Month: March 2024

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership.  Schumer, D-N.Y., the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. ever, said in remarks on the Senate floor that “the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7.”  He charged that Netanyahu has “lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel” and trying to hold his Israeli conservative coalition together during its war against Hamas and is on the verge of losing the sympathy of the world: “the world has changed, radically, since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”

Schumer said that Netanyahu has aligned himself with “far-right extremists” like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who he said are “pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows.” Schumer called for the country to make a “course correction” and it cannot survive “if it becomes a pariah” of the world: “five months into the conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask, must we change course? At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.”

The tone is a change from Schumer’s past remarks, where Schumer defended Israel as the past victims of anti-Semitic activities around the world as well as the right to defend itself and secure its future. Schumer called on Israel to embrace a two-state solution, saying without it that Israel could find itself in a constant state of war:  “[The United States] should not be forced into a position of unequivocally supporting the actions of an Israeli government that includes bigots who reject the idea of a Palestinian state.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., denounced Schumer for his remarks, saying after his remarks on the Senate floor that it is “grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson added that“this is not only highly inappropriate, it’s just plain wrong for an American leader to play such a divisive role in Israeli politics while our closest ally in the region is in an existential battle for its very survival.”

In response to Schumer, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the White House is focused on ensuring Israel has the weapons it needs to defend itself “while doing everything that they can to avoid civilian casualties:  Said Kirby: “we’re still focused — laser-focused — on trying to get a temporary ceasefire in place so we can get the hostages out and get more aid into Gaza.”

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A SpaceX Starship rocket was launched successfully on its third test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, before losing contact on reentry over the Indian Ocean, likely breaking apart. The test flight occurred on SpaceX’s 22nd anniversary, according to a livestream.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hailed its entry into space, writing on X, “Starship reached orbital velocity! Congratulations @SpaceX team!!” and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson wrote on X, “Congrats to @SpaceX on a successful test flight! Starship has soared into the heavens. Together, we are making great strides through Artemis to return humanity to the Moon—then look onward to Mars.”

SpaceX said on Thursday that the unmanned spaceship achieved multiple milestones and was still deemed a success as it advanced further than either of its previous test. During the first test in April 2023, the rocket was forced to self-destruct about three minutes after liftoff when the boosters failed to separate. At approximately 5,000 tons, Musk touted the spaceship as “the largest flying object ever made.” Thursday’s flight spent more than 45 minutes in space before the command center lost contact with the ship.

The rocket is being tested as SpaceX pushes to travel to the moon, and eventually, Mars. The company said: “As the most powerful launch system ever developed, Starship will be able to carry up to 100 people on long-duration, interplanetary flights. Starship will also enable satellite delivery, the development of a Moon base, and point-to-point transport here on Earth.”

The FAA said on Thursday that it would oversee the SpaceX investigation into the “mishap” with the third launch involving the Super Heavy booster and Starship vehicle: “No public injuries or public property damage have been reported. The FAA is overseeing the SpaceX-led mishap investigation to ensure the company complies with its FAA-approved mishap investigation plan and other regulatory requirements.”

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The House on Wednesday passed legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S., alleging that the China-based video-sharing app is a national security threat. The House fast-tracked the legislation, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, by bringing it up under a procedure that required the support of two-thirds of members for passage.

The bipartisan vote was 352-65, with one member, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, voting present. 197 Republicans and 155 Democrats voted to approve, while 15 Republicans and 50 Democrats voted against the bill. It now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate. President Joe Biden has said that if the bill reaches his desk, he will sign it into law, which would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or be banned from U.S. app stores and web-hosting services.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement after the vote: “Communist China is America’s largest geopolitical foe and is using technology to actively undermine America’s economy and security. Today’s bipartisan vote demonstrates Congress’ opposition to Communist China’s attempts to spy on and manipulate Americans, and signals our resolve to deter our enemies.”

TikTok, owned by China-based parent company ByteDance, arguing that the legislation would violate the First Amendment rights of its 170 million U.S. users and harm thousands of small businesses that rely on it. The company said on X: “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it’s a ban. We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”  Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also aid in a statement that “despite the lack of evidence proving TikTok poses a threat to US national security, the U.S. has continued to suppress TikTok. This practice of resorting to bullying tactics when unable to win in fair competition disrupts normal business operations, damages international investors’ confidence in the investment environment, and undermines the normal international economic and trade order, ultimately harming the U.S. itself.”

