Matthew Reitenbaugh

Religious Freedom in Syria’s Post-Assad Transition An in-depth look at the legal regime that Syria's transitional authorities have put in place to deal with religious minorities, focusing on how its policies have played out in a climate of ongoing vio...

"Religious freedom in the new Syria is not a black or white issue." Read @azelin.bsky.social's testimony before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Ukraine’s most perilous winter so far The big question is whether the country will emerge in good enough shape to resist a bad peace deal being foisted on it. 

COMMENTARY: Ukraine faces a hazardous winter war — one that heroism and improvisation may not be enough to overcome.

But its fate won’t be entirely in its own hands, with much now resting on Western allies as Kyiv grapples with three huge challenges.

Rubio: We’re running out of things to sanction in Russia What else do you guys want, sighs top U.S. diplomat.

Top US diplomat Marco Rubio said Washington is running out of options to sanction Russia after hitting the Kremlin’s biggest oil giants last month.

Japan’s ruling coalition lost its majority for the first time since 1955. Prime Minister Ishiba remains in office, but political gridlock, populist gains, and potential leadership shake‑ups loom.

What comes next? Read here to learn more: cs.is/4lRID1W

Exactly why we should be hoping for a dissolution of the Knesset next week and fresh elections.

Instant View: Markets cheer court ruling to block Trump tariffs U.S. stock futures jumped and the dollar gained against safe-haven peers including the yen and Swiss franc on Thursday, after a U.S. federal court blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs from going into effect.

Instant View: Markets cheer court ruling to block Trump tariffs reut.rs/4dA2JKR

And this is just one of many cases

For the first time since 1933, the United States men’s hockey team has won the IIHF World Championship tournament.

Team USA defeated Switzerland 1-0 in overtime at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, to win the gold medal. cnn.it/4khU3vs

To clarify, Rand Paul being a no means he already opposes the bill based off of costs alone, so he is 1/4 needed. And there are others aside from my list who may be skeptical as well.

Important to remember this as well. My only note is if you are calling say Josh Hawley or someone like it who is more socially conservative than average, don't lead off on this note or they will not listen to you, but 100% mention it if you think you can.

A reminder that even in victory, we must be vigilant. Remember what Franklin said after the Constitutional Convention in 1787 "A Republic, if you can keep it" We must be wary of tyrants and demagogues the world over no matter their party or flag.

Here is my current take on skeptical Senators
Rand Paul is a no.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-NE
Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME
Sen. John Curtis, R-UT
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS

6/ Rally all people in the opposition, Progressives, the Centre-Left, Centrists, Good Conservatives, all hands need to be in this fight and there is at least one thing every group can oppose. Encourage them to speak tactfully (BE POLITE) or the response will be lacking. We need 4 total defectors.

5/ Cont
-Concept of the Operation: We should begin campaign effective immediately. After beginning we will establish consensus on Senators who are most likely to break based off of conversations with staffers. The operation will continue until final vote is held and future COA will be decided then.

4/ Execution:
-Intent: To calmly appeal to specific concerns of Senators that could impact their respective decisions based off of their individual and universal policy concerns. Additional focus on those who have already expressed reluctance.

3/ Mission: We and likeminded individuals are to attempt to encourage defections in the Senate GOP in order to delay or prevent final passage of this Federal Budget by contacting offices of Senate Republicans via phone, email, or mailers.

2/ Basic Situation: Legislation is packed with cuts to social welfare along with targetting on Gender Affirming Care. Bill also raises the debt by trillions via tax cuts.
-MLCOA: This bill faces issues in the Senate and Trump tries to bring down the hammer.
-MDCOA: The Senate GOP stays unified.

We are all seing the discourse on H.R. 1 the new House #Budget passed this morning. With it we see the great many foolish or outright horrible provisions jumbled into it. So I want to put out a basic guide to how we respond. It's pretty much a half baked OPORD without the last two paragraphs. A 🧵

5/ Cont
-Concept of the Operation: We should begin campaign effective immediately. After beginning we will establish consensus on Senators who are most likely to break based off of conversations with staffers. The operation will continue until final vote is held and future COA will be decided then.

4/ Execution:
-Intent: To calmly appeal to specific concerns of Senators that could impact their respective decisions based off of their individual and universal policy concerns. Additional focus on those who have already expressed reluctance.

3/ Mission: We and likeminded individuals are to attempt to encourage defections in the Senate GOP in order to delay or prevent final passage of this Federal Budget by contacting offices of Senate Republicans via phone, email, or mailers.

2/ Basic Situation: Legislation is packed with cuts to social welfare along with targetting on Gender Affirming Care. Bill also raises the debt by trillions via tax cuts.
-MLCOA: This bill faces issues in the Senate and Trump tries to bring down the hammer.
-MDCOA: The Senate GOP stays unified.

4/ Execution:
-Intent: To calmly appeal to specific concerns of Senators that could impact their respective decisions based off of their individual and universal policy concerns. Additional focus on those who have already expressed reluctance.

3/ Mission: We and likeminded individuals are to attempt to encourage defections in the Senate GOP in order to delay or prevent final passage of this Federal Budget by contacting offices of Senate Republicans via phone, email, or mailers.

2/ Basic Situation: Legislation is packed with cuts to social welfare along with targetting on Gender Affirming Care. Bill also raises the debt by trillions via tax cuts.
-MLCOA: This bill faces issues in the Senate and Trump tries to bring down the hammer.
-MDCOA: The Senate GOP stays unified.

MORE: Russia continues to promote the false narrative accusing Ukrainian forces of "neo-Nazism" as part of dual Kremlin efforts to justify cont'd Russian offensive operations in Ukraine despite ongoing peace talks and to prepare Russians for a Russian rejection of any future peace agreement. 🧵(1/3)

Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups tried to influence EU: report French authorities allege the Islamist group has gone to great lengths to push its fundamentalist agenda in France and throughout Europe.

A bombshell report from the French authorities alleges that organizations with links to the Muslim Brotherhood have been attempting to influence European Union institutions through “significant lobbying activities.”

This #budget is so hastily prepared just to meet some artificial holiday deadline. The poor design and hasty construction is testament to the lack of care put into this policy, and more a sign of attempting to appease factions that hold the legislature hostage. Call your reps, tell them to vote no.

That's one, if all Democrats show, Speaker Johnson can only lose three. Rhetoric suggests Rep. Massie is another possible no. Unless the meeting today got every Freedom Caucus objector to stop then budget looks on course currently for initial failure.