Syrian rebels ousted Bashar Assad after a 13-year civil war, prompting a shift in the region’s dynamics that presents risks and opportunities for the US.

President Biden acknowledged Assad’s removal as a historic opportunity, signaling the need for careful US engagement to avoid chaos in Syria.

Experts highlight this change as a chance to weaken Iran’s regional influence, as the overthrow of Assad hinders Iran’s strategic interests.

The US has had limited involvement in Syria, focusing mainly on combating ISIS, which complicates its response to the new power vacuum.

Did Iraq become a flourishing democracy post-Saddam. How about Afghanistan post-Taliban. How about Libya post-Gaddafi. I’m sure Syria post-Assad will be a successful regime change operation.

20 straight years of this stuff and people still don’t get it.

— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) December 7, 2024

Expectations suggest a low-level US campaign against ISIS will continue until a stable government is established, with efforts to maintain order and support allies.

The end of Assad’s rule has opened a security vacuum that extremist groups may exploit, further jeopardizing the humanitarian situation.

Iran and Russia also seek to reassert their influence following Assad’s departure, which could lead to competition for power among various factions.

Key figures, including the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, may vie for control in the power vacuum, raising concerns given the group’s past affiliations with terrorism.

Washington faces the challenge of engaging with groups like HTS while avoiding further destabilization.

ByteDance and TikTok have requested a temporary court order to block a U.S. law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19.

They filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

The companies warned that the law would shut down TikTok, affecting over 170 million U.S. users.

Without this injunction, TikTok faces a possible ban in six weeks, significantly diminishing its value and hurting businesses reliant on the app.

A three-judge panel recently upheld the law, mandating the divestiture.

The companies argue the likelihood of a Supreme Court reversal justifies a pause for further deliberation.

Additional time

They also pointed to President-elect Donald Trump’s opposition to a ban, suggesting additional time could help resolve the issue without Supreme Court intervention.

The Justice Department has indicated the appeals court should deny the request promptly for a timely Supreme Court review.

TikTok requested a decision by December 16, noting that the next actions depend on President Biden, who could extend the deadline, and Trump, who assumes office on January 20.

The feasibility of ByteDance demonstrating significant progress on divestiture remains uncertain.

Trump’s incoming national security adviser expressed his commitment to protecting user access to TikTok while ensuring data security.

Authorities have arrested Luigi Mangione, 26, in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson.

Thompson was killed outside a Manhattan hotel last week, prompting a five-day manhunt.

Mangione was captured in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a McDonald’s employee recognized him.

During the arrest, police found a “ghost gun,” silencer, and items linking him to the crime scene.

Investigators reported that the ghost gun might have been made using a 3D printer.

Mangione possessed multiple fake IDs, including one matching the identification used by Thompson’s killer.

Possible insight

A handwritten document with Mangione provided insight into his mindset, indicating resentment toward corporate America.

He has a background in Maryland and recent ties to San Francisco and Honolulu.

Authorities plan to extradite him to New York to face murder charges after he is questioned by detectives.

Thompson was shot early on a Wednesday morning and appeared to be intentionally targeted, as indicated by surveillance footage.

Words carved into shell casings at the scene referenced critical themes regarding the insurance industry.

Computer science

Mangione’s social media profiles suggest he has a degree in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Thompson’s murder has sparked frustration among Americans facing challenges with health insurance claims.

He served as the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit since April 2021 and was attending an investor conference in New York.

UnitedHealth has declined to comment on the incident.