Published by an old curmudgeon who came to America in 1936 as a refugee from Nazi Germany and proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is a former law enforcement officer and a retired professor of criminal justice who, in 1970, founded the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. BarkGrowlBite refuses to be politically correct.
(Copyrighted articles are reproduced in accordance with the copyright laws of the U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 107.)
Rhode Island homeowner left stunned after finding exotic reptile hiding under 20inch snow on his driveway
By Alexa Cimino
Daily Mail
Jan 30, 2026
A Rhode Island man got the shock
of the season after uncovering a large tegu lizard buried beneath
nearly 20 inches of snow outside his home following the region's latest
winter storm
A Rhode Island uncovered
a large tegu lizard buried beneath nearly 20 inches of snow outside his
home following the region's latest winter storm.
The
unexpected discovery happened on Providence's busier streets, where the
reptile, a species native to South America - was found barely moving as
it tried to push itself out of the deep snow, according to a post from
the New England Wildlife Center.
Despite
the surprise, the resident acted quickly. He brought the lizard
indoors, wrapped it in a T‑shirt to conserve what little body heat it
had, and contacted Taylor and Emily, co‑owners of ET Reptiles, for
help.
The pair responded immediately, retrieved the animal, and began warming it gradually while arranging emergency care.
The
tegu was transported to the New England Wildlife Center, where
veterinarians Dr Greg Mertz and Dr Alyssa Gannaway found the reptile in
critical condition.
He was extremely weak, underweight and barely able to move.
His
tongue had suffered frostbite, and he showed signs of cold‑induced
myopathy - a form of muscle injury caused by prolonged exposure to low
temperatures.
Reptiles like tegus are cold‑blooded, meaning they cannot regulate their body temperature internally.
The tegu was transported to the
New England Wildlife Center, where veterinarians Dr Greg Mertz and Dr
Alyssa Gannaway found the reptile in critical condition
When exposed to freezing weather, their
metabolism slows dramatically, circulation becomes compromised, and
tissue can begin to die.
Experts say tegus stand virtually no chance of surviving winter conditions in New England on their own.
The
Odd Pet Vet team amputated a small piece of nonviable tissue from the
lizard's tongue and provided supportive care, including steroids to
address inflammation and generalized weakness.
Staff confirmed in the Facebook post that he is now resting comfortably - and, most importantly, warm.
'Stories
like this are a reminder of how dependent these animals are on the
right care and informed humans,' the center said, thanking ET Reptiles
for their rapid response and ongoing work to support responsible reptile
ownership.
Where the tegu came from remains a mystery. It is unclear whether it escaped from a nearby home or was intentionally released.
The New England Wildlife Center is asking anyone with information, or anyone missing a tegu, to contact them or ET Reptiles.
The center shared photos showing the lizard as he arrived, followed by images after his treatment with Dr Mertz and Dr Gannaway.
The tegu was wrapped it in a
T‑shirt to conserve what little body heat it had, and contacted Taylor
and Emily, co‑owners of ET Reptiles, for help
The tegu's tongue had suffered
frostbite, and he showed signs of cold‑induced myopathy - a form of
muscle injury caused by prolonged exposure to low temperatures
The tegu as rescuers first found him, nearly frozen after being pulled from a snowbank in Providence
Staff say they will be 'rooting for a good outcome' and will provide updates as recovery continues.
Tegus could not survive New England winters, but they had become a major invasive species in Florida, according to the Jacksonville Zoo.
The
zoo said the lizards established themselves in the wild after
unprepared owners either allowed them to escape or released them once
the animals grew too large to manage.
Their
presence posed a serious ecological threat because they bred rapidly,
females laid anywhere from 10 to 70 eggs at a time, and preyed on native
birds, reptiles and small mammals, putting threatened and endangered
species at further risk.
Their
intelligence, size and ability to adapt meant they spread quickly
through the landscape, prompting Florida to ban their sale in 2021 and
require existing owners to microchip and keep them indoors at all
times.
Trump's tenacious enforcer reveals her relationship with JD Vance is still on ICE as she cheers on a 2028 rival
By Elina Shirazi
Daily Mail
Jan 30, 2026
The self–described 'chief loyalty enforcer' of the Trump administration
has a chilling message for the Vice President: the frost is not thawing
The self–described 'chief loyalty
enforcer' of the Trump administration has a chilling message for the
vice President: the frost is not thawing.
In
an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Laura Loomer, the
right-wing media figure who has become a fixture in the president's
inner circle, confirmed that her relationship with Vice President JD Vance remains deeply fractured following their high–profile spat.
The
feud, which reached a fever pitch after Vance previously labeled some
of Loomer's more inflammatory rhetoric and pushback against him as
'despicable,' appears to have left a permanent mark on the MAGA
hierarchy.
When asked if the two had managed to patch things up behind the scenes, Loomer was characteristically blunt.
'I
have not spoken to the vice president, but I encourage him to focus on
condemning his friend Tucker Qatarlson, who spends every episode of his
show attacking the Trump administration and simping for Islamic
terrorists,' Loomer told the Mail.
Loomer's biting nickname for the former Fox News host, 'Tucker Qatarlson,' stems from her recent crusade against Tucker Carlson.
A spokesperson for the vice president did not return a Daily Mail request for comment.
She
has accused the media mogul of being a 'controlled' voice influenced by
foreign interests, specifically targeting his recent interviews and
critiques of the administration's more hawkish stances.
August 26, 2024 photo of Laura Loomer and President Donald Trump is captioned: My favorite President!
When asked about Senator Ted
Cruz, who has recently signaled a potential 2028 challenge to the Vice
President, Loomer suggested one name that she is putting money behind –
Vance's best friend
When asked about Senator Ted
Cruz, who has recently signaled a potential 2028 challenge to the Vice
President, Loomer suggested one name that she is putting money behind –
Vance's best friend in the administration
While the current administration is still in the thick of its term, the shadow of 2028 is already looming large.
With
Vance widely considered the heir apparent to the MAGA throne, any sign
of dissent from the base is a significant blow to his future ambitions.
Loomer, however, isn't waiting around to see if Vance can win her back.
