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Category: Politics
April 11, 2024
Politics
War

Zelensky Appears to Reject Alleged Trump Peace Plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a rumored peace plan from Donald Trump suggesting Ukraine relinquishes territory to Russia to resolve the conflict. The plan, according to a report from The Washington Post, would have Ukraine cede the Donbas region and recognize Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. Several global leaders, including NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, have floated similar ideas for ending the war.

“If the deal is that we just give up our territories, and that’s the idea behind it, then it’s a very primitive idea,” Zelensky said in a recent interview. He added: “I don’t need a fantastic idea, I need a real idea, because people’s lives are at stake.” Ukrainian officials have repeatedly balked at the possibility the country may have to give up a portion of its territory to Russia as part of a peace agreement.

Tamila Tasheva, the top Ukrainian official overseeing Crimea for the Zelensky government, told The Daily Beast that ceding land to Russia would only embolden its territorial ambitions. “It’s crucial to recognize that any retreats made by Ukraine at this point could potentially fuel future escalations. It’s weakness, rather than the capability to resist, that emboldens Russia’s actions,” she said.

The Trump campaign has suggested The Washington Post‘s reporting on the former President’s proposed peace plan is inaccurate. “Any speculation about President Trump’s plan is coming from unnamed and uninformed sources who have no idea what is going on or what will happen,” campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in response to the report.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a rumored peace plan from Donald Trump suggesting Ukraine relinquishes territory to Russia to resolve the conflict. The plan, according to a report from The Washington Post, would have Ukraine cede the Donbas region and recognize Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. Several global leaders, including NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, have floated similar ideas for ending the war. show more
April 11, 2024
William Upton
News
Politics

USPS Plans Stamp Price Hike After Biden Ditches Trump Admin Reforms.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking another price increase after raising the cost of a first-class stamp three times in less than two years. Should the proposed hike be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, customers will pay 73 cents for a stamp, reflecting about a 7 percent increase on all forms of postage.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, appointed by former President Donald Trump in May 2020, has made multiple attempts to reform the USPS and put it on a more sound fiscal footing. However, Congressional Democrats and later President Joe Biden hampered the reform efforts. Several lawsuits by environmental groups and progressive activists forced DeJoy to abandon a proposal to bolster the postal service’s fleet of vehicles with cheaper, gasoline-powered vehicles. The Postal Service was instead forced to acquire more expensive electric and hybrid delivery trucks.

Pressure from Congressional Democrats forced DeJoy to abandon changes to the postal service’s overtime policies and the elimination of lower-volume mail collection boxes found on city streets. The Postmaster General and the Trump Treasury Department repeatedly warned Congress that without significant changes, USPS would need to explore increasing its revenue by raising stamp prices and the cost of other services.

The stamp price plan announced on Tuesday raises the cost of first-class stamps, 1-ounce letters to 69 cents, international ounce-size letters to $1.65, and postcards to $1.65. Mailing domestic postcards will increase to 56 cents. The Postal Service hopes to implement these changes by July.

The USPS reported a $6.5 billion net loss in 2023 amidst falling revenue and usage of first-class mail, which reached its lowest level since 1968.

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The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking another price increase after raising the cost of a first-class stamp three times in less than two years. Should the proposed hike be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, customers will pay 73 cents for a stamp, reflecting about a 7 percent increase on all forms of postage. show more
April 11, 2024
William Upton
Economy
Politics

Biden Says Fed Will Cut Interest Rates by Year’s End, Raising Questions About Central Bank’s Independence.

President Joe Biden is standing by his prediction that the Federal Reserve will enact an interest rate cut before the end of the year. The President doubled down on the rate cut prediction despite a Consumer Price Index (CPI) print released on Wednesday suggesting that inflation was reaccelerating.

“Well, I do stand by my prediction that, before the year is out, there’ll be a rate cut,” Biden said during a Wednesday press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The President suggested that the hot CPI report would only delay a rate cut by a month or two.

Biden’s comments raised renewed concerns about the political independence of the U.S. central bank in an election year. Many Democrats believe a Federal Reserve interest rate cut could juice the economy and boost President Biden’s re-election efforts. In a speech last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell insisted the central bank does not allow partisan considerations to impact their monetary policy decision.

