Thursday, July 14, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Biden Begins Mideast Trip In Israel


President Biden began his Mideast visit yesterday in Israel, offering strong reassurances about Iran's growing nuclear program, saying during an interview that he'd use force as a, quote, "last resort" to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons. During the interview with Israel's Channel 12, which was taped before Biden left the U.S. and aired yesterday, Biden said, "The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” and when asked about using military force against Iran, said, "If that was the last resort, yes." In his first trip to the region as president, Biden was welcomed with a red-carpet arrival ceremony at the airport attended by Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog, with Herzog thanking Biden for championing Israel during his more than 50 years in public office. Biden also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he rekindled the eternal flame and greeted two Holocaust survivors. He is set to meet today with Israeli officials including Lapid, Herzog, and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


➤LATEST INFLATION REPORT IS BRUTAL: Prices are up 9.1% over the past year — the highest rate since 1981.

While many experts keep predicting inflation to slow down, the June rate soared at an annualized rate of nearly 17%. Nearly all parts of the economy are buckling under rising prices. Price increases in the past year have leaped for groceries (12%), gas (60%), electricity (14%), new cars (11%), and flights (34%).

Over the past 18 months, the combination of growing home prices and mortgage rates has pushed up the monthly mortgage on a new median-priced home from $1,195 to $1,904. Inflation is slowing down in one key area: wage growth. Which means that real wages have collapsed by 3.6% in the past year, as workers fall further behind.

➤EX-CIA SOFTWARE ENGINEER CONVICTED IN BIGGEST CLASSIFIED INFO THEFT IN CIA HISTORY: Former CIA software engineer Joshua Schulte was convicted yesterday in federal court in New York in the biggest theft of classified information in CIA history. The 33-year-old, who chose to defend himself, was convicted on all nine counts in the so-called "Vault 7" leak. Before being arrested for the massive leak, Schulte had helped create some of the same CIA hacking tools that he disclosed. Prosecutors contended that he was motivated by resentment because he believed the CIA had disrespected him by ignoring his complaints about his work environment. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that Schulte was convicted of, quote, "one of the most brazen and damaging acts of espionage in American history." A sentencing date wasn't immediately set because Schulte still faces trial on charges of possessing and transporting child pornography.

➤SEN. GRAHAM, FIGHTING SUBPOENA, SAYS DIDN'T TRY TO INTERFERE IN GEORGIA'S 2020 ELECTION: Senator Lindsey Graham, who is fighting a subpoena in a Georgia investigation into former President Donald Trump and his allies' actions in the state after his 2020 election defeat, said in a federal court filing that he wasn't trying to interfere in Georgia’s election when he called state officials to ask them to reexamine some absentee ballots. The South Carolina Republican's attorneys said in the filing, "Senator Graham has never inserted himself into the electoral process in Georgia, and has never attempted to alter the outcome of any election. The talk was about absentee ballots and Georgia’s procedures." Graham has been subpoenaed to testify before a special grand jury in Georgia, part of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation. Graham's attorney also argued he has, quote, "sovereign immunity" from state court procedures pertaining to his job as a senator, and constitutional protection because ”the testimony sought relates to matters within the legislative sphere.”

➤SECRET SERVICE EMPLOYEE SENT HOME AFTER 'PHYSICAL ENCOUNTER' IN ISRAEL: A Secret Service employee who was working in Israel ahead of President Biden's visit that began yesterday was sent home after being arrested following what an agency spokesman called a "physical encouter." He was briefly held and questioned by Israeli police, but wasn't charged with any crime. A woman had accused the employee in the Monday night incident, which the Secret Service said didn't involve an accusation of sexual assault. It happened on the street when agency employees were returning to their hotel after dinner. The accusation is being investigated by the agency.

➤OHIO MAN CHARGED IN RAPE OF 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD TO LEAVE STATE FOR ABORTION: A 27-year-old Ohio man has been charged with raping a 10-year-old girl whose case drew national attention and was highlighted by President Biden last week after a doctor said the girl had to go to Indiana for abortion, because it was no longer allowed in Ohio following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.  The Columbus Dispatch reported that he's believed to be in the country illegally. Some prominent Republicans, including Ohio's attorney general, Dave Yost, and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, had suggested the story was made up. The suspect, Gerson Fuentes, had an initial court appearance yesterday.
 

