DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Bibi Strikes Back”

Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou explain a cornered Israel’s bizarre threats to get “even” for its increasing isolation following its genocide in Gaza, America’s escalating war against international justice, the Tom Honan bribery scandal, and Trump’s attempt to rein in the H1B visa program.

• Palestinian Statehood: At the UN General Assembly, Britain, Canada, and Australia formally recognize Palestinian statehood, coordinating with Portugal, San Marino, Luxembourg and other countries to try to pressure Israel into stopping the brutal humanitarian catastrophe it has created in Gaza, now joined by France. Leaders like Keir Starmer invoke the two-state solution, while a manic Netanyahu shouts that no such state will ever be created.

• Israel Threatens to Annex the West Bank: Netanyahu's far-right allies, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, urge West Bank annexation as “retaliation” for Palestinian recognition. Coalition hardliners demand sovereignty over "Judea and Samaria," eyeing 22% of the territory—90% in Area C—despite UAE warnings of downgraded ties and Arab backlash threatening the Abraham Accords. Israeli officials consider expulsions of diplomats and full absorption.

• U.S. Sanctions on the ICC: The United States considers blanket sanctions against the International Criminal Court as soon as this week, jeopardizing its operations in retaliation for its investigations into Israeli war crimes. Court officials convene emergency meetings to brace for disruptions, including halted staff payments and frozen bank access, prompting advance salary disbursements for the rest of 2025 and hunts for alternative banking providers.

• Tom Homan Bribery Scandal: Trump's border czar faces scrutiny after undercover FBI agents recorded him accepting $50,000 in cash in Texas last September, allegedly for promising immigration contract favors post-election. The Biden-era Justice Department launched a bribery investigation, weighing charges like conspiracy and fraud, but the Trump administration abruptly shuts it down, dismissing findings as a "political witch hunt" lacking credible evidence. The sting originated from a separate counterintelligence probe, underscoring tensions over Homan's role in mass deportations amid outsourcing to private firms.

• Trump's H-1B Visa Fee Hike: The Trump administration shocks employers by slapping a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, targeting skilled workers in tech and beyond to curb "artificially low labor costs" undercutting Americans. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft scramble, advising H-1B holders abroad to rush returns amid confusion, though the White House clarifies exemptions for current holders and no travel bans.