This article discusses the discovery of a 2.5 mile long tunnel in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military, believed to have been used by Hamas militants to transport vehicles, militants, and supplies. This discovery has raised questions about how Israeli surveillance missed such conspicuous preparations, and comes as the Israeli government faces calls for a cease-fire from its allies, amidst growing unease with civilian casualties. The Israeli military is continuing to investigate the tunnel and its purpose.
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CIA Director William Burns is in Poland to meet with Israeli and Qatari officials in an effort to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. The U.S. military has been involved in the situation, engaging 14 one-way attack drones from Yemen, and the top two U.S. military leaders are now traveling to Tel Aviv to advise the Israeli government. The same group met twice last month in Doha, Qatar, in an attempt to resolve the hostage situation and prevent a wider regional conflict.
A powerful storm system is bringing record-breaking rainfall, high winds, and severe thunderstorms to the East Coast, causing power outages and coastal flooding. In South Carolina's Georgetown County, dozens of motorists have been rescued from floodwaters, and residents are advised to take caution and stay informed of the latest weather updates.
Ruby Franke, a former family vlogger, is expected to enter a plea agreement on Monday in Washington County, Utah, after being charged with six counts of felony child abuse. Police found two of her children with open wounds and malnourished, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt was also charged with two counts of child abuse and one count of child endangerment. The case has sparked a national conversation about the responsibilities of parents and influencers, and Franke's plea agreement is expected to be a first step in resolving the case.
On Sunday evening, a car crashed into a parked Secret Service SUV that was shielding President Joe Biden's motorcade in Wilmington, Delaware. First Lady Jill Biden and the President had just left the campaign office, and a reporter asked Biden why he wasn't faring better in polls. The motorcade continued on after the incident, and President Biden was able to leave the scene safely. The Secret Service is currently investigating the incident.
The Republican Party of Florida has taken swift action against Chairman Christian Ziegler, suspending him and demanding his resignation amid an investigation into allegations of sexual assault, including rape. The party voted to make Ziegler's salary $1 and strip him of most of his power, transferring authority to Vice Chair Evan Power. Governor Ron DeSantis and other top officials have called for Ziegler to step down, and the allegations involve a woman with whom he and his wife had a prior consensual sexual relationship. The party's swift action shows that they are taking the allegations seriously.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared on NBC's Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He expressed hope that Israel could do more to limit civilian casualties and warned that Israel must consider its handling of Palestinians if it wishes to pursue normalization with Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration views the creation of formal diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as an important foreign policy goal, and Graham praised their efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.
The White House and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) met on Saturday to discuss a potential immigration deal, however progress has been slow and a deal is unlikely to be reached before Christmas. The chamber is not set to reconvene until Jan. 9, meaning any aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan will be delayed until then. The White House and the CHC have yet to reach an agreement on the immigration deal.