Hunter Biden Art Dealer Disputes White House’s Sham ‘Ethical Standards’

Luis Cornelio
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Hunter Biden Art Dealer Disputes White House’s Sham ‘Ethical Standards’

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The New York City-based art dealer of Hunter Biden confessed Tuesday that the president’s son knew the primary artwork buyers and that he had never communicated with the White House to curtail potential ethics concerns.

Georges Bergès, who previously defied House Republicans’ documents request, admitted to the House Oversight Committee that he met and spoke with President Joe Biden on behalf of Hunter Biden at least once.

These revelations directly contradict the White House’s assertions that Joe Biden implemented measures to mitigate potential ethics violations, the House Oversight Committee revealed Tuesday. 

Bergès specifically disclosed that Hunter Biden was acquainted with a staggering 70% of individuals buying his artwork, potentially supporting assumptions that Hunter Biden — not known as an acclaimed artist — is once again leveraging his last name to profit from his father’s public service.

Reportedly, Bergès stated that Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali declined to purchase Hunter Biden’s artwork in 2020 despite his persistent efforts. However, in February 2021, following Joe Biden’s inauguration, she paid $42,000 for a piece of artwork.

In July 2022, Naftali was appointed by Joe Biden to serve on the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. Following her presidential appointment, Naftali acquired more art, this time with a $52,000 price tag.

However, the White House dubiously announced in July 2021 that it placed an “ethics” agreement to guarantee potential anonymity in the purchases of Hunter Biden’s infamous artwork. This ethics agreement was first disseminated to the Washington Post through so-called “officials close to” Biden.

In a CNN report dated July 9, 2021, White House Spokesperson Andrew Bates asserted that Biden “has established the highest ethical standards of any administration in American history, and his family’s commitment to rigorous processes like this is a prime example.” 

On the same day, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki echoed Bates, stating, “Well, I can tell you that after careful consideration, a system has been established that allows for Hunter Biden to work in his profession within reasonable safeguards…”

According to the House Oversight Committee, Bergès was initially introduced to Hunter Biden through Lanette Phillips, a Hollywood video producer and host of some of Joe Biden’s fundraisers.” 

In response to the findings, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., accused Joe Biden of misleading Americans with the apparently false ethics system. 

“The Biden White House appears to have deceived the American people about facilitating an ethics agreement governing the sale of Hunter Biden’s art. … The White House has a lot of explaining to do about misleading the American people,” Comer said in a press release. 

The House Oversight Committee’s revelations come as House Republicans spearhead an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden over growing allegations of bribery, political corruption and an influence peddling scheme.

Pentagon Breaks Secrecy over Defense Secretary’s Illness: ‘Prognosis Is Excellent’

Luis Cornelio
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Pentagon Breaks Secrecy over Defense Secretary’s Illness: ‘Prognosis Is Excellent’

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The Pentagon unveiled Tuesday the medical emergency that led to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s secretive admission to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that sparked widespread criticism and national security concerns. 

On Jan. 1, Austin was rushed to the hospital due to nausea and various abdominal, hip, and leg pains stemming from a Dec. 22 prostate cancer surgery, a Pentagon statement from Walter Reed doctors said.

An evaluation revealed that Austin had a urinary tract infection, leading to his transfer to the ICU for further treatment. Subsequent medical examinations found abdominal fluid collections obstructing proper small intestine function, the Pentagon added. 

“This resulted in the back up of his intestinal contents which was treated by placing a tube through his nose to drain his stomach,” the Walter Reed doctors added. 

They continued, “The abdominal fluid collections were drained by non-surgical drain placement.  He has progressed steadily throughout his stay. His infection has cleared. He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full recovery although this can be a slow process.” 

While the Pentagon clarified that Austin did not lose consciousness or undergo general anesthesia, the Defense secretary still failed to inform President Joe Biden or other White House officials of the medical procedure until Jan. 4. Congress was informed a day later, just 15 minutes before the Pentagon issued a public statement. 