When
asked about Senator Ted Cruz, who has recently signaled a potential
2028 Republican primary challenge to the vice president, Loomer
suggested one name that she is putting money behind – Vance's best
friend in the administration.
'Rubio rising!' Loomer told the Daily Mail, referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A JL Partners/Daily Mail poll taken last week showed Vance holding 38-point lead over his main primary rivals.
Among
501 likely GOP primary voters nationally, Vance takes 49 percent of the
vote to Ron DeSantis' 11 percent. Cruz earns 7 percent and Rubio is at 6
percent.
Rubio has transformed from
'Little Marco' rival to cornerstone of Trump's foreign policy, earning
respect from loyalists who once viewed him with suspicion.
His Capitol Hill appearance discussing Venezuela operations even drew a public nod from Vice President JD Vance on social media.
Though
both are leading contenders for the GOP's 2028 presidential nomination,
they're charting sharply different paths in how they leverage their
roles within the Trump administration.
All
eyes will be on whether Rubio and Vance begin to distance themselves as
2028 talk heats up—unless they end up joining forces on the same
ticket.
Disabled man, 30, dies after his caretaker father was detained by ICE
By James Gordon
Daily Mail
Jan 30, 2026
Wael Tarabishi, right, a US
citizen with advanced Pompe disease, died Friday in intensive care at
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. He is pictured alongside his
father Maher Tarabishi
The family of a disabled Texas
man who died in intensive care is accusing US immigration authorities
of causing his death by separating him from his full-time caregiver and
refusing to release his detained father, even as he lay dying.
Wael
Tarabishi, a US citizen with advanced Pompe disease, died on Friday at
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, south of Dallas, weeks after his
father Maher Tarabishi was taken into ICE custody during a routine
immigration check-in.
Maher, 62, had
been Wael's primary caregiver for more than three decades and managed
his ventilator, feeding tubes, medications, and daily medical needs.
Since his arrest on October 28, Maher has been held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas.
His family says Wael's health deteriorated rapidly after his father was removed from the home.
'I blame ICE,' Maher's daughter-in-law Shahd Arnaout told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. 'Maybe they did not kill Wael with a bullet, but they killed him when they took his father away.'
Wael,
who could not move or breathe on his own due to his rare genetic
disorder that causes progressive muscle failure, was hospitalized twice
after Maher's arrest after his condition worsened.
In
November, he was treated for sepsis and pneumonia. In late December, he
was admitted again to the ICU after a stomach infection caused his
feeding tube to leak.
Maher Tarabishi, left, had been
his primary caregiver to his son, Wael, for more than 30 years before
being detained by ICE in October. They are pictured alongside another
family member
That second hospitalization lasted 30 days and ended with Wael dying on Friday afternoon.
'Wael
is a US citizen, and he was asking for his dad to be next to him while
he's dying,' Arnaout explained. 'His country failed him.'
According
to the family, doctors had warned that Wael required highly specialized
care and that Maher was the only person who fully understood his
complex medical needs.
Wael was
diagnosed with Pompe disease at four and was not expected to live past
the age of ten, but survived more than 30 years under his father's care.
In Wael's final hours, his family signed a 'do not resuscitate' order as his organs began to fail.
The family made an emergency plea for Maher's release so he could be with his son before he died. The request was denied.
Wael was diagnosed at four and
was not expected to live past the age of ten, but survived more than 30
years under his father's care
Doctors originally told the family Wael would not live past the age of 10.
Maher, top, learned of Wael’s death while still in immigration custody
Wael was hospitalized twice after his father’s detention, including for sepsis, pneumonia, and a feeding tube infection
A Facebook campaign page kept supporters abreast of developments
An online campaign sprung up in the hope of getting Maher released to be with his son
Maher had to learn of his son's death during a phone call from detention.
The family is now asking ICE to release Maher so he can attend Wael's funeral.
'ICE
has NOT received a formal request from anyone to attend funeral
services. Requests for temporary release are considered on a case by
case basis,' the agency said in a statement.
ICE
has described Maher as a 'criminal alien' and alleged he was affiliated
with the Palestine Liberation Organization, a claim his family denies.
Maher
Tarabishi is a Jordanian national who entered the US in 1994 and
overstayed on a tourist visa. He later applied for asylum.
His family says he has complied with immigration requirements and regularly attended check-ins.
On
Friday, Maher's attorney filed a motion to reopen his asylum case after
discovering that his former lawyer had been practicing without a valid
license.
Advocates say Maher's detention may never have occurred if his legal representation had been legitimate.
The case went viral after Billie Eilish shared Wael’s story on her social media
The story drew international
attention after Billie Eilish reposted Wael Tarabishi’s case to her
Facebook stories, amplifying calls for Maher’s release
Maher, left, entered the US in
1994 and has been seeking asylum since his visa expired. His sons were
both US citizens having been born here
Maher Tarabishi’s arrest is part of a larger increase in immigration enforcement during President Donald Trump’s second term
In
December, the family and community activists gathered outside the
hospital, pleading directly with President Donald Trump for Maher's
release.
In a prepared statement read
by a cousin, Wael himself had said: 'He is the one who knows my body
when it is about to fail. He is the one who keeps me alive when I'm at
my weakest.'
Maher's daughter-in-law
said simply: 'This is not a man who should be behind bars. This is a man
who should be beside his child, his sick child.'
The
case drew widespread attention on Friday after Billie Eilish shared the
story on her social media, prompting renewed scrutiny of immigration
detention policies.
'We call on every
congressional representative that represents Texas to take action to the
fullest extent of their capacity to ensure that Maher gets the
opportunity to properly mourn his son and grieve with his family, as is
his human right to do,' a spokesperson for the Tarabishi family said.
Maher Tarabishi remains in ICE custody. The Daily Mail has contacted ICE for comment.
Brazil's right-wing frontrunner, Flavio Bolsonaro, the oldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair
Bolsonaro, has been solidifying his position as a central figure in the Brazilian
right-wing camp and as a leading candidate for the country's presidency
in elections scheduled for later this year. Despite his young age
(Flávio has not yet turned 45), he is already considered a veteran
senator and seasoned politician. That's what happens when you are first
elected to the parliament of Rio de Janeiro state at just 21 years old.
