Mario Nawfal

𝕏 + SHOPIFY: SANTA’S NEW FAVORITE GIFT LIST! 𝕏 and Shopify are teaming up to make selling a breeze for U.S. and Canadian users with the shiny new 𝕏 Shopping Manager app. Why It’s Awesome: • Campaigns Made Easy: Sync your Shopify products and let AI run the show. • Smart Ads, Big Sales: Dynamic ads zero in on the buyers who matter. • Track Like a Pro: Install the 𝕏 Pixel for instant performance insights. • Show Off: Feature your top products right on your 𝕏 profile. Selling has never been this smooth—or this fun! Source: @XBusiness

🇺🇸BIDEN MAKES 1,200 DEI HIRES BEFORE LEAVING... Biden admin is rushing to fill 1,200 DEI positions, with salaries reaching $310K/year, inflating the federal payroll by $160M annually. t.co/0ViQMCbwWs

🇺🇸WHITE HOUSE: REPUBLICANS CREATED THIS MESS Karine Jean-Pierre: “What Americans need to know is that you have Republicans in Congress, in the House, who got in a way, who stopped a bipartisan agreement. They got in the way, they created this mess. And they decided to, Republicans decided to instead listen and give, give space to their billionaire friends and not put the American people first.” Source: White House Press Briefing

🇺🇸🇪🇨BIDEN TO ECUADOR: HERE'S $1B TO "SAVE THE AMAZON" White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: “The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced a $1 billion financial initiative to support conservation of the Ecuadorian Amazon. This is a result of the President's recent trip to the Amazon and a continuation of the administration's effort to support innovative ways to address climate change through sustainable growth and development, without burdening countries facing financial constraints.” Source: White House Press Briefing

🇺🇸TRUMP APPOINTS BRIAN BURCH AS AMBASSADOR TO THE POPE "I am pleased to announce that Brian Burch will serve as the next United States Ambassador to the Holy See. Brian is a devout Catholic, a father of nine, and President of CatholicVote. He has received numerous awards, and demonstrated exceptional leadership, helping build one of the largest Catholic advocacy groups in the Country. He represented me well during the last Election, having garnered more Catholic votes than any Presidential Candidate in History! Brian loves his Church and the United States - He will make us all proud. Congratulations to Brian, his wife Sara, and their incredible family!" Source: @realDonaldTrump

🇺🇸ELON: “SHE WAS A SKEKSIS IN DARK CRYSTAL!” Elon’s deep-cut burn comparing Democrat congresswoman Rosa DeLauro to a Skeksis after she called in "President Musk" in a pretty insulting rant... Fans of 'The Dark Crystal' know it’s not just about their creepy, vulture-like aesthetic. It’s the Skeksis’ corrupt, power-hungry scheming and absolute love for hoarding resources at everyone else’s expense that makes the comparison hit like a shard of the Crystal. In short: Elon just turned 1980s fantasy into modern political shade.

🚨🇺🇸🇸🇾 U.S. DIPLOMATS MEET WITH SYRIANS AND REBEL LEADERS IN DAMASCUS FOR FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS For the first time in over a decade, U.S. diplomats are in Damascus to engage Syrians on their country’s future and meet with leaders of rebel group Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The delegation will discuss transition principles supported by the U.S. and allies, while also seeking information on missing Americans like journalist Austin Tice. HTS, still designated as a terrorist group, seeks relief from sanctions and restored relations. Source: The Washington Post

🚨12-HOUR NEWS RECAP 1. 🇺🇸Trump, Elon, and Vivek block funding bill. Lawmakers scramble to avoid a government shutdown before the weekend. 2. 🇷🇺Putin warns Russia will use nuclear weapons if Ukraine threatens sovereignty, raising tensions with the West. 3. 🇺🇸California police arrest Alexander Paffendorf, foiling attack linked to Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow. 4. 🇺🇸Bezos joins Trump and Elon at Mar-a-Lago after pledging $1M for Trump’s inauguration. Tech leaders rally behind Trump. 5. 🇫🇷Dominique Pelicot sentenced to 20 years for drugging wife, arranging rapes. 50 others receive prison sentences in France. 6. 🇮🇱Israel intercepts Houthi missile and retaliates with airstrikes targeting infrastructure and command centers in Yemen. 7. 🇮🇳Ferry collides with naval speedboat near Mumbai, killing 13. Over 100 passengers rescued from the capsized vessel. 8. 🇦🇫2 bus crashes on Kabul-Kandahar Highway kill 52, injure 65. Collisions involve fuel tanker and truck. 9. 🇺🇸Lawyer Buzbee sues Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, alleging bribery to manipulate lawsuits involving high-profile accusations against Jay-Z, Diddy. 10. 🇺🇸U.S. considers banning TP-Link routers after Microsoft links them to Chinese cyberattacks. TP-Link controls 65% of networks.

