The possible outcomes for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad generally range from bad to worse, though the regime’s end may serve U.S. interests in the region.
Assad’s regime was well-known for the brutality it directed toward its own people as Assad sought to maintain power through a lengthy and bloody civil war. But with terror groups and jihadis in control of large swaths of the country, Syria’s next government could be as harsh or worse toward religious and ethnic minorities.
“Domestically, [Assad’s ouster] is probably going to result in chaos because, prior to Hafez al-Assad&#8217;s taking over 50 years ago, there was one coup after another in Syria,” Hillsdale College history professor Dr. Paul Rahe told The Daily Wire.
<div id="attachment_843363" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-843363" class="size-large wp-image-843363" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-864x576.jpg" alt="Syrians Gather In The Umayyad Square In The Heart Of Damascus To Celebrate The Fall Of The Assad Regime On December 9, 2024.(Photo by Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images</div>
That chaos is largely a result of Syria’s creation out of imperial holdings of the British and French after the first world war, according to Rahe.
“The crucial thing to understand is that Syria is artificial. It goes back to the divvying up of the Near East between the British and the French after World War I. So, there really isn&#8217;t a country there,” Rahe said.
“The difficulties in bringing order to Syria other than the kind of order that Assad imposed – which is violent and dictatorial and tyrannical – the difficulty is very, very great. I don&#8217;t think we should expect this to produce a new awakening for Syria and good things,” he continued. “It may be good for us, … but I wouldn’t be shocked if the civil war continued.”
Amid the chaos, Russia risks the loss of its Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean, as well as the Khmeimim airbase, an important staging post between Russia and its operations in Africa. Iran’s losses are arguably greater. Tehran has spent decades building networks and infrastructure in Syria to supply its terror proxies throughout the region.
<div id="attachment_842239" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-842239" class="wp-image-842239 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1024x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024. The UN special envoy for Syria on December 10 called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside Syria, days after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP) (Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024. (Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Whether Moscow and Tehran can maintain the influence they had with the new regional authority remains to be seen, though the odds are doubtful. Reports say both Russia and Iran have pulled resources out of the country in the days since Assad’s ouster.
The group responsible for Assad’s fall is Ha’yat Tehrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terror group that led the rebel coalition against the Assad regime. HTS is led by a man who, until recently, was known by his nom de guerre <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/who-is-syrian-rebel-leader-mohammad-al-jolani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abu Mohammad al-Jolani</a>. He dropped the name while distancing himself from his radical Islamist past, recently reverting to his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa, with his past ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, is wanted under a $10 million bounty by the United States.
Sharaa is closely aligned with Turkey and its autocratic ruler, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leaving the Turks in the best position to influence the possible next leader of Syria. That influence could have a significant impact on how U.S. interests in the region are served, according to Rahe.
“Whether it&#8217;s in our interest or in the interest of the Israelis depends to a great degree on the policy of Turkey, and there&#8217;s no clarity about the policy of Turkey with regard to Israel,” Rahe said. “At times, the Erdogan government has cooperated very closely with the Israelis. At other times, it has been strongly hostile to Israel.”
Despite the questions surrounding Turkey, the fact that Tehran is no longer the dominant state sponsor in Syria bodes well.
“[Assad] was a pawn of Iran, so the weakening of Iran is very good for us,” Rahe said. “If it turns out to be a radical Islamist regime on the border of Israel, it will be trouble. But will it be as much trouble as Iran was with Assad, with Hezbollah, with the Houthis? I think not. So, on the whole, I think it’s a piece of luck for us.”
<div id="attachment_843367" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-843367" class="size-large wp-image-843367" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-864x576.jpg" alt="UNSPECIFIED, SYRIA - DECEMBER 11: Islamist rebels of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stand guard at the entrance of the first abandoned military base that reads Our Leader Forever - Hafez al-Assad on December 11, 2024, inside Lebanons border with Syria, Rebel forces in Syria have retaken the capital from longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country for Moscow. The fall of the Assad regime marks a new chapter for Syria, which has been mired in a multi-party civil war since 2011, sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Scott Peterson/Getty Images</div>
The United States has roughly 1,000 troops in Syria, left over from forces ordered there under the Obama administration to fight the rise of the Islamic State. President Joe Biden has dedicated American forces toward that aim again, launching dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria in the past week.
“We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen,” Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/12/08/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-latest-developments-in-syria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in remarks from the White House on December 8.
Biden’s limited interventions in Syria appear to be more than President-elect Donald Trump prefers or would pursue after he takes office in January.
“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, &amp; THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” Trump said in a recent post on Truth Social. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
But with Assad out and Syria’s future governance in doubt for the first time in 50 years, should the United States move in to assert its influence and interests in the new regime? According to Rahe, that would be a bad idea based more on hubris than reality.
“It&#8217;s too easy for Americans to exaggerate American agency, our capacity to fix things, to shape things. The prudent thing to do is to watch and wait,” Rahe told The Daily Wire. “If a government emerges and it&#8217;s in control of the territory, we should recognize it and our diplomats should try to work with it. Then we’ll see.”
“But we can’t control this,” he continued. “The Russians can’t control it. The Iranians can’t control it. And my guess is, in the end, the Turks can’t control it, though they can influence things.”

