{"id":"1793987004371-news-segment","slug":"syria-aiding-saudi-arabia-on-houthi-attacks","title":"Syria aiding Saudi Arabia on Houthi attacks","summary":"The Justice Department selected Jacksonville, Florida; East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri, for the Model Cities Initiative, splitting nearly $300 million in federal public-safety funding. The money can be used for hiring law enforcement personnel, technology, equipment, forensics, and mental health/substance-use or recidivism-reduction services. Exact city-by-city amounts have not been disclosed; DOJ leaders plan to visit each city to present the awards.\n\nThe initiative launched in June 2026 as part of the Trump administration's violent-crime reduction push, using a “whole-of-city” approach. Jacksonville was highlighted for sharply falling crime: murders fell 38% from 2023 to 2025, and the city recorded 59 murders in 2024, its lowest total since at least 1995.\n\nJacksonville was one of four jurisdictions selected for the DOJ's Model Cities Initiative, which will share nearly $300 million in federal public-safety funding. Attorney General Todd Blanche tied the funding to the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\nSyrian military advisers and training teams are aiding Saudi Arabia as it faces Houthi attacks, according to two Syrian military sources and a senior U.S. official. A Saudi official confirmed expertise sharing, while Damascus called reports of deployments premature.\n\nPresident Trump signed a proclamation Thursday designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as landmarks to prevent future presidents from making major changes, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is a headline/tease about a successor to Nancy Pelosi and a round of calls; no specific checkable factual claim is stated.\n\nOpenAI told CNBC it will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results; the report notes voters across the country supported some candidates who pledged restrictions on data center development.\n\nCoreWeave's bond yield topped 16%, according to CNBC, reflecting investor worry about an AI data center slowdown and stress in AI debt m","publishedAt":"2026-11-06T17:43:24.371Z","channel":{"id":"news","name":"Oncast News","language":"en"},"show":"The World","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Jacksonville was one of four jurisdictions selected for the DOJ's Model Cities Initiative, which will share nearly $300 million in federal public-safety funding. Attorney General Todd Blanche tied the funding to the One Big Beautiful Bill.\nSource: [justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-nearly-300-million-awards-four-model-cities-combat-violent) NAMES: Todd Blanche = U.S. (https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2118759853870981611)\n\nTRUE: Syrian military advisers and training teams are aiding Saudi Arabia as it faces Houthi attacks, according to two Syrian military sources and a senior U.S. official. A Saudi official confirmed expertise sharing, while Damascus called reports of deployments premature.\nSource: [jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-914077) NAMES: Houthis = Iran-backed Yemeni armed group. (https://x.com/Reuters/status/2118759079506038904)\n\nTRUE: President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as landmarks to prevent future presidents from making major changes, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is a headline/tease about a successor to Nancy Pelosi and a round of calls; no specific checkable factual claim is stated.\nSource: [wsj.com](https://www.wsj.com) POST 2118760233396830216: NOCLAIM N/A NAMES: Nancy Pelosi = former U.S. House Speaker. (https://x.com/WSJ/status/2118759679077630441)\n\nTRUE: OpenAI told CNBC it will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results; the report notes voters across the country supported some candidates who pledged restrictions on data center development.\nSource: [cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html) NAMES: OpenAI = AI company behind ChatGPT. (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html)\n\nTRUE: CoreWeave's bond yield topped 16%, according to CNBC, reflecting investor worry about an AI data center slowdown and stress in AI debt markets. This is a comparative feature about competitive balance in sports leagues; it contains an executive's opinion but no checkable factual claim.\nSource: [cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html) NAMES: CoreWeave = AI cloud-computing company. PO (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Jacksonville was one of four jurisdictions selected for the DOJ's Model Cities Initiative, which will share nearly $300 million in federal public-safety funding. Attorney General Todd Blanche tied the funding to the One Big Beautiful Bill.","sourceName":"[justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-nearly-300-million-awards-four-model-cities-combat-violent) NAMES: Todd Blanche = U.S.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2118759853870981611","claim":"BREAKING: AG Todd Blanche announces Jacksonville will be part of the DOJ's Model Cities Initiative, backed by nearly $300 million in planned federal investments across select U.S. cities. Blanche says the funding, secured through the One Big Beautiful Bill, will support cities ht","author":"Fox News (@FoxNews)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Syrian military advisers and training teams are aiding Saudi Arabia as it faces Houthi attacks, according to two Syrian military sources and a senior U.S. official. A Saudi official confirmed expertise sharing, while Damascus called reports of deployments premature.","sourceName":"[jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-914077) NAMES: Houthis = Iran-backed Yemeni armed group.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2118759079506038904","claim":"Syria aids Saudi Arabia with military advice and training amid Houthi attacks, sources say https://t.co/76LnPGnn9I","author":"@Reuters"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as landmarks to prevent future presidents from making major changes, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is a headline/tease about a successor to Nancy Pelosi and a round of calls; no specific checkable factual claim is stated.","sourceName":"[wsj.com](https://www.wsj.com) POST 2118760233396830216: NOCLAIM N/A NAMES: Nancy Pelosi = former U.S. House Speaker.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/WSJ/status/2118759679077630441","claim":"President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday that he said would designate the White House’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room as landmarks to prevent future presidents from making major changes to them. https://t.co/4aJkupAVSw","author":"The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"OpenAI told CNBC it will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results; the report notes voters across the country supported some candidates who pledged restrictions on data center development.","sourceName":"[cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html) NAMES: OpenAI = AI company behind ChatGPT.