Former President Trump clashes with judge during testimony at $250M civil fraud trial: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 7, 2023
Former President Donald Trump delivers his testimony in the civil fraud trial. And WeWork, once valued at $47 million, files for bankruptcy. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Donald Trump testifies in civil fraud trial
Former President Donald Trump took the stand on Monday, Nov. 6, in his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York, where he spoke out against the attorney general who is suing him, his eldest sons, and his company. He sparred with the judge at times, who warned the former president about the length and content of his answers, telling Trump, “This is not a political rally.”
Reuters
During his testimony, Trump disputed the attorney general’s claims that he lied on financial statements to banks and insurers and inflated the values of his properties to get better loans and business deals.
The former president distanced himself from the financial statements at the heart of the attorney’s general case and said he would “authorize and tell people to give whatever is necessary for the accountants to do the statements,” adding that on occasion, he would have “some suggestions” about the results.
As for the financial statements themselves, Trump argued that banks “didn’t find them very relevant.”
During his roughly four hours on the stand, Trump suggested his net worth is more than what was on the statements and that the attorney’s general office undervalued his Mar-a-Lago Florida resort.
In response to his testimony, Attorney General Letitia James said Trump can engage in distractions, but the evidence supports her fraud claims.
The former president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, is set to take the stand again in four criminal cases next year; he, however, is not expected to be present at the third Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Miami.
Five candidates have qualified for that debate: former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
In Ohio, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to protect access to abortion services. They will also vote on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use.
In Virginia, all 40 state senate seats and 100 state house seats are on the ballot, which could lead to Republicans having complete control of the state government for the first time in a decade; this would give a path for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to enact his proposals on abortion, education, and other policies, as reports say the governor may be to considering late entry into the 2024 presidential race.
The major race in two states is for governor, as Republican Gov. Tate Reeves looks for a second term in Mississippi and Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear seeks another term in Kentucky.
In Texas, 17 candidates are vying to become the next mayor of Houston, and residents of Uvalde will elect a new mayor for the first time since the May 2022 school shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
Pennsylvania residents will vote to fill a vacant seat on the state supreme court, and Philadelphians will decide on a new mayor. New York’s general election has voters deciding on various races, including the New York City Council. And Colorado voters will decide on two proposals involving tax revenue.
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President Biden has previously said he had no confidence in figures provided by the agency run by Hamas. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Monday, Nov. 6, that the number of the dead is in the “thousands.”
On Monday, Nov. 6, the United Nations called once again for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. With the U.N. Secretary-General saying Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children.”
Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Nov. 6, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that there would only be a cease-fire if Hamas released the 200-plus hostages.
Jury finds Colorado officer not guilty in Elijah McClain’s killing
On Monday, Nov. 7, a jury found Colorado police officer Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter in the killing of Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old Black man who died after an altercation with police in 2019.
Though McClain’s killing has brought sweeping police reforms in Colorado, his death initially did not receive much attention, with local prosecutors originally not filing charges against the officers. That changed after May 2020, when George Floyd was killed at the hands of police.
The state attorney general’s office, guided by the governor, then filed charges against the three officers and two paramedics who are set to stand trial later this month.
WeWork, which Japan’s Softbank backs, was once valued at $47 billion in 2019, the same year it attempted but failed to go public, which led to the ouster of its founder Adam Neumann.
After eventually going public two years later, at a reduced valuation of $9 billion, the company faced roadblocks with the pandemic leading to hybrid and work-from-home options.
Shares of WeWork have dropped approximately 98% this year alone. While WeWork leases millions of square feet of office space in 777 locations across 39 countries, the bankruptcy filing affects only WeWork’s sites in the U.S. and Canada.
Gannett hires Taylor Swift reporter
There is an update on the largest newspaper chain in the country’s search for a Taylor Swift reporter. After a couple of months, Gannett has found its man.
When the newspaper chain, which owns USA Today, announced the job opening in September, it was met with criticism from some journalists who called the role a fan position and one that took away jobs from other reporters after the company made significant cuts last year.
Michael A. Anastasi, Gannett’s vice president of local news and the Editor of The Tennessean, told Variety this move is part of the company’s “transformation strategy” to better serve all its communities in the future.
West said he’ll have fun with the role while also focusing on Taylor Swift’s impact on society and the music industry. Gannett is still searching for a Beyoncé reporter.
State of the GOP nomination race: Pence drops out; field could narrow again soon
A lot has changed in the Republican presidential primary. The field is narrowing and may continue to do so further in the next week or two.
Here are three things to know:
1. Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out
Mike Pence announced he is suspending his campaign. Polls show he was losing support; the Real Clear Politics average had him polling at 9% in July and just 3.5% as of Oct. 24.
“Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me, this is not my time,” Pence told the crowd at the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“Now I’m leaving this campaign but let me promise you, I will never leave the fight for conservative values, and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land. So help me God.”
2. Nikki Haley surges in Iowa
Donald Trump maintains a 27-point lead in Iowa, however former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley shot up 10 points and is now tied for second with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to an NBC News/Des Moines register poll.
The Democratic Party took notice of Haley’s rise.
As she officially filed for the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, the DNC war room sent out a memo that described her governorship as a “model for the MAGA Agenda.”
The memo criticized previous action she’s taken on abortion, Medicaid and her economic agenda.
3. Sen. Tim Scott qualifies for third debate
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., became the fifth candidate to qualify for the third primary debate on Nov. 8 in Miami. Earning a spot on that stage is important to donors, and a strong performance can help with polls.
Pence had not qualified and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum hasn’t either, so some expect the field will narrow even further over the next week or two.
