There are two pieces of very good news that have come out of the infighting over H-1B visas for foreign skilled workers in Trump World this week. The first happy accident is that tensions are already easing, much to the chagrin of liberals who hoped they were witnessing a permanent schism.
The second, even better development, is that both sides of the admittedly zesty debate have listened, compromised, and arrived at a better and clearer set of positions for the Republican Party moving forward.
In the red corner, we had the twin heads of the Department of Government Efficiency, Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk who appeared at first to call for expansion of the H-1B visa program that allows employers to use foreign labor when they cannot find qualified Americans.
In the other red corner, we had Steve Bannon and a host of prominent America Firsters all but calling for an end of the skilled foreign worker program, a policy that would no doubt cause considerable chaos and disruption.
On Saturday, President-elect Trump weighed in, sort of, telling the New York Post that he likes the visa program and uses it himself, but not endorsing any expansion. And this is of course the same Trump who fired board members of the Tennessee Valley Authority for using foreign workers over Americans.
By Sunday morning, as parents quietly sipped coffee and spied the news on their phones, the kids getting a little more sleep before church, things had calmed down considerably in this impromptu intramural immigration debate.
For his part, Ramaswamy, after an ill-advised X post this week criticizing American families for having more sleepovers and movie nights than their South Asian counterparts, has backed off of his cultural high hill and retrained his sights on the real issue at hand.
The only real losers in the wake of this kerfuffle are the Democrats and liberal talking heads who hoped that they were watching MAGA tear itself apart.
Meanwhile, Musk arguably moved even further to the center of the issue, posting late Saturday night that the excesses of the H-1B visa program are “easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically.”
Or as Musk ally and head of Trump’s office of Artificial Intelligence David Sacks put it, ‘Elon has said that H1B should be overhauled, that it should focus on exceptional talent in high-value areas, and that the scams and low-pay jobs should end. This is not to say there aren’t still differences but less than it first appeared. Time to move forward as one team.’
This is music to the ears of the America First crowd and great news for the young American architect or graphic designer who just wants a level playing field, one where they don’t lose again and again to cheap foreign competition.
Meanwhile, the Bannonistas, who have been by Trump’s side from the very beginning a decade ago, are easing their attacks on newcomers Ramaswamy and Musk, and appreciating that they are all on the same team.
The only real losers in the wake of this kerfuffle are the Democrats and liberal talking heads who hoped that they were watching MAGA tear itself apart. As Republicans work out their differences, instead of munching on popcorn, the left is eating crow.
There are some lessons to take from the recent unpleasantness. At one point, some in the pro H-1B crowd, and some on the left, accused those in opposition of anti-South Asian racism, a terrible lie and an even worse message. Thankfully, this did not last long.
And it is important that the generally leftist tactic of pointing and yelling racism did not work because these are exactly the fights that make our foreign foes with their trolling social media bot farms drool, and they were working overtime to divide Americans this week.
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Thankfully, it failed.
In the end, as tempers cooled and discourse bent back in the direction of congeniality and good faith. What we are left with is a fructive and fulsome debate over a nuanced issue.
Of course, the United States wants to attract the best and the brightest to help chart out a technological course forward, but we also don’t want to tell a truck driver that the kid he sends to college is going to get passed over for cheaper foreign counterparts.
The opportunity to balance these concerns over attracting the best from elsewhere, while not burdening our own citizens’ ability to achieve is upon us. Compromise really is possible. It might not always look like a church social, it might get a little rough around the edges, but as a wise man once said, ‘politics ain’t beanbag.’
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Trump takes office in about three weeks, and it bodes well for his upcoming four years as president that those who serve and support can not only argue with pointed vigor, but also come together with an honest give and take when called for.
The battle of the H-1B turned out not to be a crisis in MAGAland, but rather a roadmap for compromise and competent governance.
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Netanyahu to undergo surgery as terrorists intensify attacks on American ally
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo prostate removal surgery on Sunday after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last week.
Netanyahu’s office announced the surgery on Saturday, describing the infection as “stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate.” The surgery comes as Netanyahu, 75, leads Israel in multiple conflicts across the Middle East against Iran and its proxy terrorist groups.
Just this week, the IDF launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting Sana’a International Airport, among other locations.
