Senator <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) released his annual Festivus Report on Friday, detailing how Uncle Sam burned taxpayer dollars on initiatives such as hamster fight clubs and an experiment to see whether Thanos could snap his fingers in real life.
The conservative lawmaker identified more than $482 billion of wasteful spending in this year’s <a href="https://www.paul.senate.gov/sites/default/files/page-attachments/Festivus%202023%20Clean%20AJS%20edits%205p.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Festivus Report</a>, the majority of which came from $475 billion of interest payments on the national debt. Servicing the federal government’s obligations now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/interest-payments-on-the-national-debt-on-pace-to-surpass-military-spending" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surpasses</a> the combined value of both veterans’ benefits and transportation expenditures.
“The spending is way beyond anything we have seen before. And the big spenders aren&#8217;t done trying,” Paul <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1606382488301015077" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “If we don&#8217;t stop this and change course, we will have a massive problem.”
One example of wasteful spending was a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nih-study-injected-puppies-with-cocaine-then-killed-or-recycled-them-for-more-experiments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, which fitted seven beagle puppies with a drug-injecting jacket. Alongside another study that injected six beagles with cocaine from March 2020 and March 2021, the agency spent $2.3 million on the initiatives. “What’s up with your government’s obsession with getting animals high?” the Festivus Report asked.
The studies were commissioned by SRI International, which took funds from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to poison and “de-bark” beagle puppies.
The National Institutes of Health also granted Northeastern University more than $3 million over the course of three decades to inject steroids in hamsters and watch the rodents fight to determine whether current drugs for aggressive youth suppress steroid-induced aggression. Although the first rule of fight club is usually to not talk about fight club, an open records request forced Georgia State University earlier this year to release details of a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-government-pays-university-1-5-million-to-start-a-fight-club-for-genetically-modified-hamsters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similar study</a> that used $1.5 million of federal funds to leverage gene editing and create aggressive fighting hamsters.
Researchers at Georgia Tech received nearly $119,000 from the National Science Foundation to see whether a real-life version of fictional Marvel villain Thanos could “actually snap his fingers while wearing the Infinity Gauntlet,” according to the Festivus Report. The researchers determined that the comic book nemesis could not, in fact, produce a snapping sound. Invoking the words of Captain America, the Festivus Report said that the National Science Foundation was clearly “not looking for forgiveness for wasting American taxpayers’ hard-earned money” and “way past asking for permission.”
The National Institutes of Health also granted the National Human Genome Research Institute more than $2.1 million over the course of five years in an effort to encourage rural Ethiopians to wear shoes. Another project from the agency gave $188,000 to researchers at Kent State University attempting to learn whether “the relationship between pets and children is beneficial to mental health.” Unsurprisingly, the answer to the question was in the affirmative.
Beyond the examples of rampant government spending through research grants, Paul also noted the $1.7 billion spent on maintaining empty federal buildings and the $4.5 billion spent to give ineligible citizens Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants through the Small Business Administration. Over one-third of the disbursements were made to ineligible participants.
The Festivus Report comes as the national debt surpasses $31 trillion for the first time in history, <a href="https://www.usdebtclock.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">implying</a> over $94,000 in liabilities per citizen and nearly $249,000 per taxpayer.

Collage Maker-23-Dec-2022-04.10-PM

Hamster Fight Club, Thanos Gauntlet, Cocaine Beagles: The Most Insanely Wasteful Government Spending Items In Rand Paul’s Festivus Report

The Most Insanely Wasteful Government Spending Items In Rand Paul’s Festivus Report

