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Category: News
December 9, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Immigration

UN Says 1.5 MILLION People Could Now Flee Syria.

The United Nations (UN) warned up to 1.5 million people would leave Syria as the jihadist offensive was gaining momentum. Rebels led by Saudi-born jihadist Abu Mohammad al-Julani and his Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group—formerly a branch of al-Qaeda—displaced 280,000 people in its initial phase, according to World Food Programme Director for Emergency Coordination Samer AbdelJaber.

“If the fighting continues at this pace, we anticipate up to 1.5 million people needing urgent support,” AbdelJaber said on Friday. “The situation in Syria was not easy before this escalation, so we’re looking at a crisis on top of crisis. And that’s why we’re really emphasizing the urgent need for funding,” he added.

Since then, President Bashar al-Assad’s government, backed by Russia and Iran, has folded rapidly, with HTS now in complete control of the territory formerly under Assad’s sway. This apparently swift end to the fighting could limit the number of Syrians who emigrate to escape the privations of war—but many may still flee, fearing reprisals under the new regime.

The Assad clan hailed from the Alawite sect of Shia Islam, regarded as heretics by the predominantly Sunni Muslim rebels. Syrian Christians and Druze may also fear the accession of a de facto al-Qaeda government, considering their mistreatment by al-Julani’s former comrades in the Islamic State group during earlier stages of the war.

Around one million Syrians migrated to Europe amid the 2015-16 migrant crisis, with chain migration swelling this number to 4.5 million over the following years.

Image by Joachim Seidler.

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The United Nations (UN) warned up to 1.5 million people would leave Syria as the jihadist offensive was gaining momentum. Rebels led by Saudi-born jihadist Abu Mohammad al-Julani and his Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group—formerly a branch of al-Qaeda—displaced 280,000 people in its initial phase, according to World Food Programme Director for Emergency Coordination Samer AbdelJaber. show more
December 9, 2024
Wake Up Right
News

Assad’s Syria Is Over. Here’s What We Know.

Syria’s 50-year Assad dynasty fell this weekend as rebels captured the capitol city of Damascus as President Bashar al-Assad fled the country.

The details: In less than two weeks, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured key cities, Aleppo, Hama, and Hams, before eventually arriving at Damascus, where they faced no resistance from Assad’s forces.

  • Video posted on social media shows the rebels celebrating inside Assad’s former palace and emptying prisons.

Where were their allies? Assad’s two long-time allies, Russia and Iran, were unable [or unwilling] to help — as both are currently bogged down in their own conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, respectively.

Where is Assad? The Kremlin revealed that Assad, known for using chemical weapons on his own people, has fled to Russia and was granted political asylum along with his family.

Let’s talk about the rebels: HTS evolved from an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria. It’s led by Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani, who brands himself as a moderate freedom-fighter, despite formerly working under terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The U.S. considers HTS a terrorist organization and has a $10 million bounty on Jawlani’s head.

  • The flipside: Jawlani issued an edict to his Sunni Muslim rebels, ordering the protection of Christians and Shiite Muslims in Syria, saying: “In the future Syria, we believe that diversity is our strength, not a weakness.” Pardon me for being suspicious of anyone who repeats the leftist mantra ‘diversity is our strength.’

Note: I’ve seen Jawlani’s name spelled three different ways in mainstream media. I’ve decided to use the WSJ’s spelling.

US and Israel strike: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the U.S. struck dozens of ISIS camps and operatives to prevent the terrorist group from seizing power. Israel conducted airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons plants in Syria.

Trump weighs in: President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the events, writing on Truth Social:

  • “In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”

This article is adapted from the free ‘Wake Up Right’ newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

Image by Watchsmart.

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Syria's 50-year Assad dynasty fell this weekend as rebels captured the capitol city of Damascus as President Bashar al-Assad fled the country. show more
December 9, 2024
Breaking
News

Daniel Penny Acquitted in NYC Subway Chokehold Death Case.

Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely following extensive jury deliberations. A New York City judge dismissed the more severe second-degree manslaughter charge against Penny after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision, enabling consideration of the negligent homicide charge.

