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Monday, June 26, 2023

Wagner Paramilitary Group Attempts Coup in Russia, Negotiates Exit for Leader Prigozhin to Belarus

Daily Wire: The Kremlin announced Saturday that it is dropping the criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Russia’s feared Wagner paramilitary group, after Prigozhin accused Russia of attacking his forces in Ukraine and threatened to effectively overthrow Russia’s Ministry of Defense. In less than 24 hours, Prigozhin sent his forces from Ukraine into the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don where they seized Russian military headquarters and then his forces traveled hundreds of miles north on their way to Moscow. On the way to Moscow, there was an intervention by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the mutiny (Daily Wire). CBS: On Sunday morning, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, was set to leave for Belarus under the deal brokered with the Kremlin. As part of the deal, Wagner troops would be pardoned and criminal charges against Prigozhin would be dropped (CBS).

Putin and Russia Both Weakened in Wake of Attempted Coup

CNN: Desperately projecting that everything is as it was, the Kremlin is only emphasizing how much has changed. These were 36 hours that provided a glimpse of the end of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule. Almost every action was improbable, at best a week ago – much was inconceivable, 17 months ago. Putin has been left reacting. Silent initially, and then bombastically angry and confident, promising “inevitable punishment” for the “scum.” But hours later, this was all forgotten. Putin’s emotional state – were it known – is arguably less revealing than his actions. By letting Prigozhin go, and apparently sweeping the entire insurrection under the carpet, he’s appeared the weakest yet in 23 years (CNN). Wall Street Journal: As a result, the authority and self-image of the Russian state has sustained lasting damage, likely fueling future challenges to its writ regardless of what happens to Prigozhin. That is especially so as the war in Ukraine, which helped precipitate the Wagner mutiny, continues raging with no end in sight, causing mounting casualties on both sides… In Moscow, too, feelings about Prigozhin were mixed at best on Saturday. “There was a moment of total loss of control. Moscow was already awaiting him, the city froze in expectation that some groups of people would enter,” Kolesnikov said. “And people were not afraid. Putin was afraid of him, but not the country’s population” (Wall Street Journal). Face the Nation: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan says the deal Belarus brokered between Putin and Wagner group chief Prigozhin is “evidence of the weakness” of Putin, that he was willing to strike a deal with someone he calls a traitor. “What strong leader does that” (Twitter).

Merrick Garland States Questioning the DOJ is an “attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy”

Just the News: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday compared criticism of the Department of Justice over allegations of a two-tiered justice system to an attack on democracy. Hunter Biden has struck a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid prison by pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax crimes and admitting to a gun charge that could be dismissed, court records released earlier this week show (Just the News). Greg Price: Garland: “Some have chose to attack the integrity of the Justice Department by claiming that we do not treat cases alike. This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy… Nothing could be further from the truth” (Twitter). PJ Media: For he is of course right, as far as it goes: the Justice Department is indeed essential to American democracy, or rather, to the American republic. That’s why we’re in the fix we’re in: because the Justice Department is now a public relations office for those whom the regime favors and a no-holds-barred instrument of vengeance against those whom the regime hates. Those who are attacking it are not against the institution at all but against the mess that Garland has made of it (PJ Media).

NYC Pride Parade Participants Walk Around Topless While Chanting: “we’re here, we’re queer, we’re coming for your children”

Townhall: A group of progressive New York City Pride members sparked outrage after revealing the Left’s radical agenda it has in store for children. The extreme activists were unafraid to hide their plan to indoctrinate minors through their LGBTQ propaganda, something Republican leaders have warned the country about. The march included adult males dressed in minimal women’s clothing and women barring their exposed breasts, at a Manhattan park where families frequently go (Townhall). Graham Allen: What kind of animals do this in front of children?! NYC is another lost city….this is evil (Twitter)! Timcast News: NYC Drag Marchers chant “we’re here, we’re queer, we’re coming for your children” (Twitter).

Florida Judge Temporarily Blocks Law Keeping Children from Viewing Drag Shows

National Review: U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a Florida law which would bar minors from attending drag show performances. The lawsuit, made on behalf of Hamburger Mary’s – a venue which has hosted drag shows for nearly two decades – alleges that the legislation undermines the First Amendment and freedom of expression. Although the state law does not explicitly reference drag shows, its aim to limit youth access to “adult live performances.” Judge Presnell questioned Republican arguments that blocking the law would “harm the public by exposing children to ‘adult live performances’” (National Review). Axios: Florida already has laws on the books that penalize exposing children to obscene material, the judge wrote. Along with the redundancy, the law’s vague language makes it “susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement which could sweep up substantial protected speech,” Presnell said. The policy also doesn’t include a carveout to allow a child to attend a banned performance with a parent (Axios).