🚨🇺🇸AMAZON WORKERS STAGE LARGEST STRIKE YET ACROSS THE US Just days before Christmas, Amazon workers at multiple facilities, including San Francisco, are walking off the job in what unions are calling the company’s largest strike ever. The workers accuse Amazon of “insatiable greed” and demand better wages and working conditions, adding pressure on the retail giant during its busiest season. Source: ABC7

🚨🇺🇸HISTORIC AMAZON STRIKE BEGINS NATIONWIDE Amazon workers have launched the largest strike in company history across the U.S., officially marking a major standoff with the retail giant. t.co/JIwmZE7wxc

🚨🇮🇹ITALY’S DEPUTY MINISTER SALVINI ON TRIAL FOR DEFENDING ITALY’S BORDERS—HOW IS THIS JUSTICE? Former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is awaiting a verdict in a Sicily court for his 2019 decision to block 100 migrants from disembarking a rescue ship. Prosecutors are demanding 6 years in prison, accusing him of violating human rights. But let’s be real: Salvini was doing his job—defending Italy’s borders. PM Meloni and allies stand firmly by him. It’s wild that Salvini is on trial for protecting his country while others demand open borders without accountability. How does defending Italy make him a criminal? Source: AP, @matteosalvinimi

🚨12-HOUR NEWS RECAP 1. 🇺🇸 A 1,547-page funding bill hits Capitol Hill, including disaster aid, farm relief, and a DC stadium deal, with lawmakers facing a tight deadline to avoid a government shutdown. 2. 🇨🇦🇺🇸 Trump plays hardball with Canada, threatening tariffs unless they stop the flow of drugs and migrants. Trudeau's response? A cool $900M border crackdown. Drones, dogs, and agents, oh my! 3. 🇷🇺 The man accused of killing a Russian General in Moscow claims Ukraine sent him, promising $100,000 and a European passport for the scooter-bomb hit. 4. 🇰🇷 South Korea's President Yoon pulls a Houdini, skipping a corruption hearing and calling the charges "invalid." The summons? Mysteriously "lost" after his office refused it. Smooth moves, Yoon. 5. 🇺🇸 Apparently, Tucker Carlson has Trump's ear. Reports say he convinced the boss to give Mike Pompeo the boot, branding him a "warmonger" with a plot to off Julian Assange. 6. 🇺🇸 NY Governor Hochul stirs the pot, questioning the Electoral College after Trump's win. Cue the fresh round of debates on U.S. democracy. 7. 🇬🇧 UK PM Starmer's approval ratings are in free fall, with a measly 27% of Brits giving him a thumbs up. The other 61%? They're ready for a change. 8. 🇦🇺🇺🇸 Australian UFO expert Ross Coulthart disputes U.S. downplaying of the New Jersey drone invasion, claiming illegal craft are flying over military bases unchallenged. 9. 🇺🇸 American teens are ditching the party scene for sobriety. Booze, weed, and cigs are out; nicotine pouches are in. From kegs to pouches - what a glow-down. 10. 🇺🇸 Trump debuts a slick new 'do at his Palm Beach golf club. Supporters are raving, saying it's the perfect match for his revamped image. New hair, who dis?

🚨🇮🇱🇸🇾NETANYAHU: ISRAEL WILL NOT RETREAT FROM SYRIA At Israel’s highest point, Mt. Hermon, once part of Syria before the 6-Day War in 1967, Netanyahu declared: “We will remain here until Israel’s security is ensured.” With Syria’s chaos unfolding at a “dizzying pace,” he warned the region’s future hangs in the balance. Source: Amit Segal

🇺🇸CHAMATH: DOJ IS DISCONNECTED FROM REALITY “I saw the DOJ's theoretical guidance on the Google antitrust matter. Their idea is to divest the browser. And I kind of scratched my head thinking, would any reasonable businessperson think that was the right remedy? Meanwhile, three weeks later, Google's like, here's a super chip in quantum computing that breaks the world. And I thought, how is it that these folks are so disconnected from reality that they don't understand what's actually sitting inside this company?” Source: @theallinpod, @Chamath

🇺🇸 CHAMATH: THE DEMS WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE A GROUP LIKE TRUMP’S “I think that the Democrats would never have assembled a group of people like this, even though the Democratic Party has a version of this chart that they could have made. The problem is that they believe it’s deeply unfashionable to get strong, competent business people to take a pause in their business career and come work in government, and you almost look down on people that are successful. Whereas the Republican alternative here, if it creates a movement, so to speak, so that subsequent presidents tap folks on the shoulder, we’ll be much better off.” Source: @theallinpod, @Chamath

🚨 HOW MY ACCOUNT WAS JUST HACKED & WHY 1. We received an X dm from a credible source with a phishing link 2. The team clicked on the link and filled sensitive data 3. Within seconds, my password and 2FA were changed, and I was logged out 4. Three minutes later, all my delegated team accesses were revoked, so they could no longer DM or post 5. We realize we were hacked, and I messaged the X security team 6. Within 3 minutes, my account was locked, then later recovered following an investigation. Some bizarre actions were taken by the hacker, which I will not disclose publicly. There was no clear indication of the motive behind the hack. Since the account was locked so quickly, the hacker did not have the time to execute their plan. Hacking attempts against my Twitter account, my phones, and my cold wallets are common, but they never succeeded in the past. This is a first, and if not for the swift response by @wanghaofei and the security team, the damage could have been significant, especially at such a sensitive time with an imminent Israeli strike against Iran. A more thorough investigation is ongoing.