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html","claim":"OpenAI will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results, CFO tells CNBC - Voters across the country on Tuesday voiced their support for candidates who have pledged to place restrictions on data center development.","author":"CNBC"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"CoreWeave's bond yield topped 16%, according to CNBC, reflecting investor worry about an AI data center slowdown and stress in AI debt markets. This is a comparative feature about competitive balance in sports leagues; it contains an executive's opinion but no checkable factual claim.","sourceName":"[cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html) NAMES: CoreWeave = AI cloud-computing company. PO","sourceUrl":"https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html","claim":"The AI ‘credit card’ is getting costlier as CoreWeave bond yield tops 16% - Coreweave's steep yields reflect stress in the AI debt markets as investors worry about a data center slowdown. What comes next.","author":"CNBC"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2118759853870981611","name":"[justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-nearly-300-million-awards-four-model-cities-combat-violent) NAMES: Todd Blanche = U.S.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Fox News (@FoxNews)"},{"url":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2118759079506038904","name":"[jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-914077) NAMES: Houthis = Iran-backed Yemeni armed group.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"@Reuters"},{"url":"https://x.com/WSJ/status/2118759679077630441","name":"[wsj.com](https://www.wsj.com) POST 2118760233396830216: NOCLAIM N/A NAMES: Nancy Pelosi = former U.S. House Speaker.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ)"},{"url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html","name":"[cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/open-ai-data-centers-election.html) NAMES: OpenAI = AI company behind ChatGPT.","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"CNBC"},{"url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html","name":"[cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/06/coreweave-bond-yield-tops-16percent-as-ai-credit-stress-rises.html) NAMES: CoreWeave = AI cloud-computing company. PO","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"CNBC"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793987004371-news-segment-syria-aiding-saudi-arabia-on-houthi-attacks","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/news","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793987004371-news-segment-syria-aiding-saudi-arabia-on-houthi-attacks","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793987004371-news-segment-syria-aiding-saudi-arabia-on-houthi-attacks and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Bella","text":"Reuters is reporting that Syrian military advisers may be in Saudi Arabia to help with Houthi attacks."},{"host":"Brian","text":"That is not a sentence I expected."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Two Syrian military sources and a senior U.S. official say training teams are already there."},{"host":"Brian","text":"So the country that spent years as an Iranian ally is now advising Riyadh?"},{"host":"Bella","text":"That's the part to sit with."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I'm sitting. It's weird."},{"host":"Bella","text":"The weird part is that it might be useful."},{"host":"Brian","text":"How? Syria's army has been on the back foot for years."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Exactly. They've spent a decade under drone and missile fire."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Not from the Houthis. The Houthis hit Saudi, not Syria."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Same Iranian playbook, though."},{"host":"Brian","text":"That's the theory."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Not just theory. Syrian forces have had to adapt to Iranian-style attacks."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I'd still like to see what a Syrian training team actually teaches."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Same. But the Saudis clearly see something."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Or they see cheap expertise."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Damascus says reports of deployments are premature. Only a Saudi official confirmed \"expertise sharing.\""},{"host":"Brian","text":"That phrase covers a lot. It could be a few officers in a hotel room."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Or it could be the start of a real security relationship."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Why would Saudi want that? Syria is broke and under sanctions."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Because the Houthis keep hitting them, and Washington's protection is not what it used to be."},{"host":"Brian","text":"So they go to Syria? That's a desperate move."},{"host":"Bella","text":"It's a pragmatic one. You take expertise where you find it."},{"host":"Brian","text":"But the expertise is contaminated. Syria has been aligned with Iran for years, the Houthis' patron."},{"host":"Bella","text":"That's exactly my point! They know the playbook."},{"host":"Brian","text":"They were part of the playbook."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And now they might be selling it to Riyadh. That's how the Middle East works."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I don't buy that this is a grand realignment."},{"host":"Bella","text":"I'm not saying grand. I'm saying it's a signal."},{"host":"Brian","text":"A signal to whom?"},{"host":"Bella","text":"Tehran. Riyadh is saying, \"We'll work with your friends if it buys security.\""},{"host":"Brian","text":"That's a dangerous message."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Or a realistic one. Saudi has lived under Houthi fire for years."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Realistic is buying Patriot batteries, not Syrian advisors."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Patriots don't stop a swarm of cheap drones. Training might."},{"host":"Brian","text":"You're overselling what \"training\" means. We don't even know numbers."},{"host":"Bella","text":"We know a senior U.S. official confirmed it. That's not nothing."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Confirmed teams exist. Not that they've done anything."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Fine. But the political shift alone is the story."},{"host":"Brian","text":"On that we agree. Damascus and Riyadh talking security is huge."},{"host":"Bella","text":"If it holds, it redraws the map."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Or it's a leak to pressure the Houthis. The timing is convenient."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Could be both. Let's see if any Syrian boots actually show up."},{"host":"Brian","text":"And if they do, that's a different world."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Different world entirely."},{"host":"Brian","text":"For now, the map hasn't changed. But the phone calls have."},{"host":"Bella","text":"That's the first step."},{"host":"Brian","text":"And Riyadh is taking it."}]}