First American hostage, dad of youngest captive held in Gaza among next to be released by Hamas, terror group says 

Reuters / NEW YORK POST 

 

Palestinian terror group Hamas said on Friday it would free the father of the youngest hostages seized in its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and two others including a dual US citizen in the next exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel and Ofer Kalderon will be handed over on Saturday, Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a post on his Telegram channel.

Yarden Bibas is the father of baby Kfir, only nine months old when he was kidnapped, and Ariel, who was four at the time of the cross-border attack.

There was no word on the fate of Kfir and Ariel, or on their mother Shiri, who was taken at the same time. Hamas said in late 2023 that they had been killed by Israeli bombardment, in the early months of the Gaza war.

Video of their capture began circulating soon after they were seized. It showed a terrified Shiri clutching her small children in a blanket as they were bundled into captivity surrounded by terror assailants. Read more and see video here.

Kash Patel's Opening Remarks Is Good Enough Reason for His Confirmation as FBI Director

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet

Jeff had the meat and potatoes of Kash Patel’s hearing yesterday, along with Democrats beclowning themselves trying to attack the man President Donald Trump wants to helm the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His opening remarks alone are worthy of total confirmation. It was a lengthy statement about restoring the FBI to what it was good at and abiding by the rule of law. The days of weaponization at the behest of Democrats are over  (via RealClearPolitics):

" KASH PATEL: Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, and members of the Judiciary Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear today. I must start with a word of prayer for the tragic accident that befell our nation last night where we lost civilians and service members. I pray for their families, I pray for law enforcement and military personnel, and I pray for their souls, and hopefully God will find them peace in the near future. Read more and see video here.

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!

Today, Friday, January 31st from 7pm to 8:00pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss the deadly American Airlines plane crash outside Reagan National Airport; the Robert Kennedy Jr. and Kash Patel confirmation hearings; and Netanyahu is furious about the chaotic handover of Israeli hostages from Hamas. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.

DC chopper, plane crash live updates: At least 30 bodies recovered from Potomac after AA flight collides with military helicopter in deadliest US crash since 2009 

Victor Nava, Shane Galvin, Nicholas McEntyre and Nia Shakhnazarova / New York Post

 

First responders are in a desperate search for survivors after a military helicopter collided with a plane near Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia Wednesday night, according to officials.

The American Airlines flight traveling from Wichita, Kan., collided with the military chopper while approaching Runaway 33 at the DC airport around 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

First responders have recovered at least 19 bodies from the river as of early Thursday, CBS reports.

Some 300 first responders endured dark, cold and windy conditions as they continue to execute “a rescue operation” hours after the crash.

Follow The Post’s Live blog for updates on the midair tragedy.

Bob Menendez Says Trump Was Right About One Thing After Being Slapped With an 11-Year Jail Sentence

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet 

 

Disgraced, corrupt, and convicted felon former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has had an epiphany. Still, it’s not what you think: the New Jersey Democrat was slapped with an 11-year prison sentence stemming from the corruption and bribery case that ensnared him in 2023. When addressing the media after the sentence was announced, Menendez took a Trumpian tone:

“President Trump was right. This process is political, and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.”

Is he gunning for a pardon? Sure, but he’s not going to get it. Federal prosecutors were aiming for a 15-year prison sentence, essentially what they got from the judge.

When federal agents raided his home in May of 2023, almost $500,000 in cash, including gold bars, were discovered. Mortgage payments and luxury cars were also bestowed to the Menendez family as gifts from Egypt over favorable policy directions from Gold Bar Bob when he was on the Senate Foreign Relations…Read more, see X and video here.

Trump Signs Executive Order Ending Federal Funding for Medical Mutilation of Minors

Mia Cathell / Townhall Tipsheet

Under President Donald Trump, the United States will no longer "fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support" the medical mutilation and chemical castration of children in the name of gender ideology. Accordingly, the federal government will "rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures."

Trump signed an executive order Tuesday ending federal funding for the medical "transitioning" of gender dysphoric children, including performing irreversible surgeries and the prescription of chemically castrating drugs like puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

According to Trump's decree, "Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child's sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions. This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nation's history, and it must end." Read more, and see Xs here.

DeSantis Criticizes State Legislature for Opposition to Immigration Bill

Jeremy Frankel / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) sharply criticized his state’s legislature, since it seems to be grandstanding and opposing his calling for a special session to help implement President Trump’s agenda, even though the legislature is dominated by Republicans.

“Though the Florida legislature’s leadership initially said the call for a special session on immigration enforcement was ‘premature,’ they have now finally agreed to come in and do their job. I am glad the Legislature’s bill includes many of my proposals, including the long-overdue need to eliminate tuition waivers for illegal immigrant students,” DeSantis said. “But overall, their new bill is substantially weaker than the proposals I outlined and that are necessary to ensure that Florida leads on fulfilling the Trump Administration’s mandate to enforce immigration law and deport illegal aliens.”

The weakened bill from the legislature, DeSantis said, does not “put an enforceable duty on state & local law enforcement to fully cooperate on illegal immigration enforcement,” meaning that “Florida localities will provide no meaningful assistance to federal efforts.”

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast 

If you missed last nights 'LIVE' broadcast where Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed 'Wildfires and Lawsuits...Anything But Strange Bedfellows'; 'California Clean''; the 39th anniversary of the Challenger disaster; Trump's two newest EOs; and the DOJ's 'special project' to investigate J6 prosecutors...listen to it and past shows at https://rspradio1.com ... go to Podcasts.

 

What Trump Said at the House GOP Retreat Might Trigger a Liberal Media Meltdown

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet

Oh, you know the media will be all over this one, maybe. It certainly might get a commentary from some MSNBC host. President Donald J. Trump addressed the House Republican retreat in Miami, Florida, where he mentioned the possibility of a third term. It’s troll bait, which the media will take every time because they’re that stupid (via NBC News):

"President Donald Trump publicly mused about running for a third term Monday in remarks that House Republicans in the room saw as a joke — but one that Trump keeps repeating.

“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure,” Trump told House Republicans at a gathering here, one week after he was sworn into office for a second term. “I think I’m not allowed to run again.”

39 years ago today...

I saw the explosion from my home here in South Florida...it's something I will never forget....nor will I ever forget one of the greatest presidential speeches ever given, President Ronald Reagan's 'Challenger Disaster Speech.' These brave heroes did indeed "Touch the face of God."

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                           

Today, Tuesday, January 28th from 7pm to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Wildfires and Lawsuits...Anything But Strange Bedfellows'; 'California Clean''; Trump's two newest EOs; and the DOJ's 'special project' to investigate J6 prosecutors. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.

January 27, 1925...

Eighty years ago today Soviet forces liberated the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp and discovered what is probably...in my opinion...

one of the worst 'crimes against humanity' ever committed.  

 

Auschwitz is but one reason why the Jewish people say 'NEVER AGAIN!' 

I stand united with the Jewish people and Bibi Netanyahu who needs 

his hands untied to do what he knows needs to be done 

to make sure it never does happen again!

 

 

Op-ed:

Wildfires and Lawsuits...Anything But Strange Bedfellows

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio 

The Op-ed posted here is this authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google.  

You cannot blame what amounts to an “act of nature” on one's political leaders, but you can blame those leaders for being unprepared both before and after the fact, especially when said “act” is repeatedly seasonal in nature. Why so...because our elected leaders and appointed officials main job...in one form or another...is to protect the “health, safety, and welfare” of those in their charge. But now it seems that in the case of the recent California wildfires...and most certainly in regards to the still ongoing (as I write this) Los Angeles/Palisades fires...certain elected officials are trying to make out like this is California's first go 'round with Santa Ana winds driven fires. Simply, it's not...for said winds were first officially recorded in the 1870s and now routinely cause havoc around ten times per year.

So with the shocking photos and videos of the devastation having become deeply ingrained in us all, and with the blame game still ongoing especially in regards to California's governor, the fact remains that doing what one knew needed to be done and should have been done years ago but unfortunately was not done nor was it anywhere legally mandated to be done, what we see is bureaucracy at its very worst with California's residents now left as the overwhelmed victims of what is utter chaos and devastation.

And with hot shot lawyers gearing up for sure to come lawsuits...lawsuits initiated by those who “literally” lost everything...and with the physical damages alone now estimated to be at least $50+ billion in Los Angeles and surrounding areas...“cause and effect” issues do come into play. But first let's play “devil's advocate” for a bit, and here let me start with California's Governor Gavin Newsom, the very man who still spends the majority of his time trying to deflect blame off himself and placing it on others including Donald Trump...a typical “tried and true” tactic of Democrat leaders when caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” 

  

 

Remember, getting one's excuses lined up is easily accomplished when dangers, possibilities, and probabilities are likely known days before a what is devastating event occurs but were for whatever reason, not being addressed. And why...because when ineptitude and malfeasance are one of the causes of said events aftermath, one then needs time to construct excuses for what they believe will make reasonable sense of what, at all costs, must now actually be covered up. And that's even if said costs encompasses both the loss of human life and massive, almost incomprehensible, property damage and loss.

