ICE increasingly arresting violent criminals released into US from southern border

Federal officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increasingly arrested serious criminals charged with violent crimes within the United States after being released into the country from the border during the Biden administration.

Historically, illegal immigrants whom ICE has arrested within the U.S. have been individuals wanted in their home country in connection to serious crimes there or have been in the U.S. for a number of years and have criminal records that range from less serious to somewhat serious offenses, such as a DUI and robbery.

The New Atlantis — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest an immigrant outside his residence during an early morning raid in Duarte, California, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Thus far in August, ICE has increasingly focused on arresting people who have a criminal record and entered the United States under Biden than people who entered before he was president in 2021.

On Wednesday, ICE nabbed Peruvian gang leader Gianfranco Torres-Navarro in Endicott, New York. Torres-Navarro was wanted for 23 murders in his home country and had illegally entered the U.S. in May near Roma, Texas. He was let into the country rather than detained in ICE custody — a decision that Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) said was the Biden administration’s fault.

“Let’s be crystal clear on why this happened. Governor Hochul, the Biden-Harris Administration, and open border activists like Josh Riley abandoned our borders and abandoned communities like Endicott. Because of them, we had an illegal immigrant and known serial killer wandering Endicott for nearly three months — just waiting for his next victim,” Molinaro said in a statement Friday.

ICE offices in Baltimore found and arrested the wanted leader of a Colombian gang who had entered the country illegally on Sept. 14, 2023, near San Ysidro, California. The unnamed 29-year-old man is the head of the Las Colinas criminal organization in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Haitian migrant Marc Kervens Beauvais was arrested by ICE on Aug. 13 in Peabody, Massachusetts, after he was charged with the aggravated rape of a pregnant woman in June. The 34-year-old man was also charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and an attempt to commit a crime. He was arrested by the Border Patrol in Del Rio, Texas, on June 26, 2021, and released with a notice to report to ICE offices for court details.

“We simply can not allow anyone that poses such a threat to prey upon the residents of our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons in a statement. “ERO Boston will continue our mission of prioritizing public safety by aggressively apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.”

A 35-year-old man from Brazil was taken into custody in Wakefield, Massachusetts, this week for the assault to rape, indecent assault, and battery of a child over 14 years of age, as well as domestic assault and battery.

Jackson Bento-Pinheiro was admitted into the country and allowed to remain under the Alternatives to Detention, which fits individuals with ankle monitors or a phone app capable of tracking their GPS location. He was first encountered by Border Patrol entering near San Ysidro, California, on July 10, 2021.

In numerous cases, people were arrested by ICE after being bailed or bonded out of local jail. ICE was not able to immediately take custody of the detainee when they were let out of jail in the community because local ordinances in these “sanctuary” cities bar local police from turning over people in custody to federal law enforcement.

A 26-year-old Haitian migrant arrested in the aggravated rape of a child in Rockland, Massachusetts, was arrested in March by local police. ICE asked the police to detain Cory Bernard Alvarez until officers could transfer him to federal custody. The Plymouth County Superior Court of Brockton denied the ICE request and released Alvarez on a $500 bond. ICE arrested Alvarez near his home in Brockton, Massachusetts, this week.

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections declined to hold a suspect that ICE requested be detained until federal police could take custody. Rhode Island authorities released a man in custody for fentanyl smuggling in Rhode Island from custody in July.

Dominican citizen Yohan Perez-Chala was arrested in May for fentanyl trafficking in Cranston, Rhode Island. He entered the U.S. illegally at the southern border but was not caught by Border Patrol when he entered and made his way to New England. ICE arrested him in Cranston last month.

The Connecticut Department of Corrections also recently denied an ICE detainer request and let back onto the street a 36-year-old Peruvian man charged in Hartford, Connecticut, with assault, as well as threatening and unlawful restraint.

Irving Gustavo Escate-Huarancca entered the U.S. illegally at the border near San Luis, Arizona, on Dec. 11, 2023. Border authorities released him into the country, unaware that he had been convicted of aggravated robbery in Peru and sentenced to 11 years in prison. ICE arrested Escate-Huarancca in Hartford in mid-July.

“He clearly represents a threat to our neighborhoods that we cannot allow to continue,” said Lyons. “ERO Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Colombian citizen Elkin Arturo Yarce-Munera was released into the country from the border town of Brownville, Texas in May 2022. The following January he was arrested in Boston for the assault and battery of a family member or household member.

The East Boston District Court convicted Yarce in December 2023 but declined to turn him over to ICE. ICE arrested Yarce and found he had fake Social Security and U.S. permanent resident documents.

2024-08-16 22:39:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fpolicy%2Fimmigration%2F3124091%2Fice-arresting-illegal-immigrant-criminals-southern-border%2F?w=600&h=450, Federal officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increasingly arrested serious criminals charged with violent crimes within the United States after being released into the country from the border during the Biden administration. Historically, illegal immigrants whom ICE has arrested within the U.S. have been individuals wanted in their home country in connection to serious,

Thus far in August, ICE has increasingly focused on arresting people who have a criminal record and entered the United States under Biden than people who entered before he was president in 2021.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The East Boston District Court convicted Yarce in December 2023 but declined to turn him over to ICE. ICE arrested Yarce and found he had fake Social Security and U.S. permanent resident documents.

, Federal officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increasingly arrested serious criminals charged with violent crimes within the United States after being released into the country from the border during the Biden administration. Historically, illegal immigrants whom ICE has arrested within the U.S. have been individuals wanted in their home country in connection to serious crimes there or have been in the U.S. for a number of years and have criminal records that range from less serious to somewhat serious offenses, such as a DUI and robbery. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest an immigrant outside his residence during an early morning raid in Duarte, California, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Thus far in August, ICE has increasingly focused on arresting people who have a criminal record and entered the United States under Biden than people who entered before he was president in 2021. On Wednesday, ICE nabbed Peruvian gang leader Gianfranco Torres-Navarro in Endicott, New York. Torres-Navarro was wanted for 23 murders in his home country and had illegally entered the U.S. in May near Roma, Texas. He was let into the country rather than detained in ICE custody — a decision that Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) said was the Biden administration’s fault. “Let’s be crystal clear on why this happened. Governor Hochul, the Biden-Harris Administration, and open border activists like Josh Riley abandoned our borders and abandoned communities like Endicott. Because of them, we had an illegal immigrant and known serial killer wandering Endicott for nearly three months — just waiting for his next victim,” Molinaro said in a statement Friday. ICE offices in Baltimore found and arrested the wanted leader of a Colombian gang who had entered the country illegally on Sept. 14, 2023, near San Ysidro, California. The unnamed 29-year-old man is the head of the Las Colinas criminal organization in Santa Marta, Colombia. Haitian migrant Marc Kervens Beauvais was arrested by ICE on Aug. 13 in Peabody, Massachusetts, after he was charged with the aggravated rape of a pregnant woman in June. The 34-year-old man was also charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and an attempt to commit a crime. He was arrested by the Border Patrol in Del Rio, Texas, on June 26, 2021, and released with a notice to report to ICE offices for court details. “We simply can not allow anyone that poses such a threat to prey upon the residents of our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons in a statement. “ERO Boston will continue our mission of prioritizing public safety by aggressively apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.” A 35-year-old man from Brazil was taken into custody in Wakefield, Massachusetts, this week for the assault to rape, indecent assault, and battery of a child over 14 years of age, as well as domestic assault and battery. Jackson Bento-Pinheiro was admitted into the country and allowed to remain under the Alternatives to Detention, which fits individuals with ankle monitors or a phone app capable of tracking their GPS location. He was first encountered by Border Patrol entering near San Ysidro, California, on July 10, 2021. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrest an immigrant considered a threat to public safety and national security during an early morning raid in Compton, California, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) In numerous cases, people were arrested by ICE after being bailed or bonded out of local jail. ICE was not able to immediately take custody of the detainee when they were let out of jail in the community because local ordinances in these “sanctuary” cities bar local police from turning over people in custody to federal law enforcement. A 26-year-old Haitian migrant arrested in the aggravated rape of a child in Rockland, Massachusetts, was arrested in March by local police. ICE asked the police to detain Cory Bernard Alvarez until officers could transfer him to federal custody. The Plymouth County Superior Court of Brockton denied the ICE request and released Alvarez on a $500 bond. ICE arrested Alvarez near his home in Brockton, Massachusetts, this week. The Rhode Island Department of Corrections declined to hold a suspect that ICE requested be detained until federal police could take custody. Rhode Island authorities released a man in custody for fentanyl smuggling in Rhode Island from custody in July. Dominican citizen Yohan Perez-Chala was arrested in May for fentanyl trafficking in Cranston, Rhode Island. He entered the U.S. illegally at the southern border but was not caught by Border Patrol when he entered and made his way to New England. ICE arrested him in Cranston last month. The Connecticut Department of Corrections also recently denied an ICE detainer request and let back onto the street a 36-year-old Peruvian man charged in Hartford, Connecticut, with assault, as well as threatening and unlawful restraint. Irving Gustavo Escate-Huarancca entered the U.S. illegally at the border near San Luis, Arizona, on Dec. 11, 2023. Border authorities released him into the country, unaware that he had been convicted of aggravated robbery in Peru and sentenced to 11 years in prison. ICE arrested Escate-Huarancca in Hartford in mid-July. “He clearly represents a threat to our neighborhoods that we cannot allow to continue,” said Lyons. “ERO Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Colombian citizen Elkin Arturo Yarce-Munera was released into the country from the border town of Brownville, Texas in May 2022. The following January he was arrested in Boston for the assault and battery of a family member or household member. The East Boston District Court convicted Yarce in December 2023 but declined to turn him over to ICE. ICE arrested Yarce and found he had fake Social Security and U.S. permanent resident documents., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ice-community-arrests.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Anna Giaritelli,

Daily on Energy: Environmentalists hold kick-off call for Harris, EPA hits key goal, and energy efficiency tax credits go to the wealthy

ENVIRONMENTALIST ALLIES HOST CALL FOR HARRIS: Environmental officials and advocates coalesced on a kick-off call for Vice President Kamala Harris Friday afternoon, teasing a September launch of a “Climate Voters for Harris-Walz” campaign effort that will help to mobilize a bloc Joe Biden struggled to court.

