Friday’s headlines.
Trump Says China Acquired US Voter Files
In a national address to the American people on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump said he is immediately declassifying documents that show China interfered in the 2020 election.
‘Largest Compromise in History’: “Over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files,” Trump declared. “That information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote and engage in other nefarious activities.” Related: China rapidly building missile launching pads…
Source: whitehouse.gov
Fetterman Threatens to Quit the Democratic Party
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said on Thursday that he will leave the Democratic Party if it “officially” becomes “the anti-Israel party.”
‘A Red Line for Me’: “If they put that in our platform – no aid for Israel – and officially become the anti-Israel party, then, yeah, that’s a red line for me,” Fetterman told NBC News. The senator said it would be a huge problem for him “if the Democratic Party officially says, ‘Israel is the problem, Israel doesn’t deserve to exist, and I’m never going to support aid, and I’m not going to call out Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran as terrorists, and they are the problem in the region.’” Related: Democratic Socialists of America reveal program to dismantle US…
Source: nbcnews.com
Colleges Get Funding From Foreign Entities on Watch Lists
Major American universities “have received millions of dollars in funding from foreign entities that are on U.S. government watch lists, according to a CBS News review of university funding records submitted to the Department of Education,” the network reports.
Chinese Military Ties: “State Department and Education Department officials say the disclosure forms, which have not been previously reported, show a combined $27.6 million received in roughly the second half of last year by dozens of top American research institutions that originated from entities appearing on at least one federal government watch list,” CBS relates. “In one example from the disclosure forms, a company in China that develops state-of-the-art aeronautics for the People’s Liberation Army gave more than $7 million total to three American universities considered top-tier research institutions. The largest amount, disclosed in 2020, was $22.6 million for a 50-year contract from the Beijing Institute of Technology to Bryant University in Rhode Island.” Related: US midwestern college trains China state, defense industry execs…
Source: cbsnews.com
Lettuce Supplied to Taco Bell Linked to Parasite Outbreak
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday “linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in five states to an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak,” Business Insider reports.
Not the Only One: “Specifically, shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia was traced back to a single supplier of iceberg lettuce in Mexico and was responsible for 1,644 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases,” the news site writes. “The true number of people who’ve been sickened this summer is likely much higher, and the outbreak goes beyond Taco Bell’s shredded lettuce supply. Cyclospora infections have spread across 34 states since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of July 13, the agency had confirmed 1,645 cases and 141 hospitalizations, with no confirmed deaths.” Related: MAHA is winning the war on ultra-processed food…
Source: yahoo.com
Iran Tells Houthis to Close Red Sea Route if US Hits Power Sources
Iran has asked Yemen’s Houthi movement “to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure, three sources told Reuters on Thursday,” the wire service reports.
Choking Off the Oil: “The idea has been discussed within the Islamic Republic’s leadership, and the message has been conveyed to Iran’s Houthi allies, two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity,” Reuters explained. “The sources said the Houthis had been informed recently of Tehran’s request, which has not been previously reported. They did not give further details on how it had been conveyed or whether it was after U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iranian power infrastructure on Tuesday.” Related: US reignites bombing of Iran and secures Hormuz strait…
Source: reuters.com