New poll shows Andrew Cuomo could be poised for a political comeback
A new poll shows former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could be poised for a political comeback if he chooses to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary to be the next mayor of New York City. Politico obtained the poll from Progressives for Democracy that showed Cuomo as the favorite to win, if he runs, with support from 32% of likely Democratic voters.
Following him were former city comptroller Scott Stringer at 10%, his successor Brad Lander at 8%, State Sen. Jessica Ramos at 7%, and Adams and state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, who were both at 6%.
Adams has been under scrutiny, as he faces five federal counts of bribery, corruption, wire fraud and accepting donations from foreign nationals, leading to multiple members of his administration resigning.
As for Cuomo, he resigned as governor in 2021 after a series of scandals. They included allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women, including former and current staffers, which were detailed in a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
He also faced criticism for his management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which centered on his controversial March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, potentially leading to an increased spread of the virus among elderly residents.
The scandal worsened when it was revealed that the Cuomo administration had underreported the true number of nursing home deaths, prompting accusations of a cover-up.
The new numbers are the second recent poll to show wide support for Cuomo. A New York Times and Siena College poll from October 2024 showed him with 21% support.
Cuomo has not officially announced his candidacy for New York City mayor.
How Jan. 6 reflections differ among left, right media: Bias Breakdown
It’s been four years since supporters of former President Donald Trump took to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in protest of the 2020 presidential election results. The events of that day continue to make headlines and spark intense debate.
While the Capitol riot is remembered as a pivotal moment in U.S. history, it has become one of the most politically charged events of the modern era. Both the left and the right offer starkly different perspectives on what occurred. This divide is also reflected in the media coverage of the events, which varies depending on the political leanings of the news outlet.
Contrast in Media Coverage
Some left-leaning news outlets suggest Trump is “rewriting” the history of Jan. 6 and highlight efforts to redefine its history.
The New York Times: “‘A Day of Love’: How Trump Inverted the Violent History of Jan. 6”
NPR: “As Trump rewrites history, victims of the Jan. 6 riot say they feel ‘betrayed’”
Politico: “Jan. 6, 2021 is in the rearview. The battle to define it for history is in full swing.”
Some right-leaning news outlets suggest House Republicans are correcting what they call a Democratic narrative and emphasizing another side of the story ignored by some mainstream left outlets.
The way these news outlets wrote about the event differed, depending on political bias.
The New York Times wrote, “Violent rioters — prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned — somehow became patriotic martyrs. This inverted interpretation defied what the country had watched unfold, but it neatly fit the persecution narrative that binds Mr. Trump to many of his faithful. That day was an American calamity.”
The Federalist wrote, “For Democrats and the left, Jan. 6 is the events that vindicates their hatred of Donald Trump and his supporters. They would have us believe it was among the darkest days in our nation’s history…the real tragedy of Jan. 6 wasn’t what happened on that day but what happened afterwards, when the Biden administration weaponized the Justice Department and the FBI to prosecute more than 1,500 people, the vast majority of whom did nothing wrong.”
Diverging Views on the Jan. 6 Committee and Its Impact
The left has largely praised the Jan. 6 Committee for its investigation into the events of that day, which concluded that Trump incited the riot and recommended criminal charges. The committee’s findings were a significant source of criticism against the former president.
The divide is also evident in views on the individuals arrested during the riot. Left-leaning media outlets and figures have largely condemned the actions of the Jan. 6 prisoners, whereas many on the right have called for their release, arguing that they are political prisoners.
Different Narratives of Accountability
The left predominantly holds Trump responsible for inciting the insurrection, while the right often places blame on the lack of proper Capitol security during the breach. Even the deaths related to the events of Jan. 6 have become points of political contention. Four police officers committed suicide in the days and months following the riot, and debates have arisen about whether their deaths should be directly linked to the events of that day. Additionally, Ashli Babbitt, a protester shot and killed by a Capitol police officer inside the Capitol during the riot, has been mentioned primarily by right-leaning sources in discussions about the day’s casualties.
Lawmakers Reflect Different Viewpoints on the Anniversary
As the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack approached, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle took to social media to mark the occasion, offering messages that reflected their political views.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote on X: “Four years ago, the electoral vote certification was interrupted by a violent mob. Police officers were injured and killed. Our democracy hung in the balance.” A community note on her post stated: “No officers were killed.”
