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Thursday, May 19, 2022

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Biden’s Disinformation Board Project Paused, Disinformation Czar Nina Jankowicz Resigns

From the story: The controversial head of the Department of Homeland Security’s disinformation board resigned on Wednesday following weeks of attacks on her role and as it emerged that the panel was being ‘paused’ only three weeks after it was set up. The board was intended to combat misinformation but critics quickly homed in on the role of its chief, Nina Jankowicz, and her history fighting disinformation and extremism (Daily Mail). Sen. Marsha Blackburn: Joe Biden is pausing his unconstitutional disinformation board that would censor free speech and target conservatives. Pausing is not enough — it needs to be permanently shut down (Twitter). New York Post: In her good-bye statement, Jankowicz whined that “mischaracterizations of the Board became a distraction from the Department’s vital work, and indeed, along with recent events globally and nationally, embodies why it is necessary. I maintain my commitment to building awareness of disinformation’s threats and trust the Department will do the same,” she concluded (New York Post). Curtis Houck: DOOCY TIME: “Last wk, you guys said…you needed the Disinformation Governance Board at DHS to make sure…freedom of speech is protected across the country & that these platforms are not used for forums of disinformation…What changed?” KJP laments it’s been “mischaracterized” (Twitter).

Finland, Sweden Officially Apply for NATO

Not what Putin wanted. Wall Street Journal: Finland and Sweden formally applied for NATO membership on Wednesday, a move that, if approved, would fundamentally transform the security landscape of Northern Europe and give the alliance a valuable edge against Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The two Nordic countries’ bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization breaks with a decadeslong defense doctrine that has seen them balance political and security partnerships with other Western nations while staying out of formal military alliances (Wall Street Journal).

President Biden Invokes Defense Production Act, Flying Baby Formula in From Overseas

From the story: President Biden invoked the Wednesday to address the nationwide baby formula shortage and directed his administration to use Defense Department aircraft to pick up formula from overseas that meets U.S. health and safety standards. The announcement comes as the supply of infant formula across the country has decreased 40% since April, leaving parents of newborns frantic to find food to feed their babies. In addition, Abbott Laboratories announced a Similac recall exacerbating formula shortages in recent months (Fox News). Kristen Welker: … Will also order DOD commercial flights to get formula from other countries and bring back to US (Twitter).

Internal Democrat Polling: Dems “Getting Blown Out in November”

Daily Wire: A new report reveals that the Democrat Party’s internal polling shows them getting blown out in November’s congressional elections. At a meeting last week with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Sean Patrick Maloney, Democrats who are on the bubble in the upcoming election were informed that in battleground districts, the generic Republican is beating the generic Democrat by a whopping eight points, 47-39 (Daily Wire). CLF: Biden +8 districts are now “tossups.” CLF polled 16 districts that Joe Biden won an average of 8 points. In those districts, the generic ballot was TIED and Joe Biden’s approval was -8%. In those seats, 49% of voters say they want a Republican in Congress to provide a check on Biden (CLF).

National Gas Prices Higher Than Ever, Expected to Continue to Rise

NBC: It’s an inauspicious record: For the first time, gas prices in all 50 U.S. states have hit an average of at least $4 per gallon, according to data from AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association. It’s happening as global crude oil prices trade near $110 a barrel, and, while that price is below the recent highs seen in March, the elevated national average gas price could signal higher highs ahead of the summer travel season. AAA said as refiners switch to the more expensive “summer blend” of gasoline, the seasonal formulation can add up to $0.10 per gallon depending on location (NBC). Fox Business: According to JPMorgan, prices could surge another 37% by August, hitting a $6.20 per gallon national average. This is due to “expectations of strong driving demand” throughout the summer driving season, which spans from Memorial Day and lasts until Labor Day (Fox Business). Reuters: The amount of crude oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) dropped by 5 million barrels in the week to May 13, data from the U.S. Department of Energy showed. Stockpiles in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) fell to 538 million barrels, the lowest since 1987… President Joe Biden in March announced the largest release ever from the U.S. emergency oil reserve at 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil for six months from the reserve in an attempt to bring down gasoline prices that have soared during Russia’s war with Ukraine (Reuters).

