I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire, editor-in-chief John Bickley.

It's Tuesday, December 24th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

The Biden administration has lifted a bounty on the rebel leader that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in Syria earlier this month.

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more. The decision follows Hayat-Tahrir al-Shad in Syria earlier this month. DailyWire reporter Tim Pierce has more.

The decision follows Hayat-Tahrir al-Sharm's leader, Ahmed al-Shara's agreement to prevent

terrorism groups in Syria from threatening the U.S. or its neighbors.

HTS, which was once linked to al-Qaeda, now controls much of Syria and is attempting to distance

itself from its extremist

roots.

U.S. officials describe their first meeting with Al-Shara as productive, but stress the focus

will remain on actions over promises.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has ramped up its military presence in Syria to counter ISIS threats

amid the ongoing upheaval.

Fept and certain drug offenses can once again land you on the naughty list in California.

As of last week, the Golden State's Proposition 36 took effect.

The measure, approved by 69% of voters in November, makes retail thefts under $950

and drug possessions, including meth and fentanyl, felonies again, with convictions

for these offenses up to three years in prison.

Seal Beach PD posted a now viral Instagram video of two thieves dejectedly discussing

the new laws in the back of a cruiser, adding, this is Orange County they don't play.

It's new laws. Stealing is a felon. And this is Orange County, they don't play. It's new laws.

Stealing is a felon.

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