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Friday, July 12, 2024

Biden’s Press Conference Fails to End Scrutiny Over His Declining Health

President Biden did not have to do too much to impress people, the bar was set so low. Wall Street Journal: President Biden held a high-stakes news conference Thursday in which he was forceful and defiant, vowing to pursue re-election and finish the job he started, but he also made some flubs as he tried to slow a stream of Democratic defections that risked turning into a mutiny. Democrats have continued to break with their 81-year-old standard-bearer following a calamitous debate and public appearances that haven’t reassured colleagues about his fitness for the campaign trail or a second term. Biden has pledged to keep running, but many lawmakers have pushed him to reconsider, with a handful going so far as to publicly call for him to step aside in favor of another candidate. The news conference was seen as potentially Biden’s last major opportunity to prove he is capable of defeating Donald Trump in November (Wall Street Journal). National Review: Biden delivered a performance that offered something to both his critics and his defenders, ensuring that the debate over his disastrous debate performance, which has already hit two weeks, will drag on. On the negative side of the measure, Biden was raspy and took a number of long pauses…. He mentioned how his staff had given him a list of reporters to call on and jabbed them for adding too many events to his schedule. At the same time, he did field questions for an hour, in some cases giving long and detailed responses, which, even though riddled with errors (such as claiming Hamas had lost popularity in the West Bank), are something that his defenders can cite as evidence that he is still sharp enough to remain as the nominee (National Review).

President Biden Stumbles Over Names While Addressing NATO, The World

President Zelenskyy introduced as “President Putin,” Vice President Harris referred to as “Vice President Trump.” NBC New York: President Joe Biden in an embarrassing verbal stumble on Thursday introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO conference as “President Putin.” Biden’s botched introduction of Zelenskyy with the name of the Russian leader who has waged war on Ukraine for more than two years came less than an hour before Biden was due to face reporters in Washington, D.C., at his first news conference since his tongue-tied, sluggish debate against former President Donald Trump in late June. It also comes as a growing number of Democrats are calling on Biden to drop out as the party’s presidential nominee (NBC New York). Collin Rugg: President Joe Biden refers to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” during the NATO summit (X). New York Post: President Biden stunned journalists Thursday by confusing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — shortly after he confused Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky at a different event (New York Post). RNC Research: BIDEN: “VICE PRESIDENT TRUMP” (X).

Hamas Drops Demand That Israel Promises to End War in Ceasefire Deal Amid Devastating Loses on the Battlefield

Associated Press: Several officials in the Middle East and the U.S. believe the level of devastation in the Gaza Strip caused by a nine-month Israeli offensive likely has helped push Hamas to soften its demands for a cease-fire agreement. Hamas over the weekend appeared to drop its longstanding demand that Israel promise to end the war as part of any cease-fire deal. The sudden shift has raised new hopes for progress in internationally brokered negotiations… a person familiar with Western intelligence who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter said the group’s leadership understands its forces have suffered heavy losses and that has helped Hamas move closer to a cease-fire deal (Associated Press).

Hamas Kills Those Who Challenge Their Post-War Authority

BBC: Residents have told the BBC that swearing and cursing against the Hamas leadership is now common in the markets (BBC). Seth Mandel: What these desperate men and women realize is that this deprivation isn’t going to end until Hamas is out of power, because Hamas won’t let it end. Everything the West has done to buy time for Hamas leaders has moved the Palestinians in Gaza ever closer to a future that looks a lot like their present. Those Gazans whom Hamas permits to live, that is. Hamas has been executing rival clan members and perceived competitors for postwar governance… Putting Hamas’s back against the wall helps the Israeli hostages. It helps the Palestinian civilians. And it enables the US to live up to its professed ideals. There’s a reason this was the goal when all this started. Because that’s the way it should end (Commentary).

Seven States Sue HHS Over New Standard of Trans Care for Minors

Washington Examiner: Seven states and the American College of Pediatricians are suing the Biden administration for adopting a new rule that would require physicians and healthcare personnel to provide transgender medicine to patients, including minors. The lawsuit comes following extensive backlash regarding a rule promulgated this April by the Department of Health and Human Services that redefines “sex discrimination” in healthcare programs to include “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.” Plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including Missouri, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, and Arkansas, argue that the rule violates the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, by requiring doctors to act against their sound medical judgment for patients with gender dysphoria. HHS issued the rule change using the logic of the 2020 Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County, in which the court held that prohibitions against sex discrimination could also be interpreted to protect against gender identity and sexual orientation bias. Julie Marie Blake, the senior counsel on the case from the conservative advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, called the rule an “attempt to hijack medicine” (Washington Examiner). Daily Wire: At least 25 states have passed legislation banning or restricting transgender medical interventions for minors. In Florida, Ohio, and Montana, restrictions are held up in court (Daily Wire).

