US Hub

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At today's Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) clashed with Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States, and National Archives and Records Administration. On February 28, 2023, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) clashed with Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States and National Archives and Records Administration, at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. The heated exchange centered around Shogan's past public statements on social media and her refusal to provide a full accounting of her public posts. During the hearing, Hawley questioned Shogan about her previous statements on Twitter, which he characterized as "pretty grossly partisan and...offensive." He asked her to provide a full accounting of her public posts on Twitter, to which Shogan responded that her personal Twitter account consisted of posts about her mystery novels, events at the W...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At today's Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) questioned Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States about classifications. During the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Senator Rand Paul questioned Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States, about her understanding of the Archivist's role in certifying amendments to the Constitution and whether the Archivist has the power to change or alter the election results.  Shogan stated that the Archivist's function is ministerial and that the Archivist publishes an amendment when it becomes part of the Constitution but does not decide whether an amendment has been ratified. She also stated that she would not allow security at the Archives to force people to cover clothing that has a political speech on it. Senator Paul expressed his concern about the over-classification of government documents, citing an ...

Rep. Jefferson Van Drew At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) spoke about the southern border.  Republican Congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey delivered a scathing critique of the Biden administration's handling of immigration at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday. The hearing, titled "The Southern Border: What's Happening, Why, and Why It Matters," brought together experts and officials to discuss the current state of affairs at the US-Mexico border. Van Drew started his remarks by expressing his exhaustion with the situation at the border and his frustration with what he sees as a lack of honesty from President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. "I'm tired of the president lying, and I know people don't like to say it that way," Van Drew said. "He doesn't tell the truth." The congressman went on to criticize Mayorkas for repeatedly claiming th...

  Photo "Donald Trump" by  Dan Scavino In a video posted social media, former President Trump pledged to ban ESG investing by executive order should he retake the presidency, slamming the "woke left" and calling such investing a "threat" from "radical left Communists." Former President Trump has pledged to ban ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing by executive order if he retakes the presidency, in a video posted on social media. Trump slammed the "woke left" and called ESG investing a "threat" from "radical left Communists." In the video, Trump claimed that he issued a historic rule banning Wall Street and employers from investing retirement accounts in ESG for political reasons. He called such investments "poorly performing woke Financial scams" that would never be funded on their own merits. Trump alleged that the entire ESG scheme is designed to funnel retirement money to the "Mani...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr During a recent press conference on "Biden Border Crisis" in Jacksonville, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis was asked about a new policy requiring events at the Capitol to align with state agency missions. DeSantis responded by expressing his support for free speech and peaceful demonstrations, but also spoke out against the takeover of state capitals, which he noted has occurred in other states. DeSantis went on to criticize what he saw as a double standard in the media's coverage of such takeovers. "It's interesting if they're doing that from the left then the media says that's democracy in action they don't say it's an insurrection if you take over a capital because of that," he said. The governor went on to clarify that his administration has been supportive of people's right to speak their minds, but not at the expense of hijacking or interrupting the functioning of government. ...

