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Wednesday November 22, 2023 Unbiased headline news – On Saturday, as a mark of respect for the memory of Rosalynn Carter, flags across the nation will be lowered to half-staff. The wife of former President Jimmy Carter, she passed away this week at the age of 96, after being previously diagnosed with dementia in May of this year. President Biden, in a Monday proclamation, highlighted her life’s impact, noting her roles as First Lady of Georgia and the United States, where she embodied hope, warmth, and a steadfast commitment to addressing many of society’s greatest needs. — U.S. officials have confirmed that the U.S. military retaliated against Iran-backed militants in Iraq early Tuesday morning local time, following an incident where several troops were injured. The militants carried out a ballistic missile attack from a truck targeting U.S. forces stationed at al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq. The attack left several service members with minor injuries. Pentagon Press Secretary Brigantine General Pat Ryder detailed the incident, noting that the missile strike by Iran-backed militias resulted in eight injuries and caused minor damage to the base’s infrastructure. — The House Republicans have issued a subpoena to a federal prosecutor who is involved in the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, demanding clarity on what they allege to be Justice Department interference in the long-running case involving the president’s son. Representative Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, has specifically called upon Lesley Wolf, the assistant U.S. attorney for Delaware, to make an appearance before the committee. This request is set for a deadline of December 7th, as per a copy of the congressional subpoena that was obtained by The Associated Press. — In a significant political development, Bob Vander Plaats, an influential evangelical leader in Iowa, has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This endorsement, given on Tuesday, is seen as a major boost to DeSantis’s campaign efforts to win in the first state of the presidential primary cycle. While DeSantis still trails behind former President Donald Trump in early polling both in Iowa and nationally, his campaign gains momentum. Supporters in the faith community, referencing Vander Plaats’ audience and influence, argue that his endorsement, alongside that from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, will aid DeSantis in making significant inroads with the evangelical Christian voters in Iowa, a group that has been consistently supportive of Trump since 2016. — A recent ruling on Tuesday has found that a voter-approved gun control law in Oregon violates the state constitution, thereby continuing to prevent its implementation and casting doubt on the future of this contentious measure. This law, which ranks among the toughest in the nation, was one of the first significant gun restrictions passed in response to a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year, which altered the guidance for judges considering Second Amendment cases. The decision against the law was made by Circuit Court Judge Robert S. Raschio, who presides in Harney County in rural southeast Oregon. — Representative Anna Eshoo, a Democrat representing parts of California’s Silicon Valley, made a significant announcement on Tuesday, stating that she will not be running for reelection next year. This decision marks the end of her tenure in Congress, which has spanned more than three decades. Announcing her decision during the Thanksgiving season, Eshoo expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her constituents in a video posted on X, a platform formerly known as Twitter, acknowledging their support throughout her long career in public service. — The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Tuesday that a considerable amount of oil, possibly as much as 1.1 million gallons, may have been discharged into the Gulf of Mexico. This incident is linked to a pipeline system located off Louisiana’s southeast coast. While the affected pipeline has been shut down, authorities are still in the process of determining the exact location and cause of the leak. Officials, during a Coast Guard news conference, mentioned that so far, none of the oil has reached land, but its impact on wildlife and the environment is currently being investigated. — In a major legal development, the Justice Department announced on Tuesday that cryptocurrency giant Binance and its CEO are pleading guilty to violations of U.S. anti-money laundering laws. In addition to admitting guilt, they have agreed to pay more than $4 billion in fines. Chengpeng Zhao, the founder of the company, appeared in a federal court in Seattle to enter his guilty plea. As part of his plea deal, he has agreed to resign from his position, acknowledging the company’s failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program as required by U.S. law.

