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Hunter Biden indictment coming: The Morning Rundown Sept. 7, 2023

September 7, 2023
An indictment may be on its way for Hunter Biden, and Maui continues to recover from a devastating wildfire that hit nearly one month ago. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 7.

Special counsel to seek Hunter Biden in September

According to a court filing from special counsel David Weiss, federal prosecutors will seek an indictment for President Joe Biden’s son Hunter before Sept. 29. The indictment would be for a federal gun charge.

The filing comes six weeks after a tentative plea deal between the government and Hunter Biden’s attorneys over taxes and a firearms charge fell apart in court after a judge questioned its terms. The court filing also suggests Weiss could add new charges to the indictment, something Hunter Biden’s lawyers argued can’t happen.

Federal judge orders Texas to remove buoys from Rio Grande

A federal judge has ordered the state of Texas to remove its floating buoy barrier from the Rio Grande. The state has one week to do it.

The buoys have been controversial since their deployment. Texas argued it deters illegal crossings and prevents migrants from drowning crossing the river. The Justice Department sued for the barrier’s removal due to humanitarian and environmental concerns.

The judge ruled the implementation of a floating barrier is an act that should have required authorization from Congress. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) said the state will appeal the ruling.

Maui wildfire: One month later

Friday, Sept. 8 marks one month since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century took the lives of at least 115 people in Hawaii. Authorities are still looking for some of the hundreds still unaccounted for and lawsuits have piled up regarding who is liable.

About a dozen lawsuits blaming Hawaii Electric Company have been filed. The company serves 95% of the state’s electric customers. In one of the lawsuits, Maui County accused the utility of failing to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions.

After visiting a warehouse where Hawaii Electric houses its power poles and electrical equipment, lawyers for Lahaina residents and business owners told a court cable TV and telephone companies share responsibility. The lawyers accused the companies of overloading and destabilizing some of the poles.

According to the lawyers, the cables were attached in a way that put too much tension on the poles, causing them to lean and break in the winds. Formal investigations aimed at determining the official cause of the fire are ongoing.

As the lawsuits over the fire proceed, so do relief efforts for those affected. More than 1,000 FEMA personnel have been on the ground in Maui. The agency has given more than $19 million in assistance.

The American Red Cross has provided meals, mental health support and financial assistance to the nearly 6,000 people staying at hotels that are serving as temporary shelters. Last week, Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson announced a $10 million fund that makes direct payments to those unable to return to their homes.

Biden cancels oil, gas leases in Alaska wildlife refuge

The Biden administration has canceled the seven remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Department of the Interior also announced proposed rules aimed at providing stronger protections against new leasing and development in places that are designated as special areas for their wildlife, scenery, or other values.

The refuge is seen as sacred to a local indigenous tribe. Despite this, political leaders in Alaska have long pushed to allow oil and gas drilling, in part because of its economic impact on indigenous communities.

Earlier in 2023, the Biden administration approved the willow oil project in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. The project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day.

Mexico Supreme Court decriminalizes abortion

Mexico’s Supreme Court has decriminalized abortion across the country, throwing out all federal criminal penalties for abortion and ruling any laws prohibiting the procedure are unconstitutional. The ruling requires federal public health services in the country to carry out the procedure whenever it’s requested.

The decision follows a sweeping trend of abortion access expanding across Latin America. The trend is in opposition to what has happened in parts of the U.S. following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Hurricane Lee forms in Atlantic; projected to strengthen

A new hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean one week since Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida. While the projected path of Hurricane Lee is not a direct threat to the U.S., the East Coast is expected to experience gusty winds and rough waters from the storm.

Meteorologists have described Hurricane Lee as a “monster” as it heads toward the Carribean. Winds are projected to reach up to Category 4 or 5 strength by the weekend.
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Judge to rule on Texas river buoy barrier as governors visit border

August 22, 2023
A hearing was set for Tuesday, Aug. 22 where a judge will consider whether Texas can keep the floating buoy barrier it constructed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. The Justice Department sued Texas over the barrier, arguing it could impact relations with Mexico.

