Israeli Vote on Cease-Fire Is Delayed as Diplomats Work on Details

January 16, 2025

Negotiators raced on Thursday to resolve last-minute disputes in a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would free hostages and halt the violence that has devastated Gaza over the past 15 months.

The disputes helped delay by at least one day a critical Israeli vote to approve the deal.

Even though negotiators for Israel and Hamas reached a provisional agreement on Wednesday, they continued to discuss outstanding issues through mediators. The Israeli cabinet, whose approval is needed to move the cease-fire ahead, had been expected to vote on it on Thursday, but the vote was postponed.

The deal has reopened deep divides in Israel, where hard-line members of the governing coalition vehemently oppose a cease-fire. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right minister for national security, announced on Thursday night that his party would resign from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition should the cabinet approve the cease-fire deal.

The move threatens to destabilize the government at a critical time but should not, in and of itself, prevent the deal from moving ahead.

The United States, which spent months struggling to broker a deal alongside Qatar and Egypt, downplayed the delay and insisted that the cease-fire would take effect on Sunday as planned.

“I am confident and fully expect implementation will begin,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told reporters on Thursday. “It’s not exactly surprising that in a process, a negotiation, that has been this challenging — this fraught — we may get a loose end. We’re tying up that loose end as we speak.”

He added that he had been on the phone with the U.S. envoy to the region and Qatari officials, seeking to resolve final questions.

In Israel, the office of the prime minister accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement.

“There isn’t any deal at the moment,” Mr. Netanyahu’s spokesman, Omer Dostri, said in a text message on Thursday. “Therefore, there’s no cabinet meeting.”

A Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, said that the group remained committed to the deal announced by mediators.

The last-minute disagreements over the deal have included questions of which Palestinians could be released and how Israeli forces would deploy along Gaza’s border with Egypt during the truce, Mr. Dostri said.

After many months of watching negotiations to reach a cease-fire collapse repeatedly, many Gazans, Israelis and others expressed only tempered hope about the fate of the current deal.

“I wish I could say I am happy,” said Fadia Nassar, a 43-year-old who lost her home in northern Gaza, displacing her to the south. The deal, she said, could “collapse for any reason.”

“My heart is broken,” she added. “I will probably stay in a tent. Hundreds of thousands will end up in tents.”

And deadly Israeli airstrikes went on in Gaza on Thursday, with the Israeli military saying it had hit about 50 targets across the territory over the past day.

“The reality in the Strip remains very difficult and catastrophic,” said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense, an emergency service under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

Recent Israeli attacks in the territory killed at least 81 people and injured nearly 200 others, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The Civil Defense said that Israeli strikes had killed at least 77 people since the deal had been announced. The claims could not be independently verified.

The Israeli military said its recent targets included militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, their compounds, weapons storage areas and other sites, adding that “numerous steps” were taken to prevent civilian harm before the strikes.

Mediators hope the cease-fire deal — which would begin with a 42-day truce and the release of some hostages — will ultimately end the war that began with the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, when about 1,200 people in Israel were killed and 250 taken hostage. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed tens of thousands of Gazans and forced nearly the entire population of the enclave to flee their homes.

In Israel, Mr. Ben-Gvir and other hard-line members of Mr. Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in Israel’s history, have opposed the deal and pushed for the war to go on until Hamas is eliminated.

Mr. Ben-Gvir’s party, Jewish Power, holds six seats in the 120-seat Parliament, and the party’s withdrawal from the governing coalition would reduce its majority from 68 to a razor-thin 62. He said his party would offer to rejoin the government should it resume the war against Hamas.

Earlier on Thursday, dozens of demonstrators in Israel blocked a main highway in Jerusalem to protest the deal, eventually being dispersed by the police.

One of the protesters, Eliyahu Shahar, 21, said the agreement posed a threat to Israel’s safety and should be rejected, “even if it means more hostages will die.”

If it comes to a vote, the cease-fire agreement is expected to gain Israel’s approval even without the support of two far-right parties in the governing coalition. Families of hostages have hailed the deal, and opposition parties have broadly committed to propping up Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition, if necessary, to secure the implementation of an agreement that would free the Israelis still held in Gaza.

“This is more important than all the differences of opinion that there have ever been between us,” Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, said in a statement.

Yona Schnitzer, 36, a marketing writer from Tel Aviv, said he felt “careful optimism” about the deal. “I hope the deal will actually happen this time,” he said. “If it’s confirmed and a done deal, I’ll feel relief, firstly because hostages will come home, and secondly because it will bring us closer to ending this war.”