“The Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel and its citizens, including in UAV and surface-to-surface missile attacks on Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a statement Thursday.
PROJECTILE FROM YEMEN STRIKES NEAR TEL AVIV, INJURING MORE THAN A DOZEN: OFFICIALS
“The targets that were struck by the IDF include military infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime for its military activities in both the Sana’a International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. In addition, the IDF struck military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast.”
US NAVY SHIPS REPEL ATTACK FROM HOUTHIS IN GULF OF ADEN
Houthi rebels, who control most of northern Yemen, have fired upon Israel for more than a year to support Hamas terrorists at war with the Jewish State. The Houthis have attempted to enforce an embargo on Israel by launching missiles and drones at cargo vessels crossing the Red Sea – a major shipping lane for international trade.
NETANYAHU WARNS HOUTHIS AMID CALLS FOR ISREAL TO WIPE OUT TERROR LEADERSHIP AS IT DID WITH NASRALLAH, SINWAR
Meanwhile, Netanyahu is also testifying in a corruption case against him within Israel. The prime minister began testifying earlier in December, and he is expected to remain on the stand for several weeks.
The corruption trial kicked off in 2020, with prosecutors accusing Netanyahu of exchanging regulatory favors for positive press coverage in under-the-table dealings with media moguls.
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So far, some 140 witnesses have taken the stand in the trial, though that falls short of the 300 witnesses initially expected. Those witnesses include high-profile figures, such as a former prime minister, former security chiefs and media personalities.
The year is ending and, shockingly, it was filled with less drama than most people predicted. Self included. Last year’s annoying list focused on the enemies of sanity like teachers union boss Randi Weingarten and Greta Thunberg, climate extremist turned full-time lefty activist.
Of course, 2024 still had drama. A lot of it can be traced to some of its annoying people and there are too many to list here. We get to make fun of the worst of them.
1. The less-than-dynamic duo
Let’s begin with a bipartisan spirit. Both left and right find MSNBC “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski super annoying. I’m practically a founding member of the “Joe is a Joke” caucus. Until recently, that was a mostly conservative clique.
They spent years saying awful things about President-elect Trump and other conservatives. Scarborough’s lie about President Biden being coherent earned him “Worst Quote of the Year” from the Media Research Center. Scarborough told the audience: “This version of Biden intellectually, analytically, is the best Biden ever.” He threw in an “F—you,” for good measure. Remarkably, both he and Biden are still employed.
OLBERMANN RECOMMENDS HIS FORMER NETWORK ‘FIRE MIKA AND JOE’ SCARBOROUGH, DOUBLE DOWN ON LEFTIST CONTENT
After that lie, the “Morning Joe” twosome paid a visit to Trump and alienated their far-left base, with Scarborough telling viewers they need to, “Grow up.” Their ratings have gone anywhere but up ever since. MSNBC had to add another host and lefty loon Keith Olberman is saying it’s time for Scarborough and Brzezinski to go. Here’s the Variety headline: “Keith Olbermann: How Can MSNBC Save Itself After Trump’s Win? First Step: Fire Mika and Joe.”
He’s far from alone. Bluesky is filled with hate for the pair and their show. I’d be surprised if they still have a show on MSNBC by Christmas 2025. I bet they would be, too.
2. The ultimate Karen
Me, me, me, me. That’s the voice for narcissistic journalism – Taylor Lorenz. She used to write about tech and social media at The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc. By any fair measure, she’s a social media sensation. She has over half a million followers on TikTok and another half a mil combined between Twitter and Bluesky. Now she has a Substack readership where she promotes COVID-19 paranoia and hatred of health care CEOs.
NYT COLUMNIST THROWS IN TOWEL ON ‘NEVER TRUMP’ LABEL: WE ‘NEVER QUITE GOT THE POINT’ OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT
She exited traditional journalism in August after she posted what she claimed was an “obvious meme” calling Biden a “war criminal.” Then she got called out for saying she felt “joy” after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which she now says was “dubiously edited.” And she can usually be found wearing a mask and criticizing those who don’t as, “raw dogging the air and spewing ur disease laden breath all over ur elderly neighbors.”
