Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> (R-SD) vetoed a bill that would have classified a potential <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/federal-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">central bank</a> digital currency as <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">money</a> while excluding <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/cryptocurrency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrencies</a>.
Policymakers at the Federal Reserve have considered the adoption of a digital dollar over the last several years. Noem said in a veto <a href="https://governor.sd.gov/doc/HB-1193_Veto-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/south-dakota" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Dakota</a> House of Representatives that the legislation “opens the door to the risk that the federal government could more easily adopt a CBDC, which then may become the only viable digital currency.”
“At this moment in time, such a government-backed electronic currency has not yet been created,” Noem told lawmakers. “More importantly, South Dakota should not open the door to a potential future overreach by the federal government.”
The <a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/23995/250850" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> would have defined money as a “medium of exchange that is currently authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government.” Lawmakers <a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/23995" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the measure 49-17 in the House of Representatives and 24-9 in the Senate, both of which are margins that would allow for the overturn of the veto in the two chambers.
Noem added that cryptocurrencies, which are decentralized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-exactly-is-bitcoin-heres-how-the-worlds-largest-cryptocurrency-actually-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital assets</a> that can be transferred between virtual wallets, would not be considered money under the legislation. She asserted that the bill therefore “needlessly” limited freedoms and placed citizens at a “business disadvantage” by discouraging development within the nascent sector.
Opponents of a potential central bank digital currency <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/surveillance-and-control-vivek-ramaswamy-and-tucker-carlson-discuss-china-inspired-push-for-a-central-bank-digital-currency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assert</a> that such an initiative would render citizens vulnerable to government censorship and surveillance. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, digital assets managed by central banks are not decentralized and are tethered to their analog counterparts. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-fed-chair-says-his-mind-is-open-on-a-digital-dollar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> two years ago that his “mind is open” to a digital dollar, noting that he was “legitimately undecided” on whether the “benefits outweigh the costs” of central bank digital currencies.
“We would want very broad support in society and in Congress,” he told lawmakers. “It’s a very, very important initiative, and I do think we should ideally get authorization.”
A central bank digital currency would preserve the international role of the dollar while mitigating pitfalls intrinsic to cryptocurrencies such as liquidity risk and credit risk, according to a <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/january-2022-cbdc.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper</a> from the Federal Reserve. The central bank recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-reserve-launches-digital-dollar-initiative-days-after-leading-cryptocurrency-firm-goes-under" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conducted</a> a simulation with Citi, Mastercard, BNY Mellon, and other companies to determine the “feasibility of payments between financial institutions” using tokenized assets.
Increased skepticism toward cryptocurrencies comes in the aftermath of FTX and other digital asset companies controlled by Sam Bankman-Fried filing for bankruptcy at the end of last year after customers learned that FTX had commingled funds with trading company Alameda Research. Bankman-Fried pleaded <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sam-bankman-fried-pleads-not-guilty-allowed-to-conceal-who-is-securing-his-250-million-bond" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not guilty</a> to multiple charges, which include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit campaign finance violations.
Recent tumult in the cryptocurrency sector and the widely publicized criminal proceedings against Bankman-Fried have quickly eroded consumers’ trust in the novel assets: a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/investors-much-more-skeptical-of-crypto-after-brutal-bear-market-ftx-collapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> conducted by CNBC and Momentive found that 60% of Americans see the risk of cryptocurrency investments as “high,” while only 10% say the assets carry little or no risk.

Kristi Noem

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Vetoes Central Bank Digital Currency Bill

Kristi Noem Vetoes Central Bank Digital Currency Bill

Cryptocurrency

Economy

Federal Reserve

Money

South Dakota

U.S.

Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley sent a letter to pharmacists in their state warning that they will be subject to felony prosecution if they dispense abortion pills in their state.
The joint letter was sent on Tuesday following changes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that it will certify retail pharmacies to prescribe popular medications used in chemical abortions.
“Chemical abortions remain illegal in South Dakota. Under South Dakota law, pharmacies, including chain drug stores, are prohibited from procuring and dispensing abortion-inducing drugs with the intent to induce an abortion, and are subject to felony prosecution under South Dakota law, despite the recent FDA ruling,&#8221; the letter <a href="https://governor.sd.gov/doc/GovNoem_AGJackley_Letter-to-Pharmacists.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. &#8220;Their resources should be focused on helping mothers and their babies, both before birth and after.&#8221;
After the Supreme Court&#8217;s Dobbs decision in June 2022 to return abortion laws to individual states, South Dakota&#8217;s 2005 trigger law went into effect that made abortions illegal in the state except to save the life of the mother, <a href="https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&amp;sys_id=8d8bf9121b602510b04d4262f54bcb40" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> a statement from Noem&#8217;s office.
Noem announced a new website, <a href="https://life.sd.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Life.SD.gov</a>, last year to promote &#8220;helping mothers and babies before and after birth&#8221; as part of the state&#8217;s pro-life focus.
“All abortions, whether surgically or chemically induced, terminate the life of a living human being,&#8221; Noem and Jackley added in the letter. &#8220;South Dakota will continue to enforce all laws including those that respect and protect the lives of the unborn. We trust pharmacists doing business in this state will take the same approach to respecting life.”
At least two other states, Florida and Alabama, have offered similar warnings to pharmacists in their states.
The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-agency-for-healthcare-administration-warns-pharmacies-to-not-give-out-abortion-pills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent</a> a letter following the FDA&#8217;s change warning pharmacies against dispensing abortion pills, citing state law that &#8220;no termination shall be performed at any time except by a licensed physician.&#8221;
In Alabama, Attorney General Steve Marshall even noted that women could be prosecuted for using abortion pills, despite the state’s law only criminalizing abortion providers and preventing prosecution against women who have abortions.
“The Human Life Protection Act targets abortion providers, exempting women ‘upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted to be performed’ from liability under the law,” Marshall said in a <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/women-can-be-prosecuted-for-taking-abortion-pills-says-alabama-attorney-general.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to AL.com. “It does not provide an across-the-board exemption from all criminal laws, including the chemical-endangerment law—which the Alabama Supreme Court has affirmed and reaffirmed protects unborn children.”
The FDA&#8217;s policy update earlier this month was followed by President Joe Biden issuing a presidential memorandum on Sunday to protect access to abortion pills to mark 50 years since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
&#8220;My Administration remains committed to supporting safe access to mifepristone, consistent with applicable law, and defending women’s fundamental freedoms,&#8221; Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/01/22/memorandum-on-further-efforts-to-protect-access-to-reproductive-healthcare-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in the Sunday memorandum. &#8220;Defending and protecting reproductive rights is essential to our Nation’s health, safety, and progress. It is the policy of my Administration to protect against threats to the liberty and autonomy of those who live in this country.&#8221;
The FDA change on abortion pill access led to a group of 22 attorneys general sending a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf asking the agency to reverse its decision. The letter, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, argued that the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs poses a danger to women’s health.
“The Food and Drug Administration’s decision to abandon commonsense restrictions on remotely prescribing and administering abortion-inducing drugs is both illegal and dangerous,” the <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/619779306/Letter-From-Alabama-Attorney-General-Steve-Marshall-to-FDA-about-abortion-pill-rule-change#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> read. “In direct contravention of longstanding FDA practice and congressional mandate, the FDA’s rollback of important safety restrictions ignores both women’s health and straightforward federal statutes. We urge you to reverse your decision.”

‘Subject To Felony Prosecution’: Gov. Kristi Noem Warns South Dakota Pharmacists Against Dispensing Abortion Pills

Gov. Kristi Noem Warns South Dakota Pharmacists Against Dispensing Abortion Pills

Abortion

Pro-Life Movement

South Dakota Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a> (R) is looking for answers after the federal government leaked her social security number — and those of her family members — in the public release of records from the January 6 House committee.
Noem publicly shared the letter that her lawyers sent to federal agencies to demand a response over the publicly disclosed information in a Twitter post on Friday.
&#8220;My lawyers have asked the @WhiteHouse, the @USNatArchives, and @BennieGThompson which of them is responsible for leaking the Social Security Numbers of me, my husband, my 3 kids, and my son-in-law,&#8221; she tweeted. &#8220;What specific measures and remedies will be taken to protect our identities?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My lawyers have asked the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/USNatArchives?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNatArchives</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BennieGThompson</a> which of them is responsible for leaking the Social Security Numbers of me, my husband, my 3 kids, and my son-in-law.
What specific measures and remedies will be taken to protect our identities? <a href="https://t.co/HWBu5ukWPP">pic.twitter.com/HWBu5ukWPP</a>
&mdash; Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) <a href="https://twitter.com/KristiNoem/status/1611500140971413504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Noem&#8217;s leaked social security numbers were posted alongside the private information of nearly 2,000 others in a file of high-profile visitors to the White House in December 2020.
&#8220;The National Archives produced these visitors logs, which then became exhibits during the January 6 Committee hearing. Prior to being published as exhibits, the law required that Protected Personal Information be redacted from the visitor logs, but that was not done,&#8221; the letter from Noem&#8217;s lawyers read.
The letter argued that the publication of the governor&#8217;s and of her family&#8217;s private information is a violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 and could lead to further legal action. The lawyers are requesting a response by January 13 from those involved.
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/january-6-committee-releases-social-security-numbers-of-top-trump-officials-republican-governors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Friday that after the committee’s last public meeting last month, it released a trove of official records, testimonies, transcripts, and other information that it collected as part of its investigation into the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of those documents was a spreadsheet containing nearly 2,000 Social Security numbers of White House guests in December 2020.
Among the Social Security numbers on the list, since removed from the files, was information associated with at least three Trump cabinet members, several Republican governors, and numerous officials and allies, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/06/social-security-numbers-jan-6-committee-documents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. Some of the other leaders whose personal information was leaked included Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R), and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
On November 30, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrote a letter to committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) demanding that the January 6 committee preserve all records from its investigation.
&#8220;You have spent a year and a half and millions of taxpayers&#8217; dollars conducting this investigation. It is imperative that all information be preserved not just for institutional prerogatives but for transparency to the American people,&#8221; McCarthy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mccarthy-instructs-jan-6-committee-preserve-documents-gop-house-takeover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. &#8220;The official Congressional Records do not belong to you or any member, but to the American people, and they are owed all the information you gathered – not merely the information that comports with your political agenda.&#8221;
Noem&#8217;s letter from her lawyers also came one day ahead of the <a href="https://twitter.com/KristiNoem/status/1611835847485128704" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inauguration</a> of her second term as governor of South Dakota.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem Seeks Answers After Federal Government Leaks Social Security Numbers Of Her Family

