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Senate GOP leaders take aim at Biden climate czar over agenda harming energy security, allies

Senate GOP leaders take aim at Biden climate czar over agenda harming energy security, allies

FIRST ON FOX: Senate GOP leaders are sending a loud warning to President Biden’s newly appointed climate czar John Podesta over the administration’s policy curbing energy projects they say support American jobs and are critical for U.S. allies. On Monday, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, will hand-deliver a letter to Podesta in Houston where they and other public sector leaders, alongside a wide range of industry leaders, are attending the annual CERAWeek energy conference. The letter outlines energy security and foreign policy concerns with the Biden administration’s recent climate policy pausing major liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal projects. “Demand for LNG, obviously, is not going away anytime soon,” Sullivan said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “American LNG is one of the cleanest forms of energy available anywhere and leveraging America’s energy independence is one of our greatest strengths against authoritarian regimes.” “This issue of American LNG and the pause the Biden administration announced for no reason – all it is, is clearly driven by far-left radical enviros. It’s not based on science, it’s not based on anything. It’s based on politics and Podesta driving it,” he continued. “One of the most important weapons we’ve been providing our allies in Europe, let alone Asia, to get them off Russian LNG is American LNG.” BIDEN’S MORATORIUM ON NATURAL GAS EXPORTS COULD CRUSH SMALL BUSINESSES, TOP REPUBLICAN WARNS The Alaska Republican added that his letter comes after he attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany last month, where a number of European leaders expressed concern about President Biden’s LNG moratorium. Noting meetings with the German chancellor, European Union president and NATO secretary-general, Sullivan said the leaders were “apoplectic” about the policy. Sullivan, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, was joined in penning the letter by Armed Services Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Foreign Relations Committee ranking member James Risch, R-Idaho, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member John Barrasso, R-Wyo. TIKTOK ACTIVIST SAYS HE ADVISED WHITE HOUSE ON BIDEN’S NEW NATURAL GAS MORATORIUM “At a time when war is ongoing in Ukraine and tensions are rising in the Middle East and Asia, it is particularly important that allied nations can rely on the United States for a reliable, long-term fuel supply,” they wrote to Podesta. “The administration’s decision, however, creates serious doubts about the reliability of that fuel supply and will have dire national security and foreign policy implications. It should be reversed immediately.” “If the Biden administration’s policy remains in effect indefinitely, we run the risk of effectively losing one-third of the current potential of increased LNG export capacity, threatening our allies’ energy security,” the letter continued. “U.S. LNG exports provide a diverse and secure source of energy to our allies, and it reduces their dependence for that supply on foreign adversaries and potentially unstable regions.” In a surprise move in January, Biden ordered the Department of Energy to pause pending permits for LNG export facilities while federal officials conduct a rigorous environmental review assessing the projects’ carbon emissions, which could take more than a year to complete. The action represents a major victory for activists who have loudly called for such a move, which they said would help combat global warming. MORE THAN 150 REPUBLICANS TAKE AIM AT BIDEN’S MORATORIUM ON NATURAL GAS EXPORTS However, the move was blasted by industry groups, former federal officials and bipartisan lawmakers, who noted energy exports are vital for aiding allies in Europe and Asia. In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, U.S. LNG largely filled the void left by Russian natural gas as U.S. allies sought to wean off Russian exports and punish the nation’s economy, a plan Biden endorsed at the time. Opponents also argued that LNG exports bolster domestic energy production and boost the U.S. economy. Fossil fuel industry groups recently cited research indicating that LNG exports could add as much as $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, create 453,000 American jobs and increase U.S. purchasing power by $30 billion. Critics of Biden’s action further said it would not help the environment since global consumers will, as a result, likely revert to greater reliance on coal or Russian gas, both of which are dirtier than U.S. LNG. “It’s imperative that the U.S. sends a strong message to its allies that it can be a reliable LNG exporter,” the Republicans’ letter Monday concluded. “The administration’s decision does the opposite, as it will cede America’s influence in these markets, allowing countries like Russia, Qatar, and even Iran to fill the void and give them an unnecessary geopolitical advantage. Therefore, we urge the Administration to reverse its decision and move forward with supporting domestic jobs and our allies abroad.” The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cubans stage rare protests amid persisting economic crisis

