Weekly News Bites #027 | Is is possible Biden isn't running? DOJ charging Ray Epps?

All of the top stories 📰 of the week in small bites.

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Hi friend!

It’s FRIDAY, July 14! YAY

Some of the stories this week!

• Top Dems are making calls looking to replace Biden, claiming he isn’t running.

• Ex-marine Ray Epps to face charges sues Fox News over Capitol riot conspiracy claims.

• Gal Luft, a key witness suggested by Republicans in their investigations into the Biden family, is under federal indictment related to his work for China.

• Donald Trump might be skipping out on the early Republican presidential primary debates, according to his long-standing confidante, Jason Miller.

• The House voted 221-213 to halt a Pentagon policy funding servicemember abortions.

• Disney World's Magic fades as crowd dwindles and stocks drop amid political controversy.

I decided to change it up a bit and have some fun with the news. Let me know what you think with the poll at the bottom. ;)

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→ Are top Dems looking to replace Biden? Insider whispers from the blue side of the aisle suggest a plot twist we didn't see coming - our main man, El Presidente Joe Biden, may not be taking another spin in the electoral dance-off!

CNN has been spilling the tea that the movers and shakers of the Democratic party, those with the big bucks and even bigger influence, have been sliding into the DMs of some of the party's rising stars. Why? Well, let's just say there's some doubt that Biden, the stumbler-in-chief, will be stepping back into the ring.

Despite POTUS launching his campaign (and himself) and being as stubborn as a mule about running, the political bigwigs are hinting that he might not be up for another round. Biden's entourage, however, is quick on the defense, insisting he's spry and is ready to rumble.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill is buzzing about the Golden State's leading man, Governor Gavin Newsom…(sorry, I just puked a little in my mouth.) Newsom has been busy beefing up his national profile, throwing political punches at rivals, and schmoozing on Fox News with Sean Hannity. With his war chest from his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, he's supporting fellow Dems and making road trips to red states to boost the blue team's chances.

The backstage buzz among senior Democratic advisers is one of concern about the sluggish tempo of Biden's campaign. But fear not; the blue team strategists are banking that the ticket to victory could be the voters' love-to-hate relationship with Trump. As Democratic strategist Lis Smith put it, their hope is that people will be more fired up to vote against Republicans than they are in love with Biden.

→ FBI Director under spotlight: House Judiciary grills Wray on controversies. FBI Director Christopher Wray was put in the hot seat during a fiery grilling by lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee. The topics? A veritable Pandora's box of contentious issues: alleged FBI politicization, the Bureau's role in the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol riot, ties to a Russian-infiltrated intelligence agency, peeping on peaceful parishes, sneaky surveillance of school board meetings, and even an audacious armed raid on a pro-life activist.

This follows whistleblowers who have sounded the alarm, claiming that the FBI and DOJ turned a blind eye towards the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden. Adding to this saga is the indictment of Trump adviser Gal Luft, who's linked the Biden family to a series of suspicious business dealings.

While the left chalks it all up to another episode in the GOP's soap opera drama, conservatives are crying foul, accusing Papi Biden of misusing the FBI and DOJ to protect his son. "Where's the justice?" they wonder, pointing to what they believe is a blatant two-tier justice system.

→ Gal Luft, a key witness suggested by Republicans in their investigations into the Biden family, is under federal indictment related to his work for China. Talk about a twist in the plot! Gal Luft, the potential star witness Republicans were hoping would spill the beans on the Biden family, finds himself in the middle of a federal indictment! This drama is all related to his work for China, with accusations of him acting as an unlawful agent and orchestrating shady arms and oil deals. It’s like a movie!

Luft, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Israel, is also a top dog at an energy security think tank in Maryland. But his 'senior advisor' role at a non-profit, bankrolled by Chinese oil bigwig CEFC China Energy Co., has really landed him in hot water because the very same company allegedly funneled cash into Luft's think tank. Ironically it sounds very similar to what the son of a certain president did, but we won’t discuss that.