On the other hand, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X: “Four years ago today, a military veteran and unarmed protestor, Ashli Babbitt, was murdered in cold blood by a disgraced police officer… We will never forget Ashli.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, posted on X:“It is utterly shameful that the president-elect is considering pardons for January 6 rioters. Pardoning criminals who waved Confederate flags, donned Nazi symbols, assaulted police officers, and tried to halt the democratic process would be a dangerous endorsement of political violence.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Republican Rep. Mike Collins shared on X: “On #ThisDayInHistory in 2021, thousands of peaceful grandmothers gathered in Washington, D.C., to take a self-guided, albeit unauthorized, tour of the U.S. Capitol building.” He added, “Since then, hundreds of peaceful protestors have been hunted down, arrested, held in solitary confinement, and treated unjustly.”
Public Opinion on Trump’s Role and Consequences for Jan. 6 Rioters
Public opinion on the events of Jan. 6 continues to be deeply divided along political lines. According to a YouGov poll released last week, 79% of liberals polled believe Trump incited violence on Jan. 6, compared to only 11% of conservatives. Meanwhile, a CBS poll released this week found that 72% of Republicans support pardons for those arrested during the riot, compared to 41% of Democrats.
Looking Ahead: How Will History Judge Jan. 6?
The question of how the events of Jan. 6, 2021, will be remembered in the future remains uncertain. As it stands, the portrayal of that day differs greatly depending on political viewpoints and media coverage.
While the full legacy of Jan. 6 has yet to be determined, the political divide over the event—and the impact of that division on public memory—remains evident, even four years later.
No FBI agents, but 26 informants: Media divided over latest Jan 6 report
Nearly four years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a new Department of Justice watchdog report sheds light on the FBI’s involvement that day. The inspector general’s report reveals both the absence of undercover FBI agents and the presence of FBI informants. However, how this information is being reported varies widely depending on the political leanings of news outlets.
Left-leaning outlets are focusing on one aspect of the report, while right-leaning outlets are highlighting another.
CNN: “No undercover FBI agents were at the January 6 US Capitol riot, watchdog reports.”
Fox News: “DOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants were present on Jan. 6.”
New York Post: “FBI had 26 informants at Jan. 6 Capitol riots — and most were involved, bombshell DOJ report confirms”
The inspector general’s report confirms both of these claims. It found that the FBI did not deploy undercover agents or employ individuals at the Capitol that day. However, it also stated that approximately two dozen informants who report intelligence back to the bureau — aka “confidential human sources” — were present.
Of the 26 informants, three were instructed by the FBI to attend the Capitol, while the others acted independently, according to the report. Four informants entered the Capitol building, one of whom was assigned by the FBI to be there, while 13 entered “restricted grounds.”
Left-leaning outlets are largely reporting that the findings debunk conspiracy theories about the FBI’s involvement in the riot, while right-leaning outlets are framing the report as evidence of the FBI’s presence among the rioters.
Politico’s coverage begins: “A Justice Department watchdog found no evidence that the FBI deployed undercover agents to the Capitol or nearby protests on Jan. 6, 2021, further undercutting debunked conspiracy theories about the riot being instigated by law enforcement.”
In contrast, the New York Post reported: “The FBI had at least 26 confidential informants on the ground in Washington, DC, during the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol — most of whom engaged in illegal activity during the chaos… Leadership at the bureau had long been adamant that it did not have sources who ‘orchestrated’ the riot.”
Differences in interpretation were also evident in broadcast coverage.
“The FBI had 26 confidential human sources there that day,” Fox News primetime host Jesse Watters, said during Thursday’s show. “A confidential human source is a guy the FBI pays to spy for them.” One host added, “They’re just freelancing for the feds. Rats in MAGA hats.”
CNN’s anchors started their coverage with, “There were no undercover FBI employees at the Capitol during the riot. This finding runs directly counter to speculation from allies of Trump who for years have suggested the violence that day was provoked by federal agents.”
MSNBC and Fox News took swings at the other side’s interpretation.
“I just think this is definitely something the right-wing media is going to run with,” Ryan Reilly, justice reporter, said Thursday on MSNBC. “That number is certainly going to raise a lot of concerns on the right, and it’s something Republicans in Congress have honed in on — this notion that this was all driven by confidential human sources. To be clear, the report says there is zero evidence whatsoever that any of these individuals were instructed to do anything by the FBI. It’s just what they did on their own.”
Meanwhile, Watters on Fox News said, “The media today is cherry-picking the report to show there were no undercover agents there on Jan. 6, the whole thing is a conspiracy. These aren’t articles, they’re FBI press releases.”