Dow Posts Biggest Loss Since 2020

CNBC: The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its biggest loss since 2020 on Wednesday after another major retailer warned of rising cost pressures, confirming investors’ worst fears over rising inflation and rekindling the brutal 2022 sell-off. The Dow shed 1,164.52 points, or 3.57%, to 31,490.07, the average’s biggest decline since June 2020. It’s the lowest close for the Dow since March 2021. The S&P 500 traded 4.04% lower to 3,923.68, also the worst drop since 2020. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 4.73% to 11,418.15, which is the largest fall in the tech-heavy index since May 5 (CNBC). Peter Schiff: The U.S. economy and financial markets are in for an unprecedented decline, yet this time the #Fed won’t be able to help. In fact, it will add to the pain. Either it will make the #recession and financial crisis worse or it will make #inflation worse. Most likely it will do both (Twitter)! Townhall: Karine Jean-Pierre: The stock market is “not something we keep an eye on every day” (Twitter).

US Embassy in Kyiv Reopens After Three-Month Closure

Russia failed to take Kyiv, then moved on to Mariupol. From the story: In a statement issued Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that even though embassy personnel left in the days before Russia invaded Ukraine, this had no effect on American support for the people of Ukraine. He said that when the embassy temporarily shuttered, the U.S. “pledged to continue our assistance” and work to eventually reopen. “Now, that day has come,” Blinken said. “Today we are officially resuming operations at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. The Ukrainian people, with our security assistance, have defended their homeland in the face of Russia’s unconscionable invasions, and, as a result, the Stars and Stripes are flying over the Embassy once again” (Fox News). CNN: Ahead of Russia’s invasion, the US and many other countries pulled diplomats and evacuated embassies and consulates from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv. The State Department moved its diplomats to Poland and suspended all diplomatic services in Lviv just before the invasion began. Last month, after Russia shifted its aims in Ukraine away from Kyiv to focus on eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged countries to reestablish a diplomatic presence in Ukraine. Many other countries have already re-opened their embassies in Kyiv, and there have been calls for the US to follow suit (CNN). Kylie Atwood: The US flag was raised today over the US Embassy in Kyiv, to mark the official resumption of US Embassy Kyiv operations (Twitter).

US Soccer Federation Announces: Men’s and Women’s Teams to Be Paid Equally

From the story: The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Wednesday that it has reached a deal to pay the U.S. Men’s National Team and the U.S. Women’s National Team equally, eliminating a contentious pay gap that saw female players earning less. The new collective bargaining agreements will run through 2028 and include the “equalization” of World Cup prize money, the organization announced. In February, the governing body and the women’s team announced a settlement to resolve the longstanding pay dispute, with the federation agreeing to pay the two teams equally in the next union contract and give the women’s team $22 million in back pay (NPR). Breitbart: While the agreement is being called “equal pay,” the deal actually heavily favors the women. Women’s soccer has far fewer fans, both watching on TV and going to stadiums. The 2019 Women’s World Cup, for instance, reached a record high of 1.12 billion viewers across the world. That may sound like a lot until you realize that the year before, the Men’s World Cup earned 3.572 billion viewers worldwide and earned $6 billion in profits. The earning disparity is nothing new, either. For example, the 2010 Men’s World Cup earned $4 billion in revenue. But the Women’s World Cup that year earned only $73 million (Breitbart). Joe Pompliano: US Soccer has announced a new CBA that guarantees equal pay for its men’s & women’s teams. The unequal payments they receive from FIFA & the World Cup will be pooled together and shared equally among the members of both teams. The US is the first country to do this (Twitter).

House Judiciary Committee Holds Contentious Hearing on Abortion

From the story: The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “Revoking Your Rights: The Ongoing Crisis in Abortion Care Access” on Wednesday. The remarks from pro-abortion members and the witnesses called by Democrats were just as absurd as the title of the hearing (Townhall). Daily Wire: An Alabama abortion provider accused Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) of using “inflammatory language” after he literally described her job during a congressional hearing. Roy began with a simple question — asking Dr. Yashica Robinson when was the latest she had performed an abortion based on gestational age — and Robinson made it clear from the start that she did not like the line of questioning (Daily Wire). Greg Price: Roy: “Have you had baby parts that you’ve had to discard or store?” Robinson: “You have used inflammatory language” (Twitter).

