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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is eager to play again after spending the team's bye week thinking about a recent loss to the Eagles.Former Crusader Aaiden Burris carves out role with Chabot in his freshman seasonBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.
Republicans love to jump up and down, rant, work the ref, and bully Democrats whenever they can use it to their advantage. The prosecution of Hunter Biden is a case where a plea deal blew up and the U.S. Department of Justice was forced into putting him on trial due to political pressure. The charges that Hunter Biden faced were mild compared to those faced by Donald Trump. When Trump left office, he pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, his sycophants, and Ivanka’s father-in-law, now U.S. Ambassador to France nominee Charles Kushner. Trump has vowed to pardon the Jan. 6 rioters, who injured police officers. No complaints from the Republicans. The rule of law, prosecutors, judges, grand juries, juries, and convictions mean nothing to Republicans if Trump is the defendant and can libel the whole process. And forget about defending police officers. Trump has nominated Kash Patel to head the FBI, and Republican senators will choke down their vomit to confirm him. His priority will be to go after all of Trump’s enemies. Biden should protect the rule of law before leaving office by pardoning those at risk from Trump’s wrath. Let the Republicans howl. George Magakis Jr., Norristown, PAHegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate
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President Joe Biden delivered an important speech to the nation after the sudden and dramatic exit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. The beleaguered leader fled Syria as rebel forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham coalition, seized the capital, Damascus, which marked the collapse of his regime after weeks of fast territorial losses. Assad’s flight to Moscow, allegedly in the face of the advancing opposition, has seen a significant shift in the Middle East’s geopolitical structure. In his address, Biden reflected on the historical nature of the developments in Syria. According to the President, the accelerated advance of rebels and the weakening of crucial backers of the Assad government, including Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, became decisive factors for the collapse of the Syrian government. The United States is yet to be clear about Assad’s whereabouts; however, Biden confirmed that the reports being closely monitored have Moscow appearing to be his likely haven. We are seeing a new chapter of West Asia,” Biden said. “This hour is an important moment for the region.” Important Highlights Of Biden’s Speech Assad Must Be Haulted Before Court: Biden firmly declared that now that Assad’s government had been toppled, the former leader must be held responsible for his actions throughout his rule over Syria . On being asked questions about Assad’s future, Biden was clear: “Assad should be held accountable for the suffering he inflicted on the Syrian people.” Engagement With All Syrian Groups: Looking ahead, Biden stressed that the United States would work with all Syrian factions to help build a peaceful and democratic transition away from Assad’s regime. “We will engage with all Syrian groups, including those involved in the United Nations-led process, to ensure that Syria moves toward a future of independence and sovereignty,” he said. A Historic Opportunity For Justice: Biden described the Assad regime collapse as a not only a political development but a “fundamental act of justice” for Syrian people, who have witnessed years of violence and oppression under the regime of his masterminds. “This fall of the Assad regime represents a historic opportunity for the people of Syria to reclaim their future,” he said. Changing The Equation Of Power: We shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. In a bold statement, Biden credited the United States and its allies with having “shifted the balance of power in the Middle East .” “For the first time,” Biden said, “Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah can no longer defend Assad’s stranglehold on power.” He added that the international community collectively had weakened Assad’s position and his ability to depend on external support. ALSO READ | Trump Could Pardon January 6 Rioters On ‘First Day’—Who Else Is On His List?Center State Conference selects tennis all-stars