DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Even after multiple assurances from President Joe Biden over recent weeks and months that a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war could be right around the corner, U.S. officials reportedly are privately beginning to concede that Biden won’t be able to help secure a deal before his term ends. Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 sparked a broader regional war beyond the Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas and sent an already chaotic Middle East further into turmoil, prompting the Biden-Harris administration to try to pursue diplomatic solutions to end the conflict and reduce tensions among Arab states. Biden has routinely touted his efforts to secure a cease-fire agreement and hinted on several occasions that a deal was close at hand. But these efforts have largely been fruitless—and now U.S. officials are beginning to believe that it may be impossible to secure anything before Biden leaves office, given the roadblocks separating Israel and Hamas, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. “No deal is imminent,” one of the U.S. officials told the Journal. “I’m not sure it ever gets done.” The private concerns that a deal is out of reach aren’t fully reflected in public statements recently made by Biden officials, who have maintained that an agreement is still on the table while expressing frustration with Hamas’ obstinance in negotiations. A senior Biden-Harris administration official told reporters in early September that “90%” of the deal had been agreed to between Israel and Hamas, which White House spokesman John Kirby reaffirmed during a press briefing Wednesday. But former State Department official Gabriel Noronha told the Daily Caller News Foundation that it’s often the remaining, narrower aspects of such a deal that are the hardest to resolve. “Generally, you take care of the easier-to-agree items first, and the last items are the ones that are the hardest,” Noronha said, pointing to disputes over whether Israel should keep some troops in the Gaza Strip as one of the sticking points of a deal. “Those are the tough items.” In recent weeks and months, Biden has seemed more positive about reaching a ceasefire agreement. Biden told reporters at the end of August that he was “optimistic” a deal could soon be reached because most of the terms had been agreed to and that talks were continuing between Arab partners. Biden said weeks earlier that he “may have something” on a deal but didn’t want to “jinx it,” claiming that his team was “closer than we’ve ever been” to securing an agreement. “It’s much, much closer than it was three days ago. So, keep your fingers crossed,” Biden told reporters Aug. 16. Biden had been adamant for months that a cease-fire was needed urgently, putting forward his own proposal for a deal in May, which has yet to be accepted, and before that warning that a deal had to be reached by March, which never happened. Even as early as February, Biden was predicting that a cease-fire could be reached within days. “Well, I hope by the beginning of the weekend—I mean the end of the weekend [that a deal will be reached],” Biden told reporters in February. In the past couple of months, U.S. officials have become increasingly pessimistic that a deal could be reached, largely due to Hamas, which has been stubborn in negotiations and set unrealistic terms for an agreement. Hamas has frequently set new demands for proposals—and after the U.S. and Israel agree to the terms, the terrorist group still rejects offers, according to the Journal. National security adviser Jake Sullivan met Wednesday with the families of the remaining American hostages in Gaza, relaying the current status of negotiations and reaffirming that Biden won’t stop until their relatives are brought home, according to Hostage Aid Worldwide. But the families “expressed frustration with the lack of tangible progress and stressed that everyone needs to play a larger role in reaching an agreement.” Adding to the complications are Israel’s tensions with Iran and its terror proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Hezbollah and Iran have engaged in either direct or indirect skirmishes with Israel since the war broke out last October. Israel is suspected of carrying out highly targeted, remote attacks against Hezbollah in recent days, prompting warnings of retaliation from the terrorist group, which is already engaged in cross-fire skirmishes with Israel over the Israeli-Lebanese border. “There’s no chance now of [a deal] happening,” an Arab official told the Journal following the attacks in Lebanon. “Everyone is in a wait-and-see mode until after the [U.S.] election. The outcome will determine what can happen in the next administration.” With the convoluted rift between Israel and Hamas over a deal and the compounding factors emanating from Hezbollah and Iran, the Biden-Harris administration has too little control over negotiations at this stage in the game, and it’s unlikely that any deal will be reached between now and the end of Biden’s term, Noronha told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “They’re probably not going to get one before the election, or before January either. But that’s not on them, per se. It speaks to the difficulty of how far apart [Israel and Hamas] are,” Noronha said. Still, securing a cease-fire agreement in Gaza would represent a notable success for Biden’s foreign policy approach and potentially unlock the possibility of broader regional peace. A deal could pave the way for talks to open up between Israel and Saudi Arabia over establishing formal diplomatic ties, although Saudi Arabia has said such relations aren’t possible until Israel agrees to a two-state solution with the Palestinians. For the time being, the U.S. is continuing to help broker negotiations among Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and Hamas negotiators, with a specific focus on how to overcome the hurdles barring a deal from being reached—if it is even possible at this juncture. “We have run into some resistance,” Kirby told reporters Wednesday. “And we’re just not … any closer today than we were a few days ago.” The State Department and White House did not respond to a request for comment. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation The post Biden Claimed for Months That Gaza Cease-Fire in Sight. Now His Own Officials Call It a Pipe Dream. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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Community leaders are calling for change after cellphone video captured the brutal beating of two elderly men by a mob of teenagers in Wisconsin. 'This behavior is not just unacceptable, it is inhumane. Violence is never appropriate conflict resolution.' The Milwaukee police department said in a press release that they were called to South 1st Street on Sept. 11 at about 4 p.m. for a report of a group of juveniles beating three adults. They said a 63-year-old was hospitalized for serious injuries while a 62-year-old victim and a 53-year-old victim were medically treated at the scene. Felipe Martinez told WDJT-TV that two of the victims were his father and his uncle. He said the incident stemmed from a fight by students from Bradley Tech High School on Milwaukee's south side. "There was no physical threat from the elderly gentlemen, my uncle, and my dad," Martinez said. He went on to say his uncle Jesus Andino asked the teens to move away from some vehicles, and they began to attack him and Freddie Vega. "Out of nowhere, they just start throwing punches," said Martinez. "There was no physical threat from the elderly gentlemen, my uncle, and my dad." He said his father was released from the hospital but is still dealing with the aftermath of the attack. "People are surprised that it happened to him, of all people," Martinez said. "He's definitely in a lot of pain; it's hard for him to move. I did have to assist him in getting out of bed and going to the bathroom."Police said they had taken into custody two 14-year-old males and one 15-year-old who were facing felony aggravated assault charges "due to the egregiousness of this incident.""MPD is requesting assistance in identifying all the individuals, including witnesses, involved. Those that cause harm to others in our community shall be held accountable. This behavior is not just unacceptable, it is inhumane. Violence is never appropriate conflict resolution."Another 16-year-old was later criminally charged in the case. The mayor released a statement condemning the attack, but community leaders are demanding that more action be taken to prevent such violence on their streets. The family has set up a GoFundMe donation page to help the victims pay for their medical care. Video of the attack can be viewed on the news video report from WDJT on YouTube. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

“F*** America!” So went the chant led by rapper Macklemore at a pro-Palestinian Seattle concert on Saturday night. While the audience responded with glee, others, including Elon Musk, later condemned the "Thrift Store" artist's anti-American rhetoric. The jarring moment occurred as Macklemore — whose legal name is Ben Haggerty — performed at the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival at the Seward Park Amphitheater in Seattle, Washington.'It's a genocide, absolutely, and it has been since 1948, and don't get it twisted.'According to the official Instagram page for the festival: "We resist when we fight, we resist when we educate, we resist when we organize. Our people living under the brutal occupation of the settler colonial project resist in every breath they take. Despite the pain and suffering, our people in Falasteen find a way to LIVE."Proceeds from the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival went to various groups providing aid to Palestinians, including the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Welcome to the terrordomeLast month, the United Nations admitted that 19 United Nations Relief and Works Agency staff have been accused of being involved in the Hamas terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when roughly 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages.Nine of the accused were fired while the U.N. stated that "appropriate measures will be taken" for the remaining 10 employees. During the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival, Macklemore admitted that he "didn't know" much about the decades-long hostilities between Palestine and Israel until the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7. Apt pupilRegarding how he got involved in "the movement," Macklemore told the audience at the festival, "October 7 happens, and I started paying attention. I started learning. I started listening. I start going back and learning the history."The rapper — who is best known for his 2012 song about shopping at a thrift store — proclaimed that the Israel-Hamas conflict "is actually not that complicated." Macklemore then accused Israel of committing genocide. "It's a genocide, absolutely, and it has been since 1948, and don't get it twisted," Macklemore told the crowd. Video shows Macklemore saying, "Straight up. Say it. I’m not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna stop you. Um, yeah, f*** America." The crowd thunderously cheered the anti-American remark. 'What a tool'There were hundreds of online commentators slamming Macklemore for the disrespectful jibe, including Elon Musk, who said of the rapper, "What a tool."Others called for boycotts of Adidas and TaylorMade Golf — which have sponsorship deals with Haggerty. The rapper performed his “Hind’s Hall” song at the festival. The song praises anti-Israel protests that took place on college campuses. The song is named for the actions of pro-Palestinian activists who occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia University and renamed the building "Hind's Hall," in honor of Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza City during the Israel-Hamas War. In the song, Haggerty pushes leftist tropes such as: "f*** the police" and a "system that was designed by white supremacy." The entertainer said all proceeds from the song go to the UNRWA.Haggerty recently released "Hind's Hall 2," which is another anti-Israel anthem. The chorus of the song states: "From the river to the sea. Palestine will be free."The "from the river to the sea" anti-Semitic phrase calls for the establishment of a Palestine state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea while completely eliminating the state of Israel.The rapper warns Vice President Kamala Harris that she won't win Michigan in the 2024 presidential election if she doesn't "stop sending money and weapons" to Israel. The song's lyrics include: "Capitalism killing us that's something we can't afford."The 41-year-old rapper's net worth is reportedly $25 million. In August, Macklemore canceled an October concert in Dubai over the United Arab Emirates' alleged role "in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis" in Sudan.MacklemoronIn 2014, Macklemore wore a costume at a Seattle concert that some deemed anti-Semitic and "deeply offensive" because it appeared to be a caricature of a Jewish man.Haggerty apologized by saying, “I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind.”