Mayor Eric Adams Defends Actions to Move Illegal Immigrants in NYC to South American Countries, China

Politico: After lashing out at leading Republicans for busing asylum-seekers to Democrat-led cities, New York Mayor Eric Adams turned around and did something similar — sending dozens of migrants to red states like Florida and Texas. And Adams didn’t stop at the nation’s borders. Between April 2022 and April 2023, New York City spent around $50,000 to resettle 114 migrant households in cities around the U.S. and the globe. Some were sent to countries in South America — and one all the way to China (Politico). Of course, they claim things are different when they are the ones doing the relocating. National Review: Kate Smart, a spokeswoman for Adams, defended the move, arguing that it was different from what Abbott and Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) had done. “In contrast, New York City has worked to connect individuals with friends, family, and networks whether in New York City or outside of it,” Smart said. “We are not coercing people to leave, we are not suggesting or recommending locations, and we are not presenting any kind of false choice. We are helping people who want to reconnect with loved ones or communities do so” (National Review).

NBC Poll Reveals Mass Discontent Over the Direction of the Country is Heading

New York Post: Voters are souring on the state of the nation, with a stunning 74% saying the US is on the wrong track, according to a survey released Sunday. The NBC poll found just 20% of respondents say America is moving in the right direction. The last time voters were that bitter about the nation’s course — in 1992 and 2008 — the party in control of the White House changed hands, NBC’s Chuck Todd noted in unveiling the results (New York Post). RNC Research: NBC POLL: “Just 20% of voters believe this country is headed in the right direction. 74% say the nation is on the wrong track” (Twitter).

Reporters Pepper Karine Jean-Pierre with Questions About Biden’s Business Dealings

Fox News: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was bombarded with questions pertaining to the growing Hunter Biden scandal at Friday’s press briefing. The House Ways and Means Committee released explosive testimony from IRS whistleblowers who alleged misconduct in the handling of the tax probe investigating President Biden’s son. Among the findings was an alleged WhatsApp text message Hunter Biden sent to a Chinese business associate using his father as part of what Republicans say was an illicit scheme. The White House Counsel’s Office repeated its claim that the president “was not in business with his son” and that Justice Department decisions in its investigations are done “independently” without White House involvement (Fox News). Danny De Urbina: Reporters TURN on Karine Jean Pierre, gang up on her for 4 minutes straight asking about Joe Biden’s connection to Hunter’s overseas business dealings after bombshell text messages reveal criminal corruption scheme (Twitter). Larry O’Connor: This is not how a White House with nothing to hide behaves (Twitter).

Supreme Court Looks to Issue Ruling on Affirmative Action in University Admissions This Week

Daily Wire: The Supreme Court is poised to rule on affirmative action at universities in a pair of cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. A group called Students for Fair Admissions sued the elite schools, accusing them of unfairly factoring race into their admissions processes. The group pointed to the high test scores of Asian-American and white applicants who were rejected. Students for Fair Admissions argues that Harvard has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination by schools that receive federal funding. In the other case, the group accuses the University of North Carolina of violating the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by considering race in its admissions process (Daily Wire). Axios: If overturned, corporate hiring and recruiting practices could be next to land in the crosshairs. All Fortune 100 companies have publicly championed DEI commitments. HR, communications and in-house counsel say they are monitoring the case closely and are preparing messaging based on the scope of the ruling (Axios).

10.

MLB Focuses on Recruiting Black Players to Make Teams More Diverse

Why bother signing the best skilled athlete for a position when you can virtue signal to your fanbase? Associated Press: A recent study from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found Black U.S. players represented just 6.2% of players on MLB opening day rosters, down from last year’s previous record low of 7.2%. Both figures are the lowest recorded in the study since it began in 1991, when 18% of players were Black. Last year’s World Series was the first since 1950 without a U.S.-born Black player (Associated Press). Daily Wire: MLB’s efforts are already yielding results. A growing number of players primed to go pro are black. MLB told AP News that approximately 15 percent of the players featured in a recent showcase preceding July’s draft were black. In last year’s draft, four of the first five players selected were black: a first in MLB’s history. All four hailed from the DREAM Series, an MLB camp for young black players. MLB reported in April that their diversity efforts had yielded black players making up 13 percent of the top 100 selections. The increased diversity yield may be credited to MLB’s numerous initiatives and hundreds of millions in funding dedicated specifically to training up black players (Daily Wire).