This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden still has another four weeks until he leaves office, but he has pardoned or commuted sentences for some 1,500 people. There are sweepstakes for what the total number of will be, but there is one person – not even an American citizen for whom the Democrat's largesse and clemency might fundamentally change a country.
The move came following the first U.S. diplomatic visit to Syria since 2012. Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told reporters she had informed Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, whose nom de guerre is Abu Mohammad al-Julani, and who is leader of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS group which led Assad's overthrow, the United States would not pursue a $10 million terrorism bounty on him for his role as the head of a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist group, reported the Jewish News Syndicate.
Seth Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, who is a seasoned watcher of things Syrian and covered parts of the civil war on the ground said "once al-Julani took over Damascus and the Assad regime was gone, he was no longer just the head of some militant group. Furthermore, he has made himself very publicly available and he has had meetings with both Turkish and EU diplomats.
To keep the bounty would be impractical and it has outlasted its usefulness. Ultimately, it looks like the U.S. would like to give him and his organization a chance to moderate, and engage with the West. It is an incentive either to him personally or HTS in general to not be what he or they used to be, which is known as an off-shoot of al-Qaida."
Lt. Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi, who is the founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center told WorldNetDaily al-Julani's rehabilitation as an accepted statesman and de facto Syrian leader was "a bad lesson for terrorists to learn. It shows them that if they want to be seen as legitimate all they have to do is take over a state and suddenly the terrorist designation is canceled."
Frantzman said there is recent precedent for groups labeled as terrorists to be removed from the terrorism watchlist. And in the case of the Houthis to be put back on it. "In February 2021, Biden removed the Houthi from the terrorism watchlist. It was done in the hope the group would moderate. It was returned to the list earlier in 2024, when it became clear it hadn't changed its spots."
The current U.S. position reflects its diminished influence in the Middle East, and perhaps the decision to remove the bounty from him is not simply realpolitik, it might act as a counterweight to balance countries that might want to radicalize al-Sharaa.
It is worth noting a Trump administration would also likely have entered into dialog with al-Sharaa. "[Former Deputy National Security Adviser] James Jeffrey and his team – although it never openly met with HTS – was receptive to HTS being a positive force," said Frantzman.
"He and his team were quite close to Ankara, they were on good terms. Now there are people such as Richard Grenell – who will return to the Trump administration, and Nikki Haley, who will not, who have recently made positive remarks about Turkey. The incoming Trump team will likely be flexible on who the government in Damascus is composed of, with one provision being if the Israelis are in favor or not. Trump has made it clear he wants an end to the wars, and his administration will rely on Israel as one of the pillars of this policy. There are people who want Syria to return as a normal, functioning state."
Zehavi described Israel's wiping out of the Syrian Army's material and much of the chemical weapons stockpile, which Assad amassed, as a crucial step in creating a little breathing room. She also surmised it was an action, which would likely not have been accepted pre-Oct. 7, telling WND: "We cannot allow radical moments to have access to lethal, strategic weapons; it was very important to not allow al-Julani access to those stockpiles."
The developments in Syria, especially with what looks like the replacement of one putative hegemon, Shia Iran being replaced by Sunni Muslim Brotherhood-run Turkey, will need to be carefully watched.
"This is something the West ignores at its peril," Zehavi said. "In the short term it may appear like good news, especially for Israel, but in the long term it could be very problematic both for Israel and the West."
There is no doubt Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has designs on reconstituting the Ottoman Empire and a recent speech saw him openly calling for the conquering of Jerusalem.
For Zehavi, Erdogan has never really hidden his agenda, saying: "As an official member of the Muslim Brotherhood, his intention was always the Islamicization of Turkey. He was even imprisoned for reading an Islamic poem in public. Twenty five years ago it was a secular country, but Erdogan has turned it into a religious state. He successfully neutralized all bases of secular power, until he took over the presidency himself."
It is language such as this, which might put Ankara and Jerusalem on a collision course, regardless of who sits at the head of the government in Damascus.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A school district in Jackson Township, Ohio, is having to pay $450,000 for forcing a teacher to resign over its gender fantasy – that boys can become girls and vice versa.
It was the Jackson Local School District in Ohio that demanded faculty members personally participate in students' "social transitions" by calling them names and pronouns that were not theirs.
"No school official can force a teacher to set her religious beliefs aside to keep her job," explained ADF lawyer Logan Spena. "The school tried to force Vivian (Geraghty) to accept and repeat the school's viewpoint on issues that go to the foundation of morality and human identity, like what makes us male or female, by ordering her to personally participate in the social transition of her students.