“Fed policymakers serve long terms that are not synchronized with election cycles,” Powell said, adding: “Our decisions are not subject to reversal by other parts of the government, other than through legislation.” The central bank chief continued: “This independence both enables and requires us to make our monetary policy decisions without consideration of short-term political matters.”

Wednesday’s CPI data cast further doubt on whether the Federal Reserve will move to reduce interest rates in the United States in the near term. The central bank has maintained that it believes interest rates must remain elevated until inflation hits 2 percent — the CPI print indicates inflation currently sits at 3.5 percent compared to last year.

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President Joe Biden is standing by his prediction that the Federal Reserve will enact an interest rate cut before the end of the year. The President doubled down on the rate cut prediction despite a Consumer Price Index (CPI) print released on Wednesday suggesting that inflation was reaccelerating. show more
April 10, 2024
News
Politics

50 Pro-Hamas Protesters Arrested for Occupying U.S. Senate Cafeteria.

A group of pro-Hams protesters staged a demonstration inside a U.S. Senate cafeteria on Tuesday, demanding the American government back a ceasefire in Gaza. The protestors, comprised at least in part by members of Christians for a Free Palestine, chanted: “Congress and their staff will not eat until Gaza eats.” Demonstrators also displayed banners reading “Send food, not bombs” and “Break bread, not bodies.”

More than 50 of the protestors were detained and arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police after they stormed through a Senate office building and occupied the cafeteria. The demonstration briefly caused the dining hall frequented by lawmakers and their staff – as well as guests and tourists — to be shut down.

The calls among Democrat and progressive activists for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have hit new highs following an accidental Israeli military strike that resulted in the deaths of several humanitarian aid workers. President Joe Biden has faced internal backlash within his party over appearing overly supportive of Israel and its military operation aimed at eliminating the Hamas terrorist group following their barbaric October 7, 2023 attack on the Jewish state.

Late last year, pro-Hamas demonstrators stormed the Cannon House Office Building in a moment reminiscent of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Several protestors were arrested for assaulting officers after clashing with U.S. Capitol Police. Meanwhile, outside the Capitol building, Rep. Rashida Tlaib urged on the demonstrators while attacking President Biden’s pro-Israel stance — claiming that Arab-American and Muslim voters would not forget his betrayal.

During the 2024 Democrat presidential primary, Biden faced several significant protest votes from the Muslim community and progressive activists in states like Michigan and Washington. Additionally, Arab-American and Muslim leaders in the U.S. have balked at efforts by the President’s re-election campaign to try and mend bridges.

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A group of pro-Hams protesters staged a demonstration inside a U.S. Senate cafeteria on Tuesday, demanding the American government back a ceasefire in Gaza. The protestors, comprised at least in part by members of Christians for a Free Palestine, chanted: "Congress and their staff will not eat until Gaza eats." Demonstrators also displayed banners reading "Send food, not bombs" and "Break bread, not bodies." show more
April 10, 2024
Corruption
Health
Politics

Rand Paul: ‘Smoking Gun’ Ties Fauci to Wuhan Lab Creation of COVID.

Sen. Rand Paul says a 2018 grant proposal seeking funding to experiment with a COVID-19-type virus is the “smoking gun” linking Dr. Anthony Fauci and the National Institutes of Health to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following recent disclosures by a Marine Corps whistleblower, Senator Paul flagged a 2018 grant proposal linked to 15 federal agencies that could have enabled the Wuhan Institute to develop a COVID-19-like virus.

“We only found out about this from a whistleblower — nobody else in government ever informed us, including Anthony Fauci,” Paul said. He alleges the “smoking gun” ties him and the NIH to the 2018 grant proposal, leading to the possibility that NIH and NIAID were part of research that could have potentially resulted in the COVID-19 virus.

The grant proposal, labeled “DEFUSE Project,” was submitted to the Department of Defense’s research agency, DARPA, and reportedly incorporated NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, yielding suspicions of Fauci’s knowledge and involvement. Paul has called for more information from each agency involved by April 23.

The grant proposal’s existence suggests Fauci may have lied directly to Congress. “Sen. Paul, I have never lied before Congress and I do not retract that statement. This paper that you are referring to was judged by qualified staff up and down the chain as not being gain-of-function,” Fauci said during a 2021 Senate hearing. “Sen. Paul, you do not know what you are talking about, quite frankly.”

