🗞️ #052 | Congress Takes Aim at TikTok: Legislation Demands Divestiture or Face Ban

All of the above the fold 📰 stories of the week to keep you in the know

It’s FRIDAY, March 15. These are the week’s stories.

Jump ahead ⬇️

• Feature: Congress Takes Aim at TikTok: Legislation Demands Divestiture or Face Ban

• Six Charges Against Trump Dismissed in Georgia Election Interference Case

• Economic Divide: Biden's $7.3 Trillion Budget Faces Steep Opposition

• Special Counsel Robert Hur Defends Report on Biden's Cognitive State in Congressional Testimony

• UK's NHS Shifts Gears, Halts Puberty Blockers for Under-18s After Intense Review

• Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances Amid Lawsuit Testimony

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🗞️ Congress Takes Aim at TikTok: Legislation Demands Divestiture or Faces Ban

In a significant move that garnered bipartisan support, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at addressing concerns surrounding TikTok, the widely popular social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The bill, which passed with a vote of 352 to 65, mandates ByteDance to sell its interest in TikTok within six months or face a complete ban in the United States. This move could potentially prohibit app stores from offering TikTok if the divestiture does not occur.

The legislation, however, faced opposition from both ends of the political spectrum, including notable figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among House progressives and 13 conservative Republicans. Critics, like Republican Representative Thomas Massey, argue against the bill on constitutional grounds, emphasizing the right to information and opposing government overreach in determining accessible apps and websites.

On the flip side, proponents like Republican Representative Mike Gallagher defend the bill as a national security measure, asserting that TikTok's foreign control poses a significant threat, especially as it becomes a primary news source for Americans under 30.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr further clarified the bill's targeted scope, noting it applies solely to apps controlled by governments of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia that pose a national security threat. This ensures a narrow application and significant safeguards before any action is taken.

Amidst this legislative push, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin revealed his efforts to assemble a team of investors to purchase TikTok, supporting the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Mnuchin highlighted the importance of US ownership for such platforms, reflecting on past attempts during the Trump administration to mandate a sale of TikTok's US operations, valued between $40 billion to $50 billion.

TikTok has vowed to challenge any forced sale through legal avenues, underlining the complexity and potential for a protracted battle over the app's future in the US market.

The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to commit to a vote. President Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill into law if it passes through Congress.

🗞️ Six Charges Against Trump Dismissed in Georgia Election Interference Case

In a significant development from Georgia, Judge Scott McAfee has dismissed six charges against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case. These charges revolved around allegations of soliciting Georgia officials to violate their oaths of office, lacking sufficient detail. However, this decision does not affect the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges Trump is facing.

The dismissed charges include three against Trump, notably one related to a phone call to the Georgia Secretary of State in which Trump discussed the need to "find" approximately 11,000 votes to win the 2020 election results. Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, among others, also had charges dropped. Trump remains charged with 10 other counts.

The reasons for dropping the charges, as explained by Judge McAfee, centered on the lack of specificity, making it nearly impossible for the defendants to prepare their defenses. This move has sparked varied reactions, with former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy questioning the strength of the remaining RICO charge, suggesting that seeking to overturn an election result isn't inherently a crime given legal avenues to challenge elections.

Additionally, McAfee is expected to rule on the potential disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her team due to an alleged conflict of interest stemming from Willis's relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

🗞️ Economic Divide: Biden's $7.3 Trillion Budget Faces Steep Opposition

President Joe Biden has put forth a $7.3 trillion budget for 2025, stirring a mix of reactions across the political spectrum. On one hand, proponents, including the administration itself, argue that the budget aims to slash the national deficit by $3 trillion over a decade through measures such as increasing corporate taxes, implementing minimum taxes on millionaires, and quadrupling the stock buyback tax. On the other, critics label the budget as economically perilous, contending that hiking taxes is not a viable strategy for fostering economic growth.

The budget encompasses significant spending increases and introduces new programs, notably in healthcare, childcare, low-income housing, and establishing a new government office focused on women's health, led by Jill Biden. To fund these initiatives, the proposal includes a $5.5 trillion tax hike, raising the corporate tax rate to 28% and setting a 21% minimum tax on private companies valued at over $1 billion. Controversially, it also suggests taxing billionaires' unrealized capital gains at 25% and aligning the capital gains tax rate with that of wages for individuals worth at least $1 million.

Critics, like Peter Earl from the American Institute for Economic Research, express concern over these tax proposals, fearing they could severely disrupt economic activity, lead to unemployment, and drive wealth out of the country. The proposals are seen as potentially harmful to small businesses and entrepreneurs, crucial drivers of job creation.

Despite these ambitious plans, the likelihood of the budget's enactment is slim, given the current political landscape, with Republicans controlling the House.

