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Close encounters of congressional kind: Lawmakers struggle to grasp alleged ‘interdimensional’ nature of UFOs

Close encounters of congressional kind: Lawmakers struggle to grasp alleged ‘interdimensional’ nature of UFOs

What happened on the grassy knoll at Dealey Plaza in Dallas? Does a mysterious, serpentine beast glide through the icy waters of Loch Ness?  Is there life on other planets? Perhaps it’s only natural Congress is now probing whether the government is covering up possible evidence of UFOs. UFO WHISTLEBLOWER AND FORMER PILOT PRAISES CONGRESS FOR INTRODUCING LANDMARK BILL TO ALLOW SAFE UFO REPORTING The timing for this type of congressional inquest into this mystery is only right. Suspicions abound about the origins of the pandemic and conspiracies about the safety of vaccines. Couple that with skepticism about “the media,” the veracity of election returns and the government in general. It’s not a stretch for people — and now lawmakers — to seek more answers about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), or UFOs. Are we alone in the universe? If not, some in Congress believe they’ve been left in the dark. ‘UFO REVOLUTION’ DOCUSERIES SHOWS UAP FLYING OVER MILITARY BASE, ‘BLOWS UP DECADES OF CONSPIRACIES’: EXPERT A cohort of lawmakers suspects there is mounting information government agencies and the military aren’t playing straight with Capitol Hill. And if the truth is out there, they’re not getting it. That’s why there’s been an uptick of bipartisan hearings, briefings and legislation on UAPs over the past few years.  Even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tried to wedge more transparency about UFO files into the annual defense policy bill late last year. But Schumer’s effort fell short. Whatever people are seeing could be something from the great beyond. But there appears to be discomfort with federal officials divulging to lawmakers what they know. Hence, the disappointment from Schumer. And, frankly, there may be evidence that different “silos” of the federal government might not know exactly what other feds have. Granted, some things spotted in the skies might be special proprietary advanced technology different agencies or the intelligence community guard with the utmost confidentiality. And some of the stuff out there might just be unexplained. No wonder this fuels conspiracy theories. Such was the case when intelligence community Inspector General Thomas Monheim appeared for a closed-door, classified briefing for members of the House Oversight Committee late last week. Some responses were predictable. “Stonewalled once again,” complained Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. ONLY 1 TYPE OF ALIEN LIFE FORM COULD MAKE IT TO EARTH’S DOORSTEP: HARVARD EXPERT “I just wasted time,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. “I’m more concerned than I was going in.” “There’s a concerted effort to conceal as much information as possible,” alleged Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Lawmakers contend they aren’t hearing from people who really know what’s out there. “They send us bureaucrats who don’t know on purpose,” said Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis. But it might not be as sinister as some suspect. “This meeting, unlike the one we had previously … actually moved the needle,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. “This is the first time we kind of got a ruling on what the IG (inspector general) thinks of those claims.” The “claims” Moskowitz speaks of stem from allegations former military intelligence officer and UAP whistleblower David Grusch made at an open House hearing last summer. Grusch contends the military has possession of a spacecraft from someplace else. As well as something else. “Do you believe our government has made contact with intelligent extraterrestrials?” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., asked at that hearing last July. UFO WATCH: HOUSE LAWMAKERS BLAST INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY’S ‘ORCHESTRATED ATTEMPT’ TO HIDE UAP INFO “That’s something I can’t discuss in a public setting,” Grusch replied. However, Grusch implied the U.S. may have some sort of life form that isn’t understood. He termed them “biologics” at the summer hearing. “Human or non-human biologics?” Mace asked. “Non-human,” Grusch answered without hesitation. Lawmakers demand transparency. But due to the sensitivity of the material, even they aren’t quite ready yet to publicly share what they’re learning. “This is the first real briefing that we’ve had that we’ve now made — I would say — progress on some of the claims Mr. Grusch has made,” said Moskowitz. As upset as he was in the briefing, Burchett signaled the same. “We got some pretty definitive stuff,” said Burchett. “It just verified what I thought.” But it’s unclear what “definitive stuff” lawmakers heard about, let alone what was verified. And we don’t know what Burchett “thought.” Lawmakers are trying to dissect Grusch’s allegations. Let’s step back for just a moment. TOP PENTAGON UFO INVESTIGATOR TO STEP DOWN BY END OF THE YEAR: REPORT As a longtime congressional observer, I have learned to pay attention to precisely what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says. Decades of reporting on McConnell taught me that you’ll know exactly what McConnell is planning to do or pondering if you filet his words with the perfection of a Ginsu knife. Language and framing is paramount in politics. The same is true in intelligence circles. And, apparently, it’s true when it comes to explaining the unexplained. Like UFOs. So let’s focus on the language. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., questioned Grusch about why he referred to potential “beings” as “non-human intelligence” and not “extraterrestrials.” At the 2023 hearing, Grusch suggested that what the government purportedly has is “very complex.” After the House briefing last week, Luna noted that Grusch previously referred to such entities as “interdimensional.” Yours truly asked Luna what “interdimensional” means when it comes to UAPs. “Is this something that bends time and space,” this reporter asked Luna. The Florida Republican didn’t respond directly. PENTAGON LAUNCHES UFO REPORTING SITE AIMED AT THOSE WITH ‘FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE’ OF UAPS “He said interdimensional. He refused to use certain terms,” said Luna. But back to our political message box analysis. “I think it’s incredibly important to listen to the specific words that Grusch uses,” said Luna. “He never said extraterrestrial or alien.” Could it be that “extraterrestrial” or “alien” mean specific things in the intelligence or military communities when trying to atomize what the government knows about UAPs? The term “interdimensional” pertains

Johnson to face Republican critics of short-term funding bill as Friday shutdown deadline looms

Johnson to face Republican critics of short-term funding bill as Friday shutdown deadline looms

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing his GOP conference in person on Wednesday morning for the first time since congressional leaders released a bipartisan deal to avert a government shutdown.  Lawmakers are facing a Jan. 19 deadline to fund some parts of the government – historically less controversial appropriations concerning military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development – and a Feb. 2 deadline for the remaining agencies, including the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. But Johnson announced over the weekend that he and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had come to an agreement to extend those respective deadlines to March 1 and March 8 to give negotiators more time to make a deal on funding the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2024. JOHNSON CAUGHT BETWEEN WARRING HOUSE GOP FACTIONS: ‘DRIFTING TOWARD MOB RULE’ The path forward on government funding is likely to be a main topic of discussion at House Republicans’ next weekly conference meeting, multiple sources speculated to Fox News Digital. The meeting is currently expected for Wednesday morning despite weather conditions forcing the House to cancel its Tuesday evening votes. HOUSE, SENATE RELEASE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING AS SHUTDOWN DEADLINES LOOM One House GOP aide who spoke with Fox News Digital predicted “a showdown” within the party over the short-term spending bill called a continuing resolution (CR). The aide told Fox News Digital they anticipate more resistance among the GOP than past CR votes have seen. When Johnson last passed a CR in November, it saw 93 Republican defections. He pledged at the time to be “done” with short-term CRs, a declaration met with enthusiasm by GOP lawmakers in the House. The latest short-term extension is still likely to pass with support from both Republicans and Democrats, but not without criticism from Johnson’s right flank – criticism he’s likely to get a preview of Wednesday morning when GOP lawmakers huddle behind closed doors to discuss what’s next for their conference. HOUSE GOP ERUPTS IN DIVISION OVER CALL TO PUSH JOHNSON OUT OF SPEAKERSHIP: ‘WORKING FOR JOE BIDEN’ “There is nothing new or novel about surrendering now and promising to fight tomorrow. Wasn’t the laddered CR supposed to provide some sort of leverage?” Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, wrote on X Tuesday. “Sadly, an agreement seems to have been made by 4-corners again, in violation of many [House GOP] promises,” Davidson said. The Freedom Caucus itself released a statement calling the deal a “surrender.” “The [House GOP] is planning to pass a short-term spending bill continuing Pelosi levels with Biden policies, to buy time to pass longer-term spending bills at Pelosi levels with Biden policies,” the group said.

