President Donald Trump announces that Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of his Middle East peace plan, authorities arrest a Florida man accused of setting the deadly Palisades Fire, and the Supreme Court hears arguments on Colorado’s ban on so-called “conversion therapy.”
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Trump: The Peace President
Topline: President Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to terms on the first phase of a peace deal that could end the war in Gaza.
Trump was hosting a public event with several independent journalists when he was approached by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After whispering something in Trump’s ear, Rubio then handed the president a handwritten note, which, based on photographs, appeared to say that a deal was “very close.” It then said, “Need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first.”
Moments later, the president’s account published that post, which read: “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace…This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America…BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
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As part of the first phase, Hamas plans to release the 20 living hostages this weekend, according to the Associated Press. Hamas is responsible for the bodies of 28 dead hostages, though it is unclear whether the terror group can locate and retrieve them. Once the Israeli cabinet approves the agreement, the terror group has 72 hours to return the hostages.
Israel’s military has 24 hours from the time the Israeli cabinet approves the deal to withdraw from the heart of Gaza to a predetermined boundary.
SCOTUS Hears Colorado “Conversion Therapy” Case
Topline: The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case addressing the legality of so-called “conversion therapy.” Historically, the term referred to counseling or treatment aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight. However, leftist activists now use the label more broadly, applying it to efforts that encourage transgender individuals to accept their biological sex.
The case: The plaintiff, a Christian counselor named Kaley Chiles, is challenging a law in Colorado that’s been dubbed the “Minor Conversion Therapy Law.” It was passed in 2019 by a Democrat-controlled legislature, and it bans counseling that “attempts or purports to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The plaintiff: Chiles’ legal team, Alliance Defending Freedom, says Chiles is currently under investigation by the state of Colorado over this law, and they’ve stressed that minors are being deprived of her services.
The state of Colorado argues that this is not a free speech issue, but rather a matter of regulating conduct and medical treatment—even if that “medical treatment” is only speech, like talk therapy. The law is then constitutional, according to state attorneys. Colorado says that talk therapy that doesn’t affirm the gender-confused is harmful to children, which the state bases on “experts” and the so-called medical consensus.
SCOTUS watch: The justices appear to be leaning in favor of the plaintiff, and not just the conservatives. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan seemed to side with Justice Samuel Alito when he said the Colorado law seemed like, quote, “blatant viewpoint discrimination.”
A ruling is expected next summer. And if the tea leaves are being read correctly, an overturning of this Colorado law could influence similar laws in dozens of other states.
Authorities Arrest Suspected Palisades Fire Arsonist
Topline: Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who they say intentionally sparked the fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades, California, back in January.
The suspect: Rinderknecht is an Uber driver who now lives in Melbourne, Florida. Officials from the Justice Department and the Los Angeles Police Department held a joint press conference on Wednesday to announce the arrest. According to officials, Rinderknecht started the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day. The Lachman Fire eventually became the Palisades Fire after it was rekindled by severe winds a week later.
What happened: According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Rinderknecht was in Pacific Palisades late on New Year’s Eve after working throughout the evening. He drove toward Skull Rock trailhead, got out of his car, and walked up a trail to a nearby hilltop, where he recorded videos and listened to a rap song. According to Essayli, the song was accompanied by a music video showing objects being set on fire.
In addition to that, Rinderknecht’s phone had images he created with ChatGPT of people fleeing from burning forests. Another ChatGPT search made around the time he called 911 to report the fire said, “Are you at fault if a fire is lit [sic] because of your cigarettes?”
Firefighters were able to suppress the fire shortly after, but it continued to burn underground until strong winds revived it a week later, starting the Palisades Fire.
The blaze eventually became one of the worst in California history. It killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, resulting in $150 billion in damage. The rebuilding process has been long and difficult. As of last month, the city of Los Angeles had approved just over 600 permits to rebuild out of about 1,500 applications.
The charges: Rinderknecht is only charged with destruction of property by means of fire. But prosecutors may add more charges to the indictment later. They accused him of lying to authorities, with Essayli stating that Rinderknecht provided false information to police about the fire when officers interviewed him on January 24. But Essayli made no mention of a charge on that in the indictment. As is, Rinderknecht faces up to 20 years in prison.
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