Legacy Media&#8217;s lack of interest in stories that damage the Democratic brand is never surprising, but it is always illuminating.
The latest example can be found in the lapdog press&#8217;s utter disinterest in a bombshell memo naming and shaming Biden family members who allegedly took huge chunks of cash from a Chinese Communist Party-linked energy company isn&#8217;t surprising. That report was released by Representative James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, earlier this week.
Comer and others alleged that the energy company in question funneled more than $1 million in payments to Biden family members, including Hunter Biden (son), James Biden (brother), Hallie Biden (daughter-in-law), and a fourth “unknown Biden” from 2015 to 2017, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chinese-communist-party-linked-company-funneled-over-1-million-to-biden-family-members-house-republicans-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The alleged evidence was found thanks to a recent subpoena of John Robinson Walker, a Biden family associate, and his company Robinson Walker, LLC. House Republicans alleged that Walker used his business to transfer money from the Chinese State Energy HK Limited, a firm affiliated with CEFC China Energy, to Biden family members.
For what purposes? That remains unclear, but, as Comer has reminded us, this is only one transaction pointing to possible corruption.
A story like that, especially in light of the &#8220;laptop from hell,&#8221; is explosive and has national consequences. And yet, Thursday evening, CBS, ABC, and NBC simply couldn&#8217;t find time for it in their evening TV newscasts, <a href="https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kevin-tober/2023/03/16/nets-ignore-bidens-daughter-law-receiving-chinese-wire-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NewsBusters. NBC News did cover it online late Thursday evening, but the story hardly made &#8220;front page news&#8221; for the outlet.
This &#8220;bias by omission,&#8221; as described by the media watchdog, is the norm for those sorts of outlets.
It is part of the longstanding, unspoken agreement between legacy media and the government. Whether intentionally or as a by-product of their own political inclinations, it has become a cornerstone of American politics that traditional media simply won&#8217;t report, or do the minimum coverage possible, on that which harms the Democratic agenda.
Most Americans <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/02/15/trust-in-media-low-misinform-mislead-biased-republicans-democrats-poll-gallup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seem to believe that</a>, which is why trust in the press is at record lows.
Perhaps it would be better if these outlets simply admitted their Leftist biases. It certainly would be a lot more honest than claiming to be &#8220;non-partisan&#8221; and objective.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Tomacco via Getty Images

No Surprise: Legacy Media AWOL On GOP Biden Bank Accounts Findings

ABC News

Biden Administration

CBS News

Congress

Fake News

Hunter Biden

James Comer

Legacy Media

Media

Fox News host Tucker Carlson delivered six key questions on Ukraine — and the ongoing war with Russia — to a number of GOP candidates who have either declared a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination or are likely to do so.
Carlson explained in a video tweeted on Monday that he had been largely impressed with the answers — save for name-dropping a couple of candidates who had not answered the questions at all — and that they had not been in line with the narrative most often heard from prominent Republican leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We asked every potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate to answer six key questions on the war in Ukraine. As promised, their full responses are below. <a href="https://t.co/tjcM4w54cR">pic.twitter.com/tjcM4w54cR</a>
&mdash; Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1635442071073955841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Carlson began by listing the questions he had asked, saying that he had only thrown them out there because legacy media outlets appeared disinterested in pursuing any avenue that did not end with more money going to Ukraine.
<ol>
<li>Is opposing Russia in Ukraine a vital strategic interest for America?</li>
<li>What&#8217;s our objective in Ukraine and how will we know we&#8217;ve achieved it?</li>
<li>What is the limit of money and weapons you&#8217;d be willing to send to Zelensky?</li>
<li>Should the United States support regime change in Russia?</li>
<li>Have U.S. sanctions been effective?</li>
<li>Does the United States face the possibility of nuclear war with Russia?</li>
</ol>
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton — whom Carlson had identified as a potential 2024 hopeful — informed the show that he was busy with other things and could not take the time to respond.
&#8220;Most of the rest of them did get back to us, and we are grateful that they did,&#8221; Carlson continued, adding, &#8220;In general, the answers were fascinating, some of them were so thoughtful and so smart they give you hope for the Republican Party. With only a few exceptions, their answers bore no resemblance at all to the statements you see every day from Mitch McConnell and various Republican committee chairmen in Congress.&#8221;
Carlson went on to say that Republicans in Congress were more likely to be &#8220;committed neocons&#8221; and thus more likely to support funding Ukraine&#8217;s ongoing war than some of the Republicans who are or may be running for president in 2024.
What followed was a preview of the responses from every potential contender – and then a Twitter thread including their complete responses.
Former President Donald Trump, after claiming that Russia would not have attacked Ukraine if he had been in the White House, said that he would demand that Europe pick up a more equitable share in the cost.
&#8220;Start by telling Europe that they must pay at least equal to what the U.S. is paying to help Ukraine,&#8221; he said in part. &#8220;They must also pay us, retroactively, the difference. At a staggering 125 Billion Dollars, we are paying 4 to 5 times more, and this fight is far more important for Europe than it is for the U.S.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Florida Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantisFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantisFL</a> answers our Ukraine questionnaire:
“While the U.S. has many vital national interests – securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural,… <a href="https://t.co/1I2elVi6hI">https://t.co/1I2elVi6hI</a>
&mdash; Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1635446265692532738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not yet declared a run for the presidency, also weighed in on the issue.
DeSantis, a Navy veteran himself, criticized the Biden administration for failing to define an objective and committing American taxpayers to footing a seemingly endless bill.
&#8220;Without question, peace should be the objective. The U.S. should not provide assistance that could require the deployment of American troops or enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders,&#8221; DeSantis said, warning against providing aid that could easily be seen as an escalation against Russia. &#8220;F-16s and long-range missiles should therefore be off the table. These moves would risk explicitly drawing the United States into the conflict and drawing us closer to a hot war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. That risk is unacceptable.&#8221;
Former Vice President Mike Pence said that &#8220;victory&#8221; would be a free and peaceful Ukraine — and suggested that Russia&#8217;s posturing with regard to the nuclear threat was just that.
&#8220;Putin is still &#8216;the small and bullying leader of Russia,&#8217; his talk of nuclear war is a bullying tactic that he used at the start of the invasion. But Putin should know the United States will not be bullied. This administration has not led with strength on the world stage, but America is still a nation that believes peace comes through strength,&#8221; Pence explained.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
2024 GOP Presidential Candidate <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VivekGRamaswamy</a> answers our Ukraine questionnaire (1/3)
Is opposing Russia in Ukraine a vital American national strategic interest?
“No, it is not “vital.” Rather, this is a stark reminder of what is a vital American national strategic interest:… <a href="https://t.co/P8SdCeethC">https://t.co/P8SdCeethC</a>
&mdash; Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1635447488718028800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Vivek Ramaswamy, who has declared his candidacy, noted that the war was not a &#8220;vital&#8221; interest — pointing out the fact that the wane of American energy independence under President Joe Biden had created a situation that made it advantageous for Russia to invade Ukraine.
&#8220;This is a stark reminder of what is a vital American national strategic interest: national energy independence. This war is a symptom of America’s lack of self sufficiency. Putin is a tyrant and started this needless war, but he did so because we created incentives that tipped the balance of his decision-making in favor of invading: if he knows the West relies on him to provide oil and gas (because the U.S. and Western Europe have self-inflicted limitations on their own ability or willingness to produce), then Putin is in a stronger position–and that led him to think he could win,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The more America is reliant on foreign energy and oil, the less leverage we have with petro dictators.&#8221;
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley responded to all of Carlson&#8217;s questions in a press release sent out Tuesday:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
During his Ukraine survey of 2024 candidates, Tucker Carlson said yesterday that most of the contenders responded but &quot;Nikki Haley ignored us.&quot;
Ambassador <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikkiHaley</a> released the following answers to those questions today: <a href="https://t.co/klJo4E8XCR">pic.twitter.com/klJo4E8XCR</a>
&mdash; Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipWegmann/status/1635681800746856449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Carlson also provided the full answers he received from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Carlson noted that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu did not respond to the questions.