James Comer (R., Ky.) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) have been trying to shine a light on Luft, convinced he's got the lowdown on some dirty dealings between the Biden family and foreign powers. But with this bombshell indictment, those plans might have to be put on ice.

Not one to stay silent, Luft made a video claiming he had to dodge the authorities, all while vehemently denying the accusations. He even went so far as to accuse the Justice Department of putting him in their crosshairs after he spilled the beans on some under-the-table financial dealings involving Hunter Biden and the Chinese oil conglomerate. But the Justice Department isn't having any of it, staunchly denying any partisan influence.

As for the court of public opinion? The left is saying Luft's credibility is as deflated as a day-old party balloon. The right, however, is crying foul, accusing the DOJ of using its power to muzzle any negative chatter about Hunter Biden. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this real-life political thriller unfolds!

→ The Biden administration has decided to play fairy godmother, sweeping away a colossal $39 billion in student debt for a lucky 804,000 individuals. Thanks to some slick maneuvering around the income-driven repayment system, these borrowers will be walking away from their debt.

How is this happening, you ask? It’s due to adjustments to the student loan system's income-driven repayment plans. In these plans, the remaining debt is waived after 20 or 25 years of payments, based on the loan and plan type. In the past, some payments weren't adequately tracked, preventing borrowers from reaching debt forgiveness. But in a plot twist, the administration decided to count payments made during deferments and forbearances, as well as the late-night arrivals and partial payments.

This announcement is coming hot on the heels of the Supreme Court turning down Biden's earlier, even more generous forgiveness plan. The Education Department will soon notify eligible borrowers. So, brace yourself for a call from the Education Department, folks – you might be one of the chosen!

→ Utah's Governor Spencer Cox is prepping to sling lawsuits at these platforms for the alleged harm these apps can cause to kids. You might recall earlier this year, Cox made it a legal requirement for parents to give their thumbs-up before their kids could log onto social media. And he's not the only one fed up with the social media circus. A group of bipartisan senators is cooking up a bill that aims to restrict anyone under 13 from using social media and require parental permission for those under 18.

→ Ex-marine Ray Epps to face charges sues Fox News over Capitol riot conspiracy claims. Trouble is brewing for ex-Marine Ray Epps! The former serviceman is now staring down the barrel of potential criminal charges from the Department of Justice over his dubious antics during the January 6 Capitol debacle.

"[I]n May 2023, the Department of Justice notified Epps that it would seek to charge him criminally for events on January 6, 2021, two-and-a-half years later. The relentless attacks by Fox and Mr. Carlson and the resulting political pressure likely resulted in the criminal charges," the suit claims.

It is worth noting that the DOJ has not yet publicly announced charges against Epps. But that hasn’t stopped Mr. Epps from making waves in the media sphere, taking on none other than the mighty Fox News!

Epps is crying foul, insisting that Fox News, and especially former host Tucker Carlson, have been hawking nothing but “LIES” about his role in the riot. He's spun a lawsuit out of these accusations, slinging mud back at the network for supposedly pushing the narrative that he was an undercover federal agent stirring up the trouble and creating so much pressure he is now looking at charges. I guess he is upset that Tucker did his job.

Homeboy Ray vehemently denies playing any part in inciting the chaos, and he's sticking to his guns that he was just backing the peaceful protest. That is an interesting development, folks!

→ Disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who famously traded the beam and bars for behind bars, was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a fellow inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary Coleman in Florida. Federal Bureau of Prisons is playing mum on the details, citing privacy and security.

Nassar, serving a sentence of up to 175 years for his horrific sexual abuses, supposedly found himself on the sharp end of a shiv, receiving two stabs in the neck, two in the back, and a staggering six in the chest, according to the local correction officers' union president.

Nassar's scandalous actions triggered a substantial shakeup within USA Gymnastics’ leadership, drove the organization into bankruptcy due to numerous lawsuits, and resulted in hefty settlements from both Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. Tumbling into more controversy, a 2021 Justice Department report revealed the FBI made major missteps that allowed Nassar to continue his dirty deeds for far too long.

