Trumpdate (12.2.24):
Syria rebels, pardon and Patel
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
NEWS NEWS
Syrian Rebellion: Rebels launch major offensive, capturing Aleppo Airport and advancing toward Hama.
Inflation Watch: October CPI remains high at 2.9%, indicating persistent underlying economic pressures.
Presidential Pardon: Biden pardons son Hunter, sparking controversy over political implications.
FBI Nomination Controversy: Trump plans to nominate Kash Patel as FBI director, drawing bipartisan criticism.
NOT NEWS NEWS
Ukraine Aid Insight: Most U.S. aid to Ukraine actually stays within the United States.
Free Speech Concerns: Denmark and UK consider blasphemy laws restricting religious text criticism.
Housing Market Evolution: Median house prices show significant changes between 2000 and 2024.
1.) Syria Rebels Take Aleppo Airport and Attack Hama
The breach of Aleppo is a dramatic shift in the 13-year Syrian civil war and the rebels' largest offensive since 2020.
The conflict in Syria has reignited amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have launched a significant offensive, capturing territories like Aleppo and advancing toward Hama. HTS, formerly linked to al-Qaeda, is attempting to rebrand to broaden support. Meanwhile, the Assad regime faces pressure from weakened allies like Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia, while the fragmented political landscape in northern Syria adds to the instability. The renewed fighting has caused global concern, with the UN warning of severe risks to civilians and regional security.
[SYRIA MAP UPATE] per Thomas van Linge:
[TS] This is just a stunning collapse of the Assad regime. Has Tulsi made any statements?
[RELATED] If you’re wondering how bad Assad and his officers are: NEWS LINE: How a Massacre of Nearly 300 in Syria Was Revealed
2.) October CPI as expected (but high): 2.9%. Core CPI 3.3%
[TS] Seems like underlying inflation pressure is still there.
3.) Biden pardons son Hunter
This pardon wipes away Hunter’s criminal convictions on tax and gun charges despite Biden saying earlier in the year that he wouldn’t grant such a reprieve.
[TS] This is a terrible move. We all get his motivations (and he probably doesn’t care given his political reputation is largely torched), but a move like this will persuade those who still believe in impartial justice that it’s all a pretense — exactly what Trump wants.
Granted, this will have no impact on Trump’s actions. He will pardon whoever he chooses, just as he did during his first term. I expect to see some January 6 pardons right away. While he might use this as a pretense, it’s clear he would have done it regardless.
4.) CNN: Trump plans to replace current FBI director with firebrand Kash Patel, drawing bipartisan fire
President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Kash Patel as FBI director, a move sparking bipartisan concerns due to Patel’s controversial history as a staunch Trump loyalist. Patel has criticized the FBI and advocated for dismantling its Washington headquarters. Known for his role in discrediting the FBI’s Russia investigation and supporting Trump’s claims of a “deep state,” Patel’s potential appointment raises fears of politicizing the bureau. Trump’s announcement comes amid tension over replacing current FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term extends three more years. The Senate faces a likely battle over Patel’s confirmation, reflecting concerns about his capacity to maintain the FBI’s apolitical integrity.
QUICK BITES:
NYT: Pete Hegseth’s Mother Accused Her Son of Mistreating Women for Years
[TS] Oof, your own mother…
Trump nominates Charles Kushner (Jared’s father) as his Ambassador to France.
Three men in a Dublin nightclub followed a Jewish student into the bathroom before asking if he was Jewish and assaulting him.
Russian troops in eastern Ukraine have seized at least 10 villages and settlements in roughly as many days, according to a group with ties to the Ukrainian Army.
At least 68 people have fallen ill across 19 U.S. states in a salmonella outbreak believed to be linked to cucumbers.
5.) WaPo: Ukraine aid’s best-kept secret: Most of the money stays in the U.S.A.
[TS] If you’re looking for a great breakdown of the dollars, AEI has some great data/charts HERE.
6.) Blasphemy laws are making the rounds in open democracies.
Denmark: Introduced a law prohibiting improper treatment of religious texts, including the Quran, following incidents of public burnings.
UK: MP Tahir Ali asked the PM introduce measures to prohibit desecration of religious texts and targeted vilification of all the prophets of the Abrahamic faiths.
[TS] Embarrassing and spineless surrender to nations who value the free exchange of ideas.
7.) Median House Price 2000 vs 2024
Prices are adjusted for inflation. [TS] Rather remarkable even after the ’08 crash. Data by StatisticUrban:
2000:
2024:
