Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 12/17

[SVPete]

ICE denies Omar's claims of pulling over son

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/ice-denies-omars-claims-pulling-over-son

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday denied claims from Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials had pulled over her son and demanded proof of his citizenship.

"ICE has absolutely ZERO record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son," the Department of Homeland Security posted on X.
"With no evidence, it is shameful that Congresswoman Omar would level accusations to demonize ICE as part of a PR stunt."

"Allegations that ICE engages in ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting, reckless and categorically FALSE," the account added. "What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is if they are illegally in the U.S.—NOT their skin color, race, or ethnicity. Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, DHS law enforcement uses “reasonable suspicion” to make arrests."

Ilhan Omar lied and slandered ICE? I'm shocked! Shocked! BTW, another news article I found later has a statement from Omar that her son had been pulled over for speeding, i.e. not for his skin color. Since there are few circumstances where ICE would pull over a speeder, I think the stop was done by local police or sheriff.

[SVPete]

Congressional hearing on Southern Poverty Law Center-Biden coordination includes Turning Point USA

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/house-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing-splc-includes-turning-point-usa-family

AHouse Judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday on the Southern Poverty Law Center includes witnesses from Turning Point USA, the Family Research Council, and The Daily Signal.

The hearing, held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, begins at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday and is titled, "Partisan and Profitable: The SPLC's Influence on Federal Civil Rights Policy."

It will examine how the SPLC coordinated with the Biden administration in the alleged targeting of Christian and conservative Americans to infringe on their constitutional rights to free speech and free association, in addition to the center's history, funding, and work to silence them for their beliefs.

The shooter in the 2012 Family Research Council shooting used the SPLC's listing of FRC as a "hate group".

[SVPete]

NEW: Turkey Mulls Return of Russian Anti-Air Defense to Re-Embrace US, NATO

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2025/12/17/new-turkiye-mulls-return-of-russian-anti-air-defense-to-re-embrace-us-n3809978

Will Recep Tayyip Erdogan get a refund on his S-400 air defense systems? Did he keep the receipts, and does Vladimir Putin offer cash or store credit?

Speaking of credit, this apparent reversal by the dictator in Turkey should put a little more of it in Donald Trump's political coffers. After some apparently tough negotiations with Ankara over their desire for modern fighter aircraft, Bloomberg reports that Erdogan will ask Russia to take back those systems and refund at least some of the money spent on them. That will not only represent a shift to the West from Erdogan, but at least a somewhat embarrassing setback for Putin:

1. Given the performance of Russian S-300 and S-400 SAM systems in Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey probably is underwhelmed with those SAM systems.

2. If Turkey sends them back, I hope US engineers get a good long peek, first.

3. If Turkey sends them back, I hope Ukraine somehow (Wink! Wink!) gets notified of the sailing or flight schedule and route.

[SVPete]

Wisconsin's Supreme Court Just Handed Catholic Charities a Major Win (and Dealt a Blow to AG Josh Kaul)

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2025/12/16/wi-supreme-court-catholic-charities-n2667911

The Leftist Wisconsin Supreme just handed Catholic Charities a massive win, and dealt a blow to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and his reelection campaign in the process.

In 2016, Catholic Charities applied for an exemption to Wisconsin's state unemployment insurance tax (UIT). That tax is collected by employers in the state and put into a fund for workers to draw from if they lose a qualifying job. Wisconsin law exempts religious organizations from this tax, which means their employees would not qualify for state unemployment benefits if they were fired or laid off. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) denied Catholic Charities' request, saying the Catholic organization wasn't "operated primarily for religious purposes." Catholic Charities sued, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with the DWD, adding that Catholic Charities doesn't "proselytize and serve everyone."

The Becket Fund filed an appeal on behalf of Catholic Charities, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Catholic Charities.

But rather than allow Catholic Charities to also receive the exemption, AG Kaul went back to the state Supreme Court and asked them to remove the UIT exemption for all religious organizations.

Yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with Catholic Charities.

In a press release, the Becket Fund applauded this ruling, writing:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court today blocked the state’s recent effort to defy the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission. In June, all nine Justices rejected Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul’s argument that Catholic Charities’ care for the poor and needy wasn’t religious enough to qualify for a religious exemption from the state’s unemployment tax law. (Watch this video to learn more). But instead of complying with that decision, state officials asked the state’s high court to eliminate the exemption entirely. In its ruling today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied this request and ruled that Catholic Charities is entitled to the exemption.

Since the USSC would not allow (Hello! 9-0 ruling!) Kaul to discriminate against Catholics, he asked to be allowed to discriminate against ALL religious groups. Brilliant!

[SVPete]

Official: EU scraps 2035 ban on new ICE car sales

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/official-eu-scraps-2035-ban-new-ice-car-sales

Combustion-engined cars will be allowed to remain on sale after 2035 in the European Union (EU) under major changes put forward by the bloc's top legislators.

The lifeline for car makers follows intensive lobbying from national governments and some of the industry’s biggest companies, including Volkswagen, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Stellantis.

More lenient rules drawn up by the European Commission (EC) amend the total ban on new ICE cars that was due to come into force from 2035. The new rules will need formal approval from the European Parliament, however.

Under the proposals, total tailpipe CO2 emissions from that year must be reduced by 90%, rather than 100%, compared with 2021. The previous 100% level effectively banned the sales of non-EVs from 2035.

I wonder whether the hoop-jumping the regs do require are basically so impractical as to be barriers.