House Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) said on Monday that he believes aid sent to California after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wildfires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wildfires</a> that have devastated places around <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles</a> &#8220;should probably&#8221; have conditions.
&#8220;Obviously, there has been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes — all sorts of problems,&#8221; Johnson told reporters, according to a video <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1878885889150951465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X by CNN&#8217;s Manu Raju.
&#8220;It does come down to leadership,&#8221; Johnson said, adding that it appeared state and local leaders were &#8220;derelict in their duty in many respects,&#8221; something that need to be taken into consideration.
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New — Asked Speaker Johnson about placing conditions on aid to California, and he tells us: “I think there should be conditions on that aid.” Said that’s his personal view before talking with the conference.
Also says “there’s some discussion” within the House GOP about tying… <a href="https://t.co/CZmjZb7WLd">pic.twitter.com/CZmjZb7WLd</a>
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1878885889150951465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I think there should probably be conditions on that aid; that&#8217;s my personal view. We&#8217;ll see what the consensus is,&#8221; Johnson said before mentioning that it would be part of the discussion.
The speaker also acknowledged that there is &#8220;some discussion&#8221; that a debt limit increase could be linked to disaster aid, but noted &#8220;we&#8217;ll see where it goes.&#8221;
Other top Republicans have criticized leading officials in Democrat-led California, including Governor Gavin Newsom, with the blazes <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/at-least-24-dead-from-los-angeles-county-fires-with-more-still-missing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killing</a> at least 24 people and causing an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-fires-cause-an-estimated-50-billion-in-damages-on-track-to-be-most-expensive-in-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> $50 billion in damages.
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vance-rips-serious-lack-of-competent-governance-in-california-as-wildfires-destroy-la-area" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On &#8220;Fox News Sunday,&#8221;</a> Vice President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Vance</a> said, &#8220;There is a serious lack of competent governance in California. And I think it&#8217;s part of the reason why these fires have gotten so bad.&#8221;
And Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/barrasso-strings-attached-to-any-u-s-money-given-to-california-after-democrats-mismanaged-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CBS News on Sunday that he expects &#8220;there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved,&#8221; citing the &#8220;gross failure this time.&#8221;
Raju <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1878885889150951465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> that &#8220;aid to rebuild after natural disasters often is approved without any conditions and with significant bipartisan support. But there could be a big fight over the California aid in the coming weeks.&#8221;
At least one Democrat member of Congress expressed disapproval in response to Johnson opining that aid to California should be conditional.
&#8220;This is a Mistake. If you start this, it will never end. When Dems retake the House, they will condition aid to Florida and Texas,&#8221; Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) <a href="https://x.com/JaredEMoskowitz/status/1878893219401933117">said</a> on X.
&#8220;Disaster Aid must stay non partisan,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I would fight Democrats should they try and do this. The Speaker can find many other ways to hold people accountable.&#8221;

Speaker Mike Johnson

Speaker Johnson Says Aid To Wildfire-Stricken California ‘Should Probably’ Have Conditions

