Feds Use Bank Loophole To Surveil Americans’ Financial Data Without Warrants, House Judiciary Says

(Worthy Insights) – Federal law enforcement exploited the Suspicious Activity Report system to access and surveil Americans’ private financial data without warrants or probable cause, according to a report from the House Judiciary Committee.

The FBI “manipulated” the SAR filing process by pressuring banks to file reports on individuals the FBI deems “suspicious,” making financial institutions “de facto arms of law enforcement,” the interim report released Friday said. SARs do not require any legal process, granting officials “virtually unchecked access” to “confidential and highly sensitive information.”

The Republican-led oversight committee accused the FBI of circumventing the Bank Secrecy Act, which specifies that it is a bank’s responsibility to file a SAR when it identifies a “suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

Bible Sales Explode, Beat Average Book Sales Growth by Whopping 2,100 Percent

(Worthy Insights) – New sales of the “Good Book,” the Bible, grew 21 times more than new book sales overall this year.

The Wall Street Journal reported, “Bible sales are up 22% in the U.S. through the end of October, compared with the same period last year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. By contrast, total U.S. print book sales were up less than 1% in that period.”

If we compare those numbers to each other, the Bible outpaced the average of those sales by 21 times, or a staggering 2,100 percent. [ Source: Western Journal (Read More…) ]

Satanic Temple Offering Religious Class to Ohio Elementary Children

(Worthy Insights) – Not to be outdone by Christians, a group of self-described “non-theistic satanists” are offering elementary-age students at a public school in Ohio the chance to participate in a class hosted by The Satanic Temple.

The program, named “Hellion Academy of Independent Learning,” or “HAIL” for short, will be offered to children at Edgewood Elementary School in the Marysville School District, WSYX-TV reported.

Edgewood is not the first school to offer the class as part of its release time religious instruction program. An elementary school in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, is offering the HAIL program, too. [ Source: CBN News (Read More…) ]

‘This Could Redraw the Map of the Middle East’: How Assad’s Struggles in Syria Reflect a Weakened Iran

(Worthy Insights) – With Hezbollah decimated, Iran significantly weakened, and Russia preoccupied with its war on Ukraine, Syrian opposition forces enjoyed ripe conditions for the surprise offensive they launched last week. Those forces are closer than ever to deposing dictator Bashar al-Assad, experts told the Washington Free Beacon, emphasizing the Iranian regime’s ever-loosening grip on the Middle East.

The reignited Syrian war, which has dragged on for 13 years, will pose fresh challenges for the incoming Trump administration as it grapples with a Middle East already inflamed by a year of war between Israel and Iran-backed forces across the region. It is this very conflict, regional analysts and former U.S. national security officials say, that set the stage for Syria’s armed rebel forces to reclaim Aleppo, a key stronghold, and set their sites on the capital city, Damascus.

The key player in the coming battle for control of Syria is Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is backing anti-Assad forces and likely played a role in initiating their stunning offensive. These forces are primarily composed of Islamist militias controlled by Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham, a U.S.-designated terror group. On the other side is Assad, a brutal dictator who relies on support from Iran and Russia. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Attacks in Aleppo ‘ostensibly good news for Israel,’ JISS senior research fellow says

(Worthy Insights) – The Islamist attack on Aleppo is “ostensibly good news for Israel,” Daniel Rakov, a senior research fellow for the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said in a Saturday post to X/Twitter.

Rakov is known in the JISS for being an expert on Russian policy in the Middle East and is also a reserve lieutenant-colonel in the IDF. In his post on X, he said that “the fall of northern Syria to the rebels damages the infrastructure of the Iranians and Hezbollah there and will make it difficult for them to work to restore Hezbollah.”

Syrian President Bashar “Assad will be more defensive, and as he fights for the survival of his regime, ostensibly helping Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon are of secondary interest,” Rakov said, implying that Israeli freedom of action in Syria will likely expand. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Sanhedrin Announces Ruling: All Jews Worldwide Must Come Home to Israel Immediately

(Worthy Insights) – The nascent Sanhedrin in Jerusalem has made an official ruling, calling on Jews outside of Israel to come home.

“We are the beis din (rabbinic court) of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), and we have poskened (officially ruled) that all Jews around the world have an obligation and chiyuv (religious requirement) right now to do whatever is in your power, to come to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), and that is the mitzvah of Torah (Biblical requirement). And that is the mitzvah of today, especially because of what’s happening around the world and the dangers that all the Jews are in around the world. It’s necessary now more than ever to come to Eretz Yisrael, and we as a beis din have poskened that all the Jews have to come as soon as they can back to eretz Yisrael.”

The Sanhedrin’s ruling was intended for Jews worldwide, so it was recorded in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, French, and Spanish.

UN adviser fired over refusal to label Gaza war as genocide, WSJ argues

(Worthy Insights) – An op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal editorial board titled “The UN’s anti-Israel ‘genocide’ purge” claims the United Nations’ decision not to renew Alice Wairimu Nderitu’s contract as Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide stems directly from her refusal to characterize Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide.

“The United Nations long ago lost credibility as a moral arbiter, but its assault on Israel is hitting a new low,” the op-ed began.

The editorial board quotes her UN biography, which describes her as a “recognized voice in the field of peacebuilding and violence prevention.” She has served since 2020 and is being dismissed “because she has stood firm in her belief that Israel’s war with Hamas isn’t genocide.” They note that her position has put her at odds with “the anti-Israel cabal at the UN.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

Anti-Israel Groups Plan Coordinated Protests in ‘Global Escalation’ Over Thanksgiving Holiday

(Worthy Insights) – A coalition of radical anti-Israel groups is planning a “global escalation” in dozens of cities across the United States throughout the Thanksgiving holiday season.

The “Global Escalation” coalition describes itself as “a collective effort from people who share the understanding that we must urgently step up our actions to stop this genocide.” It directs activists to protest in their area and provides resources on how to organize and improve their security strategies. Some of the cities listed include New York, Chicago, Sacramento, Denver, and Charleston.

“We reject a world where genocide and war crimes go unpunished. In 3 days, for 3 days, withdraw from participating in the global economy to reject this new ‘normal,’” the coalition posted Sunday on Instagram. “Disrupt any and all entities that allow or enable genocide. Disrupt the finances fuelling or profiting from genocide.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

Elon Musk, Ramaswamy signal intention to defund Planned Parenthood

(Worthy Insights) – The leaders of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency have indicated that funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider may be on the chopping block as they seek to make drastic reductions to government spending.

Billionaire Elon Musk and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discussed their plans as Trump put them in charge of the new department in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal published Wednesday.

Stressing that they intend to serve as “outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees,” Musk and Ramaswamy highlighted their plans to assist “the Trump transition team to identify and hire a lean team of small-government crusaders, including some of the sharpest technical and legal minds in America.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

Justin Trudeau Vows to Arrest Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu if He Sets Foot on Canadian Soil

(Worthy Insights) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot on Canadian soil.

Earlier in the day, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, saying in a news release regarding the war in Gaza, “[T]here are reasonable grounds to believe that each has committed the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, as a direct perpetrator, acting jointly with others.

“The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that they are each responsible for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilians as a superior.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

Will Israel apply martial law in Gaza?

(Worthy Insights) – Israel appears to be on its way to realizing the idea of ​​a military administration in the Gaza Strip. In view of actions on the ground, it seems that Israel has increased its activity toward implementation of the move. Netanyahu’s senior coalition members, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have already expressed their opinion on the matter countless times, but now things seem to be getting a push on the ground. Ynet has learned that, in the last few days, the security establishment is beginning to actively work with external companies that will handle all humanitarian aid issues in the Gaza Strip, under Israeli supervision.

This is the realization on the ground of plans that previously were only on paper. In addition, the IDF has deepened its seizure of territory in the Gaza Strip, expanding the axes it holds and establishing military outposts seemingly in order to seize a wide area and apply military administration in practice in the Gaza Strip. In recent days, lively discussions have been held on the issue between the various parties, including new Defense Minister Israel Katz, senior members of the defense establishment and other senior ministers, in order to promote the policy. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Huckabee: Biden administration ‘put far more pressure on Israel than on Hamas’ (Video)

(Worthy Insights) – U.S. ambassador-designate to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized the Biden administration’s approach to Israel on Tuesday, accusing it of applying more pressure on the Jewish state than on its adversaries.

“We’ve put far more pressure, with Joe Biden, on Israel than we have on Hamas, Hezbollah and most importantly, the people who write those checks—the Iranians,” Huckabee told Fox News in an interview, describing the White House’s policy toward Israel as “schizophrenic.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

 

Trump Would Be Wise To Deliver Regime Change in Iran

(Worthy Insights) – Now that Donald Trump has secured his remarkable victory in the US presidential election, supporting regime change in Iran could soon emerge as one of his new administration’s top priorities after he takes office in January.

