Even before speakers took the stage, the conference reflected a deeper struggle over the soul of the American right, a battle waged in recent months between competing streams within the MAGA camp. On one side stands the conservative-establishment stream, emphasizing clear ideological boundaries and opposition to antisemitism and conspiracy theories, while on the other side, a more populist and isolationist wing views such criticism as an attempt at silencing and enforcing uniformity – even from figures who clearly slide into openly antisemitic and anti-Israel territory.

The rift spilled outside the conference hall, including into central power centers in Washington, as the Heritage Foundation publicly rushed to defend Tucker Carlson amid criticism he received following interviews he conducted with antisemitic figures and faced substantial criticism from inside and outside. This transformed the confrontation not just into a personal dispute between commentators, but into a principled clash over the identity of the conservative movement, the boundaries of its legitimacy, and the direction it is heading in the Trump era and beyond.

Video: Vice President J.D. Vance's speech as Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro clash. Credit: Turning Point

On opening night, the depth of the rift was exposed when conservative commentator Ben Shapiro took the stage and launched a frontal attack on central figures in the populist right, led by Tucker Carlson, the hard-right figure who has expressed harsh positions against Israel, frequently crossed the line into antisemitic conspiracy theories, and in October even hosted a declared antisemite and Holocaust denier, Nick Fuentes.

Shapiro warned that "the conservative movement is in serious danger," not only from the left, but from "charlatans who claim they speak in the name of principles, but actually traffic in conspiracies and dishonesty." He repeatedly invoked the late Kirk, arguing that "there's a reason Charlie Kirk loathed Nick Fuentes… he knew that building up his persona is an act of moral folly, and that's exactly what Tucker Carlson did."

Shapiro added that "whoever gives a platform to a Holocaust denier and Nazi lover must take responsibility," and made clear that for him this is a moral red line. The remarks were met with applause, but also with jeers from parts of the audience.

Carlson, who has been using his powerful platform to echo the messages of America's enemies and antisemitic and anti-Israel voices, took the stage shortly after Shapiro's speech.

He responded with direct and clear barbs. Without mentioning Shapiro's name, he mocked calls for "de-platforming" at a conference bearing Charlie Kirk's name, saying that "hearing calls for silencing and condemnation at such an event is ridiculous." He said, "The entire so-called internal war on the right is completely fake." Later, he also addressed claims about antisemitism, declaring: "Antisemitism is immoral. In my religion, hating people because of how they were born is a sin. Period."

However, Carlson emphasized that, in his view, there is an attempt to use moral accusations to silence debate, and argued that the way to deal with extremist speakers is public debate, not a boycott, a statement made in direct response to the harsh criticism Shapiro voiced earlier. Later in the conference, populist right ideologue Steve Bannon spoke harshly against Shapiro, calling him "a cancer metastasizing" in the American right.

Into the charged atmosphere entered Vice President J.D. Vance's speech, who was perceived at the conference not just as a representative of the administration, but as a key figure in the next generation of American right leadership. Vance emerged from those same populist and ideological circles that fueled the rise of the MAGA camp and has maintained close ties over the years with the Turning Point USA movement and with the late Charlie Kirk. At the conference, and especially against the backdrop of Kirk's death, Vance was presented to many as someone expected to play a central role in leading the movement in the coming years, and even as a candidate to lead the Republican Party in the post-Donald Trump era.

Vance also directly addressed the internal rift on the right around Israel, antisemitism, and the confrontations between figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, and tried to present a conciliatory line. "I didn't bring a list of conservatives to denounce and deplatform," he said, adding that "We have far more important work to do than canceling each other."

Vance declared that in the Trump era "we don't need to apologize anymore for being white," as part of an attack on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion policies), and emphasized that America must judge citizens by "who they are and what they contribute." He repeated the isolationist line that the United States must focus on its internal affairs and avoid unnecessary foreign involvement.

Vance went further when he declared that "Christianity is the founding faith of America," and argued that for decades "the left has been waging war against Christianity in the public sphere." He said, "In a society that expelled God, a vacuum was created, and that vacuum was filled with destructive ideologies." He indirectly connected progressive culture to political violence, saying that "this is exactly why we must fight them."

