The Full Belmonte, 1/30/2024
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Border battle
“House Republicans will hold a markup of their impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas today, moving closer to taking the rare step of impeaching a Cabinet official. Some GOP lawmakers say Mayorkas has committed high crimes and misdemeanors for his handling of the US-Mexico border, even though several constitutional experts have said the evidence does not reach that high bar. The Department of Homeland Security has also blasted House Republicans over its upcoming committee vote, calling it a ‘farce’ and ‘distraction from other vital national security priorities.’ At the same time, former President Donald Trump is aiming to derail a bipartisan deal on the matter, saying he would embrace border policies far more draconian than those being considered.” [CNN]
The U.S. failed to stop a deadly attack on an American military outpost in Jordan because of a drone mix-up.
“The enemy drone approached its target at the same time a U.S. drone was returning to base, leading to confusion over whether the incoming drone was friend or foe, officials said, cautioning that the inquiry was still in an early stage. The enemy drone, launched from Iraq by an Iran-backed militia, killed three U.S. troops and wounded more than 40 on Sunday. An American defense official said that the U.S. has yet to find evidence that Iran directed the attack. Tehran has denied any link to the drone strike and said the accusations were an effort to draw the U.S. into another war in the Middle East.” [Wall Street Journal]
At least 12 employees of the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency had connections to Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault on Israel, according to intelligence reports that the WSJ reviewed.
“Six U.N. Relief and Works Agency workers were part of the Palestinian militants’ attack three and a half months ago. Two of them helped kidnap Israelis; two others were tracked to sites where scores of Israeli civilians were killed. Others coordinated logistics for the assault, including procuring weapons. Around 1,200 of Unrwa’s roughly 12,000 employees in Gaza have ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and an estimated 49% have close relatives who belong to the groups, which the U.S. and others have designated terrorist organizations. Unrwa said that an internal U.N. investigation was under way. Hamas has run Gaza since a 2007 coup.” [Wall Street Journal]
Harvard
“A federal civil rights complaint was filed on Monday against Harvard University on behalf of Muslim and Palestinian students who say the school failed to protect them from harassment and intimidation. The complaint alleges students faced ‘rampant harassment and racist attacks including doxxing, stalking and assault simply for being Palestinian, Muslim and supporters of Palestinian rights.’ Harvard declined to comment. Also on Monday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the US has experienced a ‘relentless’ wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The organization said it received more than 3,500 complaints of bias and discrimination from October to December 2023.” [CNN]
An ex-IRS contractor who leaked Donald Trump’s tax returns was sentenced.
“The case: Charles Littlejohn leaked a slew of confidential tax records in 2019 and 2020. It led to reports showing how the richest Americans for years paid little or no federal taxes.
His sentence: Five years in prison. He received the maximum punishment because he had targeted a sitting president and thousands of others, the judge said yesterday.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Texas requested transgender youths’ medical records from Georgia.
“What to know: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested a clinic’s records late last year, dating back to January 2022. Texas banned gender-affirming care for minors last year.
What it means: The Republican official is looking in multiple states for information about transgender youths. The clinic told The Post it would not turn over patient data.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Middle East
“President Joe Biden met with security advisers on Monday to determine how to respond to the drone attack in Jordan that killed and wounded US service members on Sunday. Biden said the US' response is likely to be more powerful than previous American retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria, although the Pentagon and White House are being careful not to telegraph the administration's plans. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Qatar's prime minister says hostage and ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and Hamas are making ‘good progress to get things back in shape and at least to lay a foundation for the way forward.’ Hamas said today it is reviewing the framework for a potential deal but wants the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.” [CNN]
Royal family
“Britain's King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are both recovering well from their recent hospital stays. Buckingham Palace said King Charles has been discharged from a hospital in London after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old monarch said that he is ‘grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.’ Kensington Palace also announced that Catherine, Princess of Wales, had left the same hospital in London and returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from abdominal surgery. ‘The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world,’ a Kensington Palace spokesperson said.” [CNN]
Critical bolts for an Alaska Airlines jet’s door plug that blew off in midair appear to have been missing when the plane left Boeing’s factory.
“The company and other industry officials increasingly believe the plane maker’s employees failed to put back the bolts when they reinstalled the part on the 737 MAX 9 after opening or removing it during production, according to people familiar with the matter. This is based partly on an apparent absence of bolt markings as well as factory paperwork and process lapses, according to some of them. Airlines have found loose hardware on some MAX 9 jets. In other transportation news, Tesla’s recall fix for its Autopilot software is irritating drivers and disappointing safety advocates.” [Wall Street Journal]
The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average started a busy week with fresh records.
“The benchmark index gained 0.8%, while the Dow added 0.6%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased 1.1%. Investors are gearing up for a packed week. Around 100 S&P 500 companies are due to report earnings, including five of the so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks that have helped propel markets higher. At its meeting tomorrow and Wednesday, the Fed is expected to keep interest rates steady—and take a symbolically important step by no longer signaling that rates are more likely to rise than fall. And Friday brings the latest jobs report.” [Wall Street Journal]
Amazon’s new $2.99 charge for ad-free streaming has some Prime members primed to cancel their service.
“Prime Video’s transition to advertising officially begins today in the U.S., and Amazon has made the ad-supported tier the default for users. Streaming is a relatively small part of Amazon’s business, and many users see Prime Video as a nice add-on, not a reason to pay for the bundled subscription. Commercials on Prime are expected to reach an estimated 159 million global viewers each month, according to a presentation seen by the WSJ. Netflix said this month that its ad-supported tier had 23 million monthly active users globally. Amazon said that the number of Prime members continues to grow, renewal rates are high and ads let the company invest in compelling content. Numerous streamers have raised the prices of their ad-free plans recently.” [Wall Street Journal]
Elon Musk said his company Neuralink implanted a brain chip in a human.
“The details: The patient — the first human to receive a Neuralink chip — underwent the procedure Sunday and is ‘recovering well,’ Musk said yesterday.
Why it matters: The chips could eventually allow people with disabilities to use smartphones or computers with their thoughts. But some experts have safety and ethical concerns.”
Read this story at Washington Post
UPS to Cut 12,000 Jobs as Delivery Business Slows
“United Parcel Service plans to cut about 12,000 jobs this year, a move that the package-delivery giant says would result in $1 billion in savings.”
READ MORE at Wall Street Journal
New rules would make gas and electric stoves more efficient.
“What to expect: Modest energy-efficiency requirements for the kitchen appliances. The rules, set to apply to stoves made in 2028 and later, should save people money on utility bills.
What they won’t do: Ban gas burners, as a Biden official controversially suggested last year. But conservatives will probably still use the rules to cast Biden as a climate radical.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Toyota issued a recall for some of its older cars.
“Why? Air bags in 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix and 2004-2005 RAV4 vehicles could ‘explode and shoot sharp metal fragments’ killing drivers and passengers, Toyota said.
If you have one: You should stop driving it and contact a local dealer to repair or replace the air bags free of charge, Toyota said. The U.S. recall affects about 50,000 vehicles.”
Read this story at Washington Post
A baby great white shark may have been caught on camera.
(Carlos Gauna/Malibu Artist)
“What you’re looking at: A five-foot-long shark spotted off California’s coast in July. It appears to be shedding embryonic fluid, suggesting it may be just hours old, a new study says.
Why it’s exciting: Footage of baby white sharks is rare and it could help to solve the mystery of where their lives begin. But some experts aren’t convinced this is a newborn.”
Read this story at Washington Post