research director at the university of neil where he specializes and the g of politics of the middle east. austin, where he for the offensive would go next. yes, thought the the, the graduation is going to come up and the, but i know that's me a spend forever taking as a c d of the resume because these yeah only, it's not february to, to put things as g t. and to fix the intelligence from everything we know when to, to create a funk line is between homes and how it becomes a self because the population around the house is not the rather in favor of the origin. they are otherwise christians, man. yeah. and they don't like, uh, is uh, gratian proposes by use a g, a g used on the east list who are coming from egypt. right. and the response of the regime is interesting for us. they've been being taken by surprise. and secondly, that the counter attack, assuming a week of the mom would have expected it's not, it was not really a surprise because 2 months ago as regions sent troops to to and that because they understood that the addition i wanted the to the dimensions on see again, table. so it was not

middle east as we have deployed carriers in and out of theater. recently, we had two carriers deployed in the middle east. >> [indiscernible] what is your latest assessment on being prepared to invade in 2027? secretary austin: we have said all along in accord with the taiwan relations act, our commitment is we will continue to help taiwan obtain the capability it needs to defend itself. that has been our work throughout. we do not want to see any kind of unilateral change to the status quo in the taiwan strait. we have been clear about that as well. there is a lot of speculation about when president xi will decide to do one thing or another. i would just say from my vantage point at this point in time, i do not think an attack is imminent for unavoidable. our goal is to make sure we continue to work with like-minded partners and allies to ensure that we maintain a free and open indo-pacific. we have been pretty successful thus far. >> [indiscernible] do you think that will have any impact [indiscernible] secretary austin: i will begin by saying our relationship with the prk is ironclad. i expect it will continue to be that way. throughout this process, my staff at the assistant secretary level, my senior m

is that they're making countries that are in their own camp. vulnerable to the extremist austin in the middle east, stuckey as president, has issued an ultimatum to us back. curtis minutes ends in the syria, president meadow gardens as of a fight, as have a choice. so vanda, or die, i had a few to get into because we are resolute in our determination to eliminate terrorist organizations, particularly dave and the p k. k, which threatened the stability and territorial integrity of both nations. the separatist criminals will either lay down their arms voluntarily or be stumped out with the weapons and syrian soil, hope not take here and the goods of being in the decades long conflict on correct, considered as the, to the care this militant terrorist. and as repeatedly targeted them then it submitted 3 operations of a self proclaimed kurdish administration in syria controlled a large chunk of the countries. no. but recently lost the key city to touch his back as in a minute, then not a representative of the kurdish lead or forward. he is in no eastern syria spoke to r t about on car as all to meet th

they're talking about the security situation in the middle east and also missing journalist austin ticeon't want any of the weapons from the as as a sad regime to to fall into the hands of the rebels --s assad regime -- we visited one of those sites this week. we just arrived at one of the locations the israelis struck this week on the outskirts of capital of damascus. this appears to be a research and production facility. when you look at some of the documents that are here in english, you can see drones and other information about rockets that the syrians were researching to produce. there's a diagram of a drone, and you look at just some of the words on this, it says rocket booster right there, and then it goes through the difference types of launchers. for rockets, engine tests. here is a list of material that you need to build these drones and those rockets. if another die gram of a drone -- diagram of a drone. this is an indication that the israelis had intelligence about what exactly they were hitting here in syria. they don't want this information and these production facilities

middle east. i don't know if austin tice -- if we'll know anything more about this.t his whereabouts or -- i hate to bring this up -- whether or not he's actually still alive. this is something we need to consider here. we have not had any resolute determination from the regime of his life or death, but they said they don't have him. >> matt, as we mentioned, syrian people have been gathering to celebrate this chapter in their history. what are you hearing? you're in damascus. what are you hearing tonight? >> reporter: i mean, this was an extraordinary thing to see. it was like a demonstration, but they weren't protestin were cel. it was a big block party really. people were waving flags. it's an ecstatic scene. we spoke to people there. here's what they told me. >> we have a new chapter. after him everything is easy now. >> it feels like we were in prison. not the ones under the ground. we were on the ground. we were in trauma. we didn't know anything. it's all happening -- it feels like we woke up. >> reporter: kate, look, i don't want to sugar coat it. this could

