THE SHOW NOTES: Anti-Semitic University Presidents, Women Should Lose To Men Gracefully, & Biden's Intern Problem

Welcome! The NCAA is proposing that student-athletes get paid.

BREAKING: Kevin McCarthy is leaving Congress. - CNBC

HEADLINE: Biden says he's "not sure" he'd be running for reelection if Trump weren't - CBS

LOL: White House interns demand a Middle East cease-fire in letter to Biden - NBC

TONIGHT: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy will debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at 8 PM.

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Anti-Semitic University Presidents

The presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania participated in a congressional hearing to address surging instances of antisemitism on college campuses. When Rep. Elise Stefanik asked each of them if calling for the genocide of Jews violated their university’s code of conduct regarding bullying or harassment, each president said no. Stefanik was so dumbfounded by their response that she posed the question again.

The fallout has been swift. Multiple high-profile individuals have spoken out against the comments.

Bill Ackman: “Throughout the hearing, the three behaved like hostile witnesses exhibiting a profound disdain for the Congress with their smiles and smirks, and their outright refusal to answer basic questions with a yes or no answer… They should resign in disgrace.”

Piers Morgan: “Astounding, shameful and so enlightening as to why campuses have become a hotbed of anti-Semitism. They should all resign.”

Sara Eisen: “Where are Harvard Board members? Any comment, Penny Pritzker, Ken Chenault?”

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro: The University of Pennsylvania president’s response was "unacceptable" & "failed leadership."

Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar: "There is no justification." “Wait till they're dead, I guess.”

Dave Portnoy: This video is so shocking I can’t even believe it. The deans of Harvard, Penn, and MIT refuse to agree that calling for the murder of all Jews is against their code of conduct.

Hours earlier, Eyal Yakoby - a Jewish student at the University of Pennsylvania - described in detail how he and others “sought refuge in our rooms as classmates and professors chanted proudly for the genocide of Jews. "

Women Should Lose Gracefully

A Democratic witness in a congressional hearing said that women should learn to lose gratefully when competing against biological males.

Venezuela

President Nicolas Maduro is purportedly moving forward with plans to take over Essequibo, an oil-rich region of neighboring Guyana. The move has sent shockwaves across South America that have escalated military activity across Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname.

Context: The news follows Sunday’s ballot initiative where voters overwhelmingly backed Maduro’s push to invade its oil-rich neighbor. While less than 10% of the population voted on Sunday, the Venezuelan initiative would be viewed more aptly as a response to the cratering economy and soaring inflation that has engulfed the country since Maduro took power.

Sanctions: International sanctions reigned down on Venezuela after Maduro was elected in 2018 for widespread human rights abuses. However, Biden’s White House was poised to lift the sanctions in favor of or increase in oil sales to the US and the release of key US citizens wrongly detained in Caracas. However, Maduro missed a key deadline in the release of two US prisoners.

The U.S. Can Afford a Bigger Military. We Just Can’t Build It.

When the Center for Strategic and International Studies simulated a war between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, the wargame ended with Taiwan still free, at grievous cost. The U.S. loses two aircraft carriers and up to 20 destroyers and cruisers; China sees more than 50 major surface warships sunk.

What looks like a draw, though, becomes a Chinese victory before long. As Eric Labs, a navy analyst for the Congressional Budget Office explains, China can replace lost ships far more quickly. In the past two years, its navy has grown by 17 cruisers and destroyers; it would take the U.S. six years to build the same number under current conditions, he said.

…

Intensifying security challenges from the western Pacific to Ukraine to the Middle East have fueled debate over whether the U.S. can afford a bigger military. In fact, the more pressing question is whether it can build one—when its principal adversary possesses vast industrial capacity. 

Full story at The Wall Street Journal (paywall)

Intelligence report warns of rising foreign terror threats

A new joint bulletin from the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to local, state and federal law enforcement warns that groups like al Qaeda and ISIS will likely use the Israel-Hamas war "to increase calls for violence in the U.S. during the holiday season compared to prior years." It says the most likely "primary targets" could include churches, synagogues and members of the Jewish community.

With the Israeli military bearing down on southern Gaza and Hanukkah only days away, the new intelligence report reviewed by CBS News warns of increased threats from foreign terrorist groups. It mirrors FBI Director Christopher Wray's testimony Tuesday on Capitol Hill, during which he told the Senate Judiciary Committee, "I see blinking lights everywhere I turn," in response to a question from Sen. Lindsey Graham about possible warning signs.

Full story from Catherine Herridge at CBS.

DeSantis Campaign in Turmoil Ahead of Republican Primary Voting

Never Back Down leadership has been in disarray in recent weeks, with three top officials leaving in rapid succession. The group’s chief executive officer Chris Jankowski resigned in late November. Since then, the super PAC’s chairman Adam Laxalt left, followed by interim chief executive officer Kristin Davison, who departed days after being appointed to the top job. Wagner is the third CEO of the group within the past month. One of Never Back Down’s top communications staffers, Erin Perrine, also left the group over the weekend.

The personnel turmoil did not stop there.

Florida-based lobbyists, with close ties to DeSantis’ campaign manager James Uthmeier, and one of DeSantis’ state government advisers have formed a new super PAC called “Fight Right” to handle advertising. DeSantis and his team have been unhappy with Never Back Down’s attacks on Nikki Haley, the governor’s chief rival for second place in the Republican field.

Full story at Bloomberg (paywall)

Trending news:

• Calls for ‘balance’ blunt the horrific human toll of rape and destruction in Israel-Hamas war - CNN

• China’s Xi goes full Stalin with purge - Politico

• Amid planned protests, Gov. Newsom won't hold public Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony - KCRA

• Where Free Speech Ends and Lawbreaking Begins - The Free Press

• Gallup study finds parents' political ideology plays a significant role in adolescent mental health - Fox News

• Liz Cheney says she's ready to consider a third party, warns of 'grave' threat of Trump-led GOP - USA Today

• ‘World first’: Chinese scientists create high-power microwave weapon for small drones - SCMP

• Freed Hamas Hostages Were Sexually Assaulted in Captivity: Doctor - The Messenger

• WHO says time to hike alcohol, sugary drinks tax - Medical Express

• U.S. to Deny Visas to Violent Israeli Settlers and Some West Bank Palestinians - NYT (paywall)

Market snapshot: