 Information on the "IKE DIKE" Coastal Barrier News Stories Covered During the Second Half of 2023 Go to the bottom of this page December 31, 2023: The Epoch Times: Graham (R-SC) Trump immunity claim may be legitimate Sunday, Sen. Graham suggested former President Donald Trump's legal arguments that he is immune from prosecution is legitimate. "If you're doing your job as president — and January sixth he was still president -- trying to find out if the election… was on the up and up — I think his immunity claim … it's a legitimate claim." Graham said Trump's "fiery speech" on Jan. 6, 2021, didn't play much of a role in the breaching of the Capitol that day. "He didn't break into the Capitol. He gave a fiery speech, but he's not the first guy to ever do that," Graham said. "So, at the end of the day, I think this case will not go to trial before the election. I think there are more legal issues around this than you can even imagine about—what can a president do as president? What are the limitations of being president?" "This went before the nation through impeachment, and he got acquitted. I think the Jack Smith cases are not changing the political outcome in polling. We'll see what the court does, "the senator said. "At the end of the day, Donald Trump is in a good position to win the Republican primary because Republicans believe he had a good presidency, and I think he can win the general election." December 31: Fox News: Raw politics; Dem wants Justice Thomas to recuse himself over Colorado and Maine cases to remove Trump from their ballots Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) says the Justice Clarence Thomas "absolutely should recuse himself" from deciding on whether Donald Trump should be on primary ballots. Over the past few weeks, the former president's name was removed from both the Colorado and Maine primary ballots for allegedly violating the 14th Amendment by engaging in "insurrection." Legal experts have noted that Trump had never been tried or convicted on charges of "insurrection," let alone being indicted of such a crime and suggested that the Supreme Court may need to intervene. Raskin is claiming Thomas is not qualified to decide the case because of his wife's alleged involvement in questioning the 2020 election. The real issue, however, may be that the Democrats just plain don't like Clarence Thomas views or his decisions while on the bench – it could be just raw politics!  December 31:
The Israeli Times: Hamas unleashes rocket barrage as Israel ushers in 2024 Ushering in the new year, the Hamas terror group fires more than 20 rockets at southern and central Israel. Most were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Sirens sounded in various locations in the center of the country, including Rehovot, Ness Ziona, Holon, Lod and Modiin, as well as Ashdod, Sderot and other southern towns. The Magen David Adom ambulance service says no injuries have been reported so far. December 30: Breitbart News: Key campaign promises Trump has made for if he is elected for a 2nd term President Trump has been pointing to his record from his first term when appealing to voters, looking to build upon them for a second term. He is promising to:
"I'm finished with this stuff" Trump blasts Governor DeWine (R-OH) for vetoing ban on child sex changes President Donald Trump blasted Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio Saturday over the governor's veto of a bill banning child sex changes. DeWine announced the veto of the legislation Friday despite its overwhelming passage by the state legislature. The bill not only banned child sex changes, but it also prohibited biological males from competing in women's sports. Trump said on Truth Social that he would no longer be introducing the governor at any of his rallies in Ohio. "I'm through with this stuff," he said. "What was he thinking," Trump continued. "The bill would have stopped child mutilation, and prevented men from playing in women's sports. Legislature will hopefully overturn. Do it FAST!!!" December 30: Fox News: Russia and China suffer setbacks as Argentina's newly elected President refuses to join their trade bloc New Argentinian President Javier Milei has announced that he will not let his country join the China and Russia-led BRICS trading bloc, dealing a major blow to the trade group's ambitions. The reversal comes after Milei's team indicated that they merely planned to delay the country's admission into the bloc, which was founded by members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In a letter to the leaders of each member state, Milei wrote that he did not consider it "appropriate at this time" to join. Milei spent much of his time on the campaign trail admonishing countries ruled "by communism" and insisted he would honor the alignment with the "free nations of the West," particularly the United States and Israel. Since taking power on December 10, he has moved swiftly to deregulate the Argentinian economy with a package of bills that would eliminate more than 350 regulatory policies in the country. [See Related Story] December 29: The Washington Examiner: Watchdog group finds the Office of Congressional Ethics as its "Top Ethics Violator of 2023" A government watchdog has named the Office of Congressional Ethics as its "Top Ethics Violator of 2023." The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust [FACT] identified the repeated failure of the OCE to act on violations of ethics rules, particularly the usage of government resources for political campaigning, as the reason for the award. FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold said, "Its [OCE] complete inaction in numerous cases of Members abusing official taxpayer-funded resources for political purposes functions as an endorsement of violating basic ethics rules — and it's simply not too much to ask for enforcement when violations openly appear in places as public as social media platforms. The OCE's continued failure to act will only result in further erosion of public trust in Congress and those bodies intended to hold them accountable." FACT filed complaints against 10 different members of Congress over violations of this rule, including Reps. Omar (D-MN), Swalwell (D-CA), and Bush (D-MO). The runners-up for the biggest ethics violators award were Sen. Warnock (D-GA), Rep. Moore (D-WI), and Rep. Bowman (D-NY). "FACT's other notable ethics violations (committed by Sen. Warnock, Rep. Moore, and Rep. Bowman) involve illegal payments to politicians, disrupting the democratic process, and foreign nationals influencing our politics — all among the more serious violations," Arnold added. December 29: The Daily Wire: Biden Admin threatens to sue TX over law giving state power to crack down on illegal immigration The Biden administration is threatening to sue Texas over a new state law that makes it a crime to illegally enter the state, giving state officials more power to take steps to secure the border amid the ongoing illegal immigration crisis. In a letter sent on Thursday to Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), the Justice Department accused Texas of interfering with the federal government by moving to enforce immigration law. Texas Republicans have said the law is necessary as illegal crossings have skyrocketed and deportations have slowed under Joe Biden. DOJ told Abbott "the Department of Justice intends to bring a lawsuit to enforce the supremacy of federal law and to enjoin the operation of SB 4," adding that "the United States will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government." The law, which authorizes local police to handle immigration enforcement by making it a state misdemeanor to cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally, was first sent to Abbott by the Texas legislature in November. The law, which Abbott approved will allow Texas to deport those who cross into the state back to Mexico, which would be a direct challenge to the catch-and-release policy currently practiced by the Biden administration. December 29: One America News Network: Biden puts pressure on Israel to fund Palestinian Authority Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is allegedly under pressure from Joe Biden to send tax money to the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Israel collects on its behalf but halted since the October 7th terror attacks. Axios reporter Barak Ravid said, "Israel's Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, in October decided to suspend the transfer of all of the tax revenue funds after the Hamas terrorist attack. But the Israeli government said that it would transfer all the funds except for those it says go to Hamas-run Gaza. The PA, however, has refused to accept a partial transfer of the funds, raising concerns in the Biden administration about a potential economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority [PA]," he explained. The Palestinian Authority has yet to condemn the October 7th attack on Israel. Furthermore, the PA still provides stipends to terrorists who are detained by Israel as well as to the families of terrorists whom Israel has taken out. Without funds, the PA runs the risk of collapsing and causing chaos in the West Bank, which might put Israel in danger. Although the PA and Israel may not always work together on security issues, they consecutively keep hostilities from breaking out. Although Biden has verbally backed Israel in its fight against Hamas, he has also made Israel's job harder by insulting the country's retaliation efforts, pressuring it to instead provide humanitarian supplies that Hamas ultimately controls, while insisting that the PA return to Gaza after the conflict. Iran purportedly supports and arms Hamas as well as other terror organizations, yet the United States has caved to Iran in their demand of billions of dollars in ransom for Americans who are captured. The Biden administration is also still pursuing a nuclear agreement with the Iranian government, at least in principle. December 28: The Galveston County Daily News: Colorado Trump ballot case headed to the SCOTUS President Trump has not been indicted in any of the lawsuits of having participated in an insurrection. In fact, he was at the White House – over two miles away from the Capitol – on January 6th and yet the drive-by media has convicted him in the court of public opinion. The media and the courts should not decide who will be our President, the people should through honest and fair elections. We don't want to be like Venezuela, Belarus, and Nicaragua -- authoritarian nations where those in power decide who runs for office. Stop using the legal system to take away our right to decide who leads us. [Read the entire story] December 28: The New York Post: Maine's Secretary of State removes Trump's name from the primary ballot Maine's left wing Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Thursday disqualified former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung blasted the decision, calling Bellows a "virulent leftist" and "hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat." He said the campaign would "quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect." Unlike the Colorado case which worked its way through the state's court system and is now headed for the U.S. Supreme Court, this decision was made by an executive branch official. [See a related story] Meanwhile The Epoch Times reports that Donald Trump's name is almost certain to remain on the primary ballot in Colorado. The Colorado Secretary of State's office, which oversees elections in the state, said that "Donald Trump will be included as a candidate on Colorado's 2024 Presidential Primary Ballot when certification occurs on January 5, 2024, unless the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take the case or otherwise affirms the Colorado Supreme Court ruling." Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, added in a comment that she supports the court's decision to disqualify President Trump. Leftwing activists have argued that the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol constituted an insurrection. But the facts remain that no indictments for insurrection have been brought against Trump and in fact Trump was not present and over two miles away from the Capitol building when it was breached. December 27: The Epoch Times: DOJ seeks to exclude Trump evidence in the January 6th case; keeping Trump from 1st Amendment arguments and accusations prosecutors election interference Special counsel Jack Smith's office has filed a motion two weeks after U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan stayed all pretrial proceedings and deadlines, December 13th, to exclude arguments and evidence based on former President Donald Trump's "partisan political attacks" and "irrelevant and prejudicial issues" they claim he raised. Trump's legal team has argued Smith had improperly continued to serve discovery productions despite the Judge's pause. The Dec. 27 motion alleges President Trump has tried to "inject" and propagate "irrelevant disinformation" in the case, including by trying the case in the court of public opinion. Prosecutors argue that even if they instruct the jury to ignore these statements, they may not be able to do so. Prosecutors are requesting that much of President Trump's defense strategies be prohibited and are again pushing back against evidence that the defense has requested via discovery. This includes excluding First Amendment defenses and limiting cross-examination of government witnesses. Earlier, President Trump had filed a motion to dismiss the case based on "selective and vindictive prosecution," pointing to remarks that his political rival President Joe Biden made while campaigning and in office about stopping President Trump's presidential campaign. The defense is arguing that the case is politically motivated and part of an attempt to interfere with President Trump's campaign. December 27: One America News Network: Michigan Supreme Court rejects efforts to keep Trump off the ballot The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected efforts to remove former President Donald Trump from their state's 2024 election ballot. On Wednesday, the court announced their decision to keep the 45th president on the ballot, blocking efforts to remove him and expressing that Trump should stay on the ballot because they have "not [been] persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court." Attempts to remove Trump from the ballot have also been rejected by the courts in states like Arizona and Minnesota. Only the State of Colorado has ruled that Trump's name should be taken off the ballot, but that case is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and is likely to be overturned. If that happens, then the other pending cases are likely to disappear. December 27: Breitbart News: Colorado GOP appeals the state's banning of Trump from the ballot to the SCOTUS On Wednesday the Colorado Republican Party appealed the state's supreme court 4-3 decision to keep President Trump off the ballot. This is the first step to a showdown in the nation's highest court over the meaning and interpretation of a 155-year-old constitutional provision that bans from office those who "engaged in insurrection." Of course, President hasn't even been indicted on the charge of "insurrection." The first impact of the appeal is to extend the stay the ruling from Colorado's highest court, which put its decision on pause until Jan. 4, the day before the state's primary ballots are due to the printer, or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is finished. Trump himself has said he still plans to appeal the ruling to the nation's highest court as well. If SCOTUS doesn't act quickly on these appeals, it could cause issues with the printing of primary ballots and getting them distributed to overseas voters – like members of the U.S. armed forces – within the statutory 45 days prior to election day.  December 26: iHeartMedia/KTRH: What steps will Democrats take to circumvent free and fair elections?
With less than a year to go now until next year's critical election, the looming question is, what are the Democrats going to try to do this time to "steal the election?" Many believe it's not a question of -if-, it's just a question of how? An election expert, Jay Valentine, said, "The Democrats are going to do everything they can, and a lot of things that they've never done before, to stop Trump from winning." One of those "things" they are expected to add next year, is piling on new votes from some of the millions of illegals that they have purposely allowed into this country. "They're doing it in almost every state," Valentine told KTRH., "There are massive influxes of new voters, and in many cases those new voters are highly likely to be illegal voters being signed up through the DMV, etc. We know that's happening." One thing he says that is not happening? There is not enough Republican resistance and pushback for election integrity, and cleaning up the voter rolls. December 27: The Jerusalem Post: US military shoots down "kamikaze" drones and missiles in the Red Sea The US military downed 12 kamikaze drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles fired by Iranian supported Houthi terrorist group in the southern Red Sea over a period of just 10 hours on Tuesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced. The USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group intercepted the projectiles. No damage or injuries were caused in the Houthi attacks. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported several incidents in the Red Sea throughout the day on Tuesday, with several vessels reporting sighting missiles, drones, and explosions nearby. The Post also reported that India has deployed its Navy to guard ships after attacks. India's Navy announced that it had deployed three guided missile destroyers as well as a P-8I reconnaissance aircraft to maintain a deterrent presence in various Indian Ocean locations. The Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh referred to recent drone and missile attacks against the MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea and the MV Sai Baba in the Red Sea, saying that "India's growing economic and strategic power has filled some forces with jealousy and envy." "The Government of India has taken the attacks … very seriously. Whoever has carried out these attacks, we will find them even from the bottom of the ocean, and strict action will be taken against them," he added. "India plays the role of a Net Security Provider in the entire Indian Ocean Region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region touches greater heights. For this, together with our friendly countries, we will keep the sea lanes secure." December 26: The Daily Wire: Pressure increases on Harvard in the wake of plagiarism disclosures about its president The secretive board called the Harvard Corporation that decided to retain Harvard president Claudine Gay after revelations about her repeated plagiarism had surfaced and she had made controversial statements about anti-Semitism on campus is facing increased pressure to address the problem more actively. Two of the board members, nonprofit founder Tracy Palandjian and the private-equity executive Paul Finnegan, met with academics demanding they do more to counter the damage done to the school's image after a growing number of donors said they were through with the school. Additionally, a higher number of pre-admitted (accepted) new students are choosing not to go to Harvard over concerns about its tarnished reputation. According to the New York Times, Jeff Flier, the former dean of Harvard's medical school said he told the board members "If people are saying the university is making mistakes — they are talking about you!" Palandjian reportedly said replacing Gay was not enough, that the university required "generational change." Although revelations of Gay's plagiarism blew up in mid-December after her appearance before Congress about anti-Semitism on campus, the Times noted that the Harvard Corporation had been investigating Gay's academic work since October after a New York Post reporter contacted the board with the allegations. December 26: The Texas Scorecard: Texas GOP enacts prohibition of gender mutilative drug and surgeries for children This year, Texas Republicans passed legislation to ban gender mutilative drugs and surgeries for children. The law went into effect on September 1 and bans puberty-blocking drugs and sterilizing surgeries for children under 18. In 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to initiate investigations into "abusive procedures" imposed on children for "gender transitioning." In May of 2023, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Dell Children's Medical Center for potential illegal performance of procedures for "gender transitioning." "It is now alarmingly common for fringe activists to use their positions in medicine and health care to force experimental, life-altering procedures onto children," said Paxton in the press release. Even before the law went into effect, doctors and families seeking to perform gender mutilation procedures began to flee the state, including a family involved in a lawsuit claiming the statute violated their parental rights. Nearly 30,000 Texas children from the ages of 13-17 "identified as transgender" according to a recent analysis by the Williams Institute. Since the law took effect LGBT advocacy groups have formed to transport minors out-of-state for gender mutilative procedures. Brady Gray, president of Texas Family Project has said, "Parents leaving the state to have these evil and destructive procedures performed is going to increase. We must take action to ensure that these people are not allowed to mutilate their children. Social transitioning is going to continue to rise," and "Parents must stay vigilant, Texans must demand their lawmakers continue to fight…"  December 26: Fox News: NYC mayor over his head in dealing with illegal aliens; sending some to upstate GOP counties without notification Some critics are calling NYC Mayor Eric Adams' management of the migrant crisis chaotic and are casting doubt over his leadership, the NY Times reports. Adams announcement back in May that the city has received over 70,000 migrants. For months, the mayor of one of America's most recognizable cities has told New Yorkers the migrant crisis will worsen a budget shortfall and cause suffering for both constituents and migrants alike. He's already spent more than a Billion dollars in attempting to address the crisis and that amount is projected to top $4 billion. The Republican executive of Orange County, Steven Neuhaus, told The NY Times that Adams sent two buses of migrants to his county without making good on his promise to contact him before doing so. "I never heard anything back," Neuhaus said. "Soon, two buses of migrants, with NYC police escorts, arrived at an Orange County hotel," the Times reported. Other officials in upstate New York also complained that Adams did not give them "adequate warning" before sending buses of migrants upstate. "It angered everybody," Daniel McCoy, the Albany County executive said. December 26: Fox Business: Ban on import of Apple watches over patent infringement Apple filed an appeal Tuesday in an effort to overturn a ruling banning imports of Apple Watches because the tech giant allegedly infringed the patent rights of medical monitoring technology firm Masimo. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an order that takes effect on Dec. 26 blocking imports and sales of Apple Watches that use blood oxygen-sensing technology covered by patents belonging to Masimo, which has also accused Apple of hiring away its employees. Apple has used the technology in smart watches dating back to its Series 6 model in 2020, and the ruling blocked the import and sale of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. The Biden administration opted against vetoing the ruling, effectively allowing the restrictions to remain in place. Apple's appeal asks for the ban to be put on hold at least until U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes its decision on whether redesigned watches violate Masimo's patent. The customs office is expected to make its decision on Jan. 12, Apple said. December 25: The Daily Caller: Here's how Biden's administration treats countries that booted candidates off the ballot The Biden administration has enacted or threatened sanctions against foreign nations who have kicked opposition candidates off the ballot, leading some lawmakers to question the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling this week to remove former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 election ballot. [See related story] The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision on Tuesday to remove Trump from the state 2024 election ballots, having decided he is disqualified to run for office under the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," despite the former president not being criminally convicted of such an offense. The Biden administration has previously used sanctions in retaliation against foreign nations who engaged in stifling political competition and removing opponents from election ballots, as several lawmakers have pointed out this week. "The U.S. has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said. "We'd threaten sanctions against countries that had their courts exclude a challenger to protect the incumbent," Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also said. [See related story]. December 25: Fox News: US responds to attacks on US service members by Iran-backed terrorist groups Three American military personnel were injured during an attack by Kataib Hezbollah terrorists in Iraq on Christmas Day, including one U.S. servicemember who was critically wounded. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin made the announcement as U.S. military quickly retaliated against the fighters after the attack. Austin explained that "…precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible." Austin said the Administration "will not hesitate" to take action to protect American troops in the future.  December 25: Axios: The "House of Mouse" to lose copyright protection for Mickey and Minnie next week
The original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse will enter the public domain on Jan. 1, more than 95 years after first being introduced by Walt Disney in "Steamboat Willie." The iconic duo could be in for some very different sorts of adventures, at least judging by what happened when Winnie the Pooh came out of copyright protection last year. Beginning on Jan. 1, any creator has the legal right to use the characters in new works, as long as it's the "Steamboat Willie" versions and not the near-century of animated evolution. Mickey and Minnie were scheduled to enter the public domain in 2004, but Disney got a reprieve when Congress passed a 20-year extension. [See a related story on the "House of Mouse"]  December 24: Fox Business: Ooops! 6-year-old put on wrong flight, Grandma wants to know where he is!
A six-year-old child, named Capser, was headed from Philadelphia to Florida, but his grandmother told WINK-TV that Spirit Airlines put him on the wrong flight. "They told me, 'No, he's not on this flight. He missed his flight.' I said, 'No, he could not miss his flight because I have the check-in tag," Ramos said. "I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant and I asked her, 'Where's my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia?' She said, 'No, I had no kids with me.'" Casper, who was supposed to be at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers then called his grandmother to say he had landed. His bag made it to the right airport, but he was discovered to be just under three hours away in Orlando. Spirit Airlines reportedly offered to reimburse the grandmother for her drive northwest to pick up Casper, but she said she wants to know how her grandson ended up 167 miles away from his intended destination. "I want them to call me. Let me know how my grandson ended up in Orlando. How did that happen? Did they get him off the plane?" Ramos asked. She wondered if the flight attendant the boy's mother gave him to let the child wander off, resulting him getting on the wrong plane.  December 24: News Max: Bethlehem resembles ghost town as Christmas celebrations stopped because of the Israeli-Hamas war
The normally bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus resembled a ghost town on Sunday, as Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem were called off due to the Israel-Hamas war. The festive lights and Christmas tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists who gather each year to mark the holiday. Dozens of Palestinian security forces patrolled the empty square. The gift shops were slow to open on Christmas Eve, although a few did once the rain had stopped pouring down. There were few visitors, however. "This year, without the Christmas tree and without lights, there's just darkness," said Brother John Vinh, a Franciscan monk from Vietnam who has lived in Jerusalem for six years. He said that this year was especially sobering, as he gazed at a nativity scene in Manger Square with a baby Jesus wrapped in a white shroud, reminiscent of the hundreds of children killed in the fighting in Gaza. Barbed wire surrounded the scene, the grey rubble reflecting none of the joyous lights and bursts of color that normally fill the square during the Christmas season. The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem's income — almost all of that during the Christmas season. With many major airlines canceling flights to Israel, few foreigners are visiting. Local officials say over 70 hotels in Bethlehem have been forced to close, leaving thousands of people unemployed. December 24: The Daily Wire: Trump's team asks appellate court to dismiss Smith's DC case Donald Trump asked a federal appeals court late Saturday to dismiss special counsel Jack Smith 's case accusing the former president of unlawfully plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump has "absolute immunity from prosecution for his official acts" as president, including him seeking to "advocate for and defend the integrity of the federal election, in accord with his view that it was tainted by fraud and irregularity," Trump's lawyers argued. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama-appointee, previously rebuffed Trump's immunity claim, saying the defendant's "four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens." The same Obama-appointed judge also rejected Trump's first amendment defense. Trump's legal team has filed an appeal on the immunity claim and requested a pause in the proceedings which was subsequently granted. Oral arguments are scheduled for January 9th. Smith, separately, asked the SCOTUS to address the presidential immunity question, a request the high court refused to consider pending the appellate court's review. The trial court proceedings are currently scheduled for the beginning of March, but with a probably appeal by the SCOTUS it is highly likely that that court date will be pushed back. December 24: One America News Network: Dem dark money funding anti-Israel demonstrations while receiving $81 million in taxpayer funding A left-winged dark money organization supporting anti-Israel protests throughout the United States has received large quantities in taxpayer-backed money and agreements in recent years. According to a report of federal spending records, the Tides Center, which provides funding to groups that support Hamas-related demonstrations following their lethal attack against Israel on October 7th, has long supported the progressive agenda financially, collaborating with billionaires like George Soros and Bill Gates. However, documents state that with assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the Democrat-allied charity still has a major partner in the federal government, which between 2006 and 2023 gave the Tides Center more than $81.2 million either directly or through sub awards. Adalah Justice Project, Palestine Legal, and the Catalyst Project are among the pro-Palestinian projects that profit from the Tides Center's tax-exempt status. These organizations have frequently defended and minimized the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, which killed over 1,200 people in the Jewish state. Over the years, the Tides Center and its sister organization, the Tides Foundation, have also contributed millions of dollars to organizations that have honored convicted terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, such as the Alliance for Global Justice, an Arizona charity that an investigation revealed had ties to Palestinian terrorism. Benjamin Baird, director of Middle East Forum Action, which is a watchdog monitoring organization linked to terrorism, stated that the groups have even been spotting on university campuses "chanting for the destruction of Israel." 
December 23: The Daily Caller: Pentagon; Iran strikes a commercial tanker 200 miles off the coast of India with a drone The Department of Defense(DOD) on Saturday said a drone that struck a tanker off the coast of India was fired from Iran. The tanker M/V Chem Pluto was struck by what the Pentagon described as a "one-way attack drone" about 200 nautical miles off the coast of India Saturday. It is the first time that the U.S. has accused Iran of launching an attack on a merchant ship since Hamas carried out a deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack on multiple locations in southern Israel that killed over 1,400 people. "The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. Greenwich Mean time) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran," the DOD said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. "There were no casualties and a fire on board the tanker has been extinguished. No U.S. Navy vessels were in the vicinity. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India. This is the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021." December 23: The NY Post: Former CIA official thinks Putin's days are numbered A former veteran chief of American's Central Intelligence Agency has declared Vladimir Putin's days are numbered, predicting the Russian president will be overthrown in a 'Black Swan' palace coup. And the ousting of one of modern history's most divisive and ruthless leaders is only a matter of time. Jack Devine served for three decades with the US spy agency and told The Sun newspaper in an exclusive interview that he wouldn't be surprised if Putin "disappeared tomorrow". Speculation about the future of Russia's leadership has been festering for some time, with the country's bruising performance in its war with Ukraine intensifying talk. So too have endless reports about Putin's ill health, with rumors emerging from inside the Kremlin that he has at various points been close to death. Devine, 83, who led thousands of spies on covert and classified missions across the globe for 32 years, believes Putin's demise will be at the hands of those closest to him. Devine believes Putin has becoming increasingly unpredictable and dangerous – and his invasion of Ukraine has "sowed his political demise". The Russian president is continuing to throw his troops into meat-grinder assaults to try to secure a winter victory. The devastated city of Avdiivka – the gateway to the major city of Donetsk that lies 12 miles to the east – has become the deadliest flashpoint of the war as Putin attempts to break a painful stalemate. Devine believes the tyrant's popularity will continue to drop as the war goes on – but it won't stop his gruesome grind. [A black swan is an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences. Black swan events are characterized by their extreme rarity, severe impact, and the widespread insistence they were obvious in hindsight.] December 23: Daily Wire: Daily Wire sues Biden's DOJ for concealing records on its partisan riot squad The Daily Wire this week filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice over its failure to respond to public information requests for documents related to its Community Relations Service. The Community Relations Service (CRS) is a federal agency within DOJ that the Trump administration unsuccessfully sought to defund — it simultaneously advocates for left-wing causes while also purporting to offer unbiased "mediation," including between local governments and left-wing agitators. It describes itself as "America's Peacemaker" for "communities facing conflict based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability." This summer, it attempted to thwart the will of voters in a deep-red county in Virginia by pressuring the local school board to have the federal government mediate whether the school district adopts Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's transgender policies. As justification, CRS cited "community tensions," alluding to the fact that a leftist activist had been arrested for an alleged crime while trying to stop the policy's adoption. The move appeared to reward criminal behavior and subvert democracy, through which voters had already chosen a school board who represented their views. A spokeswoman for Youngkin said CRS was acting as "a political arm of the Democratic Party." After The Daily Wire in August obtained the email showing a CRS "conciliation specialist," Hannah Levine, emailing the Roanoke, Virginia school board to offer "support and services," it filed a FOIA for further emails from Levine. CRS did not even acknowledge the request.  December 23: The Daily Caller: Administration wanted to keep "spy balloon" a secret, but there aren't secrets in Washington
A Jan. 27 phone call between the top U.S. general at the time and Gen. Glen Van Herck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) triggered an eight-day crisis as the Biden administration scrambled to respond to a novel threat from China, NBC News reported. Biden administration officials privately lamented that the public outcry and reputational consequences for Beijing following the spy balloon's reveal that rocked the world in early 2023 damaged relations with China while over representing the national security threat actually posed by the balloon, NBC reported. The administration initially hoped to keep the balloon's existence a secret from Congress and the public, the outlet reported, citing multiple former and current administration and congressional officials. "Before it was spotted publicly, there was the intention to study it and let it pass over and not ever tell anyone about it," one former senior U.S. official briefed on the situation told NBC. Biden officials responded that the reason for keeping it secret was to minimize disclosure of the U.S. capabilities to track it. December 22: News Max: GOP in three swing states moving to remove Biden from the ballot Three Republican state lawmakers are drafting legislation to remove President Joe Biden from the ballot in key swing states Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, they told Breitbart on Friday. State Reps. Aaron Bernstine (PA), Charlice Byrd (GA), and Cory McGarr (AZ) said they're fighting back at the "lawfare" being waged against former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of a Colorado Supreme Court's ruling to remove him from the ballot there. "We are joining forces to introduce legislation to REMOVE Joe Biden from the ballot in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania," the lawmakers wrote, according to Breitbart. "The absurdity of radical Democrat judges removing Donald Trump from the ballot in Colorado will be a stain on the American political system for decades. By their very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office." December 22: The Epoch Times: Federal WVA judge rejects bid to remove Trump from the ballot A federal judge in West Virginia rejected a bid Thursday to remove President Donald Trump from the state's ballot, rebuffing a bid from a little-known presidential candidate to remove the former president. District Judge Irene Berger ruled that John Anthony Castro, the candidate who filed a lawsuit, lacked the standing to sue. Berger wrote that the evidence that Castro had submitted removes "any doubt that Mr. Castro's purported 'campaign' exists as a vehicle for pursuing litigation, not votes," adding that he could not prove any political activity in the state aside from the lawsuit that he filed. Castro, who is based in Texas, has filed at least two dozen lawsuits against the former president to remove him from respective states' ballots in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a judge in Arizona dismissed a similar lawsuit. Castro's lawsuit had argued that President Trump should be disbarred from appearing on the state's ballot because Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution stipulates that anyone who engaged in an insurrection against the United States cannot be a presidential candidate. The U.S. Supreme Court declined in October to hear the appeal of a similar case that Castro brought in Florida. A state court in Colorado recently ruled that the former president cannot appear on the state's ballots, although the case is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court. The Colorado case was not brought by Castro but by a left-wing activist group headed by a board member who currently serves on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's advisory council. Meanwhile, as also reported in The Epoch Times, an expert predicts the SCOTUS will reverse the Colorado Trump ballot removal decision but will dodge the insurrection question. The U.S. Supreme Court is likely to strike down a Colorado court ruling that removed f Donald Trump from the state's ballot. However, the conservative majority on the highest court is likely to do so in a narrow way that doesn't get into the weeds of whether President Trump's actions constituted insurrection, according to constitutional law expert Horace Cooper, a senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research who formerly taught constitutional law at George Mason University. The Supreme Court may say the 14th Amendment's disqualification clause doesn't apply to the president. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 19 that President Trump is to be barred from the state's ballot because he "engaged in insurrection" by inciting his supporters to go to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. "The Supreme Court is highly likely to take this case fairly quickly," Cooper said. December 22: The Washington Times: SCOTUS rejects Jack Smith request to decide Trump's immunity claim The Supreme Court on Friday denied special counsel Jack Smith's request to fast-track a hearing on former President Donald Trump's claim of immunity from criminal prosecution. The issue will now remain in the hands of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, which is scheduled to hear arguments on the immunity question on Jan. 9. It's still possible the higher court will have to weigh in on the matter — but not in the expedited way Smith had hoped would speed up the trial before the November presidential election. At issue is Trump's claim that presidential immunity shields him from prosecution for his actions while president. Traditionally, the parties would wait for a ruling from the appellate court before making filings back to the justices for an appeal. That process could take months. The Supreme Court justices stop hearing cases in April for its current term and wrap up rulings by the end of June. Smith was trying to keep his March 4 trial against Trump on track. If the justices do not take up the case this term, it could kick the issue to October, when they return from summer recess, potentially delaying the trial until after the November election. The high court has never weighed the issue of presidential immunity for criminal charges. Trump's attorneys believe that hurriedly delving into an unprecedented case such as this — weighing if a president can face criminal charges for official acts — shouldn't be decided at "breakneck speed." Smith attempted to go around the D.C. Circuit Court hoping the Supreme Court justices would answer the question before the appeals panel took it up. His effort lacked support from the four justices it would have taken in order for SCOTUS to take up the matter.  December 21: Tucker Carlson Uncensored: Tucker Carlson video clip on the Colorado Supreme Court's removal of Trump from the GOP primary ballot December 21: The Washington Examiner: California GOP senate candidate moves into 2nd place ahead of two Democrat opponents Republican candidate Steve Garvey, a former baseball star, took over the second place spot in California's 2024 Senate race, surpassing two high-profile House Democrats in the running. California Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, and Adam Schiff are vying to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) seat. Garvey launched a Republican bid for the Senate in October, a bold move for a political outsider in a state dominated by Democrats. Garvey passed Porter, who had been trailing the race's front-runner, Schiff, for second place in a new Politico/Morning Consult poll. While Schiff holds 28% of likely California primary voters, Garvey, the most prominent GOP candidate, gathered 19%. Porter mustered 17%, followed by Lee at 14%. Garvey retired from Major League Baseball in 1987 following a career as an all-star infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres that spanned 19 years.  December 21: The Epoch Times: NY state assembly considering a bill that would force Chick-Ful-A to be opened seven days a week or move on The notably "closed on Sundays" fast food chain Chick-fil-A may be forced to be open in some New York locations on Sunday if a new bill is passed. The Democrat-controlled New York State Assembly proposed a new bill, the Rest Stop Restaurant Act, which would require fast food and related companies to provide services at the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey and the New York State Thruway seven days per week. "While there is nothing objectionable about a fast-food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant," the bill stated. "Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas." Chick-fil-A is noted for keeping its doors closed on Sundays. According to the chain's website, its founder established that the restaurant stay closed on Sundays so that "employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose." But the measure could force the chain, which operates locations in New York, to change its policy or exit the places where it operates. Some observers see this as a continued attack on this Christian business that is following the religious beliefs of its owner. December 21: Townhall.com: Mainstream media turns on Harvard President after antisemitism and plagiarism accusations Allegations of plagiarism launched against Harvard President Claudine Gay came to light thanks to the work of mostly right-of-center media outlets and reporters following the school leader's disastrous testimony before House lawmakers regarding antisemitic incidents on campus. But now, despite statements backing Gay's leadership from the Harvard Corporation and following new allegations of plagiarism brought to light in another complaint, President Gay is watching as mainstream media outlets — normally kind to her — turn against her embattled tenure. December 21: News Max: South African Rabbi tells Pope "Repent of your sins" Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein of South Africa has accused Pope Francis of "primitive pacifism" and repeating the "sins" of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust for his stance against Israel's just war of defending itself against the terrorist group, Hamas, and Iran. Goldstein beseeched Francis to "repent for sins past and present." Goldstein made the remarks in a video essay posted Tuesday, further saying that Francis is "surreptitiously colluding with the forces of evil who seek to annihilate the Jewish people." Goldstein said Francis is taking the same approach to conflict in the Middle East as Pope Pius XII took toward the Nazis during WWII. Pius was accused of idly sitting by while 6 million European Jews were exterminated by the Nazis — a notion that many people, Catholics and Jews alike, denounce as a lie. Also reported on News Max, the Reverand Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, said the Pope cannot save you from God's judgment. He warned that same-sex couples that even receive "so-called 'blessings'" from religious leaders like Pope Francis will not save them "from the judgment of God." "Pope Francis has now approved Catholic priests 'blessing' same-sex couples, but none of us, including the Pope, has the right to 'bless' what God calls sin," Graham said on Facebook this week. The evangelist's comments come in response to the Pope's document released earlier this week in which he formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples under certain circumstances. "'Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,'" Graham wrote in his post, quoting Isaiah 5:20, adding, the "Good News is that right now God will forgive sin, but we have to come to Him, His way, on His terms by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." December 21: Townhall.com: Bebe to Hamas: Surrender or Die Speaking to his country and the world Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a choice to Iranian backed terrorist organization Hamas: Surrender or die. "We will continue the war until the end. Until the elimination of Hamas - until victory. Those who think we will stop are not connected to reality. All Hamas terrorists, from the first to the last, are mortal. They have only two options: surrender or die," Netanyahu said. December 20: The Daily Caller: Former AG Barr; practical consequences of removing Trump from Colorado ballad is "chaos" Former Trump-era Attorney General Bill Barr described the "practical consequences" of former President Donald Trump's ballot ouster as "chaos" during an interview Wednesday with CNN's Jake Tapper. Barr said he disagrees with the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot in the state. He said the five-day hearing between the seven justices lacked due process and warned the consequences of this ruling would be "chaos" for future elections. December 20: The Daily Signal: The US sanctions countries that do what Colorado did The Biden Administration, Trump's and a host of other Administrations nations where officials associated with the political party in power act to ban the opposition's leading candidate from even competing on the ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court's controversial ruling Tuesday disqualifying President Donald Trump from the state's ballot invited comparisons to other countries sanctioned by the United States for barring opposition candidates from their ballots. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), posted Tuesday evening on Twitter: "The U.S. has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today." Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) in a similar post, wrote: "We'd threaten sanctions against countries that had their courts exclude a challenger to protect the incumbent." December 20: The Epoch Times: Ramaswamy pledges to withdraw from Colorado GOP primary ballot if Trump ends up being disqualified Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to withdraw from the GOP primary ballot in Colorado after the state's Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 19 that former President Donald Trump is not eligible to run for president. The 38-year-old tech entrepreneur took to Twitter to condemn the Democrat-controlled court's 4-3 ruling, which makes Trump the first candidate in U.S. history to be deemed ineligible to make a White House bid. Ramaswamy called the ruling an "attack on democracy" and urged other Republican candidates to remove their names from the Colorado primary ballot if the court fails to reinstate Trump. "In an un-American, unconstitutional, and *unprecedented* decision, a cabal of Democrat judges are barring Trump from the ballot in Colorado,". Ramaswamy wrote. "Having tried every trick in the book to eliminate President Trump from running in this election, the bipartisan Establishment is now deploying a new tactic to bar him from ever holding office again: the 14th Amendment," he said.  December 20: Fox News: RFK Jr.; "When any candidate is deprived of his right to run, the American people are deprived of their right to choose." Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running as an independent for president in 2024, issued a warning after Colorado's Supreme Court blocked former President Donald Trump from the ballot because of his supposed involvement in the attack on the Capitol in January 2021. "If Trump is kept out of office through judicial fiat rather than being defeated in a fair election, his supporters will never accept the result. This country will become ungovernable," JFK Jr. wrote on Twitter. "It's time to trust the voters. It is up to the people to decide who the best candidate is. Not the courts. The people. That's Democracy 101," Kennedy said. "When any candidate is deprived of his right to run, the American people are deprived of their right to choose." December 20: Fox News: Dem-Appointed Colorado justice's dissent Over decision to kick Trump off the ballot The Colorado Supreme Court's decision to ban former President Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot undermines a "bedrock principle" of American democracy, one of the court's Democrat-appointed justices wrote in a fiery dissent. Justices Carlos Samour, Maria Berkenkotter and Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright all dissented, but Samour was particularly critical of the 4-3 ruling. Samour and Boatright were each appointed by Democratic former Gov. John Hickenlooper, while Berkenkotter was appointed by current Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat. "The decision to bar former President Donald Trump — by all accounts the current leading Republican presidential candidate (and reportedly the current leading overall presidential candidate) — from Colorado's presidential primary ballot flies in the face of the due process doctrine," Samour December 20: The Daily Wire: Colorado GOP to cancel its primary if decision to keep Trump off the ballots stands The Colorado Republican Party said on Tuesday night that if former President Donald Trump was kept of the presidential primary ballot in the state in 2024, the party would cancel the primary altogether. The statement from the Colorado GOP came after the Colorado Supreme Court removed Trump from the state's 2024 presidential ballot on Tuesday after ruling that he engaged in an insurrection with his actions on January 6, 2021. "The 4-3 ruling will be placed on hold pending appeal until January 4, the Court said in its ruling. "A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution," the ruling said. "Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot." December 20: News Max: Dershowitz; The impeachment process is designed to keep a President from holding office, trying to boot him off the ballot is "absurd" The Colorado Supreme Court's decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from next year's presidential ballot "is so anti-democratic," constitutional expert and legal scholar Alan Dershowitz said on Wednesday. The court's 4-3 decision Tuesday made Trump the first presidential candidate in U.S. history to be deemed ineligible for the White House under a rarely used provision of the U.S. Constitution that bars officials who have engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding office. Dershowitz called the decision "absurd." "In the 60 years I've been practicing and teaching law, I've never seen a decision that's so anti-democratic and so unconstitutional; it is absurd," Dershowitz saud, "The idea that the 14th Amendment was supposed to substitute for the impeachment provision, carefully drafted by the framers, is wrong." The 14th Amendment stipulates the process, which clearly says Congress shall have the power to ensure that a person cannot run for office, Dershowitz continued. "If you want to impeach a president, if you want to make him not be able to run in the future, there's a provision. It requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate," he said. "But the idea that the framers of the 14th Amendment intended to circumvent that carefully drawn provision and simply allow any state to make up grounds for denying him the right to be on the ballot undercuts democracy." He also noted that Trump has not been charged or convicted of taking part in an insurrection, a term that has not been defined legally. "I think this case will be decided not along party lines in the Supreme Court," Dershowitz said. "I think this is such an extreme stretch of the 14th Amendment that he will get more votes than just the people he appointed to the Supreme Court or even the 5-4 conservative majority. I suspect you'll get the chief justice, and I suspect he'll get some other justices, as well. This is an extreme, extreme stretch. If you go and read the text of the provision, it doesn't even apply to president. It says no person shall by a senator, or representative or elector, and then it gives an oath of office, and the oath of office is not the presidential oath of office. It's the senatorial oath of office."  December 20: Breitbart News: Jack Smith's Special Counsel appointment is unconstitutional former AG tells SCOTUS Jack Smith's appointment as special counsel is unconstitutional and so SCOTUS must reject his petition against Trump, lawyers representing former Attorney General Ed Meese and two top constitutional scholars in the country argued in a brief filed Wednesday. Their "friend of the court" brief argues that Smith lacks authority to represent the United States by asking the Supreme Court to weigh in because the office he holds has not been created by Congress and his appointment violates the "Appointments Clause" of the Constitution. The filing essentially claims U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland improperly appointed Smith to an office that does not exist with authority Garland does not possess. December 19: Fox News: IDF takes out Hamas financier in Gaza Israel's military (IDF) announced Tuesday it has taken out Subhi Ferwana, a "Hamas financier involved in transferring tens of millions of dollars to the Hamas terrorist organization's military wing." The IDF said Ferwana was "eliminated by an Israeli Air Force fighter jet" during a targeted operation in the middle of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The jet conducted the strike using information from the IDF and Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency, it added. "Ferwana was a prominent financier who, together with his brother, was involved in the transfer of tens of millions of dollars to the Hamas terrorist organization and its military wing in the Gaza Strip through their money exchange company, 'Hamsat,' over the past few years," the IDF said. "Ferwana transferred funds to Hamas' military wing during the war and was aware that these funds would be vital for continuing the wing's ability to fight," it continued. "The funds were used -- among other things -- for intensification of military forces, the payment of terrorists' salaries during the war, and to finance Hamas' war activities." December 19: News Max: Evidence against Joe Biden is overwhelming Congressional source says Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) said Hunter Biden is breaking the law by defying a congressional subpoena to give testimony about his foreign business dealings. "And he pretty much does whatever he wants," Meuser said. "But here he's defying the law, it's pretty amazing. I mean the amount of evidence against him and Joe Biden is overwhelming." "I mean, it's just astonishing how 90% of the media states that there's no evidence against Joe Biden when there's 16 times he's lied, 22 contacts with the international arch criminals, from the Communist Chinese Party to the mayor of Moscow. … And it's just an endless amount, you know, so we're just going to keep on pushing based upon the evidence to find out what happened here and why they were paid millions of dollars from the darkest corner of the Earth." Meuser also called into question a $200,000 loan Joe Biden reportedly gave his brother, Jim. "You need a signed agreement and a promissory note," he said of the loan. It's not a requirement, it's an IRS mandate, and if it's not done, it's considered tax evasion and tax fraud. "And then you're also not paying taxes on any of the interest. So, it's a crime. The penalty is up to five years in prison." "So ,unless they produce this promissory note and a signed agreement for the so-called loan… Joe Biden and his brother have committed tax fraud, and tax evasion, and face severe penalties." December 18: The Washington Times: Former Jan 6th Committee Chairman confirms to GOP lawmakers that panel's records sent to prosecutors filing charges against Trump Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the now-defunct Democrat-controlled House Jan. 6 Select Committee, has confirmed to Republican lawmakers that the panel sent records to prosecutors who have filed charges against former President Donald Trump, after initially saying he had not preserved such material. Thompson, made the acknowledgment in a Dec. 13 letter to House Administration Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk(R-GA) in response to a request a week earlier. Republicans launched an inquiry in early December into whether the Select Committee sent documents and materials to Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis to help her build a criminal case against Mr. Trump. Ms. Willis, a Democrat, is prosecuting Mr. Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants on charges related to efforts to overturn President Biden's win in Georgia in 2020. December 18: The New York Post: Students seeking other schools as Harvard and other Ivy League schools are slow to react to antisemitism A place at Harvard used to be something to boast about — now students fear it's a stigma. Early applicants who received acceptance letters from the university last week are apparently considering applying elsewhere. Some are citing concerns about experiencing campus antisemitism, while others worry a Harvard degree could hurt job prospects as employers pledge not to hire its graduates because of the university's handling of anti-Israel protests. This year, the school reported a 17% drop in early applications, representing a four-year low. And their acceptance rate creeped up to 8.7% from 7.6% last year. "I think it's current events at play," Rim told The Post. "They're getting the worst PR ever right now." Thirty Harvard student groups sparked outrage in October by signing a letter saying Israel was "entirely responsible" for the October 7 attacks, while the university's president Claudine Gay has faced pressure to resign after she testified before Congress about campus antisemitism and was forced to apologize afterwards for her disastrous performance. Rim, who is the founder and CEO of Command Education, says every single one of his clients who applied early to Harvard this year were accepted — but that not all of them are satisfied. "Normally, once you get into Harvard, my team and I are done. We're like great, it's a success, congratulations, goodbye," Rim said. December 17: The Israeli Times: IDF video footage shows Hamas commanders driving a car through their tunnels The IDF releases footage obtained from the Gaza Strip showing senior Hamas commander Muhammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, in a car driving through a major tunnel revealed earlier today by the military. According to the IDF, the construction of the major tunnel network that was uncovered near the Erez border crossing was led by Muhammed Sinwar. It is the largest-ever Hamas attack tunnel discovered by the military. December 17: The Daily Caller: Bidden might be in for worse news As Joe Biden continues to poll behind former President Donald Trump for a potential head-to-head matchup in 2024, recent surveys indicate he is also faring much worse than the Republican on issues that are most important to voters. Trump has been trending ahead of Biden in national and crucial battleground state polls a year out from a hypothetical rematch, and is currently up by 3.2 points in the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average. Additionally, Biden is down by double digits against Trump on questions of basic presidential competency, including the handling of voters' top issues and concerns over the Democrat's age, according to recent polling data. Inflation has spiked under the Biden administration, which many critics attribute to his record spending advanced by congressional Democrats. The Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other pieces of Biden's economic agenda are responsible for green-lighting trillions in spending. Trump also scored double-digits higher than Biden on who the electorate trusts to handle the economy, crime and immigration — which voters said were some of the most pressing issues to them ahead of 2024. Trump also led Biden 45% to 29% on the question of who "is mentally up for the job" in the WSJ poll, and was ahead by 34 points on "physical stamina." December 17: The Washington Examiner: House investigation into disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan continues The House investigation into the Biden administration's botched military withdrawal from Afghanistan more than two years ago is progressing even as it is out of the spotlight. The House Foreign Affairs Committee investigators have conducted more than 15 transcribed interviews in the last six months with various current or former administration officials, a committee aide said. The White House has "entirely stonewalled" the committee's requests for interviews, he added, while the State Department has been more forthcoming with documents and interviews in recent months. There are a number of different lines of inquiry the committee is looking into including the Biden administration's adherence to the Doha Agreement, which the Trump administration signed with the Taliban to confirm the United States would withdraw by May 1, 2021, the decision to give up Bagram Air Base to keep Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the decisions surrounding the non-combatant emergency evacuation efforts.  December 16: The Epoch Times: Expert says CCP's diplomacy in 2023 is characterized by setbacks
The Chinese communist regime's diplomacy in 2023 has been characterized by setbacks and containment by free democracies in the world, as its actions and stances on key issues—such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the Russia–Ukraine war, the Israel–Hamas war, and human rights violations—pose threats to world peace and universal values. In a major diplomatic setback Western country have successively adopted "de-risking" measures to reduce their economic reliance on and ties with communist China. China has criticized the move especially regarding the European market which it views as an important client/consumer. Many western countries are emphasizing reducing an overall reliance on China while focusing on supply chain and technology issues. Under the effects of various countries' de-risking policies, in 2023, China experienced a foreign investment deficit for the first time. In the third quarter of this year, direct investment liabilities, an indicator of foreign direct investment in China, ran with a $11.8 billion deficit. December 16: The Washington Examiner: Dem staffer of Senator Cardin (D-MD) fired over filming homosexual sex act in Senate hearing room A male staffer for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) was fired (released) from his post on Saturday after he was named and accused of filming himself and another man engaging in explicit sexual activity in a congressional hearing room. The dismissal was confirmed by Cardin's office. Explicit video footage first published Friday and reportedly shows two men engaging in sexual intercourse on the dais of a Senate hearing room in the Hart Senate Office Building. A representative for the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed the police are aware of the footage and are looking into the matter. No charges have been announced so far.  December 16: News Max: British Royal Navy shoots down Red Sea drone attack