January 6 Committee

Privacy

The House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/january-6-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January 6 Committee</a>, now disbanded, released Social Security numbers belonging to hundreds of Americans, including former Trump staffers and other top <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican</a> officials.
After the committee’s last public meeting last month, it released a trove of official records, testimonies, transcripts, and other information that it collected as part of its 18-month investigation into the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of those documents was a spreadsheet containing nearly 2,000 Social Security numbers of people who visited the White House in December 2020.
Among the Social Security numbers on the list, since removed from January 6 files, was information associated with at least three Trump cabinet members, as well as some Republican governors and numerous officials and allies, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/06/social-security-numbers-jan-6-committee-documents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. Those people whose information was on the spreadsheet are now at an “elevated risk” to be victims of identity theft-related crimes, Identity Theft Resource Center COO James Lee said.
The committee appears to have not immediately notified officials of the leak. Ian Fury, a spokesman of South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem, whose information was on the removed document, said, “To my knowledge, we were not notified. The governor was not notified.”
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, whose information was also on the sheet, told the Post: “Whether it was a careless and sloppy handling of records or a deliberate disregard of decorum, either scenario is a perfunctory and callous display of government and a frightening reminder of the current state in Washington. … President Reagan was a savant indeed — the nine most frightening words to hear are ‘I am from the government and here to help.’”
The committee said that all information released to the public was first reviewed for sensitive personal information and that any release of sensitive information such as Social Security numbers was a mistake.
The January 6 Committee, which was stacked with Democratic lawmakers and included two former GOP lawmakers, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, investigated the January 6 riot at the Capitol with an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liberal-bias-or-cheney-2024-j6-staffers-liz-cheney-trade-blows-over-final-committee-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emphasis</a> on former President Donald Trump’s role in the chaotic event. On December 19, at its last public hearing, the committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-j6-committee-recommends-criminal-charges-against-trump-over-capitol-riot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to recommend the Department of Justice charge the former president over the riot.
Trump “lost the 2020 election and knew it, but he choose to try and stay in office through a multi-part scheme to overturn the results and block the transfer of power,” committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said. “In the end, he summoned a mob to Washington and, knowing they were armed and angry, pointed them to the Capitol and told them to ‘fight like hell.’ There’s no doubt about this.”
The committee voted to recommend Trump be charged with obstructing an official proceeding, conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to make false statements to the federal government, and inciting an insurrection.
Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped former war crimes prosecutor Jack Smith, who previously worked at the international criminal court at The Hague, as special counsel to take over two Department of Justice probes into Trump over the January 6 riot and a cache of classified documents Trump allegedly improperly stored at Mar-a-Lago.

Bennie Thompson

January 6 Committee Releases Social Security Numbers Of Top Trump Officials, Republican Governors

Ben Carson

Congress

Donald Trump

Politics

Washington D.C.

