Cross-Examination

• Russian criminal hacking outfit hits U.S. government with cyberattack: The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been tracking a cyberattack against several federal government agencies by a Russian-based hacking group known as Clop. CISA explained that the hackers exploited weaknesses in the widely used application MOVEit in their attack. Both government and private companies have been exploited by this hack. Clop generally uses its attacks to demand ransom money, though the group has not made any such demands of the federal agencies that have been compromised. The software company Progress Software that developed MOVEit has identified other potential weaknesses in the application’s coding and is working to rectify the problem. Of particular concern, one of the agencies targeted by the hack is the Department of Energy along with Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a nonprofit research center it works with on nuclear-related research.

• $7 billion in Medicaid for border crossers: In a story that should infuriate taxpayers, the Biden administration has been spending billions in Medicaid funding on illegal aliens. In a hearing this week with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Tennessee Republican Representative Mark Green observed that in just over two years of Joe Biden’s presidency more illegal aliens have entered the country “than in the 12 years of the Obama and Trump administrations combined.” Green further noted that Medicaid spending on illegal aliens more than doubled in one year, going from $3 billion in 2020 to $7 billion in 2021. Green charged that Mayorkas had “surrendered control” of the border to the Mexican cartels, all thanks to Biden’s open border. Not only are dangerous drugs flooding into the U.S. and fueling the nation’s opioid crisis, but the Biden administration is giving away billions in taxpayer funding for those who have violated our sovereignty laws and have never paid into our tax system.

• The Texas governor is busy: On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Save Women’s Sports Act that bans biological males from competing in female sports. The legislation notes that a student’s biological sex as “correctly stated” on his or her birth certificate “entered on or near the time of the student’s birth" is the gender he or she is required to compete under, as opposed to a self-declared gender "identity.” Following his signing of the bill, Abbott stated, “The Save Women’s Sports Act protects young women at Texas colleges and universities by prohibiting men from competing on a team or as an individual against them in college sports.” Meanwhile, mainstream media outlets produced some egregiously misinforming headlines about the law. We took the liberty to add some editing corrections to this example headline from The Hill: “Texas bans transgender women men, girls boys from [women’s] collegiate athletics.” Abbott also signed SB 17, legislation that bans the Marxist-based diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices from Texas’s public colleges and universities. The bill’s sponsor, Republican State Senator Brandon Creighton, observed that the law helps to ensure that “our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions.”

• Another NYC subway rider eliminates a threat: Twenty-year-old Jordan Williams was released without bail following his stabbing to death of an ex-con on a New York City subway. The altercation began when the now-deceased man slapped Williams’s girlfriend. Williams’s attorney, Jason Goldman, contended that “this situation escalated and it was by no fault of [Williams].” This case somewhat resembles that of Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely, except for one glaring difference: Williams is black. Thus, Williams has been treated less severely by the NYC justice system than Penny, who is white. Furthermore, there has not been a parade of race hustlers running to the media to blame systemic racism for causing the death of another black man. A Williams relative, Sabrina Barrow, pointedly observed the main problem: “There is so much violence on the train. How are you supposed to protect yourself? If a person’s jumping on you, what are you supposed to do?”

• Scientists create “synthetic” babies: According to recent reporting from The Guardian, “Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells, in a groundbreaking advance that sidesteps the need for eggs or sperm.” The scientists involved assert this is a positive development because it may help scientists better identify the impact some genetic disorders have on early stage biological development to help reduce miscarriages. The obvious potential objection hangs on the question of whether or not this development advances at the expense of aborted babies. Killing innocent preborn human beings and conveniently using their tissue in order to advance scientific research is never morally acceptable, no matter the possible “positive” ends.

Headlines

• “Dumb question”: Biden slams reporter for asking about Ukrainian corruption allegations (National Review)

• FBI: We have “no idea” if there are any Biden bribery tapes (Hot Air)

• Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira indicted and accused of mishandling classified documents (NBC News)

• Biden admin poised to make major concessions to Iran in exchange for nuclear pause (Free Beacon)

• House strikes blow against federal regulations, votes to overturn controversial Supreme Court ruling (Fox News)

• Jerry Nadler says federal law should mandate masking two-year-olds (Hot Air)

• CDC: Suicides, homicides among young people soared during pandemic (Washington Times)

• Justice Department probing PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger over antitrust concerns (Daily Wire)

• Eric Adams makes New York City a “sanctuary city” for child sex changes (PM)

• Study shows oral birth control greatly raises risk of depression for women (The Federalist)

• In rare 3-3 decision, Iowa Supreme Court declines to reinstate law largely banning abortion (AP)

• Oregon Republicans end six-week walkout after reaching deal on abortion, gender-transition care (National Review)

• Policy: The EPA’s proposed carbon capture and storage regulations: A trial lawyer’s dream (RealClearEnergy)

• Humor: Hero Trump saves government secrets from cyberattack by hiding them at Mar-a-Lago (Babylon Bee)

• Satire: Brazen Hillary Clinton seen wearing “But Her Murder Victims” hat (Babylon Bee)

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.