California

Congress

Mike Johnson

Natural Disaster

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

Wildfires

The University of Michigan, which has worked with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Communist China since 2005, suddenly announced it was ending the partnership.
Last October 31, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), the chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, wrote a letter to University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono, warning him of the risks of a partnership with the Chinese university. His letter came in the wake of five Chinese nationals from the Joint Institute studying at the University of Michigan being charged with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/02/us/5-chinese-nationals-charged-with-covering-up-midnight-visit-to-michigan-military-site/index.html">deliberately concealing</a> their unauthorized visit to Camp Grayling in northern Michigan. Those nationals came from China to Michigan as students through the joint institute partnership.
“Shanghai Jiao Tong plays a critical role in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military-civil fusion strategy,” Moolenaar <a href="https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2024-10-31%20-%20Letter%20to%20U-M%20re%20Research%20Security%20House%20Select%20Cmte%20CCP.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “Through its extensive military-aligned departments and laboratories, advanced dual-use research programs, and large-scale operational training platforms, Shanghai Jiao Tong drives the PRC’s military modernization and intelligence capabilities. For example, the university is currently home to several national-level laboratories, including three defense-related laboratories. This military-academic integration enables Shanghai Jiao Tong to make significant contributions to the PRC’s most sensitive defense programs, including nuclear weapons, carrier rockets, satellites, nuclear submarines, and fighter jets.”
“Research performed at the Joint Institute advances the PRC’s defense and intelligence capabilities,” he added. “For example, Institute researchers have helped the PRC achieve advancements in defense technologies from propellant combustion modeling and solid rocket fuel research to anti-corrosion technology for military aircraft developed with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) researchers. They have worked on projects to improve CT imaging technology for detecting flaws in advanced military equipment, which appears to have leveraged Department of Defense- funded research from University of Michigan faculty.”
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“International academic partnerships have deeply enriched our academic offerings and strengthened the global education of our students, and we will continue to pursue partnerships around the world as part of our academic mission,” Ono <a href="https://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-to-end-partnership-with-shanghai-jiao-tong-university/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> regarding the termination of the partnership. “As we do so, we must also prioritize our commitment to national security.”
“International experiences are vital for our students in this interconnected world,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting U-M’s international students and will continue to foster international partnerships that advance knowledge and cross-cultural understanding and ensure our campus remains a vibrant community where scholars from around the world can thrive.”
Georgia Tech <a href="https://www.gatech.edu/news/2024/09/06/georgia-tech-exit-georgia-tech-shenzhen-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a</a><a href="https://www.gatech.edu/news/2024/09/06/georgia-tech-exit-georgia-tech-shenzhen-institute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nnounced</a> the termination of the Georgia Tech Shenzhen Joint Institute in September. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party noted in July 2023 that then-Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) of the committee and Chairwoman Virginia Fox (R-NC) of the Education and the Workforce Committee sent a letter to the President and Chancellor of the University of California Berkeley warning them about Berkeley&#8217;s joint institute with Tsinghua University and the Shenzhen government in China.

Aerial View of University of Michigan Campus and Urban Landscape

University Of Michigan Ends Partnership With Communist Chinese University

China

Communist China

Department of Defense

Education

University of Michigan

Two high school girls in Louisiana were charged with lying to police after they attempted to frame a male teacher they claimed was sending inappropriate messages to a student.
The two girls, who have not been named because they are minors, were charged with one count each of false swearing for the purpose of violating public health or safety (a felony), cyberstalking, and online impersonation, according to <a href="https://www.lpso.net/2025/01/06/two-high-school-girls-charged-for-trying-to-frame-teacher-for-inappropriate-messages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press release</a> from Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff Craig Webre.
“Our juvenile detectives are diligent and take claims of inappropriate behavior very seriously,” Webre said in the press release. “They are, however, equally serious about false claims. Someone’s life can be instantly ruined by a false allegation, and I am proud that our investigators were able to get to the bottom of this. Technology has made it very easy for people to try to manipulate the truth, but technology also makes it easy for investigators to ultimately find the truth.”
On December 18, the sheriff said, someone reported to the police that a male teacher at Central Lafourche High School had been sending inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old girl who was a student. Upon investigation, detectives found that the 16-year-old and her 15-year-old friend had conspired to frame the teacher.
At first, the two girls said they had received inappropriate messages from the teacher through an online instant messaging platform. Over the next two weeks, detectives investigated the claims, interviewing everyone involved and searching their phones and accounts on the platform.
Detectives soon learned that the two teen girls had created fake accounts impersonating the teacher and used those accounts to send bogus messages. They then sent screenshots of those messages to their friends to frame the teacher.
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Detectives were able to prove that the male teacher had not sent any of the messages or photos the girls claimed he sent, and one of the girls eventually confessed to the crime. The sheriff’s office declared the teacher to be the “crime victim” and stated that he “has been cleared of all allegations,” something rare when it comes to false accusations.
Both girls were charged on January 6 with falsely reporting a crime to police, cyberstalking, and impersonating the teacher online. They were released into the custody of their parents but were placed on electronic monitoring, the sheriff’s office said.
“We are shocked and appalled to learn of the actions of two of our students,” Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Jarod Martin said in the press release. “The allegations against one of our teachers were false and malicious, and we appreciate the efficiency of investigators in uncovering the source of these messages. Such attacks on a teacher’s credibility and reputation are concerning and can inhibit their ability to effectively educate our children. We are committed to investigating all allegations of misconduct in order to provide a safe environment conducive to learning and working for all of our students and staff.”