➤ADMIN.: PHARMACIES CAN'T DISCRIMINATE ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PRESCRIPTIONS: The Department of Health and Human Services warned pharmacies yesterday (July 13th) that they can't discriminate against women seeking reproductive health prescriptions, including some that may be used in ending a pregnancy. The announcement stated that pharmacies who get federal money from programs like Medicare and Medicaid can't discriminate in how they supply medications or advise patients on prescriptions. The action reminding pharmacies of their obligations under federal law is the latest from the administration seeking to ensure reproductive health services for women after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
 

➤7-ELEVEN OFFERS $100K REWARD IN ROBBERIES THAT LEFT TWO DEAD, THREE WOUNDED: 7-Eleven offered a $100,000 reward yesterday (July 13th) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of gunman suspected of robbing six of the chain's stores in Southern California over five hours early Monday morning, leaving two people dead and three wounded. Killed were a clerk at a store in Brea and a man in the parking lot in a Santa Ana store. There were also robberies in Ontario, Upland, Riverside and La Habra. Photos of the suspect have been made public showing a masked man wearing a black sweatshirt with a hood over his head.

➤MEDIA DEBATES SHOW PHOTOS OF MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS:   As mass shootings continue to happen across the country, some in media are suggesting that news outlets, including on TV, online, and in print, should begin showing images of the victims of the attacks, which are frequently carried out with high-powered weapons that do brutal damage. Graphic images of violent crimes victims are rarely shown by U.S. news outlets, out of concern for not wanting to upset victims' families, offend readers, or be seen as exploitative. But some now argue that not doing so amid the epidemic of mass shootings amounts to an evasion of responsibility to show reality. After the Uvalde elementary school shooting, in which 19 children and two adults were killed, NPR's senior vice president for news tweeted, "We cannot sanitize these killings. That in and of itself is an editorial decision." But Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, told the Washington Post that news media should avoid creating a, quote, "sadistic image culture” that desensitizes viewers, exploits victims, and re-traumatizes survivors. He said other kinds of reporting can often be more effective, suggesting journalists ask themselves, "Is blood the only way to jolt the public conscience?"

🏑BLUE JACKETS SIGN GAUDREAU TO SEVEN-YEAR, $68.25 MILLION DEAL: The Columbus Blue Jackets reached a seven-year, $68.25 million deal yesterday with star forward Johnny Gaudreau, NHL free agency's biggest prize. The 28-year-old has spent his entire nine-year NHL career so far with the Calgary Flames, finishing fourth in the NHL MVP voting in two of the past four seasons. Gaudreau had told the Flames this week that he wouldn't re-sign with them.

⚾OHTANI GETS SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN, HITS TRIPLE: The Los Angeles Angels' two-way star Shohei Ohtani got his sixth straight win last night, beating the Houston Astros 7-1, and also hit a two-run triple. The reigning American League MVP struck out 12 in six innings as he improved his record to 9-4. It was the third time this season Ohtani has had double-digit strikeouts and multiple RBIs in a game, something only two other pitchers have done: Atlanta’s Kevin Millwood in 1999 and Detroit's Hal Newhouser in 1946.


⚾BLUE JAYS FIRE MANAGER MONTOYO: The Toronto Blue Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo Wednesday, with the team having a 46-42 record, but going 3-9 so far in July. General manager Ross Atkins said, "I truly wanted this to work with Charlie and wasn’t able to make that happen. I'm extremely disappointed in where we are. I think we’re better than how we’ve played." Bench coach John Schneider was promoted to interim manager for the remainder of the season. Montoyo was hired after the 2018 season, and went 236-236 in parts of four seasons.

⚾10 UNVACCINATED ROYALS PLAYERS WON'T MAKE TRIP TO TORONTO: Ten of the 26 players on the Kansas City Royals' active roster won't be on the team's upcoming trip to Toronto for four games against the Blue Jays because they aren't vaccinated against Covid-19, which is required by Canada. The 10 will be put on the restricted list and forfeit four days of pay and major league service time. The Royals will name their replacements today.

🏈NFL TO WORK TO GET FLAG FOOTBALL INTO 2028 OLYMPICS: The NFL announced yesterday that it will be part of an effort to get flag football added for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. No variation of American football has been in the Olympics since 1932, when there was a demonstration event at the Summer Games that year, which were also in Los Angeles, by a group of college players.



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