TOPSHOT-SYRIA-CONFLICT

‘We Can’t Control This’: The Fall Of Assad And The Future Of Syria

Bashar Assad

Iran

Middle East

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Syria

Turkey

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> announced three new appointments for ambassadorships on Tuesday night as he continues to fill out key roles for his incoming administration.
Trump appointed Kimberly Guilfoyle to serve as the United States Ambassador to Greece.
&#8220;For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.&#8221;
Guilfoyle said in a statement that she was honored to accept the nomination and that she looked forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.
&#8220;President Trump’s historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across the world,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America.&#8221;
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&#8220;And now, we have an opportunity to honor that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad,&#8221; she added. &#8220;As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.
President Trump’s historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across… <a href="https://t.co/ThyyDwOTNk">pic.twitter.com/ThyyDwOTNk</a>
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) <a href="https://twitter.com/kimguilfoyle/status/1866623893017927923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
Trump also nominated private equity real estate investor Tom Barrack to serve at the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.
&#8220;For three decades, Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;He is a well respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.&#8221;
&#8220;Tom was born and raised in Southern California, and earned a BA and JD from the University of Southern California and University of San Diego where he was a member of Law Review,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Congratulations Tom!&#8221;
Trump also announced that he nominated Ronald Johnson, who served as Trump&#8217;s Ambassador to El Salvador during his first term in office, to serve in his second term as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.
&#8220;Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nation’s security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;He also served our Country for over twenty years with the Central Intelligence Agency after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret.&#8221;
&#8220;He graduated from the National Intelligence University with a Master of Strategic Intelligence,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Congratulations Ron. Together, we will put an end to migrant crime, stop the illegal flow of Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our Country and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!&#8221;