To top it off, she got in an online argument with statistician Nate Silver about her age. Lorenz is still listed in her Wikipedia profile as “age 37–39,” taunted him saying, “Just assume I’m 50!” (According to Soap Central, the real number is 40, for those who care.)
But all of these things got people talking about her. That’s the true measure of Millennial, or Gen. X, success.
JASON KELCE REVEALS WHAT HE REGRETS THE MOST ABOUT PENN STATE FAN INCIDENT
3. The other Taylor-plus
In the normal world, there’s only one Taylor – Taylor Swift. It’s easy to admire Swift and her football star boyfriend Travis Kelce. (She was one of my superstars of 2023.) Both of them had successful years. Her Eras tour did great and Celebrity Net Worth says she’s now worth $1.5 billion. Her boyfriend remains one of the top tight ends in the NFL and his team is a favorite of fans and referees in its quest for a third straight Super Bowl. (Boo here.)
The problem is, I’m sick of them. Be honest, if you don’t think of yourself as a “Swiftie,” you are, too. Happens to anyone in the public eye so much that your eye starts to twitch. Despite that, I still wish them great success both individually and as a couple in 2025. (Except for that Super Bowl.)
AL SHARPTON POCKETED NEARLY $1 MILLION IN BONUSES FROM HIS NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK NONPROFIT
4. He still has a job, too
When it comes to race-baiting, MSNBC host Al Sharpton outdoes himself, going all the way back to promoting the Tawana Brawley rape hoax. Then there’s his antisemitism. But 2024 put him on the map for something new – allegations of pay for play.
It came out after the election that Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign gave $500,000 to Sharpton’s National Action Network. That might be fine except it happened right before a super nice October interview. Ooops.
5. An awful ‘View’
I could write a whole column about the horror that is “The View.” Or 10. I was all set just to highlight how truly awful co-host Sunny Hostin is for managing to outshine her coworkers by being the most despicable Bozo in the ABC clown car.
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Hostin called the GOP “morally bankrupt” and blamed Hispanic support of Trump on “misogyny and sexism.” She also advocated for families to boycott Trump supporters at holiday time because it’s “more of a moral issue.”
But they had to turn it up a notch. Fellow hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar got discussing why they hadn’t seen Vice President-elect JD Vance recently. Behar claimed, “He’s planning the presidency when they get rid of Trump.”
Whoopi responded, “So, you think it’s Musk/Vance?”
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Whoopi followed up with, “Stay away from the stairways. Because, you know, people put their leg out to trip you going down the stairs. Watch out.”
They later claimed it was a joke but that’s pretty dark, especially for three women named Sunny, Joy and Whoopi.
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Why ‘Debbie Downer’ writer claims Harris should be president due to inaugural date
“When Will Trump Take Office? On MLK Day, Unfortunately,” The Intelligencer’s senior editor Margaret Hartmann lamented in a new piece.
Hartmann noted the “depressing” news that President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in to his second, non-consecutive term in office on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The presidential inauguration sometimes falls on the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., which takes place on the third Monday of January each year, close to King’s birthday on January 15.
“If you’re not a big fan of Donald Trump, you’ve probably gotten used to hearing a lot of stupid and/or depressing political news in recent months,” she wrote in New York magazine’s The Intelligencer. “I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but as the Biden administration comes to a close, there’s another unpleasant fact that may not have dawned on you: The second Trump inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY, A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘UNDERSTANDING OTHER PEOPLE’
Two other inaugurations have fallen on MLK Day since its inception, including Bill Clinton’s second inauguration in 1997 and Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
Hartmann was just as dismayed that Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the general election, won’t be getting her historic moment in the spotlight.
“So, if Kamala Harris had become the first Black woman elected president…Yup,” she simply wrote.
But instead, Hartmann regrets, “we’ll be swearing in the guy who spent the first MLK Day of his presidency golfing, and who recently bragged that his pre-insurrection speech on January 6, 2021, drew a bigger crowd than King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech (which isn’t true).”
TRUMP INAUGURATION: DC POLICE CHIEF EXPECTING ‘4,000 POLICE OFFICERS TO ASSIST US’
Trump defeated Harris by 312 to 226 electoral votes, carrying all seven swing states in the process, and also won the popular vote.