The inspector general’s report, while intended to clarify the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, has done little to bridge the political divide surrounding the events of that day. The debate over the riot continues to fuel division in American politics and media.
Harris campaign raised $1 billion, ends $20 million in debt: Reports
Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign has ended in financial turmoil, according to multiple media reports. Despite raising over $1 billion, the campaign has reportedly finished at least $20 million in debt.
Politico’s Christopher Cadelago reported that two sources familiar with the situation confirmed Harris’ campaign was $20 million in debt after raising more than $1 billion and having $118 million remaining in the bank as of Oct. 16.
Kamala Harris's campaign ended with at least $20 million in debt, per two sources familiar. Harris raised over $1 billion and had $118 million in the bank as of Oct. 16.
Federal Election Commission filings show the campaign raised a total of more than $1 billion and spent approximately $900 million by mid-October. However, by the end of the month, even the remaining funds were depleted and then some.
In contrast, Harris raised more than twice as much money as President-elect Donald Trump. FEC filings show Trump’s campaign raised less than $400 million and still had a cash reserve of $36 million.
Breitbart News also spoke with multiple sources inside the Harris campaign, who confirmed the $20 million debt. Those sources largely blamed campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon for the financial troubles.
“People didn’t like working with her,” a campaign staffer told Breitbart. “Many people on the campaign felt like we lost because Kamala wasn’t allowed to run her campaign. They were running Joe Biden’s campaign instead of a Kamala campaign. Obnoxious and very much a gatekeeper and interfering with the vice president’s people who were trying to do their job.”
Staffers were reportedly unhappy with the handling of finances and some claimed they were still waiting on overdue payments for their work.
When tracking the $1 billion spent by the Harris campaign, a large portion, nearly $700 million, went toward advertising, according to ad-tracking company AdImpact.
In October, the campaign spent six figures on flying banners over four NFL games in swing states, according to The New York Times. In the final weeks before the election, the campaign spent nearly $500,000 a day on ads displayed on the Las Vegas Sphere in Nevada, a key swing state, according to The Guardian.
Breitbart sources also pointed to high-profile concerts featuring artists like Katy Perry, Lizzo and Eminem as significant expenditures. Staffers said these events were largely the idea of O’Malley Dillon.
Facing $20 million in debt, Harris’ deputy campaign manager is reportedly “shopping Kamala Harris’ fundraising email list to anyone willing to pay” in an effort to recover the campaign’s losses, according to Breitbart’s report.
Trump field director fired when he’s exposed as white nationalist
A key staffer for Donald Trump, who co-hosts a white nationalist podcast in secret, is no longer with the campaign. Trump campaign officials fired Luke Meyer, who was the regional director for western Pennsylvania, on Friday, Nov. 1, after learning about his views from Politico.
Reporter Amanda Moore linked Meyer to an online personality going by the name Alberto Barbarossa. Meyer, undercover as Barbarossa, regularly shared his white nationalist views on the “Alexandria” podcast with co-host Richard Spencer.
Spencer organized the 2017 white nationalist Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Spencer recently announced he endorsed Kamala Harris and said he’s not affiliated with any political party.
After Moore got an anonymous tip about Meyer, she started investigating. Meyer found multiple clues to verify the tip. One tip included Barbarossa proudly tweeting that he shared a birthday with the former grand wizard of the KKK. Court records showed Meyer also did.
That’s when Moore decided to drive to a Trump campaign event and confront Meyer about Alberto Barbarossa.
Meyer admitted that he’s Barbarossa and he’d been hiding the online identity from the Trump campaign.
He wrote an email to Moore that said, “I’m glad you pieced these little clues together like an Antifa Nancy Drew.”
“It made me realize how draining it has been having to conceal my true thoughts for as long as I have,” Meyer said.
Moore said Meyer explained to her that he felt his white nationalist views had already spread to the campaign.
The Republican Party of Pennsylvania told Politico, “If we’d had any inkling about his hidden and despicable activity he would have never been hired.”
Meyer deleted his Linkedin and X accounts, as well as his Barbarossa X account.
Some of Trump’s 2024 electors facing felonies for fake 2020 elector scheme
Republicans who took part in former President Donald Trump’s fake elector scheme in 2020 are once again signed up to cast electoral votes for him in 2024. That includes individuals in key swing states who are facing felony charges.
There are 93 electors in seven swing states who pledged to vote for Trump if he wins that state’s popular vote. According to an analysis by Politico, eight of them are facing felony charges for signing fake elector certificates in 2020, five signed similar elector certificates but were not charged and at least six others challenged the results of the 2020 election.