“Ineptitude, malfeasance,” and what I believe amounts to “criminal negligence,” are the very charges that the victims attorneys would likely cite in the sure to come lawsuits filed against Governor Newsom and crew. And, in turn Newsom, along with the miserable, globe trotting excuse for LA's mayor that is Karen Bass...the very woman who dared to cut the city's all-important fire department's budget by $17 million last year...and any others who are directly or even indirectly involved in the previously stated “cause and effect” cover-up...will likely bare the brunt of said lawsuits regarding the nightmare that Los Angeles residents and others now find themselves unable to wake up from.

So here again I'm playing “devil's advocate” as to what might be some of the possible excuses used by the defense attorneys to at least try to“justify” their clients actions taken or actions needed but deliberately not taken when these sure to come lawsuits eventually go to court. Simply...and all at this point is but mere conjecture on my part...after the excuse given that the wildfires were caused by “climate change” nonsense is rightfully taken out of the mix, I do believe that those representing Newsom...and what could well be his possibly “bought and paid for their silence” now terrified cronies...might try to claim is that due to no fault of their clients that Los Angeles had a water storage “quantity” problem not an actual water “source” problem regarding where its water originated from. 

And to this said attorneys might also try to claim that the water supply distribution system and/or the low water pressure issue itself had existed for quite some time before these newest wildfires started, and therefore was not due to any fault of those currently in charge. But this is simply not true for one of the main reservoirs...the Santa Ynez reservoir...that supplies water to the LA. area had been drained and was knowingly off-line for over nine months before these current wildfires started, meaning it was foolishly drained on Gavin Newsom's watch no matter his knowing that the seasonal fire season was then fast approaching. And not to be forgotten is that it was Newsom who had a 444-mile-long aqueduct that carries water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California pumped into the ocean to protect what he deemed to be “environmental concerns,” in addition to numerous water storage issues.

Also, the defense could try to claim that even if the distribution and all other systems had been working properly, that it could not have kept up with the water demand if too many fire hydrants were being used in a particular area at roughly the same time... which of course they would have been if water had been readily available, which we know it was not.

And in four last ditch “grasping at straws” attempts to hide or at least deflect attention away from what most know is the truth, the defense could try to claim that the “California Water Service Group” (CWT) might possibly have, unknown to Governor Newsom and crew, taken it upon themselves to shut off the water flowing to what were already badly damaged areas in order to maintain the water supply to other, yet to burn, highly populated areas; or that California's water treatment plants might not have been able to process much needed “treated water” at such an extremely high demand for a sustained duration; or even that CWT might not have been able to actually produce enough water to keep the in-system water storage tanks adequately supplied. And lastly, the defense attorneys might even try to claim that the water pipes in the burned out and collapsed homes broke and were then flowing “wide open” thus draining the areas water supply in a misguided “divert and deflect” attempt to blame the homeowners for their losses because they did not adequately prepare their homes for such a likely to occur event.

Translation: what the defense will most likely try to do no matter the excuses made is to place blame on every and anyone but Governor Gavin Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and any others who...while obviously not responsible for starting the actual fires themselves...are indeed responsible for their disastrous response or lack thereof both before and after this latest Santa Ana wind driven wildfire event.

But even with all I've just stated, for me four questions remain.

• First, would individual residents lawsuits...or even a“class action” lawsuit on behalf of all the residents involved...legally be able to be filed against elected officials?

• Second, even if said cases made it to court and the plaintiffs won would the monetary payments levied against those charged...which I believe would be beyond huge...ever be able to be collected and divvied out fairly and accordingly, especially with the enormity of the damages involved having to come into play?

• Third, could the insurance companies that had previously either canceled or refused to renew the home insurance policies of California residents who willingly chose to build and live in what are officially recognized to be “at-risk (fire) zones” be held responsible in any way regarding the monies needed to properly rebuild especially regarding what will surely be updated building codes?

• And lastly, could the insurance companies who had already closed up shop and left the state to avoid would what would surely be “financial failure” due to yet another wildfire occurring be held partially responsible for any part of payouts incurred as they left homeowners “out to dry,” so to speak, even while knowing that more and more areas of California had already officially been tagged as being “at-risk (fire) zones...something most homeowners probably didn't know?