General

National Debt

Politics

Rand Paul

Taxes

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a fierce defender of American civil liberties, harshly confronted FBI Director Christopher Wray about the communication between social media companies and the FBI regarding social media users’ private information.
Paul’s withering questions were prompted by a House report detailing whistleblower claims of the FBI’s bias toward the political Left.
“Is Facebook or any other social media company supplying private messages or data on American users that is not compelled by the government or the FBI?” Paul asked Wray. “No warrant, no subpoena, they’re just supplying you information on their users?”
“I don’t believe so, but I can’t sit here and be sure of that as I sit here,” Wray replied.
“Can you give us a yes or no by going back to your team and asking? Because it’s a very specific question. Because if they are, it’s against the law,” Paul said, citing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. “This was done to protect the privacy of people so we could feel like we can send an email or direct message to people without having that information given over. It’s a very specific question: Will you get with your team of lawyers and give us a specific answer? Because this is the law. If you’re doing it, then we need to go to court to prevent you from receiving this information.”
“Well, I can tell you that I’m quite confident that we’re following the law — ” Wray began.
“Well, that’s not the answer — ” Paul interjected.
“ — but what I will also follow up with you to make sure we get you more information, more detailed information,” Wray finished.
“Is the FBI obtaining anonymous social media data and then using technical methods to pierce the anonymous nature of the data?” Paul fired.
Wray paused for a long moment, then, looking puzzled, replied, “Anonymous social media data?”
“So you purchase data,” Paul explained. “People purchase data all the time and we sort of tolerate it for advertisings and things because it’s anonymous data. Are you purchasing what is said to be anonymous data through the marketplace and then piercing the anonymous nature to attach individual names to that data? &#8230; Are you purchasing data and then piercing the anonymous nature of that data?”
“So the manner in which we use — we usually use the term commercial data — is probably longer that I can explain here, But again, let me — ” Wray dodged.
“So you will not answer the question of whether or not you’re attaching names to anonymous data,” Paul charged.
“I think it’s a more complicated answer than I can give here,” Wray answered.
“So. So far we’re 0 for 2 at getting you to answer this, but you’re pledging you will actually answer the question, because you have to realize the frustration; we’ll write you a letter and your team of lawyers will write back with a 15-page letter that says nothing and you won’t answer the question. These are very specific. This is whether you’re obeying the law, whether we can have confidence. I want to have confidence,” Paul declared.
“We are obeying the law,” Wray insisted.
“Well, you’re saying that, but you won’t tell us the answer,” Paul stated. “You aren’t telling me the answer. And the answer is: Are you collecting data not compelled by a warrant? That would not be in compliance with the law. But you won’t answer that you’re not collecting that data.”
Later, Paul asked, “Are you getting tips and leads from social media companies?”
“We get tips and leads from companies, absolutely,” Wray admitted.
“You may think this is jolly well to get all this stuff without a warrant that people volunteer to you, but many of us are alarmed that you’re getting this information that are private communications between people because it is against the law; it’s against the law for Facebook or social media companies to give it to you, but it’s also against the law for you to receive it,” Paul concluded.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.c-span.org/video/standalone/?c5041965/user-clip-wray" width="512" height="330" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Collage Maker-18-Nov-2022-11.19-AM

‘You Won’t Answer The Question’: Rand Paul Grills FBI’s Wray On Getting Private Info From Facebook, Social Media Companies

Rand Paul Grills FBI’s Wray On Getting Private Info From Facebook, Social Media Companies

Big Tech

Christopher Wray

Facebook

Social Media

Progressives who mocked Senator <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) after he was assaulted in 2018 expressed heartfelt sympathy for Paul Pelosi after he was attacked on Friday by an individual who invaded his home and reportedly beat him with a hammer.
Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/nancy-pelosi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nancy Pelosi</a> (D-CA), was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-nancy-pelosis-husband-violently-assaulted-hospitalized-after-break-in-at-california-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalized</a> early Friday morning after an assailant broke into their San Francisco home, according to his wife’s spokesman. As many leftists took to social media and expressed their outrage at the attack, other users noted that many of those same leftists had celebrated when Rand Paul suffered an attack from an enraged neighbor four years ago, which led to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rand-paul-attacker-gets-just-30-days-jail-joseph-curl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six broken ribs</a> and damage to his lungs.
Majid M. Padellan, who runs the Twitter account Brooklyn Dad Defiant, <a href="https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1339288272065990666" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quipped</a> in 2020 that no one has “ever mistaken Rand Paul for an actual United States Senator,” including his “neighbor.” He also <a href="https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1260235054296547328" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Dr. Anthony Fauci, with whom Paul has sparred on multiple occasions regarding the federal government’s COVID response, “could probably pick up where Rand Paul&#8217;s neighbor left off, and nobody would mind at all.”
Yet Padellan <a href="https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1586012309838700544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> on Friday that the “violent, heinous attack on Paul Pelosi, the Speaker&#8217;s husband, needs to be denounced in the strongest possible terms BY BOTH SIDES.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/qUMF0NE5Q8">pic.twitter.com/qUMF0NE5Q8</a>
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefiantLs/status/1586031359365201920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
John Pavlovitz, who wrote a book entitled “If God is Love, Don&#8217;t Be a Jerk” and has “love your neighbor: get vaccinated” in his Twitter bio, <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1432371479220473859" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a> last year that he does not “condone or approve of Rand Paul’s neighbor,” but sure does “understand him.” He has tweeted mockingly about the attack on Paul multiple times over the past four years, yet on Friday he said in a since-deleted tweet that “the attack on Paul Pelosi is the direct result of Fox News’ and the GOP’s purposefully irresponsible rhetoric.”
“It will continue to get worse and if it gets control of Congress, our nation will be unrecognizable,” added the professed Christian. “We need to vote these monsters into oblivion.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/W0DnKpltZ4">pic.twitter.com/W0DnKpltZ4</a>
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefiantLs/status/1586007037401763843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rand Paul himself <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1586001132991967233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noticed</a> that Christine Pelosi, the daughter of Nancy and her husband, said on social media two years ago that “Rand Paul’s neighbor was right” before the post was removed by Twitter. “No one deserves to be assaulted. Unlike Nancy Pelosi’s daughter who celebrated my assault, I condemn this attack and wish Mr. Pelosi a speedy recovery,” the lawmaker said on Friday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No one deserves to be assaulted. Unlike Nancy Pelosi’s daughter who celebrated my assault, I condemn this attack and wish Mr. Pelosi a speedy recovery. <a href="https://t.co/2LxIlbIYQP">https://t.co/2LxIlbIYQP</a>
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1586001132991967233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 42-year-old assailant who invaded the Pelosi home was placed in custody, while Paul Pelosi was taken to the hospital and is expected to fully recover. The U.S. Capitol Police, FBI, and San Francisco Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into the attack, according to the Capitol Police, which said in a statement that staff from the field office “quickly arrived on scene.”
Although a motive for the incident is not yet known, the multi-million-dollar Pelosi residence has previously been the target of political protests. At the beginning of last year, demonstrators left a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pelosis-house-vandalized-with-spray-paint-pigs-head-left-in-front" target="_blank" rel="noopener">severed pig’s head</a> in the couple’s driveway after spray-painting slogans about universal basic income and canceling rent on the garage door.
San Francisco has made headlines for continual problems with homelessness, public safety, drug use, and violent crime amid lackluster law enforcement, which recently led voters to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chesa-boudin-soft-on-crime-son-of-terror-group-members-bitter-after-recall-as-san-francisco-da" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recall</a> District Attorney Chesa Boudin.
White House Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/28/statement-by-white-house-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-the-attack-against-paul-pelosi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that President Joe Biden is praying for Mr. Pelosi and his family and called the Speaker “to express his support after this horrible attack.”

