he said. “In my discussions with the Vice President concerning his personal finances, he was always crystal clear that he wanted to take the most transparent and ethical approach consistent with both the spirit and the letter of the law.” Schwerin added: “Given my awareness of his finances and the explicit directions he gave to his financial advisers, the allegation that he would engage in any improper conduct to benefit himself or his family is preposterous to me.” A source familiar with the testimony told Fox News Digital that Schwerin’s opening statement was “very narrowly tailored and does not cover the vast majority of questions about his knowledge and participation in the Biden family’s business schemes that the Committee is seeking information about today.” Despite his work for and with Biden, Schwerin said he had “no visibility on key foreign payments to the Bidens,” according to the source familiar with the closed-door testimony. BIDEN WAS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HUNTER’S BUSINESS PARTNERS USING EMAIL ALIAS AS VP “When Eric Schwerin makes statements about Hunter Biden’s financial transactions, during today’s interview he admitted he had no insight into the payments from Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakhstani, and Romanian entities and individuals,” the source told Fox News Digital. Schwerin’s testimony comes after Fox News Digital first reported that Joe Biden, as vice president, used email aliases and private email addresses to communicate with Hunter Biden and his business associates hundreds of times – including with Schwerin. The communications came between 2010 to 2019, with the majority of email traffic taking place while Biden was serving as vice president. The House Ways & Means Committee, which is co-leading the impeachment inquiry alongside the Oversight and Judiciary Committees, said 54 of those emails were “exclusively” between Joe Biden and Schwerin. The Ways & Means Committee describes Schwerin as “the architect of the Biden family’s shell companies.” Meanwhile, the data shows direct emails between Schwerin and then-Vice President Biden increased during times when the vice president traveled to Ukraine. OVERSIGHT DEMS ADMIT HUNTER’S LONGTIME BUSINESS PARTNER HANDLED BIDEN’S FINANCES THROUGHOUT VP TENURE The committee said the data shows Joe Biden and Schwerin exchanged five emails in June 2014 before the vice president’s trip to Ukraine that month. After that trip and before Biden’s November 2014 trip back to Ukraine, he and Schwerin emailed 27 times. Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings in April 2014.  Biden has acknowledged that when he was vice president he successfully pressured Ukraine to fire Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin. At the time, Shokin was investigating Burisma Holdings. During the same period, Hunter Biden held a highly lucrative role on the board, receiving thousands of dollars per month. At the time, the vice president threatened to withhold $1 billion of critical U.S. aid if Shokin was not fired. Biden allies maintain the vice president pushed for Shokin’s firing due to concerns the Ukrainian prosecutor went easy on corruption and say his firing was the policy position of the U.S. and international community. 

Texas’ standoff with the feds in Eagle Pass is igniting calls for secession and fears of violence

The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long-simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures.

Hunter Biden again moves to dismiss Delaware gun indictment charges

Lawyers for President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, have once again moved to dismiss federal firearms charges filed against him in Delaware. Hunter Biden’s lawyers filed a motion in federal court on Tuesday arguing that a diversion agreement previously agreed to by the Department of Justice and Hunter Biden’s legal team should remain in effect. The agreement would have allowed Biden to avoid jail time. The government would also not charge Hunter Biden with the more serious federal gun charge — if he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor tax charges and behaved under certain terms of the agreement for a period of approximately 24 months. If Hunter Biden breached the diversion, the government would try to bring the serious gun charge against him. However, in July 2023, Judge Maryellen Noreika did not accept the plea agreement, questioning its constitutionality — specifically the diversion clause and the immunity Hunter Biden would receive. HUNTER BIDEN FILES TO DISMISS INDICTMENT ON GUN CHARGES IN DELAWARE, CITING COLLAPSED PLEA DEAL Special Counsel David Weiss argued the diversion agreement died the day the plea deal died.  Hunter Biden’s defense lawyer, Abbe Lowell, is once again sticking to the argument that the agreement between the DOJ and Hunter Biden should remain in effect, because both parties agreed to it last spring. “The prosecution is bound by the agreements that it makes, approves, and signs with a defendant, just as it often seeks to hold defendants to the terms of the agreements that defendants make and sign,” Lowell wrote. “No matter how fervently the prosecution’s decision to enter into the Diversion Agreement is criticized by extremist Republican politicians and the right-wing press, the prosecution remains bound by the agreement it struck. The Court must not allow the prosecution to renege on its agreement.” The president’s son pleaded not guilty to all counts in October. Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Nikki Haley’s inbox flooded with support post New Hampshire primary: ‘A normal political leader’

