Katie Britt urges women to get cancer screenings
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) recognized that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, Britt encouraged women to talk to their healthcare providers, get screened, and learn more about the benefits of regular screening and potential risk factors for the disease. “This month is not only important to raise awareness of breast cancer across America, but it is also a time to recommit ourselves to doing the critical work to provide women and their families with the support and evidence-based solutions needed to get diagnosed and then face their diagnosis head-on,” said Sen. Britt. “We know that early detection saves lives, and the importance of giving women the widest variety of treatment options and the best chance to defeat this disease cannot be understated. I want to encourage every woman to talk to their healthcare provider this month – getting screened is the best way to detect breast cancer early. I will continue to support breast cancer research, education, and prevention efforts as we work towards a cure for this disease.” Katie Britt is a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. In this capacity, she is working to provide women across Alabama and America with greater access to diagnostic testing. Last month, Britt and Sen. Jean Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) reintroduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would eliminate copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests, making them more accessible and affordable. In May of this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a recommendation statement that all women should begin screening for breast cancer every other year beginning at age 40. Previously, the USPSTF recommended starting tests a decade later, but given the rise in invasive breast cancer among younger women, the agency updated its recommendation to increase the likelihood of early detection. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama states that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, including an estimated 4,500 women in Alabama in 2023. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the breast cancer rate for Alabama women is 122.0 per 100,000. 3,959 cases were reported in 2020 alone. Nationally, breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women and the second most common killer – trailing only lung cancer. Breast cancer accounts for Breast cancer accounts for 31 percent of all cancers in women, according to the American Cancer Society. Nearly 300,000 women will likely be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. It will likely kill about 43,000 of them. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer rates have increased by about 0.5 percent per year since the mid-2000s. A study published in JAMA Network Open in August showed all cancers are on the rise for younger women, particularly those younger than 50. If detected early, breast cancer has a 96% survival rate. Katie Brit was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Charlotte Meadows: Parent’s rights should be protected in public libraries and schools
My world changed on September 18, 2020, when our first granddaughter was born. Every day since has been brighter and filled with anticipation of our next visit with her and hope for her future. We’ve had many opportunities for her to take me places; one of those was to the Mt Laurel library for children’s story hour. I say “she took me” because we wandered around the parking lot for about 10 minutes before I told her to take me to story time, and she took my hand and led me to the back of the parking area. We wandered in and innocently took seats in the story time circle. She was ecstatic to greet her friends and participate in the playtime and storybook reading. I was just happy that she was content to be with me and away from her mom. This story ends well because OUR local library didn’t have anything inappropriate for my two-year-old that day, and this grandma escaped from having inadvertently exposed a two-year-old to something truly horrible. But it may have been a different story if I had chosen to go to the next closest library. North Shelby County Library on Cahaba Valley Road had an LBGTQ display in the middle of the children’s section this summer. That’s right, the section designed for our youngest and most impressionable human beings! The ones with the least ability to make decisions for themselves and the ones who are in the greatest need to be protected by the adults in their lives. Why would the adults in this library do anything to expose babies to books with such a pronounced social goal? Have you ever uttered a bad word in front of a child just learning to talk? How soon before they repeat it back to you? Does anybody believe that children aren’t paying attention to every little thing around them? Of course, they are, and it is up to the parents, grandparents, and other caring adults in their lives to keep them safe in a world that is becoming increasingly more confusing and more difficult to navigate. Can we, as a society, agree that some topics are too complex and difficult for children, especially pre-school ones? I am not suggesting banning books of any kind. But common sense demands that we not expose children to topics beyond their ability to understand. Children thankfully don’t perceive race or sexual activity until a much older age and should not have to deal with the intricacies of sexual relationships, much less transitioning to another gender until they are more mature. Parents are the adults who understand their children the best and have the responsibility to determine the right time for those subjects. The adults in Shelby County, particularly those in the library system, should be required to file any potentially confusing texts in an area of the library where children do not have access without the direct supervision of a parent. Furthermore, local libraries need to be compelled by law to keep age-inappropriate material out of the children’s section. School libraries should be required to do the same. Parents should feel safe sending their children to any public library and know that they will not be exposed to topics they aren’t ready to introduce to their child. I believe that the rights of parents are paramount. To preserve liberty in our society, we should all be opposed to censorship and discrimination in whatever form it takes. We don’t want the government to tell us what we can and can’t read. But ultimately, this is an issue of who has the duty to determine what is best for their children: the parents or the state. Whether it’s books that obviously have a social agenda in a library, the curriculum in their school, or even which school they attend, all parents have the right and responsibility to choose what is best for their children. Charlotte Meadows was a State Representative for District 74 from 2019-2022. She is also a former Montgomery Public School Board of Education member and a current Board Chair for the LEAD Academy. Meadows is a mother of three and has three grandchildren.