While the DEFUSE project was not federally funded, according to Paul, Fauci and others were allegedly aware of Wuhan lab’s continuance in related microbial research. This brings into sharper focus the early insinuations of COVID-19 being a laboratory leak, and the subsequent dismissal of the hypothesis by prominent voices like Fauci, who derided it as a conspiracy theory.

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Sen. Rand Paul says a 2018 grant proposal seeking funding to experiment with a COVID-19-type virus is the "smoking gun" linking Dr. Anthony Fauci and the National Institutes of Health to the COVID-19 pandemic. show more
April 10, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Media
Politics

Media Continues to Peddle Federal Abortion Ban Conspiracies Despite Unequivocal Trump Statement.

The corporate media is continuing to peddle falsehoods aimed at riling up abortion activists in an attempt to swing November elections for Democrats, with a new article in the Washington Post claiming the practice could be banned at the federal level under a second Trump term, despite the 45th President making an unequivocal federalist argument just days ago.

In his initial statement on abortion, Trump confirmed his personal support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk. He also expressed his belief that, constitutionally, the issue should be decided according to “the will of the people” on a state-by-state basis.

“People forget, fighting Roe v. Wade was, right from the beginning, all about bringing the Issue back to the States, pursuant to the 10th Amendment and States’ Rights. It wasn’t about anything else,” he wrote.

“We had a Great Victory, it’s back in the States where it belongs, and where everyone wanted it. The States will be making the decision,” he added.

“Republicans are now free to run for Office based on the Horrible Border, Inflation, Bad Economy, and the Death & Destruction of our Country!”

Trump has frequently stressed people must follow “their heart” on abortion. However, he has warned conservatives that they must “win elections” to have any positive impact on the country at all.

Pushing for total or near-total bans on abortion, which does not enjoy broad public support, is likely to frustrate this larger goal, according to most polling.

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The corporate media is continuing to peddle falsehoods aimed at riling up abortion activists in an attempt to swing November elections for Democrats, with a new article in the Washington Post claiming the practice could be banned at the federal level under a second Trump term, despite the 45th President making an unequivocal federalist argument just days ago. show more
bridge
April 10, 2024
News
Politics

Yes, The Collapsed Baltimore Bridge May Be Renamed Because It Was ‘Racist.’

The Caucus of African American Leaders voted to petition Governor Wes Moore to rename the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge once it’s rebuilt. Including organizations such as the NAACP and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Caucus argues the current namesake — author of the national anthem — held ‘racist’ views.

The Caucus claims that Key wrote lyrics that “demeaned black people” and proposed that the overhauled bridge bear the name of Parren J Mitchel, Maryland’s first black congressman.

Governor Moore, responding to a query about renaming the bridge, stated that his current priorities were closure for the victims’ families and getting the channel cleared. ”I think any other conversations along those lines, there will be time for that, but now’s not the time,” he said.

In addition, the Caucus is pushing to rename the Senator Frederick Malkus Memorial Bridge, highlighting the Senator’s opposition to desegregation efforts. They suggest the bridge be renamed to honor Gloria Richardson, a Maryland civil rights champion.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in late March after a cargo ship allided with one of its support pillars.

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The Caucus of African American Leaders voted to petition Governor Wes Moore to rename the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge once it's rebuilt. Including organizations such as the NAACP and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Caucus argues the current namesake — author of the national anthem — held 'racist' views. show more
zelensky
April 10, 2024
William Upton
Politics
War

You’ve Been Giving Much More to Ukraine Than You Were Told.

A group of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are accusing President Joe Biden‘s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of significantly underestimating the amount of aid sent to Ukraine. In a letter to Biden’s budget agency, Sens. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Mike Lee (R-UT) — along with several other lawmakers — detail evidence suggesting the previous Ukraine aid estimate of $111 billion is off by at least $14 billion. They contend the actual cost of aid is closer to $125 billion and could even exceed $129 billion.

Sen. Vance and his colleagues also allege the Biden government has stonewalled their transparency efforts, making it increasingly difficult to determine the cost of U.S. aid packages sent to the Eastern European country. They note that their initial request for OMB to provide the cost of Ukraine aid took nearly eight months to fulfill — and even then, the agency only provided an incomplete data set.

“The deficiencies in OMB’s response were numerous,” the Senators wrote to the agency’s director, Shalanda Young, on Tuesday. They noted the OMB data did not include “base appropriations for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative” and “omitted the administration’s ‘$6.2 billion in ‘freed-up’ authority’ to send weapons to Ukraine.”

