The Full Belmonte, 12/18/2023
“U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Israel today as the Biden administration continues to urge Israel to more carefully target Hamas and its leaders and avoid civilian casualties in its military offensive. Nearly 19,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry. An extended communications blackout was partially lifted last night after about four days.
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
Protests in Tel Aviv following the deaths of the three Israeli hostages have increased calls for a new hostage deal and cease-fire, NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports on Up First. On Friday, three Israeli hostages held by Hamas were mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli troops in northern Gaza. Demonstrators are ‘camping out 24/7’ in front of the war cabinet building until a deal is reached.” [NPR]
Immigration
“Less than a month before the Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump is leaning into anti-immigrant rhetoric in early-voting states to fire up his base. At campaign stops over the weekend, the Republican frontrunner said migrants are ‘poisoning the blood’ of the US and quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ‘rottenness’ of American democracy. In Nevada – which is third on the GOP nominating calendar and also has a large Latino population — he claimed Saturday that migrants were ‘invading’ the US from prisons and ‘mental institutions’ in other countries and reiterated his promise to conduct the ‘largest deportation operation in American history.’ Meanwhile, analysts say Trump's lead among GOP base voters remains strong as he prepares to expand his administration's hardline immigration policies.” [NPR]
Florida Republicans Strip Powers of Embattled Party Chairman
The party on Sunday removed almost all the authority of Christian Ziegler, who faces a criminal investigation and has resisted calls to resign.
By Eric Adelson and Patricia Mazzei
Eric Adelson reported from Orlando, Fla., and Patricia Mazzei from Miami.
Dec. 17, 2023
“The embattled chairman of the Republican Party of Florida was censured and stripped of his duties and salary on Sunday, decisions that all but ousted him from the party’s top post as he faces a criminal investigation into an accusation that he sexually assaulted a woman.
In an emergency meeting in Orlando, Fla., the party’s executive committee stopped short of immediately forcing out Christian Ziegler, the chairman. But the votes to declare him unfit for office, remove almost all of his authority and reduce his salary to $1 were seen among many party members as the final steps before his potential removal from office.
Mr. Ziegler, 40, has been under criminal investigation in Sarasota, Fla., where he lives, since October, when a woman told the police that he had sexually assaulted her. He has not been charged and has denied any wrongdoing. He has also refused to resign since the investigation became public last month, despite sustained pressure from Republicans, ranging from the governor to county-level chairs, for him to step down.
Mr. Ziegler attended the private meeting of the party’s 40 executive committee members, apologizing to them for the situation but arguing that holding Sunday’s meeting was improper. The votes against him, however, were unanimous….” Read more at New York Times
Florida Sex Scandal Shakes Moms for Liberty, as Group’s Influence Wanes
The conservative group led the charge on the Covid-era education battles. But scandals and losses are threatening its power.
By Lisa Lerer and Patricia Mazzei
Dec. 16, 2023
“Moms for Liberty, a national right-wing advocacy group, was born in Florida as a response to Covid-19 school closures and mask mandates. But it quickly became just as well known for pushing policies branded as anti-L.G.B.T.Q. by opponents.
So when one of its founders, Bridget Ziegler, recently told the policethat she and her husband, who is under criminal investigation for sexual assault, had a consensual sexual encounter with another woman, the perceived disconnect between her public stances and private life fueled intense pressure for her to resign from the Sarasota County School Board.
‘Most of our community could not care less what you do in the privacy of your own home, but your hypocrisy takes center stage,’ said Sally Sells, a Sarasota resident and the mother of a fifth-grader, told Ms. Ziegler during a tense school board meeting this week. Ms. Ziegler, whose husband has denied wrongdoing, said little and did not resign.
Ms. Sells was one of dozens of speakers who criticized Ms. Ziegler — and Moms for Liberty — at the meeting, an outcry that underscored the group’s prominence in the most contentious debates of the pandemic era.
Perhaps no group gained so much influence so quickly, transforming education issues from a sleepy political backwater to a rallying cry for Republican politicians. The organization quickly became a conservative powerhouse, a coveted endorsement and a mandatory stop on the G.O.P. presidential primary campaign trail.
