It was the speaker’s first trip to see the former president since he won his post, and it came as he faced anger from right-wing lawmakers for moving to fund the government.
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GOP senators raise concerns over ‘suddenly’ reassigned director at the Department of Energy
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, led a group of GOP lawmakers who raised the alarm in a letter Tuesday claiming the Biden administration’s Department of Energy “suddenly” reassigned a director in the department.
The letter, sent to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, states that on October 17, Steven Black, the director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DOE-IN), was abruptly reassigned to a “Senior Advisor” role within the energy department without explanation.
“We are also aware that a study conducted by an outside contractor, which the Department has had in its possession since April, outlines disturbing findings as to the state of counterintelligence across the Department, to include the national laboratories,” Risch wrote.
“As you are well aware, the Department of Energy and the research it supports, especially at the national laboratories, is among the most important national security work undertaken by this country,” the letter continued. “The findings in the contractor study, which Congress requested, are deeply concerning.”
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The letter – which was signed by Republican Sens. John Barrasso, Marco Rubio, Steve Daines, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Tom Cotton, Jerry Moran, John Cornyn, and James Lankford – said if Black presided over the DOE-IN during a time when there were “serious shortcomings with regard to counterintelligence,” then Black shouldn’t be in any office with national security assignments.
Barrasso is a ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources committee and Rubio is the Committee on Intelligence’s vice chairman.
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The senators are requesting answers regarding why Black was abruptly reassigned after 11 years, whether the contractor study influenced this decision and seeking clarity on his new role within the department.
It also seeks information about when the department received the study in April and its stance on the conclusions.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Energy for comment.
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Second senator calls for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Monday became the second Senate Democrat to urge a cease-fire in Israel’s war against the terrorist group Hamas.
“I am calling for a ceasefire — a cessation of hostilities by both sides,” Merkley posted on X. “To endure, the ceasefire and the following negotiations must accomplish other essential objectives, including the release of all hostages and a massive influx of humanitarian aid.”
Merkley joins the number two ranking Senate Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and several far-left House lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who have each called for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Durbin said earlier this month that both sides must agree to any cessation of hostilities and that Hamas must release every hostage taken captive in the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel. More than 1,200 Israelis were massacred on that day when Hamas terrorists infiltrated the country from Gaza and indiscriminately tortured, raped and murdered innocents. Some 240 people were taken hostage back to Gaza.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASE-FIRE DEAL WITH HOSTAGE RELEASE IS IN FINAL STAGES
Israel responded to the attacks by declaring war on Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces has since bombarded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and conducted ground operations to free hostages, wipe out the terrorists and erase their capability to attack Israel.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been caught in the crossfire. Israel and U.S. officials say Hamas hides terrorist military targets behind civilian infrastructure including homes, schools and hospitals. The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza claims more than 12,700 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, but Hamas does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, and those numbers cannot be independently verified.
With casualty numbers rising, United Nations officials have declared a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and world leaders have demanded an immediate cease-fire. Israel, with support from President Biden, has so far refused these demands, insisting that an end to hostilities would be surrender to Hamas.
In a statement released on Medium, Merkley condemned Israeli “de facto annexation” of Palestinian territory and said that while he supports the Jewish state’s right to self-defense, he is “deeply disturbed” by how Israel has conducted the campaign since Oct. 7.
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“Israel has unleashed a bombing campaign on Gaza of phenomenal ferocity. Israel defends this campaign as necessary to strike Hamas wherever necessary. But the impression the world has been left with is one of indiscriminate bombing,” Merkley said.
“Air strikes have leveled much of Gaza City and hit crowded refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and even shelters operated by the United Nations,” he continued. “The result is mass carnage.”
Comparing Israeli actions to “massive mistakes” made by America after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Merkley warned that Israel is losing international support and said weeks of cease-fire are needed to evacuate Palestinian civilians, deliver humanitarian aid and allow foreign citizens who wish to leave the territory an opportunity to do so.
“Hamas must release all the hostages without conditions and lay down their arms. And Hamas, which continues to defend the savage slaughter of Israeli citizens on October 7th and advocate for the obliteration of Israel, has to go. It can no longer have operational control of Gaza,” Merkley said.
LIVE UPDATES ON THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a potential cease-fire and hostage release deal are in their final stages, sources tell Fox News.
The deal could include a potential hostage release as well as a temporary end to fighting to get humanitarian aid into the region. Israel’s war cabinet was scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. ET to discuss a possible deal.
“It does appear the final details are being discussed toward a cease-fire that would end fighting in Gaza for up to five days and include the release of some hostages,” Fox News’ Trey Yingst reported from Israel Tuesday afternoon.