Reps. Robert Aderholt and Dale Strong endorse Jim Jordan
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could be the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives as early as Tuesday. A floor event is expected as early as Tuesday afternoon. Jordan is the Republican Party nominee for Speaker of the House, but will 217 Republicans vote for him? All six of Alabama’s Republican Congressmen are supporting Jordan. On Monday, Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for the sometimes polarizing Jordan. “From day 1, I’ve called for a conservative Speaker who will prioritize fighting Biden’s failed policies,” Strong said on X. “From cutting spending, to securing our border— the American people want Congress to get to work. Jim Jordan is the right man to lead our conference as Speaker of the House.” Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) also publicly announced he is backing Jordan. “I told @Jim_Jordan on Friday that I fully support him to be the 56th Speaker of the House,” Aderholt announced X. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) made national headlines on Friday when he announced his angry opposition to Jordan’s bid for the Speaker’s gavel. Less than 48 hours later, Rogers flipped his vote from never Jordan to being a supporter. On Monday, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) came out and urged Republicans to get behind Jordan to end this chaos in Congress. “It’s one thing to get elected. It’s another thing to govern,” McCarthy said. “It’s time to get the House out of this tailspin, come together, and get America back on the right track. @Jim_Jordan can do it.” The previous nominee, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), failed to cobble together the 217 votes needed to win the seat and withdrew rather than being rejected in a floor vote. McCarthy lost 15 floor votes before being selected in June. McCarthy was ultimately toppled when eight disgruntled Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy as Speaker. While Jordan appears to have united the Republican Conference, it only takes a handful of GOP holdouts to undo his bid, given the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. If he wins, it could take multiple rounds of voting for Jordan to win the Speakership. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02), who has been an outspoken supporter of Jordan, is eager for the House to vote. “I look forward to casting my vote for Jim Jordan as the 56th Speaker of the House tomorrow,” Rep. Moore said on X Monday. “Let’s get this done and get back to work for the American people.” Congressmen Gary Palmer (R-AL06) and Jerry Carl (R-AL01) both are also publicly backing Jordan. Whoever is elected as Speaker will be immediately confronted with enormous problems within a very short period. Congress failed to pass a budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which began on October 1. The federal government is operating on a 45-day continuing resolution (C.R.). Congress has until November 14 to send either a budget or another C.R. to President Joe Biden’s desk that he will sign or face a partial government shutdown in an increasingly shaky economy. This side trip into Washington power politics has also left the armed forces in a lurch. Not only is the military operating without a budget, but both Houses have passed competing versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is stuck in a conference committee while the military faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, and Iran. In his role as House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jordan has been focused on investigating Biden’s administration and his son Hunter Biden’s questionable financial dealings. Those investigations and a possible impeachment of the President and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have moved to the background while the Congress has been engulfed in its power struggle. If Jordan is selected as Speaker, his role will change from being the House GOP’s chief prosecutor to its chief negotiator with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Biden. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Bryan Taylor qualifies for Chief Justice
Former State Senator Bryan Taylor (R-Prattville) formally qualified with the Alabama Republican Party for the office of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court on Monday. In a statement, Bryan contrasted his record with his opponent, Associate Justice Sarah Stewart. Incumbent Chief Justice Tom Parker (R) is barred from running for another term due to a provision in Alabama law that limits judges from running after their 70th birthday. The Legislature has not imposed similar restrictions on other constitutional officers like the Governor or themselves. Taylor is a former Alabama Republican Party legal counsel and a former legal counsel to Governors Bob Riley and Kay Ivey. “The Republican voters of this state deserve the chance to make an informed decision on who will lead our judicial system,” Taylor said. “Justice Stewart and I have different experiences, different