Collage Maker-28-Oct-2022-01.46-PM

Liberals Who Mocked Rand Paul For Getting Attacked By Neighbor Express Sympathy For Paul Pelosi After Assailant Beats Him With Hammer

Crime

Liberals

Nancy Pelosi

Senator <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) threatened Dr. <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/anthony-fauci/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Fauci</a> during a testy hearing on Wednesday, making it abundantly clear that things would be different if Republicans were to gain control of Congress in the fast-approaching <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/youre-not-worried-that-this-reflects-poorly-chuck-todd-grills-vp-over-democrats-midterm-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">midterm elections</a>.
Fauci, who was on Capitol Hill to discuss the federal government&#8217;s response to monkeypox, has sparred with the Kentucky Senator on a number of occasions — and Wednesday&#8217;s hearing was no exception.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rand Paul confronts Fauci on his clip saying that getting infected protects you from a virus more than vaccines:
Fauci: “That film you showed was really taken out of context… Reuters fact checked that.”
Paul: “Actually, words don’t lie.” <a href="https://t.co/bJKhlYNt5E">pic.twitter.com/bJKhlYNt5E</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1570080420284272641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Paul began with a video of Fauci responding to a question about a patient who wondered whether it would be necessary or wise to get a flu shot after previously being infected with the virus — to which Fauci said no. He explained at the time that previous infection provided protection just like a vaccine would.
&#8220;When people decry vaccine hesitancy, it’s coming from the gobbledygook that you give us. You’re not paying attention to the science. The very basic science is that previous infection provides a level of immunity,&#8221; Paul said. &#8220;If you ignore that in your studies, if you don’t present that in your committees, you’re not being truthful.&#8221;
Fauci objected, first claiming that the video was &#8220;out of context&#8221; and then insisting, &#8220;I have never, ever denied fundamental immunology. In fact, I wrote the chapter in the Textbook of Medicine on fundamental immunology.&#8221;
Paul pushed back, however, noting that in nearly every study determining whether or not additional booster shots were necessary — particularly with regard to COVID vaccines — no one was considering whether or not a person had been previously infected as a factor.
Paul then turned on Fauci directly, adding, &#8220;We’ve been asking you and you refuse to answer whether anybody on the vaccine committees gets royalties from the pharmaceutical companies. I asked you last time and what was your response? &#8216;We don’t have to tell you.'&#8221;
&#8220;But I’ll tell you this, when we get in charge, we’re going change the rules and you will have to divulge where you get your royalties from, from what companies, and if anybody on the committee has a conflict of interest. We’re gonna learn about it. I promise you that,&#8221; he said.

Leading Health Officials Testify On Federal Government’s Response To Monkeypox Outbreak

‘We’re Going To Change The Rules’: Rand Paul Threatens Fauci In Testy Senate Spat

Rand Paul Threatens Dr. Fauci In Testy Senate Spat

Anthony Fauci

COVID

Monkeypox

Dr. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/anthony-fauci">Anthony Fauci</a> claimed that the reason he is leaving his job as chief medical adviser to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a> in December has nothing to do with the possibility that Republicans might take over the House and subsequently launch an investigation of his actions.
Fauci was confronted by Fox News’ Neil Cavuto on Tuesday, the same day it was reported that Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a harsh critic of Fauci, sent a letter to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nih">National Institute of Health</a> (NIH) demanding they preserve all records connected to Fauci. Paul has vowed to investigate Fauci.
“Dr. Fauci misled the American people on public health guidance throughout the pandemic, lied to Congress under oath, and funneled tax dollars to fund dangerous research in communist China. The American people deserve transparency and accountability from the NIH regarding the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of Dr. Fauci’s future employment plans,” Paul told <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/08/23/rand-paul-letter-nih-preserve-documents-communications-anthony-fauci-possession/">The Daily Caller</a>.
“Why now, doctor? Why you leaving now?” Cavuto asked.
“Well, you know, Neil, there’s no really very good time to leave; I’ve been thinking about leavIng now for quite a while,” Fauci began. “I was going to stop down ’cause I wanted to while I was still healthy and vigorous and energetic and passionate about what I was doing, to do something outside of the sphere of the federal government.”
Fauci then boasted about his effect on younger scientists: “Something that had more to do, for example, with giving the young people, the younger generation of scientists, the benefit of my experience, by being out there and trying to inspire them by writing and lecturing and things like that.”
Fauci then insisted he was going to leave at the end of the Trump administration but changed his mind:
<blockquote>
I was gonna do that about a year-and-a-half ago, but at the end of the Trump administration, when President Biden was elected, before he even was inaugurated, he asked me to be his chief medical advisor. I felt very honored by that offer and I decided to stay a year, thinking, Neil, that COVID would be done with a year from that time. And it turns out that was not the case.
And then as we got into 2022, I felt that as we got more and more into this and more and more people vaccinated, we very likely would be approaching a period of equilibrium with the virus where we could actually live with it without it disrupting our social order. And then I felt it was about time and that’s the reason why I made the announcement.
</blockquote>
“And I’m gonna give a bit of a runway, a long runway, until December before I step down but it was the right time, Neil,” Fauci stated. “I had been thinking about it for some time, and I just felt since I still had a lot of energy to do other things, I wanted to give myself that opportunity.”
“So this wasn’t a way to avoid Republican investigations if they take over the House and/or the Senate?” Cavuto pressed.
“Oh, Neil, not at all,” Fauci declared. “Not even a little bit. I mean, I have nothing to hide, and I can defend everything I’ve done and every decision I’ve made, so I’m not afraid of that at all. That didn’t even come in as a minor consideration.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NIAID Director and Chief Medical Adviser to President Biden Dr. Anthony Fauci on stepping down from current roles <a href="https://t.co/sP8AvttcIU">pic.twitter.com/sP8AvttcIU</a>
&mdash; Neil Cavuto (@TeamCavuto) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCavuto/status/1562210186701438976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

White House Holds Press Briefing

‘I Have Nothing To Hide’: Fauci Claims He’s Not Leaving To Avoid Investigation

Anthony Fauci Protests He's Not Leaving To Avoid Investigation

COVID-19

Investigation

Joe Biden

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) called on the National Institutes of Health, demanding that the organization retain all communications and any other documents in Dr. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/anthony-fauci">Anthony Fauci</a>&#8216;s possession as his retirement looms closer.
Paul issued a letter — the contents of which were first <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/08/23/rand-paul-letter-nih-preserve-documents-communications-anthony-fauci-possession/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> by The Daily Caller — to the NIH, asking that they preserve all records, e-mails, electronic documents, and data that Fauci may have created or shared while at the NIH. Paul asked that they take special care to preserve any data or communications relating to COVID or to any coronavirus-related research conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) while Fauci held the top spot.
&#8220;In light of this announcement, I formally request you ensure the preservation of all documents and communications within Dr. Fauci’s possession related to his tenure at the National Institutes of Health (NIH),&#8221; Paul wrote upon learning of Fauci&#8217;s upcoming retirement from government employ.
&#8220;This information is critical to ensure that Congress has access to information necessary to conduct proper oversight regarding events that took place during Dr. Fauci’s tenure with the agency. Specifically, I request you preserve all records, e-mail, electronic documents, and data created by or shared with Dr. Fauci during his tenure at NIH that relate to COVID-19 including, but not limited to, NIAID-funded coronavirus research. This preservation request also includes all records of official business conducted on non­ official accounts,&#8221; he added.
Paul and Fauci have consistently <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/go-ahead-fauci-dares-rand-paul-to-make-good-on-threats-to-investigate-him/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been at odds</a> over the federal government&#8217;s response to the pandemic — and Fauci&#8217;s role in supporting and potentially funding the kind of <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/in-damning-capitol-hill-testimony-scientists-contradict-faucis-claim-that-nih-never-funded-gain-of-function-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gain-of-function</a> research that Paul and a number of others believe may have sparked the spread of COVID via a lab leak.
Once Fauci announced his plan to leave the federal government later this year, Paul <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/rand-paul-faucis-resignation-wont-protect-him-from-investigation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made it clear</a> that he was not finished seeking answers from the nation&#8217;s top doc — and he said that retirement would not &#8220;protect&#8221; Fauci from investigation, should it come to that.
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) appears to be on the same page as Paul, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday that if Republicans take back either the House or the Senate in 2022, Fauci is likely to face some questions.
As Kennedy put it, Fauci was likely to spend &#8220;a lot of time in front of a congressional committee&#8221; unless he were to &#8220;seek asylum in some foreign country whose Powerball jackpot is 287 chickens and a goat.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Sen. John Kennedy says that if Republicans take back Congress, unless Fauci &quot;decides to seek asylum in some foreign country whose Powerball jackpot is 287 chickens and a goat,&quot; he will &quot;be spending a lot of time in front of a Congressional committee.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/E3RbOAA9mk">pic.twitter.com/E3RbOAA9mk</a>
&mdash; The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1561892359503286275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

Top Health Officials Testify Before Senate Hearing

Rand Paul Warns NIH Not To Destroy Documents Ahead Of Potential Fauci Grilling

Congress

Republicans

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) weighed in Monday on news that Dr. Anthony Fauci will step down from his government roles in December, promising that Fauci will still testify before Congress.
&#8220;Fauci’s resignation will not prevent a full-throated investigation into the origins of the pandemic,&#8221; Paul said in a Monday morning tweet of Fauci, with whom the senator has sparred during congressional hearings on multiple occasions. &#8220;He will be asked to testify under oath regarding any discussions he participated in concerning the lab leak.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Fauci’s resignation will not prevent a full-throated investigation into the origins of the pandemic. He will be asked to testify under oath regarding any discussions he participated in concerning the lab leak.
&mdash; Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1561751391332438020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fauci <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fauci-reveals-he-will-retire-this-year-pursue-next-chapter">announced on Monday</a> that he would be stepping down as President Joe Biden&#8217;s top medical adviser and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases later this year.
“I will be leaving these positions in December of this year to pursue the next chapter of my career,” said Fauci, who has drawn the ire of many Americans for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, his discussions of vaccines, lockdowns, and the origins of the pandemic.
Fauci emphasized that he is “not retiring,” promising to use his knowledge to “advance science and public health.”
“Over the coming months, I will continue to put my full effort, passion and commitment into my current responsibilities, as well as help prepare the Institute for a leadership transition,” he said. “NIH is served by some of the most talented scientists in the world, and I have no doubt that I am leaving this work in very capable hands.”
Fauci has previously reacted to Paul&#8217;s threats to investigate his handling of the pandemic by saying, &#8220;Go ahead.&#8221;
“My records are an open book,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/go-ahead-fauci-dares-rand-paul-to-make-good-on-threats-to-investigate-him">said on CNN in July</a>. &#8220;They are talking about things that are really bizarre, like crimes against democracy by shutting down the government. All I have ever done — and go back and look at everything I’ve ever done — was to recommend common sense, good, CDC-recommended public health policies that have saved millions of lives. If you wanna investigate me for that, go ahead.”
Paul has repeatedly promised to investigate, warning that &#8220;there will absolutely be consequences for the people who are flouting the law.&#8221;
“He just wants you to listen to his authority,” Paul <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/11/19/rand-paul-anthony-fauci-authoritarianism-consequences-covid-coronavirus/">said of Fauci</a> to The Daily Signal in November 2021. “He has the authority. He wants people to listen and not question him, but that’s sort of a recipe for authoritarianism, so I greatly object to him.”
During an early August <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-damning-capitol-hill-testimony-scientists-contradict-faucis-claim-that-nih-never-funded-gain-of-function-research">congressional hearing examining the origins of the coronavirus</a> pandemic and gain-of-function research, multiple scientist witnesses contradicted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/anthony-fauci">Fauci’s</a> claim that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) never funded gain-of-function research.
Paul said at the time that this contradiction was the most “damning” thing to come out of the hearing — the first hearing examining the role of gain-of-function research (a process in which researchers may stitch viruses together to make a “chimeric” virus for the purpose of studying a response).
“I was told directly to my face, and the quote is there from Dr. Fauci, they had never ever funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan,” Paul told The Daily Wire as he left the hearing, referring to <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/05/11/fauci-denies-funding-gain-of-function-wuhan-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fauci’s May 2021</a> assertion that “the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
“All three witnesses contradicted that,” Paul continued. “I think that’s a big deal because the first hearing we have had where scientists who actually look at this information [and], as informed as he is, completely disagree with him and say that the research was gain-of-function and the NIH paid for it.”

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Rand Paul: Fauci’s Resignation Won’t Protect Him From Investigation

Rand Paul: Fauci's Resignation Won't Stop Republican Investigations

Pandemic

WASHINGTON — During a congressional hearing examining the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and gain-of-function research, multiple scientist witnesses contradicted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/anthony-fauci">Dr. Anthony Fauci&#8217;s</a> claim that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) never funded gain of function research.
“The statements made on repeated occasions to the public, to the press and to policymakers by the NIAID director, Dr. Fauci, have been untruthful. I do not understand why those statements are being made because they are demonstrably false,” Rutgers University microbiologist Dr. Richard Ebright said Wednesday, responding to a question from Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/josh-hawley">Josh Hawley</a> (R-MO).
Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) said on Wednesday afternoon that this contradiction, backed by the other witnesses, was the most &#8220;damning&#8221; thing to come out of Wednesday&#8217;s hearing — the first hearing examining the role of gain-of-function research (a process in which researchers may stitch viruses together to make a “chimeric” virus for the purpose of studying a response).
&#8220;I was told directly to my face, and the quote is there from Dr. Fauci, they had never ever funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan,&#8221; Paul told The Daily Wire as he left the hearing, referring to <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/05/11/fauci-denies-funding-gain-of-function-wuhan-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fauci&#8217;s May 2021</a> assertion that “the NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_419350" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-419350" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-419350 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/08/GettyImages-1397749482-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />WASHINGTON, DC &#8211; MAY 17: Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci gestures as he waits for the beginning of a hearing before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies of Senate Appropriations Committee at Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill May 17, 2022 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;All three witnesses contradicted that,&#8221; Paul continued. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s a big deal because the first hearing we have had where scientists who actually look at this information [and], as informed as he is, completely disagree with him and say that the research was gain-of-function and the NIH paid for it.&#8221;
The witnesses at Wednesday&#8217;s hearing called for significantly greater oversight of gain-of-function research. Dr. Steven Quay, the founder of Seattle-based Atossa Therapeutics Inc., warned that &#8220;the work of this committee is critical to protecting the American people and, really, the world at large, from future manmade pandemics.&#8221;
Paul has previously called for Fauci to resign from his position for refusing to admit that the agency funded such risky research.
“Until you accept responsibility, we’re not going to get anywhere close to trying to prevent another lab leak of this dangerous sort of experiment,” the Kentucky Republican <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/11/04/rand-paul-demands-fauci-resign-gain-of-function/">told Fauci in November</a>. “You won’t admit that it’s dangerous, and for that lack of judgment, I think it’s time that you resign.”

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In ‘Damning’ Capitol Hill Testimony, Scientists Contradict Fauci’s Claim That NIH Never Funded Gain-Of-Function Research

Rand Paul Touts 'Damning' Statements From Scientists On Origins Of COVID

Coronavirus

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Chief Medical Advisor to the President, practically dared Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to make good on threats to investigate him if Republicans are able to take back the House and the Senate following November&#8217;s fast-approaching midterm elections.
Fauci, who appeared Tuesday morning on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;New Day,&#8221; insisted to anchor John Berman that all he had ever done was to help save millions of lives by putting forth common sense ideas that helped the government implement sound public health policies.
WATCH:
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Fauci to <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RandPaul</a>: &quot;All I have ever done, if you go back and look at everything I’ve ever done, was to recommend common-sense, good CDC-recommended public health policies that have saved millions of lives. If you want to investigate me for that, go ahead.” <a href="https://t.co/nKUMLQY4VU">pic.twitter.com/nKUMLQY4VU</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1551896366783385601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A Monday report published by The Hill indicated that Paul — who could become chairman of the Senate&#8217;s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee if Republicans win control of the Senate in November — was absolutely planning to get Fauci under oath and into the hot seat.
&#8220;One way or another, if we are in the majority, we will subpoena his records and he will testify in the Senate under oath,&#8221; Paul said.
Fauci told Berman he was not concerned, saying, &#8220;My records are an open book. They are talking about things that are really bizarre, John, like crimes against democracy by shutting down the government. All I have ever done — and go back and look at everything I’ve ever done — was to recommend common sense, good, CDC-recommended public health policies that have saved millions of lives. If you wanna investigate me for that, go ahead.&#8221;
The Kentucky Republican has already gone <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/cheap-politics-rand-paul-puts-fauci-on-blast-during-heated-senate-showdown/">toe to toe</a> with Fauci on a <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/a-catastrophic-epidemic-for-your-political-gain-fauci-comes-to-covid-hearing-with-opposition-research-on-rand-paul/">number of occasions</a>, challenging his initial resistance to any theories suggesting that the novel coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory — and his apparent attempts to actively discredit anyone who subscribed to such theories or promoted a different pandemic response than the one he believed was best.
&#8220;Dr. Fauci, the idea that a government official like yourself would claim unilaterally to represent science and that any criticism of you would be considered a criticism of science itself is quite dangerous,&#8221; Paul said during a January hearing, going on to suggest that Fauci — along with former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins — had conspired to publicly discredit scientists who were suggesting a <a href="https://gbdeclaration.org">different approach</a> to managing the pandemic — namely quarantining the sick and allowing those whose risk was lower to go about their business.
&#8220;In an email exchange with Dr. Collins, you conspire, and I quote here directly from the email, to ‘create a quick and devastating published takedown’ of three prominent epidemiologists from Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford.&#8221;