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson Has 6 Questions For Potential 2024 GOP Candidates On Ukraine: Here’s Who Responded

Tucker Carlson Has 6 Questions For Potential GOP Candidates On Ukraine: Here's Who Responded

2024 Primaries

John Bolton

Nikki Haley

Politics

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has moved to subpoena Loudoun County Public Schools for an internal report they commissioned investigating their handling of a rape by a skirt-wearing boy in a girls bathroom, the latest in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginia-attorney-general-sets-his-sights-on-another-woke-school-district-after-magnet-school-turns-away-from-merit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of moves</a> by his office that could bring northern Virginia&#8217;s school districts, which have openly flouted the Republican administration, to heel.
The school system withheld the report, which they paid a law firm to write, despite its stated purpose being accountability. After The Daily Wire broke the story of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/loudoun-county-schools-tried-to-conceal-sexual-assault-against-daughter-in-bathroom-father-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rape coverup</a> and its most far-left member resigned, the board selected a moderate Republican, Jeff Morse, as its chairman — perhaps in an attempt to fend off criticism that the board’s commitment to leftist politics had led to a rape coverup and subsequent sexual assault of a second girl.
However, Morse joined Democrats in voting to continue to conceal the report. On Friday, the Loudoun County Republican Committee voted to censure and cut ties with Morse as a result.
The same day, the D.C. area&#8217;s <a href="https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/lcps-subpoena-sexual-assault-investigation-virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-loudoun-county-public-schools-release-the-report-investigation-vote-school-board-scott-ziegler-daniel-smith-superintendent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC affiliate</a> reported that Miyares had filed a motion for a subpoena for the report, which could show what LCPS knew about the rape and its aftermath. If the self-commissioned report amounts to a whitewash, it could also provide an interesting contrast to the results of a special grand jury probe commissioned by Miyares, which found egregious problems.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/loudoun-school-board-was-informed-of-alleged-sexual-assault-the-day-it-happened-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All of the then-school board members</a>, Republican and Democrat, knew or should have known that then-Superintendent Scott Ziegler was lying when he told the board that he had no record of any assaults in bathrooms. Just weeks prior, Ziegler had sent an email to the board letting them know of the May 2021 bathroom assault, though it did not provide details.
None of the board members raised the issue in the moment — during a meeting where the board and superintendent were trying to dismiss parents’ criticism that a pending transgender bathroom policy could pose safety issues.
Morse was first elected to the school board in 2011, during a time when Loudoun was largely Republican, but when very few paid attention to school boards. Parent activists say many people who ran for school boards during that era, attaching themselves to whichever political party was most convenient, have not served as effective watchdogs against the politicization of schools.
When Republicans Glenn Youngkin and Miyares won their races for governor and attorney general shortly after the rape coverup was exposed by The Daily Wire, the pair called for an investigation into the school system. The school system repeatedly fought cooperating with the special grand jury that was convened, a report issued by the grand jury found.
📱<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The grand jury released a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/grand-jury-finds-virginia-school-bathroom-rape-handling-worse-than-known-rips-officials-intentional-amnesia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fact-finding report</a> that found egregious problems, including that a teacher walked into the bathroom during the rape and saw two children in one stall, but did nothing, and that even after the student was charged with rape, the school knew the rapist was harassing other girls, but merely had him write on a piece of paper that he would stop.
Yet when it was released, a joint statement attributed to Morse and Democrat vice chairman Ian Serotkin seemed to celebrate that the school system had escaped accountability, saying, “We are pleased that the Special Grand Jury’s extensive investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone within LCPS, and not a single indictment was filed as a result of this lengthy process.”
The statement was embarrassing to the officials because the report, in fact, specified that the grand jury’s work was not over, and the next day, Ziegler and the school system’s spokesman were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/loudoun-superintendent-spokesman-criminally-indicted-in-rape-coverup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicted</a>.
The Loudoun <a href="https://loudoungop.com/censure-of-lcps-chairman-jeff-morse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GOP’s censure</a> of Morse faults him for all of these actions, saying, “Mr. Morse had foreknowledge of criminality by the LCPS Administration regarding both the existence and truthfulness of public communications related to the ongoing events.”
“The Loudoun County Republican Committee hereby formally censures and rescinds all endorsements of Mr. Morse. Such rescission includes immediate removal of all public statements of support towards Mr. Morse by the LCRC and prohibits Mr. Morse from any future verbal or written communications, statements, or affirmations of Republican support,” it said.
“LCRC is a staunch advocate for the rights and protections of all children&#8230; Student and parental rights are preeminent over those of all government institutions,” it continued. “Be it ordered, that&#8230; all mentions of Mr. Morse on the LCRC’s public-facing website be removed and archived with this notice of censure.”
Morse did not return a request for comment.