Also appearing at the event was none other than pop star Nicki Minaj, who took the stage for an interview with Kirk's widow, Erika. Minaj made headlines recently after calling on President Trump to intervene in the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

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The move is included in a VAT law approved in 2024, designed to update China's tax system. VAT accounts for nearly 40% of China's total tax revenue. After nearly three decades of strict birth restrictions under the "one-child policy" (population control measure limiting families to one child), China has rolled out a series of incentive-based measures over the past decade to encourage births. These include raising the permitted number of children per couple to three and, in some provinces, offering subsidies for in vitro fertilization treatments and food allowances for additional children. Several local authorities grant young couples extra paid leave days to encourage marriage.

However, the fact that condoms and contraceptives are set to become more expensive has sparked ridicule on social media. One user on Weibo (a popular Chinese social media platform) wrote, "Are they really going this far just to make us have children?" The new VAT law also includes tax breaks for childcare and marriage matchmaking services.

This year, the government allocated 90 billion yuan (approximately $12.7 billion) to a first-of-its-kind national childcare subsidy program, offering 3,600 yuan annually per child up to age 3. On Saturday, the government announced plans to expand the national health insurance system to cover all birth-related expenses.

Despite the incentives, their impact on the birth rate has been minimal. In 2024, the birth rate stood at 6.77 per 1,000 people – a slight increase from 2023, but still a historically significant low figure. A high mortality rate resulting from an aging population means China's population has been shrinking for at least three years.

Now, concerns are emerging that authorities are turning to the "stick" to achieve the national birth target. In several regions, women have reported receiving phone calls from local authorities requesting information about menstrual cycles and pregnancy plans. In December, women in Yunnan province in southwest China were required to report the date of their last menstrual period to local authorities. The local health bureau claimed the data collection was necessary to identify pregnant women and expected births.

Social media responses included: "Today they require all women to report menstrual dates, tomorrow they'll demand reports on when sexual intercourse occurs, and the day after they'll call demanding intercourse during ovulation. This is mass breeding."

The tax increase on condoms is considered a symbolic move. A typical package of condoms costs 40-60 yuan (approximately $5.70-$8.50), and a birth control pill, available without a prescription, costs 50-130 yuan per monthly package.

Yun Zhou, a social lecturer at the University of Michigan, noted that the new tax will likely not affect people's decision-making processes, but it signals the government's position on "what constitutes desirable family behavior." Zhou added that if access to contraceptives becomes challenging, "the negative impact will fall primarily on women, especially women from vulnerable populations."

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The president additionally designated the Venezuelan "regime" as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and charged government officials with exploiting oil revenues for personal enrichment and funding drug terrorism. This action further amplifies the pressure Trump has applied against Venezuela as Washington attempts to compel Maduro's departure and warns of potential military intervention if he refuses.

Should Trump intend to classify the Maduro government as a foreign terrorist organization – a designation legally implemented by the State Department rather than the White House – Venezuela would become the first country ever to receive such status. Venezuela's government is already "blocked," a measure Trump enacted during his first term that prohibits any US person or entity from conducting business with it, according to the report.

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The Norfolk District Attorney's Office identified the victim as Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old fusion scientist who passed away at a hospital on Tuesday after being shot Monday night in Brookline, Massachusetts, according to the outlet. Per the prosecutor's office, investigators had not taken any suspects into custody as of Tuesday afternoon, and the inquiry is ongoing, AP stated. Despite social media being rife with speculation on Iran potentially being involved in the murder as revenge against Israel's assassination of key scientists from its nuclear program in the 12-day war, there is no credible information on this. Likewise, there is no indication that he was Jewish or that he held pro-Israel views, despite some commentators saying that.

The homicide probe in Brookline comes as police in Providence, Rhode Island, located approximately 50 miles away, continue their search for a gunman responsible for killing two students and injuring nine others at Brown University on Saturday, AP noted. The FBI confirmed on Tuesday that it was aware of no connection between the crimes, according to the report.