US-POLITICS-HEALTH-VIRUS-HEARING

‘Go Ahead’: Fauci Dares Rand Paul To Make Good On Threats To Investigate Him

Anthony Fauci Effectively Dares Rand Paul To Make Good On Threats To Investigate Him

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) admitted this week that he killed the nomination of a pro-life conservative federal judge because Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) failed to consult him, even though he supported the judge.
Paul said in a statement that he &#8220;supported&#8221; Chad Meredith&#8217;s nomination to the U.S. District Court vacancy in Kentucky&#8217;s Eastern District. Meredith, whose nomination was part of a deal that Republicans made with President Joe Biden, is a member of the Federalist Society, a group that studies and advocates for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.
&#8220;I think he would make a good judge,&#8221; Paul told USA Today. &#8220;Unfortunately, instead of communicating and lining up support for him, Senator McConnell chose to cut a secret deal with the White House that fell apart.&#8221;
Paul told Politico that McConnell was &#8220;to blame for tanking this because he tried to do [it] secretly.&#8221;
&#8220;We have no reason to be opposed to Chad Meredith, other than we want at least the courtesy of the &#8230; minority leader, thinking that he&#8217;s not so important that he doesn&#8217;t have to talk to his fellow state senator, that&#8217;s all we wanted,&#8221; Paul continued. &#8220;This was a secret deal by McConnell.&#8221;
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&quot;We have no reason to be opposed to Chad Meredith, other than we want at least the courtesy of the &#8230; minority leader, thinking that he&#39;s not so important that he doesn&#39;t have to talk to his fellow state senator, that&#39;s all we wanted.&quot;
&quot;This was a secret deal by McConnell&quot;
&mdash; Burgess Everett (@burgessev) <a href="https://twitter.com/burgessev/status/1549152321053007879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Last week, McConnell <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/us/politics/biden-mcconnell-judge-abortion.html">told</a> the New York Times that Paul&#8217;s opposition to the nomination was &#8220;utterly pointless.&#8221;
&#8220;The net result of this is it has prevented me from getting my kind of judge out of a liberal Democratic president,&#8221; he said.
An adviser for the minority leader commented that Paul was doing Democrats and the White House &#8220;a huge favor&#8221; by tanking Meredith&#8217;s nomination. &#8220;I suspect the White House is relieved; I suspect Dick Durbin is relieved; and I suspect that the political people in the Biden team are relieved that Rand Paul blew this up,&#8221; the McConnell adviser said, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/18/rand-paul-blames-mcconnell-tanking-biden-deal-judge/10086380002/">according</a> to USA Today. &#8220;He did them a huge favor.&#8221;
Between 2015 and 2019, Meredith was the chief deputy counsel for Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. He has been described as strongly pro-life.

Secretary Of State Blinken Testifies Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Rand Paul Reveals Why He Killed Nomination Of Conservative Federal Judge

Kentucky

Mitch McConnell

Washington D.C.