Glenn Youngkin Campaigns In Final Days Of Virginia Gubernatorial Election

Virginia AG To Subpoena Internal Report On Loudoun Rape Coverup, GOP Boots School Board Chair For Hiding It

Virginia AG Subpoenas Internal Report On Loudoun Rape Coverup, GOP Boots School Board Chair For Hiding It

Education

Glenn Youngkin

Loudoun County

Parental Rights in Education

U.S.

Virginia

Credit where credit is due, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-says-he-will-sign-bills-blocking-d-c-s-radical-overhaul-of-voting-rights-criminal-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just handled</a> Washington, D.C.&#8217;s soft-on-crime bill in a politically shrewd manner that both neutralizes the far-left in his party and somewhat blocks future GOP criticism.
On Thursday, Biden tweeted that he would support the U.S. Senate if they voted to overturn the D.C. city council&#8217;s bill to lower punishments for things such as carjackings and other lawlessness in the district. Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had already vetoed that legislation, but the city council overruled her decision. The House of Representatives, however, voted to strike it down — as is their right under the U.S. Constitution — and now it moves to the Senate.
&#8220;I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings,&#8221; he tweeted. &#8220;If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings.
If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.
&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1631392285182009376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The move outraged the most extreme parts of his party. An anonymous House member <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3881888-house-democrats-blindsided-as-biden-changes-tune-on-dc-crime-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vented to The Hill</a> that Democrats were betrayed by Biden.
“So a lot of us who are allies voted no in order to support what the White House wanted,&#8221; the lawmaker said via text. &#8220;And now we are being hung out to dry &#8230; F****** AMATEUR HOUR. HEADS SHOULD ROLL OVER AT THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THIS.&#8221;
Indeed, that same person added, &#8220;The White House f***** this up royally.&#8221;
Well, the move might have screwed over the anti-police members of his party, but it bolsters Biden&#8217;s resume and talking points heading into the 2024 campaign,
Republicans have long claimed that the Democratic Party — and therefore Biden — is responsible for the crime wave facing America&#8217;s cities. In the wake of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defund-the-police-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Floyd riots and BLM movement</a> in 2020, numerous liberal cities moved to effectively defund their police departments. Rogue prosecutors, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogue-progressive-prosecutors-promote-lawlessness-not-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often backed by George Soros</a>, won elections across the country while ushering in lenient policies that allow repeat offenders to plague the streets.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-12955">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Biden, who essentially renounced his tough-on-crime policies of the 90s during his 2020 presidential campaign, has spent the last two years trying to separate himself from those who want to continue defunding police and instituting weak punishments in the name of social justice.
In turn, the GOP has been eager to label the chaos as the &#8220;Biden crime wave.&#8221;
Now, Biden has a tangible example he can point to as evidence that he supports the police, wants to crack down on thugs, and isn&#8217;t afraid to buck his political party in the name of public safety.
His team is already running with that message.
&#8220;One thing that the president believes in is making sure that the streets in America and communities across the country are safe, that includes in D.C. That does not change,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.
&#8220;When it comes to what this proposal brings forth, which is really lowering penalties for car-jacking, he doesn’t believe that’s going to keep our communities safe,&#8221; she added.
Whether or not you actually buy KJP&#8217;s claims and the president&#8217;s sincerity on the issue is a different story. There are plenty of other examples the GOP can point to as evidence that Biden is making our nation more dangerous — his porous open border allowing fentanyl and potential criminals in, for example — but, assuming he actually does sign the override if it is passed, he can negate the rhetoric with evidence.
As Biden&#8217;s good friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/03/biden-sides-with-republicans-on-a-bill-to-reverse-dc-criminal-justice-reforms-heres-why/?utm_campaign=forbes&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_term=Gordie&amp;sh=7d0acb08654d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Forbes, &#8220;It’s smart politics. He was running into a buzzsaw. You don’t want to get left of the D.C. mayor.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

US President Joe Biden speaks during the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1, 2023.

Biden’s Politically Shrewd Handling Of D.C. Soft-On-Crime Bill

Biden's Politically Shrewd Handling Of D.C. Soft-On-Crime Bill

Crime

Executive

Joe Biden

Muriel Bowser

Washington D.C.