Meet the Press – Season 78

Trump Announces Top Ambassador Appointments For 3 Nations

Ambassador

Donald Trump

Executive

Greece

Kimberly Guilfoyle

Mexico

Politics

The Assad regime in Syria is gone. 
A tectonic shift in the Middle East just happened over the weekend. On Sunday morning, Syrian rebels finally took Damascus. They took Bashar al-Assad&#8217;s palace. The Assad regime is no more. Assad has fled to Moscow where he is being granted some sort of asylum because the Russians backed the Assad regime.
It’s important to remember that Syria is an artificial creation, post-World War I by the West, French, and British. Because of that, like many other states in the Middle East, it is unworkable and has been unworkable for a very long time.
There are a large number of groups of various religious belief systems — many of them unbelievably radical, many of them terrorists — all fighting one another.
The Syrian civil war is likely to continue for a long time to come because this is an unworkable patchwork of various groups in various areas of the country.
There are numerous interests involved. The Russians are exceptionally interested in Syria because they wanted to secure ports on the Mediterranean Sea in Syria, which they actually did with the acquiescence of the Assad regime.
Iran used Syria as a thoroughfare and helped prop up the Assad regime.
Turkey, on the other hand, did not like the Assad regime and was also attempting to make its own incursions into Syria. That is because many people in Syria are Kurds and the Turks don&#8217;t like the Kurds in the same way they don&#8217;t like the Armenians.
Israel wants to defend itself and make sure that it is not the victim of yet another land incursion from Syria.
So Syria, as is geopolitically evident, is just a mess. That’s without even getting into the internal politics.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2100-member-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
Syria is split into many different territories. Certain opposition groups in the south of Syria border the Golan Heights and Jordan. Some of those are radical Sunni Islamists. Some of those are Druze. 
The main terrorist-rebel coalition is located in the northwest of Syria. That coalition is run by a person named Abu Mohammed al-Golani, an Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated terrorist. He’s in the north and backed by the Turks.
The Kurds are in control of a large swath of the northeast area that was, at one time, not under the control of the Kurds but under the control of ISIS, where ISIS still has a presence. ISIS prisons held tens of thousands of prisoners in those Kurdish areas.
After the Assad regime fell, the United States started launching airstrikes in these ISIS-type hotbeds in the Kurdish area of Syria in order to prevent ISIS from reconstituting. Turkey also has taken over huge swaths of the north of Syria.
All the pretense from the media asserting that the people who just took over Syria might be moderate is flat wrong.
By 2024, the Assad regime basically had no money. Their currency was effectively worthless; there were massive inflation rates. The Assad regime had to be propped up by outside forces, Iran and Russia. Russia gave them weaponry and other resources; in return, they got access to some coastal bases in Syria.
Then, October 7 happened. Iran activated Hamas. Hamas murdered 1,200 Jews and pulled 250 more into Gaza, many of whom are still being held in the terror tunnels. Hezbollah started firing thousands of missiles over the course of a year into northern Israel, clearing out Israel&#8217;s north.
Over the course of the subsequent year, Israel proceeded to take out Hamas and virtually all of their military resources, then turned to devastating Hezbollah. They also conducted operations in Syria to prevent Syria from being used as a thoroughfare for Hezbollah resources. So Iran’s sphere of influence got absolutely shellacked.
Meanwhile, Russia was bogged down in their war with Ukraine. They simply didn&#8217;t have the money or the capacity to uphold the Assad regime.
As a byproduct of the Ukraine war and Israel’s efforts, Assad had no allies upon whom to call. The legs of the stool on which his regime was standing got kicked out from underneath him and, as a result, the stool fell.
What happened in Syria was not that the Sunni Muslim terrorist groups suddenly became good at war again. They were really low ebb at the beginning of 2024. What happened is that Assad was basically an eggshell skull. They tapped him. He fell. There was no one to come to his support.
Thus, the terrorist-rebels took advantage and toppled the regime. That&#8217;s effectively the story here. Turkey backed many of these Sunni Muslim terrorist groups that hated the Assad regime. Wishing to expand their own sphere of influence into Syria, they took advantage of the chaos caused by Iran and Russia&#8217;s withdrawal.
The two biggest losers in this situation are Russia, because they had backed the Assad regime, and Iran, which has lost their entire crescent of Islamic Shia terror. Hamas is gone. Hezbollah is gone. Assad is gone. These are all massive blows to the Iranian regime, all caused by what Iran started. It is one of the ultimate “f*** around and find out” moments in human history.
The Iranian regime is in serious trouble right now. They have failed on every possible front. And with the Trump administration coming in and presumably increasing sanctions on the Iranian regime, the Iranian regime is going to have one of two choices: Either they&#8217;re going to have to cut some sort of deal with the West in which they abandon their nuclear efforts and presumably move toward some form of non-tyranny or they&#8217;re going to be forced to collapse. The state of Israel is not going to sit around waiting to see what Iran does next with its nuclear weapons — not after Israel already took out Iran’s air defenses.
The big winner in Syria is Turkey. Turkey took an enormous amount of territory. The Kurds had basically cleared an enormous amount of territory. But now they&#8217;re going to be at war directly with the Turks, who are going to be pouring forces and resources into that region.
As for Israel, they can be happy that the Iranian regime has lost power to use Syria as its tool. But the people replacing that regime are Al-Qaeda and ISIS jihadists.
The fate of many people in Syria remains very much in doubt.
Welcome to the Middle East, where there are no good solutions.
* * *
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Reactions In Syria To Fall Of Assad Regime In Syria