Jordan Neely died on a subway train on May 1, 2023. Neely, 30, reportedly boarded a Manhattan-bound F train in an agitated state, shouting and making threats. Witnesses and police recounted that Penny, a fellow passenger, attempted to restrain Neely by applying a chokehold, captured in a widely circulated video. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Neely was pronounced dead at the scene. A medical examiner later classified the death as a homicide due to neck compression. Toxicology reports revealed the presence of synthetic marijuana in Neely’s system.

Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initially announced the charges against Penny on June 28, 2023. Penny, who faced a possible 15-year prison term, pleaded not guilty.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented Penny as having used excessive force, while the defense maintained that Penny acted to protect others on the train. The defense cited Penny’s military training and emphasized the absence of safer options to manage Neely’s behavior. The jury’s intricate examination involved reviewing police bodycam footage and testimonies from various witnesses, including passengers and medical experts.

The court conducted jury selection in late October 2024, assembling a panel consisting of diverse backgrounds. The trial officially began at the start of November. Closing arguments from both sides underscored differing interpretations of Penny’s actions, whether they were reckless or protective under perceived threat.

After four days of deliberations and multiple clarifications requested from the court, the jury signaled its inability to convict on the manslaughter charge, resulting in its dismissal. Upon review of the remaining charge, the jury rendered Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, concluding the contentious legal proceedings surrounding Neely’s death. Penny, who had argued self-defense, faced potential imprisonment of up to 15 years if convicted on the manslaughter charge or up to four years for negligent homicide.

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Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely following extensive jury deliberations. A New York City judge dismissed the more severe second-degree manslaughter charge against Penny after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision, enabling consideration of the negligent homicide charge. show more
December 9, 2024
News
SCOTUS

SHOCK: Mike Pence is Actually Doing Something Useful for Once.

Advancing American Freedom, a think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is campaigning for a constitutional amendment to maintain the current structure of the U.S. Supreme Court. The coalition urges U.S. senators to endorse the Keep Nine Amendment, which would preserve the number of Supreme Court justices at nine.

Democrat Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced a proposal to expand the number of justices to 15 in September, which would have allowed a Kamala Harris administration to overturn the Court’s current conservative majority. Democrat Representative Jamie Raskin has also been pushing to expand the Court and control its justices through a so-called “ethics code.”

Advancing American Freedom warns that such proposals could make the Court a political tool, drawing parallels with Venezuela’s judiciary under Hugo Chávez. They contend recent court scandals, including draft opinion leaks and threats against justices, undermine the Court’s independence, and “court-packing” would destroy it altogether.

“With the recent election representing a resounding rejection of such proposals, it is time for Congress and the States to preserve the integrity and independence of the Supreme Court through a constitutional amendment limiting the number of justices on the court to nine,” their letter to U.S. senators states.

Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an attempt to add more justices to the Supreme Court was met with strong bipartisan resistance and was ultimately blocked in the Senate.

Signatories to Advancing American Freedom’s letter include leaders from organizations such as Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, and the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Advancing American Freedom, a think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is campaigning for a constitutional amendment to maintain the current structure of the U.S. Supreme Court. The coalition urges U.S. senators to endorse the Keep Nine Amendment, which would preserve the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. show more
December 9, 2024
War

A Fresh Migrant Crisis Looms.

The Assad regime’s collapse in Syria has raised concerns about fresh instability that may cause a new migrant crisis, especially for Europe, following the 2015 mass movement of mostly fighting-age men who traversed the continent in their millions.

Over the weekend, Bashar al-Assad left Syria, seeking refuge in Russia, after suspected Western-backed rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), captured Damascus, ending a 50-year dynasty. Assad had repelled Western deposition attempts since 2011, for almost 14 years, with Russia’s support.

European leaders cheered on Assad’s collapse, in effect lauding a potential new wave of so-called refugees. French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on the end of what he termed a “barbaric state,” while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized solidarity with anti-Assad Syrians. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer even signaled his nation may remove HTS from its terror list.

Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally, however, cautioned about Islamist power shifts leading to significant migration flows to Europe, drawing parallels with Libya post-2011.

Germany, having absorbed a whopping number of Syrian refugees following Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open border policy, hosts at least a million Syrians.

According to the BBC, Syrians in Berlin have expressed mixed intentions about returning home, with some claiming they will simply stay in Germany. Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany party argued that advocates for a liberated Syria should return home.