middle east. >> reporter: just a short time ago, the family of austin the american journalist kidnapped in 2012ing they have a significant source who they claim was vetted by the u.s. government who says that austin is alive and doing well. this is happening as syria is in chaos. multiple rebel groups are con vernl converging in damascus. the administration is demanding his release. the family are hopeful. they said the u.s. government asked them not to reveal more about this source. the u.s. government sources telling us they have very little intelligence about tice or his whereabouts. >> david: let's hope it's true and they get him out. president biden celebrating the news on the economy and american jobs. the u.s. adding 227,000 jobs in november, adding health care, leisure and hospitality. the unemployment rate ticking up slightly, 4.2% now. when we come back, the news on the missing grandmother in a sinkhole outside pittsburgh. what authorities have revealed. the new fbi warning about the text messages on your phone. dick van dyke about to turn 99. his new video tonight. that's the perfect

middle east conflict. but for one family, it's a far more narrow search for a son, a brother, an american journalist and marine veteran, austin tice. we have from a significant source that has already been vetted all over our government. austin tice is alive. tice was reporting in syria when he went missing in august of 2012. nbc's richard engel is in syria as its infamous prisons are now being emptied. he picked up the trail, speaking to a former prisoner, an activist who says he saw tice alive and well in 2022. this is the cell where tice was kept, a senior rebel leader tells nbc news. they're looking for information about tice. president biden, promising the u.s. government is doing everything possible to bring him home. secretary of state antony blinken is in the region working toward a secure transition for syria and a pathway toward stability in the middle east. secretary blinken is also pursuing new hopes for a ceasefire deal in gaza. biden administration sources telling nbc news hamas has agreed to allow israeli troops to remain in gaza temporarily after the fighting stops, and to provide a full list of the hostages i

if you think about a general mill he got change genders in foxholes and lloyd austin he was supposed to be a middle eastcked the middle east is on fire so the experts on the pentagon and the military around the world have not been successful in president trump as we know is somebody that is not a politician is somebody that understands we have to do things different and be a disruptor in he sees the and pete hegseth. maria: do you think will get confirmed. >> we are pushing get 150 members on our lunch on wednesday and a lot of positive comments we've only seen him on your network but it's great to have him there. maria: thank you, kevin hern joining us in d.c. a quick break in new surveillance video shows a full phase of the suspect accused of gunning down the ceo of united healthcare brian thompson on new york city street. former nypd lieutenant is here with his view on the case you're watching "mornings with maria" the very latest on the ongoing investigation when we come back. confident. measured. ready. the markets, like life, will turn and challenge us. a and complex conditions. we provide a diver

middle east. >> what should the us know about where austin tice might be and if he's safe the lady's alive. >> we think we can get her back, but we have no direct evidence to that yet and assad should be held accountable. >> have you directed an operation to go get him mr. president? >> is this andrew mccabe get who austin tice we want to get him out. >> yes, sir we have to identify where he is. >> thank you. >> thank you sir so you heard the president as he was going through that door. >> answer a question about austin tice, the american who's been held prisoner in syria for no reason at all for 12 years. we believe he's alive, the president says, and we and the united states will try to get him out there trying to find out where he is and he's been in touch with his family as well. on the more substantive issue right now, the overall situation in syria. the president of the united states promised that the united states will remain vigilant and will work very, very closely to make sure that what happens in syria now and in the region is peaceful and to the best interests of the united states. bu

. >> a new dawning of the middle east could be on the verge of happening. before i let you go austin tice the journalist being held by the regime or its allies for 14 years, graduate of georgetown we are told there is evidence that he's alive his family, could he finally be free, your thoughts. >> it's one of the olive branches that the conquerors need to sees quickly the diplomats need to work on although we don't currently have diplomatic relationships with syria we have a large group of legacy diplomats, any one of whom could arrange or negotiate this and i think the time is almost immediately. >> a chance to free austin tice. congressman darrell issa thank you for your insight and experience. of course. >> was again get him home, new york city police and the fbi releasing new photos of a person of interest in the assassination of an insurance ceo, one picture appears to be from a camera mounted inside a taxicab. another photo shows the person of interest walking on the sidewalk, authorities note the suspect has a slim build a distinctive eyebrows as they seek help identifying the

