Hunter's Painting Foray Had Classic Earmarks Of Influence-Peddling

 Margot Cleveland (thefederalist.com)

"Hunter Biden’s “Sugar Bro,” Kevin Morris, testified before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees on Wednesday. A readout of Morris’ testimony, when considered in tandem with the testimony provided last week by Hunter Biden’s gallerist, suggests Hunter was setting up another front for the family influence-peddling racket when the plan collapsed due to public scrutiny.

On Thursday, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer issued a statement following the committee’s transcribed interview of Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris. In his press release, Comer revealed that Hollywood producer Lanette Phillips introduced Morris to Hunter Biden during a campaign event at her Los Angeles home for Joe Biden in the winter of 2019. One week later, Phillips called Morris to discuss what Morris apparently framed as an “entertainment” issue. Morris later visited Hunter at his home in L.A., according to the press release. 

"According to Comer, Morris testified he began providing money to Hunter Biden in January 2020. Then on Feb. 7, 2020, Morris emailed Hunter’s advisers and tax accountants, writing, “We are under considerable risk personally and politically to get the returns in.” Less than two weeks later, Hunter Biden filed his long-overdue 2017 and 2018 tax returns, although he didn’t pay his hefty tax bill at the time. Around Oct. 18, 2021, Morris paid some $2 million in overdue taxes for the president’s son." . . .

Margot Cleveland is an investigative journalist and legal analyst and serves as The Federalist’s senior legal correspondent. Margot’s work has been published at The Wall Street Journal, The American Spectator, the New Criterion (forthcoming), National Review Online, Townhall.com, the Daily Signal, USA Today, and the Detroit Free Press. She is also a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio programs and on Fox News, Fox Business, and Newsmax. Cleveland is a lawyer and a graduate of the Notre Dame Law School, where she earned the Hoynes Prive—the law school’s highest honor. She later served for nearly 25 years as a permanent law clerk for a federal appellate judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Cleveland is a former full-time university faculty member and now teaches as an adjunct from time to time. Cleveland is also of counsel for the New Civil Liberties Alliance. 

Jill Biden faces social media scrutiny after unfortunate 'Hunter High'
signage at speaking event (nypost.com)

Iran targets the Kurds...and the US

Joseph Puder - American Thinker

. . ."The ayatollahs are bent on avenging the elimination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force of the IRGC, who was killed in January 2020.  Soleimani was the chief architect of Iran’s terror campaign against American forces in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

"Iran is determined to expel the U.S. from the region, and its nuclear ambitions certainly have much to do with eventually challenging the U.S. and Israel.  Iran is hostile to the KRG, accusing the Erbil Kurdish government of sheltering Iranian-Kurdish freedom fighters and American troops.

 . . ."Should the Kurds gain their independence, they would most definitely join the Abraham Accords.  In the meantime, Kurds will continue their longstanding ties with Israel, but for now, these ties will remain “covert” because of Kurdish fear of Iran and its loyalist Shiite supporters within the Iraqi government.

"Israel’s hands are tied due to the lack of interest or commitment by the U.S. administration regarding an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq.  The U.S. and its allies regularly emphasize the territorial integrity of the Iraqi state, neglecting to mention that an overwhelming majority of Kurds reject being part of the Iranian-controlled Iraqi state.

"The problem with the U.S. policy in Iraq is that its previous objectives are incommensurate with Iranian goals.  The objective of a democratic, prosperous, and unified Iraq, especially one aligned with the U.S., has incentivized Iran not only to increase its influence in Baghdad, but also to diminish and expel the U.S. from Iraq altogether.

"Given the corrupt Iraqi politicians and Shiite sectarianism, the U.S. has for all intents and purposes lost Iraq to the ayatollahs of Iran.  It is therefore the right time to support Kurdish independence and leave behind the fallacy of Iraq’s territorial integrity.  Iraq was never an organic state, and Baghdad is more than ever the leader of a failing state.  Finally, Iran’s aggression against the U.S. must be met with direct military action rather than with words."

As Israel-Hamas war continues, Americans remain supportive of Israel in new poll : NPR   However....   "Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should publicly support Israel in the war between Israel and Hamas, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, but there are wide generational and racial divides on the question.

"At this point, more Americans, but not a majority, think Israel's response has been appropriate, though an overwhelming number of respondents are worried the war will spill over into a broader regional conflict.

"Seven in 10 Americans said they are paying close attention to the war. And, even though most agree that the U.S. should publicly support Israel, President Biden — who has voiced strong public support for the Jewish nation — is not benefiting politically." . . .