Syria Falls

Islamic State (ISIS)

Israel

Radical Islam

Russia

Terrorists

Rebel forces took over the Syrian city of Hama on Thursday, the second major city lost to the rebels since the long-simmering civil war reignited last week.
Militant forces led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) moved into Hama on Thursday, representatives of HTS and the Syrian government told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syria-civil-war-rebel-army-hama-city-bashar-assad-retreat-rcna182978" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. The fall of Hama to the rebels, the fourth-largest city in Syria, comes after HTS took the city of Aleppo in a surprise attack last week.
A commander of the rebel forces, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, said that HTS militants took the city and “entered the Hama Central Prison and freed hundreds of unjustly imprisoned individuals.”
Syria&#8217;s defense ministry said in a statement posted online that regime forces pulled out of the city “to safeguard the lives of the civilian population in Hama and to avoid involving them in urban combat, the military units stationed there have redeployed and repositioned outside the city.”
HTS, or the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant, began as the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jabhat al-Nusra before breaking away from the terror group. HTS was classified as a terror group by the United States in 2018. The group has received support from Turkey in its civil war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has received support from Russia, Iran, and Iran’s terror network.
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Hama, never before taken by the rebels, is strategically important to the war effort because of its military resources, according to experts. It is also roughly 30 miles from the centrally-located city of Homs.
Though Assad’s regime is backed by states hostile to U.S. interests, Iran and Russia, and the rebel forces are backed by a NATO member, Turkey, the United States has not supported either side in the civil war. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-pledges-support-for-assad-regime-after-syrian-rebels-seize-major-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> earlier this week that neither side is positive for U.S. interests in the region.
“It’s a complicated question because the group at the vanguard of this rebel advance, HTS, is actually a terrorist organization designated by the United States. So, we have real concerns about the designs and objectives of that organization,” Sullivan said. “At the same time, of course, we don’t cry over the fact that the Assad government – backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah – you know, are facing certain kinds of pressure. So, it’s a complicated situation, it’s one we are monitoring closely, and we are staying in close touch with regional partners about it.”
Israel, arguably the strongest U.S. ally in the Middle East, has taken a similar approach. The best outcome from the civil war, according to Israeli officials, is for the two sides to wear each other down so neither is a threat to the Jewish state.
“It’s entirely clear to us that one side are Salafi jihadists and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah,” an Israeli official told <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-hoping-renewed-fighting-in-syria-weakens-both-sides-official-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Times of Israel</a>. “We want them to weaken one another.”
“We are prepared for any scenario, and we will act accordingly,” the official said.