Cubans stage rare protests amid persisting economic crisis

President points finger at US after hundreds of people demonstrate against food shortages and blackouts. Rare protests have taken place in Cuba as the island nation’s economic crisis persists. President Miguel Diaz-Canel called on Monday for calm, and hit out at the United States after hundreds of people gathered in Santiago the previous day to demonstrate against power blackouts and food shortages. Social media videos showed crowds in the communist-governed country’s second-largest city chanting, “Power and food”. A wave of blackouts has recently seen power supplies cut for up to 18 hours or more in a day. That has helped jeopardise food supplies and economic activity in the cash-strapped country. Long stymied by US trade embargoes and more recently sanctions imposed during Donald Trump’s presidency, Cuba is battling its worst economic crisis in decades, caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the flow of much-needed tourism dollars plunge. Diaz-Canel called for dialogue and “peace”. “Several people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation of electrical service and food distribution,” he wrote on X. “The disposition of the authorities of the party, the state and the government is to attend to the complaints of our people, listen, dialogue, explain the numerous efforts that are being carried out to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquility and peace,” he added. Varias personas han expresado su inconformidad con la situación del servicio eléctrico y la distribución de alimentos. Este contexto se intenta aprovechar por los enemigos de la Revolución, con fines desestabilizadores. — Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) March 18, 2024 The president blamed government “enemies” and “mediocre politicians and terrorists” in the US for trying to hijack the protests. The US embassy in Havana said in a post on X that it had also received reports of protests in Bayamo, Granma and other locations. It urged the government “to respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people”. The protests in Santiago were peaceful as demonstrators shouted, “Down with communism. Down with Diaz-Canal.” Videos on social media showed no signs of scuffles or arrests as the protests were watched by a large number of state security forces. However, internet services were throttled late on Sunday until early Monday, according to some reports. We’re seeing a five-hour dip in traffic to #Cuba coinciding with reports of a disruption in mobile service following protests in Santiago de Cuba earlier today. Dip in traffic begins at 19:20 UTC (3:20pm ET) and lasted until 00:30 UTC (8:30pm ET). pic.twitter.com/hXAlmwswm3 — Doug Madory (@DougMadory) March 18, 2024 Havana cracked down heavily on large protests in July 2021, the widest demonstrations seen in Cuba since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution. The response was criticised by the international community. Since 1960, the US has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba, which restricts trade between the countries. For the first time, Cuba turned to the UN’s World Food Programme in February, requesting help in supplying milk to children, the organisation said. Adblock test (Why?)

Jim Jordan previews main focus of upcoming Hunter Biden hearing, blasts Hur report ‘double standard’

Jim Jordan previews main focus of upcoming Hunter Biden hearing, blasts Hur report ‘double standard’

VANDALIA, OH – Republican Congressman Jim Jordan previewed an upcoming hearing on the investigation into the business dealings of Hunter Biden and railed against the “double standard” he says President Biden was the benefactor of in the investigation into his handling of classified documents. “We’ll see,” the Ohio Republican told Fox News Digital on Saturday when asked about Hunter Biden previously expressing willingness to testify openly before the House before his legal team recently backtracked and objected to doing so.   “I think Chairman Comer, we’re going to have this hearing this week, this upcoming week with three of Hunter Biden’s business partners, Mr. Galanis, Mr. Bobulinski and Mr. Archer and what’s interesting, all three of those individuals tell a different story, and their story seems to match up with the three of them versus what Hunter Biden told us when we deposed him,” Jordan said. “So we’ll see if Hunter Biden comes in. But we’ll go through this here and get information out to the American people.” “It’s going to be the comparisons between what these individuals said and what Hunter Biden said and the contradictions that exist in this testimony from both sides,” Jordan told Fox News Digital when asked for a preview of what this week’s hearing on the Hunter Biden scandal will entail.  GOP REP SPOTLIGHTS 3 KEY PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT THE BIDEN FAMILY ‘CONTRADICTED’ THEIR BUSINESS COVERUP Jason Galanis, Tony Bobulinski and Devon Archer, all former associates of Hunter Biden, were invited to participate in a House hearing on Wednesday as part of the investigation into an alleged corruption scandal that Republicans are suggesting could eventually lead to an impeachment vote for President Biden. Fox News Digital reached out to Hunter Biden’s legal team for comment but did not receive a response. Jordan, who was speaking to Fox News Digital near Dayton, Ohio where former President Trump was rallying for Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, brought up the recent testimony of Special Counsel Robert Hur while discussing Hunter Biden, which he suggested was an example of President Biden “knowingly” ignoring the law.  “I thought last week with special counsel Hur where we went through that, where we know Joe Biden knowingly retained and disclosed classified information, he knew the rules, he’d been in government five decades, he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was vice president, so he knew the law and willfully violated that law,” Jordan said.  “And I think he did it because, special counsel Hur says in his report, he said Joe Biden was motivated to ignore classified procedures because he was writing a book and he got an $8 million advance so there are 8 million reasons why Joe Biden didn’t follow the law.” BIDEN GHOSTWRITER SPOTTED ON NYC STREETS HOURS AFTER GOP LAWMAKERS RIPPED HIM DURING HEATED HUR HEARING When asked by Jordan last week during the House hearing on Hur’s conclusion regarding Biden’s handling of classified documents and his decision not to file charges whether he agrees that Biden had motivation to misuse the documents to write a book, Hur replied, “That language does appear in the report, and we did identify evidence supporting those assessments.”  The White House has pushed back on the idea that Hur’s report shows Biden’s actions possibly correlate with a potential book deal. “And then, of course, Mr. Hur concluded by saying even though he knowingly, willfully retained and disclosed, did it for the money, in my judgment, we’re not going to prosecute because he’s a forgetful old man and I think that came out loud and clear in the hearing we had this past week,” Jordan added. “So we’ll have another hearing next week with these other individuals and we’ll go from there.” Fox News Digital asked Jordan if he agreed with Hur’s conclusion that it would be too difficult to secure a guilty verdict from a jury with the current evidence. “If someone meets the elements of the crime, it’s the job of the prosecutor to take that to the jury and the jury decides,” Jordan responded. “Mr. Hur and his evaluation, you weigh all things, so we have some respect for that of course, but what I do think comes clear is the double standard.” “You know, this idea that there are pressing charges and they have charged President Trump, they raided his home for goodness sake, but nothing happens here, and that’s what Americans really take away is the double standard.” Several legal experts, including Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley, have recently suggested that the classified documents handling case against President Biden had more significant evidence than the case involving Trump. Jordan told Fox News Digital he agrees with that analysis. “I think so especially when you see the report and you walk through the elements, particularly when he’s talking to the ghost writer, who, by the way, the ghost writer tried to destroy the evidence once he found out Mr. Hur was named the special counsel,” Jordan said. “Go figure. If that’s not obstruction. I don’t know what is. So, I do think that again underscores this double standard that we’ve seen for such a long time.”