A South Dakota health official appointed by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has retired following reports of a controversial state contract with a transgender activist group.
Noem made the announcement on Monday and thanked Health Secretary Joan Adam for her service.
“She has been able to put families first because she recognizes the importance of her own family. I am grateful for her advice and wish her the best on everything that she does,” Noem said in the <a href="https://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=31951" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
The announcement did not mention the state contract with the Transformation Project, a deal that Noam <a href="https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/12/16/kristi-noem-orders-health-department-terminate-transgender-group-contract/">ordered</a> the health department to terminate just last week. The organization was scheduled to host a Gender Identity Summit in January, with news of the event sparking controversy among many South Dakota residents.
Ian Fury, Noem&#8217;s chief of communications, <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/12/19/exclusive-kristi-noem-parts-ways-with-health-secretary-after-uncovering-transgender-activist-groups-involvement/">said</a> in a statement to The Daily Signal that the contract was signed without the governor&#8217;s knowledge.
“South Dakota does not support this organization’s efforts, and state government should not be participating in them,” Noem told the outlet in a statement provided by Fury. “We should not be dividing our youth with radical ideologies. We should treat every single individual equally as a human being.”
The Transformation Project SD <a href="https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/mission-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that its mission is &#8220;to support and empower transgender individuals and their families while educating communities in SD and the surrounding region about gender identity and expression.&#8221;
Among its projects to educate, support, and empower &#8220;transgender South Dakotans&#8221; is <a href="https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/martys-closet-booking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marty&#8217;s Closet,</a> which provides &#8220;thousands of items of clothing available for all gender-diverse South Dakotans.&#8221;
Adam served in South Dakota&#8217;s Department of Health for 20 years. She previously served as Division Director for Health Promotion &amp; Disease Prevention and Division Director for Administration.
Noem has strongly opposed transgender activism in the state. In February, the governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-signs-bill-banning-biological-males-from-girls-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a bill designed that bans biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, including provisions for college athletics. The bill, SB 46, is designed “to protect fairness in women’s sports.”
&nbsp;

Kristi Noem’s Health Secretary Retires After Controversial Contract With Transgender Group

Social Issues

Transgender

Lawmakers in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/south-dakota" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Dakota</a> announced a move to more heavily scrutinize foreign purchases of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">farmland</a> from investors in adversarial nations such as <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a>.
Foreigners in the Mount Rushmore State increased their land holdings from nearly 307,000 acres in 2019 to more than 356,000 acres in 2020, meaning that foreign nationals now control 0.9% of the state’s agricultural land, according to <a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/PDF/2020_afida_annual_report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Department of Agriculture. Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) announced support for legislation that would establish the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for South Dakota (CFIUS-SD) to examine possible acquisitions of agricultural land by foreign interests.
“With this new process, we will be able to prevent nations who hate us — like Communist China — from buying up our state’s agriculture land,” she said in a <a href="https://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=31923" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue to buy up our nation’s food supply, so South Dakota will lead the charge on this vital national security issue.”
Chinese entities own slightly less than 1% of foreign-held acres in the United States, according to the Department of Agriculture. Canadian investors own roughly 32% of agricultural and non-agricultural land, while citizens of other allied nations such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany constitute 31% of land holdings by foreigners.
Lawmakers in South Dakota are particularly worried about the acquisition of farmland near <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-warns-communist-chinese-entities-buying-farmland-near-u-s-military-bases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military facilities</a> such as Ellsworth Air Force Base. The purchase of 300 acres near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, where some of the nation’s secure military drone technology is located, earlier this year by Chinese food manufacturing company Fufeng Group raised concerns of espionage among some officials.
“For those of us who have lived and worked on the land, we know that it’s our past, but also our future,” State Senator Erin Tobin (R-SD) continued. “We grow the world’s food, and we need to protect the security of that food supply for our kids.”
Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Oklahoma have previously banned the foreign ownership of farmland. Chinese investors, however, can circumvent such restrictions by acquiring and operating through American corporations. House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/congressman-warns-against-americas-enemies-taking-over-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act earlier this year in an effort to bar entities from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from buying American agricultural firms.
“China’s efforts to influence American agriculture threatens U.S. security,” Johnson said in a <a href="https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-stefanik-pass-act-prevents-china-purchasing-us-agriculture-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “We have experienced numerous black swan events in the past few years, and we can’t risk allowing our adversaries closer access to our food and supply chains.”
The Biden administration likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-quietly-probes-chinese-tech-firm-for-possibly-harvesting-data-from-military-bases-missile-silos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigated</a> Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei over concerns that cell towers using the company’s devices are transmitting data on military bases and missile silos to the communist nation. A final rule <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-makes-historic-move-to-block-certain-chinese-tech-after-national-security-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> last month by the Federal Communications Commission will block Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, and Dahua from importing and selling certain technology that the agency considers a potential threat to national security. The new rule, however, does not apply to technology already within the nation’s borders.