Hama, Syria

Second Major City In Syria Falls To Rebel Forces

Global Politics

World

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>’s ex-lawyer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a> got ruthlessly trolled on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok">TikTok</a> during a livestream as he tried to speak seriously about the election results and viewers kept inserting the “turkey face” filter onto his head.
“Can we stop with that? All right? I don’t like the stupid turkeys,” Cohen said while covering the camera with his hand. “Let’s just knock that stupid sh** off please.”
“I did. I said I was leaving,” he continued, talking about his vow to leave the country if Trump won as one follower added the “laser eyes” filter. “And then the following day – get that through your dumb heads – the following day, I turned around and I said that there is no chance in the world that I’m leaving my country,” Cohen said as the turkey face filtered reappeared. “Thank you very much. All right? I’m not leaving anywhere. You leave. This is my country.”
The turkey briefly disappeared then came back as Cohen kept covering the screen and trying to deliver his message in a serious tone. “And I have every right, every single right, within which to turn around — would we stop, so we can – all right, two seconds or we’re gonna end up blocking this idiot,” he said as a giant pompadour hairstyle and and glasses filter appeared over his face.
Cohen made a disgusted sound and shook his head as a cowboy hat appeared next.
The video went viral on multiple social media platforms, with most viewers commenting on how hilarious they found the whole thing.
“Maybe I have the sense of humor of a 10 year old but this is the funniest video I&#8217;ve seen probably all year,” Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh <a href="https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1854750309328863500">shared</a> on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Maybe I have the sense of humor of a 10 year old but this is the funniest video I&#39;ve seen probably all year <a href="https://t.co/YWq8i71b6x">https://t.co/YWq8i71b6x</a>
&mdash; Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1854750309328863500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cohen had been discussing comments he made in September indicating that he would leave the United States if Trump won the presidency, which his former boss did do in a landslide victory on Tuesday.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
“I’m out of here. I mean, I’m already working on a foreign passport with a completely different name,” Cohen <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4898134-michael-cohen-donald-trump-2024-election-flee-usa/">told</a> MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace at the time.
“I don’t know how it’s going to work, as far as dealing with my wife and my children,” he continued. “I certainly don’t want them moving to where I’m looking to go.”
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to multiple crimes, including lying to Congress, and served prison time. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-cohen-admits-to-stealing-while-on-stand-at-trumps-nyc-trial">admitted</a> earlier this year during Trump’s hush money trial to stealing as much as $60,000 from the Trump Organization in 2017 by not reimbursing an IT firm he had hired to rig polls.

Turkey head

Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen Trolled With ‘Turkey Face’ Filter During Livestream

Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen Trolled With 'Turkey Face' Filter During Livestream

Celebrities

Michael Cohen

TikTok

U.S.

viral video

New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered a defiant message Wednesday night after news broke that he has been charged in a federal corruption investigation.
&#8220;My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes,&#8221; Adams said in a one-minute video.
&#8220;If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies,&#8221; he claimed. &#8220;But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Full statement from New York City Mayor Eric Adams after being indicted by a federal grand jury. <a href="https://t.co/t9U5IhfRYN">pic.twitter.com/t9U5IhfRYN</a>
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) <a href="https://twitter.com/alx/status/1839137475203105064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
The indictment remains under seal, the New York Times <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-democrat-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-in-federal-corruption-case-report?topStoryPosition=2">reported,</a>  but the investigation into Adams initially centered around allegations that the Democrat accepted illegal foreign campaign contributions from the Turkish government in exchange for favors performed as mayor. In recent months, prosecutors have subpoenaed Adams and his campaign for materials related to other countries, including Qatar and China.
&#8220;For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from 20 years ago. Just one week after he joined my administration. Enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If I&#8217;m charged, I know I am innocent.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
Federal officials have investigated several people in Adams&#8217;s orbit, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned from his post last week. Shortly thereafter, the FBI raided the home of Caban&#8217;s successor, interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon.
Adams said he would request an immediate trial so New Yorkers can &#8220;hear the truth&#8221; quickly and the city can get on with its business.
&#8220;I have been fighting injustice my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics.&#8221;
&#8220;Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers will be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusation, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started, yet the city has continued to improve.&#8221;
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams is expected to announce the charges against Adams when the indictment is unsealed Thursday, according to the New York Post. Sources told the paper that Adams will turn himself in early next week.

Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press during the weekly

WATCH: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Addresses Federal Indictment