“I think the field will consolidate, but it’s not my place to tell people when to get out,” N.J. Gov. Chris Christie said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Christie, Scott, Haley, DeSantis and pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy all met the threshold to participate.
Candidates need at least 70,000 unique donors and 4% support in two polls to earn a spot on the stage. Former President Donald Trump is not expected to be there.
How US donations to UN Palestinian relief agency could be used by Hamas
Iran is the biggest financial supporter of Hamas, but U.S. taxpayer money could potentially be going to the terrorist group as well. According to an analysis of some United Nation funds being sent into Gaza, there is a distinct possibility that some U.S. funding could be going to Hamas.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is a relief fund that provides support and protection to Palestinian refugees.
The UNRWA receives contributions every year from partnering U.N. countries, and the United States was the top donor in 2021, donating $338.4 million, and 2022, donating $343.9 million.
This year, the U.S. is again outpacing other countries by $206.8 million worth of donations.
According to the UNRWA’s donation disclosures, the Biden administration has given over $900 million to the Palestinian refugee agency, and as part of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, $33 million of COVID-19 relief fund money was also given to UNRWA.
According to Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, 38% of UNRWA money is spent in Gaza.
Goldberg said over the past three years, nearly $1 billion has come from the U.S., and $350 million of that is going directly to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Opposite of Biden, the Trump administration stopped funding the UNRWA in August 2018. The administration called it an “irredeemably flawed operation,” and gave no donations at all in 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, before the Biden administration resumed its donations, the State Department warned that the money could end up funding terrorist groups such as Hamas.
“We assess there is a high risk Hamas could potentially derive indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza,” a State Department memo said.
The United Nations does not allow terrorist groups to receive any financial support. ISIS and Al-Qaida are sanctioned and cut off from receiving assistance. However, the U.N. does not classify Hamas or Hezbollah as “terrorist organizations.”
While the U.S. does consider Hamas a terror group, the U.N. is still in control of where the money donations from UNRWA go.
UNRWA released a statement following the latest installment of over $150 million in U.S. money.
To us, this is a sign of trust and a trait of good donorship that we encourage other partners to follow.
UNRWA statement
“By providing UNRWA flexibility in how it utilizes U.S. funding, the U.S. also gives the Agency the means to prioritize spending where it is most needed, helping us address the Agency’s ongoing financial challenges,” the statement says. “To us, this is a sign of trust and a trait of good donorship that we encourage other partners to follow.”
The UNRWA has been heavily criticized in recent years. The U.N. Watch, a human rights organization monitoring the performance of the U.N., said the Palestinian refugee agency employs educators who “regularly call to murder Jews,” “glori[fy] terrorism” and “incit[e] antisemitism.”
On Monday, Oct. 16, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley told the Daily Mail that in order to stop the money from reaching Hamas in Gaza, the U.N. needs to formally classify Hamas as a terror group.
We must always take a side when it comes to good versus evil and we will never stop calling out the shameful anti-Israel bias at the U.N.
Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
“It should be easy to condemn a bloodthirsty organization that kills babies, rapes women and burns whole families, yet the U.N. still refuses to call Hamas what they are — terrorists,” Haley said. “We must always take a side when it comes to good versus evil and we will never stop calling out the shameful anti-Israel bias at the U.N.”
In 2018, Haley introduced a resolution at the U.N. that would have designated Hamas as a terror organization. Only the U.S. backed the motion, and the resolution failed.
Tech guru Hillel Fuld talks about Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel
Saturday, Oct. 7, was the single deadliest day for the Jewish people since World War II. More than 700 people in Israel are dead: Jews, Arabs, Europeans, Americans and others.
A compilation of Hamas clips shows how the terror group invaded southern Israel yesterday. First they bombed Israeli observation towers and weapons systems on the border, then fired hundreds of rockets as terrorists on paragliders flew over the border. Moments later, Hamas… pic.twitter.com/D4iIoCV51q
In a nation as small as Israel, there can’t be an attack like this without every resident being personally impacted in some way. Hillel Fuld is one of those Israelis.
Fuld is a guru in the tech world and one of Israel’s most ardent supporters. One of his brothers was killed by a Palestinian terrorist five years ago. Another brother works in the Knesset, Israel’s legislative body.
Like most in Israel, Hillel served in the military. He also has four sons, one of whom could be drafted in the next few months.
Straight Arrow News’ Ryan Robertson had the opportunity to speak with Hillel briefly on Monday, about 48 hours after attacks, to gain his insights about what’s unfolding in Israel.
Below is a transcript of the conversation that has been slightly edited for clarity.
Robertson: Hillel Fuld. Thank you so much for joining us today. Take me back to Saturday morning, if you would. You know, here in the states, we woke up and it was just crazy, but it’s different in Israel.
It was Shabbat morning. It’s Sukkot, it’s a holy day. Simchat Torah was starting that evening, it’s a time of joy. People were celebrating, and you woke up to this, this tragedy. Just take me back to that and kind of walk me through it.
Fuld: So let me just correct you first. In Israel, Simchat Torah, is actually combined with Shemini Atzeret, two holidays that are combined in Israel. So, Saturday morning was actually Simchat Torah, and we were dancing with Torah scrolls, which is what Jews do on Simchat Torah. And mid prayers, as we hugged the Torah scrolls, there’s a screech from the women’s section, “Azakah!” Which means alarm, which means siren.
On the way to synagogue five minutes before that with my kids, I had heard Iron Domes above me, which, sadly to say is not something that’s so uncommon, it by no means there’s a war starting. And so, I didn’t really make much of it. And when they screamed that there’s a siren, that was strange. And we all obviously rushed to the bomb shelter.
