The Daily Debate
Higher Ed Is Broken. How Do We Fix It?
Top Stories
Members of the hard right are suggesting that any deal that does not meet their demands could cost Mike Johnson his job as Speaker.
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Donald Trump Admits His Mistake to Judge Engoron
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Ukraine to Receive Helicopters, Rockets and Other Weapons From NATO Country
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Social Security Changes Planned if Nikki Haley Wins Election
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Bill Belichick by the Numbers: Looking at the Head Coach's Patriots Career
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Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Trump's China admission: During a Fox News town hall, Donald Trump admitted he did receive money from foreign governments such as China while he was president. He said his business was providing a "service" for them.
- NATO country leader criticizes the West: Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Western leaders have "repeatedly erred in assessing" the war between Russia and Ukraine, writing in a recent opinion piece that Kyiv is incapable of launching any meaningful counteroffensive despite receiving billions of dollars in military aid.
- Soccer team's scary ride: The Gambia soccer team members say they narrowly escaped death after the oxygen supply failed in their plane. The team was headed to the Africa Cup of Nations. The plane was forced to land 20 minutes after takeoff.
- Sailor sentenced for spying: A California-based sailor arrested last summer, accused of spying for China, has been sentenced to over two years in prison. Wenheng Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of receiving a bribe during his official duties.
- Cookie recall: Wegmans has issued a recall of oat cookies bought from its in-store bakeries over fears of a life-threatening allergic reaction. Check your state to see if your store is affected.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, A top Russian commander was killed in an attack on annexed Crimea by Ukrainian forces last week, it has been reported. News of the death of Russian Colonel Vadim Nailyovich Ismagilov comes after Ukrainian troops struck a command post of a Russian military unit near Sevastopol in Crimea on January 4.
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TL/DR: "No one delivered a knockout punch or unanimous debate victory, so the race will likely remain idle through the first several early states," " Aaron Kall, a political commentator, told Newsweek.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and ex-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley went head-to-head Wednesday night in the fifth 2024 GOP primary debate, just five days before Iowa caucus voters cast their ballots. During the two-hour forum hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, the two GOP presidential hopefuls fielded questions on domestic taxes to foreign policy. The night was unsurprisingly filled with plenty of jabs, and the front-runner of the 2024 Republican race, former President Donald Trump, was again missing.
Why it matters: Both DeSantis and Haley vowed to lower the cost of living for the average American, although the two fought over each other's records on tax policies. Haley also bashed DeSantis' policies in Florida, calling his state a "hot spot for inflation." DeSantis promised that working-class families would only pay federal taxes once they reached a certain income threshold. Neither candidate said that they believed Trump was the right choice for 2024. Haley called on Trump repeatedly to defend his "record." DeSantis again hit on Trump's missed promises, such as failing to build the wall along the U.S. southern border or his vow to "drain the swamp."
Read More In-Depth Coverage:
High School Debaters Grade GOP Candidates' Iowa Debate Performance
Nikki Haley Comes Out Swinging at Donald Trump
Nikki Haley Got What She Wanted. Is It Enough to Beat Trump?
What happens now? While Haley and DeSantis clashed on how to handle the war in Ukraine, neither expressed interest in backing down on America's military support for Israel's fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Also, Haley may have helped her campaign Wednesday night by taking a less harsh approach than some of her GOP colleagues on the issue of abortion. She repeated that while she is "unapologetically pro-life," she believes that Republicans have approached the problem with judgment. Lastly, with Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ending his bid for GOP nomination, many think this could give Haley a push. However, most do not believe it will be enough to dent Trump's sizable national lead in the polls.
TL/DR: "Whether her new constituents will buy that or even want her to be their representative to Congress remains to be seen. File under 'Send in the Clowns.'" Boston University professor Thomas J. Whalen said.
Lauren Boebert's campaign spent almost $2 million in 2023 as the Republican Congresswoman fights to keep her House of Representatives seat in this year's election. According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Boebert spent $1,772,343.81 between January to September 2023. An analysis of FEC filing data shows that Boebert's campaign spent $288,357.10 on various fundraising activities from January to December 2023. At the start of her campaign, the committee's total cash was $356,794.33—but this has since increased to $1,434,675.37.
Why it matters: Boebert sparked backlash after moving her campaign from Colorado's third district to the fourth—currently represented by retiring Rep. Ken Buck— citing her "personal life" and it being a "right decision" for the conservative movement. Boebert was entangled in controversy after she and a male partner were asked to leave a Beetlejuice musical performance for taking unauthorized photos and vaping, with surveillance footage later emerging of the two engaging in lewd acts. Meanwhile, Boebert is facing a police investigation after a physical confrontation with ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, in which she has denied involvement in.
Read More In-Depth Coverage:
Lauren Boebert's Ex-Husband Arrested
Lauren Boebert Makes 'Beetlejuice' Scandal Joke at Event in New District
Lauren Boebert Faces Police Investigation
What happens now? Speaking about her possible re-election, Harvard professor Richard Parker told Newsweek her election chances in the 4th depend entirely on how heavily conservatives “who like their politicians' performative” turn out. The GOP primary is on March 5 with seven other candidates in the race, including CO House minority leader Mike Lynch, best poised to defeat her. A Democrat cannot win the seat, but Parker adds her competitors could cut into each other's vote enough to “let her slip through with 20-25 percent in March."
TL/DR: Three Tier 1 contingencies listed as having both a high likelihood and high impact: U.S. election-related violence, expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and a flood of migration to the U.S.
The Council on Foreign Relations has released a report identifying key global conflict areas, ranking them based on their likelihood and potential impact on U.S. interests. The report dropped as China is accused of meddling in Taiwan's upcoming January 13 elections—and as the war in Ukraine approaches its second anniversary.