The cease-fire deal would begin with an initial phase lasting six weeks. It would involve the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow the entry into Gaza of 600 trucks carrying humanitarian relief daily, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The New York Times.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, described the cease-fire agreement as “the hope the region desperately needed.” But she added that the situation in Gaza remained grim. She announced that Europe would provide $123 million in aid for Gazans this year, along with in-kind aid such as food shipments.

Diplomats hope the first phase of the deal would then lead to more permanent conditions, a point Mr. Blinken stressed on Thursday.

“It’s going to take tremendous effort, political courage, compromise, to realize that possibility, to try to ensure the gains that have been achieved over the past 15 months at enormous, excruciating costs are actually enduring,” he said.

But in Gaza, where ruins dominate the landscape and huge questions remain over what a postwar future will look like, uncertainty and exhaustion reigned.

“It’s undoubtedly a good feeling to hear about the cease-fire,” said Nizar Hammad, a 31-year-old who lost his home in Gaza City. “But when I think about life after the war, I think about the suffering that will continue. The scale of destruction and loss is enormous.”

“Honestly, I feel numb,” said Aseel Mutier, a 22-year-old from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, whose 16-year-old brother was killed during the war and whose house was destroyed last week.

“We are just waiting for Sunday,” she added. “We don’t know what will happen between now and then.”

Rawan Sheikh Ahmad contributed reporting from Haifa, Israel, and Isabel Kershner and Natan Odenheimer from Jerusalem.

Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary pick, grilled on tax cuts, tariffs : NPR

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January 16, 2025

US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury on January 16, 2025.

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We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or sign up for our Politics newsletter to stay up to date.

Who: Scott Bessent

Nominated for: Secretary of Treasury

You might know them from: The longtime investor and hedge fund manager was little known outside of Wall Street until he became one of the top economic advisers to President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

Bessent is a former protégé of George Soros, the billionaire investor and Democratic mega donor.
After Trump won the election in November, Bessent won an unusually public – and messy – contest to be nominated for the Treasury Secretary role.
His husband and children sat behind Bessent at today’s hearing. If confirmed, he will become the first openly gay, Senate-confirmed Cabinet official in a Republican administration.

What does this role do: The Secretary of the Treasury advises on economic policy and the financial system. If confirmed, Bessent will be responsible for implementing Trump’s proposed economic policies, including tax cuts and sweeping tariffs.

Here’s what happened at the hearing

Trump’s promised tax cuts, and their potential consequences for the U.S. economy, took center stage at Bessent’s confirmation hearing.

“This is the single most important economic issue of the day,” Bessent told members of the Senate Finance Committee. “This is pass-fail. If we do not fix these tax cuts, if we do not renew and extend, then we will be facing an economic calamity, and as always, with financial instability that falls on the middle and working class.”

Trump overhauled the tax code during his first administration, in 2017. The changes are largely set to expire this year – meaning that his second administration will have an opportunity to again reshape tax policy for years to come.

Over more than three hours, Bessent calmly fielded questions from Democrats and praise from Republicans. Sen. Mike Crapo, the Idaho Republican who now chairs the committee, praised Bessent for his “very, very straightforward, courteous, and honorable” responses, as well as his underlying qualifications for the job: “Your background, your training, everything is tailor-made for this role.”

Democrats repeatedly pressed Bessent over the impact of Trump’s proposed tax cuts on the national deficit and on income inequality in the United States. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has estimated that extending the 2017 law would increase the national debt by more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years.

“We want a tax code that gives everyone in America a chance to get ahead … and there’s a long way to go to get it done,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in his closing remarks.

Bessent also fielded questions over many of Trump’s other proposed economic policies. Tariffs have been a particularly contentious topic: Economists warn that Trump’s sweeping proposals could restart inflation.

But Bessent downplayed these concerns. At one point, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked Bessent if he thought any of Trump’s economic policies would increase inflation.

“Nothing I can immediately think of,” Bessent responded.

A South Carolina native turned Wall Street investor, Bessent repeatedly argued that he would prioritize Main Street consumers over his wealthy peers.

“I believe Wall Street has done great the past few years, and that Main Street has suffered. I think it’s Main Street’s time,” Bessent said.

Bessent owns assets worth at least $500 million, and potentially much more, according to his personal financial disclosures. If confirmed, he would be a member of the wealthiest White House ever.

