Weekly News Bites #026 | Hunter's "One-Eye" FBI mole and blow in the White House
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Weekly News Bites #026 | Hunter's "One-Eye" FBI mole and blow in the White House
All of the top stories 📰 of the week in small bites.
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It’s FRIDAY, July 7! YAY
Some of the stories this week!
Israeli fugitive Dr. Gal Luft unveils alleged Biden family corruption and cover-up involving 'One Eye' FBI mole.
Cocaine was discovered in the West Wing of the White House, prompting a brief evacuation and a subsequent investigation by the Secret Service.
The Biden administration is taking a new approach to student loan relief following the Supreme Court's rejection of their previous proposal.
Pfizer allegedly sponsors the transgender advocacy group while profiting from transition-related drugs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance for transgender and non-binary individuals on how to "chestfeed" infants.
Lancet removes preprint study linking 74% of vaccine-related deaths to COVID-19 vaccines, citing methodological concerns.
President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with over 200 mayors to discuss the aftermath of violent riots.
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→ Israeli fugitive Dr. Gal Luft unveils alleged Biden family corruption and cover-up involving 'One Eye' FBI mole. The American-Israeli energy expert and former Israeli army officer, Dr. Gal Luft, asserts in a 14-minute video that he is a significant "missing witness" in the Biden corruption probe. He claims the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI have targeted him in an effort to protect President Joe Biden and his family from corruption charges. Luft asserts that he provided substantial evidence of the Biden family's illicit financial connections with individuals tied to Chinese military intelligence and their association with an FBI insider, code-named "One Eye," in 2019, prior to Biden's presidential campaign announcement. However, instead of investigating his claims, Luft says he was harassed, arrested on various charges, including illegal arms trading and acting as an unregistered foreign agent, and is now a fugitive.
Luft, who previously advised Hunter Biden's former business associate CEFC, reveals that his attempts to expose the Biden family's alleged corruption and the presence of a mole within the FBI were suppressed by DOJ officials. Accusing the U.S. authorities of malicious intent, he denies all charges against him, calling for his indictment and the evidence against him to be released publicly. He also expresses doubt about receiving a fair trial in New York, stating that national security concerns have driven his actions.
Despite his fugitive status, Luft is seen as a key missing witness in the ongoing Biden corruption investigation by Republican James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman. Currently hiding in Cyprus from U.S. authorities, Luft continues to challenge the government to reveal the truth behind his allegations.
→ The Biden administration is taking a new approach to student loan relief following the Supreme Court's rejection of their previous proposal. Previously intending to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loans, the White House is now turning to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide debt relief. The Act gives the education secretary the power to "compromise, waive or release" student loans. This plan's legality remains debatable, with previous education lawyers from the Obama administration doubting the unilateral power of the executive branch to enact mass student loan cancellation. This new approach has also raised concerns about the bypassing of Congress's control over finances, with critics labeling it unconstitutional. Amid this debate, a year-long grace period has been implemented following the restart of loan repayments to aid struggling borrowers. Moreover, the Biden administration is streamlining the bankruptcy process for borrowers unable to pay. Details of the plan, such as eligibility and the amount of debt to be canceled, remain unclear, with the entire process potentially taking up to two years.
→ Cocaine was discovered in the West Wing of the White House, prompting a brief evacuation and a subsequent investigation by the Secret Service. In an unfolding saga, a bag of cocaine was found in the White House. The substance was first reportedly found in the library. Then the narrative changed to the West Wing lobby. However, the most recent update indicates the bag was actually discovered in a cubby near the heavily-trafficked West Executive entrance, which is on the same floor as the Situation Room. This entrance, on West Executive Drive, is frequented by Vice President Kamala Harris, senior staff, and VIPs attending private meetings in the West Wing. The Secret Service is currently investigating the incident, reviewing security footage and visitor logs, and conducting fingerprint and DNA analysis on the bag. Despite these efforts, White House officials have suggested it may be difficult to identify who left the drugs due to the public nature of the area. The investigation resulted in a brief closure of the White House complex, although the Bidens were not present, as they were at Camp David at the time. Notably, Hunter Biden, the President's son, had been present at the White House on Friday before joining his father at Camp David for the weekend. His previous struggles with crack cocaine addiction have attracted attention in light of this incident, but no official suspicion has been declared. The ongoing investigation seeks to determine how the illicit drug found its way into the White House.
→ The U.S. Justice Department has filed an appeal against a federal court ruling that restricts the communication of Biden administration officials with social media companies. The ruling, made by District Judge Terry Doughty, was in response to a challenge from two Republican attorneys general against the administration's efforts to curb online disinformation. They claimed that federal officials were colluding with social media platforms to suppress certain viewpoints. The ruling applies to various government departments, including the FBI, DOJ, Department of Health and Human Services, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Justice Department's appeal will go to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, predominantly consisting of GOP-appointed judges. The department is expected to request a stay of the district court's decision.