Crime

Eric Adams

New York

New York City

New York City Democrat Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/eric-adams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Adams</a> has reportedly been indicted in the federal criminal corruption investigation that has cast a dark cloud over his administration for nearly a year.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/nyregion/eric-adams-indicted.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Nk4.s7KS.JHndOiMOhIs6&amp;smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare&amp;sgrp=c-cb&amp;cbgrp=p" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the indictment remains under seal and it is unclear what charges he faces, but once it&#8217;s unsealed, he will be the first NYC mayor to be charged while in office.
&#8220;I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became,&#8221; Adams said in a statement. &#8220;If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.&#8221;
The investigation had initially centered around whether he conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign contributions to his campaign in exchange for actions that he took as mayor. Investigators were also looking at whether he got free flight upgrades from an airline owned by the Turkish government.
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The Times reported earlier this week that prosecutors subpoenaed City Hall, Adams, and his campaign two months ago for additional information related to China, Qatar, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Israel.
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/09/25/us-news/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-by-grand-jury-in-historic-federal-probe-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that U.S. Attorney Damian Williams is expected to announce the charges tomorrow when the indictment is unsealed, and sources told the publication that Adams will turn himself in early next week.
&#8220;I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,&#8221; said far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in a statement earlier in the day.
&#8220;The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;For the good of the city, he should resign.&#8221;
Adams has seen numerous people in his orbit come under criminal investigation over the last year.
The FBI executed search warrants earlier this month at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Investigators seized phones belonging to then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor. A consultant, Terence Banks, brother of Philip Banks and David Banks, was also searched.
The feds raided the home of Adams’ director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, earlier this year as part of a criminal probe run by the Eastern District of New York, the Times said. His former buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, faces bribery charges, and several donors to Adams’ campaign have been charged in a straw-donor scheme.
Caban resigned from his post last week and his successor, interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon, was raided by the FBI late last week.

Mayor Adams Press Conference

NYC Democrat Mayor Eric Adams Indicted In Federal Corruption Case: Report

The federal criminal investigation into New York City Democrat Mayor Eric Adams&#8217; ties to the Turkish government — specifically whether he conspired with them to funnel illegal foreign donations to his campaign — has reportedly widened to include five more countries.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/nyregion/fbi-adams-qatar-israel-china-uzbekistan-korea.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur">reported</a> that prosecutors subpoenaed City Hall, Adams, and his campaign two months ago for information related to China, Qatar, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Israel.
It was not clear how expansive the scope of the investigation was, the report said, adding that it was not yet known what information they were looking for.
Adams is under criminal investigation over potential corruption stemming from actions involving the Turkish government. Prosecutors are looking to see if he received illegal campaign donations in exchange for pushing through building inspections on a Turkish consulate in NYC and whether he also received free flight upgrades.
Adams has seen numerous people in his orbit come under criminal investigation over the last year.
The FBI executed search warrants earlier this month at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Investigators seized phones belonging to then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor. A consultant, Terence Banks, brother of Philip Banks and David Banks, was also searched.
The feds raided the home of Adams’ director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, earlier this year as part of a criminal probe run by the Eastern District of New York, the Times said. His former buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, faces bribery charges, and several donors to Adams’ campaign have been charged in a straw-donor scheme.
Caban resigned from his post last week and his successor, interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-raids-home-of-nypd-interim-commissioner-a-week-after-similar-raid-caused-predecessor-to-resign">raided</a> by the FBI late last week.

Mayor Eric Adams speaks during press briefing at City Hall.

Criminal Probe Into Eric Adams Over Foreign Ties To Turkey Widens To 5 More Countries

China

Qatar

Federal law enforcement officials conducted raids on several of New York City Democrat Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/eric-adams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Adams</a>&#8216; top aides this week in what appears to be a new criminal investigation that is unrelated to the federal corruption investigation into Adams and his campaign&#8217;s alleged ties to the Turkish government.
A local NBC News affiliate <a href="https://wcyb.com/news/nation-world/fbi-agents-raid-homes-of-top-aides-to-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-report-says-new-york-city-philip-banks-sheena-wright-david-banks-kathy-hochul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the FBI executed search warrants at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks.
The New York Times reported that investigators also seized phones belonging to New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor.
The Times added that a consultant, Terence Banks, was also searched. Terence Banks is brothers with Philip Banks and David Banks.
“Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation,&#8221; claimed City Hall lawyer Lisa Zornberg. &#8220;As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law.”
The criminal investigation is being run out of the Southern District of New York, which focuses on government corruption cases and is also conducting the separate criminal investigation into Adams.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-prosecutors-appear-to-zero-in-on-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-in-criminal-corruption-probe-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last month that prosecutors in the case involving the Turkish government recently served a new round of grand jury subpoenas in their criminal investigation, including to Adams himself, whom they are now investigating.
Prior to this development, most information that was publicly available pointed to prosecutors focusing only on his campaign and not the mayor directly, even though they seized his electronic devices last year.
The investigation centers around allegations that Adams’ election campaign received illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government, possibly in exchange for actions taken by Adams, who has close ties to the country.
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The criminal probe has focused on free upgrades the mayor received on Turkish Airlines flights and on Adams pressuring then-Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro in 2021 to allow the Turkish government to at least have permission to occupy on a temporary basis a new high-rise consulate in Manhattan that the Turkish government built, which fire officials would not sign off on because of safety issues.
Adams’ alleged intervention “paved the way” for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to preside over the grand opening of their 35-story tower in September 2021. Fire officials said that there were serious safety concerns with the building’s fire safety system. The building, which cost $300 million, is the country’s most expensive foreign mission project.