More details, please: A number of recognizable faces were on the call to draw support for the vice president, touting the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and drawing a contrast between Harris and her opponent, former President Donald Trump.

What we heard a lot of: A number of mentions of Project 2025, a vast set of policy proposals created by former Trump officials and other conservatives that was coordinated by the Heritage Foundation. Trump has since distanced himself from the policy proposals, but the Harris campaign has continued to tie the controversial playbook back to the former president.

While touting Harris’ environmental record, everyone featured in the call had the same message: pick a climate crusader, or be left with someone who does little to acknowledge the issue of climate change and reducing emissions.

“This is the most important election of all time for the climate, for the protection of the planet,” said Sen. Ed Markey, who was on the call. “The denier-in-chief cannot be in the Oval Office.”

Why this is important: Efforts to draw a sharp contrast to Trump — who has called climate change “a hoax” and has threatened to roll back portions of the IRA – is a strategy the Harris campaign is looking to repeatedly employ heading into November. With the launch of the climate voters campaign effort, it seems that Harris is looking to energize climate voters in a way Biden could not in his own reelection campaign.

The event’s organizer, the social media platform We Don’t Have Time, distributed a series of talking points to those on the Zoom call.

Who was there: John Kerry, the former climate envoy for the Biden administration, was on the call to urge support for the Harris-Walz ticket. Kerry had left his position to help Biden in his reelection campaign, but seems to be now redirecting his efforts to helping the Harris team.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, former Biden Climate Advisor and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Markey, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and representatives from the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club were also on the call.

Some celebrity sightings: American actor Jane Fonda and science educator Bill Nye made special guest appearances, expressing urgency to elect officials that would “promote the progress of science.”

Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner Energy and Environment writer Nancy Vu (@NancyVu99). Email nancy.vu@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.

GREEN BANK FUNDS SECURED ON IRA’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY: The Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has obligated all of the funds from its “Green Bank,” allowing for recipients to launch projects across the nation in the aims of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while focusing on investment in low-income and marginalized communities.

The deets: $27 billion of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has been distributed under three separate programs – the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund, the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and the $7 billion Solar for All program. Recipients were selected back in April, and have worked with the agency to revise their work plans in order to receive the funds.

“With climate impacts increasingly impacting all Americans, and especially those in communities that have been historically left behind, EPA knew it had to move swiftly and deliberately to get this historic funding out the door,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in a written statement. “Two years after he signed the law, President Biden is delivering the full $27 billion that he secured in this legislation.”

More about those programs: The National Clean Investment Fund has three grant recipients that would establish national clean financing institutions to fund projects across the country, with a sizable chunk dedicated to low-income and marginalized communities.

The accelerator grants five recipients money to establish “hubs” providing funds and technical assistance to deploy distributed energy, net-zero buildings, and zero-emission transportation projects. 100% of the capital is dedicated to low-income and marginalized communities.

The Solar for All program has 60 grant recipients to create new or existing low-income solar programs.

Why this is important: The EPA, along with other agencies under the Biden administration, has been rushing to distribute funds from their 2022 climate law. But as the IRA turns two years old today, the Biden administration has been struggling to get the funds distributed. Furthermore, the race to spend the money comes as Trump has threatened to roll back portions of the IRA if he wins the White House, and Republicans have introduced targeted measures to slash the EPA’s “green bank.” However, with the funds being fully allocated to grantees, the chances of that are now slim to none.

ENERGY TAX CREDITS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY GOING TO THE RICH: Wealthy homeowners have claimed the majority of the Biden administration’s energy efficiency tax credits, while low-income households are barely getting anything, a new E&E News analysis shows.

The publication found that households with an income of $200,000 or more got $2.2 billion in tax credits. Households with incomes below $25,000 got a small portion of that amount – $32 million – even though they make up a larger population than their wealthy counterparts.

The disproportionate allocation is raising red flags from economists and advocates, who are concerned that the tax credit is giving taxpayer funds to people who don’t need the financial aid. The disparity is also prompting scrutiny of the Biden administration’s approach of using tax incentives to form the bedrock of his climate change policy – a “carrots” over “sticks” approach that drew criticism from many environmentalists.

Some stats: The residential energy credits last year cut income taxes and federal revenue by a total of $8.4 billion. The average credit was $1,100, but the credit amount increased for people with higher incomes.

To draw a picture: People with incomes below $100,000 made up 76% of all federal taxpayers in 2023. Yet, this demographic received 34% of the tax credits, amounting to $2.9 billion. People with $100,000 or more accounted for just 24% of federal taxpayers last year, and received 66% percent of the tax credits – totaling $5.5 billion. Read more on that here.

TOP CONSUMERS OF RUSSIAN OIL: China and Saudi Arabia were Russia’s top customers for fuel oil and vacuum gas oil exports in July, new data shows.

According to Reuters, the exports rose 7% from June to roughly 4 million metric tons.

Why this is important: Since the European Union’s embargo on Russian oil went into effect last year, Asian countries have been the top customer for the country’s fossil fuel products. Just last month, direct fuel and VGO shipments increased by 18% month-on-month, totaling 0.7 million tons.

Imports to Saudi Arabia almost doubled from June, and were sent to power generation plants to fulfill summer energy demand.

But also: Exports to Fujairah, Turkey, and South Korea have increased as well. Read more on that here.

RUNDOWN

World Resources Institute Banks Have Committed to Net Zero, but Aren’t on Track to Reach It

Grist Most Americans don’t know the country’s biggest climate law helps the climate

E&E News What to expect on climate at the Democratic convention

2024-08-16 21:32:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fdaily-on-energy%2F3124886%2Fdaily-on-energy-environmentalists-hold-kick-off-call-for-harris-epa-hits-key-goal-and-energy-efficiency-tax-credits-go-to-the-wealthy%2F?w=600&h=450, ENVIRONMENTALIST ALLIES HOST CALL FOR HARRIS: Environmental officials and advocates coalesced on a kick-off call for Vice President Kamala Harris Friday afternoon, teasing a September launch of a “Climate Voters for Harris-Walz” campaign effort that will help to mobilize a bloc Joe Biden struggled to court. More details, please: A number of recognizable faces were,

The event’s organizer, the social media platform We Don’t Have Time, distributed a series of talking points to those on the Zoom call.

The Solar for All program has 60 grant recipients to create new or existing low-income solar programs.

TOP CONSUMERS OF RUSSIAN OIL: China and Saudi Arabia were Russia’s top customers for fuel oil and vacuum gas oil exports in July, new data shows.

According to Reuters, the exports rose 7% from June to roughly 4 million metric tons.

Imports to Saudi Arabia almost doubled from June, and were sent to power generation plants to fulfill summer energy demand.

But also: Exports to Fujairah, Turkey, and South Korea have increased as well. Read more on that here.

RUNDOWN

World Resources Institute Banks Have Committed to Net Zero, but Aren’t on Track to Reach It

Grist Most Americans don’t know the country’s biggest climate law helps the climate

E&E News What to expect on climate at the Democratic convention

, ENVIRONMENTALIST ALLIES HOST CALL FOR HARRIS: Environmental officials and advocates coalesced on a kick-off call for Vice President Kamala Harris Friday afternoon, teasing a September launch of a “Climate Voters for Harris-Walz” campaign effort that will help to mobilize a bloc Joe Biden struggled to court. More details, please: A number of recognizable faces were on the call to draw support for the vice president, touting the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and drawing a contrast between Harris and her opponent, former President Donald Trump. What we heard a lot of: A number of mentions of Project 2025, a vast set of policy proposals created by former Trump officials and other conservatives that was coordinated by the Heritage Foundation. Trump has since distanced himself from the policy proposals, but the Harris campaign has continued to tie the controversial playbook back to the former president. While touting Harris’ environmental record, everyone featured in the call had the same message: pick a climate crusader, or be left with someone who does little to acknowledge the issue of climate change and reducing emissions. “This is the most important election of all time for the climate, for the protection of the planet,” said Sen. Ed Markey, who was on the call. “The denier-in-chief cannot be in the Oval Office.” Why this is important: Efforts to draw a sharp contrast to Trump — who has called climate change “a hoax” and has threatened to roll back portions of the IRA – is a strategy the Harris campaign is looking to repeatedly employ heading into November. With the launch of the climate voters campaign effort, it seems that Harris is looking to energize climate voters in a way Biden could not in his own reelection campaign. The event’s organizer, the social media platform We Don’t Have Time, distributed a series of talking points to those on the Zoom call. Who was there: John Kerry, the former climate envoy for the Biden administration, was on the call to urge support for the Harris-Walz ticket. Kerry had left his position to help Biden in his reelection campaign, but seems to be now redirecting his efforts to helping the Harris team. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, former Biden Climate Advisor and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Markey, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and representatives from the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club were also on the call. Some celebrity sightings: American actor Jane Fonda and science educator Bill Nye made special guest appearances, expressing urgency to elect officials that would “promote the progress of science.” Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner Energy and Environment writer Nancy Vu ( @NancyVu99 ). Email nancy.vu@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here . If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list. GREEN BANK FUNDS SECURED ON IRA’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY: The Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has obligated all of the funds from its “Green Bank,” allowing for recipients to launch projects across the nation in the aims of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while focusing on investment in low-income and marginalized communities. The deets: $27 billion of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has been distributed under three separate programs – the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund, the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and the $7 billion Solar for All program. Recipients were selected back in April, and have worked with the agency to revise their work plans in order to receive the funds. “With climate impacts increasingly impacting all Americans, and especially those in communities that have been historically left behind, EPA knew it had to move swiftly and deliberately to get this historic funding out the door,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in a written statement. “Two years after he signed the law, President Biden is delivering the full $27 billion that he secured in this legislation.” More about those programs: The National Clean Investment Fund has three grant recipients that would establish national clean financing institutions to fund projects across the country, with a sizable chunk dedicated to low-income and marginalized communities. The accelerator grants five recipients money to establish “hubs” providing funds and technical assistance to deploy distributed energy, net-zero buildings, and zero-emission transportation projects. 100% of the capital is dedicated to low-income and marginalized communities. The Solar for All program has 60 grant recipients to create new or existing low-income solar programs. Why this is important: The EPA, along with other agencies under the Biden administration, has been rushing to distribute funds from their 2022 climate law. But as the IRA turns two years old today, the Biden administration has been struggling to get the funds distributed. Furthermore, the race to spend the money comes as Trump has threatened to roll back portions of the IRA if he wins the White House, and Republicans have introduced targeted measures to slash the EPA’s “green bank.” However, with the funds being fully allocated to grantees, the chances of that are now slim to none. ENERGY TAX CREDITS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY GOING TO THE RICH: Wealthy homeowners have claimed the majority of the Biden administration’s energy efficiency tax credits, while low-income households are barely getting anything, a new E&E News analysis shows. The publication found that households with an income of $200,000 or more got $2.2 billion in tax credits. Households with incomes below $25,000 got a small portion of that amount – $32 million – even though they make up a larger population than their wealthy counterparts. The disproportionate allocation is raising red flags from economists and advocates, who are concerned that the tax credit is giving taxpayer funds to people who don’t need the financial aid. The disparity is also prompting scrutiny of the Biden administration’s approach of using tax incentives to form the bedrock of his climate change policy – a “carrots” over “sticks” approach that drew criticism from many environmentalists. Some stats: The residential energy credits last year cut income taxes and federal revenue by a total of $8.4 billion. The average credit was $1,100, but the credit amount increased for people with higher incomes. To draw a picture: People with incomes below $100,000 made up 76% of all federal taxpayers in 2023. Yet, this demographic received 34% of the tax credits, amounting to $2.9 billion. People with $100,000 or more accounted for just 24% of federal taxpayers last year, and received 66% percent of the tax credits – totaling $5.5 billion. Read more on that here. TOP CONSUMERS OF RUSSIAN OIL: China and Saudi Arabia were Russia’s top customers for fuel oil and vacuum gas oil exports in July, new data shows. According to Reuters, the exports rose 7% from June to roughly 4 million metric tons. Why this is important: Since the European Union’s embargo on Russian oil went into effect last year, Asian countries have been the top customer for the country’s fossil fuel products. Just last month, direct fuel and VGO shipments increased by 18% month-on-month, totaling 0.7 million tons. Imports to Saudi Arabia almost doubled from June, and were sent to power generation plants to fulfill summer energy demand. But also: Exports to Fujairah, Turkey, and South Korea have increased as well. Read more on that here. RUNDOWN World Resources Institute Banks Have Committed to Net Zero, but Aren’t on Track to Reach It Grist Most Americans don’t know the country’s biggest climate law helps the climate E&E News What to expect on climate at the Democratic convention, , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DOE-1024×580.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Nancy Vu,

Ken Paxton sues Biden administration for including misgendering someone as workplace harassment

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his second lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Justice Department over the EEOC granting protections to transgender people in the workplace.

Paxton, a Republican, filed his lawsuit on Thursday, arguing the agency’s guidelines clarifying what constitutes harassment include not allowing an employee to use the bathroom that aligns with their chosen gender identity or calling an employee by pronouns that don’t align with their gender identity. Employers also could not reprimand an employee for dressing in attire that aligns with their chosen gender expression. These acts would be considered unlawful in the workplace.

“EEOC claims that the Pronoun Accommodation, the Bathroom Accommodation, and the Dress Code Accommodation are not accommodations, but instead result from Title VII’s prohibition of sexual harassment in the workplace,” the lawsuit states. “That is completely wrong. An employee’s statutory right to be free from sexual harassment is not an “accommodation” to certain employees, such that some employees may be harassed, and others may not.”

In addition, Paxton, who filed with the Heritage Foundation, said the agency “purports to preempt the State’s sovereign power to enact and abide by its workplace policies.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration is attempting yet again to rewrite federal law through undemocratic and illegal agency action,” he said in a statement. “This time, they are unlawfully weaponizing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an attempt to force private businesses and States to implement ‘transgender’ mandates — and Texas is suing to stop them.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In July, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk rejected Paxton’s first lawsuit against the EEOC’s guidance, stating that there needed to be a new complaint filed.

Paxton has filed dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration since 2021, including ones addressing illegal immigration and alleged government censorship.

2024-08-16 21:09:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fjustice%2F3124744%2Fken-paxton-sues-biden-administration-including-misgendering-workplace-harassment%2F?w=600&h=450, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his second lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Justice Department over the EEOC granting protections to transgender people in the workplace. Paxton, a Republican, filed his lawsuit on Thursday, arguing the agency’s guidelines clarifying what constitutes harassment include not allowing an employee to use the bathroom,

In addition, Paxton, who filed with the Heritage Foundation, said the agency “purports to preempt the State’s sovereign power to enact and abide by its workplace policies.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In July, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk rejected Paxton’s first lawsuit against the EEOC’s guidance, stating that there needed to be a new complaint filed.

Paxton has filed dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration since 2021, including ones addressing illegal immigration and alleged government censorship.

, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his second lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Justice Department over the EEOC granting protections to transgender people in the workplace. Paxton, a Republican, filed his lawsuit on Thursday, arguing the agency’s guidelines clarifying what constitutes harassment include not allowing an employee to use the bathroom that aligns with their chosen gender identity or calling an employee by pronouns that don’t align with their gender identity. Employers also could not reprimand an employee for dressing in attire that aligns with their chosen gender expression. These acts would be considered unlawful in the workplace. “EEOC claims that the Pronoun Accommodation, the Bathroom Accommodation, and the Dress Code Accommodation are not accommodations, but instead result from Title VII’s prohibition of sexual harassment in the workplace,” the lawsuit states. “That is completely wrong. An employee’s statutory right to be free from sexual harassment is not an “accommodation” to certain employees, such that some employees may be harassed, and others may not.” In addition, Paxton, who filed with the Heritage Foundation, said the agency “purports to preempt the State’s sovereign power to enact and abide by its workplace policies.” “The Biden-Harris Administration is attempting yet again to rewrite federal law through undemocratic and illegal agency action,” he said in a statement. “This time, they are unlawfully weaponizing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an attempt to force private businesses and States to implement ‘transgender’ mandates — and Texas is suing to stop them.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER In July, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk rejected Paxton’s first lawsuit against the EEOC’s guidance, stating that there needed to be a new complaint filed. Paxton has filed dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration since 2021, including ones addressing illegal immigration and alleged government censorship., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AP24089637868935-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Elaine Mallon,

Gymnast Jordan Chiles should not relinquish bronze medal … but …

Not since the time when officials outrageously gave the Soviet basketball team three chances to make the gold-medal-winning shot over the U.S. in 1972 has an Olympic medal decision been so brazenly unjust. There is, however, an argument to be made for a solution to satisfy all sides.

At issue is the already infamous back-and-forth about which athlete should get the bronze medal for the women’s gymnastics floor exercises at the Paris Olympics. The judges first awarded the medal to Romanian Ana Bărbosu, but upon an appeal by U.S. coaches, the judges gave it to American Jordan Chiles instead. Then, a higher bureaucracy, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, reversed the earlier reversal and demanded that Chiles give the medal back to Bărbosu. The arbitrators’ decision stinks like three-day-old roadkill.

I’m no gymnastics expert, but certain elements in this brouhaha appear to be incontrovertible. The first is that while there, of course, is at least some subjectivity in judging gymnastics, everybody officially stipulates that one of the largely objective parts of judging, a “degree of difficulty” calculation for specific elements of the routine, had been inaccurately recorded. If that’s the case, then Chiles deserved to have her original score recalculated upward. In terms of who actually earned the medal, then, Chiles was the winner. Period, case closed.

As Romanian Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci accurately noted, this was emotionally devastating, even unfair, to Bărbosu. On the other hand, it is, in essence, no different than an NFL final-play goal-line call being reversed upon video review, thus turning the apparent winners into losers. If the revised call upon review is correct, it’s correct, no matter how it hurts those who first were told incorrectly that they had won.

Then, the Court of Arbitration for Sport butted in. Somehow it claimed that while gymnastics rules require appeals of judges’ scores to be filed within a single minute, the American coach took 64 seconds, a mere four seconds too many, to appeal. The medal, it ruled, must go back to Bărbosu. On such a tiny technicality, it said that an objectively mistaken judges’ score should be reinstated.

Here’s where things get not just wrongheaded but morally corrupt. The U.S. coaches offered to submit video proof that they had filed the appeal not just within the one-minute allotment, but actually with 13 seconds to spare. Assuming that is true, then this should be case closed in Chiles’s favor. The officious arbitrators have no right, zero, to overturn a correct decision on the basis of a technicality that itself is inaccurate. Either the coaches violated the technicality or they didn’t, but if the arbitrators themselves are wrong about the technicality, there are no possible ethical grounds for them to apply that technicality. Arbitrators can’t say: “We were wrong about the coaches being wrong, but the coaches have to live with our mistake.” That’s insanity.