South Dakota To Restrict Purchases Of Farmland By China And Other ‘Nations Who Hate Us’

South Dakota To Restrict Purchases Of Farmland By China

China

Farmers

National Security

South Dakota Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> ordered state government employees to stop using TikTok.
Noem signed an Executive Order Tuesday to ban government officials in the state from using the Chinese social media app over growing security concerns. The order takes effect immediately, and bans all state government employees and contractors from downloading the app on government devices. TikTok has been the subject of growing concerns in recent months about data privacy and security risks it poses, particularly to government officials.
“South Dakota will have no part in the intelligence gathering operations of nations who hate us,” Noem said in a <a href="https://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=31872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> Tuesday. “The Chinese Communist Party uses information that it gathers on TikTok to manipulate the American people, and they gather data off the devices that access the platform.”
“Because of our serious duty to protect the private data of South Dakota citizens, we must take this action immediately,&#8221; Noem added. &#8220;I hope other states will follow South Dakota’s lead, and Congress should take broader action, as well.”
Other officials in South Dakota have previously sounded the alarm about the harm the app inflicts on American children and students.
&#8220;TikTok delivers garbage content to American students and educational content to Chinese students,&#8221; Congressman <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDustyJohnson/status/1589645758240010241?s=20&amp;t=mC8DTGqcmH0c9uJOSN8jPA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dusty Johnson</a> (R-SD) wrote on Twitter, reacting to a “60 Minutes” segment on the differences between content the app promotes in the U.S. vs. in China. &#8220;We cannot trust this company.&#8221;
In August, Johnson introduced a bill to <a href="https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/dustyjohnson.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Block%20the%20Tok%20Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban TikTok</a> from collecting user data from American users from within the People&#8217;s Republic of China. The bill would also have banned TikTok from being downloaded on federal government devices, including military installations and federal agencies.
&#8220;A great clip from a recent ⁦@60Minutes piece on why TikTok is not as harmless as many believe,&#8221; Sioux Falls mayor <a href="https://twitter.com/paultenhaken/status/1597250698202255368?s=20&amp;t=mC8DTGqcmH0c9uJOSN8jPA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul TenHaken</a> said in reaction to the clip. &#8220;This app needs more federal scrutiny to ensure our kids (and national security) are protected.&#8221;
At the federal level, TikTok has faced severe and continuous scrutiny about the security risks it poses, not just to the data privacy of individual users, but to national security as well.
“We do have national security concerns — at least from the FBI’s end — about TikTok,” FBI Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-do-have-national-security-concerns-fbi-director-warns-chinese-community-party-uses-tiktok-to-compromise-american-privacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christopher Wray</a> told the House Homeland Security Committee at a hearing earlier this month. “They include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users. Or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so chose. Or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.”
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-chief-administrative-officer-warns-members-of-congress-not-to-use-tiktok-over-potential-security-risks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chief Administrative Officer</a> (CAO) of the House of Representatives has also warned members of Congress against downloading the app, citing security concerns. A memo from the office warned members that the app harvests data, including possibly sensitive information; it also cited the app’s excessive permissions requests and its lack of transparency in how it protects user data.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-government-urged-to-ban-tiktok-by-fcc-commissioner-warning-user-data-allegedly-flow-back-to-chinese-communist-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FCC Commissioner</a> Brendan Carr has asked Congress to ban TikTok, and earlier this month, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced legislation to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-lawmakers-to-introduce-legislation-banning-tiktok-in-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban the app</a> in the U.S. outright.

TikTok

South Dakota Governor Noem Blocks State Employees From Downloading TikTok

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Signs Executive Order To Block State Employees From Downloading TikTok

Some politicians once considered among former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump&#8217;s</a> top allies have either turned on him or are holding back their support as the 45th commander in chief gears up for a third White House bid in 2024.
The news comes after three billionaire Republican megadonors — Stephen Schwarzman, Ronald Lauder, and Ken Griffin — have all <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-gop-megadonors-both-trump-allies-announce-they-will-not-support-his-2024-presidential-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in recent days that they will not support Trump&#8217;s 2024 campaign and that they will be backing someone else in the party&#8217;s presidential primary.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/trump-republicans-alternatives.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at a Republican Governors Association meeting in Orlando this week that Trump does not offer Republicans &#8220;the best chance&#8221; to win in 2024.
“If we narrow our focus there, then we’re not talking to every single American,” Noem said, according to The New York Times. “Our job is not just to talk to people who love Trump or hate Trump. Our job is to talk to every single American.”
A spokesperson for Noem disputed the Times’ reporting, saying that it was a “false narrative” and that they took her “comments out of context.”
In the same interview, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), who is in the MAGA-wing of the Republican Party, also took a shot at the former president, saying he believed there would be better candidates in 2024.
Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/desantis-trump-2024-election-00067834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that at the Orlando gathering, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the main focus for those in attendance as he challenged the idea that Republicans can&#8217;t compete with the election tactics of Democrats.
DeSantis, who last week won his re-election bid by a margin of nearly 20% even as Republicans nationwide had a disappointing showing, noted that he encouraged his supporters to use mail-in voting. He also argued that the GOP can appeal to suburban and rural communities at the same time, pointing out that he performed well in suburban communities even while scoring “Saddam Hussein margins” in rural communities, some of which he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-florida-governor.html?action=click&amp;pgtype=Article&amp;state=default&amp;module=election-results&amp;context=election_recirc&amp;region=RaceLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> by as many as 84 points.
Other Republican governors in attendance steered clear of  Trump talk, even those who had just been endorsed by Trump in the midterms and won.
“I’m not going there,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
Nevada Governor-elect Joe Lombardo said, “I’m not doing an interview, thanks.”
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu questioned Trump&#8217;s decision to announce his campaign so early, saying that Trump was &#8220;at his weakest point politically.&#8221;
“Think about that. You’re the former president,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You’re as weak as you’ve ever been politically. You’re not even necessarily the frontrunner.”
Trump made his announcement despite former top advisers <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6315241341112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kayleigh McEnany</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/10/trump-advised-delay-announcement-2024-run-georgia-run-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Miller</a> urging him to wait until after the December 6 Georgia U.S. Senate runoff.
Still, several Republicans have endorsed Trump in his new bid for the White House, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-2024-florida-republican-presidential-primary-poll-between-trump-and-desantis-shows-a-total-blowout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New 2024 Florida Republican Presidential Primary Poll Between Trump And DeSantis Shows A Total Blowout</a>

