logo
Americans fleeing Israel arrive in Tampa, greeted by Gov. DeSantis

Americans fleeing Israel arrive in Tampa, greeted by Gov. DeSantis

CBS News20-06-2025
Florida is helping Americans stranded in Israel get home.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said evacuation flights are underway and so far the state has rescued more than 160 Americans.
Early Friday morning, DeSantis was at Tampa International Airport to greet passengers on two rescue flights.
The governor said the mission will continue.
"The reality is that there will be more folks that are going to be rescued. This is an ongoing effort. I know that potentially there are some other states that want to get in the game at this point. The reality is that there is definitely a need for more. I know we helped get people out of Israel initially which is important, I don't know when Ben Gurion Airport is going to open again. It may not open for some time," he said.
DeSantis said the state is leading the effort to get people home, especially college students from Florida who are stuck in israel.
Americans stranded in Israel can fill out an emergency evacuation form from Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa nonprofit that helps rescue citizens in conflict zones.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US regulators greenlight contentious $8 bn Skydance-Paramount merger
US regulators greenlight contentious $8 bn Skydance-Paramount merger

Yahoo

time28 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US regulators greenlight contentious $8 bn Skydance-Paramount merger

US regulators on Thursday approved an $8 billion deal for Skydance to acquire Paramount Global amid tumult in the latter's news and late night programming on CBS, a leading American broadcaster. Clearance of the acquisition comes after Paramount settled US President Donald Trump's lawsuit over election coverage on CBS News' flagship show "60 Minutes," and a week after CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The comedian had blasted the $16 million settlement of Trump's lawsuit as "a big fat bribe" to win approval of the merger with Skydance. Colbert's show is slated to end in 2026, and is staple of late-night US television that often mocks Trump. CBS said in a statement the cancellation was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," and was "not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount." Paramount reached the settlement with Trump this month in a lawsuit the entertainment giant itself had described as meritless. The Republican president had sued Paramount for $20 billion last year, alleging that CBS News' "60 Minutes" news program deceptively edited an interview with his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris, in her favor. To promote the show, "60 Minutes" had shown a shortened clip or "tease" of Harris speaking on earlier network programming, and the full quote was aired on the Sunday evening broadcast. Trump objected to the use of the shorter clip. The FCC chair doubled down on the Trump administration's criticisms of CBS News. 'Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately and fairly,' Carr said in the statement. 'It is time for a change. That is why I welcome Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network.' - Suspicious timing? - The FCC's approval of the merger "reeks of the worst form of corruption," Democratic Senators Edward Markey and Ben Ray Lujan said in a joint statement. "The timing speaks for itself," Markey and Lujan said. "Paramount settled with Trump on Tuesday and the FCC approved the merger on Thursday." Markey last week sent a letter to Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone demanding details about the decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," specifically whether anyone in the Trump administration asked for the show to be cancelled, according to a copy posted at his official website. Colbert said on Thursday the cancellation was not just the end of his show but the end of the decades-old "Late Show" franchise, which has been broadcast continuously on CBS since 1993 and was previously hosted by David Letterman. Trump celebrated the cancellation, writing on his Truth Social platform, "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings." Trump's political opponents and other critics drew attention to the timing of the decision. "CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump -- a deal that looks like bribery," Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said on social media platform X. Colbert, once a regular on Comedy Central, made use of humor in his incisive political commentary and succeeded Letterman as the host of "The Late Show" in 2015. The late-night television landscape has long been dominated by satirical comedy shows that blend entertainment with news and political commentary. As a condition of approval, Skydance will put in place an "ombudsman" who will evaluate complaints of bias, according to Carr. "Skydance, which has no DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs in place today, has committed that it will not establish any such initiatives at the new company," Carr said in a release. gc/sla

Planned Parenthood closes 5 Northern California clinics, citing Trump budget bill
Planned Parenthood closes 5 Northern California clinics, citing Trump budget bill

San Francisco Chronicle​

time38 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Planned Parenthood closes 5 Northern California clinics, citing Trump budget bill

