US Department of State issues ‘Worldwide Caution’ for Americans abroad
House Republicans receive death threats, and 10 Republican Senators introduce a bill to redirect Gaza humanitarian funds to supply Israel’s Iron Dome
Early this morning, we analyzed 730 news articles across 31 outlets and located the primary sources for the most important stories. Here's what's happening in the world today.
US Department of State issues ‘Worldwide Caution’ for Americans abroad
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of State issued a “Worldwide Caution” for Americans, warning U.S. citizens abroad “to exercise increased caution.”
In a press briefing, Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “Today we issued a worldwide caution alert where we advised U.S. citizens that due to increased tensions in various locations around – locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.”
When asked what prompted the alert, Miller stated: “I would just say we’re monitoring conditions around the world; we’re monitoring conditions in the region. We take a number of factors into consideration when making that determination. It’s not necessarily any one thing, but everything that we’re watching around the world.”
The travel advisory states: “Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.” The Department urges Americans to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
House Republicans receive death threats after voting against Jordan for speaker
Several House Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan in the recent speakership votes — which saw Jordan fall short of the needed 217 votes, with 200 on Tuesday and 199 on Wednesday — have reported that they and their families have been receiving a “barrage” of threatening messages and calls, including several death threats.
Appearing on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Rep. Ken Buck — who voted for Tom Emmer in both rounds — said, “I have six full-time people answering the phones, I have 20,000 messages from people where we couldn’t [answer],” noting that he’s received four death threats and was given notice of eviction from his Colorado office “because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the speaker issue.”
Don Bacon — who gave his votes to McCarthy — told Nebraska’s WOWT News that his wife had received anonymous threatening messages concerning his speakership vote. “A lot of people have lost their sense of boundaries,” Bacon stated, adding, “To send text messages to your spouse and things like that, it’s just wrong.”
Meanwhile, Mariannette Miller-Meeks — who shifted her vote from Jordan to Kay Granger on Wednesday — issued a statement to highlight that she has been receiving “credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls” since. “One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully,” she stated, adding: “I did not stand for bullies before I voted for Chairwoman Granger and when I voted for Speaker Designee Jordan, and I will not bend to bullies now.” Drew Ferguson— who shifted from Jordan to Steve Scalise on Wednesday — shared that “shortly after casting that vote, my family and I started receiving death threats. That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated.”
In response to the threats, Jordan stated: “No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues, and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent.” Carlos Gimenez also condemned the threats, stating: “It is despicable that my dear friend and colleague @RepMMM, a doctor & Army Lt. Colonel, has received credible death threats for voting for her candidate of preference. This has never been seen before in a Speaker’s Race. It must be universally condemned.”
Republican Senators introduce bill to transfer Gaza humanitarian aid to supply Israel’s Iron Dome
A group of 10 Republican Senators led by Sen. Bill Hagerty proposed new legislation on Thursday that would redirect $100 million in U.S. humanitarian funds bound for Gaza to Israel’s defensive “Iron Dome” system instead.
The bill would require the Biden administration to transfer “all unexpected balances of appropriations made available to Gaza to the Department of Defense, to be available for grants to Israel for the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system.” Co-sponsors of the bill include Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Barrasso, Thom Tillis, Katie Britt, Cynthia Lummis, Josh Hawley, Deb Fischer, Tommy Tuberville, and Rick Scott.
“In the wake of Iran-backed Hamas’s savage attack on Israel in which over 1300 people in Israel were murdered, including 30 Americans, and as Iran-backed Hamas terrorists continue to launch missiles and rockets into Israel, the American people have seen the images of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense systems repeatedly intercepting rockets and saving the lives of countless civilians,” said Sen. Hagerty.
“My legislation requires the Biden Administration to halt U.S. foreign assistance from going to Hamas terrorist-dominated areas and instead to redirect these resources to help Israel resupply its life-saving Iron Dome interceptors,” Hagerty added. “The United States should unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend itself from terrorists.” “The Biden Administration insists on sending foreign assistance to Gaza, while Hamas steals it to fund weapons to kill Israelis and Americans,” said Sen. Hawley. “Congress must act to redirect these funds to Israel to help restock their critical missile defense systems.”
“Israel must wipe Hamas from the face of the earth and ensure that this never happens again,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville stated. “As Israel continues to fight and kill terrorists, the United States has a strategic interest in supporting Israel and supplying Israel. We should immediately stop all foreign assistance to Hamas-controlled Gaza and redirect those funds to the Iron Dome, which has saved countless Israeli civilian lives.” At the same time, State Department official Josh Paul announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict between Israel and Gaza as his motive. He said he opposes U.S. military assistance to Israel as the nation is imposing a siege on Gaza that violates international law according to the U.N. Human Rights Office. Paul was the Director of Congressional & Public Affairs at the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs — which is responsible for the transfer and provisions of arms to partners and allies.
Paul wrote, “The response Israel is taking, and with it, the American support both for that response and for the status quo of the occupation will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.” He then called the administration’s response “an impulsive reaction” based on “confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy and bureaucratic inertia.”
“Decades of the same approach have shown that security for peace leads to neither security, nor to peace. The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides. I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer,” Josh added.
Pentagon report suggests China’s nuclear arsenal of 500 warheads will double by 2030
The Pentagon estimates that China has at least 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal as of May 2023 and is on track to have 1,000 of the destructive weapons by 2030, according to a report released Thursday.
The 2023 China Military Power report, released annually by the Defense Department, alleges that Beijing is likely to have completed the construction of three new solid-propellant silo fields, which consist of at least 300 new Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos as it seeks to increase the peacetime readiness of its nuclear force by moving to a launch-on-warning (LOW) posture.
The report warns that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force — which manages the nation’s nuclear and strategic missiles — is developing new ICBMs that will “significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear warhead production.”
According to the report, China is also exploring conventionally armed intercontinental-range missile systems. It states: “If developed and fielded, such capabilities would allow the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska.”
“They are expanding and investing in their land, sea, and air-based nuclear delivery platforms, as well as the infrastructure that’s required to support this, despite major expansion of their nuclear forces,” a senior defense official told reporters during a briefing, as reported by the DoD.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, the U.S. still has far more nuclear weapons than China, with more than 3,000 warheads in deployment. China has yet to comment on the report.
Quotes of the day
“As Israel continues to fight and kill terrorists, the United States has a strategic interest in supporting Israel and supplying Israel”
- Coach Tommy Tuberville
“This Administration's response - and much of Congress' as well - is an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia. That is to say, it is immensely disappointing, and entirely unsurprising”
- (Former) Director at U.S. Department of State, Josh Paul