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Thursday, November 9, 2023

11/9 WAKE-UP CALL: Candidates Attack Nikki Haley During Debate

Haley and DeSantis
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has shown momentum in recent weeks, came under sustained attack in Wednesday’s Republican presidential primary debate as she competes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to be the leading alternative to former President Donald Trump.

She also delivered several of her own shots at DeSantis, who tried to float above the fray, but engaged with her on China, energy policy and a handful of other issues. A confrontation between the two had been brewing, amplified by a closely watched poll that recently showed Haley and DeSantis tied for second in Iowa, where nomination balloting starts Jan. 15.

But second place may not be worth much given Trump’s commanding lead in the polls. After an opening question that asked candidates to make a case against Trump, who skipped the event, the debate centered on testy exchanges between those on stage.


➤HALEY CALLS RAMASWAMY "SCUM": A visibly enraged Nikki Haley derided Vivek Ramaswamy as “scum” during a heated exchange at Wednesday night’s third Republican presidential primary debate after the biotech entrepreneur invoked the former ambassador to the United Nations’ adult daughter to make a point about the social media platform TikTok.  Haley has previously mocked Ramswamy’s defenses for his prolific use of the app, which some Republican lawmakers allege is a tool used by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on Americans.

At the second debate Sept. 27, Haley told the political newcomer that “TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have. And … honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”  When asked Wednesday by conservative radio talk show host and debate moderator Hugh Hewitt about how he can go about banning the Chinese-owned app given his own use of it on the campaign trail, Ramaswamy went after Haley.  “In the last debate, [Haley] made fun of me for actually joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time. So you might want to take care of your family first,” Ramaswamy said.

Winners:

  • Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley
  • Gov. Ron DeSantis

Losers:

  • Former President Donald Trump
  • Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
  • Sen. Tim Scott

➤TRUMP NAME TO APPEAR ON BALLOT: Minnesota's highest court ruled Wednesday that former President Donald Trump should be allowed to appear on the state's presidential primary ballot next year, waving off for now an argument raised in an early test case that he had disqualified himself for a second term by attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The decision is a partial victory for Trump, allowing him to stay on the ballot for the GOP primary. Minnesota may revisit the issue for the general election. The court, in a four-page order, said the state's primary election was an "internal party election" and that winning that contest doesn't necessarily place the nominee on the state's general election ballot. There is no state law that bars a political party from nominating a candidate who may be ineligible to hold office, the court wrote.

➤FIERCE FIGHTING IN GAZA: Street battles raged in Gaza City with Hamas fighters using tunnels to ambush Israeli forces, as the United States said Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war, countering Israeli comments that it would control security indefinitely. The Israeli military said its troops had advanced into the heart of Gaza City, Hamas' main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the Islamist group said its fighters had inflicted heavy losses. Hamas' armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group. Israel struck Gaza in response to a cross-border Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.


➤CONCERN GROWS OVER ATTACKS ON U-S BASES: The Biden administration, which has been working fervently to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding, on Wednesday struck a militia group's facility in eastern Syria as a counter to a growing number of attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East over recent weeks, the Pentagon said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that two F-15 fighter jets conducted the operation against a weapons-storage facility used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its allies.

"This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates,'' Austin said. This is the second time in less than two weeks the U.S. has bombed facilities used by militant groups, many operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which U.S. officials say have carried out at least 40 such attacks in the region since Oct. 17.

Developments:

∎ Israel's intelligence agency and Brazilian security services combined to thwart a plot by the Hezbollah militant group to attack Jews in Brazil, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the Israeli prime minister's office. Brazilian police said they arrested two people on terrorism charges in Sao Paulo.

∎ The World Health Organization said it has made its second delivery of emergency medical supplies and medicines to Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital despite "relentless bombardments.'' The agency described the medical conditions at the hospital, Gaza's largest, as "disastrous.'' Israel says Hamas uses the facility as a shield for its command center.

∎ An Israeli fighter jet killed the head of weapons and industries for Hamas, the Israeli military said. Mohsen Abu Zina was "an expert in developing strategic weapons and rockets."

➤TEXAS PLANT FIRE UNDER CONTROL: Residents of two Texas counties were forced to shelter in place yesterday as fire crews fought to contain a massive fire at a plant that reportedly makes glue and paint remover solvents. Residents of San Jacinto and Polk County were told the danger had passed in early afternoon. Firefighters were still at the plant in Shepherd last night to put out any hotspots.

➤SUSPECT ARRESTED IN DEATH OF SYNAGOGUE PRESIDENT: A suspect is in custody for last month’s murder of Samantha Woll, the president of a Detroit synagogue. Woll was stabbed to death outside her home on October 21st. Police did not release any information about the suspect.

➤BIDEN FAMILY MEMBERS SUBPOENAED: The House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas Wednesday demanding closed-door testimony from President Biden’s son Hunter and brother James as part of the GOP impeachment inquiry into the family’s foreign business dealings. James, 73, and Hunter, 53, regularly involved their powerful relative in their business relationships during his eight-year vice presidency and in the years that followed, including in ventures involving China and Ukraine. “The House Oversight Committee has followed the money and built a record of evidence revealing how Joe Biden knew, was involved, and benefited from his family’s influence peddling schemes,” said committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.).

The committee set a Dec. 13 date for Hunter Biden to appear for an interview and a Dec. 6 date for James Biden to appear. If either refuses to comply, the panel could recommend criminal charges for contempt of Congress.

The GOP-led committee also subpoenaed the testimony of Biden family associate Rob Walker and requested voluntary testimony from James Biden’s wife Sara, Hunter Biden’s ex-girlfriend/sister-in-law Hallie Biden and his current wife Melissa Cohen, in addition to former Biden family associate Tony Bobulinski and Hallie Biden’s sister Elizabeth Secundy.

➤HOLLYWOOD ACTORS MAKE A DEAL: The Hollywood actors guild has reached a tentative deal with the studios that could end the strike that brought the entertainment industry to a halt for four months. Actors could start returning to sets soon. MORE: HERE

➤WALMART TURNS DOWN THE VOLUME: Beginning tomorrow, Walmart is dialing down the stress levels in its stores. The lights will be dimmed and the overhead radios will be turned off, but only between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. According to Fox Business, the retailer tested its quiet concept to accommodate shoppers with sensory disabilities like autism. The feedback from employees and customers was overwhelmingly positive.


🏈JUSTIN FIELDS TO MISS TONIGHT’S GAME: Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has been deemed not quite ready to play in tonight’s game against the Carolina Panthers. He’s been nursing a thumb injury. Rookie Tyson Bagent is stepping in as starting quarterback.

🏈TOMMY DEVITO MAKES HIS GIANTS DEBUT: Tommy DeVito will make his first appearance as starting quarterback for the New York Giants when they play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Matt Barkley has been pulled from the practice squad to back up DeVito. Daniel Jones is in rehab after tearing a ligament during Sunday’s game against the Los Vegas Raiders.


⚾NEW MANAGER FOR LOS ANGELES ANGELS: Ron Washington has been picked to manage the Los Angeles Angels, the team announced yesterday. Washington was manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014, and later was third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves. He started out as an infielder for the Kansas City Royals in 1970.

✞MATT ULRICH DEAD AT AGE 41: Matt Ulrich, winner of Super Bowl 41 with the Indianapolis Colts, has died at the age of 41, according to an announcement from the Colts. The cause of death was not revealed. Ulrich leaves a wife and four sons.



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