Democratic Socialists of America Retract Endorsement of AOC

They withdrew the endorsement because AOC is too nice to the Jewish people and Israel. National Review: The Democratic Socialists of America retracted their endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Wednesday over her support for the Iron Dome, her opposition to “boycotting Zionist institutions,” and a meeting she had with Jewish leaders on antisemitism. When the DSA endorsed the New York congresswoman in June, it laid out anti-Israel and pro-socialist conditions she had to fulfill to keep the endorsement, including opposition to all aid for Israel and support for the boycott, divestment, and sanction of the Jewish state (National Review). Washington Examiner: The main concern of the DSA with Ocasio-Cortez was her participation in a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The organization said, “She conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions” during the panel. “This sponsorship is a deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months and in decades past,” it said. The organization has only 10 listed current endorsements for this election cycle, none of which are national candidates (Washington Examiner).

U.S. Army Training Soldiers to View Anti-Abortion Groups as Terror Organizations

Washington Examiner: U.S. Army personnel at Fort Liberty in North Carolina were given a training seminar in which certain prominent anti-abortion groups were labeled as “terrorist groups,” according to information leaked from within the base. Images circulating on social media and confirmed by the Fort Liberty Garrison Public Affairs Office for the Washington Examiner showed a presentation to soldiers manning access control points at the base that characterized National Right to Life and Operation Rescue as terrorist groups (Washington Examiner). Journalist Shoe: An anti-terrorism brief was held on Fort Liberty (Bragg) today where they listed several Pro-Life organizations as “terrorist organizations.” The slide you see here followed right after a slide about ISIS, a terror group in the Middle East. The organizations labeled by the army as terror organizations include National Right to Life and Operation Rescue. They also included a screenshot of a license plate with “IM4IT,” which is a plate many Pro-Life citizens put on their car which implies normal citizens are terrorists if they display this plate. The slide goes on to mention activities which these organizations participate in which include being Pro-Life, opposing Row v Wade, demonstrating and protesting (a 1st Amendment protected right), “Truth Displays,” and picketing. They also falsely attribute the bombing of abortion clinics to National Right to Life. Keep in mind they’re not labeling them as extremist organizations (which would still be crazy), but as terrorist organizations. The military and Dept of Defense are insanely out of control. Service-members are being indoctrinated to view Pro-Life groups as the enemy (X).

Republican Resolution to Hold AG Garland in Contempt Fails in Congress

CBS: A Republican-led effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress fell short on Thursday, without enough support among House Republicans for a resolution to impose a fine of $10,000 per day on Garland for defying a congressional subpoena. In a 204 to 210 vote, four Republicans voted with all Democrats to oppose the measure. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, forced the vote, which she has been threatening in recent weeks, warning that if Garland didn’t comply with a subpoena for the audio recording of an interview concerning President Biden’s handling of classified documents, that she would move forward with the tool, which has rarely been used, especially in modern times (CBS). New York Post: Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded in a February report that Biden, 81, should not be charged for having “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials” following his vice presidency, in part because a jury would likely view him as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Garland released that report and the transcripts of the president’s Oct. 8-9 interviews with Hur’s team — but has declined to release the recordings after the White House asserted executive privilege in May (New York Post).

Inflation Remains Above Three Percent for 39 Consecutive Months

Spencer Brown: The inflation rate dipped 0.1 percent in June but the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed prices have increased 3.0 percent in the last 12 months — still above the Federal Reserve’s 2.0 percent goal — while the cost of many common products are still up by double-digit percentages since this month last year. Core CPI inflation — which excludes more volatile food and energy costs — actually increased last month with prices rising 0.1 percent for an annual advance of 3.3 percent (Townhall). Kobeissi Letter: Inflation has been at or above 3% for 39 consecutive months now. While June CPI was a move in the right direction, elevated inflation in key categories makes inflation feel much higher. We’ve also now had over 3 years of compounding inflation. Affordability is still getting worse (X).

10.

Russian Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Widow of Late Opposition Leader Who Died in Prison

Hill: A court in Russia on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who died earlier this year in a Russian prison. Navalnaya left Russia in 2021, and has lived in Germany since her husband’s death. She would face an immediate arrest if she returned to Russia after being added to an international wanted list…. Her husband died in a northern Russia penal colony in February and the circumstances surrounding his death have raised questions. Navalny was one of the most vocal opposition leaders against corruption in Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Navalnaya has accused Putin and the Russian government of killing her husband. She’s promised to carry on his opposition work (Hill). NPR: The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in Navalny’s death…. Reacting to the arrest warrant, Navalnaya made clear she felt authorities were seeking to put the wrong person behind bars (NPR).