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Thursday, May 4, 2023

Matt Gaetz, AOC Partner on Bill Banning Lawmakers in Congress from Trading Stocks

Daily Wire: Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and leftist rising star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), proposed a bill that would ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Several prominent lawmakers have been accused in recent years of using their intimate knowledge about forthcoming regulations or economic tumult to purchase stocks at opportune times and reduce losses by selling shares. The legislative proposal, entitled the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act, would prohibit lawmakers, their spouses, and their dependents from purchasing individual stocks or derivatives (Daily Wire). Washington Examiner: Yes, it would be a sacrifice for lawmakers if they couldn’t trade stocks — even for those lawmakers who don’t trade on their insider knowledge. To some extent, an honest member of Congress would have fewer rights than an average citizen. That’s fine. When the public invests you with power to make laws, oversee the government, and investigate private individuals and companies, that is not only a privilege, it is also a burden. It is right and just that you should make sacrifices in order to do your job better (Washington Examiner).

New York Becomes First State to Ban Gas Stoves, Furnaces in New Buildings

Turns out they were lying when they called us crazy for believing they would actually take gas stoves away from us. National Review: Under pressure from environmentalists, New York lawmakers on Tuesday made their state the first in the nation to ban the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels for heating and cooking in most new buildings. The ban on natural-gas appliances was part of a $229 billion state budget passed late Tuesday. The law requires all-electric appliances in new buildings shorter than seven stories by 2026 and in taller new construction by 2029. The law does not affect existing buildings, and it exempts renovations. It also includes exceptions for a variety of new buildings, including hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and restaurants. But it does not allow cities or counties to opt out (National Review). RNC Research: New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul defends banning gas stoves: “This is how you transition” (Twitter).

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Says Karin Jean-Pierre’s Spin of the Border Crisis is False

Daily Wire: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) slammed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre this week for falsely claiming that the U.S. southern border was secure, saying that her comments were “just factually not true.” Jean-Pierre had claimed on Monday that “the actions that this president has taken” had led to a 90% decrease in illegal immigration (Daily Wire). Ian Miles Cheong: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) blasts White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for falsely claiming that the U.S. southern border is secure: “just factually not true” (Twitter).

US to Send $300 Million in Military Aid to Ukraine

Fox News: The U.S. is sending Ukraine about $300 million in additional military aid, including an enormous amount of artillery rounds, howitzers, air-to-ground rockets and ammunition as the launch of a spring offensive against Russian forces approaches, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The new package includes Hydra-70 rockets, which are unguided rockets that are fired from aircraft. It also includes an undisclosed number of rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, mortars, howitzer rounds, missiles and Carl Gustaf anti—tank rifles. The weapons will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so they can go quickly to the front lines. This is the 37th package of Pentagon stocks to go to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, and it brings the total U.S. military aid to about $36 billion (Fox News). Associated Press: Officials have said the weapons and other equipment will help as Ukraine prepares to shift from what has been a long and bloody winter stalemate, focused on heavy fighting in Ukraine’s east, particularly around the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk province. The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said Russia was continuing to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraine’s industrial east, focusing attacks around Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka (Associated Press).

Federal Reserve Increases Interest Rates by 25 Points

CNBC: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved its 10th interest rate increase in just a little over a year and dropped a tentative hint that the current tightening cycle is at an end. In a unanimous decision widely expected by markets, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee raised its benchmark borrowing rate by 0.25 percentage point. The rate sets what banks charge each other for overnight lending but feeds through to many consumer debt products such as mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. The increase takes the fed funds rate to a target range of 5%-5.25%, the highest since August 2007 (CNBC). Spencer Brown: As usual, the Fed reiterated its goal of returning inflation to its goal of just two percent and said the FOMC “will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and economic and financial developments” (Townhall).