austin, bike h t. s estimates as well as age really emissions expand in the middle east with the chaos in syria. the prime minister has turned his attention to they are really and people in a tell a volume is the drugs you're pressure. spend over $30000000000.00 supporting us an answer today. after only 11 days of fighting is you collapse into the dust. your presence spent billions supporting come us and god today, very streamlined rooms. your pressure spent over $20000000000.00 supporting his body level. in a matter of weeks, most of his bottles liters. it's rockets and thousands of and stores went up in smoke. the money your present stole from. you literally went up in smoke. you must be furious. imagining the new roads, schools, hospitals, that kind of been built with tens of millions of dollars you would dictate is wasted back in tears almost over and over. it's because they seek to conquer other nations. to impose fundamentalist germany on the memories on the charter world. nothing. yeah, this message seems like a direct call outs to iranians painting himself as their knights in shining arm

middle east. timmerman told us he didn't see any other americans while held captive and knows nothing about the whereabouts of austin tice. lester? >> richard engel in damascus, thank you. >>> here at home, president-elect trump was in new york today, ringing the opening bell at the new york stock exchange, after "time" magazine named him its person of the year for what it called his comeback of historic proportion. in an interview, trump seemed to lower expectations about quickly bringing down grocery prices, saying, it's very hard, but i think that they will. >>> in 60 seconds, no one has more super bowl wins than bill belichick, but can he ace the learning curve of college ball at unc? that's next. that's next. farxiga has been trd again and again, and again. ♪far-xi-ga♪ ♪far-xi-ga♪ ask your doctor about farxiga. oh, we got a weathertech gift card! weathertech is the perfect gift for everyone. may i? (laughs) laser measured floorliners protect carpet in the front and second row. cargo liner protects the rear. the side window deflector offers more protection. my turn! the sinkmat contains spills in cabinets. somet

middle east during a discussion in 2011. from the lbj presidential library in austin, texas, this is one hour 15 minutes. >> good evening, everybody. my name is tom johnson. i'm a friend of the lbj family. 16 years ago, the first harry middleton lecture took place in this auditorium. the next day, lady bird johnson, who had established the lectureship to honor the man who was then library director, wrote to him to express her pride and her gratification that the event had been -- and these were her words -- a watershed day in the life of the lbj library. she was moved by what she felt was the chemistry that the speaker had created between himself and his audience. which was heavily composed that day by students. contrary to the fog of cynicism and gloom we have seen as a country, to have been wrapped in for some time, she wrote, the atmosphere, the chemistry of that it was so upbeat and soulful. to speaker that day, the creator of that chemistry, was president jimmy carter. president carter returned to this library a few years later in another unforgettable appearance. he and president gerald ford, o nce foes in a political war th

middle east. timmerman told us he didn't see any other americans while he was held captive by the assad regime and knows nothing about the whereabouts of austin tice. >> all right, richard, thank you. >>> evacuation orders in southern california now beginning to lift this morning, as firefighters make progress against the franklin fire in malibu. so far, the fire has burned more than 4,000 acres and destroyed several homes. officials now say it is about 30% contained, with firefighters getting some help from the rain and cooler temperatures. nearly 4,000 residents have been allowed to return home. another 1600 a under evacuation. so, could the west coast continue to get relief this weekend? let's go back to nbc meteorologist angie lassman for the answer on that. >> the answer is yes. they'll get a little bit of rain in southern california. they're going to get heavy rain and heavy snow in parts of northern california and points north of there. but notice how many winter alerts are spread across the map this morning. 8 million people, parts of the midwest, you're going to see the chance for accumulating ice as well as heavy rain. that freezing

middle east. we know that the u.s. has been looking for information on the missing american, austin tice.e state department go about go gathering any leads among the fall of the assad regime? there has to be a level of chaos going on there. does it reach out to rebel leaders? is it up to our intelligence community? where do we start? >> thanks so much for that question, alex. what is so heartbreaking about this story is that austin tice's family has repeatedly gone public this week and talked about firm, credible evidence that they believe he is still alive. and in that very press conference with secretary blinking today, what he said was that entities within the u.s. government are talking to hts, the rebel group that is in charge of syria right now, in order to locate austin tice. they even send a representative from the state department to lebanon to actually try to coordinate. so i think there is both intelligence agency communication and diplomatic negotiations to locate austin, which just shows you how committed the administration is dividing him. >> i was going to say, that is clea

lloyd austin got the cold shoulder even as we had a couple of wars raging, the middle east going outntrol. the chairman of the armed services committee tried to warn biden about the afghanistan withdrawal after he got out. he could not get the president in his own party on the phone. biden's staff built a wall around the president and shut him out from the rest of the world when he had bad days. the president had bad days and good days. biden has been mentally diminished for at least three years. many didn't admit it. we're hearing about it now. 50 biden insiders are spilling their guts. i have no respect for any one that came out now. it takes nothing when he only has 30 days left. think about how the country was at risk. and the press and the democrats just went along with it. >> his mental acuity is great, it's fine. it's as good as it's been over the years. >> do you think the president should undergo cognitive testing? >> no. to the extent that we're having this conversation, i don't see any need to do that as relates to biden. >> this version of biden intellectually is the best

hoot, these 2 will learn what time austin hezbollah and a sobs regime and others learned that even if it takes time, this lesson will be learned across the middle east in due time. happy holidays to everyone. why not? no, not kick will do a severe blow to the, to the terrorist organization in yemen. and the last one, standing of the axis of evil will hit it, strategic infrastructure and the habits lead us just us with the 2 hun. you seen well enough for the entire run, guys in lab and on. we'll do it in who data and so now whoever raises a hand against israel will have his hand console is really had us policy m p o for tests again gave us his take on why nothing else who is pushing for more regional conflicts, the government, the fees read is interested in a file and so you know, the to can so week it's own flashy. stay on the top, which man, it's a to destroy any the amendment of a, of democracy that still exists in these way. and we, and as we said the last year, a, unfortunately it is improved, right? this proven right? because that's exactly what it is doing. now. i want to be very clear. he's what it is that i to the existence secuity and is th

whose these 2 will learn what time austin hezbollah and a sobs regime and others learned that even if it takes time, this lesson will be learned across the middle east. in due time, happy holidays to everyone. a lot of companies that was a stand off between the m and on israel bought by as u. s. l i has intensified american naval forces. most are a strikes on some from the red sea just days ago with the stated purpose, to disrupt and degrade through t opperation. while the m in the organization itself simply call that a terrorist attack holder is talia. tory strike was preceded by a food, the ballistic missile piercing through is really defense. the head of the group supreme revolutionary committee posted a statement online issuing direct warnings to the us. i'm israel to in the attacks on him. and i'm guessing we caution americans against targeting human if they do not stop, we will strike us interest in the region, ignoring any red lines. either israel's attacks on gaza again and will cease, or we will act without any limits. choosing sensitive targets to deliver on message can the face of americans is raised and those in the orbits? well, we spok

final trip to the region, secretary austin saw firsthand that the military alliance between the united states and japan is stronger than ever. shifting to the middle east. the department continues to monitor the evolving situation in syria. and will work with our interagency partners and with regional stakeholders including jordan, lebanon, iraq, turkiye and israel. it's in our national security interests that syria emerges from this dynamic period as a stable, secure and sovereign state. and that the syrian people have a say in determining what their future looks like. and it is also in our national security interests that isis can't exploit the ongoing situation on the ground, which is why the department has no force posture changes to announce in the region and we maintain our current force posture presence in syria to defeat and counter isis militants and protect our forces against any threats. earlier today secretary austin spoke with israeli minister of defense. the secretary reiterated that the united states is closely consulting with our international partners to support the implementation of the ceasefire with lebanon. he also told the adminis

hoot, these 2 will learn what time austin hezbollah and a sobs regime and others learned that even if it takes time, this lesson will be learned across the middle east in due time. happy holidays to everyone but not, no, not check. well, we'll do a severe blow to the, to the terrorist organization in yemen. and the last one, standing of the axis of evil will hit it, strategic infrastructure and the habits lead us just us with the 2 hun, you seen why and not throughout the entire run, guys in lebanon, will do it in who data. and so not who ever raise a hand against israel will have his hand cottle. while we're now joined by is really part of the, from the head us policy or a cause safe. a always great to have to one. i mean, no 5, thank you. as follow bisley is waging war in garza not been in syria now. it's for me. yeah. been, has it taken on too much? cannot handle that well, we've been warding about the edge of the wall for months. it was very clear for me from october 7 onwards. let's do, i mean 2023 after the massacre committed by some us, which we all of course condemned a we, immediately afterwards we said that the, the government to freeze re