judicial philosophies, and different visions for the future of our court system.” Taylor challenged Stewart to a debate. “Today, I call on Sarah Stewart to join me for an honest discussion of those topics so the voters of Alabama can decide who is most qualified to be our next chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court,” Taylor said. “Sarah Stewart is the establishment candidate. I’m the conservative alternative with a proven record of defending the Constitution.” “I am a lifelong conservative Republican,” Taylor said at a campaign event in Shelby County last week. “Sarah Stewart can’t hide behind her robe anymore, pretending to be a conservative Republican,” said Taylor. “As a circuit judge, she had a liberal record on the bench. Sarah Stewart’s campaigns for the Supreme Court have been bankrolled by hundreds of thousands of dollars from plaintiffs’ trial lawyers and liberal Democrats. She has arguably been the most liberal justice on the Supreme Court,” stated Taylor. “We need a reliably conservative chief justice who will always stand on the truth and stand up to the weaponization of our justice system. I’m not going to let liberal special interests hijack our Republican primary.” “I am from Hoover. I went to Berry High School,” Taylor said. “I went to the University of Alabama on a full Army ROTC scholarship. I went to law school at the University of Texas. I graduated in 2001, just before 9/11. I entered the active duty Army. I served four years in the Judge Advocate Corps. I served in Iraq for a year. I did a deployment in Honduras.” As a freshman state senator, Taylor spearheaded the passage of sweeping reforms to strengthen Alabama’s ethics laws, led the charge to repeal the legislature’s pay raise, and fought for fiscal conservatism in state budgeting. As chairman of the Senate Constitution & Elections Committee, Taylor advanced legislation to curb election fraud and improve election integrity, such as the law that requires voters to show a photo ID at the polls. Taylor is a co-founding member of the law firm of Bachus Brom & Taylor, LLC. He concentrates his practice on Constitutional law, appellate law, election law, business law and business litigation, and public policy. Taylor lives in Shelby County with his three children. They attend Double Oak Community Church. Taylor is the former spouse of congressional and U.S. Senate candidate Jessica Taylor. The major party primary is on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday. Biden is traveling to Israel following the deadly terrorist attacks on the country by the terrorist group Hamas, which is occupying the Gaza Strip. Biden will travel to Tel Aviv to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials ahead of an anticipated Israeli incursion in force into the heavily populated Gaza City. The attacks by land, sea, and air have killed at least thirty Americans. Thirteen Americans remain unaccounted for. The White House has said that some Americans are being held hostage. More than 1,300 Israelis were killed and over 2,800 were wounded. At least 150 are believed to be prisoners of Hamas. Biden will discuss issues including American citizens and others unable to leave Gaza, information about the hostages held by Hamas, civilian causalities, and providing humanitarian assistance. Biden will then travel from Tel Aviv to Amman, Jordan on Wednesday to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Biden Administration has expressed concerns that the coming Israeli offensive combined with the blockade could result in excessive civilian casualties for the Palestinian people. Israel has called for 1 million people in Gaza to evacuate to its southern end. U.S. officials said on Sunday that they have been trying to assist Americans looking to leave the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, but to this point, none of the Americans have been able to get out. Republicans, including U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), claim that Biden has been silent about the role they believe that Iran has played in financing Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups. “When Joe Biden took office, Iran was broke,” Tuberville said on the social media site X. “Now, Iran is sitting on billions and bankrolling terrorists. @JoeBiden’s policies have emboldened and funded our enemies.” Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) also agreed with Tuberville. “I stand with the people of Israel in the face of the cold-blooded assault that Iran-backed Hamas terrorists have launched on their home,” Rep. Rogers said in a statement. “Israel has a steadfast right to defend itself against attacks on its people, and this barbaric attack will not go unanswered. The U.S. will continue to support our ally through robust security assistance which Israel utilizes in its self-defense. Israel remains the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East – our prayers are with the people of Israel.” Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Biden and Blinken have been heavily criticized for their recent allowing of $6 billion in illicit oil sales money go to Iran to facilitate a prisoner exchange involving five American citizens unjustly imprisoned by the Iranian Regime. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Daniel Sutter: Populism and economic freedom
