“Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense,” Comer and Jordan wrote.
Hunter Biden defied the subpoena, telling reporters outside the U.S. Capitol that day that he would answer any relevant questions lawmakers had about his foreign business dealings in an open-door setting. Following Hunter Biden’s comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the president was “familiar with” what Hunter would say in his statement; Comer and Jordan said that comment sparked their probe.
“In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two Congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,” Jordan and Comer wrote.
House Republicans have given the White House until Jan. 10 to turn over any documents related to the inquiry. The investigation into Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings has been ongoing for nearly a year. Republicans allege that President Biden benefitted financially from his sons’ foreign affairs and accepted bribes, but Republicans have yet to produce any evidence to back that claim or to prove any wrongdoing by the president.
Colorado GOP appeals ruling barring Trump from 2024 ballot: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 28, 2023
The Colorado Republican Party is appealing the ruling by the state’s high court that bans former President Trump from running again. And Apple is restocking its shelves after an import ban on its watches is temporarily blocked. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.
Colorado Republican Party appeals ruling barring Trump from ballot
The Colorado Republican Party has appealed the state’s Supreme Court ruling that found former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run again due to the Constitution’s “insurrection clause.” In its 4-3 ruling last week, the Colorado Supreme Court determined that based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bans insurrectionists from holding office, Trump is barred from running for president because of his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
For the first time in American history, a former president has been disqualified from the ballot…
“For the first time in American history, a former president has been disqualified from the ballot, a political party has been denied the opportunity to put forward the presidential candidate of its choice, and the voters have been denied the ability to choose their chief executive through the electoral process,” party attorneys wrote in the filing.
Colorado’s Supreme Court had overturned a ruling from a district court judge who found that Trump incited an insurrection but could not be barred from the ballot because it was not clear if Section 3 covered the presidency. The Colorado Supreme Court put its ruling on hold until Jan. 4 to give time for an appeal. The former president said he also plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a similar case, Michigan’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, Dec. 27, that Trump could remain on the state’s ballot, with one judge saying Colorado’s election laws differ from Michigan’s.
House Republicans seek White House documents over Hunter Biden
House Republicans have requested that the White House turn over any documents related to President Biden’s alleged knowledge of his son Hunter Biden’s refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee in December. Republicans Jim Jordan and James Comer sent a letter to the White House looking for any correspondence regarding Hunter Biden’s scheduled deposition with the House Oversight Committee on Dec. 13.
…we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress…
Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio
Hunter Biden defied the subpoena, telling reporters outside the U.S. Capitol that day that he would answer any relevant questions lawmakers had about his foreign business dealings in an open-door setting. Following Hunter Biden’s comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the president was “familiar with” what Hunter would say in his statement; Comer and Jordan said that comment sparked their probe.
“In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two Congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,” Jordan and Comer wrote.
House Republicans have given the White House until Jan. 10 to turn over any documents related to the inquiry.
New York City mayor issues executive order for migrant charter buses
“We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night. This not only prevents us from providing assistance in an orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered so much in danger,” Adams said. “To be clear, this is not stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants and making sure they can arrive in a coordinated and orderly way.”
The U.S. is seeing a surge in illegal crossings at its southern border, with illegal crossings topping 10,000 some days.
Adams was joined in a virtual news conference by the Democratic mayors of Chicago and Denver, who are all pressing the federal government for more aid for the asylum seekers arriving in their cities.
Former U.S. Senator, Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl dies at 88
Herb Kohl, the former Democratic U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, died on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the age of 88 after a brief illness, his foundation announced. In the 1970s, Kohl served as president of his family’s chain of supermarkets and department stores until the family sold their interest in 1979, which gave him time to fund his other passions outside of the business.
Starting in 1989, Kohl served 24 years in the U.S. Senate. He chaired the Senate Aging Committee and was a supporter of public education. Kohl purchased the Bucks in 1985 for $18 million, ensuring the team would not leave his hometown. In 2014, he sold the team while contributing $100 million toward the construction of a new arena. In 2021, the Bucks won the NBA championship; Kohl called it “one of the big days” of his life.
Apple restarts watch sales as court blocks import ban
Apple is bringing back its latest watches to its store shelves after a federal appeals court has temporarily blocked an import ban by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
“We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year,” Apple said in a statement. “Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting [Wednesday] and from apple.com [Thursday] by 12 pm PT.”
