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Fauci Declines Second Senate Panel Appearance After Contempt Vote
Dr. Anthony Fauci has refused a request to appear voluntarily before Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-WI) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The decision follows an Aug. 6 party-line vote by the Senate Homeland Security Committee to hold him in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times at a July 29 hearing. Fauci’s attorneys said he had already testified extensively, stood by his prior statements, and that another appearance would serve no legislative purpose. Johnson said outstanding questions about the COVID-19 response remain and that the subcommittee would explore legal options.
🏛️ News & Politics
Politically Tone-Deaf Democrats Plan Decade-Long Push on Transgender Issues
Democrat National Committee LGBTQ caucus members and Human Rights Campaign officials discussed a multiyear strategy at their summer meeting to shift public opinion on transgender policies. They compared the effort to the successful campaign that broadened support for same-sex marriage and outlined a $15 million investment this midterm cycle aimed at persuasion and turnout. Officials said Republican attack ads on the issue are already airing and will intensify. Polls show a majority opposition to policies such as males in female sports and medical interventions for minors.
Editor’s Note: Multiple national surveys put the adult population of those identifying as transgender at roughly 0.5–0.6%. Actual diagnosed cases sit at 0.15%. Doesn’t seem like a very potent voting block; therefore, this is about something other than elections.
Empty Queens Adult Daycare Billed Medicaid $32 Million While Its Owner Donated to Hochul
Reporters found a Queens social adult daycare center empty and unused, even as its operators billed Medicaid more than $32 million since 2018. Owner Baoli Zhang and related Flushing facilities donated tens of thousands of dollars to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaigns. Revenue at some centers has climbed dramatically in recent years, despite the vacant appearance of flagship locations. Industry sources noted political ties and the centers’ role in mobilizing elderly voters. Hochul’s office said donations do not affect policy and that the state pursues fraud cases.
Minnesota Secretary of State Attacks O’Keefe for Exposing Voter Vouching Free-for-All
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon lashed out at James O’Keefe and Cam Higby after their undercover video showed how easily the state’s voter vouching system can be used. Under Minnesota law, a single registered voter can vouch for up to eight others at the polls with no identification required for those being vouched for and virtually no verification of the voucher’s claims. Poll workers told O’Keefe, dressed in Muslim garb, that he could serve as “the ID” for multiple unregistered people. Simon called the investigation outrageous misconduct instead of addressing the policy that lets virtually anyone walk in and enable multiple ballots with zero real safeguards.
Federal Judge Ends TPS Protections for Somali Nationals
A Massachusetts federal judge, appointed by Barack Obama, lifted a temporary stay Friday, clearing the way for the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs cited a June Supreme Court ruling that limits judicial review of DHS decisions to end TPS designations. The move follows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s January notice terminating the designation, which had been in place since 1991. Thousands of Somali nationals with TPS or pending applications could face deportation if they lack another legal basis to remain.
Hawaii Big Island Under Hurricane Warning as Tropical Storm Lala Approaches
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a statewide emergency as Tropical Storm Lala strengthened while approaching the islands. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Hawaii County, with tropical storm warnings covering Maui County, Oahu, and Kauai. The storm is forecast to produce 8 to 12 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 25 inches on the Big Island, along with dangerous surf and possible hurricane-force winds. Outer rain bands are already affecting the Big Island. A direct hurricane landfall would be rare for the state.
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📢 The American Fifth Column
El-Sayed Faces Scrutiny Over Troubling Detroit Animal Control Euthanasia Record
Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed attention over his tenure as Detroit Health Department director from 2015 to 2017, when the city’s Animal Care & Control operation reported high euthanasia numbers. Records show nearly 4,680 dogs and cats were euthanized during that period. A former employee filed a whistleblower lawsuit describing the facility as a “dog slaughterhouse” and alleging overcrowding, poor conditions, and improper practices.
DFW Airport Scraps Islamic Foot-Washing Stations After Abbott Intervention
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport canceled plans to install Islamic ablution stations in Terminal D restrooms after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the project illegal. Abbott directed a review of state grants to DFW and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and referred both to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation. He argued that the facilities at government-owned airports favored one religion over others. Airport officials said they accelerated their review due to public interest and determined the project would not provide the expected operational benefits.