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The Assad regime's collapse in Syria has raised concerns about fresh instability that may cause a new migrant crisis, especially for Europe, following the 2015 mass movement of mostly fighting-age men who traversed the continent in their millions. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
When I ran Breitbart London, we had the singular best coverage of the migrant crisis, weeks and months ahead of the corporate media
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When I ran Breitbart London, we had the singular best coverage of the migrant crisis, weeks and months ahead of the corporate media show more
for exclusive members-only insights
jan 6th
December 8, 2024
News

Trump Tells NBC He’ll Pardon J6ers.

President-elect Donald Trump has outlined substantial policy changes he intends to initiate upon taking office on January 20 in a discussion with Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Trump articulated plans to pardon individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 protest at the Capitol, emphasizing his belief that they have faced excessive punishment.

The interview, conducted at Trump Tower, marked his first network television appearance after his latest electoral victory. Trump intends to impose tariffs on imports from significant trading partners, though he acknowledged uncertainty about potential costs. Furthermore, he stated he would not adjust eligibility ages for Social Security and Medicare, dismissing spending cuts in these areas.

On foreign policy, Trump refused to guarantee ongoing support for Ukraine and even indicated a willingness to consider raising the federal minimum wage. He reaffirmed no intent to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and stated his family will not serve as White House advisors.

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President-elect Donald Trump has outlined substantial policy changes he intends to initiate upon taking office on January 20 in a discussion with Kristen Welker on NBC's "Meet the Press." Trump articulated plans to pardon individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 protest at the Capitol, emphasizing his belief that they have faced excessive punishment. show more
December 8, 2024
Immigration

BREAKING: Trump To End ‘Birthright Citizenship’ on Day One.

In an interview on “Meet the Press,” President-elect Donald Trump outlined his plan for immigration policy, emphasizing deportation for those in the United States illegally. Trump expressed a commitment to removing illegal immigrants, starting with those who have committed crimes and expanding to others without specifying which crimes would be prioritized. This approach may also involve U.S. citizens choosing to leave with family members who are undocumented.

Trump’s stance reiterates a key aspect of his campaign platform. He also suggested terminating birthright citizenship via executive action, forecasting potential legal opposition.

Amid controversies surrounding family deportation, Trump spoke of treating families humanely, suggesting mixed-status families might opt to leave the country together instead of facing separation.

While addressing so-called “Dreamers,” Trump indicated a willingness to collaborate with Democrats. This group, comprising those who arrived in the U.S. without documentation as children and are covered under the ‘DACA’ program, might maintain their residency status.

These announcements come amidst record inward illegal immigration patterns during President Joe Biden’s government. Trump’s campaign had foregrounded stricter border controls, often highlighting crimes linked to illegal immigrants.

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In an interview on "Meet the Press," President-elect Donald Trump outlined his plan for immigration policy, emphasizing deportation for those in the United States illegally. Trump expressed a commitment to removing illegal immigrants, starting with those who have committed crimes and expanding to others without specifying which crimes would be prioritized. This approach may also involve U.S. citizens choosing to leave with family members who are undocumented. show more
December 7, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Police Foil Yet Another Christmas Market Terror Plot in Europe.

Police in have foiled yet another terrorist attack plot against a Christmas market, arresting a migrant from Iraq earlier this week. Police in the German city of Augsburg arrested the 37-year-old Iraqi migrant on Wednesday, December 4, after Bavarian authorities were given a tip by a foreign intelligence agency that had monitored the suspect’s online activities.

The Iraqi had allegedly posted online about his support for the terrorist Islamic State group and had posted photographs of the Christmas Market in Augsburg. He had also communicated his desire to drive a vehicle through the market, copying the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack that saw a dozen killed by a rejected Tunisian asylum seeker.

The possible foiled pilot is just the latest this year and follows the arrest of an Islamist teenager in Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein region last month. The 17-year-old Turkish-German in this case was also allegedly plotting an attack on the Christmas market in Elmshorn. He looked to drive a truck through the market, killing as many innocent people as possible.

Last year, two teenagers were also arrested for plotting to attack a Christmas Market in Cologne, stating their intentions online and also expressing support for the Islamic State. The youngest, just 15, was already on a terrorist watchlist prior to his arrest.

Western Europe has seen a wave of terrorist attacks in 2024, with at least 21 terror attacks and attempted attacks reported back in September. Among the attacks that were successfully carried out was a mass stabbing by a Syrian asylum seeker at a diversity festival in Solingen that led to the deaths of three people. The Syrian also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Image by Neitram.

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Police in have foiled yet another terrorist attack plot against a Christmas market, arresting a migrant from Iraq earlier this week. Police in the German city of Augsburg arrested the 37-year-old Iraqi migrant on Wednesday, December 4, after Bavarian authorities were given a tip by a foreign intelligence agency that had monitored the suspect's online activities. show more
December 6, 2024
Education
News
War

Judge Upholds Anti-White Race-Based Admissions at Naval Academy.

A federal judge has affirmed the United States Naval Academy’s ability to factor in a candidate’s race as part of its admissions program. Judge Richard Bennett decided the case in Annapolis on Friday, December 6. It comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision that largely deemed race-based admissions in higher education unconstitutional, though it left room for exceptions elsewhere.

Students for Fair Admissions, the same organization that initiated the Supreme Court case, challenged the Naval Academy’s policy. They argued that the policy discriminates against white candidates who are otherwise qualified.

The Academy defended its admissions approach, stating that having a racially diverse group of naval officers contributes to national security and bolsters the military’s standing.

Judge Bennett said, “The Academy has tied its use of race to the realization of an officer corps that represents the country it protects and the people it leads.”

Following the decision, Students for Fair Admissions signaled plans to appeal, maintaining their opposition to what they see as preferential treatment for minority candidates.

The case comes in the wake of a massive decline in white recruits in the U.S. military, totaling 35 percent over the last five years. While minority groups have increased slightly among military recruits, their numbers have not been enough to fill the gap.

Experts claim the reasons for the decline are multi-faceted, but the infiltration of leftist ideologies and making diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a priority over military readiness are factors.

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A federal judge has affirmed the United States Naval Academy's ability to factor in a candidate's race as part of its admissions program. Judge Richard Bennett decided the case in Annapolis on Friday, December 6. It comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision that largely deemed race-based admissions in higher education unconstitutional, though it left room for exceptions elsewhere. show more
December 6, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare
News

What Just Happened in the Daniel Penny Trial? Manslaughter Charge Dismissed.

The judge in the Daniel Penny trial ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s motion to dismiss the first count, manslaughter in the second degree, despite noting that the State of New York discourages such actions as they can create compromise verdicts. This decision comes after jurors were deadlocked twice in one day over the case concerning the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless schizophrenic with a long arrest record who died on a New York City subway in 2023.

On Friday, jurors passed several notes to the court notifying Judge Maxwell Wiley that they were deadlocked on the count of manslaughter in the second degree. Penny’s justification defense is speculated to have played a significant factor in the deadlock. Following the second note, prosecutors moved to dismiss the count. However, Judge Wiley and Penny’s defense team both noted that it could be seen as materially altering the trial.

BAD NEWS FOR PENNY.

While the dismissal of the first and more serious charge removes a degree of Penny’s jeopardy, the removal of the count does expose him to a potential coercive guilty verdict on the second, lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. In effect, Bragg’s prosecutors have removed Penny’s justification defense as a factor, as the second charge requires a far lower burden of proof. Additionally, the deadlocked jury suggests acquittal for Penny is likely off the table as at least one juror appears intent on a guilty verdict.

New York state does not bar compromise verdicts, though it does discourage the practice. A compromise verdict occurs when a jury becomes deadlocked on a charge and instead opts to convict on a lesser charge as a compromise between jurors who wish to convict and those who want to acquit (or believe the burden of proof was not met for the more serious charge).

The jury has been dismissed for the weekend and will continue deliberations on Monday.

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The judge in the Daniel Penny trial ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's motion to dismiss the first count, manslaughter in the second degree, despite noting that the State of New York discourages such actions as they can create compromise verdicts. This decision comes after jurors were deadlocked twice in one day over the case concerning the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless schizophrenic with a long arrest record who died on a New York City subway in 2023. show more