In May of last year, The National Pulse reported that the Biden government had changed its method for determining the value of military equipment in an effort to allow them to claim they were spending less than initially claimed on Ukraine. The Pentagon originally valued weapons in terms of their replacement costs. By moving to an accounting system where they valued weapons in terms of cost when they were purchased and depreciated, they have been able to argue military aid to Ukraine has been overvalued.

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A group of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are accusing President Joe Biden's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of significantly underestimating the amount of aid sent to Ukraine. In a letter to Biden's budget agency, Sens. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Mike Lee (R-UT) — along with several other lawmakers — detail evidence suggesting the previous Ukraine aid estimate of $111 billion is off by at least $14 billion. They contend the actual cost of aid is closer to $125 billion and could even exceed $129 billion. show more
April 9, 2024
Immigration
Politics

Here’s Why The GOP Is Delaying the Alejandro Mayorkas Impeachment.

House Republicans have delayed submitting the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate until next week. The decision comes amidst concerns about the timing of an impeachment trial that Senate Democrats are expected to move to dismiss.

“To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week,” said Speaker Mike Johnson’s spokesman in a statement.

Speaker Johnson and the 11 impeachment managers originally told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer they intended to present the impeachment articles on Wednesday, April 10.

The Republicans’ hesitation appears to stem from potential GOP absences for what could be a late vote on Thursday. Senate Democrats control 51 seats, including Democratic-leaning independents, and may dismiss or delay the proceedings with a simple majority vote.

Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee revealed that the articles will travel from the House to the Senate on Monday. “We don’t want this to come over on the eve of the moment when members might be operating under the influence of jet-fume intoxication,” Lee said. GOP Senate Whip John Thune told journalists that Republicans wish for a “more fulsome discussion” once the articles arrive from the House.

Senate Majority Leader Schumer, however, expressed his desire to resolve the matter swiftly, saying, “We’re going to try and resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

Mayorkas faces impeachment for his role in the Biden government’s willful mishandling of the border crisis. Nearly two-thirds of Americans support the impeachment proceedings against him.

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House Republicans have delayed submitting the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate until next week. The decision comes amidst concerns about the timing of an impeachment trial that Senate Democrats are expected to move to dismiss. show more
Willis
April 8, 2024
Politics

Fani Willis Struggles to Raise Campaign Cash, Now Relies on Out-of-State Donors.

Campaign finance data indicates Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has seen little political boost from her RICO prosecution of former President Donald Trump and 14 other co-defendants over allegations they attempted to interfere in the state’s 2020 presidential election. Between August 15, 2023, and the end of this past January, Willis raised just $84,758 — well below the over $130,000 she raised in July of 2022 alone. The Fulton County District Attorney appears to have struggled to pull in cash in the months after she indicted the former President, having raised $326,042 since May of 2022.

Willis’s campaign also saw a drop in contributors following the RICO indictments. Over July and August of 2022, Willis received over 600 contributions, more than double what she’s received since the indictments. In addition to the lackluster fundraising and donor dropoff, the District Attorney‘s re-election campaign has increasingly relied on out-of-state money. Georgia campaign finance data shows that about 70 percent of her donors are located outside the state and hail from liberal locales like California, Maryland, and New York.

The weaker-than-expected fundraising and her controversial prosecution of former President Trump have resulted in Willis drawing a Democrat primary challenger in her bid for re-election this fall. Christian Wise Smith — a former Fulton County prosecutor — previously challenged Willis in the 2020 Democratic primary, coming in third place with 22 percent of the vote. He also ran in the 2022 Democrat primary for Attorney General, placing in second — again with 22 percent of the vote.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Courtney Kramer in November’s general election. Kramer — formerly an executive with True the Vote — previously served as a litigation consultant on former President Trump‘s 2020 re-election campaign and as special counsel for the Georgia Republican Party.

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Campaign finance data indicates Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has seen little political boost from her RICO prosecution of former President Donald Trump and 14 other co-defendants over allegations they attempted to interfere in the state's 2020 presidential election. Between August 15, 2023, and the end of this past January, Willis raised just $84,758 — well below the over $130,000 she raised in July of 2022 alone. The Fulton County District Attorney appears to have struggled to pull in cash in the months after she indicted the former President, having raised $326,042 since May of 2022. show more