  Photo credit: JD Lasica/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta, took to Instagram and Meta to celebrate his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan's birthday on February 24th, 2023. The couple is also preparing to welcome a new addition to their family, as they recently announced they are expecting their third child. Zuckerberg(39) shared a photo with Chan (38), giving his wife a kiss on the cheek while holding her baby bump. In the comments of the Instagram post, Zuckerberg revealed that the heartfelt photo was taken "in a science lab." The post received millions of likes and comments from well-wishers congratulating the couple on both the birthday celebration and their growing family. Zuckerberg and Chan, who have been married since 2012, are known for their philanthropic efforts. They founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which aims to promote equality and advance human potential through education, science, and social justice initiatives. In rec...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr The House Judiciary Committee holds a field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, entitled, "Biden's Border Crisis - Part II." Jim Jordan Leads Field Hearing Targeting Biden’s Border Policies In House Judiciary Cmte In Yuma, AZ On February 23, 2023, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio led a field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, targeting President Biden’s border policies. The hearing, held by the House Judiciary Committee, brought together experts and local officials to discuss the impact of the Biden administration's handling of the border crisis. Throughout the hearing, Jordan and other Republican representatives criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the border crisis. Jordan specifically called out the administration for its decision to halt construction of the border wall, as well as its overall approach to border security. “President Biden’s policies have led to an absolute disaster at our southern border,” J...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At today's House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) spoke to witnesses about the border. In a recent House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) addressed witnesses about the border crisis. He began by stating that the people of Yuma deserve better from the federal government than they have been getting, and that it is up to the House of Representatives to fight for them. Gaetz pointed out that not a single Democrat was present at the briefing, showing that this is a deeply unserious exercise. Dr. Trenchel, one of the witnesses, explained that one in four of the migrants who use birthing services at their hospital require neonatal Intensive Care Unit Services (NICU), a rate much higher than that of the non-migrant population. With only 20 beds at any given time, they often fill up due to the pressure of migrant communities. When they do, resident...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At Thursday's House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) spoke to witnesses about the situation at the border, and said that Republicans will have to use government funding to stop the flow of migrants. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio has been making headlines for his remarks during a House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona. The hearing was focused on the situation at the southern border, and Jordan spoke passionately about the need to address the chaos and danger that he sees there. Jordan began his remarks by noting that President Biden had promised on his first day in office to dismantle many of the policies and structures put in place by the previous administration to secure the border. Jordan argued that this had led directly to the situation at the border today, which he described as "open border chaos." He then asked a question that he felt was fundament...

Ron DeSantis At a press briefing in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) fumed against President Biden's and Democrats' immigration policies. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently spoke out against President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party's immigration policies during a press briefing. He expressed concerns about the increasing number of illegal immigrants entering the country, stating that over five million illegal aliens had been allowed into the US in just two years. Governor DeSantis believes that these policies are undermining the rule of law and posing a significant threat to national security. One of the primary issues that Governor DeSantis discussed during the briefing was the reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" policy. He argued that this policy needed to be reinstated, especially after the Biden administration repealed it. The governor also mentioned that the administration had limited the policy to Venezuelans and other groups in response...

