Day: November 19, 2024

(NewsNation) — The trial for Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, could be ending soon.

Prosecutors say they only need half a day more, and the defense says it only plans to call a few witnesses themselves — including Jose Ibarra’s brothers, Diego and Argenis. Diego and Argenis Ibarra, who, like Jose are Venezuelan citizens, have been in federal custody since February on charges they had fake green cards.

The defense was instructed to bring the brothers to Athens, Georgia one full day ahead of schedule.

Tuesday marks the third day of the trial. Over the previous two days, the prosecution has called 19 witnesses. Riley’s roommates, police officers and FBI agents all testified.

On Monday, police showed body camera footage of the moment they first made contact with Jose Ibarra. Police said they noticed scratches and cuts all over his arms. In video footage from the police, Jose Ibarra was not able to explain where those injuries came from.

Prosecutors say these are clear defensive wounds from when Riley was fighting for her life.

A technological analysis of Riley’s watch revealed the exact moment the 22-year-old stopped dead in her tracks before launching an emergency call to police that was abruptly hung up.

An FBI agent said in court Monday that GPS location data from Jose Ibarra’s phone puts him in an identical spot as Riley at the exact moment she died.

Defense attorneys for Jose Ibarra continue to say it’s still possible someone else might be responsible for the crime. The defense team pointed to the fact that Jose Ibarra and his brothers, who lived together in a one-bedroom apartment near the crime scene, shared clothes like hats and jackets that have been seen on surveillance videos.

Jose Ibarra is charged with murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, battery and tampering with evidence. If convicted, faces the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 26-year-old has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Riley was reported missing on Feb. 22 when she didn’t return home from a run. Investigators later discovered her body in a forested area on the University of Georgia campus. UGA police arrested Jose Ibarra the next day.

(NewsNation) — Congress will hear from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Tuesday, after hurricane recovery teams avoided homes with campaign signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. ET with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Questions will focus on the agency’s preparedness and response to recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

NewsNation will stream the event live here.

A FEMA worker was fired earlier this month after she directed others helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump, according to the agency’s leader.

“This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” Criswell said in a statement at the time. “This was reprehensible.”

The fired employee, Marn’i Washington, is accused of telling her survivor assistance team not to go to Florida homes with pro-Trump yard signs. Washington told NewsNation she believes she’s being used as a scapegoat for a common agency practice.

The instruction to avoid certain houses with certain campaign signs came from her direct superior based on previous team encounters, Washington said, adding that “safety precautions are not politically driven.” 

Several recent hostile encounters happened at homes with Trump campaign signs, she said.

“I’m being framed. There’s no violation of the Hatch Act,” Washington said. “I was simply following orders.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION AND NEW CONGRESS 

President-elect Trump yesterday confirmed his intention to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military to assist in carrying out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Charlie Savage and Michael Gold report for the New York Times. 

Trump has begun receiving intelligence briefings since shortly after the election, U.S. officials said. Ellen Nakashima and Tyler Pager report for the Washington Post.

Trump yesterday selected a former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host, Sean Duffy, to lead the Transportation Department. Mark Walker reports for the New York Times.

Trump is calling some senators directly to lobby for former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s confirmation as Attorney General, according to Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND). However, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said Gaetz is facing an “uphill climb,” with nearly a dozen GOP senators refusing to commit to confirming him. Juliegrace Brufke and Hans Nichols report for Axios; Anthony Adragna and Ursula Perano report for POLITICO.

The House Ethics Committee is expected to meet Wednesday for a possible vote on whether to release its report on Gaetz, sources say. Andrew Solender reports for Axios.

Two women testified to the House Ethics Committee that Gaetz paid them for sex, their lawyer told the Washington Post. Jacqueline Alemany, Liz Goodwin, and Perry Stein report.

TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS 

The Georgia Court of Appeals yesterday announced it canceled next month’s scheduled arguments in Trump’s Georgia federal prosecution over conspiring to corrupt the 2020 election results. Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein report for POLITICO.

A Manhattan judge yesterday delayed Steve Bannon’s fraud prosecution in state court, pushing the trial back to Feb. 25, 2025. Trump previously pardoned Bannon on similar charges in federal proceedings. Colin Moynihan reports for the New York Times.

U.S. ELECTIONS 

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday that election officials must stop counting incorrectly dated mail-in ballots, a major victory for Republican Senate candidate David McCormick, who holds a narrow advantage over Sen. Bob Casey (D) ahead of an expected recount. Colby Itkowitz reports for the Washington Post.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR 

U.K. media reports that Ukraine fired U.S. long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time today and struck a military facility in Bryansk, citing the Russian defense ministry. Ukraine’s military confirmed that it had struck an ammunition warehouse in Bryansk, but did not confirm which weapon was used. BBC News reports. 