hoot, these 2 will learn what time austin hezbollah and a sobs regime and others learned that even if it takes time, this lesson will be learned across the middle east, in due time, happy holidays to everyone, but not no, not check who will do a severe blow to the, to the terrorist organization in yemen. and the last one, standing of the axis of evil, will hit it. strategic infrastructure and the habits lead us. just as we did to hon, you seen why and not throughout the entire run, guys in lebanon, will do it in who data and so not who ever raised a hand against israel will have his hand console. laws now to tyrone universe to profess the site mohammed or run the i mean, obviously watch, i don't know whether it's obviously a deal like, you know, for example, that the head of the world health organization was that is it, and i'm fortunate p all moment for the is really all me, it is really resumed, doesn't care. it's a genocide overseen. it has been turning out a holocaust in gaza for almost 15 months now. and they know that no one is going to stop them. or at least in the last, the only people who are try, who been trying to stop them were you haven

austin, a defense secretary and was himself awol. >> missing in action while the troops were under fire if the middle east. larry: wouldn't talk to adam smith in washington state on verge of afghanistan pullout, which is a big job, head of armed services committee and talking to him. all the while we were being lied to. l. >> we could all see the way the current sitting president was behaving and this is a man who was able to get away with multiple felonies as a result of being incapable and not having his wits about him. we saw that in the herr report, which both democrats and the media roundly rejected and white house attacked reporters of "the wall street journal" talking about the report. we've been saying this when he ran for the first five years and they're hiding things from everybody and saying that what you saw with your own eyes afters cheap fake or not real. for a party all about democracy, they're making pretty big decisions without the president. larry: i mean, i'm, i guess he flunked by the way, the interview with robert herr, he prepped and they flunked that. they finally did it and it was a

blinken, meeting with the middle east as final push for stability in syria by outgoing biden administration. damascus with a search for abducted americans including photographer austinrespondent, trey yingst, live outside of the capital and what are you hearing from the administration about the situation on the ground in regard to austin tice? >> john, good afternoon. american officials believe austin tice is still alive. i spoke with one person familiar with the search and they said 100 million location searched at this moment. we visited two of them today. >> after receiving tip from u.s. intelligence source, we arrive national security building in damascus. local residents say this is where assad regime helped most important prisoners. we are looking for information on one in particular, u.s. journalist, austin tice, who was kidnapped in 2012. >> we are underneath the security services building where many of the high profile prisoners were believed to be held under the assad regime. we are looking for austin tice or information about him. >> like many government buildings coach at the basement is a jail and torture and horric conditions but no signs of life. upst

. >> lloyd austin is speaking right now, a fireside chat with jake sullivan. a lot going on in the world, the map of the middle easts we speak. there's war raging in europe and right now the talk at the forum is isolation is no longer an option. just like it wasn't on december 7th, 1940, one, the last time talk of isolationism ended with the attack on pearl harbor which is the anniversary is today. eric: they are discussing these topics that threaten us now. good to have you, jennifer griffin in simi valley. arthel: thank you. donald trump indicated he's inclined to keep america out of global conflicts but a survey by the reagan library finds most americans do want the us involved in international events. adam smith is ranking member of the house armed services committee who joins me now. i went to pick up where jennifer griffin left off, mentioning this is not the time for isolation and secretary austin said the us should promote and embrace common purpose with our allies. will donald trump embrace common purpose with our allies? >> i hope so. there's a difference between wanting to be engaged in the world and wan