Hunter Biden’s art dealer lashes out after testimony, says Congress is where ‘real’ influence peddling happens

Hunter Biden’s art dealer lashes out after testimony, says Congress is where ‘real’ influence peddling happens

EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Biden’s New York City art dealer lashed out in defense of the first son following his closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee last week, arguing the halls of Congress was where the “real” influence peddling happens. In an email to Fox News Digital, Georges Bergès, owner of the Georges Bergès Art Gallery in Manhattan that showcases Biden’s paintings, decried the focus on his business as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, all “while the pigs are at the trough in Washington, D.C.” “Broadly speaking, if the issue is selling influence — then no one needs to look outside Washington, D.C., as there are plenty of lobbyist[s] advertising all the influence they have for sale on K street,” Bergès wrote.  ART DEALER REVEALS HUNTER BIDEN KNEW “SUGAR BROTHER” WAS TOP BUYER, MAKING WH ETHICS PLEDGE A ‘SHAM’: COMER “If the issue is fear of family members of powerful politicians leveraging their ties for personal gain, then ban former congressm[e]n and their relatives from ever becoming lobbyists, but that’s never going to happen because that’s where the real peddling is happening,” he wrote. “So they want us to focus on the gallery in [New York City] while the pigs are at the trough in Washington D.C.,” he added. Bergès also told Fox that he never violated the agreement his gallery had with Hunter in which he would conceal his buyers’ identities to avoid ethical problems for the presidential family selling potentially high-value items. HOUSE RULES PANEL PAUSES CONSIDERATION OF HUNTER BIDEN CONTEMPT AMID NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW DEPOSITION DATE “If [Hunter] knew the identities of some of the buyers — it’s because they were his friends or by happenstance,” he wrote. “My obligation to Hunter is to not disclose the buyers — which I haven’t.”  The White House said in July 2021 that the “system” had been “established” to ensure the anonymity of Hunter’s buyers’ identities. But according to the transcript of his testimony, Bergès said that the agreement was not set up for several months following that statement and that the first son knew the identities of approximately 70% of those buyers. Bergès’ testimony came after the House formalized the impeachment inquiry against Biden last month. It is being led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith. Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Supreme Court prepares to decide major cases over power of federal administrative state

Supreme Court prepares to decide major cases over power of federal administrative state