As
someone who grew up at the heart of Brazil's turbulent public arena,
Bolsonaro the son is seen by his supporters as the natural heir to his
father's path and ideology – not just in name, but also in a cohesive
and clear worldview. Jair Bolsonaro gave his son his blessing from
within the compound of the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, the
capital, where he is confined in solitary confinement after being
sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Through
the stitching together of a rather bizarre indictment that attributed
to Bolsonaro the father nothing less than an attempted insurrection, and
with the help of compliant judges, the current President Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva, known as Lula, succeeded, along with his people, in
removing their greatest rival from the public arena. Now they will have
to face his son, and Flávio also knows that in this battle, the leftist
government will again not hesitate to use any means.
"Lula
was previously convicted as the leader of a crime organization, which
stole billions from Brazilian public funds," Flávio Bolsonaro reminds us
in an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom. "Nevertheless,
today he sits again in the president's office after being acquitted in a
suspicious manner. Today, Brazil suffers from widespread violence, with
25% of Brazilians living in areas controlled by crime organizations.
Lula's government is at the center of the scandal involving the theft of
pension benefits from retirees of Brazil's social security institution,
in which Lula's son is accused of receiving bribes totaling 25 million
reais (approximately $5 million). More than 40 million families depend
on a government allowance of 600 reais ($120) just to have food at home,
and the government uses state mechanisms to pursue and imprison
political rivals. Brazil is no longer a democracy."
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Not
only do the right-wing presidential candidates think so. A host of
international bodies and Western governments have expressed concern
about the loss of Brazil's democratic character under Lula. The erosion
of political rights is so severe that, unusually, a rare consensus has
formed between human rights organizations identified with conservatism
and those identified with the left. Everyone recognizes the problem and
points to the authorities' tendency to curtail freedom of expression and
turn the justice system into a weapon aimed exclusively at political
rivals. The "Democracy Index" of The Economist magazine calls Lula's country a "flawed democracy," in complete alignment with Bolsonaro's complaints.
Like
his father, Flávio Bolsonaro is identified with a staunch conservative
line, an emphasis on national sovereignty, a fight against crime and
corruption, and opposition to what he sees as a hostile takeover of
Brazilian democracy by legal and ideological elites on the left. Over
the years, he has not hesitated to confront powerful institutions and
has presented himself as a direct voice of a broad public that feels
excluded from traditional political discourse.
When
discussing his willingness to stand his ground and confront powerful
actors, it should be noted that, in Flávio's case, this extends beyond
politics. About ten years ago, the man proved he possessed unusual
courage in other situations as well. When he noticed during a random
drive in Rio de Janeiro that a nearby car was being attacked by two
armed robbers, Flávio Bolsonaro and his bodyguard charged at the armed
thugs. They managed to chase away the robbers, and Bolsonaro's shots,
who holds a licensed pistol, even hit one of them. No less than six
bullets hit his car's windshield, but both he and the bodyguard emerged
from the confrontation unharmed.
Q:
The legal proceedings and imprisonment of your father, former President
Jair Bolsonaro, have sparked fierce controversy. Do you see them as
political persecution, and how has this affected your decision to run
for president?
"This
is clear political persecution – not just against my father but against
millions of Brazilians. The illegal arrests, censorship, and
persecution have reached unprecedented dimensions in our history. Brazil
is currently an exceptional state, with almost no space for opposition.
My father was convicted of an impossible crime – an attempted coup
without weapons, when he was no longer president, while he was staying
in the United States, supposedly using elderly people, mothers, and
religious people – and all this after appointing army commanders who
were also approved by Lula. This is a grotesque farce that breaks
records even compared to a long series of illegal acts by the current
regime, which has led Brazil to an exceptional situation. My father was
convicted by his political enemies – Lula's former lawyer and former
justice minister, who declared that 'Bolsonaro is the devil on earth'-
after he helped Lula get elected while serving as president of the
Supreme Electoral Court and tilted the system against Bolsonaro. This
entire mechanism was built to pursue and imprison political rivals. My
candidacy is a direct result of this persecution. After the main
opposition leader was kicked out of the race, I was forced to step into
his shoes so that millions of Brazilians would have a chance to choose. I
hope the international community pays attention to Brazil, because we
cannot allow the largest country in Latin America to be held hostage by a
regime that deprives rights."
Q:
Critics claim that the justice system in Brazil has become politicized.
Do you share this concern, and how do you intend to restore public
trust in the rule of law?
"Yes.
Some call it politicization or 'judicial activism,' but these are
whitewashed terms for sheer tyranny. In our case, some people in the
Supreme Court commit illegal acts to eliminate the opposition. The most
prominent case is Judge Alexandre de Moraes – a serial violator of human
rights who acted with one goal in mind – eliminating the opposition in
Brazil."
"Big
Alex," as Supreme Federal Court Judge de Moraes is called in Brazil, is
the doomsday weapon that was activated against Bolsonaro the father. In
fact, he is the one who sent him to prison, and if that's not enough he
also led to the outlawing of the social network X (formerly Twitter) in
Brazil. In a move unprecedented even by the standards of totalitarian
regimes, de Moraes imposed a fine of 50,000 reais ($10,000) per day on
anyone who uses a VPN to bypass the ban and access X. Such a step did
not occur to Putin or Xi Jinping.
Unsurprisingly,
Elon Musk accused de Moraes of blatant and repeated violations of the
constitutional rights of Brazilian citizens, and in response, the judges
of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court ordered the opening of a criminal
investigation against Musk for spreading hate speech, inciting violenc,e
and a series of other accusations pulled from thin air. If this is how
they dare to treat Musk, an American citizen, imagine their power over
ordinary Brazilian citizens. In August 2024, de Moraes simply threatened
to arrest and throw into jail the employees working at Twitter's
Brazilian office.
