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"Vance refuses to set red lines over bigotry in Turning Point speech."

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By Bridget Brown December 22, 2025

In the news today: Vice President JD Vance declines to condemn a streak of antisemitism that has divided the Republican Party and roiled Turning Point USA’s annual convention; a Russian general is killed after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in Moscow; and a Louisiana school grapples with AI-related cyberbullying. Also, researchers reveal evidence of an “absolutely enormous” prehistoric shark. Vice President JD Vance speaks during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025, Sunday in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry) POLITICS Vance refuses to set red lines over bigotry as conservatives feud at Turning Point Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that the conservative movement should be open to everyone as long as they “love America,” declining to condemn a streak of antisemitism that has divided the Republican Party and roiled the opening days of Turning Point USA’s annual convention. Read more.

What to know: Vance’s speech came in the midst of an increasingly contentious debate over whether the right should give a platform to commentators espousing antisemitic views, particularly bigoted podcaster Nick Fuentes, whose followers see themselves as working to preserve America’s white, Christian identity. Vance came down firmly against “purity tests.” “I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform,” he said during the convention’s closing speech.   The tension on display foreshadowed the treacherous political waters that Vance, or anyone else who seeks the next Republican presidential nomination, will need to navigate in the coming years. Top voices in the “Make America Great Again” movement are jockeying for influence as Republicans begin considering a future without Trump, and there is no clear path to holding his coalition together

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Nicki Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Turning Point Here’s what you missed at Turning Point’s chaotic convention WATCH: Turning Point convention’s young attendees praise VP Vance’s closing speech and 2028 outlook Trump removes nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial positions Top Trump administration official defends partial release of Epstein files as Democrats cry foul Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker helping Venezuela skirt sanctions, US official says ICE agent fires shots at man after being hit by SUV Federal judge to decide whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia should return to immigration custody Trump is leaning on son-in-law Jared Kushner for difficult diplomacy Trump endorses county executive for NY governor, days after longtime ally Stefanik suspends campaign Trump’s ‘A+++++' economy collides with reality in a Pennsylvania city critical to the midterms Trump insists during NC visit he’s brought down costs, but residents say they’re feeling squeezed The US Treasury wants more states to embrace Trump’s tax cuts. So far, only a few have done so Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s daughter calls TSA ‘unconstitutional’ after pat-down Head of group suing over White House ballroom says she trusts Trump-picked chairman to do his job WORLD NEWS Russian general killed by bomb under his car in Moscow A Russian general was killed Monday morning after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in Moscow. Investigators said Ukraine could be behind the attack, the third such killing of a senior military officer in a year. Ukraine has not yet commented on Monday’s death. Read more.

What to know: Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, died from his injuries, said Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for the nation’s top criminal investigation agency. "Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services," Petrenko said. Just over a year ago, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his apartment building. Kirillov’s assistant also died. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for the attack. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been immediately informed about Sarvarov’s killing. Putin described Kirillov’s killing as a "major blunder" by Russia’s security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Starlink in the crosshairs: How Russia could attack Elon Musk’s conquering of space Ukraine is leveraging its powerful – and cheap – new drone killers for air defense US says talks with Ukraine, Europe on ending war with Russia ‘constructive’ US NEWS Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled A 13-year-old girl at a Louisiana middle school got into a fight with classmates who were sharing AI-generated nude images of her. She wound up getting expelled. The case highlights the challenges schools face with AI-related cyberbullying. Read more.

What to know: The girl’s attorney said he has no knowledge of any school discipline for the classmate accused of sharing the images. However, when law enforcement looked into the case, they charged two of the boys who’d been accused of sharing explicit images — and not the girl. The district said in a statement that federal student privacy laws prohibit it from discussing individual students’ disciplinary records. AI deepfakes can, and do, upend children's lives — at school, and at home. And while schools are working to address artificial intelligence in classroom instruction, they often have done little to prepare for what the new tech means for cyberbullying and harassment. As kids increasingly use new tech to hurt one another, adults are behind the curve, said Sergio Alexander, a research associate at Texas Christian University focused on emerging technology. “When we ignore the digital harm, the only moment that becomes visible is when the victim finally breaks,” Alexander said.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Israel: Cabinet approves 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank  James Ransone: Actor known for his role in ‘The Wire’ dead at 46 Health lawsuit: Minnesota jury says Johnson & Johnson owes $65.5 million to woman with cancer who used talcum powder San Francisco: Power restored to most after massive outage Saudi Arabia: Once-ultraconservative kingdom quietly expands access to only alcohol store for non-Muslim residents Silver theft: Three men arrested for stealing thousands of euros’ worth of silverware from Élysée Palace Today in History: In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law allowing gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military for the first time in history WATCH ‘Kablooey!:’ Muddy eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park The real Rudolphs: Catch up with the reindeer in Lapland A CHANGE OF PACE A 2025 illustration of a gigantic 8 meter (26 foot) long mega-predatory lamniform shark swimming beside a long-necked plesiosaur in the seas off Australia 115 million years ago. (Pollyanna von Knorring/Swedish Museum of Natural History via AP) Before megalodon, researchers say a monstrous shark ruled ancient Australian seas In the age of dinosaurs — before whales, great whites or the bus-sized megalodon — a monstrous shark prowled the waters off what’s now northern Australia. Researchers studying huge vertebrae discovered on a beach near the city of Darwin say the creature is now the earliest known mega-predator of the modern shark lineage.

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