In Trump’s first term, he marked the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. King, who was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968,” Trump said in a White House proclamation in January 2018. “As we approach this solemn milestone, we acknowledge our Nation’s continuing debt to Dr. King’s legacy. Dr. King advocated for the world we still demand — where the sacred rights of all Americans are protected, rural and urban communities are prosperous from coast to coast, and our limits and our opportunities are defined not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. We remember the immense promise of liberty that lies at the foundation of our great Republic, the responsibility it demands from all of us who claim its benefits, and the many sacrifices of those who have come before us.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING QUIZ: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST?
The civil rights champion is particularly remembered for his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, as well as overseeing the Montgomery bus boycott in protest of racial segregation. He also participated in the Selma March, which helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
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Disturbing find uncovered in search for hikers missing on a hunt for ‘Bigfoot’
Two men from Portland died searching for Sasquatch during Christmas week, according to officials.
Around 1 a.m. on Christmas Day, Skamania County Communications Center received a report from a family member of two people who were searching for Sasquatch and were missing after they had planned to return home on Dec. 24, according to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
A “flock camera,” also known as a license plate reader, located the men’s car off of Oklahoma Road, near Willard, Washington, SCSO said.
Over three days, search and rescue resources, including more than 60 volunteers, canines, drones and ground search teams and a U.S. Coast Guard air asset searched for the men.
UTAH BROTHERS SURVIVE AVALANCHE AFTER ONE PULLS OTHER OUT OF SNOW BURIAL
“After a grueling, three-day search over difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions, the 59-year-old male and 37-year-old-male, both from Portland, Oregon, who were reported missing/endangered were located, deceased, in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.
“Both deaths appear to be due to exposure, based on weather conditions and ill-preparedness,” SCSO added.
WASHINGTON STATE TEENS CHARGED AS ADULTS IN GANG-LINKED STABBING OF BOY, 14, WHO WAS TIED TO TREE, CUT OPEN
The sheriff’s office thanked the volunteers who spent Christmas week searching for the men through “freezing temperatures, snow, high water levels, heavy rain, downfall, and heavily wooded terrain,” allowing the men to be taken home to their family.
“The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the loved ones lost in this tragic incident,” SCSO said.
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The men’s names were not released.
Back in 2019, a Travel Channel blog post said Washington was the “world’s most active region” for Sasquatch sightings. Of particular note were the Blue Mountains and Okanogan County, which the Travel Channel wrote is “the locale of one of the most aggressive Bigfoot encounters ever recorded.”
Projected top-five NFL Draft pick ignites social firestorm over selfish move on field
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward, a potential top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, set the NCAA Division I record for touchdown passes during his bowl game appearance on Saturday and then sat for the second half.
Ward and the Hurricanes played the Iowa State Cyclones in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Ward set the mark with a touchdown pass in the first quarter to Jacolby George. It brought him to 156 career touchdown passes. Emory Williams started the second half, and Miami went on to lose the game, 42-21.
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Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was asked about the decision after the game.
“All meetings with players, and decisions like that, we made them in private, we keep them in private,” Cristobal said, via ESPN. “So, I’ll prefer not to answer any questions as it relates to that. But I know he played his best while he was in there.”
Ward’s decision caught the attention of social media as well.
The quarterback broke Case Keenum’s record. Keenum set the Division I – FBS and FCS – record from 2007 to 2011. He had 155 touchdown passes with the Houston Cougars.
SHEDEUR SANDERS RECEIVES CUSTOM GIANTS CLEATS BEFORE FINAL COLLEGE GAME AS G-MEN OWN NO. 1 PICK
“Just blessed, man,” he told WQAM Radio. “I think I’ve grown so much as a person this year, outside of football. This is the best team that I’ve been around . . . I was just blessed to be here.”
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel is on the cusp of passing Keenum’s mark as well. He has 153 touchdown passes in six seasons. He could get close to breaking the mark in the College Football Playoff.
Ward may be one of the first of a few talented quarterbacks taken off the board in the spring when the draft begins. Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck are among the top prospects.
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“I think Cam’s DNA, his upbringing, everything that he is made of and stands for is the right kind of stuff; the stuff you want your team made of,” Cristobal said. “He’s had a tremendous impact on our community, our team, our program, alumni.”