‘Is he going to cry again?’ Kinzinger dragged for whining about Trump ‘showing momentum’

 BPR  "Campaign momentum for the former president was viewed as “pretty disheartening” for a crying congressman turned CNN benchwarmer in a Bible-citing lamentation.

"With only 20 of the 1,215 delegates needed to secure the GOP presidential nomination awarded thus far, corporate media has appeared all-too willing to skip ahead to the general election with all the legal trouble that entails for former President Donald Trump. Even acknowledging the primary contest was not yet overcome with sorrowful analysis from former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R).

"Joining the eponymous host of “Anderson Cooper 360°,” the politician turned senior political analyst spoke to the most recent Republican senator to endorse the GOP figurehead, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott despite having been originally appointed to that position by fellow White House hopeful and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

“ 'I never expected this from Tim. I know him…as a decent man, as somebody that’s concerned about character. But he chose to put himself and his political career above his character as so many other people have,” Kinzinger said of Scott’s endorsement more than two months after suspending his own campaign for the presidency." . . .

Sanctuary City NYC Closes Border To City & Evicts Migrants from Shelters/Hotels.

 Sanctuary City NYC Closes Border To City & Evicts Migrants from Shelters/Hotels.

James Woods Fans | Facebook

From the comments: "I can't help but laugh at the mayor and the governor having meltdowns over how fewer than 100k illegals completely overwhelmed their system when we've had to deal with trying to support millions of them here in Texas.

 "Crazy to see US citizens taking off their shoes and standing in long security lines at airports since 9/11 just to have anyone and everyone walk over the border and shipped directly to Ground Zero. 

"As someone married to a legal immigrant who had to go through the immigration process, we are both disgusted by the current administration policy of open border. As a native born New Yorker from Brooklyn NY, I feel for my fellow New Yorkers who did not vote for having migrants taking residence in Madison High School

"This issue will destroy New York City..." No Mayor Adams, this ISSUE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY!!!"

KJP fumbles hard when Fox News reporter confronts — and then fact-checks — her false narrative about recent migrant deaths - Conservative Review

On Wednesday, Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich confronted Jean-Pierre over the White House's dishonest narrative. She asked, "Will the administration amend its separate statement that implied that Texas officials were responsible for the deaths of those three migrants when, in fact, they had nothing to do with it?"

Andrew Cuomo Sues Letitia James Over Sexual Harassment Investigation Documents

 Sarah Arnold (townhall.com)

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said that James has "done everything she can to hide" the documents from New Yorkers and that it is" sad that the courts are needed to step in and order the state's top lawyer to stop violating the law."

"Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James for documents related to her 2021 damaging sexual misconduct 2021 investigation that led to his resignation. 

"This week, Cuomo filed the case in a New York State court, arguing he needs the 180 witness statements in full in order to defend himself against two sexual harassment lawsuits linked to the investigation. The lawsuit states that the public has a right to know James' "full basis in making the significant and impactful decisions in issuing the consequential Report and causing the resignation of their democratically elected governor." 

"Once a rising star in the Democrat Party, Cuomo was accused of sexually harassing eleven women— nine of whom were past or present state employees. 

"After the former governor resigned, he said he was "deeply" sorry for inappropriate behavior during his time in office. However, Cuomo has denied the allegations and labeled James' investigation as unfair, "materially inaccurate, incomplete, biased, flawed and misleading." 

" 'In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn," Cuomo said at the time. "There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate. And I should have no excuses."

"However, he admitted to making inappropriate jokes and giving "women and men" hugs and kisses.'   [You mean like Joe Biden does?] 

That's Gonna Leave a Mark: Tiffany Justice Demolishes Joy Reid on Her Own Show (Watch); MSNBC's "Journalism"

"Maddow announced that the network would let viewers know if there was 'any news' made by Trump's remarks. This led at least one user on social media to refer to MSNBC as 'state run TV' given its alliance with President Biden's liberal policies. Commentator Glenn Greenwald sneered that Maddow is 'the reigning Queen of TV disinformation' and that 'NBC is Ground Zero for it.' '  Dailymail.Com

 Twitchy   "This is Matt Walsh 101: Justice refuses to even accept Reid's premise that books are being banned. Because, in fact, they are not. Anywhere. 

"Justice then demolishes Reid's argument with a very simple analogy: if it's OK for children in schools to learn about pornographic subjects in books, why is Internet access in school libraries restricted from allowing children to see that same content online? 

"Reid, of course, has no answer. She tries to change the subject at the very end of the clip. 