Democrat President Joe Biden announced a new $1.2 billion package of security and humanitarian aid for Ukraine in its ongoing effort to fight off Russia&#8217;s invasion.
Biden announced the new round of support after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
&#8220;This morning, I spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s brutal and ongoing war against Ukraine. I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression,&#8221; Biden said in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/15/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-support-for-ukraine-and-call-with-president-zelenskyy-of-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from the White House.
&#8220;I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas,&#8221; he added.
In addition to security assistance, the package includes $225 million in humanitarian help to those inside Ukraine.
&#8220;Today, I am also announcing an additional $225 million in humanitarian assistance to help people inside Ukraine, including by supplying safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and health care, food, shelter, and cash for families to purchase essential items,&#8221; Biden noted.
The announcement comes after leaders from nearly 50 nations, mostly NATO and European Union representatives, met at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday regarding efforts to support Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin led the event, <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3060541/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-conducts-press-briefing-bangkok-thailand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling it</a> &#8220;an important opportunity to gather our growing group of partners from around the world to ensure that we&#8217;re providing Ukraine what Ukraine needs right now.&#8221;
The new package also comes after Congress passed a $40 billion Ukraine aid package in May that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/19/politics/senate-vote-ukraine-aid-package/index.html">saw</a> 11 Republican senators oppose, noting the need to focus on issues at home.
“Spending $40 billion on Ukraine aid – more than three times what all of Europe has spent combined – is not in America’s interests. It neglects priorities at home (the border), allows Europe to freeload, short changes critical interests abroad and comes w/ no meaningful oversight,” Missouri  Republican Sen. Josh Hawley <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1526323885515448321">tweeted</a> at the time. “That’s not isolationism. That’s nationalism. It’s about prioritizing American security and American interests.”
Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty also slammed Biden during an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-senator-slams-biden-for-waging-war-on-the-economy-not-putting-americans-first" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> over the previous package.
“The best thing Biden administration could do is stop the war that he’s waged on American industry. That would lower prices overall. That would take the funding away from Putin’s war machine against Ukraine and make our economy better here. Biden will not do that, and he’s taken us in a bad direction,” he said.
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul took to Twitter to express his concerns regarding support for Ukraine.
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My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. Congress is trying yet again to ram through a spending bill – one that I doubt anyone has actually read – and there’s no oversight included into how the money is being spent.
&mdash; Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1524913117137870849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. Congress is trying yet again to ram through a spending bill – one that I doubt anyone has actually read – and there’s no oversight included into how the money is being spent,” Paul wrote.

Biden Announces Another Massive Aid Package To Ukraine

Biden Administration

Josh Hawley

Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) released a new plan on Monday to balance the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-debt">federal budget</a> within five years.
The national debt has surpassed $30 trillion — exceeding economic output by 143% and equating to nearly $243,000 in obligations per taxpayer, according to the <a href="https://www.usdebtclock.org/">U.S. Debt Clock</a>. In response, Paul released his “Six Penny Plan” — a five-year course that relies upon cutting six cents for every dollar of federal spending.
“We are now in a situation that a simple penny, two, three, or even a five pennies per-dollar reduction is insufficient to balance our budget. It requires six,” Paul said in a <a href="https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-introduces-six-penny-plan-balance-federal-budget-five-years">press release</a>. “We cannot keep ignoring this problem at the expense of taxpayers, and my budget will put our nation on track to solve this crisis that Congress created.”
The legislation would produce a $65.8 billion budget surplus by fiscal year 2027, according to <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/rand-paul-unveils-plan-slash-federal-spending-balance-budget">Fox Business</a>, which first obtained a copy of the report. The plan calls for cuts across all spending categories except for Social Security; although it does not lay out specifics, it would require members of Congress to deliberate within the framework. Rather than increasing taxes, the framework for federal spending would drop annually after the $5.9 trillion allotted for fiscal year 2023.
Largely because of federal stimulus packages responding to COVID-19 and the lockdown-induced recession, the budget deficit reached $3.1 trillion in 2020 and $2.8 trillion in 2021, <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYFSD">U.S. Office of Management and Budget</a> data reveal.
The press release from Paul’s office noted that if Congress had adopted the five-year spending freeze Paul proposed in 2011, the federal budget would be balanced this year. Despite repeatedly offering similar spending freeze and reduction plans, the debt has continued to grow.
“Congress’s refusal to accept the responsibility to act as good stewards of American taxpayer dollars has caused our bleak financial position,” the release said. “Americans everywhere are feeling the effects of historical high inflation and sustaining labor and supply chain issues. Short-term political gains of the past, are in fact causing us harm now. Not to our children and grandchildren off in the future, but to us here today.”
Paul — who carries a reputation as a budget hawk in Congress — annually releases a “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rand-pauls-2021-festivus-report-uncovers-52-billion-of-government-waste">Festivus Report</a>” that provides taxpayers with examples of wasteful government spending. The most recent edition includes $11.3 million to tell the people of Vietnam “to stop burning their trash” and more than $465,000 for Reed College to “create a token-based economy where pigeons are taught to gamble with slot machines.”
Much of the spending emerged from COVID-19 stimulus and foreign expenditures. Beyond $36 billion in wasted unemployment payments and $4.3 billion in bad loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, Congress spent $250 million to “build border walls in the Middle East and North Africa” and $179 million for the State Department to “fund green energy programs in Africa.”
More recently, Paul attempted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-cannot-save-ukraine-by-dooming-the-u-s-economy-rand-paul-blocks-immediate-vote-on-billion-dollar-ukraine-package">block</a> the $40 billion Ukraine spending package.
“Reserving the right to object, my oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation,” Paul said. “And no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America.”

Dr. Fauci Testifies Before Senate Committee On Federal Response To COVID-19

Inside Rand Paul’s Plan To Balance The Federal Budget In 5 Years

Rand Paul Unveils New Plan To Balance The Budget

Budget

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