Flávio Bolsonaro holds figurines of Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump
In
July 2025, the US imposed sanctions on him and other Brazilian Supreme
Court judges. In September they were expanded to also include the
notorious judge's wife. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, stated
firmly at the time that "the political persecution led by Brazilian
Judge Alexandre de Moraes against Jair Bolsonaro created a system of
persecution and censorship so extensive that it not only harms the
fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens, but also exceeds the country's
borders and is directed at American citizens as well." However, about a
month ago the sanctions on the de Moraes couple were surprisingly
canceled, without any real explanation.
A blood alliance
President
Lula plowed deep furrows not only in the justice system. He changed
Brazil's foreign policy from end to end and transferred it to the
classic tracks of the left – opposition to the US and Israel, and
embracing all those who oppose them, from Russia to Iran, Venezuela and
Hamas. In one of the low points, Brazil officially joined South Africa's
petition against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in
The Hague, claiming genocide in Gaza. A year later, Lula succeeded in
sinking even lower when he announced Brazil's withdrawal from the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Flávio Bolsonaro does not
hide his disgust with these moves by Lula and his gang.
Q:
How in your view has Brazil's international standing changed in recent
years, especially in relation to Western democracies and Israel?
"Brazil
has become a pariah in the international arena. Current foreign policy
is aligned with the entire dictatorial garbage heap of the radical left.
Antisemitism and hostility toward Western values are the foundational
lines of the criminal organization that seized control of Brazil.
Support for terror, identification with tyrannical and despotic regimes
around the world, and enthusiastic support for global restrictions on
freedom of expression – all these stand at the heart of the foreign
activity of Lula's Workers' Party."
Latin
America is in an ongoing ideological struggle between right and left.
Due to its size and influence, Brazil has traditionally been considered a
country that leads others after it. The question is where it will lead
them now?
"Brazilians
understand more and more that we cannot go down Venezuela's path, which
has been ruled for years by a terrible dictator close to Lula. More
than 8 million Venezuelans fled from hunger, poverty and persecution –
and many of them arrived in Brazil. Brazilians know what they don't want
– the left. The president bears the duty to defend the values of
Western civilization, which are based on Judeo-Christian values."
Q:
Recent events in Venezuela have worried the international community.
How do you assess the situation there, and what is Brazil's role?
"I
believe that sovereignty is a civilizational concept that requires a
set of principles and values. Sovereignty cannot exist under murderous
tyranny, as ruled in Venezuela. Those who glorify abstract sovereignty
are effectively defending impunity for tyrants. Tyrannies are not
sovereign – peoples are. An enslaved people is not free and therefore
cannot enjoy sovereignty. If someone cannot even speak freely, how can
they be sovereign? Sovereignty requires freedom above all. The West lost
this ideal when it lulled itself to sleep through hollow slogans of
international diplomacy in the service of professional bureaucrats.
President Trump reminded the West of something fundamental – without
freedom a people cannot be sovereign. What we saw in Venezuela was the
beginning of liberation of an enslaved people. Unfortunately, Brazil
under Lula defends the interests of tyranny, because the current
Brazilian government is complicit with the criminals who hijacked
Venezuela."
Q:
Do you think leftist governments in the region, including Lula's
government, showed excessive tolerance toward extreme regimes like the
ayatollah regime in Iran?
"'Tolerance'
is too gentle a word. Lula and the Latin American left are financiers,
collaborators and propagandists for these regimes."
Q: How do you assess the impact of US President Donald Trump on Latin America?
"Trump
is without any doubt the greatest world leader – he is strong,
disruptive of conventions and determined to do the right thing. He was
right to attack Iran's nuclear facilities; the world must never allow a
fanatical regime that hosts terror to possess nuclear weapons. Uranium
enrichment beyond 3 to 4% constitutes a clear signal of intent to
produce a bomb, as even the UN nuclear agency acknowledged. The capture
of the drug dealer who seized control of an entire country – the
narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela – was an operation worthy of a
movie, in which the forces of the United States Army again prevailed
and struck a blow against the São Paulo Forum (the Latin American
left-wing regimes club)."
"President
Trump firmly defends freedom and deals with criminals as they should be
dealt with – with a strong hand. I publicly thank him and the United
States Army for the successful operation in Venezuela, and thank God
that Americans chose Trump, whose moral conscience and courage restore
freedom. There is no sovereignty without freedom. Maduro is no different
from a drug cartel boss controlling a favela, or what Hamas does in
Gaza – illegitimate leaders who slaughter their people. Venezuela has
the world's largest oil reserves; countries with far fewer resources
have succeeded in thriving. May God protect Donald Trump. We pray that
after October 2026 we will establish a strong and lasting partnership
with the United States – and Brazil is the missing link to defeating
international criminals and terrorists in South America."
Westward from here
One
of the prominent characteristics of Bolsonaro the son's positions is
his warm and open relationship toward Israel. Flávio continues a clear
line of support for the Jewish state, a line that stood out especially
during his father's tenure as president. The entire Bolsonaro family
cultivated close ties with Israel, expressed deep identification with
its security struggle and stood by its side in the international arena.
Under Bolsonaro the father's rule, the political partnership between
Brazil and Israel strengthened, moving the embassy to Jerusalem was
considered, and Brazil adopted distinctly pro-Israel positions at the UN
and other international organizations.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and former Brazilian President
Jair Bolsonaro at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Flávio
himself frequently cites Israel as an example of a strong, innovative
and determined country that guards its identity and security against
external threats. In the eyes of his supporters, this view also reflects
his vision for Brazil – a sovereign, proud country that does not
apologize for its values.
Against
the backdrop of Lula's return to power and Brazil's distancing from
Israel and the Western camp, Flávio Bolsonaro presents himself as a
clear alternative – a young and dynamic leader, yet simultaneously
experienced, carrying his father's legacy and seeking to return Brazil
to a path of strategic alliances with Western democracies, first and
foremost the United States and Israel. For many in the Brazilian right,
he is not just the son of a former president, but a symbol of the
continuation of a broad ideological struggle over Brazil's identity.
Q:
Relations between Brazil and Israel were particularly close during your
father's tenure. How do you see them today under President Lula, and do
you think they have suffered real damage?