This secrecy raised concerns about national security risks, with many criticizing Biden for the apparent lack of awareness regarding his cabinet. Politico reported that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reacted with shock to the news. 

However, subsequent reporting revealed that Biden would not consider Austin’s resignation over the medical blunder. “Austin’s going nowhere,” one Biden official told Politico. 

The Pentagon stated that Austin’s prostate cancer was “detected early,” leaving him with an excellent prognosis. 

“Early screening is important for detection and treatment of prostate cancer and people should talk to their doctors to see what screening is appropriate for them,” the Pentagon added. 

Michelle Obama Is Terrified About 2024 Election Results

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Michelle Obama Is Terrified About 2024 Election Results

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) In a recent episode of one of the establishment podcasts on YouTube, Michelle Obama said that she is terrified of “what could possibly happen” in the 2024 presidential election.

She talked about her fears on Monday on Jay Shetty’s Podcast. The podcast itself seems like an establishment plant since a person who just starts his show on YouTube usually is not able to bring on people like athletes, Hollywood actors, musicians, stand-up comedians and other famous people like Oprah Winfrey right away.

Obama admitted that she was afraid about the upcoming election after the host asked her a related question on the show.

“What is the thing that keeps you up at night now or what is your biggest fear now after having overcome so many?” Shetty asked her.

In response, Obama tried to pretend that she cared more about others than about herself.

“It has less to do with me personally and more to do with the world that we’re in,” she said.

Additionally, Obama talked about the anxieties that come along with being in the White House.

“There’s such a thing as knowing too much and when you’ve been married to the president of the United States, who knows everything about everything in the world — sometimes you just wanna turn it off. What keeps me up are the things that I know,” she said.

Obama also named some of the specific concerns she had, among which were the ongoing wars — even though she and her husband are a part of the establishment that wants to have those wars — AI’s potential impact on people and one of the leftists’ false gods — climate change.

During the podcast, she also started talking about why people aren’t voting anymore.

“Those are the things that keep me up because you don’t have control over them and you wonder where are we in this, where are our hearts? What’s gonna happen in this next election? I am terrified about what could possibly happen because our leaders matter, who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit. It affects us in ways that I think sometimes people take for granted,” Obama said.

She then gaslighted Americans by saying that they don’t know and, therefore, don’t appreciate how “hard” the bureaucrats from the government “work” for them.

“We cannot take this democracy for granted and sometimes I worry that we do. Those are the things that keep me up,” Obama said.

Fauci Accused of Making Up New Definition for ‘Gain of Function’

Matthew Doarnberger
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Fauci Accused of Making Up New Definition for ‘Gain of Function’

(Matthew Doarnberger, Headline USA) During a congressional hearing on Monday, Republicans accused former COVID czar Anthony Fauci of a giving a “new definition of operational gain-of-function research.”

Fauci, who retired in 2022 as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was called to testify for 14 hours before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, according to a press release from the House Oversight Committee.

“I have, through this process in the last three years, read many, many published articles about gain-of-function research, or creation of a chimera, this is a new one,” said subcommittee chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio.

Gain-of-function research, which attempts to mutate naturally occurring viruses into super-viruses by inserting new genetic fragments, has become a controversial topic as many speculate that it may have been responsible for the creation of the COVID-19 strain that leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

It could potentially be used both for the development of powerful vaccines and dangerous bioweapons.

The research was heavily restricted—if not banned outright—in the United States. However, Fauci and other supporters of the controversial method continued to fund it elsewhere.

The overarching issue with regard to funding was whether or not US tax dollars were used to support gain of function research in order to create the COVID virus in a Chinese lab.

A report from the Government Accountability Office showed that the National Institutes of Health—which oversees the NIAID—granted $1.4 million to Chinese research institutions from 2014 to 2019.

Fauci acknowledged that he signed off on all foreign and domestic research grants without personally reviewing the proposals and could not describe any mechanism that would allow the NIAID to conduct oversight over foreign laboratories receiving money from the United States.