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Putin, Biden Trade Speeches Laying Out Road Ahead For Russian-Ukraine War
Russia announced Tuesday that it will be suspending the only remaining nuclear treaty with the United States — known as the New START treaty — allowing the country to begin revamping its nuclear arsenal. China’s Xi Jinping also announced that he will travel to Moscow for a Summitt with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the two nations potentially align against Ukraine and the West. President Joe Biden, for his part, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-pledges-more-sanctions-against-russia-over-war-in-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> in Poland on Tuesday:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
US to announce more sanctions on Russia this week, Biden says. 
He says they will &quot;hold accountable those responsible for this war&quot;.
Biden adds he will host NATO at a summit in the US next year.
&quot;An attack against one is an attack against all&quot;.
 <a href="https://t.co/IvtvkPHwrh">https://t.co/IvtvkPHwrh</a> <a href="https://t.co/C2A0oKLr0t">pic.twitter.com/C2A0oKLr0t</a>
&mdash; Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1628082803588968464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
EPA Announces Enforcement Action Against Norfolk Southern
The Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/epa-orders-norfolk-southern-to-handle-all-ohio-train-derailment-cleanup-pay-triple-if-they-cut-corners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an enforcement action against Norfolk Southern on Tuesday, requiring the company to pay for cleanup actions following a February 3 train derailment that exposed a small Ohio town and surrounding areas to toxic chemicals. The EPA says if the company fails to complete any part of the ordered action, the agency will conduct the necessary work and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost. The rail company already faces multiple class-action suits from members of the East Palestine community.
Buttigieg To Visit East Palestine
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that he is planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio — more than 18 days after the Norfolk Southern train derailed. The visit comes after former president and 2024 GOP candidate Donald J. Trump announced that he will be visiting the Midwest town on Wednesday. Here’s Buttigieg on ABC’s “Good Morning America”:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: Buttigieg, pressed on Ohio response by ABC News, concedes: &quot;Look, I was Mayor of my hometown for eight years. We dealt with a lot of disasters.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/thJC9x3mda">pic.twitter.com/thJC9x3mda</a>
&mdash; TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TVNewsNow/status/1628031667314081792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Winter Weather Hits 30 Million Americans
More than 30 million Americans are under winter weather alerts as an impending winter storm is predicted to batter multiple regions later this week. Meteorologists say that while states in the Midwest and along the West Coast will deal with cold and snow, some areas in the southeast will see unprecedented warm temperatures.
Santos Admits He Lies
GOP Congressman George Santos, accused of fabricating key details on his resume during his run for Congress, admitted to lying about his college education in an interview with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ya-think-rep-george-santos-finally-admits-ive-been-a-terrible-liar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piers Morgan released</a> this week.
Prince Harry &amp; Meghan Markle Reportedly Looking At Legal Action Against “South Park”
Legal representation for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly “casting an eye” over the animated sitcom “South Park” after the show parodied the royal couple in an episode last week, depicting a similar pair going on a worldwide privacy tour. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not directly named in the episode, but referred to as “Canadian royalty” and the “Prince and his wife.”
UPDATE:  Tuesday evening, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex denied that the couple is looking into legal action against South Park and <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/02/21/prince-harry-meghan-markle-deny-suing-over-south-park-portrayal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a statement saying that &#8220;it’s all frankly nonsense. Totally baseless, boring reports.&#8221; 
Asbury Revival Ends
Asbury College announced that it will move to end the historic religious “revival” that has been going on for 13 days after more than 50,000 Christians descended on the small Kentucky town since the service began. Asbury University President Kevin Brown said in a statement that Wilmore, Kentucky, simply doesn’t have the infrastructure suited for the thousands of outsiders, but added that he hoped visitors would continue similar revivals in their own towns.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

TUESDAY

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Latest On Ukraine-Russia War, EPA Announces Action Against Norfolk Southern, George Santos Admits Lies

Biden Admin

Christian

East Palestine

General

Meghan Markle

Morning Wire

Podcast

Prince Harry

Russell Heller, a GOP councilman in Milford, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a>, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/second-nj-gop-councilman-shot-to-death-one-week-after-eunice-dwumfour-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally shot</a> earlier this week over a prior workplace dispute, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.
Heller, 51, was found dead Wednesday morning in the parking lot of PSE&amp;G, a local energy company where he worked as a senior distribution supervisor. Roughly three hours after discovering Heller, police found and identified the lifeless body of 58-year-old Gary Curtis, one of Heller’s former coworkers.
“The investigation has revealed that the motive for the homicide in which Mr. Curtis fatally shot Mr. Heller was due to prior employment disciplinary actions between subordinate and supervisor,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement, <a href="https://www.nj.com/somerset/2023/02/family-of-former-pseg-employee-accused-in-workplace-murder-suicide-beyond-shocked.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NJ.com.
Authorities said that Curtis used a legally-owned handgun to murder Heller before fleeing the scene and driving to nearby Bridgewater, where he shot himself in his car. Curtis was reportedly fired last year from PSE&amp;G, and his family told NJ.com that they remember hearing him discuss problems at work and mentioning that Heller was his supervisor, but he never specified why he was fired.
Curtis’ family members were “beyond shocked” that he would resort to violence, describing his actions as “out of character.”
“We never knew him to be a person who would ever be pushed to a point where he would carry out something that he did,” his cousin Robert Williams said. “We’re just beyond shocked. We’re sad for everyone who is involved in this situation.”
The 58-year-old suspected murderer filed a harassment complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission in 2021 or 2022, but said that PSE&amp;G did “nothing” to address it, according to Williams.
The quick revelations about the case from the prosecutor’s office in Somerset County are a stark contrast to the New Jersey prosecutor’s office investigating the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jersey-gop-councilwoman-gunned-down-in-her-car-police-looking-for-suspect-motive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slaying</a> of GOP Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, which occurred exactly one week prior to Heller’s murder.
More than a week after Dwumfour was shot as many as 14 times as she pulled up to her Sayreville home, authorities have not made any arrests or revealed any information about a suspect, weapon, or motive.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prosecutors-office-seeks-to-block-records-on-gop-councilwomans-murder-from-going-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested</a> an injunction to block news outlets from obtaining important information about Dwumfour’s murder, arguing that releasing any information to the public about the councilwoman’s death would hinder law enforcement’s investigation.

crime scene

NJ GOP Councilman Was Murdered Over ‘Employment Disciplinary Actions,’ Prosecutor’s Office Says

NJ GOP Councilman Was Murdered Over 'Employment Disciplinary Actions,' Prosecutor's Office Says

Murder

New Jersey

Republican hopes for a &#8220;red wave&#8221; in the 2022 midterms that would sweep the party into power in both houses of Congress fell short on Election Day. The party lost a seat in the Senate, leaving the current divide at 51-49 in favor of the Democrats, and while the GOP was successful in retaking the House of Representatives, it currently only holds a slim 10-seat majority in the chamber.
With a Democrat-held Senate, Joe Biden in the White House, and divisions within his own party, it might seem like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is extremely limited in what he can hope to achieve before the next election cycle, there are several things House Republicans can actually achieve before they get the chance to win the Senate and presidency in 2024.
Given the current state of partisanship and McCarthy&#8217;s reported dislike of the current president, bipartisan action that favors the GOP is unlikely, except with a few moderate Democrat lawmakers. Therefore, obstruction, investigations, and utilization of the House&#8217;s power of the purse will be the primary tools at McCarthy&#8217;s disposal.
Good old-fashioned obstruction is a simple but effective strategy for the House GOP until 2024. Even with a slim majority, Republicans can block any legislation that gets passed by the equally slim Democrat majority in the Senate. At the very least, the Republicans should be able to extract advantageous compromises from Senate Democrats on any legislation originating in the upper chamber.
Perhaps the most consequential power reserved for the House is the so-called &#8220;power of the purse.&#8221; The House initiates all revenue bills, giving Republicans the chance to establish the terms and have the upper hand for any spending bill until 2024. The House Appropriations Committee, which regulates the expenditure of federal money, will be especially important to GOP efforts to rein in spending.
The chamber&#8217;s Republicans used that power to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/09/house-republicans-irs-funding-00077116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rescind</a> almost $70 billion in additional funding for the IRS in early January. It will most likely not pass in the Senate, but it nevertheless gives the party the chance to renegotiate the funding boost for an agency that has targeted Republicans in the past.
A rules package passed by the House in early January <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/10/gop-holman-rule-unions-biden-congress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reinstated</a> a rule that could give even more power to Republicans — the Holman Rule. Under the rule, which was first introduced in 1876, but sparingly enforced, representatives can add amendments that can reduce the salaries of federal employees and cut funding for federal agency programs.
Bills with amendments that invoke the rule could still be blocked by the Senate, but with the cooperation of more moderate senators like Joe Manchin (D-WV) or Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), it could help keep some federal agencies in check.
The ongoing debt ceiling debate showcases how McCarthy could extract pro-GOP concessions from the Democrats.
The federal government has until June 5 to raise the debt ceiling, how much the government can borrow to pay for its expenses, or it will face a default, which could wreak havoc on the economy.
McCarthy met with President Joe Biden last week to discuss solutions to the debt ceiling, but reported that no agreement was reached. McCarthy <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-kevin-mccarthy-895d66dcb52739ea06a505859ac9fff3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised</a> to aim for an 8% overall reduction — bringing it down to 2022 levels — during his campaign for speaker, and he could manage to get some cuts in order to avoid the default.
“Debt limit debates have been used for nearly every successful attempt to reform federal spending in living history. Why? Because the problem only gets solved when both parties come to the table,” the House speaker said in a Monday address.
House Republicans refused to budge on spending cuts during the last debt ceiling crisis in 2011. Only a last-minute deal <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-national-debt-us-republican-party-d6bfc59aa623c8c972c44e1aced85d9c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prevented</a> a default, but this time they could get significant compromises from an administration that has dealt with a sluggish economy for the entirety of its tenure and does not want to risk an economic meltdown ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign season.
If Republicans can stand their ground without caving into pressure from the media and the public to pass the resolution, they can most likely get at least some spending concessions from Democrats who want to avoid a default.
House Republicans can launch investigations and create new subcommittees to deal with specific issues. In January, they <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/house-republicans-investigations-mccarthy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">created</a> the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The subcommittee is tasked with investigating alleged incidents of federal agencies, including the FBI and the military, colluding with private entities to suppress conservative viewpoints.
They also created the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, which will focus on economic competition as well as security concerns between the U.S. and China.
Just as the Russian collusion hoax and the January 6 riot became focal point issues in the House during Democrats&#8217; time in power, Republicans have the opportunity to utilize these newly created committees to pivot toward issues critical to their voters and keep them in the media spotlight.
They can also remove certain Democrats from important committees. McCarthy <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/mccarthy-democrats-schiff-swalwell-intelligence-committee/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied</a> California Democrats Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell seats on the House Intelligence Committee in late January, removing the two biggest proponents of the Russia collusion hoax from the pivotal committee. House Republicans also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-boot-ilhan-omar-off-foreign-affairs-committee-over-anti-semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to remove Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her numerous anti-Semitic remarks.
McCarthy also has a nuclear option under his sleeve. Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the sole right to introduce articles of impeachment against federal officials. That right was used twice by Democrats during the Trump administration to impeach the former president, and if McCarthy can rally his own party around the idea, then House Republicans could use articles of impeachment to target both Biden and key members of his administration.
The articles themselves only require a simple majority vote to proceed to the Senate. A two-thirds majority is then required in the Senate to actually convict, so it is highly unlikely any of the officials targeted would actually be removed unless there was unequivocal evidence of malfeasance. But McCarthy could still use the impeachment votes and subsequent trials in the Senate to hinder Biden&#8217;s administration and provide a spotlight on the administration&#8217;s policies.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-pursue-impeachment-top-biden-border-official-2023-02-01/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on February 1 that he would file articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and accused the Biden official of intentional &#8220;negligence&#8221; on the ongoing border crisis.
So, Republicans do have the ability to get things done for their constituents before the next election cycle, even though Democrats control the Executive Branch and the Senate. The real question is if McCarthy has the willpower to take the actions needed to achieve them and whether he can keep his party united.