Smoke and flames rise following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. Source: Reuters.
Fuld: The problem is that because it was a holiday, there were hundreds of people in synagogue and the bomb shelter was not created for hundreds of people. And so, there was not even close to enough space there. So, the woman went in the men stood by walls and tried to protect ourselves the best we can. And that was just the beginning. And then, siren after siren after siren after siren. Members of communities, sons getting called up one after the other, one after the other. Rabbi’s son gets called up one after the other. And we knew something was very, very serious.
The rumors started to circulate, obviously. As far as observant Jews, we don’t use our phones. So, we were all basing on rumors. And that’s very dangerous. And so, I kind of wanted to believe inside that the rumors could not be true, because how could that – How could that have happened, what people were saying? And for whatever reason, everyone around me was trying to kind of calm me down. I was like, how do I calm down? What happens if these rumors are true? What happens if I come back from Sabbath, I turn on my phone, and there are 75 casualties. For some reason, that number was the craziest number I could imagine. 75 dead, like I….Well, you know. You know what happened. And it’s, it’s been an absolute zoo since.
A crowd gathers after a rocket, launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023. Source: Reuters.
Fuld: And I, on a personal level, just kind of made it my role to try to spread as much optimism as I can. And maybe that’s me, you know, using that as a coping mechanism. I don’t know, I’m not a psychologist, but that’s what I’ve been occupying myself with. But it’s, to say it’s tragic is the understatement of the century. I mean, the deadliest day since the Holocaust, as far as the Jewish nation is concerned. And, you know, people talking about the Yom Kippur War, the deadliest Day in the Yom Kippur War, I think was 310 casualties. We’re at 800. So just for perspective, this is this is a historic, historic tragedy.
I just know one thing. What you see is not what you get. This is not what it seems.
Hillel Fuld
Robertson: This is not your first experience with terrorism. You have personal, many people in Israel have personal experience with it. But you and your story are somewhat unique. Can you kind of just explain a little bit, your backstory with your brother?
Fuld: Sure. So, we’re from New York originally, been in Israel for 30 years. My older brother… We’re five boys. Ari was one older than me. So, I’m number four. I have a younger brother number five, who’s in the Knesset, in the Parliament. And Ari was one above me, and he was a very outspoken Israel advocate for many years with millions of people who read and watched this stuff. And on the eve of Yom Kippur, five years ago, he was shopping for his family, about 20 minutes outside of Jerusalem and a 16-year-old Palestinian kid came and stabbed him in a main artery in his neck.
Ari ran after the terrorist, basically with no blood in his veins. Quite supernaturally. And he chased the terrorist and got in a shooting position. Jumped over a wall first and got in a shooting position and shot him. He did not kill him, but he saved a woman who the terrorist was about, I don’t know a few inches from, which was his intended next victim. And then Ari obviously dropped dead. And he got a national hero award from the State of Israel.
The stories five years later still flow in like, you know, the amount of people that he touched in his life and influence and impacted. He really, one person I would say, really changed the lives of millions of people. And it’s, on the one hand, obviously, tremendous tragedy on a personal and family level and for the nation of Israel. But I’m not going to lie and say that there is not some serious pride here. My grandmother, rest in peace, was a survivor of Auschwitz. And I always say if I told her one day that your grandson would be a national hero of the State of Israel, your other grandson would be in the Parliament of the State of Israel and your other grandson would be whatever, however you want to describe me. She wouldn’t know what to do with that information.
And so, it’s historic times we’re living in. I’ve got to take a wider perspective, despite the personal pain. We’re doing what we can, but we’re dealing with savage — I don’t want to say animals, because it’s highly offensive to animals, but savage beings that have no humanity. Period. And they will stop at nothing. They are driven 100% by killing as many Jews as possible. And I think if I am going to try to maybe squeeze some lemonade here out of the lemons, I’ll say that at least now the world sees their true face. And I want to believe that is something I hope that the world will not forget; in two days or three days or four days when Israel hopefully does what it needs to do in Gaza.
Robertson: Based on what you just said, I think I know what your answer is going to be for this next question, but it kind of leads me into it. There is some debate in Western media about the proper terms to use for Hamas soldiers, are they militants? Are they terrorists? What’s the right term?
Fuld: The answer to that question is: by the very question, we know that the moral compass of Western society has gone out the window a long time ago. The fact that we’re even discussing people that abduct women, children, Holocaust survivors, and we’re even discussing what to call them? Like, what – there’s no discussion. They’re terrorists. Period, full stop, and anybody who has any debate about that needs to seriously check their moral compass.
Robertson: I want to get back to something you said earlier. You said when you were at synagogue, you’re on your way there and you heard Iron Dome going off. And as sad as it is, that’s part of life in Israel: hearing the Iron Dome intercepting missiles. It wasn’t necessarily a cause of alarm for you.
A lot of observant Jews, they’re not connected to social media during that timeframe. What sort of concerns do you have, as far as like, is the Israeli government’s ability to secure borders and protect its people based on what happened Saturday morning? I mean, there’s people on gliders like, you know, ultralight gliders coming in, fences were blown up. There’s now reports of terror tunnels, and some of the connections ….
Fuld: I’m not equipped to answer that question. If I’m being honest. We don’t know anything yet. I could tell you what kinds of conspiracies, I’d rather not. I just know one thing. What you see is not what you get. This is not what it seems. That I could tell you unequivocally. Because any soldier that’s ever been on the border with Gaza knows that if a bird flies by, they are alerted.
Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, in southern Israel, October 9, 2023. Source: Reuters.
Fuld: There is no way that 400, or however many hundreds of Palestinians on tractors, blowing up the border wall came through without anybody noticing. It’s just not a thing at all whatsoever. Zero percent chance that happened. So, I don’t know what happened. I know that Hamas pulled one over everyone. For two years, they’ve been planning this. I know that there were the Egyptians tried to warn… again because I don’t know. What I do know is that it is not what you think is… what you see is what you get, because there is no way this happened without something more than just Hamas’ sophisticated abilities. Which, you know, they are sophisticated.
What they’ve developed in years of us just letting them be, they’ve definitely developed very sophisticated weapons. But that was not enough to pull this off. I don’t know the answer to that question. But we’re going to find out soon.
Robertson: You bet. This morning, the military, I mean, it’s mobilized. Reserves, hundreds of thousands of reserves are being called up. Just from a like a boots on the ground perspective for folks in the West who haven’t seen anything like that, don’t know what that looks like, kind of walk me through that process from a citizen of Israel.
Fuld: What specifically are you asking about?
Robertson: Well, I mean, are you seeing soldiers? Are tanks rolling down the street? Or is your neighbor packing up his bag to go serve? I mean, what sort of impacts personally has the mobilization had on your life and on your family’s life?
Every five minutes I’m hearing about another person that I know that was killed.
Hillel Fuld
Fuld: I mean, I live in a town in between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, there are no tanks on the streets. Butnevery five minutes I’m hearing about another person that I know that was killed.
I just heard about a childhood friend’s son was killed. I just heard about my late brother’s best friend’s son was killed. You know, so if terror didn’t touch most people in the country till now, now everybody knows someone who was killed. You know, someone did ask me, “Are you planning on leaving Israel?” That thought did not even crossed my mind, and it wouldn’t ever cross my mind.
Despite everything that’s going on, I still believe Israel is the safest place for a Jew to be today. I know it’s a funny thing to say. But it’s statistically true. It’s historically true. There’s no debate about it whatsoever. Even with the horrible tragedy that we’re experiencing right now. But other than that, other than hearing about friends who are losing their relative and loved ones, and obviously hearing the booms, hearing the Iron Dome, hearing the bombing of Gaza, it’s not necessarily deeply impacting my kids. They’re here in my house, thank God. One of my kids was away for the Sabbath, so I had to go pick them up which is a little scary, but thank God. I mean it hasn’t, I don’t want to jinx anything but, we’re here at home safe. When someone knocks on the door, I definitely check twice before I open it. But other than that, thank God we’re safe.
Robertson: In America obviously there’s the Second Amendment. In Israel, there’s been an increase of purchase certificates for personal weapons at home. Have you felt a need to arm yourself? To protect yourself from, the potential threat of more Palestinians invading?
Fuld: My brothers are all armed. They all officially live over the green line, you know, in the quote unquote settlements. I am not armed. I never owned a gun, and I have no intention of owning a gun. If I’m being totally kind of transparent and honest with you, I don’t like guns. You know, we all fight our battles. My battle, I view, is in front of the keyboard.
I was in the Army. I served in the military; I was in artillery. I dealt with shooting cannons, and, from my perspective, for as long as I live, I never want to smell that gunpowder again. Because it’s, I don’t want to use the word trauma, but it’s not something I want in my life ever again.
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. Source: Reuters.
Robertson: Israel has mandatory service, you have two sons, correct?
Fuld: I have four sons.
Robertson: Four sons. Sorry. As a dad. I mean, what’s going through your mind right now? This war is starting, you have four sons?
Fuld: I mean, listen, at some point. I have to, I have to look up to the heavens, right? I have to, I have to tap into my faith. Because if I’m going to only look at this from a, let’s call it “human perspective,” then I won’t be able to deal with the anxiety, right?
My oldest son is 19. He’s in a pre-military academy. Now, he’s probably drafting in the next couple of months. To say I’m not terrified, that would be a lie. My second son, you know, is not far off, about a year. My twins are 12. They have some time. But the thought is paralyzing. It’s terrifying, of course.
Robertson: Before Saturday, from an outside observer, there was a lot of divide in Israel about, you know, you said, quote, unquote, settlements earlier. There’s this idea of the two-state solution. And there’s just a lot of division within Israel. What to do with the Palestinians? What to do with West Bank, and what to do with Gaza? Like, do we deal with them together or separate? What’s the feeling now? Is there more of a unified feeling now?
Fuld: I think the feeling here is no different than the feeling globally, and that is that the Palestinian cause is rest in peace. Thank God. So, if I’m going to find a little cup half full of perspective, I don’t think anyone in their right mind — and when I say that, I don’t mean “anyone.” There are people, there are still people marching the streets of New York supporting the Palestinian cause — excuse me for saying it this way — but if you’re supporting the cause of people that just abducted old women and children, and I don’t even want to think what they did to them, then you are a terrorist. Full blown. I’m not even ashamed to say that anymore. I would have said it a little more moderately about three weeks ago. And I would have said, “You’re supporting terror.” But now if you’re supporting the Palestinian cause, today, after what you’ve seen, that’s just full-blown terror support. I don’t think anyone in their right mind thinks that two-state solution is on the table.
I think everyone understands the reality, which is what I’ve been screaming and yelling, and Ari, my older brother, late brother, used to say all the time, which is this is not about land. If they wanted land, they would have had land years ago. W gave them Gaza, they had land. This isn’t about land. They say it. It’s about time we listen to them. This is about dead Jews, period. I think the world now understands that.