Loureiro joined the university in 2016 and was appointed last year to direct the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, a leading facility focused on clean energy advancements, AP reported. The lab employed more than 250 people across seven buildings at the time he took charge, according to the report.

MIT noted that the professor, who was married, was raised in Viseu, central Portugal, and completed his studies in Lisbon before earning a doctorate in London, AP stated. The outlet added that he served as a researcher at a nuclear fusion institute in Lisbon prior to his tenure at the US institution.

Speaking to a campus publication, Dennis Whyte, an engineering professor and former leader of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, honored his successor, AP reported. "He shone a bright light as a mentor, friend, teacher, colleague and leader, and was universally admired for his articulate, compassionate manner," Whyte said.

AP reported that MIT President Sally Kornbluth described Loureiro's death in a statement as a "shocking loss."

A 22-year-old Boston University student who resides near Loureiro's apartment told The Boston Globe that she heard three loud noises on Monday evening, fearing they were weapon discharges. "I had never heard anything so loud, so I assumed they were gunshots," Liv Schachner said, according to the newspaper. "It's difficult to grasp. It just seems like it keeps happening."

According to The Boston Globe, some of Loureiro's students visited the three-story brick building on Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects, AP noted.

John J. Arrigo, the US ambassador to Portugal, shared an online tribute honoring Loureiro for his leadership and contributions to science, AP reported.

Reflecting on the institute's role upon his appointment to lead the plasma science lab last year, the physicist emphasized its global impact, according to AP. "It's not hyperbole to say MIT is where you go to find solutions to humanity's biggest problems," Loureiro stated. "Fusion energy will change the course of human history."

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The president opened with a reference to the antisemitic attack that occurred during Hanukkah in Sydney, saying it was "an antisemitic attack, exactly what it is," and added that "all nations must stand together against the forces of radical Islamic terror." According to him, the US "joins in mourning the dead and prays for the speedy recovery of the wounded."

Trump then moved to sharp criticism of the American political system, warning of a profound shift in the balance of power. "The Jewish and Israeli lobby used to be the strongest in Washington. That's no longer the case. Today you have to be very careful," he said. According to him, "You have a Congress, especially the House of Representatives, that is becoming antisemitic," and added that there are members of Congress "who don't like Israel. They hate Israel." Trump noted that such a phenomenon would have been "unthinkable 15 years ago."

The president linked the growing antisemitism to the denial of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. "There are people who deny it even happened – just like they deny the Holocaust. This didn't happen many years ago; this happened now," he said. According to him, he himself was exposed to footage from the attack, and said, "I saw the tapes. I wish I hadn't seen them." Trump emphasized that his administration will not allow the spread of such phenomena, but called on Jews in the US to be vigilant.

During the event, Dr. Miriam Adelson, publisher of Israel Hayom, was invited to the stage. Trump noted that Adelson contributed to his campaign, "indirectly and directly, $250 million," and described her as "an amazing woman, with a wonderful husband, a man who loved Israel." Adelson, in turn, recalled that she came to the Knesset in October specifically "with a scooter... just to hear you, I wanted to hear you live." She later noted that she recently spoke with attorney Alan Dershowitz, who raised with her the legal thing about "four more years," referring to the possibility of a third term for President Trump.

The president then quipped about Adelson, suggesting she offered to give him "another $250 million" if he ran for a third term.

Later in his speech, Trump sent a clear threat to Hamas. "If Hamas plays games, they will be in big trouble," he said, emphasizing that his administration acted decisively to return all the hostages, both living and fallen, and responded to the call of the families of fallen hostages. According to him, this was an effort that even he thought was impossible, but was completed.

Toward the end, the president addressed the Jewish audience directly and said, "You are protected. You are a special people." He concluded with a symbolic message for the holiday. "The Hanukkah story reminds us that light will always triumph over darkness."

Earlier, during a Hanukkah reception at the White House, US President Donald Trump hosted the Neutra and Alexander families, the parents of late Captain Omer Neutra, killed while held hostage by Hamas, and Staff Sergeant Edan Alexander, who was released from Hamas captivity and re-enlisted in the IDF.