Related: Following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, the State Department has suspended its regular meetings with Facebook.
→ North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, has vetoed three bills, including the bipartisan "Fairness in Women's Sports Act,” which aimed to bar biological males from competing in women's and girls' sports. The other two bills, both primarily supported by Republicans, included the "Parents' Bill of Rights," granting more influence to parents in their child's education, and the "Act to Prohibit Gender Transition Procedures for Minors," preventing most hormone therapies and gender surgeries for minors. Cooper argued these bills represented political tactics by Republicans to stir culture wars, infringe on the rights of parents and doctors, harm vulnerable children, and damage the state's reputation and economy, likening it to the controversial 2016 bathroom bill. He urged Republicans to focus on enhancing public schools, supporting teachers, reducing living costs, and bolstering middle-class stability.
→ Walt Nauta, an aide to former President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty to charges of helping Trump hide classified documents from law enforcement in a Miami courtroom. This forms part of the special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the handling of classified documents by the former president. Nauta was initially due to appear in court alongside Trump on June 13 but was postponed due to the absence of a Florida-authorized defense attorney. His newly hired attorney, Sasha Dadan, entered the not-guilty plea for Nauta. The investigation into Trump's documents handling came to public notice after the FBI's raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate last August, sparking claims of political targeting by some Republicans and Democrats. Despite the case set to go on trial on August 14, a delay to December is likely due to the need for defense attorneys to obtain security clearances and review all evidence.
→ Pfizer allegedly sponsors the transgender advocacy group while profiting from transition-related drugs. Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, reportedly sponsored the GenderCool Project, an organization promoting positive media portrayal of transgender children while profiting from puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormone therapies used for gender transition. Although Pfizer's name isn't currently listed among the organization's backers, a document shows it as a corporate sponsor, offering varying tiers of financial support. Pfizer produces several drugs used in gender transition, including Depo-Estradiol, Aldactone, Depo-Provera, Depo-Testosterone, and Synarel. Pfizer's relationship with the GenderCool Project remains unclear. Other pharmaceutical companies, such as Abbvie and Bayer, were also mentioned as sponsors of the organization and producers of drugs used in gender transition. Critics argue this could normalize medical interventions in transgender youth, benefiting pharmaceutical companies financially.
→ Meta Platforms, previously known as Facebook, has launched a new app called Threads, which is intended to compete directly with Twitter. The launch has quickly garnered millions of users, including high-profile individuals such as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Threads app allows users to sign in with their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, potentially drawing from Instagram's 2 billion monthly active users. This is happening amidst Twitter's struggles following several chaotic decisions by owner Elon Musk. Although Threads resembles Twitter in featuring short text posts, it doesn't include direct messaging. Meta's stock rose 3% ahead of the launch. Despite the promising start, Meta has faced difficulties in the past with launching standalone apps, notably failing to compete with TikTok using its Lasso app.
→ Twitter is considering legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over its new platform, Threads. Twitter's lawyer Alex Spiro has accused Meta of hiring ex-Twitter employees who allegedly have access to Twitter's trade secrets and confidential information. Despite Meta denying these claims, Twitter insists on enforcing its intellectual property rights and demands Meta stop using any of Twitter's trade secrets or confidential information. The Threads platform, which has gained over 30 million sign-ups since its recent launch, is seen as a competitor to Twitter. However, experts argue that for Twitter to claim trade secret theft successfully, it will need to provide more substantial evidence beyond its current allegations. Meanwhile, Twitter has been facing challenges, including competition from other platforms and user dissatisfaction due to recent changes in its policy.
→ Surrogate alleges pressure to terminate pregnancy following breast cancer diagnosis; speaks out against surrogacy industry. Brittney Pearson, a surrogate from Sacramento, California, alleges she was pressured to terminate her second-trimester pregnancy after being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. Despite her doctors' confidence that they could safely initiate chemotherapy without endangering the unborn child, the intended fathers, a gay couple, threatened legal action to force termination upon learning of the cancer's severity. The fathers were concerned about potential health issues in a premature baby and did not wish their DNA to be raised by anyone else, even if the baby survived. Pearson, heartbroken and feeling objectified, gave birth on Father’s Day, but the baby did not survive. The fathers subsequently seized the child's remains for cremation and have not contacted Pearson since. Pearson's family has set up a GoFundMe to support her during her cancer treatment. Pearson has vowed to stop her work in surrogacy and is speaking out about her experience.
→ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance for transgender and non-binary individuals on how to "chestfeed" infants. The guidance, present on the CDC's website, offers advice for individuals who have had breast removal surgeries or are biological men taking hormones to grow breasts. However, some doctors have criticized the CDC, suggesting that the guidance does not adequately assess the risks to children consuming milk produced through hormone treatments used in gender-reassignment procedures. These doctors also raised concerns about the potential long-term health impacts on children and the lack of comprehensive studies comparing naturally occurring female breast milk and hormone-induced male breast milk. The CDC has yet to respond to these criticisms.
→ Lancet removes preprint study linking 74% of vaccine-related deaths to COVID-19 vaccines, citing methodological concerns. A preprint study by Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist, and Dr. Harvey Risch, an epidemiologist from Yale, along with colleagues from the Wellness Company, was removed from the Lancet's preprint site less than 24 hours after its publication. The study, which had yet to undergo peer review, reported that 74% of deaths in 325 autopsies after The vaccine were caused by COVID-19 vaccination. The removal note stated that the study's conclusions were not supported by its methodology, which raised questions about censorship, given the authors' credibility in their respective fields. The study claimed the cardiovascular system was the most impacted organ system in vaccine-associated deaths. Critics argue that the study may have biases, including over-reporting certain causes of death. The authors urge further investigation to clarify their findings.
→ Biden to waive ban on cluster munitions for $800 million aid package to Ukraine, igniting controversy. The United States plans to send cluster munitions to Ukraine in a move to bolster the country's counteroffensive against Russian invaders, despite concerns raised by human rights groups. The decision, which includes a weapons aid package valued at up to $800 million, is expected to be announced soon. The package features cluster munitions fired by a 155-millimeter Howitzer cannon, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and ground vehicles like Bradley fighting vehicles and Stryker armored personnel carriers. Despite the 2009 law that bans U.S. exports of cluster munitions with high failure rates, President Biden can waive this prohibition, as the munitions are considered to have a failure rate lower than 2.35%. Cluster munitions can indiscriminately kill over a wide area, and unexploded bomblets pose long-term dangers, leading to criticism from groups like Human Rights Watch. Despite this, the Pentagon maintains that the munitions could be useful in Ukraine's fight. This is the 42nd security assistance package the U.S. has approved for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The country has also been pushing for new Western fighter planes, including F-16s.
→ American ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, recently met with jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. This marks the second visit since Gershkovich's pre-trial detention in March on espionage charges that both he and the Wall Street Journal deny. Despite a Russian judge denying a release application, the U.S. State Department maintains that Gershkovich is wrongfully detained and has called for his immediate release alongside Paul Whelan, another U.S. citizen serving a sentence in Russia on espionage charges. However, Russia has stated there can be no prisoner exchange until a verdict is reached in Gershkovich's case, with no trial date announced as of yet. The situation continues to strain U.S.-Russian relations, already at a six-decade low following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
→ President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with over 200 mayors to discuss the aftermath of violent riots that have hit France following the police shooting of Nahel, a 17-year-old North African teenager. French employers’ lobby, Medef, estimated the cost of the violence at over €1 billion ($1.1 billion), with 200 businesses looted and significant property damage. The violence has highlighted deep-seated tensions around racism and inequality in France. The unrest has also led to a drop in tourism reservations for the upcoming summer season. Arrests and damage have seen a decline as 45,000 police forces were deployed across the country. French insurers have agreed to extend the period for store owners to make damage claims from the riots to 30 days. The French government is considering additional measures to aid the most impacted businesses. This incident marks another political challenge for Macron, following increased retirement age and previous Yellow Vest movement protests.
→ The first full-length trailer for Martin Scorsese's historical drama, "Killers of the Flower Moon," has been released by Apple following the film's huge success at the Cannes Film Festival. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Jesse Plemons and is based on David Grann’s book about the Osage Murders, where Native Americans were killed for their wealth and oil-rich lands. The Hollywood Reporter described the film's 3.5-hour running time as justified, presenting a gripping story about historical erasure. Scorsese also expressed the film's profound impact on his perception of the Osage values during the festival. The movie will have a limited theatrical release, including on Imax screens, on October 6, before a wider release on October 20, and will be available globally on Apple TV+.
→ Angel Studios' movie "Sound of Freedom," led by actor Jim Caviezel, topped the U.S. box office on July 4th, outperforming even Disney's much-anticipated "Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny." The movie, which tackles the grim issue of human trafficking, earned $14.2 million at the box office ($11.5 million directly, plus $2.6 million from PAY IT FORWARD tickets). This film is inspired by the real-life story of federal agent Tim Ballard, who left his job to rescue a girl from sexual slavery in South America. With an A+ CinemaScore rating, the film is expected to continue its successful run. CEO of Angel Studios, Neal Harmon, thanked fans for their support and noted that the film's success reflects a broader grassroots movement.