Some Trump Allies Signal A Change In Tune For 2024: ‘Our Job Is To Talk To Every Single American’

Some Trump Allies Signal A Change In Tune For 2024: 'Our Job Is To Talk To Every Single American'

2024 Election

Elections

Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has added her support to numerous GOP campaigns in recent days in a spree of endorsements after leaving the Democratic Party.
Her most recent effort offered an unexpected endorsement with Gabbard appearing in a new re-election ad for South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem released on Tuesday.
&#8220;I&#8217;m Tulsi Gabbard, and Kristi Noem is a friend of mine. We believe in defending freedom and protecting what makes this country so special,&#8221; Gabbard says in the ad. &#8220;Kristi loves South Dakota and fights against extreme policies that Jamie Smith supports, like raising taxes, mandating vaccines, and taking away your gun rights.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Gabbard&#039;s ad for Kristi Noem" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bO1IO7j6Ux4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Noem is not the only GOP leader to receive Gabbard&#8217;s support in the final days leading to the nation&#8217;s midterms. On Tuesday, she tweeted words of support for Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance.
&#8220;Tim Ryan represents everything that is wrong with the warmongering Washington Establishment. I’m endorsing @JDVance1 because he knows the cost of war, and that our government exists to serve the people, not the other way around,&#8221; she wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Here’s how you can support <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance1</a> in the final days of this election: <a href="https://t.co/EIIjzHyYmi">https://t.co/EIIjzHyYmi</a>
&mdash; Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1587436259680681985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Monday, the former Hawaiian Democrat endorsed Michigan Republican House candidate Tom Barrett. Barrett is running against Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin was recently endorsed by Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney.
&#8220;I&#8217;m here and really proud to support fellow veteran Tom Barrett, who&#8217;s stepping up to serve and lead our country in a time of need in Congress. Having served in Congress for eight years on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, I know firsthand that a vote for Slotkin is a vote for more war,&#8221; Gabbard said in a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-tulsi-gabbard-endorses-gop-candidate-tom-barrett-liz-cheney-endorsed-democrat-opponent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> provided to Fox News.
On Friday, Gabbard also appeared at a Las Vegas event to support Republican Senate candidate Paul Laxalt.
&#8220;Thank you @TulsiGabbard for walking away from the radical left, cancel culture, &amp; censorship &amp; standing for the Constitution, freedom, &amp; our country,&#8221; Laxalt shared in response to Gabbard&#8217;s support.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Las Vegas turned out tonight!
Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TulsiGabbard</a> for walking away from the radical left, cancel culture, &amp; censorship &amp; standing for the Constitution, freedom, &amp; our country.
The message is loud and clear: Nevadans of ALL political backgrounds are ready for change. <a href="https://t.co/Oj5CuIExWa">pic.twitter.com/Oj5CuIExWa</a>
&mdash; Adam Paul Laxalt (@AdamLaxalt) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamLaxalt/status/1586169200892002304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gabbard has even added her endorsement in one of the more controversial races in the nation, speaking on behalf of Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. The event also included Blake Masters, the GOP Senate candidate seeking to defeat Democrat Mark Kelly.
The list of Gabbard&#8217;s endorsed GOP candidates has continued to grow since her first effort when she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-to-campaign-for-republican-senate-candidate-after-leaving-democratic-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaigned</a> for New Hampshire Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc.
“We don’t agree on every issue, but I am honored to have the support of Tulsi Gabbard who shares my view that the status quo is broken, and we need a change of direction,” Bolduc said in a statement.
The longtime Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elite-cabal-of-warmongers-tulsi-gabbard-says-she-is-no-longer-a-democrat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> her departure from her political party following months of criticisms against the Biden administration&#8217;s agenda.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue &amp; stoke anti-white racism, actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms, are… <a href="https://t.co/oAuTnxZldf">pic.twitter.com/oAuTnxZldf</a>
&mdash; Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1579788950696185859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue &amp; stoke anti-white racism,&#8221; Gabbard asserted during an episode of &#8220;The Tulsi Gabbard Show.&#8221;