President Donald Trump's budget cuts to Medicaid have forced Planned Parenthood Mar Monte to shutter five clinics across Northern California and the Central Coast, including one in South San Francisco, the group said Thursday. The GOP-led federal spending bill that Trump signed into law earlier this month eliminated federal Medicaid funding for any type of medical care to organizations that perform abortions. Mar Monte is the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the country, with health care centers from Bakersfield, the Bay Area, Stockton and Sacramento. The now-shuttered facilities also include San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Gilroy and Madera. The closures represent the first wave of how the recent federal budget cuts will have real-life consequences for health clinics across the country — particularly for low-income Americans. They are also a crushing blow to a state that set it up to be an abortion haven after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. In the year after the decision, political leaders in California — led by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature — passed more than a dozen new laws and invested more than $200 million to increase access across the state. Thursday's announcement drives home the extent of the federal government's tremendous power to impact abortion access. Roughly 80% of Mar Monte's patients received Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid. Ten million people are expected to lose their health insurance because of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans will receive a disproportionate share of the tax cuts funded by those cuts, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. In just one week since Mar Monte stopped billing Medicaid, the Planned Parenthood affiliate with 35 locations said it saw 5,000 patients — amounting to about $1.7 million in care costs it covered without reimbursement — Mar Monte Chief of Staff Andrew Adams told the Chronicle Thursday. 'It's just not sustainable,' said Adams. 'We can't keep our doors open if we continue doing that.' Mar Monte said the funding law also forced it to end services in family medicine, behavioral health and prenatal care. The Planned Parenthood affiliate estimates it will lose $100 million in annual revenue from care that can no longer be reimbursed under the law because they provide abortion care. Americans tend to support abortion rights, according to public polling. A May 2025 Gallup Poll found that 51% of respondents described themselves as 'pro choice' while 43% described themselves as 'pro life.'Of those respondents who said they were 'dissatisfied' with the nation's abortion polices, 42% said they would like to see them made 'less strict' while 14% wanted them to be 'stricter.'

FEARS AROUND SAFETY AND HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKS EMERGE AS KEY CONCERNS AT CAPITOL HILL EVENT
FEARS AROUND SAFETY AND HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKS EMERGE AS KEY CONCERNS AT CAPITOL HILL EVENT

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

FEARS AROUND SAFETY AND HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKS EMERGE AS KEY CONCERNS AT CAPITOL HILL EVENT