"The First Amendment prohibits that abuse of power, and Jackson Local School District officials have learned that comes at a steep cost. Vivian resisted this unconstitutional demand and explained that her Christian faith made her unable to participate in her students' social transition, and she has received just vindication for taking this stand."
School officials had forced Geraghty to resign when she declined to participate in the ideology of transgenderism.
A lawsuit was filed on her behalf two years ago and now a settlement has been reached, involving payment of $450,000 in damages and lawyers' fees.
She had taught English at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon until district officials demanded her resignation because she wanted to refrain from speaking in a way that would violate her religious beliefs, the ADF explained.
"Geraghty's sincerely held religious beliefs and scientific understanding govern her view that a person is male or female based on sex, not personal identity, and participating in a student's social transition violates those beliefs by forcing her to communicate messages she believes are untrue and harmful to the student."
ADF lawyers pointed out they also recently settled a similar case in Virginia for $575,000 for three teachers who now are being granted accommodations as school employees.
Besides the issue of faith, the following science disproves transgenderism as being male or female is embedded in the human body down to the DNA level and does not change.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Will control of the Panama Canal return to the United States once President Donald Trump takes office?
The president-elect says yes if Panama does not stop "ripping off" America.
On Saturday night Trump went on Truth Social to make the case for the strategic waterway coming back into American hands from Panama, and then repeated his assertion to a live rally Sunday at the Americafest Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
"The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say very foolishly by the United States," Trump said in Phoenix.
"This ripoff of our country will immediately stop. It's gonna stop. The United States has a big and vested interest in the secure, efficient and reliable operation of the Panama Canal and that was always understood when they gave it to Panama. Can you believe that?
"We would never have done it if we thought what's happening now can happen and we would never, and we will never ever let it fall into the wrong hands but it is falling into the wrong hands.
"It was not given for the benefit of others by a token of cooperation, but it was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions. You got to treat us fairly, and they haven't treated us fairly.
"If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to United States of America in full, quickly and without question. We're not gonna stand for it. So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly."
On Truth Social, Trump indicated: "The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America's Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports. The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports.
"Considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago, and was built at HUGE cost to the United States in lives and treasure – 38,000 American men died from infected mosquitos in the jungles during construction. Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States at the time of its building, and understood the strength of Naval Power and Trade.
"When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage. Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way."
The frustrating December ritual of congressional haggling over government funding up until the brink of a shutdown reared its head again this year, but what grabbed a surprising share of headlines was the startling silence that came from the White House as negotiations continued.
As the uninterrupted continuation of federal functions hung in the balance late last week, President Joe Biden, who still has nearly a month left in his term, remained mum on the contentious battle, leaving many to wonder why he would choose not to weigh in, as Fox News reports.
As Republicans, Democrats, and President-elect Donald Trump duked it out over federal funding last week, there was a conspicuous sense of quiet coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Whereas a battle over a potential government shutdown is usually the province of the commander-in-chief, Biden remained utterly above the fray, leading to a host of questions from curious journalists.
On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre received numerous inquiries from reporters, one of whom asked, “Why hasn't President Biden said anything in the public about this? Don't the American people deserve to know why millions of federal workers could enter this holiday period without a paycheck?”
Jean-Pierre deflected, saying, “All Americans need to know that Republicans are getting in the way here and they are the ones who have created this mess. That's the reality. That's the fact. This is not the first time we've been here. And the president has had this approach before.”
She went on, “He understands how Congress works. He's been around for some time. He understands what strategy works here to get this done” also adding that Biden had been “getting regular updates from his team.”
Dissatisfied with Jean-Pierre's response, those in attendance in the briefing room continued to press for answers about Biden's absence on the issue.
In response to the general curiosity about the president's lack of input on the crisis, Jean-Pierre said, “The president is the president of the United States, and he is leading.”
That remark prompted to journalist to follow up by saying, “To be clear, the strategy is he is leading by staying in the background?”
Jean-Pierre continued to dodge the point by musing, “The strategy is that Congress, Republicans in particular, need to do their jobs and get out of their own way and focus on the American people, not their billionaire friends.”
She continued, “That is what needs to happen. And that's what the president wants to see,” though she did not offer further insight into Biden's level of engagement with the process.
With Biden effectively AWOL, President-elect Donald Trump has played the role of de facto commander in chief, as David Marcus wrote in an op-ed for Fox News.
