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Today we’re covering:
💰 Biden’s cut in family business deals,
🇵🇸 Soros money funds anti-Israel groups,
🗳️ The race for Republican runner-up🔒,
And everything else you need to know.
☕️ Welcome back. I’m Ari, and this is Upward News. Every day, our team scours 100s of sources to bring you need-to-know news and insights you won’t find in the MSM—all in 5 minutes. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up here.
GEOPOLITICS
The Soros money behind anti-Israel protests
What’s happening: A New York Post analysis of the Soros-led Open Society Foundation’s grant-making shows that it has given millions to anti-Israel groups that are sponsoring large protests across the country and, in some cases, even supported Hamas’s brutal October 7 terrorist attack.
Where the money went: It gave $650,000 to Jewish Voice for Peace, which has called for another Palestinian intifada, a reference to the “uprising” which is remembered for its more than 130 suicide bombings against civilians. JVP also refused to condemn Hamas after the October 7 terror attack or label them a terrorist organization. Speakers at their rallies condoned the attack.
Also: It gave $450,000 to IfNotNow, which has sponsored several large anti-Israel protests with JVP — including the one in Washington DC where demonstrators took over a Capitol office building — and claims Israel is committing genocide.
More: Money was given to Adalah Justice Project, which posted a picture of the bulldozed border wall on October 7th with the caption, “Israeli colonizers believed they could indefinitely trap two million people in an open-air prison… no cage goes unchallenged.”
Why it matters: This is an early indication that the money behind many of the most prominent anti-Israel groups may be a result of big-money backers rather than grassroots fundraising, as has become standard when it comes to large far-left social movements.
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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🇮🇱 Biden thinks Netanyahu’s political career is waning. The president has told the Israeli prime minister he doesn’t think he’ll be in office much longer, according to U.S. officials. Biden has even suggested that Netanyahu think about lessons to pass on to successors. The administration is scoping out other Israeli politicians who could potentially replace Netanyahu. (Politico)
🚫 White House announces plans to fight “Islamophobia.” The Biden administration promises to “work with community leaders, advocates, members of Congress, and more” on “the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia.” Muslims disproportionately endure “hate-fueled attacks and other discriminatory incidents,” the White House claimed. The day before, a Cornell University student was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill Jews. (White House, Department of Justice)
🗳️ Judge won’t dismiss ballot disqualification case against Trump. A Colorado judge refused another motion from Trump’s legal team to dismiss a lawsuit threatening to remove him from 2024 ballots over the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Lawyers had argued a First Amendment defense for Trump’s actions. The former president is also suing in Michigan over “uncertainty” about his ballot eligibility. (New York Times)
WHAT WE’RE HEARING
The White House said that the US has no plans to deploy an American peacekeeping force in Gaza. (Reuters)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) doesn’t own a single stock or retirement plan and has less than $5,000 in his bank account. (Daily Beast)
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, has initiated a probe into the non-profit organization American Muslims for Palestine, citing concerns over potential fundraising and financial transactions with terrorist groups. (Tampa Free Press)
WASHINGTON
House reveals Biden’s cut in Chinese deal
What happened: As vice president, Joe Biden received 10 percent of a deal with a Chinese government-linked company through his family, according to bank information released by the House Oversight Committee.
What’s new? Though email evidence has shown Biden’s cut in the deal since 2020, the bank records serve as confirmation.
The deal: In 2017, Hunter Biden and his associates struck a deal with the CEO of an energy company with deep ties to China’s military and intelligence. Hunter’s emails show that 10 percent was slated for “the big guy” — Joe Biden’s confirmed nickname among family members and businessmen.
Follow the money: Hunter collected $400,000 from the deal and sent a smaller amount to James and Sara Biden. Shortly after, Sara sent $40,000 — 10 percent of the $400,000 — to Joe Biden, marking it innocently as a “loan repayment.”
Why it matters: The money from China accounted for most of the balance in the bank accounts the Bidens used. This shows that the purpose of the accounts was to funnel cash from China to then-Vice President Biden. Over the span of a few weeks, they did.
Zoom out: As the president faces possible impeachment over his foreign ties, Republicans have once again proven that he directly profited from his family’s dealings, which centered around selling Biden’s influence as the family “brand.”
But there’s more: Hunter used his father to leverage the Chinese deal, according to text messages. “I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,” Hunter told a Chinese associate when he wasn’t paid on time. “We will cooperate with the family,” the businessman replied.
Nikki Haley surges as the Middle East simmers
In the 2024 GOP primary, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are battling for second place.
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POLL
Who do you prefer outside Trump for 2024?Poll results will be in tomorrow's newsletter. |
POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
What is more important to you in 2024?
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🌏 Foreign policy (28)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🇺🇸 Domestic policy (334)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Other (36)
🌏 Foreign policy: “Too many foreign countries are influencing our domestic policy. We need to get the foreign money influx under control.” — Anonymous
🇺🇸 Domestic policy: “We need to fix ourselves and our massive debt before we intervene with foreign matters.” — Rob
🤔 Other: “We’re America—we can and must take care of both.” — Anonymous
GEOPOLITICS
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is set to make a major speech on Friday, and there are signs he might declare all-out war on Israel. (Foundation for Defense of Democracies)
The Pentagon disclosed that U.S. commandos are currently stationed in Israel helping to locate hostages. (New York Times)
Pakistan is planning to deport 1.7 million undocumented migrants, mostly Afghans, as rights groups fear for Afghans’ safety under Taliban rule. (NBC News)
Hamas sent women and children running towards Israeli soldiers during firefights in Gaza as a “human wall,” according to Hebrew reporting. (Ynet)
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