Odds and ends 05.08.23
Politics
A week of palace intrigue...
Republicans Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. James Comer have subpoenaed the FBI to turn over unredacted documents they believe show that the Biden family gained financially during his time as Vice President. The GOP Reps say they "do not trust the FBI to properly investigate whether Biden is compromised by a foreign enemy." (The Federalist)
GOP lawmakers are also looking to punish 51 intelligence experts who signed a letter falsely claiming the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation. Republican Reps insist the group lied "to sway the 2020 election". (Just the News)
A calendar belonging to the late deviant Jeffrey Epstein shows that he had meetings scheduled with all sorts of luminaries and politicians in the years following Epstein's conviction for sex trafficking. (ZeroHedge, Fox)
A defamation trial against former President Trump continues in New York. Trump is accused of raping a woman over two decades ago. A recent ruling by New York lawmakers lifted that statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases, allowing survivors one year to sue their attackers. Critics say the case against Trump is politically motivated. (Independent, Washington Examiner)
Energy commissioner warns that America's electrical grid is facing a "reliability crisis" (Epoch Times)
Sexual revolution
PornHub looks like it has stepped on a rake this week. The company blocked access to its pornographic website in Utah to protest the state's requirement to verify ID before using the site, giving Utah exactly what it wanted. (The Federalist)
A trans-identified male legislator in Minnesota wants to amend law which would make pedophilia a protected "sexual orientation". (Not the Bee, Reduxx)
A recent report from The Post Millennial says that a young man who died quite horribly during "vaginoplasty" surgery was a participant in research known as "the Dutch study". The study is seen as foundational for child sex-change surgery guidelines. The "Dutch team do not acknowledge that the young person’s death was not due to a random hospital infection but rather was an indirect consequence of puberty suppression." (Post Millennial)
A new poll shows that a majority of Americans believe trans-athletes should not compete in women's sports. Most are also against the transitioning of children. (OutKick)
Anheuser-Busch can't catch a break. Even as their sales continue to slump, activists have called on them to reaffirm their support for LGBT stuff. (Outkick, The Hill)
Life
Trying to keep your story straight as an abortion advocate is tricky! (LifeAcrtion via Twitter)
North Carolina's Republican "supermajority" has passed a 12 week abortion ban, but it is expected to be vetoed by Democrat governor, Roy Cooper. However the House may then be able to override him. (Axios)
Health and medicine
The USA will lift its covid vaccine requirement for international travelers on May 11. (BBC)
CDC director Rochelle Walensky is stepping down. (CBS News)
Australia's pharmaceutical regulator has lifted its ban on ivermectin. With a high vaccination rate and "high hybrid immunity" in the population, allowing access to the drug was deemed "unlikely to now compromise public health" or create shortages. Also in Australia, a $200m purpose-built quarantine center will be turned into a hotel with only 730 people staying there since early 2022. (Guardian, Epoch Times)
Scientists have developed a wearable sensor which can collect and analyze sweat. (University of Hawaii)
A "sperm injecting robot" is touted to make IVF cheaper. Human eggs are used by embryologist technicians. (Technology Review)
Hopefully you've finished your breakfast... The FDA has approved a oral pill filled with fecal bacteria. (Not the Bee)