The committee also questioned Fauci about a whistleblower who claims that he secretly visited CIA headquarters in order to influence analysts who were later unable to determine COVID-19 origins.

As expected, the longtime bureaucrat offered little to assist lawmakers in their efforts to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

While discussing the origins of COVID-19, Fauci claimed that he “did not recall” information or conversations related to the virus over 100 times.

Bill Clinton Joins Gavin Newsom, Wife for Mexican Ménage à Trois

Luis Cornelio
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Bill Clinton Joins Gavin Newsom, Wife for Mexican Ménage à Trois

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former President Bill Clinton was seen enjoying a lavish Mexican vacation with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, according to photos obtained by the New York Post.

Clinton’s tropical escape follows scathing reports and accusations linking him to the release of late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s court documents.

But the accusations seem not to faze Clinton, who was spotted riding a golf cart and wearing tropical-themed clothing at the Four Seasons Resort in Tamarindo, Mexico.

The NY Post reported that it isn’t immediately clear whether Hillary Clinton, the former unsuccessful presidential candidate, joined her husband and the Newsom duo on the vacation.

The resort appears to charge daily fees ranging from $838 to $1,000. However, current visitors wouldn’t be allowed near the former president.

As per the newspaper, citing a witness, the Secret Service blocked the private villa where the former president was staying.

The Clinton name has been widely discussed on the internet and in numerous headlines following the release of the Epstein documents.

Among the most recent documents is a 2016 email exchange from Sarah Ransome, one of Epstein’s accusers, who told a former NY Post columnist in 2016 that Epstein kept copies of sex tapes involving Clinton.

However, in 2019, the accuser clarified in an interview with the New Yorker that she fabricated the story to draw attention to Epstein’s sex trafficking. Epstein was ultimately charged with sex trafficking crimes but allegedly died by suicide months later.

Despite the negative headlines mirroring the former president, the mayor of the Tamarindo town took to Twitter to praise Clinton for staying at the resort.

“Even Bill Clinton walks calmly and safely through the streets of San Miguel de Allende, enjoying its unique beauty and kindness of the people of San Miguel de Allende,” Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco said in a Spanish-language post.

House Republicans Move to Impeach AWOL Defense Sec.

Contributing Author
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House Republicans Move to Impeach AWOL Defense Sec.

(Headline USA) House Republicans are moving to impeach Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over his failure to notify officials of his emergency hospitalization last week, The Hill reported.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said on Monday that he will introduce articles of impeachment against Austin on Tuesday, accusing the secretary of “violat[ing] his oath of office” not just last week, but on multiple occasions.

Rosendale cited as other examples of Austin’s negligence the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ongoing border crisis and last year’s incident with a Chinese spy balloon floating over military sites.

“Sec. Austin knowingly put the American people in danger and compromised our national security when he allowed a spy balloon from a foreign adversary to fly over Malmstrom Air Force Base—home to ICBMs—and allowed the Chinese Communist Party to gather intel on American citizens,” Rosendale explained in a statement.

“This dishonesty seems to be a repeated pattern for the Secretary as he once again lied to our military and the American people about his health last week,” he added.

Austin was incapacitated in the intensive-care unit for days after undergoing an elective surgical procedure last week.

Reports revealed he failed to inform other Pentagon leadership or the White House of his emergency hospitalization. In fact, when asked about his whereabouts, Austin’s office reportedly told other military personnel that the defense secretary was “working from home for the week.”

Despite this, the White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden would not ask for Austin’s resignation.

“There is no—no plans for anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job and continuing the leadership that … he’s been demonstrating,” national security spokesperson John Kirby confirmed to reporters.

Kirby claimed Biden “respects the fact that Secretary Austin took ownership for the lack of transparency,” and said there would be a review of the situation so the administration could “learn” from the experience.

Rosendale argued that if Biden won’t hold Austin accountable, then Congress should.

“Sec. Austin is unfit for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which is why I urge my colleagues to join me in impeaching him to protect the American people,” he said.