“We understand, according to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, that a deal is approaching,” Yingst reported. “Reports indicate it would include the release of dozens of Israeli and foreign citizen hostages. The hostages are expected to be only women and children and would be exchanged for [Palestinian] prisoners being held in Israel.”
Mark Regev, the senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed Tuesday that any cease-fire would be temporary.
Fox News Digital’s Lawrence Richard and Fox News’ Trey Yingst contributed to this report.
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Biden skeptical of China’s cooperation on curbing fentanyl: ‘We have to verify it’
President Biden said Tuesday that he took important steps during his meeting last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States, but that he will have to verify that the Chinese follow through.
Biden and Xi met in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and the White House said their conversations on the deadly opioid fentanyl was a top deliverable out of the talks. Biden reiterated Tuesday that he “made important progress” during his meeting with Xi, as well as with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“We took a critical step of resuming counternarcotics cooperation between our two countries,” he said of his talks with Xi.
“The United States is going to seek to work together with China to target the fentanyl components. As a result of our recent diplomacy, China has already taken steps to shut down companies dealing in illicit trade of precursor chemicals. We’re not just going to trust that this is happening — we have to verify it. And that’s going to save lives,” Biden said.
Biden and Xi announced last week that China would tell companies to curtail shipments to Latin American countries of the chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
Biden stressed that the influx of fentanyl is a “global challenge that demands global action.”
He also called on Congress to “step up,” saying lawmakers should pass his supplemental budget request that includes more funding at the U.S. southern border. The production of fentanyl is often finished in Mexico and then comes across the border into the U.S.
The Justice Department last month announced eight indictments against Chinese companies and nationals, charging them with crimes relating to fentanyl and methamphetamine production, the distribution of synthetic opioids and sales of the chemicals used to make them.
Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill
Israeli Government Approves Deal: 4-Day Pause for 50 Hostages
The Israeli government approved a deal Tuesday night that will see the Palestinian Hamas terror group release at least 50 female, child, and elderly hostages over four days, in return for a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Go to Source: Breitbart News
Flight delayed or canceled? Here are your rights as a passenger
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released a public service announcement reminding airline passengers of their rights Tuesday morning.
“[I]f your flight does get delayed or canceled, know that the Department of Transportation has your back,” Buttigieg said in the PSA video posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “For example, we have secured enforceable commitments from the 10 largest airlines to cover expenses for things like rebooking, meals and more, when you face delays or cancellations that are the airline’s responsibility.
The Transportation secretary also noted that passengers are “entitled to a full cash refund” if a flight is canceled for “any reason.” He also said more airlines are now offering “fee-free family seating,” which he said the Department of Transportation (DOT) is pushing for “across the board.”
“So, before you travel this holiday, take a moment to visit flight rights.gov, know your rights and what to expect as a passenger and know that the Department of Transportation is here to support you,” Buttigieg continued in the video.
Buttigeg’s video comes amid record travel numbers expected over this year’s Thanksgiving break. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it expects 2.6 million passengers to be screened Tuesday and 2.7 on the following day. It also said 2.9 million passengers could be screened Sunday, breaking a record set in June.
The video also comes amid warnings about severe storms and possible snow from officials in the next week.
“Two main storm systems are expected to impact the Nation with rain, thunderstorms, and winter weather,” the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Prediction Center posted on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday.
“Be sure to remain weather aware this week and check weather.gov for local forecasts before traveling,” the service added.
Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill
Biden says ‘things are looking good’ on Hamas releasing hostages
President Biden said Tuesday that efforts to bring home hostages being held by Hamas are “looking good,” amid reporting that a tentative deal has been made to release hostages.
“We are now very close, very close. We could bring some of these hostages home very soon, but I don’t want to get into the details of things, because nothing is done until it’s done. And if we have more to say, we will. But things are looking good at the moment,” Biden said during a meeting at the White House.
The president noted that his top officials have been working for weeks to bring home hostages and that he recently spoke with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, about the hostages. He also said his “team has been in the region shuttling between capitals.”
Netanyahu is convening his war cabinet and then his security cabinet and the government on Tuesday evening local time, which could signal a breakthrough in hostage negotiations.
The leader of Hamas said earlier Tuesday that an agreement was close, Reuters reported.
Hamas kidnapped about 240 people from Israel on Oct. 7, during the attacks by the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that killed at least 1,200 people. Hamas has since released four people as part of intensive negotiations through Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. and Israel.
In recent days, Biden and his top officials have expressed cautious optimism that the negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of hostages, likely women and children, were progressing. The administration has said that the youngest American hostages is a 3-year-old toddler, but it’s not clear how many more, if any, of the hostages are Americans.
Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill