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Drew’s Receipts: Impeachment Watch & Biden’s Document Drama

Happy Saturday. Let’s ‌check in on the media this past⁤ week.

Impeachment watch: ⁢ Fox News reported that a Chinese company ⁢listed President Joe Biden’s home address ​in 2019 when it wired⁢ $250,000 to Hunter Biden. But that wasn’t enough to ​get ⁢the media to abandon their “no evidence” ⁣stance, as⁢ reporters rushed‌ to‌ assert yet⁤ again that the president had​ no involvement in his son’s illicit business dealings. ⁣Here’s CNN:

The wires allegedly ⁤were addressed to Hunter⁣ Biden when his ‌father ​was not in office and⁢ do not prove that Joe Biden received‌ any of the ​money. CNN previously reported Hunter Biden ⁣used⁣ the Wilmington‍ address on his driver’s license and the home ​was the site of a family intervention over his ‍drug addiction in 2019.

The rest of the media were‍ similarly dismissive:

CBS News: “House Republicans claim to ‍have bank wires from Beijing ‌going ⁣to Joe‍ Biden’s Delaware address. Hunter ‌Biden’s attorney explained why”:

President Biden ‌has long maintained he had no ⁣involvement in ‌his adult son’s business dealings. And Tuesday, Hunter Biden attorney ⁣Abbe Lowell told CBS News ‌that ‍the announcement from congressional Republicans was just the latest example of a finding of purported wrongdoing “that evaporates in thin‍ air the moment facts come ⁣out.”

ABC ⁣News: “Comer says he will‌ issue ​subpoenas ‘today’ for ⁢Hunter⁢ Biden, James Biden ⁣bank records”:

Earlier this week,⁣ Comer⁣ discussed on Fox News‌ why ⁢he‌ wanted to subpoena Hunter⁤ Biden and James Biden’s records. He said they want to “follow the‌ money” he says the⁤ two Bidens and ​other family members received from shell companies.​ There is ⁢no evidence, to date,‌ that any of the money is linked to President Biden himself. …

The committee said the ‌two wires showed‍ Hunter Biden received more than ​$250,000 in​ the summer ⁣of 2019. The panel ‍did not release the bank⁢ wires in their announcement.

It has been reported that Hunter ​Biden often used his father’s address and ⁢previously lived at‌ the Wilmington home.

New York Times: “House Republicans Eye Bribery‌ and Abuse of⁣ Power Charges ‌Against Biden”:

The first hearing in the impeachment ‌inquiry comes ​as Republicans are grasping for evidence ⁢tying President Biden to‌ his son’s foreign business dealings. …

Hunter Biden’s ‍legal team said there was⁣ nothing nefarious in the transaction. The payment described by Mr.‍ Comer was from a business partner for legitimate purposes, and Hunter Biden‌ listed his ⁢father’s address‌ because that was his primary residence at the ‍time, his lawyer said.

It isn’t clear what, if anything, would⁤ get the press to take an⁤ interest⁤ in the Bidens at this ⁤point:

CNN’s Sara Murray downplays the news of a ‌$250K wire transfer to Hunter Biden at Joe Biden’s address, “But, of course, they fall short‌ of meeting that mark in terms‍ of actual proof… they’re not putting forward any evidence ​that‌ Joe⁤ Biden received any ⁣of this money.” pic.twitter.com/QcJgyjerYS

— Alex ‍Christy (@alexchristy17) September⁣ 27, 2023

Especially considering ‌the ‍zeal with which they’ve considered⁣ these types of allegations in⁢ the past:

What if Trump has been a Russian asset since 1987? ‌ @JonathanChait reports. https://t.co/IQknIwGoV3

—⁤ New York Magazine (@NYMag) July 9, 2018

Spin⁣ doctors: ⁤That ​wasn’t the ‌only bad news about potential presidential corruption. ABC News reported​ this week that a federal probe of Biden’s alleged mishandling of‍ classified documents​ has ballooned, with investigators digging deep into his time as vice president:

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents from special counsel Robert Hur’s office have been ‍interviewing witnesses for nearly nine months, targeting ​an expansive constellation of former aides—from⁢ high-level advisers to executive assistants and at least one White House attorney. Several sources estimated⁤ that as ⁣many as 100 witnesses‌ have already been ⁣interviewed, with​ interviews conducted‌ as recently ⁣as last week and some witnesses⁣ asked to return for follow-up interviews.