The HMS Diamond, a Royal Navy warship, has shot down a attack drone targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea, Britain's defense secretary said. Grant Shapps said the Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed a drone that was "targeting merchant shipping." The overnight action is the first time the Royal Navy has shot down an aerial target in anger since the 1991 Gulf War. Shapps said attacks on commercial ships in the global trade artery by Yemen's Houthi rebels "represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. The U.K. remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade," he said. Global shipping has become a target during the war between Israel and Hamas, which like the Houthis is backed by Iran. The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel. HMS Diamond was sent to the region two weeks ago as a deterrent, joining vessels from the U.S., France and other countries. December 15: Axios: Ethics investigation urged for judge in the January 6th cases Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has filed a complaint against a federal judge who has ruled in cases relating to Jan. 6 and former President Trump. Stefanik requested an ethics investigation into U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell for a speech she gave in November, in which she said the country was at risk of falling into authoritarianism. "Judge Howell's partisan speech is obviously highly inappropriate election interference by a federal judge that undermines the public's trust in our courts," Stefanik said. According to Politico, during the November speech, given at the annual Women's White Collar Defense Association gala, Howell said the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was the result of "big lies." "We are having a very surprising and downright troubling moment in this country when the very importance of facts is dismissed, or ignored," Howell said. NBC reported she also said the U.S. is "at a crossroads, teetering on the brink of authoritarianism." Howell is an Obama-appointed judge and served as the Chief Judge of DC's US District Court for seven years until March 2023. December 15: News Max: IDF foils Hamas ambush plot using recording babies crying The IDF posted on Twitter the items contained speakers playing crying sounds and were placed near a shaft that connects to a large network of tunnels. "The same system [of tunnels] runs between civilian buildings, including a school, a clinic, and a mosque, in the center of which is a security guard that was used by Hamas and was networked with cameras that would monitor our forces and were connected to the clinic's electrical infrastructure," the IDF wrote. "In addition, anti-tank and observation posts were located in the area, as well as a large explosives arena designed to hit IDF soldiers." The ambush was discovered by Reserve IDF soldiers. "The goal is to draw us in to look for, to see these things … they play voices in Hebrew, so we'll think there are hostages and missing persons here. In order to draw us into the area that's rigged with explosives," a soldier said while gesturing at a pile of objects in a video released by the IDF. The soldier added there were ammunition and weapons, plus explosives found in bags of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA), the NY Post reported There is mounting criticism over the UNWRA because its officials reportedly have had ties to Hamas.  December 15: The Daily Wire: Ex-NYT editor publishes tell all OpEd piece about his exit
James Bennet, now a columnist at The Economist, excoriated his former employer, The New York Times, in a damning tell-all about his exit from the Gray Lady. Bennet told his side of the story of his June 2020 exit from The Times in a column published in The Economist on Thursday. The article detailed the Times' shift away from what Bennet describes as traditional journalistic principles toward a new and "illiberal" news philosophy. The Times' editorial culture shifted after the paper "almost went bankrupt" during the 2007-08 financial crisis, Bennet said. The paper's leadership and business managers, worried that the changing times necessitated a change in business strategy to stay viable, began pushing out many veteran reporters and editors to create openings for a younger and more internet-savvy cohort. Many of those new journalists were poached from outlets such as The Huffington Post. The new journalists, like their former employers, had different ideas about the purpose and principles of journalism, and they imported those ideas to the Times, according to Bennet. December 14: The Epoch Times: Michigan appeals court rules to keep Trump on the ballot The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision, ruling on Thursday that President Donald Trump was eligible to appear on the state's primary ballot. "Nothing in the statutory framework that controls the process for presidential primary elections confers any authority on the Secretary of State to make eligibility determinations or to refuse to place a candidate on that particular ballot based on an eligibility determination," the three-judge panel wrote, echoing the lower court opinion. The appeals court declined to rule on the issue of insurrection and did not hold an evidentiary hearing. The Trump campaign declared victory once again, highlighting the fact that not a single of these "bad faith" challenges have succeeded in any state. "President Trump remains undefeated against these frivolous legal claims and has never been in a stronger position to win next year's election," spokesperson Steven Cheung stated. "We look forward to the swift dismissals of all remaining ballot challenge cases and even bigger wins for the American people in 2024." December 14: The Washington Examiner: Kelly reveals what CNN's host did to make Megyn more interested in Ramaswamy's message Megyn Kelly shared her takeaways from CNN's townhall event Wednesday with Vivek Ramaswamy. On the Megyn Kelly Show Kelly lamented how often Ramaswamy was interrupted during an event on Wednesday evening. CNN anchor Abby Phillip moderated the townhall while standing onstage alone with Ramaswamy, who is vying for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. "That Abby Phillip is annoying. She is such an interrupter. Like shut … up. Let him make his point. If you want to fact-check him later, then do [so]," Kelly said. "Let him finish. You invited him there. Let him make his damn point. And if you watch the whole clip, it's not like he was going on forever. Like, it was a reasonable amount of time he took to set up his point." December 14: News Max: Israel's war with Hamas could last months Israel's defense minister said it will take months to destroy Hamas, predicting a drawn-out war even as his country and its top ally, the United States, face increasing international isolation and alarm over the devastation from the campaign in Gaza. Yoav Gallant's comments came as U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Israeli leaders to discuss a timetable for winding down major combat in Gaza. Israeli leaders repeated their determination to pursue the military assault until they crush the militant group for its Oct. 7 attack. The exchange seemed to continue a dynamic the two allies have been locked in for weeks. Joe Biden's administration has shown unease over Israel's failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza, but the White House continues to offer wholehearted support for Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. December 13: National Review: US House passes measure formally declaring an impeachment investigation House Republicans unanimously passed an impeachment inquiry, an act that allows them greater power to investigate Joe Biden's and his family's business practices. In the Wednesday afternoon vote, all 221 Republicans in the House supported adopting the impeachment-inquiry resolution, while 212 Democrats opposed the measure. At least 218 votes were needed to pass the resolution, which was introduced by Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). "Today, the House took a critical step in our investigation into serious matters involving President Joe Biden by formally opening an impeachment inquiry. As President Biden continues to stonewall lawful Congressional subpoenas, today's vote of the full House of Representatives authorizing the inquiry puts us in the strongest position to enforce these subpoenas in court," Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said. The anticipated vote comes after then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) launched the presidential impeachment inquiry in September, an informal move that Democrats and the White House have decried as unconstitutional and politically motivated. December 13: Washington Examiner: Federal Judge in DC Trump case says she lacks jurisdiction to move forward while the SCOTUS is considering the case The judge presiding over President Trump's 2020 election subversion case in Washington, DC, says she now lacks jurisdiction over the case due to his presidential immunity claims pending at the Supreme Court. According to her three-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote Wednesday that her order "automatically [pauses] any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Defendant." Last week, Trump's legal team appealed an order from the judge that rejected his motion to dismiss the election subversion case, asking that she postpone all activity in the case while the appeal proceeds. Smith sought to circumvent the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and go straight to the Supreme Court on Monday. The high court agreed to expedite the matter and told Trump to respond by Wednesday of next week. Because Trump's claims of immunity are pending, Chutkan said that for now, she cannot preside over the case. However, she does have the ability to enforce Trump's conditions of release, as well as a protective order and a gag order on the former president.  December 13: USA Today: Israeli's start flooding/destroying Hamas tunnels with seawater
Israeli forces have started flooding Hamas tunnels in Gaza with seawater pumped from the Mediterranean in an effort to destroy the underground network, according to news reports filed Wednesday. The Israeli military installed at least five water pumps about a mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp in the northern Gaza, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story. The reports raised concern over the safety of hostages abducted by Hamas during its attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Some hostages have been held in tunnels. The tunnels, estimated to extend 300 miles and separated by thick blast doors, are a key part of Hamas military operations and are often located in or near civilian population centers like schools and hospitals. These tunnels allow militants to move undetected and are used to store weapons and supplies. Some sections are used as command centers. December 13: NBC News: SCOTUS agrees to consider Jan. 6th case on disrupting an official proceeding; could impact Trump Washington DC trial On Wednesday the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal brought by a man charged with offenses relating to the Jan. 6, 2021, protest on the U.S. Capitol grounds. It's decision in the case could have a major impact on the criminal prosecution of President Donald Trump. The justices will hear a case brought by defendant Joseph Fischer, who is seeking to dismiss a charge accusing him of obstructing an official proceeding – the certification by Congress of Joe Biden's election victory – which was disrupted by a throng of peaceful protestors supporting Donald Trump. Two other Jan. 6 defendants have brought similar appeals which will be dictated by the Supreme Court's ruling in Fischer's case. The case could take months for the justices to hear oral arguments and issue a ruling sometime during the court's current nine-month term, which ends in June. If the court finds in favor of Fischer, it could be grounds for dismissing two of the counts against Trump. December 13: Axios.com: Federal judge pauses Jack Smith's case against Trump, pending appeal by the Trump defense team A federal judge agreed on Wednesday to pause the proceedings in President Trump's 2020 election subversion case while Trump appeals the Judge's decision rejecting claims that he has immunity. The Court agreed that Trump's appeal automatically stays any further proceedings that would move the case forward. Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee, said the filing of a notice of appeal grants the higher court jurisdiction over the case unless, and until, the case is returned to her. The decision raises questions whether special prosecutor Jack Smith's desire to start the trial on March 1st will actually happen. It is highly likely it will be delayed, which could also end up delaying the Florida documents case which was initially scheduled to start in May. December 13: The New York Post: Hunter Biden snubs House and its subpoena; holds media event on Capitol Hill grounds First son, Hunter Biden, met with media representatives on the Capitol Hill grounds while refusing to participate in a closed door deposition with House members from both sides of the aisle. He told the press his father was not "financially involved" in any of his foreign businesses while overlooking recently discovered proof that his father was involved with multiple meetings with Hunter's foreign business partners; the establishment of numerous shell companies that have been reportedly used for laundering money. He skipped a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee under the threat of being held in contempt in favor of "a shameless plea for public sympathy outside the Capitol." Committee members said that Hunter was not allowed to dictate the process, a process that has been used even when Democrats were in control on Capitol Hill. It is anticipated Congress will file and find Hunter in Contempt of Congress as a result of his actions Wednesday. December 13: The Washinton Times: House initiates formal impeachment inquiry The House voted Wednesday to authorize Republicans' ongoing impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, launching a formal probe into allegations he helped his family rake in millions of dollars from foreign business deals while serving as vice president. House Speaker Mike Johnson and lawmakers investigating Biden said the vote, which passed along party lines, 221-212, empowers them to obtain witness testimony and other evidence from the Biden administration, which has been stonewalling their probe, and to determine whether that evidence warrants a vote to impeach the president. "With today's resolution we are ensuring that the House will be able to complete its inquiry," said Rep. Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican and chair of the House Rules Committee. "We will secure the evidence we need and uncover the facts we need to make the full and fair determination." December 12: The Daily Wire: Govt. Report: Feds sent nearly $2 Billion to Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood and other abortion advocacy organizations received nearly $2 billion in federal funding over a three year span, according to a new government report. The Government Accountability Office disclosed in a Tuesday report that $1.89 billion in federal dollars was allocated to multiple different pro-abortion organizations, including those that perform abortion, from 2019 to 2021. Planned Parenthood received the overwhelming bulk of the sum, a whopping $1.78 billion, during the three-year period, all while it performed 1.11 million abortions. December 12: The New York Post: Biden: Netanyahu must "change" hardline government Joe Biden said Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should "change" his approach to the Palestinian issue, warning that Israel was losing support for its military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack. [What is Biden drinking? We don't see a lack of support for Israel's efforts to protect itself in responding…] Biden made the dramatic demand at a fundraiser hours after making a similar comment during a Monday night Hanukkah celebration at the White House. "Bibi's got a tough decision to make," Biden said Tuesday, using the popular nickname for Netanyahu. "This is the most conservative government in Israel's history." Biden then said that Israel's national unity government, which includes some hardline nationalist and Orthodox parties, "doesn't want a two-state solution" to the long-running Palestinian conflict.  December 12: The Epoch Times: Turley reveals why Smith went to SCOTUS regarding DC trial of Trump
A constitutional law scholar argued that special counsel Jack Smith is trying work quickly to convict former President Donald Trump because he fears the former president will pardon himself if elected in 2024. George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley stated it appears to be unusual for the special counsel to go directly to the Supreme Court, bypassing the court of appeals. "This matter was just filed before the D.C. Circuit, and then he decided that he wanted to leapfrog over the Court of Appeals and go directly to the Supreme Court," Turley said on Monday. "The only reason for that is that he is really focused entirely on trying Trump during this campaign and trying to convict him before the election." He added that generally, the Supreme Court "likes to hear from multiple Court of Appeals" and would "want normally to hear from at least one on these issues. And so, they may not have the same sense of priority as Smith, who seems almost obsessed with trying Trump before the election." Turley said there is "a tactical reason" why Smith's office would want a quick ruling on the matter. December 12: iHeartMedia/KTRH Radio: Pending home sales worst than in 2001 due to interest rates Home sales have been on the decline since April of 2022, when Joe Biden's economy took a sharp turn to the south, and interest rates jumped on a rocket northward. At one point, we even hit rates in the 8-percent range, some of the highest ever recorded. That, in turn, has caused a massive drop in home sales that is approaching a two-year mark. From September to October of this year, pending home sales dropped 1.5%, and have hit the lowest level since the metric began tracking in 2001. That is right, the pending home sales are now at levels lower than even the great housing bubble bust of 2008.  December 11: News Max: 50% of economists see a recession on America's horizon
The U.S. is headed for a sharp downturn in 2024 under the weight of continuing high inflation, an uptick in unemployment and a 50% chance of recession, according to the closely watched Outlook Survey by the National Association for Business Economics. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) will grow at a mere 1% throughout 2024, NABE President Ellen Zentner, also chief economist at Morgan Stanley, said in the survey. That will be a notable descent from GDP's 5.2% annualized rate in the third quarter, the fastest rate of expansion since 2021. Adjusted for inflation, however, real GDP in the third quarter was just 2.1%, the New York Post reports. December 11: Axios: Looks like GOP has the votes to make the impeachment inquiry official House Republicans are securing the support they need to pass a resolution on Wednesday formalizing their impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Republicans say an official vote authorizing the inquiry will give them stronger standing to enforce subpoenas in coming court battles. Several Biden-district Republicans who previously voiced skepticism of impeachment told Axios on Monday they plan to vote for the inquiry. The 14-page resolution directs the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees to "to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist" to impeach Biden. "A lot of people who were skeptical six months ago are going to vote for it," Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) who introduced the measure, told Axios. "We're moving in the right direction." December 11: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS to hear petition on Trump's immunity defense The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to fast-track consideration of special counsel Jack Smith's petition for an immediate ruling on whether President Donald Trump can rely on the defense of presidential immunity in the federal election case. The order was issued on Dec. 11, hours after Smith sought to bypass President Trump's appeal on this issue by seeking a quick ruling by the nation's highest court. President Trump has been ordered to file a response by 4 p.m. on Dec. 20. Smith has charged President Trump on four counts regarding his actions to challenge the 2020 election results; President Trump has filed four motions to dismiss the case. Several were rejected by Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, and the defense has since appealed the motion to dismiss based on presidential immunity to a federal appeals court. The prosecutors are asking the Court "whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin." Trump had asked the district court to pause proceedings pending appeal, noting that he would seek that pause from the appeals court if the district court didn't grant it. If granted in either court, the legal strategy would certainly throw off the trial schedule. Prosecutors are now asking the Supreme Court to issue judgment before the appeals court makes a decision. December 11: Fox News: Trump has until December 20th to respond to Jack Smith's motion The Supreme Court has indicated it will expedite consideration of a petition by special counsel Jack Smith on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results. Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial until after next year's presidential election. The Court has asked Trump's lawyers to respond to the special counsel's motion by next Wednesday, December 20 – two days later than Smith had requested. The Court's next scheduled conference day for consideration of such matters is Jan. 5, 2024. The court's brief order did not signal what it ultimately would do. The Obama-appointed federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump said he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court – the usual next step in the process – and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly so that the trial of Trump could go forward before the 2024 election. December 11: The Washington Examiner: Texas installs anti-climb fencing near Brownsville, TX State military has installed an 8-foot anti-climb fence along one of the busiest spots along the Texas border with Mexico for illegal immigration. The state debuted an anti-climb barrier near Brownsville, not far from the Gulf Coast, to prevent people from easily crossing in large groups, as Border Patrol officials in the region are accustomed to seeing, the office of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) announced over the weekend. "What we're trying to do is create a barrier that's going to allow DPS Task Force South and some of the drone teams to be able to hopefully intercept those bad actors and stop them from manipulating those barriers," Daniel said. The state did not disclose the length of the anti-climb fence and did not respond to requests for comment. Abbott launched the state's Operation Lone Star in 2021 as illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border soared. The initiative has directed more than 10,000 National Guard soldiers and state police to the border to assist the Border Patrol with apprehending immigrants who enter the country illegally, though only federal police can arrest immigrants. December 10: The Daily Wire: Trump denies "threat-to-democracy" as a hoax, says Biden is the real threat In remarks on Saturday, President Donald Trump argued Joe Biden's claims that Trump and his "Make America Great Again" movement pose a danger to democracy is a new "hoax" and that Biden is the "real threat." Trump told the New York Republican Club that Biden's line of attack is based on "misinformation," another in a growing list of controversies that date back to his successful 2016 campaign. Trump called the strategy a "desperate and shameless attempt to distract from the monstrous abuses of power the Left is committing before your very eyes." He also said, "We call it now the threat-to-democracy hoax, because that's what it is." December 10: iheartMedia/KTRH: Shelia Jackson Lee trounced in bid for Houston City Mayor Houstonians have spoken. State Senator John Whitmire easily beat Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to become Houston's next Mayor. Whitmire, with 70% of the vote counted, had more than 60% support. Jackson Lee had about 35%. Whitmire will take over for Sylvester Turner, who served the maximum two terms. There were several other races on the ballot, including for City Council, where Tony Buzbee challenged incumbent Mary Nan Huffman. And Chris Hollins, responsible for Harris County's mail in vote in 2020, was in a runoff for City Controller against Orlando Sanchez. December 9: News Max: Texas Supreme Court puts temporary hold on lower court ruling on abortion The Texas Supreme Court on Friday night put on hold a judge's ruling that approved an abortion for a pregnant woman whose unborn baby has a fatal diagnosis, throwing into limbo an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. The order by the court came more than 30 hours after Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, received a temporary restraining order from a lower court judge that prevents Texas from enforcing the state's ban in her case. In a one-page order, the court said it was temporarily staying Thursday's ruling. " December 9: The Daily Caller: Surprise announcement; ACLU to represent NRA before SCOTUS in 1st Amendment case The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced on Saturday that it will represent the National Rifle Association (NRA) at the Supreme Court in an upcoming First Amendment case. In NRA vs. Vullo, the group sued former superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) Maria Vullo for allegedly violating the First Amendment by pressuring insurers to stop serving them. The ACLU announced on Twitter that it would represent the NRA, despite disagreeing with them on other issues. "We don't support the NRA's mission or its viewpoints on gun rights, and we don't agree with their goals, strategies, or tactics," the ACLU wrote. "But we both know that government officials can't punish organizations because they disapprove of their views." The questions at the core of this case are about the First Amendment and the principled defense of civil liberties for all, including those with whom we disagree on the Second Amendment. We won't let the rights of organizations to engage in political advocacy be trampled. December 9: Fox News: Biden authorizes emergency sale of tank cartridges to Israel, circumvention Congressional inaction The State Department announced on Saturday that the U.S. government has approved a military sale to Israel worth around $106.5 million, as the Israeli military continues fighting Hamas terrorists. In a press release, the State Department said that on Friday, officials "determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists," thereby bypassing a Congressional vote on the matter. "The Secretary of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel of 120mm M830A1 High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer (MPAT) tank cartridges and related equipment for an estimated cost of $106.5 million," the press release read. "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 8, 2023." The State Department explained that the Israeli government requested to buy exactly 13,981 tank cartridges. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives," the statement added. "Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces." December 9: Fox Business: UPenn president resigns after antisemitic testimony before Congress University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned Saturday after widespread public outrage over her testimony to Congress on antisemitism. The announcement came after days of intense pressure from Penn alumni and elected officials following Magill's botched Capitol Hill testimony earlier in the week. After refusing, along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT, to unequivocally condemn calls for genocide of Jews, Magill reportedly faced the likelihood the school's board of trustees would fire her as soon as Sunday. "I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania. She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law," Board of Trustees Chairman Scott L. Bok wrote in a statement. Bok said that Magill agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed. Magill resigned days after major donor Ross Stevens rescinded a $100 million gift to the school in protest of the college's handling of antisemitism on campus and her leadership. The board of Penn's Wharton business school also asked Magill to resign and the university's board of trustees held an emergency meeting Thursday as the school faced backlash over her comments. Both Stevens and the Wharton board pointed to Magill's disastrous Congressional testimony in statements explaining the reasons for their respective actions. December 8: The Daily Wire: Hunter Biden hit with 9 new federal criminal indictments Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was hit with numerous felony charges on Thursday night stemming from a federal investigation into his taxes. CNN reported Hunter was hit with nine counts on charges that include failure to file and pay taxes; evasion of assessment; and false or fraudulent tax return. Special Counsel David Weiss recently impaneled a federal grand jury in Los Angeles that was weighing evidence related to potential tax crimes. "The Defendant engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019," prosecutors said in court documents, adding that he "willfully failed" to pay the owed taxes "despite having access to funds to pay some or all of these taxes." Prosecutors said that Hunter Biden made more than $7 million during that time span, which included money that he received from Burisma, CEFC China Energy, and others.  December 8: The Epoch Times: Trump's "Good Strategy" in the NY civil fraud case against him
In a follow up to its December 6th story, the Epoch Times reports that several law experts suggested former President Donald Trump's recent choice of expert witness was a smart move in his New York civil fraud trial. With testimony winding down after more than two months, the Republican 2024 presidential front-runner showed up to watch New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov's testimonial. The academic disputed the crux of New York State Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit: that President Trump's financial statements were filled with fraudulently inflated asset values for such signature assets as his Trump Tower penthouse and his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. "My main finding is that there is no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud," Mr. Bartov, whom Trump's lawyers tapped to give expert perspective, told the court. The former president's financial statements, he said, "were not materially misstated." The attorney general's office has also Bartov in the past as a expert, making it difficult to discredit his opinion. In 2019, he testified as an expert witness for prosecutors as part of a James lawsuit that accused oil giant ExxonMobil of downplaying financial risks related to climate regulation. December 8: The Times of Israel: IDF reservist surprised to find his flak jacket was from the Viet Nam era (1963) A note dated August 22, 1963, was discovered this week inside the packaging of a flak jacket provisioned by the IDF to an Israeli reserve soldier. "Dear soldier," it read. "A vest has no value if it lies on the side and not on your body. When you wear the vest, strap it over your shirt or coat – and under other layers of clothing if you have any. Signed: U.S. Army, Natick, Massachusetts, 22 August 1963." The vest, over 60 years old, likely predates nearly all the soldiers and officers in the IDF — including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who was born four years after this particular vest was packed in Massachusetts. December 7: NBC News: House censures Rep. Bowman (D-NY) for pulling fire alarm, interrupting a House proceeding The House voted Thursday to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office building while the chamber was in session in September to consider a vote to fund the government. The vote was 214 to 191 with many of the House Ethics Committee voting "present," and a number of Democrat members voting for the measure. On Tuesday, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) introduced the "privileged resolution" to censure Bowman, giving the House two legislative days to act on it. The House voted down a Democratic motion Wednesday to kill McClain's resolution in a party-line vote of 201 to 216. Caught on video, Bowman admitted to pulling the alarm in September as Republican lawmakers sought to vote on the spending measure. He said in a statement after the incident that he "accidentally" activated the alarm after he came across a door that was typically open for votes, but would not open that day. He pleaded guilty in October to one count of falsely pulling a fire alarm. Under a deferred prosecution agreement, he was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and write an apology to the U.S. Capitol Police chief, after which prosecutors would dismiss the charge pending no further violations of the law. 
December 7: News Max: University of PA loses $100 million gift over response to antisemitism A $100 million donation to the University of Pennsylvania is being withdrawn by Ross Stevens, the founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Asset Management, in protest of the institution's handling of antisemitism on campus. Stevens, a Penn alum and donor, expressed dissatisfaction with the university's antisemitism response, particularly on President Liz Magill's recent congressional testimony. In December 2017, Stevens contributed $100 million to establish a center for innovation in finance, using limited partnership units in Stone Ridge, currently valued at around $100 million. Through a letter from his legal representatives to Penn, Stevens alleges that the university violated terms outlined in the limited partnership agreement, including anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. In the letter, he accuses Penn of having a "permissive approach to hate speech calling for violence against Jews" and a "laissez-faire attitude toward harassment and discrimination against Jewish students." This marks the second time Stevens has redirected a $100 million gift from Penn. Previously, he rerouted funds from the business school to the University of Chicago due to concerns that Penn prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion over academic excellence, as reported by The New York Times. December 7: The Daily Wire: Arab and Muslin delegates view video of Hamas at atrocities said "I couldn't breathe," "I cried [through] most of it" A group of Arabs from the Middle East and North Africa were deeply disturbed after viewing 47-minutes of Hamas's October 7 atrocities during a screening at the Israeli consulate in Boston, Massachusetts. "I was shocked — I couldn't breathe," Fatema Al Harbi from Bahrain told The Daily Wire. "I cried [through] most of it." The group is part of a delegation meeting with American leaders and advocating for peace under the organization Sharaka, which was founded after the Abraham Accords. Members of the delegation included individuals from Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. "I thought I saw enough on social media," said Al Harbi, who is also the Sharaka's Gulf affairs director. "There were more horrific acts and barbaric acts towards civilians — people sleeping in their beds." In total, the video shows over 120 bodies including children, videos of beheadings, houses and people set on fire, unarmed people shot at point blank range and more.  December 6: The Epoch Times: Defense witness in NY civil trails says Trump team undervalued the Maro-a-Lago property in 2021 A Florida real estate agent this week testified in former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York that his Mar-a-Lago property is worth at least $1 billion. Lawrence Moens, who was called as a witness by the defense, testified that the Florida property could be sold as a home, saying he would value it at over $1 billion as of 2021. "It's something breathtaking. It's something amazing to see," he said of Mar-a-Lago, adding that he had valued it at over $1.2 billion in 2021. He also told the court that President Trump's company had actually undervalued Mar-a-Lago by about half, thereby undercutting the NY Democrat Attorney General's contention that the Trump organization got special treatment by overvaluing properties used as collateral for loans. Some real estate professionals who aren't involved in the case expressed concern about the judge's ruling several months ago, suggesting that he made an error by relying solely on the tax appraiser's valuations. Some Palm Beach luxury real estate agents have told the AP that the property would sell for $300 million to $600 million, and possibly $1 billion or more if it sparked a bidding war among uber-wealthy contenders. Meanwhile, the judge overseeing the case and who will decide whether Trump is guilty of defrauding the financial institutions said, prior to the trial commencing, that Trump acting fraudulently. Such statements by the judge could be grounds for showing bias and a mistrial on appeal. December 6: The Daily Wire: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) retiring Congressman Kevin McCarthy, former Speaker of the House who was voted out of office with the help of a small number of conservative Republicans, announced on Wednesday that he will retire from the House by the close of 2023. "I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways. I know my work is only getting started," McCarthy said in the Wall Street Journal. December 6: The Daily Caller: Hunter may face contempt of Congress charges if he fails to appear for deposition, Congressional leaders say House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) are threatening to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress if he refuses to appear for a closed-door deposition. Comer and Jordan wrote a letter Wednesday to Abbe D. Lowell, Hunter Biden's defense attorney, informing Lowell the committees will initiate proceedings to hold Hunter Biden in contempt if he does not abide by a subpoena and appear for a deposition on Dec. 13. "Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no 'choice' for Mr. Biden to make; the subpoenas compel him to appear for a deposition on December 13. If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings," the letter reads. December 6: The Washington Examiner: Senate: No border security; No Israeli/Ukraine/Taiwan spending package The Senate voted Wednesday against advancing Majority Leader Schumer's (D-NY) request for $111 billion in foreign spending amid a standoff over a border deal that is critical for the bill's passage. The vote was 49-51, falling far short of the 60-vote threshold, and even short of a simple majority. The bill needed 60 votes to advance to debate on the Senate floor. The bill would provide aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and was requested by the White House. Earlier, the House passed a bill to provide assistance to Israel alone, but the Senate leadership has failed to consider the House-passed bill. December 6: Fox News: Records show GA DA Willis coordinated with "partisan Jan. 6th Committee" in indicting Trump The House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation this week into whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis coordinated with the House January 6th Committee in their investigations. Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) are leading the probe after learning that Willis' office "coordinated its investigative actions with the partisan [House] Select Committee." The lawmakers say Willis asked the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 to share evidence with her office. Willis was investigating former President Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia. Willis charged Trump in August with various violations to which Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. But Jordan and Loudermilk said the new information "raises additional questions relevant to the Committee's oversight of Willis's politically motivated prosecution of a former President of the United States and several former senior federal officials." December 6: Breitbart News: Appeals court deals blow to Mark Meadows in Fulton County (GA) case Mark Meadows received unwelcome news Monday that the Federal Appeals Court could be stacked against him in his effort to move his GA inditement to the Federal court system. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit scheduled to hear his oral arguments will be comprised of two Democrat appointees and one Republican appointee – bad news for Meadows, who undoubtedly hoped for a better ideological composition in an appeals court considered fairly conservative. The former chief of staff to President Donald Trump seeks to move the Fulton County, Georgia, indictment against him to federal court, citing a federal law known as a removal statute that allows an "officer of the United States" facing charges in state court to transfer the proceedings to federal court if the alleged behavior falls under their governmental duties. Meadows' attorneys argue he had the right to remove his case to federal court because the "conduct giving rise to the charges in the indictment all occurred during his tenure and as part of his service as Chief of Staff."  December 5: Pittsburg Post-Gazette: House Speaker insists sweeping border changes as price for aid to Ukraine House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told fellow Republicans on Tuesday that sweeping changes to U.S. border policy would be their "hill to die on" in negotiations over Joe Biden's nearly $106 billion package for the wars in Ukraine and Israel and other security needs. Johnson delivered the hard-line message Tuesday morning ahead of classified briefings the Biden administration organized to underscore how desperately the aid is needed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to address the senators via video but had to cancel his appearance, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Biden is pushing a reluctant Congress to approve the military, economic and humanitarian aid package, but the injection of border security into the negotiations has made progress difficult. "The battle is for the border," Johnson said at a news conference. "We do that first as a top priority, and we'll take care of these other obligations." December 5: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Paxton gets stay to stop feds from destroying Texas border razor wire fencing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton getting a small victory at the Texas-Mexico border on Monday, as he secured an administrative stay that stops the federal government and border patrol from destroying razor wire along the border. The Fifth Circuit makes the ruling just says after another federal district judge ruled in favor of the Biden Administration. Paxton sued the administration in October, after agents were seen cutting the wire, and even lifting up the fence to allow illegal immigrants into the state.  December 4: NBC 4 New York: Gold bars found in Sen. Menendez 's home tied to 2013 robbery At least four gold bars found in the FBI search of Senator Robert Menendez's (D-NJ) home had been directly linked to a New Jersey businessman now accused of bribing the state's senior senator, Bergen County prosecutor records from a 2013 robbery case show. The businessman, Fred Daibes, reported to police he was the victim of an armed robbery in 2013, and he asked police to recover the gold bars stolen from him. In the 2013 robbery, Daibes reported $500,000 in cash and 22 gold bars were stolen, Edgewater police records show. Police later caught four suspects with the stolen goods. "Each gold bar has its own serial number," Daibes said to investigators in a 2014 transcript made by prosecutors and police who recovered — and returned to Daibes — the stolen valuables. "They're all stamped…you'll never see two stamped the same way." A decade later, the FBI said it found four gold bars with unique serial numbers in the Clifton home of Menendez and his wife Nadine. In the 2023 bribery indictment against the Democratic senator and Daibes, prosecutors included photos of some of the alleged bribes found in Menendez's home, including four gold bars. The serial numbers of the four gold bars in the bribery indictment appear to be an exact match to four of the gold bars Daibes certified as stolen and returned to him in the 2013 robbery case. "All of this spells bad news for Senator Menendez because the chain of custody – it appears – is going to be really easy to prove up," said NBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos. December 4: The Washington Examiner: Dozens of Republican Senators call upon Biden Admin to cancel HHS proposal to stop government vetting adults applying for custody of unaccompanied immigrant children More than three dozen Republican senators have called on the Biden Administration to cancel a Department of Health and Human Servies (HHS) proposal that would allow the government to stop vetting certain adults who apply to take custody of an unaccompanied immigrant child. Thirty-nine GOP senators, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent HHS officials a letter Monday in which they threatened to overturn a proposed rule by Congressional Review Act legislation they alleged would wipe out the screening process of adults seeking to take in children who come over the border alone. They called the proposal "alarming, dangerous, and potentially illegal." December 4: The Epoch Times: Son's business records show Joe Biden received monthly payments Joe Biden received payments from one of his son's businesses, according to bank records made public on Dec. 4. The bank records obtained and released by the U.S. House Oversight Committee show the elder Biden received the payments starting in September 2018. The records reportedly show that Joe Biden, who was the former vice president at the time, signed to receive $1,380 on a monthly basis from Owasco PC, one of Hunter Biden's businesses. An aide for the House Oversight Committee said the panel has evidence showing that at least three-monthly payments were made. "Payments from Hunter's business entity to Joe Biden are now part of a pattern revealing Joe Biden knew about, participated in, and benefited from his family's influence peddling schemes," Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the committee, said in a video statement. Meanwhile, Biden's attorney is claiming "The truth is Hunter's father helped him when he was struggling financially due to his addiction and could not secure credit to finance a truck. When Hunter was able to, he paid his father back and took over the payments himself." The senior Biden has made multiple statements about his son's business dealings that have turned out to be false, including the claim that his son didn't make money from China. Hunter Biden recently admitted in court that he made money in China.  December 4: The Daily Wire:Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) expresses support for Israel, risking wrath from his party Senator John Fetterman continued to risk the wrath of the far left within his own party, taking to Twitter to call out anti-Israel protesters who had targeted a Jewish-owned restaurant in his home state. Fetterman was responding to a video from Philadelphia in which protesters surrounded a falafel restaurant and accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. "They could be protesting Hamas," Fetterman said in response. "They could be protesting Hamas' systematic rape of Israeli women and girls or demanding the remaining hostages be immediately released. Instead, they targeted a Jewish restaurant. It's pathetic and rank antisemitism." December 4: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Dems want to hide Biden and cover Trump trials for the 2024 election After spending the last several years trying to silence and censor former president Donald Trump, the Democrats are changing their strategy ahead of next year's critical 2024 election. Simply stated, the Dems now want to see Trump on TV. All over the news. Anything to deflect from Joe Biden's age, and abysmal policy failures. "All they can run on is fear" said nationally syndicated and FOX News columnist, David Marcus, "They're going to try to scare the American people into believing that Donald Trump is some kind of fascist, and this will be the last election America ever has if he wins, and women who have abortions are going to be hunted down in the streets. That's what they're going to try to do, because what else can they do?" It's a pretty simple plan. Cover for Joe Biden, while focusing on Trump - in court. "Nobody knows how that's going to play out" Marcus told KTRH, "That could play really well for Trump when he's … pointing out the double standards of the 'deep state' which is accurate. But you're also going to have testimony against Trump. So, there's going to be so many fireworks here that I really think we just have to wait and see."  December 4: The Jerusalem Post: IDF planning to floor Hamas tunnel network with sea water
The IDF is planning to pump seawater into the Hamas tunnel network in Gaza according to a Wall Street Journal report. Five large pumps have been assembled north of the al-Shati refugee camp during the last month, with each one capable of pumping thousands of cubic meters of seawater into the tunnels. Israel informed US officials that they were considering this option last month and needed to weigh feasibility and environmental factors against military necessity. Some US officials expressed concern about the plan while others supported the plan. The process could take weeks and therefore could allow Hamas's fighters to evacuate, potentially taking the hostages with them. However, it isn't clear whether Israel would wait until all hostages are returned. December 4: The Daily Caller: Twenty two state attorney generals demand major firms stop "de-banking conservatives" Nearly two dozen state attorneys general signed onto a letter Wednesday demanding major firms that provide voting advice to corporate shareholders stop backing efforts to "de-bank" conservatives. Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led 22 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to the two companies that control 97% of the proxy advisory services market, Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS) and Glass Lewis, whose advice they say shapes "the choices and activity of businesses and ultimately the United States' and global economy." The letter warns them against opposing shareholder resolutions to hold financial institutions accountable for restricting services based on clients' religious and political beliefs, noting that viewpoint discrimination comes with "legal liabilities."  December 4: Fox News: Oops! Shelia Jackson Lee's campaign ad for mayor of Houston tells voters to go to the poll on the wrong date Houston mayoral candidate Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) encouraged her supporters to get out and vote for the runoff election — but she gave the wrong date. Lee, who currently serves in Congress, is looking to defeat Democrat state Senator John Whitmire in the race to replace outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner. The race has moved to a runoff between the two that is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, and Jackson Lee released a television ad to spur her supporters to the polls. Jackson Lee's ad contained a critical error: the ad said to vote "on or before December 7" — two days before the runoff election day is scheduled. December 3: The Epoch Times: Attorneys: Trump cannot be tried for Georgia case if he wins the 2024 election Former President Donald Trump's lawyers argued in the Georgia election case that the charges should be thrown out because it's a violation of his "free speech" and also noted that if he wins the 2024 presidential election, the Fulton County trial cannot go through. During a roughly six-hour hearing in Fulton County on Dec. 1, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee asked Mr. Sadow what would happen if President Trump wins the 2024 election and if the trial hasn't occurred yet. "Under the Supremacy Clause and its duty to the president of the United States, this trial would not take place at all until after he left his term of office," the former president's attorney said in response, according to a live stream posted on the judge's YouTube page. December 3: Law Enforcement Today: Federal Judge strikes down limits on gun purchases by 18-20 year olds In a win for the Second Amendment supporters, a federal district judge in West Virginia ruled last week that a federal law prohibiting handgun sales to people between the ages of eighteen and twenty is "facially unconstitutional" while granting summary judgment to the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). The Second Amendment Foundation reports that U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas S. Kleeh with the Northern District of West Virginia issued a 40-page decision, which read in part: "(B)ecause Plaintiffs' conduct–the purchase of handguns–fall(s) [within] the Second Amendment's 'unqualified command' and the challenged statutes and regulations are not 'consistent with the Nation's historic tradition of firearm regulation,' the Court FINDS 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(b)(1) and (c)(1) facially unconstitutional and as applied to Plaintiffs." Judge Kleeh, an appointee of President Donald Trump, enjoined the plaintiffs–the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, and Attorney General Merrick Garland–from enforcing the provisions "against Plaintiffs and otherwise-qualified 18-to-20-year-olds." December 3: One America News Network: Inmate who stabbed Derek Chauvin charged with attempted murder The man who stabbed Derek Chauvin nearly two dozen times in prison has been charged with attempted murder. On Friday, John Turscak was charged with attempted murder for stabbing Chauvin, a former Minneapolis officer convicted in George Floyd's killing, 22 times on November 24th at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. According to the FBI, Turscak carried out the attack due to his reputation for killing George Floyd, and he informed the correctional officers that if they hadn't acted so quickly, he would have killed Chauvin. The prosecution stated that because Chauvin is a well-known prisoner, Turscak, who is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes committed while a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, told investigators he considered attacking him for a month. Turscak is charged with assaulting Chauvin on Black Friday at 12:30 p.m. with a homemade knife in the prison law library. According to the Bureau of Prisons, Turscak was subdued by correctional officers using pepper spray and staff members carried out "life-saving measures."  December 3: News Max: Two commercial and one US Navy vessel attacked in the Red Sea
An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said. Yemen's Houthi rebels later claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel, but did not acknowledge targeting a U.S. Navy vessel. The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war. "We're aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney [an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer] and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon told The Associated Press. The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack. He said the attacks would continue as long as Israel continues its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Houthi, like Hamas, is a surrogate for Iran. December 3: The Israel Times: IDF: 800 tunnels discovered in Gaza operation, 500 already destroyed or sealed The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday that troops have discovered more than 800 tunnel shafts in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the ground offensive targeting the Hamas terror group that began in late October. The military said that around 500 of them have already been destroyed, either by setting off large explosive charges inside or by sealing them. According to the IDF, many of the tunnels connect Hamas's "strategic assets." The military said it has also destroyed hundreds of kilometers' worth of tunnels, in addition to the shafts. "The shafts were located in civilian areas, and many of them were located near or inside educational institutions, kindergartens, mosques, and playgrounds," the IDF said. December 2: The Epoch Times: Hunter will be taken to court if he skips the deposition A top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives is prepared to take President Joe Biden's son to court if he refuses to appear for a deposition. "Absolutely," Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said on Dec. 1 when asked if he was prepared to take Hunter Biden to court. Mr. Comer recently issued subpoenas for Joe Biden's son and brother as part of the House's investigation into the family's business dealings. The House launched an impeachment inquiry into the president under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), even though there was no vote. Republicans are planning to vote on the matter soon, as was done against former President Donald Trump under former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "I suspect that the House of Representatives will formally vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry. This is the exact same process that Pelosi took during her impeachment," Comer said. "And they're not going to be able to have a leg to stand on in court if they try to defy our subpoenas." December 2: News Max: Ballot ban attempts shows progressive fear that Trump might just win in 2024 Democrats and anti-Trump forces attempting to block him from the 2024 presidential ballot exposes the "fake news" narrative that they want to run against former President Donald Trump, he told his Cedar Rapids, Iowa, rally Saturday. "You know, they've been working on that very hard," Trump told his rally. "If they want to run against me, they wouldn't have indicted me four times and fought like hell to keep me off the ballot. "But Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy, and it's him and his people. They're wreckers of the American dream. The American dream is dead with them in office. It's sad. We had such a dream." Trump vowed to "bring back the American dream bigger and better than ever." December 2: Axios: Swing state Muslims abandoning Biden Groups of American Muslims in several swing states are scheduled to gather in Michigan on Saturday to start a campaign they're calling #AbandonBiden, a reflection of their outrage over Joe Biden's handling of Israel's response to the Hamas invasion and terrorist attack of October 7th. Arab American and Muslim American anger could hurt Biden's re-election prospects in most of the 2024 swing states he won in 2020, as those groups have been heavily Democratic. Muslim leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania are expected to meet in Dearborn, Mich., to start the new campaign. "This #AbandonBiden 2024 conference is set against the backdrop of the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the decision to withdraw support for Joe Biden due to his unwillingness to call for a ceasefire and protect innocents in Palestine and Israel," the group said in a statement. They failed to condemn the actions of Hamas terrorists acts such as the October 7th invasion and countless rocket attacks on Israel. December 2: News Max: Jan 6th deposition tapes from Democrat-controlled committee disposed of by Democrats The chair of the Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, (R-GA) has reported that "all" video depositions given to the Democrat-led House select committee on Jan. 6 have disappeared. The congressman said, "All of the videotapes of all depositions are gone. We found out about this early in the investigation when I received a call from someone who was looking for some information off one of the videotapes, and we started searching, and we had none," Loudermilk explained. "I wrote a letter to [Jan. 6 committee Chair] Bennie Thompson asking for them. And he confirmed that they did not preserve those [tapes]. He didn't feel that they had to." But, Loudermilk noted, "according to House rules, you have to preserve any data and information and documents that are used in an official proceeding, which they did. [The House Democrats] actually aired portions of these tapes on their televised hearings, which means they had to keep those. Yet he chose not to." The congressman explained that contrasting the footage with the current Jan. 6 evidence could help piece together what happened that day. Loudermilk points out that former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson has changed her testimony once before and that transcripts alone won't do justice. "When you got someone like Cassidy, who has significantly changing her testimony, I want to see what her body language is when she gave her original testimony. I want to see what her voice inflection is. Was she very confident in what she was saying at that time but then later decided to change it? "This is why it's so important that we have those videotapes," the congressman added, "and I believe that's probably why we don't have them ... I believe they exist somewhere. We've just got to find where all these videos are." December 1: The Daily Wire: Hamas threatens; More and bigger yet to come A top Hamas official suggested during an interview with Lebanese media this week that a terrorist attack larger than Hamas' October 7 massacre was in the works and would happen in the not so distant future. Osama Hamdan, who is in the terrorist organization's Political Bureau, said on Wednesday that the terrorist organization had no regrets over murdering 1,200 Israelis and that a "war of liberation" was coming. In the interview the interviewer asked Hamdan, "If you could go back in time to October 6, would you still do what you did on October 7?" "Why would some people assume that we would go back on our acts of resistance?" Hamdan responded. When asked if Hamas had any regrets, he responded: "Regret for shattering an entire division of the occupation army?" December 1: The Daily Caller: Turley: NY civil case may well face constitutional issues George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley suggested Friday that New York Attorney General Letitia James' push for $250 million in penalties and the dissolution of former President Donald Trump's companies could render her civil fraud case against him "unconstitutional." James' case that the former president committed fraud by inflating his net worth and overvaluing assets met challenges during the trial this week as a Deutsche Bank employee testified that adjustments made to Trump's net worth were not out of the ordinary, and documents revealed the bank was eager to land Trump as a client. If Judge Arthur Engoron sides with NY AG James' effort to impose "dissolution and crippling damages," it could "trigger a higher-court review" Turley contended. December 1: The Washington Examiner: NC judge temporarily blocks law giving state legislature authority to appoint election board members 
December 1: Fox News: Manchin bashes Biden Admin; Doesn't want to wait in line to get a battery made in China for an EV Senator Joe Manchin (D-WVA) bashed the Biden Administration over its release of federal guidance by the Treasury Department (DOT) allowing Chinese companies to exploit taxpayer electric vehicle (EV) tax credits. Manchin, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the guidance contravenes the intent of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which he authored, and that he would both pursue legislation striking the guidance and support any lawsuit challenging it. The DOT guidance opens the door for Chinese firms to continue providing EV battery parts and materials to EVs eligible for credit. "I remember waiting in line at the gas station in 1974 after the oil embargo, and I can tell you that I do not intend to wait in line for a battery produced in China if I am forced to buy an EV. The United States has never had to rely on foreign adversaries to build our cars and trucks," Manchin said in his statement Friday. December 1: United Press International: South Korea moves forward with the development of stealth submarines South Korea, which is still technically at war with North Korea, is planning to develop stealth submarines. Hanwha Ocean announced Wednesday the shipbuilding giant has signed a contract with the government agency Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement toward fulfilling such a goal. Under the agreement, the company will concentrate on developing stealth technology, aiming to begin production of a prototype submarine by May 2028. The focus will be on new degaussing devices designed to cut down on the magnetic field generated by submarines so they can better avoid detection. November 30: The Epoch Times: Pope says church leaders can baptize some "transsexual" Catholics and allow some LGBT Godparents In a November letter to Brazilian Bishop José Negri, Pope Francis laid out rules for transgender and LGBT engagement in the Catholic church. Bishop Negri had asked the pontiff several questions on how the church should respond to transgender and homosexual-identifying individuals. Under the pope's new clarifications of rules for the church, some "transsexual" Catholics are allowed to be baptized, become godparents to children, and act as witnesses at weddings. The pope's letter tells priests that there is room for transgender baptism, transgender godparents, and transgender wedding witnesses, but with some caveats. Transgender Catholics can be baptized only in cases that don't create "public scandal," and they can become godparents only under "certain conditions." Homosexuals can have their "children" baptized if there is a "well-founded hope" that they will be raised Catholic. And same-sex couples can be godparents, the pope wrote, but these situations must be "wisely considered." The pope's letter offers unqualified support to transgender-identifying and homosexual-identifying individuals who want to serve as witnesses for the sacrament of marriage in the church. But in the case of serving as godparents, transgender-identifying people shouldn't be allowed to serve in that role "if there is a risk of scandal, undue legitimation, or disorientation in the educational sphere of the ecclesial community," the pope wrote in the letter. November 30: Axios: Senate tensions erupt over hotly disputed subpoena vote A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday devolved into a heated back-and-forth as Republicans accused the panel's chair [Dick Durbin (D-IL)] of refusing to let them speak on judicial nominations. The spat came ahead of a vote over controversial subpoenas of conservative billionaire Harlan Crow and judicial activist Leonard Leo as part of a Democrat-led investigation into Supreme Court ethics. The frustration stems from the Democrats wanting to go after their nemesis Justice Clarence Thomas and gifts give to him by the justice's long-time friend. In the end, the committee approved the nominations (using proxy voting), but the Senate Democrats were forced to send the two nominees, Mustafa Taher Kasubhai and Eumi Lee, back to the committee because two Democrats were tried to vote by proxy before arriving at the markup and switching to voting in person, according to a committee spokesperson. "After markup, the Parliamentarian told us that didn't cure the proxy votes, so the nominees could not be successfully reported," the spokesperson said. "They were referred back to Committee so we can vote on them again at Thursday's meeting." November 30: The Washington Examiner: House Republicans threaten Jack smith over Trump investigation: "days are numbered" Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) threatened special counsel Jack Smith by saying his "days are numbered" after his two indictments of former President Trump. Higgins made the comments while reacting to a search warrant filed by Smith in August in the 2020 election case against Trump in Washington, D.C., which was seeking information from Twitter about Trump's posts and accounts. "So, let me say, regarding Jack Smith and his request for another list of American citizens under some alleged legitimate investigative effort, I consider it a badge of honor to be on another one of Jack Smith's lists," Higgins said Thursday. "So, I'll just say that his days are numbered, and American patriots are not going to stand idly by, good sir, and allow our republic to dissolve. We are prepared to fight legally and peacefully and within the parameters of the Constitution with every ounce of our might and focus." Smith is leading two of the four criminal indictments against the former president: charges related to Trump's mishandling of classified documents in Florida and his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Washington, D.C. November 30: Fox News: House GOP considering voting on formal impeachment inquiry House Republicans are expected to huddle behind closed doors Friday morning to discuss holding a vote formalizing an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Three sources familiar with discussions said GOP leaders are strongly considering a House-wide vote to approve an investigation into Biden. The Friday morning meeting is expected to see chairmen of the three committees probing Biden and his family — Oversight Chairman James Comer, (R-KY); Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH); and Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) — to make their case to the House GOP Conference. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, (R-CA), directed the House to open an impeachment inquiry into Biden in September, but the White House has dismissed the probe as illegitimate without a formal vote on the matter. GOP leaders believe that holding a House-wide vote on formalizing the impeachment inquiry would make it harder for the Biden administration to resist House Republicans' subpoenas and requests for information, one source explained. And moderate Republicans have indicated they see enough need to investigate Biden to support Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., holding a vote on an inquiry. November 29: The Texas Scorecard: Harris County drops challenge to law that abolished their election administrator Harris County has dropped its challenge to a new Texas law that returned election administration duties to elected officials in the state's most populous county. Senate Bill 1750 took effect on September 1, and abolished the appointed position of elections administrator in any county with a population of more than 3.5 million and transferred election administration and voter registration duties back to the county's elected county clerk and tax assessor-collector. Only Harris County currently fits the law's population requirement. State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) said the bill was a response to recent "election fiascos" managed by county appointees who are not elected by the people of Harris County. Since 2020 there has been a revolving door of Democrat appointed election administrators, all of whom failed to conduct a successful election. An audit by the Texas Secretary of State's office found "very serious issues" with the management of Harris County's 2020 general election. The second appointed election administrator was forced to resign after the 2022 primary election which some called the "worst election fiasco in Texas history." The third election administrator botched the November 2022 election so badly that it became the subject of a criminal investigation and multiple lawsuits. Consequently, the Democrat County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who has more than a decade of local elections office experience under both Republicans and Democrats, ran Harris County's November 7 election in 2023 and is now managing runoffs in Houston's mayoral and city council races and reports are that the process is vastly improving. Senator Bettencourt posted on Twitter that "Already County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth was credited with an improved Elections Administration by the public…" November 29: News Max: Voting machine company banned from Philippines The Philippines' Commission on Elections (COMELEC) moved Wednesday to ban Smartmatic PH, a voting technology company, after the U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against a former COMELEC official alleging that he was bribed by Smartmatic in exchange for winning contracts in the Philippines. Smartmatic is suing numerous media outlets and individuals for defamation related to the 2020 United States presidential election claiming that media coverage of it harmed its reputation. In its action, COMELEC said Smartmatic had been "disqualified and disallowed" after the Justice Department alleged that it had bribed Andres Bautista, the former COMELEC chairman, and other Filipino officials $4 million in exchange for obtaining a contract for election machines, according to a report in CNN Philippines. Smartmatic, a company that supplies election technology and software, was used in Los Angeles County in the 2020 presidential election. November 28: The Galveston County Daily News: What the powerful will do to keep their power We are seeing an all-out attempt to destroy Donald Trump using the judicial system. This isn't new. Since the beginning of time those in power have used all the tools at their disposal to keep their power. For example, William Tyndale was burned at the stake for publishing the first Bible in the language of commoners, threatening the elites who wanted to keep control of who could read God's word. It's always about a drunken thirst for power; squashing anything that threatens keeping it. The politicalization and weaponization of our justice system may help those in power who feel threatened, but we contend doing so is wrong. If our nation is to survive this must stop now. All of us need to stand for truth and equal treatment for all, not graft, favoritism, and corruption. [We encourage you to read the entire column]  November 28: The Daily Wire: Iranian drones harass USS Ike in the Persian Gulf An Iranian drone harassed a U.S. air craft carrier in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, according to a U.S. defense official. The incident comes after Iranian terrorist proxies in the region have hijacked and attempted to hijack cargo ships and tankers in recent weeks that are tied to Israel. "An Iranian drone flew near the USS Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf today," Fox News reported. "The Ike was in international waters & the Iranian drone ignored multiple warnings. This is being deemed unsafe & unprofessional." One video that circulated on social media this week purported to show footage from an Iranian drone that was harassing the same carrier strike group. The footage appears to correlate with statements from an official in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who said that the drone's presence interfered with U.S. helicopter operations. November 28: The Epoch Times: Hunter Biden agrees to testify before House committee Joe Biden's son has agreed to testify to Congress, one of his lawyers said on Nov. 28. Hunter Biden will answer questions before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee, lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a missive to the chairman of the panel. "Our client will get right to it by agreeing to answer any pertinent and relevant question you or your colleagues might have," Lowell told Rep. James Comer (R-KY). But Lowell is demanding that the appearance take place in public. "A public proceeding would prevent selective leaks, manipulated transcripts, doctored exhibits, or one-sided press statements," Lowell wrote. Chairman Comer issued subpoenas for Biden, the president's brother James Biden, and others in November as part of the investigation into how involved Joe Biden was with the family's business schemes. "Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That won't stand with House Republicans," Comer said. November 28: The Daily Caller: Senior Biden CIA official posts pro-Palestinian content on social media Sources have learned that the top CIA official who changed her social media cover photo to a pro-Palestinian image two weeks after the Hamas terrorist organization carried out horrendous attacks on Israel is Associate Deputy Director for Analysis Amy McFadden. The original Oct. 21 photo of a man waving a Palestinian flag — often used in articles critical of Israel — is no longer publicly visible on the official's social media, as the official, the associate deputy director for analysis at the CIA, changed the image after the Financial Times reached out Monday, the outlet reported. The official has been identified as Amy McFadden, who has served in the CIA Directorate of Analysis front office since 2020. McFadden worked in the CIA's Counterterrorism center, was deputy in the Office of North African, Arabian Peninsula, and Regional Analysis and later was director of the President's Daily Brief, according to her biography. November 27: The Washington Free Beacon: Gazan civilians recapture Israeli escapee and return him to Hamas Roni Krivoi, 25, managed to escape from Hamas terrorists who held him hostage in the Gaza Strip, but ordinary Gazans returned him to his captors, his aunt said on Monday. The revelation, which followed Hamas's release of Krivoi on Sunday along with 13 other Israeli hostages, was the latest evidence that ordinary Palestinians have enabled Hamas's terrorism against Israel during and since the Oct. 7 attack. Krivoi was working as a sound technician at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 when Gazan terrorists stormed the event as part of a rampage through southern Israel in which they killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 245 others. Krivoi's aunt, Elena Magid, told Israel's Kan public radio station that her nephew managed to escape when Israeli airstrikes collapsed a residential building where he was being held. He was free in Gaza for four days before the ordinary Gazans caught him and brought him back to captivity, she said. "He tried to reach the border, but I think because he didn't have the means to understand where he was and where to escape to, he got tangled up in the area," according to Magid, who said she spoke to Krivoi on the phone for 30 minutes following his release.  November 27: One America News Network: Elon Musk and Netanyahu visit ground zero of Hamas attack on Israel
