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National

The FBI and Denver police are investigating threats to the Colorado Supreme Court justices who last week ruled that former President Trump cannot appear on the state's ballots in the 2024 presidential election.

The big picture: A Denver Police Department spokesperson told Axios on Monday evening that officers are "providing extra patrols around justice's residences" in the city following the threats against the justices who found the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause applied to Trump in relation to his actions surrounding the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.

Driving the news: Analysis by nonpartisan research nonprofit Advance Democracy showed "significant violent rhetoric" from Trump supporters online against the justices and Democrats following the majority ruling, NBC News first reported last week.

The posts have demanded the judges' personal information be revealed and one user of a far-right, pro-Trump website appeared to reference the justices in a post saying, "All f**ing robed rats must f**ing hang," CNN noted on Monday.

State of play: "The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement," the Bureau said in an emailed statement to outlets including Axios.

"We will vigorously pursue investigations of any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions regardless of motivation."

The Denver Police Department spokesperson confirmed officers were "investigating incidents directed at Colorado Supreme Court justices and will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate any reports of threats or harassment." 

Police "will provide additional safety support if/as requested," added the email from the spokesperson, who declined to comment further due to the open investigations and safety and privacy considerations.

A spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Branch said via email on Monday evening that it did not comment on security-related matters.

Go deeper: Landmark Trump ruling gives Supreme Court an unexpected New Year's agenda

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the Colorado Judicial Branch declined to comment on the threats.

Landmark Trump ruling gives Supreme Court an unexpected New Year's agenda

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Law enforcement investigating threats to Colorado judges in Trump case

Denver police officers are "providing extra patrols around justices' residences" following the threats, a spokesperson said.

The Colorado Supreme Court in Denver, Colorado, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. 

The Colorado Supreme Court in Denver, Colorado, U.S., on Wednesday, one day after a majority of the state's justices ruled that former President Trump was disqualified from the state's ballot under the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause. Photo: David Williams/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cyber threats

Donald Trump

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to continue waging war against Hamas in Gaza, despite a growing number of international calls for a ceasefire.

Driving the news: While visiting Israeli troops in northern Gaza, Netanyahu said: "Whoever talks about stopping, there is no such thing."

He also posted a video to X on Monday with the comment: "With our heroic fighters in Gaza — fighting until victory!" 

Of note: Netanyahu outlined in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Monday the Israeli war cabinet's "three prerequisites for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors in Gaza."

"We must destroy Hamas, demilitarize Gaza and deradicalize the whole of Palestinian society," said the subheading that summarized his points.

If these three things happen, Netanyahu wrote, "Gaza can be rebuilt and the prospects of a broader peace in the Middle East will become a reality."

Between the lines: Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected in D.C. on Tuesday for meetings at the White House and State Department as tensions grow between the Biden administration and Israel's government over when the high-intensity phase of the war should end and what will happen in Gaza after it does, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.

As the death toll in Gaza mounts, Egypt has made a phased ceasefire proposal to Israel, Hamas and the U.S. and European governments, but Netanyahu's comments suggest that his war cabinet isn't immediately interested.

The Egypt framework ultimately would require Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages, for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and the formation of a new Palestinian government that would oversee both Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas also doesn't appear to be keen on Egypt's proposal, with a senior official reiterating the militant group's position that it won't negotiate a "temporary or partial truce."

Zoom out: More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October after Hamas' attack on Israel left 1,200 people dead as the militant group took 240 hostages — some of whom have been released and others killed.

Go deeper: Israel's goal in Gaza — and what it means for Palestinians

Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's WSJ op-ed, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer's expected D.C. visit and further context.

Israel's goal in Gaza — and what it means for Palestinians

Netanyahu visits Israeli troops in Gaza and vows to continue war

He said if these things happen, "Gaza can be rebuilt and the prospects of a broader peace in the Middle East will become a reality."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Israeli troops in Gaza. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Israeli troops on Dec. 25. Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu/X

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) chairs a Cabinet meeting at the Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence, in Tel Aviv on December 17, 2023.

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Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected in Washington on Tuesday for meetings at the White House and State Department about Israel's plans for eventually scaling down the war and transitioning to a low-intensity operation in Gaza, two Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The meetings Dermer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest confidant, is expected to have will take place amid growing tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over when the high-intensity phase of the war should end and what will happen in Gaza after it does. 

A senior U.S. official said the main issue of discussion between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government is "how to wrap things up and on what timeframe."

Driving the news: Dermer is set to meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and members of Congress, a senior Israeli official said.