As Marcus noted, “In the space of just a few days, Trump's pressure on the Congress, including siccing his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attack dogs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on reckless spending, turned a 1,500 page monstrosity of a bill into a slim 120-page banger of basic necessities, including disaster relief and help for farmers,” and given that level of success, few Americans are likely to lament Biden's decision to sit this one out.
John Ramsey, the father of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, a child beauty queen who was brutally murdered in 1996 has received a letter from a woman claiming to have married his daughter's killer.
The murder of JonBenet Ramsey has captivated the nation for years now as the past decades have seen multiple different investigations involving multiple agencies trying to solve the brutal killing that left the Ramsey family devastated.
The murder occurred on Boxing Day of 1996 and when police began their investigation it was John Ramsey who was the prime suspect.
It wasn't until 2008 when an old DNA sample from the crime scene identified the presence of an "unknown male," exonerating John Ramsey and his family all of whom were suspected at one point or another.
John Ramsey is now 81 and his wife, Patsy Ramsey, died in 2006 of cancer. However, despite everything he has lost, John Ramsey is still working to find his daughter's killer.
John Ramsey told The Daily Mail that he received a letter from an anonymous woman claiming that her ex-husband was the killer.
The letter read, "I’ve kept this inside for as long as I can - please, please call me." The woman had left her number in the letter which John Ramsey immediately dialed but there was no answer.
This comes after a popular Netflix series re-examining the case has brought attention to the case nearly 30 years later.
The series, titled Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, has now been watched by millions and that has been a real boost for John Ramsey who has been delighted with the attention the series is generating despite the pain of reliving the case.
Ramsey stated, "You know, the police were doing nothing and had done nothing for 28 years, quite frankly, other than trying to explain away the evidence so they could prosecute Patsy or me and they couldn’t do it so they thought “oh well, we know who did it, but we can’t prove it so we’ll just forget about it." I think the documentary has brought a lot of renewed interest and it has kept pressure on the police to do their job."
For many years it felt like there was no hope that the case would be solved, but with so much attention on the Ramsey killing, there's hope that new information will come to light.
While the killer has yet to be found, what is known is that JonBenet was supposedly kidnapped on December 26 and a letter left on the stairs demanded the precise sum of $118,000 for her safe return.
This letter was presumably left by the killer but it only served to confuse the family as John Ramsey later discovered JonBenet in a disused boiler room in the basement. She’d been tortured, sexually assaulted and asphyxiated.
All of these facts led the police to suspect John and Patsy Ramsey until they were exonerated by DNA evidence. But the question remains if the case will actually be solved, especially before John Ramsey passes away.
A social media post by Montvale's Mayor Mike Ghassali about a drone hijacking incident has heightened community fears and led to a no-fly zone declaration, the Daily Mail reported.
Mayor Mike Ghassali of Montvale, New Jersey, detailed on Facebook how a local resident's hobby drone was commandeered by another more technologically advanced drone. This episode, which Ghassali described as "drone-jacking," occurred on December 15 and involved drones equipped with sophisticated counter-offensive systems.
The mayor's post immediately stirred anxiety and concern among the town’s residents. Reactions ranged from demands for more proof to accusations of spreading fear unnecessarily.
The resident involved reported that his son’s drone lost control and vanished after trying to track another drone, a situation that Ghassali relayed with certainty. The mayor’s recount of the incident highlighted the advanced capabilities of the interfering drone, suggesting a serious level of technological interference.
"A highly respected, professional, and trustworthy Montvale resident informed me with 100 percent certainty, that his son’s hobby drone attempted to follow one of the drones and it was 'drone-jacked'. He lost total control of his drone and it went disappearing into the air," Ghassali stated.
This alarming revelation prompted a flood of comments on social media, with residents expressing their dismay and confusion over the incident.
In response to the incident and growing public concern, Mayor Ghassali announced a ban on flying drones over Montvale. He declared a no-fly zone two days before his Facebook disclosure, emphasizing the seriousness with which he viewed the potential threat to safety and security.
"It’s now becoming a complete joke. The feds can’t control the air space, and yesterday my phone didn’t stop with drone sightings messages... So I am making an emergency declaration: NO FLY ZONE FOR DRONES over my town, Montvale. FLY AT YOUR OWN RISK. Residents: Please do not discharge your weapons," the mayor explained.
His decision, although aimed at safeguarding the community, also sparked debate about the effectiveness and legality of such a local decree.
Adding to the tension, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, located near Montvale, reported on December 19 that it had experienced unauthorized drone activities. According to Kitsana R. Dounglomchan, a base spokesperson, these incidents involved drones attempting to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional institution at Fort Dix.
"This year, there have been multiple drone detections, involving attempts to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional institution hosted on our base," Dounglomchan revealed. The base has since stepped up its countermeasures against such unauthorized activities.
The proximity of these drone incidents to Montvale has only added to the anxiety and speculations among the town’s residents.
The public outcry following the mayor's post was significant. Residents and Facebook users called for more transparency and evidence to substantiate the claims made. Questions about escalating the issue to state and federal authorities were also raised.
"With all due respect Mr. Mayor Mike Ghassali, it seems putting up social media posts, declaring an emergency, and during TV interviews is not resolving the matter. How do we get this in front of the congressmen and senators of the state so they can get answers from the FBI?" one resident asked.
Another skeptical voice added, "Where is the video of it happening?" highlighting the community's demand for concrete evidence.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris worked overtime to skirt a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that shot down their original plan to forgive roughly half a trillion dollars in student debt.
According to Fox News, as his last day in the White House nears, the president signed off on a $4.28 billion student debt relief package for some 55,000 public service workers.
The latest package brings Biden's total student debt relief total to a staggering $180 billion.
Millions of Americans have expressed considerable anger at the administration for simply deleting student loan debt when so many had to work so hard to pay theirs off, just for others to get a free ride.
The White House announced the measure this week, taking a victory lap in saying that it was always one of their promises to help public service workers eliminate such debt.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a statement this week celebrating the program.
"Four years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration made a pledge to America’s teachers, service members, nurses, first responders, and other public servants that we would fix the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and I’m proud to say that we delivered," he said.
"Student loan forgiveness is a scam. Why? Because you're making people who didn't take out a loan pay off a loan for people who did."@jimmyfailla reacts to President Biden's $4.28 billion student loan handout for public workers. pic.twitter.com/sgQ2oinuA7
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 21, 2024
Cardona added, "With the approval of another $4.28 billion in loan forgiveness for nearly 55,000 public servants, the Administration has secured nearly $180 billion in life-changing student debt relief for nearly five million borrowers."
"The U.S. Department of Education’s successful transformation of the PSLF Program is a testament to what’s possible when you have leaders, like President Biden and Vice President Harris, who are relentlessly and unapologetically focused on making government deliver for everyday working people."
Many on social media expressed their frustrations at the Biden-Harris administration for offering the program.
"This isn't about forgiving student loans. This is about buying votes, plain and simple. They want people dependent on the "perks" of voting for the dems," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "While he's at it, I want you to clear all my credit card debt. Why should I have to pay for their college? They're not paying for my credit cards."
Great point.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The Constitution's concept of free speech has won in Arizona, where the Goldwater Institute fought a requirement by the bar association that lawyers pay for its lobbying activities, even if it involved speech with which they disagreed.
The institute has announced it has "scored a victory for attorneys' First Amendment rights."
The Arizona State Bar had been "forcing its members to pay for lobbying activities as a condition of practicing law."
However, a campaign was launched and just days ago the state supreme court said it was amending the rules "to eliminate the State Bar's authority to levy membership dues for non-regulatory functions—i.e., activities that have nothing to do with the regulation of the legal profession."
The institute said it had launched a petition to the court urging the justices to bring their rules in line with constitutional speech protections.
"After all, both the U.S. Constitution and Arizona Constitution protect the freedom of association, ensuring the government cannot compel anyone to fund ideologies they oppose as a condition of earning a living," the institute said.
"Yet numerous states force lawyers to join bar associations and to pay dues that subsidize the bar's activities, which often are politically slanted and unrelated to the practice of law. For example, the State Bar of Arizona spends significant time and money on a magazine called Arizona Attorney, which publishes issues dedicated to the arts and general wellness. The Bar has also engaged in lobbying activities and has taken positions on legislative proposals."
The new provision now will ban the bar association from "engaging in any lobbying activities," the report said.
"It may only conduct activities 'necessarily or reasonably incurred to regulate the legal profession or improve the quality of legal services available to people of the State of Arizona,'" according to the court's changes.
The institute noted, "Focusing the bar on regulatory functions will help improve the quality of legal services and access to justice for all Arizonans."
The Ohio legislature has passed the controversial Parents' Bill of Rights after extensive debate, placing the next decision in the hands of Governor Mike DeWine.
The bill, which focuses on enhancing parental rights in the educational system, could reshape how schools interact with parents regarding sensitive matters, according to Just the News.