Elon Musk visited Israel in order to view the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attacks that took place on October 7th. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted the Tesla CEO on Monday, showing the devastating aftermath at Kibbutz Kfar Gaza, which is an Israeli community that borders Gaza. Musk, wearing a bulletproof vest, joined Netanyahu and other officials for a walkthrough of the battered community where 1,200 Israelis were killed in a single day by the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas. Additionally, during Musk's visit, he met with families of the victims, heard from local community leaders, and saw the area's destruction firsthand. Musk also went into numerous family homes, where they further detailed the tragedy that took place as well as the heroic individuals who risked their own lives to save more vulnerable locals, according to Netanyahu's office.  November 27: The Daily Caller: Pirates surrender to U.S. Navy after attempting to hijack freighter A U.S. Navy destroyer chased down unidentified pirates attempting to hijack an Israeli-owned commercial vessel in waters south of Yemen on Sunday, forcing the would-be hijackers to surrender, the U.S. military said. The guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. Mason was operating with the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Gulf to serve U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) efforts to deter further attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East when it received a distress call from a merchant ship, CENTCOM said. The Mason and other allied ships, including Japanese naval vessel, part of a U.S.-led counter-piracy task force based off the Somalian coast, raced toward the M/V Central Park and, upon arrival, demanded the hijackers they found on board the vessel to leave. Five armed pirates fled the scene in a small boat. "The USS Mason pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender," the CENTCOM statement read. The Pentagon said on Monday the attackers were Somali pirates. November 26: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS: Is honking your horn to support a political candidate a First Amendment Right? The Supreme Court may soon consider whether honking a car horn is a constitutionally protected form of free speech. Although Americans have long sounded the horns of their vehicles to express themselves politically, many states, including California, forbid honking the horn on one's automobile except to warn of a safety hazard. Officials say hitting the horn excessively dilutes the effectiveness of honking as a means of signaling danger or facilitating the flow of traffic. The justices are scheduled to consider the case, at their private conference on Dec. 1. Drivers honked their horns during the 2020 election cycle, an act that both Joe Biden and President Donald Trump "have recognized … as a form of political expression," the petition filed with the court states. "The car horn is the sound of democracy in action," the petition says. Also reported by The Epoch Times, SCOTUS may also consider two key January 6th appeals at its December 1st conference. One case would address DOJ's controversial use of evidence-tampering law to prosecute Jan. 6 defendants for felony obstruction of Congress. The other involves a former DEA special agent who carried his credentials and weapon on the Capitol grounds. If either or both of the petitions are accepted, it will be the first time a Jan. 6-related case is reviewed by the Supreme Court. The Lang (first) case could impact hundreds of defendants accused of the most frequently charged  Jan. 6 felony, that is corruptly obstructing an official proceeding, which carries a potential 20-year prison term, and according to the latest DOJ tally, has been charged in 317 cases. Dozens of Jan. 6 defendants have already been convicted under the law, which has never been used in such a way since it wasimplemented in 2002 as a means to curb corporate financial fraud. Lang's attorneys claim that DOJ has weaponized the statute and represents dangerous prosecutorial overreach. "If the Biden DOJ's adventurism is allowed to stand, it will permanently change the ability of the government to suppress the rights of American citizens," legal researcher Jonathon Moseley said. "At a minimum, the government should be permitted to present its case to a jury and prove that petitioners obstructed a proceeding by [in part] preventing the relevant decision-makers from viewing the evidence at the time and place specified for that purpose," he contended. In the second case a DEA Agent is accused of carrying his service weapon and badge onto the Capitol grounds. Mark Ibrahim faces three federal charges: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds, and injuries to property for climbing on a statue at the edge of Capitol grounds. Ibrahim's appeal argues even though he was off-duty on Jan. 6, he was legally authorized by federal law to carry his service weapon on Capitol grounds. DEA regulations encourage agents to carry their weapons and credentials at all times, his appeal states. "The prosecution of this case breaks faith with countless federal law enforcement officers who make themselves available around the clock, 24-7, and carry their agency-issued weapons per agency directives," the document states. "Failure to address the question of the law's exemption breeds uncertainty and shakes any remaining confidence of the public and the law enforcement officers in the application of the laws." Ibrahim's attorney also says her client is being targeted because of his political beliefs, "Mr. Ibrahim carried flags associated with the conservative movement, he stated that part of the reason he attended was to support President Trump, and he publicly lamented the shooting death of unarmed conservative protester Ashli Babbitt," she said. "These political expressions were investigated by the government in-depth even though none of these conservative beliefs were elements of any criminal offenses," she wrote.  November 26: Fox News: Ex-White House doctor warns Biden's cognitive decline already putting US at great risk
President Biden's 81st birthday ushered in conversations surrounding his age and declining cognitive acuity, two things Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), a former White House physician, believes are valid causes for concern. "[The decline is] happening quickly," Jackson said Sunday. "…I've taken care of three presidents… so I know firsthand what it takes to be the commander-in-chief and the head of state. It's a grueling job, both mentally and physically. This man can't do the job. He's proven to us every single day that he can't do the job, but this is going to get worse," Jackson said. Jackson served as a physician under the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations and has previously sounded the alarm over Biden's cognitive acuity. "It's just unbelievable how much he's degenerated just during his time in office. We cannot afford to have this man in office for the remainder of this term and then [for] another four years after that. He's already putting us at great risk right now," Jackson contended. November 26: Breitbart News: Israeli families break silence about treatment as Hamas kidnapped hostages Family members of released Israeli hostages told reporters Sunday that the hostages had been forced to sleep on benches during their 7-week captivity; had to endure waits of up to two hours for a bathroom; and were sometimes denied food. They were fed mainly pita bread and rice and some days went with little or no food.  November 25: The Post Newspaper: Beware, This could happen to the US economy A Nobel-prize winning economist Simon Kuznetsk once said there are four kinds of countries: developed, underdeveloped, Japan and Argentina. With respect to Argentina, the citizens are literate. It's a nation blessed with many resources. Yet, it also is battling 109% inflation that could hit 130% by year's end. The country has defaulted a historic nine times on its debt, three times since 2000. Debts and unrealistic absurd policies can bring the same negative consequences upon any country. In the past few years, the U.S. rang up an unprecedented debt now reaching over $33 trillion, equaling a whooping trillion-dollar annual debt service. In the past two years, Washington policies encouraged workers to stay home, allowing them to earn more for doing nothing than being productive in the labor market. The result is that honest Americans suffer from extremely high inflation, even higher than the late 70s and early 80s. We can't continue this irresponsible direction of incurring destructive debt without dire consequences. Elections have consequences. We must be wiser in 2024 and elect representatives – Republicans and Democrats -- who will actually do something to curb our runaway spending instead of just giving lip service to spending reductions. Where incumbents fail to take action, they need to be replaced by people who will. Meanwhile in Argentina an election was held this past weekend and a conservative beat the leftwing socialist who has held power for many years. The people of Argentia are waking up to the failings of the existing regime. Hopefully, the American people will wake up as well before it is too late. November 25: News Max: "House of Mouse" losing in high level porker game In new SEC filings, Disney is now admitting it has been slapped by its own customers for its far left social and political agenda, legal expert Jonathan Turley wrote in a recent column. He pointed to Disney's SEC filling this week that acknowledged some mistakes leading to losses potential stretching into billions. "We face risks relating to misalignment with public and consumer tastes and preferences for entertainment, travel and consumer products, which impact demand for our entertainment offerings and products and the profitability of any of our businesses." "We face risks related to changes in our business strategy or restructuring of our businesses, which have affected and may continue to affect our cost structure, the profitability of our businesses or the value of our assets." Disney was forced to admit "consumer acceptance" is going to impact its bottom line. In September, Disney announced it was expected to fall tens of millions short of its 2024 goal for Disney+ and its streaming service Hulu. Customers have been fleeing Disney+ and Hulu in the wake of nationwide boycotts and sharp subscription price increases. And this past summer, Disney stock had a hit a 9-year low, with its marketing cap falling from $350.09 billion on March 22, 2022, to $154.04 billion , a decline of 56%. November 25: The Washington Examiner: Wisconsin's Democrat-controlled Supreme Court to hold hearing on election maps President Trump noted in a recent post that Wisconsin's State Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in a case that would upend the state's election maps. Wisconsin's state legislature's district maps are considered by many Democrats to be the aggressively gerrymandered. The maps have helped Republicans maintain their large majority in both chambers of the state legislature since 2011, even as Democrats have won some statewide elections. With a new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court, the challenges to the maps have been the topic of conservative criticism nationwide. "Democrats fought to elect Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz this spring so she could help them retake control of the state Legislature through a rewrite of the state's political maps. Now the court's liberal majority is going through contortions to deliver on that anti-democratic judicial promissory note," the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote in a piece titled "A Looming Judicial Coup in Wisconsin." Trump shared this editorial on his social media site, Truth Social. November 25: The Jerusalem Post: IDF to Hamas terrorist: We will get you wherever you are! Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman R-Adm. Daniel Hagari on Friday night referred to senior Hamas officials, saying that "they are being following around in Gaza and around the world." Hagari's warning signals to the Hamas leadership in Qatar and around the world that the IDF will pursue them wherever they are. This calls back to several famous Israeli operations to eliminate the masterminds of terror attacks against Israelis, such as those operations that took place in the wake of the Munich Massacre. During that era, Mossad would target Palestinians involved in planning attacks on Israelis, with most of them being in foreign countries. This type of operation, involving Mossad agents, slowly disappeared after the Oslo Accords, with most targeted killings following Oslo being a result of the Second Intifada and consequently took on another form. In that era, the operations were clearly distinct from the previous years. Where before operations involved long-term planning and infiltration in a variety of foreign countries, now they simply required locating the target in the West Bank or Gaza and sending Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agents or IDF troops to carry out the killing. November 25: News Max: Kamala and Hillary are top choices for Dems if Joe doesn't run in 2024 According to a recent Harvard-Harris poll, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are Democrats' top picks for the party's primary if Joe Biden bows out of the 2024 presidential race. In the poll of 2,851 voters conducted Nov. 15-16, 24% said they would vote for Harris, while 13% said they would pick Clinton, the former Secretary of State who lost to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The poll also found that 59% think Biden should not run for reelection, while 41% said he should. Among independents, 66% said Biden should not run while 34% said he should. Just 42% of voters said they thought Biden, 81, is "mentally fit" for office while 58% said they "have doubts about his fitness." November 24: Axios: Day One of Pause: Hamas releases 24 kidnapped hostages Hamas on Friday freed 24 hostages — including 13 Israeli women and children, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino — and Israel released 39 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons on the first day the pause in fighting in gthe Gaza Strip. No U.S. kidnapped hostages were released. Hamas agreed to free at least 50 women and children over the four-day pause, while Israel is set to release 150 Palestinians, primarily women and children, held in Israeli prisons. Trucks carrying assistance began rolling into Gaza from Egypt not long after the pause began. UN convoys began heading to northern Gaza with the first aid allowed to reach this area in weeks. At least four trucks of fuel and four trucks of cooking gas also entered Gaza on Friday. The Israeli military used tear gas to push back large groups of displaced Palestinians who tried to return to the northern part of the Strip after the pause in fighting began. The Israeli Defense Forces dropped leaflets telling people to stay in the south because the pause was temporary. November 24: Fox News: Netanyahu not surprised US citizens not among kidnapped hostages released After Hamas released 13 of 50 agreed upon hostages Friday, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained why he is not surprised American citizens being held by the Palestinian terror group were not among those freed. Mark Regev, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, said in addition to those Israeli nationals released were a separate group of Thai nationals, but no U.S. citizens. "We weren't taken by surprise [that no Americans were released]. We know that the Thais were speaking directly to the Iranians," he said. "And as you know, Iran is the primary funder of Hamas… it's part of their axis of terror. It's clear that if Iran asks Hamas to do something, they will do it." Regev said Thailand's government had been in touch separately with Tehran, which was also reported by an England-based Arabic news site quoted by the Times of Israel.  November 24: The Washington Times: Reuters pressed about advance knowledge of Hamas attack on Israel
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is demanding Reuters fess up about whether its journalists had advanced knowledge of Hamas''s Oct. 7 terrorist raid on Israel. In a letter, 13 lawmakers pressed Reuters President Paul Pascobert about allegations a Reuters journalist, who appeared embedded with the terrorists, knew about the planned attack but, "said nothing." They said the Hamas attack was "well-documented on that day, including by journalists associated with Reuters News." "We write today to raise concerns about the implications of this content, particularly whether there was any prior knowledge of the attack by Reuters journalists and any connection to Hamas by your company," said the letter which was spearheaded by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). A Reuters spokesperson said the outlet "categorically denies that it had prior knowledge of the attack or that we embedded journalists with or otherwise accompanied Hamas on Oct. 7." The organization did not have a prior relationship with the journalists, the spokesperson said, adding that Reuters found no evidence to support the claim that their freelancers coordinated with Hamas. The letter posed a series of questions about how the journalist knew to be awake during the early morning assault and whether they had contact with Hamas before or during the raid. November 24: The Washington Examiner: Home Schooling is the fastest growing kind of education in the US Homeschooling is our country's fastest-growing form of education , according to the Washington Post. An estimated 1.9 million to 2.7 million students are homeschooled nationwide. There are quite a few reasons for the shift away from our public school system. Foremost is the shocking mismanagement of our education system during the COVID-19 pandemic. From stifling mask mandates to the shift to "remote learning," the quality of education fell precipitously on the tails of the pandemic. As a former neurosurgeon who worked on children's brains, Ben Carson said he can tell you this for a fact: Children cannot learn effectively over a Zoom video call. We did a historic disservice to our young people by altering their education experience from a classroom to a screen — in some districts, for several years. Once COVID hit and parents discovered they could do an effective job of teaching their own kids, home schooling started to catch on. November 23: The Israeli Times: Prisoner swap confirmed; one for three, Israeli hostages for Hamas terrorists A spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry said Thursday that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas would go into effect Friday at 7 a.m., while a first group of 13 Israeli hostages would be freed on Friday at 4 p.m. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Israel had received an "initial" list of names of abductees expected to go free, and that families of those set to return Friday had been updated, as had relatives of those whose names did not appear. Hamas's military wing also said a ceasefire would go into effect Friday morning, and last four days. "In four days, 50 [hostages] will be released," Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said, confirming information from Israel that three jailed Palestinian terror most convicted of murder, would be freed in exchange for every Israeli hostage, totaling 150. November 23: Axios: Officials report the explosion on the Rainbow Bridge not caused by terrorist group Investigators of Wednesday's deadly car explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the U.S. and Canada have not uncovered links to terrorism, the FBI and New York's governor say. The incident on the U.S. side of the bridge killed two people and injured a booth agent, and prompted the closure of multiple border crossings, the suspension of border train services and heightened security at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on the eve of Thanksgiving — one of the busiest travel days of the year. The FBI said late Wednesday that it had completed its investigation after no explosive materials were found at the scene. Police in Niagara Falls, N.Y., are now handling the incident "as a traffic investigation," the FBI said. November 23: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS will consider whether to take a case further limiting unions from collecting dues A good governance group called the Freedom Foundation is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a case that they say would safeguard Alaska state employees' free speech rights by preserving a requirement that makes unionized employees re-register with their union each year. Potentially at stake are union revenues derived from dues, which are often used against some of the union member's wishes, to fund Democratic Party candidates and various left-wing causes. The justices are scheduled to consider whether to grant the state of Alaska's petition for certiorari, or review on December 1st. If at least four of the nine Supreme Court justices vote to approve the state's petition, oral arguments would follow. If that takes place, a decision in the case could come by June 2024. The Alaska petition comes years after the court's Janus landmark 2018 ruling in which the court held it was a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution for states to compel public employees to support union speech with which they disagree through their paychecks. Maxford Nelsen, director of labor policy for the Olympia, Washington-based Freedom Foundation, said Alaska created an online system for its employees to authorize dues deductions from their paychecks. The system "would allow cancellations at any time, and then the employees would need to reauthorize dues deductions on an annual basis, the idea being that consent can change over time and needs to be periodically renewed in order to be valid," Mr. Nelsen said. But the union disagreed with the new policy and sued. It succeeded in persuading the state courts that there "was no constitutional imperative for the changes." November 22: iHeartMedia/KTRH: What would the Pilgrams think if they saw America today? It's been over 400 years since that very first Thanksgiving back in 1621. So, what would the Pilgrims think about America today? "I jokingly would say that I think they might say, hey let's get back on the boat to go back" said Terry Schilling with the American Principles Project, "This is a country that's completely different, I think that the Pilgrims would be completely shocked at a lot of things." Shocked at the division, the hate of America by the left. crime, corruption, education indoctrination, and the transgender issues with our kids. With that said, we still have a lot to be thankful for. "I think this country would be a lot better off if we actually were thankful, if we were more grateful for those that came before us" Schilling told KTRH, "If we're going to turn things around, I think it starts with showing gratitude, prioritize families, and show gratitude to our creator and to those that came before us, I think this country can turn things around very quickly." In the meantime, take a moment to give thanks, and have a nice Thanksgiving.  November 22: Fox News Update | Middle East:
US Navy warship shoots down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Yemen A U.S. Navy destroyer in the Middle East shot down multiple drones launched from Yemen on Thursday, officials said. The USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) shot several one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, U.S. Central Command reported. The drones were shot down as the warship was on patrol in the Red Sea. Neither the ship nor crew were injured. The warship shot down a drone last week also launched from Yemen. The drone attack is the latest in a series of attacks on American troops stationed in the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. On Sunday, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship and took 25 crew members hostage. "All ships belonging to the 'Israeli enemy' or that deal with it will become legitimate targets," the Houthis said.  Fox News: New video shows a mass airconditioned tunnel in a hospital complex; further proof of Hamas' tactics
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released new images Wednesday of soldiers moving through tunnels underneath a hospital in the Gaza Strip. The labyrinth of tunnels at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City includes rooms where "Hamas terrorists can operate and stay for extended periods," the IDF says. "Behind the breached blast door, soldiers discovered an air-conditioned hideout room and a bathroom. The soldiers of the 7th Brigade also located two additional tunnel shafts near the hospital: one on a nearby street and the other in a nearby house," it said. "The findings unequivocally display Hamas' deliberate method of operating underneath hospitals," the IDF added. "The terrorist organization also exploits the hospital buildings, using them to store weapons in and as terrorist headquarters." The findings come as a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas – which is expected to last four days – is just hours away from going into effect. November 22: One American News Network: Charleston, South Carolina, Alex, first Republican mayor since reconstruction Charleston, South Carolina, has elected their first Republican Mayor since the Reconstruction Era. Republican William Cogswell (R-SC) defeated incumbent Mayor John Tecklenberg (D-SC) in a runoff election on Tuesday. He won by just two percentage points, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. The newly elected mayor had secured the most votes during the November 7th general election but not the majority. Due to that, a runoff between Tecklenburg and Cogswell occurred. "We can confidently say that I'm going to be the next mayor," said Cogswell, a real-estate developer who was endorsed by major South Carolina GOP members, including Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.). "The people have spoken, and we're ready for a new direction … a new direction that puts labels aside, so that we can find pragmatic solutions to our problems." Issues focused on in the race included flooding, public safety and how to address the city's population growth. One City Council district has doubled in population between the last two census counts in 2010 and 2020, according to multiple reports. November 21: The Washington Examiner: WI Supreme Court looking at redistricting in this key swing state The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a high-stakes voting rights case that could upend the state's election maps, booting Republicans lawmakers from oddly shaped districts that had cemented their majority for more than a decade, and trigger a ripple effect all the way to the White House. Wisconsin is one of the country's most politically competitive states, and how the high court decides could have a major impact on state and national politics. Critics said the Wisconsin maps are unfair and have led to Republicans having a two-thirds supermajority in the state Senate and a similar outcome in the assembly, which lawmakers have already used to block appointments made by Governor Tony Evers (D-WI), and threatened the job of a Wisconsin elections administrator over the 2020 presidential race, which was narrowly won by President Joe Biden in the state. Democrats believe the gerrymandered maps do not reflect fair representation. In 2011, Republicans redrew Wisconsin's districts in a way that led to a vice grip on power Republicans have enjoyed for the past several years. November 21: The Washington Times: House investigators subpoena DOJ officials accused of thwarting Hunter Biden probe House lawmakers investigating whether the Justice Department suppressed an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter have subpoenaed Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf, whom whistleblowers say steered the FBI and IRS away from probing the Bidens. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan signed the subpoena summoning Wolf to give a closed-door deposition on Dec. 7. In a letter to Wolf the Ohio Republican said DOJ has not complied with the panel's request to voluntarily make her available for a transcribed interview. "Based on the committee's investigation to date, it is clear that you possess specialized and unique information that is unavailable to the committee through other sources and without which the committee's inquiry would be incomplete," Mr. Jordan wrote November 21: iHeartMedia/KTRH: TX AG Paxton opens investigation into Media Matters over possible fraud Following a mega-lawsuit that was filed by Elon Musk, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is opening an investigation into 'Media Matters', the radical left wing group, for potential fraudulent activity. Under the Texas Business Organizations Code and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Paxton announced in a statement that he will vigorously enforce against nonprofits who commit fraudulent acts in or affecting the state of Texas. The Attorney General went on to add that he was extremely troubled by the allegations that Media Matters, a radical anti-free speech organization, fraudulently manipulated data on Twitter. "We are examining the issue closely to ensure that the public has not been deceived by the schemes of radical left-wing organizations who would like nothing more than to limit freedom by reducing participation in the public square," Attorney General Paxton said. November 20: The Texas Scorecard: Former ICE Director promises major deportation under a 2nd Trump Administration The former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan has promised to do his part in cleaning up the southwest border under a second Trump administration. "I promised President Trump when he announced that if he goes back, I go back. And I'm going to run the biggest deportation operation this country's ever seen because these millions of people being released in this country, nine out of 10 will get an order of removal based on immigration court data," Homan said on Twitter. "A judge orders them to be removed. We're going to find them and we're gonna remove them," he added. "If there's no consequence, we can't fix the border. We're going to have a consequence in the Trump administration." Trump is currently the only GOP presidential candidate to have filed his paperwork in Texas for a place on the March Republican Primary ballot. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Trump this past weekend in Edinburg, TX, which sits on the Texas-Mexico border. November 20: CBN: Supernational move of God happening in Gaza Michael Licona, the president of Risen Jesus, Inc. reports that there are miraculous Christian conversions taking place in Palestine in the midst of war. "'Over the past two days, we have ministered to hundreds of fathers who have lost most, if not all, of their children in the war. As we moved these men to safety, we fed them, washed their clothes, and began to read the Bible to them — sharing the way of peace through Jesus. Then, a big miracle happened. Last night, Jesus appeared to more than 200 of them in their dreams! They have come back to us to learn more from God's Word and are asking how to follow Jesus,'" Licona said. "I side with Israel in this war; not necessarily for theological reasons but because Hamas and those backing it are pure evil. Yet, I know that not all Palestinians support Hamas. In fact, they will be punished severely if even suspected of not supporting Hamas. Let's pray that this war can be over soon and that Israel can eradicate Hamas so that Palestinians can be free...of Hamas," he expressed. November 20: News Max: Miami FBI field office chief is a "vocally anti-Trumper" FBI leaders ordered the new head of Miami's field office, Jeffrey Veltri, to scrub anti-Trump comments from his social media accounts, according to a new whistleblower account. The whistleblower disclosure to the House Judiciary Committee said FBI Director Christopher Wray, Deputy Director Paul Abbate, and Executive Assistant Director Jennifer Moore ordered Veltri to scrub his "adamantly and vocally anti-Trump" remarks from his social media accounts in order to get a promotion. "The home of President Donald Trump is located in the area of responsibility of the Miami Field Office," the disclosure read. "It was well known that Veltri was adamantly and vocally Anti-Trump." President Donald Trump has long decried political bias by the FBI leadership, and the House is investigating Joe Biden's administration for weaponizing justice and government against its political opponents and conservatives. Notably, the order to scrub the remarks ignored the clear anti-Trump messaging and has given Veltri cover to his political bias during the promotion process, the whistleblower claimed. "For whatever reason, unfortunately, the No. 1 criminal subject right now for the FBI seems to be Donald Trump," former FBI agent Kurt Siuzdak, a lawyer representing the whistleblower said. "So you would think they would go out of their way to make sure that everyone involved in the investigation is completely unbiased because they've already suffered the issues with bias several years ago regarding Trump." November 20: Fox News: New details revealed about killing of hostage held by Hamas Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released new details about the death of an Israeli hostage during a press conference on Sunday. IDF servicemember Noa Marciano, 19, was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7. "Noa was taken into Gaza alive, she was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza City next to the Shifa Hospital," Hagari said. "During ongoing combat, in the vicinity of where she was held captive, Noa's Hamas captor was killed and Noa was injured." Hagari said that Noah's injuries were "not life-threatening" and said that Hamas terrorists murdered her inside the Al-Shifa Hospital after she was wounded. "Hamas terrorists took Noa into Shifa hospital where she was murdered quickly," he continued. "Hamas murdered Noa inside Shifa hospital. Our thoughts are with Noa's family. We send our heartfelt condolences to Noa's family. We did not reach Noa in time." "This has only made the IDF more determined to do everything, everything in our power, to bring all our hostages home," Hagari added. November 20: News Max: Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (WVA) opposes Trump's Washington, DC gag order A coalition of 18 state attorneys general last week filed an amicus brief opposing a federal court's gag order on President Donald Trump because free speech "is at the core of First Amendment protections and political speech is paramount," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. On October 28th U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan reinstated a gag order prohibiting Trump from targeting the special counsel prosecuting his case or witnesses who might be called to testify about the then-president's efforts to overturn his election loss. Morrisey and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led the effort to file the brief to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "We thought that these gag orders generally have been very overbroad," Morrisey said. "They've been unconstitutionally impermissible. And I think that if you're going to put a prior restraint on place, you have to make sure that not only are the details very, very precise, but they're really frowned upon in situations like this when you have someone who is going to be the nominee for president of the United States. "When you know that the core of the issues that they're bringing forth are political, it makes what they're doing here in terms of the gag order doubly problematic." Morrisey contended. "And so that's why you've seen the attorneys general step up and fight back. And also, you've seen the ACLU … this is not a group that Republican attorneys general are used to working with … but they've weighed in with respect to the importance of protecting President Trump's speech. I think you see that because people are worried about denigrating the First Amendment, but I do think that these cases have been political to the core. It's been deeply disturbing, and Americans of all political perspectives should step up and say enough is enough."  November 19: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS cases that could curb the administrative state in the US The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up several cases this term that pose challenges to the administrative state, following years of concerted legal and political opposition to its legitimacy. Specifically, the justices are set to reevaluate the decades-old doctrine known as Chevron deference. This involves the Chevron case which has been cited more than 18,000 times by federal courts and according to the Congressional Research Service is "unquestionably one of the foundational decisions in administrative law." The 1984 precedent held that courts generally should defer to agencies' interpretations of ambiguous language in congressional statutes. For this term, the court is reviewing, in two related cases, whether the Commerce Department adhered to Congress's instructions when it required commercial fishing companies to pay for federal observers monitoring their activity on vessels. Two other cases take a look at how agencies may adjudicate disputes in administrative courts, as well as appropriate or allocate funds in a way many argue should be left to Congress. Instead of reevaluating longstanding judicial doctrine, the cases examine specific actions by Congress and the executive in light of constitutional restrictions. Overturning Chevron would be somewhat akin to overturning Roe v. Wade in that it has shaped both jurisprudence and policy for decades. While experts say the Supreme Court has used this doctrine much less in recent years, it remains something courts can turn to and entities like the Commerce Department may cite it in regulating American industry. Current justices have criticized giving unelected officials so much power to shape the regulatory environment. "In the last decade, the court has shown increased skepticism toward mainstays of the administrative state," said Paul Ray, who served as the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs' administrator under President Trump. November 19: One America News Network: Former First Lady passes at age 96 On Sunday, Rosalynn Carter died in her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96 after she was receiving hospice care at her home since Friday. Carter had been living with dementia and suffering from declining health for several months. The former first lady had been married for 77 years to former President Jimmy Carter, who was the 39th president of the U.S. "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," the former President said. 'She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew someone loved and supported me," Carter said. November 19: Texas Scorecard: Abbott endorses Trump at joint event at southern border As the Republican primary election draws closer, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. "Now more than ever, America needs a President who will secure the border and prioritize national security," Abbott declared. He made the announcement Sunday afternoon at South Texas International Airport at Edinburg. "I am going to make your job much easier," Trump told Abbott, promising to secure the border when he takes office again. "You're going to be getting back to normal governing. Things like streets and education and medical. You're not going to have to worry about the border anymore," said Trump. November 18: Fox News: Funding the government while cutting spending Members of the House Freedom Caucus are watching Speaker Johnson (R-LA) with a wary but hopeful eye after a GOP rebellion over government spending saw the new leader take his first major public setback. "He assures us, and we trust him that that's the case," Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) said of Johnson's goals to cut spending and advance conservative policies. Norman added, "Now, if that's not the case, then I mean, we're going to get cuts either way. We're gonna start taking rules down. We're just not going to keep going like this. We're just not doing it. Whatever it takes." Long-standing fractures within the House GOP Conference, primarily over government spending, rose to the surface again this past week after Johnson passed a short-term spending bill known as a continuing resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown. November 18: The Washington Examiner: Trump survives legal efforts to keep him off the ballot Former President Donald Trump has so far survived several legal efforts seeking to erase his name from state election ballots, a slate of early victories that still could ultimately end up at the Supreme Court. The latest victory being in Colorado where the Secretary of State was ordered to include him on the primary ballot. He has at least 14 other cases pending in states where Democrats and Never Trumpers seek to bar him from the ballot. What ever happened to letting voters decide who they want to be president instead of limiting the number of candidates who voters can cast their ballot for?  November 18: The Jerusalem Post: Israel uncovers more Hamas underground bunkers near hospitals and schools "We have located underground infrastructure and information about the hostages," IDF spokesman R.-Adm Daniel Hagari said on Friday. "In the past day, we have taken over the Al-Burkan outpost. "Fighting in Gaza is fighting in a complex environment that requires time," he continued. "We are determined to move forward, destroy and kill terrorists, and dismantle the military infrastructure of Hamas." "The IDF operates with clear goals for the war. This operation is on the ground, the air, and from the sea. We are determined to keep moving forward. This will happen wherever Hamas is, which includes the southern Gaza Strip. It will happen at a time, place, and under conditions that are favorable to us." Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces found RPG bombs, mortar bombs, and weapons in a kindergarten in Gaza, a military spokesman said. The discovery was made by the IDF's Bislamach Brigade in northern Gaza, which found the bombs and weapons hidden in the location by Hamas. The IDF's Golani Brigade also raided the 'Al-Carmel' elementary school, where the forces found more weapons hidden by Hamas. November 17: One America News Network: First lady Rosalynn Carter enters hospice care The Carter Center made the announcement Friday, saying that Rosalynn will be entering hospice alongside her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, 99, who entered home hospice care in February. The pair celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary in July and are the longest-married presidential couple in history. "She and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family. The Carter family continues to ask for privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support," grandson Jason Carter said. In May, the Center revealed that the former first lady had received a dementia diagnosis. Further information about the 96-year-old's health was not provided in the Center's announcement. President Carter served one term in office from 1977-1981 and is currently the oldest-living American president. The couple has four children together: three sons and one daughter. They also have 12 grandchildren and are great-grandparents to 14 children, according to the Jimmy Carter Library. November 17: The Daily Caller: Carlson, in Spain, make a stunning discovery Tucker Carlson spoke with Vox leader, Santiago Abascal, about the ongoing protests happening in Spain. Thousands have taken to the streets in protest of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's plan to give amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for their political support. "One of the things that Spain has in common with other Western countries that are becoming less democratic is the involvement of George Soros, who is a major player in Spanish politics. Why would George Soros, who is not Spanish, and has no connection to Spain that I'm aware of, be involved to the degree he is in Spanish politics?" Carlson asked. "George Soros is Hungarian," Abascal said. "Not only is he unloved in Hungary, he's not well regarded in other countries around the world, because he tries to exert his influence. George Soros was the first person to meet with the President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, when he was elected… …There is this curious alliance between the extreme left and global multi-millionaires. It is a strange alliance for this left-wing that has been anti-globalization but which now joins forces with the multi-millionaires who want to rule the world, and want to tell us how to live our lives while they live like kings." November 17: News Max: House Speaker starts posting January 6th videos online for anybody interested to see House Republicans, under the guidance of Speaker Mike Johnson, (R-LA) began posting the Jan. 6 videos online, the first wave of a promised 40,000-plus hours that will be available to the public. The first tranche of roughly 90 hours of footage was released Friday via the Committee on House Administration (CHA), and the rollout will continue over the next several months. "When I ran for Speaker, I promised to make accessible to the American people the 44,000 hours of video from Capitol Hill security taken on January 6, 2021," Johnson said. "Truth and transparency are critical. Today, we will begin immediately posting video on a public website and move as quickly as possible to add to the website nearly all of the footage, more than 40,000 hours. In the meantime, a public viewing room will ensure that every citizen can view every minute of the videos uncensored." "This decision will provide millions of Americans, criminal defendants, public interest organizations, and the media an ability to see for themselves what happened that day, rather than having to rely upon the interpretation of a small group of government officials [or bias news organizations]," Johnson contended. Also, faces of private citizens will be blurred to "avoid any persons from being targeted for retaliation," Johnson said, adding that another 5% of footage will be redacted to protect Capitol security interests. November 17: The Washington Examiner: Colorado Judge says she thinks Trump did start an insurrection but didn't strike him from the ballot The court in Colorado heard testimony from expert witnesses about how section 3 of the 14th amendment was intended to be read around the time of its 1868 enactment. These, experts testified about how some members of Congress weren't seated for actions like giving family members money before they left to fight for the Confederacy and other examples from the Civil War era. Justice Wallace said she was hesitant to bar Trump from the ballot or "embrace an interpretation which would disqualify a presidential candidate without a clear, unmistakable indication that such is the intent," according to her order Friday evening. The liberal justice went as far as saying Trump engaged in an insurrection on January 6th through incitement. But critics claim Trump did no such thing and only asked people to peacefully protest and let their feelings be known. The judge ordered the Colorado Secretary of State (a Democrat) to place Donald J. Trump on the presidential primary ballot when it certified the ballot on January 5th. The plaintiffs are expected to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. November 17: Fox News: Biden invokes wartime powers to fund electric heaters while cracking down on gas appliances Biden invoked a Cold War-era law in a surprising move Friday to pour taxpayer funds into domestic manufacturing of electric heat pumps, an alternative to gas-powered residential furnaces. The Department of Energy awarded a "historic" $169 million for nine projects across 15 sites nationwide in an effort to accelerate electric heat pump manufacturing. The significant level of funding was made possible after Biden utilized the 1950 Defense Production Act (DPA) to increase domestic production of green energy technologies. The underlying question is why, if green energy is profitable and sustainable, does subsidizing these industries make fiscal sense, especially with the Solyndra debacle in the rearview mirror. Under the actions announced Friday, the DOE will send millions of dollars to companies like Copeland, Honeywell International, Mitsubishi Electric and York International Corporation, all of which are billion-dollar multinational corporations. The projects will advance manufacturing of industrial, commercial and residential heat pump technology.  November 17: iHeartMedia/KTRH: "Horse Power!" Plane forced to divert and land because of a horse getting loose in the cargo hold A cargo plane was forced to return to John F. Kennedy International Airport after a horse got loose in the cargo bay. The plane was transporting the horse from New York to Belgium. About 30 minutes after taking off, the pilot radioed air traffic controllers in Boston because the horse was loose. The conversation between the pilot and air traffic controllers was posted on YouTube. "We are a cargo plane with a live animal, a horse, on board. The horse managed to escape its stall. There's no issue with flying, but we need to go back to New York as we can't resecure the horse," the pilot said. The plane was at 31,000 feet at the time and had to dump around 20 tons of fuel into the Atlantic Ocean before it could land. The pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the plane once it was back on the ground. Once the plane safely landed in New York, the horse was put back in its trailer, and the flight continued to Belgium about three hours behind schedule. November 16: News Max: What's good for the goose is NOT for the gander; Biden/Trump document cases Department of Justice special counsel Robert K. Hur's office is not expected to bring charges against Joe Biden for mishandling classified documents when he was vice president. Two anonymous sources informed CNN that Hur and his team were compiling a detailed review that lays into the now-president for mishandling the materials, per a Thursday report by the outlet. Hur's team estimates its report will be completed by the end of the year. Referrals for charges are not expected to be included in the review. The classified files in question were discovered at Biden's residence in Greenville, Delaware, and his office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C. and had been taken by Biden when he was Vice President without legal authority so to do. The news of Biden not being charged comes while former President Donald Trump was indicted for similar actions related to mishandling classified files at his Mar-a-Lago residence in South Florida. Trump, his legal team, and his allies have repeatedly contended DOJ is going after him but ignoring Biden's infractions. While Biden slammed Trump for the files, "He knew very well that he himself had possession of classified documents," explained Congressman Comer (R-KY), the chair of the House Oversight Committee. "So, the hypocrisy here is great. We're very concerned about a lack of transparency. We're very concerned, as I have said many times, about a two-tiered system of justice in America," he added. November 16: Axois: NY Gag Order on Trump temporarily on hold Hours after a gag order was temporarily lifted, President Trump publicly slammed a clerk for the judge overseeing the New York civil trial in New York. Trump singled out Judge Arthur Engoron's clerk as a "Trump Hating Clerk, who is sinking him and his Court to new levels of low" in a post. The former president has been fined twice for apparent violations of the gag order, which he also called "a disgrace." A New York appeals court on Thursday temporarily halted the gag order on Trump and his legal team in the ongoing trial. Considering the constitutional and statutory rights at issue an interim stay is granted," Associate Justice David Friedman said in a written order. Trump is now allowed to comment freely while the stay is in effect, and until the appeals process plays out in court, the Associated Press reports. Trump's lawyers asked for emergency relief earlier this week against the judge overseeing the trial, arguing that "the proceedings have been irreparably "tainted" by bias and "an unprecedented departure from standard judicial procedure." November 16: One America News Network: Pro-Hamas protestors demonstrate at the DNC; Police evacuate Dem. Officials On Wednesday, law enforcement arrested hundreds of protesters demanding a cease-fire in the Hamas-Israel war outside the DNC Washington headquarters. According to authorities, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA) were among those inside the headquarters as the clash between protesters and police sparked. United States Capitol Police said on Twitter that a "large group of illegal protesters…have cleared out, but USCP officers will stay on scene out of an abundance of caution." They previously put the number of demonstrators at about 150 and said they were "violently protesting in the area." Six officers were treated for injuries as a result of the demonstration, and one person was arrested and accused of assault on an officer, Capitol Police said. According to Capitol Police, all lawmakers were evacuated from the location for their protection. November 16: The Washington Examiner: Judge in Florida says no to prosecutors in Trump document case A federal judge in Florida denied a key deadline request on Thursday from special counsel Jack Smith in the case against Donald Trump, alleging the former president unlawfully retained classified documents. Meanwhile, sources reveal that Joe Biden will not be held accountable for classified documents he took while he was Vice President and failed to safeguard. United States District Judge Aileen Cannon's decision, in which she rejected Smith's request that Trump notify him by mid-December of any classified evidence he plans to use for his defense, is yet another indicator that she is likely to postpone the trial's start date. CIPA is used in cases that involve classified material and governs how that material is managed in legal proceedings. Section 5 requires defendants to give notice to prosecutors about what classified material they plan to use during trial. Prosecutors for Smith had asked Cannon to order Trump to notify them by Dec. 18 of which material he planned to disclose at trial from the 5,500 pages of classified discovery that prosecutors had provided to him. "Providing such notice by a set, near-term date will facilitate the completion of CIPA litigation before the May 20, 2024 trial date," prosecutors argued. Cannon said in her brief order Thursday that "CIPA Section 5 deadlines, and all other pre-trial deadlines not included in the first batch of pre-trial deadlines" will be addressed at the scheduling conference in March. November 15: Fox News: IDF release video of Hamas weapons cache under hospital in Gaza The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video Wednesday showing weapons in a Hamas-run hospital inside the Gaza Strip amid international criticism that Israel has targeted medical facilities in its war with the terror group. Israel, as well as many experts, have long said that Hamas uses hospitals as command centers and ammunition depots to conceal its military operations, putting civilians in harm's way with little regard for their safety. The IDF video shows Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus walking through an MRI center of the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza after Israeli forces raided the building. "A few of the most interesting things that we found totally confirms, without any doubt, that Hamas systematically uses hospitals in their military operations, in violation of international law," he said November 15: One America News Network Iowa and West Virginia lead co-lead amicus brief opposing gag order on Trump Both Iowa and West Virginia are co-leading an amicus brief to the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals opposing a federal court's gag order on President Trump. "President Trump enjoys First Amendment rights to speak — and American citizens enjoy an essential right to hear what he has to say," the amicus brief reads. The brief was spearheaded by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and West Virginia Attorney General Morrisey, both of whom have endorsed Trump for president. "Restricting a political candidate's free speech while they run for office is a dangerous precedent & a disservice to American voters," Bird wrote on Twitter. "Proud to co-lead this effort with Iowa to ensure that President Trump's First Amendment rights are protected," wrote Morrisey. Judge Tanya Chutkan's gag order prohibits Trump from targeting Special Counsel Jack Smith, his staff, the court staff, and any reasonably foreseeable witness. But Bird and Morrisey argued that Chutkan's gag order was "impermissibly vague" and would "unlawfully chill President Trump's speech." In addition, they pointed out that federal prosecutors had failed to produce evidence that any of Trump's speech directly caused harassment or threats. Meanwhile the ACLU is also opposing the gag order, saying it is too vague. Currently Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Utah joined the Iowa-and-West Virginia-led brief. Trump's legal team has argued that the gag order was unprecedented and violated the 45th president's First Amendment rights.  November 15: Breitbart News: San Fran flies Communist flags in prep for PRC chairman's visit
Communist Chinese flags parading through the streets of San Francisco ahead of Joe Biden and Xi Jinping visit have met with backlash as videos circulate on social media. "Oh look, San Francisco turned into China for President Xi's arrival," the Post Millennial's Katie Daviscourt wrote on Twitter, along with a video of Chinese flags lining the city's streets as Xi's motorcade drives by. "Finally revealing it's [sic] true colors," she added. "San Francisco looks so much better with Chinese flags. Not a single American flag or homeless person in sight," commentator Ian Miles Cheong said. As Biden and Xi have their first face-to-face meeting in a year during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in San Francisco, city officials have been criticized for cleaning up San Francisco's homeless problem for the arriving foreign leaders but not doing so for San Fran citizens. Barricades and fencing have been put up where homeless encampments once plagued the sidewalks. November 15: News Max: UK reports more then 300,000 Russians killed or wounded in Ukraine – not including mercenaries More than 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the war with Ukraine, according to new figures from the United Kingdom. Reportedly U.K. military intelligence believes 302,000 Russian soldiers have been either killed or wounded in the conflict, with countless more lost fighting for mercenary organizations such as the Wagner Group. Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have also reportedly deserted. "We also estimate that over 7,117 Russian armoured vehicles, including nearly 2,475 main battle tanks, 93 fixed wing aircraft, 132 helicopters, 320 unmanned aerial vehicles, 16 naval vessels of all classes, and over 1,300 artillery systems of all types have been destroyed since the start of the conflict," James Heappey, the armed forces minister, said. Russia is believed to have suffered its greatest casualties this year during its failed attempt to surround Avdiivka. Reportedly videos of the carnage there show destroyed tanks and bodies littering the battlefield. Citing military analysts, the UK Sun reported Putin expected surrounding Avdiivka would take a day or two at most. Instead, it has turned into a drawn-out bloodbath. Ukraine claims Russia has lost 7,000 soldiers, 100 tanks, and 250 armored vehicles in the fight for Avdiivka. One report said Russia sent three brigades to attack Avdiivka, only two came back. November 15: The Washington Examiner: Michigan judge says Trump can remain on the ballot in 2024 A judge in Michigan ruled that former President Donald Trump can remain on the state primary ballot for 2024. Michigan Court of Claims Judge James Robert Redford ruled against lawsuits to bar Trump from the Republican primary ballot in the state in a major legal victory for the former president. The lawsuits sought to bar Trump from the ballot due to his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot, which it falsely claimed meant Trump "engaged in insurrection." If he blocked Trump from the ballot, it would deprive "the decision of whether there was a rebellion or insurrection and whether or not someone participated in it from the Congress, a body made up of elected representatives of the people." "Trump campaign welcomes these dismissals in Michigan and anticipates the future dismissals of the other 14th Amendment cases, we are most focused on once again winning the great state of Michigan and the reelection of President Trump next year," Steven Cheung, spokesman for Trump's campaign, told the outlet.  November 14: Associated PressTens of thousands of demonstrators show up in Washington DC to support Israel Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of thousands on the National Mall under heavy security Tuesday, voicing solidarity in the fight against Hamas and crying "never again." The "March for Israel" offered a resounding and bipartisan endorsement of one of America's closest allies as criticism has intensified over Israel's offensive in Gaza, set off by the bloody Hamas incursion on Oct. 7. Overlooking a sea of Israeli and U.S. flags, the top Democrats in Congress Senate and House members came together on the stage to say they supported Israel. However, underneath that projection of unity, Democrats are sharply divided over Israel's course and its treatment of Palestinians even after the atrocious actions taken by Hamas in beheading Israeli women and children in their attack on Israel. Joe Biden is now urging Israel to restrain some of its tactics in order to ease civilian suffering in Gaza even as Israel mounts attacks on a Gaza hospital, showing up with doctors and nurses to help patients and transport them to medical facilities in Egypt and Israel where they can receive proper treatment, all the while attacking Hamas command centers and tunnels hidden beneath the hospital buildings. November 14: The Washington Examiner GOP senators try to force the democratic control Senate to take up the house bill for aid to Israel A group of Republican senators launched a “sneak attack” on Senate Democrats on Tuesday evening to try and force a vote on the House’s stand-alone bill providing assistance to Israel. With there being no official business before the Senate as the chamber waits to receive the House’s continuing resolution that funds the government, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) led a group of his colleagues in moving to proceed on the House’s Israel package. The GOP senator attempted to force floor consideration on the aid bill. After making the Israel aid bill the pending business of the Senate, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Marshall to announce that they had filed a cloture petition with 17 signatures to force a vote on the Israel bill. “I’d call it a sneak attack. That’s basically what it was,” Marshall told reporters of what the group was doing. The full Senate was then convened to agree or oppose consideration of the House bill, allowing Democratic leadership to avert moving forward on the measure that would provide $14 billion for Israel's defense and cut money from Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act intended to pay for 87,000 new IRS agents. Cruz accused Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) of trying to “hide the Democrats' opposition to having a vote. We're gonna keep fighting until we get a vote," Cruz said. The motion to stop consideration of the House-passed bill passed by a slim majority of 51-48. November 14: The Washington Examiner: GOP senators try to force the democratic control Senate to take up the house bill for aid to Israel A group of Republican senators launched a "sneak attack" on Senate Democrats on Tuesday evening to try and force a vote on the House's stand-alone bill providing assistance to Israel. With there being no official business before the Senate as the chamber waits to receive the House's continuing resolution that funds the government, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) led a group of his colleagues in moving to proceed on the House's Israel package. The GOP senator attempted to force floor consideration on the aid bill. After making the Israel aid bill the pending business of the Senate, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Marshall to announce that they had filed a cloture petition with 17 signatures to force a vote on the Israel bill. "I'd call it a sneak attack. That's basically what it was," Marshall told reporters of what the group was doing. The full Senate was then convened to agree or oppose consideration of the House bill, allowing Democratic leadership to avert moving forward on the measure that would provide $14 billion for Israel's defense and cut money from Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act intended to pay for 87,000 new IRS agents. Cruz accused Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) of trying to "hide the Democrats' opposition to having a vote. We're gonna keep fighting until we get a vote," Cruz said. The motion to stop consideration of the House-passed bill passed by a slim majority of 51-48. November 14: The Epoch Times: Netanyahu: US and Europe could be next if we don't deal with Hamas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed if the Israeli military doesn't remove Hamas the United States and Europe could be next, in what could be seen as an attempt to galvanize support for Israel in the West. In an interview Monday with Sean Hannity, Netanyahu stated that Israel has to "win not only for our sake, but for the sake of the Middle East, for the sake of our Arab neighbors." "You know what, for the sake of Gazans who've been held by this dark tyranny that has brutalized and brought them nothing but bloodshed and poverty and misery," the prime minister added. "We have to win to protect Israel. We have to win to safeguard the Middle East. We have to win for the sake of the civilized world. That's the battle we're fighting, and it's being waged right now. There is no substitute for that victory." November 14: Fox News: Soros-backed Loudoun County DA defeated in the Virginia, November 23 election A controversial far-left prosecutor in Virginia who's received enormous backing from liberal billionaire George Soros has been defeated despite significantly outspending her opponent. Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Buta Biberaj, whom Soros has backed with nearly $1 million since 2019, lost to her Republican opponent, Bob Anderson, by 300 votes in a race that wrapped up counting its remaining ballots from last week's election on Tuesday evening. "We are finished. We are waiting for the certification. Our electoral board is working on signing abstracts, and reviewing paperwork," a Loudoun County election official said. The slim difference in the results puts the possibility of a recount likely. Anderson, who previously served in the position from 1996 to 2003, emerged victorious despite being significantly outspent by Biberaj. Virginia Public Access Project data shows that Biberaj dropped $1.1 million on the race - nearly 16 times more than the $70,356 Anderson had spent. November 14: The Washington Times: Let's take this outside behind the barn and deal with this! Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and a union leader nearly got into a brawl during a Senate Health Committee hearing Tuesday, prompting the intervention of Chairman Bernie Sanders as the hearing descended into schoolyard taunts and chaos. "Sit down, sit down, you're a United States senator!" Sanders (I/D-VT) shouted as Mullin stood up at the dais to confront the union leader. The fiery and unusual exchange occurred after Mullin took exception to a series of tweets by Sean M. O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, that challenged the senator to settle their differences at "any place, any time, cowboy." The pair had verbally sparred at a prior hearing over whether Mullin had built his company himself. "You want to run your mouth. We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here," Mullin said. November 13: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Secret Service opens fire on car-jacker attempting to take their vehicle A U.S. Secret Service agent protecting Joe Biden's granddaughter, Naomi, opened fire after three individuals who were suspected of attempting to break into their SUV parked in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The incident occurred just before midnight on Sunday (November 12). The agency said the agent encountered three people attempting to break the window of the SUV, which was an unmarked government vehicle, and fired several shots, causing the suspects to flee the area. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that none of the suspects were shot, and they were last seen in a red vehicle. Officials put a regional lookout for the vehicle. Guglielmi said there was no threat to any of the Secret Service's protectees during the late-night incident. November 13: Fox News: Close call; Dems block Mayorkas impeachment effort with the help of some Republicans House Democrats, with the help of a small group of Republicans, on Monday successfully blocked an effort led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a straight up or down vote. The final vote tally was 209-201, with eight Republicans joining all Democrats in support of the latter party's motion to stop that floor vote, and instead refer the Greene's impeachment resolution to the House Homeland Security Committee. Twenty-four members — 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans — did not vote on measure. Greene introduced the resolution to impeach Mayorkas on Thursday, which would have forced a vote on impeachment without a hearing or a committee markup. This may be the reason some of the Republicans opposed the measure, opting instead to have the committee look at the issue before moving to impeachment. If voted on and passed, the measure would have sent his impeachment straight to the Senate for trial.  November 13: One America News Network: Put on a clean face San Fran as Biden scheduled to meet with Communist Chinese leader San Francisco rolled out cleanup operations in anticipation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit, reportedly targeting seven well-known homeless encampments in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom admitted that the effort was solely to create a positive impression for visiting leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which runs through November 17th. Reports suggest that the displaced homeless population has been relocated to other parts of the city ahead of the summit. While the cleanup transformed previously overrun areas, it has raised questions regarding why the city has waited so long to take action. Critics argue that such efforts are a temporary fix to a persistent issue, with ongoing concerns about drug overdoses and the need for more comprehensive solutions. The cleanup focused on areas with concentrated encampments, where individuals struggling with hard drug addiction can often be observed on the streets. Residents also noted an increased police presence and tent removals earlier in the week, highlighting the complex challenges faced by the city in addressing homelessness and substance abuse. November 13: The Israeli Times: IDF: Hamas has lost control of Gaza Strip Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that Hamas had lost control in the Gaza Strip, as the Israel Defense Forces moved to fully capture Gaza City. "There is no force of Hamas capable of stopping the IDF. The IDF is advancing at every location. The Hamas organization has lost control in Gaza: Terrorists are fleeing south; civilians are looting Hamas bases. They have no confidence in the government," Gallant said, after holding an assessment on the fighting. On Monday evening the army said forces raided Gaza City's Rantisi Hospital, which treats children, and that Hamas operatives had been holed up there. It said it had evidence indicating hostages were held at that location. "Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command and control center, suicide-bomb vests, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs, and other weapons, computers, money, etc," Spokesman Daniel Hagari said, in an English-language press conference. The military also said it had killed a group of gunmen who had fired on troops from another Gaza City hospital, publishing footage of the incident. November 12: News Max: Announcement: Tim Scott no longer running for President Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) suspended his run for the 2024 Republican presidential election nomination on Sunday after months of burning through campaign cash at a blistering rate without making a significant dent in national opinion polls. The lone Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, Scott began his campaign in May, promising to present an optimistic, forward-looking vision for America. He portrayed himself as a deeply conservative candidate who was more capable of healing political divisions in the United States than front-runner and former President Donald Trump and another candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. November 12: Axios: SecDef warned Israel about operations in Lebanon U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed concern to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant in a call on Saturday about Israel's role in escalation tensions along the border between Israel and Lebanon, according to three Israeli and one U.S. source briefed on the call. Austin's message reflected growing anxiety in the White House that Israeli military action in Lebanon is exacerbating tensions along the border, which could lead to a regional war. Some in the administration are concerned Israel's actions could provoke Hezbollah and be a pretext for a wider war in Lebanon which, in turn, could draw the US further into the conflict. To date Hezbollah has fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli border outposts while IDF forces have conducted air strikes on Hezbollah targets. Meanwhile tens of thousands of Israelis civilians have evacuated border villages and towns. According to reports Austin expressed concern that Israeli air strikes in Lebanon could lead to all out war while Gallant responded Austin Israeli policy is not to open a second front in Lebanon and stressed he doesn't think such a scenario is going to happen. Gallant also told Austin Hezbollah is escalating its attacks, including a drone attack from Syria on the city of Eilat 350 miles away. "Hezbollah is playing with fire," Gallant told Austin. November 12: The Washington Examiner: Chairman Jordan wants to talk with the guy who paid Hunter Biden's taxes Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) wants to further the House GOP's impeachment investigation of Joe Biden by talking "to the guy who paid Hunter Biden's taxes." "I want to talk to Kevin Morris ... the guy who paid Hunter Biden's taxes, just come out of nowhere, paid all of his tax burden that Hunter Biden had," Jordan said, referring to the Hollywood attorney and personal benefactor who has been in the first son's corner for every step of the ongoing federal investigation. While Jordan did not specifically commit to a fresh subpoena, his remarks come days after the House Oversight Committee led by James Comer (R-KY) filed a flurry of subpoenas against Hunter Biden and James Biden, the president's brother, and several business associates of the president's son. Morris lent Hunter Biden the money to pay off his tax bill, owns some of Hunter's paintings that are priced as much as $500,000, frequently flies Hunter Biden around on his private jet, and serves on Hunter Biden's defense team in the federal investigation of his business dealings. "I think there's a number of people we need to talk to," Jordan said. "We will continue to do that as we build this case, as we look at this case, and gather the facts." House Republicans are slated to make a decision early next year on whether to impeach Biden, Jordan said Sunday. Jordan's estimate comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been ambiguous about the timing of potential articles of impeachment for the president, recently telling centrist Republicans in a closed-door meeting last week that there is currently insufficient evidence to move ahead with impeachment proceedings. November 12: The Epoch Times: Speaker offers a plan to keep the government funded while cutting costs House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has unveiled a unique "laddered" stopgap funding plan to avert the looming government shutdown. Johnson's proposed measure is in the form of a two-step continuing resolution that would fund some parts of the federal government until Jan. 19 and then continue funding others until Feb. 2. The plan is unusual in that lawmakers usually extend funding for all programs until a certain date. The bill would avoid presenting a single, massive spending bill packed with various spending agendas, which would likely face opposition from those of his fellow Republicans who are laser-focused on fiscal restraint. "This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories," Johnson said. It "… will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess," he contended. Under the measure appropriations for the Veterans Affairs, Transportation Department, HUD, Agriculture and the Department of Energy would be extended until January 19th. Appropriations for the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security would be extended until February 2nd. The measures do not include funding for Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security. Speaker Johnson explained taking this approach would allow for more discussion about issues on which there is much disagreement among lawmakers, such as more aid to Ukraine and how best to bolster border security. The Speaker's approach may be opposed by some conservative hardliners who think spending cuts should be a part of the measures sent forward. November 11: News Max: Trump calls for the DC election interference trial to be fully televised Donald Trump is pushing for his federal election interference trial in Washington to be televised, denouncing Joe Biden's Justice Department's steadfast rejection of a televised trial as an effort to "continue this travesty in darkness." The problem for those who don't want it televised is that if it is perhaps, just perhaps, actual evidence that there were shenanigans in the 2020 election cycle might be presented, undercutting the narrative the there is no evidence of same. "President Trump absolutely agrees, and in fact demands, that these proceedings should be fully televised so that the American public can see firsthand that this case, just like others, is nothing more than a dreamt-up unconstitutional charade that should never be allowed to happen again," Trump's attorneys said in their filing with the court. "Furthermore, President Trump is entitled to present his positions in this case to the American public, including his sacred obligation as President to investigate and address fraud and other irregularities in the 2020 Presidential Election. Therefore, the Court should grant the Motions and allow the movants to broadcast the proceedings of this matter in order to ensure that the American public can see the bare truth of this case, witness the Biden Administration's wrongful acts, and hear all the evidence regarding an election that President Trump believes was rigged and stolen." Suggestions have been made that a "pool camera" be utilized with access to all networks, thereby reducing possible disruptions to the proceedings.  November 10: The Daily Signal: Inconvenient manifesto of the Nashville biological female/transgender male shooter
According to DOJ's research, in 2022, 97.7% of mass shooters in the U.S. have been male. Thankfully, the Justice Department seems to have acknowledged the biological truth despite Joe Biden's radical advocacy of transgender ideology. On March 27, however, a 28-year-old female by the name of Audrey Elizabeth Hale opened fire at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school in Nashville. Before police shot and killed her, Hale killed three children and three adults. What explains this female mass shooter? News reports give some indication. Although Hale was female, she reportedly identified as male. Her 3-page manifesto revealed the sick mind of a mass shooter. In them, Hale expresses hatred for white people, whom she refers to as "crackers." "Kill those kids!!! Those crackers. Going to private fancy schools with those fancy khakis and sports backpacks with their daddies' mustangs and convertibles. F— you little shits," she wrote. Her anger, resolve, and hatred hint at something the coroner would not confirm—it seems likely that Audrey Hale had taken cross-sex hormones, probably testosterone, before the shooting. November 10: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Federal appeals court rules Ghost Gun laws are unconstitutional A federal appeals court ruled that limits targeting "ghost guns" enacted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are unlawful. "Ghost guns" are sold online as kits and require the purchaser to assemble them at home. Because the parts were not considered functioning firearms, they could be sold without serial numbers, and the purchasers were not required to undergo background checks. In 2022, the ATF updated the definitions of the terms "firearm," "frame," and "receiver" under the Gun Control Act of 1968 so "ghost gun" kits would be covered under the law. A three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ATF overstepped its authority when updating the definitions. November 10: News Max: Home Depot founder endorses Trump's presidential run in 2024 The billionaire founder of Home Depot and the nonpartisan Job Creators Network announced his support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race. Bernie Marcus, 94, wrote in a RealClearPolitics opinion column that he supports Trump because "he is the best person to take on and dismantle the administrative state that is strangling America." "We cannot let the America we see today be what we leave to our children and grandchildren," Marcus wrote in the Thursday column. "Many of our once-great cities have devolved into lawlessness with random violent attacks on innocent people, rampant looting, and large-scale homeless encampments. There are rarely consequences for the wrongdoers because George Soros-elected prosecutors across America refuse to prosecute them. November 9: Axios.com: Manchin (D-WVA) retiring; will not run for reelection to the U.S. Senate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WVA) announced Thursday he is not seeking re-election in West Virginia next year. The retirement of the Senate's most conservative Democrat is a major blow to his party as they face a tough 2024 election map. The centrist Democrat was widely viewed as the only candidate in his party who could win a statewide contest in the solidly red state. Manchin said he will be "traveling the country and speaking out" to survey interest in "creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together." The Dems are largely on defense this coming election cycle, needing to hold on to more than six vulnerable seats.  November 9: The New York Post:Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters descend on New York times building Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters descended on New York City's Bryant Park Thursday afternoon and later occupied the lobby of the New York Times building as they called for the elimination of the Jewish state and accused President Biden of backing "genocide" while ignoring the horrific and tragic deaths inflicted on Israelis during the October 7th by Hamas. The crowds of demonstrators labeled Israel a "terrorist state" while chanting "From river to the sea, Palestine will be free" – a phrase known to call for the eradication of Israel — as they marched through midtown on Thursday evening. The large rally is the latest in a series of fiery protests to engulf the Big Apple since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack that led Israel to launch retaliatory strikes. "Biden, Biden, you can't hide, you're supporting genocide," protesters also yelled just hours after the commander in chief told reporters there is "no possibility" of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Protesters occupied the lobby of the Times building as they chanted outside of it and handed out mock newspaper copies of "The New York War Crimes." November 9: The Jerusalem Post: Christian Cowboys from America help Israel, bringing a Biblical view along with them Fifteen American Christian cowboys, all wearing wide-brimmed hats, denim shirts, Wrangler jeans, leather belts with large buckles, and well-worn boots have come to Israel to protect the Jewish residents of the biblical heartland – Judea and Samaria. "We want to live for Israel; that is our goal," said 24-year-old Yosef Strain from Montanna, his voice carrying a subtle twang. The young men, mostly in their early 20s, hail from across the South: Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, and Montana. They join other faith-driven volunteers in Israel. For 20 years several hundred Christians have come to Israel each year to help harvest the grapes of the biblical heartland. These Evangelical Christians are usually focused on restoring Christian-Jewish relations and confirming Israel's right to their ancestral homeland. These young folks are not only helping out with boots of the group they are helping raise money for security supplies like bullet-proof vests, helmets, night vision binoculars, drones and the list goes on. Instead of helping harvest grapes and other agricultural products this group of Christian men are helping install security roads, build warehouses for supplies and helping with 24/7 guard duty. The group is made up on 15 handpicked Christian cowboys. "Because of their farming-can-do attitudes, we knew these would be the right guys," the organizer said. The cowboys stay on Har Bracha but work throughout the West Bank, including in the southern Hebron Hills. They participate in what they call "farm watch" – staying up all night to catch cattle and sheep thieves and terrorists. Charles Hutsler, 19, from Huntsville, Arkansas, said he was "not scared" about being in the country during a war because "God has my back." Ezekiel ("Zeek") Strain, 20, said he believes in Israel in the promised land, specifically, the biblical heartland. "I ain't scared of what could happen or might happen. I just want to help," he said. "God put a special calling on my life and has given me certain talents, direct my life in a certain path, that I can do something when the time comes," added Johnny Plocher, 24. "I am not on Earth for money, a new truck or property, a vacation - that is not my purpose. I feel called here now and am glad to be here." The cowboys stressed that they do not represent the Biden administration or liberal Americans. "Biden does not represent these cowboys," Waller said. "Americans support Israel, including Judea and Samaria. The Biden administration believes in a two-state solution and would like to see 500,000 Jews pushed out of here, their biblical heartland. "These cowboys represent the America behind Israel and the Bible." He continued: "We are here to say no way to have to cut the State of Israel in half and the ability to create an Arab state in the idle of Israel's heartland. These cowboys are not going to see it." November 9: iHeartMedia/KTRH: MN supreme court tosses case attempting to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot President Donald Trump scored a legal victory after the Minnesota Supreme Court rejected a challenge to keep him off the 2024 primary ballot. A bipartisan group of Minnesota voters sued the state, arguing that Trump should be disqualified from running for president for violating the 14th Amendment. The third clause of the Amendment bars an officer who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution from running for office if they "engaged in insurrection." The voters argued that Trump's attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his alleged encouragement of the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, should be considered an act of insurrection. The Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed the case, ruling there is no law in the state that "prohibits a major political party from placing on the presidential nomination primary ballot, or sending delegates to the national convention supporting, a candidate who is ineligible to hold office." November 9: The Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Israel agrees to place short daily pauses in assault on Hamas in an effort to help innocent civilians to evacuate the war zone Israel has agreed to put in place four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its assault on Hamas in northern Gaza, the White House said Thursday, while Joe Biden continued to press the Israelis for a multi-day stoppage in the fighting in a bid to negotiate the release of hostages held by the militant group. Biden had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to institute the daily pauses during a Monday call and said he had also asked the Israelis for a pause of at least three days to allow for hostage negotiations. "Yes," Biden said, when asked whether he had asked Israel for a three-day pause. "I've asked for even a longer pause for some of them." He added there was "no possibility" of a formal cease-fire at the moment, and said it had "taken a little longer" than he hoped for Israel to agree to the humanitarian pauses. Netanyahu rejected the multiday pause because it would help Hamas to move and reinforce their forces to the detriment of IDF troops. Meanwhile, as reported earlier, Hamas fighters continue to slaughter innocent civilians who are attempting to flee Gaza City. November 8: Axios: Israel-Hamas war tension at colleges throws Title VI into the spotlight As universities grapple with how to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, the Department of Education [DOE] is reiterating schools' responsibility to comply with a federal civil rights law that addresses discrimination. There has been an uptick in antisemitic and anti-Muslim threats on college campuses since the war began, and some academic institutions are struggling with how to respond to the conflict for fear of angering students, faculty, donors and alumni. DOE released a letter Tuesday, reminding schools of their legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide all students a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Hate-based discrimination, including based on antisemitism, have no place in our nation's schools, the letter to schools and universities states. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. It doesn't explicitly protect from discrimination based on religion, but in 2019, then President Trump signed an executive order expanding Title VI to include and prohibit "discrimination rooted in anti-Semitism." November 8: The Daily Caller: Federal employee heckles Republican at polling location in Arlington, Virginia The Arlington liberal who went viral after losing it on a Republican poll greeter was identified Wednesday as "long-time federal contractor" Brendan Anthony Martin. Opposition research group Marco Polo exposed Martin's identity on Twitter using facial recognition tools. According to his social media profile, Martin allegedly works as a technical administrator for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) foster care system. However, according to the research group, this is not Martin's first attempt at heckling Republicans. In 2018, former President Donald Trump hosted a "Celebration of America" event after disinviting the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House. Martin was previously recorded by Daily Mail not only attending the event but heckling Trump prior to his speech. [See the Video on Twitter] November 8: Fox News: In an overall bad day for GOP they score a historic victory in New York Republicans on Long Island, NY, scored a historic victory on Tuesday night, solidifying gains they have made in the area and providing a small bright spot in an otherwise disappointing night nationwide. Republican Ed Romaine defeated Democrat Dave Calone on Tuesday to become the first Republican to win the Suffolk County executive position in 20 years. Romaine won with 56% of the vote by a projected margin of 26,000 votes. Romaine's victory gives Republicans commanding control on the eastern part of Long Island, where the GOP occupies all the countywide seats in Nassau and Suffolk counties.  November 7: The Jerusalem Post: Hamas tunnels, weapons, rockets found in Children's amusement park Tunnels and weapons warehouses used by Hamas were found near an amusement park and a university in the Gaza Strip during the IDF's ongoing operations in the coastal enclave, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit revealed on Tuesday. The Paratrooper Brigade found a tunnel opening near an amusement park in the Strip. The opening was destroyed subsequently destroyed. Maj. Roi, a commander in Sayeret Tzanhanim, stated "we found a logistic tunnel. The tunnels didn't pass over this area. We blew it up now, the opening has been destroyed and we intend to do this in every place we get to." The commander of the 202nd Battalion, Lt.-Col. Almog, stated "we uncovered a very significant tunnel opening seemingly leading to a tunnel system. We'll continue destroying infrastructure." "All of this is further evidence of the Hamas terrorist organization's cynical use of facilities and the civilian population as a human shield for the terrorist organization's needs," said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.  November 7: Fox News: House approves dollar a year salary for Transportation Secretary
Since taking office in 2021, Buttigieg has faced criticism from lawmakers in response to several crises that have faced the Department of Transportation. For example, in February, after a train carrying vinyl chloride, a dangerous colorless gas, derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, Buttigieg was criticized for his apparent inaction and for waiting several weeks before traveling to the site of the derailment. Additionally, there have been multiple instances of mass commercial airline cancellations during his tenure (ie. a pilot shortage). Republicans and Democrats alike had called for Buttigieg to take decisive action to ensure air travelers are protected from such cancellations. And while Buttigieg has spent much of his tenure addressing commercial delays, he has used government-managed private jets on at least 18 occasions since taking office. Those flights sparked an ongoing IG probe because of the price tag; costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. In one instance in September 2022, Buttigieg used a government jet for a roundtrip journey to Montreal. During the visit, he attended a ceremony hosted by a large Canadian gay rights organization and received an award for his "contributions to the advancement of LGBTQ rights." Buttigieg's office has continually stonewalled providing additional information about his use of the executive aircraft fleet. Consequently, the House has taken action to drastically cut his salary in the latest appropriations bill November 6: Fox News: Legal experts say whether Trump's court testimony in NY helped or hurt his case Legal experts weighed in on how President Trump's court testimony may have affected his civil case in New York. Trump testified in his bench trial stemming from New York Attorney General Leticia James' lawsuit against him and his Empire State businesses. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said, "There was an obvious disconnect in the testimony. Trump seemed to be speaking to the public, but neither a jury nor a television camera was present. Instead, he was technically speaking to a judge who repeatedly expressed frustration with the tenor and length of the answers." The reality is "that these cases have only increased Trump's popularity" and that with "every indictment, he seems to gain five percentage points." Turley said "The problem for Trump is the underlying law. The New York law does not require an actual victim or even loss of money." "That law became an easy vehicle for [leftist NY Attorney General] James to fulfill her pledge to bag Trump if elected." Referencing James' campaign promise to bring Trump down, she has been seeking an infraction to bring Trump down. "There are two cases being made in that courtroom. James is making the case to bar Trump from business in New York while Trump is making the case for reelection," Turley contended. "Both may be succeeding," he added. "James seems to have a sympathetic court while Trump seems to have an increasingly sympathetic public." Meanwhile attorney and commentator Andy McCarthy said he does not think the former president's testimony will help or hurt his case because it "has already been decided." "The judge and state's attorney general are elected Democrats," McCarthy said. "The AG ran vowing to use the power of her office against Trump," and the judge has time and again shown his bias against the former President telling "Trump before the trial even started that he had already lost the case and all the trial was going to be about was how much he was going to have to pay ($250M or more) in addition to being put out of business in [New York]," McCarthy contended. November 6: The Times of Israel: Elderly Jewish man dies from attack in LA by a pro-Palestinian/Hamas protestor An elderly Jewish man who was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protestor in the Westlake Village of Los Angeles yesterday has succumbed to his wounds, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles announced. "While we wait for more information from our law enforcement partners, we remind you that this is the fourth major antisemitic crime committed in Los Angeles this year alone," the local federation said in a statement. "Violence against our people has no place in civilized society. We demand safety. We will not tolerate violence against our community. We will do everything in our power to prevent it." There is no immediate statement from the Los Angeles Police Department, and the victim has not immediately been publicly identified  November 6: The Jerusalem Post: Hamas commander who ordered the invasion of Southern Israel killed by airstrike The commander of Hamas's Deir al-Balah Battalion of the Central Camps Brigade, Wael Asefa, was killed overnight Sunday by an Israeli airstrike, the IDF and Shin Bet announced Monday. The strike, which was conducted by an IAF fighter jet, operated on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence Directorate in carrying out the operation. The Israeli security apparatus said that Asefa was one of the commanders of the Central Camps Brigade who ordered the invasion of Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Stro[ into southern Israel on October 7. The Hamas leader planned subsequent attacks on Israel in the wake of the historic massacre. November 6: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Trump spars with NY judge while testifying in civil fraud case Former President Trump testified Monday during his civil fraud trial in New York City. The $250 million lawsuit was filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who ran for office promising to get Trump and who claims Trump and his co-defendants fraudulently inflated the worth of his assets on financial statements to get better deals on loans and insurance policies. James also wants to bar Trump and his adult sons, Erik and Donald Jr., from doing business in her state. During examination by NY prosecutor Kevin Wallace, Trump said the banks didn't really use his company's financial statements when deciding whether to give him loans. As …"This crazy trial goes along" we will bring in "the bankers. Very big bankers," Trump said, and "They will explain exactly what their process is." Trump also distanced himself from those statements, saying he left the details up to the accountants. Trump became a bit combative on the stand and criticized those bringing charges against him, saying "You and every other Democratic district attorney, AG, U.S. Attorney were coming after me from 15 different sides. All Democrats, all Trump haters," the former president said. The liberal judge, Arthur Engoron, admonished Trump saying he should give political speeches. Not deterred Trump continued to speak his mind while testifying, irking Engoron, who then urged Trump's attorney to "control your client." Trump also chastised Engoron several times pointing out that his 2014 financial statements were past the statute of limitations. After some back and forth between Engoron and Trump's lawyers, Trump stated: "This is a very unfair trial. I hope the public is watching." When asked about financial records in 2021 Trump pointed out that he was not involved because his holding were in a blind trust while he was President. After a lunch break, Trump was asked if he "maintained accurate books and records." Trump responded "I hope so, I didn't keep them myself. I hope so. I assume so. I have people. I pay them a lot of money, they're accountants. I assume they keep good records." November 5: News Max: IDF: Hamas using children as "human shields" while hiding The Israeli Defense Forces continue to expose the Hamas terrorists' plan to hide out in areas around children in order to blame Israel when innocent children are killed in the war, using children as human shields and foment worldwide scorn for the loss of innocent lives. The IDF shared videos showing a rocket launcher site at a children's playground and near a children's pool. "IDF soldiers continue to expose Hamas' exploitation of the civilian population – including children – for its terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip," the IDF wrote in a statement Sunday morning. "During fighting in the Gaza Strip, IDF soldiers are exposing how the Hamas terror organization systematically uses civilian facilities for its terror activity. "IDF soldiers located rocket launchers near a children's swimming pool, as well as launch pits and rocket launchers in an old children's playground in the Gaza Strip. This is further proof of Hamas' deliberate use of civilian infrastructure and civilians – including children – as human shields for its military operations." The IDF has warned mainstream media of the Hamas scheme after it waged a massive attack on Israel on Oct. 7, taking hostages from Israel and using them and the women and children of Gaza as human shields to protect it from Israel's retaliatory military operation to free the hostages. "All of this is in the heart of a residential neighborhood," a soldier explained in the video. Hamas has fired more than 8,000 rockets at Israeli civilians since Oct. 7. The Hamas terrorist plan to hide behind children is a long-running one, according to IDF spokesman Maj. Doron Spielman because it risks the lives on innocents and helps feed the worldwide media on a narrative that Israel is targeting children in its Gaza operation. November 5: One America News Network: As left wing activists in several states try to remove Trump from the ballot, the latest polls show him leading Biden in four swing states Former President Donald Trump maintains a lead over President Joe Biden in potential matchups among registered voters in four crucial swing states, as indicated by recent polling conducted by The New York Times and Siena College. If the election took place today, it appears that Trump would win by a landslide, amassing over 300 electoral votes. Data suggests a greater number of voters believe their financial situation would improve if Trump were to win in 2024, and a higher percentage of voters believe that Trump is better equipped to prevent the United States from becoming embroiled in a war. In hypothetical matchups, Trump holds 52% support compared to Biden's 41% in Nevada, a state that Biden narrowly won in the 2020 presidential election. In Georgia Trump appears to have a 49% to 43% advantage. Trump maintains a lead over Biden in Arizona, where he has 49% support, while the Biden sits at 44%. In Michigan, Trump holds a 5-point advantage, with 48% compared to Biden's 43%. The recent polling shows tighter results in two other pivotal swing states. In Pennsylvania, a state that Trump claimed in 2016 but Biden won back in 2020, Trump holds 48% support, while Biden stands at 44%. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Biden leads with 47%, with Trump closely behind at 45%, which falls well within the survey's margin of error. With approximately a year left until the general election, these polls provide insight into the current state of the electorate, demonstrating widespread discontentment with the Biden administration. Among registered voters in these six states, Trump is seen as having an advantage in handling the economy, immigration, national security, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict compared to Biden. November 5: The Daily Caller: NYC urging illegal aliens to leave the city, they're not moving New York City is trying to expel migrants by offering them plane tickets to leave for other states, or places outside of the country, but many of them don't want to leave, according to dozens of migrants. Migrants entering the reticketing center, which the city recently established to help migrants leave the area, said they don't want to go elsewhere because they came to New York City for the resources it provides as a sanctuary city. The reticketing center is located in the since-closed St. Brigid School in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where migrants can get a free, one-way ticket to the location of their choice provided by the city government. November 4: Fox News: Rep. Greene to Tlaib reintroduce censure legislation, removing "insurrection" language Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she plans to reintroduce a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over comments on the war in Gaza after her previous one failed to get enough votes in the House. "I'm reintroducing my censure resolution against Terrorist Tlaib," Greene wrote on Twitter. "I am removing 'insurrection' and replacing it with 'illegal occupation' on Oct 18th that broke the same federal laws as Jan 6 and led to hundreds of arrests and assaults on Cap Police." Greene was referring to a pro-Palestinian rally Tlaib attended during which activists took over much of the ground floor at the Cannon House Office Building. She added, "They censured Adam Schiff so they should be able to vote to censure her. We cannot stand by doing nothing while one of our colleagues calls for the genocide of our great friend and ally Israel. Terrorist Tlaib should be expelled but let's see if we can at least censure her." November 4: News Max: Burlison: Call Biden and Schumer's bluff on aid to Israel Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) says he would call President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer "on their bluff" for their refusal to agree to the House-passed bill that would send $14 billion, partially funded by money targeted for the Internal Revenue Service, to Israel. "Let's see you actually veto aid to Israel and tell the American people, explain to the American people that you care more about hiring 87,000 new IRS agents to audit the American people than you do about protecting peace in the Middle East," he said. "I would call their bluff on that." He added that he thinks House Speaker Mike Johnson was "absolutely right" with his call to separate funding for Israel from a $105 billion aid measure sought by Biden. "We're at this situation because of the failed policies of Joe Biden," Burlison said, adding that the Biden's policies to appease and placate Iran, and release sanctions "has only exacerbated the problem that we have in the Middle East." Iran "clearly took the money and took that economic benefit and their windfall, and they're funding terror," the congressman said. "All of this is at the feet of the Biden administration."  November 4: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Apollo 13 hero, Astronaut Ken Mattingly dies at age 87
According to NASA officials, astronaut and retired Navy Rear Admiral Ken 'TK' Mattingly, who is credited for leading the efforts to return the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft back to Earth safely, has died at the age of 87. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed Mattingly had died on Tuesday (October 31) in a Thursday news release shared on the agency's official website. "We lost one of our country's heroes on Oct. 31. NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history," Nelson said. Mattingly joined NASA in 1966 and helped in the development of the spacesuit and backpack worn by astronauts during the first Apollo moon missions. The Chicago native was supposed to join the Apollo 13 crew in piloting the command module, but was exposed to German measles and later worked with engineers and others to analyze the situation after the spacecraft's service module exploded, knocking out most of the ship's power and oxygen. The three Apollo 13 astronauts eventually crowded into a lander -- which was designed to hold only two people -- and used it as a lifeboat for four days as the aircraft traveled around the moon before making a safe return to Earth. November 3: The Galveston County Daily News: A look at the Supreme Court's docket past and present In its last session, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on many major cases that addressed elections; the rights of private businesses to refuse business when accepting the work would compromise strongly held religious beliefs; and the ability of colleges to use race-based quotas in determining admission policies. In the North Carolina election's case, the question was whether state legislatures have the sole power to determine how elections will be conducted. What wasn't answered by the SCOTUS decision was whether a governor or courts could act on their own without the consent of the legislature. In the current term, SCOTUS will address a South Carolina case where the state legislature established Congressional districts, not based upon race, but upon voting patterns where more "conservative" candidates might have an advantage. In this case the NAACP seeks to limit what they contend is gerrymandering that negatively impacts the voting power of minority voters. From the freedom of speech to the freedom to reject business based upon religious beliefs; from the legislatures' ability to establish voting districts to efforts to protect the rights of gun possession, we continue to see liberal activists assaulting Constitutionally guaranteed rights. We're hopeful SCOTUS will strike down these attacks. November 3: The New York Post: Hamas actively trying to stop Gaza residents attempting to flee, shooting women and children in the streets A horrifying new video purportedly shows at least a dozen Gaza residents shot dead in the streets by Hamas terrorists as they were attempting to flee from the north to the south of the Hamas-controlled region. In the video posted on Twitter, a man films the carnage as he rides a bicycle down the Al Rasheed beach road, crying out in anguish the camera focuses on the dead bodies, many of them lying in pools of blood. In a separate post, author and journalist Amjad Taha said the victims were among "dozens" killed by Hamas snipers, including women and children, because "they do not want citizens to leave." "They want to use them as human shields and will kill anyone who attempts to leave. Hamas terrorists in Gaza will, as usual, blame Israel because it is easy and there is media that accepts this propaganda," he wrote. Meanwhile Axios reports that Secretary of State Tony Blinken told his Israeli counterparts on Friday that agreeing to a humanitarian pause will help the U.S. fend off growing pressure it is facing over its support of Israel's operation in Gaza and in turn help Israel buy more time for its ground offensive, according to one U.S. and three Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the talks. It is unclear how pausing the Israeli response to Hamas' horrific invasion into southern Israel will help residents of Gaza, given the New York Post's report that Hamas snipers are killing civilians attempting to leave Gaza city. It is also clear from other reports that the Biden administration is attempting to walk a narrow line where Islamic voters in swing states such as Michigan are pressuring him to stop Israel from responding to the Hamas terrorist attack that killed thousands of men, women and children; some of whom were beheaded. Meanwhile the Biden administration continues to say it supports Israel's goal of dismantling Hamas' military capabilities but it is increasingly under pressure from some Democrats in Congress and its allies and partners in Arab countries to push for a ceasefire (an effort to stop the Israeli response) in Gaza. November 3: News Max: Trump gag order on hold while DC Circuit considers the order A federal appeals court temporarily lifted a gag order on Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case in Washington on Friday — the latest twist in the legal fight over the restrictions on the former president's speech. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision puts a hold on the limited gag order to give the judges time to consider Trump's request for a longer pause on the restrictions while his appeals play out. The appeals court said the temporary pause "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits" of Trump's bid. The court set oral arguments for Nov. 20 before a panel of three judges — all appointees of Democratic presidents. An attorney for Trump declined to comment on Friday. The gag order, imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, bars Trump from making public statements targeting prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses in the case accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden. It still allows the former president to assert his innocence and his claims that the case against him is politically motivated. This should not be confused with the separate, and possibly unconstitutional, gag order imposed on Trump in the civil trial by the New York judge. (See story below)  November 2: The Epoch Times: Trump attorney; not worried about jail time for the former president Alina Habba, attorney for former President Donald Trump, said jail time is "not even something we think about" as the trial against her client in New York heads into its fifth week. A New York judge had warned of "imprisonment" for violating a gag order he issued on Oct. 3. "Listen, he's protected by Secret Service, No. 1. No. 2, he did nothing wrong," Habba told Newsmax. "So, when people go to jail it's because they've done something wrong. Do we have crooked situations in and out of court? Absolutely. Could they try? Probably. But it won't work because there is still trial process. There is still facts, and unfortunately they're not going to win on the facts." Habba said the prosecutions are "all political" and President Trump hasn't committed any criminal acts or civil wrongs. "I'm not worried about him, he's not worried, and the American public shouldn't be worried." New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron is presiding over the trial. This judge has already shown his bias toward Trump and the Trump Organization saying they are liable for fraud prior to the trial starting. During a break on the second day of the trial Trump had called Justice Engoron "a very partisan judge, with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside of him, perhaps even much more partisan than he is." Trump's attorney's claim the former President was referring to Michael Cohen who had been a witness and had lied numerous times in previous trials and who had been called a "serial liar" in open court. The judge, however, called it a "blatant" violation of his gag order. There are some serious questions about the constitutionality of the judge's gag order and whether it violates Trump's first amendment right to freedom of speech. November 2: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Cornell university closes classes after students arrested for antisemitic threats Cornell University is canceling classes on Friday, November 3, in response to the arrest of a student for making violent and anti-Semitic threats. Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior at the university, was arrested for allegedly making several online posts over the weekend threatening to rape and kill Jewish students and their families. The graphic posts included threats to "shoot up" the school, "behead" babies in front of their parents, and "rape" female students before throwing them "off a cliff." Dai was charged in federal court with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications. Dai's threats left the Jewish community at the school on edge as anti-Israeli protests have popped up in cities around the world amid the war between Israel and Hamas. In a letter to students and faculty, Michael Kotlikoff, the vice president for student and campus life, and Christine Lovely, vice president, and chief human resources officer, said they hope the day off will give everybody a chance to relieve some of the "extraordinary stress" the campus has been under over the past few weeks. The email reportedly said, "No classes will be held, and faculty and staff will be excused from work, except for employees who provide essential services…We hope that everyone will use this restorative time to take care of yourselves and reflect on how we can nurture the kind of caring, mutually supportive community that we all value." November 2: One America News Network: Biden threatens to veto aid to Israel unless it also includes funding the Ukraine and the Gaza Strip While asserting that Joe Biden would veto the measure, the White House criticized an Israel standalone bill proposed by the House, claiming it would be "bad for Israel" and U.S. national security. On Tuesday, the announcement was made, stating that the $14.3 billion measure would reportedly decouple the administration's request for emergency financing, which included multi-billions for Ukraine and funding for Gaza. In a statement of administration policy on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, the Office of Management and Budget said that "this bill is bad for Israel, for the Middle East region, and for our own national security." It failed, however, to explain how it would be bad for Israel. Stripped from the bill was Biden's $106 billion request for humanitarian help for Palestinian civilians – more than seven times the amount requested for Israel – while the costs would be partially funded by reductions in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revenue allotted under Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.  November 2: The Israel Times: Israeli troops roll into Gaza City as ground campaign intensifies
Backed by punishing air power as well as naval backup, Israeli soldiers and armored columns pushed into Gaza City on Thursday, the military's chief of staff said, calling the advance "another significant stage in the war," and indicating Israel may soon allow long-sought fuel transfers to hospitals in the Strip. Conquering the city, Gaza's largest and a stronghold of the Strip's Hamas rulers, will be a daunting task for Israel's military, whose aspirations of ousting the terror group will force soldiers to fight through the crowded urban labyrinth thought awash with bombs and booby traps and undercut by a vast network of tunnels used by terrorists to ambush or surprise troops. In a statement from an Air Force base, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said troops have surrounded the city in the northern part of the strip from several directions. "We have advanced another significant stage in the war. The forces are in the heart of northern Gaza, operating in Gaza City, surrounding it, and deepening [the ground offensive] and its achievements," he said. The IDF said that around 130 Hamas terrorists were killed in gun battles with IDF soldiers Thursday afternoon and early evening. Twenty-seven days after Hamas terrorists carried out a massive deadly rampage through southern Israel, plunging the region into war. One rocket launched from Gaza hit a home in central Israel, causing heavy damage, but no injuries. Occupants had been sheltering in a safe room.  November 2: Fox News: Loudon Couty students walk out over schools transgender bathroom policy Students at a high school in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) walked out in protest of the district's gender policy that allows non-binary, gender-fluid and transgender students to use whatever school bathroom and locker room they want based on their "chosen gender." Around 50-100 students at Woodgrove High School participated in the walkout to protest Policy 8040, which the Loudoun County School Board implemented in 2021. The students said they wanted LCPS to revert to a policy that provided female and male-only spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms and showers. A female student told the local news outlet she stopped using the bathroom at school because of the policy, calling it a "massive safety risk" that LCPS doesn't "do anything about." "We express these concerns and they ignore us and write us off as right-wing crazies," she said. "We're not crazy. We just don't want to be in danger on a daily basis in this building. "I'm telling you right now half the women in this building feel the same way," she said. And boys also said they were uncomfortable changing in the school locker rooms after football games because "other genders" (a girl) might decide to come take a look see!  November 1: One America News Network: Comer; Biden received $40K in laundered money from China in 2017
On Wednesday, Comer (R-KY) released a memo by the House Oversight Committee stating the 2017 transfer from James Biden and his wife Sara to the 46th president allegedly involves the same business deal in which Joe Biden was called the "big guy" and penciled in for a 10% cut. This would be the first proven instance of the commander-in-chief receiving a piece of his family's foreign income. According to the Oversight committee, The $40,000 was transferred in a "complicated financial transaction" just weeks after first son Hunter Biden threatened his father's wrath in a text message to a CEFC employee on July 30th, 2017. On September 3rd, 2017, Joe Biden purportedly received a check labeled "loan repayment" from his younger brother, who collaborated with Hunter in the venture. In a video posted on Twiter, Comer said: "remember when Joe Biden told the American people that his son didn't make money in China?… Well, not only did he lie about his son Hunter making money in China, but it also turns out that $40,000 in laundered China money landed in Joe Biden's bank account in the form of a personal check." According to bank records obtained by Comer this year, CEFC paid Hunter and James Biden $6.1 million altogether from both 2017 and 2018. He also added that roughly $1 million was paid in March 2017, shortly after Biden left office as vice president. The remaining funds came within 10 days of Hunter's threat invoking his father. According to a committee description of the document, on August 8th, 2017, a $5 million wire was routed to "Hudson West III, a joint venture established by Hunter Biden and CEFC associate Gongwen Dong,". However, White House spokesman Ian Sams responded on Twitter that, "Comer's lies and conspiracy theories are getting more desperate by the day." November 1: The Washinton Examiner: Republicans defect; reject censure of Tlaib The House voted down a measure seeking to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), dealing a blow to conservative Republicans who sought to punish the Michigan Democrat over accusations of antisemitic behavior related to comments she made about Israel last month. Lawmakers voted 222-186 to table the motion, overcoming the simple majority vote needed to kill the vote on the House floor. The measure failed after 23 Republicans joined all Democrats in tabling the motion. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced the censure resolution last week that accuses Tlaib of displaying "antisemitic activity" and "leading an insurrection" at the Capitol, referring to a demonstration last week when pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside members' offices to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. More than 100 of the protesters were arrested, with a handful being charged with assaulting police officers, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. Some Republicans voted against the measure claiming Tlaib's actions did not lead to an "insurrection." The resolution was filed in response to comments made by Tlaib blaming Israel for a deadly airstrike at a Christian hospital in Gaza last month despite U.S. intelligence reports of evidence the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, Tlaib refused to walk back the comments, prompting pushback from her Republican colleagues. November 1: Fox News: Santos (R-NY) not removed from House after close vote Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., escaped being expelled from the House of Representatives Wednesday night after a group of his fellow New York Republicans spearheaded an effort to boot him. The final vote fell 213-179 against expelling Santos, with 19 lawmakers voting "present." Expelling a member of the House, something that is historically rare, requires a vote of two-thirds of all members present. Two dozen Republicans voted to expel Santos, while 31 Democrats voted to keep him in the House. "There's more Democrats in this body that believe in the rule of law than there are Republicans. That's what you should know," Santos told reporters after the vote. "I am fighting to clear my name. I am fighting for due process." The Republicans who led the expulsion effort were Anthony D'Esposito, (R-NY) Nick LaLota (R-NY) and Mike Lawler(NY). Santos spoke in his own defense earlier on the House floor, accusing the Republicans who moved against him of playing "judge, jury and executioner." November 1: The Daily Caller: Vance (R-OH); I will continue to object and hold up DOJ nominations over Trump indictments Sen. J.D. Vance said Wednesday he would continue to hold up nominations in the Department of Justice over the Biden administration's targeting of former President Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith secured a four-count indictment of Trump in August relating to his efforts to contest the results of the 2020 election, months after a federal grand jury issued a 37-count indictment against Trump in June based on an investigation into allegations surrounding classified documents. Some of Trump's top rivals for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, condemned the indictment as a weaponization of the Justice Department. "This whole policy that I've implemented on Department of Justice nominees is unprecedented," Vance said on the Senate floor, referencing a complaint by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman. "He mentions that we have, in the past, this body, before I got here, approved a number of Department of Justice nominees through unanimous consent. What the senator from Illinois doesn't mention, Madam President, is that in that time, when these nominations sailed through unanimous consent, the Department of Justice was not trying to throw the political rival of the president of the United States in prison." "I objected this because we are living in a banana republic, where the president is using his Department of Justice to go after his chief political rival, the person he will appear on the ballot with in about a year," Vance said. "If the Department of Justice will use these nominations for a law instead of politics, I am happy to end this whole policy. But so long as the Department of Justice uses its nominations and uses its personnel to go after its political opponents, from the president of the United States on down, I will object." November 1: The Epoch Times: Trump asks Michigan court to stop effort to keep him off the ballot Former President Donald Trump asked a Michigan court to declare that the Secretary of State has no right to ban him from the state ballot in the 2024 presidential race—pointing to his significant lead in GOP primary polls and considerable public support. "Despite President Trump's tremendous popularity, there are people who want to deny Michigan voters the opportunity to express their choice by voting for him," Trump lawyers wrote in an Oct. 30 filing at the Michigan Court of Claims. "To accomplish this, they want the Secretary of State to violate her duties and exercise powers she does not have to keep President Trump's name off of the ballot. And they want to use this Court as a vehicle to do it." The filing pointed out that President Trump is the "leading candidate" for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race. "According to recent polling, President Trump is leading nationally by an average over 46 points over the next nearest candidate for the Republican nomination. … In Michigan, a recent poll shows President Trump leading by 50 points." President Trump's campaign had sent a letter to Michigan's Democrat Secretary of State Joselyn Benson requesting her confirmation of his candidature in the 2024 elections, the filing stated. However, Ms. Benson failed to respond. "The Secretary's failure to respond is creating uncertainty, which impacts how President Trump will allocate resources. This uncertainty is compounded by the fact that Secretary Benson is an active member of the opposing major political party and has publicly weighed in with her negative views of President Trump." October 31: iHeartMedia/KTRH: House unveils bill to provide aid to Israel The Republicans have unveiled a bill to provide $14.3 billion in emergency aid to Israel in exchange for cutting the same amount from the IRS's budget. The House Rules Committee is expected to take up the bill on Wednesday (November 1) and could bring it to the floor of the House for a vote by the end of the week. If the bill does pass the House, it is likely dead-on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Democrats blasted GOP for making emergency aid for Israel a partisan issue. "Politicizing our national security interests is a nonstarter," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "Demanding offsets for meeting core national security needs of the United States—like supporting Israel and defending Ukraine from atrocities and Russian imperialism—would be a break with the normal, bipartisan process and could have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead." But the House is not refusing to take up finding for Ukraine, but instead it is separating the two allowing a separate vote on each. Additionally, the House is being responsible by reducing spending elsewhere (within the IRS) to cover the costs associated with giving help to Israel. Last week, Joe Biden requested the House pass a bill to provide $105 billion in emergency funding for Israel, Ukraine and aid for people living in Gaza, money for additional border agents, and aid to Taiwan. The lion's share of the funding in the Biden proposal would pay for non-Israeli assistance. October 31: Fox News: Director Ray, was asked if the United States safer under Biden? There was a long pause before he responded  all know… '…the terror threats have elevated…'" Scott wrote on Twitter, after the hearing. During the hearing, Wray warned that the threat of a terror attack against Americans has been raised to a "whole other level" due to ongoing conflict in Middle East. "The reality is that the terrorism threat has been elevated throughout 2023, but the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole other level," Wray said. He failed to mention the terrorists who have been caught trying to infiltrate the southern US border and the "get aways" who might also be terrorist.