  White House Press Briefing The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has once again erupted into violence, with both sides experiencing loss of civilian life. In response, the White House has issued a statement calling for an end to the violence and urging both sides to take steps to prevent further loss of life. At a recent press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre spoke to the issue, expressing deep concern over the recent violence in Israel and emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation. She recognized the security concerns facing Israel, but stressed the importance of protecting civilian lives and improving the security situation in the West Bank. The White House's position on the conflict is clear: both Israel and the Palestinian Authority must work together to de-escalate tensions and prevent further loss of civilian life. This is a message that has been reiterated by the National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett M...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) defends prohibiting undocumented immigrants from getting out-of-state tuition waivers. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has been defending his decision to prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving out-of-state tuition waivers in Florida's colleges and universities. This policy change has sparked controversy and criticism, with many arguing that it is discriminatory and could limit educational opportunities for undocumented students. In response to a reporter's question about the policy change, Governor DeSantis cited his administration's efforts to make higher education more affordable for Floridians. He noted that Florida has the most affordable higher education in the country, with in-state tuition averaging around $6,000 to $6,200. He also expressed his opposition to raising tuition, which he believes could undermine the affordability of higher education in the state. However, the gove...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At yesterday's House Energy Committee field hearing on the border crisis, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) grilled Rochelle M. Garza, President of the Texas Civil Rights Project, over her statements about the border. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) grilled Rochelle M. Garza, President of the Texas Civil Rights Project, on her statements about the border during a House Energy Committee field hearing on the border crisis.  Garza confirmed that there is a humanitarian crisis at the Southwest border, but when asked about her experience with Customs and Border Patrol agents or Texas DPS, she stated that she had only done a few ride-alongs in 2018 and 2017. Rep. Cammack then challenged Garza's statement that "Operation Lone Star" is a waste of taxpayer funds, citing that 361 million lethal doses of fentanyl have been confiscated since its implementation in 2021.  Garza claimed that the operation is illegal, and Rep. Cammack responded by...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At today's Senate Energy Committee, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) pressed Dr. Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary at the Office of International Affairs at the Department of Energy, over Biden Administration energy policy.   In this exchange, Senator Josh Hawley questions Dr. Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary at the Office of International Affairs at the Department of Energy, about the Biden Administration's energy policy.  Hawley expresses concern that the administration is prioritizing climate objectives over energy abundance and independence, and accuses them of making the United States more dependent on foreign sources of energy. Light responds by emphasizing the importance of energy diversification for energy security, but also notes that the United States is producing record amounts of oil and natural gas and encouraging U.S. oil producers to increase production.  Hawley also questions Light about China's role in ...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At today's Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned witnesses about a new bill that would affect drug prices in the US. During a Senate Commerce Committee meeting, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned witnesses about a new bill that would affect drug prices in the US. Cruz opened by welcoming the witnesses and noting the presence of four doctors. He went on to discuss the potential trade-offs associated with the bill, particularly when it comes to government regulation, which he warned can create compliance costs and barriers to entry for competitors.  The bill in question would impose contractual disclosure requirements, requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to share data on how much they pay providers and manufacturers for each drug, and it would also prohibit practices like clawbacks and spread pricing. Cruz asked Dr. Mulligan whether the bill's requirements could lead to more or less consolidation...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned FCC nominee Gigi Sohn. Cruz questioned Sohn about her failure to disclose a secret deal to the Senate Commerce Committee and to the White House, her political contributions to Senators while her nomination was pending, and her support of a left-wing activist group called "Fight for the Future."  Cruz argued that her actions demonstrated poor judgment and questioned her honesty and integrity. Sohn defended her actions and maintained that she acted honestly and in accordance with the agreement of the settlement. She also explained her support of "Fight for the Future" and argued that her political contributions were small and not significant. Here is the complete conversation between Ted Cruz and Gigi Sohn at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing: Ted Cruz : Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Sohn, this is your third hearing, that is hig...

  Facebook/JohnNeelyKennedy During a Senate Republican press briefing, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana spoke out against a new crime bill proposed by the Washington, D.C., City Council. In his remarks, Senator Kennedy made two points, arguing that all individuals are responsible for their actions and that government's primary role is to protect people and their property. Senator Kennedy began by thanking Senator Haggerty for leading the effort against the crime bill. He then emphasized the importance of personal responsibility, stating that individuals are responsible for their actions, regardless of how they are feeling or what has been done to them. He called this a bedrock principle of an ordered society, implying that the proposed crime bill does not align with this principle. Senator Kennedy then expressed confusion about individuals who are "anti-social" and harm others without any apparent cause. He argued that these individuals are not sick or confused, but simp...

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) defends new legislation to ban "woke" ESG banking in the state of Florida. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is a trend that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the banking industry. ESG investing focuses on considering a company's impact on the environment, its treatment of employees and other stakeholders, and its governance practices when making investment decisions. The goal of ESG investing is to align an investors' values with their investments and to promote sustainable and responsible business practices. However, not everyone is in favor of ESG investing. Governor DeSantis of Florida, for example, has raised concerns about the performance and cost of ESG investments. He argues that these investments may not be performing well and that they come with a higher cost. This, in turn, leads to higher energy costs and an increased cost of goods, ...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr At Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) questioned ex-Twitter executives about potentially destroying or suppressing important documents. The recent House Oversight Committee hearing that took place on Wednesday was a significant event in the ongoing discussion surrounding the role of social media companies in the dissemination of information and protection of free speech. At the heart of the hearing was a question from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to former Twitter executives about the potential destruction or suppression of important documents. Rep. Jordan highlighted a statement made by one of the executives, Mr. Baker, in his written testimony. In the statement, Mr. Baker stated that he did not destroy or "improperly suppress" any documents at Twitter regarding information that was important to the public dialogue. Rep. Jordan took issue with the use of the term "improperly su...