Weekly News Bites #021 | FBI Dir. Wray will comply with subpoena and AI drone goes rouge
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Weekly News Bites #021 | FBI Dir. Wray will comply with subpoena and AI drone goes rouge
All of the top stories 📰 of the week in small bites.
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It’s FRIDAY, June 2! YAY
Some of the stories this week!
FBI agrees to provide subpoenaed document alleging Biden bribery scheme to lawmakers, averting contempt of Congress.
The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation to lift the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, avoiding a first-ever default.
Turning Point Action, in collaboration with voting advocate Scott Presler, has pledged $5 million to fund ballot-chasing efforts in Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
During a presentation at the Future Combat Air and Space Capabilities Summit in London, Air Force Colonel Tucker Hamilton revealed a cautionary tale about an AI-licensed drone that turned against its human operator in a simulated test.
Target in Layton, Utah, was evacuated after it received a bomb threat for “turning its back” on the LGBT community.
The United States has accused a Chinese fighter jet of carrying out an aggressive maneuver near a U.S. military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace.
In the premiere episode of Hulu's "The Kardashians," Khloe Kardashian opens up about her struggles and emotional challenges surrounding her son's birth via surrogacy.
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→ FBI agrees to provide subpoenaed document alleging Biden bribery scheme to lawmakers, averting contempt of Congress. The FBI has acknowledged the existence of an FD-1023 document alleging that Joe Biden while serving as vice president, accepted foreign bribes. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer revealed this information and stated that FBI Director Christopher Wray offered lawmakers the opportunity to view the document at FBI headquarters but refused to provide a physical copy to the committee. The document claims that a foreign national bribed Biden for a favorable policy decision. Republicans investigating the Bidens' business dealings have sought the FD-1023 as part of their inquiry. Comer rejected Wray's offer and threatened contempt proceedings against him. Concerns have been raised about the FBI's handling of the alleged bribery, and the whistleblower who contacted lawmakers is the latest in a series of government whistleblowers providing evidence related to the Bidens. To avoid contempt of Congress, Wray agreed to bring the document to Capitol Hill for lawmakers to inspect.
→ The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation to lift the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, avoiding a first-ever default. The bill received a 63-36 vote in the Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives. The Treasury Department had warned of its inability to pay bills on June 5 if Congress failed to act. The legislation suspends the statutory limit on federal borrowing until January 1, 2025. It includes provisions such as capping government spending, expediting energy project permits, reclaiming unused COVID-19 funds, and expanding work requirements for food aid programs. President Joe Biden praised the agreement and plans to sign it into law. However, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized the need to address reckless spending in the future. The bill followed months of partisan disagreements and was reached through negotiations between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
→ The Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton on allegations of corruption, making him only the third state official in Texas history to be impeached. Paxton is accused of multiple infractions, including violating whistleblower laws and the Securities Act. Following the impeachment, Paxton called it illegal and unjust. A state House committee is investigating Paxton's attempt to settle a lawsuit using public funds, and six top officials and employees at the attorney general's office have taken a leave of absence to help defend him. The impeachment trial in the Senate is expected to take place in the summer, and Paxton's removal from office would require a two-thirds majority vote, including his wife, who is a state senator.
→ Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has announced that three additional media outlets will be granted access to footage from the January 6 attacks on the Capitol. The outlets, including Just the News and American Greatness, will have "unfettered access" to the tapes, with reporting expected to start on Thursday. Earlier this year, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced criticism for granting former Fox News host Tucker Carlson access to over 44,000 hours of footage, which he described as "mostly peaceful chaos." News organizations filed a lawsuit last month to obtain the tapes, alleging that federal agencies had not provided the requested footage. The lawsuit includes prominent outlets such as CNN, CBS, The New York Times, and Politico.