False Accusation

Two High School Girls Charged After Falsely Claiming Teacher Sent Inappropriate Messages

Crime

false accusations

High School

Louisiana

Teenagers

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republican</a> has unveiled a bill that would pave the way for President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> to make a deal for the acquisition of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/greenland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greenland</a> for the United States.
The legislation from Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) comes after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-u-s-ownership-and-control-of-greenland-is-an-absolute-necessity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revived</a> talk about how the U.S. should take control of Greenland, a territory <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-greenland-will-benefit-tremendously-if-and-when-it-becomes-part-of-our-nation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controlled</a> by Denmark, for &#8220;the purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the world.&#8221;
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/make-greenland-great-again-trumps-house-gop-allies-unveil-bill-authorize-countrys-purchase" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained</a> a copy of the bill, labeled the &#8220;Make Greenland Great Again Act,&#8221; following a social media <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-greenland-will-benefit-tremendously-if-and-when-it-becomes-part-of-our-nation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> from Trump that employed the phrase. The bill would &#8220;authorize the President to seek to enter into negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark to secure the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/denmark-reportedly-open-to-talks-with-trump-on-future-of-greenland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Denmark Reportedly Open To Talks With Trump On Future Of Greenland</a>
If enacted, the bill would allow the president to begin talks with Denmark at 12:01 p.m. EST on January 20, 2025, which would be one minute after Trump is sworn into office for his second term. &#8220;Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark relating to the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the agreement, including all related materials and annexes,&#8221; the bill says.
The bill states the period for congressional review for any deal would be 60 calendar days from the date on which the president transmits the agreement to the appropriate committees, identified as the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee. &#8220;If no joint resolution of disapproval is enacted by Congress within the 60-calendar day period, the agreement&#8221; for entering negotiations described in the legislation &#8220;shall be in effect and take the full force of law,&#8221; the bill says.
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&#8220;American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people,&#8221; Ogles said in a <a href="https://x.com/RepOgles/status/1878844481304228250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> to X sharing the Fox News report, which noted that his bill has several GOP co-sponsors.
The news follows <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-offer-bills-to-realize-trumps-ideas-for-gulf-of-america-and-taking-back-panama-canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislative offerings</a> from House Republicans that would give life to some of Trump&#8217;s other stated foreign policy ambitions, such as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-announces-u-s-to-change-name-of-the-gulf-of-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renaming</a> the Gulf of Mexico the &#8220;Gulf of America&#8221; and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-former-trump-official-explains-why-trump-may-take-panama-canal-back" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking back</a> the Panama Canal.

