3 Trump officials have ties to antisemitic extremists

Damned Syrian Revolution: Trump’s visit to Israel and the israel-Israeli War in Syria during the November 11th Reionization

President Trump spoke with Syria’s interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, about an hour after his visit to Saudi Arabia ended.

At the Saudi investment forum where Trump was speaking, he got a standing applause for his announcement that he would lift the sanctions on Syria, which starved it of international investment.

“It’s not going to be easy anyway. It was my honor to remove sanctions because of the request from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Trump said.

According to the White House press secretary, Trump urged Sharaa to end his relationship with Israel by signing on to the Abraham Accords. The White House posted an image of the meeting, but reporters traveling with Trump were not allowed in the room.

Russia had aided the former regime and its war planes had bombed opposition-held cities, so the sanctions might have been used to force Syria to get financial support from Russia. Moscow took in Assad and his family and still has two military bases inside Syria.

The sanctions, however, remained in place as many countries were still wary of his past. A series of deadly clashes between factions loyal to Sharaa’s government and ethnic minorities raised fears that he may try to maintain his rule by force.

But Sharaa has shown himself to be an able diplomat, and has toured the Arab world and other nations trying to ease those fears and raise support for an end to sanctions and his efforts to rebuild the country. This month, he flew to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron, who has also called for an easing of sanctions.

Since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes in an effort to protect the Druze minority in Syria from extremists and also to prevent weapons falling into the hands of extremists. Israeli troops have also taken over positions along the border with the Israel-controlled Golan Heights that were once held by Syrian forces, a move Israel says is to protect its own territory.

The Up First Newsletter: Three Trump Officials with Close ties to Antisemitic Extremists. And, Syria sanctions may lift

The officials named by NPR have close ties to antisemitic extremists. This includes an individual labeled by federal prosecutors as a “Nazi sympathizer” and a prominent Holocaust denier. The administration used the fight against antisemitism to justify deporting pro-Palestinian student protesters and cutting funding to universities. Each official has ties to people who are antisemitic.

Good morning. The newsletter is called Up First. You can get it delivered to your inbox or listen to the Up First podcasts if you so choose.

Representatives from Russia and Ukraine will gather in Turkey for negotiations tomorrow, entering a new phase in an attempt to halt or end the war. It’s the first direct talks between the two countries since the start of the Kremlin’s invasion. Trump said he might stop by.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Capitol Hill today to testify for the first time since stepping into the role of secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has fired thousands of staff, canceled billions of dollars in grants to universities and public health departments, and been rid of scientific leaders since taking the position. He is going to testify before the Legislature about why he wants less funding for his department in the coming year.

Source: 3 Trump officials with ties to antisemitic extremists. And, Syria sanctions may lift

Mixing Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, and Resistant Starch in the Kitchen: How to Create the Supernutrient

For the first time in 69 years of the all-genre chart, two Spanish-language albums are on top at the same time. Bad Bunny took the crown for the top position. Mexican American band Fuerza Regida, with their ninth album, is right behind him. The group had a brief shift to an electronic sound after eight years of making music, but they are back to what they do best on their new album. The group is unique in their way that they dance with pop-like grooves. Listen to snippets of songs from the album, showcasing what makes them so special.

Dietitians often recommend whole grain or brown rice and pasta over their counterparts, white rice and pasta, because they are more nutritious. Food scientists have figured out a way to make people digest food more slowly. During that process, they uncovered a surprise: a super nutrient hidden inside white pasta and white rice called resistant starch. Studies show that eating more resistant starch can improve many things, such as gut health and inflammation. Here’s how you can create the supernutrient in your own kitchen: