House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refused to budge on his demand for a border security overhaul in exchange for more aid to Ukraine after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Johnson told reporters that “transformative” reforms to tackle the border crisis‚ in addition to more clarity and oversight on money given to Ukraine for its defensive fight against Russia‚ remain the GOP-led House’s conditions for a deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) blames the White House and the Senate for holding up aid to Ukraine and instead pushes for a bill that would implement harsher immigration policies: “The Senate has been MIA on this. The House passed H.R. 2 … more than six months ago.” pic.twitter.com/JzzwKQkgS2 — The Recount (@therecount) December 12‚ 2023 “These are our conditions because these are the conditions of the American people. And we are resolute on that. It is not the House’s issue right now‚” Johnson said‚ alluding to how the House passed border legislation earlier this year. “The issue is with the White House and the Senate‚ and I implore them to do their job because the time is urgent and we do want to do the right thing here.” The White House recently warned Congress that the $111 billion in supplemental funds previously allocated to Ukraine would soon run out‚ and Zelensky made another trip to Washington‚ D.C.‚ this week to make the case for the “significance of sustaining vital U.S. support” for his country’s military and economy. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Senate Democrats tried to advance a $110 billion national security package‚ which would provide money for Ukraine‚ Israel‚ and Taiwan‚ and even for bolstering border security‚ but it failed to clear a 60-vote threshold last week in the face of opposition from Republicans‚ many of whom have pressed for the inclusion of reforms such as asylum limits and ramping border wall construction back up. President Joe Biden and other Democrats say they are open to a border security compromise‚ but claim Republicans are unwilling to make a “bipartisan” deal. Negotiations have been going on in the Senate — though there has yet to be a breakthrough so far. Johnson‚ who is less than two months into his tenure as speaker‚ suggested on Tuesday that the House may leave D.C. for the end-of-the-year holiday break without a deal. “I don’t know what else to do‚” Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt. “I’m not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs. They’ve not sent me anything.”

Hundreds of people participating in a “Queers for Palestine” protest blocked the Manhattan Bridge in New York City on Monday evening. The pro-Palestinian protesters marched from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn across the bridge into Manhattan calling for a “Free Palestine.” Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have become more widespread since the terror group Hamas killed roughly 1‚200 Israeli civilians and took hundreds more captive in a terror attack on October 7. The protesters touted LGBT and trans pride flags while chanting slogans such as “queer‚ trans‚ no peace on stolen land” and “from the river to the sea‚ Palestine will be free‚” a popular phrase among pro-Palestinian activists that effectively calls for genocide against Israelis. The protesters also compared Israel’s military and the New York Police Department to the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan‚ chanting “NYPD‚ KKK‚ IDF‚ they’re all the same.” The crowd was led by protesters carrying banners with messages such as “Queers for Liberated Palestine‚” “No Pride in Genocide‚” and “Queer Jews say: F*** the West. Let Gaza Live.” Manhattan Bridge has been shut down by thousands of Queers for Palestine marching from Barclays Center to Manhattan. #nyc #QueersForPalestine #GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/Va2ZwnMNV6 — thizzL (@thizzl_) December 12‚ 2023 Thousands of queer Palestinian supporters shutting down the streets in Manhattan #FreePalestine #QueersForPalestine pic.twitter.com/Ib1Pzx8iSo — thizzL (@thizzl_) December 12‚ 2023 Many have noted the irony in the trend of groups such as “Queers for Palestine.” Homosexuality is punished in the Gaza Strip‚ which is run by Hamas‚ and large portions of Judea and Samaria‚ also known as the West Bank‚ run by the Palestinian Authority. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In 2019‚ the Palestinian Authority banned activities by LGBT activists. Last year‚ a gay man who escaped from the Gaza Strip said he was in constant fear of being caught by Hamas. “It’s hard to be gay because I don’t feel free in Gaza‚” he said. “There are many people gay in the Gaza Strip‚ and they are in Hamas also. If you are gay‚ you should be hiding. It’s so hard. I was so scared. Scared from everything‚ you know? Scared of getting hit‚ of getting kidnapped. I was so afraid. I was afraid Hamas would find out I was gay‚” he continued. In 2016‚ Hamas executed a top member of its military wing‚ the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades‚ after the commander was accused of homosexual acts. Mahmoud Ishtiwi‚ described by The New York Times as being “Hamas royalty‚” was shot three times and executed by the terror group over allegations of stealing and engaging in homosexual acts.