Pathetic Narcissist Hasan Piker Demands Democrats Defend Him Amid Growing Distance
Far-left streamer and Islamo-communist Hasan Piker called on Democrat leaders during a livestream to defend him from Republican criticism and accept him as part of their coalition. Piker said Democrats should acknowledge that he is not a “dangerous, toxic radical force” and argue that attacks on him distract from cost-of-living issues. He has backed candidates, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Some Democrats and a former Biden staffer have urged candidates to disavow Piker instead.
Editor’s Note: No, he’s not a fringe, lunatic radical. 🙄 He is quoted as saying he “wipes his ass with the Constitution,” declared the Hezbollah flag “the most beautiful flag in the world,” and made comments about immigrants “fucking your daughters and sisters.” What’s “radical” about that?!
Nashville Teachers Allege Administrators Pressured Them to Change Failing Grades
Two former Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers say district administrators directed them to alter failing grades so performance numbers would appear better. Art teacher Samira Hardcastle, named her school’s Teacher of the Year, resigned after refusing to change a student’s grade on an incomplete project; administrators later altered it. Math teacher Diana Wills refused similar instructions and was suspended; she is now suing. Both claim the practice undermines academic standards. The district disputed the characterizations of the grade changes.
Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Found Dead Amid Plagiarism and False Claims Probe
Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday was found dead Friday at a south London address after resigning amid serious allegations of academic misconduct. Police said the 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. Arday had faced detailed accusations of plagiarizing more than 100 passages in his Ph.D. dissertation from another academic’s work. He was also accused of falsely listing positions at Ohio State University, the University of Glasgow, and Durham University on his official Cambridge biography, as well as of making disputed claims about extreme athletic feats and large-scale charity fundraising. Cambridge launched an investigation into his appointment and tenure shortly before his resignation.
Editor’s Note: What's stunning about this story is the lack of vetting by Cambridge. The lack of attention to detail diminishes the institution.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The attempt to make heaven on earth open-endedly produces hell." — Karl Popper
🌐 International
Danish PM Calls Islamic Background Migrants Greatest Threat Amid Europe Migrant Concerns
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told parliament that people with an Islamic background represent the greatest threat facing Europe. Her comments came as European leaders expressed alarm over online campaigns urging another mass migrant crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. Spanish officials said the border remains closed and any attempts will be repelled. The prospect of a second large influx has heightened tensions across the European Union over migration pressures.
Editor’s Note: The term “mass migration” is simply sweet talk for “colonialist invasion.” Islamists have been doing that since the days of Muhammad.
UAE Accuses Iran of Attacking ADNOC Vessel in Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of launching a hostile attack on an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Foreign Ministry said the incident violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and threatened regional stability and global energy security. No injuries were reported. The attack is the latest in a series targeting ADNOC vessels in the waterway this month. Iran has not commented on the accusation.
Justice Department Calls Iranian Missile Threat in Turkey an Assassination Plot
The Justice Department described a July security threat against President Donald Trump in Turkey as an Iranian assassination plot in a new Supreme Court filing. Solicitor General John Sauer cited the “threat of a missile attack against Air Force One” among recent attempts on the president’s life. The reference came in an emergency appeal seeking to allow construction of a White House ballroom that would include security features. Trump switched planes during a NATO summit visit after advisers warned of the Iranian threat.
Post-Maduro Venezuela Seeks Return of $4 Billion in Gold From Bank of England
Venezuela’s government and opposition have issued a joint statement calling for the return of approximately $4 billion in gold reserves held at the Bank of England. The roughly 31 tonnes of bullion have been frozen since 2018 after the United Kingdom refused to recognize the Maduro government. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has requested the release of funds for reconstruction after the June earthquakes that killed more than 6,000 people. Both sides say they are establishing transparency mechanisms to oversee any recovered funds.
Tsunami Warning Issued After 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia early Saturday near Flores Island, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas in several provinces. The shallow quake occurred at a depth of about 15 kilometers and was followed by aftershocks. Minor tsunami waves under one meter were recorded in some locations before the warning was lifted. Rescue officials reported deaths and injuries in the affected region as buildings collapsed and residents fled to higher ground.
