Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) denied allegations on Thursday that she is spearheading a campaign to block Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Defense Secretary and seek the position for herself. Speaking to RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegmann, Ernst insisted she supports a fair confirmation process for Hegseth.
Republican senators are demanding that negotiators remove a provision in the annual defense bill that requires women to register for the Selective Service System.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased its military presence along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights on Friday in response to rapid advances by Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. The move comes as rebel forces, including Islamist factions, capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, forcing regime troops to retreat.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday, dismissing reports that the nomination might be reconsidered. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hegseth’s qualifications, calling him “a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense” and emphasizing his confidence in the Fox News host.
Canada has banned 324 additional assault-style firearms, continuing its push for stricter gun control. This decision builds on a 2020 ban of 1,500 firearm models, which was expanded to over 2,000 last month as more weapons were identified. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the new restrictions, which take effect immediately, stating, “Firearms designed for the battlefield plainly do not belong in our communities.”
A group of transgender rights activists staged a protest Thursday near House Speaker Mike Johnson's office on Capitol Hill, opposing a new policy that restricts bathroom use based on biological sex.
Conservative radio host Ben Ferguson sharply criticized liberal activist Francesca Fiorentini after she accused President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, of rape during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Fiorentini’s comments referenced a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth, which was settled out of court in 2020. Hegseth has consistently denied the allegations, with his attorney stating the settlement was made to protect his career at Fox News.
A family hiking trip in Israel led to an extraordinary discovery when 12-year-old Dafna Filshteiner found an ancient Egyptian amulet dating back over 3,000 years.
The Kosovo government has accused Serbia of orchestrating the bombing of a vital pipeline that supplies water and electricity to northern Kosovo's ethnic Serb population.
