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Friday, June 16, 2023

Judge in Trump’s Court Case Orders All Lawyers Involved Get Security Clearances

CNN: US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued her first order since former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith for allegedly mishandling classified information, instructing the parties to get the ball rolling to obtain security clearances for the lawyers who will need them. In a Thursday order, Cannon gave “all attorneys of record and forthcoming attorneys of record” a Friday deadline for getting in touch with the Justice Department’s litigation security group so that they can expedite “the necessary clearance process.” By June 20, she wants the lawyers to file a notice confirming they have complied with her instructions (CNN). Washington Examiner: Prosecutors led by special counsel Jack Smith charged 77-year-old Trump with 37 counts stemming from his handling of classified documents. Altogether, Trump could face up to 400 years in prison and nearly $9.5 million in fines if he is convicted (Washington Examiner).

Study Reveals Men are Two-Three Times More Likely to Overdose on Drugs Than Women

Mount Sinai: The study found that men had a two–three times greater rate of overdose mortality from opioids (like fentanyl and heroin) and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine and cocaine). While it is known that men use drugs at higher rates than women, the researchers found that this alone does not explain the gap in overdose deaths, noting that biological, behavioral, and social factors likely combined to increase the mortality risk for men (Mount Sinai). Washington Examiner: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in May updated statistics showing over 105,000 overdose deaths were reported in 2022. Overdose deaths across all demographic categories have increased fivefold since 2000, and the rate of overdoses has spiked since 2019 (Washington Examiner).

Republicans Propose Plan to Manage Student Loan Debt

NBC: House Republicans introduced a plan to address student debt Thursday afternoon as the Supreme Court is set to rule in the coming weeks on whether President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program can remain in effect. The Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act, led by Republicans from the House Education and Workforce Committee, would provide “targeted” student loan relief for borrowers who “already paid back more than they originally owed taxpayers in principal and interest,” streamline several existing income-driven repayment plans into one system and give defaulted borrowers another chance to rehabilitate their loans (NBC). CBS: The legislation would also cap borrowing for graduate students, with the lawmakers arguing that generous loans have encouraged colleges and universities to ramp up their tuition costs. The new plan comes at a crucial moment for the 43 million people with student debt (CBS).

Democrats Introduce Bill to Make College Tuition Free, Say Taxes Will Pay for Initiative

Tag24: Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal teamed up on Wednesday to reintroduce a bill in Congress that would make public colleges and universities tuition-free! The bicameral College for All Act would eliminate tuition and fees for most families and make community college free. It would allow students from single households making less than $125,000 a year and married households making less than $250,000 a year to go to public colleges and universities without having to pay tuition (Tag24). RNC Research: Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal on her “free college for all” bill: Q: “Is it really ‘free’? … Is part of it paid through a tax?” JAYAPAL: “Yeah, certainly, there’s lots of different ways to pay for it. We don’t suffer from scarcity” (Twitter).

Texas Governor Signs “Save Women's Sports" Bill into Law

Fox7: Gov. Greg Abbott held a bill signing ceremony at the Capitol to sign SB 15, or the “Save Women’s Sports” bill. The law requires athletes at Texas colleges and universities to compete on teams corresponding to the student’s biological sex at birth, barring trans athletes from competing within their gender identity (Fox7). Alliance Defending Freedom: Since the NCAA refuses to protect fairness for female athletes, states must ensure women in college have the same equal athletic opportunities that they were afforded in high school. We commend Gov. Abbott, Rep. Valoree Swanson, Sen. Mayes Middleton, and the rest of the bill’s supporters in the Texas Legislature for taking this strong stand for Texas’ collegiate female athletes. Thanks to their leadership, women in Texas colleges will not be subjected to the devastating losses to men that female athletes in other parts of the country are experiencing (Alliance Defending Freedom).