Meanwhile the Epoch Times reported on October 31st that FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday told members of Congress that the Hamas–Israel war could spark attacks on targets within the United States, saying the Palestinian terrorist group could inspire ISIS-like threats. Mr. Wray said since the start of the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza earlier this month, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West, significantly raising the threat posed by what he described as homegrown extremists. "The actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago," But Wray told members of the Senate that currently, there is no information to indicate that Hamas "has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the U.S., though we cannot, and do not, discount that possibility." He reiterated previous claims that the most significant terrorism threat domestically is "posed by lone actors or small cells of individuals who typically radicalize violence online and who primarily use easily accessible weapons to attack soft targets." October 30: The Epoch Times: Federal Judge orders new Georgia voting maps for 2024 A federal judge ordered the Georgia legislature on Oct. 26 to create a total of eight new black-majority electoral districts for 2024 congressional and state elections by Dec. 8. The courts are now dealing with a torrent of litigation spurred by the Supreme Court's 5–4 decision in June in Allen v. Milligan. In that case, the conservative-dominated court unexpectedly stood behind its interpretation of the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA), rejecting Alabama's request to leave its legislature-approved electoral map in place. A court in Florida recently held that the Republican-controlled state legislature there illegally diluted the voting power of black residents. Other legal challenges to congressional districts are pending in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia found that the Georgia legislature drew up new districts in a racially discriminatory manner in violation of the VRA. After conducting what he called "a thorough and sifting review of the evidence in this case," Judge Jones directed the legislature to create one new black-majority congressional district, along with two new black-majority districts in the Georgia Senate and five new black-majority districts in the Georgia House of Representatives. The state's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives currently consists of nine Republicans and five Democrats. Both of the state's U.S. senators are Democrats. Republicans control both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. The state Senate has 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats. The state House has 102 Republicans and 78 Democrats. Judge Jones said if the legislature fails to act, he would carry out the map-drawing process himself. The ruling is likely to be appealed, in which case the federal appeals court may put the order on hold. If that happens, the districts as currently drawn may still be used in next year's elections. His ruling "in no way states or implies that the General Assembly or Georgia Republicans are racist." Judge Jones wrote. The VRA does not compel him to find that the maps under challenge were created to discriminate against black voters or that the legislature is racist, he wrote. "Nothing in this order should be construed to indicate otherwise," he added. October 30: Fox News: Biden official dogged by ethics probe faces key Senate vote over taxpayer-funded salary A top Biden administration official overseeing a key part of the White House's climate agenda, but who is facing a Congressional ethics prove, may soon have her entire taxpayer-funded salary stripped. The Senate is set to vote this week on an amendment introduced late last month by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), ranking minority member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Cynthia Lummis (R-WYO) which would defund Ann Carlson, who is serving as the acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a Transportation Department subagency. Carlson continues to lead NHTSA despite failing to clear the Senate confirmation process for the position earlier this year. The White House ultimately pulled her name for NHTSA administrator in May after Cruz led opposition to her nomination in response to ethics concerns related to her environmental activism and involvement in recruiting donors for a law firm leading high-profile climate litigation against oil companies.  October 30: One America News Network:Judge blocks Biden Administration from removing Texas razor wire installed on TX-Mexican border A Texas judge has temporarily barred the Biden administration from taking down razor wire along the U.S.-Mexican border that was installed by the Texas governor's office to prevent immigrants from crossing the border illegally. In certain cases, the U.S. Border Patrol has maintained that cutting the wire is necessary to save the lives of illegal immigrants who are in danger of drowning or dehydration. In September, Eagle Pass, Texas, became the hub of a wave of migrant arrivals, and agents began routinely slicing through layers of razor wire there. Judge Alia Moses of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas decided on Monday that the wire is Texas' "property," showing favor to Texas' lawsuit to stop the Border Patrol agents from cutting it. However, the restraining order to stop wire cutting is temporary and will only be in place until November 13th so that both sides can present arguments in court. In her opinion, Moses said she will need to consider the property rights of those consenting to have wire placed on their land, which is Texas's right to assist those property owners. She also said that the Biden administration has "responsibilities over national security and border security, and its powers to effectuate its duties, up to and including the destruction of private or state property."  October 30: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Israel says ground offensive expected to intensify as release of hostages breaks down The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) says it will continue to intensify its ground operation in Gaza as the war with Hamas enters its fourth week. Israel said it killed dozens of Hamas fighters as it moved into northern Gaza overnight on Sunday. Those attacks also killed four senior Hamas commanders, Israeli officials said. The war has displaced more than one million in Gaza as residents have fled south amid warnings from Israel to evacuate. Over 8,000 Palestinians and roughly 1,400 Israelis have been killed since the war started. Meanwhile, talks to free some of the 239 hostages held by Hamas have stalled over the weekend as the terror group demanded additional fuel shipments. "Talks were going very well on Thursday, and negotiators were hopeful a deal could be reached over the weekend," a diplomat with knowledge said. "But differences emerged early Friday, which led to talks stalling." Hamas has said it would release all of the hostages if Israel agrees to release all of its Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has released just four hostages since capturing over 200 people during their initial attacks on October 7. October 29: The Times of Israel: IDF says troops killed terrorists on Mediterranean beaches The Israel Defense Forces says troops have killed a number of Palestinian terrorists during clashes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. In one incident, a number of Hamas operatives exited a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip, close to the Erez Crossing, and clashed with IDF forces. The IDF says the troops killed several of the terrorists and wounded others. Several more Palestinian gunmen were killed in other nearby battles, the IDF adds. Additionally, the IDF says ground forces directed the Air Force to carry out drone strikes against two Hamas staging grounds, killing several operatives. The IDF says troops killed a number of Hamas gunmen who opened fire at the ground forces in the Strip, and other terrorists identified on the beach in Gaza, near the southern Israel community of Zikim.  October 29: Axios.com: Behind the curtain; the horror show for Joe Biden
Joe Biden's White House is stuck in a split-screen reality — spiraling war threats overseas and spiraling political problems at home. Both are horror shows for re-election. Top officials believe Biden has been at his best in managing the early days of the Israeli-Hamas war. But they privately concede things have never been worse politically since the 80-year-old took office. It's hard to see how to brighten his public image on issues haunting the American public — crime, immigration, inflation, race, trust. And now with two divisive wars America didn't start. Biden is tied or trailing former President Trump nationally and in swing states even though Trump has been indicted four times on 91 felony counts and is spending many days in court. As much as the leftist justices make decisions meant to push him down, Trump keeps popping up and increasing his support. Meanwhile Biden gets crushed on his handling of immigration, crime and inflation — none of which will likely turn around in time to put a new spring in his step. It's not death by one issue, but by half a dozen hitting at once. Many of Biden's own voters don't want him to run — a daunting design flaw for a re-election campaign. His popularity with his own supporters hit a new low in a poll this past week. Democrats are divided over Israel and Election Day is just 53 weeks away. For him, much of his core constituency is unlikely to vote for Trump. But Democrats are concerned about a combination of voters staying home or backing a third-party candidate like Robert Kennedy Jr. Some pitfalls lie ahead. There are no big new ideas that Congress could pass to move the needle in Biden's favor. "Bidenomics" has been a political flop. So have others. That leaves only a hatred of Trump as a motivator for Biden's voters. His campaign has spent $10 million on TV ads and yet to date the polls have not moved in Biden's favor, if anything they have gone south. Added to this is Biden's slipping and drawing blanks while speaking and his prospects are looking bleak. October 28: News Max: Israel spokesperson; "Don't try us, Don't test us!" Israel is sending a stern message to the world and the Middle East in its operation to dismantle the Hamas terrorist group, according to government spokeswoman Tal Heinrich. "Don't try us, don't test us, because we will react decisively," Heinrich said. This is not a war Israel sought, but it is one that Israel will finish, Heinrich contended. "It's disheartening, it's outrageous that there are people out there casting doubt about the magnitude of and the brutality of these atrocities that Hamas has carried out." Israel has shown videos and photos of Hamas terrorist acts on Israelis, including to the United Nations, because the wrong message is being shared around the world about Israel's actions on Gaza. "It's important that people understand that they turned people into ashes and chopped body parts of families before they shot them, fired indiscriminately inside of a pit of partygoers who were trying to defend themselves," she said. "It is very important that the world understand what happened here [and what] …Israel is dealing with." October 28: Sky News: Israeli forces enter Gaza but this time it's different The latest ground incursion into Gaza by Israeli troops has an important distinction from previous attacks. This time the soldiers didn't immediately pull out after launching attacks. Instead, they are "continuing the war" inside the northern part of the enclave in an expansion of Israel's ground operation. The move is different to a large-scale ground assault but it is still an invasion of sorts while Israeli troops are inside the Palestinian enclave. That the offensive seems to be more limited - although it is impossible to know for sure – and signals a tactic that for now potentially favors smaller incursions, coupled with powerful airstrikes, rather than pushing ahead immediately with a huge ground maneuver - if that is ever going to materialize at all. Of course, this could change within hours as uncertainty is another deliberate ploy that Israel is using to make its operation harder for Hamas to be able to predict and defend against. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and to rescue more than 220 hostages taken captive by the militant group in the terror attack on 7 October that triggered the war. But commanders have also said that this time they would be attacking in different ways to how previous conflicts with Hamas have unfolded.  October 27: The Daily Caller: FBI Headquarters Stonewalled Investigative Activity On Hunter Biden Ties To Ukraine The FBI used administrative maneuvers to stonewall investigative activity surrounding Ukraine and Hunter Biden's ties to Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott Brady testified to the House Judiciary Committee. According to his testimony, FBI headquarters allegedly micromanaged the investigative process to slow-walk Brady's attempt at vetting information related to corruption in Ukraine and Hunter Biden's business relationship with Burisma, resulting in significant delays to vetting activity assigned to Brady by then-Attorney General Bill Barr. "I think there was reluctance on the part of the FBI to really do any tasking related to our assignment from DAG Rosen and looking into allegations of Ukrainian corruption broadly and then specifically anything that intersected with Hunter Biden and his role in Burisma. It was very challenging," Brady stated. October 27: The New York Post: Hamas victims speak out about Palestinian protests in the US Survivors of the Hamas terror attack have spoken out against the "ignorant" pro-Palestinian protests erupting across US cities and college campuses — and fear it could be the beginning of something worse. "I opened a newspaper and on the second page I saw a sign on a store saying 'no Jews are allowed,'" Maya Parizer, 27, told The Post. Parizer recently arrived in the US after escaping the Nova Music Festival massacre, where Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 200 innocent revelers on Oct. 7. "For me, it brings me back to the days of the Holocaust, where it started on small things but then the hate crimes just grew bigger," she said. Parizer was partying with friends at the festival in Re'im, Israel, not far from the Gaza border when the Iran-backed terrorists attacked.  October 27: The Epoch Times: No more IRS surprise visits to unsuspecting taxpayers
The "weaponization" subcommittee in Congress said in a new report that the IRS decided to end its policy of "abusive" surprise visits to taxpayers' homes due to pressure from the panel. "The Committee's and Select Subcommittee's oversight revealed, and led to the swift end of, the IRS's weaponization of unannounced field visits to harass, intimidate, and target taxpayers," the report states. which was released by the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Oct. 27. "Taxpayers can now rest assured the IRS will not come knocking without providing prior notice—something that should have been the IRS's practice all along," the report adds. The IRS did not immediately respond to a query from The Epoch Times as to the degree to which pressure from the "weaponization" subcommittee weighed on the agency's decision to do away with the unannounced field visit policy. In July, when the IRS announced it was putting an end to most unannounced agent visits to Americans' homes, the agency cited security concerns regarding both agency field officers as well as taxpayers. October 26: News Max: Federal prosecutors seek to reinstate gag order on Trump Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to reinstate a gag order on Donald Trump, citing recent social media posts about the former president's chief of staff that they said represented an attempt to influence and intimidate a foreseeable witness in the case. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the federal case charging Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, last week temporarily paused her order barring Trump from making comments about prosecutors, court staff and potential witnesses. The ruling came as Trump's lawyers challenged the limited gag order in higher courts. In a motion filed Wednesday night, special counsel Jack Smith's team encouraged Chutkan to put the restrictions back in place. Apparently, they will do anything to shut Trump up! Prosecutors cited in part statements in social media and at a news conference over the last day by Trump about his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who was reported by ABC News on Tuesday to have testified before a grand jury after receiving immunity from prosecution. October 26: iHeart Media/KTRH Radio News: US House back in action as new Speaker selected After more than three weeks of infighting, House Republicans have finally picked a new Speaker of the House. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) managed to secure enough votes to win the gavel on Wednesday (October 25). He defeated the Democratic nominee, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, by a vote of 220-209. The Republican caucus was thrown into chaos when Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) led a group of hardline conservatives to force out Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) after he pushed through another continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government and avoid a government shutdown. Republicans will now move forward trying to pass bills to fund the government by November 17. The House also has to take up bills to provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. According to CNN, Johnson said that his goal is to vote on a series of separate funding bills but is prepared to allow another short-term funding measure to keep the government open through January 15th or April 15 if that process stalls. October 26: Fox News: "Squad" members in hot water for refusing to condemn the Hamas terror attacks on Israel Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) skewered the House Democrats who refused to vote to condemn Hamas and affirm U.S. support for Israel. The chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee said Thursday that it was a "complete disgrace" for the far-left "Squad" members and other Democrats not to support the resolution. "Those nine Democrats are a complete disgrace. Cori Bush comes from my home state. She advocates for defunding the police. The city she represents, in my home state, per capita, has more murders than anywhere else in the United States. These people are not rational. They want to destroy our society and they promote propaganda that is as fake news as you possibly can find. The fact that they're harboring and supporting terrorists who have killed more Jewish people since the Holocaust is absolutely unacceptable and these people do not deserve to serve in the halls of Congress," Smith said. October 25: The Washington Examiner: ACLU sides with Trump; calling federal gag order overly broad and unconstitutional The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the most vocal critics of Donald Trump during his four years in the Oval Office, is now siding with the former president's position that a gag order against him is "unconstitutionally overbroad ."The ACLU on Wednesday argued that U.S. District Judge Tamya Chutkan infringed on Trump's First Amendment rights and the public's right to listen to him when she issued the order earlier this month. Chutkan is presiding over the criminal case special counsel Jack Smith is pushing against Trump over alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. "Former President, and now Defendant, Donald Trump has said many things," the ACLU and its Washington, D.C., affiliate wrote in an amicus brief at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. "Much that he has said has been patently false and has caused great harm to countless individuals, as well as to the Republic itself. Some of his words and actions have led him to this criminal indictment, which alleges grave wrongdoing in contempt of the peaceful transition of power." "But Trump retains a First Amendment right to speak, and the rest of us retain a right to hear what he has to say," the brief added. October 25: Breitbart News: Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) elected Speaker of the House with 100% GOP support Mike Johnson, a 4th term conservative and vice chair of the House GOP conference has won the House Speaker's gavel with the support of all of his GOP members. The newly elected Speaker said there are no coincidences in life, acknowledging the providence of God that played a key role in his victory. Johnson promised to pass a bill to provide additional funds for Israel's defense against the Hamas terror organization saying "The first bill that I'm gonna bring to this floor in just a little while will be in support of our dear, dear friend Israel, and we're overdue. And given that, we're going to show not only Israel but the entire world that the barbarism of Hamas that we have all seen play out on our television screens is wretched and wrong. And we're going to stand for the good in that conflict." October 25: The Daily Mail: Judge fines Trump a second time for exercising his 1st Amendment rights while Cohen admits Trump did not ask him to inflate the value of his property holdings Donald Trump abruptly got up and left his $250million fraud trial after a series of legal blows that saw the left wing judge fine him a second time for violating the his gag order and denying the motion for a directed verdict following Michael Cohen testify that Trump had actually not directed him to inflate the value of his property. The admission by Cohen -- which contradicts his earlier testimony - prompted Trump's defense attorney Clifford Robert to ask for a directed verdict, arguing that his statement was grounds for dismissal. Left wing Judge Arthur Engoron said it was 'absolutely denied' and that the case had 'evidence all over the place.' He also said he did not consider Cohen a 'key witness'. This is the same judge who prior to the case going to trial made the statement that Trump had inflated the value of his holdings in order to obtain more favorable loan terms – a statement that indicates he has already made a decision about the outcome of the case and which could lead an impartial observer to believe he has a bias against the defendant (Trump).  October 25: The Daily Caller: Biden Admin out of bullets as gasoline prices expected to rise to $5 per gallon and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has already been drained Some officials within the Biden administration reportedly fear the possible return of high gas prices, especially given their decision to release huge quantities of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in 2021 and 2022, The New York Times reported. Biden administration officials are sensitive to the possibility that gas prices could exceed $5 per-gallon again, which occurred briefly in 2022. The administration tapped into the SPR to bring down prices then, but they have not offset those releases, and the steps taken to bring down gas prices in 2022 may not work as effectively this time around in the event of a fresh price shock. "They succeeded last year in the second half, but this year I think they've kind of run out of bullets," Amrita Sen, director of research at Energy Aspects, said of the administration's SPR drawdowns. "They got a little overconfident that prices would stay low," she continued, adding that "in some ways, they've missed the boat." October 24: The Times of Israel: Hamas terrorist attempt to infiltrate Israel from the Med; stopped cold by Israeli naval forces A number of Hamas terrorists attempted to infiltrate into Israel from the Gaza Strip via the sea on Tuesday evening and were killed by Israeli Navy forces, the military said. The IDF did not specify how many Hamas divers attempted to infiltrate into Israel. Hebrew-language media reports put the number at between five and eight. During the incident, an alarm signifying a suspected infiltration sounded in the border communities of Zikim and Karmia, which have largely been evacuated since Hamas's deadly assault on southern Israel on October 7. Only a few essential personnel and local security teams remain in the area, which has been declared a closed military zone. The IDF said a fighter jet also carried out an airstrike against a compound from which the terrorists set out. Meanwhile an IDF spokesman said Israeli naval forces continue to search for any additional terrorist who may be in the area.  October 24: The NY Post: Israeli hostage; What's in really like to live in underground tunnels in Gaza In the midst of massacres and kidnappings, an 85-year-old Israeli grandmother abducted and freed by Hamas terrorists has revealed what it was like being held in the terrifying maze of tunnels under Gaza. Kibbutz resident Yocheved Lifshitz, one of an estimated 220 hostages who was taken violently by Hamas on October 7th, endured a nightmarish two weeks as a prisoner in what she called a "spider's web" of tunnels underneath the Gaza Strip before being released late Monday with another woman, 79-year-old Nurit Cooper. "I've been through hell," she said, nearly whispering while talking to reporters at Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv. "They brought us to the entrance to the tunnels. We arrived in the tunnel and walked for kilometers on wet dirt," she added. "There is a giant system of tunnels, like spider's webs." Hamas' vast matrix of tunnels comprises stuffy, narrow, labyrinthine passages with little oxygen. Military experts say Israel is at a disadvantage when it comes to facing off against Hamas underground, where Israel's technological superiority can't help. "It's like being underwater," said retired US Army Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz, who ran US security coordination in Israel and the Palestinian Authority from 2019 through 2021. "I have been in the tunnels, and once you go down, you very quickly lose all sense of direction and all sense of time," said Daphné Richemond-Barak, an assistant professor at Israel's Reichman University who founded the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare and is considered to have written the most comprehensive book on the subject. "The consensus is that you only really send your soldiers in the tunnel as a measure of last resort, maybe to get hostages." October 23: One America News Network: Crowds cheer as Trump personally goes to NH to place his name on ballot for President Former President Donald Trump formally filed for the New Hampshire primary Monday ahead of a speech in Derry. Supporters lined up at the airport and the statehouse to greet the 45th president and Republican frontrunner as he officially signed papers to be added to the first in the nation primary ballot. "This is a very important place, a very important state," Trump said at the statehouse. "We're only 46 points up so we have to be careful," Trump continued with a chuckle as he signed. Real Clear Politics polling average shows Trump leading in the Granite State by more than 30%. After filing the necessary paperwork, the 45th president reiterated his commitment to keeping New Hampshire as the first in the nation primary state. "Democrats do not want to keep New Hampshire in this position," Trump said. "And I did. And we did that together." Candidates have until October 27th to officially sign up. October 23: News Max: GOP House wants answers about possible US weapons in the hands of Hamas First reported in the Washington Examiner, the Republican House is asking for a briefing about how closely the Department of Defense is monitoring the flow of U.S. weaponry to Hamas and used in their terrorist onslaught against key ally Israel. The inquiry, authored by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) asks Austin to appear on Capitol Hill next Monday amid reports that U.S. arms are making their way into the hands of terrorists from Afghanistan and the battlefields in Ukraine. [Is that what happens when you botch a withdrawal from Afghanistan?] "The Committee has seen reports that U.S.-manufactured weapons are being redistributed and resold in secondary markets to terrorist organizations, including Hamas," Comer and Greene contend. October 23: Fox News: What Captured Hamas terrorist told his Israeli interrogators; Pure Evil Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst offered a harrowing report about what a detained Hamas terrorist told Israeli interrogators regarding the heinous acts committed against his victims. On Saturday, Yingst detailed a video obtained of an interrogation of a terrorist who participated in the Oct. 7 attack. "In the video, he [the Hamas terrorist] describes the preparation and coordination for this assault on southern Israel," Yingst said. "He talks about a Telegram group that Hamas fighters had, and they were communicating as the massacre took place, sending videos as they got them, as they were killing civilians in their homes." "And this interrogator asks him about Islam and [the terrorist] acknowledges that in the religion, you are told not to kill women, children and elderly people, but he describes what Hamas commanders told them to do. He says that commanders said they could do whatever they felt like doing and that this was a suicide mission, telling them they should not plan on coming back." According to the interrogation exchange, the Hamas terrorist said commanders told them to "step on the heads of civilians, to behead them and do whatever they felt like."  October 22: Breitbart News: Thousands of anti-semantic pro-Hamas demonstrators pack NYC streets; told to disperse Thousands of anti-Israel protestors sparked mayhem across Brooklyn streets Saturday night, clashing with New York's finest after being told repeatedly to disperse. NYPD officers pushed back protesters and ordered them out of the roadway. The rally continued into the night with tensions eventually flaring between officers and demonstrators. Police say more than a dozen people were taken into custody. Various reports said police were trying to usher protesters out of a intersection where they had shut down traffic, during which an unspecified number of pro-Palestinians were taken into custody. Several peace officers were reportedly seen fighting back against protesters in the chaos, which came after ralliers gathered to demand the U.S. end support for Israel. Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, much of the group refused to comply with police demands. One source said the protestors apparently weren't concerned at the death and destruction caused by the unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. October 22: The Israel Times: IDF retaliatory strikes on Syria knocks out Damascus and other airports Syria's state-run media said Sunday that Israeli planes carried out strikes on airports in Aleppo and Damascus, knocking both out of service, marking the third such attack in 10 days. Reportedly one civilian worker was killed and another wounded in the strike on the Damascus airport. Runways in both airports were damaged, causing all flights in and out of both airports to be canceled or diverted to an airport in coastal Latakia. Official notices to international aviation authorities, known as NOTAMs, indicated that the runways would be unusable for at least two days. The attacks were carried out, apparently, in an effort to stem the flow of weapons into Syria that could be used to attack Israel.  October 22: Fox News: SecDef bolsters regional deterrence efforts, moves warships and increased forces in the Mid East Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the DOD's plan on Saturday evening to further "bolster regional deterrence efforts" in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, reiterating the department's defense of Israel. In a press release, the secretary said that the plan comes following "detailed discussions." He said the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which was recently moved to the Eastern Mediterranean following the unprecedented assault on Israel from Hamas terrorists. Austin said the warships will "further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond." Austin said that the DOD has deployed their anti-ballistic missile defense system, called the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery, as well as additional Patriot battalions "throughout the region." October 21: The Washington Examiner: Israel threatens to attack Iran if Hezbollah enters the conflict Israel has vowed to launch a military attack against Iran, "the head of the snake", if Hezbollah enters the war with Hamas. Nir Barkat, Israel's minister of economy, warned that they would "eliminate Hezbollah" if the Iranian-backed Lebanese group opened up a second, northern front in the war, but he added "we will actually target Iran." "The plan of Iran is to attack Israel on all fronts," Barkat said. "If we find they intend to target Israel, we will not just retaliate to those fronts, but we will go to the head of the snake, which is Iran. "The Ayatollahs in Iran are not going to sleep good at night, we are going to make sure they pay a heavy price if, God forbid, they open the northern front." October 21: The Daily Caller: Progressive Georgia DA offering plea deals to Trump co-defendants in effort to bag the "Real Target" Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis avoided the strategic disadvantage of having to preview her case against former President Donald Trump when two co-defendants accepted last-minute plea deals ahead of their scheduled trial this week, legal experts reportedly disclosed. Attorneys Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, the two co-defendants in Trump's Georgia 2020 election case who requested speedy trials that were scheduled to start Monday, accepted plea deals this week, halting a trial that would have allowed Trump's defense team to see some of Willis' evidence ahead of time. For Willis, who pushed hard to get all defendants tried on the same date, plea deals mean she won't be forced to provide a "free look" next week at how she intends to try the case, legal experts contend. "She really wanted this upcoming trial in October to not happen because she did not want to reveal her playbook, so to speak, to the primary defendants: Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and the others," Georgia-based criminal defense attorney and legal analyst Philip Holloway said. "If there had been a trial of Kenneth Chesebro, it would have been the first time any prosecutor in the multiple cases against Trump has had to prove their case, rather than making allegations in an indictment," Cornell Law School professor William A. Jacobson said. "Such a trial would have signaled to the public how strong the evidence was [or was not] against Trump, and also would have given the Trump defense a chance to preview the prosecution's case against him." October 21: One America News Network: Coke quietly deletes BLM support from its Website; Cruz calls them out for pro-Hamas post Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed Coca-Cola on his podcast this week for supporting Black Lives Matter after the organization's Chicago chapter uploaded a photo of a paraglider with the slogan "I stand with Palestine" in a now-deleted Twitter post. Following the October 18th broadcast of The Verdict with Ted Cruz, Coca-Cola removed its language from its website the following morning. "Earlier this month, Sprite announced a $500,000 contribution to the Black Lives Matter Global Network in a social post committing action in the fight for racial justice," Cruz said. "On June 28, the brand debuted a new TV commercial during the 2020 BET Awards telecast showcasing Black America's resilience, excellence and optimism. The 60-second spot titled 'Dreams Realized' emphasizes Sprite's commitment to making young Black creators' dreams a reality and to inspire the next generation to do more and dream bigger," a web archive version of the website read. Cruz then demanded an apology and that the company take responsibility for it's actions. October 20: The Washington Times: Investigators reveal that Joe Biden pocketed $200K from brother's business deal House investigators say they have obtained bank records showing Joe Biden received a direct payment of $200,000 after his brother James Biden secured a business deal with a rural hospital operator. The money from Biden 's younger brother was provided in the form of a personal check in 2018, between the time Biden left the vice presidency and when he announced he was running for president. The check had a notation "loan repayment." The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has been scouring bank records to connect payments to Biden, who, according to witnesses, played at least an inactive role in helping his family secure lucrative business deals. James Biden received $600,000 in loans from Americore, a struggling rural hospital operator, by promising the Biden name could "open doors" and help obtain a large investment in the Middle East, according to court records.  October 20: The Daily Mail: Israel prepares for invasion of Gaza with tanks, armored bulldozers, and hundreds of thousands of troops Reservists are among the 370,000 volunteers who abandoned their day jobs – and their cars -- outside army bases as they report for duty. Both the people of Israel and of Gaza are braced for mass bloodshed as the former vows to punish Hamas by land, air and sea. Meanwhile the final preparations for the 'Swords of Iron' invasion of Gaza – with tanks, troops and fearsome armored bulldozers -- amass for the onslaught. The mighty Caterpillar D9R, nicknamed 'Doobi', which means 'teddy bear' in Hebrew, is designed to smash fences and take on the maze of narrow streets, vast tunnel networks, booby traps and sniper positions that await Israeli troops.  October 20: One America News Network: Hamas reportedly releases two U.S. hostages On Friday, through the messenger app Telegram, the terrorist organization announced that two American hostages, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were being released on "humanitarian grounds." A source familiar with the situation said the mother is in poor health. "In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," the terrorist group said in a statement. Sources close to the situation said the newly released mother and daughter are currently in the care of the Red Cross. The mother-daughter duo, from a city outside of Chicago, were in Israel to celebrate a relative's 85th birthday. The newly graduated 18-year-old and her mother were celebrating the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah at Kibbutz Nahal Oz when they were taken hostage. Hamas is believed to have at least 200 hostages in their possession at this time. Many hostages have already been pronounced dead. October 19: The Texas Tribune: Texas Secretary of State releases audit of Harris County 2022 election A preliminary report from the Texas Secretary of State's office found the Harris County's 2022 election administration had "multiple failures" that could have prevented some voters from casting a ballot. The first draft of the audit, which was released Thursday afternoon, days before early voting for constitutional amendments is set to start across the state, reaffirmed the county failed to supply its voting centers with enough paper ballots. It also found its voter registration system listed 9,000 more voters than were recorded with the state and that 3,600 mail ballots were sent to voters that were not reported to the state. The county — the nation's third most populous — also failed to adequately train election workers, the audit stated. "Harris County clearly had multiple failures conducting the election and violated election law for estimating needed ballot paper. Mistakes like these led to a poorly executed election which left many Harris County residents frustrated and may have prevented them from voting," Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a statement. "It is important to talk about these issues now in order to address them before the 2024 election cycle." October19: Fox News: White House berated for posting photos of U.S. special forces in Israel; not taking personal security of troops into account The White House took serious heat on social media Thursday for posting an image of Joe Biden meeting with U.S. troops in Israel without obscuring their identities. Though the White House account deleted the photo soon after sharing it on Instagram, Twitter users ripped Biden's team for the dangerous mistake, accusing the administration of "compromising" the troops' identities while they were in Israel defending U.S. interests in wake of Hamas' terrorist attack on the U.S. allied country. Journalist Sam Shoemate shared an edited image of the Twitter post, claiming that the White House shared it without obscuring the faces of what appeared to be special forces on Wednesday night. October 19: The Epoch Times: Senate Dems push for Supreme Court Term Limits A group of Senate Democrats proposed limiting Supreme Court justices' terms to 18 years in order to "ensure the Court is more accountable to the American people." Announced on Oct. 19, the bill would require the president to appoint a new justice every two years with each losing their ability after 18 years to hear cases on the appellate docket, which is where most of the Court's major cases (e.g. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health and Roe v. Wade) have historically originated. After 18 years, justices would still be able to hear the much smaller subset of cases that are part of their original jurisdiction. [Editorial Comment: But this begs the question, if they are for term limits, why limit it to just SCOTUS? Why not have it apply to all federal court justices? And while you're at it, why not have it apply to members of Congress as well? Of course, they are probably not interested in going that far. After all it always depends upon who's affected and having it apply to them is going too far!] Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who authored the legislation, has denounced an "organized scheme by right-wing special interests to capture and control the Supreme Court, aided by gobs of billionaire dark money flowing through the confirmation process and judicial lobbying, has resulted in an unaccountable Court out of step with the American people." Term limits and biennial appointments," he contends, "would make the Court more representative of the public and lower the stakes of each justice's appointment, while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence." October 19: The Washington Free Beacon: Coalition of 26 Black Lives Matter chapters calls Hamas attack on Israel a "desperate act of self-defense" A coalition of 26 local chapters of Black Lives Matter called the attacks a "desperate act of self-defense." The Chicago chapter shared an image glorifying Hamas gunman on paragliders, before walking it back amid blowback. And the movement's Phoenix branch praised Hamas "freedom fighters" for their acts of "resistance." Echoing this rhetoric are two Hamas-friendly groups—American Muslims for Palestine and the Council for American-Islamic Relations—that have for nearly a decade worked arm-in-arm with the Black Lives Matter organization to plan rallies and lobby lawmakers. According to Mike Gonzalez of the Heritage Foundation, the groups are united by an "oppressed-oppressor narrative that helps them destroy society." "They hate the West. Jerusalem is one of the founding blocks of Western thought, so if they're going to hate the West they have to hate Israel," he said.  October 18: Jerusalem Post:IDF confirms Islamic Jihad rocket misfired and hit a hospital in the Gaza Strip The IDF confirmed late Tuesday night that a Palestinian Islamic Jihad failed rocket attack damaged a Gaza hospital, leading to a still-unclear number of deaths. The army spokesperson gave a press conference declaring that "an analysis of IDF operational systems indicates a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity, to the hospital at the time it was hit. Intelligence from a few sources that we have in our hands indicates that the Islamic Jihad is responsible." The office also told Israeli media that Israel is in possession of audio recordings in which Islamic Jihad members say out loud that they are responsible for the explosion. "At around 19:00 this evening, a failed rocket launch was shown live on air on Al Jazeera. The rocket was launched and fell in Gaza causing an explosion," said Yair Lapid on Twitter. October 17: Fox News: Lebanese protestors descends upon the U.S. and French embassies over Hamas rocket that hits a hospital in Gaza Protesters in Lebanon descended on the U.S. and French embassies in Beirut voicing anger over a rocket that hit a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, reportedly killing hundreds of people. Around 1,000 protesters gathered and carried Palestinian flags. Tear gas was fired near the building. The demonstration was mainly driven by a statement from Hezbollah, a political party and Iran-backed terrorist group, which told people around the Arab world to protest in front of Israeli embassies. Since Israel doesn't maintain an embassy in Lebanon, protesters gathered in front of the U.S. and French embassies, as they believe the Biden administration and French President Emmanuel Macron are in part responsible for the airstrikes in Gaza by providing Israel with military aid. Pro-Palestinian supporters mixed with supporters of Hezbollah in marches and both embassies were attacked by rioters, sources say. No injuries have yet been reported. Hamas claims the Israeli military targeted the hospital, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) determined the Islamic Jihad terrorist group is responsible. October 17: The Jerusalem Post: The next stage of fighting in the Gaza Strip may not be a ground offensive The Israeli military is getting ready for the next phase of its campaign against the Gaza Strip but plans may not conform to the widespread expectations of an imminent ground offensive. We are preparing for the next stages of war. We haven't said what they will be. Everybody's talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different," Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters at a recent briefing. Hecht's comments came as Israeli forces continue to prepare to expand the offensive against Hamas after its deadly assault on Southern Israel. As the region and the world continues to wait to see how the IDF will move forward, analysts and leaders have noted a series of challenges a ground offensive would face and have warned that Israel must think of what to do after 'defanging' Hamas. Former CIA director and retired US Army Gen. David Petraeus noted in an interview on Monday that Gaza City is similar in size to Mosul, Iraq, which was an ISIS stronghold, and that Israel could face similar challenges if it enters Gaza. October 17: The Washington Examiner: House GOP calls it a night as Jordan fails to get support from far right in his quest to become Speaker With his speaker's bid in limbo, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) scrambled Tuesday afternoon to garner more support, but he ultimately delayed the second vote until Wednesday, a sign that he is struggling to gain additional votes. Jordan failed to get the 217 votes necessary to become speaker on the first ballot after 20 Republicans voted against him. The Ohio Republican then spent the hours after the failed vote trying to game-plan a way to win over the holdouts. "I fully expect the D.C. cartel to increase their no votes against Jim Jordan tomorrow because they are being hammered by the K Street lobbyists," Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) said. "That said, in January, I went 15 rounds in the speaker fight. For Jim, I'll go a hundred rounds." After the first vote, the original plan was to try and come back for a second round of votes around 6 p.m. after Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a Jordan supporter, returned from a funeral. However, it became evident that if Jordan were to bring the vote to the floor, he would face more opposition, so they pushed it to 11 a.m. on Wednesday. October 16: Breitbart News: Rep Comer; Joe Biden potentially kept sensitive documents about his family's business Joe Biden potentially retained sensitive documents about his family business's involvement with foreign countries, James Comer (R-KY) the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee said in a letter to special counsel Hur. Hur is investigating Biden for the mishandling of classified material; this relates to his possession of documents from when he was vice president. As part of his probe, he reportedly interviewed the senior Biden last week for two hours. Comer apparently suspects Hur could possess information that links Biden's document scandal to his family's foreign dealings. October 16: Israel Times: Israeli-American evacuates torn between family and country Suitcase in hand at the port of Haifa, Barbara Zwillick reflected on her ancestors who fled Europe for her native United States. "Jews waiting to board a boat to America at wartime. How could I not think of them?" Zwillick said. A retired expert in textile dyes, she was one of several dozen US citizens who on Monday boarded a Cyprus-bound ship arranged for them by the US Embassy in Jerusalem, following the cancellation of many flights out of Israel due to the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. From Cyprus, the passengers are to fly to the United States. Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,300 Israelis in a brutal cross-border onslaught on October 7 — the vast majority of them civilians, including many women and children — and kidnapped some 200 others. Israel declared its intention to eradicate the terror group, and according to Hamas sources at least 2,600 people in Gaza have been killed in airstrikes. In Israel's north, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group has initiated rounds of fire in which several people have been killed on both sides of the border, escalating into a tense standoff and prompting fears of a devastating second front. October 15: News Max: Iran threatens direct intervention if Israel invades Gaza Strip Iran warned in a social media post that if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" are not stopped then the situation could spiral out of control with "far-reaching consequences." The Twitter post by Iran's mission to the United Nations came after Axios reported Saturday that Tehran warned Israel - in a message sent via the U.N. - that it would have to respond if Israel carries out a ground offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "If the Israeli apartheid's war crimes & genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequences - the responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end," Iran's U.N. mission posted. Not mentioned, or overlooked, are the war crimes and genocide inflicted upon Israeli civilians by the Iran-controlled Hamas terrorists. On Sunday, Iran made it official. Iran warned Israel of escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians, with its foreign minister saying other parties in the region were ready to act, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. October 15: The Epoch Times: DC District Court to consider Administration's gag order on Trump's election case The D.C. District Court is holding a hearing on Oct. 16 over the Biden administration's request for a gag order on former President Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith had requested on Sept. 15 that Democrat-appointed Judge Tanya Chutkan prohibit President Trump from making certain types of statements about witnesses and others involved with the case. Smith's filing also asks that President Trump's legal team obtain court authorization before conducting a poll of prospective jurors for the case. President Trump's attorneys responded to Smith on Sept. 25 by accusing the Justice Department of attempting to impose unconstitutional prior restraints on their client's political (free) speech. "The prosecution now asks the Court to take the extraordinary step of stripping President Trump of his First Amendment freedoms during the most important months of his campaign against [Joe] Biden," the filing reads. We guess if they can't shut him up one way, they'll try another! October 15: News Max: Netanyahu: Hamas beheaded soldiers and raped women Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his nation Wednesday, detailing the atrocities that occurred during the terrorist incursion into Israel over the weekend. "We saw boys and girls bound, who were shot in the head. Men and women burned alive. Young women who were raped and slaughtered. Soldiers who were beheaded," he explained. The address came one day after Netanyahu spoke with Joe Biden on the havoc unleashed by Hamas and Hezbollah, two Islamist terrorist reportedly funded and operated by Iran. The slaughter of civilians at the kibbutz Kfar Aza, near Gaza, and the Supernova music festival, in a remote area of southern Israel, have been of particular international concern. Netanyahu's comments are also in the backdrop of the creation of a new "war management cabinet" alongside his political rival, Benny Gantz, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. October 14: Breitbart News: IDF claims Hamas terror group engaged in actively keeping civilians from evacuating northern Gaza Strip, using them as human shields A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims Hamas terrorist are actively engaged in preventing Gaza's population from evacuating to the southern part of the strip, claiming that they want to use civilians as human shields and to increase the civilian body count as Israel prepares to invade and rid the area of Hamas militants. "We see an active effort by Hamas to block and prevent the population from going south. Hamas wants to show the world that it has casualties and dead," IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. "We continue to urge the residents of Gaza City, go south… Hamas wants you as human shields… This is for your personal safety," the spokesperson added, according to the outlet. "We are going to attack very widely in Gaza City in the near future." October 14: The Israeli Times: IDF kills Hamas commander involved in deadly attacks as rocket fire resumes The military on Sunday said it killed another commander in Hamas's commando forces who led the murderous attacks on southern Israeli communities last weekend, as Israel moved to evacuate a border city ahead of the Israel Defense Forces' expected ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. With the likely incursion looming, the IDF continued to urge Palestinians in northern Gaza to flee to the south of the coastal enclave while stressing its top priority would be rescuing the hostages held by terror groups since the October 7 onslaught launched by Hamas, in which terrorists killed over 1,300 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 150-200. And Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed during a visit to an army base near the border with Gaza that the war against Palestinian terror groups would be "deadly" and permanently change the situation in southern Israel. The IDF said Billal al-Qedra, the commander of the so-called Nukhba unit's southern Khan Younis battalion, was killed in an airstrike following intelligence efforts by the Shin Bet security agency and Military Intelligence Directorate. "He was responsible for the murderous raid in Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz," the IDF said. October 14: The Washington Examiner: Montgomery Mayor eying shot at a Congressional seat after SCOTUS' mandate for a second minority-majority district Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed is weighing a bid for Congress in a second majority-black congressional district that the SCOTUS said must be added in Alabama. Reed, who became the capital city's first black mayor in a landslide vote in 2019 said Friday leaders both in and out of the state have urged him to make a run for the 2nd Congressional District. "It's something that I'm deliberating on very intentionally," Reed said. "I don't have a deadline other than I know when the qualifying period ends. But I want to make a decision that's not only right for myself and my family but also for the residents of Montgomery and certainly the 2nd Congressional District." The district has widely been in Republican hands for decades, but the Supreme Court's decision in September could create a path for a new Democratic member of Congress. Justices rejected a second bid from Republicans to try to use a congressional map that includes only one majority-black district, ordering the map to have a second black-majority district, representing the state's 27% black population. October 14: News Max: New evidence in Joe Biden document case may destroy his defense New evidence revealed this month with the appearance of special counsel Robert Hur, who has been investigating Joe Biden's document case, may destroy the Biden defense in the matter, according to law professor Jonathan Turley. Hur interviewed Biden about the documents, some of which go back as far as his service in the U.S. Senate. While DOJ policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president, Hur may have evidence that the White House has offered false evidence about the discovery of documents. "The new evidence could prove transformative, not only for the criminal but the impeachment investigation of the president," Turley wrote. While Biden senior has repeatedly said he had no knowledge of or involvement in the handling of the documents, "The most glaring problem is that, after they (the documents) were removed at the end of his term as vice president, the documents were repeatedly moved and divided up," Turley said, noting that some of the documents were found in the Penn Biden Center office Biden was using in Washington, D.C., with others in his garage and library. Turley noted that it appears that a claim from the White House and Biden's counsel that the National Archives was notified as soon as the documents were discovered at the Penn Biden Center was not only false but that they knew it was false. According to the Oversight Committee, while Annie Tomasini was working for the president as a top aide, she inspected the classified material on March 18, 2021, two months after Biden took office and almost 20 months before the Biden team said it found the items. According to Turley, if this and other information is true, it completely "demolishes the timeline" the Biden team has maintained, which could have an immediate impact on the criminal and impeachment investigations.  October 13: The Washington Examiner: IDF hits Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon amid rising tensions along the border of the countries as Israel is at war with Gaza. The attack is the latest exchange between the IDF and Hezbollah along Israel's volatile border with Lebanon. The Iran-backed group announced earlier on Friday that it attacked Israeli forces with direct fire for the first time since the war broke out after the surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on Twitter, "The IDF attacked a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon a short time ago in response to the infiltration of unidentified aerial objects that were intercepted." Hezbollah is far larger and better armed than Hamas, enjoying considerable autonomy within Lebanon. The group is believed to have an army larger than that of the Lebanese state, allowing it to operate with impunity, with extensive help from Iran. Hezbollah fought the IDF to a draw in 2006 after a month of fighting in Lebanon, and Israel has warned that it has grown considerably since. A top Israeli military officer warned in 2014 that the group is more powerful than any Arab military and ranks as one of the most powerful on Earth. October 13: The Epoch Times: House to continues to consider replacement for ousted Speaker McCarthy The House GOP conference is scheduled to meet on Capitol Hill today — one day after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) took himself out of the running for the gavel as he was unable to get the needed 217 votes for victory. The meeting comes as Israel comes under attack from the terrorist group Hamas, with just over a month until the U.S. government is set to shut down. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who lost to Scalise by a vote of 113-99 in an internal election on Oct. 11, is expected to run again. At least a dozen Republicans came out against. Scalise's bid even after he secured the nomination. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said a floor vote isn't expected until Tuesday at the earliest. Burchett, who supports Jordan, also said that 152 Republicans said that they would support handing the House Judiciary chair the gavel in a vote following the nomination while 55 said they wouldn't. October 13: The New York Post: Pro-Palestine/Hamas demonstrators swam streets of Manhattan Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators swarmed the streets of Manhattan Friday — including some who set fire to an Israeli flag near the United Nations — the same day an ex-Hamas leader issued a rallying cry for a global "day of Jihad." Helicopters whirled overhead as the protest began on CUNY's Baruch College campus — starting with a group of about 100 — with the protesters taking part in the Friday afternoon call to prayer, observed by practicing Muslims. Then cries of "Free, Free Palestine!" rang out in the crowd. Protesters carried signs bearing that same message, as well as, "Where is humanity? Palestinians are people," "Resistance is justified when people are occupied" and "Resistance is not terrorism! Free Palestine!" At the same time, there reportedly no mention, nor acknowledgement, made of the raping of women and girls, the beheading of babies, nor the kidnapping of Israeli citizens by Hamas. Two people were arrested at the Baruch demonstration, one on the pro-Palestine side and one member of the pro-Israeli opposing contingent, the NYPD said.  October 12: Axois: Ford executive; We've reached the limit on what we can offer the UAW Ford executives said Thursday that they're not prepared to offer more economic value to the United Auto Workers union in contract talks. Why it matters: About four weeks into the strike, the UAW shut down another Ford facility — this time the company's sprawling Kentucky truck factory, which reaps more revenue than Southwest Airlines. Driving the news: "On the economics, I would say, yes, we have reached our limit," Kumar Galhotra, president of the Ford Blue division, said Thursday afternoon on a conference call. "We've actually stretched ourselves to get to this point." Ford executives said they were shocked when the UAW on Wednesday walked out of talks on pension issues and collective bargaining rights associated with the company's battery plants. October 12: Breitbart News: Hamas unprovoked attack left many in the international community in complete shock As the world sets its sights on the unprecedented surprise Hamas attack against Israel, emerging details of just how gruesome their tactics were have left many in the international community in complete shock over the "unimaginable horror" perpetrated against hundreds of innocent civilians, each with their own harrowing ordeal. On Saturday, Hamas' multiple-pronged attack saw the Gaza-based terror group resorting to abuse, executions, and kidnappings of men, women, children and, at times, full families and even an elderly Holocaust survivor. None were spared. In southern towns, the terrorists went door-to-door shooting Jews and burning homes with families within, proceeding to murder soldiers and infants alike, all while thousands of rockets rained down on Israeli civilian centers. While the exact number of individuals abducted remains unclear, Hamas terrorists have claimed more than 100, and one senior Israeli military official shared a preliminary assessment that at least 150 Israelis were taken hostage by the Palestinian terrorists.  October 12: The New York Post: Complaint filed with House Ethics; Congressman Bowman broke House ethics rules Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) broke House ethics rules when he pulled a fire alarm reportedly, as the lower chamber was rushing a vote to avoid a partial government shutdown last month. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Thursday, saying that the far-left Bronx and Westchester congressman failed to conduct himself "in a manner that reflects creditably on the House," according to a copy of the documents. Bowman reportedly said "I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door," after the pulling of the alarm forced an evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building. October 12: Fox News: FBI working with law enforcement in response to call by former Hamas leader The FBI said it was working with law enforcement across the country in response to a call by former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal for all Muslims to join the battle against Israel and to head to the streets on Friday and protest in support of Palestinians. In a recorded statement sent to Reuters, Meshaal is heard saying, "[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday." Meshaal is currently based in Qatar and heads Hamas's diaspora office. "The FBI is aware of open-source reports about calls for global action on Friday, October 13th that may lead to demonstrations in communities throughout the United States," the FBI said Thursday. "We are working closely with our law enforcement partners across the country to share information and identify and disrupt any threats that may emerge." The agency urged the public to report anything suspicious to authorities. In his statement, Meshaal told Muslims that the people and government officials in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan have a responsibility to support Palestinians, as the vast majority of Palestinian refugees call Jordan and Lebanon home. October 12: The Epoch Times: Cairo urges Hamas-Israel truce as its border with Gaza comes under fire Cairo has reiterated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based terrorist groups, days after a cross-border raid by Hamas left hundreds of Israelis dead. Cairo is in contact with both sides of the conflict in hopes of "containing the crisis and mitigating the humanitarian impact on civilians in Gaza," according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Egypt made peace with Israel in 1979, becoming the first Arab country to do so. Since then, it has played a mediating role between the Jewish state and Palestinian factions. Neither of the two warring sides, however, appears ready to discuss ceasefire terms. On Oct. 7, Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas led a deadly raid into Israel that left about 1,300 Israelis—soldiers and civilians—dead. Since then, Israeli warplanes have relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip, which is home to about 2.3 million Palestinians. October 11: News Max: Scalise gets the nod from House GOP to become Speaker The House GOP conference finished its secret ballot Wednesday afternoon, making House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, (R-LA) the nominee to replace ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Scalise won the nomination over House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) on a 113-99 vote, with eight voting for other candidates and three voting present. Scalise, who was elected to the House in 2007, was chairman of the Republican Study Committee before being selected for leadership in 2014. Scalise previously sustained near-fatal injuries after being shot at a congressional baseball practice in in 2017. The House Conference also rejected a motion to require 217 Republican votes for a candidate before the ballot goes to the House floor. Under GOP rules, the conference is now expected to support the winner of the secret ballot.  October 11: The Epoch Times: Lawmakers tell the SCOTUS the South Carolina Congressional map was based upon politics and not race
Republican state lawmakers told the Supreme Court on Oct. 11 that the justices should overturn a ruling claiming the South Carolina legislature racially gerrymandered a congressional district, because the district lines were drawn based upon politics and not racial considerations. The Supreme Court frowns on racial gerrymanders as constitutionally suspect but has adopted a hands-off attitude toward partisan gerrymanders. In a 2019 case the court held that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. "[Although] excessive partisanship in districting leads to results that reasonably seem unjust, [this] does not mean that the solution lies with the federal judiciary," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority at the time. "Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions." The case has been closely watched because it could affect Republicans' ability to maintain what, at present, is a thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives after next year's congressional elections. The congressional seat is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). October 11: Fox News: GOP Rep. skips vote for Speaker; gets 32 out of Israel and is going back to get more Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) successfully evacuated 32 stranded Americans Wednesday who were unable to find flights home from Israel and he is planning to conduct a second mission in the coming days. Mills said he arranged, with help from the U.S. embassy in Jordan, for the safe passage of 32 Americans stranded in Tel Aviv after multiple airlines canceled flights, transporting them across the Jordanian border. Mills said all the rescued Americans were able to arrange flights from Jordan to their homes in the United States. "You know, for me, there's a statesman and there's a politician. One acts and the other one talks, and I just couldn't sit there knowing Americans were losing their lives," Mills said. He sounds like my former employer [Lou Frey, Jr. (R-FL)] Editor Bill Sargent said. "Look, I'm not making a massive dent in things. There're thousands of people that are still trapped there. I got 32 people out today, and I hope to get a lot more tomorrow," Mills said. Mills originally planned to have an armored vehicle meet him and take the stranded travelers to Jordan. But when plans fell through, he took a taxi to Israel, making new arrangements for the group to escape the war-torn country by bus. He made stops in two cities, where the stranded Americans had consolidated into groups. Many of the evacuees had tried unsuccessfully to get help from the U.S. Department of State because flights of U.S. owned commercial aircraft from Ben Gurion International Airport had been cancelled due to Hamas rocket attacks in the region. Mills, who is in his first term in Congress said his absence during the fraught House GOP speakership discussions is worth the cost.  October 11: Breitbart News: Netanyahu: Terrorists burned people alive; every Hamas member is "A Dead Man" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recounted the horrors of Saturday's terror attack by terror group Hamas while introducing his emergency national unity government. As reported earlier Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party agreed to form an emergency government of national unity, setting aside political differences until the end of the war. Other opposition parties may follow. The horrific practice of burning people with tires was known as "necklacing" in South Africa, and was practiced by the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s as a way of punishing suspected informers and political rivals. Tires, usually filled with fuel, were placed around victims' necks, and the tires were then set alight, ensuring a slow, painful, and horrific death. Netanyahu added that every member of Hamas should be considered "a dead man." October 11: The Daily Caller: The U.S. State Department has yet to evacuate any U.S. citizens from Israel White House national security spokesman John Kirby was asked point-blank why the United States hasn't evacuated Americans from Israel when other countries have already begun flying out their citizens. Multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from Israel Monday, days after Hamas launched a series of attacks that have killed over a 1,000 people, including 22 Americans. According to The Associated Press Joe Biden advised Americans in Israel to book flights out of the country hours after the airlines announced the cancellation. "I want to start with the efforts to get Americans out of Israel right now," "NewsNation" chief White House correspondent Blake Burman told Kirby. "I think Sen. Josh Hawley sort of summed it up what many people are asking. Here's a social media post he put out, Here's that quote: 'For the second time in two years, Americans are stranded in a war zone. What's the plan to get them out? How can you answer that question?'" "Well a couple of things here: First of all, commercial flights are still going in and out of Ben Gurion airport, so that's always an option for those who may want to leave," Kirby said. Berman pressed Kirby, noting that several other countries, including Fiji and Hungary, already had evacuated their citizens from Israel. "How was it that we are seemingly behind several countries on this front?" Berman asked. Biden came under fire for hosting a barbeque for White House staff Sunday as Israel began carrying out military operations against Hamas. October 10: One American News Network: Morning polls show "record-high" support for Trump The majority of the Republican electorate supported former President Donald Trump when he first launched his presidential campaign, however, a number of GOP candidates now want to challenge his hold on the party's nomination before the 2024 primary elections. Morning Consult polls are currently monitoring Republican primary voters' perceptions of Trump and other declared candidates, as well as seeing how they compare to Joe Biden among the general electorate. This is an important metric for a party hoping to reverse recent electoral setbacks. According to the most recent poll, at least 61% of likely Republican primary voters support Trump, and in recent weeks, the former president had even reached 63% at one point, setting a record high since the monitoring program began in December. His closest rival is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 12% with Ramaswamy at 9%.  October 10: The Jerusalem Post: Syria launches shells at northern Israel; IDF fires back at observation posts The IDF said it was responding to shells fired from Syria into Israel on Tuesday night. Many of the shells landed in open fields in Israel's Golan Heights, the military said. The IDF responded with artillery and mortar fire toward the source of the Syrian shelling. Fire from Syria came after the IDF confirmed that Israeli tanks targeted Hezbollah observation points in southern Lebanon after some 15 rockets were fired into northern Israel. Sirens sounded in the border communities in the western Galilee area. A rocket was reported to have fallen in Shlomi, but no injuries or damage were reported. October 10: The Washington Examiner: House Speaker's race; no clear winner yet House Republicans are set to begin the process of choosing their next speaker this week, but the party doesn't appear to be any closer to zeroing in on one candidate that can win the majority of their conference when the full chamber comes together for a vote. GOP lawmakers emerged from a closed-door candidate forum on Tuesday evening as the conference gathered to vet their top two speaker candidates before putting the matter to a party vote on Wednesday morning. While the two declared candidates, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), have garnered support from several GOP lawmakers, they both fall short of the majority threshold needed to secure the speakership when the matter comes before the full House.  October 8: The Daily Mail: Iran helped plan Hamas attack on Israel and gave Hams the green light for the attack last week
Senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed that Hamas' surprise attack on Israel that killed at least 700 people was given the green light by Iranian security officials. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Hamas plotted the air, land and sea invasions with help from officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel has since branded Iran a "terrorist state." The official go-ahead for the attack was allegedly given at a Monday meeting in Beirut. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims he has 'not yet seen evidence' that Iran was involved in the attack.  October 8: The Associated Press: Sixth Fleet carrier strike group steaming to the Eastern Med in support of Israel The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) strike group has been ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the unprovoked attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. Americans were reportedly among those killed and missing. The Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier -- with approximately 5,000 service members and over 75 warplanes aboard -- will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything including the interdiction of weapons from fired by Hamas and conducting surveillance functions. The Ford strike group includes a cruiser and four destroyers in addition to Air Force resources that will be available. The large deployment underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing while the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for "significant military steps" to retaliate against Hamas. The number of reported deaths is likely to increase as the Israeli government starts to verify the damage inflicted by the unprovoked Hamas attack on its country. October 7: The Epoch Times: Coal is back as Germany tries to cope with dwindling energy supplies caused by previous policy choices to rely upon Russian energy Germany is bringing back some of its coal power plants online ahead of the winter season amid concerns about a potential shortage of natural gas supplies. Germany has cracked down on its coal power plants as part of transitioning out from fossil fuel energy. However, as the Russia-Ukraine war dented gas suppli9es from Moscow and nuclear power supplies from France got affected, Berlin last year decided to keep 1.9GW of lignite coal power online. Lignite, referred to as brown coal, is the lowest grade of coal. On Oct. 4, the German government announced that lignite coal plants would remain on standby into the winter, until the end of March 2024. This is expected to help offset the scarcity of natural gas during the season. "The supply reserve will be reactivated in order to save gas in electricity generation and thus prevent supply bottlenecks with gas in the 2023/2024 heating period," the government said, according to media network Euractiv.  October 7: The Washington Examiner: Hamas attack on Israel caught Israeli intelligence by surprise
The ramifications of Hamas's surprise attack on Israel are profound. This invasion has shredded both Israel's security and its assessments of the Palestinian terrorist group/political party. Through their attack, Hamas has demonstrated a larger threat than Israeli intelligence analysts anticipated; killing hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers. They also have succeeded in taking their long-standing fight with the Jewish state to an unprecedented level. The images of terrified civilians being lined up and marched off to uncertain fates, and of bloodied female Israeli soldiers, some half-naked, will not easily be forgotten; images that evoke memories of the Holocaust: of innocents marched off for oppression and annihilation simply because of their identity. This attack rivals that of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a massive and sustained military response is highly likely. On the bright side this incident has brought unity within the Israeli government as it conducts aggressive operations to degrade Hamas's military infrastructure and reestablish deterrence with its political leadership. October 7: The Daily Caller: Biden funded Hamas/Iran; Blood on his hands? The Iranian proxy organization Hamas that runs Gaza attacked Israel this morning, overwhelming its vaunted Iron Dome missile-defense system by the sheer number of rockets launched. Hamas troops infiltrated Israel to kill and kidnap civilians. Ultimate fault for the crisis lies with the Islamist tyrants in Gaza who launched this sneak attack on a Jewish holiday — as well as the Iranian government of which they are but an instrument. But it is impossible not also to fault the Biden administration for its policy of funding Hamas and enabling Iran. Whereas the previous Republican administration had put Iran and its proxies on the back foot and achieved historic peace and diplomatic relations between Israel and the Arab governments of the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, Joe Biden and his top aides entered office determined to return to policies of the past. Foremost among these were trying to establish copacetic relations with Iran and restore payola to the worst elements that rule Palestinians under a brutal tyranny in Gaza. In Biden's first year in office the administration began showering Palestinian authorities with $360 million in aid despite its own internal assessment that the funds it provided would likely make their way to Hamas. The administration ignored a demand from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and eighteen other senators that the aid be halted unless it could be safeguarded from the terrorist group. October 6: The Washington Examiner: Justice Thomas' friend refuses to testify before Senate Committee A billionaire friend of Justice Clarence Thomas is refusing to satisfy Senate Democrats' demands to reveal a full list of "payments or gifts of travel and lodging" given to Supreme Court justices, suggesting it lacks the authority to do so. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) and fellow member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) revealed the correspondence on Friday from billionaire David Sokol's counsel in response to its "ongoing oversight investigation" into alleged ethical violations by members of the high court. Sokol's personal friendship with Thomas spans over two decades, and "there is none" of a business relationship, lawyer Matthew Schneider wrote the Democrats, noting, "We have concluded that the Committee lacks the authority to investigate this personal relationship." Durbin and Whitehouse have long sought to surface potential ethical dilemmas on the high court, especially in the wake of nonprofit ProPublica's reporting on Republican-appointed justices, and vowed Friday to "continue to investigate these ethical violations." October 6: One American News Network: New Arizona law has election officials concerned over critical deadlines A new law in Arizona has officials warning that the Grand Canyon State has the potential to miss a crucial deadline in the next election in relation to voter certification. State lawmakers must solve calendar issues in order to prevent the delay of election results. Current Arizona laws automatically call for a recount if the final margin of the vote between two candidates is less than half a percentage point of total votes. According to state law, that recount can only take place once all of the votes are tallied. Officials are arguing that the law "put(s) in jeopardy" immovable deadlines on the election calendar. The event that officials are most worried about is Electoral College process and ones that confirm the winners of the August primaries. Officials are fearful that a recount could affect presidential election ballots for the general election that need to be sent to the military and to overseas voters. October 6: News Max: Trump gets delay in Florida classified records case Former President Donald Trump and his legal team earned a victory in court Friday as Judge Aileen Cannon granted a delay in a pre-trial filing deadline in the classified documents case. Cannon ordered a stay in the Trump team's Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) deadline while she mulls whether to push back the pre-trial schedule. Cannon's decision came a day after the Trump team petitioned the judge to postpone his classified documents trial until after next year's presidential election. The trial is currently scheduled for May 20 in Florida. The 2024 general election is Nov. 5. October 5: The Epoch Times: A federal appeals court in St. Louis, Missouri, prohibited a school district in Iowa from imposing anti-free speech regulations that punish students and staff who refuse to "respect" the identity of transgender students. In April 2022, the Linn Mar Community School District in Iowa adopted a policy regarding transgender students. A provision regarding "names and pronouns" stated that any "intentional and/or persistent refusal by staff or students to respect a student's gender identity" would be seen as a violation of school board policies, including anti-harassment and anti-bullying rules. Violations shall be "disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include suspension and expulsion." In August 2022, Parents Defending Education (PDE) brought a lawsuit on behalf of a group of parents, challenging the policy. A lower court ruled against the lawsuit, forcing the nonprofit advocate and parents to approach the appeals court. The lower court's ruling was overturned by the appeals court.  October 5: News Max: Biden waives 26 laws in order to build 20 miles of border wall
The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction Wednesday, marking the administration's first use of a sweeping executive power employed often during the Trump presidency. The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing "high illegal entry." According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties. "There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas," Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice. The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws. Starr County's hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in June and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a map of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas. "The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There's a lot of arroyos," Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river. Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat. October 5: Fox News: Donald Trump says he is willing to serve as Speaker for a short period of time while the party finds a permanent replacement Former President Donald Trump said he would accept a short-term role as speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as a "unifier" for the Republican Party until lawmakers reach a decision on who should take on the post. "I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress," Trump said. "If they don't get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer-term, because I am running for president." "They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion — I'm not doing it because I want to — I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision," Trump said. Trump did not specify who had asked him, although a number of GOP lawmakers have said he is their preference for speaker. Since McCarthy's ouster, both House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., have announced bids to run for speaker. Trump stressed that if Republicans cannot come to a consensus, he would take the speakership for a short "30, 60, or 90-day period." October 5: The Washington Examiner: Chip Roy: Congress may not pass appropriation bills by the 45 day deadline Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) is warning his Republican colleagues that Congress will be unable to pass all 12 of its annual spending bills before its deadline after the House voted earlier this week to vacate the Speaker [Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)], leaving the lower chamber unable to advance any legislation until a new leader is selected. "Because of what we've done here with the speaker, with the 45-day clock getting shorter, we're not going to get appropriations bills completed through the Senate and signed and dealt with in conference — if ever, we're certainly not going to do it by [the Nov. 17 deadline]," Roy told conservative podcast host Daniel Horowitz on Thursday.  October 5: The Daily Caller: Sixteen of the twenty states with the highest electricity rates are "blue states" Blue state taxpayers were hit with the highest residential electricity rates in June, outpacing most Republican-controlled states, according to data recently published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Of the 20 states with the highest residential electricity rates in June, 16 of them have Democratic governors. The most expensive residential rates of the continental 48 states in June were Connecticut, California, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Vermont, all of which Joe Biden won in 2020. The least expensive states in the contiguous 48 were Washington state, Louisiana, Utah, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky, with former President Donald Trump carrying all of those states besides Washington state. Of the least expensive 15 states in the same time period, only two are not governed by Republicans. October 5: Fox News: Retired Army Green Beret endorsed by Senator Cotton (R-AR) in efforts flip VA Congressional district Former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and combat veteran Derrick Anderson has received another big-name endorsement in his bid to flip one of the nation's most competitive House seats from the Democrats. Senator Tom Cotton, a former Army Ranger himself, announced Thursday he would be backing Anderson to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District currently held by Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) — one of the GOP's top 2024 targets for 2024. "Derrick Anderson is a Special Forces Green Beret who will be a strong conservative leader in the U.S. House. His service to this country demonstrates clearly that he'll represent Virginia's 7th District well and will be a strong advocate for his home state. I'm pleased to support him," Cotton said in a statement. The district is located between Manassas and Richmond.  October 4: One America News Network: FBI targeting Trump supporters prior to the 2024 election The FBI is allegedly discreetly targeting former President Donald Trump supporters in order to "avert violence" ahead of the 2024 elections, according to an FBI agent, speaking amorously. Press reports are saying, a current FBI officer stated that the bureau is attempting to avoid a repeat of the events of January 6th, 2021, but must also defend Americans' fundamental rights to speak freely and challenge the government. "Especially at a time when the White House is facing congressional Republican opposition claiming that the Biden administration has 'weaponized' the bureau against the right wing, it has to tread very carefully," the agent said. FBI data reviewed by Newsweek indicated that "nearly two-thirds of the FBI's current investigations" center on Trump supporters accused of disregarding "anti-riot" laws. More than a "dozen current or former government officials who specialize in terrorism" told the publication that the spike in targeting was caused by the FBI's decision to include Trump supporters in its broadened definition of "domestic extremism." In a statement, the FBI reportedly stated that: "The threat posed by domestic violent extremists is persistent, evolving, and deadly." According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the January 6th event was "not an isolated event" and the threat is "not going away anytime soon." October 4: Fox News: Former Speaker booted from secret office in the Capitol to make room for Kevin McCarthy This week, interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-NC) booted both Pelosi and reportedly Hoyer from their hideaways — private offices in the Capitol that each senator and a select few House lawmakers have — after now-former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted from the role. The House rules provide that previous Speakers are accorded a "hideaway office" in the Capitol building. Because Pelosi is not now the immediate past speaker – McCarthy is – Pelosi was evicted. House Freedom Caucus chairman Scott Perry (R-PA), said the evictions were not done in revenge but that it seems to him "unfortunately that we have an unexpected recent vacancy in this with the speaker's office and that speaker that's been recently the speaker now has to have a place per the rules." "So that [place] needs to be reoccupied or occupied by somebody different," Perry said. "That's just the that's just the flow of business here."  October 4: The Washington Times: Taxpayer supported Amtrak loses millions while paying administrators over $700,000 Amtrak executives are riding a gravy train with some of them making as much as $780,000 a year while train system's passengers endure delayed and disrupted services, a new report revealed. The top 10 executives make between $504,000 and $780,000, according to an audit done by the government spending watchdog Open the Books. Amtrak, whose payroll is taxpayer-funded, only released a portion of its payroll information. The salaries of 19,000 other employees were not disclosed due to a Freedom of Information Act exemption that allows the government to withhold workers' personal information. Calculations done by the watchdog group pegged those employees' annual salaries at an average of $121,000. "No wonder the prices have gone up," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WVA-R) said when she learned about the big salaries. Amtrak is a government-subsidized corporation that runs the national passenger train service in the U.S. The company received $6.6 billion from the Federal Railroad Administration last year and another $6.8 billion this fiscal year. In 2020, when ridership was down 90% due to the pandemic, it received $1 billion from the CARES Act and another $1.7 billion in 2021 from the American Rescue Plan. Even with all that money, there are still widespread complaints about the train service. Signal problems, mechanical snafus and computer breakdowns are seen across the country. Slow and delayed trains have plagued the Northeast since the summer, with the blame being put on the heat, aging train fleet and track work.  October 3: Texas Scorecard: Texas Rangers clear border island and plant Texas flag The 170-acre island situated in the Rio Grande River between Starr County and Mexico is a hot spot for cartel trafficking. Three suspected cartel members armed with rifles were documented crossing Fronton Island in August. Two of the three men were later arrested by Texas DPS. In September, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham authorized DPS' policing and patrolling on the state-owned island. "Law enforcement has found some ammunition, suspicious devices on it. And we just feel like with the border crisis, it was really important to ensure that Texas law enforcement have access to these islands, so we can help secure our border," she said. "While the federal government refuses to safeguard Texas communities, the General Land Office will step up and assist our state in its robust border security efforts," Buckingham continued. The Rangers began clearing vegetation from Fronton Island to assume operational control of the area late last week. "This is OUR land," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. "We've taken control of it away from transnational criminal organizations that were using it to facilitate illegal immigration & drug smuggling." Abbott ordered the Rangers to "Plant the Texas flag" on the island. Earlier this year, the General Land Office granted law enforcement access to two islands in the river by Eagle Pass for border security purposes. October 3: Breitbart News: Cuellar: You can have the car and the phone; just don't take my sushi! Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) said Tuesday that it was "young punks with guns" who carjacked him on Monday night about a mile away from the U.S. Capitol. Cuellar said, "I was coming in from the Capitol. I parked in front of my apartment complex. When I was getting out three guys came up with guns and I quickly analyzed the situation. I have a black belt in karate, so you have to think about what to do, and a guy to the right had a gun and the guy to the left had a gun and there was a guy behind me. I gave them the car keys and they took off. In a couple hours, they were able to recover my phone and car." He continued, "You can tell they were young folks. I hate to say this, but they were young punks with guns. Within minutes, both the Capitol Police and Metro Police were there. I want to thank them. They moved very, very fast. Like I said, they were able to recover the car and my phone within a couple hours. But what really got me upset, they stole my sushi. That's what got me upset." October 3: iHeartMedia/KTRH Houston: McCarthy out as Speaker 216-210; First time this has ever happened For the first time in history, the House of Representatives voted to vacate the Speaker of the House on Tuesday (October 3). The resolution to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker passed by a vote of 216-210. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to remove McCarthy. The motion to vacate was filed on Monday by Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Gaetz and a small number of conservative lawmakers have been openly feuding with McCarthy over his handling of House business. They were incensed over McCarthy's decision to vote on a "clean" continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown and his refusal to fight for a more conservative budget that included significant spending cuts, border security provisions, and no additional money for Ukraine. Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was named as Speaker pro tem and declared the House go into recess. October 3: The New York Post: Real estate professionals left scratching their heads at NY judge's finding of value of Trump's property; NY civil trial The Manhattan judge deciding Donald Trump's fate at his civil fraud trial on Monday stood by the $18 million valuation of the former president's sprawling Mar-a-Lago estate — despite real estate experts blasting the estimate as "utterly delusional." Justice Arthur Engoron again rejected Trump's claims that Mar-a-Lago is worth $1 billion in favor of the much-lower valuation issued by local Florida officials. However, Engoron implored the media to stop reporting that he'd been the one to value the golf club and resort at $18 million — the low-end of a determination made by the Palm Beach assessor that has left many real estate industry insiders perplexed. One prominent Palm Beach real estate broker labeled the valuation as "utterly delusional" to The Post. "Please, press, stop saying that I valued it at $18 million," Engoron pleaded, as trial kicked off in Manhattan Supreme Court in New York Attorney General Letitia James' $250 million lawsuit against the former president, the Trump Organization and sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. The judge interjected the comment as Trump lawyer Alina Habba had been repeating during her opening remarks that the Palm Beach estate would sell for roughly $1 billion — a figure that Engoron rejected last week in a bombshell ruling. October 3: The Washington Examiner: Lake launches campaign for AZ Senate seat Kari Lake is running for Senate in 2024, filing paperwork on Tuesday to enter the already fiery competition for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (I-AZ) seat. The paperwork came the same day Lake met with Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, DC said. Lake is a former gubernatorial candidate. She ran as a Republican against now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) in the 2022 midterm elections. She has yet to concede her 2022 loss and continues to push her claims of election interference, allegations that she carried all the way to the Maricopa County Superior Court. The court eventually affirmed there was no election fraud in Arizona's gubernatorial race. October 2: The Washington Examiner: Gaetz files motion to vacate the Speaker of the House Congressman Gaetz (R-FL) offered a motion to vacate House Speaker's position on Monday, making good on weeks of threats to do so. Gaetz's motion came after McCarthy pushed forward a 45-day stop-gap bill over the weekend to avoid a government shutdown, with the Florida Republican accusing the speaker of making a "Ukraine deal with Democrats" to pass aid for the country at a later date. The motion on the floor of the House of Representatives on Monday evening sets up a battle in the Republican conference over McCarthy's future as speaker of the House. A motion to vacate only requires only five Republicans to succeed if all House Democrats vote to oust McCarthy. It is currently unclear how Democrats in the House will vote, but Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Eli Crane (R-AZ) and Bob Good (R-VA) have said they will support the motion. Several Republicans have said they are still undecided on whether they will support vacating the speakership. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said that his conscience is telling him to vote yes but that he will have to "pray about it." Rep. Wes Hunt (R-TX) said he is keeping an "open mind," while Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) also says she is open to vacating the speakership. October 2: The Epoch Times: SCOTUS rejects attempt to keep Trump off the ballot in 2024 The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 2 declined to take a longshot challenge to former President Donald Trump's eligibility to appear on New Hampshire's ballots during the 2024 election. John Anthony Castro filed an appeal with the Supreme Court several weeks ago and claimed that the former president should be disqualified under a reading of a section of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. According to Castro, a Texas lawyer who's running for president, Trump partook in an "insurrection" against the federal government because of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol breach and those found guilty of "insurrection" are disqualified from serving as President. His petition with the high court comes as a number of left-wing activist groups have tried to block the former president from appearing on state ballots, using the same rationale as Castro. However, even Democratic secretaries of state in states like Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin appear to have little appetite for blocking President Trump on those grounds. Some legal analysts have also said that the insurrection clause under the 14th Amendment was targeting individuals who fought for the Confederacy in the aftermath of the Civil War. "We're not the eligibility police. We are responsible for ensuring that basic facts are met to get someone on the ballot," Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat who has frequently been critical of the former president, told Axios in September. She was responding to calls from pressure groups to keep the former president from being on the ballot in her state. October 2: The New York Post: Newsom to appoint a person to Feinstein's senate seat who isn't a registered voter in California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) will appoint Emily's List president Laphonza Butler to fill the US Senate seat left vacant when Senate Dianne Feinstein died last Thursday, a spokesperson for the governor said Sunday. The selection means Newsom will follow through on his past pledge to select a black woman for Feinstein's seat if it became open. Butler would be the only black woman in the US Senate. She would also be the only Senator who is not eligible to vote for herself because she lives in Maryland, not California which she will be representing. It is anticipated she will move her registration to California. Butler, who leads a political organization that backs female candidates who support abortion rights, is also a former adviser to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. She served as a labor leader with SEIU 2015, a powerful union that represents more than 400,000 long-term care workers in California, as well — though she has never held elected office. She would be the Golden State's first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber. October 1: Fox News: Move afoot to expel Gartz, but wait a minute, if they do that will the GOP still have a majority in the House? House GOP members are preparing a motion to expel Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), amid his renewed threat to pursue a motion to vacate House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Reportedly the House Republican members will seek to expel Gaetz if the ethics committee report comes back with findings of guilt. One member said the report is mostly written but does not know what it contains. Yet following threats to vacate McCarthy, the member said of Gaetz, "No one can stand him at this point. A smart guy without morals." It takes a two-thirds vote to expel. And Republicans are treading on thin ice with their majority. The House is down to 433 members. It's unclear where things stand with federally indicted Congressman George Santos (R-NY). If you were to have members expelled, retire or die, the majority could be right on the edge for the GOP. During an appearance on CNN Sunday morning, Gaetz said he planned "to file a motion to vacate" sometime this week. October 1: The New York Post: Far left Dem Jamaal Bowman's bonehead excuse for pulling fire alarm has people from both parties scratching their heads His excuses are going up in smoke. Images of the fire alarm that Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled in the Cannon House Office Building as his fellow Democrats were trying to delay a key vote to fund the government appear to douse his claims that he thought the move would open a door. "Emergency Exit Only!" the signs read. "Push until alarm sounds (3 seconds). Door will unlock in 30 seconds." The strident New York lawmaker, whose gaffe was caught on surveillance footage, simply needed to turn his head to the right to see the blaring signs. Bowman, however, claimed it was an innocent mistake. October 1: The Epoch Times: Top House Dem steps down from his leadership position Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) announced Sunday he's stepping down from his House leadership position after he voiced concerns about his party's support for Joe Biden's reelection and after he suggested he might himself run for president in 2024. While he is pleased with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries's (D-NY) leadership, Phillips said Sunday that his "convictions relative to the 2024 presidential race are incongruent with the majority of my caucus, and I felt it appropriate to step aside from elected leadership." "I'll continue to abide by my convictions, place people over politics, and support our shared mission to deliver security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans. Onward!" September 30: The Post Newspaper: Lack of Planning means goals aren't reached Should Joe Biden be impeached? Probably. Should doing so be a priority, pushing aside other legislative responsibilities. "Probably not!" the first priority of the Congress is to fulfill its constitutional job description. That responsibility includes the funding of the federal government – the current funding expires at midnight tonight. When the House left for its "August Recess" on July 27th it had only passed one of the twelve appropriation funding bills needed to keep the government running. This begs the question: "Why hasn't the Congress been doing its job?" Instead of taking six plus weeks off, they should have stayed in session through August, if doing so was necessary to get their appropriations work done. Better yet, they should have passed all twelve funding bills in the House by the end of July, thereby leaving enough time to work out differences with the Senate versions. This is the same problem we have seen in the House under both Democrat and Republican leadership and, in our humble opinion, it needs to stop! Late today the passed (335-91) a "clean" short-term 45-day extension of funding for the entire federal government. Shortly thereafter the Senate followed suit by a vote of 88-9. Among those voting against the "clean" bill [meaning that the current 2023 spending levels are continued without any reduction in spending] were conservative members of both chambers. At a minimum, these members wanted a roll back of spending to FY2022 levels thereby reducing federal spending, and many wanted to go farther than that. As a result of the bill's passage, the House has the opportunity to pass the remainder of its 12 appropriation bills, but it only has 45 calendar days [less in legislative days] to get this done or be faced with the same situation they just experienced. September 30: Fox News: House passes 45-day continuing resolution Senate to act this evening The Senate is primed to vote on legislation to avert a government shutdown, with a decision expected to be reached Saturday night. The House overwhelmingly passed the short-term spending measure to fund the government for another 45 days Saturday afternoon by a vote of 335 to 91, causing lawmakers to break out into applause amid the pressure of a shutdown. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) set up a roll call shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday night. The Senate will need 60 votes to pass the bill. The legislation is a clean bill without any spending cuts, something fiscal conservatives wanted included. Unlike the "spin" from major media outlets, if the bill failed to pass it would not mean federal workers would not be paid. History shows that those employees who are furloughed are paid retroactively for the hours they have been off – kind of like a paid vacation. Update: The Senate subsequently passed the measure 88-9. September 30: The Washington Examiner: Gaetz; McCarthy's speakership is on "tenuous ground" Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), one of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's 's (R-CA) biggest Republican critics, said his speakership is on "tenuous grounds" as Congress attempts to avoid a government shutdown while the speaker dared him to bring a motion to oust him to the floor. Just hours before a shutdown is set to go into effect, the House introduced a plan for a 45-day clean continuing resolution on Saturday. In the days and weeks leading up to this weekend, Gaetz has threatened McCarthy with a vote to remove him while other conservatives have expressed they would support the motion. Previously, Gaetz has said that if McCarthy were to put a clean continuing resolution on the floor, then he would automatically move to a motion to vacate. "If Kevin McCarthy puts a [clean] continuing resolution on the floor, it's going to be shot, chaser. Continuing resolution, motion to vacate," he told reporters earlier this month.  September 29: Taiwan News: Taiwan launches first indigenously built submarine
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday put on Twitter a post marking the historic launch of Taiwan's first domestically-built submarine. Tsai declared, "History will always remember this day" and despite the challenges encountered over the past three years, the vessel's presence behind her proved "We did it!" She said the submarines are an important part of developing the Navy's asymmetric combat capabilities and that they are vital for Taiwan to implement "national defense independence," enabling its combat capabilities to be continuously updated. Tsai closed by vowing that in the future, the Hai Kun will "carry Taiwan's tenacious and brave spirit, dive deep under the sea, silently guard our homeland, protect our freedom and democracy, and become Taiwan's force propelling Taiwan forward through the waves." Not said is the importance of having a capable submarine fleet that can protect against aggression by the growing Communist Chinese navy. September 29: Fox News: 21 Conservative GOP members & House Dems vote down stop gap spending measure A group of fiscally conservative GOP members joined Democrats in sinking House Republicans' stopgap funding bill on Friday, significantly raising the chances of a government shutdown happening over the weekend. A procedural vote to advance the bill passed earlier in the day, but final passage failed on a 198 to 232 vote. Twenty-one Republicans voted against it, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and Nancy Mace, (R-SC). It's a heavy blow to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), whose leadership has faced public threats throughout the spending battle so far from some in the right flank of his conference. A short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is almost certainly needed to give lawmakers more time to cobble together twelve individual spending bills for fiscal year 2024 – measures that should have been passed by the House in July but which the House failed to do prior to its six-week August recess [See related story]. LINK Republican leaders have had a hard time so far corralling their conference into some kind of agreement. A faction of conservatives have, for weeks, said they are opposed to any CR. The House GOP's CR proposal included an amendment to slash spending for its month-long duration to fiscal 2022 levels, about $130 billion less than the current year's. It also featured elements from House Republicans' border security bill, and McCarthy said a new provision would mandate the creation of a bipartisan committee to study the federal debt.  September 29: Breitbart News: Senator Diane Feinstein passes at 90 Liberal Democrat California Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away this morning at the age of 90 after serving in public office for decades. Feinstein was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, alongside fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer, in a rare circumstance that saw both of California's seats open at the same time, due to retirements. She was inspired by Anita Hill's testimony against Supreme Court nominee/Justice Clarence Thomas, and furious at Hill's treatment by men like Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). Feinstein was regarded as a reliable liberal vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In a particularly partisan turn, she introduced unsubstantiated claims of past sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee/Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. But she was more than just a partisan crusader: she also drew respect for her expertise on national security issues, and was chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee from 2009 to 2015. In that role, Feinstein encountered several controversies. One of these controversy erupted in 2018, when it emerged that a man who had been her driver for two decades was accused of being a Chinese spy. September 29: One America News Network: SCOTUS agrees to hear case of Texas/Florida laws constraining social media companies The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide the legality of Republican-backed state laws in Texas and Florida that constrains the ability of social media companies to curb content on their platforms that these businesses deem objectionable. The justices took up two cases involving challenges by technology industry groups who argued these 2021 laws restrict the content-moderation practices of large social media platforms and violate the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections for freedom of speech. Lower courts split on the issue, striking down key provisions of Florida's law while upholding the Texas measure. The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) President Matt Schruers called the court's decision to tackle the case encouraging. Supporters of the laws have argued that social media platforms have engaged in impermissible censorship and have silenced conservative voices in particular. Advocates of content moderation have argued for the need to stop misinformation and the amplification of extremist causes.  September 28: The Washington Times: Impeachment inquiry begins with new docs strengthen claims Joe Biden helps his son in business deals House lawmakers on Thursday launched their Joe Biden impeachment inquiry with newly released documents they say strengthen their claims he helped his son secure foreign business deals and that the Justice Department worked to cover up the action. "The Ways and Means Committee released new documents showing [Joe Bisen] was not just aware of his son's business dealings, but he was connected to them," Chairman Jason Smith (R-MI) said. Some of the documents include messages and emails from the president's brother James Biden and son Hunter that reference the elder Biden's involvement in their business deals. Other documents show efforts by the Justice Department to stop IRS and FBI officials from investigating Biden during their probe of Hunter 's tax fraud and gun crimes. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said bank financial records have revealed more than $20 million in profits from the foreign business deals, many of them dating back to Biden's time as vice president, and much of the money flowed into the bank accounts of nine Biden family members. All of it belies Joe Biden's insistence that he had no involvement in his son's foreign deals, lawmakers said. September 28: The Daily Signal: GOP's second presidential debate contentious Fox News Channel host Dana Perino, Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney, and Univision anchor Ilia Calderon co-hosted the two-hour debate, which often turned highly contentious, with the candidates talking over and arguing with one another. During the debate Perino asked whether the candidates would support a federal parental bill of rights to ensure that students can't change their gender identity without their parents being informed. Christie said that he supported just such a bill the week before the debate. Ramaswamy called "transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder. We have to acknowledge the truth." "The very people who say that this increases the risk of suicide are also saying that parents don't have a right to know about that increased risk of suicide," Ramaswamy said. "I'm sorry. It is not compassionate to affirm a kid's confusion. That is not compassion. It's cruelty." Pence weighed in on the issue of parental rights saying he would stand up for the rights of parents and that "we're going to pass a federal ban on transgender chemical or surgical—surgery anywhere in the country," claiming "we've got to protect our kids from this radical transgender ideology agenda." Former President Trump decided not to attend the debate and instead met with rank-and-file members of the UAW in Michigan.  September 28: News Max: UAW president meets with Biden, Trump welcomed by the rank-and-file
The UAW president met with Joe Biden yesterday but declined the opportunity to meet with former President Trump today. Instead, Trump met with the working-class members of the UAW today and urged them to press UAW leadership to endorse him for president, saying it was the best way to get the best deal for the working-class members. "All cars are going to be electric in a short period of time — 10 years, they talk about. But they want to do it sooner, and that will put the American autoworker out of business entirely," Trump said. "You can make a good deal on your hourly wage." But in two years you may have a job at all because of the EV push. "It's not sustainable… And for the consumer it's no good, because they don't go far enough and they're very expensive." In line with his policy proposal to curb the EV mandates to keep the U.S. auto industry thriving, Trump concluded the key to slowing Biden-caused inflation will be "drill, baby, drill." September 27: Fox News: San Francisco's mayor announced plans to require drug testing for all welfare recipients Democratic San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Tuesday unveiled a plan to require anyone receiving welfare to comply with mandatory drug testing and treatment programs amid growing pressure to get ahold of the city's homeless and fentanyl crises . Announcing the proposal with Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a recovering addict and former spokesperson for the police department Breed said the new initiative would require individuals with substance use disorders who want to access county-funded cash assistance to be enrolled in treatment and services. "San Francisco is a city of compassion, but also a city that demands accountability," Breed said in a statement. "We fund a wide range of services, and we want to help people get the care they need but under current state law, local government lack tools to compel people into treatment. This initiative aims to create more accountability and help get people to accept the treatment and services they need." September 27: The Washington Examiner: Senator Manchin circulates senate dress code proposal to undo the "Fetterman policy" The petition Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WVA) has reportedly been circulating to reverse the recent relaxation of the Senate dress code calls for men to wear a coat, tie, and long pants on the Senate floor. Manchin has been circulating the petition after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) directed the Senate's Sergeant at Arms to stop enforcing the formal dress code traditionally upheld in the upper chamber earlier this month. "Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit," Schumer said in a statement regarding the move. Fetterman's usual uniform is the likely inspiration for this move, as the senator—who suffered a stroke during his 2022 campaign and received recent inpatient treatment for clinical depression—has frequently been voting from the edge of the Senate floor, holding a thumbs up or down to indicate his vote. But not all Democrats are in agreement with the move. Manchin, for one, has been courting colleagues for their support of the two-page measure "Show Our Respect To the Senate Resolution," or the SHORTS resolution.  September 27: The Daily Caller: Biden rushes to beat Trump to UAW picket line while former Obama advisor calls it a mistake Joe Biden rushed to the picket line to join the striking United Auto Workers (UAW) in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, one day before former President Donald Trump planned to address former and current union workers in the city. Biden's announcement (September 22) was seen as an effort to out-trump Trump while negotiations continued to stall. On September 18th, Trump revealed he would travel to Detroit, MI instead of attending Wednesdays second GOP debate. He announced he would be meeting with plumbers, electricians and autoworkers currently or previously part of the UAW. Meanwhile, a former adviser to former President Barack Obama blasted Biden for joining striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Tuesday. "For him to be going on a picket line is outrageous," Steve Rattner, who was the "auto czar" during the Obama administration, said in an interview. "There's no precedent for it. The tradition of the president is to stay neutral in these things. I get the politics. The progressives all said, 'We don't want a mediator; we want an advocate.' And he bowed to the progressives, and now he's going out there to put his thumb on the scale. And it's wrong." The union seeks a four-day work week and a 36% salary increase over five years. Biden endorsed the union's demand for the pay increase even though the UAW has criticized his efforts to promote electric vehicles which has turned out to be a big loss for the automakers because car buyers are, by and large, not interested in purchasing them.  September 26: Fox News: Biden nearly stumbles exiting Air Force One hours after efforts exposed to prevent more falls Joe Biden nearly took a tumble down the stairs while getting off Air Force Once in Michigan on Tuesday, hours after it was exposed that his campaign team was making efforts to prevent him from taking a spill in public during the election season. Among other steps taken to keep Biden from falling was the change to have him use the 15-step ramp on the aircraft instead of the larger stairway usually used by presidents. The 80-year-old president had just landed in Detroit when he disembarked from the jumbo jet at Detroit Metro Airport. Around the eighth step, Biden was seen slipping before quickly correcting his balance and continuing down the steps. Earlier this year, the White House physician diagnosed Biden with "significant spinal arthritis." Since then, he has had multiple tripping incidents that have many people questioning his age and whether he is fit to serve as president. To prevent another embarrassing fall, Axios reported Tuesday, Biden's team is making a conscious effort to have him wear tennis shoes and limit stair climbs. September 26: One America News Network: FTC sues Amazon for monopolistic practices On Tuesday, the FTC and the 17 state attorneys general accused Amazon of illegally maintaining its monopoly power to "inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and business." The states that joined the FTC lawsuit were Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. "Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. "The complaint sets forth detailed allegations noting how Amazon is now exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them."  September 26: Sky News:
Seven ships have left Odesa through the temporary humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces has said. During a briefing, Pletenchuk said: "That is, seven out of seven successful cases. Two entered, seven left. "Five vessels are those that were here before the start of the full-scale invasion. Accordingly, this process continues. "We are doing everything to ensure the safety of the area where ships are in our territorial waters." After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow closed off the Black Sea ports from one of the world's biggest suppliers of grain, in what Kyiv and its Western backers called an attempt to use global food supplies as blackmail. In July 2022, the ports were reopened under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that allowed Russia to inspect ships for arms. But Moscow quit the deal a year later and reimposed the blockade, saying its demands for better terms for its own food and fertilizer exports were being ignored. September 25: WBIR Fox 10: Biden Admin moves to deport Christian family while welcoming millions of illegals to the USA Originally from Germany, the Romeike family fled to the U.S. after being fined approximately $9,000 for homeschooling their children in their mother country. Initially, an immigration judge found the Romeike family's asylum claim appropriate. But Obama Department of Justice appealed the decision and the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals revoked the family's asylum status. Since the family moved to the U.S. in 2008 two of their adult children have married U.S. citizens and they have had two more children born in the country, automatically making them U.S. citizens as well. "Our oldest children were in school in the German public schools, and their personality literally changed," Romeike said. "We wanted to help them to grow up in what they believed in, and what we believe in and not get basically indoctrinated with something we don't want." Then two weeks ago, an immigration agent asked his family to return in four weeks, with German passports, and to prepare to self-deport. With the push from the Biden Administration to essentially allow all comers to cross the U.S. southern border illegally, they are pushing to deport this Christian family which has been living in America legally for fifteen years. September 25: The Daily Caller: Federal Appeals Court to rehear case that could devastate Biden Admin's censorship regime The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Monday to consider expanding its injunction barring the Biden administration from coercing or significantly encouraging social media companies to censor speech to include other entities it initially excluded. The three federal judges who ruled earlier this month that the White House, Surgeon General, CDC and FBI violated the First Amendment agreed Monday to the plaintiff's request that they rehear the case and consider extending the injunction to other agencies, which they previously said the district court "erred" in including. The plaintiffs requested the court reinstate the injunction to include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and State Department officials, along with reinstating portions of the district court's injunction preventing government officials from collaborating with the private-sector partners including the Election Integrity Partnership and Virality Project. September 25: Fox News: Reporters pile on frustrated Biden press secretary over plans for Biden to join the UAW picket line Reporters at Monday's White House press briefing piled on press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over Joe Biden's decision to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) on the picket line Tuesday amid their strike against the Big Three car manufacturers. During the briefing, an increasingly frustrated Jean-Pierre pushed back as multiple members of the media questioned why Biden would be picketing alongside the union members if the administration's position was to avoid getting involved in the negotiations between the companies and the UAW. One reporter asked if Biden's decision to picket meant he supported the demands of the union, such as a 40% pay increase and a shorter work week. September 24: Sky News: Russia lost top naval commanders in Sevastopol missile strike, Ukraine says Ukraine has reported that its missile strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea hit a gathering of senior naval officials, causing casualties among top commanders and resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. The missile assault was launched by Kyiv on Friday morning, targeting the fleet situated in the port city of Sevastopol in Crimea, which is currently under Russian occupation. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's intelligence chief, revealed to Voice of America that Kyiv's assault on the Black Sea Fleet resulted in a reported nine fatalities and 16 injuries. He added that Alexander Romanchuk, a Russian general overseeing forces on the critical southeastern front, was in a severely critical condition following the attack. The Russian defense ministry initially reported the casualty count from Friday's strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters as one service member killed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military disclosed their air force carried out a total of 12 strikes on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, specifically targeting areas with a concentration of personnel, military equipment and weaponry. They reported hitting two anti-aircraft missile systems and four Russian artillery units during the operation. September 24: The Epoch Times: NJ Congressman to run against Menendez in Dem. primary after bribery indictment announced Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) has announced he is seeking to run in 2024 for the senate seat of incumbent Bob Menendez. Menendez, who is up for reelection in 2024, was recently indicted on bribery charges. Amid mounting calls for him to resign, the Senator said Friday he would not do so. However, he stepped down from his position as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  September 24: Texas Scorecard: Texas GOP Executive Committee calls upon Speaker Phelan to resign (58-2) In 58-2 vote, the Republican Party of Texas approved a resolution calling on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign. The resolution was approved during the State Republican Executive Committee meeting in Corpus Christi on Saturday, and cites Phelan's embrace of the failed impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton as well as his appointment of Democrats to leadership positions. Cited were his pressuring of House members to vote for the impeachment and his continuing to defend of his actions; the appointment of nine Democrats to chair key House committees; and his slow walking or ignoring key GOP initiatives (i.e., prioritizing border protection measures during the regular legislative session). September 24: News Max: Washington Post buries poll results showing Trump leading Biden Trump drew a majority 52% support among registered voters in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup versus Biden, whose support has sunk to just 42% in the latest left leaning Washington Post-ABC News poll. The Post's report Sunday morning said other polling might be more accurately showing the electorate's support for Biden as closer to a "virtual dead heat." "The Post-ABC poll shows Biden trailing Trump by 10 percentage points at this early stage in the election cycle, although the sizable margin of Trump's lead in this survey is significantly at odds with other public polls that show the general election contest a virtual dead heat," the left leading Washington Post story read. "The difference between this poll and others, as well as the unusual makeup of Trump's and Biden's coalitions in this survey, suggest it is probably an outlier." Notably, Trump was leading by 6 points among registered voters in May, too (49%-43%). While Trump leading Biden in a poll by double digits is unique, if not headline news in the Post, ABC News did not mention Trump leading Biden by 10 points among registered voters until the 19th paragraph, first mentioning Biden trails by 9 among U.S. adults (51%-42%) in paragraph 11. September 24: The Washington Examiner: First hearing scheduled for Biden impeachment House Republicans plan to hold their first hearing on the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden on Thursday, and they are aiming for a number of other behind-closed-doors interviews and depositions in the days and weeks to follow. The hearing, titled "The Basis for an Impeachment Inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.," will be conducted by the House Oversight Committee and focus on "constitutional and legal questions" related to allegations Biden was improperly involved in his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. The committee has not publicly confirmed witnesses for the hearing yet. Chairman James Comer's (R-KY) office also said last week he planned to subpoena bank records of two of the president's immediate family members, his son Hunter Biden and brother James Biden. Comer, alongside two other chairmen, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jason Smith (R-MO), are leading the impeachment inquiry into claims that Joe Biden used his authority as vice president for his and his son's personal financial gain. They are also looking into allegations from Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers that the Justice Department extended preferential treatment to Hunter Biden as it investigated him for tax and other crimes, leading key statutes of limitations to run out.  September 23: One American News Network:Gov. Newsome (D-CA) vetoes "gender identity" bill Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a California Bill that would allow parents to lose custody of their children if they refused to accept their gender identity. On Friday, Newsom vetoed AB 957, which the Assembly had approved on a party-line vote of 57-16. The governor wrote his veto message that the bill's approach could be used "to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities." Moreover, a court, under existing law, is required to consider a child's health, safety, and welfare when determining the best interests of a child in these proceedings, including the parent's affirmation of the child's gender identity," Newsom's message read. "For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill." The bill was introduced by Democrat Assemblywoman Lori Wilson in hopes that parents will "affirm their children" in their gender identity saying "our duty as parents is to affirm our children." Newsom stated that he appreciated the "passion and values" by Wilson and that he shares a "deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians, an effort that has guided [his] decisions through many decades in public office." September 23: News Max: Trump; "Nobody" attended Biden's UN speech Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to comment on Joe Biden's "surrender" speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "Biden just finished his surrender ('speech') at the United Nations, and nobody, despite all we give them, showed up. No respect for America any longer!" Trump said. Indeed, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak skipped the assembly, leaving the U.S. as the sole member out of five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to actually attend. "While Sunak and Macron have an excuse, I do think it is telling that they are absent," Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also did not attend. Chinese President Xi Jinping also skipped, as he did last week's G-20 in India. Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't attend either. In his speech, Biden appealed to the world leaders who did attend — including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Russian ambassador to the U.N. ¬ — to stand with Ukraine against Russia's invasion. "Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence," Biden said. "If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?" September 23: Rasussenreports.com: Weekly review of polls In surveys last week, this is what America told Rasmussen Reports: (1) 45% of those surveyed approve of the job Joe Biden is doing. (2) More than two-thirds of American voters are worried that their country is turning into a police state [a tyrannical government that engages in mass surveillance, censorship, ideological indoctrination, and targeting of political opponents] (3) A quarter of Democratic voters favor Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in their party's primary, and many would vote for Kennedy if he ran as a third-party candidate in 2024. (4) Concerns remain high over the integrity of elections with most voters worried that cheating could be a factor in next year's election. And (5) If the 2024 election proves to be a rematch between Biden and Trump, many voters are open to voting for a third-party challenger. September 22: Fox News: Biden handed major legal defeat over drilling in the Gulf of Mexico A federal court struck down the Biden administration's last-minute restrictions on an upcoming offshore oil and gas lease sale in a ruling late Thursday evening. Judge James Cain of the Western District of Louisiana granted a preliminary injunction request from plaintiffs — the State of Louisiana, industry association American Petroleum Institute (API) and oil companies Chevron and Shell — to block the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) restrictions on Lease Sale 261. The lease sale spanning millions of acres across the Gulf of Mexico is slated for next week. Cain ruled the federal government must proceed with the lease sale by Sept. 30 under its original conditions. As a result of a July settlement with environmental groups, BOEM removed about six million acres from the sale and imposed various restrictions on oil and gas vessels associated with the leases auctioned to protect the Rice's whale species found in parts of the Gulf of Mexico. "The court observes that plaintiffs have demonstrated substantial potential costs resulting from the challenged provisions," Cain wrote in his decision. "While the government defendants largely focus on the acreage withdrawal and dynamics of the sale itself, many of plaintiffs' alleged hardships arise from the vessel restrictions." September 22: News Max: McCarthy; There is still time to pass a short-term spending bill House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Friday he thinks it's still possible to push forward a partisan short-term stopgap in the House bill next week. "We've got members working, and hopefully we'll be able to move forward on Tuesday to pass these bills," McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol. He signaled his preference for avoiding a closure, but the small minority of conservative Republican members in the House will have a major say in whether a short-term extension is possible, and what will be in it. "I still believe if you shut down, you're in a weaker position," he said. "You need the time to fund the government while you pass all the appropriations bills," McCarthy said. He reportedly believes the conservative Republican "hold outs" will cave when they face the final crunch of an actual shutdown. However, if the House had been doing its job all along, all 12 appropriation measures would have been passed by the House by July of this year. As it is, only one has been passed by the House. [See related story] September 22: iHeart Media/KTRH Houston: Menendez (D-NJ) and wife indicted on bribery charges The Justice Department announced today that New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were indicted on bribery charges. Menedez and his wife are accused of receiving cash, gold bars, a luxury car, payments toward a home mortgage, and other benefits in exchange for helping enrich local New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government. Prosecutors allege that overall, Menedez received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. The indictment also claims that Mendez "promised to and did use his influence and power and breach his official duty to recommend that the President nominate an individual for U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who Menendez believed could be influenced by Menendez with respect to the federal prosecution of Fred Daibes," a wealthy New Jersey developer. This is the second time Menendez has been indicted during his term in office.  September 22: News Max: Matt Gaetz (R-FL); The House is trying to undo Speaker McCarthy's failures Rep. Gaetz, said Friday that House Republicans are racing against the clock on the budget crisis to "correct" the "failures" of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) whom he's been openly critical of for some time. "The issue is Kevin McCarthy purposefully backed us up against the wall where government funding was running out, and we hadn't passed single-subject spending bills," Gaetz said. "So, we're now trying to do work to correct the failures of Kevin McCarthy. Thursday at 3 p.m., while we're here trying to hammer this stuff out, Kevin McCarthy sent everyone home. This is not the French work week. We've got only a few legislative days left before the country runs out of money and you've got Kevin McCarthy quite literally punting while we're trying to move the ball forward. So, I give him no credit for this movement. It has happened in spite of him, not because of him, and we're going to have to address his leadership after we get through this government funding crisis." "Here's what it looks like: reviewing single-subject spending bills where agencies of government have to stand before us and defend their budget without all being lumped together," he continued. "Since 1997, this country has been governed by either a continuing resolution or an omnibus bill, and what those two things have in common is that every disparate agency that's in government is subjected to just one up or down vote to fund the whole thing or not fund the whole thing. That is unserious, we have moved away from that…" [See Related Story]  September 22: The Epoch Times: Commerce Secretary testifies before Congress on China's advanced chips The United States has seen no evidence that Chinese manufacturer Huawei can make advanced smartphone chips "at scale," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told lawmakers on Sept. 19. Huawei recently launched the Mate 60 Pro phone that some analysts described as a "milestone" for China, spotlighting a 7-nanometer chip built domestically by China's top chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. Beijing has hailed the new device as Huawei's "triumphant return" four years after the United States moved to cut off the firm's access to essential chipmaking technologies. Raimondo acknowledged she was "upset" upon hearing about China's technological breakthrough during her trip to the country last month. September 21: The Epoch Times: Will the SCOTUS consider whether Trump can be on the ballot in 2024 By October 9th the U.S. Supreme Court will make a decision on whether to take up a case on whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from running for office based on an interpretation of the 14th Amendment after a long-shot GOP presidential candidate filed a lawsuit. Castro claimed in his petition that the former president should be disqualified due to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, invoking allegations that Trump partook in an insurrection against the U.S. government even though none of the multiple indictments of the former president have included charges of insurrection. Castro's initial suit was dismissed in June by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is also overseeing the classified documents case brought about by the federal government against President Trump. Castro has claimed that as a Republican candidate, President Trump appearing on the New Hampshire ballot impedes his capacity to get small-dollar donations. Federal Election Commission records show that he has raised zero dollars and gave his own presidential campaign $20 million. September 21: The Washington Times: House scrambling to pass spending measures before government default House Republicans are still scrambling to put together a package of spending measures with fresh cuts in lieu of making progress on stopgap spending legislation to prevent a partial government shutdown on Sept. 30. Word of the package comes as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy failed for the second time this week to advance a procedural vote for the annual defense spending bill, which is considered by many to be a layup vote for conservatives. Time is running out for lawmakers to do something before the government partially shuts down. There are only nine calendar days left before the Sept. 30 deadline. September 21: The Epoch Times: UAW President files complaint with NLRB against Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), alleging violations of federal labor law. Fain's complaint centers on remarks made by Mr. Scott concerning striking workers, which the union boss argues encroached upon workers' rights. The dispute comes after Scott, a contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, was questioned about the ongoing UAW strike during a campaign event in Iowa earlier this week. Mr. Scott commended former President Ronald Reagan's actions in 1981 when he terminated thousands of federal employees who had initiated a strike. "I think Ronald Reagan gave us a great example when federal employees decided they were going to strike," he said. "He said, you strike, you're fired. Simple concept to me to the extent that we can use that once again."  September 21: The Washington Times:Fourth IRS official discloses "roadblocks" against charging Hunter Biden A fourth IRS official has told Congress about roadblocks that now-special counsel David Weiss faced last year in attempting to bring charges against Hunter Biden outside his home district of Delaware. Darrell Waldon, the former IRS special agent in charge of the agency's Washington field office, told the House Ways and Means Committee in a closed-door interview earlier this month about a number of challenges he witnessed during his two years on the case, according to a transcript of the interview.  September 20: The Daily Caller: Dems, freak out over Trump's plan to visit striking auto workers
Former President Donald Trump's plan to visit United Auto Workers (UAW) members who are striking in Detroit, Michigan, is causing some Democrats close to the White House to freak out and think that the Biden campaign needs to "step up," according to a Politico report. Trump is expected to skip the second GOP Presidential debate on Sept. 27, instead planning to speak with current and former UAW members in Detroit. The move has reportedly caused Democrats close to the White House to worry that the former president's 2024 campaign strategy may be more sophisticated than in the past. "Trump scooped us. Now if we announce we're going, it looks like we're just going because of Trump," a national Democratic strategist said. "We waited too long. That's the challenge." The UAW began its strike shortly after its contract with automakers expired on Sept. 14. The union is demanding a whopping 46% pay raise over five years and a shortened work week while asking to be paid for a 40-hour work week. Some Democrats close to the White House said the move is viewed as a "cynical ploy" to earn the support of striking UAW members. One union worker said that "[Trump] actually has people who know what they're doing. He boxed Biden in. It was kinda genius." September 20: Rassmussen Reports: Many Democrats say they would consider voting for RFK, Jr. as third party candidate A quarter of Democratic voters favor Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in their party's primary, and many would vote for Kennedy if he ran as a third-party candidate in 2024. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 57% of Likely Democratic voters would vote for Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primaries, while 25% would vote for RFK Jr. Many of the RFK voters indicated they might be willing to vote for him if he decided to run as a third-party candidate. September 20: The New York Post: Rep. Thomas Massie rips AG Merrick Garland over Jan. 6 informants: 'You may have just perjured yourself' Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accused Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday of lying during a House Judiciary Committee hearing about his knowledge of federal law enforcement activities during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Massie previously tangled with Garland in October 2021 over the same issue, questioning whether undercover FBI agents were present at the storming of the Capitol. At the time, Massie  showed video footage of then-Arizona Oath Keepers president Roy Epps, who had urged protesters on the eve of the "Stop the Steal" rally "to go into the Capitol" — but had never been charged. On Wednesday, Garland told Massie and other members of the House Judiciary Committee that he had no knowledge of federal involvement on Jan. 6 — despite an FBI official testifying in June that "a handful" of confidential human sources were there. "That was your answer to a question to me two years ago, when I said how many agents or assets of the government were present on January 5 and January 6, and agitating in the crowd to go into the Capitol and how many went into the Capitol," Massie recounted. "Can you answer that now?"