In his farewell address on Wednesday evening, President Biden warned “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

At Thursday’s hearing, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, asked Bessent if he agreed with Biden. Bessent did not directly answer the question.

CNN defamation trial goes to the jury after powerful closing arguments

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January 16, 2025

Lawyers delivered powerful closing arguments on Thursday as U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young’s high-profile defamation trial against CNN heads to the jury.

Young alleges CNN smeared him in a November 2021 report by correspondent Alex Marquardt that first aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” suggesting he illegally profited off desperate people trying to flee Afghanistan following the Biden administration’s military withdrawal, implying he was involved in “black market” dealings and ruining his professional reputation as a result.

“It was a calculated attack by CNN on his character that has inflicted deep and lasting wounds,” Young’s lead counsel Vel Freedman told jurors.

“Zak’s ability to walk into a room with pride and being seen as a professional with integrity has been stripped away. His pain and suffering, mental anguish, seeing his name dragged through the mud,” Freedman added. “These are injuries that transcend monetary loss. They pierce the soul of who he is, who he was.”

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: JUDGE SCOLDS CNN’S LEAD COUNSEL, ORDERS APOLOGY TO PLAINTIFF: ‘THIS ISN’T KINDERGARTEN’

Vel Freedman delivers his closing remarks in Zachary Young’s defamation trial against CNN.

Freedman said the “scars of this humiliation… will never go away,” and reminded jurors that Young testified to being on medication and in treatment for depression and panic attacks.

“This was a former Navy SEAL trainee, a CIA operative, he can’t function anymore,” Freedman said.

“No man or woman should have to endure that pain,” he continued. “And certainly not because [CNN] wants clicks and views.”

Freedman accused CNN of “deliberately” leaving out key facts from the on-air report that was shown on multiple programs, such as that Young “never expected Afghans to pay” any fees and that he was only working with corporate sponsors.

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: NETWORK’S FAIRNESS CHIEF DEFENDS CONTROVERSIAL REPORT AT CENTER OF LAWSUIT

U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, the plaintiff in the CNN defamation lawsuit. (Jessica Costescu)

Freedman also reminded jurors that many CNN staffers testified that the “black market” term was accurate and others said the network’s on-air apology was not necessary. CNN senior vice president of news and executive editorial director Adam Levine even admitted under oath that CNN only apologized to Young for legal purposes.

“None of them are sorry. All of them said they would do it again,” Freedman told jurors.

Freedman pointed to Levine’s testimony that there was “no conspiracy” against Young but told jurors that rhetoric in CNN’s internal documents proves otherwise.

He called for jurors to “change the course of history” by holding CNN accountable and “cure this injustice.”

Freedman also summarized who Young was prior to the CNN segment, discussing his relationships with his mother, wife and professional and military background. He referred to Young as a “former spy,” who was trained by the Central Intelligence Agency, Blackwater and Navy SEALs.

“Zak was at the peak of his professional career,” Freedman said.

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: REPORTER PRESSED ON HIS HEAVY PURSUIT OF NAVY VETERAN AS DEFENSE DOWNPLAYED INVOLVEMENT

CNN faces a defamation lawsuit as the network gears up for Thursday’s presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump.

The segment at the heart of the trial first aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” (CNN/Screenshot)

Young has testified that he helped rescue at least 22 women and one baby from Afghanistan on behalf of corporate sponsors, including Bloomberg Media and Amazon-owned Audible. While that was omitted from the CNN report, Freedman told jurors that Young was painted as a “predator” operating on the “black market.”

Freedman also reminded jurors of some major highlights of the eight-day trial, such as CNN reporter Katie Bo Lillis not revealing to Young that he would be the focus of a story, Marquardt admitting he had no evidence Young took advantage of any Afghans, Jake Tapper’s teasers used to promote the segment about “desperate Afghans being preyed on,” salty language used to describe Young found on CNN internal communications and video of Marquardt joking that his alleged phone call to Young was “theater.”

Freedman noted that Young’s past contract stated he would be terminated for operating on a “black market,” and suggested a conspiracy was occurring after seven different CNN staffers defined the term as “unregulated” instead of illegal.

“Do not allow CNN to rewrite the English language to avoid liability in this case,” Freedman said.

Freedman also argued that CNN’s internal mentions of “extortion” and “fraud” from the report’s inception make it clear the network knew from the beginning that they were investigating Young for illegal activity, undercutting how they define “black market.”