10.

Dennis Prager Delivers the Speech Biden Should Have Given

Dennis Prager explains what true leadership would have looked like when criticizing the speech President Biden gave in Buffalo (Daybreak Daily).

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Dennis Prager | The Dennis Prager Show

The Buffalo Speech Biden Should Have Given: “My fellow Americans, this is a fundamentally decent society”

Dennis Prager denounces the remarks Biden delivered in the wake of the Buffalo shooting and offers a truthful alternative

Dennis Prager: Hello, my friends, Dennis Prager with you. I want to invite you to an alternate America, one governed by a president who loved this country, his country, who was basically a decent human being and who thought before opening his mouth, “How can I do good for America”? As opposed...

Hugh Hewitt | The Hugh Hewitt Show

Sen. Tom Cotton: “Democrats have a concerted plan to undermine and sabotage American power”

Hugh Hewitt talks with Senator Tom Cotton about how the threat to America’s standing and prosperity comes from within

Hugh Hewitt: Welcome back, America. I want you to remember this title, “Only the Strong: Reversing the Left’s Plot to Sabotage American Power.” “Only the Strong” has a great author by the name of Senator Tom Cotton who joins me now. Congratulations, Senator Cotton. I love the...

Mike Gallagher | The Mike Gallagher Show

Blame Game for Buffalo Shooting: “How can you possibly connect the Buffalo shooting to Tucker Carlson?”

Mike Gallagher points the finger directly at the gunman

Mike Gallagher: Now, we have all kinds of degrees of Republicanism today. We got RINOs. We got fake Republicans. We’ve got a Liz Cheney-style of Republican that threatens to upend the GOP. Her despicable tweet, blaming Republican leadership for the Buffalo shooting. How low is she going to go? My...

Dinesh D' Souza | The Dinesh D'Souza Podcast

2000 Mules: “It’s now become kind of unstoppable”

Dinesh D’Souza celebrates the break out of his movie “2000 Mules,” No. 1 on Amazon and playing in theaters across the country

Dinesh D’Souza: My documentary “2000 Mules” has broken out into the political and cultural mainstream. It’s now become kind of unstoppable. In fact, today at the European Union, a group — I think they’re Dutch members of Parliament — they have announced a screening of the movie...

Eric Metaxas | The Eric Metaxas Show

SCOTUS Leak: “Open and closed case of obstruction”

Eric Metaxas checks in with “Votestradamus” Kevin McCullough for an update on the SCOTUS leak, including possible timing of the official ruling

Eric Metaxas: Right now, we have you, Kevin McCullough, AKA, “Votestradamus.” Kevin McCullough: Reporting for duty, sir. Metaxas: Votestradamus, what is cooking, my friend? What is happening? Can we talk about the Supreme Court? How mob rule is trying to take over America and the Biden pseudo...

Charlie Kirk | The Charlie Kirk Show

Seth Gruber on Abortion: “From the moment of conception, there’s a distinct living and whole human being”

Charlie Kirk gets clear and compelling arguments in defense of the unborn from dedicated pro-life advocate, Seth Gruber

Charlie Kirk: Hey everybody, welcome to this episode of The Charlie Kirk Show. In person — the man, the myth, the legend, Seth Gruber, who is the most talented, charismatic and I will say wise pro-life male voice — just pro-life voice in general, it’s amazing. Seth, welcome. Seth Gruber:...

Sebastian Gorka | America First

Brandon Tatum Joins Salem Media: “I feel like I was born to talk and give my opinion”

Sebastian Gorka welcomes author, LEO and social media phenom Brandon Tatum to the Salem Media team

Dr. Sebastian Gorka: I’ve got some big news. As we say in Hungary, “One eye is smiling, one eye is crying.” Larry Elder has gone after greener pastures. But his show has been taken over by the Officer Tatum. And he’s on deck. Brandon, welcome to America First. Brandon Tatum: Thanks,...