Americans targeted by brutal crimes while on vacation in 2024
When several Americans planned to travel abroad for relaxing vacations, their dream vacations quickly turned to real-life nightmares and terror.
Here are some of the crimes against American tourists that happened during 2024.
California woman shot dead in Mexican resort town popular with Americans
An American woman died in the crossfire of an apparent drug deal gone bad at a popular Mexican beach resort in the municipality of Tulum.
The victim was 44-year-old Los Angeles native Niko Honarbakhsh.
CALIFORNIA WOMAN SHOT DEAD IN MEXICAN RESORT TOWN POPULAR WITH AMERICANS
Prosecutors maintain that Honarbakhsh died as a result of a stray bullet.
Other tourists in recent years have died in gang-related crossfire in Tulum, including a California travel blogger and a German, who were killed in 2021 while eating in a restaurant after rival drug dealers started shooting each other.
Last year, the U.S. issued “Do Not Travel” warnings for parts of Mexico ahead of the popular March spring break travel period, citing gang violence and noting that U.S. citizens have “become seriously ill or died in Mexico after using synthetic drugs or adulterated prescription pills.”
Oregon nurse murdered while on European vacation by man she met at nightclub: police
In November, an Oregon nurse was found dead during her vacation in Hungary after she disappeared from a nightclub.
Budapest police said 31-year-old Mackenzie Michalski, a nurse practitioner from Portland, was killed by a man she met.
Michalski’s friends alerted authorities after she missed her departing flight and her belongings were left in her Airbnb.
OREGON NURSE MURDERED WHILE ON EUROPEAN VACATION BY SUSPECT SHE MET AT NIGHTCLUB: POLICE
Authorities were able to track down surrounding security footage and identified a male suspect who was last seen with Michalski.
Police later detained an Irish citizen in connection to Michalski’s disappearance, who admitted he met her at a local nightclub and danced before leaving together for his apartment.
Police said that the pair had “gotten intimate, and he killed her in the process.”
Authorities said that after the murder, the suspect cleaned his apartment, placed her body in a wardrobe cabinet and went out to purchase a suitcase. He allegedly placed Michalski’s body in the suitcase, rented a car and drove it to Lake Balaton, approximately an hour and a half drive from Budapest.
Police said he hid Michalski’s body in the woods before driving back to Budapest, where he was arrested outside his apartment.
Authorities, who have not released the suspect’s name, said he confessed to killing Michalski but claimed it was an accident.
American couple killed in Mexico, found shot in pickup truck: officials
Last week, the bodies of two Americans from California were found after being found shot to death in a pickup truck in Mexico, according to officials.
Authorities located Gloria Ambriz, 50, and Rafael Cardona, 53, while responding to a report of a shooting in Angamacutiro in the western state of Michoacán on Wednesday night, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles, citing the state attorney general’s office.
AMERICAN COUPLE KILLED IN MEXICO, FOUND SHOT IN PICKUP TRUCK: OFFICIALS
The couple, who were on vacation visiting family, was traveling in a black 2016 Ford Platinum pickup truck when gunmen opened fire near an intersection.
Ambriz was pronounced dead on the scene, and Cardona succumbed to his injuries shortly after being taken to a hospital in Puruándiro, officials said.
The Michoacán State Attorney General’s Office has put together a team of prosecutors, police and forensic experts to determine the motive and identify those responsible for the killings.
Michoacán is listed as a “do not travel” spot in Mexico, according to the U.S. State Department.
Mexican authorities reveal bizarre reason they believe Australians, American were murdered on surfing vacation
In May, Mexican authorities confirmed two Australians and an American were killed on a surfing trip because thieves wanted the tires from their truck.
The three men, brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad, were on a camping and surfing trip along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada when they disappeared.
All three bodies were later found with gunshot wounds to the head, Reuters reported, citing a source from the attorney general’s office.
Chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez theorized that the killers drove by and saw the foreigners’ pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal their tires. But “when [the foreigners] came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.”
TRIPLE MURDER SUSPECT IN MEXICO SURFER DEATHS ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED TO GIRLFRIEND HE KILLED ‘3 GRINGOS’: REPORT
Ramírez said the thieves allegedly went to what she called “a site that is extremely hard to get to” and allegedly dumped the bodies into a familiar well.
