Cross-Examination

• Bidenomics is unretiring people: Americans getting hardest hit by Joe Biden and the Democrats’ spending-induced inflation are retirees. Sustained high inflation has increased consumer prices by 4.9% over last April, and housing costs have jumped 8.1% over last year. Cumulative inflation since Biden took office is more like 16%. These rising costs have caused an increasing number of retirees to reenter the workforce, 55% of whom specifically cited the need for more money as the reason. Furthermore, according to a recent survey, one in six retirees is considering getting a job. The economic downturn has also negatively impacted retirees’ investments, with markets losing over $12 trillion in wealth last year. Over a third of people 65 and older say their financial situation is worse than it was the previous year. Thanks, Joe.

• Texas bans DEI at colleges: On Monday, the Republican-controlled Texas legislature followed through on one of Governor Greg Abbott’s target issues: ridding the halls of higher education of Marxist-driven “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies. Senate Bill 17 bans state-funded universities from creating DEI offices filled with DEI employees. According to Republican State Senator Brandon Creighton, “With this bold, forward-thinking legislation to eliminate DEI programs, Texas is leading the nation, and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity, promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged based on their qualifications, skills and contributions.” This is a big win for conservatives, as Texas follows Florida’s lead in addressing this inherently anti-American ideology that has overtaken college campuses.

• Musk pulls Twitter out of EU’s pro-censorship project: Following through on his commitment to promote free speech on his social media platform, Elon Musk pulled Twitter out of the European Union’s speech-squelching “Code of Practice” program. The EU created the pro-censorship program under the guise of combating “disinformation” online. Unsurprisingly, EU leadership was none too happy. “You can run but you can’t hide,” warned EU International Market Commissar Thierry Breton. “Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25.” He then added, “Our teams will be ready for enforcement.” Those who want to control thought hate freedom. Thankfully, Musk is refusing to bow to their authoritarian demands.

• Another Gascon-approved murder: It’s a simple reality that only fools refuse to accept — if bad behavior is not checked, it will only result in more bad behavior and get worse. If criminals are not held liable, then they will continue to commit crimes. Evidently, George Soros-backed Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has never accepted this simple reality. And thanks to his foolishness, another innocent person has been murdered. Back in 2020, following the near-fatal stabbing of a construction worker, Stefen Sutherland was charged with assault for the crime, but he ended up doing no prison time thanks to Gascon. The DA was warned that Sutherland was dangerous, but rather than charge him with attempted murder, Gascon sought to send him to a mental health facility, effectively giving him only a slap on the wrist. Well, now a woman is dead, and Sutherland has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting her to death. If Gascon had properly charged Sutherland the first time, this woman would still be alive. When the guilty go free, the innocent suffer.

Headlines

• Comer vows to hold Wray in contempt, says FBI won’t share Biden bribe tip (NY Post)

• White House cuts another top Biden nominee amid mounting opposition (Fox News)

• Utah Rep Chris Stewart to resign from House, shrinking GOP majority (Fox News)

• Trump vows to end birthright citizenship for illegal aliens if president again (NY Post)

• Chick-fil-A faces a conservative revolt (Newsweek)

• Dodgers’ Blake Treinen blasts organization for honoring Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Fox News)

• Blue Jays player ripped after apology for sharing video endorsing Target boycott (Fox Sports)

• Target’s VP for brand management serves as treasurer for LGBTQ group promoting secret child gender transitions, LGBTQ books in schools (Daily Wire)

• Nine teenagers arrested over brutal assault of three U.S. Marines (Daily Wire)

• Arrest made after months of silence in New Jersey GOP councilwoman's murder (Daily Wire)

• Biden admin unveils $1.5 million effort to “empower” female climate activists in northern Kenya (Free Beacon)

• Beijing snubs U.S., rejects meeting between top military officials (Daily Wire)

• Policy: Social Security reform must be realistic (National Review)

• Humor: Chick-fil-A to serve only dark chicken meat per new diversity, equity, and inclusion guideline (Genesius Times)

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.