Both the department and Mexico have expressed concern the buoys could pose humanitarian and environmental risks. It wasn’t clear if U.S. District Judge David Ezra was going to rule on the barrier Tuesday.

The hearing was set to take place just days after Texas repositioned the river buoy barrier closer to the U.S. side of the river. On Monday, Aug. 21, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) said the barrier was moved “out of an abundance of caution” after allegations that the buoys had drifted to the Mexico side.

“I don’t know whether they were true or not,” Gov. Abbott said. His comments Monday came during a visit to Eagle Pass, where he was joined by the following governors:
- Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA)
- Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE)
- Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK)
- Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD)
“We have 14 Governors who are deploying personnel to secure the border that President Biden has abandoned. President Biden is not doing his job, and he is responsible for the largest amount of illegal immigration in the history of the United States and has rolled out a deadly welcome mat with a record number of people dying attempting to cross the border,” Abbott said. “There is a reason the United Nations has named the border between the United States and Mexico the deadliest land border in the entire world. President Biden is responsible for that deadly border, and we’re not going to stand idly by.”

Abbott’s mission to combat the border crisis, known as Operation Lone Star, has faced legal challenges. Four migrant men who were arrested by Texas troopers after crossing the border have sued county officials in the state.

According to the lawsuit, the men remained in a Texas jail for two to six weeks after they should have been released. The lawsuit alleges that instead of being released, the men were transported to federal immigration facilities and sent back to Mexico.
Trump to surrender in Georgia Thursday: The Rundown Aug. 22, 2023

August 22, 2023
Former President Donald Trump said he plans to surrender to authorities in Georgia, and it’s the end of an era for an iconic plumber. These stories and more highlight The Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Trump to surrender to authorities in Georgia

Former President Trump planned to surrender to authorities on Thursday, Aug. 24 in connection to an indictment in Georgia on charges he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state. Trump confirmed as much on his social media platform on Monday, Aug. 21.

“Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be arrested,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Hours before that post, Trump’s bond was set at $200,000. According to the bond agreement between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Trump’s attorneys and the judge, the former president is barred from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case.

Willis had given Trump and 18 other co-defendants until Friday, Aug. 25 to turn themselves in. Trump’s former personal lawyer John Eastman has agreed to surrender on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Trump will surrender at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia a day after the first Republican primary debate. He has already said he will not be taking part in the debate. Multiple news outlets have reported a prerecorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson will be made available at the same time.

Biden visits Maui two weeks after wildfires ravaged island

President Joe Biden visited the island of Maui Monday to survey the devastation left behind by massive wildfires earlier in August. President Biden met with survivors, reassuring them federal resources were there to stay as long as recovery efforts take.

On top of mind on the island are the more than 800 people still considered missing. One hundred fifteen people have been found dead.

Officials said there are still weeks of searching to go as crews slowly clear a five-mile disaster zone left in the wake of the historic wildfire. Biden offered his condolences to the community and recognized their strength shown in the process so far.

“Many of you have lost more than just that. Many of you have lost family. Not even sure where some are,” Biden said. “You know, I’ve been impressed how you look out for one another, you turn your pain into purpose. This town has stood as a sacred spot for centuries.”

Judge considers legality of Texas buoy barriers

A federal judge in Texas will consider whether the state has legal grounding to keep its buoy barrier afloat in the Rio Grande River. The border security tactic has been controversial ever since it was implemented in July of 2023.

The Biden administration and Mexico have both pushed for Texas to remove the buoys, citing safety concerns. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) argued the state first deployed the buoy barriers because of safety concerns.

“Just last month here in the Eagle Pass area, there was an infant who drowned crossing the border,” Gov. Abbott said on Aug. 21. “That was before we put the buoys up, a little infant drowned and not a peep out of Washington, D.C.”

The state of Texas has moved its buoys closer to the United States side of the river to appease a request from Mexico. However, Abbott has stood firm the state is within its legal rights to have the buoys deployed.

Abbott was joined by other Republican governors from Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota at the border on Aug. 21. Each of those states have sent their own law enforcement and national guard members to the border to help secure it.