Breaking it down by state, there are six electors in Michigan who took part in the 2020 scheme, five in Pennsylvania and two in Nevada. There are more Trump electors in those states and others who deny Joe Biden won the 2020 election. However, a fake electors scheme would be much more difficult this time around due to a law passed by congress in December 2022.
The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act requires that a state’s governor send a certificate of ascertainment identifying the state’s electors. It also increased the threshold for an objection to be heard in Congress during the Jan. 6 certification. Now one-fifth of the members from both the House and Senate must sign on. Previously, it was just one member from each chamber.
Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers: FBI
Both parties are responding after the FBI said Iranian hackers sent stolen information from the Trump campaign to members of President Biden’s campaign. And a second round of explosions in Lebanon — this time involving walkie-talkies — leaves at least 20 dead. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
FBI: Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers
Iranian hackers stole information from former President Donald Trump’s campaign over the summer and sent it to people affiliated with then-Democratic candidate President Joe Biden’s campaign. That’s according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The statement said there is no indication Biden’s campaign ever replied to the emails.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign said a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails but were not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign. Her campaign also said it condemns any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections.
During a rally in Uniondale, New York Wednesday night, Sept. 18, former President Trump addressed the hack.
“Iran hacked into my campaign,” he told his supporters. “I don’t know what the hell they found. I’d like to find out, couldn’t have been too exciting, but they gave it to the Biden campaign. I can’t believe it. Oh yes, I can. But this is really foreign election interference. This is real election interference.”
U.S. officials said this was just one of several attempts by Iran to “undermine the confidence of our electoral process.” Earlier this year, it was reported that Iranian-backed hackers stole Trump campaign documents and shared them with news agencies including Politico, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
The Iranian government has denied the allegations of meddling in the U.S. elections.
It’s not only Iran as Microsoft said this week that Russia has targeted Vice President Harris’ campaign by spreading conspiracy theories online.
Executives from tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet testified in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday on foreign threats to U.S. elections.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said while the presidential race is between Trump and Harris, it has become an election of “Iran versus Trump and Russia versus Harris.”
Second wave of explosions hit Lebanon; Israel declares ‘new era’ of war
Like the pager explosions on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that left a dozen people dead and thousands hurt, the walkie-talkie explosions are believed to have been orchestrated by Israel, according to the United States and other countries briefed on the incident.
Israel has not commented but the country’s military leader did say a “new era” of war is beginning and said its “center of gravity is moving north,” potentially a reference to Israel’s border with Lebanon.
The attacks, which are believed to have been targeting Hezbollah, have left dozens of fighters and civilians dead.
Israel, a key ally to the U.S., did warn Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday it was going to carry out an operation in Lebanon, but multiple sources familiar with the matter said details were not given.
Teamsters union not endorsing a 2024 presidential candidate
The Teamsters have opted not to endorse former President Trump or Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election. It’s the first time in decades the union has chosen not to endorse any candidate.
The decision came just two days after union leaders met with Harris and months after meeting with Trump.
While opting not to endorse anyone, the Teamsters did release data from internal surveys showing most of its members support Trump (59%) over Harris (34%).
House GOP fails to pass Johnson’s stopgap funding bill
Three Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the stopgap bill, but 14 Republicans voted against it, ultimately causing it to fail. Johnson said afterward he’d draft a new bill to keep the government funded past Oct. 1.
Body found during search for Kentucky highway shooter
Authorities had been searching for 32-year-old Joseph Couch since Sept. 7, when police say Couch shot and injured five people on Interstate 75.
On Wednesday afternoon, the remains were found by two state troopers alongside two civilians who said they were trying to help find the suspect. The troopers were drawn to the site after noticing vultures circling above and a strong odor in the search area.
Authorities said a weapon was discovered alongside the body believed to be Couch. The remains have been sent to the coroner’s office for positive identification.
Lionsgate announces deal with AI company Runway to ‘augment’ films
Artificial intelligence is coming to a theater near you. Lionsgate — the studio behind film franchises like “John Wick” and “The Hunger Games” has announced a deal with AI research company Runway, whose backers include Google and chipmaker NVIDIA.
The deal involves Runway’s creation and training of a new AI model that Lionsgate’s filmmakers can use to “augment their work.” Lionsgate said it expects to save “millions and millions of dollars” using Runway’s technology.
