GOOD MORNING
I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI
IT’S THURSDAY MAY 22ND, 202525
AND THESE ARE YOUR UNBIASED UPDATES:
A BRAZEN ATTACK IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL
TWO ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS GUNNED DOWN
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE SUSPECT CHANTED “FREE PALESTINE”
THIS MORNING, REACTION
PLUS, PRAYER INSIDE THE PENTAGON
LED BY THE DEFENSE SECRETARY HIMSELF
WAS IT A CALL FOR UNITY… OR VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT?
AND IT’S ALMOST MEMORIAL DAY.. BUT THE NORTHEAST IS GETTING MARCH WEATHER
A RARE NOR’EASTER COULD SOAK THE HOLIDAY START
WE’LL TELL YOU WHO’S IN THE BULLSEYE.. AND WHEN IT CLEARS OUT
WE BEGIN WITH A DEADLY SHOOTING IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL
ONE THAT’S NOW BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE ACT OF ***TARGETED ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE**
ACCORDING TO CNN, A GUNMAN SHOT AND KILLED TWO ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS,LAST NIGHT, OUTSIDE OF AN EVENT AT THE CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON
THE SUSPECT — NOW IN CUSTODY — IS IDENTIFIED AS 30-YEAR-OLD ELIAS RODRIGUEZ OF CHICAGO
POLICE SAY HE WAITED OUTSIDE THE EVENT, OPENED FIRE AT CLOSE RANGE, KILLING A MAN AND A WOMAN WHO HAD JUST LEFT THE RECEPTION.
WE’VE LEARNED THE COUPLE WAS PLANNING TO GET ENGAGED IN JERUSALEM NEXT WEEK.
WITNESSES SAY RODRIGUEZ TOLD OFFICERS HE ACTED FOR GAZA AND BEGAN CHANTING “FREE PALESTINE” AS HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
INVESTIGATORS RECOVERED THE GUN. AND OFFICIALS SAY HE ACTED ALONE.
THE EVENT, THEY VICTIMS WERE ATTENDING, WAS HOSTED BY THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE… JUST BLOCKS FROM THE FBI’S D-C FIELD OFFICE.
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE U-S, YECHIEL (pronounced Ya-Sheel ) LEITER, ADDRESSED THE SHOOTING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE:
A COUPLE WAS GUNNED DOWN TONIGHT IN THE NAME OF ‘FREE PALESTINE.’ IT WAS A YOUNG COUPLE ABOUT TO BE ENGAGED. THE YOUNG MAN PURCHASED A RING THIS WEEK WITH THE INTENTION OF PROPOSING TO HIS GIRLFRIEND NEXT WEEK IN JERUSALEM. THEY WERE A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE WHO CAME TO ENJOY AN EVENING IN WASHINGTON’S CULTURAL CENTER.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP CONDEMNED THE ATTACK ON TRUTH SOCIAL THIS MORNING
WRITING QUOTE:
“THESE HORRIBLE D-C KILLINGS, BASED OBVIOUSLY ON ANTISEMITISM, MUST END, NOW! HATRED AND RADICALISM HAVE NO PLACE IN THE U-S-A. CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS. SO SAD THAT SUCH THINGS AS THIS HAPPEN! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
THE FBI AN COUNTER-TERRORISM TEAMS ARE NOW LEADING THE INVESTIGATION
THERE IS NO ONGOING THREAT THIS MORNING, BUT SECURITY AT ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC SITES WORLDWIDE IS BRING INCREASED.
MEANWHILE.. JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM THAT SCENE, THE HOUSE IS BRACING FOR A HIGH-STAKES VOTE ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SWEEPING POLICY AGENDA
… A BILL THAT’S TESTING THE LIMITS OF HIS POWER… AND SPEAKER JOHNSON’S GRIP ON THE GOP.
TRUMP’S SO-CALLED “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” CLEARED A KEY PROCEDURAL HURDLE JUST AFTER 2:30 THIS MORNING… PAVING THE WAY FOR A FINAL VOTE THAT COULD HAPPEN ANY HOUR TODAY.
THE HOUSE VOTED 217 FOR TO 212 TO ADVANCE THE BILL
REPUBLICAN THOMAS MASSIE OF KENTUCKY WAS THE LONE REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL, SIDING WITH DEMOCRATS OPPOSE IT
BEFORE THAT VOTE, A MARATHON HEARING IN THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE THAT PUSHED THROUGH A NEW VERSION OF THE BILL.. WITH LAST-MINUTE CHANGES AIMED AT WINNING OVER REPUBLICAN HOLDOUTS
AMONG THE CHANGES.. MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS WOULD NOW START IN 2026, MOVED UP FROM 2029…
THE BILL ALSO OFFERS NEW INCENTIVES FOR STATES NOT TO EXPAND MEDICAID,
IT INCLUDES CUTS TO CLEAN ENERGY TAX CREDITS, ALLOWING THEM TO PHASE OUT SOONER THAN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED.
A FINAL HOUSE VOTE IS IMMINENT … BUT EVEN IF THIS PASSES, THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER.
SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE ALREADY PROMISING CHANGES OF THEIR OWN.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION “UNQUESTIONABLY” VIOLATED A COURT ORDER BY DEPORTING EIGHT MEN CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES.. TO SOUTH SUDAN
DESPITE BEING TOLD NOT TO
THE RULING CAME FROM JUDGE BRIAN MURPHY IN BOSTON, WHO SAID THE ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO GIVE THE MEN PROPER DUE PROCESS.. INCLUDING A “MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY” TO OBJECT TO BEING DEPORTED TO A THIRD COUNTRY.