Brexit and Donald Trump’s election highlighted a global surge in populism. The Economic Freedom of North America Network, of which the Johnson Center is a member, has discussed conservative populists’ growing hostility to markets. Populists should, I hope, embrace free markets and limited government. We first need a definition of populism. Prior to 2016, left-wing groups opposed to the corporate world order were populists. Political scientists focus on hostility toward elites, which I will accept. New research in the 2023 Economic Freedom of the World report finds that populism, identified via a new measure based on this definition, correlates with lower economic freedom internationally. Free market economists have long opposed elites and experts. Thomas Sowell titled a book on elitist intellectuals, The Vision of the Anointed. Austrian economics argued that socialism would not work because experts could not know enough to run an economy well. Even Adam Smith railed against paternalistic elites. Tucker Carlson has been described as the voice of contemporary American populism. I would offer that a CliffsNotes version of his Ship of Fools is that America’s stupid elites never face consequences for their disastrous decisions. Free markets are inherently populist: they involve decentralized decision-making and direction of economic activity by millions of consumers. In markets, people make choices for themselves, and people get the things they purchase. Permission is not needed from anyone, including elites, for businesses to provide people what they want. The rich get more “votes” in markets, creating an impression that markets favor a wealthy elite. But of greater importance, our votes count regardless of whether we are in the majority and businesses can make lots of money serving average folks; Walmart made the Walton family billionaires. The cultural elite do not favor country music, NASCAR, or Walmart, yet these persist and make money. Markets have always faced criticism but today face an assault from multiple directions with the main antagonism no longer economic class. Environmentalists, for example, want to create a sustainable economy within planetary boundaries. Critical race theory sees capitalism as an element of systemic racism to be deconstructed. And socialists still dream. Thomas Sowell warns against intellectuals trying to impose their vision of utopia on us. Elitist intellectuals must reorganize our economy to create levers of control before exercising control. The various attacks on markets come from different elites seeking to restructure the economy to enable control. Partnerships with major corporations are seemingly the preferred means of restructuring today. The World Economic Forum and the United Nations Global Compact extol public-private partnerships. Restructuring may occur through Environmental, Social, and Governance control over finance, a central bank digital currency, or new powers claimed under a climate emergency. Proponents of partnerships claim to care about all stakeholders across the globe. But in a nation of 330 million or a planet of 8 billion people, only a very limited elite will participate in decisions. American consumers never voted for Ralph Nader to represent them, and those speaking on your behalf will not listen much to you. Populists rejecting elite control should favor economic freedom and decentralized markets. What about specific elements of populist hostility to markets? Populists fear that the global economy primarily benefits elites. Economic nationalism seeks to retain national sovereignty, which I strongly support; the American experiment with freedom and self-government could never have occurred on a global scale. Proponents of economic freedom should engage populists for two reasons. First, our criticism may push populists to support worse economic policies. For example, many economic nationalists support government-directed investments. But the limits of expertise imply that a new industrial policy is likely to fail. Second, policy success in a large democratic nation requires broad support and compromise. Economic freedom purists will never sustain good policies alone. A coalition for economic freedom is far more likely to include populists than democratic socialists. Restructuring markets to enable elite control will massively degrade economic freedom. Markets let the voices (dollars, actually) of all Americans be heard. Markets are inherently populist, so I hope populists will be a force for economic freedom. Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
Rep. Jerry Carl files for reelection for Congressional District 1