“You have a tool to save American media. It’s called punitive damages. Use it,” Freedman said.

“Use your common sense. What was he hiding? CNN had the facts,” he said, telling jurors they were the “arbiters of justice and that their decision could “send a message to other media companies.”

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: EDITOR INSISTS INVOKING ‘BLACK MARKET’ WAS ACCURATE DESPITE NETWORK’S APOLOGY FOR REPORT

Young alleges CNN smeared him in a November 2021 report by correspondent Alex Marquardt that first aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," suggesting he illegally profited off desperate people trying to flee Afghanistan following the Biden administration's military withdrawal, implying he was involved in "black market" dealings and ruining his professional reputation as a result.

CNN lead counsel David Axelrod delivers his closing argument. (Fox News Media)

CNN lead counsel David Axelrod, who shares a name with the network’s on-air pundit, delivered the defense’s closing remarks. He began by urging the jury to really look at the evidence and “do the right thing,” instructing them to use “common sense.”

Axelrod cautioned that he would repeatedly use the term “common sense” during his remarks.

“Are you seeing a conspiracy or are you seeing folks trying to do their best?” Axelrod asked.

He told them their job is not to “deliver a message” to the media but rather to use common sense and determine what actually happened. Axelrod called CNN’s reporting “tough but fair,” and suggested Young “put himself” in the story with LinkedIn messages visible to Afghans.

He suggested Young didn’t suffer any actual damages, telling jurors that no witnesses showed up to say they didn’t hire him because of the CNN report. Axelrod told jurors that an activist named Jill Kornetsky tipped CNN reporters off to Young because he was “out there on LinkedIn” offering his services and she “saw it as something wrong.”

Axelrod hit Young for a prior admission that he didn’t doubt Marquardt attempted to call him during a pre-trial deposition, suggested CNN has a strong fact-checking apparatus, dismissed the notion that two hours was not enough time for Young to respond with his side of the story before CNN aired its report, and insisted the story didn’t focus on Young solely and used his own words and messages.

“He didn’t want the story to come out,” Axelrod said.

“It doesn’t mean that CNN defamed him,” Axelrod added. “If this was trying to harm Mr. Young because they hate him, why would they include his own words?”

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: JAKE TAPPER TESTIFIES HE DOESN’T ‘PAY ATTENTION TO RATINGS,’ ONLINE POSTS SAY OTHERWISE

Plaintiff Zachary Young alleges that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from the country in 2021. (CNN/Screenshot)

Axelrod said the definition of “black market” doesn’t matter because when looking at the words “in context,” it was used in an “accurate” way to describe the situation in Afghanistan.

Axelrod argued that more people watched the on-air apology more than the original report itself, omitting that the report aired more on CNN than the apology itself. He also dismissed staffers who disagreed with the apology, saying if Young never filed a lawsuit, the apology would have been the final word on the matter.

CNN’s lawyer also touted the network’s journalism ethics and accused Young of misleading doctors when claiming he was in Afghanistan during the evacuations to get a stronger diagnosis about his mental health.

“At the end of the day you need to look at all the evidence and see if it makes sense… use your common sense,” Axelrod said.

“Defamation is called defamation because it hurts someone,” he added. “There are no witnesses to support that. Not a single one.”

Axelrod also suggested Young might have deleted LinkedIn messages in which he talked money with Afghans, reminded jurors the plaintiff relied largely on paid expert witnesses and pointed out that no Austrian doctors were called, as Young currently resides in Austria. He said CNN was not “negligent,” the publication did not imply that Young was taking money directly from Afghans and that nobody other than Young himself viewed the story in a negative way.

“Use your common sense,” Axelrod told jurors, adding that punitive damages are “not warranted.”

The ongoing trial can be streamed live here.

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Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @briansflood.

Mark Carney Launches Bid to Be Canada’s Next Prime Minister

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January 16, 2025

Mark Carney, one of the world’s most prominent central bankers and an evangelist of green investment, announced on Thursday that he was running to be leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and the country’s next prime minister. If he wins, he would lead the party into national elections this year.

“I’m here to ask for your support,” Mr. Carney, 59, said as he announced his candidacy in Edmonton, Alberta. “I’m here to earn your trust.’’

Mr. Carney also said the country faced major challenges that he was prepared to take on. “My generation of Canadians is lucky,” he said. “We had a good time. A time to prosper. The system that our parents built worked well for us. But those good old times, my friends, are over. Our times are anything but ordinary.”