Lionsgate Vice Chair Michael Burns said AI is seen as a great tool for “enhancing and supplementing” the studio’s current operations. Burns told The Wall Street Journal, “We do a lot of action movies, so we blow a lot of things up and that is one of the things Runway does.”
US sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. And Tom Cruise gives the Paris Olympics a Hollywood ending as we look toward the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
U.S. sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
The U.S. ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia, a “nuclear-powered submarine with cruise missiles,” to the Middle East. The movement of U.S. missile submarines is rarely revealed publicly — typically operating in near-complete secrecy — but the move comes as Israel is anticipating a potentially “large scale attack” by Iran in the next few days.
According to Axios, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, Aug. 11, that Iran was making preparations for the attack on Israel. On Monday, Aug. 12 morning, Reuters reported Gallant’s ministry has confirmed a call between the two took place overnight.
The Israeli military has ordered more evacuations from part of a humanitarian safe zone it had set up in southwestern Gaza, saying they now plan to expand fighting. The IDF said there have been indications Hamas terrorists have a significant presence there now living among civilians.
These orders come a day after Israel struck a school-turned-shelter that the Hamas-run health ministry said killed at least 80 people. Israel claims Hamas fighters were hiding at the school compound.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ new leader said Sunday, Aug. 11, there would be no new negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza this week unless mediators from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt revert to a plan that would see a truce in the war.
In a “CBS Sunday Morning,” President Joe Biden said he believes a cease-fire deal is still possible before he leaves office.
Biden gives first interview since dropping out of 2024 race
The CBS interview on Sunday was President Biden’s first interview since pulling out of the 2024 race. Biden explained a major reason why he made that decision was so the Democratic Party could focus on what he says is the real issue: defeating former President Donald Trump.
“Polls we had showed that it was neck and neck race, would’ve been down to the wire,” Biden said. “But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races, and I was concerned if I stayed in the race that would be the topic. You’d be interviewing me about ‘Why did Nancy Pelosi say, why did so-and-so say?’ and I thought it would be a distraction.”
He added, “Although it’s a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country to do the most important thing you can do, and that is we must, we must defeat Trump.”
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, had multiple one-on-one interviews air on Sunday, Aug. 11. In the interviews, he spoke with CNN’s Dana Bash, CBS’ Margaret Brennan and ABC’s Jonathan Karl about former President Trump’s plans should he be elected again in 2024.
On CBS, Vance defended recent comments by the former president indicating he may be willing to roll back access to the abortion pill. He said Trump “wants abortion related decisions to be left to the states.”
On CNN, Vance commented on Vice President Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying he’s the one being “weird” after that term has been used by the Democratic Party to describe the Republican ticket.
“I think that you take a sequential approach to it,” Vance said. “You are going to have to deport some people. If you’re not willing to deport a lot of people, you’re not willing to have a border when there are 20 million illegal aliens in our country.”
“You start with what’s achievable, you do that, and then you go on to what’s achievable from there,” Vance added. “I think if you deport a lot of violent criminals, and frankly, if you make it harder to hire illegal labor — which undercuts the wages of American workers — I think you go a lot of the way to solving the illegal immigration problem. But look, President Trump is absolutely right; you cannot have a border unless you’re willing to deport some people. I think it’s interesting that people focus on, ‘Well, how do you deport 18 million people?’ Let’s start with one million, that’s where Kamala Harris has failed, and then we can go from there.”
Vance will be on the campaign trail on Wednesday, Aug. 14, making a stop in Michigan, a key swing state, while Trump is set address the economy in North Carolina.
Trump will be sitting down for an interview with Elon Musk on Monday night, Aug. 12.
Trump campaign says it was hacked by Iran
There are new concerns over foreign interference in the U.S. election after the Trump campaign said over the weekend it was hacked by Iran.
Both Politico and The Washington Post reported receiving internal Trump documents including research on Trump’s running mate, Sen. Vance, “from an anonymous email account.”
News of a campaign hack comes just as Microsoft said on Friday, Aug. 9, it discovered “evidence that Iranian hackers targeted an email account of a campaign official” back in June. While Microsoft didn’t specify what campaign was impacted in their announcement, a person familiar to the talks told The Washington Post it was Trump’s campaign.
The extent of any sort of hack is not currently known, but the Post said they received hundreds of pages labeled as “confidential.”
USA Gymnastics: Video shows Jordan Chiles should not be stripped of medal
There’s some controversy as the Summer Olympics in Paris reach their end. USA Gymnastics is challenging the ruling of Olympic officials that called for Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal.