The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a pair of oral arguments on an issue that could dramatically shrink the power of executive agencies to interpret and enforce federal laws. It is billed as a fight between what one side calls unchecked government overreach and others see as necessary protection of a broad swath of areas like environmental, health, workplace safety and consumer laws. Oral arguments begin at 10 a.m. and could go past 1 p.m. Rulings are expected by late June. The justices will hear two separate appeals involving the same issue: whether Atlantic herring fishermen must pay for federal officials to board their vessels to monitor the catches and collect data. NEW ENGLAND FISHERMEN FIGHTING ‘GOVERNMENT OVERREACH’ HOPE TO CATCH A BIG WIN AT SUPREME COURT The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) implemented a revised federal mandate in 2020, even though Congress never gave the agency specific authority to launch such a program. The owners say the fees can exceed $700 daily and often exceed the money earned from catching low-priced herring. NOAA has waived the rule temporarily, saying it ran short of funds to administer the monitoring program. The high court for four decades has endorsed the broad discretion owed federal agencies, in what has been known as “Chevron deference,” referring to the 1984 case that established the precedent, Chevron USA, Inc. v. NRDC. The fishing fleets and business groups say their livelihoods are being threatened with onerous, expensive regulations that Congress did not specifically authorize. They say judges, not federal bureaucrats, should be interpreting what are admittedly often ambiguous congressional statutes. RANCHERS SAY THE STATE FLOODED THEIR LANDS, KILLING ANIMALS. THE SUPREME COURT WILL DECIDE IF TEXAS HAS TO PAY “The reality is that Chevron has already proven itself unworkable, and its corrosive effects on our separation of powers have lingered long enough. The government’s pleas to retain this misguided and reliance-destroying doctrine fall far short of the mark,” said Paul Clement, an attorney who will argue one of the Wednesday petitions. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch have long advocated for scaling back the Chevron deference, but the views of fellow conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, could prove decisive here. The Biden administration will argue that federal agencies have the expertise and mandate to enforce federal laws to ensure consumers and the public have, among other things, clean air and water, safe food and medicines, and stable economic and financial institutions. In this case, the Justice Department says the fishing industry has long been subject to federal regulation, and that the current rules ensure “necessary and proper” management of limited seafood stocks. HOW MAINE LOBSTERMEN TURNED A ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ FROM THE WHITE HOUSE INTO A POLICY VICTORY “Stare decisis principles [respecting precedent] weigh heavily in favor of adhering to Chevron, which has been a cornerstone of administrative law reflected in thousands of judicial decisions – and which has provided a stable background rule against which Congress has legislated – for 40 years,” said Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who will argue booth appeals on Wednesday. “Because Congress could alter or eliminate the Chevron framework at any time but has declined to do so, Chevron is entitled to the particularly strong form of stare decisis that this court affords to decisions that Congress could override by legislation.” Supporters say chaos would ensue if the executive branch were paralyzed from enforcing the thousands of regulations, and if plaintiffs were able to sue every time even minor tweaks were made to long-standing rules. KETANJI BROWN JACKSON ETHICS COMPLAINTS REFERRED TO JUDICIAL CONFERENCE FINANCE COMMITTEE Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has recused in the second case, known as Loper Bright, since she heard it when it was before a federal appeals court. But she will sit on the bench for the first argued case known as Relentless, the name of one of the Rhode Island boats. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. EXECUTIVE POWER: Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce (22-1219)  Potential far-reaching appeals over another legal effort to have the so-called “Chevron” deference overturned by the Supreme Court. That 1984 ruling gives federal executive agencies broad discretion to interpret and enforce policies enacted by Congress. This and the case above deal with challenges to a federal mandate requiring Atlantic herring fishermen to pay more than $700 per day for monitors to ride their boats, observe their activities, and report to the government. The fishermen argue Congress never granted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the authority to force fishermen to pay for monitors. Justice Jackson recused in Loper Bright (heard the case at DC Circuit appellate level), but will participate in Relentless. 11 a.m. EXECUTIVE POWER: Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc. v. Raimondo (22-451)  Potential far-reaching appeals over another legal effort to have the so-called “Chevron” deference overturned by the Supreme Court. That 1984 ruling gives federal executive agencies broad discretion to “reasonably” interpret and enforce “ambiguous” policies enacted by Congress. Both cases deal with challenges to a federal mandate requiring Atlantic herring fishermen to “carry” inspectors on their boats, which the National Marine Fisheries Service recently interpreted to mean they must also “pay for” that required compliance monitoring. The fishermen argue Congress never granted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the authority to force fishermen to spend $700 per day – roughly 20-percent of their revenue – for third-party observers. Justice Jackson recused in Loper Bright (heard the case at DC Circuit appellate level), but will participate in Relentless.

NRA prepares for legal battles against blue state governor ‘torching the Constitution’ with gun control

NRA prepares for legal battles against blue state governor ‘torching the Constitution’ with gun control