Yet, as Moms for Liberty reels from the scandal surrounding the Zieglers, the group’s power seems to be fading. Candidates endorsed by the group lost a series of key school board races in 2023. The losses have prompted questions about the future of education issues as an animating force in Republican politics.
Donald J. Trump, the dominant front-runner for the party’s nomination, makes only passing reference in his stump speeches to preserving ‘parental rights’ — the catchphrase of the group’s cause. Issues like school curriculums, transgender students’ rights and teaching about race were far less prominent in the three Republican primary debates than abortion rights, foreign policy and the economy. And the most prominent champion of conservative views on education — Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida — has yet to unite conservatives behind his struggling presidential bid….” Read more at New York Times
WORLD
”U.N. Calls for Investigation of Deaths at Hospital That Israel Says Was Hamas Command Center - Israeli military says it detained militants and found weapons at Kamal Adwan Hospital, where staff say patients died from lack of water, other supplies.” [Wall Street Journal]
A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers as war with Russia grinds on
“A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country. As Russian forces aim to push deeper into eastern Ukraine this winter so that Russian President Vladimir Putin can cite this momentum as he campaigns for reelection, Ukrainian soldiers say they remain fiercely determined to win, despite a disappointing counteroffensive this summer and signs of wavering financial support from allies. Read more.
Why this matters:
A bleak mood is growing. The fatigue and frustration on the battlefield are mirrored in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, where disagreements among leaders have recently spilled out into the open. Discontent among Ukrainian soldiers — once extremely rare and expressed only in private — is also more common now.
A shift in defense. As winter approaches, Russia is looking better equipped for battle and Ukraine is mainly focused on standing its ground, according to interviews with a half dozen military commanders. Analysts say Ukraine may even be forced to cede patches of previously reclaimed territory this winter, though Russia is likely to pay a heavy price.
A lack of drones and men. Some Ukrainian commanders across the front line say they lack the fighters and firepower needed to keep Russia’s seemingly endless waves of infantrymen at arm’s length as they fortify defenses to protect soldiers. That places ever more importance on attack drones — a weapon, they say, that Russia is currently better equipped with.” [AP News]
Egypt’s Sisi wins reelection. Now he faces an economic crisis and a war raging next door.
“After results announced Monday showed Egypt’s strongman clinching a third term in an election whose outcome was never in doubt, President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi must contend with rising public anger over a collapsing economy and the conflict in Gaza.”
Read more at Washington Post
North Korea
“North Korea launched a possible intercontinental ballistic missile today that exhibited the range to hit anywhere in the US, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. The missile could have a flying range of over 9,320 miles, ‘meaning the whole of the US territory would be within range,’ Shingo Miyake, parliamentary vice-minister of defense, told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo. The test missile flew for about 73 minutes before falling into the sea west of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It shows a maturing North Korean missile program, defense experts say.” [CNN]
“A test for Hong Kong's justice: Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has gone on trial on charges of breaching national security and colluding with foreign forces. Here's more on how the self-made millionaire was arrested under a security law which China is accused of using to crush dissent.” [BBC]
“In Belgrade: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has claimed victory in snap parliamentary elections, saying his party is heading for an absolute majority. Opposition parties have claimed electoral fraud favouring the government, and called for a recount.” [BBC]
“Chile says no: Chileans have rejected a new constitution proposed by conservative delegates that would have affected laws in areas including abortion access, the ability to strike and rights for indigenous people.” [BBC]
“Australia: Flash floods in north Queensland have led to an entire town being evacuated and people getting trapped on a hospital roof. So far no deaths or missing people have been reported, but a crocodile was seen swimming in floodwater in the middle of the street.” [BBC]
“Hong Kong’s No. 1 national security target is getting his day in court after more than 1,000 in prison. A guilty verdict could see Jimmy Lai die behind bars.
The trial of the former media mogul has come to symbolize Beijing’s determination to crack down on political dissent in the city after sweeping anti-government protests in 2019.
For some, Lai is the last defender of democracy. As he entered the court, there were signs of muffled emotion in the public gallery where more than 100 people gathered to witness the trial: Some teared up and others silently waved support as he briefly smiled at the crowd.