A TikTok debate is raging over showering after a creator on the site said she discovered that there are only two ways that people shower — and people immediately began weighing in on whether there’s a “right” way or an “unhinged” way. In a video posted by Alexandra Lee that’s since gone viral‚ the creator shared that she had recently discovered she and her mom shower differently — leaving both of them shocked‚ the New York Post reported. “It’s such a basic thing we all do‚ yet I never once actually thought about it‚” the 29-year-old from Southern California told The Post. “There’s definitely no ‘right’ way to shower but for some reason‚ we were both so surprised anyone would willingly choose to shower the other way‚” she added. Woman sparks debate about the ‘normal way’ to shower after realizing she and her mother are opposites – so which way do YOU do? https://t.co/8uhEVL1Kvk pic.twitter.com/dsfeTQRm1e — Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 12‚ 2023 “[It’s] definitely silly‚ but TikTok always surprises me‚” Lee continued. “You never know what will resonate with people‚ and it’s fun to post your random thoughts and find out so many other people feel similarly.” In the clip on social media‚ Lee said she felt like the “normal way” to shower is with the shower head behind you. “When I shower‚ the shower head is behind me so the water is on my hair and down my back‚” Lee said. She admitted she does “turn around occasionally‚” but that’s it. However‚ she said that when her mom showers‚ she’s “primarily facing the shower head.” Lee then asked if any of her followers were surprised to learn people showered differently and revealed that the whole debate had come about because she asked for advice about a bathroom remodel she was about to undertake. And the responses she got on TikTok were totally divided. “No because voluntarily getting waterboarded doesn’t sound fun at all‚” one person who faces away from the shower head said. “Who the hell faces the water …”another person added. “Facing the water is unhinged‚” a third commenter replied. While another person wrote‚ “I face the water the whole time other than washing my hair lol.” Then there were those who didn’t take one side or another over the heated shower debate and rather explained that they just keep moving. “I constantly move around like a rotisserie chicken! Equal time on both sides‚” one person said. Another added‚ “Constant rotation is the only way to do it.”

The four largest public sector unions spent nearly $700 million backing Democrats and leftist causes during last year’s elections‚ with nearly 60% of the funds coming from union dues‚ according to an analysis of spending by the Commonwealth Foundation. Of the $708.8 million spent on politics during the 2022 midterm elections by the National Education Association (NEA)‚ American Federation of Teachers (AFT)‚ American Federation of State‚ County‚ and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)‚ and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)‚ about 96% of the money went to Democrat political action committees or other leftist causes‚ the Commonwealth Foundation found. The four unions combined outspent the defense‚ transportation‚ and construction industries. “Any progressive organization that you can think of is probably getting something from the unions‚” Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow for Labor Policy David Osborne told The Daily Wire. Millions of union PAC dollars went toward leftist groups like For Our Future and dark money group the Sixteen Thirty Fund‚ as well as Democrat candidates like Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock and Pennsylvania Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro. While it’s no surprise that unions overwhelmingly back Democrats and Democrat causes‚ Osborne that many union members likely didn’t know how much their dues were being spent on the “pet political projects” of union leaders rather than representation for members. “What unions often try to hide is the fact that membership dues can also be used for politics‚” he said. “The union doesn’t really have to tell membership what it’s [the money] going to go to. Doesn’t have to take a vote on it. By and large‚ what they do is‚ take all that money and then shovel a bunch of it over to a super-PAC‚ sometimes it’s affiliated with the union so that they can do all kinds of political spending that members may never find out about.” According to the report‚ about 57% of the total money spent on politics by the unions came from union dues‚ while the rest came from state and federal PACs‚ which union members are encouraged to support. “When employees learn that their dues are being used to fund political projects‚ that’s a value in and of itself. There are some things they can do as individuals to cut off the funding if they desire‚” Osborne said. The biggest beneficiary of union dollars was Shapiro‚ who raked in about $4‚540‚000 million from the PACs during his campaign for office‚ the Commonwealth Foundation found. Osborne told The Daily Wire that this number was “absolutely shocking‚” pointing out that this amount was three times more than any other individual. Shapiro would later negotiate with members of both the local SEIU and AFSCME‚ which included an increase in pay and benefits for union members. Other top recipients of union money at the state level included California Attorney General Rob Bonta ($1‚297‚200)‚ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ($1‚179‚100)‚ and failed Texas gubernatorial and 2020 presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke ($990‚000). Courtesy: The Commonwealth Foundation. At the federal level‚ union PACs gave significantly to Warnock ($60‚500)‚ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ($50‚000)‚ and failed Senate candidates Mandela Barnes ($45‚000) and Tim Ryan ($42‚000). “In total‚ PACs tied to the four largest government unions contributed to 282 candidates for the House of Representatives. Of those‚ 273 were Democrats‚ seven were Republicans‚ one was a third-party candidate‚ and one was an independent‚” the report says. The report made note of the close ties between the unions and President Joe Biden‚ who has billed himself as the most “pro-union” president ever. “During the COVID-19 pandemic‚ Biden’s Centers for Disease Control directly adopted language suggestions from the AFT into the organization’s school reopening guidelines‚” the report notes. Text messages revealed earlier this year showed AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle texting with former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky about school reopening policies. Courtesy: The Commonwealth Foundation. A variety of Democrat-leaning PACs and leftist organizations also pulled in a significant amount of money from union spending. For example‚ the unions gave a whopping $29‚138‚171 to the SEIU Political Education and Action Fund‚ a PAC that primarily backs Democrats for federal office and $13 million to the State Engagement Fund‚ a Left-wing dark money group. The Senate Majority PAC and the House Majority PAC‚ which support Democratic majorities in Congress‚ both received millions of dollars from the union PACs. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The report found that the union political spending favored Democrats in every state but Alabama‚ Mississippi‚ South Dakota‚ Utah‚ and Wyoming. The states with the most union political spending were Illinois ($27.9 million)‚ California ($24.9)‚ Minnesota ($13.2 million)‚ Pennsylvania ($12.1 million)‚ and Washington ($7.5 million). “Armed with millions of members and numerous special privileges‚ the four largest unions have dedicated significant financial resources toward maintaining and expanding the legal structures from which they derive their power‚” the report says‚ pointing out that union-backed candidates performed well during the midterms‚ and states like California continue to expand union privileges. “Government unions use this power not only to advance leftist causes but also to elect political leaders who will protect their interests and influence. The result‚ unfortunately‚ is that federal‚ state‚ and local governments are increasingly led by politicians who care more about union executives than union members or taxpayers‚” Osborne said.

Digital publisher The Arena Group‚ which owns and operates Sports Illustrated and other major publications‚ announced this week that it had fired Sports Illustrated CEO Ross Levinsohn effective immediately. “Today‚ the board of directors of The Arena Group Holdings‚ Inc. (NYSE American: AREN) met and took actions to improve the operational efficiency and revenue of the company‚” the company said in a statement. “The board terminated the employment of CEO Ross Levinsohn‚ and named Manoj Bhargava as interim Chief Executive Officer‚ both effective today.” The company declined to go into further detail about what specifically led to Levinsohn’s removal and‚ when asked if it was related to a recent scandal involving the company allegedly publishing AI-generated content from fake authors‚ a spokesperson said: “We have nothing further to add to the company’s prior statements regarding A.I.” The Arena Group noted in its statement that it had also recently fired operations president and COO Andrew Kraft‚ media president Rob Barrett‚ and corporate counsel Julie Fenster. “All of the media brands‚ including Sports Illustrated‚ will continue to operate with the management of those verticals‚ while the company just takes a broad view of operations and how to improve the business overall‚” a company spokesperson told CNN. A report late last month from Futurism laid out examples of authors whose personas existed only on the website of the leading American sports magazine‚ which also allegedly used artificial intelligence to churn out articles. “The content is absolutely AI-generated‚” an anonymous source told Futurism. “No matter how much they say that it’s not.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP According to the outlet‚ Sports Illustrated listed a writer named “Drew Ortiz” — a white young-adult male with short brown hair and blue eyes who grew up in a farmhouse and enjoyed the greater outdoors. But the profile photo paired with Ortiz’s biography is a headshot listed for sale on a website that sells AI-generated photos. “There’s a lot‚” another source told Futurism. “I was like‚ what are they? This is ridiculous. This person does not exist.” “At the bottom [of the page] there would be a photo of a person and some fake description of them like‚ ‘Oh‚ John lives in Houston‚ Texas. He loves yard games and hanging out with his dog‚ Sam.’ Stuff like that. It’s just crazy.” TheStreet‚ another publication owned by The Arena Group‚ was also found to have allegedly engaged in similar practices‚ according to the report. When Futurism asked the magazine’s publisher‚ The Arena Group‚ for comment‚ the company did not respond immediately.