Minority Leader McCarthy Holds Weekly Press Conference

Here’s What McCarthy’s House Can Actually Get Done Before 2024

Here's What McCarthy's House Can Actually Get Done Before 2024

Kevin McCarthy

Readers Pass

Republicans

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy confirmed Tuesday the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Rep. George Santos (R-NY), which some Republicans believe could force the freshman representative out of Congress.
&#8220;Ethics is moving through, and if ethics finds something, we&#8217;ll take action,&#8221; McCarthy told reporters. &#8220;Right now, we&#8217;re not allowing him to be on committees from the standpoint of the questions that have arisen.&#8221;
McCarthy has not called on Santos to resign, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/house-ethics-committee-probe-george-santos/index.html">CNN</a>, and believes voters should have the power to decide the outcome.
Remarks about Santos from McCarthy come on the same day a group of Santos&#8217; constituents planned to travel to Washington, D.C., demanding he resign or be removed by a House vote.
Santos told CNN he is &#8220;not concerned&#8221; about the Ethics Committee investigation or his constituents calling on him to resign.
&#8220;You&#8217;re saying that the freedom of speech of my constituents is a distraction to my work?&#8221; Santos asked. &#8220;Do you think people are a distraction to the work I&#8217;m doing here?&#8221;
Santos has refused to step down amid the GOP representative admitting he lied about aspects of his career and personal life, which includes campaign finances, education, and work history.
Federal law enforcement has reportedly also investigated Santos over his alleged involvement in a &#8220;GoFundMe scheme&#8221; that was set up for a disabled U.S. Navy veteran&#8217;s dog.
According to multiple reports and the Nassau County, New York, district attorney&#8217;s office, federal and local prosecutors have begun investigating whether Santos lied about finances on the campaign trail.
The New York Times reported last month that law enforcement officials in Brazil &#8220;intend to revive fraud charges&#8221; against Santos stemming from an incident in 2008 that involved a checkbook that was allegedly stolen.
Last week, Santos requested that McCarthy remove him from two committee assignments amid several active criminal investigations into him.
McCarthy would later say he had &#8220;new questions&#8221; about Santos, CNN reported.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) told CNN he believes his fellow freshman GOP representative should resign.
&#8220;As I&#8217;ve said consistently, I think he ought to resign and really take stock of himself and start being honest, not only with the people he serves, but with himself,&#8221; Molinaro said.
Don Levy with Siena College Research Institute told a local <a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/news/george-santos-house-ethics-investigation">Fox</a> affiliate the GOP congressman faces growing skepticism from his constituents.
According to a Newsday/Siena poll, local media reported 78% of constituents want Santos to resign, while 75% believe he cannot be an effective representative.
&#8220;89% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 71% republicans,&#8221; Levy said. &#8220;Rarely do you see numbers that are that aligned.&#8221;

House GOP Members Hold News Conference At RNC Headquarters In D.C.