"Lula
is distinctly antisemitic. He is an enthusiastic supporter of
anti-Israel terror organizations and serves as an agent for financing
and spreading the left's anti-Israel agenda in the West. Brazil's
government today is a declared enemy of Israel. Unlike my father, Lula
works to turn Brazil into a hothouse for anti-Israel terrorists. Hatred
of Israel is not just tolerated – it is deliberately spread by Lula and
his people."
Q:
If you are elected president, what concrete steps will you take to
rehabilitate and strengthen the strategic partnership between Brazil and
Israel?
"The
embassy issue must be reexamined. I believe that moving it to Jerusalem
will be an important step on the path to the alignment I aspire to.
After that, I intend to sign a series of strategic cooperation
agreements with Israel in the fields of technology, energy, security,
agriculture and culture. Our two peoples have shared values and deep
cultural and spiritual connections. I intend to take institutional and
legal steps so that Brazil will once again be a central ally of Israel."
Q: Will you do what your father didn't have time to do – and move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem?
"Yes. That will be one of the first steps I take."
From Maduro to Milei
If
and when Flávio Bolsonaro takes his father's revenge and expels Lula
from the presidential palace, hard work awaits him. Cleaning the stables
after the leftist president and his many appointments in various
government systems will not be simple. Internal security, organized
crime and cartel violence trouble Brazil's residents even more than
Lula's controversial moves on the international level.
Q: What will be your strategy for dealing with Brazil's acute problems?
"Public
security will for the first time be the central issue in a presidential
campaign. The difference between what I propose and what President Lula
does is completely clear. It's no accident that Brazil's prisons
celebrated Lula's victory in the 2022 elections. Let me be firm – in my
administration, the police will not serve to pursue citizens for posts
and opinions on social networks, but will lead a zero-tolerance policy
toward crime. While the radical left insists on treating criminals as
victims of society – to the point that Lula claims drug dealers are the
victims of users – I begin with a very simple principle: Those who
control territory through drug trafficking, terrorize entire communities
and sentence families to violence, humiliation and terror – are not
victims. They commit serious crimes and must be treated as such. There
are repeated attempts to justify violent crime and present it as a
product of poverty. This is a mistaken narrative. It disrespects
millions of modest, hardworking and honest Brazilians who face enormous
difficulties but never choose crime. Poverty does not create criminals;
crime is a product of choice and lack of punishment. I wish for Brazil
the opposite situation – I want the poor person to thrive, become
wealthy, live in prosperity, dignity and security, and thus raise their
family. There can be no prosperity without public security."
Q: How should crime be properly addressed?
"Violent
crime rests on three pillars – drug trafficking, disarming law-abiding
citizens of their weapons, and a systematic system of early release of
criminals. First of all, drug trafficking. Almost every act of violent
crime in Brazil has a direct or indirect connection to drugs. Drug
trafficking is a central axis of violence. Second, disarming citizens of
weapons. Criminals act brazenly because they know victims are
defenseless. Carjackings in broad daylight, assaults in public spaces
and home break-ins occur because ordinary citizens have no means of
self-defense. Brazil did not adopt gun control, but imposed almost total
restrictions on legal access to it – especially since 2003, with the
disarmament law passed under Lula's rule, at the height of a corruption
affair in which monthly bribes were paid to legislators. We were
promised less weapons and less crime; the result was the opposite.
Third, early release. Violent criminals with long criminal records are
arrested time after time and quickly returned to the streets in the name
of a false morality of 'second chance,' wrapped in fake human rights.
The police do their job; the system fails – due to lax laws, judicial
activism and ideological distortion among some judges and prosecutors,
who treat violent criminals as victims. This is an unacceptable
situation.
"The
state must distinguish between cases. An occasional criminal is not
identical to a brutal member of organized crime. Most Brazilians, even
in extreme poverty, would never consider murder to obtain property. This
proves we are dealing with organized crime and deliberate violence. My
policy proposal is simple and clear – fight decisively against drug and
weapons trafficking; ensure law-abiding citizens legal access to
firearms; and put an end to irresponsible early release of criminals,
especially those connected to organized crime.
"This
exact combination, during President Jair Bolsonaro's tenure, led to the
sharpest decline in murder cases in Brazil's history. As for prisons, I
intend to follow successful examples such as El Salvador, where gang
criminals do not quickly return to the streets. The logic is simple – a
criminal imprisoned in jail does not commit atrocities against
law-abiding citizens. I am well aware that many of the steps require
legislative changes and support from Congress. The president can do
much, but not everything. Brazilians must also vote consciously for
senators and federal representatives, to ensure a parliamentary majority
committed to security, freedom and prosperity. Public security is not
just a police issue; it is the foundation for the economy, tourism,
investments and quality of life. Without security, there is no
development. With security, Brazil can finally fulfill its potential and
provide a dignified future for its citizens."
Q: What is your economic vision and how will you advance growth, investments and employment?
"Reducing
the state's involvement in the economy means cutting bureaucracy, lower
taxes and efficient government. This is the path to making Brazil truly
investment-friendly. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. We must look
at what works in the world – in countries like the United States, Japan
and Israel – and understand that greater economic freedom brings
prosperity, innovation and opportunities. My father used to say, 'With
all due respect, look at what Israel has and what it is. Now look at
what we have in Brazil and what we are not.' These words emphasize
Brazil's unrealized potential – natural resources, from iron ores to
rare metals, tourism, and diverse energy sources. Countries with far
fewer resources have succeeded. Why not Brazil?"
"I
favor views that recognize the state's limits and promote private
initiative. There are strategic areas such as national security that
require a state presence. However, Brazil cannot become a socialist
state that intervenes absolutely in the economy. The state is not the
main job producer, certainly not in peacetime. There is much to
privatize among the hundreds of government companies, many of which have
become hothouses of corruption. Brazil cannot remain large, inefficient
and captive to political and ideological interests rooted in Marxism.
