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Friday, March 1, 2024

President Biden and Former President Donald Trump Visit Southern Border

New York Post: President Biden and former President Donald Trump both touched down in Texas on Thursday afternoon, headed to two different sites along the US-Mexico border, as the migrant crisis resulting from record-setting illegal immigration is a top issue in their likely election rematch. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) dismissed President Biden’s border visit as “a joke” Thursday and blasted “dishonest” Alejandro Mayorkas after the homeland security secretary, who is traveling with Biden, said on Air Force One that it’s up to Congress to fix the border crisis (New York Post). RNC Research: Impeached DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas has the gall to smear Gov. Greg Abbott — who has actually taken action to SECURE his state’s border amid the Biden administration’s failure (X).Collin Rugg: Biden travels to the Southern Border, where over 7 million migrants have crossed over illegally since he took office, and starts talking about the “Climate Crisis.” Donald Trump is talking about Laken Riley, a young woman who was killed last week by one of these migrants who crossed over illegally. Remarkable (X). MAGA War Room: Border Patrol Union President Brandon Judd: “My agents, they’re mad as hell that President Biden went to Brownsville, Texas…rather than coming to Eagle Pass, Texas which has been the epicenter. What President Trump has seen right here is he’s seen how his policies have worked” (X).

Alejandro Mayorkas Subpoenaed by House Judiciary Committee for Contributions to Border Crisis in Texas

Fox News: House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for documents related to DHS’ actions in response to an overwhelming surge of migrants into Eagle Pass, Texas, in September — accusing the agency of failing to produce documents and impeding the committee’s work. Republicans on the Committee had requested documents on multiple occasions related to the Sept. 20 surge of mostly Venezuelan nationals into Eagle Pass, which led to the closings of two bridges as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) struggled to cope (Fox News). House Judiciary GOP: Jim Jordan subpoenas Mayorkas for documents relating to the Biden Border Crisis in Eagle Pass, Texas, where Border Patrol agents reportedly cut and removed concertina wire installed by the state of Texas (X).

Governor Newsome Excuses Panera Bread From Minimum Wage Law Because Owner Is a Mega-Donor, Friend

Daily Wire: California Governor Gavin Newsom is under fire after a report this week revealed that he pushed for a special carveout in the state’s new $20 minimum wage law that affects businesses owned by one of his top political allies and donors. Flynn is the largest “restaurant franchisee in the US, if not the world,” the report added. Panera Bread was spared from the law because it offered “unusual exemption for chains that bake bread and sell it as a standalone item.” The report states that Newsom “pushed for that break.” The report showed the numerous connections that the two men have, including going to the same high school, Flynn donating significant sums of money to Newsom’s political campaigns, Flynn allegedly bragging about his easy access to Newsom, and Flynn buying a resort managed by a company that Newsom owned (Daily Wire). Bloomberg: While Panera locations and a handful of other eateries get a break on wages, competitors are bracing for higher costs when the law takes effect in April. McDonald’s Corp. franchisees have estimated the wage law will cost each California location $250,000 a year, characterizing it as a “devastating financial blow” (Bloomberg).

British PM Looks to Protect Country From Descending to Mob Rule

Reuters: Britain is descending into “mob rule” and police will do more to protect the country’s democracy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday, after the government announced extra funding to keep lawmakers safe. Many British lawmakers have said the abuse directed at them has become more intense since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza, with some fearing for their safety if they air their views on the conflict. Last week parliament descended into chaos as tensions flared over a vote on Gaza, with the House of Commons speaker citing “frightening” threats against lawmakers for a decision to break with usual parliamentary procedure (Reuters). Sky News: “While he may want to bend to mob rule, we will face down the extremists and stand up for British values.” Rishi Sunak says that Sir Keir Starmer is “utterly shameful”, referencing the antisemitism crisis during Corbyn’s leadership, and of recent weeks (X).