Rep. George Santos Under House Ethics Committee Investigation: McCarthy

House Republicans

House Speaker

New York

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican</a> attorneys general of 20 states issued a letter to CVS and Walgreens on Wednesday, explaining the illegality of sending <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abortion</a> pills through the mail.
The <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3840332-20-gop-attorneys-general-tell-cvs-walgreens-plans-to-dispense-abortion-pills-both-unsafe-and-illegal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> was <a href="https://khn.org/morning-breakout/republican-ags-say-cvs-walgreens-abortion-pill-plans-are-illegal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">written</a> to Danielle Gray, the executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and explained the legal situation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In an effort to uphold the laws as written and defend the welfare of women and unborn children, I led a coalition of 20 AGs in sending a letter to CVS and Walgreens informing them that their announced plan to use the mail to distribute abortion pills is both unsafe and illegal. <a href="https://t.co/iTpyK7EYiM">pic.twitter.com/iTpyK7EYiM</a>
&mdash; Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGAndrewBailey/status/1620792168079327233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The attorneys <a href="https://twitter.com/AGAndrewBailey/status/1620792168079327233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1620792168079327233%7Ctwgr%5E8fd96ac53dba1c9bd20ae54508265b6cc064b97f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republican-attorneys-general-cvs-walgreens-abortion-pills_n_63db2ff5e4b01a4363923f7d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">general</a> <a href="https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/2023-02-01-fda-rule---walgreens-letter-danielle-gray.pdf?sfvrsn=ff1e6652_2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that “many people are not aware that federal law expressly prohibits using the mail to send or receive any drug that will ‘be used or applied for producing abortion.’” The law is <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republican-attorneys-general-cvs-walgreens-abortion-pills_n_63db2ff5e4b01a4363923f7d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">known</a> as the Comstock Act. The officials noted that it says “every [sic] article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion … shall not be conveyed in the mails&#8221; and anybody who “knowingly takes any such thing from the mails for the purpose of circulating” has committed a federal crime.
However, the Biden administration’s Office of Legal Counsel told the U.S. Postal Service to ignore the law.
In December, the Justice Department <a href="https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/file/1560596/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the law “does not prohibit the mailing, or the delivery or receipt by mail, of mifepristone or misoprostol where the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them unlawfully.”
The administration noted that the law does not allow abortion drugs to be sent or gathered through the mail, but said that the words should not be “[t]aken literally,” according to the letter.
The attorneys general went on to explain that they do not agree with “the Biden administration’s bizarre interpretation” and believe that the courts will not accept it, either.
The officials added that several states do not allow abortion pills to be sent or obtained through the mail, so it is not only a federal legal issue, but also one that has been determined at the state level in many cases.
“These state laws reflect not only our commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of children, but also of women,” they noted. “Abortion pills are far riskier than surgical abortions, according to established scientific consensus …”
They also pointed out that “mail-order abortion pills” welcome a rise in “coerced abortions,” noting that, apart from the regulated medical situation, it is not hard for someone to get an abortion drug and then force a woman to take the pill.
“We emphasize that it is our responsibility as State Attorneys General to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in our states. Part of that responsibility includes ensuring that companies like yours are fully informed of the law so that harm does not come to our citizens,” they concluded, in part. 
The letter comes after CVS and Walgreens both <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/02/gop-attorneys-general-warn-cvs-walgreens-against-mailing-abortion-pill-in-their-states.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that they were planning to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/abortion-cvs-and-walgreens-will-sell-mifepristone-in-pharmacies.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go</a> through the process to sell abortion pills where allowed.
“We are not dispensing Mifepristone at this time,” Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman said, per <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/02/gop-attorneys-general-warn-cvs-walgreens-against-mailing-abortion-pill-in-their-states.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a>. “We intend to become a certified pharmacy under the program, however we fully understand that we may not be able to dispense Mifepristone in all locations if we are certified under the program.”
Attorneys general in Missouri, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia all signed the letter.

“Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol, the two drugs used in a medication abortion”

Republican Attorneys General Explain Laws Regarding Sending Abortion Pills Through Mail To Walgreens, CVS

Republican AGs Explain Laws Regarding Sending Abortion Pills Through Mail To Walgreens, CVS

Abortion

Social Issues

Two House Republicans are defending far-left Democrat Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ilhan-omar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ilhan Omar</a> (MN) over the prospect that she could be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The effort by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to remove Omar from Foreign Affairs comes after she has repeatedly made anti-Semitic remarks and hostile remarks about U.S. foreign policy.
Omar claimed in response that the effort to remove her from the committee was “a blow to the integrity of our democratic institutions, and a threat to our national security.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was the first to jump to Omar&#8217;s defense, claiming a few weeks ago that it was about principle.
&#8220;I’m not going to support it,” Mace said. &#8220;I try to be consistent in my values … regardless of who’s in charge.&#8221;
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) signaled this week that she does not support removing Omar from Foreign Affairs.
“Two wrongs do not make a right,” Spartz wrote in a statement on Tuesday. “Speaker Pelosi took unprecedented actions last Congress to remove Reps. Greene and Gosar from their committees without proper due process. Speaker McCarthy is taking unprecedented actions this Congress to deny some committee assignments to the Minority without proper due process again.”
“As I spoke against it on the House floor two years ago, I will not support this charade again,” she claimed. “Speaker McCarthy needs to stop ‘bread and circuses’ in Congress and start governing for a change.”
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) said that he was not a fan of the move, but he stopped short of saying that he would oppose it.
“I’ve never been a fan of that. Members are elected by their districts,&#8221; he said. &#8220;To throw them off just seems inappropriate.”

Ilhan Omar

Two Republicans Defend Far-Left Democrat Ilhan Omar From Being Removed From Committee

Nancy Mace

Victoria Spartz

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said Tuesday that the National Archives and Records Administration failed to meet a deadline set by the committee to turn over materials for further investigation of the classified documents found in locations tied to President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a>.
&#8220;The National Archives has not produced the requested documents to the Committee at this time,&#8221; a committee spokesperson told <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/nara-deadline-house-oversight-committee-biden-docs?utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>. &#8220;Chairman Comer&#8217;s request still stands and anticipates moving forward with a transcribed interview with NARA&#8217;s general counsel soon.&#8221;
The committee spokesperson further noted to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/national-archives-misses-deadline-biden-classified-documents">The Washington Examiner</a> that Republican investigators initially anticipated conducting a transcribed interview with the federal agency, which would provide a timeline and how the classified information was handled.
Republican lawmakers launched the committee earlier this month after classified documents connected with Biden&#8217;s time as vice president were first found by his personal lawyers in his private office at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank in Washington, D.C., just before the midterm elections last year.
Since then, Biden&#8217;s attorneys have located more classified documents at Biden&#8217;s home in Wilmington on three separate occasions: an unspecified number found in his garage on December 20, one in Biden&#8217;s study on January 11, and five more found in the study on January 12.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chair of the House Oversight Committee, sent letters addressed to the National Archives and the White House Counsel&#8217;s Office on January 10, in which the committee demanded the material due to &#8220;Biden&#8217;s failure to return highly classified records from his time as vice president.”
Comer said that National Archives &#8220;instigated a public and unprecedented FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago — former President Trump&#8217;s home— to retrieve presidential records.&#8221;
&#8220;[Its] inconsistent treatment of recovering classified records held by former President Trump and President Biden raises questions about political bias at the agency,&#8221; he added, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/10/house-oversight-committee-biden-docs">Axios</a>.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) questioned a key detail in Biden&#8217;s classified document scandal during an interview Friday with Fox News.
McCarthy asked why Biden had his lawyers move him out of the office.
&#8220;Yes, we are, and you&#8217;re missing one question: They say the attorneys found these documents,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kevin-mccarthy-questions-key-detail-in-bidens-classified-document-scandal">said</a>. &#8220;Who told the attorneys to look there?&#8221;
&#8220;Somebody else knew the documents were there all along. Otherwise, why would the attorneys even look?&#8221; McCarthy asked. &#8220;Whoever hires lawyers to be movers?&#8221;
Biden responded to the scandal last week by saying that he has &#8220;no regrets&#8221; over his actions and that getting questions about the investigation &#8220;quite frankly bugs&#8221; him.
&#8220;We&#8217;re fully cooperating, looking forward to getting this resolved quickly,&#8221; Biden claimed. &#8220;I think you&#8217;re gonna find there&#8217;s nothing there. I have no regrets. I&#8217;m following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do — that&#8217;s exactly what we&#8217;re doing. There&#8217;s no there, there.&#8221;