A pro-Palestinian demonstration in Rio De Janeiro
"Through
a truly entrepreneurial vision – supporting startups, trusting our
young people, and attracting international investments, especially in
infrastructure and energy – we will build a stable and secure country
that encourages economic activity. Free economic activity naturally
leads to prosperity. Look at what Milei is doing in Argentina. Brazil's
potential has been blocked due to failed political decisions in the last
two decades. Of the last 24 years, Lula's Workers' Party has ruled for
17. The results are clear. This is the time for change – something that
became even more pronounced following the discussions after Maduro's
arrest. While the Brazilian left, including Lula himself, rushed to
defend a criminal regime, we stood beside freedom, democracy and
oppressed peoples. Brazil must distance itself from narco-terrorists and
march alongside great democracies – Americans, Israelis, Japanese and
other free nations with compatible values. Thus we will restore our
international dignity, credibility, growth and hope."
"Count on us"
The
name "Bolsonaro" is a significant political asset, but also a source of
polarization. Flávio's success depends on his ability to be perceived
as an independent political figure, with his own style and judgment. In
addition, he will have to assert his authority over all of Lula's
rivals. Brazil's political history demonstrates that elections are
decided when the right succeeds in uniting around one candidate.
Division between conservatives, liberals and nationalists has in the
past given the left an advantage. Flávio Bolsonaro's success depends on
his ability to be perceived as a candidate capable of uniting broad
forces – not just inheriting his father's support base. But the many
challenges do not detract from his confidence. "I am certain I will
win," he declares. "Beyond the belief that this is God's will,
Brazilians cannot endure another four years of incompetence and
corruption under Lula. Brazil will be forced to choose between darkness
with Lula and prosperity with Bolsonaro."
Flávio
Bolsonaro's message to the Israeli public is also full of confidence
and optimism. "To the people of the Holy Land – the only democracy in
the region – I say, do not lose hope in the struggle for justice,
freedom and defense of life. You are a great, strong people who inspire
admiration and inspiration. Millions understand the legitimacy of your
struggle and stand by your side with determination so that a tragedy
like the Holocaust never happens again. The enemy is powerful, cruel and
organized. But through faith in God, unity and moral courage, those who
defend freedom and life are infinitely stronger than those who spread
hatred, terror and destruction. I embrace you as a brother. Know that
you can count on good Brazilians – men and women who will never forgive
barbarism and terror. May God protect you, strengthen you and guide you.
Count on us."
Stop chasing after the Saudis to join the Abraham Accords
Now that they’ve stopped worrying about an Iranian bomb, Riyadh
is making clear that it will never recognize the State of Israel. It was
never going to be worth the price anyway.
US
President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammed bin Salman hold hands during a meeting in the Oval Office at
the White House in Washington, D.C., US, November 18, 2025.
The 12-day air campaign against Iran that
was carried out by Israel last June, and then eventually joined by the
United States, changed the strategic equation in the Middle East. But as
much as that is an enormous benefit to both Jerusalem and Washington,
there was one consequence to this victory that will discourage many
observers of the region.
The tacit alliance between Israel and
Saudi Arabia against a common enemy in Tehran was the basis for the
success of the first Trump administration’s ability to make the Abraham
Accords a reality in 2020. It also raised the possibility of the entire
Arab and Muslim world coming to terms with the permanence of Israel, as
well as the possibility that the guardian of Islamic holy places in
Mecca and Medina might embrace formal recognition of Israel.
The end of a threat
But after a week of war, the threat of
Iran building a nuclear bomb in the near future no longer hangs over the
Saudis. The crippling of Tehran’s nuclear facilities—and stripping it
of its air defense and much of its missile arsenal—proved an enormous
victory for Israel and America. It largely removed the prospect of an
existential Iranian nuclear threat that had been hanging over the Jewish
state for the last 20 years.
But it has now removed Riyadh’s prime motivation for its tilt toward Jerusalem.
That trend began when the Saudis were
largely abandoned by an Obama administration that was committed to
appeasement of Iran, rather than confronting or containing it. In
response, they turned to the Jewish state to counter what appeared to be
a threat to the existence of their government. If that threat is
largely removed, then why should they normalize relations with Israel?
As insider reports
have increasingly made clear, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
the de facto ruler of the country, has decided to alter his country’s
course. Instead of continuing to move closer to Jerusalem and, as so
many in the United States and Israel hoped and even expected, joining
the Abraham Accords themselves, the Saudis seem to be eyeing a different
sort of regional realignment, in which they will now link up with other
Islamist countries like Qatar and Turkey. They have even reportedly
been advocating for the United States not to attack Iran so as to help
the protest movement succeed in overthrowing the Islamist theocrats that
have despotically ruled since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. They’ve
also refused to let Washington use their territory for potential attacks on Iran.
On top of that, the Saudis are also moving
away from their efforts to erase antisemitism from their education
system and public discourse, as they had been doing
as late as 2024. Instead, the regime’s state-run media has again turned
to spewing out anti-Israel venom, in addition to the sort of open
hatred of Jews that was routine before Riyadh’s turn to Israel and the
West. Among other monitors of the situation, the Anti-Defamation League
is sounding
the alarm about prominent Saudi voices—closely tied to the royal family
and the government—promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and
trashing the Abraham Accords.
This is very disappointing for both
Washington and Jerusalem. President Donald Trump has invested a lot of
effort in trying to undo the damage to U.S.-Saudi relations done by the
Obama and Biden administrations, which both sought to downgrade
relations with Israel and Saudi Arabia in order to effect a
rapprochement with Iran. It’s equally frustrating for Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who saw the expansion of the Abraham
Accords to include the Saudis as his prime foreign-policy objective.
A beguiling prospect
To be fair, the idea of an Israeli embassy
in Riyadh—and the Saudis following the lead of the United Arab Emirates
in becoming an open friend of Israel and a friendly place for Jewish
visitors—was a beguiling prospect. It made sense for the Saudis to go
down this road from a strategic point of view. And it also dovetailed
with MBS’s hopes of modernizing Saudi society, and even more
importantly, its finances, to openly engage with the Start-Up Nation,
the most economically dynamic in the region.
It’s time to admit that while it would have been nice, it was probably always a fantasy.