The United Kingdom is expected to give Ukraine Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia, following President Biden’s policy change. Dan Sabbagh, Andrew Roth, Pjotr Sauer, and Jessica Elgot report for the Guardian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed into law a revised nuclear doctrine saying any massive aerial attack on Russia could trigger a nuclear response. AP News reports.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

A large convoy of trucks carrying aid to Gaza was “violently looted” while traveling through the territory, with drivers forced to unload supplies at gunpoint, the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) said yesterday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible. Hiba Yazbek and Erika Solomon report for the New York Times.

Organized gangs stealing Gaza aid supplies are operating freely in areas controlled by the Israeli military, aid group officials and witnesses say. An internal U.N. memo concluded the gangs “may be benefiting from a passive if not active benevolence” or “protection” from the IDF. Claire Parker, Loveday Morris, Hajar Harb, Miriam Berger, and Hazem Balousha report for the Washington Post.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE 

The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Israel’s largest settlement development organization “involved in settlement and illegal outpost development in the West Bank,” the Treasury Department said yesterday. Jennifer Hansler reports for CNN.  

A group of at least 20 White House staffers criticized the Biden administration for failing to follow through on its Gaza aid demands in a letter seen by POLITICO. Joseph Gedeon, Robbie Gramer, and Eric Bazail-Eimil report. 

The United States yesterday warned Turkey against hosting Hamas leadership. Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis report for Reuters.

The U.S. Senate will vote tomorrow on legislation filed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would block some arms sales to Israel. The legislation is not expected to pass. Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE 

U.N. Security Council members yesterday called for a significant increase in aid to Gaza, with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying Washington is “closely watching” Israel’s efforts to address the situation. Daphne Psaledakis and Patricia Zengerle report for Reuters.

Norway will ask the U.N. General Assembly to request an International Court of Justice ruling clarifying whether Israel is violating international law by “prevent[ing] the UN, international humanitarian organization and states from providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.” Patrick Wintour reports for the Guardian.

ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR

Biden’s senior adviser Amos Hochstein will meet with Lebanese officials today to discuss a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, after both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government agreed to a U.S.-drafted proposal. Maya Gebeily, Laila Bassam, and Timour Azhari report for Reuters.

ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that last month’s Israeli strikes on Iranian military facilities damaged a “specific component” of Iran’s nuclear program. The Washington Post reports.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS 

The death toll of Sudan’s war is significantly higher than previously reported, according to a new report by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Sudan Research Group. Kalkidan Yibeltal and Basillioh Rukanga report for BBC News.

Russia yesterday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces and supply of aid to the region. U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, who chaired the meeting, called the veto a “disgrace.” Edith M. Lederer reports for AP News.

A Hong Kong court today sentenced 45 pro-democracy leaders to prison terms of up to 10 years over “conspiracy to commit subversion.” Shibani Mahtani reports for the Washington Post.

The U.N. will restart Haiti aid flights tomorrow, following a week-long hiatus after gangs hit three commercial planes with gunfire. Harold Isaac and Ralph Tedy Erol report for Reuters.

Two “critical” undersea cables in the Baltic sea connecting Finland with Germany and Lithuania with Sweden were severed yesterday, presumably by sabotage, Germany’s defense minister said. Miranda Bryant reports for the Guardian.

Turkish strikes in northeast Syria have cut water to more than one million people over the past 5 years, according to data collated by the BBC World Service. Namak Khoshnaw, Christopher Giles, and Saphora Smith report for BBC News.

U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

Biden pledged a record $4 billion contribution to the World Bank’s International Development Association fund during a G20 summit session, a senior official said yesterday. David Lawder and Andrea Shalal report for Reuters.

A Russian man has been extradited from South Korea to the United States over charges related to a ransomware gang that allegedly extorted more than $16 million from victims, U.S. prosecutors said yesterday. Sean Lyngaas reports for CNN.

OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) yesterday sued the federal government for information about how authorities might quickly deport people from the United States. Maria Sacchetti reports for the Washington Post.

Biden yesterday condemned Saturday’s neo-Nazi march in Ohio’s capital, with White House spokesman Andrew Bates saying Biden “abhors the hateful poison of Nazism, Antisemitism, and racism.” Maham Javaid reports for the Washington Post.

A Senate panel overseeing technology issues will today hold a hearing on Chinese hacking incidents, including the recent large-scale hack of telecommunications companies. David Shepardson reports for Reuters.

The Library of Congress notified lawmakers of “cyber breach” of its IT systems, saying an adversary had accessed email communications between January and September. Lisa Mascaro reports for AP News.

The post Early Edition: November 19, 2024 appeared first on Just Security.

On April 2, 1870, two years before the 1872 U.S. presidential election, a letter to the editor of the New York Herald appeared in its pages, announcing a campaign for the presidency against incumbent Ulysses S. Grant. The letter was signed by Victoria Woodhull.