Japan to release treated radioactive water into Pacific Ocean

Starting Wednesday, Japan plans to release treated radioactive wastewater from its Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move comes amid criticism from some countries like China and support from others like the U.S.

The plan, in the works for years, came to be after the nuclear plant was damaged during a 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan had to pump more water into the plant to cool down fuel rods in the reactor. Because of this, space has been limited.

Japan has said the water release is safe. The water will be filtered to remove most radioactive elements except for tritium.

According to Japan, the water will be diluted to well below internationally approved levels. However, some scientists believe the wastewater could still harm marine life.

American Airlines pilots ratify contract that includes pay raises

Pilots at American Airlines followed in the steps of their colleagues at United Airlines and Delta Air Lines by approving a new contract that will see their pay rise. The Allied Pilots Association said the four-year contract will see a 46% overall rise in the value of total compensation.

The contract includes $1.1 billion in one-time payments and ratification bonuses, immediate pay raises averaging 21%, annual raises and increased company contribution to retirement plans. In addition, the pilots will get more vacation benefits and more predictable schedules.

American has approximately 15,000 pilots. The union said 73% of pilots who took part voted in favor of the contract.

Original voice of Nintendo’s Mario steps down

The original voice of Nintendo’s beloved character Mario will step down. Charles Martinet has been voicing the adventurous plumber in Nintendo games since the 1990s.

The company said Martinet will now be serving in the role of “Mario Ambassador,” traveling the world to promote all things Mario. Nintendo has not said who will be replacing Martinet.

Earlier in August, the company reported a 52% increase in net profits. The rise was in part due to the success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which has grossed $1.3 billion.
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Body found along Texas floating buoys, Mexican officials say

August 3, 2023
The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported a body had been found along the floating buoys that were recently installed by the state of Texas in the Rio Grande. The department said authorities were trying to recover the body, whose nationality and cause of death was not known as of Thursday morning, Aug. 3.

“We will continue to promptly follow up on the case through the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass, maintaining contact with the corresponding authorities in Mexico and the United States to obtain more information about what happened and request that the necessary investigations be carried out,” the ministry said in a Wednesday, Aug. 2 statement.

The discovery of the body comes just weeks after the Texas officials installed the floating buoys. Roughly the length of three soccer fields, the buoys are designed to make it more difficult for migrants to climb over or swim under the barrier. The Mexican government stated its opposition to the buoys Wednesday.

“We reiterate the position of the Government of Mexico that the placement of barbed wire buoys by the Texas authorities is a violation of our sovereignty,” the ministry said. “We express our concern about the impact on the human rights and personal security of migrants that these state policies will have, which go in the opposite direction to the close collaboration between our country and the federal government of the United States.”

The Biden administration appears to agree. The Justice Department sued Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, asking a court to force Texas to remove the buoys due to humanitarian and environmental concerns.

Buoys or not, the Rio Grande has proven to be treacherous for migrants trying to cross it. Over the Fourth of July weekend, before the buoys were installed, four people drowned in the river near Eagle Pass.
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Trump to make court appearance on 2020 charges: The Rundown August 3

August 3, 2023

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to make his first court appearance related to the latest federal charges he faces, and a famous YouTuber files a lawsuit over hamburgers. These stories and more highlight The Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.

Trump to make first court appearance in D.C.

Former President Trump will appear in a Washington federal court on Aug. 3. He faces four felony charges and is accused of using “dishonesty, fraud and deceit” in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

The former president is expected to fly into Washington and arrive at the heavily guarded courthouse just a couple blocks away from the Capitol. Security has been increased for the courthouse and for the judges assigned to the case.

The four charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts related to obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to violate rights. During Trump’s appearance in district court, a magistrate judge is expected to set a schedule for discovery and pre-trial motions.

Trump’s defense attorney John Lauro said this latest indictment is an attempt to censor and criminalize free speech. Trump is expected to plead not guilty.

Body discovered near Texas’ floating barrier

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a body was found in the border buoys that Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) had installed in the Rio Grande River. Law enforcement was working to recover the body.

The person’s cause of death and nationality were not known as of the morning of Aug 3. An investigation is ongoing.