→ Donald Trump might be skipping out on the early Republican presidential primary debates, according to his long-standing confidante, Jason Miller. But why would The Donald give up a chance at the limelight, you ask?

Miller spilled the beans, suggesting Trump is "unlikely" to partake in at least the first two face-offs. Even as early polls show him soaring over potential Republican contenders, Miller hints that there's no gain in the game for Trump to lock horns with those lagging in popularity.

The final word on the debate dodge isn't in yet, and while the prospect of Trump vanishing from the primary stages might have some politicos breathing a sigh of relief, don't reach for the party poppers just yet. If the nominations play out in Trump's favor, he’s fully committed to going toe-to-toe with President Biden in the ultimate political showdown come the general election. That is, if Biden manages not to fall off the stage.

The curtain raises on the first Republican presidential primary debate on August 23, 2023. Mark your calendars, folks, because this political theater promises all the drama, even if The Donald decides to be a no-show.

→ Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, confirmed he's not playing hard to get when it comes to the upcoming GOP presidential debate in August. He's all in, with or without the grand old party's former commander-in-chief, Donald Trump.

In true Trump style, the ex-prez is playing coy, keeping everyone guessing whether he'll show or repeat his 2016 Iowa caucus no-show act. But Ron isn't sweating it. He's seeing the debate as his golden ticket, his opportunity to charm the pants off voters. Not literally, of course. Awkward.

Ron didn't miss the chance to take a jab at President Biden and his fiscal strategy, christening it 'BideNOmics.’ Meanwhile, he couldn't help but toot his own horn, emphasizing the fiscal fitness of his sun-soaked state under his watch. He's pledged to go head-to-head with liberal narratives, safeguarding parental rights, and promising to scrub indoctrination from school curriculums.

What about the elephant in the room - the polls? Despite trailing behind Trump, DeSantis isn't worried. He's quick to point out the record-breaking cash his campaign is raking in. And he's also convinced he's got the charm to reel in independent voters, reminiscing his stellar 19-point victory back in 2022. He may not be leading the GOP race right now, but he doesn’t want you to count him out just yet - it seems like DeSantis has his game face on!

→ MSNBC attempted to flex its investigative muscles with a piece titled, "Why the far right is really into home fitness," throwing a one-two punch at the alleged link between extreme right-wing politics and fitness buffs.

The article pulls no punches, arguing that fitness is being exploited to "hyper-masculinize" individuals, with the far right using pandemic-induced home workout trends to pull a fast one on mixed martial arts (MMA) and combat sports communities.

The report claims these political hard-hitters are squatting in online "fascist fitness" chat groups on Telegram, flexing their recruitment and indoctrination skills. The bait? Good ol' health tips. The hook? The intro to far-right content is as easy as a step up on a gym platform.

Their strategy, the article claims, is straight from the far-right playbook, capitalizing on an emphasis on masculinity, strength, and heroism. And if you thought it was just push-ups and protein shakes, think again. The reach extends into the entertainment industry, too, with live-streamed fights and combat sports video games reportedly on the radar.

→ The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement celebrates its diamond anniversary, kicking off the festivities with a new campaign called the "Defund the Police Week of Action" in a move to champion a new national holiday. July 13 shall be hailed as "Black Lives Matter Day." At least, that is what they want. A slew of digital and in-person happenings, masterminded by activists and institutions, are planned with the goal of taking the monetary wind out of the sails of police departments and defunding the police throughout the United States.

It’s curious that they are attempting to revive “defund the police” when it has already been shown to be an object failure, but denial and crazy are a fascinating pair.

Among the notable events of the week, the "#BLMTurns10 People’s Justice Festival" in the City of Angels takes the spotlight, drawing the likes of Travon Martin's mother and scholar-activist Dr. Cornel West. The recent Supreme Court rulings, shaking up the landscape of affirmative action and student loans, have BLM activists affirming - their mission is far from complete.