On Monday, Republican Jerry Carl announced he is filing for reelection to continue representing Alabama’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican primary will be held on March 5, 2024. “Today, I’m proud to announce I am filing for reelection to continue representing the people of Alabama’s First Congressional District in Congress, Carl said in a press release. “At a time when our borders are being overrun, crime is on the rise in cities across America, and Joe Biden continues leading our country down the wrong path, this country needs more staunch conservatives like me who will deliver results and never back down from the fight,” Carl continued. At a time when our borders are being overrun, crime is on the rise in cities across America, and Joe Biden continues leading our country down the wrong path, this country needs more staunch conservatives like me who will deliver results and never back down from the fight. (2/5) — Jerry Carl (@CarlForAlabama) October 16, 2023 “I’m proud of the work my team and I have accomplished already for AL-01. Whether it’s our efforts to secure the border, slash wasteful government spending, stop overreach by the Biden admin, and stand firm against any efforts to take away our Constitutional rights, we’ve got a lot of work to be done in Washington, and the stakes are simply too high for us to let our foot off the gas and give up on the fight to save this country. Serving Alabama’s First Congressional District in Washington has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am excited to have new counties across the Wiregrass in our district. I’ve already been on the ground in every county in the district, and I’ve been overwhelmed with strong support from folks in every community,” Carl concluded. Carl has been endorsed by nearly 30 state lawmakers and local leaders in AL-01 and has raised $257,474 for his reelection campaign in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Carl was born in Mobile and started his first company at 25. He has started over ten different companies ranging from real estate to healthcare and timber. He and his wife Tina have been married for 37 years.
Jim Jordan nabs key nominations for speaker heading into Tuesday vote
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio has picked up several key endorsements heading into a scheduled Tuesday vote for the next speaker of the House. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., became the center of controversy over the weekend after news broke that he was reportedly considering working with Democrats to elect Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries given the Republican party’s inability to pick a speaker so far. By Monday morning, Rogers publicly endorsed Jordan. “[Jordan] and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill. “Since I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to,” he added. Jordan, who sent out a letter to fellow Republicans Monday calling to bring the party together, responded on X, thanking Rogers for the endorsement. “Thank you, Chairman Rogers,” Jordan wrote. “Your leadership is just what our Conference needs right now. We must all keep coming together and get back to work.” That move significantly dampens what some Democrats had hoped for, namely the chance to lead the House even without a majority of members. They have blasted Jordan in particular for his questioning of the 2020 election results in the immediate aftermath of that election leading into the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol. “Jim Jordan’s lack of legislative history and predisposition to burn everything down (i.e. 2013 shutdown, 2018-19 government shutdown, Boehner speakership) makes for a dangerous leader,” Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, wrote on X. “The only path forward is a bipartisan governing coalition.” Another lawmaker, Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., just last week told reporters that she would “absolutely not” vote for Jordan as Speaker. Wagner, at the time, backed Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who later withdrew after failing to win enough support. On Monday, though, she also released a public endorsement backing Jordan. “Let me be clear, I am not, and will not, work with Democrats as our Republican Conference comes together to elect a conservative Speaker of the House,” Wagner said in a statement Monday, also saying that “we must elect a conservative as the next Speaker” before going on to give Jordan a full endorsement. “Jim Jordan and I spoke at length again this morning, and he has allayed my concerns about keeping the government open with conservative funding, the need for strong border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest, as well as the need for stronger protections against the scourge of human trafficking and child exploitation,” Wagner said. The closer Jordan gets to the needed 217 votes to become speaker, the harder it will be for holdout Republicans to justify why they are not electing a speaker, especially with another government shutdown coming in mid-November as well as calls for funding for the Ukraine and Israel conflicts. Jordan is reportedly having ongoing meetings with lawmakers who are locking up key endorsements, bringing him closer to the speakership. “Keeping America safe is my top priority in Congress,” Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, wrote on X Monday. “After having a conversation with Jim Jordan about how we must get the House back on a path to achieve our national security and appropriations goals, I will be supporting him for Speaker on the floor. Let’s get to work.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Joe Biden, Christoper Wray acknowledge Hamas, extremists could commit terrorist attack on U.S. soil