Inflation Up Yet Again as Costs “Accelerate”

Spencer Brown: While President Joe Biden continues to claim that inflation is “down,” the latest print of the PCE price index showed that costs for Americans continue to increase and even accelerate despite the White House’s claims that “Bidenomics” policies have made things better. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, headline PCE inflation rose 0.3 percent in January and is up 2.4 percent over the last year. Core PCE inflation — which excludes food and energy costs — increased even more in the first month of 2024 with a surge of 0.4 percent for an annual increase of 2.8 percent. Notably, both annual inflation rates are above the Federal Reserve’s target inflation rate of just 2.0 percent (Townhall). BEA: The increase in current-dollar personal income in January primarily reflected increases in government social benefits, personal income receipts on assets, and compensation. The increase in government social benefits was led by social security benefits, reflecting a 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment, and other government social benefits, primarily reflecting an increase in Affordable Care Act enrollments (BEA).

Cannabis Use Linked to Cardiovascular Issues

CBS: Cannabis use — whether smoked, eaten or vaporized — is associated with a higher number of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, according to a new study. Published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the research found that risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke increased with any kind of cannabis use, with heavier use associated with higher odds of negative outcomes. For daily cannabis users, for example, odds of a heart attack were 25% higher compared to non-users and 42% higher for stroke (CBS). NIH: Cannabis consumption has increased significantly within the past 20 years nationwide as negative perceptions of its use have declined, according to government surveys of drug use and health. In the United States, cannabis is now legal in 38 states for medicinal use and in 24 states for recreational use. Some studies have linked its regular use to impaired brain development and lung damage, as well as to certain cardiovascular diseases (NIH).

Louisiana Bill Allowing Constitutional Carry Passes, Heads to Governor’s Desk

Daily Wire: A bill that would allow any non-felon Louisiana resident to concealed carry a gun without a permit has passed both the state House and Senate and is expected to be signed by Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA). The Republican-backed proposal, SB 1, passed the House on Wednesday by a 75-28 vote and the Senate 28-10 last week. If signed, Louisiana would be the 28th state to enact a constitutional carry-style law. The Louisiana bill says “that law-abiding persons eighteen years of age and not otherwise prohibited may carry a concealed weapon lawfully without a permit,” removing previous requirements for concealed carry in the state (Daily Wire). Louisiana Freedom Caucus: Thank you Rep. Danny McCormick for always staunchly supporting Constitutional Carry in America’s constitutional republic. His powerful speech points out the simplicity of this bill: you can already openly carry a gun on your waist in the State of Louisiana. What this bill does it makes it legal to now put on your coat. Constitutional Carry passed the House today, after passing the Senate last week. The bill is headed for Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk (X).

John Cornyn (R-TX) Runs to Replace Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Senate Minority Leader

Townhall: When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced on Wednesday that he would be stepping down as the Republican leader in November, his ally Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) had said “I think today is about Mitch McConnell, but I’ve made no secret of my intentions.” Less than 24 hours later, Cornyn announced he’s indeed in the running to replace McConnell, making him the first member to publicly declare. Cornyn has served as Senate Majority Whip, and was also chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), during which Republicans “shrunk Democrats’ majority by give seats and laid the foundation to retake the majority in 2014” (Townhall). Reporter Matthew Choi: Cornyn is officially running for leader (X).

Los Angeles DA Gascon Threatens DDA for Talking to Media About Prosecuting Crimes

Fox11: One Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, Tatiana Chahoian, says that the DA’s office is urging prosecutors to not file charges in cases related to reckless driving, street racing and street takeovers (Fox11). Jonethan Hatami: One of the young DDA’s in my office, who is also a mom, went to the media the other day to bring attention to a Gascón policy she felt was wrong and dangerous to children. No matter what side you are on regarding criminal justice policies, the LADA’s office should be transparent to the public and all Angelenos have a right to know what is happening with their criminal justice system. Yesterday, Gascon sent police officers to this young DDA’s home to deliver a threatening letter telling her to immediately stop talking to the media. Again, no matter where you sit regarding our criminal justice system, these type of intimidation and bully tactics are not what we are about here in Los Angeles. It’s unbecoming of an elected District Attorney. Gascon doesn’t deserve to be the DA. Period (X).

10.

VP Kamala Harris Announces Plan to Pay Students to Register Voters, Work At Polls

Newsweek: The federal government is paying college students to register voters before the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris said this week. Students will be paid through the Federal Work-Study Program, Harris said, during a meeting with voting rights leaders on Tuesday (Newsweek). Greg Price: Kamala Harris says the federal government is going to pay college students to register voters for the election (X). Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI): This is unacceptable. Democrats are now trying to use taxpayer dollars for their get-out-the-vote efforts (X).