Beginning Thursday, Dec. 28, all watches will be available online and in stores, a major victory for the tech giant in one of its most profitable times of the year. Still, Apple is not out of the woods, as the ongoing patent dispute with medical device company Masimo makes its way through the courts.
Masimo sued Apple in 2020 over patent infringement, claiming the tech company stole its blood-oxygen reading technology for its watches. Massimo has not commented on the latest decision, according to media reports.
Times Square restaurants, hotels offering NYE experiences
Those of you heading to Times Square to ring in the new year won’t have to spend a dime to see the ball drop from the street. But if you want to experience it from a nearby hotel or restaurant, that’s a different story.
Thinking of spending the night at the Olive Garden’s Times Square location? That will cost you $450 per person. The party atmosphere includes a buffet, open bar, and dancing, but a live view of the ball drop is not guaranteed. At Applebee’s, tickets start at $799 for its event, which includes similar accommodations plus a guided stroll to the street to celebrate the ball drop at midnight.
Bubba Gump Shrimp is also hosting a New Year’s party with a buffet, dessert stations, and party favors for a price of $1,015 per ticket.
If a hotel is more your speed, the Marriott Marquis is hosting a formal wear gala complete with a 5-hour buffet and floor-to-ceiling windows, and guests are given an unobstructed view of Times Square. The prime VIP package for two costs $12,500 to celebrate 2024 in style.
House Republicans formally authorize Biden impeachment inquiry: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 14, 2023
House Republicans have formalized their impeachment inquiry into President Biden. And, Meta’s latest attempt at fact checking social media posts is facing criticism. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 14.
House Republicans vote to authorize impeachment inquiry into President Biden
House Republicans called for Wednesday’s, Dec. 13, vote after the White House challenged subpoenas sent by the committees, calling them illegitimate without a formal House vote to authorize the investigation. Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said voting in favor of the resolution does not mean the president will be impeached.
“We’re not going to prejudge the outcome of this,” Johnson said. “We can’t because, again, it’s not a political calculation. We’re following the law and we are the rule of law team. And I’m going to hold to that as my commitment.”
Hours before the vote, the president’s son, Hunter Biden, defied a subpoena for a closed-door deposition. Instead, he spoke to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol, where he repeated his offer to testify in a public hearing while criticizing the House GOP and defending his father.
“Let me state as clearly as I can,” Hunter Biden said, “my father was not financially involved in any of my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said he plans to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress. Straight Arrow News’ political correspondent Ray Bogan has a full report on Hunter Biden’s comments here.
Senate passes $886 billion defense with pay raise for troops
The bill also establishes a new training program in Taiwan, and it includes the creation of a special inspector general for Ukraine to address concerns on whether American dollars are being spent as intended.
The bill does keep in place the Pentagon’s rule that allows for travel reimbursement for service members going out of state for an abortion, a policy that House Republicans were looking to remove. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13. Now, the bill heads to the House.
Jake Sullivan heads to Israel to meet with Netanyahu
According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, over the next two days, Sullivan will discuss with Israeli officials “efforts to be more surgical and more precise” in their strikes in Gaza “to reduce harm to civilians.”
Sullivan is also expected to discuss the return of hostages taken by Hamas. Eight Americans are among the more than 100 hostages still being held by the terrorist group in Gaza. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, President Biden met with the families of the American hostages. Kirby said the president was “moved by their stories, by the love they feel, by the hope that they still harbor.”
Biden promised the family members they would be kept informed every step of the way as the U.S. works to get their loved ones home.
Judge orders a pause in Trump’s election interference case
Special Counsel Jack Smith argued against an all-out pause trying to keep the case on track for a March 4 trial. The order handed down by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan could delay the start of the trial and is now at the mercy of the appeal process timeline.
After the ruling, the appeals court set deadlines for briefs to be filed in the next couple of weeks in an effort to expedite the process. Still, prosecutors worry the case could be paused for some time, including until after the next presidential election.
Trump’s legal team called the decision a “a big win for President Trump and our rule of law” and accused Special Counsel Jack Smith of using the trial as a strategic way to interfere in the 2024 presidential election in support of President Joe Biden.
Trump has been brought on federal charges for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty.