US Navy Hires Active-Duty Drag Queen as an Ambassador to Recruit Young Americans

What has happened to the greatest military in the history of the world? New York Post: The US Navy invited an active-duty drag queen to be a “Digital Ambassador” – as part of a recent drive “to attract the most talented and diverse workforce” and combat plunging recruitment. Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, who identifies as non-binary, was appointed as the first of five Navy Digital Ambassadors in a pilot program that ran from October to March. Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, has shared their journey on TikTok and Instagram, where they described how they began performing onboard and became an “advocate” for people who “were oppressed for years in the service” (New York Post). Fox News: The Navy’s attempts to increase interest among young people comes amidst a historic recruitment crisis. A survey from the Ronald Reagan Institute found that only 13% of 18-29-year-olds are “highly willing” to join the military. Twenty-five percent are “somewhat willing” and 26% are “not willing at all” (Fox News).

HHS Demands Catholic Hospital Extinguish Living Flame Candle in Prayer Chapel

Washington Examiner: The Department of Health and Human Services is threatening the accreditation of a Catholic hospital for keeping its sanctuary candle lit. St. Francis Health System in Oklahoma, the 12th largest hospital in the country, returned a letter Tuesday threatening legal action against HHS for violating their First Amendment religious freedom rights. All Catholic churches have red sanctuary candles lit to represent the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. In April, HHS told the Catholic hospital it could lose its accreditation for keeping the candle lit due to an apparent safety threat of starting a fire. According to the hospital’s letter, the government and local fire marshal have approved the flame (Washington Examiner). National Review: The issue first arose with the hospital’s accreditor, Joint Commission. Hospitals are accredited in order to serve Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program patients. When Saint Francis failed to address its difference with the accreditor, it appealed the issue to CMS requesting a reasonable accommodation… Becket senior counsel Lori Windham explained “We’re not sure what standard they’re applying here. They have cited a regulation having to do with open flames in patients room or near medical equipment.” However, said Windham, there isn’t a patient room nearby and the candle is not near any medical equipment. “It’s behind two glass candleholders and has a brass top on top of it,” Windham said. “There are other places where flames are allowed in the hospital like pilot lights on stoves in the kitchen or lights for gas-powered stove dryers. For some reason they’ve focused on sanctuary candle, or living flame…This is really an unnecessary action to take and an unnecessary fight to have” (National Review).

Olympian Tori Bowie Passes away at 32-Years-Old

Tragic loss. CBS: Tori Bowie, American track star and three-time Olympic medalist, has died, officials said Wednesday. She was 32. Icon Management, Inc., the agency that represented Bowie, initially announced the news in a tweet. Sports officials have since acknowledged Bowie’s death as well. “We’re devastated to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away,” the agency said. “We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter and sister. Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family and friends.” Bowie was reportedly found Tuesday in her Florida home, according to the Associated Press. No cause of death was given by her management company, Team USA or the Olympics in individual statements grieving the loss on Wednesday (CBS). Team USA: We join our friends at USA Track & Field and across the Olympic community in mourning the passing of 3x Olympic medalist Tori Bowie. She was an admired friend, teammate, and a great representative of Team USA. We send our sincere condolences to all who know and loved her (Twitter).

Nation Marks National Day of Prayer With Gatherings Across the Nation

CBN: Millions of Americans will mark the National Day of Prayer 2023 (NDP) on Thursday, May 4. This year’s theme verse for the NDP is taken from the second part of James 5:16 found in the Bible’s New Testament. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” the verse reads in the King James translation. The National Day of Prayer was created as an annual observance by a congressional joint resolution in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. It is held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people to pray for the nation (CBN).

10.

Secretary of State Claims the US is Doing Everything They Can to Free Detained Journalist in Russia

Wall Street Journal: Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is “intensely engaged” in seeking the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was wrongfully detained by Russia more than a month ago. Mr. Blinken said he has spoken to Russia’s foreign minister about the matter and noted that President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a channel to discuss such cases. “So we’re engaged,” Mr. Blinken said Wednesday, speaking at a World Press Freedom Day event held by the Washington Post. “I wish I could say that in this moment, there was a clear way forward. We don’t have that in this moment, but it’s something that we’re working every single day” (Wall Street Journal).