Why it matters: A contingency in the Taiwan Strait or major escalation in the Russo-Ukrainian War that risks drawing in the U.S. and NATO are among eight scenarios categorized as Tier I risks. These are defined as either highly likely to occur with a high potential impact on U.S. interests or moderately likely with a high impact. Other Tier I crises include Israel's war with Hamas spilling over into a regional conflict; a military confrontation between Israel and Iran, sparked by the latter's support for militant groups such as Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah; and a showdown on the Korean Peninsula sparked by the North's nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
Read More In-Depth Coverage:
How Long Will the U.S. Have Taiwan's Back Against China?
Biden Says He Wants Israel to Leave Gaza
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What happens now? The report also lists seven potential Tier II episodes of moderate likelihood and impact, such as clashes between Turkey and Kurdish groups in Iraq or Syria, or of low likelihood but high impact, such as China's territorial feud with the Philippines in the South China Sea triggering U.S. military action in support of its Mutual Defense Treaty ally. The lowest category, Tier III, describes moderately likely, low impact situations like international peacekeeping forces failing to stem Haiti's spiral into chaos or new fighting in Sudan or South Sudan.
TL/DR: "A lot of the standards and procedures have changed because Hamas is getting better and better at using the civilians around them," IDF drone operator “Captain D.” told Newsweek.
As Israeli troops continue to wage war by land in the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operators tucked into command rooms away from the frontlines are leading a parallel campaign from above. At any given time, up to dozens of Israeli drones are hovering over Gaza– prepared to launch strikes against targets, an IDF drone operator identified as Captain D. told Newsweek. "At the end of the day, this is war, and it's chaotic, and we're doing our absolute best," Captain D. said.
Why it matters: Even with an IDF legal department issuing guidance throughout the campaign, Israel's air war continues to come under growing international scrutiny. Criticism has been fueled by reports of increasing civilian casualties– on top of a death toll reported by the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry to have exceeded 23,000 people. Both sides accuse the other of deliberately targeting civilians, a claim both deny. "It has never been proven that Hamas used civilians as human shields or put their lives in danger because this is contrary to our faith and morals," Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told Newsweek.
Read More In-Depth Coverage:
Full List of US Cities Calling For Israel-Gaza Ceasefire
Israel Shares Ominous Warning About Next Phase of War
As Israel-Hamas War Rages, There's No Escape from Fighting for Civilians
What happens now? The IDF is beginning to reduce its ground presence in Gaza amid U.S. pressure to transition to a "more precise, more surgical" phase of the conflict. Captain D. said the IDF has shifted some of its standard operating procedures due to "new technology” on both sides as well as new directives in response to the civilian death toll. Meanwhile, more than 100 people are still believed to be held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
TL/DR: "For the first time in our National Housing Survey's history, more homeowners, on the net, believe mortgage rates will go down than go up," Deputy Chief Economist Mark Palim said.
Despite an increase in mortgage rates, data from the Mortgage Bankers Association reveals a spike of around 10% in mortgage applications for the week ending January 5, the most it has jumped in about a year. In a statement shared with Newsweek, Mortgage Bankers Association's Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan says the increase in purchase and refinance applications for both conventional and government loans is "promising to start the year" but was likely due to some catch-up in activity after the holiday season and year-end rate declines.
Why it matters: The increase spike comes as interest rates on the 30-year fixed mortgage ticked up to 6.8% for the week and 6.76 percent from the prior week. Deputy Chief Economist Mark Palim suggested there was increased optimism about the housing market partly due to the decline in rates seen in December when they came down to 6.62% from their peak of 8% in October.
Read More In-Depth Coverage:
Rents in America Finally Drop Below $2,000 a Month
Joe Biden's Remarks About House Prices Raise Eyebrows
Americans Are Saving Thousands on Mortgage Payments
What happens now? Rates for home loans are expected to fall over the next year, according to a survey from Fannie Mae. Experts say the housing market challenges in 2024 will hinge on what happens with prices. Median sale prices for homes are still elevated, jumping by more than a percent in December compared to a year ago. Chief economist Danielle Hale suggests that we will likely see some repeat buyers come back into the market. With mortgage rates lower than last year, Hale says it may encourage sellers of used homes to enter the market, which could help with prices.
Astronomers Discover Planet Has Been Hiding 350,000-Mile-Long Tail
Astronomers have discovered that a gigantic planet has been hiding a 350,000-mile-long tail as its atmosphere seeps away.
The exoplanet known as WASP-69 is gargantuan—roughly the size of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system—and is about 160 light-years from Earth. It is sometimes dubbed "hot Jupiter" because the gas planet orbits incredibly close to its host star. It is so close, in fact, that it completes its orbit of the star in less than four days, by Earth's time frame. The closest planet to our sun, Mercury, completes its orbit in 88 days.
A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal found that its star is so boiling hot atmosphere is escaping into space, at a rate of 200,000 tons per second.
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Biden Fiddles as the World Burns
Josh discusses the looming possibility of World War III on President Biden's shameful watch, the media's nonstop distortions of the Israel-Hamas war, and the Supreme Court's awful decision not to take up a recent Seventh Circuit case that held the Second Amendment does not protect so-called "assault weapons."
The Case For Climate Capitalism (Feat. Tom Rand)
Tom Rand joins host Ellis Henican to discuss his book: The Case For Climate Capitalism, Economic Solutions For A Planet In Crises, where he argues that a warming climate and a general distrust of Wall Street has opened a new cultural divide among those who otherwise agree we must mitigate climate risk.
Final Thoughts
In this final episode, Kristal shares her thoughts on Donald Trump's legal battles and the new House majority leader, Mike Johnson (R-LA).
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