One of the suspects believed to be connected to the murders allegedly admitted to his girlfriend that he killed all three, Ramírez said.
The BBC reported that Ari Gisel, the girlfriend of suspected killer Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota, said he showed up at her house on April 28 and told her he did something to “three gringos.”
After admitting to the crime, Garcia Cota reportedly took Gisel outside to show her his vehicle, which reportedly had the tires on it that were allegedly stolen from the victims’ truck, Gisel explained in court.
During a tribute, the Robinsons’ mother, Debra Robinson, said, “Our hearts are broken, and the world has become a darker place for us. They were young men enjoying their passion of surfing together,” the Associated Press reported.
Oklahoma college students say they were drugged at Cancun resort pool bar in vacation nightmare
A dream vacation turned into a nearly fatal nightmare after two Oklahoma State University students were allegedly poisoned after ordering water from a poolside bar at a Cancun resort.
Photos shared by Zara Hull and her family show the moment Hull and Kaylie Pitze say they became unconscious after drinking the tainted water on Aug. 1.
Hull and a group of friends were in Cancun for a four-day trip that was quickly cut short.
Stephanie Snider, whose son, Jake, is Hull’s boyfriend, said in a series of Facebook posts that Hull and Pitze were slipped a drug while they were at the resort in Cancun.
“What started out as a fun vacation with friends for them ended up as our worst nightmare,” Snider wrote.
OKLAHOMA COLLEGE STUDENTS SAY THEY WERE DRUGGED AT CANCUN RESORT POOL BAR IN VACATION NIGHTMARE
After leaving the pool, Jake explained that Pitze was taken back to their room in a wheelchair, while he carried Hull. Hull began throwing up and having what he thought was a seizure.
“Zara started having what the resort doctor called a ‘seizure’ and said she needed to be taken to the hospital. Once she was there, the hospital demanded $10K just to look at her to help her and start treating her. The money was sent. By the next morning, we were told more money was needed to continue treatment,” Snider said.
Snider said Pitze did not end up in the hospital but struggled the following day after the incident.
“Neither of the girls have any memory of what happened after they took that last drink, which happened to have been a glass of WATER. We think it was whatever was put in that glass of water that did it. Both girls collapsed at the very SAME time. They both are battling feelings of not knowing what happened and ‘why them?’” Snider said.
Nearly 27 hours later and after spending thousands of dollars, Hull’s family was able to negotiate with the U.S. Embassy and have her flown to Dallas to continue medical treatment.
Snider said she hopes this is a warning for others traveling to resorts like this.
“They did exactly like we told them. Don’t leave the resort. You have no reason to leave that resort. You stay there,” said Snider.
“Like people say, ‘Don’t leave the resort, and you’ll be fine.’ It started at the resort. The resort was not safe,” Hull said. “They say the resort is the safest place; don’t leave it. That’s not true.”
Snider said the name of the resort or hospital is not being released at this time due to legal and privacy issues.
American tourist, 60, found ‘beaten to death’ at 5-star hotel in Ireland frequented by celebrities
In November, a 60-year-old American tourist was found “beaten to death” at a lavish five-star hotel in Ireland, police said.
According to a release from Ireland’s national police and security service, Garda Síochána, an unidentified American citizen was found unconscious in his hotel room at Ballyfin Demesne, a luxurious hotel in Laois, Ireland.
The victim was later pronounced dead by police.
AMERICAN TOURIST, 60, FOUND ‘BEATEN TO DEATH’ AT 5-STAR HOTEL IN IRELAND FREQUENTED BY CELEBRITIES
Police in Ireland arrested and detained a 30-year-old man in the assault.
The suspect and victim traveled together, the Irish Times reported. The outlet noted that the suspect is also an American.
The Ballyfin Demesne is a five-star hotel in Ireland that has hosted celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who stayed there for their honeymoon in 2014.
Actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal, have also stayed there.
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Local independent councilor James Kelly told local outlet RTE that nearby communities were “shocked” to hear about the incident at the distinguished hotel.
“There would be a lot of staff from the area, and they’re totally shocked by what has happened here,” he said. “It’s something we didn’t think we’d be waking up to this morning.”