But that’s what the arbitrators are doing, and that’s what the International Olympic Committee is imposing. The arbitrators say that their own rulings, once made, cannot be changed — even if incorrect.

As it turns out, though, the “bad guys” here, or maybe the worse guys, are at the Federation for International Gymnastics, to whose decision the IOC is adhering. Not only did the court of arbitration fault the FIG’s original procedures for causing the confusion, but it also offered the FIG a way out: “equitable” principles. Because both athletes have been convincingly told, at different times, that each won the medal, with Bărbosu now having been told this twice, the arbitration court suggested that the FIG should provide bronze medals to both. That actually makes sense: At some point, sportsmanship should reign, rather than snooty officials trying to outdo each other in legalistic pretentiousness.

Chiles herself showed exalted, spontaneous sportsmanship, although at an ill-chosen time and place, by literally bowing to gold-medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil during the medal ceremony.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Meanwhile, the principle of “equitable relief,” not to be confused with woke notions of economic “equity,” has a half-millennium-long history in both law and sport, allowing for obvious injustices to be mutually wiped away regardless of technicalities. In golf’s Presidents Cup in 2003, captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player agreed on the spot, without rules specifying their power to do so, that the overall international team match would end in a tie when darkness halted a playoff between stars Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. They were right to do so.

So far, though, the FIG has rejected this obvious solution. Instead, it has physically given a bronze medal to Bărbosu, while insisting that Chiles return the bronze medal that she actually won fair and square where it counts, in the actual arena. This is absurd. The FIG should allow both athletes to keep their medals that each had reason to believe she had earned through meritorious performance. Either way, no matter what the FIG puts in its records, Chiles should keep her medal and wear it proudly, rather than returning it. Tell the officious officials to buzz off. At some point, to slightly amend an old statement, possession is the law — especially when the possession was rightly won in the first place.

2024-08-16 20:42:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fopinion%2F3124678%2Fchiles-should-not-relinquish-bronze-medal%2F?w=600&h=450, Not since the time when officials outrageously gave the Soviet basketball team three chances to make the gold-medal-winning shot over the U.S. in 1972 has an Olympic medal decision been so brazenly unjust. There is, however, an argument to be made for a solution to satisfy all sides. At issue is the already infamous back-and-forth,

Chiles herself showed exalted, spontaneous sportsmanship, although at an ill-chosen time and place, by literally bowing to gold-medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil during the medal ceremony.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

, Not since the time when officials outrageously gave the Soviet basketball team three chances to make the gold-medal-winning shot over the U.S. in 1972 has an Olympic medal decision been so brazenly unjust. There is, however, an argument to be made for a solution to satisfy all sides. At issue is the already infamous back-and-forth about which athlete should get the bronze medal for the women’s gymnastics floor exercises at the Paris Olympics. The judges first awarded the medal to Romanian Ana Bărbosu, but upon an appeal by U.S. coaches, the judges gave it to American Jordan Chiles instead. Then, a higher bureaucracy, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, reversed the earlier reversal and demanded that Chiles give the medal back to Bărbosu. The arbitrators’ decision stinks like three-day-old roadkill. I’m no gymnastics expert, but certain elements in this brouhaha appear to be incontrovertible. The first is that while there, of course, is at least some subjectivity in judging gymnastics, everybody officially stipulates that one of the largely objective parts of judging, a “degree of difficulty” calculation for specific elements of the routine, had been inaccurately recorded. If that’s the case, then Chiles deserved to have her original score recalculated upward. In terms of who actually earned the medal, then, Chiles was the winner. Period, case closed. As Romanian Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci accurately noted, this was emotionally devastating, even unfair, to Bărbosu. On the other hand, it is, in essence, no different than an NFL final-play goal-line call being reversed upon video review, thus turning the apparent winners into losers. If the revised call upon review is correct, it’s correct, no matter how it hurts those who first were told incorrectly that they had won. Then, the Court of Arbitration for Sport butted in. Somehow it claimed that while gymnastics rules require appeals of judges’ scores to be filed within a single minute, the American coach took 64 seconds, a mere four seconds too many, to appeal. The medal, it ruled, must go back to Bărbosu. On such a tiny technicality, it said that an objectively mistaken judges’ score should be reinstated. Here’s where things get not just wrongheaded but morally corrupt. The U.S. coaches offered to submit video proof that they had filed the appeal not just within the one-minute allotment, but actually with 13 seconds to spare. Assuming that is true, then this should be case closed in Chiles’s favor. The officious arbitrators have no right, zero, to overturn a correct decision on the basis of a technicality that itself is inaccurate. Either the coaches violated the technicality or they didn’t, but if the arbitrators themselves are wrong about the technicality, there are no possible ethical grounds for them to apply that technicality. Arbitrators can’t say: “We were wrong about the coaches being wrong, but the coaches have to live with our mistake.” That’s insanity. But that’s what the arbitrators are doing, and that’s what the International Olympic Committee is imposing. The arbitrators say that their own rulings, once made, cannot be changed — even if incorrect. As it turns out, though, the “bad guys” here, or maybe the worse guys, are at the Federation for International Gymnastics, to whose decision the IOC is adhering. Not only did the court of arbitration fault the FIG’s original procedures for causing the confusion, but it also offered the FIG a way out: “equitable” principles. Because both athletes have been convincingly told, at different times, that each won the medal, with Bărbosu now having been told this twice, the arbitration court suggested that the FIG should provide bronze medals to both. That actually makes sense: At some point, sportsmanship should reign, rather than snooty officials trying to outdo each other in legalistic pretentiousness. Chiles herself showed exalted, spontaneous sportsmanship, although at an ill-chosen time and place, by literally bowing to gold-medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil during the medal ceremony. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Meanwhile, the principle of “equitable relief,” not to be confused with woke notions of economic “equity,” has a half-millennium-long history in both law and sport, allowing for obvious injustices to be mutually wiped away regardless of technicalities. In golf’s Presidents Cup in 2003, captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player agreed on the spot, without rules specifying their power to do so, that the overall international team match would end in a tie when darkness halted a playoff between stars Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. They were right to do so. So far, though, the FIG has rejected this obvious solution. Instead, it has physically given a bronze medal to Bărbosu, while insisting that Chiles return the bronze medal that she actually won fair and square where it counts, in the actual arena. This is absurd. The FIG should allow both athletes to keep their medals that each had reason to believe she had earned through meritorious performance. Either way, no matter what the FIG puts in its records, Chiles should keep her medal and wear it proudly, rather than returning it. Tell the officious officials to buzz off. At some point, to slightly amend an old statement, possession is the law — especially when the possession was rightly won in the first place., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Paris-Olympics_5655.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Quin Hillyer,

Harris concedes ‘costs are still too high’ in first policy speech of her campaign

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the first policy-focused speech of her 2024 campaign on Friday in North Carolina, where she outlined a plan to lower costs for households over the next four years.

Harris has taken significant criticism from Republicans for failing to produce a detailed policy platform thus far. Her Friday remarks focused on lowering housing, grocery, and healthcare prices and other costs while conceding that “many” people have yet to feel the economic wins claimed by the Biden administration.

“It will be my intention to build on the foundation of this progress. Still, we know that many Americans don’t yet feel that progress in their daily lives,” she declared before thousands in Raleigh. “Costs are still too high, and on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to just be able to get ahead. As president, I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class that advance their economic security, stability, and dignity.”

Harris’s proposals, which the campaign outlined ahead of her remarks, include $25,000 in down payment assistance for all first-time homebuyers and new tax breaks tacked on to the construction of “starter homes.”

On food prices, the vice president vowed to institute a federal ban on price-gouging for groceries, promising strict penalties for companies that engage in anticompetitive practices.

Furthermore, Harris said she will continue to push for legislation that would make President Joe Biden’s expanded child tax credit permanent, saving up to $6,000 per child.

Former President Donald Trump‘s campaign heartily criticized “Comrade Kamala” and her proposals Friday afternoon.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“It’s hard to overstate how disastrous of an idea it is to let D.C. bureaucrats dictate the price of groceries in cities, suburbs, and rural communities across the country — dismantling necessary supply-and-demand signals of the free market and ultimately leading to higher prices for consumers,” the campaign claimed in a statement.

You can watch Harris’s remarks in full below.

2024-08-16 20:26:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fpresidential%2F3124691%2Fharris-concedes-costs-too-high-first-policy-speech-campaign%2F?w=600&h=450, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the first policy-focused speech of her 2024 campaign on Friday in North Carolina, where she outlined a plan to lower costs for households over the next four years. Harris has taken significant criticism from Republicans for failing to produce a detailed policy platform thus far. Her Friday remarks focused on,

On food prices, the vice president vowed to institute a federal ban on price-gouging for groceries, promising strict penalties for companies that engage in anticompetitive practices.

Furthermore, Harris said she will continue to push for legislation that would make President Joe Biden’s expanded child tax credit permanent, saving up to $6,000 per child.

Former President Donald Trump‘s campaign heartily criticized “Comrade Kamala” and her proposals Friday afternoon.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

You can watch Harris’s remarks in full below.

, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the first policy-focused speech of her 2024 campaign on Friday in North Carolina, where she outlined a plan to lower costs for households over the next four years. Harris has taken significant criticism from Republicans for failing to produce a detailed policy platform thus far. Her Friday remarks focused on lowering housing, grocery, and healthcare prices and other costs while conceding that “many” people have yet to feel the economic wins claimed by the Biden administration. “It will be my intention to build on the foundation of this progress. Still, we know that many Americans don’t yet feel that progress in their daily lives,” she declared before thousands in Raleigh. “Costs are still too high, and on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to just be able to get ahead. As president, I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class that advance their economic security, stability, and dignity.” Harris’s proposals, which the campaign outlined ahead of her remarks, include $25,000 in down payment assistance for all first-time homebuyers and new tax breaks tacked on to the construction of “starter homes.” On food prices, the vice president vowed to institute a federal ban on price-gouging for groceries, promising strict penalties for companies that engage in anticompetitive practices. Furthermore, Harris said she will continue to push for legislation that would make President Joe Biden’s expanded child tax credit permanent, saving up to $6,000 per child. Former President Donald Trump‘s campaign heartily criticized “Comrade Kamala” and her proposals Friday afternoon. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER “It’s hard to overstate how disastrous of an idea it is to let D.C. bureaucrats dictate the price of groceries in cities, suburbs, and rural communities across the country — dismantling necessary supply-and-demand signals of the free market and ultimately leading to higher prices for consumers,” the campaign claimed in a statement. You can watch Harris’s remarks in full below., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/harris-economy-1.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Christian Datoc,

DeSantis calls for inquiry into former University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s expenses

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has called for an inquiry into former University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s expenses following a report from the school’s student newspaper about spending tripling under his leadership.

Sasse reportedly spent $17.3 million in his first year as president of the university, which was up from the $5.6 million his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, spent in his last year. A majority of the spending came from big contracts with consulting firms and high-salaried remote positions for former staffers of Sasse while he was a senator.

Bryan Griffin, a communications director for DeSantis, said in a statement that discussions with the university and the Florida Board of Governors are underway.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said the “reports of UF’s exorbitant spending by Ben Sasse’s office are concerning,” and that his agency, the Florida Department of Financial Services, will “offer auditing services” to assist in the inquiry.

Sasse responded to the report, posting a lengthy statement on X saying there was “substantial funding for a number of important initiatives,” but denied it was “inappropriate.”

“Now, it is true that there was substantial funding for a number of important new initiatives. I am very happy to defend each and every one of these initiatives … because from day one, the whole reason I agreed to leave a great job representing the salt-of-the-earth people of my home state of Nebraska is precisely because higher education needs massive reform,” he said.

“I am unabashedly for big reform in higher education. This has never been a secret — certainly not when I was being pursued and publicly vetted for the UF presidency. And the unanimous support two years ago of the Board of Trustees — followed by the near-unanimous support (one dissenting vote) of the Board of Governors — is precisely why I agreed to pull on oars together in a state on such a rocketship trajectory,” he added.

Sasse also defended the hiring decisions, pointing to the board and selection committee’s approval.

“One of my preconditions in agreeing to accept this calling was being able to bring big-cause, trusted people from my last few teams along to help build a stronger, more dynamic UF — and happily, the board and selection committee embraced this,” he said.

He also said the university did not find anything concerning with the spending at the time, and that the “budget went through the appropriate approval process.”

After serving as a senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, Sasse was appointed the university’s 13th president in November 2022. At the time, Sasse denied that DeSantis had a hand in his candidacy.

After Sasse resigned due to his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis, DeSantis said he wasn’t “involved necessarily” in the selection of Sasse.

“I don’t know how it developed,” he said. “Someone said, ‘You should check this out,’ that’s what happened.”

He made clear that he would not be involved in the selection process for the new president.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“The University of Florida’s board has really, really high-quality people, and I think they’ve done a fantastic job,” DeSantis said. “They’ll really be the ones that are going to be leading that effort.”

Fuchs, Sasse’s predecessor, has been serving as interim president since Aug. 1 while the university looks for a new president.

2024-08-16 20:24:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fpolicy%2Feducation%2F3124630%2Fdesantis-inquiry-former-university-florida-president-ben-sasses%2F?w=600&h=450, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has called for an inquiry into former University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s expenses following a report from the school’s student newspaper about spending tripling under his leadership. Sasse reportedly spent $17.3 million in his first year as president of the university, which was up from the $5.6 million his predecessor,

Bryan Griffin, a communications director for DeSantis, said in a statement that discussions with the university and the Florida Board of Governors are underway.

Sasse responded to the report, posting a lengthy statement on X saying there was “substantial funding for a number of important initiatives,” but denied it was “inappropriate.”

Sasse also defended the hiring decisions, pointing to the board and selection committee’s approval.

He also said the university did not find anything concerning with the spending at the time, and that the “budget went through the appropriate approval process.”

After Sasse resigned due to his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis, DeSantis said he wasn’t “involved necessarily” in the selection of Sasse.

“I don’t know how it developed,” he said. “Someone said, ‘You should check this out,’ that’s what happened.”

He made clear that he would not be involved in the selection process for the new president.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Fuchs, Sasse’s predecessor, has been serving as interim president since Aug. 1 while the university looks for a new president.

, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has called for an inquiry into former University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s expenses following a report from the school’s student newspaper about spending tripling under his leadership. Sasse reportedly spent $17.3 million in his first year as president of the university, which was up from the $5.6 million his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, spent in his last year. A majority of the spending came from big contracts with consulting firms and high-salaried remote positions for former staffers of Sasse while he was a senator. Bryan Griffin, a communications director for DeSantis, said in a statement that discussions with the university and the Florida Board of Governors are underway. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said the “reports of UF’s exorbitant spending by Ben Sasse’s office are concerning,” and that his agency, the Florida Department of Financial Services, will “offer auditing services” to assist in the inquiry. Sasse responded to the report, posting a lengthy statement on X saying there was “substantial funding for a number of important initiatives,” but denied it was “inappropriate.” “Now, it is true that there was substantial funding for a number of important new initiatives. I am very happy to defend each and every one of these initiatives … because from day one, the whole reason I agreed to leave a great job representing the salt-of-the-earth people of my home state of Nebraska is precisely because higher education needs massive reform,” he said. “I am unabashedly for big reform in higher education. This has never been a secret — certainly not when I was being pursued and publicly vetted for the UF presidency. And the unanimous support two years ago of the Board of Trustees — followed by the near-unanimous support (one dissenting vote) of the Board of Governors — is precisely why I agreed to pull on oars together in a state on such a rocketship trajectory,” he added. Sasse also defended the hiring decisions, pointing to the board and selection committee’s approval. “One of my preconditions in agreeing to accept this calling was being able to bring big-cause, trusted people from my last few teams along to help build a stronger, more dynamic UF — and happily, the board and selection committee embraced this,” he said. He also said the university did not find anything concerning with the spending at the time, and that the “budget went through the appropriate approval process.” After serving as a senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, Sasse was appointed the university’s 13th president in November 2022. At the time, Sasse denied that DeSantis had a hand in his candidacy. After Sasse resigned due to his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis, DeSantis said he wasn’t “involved necessarily” in the selection of Sasse. “I don’t know how it developed,” he said. “Someone said, ‘You should check this out,’ that’s what happened.” He made clear that he would not be involved in the selection process for the new president. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER “The University of Florida’s board has really, really high-quality people, and I think they’ve done a fantastic job,” DeSantis said. “They’ll really be the ones that are going to be leading that effort.” Fuchs, Sasse’s predecessor, has been serving as interim president since Aug. 1 while the university looks for a new president., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AP23008729452093-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Zach LaChance,

Menendez drops Senate bid after resignation

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is bowing out of his run for reelection in New Jersey after tremendous backlash following his corruption case conviction, which forced him out of Congress early.

The deadline for Menendez to drop out was Friday, and it was an expected move given Menendez was unlikely to win as an independent. He lost the support of many in his party after his conviction and recently resigned his seat, effective Aug. 20.

Menendez sent a letter to New Jersey’s acting director of the state’s Division of Elections, Donna Barber, announcing his intentions.

“By means of this email please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot,” he wrote.

NEWS: Convicted Senator Bob Menendez just took himself off the ballot and will no longer run for reelection as an Independent pic.twitter.com/LBrgsX2n4F

— Kate Santaliz (@kate_santaliz) August 16, 2024

Menendez’s withdrawal from the race will mean his 31-year stint in Congress will end with his resignation.

He had been paying lawyers using his campaign funds in a bid to appeal his conviction on 16 criminal counts. He can also continue to use $3.3 million in campaign funds to pay his legal fees, though he cannot accept any further campaign donations.

Menendez and his co-defendants are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 29, and he faces decades in prison.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Menendez had been on track to face Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Republican Curtis Bashaw in the general election. Some speculated he could draw some votes away from Kim, allowing Bashaw to run a more competitive race in New Jersey.

The senator’s withdrawal from the race will assist Kim in consolidating party support in the state.

2024-08-16 20:16:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3124578%2Fmenendez-drops-senate-bid-after-resignation%2F?w=600&h=450, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is bowing out of his run for reelection in New Jersey after tremendous backlash following his corruption case conviction, which forced him out of Congress early. The deadline for Menendez to drop out was Friday, and it was an expected move given Menendez was unlikely to win as an independent. He,

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is bowing out of his run for reelection in New Jersey after tremendous backlash following his corruption case conviction, which forced him out of Congress early.

Menendez sent a letter to New Jersey’s acting director of the state’s Division of Elections, Donna Barber, announcing his intentions.

NEWS: Convicted Senator Bob Menendez just took himself off the ballot and will no longer run for reelection as an Independent pic.twitter.com/LBrgsX2n4F

— Kate Santaliz (@kate_santaliz) August 16, 2024

Menendez’s withdrawal from the race will mean his 31-year stint in Congress will end with his resignation.

Menendez and his co-defendants are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 29, and he faces decades in prison.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The senator’s withdrawal from the race will assist Kim in consolidating party support in the state.

, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is bowing out of his run for reelection in New Jersey after tremendous backlash following his corruption case conviction, which forced him out of Congress early. The deadline for Menendez to drop out was Friday, and it was an expected move given Menendez was unlikely to win as an independent. He lost the support of many in his party after his conviction and recently resigned his seat, effective Aug. 20. Menendez sent a letter to New Jersey’s acting director of the state’s Division of Elections, Donna Barber, announcing his intentions. “By means of this email please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot,” he wrote. NEWS: Convicted Senator Bob Menendez just took himself off the ballot and will no longer run for reelection as an Independent pic.twitter.com/LBrgsX2n4F — Kate Santaliz (@kate_santaliz) August 16, 2024 Menendez’s withdrawal from the race will mean his 31-year stint in Congress will end with his resignation. He had been paying lawyers using his campaign funds in a bid to appeal his conviction on 16 criminal counts. He can also continue to use $3.3 million in campaign funds to pay his legal fees, though he cannot accept any further campaign donations. Menendez and his co-defendants are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 29, and he faces decades in prison. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Menendez had been on track to face Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Republican Curtis Bashaw in the general election. Some speculated he could draw some votes away from Kim, allowing Bashaw to run a more competitive race in New Jersey. The senator’s withdrawal from the race will assist Kim in consolidating party support in the state., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AP24135786498448-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Ross O'Keefe,

A story everyone should know: Harris, Biden, and Gianfranco Torres-Navarro

A STORY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW: HARRIS, BIDEN, AND GIANFRANCO TORRES-NAVARRO. If the Trump campaign has any say in it, voters should learn the name of Gianfranco Torres-Navarro. According to U.S. authorities, Torres-Navarro is the leader of a Peruvian crime gang and is thought to be personally responsible for 23 murders. He is a notorious figure in Peru, where he is known as “Gianfranco 23,” clearly “a reference to the number of people he is alleged to have killed,” according to the Associated Press. He has a girlfriend who, also according to the Associated Press, “has a sizable following on the social media platform TikTok where she showed off their lavish lifestyle, including designer clothes, resort vacations and shooting targets at a gun range.” Not to put too fine a point on it, but Torres-Navarro’s gang is known as “Los Killers.”

Here’s why Americans should know who he is. On Wednesday, Torres-Navarro was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Endicott, New York, a village with a population of 13,667 about 190 miles north of New York City. Given that he is a wanted man, wanted for very serious crimes in Peru, one might ask how he made it to the United States.

The answer is: He just walked in. In May, Torres-Navarro crossed illegally into the U.S. near Roma, Texas, in the Rio Grande border sector. He was arrested by U.S. authorities who then…let him go. Like millions of other illegal crossers, he was given a “notice to appear” before an immigration judge at some point far in the future and then sent on his way.

The presence of Torres-Navarro in the U.S., free to go as he pleases, was a direct result of the border policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. You’ve heard about their policy of allowing millions into the U.S. unvetted. This is that policy in action. Torres-Navarro is the face of that policy. He is a one-man, walking illustration of the dangerous nature of the Biden-Harris border.

Wait a minute, some Democrats might say. Are you arguing that every person who crosses the border illegally is a murderer? Of course not. What the Torres-Navarro case shows is that U.S. authorities, under Biden and Harris, are not really checking anybody. If they let a man wanted for 23 murders through, they’ll let anybody through. And indeed, they do.

We’ve all seen the examples of horrendous crimes committed by people who crossed illegally into the U.S. during the Biden-Harris years. “In three and a half years, the Biden-Harris administration has released more than 5.4 million illegal aliens into the United States, with an additional at least 1.9 million known ‘gotaways’ escaping into the country,” a newly released report from the House Judiciary Committee said. That’s 7.3 million people so far in this administration.

As this newsletter noted just a few days ago: “The migrants have spread into cities and towns across the country, burdening municipalities struggling to house and feed them. Some have committed horrendous crimes. Culturally, on top of the nation’s existing immigration process, it is a bad idea to let in so many unassimilated migrants so quickly, since it overwhelms the country’s ability to turn them into Americans. And most fundamentally, the border rush represents an offense against the nation’s sovereignty and the rule of law.” Entirely apart from the basic principle that we shouldn’t let mass murderers in, those are all serious considerations.

We’ve also seen that Biden and Harris have changed the face of illegal immigration. Where at various times in the past the dominant countries of origin were Mexico or the Northern Triangle’s Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, now authorities are seeing more and more illegal crossers from China, Turkey, and a number of countries in Africa, South America, and beyond. When they are admitted into the U.S., like Torres-Navarro, it’s safe to say U.S. authorities don’t know who they are. Among the 7.3 million illegal crossers Biden and Harris have released into the U.S. “are 375 illegal aliens on the U.S. government’s terrorist watchlist,” according to the Judiciary Committee. “That is a more than 3,000 percent increase of watchlisted alien encounters compared to all four years of the Trump administration.”

Torres-Navarro was presumably not on the terrorist watch list. He is just a cold-blooded mass killer involved in standard gang crimes. One might think that would be plenty of reason to keep him out of the U.S., but he was ushered right in.

And that is why the public should know about Torres-Navarro. He is in the U.S. because of the way Biden and Harris chose to run the U.S.-Mexico border. And he is in custody through the work of an agency, ICE, that Harris wanted to “reexamine” and profoundly change, “starting from scratch,” in light of her goal of decriminalizing illegal crossings into the U.S. The border should be a major issue in this presidential campaign, and the story of Torres-Navarro is part of it.

2024-08-16 20:05:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fopinion%2Fcolumnists%2F3124664%2Fa-story-everyone-should-know-harris-biden-and-gianfranco-torres-navarro%2F?w=600&h=450, A STORY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW: HARRIS, BIDEN, AND GIANFRANCO TORRES-NAVARRO. If the Trump campaign has any say in it, voters should learn the name of Gianfranco Torres-Navarro. According to U.S. authorities, Torres-Navarro is the leader of a Peruvian crime gang and is thought to be personally responsible for 23 murders. He is a notorious figure in,

, A STORY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW: HARRIS, BIDEN, AND GIANFRANCO TORRES-NAVARRO. If the Trump campaign has any say in it, voters should learn the name of Gianfranco Torres-Navarro. According to U.S. authorities, Torres-Navarro is the leader of a Peruvian crime gang and is thought to be personally responsible for 23 murders. He is a notorious figure in Peru, where he is known as “Gianfranco 23,” clearly “a reference to the number of people he is alleged to have killed,” according to the Associated Press. He has a girlfriend who, also according to the Associated Press, “has a sizable following on the social media platform TikTok where she showed off their lavish lifestyle, including designer clothes, resort vacations and shooting targets at a gun range.” Not to put too fine a point on it, but Torres-Navarro’s gang is known as “Los Killers.” Here’s why Americans should know who he is. On Wednesday, Torres-Navarro was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Endicott, New York, a village with a population of 13,667 about 190 miles north of New York City. Given that he is a wanted man, wanted for very serious crimes in Peru, one might ask how he made it to the United States. The answer is: He just walked in. In May, Torres-Navarro crossed illegally into the U.S. near Roma, Texas, in the Rio Grande border sector. He was arrested by U.S. authorities who then…let him go. Like millions of other illegal crossers, he was given a “notice to appear” before an immigration judge at some point far in the future and then sent on his way. The presence of Torres-Navarro in the U.S., free to go as he pleases, was a direct result of the border policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. You’ve heard about their policy of allowing millions into the U.S. unvetted. This is that policy in action. Torres-Navarro is the face of that policy. He is a one-man, walking illustration of the dangerous nature of the Biden-Harris border. Wait a minute, some Democrats might say. Are you arguing that every person who crosses the border illegally is a murderer? Of course not. What the Torres-Navarro case shows is that U.S. authorities, under Biden and Harris, are not really checking anybody. If they let a man wanted for 23 murders through, they’ll let anybody through. And indeed, they do. We’ve all seen the examples of horrendous crimes committed by people who crossed illegally into the U.S. during the Biden-Harris years. “In three and a half years, the Biden-Harris administration has released more than 5.4 million illegal aliens into the United States, with an additional at least 1.9 million known ‘gotaways’ escaping into the country,” a newly released report from the House Judiciary Committee said. That’s 7.3 million people so far in this administration. As this newsletter noted just a few days ago: “The migrants have spread into cities and towns across the country, burdening municipalities struggling to house and feed them. Some have committed horrendous crimes. Culturally, on top of the nation’s existing immigration process, it is a bad idea to let in so many unassimilated migrants so quickly, since it overwhelms the country’s ability to turn them into Americans. And most fundamentally, the border rush represents an offense against the nation’s sovereignty and the rule of law.” Entirely apart from the basic principle that we shouldn’t let mass murderers in, those are all serious considerations. We’ve also seen that Biden and Harris have changed the face of illegal immigration. Where at various times in the past the dominant countries of origin were Mexico or the Northern Triangle’s Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, now authorities are seeing more and more illegal crossers from China, Turkey, and a number of countries in Africa, South America, and beyond. When they are admitted into the U.S., like Torres-Navarro, it’s safe to say U.S. authorities don’t know who they are. Among the 7.3 million illegal crossers Biden and Harris have released into the U.S. “are 375 illegal aliens on the U.S. government’s terrorist watchlist,” according to the Judiciary Committee. “That is a more than 3,000 percent increase of watchlisted alien encounters compared to all four years of the Trump administration.” Torres-Navarro was presumably not on the terrorist watch list. He is just a cold-blooded mass killer involved in standard gang crimes. One might think that would be plenty of reason to keep him out of the U.S., but he was ushered right in. And that is why the public should know about Torres-Navarro. He is in the U.S. because of the way Biden and Harris chose to run the U.S.-Mexico border. And he is in custody through the work of an agency, ICE, that Harris wanted to “reexamine” and profoundly change, “starting from scratch,” in light of her goal of decriminalizing illegal crossings into the U.S. The border should be a major issue in this presidential campaign, and the story of Torres-Navarro is part of it., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AP24228715355536.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Byron York,

Ceasefire negotiators ‘aim to conclude’ deal by end of next week

The Biden administration is aiming to see Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal by the end of next week after negotiators made significant progress this week in Doha, Qatar.

