Your First Look at Today's Top Stories

Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.

Sponsored By

Thursday, July 20, 2023

IRS Whistleblower States Hunter Biden, “should have been charged with a tax felony, and not only the tax misdemeanor charge”

Washington Examiner: The anonymous IRS criminal investigator once involved in an investigation of Hunter Biden and known only as “whistleblower X” was revealed to the Washington Examiner as IRS Special Agent Joe Ziegler, who has been with the agency since 2010. Ziegler and veteran IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley appeared for a public hearing of the House Oversight Committee to discuss the alleged politicization of the investigation into Hunter Biden. Ziegler’s testimony was released ahead of the hearing, offering some details about his work at the IRS. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said the testimony from the two agents will not likely reveal any new information. However, he believes the agents will provide details of how the DOJ “refused to follow evidence that implicated Joe Biden, tipped off Hunter Biden’s attorneys, allowed the clock to run out with respect to certain charges, and put Hunter Biden on the path to a sweetheart plea deal” (Washington Examiner). Fox News: Ziegler testified that Hunter Biden “should have been charged with a tax felony, and not only the tax misdemeanor charge,” and that communications and text messages reviewed by investigators “may be a contradiction to what President Biden was saying about not being involved in Hunter’s oversea business dealings” (Fox News). Hugh Hewitt: “In August of 2022, we had a phone call with all of the assigned prosecutors and they had said that all four of them were recommending the approval of felony and misdemeanor tax charges,” Ziegler said (Twitter).

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD): "There is NO EVIDENCE that Hunter Biden has received ANY KIND of official favoritism in this prosecution”

Washington Examiner: House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) accused Republicans of pursuing nonexistent crimes during his opening remarks at a congressional hearing Wednesday. The high-profile Democrat claimed Oversight Republicans had produced faulty evidence in their investigation of the Biden family’s business dealings and President Joe Biden’s alleged role in them (Washington Examiner). Townhall: JAMIE RASKIN: “There is NO EVIDENCE that Hunter Biden has received ANY KIND of official favoritism in this prosecution for being Joe Biden’s son” (Twitter). CBS: An attorney for Hunter Biden, Christopher Clark, has said previously that suggestions the investigation was not thorough are “preposterous and deeply irresponsible” (CBS). House Republicans: IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley just testified that the DOJ prevented IRS investigators from executing a search warrant at President Biden’s home because of “optics” (Twitter).

Dennis Prager on ASU Smearing Him, Other Visitors: “in 90 minutes I can undo the 4 years of the indoctrination”

Dennis Prager: In February, I was invited along with Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), and Robert Kiyosaki, author of the bestseller, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” to speak at Arizona State University (ASU) at a conference titled “Health, Wealth and Happiness.” The invitation came from the TW Lewis Center for Personal Development, an independent center affiliated with Barrett College, the honors college of ASU. About a week before the scheduled event, 34 of Barrett College’s 47 faculty members signed a letter to the dean of ASU condemning the event on grounds that Charlie Kirk and I are “white nationalist provocateurs … purveyors of hate who have publicly attacked women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, (and) institutions of our democracy.” They owe me a public apology. More importantly, they owe ASU and their students an apology. Should they not apologize and retract their libels, if ASU has any commitment to truth, it should censure every one of the 34. Every other example the 34 cited to smear me was equally specious and intellectually dishonest (Townhall). Corinne Murdock: Dennis Prager says Arizona State University Barrett Honors College faculty are intellectual & moral lightweights: “They fear any conservative coming for 90 minutes, because in 90 minutes I can undo the 4 years of the indoctrination that these leftists give their students” (Twitter). Brooks D. Simpson: Leibsohn finishes. Kern claps loudly. Then Leibsohn offers to work with Kern to fix ASU. Folks, this isn’t just about Barrett any more. It’s becoming more about ASU (Twitter).

CNN Guest Claims Wokeness is an Imaginary Issue

He also mentioned President Biden’s economy is an issue. Julio Rosas: CNN Political Analyst Bakari Sellers asserted after Jake Tapper’s interview with GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis that the average American does not care about wokeness ideologies becoming more prevalent in society. During the Tapper interview, DeSantis said wokeness has had a negative effect on military recruiting and retention. Sellers said DeSantis’ focus on cultural issues like wokeness is “out of touch” because Americans are more concerned about the economy (Townhall). Townhall: Former South Carolina State Representative Bakari Sellers: Fighting against wokeness is “completely out of touch with what most Americans are feeling…Wokeness…is so far away from the average, everyday American…These people who are working on this hotel across the street…they’re not worried about wokeness” (Twitter).

