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Friday, August 18, 2023

Hawaii Electric Knew Equipment was Not Safe for Years

Wall Street Journal: During the 2019 wildfire season, one of the worst Maui had ever seen, Hawaiian Electric concluded that it needed to do far more to prevent its power lines from emitting sparks. The utility examined California’s plans to reduce fires ignited by power lines, started flying drones over its territory and vowed to take steps to protect its equipment and its customers from the threat of fire. Nearly four years later, the company has completed little such work. Between 2019 and 2022, it invested less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on the island, regulatory filings show. It didn’t seek state approval to raise rates to pay for broad wildfire-safety improvements until 2022, and has yet to receive it. Now, the company is facing scrutiny, litigation and a financial crisis over indications that its power lines might have played a role in igniting the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The blaze has caused at least 110 deaths, destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and resulted in an estimated billions of dollars in damage. The fire’s cause hasn’t been determined, but mounting evidence suggests the utility’s equipment was involved (Wall Street Journal). Reuters: Hawaiian Electric Industries shares continued their record slump, briefly hitting their lowest level since 1985 in early trading on Thursday (Reuters).

Five Terrorists Responsible for 9/11 Could be Spared the Death Penalty

Spencer Brown: The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 stole the lives of 2,977 innocent people on U.S. soil in a series of attacks targeting icons of the United States’ freedom and prosperity. Now, more than two decades later, five of the evil individuals responsible for planning the attack could be spared the most serious punishment as a result of plea deals with American officials overseeing their prosecution. This troubling revelation came to light after a letter sent from federal law enforcement and military leaders to families of 9/11 victims with news of the potential plea agreements was obtained by The Associated Press. The letter explained to families of those killed by Al Qaeda terrorists that the “Office of the Chief Prosecutor has been negotiating and is considering entering into pre-trial agreements (PTAs).” Even though no plea agreements have been “finalized,” per the letter, “it is possible that a PTA in this case would remove the possibility of the death penalty” (Townhall). Byron York: AP reports the US government is negotiating a plea deal with 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. It’s the latest development in a long-running travesty; KSM should have been tried and executed by the United States years ago (Twitter).

President Biden’s Hunter-Related Communications Requested by House Oversight Committee

Including his pseudonym. Katie Pavlich: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is calling on the National Archives and Records Administration to turn over documents related to then Vice President Joe Biden’s work in Ukraine while his son, Hunter Biden, was getting paid $80,000 per month by notoriously corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Comer is seeking “unredacted documents and communications in which then-Vice President Joe Biden used a pseudonym; Hunter Biden, Eric Schwerin, or Devon Archer is copied; and all drafts of then-Vice President Biden’s speech delivered to the Ukrainian Rada in December 2015” (Townhall). Just the News: The Archives released a handful of other emails, some redacted, with other private communications. Comer said he needed the fully unredacted emails, making what is known as a “special access” request to the National Archives. “Attached to this email, and made available on the NARA website, is a document that indicates at 9:00 a.m. on May 27, 2016, Vice President Biden took a call with the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko,” he added/ “It is concerning to the Committee, however, that this document was sent to “Robert L. Peters”—a pseudonym the Committee has identified as then Vice- President Biden. Additionally, the Committee questions why the then-Vice President’s son, Hunter Biden—and only Hunter Biden—was copied on this email to then-Vice President Biden” (Just the News).

House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas DOJ, FBI Records for Social Media Censorship

Washington Examiner: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed the Department of Justice and FBI for documents on Thursday related to allegations they worked with social media companies to censor First Amendment-protected content, including the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020. Jordan told Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray in letters accompanying the subpoenas that the documents would help his committee’s investigation into “how and the extent to which the Executive Branch has coerced and colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor speech.” The chairman asked that both the DOJ and FBI provide him with all internal documents and communications involving the moderation, suppression, or removal of content on private companies’ platforms. He gave them a deadline of Sept. 15 to deliver the material (Washington Examiner).

California Democrats Would Criminalize Causing Disorder at School Board Meetings

Gavin Newsom, Democrats demand you submit to their will. Daily Caller: Earlier this year, California Democrats quietly introduced a piece of state legislation to amend state law on classroom disruptions. While ostensibly aimed at preventing the “harassment” of school officials, the bill’s real intention is to make examples of parents who dare defend their children against the predations of left-wing ideology. Democrats introduced Senate Bill 596 in February, accompanied with a short press release but little media fanfare. Now, as the bill appears set to make its way through committee, parental rights activists and experts are sounding the alarm. Wenyuan Wu, executive director of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, a parental rights group, spoke to the DCNF about the bill’s real intention. “Criminalizing contest and dissent in local school districts manufactures false accusations of disorderly conduct when concerned parents exercise their constitutional rights and speak up against woke indoctrination. This bill is shamelessly intended to target, intimidate and smear parents and local community members advocating for better education, transparency and accountability” (Daily Caller). 1776 Project PAC: A new bill in California, SB596, would make causing a “substantial disorder” at a school board meeting punishable up to a $1,000 fine and one year in jail. “Substantial disorder” will be defined as anything the left-wing opponents of parental rights on California’s school boards decide. They want to indoctrinate your kids and keep parents in the dark (Twitter).

