Elon Musk endorsed a post denigrating American workers as unskilled compared to foreign hires, a sentiment echoed by Vivek Ramaswamy, who blamed American culture for prioritizing mediocrity. This sparked outrage among MAGA supporters, notably Laura Loomer, who subsequently lost her X verification. The contrasting views highlight a division within the right, with Musk and Ramaswamy advocating for H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, while some MAGA figures champion prioritizing American jobs. The incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and the American workforce.
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Patrick Egan, a 39-year-old Colorado man, is facing potential bias-motivated charges for assaulting a Pacific Islander television reporter, Ja’Ronn Alex. The attack, which followed a 40-mile pursuit, stemmed from Egan’s questioning of Alex’s citizenship and included a statement referencing “Trump’s America.” Egan tackled and choked Alex, who was reportedly losing breath during the assault partially caught on surveillance video. Egan’s charges include bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment.
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A combined $485 million in humanitarian aid has been delivered to Ukraine, comprised of $465 million from USAID and $20 million from the World Bank, to offset social and humanitarian budget needs. This aid arrives alongside a continued surge in U.S. military aid, preemptively countering concerns of potential future funding cuts. The World Bank’s ongoing support also includes a separate $2.05 billion in Development Policy Operation grants, partially funded by seized Russian assets. These initiatives demonstrate continued international commitment to Ukraine’s stability amidst ongoing conflict.
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Ukrainian forces captured several seriously wounded North Korean soldiers, some of whom later died from their injuries; these are believed to be the first North Korean prisoners of war taken by Ukraine. Intelligence suggests thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to the Kursk region, suffering significant casualties due to minimal protection provided by Russia. Russia’s alleged attempts to conceal these losses include falsifying identification documents and burning the bodies of deceased soldiers. Ukraine warns of the potential for further North Korean troop deployments to Russia.
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Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico warned of potential retaliatory measures against Ukraine, including electricity supply cuts, should Ukraine cease Russian gas transit after January 1st. This decision follows a meeting between Fico and Vladimir Putin, and comes amid Ukraine’s refusal to renew a gas transit deal with Russia. Fico argues that halting transit would harm EU competitiveness and highlighted Slovakia’s reliance on Russian gas despite increased EU efforts to diversify energy sources. The move reflects a shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy under Fico, causing concern among Ukraine and its European allies.
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Ukrainian forces report significant North Korean troop losses in the Kursk region, with both Russian and North Korean commanders viewing them as expendable, resulting in heavy casualties and a lack of protection. The US estimates over 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded last week alone. Simultaneously, the US plans to deliver further military aid to Ukraine, including air defense systems, while Slovakia offers to host potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, a proposition raising concerns in Kyiv. Finally, Ukraine received its first US LNG shipment, bolstering its energy independence.
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Body-worn camera footage from the Marcy Correctional Facility depicts correctional officers fatally beating a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, resulting in an investigation by New York’s attorney general. The video shows officers punching, kicking, and otherwise assaulting Brooks, even placing an object in his mouth before repeatedly striking him. While four officers wore body cameras, audio was not recorded; the Attorney General has vowed a thorough investigation. Governor Hochul and the state Department of Corrections have condemned the actions and promised institutional changes to prevent future incidents.
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An Indian investigation alleges links between numerous Canadian colleges and two Mumbai-based entities accused of facilitating illegal student crossings into the U.S. The probe, launched after the deaths of a family near the Canada-U.S. border, uncovered evidence suggesting these entities arranged Canadian college admissions for students who then illegally crossed the border, never attending their Canadian schools. Indian authorities claim tens of thousands of students were involved, with potentially hundreds of Canadian colleges implicated. The investigation alleges that significant fees were paid for this service.
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Rasha Khazem and her daughter Shams, wife and daughter respectively of Duraid Assad (son of Rifaat Assad, Bashar Assad’s uncle), were apprehended at Beirut airport attempting to depart using forged passports. Their arrest follows Rifaat Assad’s departure the previous day, escaping arrest despite facing Swiss indictments for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The incident highlights the ongoing ramifications of the Syrian conflict and the presence of Assad regime associates in Lebanon. Numerous other individuals connected to the former Syrian regime, including military officials, have also been arrested in Lebanon.
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Following accusations of censorship, at least 14 conservative accounts on X, many affiliated with ConservativeOG, reported losing premium features after criticizing Elon Musk’s immigration stance. These accounts, including prominent figures like Laura Loomer and Ryan Fournier, lost monetization capabilities and blue verification, despite remaining active. Musk attributed the issue to an algorithm reducing reach based on user blocks, a claim met with further accusations of shadowbanning. This incident occurred amidst a heated debate surrounding President-elect Trump’s immigration policy and increased scrutiny of Musk’s pro-immigration views within the MAGA sphere.
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John Q. Hosedrinker