Latest News Headlines for Tuesday November 21, 2023 – With the busiest Thanksgiving travel season ever anticipated, airlines are gearing up for a surge in passengers, and many Americans are preparing to travel by road for the extended weekend. However, stormy conditions could derail the plans of millions. The Southern states, particularly Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, are bracing for severe storms, including potential tornadoes, on Monday night and Tuesday. The Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Warren also warns of the possibility of hail the size of golf balls. — In light of escalating Middle East violence, the FBI, state, and local authorities are raising alerts about heightened threats of a terror attack in New York City. Governor Kathy Hochul is responding by bolstering security and enhancing the staffing of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. This follows a threat assessment from the New York State Intelligence Center, indicating that unrest in Gaza is stirring discussions about targeting New York. The center has also noted a rise in antisemitic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric on social media, contributing to an uptick in hate crimes against Jews, Muslims, and Arabs. — As the Thanksgiving holiday nears, there’s an increase in RSV and influenza cases, contrasting with last year’s trend where cases were threefold higher. Dr. Liz Placzek advises families on simple preventive measures to mitigate the risk of illness during the holiday. Key steps include basic hygiene practices like hand washing and covering coughs. Additionally, for those visiting high-risk individuals for COVID-19, conducting a home test beforehand is recommended. A tragic incident in Suriname claimed at least ten lives following the collapse of an illegal gold mine on Monday. Rescue teams, along with police and military personnel, rushed to the rural southern region where the mine is located. Miners had constructed their own tunnels in search of gold, a common practice in the country. The cause of the collapse remains unclear. — In a shocking development, a 77-year-old Texas attorney, Ronald Lewis, faces allegations of smuggling drugs into the Harris County Jail in Houston. Authorities apprehended him on Friday, alleging that he used legal paperwork laced with ecstasy and synthetic marijuana to pass drugs to inmates. Found with suspected narcotic-laced papers during his arrest, Lewis is now under investigation. — A federal probe into a vast fentanyl ring has led to the arrest of 11 more suspects, bringing the total to 23. This extensive operation involved illegal sales and distribution of fentanyl across several states, including California, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. Authorities have confiscated over 40 pounds of fentanyl powder, approximately 250,000 pills, and 30 firearms, among them six machine guns, as part of this crackdown. — American Airlines flight attendants are pushing for the right to strike, potentially disrupting travel during the Christmas and New Year’s period. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, frustrated by stalled contract negotiations and lack of raises since 2019, has petitioned the National Mediation Board to declare a deadlock and authorize a strike following a 30-day cooling-off period. However, American Airlines asserts that a strike over the holidays is highly unlikely. — Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood witnessed another mail theft incident, leading to the re-arrest of 36-year-old Gustavo Balleza. He was apprehended on Monday in the vicinity of Francis W. Parker School by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Chicago Police Department. Balleza, found with stolen identifications, burglary tools, and bank cards of victims, faces charges related to mail theft.

Unbiased headline news for Monday November 20, 2023 – Yemeni Houthi insurgents captured a ship linked to Israel on a vital Red Sea transit route on Sunday, taking 25 crew members captive. This incident amplifies concerns about escalating regional hostilities, particularly relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and marks a new chapter in maritime confrontations. The Houthis, supported by Iran, claimed they targeted the vessel due to its Israeli connections. They vowed to keep attacking Israeli-affiliated or owned ships in international waters as long as Israel’s operations against Gaza’s Hamas leadership persist. — Jordan’s envoy to the U.S. is advocating for an immediate halt to the Israel-Hamas conflict, citing worries that it could incite extremism. Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, speaking on “Face the Nation,” emphasized the potential for up to 18,000 children becoming orphans due to the Gaza warfare. Kawar highlighted concerns about the future of these children, pointing to research indicating a significant number of Hamas combatants were orphans. — In Argentina, Javier Milei triumphed in the presidential election, signaling a rightward shift amid a divisive campaign. He pledged major reforms to address rampant inflation and escalating poverty. With nearly all votes counted, Milei secured 55.7%, defeating Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who received 44.3%, in Sunday’s runoff. This victory marks the largest margin in an Argentine presidential election since its return to democracy in 1983. — Taylor Swift delayed a concert in Rio de Janeiro scheduled for Saturday, following a tragic incident at her Friday show where a 23-year-old fan passed away. Swift, expressing her decision in a handwritten Instagram post, cited the severe temperatures in Rio as the reason for postponing the event, writing from her stadium dressing room. — A tragic accident in central Mexico saw the collapse of a 50-foot tall scaffolding during a road construction project, resulting in the death of five workers and injuries to three. The incident occurred as workers were cementing a large form, presumably part of a highway barrier, when the structure and scaffolding collapsed, causing fatalities and injuries amidst the metal and concrete debris. The Transportation Department reported the collapse in Hidalgo state, confirming all onsite personnel were rescued from the wreckage. — Efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped for eight days in a collapsed tunnel in northern India faced setbacks, prompting consideration of alternate rescue strategies due to issues with a drilling machine. A replacement drill was brought to the Uttarakhand site on Saturday, substituting a damaged one used to bore through rock and debris. The objective is to create a passage for inserting large pipes, enabling the trapped workers to escape. — A child endangerment charge is being pursued against a woman in southern Ohio after her toddler accidentally discharged a gun found in her purse in a Walmart store. The incident, occurring around 11 a.m. Thursday, involved the child extracting a Taurus 9mm firearm from the purse, resulting in a shot into the store’s ceiling. The Waverly Police Department reported the toddler sustained a minor forehead injury from the gun’s magazine.