The buoys are part of Gov. Abbott’s multi-billion-dollar effort to secure his state’s southern border. Abbott says the buoys are designed to deter people from crossing in between ports of entry. As per their legality, Abbott has argued Texas’ constitutional right to defend its border supersedes any other statutes.

Mexico has sent two diplomatic notes to the U.S. stating the buoys violate sovereignty. The country also expressed safety and humanitarian concerns.

The discovery of the body comes after it was reported that the Pentagon was planning to pull 1,100 troops from the U.S-Mexico border later in August.

China encourages its citizens to spy on each other

China’s Ministry of State Security said the country should establish a system that makes it “normal” for regular people to participate in counter-espionage. They even want to create a channel for people to report suspicious activity and give them a reward.

The U.S State Department said it is closely monitoring the implementation of China’s new counter-espionage law. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the law greatly expands the scope of activities that are considered espionage.

“We do have concerns over it, certainly encouraging citizens to spy on each other is something that’s of great concern,” Miller said at his daily briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

China’s expansion of its counter-espionage law took effect in July 2023. It bans the transfer of information that’s considered to be related to national security. China has arrested dozens of Chinese and foreign nationals on suspicion of espionage in recent years.

China looks to limit phone usage for kids

China has announced its newest measure to curb the threat of internet addiction in children. On Wednesday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said all children should be limited to a maximum of two hours a day on their smartphones, with children under the age of 8 limited to just eight minutes a day.

The CAC also wanted providers of smart devices to introduce what they call “minor mode programs” that would ban young users from accessing the internet on their phones from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Investors were not happy with this news. Shares for Chinese tech firms were sent tumbling after the announcement.

Mr. Beast suing company over quality of burgers

Social media superstar Jimmy Donaldson is known by his 172 million YouTube subscribers as MrBeast. The influencer has made a reputation for making viral videos, a reputation he said is being damaged by a ghost kitchen company he partnered with.

Donaldson sued Virtual Dining Concepts over what he alleges to be subpar quality of burgers the business created in a deal with the YouTuber.
According to court documents, Donaldson teamed with Virtual Dining to launch MrBeast Burger in 2020. 1,000 ghost kitchen locations were created the following year.

The complaint said Virtual Dining Concept was more interested in expanding the business in order to attract other celebrities to the virtual restaurant model than focusing on the quality of the burgers. Virtual Dining Concept has dismissed the allegations, calling the lawsuit “riddled with false statements and inaccuracies.”

Zuckerberg builds octagon for possible fight

While the agreed-upon charity cage match between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk was first believed to be a joke, it’s looking more and more serious as time goes on. Zuckerberg posted a screen grab of a WhatsApp conservation with his wife on his Instagram page.

The Meta CEO asked if she saw the octagon he put in the backyard. She said “yes” and added “I’ve been working on that grass for two years.”

He asked people to vote on whether he should keep the octagon or save the grass. So far, 62% have voted to keep the octagon.

There has been no photo evidence yet to prove the octagon actually is there or if it was just a joke between the couple. While there is still no guarantee the fight between the billionaires will take place, reports indicate they have been actively talking about how to make it happen.
Pentagon to pull 1,100 troops from border as illegal crossings rise

August 2, 2023
The Pentagon plans to pull 1,100 active duty troops from the U.S.-Mexico border in August, just a month after the border saw a 30% increase in illegal crossings. The plans were confirmed by a defense official on the condition of anonymity to discuss details ahead of an announcement.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the 90-day deployment of 1,500 active duty troops to the border back in May. At the time, illegal border crossings were swiftly escalating as the Biden administration ended Title 42.

The 90-day time period is up on Tuesday, Aug. 8. According to the Pentagon official, 400 of the 1,500 troops will stay at the border through at least the end of August to help with illegal crossings.

In the days leading up to the end of Title 42, border agents were encountering 10,000 migrants a day. At one point, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had 27,000 migrants in custody.

Immediately after Title 42 expired, the numbers dropped sharply to about 5,000 encounters a day. While agency data shows illegal crossing numbers have stayed low, new numbers show they may be on the rise.