"Now, we don't think Reid is a skilled debater, but it does take courage for Justice to go on her show. Everyone knows that cable news hosts, if nothing else, can control and manipulate the conversation in their segments. So, yes, kudos to Justice for meeting Reid on her own turf ... and obliterating her dishonest 'arguments.' "

A masterclass by Tiffany Justice on the book banning lie. https://t.co/extylCmWKl

— Billboard Chris 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@BillboardChris) January 20, 2024

. . ." 'In what context is a strap-on dildo acceptable for public school?" 

"Again, Reid has no response. This clip ends before we can hear Reid's 'answer,' but if you watch the full interview on YouTube, you will see that her next words aren't to respond to Justice's question, but to try to grill Justice on her knowledge about details of the book. Chalk up another fail for Reid, since Justice IS able to provide those details (though she admitted not being able to recall a few specifics)." 

While on the topic of MSNBC:  Rachel Maddow is slammed for running 'state TV' after telling viewers MSNBC won't show Trump's Iowa victory speech because 'we cannot knowingly broadcast untrue things'  "MSNBC host Rachel Maddow was criticized for her announcement that the liberal network would refuse to cover Donald Trump's Iowa victory speech because she believed it would contain falsehoods. 

This caused some to point out that Maddow, the MSNBC anchor and host of The Rachel Maddow Show, was one of the most vocal proponents of the claim Trump colluded with Russia. 

"Maddow, anchoring the network's coverage from New York, said the network was continuing its policy of not showing Trump's speeches live after his resounding victory in the Iowa caucus.

'It is not an easy decision, but there is a cost to us as a news organization of knowingly broadcasting untrue things. And that is a fundamental truth of our business and who we are,' she said.

She tried to clarify that the call 'is not out of spite. It is not a decision that we relish. It is a decision that we regularly revisit and honestly, earnestly.'

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow was criticized for her announcement that the liberal network would refuse to cover Donald Trump's Iowa victory speech because she believed he'd be lying© Provided by Daily Mail

"Maddow announced that the network would let viewers know if there was 'any news' made by Trump's remarks.

"This led at least one user on social media to refer to MSNBC as 'state run TV' given its alliance with President Biden's liberal policies. 

"Commentator Glenn Greenwald sneered that Maddow is 'the reigning Queen of TV disinformation' and that 'NBC is Ground Zero for it.' "

More MSNBC: SHOCKING: Moments Ago Joe Scarborough Lied and Claimed Four Policemen Died on Jan 6 | The Gateway Pundit

What are the odds that lying Joe Scarborough will retract his lie and admit he’s wrong and that it was four Trump supporters who died that day?

The U.S. Campaign to Oust Netanyahu

  CarolineGlick.com

The Biden administration showed its hand on Tuesday when U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gave Israel an ultimatum to support Palestinian statehood or risk demonization by the administration.

. . ."Israelis, of course, have engaged in the question of Palestinian statehood. After the atrocities that the Palestinians carried out against their people and state on Oct. 7—and as the full mobilization of Palestinian society in Gaza and Judea and Samaria on behalf of Hamas’s war of genocide against Israel has been revealed—Israeli support for Palestinian statehood dried up. As Direct Polls revealed last month, 81% of Israelis, including Arab Israelis, say there is no prospect for peace with the Palestinians, including 70% of left-wing voters. Some 88% of Israelis do not trust the Palestinian leadership.

"Blinken, however, doesn’t seem to care what Israelis think. He wants them to obey, and he views Netanyahu as the obstacle to Israeli obeisance to the administration’s program. As a result, he wants the prime minister ousted from power, as NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell reported on Wednesday." . . .

. . ."By demanding that Netanyahu adopt the softened version of the U.S. position, the General Staff and Gallant, along with the anti-Netanyahu national security establishment as a whole, are presenting Israel’s leader with an impossible choice. Netanyahu can adopt a policy for victory but endanger U.S. rearmament, thus increasing the danger that the United States will abandon Israel at the United Nations. Or he can accept a version of the U.S. position and commit Israel to strategic defeat. If he does the former, he will face a protest campaign led by the media and the security brass accusing him of destroying Israel-U.S. relations and enabling them to plunge Israel into a new round of political instability. And if he does the latter, his coalition partners are likely to leave the government and overthrow it, and give the United States and the left their wish for new elections in the midst of war."

This is not the Democrat Party that led us through WW2.

Victory is More Important than U.S. Support - CarolineGlick.com

. . ."In other words, just as is the case with Gaza, U.S. policy is to enable Israel’s enemies to win strategic victories against Israel by forbidding Israel to defeat them on the battlefield." . . .

