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FOR IT BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST IT … "In 1996 Interview, Joe Biden Called Iranian Bombing ‘Act of War,’ Called for Tough Response," by WFB’s Brent Scher: "[The United States] could take whatever action it deems appropriate," Biden said at the time. "They yield their sovereignty if they are [behind the attack] … it's an act of war."
The strong stance differs greatly from his response to Thursday night's deadly strike on Soleimani—itself a response to Iran's attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that killed an American contractor and wounded American troops.
DANCES WITH WHACKOS … "The Left criticized Elizabeth Warren for calling Soleimani a 'murderer,' so she issued a new statement focused on attacking Trump," via EXAMINER: When news broke that Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed, Sen. Elizabeth Warren thought she was striking a careful balance by acknowledging that he was a "murderer" while also attacking the decision to kill him as "reckless." …
Liberals quickly jumped on Warren's comments, attacking her for employing the language used by hawks to justify war … She then released a follow-up statement stripped of any criticism of Soleimani, and instead focused exclusively on attacking President Trump for an attack that she rebranded as an "assassination."
DEMS CALL FOR SECRET BALLOT … "Ted Cruz Dares Democrats, Offers Senate Resolution Praising Soleimani Mission," via DAILY WIRE: Per the senator’s aides who spoke to Fox News on Friday, Cruz’s resolution is "structured and worded the same way as a 2011 resolution commending the Obama administration" for locating and eliminating terror mastermind and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden …
Sens. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) and Tim Kaine (D., Va.) are reportedly drafting their own competing resolution to Cruz’s, also condemning the Trump administration’s decision to engage in a "war" with Iran.
GET A ROOM …
YOU’D THINK THE $150 BILLION WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS … "Soleimani funeral procession eulogist puts prize on Trump’s head," via AL ARABIYA: The eulogist at the funeral procession of prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iran put an 80-million-dollar prize on U.S. President Donald Trump’s head on live state TV.
"We are 80 million Iranians, if each one of us puts aside one American dollar, we will have 80 million American dollars, and we will reward anyone who brings us [Trump]’s head with that amount," he said, addressing a large crowd in Iran’s north-eastern city of Mashhad.
WAS THERE A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE? … "Iran abandons nuclear deal over U.S. killing general," via PBS: The announcement came Sunday night after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even harsher steps over the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Friday in Baghdad. State TV cited a statement by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s administration saying the country will not observe limitations on its enrichment, the amount of stockpiled enriched uranium as well as research and development in its nuclear activities.
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, PUPPET MASTER PULLS A FINAL STRING … "Iraq Calls for Foreign Troops to Leave After U.S. Killing of Iranian Commander," via REUTERS: The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to all foreign troop presence, reflecting the fears of many in Iraq that the strike could engulf them in another war between two bigger powers long at odds in Iraq and across the region …
While such resolutions are not binding on the government, this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdihad earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.
MOST POPULAR PERVERT … "Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes Monologue Mocks Hollywood’s Jeffrey Epstein Ties," via DAILY BEAST: Gervais then plugged his own Netflix show After Life, in which he plays a man who wants to kill himself. "OK, spoiler alert, season two is on the way, so in the end obviously he didn’t kill himself," he said. "Just like Jeffrey Epstein." As the crowd groaned, he added, "Shut up! I know he’s your friend, but I don’t care. You had to make your own way here on your own plane, didn’t you?!" …
"Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg," he continued. "So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your god, and f— off."
GO, BARI, GO … "Weiss: Jews Do Not Cause Anti-Semitism," by WFB’s Cameron Cawthorne: New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss on Sunday said the national media have "absolutely" been slow in their coverage of the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States …
She noted that it "took two years for the mainstream press" to cover the ties between Linda Sarsour—a former leader of the Women's March and surrogate for presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.)—and Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam and an infamous anti-Semite.
HEY TEHRAN, NEED A QB? … "After Soleimani death, Colin Kaepernick decries U.S. 'terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people'," via FOX NEWS: In a separate tweet, Kaepernick decried "American imperialism" and its "policing and plundering of the nonwhite world."
"America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad," he wrote. "America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the nonwhite world."
TECHNICAL FOUL … "Critics of Warriors coach's Iran rant point to NBA's China silence," via FOX BUSINESS: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr faced backlash for telling Americans not to "believe our government when it comes to matters of war," with many critics juxtaposing it with the NBA's silence on human rights abuses in China, one of its most lucrative partners …
Kerr previously caught flak when he declined to comment on China's decision not to air two NBA games—a response to a league general manager expressing support for Hong Kong protesters.
RISKY BUSINESS … "Intrepid Reporter Stephanie Ruhle Walks the Plank (to Success) at NBC," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: The New York Post reports that Ruhle has been named a senior business correspondent for MSNBC parent company NBC News and will soon make regular appearances on the network's flagship programs, including Today and NBC Nightly News …
The promotion was announced less than a year after the Wall Street Journal published a deeply reported story on Ruhle's unusually close relationship with Kevin Plank, the billionaire founder and chairman of athletic apparel company Under Armour.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,121. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
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