→ Iowa's Republican-majority legislature made a monumental stride in the defense of unborn life this Tuesday. The newly passed legislation prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. Iowa's Governor, Kim Reynolds, is expected to sign this life-affirming bill promptly. Although heatedly debated, the law includes exceptions for circumstances such as rape, incest, and significant risk to the woman's health. The bill was passed following a 3-3 deadlock decision in June by the state's Supreme Court that left abortions legal for up to 20 weeks. With this bold move, Iowa joins 14 other states enacting similar protections following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling in June 2022.


→ The House voted 221-213 to halt a Pentagon policy funding servicemember abortions, seeking to attach it to the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act, and drawing certain opposition from the Senate. The policy, born post the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling, faces staunch protest from conservatives, most prominently Alabama's Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who's placed a blanket hold on military promotions and nominations. Amidst substantial defense bill discussions, this impasse promises to stoke more heated debates in the Senate.

→ In a play for NATO membership, Ukraine's President Zelenskiy aired his grievances about the organization's seemingly stalled invitation during a rallying support event in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius. The fatigue-wearing leader stated, "NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger."

Zelenskiy was clearly frustrated over the lack of a clear membership timetable despite support from Eastern European NATO nations. These allies see Ukraine's accession as a strategic move to deter Russian bullishness in the region.

However, not all NATO members are singing from the same hymn sheet. The US and Germany, two of the alliance's heaviest hitters, remain hesitant, their caution driven by the specter of a direct conflict with Russia. This hesitation follows NATO's previous statement, indicating Ukraine's invitation hinges on member consensus and the fulfillment of specific conditions. As the latest move in Zelenskiy's persistent campaign for NATO membership, his Vilnius appearance underlined the tension within the alliance and set the stage for some tough discussions ahead.


→ President Biden has issued an order empowering the Pentagon to mobilize up to 3,000 reserve troops. This latest development is intended to bolster Operation Atlantic Resolve – an initiative that emerged in response to Russia's contentious annexation of Ukraine's Crimea back in 2014. Yet, the DOD remains tight-lipped on whether they will indeed exercise this newfound authority.

Last year witnessed a sharp uptick in US military presence across Europe, escalating by roughly 20,000 troops. This move was in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's audacious incursion into Ukraine, which saw the total count of US forces on the continent rise to an impressive 100,000.

→ In a twist of digital intrigue, the inbox of Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, has reportedly been compromised by elusive Chinese hackers, fueling the narrative of the latest string of Chinese-linked cyber invasions. U.S. officials unveiled this breach as the centerpiece of a much broader, ominous cyber campaign. A congressional aide, a human rights advocate, and the U.S. think tanks also found themselves under siege in this digital onslaught.

The alleged Chinese culprits reportedly tapped into the technological vulnerabilities of Microsoft's sprawling cloud infrastructure. The tech behemoth, however, was quick to patch up the exposed weakness a month back. Despite these intrusions, officials say no classified information was accessed, and the breach was detected swiftly, preventing further infiltration.

Turning the chessboard, China's embassy in London has dismissed these charges as nothing more than fabricated "disinformation." (That sounds familiar) This digital drama underlines the growing cyber capabilities of Chinese groups and the already strained U.S.-China relations.

→ It was an unusually quiet 4th of July weekend for Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom saw fewer mouse-ears bobbing among less-than-expected crowds. The source of the shrinking audience is data provider Touring Plans, who suggested the legal tussle between Disney and Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, could be the reason for the diminished crowd. Guess that is what happens when a company protests a bill that prohibits exposing children to sexual content or gender confusion.

Wall Street has reacted with jitters, too, with Disney's stocks taking a hit, presumably as fallout from the political brouhaha and predictions of slimmer crowds at its previously globally loved theme parks. And to add salt to the wound, streaming losses, further darkening the outlook for the Hollywood behemoth.

Disney's opposition to the education bill has sent a ripple through the conservative community, sparking calls for boycotts. Adding fuel to the fire, Governor DeSantis has scrapped a legacy agreement that let Disney World independently rule its Central Florida kingdom. As fireworks crackled over Cinderella's Castle this Independence Day, there was definitely more than just fairy dust hanging in the air.

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Tell me what you think about the change in the style of writing.