Dermer is expected to discuss Israel's plans for the low-intensity phase in the war, which Israeli officials expect to start by the end of January, and how civilian affairs in Gaza will be managed in the long transition phase ahead, the Israeli official said.

The official added that Dermer will also discuss Netanyahu's thinking regarding what happens in Gaza when the war ends, including who governs the enclave in the long term.

The Biden administration has said publicly it wants the Palestinian Authority to have a role in governing Gaza in a post-Hamas reality. Netanyahu has previously rejected that idea but in recent weeks Dermer and other Israeli officials started speaking to their U.S. counterparts about what they called "R.P.A" — reformed Palestinian Authority, a U.S. official said.

Last week, an Israeli delegation headed by Defense Ministry policy chief Dror Shalom visited Washington for talks about the day after the war and used the "R.P.A." acronym, the official said.

The White House declined to comment. Dermer's office and the State Department didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Behind the scenes: Dermer is also expected to discuss the concern about Israel's munitions stockpile and the request that the U.S. expedite weapons shipments, an Israeli official said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke to Blinken last week and expressed concern about a delay in the delivery of munitions, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Gallant asked if the holdup was politically motivated and Blinken reassured him it wasn't. Two U.S. officials said there has been no decision to slow-walk delivery of munitions to Israel. "It is a pure paperwork issue," they said.

State of play: Netanyahu made a rare visit to Gaza on Monday, telling soldiers: "Whoever talks about stopping, there is no such thing."

He later vowed to expand Israel's operation in Gaza, arguing military pressure is the only way to secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas and other groups. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas to create a reality in which an attack like the one carried out by the group on Oct. 7 cannot happen again.

More than 20,600 Palestinians have been killed in the more than two months of fighting, according to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza. The already dire humanitarian conditions continue to worsen, with the UN warning more people could start to die from disease, dehydration and hunger if significantly more aid isn't allowed into Gaza.

The big picture: Dermer's visit will also come against the backdrop of growing tensions on Israel's northern border after an airstrike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria on Monday.

Tehran blamed Israel for the attack. Israel didn't claim responsibility but Israeli officials said the IDF was preparing for a retaliation from Syria and Lebanon.

The general killed, Reza Mousavi, was in charge of Iranian weapons shipment to the pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to an Israeli official and Iranian press reports.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that Israel will pay a price for assassinating Mousavi. Hezbollah said the Israeli attack "crossed the line."

The Biden administration has been working on a diplomatic solution to cool down tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Go deeper: Christmas celebrations canceled in Bethlehem as war rages in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Scoop: Top Bibi confidant expected in D.C. for talks on next phase of Gaza war

The meetings will take place amid growing tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government.

Ron Dermer on Nov. 6, 2021. Photo: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Israel

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Americans send and receive more text messages on Christmas than any other day of the year, according to wireless carrier data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: There are more ways than ever to stay connected. But most Americans opt for good, old-fashioned text messages to spread holiday cheer — and to brag about their newest Christmas gifts.

By the numbers: AT&T's busiest day last year was Christmas. Group messages and photo or video messages were especially popular.

It's also the busiest day for T-Mobile, whose network saw 3 billion messages last year.

Zoom in: New Year's Day is the second busiest holiday for outreach, according to the wireless providers.

According to T-Mobile, 775 million calls were made and 92 million messages were sent during New Year's festivities in 2023.

AT&T customers sent more group messages during New Year's than any other day this year so far (as of last week).

The bottom line: Ice your thumbs, and don't forget to reach out to your friends, family and neighbors this holiday season.

Christmas is the busiest day for texting

Americans send and receive more text messages on Christmas than any other day of the year, according to data shared with Axios.

Illustration of the elf on the shelf reading its cell phone.

Communications

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Business

The holiday tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas is going strong, according to Yelp data shared with Axios.

The big picture: Yelp searches for Chinese restaurants spike every December. Last year, Christmas Day searches were 99% higher than any other day in the month, the platform told Axios.

The tradition of Chinese food on Christmas is going strong

Most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas Day while other restaurants are closed.

Axios

Monday's top stories

Law enforcement investigating threats to Colorado judges in Trump case

Netanyahu visits Israeli troops in Gaza and vows to continue war

Scoop: Top Bibi confidant expected in D.C. for talks on next phase of Gaza war

Christmas is the busiest day for texting

The tradition of Chinese food on Christmas is going strong

Alexei Navalny located in Siberian prison after being reported missing

Sports stadiums are becoming adult playgrounds

Maersk to restart Red Sea shipping as U.S.-led security force deploys

Pope at Christmas Eve mass: "Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem"

Christmas celebrations canceled in Bethlehem as war rages in Gaza

Lab-grown diamonds go luxury — and rock the industry