Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, we have some compelling stories to share with you right now, and here’s what’s going on.
President-elect Donald Trump weighs in on President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden; Trump issues a stern warning regarding the war in the Middle East; and Israel reveals the tragic fate of a kidnapped young American.
Also, the U.S. Supreme Court hears a consequential case involving the federal regulation of certain vaping products, and the United States announces new restrictions to block China from accessing critical technology—we’ll tell you what it’s all about.
Trump Calls Biden Pardon a ‘Miscarriage of Justice’
Yesterday, Trump called Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden an “abuse and miscarriage of justice.” He also asked whether or not the pardon included people “imprisoned for years” for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, whom he called “hostages.”So you know, over the weekend, Biden announced that he had signed “a full and unconditional pardon” for his son, who was convicted on felony tax and firearms charges, and that pardon is drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat, said that he disagreed with the president’s claims that the charges against his son were politically motivated, adding that he thinks Biden “got this one wrong.”
Additionally, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who’s also a Democrat, said that Biden’s move will tarnish his reputation and set a “bad precedent” that could be exploited by future presidents. Polis said he’s “disappointed” that Biden put “his family ahead of the country,” and that no one’s above the law—not even a president or his son.
Meanwhile, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican, said he was shocked by Biden’s decision, because the president had previously pledged that he would neither pardon his son nor commute his sentence.
So you know, Hunter Biden was scheduled to face sentencing hearings later this month for both his firearms and tax charges, but these hearings are now likely to be canceled.
Trump Vows ‘Hell to Pay’ if Hostages Aren’t Freed
Yesterday, the president-elect threatened severe consequences if the hostages held in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, are not released before Jan. 20, 2025.On that day, he’ll be sworn in a second time as the president of the United States, and he said that there will be “all hell to pay” in the Middle East, as well as “for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity” if the hostages are not freed before then.
On Truth Social, Trump said that these hostages are being held “violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World.”
He noted that “everybody is talking” about the captives, but said that “it’s all talk, and no action!”
Trump’s message goes on to promise that the people responsible for these transgressions “will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America,” before demanding the immediate release of all hostages.
To refresh your memory, Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. On Oct. 7, 2023, it launched significant attacks across southern Israel, during which more than 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage, and nearly 100 of these hostages remain in Gaza.
Israel Says American Thought to Be Hostage Is Dead
Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they’ve discovered that a 21-year-old man from New York, Omer Neutra, is dead.The IDF said that Neutra, who was an American-Israeli platoon commander, was actually killed in battle during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and that “his body has been held hostage in Gaza” ever since. The IDF said it confirmed the death through unspecified intelligence.
So you know, Neutra’s family said that he deferred admission to Binghamton University to serve in the IDF.
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the fallen soldier as a hero, a man of values, and a Zionist, and he sent condolences to Neutra’s family. He promised not to rest until all of the remaining hostages held in Gaza—both the living and the dead—are returned to Israel.
Members of Neutra’s family have been calling for his release. Earlier this year, they met with both Netanyahu and President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, along with the relatives of other Americans thought to be held hostage by the Hamas terrorist group.
Additionally, just last month, Neutra’s father made another visit to the White House, and he said that the incoming Trump administration can work with the outgoing Biden administration to achieve the urgent goal of bringing all of the hostages home.
Supreme Court Hears Case Regarding Flavored Vape Products, FDA
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court listened to testimony regarding a decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reject an authorization request by two companies that want to market various vape flavors.During yesterday’s oral argument, Justice Clarence Thomas said that the guidance the agency gave the companies on complying with regulations was “actually a moving target.” He said that either the guidance wasn’t clear, or else the government changed the guidance over time.
So you know, e-cigarette companies must demonstrate that their products are “appropriate for the protection of the public health,” and yesterday, the government argued the companies knew throughout the entire application process that the “FDA was concerned about the fact that flavors are attractive to youth.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said that the FDA had effectively banned flavored e-cigarette products because it did not approve a single application out of the more than 1 million products submitted to the agency.
The solicitor general argued that the FDA had not enacted a de facto ban on flavored e-cigarette products. Instead, she said the agency’s actions were consistent in applying the Tobacco Control Act, which the FDA has said covers e-cigarettes.
You should know that this case is one of several related to e-cigarettes that are scheduled to be heard by the high court this term. The case could help determine how federal agencies regulate a growing market, which last year was valued at nearly $30 billion.
Proponents claim that vaping products help smokers transition away from the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes, while critics worry that flavored vaping products, which often contain nicotine, would lead to more addiction among minors.
US Issues New Restrictions to Block China Access to Chips Tech
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued several restrictions in an attempt to block the CCP from accessing advanced semiconductor technology, which could be used to modernize its military.U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the new rules are meant “to impair” the Chinese regime’s ability to produce technologies that threaten the security of the United States.
The bureau imposed restrictions on high-bandwidth memory chips, three types of software, and more than 20 types of manufacturing equipment used to make semiconductors.
It also sanctioned 140 new organizations, including investment companies involved in the CCP’s military modernization plan along with a number of Chinese semiconductor manufacturing firms.
Additionally, the agency issued new compliance guidelines for domestic companies which advise them not to sell to companies or exporters of technology where the end user is not clear.
Officials say this latest rules package is a proactive attempt to “safeguard our world-leading technologies and know-how so they aren’t used to undermine our national security.” They say the new regulations were implemented because as technology evolves, “our adversaries seek new ways to evade restrictions.”
The officials point out that the goals of the CCP regarding the use of this technology include military modernization, the development of weapons of mass destruction, and social control, including the suppression of human rights.
And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re gonna call it a wrap for the Tuesday edition of the Epoch Times News Brief.
So you know, you’re always encouraged to share your thoughts, comments, or suggestions with the News Brief crew and please reach out to us via email—we’re at [email protected]. You can also leave comments for us on the Epoch Times app, which you can download for free on either the App Store or Google Play.
Don’t forget the News Brief Motto: We’re portable, affordable, and always on-demand.
And finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we wrap everything up with a very notable quote, and this one comes to us from Vivian Swift who said:
“December has the clarity, the simplicity, and the silence you need for the best fresh start of your life.”
I am also a big fan of December and welcome to a brand new month.
For all of us here at the Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
The Epoch Times News Brief program is written each day by David Ross.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased daily synopsis of many of the news stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your day and we’ll see you right back here next time for another edition of the Epoch Times News Brief.
For now, let’s all continue to watch out for one another and have an absolutely superb day today. Bye for now.