U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari leaders met in Doha on Thursday and Friday and discussed the latest proposal with the Israeli and Hamas sides. The meetings, according to a senior Biden administration official, “probably were the most constructive 48 hours that we’ve had in this process in many months.”

These leaders will meet “again in Cairo before the end of next week, we will gather again at this level with an aim to conclude this. That is the goal,” the official added. “This is kind of the final stage, end game of the process.”

Mediators have gone back and forth with various proposals for several months to try to get both Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal that would include the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and a surge of humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip for civilians desperately in need.

“We’re much, much closer than we were three days ago,” President Joe Biden told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

“I don’t want to jinx anything,” he added, saying the deal is not done yet, but “we’re close.”

Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar and separately spoke with President Abdel Fattah al Sisi of Egypt on Friday to discuss the progress negotiators made during the two days of discussions.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel on Saturday to continue the diplomatic efforts to get the deal over the finish line.

Should all sides get this agreement completed, it would end the most destructive iteration of fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Gaza Strip has been decimated, nearly the entire population has been displaced and faces hunger and sanitation concerns, and the Hamas-controlled health ministry said this week that more than 40,000 people have been killed, though that total does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The Israel Defense Forces have killed 17,000 Hamas fighters, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said this week. Hamas intentionally lives and operates within civilian communities and in tunnels underneath those areas, using the people as human shields, with the intent of having Israeli operations incur civilian deaths and injuries.

Israeli forces have killed several of Hamas’s top leaders, and the last remaining primary orchestrator of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be hiding in tunnels far below the surface of Gaza.

Biden laid out the framework for a deal on May 31 and added, at the time, that there were still hurdles to overcome but that the framework was ready to be advanced past the finish line. Israel proposed a deal on May 27, which was the basis for the Biden publicized speech days later.

More than a month later, on July 3, Hamas came back with a response that included “a number of changes, many of which were not acceptable,” the official added.

Israel further clarified their proposal on July 27.

As of the conclusion of the talks Friday, mediators have now put down bridging proposals from where both sides currently stand to cover every matter in these negotiations, the official said.

Mediators are hoping that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could simmer escalating tension in the region, primarily between Iran and its proxies against Israel. Iranian leaders have vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was murdered in Tehran.

Hamas ignited the current conflict on the morning of Oct. 7, when thousands of terrorists overwhelmed the border fence and went through local southern Israeli communities, killing roughly 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others. It was the largest terrorist attack in Israel’s history.

About half of the hostages were released during the weeklong ceasefire in late November, but Hamas has not released any of the others since, though a handful have been rescued during Israeli operations. It’s unknown how many of the hostages are still alive. Five Americans are believed to be alive in Gaza.

Hezbollah, similar to Hamas, is one of Iran’s proxies and has exchanged rocket and missile cross-border attacks since shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack that ignited the current conflict. Lebanese Hezbollah is considered a much larger terrorist group and is believed to have a much more robust arsenal.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

It’s unclear what Iran’s response could look like, but the official warned, “The consequences could be quite cataclysmic, particularly for Iran.”

U.S. leaders have publicly and privately warned Iran not to attack Israel. The U.S. military has increased its presence in the region to aid Israel if an attack were to occur.

2024-08-16 20:02:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F3124466%2Fceasefire-negotiators-aim-conclude-deal-end-next-week%2F?w=600&h=450, The Biden administration is aiming to see Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal by the end of next week after negotiators made significant progress this week in Doha, Qatar. U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari leaders met in Doha on Thursday and Friday and discussed the latest proposal with the Israeli and Hamas sides. The,

The Biden administration is aiming to see Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal by the end of next week after negotiators made significant progress this week in Doha, Qatar.

“We’re much, much closer than we were three days ago,” President Joe Biden told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

“I don’t want to jinx anything,” he added, saying the deal is not done yet, but “we’re close.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel on Saturday to continue the diplomatic efforts to get the deal over the finish line.

More than a month later, on July 3, Hamas came back with a response that included “a number of changes, many of which were not acceptable,” the official added.

Israel further clarified their proposal on July 27.

As of the conclusion of the talks Friday, mediators have now put down bridging proposals from where both sides currently stand to cover every matter in these negotiations, the official said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

It’s unclear what Iran’s response could look like, but the official warned, “The consequences could be quite cataclysmic, particularly for Iran.”

U.S. leaders have publicly and privately warned Iran not to attack Israel. The U.S. military has increased its presence in the region to aid Israel if an attack were to occur.

, The Biden administration is aiming to see Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal by the end of next week after negotiators made significant progress this week in Doha, Qatar. U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari leaders met in Doha on Thursday and Friday and discussed the latest proposal with the Israeli and Hamas sides. The meetings, according to a senior Biden administration official, “probably were the most constructive 48 hours that we’ve had in this process in many months.” These leaders will meet “again in Cairo before the end of next week, we will gather again at this level with an aim to conclude this. That is the goal,” the official added. “This is kind of the final stage, end game of the process.” Mediators have gone back and forth with various proposals for several months to try to get both Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal that would include the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and a surge of humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip for civilians desperately in need. “We’re much, much closer than we were three days ago,” President Joe Biden told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. “I don’t want to jinx anything,” he added, saying the deal is not done yet, but “we’re close.” Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar and separately spoke with President Abdel Fattah al Sisi of Egypt on Friday to discuss the progress negotiators made during the two days of discussions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel on Saturday to continue the diplomatic efforts to get the deal over the finish line. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after meeting with families and supporters of Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, during his visit to Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Jack Guez, Pool Photo via AP) Should all sides get this agreement completed, it would end the most destructive iteration of fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Gaza Strip has been decimated, nearly the entire population has been displaced and faces hunger and sanitation concerns, and the Hamas-controlled health ministry said this week that more than 40,000 people have been killed, though that total does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The Israel Defense Forces have killed 17,000 Hamas fighters, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said this week. Hamas intentionally lives and operates within civilian communities and in tunnels underneath those areas, using the people as human shields, with the intent of having Israeli operations incur civilian deaths and injuries. Israeli forces have killed several of Hamas’s top leaders, and the last remaining primary orchestrator of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be hiding in tunnels far below the surface of Gaza. Biden laid out the framework for a deal on May 31 and added, at the time, that there were still hurdles to overcome but that the framework was ready to be advanced past the finish line. Israel proposed a deal on May 27, which was the basis for the Biden publicized speech days later. More than a month later, on July 3, Hamas came back with a response that included “a number of changes, many of which were not acceptable,” the official added. Israel further clarified their proposal on July 27. As of the conclusion of the talks Friday, mediators have now put down bridging proposals from where both sides currently stand to cover every matter in these negotiations, the official said. Mediators are hoping that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could simmer escalating tension in the region, primarily between Iran and its proxies against Israel. Iranian leaders have vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was murdered in Tehran. Hamas ignited the current conflict on the morning of Oct. 7, when thousands of terrorists overwhelmed the border fence and went through local southern Israeli communities, killing roughly 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others. It was the largest terrorist attack in Israel’s history. About half of the hostages were released during the weeklong ceasefire in late November, but Hamas has not released any of the others since, though a handful have been rescued during Israeli operations. It’s unknown how many of the hostages are still alive. Five Americans are believed to be alive in Gaza. Hezbollah, similar to Hamas, is one of Iran’s proxies and has exchanged rocket and missile cross-border attacks since shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack that ignited the current conflict. Lebanese Hezbollah is considered a much larger terrorist group and is believed to have a much more robust arsenal. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER It’s unclear what Iran’s response could look like, but the official warned, “The consequences could be quite cataclysmic, particularly for Iran.” U.S. leaders have publicly and privately warned Iran not to attack Israel. The U.S. military has increased its presence in the region to aid Israel if an attack were to occur., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-iran.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Mike Brest,

Inflation under Kamala Harris hit the working class 20% harder than the wealthy

For the final month before early voting begins for the 2024 presidential election, the freshly coronated Kamala Harris will continue to insist that she has the means to solve the inflation that she helped start as the vice president who cast the crucial tiebreaking votes to flood the economy with an extra $4 trillion of superfluous and ultimately punishing deficit spending.

But while Harris makes false promises for the future, she will try to distract and distort the record of the past economic destruction wrought by her and President Joe Biden. Lest anyone forget, the worst inflationary crisis in the past 40 years has not just broadly led to soaring prices and pinched paychecks across the board: A data analysis by the Washington Examiner proved that inflation has hit the working class at least 20% harder than the wealthy.

The consumer price index broadly tracks inflation by weighing goods and services in accordance with average consumption rates. For example, groceries comprise 8% of the CPI basket, while car insurance consists of about 3%. While the CPI is broadly useful as a constant measure of overall inflation trends, it obviously does not measure the actual inflation rate experienced by each individual consumer, much less those whose consumption patterns deviate from the norm.

Inflation is almost always regressive for practical reasons, as the higher earner can always downgrade from Whole Foods to Trader Joe’s, but the lower-income consumer cannot feed their kids fewer calories or use less gas to get work. But the main structural reason this bout of inflation brought by Bidenomics particularly punishes the working class is the total breakdown of budgets across the income spectrum.

The most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 shows the average annual expenditures of the five tiers of earners. Whereas the highest 20% of earners, those making more than $200,000, only spent 6.1% of their annual budgets on groceries, the lowest quintile of earners, those making fewer than $20,000, spent 11.1% of their annual budgets on groceries. Similarly, lower-income earners spend more on homes they rent while the top quintile of earners spend more on homes they own.

