RR The Wire 1400Z December 21, 2023

PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE RR

DTG: 140021Z DEC 23

ICOD: 130021Z DEC 23

CONTROLS: Public Release

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BLUF: TRUMP REMOVED FROM COLORADO BALLOT PENDING APPEAL. CONFLICT ESCALATES IN RED SEA.

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-International Events-

Red Sea/HOA: Conflict escalates following Yemen’s announcement of further combat operations in the Bab el Mandeb Strait. Yemen has threatened to lay mines in the strait, and has increased the targeting of what few vessels have attempted to transit the Red Sea, despite a heavy US Navy presence throughout the region.

Most commercial shipping companies have rerouted their vessels to the longer route around Africa. At the moment, the only oil tankers transiting the Red Sea are those transporting Russian or Iranian oil, which have been granted permission to pass unharmed by Yemen.

South Pacific: In response to events in the Middle East, Malaysia has announced that Israeli ships will be restricted from using Malaysian ports, and from anchoring within their territorial waters. AC: It is unclear as to if the same criteria used by Yemen to discern Israeli ships will also be used by Malaysia. So far, it seems as though the Malaysian restrictions only apply to the Israeli shipping company ZIM. However, any ship destined for Israeli ports is likely to fall under the new docking restrictions.

-Homefront-

USA: The situation at the southern border remains tense as authorities struggle to process tens of thousands of illegal immigrants into the U.S. following the latest surge. Most of the legal border crossing checkpoints in the Del Rio sector remain either closed or operational with limited hours. Substantial delays are also expected for commercial traffic (either inbound or outbound) due to the shortage of CBP personnel. Per CBP sources, 200,000+ illegal immigrants have been processed into the U.S. during the month of December alone.

CO: The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump is ineligible to run for office, removing him from the ballot of the 2024 Presidential election. Following this judgement, both Maine and California are also exploring similar options to ban Trump from the ballot in their states. AC: This is almost certainly a political move that under normal circumstances would not stand up to an appeal.

-Analyst Comments-

Consideration must be given to the follow-on effects in the event that the CO judgement is allowed to stand. As other states are also entertaining the idea of banning Trump from the ballot, flashpoints will emerge as long-standing legal precedents are shattered by politically motivated judicial rulings.

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Analyst: S2A

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