The Biden-Harris administration is reportedly considering removing the terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian rebel group with ties to Al Qaeda. The move, first reported by Politico, aims to legitimize HTS to provide billions in U.S. humanitarian aid for post-civil war reconstruction in Syria. However, critics warn the decision could backfire, echoing past controversies over similar policy shifts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken faces sharp criticism from Congress for attempting to incorporate an LGBTQ+ agenda into U.S. international diplomacy. In a strongly worded letter obtained by Breitbart News, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accuses Blinken of overstepping his authority and misrepresenting U.S. treaty obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., expressed skepticism about U.S. military strikes in Syria during an interview on CNN’s The Source. Responding to the Biden administration's 75 strikes against ISIS targets, Omar argued that U.S. military involvement is counterproductive to Syria’s progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic institutions.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has been chosen by the House GOP Steering Committee to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee in the next Congress. Mast, a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, was selected over contenders including Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Ann Wagner, R-Mo., according to Axios.
A recent survey reveals that over 44% of Ukrainians trust President-elect Donald Trump, a figure that surpasses support in other European countries. This data, from a New Europe Center poll, signals expectations that Trump will take a more decisive approach to ending the ongoing conflict with Russia.
UCLA has announced that it will offer a comparative literature course in Winter 2025, marking a milestone as the first humanities class at the university to utilize AI-developed materials.
Human rights activists, former corrections officials, and families of crime victims have called on President Biden to commute the sentences of all 40 federal death row inmates before leaving office.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has voiced his support for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), aimed at protecting minors online. Musk’s endorsement comes after X (formerly Twitter) collaborated with the senators to revise the legislation, addressing concerns over potential First Amendment violations.
The U.S. House is poised to vote on the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025, authorizing $895.2 billion for the military, with $849.9 billion allocated directly to the Department of Defense. The 1,813-page bipartisan bill supports service members, defense infrastructure, and U.S. military capabilities.
A new monument dedicated to the families of Pennsylvania’s fallen service members will soon grace the Capitol complex grounds in Harrisburg. The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, authorized by Act 145 of 2024 and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last month, will honor the profound sacrifices made by these families.