That ​must ‍come as a surprise to ⁤those in‌ the press ‌who originally ⁣said the investigation into Biden was small potatoes compared​ with the ⁤allegations ⁤of former ‍president Donald Trump’s improper handling of ‌classified documents:

Trump’s ‘1,850 boxes!!!” attack⁢ on Biden is bunk. Those boxes are…papers from his Senate career, which he ⁣donated ‍to‌ U. of‍ Delaware,​ which is entirely normal, because senators, unlike ‌presidents, own their records and can do with them what they ⁤please:https://t.co/DVhGAdx4wn

—‌ Daniel ⁢Dale ​(@ddale8) June 9, 2023

PBS: ⁢”Biden faces more ⁣scrutiny over ​classified​ documents, GOP demands cuts to‌ raise debt⁢ limit”:

For the second straight‌ week, President Biden is facing scrutiny over his handling of classified​ documents from his days⁣ as vice president and ​Republicans ⁤were quick to pounce after more papers were‍ found.

CNN: “There are clear distinctions between Trump​ and ⁣Biden’s⁢ two ​cases”:

Republicans seized ‍on revelations that several classified documents from Joe Biden’s ⁤time as vice president were found in his former private‍ office to create cover for ‍former President Donald Trump’s hoarding⁣ of secret records. …

The new controversy so far ‍appears ⁤to be on a smaller​ scale than⁢ the more than 100 classified documents—some bearing ​the highest designations of government secrecy—taken ⁢from ⁣Trump’s⁣ resort at Mar-a-Lago after ⁣a court-approved search by FBI agents.

The revelations ⁢will make it hard for ‌the ⁤media‌ to resume framing the investigation into the current president as an insensitive intrusion into Biden’s family ⁢life, as CNN did.

CNN: “How Biden’s‌ Wilmington ‍residence ​went from a family home to ‌subject of investigation”:

His ⁢decades as a⁣ senator, including​ stints as chairman of the Senate Foreign⁢ Relations Committee, all featured ⁢weekend train rides home from Washington. The tradition ⁤continued as vice president. A secure facility was built inside his⁣ lakefront⁣ property⁣ so Biden could handle classified material securely.

The‌ gable-roofed Biden home, situated among large estates in the wealthiest area of ‌Delaware, is far from easily accessible. It can’t be seen from the road.‌ And, while⁤ Biden was vice ‌president and again as president, ⁣the premises have⁤ been tightly controlled by⁢ Secret⁤ Service.

Biden age counter: Rather than investigate whether Americans are right to⁢ be​ concerned about⁤ an 80-year-old president running for reelection in light ⁣of his mobility issues and ⁢ confusing verbal gaffes, the media are laughing it off:

If⁢ you can’t beat ⁤it, laugh about‍ it! @IsaacDovere talks @kasie through his new reporting detailing how President⁢ Biden is using sarcasm⁢ and jokes to address his ⁣age. ​ pic.twitter.com/P6rwnsrCuI

— CNN​ Early ‌Start with Kasie Hunt (@EarlyStart) September 27, 2023

HuffPost: “Joe Biden Fires Back At ​Doubts Over His Age ⁢With Jokes About His Age”:

The president cracked wise‍ about concerns that he’s too old ⁢for a ‍second term ‌after biographer sowed doubt about his future.

CNN: “Biden takes his sarcastic side public to defuse⁤ age concerns and sharpen​ attacks on GOP”:

Biden’s joke-telling is a way to ​keep him from coming off ‍like a stodgy soon-to-be-81-year-old ⁤with a “stiffened⁤ gait,” as some White House aides put it.

It’s also a way of defusing some of the attacks about⁣ his ⁤age, which advisers felt he⁣ was feeding ​into by being so transparently sensitive about‌ the topic.

And it’s ‍a​ way ‍of going‍ after Republicans without going fully into the mean-spiritedness ⁢that Biden ‌prefers⁤ to avoid, trying to portray them as not just ⁣extreme and ⁢dangerous—which remains his main ⁣theme—but absurd.