According to preliminary CBP data obtained by The Washington Post, illegal crossings jumped more than 30% in July compared to June. U.S. agents made more than 130,000 arrests in July, up from 99,545 in June.

According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left, despite the data being shared by the left-leaning Washington Post. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning outlets are covering this story, fewer left-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.

Despite the rise in July, CBP spokesperson Erin Waters said illegal crossings remain lower than the levels recorded in the months before the ending of Title 42.

“Unlawful border crossings have gone down since our border enforcement plan went into effect and remain well below the levels seen while Title 42 was in effect,” Waters said in a statement. “We remain vigilant and expect to see fluctuations, knowing that smugglers continue to use disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals.”

The troop withdrawal comes amid an ongoing legal battle over a buoy border wall Texas installed across the Rio Grande River. Last week, the Justice Department announced it has sued Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, saying the buoys present a humanitarian and environmental concern.

Straight Arrow News strives to provide unbiased, fact-based news in addition to offering a comprehensive look at how the media is covering stories that matter most. Learn more about the Media Miss™ tool and decide for yourself.
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Trump faces federal charges over 2020 election: The Rundown August 2

August 2, 2023
Former President Donald Trump faces new federal charges, and a major pharmacy chain lets go thousands of its employees amid a company restructuring. These stories and more highlight The Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

Former President Trump faces new federal charges

Special Counsel Jack Smith announced new federal charges against Trump on Tuesday, Aug 1. The former president was indicted for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This is the third time in four months Trump has been criminally charged.

The four-count, 45-page indictment charges Trump in three criminal conspiracies. The first accuses him of a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. using “dishonesty, fraud and deceit.”

Trump was also accused of attempting to obstruct the election’s official proceeding, specifically with the counting of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021. The third conspiracy regarded disenfranchising voters.

Prosecutors said Trump pressured state and federal officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, to alter election results. Trump is currently the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 presidential election. His team issued a response to the latest charges on Truth Social.

“The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes,” the statement read. “These un-American witch hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected to the White House so he can save our country from the abuse, incompetence, and corruption that is running through the veins of our country at levels never seen before.”

The former president is due in federal court in Washington on Thursday.

Media outlets report on likely co-conspirators

The federal indictment also included six unnamed co-conspirators who have not been charged. They are accused of helping Trump in the alleged crimes.

Numerous media outlets have reported on who these six people likely are based on the descriptions in the indictment. The media outlets include Reuters, ABC News, CNN, The New York Times, The Hill, and The Wall Street Journal. According to reports, the descriptions in the documents indicate the co-conspirators include:
- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
- Trump lawyer John Eastman
- Trump lawyer Sidney Powell
- Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro,
- Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark
These outlets say the identity of the sixth person is unclear. This person is described in the indictment as “a political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.”

Fitch downgrades U.S. over debt concerns
DOJ threatens to sue Texas over floating buoys in the Rio Grande

July 24, 2023
The Justice Department (DOJ) announced it plans to sue the state of Texas over the floating buoys the state placed in the Rio Grande earlier in July. The buoys are intended to obstruct the path of illegal migrants from easily entering the country from the southern border.

“We write to inform you…that the United States intends to file [a] legal action in relation to the State of Texas’s unlawful construction of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River,” Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza wrote in a Thursday letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, and Interim Texas Attorney General Angela Colmenero. “The State of Texas’s actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal government’s ability to carry out its official duties.”

Specifically, the department said Texas’ placement of buoys in the Rio Grande may violate the Rivers and Harbors Act. In the letter, the DOJ wrote that if Texas fails to “expeditiously remove” the buoys by 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 24, “the United States intends to file legal action.”

The buoy barrier is roughly 1,000 feet in length, situated near the border town of Eagle Pass. It’s the latest effort in Gov. Abbot’s plan to stop the flow of illegal migration through an initiative known as Operation Lone Star.

“The tragic humanitarian crisis on the border was created because of Biden’s refusal to secure the border. His open border policies encourage migrants to risk their lives crossing illegally through the Rio Grande, instead of safely and legally over a bridge,” Abbott said in a Twitter thread on Friday, July 21. “Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution. We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.”
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