Cross-Examination

• Dorsey calls on Musk to release everything: Following the revelation that Jim Baker, Twitter’s now-former deputy general counsel and also a former FBI general counsel, had been fired by new CEO Elon Musk after he had unilaterally vetted the “Twitter Files” before they were handed over to investigative journalists, Twitter founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey called for Musk to “make everything public now.” Musk’s promised steady unveiling of the “Twitter Files” was temporarily put on hold after he learned of Baker’s involvement in vetting the files. “In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialog,” Musk said, “he was exited from Twitter today.” Musk added that it “looks like we will need another day or so” before publishing more of the files. He has been exclusively relying on two investigative journalists, Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss, to comb through and report on the files rather than just releasing them all “without filter” directly to the public. But Dorsey asks, “If the goal is transparency to build trust, why not just release everything without filter and let people judge for themselves?”

• AOC under ethics investigation: New York Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has come under a House Ethics Committee investigation. The committee released no specifics other than it has to do with a complaint received this past summer. The committee was quick to note that the “mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.” The likely complaints are from the Office of Congressional Ethics that were raised following AOC’s attendance at the swanky Met Gala last year in New York City, where she infamously wore a gown with the words “Tax The Rich” emblazoned on her back. According to the complaint, AOC allegedly accepted free gala tickets valued at $30,000 from a for-profit company. This would break ethics rules, as AOC’s accepting the tickets would constitute accepting a prohibited gift as a member of Congress. The second complaint, filed by the National Legal and Policy Center, had to do with AOC’s infamous gown: “If AOC had not been a Member, she would not have been invited to the Gala, and even if she would have been invited as a private citizen, the designer would not have made a special dress for her to wear at the event.” Unsurprisingly, AOC’s office is “confident that this matter will be dismissed.”

• SCOTUS hears arguments in NC election law case: On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case between North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature and the state’s court over the question of election authority. The legislature had redrawn redistricting maps following the 2020 Census only to have the state’s courts throw out the maps for being too partisan. Based upon the hearings, it appears the conservative-weighted Court is leaning toward the state legislature’s argument on the limits of state courts’ authority over federal elections. That said, it does appear that the justices may be seeking a “middle way” ruling, not entirely stripping election-related oversight authority from state courts.

Headlines

• Brittney Griner released from Russian prison in swap for convicted arms dealer (Fox News)

• Bill protecting same-sex, interracial unions passes House (AP)

• Democrats push firearms purchasing ban for people who voluntarily give up their 2A rights (Fox News)

• Two RNC committeemen call for Ronna McDaniel to drop out of election for party chair (Just the News)

• Tom Cotton praised for annihilating woke Kroger CEO seeking GOP help against Dems: “Go woke, go broke” (Fox News)

• Indiana sues TikTok, citing safety and security concerns (AP)

• “Endangering our national security”: Senator launches inquiry into Biden’s $200M grant to China-based battery company (Free Beacon)

• Surging retail theft could force Walmart to close stores and raise prices, CEO Doug McMillon warns (NY Post)

• Karine Jean-Pierre reads wrong answer during press briefing (PJ Media)

• Trump poses with QAnon conspiracy theorist at Mar-a-Lago event (NY Post)

• Investment giant Vanguard pulls out of “net-zero” ESG initiative (Free Beacon)

• “Transgender” New Hampshire Democrat state representative in jail on stalking charges (Free Beacon)

• New information in Ohio child rape case (PJ Media)

• Humor: Husband scientists confirm minimum of 35 pieces of tape required to wrap a gift (Babylon Bee)

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