To compare the inflation realized by the bottom quintile of earners versus the top, I have weighed the respective consumption patterns of the two quintiles against the cumulative inflation of each category since Biden and Harris took office in January 2021. The spending categories measured by the Consumption Expenditure Survey do not all have perfect analogs in the consumer price index, and I have intentionally excluded some spending categories, such as cash contributions and Social Security, because they aren’t exactly responding to inflation. Furthermore, I had to substitute the CES category of utilities, fuel, and public services with the close CPI substitute of energy. The only point where we have to deviate away from BLS data entirely is its most controversial category: shelter.

I have defended the BLS’s shelter pricing before on the grounds that it broadly tracks the consumer experience of both home buying and rental payments on average, but the top and bottom quintiles of earners are homogenous enough in their housing habits that we can use more precise data. More than 4 in 5 bottom quintile earners rent whereas nearly 9 in 10 of the top quintile of earners own their homes. But the BLS’s two main measures of shelter prices tend to lag at least a year behind the actual market movement, so while homeowners who pay flat rates thanks to mortgages actually have a much lower inflation burden from shelter, renters are paying even more than the CPI says. For that reason, I substituted the CPI’s rent measure with the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which tracks national average asking rents. Otherwise, unless otherwise noted, the inflation tabulated comes from the CPI.

As you can see, the inflation experienced by the average lowest quintile earner is 21.1% compared to the 17.6% borne by the average highest quintile earner. That means the inflation experienced by the lowest-income earners is at least 20% higher than the highest earners. While these numbers are, again, imperfect if only because we excluded categories too difficult to quantify such as “reading” or life insurance, they sandwich the cumulative CPI increase of 19.4% comfortably enough to say they are broadly representative of this inflation bout’s regressive effect.

The difference in these inflation burdens also results in different amounts of real wage changes. Using the official monthly updates to average weekly earnings indicates that the average full-time worker has a paycheck worth 4% less than when former President Donald Trump left office. However, using our more specific cumulative inflation measures against average nominal weekly wages, which, again, would, in reality, vary between the top and bottom of the income spectrums, we can ascertain that the highest earners would only take a 2% hit to their paychecks versus a 5% decrease in real wages for the lowest-income workers.

In reality, the discrepancy between the individual haves and have-nots is much greater. Consider the actual bottom quintile earner who only rents versus the top quintile earner who has been sitting pretty on the mortgage he locked in during the interest rate nadir of 2021. If we redirected all the shelter weight to reflect the majority of bottom quintile earners who only rent, the inflation realized jumps up to a staggering 32%. And for a wealthy homeowner whose shelter inflation is effectively zero because they have a fixed mortgage, that is, the overwhelming majority of the top quintile of earners, his inflation realized drops to just 12%.

Across the 3 1/2 years of the Biden-Harris administration, a low-income earner who only rents has experienced an annual inflation rate of more than 9%, nearly five times the Federal Reserve’s maximum inflation target of 2%. By contrast, the average wealthy homeowner has experienced an inflation rate of 3.4%, still intolerably high as a matter of monetary policy but dramatically less punitive than his less privileged counterpart.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

And what is Harris’s response to such a regressive and unequal result of Kamalanomics? To further induce housing demand in the form of a $25,000 credit to some 4 million first-time homebuyers. While Harris has considered the real cause of the crisis as an afterthought, offering some tax credits for specific home building, she still isn’t targeting the cause of our housing shortage: government zoning and construction regulation, not a lack of demand among either consumers to buy or companies to build.

A wiser politician, perhaps one not clinically petrified by the mere thought of empirical capitalism, would realize that the rising tide lifts all boats and that the homeowner vacancy rate of a near-record low 0.9% is directly fueling the persistence of high home prices and the continued surge of asking rents. The stark disparity between the inflation annoyance brought on the wealthy and the inflation destruction wielded against the working class only serves to illustrate how the road to financial hell is paved with policies that may be intended well but punish the least powerful in the electorate.

2024-08-16 19:46:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fopinion%2Fbeltway-confidential%2F3124065%2Finflation-hit-working-class-harder%2F?w=600&h=450, For the final month before early voting begins for the 2024 presidential election, the freshly coronated Kamala Harris will continue to insist that she has the means to solve the inflation that she helped start as the vice president who cast the crucial tiebreaking votes to flood the economy with an extra $4 trillion of,

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

, For the final month before early voting begins for the 2024 presidential election, the freshly coronated Kamala Harris will continue to insist that she has the means to solve the inflation that she helped start as the vice president who cast the crucial tiebreaking votes to flood the economy with an extra $4 trillion of superfluous and ultimately punishing deficit spending. But while Harris makes false promises for the future, she will try to distract and distort the record of the past economic destruction wrought by her and President Joe Biden. Lest anyone forget, the worst inflationary crisis in the past 40 years has not just broadly led to soaring prices and pinched paychecks across the board: A data analysis by the Washington Examiner proved that inflation has hit the working class at least 20% harder than the wealthy. The consumer price index broadly tracks inflation by weighing goods and services in accordance with average consumption rates. For example, groceries comprise 8% of the CPI basket, while car insurance consists of about 3%. While the CPI is broadly useful as a constant measure of overall inflation trends, it obviously does not measure the actual inflation rate experienced by each individual consumer, much less those whose consumption patterns deviate from the norm. Inflation is almost always regressive for practical reasons, as the higher earner can always downgrade from Whole Foods to Trader Joe’s, but the lower-income consumer cannot feed their kids fewer calories or use less gas to get work. But the main structural reason this bout of inflation brought by Bidenomics particularly punishes the working class is the total breakdown of budgets across the income spectrum. The most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 shows the average annual expenditures of the five tiers of earners. Whereas the highest 20% of earners, those making more than $200,000, only spent 6.1% of their annual budgets on groceries, the lowest quintile of earners, those making fewer than $20,000, spent 11.1% of their annual budgets on groceries. Similarly, lower-income earners spend more on homes they rent while the top quintile of earners spend more on homes they own. To compare the inflation realized by the bottom quintile of earners versus the top, I have weighed the respective consumption patterns of the two quintiles against the cumulative inflation of each category since Biden and Harris took office in January 2021. The spending categories measured by the Consumption Expenditure Survey do not all have perfect analogs in the consumer price index, and I have intentionally excluded some spending categories, such as cash contributions and Social Security, because they aren’t exactly responding to inflation. Furthermore, I had to substitute the CES category of utilities, fuel, and public services with the close CPI substitute of energy. The only point where we have to deviate away from BLS data entirely is its most controversial category: shelter. I have defended the BLS’s shelter pricing before on the grounds that it broadly tracks the consumer experience of both home buying and rental payments on average, but the top and bottom quintiles of earners are homogenous enough in their housing habits that we can use more precise data. More than 4 in 5 bottom quintile earners rent whereas nearly 9 in 10 of the top quintile of earners own their homes. But the BLS’s two main measures of shelter prices tend to lag at least a year behind the actual market movement, so while homeowners who pay flat rates thanks to mortgages actually have a much lower inflation burden from shelter, renters are paying even more than the CPI says. For that reason, I substituted the CPI’s rent measure with the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which tracks national average asking rents. Otherwise, unless otherwise noted, the inflation tabulated comes from the CPI. As you can see, the inflation experienced by the average lowest quintile earner is 21.1% compared to the 17.6% borne by the average highest quintile earner. That means the inflation experienced by the lowest-income earners is at least 20% higher than the highest earners. While these numbers are, again, imperfect if only because we excluded categories too difficult to quantify such as “reading” or life insurance, they sandwich the cumulative CPI increase of 19.4% comfortably enough to say they are broadly representative of this inflation bout’s regressive effect. The difference in these inflation burdens also results in different amounts of real wage changes. Using the official monthly updates to average weekly earnings indicates that the average full-time worker has a paycheck worth 4% less than when former President Donald Trump left office. However, using our more specific cumulative inflation measures against average nominal weekly wages, which, again, would, in reality, vary between the top and bottom of the income spectrums, we can ascertain that the highest earners would only take a 2% hit to their paychecks versus a 5% decrease in real wages for the lowest-income workers. In reality, the discrepancy between the individual haves and have-nots is much greater. Consider the actual bottom quintile earner who only rents versus the top quintile earner who has been sitting pretty on the mortgage he locked in during the interest rate nadir of 2021. If we redirected all the shelter weight to reflect the majority of bottom quintile earners who only rent, the inflation realized jumps up to a staggering 32%. And for a wealthy homeowner whose shelter inflation is effectively zero because they have a fixed mortgage, that is, the overwhelming majority of the top quintile of earners, his inflation realized drops to just 12%. Across the 3 1/2 years of the Biden-Harris administration, a low-income earner who only rents has experienced an annual inflation rate of more than 9%, nearly five times the Federal Reserve’s maximum inflation target of 2%. By contrast, the average wealthy homeowner has experienced an inflation rate of 3.4%, still intolerably high as a matter of monetary policy but dramatically less punitive than his less privileged counterpart. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER And what is Harris’s response to such a regressive and unequal result of Kamalanomics? To further induce housing demand in the form of a $25,000 credit to some 4 million first-time homebuyers. While Harris has considered the real cause of the crisis as an afterthought, offering some tax credits for specific home building, she still isn’t targeting the cause of our housing shortage: government zoning and construction regulation, not a lack of demand among either consumers to buy or companies to build. A wiser politician, perhaps one not clinically petrified by the mere thought of empirical capitalism, would realize that the rising tide lifts all boats and that the homeowner vacancy rate of a near-record low 0.9% is directly fueling the persistence of high home prices and the continued surge of asking rents. The stark disparity between the inflation annoyance brought on the wealthy and the inflation destruction wielded against the working class only serves to illustrate how the road to financial hell is paved with policies that may be intended well but punish the least powerful in the electorate., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/kamala-harris-bidenomics.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Tiana Lowe Doescher,

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