Canadian politics have been in turmoil since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement this month that he intended to step down, leaving the job after nearly a decade in power amid the steady fading of his once starry global profile.

Mr. Trudeau leaves a treacherous legacy to whomever succeeds him as leader of the Liberals. The party is in tatters, with the opposition Conservatives leading the Liberals by more than 25 percentage points in recent opinion polls as voters have grown disenchanted with the country’s direction.

Mr. Carney, who served as an informal economic adviser to Mr. Trudeau during the pandemic, is seeking to portray himself as an outsider and distance himself from Mr. Trudeau’s recent policy struggles, including soaring housing costs, an overstretched health care system and high prices for everyday goods.

Mr. Carney is likely to brandish his command of economics as a heavyweight on the global stage — he led the central banks in Canada and England — at a time when President-elect Donald J. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods exported to the United States.

Such an across-the-board move would ravage Canada’s economy, though it would also hurt the United States. (Mr. Trump has also threatened tariffs against Mexico).

But it remains to be seen if Mr. Carney can convince voters that he did not play a role in Mr. Trudeau’s stewardship of the country. Even before he officially announced his candidacy, Conservatives had been quick to point out Mr. Carney’s ties to Mr. Trudeau.

Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party leader, has called him “the ultimate liberal insider” and “Just like Justin,” sharing a photo on X of Mr. Carney and Mr. Trudeau seated close together and smiling, and adding a comment: “The bond between these two men is almost touching.”

Candidates to lead the Liberal Party will campaign to woo party members before they vote in March. Once a new leader takes charge, Mr. Trudeau will officially step down and the new party leader will also become prime minister. A general election is then expected to take place, probably in spring.

Mr. Carney, who has never run for elected office, will need to overcome a perception among Canadians that he is a stuffy bureaucrat and an out-of-touch member of the global elite. He was born in the Northwest Territories, but raised in Edmonton.

He took a stab at overhauling his image this week by engaging in a coy but humorous interview with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show,” bantering with the late-night host for about 20 minutes.

At the heart of their chat was a running joke about the relationship between Canada and the United States — Mr. Trump has said that he wants to essentially annex Canada and make it another state, outraging many Canadians.

“We’re not moving in with you” Mr. Carney said. “We can be friends,” he added. “Friends with benefits.”

Mr. Stewart later responded: “I feel like you’re breaking up with me the entire interview.”

Mr. Carney, seeming more relaxed as the interview proceeded, followed up: “We’re resetting the relationship and we’re going to be stronger.”

He also used Mr. Stewart’s show as a platform to try to telegraph that he was never officially part of the embattled government of Mr. Trudeau.

“I am an outsider,” Mr. Carney said.

On Thursday, Mr. Carney formally made his pitch to Liberal voters about how he would steer Canada through what will most likely be turbulent relations with the United States and various domestic challenges.

Mr. Carney served as the governor of the Bank of Canada between 2008 and 2013, and then led the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020. At the Bank of England, he was known to give speeches that sometimes veered into more political subjects, especially around the dangers climate change posed to global markets.

He has since held positions as a special envoy on climate action and finance with the United Nations; as chair of Bloomberg’s board of directors; and as chair of Brookfield Asset Management, a global investment firm which until recently had headquarters in Toronto.

One potential challenger Mr. Carney may face for Liberal Party leadership is Chrystia Freeland, who abruptly resigned as deputy prime minister last month and criticized Mr. Trudeau’s management of the country.

Mr. Trudeau’s government had pursued Mr. Carney to replace Ms. Freeland in her role but he declined.

Ms. Freeland shares close ties and a similar educational background as Mr. Carney: both are graduates of Harvard University and the University of Oxford. They are also friends — Mr. Carney is the godfather of one of Ms. Freeland’s children.

Of the two, Mr. Carney is far less familiar to Canadians. In a recent opinion poll, 24 percent of Canadians recognized Mr. Carney in a photo while 51 percent recognized Ms. Freeland.

The Liberal Party’s effort to replace its leader will be closely watched. It recently updated its voter eligibility to include only Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 14 years old. Registration was previously open to anyone living in Canada, regardless of citizenship status, raising concerns that the vote could be vulnerable to foreign interference.

A security task force made up of members from Canada’s federal police, global affairs ministry and intelligence agencies will monitor the leadership race to ensure its legitimacy, Mr. Trudeau’s office has said.