House Republicans already have voted to initiate impeachment hearings for President Joe Biden, although the progress has been considerably slower and less prominent than the hearings that Democrats initiated against his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, the House is also scheduled to hold its first impeachment hearing against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Rosendale, who is considering a run for the Senate in Montana to challenge vulnerable Democrat Jon Tester, announced that he planned to hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon alongside some of the GOP’s top conservative lawmakers warning that they will vote to shut down the government if Biden fails to secure the border.

However, a government shutdown would suspend indefinitely any progress on the impeachment probes, potentially disarming Republicans of a valuable weapon during the election season.

Mike Pence’s Brother Announces Retirement from Congress

Luis Cornelio
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Mike Pence’s Brother Announces Retirement from Congress

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., the brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, has announced he will not run for re-election in 2024.

Pence revealed the news on Twitter, stating that he will complete his term, ending on Jan. 21, 2025.

“In 2017, I ran for Congress because I was Ready Serve Again,” Pence said, highlighting his military background as a former Marine Officer.

He added, “After three terms, I’ve made the decision to not file for reelection. For the remainder of my term this year, our team will continue to focus on delivering outstanding constituent services. To the voters in Indiana’s 6th District – it is a privilege and honor to represent you in our Nation’s capital.”

Greg Pence initially ran for the 6th Congressional District in 2017, succeeding former Rep. Luke Messer, who pursued a Senate nomination unsuccessfully at that time.

Notably, Mike Pence previously held the same seat from 2003 until 2013 before running for Indiana governor and later becoming Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election.

The district, a stronghold for Republicans, saw Trump winning by over 39 percentage points in 2020. In 2022, Greg Pence secured a comfortable victory with 130,686 votes against his opponent Cynthia Wirth’s 62,838, according to the New York Times. He also defeated an earlier Republican primary challenger.

Axios reported Greg Pence is part of a growing list of lawmakers opting out of seeking reelection in 2024.

Among the retiring lawmakers are Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.; Doug Lamborn, R-Colo.; Larry Bucshon, R-Ind.; and Virginia Spartz, R-Ind., are among the lawmakers not seeking reelection in 2024.

Reps. John Curtis, R-Utah; Jim Banks, R-Ind; and Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., are running for Senate and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, exited earlier than rumored.

Biden Renominates Failed Labor Sec. Nominee

Luis Cornelio
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Biden Renominates Failed Labor Sec. Nominee

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) President Joe Biden revived the failed nomination of Julie Su on Tuesday for the position of secretary of labor, despite bipartisan concerns about Su’s radical left-leaning ideology.

Su, a former deputy Labor secretary, has served as the acting secretary of labor since then-Secretary Marty Walsh resigned for a position at the NHL Players Association in March 2023.

Initially tapped by Biden to replace Walsh, Su faced opposition within her own party, leaving her stuck as an acting security. According to the New York Post, Su holds the record for one of the lengthiest periods as an acting secretary in U.S. history.

“Acting Secretary Su uniquely understands the challenges workers and businesses face — which is why the president continues to stand by her nomination,” a White House spokesperson claimed, as reported by the NY Post. 

However, the Senate Republicans began expressing opposition to her re-nomination. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), remarked, “It is clear Ms. Su lacks the necessary votes for confirmation.”

He added, “I urge President Biden to put forward a nominee who is committed to fair enforcement of our nation’s labor laws, will refrain from partisan activism, and is capable of being confirmed in the Senate.”

In contrast, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., endorsed Su’s nomination, stating, “Her strong pro-worker track record as Acting Secretary shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is the right person for the job.”

Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, added, “Her tireless and consistent work for working families across the country should continue as Secretary of Labor and I urge my colleagues to support her nomination.”

Su’s nomination received a fatal blow last year when Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., stressed the need for a centrist leader at the Department of Labor.

“While her credentials and qualifications are impressive, I have genuine concerns that Julie Su’s more progressive background prevents her from doing this, and for that reason, I cannot support her nomination to serve as Secretary of Labor,” Manchin said at the time.

Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this article, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su’s last name was misspelled as “Sue.” The correct spelling is Su.

McDonald’s Rolling Out Major Changes to Big Mac by Summer

Jacob Bruns
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McDonald’s Rolling Out Major Changes to Big Mac by Summer

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) McDonald’s has decided to re-brand its signature sandwich, the Big Mac, as the company—long a symbol of American consumerism—attempts to emphasize quality over factors such as size, cost and speed that have frequently been its hallmarks, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to Chris Young, McDonald’s senior director of global menu strategy, the Big Mac as it stands now is a mass-produced mediocrity.

In order to address slipping standards, the company will revert to some old practices that it used before efficiency became its only aim.

“We can do it quick, fast and safe, but it doesn’t necessarily taste great. So, we want to incorporate quality into where we’re at,” he said.

According to one of McDonalds’s head chefs, Chad Schafer, the chain needs to revamp its product in order to keep people coming back.

Yet, he said, the improvements can come about by way of a few simple changes, like improving the bun texture and cooking the patties with onions to help them retain moisture.

“One is hotter,” Schafer said, referring to the burgers cooked the old-fashioned way. “It looks meltier. Look at how my fingers sink into the bun. Smell it and you smell a big difference.”

By contrast, the current burger didn’t pass the smell test—nor any other metric Schafer evaluated.

“This one, it’s kind of dry. It cracks,” he said. “And this is the best-case example at headquarters.”

Still, the company is growing at a dominant pace. Sales in the United States increased by over 10% in 2022.

The changes that are coming to America have already seen a test-run in Australia. They will be introduced at 13,460 U.S. locations in 2024, beginning on the West Coast this winter and moving to the Midwest by summer.

The new cooking style led to all-time high sales in Australia, according to McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski, who noted that he wanted the “great-tasting burger perceptions” to “continue to grow.”

Hamas on Ice: Protesters Don Skates to Spoil Toronto Celebration

Molly Bruns
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Hamas on Ice: Protesters Don Skates to Spoil Toronto Celebration

(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the Toronto Mayor’s annual skating party in the city’s Nathan Phillips Square, the Toronto Sun reported.

Mayor Olivia Chow hosted the annual event with several other members of the city council in order to bring in the new year.

According to the National Post, the event allows citizens to meet their local politicians and players from the city’s women’s hockey team.

This year, Chow invited fire-keeper Geoff Daybutch to teach about the significance of ceremonial fires in indigenous cultures.

Pro-Palestinian protesters also took to the ice with flags, megaphones and signs in order to verbally accost skaters attending the event.

The protesters continually interrupted Chow’s speech, which she briefly paused to clarify that she previously called for a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

As they shouted, she explained to the reporter that “what you’re seeing is democracy in action.”

Some of the protesters were shown holding a sign that read “Black Panthers, IRA, Nelson Mandela… Hamas? Terrorists or freedom fighters?”

Like Hamas, both the U.S. Black Panthers and the Irish Republican Army relied on traditional terrorist tactics, such as bombings, in pursuit of their radical objectives.

The rioters harassed locals attending the event, calling them “terrorists” and chanting “shame on you.”

The mayor’s casual reaction as the protesters aggressively harassed fellow skaters drew comparisons to other recent episodes of Islamic unrest in Toronto.

At another protest on Saturday, reporters captured footage of Toronto police officers delivering Tim Hortons coffee and doughnuts to Pro-Palestine protesters after blocking the other half of their party.

Several Twitter users sarcastically expressed relief that Nathan Phillips Square was so close to a Tim Hortons location, making it convenient for the police to deliver coffee and doughnuts to the protesters as necessary.

“Where’s the police?” asked. “Oh they are in line at Tim Hortons getting the protestors coffee nvm.”

Mayor Chow did not address the incident in a Twitter post after the fact, simply thanking those who attended and assisted with the event.

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