A woman who was denied an abortion in Texas for her unborn baby with a fetal anomaly has left the state to obtain an abortion elsewhere‚ her attorneys said Monday. The Texas Supreme Court on Monday ruled against Kate Cox‚ 31‚ saying that a lower court was wrong to rule that she was entitled to a medical exception abortion. By then‚ though‚ Cox had already left Texas. “After a week of legal whiplash and threats of persecution from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‚ Kate Cox has been forced to leave Texas to get healthcare outside of the state‚” the Center for Reproductive Rights‚ which is representing Cox‚ said in a statement. Cox’s legal team had argued that the baby has a fatal fetal condition and that continuing the pregnancy threatens Cox’s future fertility. Cox‚ who has two other children‚ was more than 20 weeks pregnant with a baby who had a condition called trisomy 18‚ which involves having an extra chromosome 18 and can cause abnormalities like heart defects. About 95% of trisomy 18 pregnancies result in a miscarriage. However‚ some babies do survive past birth and can live into their toddler years‚ teen years‚ or even longer. A woman believed to be one of the oldest people with the condition lived to 40. Texas law allows for abortions only when a pregnancy seriously threatens the life of the woman or carries “a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The Supreme Court wrote in its ruling that Cox’s doctor “asked a court to pre-authorize the abortion yet she could not‚ or at least did not‚ attest to the court that Ms. Cox’s condition poses the risks the exception requires.” Cox’s attorneys argued that she needed a dilation and evacuation (D&;E) abortion because going through vaginal labor would risk uterine rupture due to her two previous C-sections. Another C-section birth would make future pregnancies higher risk and potentially damage her fertility‚ Cox’s doctors told her‚ according to court documents. Cox had also been to the emergency room several times during her pregnancy for symptoms including cramping and discharge. “No one disputes that Ms. Cox’s pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn (fatal condition) diagnosis. Some difficulties in pregnancy‚ however‚ even serious ones‚ do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses‚” the Texas Supreme Court wrote in its ruling. The court also called on the Texas Medical Board to provide further guidance on the state’s abortion ban. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‚ a Republican‚ previously warned that doctors or hospitals who performed Cox’s abortion could face criminal prosecution. The attorney general’s office argued in a court filing that Cox is only seeking the abortion because of her child’s diagnosis. “Future criminal and civil proceedings cannot restore the life that is lost if Plaintiffs or their agents proceed to perform and procure an abortion in violation of Texas law‚” the filing stated.