September 20: The Washington Examiner: AG Garland on the hot seat before House Judiciary House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the Department of Justice of "unequal application of the law" during his opening remarks at a hearing Wednesday, setting the stage for a contentious afternoon as lawmakers confront Attorney General Merrick Garland. Jordan said, "Americans believe that today in our country there is unequal application of the law, and they believe that because there is." The chairman, first criticized the attorney general for appointing David Weiss as special counsel in the case against Hunter Biden and highlighted concerns with special counsel Jack Smith's two historic indictments of former President Donald Trump. Jordan pointed to a now-failed plea deal between special counsel Weiss and Hunter Biden, noting that a federal judge who raised issues with the plea deal found the deal to be abnormally broad. Garland appointed "the guy who let all that happen," Jordan observed. Garland in his opening remarks made one of his first and most direct objections to Republicans' accusations, saying, "Our job is to help keep our country safe. ... There is not one set of laws for the powerful and one for the powerless." September 20: Sky News: Russian losses significantly increased in recent days Russian losses have "significantly increased" in western Zaporizhzhia in recent days, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The US-based thinktank said the Russian military "likely struggles with a lack of available combat effective units that the Russian command is willing to laterally redeploy to this sector of the front." The ISW's analysis also said both Russian and Ukrainian sources "credited superior Ukrainian combat coordination, more precise artillery fire, and stronger electronic warfare systems for recent Ukrainian advances south of Bakhmut amid continued discussions of significant Russian losses in the area." September 19: Fox News: Local Washington state mayor calls. 911; complaining about people gathering petition signatures outside Walmart A state of Washington mayor said she's being harassed after audio from her 911 call to report a group of "far right-wing" petition signature gatherers at Walmart surfaced. There's some far right-wing petitioners at Walmart and they don't—they're not leaving," Yakima Mayor Janice Deccio can be heard saying in a 911 call from Sept. 3. "Walmart has asked them repeatedly to do so, and the police have not taken them off the premises." Activists were gathering signatures on six Washington ballot initiatives relating to taxes, parental rights and police pursuits over the Labor Day weekend. In the 911 call, the dispatcher and a supervisor can be heard telling Mayor Deccio the petitioners have a right to gather signatures on private property under state law and that Walmart would need to obtain a court order to stop them. "Gathering signatures for ballot measure petitions is a constitutionally guaranteed practice in the State of Washington," according to the Washington Secretary of State's office, which acknowledges the law does not clearly spell out to what extent businesses or other private property owners can exclude petitioners.  September 18: The Texas Scorecard: Medina county, GOP, censures house, impeachment manager, Andrew Murr
Republican State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction)has been censured by another county in the house district he represents for "opposing the core principles of the Republican Party." Murr represents House District 53, northwest of San Antonio. He chairs the House General Investigating Committee, which brought impeachment charges against Texas Attorney General Paxton, who was acquitted by the Texas Senate this past weekend. The Medina County GOP (in Murr's district) has censured the representative for his role in the rushed impeachment process, as well as for his vote for House Speaker Dade Phelan who appointed Democrats to key committee chairmanships in the Texas House. They also highlighted his votes against school choice legislation. Murr also voted against SJRes 35 which would have amended the Texas constitution mandating voters in Texas by U.S. citizens. Other GOP executive committees within Murr's district have also censured him. September 18: WJBK Detroit: Trump trumps President, scheduling meeting with striking United Auto Workers first Former President Donald Trump will be coming to Detroit to speak to striking United Auto Workers on Sept. 27 according to a person familiar with his plans said Monday to the Associated Press. The visit to Detroit - which has not been officially confirmed by Trump or the UAW - means he will skip the upcoming second Republican Primary Debate to be held that same night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. If Trump does so, it puts him out front of President Biden in personally reaching out to the union and its workers. In recent days, Trump has been leaning hard into the strike, painting himself as sympathetic to the workers and accusing Biden of trying to destroy the car industry by expanding electric cars and other green energy policies. September 18: The Washington Examiner: US federal judge hears arguments for removing the Georgia case to federal court A federal judge during a Monday hearing was skeptical about former Trump administration Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark's bid to move his Georgia election subversion case to federal court. Clark argues he was operating in his official capacity at the DOJ's environmental division and in an acting capacity at the civil division when he sent a letter to Georgia officials raising concerns of mass election fraud. Prosecutors claim Clark knew the letter he sent included a false statement, also saying that Clark's superiors at the DOJ told him it was a lie and that he lacked authority to make fraud allegations. Harry MacDougland, an attorney for Clark, countered that the DOJ had already been looking into fraud claims before Clark's involvement in the matter. "The Rubicon had already been crossed," MacDougald said, according to the Associated Press. Unlike his co-defendant Mark Meadows, Clark avoided taking questions from prosecutors and was not even present for the Monday hearing. Meadows, the former White House chief of staff, took the stand last month before Jones in an effort to have his case removed to federal court. He testified during an all-day hearing on Aug. 28, but Jones denied his request on Sept. 8, prompting Meadows to appeal. September 18: The Epoch Times: Former speaker Pelosi responsible for January 6 after turning down request for security Former President Donald Trump is accusing Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) of being primarily responsible for the Capitol breach on Jan. 6 as she turned down his offer of deploying 10,000 soldiers prior to the incident. "I offered 10,000 people to the mayor of Washington D.C. and Nancy Pelosi … and they turned it down flat," President Trump said in a Sept. 17 interview. "Nancy Pelosi, who was then the House speaker, "was in charge of security. She turned down 10,000 soldiers. If she didn't turn down the soldiers, you wouldn't have had January 6th." September 17: The Washington Examiner: Speaker McCarthy; Hunter Biden will be subpoenaed House Republicans leading the charge over the investigation into Joe Biden, and his son, will subpoena Hunter Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said, noting the timing would be in accordance with the facts. "Hunter Biden will get subpoenaed, but when is the appropriate time? Do you do it because television wants it?" McCarthy said during an interview on Fox News. He noted it wasn't his role to be filing any subpoena at the younger Biden or anyone in the investigation, noting he lets 'committees do their work." The House Speaker announced last week the opening of an impeachment inquiry into the president. Republicans who lead three key House committees are joining forces to investigate the matter, which includes the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the House Judiciary Committee. McCarthy made the decision in order to look into allegations related to business dealings by the younger Biden and whether his dad had any involvement in the foreign business dealings. The formal investigation was initiated without a vote on the House floor. The move was seen as an effort to galvanize vocal Republicans who have been calling for a more formal investigation into Joe Biden as part of their negotiations to help McCarthy secure the speakership.  September 17: Fox News: US Senate will no longer enforce its dress codes on the Senate Floor
The U.S. Senate will no longer enforce a dress code for members of the upper house elected by those they serve. "However, others entering the chamber must comply with the dress code. Coats/ties for men. Business attire for women," Chad Pergram, the Senior Congressional Correspondent for Fox News tweeted. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) quietly sent the directive to the Senate's Sergeant at Arms, Axios reported. The change allows Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) to continue wearing his trademark "hoodies and gym shorts" while "working" for Americans. Fetterman was previously praised for "turning heads" and "redefining fashion in the stuffy Senate" during his recovery following a six-week stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was treated for "clinical depression" and "fitted for hearing aids for hearing loss that had made it harder for him to communicate." The senator even found a "workaround" to the legislative body's dress code rules. "He votes from the doorway of the Democratic cloakroom or the side entrance, making sure his 'yay' or 'nay' is recorded before ducking back out." September 17: Sky News: Update on Ukraine; More attacks on Russian targets in Crimea and Ukraine takes back another village from Russian forces Explosions and shooting heard across the Crimean city of Sevastopol today are reportedly the result of a joint operation between Ukraine's GRU and the navy. News reports say that on Sunday evening a powerful explosion rang out in the central part of temporarily occupied Sevastopol. It is not clear if such an operation has taken place, or is still underway - as the report is unverified but locals in the Crimean city report hearing multiple explosions and shooting. There have been earlier reports that the Crimean bridge had been closed to traffic, although it is not clear if the events are linked just yet. Meanwhile Russia reports two drones have been downed in Crimea in the last few hours. Meanwhile to the east, Kyiv claims it has retaken Klishchiivka, another village near the symbolic city of Bakhmut, doing so 48 hours after it liberated the village of Andriivka. "Klishchiivka was cleared of the Russians and liberated," Alexander Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces has said. Additionally, Ilya Yevlash, the head of the press service of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told the Suspilne news agency that the village had been taken, with video and images circulating reportedly showing soldiers there celebrating and holding Ukrainian flags. The village is just under 5 miles from the city of Bakhmut - with Andriivka, less than two miles away from the city, having been recaptured by Ukrainian forces. The Russia government is denying any of this has happened. September 17: News Max: Morris; The point of the Gag Order is to put Trump in jail The goal behind the gag order sought on Donald Trump is to put the former president behind bars, said political consultant Dick Morris. "This entire Fulton County charade has one goal and that is to put Trump in jail," Morris said. "And the way they're going to do it is by making these outrageous charges against him, putting a biased left-wing judge in charge whose husband was a member of the Black Panthers and who's a radical, radical left-wing prosecutor. ... Obviously, running a political campaign you can't be under a gag order. "You have to talk about the issues, which Donald Trump does famously and forthrightly. If he does that now, it's going to land him in jail and we will have an image of the president of the United States — a former president and a candidate for president — who will literally be campaigning from inside a jail cell," he added. "And that will graphically illustrate to the American people how low this left-wing government has gotten in the way they are persecuting this man." Special counsel Jack Smith on Friday asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan for a narrow gag order on Trump in the criminal case accusing the former president of attempting to undo the results of the 2020 election, according to a court filing. "The defendant has an established practice of issuing inflammatory public statements targeted at individuals or institutions that present an obstacle or challenge to him," Smith said in a filing in U.S. district court. If the court goes along with establishing a gag order, it is expected Trump's legal team will appeal the decision all the way to the Supreme Court claiming election interference and violation of his first amendment free speech rights. September 16: The Epoch Times: New Mexico voters organize to void gun control laws enacted in the state A grassroots movement is challenging six laws passed in the New Mexico state legislature that its organizers say threaten their communities, infringe upon parental rights, and compromise the election process. "People are starting to realize that this is not the state that they grew up in," Larry Marker, an independent oil and gas producer who is a part of the group that initiated the Referendum Project said. The nonpartisan Referendum Project's mission is supported by Article IV, Section 1 of the state constitution, which gives citizens the right to "reserve the power to disapprove, suspend and annul any law enacted by the legislature, except general appropriation laws; laws providing for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety; for the payment of the public debt or interest thereon, or the creation or funding of the same, except as in this constitution otherwise provided; for the maintenance of the public schools or state institutions and local or special laws." September 16: Sky News: Is Russia planning to attack Ukraine's facilities this winter? Russia knows where to hit Ukraine's energy infrastructure, after all, they built it! Military expert Sean Bell reports that between October last year and March, Russia launched wave after wave of cruise missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The Russians used the air-launched AS 23a Kodiak cruise missile for many of these attacks and since April this year, Russia has reduced dramatically its use of these missiles while ramping up their production. The UK MoD suggests that the Russians are increasing their stockpiles of these cruise missiles in preparation for a resumption of attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure this coming winter. Russia knows where the key energy infrastructure nodes are as they were all built in the Soviet Union era. However, as a result of last year's sustained attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, the locals have become more resilient and developed work-arounds. And the increasingly effective Ukrainian air defense systems will undoubtedly be focused on protecting critical national infrastructure. Despite the hardship, the sustained Russian attacks on the Ukrainian population have yet to undermine morale - indeed, evidence suggests that this has simply served to stiffen Ukrainian resolve. September 16: The Washington Times: Hunter Biden's indictment just might be expanded Hunter Biden 's indictment on gun charges may be just the start of legal troubles that could become an increasing threat to his father's reelection bid. Federal prosecutors indicted the president's son Thursday on three felony charges tied to possessing a firearm while using narcotics. The charges carry a combined maximum prison sentence of 25 years, but the president's son could face even more jail time for tax fraud and foreign lobbying charges linked to the elder Joe Biden 's time as vice president. Prosecutors in a July hearing signaled they could expand their investigation further to determine if the president's son should be prosecuted for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act or FARA. Hunter Biden raked in millions of dollars in foreign business deals, in part, ex-business associates said, by leveraging his father's clout as vice president. Those actions may open him to prosecution for failure to register as a foreign agent — a law that has landed multiple Trump associates in prison.  September 16: Texas Scorecard: Texas Senate acquits AG Paxton of all charges, wants audit of House expenditures The Texas Senate, today, acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton of all charges included in the Texas House's impeachment. Meanwhile Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had strong words for the House who brought the charges forward. Patrick, who presided over the proceedings, had been silent on the merits of the case until after the decision. Once it was final, Patrick offered comments that blasted the House's process in an effort to ensure it didn't happen again. "In the past, the target of the investigation was notified and invited to attend with counsel and given the opportunity to cross examine witnesses that were placed under oath before testimony was taken. At the conclusion of past House investigations, the evidence was laid out for weeks for House members to evaluate before they took their vote on articles of impeachment," said Patrick. In contrast, House members were given 48 hours' notice before their vote impeach Paxton in May. "In the next regular session, we must amend the Texas Constitution on the issue of impeachment, because the way the constitution is currently written allowed this flawed process to happen this year.," said Patrick. "Any testimony given in a House impeachment investigation must be given under oath and the target must be allowed to be present with a lawyer to cross examine the witnesses. Otherwise, people can say anything without any accountability or need to be truthful because there is no threat of perjury." House witnesses were notably not put under oath when they talked with investigators earlier this year. "Millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on this impeachment. 31 Senators and a large Senate staff that made this trial possible have put their family life, jobs, and businesses on hold for 3 months after being here already from January to June," Patrick added as he called for a full audit of taxpayer money spent by the House on the investigation. "An impeachment should never happen again in the House like it happened this year," he concluded. Meanwhile there have been calls for Speaker Phelan to resign. State Representative Brian Harrison (R) said, "Instead of securing the border, passing school choice, banning COVID mandates, fixing our grid and energy market, reining in emergency executive powers, cutting spending, ending property taxes, deregulating our economy, or stopping communist governments from buying Texas land, the Speaker of the House prioritized the impeachment of a recently re-elected Attorney General who has proven he is up to the most important task of our time: fighting the out of control federal government, which seeks to destroy our rights, our freedoms, our liberties, our state sovereignty, and the Constitution," said Harrison. "For that reason, in addition to his appointment of liberal Democrats to chair powerful committees and his presiding over the House while clearly unable to execute the duties of his office, I am calling on Speaker Dade Phelan to step down immediately," he said. Speaker Phelan has been censored by several county GOP executive committees including one in his home district in southeastern Texas. September 15: News Max: Turley; Five things to know about impeachment of Joe Biden Law professor and Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, has said he does not believe that a case for impeachment has yet been made against Joe Biden, maintaining there is "clearly a need for a probe into a growing array of allegations facing [Biden]." Turley suggested there are five things needed to be considered. First, there needs to be evidence that Joe Biden lied to the public for years in denying knowledge of his son's business dealings. "Hunter Biden's ex-business associate, Tony Bobulinski, has said repeatedly that he discussed some dealings directly with Joe Biden." Second, we know that more than $29 million was paid to the Bidens by foreign sources, including figures in China, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania. There is no apparent reason for the multilayers of accounts and companies other than to hide these transfers. Third, specific demands were made on Hunter, including dealing with the threat of a Ukrainian prosecutor to the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, where Hunter was given a lucrative board position. Five days later, Joe Biden forced the Ukrainians to fire the prosecutor. "Fourth, Hunter repeatedly stated in emails that he paid his father as much as half of what he earned. And Fifth, there is evidence of alleged criminal conduct by Hunter that could be linked to covering up these payments, from the failure to pay taxes to the failure to register as a foreign lobbyist. What is not established is the assumption by many that Joe Biden was fully aware of both the business dealings and any efforts to conceal them. Turley said the inquiry "may not result in the impeachment of [Joe] Biden, but it will result in greater clarity. Indeed, it is that very clarity that many in Washington may fear the most from this inquiry."  September 15: iHeart Media/KTRH Houston: UAW goes on strike against the three major US automakers
The United Auto Workers union announced its workers are going on strike against the "Big Three" automakers, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. It is the first time in history that workers for the three automakers went on strike at the same time. Just after midnight on Friday, workers at a GM plant in Wentzville, Missouri, a Stellantis plant in Toledo, Ohio, and a Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, walked off the job. Workers at other plants will continue to work without a contract. The targeted strike currently involves about 13,000 of the UAW's 145,000 workers, but union officials said more workers will walk off the job the longer the strike lasts. The big sticking point in the negotiations is pay, with workers demanding a 40% increase over four years. Workers are also fighting to regain many of the benefits they lost in the last negotiations when the automakers were struggling financially. "We didn't want to be here. We want a fair agreement. We want fair economic and social justice for our members. That's what this is all about. And it's a shame," Shawn Fain, the union's president said.  September 15: Rasmussen Report: Most Georgia voters think Trump prosecution is unfair The prosecution of former President Donald Trump by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is unfair, according to a majority of Georgia voters, most of whom have concerns about the integrity of elections in their state. A new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports finds that 56% of Likely Georgia voters believe it is likely Trump is being unfairly prosecuted by DA Willis, including 39% who say it's Very Likely. Thirty-seven percent (37%) don't think it's likely Willis is unfairly prosecuting Trump, including 28% who say an unfair prosecution is Very Unlikely. September 14: The Daily Caller: Hunter Biden indicted on three felony counts Joe Biden's son Hunter, has been indicted on felony gun charges in Delaware, according to a partially redacted court filing by Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel David Weiss. According to the indictment Biden was indicted Thursday on three counts for providing false statements and knowingly possessing the gun while he was addicted to drugs, in connection with the acquisition of a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018. According to the defendant information sheet, he faces a maximum prison sentence of ten years for the first and third offenses, with the second offense holding a maximum of five years. Meanwhile, Hunter and his dad are embroiled in accusations of influence peddling while his dad was Vice President, accusations which are backed up by data on Hunter's laptop, former associates, and numerous whistle blowers. September 14: Fox News: Key GOP lawmakers respond to indictment of Hunter Biden House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Thursday indicting Hunter Biden on federal gun charges is a "very small start," while calling on Special Counsel David Weiss to "investigate everyone involved" in the Biden family's alleged "fraud schemes and influence peddling." Comer's comments come shortly after Biden was indicted on federal gun charges out of Weiss' investigation. Biden was charged with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. If convicted the President's son could face years of jail time, assuming his dad doesn't pardon him. September 14: Texas Scorecard: Prosecution and Defense teams rest after eight days in Paxton Impeachment trial Both the prosecution and defense have rested their case in the Senate's impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, signaling a coming conclusion to the procedure which has lasted for eight days. On Wednesday night, Rusty Hardin—a lawyer for the prosecution—accidentally rested the House case early after interviewing a witness. Thursday's defense presentation was focused on several current employees of the Office of the Attorney General who provided perspective on the impeachment charges levied against Paxton. Austin Kinghorn, the associate deputy attorney general for legal counsel that replaced "whistleblower" Ryan Vassar, refuted claims that the office put together a "sham investigation" after a group of former employees went to the FBI and accused Ken Paxton of illegal activity. Kinghorn, who read the report multiple times, said he saw nothing wrong with it. He said would have reported his concerns if he had. Grant Dorfman, the deputy first assistant attor¬ney general, echoed that same sentiment. Both sides will be given one hour to present closing arguments when the Senate reconvenes at 9 a.m. on Friday. Senators will then be given the opportunity to deliberate before making their decision. The prosecution needs 21 senators, or a two-thirds majority, to remove Paxton from office.  September 14: The Washington Examiner: Justice Alito temporarily pauses order restricting Biden Admin's social media contacts Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito paused an order restricting the Biden administration's communications with social media companies. Alito's temporary hold on a federal judge's July 4 ruling comes after the Justice Department asked the high court to stay the decision, arguing it infringes on the First Amendment rights of government officials and impedes their duties. The government's response is due by September 22nd. The lawsuit, Missouri v. Biden, was filed last year by then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, claiming the federal government colluded with social media companies such as Twitter and Meta to suppress the freedom of speech. September 14: The Washington Times: GA judge blocks DA Willis' request to have Donald Trump tried in October Former President Donald Trump and 16 co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case will not go to trial in October, a state judge ruled Thursday in a stunning legal loss for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ordered that the 17 defendants will not be tried alongside lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell on Oct. 23. Judge McAfee said severing the cases was a "procedural and logistical inevitability," adding that it was possible that "additional divisions" may be required later. The judge's one-page order didn't set a new trial date for Trump or his 16 co-defendants. He did spell out a timeline that would mean they wouldn't head to trial until at least December. Under the Judge's order, pretrial disputes with the 17 severed cases should be resolved by the end of the year. He also ordered discovery to start by Oct. 6. Although Judge McAfee ordered pretrial motions to be filed by Dec. 1, he did not schedule a hearing on those requests, possibly pushing back a trial until January. The Fulton County Democrat DA wanted to require all 19 original defendants to stand trial together claiming separate trials would create a strain on the judicial system. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.  September 13: One American News Network: Trump held a private meeting with gold star families from the US's botched Afghanistan withdrawal
According to a report former President Donald Trump hosted the Gold Star families of the 13 U.S. service soldiers who died in the suicide bombing at the Kabul Airport in 2021. "Trump was way more than I expected," said Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Sergeant Nicole Gee. "The contrast is stark with [Joe Biden who] we met at Dover." The 45th president "knew so much about the event, the kids, Bagram and who made decisions… He was a normal human and made eye contact, answered every question, even the uncomfortable ones," Shamblin continued. Trump reportedly surprised everyone by spending several additional hours with them after their meeting, during which he signed photographs of their children. Another mother of a slain soldier, Paula Knauss Selph, sobbed as she watched Trump write the same words that she frequently used to tell her son Ryan on a framed photograph of him: "You are My Hero." September 13: The Washington Free Beacon: Pentagon taps disinformation researcher who applauded censorship of Biden laptop story The Biden administration has tapped a researcher who applauded Twitter for censoring stories about Hunter Biden's laptop to "proactively respond" to international disinformation campaigns. The Defense Department in May inked a contract with a tech firm run by Lisa Kaplan, a disinformation researcher who said pre-Musk Twitter's decision to block links to the New York Post's October 2020 story about the troubled first son was a "good move." On Twitter and in the press at the time, Kaplan applauded what she called the social media giant's "efforts … to address disinformation, making it so that people can't share a link known to be false." Kaplan's support for the censorship of a legitimate news story could raise concerns about the reliability of her work for the Pentagon. September 12: News Max: Blackburn (R-TN); A new Axis of Evil of concern to the US Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Tuesday the new "axis of evil" of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia is a top concern for the United States (or at least should be). In the backdrop of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, she warned viewers of those working to overthrow U.S. global hegemony. "We should be paying close attention to this," Blackburn stressed. "And, of course, with Kim Jong Un going to Russia and meeting and looking at where they can partner. Of course, you think about Ukraine. ... You think about the Indo-Pacific and those islands nations – about Taiwan, about South Korea." It has been rumored that North Korea is looking at options for selling Russia much needed ammunition and weaponry in exchange for food for their citizens. September 12: Sky News: What could Kim Jong Un give Russia that it doesn't already have? Vladimir Putin will attempt to get ammunition from his meeting with Kim Jong Un, defense analyst Professor Michael Clarke has said. Offering his analysis of the approaching meeting between the two leaders, Clarke said North Korea will attempt to get grain and food out of the meeting while Russia will look for ammunition. "Around a quarter of North Korea's population is said by the UN to be starving and the other three quarters are at subsistence levels," he said. "So, they certainly need food and oil." Clarke said the Russian army had probably used between 8-11 million artillery rounds so far in the war. "They need ammunition and that's what they will get out of it," he added. "The war of course just goes on absorbing more ammunition." The defense analyst also said the Russian army was moving its troops and amassing men near Kharkiv for a "big counter push" September 11: News Max: Van Jones (CNN); Dems are "Terrified" over Biden running again CNN analyst and Democrat activist Van Jones said Sept. 7 that Democrats are starting "whispers" about the issue of President Joe Biden's age in the upcoming 2024 race. "I think a lot of these Democrats look at these [recent poll] numbers and say the 'whispers' [about Biden's age] are finally showing up in this data," Jones said on CNN. "People are talking behind their hand. They worry about Joe Biden. He is like the grandpa that you love, you believe in, you owe a lot [to], but you start to wonder. Would you give this grandpa a high-stress job for six more years, or would you want something else for him." A September 7th CNN poll found that 74% say that Biden, 80, does not have "the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively as president," with only 26% saying he is up for another term. The number has increased 7 percentage points since March, when 67% of people believed he does not have those capabilities for the presidency, and from 51% in November 2019, the data showed. The poll shows overall 61% disapproval in the way Biden is performing his duties as president, leaving him with only 39% of voters approving of his performance in the job. September 10: News Max: Group sues after NM Governor suspends right to carry a gun in Albuquerque in public New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's (D) emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in and around Albuquerque drew an immediate court challenge from a gun-rights group Saturday, as legal scholars and advocates said they expected. The National Association for Gun Rights and Foster Haines, a member who lives in Albuquerque, filed documents in U.S. District Court in New Mexico suing Lujan Grisham and seeking an immediate block to the implementation of her order. The governor, said the 30-day suspension, enacted as an emergency public health measure, would apply in most public places, from city sidewalks to parks. She said state police would be responsible for enforcing what amount to civil violations and carry a fine of up to $5,000. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, who once served as a Democratic party leader and was appointed by Lujan Grisham, on Saturday joined Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Police Chief Harold Medina saying they wouldn't enforce the order. "As an officer of the court, I cannot and will not enforce something that is clearly unconstitutional," said Bregman, the top prosecutor in the Albuquerque area. "This office will continue to focus on criminals of any age that use guns in the commission of a crime." September 10: News Max: Rep. Hill; We shouldn't repeat Pelosi's mistakes if we impeach Joe Biden The House should not "repeat the mistakes" that Democrats made with their impeachment inquiries into former President Donald Trump when considering whether to do the same to Joe Biden, Rep. French Hill said. The Arkansas Republican said, "We don't want to repeat the mistakes we think that [former House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi made by prematurely moving to impeachment during the Trump administration." Hill said he believes that neither House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-KY) nor House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) have "even remotely completed" the probes into the foreign business dealings of the Biden family. "I don't believe they've even remotely completed their work on the kind of detailed investigations and quality work that Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy is expecting both those committees to produce before someone goes to, you know, an impeachment activity," Hill said. However, McCarthy (R-CA) has indicated that the House could hold a vote to start an impeachment inquiry as soon as this month, despite hesitation from some Republican moderates. Comer and other Republicans argue that such a move would give them more tools with which to investigate. This also comes as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) pledges that she won't vote for government funding without an impeachment inquiry as the threat of a government shutdown looms at the end of this month. September 9: Fox News: Alito "schools" Senate Democrats on unfounded demands Justice Samuel Alito on Friday flatly rejected demands from Senate Democrats that he recuse himself from an upcoming Supreme Court case, calling their argument invalid. In an August 3 letter, Democrats led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Chief Justice John Roberts to "take appropriate steps" to ensure that Alito recuse himself from Moore v. United States. The demand was made because Alito had sat down for a Wall Street Journal interview with opinion journalist David B. Rivkin, a practicing attorney who is a lawyer in the case. "This argument is unsound," Alito wrote in an unusual statement added to a list of Supreme Court orders. "There is no valid reason for my recusal in this case." Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have been highly critical of Alito and the rest of the court for failing to adopt an ethics code, following reports of undisclosed paid trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas and, on one occasion, by Alito. The committee approved an ethics code for the court on a party-line vote, though it is unlikely to become law. September 9: The Epoch Times: 5th Circuit; Biden Admin likely violated 1st Amendment on social media censorship The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that several Biden administration officials had likely breached the First Amendment by pressuring social media companies to moderate or take down content they deemed problematic. But the three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed much of an injunction issued by a Louisiana judge that restricted Democratic administration from communicating with social media companies. The court said the White House, Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the FBI "likely coerced or significantly encouraged social media platforms to moderate content" in violation of the First Amendment. September 9: The Washington Examiner: House race in RI; Republican looking for upset this November Rhode Island voters have selected former Democratic White House staffer Gabriel Amo and Republican political newcomer Gerry Leonard to compete in the special election to represent them in the US House; one is due to be selected to serve in this November's election. The primary elections, which were held Tuesday, introduced both men to the national stage, where they will seek to win a seat left vacant by former Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) who retired earlier this year. Amo is favored to win the predominantly blue district. Rhode Island, famously a small state, only has two congressional districts. September 9: The Jerusalem Post: Leaders announce multinational rail and port deal linking Middle East and South Asia Global leaders announced a multinational rail and ports deal linking the Middle East and South Asia on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. According to reports, both Israel and Saudi Arabia will be involved in the project, although the exact details regarding their roles have yet to be published. Saudi state media reported on Saturday afternoon that they had signed the memorandum of understanding with the US to develop a protocol that aims to build an intercontinental green corridor. The transit corridor, which would connect Asia and Europe through Saudi Arabia by railway, aims to facilitate the transfer of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen via cables and pipelines, a statement carried by state media said. September 8: The Washington Examiner: Trump files motion to move 14th amendment case to Federal court Former President Donald Trump filed a motion on Friday requesting that his 14th Amendment case in Colorado be moved from state to federal court. The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a lawsuit in district court in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday on behalf of Republicans and independent citizens who believe the former president should be disqualified from the 2024 presidential ballot in the state under the 14th Amendment. Legal counsel for Trump said in a notice of removal "There is an urgent public interest in promptly resolving whether Trump is constitutionally eligible to serve as president in advance of the approaching primary election."  September 8: The Epoch Times: US DOC vows to protect national security, amid Huawei chip breakthrough The U.S. Department of Commerce has vowed to protect national security in the wake of China's reported breakthrough in manufacturing a 7-nanometer chip without access to advanced equipment. "Let's be clear: export controls are just one tool in the U.S. government's toolbox to address the national security threats presented by the PRC. The restrictions in place since 2019 have knocked Huawei down and forced it to reinvent itself—at a substantial cost to the PRC government," a Commerce Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The spokesperson added that the department is working on obtaining the "character and composition" of the purported 7-nanometer chip. We are continually working to assess and, when appropriate, update [the Export Administration Regulations] based on the dynamic threat environment, and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action to protect U.S. national security," the spokesperson said. Huawei Technologies Co. recently launched a new smartphone model. Although Huawei has been mum about technical specs, teardowns by research firm Techinsights confirmed that Huawei's Mate 60 Pro uses a 7-nm chip made by state-backed Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), Communist China's largest chip maker. China hailed Huawei's latest move as a "triumphant return" and a defeat of U.S. export controls.  September 8: Breitbart News: Biden to cancel Alaskan oil and gas leases issued under Trump Joe Biden's Department of Interior (DOI) said it would cancel the oil and gas leases issued in the latter days of President Trump's administration. Biden has said he would move to protect roughly 19.6 million acres in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for polar bears and caribou even though some experts contend the oil industry and wildlife can cohabit the same area and not negatively impact wildlife. Trump issued the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) seven leases right before Biden's inauguration. The move is part of a larger strategy by which Biden has moved to cancel oil and gas exploration on public lands. September 8: The Daily Caller: Democrat leaders have growing concerns amid inability to take in more illegal aliens Amid an influx of migrants, Democratic leaders in New York and Chicago are saying they feel ghosted by Joe Biden. Throughout the last few months, several Democrat-run states and cities have become overwhelmed with migrants, often lacking enough shelter and resources to take the individuals in. Despite some action from the Biden administration, leaders feel as if it has not responded to their calls for help. "No communication [from the White House ] whatsoever," Democrat Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez said. "I actually sent a letter to the White House asking for the President to address this matter when he was here a few months ago. My understanding is that even with multiple talks regarding the Democratic National Convention, the topic of migrant asylum seekers has never once come up in conversation with our mayor and the President, or other high-level Democratic Party leaders." September 7: The Galveston County Daily News: Speaker McCarthy needs backbone in order to cut federal spending A cadre of members, led by Chip Roy (R-TX), are threatening to do just that if McCarthy fails to hold the line on reducing spending. If McCarthy faulters it is clear his Speakership will be in jeopardy. This small number of members gave him pass on the debt ceiling debate earlier this year even though they weren't happy about his surrender to the Administration, but it seems they're not likely do to so with the appropriations bills. If McCarthy wants to keep his position, he will need to get some backbone and start cutting back on our out-of-control spending. September 7: The Washington Examiner: Appeals court allows Texas to keep its floating barriers in the Rio Grande Thursday's order could prevent the Lone Star State from immediately having to begin moving the buoys to the river bank. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) announced on Wednesday his intent to appeal the decision, stating a he would take the legal battle to the Supreme Court if needed. The buoys are one of several strategies that Abbott has used to prevent immigrants from arriving along the southern border, including placing coils of razor wire along the river. One of the unconfirmed allegations stated that Texas authorities were ordering troopers to push migrant children back into the river and deny water to migrants in extreme heat. September 7: One America News Network: Wisconsin GOP threatens to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice On Thursday, liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz joined others on the bench for her first hearing in Madison. Her first official appearance as the state's newest justice comes as Republicans threaten impeachment. The move serves as the state GOP's last effort to stop the court's new 4-to-3 liberal majority, which is expected to toss out Republican-drawn congressional maps and overturn the state's 1849 abortion ban. Republicans want Justice Protasiewicz to recuse herself from redistricting cases because during her campaign she said that the state's current maps are "unfair" and "rigged," and they further argue she's already prejudged the case. On Wednesday, Wisconsin Democrats launched a campaign against Protasiewicz's impeachment and said the move is a threat to democracy. Republicans also pointed out Protasiewicz received nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democrat Party.  September 7: Fox News: Chicago's Ohare airport used as a migrant shelter as the crisis worsens and overwhelms the city
Chicago leaders are facing backlash over hundreds of migrants being housed at O'Hare International Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports. Chicago reporter William Kelly discussed what the city has been experiencing as a result of the influx of migrants. More than 400 migrants are reportedly being housed in a section of the airport, hidden from public view behind black curtains, up from 31 at the beginning of August. Kelly said the airport is one of only 18 migrant shelters in Chicago and that homeless Americans are no longer allowed to stay at the airport. The city previously struggled with an influx of homeless people at the airport but initiated a crackdown earlier this year after then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot faced criticism "Mayor Johnson campaigned as the people's mayor. Sadly, the people are telling me that he's the migrants' mayor," said Kelly. Kelly said he does not think the same security and background checks that Americans go through at airports apply to migrants. Meanwhile, the city continues to struggle with crime and to recover from the coronavirus lockdowns. September 6: The Washington Times: More emails show Biden's involvement with Hunter's Ukraine energy post at time of corruption probe Vice President Joe Biden took a call in 2015 from Ukrainian energy firm executives seeking help in thwarting a corruption investigation on the same day he signed off on talking points written by his son's business partner that aimed to tamp down media interest in Hunter Biden's lucrative job on the company's board. The Dec. 4, 2015, email from Hunter Biden's business associate Eric Schwerin was sent to the vice president's assistant, Kate Bedingfield, and provided "quotes" for Biden to use in response to media inquiries about his son's job on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings. Bedingfield replied to Schwerin later that day that "VP signed off on this." The vice president's assistant provided quotes four days later to The New York Times in response to a story that called into question Biden's "credibility" fighting corruption in Ukraine while his son served on Burisma's board. Bedingfield and Schwerin exchanged the emails on the same day that Hunter Biden called his father from Dubai. According to former business partner Devon Archer, Hunter Biden put his father on the phone with Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky, who was seeking help from Washington to shake off a state corruption investigation.  September 6: The Daily Caller: Idalia blew into town and now exotic flamingos are all over the US! ALERT! The United States is being invaded… by flamingos! Florida and the Caribbean — these are the places you envision when you think about flamingos. You're not thinking about some town in Ohio that you've never heard of. But the residents of Waynesville can now say they've had flamingos in the area. And not the ones at the zoo — we're talking about wild exotic flamingos. Jerry Lorenz, who is Audobon Florida's state director of research, says that ever since Hurricane Idalia came through, they've been loaded with reports of flamingo sightings from around Florida, Georgia, Virginia, the Carolinas, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee and, of course, Ohio. And the sightings are still rolling in. September 6: Fox News: Hunter Biden expected to be indicted in the near future Hunter Biden is expected to be indicted on a federal gun charge by the end of September, Special Counsel David Weiss' team told U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika on Wednesday. Noreika had set Wednesday as a deadline to hear from both sides about how to move forward on the diversion agreement that would have allowed Biden to avoid jail time for a felony charge of lying on a federal form when purchasing a firearm in 2018. The expected charges come after an original plea agreement collapsed in July. Hunter was expected to plead guilty in July to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax as part of a plea deal to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. September 6: The Washington Examinee: Weiss may testify despite DOJ roadblocks With three weeks until the date U.S. Attorney David Weiss, now a special counsel, might have testified to Congress, the question of whether he'll appear at all remains open. But the Justice Department has already blocked other witnesses from complying with congressional subpoenas in House Republican investigations into the Biden family's business dealings, likely signaling roadblocks ahead for the House inquiry. However, if the House opens an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden, then Weiss may be compelled to appear even over DOJ objections. Negotiations between the House Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department over how and when Weiss will appear before Congress, if at all, are still underway. The Justice Department has not yet pulled the plug on a planned appearance by Weiss this fall. Whether that appearance would involve Weiss delivering testimony at a public hearing or sitting for a transcribed interview behind closed doors is so far unclear. Congressional investigators typically prefer to speak with such witnesses in closed-door settings, where staff experts lead the questioning and the interviews tend to yield more useful information. September 5: Fox News: Hunter partied with elites on your tax dollars Hunter Biden attended at least six U.S. state dinners during the Obama and Biden administrations, including four when he was chairman of his now-defunct investment firm and two while being federally investigated over his business dealings with the firm. Meanwhile Joe Biden has shown no signs of trying to distance himself from his embattled son, appearing alongside him in recent months during multiple public events despite Hunter's legal troubles, including taking him on an official state trip to Ireland in April. On June 22, just two days after it was announced Hunter and federal prosecutors had struck a plea deal, which has since fallen apart, the first son was seen hobnobbing among Washington's elite during a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Modi at the White House. September 5: News Max: Use of 14th amendment to try and ban Trump from running is a "trick" Trump is saying states that are trying to use the 14th Amendment to disqualify him from the 2024 ballot of staging a "trick" to give victory to Joe Biden in 2024. "Almost all legal scholars have voiced opinions that the 14th Amendment has no legal basis or standing relative to the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election," Trump said Monday night. "Like Election Interference, it is just another 'trick' being used by the radical left communists…" because their candidate is incapable of winning in a Free and Fair Election," he added. September 4: The Washington Times: Senate to take a first crack at attempting to avoid a government shutdown Battles over government spending levels, the impeachment of Joe Biden, aid to Ukraine and border security will be at the forefront for Congress as the Senate returns to work on Tuesday and the House next week, with lawmakers aiming for a short-term funding measure to avoid a partial government shutdown. There are less than four weeks before the Sept. 30 deadline for lawmakers to agree on a stopgap spending measure, while work proceeds more slowly on funding the government for the next fiscal year. Neither the House nor the Senate want a government shutdown but sadly it appears the House will not be able to move all twelve appropriation bills in time to avoid a short-term extension. [Our sources in Washington tell us the House will be looking at a short-term extension at the current level of spending through December.] The Democrat-controlled Senate is expected to balk at House initiatives to return to 2022 spending levels while some conservative House members want to cut spending beyond that level. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are pointing the finger at Republicans claiming they will be responsible for any shutdown.  September 4: The Daily Caller: Two Top Dems support removing Trump from the 2024 ballot based upon dubious grounds Two top Democrats backed on Sunday the theory that former President Donald Trump could be disqualified from running under the 14th Amendment, Axios reported. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) backed the idea that Trump could be blocked from the 2024 ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which maintains that anyone who "engaged in insurrection" cannot hold elected office. But as Fox News reported the argument for the Disqualifications Clause does not hold water, according to multiple legal experts. Senior legal fellow Hans von Spakovsky at the Heritage Foundation noted "In 1872, they [the Congress] passed . . . the Amnesty Act, and it removed the Section three disqualification, with certain exceptions, including anybody who had served in two of the Congresses just before the Civil War, and members of the military, for example, who had been in the Union Army and had served the Confederacy." Then, "In 1898, Congress passed a second amnesty act that completely got rid of all of those exceptions. So, the Disqualification Clause, it's gone. It's not valid anymore," Spakovsky concluded. The Free Speech For People, a left-wing Democrat-aligned group, sent letters to secretaries of state in key 2024 states last week claiming Trump should be removed from the ballot. Meanwhile, Shiff, who has been shown to often be less than truthful, said on MSNBC that the disqualification provision "fits Donald Trump to a T." September 4: Breitbart News: Vast majority of Americans say "Bidenomics" just isn't working and the economy is getting worse A Wall Street Journal poll shows a super-majority of voters have negative views of the U.S. economy and disapprove of Joe Biden's handling of the issue. The Journal describes this as a "stark warning to the 80-year-old incumbent ahead of the 2024" election. According to the poll, sixty-three percent of American registered voters say the economy's strength is "not so good" or "poor." Just 32% say the economy is "good" and only five percent say the economy is "excellent." Biden has been attempting to win over Americans to a more favorable view of his performance on the economy, claiming that positive developments are the result of what he calls "Bidenomics." There has been some improvement in the public's view of the economy this year. In December, 67% had negative views of the economy and in October this was as high as 72%. A year ago, the public's view of the economy was close to what it is currently. September 3: The Washington Examiner: Schiff, who often cannot tell truth from falsehood, says there may well be a government shutdown, he may have gotten this one right Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) predicted the United States federal government will shut down next month due to GOP hardliners. House Speaker Kevin McCarthyt (R-CA), who had to compromise with conservative GOP members to ensure he received the speaker's gavel, [See column: "No Red Wave"] is facing a similar situation where the House Freedom Caucus can exert their power in numbers, though the California Republican has urged his colleagues to back a short-term spending deal to avoid an Oct. 1 shutdown. Schiff, with whom McCarthy has frequently butted heads, told former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Sunday, "I fear that we are on a path to government shutdown because there are enough members of the Republican conference who want it and Kevin McCarthy will do whatever it takes to remain speaker one more day or one more week. That's his sole motivation." Actually, it's not that the conservative members of the GOP conference want a shutdown, what they want to do is to cut increasing federal spending. [See a related column on funding the federal government]. The Senate and the House will reconvene early this month with a tight timeline to resolve major differences over funding the government before the shutdown could begin. They will have to work together to pass a short-term spending bill that postpones the fight until potentially early December. September 3: The Washington Times: Ukraine says Russia is trying to provoke a worldwide food crisis Ukrainian officials on Sunday accused Moscow of trying to "provoke a food crisis" after the Russian military launched drone strikes against a key port in the Odesa region. The attacks on Ukraine's Reni seaport saw Russia reportedly launch at least 25 Iranian-made loitering drones at the facility along Ukraine's Black Sea coast. Ukrainian officials said 22 of those drones were shot down. Two people were injured in the attack, which lasted more than three hours, officials said. September 3: Sky News: Ukraine moves to replace its Defense Minister Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said tonight he would ask parliament this week to dismiss Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and to replace him with Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's main privatization fund. The announcement, made in his nightly video address to the nation, sets the stage for the biggest shakeup of Ukraine's defense establishment during the war. Reznikov, who was appointed defense minister in November 2021, played a pivotal role in securing substantial Western military aid to support the war effort. But he has faced persistent allegations of corruption within his ministry, which he has characterized as baseless smears. "I've decided to replace the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of full-scale war," Zelenskyy said. "I believe the ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society as a whole." The approval of the new defense minister must go through parliamentary channels, and it is anticipated that a majority of Verkhovna Rada lawmakers will endorse this change. President Zelenskyy expressed his confidence that parliament will give the green light to Mr Umerov's appointment. Mr Umerov, a 41-year-old former legislator of Crimean Tatar descent, has been at the helm of Ukraine's State Property Fund since September 2022 and has been actively involved in delicate wartime negotiations, including those related to the Black Sea grain deal. September 3: The Post Newspaper: America's Diminishing "Reserve Currency" Status America, particularly in the last two years, chose paths that will diminish the role as the world's reserve currency. With this comes significantly less power to influence the world toward true economic freedom. Our worth is likely to diminish with it, yet it may also force us toward a more responsible fiscal policy, self-sufficiency, and less reliance on the rest of the world. But if it doesn't, it will come with a price including less wealth. Past decisions have consequences. As we approach a major presidential election next year, may this nation chart a better direction than it has been following for the last couple of years. September 2: The Washington Examiner: DNC to invest millions in an attempt to stop flip of the Virginia state legislature Joe Biden has directed the Democrat National Committee to invest over $1 million in Virginia ahead of the state's legislative races, where the majority of both chambers is up for grabs. According to the Washington Post, Biden asked the DNC this week to pour the money into the race to combat Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R-VA) historic investment in the races. The DNC will invest an additional $1.2 million into the race, bringing the total investment up to $1.5 million. The election is on Nov. 7 and will determine whether Virginia will be able to enact conservative priorities. They currently have a slim majority in the House, and Democrats have a narrow majority in the Senate. Youngkin has devoted a significant amount of money and time this year trying to expand that majority in the House and attempting to win the Senate.  September 2: The Daily Caller: South Korea, Japan and the US are ratcheting up tug-of-war over influence in WestPac Competition between the U.S. and China is taking shape across a swath of islands that have an outsized strategic importance for America, experts say. A recent pact expanding the U.S. Coast Guard's ability to ward off disruptive Chinese activities around Palau, an archipelago of atolls and islands in the western Pacific Ocean and former U.S. territory, is the latest in a series of agreements aimed at giving the U.S. open access to the Pacific. As China expands its own malign brand of policing power and dangles white elephant economic projects before developing Pacific partners, the impetus for America to woo Palau and countries like it is greater than it has been in recent memory, experts say. "You cannot maintain our policy in Taiwan and our policy in Korea without being able to have free and open access to the Pacific running through these islands," Alexander Gray, who held the first National Security Council position ever focused primarily on Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, now a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, said. September 2: Fox News: Biden "busy schedule" precluded him from visiting Palestine, OH but not from taking multiple vacations Joe Biden cited his hectic schedule when he was asked Saturday why he had not yet visited East Palestine, OH, months after the town was devastated by a train derailment that polluted the environment and contaminated water. Bide's press conference in Live Oak, Florida, came in the wake of Hurricane Idalia, which caused up to $20 billion worth of damage in the Southeastern U.S. Biden was speaking about the federal government's efforts to provide assistance to impacted Floridians, when he was asked about the small Ohio town. "Well, I haven't had the occasion to go to East Palestine," Biden began. "There's a lot going on here, and I just haven't been able to break." "I was thinking whether I'd go to East Palestine this week, but I was reminded I've got to go literally around the world," Biden continued. "I'm going from Washington to India to Vietnam." September 2: The Washington Examiner: Eastman; Evidence in the Georgia indictment is weak, defendants will be vindicated John Eastman, one of the defendants in the wide-ranging Georgia RICO case, criticized the case Friday. He claimed the evidence was "weak" and predicted all defendants would be vindicated at their trials. Eastman, who previously served as an attorney for former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Prosecutors allege Eastman was a central figure in the scheme, which included setting up a fraudulent slate of electoral votes for the state. Not mentioned is the efforts by Stacy Abrams (D) who attempted to do something similar in her campaign for Governor but who was never charged. The attorney accused the case of being weak in evidence and high in politics, stating the legal aspect was just "5%" of the fight, while politics was the rest. Eastman also claimed a broad racketeering case against a former president was setting a "very dangerous" precedent. "Our federal criminal code and our state criminal code have gotten so expansive and so vague that any one of us can be charged by a creative prosecutor with three felonies a day," Eastman said. He defended his actions in Georgia, claiming he had a right to legally question the results of the 2020 presidential election. Eastman added that he would do it again if he could.  September 2: The Epoch Times: Tempers flare as Florida LGBT loses ground From books to bathrooms, laws and rules being passed by Florida legislators and members of the State Board of Education are tightening restrictions on the LGBT community. Despite efforts, members of the LGBT community in Florida find themselves losing debates, losing ground, and, more noticeably, losing their tempers. Evidence of the growing frustration was on full display at the Aug. 23, 2023 meeting of the Florida State Board of Education (SBE) in Naples, as members passed measures to further restrict transgender ideology in the state's education system. Proposed rules included expanding restrictions on the use of restrooms that do not correspond with a person's biological sex to include colleges and private schools. Disciplinary actions for educators who violate an established law regarding sexual misconduct were also sharpened. At one point, the level of civility had sunk so low that SBE Chair Ben Gibson advised the opponents that the Board was "trying to be very respectful and civil" to them and asked that they "maintain respect and civility as well."  September 2: Breitbart News: Another strain of COVID another call for masking up New York health officials are advising people to wear masks when in crowded public areas, as coronavirus cases are expected to rise following the Labor Day weekend. While no official social distancing or mask restrictions were set in place, New York City health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan told the Daily Mail that people should follow precautions when celebrating the end of summer, as the city's hospitalization rate for the coronavirus rose by 5% this week compared to the previous week; 502 patients infected with the virus were admitted to hospitals. These warnings come as two new variants of the coronavirus were detected: EG.5, called Eris, and BA.2.86, dubbed Pirola, which was found in New York City's wastewater. Pirola causes concern, as it has more than 30 mutations, deeming it better at dodging vaccines and those with immunity. It is unknown if this strand causes a rise in mortality rate. In addition to New York, the Pirola strand has been detected in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. September 1: The Epoch Times: Tucker Carlson reveals what he vows he'll never go again Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson appeared to publicly speak about his departure from Fox News for the first time, saying that he's still not sure why the company parted ways with him. During an interview, Carlson criticized his former network for the rule against President Trump appearing on the channel, alleging that its owner, Rupert Murdoch, doesn't favor the former commander-in-chief. Because the former president and current GOP frontrunner wasn't being featured on the network, Fox News essentially was "not really covering the news anymore," he said. "The Murdochs never got in my way. They were always good to me," Carlson said in the Aug. 30 interview. However, he added there were apparently "small-minded" individuals running the channel. Carlson noted that if he learned one thing it is that he will "never work for anyone else again and I never will." September 1: The Daily Caller: SCOTUS asked to review state court decision to remove jurors with "conservative Christian" beliefs Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked the Supreme Court Thursday to review a state court's decision to remove Christian jurors from an employment discrimination lawsuit where the plaintiff identified as lesbian. While the court found the jurors would be impartial, rejecting the argument of the plaintiff's attorney that they would treat gay individuals as "less than everybody else," it still removed the jurors "to err on the side of caution," according to the petition. Now, Bailey is asking the Supreme Court to consider whether the Fourteenth Amendment prevents courts from removing jurors based on their religion. "Jurors can be excluded, of course, if their religious views in fact make them biased – just like jurors can be excluded if their race or sex in fact makes them biased," the petition notes. "But this Court's precedents make clear that courts cannot assume, based on stereotypes about race or sex, that a person will be biased. The same should be true of religion." September 1: The Washington Examiner: Over 60% of active shooters stopped by the good guys with a gun A large percentage of "active shooter" incidents are thwarted by armed citizens who sometimes don't even fire their weapons, but those cases are no longer counted under Joe Biden's pro-gun control policies. According to just-released data from the Crime Prevention Research Center, 41% of active shooting incidents were stopped by armed civilians. Outside of so-called gun-free zones, which bar the legal carrying of firearms, over 63% of active shooting cases were ended by an armed civilian, according to the center. The new data from a former Justice Department senior adviser is the latest to challenge undercounting and bias in government reports on shootings and back up efforts by Second Amendment and police groups to encourage people to carry firearms. The information is especially critical since the Biden administration stopped counting defensive actions by civilians. September 1: Fox News: Former Democrat Congressman blisters Biden Administration as the worst in history The Biden administration is reportedly proposing a list of locations for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to relocate migrants, including New Jersey's Atlantic City International Airport. Rep. Jeff Van (R-NJ) who represents the district, said Friday, saying he will fight the plan "with every ounce of strength." Van Drew criticized the Biden administration's border policies for spilling out further than the border states, calling it a "national defense issue." Bloomberg News reported this week that the Biden administration pitched a list of 11 federally-owned sites for migrants to move from New York City. It also included a tax office in Long Island and other airports in the New York area, including one near the Canadian border. Meantime, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has activated 250 members of the National Guard to provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels amid an influx of migrants that has service providers stretched thin. August 30: The Daily Caller: DOJ reportedly approached IRS whistleblower before he testified before Congress A top Department of Justice (DOJ) official reportedly approached IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley in April about potentially investigating his allegations that DOJ prosecutors gave Hunter Biden special treatment. According to the Daily Mail, Shapley was contacted by Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer, who said he wanted to look into Shapley's assertions that the DOJ slow-walked and obstructed the Hunter Biden investigation. "In just two short weeks, Weinsheimer went from expressing an interest in the claims of wrongdoing by the IRS whistleblower to dismissing the claims of retaliation when the IRS agents were pulled off the case," Mark Lytle, a partner at the law firm representing Shapley said. Reportedly Weinsheimer, an aide to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, emailed Lytle on April 24 asking to set up a phone call after Shapley came forward anonymously with allegations of misconduct in the Hunter Biden case.  August 30: Sky News: 100-year-old tree falls on Florida Governor's mansion moments after DeSantis warns residents of dangers of hurricane A 100-year-old oak tree has fallen on the governor of Florida's mansion as he warned people to stay safe during hurricane Idalia. Ron DeSantis' wife Casey has said family members were home at the time but nobody was injured. "Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm", she said. Governor DeSantis had moments earlier given a news conference where he said there had been no deaths as a result of the storm but warned people to stay safe. He also said 250,000 homes are without power. Idalia made landfall in Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm and later crossed into Georgia still as a hurricane. It was later downgraded to a Category 2 storm as its center moved towards southern Georgia. August 30: The Washington Times: Trump's foes want to boot him from the ballot over January 6th protests Liberal groups and other Trump opponents are working to convince state election officials across the nation that former President Donald Trump's name should be blocked from the 2024 general election ballot for president if he wins the GOP nomination. His staunchest opponents say some of the criminal charges against him in four separate prosecutions should disqualify him from appearing on the ballot. The effort is moving ahead while the pre-trial proceedings in the cases threaten to sideline Trump from the campaign trail as he defends himself in court. The move to exclude him also has prompted threats that Republicans could retaliate by seeking Joe Biden's removal from the ballot over allegations of corruption related to his son Hunter Biden's foreign business deals. "If even one radical Secretary of State or county official attempts to remove Trump from the ballot, the right must be equally prepared to remove Joe Biden from the ballot for selling out America and accepting bribes from foreign oligarchs," conservative radio host Charlie Kirk said. Some states are already considering whether to keep Trump from appearing on the November 2024 ballot. August 30: The Washington Examiner: GOP Georgia legislature poised to investigate Fulton County DA State Republicans are targeting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after she indicted former President Trump and his allies this month for questioning the vote count and allegedly working to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Georgia state Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch said the legislature is poised to hold hearings to determine if Willis is using "her position in a political manner" and whether her office is being "weaponized against Republican candidates running for office" following a two-year-long investigation into the former president and other Republican defendants. "We believe she is definitely tainted," Gooch said. "She's politicizing this, and we want to make sure these people get a fair trial and a fair shake." Gooch said in an interview that Georgia Republicans are creating an oversight commission to investigate district attorneys and solicitors-general. Senate Bill 92 went into effect in July, granting lawmakers the ability to remove or punish elected prosecutors for misconduct or other acts. The commission is expected to be launched by October. The new state statute has been contested by some Georgia district attorneys, who have filed a lawsuit calling the law unconstitutional. August 29: UPI: Ohio Congressman to AG Garland; what happened to the misappropriated COVID funds A Republican congressman on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Garland demanding answers about the alleged misappropriation of billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funding. On Wednesday, the Justice Department said 371 people are being charged for misappropriating over $836 million in pandemic-related funds. "The Justice Department has now seized over $1.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds that criminals had stolen and charged over 3,000 defendants with crimes in federal districts across the country," Garland said last week. Now Congressional Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus chairperson Rep. Brad Wenstrup wants to know the details of who is being charged and the particulars as to why.  August 29: Fox News: CA school district settles with mother after they "transitioned" her daughter without consent
In what's been called a landmark victory for parental rights, a California school district has settled for $100,000 with a mother who said her daughter was "socially transitioned" to a boy without parental knowledge or consent. Jessica Konen said her 11-year-old daughter, Alicia, was told by her school in the Spreckels Union School District in Monterey County that she may be upset because she didn't know who she "truly was inside." From there, the school allowed her to use the boy's bathroom, used male pronouns to refer to her and was "socially transitioned" away from her biological gender. Once Konen found out that her daughter was being identified as a male and socially transitioning without her knowledge, she sued the district. Her daughter has since decided to re-identify as a girl, and the California single mother vowed to keep fighting for parental rights after the settlement in which she was represented by the Center for American Liberty. "They need to understand their place, and they need to stay in their place. And schools nowadays, they're awful. So, I'm going to fight this fight and keep fighting this fight," Konen said.  August 29: News Max: National Archives has 5,400 Biden emails with pseudonyms The New York Post is reporting the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) acknowledged it has about 5,400 emails that potentially show Joe Biden hid behind phony names while vice president. The existence of the records was confirmed by the NARA and came in response to a June 2022 Freedom of Information Act request by the Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF). Specifically, the SLF, a nonprofit constitutional legal group, requested emails relating to the accounts of Robin Ware, Robert L. Peters, and JRB Ware — pseudonyms Joe Biden was known to use in the White House during his time as vice president under Barack Obama. The legal foundation sued the NARA for the release of the records on Monday. The group claims the records could show Joe Biden may have provided government information to his son, Hunter Biden. Kimberly Hermann, SLF general counsel, said in a statement: "All too often, public officials abuse their power by using it for their personal or political benefit. When they do, many seek to hide it. The only way to preserve governmental integrity is for NARA to release Joe Biden's nearly 5,400 emails to SLF and thus the public. The American public deserves to know what is in them." August 29: The Daily Signal: Missouri Attorney General breaks down state's battle against "child mutilation" Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey spent the last week battling for the state's law protecting children from irreversible transgender interventions, both surgical and hormonal. "We're winning this fight and it's important to keep fighting and pushing forward not to give up one inch of space in order to protect kids," he stressed. Bailey broke down why LGBTQ groups are fighting the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which went into effect Monday. "Under this act, no health care provider shall perform gender transition surgeries on any minor," the legislative summary states. "Until August 28, 2027, no health care provider shall prescribe or administer cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless such minor was receiving such treatment prior to August 28, 2023." "A violation of these provisions shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall result in the revocation of the health care provider's professional license. Additionally, the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition shall be grounds for a cause of action against the health care provider." LGBTQ groups have challenged the law — organizations that Bailey describes as "radical left-wing activists that are more interested in social ideology and the protection of children."  August 28: The Washington Examiner: Montana leads 19 states in court to strike Maryland gun "buffer zones"
Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R-MT) filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit over a Maryland county law he says is defying the SCOTUS's landmark Second Amendment test by establishing "unconstitutional" gun-free buffer zones. Knudsen led a group of 19 attorneys general in filing the brief Monday at the Virginia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, asking the court to side with plaintiffs who say it is "practically impossible" to carry a gun for personal defense in Montgomery County Maryland due to a restrictive gun control law passed in late November. When asked why Montana sought to intervene over a Maryland county law, Knudsen said the Second Amendment is one of his "personal passion issues." "I'm a hunter. I'm a reloader. I'm a competitive shooter. I'm a bit of a gun nut — so I keep a pretty close eye on these things," Knudsen said. "And I firmly believe that as some of these states go, if left unchallenged, we'll see this kind of nonsense regulation and, frankly, unconstitutional laws being attempted in other places, not just in Maryland." Montana's assistant solicitor general contends Section 57 of Montgomery County Code "prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of firearms '[i]n or within 100 yards of a place of public assembly.'" Section 57 defines a "place of public assembly" as a list of locations, including a public or private "'park,' 'place of worship,' 'school,' 'library,' 'recreational facility,' 'multipurpose exhibition facility,' or 'childcare facility,'" the brief reads, noting that each "'place of public assembly' includes all property associated with the place, such as a parking lot or grounds of a building." The 19 states back the group "Maryland Shall Issue" and several "wear and carry permit" holder plaintiffs who say the law that altered the county's code effectively bars anyone besides designated security guards and active police officers from carrying a gun in public for self-defense. It's "practically impossible for a permit holder to legally carry a handgun for self-defense within the county," he contends. August 28: The New York Post: Silicon Valley "titans" behind $1 billion land purchase near Travis AFB The mystery buyers of nearly $1 billion of undeveloped land abutting Travis Airforce Base in central California were revealed to be Silicon Valley heavyweights — and not a network of Chinese spies as some lawmakers feared. The purchase by Flannery Associates — which has become the largest landowner in Solano County, about 60 miles northeast of San Francisco — had prompted concern that a foreign entity could be using the investment to harm US national security. However, it turns out Flannery's backers are a who's who list of tech titans and investors that includes LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Emerson Collective philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. The deep-pocketed investors reportedly plan to turn the land into their vision of an ideal city, featuring sustainable energy and a pedestrian-friendly layout.  August 28: News Max: Disney stock hits a nine year low as anti-woke boycott continues
