The Defense Department disclosed on Thursday that the Biden administration has more than doubled the number of U.S. troops in Syria, increasing the total from approximately 900 to around 2,000.
Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s top official for the Middle East, will travel to Damascus this week, marking a significant step in U.S. diplomatic engagement with Syria.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is optimistic about the future of Second Amendment rights with President-elect Donald Trump in the White House. After years of battling anti-gun policies in Washington and state capitals, NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Doug Hamlin expressed excitement about working with Trump on several pro-gun initiatives. The NRA is eager to support Trump in pushing for national concealed carry reciprocity and reforms at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed 103 people and caused an estimated $53 billion in damages, North Carolina has received significant aid for recovery efforts, including over $1.1 billion in state relief and billions more in federal requests. The storm, considered the state’s worst natural disaster, has prompted both state and federal governments to take action, though criticism has followed regarding the adequacy of those efforts.
The attorneys general of Montana and Wyoming have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration following its announcement to halt federal coal production in the Powder River Basin. The Basin, which covers 20,000 square miles in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana, accounts for 85% of federal land-produced coal.