middle east and indo pacific. we had to act and we did act. we did so thanks to the president's clear direction, the able leadership of secretary austin and deputy secretary hicks and strong bipartisan congressional support. by the time we leave office our defense industrial base will be producing 55,000 155 millimeter artillery rounds a month almost a 400% increase and we put it on track to double again reaching 100,000 per month by early 2026. this effort extends way beyond 155 millimeter ammunition rounds . as we have drawn down our older stock to support ukraine of other weapons, we invested in new weapons and platforms to replace them. industry has responded and reoriented to meet our depends -- immense. new production lines have opened an increased output. we are building more javelins in alabama and arizona, takes in ohio, armored vehicles in michigan, pennsylvania and wisconsin, rockets in west virginia, and our investments all told reach dozens of states pick we galvanized defense industries, commercial companies, startups, venture capital firms to focus increasingly on developing low- cost, unproved systems for our allies and counterin

biden's secretary of defense, lloyd austin, got the cold shoulder even as we had a couple of wars raging in the middle east, mayhem going out of control. the chair of the house armed services committee was trying to warn biden about the afghanistan withdrawal before they got out, but he could not get the president in his own party on the phone talking about adam smith. biden's staff built a wall around the president and shut biden out from the rest of the world. when he was having the so-called bad days, he says, yeah, the president has some bad days and some good days. biden's been mentally diminished. we know that for at least three years, many didn't admit it, but we were only hearing about it now, getting it confirmed. 50 biden insiders are now spilling their guts, but for his entire presidency, they covered it up. i have no respect for anyone that came out. now it takes nothing when he only has 30 days left. think about how the country was at risk and the press and the democrats just simply went along with it. >> his mental acuity is great. it's fine. it's as good as it's been over the years. do you t

middle of november. all of those cars are going to make it hotter in austin. the deck park is sold as a way to reconnect west and east austin. they created the quote unquote district. there remains a symbol of segregation in the city and it is being sold as a way to reconnect our city. meanwhile, that expansion is going to displace 100 properties, including a bilingual preschool, including several community clinics, including businesses that cater and serve some of the low income minority populations of austin. i do not believe a park over a highway that is actively dividing the city is going to do anything to remedy the problems it is creating. also, we have to pay for it. we have to pay for it. txdot, the agency will not pay for it. >> two quick pitches. >> first of all, by megan's book. but also, kut's nathan bernier is doing a lot of work on this. we will have all of that coverage in an new place for you to find it going through from the north to the south of the expansion. everything you need to know about it. i appreciate that, as well. thank you. all right. another thing -- frank, you were talking about this.

middle east and indo pacific. we had to act and we did act. we did so thanks to the president's clear direction, the able leadership of secretary austin and deputy secretary hicks and strong bipartisan congressional support. by the time we leave office our defense industrial base will be producing 55,000 155 millimeter artillery rounds a month almost a 400% increase and we put it on track to double again reaching 100,000 per month by early 2026. this effort extends way beyond 155 millimeter ammunition rounds . as we have drawn down our older stock to support ukraine of other weapons, we invested in new weapons and platforms to replace them. industry has responded and reoriented to meet our depends -- immense. new production lines have opened an increased output. we are building more javelins in alabama and arizona, takes in ohio, armored vehicles in michigan, pennsylvania and wisconsin, rockets in west virginia, and our investments all told reach dozens of states pick we galvanized defense industries, commercial companies, startups, venture capital firms to focus increasingly on developing low- cost, unproved systems for our allies and counterin

middle east and europe as well were at that meeting. afterwards, blinken said the contact with the group was an effort to locate missing journalist austin tice and explain what's expected of a new syrian government, including respecting the rights of all syrians. >> yes, we've been in contact with hts and with other parties we have impressed upon everyone we've been in contact with, the importance of helping find austin tice and bringing him home. >> and we've also shared the principles that i just laid out for our ongoing support principles again, that have now been adopted by countries throughout the region and well beyond. >> meanwhile, israel has carried out airstrikes on syria since the rebels took power, and israeli troops have moved into the buffer zone between syria and the israeli occupied golan heights. israel says the move is only temporary, but arab countries are calling it an attempted land grab. well, hayat is a consulting fellow at chatham house's middle east and north africa program, and he joins us live now from here in london. you could have just popped in to see me here in the studio, couldn't you? but thank you for j

