Cross-Examination

• Biden can’t decide what “MAGA Republican” means: Who exactly are the “MAGA Republicans” that Joe Biden has labeled “an extremism … that is a threat to this country”? Does he mean Donald Trump supporters, January 6 rioters, or the Republican Party? Well, the answer appears to be intentionally vague. Clearly for political expediency, Biden wants all voters to view Republicans as dangerous extremists, hence his comments that “MAGA philosophy” is “not just Trump” but an “entire philosophy” that is akin to “semi-fascism,” whatever that means. Biden’s press secretary offered no more clarity, saying only that the “MAGA Republicans are the most energized part of the Republican Party” who represent “an extreme threat to our democracy.” When Biden was pressed as to whether he views Trump supporters as a threat to the country, he backtracked, stating: “Come on, look, guys, you keep trying to make that case. I don’t consider any Trump supporters to be a threat to the country.” Yet two days later Biden posted on social media, “MAGA proposals are a threat to the very soul of this country.” Two days after that, Biden spun again by posting: “Not every Congressional Republican is a MAGA Republican… But an extreme set of MAGA Republicans in Congress have chosen to take us backwards.” Translation: Republicans who don’t go along with Biden’s hard-left agenda are “MAGA Republicans.”

• J6 bullhorn guy banned from any future political office: New Mexico State District Court Judge Francis Mathew barred January 6 protester Couy Griffin from holding any public office for life due to his participation in the riot. While Griffin was found guilty of trespassing and remaining on restricted grounds, he was acquitted of disorderly conduct. Furthermore, Griffin was never charged with insurrection. Nevertheless, Judge Mathew applied the 14th Amendment’s prohibition that bars from office anyone who once took an oath to support the U.S. Constitution and subsequently “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” it. Ironically, it would appear that it is Judge Mathew who is guilty of going against the Constitution. He is setting a dangerous precedent by claiming that someone who has not been found guilty of the crime of insurrection by the court can still be barred for life from public office by merely being considered to be in “league” with “insurrectionists.” It’s dubious at best.

Correction: Judge Francis Mathew is a New Mexico State district court judge.

• KJP, Fauci, and social media: The Biden administration has 21 days to turn over email correspondence from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Dr. Anthony Fauci with social media in relation to censoring COVID “misinformation” on their platforms. Louisiana Federal Judge Terry Doughty issued the order on Tuesday in response to a lawsuit brought against the Biden administration by Missouri and Louisiana. The lawsuit accuses the Biden administration of violating Americans’ First Amendment right to free speech, alleging that “senior government officials in the Executive Branch have moved into a phase of open collusion with social-media platforms under the Orwellian guise of halting so-called ‘disinformation,’ ‘misinformation’ and ‘malinformation.’” It further states: “As a result of these actions, there has been an unprecedented rise of censorship and suppression of free speech — including core political speech — on social media platforms. Not just fringe views, but perfectly legitimate, responsible viewpoints and speakers have been unlawfully and unconstitutionally threatened in the modern public square.” This is a growing scandal that needs to be dug into more. Thankfully, that appears to be happening.

• On this date last year — Biden’s surrender and retreat from Afghanistan: We are reposting, in chronological order, analysis of events a year ago related to the most disgraceful military exfil in American history — Biden’s deadly surrender and retreat from Afghanistan. On this day last year, Mark Alexander covered “Is Biden’s Afghan Bribe for Deception Impeachable?” The legal and political considerations are entirely different.

Headlines

• AOC eviscerates America: “So many people in this country hate women” (Free Beacon)

• Biden refuses to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism (Washington Times)

• Fracking ban in England lifted in bid to boost UK gas supply (BBC)

• Majority of Americans had to cut back on summer plans as Biden spent over 200 days on vacation (Townhall)

• Judge revokes bond for Eliza Fletcher murder suspect (WREG Memphis)

• Memphis shooting: Teen accused of killing four, injuring three others in rampage streamed on Facebook (Fox News) | Memphis mayor blasts shooting suspect’s early prison release: “Four of our citizens would still be alive” (Townhall)

• Columbia, UPenn among worst colleges for free speech, report finds (National Review)

• Policy: For midterms, House Republicans preview four-part “Commitment to America” (Daily Signal)

• Satire: FBI drops investigation after discovering Trump’s top secret nuclear documents were just print-outs of Hillary Clinton emails (Babylon Bee)

• Related satire: FBI leaks classified documents to Washington Post so everyone will know how bad mishandling classified information is (Babylon Bee

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.