Mortgage Rates Rise to Highest Point in 20 Years at 7.09 Percent

Wall Street Journal: The average mortgage rate rose to 7.09%, its highest level in more than 20 years, according to data released Thursday by mortgage giant Freddie Mac. The increase extends a lengthy stretch of high borrowing costs that has slowed the housing market to a crawl. This marked the first time since last fall that the rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7%. A year ago, rates were around 5%. The housing market is the part of the economy hit most directly by the Federal Reserve’s high-rate policies. The resulting slowdown in refinancing and purchase activity has battered some mortgage lenders, leading to tens of thousands of layoffs in the industry and weighing on economic growth (Wall Street Journal). Associated Press: The average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains more than double what it was two years ago, when it was just 2.86%. Those ultra-low rates spurred a wave of home sales and refinancing. The sharply higher rates now are contributing to a dearth of available homes, as homeowners who locked in those lower borrowing costs two years ago are now reluctant to sell and jump into a higher rate on a new property. The lack of housing supply is also a big reason home sales are down 23% through the first half of this year (Associated Press).

Dr. Rachel Levine Praises Alaska Gender Clinic for Using Extreme Woke Language

Fox News: Admiral Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health for the Department of Health and Human Services, praised an Alaska gender clinic which promoted revisionist ideas about biological sex, including eliminating the word mother from K-12 science classes. Levine visited the Identity Alaska on August 6, stating, “These inspiring people work tirelessly to create a more equitable future, where all those living in the U.S. have equal access to lifesaving medical care.” Identity Alaska actively promotes radical ideas about biological sex in its resources section called “gender-inclusive biology” (Fox News). National Review: Identity Alaska publishes resources that recommend replacing the word “mother” with “egg producer,” or “carrier.” The terms “gestational parent” or “birth parent” are also good words to de-gender language, the clinic mentions. Much of the clinic’s guidance comes from Gender Inclusive Biology, a curriculum guide that seeks to “adapt existing biology” to grow a “gender-inclusive curriculum.” Gender Inclusive Biology tells teachers to ask questions such as, “How can we affirm our transgender and intersex students when we talk about X and Y chromosomes,” “How will students with same-sex parents interpret and internalize our lessons about meiosis and sexual reproduction,” and “Can we create safe spaces of scientific exploration and protect trans youth in schools?” The curriculum is specifically designed for science teachers. Men aren’t exempt from gender-neutral language changes: Identity Alaska’s resources recommend that men be called “testicle-having people” or “those with testicles” (National Review).

Sen. Joe Manchin’s Buyer’s Remorse on the Inflation Reduction Act

Washington Examiner: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) was one of the key forces behind the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022. But since it passed, he has evolved his views of the legislation and its implementation. Manchin, once a fierce champion of the bill, has questioned the ways the Biden administration has carried out the law. Since the original incarnation of President Joe Biden’s climate and healthcare bill, Manchin has been a critic and a deciding vote (Washington Examiner). Hill: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday said he will keep up his battle against the Biden administration and officials who seek to “undermine” the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as part of their “radical climate agenda” on the first anniversary of it being signed into law (Hill). Sen. Joe Manchin: My statement on the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (Twitter).

Anheuser-Busch Heir Billy Busch Offers to Buy Bud Light Brand Back to Right the Ship

Washington Examiner: Anheuser-Busch heir Billy Busch said he would be the first to buy back Bud Light should the beer’s parent company AB InBev want to sell it. “If they don’t want that brand any longer, sell it back to the Busch family,” Busch told Outkick host Tomi Lahren. “Sell it to me. I’ll be the first in line to buy that brand back from you, and we’ll make that brand great again.” Busch explained how disheartening it has been to watch the beer brand, which was so much a part of his childhood, lose its legacy of valuing its customers and employees (Washington Examiner). Outkick: After Bud Light’s epic collapse, Anheuser-Busch Heir Billy Busch tells Tomi Lahren he wants to buy the company BACK from InBev, and Make Bud Light Great Again (Twitter)! HotAir: He went on to offer some advice to the current owners of Bud Light – pay attention to the marketing people you hire. InBev, a Belgian company, purchased the Anheuser-Busch family of beers in 2008. The price tag was $52B (HotAir).

10.

Writers Guild Refuses to Negotiate on Minimums of Writers Per Project

Daily Wire: The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is refusing to budge on the issue of writers room minimums during strike negotiations, prompting several members to voice their frustration. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has made some concessions to the demands of WGA in an effort to end the months-long strike. This includes providing streaming viewership data, per Variety. But they have not come to an agreement when it comes to having a set minimum number of writers on every project, regardless of what showrunners determine they need. The initial stipulation said that TV shows needed a minimum of six to 12 writers depending on the number of episodes in a season. This month the WGA agreed to reduce that number by one writer but would not do away with the idea of writers room minimums. “Nobody asked for this,” one anonymous showrunner told the outlet. “Every showrunner I know is against this. It doesn’t make sense to anybody.” Some dissenters said the minimums would likely result in “featherbedding,” which involves hiring employees who don’t work to fulfill labor quotas (Daily Wire).