But even if those four questions are answered the most important question of all is, can Governor Gavin Newsom legally be held “criminally libel” for the utter carnage and devastation the LA county wildfires caused? Remember, Newsom and his cronies have basically not only done away with every responsible, tangible, and logical way to combat these devastating fires, but he has failed to deliver on the executive order he himself signed on his first day in office back in January 2019, as in his sworn promise to “revamp” for the better California's wildfire strategy and to “enhance” disaster preparedness and resilience

Also, remember Newsom refused to sign what was referred to as the “water restoration declaration” that would have allowed millions of gallons of northern excess rain and snow melt to flow daily into many key parts of California (including into LA county). And not to be forgotten is that Newsom ordered certain reservoirs to be drained and left emptied during what is known as wildfire season; that he neglected all-important forest management like clearing out fire-starting brush undergrowth; and that he not only approved massive monetary cuts to fire departments and funneled those monies into “woke agenda” items...items such as the hiring of unqualified DEI individuals to fill key water and land management positions; but that he cut $150 million from Cal Fire's “Wildfire Prevention Grant Program's” budget...thus negatively “revamping” the very program he had promised to make better.

And while all I just stated seems, to me, to be “gross criminal negligence” on Governor Newsom's part, the question becomes does it meet the legal definition...as per California law...for someone to be held “criminally libel” for the aftermath of what was truly a devastating event? Briefly, “criminal liability” is a legal concept that holds individuals responsible for both their actions and their “omissions” if they are found to have committed a “criminal act” something I, and so many others believe Newsom has. How so...by Newsom's failing to uphold his sworn oath as governor to “protect the health, safety, and welfare” of California's residents courtesy of his in-actions...his “omissions”...that directly caused the wildfires to not only spread faster than they probably would have, but made “containment” almost impossible what with hydrants not working, reservoirs devoid of water, and unnecessary budget cuts that led to not enough firefighters being on the ground to help put out or at least stop the spread of these fires.

Simply, Gavin Newsom and his still ongoing theatrics of blaming everyone but himself for the damage and loss of life these fires caused, and for his cavalier and elitist attitude in accepting what truly is an insulting $750 per person monetary “bone” Joe Biden and FEMA threw at those who lost everything...together makes me wonder if Newsom did not sit home playing the fiddle while he watched parts of Los Angeles burn to the ground.

And while I am no lawyer, and have but a rudimentary understanding of California's laws, common sense and the tangible reality that my own eyes see dictates that Gavin Newsom was at least“ willfully negligent” if nor “criminally negligent” in both the before and after handling of these devastating wildfires which in turn does, in my mind, make him “criminally liable” for the damages and the loss of life his“omissions” caused.

Let the lawsuits rightfully begin...let the rebuilding commence...and may Californians now accept as fact that they need to choose new and responsible leadership while holding their current miscreant leaders accountable for the aforementioned nightmare that will take many years to even wake up from. Case closed.

 

Copyright © 2025 / Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

***********************************************************************************************************************

For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, California Cleanin'.

*************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                           

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27th from 7pm to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Wildfires and Lawsuits...Anything But Strange Bedfellows'; 'California Clean''; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.

 

  

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast 

If you missed last nights 'LIVE' broadcast where Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed Trump's promised deportations have started; Putin's many concerns now that Trump is president again; the Saudis are ready to invest 600 billion dollars in the U.S.; and the long awaited death of DEI...listen to it and past shows at https://rspradio1.com ... go to Podcasts.

 

 

There's a Major Update on the Power of Local Law Enforcement and Deportations 

Katie Pavlich / Townhall Tipsheet

In the first week of President Donald Trump's second term, hundreds of violent criminal illegal aliens have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and mass deportations have begun.

On Thursday afternoon the Department of Homeland Security moved to deputize local law enforcement, which is set assist with future deportations and illegal alien arrests inside cities across the country. 

"Today, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive essential to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations," DHS released in a statement. "The directive gives Department of Justice (DOJ) law enforcement officials in the U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons authority to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens." Read more and see videos here.

DeSantis Shuts Down Reporter Who Criticizes Trump’s Immigration Policies

Sarah Arnold / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) recently drew attention when he shut down a reporter during a press conference for using the term “undocumented immigrant.” The exchange occurred as the reporter asked about the state’s policies on immigration and how it would handle President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. DeSantis quickly interrupted, insisting that the more accurate term was "illegal alien." His response sparked immediate debate, with critics accusing him of further politicizing immigration discourse, while supporters argued that he was simply upholding legal definitions.

“Florida is home to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who are working in areas of…,” the reporter began to say before DeSantis interjected. 

“Well, you know, just to be—so the federal government has made clear that the statutory term—it’s not undo—they’re illegal aliens. That’s the statutory term,” the governor hit back. Read more, see X and video here.