I'M BACK! Thanks 𝕏 @Support for the prompt action in locking and recovering the account before any damage was caused!

🇮🇷🇷🇺 ISRAEL'S PATH TO STRIKE IRAN BLOCKED BY RUSSIAN DEFENSES Iranian delegates recently toured a Russian arms factory, signaling deeper military cooperation. This visit highlights agreements to supply Iran with advanced air-defense systems and fighter jets. U.S. intelligence suggests this collaboration could significantly bolster Iran's defense against potential airstrikes by enhancing capabilities to detect and destroy advanced aircraft. Source: WaPo

This is NYC... t.co/4J92yzwaeN

🚨BREAKING: SUPREME COURT GREEN-LIGHTS YOUTH TRANS CARE BAN U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Idaho to enforce a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, with exceptions for the two plaintiffs challenging the measure. Liberal justices dissent, advocating for the law to remain fully blocked, as conservative states continue to enact similar restrictions. Sources: NBC News

🚨🇮🇱ISRAEL: IRAN'S ATTACK FAILED... WE WILL RESPOND "Iran will have consequences for its actions. We will choose our response accordingly." Source: IDF

🚨🇮🇷IRAN TO THE WEST: YOU NEED TO CONTROL ISRAEL - BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE IRGC: "We do not seek to expand the war, but we will cut off every hand that attacks our country. Any aggression from Israel or its supporters will be met with a stronger response than before. We are not advocates of war and we call on America, Britain, France and Germany to stop supporting Israel Our response showed part of our strength, and our missiles and marches crossed the Iron Dome." Source: Al Jazeera

FOR ONCE, ELON BEING CALLED TO CONGRESS MAY BE A GOOD THING The U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s recent X Corp. subpoena might be a win for free speech advocates everywhere. The Committee is investigating orders from the Brazilian Supreme Court that would have forced X Corp. to moderate content in ways that clash with U.S. laws on corruption and free speech protections. Elon has vocally opposed these demands, stating they conflict with U.S. laws that prevent corruption and protect free speech—a stance that now has gained an official platform in Congress. This subpoena isn’t just procedural; it's a testament to Elon's commitment to resist foreign attempts to impose censorship on U.S. soil. Source: X Photos: Archived

🇺🇸🇮🇷IRAN WARNS U.S: YOU HAVE A LOT OF BASES NEARBY... DO NOT TEST US Iranian FM: "I reiterate that we are not seeking to increase tensions in the region, but we warn that if American bases are used or the airspace of regional countries are used to attack Iran, we would have no choice but to target the American bases in those countries." Source: New York Times Photos: Archived, Al Jazeera

🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: FIRE AT SCRANTON ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT The Pennsylvania facility, operated by General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems, is a crucial producer of various munitions, including 155mm and 105mm artillery projectiles, as well as mortar and naval gun projectiles. Emergency services are on the scene. It remains unclear if there is structural damage. Source: NEPA Fire Photography, Police Frequency

🇧🇷🇺🇸WHY WAS 𝕏 SUBPOENAED BY CONGRESS ABOUT BRAZILIAN SUPREME COURT CORRUPTION? Elon explained it perfectly: "U.S laws prevent 𝕏 from participating in corruption that violates the laws of other countries, which is what @Alexandre is demanding that we do." The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) specifically prevents U.S. companies from engaging in corrupt practices in foreign nations. The FCPA was recently supplemented by the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, which allows the U.S. to exert extraterritorial jurisdiction in prosecuting foreign officials who engage in corrupt practices involving U.S. businesses. Source: X, Dept. of Justice

🚨🇮🇱BREAKING: GPS DISRUPTIONS IN IRAQ, SYRIA AND LEBANON Times of Israel is reporting - "Heavy GPS disruptions were reported in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq." This sometimes happens before airstrikes to disrupt missile guidance systems... or it could be a glitch in the systems. Source: Times of Israel

🚨🇧🇷BREAKING: X SUBPOENAED BY U.S CONGRESS ABOUT BRAZILIAN COURT CORRUPTION X Gov Affairs: "X Corp. has been formally subpoenaed by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee to provide information on orders from the Brazilian Supreme Court regarding content moderation.  To comply with its obligations under U.S. law, X Corp. has responded to the Committee." Source: X

🇺🇸PRO-PALESTINE AND CLIMATE ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT KAMALA’S HOME IN CALIFORNIA 6 young protestors were arrested near the VP’s home in Los Angeles after camping out and demanding Harris convince Biden to declare a climate emergency and to end U.S. military aid to Israel. Kamala was reportedly not home at the time. Source: LA Times

🇪🇸SPAIN: TWO-STATE DEAL = PEACE 🇵🇹PORTUGAL: IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE... Spain's PM Sanchez: "We need to immediately launch a peace process... and base it on the two-state solution." Portugal's PM Montenegro: "We don't go as far as other governments... because we maintain that understanding must be built on a multilateral basis within the European Union and the United Nations." Both leaders emphasized the need for an EU-aligned approach, even as Spain seeks immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood. Source: Reuters