Meta fact-checking feature sparking censorship concerns
A new fact-checking feature that Meta quietly launched on Instagram has raised concerns over censorship. A meta spokesperson said the company is allowing users to control the algorithm, adding that the feature allows users to customize whether they see more or less fact-checked content in their feed.
The spokesperson also said that the feature has been rolled out after listening to what users want, “a greater ability to decide what they see on our apps.”
Still, the feature is facing criticism. In the last few days, some pro-Palestinian accounts have criticized the function and said that Instagram is trying to censor their content. The fact-checking feature was launched on Facebook in May, but it is unclear when it was set in motion on Instagram, though a Meta blog post about the feature was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
FCC approves proposal to ban cable early termination fees
For cable subscribers thinking of cutting the cord, the Federal Communications Commission just approved a proposal to eliminate early termination fees. The FCC on Wednesday, Dec. 14, voted 3-2 on partisan lines to ban cable and satellite companies from charging what the agency’s chairwoman described as “junk fees.”
According to findings by consumer reports in 2019, cable companies could make an estimated $28 billion a year on fees. The FCC will now solicit public feedback on its proposal before taking a final vote on the rules.
Hunter Biden defies subpoena hours before impeachment inquiry vote
Hunter Biden appeared at the Capitol building Wednesday, Dec. 13, just as he was supposed to appear for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee. However, the president’s son did not appear for the transcribed interview, and he instead defied the subpoena and made a six-minute statement to the press before leaving.
“I’m here today to answer at a public hearing any legitimate questions Chairman Comer and the House Oversight Committee may have for me,” Biden said. “I’m here today to make sure that the House committee’s illegitimate investigations of my family do not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence and lies.”
Biden appeared in what’s called the “Senate swamp.” Had he stepped foot on the side of the building controlled by the House, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., could have ordered the House sergeant-at-arms to arrest Biden for defying the subpoena. However, on the Senate’s side of the building, a House member has no power to do that.
Biden said he is willing to appear for a public hearing, which Democrats support.
“Chairman Jordan and Chairman Comer would not take yes for an answer,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said. “Why? Because they wanted to conduct the deposition in a closed-door interview so the public couldn’t see it and so they could continue to cherry pick little pieces of evidence and distort what had taken place there. President Biden has done nothing wrong.”
Republicans contend that the deposition must take place in a closed setting to ask hundreds of questions in succession. This is challenging in a segmented hearing, where five-minute sections are evenly distributed between Democrats and Republicans. Once members have had a chance to question Biden, they said he can then appear publicly.
House Republicans also jumped on a statement from Hunter Biden.
“Let me state as clearly as I can — my father was not financially involved in my business,” Biden said.
Republicans said that statement does not align with statements that he and his father made in the past, raising even more questions.
“Which sort of means — he’s involved,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said. “I think that’s how anyone with common sense would read it. He’s been involved, just not financially. That is a huge departure from everything they have said now for the last three-and-a-half years.”
Biden’s Capitol appearance could potentially sway undecided Republicans toward supporting the formal initiation of an impeachment inquiry.
Some Republicans in swing districts and congressional districts that Joe Biden won in 2020 did not support the inquiry at first, but they have since started changing, saying that the White House is not cooperating with the investigation. Voting to formally authorize the inquiry would make it easier for them to enforce subpoenas in court.
Biden impeachment inquiry vote expected during busy week for House
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has a big week coming up. From a meeting with a foreign president to a vote on an impeachment inquiry, Johnson will be facing some of the biggest issues both home and abroad.
Biden impeachment inquiry
First and foremost, Johnson is expected to hold a vote on formally authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., unilaterally opened an impeachment inquiry into Biden in September, but the White House contends it does not have to comply with subpoenas related to the investigation because it has not been authorized with a majority vote.
Republican leadership believes the public supports an inquiry. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., cited an AP poll that found 35% of U.S. adults believe President Biden did something illegal. Of the respondents, 33% said they think he behaved unethically, but not illegally, and 30% said he did nothing wrong.
“That’s a message the American people are sending to Congress — we want you to find out the truth. And right now this administration’s obstructing us,” Comer said.
If Republicans vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry, they believe it will strengthen their hand if they go to court to enforce a subpoena. They want to obtain emails that Biden sent using a pseudonym during his years as vice president. Republicans believe it will provide insight into possible corruption surrounding Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings.
However, for the vote to pass, all 221 House Republicans will need to be on board because Democrats are united in their opposition.
“Impeachment is an extraordinary constitutional remedy that is reserved for high crimes and misdemeanors, grave offenses against the public order,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the Oversight Committee’s highest-ranking Democrat. “And they obviously don’t have that for Joe Biden but they want to trivialize it so Donald Trump can say, oh well he’s been impeached twice but there’s also an impeachment investigation going on during the campaign against Joe Biden.”
Meeting with Ukraine’s president
Tuesday, Dec. 12, Johnson is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy traveled to Washington as Congress tries to make a deal on a supplemental funding package that will provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and extra security at the southern border.
Zelenskyy wants to tell lawmakers in person why Ukraine urgently needs more funding for its war effort against Russia.
The White House said if Congress doesn’t approve more aid, the U.S. will run out of money for Ukraine by the end of the year. However, Republicans are insisting on making immigration reform part of the bill.
National Defense Authorization Act
Finally, Johnson needs to secure approval for the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill, which provides funding for the entire military, is one of the few bipartisan things Congress does every year.
That bipartisanship is expected to continue this year, but some Republicans said they will vote against it because they aren’t happy that Johnson is also including a temporary extension of the FISA program known as Section 702, which allows the FBI to spy on foreigners overseas without a warrant. Lawmakers are concerned the program is abused and they don’t want to fully reauthorize it without reforms.
Billions in COVID fraud helped one man buy a private island
Dubbed the greatest grift in U.S. history, the exploitation of billions of dollars in federal funds earmarked for COVID relief dominated the news cycle as the pandemic dust settled. Thousands of people have since been charged with fraud related to COVID relief funding.
One of those charged, Patrick Walsh, who is serving five and a half years in federal prison, used some of the relief money to buy a private island in Florida, Sweetheart Island.
An Associated Press analysis estimates that nearly 10% of $4.3 trillion the federal government set aside for COVID aid was stolen or wasted.
After spending trillions under the name of COVID with no guardrails, billions of taxpayer dollars were lost to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.
Republicans will identify where this money went and how much ended up in the hands of fraudsters.
“We owe it to the American people to get to the bottom of the greatest theft of American taxpayer dollars in history,” Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said.
Earlier this year, Walsh pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with COVID relief after court documents show he submitted 16 fraudulent applications to multiple federally insured financial institutions for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between April 2020 and January 2021.
However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting millions of dollars in emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale.
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody
Prosecutors said Walsh fraudulently banked nearly $8 million in COVID relief. Walsh’s private island may be one of the more lavish purchases made with stolen relief funds; federal prosecutors said a Massachusetts business owner purchased an Alpaca farm using stolen relief funding.
Walsh is just one on a long list of diverse fraudsters now paying for their actions.
Even a former Nigerian state official joined in the rampant fraud; federal prosecutors said the Nigerian resident stole $500,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits. In September of 2022, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
But the reality is, according to legal experts, the criminal justice system is not equipped to catch all of the widespread fraud that occurred while COVID relief funds were dispersed.
Biden, Trump families in spotlight as Ivanka testifies, Hunter subpoenaed
Based on polling numbers, as of Thursday, Nov. 9, the 2024 presidential election looks like it would be a rematch of 2020 between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. However, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the focus was not on them but their family members.
The New York attorney general has accused Trump, his adult sons, and his organization of inflating his net worth on financial statements to banks and insurers in order to gain more favorable loans.
Ivanka told prosecutors she was not privy to her father’s personal financial statements.
When asked specifically by the state lawyer if she had any role in preparing Donald Trump’s statements of financial condition, Ivanka replied, “Not that I’m aware of.”
Following Ivanka’s five-hour testimony, the New York attorney general rested her case. The defense is expected to begin theirs on Monday, Nov. 13.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee investigating President Biden and his connection to his family’s foreign business dealings subpoenaed Hunter and James Biden, the president’s son and brother, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, marking the first time that members of the Biden family have been subpoenaed since the impeachment inquiry was opened in September.
A representative for Hunter Biden responded, calling it a “political stunt,” but said, “Hunter is eager to have the opportunity, in a public forum, at the right time, to discuss these matters with the committee.”