MURPHY DID **NOT** ORDER THE RETURN of THE DEPORTEES, AS THE PLAINTIFFS HAD HOPED… BUT ISSUED NEW GUIDANCE FOR FUTURE CASES.
THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOW GIVE MIGRANTS AT LEAST 10 DAYS TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY IN THE DESTINATION COUNTRY… IF THERE’S REASONABLE FEAR, IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS MUST BE REOPENED.
EVEN WITHOUT THAT FEAR, DETAINEES MUST STILL BE GIVEN A FAIR CHANCE AND 15 DAYS TO REOPEN THEIR CASE.
MURPHY ALSO BLASTED THE ADMINISTRATION’S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT A “MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY” MEANS… SAYING IT FELL SHORT OF LEGAL STANDARDS HE LAID OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR
IN A FIERY STATEMENT LATE LAST NIGHT, DHS SPOKESPERSON TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN CALLED THE RULING “DERANGED.”
SAYING:
“THE MESSAGE THIS ACTIVIST JUDGE IS SENDING TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS WE DON’T CARE. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SECRETARY NOEM ARE WORKING EVERY DAY TO GET VICIOUS CRIMINALS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY WHILE ACTIVIST JUDGES ARE FIGHTING TO BRING THEM BACK ONTO AMERICAN SOIL.”
NOW TO A RARE — AND CONTROVERSIAL — MOMENT INSIDE THE PENTAGON
DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH LED A CHRISTIAN PRAYER SERVICE WEDNESDAY DURING WORKING HOURS… FROM A LECTERN BEARING THE PENTAGON SEAL
… TELLING THE PACKED AUDITORIUM HE PLANS TO MAKE IT A MONTHLY EVENT
HIS HOMETOWN PASTOR LED THE SERMON… THANKING GOD FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND CALLING HIM A -QUOTE “SOVEREIGNLY APPOINTED” LEADER.
THE EVENT WAS VOLUNTARY BUT OFFICIALLY PROMOTED … AND BROADCAST INTERNALLY
SOMETHING CRITICS SAY CROSSES A CONSTITUTIONAL LINE
A FORMER PENTAGON LAWYER CALLED IT A “CLEAR VIOLATION” OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND LEGAL EXPERTS WARN IT PUTS PRESSURE ON SERVICE MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE
HEGSETH SAYS IT REFLECTS AMERICA’S TRADITION .. AND IS “A NATION IN NEED OF PRAYER”
IT MAY BE LATE MAY
BUT IN THE NORTHEAST, IT FEELS MORE LIKE MARCH WITH A BAD ATTITUDE.
A RARE OFF-SEASON STORM IS SLAMMING THE NORTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC TODAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.
.. IT’S BRINGING SOAKING RAIN, STRONG WINDS, AND A CHILL THAT FEELS MORE LIKE MARCH THAN MEMORIAL DAY.
UP TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL IN ARTS OF NEW ENGLAND AND THE TRI-STATE AREA.
WIND GUSTS OVER 45 MILES PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST.. AND TRAVEL COULD GET MESSY ON ROADS AND AT BUSY AIRPORTS.
THESE STORMS USUALLY HIT IN WINTER, BUT AN UNUSUAL CLASH OF ARCTIC COLD AND ATLANTIC WARMTH IS DRIVING THIS ONE,
THE GOOD NEWS?
THINGS START DRYING OUT SUNDAY.. AND BY MONDAY: SUNSHINE RETURNS JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY itself,
IT’S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR IN SPORTS WITH THE NBA PLAYOFFS AND NHL BOTH DOWN TO THE FINAL FOUR AND THE GAMES ARE GETTING MORE INTENSE AND MORE MEANINGFUL.
IN FRONT OF SELL-OUT CROWD AT THE WORLDS MOST FAMOUS ARENA LAST NIGHT, THE INDIANA PACERS CAME FROM 17 BEHIND TO DEFEAT THE NEW YORK KNICKS 138-135.
THE PACERS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FULL-COURT PRESSURE DEFENSE, AND THEY SHOCKED THE BASKETBALL WORLD LAST NIGHT, KNOCKING OFF THE KNICKS FRONT OF THEIR HOME CROWD. TYRESE HALIBURTON WAS THE STAR. HE HAD THE TYING BASKET TO FORCE OVERTIME AND THE PACERS WENT ON TO WIN TO TAKE GAME ONE OF THEIR BEST OF SEVEN SERIES. THE WINNER OF THAT SERIES WILL TAKE ON THE WINNER OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND MINNESOTA. OKLAHOMA CITY WON BIG IN GAME ONE 114-TO-88. THAT SERIES CONTINUES TONIGHT.
I CAN’T SAY GOODBYE WITHOUT A HOCKEY PLUG. I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS 3-1 EDMONTON OVER DALLAS IN THE SECOND PERIOD. I WOKE UP AT 2 THIS MORNING AND MY WIFE LEFT ME A NOTE ON FRIDGE THAT ALL THE GOOD STUFF HAPPENED AFTER I STOPPED WATCHING. THE STARS ROARED BACK TO WIN 6-3. SURPRISE SURPRISE. OH YEAH AND I GUESS THERE WERE SOME FIGHTS AT THE END. THAT’S HOCKEY BABY.
THESE ARE YOUR UNBIASED UPDATES FOR THIS THURSDAY.
WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS — I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