FIRST ON FOX – Nikki Haley’s campaign says they’ve received an over 200% increase in email traffic from supporters asking the candidate to stay in the race following former president Donald Trump’s primary victory in New Hampshire.  A campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital that, prior to New Hampshire, they were getting an average of 300-350 emails per day to info@nikkihaley.com, a generic email address for the Haley campaign.  Last Wednesday, that number increased to thousands daily, between a roughly 185% to 233% increase, depending on the day.  In the last six days, the campaign has received more than 6,000 emails total with messages supporting the former South Carolina governor and saying things like, “You’re the real Republicans’ only chance to be a normal political leader!” and “please do not quit!”  RNC AVERTS FIREWORKS AT MAJOR MEETING AFTER SCRAPPING RESOLUTION TO NAME TRUMP THE PRESUMPTIVE GOP NOMINEE “Our campaign has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of grassroots support from across the country,” Haley campaign spokesperson AnnMarie Graham-Barnes told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The political establishment is trying to coronate Donald Trump, but Nikki has never listened to the establishment. She listens to Americans, and their message is clear: Nikki is the last one standing between the Trump-Biden rematch that 70 percent of people don’t want to see,” she added.  One person from Minnesota wrote, “I’m a center-right Republican, like 80% of my friends and although many of us like Trump’s policy, he’s too polarizing and will NOT garner very many, if any, center-left votes. I don’t want a few states selecting my presidential candidate.” Another, identified as Elly B, who grew up in a “blue state” but is “presently living in a red one,” wrote, “On behalf of many, many members of my Jewish and non-Jewish community of family and friends, we hope that you will keep campaigning and running for President. You are the right person for the job due to your well-honed management skills, your youthful vigor and your ability to understand the needs of our country and the world as we end the first quarter of the 21st century.” HALEY BLASTS RNC FOR RUSHING TO TRUMP AS NOMINEE, CALLS ON AMERICANS TO ‘REMEMBER WHAT NORMAL FELT LIKE’ Monica L., who said she “stood all day in the cold on election day” in New Hampshire said, “I will never vote for a democrat, so please, please stay in the race if you can.”  Cooper C. from California said he was a “longtime Independent” but re-registered as a Republican to cast his vote for Haley.  NIKKI HALEY RAISES $4 MILLION OVER ‘UNHINGED’ TRUMP COMMENTS LEVELED AT HER: ‘WE HAD A LITTLE FUN’ Josh D., identified as a registered Independent in North Carolina who leans Republican, wrote, “Regular people do not want Trump or Biden. Please keep fighting!” The former U.N. ambassador and last remaining major rival to Trump won 43% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary.  Haley’s vowing to continue her uphill fight at least until Super Tuesday in early March. The next major contest on the GOP calendar is Haley’s home state, which holds a primary on Feb. 24.

Biden delivered $121M in taxpayer funds to Hamas-tied UNRWA since October, State Department says

Since October, the Biden administration has sent about $121 million in taxpayer funds to UNRWA, the U.N. agency under scrutiny for its alleged ties to Hamas, the State Department said Tuesday. A remaining $300,000 in appropriated funds for this fiscal year was supposed to be delivered to the humanitarian relief organization in the next few weeks. But the U.S. froze those funds over allegations that some UNRWA members participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.  “That funding has been suspended,” Miller told reporters at the State Department daily press briefing. He added that it’s “impossible” to say how much more the U.S. could provide to UNRWA this fiscal year if the funds are unfrozen because the government is operating under a continuing resolution.  AUSTRIA SUSPENDS PAYMENTS TO UNRWA AMID ISRAELI ALLEGATIONS UN WORKERS HELPED, CELEBRATED HAMAS “We don’t know how much overall funding will be available for this fiscal year, and that would impact how much that we would be able to provide UNRWA,” Miller said. “Historically, we have typically provided somewhere between $300 and $400 million a year in funding.”  The Biden administration has sent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to UNRWA, reversing former President Donald Trump’s decision to cut funding to the group. Biden officials say the funds provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, while critics say the group is “effectively a branch of Hamas.” TRUMP ADMIN CUT FUNDING TO UN AGENCY NOW ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN HAMAS ATTACK ‘FOR REASON’: REP. MCCAUL UNRWA’s ties to Hamas have come into focus in recent weeks after Israel provided the Biden administration with a new dossier containing information about how some 13 agency staffers allegedly assisted or supported the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7. The Biden administration announced last week it has temporarily paused “additional” funding to UNRWA in response to the dossier. Germany, Italy, Australia, Finland, Netherlands and Switzerland have also joined the boycott following the accusations, which have already resulted in the termination of multiple staffers. WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS UNRWA AMID TERRORIST ALLEGATIONS: ‘DON’T IMPUGN THE WHOLE AGENCY’ Miller said the next expected payment to UNRWA would happen over the summer and that the amount would depend on how much money Congress approves for the agency in Biden’s $106 billion supplemental package request. Despite the terrorism allegations, the White House has defended UNRWA, insisting that the entire agency should not be judged by the purported actions of 13 people. “We very much support the work that UNRWA does, we think it’s critical,” Miller said. “There is no other humanitarian player in Gaza who can provide food, medicine at the scale that UNRWA does.  “We want to see that work continued, which is why it is so important that the United Nations take this matter seriously, that they investigate it, that there is accountability for anyone who is found to engage in wrongdoing, and that they take whatever other measures are appropriate to ensure that this sort of thing cannot happen again,” he said. Fox News Digital’s Peter Aitken and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.