TikTok has repeatedly been targeted by lawmakers seeking to restrict the app over concerns that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over the data of its 170 million American users. However, TikTok has long denied it could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans.

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Attorneys for Hunter Biden told lawmakers on Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s son will not attend a public hearing on the House impeachment inquiry into his father that is scheduled for next week.

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s attorney, wrote in a letter to House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., that his client “declines your invitation to this carnival side show” and will not appear at a March 20 public impeachment hearing. Lowell said: “I must confess my surprise by your hasty request. After that six-plus hour deposition on February 28, 2024, along with the realization that your inquiry was based on a patchwork of conspiracies spun by convicted liars and a charged Russian spy, I thought even you would recognize your baseless impeachment proceeding was dead.”

Lowell said that Republicans requested that Biden appear the day before he is to appear in court in California on a criminal tax charge, citing federal charges against Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who prosecutors said lied about the Bidens’ involvement in Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Smirnov was re-arrested after prosecutors asserted there was a strong risk Smirnov would use Russian intelligence contacts to flee before his trial. Said Lowell: “Your blatant planned-for-media event is not a proper proceeding but an obvious attempt to throw a Hail Mary pass after the game has ended.”

Comer said in a statement that the hearing will proceed, and Republicans expect Hunter Biden to participate: “The House Oversight Committee has called Hunter Biden’s bluff. Hunter Biden for months stated he wanted a public hearing, but now that one has been offered alongside his business associates that he worked with for years, he is refusing to come.” Comer added that Hunter Biden confirmed “key evidence,” but contradicted testimony from former business partners who appeared before House investigators:  “The American people demand the truth and accountability for the Bidens’ corruption.”

Comer’s request for Hunter Biden to appear in public comes after he testified behind closed doors in a six-hour deposition on February 28 before members of two House panels. Biden said in an opening statement at the time that he never involved his father in his businesses.

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Former special counsel Robert Hur, who led the yearlong probe into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, testified Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers in both parties have heavily criticized Hur’s report that ultimately vindicated the president, but included some highly critical conclusions. Hur was previously nominated by then-President Donald Trump as U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, and was appointed special counsel in the case by Attorney General Merrick Garland. His employment with the Justice Department has ended since the report has been filed.

Hur fielded questions from both Democrats and Republicans at the hearing who took issue with the report, accusing him of acting in a partisan manner.  Republicans argued the decision not to recommend charges against Mr. Biden was evidence of a two-tiered justice system, while Democrats countered that Republicans ignored the severity of the allegations against Trump and accused Hur of including gratuitous criticism of the president in his report.

In his 388-page report published last month, Hur said that he found no criminal charges were warranted in the Biden probe, but noted the inquiry uncovered evidence “that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency.” Hur ultimately concluded that the evidence did not establish the facts beyond a reasonable doubt. The report also included damaging assertions about the 81-year-old president’s memory during the five-hour conversation between the two. The White House has vehemently refuted accusations that Biden has memory issues.

Hur defended the investigation and report and highlighted the probe’s finding that Mr. Biden “willfully retained” classified materials, while noting that the investigation did not find evidence that “rose to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” The former special counsel said that he needed to include characterizations of the president’s memory in order to explain why he did not bring charges against Mr. Biden: “I understood that my explanation about this case had to include rigorous, detailed and thorough analysis,” Hur said in his opening remarks. “In other words, I needed to show my work, just as I would expect any prosecutor to show his or her work in explaining the decision to prosecute or not.” Hur said his assessment of how relevant Mr. Biden’s memory was in the report was “necessary and accurate and fair .. I did not sanitize my explanation, nor did I disparage the president unfairly. I explained to the attorney general my decision, and the reasons for it. That’s what I was required to do.”

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Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.,  announced Tuesday he will be leaving Congress at the end of next week. Buck had previously announced he would not be seeking reelection.

Buck said in a statement: “Today I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week. I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado and with my family … It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years. I want to thank them for their support and encouragement through the years.”

Buck frequently defied his own party, and his departure will further narrow the House Republicans majority to a margin of 218-213. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will continue to have two votes to spare before needing Democrats to govern, but unexpected absences by his party could make his his role challenging.

Fellow GOP colleagues seemed shocked by Buck’s announcement: Speaker Johnson said to reporters after Buck’s statement was revealed: “I was surprised by Ken’s announcement. I’m looking forward to talking with him about that,” while Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas said of the news: “very surprising, very disturbing, very alarming, very concerning.”

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