Eric Adams and others

Feds Raid Homes Of NYC Democrat Mayor Eric Adams’ Top Aides

Two U.S. Marines were assaulted in western Turkey on Monday by a mob of angry Turkish nationalists who placed a bag over the head of one Marine while chanting, &#8220;Yankee, go home!&#8221;
The Marines, who are assigned to the USS Wasp, were walking on the street in Izmir in civilian clothing when a group of men &#8220;physically attacked&#8221; them, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/two-u-s-marines-ambushed-assaulted-mob-turkish-nationalists-yankee-go-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The angry mob was reportedly a group from the Youth Union of Turkey, an anti-American student association.
Five more Marines stepped in to stop the group before Turkish authorities arrived and arrested 15 men who had attacked the Marines. Video shows the Americans being surrounded by a group of shouting men as they placed a bag over the head of one of the Marines The footage was posted online by the Youth Union of Turkey.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Two U.S. Marines on a port visit in Turkey came under attack Monday.
Video of the incident shows a group of men forcing a bag over the head of one of the Marines as they restrain him, chanting, “Yankee, go home.” <a href="https://t.co/op0ubKoEXs">https://t.co/op0ubKoEXs</a> <a href="https://t.co/l4PqoJ4pQ9">pic.twitter.com/l4PqoJ4pQ9</a>
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSMornings/status/1830935087656972712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The two Marines who were attacked were not injured in the incident, according to the U.S. military.
&#8220;We can confirm reports that U.S. service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in İzmir today, and are now safe,&#8221; the U.S. Embassy in Turkey said. &#8220;We thank Turkish authorities for their rapid response and ongoing investigation.&#8221;
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Timothy Gorman said that no Marines had been detained, adding, &#8220;Local Izmir police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are cooperating in an investigation of the incident.
The Youth Union of Turkey defended the attack on U.S. Marines, saying in a statement obtained by Reuters, &#8220;U.S. soldiers who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot dirty our country. Every time you step foot in these lands, we will meet you the way you deserve.&#8221;
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The USS Wasp was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/02/world/europe/marines-attacked-turkey.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent to the Mediterranean Sea</a> last month as part of the Biden administration&#8217;s plan to deter further conflict in the Middle East. The move sent combat aircraft and warships closer to U.S. ally Israel amid its war against Hamas and continued threats from Iran.