“There is no worse feeling than being misunderstood, especially when people are hurt or offended,” the "Same Love" rapper said at the time. Macklemore claimed it was “surprising and disappointing” that photos of his “disguise were sensationalized leading to the immediate assertion that my costume was anti-Semitic.”Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kamala Harris is not a comedian, but you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.During the recent presidential debate, the tireless TikToker somehow managed to maintain a straight face while pledging to create an "opportunity economy" for the middle class. Yet, this promise rings hollow when both she and President Biden are deeply entangled with BlackRock, a firm notorious for crushing the very group she claims to uplift. BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, openly praises the efficiency of totalitarian regimes; what does this say about where the firm’s loyalties lie?In short, BlackRock has used its vast financial influence to sway political decisions, control market outcomes, and prioritize profits over the interests of everyday people.Master of puppetsIt's the puppet master behind the scenes, shaping policies that favor the elite while leaving the middle class to foot the bill. Harris' cozy relationship with BlackRock exposes her "opportunity economy" as nothing more than a smokescreen for serving the powerful.The facts speak for themselves.Harris' two top economic advisers, Michael Pyle and Brian Deese, were key players at BlackRock. Both were drafted last month, likely to help her craft policies in anticipation of a potential presidency.As for Joe Biden, since taking office, he has surrounded himself with former BlackRock executives, embedding the financial giant's influence at the highest levels of government. Take Michael Pyle, once BlackRock’s global chief investment strategist, who recently served as U.S. deputy national security adviser for international economics. In this critical role, Pyle directed the administration's international economic policy and acted as Biden’s key representative, or “sherpa,” at the G7 and G20 summits. His sway over global economic strategy was significant. Before this, Pyle helped shape domestic policy as Harris’ chief economic adviser during the administration's disastrous first year. His deep ties to BlackRock underscore the firm’s growing grip on the Biden administration's decision-making, further aligning government policy with Wall Street’s interests.Last week BlackRock announced that it was rehiring Pyle as deputy head of it's $3.2 trillion portfolio management group.And let’s not forget Adewale "Wally" Adeyemo, another key player in the Biden administration. Currently serving as deputy secretary of the treasury, the 43-year-old was once Larry Fink's right-hand man at BlackRock. During his time at the investment giant, Adeyemo acted as a senior adviser and led the firm's public policy team, directly shaping BlackRock’s strategy in navigating government relations and regulatory frameworks. His current role places him in a powerful position to influence U.S. financial policy.You break it, you bought itThen there's Eric Van Nostrand, a former BlackRock executive now serving as a senior adviser under Biden on economic issues related to Russia and Ukraine, as reported by Bloomberg. Since Van Nostrand’s appointment, BlackRock’s interest and involvement in Ukraine have suspiciously intensified, with the firm advising on reconstruction efforts and channeling investment into critical sectors. BlackRock's history suggests this support is far from altruistic. The firm has a notorious track record of capitalizing on geopolitical crises for financial gain, rather than genuinely aiding nations in need. Much like its exploitative role during the 2008 financial crisis, when BlackRock profited from the collapse it helped precipitate, the firm now stands to benefit from Ukraine’s instability. Its influence over Kyiv’s policies, including the deregulation of urban planning, paves the way for corporate interests to exploit a rather dire situation.Chinese democracyIt doesn’t stop at Ukraine. BlackRock isn’t just funding the destabilization of democracies abroad — it’s actively helping China, a regime that poses an existential threat to American interests.The Coalition for a Prosperous America has revealed how BlackRock funnels billions into Chinese companies, many linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army. This raises alarming questions about national security and America’s economic sovereignty. BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, openly praises the efficiency of totalitarian regimes; what does this say about where the firm’s loyalties lie? Certainly not with the average American family struggling to make ends meet.As if that weren't enough, BlackRock’s involvement in the U.S. military-industrial complex adds another layer to its nefarious influence. As highlighted by researchers at Corporate Accountability, an organization committed to exposing corporations that undermine democracy, BlackRock holds tens of billions in investments in major defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing. By profiting directly from never-ending wars, BlackRock reaps enormous financial rewards while American taxpayers are left to foot the bill.Which brings us back to Kamala Harris. For all her posturing, the flip-flopper-in-chief is not here to challenge this system. She’s here to safeguard it. If elected, Harris' economic policies will be molded by the same firm responsible for widening income inequality and eroding democracy. The Wall Street Journal has shed light on how BlackRock has amassed entire residential neighborhoods, turning these homes into rental properties. This aggressive acquisition strategy fuels bidding wars and drives up home prices, directly disadvantaging the middle class.As Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale professor, has pointed out, Kamala Harris’ ties to Wall Street are even more intimate than Biden’s. And when Wall Street speaks, it’s really BlackRock’s voice you’re hearing. Harris’ campaign promises to support the middle class appear to be nothing more than a boldfaced lie. But this is what she excels at: bending the truth.Make no mistake about it: BlackRock’s interests are diametrically opposed to those of the American people. A Harris presidency would mean more policies that enrich the few at the expense of the many. Kamala Harris isn’t the answer; on the contrary, she’s part of the problem.

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