Candidates must raise 350,000 Canadian dollars, or about $245,000, to join the race.

Ashley Moody, Fla. AG, tapped to fill Rubio’s Senate seat : NPR

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January 16, 2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody speaks during a press conference on Sept. 17, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has picked Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate. Rubio is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

DeSantis announced his choice on Thursday at a press conference in Orlando, Fla., and praised Moody for fighting against policies he describes as part of the Democratic Party’s “woke agenda.”

“In every major battle we have had since I have been governor, she has been with us every step of the way — not just talk, it’s results,” DeSantis said. “And these results are very, very important, and she understands the gravity of the moment.”

Moody has served as attorney general for Florida since 2019. Last year, as the state’s AG, she sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell and a former FEMA supervisor for allegedly violating the civil rights of Florida residents in the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The lawsuit accused FEMA officials of discriminating against Trump supporters by withholding hurricane aid after reports that a FEMA supervisor directed workers to skip over houses that displayed Trump signs and flags. That supervisor was later fired.

Moody, speaking at the press conference Thursday, also expressed her willingness to focus on illegal immigration in the U.S. Senate and other priorities of the incoming Trump administration.

“I’m ready to show up and fight for this nation and fight for President Trump to deliver the American first agenda on Day 1,” she said.

If Rubio is confirmed, Moody is expected to serve until the next scheduled election for the seat in 2026.

— Adrian Andrews of member station WFSU, reporting from Tallahassee, contributed to this story.

Hirono ripped for ‘deranged’ opening confirmation hearing question to Burgum: ‘This lady has issues’

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January 16, 2025

Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii faced mockery on social media on Thursday over her opening questions to Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum during his confirmation hearing.

“As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees on which I sit, I ask the following two initial questions,” Hirono said to Burgum on Thursday. “First is, since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?”

“No, senator, I have not,” Burgum responded.

“Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?” Hirono then asked.

BONDI CLAPS BACK AT HIRONO AMID QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS: ‘REFUSED TO MEET WITH ME’

Sen. Mazie Hirono and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (Getty Images)

“I have not,” Burgum said.

Hirono, who has asked similar opening questions to several other nominees in the past, including Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, was widely panned by conservatives on social media over the line of questioning.

“This lady has issues.” conservative commentator Chad Prather posted on X.

DEM SENATOR WHO BASHED HEGSETH’S QUALIFICATIONS STANDS BY DOD SEC WHO OVERSAW BOTCHED AFGHAN WITHDRAWAL

Sen. Mazie Hirono participates in a news conference following weekly policy luncheons in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 2024. (Nathan Posner/Getty Images)

“No, this is not AI…,” conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted on X.

“What is wrong with Dems??” American Majority president Ned Ryun posted on X. “They are apparently bat guano crazy sex pervs. Is this all they think about??”

“How the F does Hirono have seats on Judiciary AND Armed Services AND Energy?????” columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher posted on X. “What member of Dem leadership does she have kompromat on??”

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Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is sworn in during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on his nomination to be Interior secretary on Capitol Hill, Jan. 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)

Conservative comedian Tim Young posted on X that the “more Mazie Hirono asks cabinet nominees if they’ve sexually assaulted someone… the more I think she’s guilty of it herself.”

Henry Rogers, The Daily Caller’s chief national correspondent, called Hirono “deranged” on X.

Hirono’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to [email protected].

Blinken Insists Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Is on Track After Hecklers Disrupt News Conference

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January 16, 2025

In a dramatic show of the anger over American support for Israel’s war in Gaza, a farewell news conference by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was interrupted by two pro-Palestinian journalists who accused him of enabling “genocide.”

One shouted, “Criminal! Why aren’t you in The Hague?” as security officers carried him from the State Department briefing room.

Another reporter was ejected from the room at the start of a rare appearance there by Mr. Blinken, who had come to summarize his four-year tenure and take final questions from reporters.

At the news conference, Mr. Blinken said that, despite reports of last-minute snags, he was “confident” that the cease-fire deal reached this week by Hamas and Israel would begin to be carried out on Sunday as planned.

Mr. Blinken otherwise covered largely familiar subject matter as he fielded questions largely focused on criticism of the Biden administration’s continued supply of weapons to Israel as Palestinian casualties mounted, with Mr. Blinken noting that Hamas embedded itself among civilians. “Some people say we did too much to restrain Israel,” he said. “Others say we did too much to enable.”