US President-elect Donald Trump

GOP Bill Would Give Trump Authorization To Negotiate Greenland Acquisition

Denmark

Donald Trump

Greenland

More Santa Ana winds are forecast to hit parts of Los Angeles County and wide swaths of Ventura County, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a &#8220;particularly dangerous situation&#8221; red flag warning lasting from 4 a.m. on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.
The winds could range between 45 and 75 mph, threatening to ground important firefighting aircraft as the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Fires continue to burn. The National Weather Service Los Angeles has only issued the &#8220;particularly dangerous situation&#8221; red flag warning a few times in the past — twice in 2020 and not again until 2024, and now, 2025, The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-13/particularly-dangerous-situation-red-flag-fire-weather-warning-issued-for-l-a-ventura-counties" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
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Heads up! Strong, locally damaging, NE/E winds will affect West LA Co. &amp; much of Ventura Co thru Wednesday. Critical fire weather is expected, so PLEASE have multiple ways of getting notifications in case of new fires &amp; prepare ahead of time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/venturacounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#venturacounty</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cawx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cawx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Socal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Socal</a> <a href="https://t.co/BuvqcwnktS">pic.twitter.com/BuvqcwnktS</a>
&mdash; NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSLosAngeles/status/1878566192996372732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said the warning &#8220;is one of the loudest ways that we can shout,&#8221; adding, &#8220;This is a continued extreme fire weather and wind scenario.&#8221; The high wind gusts combined with humidity as low as 5% on Tuesday makes for an especially dangerous situation, and the weather service told Los Angeles County and Ventura County residents to avoid doing &#8220;anything that could spark a fire.&#8221; The Santa Ana winds could also further stoke the fires that have already ripped through more than 40,000 acres and killed at least 24 people in Southern California.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has already prepared for the intense winds. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said on Sunday, “I want to reassure you that your LAFD, all of our regional partners, every single agency that has come from up and down this state and outside of the state — we are ready.”
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The L.A. Times reported that preparations for the high winds include reinforcing fire control lines, clearing brush away from buildings that survived the fires, and setting up staging areas where new fires could break out. L.A. County Fire Battalion Chief Christian Litz added, &#8220;If [aircraft] get grounded, we have actually built ourselves a little bit of barrier in time for crews to get in there.&#8221;
Cal Fire spokesman Gerry Magana <a href="https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-13-25-hnk#cm5v9t5c400053b6nt9dhuay4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Usually, the limiting factor is gusts over 30 miles an hour, but the sustained winds – anything over 40 (mph) – is pretty much going to ground most aircraft.&#8221;
In a social media <a href="https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1878648757161701581" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Sunday night, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote, &#8220;Emergency responders are ready tonight. Pre-positioned firefighters and engines are spread around Southern California. Stay safe. Be ready to evacuate if you get the order.&#8221;
According to the L.A. County Medical Examiner, 16 people died in the Eaton Fire and eight in the Palisades Fire. More than a dozen people are still missing. The latest data from <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cal Fire</a> shows that the Palisades Fire is at 14% containment, the Eaton Fire is at 33% containment, and the Hurst Fire is at 95% containment.

Palisades fire

‘Extreme Fire Weather’: Authorities Warn Of More High Winds As L.A.-Area Fires Rage Into Week 2

'Extreme Fire Weather': Authorities Warn Of More High Winds As L.A.-Area Fires Rage Into Week 2

Fires

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County

Weather

Oscar-nominated actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">Djimon Hounsou</a> says he’s struggling to make ends meet despite his successful <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">Hollywood</a> career.
The 60-year-old has appeared in major films such as “Amistad,” “Gladiator,” “In America,” “Blood Diamond,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain Marvel,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Shazam!,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” and both “Rebel Moon” films. But he says he hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves.
Hounsou made the remarks during a conversation on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers. 
&#8220;I’m still struggling to make a living,&#8221; he said, per <a href="https://people.com/djimon-hounsou-says-hes-still-struggling-to-make-a-living-in-hollywood-8773111">People</a>. &#8220;I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.&#8221;
The actor said he thinks The Academy snubbed him for his role in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” (1997). Hounsou pointed out that he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance but didn’t get a nod for the Oscars.
&#8220;I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect.&#8221;
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&#8220;This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/systemic-racism">Systemic racism</a> won’t change like that anytime soon,&#8221; Hounsou added.
The Beninese-born actor emigrated to the United States at 23 after establishing a modeling career in Paris. He appeared in music videos and a few small parts before his breakout role as Cinqué in “Amistad.” Since then, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in “In America” (2004) and “Blood Diamond” (2007). 
Hounsou has made similar statements before. In March 2023, he told The Guardian he had “yet to meet the film that paid me fairly.&#8221;
“I still have to prove why I need to get paid,&#8221; the actor <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/16/i-felt-seriously-cheated-djimon-hounsou-on-the-oscars-poor-pay-days-stardom-and-struggle">said</a> at the time. &#8220;They always come at me with a complete low ball: &#8216;We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.&#8217;”
&#8220;Viola Davis said it beautifully. She&#8217;s won an Oscar, she&#8217;s won an Emmy, she&#8217;s won a Tony and she still can&#8217;t get paid,” he added.