And again, maybe this is me trying to be cup half full, but to me, maybe that’s something positive that came out of out of all of this. Which is the mask that the Palestinian people have worn for so long, has now been removed and the world sees it just as clearly as I see it, as my brother saw it. And I think that that’s extremely important diplomatically and politically.
Robertson: Bibi Netanyahu said, we’re committed to it. There’s support within the U.S. I mean, Nikki Haley and other presidential candidates have said, you know, “finish them.” President Biden has said, “Israel has the right to support itself from terrorists. Full stop.”
Is this unfortunately, the tragedy that needed to happen and you kind of spoke to a little bit of it, the cup half full? Is this the tragedy that needed to happen in order for Israel to kind of take the gloves off, go into Gaza and clean house?
Fuld: I mean, I can answer that from a few different perspectives. As a Jew, I want to believe that we are a nation of mercy and of compassion. And we pray in our prayers 100 times a day for peace. Peace is the most fundamental pillar of Judaism. And so, I believe, somewhere deep down, we’ve been naive. We’ve been really naive thinking, maybe they’ll change. Maybe there’ll be a moderate leader. Maybe there’ll be an uprising. Maybe, maybe they’ll change. And so, you know, the thought of going into Gaza and flattening Gaza, that’s not a Jewish concept. Right? And so, I think we’ve kind of avoided the topic altogether. And just the whole disengagement. I mean, I could talk about this for hours. It’s an absolute travesty, and a historic mistake of unprecedented proportions, as far as I’m concerned.
But unfortunately, this is what needed to happen. And I still don’t know if we’re going to do what needs to be done. I hope to God that we do. I don’t even know what needs to be done, because I’m not a military strategist. And, the one thing that people need to understand is that in every war in history, innocent people are killed.
No one would claim that World War II was unjustified. There were millions of innocent Germans killed. No one’s going to say, “Oh, but they were innocent.” And you know what? It’s sad when innocents are killed. There’s no question. But as you know, there’s that famous video, the silent majority is irrelevant.
It doesn’t matter how many of these Palestinians dance in the streets and give out candies, there’s many hundreds of thousands — if not more, it doesn’t matter. Because even if the majority does want peace, if they’re sitting there letting Hamas, electing Hamas… then as far as I’m concerned, they’ve gotten their death wish. And unfortunately, they’re going to be innocents who are killed. But that’s, like I said, every war.
I hope we do what we need to do. And again, I’m not going to say what we need to do, because I’m not a military strategist. I don’t know. I know what my heart and my emotions tell me what we need to do. But obviously, that’s not the way to run and conduct a war. So, I hope that we have the smartest people in this country, and I hope that we make the right decision to do what we need to do. Finally. It’s unfortunate that this had to happen for us to reach that conclusion.
Robertson: What else do we need to know? Hillel, what else? What else does that world not know?
Fuld: I mean, this is the deadliest days since the Holocaust for the Jewish people. We need to understand the proportions here. And you know, if you pray, pray. And if you don’t pray, pray. You know, just say the words. Just say the words. It doesn’t hurt. Just say it. We need it. We need it badly.
You know, I’m sitting here talking to you on my phone is exploding from all the infiltrations that have got to Israel from Gaza, from the north from the south. It’s all over the place, and it’s not stopping. So, we need prayers. You know, we do have the strongest, one of the strongest armies in the world. We do know what we need to do, but we still need prayers. So, I guess that’s the last thing I could say is just pray for us because we really do need it.
Robertson: Hillel thanks so much for joining me today. I really appreciate it.
The death toll is still growing, with some outlets reporting the number of deaths has reached 1,000. Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidates are taking aim at Biden’s deal with Iran in exchange for five American hostages.
While on the campaign trail in Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 7, Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis told reporters that the Biden administration “empowered” Iran when it unfroze $6 billion in Iranian funding in exchange for five American hostages.
But the $6 billion has yet to be fully transferred to the Iranian government and is only to be used for humanitarian purposes, according to the U.S. Treasury.
Still, DeSantis and other GOP members said that the $6 billion deal may have been a catalyst for the attack.
According to the Biden administration, the $6 billion is not taxpayer money but payments from South Korea to Iran for oil.
“To think they’re not moving around money is irresponsible… it was wrong to release the $6 billion,” Former U.N. Ambassador and GOP candidate Nikki Haley told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal cited senior members of the Palestinian militant group who claim Iran helped plan the attack over the course of several weeks.
On Monday, Oct. 9, Iranian officials denied the country had any involvement in the Hamas attacks in Israel.
When asked what support the U.S. should provide to Israel, some GOP candidates suggested that the yearly military funding provided by the U.S. is enough and that Israel has “robust military capability.”
In Iowa, after calling President Biden weak, former Vice President Mike Pence called on Biden to send help to Israel by way of military resources.
“Voices of appeasement like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis I believe have run contrary to the tradition in our party that America is the leader of the free world,” Pence said.
On Sunday, Oct. 8, Biden announced the U.S. is sending multiple military ships and aircraft close to Israel as a show of support, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group.
Israel declares ‘full siege’ on Gaza after Hamas attack: The Morning Rundown, Oct. 9, 2023
The death toll tops 1,000 after Hamas’ surprise attack and Israel’s response. And more auto workers are set to go on strike, but this time against Mack Trucks – these stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Oct. 9, 2023.
Israel retaliates after surprise attack by Hamas
Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Saturday, Oct. 7, killing more than 700 people in Israel, including at least four Americans, launching a barrage of thousands of rockets, invading multiple communities, and taking hostages.