But the news conference was most memorable for the outbursts that punctured Mr. Blinken’s opening remarks, the likes of which, Aaron David Miller, a former longtime diplomat, said on X he had never seen.

The man picked up from his seat and carried away by several security officers was Sam Husseini, who identifies himself online as “an independent journalist and writer who has been piercing through the establishment’s falsifications for 25 years” and is known for his confrontational questions at department briefings.

The other reporter was Max Blumenthal, a prominent left-wing journalist and fierce critic of Israeli policies, who asked Mr. Blinken, “How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide?”

Then, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, he added, “You waved the white flag before Netanyahu!”

Such invective is by now all too familiar to Mr. Blinken, who most recently was shouted down and called a war criminal by protesters during remarks he gave on Gaza at a Washington think tank this week. In each case Mr. Blinken was largely unfazed, and continued his remarks once calm had returned to the room.

Giuliani a no-show for federal trial in Manhattan : NPR

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January 16, 2025

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said on Thursday that he has reached a “resolution” with two Georgia election workers that will allow him to keep condo properties in New York and Florida. He made the statement on social media after failing to appear for a scheduled trial in the matter.

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Alex Kent/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was a no-show on Thursday for a federal civil trial in Manhattan meant to determine which of his assets must be turned over to two Georgia election workers he spread lies about following the 2020 election.

Posting on the social media site X, Giuliani said he had reached “a resolution of the litigation with the plaintiffs” that would allow him to retain ownership of properties in Florida and New York along with other “personal belongings.”

“No one deserves to be subjected to threats, harassment, or intimidation. This litigation has taken its toll on all parties. This whole episode was unfortunate. I and the Plaintiffs have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same,” Giuliani wrote.

Judge Lewis J. Liman adjourned the proceeding until next Tuesday. In court documents filed Thursday, attorneys in the case asked for a longer extension so the tentative settlement could be finalized.

Giuliani had been scheduled to be the first witness in the trial, designed to determine whether he will have to forfeit his Florida condo along with other assets.

Giuliani’s legal team had argued the property is his primary residence and should be exempt.

Thursday’s rapid-fire developments came after Giuliani was ordered in December 2024 to pay $148 million to two former Georgia women in a case linked to efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, said election conspiracies spread by Giuliani and Trump turned their lives upside down. Both were election workers in 2020.

“I was afraid for my life,” Moss said during testimony. “I literally felt that someone would attempt to hang me and there was nothing anyone could do about it.”

Earlier in the day, while failing to appear at the scheduled court hearing, Giuliani posted on X a video of his dog, Vinnie, playing at President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort.

“Vinny loves hanging out at Mar-a-Lago,” Giuliani wrote, “but he’s ready to spend a lot more time in Washington, D.C. over the course of the next four years in support of his favorite President—Donald J. Trump!”

Earlier this month, Giuliani was held in contempt of court after Judge Liman ruled the former New York City mayor failed to properly respond to requests for information about his assets over a period of months.

Texas star Arch Manning will take reins after Quinn Ewers declares for draft

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January 16, 2025

The Arch Manning era has begun in Texas.

With Quinn Ewers declaring for the NFL Draft on Wednesday, Manning is set to get the keys to the Lamborghini for the foreseeable future. He is very likely to be the starting quarterback for at least the 2025 season and possibly 2026 if he doesn’t decide to turn pro.

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Texas quarterback Arch Manning runs against Ohio State during the Cotton Bowl, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

He is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL star quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning. He passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He also showcased his mobility with four rushing touchdowns.

“This offseason, this is a time for him to attack,” former Texas star Colt McCoy said, via Underdog Fantasy Sports. “To work on some of the things he knows he needs to work on. He played three games. What were some things I wasn’t good at? What were some things I was good at? How can I get better? How can I have a great spring?…

“There’s a lot to build on if you’re looking at the entirety of the Texas football team, but for Arch, there’s a great opportunity that he’s walking into. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, go out there and be you. Play to your strengths.

NOTRE DAME’S RILEY LEONARD CREDITS OPEN FAITH FOR BRINGING TEAM, OHIO STATE TOGETHER FOR NATIONAL TITLE

Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers of the Texas Longhorns talk on the field before a game at Cotton Bowl Stadium on Oct. 12, 2024, in Dallas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

“We’re all different as quarterbacks, we all have an edge somehow. And I think if Arch is smart, he’ll figure out ‘what’s my edge?'”