Love of alcohol is in the genes as DNA helps determine your preferred drink
Feel like you “can’t handle your alcohol” — or do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail?
These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic.
This gene mutation hampers the body’s ability to produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body, health experts said.
DRINKING ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO SIX TYPES OF CANCER, EXPERTS SAY
Testing for alcohol intolerance
An at-home DNA test could detect whether you have the mutation causing this alcohol adversity.
The test looks for mutations in the ADH and ALDH genes, which affect metabolism, according to several laboratory company websites that produce the testing kits.
The testing kit, which costs approximately $150, involves swabbing the cheek and mailing the sample back to a laboratory company to see if the gene mutations are present.
Results typically come in less than two weeks, according to several of the testing companies’ websites.
ALCOHOL DEATHS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN
“A simple mouth swab is all we need to find out whether you have inherited DNA changes that affect your ability to metabolize alcohol and may increase your risk of serious health complications,” Genex Diagnostics, a Seattle-based company that specializes in DNA testing, stated on its website.
Dr. Frances Lee — a hepatologist (liver doctor) who specializes in alcohol-related liver disease at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York City — is not affiliated with any of the lab companies, but commented to Fox News Digital about these testing kits.
“The genes in question are ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2,” Lee told Fox News Digital.
The ADH1B and ADH1C genes help break down ethanol (alcohol) into the chemical acetaldehyde, he said. The ALDH2 gene then helps to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid.
“Mutation or not, I urge anyone wanting to consume alcohol to consider both the quality and quantity of their drinks.”
“This is an important step in the metabolism of ethanol, because acetaldehyde is toxic and inflammatory to cells,” Lee said.
“Variations in the ALDH2 gene can cause acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to work at a slower rate, leading to a buildup of acetaldehyde levels in the body.”
Acetaldehyde is also linked to some of the unpleasant symptoms of alcohol intoxication, such as headaches, flushing, hives and nausea, according to Lee.
This type of genetic test may provide an individual with at least a partial explanation for their alcohol intolerance, Lee told Fox News Digital.
Potential drawbacks of genetic testing
All genetic tests should be approached with caution, as they can sometimes lead to more questions than answers, according to Lee.
Other health experts told Fox News Digital that there are pros and cons to this type of genetic testing.
DRINKING ALCOHOL WEEKLY COULD BE CONNECTED TO 61 DIFFERENT DISEASES, STUDY FINDS
“I can envision a case where this test may encourage one to drink less if a previously unknown heterozygosity in ALDH2 is revealed,” Lee of Mount Sinai told Fox News Digital. “If that occurs, I would consider this test to have a beneficial outcome.”
There is the possibility, however, that the test may not reveal any genetic variation, which could be interpreted as a license to drink even more.
“This would be an example of a harmful outcome,” Lee said.
While the DNA test can confirm that someone has the defective gene that makes them more susceptible to the effects of alcohol at lower doses, “it should not be used to encourage others that they can drink more [alcohol] without repercussions,” Dr. Fred Davis, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.
Tips for responsible drinking
For those who want to enjoy an occasional cocktail, Makenzi Mollitor, a registered dietitian and sports dietitian at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, has some advice.
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“If you’re someone who feels like their body is screaming at them even after one drink, then abstaining from alcohol may be best for you,” she said to Fox News Digital. “However, alcohol-DNA mutation or not, I urge anyone wanting to consume alcohol to consider both the quality and quantity of their drinks.”
Mollitor recommends choosing a quality alcohol, such as orange wine or other naturally fermented, low-sugar wines high in beneficial polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties.
Spirits that have a higher alcohol concentration, such as vodka, whiskey and rum, could exacerbate symptoms, the dietitian cautioned.
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“No matter what it is you choose to consume, try capping your alcohol intake to the recommended one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men,” Mollitor advised.
Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, Lee told Fox News Digital.
An expert advises capping your alcohol intake to the recommended one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Efforts to reduce risk and prevent alcohol-related morbidity and mortality are “tantamount to improving population and individual health,” according to the liver transplant specialist.
“For people who are concerned about developing liver disease as a consequence of drinking alcohol, talking to a liver specialist should be the first step,” Lee advised.
Fox News Digital reached out to several laboratory companies that sell the DNA test kits for further comment but has not heard back.