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor As a record number of known, suspected terrorists have been apprehended attempting to enter the U.S., and a record number of antisemitic incidents have occurred in the U.S., the president and the director of the FBI have admitted it’s more likely than ever that a terrorist act could be committed on U.S. soil. In an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday night, when asked if the threat of terrorism in the United States has increased because of conflict in the Middle East, President Joe Biden replied, “Yes.” Biden also said he met with Department of Homeland Security and FBI officials “for the better part of an hour to discuss how we make sure that we prevent a lone wolf and/or any coordinated effort to try to do what was done in synagogues before, do what was done to Jews in the street. We’re making a major effort to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Speaking to police chiefs at the International Police Chiefs Association in San Diego on Saturday, FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed similar sentiments. He said after the attack on Israel by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, “In this heightened environment, there’s no question we’re seeing an increase in reported threats, and we’ve got to be on the lookout, especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own.” FBI Director Christopher Wray says a terrorist threat is more likely to occur on US soil. This is after a record number of known, suspected terrorists have been apprehended at US borders, with the majority at the northern border https://t.co/gKpAhAzYzTand as a record number… pic.twitter.com/UKpoWjLToj— Bethany Blankley (@BethanyBlankley) October 16, 2023 Wray also expressed support for Israel, saying, “History has been witness to anti-Semitic and other forms of violent extremism for far too long. Whether that be from foreign terrorist organizations, or those inspired by them, or domestic violent extremists motivated by their own racial animus, the targeting of a community because of their faith is completely unacceptable. We remain committed to continue confronting those threats – both here in the United States and overseas.” Wray made similar remarks while on a call with reporters on Sunday. However, he was more specific, saying there’s a possibility that members of Hamas or other terrorist groups could commit a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. “The threat is very much ongoing, and in fact, the threat picture continues to evolve,” Wray said, according to CBS News. “Here in the U.S., we cannot and do not discount the possibility that Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations could exploit the conflict to call on their supporters to conduct attacks on our own soil.” He’s also maintained that the FBI was “moving quickly to mitigate” potential terrorist threats. Their acknowledgments came after the greatest number of known and suspected terrorists were apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. in fiscal 2023. The majority were apprehended at the northern border, 432, compared to 227 at the southwest border. Combined, 659 apprehended represents the greatest number in recorded history. However, law enforcement officials have explained to The Center Square that the 659 apprehended simply means more are coming through. It’s the ones who aren’t caught who are coming from countries that sponsor terrorism that worry them. The KST data doesn’t include gotaways, which are believed to also include KSTs. “Gotaways” is the official U.S. Customs and Border Patrol term that refers to those who illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry, don’t return to Mexico or Canada, and are not apprehended. They total at least nearly 1.7 million since January 2021. With people illegally entering the U.S. from over 170 countries, former ICE Chief Tom Homan told The Center Square some of these countries they are coming from are sponsors of terrorism. “If you don’t think a single one of the 1.7 million [gotaways] is coming from a country that sponsors terrorism, then you’re ignoring the data,” he said. “That’s what makes this a huge national security issue.” Biden’s and Wray’s remarks also came after a record number of antisemitic incidents were reported last year against Jewish Americans, Jewish institutions, houses of worship, and Jewish students attending U.S. colleges and K-12 schools nationwide. The southwest region saw an 87% increase in antisemitic incidents last year, with more than half of them being reported in the Houston, Texas, area. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
