Good morning. It's Monday. Thank you for reading Morning Brief. Send me a line—Ivan Pentchoukov. |
- Democratic and Republican senators signaled on Sunday that they will grill President-elect Donald Trump's choices to lead the Intelligence Community and the Pentagon.
- Mortgage rates are closing in on the 7 percent level following a dip to nearly 6 percent a few weeks back, signaling further challenges for the American housing market.
- President-elect Donald Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship is likely to prompt review by the Supreme Court.
- Resentment brands our hearts—not just emotionally but also physically. Fortunately, there is both a cure and a prevention.
- Etiquette instructor Bethany Friske offers five tips to help civilly navigate the waters of conversational rudeness and debate. Advice after the news.
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| Ivan Pentchoukov,
National Editor |
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The U.S. Supreme Court at dusk in Washington on Nov. 19, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) |
Among President-elect Donald Trump's plans for immigration is a move to end a longstanding practice of granting something known as "birthright citizenship" to children whose parents are illegally present in the United States. Last year, he vowed to sign an executive order directing agencies to abandon that practice, if reelected. How exactly Trump will change policies within agencies is unclear, but experts indicate he has options. |
- Regardless, revoking birthright citizenship could impact waves of new illegal immigrants and change the incentives for so-called birth tourism, wherein an expectant mother arrives in the United States just before giving birth.
- During his first term, Trump attempted to combat the phenomenon through a policy targeting the country's temporary visa program.
- However Trump chooses to end birthright citizenship will likely provoke a legal battle of constitutional proportions and with a case that could reach the Supreme Court, as Trump predicted during his first term.
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The concept of birthright citizenship stems from the 14th Amendment, which states in part: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." Lora Ries, who serves as director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times that Trump could start by directing the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to interpret the 14th Amendment in a particular way. "I don't believe that a statute is necessary" or that a "constitutional amendment is necessary," said Ries, who also served as the deputy chief of staff for DHS during Trump's first administration. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has introduced legislation that would end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. Chris Hajec, director of litigation at Immigration Reform Law Institute, said that a Supreme Court decision will be necessary to effect long-term change. "A law from Congress wouldn't be enough," he told The Epoch Times, noting that Trump's executive policies and any act of Congress would likely end in the courts. (Full Story)
More Politics |
- In the 2024 election, Navajo support for Republican nominee Donald Trump increased, a sign of what some tribal leaders across the country see as a conservative shift in Native American voting patterns.
- The Biden administration's top climate negotiator, former Secretary of State John Kerry, said President-elect Donald Trump's "unpredictability" could be an advantage in dealing with adversaries.
- If the matter isn't resolved by Inauguration Day, the first job for incoming Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent might be to avert a default before the national debt ceiling agreement expires in January.
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Federal authorities have released an update on the investigation into fires at the BioLab chemical plant near Atlanta that produced a toxic chemical cloud and forced nearby residents to shelter in place. |
- The fires broke out Sept. 29 at the BioLab plant in Conyers, sending a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the sky. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board on Friday released an investigation update.
- BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and hot tubs, the report says. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products.
- A BioLab employee on fire watch at the Plant 12 storage warehouse reported hearing a "popping sound" as they left a breakroom to do a 5 a.m. check and immediately saw that a product reactive to water was wet, the report says. The employee called the only other BioLab employee on site.
- Though no flames were initially observed, the employee on fire watch tried unsuccessfully to isolate the product and called 911 at about 5:10 a.m. as "large toxic vapor plumes" formed inside the building.
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By 6:30 a.m., flames could be seen through the roof of the area where employees first noticed the chemical reaction. An initial shelter-in-place order was issued around 7:40 a.m., and the fire was put out by Rockdale County firefighters about 30 minutes later. (Full Story) |
Lillian Parker is a rising star at Shen Yun Performing Arts. She has toured with the company multiple times over the last seven years as part of a special practicum training program for promising young dancers at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and Fei Tian College. Our senior editor Jan Jekielek interviews Parker about her extraordinary life. Watch ➞ |
In return for China's support during its war on Ukraine, Russia will likely assist Beijing to advance its submarine fleet, the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said on Nov. 23. |
- "I expect Russia to provide submarine technology to the PRC that has the potential of closing American undersea dominance over the PRC," Adm. Samuel Paparo said at the Halifax International Security Forum, using the acronym for the People's Republic of China.
