Fireworks: Sen. Rand Paul Promises ‘Repercussions’ for Fauci’s Refusal to Testify, Ejects Fauci’s ‘Unruly’ Lawyer

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One of Anthony Fauci’s lawyers became “unruly” after Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) promised repercussions for Fauci’s refusal to answer lawmakers’ questions during his appearance before the committee, resulting in the lawyer’s removal.

Fauci, who is before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, made it clear in his opening statement that he would be invoking the Fifth Amendment during the line of questioning today, putting that on display immediately by refusing to answer any questions from Chairman Paul.

Paul said after his line of questioning:

The chairman has denied your assertion of privilege and directed you to answer, but you nonetheless refuse and stand on privilege despite the existence of the pardon. The committee will have to consider after this hearing what appropriate action should be taken against you for the failure to testify after being directed to do so.

“It’s against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress. There will be repercussions to your refusal to testify today,” Paul promised, prompting some sort of complaint from one of Fauci’s many lawyers in the room. (Read more from “Fireworks: Sen. Rand Paul Promises ‘Repercussions’ for Fauci’s Refusal to Testify, Ejects Fauci’s ‘Unruly’ Lawyer” HERE)

Trump Announces His Board of Peace Reached ‘Historic Agreement’ to Disarm Hamas in Gaza: ‘Monumental Step’

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President Trump announced Thursday that his Board of Peace has reached a “historic agreement” with Hamas that will result in the “complete disarmament” of the terror group in Gaza.

“This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president indicated that “all other armed groups” in the Gaza Strip have also agreed to lay down their arms.

“This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people,” Trump continued. “At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”

Disarmament of Hamas marks “major milestone in the implementation” of the 20-point plan for peace in the region unveiled last September, the president said.

The deal was eight months in the making, according to US and Board of Peace officials. (Read more from “Trump Announces His Board of Peace Reached ‘Historic Agreement’ to Disarm Hamas in Gaza: ‘Monumental Step’” HERE)

Trump may Yank Todd Blanche for AG Nominee Over GOP Opposition to Weaponization Fund — on One Condition

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s bid to run the Justice Department hung in the balance Thursday as a handful of Senate Republicans vowed not to give him their votes — and President Trump threatened to yank his nominee over opposition to a nearly $1.8 billion so-called “weaponization” fund.

Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have both opposed Blanche’s nomination in the Judiciary Committee until they receive confirmation in writing that the fund won’t be reconstituted — despite Blanche having testified that it was “dead” during a recent hearing.

“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” Trump posted on his Truth Social later Thursday.

Cornyn fired back in an X post: “POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis.”

Trump sued the IRS for leaking his and his family members’ confidential tax returns to the New York Times in 2019. The case resulted in a May settlement with the DOJ that created the anti-weaponization fund worth $1.776 billion to be paid out to alleged victims of government overreach, including possibly defendants of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. (Read more from “Trump may Yank Todd Blanche for AG Nominee Over GOP Opposition to Weaponization Fund — on One Condition” HERE)

Seventh Person Dies in Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

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A seventh person has died from the Legionnaires’ disease cluster that has terrified Upper East Side residents in recent weeks, The Post has learned.

Despite no new cases developing over the last two weeks, according to city officials, the death toll continued to tick up this week.

The last new case of the pneumonia-like sickness was reported on July 17, but around half a dozen remained hospitalized as of earlier this week. (Read more from “Seventh Person Dies in Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak” HERE)

Politics is Getting More Vulgar, with Two Presidents Leading the Way on Curse Words Counts: study

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. . .Politics is rapidly becoming more profane, with a staggering 87% of swear words from presidents dating back to 1919 coming from commanders in chief within the past 10 years, according to a shocking finding.

President Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden were responsible for 538 profane words— 78% of presidential cuss words used out of the 692 documented since Woodrow Wilson, a researcher in Wales found.

“It used to be rare for presidents, even as candidates, to swear in official remarks,” Dr. Joseph Phillips, a lecturer at Cardiff University, wrote. “Woodrow Wilson broke the profanity seal in 1919, recounting a time where he made a ‘conspicuous *ss of himself.’”

“[P]rofanity can be a signal of authenticity. In a time of low political trust, signals that a politician is ‘authentic’ are at a premium,” he added.

Trump hasn’t been shy about breaking out the expletives when he feels the stakes are high or is simply in the mood for it. (Read more from “Politics is Getting More Vulgar, with Two Presidents Leading the Way on Curse Words Counts: study” HERE)

Trump Administration Policies are Decimating Habitat and Hunting

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A July 13 proclamation signed by President Donald Trump reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah — Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — by 90%, or about 2.9 million acres. As explained by American Hunters & Anglers, “The largest rollback of protected public land in American history just happened and it was served with a side of lies.”

American Hunters also pointed out that Trump said (incorrectly), “You can’t do anything. You can’t go hunting. You can’t go fishing. You can’t do anything. You can virtually not even walk on it.”

Hunters and anglers disagree. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers posted the following “Facts Incoming” response on Instagram: “President Trump says there’s no hunting, fishing, or even walking on the ‘Grand Staircase monument.’ Here’s the truth: hunting, fishing, and recreation have always been allowed in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.” As for not being able to “walk on it,” well, I’ve hiked and camped in Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears many times over the years.

