FBI: Teen Went on Swatting Spree

Good morning and happy Friday. A tweet by Sesame Street's Elmo sparked a national discussion about mental health earlier this week. But it was not written by a red Muppet, of course. Christina Vittas, a 25-year-old social media manager, crafted the message. This is what her past few days have been like, 180M impressions later. Have a great weekend!

In Today’s Brief

• Senate: Border bill is done

• Iran: Proxy control questioned

• DeSantis: $168M down the drain

• Apple: Vision Pro headset released

• Formula 1: Shocking team change

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Swatted down

A California teenager allegedly pulled off hundreds of swatting hoaxes, including one at his own house.

• The story: The boy, 17, was arrested in a Los Angeles suburb and extradited to Florida. He faces four adult felony charges related to an emergency hoax at a mosque near Orlando. He pleaded not guilty.

• The allegations: Law enforcement said the teen is behind many swatting incidents nationwide. The homes of FBI agents, high schools and colleges are among some of his alleged targets. Cops say he swatted locations in at least six states and documented his activity online.

• Big picture: Swatting -- fake calls to 911 designed to draw heavy law enforcement responses -- has become an issue nationwide. The White House has been swatted in recent weeks, as have numerous judges, politicians and other high-profile people.

2) West Bank order

President Biden signed an executive order that will permit sanctions on Israeli settlers who commit violence against Palestinians.

• The order: Biden's move is the most significant U.S. response to Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The initial action names four settlers, but the wording could open the door for the U.S. to sanction Israeli government officials and politicians who play a direct or indirect role in violence against Palestinians.

• The response: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the measure was unnecessary and most settlers are law-abiding. Biden's move may also aim for campaign benefits; it was announced before a visit to Michigan, where the Arab-American community will be critical to his electoral hopes in the state.

• Big picture: The U.S. remains behind Israel as its war against Hamas in Gaza approaches the four-month mark. But Biden's order was another brushback as the State Department examines the future recognition of a Palestinian state.

3) Preparing for the worst

There is an effort to amend the Constitution to safeguard against a catastrophic event that wipes out most of Congress.

• The law: The presidency has a line of succession and state governors can fill vacant Senate seats with appointments. But House members must be directly elected, necessitating special elections whenever a vacancy arises.

• The issue: Lawmakers are concerned states would not be prepared in the event of an incident -- such as a terrorist attack on the State of the Union address -- that killed most of Congress. A group wants to work to amend the Consitution to allow and facilitate interim House appointees prior to special elections.

• Big picture: A constitutional amendment would need a two-thirds majority approval in the House and Senate, plus three-fourths of state legislatures -- to amend the Constitution. But it is a valid issue, and one people can grasp thanks to fictional works like Designated Survivor.

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Quick Tips

U.S. News

• The Senate has reached a deal on its border and national security bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the text could be released today; House Republicans are expected to oppose it (More)

• Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican, will not vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House GOP faces an uphill climb to pass its resolution (More)

• Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he should have told President Biden about his prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization. Austin’s comments came in his first Pentagon press briefing since returning to work (More)

World News

• The U.S. has reportedly determined Iran does not have complete control of its Middle East proxy groups. The Pentagon's retaliation campaign after a fatal attack on a base in Jordan is not expected to hit targets inside Iran (More)

• The European Union signed off on a $54B aid package for Ukraine. The budget deal came together after Hungary dropped its opposition (More)

• El Salvador is expected to re-elect President Nayib Bukele to an unprecedented second term on Sunday. The 42-year-old former publicist has significantly curtailed crime and violence, but faces allegations of human rights violations (More)

Campaign News

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent $168M on his failed presidential campaign, according to FEC filings. DeSantis dropped out after the Iowa Caucus and endorsed former President Donald Trump (More)

• Republicans are suing over mail balloting rules in Mississippi and North Dakota, arguing post-Election Day eligibility deadlines violate federal law. Critics say a lawsuit victory could open the door for a nationwide injunction (More)

• Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey is tied for second place in a poll on California's non-partisan Senate primary. Garvey, a Republican, is bidding to prevent an all-Democratic general election between Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Adam Schiff (More)

Business & Markets

• Major indexes bounced back and closed higher yesterday. The Dow Jones was up over 350 points (Dow +0.97%, Nasdaq +1.30%, S&P 500 +1.25%).

• Apple’s Vision Pro augmented reality headset will be released today. The $3.5K device has been met with skepticism; analysts say it may define Tim Cook’s legacy as the tech giant’s CEO (More)

• Elon Musk said Tesla shareholders will vote on incorporating in Texas. A Delaware judge rejected Musk's $56B CEO pay package from the electric vehicle manufacturer this week (More)

Entertainment & Sports

• Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari's Formula 1 team for the 2025 season. The seven-time world champion will still race with Mercedes in 2024, his team for the last 12 years (More)

• A Community movie script has been finished, according to actor Donald Glover. The popular sitcom ran on NBC from 2009-14 before having its final season on Yahoo! Screen (More)

• The Grammy Awards are Sunday night in Los Angeles. Comedian Trevor Noah will host; SZA is the most-nominated artist with nine while Taylor Swift is up for six awards (More)

Quick Hitters

• Feel Good: Erica Hart got her first drone in 2018. In the five-plus years since, she has tracked down over 300 lost dogs and reunited them with their owners. And she does not take a penny for her services.

• Be Safe: The Quaker Oats recall keeps growing. New granola bars have been added to the list of products that may be contaminated with salmonella.

• Go Deep: All signs indicate this year's major party presidential candidates will be 81 and 78 on Election Day. Should we be worried about elderly politicians? The answer is complicated.

• Chow Down: Buffalo chicken dip is a great game-day food. Or any-day food. Here are three different ways to make it.

• Life Hack: The most-consumed psychoactive drug in the world is widely accessible and completely legal. It's caffeine. Here are some tips on how to make it work for you.

• Get Healthy: Pop quiz: What’s the body’s most abundant protein? The answer: Collagen. NativePath's Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and contains 18 grams of protein per suggested serving. Start incorporating it daily to support skin elasticity, joint health, bone strength, and muscle growth and maintenance.*

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Watch This

People have many thoughts about Florida, and understandably so. But does the Sunshine State get a bad rap on occasion? This native says yes.

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Looking Ahead …

Birth rates are declining in the U.S. and Europe, sparking myriad economic and social concerns. But one issue flying under the radar: The decline of cousins -- a unique family role psychologists believe is essential.

Question of the Day — Friday Trivia Edition

Yesterday’s results:

Have you ever tried intermittent fasting?

• I’ve never tried it (43%)

• I currently do it (41%)

• I gave it a try, but it wasn’t for me (16%)