Even before the war that began as a result
of the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terror attacks on Israel on Oct. 7,
2023, which put a freeze on any efforts to expand the accords, there was
good reason for skepticism about the Saudis ever fully embracing
normalization. As I wrote
in 2022, for a government whose identity has always been bound up with
its alliance with the extreme Wahabi sect of Islam, recognition of
Israel was always going to be a stretch. For all of his desire to get
his nation into the 21st century and shake its reliance on oil income,
MBS knew that good relations with the Jewish state are still extremely
unpopular inside his country and elsewhere on the Arab street.
Israeli diplomats like to speak of the
difference between cold and hostile public comments toward the Jewish
state uttered by their Arab and Muslim counterparts and warmer private
ones. However, the reason—with the possible exception of the UAE—that
contrast still exists is the fact that hatred for Zionism and vicious
antisemitism is the rule in the region, regardless of whether a war is
going on. The leaders of moderate Arab nations know that letting a
Palestinian national movement that cannot move beyond its dreams of
Israel’s destruction hold them hostage to those fantasies is a mistake.
But while the authoritarian rulers of these states do, as a general
rule, ignore public sentiment, even a stable regime such as that in
Riyadh knows that such governments are not invulnerable to threats of
being toppled.
They were never serious
Moreover, for all of the optimism about
the inevitability of their transforming their under-the-table good
relations with Israel into one of open recognition, it’s not clear that
it was ever a possibility. Even when it was being formally discussed
after the Biden administration belatedly began pushing for their joining
the Abraham Accords (though Biden’s team hated using the name because
it was Trump’s signature foreign-policy achievement), the terms the
Saudis asked for demonstrated that they weren’t
really serious about it. The price they demanded in exchange for
normalization included a formal defense pact with the United States and
Washington gifting them a nuclear program—two things that were never
going to happen under any circumstances.
The Saudis knew this, and by asking for
the moon in this manner, they were sending a signal to much of the
world, including many Americans and Israelis who ought to have known
better.
Nor would it have been worth it for Israel
to acquiesce to the principal demand made of them: the creation of a
Palestinian state.
That has been a key element of the price
tag the Saudis put on their joining the accords. That sounded right to
an American foreign-policy establishment that continued to believe that a
two-state solution was the only way to end the conflict. Of course, as
Palestinians have made clear, over and over again, they have no interest
in the idea if it means they’ll have to commit themselves to living in
peace with a Jewish state, no matter where its borders are drawn.
After the Second Intifada (2000-2005), and
then Oct. 7, the once broad Israeli support for the concept has
evaporated. Even most left-wing Israelis know that the Palestinians
aren’t interested in peace. Acquiescing to demands for Palestinian
statehood would have meant repeating the same catastrophic blunder made
by the late Ariel Sharon when he withdrew from the Gaza Strip in the
summer of 2005, thus setting in motion the events that allowed Hamas to
seize control of the coastal enclave and eventually to be able to commit
the atrocities in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Doing so in the far larger
and more strategic areas of Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”) would
have endangered the very existence of the state.
It’s equally true that the Saudis have no
real desire to help create another failed Arab state that would, in all
likelihood, be a perfect target to be taken over by Islamists—in this
case, Hamas. Yet even before the Palestinians won general Arab and
Muslim sympathy by launching a war on Oct. 7 with an orgy of mass
murder, rape, torture, kidnapping and wanton destruction, the Saudis
were only using the statehood issue to help deflect pressure to join the
Abraham Accords.
That should serve as a reminder to
Israelis and Americans not to be too disappointed by the Saudis’
decision to attempt to reclaim their status as the leader of Islamist
rejectionist forces in the region, a stance that, in recent years, they
surrendered to Qatar.
Would it ever have been worthwhile for
Israel to have made such a grave sacrifice of its security concerns in
exchange for Saudi recognition?
For Israelis, having the Saudis embrace
them fully and openly as partners would have signaled the end of the
Muslim world’s refusal to accept the Jewish state’s permanent place in
the region. But setting up a situation where the Palestinian Authority
would likely have been toppled by Hamas would have been suicidal. The
scenario in which Hamas assumes control of the territories is a
guarantee of nothing but another and even more bloody round of war.
As much as it’s nice to dream of a world
where the region could truly be transformed into a “new Middle East,”
such as the one that the late Shimon Peres dreamed of when he agreed to
the 1993 Oslo Accords, 33 years later, Israelis still don’t live in such
a world.
That’s why it is far better to keep such
fantasies out of efforts to ensure that the Saudis remain outside of
coalitions bent on Israel’s destruction. The Riyadh regime may still
hope to develop its economy and needs to modernize its society to
achieve that; however, it is never going to be entirely divorced from
the Wahabi extremism that put their family in control of the Arabian
Peninsula in the first place.
Riyadh can’t change
And so, Americans and Israelis should stop
chasing after the vain hope of getting the desert kingdom to behave as
if it is anything other than the Islamist regime that it has always been
and likely always will be. The Saudis will always act in their own best
interests, and if that lines up with a more Israel-friendly policy,
then they’ll do that. And being realists and still desirous of friendly
relations with the United States, there will be limits on how far they
will go in terms of open hostility to Israel. But they can neither be
persuaded nor bribed to give up their basic character.
It’s long past time for Washington and
Jerusalem to acknowledge this fact and stop trying to pretend that Saudi
Arabia is anything other than what it is. It may not be at war with
Israel and may even prefer for it to, along with the United States,
continue to act to deter Islamist forces that are hostile to Riyadh,
even if they are no longer worried about Iran. But it’s never going to
be a real friend or ally of a Jewish state.
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Charged With Civil Rights Crimes
Newsmax
Jan 30, 2026
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was charged Friday with federal civil
rights crimes in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest
that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, the Department of
Homeland Security said Friday.
He is charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First
Amendment rights of worshipers during a Jan. 18 protest at the Cities
Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
official serves as a pastor. Another journalist and two protest
participants also were arrested.
Lemon was arrested Thursday by federal agents in Los Angeles, where
he had been covering the Grammy Awards, his attorney Abbe Lowell said.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi later announced on X
that the arrest of Lemon, as well as fellow protesters Trahern Jeen
Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, were executed "at my
direction."
She posted a 16-second video
on social media at 11:41 a.m., without mentioning Lemon or any of those
arrested by name, that citizens have the right to worship freely and
safely and if anyone interferes, "we are coming after you."