Liberals Try Canceling Jason Aldean for New Song Calling Out Violence Against Police, Destruction of Cities

Fox News: Country singer Jason Aldean released a new music video this week touting how small towns wouldn’t put up with the kind of riots and lawlessness many cities across the country faced during the summer of 2020. With lyrics warning violent criminals, as well as those who disrespect law enforcement and the American flag to “try that in a small town,” Aldean sings, “Yeah, ya think you’re tough? Well, try that in a small town, see how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own, you cross that line, it won’t take long for you to find out, I recommend you don’t.” Gun control activist Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action took issue with the lyrics since Aldean was on stage during the Las Vegas massacre in 2017 (Fox News). USA Today: Country Music Television is no longer airing Jason Aldean’s music video “Try That In A Small Town,” which sparked criticism after its release Friday. Not long after the video’s release, online critics highlighted the song lyrics as emblematic of songs heightening gun violence and lynching sentiments upon many in his rural, small-town fan base (USA Today). Charlie Kirk: “Try That in a Small Town” by Jason Aldean vs “WAP” by Cardi B. Which do you think the media is mad about? WARNING: One of these is GRAPHIC and should NOT be read by minors, and the other is lyrics from Jason Aldean’s song (Twitter). Jason Aldean: These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far (Twitter).

John Kerry Returns from China Without a Climate Deal

Politico: The United States and China failed to reach new climate agreements despite “productive” conversations, special climate envoy John Kerry said Wednesday after a four-day visit to Beijing, an outcome that underscores the tensions between the world’s two biggest carbon polluters and economies. Kerry said the hours of closed-door meetings with senior Chinese officials revealed “things we clearly agreed on,” with both sides committing to regular meetings, including one in the next few weeks. He still expressed hope of achieving breakthroughs that could keep the planet from experiencing disastrous climate change (Politico). Katie Pavlich: He was all but laughed out of the country. In the lead up to his meeting in Beijing, Kerry has repeatedly justified the use of slave labor in China to produce solar panels and other so-called “green energy” products (Townhall).

US Suspends Funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology

It is about time America stops funding this lab. Bloomberg: The Biden administration formally halted the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s access to US funding, citing unanswered safety and security questions for the facility at the center of the Covid lab leak theory. The Department of Health and Human Services notified the institute about the suspension on Monday and told the lab it’s seeking to cut it off permanently. An HHS review that started in September raised concern that the facility based in Wuhan, where Covid first emerged, is violating biosafety protocols and isn’t complying with US regulations. The penalties are the most drastic action the US has taken over the lab’s failure to share information amid ongoing investigations into Covid’s origins (Bloomberg). National Review: The lab has failed to share information about its biosafety practices and has resisted investigations into its safety and security protocol violations (National Review).

Senators Hawley, Gillibrand to Introduce Legislation Banning Lawmakers, Executive Branch Members from Owning Some Stocks

Wall Street Journal: Two U.S. senators are set this week to introduce bipartisan legislation to bar members of the federal executive branch and lawmakers from owning stock in individual companies, as new polling shows broad public support for such a measure. The bill from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) and Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) would permit the president, vice president, lawmakers, Capitol Hill aides and employees of the executive branch to own mutual funds and broad industry and index funds. But it would prohibit them from owning stocks in individual companies, even in blind trusts (Wall Street Journal). Fox News: The move is Hawley’s latest attempt to eliminate insider trading in Congress, which he says has allowed too many lawmakers to get rich while they were supposed to be serving their constituents. The series of bills comes after revelations last year that former speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, traded between $1 million and $5 million of stocks for semiconductors just days before Congress allocated $52 million to the industry. The stocks were later sold at a loss to remove the appearance of impropriety (Fox News).

California Adds Three More States to Travel Ban List

If you are looking for a place to move outside of California, this list is a great place to start. Fox News: California expanded their travel ban to three states after those states restricted transgenders students from participating in school sports that aligns with their gender identity. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California will restrict state-funded travel to Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming as a result of recent legislation those states passed. The travel ban was mandated by California Assembly Bill 1887. It requires the attorney general to update the website to the current list of states that are subject to the travel ban (Fox News). Proud Elephant: California has EXPANDED its travel ban to include Missouri, Nebraska and Wyoming over their bills that ban sex changes for minors. A total of 23 states had already been subjected to the travel ban, including Florida, Texas, Utah and Georgia (Twitter). Jenna Ellis: LOL Cali is issuing “travel bans” to other states while theirs is the one experiencing mass resident exodus (Twitter).

10.

NYC to Hand Out Flyers Discouraging Migrants from Traveling to New York

Reuters: New York City will distribute flyers at the U.S.-Mexico border telling newly arrived migrants to “consider another city” and limit shelter stays for adult asylum seekers to 60 days as the city’s Democratic mayor says it is straining to house them. In an announcement on Wednesday, the office of Mayor Eric Adams said the flyers would seek to “combat misinformation at the border” and that the city would help migrants find other housing and “take the next step in their journey.” New York City says that it has provided services to 90,000 migrants since last spring and that nearly 55,000 remain in its care (Reuters). US News: Adams declared a state of emergency in October 2022 and has called on President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, to provide more resources and to help migrants get work permits. The new flyer that New York City plans to circulate at the border highlights the high cost of housing, food and other necessities that migrants will encounter if they travel to the U.S. financial center (US News).