Jerry Nadler Claims It is Child Abuse to Not Mask a 2-Year-Old Child

Outkick: The left’s obsession with forcing children to wear masks took another absurd turn Wednesday. One of the most obvious and inarguable mistakes being, of course, forcing toddlers to wear masks. Evidence has conclusively and repeatedly shown that masks are completely ineffective at reducing the spread of respiratory viruses. In short, it’s clear that the actual science shows masks don’t work for adults. And there’s even less science showing they work for children. Yet 76-year-old Democrat Representative Jerry Nadler took to the floor of the House yesterday not to move past child masking, but to forcefully defend it (Outkick). Clay Travis: Democrats are still arguing today in Congress that two years olds needed to be in masks and that it would have been child abuse not to do it. These people’s brains are broken (Twitter). Greg Price: Rep. Chip Roy responded by ripping Nadler a new one: “My Democratic colleagues (believe) the full power of the federal government should be part of ensuring and forcing your two year old child to be masked” (Twitter).

DOJ Investigates PGA Tour’s Merger with Saudi-Backed LIV

Wall Street Journal: The Justice Department has notified the PGA Tour that it will review the Tour’s planned merger with LIV Golf’s Saudi backers for antitrust concerns, people familiar with the matter said, initiating a regulatory obstacle to the stunning deal that the warring golf bodies hope will stabilize the divided sport. A review by the Justice Department—which had already been investigating the PGA Tour and other leading golf bodies for anticompetitive behavior—introduces uncertainty to the planned joint venture between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. It also makes it probable that any transaction that is hammered out between the rivals won’t take effect for some time (Wall Street Journal). Washington Examiner: LIV Golf was one of Saudi Arabia’s many investments in sport, with the PGA Tour reportedly coming to the table to merge with the upstart league because it could not compete with the seemingly endless money LIV had access to. A PGA spokesperson said that explanation was an “oversimplification” (Washington Examiner).

Government Watchdog Group Sues FAA for Not Releasing Pete Buttigieg's Private Taxpayer-Funded Flight Information

Fox News: A government watchdog group is filing a federal lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), arguing the agency has stonewalled records detailing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s use of private government jets. The group, Americans for Public Trust (APT), said it has repeatedly requested FAA records detailing how often Buttigieg has used the agency’s small fleet of jets and the taxpayer costs associated with those flights. According to its lawsuit, the FAA has improperly delayed producing the records on three separate information requests filed by APT. “Pete Buttigieg abused taxpayer dollars by using a private jet to fly domestically and internationally,” Caitlin Sutherland, APT’s executive director, told Fox News (Fox News). Katie Pavlich: According to documents and government records, Buttigieg has flown private dozens of times at taxpayer expense since January 2021 (Townhall). Matt Whitlock: Mayor Pete and the Biden admin have consistently said there’s nothing to see on Mayor Pete’s private taxpayer funded flights. If that’s the case why are they refusing to turn over his flight records (Twitter)?

North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles as US, South Korea Finish Training Drills

Bloomberg: North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles Thursday in its first such launch in about two months, which came after it failed in late May to put a spy satellite into orbit. The missiles were launched as the US and South Korea ended live-fire drills this week near the border with North Korea (Bloomberg). Times of Israel: Japan’s Coast Guard alerted vessels in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan and the North Pacific seas, warning them to avoid falling objects. There were no immediate reports of damage to ships or aircraft. A Tokyo defense ministry official told reporters later that both missiles landed in waters within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (Times of Israel).

10.

An Opportunity to Appreciate Fathers and Fatherhood

As the nation approaches Father’s Day. Fathers are a critical part of any family. While there have been many attempts to replace fathers and the traditional nuclear family, each and every attempt has failed. Nothing can measure up to what a real man with a family can do (edify). Focus on the Family: One vital thing a child needs from their dad is a relationship. Researchers have found that fathers help their kids grow via a relationship that aids in social adjustment, raises graduation rates, and improves children’s mental health (Focus on the Family). Atlantic: In their approach to childrearing, fathers are more likely to encourage their children to take risks, embrace challenges, and be independent (Atlantic).