CoHNA's 4th Annual Hindu Day of Advocacy brought together lawmakers, researchers, students and constituents WASHINGTON, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A packed room on Capitol Hill saw a cross section of Americans of the Hindu faith come together, for the fourth year, to celebrate the contributions of their community and highlight the problems they face. The event, on the heels of CoHNA's five year anniversary, was attended by more than a 100 Hindu delegates from 17 states across the US who visited close to 150 Congressional offices to raise awareness. It drew more than 25 lawmakers (Congressional representatives and staffers) who joined the event and heard from a variety of speakers—academics, students, human rights leaders and more. "An overarching theme during the event was around safety and the ability to freely practice one's religion. It was echoed in the thoughts of several lawmakers who were shocked to know how anti-Hindu hate is playing out in the US," said CoHNA president and co-founder Nikunj Trivedi. From multiple temple attacks to Hindu students being bullied and doxxed by peers on elite campuses; from being gaslit by academics and colleagues to facing institutional indifference and inaction when wronged; the Hindu community has been under fire. Hinduphobia is a problem that plays out in many ways—from obnoxious levels of hate and bullying online to more subtle institutional blows like 'caste' laws and policies which seek to profile and target Hindus in America. Broad Congressional Support CoHNA's advocacy day received bi-partisan support from Democratic and Republican Congresspersons, united in their encouragement of advocacy, passionate in their defense of religious freedom, and equally dismayed by the attacks on Hindu places of worship. Welcoming the CoHNA community back to Capitol Hill, Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) shared insights on why such events matter and reflected on his own long involvement with the community—both professionally and personally. He emphasized our shared values, including a focus on family, faith, and country, on growing the future, and on the importance of nurturing relationships. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) shared how proud he is of his Hindu faith. Speaking of growing up in the tradition that has given so much to the world and influenced American society through yoga, meditation, and ancient philosophy, he said, "I'm happy to see many young Hindus here, championing the cause of Hindus and their rights, both here and abroad. We should not be afraid of being Hindu! The future generation is crucial for our community's voice." Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) shared a laugh with CoHNA board member and vice president Rajeev Menon as he highlighted his appreciation for the shared values he has observed. The congressman congratulated CoHNA for enabling the Hindu community to advocate for their place in American society, emphasizing the critical importance of religious liberty as guaranteed by the US constitution, and its foundational role in ensuring prosperity and innovation. Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA), who spoke during the dinner reception, shared stories of his long association with the Hindu community and the impact it has made. He added that he was well aware of the attacks happening on the community, thanks to CoHNA's efforts. "Our country is founded on principles of freedom and equality, and the Hindu community is as much part of it as anyone else. Elected officials have a responsibility to ensure that 'you' (meaning the Hindu community) feel included and safe," he stated. Representative Thomas Kean Jr (R-NJ) also spoke of his support for the Hindu community and offered encouragement for continued engagement, especially given his involvement with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "CoHNA is doing important grassroots work to promote understanding of Hinduism and to celebrate the community's rich heritage, values, and traditions", he added. Wrapping up the evening, Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) called out the explosion of hate and bigotry across the world, exemplified by the ongoing atrocities in Bangladesh where Hindus are being cleansed from their homeland, where a monk has been arrested on trumped up charges, and where temples have been destroyed. He emphasized the need for action via economic sanctions and more. Rep. Thanedar also called out the growing number of temple attacks in the US—in New York and in California. "These attacks have to stop," he said, promising to continue his fight against such hate. He thanked CoHNA and event attendees for "showing up and standing up in this fight for justice and fairness because if one temple is attacked, all temples are attacked." Expert Testimony Delivering the keynote speech, leading scientist Dr Lee Jussim of the Rutgers Social Perceptions Lab, shared highlights and data from an academic study, titled "Instructing Animosity." Released in November 2024, the study conducted on a nationally representative sample of 876 individuals, used a treatment-control approach to probe the impact of caste training on the perceptions of ordinary Americans about Hindus. Of critical note, the study found that exposure to caste discrimination narratives in the workplace and academia results in bias against Hindus as a whole. Prof. Jussim's presentation showcased results from an experiment where, after reading a short description of 'caste discrimination' from Equality Labs content, participants in the study were much more likely to endorse Hitler's quotes (with the word 'Brahmin' replacing 'Jew'). In another experiment, where a Hindu-sounding college admissions officer rejected a Hindu-sounding candidate, study participants exposed to anti-caste rhetoric were more likely to assume that the admissions officer was upper caste and biased, and feel the decision was unfair—despite no supporting evidence. Alarmingly, many exhibited a willingness to punish the admissions officer, and to view Hindus, in general, as racist! Drawing on two decades of advocacy and research work, human rights activist and author Richard Benkin emphasized that while Hindus have long been persecuted in Bangladesh, the situation has deteriorated in the past year. "The new Bangladeshi government is now playing an active role in Hindu persecution—particularly through the elimination of Hindu educators and the (mis)use of institutional power," Benkin said. He cautioned that Islamist groups are poised for political power after the 2026 election, and that US inaction risks letting Bangladesh turn into a "Chinese vassal state" like Pakistan. Benkin urged lawmakers to take action before it's too late. The highlight of the evening reception was a talk by globally acclaimed filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, whose film 'The Bengal Files' sheds light on the forgotten genocide of Hindus during India's partition in 1947. An Afternoon Packed with Testimonies and Data The event began with mantras and a solemn moment of silence in memory of the Hindu civilians killed in the past few months in places as far apart as Pahalgam (Kashmir, India) and Bangladesh. Testimony from Kashmiri community leaders Mohan Sapru and Amit Raina brought home historical and personal context to the recent terror attacks. American Hindus from Bangladesh bore testimony to the deep and continuing persecution the community has faced. A data driven presentation focused attention on the growing problem of physical attacks against Hindu temples in the United States—six in the past 18 months. Worse, the attacks have drawn little attention or outrage, with no arrests or prosecutions. When Hindus embrace their Hindu identity, they are targeted with accusations of dual loyalty, ideological labels, and subject to public shaming designed to make them water down their identity. Political leaders like Krystle Kaul and Bhavini Patel, who spoke at the event, shared heartfelt testimony of the harassment and personal targeting they faced for their backgrounds. A powerful panel of student voices from the University of California, Berkeley, and Rutgers University brought to life the hostility Hindu youth face on campus for simple things like seeking to open Hindu clubs, celebrating Hindu festivals and traditions, and holding peaceful vigils mourning dead Hindus in Bangladesh, Kashmir or elsewhere. About CoHNA CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Coalition of Hindus of North America

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store