On Monday, Oct. 9, Israel ordered a “full siege” of the Gaza Strip, cutting off power, food, water and fuel. This comes as the Israeli army said it has retaken control of communities near the Gaza border more than 48 hours after the attack by the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, categorized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., crossed into Israel by land, sea and air, saying it struck major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Israel has retaliated with airstrikes of its own into Gaza.
On Sunday, Oct. 8, the Israeli government formally declared war, one that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said will be long and difficult.
“Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not in operation, but in fighting rounds but at war,” Netanyahu said shortly after the attacks started. “This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens.”
Armed Hamas militants entered 22 Israeli towns, taking civilian and soldier hostages back to Gaza. Two hundred sixty people were ambushed at a music festival and killed.
The leader of Hamas’ military wing says the assault comes as a response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank. More than 74,000 people living in Gaza have fled their homes, taking shelter in schools provided by the United Nations.
Israel is expected to launch a ground response into Gaza in the coming days.
Biden: ‘U.S. stands with Israel’
As news of the attack broke, President Joe Biden made it clear that America is behind Israel in its fight against the Palestinian militant group.
“The people of Israel are under an attack orchestrated by a terror organization, Hamas. In this moment of tragedy,” Biden said. “I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back.”
The U.S. is sending multiple military ships and aircraft close to Israel as a show of support, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group.
Biden told Netanyahu on Sunday, Oct. 8, that additional assistance for the Israeli defense forces is on its way.
GOP presidential candidates outraged over Iran deal after attack
Hamas is backed by Iran and it is believed to receive most of its funding from Iran. Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal cited senior members of the Palestinian militant group – claiming Iran helped plan the attack over the course of several weeks.
On Monday, Oct. 9, Iran’s foreign ministry denied the country had any involvement in Hamas’ attack on Israel.
However, because of the connection between Hamas and Iran, many Republican presidential candidates are speaking out against the Biden administration’s approval to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a prisoner swap last month.
Former President Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner, said, “American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks.”
Biden administration officials say the $6 billion was not U.S. taxpayer money but payments from South Korea to Iran for oil. The funds, which officials say are to only be used for humanitarian purposes, have not been fully transferred to the Iranian government.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suggested the Biden administration “empowered” Iran after the agreement, saying that other funds could be freed up now as a result of the $6 billion.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “to think they’re not moving around money is irresponsible…it was wrong to release the $6 billion.”
More than 2,000 reportedly killed in Afghan earthquake
More than 2,000 people were killed ina 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the western portion of Afghanistan on Saturday, Oct. 7, according to the Taliban, who have been in control of the country for two years.
This earthquake is the deadliest the country has seen in decades.
A spokesperson for the Taliban saidaround 1,200 people were injured and around 1,000 homes destroyed.
Afghanistan’s response to natural disasters has been hampered since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, following the United States’ withdrawal in 2021.
The country’s healthcare system is almost fully reliant on foreign aid, but donors have pulled back on financial support. The Red Cross announced it would likely end funding to 25 hospitals in Afghanistan due to funding constraints.
UAW workers to strike against Mack Trucks
Some 4,000 members of the United Auto Workers union are set to go on strike Monday, Oct. 9, not against the big three Detroit automakers but against Volvo-owned Mack Trucks.
Seventy-three percent of the union members rejected a tentative five-year contract agreement by Mack on Sunday, Oct. 8, voting to go on strike in three states today.
The deal included a 20% increase in general wages over five years. UAW president Shawn Fain said he was inspired about workers holding out for a better deal.
Mack president Stephen Roy said in a statement the company was “surprised and disappointed” by the UAW’s decision to strike.
Thousands of UAW members across the country have been on strike against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis since Sept. 15. Last week, there were reports of “significant progress” in bargaining talks between the union and the Detroit automakers.
150-year-old lighthouse shines again after a decade
A 150-year-old lighthouse in the Florida Keys that once was a beacon to help guide ships through treacherous waters is shining once more. The Alligator Lighthouse, which has stood since 1873, stayed lit until about 10 years ago and has been dark ever since.
But a community group is spending $6 million to restore and preserve the lighthouse they call its Statue of Liberty. This past weekend, the Alligator Lighthouse, named after a navy ship that sank in the area in 1822, was back on with its new solar-powered lights.
It was, however just a reminder of the group’s goal to bring back the illuminated landmark permanently. It is a project that is expected to take up to six years to complete.
Candidates clash at 2nd GOP primary debate: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 28, 2023
Seven presidential candidates looked to gain momentum during Wednesday night’s debate as the absent frontrunner loomed large. And drivers are being asked to park outside due to a major recall affecting millions of vehicles. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Sept. 28, 2023.
Republican candidates spar on multiple issue during second debate
Seven presidential hopefuls took the stage Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California for the second Republican primary debate broadcast on the Fox News channel. The candidates tackled issues such as immigration, the war in Ukraine, China and the auto workers strike. While there was sparring between those on stage, the party’s frontrunner — former President Donald Trump, who chose not to attend the debate — became a target.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were among those criticizing the former president for skipping the debate as he did with the first one last month.
“Where’s Joe Biden? He’s completely missing in action from leadership, and you know who else is missing in action? Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight. He owes it to you to defend his record,” DeSantis said.
“Donald, I know you’re watching. you can’t help yourself. I know you’re watching, OK? And you’re not here tonight, not because of polls, and not because of your indictments. you’re not here tonight, because you’re afraid of being on the stage and defending your record,” Christie said.