Trump’s no-nonsense approach to confronting the ayatollahs’ malign influence in the region was one of the defining characteristics during his first term in the White House.

One of his more laudable foreign policy initiatives was to withdraw from the flawed nuclear deal with Iran agreed by former President Barack Obama in 2015. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Iranian lawmaker: Time to match US, Israel’s nuclear arsenal – analysis

(Worthy Insights) – Iran should change its nuclear policy and develop “any weapon that creates deterrence,” Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian said.

Regional reports see this as a reference to Iran pursuing nuclear weapons. “Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian has underscored the need for a shift in the country’s nuclear policy to ensure deterrence against enemies, saying Tehran must be equipped with weapons possessed by the US and Israel,” Iranian IRNA state media said.

“The Iranian nation must equip itself with all the weapons that its terrorist enemies, namely the US and Israel, possess,” Nabavian said, according to Iran International on Sunday. [ Source (Read More…) ]

‘God of Darkness’ asteroid will pass so close it is expected to get ‘the shakes’

(Worthy Insights) – A recent study led by Ronald-Louis Ballouz from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory suggests that the asteroid 99942 Apophis may experience tremors—similar to earthquakes—due to Earth’s gravitational pull during its close flyby on April 13, 2029, with simulations indicating significant surface changes. Apophis, approximately 340 meters in size, will pass within about 32,000 kilometers of Earth, closer than many satellites in orbit.

When Apophis was discovered on June 19, 2004, by Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi during the University of Hawaii Asteroid Survey (UHAS), initial calculations indicated that it could approach Earth with a risk of collision, especially during its pass in 2029. It didn’t help that it is named after the Egyptian god of darkness and chaos.

At the time of its discovery, Apophis was considered the potentially “most dangerous” asteroid for Earth due to a possible impact that could kill millions of people. However, additional research allowed scientists to rule out the possibility of impact in 2029 and 2036, and calculations now show no impact risk for at least the next 100 years. [ Source (Read More…) ]

51 Biden laptop deniers in danger of losing security clearances; letter falsely accused Russia

(Worthy Insights) – Several Republican lawmakers want Congress to strip the security clearances of dozens of former U.S. intelligence officials who worked against President Trump in 2020 by asserting that information in the laptop of Hunter Biden was likely Russian disinformation.

Republicans have called for accountability from the 51 intelligence officials who were accused of helping Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden, Mr. Trump’s opponent in 2020, by issuing a joint letter stating that the information in the laptop bore the hallmarks of an operation by Moscow.

Hunter Biden is the president’s oft-troubled son, and the FBI later verified the authenticity of the scandalous material in the laptop. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Quiet coup drags Bibi to court during war

(Worthy Insights) – Establishment powers in Israel have decided to join the seven-front war against the Jewish state by targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In addition to managing the war, the premier will be held in court for seven hours a day in a courthouse unprotected from rocket fire and drone attacks.

Sounds crazy? It is. Worst of all, the deep state is attacking Netanyahu and the right-wing government on other fronts as well. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Trump Triumph Complete: CNN Ratings Drop 94% After Declaring War on Incoming President

(Worthy Insights) – If you examine cable news viewership trends closely enough, you will find reasons for both satisfaction and discouragement.

Nonetheless, satisfaction prevails when one contemplates the totality of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over his establishment antagonists at CNN.

To quantify that victory, consider that since the network began its ill-fated crusade against Trump in 2016, the former kings and queens of prime-time cable news at CNN have hemorrhaged 94 percent of their viewing audience, per the U.K.’s Daily Mail. [ Source (Read More…) ]

Incoming Trump admin is eyeing new immigrant detention centers near major U.S. cities

(Worthy Insights) – The incoming Trump administration is considering locations and talking to private prison companies about drastically expanding immigrant detention centers that would hold immigrants before they are deported as part of President-elect Donald Trump’s promised mass deportation plan, two sources familiar with the planning told NBC News.

The goal is to double the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds — 41,000 are now allocated by Congress — to hold vast numbers of migrants for short periods of time while they await deportation after their arrests inside the U.S., the sources said.

The plan would also include restarting the policy of detaining parents with their children, known as family detention, which immigration advocates have criticized and the Biden administration stopped in 2021, the sources said. [ Source (Read More…) ]