Media Miss: Left-leaning news outlets didn’t cover $40k payment to Joe Biden
The House Oversight Committee said President Biden received $40,000 in laundered money from China in 2017. Committee members contend that this personal check from Biden’s brother and sister-in-law is proof.
According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning outlets are covering this story, no left-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.
The payment “allegedly involves the same business deal in which Joe Biden was called the ‘big guy’ and penciled in for a 10% cut — and would be the first proven instance of the commander-in-chief getting a piece of his family’s foreign income.”
“The committee says the series of payments establish a direct benefit Biden received from his family’s business dealings, despite Biden’s claims that he has not been involved.”
Here’s how the committee says it traced the money:
On July 30, 2017, Hunter Biden sent a WhatsApp message to Raymond Zhao — an associate of the Chinese company CEFC — regarding a $10 million capital payment. The message stated: “Z – Please have the director call me – not James or Tony or Jim – have him call me tonight. I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.”
On Aug. 8, 2017, a Chinese company affiliated with CEFC transferred $5 million into a business bank account Hunter Biden had opened. The committee said that wire transfer was the only money in the account.
Hunter Biden transferred $400,000 to his professional corporation that same day.
On Aug. 14, 2017, Hunter Biden transferred $150,000 from his corporation to the Lion Hall Group, a company used by the president’s brother and sister-in-law to conduct various financial transactions.
On Aug. 28, 2017 Sara Biden, the president’s sister-in-law, withdrew $50,000 from the Lion Hall Group and put it in a personal savings account. Before that deposit, the account had about $46 in it. After the deposit and a $1,000 withdrawal, it had $49,000.
On Sept. 3, 2017, Sara Biden signed a $40,000 check to Joe Biden. It stated loan repayment in the memo.
“In taking funds sourced to a CCP-linked company that wanted to advance China’s interests, Joe Biden exposed himself to future blackmail and put America’s interests behind his own desire for money,” Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement.
Critics of the Republican-led investigation argue the committee has never proven that Joe Biden directly benefited from his family’s business dealings.
“Every single witness Chairman Comer has brought in has explained Joe Biden was not involved in his family’s business ventures. But Republicans keep peddling deceptive claims to try to revive their old debunked narrative,” Oversight Democrats posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Despite the criticism, Chairman Comer said he will continue the investigation into the Biden family.
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.
EVs emerge as a major driver of political discourse ahead of 2024 election
Electric vehicles are poised to be a major driver of political discourse leading up to the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden has made EV production a centerpiece of his administration’s platform ahead of his reelection campaign, but the carbon-combating initiative puts him at odds with an important part of his voting base.
One prominent issue linked to the EV push is the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike, which has now entered its third week. The labor dispute, involving nearly 20,000 workers on the picket lines, has increasingly come into conflict with Biden’s electrification agenda, elevating it to a central point of contention.
“On day one, I will terminate Joe Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, and I will cancel every job killing regulation that is crushing America’s autoworkers,” said Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump during an auto-workers focused rally in Michigan. “Yesterday, Joe Biden came to Michigan to pose for photos at the picket line, but it’s his polices that send Michigan autoworkers to the unemployment line.”
Among the concerns raised by the striking UAW members is the fear of a “race to the bottom.” Many EV manufacturing plants currently operate with low-wage, non-union employees. UAW members worry that this model could become the norm as gas-powered vehicles are phased out, which Biden aims to do by 2035, potentially leading to a decline in job security and compensation for autoworkers.
The UAW has also expressed apprehensions regarding the impact of EV production on the number of jobs available for autoworkers. Union members argue that EV manufacturing requires a smaller workforce compared to what is currently needed for building gas-powered vehicles, which could result in job cuts within the industry.
“EV powertrains are mechanically simpler than ICE powertrains,” the UAW said. “This simplicity could reduce the amount of labor, and thus jobs, associated with vehicle production.”
Meanwhile, automakers have cited rising costs associated with the transition to electric vehicles as a key reason for their inability to meet the UAW’s demands for wage increases, pensions and cost-of-living adjustments.
“If we signed up for the UAW’s request, instead of making money and distributing $75,000 in profit sharing the last 10 years, we would have lost $15 billion and gone bankrupt by now,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley. “There’s no way we can be sustainable as a company. That’s why we put our proposal in two weeks ago to say look, you want you want us to choose bankruptcy. Over supporting our workers.”