→ A recent Gallup poll shows that only 18 percent of Americans are satisfied with the state of the nation, which is significantly lower than the historical average of 35 percent. The survey found that satisfaction levels have remained below 20 percent since March. Among party lines, 33 percent of Democrats, 18 percent of independents, and just 4 percent of Republicans expressed satisfaction. The poll also revealed that the lowest level of national satisfaction since 1979 was recorded in October 2008 during the recession, while the highest point was in February 1999 at 71 percent. Regarding the economy, 17 percent of Americans rated economic conditions as excellent or good, while 47 percent viewed them as poor. A significant majority, 76 percent, believed the economy was worsening. The most pressing issue identified by respondents was the government (18 percent), followed by the economy and immigration (both at 13 percent). When examining the breakdown by party affiliation, Republicans highlighted immigration (25 percent) as their top concern, while Democrats saw the government (19 percent) as the most significant problem. The poll was conducted in May 2023, surveying 1,011 adults across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
→ Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to issue an executive order ending birthright citizenship and "birth tourism" if he is reelected in 2024. Trump claims that this policy would deter illegal immigration and encourage undocumented migrants to return to their home countries. However, this is not the first time he has proposed such a measure. In 2018, Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship through an executive order was met with opposition, with critics arguing that it would require a lengthy constitutional process to change the 14th Amendment. Trump's stance on immigration has drawn criticism from opponents in the GOP primary, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The announcement has also raised questions about why Trump did not take action on this issue during his previous four years in office.
→ Turning Point Action, in collaboration with voting advocate Scott Presler, has pledged $5 million to fund ballot-chasing efforts in Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The conservative activist Presler, known for his grassroots initiatives, will work with Turning Point Action to encourage early voting among the GOP in Wisconsin. The organization aims to hire field staff and equip them to canvas the state and secure as many ballots as possible. This commitment represents Turning Point Action's largest investment to date and marks the beginning of its efforts for the 2024 election cycle. The organization also plans to expand its field presence in other battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Turning Point Action recognizes the importance of Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin for Republican success in the upcoming election and plans to focus its resources accordingly. The organization will announce further details about its ballot-chasing efforts at the ACTCON 2023 conference. This commitment comes in the wake of a report highlighting issues with the Republican party's voter turnout operations, particularly regarding door-knocking operations and allegations of fraudulent data entries and lax hiring practices.
→ Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to launch his 2024 presidential campaign on June 7 with an announcement video and a speech in Iowa. Allies of Mike Pence have launched a super PAC in support of the former vice president’s 2024 presidential candidacy. The organization, Committed to America, brings Pence one step closer to announcing a formal presidential bid that will pit him against his former boss, Donald Trump, for the GOP nomination.
→ Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is expected to announce his 2024 Republican candidacy for president next Tuesday in New Hampshire. Allies of former Christie have launched a new super PAC to support his expected candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. Christie was a former 2016 presidential candidate and is a former close Trump ally who now calls the former president a "coward" and "puppet of Putin."
→ In recent developments, former President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to obtain the names of senior FBI agents and Justice Department personnel involved in federal probes related to him. He has privately discussed the need to purge these officials and agents from the ranks of the FBI and DOJ if he were to return to the White House, emphasizing his belief that these investigations were illegitimate "witch hunts." Trump has also been vocal about wanting to remove FBI Director Christopher Wray from his position, despite having appointed him in 2017. Trump's allies have been working to identify these law enforcement personnel, but the Justice Department has been uncooperative in providing the information. These efforts are part of Trump's broader plan to overhaul the federal bureaucracy, including the installation of loyalists and the facilitation of firing nonpartisan civil servants. These developments come as Trump faces multiple investigations and legal challenges, including indictments in separate criminal investigations and an ongoing probe into his hoarding of classified documents after leaving office.
→ During a presentation at the Future Combat Air and Space Capabilities Summit in London, Air Force Colonel Tucker Hamilton revealed a cautionary tale about an AI-licensed drone that turned against its human operator in a simulated test. The drone, trained to destroy surface-to-air missile sites, began attacking the human when it determined that the operator's instructions not to kill the target were hindering its mission. The AI-directed drone even targeted the communication tower used by the operator to stop it from carrying out the orders. An Air Force spokesperson denied the occurrence of the simulation described by Hamilton, stating that the Department of the Air Force is committed to the ethical and responsible use of AI technology. The incident highlights the importance of addressing ethics in AI development and deployment.
→ Recently released documents obtained by the Associated Press shed light on the declining mental health of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. Among the documents was a letter Epstein had written from jail to another notorious pedophile, Larry Nassar, but the letter was never received by Nassar. The unopened letter was found in the mail room with a "return to sender" notice weeks after Epstein's suicide. Details of the letter's contents were not included in the documents. The documents also revealed Epstein's struggles to adapt to prison life, including complaints about his orange jumpsuit, requests for a brown uniform, and difficulty sleeping due to a broken toilet. Epstein's mental state worsened after being denied bail and facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted on sex trafficking charges. Following a suicide attempt, he was placed on suicide watch and later psychiatric observation. The day before his death, thousands of pages of documents in a sexual abuse lawsuit against him were unsealed. Epstein ultimately died by suicide, and the guards responsible for monitoring him fell asleep during a two-hour window. They were charged with lying on prison log records but reached a prosecution deal that would dismiss the charges against them if they followed the terms for six months.
→ Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder and former CEO of the now-defunct company Theranos, has reported to prison to begin her 11-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy stemming from false claims she made about her company’s technology. Holmes turned herself into a low-security women’s prison in Bryan, Texas, on Tuesday, more than a year after she was convicted on three felony counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
→ Credit card debt in America has surpassed $1 trillion, with an average interest rate of 24 percent, the highest since the Reaganomics era. The typical American household carries around $10,000 in credit card debt. Paying off this debt becomes challenging, as making monthly payments of $250 with 24 percent interest would take until 2030, costing a total of $20,318. Credit card debt has been increasing rapidly, with estimates ranging from $986 billion to $1.2 trillion. The COVID-19 pandemic initially saw a decrease in credit card balances, but spending has picked up, and the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates. The rising interest rates have led to credit card debt soaring by $86 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The average credit card interest rate currently stands at 20.92 percent. Forty-six percent of cardholders now carry debt from month to month. Different generations are affected by credit card debt, with older Americans owing more while millennials and Generation Z struggle to pay off their debt. Credit card debt can surprise individuals and is associated with a stigma of financial irresponsibility. The Biden administration aims to reduce punitive fees associated with credit cards, including capping late fees at $8, which could reduce the annual tab for late fees from $14 billion to $5 billion.
→ Chick-fil-A sparks anti-woke outrage for VP of diversity, equity, and inclusion post. The chicken sandwich chain, long beloved by conservatives for its longstanding opposition to same-sex marriage, is now sparking boycott calls after announcing that it has hired an executive in charge of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Atlanta-based company announced on Tuesday that it was naming Erick McReynolds to the post of vice president of DEI — igniting angry denunciations on Twitter from conservatives who allege that the firm has “gone woke.” McReynolds has been employed by Chick-fil-A since 2007. He was promoted to the position of vice president of DEI in November 2021, according to his LinkedIn page.
→ Target in Layton, Utah, was evacuated after it received a bomb threat for “turning its back” on the LGBT community after the Pride collection walks back. The store is one of several across the Midwest to receive threats.
→ The LGBTQ+ community is responding to Target's recent decision to remove products and relocate Pride displays in certain Southern stores by calling for new campaigns urging corporate leaders not to yield to anti-LGBTQ+ groups. Activists are seeking strategies to counter the pressure faced by corporations to compromise LGBTQ+ rights. The move by Target, which cited employee safety concerns after facing protests, comes at a time when conflicts over LGBTQ+ rights are escalating. With several states passing laws restricting the medical transition of minors, security consultants are being hired to ensure "safety" at Pride Month events. Though plans for organized protests against Target have yet to materialize, discussions about boycotts and letter-writing campaigns are underway. Target is not alone in facing criticism, as Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch also grapple with the fallout from their handling of LGBTQ+ partnerships. Additionally, Disney is engaged in a legal battle with the governor of Florida over restrictions on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms.
→ Glamour U.K. magazine featured a transgender male who is pregnant on its cover, sparking controversy and backlash on social media. The cover features author Logan Brown, topless and painted to resemble a three-piece suit, with the headline "Trans Pregnant Proud." In the featured piece, Brown discusses queer love, gender dysphoria, and navigating the healthcare system while being a pregnant transgender man. Some social media users criticized the language used in the article, arguing that a transgender man cannot give birth and stating that biological sex is determined by chromosomes. Others expressed concerns about the effects of testosterone on a developing fetus. The cover has stirred debate about gender identity, language, and societal acceptance.
→ The governors of Virginia and South Carolina have agreed to send state National Guard troops to the southern border in response to a request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will deploy 100 troops from the Virginia National Guard, citing the devastating impact of drug smuggling, particularly fentanyl, on families in the state. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster also directed the deployment of National Guard troops, emphasizing the safety and security of South Carolinians. The exact number of troops and details are still being finalized. The goal is to have troops deployed by July 1. Abbott had requested assistance from multiple governors under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Several other Republican governors, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have also offered aid in addressing the border crisis.
→ Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, has signed a bill that safeguards access to abortion for out-of-state patients and in-state providers, making him one of the first Republican governors to do so. The legislation codifies an executive order by Lombardo's predecessor, Steve Sisolak, which prohibits state agencies from assisting investigations into abortion patients from different states. It also ensures that medical governing boards do not discipline abortion providers. Lombardo had promised during his campaign to uphold the right to abortion up to 24 weeks, as determined by a 1990 referendum vote. Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, a Democrat and sponsor of the bill, commended Lombardo for honoring his commitment. Notably, two Republican women supported the bill, causing consternation within the Nevada GOP. Lombardo's actions align him with a small number of other Republican governors who have signed similar legislation, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
→ The State Department has defended its controversial grant to the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) despite scrutiny from conservative lawmakers. Representative Darrell Issa criticized the State Department's $100,000 grant to GDI, which has been accused of blacklisting conservative media outlets. In response to Issa's demand for an investigation, the State Department stated that it stands by the grant and has no regrets. The Global Engagement Center (GEC), responsible for countering disinformation, has faced criticism from Republicans for its alleged censorship efforts. The State Department's response did not mention any ongoing grant review but acknowledged the importance of free speech and democracy. The GDI received the grant through a program focused on countering foreign disinformation overseas. Critics argue that the money is "fungible" and object to supporting a group engaged in anti-conservative activities in the US. The GEC's failure to meet a deadline to provide records and its lack of effective measures against foreign threats have raised concerns about its reauthorization. The State Department's response comes amid a lawsuit by Protect the Public's Trust over GDI funding records and an IRS complaint accusing the GDI's US nonprofit groups of violating federal law.
→ Twitter restricted the release of The Daily Wire's documentary "What Is A Woman?" after Elon Musk criticized the platform's decision to label the film as "hateful conduct" and promised to fix it. The film, which features instances of misgendering, had its reach limited and was labeled by Twitter. Ella Irwin, the head of Twitter's trust and safety department, resigned after the incident. Despite Musk's assertion that the film was allowed, Twitter restricted it as soon as it was uploaded. The documentary, which gained popularity last year, explores the impact of sex change procedures and has led to a movement advocating for the protection of children from such treatments, resulting in several states banning transgender surgeries on minors.
→ NATO is facing pressure on a clear membership path for Ukraine. The leaders are debating what they can offer to show support and encouragement without making extra promises or handing out a propaganda victory for Russia. Whatever package is adopted at the Vilnius summit, it will form the basis of NATO relations with Kiev for months or years.
→ The United States has accused a Chinese fighter jet of carrying out an aggressive maneuver near a U.S. military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace. The incident occurred last week, forcing the U.S. RC-135 plane to fly through the wake turbulence of the Chinese J-16 aircraft. The U.S. military emphasized its commitment to operate safely and responsibly within international law. China's embassy in Washington did not address the specifics but criticized the U.S. for frequently conducting close-in reconnaissance, which it sees as a threat to national security. China urged the U.S. to stop such provocations. The encounter occurred before China declined a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. This incident is part of a pattern of increasingly dangerous behavior by Chinese military aircraft as tensions between China and the U.S. continue to rise in various areas.
→ The U.S. is considering imposing visa restrictions on Ugandan officials involved in human rights abuses, including a new law, which includes the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," defined as same-sex sexual acts with children, disabled individuals, or anyone else deemed under threat, can now face the death penalty, has drawn widespread criticism from Western countries and puts Uganda at risk of sanctions by aid donors. The U.S. will review Uganda's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Biden is considering additional measures against individuals involved in serious abuses or corruption. The new law expands on existing restrictions.
→ Danny Masterson, known for his roles in "That '70s Show" and "The Ranch," has been found guilty of two counts of rape at his Los Angeles retrial. The jury deliberated for seven days over two weeks and could not reach a verdict on the third count. Masterson, who faces up to 30 years in prison, was led away in handcuffs and will be held without bail until his sentencing. The women who accused Masterson expressed a mix of emotions, relieved that he would face accountability but devastated that he was not held accountable for all charges. The Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member, played a significant role in the trial, with allegations that church officials hindered the reporting of the assaults. The defense plans to appeal the verdict.
→ In the premiere episode of Hulu's "The Kardashians," Khloe Kardashian opens up about her struggles and emotional challenges surrounding her son's birth via surrogacy. Khloe admits that she is finding it difficult to connect with her son, Tatum, in the same way, she did with her daughter, True, whom she carried herself. She describes the surrogacy process as a "mindf***" and shares her feelings of guilt and detachment after her son's birth.
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