Djimon Honsou

Oscar-Nominated Actor Says He’s ‘Underpaid,’ ‘Struggling’ Because Of ‘Systemic Racism’

Oscar-Nominated Actor Says He's 'Underpaid,' 'Struggling' Because Of 'Systemic Racism'

Celebrities

Entertainment

Hollywood

Systemic Racism

A tenured Columbia University law professor says she was effectively terminated after an investigation found she discriminated against Jewish and Israeli students.
Katherine Franke, who was investigated after she gave an interview claiming that Israeli students were harassing students on campus, on Friday announced she was retiring and <a href="https://ccrjustice.org/sites/default/files/attach/2025/01/Statement%20from%20Katherine%20Franke.docx.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released a statement</a> criticizing the university.
“For the last year and a half, as students at Columbia University and across the globe have protested against the Israeli government’s genocidal assault on Palestinians after the October 2023 attacks, a response that has resulted in horrendous devastation in Gaza, I have ardently defended students’ right to peaceful protest on our campus and across the country,” Franke began her statement. “I truly believed that student engagement with the rights and dignity of Palestinians continued a celebrated tradition at Columbia University of student protest.”
She said she had been “targeted” for her “support of pro-Palestinian protesters – by the president of Columbia University, by several colleagues, by university trustees, and by outside actors.”
“This has included an unjustified finding by the University that my public comments condemning attacks against student protesters violated university non-discrimination policy,” she added.
Those <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/25/columbia_palestine_protest_attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public comments</a>, however, suggested Israeli students were the ones harassing other Columbia students, particularly Palestinian students.
“So many of those Israeli students, who then come to the Columbia campus, are coming right out of their military service,” she said in January 2024. “They’ve been known to harass Palestinian and other students on our campus.”
In that interview, Franke also repeated the false allegation that Israeli students had sprayed anti-Israel protesters with skunk spray, with Franke claiming they were hospitalized due to a “chemical attack.” She also claimed the students responsible were part of Columbia’s dual degree program with Tel Aviv University – but they weren’t.
“The students were able to identify three of these exchange students, basically, from Israel, who had just come out of military service, who were spraying the pro-Palestinian students with this skunk water,” Franke said in her interview with the leftist organization “Democracy Now.”
The “chemical attack” was actually a non-toxic gag spray from Amazon, and Columbia paid $395,000 to a Jewish student after it suspended him for the incident.
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Other professors at Columbia Law filed a complaint against Franke following this interview, arguing that Franke “harassed members of the Columbia community based on their national origin,” <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/probe-finds-columbia-university-professor-discriminated-against-israeli-students/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to The Times of Israel</a>. The investigation determined that Franke violated the school’s anti-discrimination policy during her interview and also violated school policy regarding retaliation by revealing to a reporter the name of a professor who reported her. On social media, Franke also targeted the professors who filed the complaint.
“As made public by parties in this matter, a complaint was filed alleging discriminatory harassment in violation of our policies,” Columbia said in a statement to the Times. “An investigation was conducted, and a finding was issued. As we have consistently stated, the University is committed to addressing all forms of discrimination consistent with our policies.”
Franke also supported the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to harm Israel economically for perceived slights while targeting no other nation for similar or worse aggressions.
Protesters at Columbia and other Ivy League universities have promoted open calls for violence, the Times previously <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/columbia-student-group-retracts-apology-of-member-who-said-zionists-deserve-to-die/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-university-giving-day-donations-plunge-nearly-30-following-anti-israel-protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, these student protests likely caused Columbia’s annual “Giving Day” donations to plunge nearly 30% in 2024.