A model who once earned the title of Italy’s “most beautiful man” said that he’s leaving the modeling world behind because he’s been called to a higher power: God. In a video posted on Instagram‚ Edoardo Santini‚ told his thousands of followers that “at 21 years of age‚ I find myself on the path toward becoming a priest‚ God willing‚” Fox News reported. “I’ve decided to give up modeling work‚ acting and dance‚ but I won’t abandon my passions‚ I’ll just live them differently‚” he added‚ noting that he will be now “offering” his passions “to God.” Young Edoardo Santini‚ considered “the most handsome man in Italy‚” has decided to leave his promising career as a model and enter a seminary to become a priest. Dancer‚ swimmer‚ actor — these were a few of the dreams of Santini‚ a 21-year-old Italian who in 2019 when he was 17… pic.twitter.com/K3lTxkxUsg — Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) December 8‚ 2023 Santini wrote about how he had “discovered the real Church‚ which I thought was dead‚” the Times UK noted. “They have given me the strength to investigate this question that I’ve taken with me from childhood but various fears stopped me from studying it at a deeper level‚” the model said‚ the Daily Mail noted. “Last year‚ I took the first step.” He revealed that a year ago he had gone to live with two priests‚ calling it “the most beautiful experience of my life.” “Obviously‚ some people talk about me behind my back‚ some people have no problem telling me I have let them down‚ both inside and outside my family‚ but others are supporting me‚ believers and non-believers‚” Santini shared. “Will I become a priest? I don’t know‚ I am here to discover‚” he added. “But I have taken the step that terrorized me‚ that stopped me finally being myself. I am ready to say I made a mistake.” Santini has entered Seminary and this week started the work studying theology and serving two parishes‚ Fox News noted. He’s also changed his profile description on social media to read‚ “I’m a Christian‚ priest wannabe‚” the outlet noted. The news comes as the Italian model‚ whose career really kicked off at age 17‚ recently started using his social media platform to ask questions of faith‚ rather than to promote his career and projects. Related: Shia LaBeouf Shares Major Update With Fans About His Conversion To Catholicism

Hamas terrorists could be seen in recent videos riding on top of the humanitarian aid trucks as they were driving into Gaza‚ fully armed and pointing their weapons at civilians in the street below. Other reports in recent weeks have raised the widespread concern that those aid trucks — which are supposed to be delivering food‚ medicines‚ and other supplies to civilians — were at risk of being confiscated by Hamas and never being delivered to the citizens of Gaza. “Hamas gunmen on top of aid trucks that have entered the Gaza Strip shoot at Palestinian civilians‚” Joe Truzman‚ a “research analyst focusing on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East‚” captioned the video he posted on X. Hamas gunmen on top of aid trucks that have entered the Gaza Strip shoot at Palestinian civilians. pic.twitter.com/WxmmvjT2Mx — Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) December 12‚ 2023 Aviva Klompas shared the same video‚ adding‚ “This is outrageous. The world demands that Israel send humanitarian aid into Gaza for Palestinian civilians and as quickly as it’s sent in‚ it’s stolen by Hamas. Here you see their gunmen standing on top of aid trucks aiming their weapons at people on the street.” UNRWA‚ the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees‚ called for additional aid to Gaza on Monday‚ saying‚ “Too many people haven’t eaten now for two‚ three days in the #GazaStrip @UNRWA colleagues are doing everything they can with what little they have – but food‚ water and fuel are being systematically used as weapons of war in #Gaza. Hunger stalks everyone.” “Too many people haven't eaten now for two‚ three days in the #GazaStrip”@UNRWA colleagues are doing everything they can with what little they have – but food‚ water and fuel are being systematically used as weapons of war in📍#Gaza Hunger stalks everyone. https://t.co/PU3WcVuxOP — UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 11‚ 2023 “@UNRWA is complaining about the lack of food and water in Gaza. They conveniently leave out that on multiple occasions Hamas has been caught stealing the humanitarian aid. Why doesn’t @UNRWA speak to their Hamas friends about getting aid to people in Gaza?” Chaya Raichik asked. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP .@UNRWA is complaining about the lack of food and water in Gaza. They conveniently leave out that on multiple occasions Hamas has been caught stealing the humanitarian aid. Why doesn’t @UNRWA speak to their Hamas friends about getting aid to people in Gaza? https://t.co/V2B10rLNDW pic.twitter.com/DqP6HY85YA — Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) December 11‚ 2023 “It would probably help a lot if Hamas didn’t literally keep stealing aid truck after aid truck instead of letting people use the aid‚” John Hawkins agreed. It would probably help a lot if Hamas didn't literally keep stealing aid truck after aid truck instead of letting people use the aid. https://t.co/MQjEMi5tdW — John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) December 12‚ 2023 Other reports have shown that when civilians attempt to rush the aid trucks — in an effort to get food and water before Hamas terrorists have the chance to steal it — gunmen open fire on them. “Today in Gaza: Residents ambush the aid trucks entering the Rafah crossing to get food and water before they reach the Red Crescent warehouses‚ where they claim aid is distributed only to ‘close associates‚'” Yoni Michanie posted on December 4. “Hamas operatives opened fire to keep them away.” Today in Gaza: Residents ambush the aid trucks entering the Rafah crossing to get food and water before they reach the Red Crescent warehouses‚ where they claim aid is distributed only to "close associates." Hamas operatives opened fire to keep them away. pic.twitter.com/C1mBjX99aU — Yoni Michanie (@YoniMichanie) December 4‚ 2023