🗞️ Special Counsel Robert Hur Defends Report on Biden's Cognitive State in Congressional Testimony

Special Counsel Robert Hur, who recently stepped down from the Department of Justice, testified before the House Judiciary Committee as a private citizen. His testimony centered on his investigation into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents and included a defense of his report, which controversially referred to Biden as "senile" and questioned his age-related cognitive decline.

The testimony discussed the release of a transcript from Biden's interview with Hur. This transcript aligned with Hur's report and contradicted Biden's claims against Hur and his team, particularly highlighting that Biden was the first to mention his son in the interview and confirming Biden's memory lapses during the session.

Hur's report and testimony focused heavily on Biden's mental acuity, suggesting his memory issues were so significant that they influenced the decision not to recommend charges against the President. Hur posited that a jury might view Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory." Hur maintained his assessment was fair, necessary, and based on evidence, including Biden's inability to recall specific statements about classified materials.

Critics, including Congressman Hank Johnson, accused Hur of aiming to politically damage Biden, an accusation Hur denied, emphasizing his impartiality and the absence of partisan motives in his investigative work and report. The White House was reported to have requested Hur to modify parts of his report regarding Biden's memory, highlighting the contentious nature of his findings.

The hearing also shed light on bipartisan concerns, with Republicans pointing out perceived inconsistencies in handling cases between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who faces legal scrutiny over his handling of classified documents. Additionally, the destruction of recordings by Biden's ghostwriter was criticized, prompting discussions on obstruction of justice and perceived double standards within the Department of Justice.

🗞️ UK's NHS Shifts Gears, Halts Puberty Blockers for Under-18s After Intense Review

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has made a significant move by banning the prescription of puberty blockers to minors across the nation. This decision follows an independent review prompted by concerns raised regarding these treatments' clinical effectiveness and safety. The review highlighted a "lack of consensus and open dialogue" on gender dysphoria, emphasizing the need to base care on "evidence, expert clinical opinion" and what is "in the best interests of the child."

This change comes in the wake of scrutiny faced by Tavistock, England's largest gender care clinic, which was criticized for its quick administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to gender dysphoric children. Following allegations from former staff and patients, and a damning report by Dr. Hillary Cass, the clinic was closed, leading to a broader NHS review of these treatments for under-18s. As a result, puberty blockers will now only be available to minors as part of clinical research studies, with the NHS stating a lack of sufficient evidence to make them routinely available.

The move has sparked a mix of reactions. LGBT activists, represented by organizations like Mermaids in the UK, have expressed disappointment, emphasizing the importance of these treatments for the well-being of trans youth. In contrast, the decision has been welcomed by those concerned about the lack of informed consent and potential long-term harms associated with these interventions.

Criticism of current practices is not limited to the UK. In the United States, the debate continues, with medical bodies like the AMA and the American Academy of Pediatrics opposing bans on treatments for trans minors, citing guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPath). However, recent revelations by independent journalist Michael Schellenberger, involving leaked documents and internal communications from WPath, suggest a concerning lack of informed consent and acknowledgment of potential risks, including loss of bone density, normal sexual function, and even cancer, associated with these treatments.

🗞️ Boeing Whistleblower Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances Amid Lawsuit Testimony

The aviation community and the public are seeking answers following the mysterious death of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee and whistleblower, who was found dead in a South Carolina parking lot on the day he was due to testify against the aerospace giant. His death, reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, has sparked controversy and demands for a thorough investigation.

Barnett, 62, was a quality control engineer with over thirty years of service at Boeing. He came into the spotlight after retiring in 2017, especially following his alarming revelations to the BBC about Boeing's alleged rush to get its 787 Dreamliner jets off the production line, compromising safety for speed.

His attorneys, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, have voiced their disbelief in the suicide narrative, emphasizing Barnett's positive spirits and the critical timing of his deposition against Boeing. "John was in the midst of a deposition in his whistleblower case, which finally was nearing the end," they stated. "He was in very good spirits and really looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on. We didn’t see any indication he would take his own life. No one can believe it."

The Charleston police, tasked with investigating Barnett's death, reported that officers found him inside his orange pickup truck with a gunshot wound to the head, a silver handgun in his hand, and what appeared to be a suicide note. These findings have only fueled further speculation and calls for an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise.

Boeing expressed condolences for Barnett's passing amidst this turmoil but has remained focused on addressing its broader challenges. The company is currently under scrutiny following a series of mishaps, including a door flying off an Alaska Airlines flight in mid-air in January. The Federal Aviation Administration's recent findings of noncompliance in Boeing's production line and a criminal probe opened by the Justice Department add layers of complexity to the company's ongoing troubles.

As the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the door panel incident and Boeing faces a deadline to resolve systemic quality-control issues highlighted by federal audits, the aviation industry and its observers are left with unanswered questions about safety, compliance, and the tragic end of a whistleblower who dared to speak out.

This Wednesday, on 🗞️ Above the Fold.

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