Columbia University Anti-Israel Protest

Columbia Professor Retires After Investigation Found She Discriminated Against Jewish Students

Anti-Semitism

Columbia University

Israel

Palestine

Reality star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/khloe-kardashian">Khloe Kardashian</a> had strong criticism for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles">Los Angeles</a> Democratic Mayor Karen Bass amid the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fire">wildfire</a> crisis which has caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and forced residents to flee their homes.
 The 40-year-old mom of two made her opinion known over the weekend when she shared a clip of LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on social media discussing a $17.5 million budget cut to her department, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/11/entertainment/khloe-kardashian-rips-la-mayor-karen-bass-amid-wildfire-disaster-you-are-a-joke/">the New York Post</a>.
In the clip, Crowley told a Fox 11 reporter that the city failed her department.
The influencer wrote, “I stand by YOU Chief Crowley!!!! You spoke the truth and you had tears in your eyes because I can tell you didn’t even want to say that but it was THE TRUTH!!!!”
“Thank you for being honest,” the caption said. “Mayor Bass you are a joke!!!!”
The outlet noted that Khloe and other members of her family who live nearby were forced to evacuate as fires raged on in the area. 
Kardashian also shared an image of a memo sent by the LAFD to the board of fire commissioners stating that the budget cut would “severely limit the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.”
The celeb shared in a follow-up post that firefighters and other first responders are “truly inspiring.” 
“The work you do is nothing short of heroic,” Kardashian wrote. “We are deeply grateful to your unwavering commitment to keeping us safe…Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are forever grateful for everything you are doing.”
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Kardashian was criticized as a hypocrite by several social media users who brought up a previous <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-22/kim-kardashian-kevin-hart-california-drought-water-waste">news report</a> revealing that the Kardashians were among the biggest water wasters in parts of Los Angeles County.
At least 24 people are dead, and more than a dozen others are missing as the fires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area. According to the latest updates from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, at least three major fires are still burning in Los Angeles County.
Bass was also criticized for being out of the country when the fires broke out despite being warned that the risk was high. The LA mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/let-me-finish-karen-bass-snaps-at-reporter-who-dares-to-question-her-leadership">avoided questions</a> from a reporter about her role in the disaster, but she has been active on social media, speaking directly to residents via X.
“Angelenos, we&#8217;re still going through it and to any of you and all of you that have experienced a loss, the grief, the anger, the just utter shock. I&#8217;ve seen the devastation. It is unbelievable the amount of loss that people have experienced, but we have to get through this crisis and I know that we will,&#8221; Bass <a href="https://x.com/MayorOfLA/status/1878295018810876077">said</a> in a tweet.

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian Blasts LA Mayor Karen Bass For Fire Dept Buget Cuts: ‘You Are A Joke’

Khloe Kardashian Blasts LA Mayor Karen Bass For Fire Dept Buget Cuts: 'You Are A Joke'

Fire

Karen Bass

Daniel Penny, who was acquitted of causing the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, is seeking the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed by Neely’s father.
Andre Zachery filed <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/05/us-news/jordan-neelys-father-sues-daniel-penny-as-nyc-jury-deliberates-verdict-for-subway-chokehold-death/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a lawsuit</a> against Penny in December, shortly before a jury found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, demanding “judgment awarding damages in a sum which exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower Courts which would otherwise have jurisdiction.” Penny’s attorneys are seeking to get that lawsuit dismissed, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/daniel-penny-demands-dismissal-civil-lawsuit-from-jordan-neely-father.amp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Zachery, who was not a part of Neely’s life, alleged that Penny caused the death of his son and should pay him for it.
&#8220;All injuries or damages sustained by Plaintiff as alleged in the Verified Complaint, if any, were caused in whole or in part by the culpable conduct, negligence, carelessness, and lack of care on the part of Plaintiff, and any recovery against this Defendant must be diminished in proportion to Plaintiff’s relative wrongdoing, fault, misfeasance, malfeasance, failure to exercise due care and/or other culpable conduct,&#8221; Penny’s attorneys wrote in response to the lawsuit, Fox reported.
Penny’s attorneys, Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff, also released a statement defending Penny against the charges brought against their client in what they described as the “largest and most resourced” district attorney’s office in America.
&#8220;The result was a full acquittal and a verdict that underscored New Yorkers’ belief in their right to defend themselves and their neighbors from random violence,&#8221; the attorneys told Fox News Digital. &#8220;We are committed to defending this ill-conceived civil action brought by Jordan Neely’s estranged father with the same vigor with which we defended the criminal case.&#8221;
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Penny was found <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-daniel-penny-found-not-guilty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not guilty</a> on December 9, after the district attorney’s office dropped its second-degree manslaughter charge against him when the jury failed to return a verdict.
Jurors were initially tasked with determining whether Penny “recklessly” caused the death of Neely by using the chokehold – or second-degree manslaughter – or if he was guilty of criminally negligent homicide, a lesser charge that carried a maximum sentence of four years in prison. According to court documents, the lesser charge required the jury to determine Penny failed to recognize Neely’s life was at risk as he held him in the chokehold.
The manslaughter charge was dismissed the Friday before the jury reached its final verdict, and it took them less than an hour to return a not guilty verdict for the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