According to Ronen Neutra, Omer's father, "President Trump spoke about the release of the hostages with emphasis on the fallen and called us to the stage, where we emphasized that there is still a fallen hostage, Ran Gvili, who must be returned."

Full disclosure: The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom.

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Diretamente da Havan de Porto Alegre O FIM DO IMPERIALISMO NORTE AMERICANO pic.twitter.com/0xqWiFgpjz

— Váztnc (@iguanas89) December 15, 2025

According to local media, emergency services in Rio Grande do Sul state issued a severe warning due to forecasts of a storm with winds exceeding 90 km/h (56 mph), sent directly to residents' mobile phones. The storm caused additional damage throughout the state, including uprooted trees, flooding, and wind damage in several cities.

The Havan chain stated in an announcement that the statue was erected when the branch opened in 2020 and met all required standards. The company added that teams began clearing the debris, and a technical inspection will examine the circumstances of the collapse.

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The FBI told Fox News that the suspects identified themselves as members of a radical branch of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, or TILF, an extremist group driven by pro-Palestinian, anti law enforcement and anti government ideology. "Turtle Island" is a term used by some Native Americans to describe the territory of the US and North America more broadly, a name that until recently was rarely used and has since been adopted by radical organizations.

According to the FBI, the suspects allegedly planned to carry out coordinated attacks on New Year's Eve using improvised explosive devices aimed at five separate locations across Los Angeles. The agency said the four were arrested in the Lucerne Valley area, where they were believed to be preparing to test explosive devices ahead of the planned attacks. Each of the suspects was charged with conspiracy and possession of an explosive device.

The FBI said on that a fifth individual allegedly linked to the same TILF extremist group was arrested in New Orleans on suspicion of planning a separate attack.

An Instagram account affiliated with TILF reported that its founding chapter is based in Los Angeles and that its goal is to "liberate Turtle Island," a term used by Indigenous activists to refer to North America, from what it calls the "illegal American empire." "Free Palestine. Free Hawaii. Free Puerto Rico," the account said.

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A father and son opened fire on crowds and murdered 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Fifteen people were murdered in the attack, and 38 were wounded, some critically. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, according to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. Two of the wounded died overnight in Sydney hospitals.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach on Monday morning after ordering Australian flags lowered to half-mast following the attack. "Australia will not be divided by hate or violence," he wrote on X. "We will confront this head-on. And we will stand together in solidarity with Jewish Australians and with one another."

Memorial for the murdered Jews at the place of the massacre, Bondi Beach pic.twitter.com/PZZNZXvReQ

— Gameover (@EricS2075) December 15, 2025

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accused Albanese of allowing antisemitism to "spread" and failing to protect Jewish Australians. "Everything must change from today," she said. "We have seen public sites become symbols of antisemitic hate. We have seen campuses occupied and Jewish students made to feel afraid. We have seen synagogues firebombed at the direction of foreign terror states."

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According to the report, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation examined one of the terrorists, Naveed Akram, 24, who was wounded during an exchange of fire with police, six years ago over suspected ties to an ISIS cell in Sydney.

The review began shortly after the arrest of Issak al-Mattari in July 2019, an ISIS terrorist who planned a "revolt" in Australia and was identified as the group's commander in the country. Counterterrorism sources said Akram was closely linked to al-Mattari and to others in the cell who were later convicted of terrorism offenses.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said Sunday that one of the attackers had been known to the agency, but added it was not in the context of an "immediate threat," and that authorities needed to examine what had happened.

The father, Sajid Akram, 50, a fruit shop owner, had held a firearms license for at least a decade and owned six registered weapons, all of which were found at the scene. Sajid was killed in the exchange of fire with police. Improvised explosive devices were also found in the attackers' vehicle and were dismantled by bomb disposal teams.

Dramatic footage from the attack shows the son standing on a bridge near the lawn where the Hanukkah celebration was being held, firing rapidly with a shotgun. The father was seen advancing toward the revelers and shooting until he was subdued by a civilian who happened to be nearby, leapt on him with courage and disarmed him. The civilian was identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed.