How did we get here? This is among the questions asked to the excellent panel of historians at TNR’s Stop Trump Summit this past October at the Cooper Union. Ruth Ben-Ghiat of NYU, Nell Irvin Painter of Princeton, and David Greenberg of Columbia have all published many scholarly works on American and/or world history. This event was huge. They had an impressive range of speakers and panelists who either are working hard to do what the title of the event says—stop Trump—or have particular expertise to lend to the proceedings. Mary Trump, Jamie Raskin, Stuart Stevens, Al Sharpton, Randi Weingarten, and so many more. Panels covered the legal cases against Trump, the role of the media in the election, the No Labels effort, and more. This is just another example of people (serious people) coming together to stop a madman from taking control of our democracy.

Unbiased headline news in 60-seconds for Thur Nov 16, 2023 – FBI Chief Christopher Wray informed Congress of several ongoing probes into individuals linked with Hamas following the group’s recent attacks in Israel. No concrete evidence of an imminent threat has been identified. Wray highlighted immediate concerns over self-radicalized extremists and domestic terrorists targeting Jewish Americans and other religious communities. He appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, joined by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Christine Abizaid, the National Counterterrorism Center Director. — Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian firmly rejected any involvement of Iran in a Red Sea drone strike aimed at a U.S. missile destroyer. Launched from Yemen, the drone was intercepted early Wednesday by the USS Thomas Hudner as it neared the ship, as reported by the Pentagon. — In his extensive dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Joe Biden expressed concern over human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, the White House revealed. Describing the nearly four-hour-long meeting as exceptionally productive, Biden highlighted the re-establishment of military communication channels. Additionally, he addressed the issue of Americans detained in China, reiterated the U.S. stance on Taiwan, and discussed joint efforts to limit fentanyl trafficking. — In San Francisco, fervent protests emerged, both in support of and against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. These demonstrations occurred near the Moscone Center, the venue for the APEC 2023 Summit, and close to the Filoli Historic House in Woodside, where a crucial meeting between Xi and President Jose Biden was held.

Unbiased headline news in 60-seconds for Wed Nov 15, 2023 – On Tuesday, Senate Democrats advanced a resolution to expedite the approval of numerous military nominees. This move is a strategy to circumvent Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s obstruction, stemming from his opposition to a Pentagon abortion policy. Sen. Tuberville’s comprehensive hold on confirmations and promotions of high-ranking military officers has stalled nearly 400 military nominations, a number that continues to rise. Despite criticism from both parties and pressure from fellow Republicans, the senator from Alabama remains steadfast in his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy. — The U.S. government, according to the White House on Tuesday, possesses intelligence indicating that Hamas has utilized Gaza hospitals, including the Al-Shifa Hospital, for military operations and hostage-holding. John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, disclosed this information aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden traveled to the APEC summit in San Francisco. Israel has faced criticism for its military actions near Gaza hospitals, particularly Al-Shifa Hospital, under the claim that Hamas was using these locations as military command centers. — The Israel Defense Forces announced that they conducted a “targeted and precise operation” against Hamas at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. This ground operation, guided by intelligence and operational necessity, was initiated after Israel repeatedly cautioned Hamas against using the hospital as a base. The IDF’s statement came early Wednesday, shortly after a Gaza health ministry spokesman reported an Israeli warning of an impending raid on the Shifa hospital complex, as per Reuters. — Ahead of an impending Friday deadline, the House, in a bipartisan decision, passed Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposal to prevent a government shutdown. With a final tally of 336-95, the vote saw more Democrats (209) than Republicans (127) supporting the interim funding bill. Over 90 Republicans opposed the bill, which required a two-thirds majority to pass. The bill now advances to the Senate, where leaders have signaled their support and promised swift action.