 . . ."Blinken began his remarks by drawing a moral equivalence between the suffering of Israeli hostages and their families and that of the Palestinians in Gaza. The Palestinians in Gaza, who overwhelmingly support Hamas, are just as innocent as the hostages, Blinken insisted.

"Blinken said nothing about the torture, rape, mutilation and deliberate starvation of the hostages carried out by Hamas terrorists and its civilian accomplices alike. Instead, Blinken spoke of the “acute food insecurity,” that Gazans suffer from—and blamed that “acute food insecurity” on Israel.". . .

The Biden Administration has more kinship with the US campus rioters than with our ally Israel. Does Blinken want to abandon the innocent Israeli hostages? 

How soon we forget. Press posting more and more articles supporting Gazans. Is there no memory of the bloody homes and burned families of Israel?

We saw videos of youths returning home to their Kibbutz, being ambushed by Arabs, blood flowing from their heads onto the ground.

Pro-Hamas students, do you have no problem with scenes like this?

Here are stories of some of the 242 hostages held by Hamas | AP News  "Emily Tony Korenberg Hand celebrated her eighth birthday last year romping with friends and family among the jugglers, acrobats and stilt walkers for her circus-themed party at Kibbutz Be’eri, not far from the Gaza Strip." Still, she is in the hands of the monsters pictured above.

Electric Vehicles Enter the 'Total Failure' Phase of Their Existence

"They are less capable than your average gas-powered vehicle. They typically cost more new but don't hold their value because the batteries are so expensive to replace, meaning buyers get hit coming and going. The list goes on"

 RedState   "Is it time to start asking whether electric vehicles have any redeeming value in 2024? Given the recent spate of bad news surrounding them, the answer to that question is becoming clearer." 

"As RedState reported, Ford has cut the production of its "Lightning" electric pickup truck in half. Why? Mainly because no one wants to buy them. Why do they not want to buy them? Because they are overpriced, unreliable, and impractical. 

"Who could have guessed that paying $55,000 (and that's with EV subsidies) for a stripped-down, base-level truck that overheats when you tow things and can't drive over 300 miles on a single charge wouldn't appeal to the average F-150 buyer? Certainly, people who use their trucks for work have found little to no use for such a pointless monstrosity.

"It's not just the Lightning, though. The entire EV industry is getting hit by reality right now. 

"There is no better example of government idiocy than the top-down push for electric vehicles, which at this point has cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. They were a solution to a problem that didn't exist, and even then, they turned out to not be a solution at all. It's not just about cost either. How useful is a car that loses most of its range when it gets below freezing? How useful is a car that can't be driven for more than a few hours in a row, even in perfect conditions?"

Religious Themes Banned in Jill Biden's White House Easter Egg Contest for National Guard Children

The contest rules state entries “must be consistent with the image and values of Sponsor”, Jill Biden.

 The Gateway Pundit | by Kristinn Taylor   Jill Biden is sponsoring a White House “Youth Art” Easter egg decorating contest for children of National Guard servicemembers that bans religious themed eggs, even though Easter is a religious holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ–and the contest announcement states the eggs will be displayed during the Christian and Jewish observances of Easter and Passover.

"The youth artists are encouraged to submit designs that reflect their daily lives as children of servicemembers but may not feature “religious symbols, overtly religious themes.” The contest rules state entries “must be consistent with the image and values of Sponsor”, Jill Biden." . . .

. . ."In addition to barring religious themes on the Easter eggs, political, racist, obscene or discriminatory content is also barred, as is content disparaging the sponsor, i.e., Jill Biden and the Biden administration. Surprisingly, the rules state descriptions of the entries “must be primarily in English.”. . .

"The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age;

"The Submission must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of the United States or of any jurisdiction where Submission is created.

"The Submission must not promote illegal drugs or firearms (or the use of any of the foregoing), or any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous;

"The Submission must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements;". . . You mean like Easter or Passover?

"The contest also apparently bans any Hunter Biden themed eggs: “The Submission must not promote illegal drugs or firearms (or the use of any of the foregoing).”   Wouldn't dream of it.

On Confronting the Iranian Regime

  Majid Rafizadeh: Gatestone Institute  

Iran had their way with Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and - so far - Joe Biden. Lets see, what do the three of them have in common?

"Any evaluation of the Biden administration's policy towards the Iranian regime (and towards the Palestinians) reveals a failure: the deadly Western miscalculation that "being nice" will be reciprocated."