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard Goes On Republican Endorsement Spree

2022 Election

2022 Midterms

Nearly two dozen Republican governors slammed a massive spending bill that Democrats are trying to ram through the U.S. Senate in a statement Thursday, saying that the bill will worsen inflation.
The statement comes as Senate Democrats rush to make last minute changes to a massive $740 billion spending bill that they will try to pass before the August recess by using the reconciliation process because the bill lacks bipartisan support.
&#8220;The Democrats’ solution to 40-year high inflation is passing another reckless tax and spending spree to the tune of $740 billion, affecting Americans in every tax bracket,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;While denying recession, Democrats want to raise taxes on businesses and manufacturers, which will force higher costs onto consumers, worsen inflation, and aggravate shortages.&#8221;
&#8220;With sky high prices at the pump, the last thing Americans need is for Democrats to punish energy producers, which will ultimately hurt working families struggling to pay for gas, goods, food, and utilities,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Our citizens cannot afford Joe Biden’s broken promises on taxes and Democrats’ inflationary spending that will only exacerbate the economic crisis they created.”
Governors Henry McMaster (R-SC) and Brian Kemp (R-GA) led the 22 Republican governors in issuing the joint statement.
The other Republican governors who signed onto the statement included Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), Brad Little (R-ID), Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Tate Reeves (R-MS), Mike Parson (R-MO), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Bill Lee (R-TN), Greg Abbott (R-TX), Mark Gordon (R-WY), Chris Sununu (R-NH), Kevin Stitt (R-OK), Doug Burgum (R-ND), Kay Ivey (R-AL), Spencer Cox (R-UT), Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), and Eric Holcomb (R-IN).
The statement from the governors comes after the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogan-slams-democrats-for-trying-to-claim-economy-is-not-in-a-recession-what-a-bunch-of-weasels">released</a> data last week showing that the U.S. economy shrank for the second straight quarter, satisfying the traditional requirement of a recession.
The Biden administration has downplayed the poor economic news by claiming that the economy is transitioning out of a fast-paced, post-pandemic recovery to a more stable environment. The White House’s claims come as Americans continue to be battered by inflation, which measured over 9% in June.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Holds Election Night Watch Party In Columbia

22 Republican Governors Blast Democrats’ Spending Bill, Warn About Impact On Inflation

Asa Hutchinson

Bill Lee

Brian Kemp

Doug Ducey

Glenn Youngkin

Greg Abbott

Greg Gianforte

Joe Biden

Ron DeSantis

Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) told Megyn Kelly that Republicans &#8220;really&#8221; need to &#8220;get it together&#8221; and &#8220;grow up&#8221; if they are going to win back the White House while wavering on whether she plans to run for president in 2024.
During Sirius XM&#8217;s &#8220;The Megyn Kelly Show&#8221; podcast on Tuesday, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-disgusting-megyn-kelly-blasts-ana-navarro-after-she-invokes-disabled-brother-in-defense-of-roe-v-wade">host</a> spoke with the governor about a whole host of issues, including whether she thinks former President Donald Trump will run again. It starts at the 55-minute mark <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIRwedTuzxs">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/irresponsible-megyn-kelly-rips-fox-news-over-segment-promoting-childs-gender-transition">Kelly</a> also asked <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-prayed-for-this-day-south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-celebrates-closing-of-states-last-abortion-center">Noem</a> if she had &#8220;higher aspirations&#8221; for her political career, either on the national level or as Trump&#8217;s potential running mate.
&#8220;I honestly don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Noem replied. &#8220;It&#8217;s just not something in my plans. I’m running for reelection this year in South Dakota. I&#8217;m hoping the people will trust me to lead for another four years as governor.&#8221;
&#8220;Beyond that, I think that anybody who&#8217;s making plans just maybe doesn&#8217;t understand the volatility of this political environment that we&#8217;re in,&#8221; she added, explaining that she&#8217;s always been a &#8220;little leery&#8221; of people who &#8220;dream of being&#8221; President of the United States&#8230; &#8220;I&#8217;m just not convinced that it has to be me.&#8221;
&#8220;I think Republicans really got to get it together and grow up a little bit too,&#8221; the governor continued. &#8220;Because they&#8217;re all just trying to pretend that he&#8217;s [Trump] not gonna run or hope for it and make no plans. We&#8217;ve got to figure out how do we put a strategy together to really win because our country is counting on it more than ever.&#8221;
Kelly admitted to Noem that it would be &#8220;dicey&#8221; if the Republican Party picked Trump again. The former NBC host said that on the one hand, Trump has &#8220;a huge swath of support in the Republican Party,&#8221; but on the other, he is &#8220;such a divisive figure&#8221; that &#8220;cuts both ways.&#8221;
The host said people are worried about the country and four more years of President Joe Biden, &#8220;if it keeps going in this direction,&#8221; she said, adding that she&#8217;s not sure &#8220;what&#8217;s gonna be left&#8221; most likely in reference to sky-high gas prices, inflation, and other issues.