It’s the latest in​ a​ months-long media bit about how silly the president⁢ is:

Washington⁣ Post: “On his age, Biden now trying to show he’s in⁤ on the joke”:

The 80-year-old president once bristled ​at questions about his age. Now he delivers the quips himself.

Bad dog: Biden’s dog Commander had an 11th reported ⁢biting incident,​ according ⁤ to Secret Service records. The media have ⁢largely treated the presence of ‌an animal‌ that ‍ routinely ‌attacks staff at the White House as a standard⁢ occupational​ hazard, as CNN reported after the ‌latest ‌attack:

White House officials⁣ said ‍in​ July‍ that the Bidens were working through new​ training and‍ leashing protocols for the family pet following ⁤the ​incidents.

Asked by CNN whether⁣ the new training⁤ had taken⁤ place‌ or​ if any⁢ further action ⁤would be sought, ⁤Elizabeth Alexander, communications‍ director​ for the first lady,​ said in a statement that⁢ “the First Family⁣ continues to work on ways to⁢ help ⁢Commander⁣ handle the⁤ often unpredictable nature of ⁣the White⁣ House​ grounds.”

What’s racist: Trump‍ using six-month ‌increments, Lincoln​ Project loudmouth Steve‌ Schmidt told noted racist ⁣ and MSNBC host Joy Reid:

.@SteveSchmidtSES on Trump saying he ⁤needs⁤ ‘six⁤ months to a‍ year” ⁢to ⁤reform the federal govt:‍ ‘This is a racist code ⁢whistle to ⁣every white supremacist in the country because it’s how ⁢long ​it took Adolf Hitler to take Weimar Germany to a complete and total dictatorship.” pic.twitter.com/PGQPzH5eT8

— ​Tom Elliott (@tomselliott)‍ September⁣ 26, 2023

Fear index: The FCC announced ​this week that it would⁤ explore reviving⁢ “net neutrality,” Obama-era rules that govern how Americans can access the internet, which Trump scrapped.

You may remember the media’s cataclysmic ⁣reaction⁣ to the end ⁣of net neutrality in 2017. CNN’s homepage said it all:

CNN was hardly the only one‍ sounding alarm bells:

The Verge: “Net neutrality is dead. It’s time to ‍fear⁢ Mickey Mouse”:

It’s a‍ red​ letter ⁢day for the media industry.​ Disney‍ just ⁢took⁢ control of⁤ 21st Century⁣ Fox’s ​media empire, and the Federal ⁤Communications Commission voted to ⁤repeal net neutrality regulations⁤ that prevent​ internet providers from discriminatory behavior. These two ⁢industry-shaking events will set media​ companies on a dramatic collision ⁣course with ISPs. It is the conflict that threatens the ⁤internet.

New⁤ York Times: “The Internet Is Dying. Repealing Net Neutrality Hastens That Death”:

Nope, that freewheeling internet has been dying a slow death—and a vote ⁣next month ​by the⁣ Federal Communications Commission to undo net‌ neutrality would be the‍ final pillow in its face.

The ​Nation: “If Trump’s FCC Repeals ⁤Net Neutrality,⁤ Elites Will ‌Rule‍ the Internet—and the Future”:

Net-neutrality ‍protections assure that the ‍essential democratic discourse on the World Wide Web cannot be ⁤bartered off ‌to ‌the highest bidders of a billionaire ⁤class that dominates the political debate‍ on so many other media platforms.

Of course, none⁢ of that happened. In fact, the internet got ‍faster and more accessible ⁣after the ​end of net neutrality. Perhaps that’s why the media​ sound a little more measured this go-around:

Washington‌ Post:

Now the ⁢FCC‍ is preparing to reinstate‍ net neutrality‍ as the law of ⁣the⁢ land. The agency argues that ‍restoring the rule will improve consumers’ experience ⁤with internet ‌providers—including by enabling​ it​ to better‍ track broadband service outages and ‍network reliability.

Associated ⁢Press:

The proposed rules would ​return fixed and mobile broadband service to⁤ its status as ⁣an essential telecommunications service under Title II⁤ of the Communications Act. It would also prohibit internet service providers from blocking or throttling⁢ lawful Internet traffic and from selling “fast lanes” that prioritize some traffic ‌over others in exchange for payment.

Stay safe out there, and see you next‌ week.



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