Biden, who has often touted himself as the most pro-union president in history, has thrown his support behind the UAW. He even went as far as joining striking workers on the picket lines to show his solidarity, the first sitting president ever to do so. However, the UAW has yet to officially endorse the president as he seeks a second term as the union continues its push for improved labor benefits.
“The unions built the middle class. That’s a fact,” Biden told striking autoworkers in Michigan. “Let’s keep going, you deserve what you’ve earned. And you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than you’re getting paid now.”
The divide over EVs has further deepened along party lines, with recent data from BloombergNEF highlighting the disparities in electric vehicle adoption at the state level.
Liberal states like California and Washington are leading the nation in EV passenger car sales during the first half of 2023, while conservative states such as Ohio and Texas are lagging behind.
As of the end of 2022, 30 states in the U.S. had an EV fleet share of less than 1%. Among those 30 states, Trump secured the popular vote in 20 of them, excluding swing states. Conversely, 16 states boasted an EV fleet share of 1% or greater over that same time span, with 13 of them having been won in the popular vote by Biden. Among all of these states, California held the highest EV fleet percentage in the nation, while Mississippi — a Republican-held state — had the lowest EV fleet share.
This partisan discourse over electric vehicles comes at a time when Republicans have initiated an investigation into a recent incident involving Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. The investigation centers on an incident where a staff member on energy secretary’s team allegedly blocked off an EV charger in Georgia to reserve it for her use. This act led a family in need of the charger to contact the police due to the staffer’s refusal to allow them access, creating controversy on a trip that Republicans said aimed to “boost the charade of the effectiveness of green energy.”
“Committee Republicans remain committed to preserving freedoms like vehicle consumer choice in the face of an unproven, burdensome, and expensive Biden Administration push to force all Americans to buy EVs,” wrote Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Pat Fallon, R-Texas, in a letter to Granholm informing her of the probe. “We request documents and information to understand the purposes, costs, and consequences of your summer 2023 EV road trip.”
Republican congressional members have claimed Granholm’s team needed to block off the charger due to the poor reliability of other charging stations in the area, infrastructure that her department has advocated for expanding. During testimony before the House earlier in September, Granholm acknowledged that the incident was the result of “poor judgment on the part of the team.”
Democrats try to subpoena Giuliani at impeachment inquiry hearing
The House impeachment inquiry hearings into President Biden have begun and Democrats came out of the gate swinging. Democratic members made a motion to subpoena Rudy Giuliani and his associate Lev Parnas, who pushed one of the original accusations against the Bidens.
Giuliani and Parnas claimed Joe Biden tried to influence Ukrainian politics to help Burisma, a company that paid Hunter Biden to be a board member.
“If this disfunction caucus is going to insist on going forward, we must receive the testimony of Rudy Giuliani and Lev Parnas — the insiders who know the origins of the lie upon which this sham impeachment is based and who worked to spread it,” Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said.
But Republicans used their majority to squash the motion. It led to an interesting exchange between the committee’s top Republican and Democrat.
“This is going to be an informative hearing for your Mr. Raskin because we are going to present evidence,” Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said.
“What evidence? There’s no evidence and witnesses. There are no fact witnesses” Raskin responded.
“Well just sit back and let the American people see the hearing,” Comer said.
But what the American people saw next was one of the Republicans’ own witnesses state the evidence he’s seen so far does not constitute a high crime or misdemeanor.
“I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment,” George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley told the committee. “That is something an inquiry has to establish. But I also do believe that the House has passed the threshold for an inquiry into President Biden.”
Turley laid out guidelines that he hopes the House will follow to ensure due process. He also addressed key accusations against Biden in ways he said help the president’s case. Those accusations include the president’s son and family using Biden’s vice presidency to make millions of dollars overseas and then lying about it repeatedly.
“Self dealing is a difficult issue under the impeachment clause. The framers sought to avoid ambiguous standards,” Turley said. “President Biden can be dishonest, can even lie to the American people and that would not constitute an impeachable offense.”
The House has not voted to formally open the impeachment inquiry. When Democrats opened their first inquiry into Donald Trump, they waited a month to hold a vote. If Republicans follow the same standard, they have until Oct. 12.