Regarding immigration, Christie said he wants immigrants in this country to fill six million vacant jobs but only if they come to the U.S. legally, criticizing the Biden administration for not enforcing laws and former President Trump for not completing the border wall.
Entrepeneur Vivek Ramaswamy was targeted for his company’s connections to China and his recent arrival on the social media app TikTok.
“We need to win elections and part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are,” Ramaswamy said.
“This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have and what you’ve got – I honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley said.
The candidates also voiced their opinions on the United States’ support for Ukraine as Congress debates additional funding. Governor DeSantis said it’s in America’s interest to end the war and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott arguing the focus should be in degrading the Russian military.
“By degrading the Russian military, we actually keep our homeland safer, we keep our troops at home and we all understand Article 5 of NATO,” Scott said.
The third Republican debate is set for Nov. 8 in Miami. Advisers to former President Trump say he will not be attending that one either.
Trump skips debate to speak at Michigan plant, criticizes Biden’s E-V plans
Trump’s speech largely consisted of criticizing President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle overhaul and the costs associated with it. Tump told the autoworkers that a strike mattered little when the entire industry is on the line. He said the full-throttle shift to E-V will kill jobs.
While both the Republican frontrunner and the current president made their cases for the autoworkers, the UAW has yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
House Republican holding first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing
The impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden will begin Thursday. House Republicans will hold the first public hearing where they say the focus will be presenting the findings “from months of investigations.”
Chairman James Comer says House Republicans have uncovered a trove of evidence showing President Biden has abused his power in public office. Critics including the White House claim there is no evidence.
Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee released a 700-page report on their investigation into the president’s son, Hunter Biden, on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
X makes cuts to disinformation team
Straight Arrow News reported last month that X was hiring for its safety and elections team to better protect the platform from fake accounts and threats heading into a presidential election year.
But as first reported by the tech-focused outlet The Information, X is laying positions on its Election Integrity Team. The website said four positions were let go.
“Oh you mean the “Election Integrity” Team that was undermining election integrity? Yeah, they’re gone,” X owner Elom Musk posted to the social media site.
The cuts come at a time when Musk is being heavily scrutinized. A top European Union official said this week that the platform is the largest promoter of disinformation and fake news. Musk has said X does not promote hate speech but is a free speech platform.
Kia, Hyundai recall more than 3.3 million vehicles over
Kia and Hyundai are issuing a massive recall involving more than 3.3 million vehicles. The automakers are telling owners to park outside because the cars could catch fire.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short which could cause a fire while vehicles are being driven or parked.
Hyundai is recalling 13 different models from 2010-2015. Kia is recalling a dozen models from 2010-2019. Kia and Hyundai say they will send affected vehicle owners notification letters starting in mid-November. Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse free of charge.
1858 photo of Abraham Lincoln donated to his museum in Illinois
A photo of Abraham Lincoln from 165 years ago with quite a backstory is being donated to his museum in Illinois. The 1858 image was taken during Lincoln’s campaign for the senate.
As the story goes, the future president presented a copy of the photo to Charles Lame after the man was severely injured while testing a cannon for Lincoln’s campaign rally. The photo remained with Lame’s descendants until last year when they decided to donate it.
Trump campaign makes millions from mugshot merchandise
Donald Trump’s campaign has made at least $3 million in merchandise sales since he was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia. According to numbers obtained by Fox, that includes $1.7 million on T-shirts, $864,000 on coffee mugs and $352,000 on posters.
Trump turned himself in on Thursday Aug. 24. From the moment his mugshot was released, he and his campaign worked to turn it into a publicity and fundraising opportunity. They are selling items with his printed mugshot including a $34.00 T-shirt, a signed poster for $28, a coffee mug for $25 and a $15 koozie.
The campaign also received $4.2 million in donations the day after the former president was booked. It was the campaign’s single largest 24-hour fundraising period since it launched.
Trump is going to need the cash on hand as some of his opponents are getting a post-debate boost.
Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio sent a memo to top donors and supporters saying former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy are both surging after the Milwaukee debate on Aug. 23.
According to the memo obtained by Axios, Haley is gaining support in Iowa, while both she and Ramaswamy are essentially tied in New Hampshire with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Ramaswamy’s surge appears to be getting Trump’s attention. When asked by talk show host Glenn Beck what he thinks of Ramaswamy as vice president, Trump said he’d be very good, adding Ramaswamy is smart, young and full of talent.
GOP debate goes on, minus Trump: The Morning Rundown Aug. 24, 2023
The first GOP presidential debate is in the books, with former President Donald Trump as a notable absence. This story highlights the Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 24, 2024.
The eight candidates who took center stage on Wednesday night, Aug. 23, took hard stances on issues like abortion, the war in Ukraine and former President Trump’s indictments. The candidates aimed to focus on the future of the party, rather than distractions from the past.
All candidates took an anti-abortion stance into the debate. The contrast among candidates surrounded the role the federal government should play in the matter.
Some, including former Vice President Mike Pence said the government should ban abortion outright. He argued abortion is a moral issue, not a state one.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said he would enact a 15-week ban. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said he would enact a six-week ban at the national level, something he already did in Florida.
“You gotta do what you believe is right. I was proud to sign the heartbeat bill,” Gov. DeSantis said. “What the Democrats are trying to do on this issue is wrong to allow abortion up to the moment of birth.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, the only woman on the stage, said she does not support a national abortion ban. She asked her colleagues to find middle ground on an issue Republicans have lost ground on in swing states.
“Can’t we all agree we’re not going to put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion,” Haley asked. “Let’s treat this like a respectful issue that it is and humanize the situation and stop demonizing the situation.”