The Biden administration's reluctance to robustly respond to the rogue Islamist regime of Iran apparently only reinforces the inclination of Iran's political and military leadership to inflict more harm. In 1988, President Reagan launched Operation Praying Mantis, which retaliated against Iran for its attack on a U.S. Navy ship, sent a strong message to Iran, and reduced the threat posed by Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf

"Any evaluation of the Biden administration's policy towards the Iranian regime (and towards the Palestinians) reveals a failure: the deadly Western miscalculation that "being nice" will be reciprocated. In the culture of the Middle East, that simply does not work. Instead, one is looked on as a gullible sucker or juicy "mark," like a jolly drunk at a strip club.

"As Osama bin Laden pointed out, especially for his region, "When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse."

"Former U.S. Army General Jack Keane recently noted that many possible targets are already on "the list" and suggested taking out the military installations that have been launching such attacks. Other possible responses floated include sinking Iran's spy ship currently in the Red Sea and taking out Iran's military communications systems.

"If Iran itself is not made to pay a price, it will simply continue using its proxies to escalate aggression and take the hits. After all, that is why Iran has proxies in the first place.

Recall when Ron Paul ran for office he said, "If we are nice to Iran they will be nice to us"? Like if we give our lunch money to the school bully, he won't beat us up. TD

"Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy." 

Biden finally admits border isn't secure, believes 'massive changes' needed: 'I'm ready to act'

 NY Post (nypost.com)   "Tell us something we don’t know, Joe.

"President Biden told reporters Friday that the US-Mexico border is not secure — contradicting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — after endorsing “massive changes” in immigration policy.

“ 'No, it’s not,” Biden said when asked whether the frontier was secure following remarks to a bipartisan group of mayors in the White House East Room.

"During his speech, the 81-year-old Biden said he hoped for Senate negotiators to announce a compromise next week on border policy as part of a broader $106 billion supplemental spending request that would also finance military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

“I believe we need significant policy changes at the border, including changes in our asylum system to ensure that we have the authorities we need to control the border. I’m ready to act,” the president said.  [as opposed to three years ago when Biden "acted" by opening the border to millions]. . .

"Current administration policy allows nearly all migrants who illegally cross the border to enter the US to await backlogged asylum proceedings, entitling them to work permits after an initial wait period.

"Soon after taking office in 2021, Biden ended former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required most asylum seekers to await their case rulings while remaining south of the border.

"Mayorkas, whose Department of Homeland Security administers border policy, outraged Republicans in the spring of last year by repeatedly claiming “the border is secure” as record numbers of foreigners crossed illegally.

"Despite apparently disavowing Mayorkas’ claims, Biden defended his DHS chief when asked about House Republican efforts to impeach and remove him, telling reporters Friday that “I don’t get it.” . . .

ANALYSIS – Harvard Jewish Student Antisemitism Lawsuit

 Legal Insurrection (legalinsurrection.com)

The third in a series of lawsuits against NYU, then Penn, and now Harvard, each alleging reprehensible antisemitism by school faculty and students, and anemic, if any, response by school administrators

. . ."You can review the NYU Complaint here, and please read the whole thing, but check out this excerpt:

NYU has not “addressed and ameliorated” campus antisemitism, as the university committed to do three years ago. In fact, shockingly, NYU has done the opposite—it has deliberately sought to burnish its antisemitic credentials and make the campus environment even more hostile and frightening for Jewish students. For example, on October 9, just two days after the horrific terrorist attack in Israel, NYU announced the appointment of Eve Tuck to establish a so-called “Center for Indigenous Studies” at NYU. Professor Tuck, who has a long history of anti-Israel statements, wasted no time praising the murder of Jews. Four days after the Hamas massacre, she called the “Palestinian resistance” “life and future affirming,” and two weeks later, signed a viciously antisemitic open letter defaming Israel. NYU did not censure or terminate Professor Tuck—as it has done for far less egregious conduct where antisemitism was not involved—but remained silent for a month, when it belatedly issued a statement on her behalf purporting to condemn Hamas’s terrorism—which, given her previous statements, could not have been more disingenuous. 

1. Penn, the historic 300-year-old Ivy League university, has transformed itself into an incubation lab for virulent anti-Jewish hatred, harassment, and discrimination. Once welcoming to Jewish students, Penn now subjects them to a pervasively hostile educational environment. Among other things, Penn enforces its own rules of conduct selectively to avoid protecting Jewish students from hatred and harassment, hires rabidly antisemitic professors who call for anti-Jewish violence and spread terrorist propaganda, and ignores Jewish students’ pleas for protection. In doing so, Penn has placed plaintiffs and other Jewish and Israeli students at severe emotional and physical risk." . . .