Supreme Court to hear First Amendment challenge to New York’s financial ‘blacklisting’ of NRA

Supreme Court to hear First Amendment challenge to New York’s financial ‘blacklisting’ of NRA

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a key First Amendment case brought by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that has linked unlikely bedfellows together to challenge a government official’s action they say trampled on their First Amendment rights.  Before the high court is the case National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, which questions whether a government regulator threatens regulated entities with adverse regulatory actions if they do business with a controversial speaker, allegedly because of the government’s own hostility to the speaker’s viewpoint, violates the First Amendment. The NRA filed its 2018 challenge following the revelation that former New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo, at the order of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, allegedly blacklisted the NRA – effectively forcing banks and insurers to cut ties with the group. NRA SEES OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT IN SCOTUS CASE CHARGING BLUE STATE REGULATOR WITH ‘BLACKLISTING’ She sent “guidance letters” in 2018 to banks and insurance companies encouraging them to sever ties with the NRA and other pro-Second Amendment organizations, citing reputational risks. The guidance letters were issued shortly after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students and staff. The lawsuit alleges that Vullo made “backroom threats” against regulated firms, accompanied by offers of leniency on unrelated infractions if regulated entities would agree to blacklist the NRA. The Supreme Court in November agreed to hear National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, after a federal appeals court in 2022 dismissed the group’s lawsuit, arguing Vullo’s actions were reasonable.  Dozens of political leaders, lawmakers, scholars and organizations have filed or joined amicus briefs in support of the NRA’s position, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – a group that ideologically opposes the NRA but said it is “proud” to defend the gun group’s “right to speak.” NRA PRAISES COURT ORDER STRIKING DOWN ‘DRACONIAN’ BLUE STATE’S HANDGUN LAW “While the ACLU disagrees with the NRA’s advocacy, we are proud to defend its right to speak,” ACLU Legal Director David Cole, who will argue the case for the NRA, said in a statement.  “Public officials cannot be allowed to abuse their regulatory powers to blacklist an organization just because they oppose its political views. If New York is allowed to do this to the NRA, it will provide a playbook for other state officials to abuse their authority to target groups they don’t like,” he said.  BIDEN DOJ’S GUN LAW BLUEPRINT WILL IMPACT ABILITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF: GUN RIGHTS GROUPS “This case is important to the NRA and all advocacy organizations who rely upon the protections of the First Amendment,” says NRA counsel William A. Brewer III. “Many groups will benefit when the Court reminds government officials that they cannot use intimidation tactics, backdoor censorship, or regulatory blacklisting to silence those with whom they disagree.” The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday starting at 10:00 a.m.   Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.