- Paparo added that China "has rebuilt, helped to rebuild Russia's war machine, with 90 percent of its semiconductors and 70 percent of the machine tools that have rebuilt that war machine."
- Although China boasts the largest navy in the world with more than 370 ships, the Chinese submarine fleet is considered inferior to its U.S. counterpart.
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A report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in June, said that U.S. submarine capabilities "remain an area of unquestionable U.S. dominance," because the United States has 66 nuclear submarines while China has 12. "Large nuclear submarines are much more capable than diesel-electric submarines, operating with far greater range, stealth, and offensive power," the report says. In addition to its 12 nuclear submarines, China has 48 diesel-powered, air-independent powered attack submarines, the Pentagon said in a 2023 report, estimating that the Chinese submarine fleet will reach 80 units by 2035. (Full Story) More world news: |
- White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, hosted telecommunications executives for a meeting to share intelligence after several networks were reportedly hacked by operatives backed by the Chinese Communist Party.
- A retired Chinese teacher from central China who endured more than eight years of brutality in detention for her faith in Falun Gong has been sentenced to three years behind bars for practicing the meditative discipline.
- The Hamas terrorist group stated on Nov. 23 that one of its female Israeli hostages had been killed in northern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it is investigating the claim while warning the public to refrain from spreading rumors "that may harm the families of the hostages."
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A man watches houses on fire at Tondo in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 24, 2024. Raging orange flames and thick black smoke billowed into the sky, as fire ripped through hundreds of houses in a closely built slum area of the Philippine capital, Manila. Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images |
A famous parable recounts the story of a little boy who had a bad temper. |
- The father gave the boy a bag of nails and told him to hammer a nail into the backyard fence whenever he felt angry or resentful. The boy eagerly hammered away, and soon, the fence was riddled with nails.
- Eventually, the father asked him to remove the nails one by one. As the boy pulled them out, he noticed the holes left behind.
- "These holes are like the scars left by your resentment," the father said. "The anger and hurt may leave, but the scars remain."
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Resentment brands our hearts—not just emotionally but also physically. Fortunately, there is both a cure and a prevention. (Full Story) |
Caption (Biba Kayewich for American Essence) |
To be known for gracious conversation is a worthy life goal for each of us—but getting there is easier said than done. Etiquette instructor Bethany Friske offers the following five tips to help us civilly navigate the waters of conversational rudeness and debate. |
- Win by Avoiding—Don't debate "in a setting with other people that are held captive," such as at a wedding reception, Ms. Friske says. Look for ways to change the subject or find positive areas on which you can agree.
- Unleash the Questions—Asking questions not only helps tame flared tempers, but also can distract from rude comments. "Return a question before you answer it," Ms. Friske says, noting that asking for more information often clarifies the crossed wires that can unintentionally lead to offenses.
- Put the Onus on Yourself—Ms. Friske suggests prefacing our statements with "I could be wrong…." Doing so puts others at ease—even if we're not wrong—giving more opportunity for them to accept and consider your position.
- Express Gratitude—Phrases such as "You've brought a lot of great information," or "I've never quite looked at it that way before, thanks for bringing that to my attention," and "You've really given me something to think about" are disarming tools to keep in our back pockets.
- Play Peacemaker—"As a hostess, you absolutely can step in," Ms. Friske says. "It is 100 percent acceptable and polite." She suggests offering a distraction or changing the discussion, redirecting the conversation away from the sensitive subject causing tempers to flare.
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Read the full article by our colleague Annie Holmquist here. |
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Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful day. |
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