New Mexico is kicking off its 2024 legislative term with a number of gun control bills that the NRA is already teeing up to battle in court, Fox News Digital has learned.  “Extremist Governor Lujan Grisham and her allies have unleashed a barrage of gun control proposals that punish the lawful … while ignoring criminals. Last year, Lujan Grisham effectively suspended the Second Amendment by denying citizens their right to carry and self-defense,” NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Executive Director Randy Kozuch told Fox News Digital.  “Now, she’s doubling down on her attacks, effectively torching the Constitution with her latest gun control insanity.” Lujan Grisham held her State of the State address Tuesday afternoon and called for the passage of a gun safety package she said would better protect residents from crime and violence, especially children.  NRA GETS UNANIMOUS GOP BACKING IN SUIT TO DISMANTLE GOVERNOR’S ‘UNLAWFUL’ GUN ORDER “I’m calling for a gun safety package. It bans assault weapons, raises the legal purchase for all guns to 21, institutes a 14-day waiting period, increasing penalties for felons in possession of a firearm, keeps guns out of parks and playgrounds and allows law enforcement officers to now file extreme risk protection orders,” Lujan Grisham said Tuesday. “I want to be very clear: No responsible gun owner should be punished or prevented from exercising their right. And no child should ever be put in danger by a weapon of war, especially one wielded by a person who can’t pass a background check or can’t wait two weeks to get a firearm.”  NRA SLAMS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR’S GUN ORDER, ISSUES HARSH ADVICE Lujan Grisham’s remarks came after the governor was repeatedly interrupted by protesters with videos on social media showing protesters wearing “cease-fire now” shirts, referring to the war in Israel.  There are six gun control bills filed in the state House and Senate this legislative season and an “assault weapons ban” that has not yet been introduced but is detailed in a recent press release from the governor as a bill aimed at regulating “the manufacture, possession and sale of weapons of war, most often the gun used in mass casualty event.”  Lujan Grisham announced her “public safety legislative agenda” last week, which she described as the “largest” safety package in New Mexico history, while pinning blame on gun violence for recent crime trends.  “This is, without a doubt, the largest and most comprehensive public safety package in our state’s history,” Lujan Grisham said last week of the package, according to a press release. “Gun violence is a significant contributor to the cycles of crime in our communities, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to end this epidemic.  “Likewise, we will strengthen our support for law enforcement, increase penalties for violent crimes and, once again, pursue legislation to keep violent offenders behind bars pending trial. All of this will build upon the progress and investments we’ve made in previous years.” GOP ASKS UNLIKELY BIDEN ADMIN ALLY TO STEP IN TO STOP NM’S ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL POWER GRAB’ In the New Mexico House, four bills have already been filed, including House Bill 27, which would expand the state’s red flag confiscation laws to allow law enforcement and health officials to report a person’s potentially harmful behavior, which could require the individual to surrender guns to authorities.  House Bill 114, if passed, would allow the New Mexico attorney general or local district attorneys to file lawsuits against the gun industry for injunctive relief and civil penalties.  NEW MEXICO GOV. GRISHAM SWIPES AT FELLOW DEMOCRAT WHO CALLED HER GUN CARRY BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL The other two bills, House Bill 127 and House Bill 129, would prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing and possessing a semi-automatic weapon and increase the waiting period on gun purchases to 14 business days, respectively. The NRA-ILA notes on its website that if House Bill 129 passes, New Mexico would have the longest gun purchase waiting period in the nation.  The Senate has introduced its own version of a bill that would impose a 14-business day waiting period on gun purchases and a bill that would impose an 11% excise tax on guns, gun parts, suppressors and ammunition. The tax bill, styled after a similar California law that takes effect later this year, would collect the tax from gun retailers and place the funds in a victims reparation fund and a fund for abused children and families.  NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS CALL FOR DEM GOV. GRISHAM’S IMPEACHMENT AFTER GUN ORDER: ‘SHE’S ROGUE’ “As a clear enemy of the Second Amendment and our self-defense rights, Governor Lujan Grisham is already being challenged by the NRA in the New Mexico Supreme Court. We remain on the front lines, ready to combat each and every one of her new oppressive gun control measures. The NRA stands with freedom-loving New Mexicans against Lujan Grisham’s assault,” Kozuch said.  Lujan Grisham came under fierce condemnation last year after signing an emergency public health order that temporarily suspended open and concealed carry across Albuquerque and the surrounding county.  NEW MEXICO DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR SLAMMED FOR ‘ANTI-2ND AMENDMENT’ PUSH: ‘ILLEGALLY TRYING TO SNATCH GUNS’ The NRA responded with a lawsuit in the state’s Supreme Court, arguing the order was unconstitutional, which earned unanimous support from GOP state House and Senate members and retired law enforcement officers, the Republican Party of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party of New Mexico. As the number of lawsuits increased over the order, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, distanced himself from the governor, telling her he would not defend her administration in court. Other Democrats also spoke critically of the measure, as did gun control activist and Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg. Lujan Grisham said when she announced the order she anticipated legal challenges and raised eyebrows over her remarks on the Constitution.  “No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute,” Lujan Grisham responded to a reporter in September when