The slogan "go woke, go broke" applies to the Walt Disney Co. after a turbulent 17 months has resulted in its stock price hitting a nine-year low. Disney, which became a symbol for wokeism after protesting Florida's parental rights law in March 2022, hit a stock price low of $83.53 on Monday. The company's market cap has fallen from $350.09 billion on March 22, 2022, to $154.04 billion. That's a decline of $196.05 billion — or a 56% drop in market cap. August 28: The Daily Caller: Several ways Trump could win the GA case against him CNN's senior legal analyst Elie Honig on Monday laid out three possible strategic wins for former President Donald Trump if the Georgia case is moved from state to federal court. "If you're the defendant, first of all, I think you're gonna like the jury pool more," Honig began. "If it stays state, the entire jury pool will be drawn from Fulton County, which voted 26% only for Donald Trump in 2020. If you get it moved federal, you're gonna be drawing from the northern district of Georgia, the federal district, which includes Cobb County, which went 42% for Trump — not great, but better than 26 — Cherokee County went 68% for Trump, so you're gonna have a more pro-Trump jury in the federal court." "Also, in the federal courts, no matter where this case is tried, it's going to go up to the midlevel court of appeals, whether in state or federal court. But if you get into the federal court, you have the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, famously conservative, really seen as the second-most conservative of the 13 appellate courts in the United States — they've ruled against Trump, but if you are Trump you want that 11th circuit," Honig continued. "And finally, most importantly, if you get into federal court your next move, if Mark Meadows gets there, you ask for dismissal on the basis of immunity — if you can show you were within the scope of your job and that you were not doing anything more than necessary and proper, then you can get the case dismissed, and that's the whole ball of wax," he concluded. August 28: iHeartMedia/KTRH: Houston one of the cities planning on banning beef, milk, and cars in the city by 2030 The left's climate change agenda includes some radical proposals in 14 U.S. cities - including Houston. And you won't believe what their target is. "Banning meat and dairy by 2030" said Evita Duffy Alfonso, who exposed the story on The Federalist, "Individuals will receive 3 new clothing items per year, per person, along with one short haul return flight every 3 years, and then zero private vehicle ownership." Apparently, Houston has been a part of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group for years. "Their goal is to mitigate the effects of climate change, and keep the earth's heating to only 1.5 degrees Celsius" Duffy-Alfonso told KTRH, "By 2030, you'll own nothing and you'll be happy. So this isn't really about the climate, it's really about social control." Control and a radical goal, while helping the left impose their radical agenda. August 27: The Daily Mail: Afghan refugees who helped US still in limbo about plans to let them stay in the USA Almost 78,000 Afghan refugees who fought alongside the U.S. military have come to America since the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal. Two years after escaping the evil Taliban leadership to start new lives, most are still in limbo and have no idea how long they will be allowed to stay. Congress has yet to work out a long-term plan for their residency, and advocates are getting frustrated. August 27: The Daily Caller: Crowd erupts as Mrs. America winner responds with a pro-family answer to judge's question Beauty pageant winner Hannah Neeleman gave a pro-family response to a judge's question at the Mrs. American contest Friday. "When have you felt most empowered?" a judge asked Neeleman onstage. "I have felt this feeling seven times now as I bring these sacred souls to the earth," Neeleman responded. "After I hold that newborn baby in my arms, the feeling of motherhood and bringing them to the earth is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt." August 27: News Max: Turley: Based upon AG Garland's actions, the House needs to start the impeachment of Biden Law professor and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley said the House of Representatives must begin an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden's alleged influence-peddling in his son's foreign business dealings. He says the greatest case for an impeachment inquiry has been made by Attorney General Merrick Garland himself. Not only has the Department of Justice dragged out an investigation into Hunter Biden that has seen the statute of limitations expire on major potential crimes, Garland has refused to probe then-Vice President Biden's possible involvement. And in elevating U.S. Attorney David Weiss to the status of special counsel in this investigation, Garland disregarded the DOJ's code on special counsels that requires an appointment from outside the department. "With the investigative impediments created by the Weiss appointment and by Garland's refusal to expressly extend the special counsel's mandate to the allegations of Biden family influence peddling, there is little choice but to commence an impeachment inquiry. The authority of the House is at its apex when carrying out its duties under the impeachment clause." "Whatever interest — or ability — remains to prosecute Hunter Biden, Congress has a separate duty to confirm any high crimes and misdemeanors committed by [Joe] Biden," Turley wrote. "Indeed, the Democrats themselves established precedent for carrying out retroactive impeachments for prior offices, including any which may have occurred when Biden was vice president. Garland's naming of the special counsel served to prevent Weiss and his team from testifying before House committees during an active investigation. However, with an impeachment proceeding these roadblocks to getting to the truth no longer apply.  August 27: The Jerusalem Post: Russians escort US Reper drone over the Black Sea A Russian SU-30 military plane escorted a US reconnaissance Reaper drone on Sunday over the Black Sea, RIA news agency reported, citing the Russian defense ministry. TASS news agency said the drone had not breached Russia's state border. August 26: The Daily Caller: Tucker Carlson blasts US ambassador for "disgusting behavior" Tucker Carlson criticized the behavior of the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, in a speech Friday at MCC Feszt in Budapest. "The world is realigning at high speed, and turning against the United States. But the Biden Administration is spending its time harassing one of our last sincere allies in Europe, Hungary, for the crime of being too Christian," Carlson said. Carlson, who was visiting Hungary for the second time, said that Pressman "hates Hungary" and emphasized that "they hate it not because of what it's done, but because it is "one of the last countries that identifies as a nation built on Christian precepts." Carlson compared Hungary to "America circa 1985." He characterized its population as "people [who] disagree, but they're not on the verge of shooting each other." August 26: Fox News: Biden asking Congress to fund new COVID vaccine and may try to require everybody to take it Joe Biden said Friday he plans to request additional funding from Congress for the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine, adding he may require everyone to take it, regardless of if they previously received a vaccine or not. Biden, who is vacationing in the Lake Tahoe area, was asked by a reporter on Friday if he could say anything about the uptick of COVID cases and a new variant. "Yes, I can," Biden said. "I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works." The new booster program would come nearly a year after Biden declared the COVID-19 pandemic "over" in September 2022, though he said, "We're still doing a lot of work on it." August 26: The Washington Examiner: Democrats force recall vote on leftwing leader of the state House A Democrat union in Oregon has collected enough signatures to force a recall election of one of the state's top Democrats, opening up what could be the first recall election in the state legislature in 35 years. The union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, surpassed the threshold to trigger the recall for Oregon state Rep. Paul Holvey, a Eugene Democrat, by securing 5,000 valid signatures, according to a spokesman for the Oregon secretary of state's office on Thursday. Holvey now has three days to decide whether to resign or appear on the ballot. "Oregonians deserve better representation than Paul Holvey provides; this applies especially to working Oregonians who have been left behind by Holvey and the Democratic Party's Caucus leadership," union communications coordinator Miles Eshaia said. Recall elections in the state are extremely rare. Only three state legislators have been recalled in the past century, one in 1935, one in 1985, and one in 1988. August 25: The Epoch Times: Biden: Everyone should get the new COVID booster shot Joe Biden told reporters Friday that his administration will "likely" recommend that everyone get a new COVID-19 vaccine. "I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress, a request for additional funding for a new vaccine — that is necessary, that works," he said while taking questions from reporters outside a pilates facility in South Lake Tahoe, California. "And tentatively, not decided finally yet, [recommend] …that everybody get it, no matter whether they got it before," he added. August 25: Fox News: Hawaiian businesses; Its not about you, Joe! An equipment rental business in Honolulu, Hawaii, slammed Joe Biden's recent comments comparing a fire in his kitchen to the deadly and devastating Maui wildfires. Hawaiian Rent-All, known online for its witty signage, changed its business' storefront to send Biden a message after his recent speech in Hawaii. "Sorry you almost lost your '67 Corvette in a fire, Mr. President," the sign reads. "Maui strong." Hawaiian Rent-All posted a picture of the sign to the company's Facebook page where the firm commented that genuine "sympathy is better than contrived empathy." "It's not always about you, Mr. President," the company added. The post has subsequently gone viral. August 25: United Press International: Houston chosen as the site of the 2028 Republican Convention According to Politico, Houston will host the 2028 GOP national convention, citing a decision made Friday in a private meeting of Republican officials. "After a smart business decision made by the RNC last spring to allow us to select the next convention city earlier than ever, we are looking forward to seeing Houston in the spotlight come 2028," Ronna McDaniel, chair of the RNC said in a statement. Houston's Toyota Center will host the GOP's 2028 convention general session. "As the nation's most diverse and inclusive city, we believe Houston represents the future of the United States, and our aspirations for the country," said Michael Heckman, the president and CEO of Houston First Corp. "We're excited to show off these attributes and our hospitality. We do it every day, and we look forward to doing it again in 2028." August 25: Fox News: Hawaiian businesses; It’s not about you, Joe! An equipment rental business in Honolulu, Hawaii, slammed Joe Biden's recent comments comparing a fire in his kitchen to the deadly and devastating Maui wildfires. Hawaiian Rent-All, known online for its witty signage, changed its business' storefront to send Biden a message after his recent speech in Hawaii. "Sorry you almost lost your '67 Corvette in a fire, Mr. President," the sign reads. "Maui strong." Hawaiian Rent-All posted a picture of the sign to the company's Facebook page where the firm commented that genuine "sympathy is better than contrived empathy." "It's not always about you, Mr. President," the company added. The post has subsequently gone viral. August 25: Axios.com: What's next for the Wagner Group The apparent killing of Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigohin and other high-ranking officials of the Wagner Private Military Company in a plane crash this week leaves the Kremlin-funded group's future in question. Without its founder and other top commanders, it is difficult to predict how Wagner will operate going forward, but it is likely that the group is the weakest it has ever been since first emerging nearly a decade ago, analysts told Axios. Russian President Putin acknowledged the plane crash, that was allegedly caused by a bomb planted on board, for the first time on Thursday, calling Prigozhin a man with a "complicated fate" and saying that he "made some serious mistakes in life." August 25: News Max: Capitol Hill police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6th promoted The Capitol Police officer, who shot and killed demonstrator Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6, 2021, protest, is set to be promoted from lieutenant to captain. Roll Call reported that Michael Byrd's planned promotion was announced by police in an internal memo. Babbitt, 35, was fatally shot while attempting to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door leading to the office lobby of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi inside the Capitol. Roll Call noted that Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, was not armed. The Justice Department made the decision not to bring criminal charges against Byrd, the outlet said. A probe by the Capitol Police's Office of Professional Responsibility found Byrd's conduct was "lawful and within Department policy." Some Republicans have characterized Babbitt's death differently. In February, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene(R-GA) said she wanted to use her position on the House Oversight Committee to investigate claims of "civil rights abuses" committed against Trump supporters arrested on Jan. 6 and review Babbitt's shooting. August 24: The Washington Times: House investigating Fulton County (GA) DA Willis for possible coordination with feds over indictment of Trump House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordon (R-OH) announced the committee launched an inquiry into whether Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis coordinated with federal officials, including Special Counsel Jack Smith, with her indictment of former President Trump. Jordan sent a letter Thursday to Willis, demanded information and communications with the Department of Justice and Executive Branch officials and information on her office's federal funding. Committee members suspect that Willis 'indictment and prosecution of Trump; former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and John Eastman — a former DOJ official, among others, raise substantial federal interests. They are concerned that her actions may be politically motivated. Both the state and federal prosecutions allege that Trump and his allies violated election laws to overturn the 2020 presidential election. "There are questions about whether and how your office coordinated with DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith during the course of this investigation, and Congress has an interest in any such activity that involves federal law enforcement agencies and officials that fall under its oversight," Jordan wrote. "News outlets have reported that your office and Mr. Smith 'interviewed many of the same witnesses and reviewed much of the same evidence' in reaching your decision to indict President Trump."  August 24: The Washington Times: Trump booked at the Fulton County Jail President Trump surrendered Thursday night to authorities in Georgia, where he was arrested on charges that he illegally plotted to reverse the state's 2020 election. Trump was arrested, fingerprinted and had his mug shot taken at the Fulton County Jail, a historic moment because it is the first criminal mugshot ever taken of a former president. He did not have his mugshot taken in any of his three previous arrests. The former president's personal information was entered into the Fulton County booking system. The information recorded him as having "blonde or strawberry" hair, blue eyes, a height of 6-foot-3 and a weight of 215 pounds. His inmate number was entered into the system. Trump was quickly processed and released in about 20 minutes and did not make any comments to the media at the jail. Supporters of the former president rallied outside the jail with flags and pro-Trump signs. August 24: News Max: Trump replaces attorney before surrendering to Fulton County DA President Donald Trump replaced lead attorney Drew Findling with Atlanta-based lawyer Steven Sadow, whose profile boasts of a career as a "special counsel for white collar and high-profile defense." The move was not motivated by Findling's performance, according to multiple reports. "I have been retained to represent President Trump in the Fulton County, Georgia case. The president should never have been indicted. He is innocent of all the charges brought against him," Sadow said in a statement. "We look forward to the case being dismissed or, if necessary, an unbiased, open-minded jury finding the president not guilty." Trump is expected to retain attorney Jennifer Little to work with Sadow in Georgia. The legal team shakeup is the prelude to the circus that's to come in Atlanta on Thursday night, when Trump is expected to surrender in prime time, a move reportedly made to maximize media coverage.  August 24: The Daily Mail: Taiwan denies Chinese nuclear sub crashed, sunk, all hands lost in the strait
Taiwan officials have denied reports that a Chinese nuclear sub crashed near the disputed Taiwan Strait. Rumors have circulated that a Type 093 (Shang class) People's Liberation Army nuclear-powered attack submarine had crashed in unknown circumstances at some point in the past few days, killing everyone aboard. The reports came just days after China launched military drills near Taiwan intended to serve as a 'stern warning' against colluding with 'foreign elements'. There has been no official confirmation of the accident or any deaths of Chinese officials onboard the vessel. The Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Sun Li-fang said the nation's joint intelligence and surveillance apparatus has not detected any evidence of a submarine crash in the Taiwan Strait. Li-fang announced that the Ministry of National Defense was meticulously monitoring 'all maritime and aerial activities around the Taiwan Strait.' The Taiwan Strait is a disputed 180-kilometer arm of the Pacific Ocean separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The Type 093 submarine, known as 'Shang class,' has a displacement of 6,096 tons when submerged and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. It can hold a crew of 100 people and its range is unlimited due to its nuclear propulsion, according to Naval News. August 23: The Daily Signal: Highlights from Carlson-Trump debate-night interview Trump instead taped the 46-minute interview with Tucker Carlson for streaming during the GOP presidential debate which was aired by Fox, the network that fired Carlson in April of this year. Carlson's interview with Trump, which took place in the former president's home in Bedminster, New Jersey, touched on Democrats' multiple indictments of Trump, the jailhouse death of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the likelihood of civil war, and Trump's thoughts on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Carlson, noting that after everything the Left has thrown at Trump since 2015 hasn't stopped him, asked whether the former president worried that he would be targeted for assassination. Trump said there are some good people who are Democrats and that his job is to represent everybody. "But I've seen what they [some of the Democrats] do, I've seen the lengths that they go to, when they make up the 'Russia, Russia," Trump responded. Trump talked about the importance of voter ID to clean up elections as well as the dangers of mail-in voting. August 23: News Max: Fox pushed climate change in GOP debate; candidates push back Several candidates during Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate pushed back after being asked whether they believed "human behavior" was causing climate change. Little more than 20 minutes into the debate, Fox News co-moderator Bret Baier pointed out that the Biden administration said the Maui wildfires occurred because "climate change amplified the cost of human error." Co-moderator Martha MacCallum followed by mentioning the recent tropical storm that hit Southern California, relatively hot waters off the coast of Florida and an extreme heatwave in the Southwest. MacCallum asked the GOP candidates to raise their hands if they believed "in human behavior causing climate change." No candidate raised his or her hand. August 22: The Epoch Times: Numerous motions made to remove Trump indictments in Georgia from state courts Multiple codefendants of Donald Trump charged over contesting the 2020 general elections in Georgia have now filed notices of removal, requesting the state case be moved to federal court where they will likely have charges or the entire case dismissed based on immunities or additional defenses outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The nature of each notice differed greatly, pulling from various precedents and listing ever more additional defenses. Only one notice is needed in order to move the entire case from state to federal court. Lawyers for Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to Trump, argued in a motion to dismiss the charges that by filing their notice of removal a day after the indictment that the entire case is already in the federal court jurisdiction, whether other codefendants have applicable defenses or not. Meadows asked for prompt action before August 25th the deadline set by Fulton County DA Willis for voluntary surrender of the 10 defendants before they will face arrest. The main argument for removal centers around the supremacy clause, which states: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof ... shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding." This is generally interpreted to mean that federal law takes precedence over all other laws, and federal officers are therefore not bound by state laws and courts. The federal officer removal statute allows state criminal cases to be removed to federal court when it concerns a federal officer, or a person acting "under color of" the federal officer. In the case of Mr. Meadows, his lawyers argue, citing 34 cases, both that he is a federal official and emphasize that he was carrying out duties "on the behalf of the President."  August 23: The Washington Examiner: Look what can happen if you get crosswise with Putin; Former ally killed The number of high-profile Russians who have died under unusual circumstances over the years has led the world to speculate that Russian President Putin might have been involved in at least some of them. The Russian president has turned multiple allies into enemies, including Russian mercenary chief Yevgenyt Prigozhin, who was reportedly killed on Wednesday as a passenger on a private jet that crashed north of Moscow. Initial reports were that the aircraft was taken out by a SAM missile. Later reports are that there was a bomb on board. Prigozhin was on a plane belonging to Russia's Wagner Group mercenary force, carrying ten people who all died. Prigozhin launched a large-scale uprising against Putin's regime in June that lasted 24 hours before the Kremlin announced Prigozhin would be exiled to Belarus. He grew up in the same St. Petersburg neighborhoods as Putin, and he was close with the Russian chief, earning the nickname "Putin's chef" for his hefty contracts with the military. Prigozhin built the group that would come to be known as Wagner, helping Putin expand Russia's global interests and acquisitions. However, tensions began to rise between the two after Russia's full invasion of Ukraine, which was backed heavily by Wagner troops. Prigozhin became a threat to Putin's power, ordering his troops to march toward Moscow after accusing Russia's military leadership of killing his forces. August 23: Sky News: Russian forces "appear concerned" about recent Ukrainian advances Satellite images between last November and this month show Russian forces "notably sped up" the expansion of defensive fortifications in Zaporizhzhia, according to US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War. Ukrainian Colonel Petro Chernyk said conditions are set for Ukrainian forces to enter the Northern Azov region and "demolish" Russian positions in southern Ukraine and occupied Crimea. He also said Russian forces are strengthening their positions on the Perekop Isthmus, about 100 miles north of Sevastopol, building three lines of defense in the area. Russian forces have also created four unspecified "groups" in Crimea in preparation for a Ukrainian counteroffensive, Ukraine's head of military intelligence Major General Kyrylo Budanov said - something he noted had never happened before. These two actions may indicate Russian forces are "growing increasingly concerned about recent Ukrainian advances along the southern front", the ISW said. August 22: The New York Post: Biden's self-admitted influence peddling in Ukraine In a 2018 interview at the Council on Foreign Relations, Biden bragged that he unilaterally withheld a billion dollars in US aid from the Ukrainians to force them to fire Prosecutor-General Viktor Shokin. The Ukrainians balked, but Biden said he gave them an ultimatum: "I looked at them and said, 'I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money.' Well, son of a bitch. He got fired." The response from the those attending the meeting was rapturous, though the story was not only impolitic but embarrassing for an ally. A State Department memo is shedding disturbing light on that account and shredding aspects of Biden's justification for the action. Indeed, the ultimatum may have been the quid in a quid pro quo agreement as part of the Biden influence-peddling scandal. Reportedly Biden was told to deliver on the federal aid but elected to unilaterally demand that prosecutor Shokin be fired. When the firing occurred, Shokin's office was investigating Burisma Holdings, an energy firm that was paying Biden's son Hunter a huge amount of money. August 22: The Daily Caller: Constitutional scholar Turley: Barring Trump from the ballot "The Single Most Dangerous Constitutional Theory" ever George Washington University law professor and Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley said efforts to block Donald Trump using the 14th Amendment were "the single most dangerous constitutional theory" he had seen. An article by William Baude of the University of Chicago and Michael Stokes Paulsen of the University of St Thomas slated to be published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review suggests that Trump may be ineligible to run for president in 2024 due to his efforts to contest the 2020 election. A similar effort to disqualify then-Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina for allegedly supporting the Jan. 6, protest at the Capitol building was revived by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in May 2022. "Under the 14th Amendment, you have this bar on federal office, if you supported or if you gave aid and comfort to an insurrection or rebellion," Turley contended. "Now, of course, that brings you to the original question. What was January 6th? In the view of many … it was a protest that became a riot. It was not a rebellion or insurrection. But that's a matter of disagreement between citizens. But Donald Trump hasn't been charged with insurrection, not even incitement. Special Counsel Jack Smith charged him with a variety of crimes like fraud. He notably did not charge him with even incitement." Therefore the 14th amendment logic won't hold water, Turley concluded. August 22: iHeartMedia-KTRH Radio News: Texas lawsuit could bankrupt Planned Parenthood in the lone star state One year after Texas banned most abortions in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the state could bankrupt its largest abortion provider. Texas is suing Planned Parenthood for millions in Medicaid charges rung up after the organization was booted off of Medicaid. "Planned Parenthood was caught in an undercover operation a few years ago harvesting and selling body parts from babies that were aborted at their facilities," says Dr. Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life. "They were eliminated from the state Medicaid program because they were engaged in fraud---selling the body parts." Planned Parenthood challenged their removal from Medicaid in court, but continued to bill the program while the case played out. Ultimately, the courts sided with Texas, but not before Planned Parenthood had charged some $17 million to the program. "They were fraudulently billing the state of Texas, milking them out of money for our tax dollars," says Pojman. "The state of Texas deserves that back with penalties. This is according to federal law and state law." In addition to the $17 million in actual Medicaid charges, Texas is seeking more than $1 billion in penalties, fines and punitive damages. A federal judge in North Texas heard arguments in the case last week. If the state wins the case, the future of Planned Parenthood in Texas is uncertain. August 21: The Washington Times: House investigators subpoena IRS and FBI agents in expanded Hunter Biden probe House Republicans issued subpoenas Monday ordering testimony from four FBI and IRS employees who lawmakers believe can sort through the political machinations that led to a no-jail plea deal for Hunter Biden. They said the four employees can shed light on whether the Justice Department constrained David Weiss, the U.S. attorney charged with investigating the president's son. In particular, they were all supposed to be aware of an Oct. 7, 2022, meeting during which Weiss may have indicated he was being blocked from pursuing the kind of case he wanted. The subpoenas went to Michael T. Batdorf, the director of field operations at the IRS; Darrell J. Waldon, an IRS special agent in charge; and Thomas J. Sobocinski and Ryeshia Holley, both FBI special agents in charge. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said the IRS and Justice Department have refused requests to have the four people come in voluntarily.  August 21: The Daily Mail: Millbrae, CA; Homelessness may be a problem but don't put them in my neighborhood
A local council meeting in an affluent San Francisco suburb descended into chaos when hundreds of 'rowdy' residents began booing plans to place homeless people in a nearby hotel. Crowds of angry Millbrae residents packed out their local community hall on Friday to protest 'Project Homekey' proposals to house 100 rough sleepers at the La Quinta hotel on El Camino Real, close to the city center. So many people turned up that hundreds had to stand outside the 300-man capacity hall to hear proposals outlined by San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy. But Callagy's speech was quickly 'drowned out' by boos from the audience, according to Jordan Grimes, the leader of a grassroots campaign group for affordable housing who was present at the meeting. Videos show the crowd loudly remonstrating in scenes akin to a sports stadium crowd. Some residents yelled their opposition, while others waved signs, flung their arms in the air and made thumbs-down gestures toward the speakers. August 21: The Washington Examiner: Catholic schools in Northern VA see third major year of growth in enrollment as public schools fail to reach pre-COVID levels The Catholic schools in the northern Virginia area registered their third straight year of growing enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year, marking a 10% increase in enrollment since the pandemic began in 2020. With 37 elementary schools, four high schools, three stand-alone preschools and five independent schools, the Catholic Diocese of Arlington has continued to record increased student enrollment, even as public school districts in Virginia have continually failed to reach pre-pandemic enrollment levels. An estimated 18,488 students have enrolled in schools within the diocese, whose geographic boundaries comprise the entirety of northern Virginia, including the highly populated counties of Loudoun and Fairfax. The latest enrollment numbers represent a 10% jump from the 2019-20 school year.  August 21: United Press International: Pentagon awards contract for tiny military defense satellites The Pentagon announced Monday it has awarded $1.5 billion to contractors Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for a "swarm" of 72 tiny prototype satellites meant to detect incoming enemy missiles. The Space Development Agency said each company will build and operate 36 of the satellites, with approximately $816 million going to Lockheed Martin and $733 million to Northrop Grumman for the project. The small satellites, each about one-eighth the size of current satellites, constitute the "Tranche 2 Transport Layer" of the U.S. Space Force's planned Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, which when fully deployed will include nearly 1,000 craft in low orbit around the Earth. The first 28 satellites, called Tranche 0, are scheduled to be launched this year. August 21: News Max: The feud between Trump and Fox News continues; Trump surrogates denied access to Fox's Debate "spin room" Fox News will not allow surrogates of former President Donald Trump into the spin room of Wednesday's GOP presidential debate, a highly unusual move that could be construed as retaliatory over Trump's decision to skip it. Meanwhile, a taped interview of Tucker Carlson interviewing Trump will be aired on Twitter during the same time as the Fox News-hosted GOP debate. Axios reported the exclusion of Trump's people, citing a memo it says it obtained, that Fox has restricted the spin room to aides of candidates who are participating in the debate. Trump is the only candidate who qualified for the stage in Milwaukee who declined to be there. Despite Trump's absence, aides and surrogates of his were expected to be in Milwaukee to take part in the post-debate promotion of their candidate. Now, per the memo, Trump's people will only be allowed into the spin room if they are guests of media organizations.  August 20: The Washington Times: Ukrainian pilots get training for new F-16 aircraft Ukrainian pilots have begun training on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in a development that could shift the balance of Kyiv's counteroffensive against Russian invaders after 18 months of war. While the arrival of the advanced aircraft into the conflict, and the preparation of Ukrainian military personnel is likely to take several months, officials in Kyiv hailed the development over the weekend. "Training has begun," said Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, adding that in addition to pilots, Ukrainian technicians and engineers are also being schooled on the advanced aircraft. Reznikov's comments, which appeared in Ukrainian media outlets Saturday according to CNN, came a day after the Biden administration announced that it had approved the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine from the Netherlands and Denmark. It was not immediately clear when the first F-16s might enter the conflict. Officials said Ukrainian pilots will first have to undergo at least six months of training. August 20: The Washington Examiner: Russian Luna-25 spacecraft crash lands on the moon Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit, the country's Roscosmos space agency said Sunday. The pilotless spacecraft was aiming to be the first ever to land on the south pole of the moon, an area where scientists believe there could be important reserves of frozen water and precious elements. It had been expected to land Monday. However the lost contact with the Luna-25 on Saturday after the spacecraft ran into difficulties and reported an Russians "abnormal situation." "The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the moon," read a statement from the agency. Luna-25 was in a race with an Indian spacecraft launched on July 14th to be the first to reach the south pole. Both were expected to reach the moon between Aug. 21 and 23. The lunar mission was Russia's first since 1976, when it was part of the Soviet Union. Only three governments have managed successful moon landings: the Soviet Union, the United States and China. August 19: The Epoch Times: Federal Judge strikes Texas election integrity provision on Ballots by Mail Federal judges in Georgia and Texas have struck down key provisions of elections laws passed two years ago as Republicans sought to bolster election integrity as allegations of fraud and other irregularities during the hotly contested 2020 presidential election fueled calls for elections to be made more secure. In Texas, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez – appointed by George W. Bush -- nixed a provision in state law that required officials to reject mail-in ballots with ID numbers that don't match the ones on voter registration forms, according to a summary judgment issued on Aug. 17. The now-abolished provision required that mail-in ballots be rejected if they bear a different Texas driver's license number or ID number of the voter than what was on their original application for voter registration. August 19: The Texas Scorecard: Court case on redistricting of Galveston County commissioner's districts continues According to defense witness and professional demographer, race was not a factor in redrawing Galveston County's commissioners court precincts in 2021; but to some observers the result shafted the chances of Commissioner Stephen Holmes (D), an African-American, to be reelected. Thomas Bryan, a redistricting expert hired by the county to create precinct maps based on 2020 Census data, testified that race "was not in any way a factor" in drawing his maps. "At no point was I asked to consider racial demographics when drawing the maps, and I did not consider racial demographics when drawing them.," he said. A group of plaintiffs in three consolidated lawsuits have challenged the map as being intentionally racially discriminatory, a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, because the county's lone majority-minority commissioner precinct was eliminated. All four precincts are now majority white. Two are represented by black commissioners, one Democrat and one Republican. Closing arguments are to be submitted in writing. The decision in the case may well impact how redistricting is done in other jurisdictions within Texas. August 19: The Washington Examiner: Voters are concerned about Chinese influence on U.S. Government China's ascension in geopolitics has been a hotly debated issue in recent years. The Sino influence has steadily grown worldwide since the early 21st century. During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump discussed China's impact on this country at the forefront of national security and economic concerns. Mainly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation's voters have demonstrated an increased awareness of China's influence and rise (i.e., as the source for pharmaceuticals). A recent Rasmussen poll revealed that most voters in the country think the nation's politicians are influenced and compromised by China. According to the survey, 63% of voters believed that, to varying degrees, China has some level of influence over American politicians.  August 18: The Post Newspaper: A moment in history; the ratification of 19th Amendment – 103 years ago today
One hundred and three years ago Friday was a momentous day in the history of our nation. It's a story that started back in December 1849 when a man from Massachusetts arrived in San Francisco Bay on a clipper ship. He became a U.S. Senator and in January 1878 he became the first person to introduce the resolution that was to become the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution – granting women the right to vote. His amendment was introduced and reintroduced in each subsequent session of Congress long after his death in 1887. Today, sadly, we see far too many men and women not voting. We have seen contests won by a single vote. People have fought too long and too hard to secure this right for you to see it frittered away. Register to vote; go to the polls and vote! It's important that you do so! August 18: Mediaite.com: Gingrich reported a "Washington insider" called the DA in Fulton County, GA saying they must indict Trump no later than last Monday Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, noting that this is hearsay, told Mediaite.com that a very reliable source told him that a Washington insider called Fulton County, Georgia DA, Fani Willis, and told her that she needed to indict Donald Trump no later than Monday. When Willis said the Grand Jury was not scheduled to meet until Tuesday the insider reportedly told her she needed to do so no later than Monday night. Reports are that the indictment was needed because of the mess up of Weiss appointment as special counsel in Washington, DC was so messed up and was getting so much bad attention that the Georgia indictment was needed to take off the heat. Gingrich, noted twice that what he was saying was second hand but that it came from a person who should know. August 18: News Max: Georgia State legislator calls for impeachment or defunding of Fulton County DA Georgia's lawmakers have the ability to "neuter" Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' powers by defunding her office and then voting to impeach her, Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore said Friday. Willis' office earlier this week indicted Donald Trump and 18 allies over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers, and other aides of a "criminal enterprise" to keep him in power. "The legislature has an important role, and that is oversight of judicial and executive officers in this state, just like it is in states all across the country," Moore said. Willis posted the text of the indictment before the Grand Jury had met to vote on it and then claimed it was a test that wasn't supposed to be posted. August 18: Fox News: Obama-Biden Admin defended use of alternate email accounts long before Biden aliases were revealed Joe Biden has taken fire this week for reportedly using aliases and "secret" email addresses as vice president in messages to his son Hunter Biden, who had business in Ukraine at the time. Under former President Barack Obama's administration, White House officials defended the use of alternate email addresses. During a 2013 press briefing, the Obama-Biden White House, amid accusations that individuals within the administration had been using "secret" email addresses for correspondence, highlighted its belief that using "alternate email addresses" for high-ranking officials made "eminent sense." While fielding questions from reporters at the briefing, Jay Carney, then White House press secretary was asked about a story from AP that claimed a variety of senior administration officials possessed secret email addresses and whether the content of these emails would be available under freedom of information act requests. Carney responded, "Any FOIA request or congressional inquiry includes a search in all of the email accounts used by any political appointee." August 18: The Epoch Times: US Court of Appeals in DC strikes down sentence for Jan. 6th defendant A federal appeals court on Aug. 18 struck down the use of so-called "split sentences" in Jan. 6 cases — imposing both prison and probation for petty-offense misdemeanors such as the often-used charge of "parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building." The 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit could affect a large number of Jan. 6 cases where the U.S. Department of Justice recommended — and district judges imposed — sentences with jail and probation for "parading" convictions. The Court of Appeals said the split sentence is not allowed. "The only question on appeal is whether that sentence is authorized by statute. It is not," wrote Circuit Judge Justin R. Walker for the appeals court majority. "Probation and imprisonment are alternative sentences that cannot generally be combined. So, the district court could not impose both for Little's petty offense." August 17: United Press International (UPI): Florida judge to hold closed-door hearing on classified documents in Trump case The federal judge hearing former President Trump's classified documents case said she will hold a closed-door hearing to discuss the special counsel's request to protect the secret documents connected to the case. Judge Aileen Cannon said the sealed hearing "will take place at a designated time and place to discuss sensitive, security-related issues concerning classified discovery." Cannon did not disclose when and where that hearing will happen. Cannon, a Trump appointee, said the ex-president and his co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira will not have to attend the hearing, leaving the work to their lawyers Trump faces charges in U.S. District Court in Florida pertaining to retaining classified government records after leaving the White House and keeping those documents in boxes at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. The judge's decision comes after the prosecutor's request for the protective order had already been filed publicly. August 17: Fox News: GA state senator moves to impeach Fulton County DA for weaponizing justice system to go after political opponent A Georgia state senator is moving to impeach Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over the charges brought against former President Trump. Sen. Colton Moore is moving to impeach Willis, accusing the prosecutor of carrying out a political agenda against Trump. " I am officially calling for an emergency session to review the actions of Fani Willis," Moore said on social media Thursday. "America is under attack. I'm not going to sit back and watch as radical left prosecutors politically target political opponents," he added. Moore also published a letter to Governor Brian Kemp demanding a special session be called to address "the actions of Fani Willis." "We, the undersigned, being duly elected members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate, and comprising 3/5 of each respective house, pursuant to Article IV, Section II, Paragraph VII(b), hereby certify to you, in writing, with a copy to the Secretary of State, that in our opinion an emergency exists in the affairs of the state, requiring a special session to be convened under that section, for all purposes, to include, without limitation, the review and response to the actions of Fani Willis," the letter reads. August 17: YouTube: A blast from the past! The Smothers Brothers skit about politicians and issues of times past which may ring true today With equal opportunity jabs at political leaders, the Smothers Brothers take on the Congress, the Cabinet, and the National Debt. August 17: News Max: The U.S. approves Denmark and the Netherlands to send F-16s to Ukraine The United States has approved the third-party transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands as soon as pilot training is complete. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave that assurance in a letter sent Thursday to his Danish and Dutch counterparts. "I am writing to express the United States' full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors," Blinken wrote to the officials, Reuters reported, citing access to a copy of the letter. "It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty," Blinken added. August 16: The Daily Caller: Leaked memo: Illegal Chinese marijuana operations are taking over in blue states Lucrative Chinese illegal marijuana grow operations are popping up all over Maine, according to a federal memorandum distributed within Border Patrol that was obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Law enforcement in Maine identified 270 suspected properties used for Chinese illegal marijuana grow operations that could produce an estimated $4.37 billion in revenue, the July memo states. Chinese nationals who either have resident status in the U.S. or asylum claims that prevent them from being removed from the country tend to operate such grows, a federal law enforcement source, who requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly, said. "We think the Chinese are taking advantage of rural areas, like Maine, to produce marijuana to sell across state lines and funnel the profits back to China," the federal law enforcement source said. August 16: The Washington Examiner: KS prosecutor finds insufficient evidence to warrant raid on local newspaper that caused death of its owner A Kansas county prosecutor has withdrawn the warrant for a raid on a small-town newspaper, stating that the county police had "insufficient evidence" to seize information from the paper. Marion County Police officers and sheriff's deputies raided the Marion County Record on Aug. 11, seizing phones and equipment. The raid caused the paper, which had been running for over 150 years, to shut down, prompting nationwide backlash from press freedom activists who said the raid was a violation of constitutional rights. Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey said on Wednesday there was "insufficient evidence" to establish a "legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized." Ensey said police believed an "employee of the newspaper may have committed" a computer-based crime but there was not enough to justify a raid. August 16: The Washington Times: NC legislature overrides governor's veto of prohibition of men competing in women's sports North Carolina became the latest state to ban male-born athletes from female sports and gender-transition procedures for minors as the Republican supermajority overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes. In a daylong override spree, Republican legislators overturned vetoes Wednesday on a half-dozen bills, including measures related to transgender issues and parental rights. They included House Bill 808, which prohibits cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries for those under 18. The Senate voted 27-18 shortly after the House voted 73-46 to enact the bill over the governor's objections. The legislature also jettisoned the governor's veto of HB 574, named the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which bars male students from participating in female scholastic sports in middle school, high school and universities. August 16: The Daily Caller: Turley: Georga DA may have "tripped the wire" with her approach to Trump prosecution George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Wednesday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may have "tripped the wire" with their prosecutorial approach. A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, handed down ten indictments Monday night, charging Trump and other associates over Trump's efforts to contest the 2020 election results in that state. "This is going to be this massive production and she is going to do it in this rather short period of time. Now, the defense has to go through what are effectively three grand juries, three years of investigation, there's 19 defendants that may have conflicts," Turley said. "There is going to be a flurry of motions, constitutional questions raised." "The question is: Why this mad rush? Why is everyone not just piling on indictments but jamming together these trials, daisy-chaining them from Super Tuesday to virtually the inauguration, if you count the civil cases as well?" Turley asked. "At some point judges are going to have to step in and be a mature voice and say, 'look, okay, stop it, this guy has got to prepare a defense in multiple cases.'" Special Counsel Jack Smith got a four-count indictment of Trump. Legal experts note much of the conduct Smith claimed was criminal in the indictment appeared to be protected by the First Amendment. Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz said the indictment not only attacked the First Amendment, but also Trump's Sixth Amendment right to counsel. August 15: Fox News: GA Trump indictment posted before the Grand Jury actually voted on it The Fulton County Clerk of Courts Office is back peddling after it posted the Georgia indictment of Trump prior to the grand jury even voted on it. In offering an explanation they claimed the posting was supposed to be a test and not on the live website. Reuters first reported on the document before the Fulton County Court quickly removed it from the website and released a statement, blasting the document as "fictitious" and warning the media "that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such." The indictment was handed up and unsealed Monday night, bearing the same charges as listed on the alleged "fictitious" document. [See Related Story why this might have happened] August 15: The Epoch Times: Georgia indictment violates democratic norms, experts say The Georgia grand jury's indictment of former President Donald Trump over his efforts to overturn 2020 election results may violate democratic norms but that doesn't mean the case will be resolved quickly, legal experts say. Their comments came after Trump and 18 co-defendants — including several of his former attorneys — were indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, late on Aug. 14 over Trump's efforts to contest the election in Georgia. Charges range from violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, soliciting the violation of an oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, and conspiracy to commit filing of false documents. August 15: The Washington Examiner: Mark Meadows requests removal from Fulton County GA case, asking it be moved to a federal court President Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows is seeking to move the Fulton County, Georgia, case brought against him to federal court. Meadows was indicted alongside the Trump and 17 others on Monday for allegedly attempting to subvert the 2020 election results. George Terwilliger, Meadows's attorney, argued in the filing that because the case relates to conduct that "occurred during his tenure and as part of his service as Chief of Staff," he has the right to remove his portion of the proceedings from Fulton County Superior Court. "Nothing Mr. Meadows is alleged in the indictment to have done is criminal per se: arranging Oval Office meetings, contacting state officials on the President's behalf, visiting a state government building, and setting up a phone call for the President," Terwilliger wrote in a 14-page filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on Tuesday evening, saying these are expected from his role. August 15: The Daily Caller: Top FBI official involved with Russian oligarch plead guilty to conspiracy A former FBI official who played a key role in the "Russiagate" investigation into former President Donald Trump pled guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to provide illegal services to a sanctioned Russian oligarch, according to a press release from the U.S. Southern District of New York Attorney's Office. Charles McGonigal, a former special agent and chief of counterintelligence at the FBI's New York field office, pled guilty to money laundering and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), in connection to services provided to Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch. McGonigal was a key player in spearheading the "Crossfire Hurricane" probe – informally referred to as "Russiagate" – in 2016, which was the investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia.  August 15: The Washington Times: China expanding naval presence worldwide China has fully militarized at least three islands it built in the disputed South China Sea and is now looking around the world to establish a network of naval bases to bolster its ability to project power and match the global reach of the U.S. Navy. beijing's first overseas naval base, situated in the small country of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and operational since 2017, has given it a foothold in the Arabian Sea. National security experts are speculating about the next outpost. The most likely possibilities are Sri Lanka, where China has made its largest overseas commercial port investment in the past decade, and Equatorial Guinea, which is strategically located on West Africa's Atlantic coast and could put Chinese naval assets squarely in America's backyard. Researchers at the College of William & Mary said it's just a matter of time before Chinese warships operate in faraway waters. The Pentagon has warned since 2021 that China boasts the world's largest maritime military fleet in terms of warships. Although weaker than the U.S. Navy in power, weaponry and sophistication, the People's Liberation Army Navy has more than 355 platforms compared with roughly 300 warships in the American fleet and they have an active building campaign underway. August 14: News Max: Disney (and Hulu) are paying a price for inserting politics and "wokism" into their business model Disney is facing falling profits and economic difficulties as it has sought to embrace the woke agenda. Last week Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger announced dramatic increases for its online streaming subscription services Disney+ and Hulu. Disney+ subscribers will see their monthly bill grow by $3 to almost $14 monthly – close to a staggering 27% increase. Similarly, Hulu -- Disney's virtual pay TV service -- will grow by $3 to $18 a month — representing a 20% hike. The increase makes Hulu the most expensive for services providing the most basic streaming TV services. Hulu has long been criticized for offering a long roster of left-wing news and entertainment channels while banning many conservative ones. Disney has seen its business suffer as it entered into a series of cultural battles across the nation, including officially opposing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' efforts that banned talking about sexual issues to public school children in the third grade or younger. Since then, Disney's business profits have disappeared, with the company posting a net loss of $460 million in the most recent quarter. Last year the company had a profit of over $1.4 billion for the same quarter. Customers are clearly turning off Disney+ and Hulu. Disney+ lost about 600,000 subscribers over the past two quarters alone. Iger has vowed to cut over 7,000 jobs at Disney to bring the company back into profitability. Despite the losses Disney appears intent on embracing the woke agenda. August 12: Texas Scorecard: Allegation: Harris County counted 32,000 ballots illegally in 2022 New documents filed by Harris County Judge candidate Alexandra Mealer claim that 32,000 "likely illegal ballots" were counted in her contested November 2022 election—more than her opponent Lina Hidalgo's margin of victory. Mealer, a Republican, lost her race against Democrat incumbent Hidalgo by 18,183 votes. She filed an election contest in January, contending that Harris County Elections Administrator Clifford Tatum "committed systematic and widespread violations of Texas election law" that make the outcome of the election unknowable. In her new filing, Mealer's attorneys say Harris County records indicate more than 32,000 ballots were counted in violation of Texas law. Mealer's team cites four main categories of ballots that should not have been counted: (1) Voters who moved out of Harris County, according to the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address data (27,000), (2) Voters with canceled registrations (2,970), (3)Voters whose registration was in "suspense" but did not fill out the required "Statement of Residence" form attesting that they were eligible Harris County voters (2,038), and (4) Mail-in ballots that did not undergo proper signature verification (700). "An election is presumed valid when the law is followed," said Mealer. "However, when there are widespread violations and disregard for the election code, the true results are unknowable and a new election must be ordered." August 14: The Daily Caller: 98 year old KS newspaper owner dies after police raid on her business and confiscated electronics A 98-year-old co-owner of a small Kansas newspaper died Saturday, one day after a police raid on her home and the Marion County Record's office building. Joan Meyer had been undergoing severe stress and emotional distress in the hours before her death, the Marion County Record reported. She was allegedly unable to eat or sleep after police conducted the raid. Authorities confiscated personal electronics, computers, the newspaper's file server and other equipment, according to the outlet. Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody allegedly physically grabbed reporter Deb Gruver's cell phone, reinjuring one of her fingers in the process. CBS News reports, Cody later defended the raid, saying, "the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated." "It is true that in most cases, it requires police to use subpoenas, rather than search warrants, to search the premises of journalists unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search," he added. [See Related Story] Meanwhile, News Max reported several press freedom watchdogs condemned the Marion Police Department's actions as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution's protection for a free press. The Marion County Record's editor and publisher, Eric Meyer, worked with his staff Sunday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday, even as he took time in the afternoon to provide a local funeral home with information about his mother, Joan, the paper's co-owner. A search warrant tied Friday morning raids to a dispute between the newspaper and a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. She is accusing the newspaper of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record and suggested that the newspaper targeted her after she threw Meyer and a reporter out of restaurant during a political event. While Meyer saw Newell's complaints — which he said were untrue — as prompting the raids, he also believes the newspaper's aggressive coverage of local politics and issues played a role. He said the newspaper was examining Cody's past work with the Kansas City, Missouri, police as well. "This is the type of stuff that, you know, that Vladimir Putin does, that Third World dictators do," Meyer said during an interview in his office. "This is Gestapo tactics from World War II." August 14: Fox News: Recently retired FBI agent; Biden transition team tipped off about plans to interview Hunter, subsequently the interview never happened An FBI supervisory special agent told congressional investigators that the Biden transition team and Secret Service headquarters were tipped off in December 2020 about a planned interview of Hunter Biden – a tip-off that resulted in the interview of then-President-elect Biden's son not taking place at all, even while he was labeled the target of the yearslong federal investigation. The agent, who worked for the FBI for more than two decades and retired from the bureau last year, participated in a transcribed interview under oath behind closed doors with the House Oversight Committee last month. His testimony came amid whistleblower allegations that prosecutorial decisions made throughout the Hunter Biden investigation, led by US Attorney David Weiss, were influenced by politics. IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley testified that the Biden transition team and the Secret Service were "tipped off" about the planned interview of Hunter Biden. The agent corroborates Shapley's testimony. Attorney General Merrick Garland last week sought to clear the cloud of alleged politicization from the investigation into the president's son, who pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and a felony gun charge after an orchestrated plea deal with the Justice Department fell apart in federal court on grounds of unconstitutionality. August 13: Fox News: Ramaswamy: pulling the curtain back on Biden self-serving national security policy 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is pulling the curtain back on Biden's self-serving national security policy, making the bold declaration that "much" of the U.S.'s military defense spending within the last few decades has not been properly allocated. We need a modern Monroe Doctrine in this country. The dirty little secret is that much of our military defense spending in the last several decades has not actually gone to national defense. The reality is, if we do enter a serious conflict, and I worry that Joe Biden is sleepwalking us into potential nuclear conflict with Russia and Russia and China being in a military alliance with one another that would mean both nations. The reality is, we need defense capabilities of the homeland, nuclear defense capabilities, cyber defense capabilities, super EMP, electromagnetic pulse capabilities, that could take out our electric grid. We are way behind. And so, the hallmark of my foreign policy is going to be you don't mess with the homeland. Start with that first," Ramaswamy said.  August 13: UPI: Russian naval vessel stops cargo ship on its way to Ukrainian grain port
Russian naval forces in the Black Sea forced a cargo ship heading to a Ukrainian port to stop after firing warning shots, Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday. The Palau-flagged dry cargo ship Sukru Okan was on its way to the port of Izmail early on Sunday when it was intercepted by Black Sea Fleet's patrol boat Vasily Bykov for inspection, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Russian news agency Tass. August 12: News Max: Trump in Iowa; A tribute to love experienced throughout the country Former President Donald Trump, speaking at the Steer N' Stein at the Iowa State Fair Saturday said in his brief remarks that their comments were a "tribute of love" that he's experiencing nationwide. "No matter where we go, there's never been [more] enthusiasm," he said. Enthusiastic supporters crowded in and spilled onto the fairgrounds where he was speaking. "In 2016 we won. We did much better, I hate to say this, but we did much better in 2020…" Trump did not address the indictments he's facing or the scandals surrounding Hunter Biden, but instead stuck to promises to take care of the United States in his campaign stump speech. He said under Joe Biden, the United States is a "laughingstock all over the world," particularly "with millions and millions of people pouring into our country with no voter ID, with so many things, it's just so horrible." The "other side," doesn't "care about the farmers." "I don't even think they're coming here to campaign, because they know they're not going to be able to beat us," Trump said. "Nobody's done what we've done." Trump noted he's leading in the polls in Iowa and nationwide by at least 50 percentage points. But still, he said, "We don't want to take any chances. We'll be back." August 12: News Max: Tim Scott; I'm not buying any Biden Saudi Arabian deal Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) vowed Saturday that he won't back a new deal brokered by the Biden administration that would directly involve the U.S. in securing peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. "I have not and will not support the deals of this administration," Scott, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said about the deal. Reportedly, the Biden administration will soon propose to Congress an agreement that gives security and defense guarantees to Saudi Arabia if it is attacked. It would be the first such defense agreement given to a nondemocratic ally. August 12: Twitter: Tucker Carlson interviews former Chief of the Capitol Hill Police about Jan. 6th protests Tucker Carlson had an interview with Steven Sand, former Chief of the Capitol Hill Police, which would have aired on Fox News but wasn't because Carlson was fired before it was to run. In the interview on "Tucker on Twitter" Sa1q2rtyhujkl;./>,mnb cvxzA ;/">nd said he wasn't given access to the intelligence information indicating there was going to be a problem. In particular information was kept from him that the FBI expected 18-19 people it considered domestic terrorists to be in the crowd. The information was there but kept from the one person whose responsibility was to protect the U.S. Capitol; the person with boots on the ground. In order for him to get National Guard assistance he had to get the approval of then Speaker Nancy Pelosi though the House Sgt. At Arms. It took 71 minutes to get a response and when he contacted the Pentagon to send him the National Guard troops, he was told he couldn't have them because of the optics of troops descending on the Capitol. In the end, police units from New Jersey (over 170 miles away) arrived before the National Guard was released to assist. They were released to help after the protest was over. August 12: The Jerusalem Post: Ukrainians destroy, massive Russian tank on the battlefield A much-lauded Russian Terminator-2 tank appears to have been destroyed by a Ukrainian tank unit working alongside Ukrainian special forces on Saturday. A video posted to Telegram by the Ukrainian security service SBU appears to show the tank being destroyed and nearby soldiers fleeing the scene. The Russian tank is a powerful machine with serious battlefield potential. It is armed with four missile launchers, two autocannons, and two grenade launchers. Ukrainian officials wrote on telegram that the hit was carried out using "just a few hits of kamikaze drones". The officials then elaborated that an attempt was made by Russia to extricate the vehicle using another tank which was then totally destroyed by the Ukrainian Special Forces waiting nearby.  August 12: Fox News: Critics warn California bill to protect school officials would punish parents who speak out at school board meetings
California Democrats are advancing a bill that would expand state law criminalizing harassment of school officials, as more parents speak out against liberal policies at school board meetings across the state. The bill would expand the terms of an existing statute barring parents from disrupting classrooms and extracurricular activities where a school employee is present, to now include off-campus activities where employees are present, such as school board meetings. Parents would be subject to a misdemeanor charge, facing a $500-$1,000 fine and jail time of up to a year for causing "substantial disorder" at these meetings. The measure also expands the definition of "school employee" to "any employee or official of a school district, a charter school, a county office of education, a county board of education, the state board, or the State Department of Education." Some legal experts warned the bill was another attempt by Democrats in the state to restrict parental rights and free speech, as parents continue to push back on race and gender policies in their school districts. August 12: News Max: Trump in Iowa – a "tributed of love" from his supporters Former President Donald Trump, speaking at the Steer N' Stein at the Iowa State Fair Saturday along with a contingent of congressional supporters including Reps. Matt Gaetz, Byron Donalds, Greg Steube, and others said in his brief remarks that their comments were a "tribute of love" that he's experiencing nationwide. "No matter where we go, there's never been [more] enthusiasm," Trump said at the fair venue, where enthusiastic supporters crowded in and spilled onto the fairgrounds. "In 2016 we won. We did much better, I hate to say this, but we did much better in 2020… I will say 2020 was fantastic and 2016 was fantastic." Trump noted he's leading in the polls in Iowa and nationwide by at least 50 percentage points. But still, he said, "We don't want to take any chances. We'll be back." He also encouraged those listening to "stay strong" as there are "bad, bad people from within." August 11: Rasmussen Reports: Merrick Garland: More voter view Attorney General unfavorably Attorney General Merrick Garland continues to be unpopular with voters, who don't see him doing a better job than most of his predecessors. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 36% of likely U.S. voters have a favorable impression of Garland, including 18% who have a Very Favorable view of him. Forty-four percent (44%) now view Garland unfavorably – up from 42% in August 2022 – including 32% who have a Very Unfavorable impression of the attorney general. Another 21% are not sure. August 11: The Epoch Times: AG Garland appoints Weiss as special counsel to investigate Hunter Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday the appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) ongoing investigation of first son Hunter Biden. Doing so "consistent with the Department of Justice regulations governing such matters," Garland said. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware, was asked to lead the department's investigation of Biden in February 2021. That investigation led to charges being filed against the first son in June, including two violations of failure to pay income tax and one violation of unlawful possession of a firearm. A plea agreement signed off on by Weiss wasn't approved by the Federal Judge overseeing the case and was considered by many to be a slap on the writs for Hunter Biden – likely resulting in no jail time. Weiss has claimed in communications with Congress that he had complete authority over the case, yet according to the testimony of two IRS whistleblowers, he was previously denied the special counsel status he requested. The IRS whistleblowers, who went public in recent months, also claimed political meddling in the DOJ's investigation of Mr. Biden's tax affairs. August 11: The Washington Examiner: Graham; Special Counsel appointment dumber than dirt, creates more questions than answers Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reacted to the news of Attorney General Merrick Garland appointing David Weiss as special counsel in the investigation into Hunter Biden. Weiss was the same person who allowed several of the potential cases to die because he allowed them to go so long that the statute of limitations kicked in. Graham called the announcement a "dumbest dumber-than-dirt political move" for its timing. Republicans in Congress have shared criticism over Weiss's authority in the investigation that appeared to limit him. Criticisms were based, at least in part, on testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who worked with the Department of Justice on the Biden case and believed that Weiss was not aggressively investigating the cases against Hunter Biden. Meanwhile Breitbart News reports Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said Weiss is "compromised and cannot be trusted." Stefanik, the House Republican Conference Chair, said, "This is absolutely unacceptable to the American people. David Weiss is compromised and cannot be trusted to conduct a fair investigation into Hunter Biden." "It was David Weiss who signed off on Hunter Biden's sweetheart plea deal that was so outrageous a federal judge threw it out," she observed, promising that House Republicans will "continue our constitutional duty of oversight, following the facts wherever they lead." Congressman James Comer (R-KY), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee added, "This move by Attorney General Garland is part of the Justice Department's efforts to attempt a Biden family coverup in light of the House Oversight Committee's mounting evidence of Joe Biden's role in his family's schemes selling 'the brand' for millions of dollars to foreign nationals." August 11: The Daily Caller: Garland's appointment of a special counsel may violate DOJ regulations U. S. Attorney David Weiss' appointment Friday as special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation appears to violate a Department of Justice (DOJ) regulation requiring a special counsel to "be selected from outside the United States Government." Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Weiss' appointment as special counsel Friday, noting he would "continue to have the authority and the responsibility that he has previously exercised" and explaining Weiss had requested to be appointed on Tuesday. The Justice Department regulation, which governs the powers and qualifications of a special counsel, was also used to criticize the 2020 appointment of John Durham as special counsel to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe while he was serving as U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew McCarthy called the appointment of Weiss a "sham," saying "the point of having a special counsel is to bring in someone from outside the government who we can trust to do a credible investigation."  August 10: The Texas Scorecard: 15 Texas Congressmen want to withhold DHS funding until they secure the boarder More than a dozen members of Texas' Republican Congressional delegation are asking their colleagues to withhold funding for the Department of Homeland Security because of the agency's failure to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border. The effort is being led by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy. They sent a letter to the full chamber detailing the severity of the crisis on the Texas-Mexico border in depth. Among the examples cited in the letter is the recent lawsuit filed against three Fort Worth-based illegal aliens for participating in a human smuggling ring. The letter also points to claims that criminal cartels have taken over the border, migrants are dying during their illegal travels, and the current border policies are leaving children more susceptible to the sex-trafficking trade. According to the lawmakers' letter, Gov. Greg Abbott has been forced to use Texas' limited resources to start solving a problem the federal government created. To put more pressure on the Biden administration, the lawmakers want Congress to invoke its "power of the purse" when the agency's funding expires this fall. August 10: Fox News: Biden admits, the inflation reduction act those little to reduce inflation Joe Biden admitted Thursday that Democrats' signature legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, wasn't actually reducing the then-record-high inflation facing the nation as he originally touted to the American people. "I wish I hadn't called it that. It has less to do with reducing inflation than it does providing for alternatives that generate economic growth," Biden said during an appearance at a campaign fundraiser in Park City, Utah. "And so, we're now in a situation where if you take a look at what we're doing in the Inflation Reduction Act, we're literally reducing the cost of people being able to make their — meet their basic needs," Biden alleged. "Even when there is inflation there is a way to provide breathing room," he contended. Biden's comments are a sharp turn from what he said in July 2022 ahead of the Inflation Reduction Act's passage through Congress on a party line vote. "The Inflation Reduction Act is the strongest bill you can pass. It will lower inflation, cut the deficit, reduce health care costs, tackle the climate crisis, and promote energy security," he said at the time. August 10: The Texas Scorecard: Colon, federal judge; Biden administration, blatantly disregarded first amendment A new court ruling says the Biden administration has disregarded the First Amendment, after pressing social media companies to censor conservative views. Federal Judge Terry Doughty of the Federal District Court of Louisiana issued a broad preliminary injunction barring the Biden administration and multiple federal agencies from communicating with social media companies about online content. Doughty ruled that the Biden administration's coercion of social media companies into online censorship blatantly violated the First Amendment. "The present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States history," wrote Doughty. Notably, the defendants in this case include the Biden administration, the Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The lawsuit, filed by the Republican Attorney Generals of Missouri and Louisiana, accused the Biden administration of pressuring social media companies to heavily censor conservative views on the origins of COVID-19, government-ordered health measures, and election security. The plaintiffs argued that the White House essentially coerced social media companies into suppressing ideas and content disliked by the Biden administration. August 10: The Washington Examiner: Louisiana attorney; FBI engaged in deception with a Hunter Biden Laptop A leading attorney in Missouri v. Biden, the closely watched case about censorship practices, charged on Thursday during oral arguments that the FBI "engaged in deception" while working with social media companies in the lead-up to the 2020 election. John Sauer, special attorney general for the Louisiana Department of Justice, alleged to a three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the FBI's and the White House's apparent censorship attempts on several issues were "egregious" but that the FBI also sought to mislead social media companies about Hunter Biden's laptop. Sauer's remarks came in response to one of the judges, Edith Clement, asking him, "Was the activity of the FBI as egregious as the activity of the White House?" "They're different, and I believe they're both very egregious, but the FBI engaged in deception," Sauer began. He then explained how the FBI worked behind the scenes to handle the now-infamous New York Post story, published weeks ahead of the 2020 election, implicating then-candidate Joe Biden in his son's business dealings based on contents from the younger Biden's now widely authenticated laptop. August 9: The NY Post: Feinstein falls, back in hospital in San Francisco Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) was forced to the hospital after tripping and falling Tuesday in her hometown of San Francisco, her office reported. "Senator Feinstein briefly went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fall in her home. All of her scans were clear and she returned home," a spokesperson said. She apparently suffered "no serious injuries" from the tumble. The Senate is currently on recess and set to return Sept. 5. Feinstein, 90, was hospitalized earlier this year after a bout with shingles and was absent from the Senate for about three months before returning to the chamber. She is the oldest sitting lawmaker in either chamber of Congress. During her absence, Feinstein missed dozens of key votes and was blamed by some progressives for slowing the progress of Joe Biden's controversial picks for federal judgeships through the Senate Judiciary Committee.  August 9: The Daily Caller: House Oversight Committee releases bank records showing Bidens got millions of dollars from Russia and Ukraine oligarchs The House Oversight Committee released bank records Wednesday showing Hunter Biden took millions of dollars-worth of payments from Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh oligarchs. Hunter Biden received millions from Russian oligarch Elena Baturina, Ukrainian energy firm Burisma and Kazakh oligarch Kenes Rakishev when his father was vice president, the committee found. The committee has identified over $20 million in payments from foreign partners to the Biden family and their associates in what is being termed an influence peddling scheme. August 9: News Max: Congressman Gaetz; If Congress called Trump to testify with the promise of complete immunity from prosecution the indictments could be dead in the water Rep. Matt Gaetz,(R-FL) proffered an unusual tactic on Tuesday — call former President Donald Trump to testify as a whistleblower before any House panel and grant him immunity from the prosecution of special counsel Jack Smith. Gaetz floated the idea during an interview. Gaetz insisted that Congress, especially the GOP controlled House, has to "exert its equities" to combat what it believes to be the political persecution of Trump. One way to do that — call Trump as a witness. "You can actually bring President Trump in to give testimony to the Congress and in doing so, immunize him," Gaetz contended, adding there are layers of immunity but full immunity would require a supermajority vote of the House.
August 9: The Daily Caller: | |
| GO TO THE CHRONOLOGY OF NEWS COVERAGE JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2023 |
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It's time to clean house and restore trust in our nation's institutions 
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Don't be fooled by the line being run by Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman, acting as Biden defense attorney, that these phone calls and dinners with Hunter's benefactors were simply innocent interactions during which Joe talked about "the weather."
Senate makes good on promise to pass NDAA setting up possible contentious conference with the House 
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