Australian media reported that Naveed had worked as a construction laborer until about two months ago, when the company that employed him collapsed. Screenshots circulating on social media show him marking the completion of studies at a local religious institution.

The family lived in the suburb of Bonnyrigg in western Sydney with the parents and two younger siblings. Police raided the home after the attack, and a video circulating on social media showed two people exiting the house with their hands raised.

The mother, Verna, was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as police surrounded her home: "He has no weapon. He doesn't even go out. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. Anyone would want a son like mine, he's a good boy." She said she was unable to identify her son from images published from the scene.

Describing her last conversation with him on Sunday morning, she said: "He called and said: Mom, I went swimming. I did a dive. We're going to eat now, and then we'll stay home because it's very hot."

Fifteen people were killed in the attack and 38 wounded, some in critical condition. The victims' ages ranged from 10 to 87, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said. Two of the wounded died overnight in Sydney hospitals.

Australian media identified 10-year-old Matilda as one of those killed, without giving her surname. She was reported to be a student at the local Russian school, and a former teacher described her as "a radiant, joyful child full of life." Her aunt wrote on social media: "A great tragedy has happened to my family. My beloved niece Matilda was murdered in a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. I don't know how one survives such grief."

Alex Kleytman

A Holocaust survivor born in Ukraine, about 80, was killed while shielding his wife, Larisa, with his body. The couple had been married for about 50 years and left behind two children and 11 grandchildren. Larisa told the Daily Mail: "We were standing there and suddenly there was 'boom, boom,' and everyone fell. I think he was shot because he raised himself to protect me. A bullet hit his head." Speaking outside the hospital, she was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald: "I have no husband. I don't know where his body is. No one can give me an answer."

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Schlanger, 41, a British-born assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi since 2008, was the organizer of the event at which he was killed. He was married and the father of five, the youngest an infant. In September, after Australia recognized a Palestinian state, he sent a public letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "As a rabbi in Sydney, I beg you not to betray the Jewish people."

His father-in-law and community rabbi Yoram Ullman delivered a tearful eulogy before worshippers at the morning prayer service. "All the terrorists want to do is suffocate our lives as Jews, to bring us down, to destroy us, to make us lose hope," he said, wiping away tears. "They are looking at us now and waiting to see whether we continue, whether we ensure that everything they worked for continues even stronger. Now is the time to unite, to forget the small things that happened between us in the community."

Dan Elkayam

Elkayam, 27, arrived in Australia from France about a year ago and worked at a high-tech company. The local football club where he played wrote: "He was a talented and deeply loved figure. Our heartfelt condolences to Dan's family, his friends and everyone who knew him. He will be missed."

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the nation's "full solidarity" with his family, and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote: "This criminal act is another tragic expression of the shocking surge of antisemitic hatred. The lights of Hanukkah do not go out, and will not go out."

Reuben Morrison

A businessman who emigrated from the Soviet Union, Morrison discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney and became a pillar of the city's Chabad community, according to local media. He split his time between Sydney, where he ran his businesses, and Melbourne, where he lived with his wife and daughter, Shayna.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach in the morning after ordering Australian flags lowered to half-staff following the attack. "Australia will not be divided by hate or violence," he wrote on X. "We will confront this head-on and stand together in solidarity with Australian Jews and with each other."

Opposition Leader Susan Ley accused Albanese of allowing antisemitism to "spread" and of failing to protect Australian Jews. "Everything must change from today," she said. "We have seen public sites turn into symbols of antisemitic hatred. We have seen campuses taken over and Jewish students made to feel afraid. We have seen synagogues torched at the direction of foreign terrorist states."

Gillian Segal, the government-appointed envoy to combat antisemitism, also said Australia had not been strong enough. "Sadly, I have to say I held my breath out of fear that something like this would happen," she told ABC. "From October 9, when we saw that hatred at the protest at the Sydney Opera House that was not stopped, then the extreme demonstrations at the Harbour Bridge, and now Bondi Beach."

Throughout the day, many residents came to the scene to lay flowers and pay their respects to the victims. At the same time, New South Wales Police announced a special operation to bolster security around synagogues, schools and other Jewish community institutions.

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