Chiles won the medal after the individual floor exercise final last week, after her coach submitted a review of the judges’ scores.
However, the decision this weekend by the court of arbitration for sport said Chiles’ coach had asked for the review four seconds after a one-minute deadline to submit such a request had expired per competition rules, meaning Romania won the bronze.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, USA gymnastics fired back at that ruling, saying it has submitted time-stamped video evidence showing the request was made within the one minute window. Olympic officials have yet to respond to the latest twist in this gymnastics saga.
Tom Cruise closes Paris Olympics with Hollywood ending
Team USA led the way at the 2024 Olympics with the most total medals: 126. It also tied with China for most gold medals, with 40 each.
As Paris marked the conclusion of its Olympics, it was up to the next host city, Los Angeles, to close out the show in style and L.A. brought a Hollywood ending.
Actor Tom Cruise channeled his “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible” roles by jumping off the stadium’s roof in Paris.
He was then handed the Olympic flag by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Olympic great Simone Biles to take back to L.A.
The closing ceremony also saw the musician H.E.R. singing the national anthem, as well as performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Billie Eilish.
Coincidentally, Team USA taking home 126 medals is the most since the U.S. won 174 in 1984 — the last time the Olympics were played in Los Angeles.
Report: Israel agrees to provide security for US in Gaza pier construction
On Thursday, March 7, President Joe Biden announced during his State of the Union address that the U.S. military would be building a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to help in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Now, despite being at odds over a cease-fire, Israel is agreeing to provide a “security bubble” for the U.S. pier project, according to Politico.
Officials familiar with the project told Politico that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be responsible for securing the pier to the beach. However, the project is still in the planning stages and nothing is entirely settled.
A spokesperson confirmed that the IDF will be “coordinating with the U.S. military to facilitate the project” but didn’t provide other details.
According to the United Nations, people in Gaza are facing “imminent famine” as the Israel-Hamas war continues. Once the pier is complete, it will reportedly be used to deliver more than 2 million meals per day.
The U.S. also said that the pier will provide a better way to deliver aid, especially in the wake of deadly incidents involving air-dropped parcels. Twelve Palestinians drowned off the northern Gaza coast trying to reach air-dropped aid parcels, which had landed in the sea.
Another five people were killed in a separate incident involving an air drop, when a parachute failed to deploy properly on a parcel, killing people on the ground. The completion of the U.S.-made pier would eliminate the need for air drops.
However, constructing the pier will take some time. Officials said that the building process will take around two months. When the pier is finished, it will be a floating pier three to five miles offshore and have an 1,800-foot causeway anchored to the beach to be used by ships to offload aid onto.
After aid is taken off the ships, trucks will load it and distribute the aid into Gaza. In order to ensure the pier is completed, workers need to be kept safe.
How the IDF will provide security and “secure” the pier is still unknown. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the project, some lawmakers have serious questions about how the construction process will go.
Rep. Mike Rogers, D-Ala., accused Biden of being politically motivated to build the pier. He cited a protest vote in Michigan’s Democratic primary, in which a large swath of voters wrote in “uncommitted” because of U.S. support for Israel’s military efforts. According to Rogers, this pushed Biden to move “really fast” on the pier. Rogers and some other Democrats reportedly want more answers.
The White House said no American troops will be on the ground to build the pier. However, when asked how that would happen, specifics were not given. The Pentagon said the U.S. military has “unique capabilities” and can do things from just “offshore.”
Pentagon announces $300 million in military aid to Ukraine
The Biden administration announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, March 12, according to CNN. The $300 million package follows months of warning about depleted funds, with officials crediting savings from weapons contracts for the availability of the new funding.
Politico reported that the package comprises of critical artillery ammunition, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-armor systems and more. Senior defense officials explained that negotiations and bundling funding across various areas provided the Pentagon with an additional $300 million for replenishment funding.
While this funding provides temporary relief, it’s not a sustainable solution. Republican leaders in the House have yet to bring a bill providing additional military aid to a vote. The Pentagon underscored the urgency of passing a supplemental bill since the new aid package doesn’t alleviate the need for long-term support.
Last December, the Pentagon warned that funding for security assistance would be exhausted after announcing the previous aid package. Without continued U.S. support, Ukraine risks losing ground to Russia’s assault.
The Biden administration urged the House of Representatives to act on the $60 billion supplemental bill, which has already passed the Senate. However, the House’s Republican leadership’s refusal to bring the bill for a vote has forced the Pentagon to reconsider its approach to providing aid to Ukraine.