*By Carlo Versano*
An attempted mail bombing of several prominent Democrats and CNN's New York office used techniques that have grown more common among terrorists in recent years, said Jarrod Bernstein, a former counter-terrorism official in the Obama administration.
Bernstein spoke to Cheddar Wednesday afternoon as the [flurry of apparently politically-motivated threats](https://cheddar.com/videos/possible-explosives-sent-to-hillary-clinton-and-barack-obama) tapped into a sense among many Americans that ー less than two weeks before a pivotal election ー the country's political discourse is on a knife's edge.
The devices that were intended for George Soros, former president Barack Obama, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, former A.G. Eric Holder, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), and CNN's New York office appeared similar and part of a "high concept, low technology" trend that worries counter-terrorism officials, Bernstein said.
That trend includes homemade bombs, commandeered vehicles, and anything else that can be used to inflict mayhem, no matter how crudely.
While not particularly high-tech, the devices seemed to be capable of detonating, Bernstein said. "It doesn't need to be a very sophisticated device to do a lot of damage."
The number of devices and the addressees, all high-profile Democrats who are frequent targets of right-wing ire ー including insults from President Trump ー suggested a motivated individual or group trying to influence our political discourse, according to Bernstein.
"I don't think we've ever seen a scare as widespread as this ー this close to an election," he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/bombs-and-suspicious-packages-sent-to-cnn-obama-clinton-and-other-high-profile-dems).
Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, making the decision during a closed-door session after the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump failed badly on a third ballot for the gavel.
Canada has removed 41 of its diplomats from India as tensions rise between the two nations.
Mitt Romney said he believes right-wing media is the reason for the radicalization of the GOP party.
An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child.
Israel bombarded Gaza early Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil.
The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans.
Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country's defense minister told ground troops to “be ready” to invade, though he didn’t say when.
Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation remains too high and that bringing it down to the Fed's target level will likely require a slower-growing economy and job market.
Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to try a third vote to become House speaker, even as his Republican colleagues are explicitly warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win over their support.