Among them was JC, who queued for 12 hours overnight: ‘I want him to know he’s not alone.’
With the threat of any large-scale political protest now firmly quashed, the problem for Hong Kong’s government is not Lai’s supporters in the city but those overseas.
The 76-year-old’s case resonates well beyond those at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court today. The presence of diplomats from the US, UK and French consulates, among others, underscores just how closely Western governments are scrutinizing the case. Lawmakers from Washington to Westminster and Brussels are already voicing their criticism.
The risk for Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is that the case — which may see Lai handed a life sentence — becomes yet another geopolitical flashpoint, destabilizing the fragile easing of tensions between China and the US.
There was no official word if the global dimensions of the case came up when Lee met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. Instead, Xi commended him for taking Hong Kong from ‘chaos to order.’ — Rebecca Choong Wilkins [Bloomberg]
Jimmy Lai at a protest in Hong Kong in August 2019. Photographer Justin Chin/Bloomberg
“Any call for a cease-fire with Hamas is a ‘prize for terrorism,’ Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said after France, the UK and Germany urged efforts toward halting the war as the civilian death toll mounts. International pressure is steadily intensifying against Israel in the third month of the war, including from the US, which is prodding the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shift tactics.” [Bloomberg]
“President Vladimir Putin said Russia has no intention of attacking NATO countries, describing as ‘nonsense’ claims by Biden that Moscow poses a threat to them. Putin’s comments appeared aimed at weakening the resolve of Ukraine’s US and European allies, with more than $100 billion of aid to Kyiv held up by political disputes. Putin repeatedly denied he’d attack Ukraine prior to the February 2022 invasion.” [Bloomberg]
Putin is seen on a screen in Red Square, Moscow, in September 2022 for a ceremony marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine. Photographer: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images
“Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s days in office may be numbered, with an overwhelming majority of voters wanting him out by the end of his term in September at the latest, a recent poll showed. While he’s attempted to salvage his government by ousting ministers accused of concealing campaign funds, it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to stop the fallout from spreading.” [Bloomberg]
“More Chinese agencies and government-backed firms have ordered staff to stop bringing iPhones and other foreign devices to work, setting in motion an unprecedented prohibition that’s likely to block Apple and Samsung from parts of the world’s biggest mobile market.” [Bloomberg]
“Former South African President Jacob Zuma plans to vote for a newly registered political party in 2024 elections, a potential blow to chances of the ruling African National Congress maintaining its majority.” [Bloomberg]
Transportation Department fines Southwest Airlines $140 million for Christmas meltdown in 2022
“Federal officials also ordered Southwest to establish a $90 million fund to compensate passengers affected by future delays, citing multiple violations during extensive cancellations around Christmas and New Year’s last year. Southwest disputed the agency’s legal conclusions but agreed to accept the fine, which is 30 times larger than any issued for breaches of airline consumer protections.”
Read more at Washington Post
The number of fake news sites has increased by over 1,000% since May.
“The breakdown: Websites hosting AI-created false articles have increased from 49 to more than 600, according to an organization that tracks misinformation.
It’s a problem: AI is making it easy for nearly anyone, from spies to bored teens, to create these outlets and produce false information about elections, wars and natural disasters.”
Read this story at Washington Post
The NFL playoff picture started to take shape this weekend.
“Who’s in? The Baltimore Ravens became the first AFC team to earn a spot, winning last night in Jacksonville. The San Francisco 49ers won in Arizona to clinch first in the NFC West.
Other movers: The Dallas Cowboys — who lost yesterday — and Philadelphia Eagles also locked up postseason spots with three weeks to go in the regular season.
Tonight: The Eagles are in Seattle to face the Seahawks (8:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN), who remain in the playoff hunt. But if Seattle loses, the Detroit Lions clinch.”
Read this story at Washington Post
A massive solar flare launched off the sun.
(NOAA/NASA)
“What to know: The flare — an intense burst of radiation — was unleashed by the sun last week. It was the most powerful eruption recorded since Sept. 10, 2017.
Its impact: The flare triggered a shortwave radio blackout over Central and South America. Some U.S. National Weather Service aviation centers reported interference.”
Read this story at Washington Post