USS Wasp

U.S. Marines Attacked By Mob In Turkey

Marines

Military

Federal prosecutors appear to be zeroing in on New York City Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/eric-adams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Adams</a> (D) in their corruption investigation into whether his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations in exchange for actions that he took as mayor.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/nyregion/eric-adams-fbi-investigation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare&amp;sgrp=c-cb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the prosecutors recently served a new round of grand jury subpoenas in their criminal investigation, including to Adams himself, who they are now investigating.
Prior to this development, most information that was publicly available pointed to prosecutors focusing only on his campaign and not the mayor directly, even though they seized his electronic devices last year.
The investigation, which is being run out of the Southern District of New York, centers around allegations that Adams’ election campaign received illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government, possibly in exchange for actions taken by Adams, who has close ties to the country.
The criminal probe has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-grand-jury-reviewing-evidence-in-criminal-corruption-probe-involving-nyc-democrat-mayor-adams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">focused</a> on free upgrades the mayor received on Turkish Airlines flights and on Adams pressuring then-Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro in 2021 to allow the Turkish government to at least have permission to occupy on a temporary basis a new high-rise consulate in Manhattan that the Turkish government built, which fire officials would not sign off on because of safety issues.
Adams’ alleged intervention “paved the way” for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to preside over the grand opening of their 35-story tower in September 2021. Fire officials said that there were serious safety concerns with the building’s fire safety system. The building, which cost $300 million, is the country’s most expensive foreign mission project.
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“To be clear, we have not identified any evidence of illegal conduct by the mayor,” said two lawyers who are representing Adams and his campaign. “To the contrary, we have identified extensive evidence undermining the reported theories of federal prosecution as to the mayor, which we have voluntarily shared with the U.S. attorney.”
Adams <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/08/16/nyc-mayor-adams-believes-he-did-nothing-wrong-after-fbi-subpoena-in-campaign-probe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the latest development in a radio interview on Friday morning where he maintained his innocence and said he &#8220;did nothing wrong.&#8221;
“We’ve been extremely transparent about making sure if there are documents that’s looked at, they want to see text messages or any other items, we’re going to turn it over and walk away, I believe, showing that I did nothing wrong,” Adams said. “I am a former law enforcement person, I believe in following the rules, and I’ve stated over and over again and our team knows that we’re going to turn over any information that is needed.”

Federal Prosecutors Appear To Zero In On NYC Mayor Eric Adams In Criminal Corruption Probe: Report

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After Turkish Islamist President Recep Erdogan threatened to invade Israel, the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders, a staunch defender of the Jewish state and a hardline opponent of Islamism, blasted Erdogan, calling for Turkey to be kicked out of NATO.
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“Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them,&#8221; Erdogan <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-says-turkey-might-enter-israel-help-palestinians-2024-07-28/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> on Sunday. “There is no reason why we cannot do this.”
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“Islamofascist Erdogan threatens to invade Israel,” Wilders wrote on X. “This guy is totally nuts. Turkey should be kicked out of NATO.”
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Islamofascist Erdogan threatens to invade Israel.
This guy is totally nuts. 
Turkey should be kicked out of NATO. <a href="https://t.co/pYXHNi9XQ8">https://t.co/pYXHNi9XQ8</a>
&mdash; Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) <a href="https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/1817667592125141436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Wilders became the kingmaker in The Netherlands after his PVV party became the biggest Party in the Dutch parliament in the November 2023 national election. The resulting coalition found Wilders’ PVV joined with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), and the New Social Contract (NSC). As far back as 2009, Wilders predicted the PVV would eventually <a href="https://www.dutchnews.nl/2009/03/wilders_i_want_to_be_prime_min/">become</a> the Netherlands&#8217; biggest party.
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In 2007, Wilder <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/geert-wilders-anti-islam-populist-once-banned-uk-extreme-views-105426384.html">stated</a>:
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<blockquote>Islam is the Trojan Horse in Europe. If we do not stop Islamification now, Eurabia and Netherabia will just be a matter of time. One century ago, there were approximately 50 Muslims in the Netherlands. Today, there are about 1 million Muslims in this country. Where will it end? We are heading for the end of European and Dutch civilization as we know it.</blockquote>
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He added of Erdogan, “As Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said the other day, and I quote, &#8216;There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.&#8217;”
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In 2010, he <a href="https://x.com/Efune/status/1727444499381518772">asserted</a>, “If Jerusalem falls into the hands of the Muslims, Athens and Rome will be next. Thus, Jerusalem is the main front protecting the West. It is not a conflict over territory but rather an ideological battle, between the mentality of the liberated West and the ideology of Islamic barbarism. There has been an independent Palestinian state since 1946, and it is the kingdom of Jordan.”
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NETHERLANDS-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT

Netherlands’ Wilders Blasts Erdogan For Threat To Invade Israel: Kick Turkey Out Of NATO

Geert Wilders

NATO

The Netherlands