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  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...

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) spoke about the new treatment of Disney. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has taken a major step in leveling the playing field for businesses operating within the state. A bill was passed last year that aimed to address some of the privileges that the Walt Disney Company, a major player in the state's tourism industry, has enjoyed over the years. One of the major concerns was that Disney had tax exemptions and advantages that were not available to its competitors like Universal Studios and Sea World.  However, the bill that was passed gives the state the ability to tax Disney for the benefits it has received in the past, and a board will be put in place to determine the value of the property for tax purposes. This means that Disney will be subject to more ability to be taxed and will no longer be the watchdog of itself. Governor DeSantis has stated that Disney will have to live ...