It was a marathon session that finalized the approval of the Parents' Bill of Rights. Work on this bill extended late into the night during the last day of the legislative session, after a formidable process that spanned nearly two years.
This legislation allows parents to exempt their children from exposure to sexual content in school materials and requires schools to keep parents informed on matters related to their child’s mental health, emotional well-being, or gender identity.
The bill has garnered support from various parent groups and religious organizations, who argue that it enforces the fundamental right of parents to oversee their children's education and health care. They claim it brings more transparency and accountability into the educational system.
However, critics, including some educators and political leaders, contend that the bill may lead to increased disputes between teachers and parents and could endanger children by potentially breaching their privacy.
Alongside the Parents' Bill of Rights, the legislature also passed other significant measures under House Bill 8. These include enhancements to religious release times, increased funding for voucher programs, and leniency in performance metrics for charter schools, broadening the educational choices available to parents and students in Ohio.
Another law passed allows schools to suspend students for up to a year if they engage in threatening behavior, spotlighting a focus on security and behavior management in educational environments.
Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, hailed the bill, emphasizing a transition from ACLU-dominated political debates to a more parent-centric approach to educational decisions.
However, Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio has voiced concerns that the bill unnecessarily entangles schools in cultural wars, detracting from educational goals and potentially introducing discriminatory practices.
Governor Mike DeWine has ten days to decide on the bill. His signature or veto will significantly impact not only the educational landscape but also the balance of power between parents, teachers, and school administrations in Ohio.
The decision is awaited with keen interest by all stakeholders, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over parental rights and educational policy efficacy.
As stakeholders from both sides rally their support or dissent, the upcoming decision by Governor DeWine will be crucial in setting future precedents for how schools are guided by parental input on sensitive issues concerning their children.
The implications of this legislation, therefore, extend beyond immediate legal adjustments and tap into larger discussions about privacy, educational autonomy, and the role of the state in family matters.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) backed out of an event with Donald Trump on Friday as Congress scrambled to pass a spending bill to stop a government shutdown.
Johnson had been scheduled to appear at a Turning Point USA event Friday with Trump and Tucker Carlson, but Johnson's plans were changed by the spending fight, which has placed Johnson's job in jeopardy.
After three days of legislative drama, Johnson passed a bill Friday to keep the government open - but the bill importantly did not include Trump's demands to raise the debt limit.
Earlier in the week, Trump had killed Johnson's first spending bill, a bloated 1,500-page compromise with Democrats that sparked ire from the right while raising doubts about Johnson's future. Trump urged Johnson to get a better deal, which Trump said must include a suspension of the debt limit.
Trump wants the debt limit resolved now, rather than later, as it could give Democrats future leverage during Trump's first months back in office.
Throughout the week, Trump made it clear that he would prefer to shut down the government, arguing President Biden would get the blame, rather than compromise on a bad deal with Democrats.
But the bill that Johnson blessed hours before midnight Friday would keep the government open, without satisfying Trump's debt limit demands.
Trump gave his seal of approval Thursday to a second version of the bill, which would have suspended the debt limit until January 2027. But Democrats and 38 House Republicans rejected the legislation, defying Trump.
Many of the Republicans who voted "no" on Trump's bill were hard-right deficit hawks, like Chip Roy (R-Tx.), who have long caused headaches for Johnson and who triggered the removal of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, over similar spending disputes.
The final deal passed 366-34 and funds the government until March, with $100 billion in disaster aid for hurricane victims and $10 billion for farmers. While smaller than Johnson's original bill, it does not include the debt limit suspension that Trump wanted.
Johnson's handling of the spending battle has damaged his standing among Republicans and Trump, who appeared to send a warning to the embattled Speaker Thursday.
"If the speaker acts decisively, and tough, and gets rid of all of the traps being set by the Democrats, which will economically and, in other ways, destroy our country, he will easily remain speaker," Trump told Fox News Digital.
Real Clear Politics’ Philip Wegmann reported Thursday that Johnson backed out of an appearance at Turning Point USA's AmFest in Arizona, where Trump is giving the headliner speech on Sunday.
With Johnson now defying Trump's wishes in the open, the president-elect could turn on the Speaker, who he has long supported, ahead of Johnson's January 3 re-election vote.
After the spending deal passed Friday, Johnson claimed that he was in touch with Trump and that he approved of the outcome.
"He knew exactly what we were doing and why," Johnson said. "I think he certainly is happy about this outcome as well."