Daniel Penny

Daniel Penny Seeks Dismissal Of Civil Lawsuit Filed By Jordan Neely’s Father

Daniel Penny Seeks Dismissal Of Civil Lawsuit Filed By Jordan Neely's Father

Courts

Jordan Neely

Lawsuit

The death toll from the devastating Los Angeles County fires has risen to 24, with more than a dozen people still missing and at least three blazes still burning. 
The L.A. County Medical Examiner <a href="https://me.lacounty.gov/2025/press-releases/update-medical-examiner-fire-related-deaths-at-5-p-m-on-january-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Sunday that 16 people had been killed in the Eaton Fire and another eight had been killed in the Palisades Fire, making some of the <a href="https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/top-20-deadliest-ca-wildfires.pdf?rev=dddeac543dd84d21a4b01ad6bed5f48c&amp;hash=6A2BD57BB8EC29DB9EC0C94F92B00F52" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deadliest</a> fires in California history. The fires have so far burned more than 40,000 acres and destroyed 12,000 structures. 
With the number of missing expected to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna <a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-southern-california-4997fb4d4490fdaa9f2d5cf8cd5f2be7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> 12 people were missing from the Eaton Fire zone near Pasadena, with another four from the Palisades Fire near the coast. 
Victims <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/11/us/california-wildfires-victims/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> so far included 85-year-old Annette Rossilli, Anthony and Justin Mitchell, Erliene Kelley, 66-year-old Victor Shaw, Rodney Nickerson, Rory Callum Sykes, 55-year-old Randall Miod, Charles Mortimer, and Dalcye Curry. Several died trying to protect their homes. 
The coroner&#8217;s office reported that one of the deaths was at the hospital, while the others were reported at the scene of the fires.
According to the <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest updates</a> from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, at least three major fires are still burning in Los Angeles County. The data show 13% containment for the Palisades Fire (23,713 acres), 27% containment for the Eaton Fire (14,117 acres), and 89% containment for the Hurst Fire (799 acres).
“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public,” said LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley Sunday morning. “There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”
The National Weather Service said Sunday that the Santa Ana winds, which fueled the fires last week with gusts up to 100 miles per hour, would continue this week. 
“Critical fire weather conditions will continue for coastal southern California including the areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires through Wednesday due to moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds. Red Flag Warnings are in effect,” the National Weather Service <a href="https://x.com/NWS/status/1878633500368339080" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>
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Top California Democrats have faced criticism over their handling of the fires, including from President-elect Donald Trump. 
“The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place,” Trump said on Sunday. “This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area