Kristi Noem_ Megyn Kelly

Gov. Kristi Noem Tells Megyn Kelly Whether She’s Throwing Her Hat In The Ring In 2024, Says Republicans Have To ‘Grow Up’

Gov. Kristi Noem Tells Megyn Kelly Whether She’s Throwing Her Hat In The Ring In 2024, Says Republicans ‘Really’ Got To ‘Grow Up’

Entertainment

Megyn Kelly

South Dakota Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-ag-releases-statement-after-discovering-human-body-by-highway-after-he-thought-he-hit-a-deer">Jason Ravnsborg</a> (R) was convicted by the state’s Senate Tuesday on two <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-lawmakers-pursuing-impeachment-against-south-dakota-ag-following-fatal-crash-misdemeanor-charges">impeachment</a> charges related to his September 2020 car <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-ag-facing-three-misdemeanors-after-fatally-striking-pedestrian-along-highway">crash</a> that killed a pedestrian on the highway.
The state’s chief law enforcement officer was convicted by the South Dakota Senate of committing a crime that caused someone’s death and a charge of malfeasance, alleging he misled investigators through his testimony of the fatal crash. He was the first official in the state’s history to be impeached and convicted.
“The convictions required a two-thirds majority. Senators only mustered the bare minimum 24 votes to convict Ravnsborg on the first charge, with some senators saying the two misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to weren’t serious enough crimes to warrant impeachment. The malfeasance charge … sailed through with 31 votes,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jason-ravnsborg-south-dakota-impeachments-e5d62c76eedecf4c9290fecd821496aa">reported</a>.
On the night of the crash, Ravnsborg reportedly called 911 and told the dispatcher he thought he struck a large animal, such as a deer, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-ag-releases-statement-after-discovering-human-body-by-highway-after-he-thought-he-hit-a-deer">reported</a>. Once the sheriff arrived, said Ravnsborg, neither of them suspected a person had been hit with the car. Because the attorney general’s car was undrivable, and a tow truck would have taken over an hour to arrive, the two went to the sheriff’s house and Ravnsborg borrowed the sheriff’s personal car to drive home.
The following morning, the state attorney general said, he was on his way to return the car, along with his chief of staff, when the two stopped by the site of the accident to see if they could find the animal he believed he had hit the preceding evening.
Instead, the two found the body of Joseph Boever, 55, a nearby resident of Highmore, South Dakota, in a ditch.
“As I walked along the shoulder of the road, I discovered the body of Mr. Boever, in the grass just off the roadway. My chief of staff and I checked and it was apparent that Mr. Boever was deceased,” said Ravnsborg, who added that he promptly drove to the sheriff’s home to notify him.
Criminal investigators and numerous lawmakers ultimately did not believe Ravnsborg’s retelling of the events. “There’s no question that was a lie,” said top-ranking Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, according to the AP. “This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.”
Articles of impeachment were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-lawmakers-pursuing-impeachment-against-south-dakota-ag-following-fatal-crash-misdemeanor-charges">filed</a> against him in February 2021 after he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-ag-facing-three-misdemeanors-after-fatally-striking-pedestrian-along-highway">charged</a> with three misdemeanors, including one count of operating his car while using a cellphone, one count of failing to stay in his lane on the highway, and one count of careless driving, according to <a href="https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/government-and-politics/6892941-South-Dakota-Attorney-General-Jason-Ravnsborg-to-face-3-misdemeanor-charges-from-striking-killing-man-with-his-car">The Grand Forks Herald</a>.
Ravnsborg settled with Boever’s widow in September 2021, but the amount of the settlement was undisclosed. The disgraced attorney general also ended his criminal case last year when he pleaded no contest to two traffic misdemeanors.
South Dakota Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a> (R), who called for Ravnsborg to resign after the fatal crash, will appoint a new attorney general to take his place before voters decide in November who will ultimately take the office.
Eric Quintanar contributed to this report.

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