Jake Tapper condemns bigotry being used as political tool: ‘This s— is not a game’

BY LAUREN SFORZA

© Associated Press

CNN’s Jake Tapper closed out Sunday’s episode of “State of the Union” by taking aim at lawmakers for using antisemitism as a way to score political points in an impassioned address to his viewers.

“Antisemitism is not a cudgel to be used against people for political points, nor is Islamophobia or racism or anti-gay behavior or misogyny or any other kind of bigotry,” he said in his closing remarks. “Just over three weeks ago, 1,400 people, mostly Jews, mostly civilians, were slaughtered here in some of the cruelest and most unimaginable ways in the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.”

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Johnson says he ‘isn’t afraid’ of changing rule on vacating Speakership 

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO 

Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday he “isn’t afraid” of changing the rule of vacating Speakership, a move that gained support from several GOP lawmakers following the historic ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this month.

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Sullivan on Israel-Hamas war escalating into regional conflict: ‘Risk is real’ 

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO

National security adviser Jack Sullivan warned on Sunday that the “risk” of the Israel-Hamas war escalating into a wider regional conflict is “real,” vowing the U.S. will continue to respond to attacks from Iran proxies to deter the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

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NBC’s Kristen Welker presses DeSantis over initial response to neo-Nazi protests

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO

NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker pressed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over reports of him not condemning neo-Nazi protests, which came to light in a recent op-ed by Randy Fine, the only Jewish Republican in the Florida state legislature.

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Republican senator says it’s a ‘reasonable concern’ that families of Hamas hostages won’t see them again

BY LAUREN SFORZA 

“Yeah, that’s a reasonable concern for anyone,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “The folks that are the families and the friends and his hostages, everyone has great compassion for them and pain for them.”

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US blames Hamas for not letting American citizens out of Gaza

BY LAUREN SFORZA

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., is preventing civilians from leaving Gaza as Israel continues to escalate its bombardment of the territory but would not give details as to why.

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US says Netanyahu has to rein in ‘extremist’ settlers in West Bank

BY LAUREN SFORZA

The United States is warning Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rein in “extremist” settlers in the West Bank in the wake of reports of violence against Palestinians.

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Christie says Pence made the ‘right decision’ in dropping out of 2024 race

BY LAUREN SFORZA

“I want to say that Mike, you know, ran a tough race, a good race. It was very difficult for him. I think he made the right decision for he and his family to get out of the race. And look, I think in the end, it just means this race is narrowing, which everyone said that it would,” Christie said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

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Speaker Johnson suggests he’s open to short-term stopgap government funding measure until Jan. 15

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO

Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) suggested on Sunday he is open to a. short-term stopgap measure to the keep the government funded past the Nov. 17 deadline set under the previous funding measure.

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Retired general ‘can only hope’ Iran, proxies don’t escalate Middle East conflict

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO

Retired U.S. Gen. Robert Abrams said “we can only hope” Iranian proxies and Iran-backed groups do not take the war between Israel and militant group Hamas to a “much higher level.”

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US: End game in Gaza ‘ultimately’ up to Israel

BY LAUREN SFORZA 

CBS’s Margaret Brennan pressed Sullivan on what milestones Israel needs to pass to consider ending their efforts against militant group Hamas, which launched a deadly attack against Israel more than three weeks ago. Sullivan said on “Face the Nation” that ending the attacks would be up to Israel as the U.S. continues to advise them in its ongoing war.

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Christie says Meadows immunity deal makes Trump Jan. 6 case ‘much tougher’

BY LAUREN SFORZA

“Donald Trump is not going to be able to beat Joe Biden from a courtroom in Washington, D.C., while he’s fighting his indictment on the January 6 case,” Christie said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

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