The candidates were asked about the U.S. funding Ukraine in its war with Russia. Both DeSantis and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said they oppose more funding, saying that money should be spent keeping America safe. Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ), former Vice President Pence and Haley disagreed.
“Anybody who thinks we can’t solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.
About an hour into the debate, moderator and Fox News anchor Brett Baier brought up “the elephant not in the room.” It was a reference to Trump, who is facing charges in four different cases.
“If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law would you still support him as your party’s choice. Please raise your hand if you would,” Baier requested. All candidates raised their hands except for former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) and former Gov. Christie.
Christie said “someone has to got to stop normalizing” Trump’s conduct, saying his alleged actions are beneath the Office of the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy called Trump the best president of the 21st century.
Former Vice President Pence defended his decision to not overturn the 2020 election despite alleged requests from Trump to do just that. DeSantis agreed former Vice President Pence did his duty on Jan. 6, 2021, but added that the 2024 election is about January of 2025 and it’s time to look ahead.
Trump, meanwhile, took part in a prerecorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was posted to the social media site X just before the GOP debate started. The interview has garnered more than 135 million views as of early Thursday morning. It should be noted that X measures every person who saw the video in their timeline, not how many people actually watched it.
Trump has said due to his poll numbers showing him ahead of all other candidates he did not need to participate in the GOP debate. In the 46-minute interview, Trump went into further detail on his reasoning to skip it.
“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president,” Trump asked. “Should I be doing that?”
Trump called former Gov. Hutchison “nasty,” said Christie is running “solely on the basis of ‘let’s get Trump’” and labeled DeSantis as “done-zo.”
Trump told Carlson he is disappointed in Pence for not sending the 2020 election results back to the states. Pence has said repeatedly he lacked any authority to do so.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had given Trump and 18 other co-defendants until noon on Friday, Aug. 25 to turn themselves in. Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani surrendered Wednesday.
He was booked and released with his bond set at $150,000. That’s just under the $200,000 bond set for Trump.
Attorneys Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell also turned themselves into the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday.
First 2024 Republican debate field set: The Morning Rundown Aug. 23, 2023
The field is set for the first 2024 Republican primary debate, and rescuers rushed to help a group of children dangling from a cable car. These stories and more highlight the Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
First 2024 Republican primary debate set for Wednesday night
Eight Republican candidates vying to become the next president of the United States are set to take part in the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 cycle Wednesday night. Those confirmed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to be on the stage in Milwaukee include:
Gov. Ron Desantis (R-FL)
Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley
Former Vice President Mike Pence
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND)
Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
The candidates all met the RNC’s polling and donor requirements to qualify for the debate. They all received at least 1% in three national polls, or a mix of national and early state polls. They also accrued a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.
Upon verification of those requirements, each candidate had to sign the GOP loyalty pledge expressing their commitment to the eventual Republican nominee. Four candidates were disqualified from participating based on these requirements, including:
Michigan businessman Perry Johnson
Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez
Former Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX)
Each of these candidates have voiced their disagreement with the RNC’s decision, with Johnson posting to X “the debate process has been corrupted, plain and simple.” Johnson and Elder have said they plan to sue the RNC over being left off the stage.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, chose to sit out the debate. He has reportedly recorded a sit-down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The interview was set to air as counterprogramming, with the debate being broadcast on Carlson’s former network.
Another top U.S. official is headed to China to discuss the two countries’ commercial relationship. Both countries confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 22 that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will visit China from Aug. 27-30. While China said the trip was at the invitation of the Chinese minister of commerce, the U.S. has not confirmed if that was the case.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Raimondo’s trip will be an opportunity for the U.S. to explain President Joe Biden’s recent executive order putting investment restrictions on some Chinese tech industries. Other U.S. officials who have traveled to China in the summer of 2023 include Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
The tentative deal avoided a significant strike. It includes significant pay increases over the lifetime of the contract, with a 48% increase for its part-time employees and a push to add more full-time workers.
Passengers rescued from suspended cable car in Pakistan
Cameras caught the terrifying moments as eight people, including six children, were left dangling inside a cable car nearly 1,000 feet above a river after one of its cables snapped. Rescuers were able to save all of those on board, despite a helicopter above producing high winds that threatened the rescue mission.
One child was airlifted to safety before officials suspended use of the helicopter. Hours later, officials were able to deploy a zipline to the car and pull everyone to safety.
These makeshift cable cars are meant to make transportation easier, especially for students heading to school. However, the cars are often made from scrap metal and can lack proper maintenance.
Study: Daily aspirin prevents second heart attack
Research shows taking a daily aspirin can prevent a heart attack in adults who have survived an earlier heart attack or stroke. But a new study suggests only about 40% of people worldwide who have previously suffered a heart attack are taking aspirin.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Because of this, the study recommends people with a history of problems to take aspirin as “secondary prevention” – reducing the risk of an additional heart attack or stroke.
Available research has showed the benefits far outweigh the risks, according to the study’s authors. Some countries have far less access, with only 16 percent of people with prior heart attacks taking aspirin in low-income countries. In the U.S., the percentage is closer to 65%, meeting the goal of the World Health Organization.
StubHub: College football ticket sales through the roof
Ticket exchange company StubHub has released its college football preview, with a list of the most in-demand teams and games for the 2023 season. Alabama, Michigan and Notre Dame round out the top three in-demand teams. The most in-demand game is a Sept. 23 meeting between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Nationally, college football ticket sales are up over 50% compared to 2022. Penn State football ticket sales are up 150% compared to 2022.