At Least 24 Dead From Los Angeles County Fires With More Still Missing

Severe Weather

The man with a blowtorch who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-arrest-arson-suspect-behind-massive-new-california-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> last week in the Los Angeles area, where a number of wildfires have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/death-toll-from-la-fires-rises-to-14-county-sheriff-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wreaked havoc</a> over the past several days, is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, according to a new report.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/1878618919054823502" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> new details in a post to X on Sunday evening, noting that he got his information from insiders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW: Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents &amp; arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KennethFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KennethFire</a> in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation &amp; has NOT been charged…
&mdash; Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1878618919054823502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents &amp; arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation &amp; has NOT been charged w/ arson,&#8221; Melugin said.
&#8220;I&#8217;m told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff&#8217;s Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California&#8217;s Sanctuary State law,&#8221; Melugin added. &#8220;I&#8217;m told Sierra-Leyva will have a court appearance tomorrow. Again — he has not been charged w/ arson and is in custody only on a probation violation at the moment, as multiple agencies have been interviewing him.&#8221;
The Daily Wire previously reported that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-arrest-arson-suspect-behind-massive-new-california-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Thursday night a suspect had been detained in the Woodland Hills area in possible connection to the Kenneth Fire in the nearby West Hills. Newsweek posted <a href="https://x.com/Newsweek/status/1877844775547592770" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> showing what it said were neighbors banding together to stop the arson suspect. The man had been walking with a bike and what appeared to be a yellow blow torch before being stopped by the citizens. At the end of the video, police took the individual into custody.
However, authorities said on Friday that the man had been arrested on a felony probation violation and was not facing arson charges,&#8221; according to <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-detained-near-kenneth-fire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KTLA</a>.
&#8220;After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson,&#8221; said LAPD Divisional Chief Dominic Choi, who also noted that the investigation was &#8220;ongoing.&#8221;

Los Angeles wildfires destroy thousands of structures, 10 deaths confirmed

Man Detained With Blowtorch Near Wildfire ID’d As Illegal Immigrant, Not Charged With Arson: Report

Illegal Immigration

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) said on Sunday that he believes all of President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s nominees will receive enough votes to be confirmed by the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a>.
During an interview on &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures,&#8221; Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo pressed Marshall for his expectations ahead of confirmation hearings that are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-schedules-first-confirmation-hearings-for-trump-2-0-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to begin</a> next week.
&#8220;So, you met with President Trump this week, along with your colleagues. Did you have a chance to speak with your colleagues? Do you believe you have the votes in the Senate to actually confirm all of his nominees?&#8221; Bartiromo asked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
MARIA: Do you believe you have the votes in the Senate to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees?
SENATOR MARSHALL: “I hate to count my chickens before they hatch, but yes I do.” <a href="https://t.co/qSRCumTVf6">pic.twitter.com/qSRCumTVf6</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1878466749156237665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Look, you know I hate to count my chickens before they hatch, but, yes, I do,&#8221; Marshall replied. &#8220;I think that they need to go through the hearing process. They&#8217;re going to get beat up by the legacy media and the Left as well, but I think the votes are there.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s more controversial picks for Cabinet positions face some uncertainty in the confirmation process, including Robert F. Kennedy, the nominee to become secretary of Health and Human Services; Pete Hegseth, the nominee to become secretary of defense; and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the nominee to become director of national intelligence.
Marshall, like other senators, has conducted meetings with Trump&#8217;s nominees over the past few weeks.
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&#8220;And as I have interviewed these people one-on-one, they have been great communicators,&#8221; he told Bartiromo. &#8220;They&#8217;re great leaders. They&#8217;re very accomplished. Yes, some of them are outside the box, but I do think we have the votes.&#8221;
Nominees for Cabinet roles and other top positions in a presidential administration need only a simple majority of voting senators to be confirmed by the Senate. The vice president can serve as tie-breaker, if needed.
With the 2024 election, Republicans won a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">53-seat majority</a> in the upper chamber, though JD Vance (R-OH) just <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-elect-jd-vance-submits-resignation-from-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> from the Senate ahead of his inauguration as vice president. Ohio GOP Governor Mike DeWine is expected to pick Vance&#8217;s replacement. And Jim Justice (R-WV) is set to be <a href="https://rollcall.com/2024/12/27/jim-justice-senate-west-virginia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sworn in</a> on Monday — 10 days after his newly-elected Senate peers — upon the inauguration of his successor as West Virginia governor.
At least one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), has met with some of Trump&#8217;s nominees. Fetterman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-signals-hes-voting-for-trumps-nominees-thats-the-way-democracy-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News anchor Bret Baier last week that he plans to vote to confirm at least a handful of them.

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS)

GOP Senator Says He Thinks All Of Trump’s Nominees Have Votes Needed To Be Confirmed

Cabinet

Politics

Presidential nomination

U.S. Senate

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