One of the nation's largest labor unions has become the latest organization to demand a ceasefire in Gaza as Israel's war with Hamas plays out.

The American Postal Workers Union announced on Wednesday that its members are "shocked and saddened by the tragic and ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine." The statement condemned the Hamas violence of Oct. 7 but also said Israel's response "has made the prospects for peace more remote."

APWU Detroit local president Keith Combs said an estimated 4,000 children are among more than 10,000 deaths in the conflict so far.

"Israel has shut off the flow of food, water, fuel and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip, a war crime," he said. "A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding every day in Gaza. Thousands more innocent civilians stand to die - wholly preventable deaths."

The White House announced Thursday that Israel has agreed to a daily four-hour "humanitarian pause" from bombing Gaza to allow civilians to flee, but there's no word on whether those who leave will be allowed back in at a later date. The push for a longer pause came as part of President Joe Biden's renewed diplomatic push to free hostages taken by Hamas.

Combs said the union's position is that anything less than an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza will not be enough.

"We call on our government - which is the primary foreign benefactor of the Israeli government - to use all its power to protect innocent lives," he said, "and to help bring about peace in the region, and not use our tax dollars for more war."

Other unions have also made statements regarding the violence in Gaza, including Starbucks Workers United, which posted a message of solidarity with Palestine on X, formerly Twitter, on Oct. 9. Starbucks executives sued the union in federal court to stop using the company's name and logo, as trademark infringement. The union has filed its own countersuit.


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A former White House cybersecurity expert is warning of potential cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. And in Illinois, security analysts are heeding his message on the dangers.

Illinois saw at least 10 major cybersecurity attacks last year.

As former acting principal deputy national cyber director, Jake Braun, executive director at the Harris School of Public Policy's Cyber Policy Initiative at the University of Chicago, said that during his time in the Biden White House, he dealt with escalating cyber threats from China and other nation-states - often targeting utilities.

"They are very deliberately targeting specific water utilities, specific energy operators and so on - that are civilian but support military installations," he said, "so that if we go to war, they've kind of seeded the battlefield, so to speak, with malware."

Of the approximately 50,000 water utilities throughout the United States, Braun said only a few hundred support military operations - and many of the rest are unprotected. Braun noted that he is working with the National Rural Water Association to recruit cybersecurity volunteers to help support local water utilities.

Cybercriminals generally hack utilities for one reason: money. Braun said ransom demands in exchange for the thieves releasing their hold on systems is rising. These schemes start primarily in Russia and other Eastern European countries, but nations such as China are also willing to infiltrate and weaken critical infrastructure.

Braun pointed to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund improvements to these systems.

"And many water utilities aren't even requesting the funds," he said. "So the funds are there, they're available, and water utilities often don't even know they can request the funds for that. And that is true for many other critical infrastructure."

Braun said some water utilities are in such rural areas that they struggle to find cybersecurity experts. He lauded volunteer programs such as the University of Chicago's Project Franklin to fill the gap.

Among the targets of cybersecurity attacks in Illinois last year were the Secretary of State's office, two colleges and a hospital.


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A former White House cyber-security expert is warning of potential cyber attacks on critical infrastructure.

Former Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Jake Braun was in Arizona recently to talk about the threat.

He's now the Executive Director of the Harris School of Public Policy Cyber Policy Initiative at the University of Chicago.

He said during his time at the Biden White House, he dealt with escalating cyber threats from China and other nation-states targeting water and energy utilities.

"They are very deliberately targeting specific water utilities, specific energy operators and so on - that are civilian but support military installations," said Braun, "so that if we go to war, they've kind of seeded the battlefield so to speak with malware."

Braun said nationwide there are about 50,000 water utilities, but only a few hundred support military operations.

He added that while the federal government is focused on safeguarding those, the majority fall through the cracks.

Braun said he's working with the National Rural Water Association to recruit cyber-volunteers that'll provide free cybersecurity support to local water utilities.

Braun said cybercriminals could hack utilities because they want a ransom. He said those cases are increasing, and start primarily in Russia and other Eastern European countries.

But he added that countries like China are wanting to infiltrate and weaken critical infrastructure.

While Braun was sounding the alarm, he was also advocating for solutions. He said the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides billions of dollars to revamp water infrastructure.

"And many water utilities aren't even requesting the funds," said Braun. "So the funds are there, they're available and water utilities often don't even know they can request the funds for that. And that is true for many other critical infrastructure."

Braun said he understands that money isn't enough. He added that some water utilities are in such remote, rural areas, they'll struggle to find cyber security experts.

But he said that's where the cyber volunteer program, Project Franklin, comes in.

"Volunteer programs like this one," said Braun, "are going to be really what's available to them for the foreseeable future."




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President-elect Donald Trump has named Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his nominee for Secretary of State, prompting experts to assess Rubio's credentials and potential effect on U.S. relations with Latin America.

While some see his experience on the Senate Intelligence Committee as an asset, others are skeptical of his shifting positions and limited focus on the region.

Susan MacManus, distinguished professor emerita of political science at the University of South Florida, said Rubio is very experienced at international politics and able to articulate it in an understandable way when engaging with the press.

"Rubio makes a lot of sense as an appointment for Trump because of his appearance and his insight into foreign policy as a consequence of sitting on the Senate Intelligence Committee for quite a while," MacManus pointed out. "He is very experienced at international politics."

Rubio is a one-time critic of Trump turned fierce advocate. He is known for being a hawk on China, Cuba and Iran. Rubio's knowledge of South American politics could address what some see as a long-standing oversight in that region. However, some experts said the area is far more complex than Rubio's narrow focus on issues in Cuba and Venezuela.

Adriana Novoa, professor of Latin American history at the University of South Florida, questioned Rubio's consistency and depth on foreign policy while noting his anti-China positions.

"The reality is that the biggest presence economically in Latin America are China, Russia and South Africa, so they are moving away From the U.S.," Novoa explained. "Foreign policy only focused on the problems of Venezuela and Cuba will not cut it."

Novoa expects Rubio will have a difficult time on the job if he fails to address larger regional economic and political shifts.

Meanwhile, MacManus expects with Rubio at the helm, the U.S. will pay increased attention to South America, particularly to counter China's growing influence.

"For years now, people have complained that continent has been ignored," MacManus observed. "Meanwhile, there's been a lot of influx and money rolling into South American countries from Iran, Russia, China, for example, all of whom are becoming part of a growing coalition that's sort of counter to the American and European coalition."

Novoa thinks navigating such issues requires more skills, as she does not think Rubio is gifted or consistent enough on foreign policy issues.

"Not because he doesn't have the capacity but he switched so much his positions since when I first started following him," Novoa noted. "He was kind of a hawkish, classic Republican, and since then he has switched a lot to adjust to the political balance of the party, so I don't know, really."

With Rubio expected to leave his coveted Senate seat for a role in the Trump administration, all eyes are on Gov. Ron DeSantis to see whom he will choose as a replacement or placeholder, as many anticipate DeSantis's own eventual transition to the Senate at the end of his term.


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