Newsmax's James Rosen was told by sources that Lemon briefly resisted
-- after he was already in handcuffs and taken to an elevator, but that
his arrest otherwise unfolded without incident.
Fort, a local independent journalist, livestreamed the moments before
her arrest Friday on Facebook Live, saying “agents are at my door right
now” with a warrant and a grand jury indictment.
Crews is a leader of Black Lives Matter Minnesota who has led many
protests, particularly following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis
in 2020.
Lundy is an intergovernmental affairs manager in the office of
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and is married to St. Paul City
Council Member Anika Bowie. Bowie and Moriarty could not be reached for
comment.
Lowell called Lemon's arrest an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment."
"Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los
Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards," Lowell said in a
statement. "Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his
constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than
what he has always done."
Lemon, who was fired
from CNN in 2023, has said he has no affiliation to the organization
that went into the church and that he was there as a reporter
chronicling protesters.
The White House, on its official X account, mocked Lemon
by posting a black-and-white photo of him from his livestream at the
Cities Church, noting he had been arrested, with the intro "When life
gives you lemons..."
The arrest came after a magistrate last week rejected prosecutors’
initial bid to charge Lemon. Rosen reported Lemon was indicted in
Minnesota on Thursday along with five others.
Charges include conspiring to deprive a constitutional or statutory
right and interfering with individual's religious freedom in a house of
worship, covered by the FACE act.
Sources told Rosen his first court appearance is likely to be in Los Angeles before being returned to Minnesota for prosecution.
Lemon on Jan. 18 livestreamed a demonstration that interrupted a
church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, to protest President Donald
Trump's immigration crackdown in the area.
Lemon said he was at the demonstration as a journalist. He said he
was tipped off ahead of time but did not know the activists would
disrupt the service.
He can be seen arguing with a parishioner about immigration
enforcement. Trump administration officials quickly condemned the
demonstration and accused protesters of intimidating Christian
worshippers.
Lemon was expected to have an initial court hearing later Friday.
Monica Cannon-Grant speaks during a Black Lives Matter rally in front of Boston Police Headquarters Sept. 22, 2020, in Boston.
A well-known community and social justice activist who founded a Boston nonprofit
to reduce violence and who was once was lauded as Bostonian of the Year
avoided jail time in a federal fraud case, the Justice Department said
Thursday.
Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, pleaded
guilty in September 2025 to 18 of 27 counts, including wire fraud, mail
fraud and failing to file tax returns related to a scheme in which
Cannon-Grant and her late husband, Clark Grant, pocketed thousands of
dollars in donations to their nonprofit.
She was sentenced
Thursday to four years probation. She was also ordered to pay $106,003
in restitution. Federal prosecutors recommended U.S. District Court
Judge Angel Kelley sentence Cannon-Grant to 18 months in prison.
"Ms. Cannon-Grant’s actions were crimes of greed and opportunity,"
said Nicolas Bucciarelli, acting inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service's Boston Division.
Cannon-Grant and her husband were accused of diverting COVID-relief
and rental assistance funds from their Violence in Boston nonprofit for
personal expenses and collecting about $100,000 in illegal unemployment
benefits, among other charges.
Along with her late husband, the
pair founded VIB, an anti-violence nonprofit dedicated to raising social
awareness and aiding community causes in Boston, federal prosecutors
said.
The couple received nearly $54,000 in pandemic relief
funds, authorities said. They also allegedly used some of the
nonprofit's funds to pay their auto loan and auto insurance bills.
They also conspired to defraud Boston’s Office of Housing Stability by
misrepresenting their household income in an effort to obtain $12,600 in
rental assistance and the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment
Assistance by submitting forged employment documents so that another
family member could receive nearly $44,000 in unemployment assistance.
Cannon-Grant also filed false tax returns for 2017 and 2018 and failed to file tax returns for 2019 and 2020, prosecutors said.
Cannon-Grant
was well-known in activist circles in Boston, earning numerous awards,
including Boston Globe Magazine’s Bostonian of the Year award and a
Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us award, both in 2020 amid nationwide
protests following the killing of George Floyd.
Activist
Monica Cannon-Grant waits to speak at a demonstration one day after the
guilty verdicts against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin
in the death of George Floyd, in Boston, Mass.
In 2022, after Cannon-Grant's indictment, VIB said it had suspended all
programs and was shutting down, but its Facebook page has been
frequently active since.
Booking
photos show Anthony Acevedo, 20, Jose AlarconSanchez, 18, and Anderson
Derce Lara, 25. Dallas police said Acevedo and AlarconSanchez were
arrested in connection with a viral New Year’s Eve gunfire incident,
while Lara is charged in a separate road-rage shooting involving
children
A viral video showing gunmen firing from a Dallas bridge
on New Year’s has now led to multiple arrests and immigration holds as
police say the suspects were involved in repeated acts of gun violence
across North Texas.
The Dallas Police Department
announced the arrests Tuesday, identifying Anthony Acevedo, 20, and
Jose AlarconSanchez, 18, both of Grand Prairie, as two of the suspects
seen in multiple social media videos firing guns from the Margaret
McDermott Bridge over Interstate 30, just west of downtown Dallas.
Detectives with DPD’s Central Patrol Division and Special Investigations
Unit launched what police described as an aggressive and exhaustive
investigation, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Investigators
recovered more than 100 shell casings near the bridge.
During the investigation, detectives learned AlarconSanchez had been
arrested earlier that same morning by the Grand Prairie Police
Department for a similar firearms offense on January 1, 2026.
As
the case expanded, investigators uncovered evidence linking 25-year-old
Anderson Derce Lara to a separate road-rage shooting in November. Police
say Derce Lara fired multiple rounds into a vehicle carrying three
adults and three children, narrowly missing the victims.
With assistance from the ATF, investigators executed a search warrant
and recovered multiple firearms, including rifles matching those seen in
the viral bridge video, further tying Derce Lara to both incidents.
Acevedo and AlarconSanchez are charged
with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities, a class A
misdemeanor. Derce Lara faces six counts of aggravated assault with a
deadly weapon, a first-degree felony.