Manning was mostly used in run-pass option packages for the Longhorns, giving defenses a different weapon to deal with. He started against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State when Ewers went down with an injury.

Manning had 258 passing yards, two touchdown passes in a 51-3 win against Louisiana-Monroe. He then had 325 passing yards and two touchdown passes against Mississippi State in a 35-13 win. But he was back to the backup role after Ewers returned.

The offense overall will take a hit. Top receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond declared for the draft and senior tight end Gunnar Helm is finished his eligibility.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning lines up for a snap against UTSA at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Sept. 14, 2024. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

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Running back Jaydon Blue and offensive linemen Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cam Williams also declared for the NFL.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Patients Are Dying in Hospital Corridors, British Nurses Say

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January 16, 2025

Patients are dying in the corridors of Britain’s hospitals. Pregnant women are receiving miscarriage treatments in semipublic places. Incontinent patients are cleaned next to vending machines.

Those are just some of the shocking revelations in a report published on Thursday by the Royal College of Nursing, a British nursing union. In the report, nurses described an overcrowding crisis that they said has led to a collapse in care, confidentiality and dignity across the country’s National Health Service.

“Vulnerable people are being stripped of their dignity and nursing staff are being denied access to vital lifesaving equipment,” Nicola Ranger, the general secretary and chief executive of the union, said in a statement.

The nation’s health care staff had reached a “breaking point,” she added in the report.

The 460-page report, which features anonymized testimony from more than 5,400 nurses surveyed from Dec. 18, 2024 to Jan. 11, is the latest mayday from British medical professionals. The union granted its members anonymity in order to speak freely, preventing repercussions from employers and protecting patient confidentiality, a spokesman said.

Doctors and nurses have struggled to care for the nearly 70 million people in the United Kingdom after years of challenges, including chronic underinvestment in the N.H.S. under Conservative-led governments that held power from 2010 to 2024.

“This must be a watershed moment, a line in the sand,” Dr. Adrian Boyle, the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said in a statement.

Dr. Boyle was one of several leading British physicians to express solidarity with the nurses. He called the testimonies “harrowing.”

“The toll it is taking on staff is clear,” he added. “People in tears, frustrated, angry and in some cases even giving up their careers because they cannot face going to work every day not being able to provide the level of care they want to.”

The nurses’ report, which describes a crisis of “corridor care,” comes just months after another blockbuster report found that the N.H.S. was in “critical” condition.

Patients routinely waited hours for treatment as doctors tried to work without adequate medical equipment or sufficient space in hospitals, according to that report, which was commissioned by the government and published in September. It found that national satisfaction with the beleaguered health service was “at its lowest ever.”

The ramifications of the breakdown in care extend beyond the hospital corridors. Many Britons see a functioning N.H.S. — which was created after World War II and delivers health care that is free at the point of use to all Britons through a tax-funded model — as a core obligation of their government.

The coronavirus pandemic reignited debates about its deep failures and deepened those challenges. The dire state of the N.H.S. was a key factor in the Labour Party’s resounding victory in last year’s national election: Many Britons blame the austerity measures laid out by previous Conservative governments for the health service’s failures.

Labour has promised reforms, but the nurses’ union pushed for a more robust approach on Thursday. Professor Ranger, the union leader, called for “bold government action on an N.H.S. which has been neglected for so long,” and warned ministers to not “shirk responsibility.”

Over 90 percent of respondents to the union’s survey said patient care was compromised when delivered in an inappropriate setting.

The report described how patients have had to wait for CPR as nurses struggled to maneuver through a cramped corridor to get there in time. Often, patients endured unhygienic conditions, nurses said. Some had been sprayed with each other’s vomit. Incontinent patients are cleaned in corridors without privacy.

The toll is particularly evident for dying people. Patients have had to face their own deaths in cramped and busy places, according to the report, without any privacy. A corpse was discovered in hallways hours after death, a nurse said.

The report comes amid growing concerns about staffing at the N.H.S., which has struggled to recruit and retain young talent.

Many nurses who responded to the union’s survey, including one who described caring for about 40 patients in corridors and overflow spaces every day, said the inability to provide dignified care in appropriate settings has cratered staff morale. Junior doctors have gone on strike to protest low wages and long hours.

Nurses have also gone on strike in recent years to demand pay increases, better working conditions and help trying to address critical staffing shortages. In the report, many nurses said that they were burned out and leaving the N.H.S.

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