The Patriot Post® · Wednesday: Below the Fold

Cross-Examination

• Dems want to eliminate the debt ceiling: Democrats once again signaled their belief that all Americans’ money really belongs to the federal government to be spent however Democrats see fit. House Democrats introduced a bill that would eliminate the federal debt ceiling, legislation that would effectively release the government from any borrowing limits. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) cosponsored the bill, arguing that eliminating the debt ceiling is necessary because “the government has an obligation to pay its bills.” Talk about obtuse. How about paying down the nation’s $31 trillion debt bill? Instead, the Democrats’ proposal would only ensure the expanding of our national debt by freeing up lawmakers to continuously grow the federal government while saddling American taxpayers with the cost, which erodes their economic liberty and devalues financial savings. “The debt limit is an indispensable tool to safeguard the American people from reckless expansions of the size and scope of the federal government,” notes the Heritage Foundation’s Richard Stern. “Repealing [it] would simply give a blank check … to the woke left-wing establishment that is trying to dismantle our nation.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration is refusing to negotiate any kind of spending cuts with Republican lawmakers in order to raise the debt limit, despite the fact that 60% of voters believe there should be some spending cuts or no debt limit increase at all. Indeed, with the government losing some $400 billion in unemployment pandemic relief to fraud over the last three years, voters are right to object to a blank check for even more of this type of recklessness.

• The “fact-checkers” love Greta: Climate activist Greta Thunberg was recently arrested by German police during a protest of the expansion of a coal mine. The mainstream media reported on the incident with “dramatic” footage of the arrest that depicted Thunberg being literally carried off, apparently against her will, by police officers in riot gear. Well, following the release of leaked video footage, it became apparent that the whole incident was effectively a staged publicity stunt. Prior to the “dramatic” arrest, Thunberg and the officers are seen standing around laughing and joking as if waiting for the cue from a director to initiate the arrest scene. Naturally, Leftmedia “fact-checkers” came running to her defense, asserting that it was not “staged” because she was not actually arrested but merely “detained.” These “fact-checkers” further note that the German police insisted they were “not the extras for the staging of Greta Thunberg.” They may not have been “extras,” but they were certainly being used as props by Thunberg and appeared more than willing to do so. Whether or not the police were in on the plan, it was clearly intended by Thunberg as a publicity stunt. In a word, staged. Furthermore, the fact that she was not officially “arrested” only serves to underscore the reality that this was staged. The Leftmedia “fact-checkers” love to come after conservatives who dare to call out their blatant peddling of fake news — just as they did when we justifiably called a border incident “staged” back in 2018.

• M1 Abrams tanks headed to Ukraine: In an about-face, the Biden administration on Tuesday announced that it would be sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to help in the ongoing war with Russia. The plan is to send roughly 30 tanks to Ukraine, but it will likely be months before any of the M1 Abrams arrive on Ukraine soil. The Pentagon’s initial reluctance to send the high-tech battle tank to Ukraine was supposedly due to the length of training time, the tank’s need of complex maintenance, and logistical issues. One likely reason for the decision has to do with Germany’s resistance to allowing Poland to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. With the U.S. now committing to send in M1 Abrams, Germany has backed off its objection and has given Poland, a fellow NATO country, the green light to send in tanks. Unsurprisingly, Russia responded by warning that it would trigger “unambiguously negative” consequences. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell welcomed the news, arguing that “it’s past time, past time, for the Biden administration and our allies to get serious about helping Ukraine finish the job and retake their country.” Well, if anything is apparent, it’s that this war does not appear to be heading to an end anytime soon.

Headlines

• Classified documents at Mike Pence’s home, too, his lawyer says (AP)

• Tucker Carlson reveals email that raises questions about Hunter Biden’s access to classified docs (RedState)

• McCarthy formally kicks Schiff and Swalwell from House Intel (Daily Wire)

• Texas leads 20 Republican states in suing Biden admin over migrant parole program (Fox News)

• Biden calls for “assault weapons ban” after latest mass shooting (Townhall)

• Hawley introduces PELOSI Act banning lawmakers from trading stocks (The Hill)

• Senators eye Social Security reforms as some in House GOP consider cuts (The Hill)

• Conservative outlet Newsmax dropped from DirecTV’s channel lineup despite GOP pleas (Washington Examiner)

• Justice Department files antitrust lawsuit against Google over digital advertising (ABC News)

• Pro-abortion extremists indicted for allegedly defacing pro-life pregnancy centers (National Review)

• College Board to change course after DeSantis stands up to African-American Studies AP class (Townhall)

• A&W Root Beer puts pants on “polarizing” mascot bear Rooty (Fox Business)

• Policy: Why Americans should care about China’s shrinking population (Daily Signal)

• Humor: Man with Taylor Swift tickets and a dozen eggs tops Forbes wealthiest list (Babylon Bee)

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.