☕ Daily Brief: Radical Middle East Shakeup

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

🗳️ Socialist scores a big upset in Florida. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidate Angie Nixon defeated former NSC official Alex Vindman despite being outspent 36-to-1 in the Florida Democratic primary. However, Rep. Jared Moskowitz trounced a DSA candidate in his South Florida district, successfully tamping down the socialist surge.

🏠 DSA leader lives in $1.5M home bought by millionaire parents. Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of NYC's Democratic Socialists of America, rails against property ownership while living in a renovated Brooklyn row home his parents purchased through a dummy corporation. The Yale grad's family owns two additional Florida properties worth over $6 million combined.

❌ NSA blocked China election intel from reaching Trump. Newly released emails reveal that National Security Agency leadership deliberately suppressed reports of Chinese interference in the 2016 and 2020 elections. The deputy director blocked the intelligence, citing concerns it would damage the agency’s credibility amid the “current political climate.”

⏰ Luigi Mangione trial postponed after federal plea. A New York judge delayed Mangione’s state trial, originally set for September 8, after the 28-year-old admitted last week to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Federal prosecutors are seeking a life sentence at his Dec. 18 sentencing.

ASK THE EDITORS

Q: Regarding fraud, do we know what actions, if any, have taken place based on Nick Shirley's investigations? — Scott from Washington

A: Yes, quite a bit has followed his investigations, though some of the results are mixed.

In Minnesota, where Nick Shirley began his investigations into Somali fraud, federal agents executed search warrants at roughly 20 daycare and social service sites. Prosecutors unsealed fraud charges against at least one business owner featured in his video, and the state created a new independent Office of Inspector General with more inspection staff.

In California, his claims of $170 million in Medi-Cal, hospice, and daycare fraud triggered a big political fight. State Democrats introduced the Stop Nick Shirley Act, which would restrict people from posting the personal information or footage of workers at immigration support organizations, effectively making it harder to film and expose fraud at these facilities.

At the federal level, nearly 200 House Democrats voted against a bill that would deport people convicted of welfare fraud.

Shirley brought the nation’s attention to a mind-boggling amount of fraud occurring around the country, and may even be responsible for Vice President JD Vance taking on the role of “fraud czar.”

It goes to show how powerful independent journalism can be, especially when big-brand, mainstream journalists drop the ball.

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YOUR TAKE

Do you support the creation of the Mecca Agreement?

TODAY’S POLL

POP QUIZ

POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY

Should foreign officials be allowed to buy property in the US?

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 👍 Yes (31)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👎 No (1,144)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤷‍♂️ It depends (183)

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