During the 2023 State of the Union address last night, President Biden blamed inflation on the pandemic and Putin but seemed to take credit for falling prices. Biden boasted:

“Inflation has been a global problem because the pandemic disrupted our supply chains and Putin’s unfair and brutal war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies, blocking all that grain in Ukraine. But we’re better positioned than any country on earth right now.”

We fact-checked that statement and, no surprise, it is false — completely make-believe.

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HURTING NOT HELPING

A Video Game Company Fired an Employee Over One Tweet From Six Years Ago

Shortly after firing her, they posted a tweet stating, “LRG respects all personal opinions, however, we remain committed to supporting an inclusive culture.” Firing an employee for expressing one personal opinion six years ago hardly inculcates an ‘inclusive culture’ or a ‘positive and safe environment for everyone.’ Read More

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

American Agenda | University Requires Racial Equity Class to Graduate Watch

Varney & Co. | Athletes on Capitol Hill To Speak Up for Women in Sports Watch

Outnumbered | IWF Spokeswoman Riley Gaines Attends SOTU Address Watch

Fox & Friends First | Biden's SOTU Fair-Tax Argument is Full of Falsehoods Watch

O’Connor & Company | Sage Blair’s Grandmother Discusses the Need for Sage’s Law to Ban Secret School Gender Transitions Listen

Wall Street Journal | Charlie Baker Can Save Women’s Sports Read

Students Over Systems | Sen. Tim Scott: Education Is the Closest Thing to Magic Listen

DID YOU KNOW

USRowing Denies Fairness for Female Athletes

The updated policy permits males, with or without testosterone suppression, to compete in girls’ and women’s events. Only at the collegiate and elite level has USRowing allowed any restrictions. At that level, male rowers competing in the women’s category must comply with World Rowing’s policy, which requires 12 months of continuous testosterone suppression at no greater than 5 nmol/L, twice the high end of the normal range for females. Read More

Spotlight: Policy Focus: The Painful Reality of Expensive Heat Read

IN THE NETWORK

What to Make of the Chinese Spy Balloon

What really happened with the Chinese spy balloon that’s been in the news this past week? Emily Jashinsky discusses this and the many other ways that the Chinese are gleaning information from our daily lives.

TWO TRUTHS & A LIE

Female Genital Mutilation

Let’s see what you know about the important and underreported problem of female genital mutilation (FGM). Can you spot which of the following statements is not true?

A. Female genital mutilation has no health benefits.
B. Female genital mutilation is only a problem in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia—women in America aren’t at risk.
C. There are resources available in the United States for those facing the threat of FGM.

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

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CAPSULE REVIEW

To Combat the Baby Bust, Make Infant Basics More Available

The shortage of basic medicines such as infant Motrin and Tylenol hasn’t received much attention, but it’s important. Part of the shortage is due to demand. With the flu season coming early, and the continued risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID, there is more demand for these over-the-counter medicines. In December, for example, 76% of pediatric hospital beds were full nationally, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Final WOTUS Rule Muddies Navigable Waters Definition

The EPA website explicitly states the Clean Water Act “establishes the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Act.” Nevertheless, the law doesn’t define what is or isn’t “navigable” water. That authority, in turn, lies with the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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