National Archives Building – Washington DC

National Archives Misses House Deadline To Turn Over Material Tied To Biden’s Classified Document Scandal

National Archives

Scandals

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Lindsey Graham Defends Biden
Amidst the fallout from the classified documents scandal, President Joe Biden received a statement of support from his friend Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who told the media that he did not suspect any purposeful wrongdoing by the president.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Here&#39;s the video: <a href="https://t.co/6QJI5N05aV">pic.twitter.com/6QJI5N05aV</a>
&mdash; Ahtra Elnashar (@AhtraElnashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhtraElnashar/status/1617920575342800897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Classified Docs Found At Pence&#8217;s Home
And, on Tuesday, an attorney for former Vice President Mike Pence <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-classified-documents-found-at-former-vp-mike-pences-home-in-indiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that classified documents have also been found in his home in Indiana. Pence’s attorney said that his team notified the National Archives of the documents on January 18 after the discovery two days prior. Per protocol, the National Archives notified the FBI, which then searched the home last Thursday. Sources told CNN that the documents appear to have been inadvertently packed up from his vice presidential office and transported to his home without Pence’s knowledge.
Another California Mass Shooting Leaves 7 Dead Monday
A mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday, left seven people dead and another injured. Authorities say the suspect is a 66-year-old farm worker who opened fire on other migrants at two separate locations. Law enforcement says they believe the shooting may have been “workplace violence” — and that the suspect was employed at the first location, formerly known as the Mountain Mushroom Farm.
Republicans Vow To Investigate Penn Biden Center And Hunter&#8217;s Artwork
Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-will-trace-the-money-flowing-into-penn-biden-center-hunter-biden-art-sales-comer-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> this week that he intends to investigate donations to the Penn Biden Center, as well as who is purchasing Hunter Biden’s artwork as part of a probe into the Biden family’s financial ties. Comer has already sent requests for documents and other information to the White House, the University of Pennsylvania, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and others. He is planning more requests in the future and said he’s willing to subpoena information if he must.
DOJ Sues Google
The Department of Justice <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-to-file-antitrust-suit-against-google-alleging-digital-ad-monopoly-report-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> Google over the company’s dominance in the digital advertising space. The DOJ&#8217;s lawsuit is the latest in a series of antitrust cases made against the company by federal and state government entities.
Trial Begins For Mark Houck, The Catholic Pro-Life Activist Biden’s DOJ Wants Behind Bars
The trial for Mark Houck, the Catholic father of seven and pro-life activist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trial-begins-for-mark-houck-the-catholic-pro-life-activist-bidens-doj-wants-behind-bars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> by the FBI last year, began on Tuesday. Houck is accused of violating the FACE act after he allegedly shoved a clinic escort to the ground after the escort allegedly hassled his son. Houck is facing 11 years behind bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if convicted. An attorney for Houck has called the case clear “political prosecution.”
FDA Considers New COVID Guidelines
The FDA is considering new, simplified COVID vaccine guidelines. The recommendation is that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fda-committee-to-meet-over-covid-shots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">healthy adults</a> and children get a shot once a year. The proposal will be considered by a panel of vaccine experts on Thursday.
Four Illegal Aliens Charged With Stealing Thousands From NYC Macy&#8217;s 
Four migrants <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/four-migrants-bused-to-nyc-arrested-in-12k-theft-from-macys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bused</a> to New York City from Texas were arrested for allegedly stealing more than $12,000 in items from Macy’s. The migrants were detained after being tracked down by Nassau County Police. They allegedly drove away from the crime scene on in a 2006 BMW with a false license plate.
Taylor Swift Protest At U.S. Capitol
Taylor Swift fans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-loses-it-over-senators-quoting-taylor-swift-songs-at-ticketmaster-hearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protested</a> at the Capitol today where the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing into Live Nation and the lack of competition in the ticketing industry. This comes after years of complaints about high fees and murky resale practices. The so-called “Swifties” are the company’s most vocal critics. Attorneys general of several states launched consumer protection investigations, while many lawmakers called for Ticketmaster to be broken up, and dozens of Swift fans have sued the company for fraud and antitrust violations.
Oscar Nominations Announced
Oscar nominations <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oscar-nominees-announced-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-leads-with-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were announced today</a> in Los Angeles. including a few nods to notable blockbusters. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” had the most nominations with 11, including a Best Picture nod. The other nominees in that category: “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Elvis,” “The Fabelmans,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Women Talking,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” The awards show will be held on March 12.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Lindsey Graham Defends Biden, Report Says Pence Has Classified Docs, Corruption In Ukraine?

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