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Good morning and Happy Hanukkah,

Hanukkah is the festival of lights
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight craaaazy nights….

The Jewish holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after Jews successfully rebelled against Greek-Syrian authoritarian rulers in the 166 BC. Perhaps the most famous part of the story is the miracle that happened next: a tiny jar of oil kept the candles burning for the full eight days.

It's a season of miracles, and may the eight nights bring us all a renewed sense of hope, love, and light.

Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren

PS: Check out today’s podcast where Mosheh and Jill talk some Hanukkah history and why the holiday became such a big deal in the 20th century.

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🗞 BORDER POLITICS TAKE CENTER OF STAGE IN WASHINGTON

Congress is at a legislative standstill as it debates what to do about the crisis on the nation’s southern border. Senate Republicans this week doubled down on their strategy this week to extract border policy changes, in exchange for supporting a larger $110 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

📍Here’s where things stand politically, and what’s going on at the border.

STATE OF PLAY
Lawmakers on both sides agree that they would like to pass the bill before they go on holiday break next week. Republicans, however, have refused to approve $60 billion+ in new Ukraine aid the White House is seeking, without additional measures to reduce the number of migrants crossing into the US. The coupling of the two issues has led to a complicated negotiation.

In response to Republicans’ demands, President Biden acknowledged America’s immigration system is “broken” and offered to make “significant compromises” on the border. He added, “let me be clear: We need real solutions. I support real solutions at the border.”

• The larger $110 billion emergency spending bill currently includes $20 billion for border security.

  • The money would go toward more border agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and enhanced technology to track the flow of goods at ports of entry.

  • But Republicans see the border as America’s national security crisis, and first want some bigger immigration policy changes.

NUMBERS FROM THE BORDER
The number of people crossing into the US illegally is at record highs.

• For the second year in a row, the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border surpassed two million.

• In fiscal year 2021, which included most of Biden’s first year in office, the US stopped 1.73 million migrants who were not legally allowed into the US. In 2022, that rose to 2.379 million. In 2023, it rose to 2.475 million.

  • Illegal border crossings were at 188,778 in October, down slightly from 218,763 in September, which was the second-highest month on record.

  • More than half of those who were caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border have been deported under Biden. But more than 2 million other migrants have been allowed to stay in the country.

WHAT THE GOP WANTS
Republicans want Democrats to accept a version of a House bill called the Secure the Border Act, which would substantially curtail asylum, fund the construction of more border wall, and effectively keep asylum seekers in Mexico.

• Talks have centered around stricter asylum standards, while Republicans want to keep more migrants out of the U.S.

  • They want to tighten the initial screening standard migrants must clear to proceed with a full asylum case.

  • They also want changes to what’s known as “parole,” a policy that lets migrants be released into the US for years as they await a hearing. Instead, Republicans want most asylum seekers to be detained through their hearings.

    • Notably, Axios reports that Border Patrol chiefs have told Congress that “the release of migrants into nearby communities (without consequence) is an incentive for others to attempt border crossings.”

• Next, Republicans want to restrict the President’s authority to exercise so-called humanitarian parole that allows migrants into the country during international emergencies. It has been used to let in Afghans and Ukrainians in recent years.

DEMOCRATS ON IMMIGRATION
In the past decade, “Washington’s center of gravity on immigration has shifted to the right.”

• A decade ago, Republicans and Democrats were talking about how to secure a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. Now, the fights are centered on how much to tighten asylum laws.

• In the past six months, as migrants have flooded into cities like New York and Chicago, “there is a fundamental shift in the Democratic Party on immigration,” said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute.

• A recent NBC poll found that 50% of registered voters said the Republicans are better at dealing with border security, while only 20% preferred Democrats on the issue.

MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE
President Biden is facing a huge crisis with few good options.

• On the one hand, “as unlawful border crossings spike and migrants arrive in crowded cities with no jobs or places to sleep,” it’s caused resentment among Democratic voters in major cities.

• On the other hand, tough enforcement measures and a tighter immigration policy could alienate progressive voters and a block of Latinos who are a big part of Biden’s political base.

Bottom line: Biden has made getting additional aid to Ukraine a priority—saying if the US cuts it off, it could help guarantee Vladimir Putin a victory in the war. At the same time, Congressional Republicans are the key to getting the aid —but they first want their immigration Christmas list approved. Ultimately, it appears Biden will have to make some major concessions.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Biden administration to forgive $4.8 billion in student loan debt for 80,300 borrowers (CNBC)

📌 House votes to censure Democratic Rep. Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building (AP)

📌 A Texas judge ruled that a pregnant woman who sued the state looking for permission to have an abortion can legally terminate her pregnancy (CNN)

📌 Trump visits Manhattan court to blast civil case, praises appellate ruling in his favor (FOX NEWS)

📌 Hunter Biden indicted on tax charges (AP)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Israel and US at odds over vision for post-war Gaza (AP)

📌 UN Chief invokes rare clause to try to push for Gaza cease-fire (NBC)

📌 Russia tricks US actors, including Elijah Wood, into appearing in propaganda videos (BBC)

📌 Chinese “weather” balloon spotted over Taiwan ahead of their election (GUARDIAN)

📌 U.S. sanctions, charges Russians over years-long hacking campaign (AXIOS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 McDonald's is opening a new chain called CosMc's. Here are the locations and menu (CBS NEWS)

📌 Meta rolls out encrypted messaging by default for Facebook and Messenger (CNN)

📌 Washington Post journalists walk off jobs in one-day strike (THE HILL)

📌 U.S. poised to approve first gene-editing treatment in breakthrough for sickle cell patients (CNBC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Prince Harry tells court he wants his children to feel at home in UK (BBC)

📌 Derek Hough's wife undergoes emergency brain surgery after cranial hematoma diagnosis (FOX NEWS)

📌 And the color of 2024 is… peach fuzz (CNN)

📌 Norman Lear’s family sang his sitcom theme songs as he passed (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

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🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN WKND  

• WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Mosheh: A Compassionate Spy~ Apple TV; Jill: The Bear~ Hulu (Finally!)

• WHAT WE’RE READING: Mosheh: The 5 Principles of Parenting:

  Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans~ Aliza Pressman; Jill: “Fight antisemitism — put a menorah in your window”~ Newsday
  

• WHAT WE’RE EATING: Mosheh: Doughnuts from Breads Bakery; Jill: Latkes