middle of november. all of cars are going to make it hotter. and austin, the deck park, does not fix. the deck is also sold as a way to reconnect east and west austin, i-35, built on east avenue, which was the line that segregated austin in the 1928 city plan. it created this six square mile, quote unquote, -- district on the east side of town. so it is much remains a symbol of segregation in this city. and it is being sold. these dead parks are being sold as a way to reconnect our city. meanwhile, that expansion going to displace 100 properties, including a bilingual preschool, including several community clinics, including businesses that cater and serve some of the low income minority populations of austin. so i do not believe a park over a highway that is actively dividing the city is going to do anything to remedy the problem. it's all it's creating. okay. so we have to pay for it. we, the city of austin, texas not paying for it. so austin ites are on the hook to pay for this tech start the state agency will not pay for it. two quick pitches. first of all, of course, by the book by megan's book, but also katy's nathan bernier h

middle east? what's going on in aleppo is different than what's going on in damascus. i don't understand because it's changing minute by minute. there are people that are feeling like it's possible this could be austin's release. i certainly -- i certainly pray that that's it and i think that what's happening in damascus is not as brutal as what's happening in aleppo. so there's just so much going on, i can hardly keep it in my mind. and the person that was doing the legal work is a very close friend of mine and he's having brain surgery today so my emotions are all over the page. but above all, we have a huge hole in our family and we never miss him less. we miss him all the time. when we have a big family dinner, when it's somebody's birthday, all the time. and this hole is painful. even when we're doing wonderful, happy things, there's still the hole, the hole is there. and that's what we're looking for. emily: thank you, debra. bill, did you want to address the proof of life a little more? bill: sure. the september 2020 meeting in damascus between roger carsons and kash patel and officials from syria, the syrian delegation said that it would be possible to offer proof of life if certain conditions

middle east. he's meeting with prime minister benjamin netanyahu. as israel and hamas are signaling new progress in ceasefire talks, even as israel's gaza offensive continues. on wednesday, israel's defense minister told u.s. defense secretary lloyd austinl on the table that would allow the release of all the hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting. the white house says that this is part of a final push by president joe biden to bring stability to the region before he leaves office. >> we are certainly continue to be committed and working 24 over seven to get the hostages home. this is a priority for this president. >> but that goal got more complicated five days ago when rebels overthrew longtime syrian leader bashar al assad, creating a new front for the israeli military. syria's new leaders say they don't want conflict with the west or israel, but the situation remains tense and israeli troops are now pushing deeper into western syria, building new barriers and outposts as they work to make sure that iran and its proxies do not establish a foothold there. >> when i came, we will erect the fence quickly, and we will guarantee protection and prevention of the growth of an octopus arm here in this place, even before it rises on

middle east. he's meeting with prime minister benjamin netanyahu. as israel and hamas are signaling new progress in ceasefire talks, even as israel's gaza offensive continues. on wednesday, israel's defense minister told u.s. defense secretary lloyd austine is a deal on the table that would allow the release of all the hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting. the white house says that this is part of a final push by president joe biden to bring stability to the region before he leaves office. >> we're certainly continue to be committed and working 24 over seven to get the hostages home. this is a priority for this president. >> but that goal got more complicated five days ago when rebels overthrew longtime syrian leader bashar al assad, creating a new front for the israeli military. syria's new leaders say they don't want conflict with the west or israel, but the situation remains tense and israeli troops are now pushing deeper into western syria, building new barriers and outposts as they work to make sure that iran and its proxies do not establish a foothold there. >> when i came, we will erect the fence quickly, and we will guarantee protection and prevention of the growth of an octopus arm here in this place, even before it

middle east. reporter: the u.s. -- your leadership. [indiscernible] what is your base case regarding china's advance and how to be prepared? sec. austinwe have said all along that with the taiwan relations act, our commitment is that we will continue to help taiwan retain the capability it needs to be able to defend itself. that has been in our ward throughout. we don't want to see any kind of unilateral change to the status quo in this taiwan strait. we have been clear about that as well. there is a lot of speculation about what mr. xi will decide to do one thing or another. i would just say, from my vantage point, at this point in time, i don't think an attack is either imminent or unavoidable. so, again, our goal is to make sure that we continue to work with like-minded partners and allies to ensure that we maintain a free and open indo-pacific, and we have been pretty successful at that so far. reporter: [inaudible] sec. austin: i will begin by saying that our relationship with the korean army is ironclad. i expect that it will continue to be that way. as a "matter of fact" throughout this whole process, my staff at the assistant