In addition, during 2017 BHA released detailed habitat maps of six Western national monuments. Each of the monuments — including Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — was designated to safeguard, at least in part, important wildlife habitat, valuable fisheries and access to great places to hunt and fish. Together, the six monuments encompassed nearly 4 million acres of big game habitat, including nearly 3 million acres of deer habitat, and more than 1 million acres of elk habitat. Despite the fact that 65% of Utah voters and 91% of Western voters oppose cuts to the monuments, Trump took the action anyway.

Colorado’s Dinosaur National Monument (and others) may be next on the chopping block. During June the Bureau of Land Management leased thousands of acres in northwestern Colorado to oil and gas companies in the state’s biggest such sale in modern history. (Read more from “Trump Administration Policies are Decimating Habitat and Hunting” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Dem Mayor Accused of Sending Vulgar Text about ‘a Good Weinering’ to City Staffer

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A Democratic mayor in Minnesota is being investigated for sexual harassment after she allegedly sent nauseating text messages to staffers — including one about getting a “good weinering.”

[Photo credi: Maddel Law]

Kaohly Her, the first female mayor of Saint Paul, is being probed just six months into her term after the police chief, Axel Henry, filed a formal complaint with the city attorney on April 1, alleging that she sent “inappropriate, and indeed, unlawful text messages” to city staffers.

In one disturbing chain of texts, Her, 53, wished a staffer “Happy Weiner Wednesday,” according to the complaint obtained by KSTP.

“Wish I was having a [hotdog emoji] with you all on 6 today,” the text continued.

The mayor then allegedly sent an altered image of a baby wrapped in a blanket, along with the message, “When she wraps you up in her blanket after you gave her a good weinering.” (Read more from “Dem Mayor Accused of Sending Vulgar Text about ‘a Good Weinering’ to City Staffer” HERE)

Tulsi Gabbard’s Permanent Replacement Confirmed By Senate, Sets Up Possible Vote On Warrantless Spying Tool

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The Senate confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton Tuesday to serve as the next director of national intelligence (DNI), which may revive the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The upper chamber voted to confirm Clayton, making him the permanent replacement for former DNI Tulsi Gabbard. Republican senators initially planned to accelerate Clayton’s confirmation processafter Congress failed to reauthorize Section 702, though President Donald Trump requested that the process be delayed to confirm another attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Clayton’s confirmation may allow the Senate to vote on reauthorizing Section 702. Democrats would likely back its reauthorization since U.S. Federal Housing Director Bill Pulte would no longer be serving as acting DNI.

Senators moved at an unusual speed to confirm Clayton as they faced pressure to reauthorize Section 702, which permits the government to collect Americans’ data without a warrant. The House failed to pass a temporary extension of Section 702 in a 198 to 218 vote on June 11, with 19 Republicans joining most Democrats in voting against it.

Democrats opposed the reauthorization of Section 702 as retaliation against Trump tapping Pulte to temporarily serve as acting DNI.

Trump requested on June 17 that the Senate postpone Clayton’s confirmation until Jamie McDonald was approved to be the next attorney for the Southern District of New York. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton initially planned to move forward with the confirmation process on June 17, but then postponed the hearing. (Read more from “Tulsi Gabbard’s Permanent Replacement Confirmed By Senate, Sets Up Possible Vote On Warrantless Spying Tool” HERE)

Food Prices up 33% as US Battles Highest Grocery Price Spike in 50 Years — with No Relief in Sight

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Food prices in the US have shot up by 33% over the last seven years, the biggest jump in grocery prices in half a century — with no relief in sight.

While rampant inflation was to blame for the biggest surge during the pandemic, prices have continued to soar since, with ground beef best demonstrating the out-of-control market as it hit $6.82 a pound in June, a 79% increase from 2019, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The fact that prices have remained stubbornly high for years means that they are not something Americans can simply weather through, but a new normal for shoppers, said Scott D. Martin, a partner at the Kingsview Wealth Management firm.

“While inflation has cooled from its peak, grocery prices have not returned to where consumers remember them,” Martin told The Post.

“Food prices have effectively reset to a permanently higher level after years of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, transportation costs, and broad inflationary pressures,” he added.

The new normal was clearly laid out in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ records over the last 14 years. (Read more from “Food Prices up 33% as US Battles Highest Grocery Price Spike in 50 Years — with No Relief in Sight” HERE)

Ukrainian-Israeli Fraudster Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Fake Brokerage Scheme

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Yaroslav Shilkloper, 50, a dual citizen of Ukraine and Israel, was sentenced today to four years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy that utilized a sophisticated phony brokerage-business to scam U.S. citizens out of millions of dollars. Shilkloper was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and $1.43 million in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Shilkloper and his co-conspirators defrauded victims in the United States of more than $3 million dollars by promising high rates of return on investments made through their “K6 Investing,” “Neotron Holding LTD.,” and “Goldex Technology” companies. As part of the scheme, the defendant provided access to a digital platform that allowed victims to see what they believed were real-time investment performance data. The victims’ money, however, was never invested, but instead diverted and laundered through a series of bank accounts in Ukraine, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic, and elsewhere, all controlled by Shilkloper and his co-conspirators. When victims attempted to withdraw their money, they were prevented from doing so, threatened with legal action, or manipulated into sending more money to the fraud ring.

Shilkloper is the first of three defendants charged in the case to be sentenced. He was extradited from Poland after being arrested there in 2023. Today’s U.S. forfeiture order adds to the $2.8 million already previously returned to the victims as a result of forfeiture proceedings against Shilkloper and co-conspirators in the Republic of Georgia.

Photo credit: Flickr