[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]

Woodhull, who had been born poor in an Ohio frontier settlement, embodied the ethos of America, a try-anything country with radical individualism at its heart.  Despite a childhood mired in poverty and dictated by physically abusive parents, she went on to co-found a successful brokerage firm on Wall Street in 1870, making a fortune on the New York Stock Exchange, profits which she later used to launch a newspaper. The paper’s progressive contributors wrote essays and articles proposing changes that would gain traction decades later, such as the abolition of the death penalty and welfare for the poor. But the most improbable aspect among an abundance of improbabilities in Woodhull’s life was this single fact: she was a woman.

Trapped in a system that oppressed her gender in every conceivable way, Woodhull forged her success with novelty, enterprise, courage, and determination in what became a rags-to-riches story that intersected predominantly with men, among whom were Karl Marx, Walt Whitman, Henry Ward Beecher, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Frederick Douglass, and the Prince of Wales.  In a time when political ambitions were believed to be only a male prerogative, she faced down restrictions that almost always crushed those had by women.  With a combination of pragmatism, imagination, and expert guile, she engineered an unprecedented meeting in front of a congressional committee to appeal to them directly on behalf of a woman’s right to vote. She formed a third political party whose coalition included laborers, abolitionists, spiritualists, and suffragists and whose agenda proposed an overhaul of the U.S. government, including a one-term presidency, an eight-hour workday, national public education, and the establishment of an international tribunal to settle international disputes.

That women were not allowed to hold political office or vote didn’t present an obstacle to Woodhull’s presidential campaign. “I anticipate criticism,” she said, then added, “[but] they cannot roll back the rising tide of reform. The world moves.”

The world moved slower than had been wished for: it took another 48 years for women to be granted the right to vote.

One hundred and four years after that, a question persists: what will it take for America to elect a woman president, assuming she is fundamentally able?

Read More: The Radical Woman Whose 19th Century Ideas Still Undergird the LGBTQ-Rights Movement

Kamala Harris’ failure to win the presidential election is being explained differently by different people. Some say it had to do with timing: had President Biden bowed out sooner, there could have been other candidates in the race; at the very least, Harris would have been given more time to make her case to the voters. Though Trump’s racist messaging resonated with a substantial number of people, Harris’ defeat cannot simply be reduced to the color of her skin, though it undeniably played a significant role in the decisions of voters. And it wasn’t just about class, the economy, or securing the borders and illegal immigrants. Rather, it was in part about how American men and women perceive these issues through the lens of their gendered experience.

One might ask how much of the Democratic Party’s failure had to do with ignoring what both sexes believe should be the gender of power? The stereotypical masculine traits conveyed as strength of leadership are often prized over what can be safely assumed to be feminine traits of compromise. Because ambition in a woman was considered unsavory, Victoria Woodhull insisted that she was no more than a vessel through which an otherworldly inspiration was acting for a greater good. That ploy made little difference when she announced her intention to run for the presidency: she managed to offend not just men but women, some within the suffrage movement. Similarly, 120 years later, when Bill Clinton was President and Hilary Clinton suggested that her ambitions extended beyond the traditional role of First Lady, the public’s reaction was so adverse that she was pressured into a public relations cookie bake-off with her Republican counterpart, Barbara Bush. Whether women hold other women to a higher standard than men is debatable but, despite—or, perhaps, because of—the effort to reposition Hilary Clinton among voters as a non-threatening candidate, she lost to Donald Trump. She was smart and capable. She was also irritating to some women voters, many of whom granted immunity to the willfully ignorant and morally insolvent Donald Trump.

How men and women perceive a woman in a position of leadership and in possession of political power is far from clear-cut. Kamala Harris was right to recognize that a glass ceiling strategy doesn’t necessarily win converts. She and her party constantly reminded them that Trump was a convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist, and at best, a misogynist proud to have appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. And yet while many people did vote to overturn abortion bans in their states, they did not necessarily vote for Harris, who performed worse than other women democrats or people of color.

Did the women who defected to the republican ticket believe that Harris wasn’t the right person to lead the country—or that women in general are incapable of meeting the demands of being President?

Read More: The Democrats’ Blame Game Begins

What of the men?  To the 19th century America male, Victoria Woodhull represented a new kind of femaleness that meant the death of a certain type of maleness.  The backlash unleashed attempts by the press to discredit her and resulted in a wrongful jail sentence. Trump’s strategy of convincing men—young men especially—of a type of woman punishing them for just for being men, is not without precedent. He returns to the White House thanks in large part to 54% of male voters.

The “why’s” of Harris’ resounding and swift defeat will be put to rest when the end of dismantling its reasons gives way to constructing a new beginning. Victoria Woodhull knew that it was impossible for her to actually become President. Her campaign had a single purpose: to challenge Americans to consider whether a woman could lead a country. Since Woodhull’s death in 1927, some 85 countries—from Western democracies to military dictatorships—have answered that question in the affirmative by choosing women as their leaders. For America, however, Woodhull’s challenge remains unanswered.