Ignore this it doesn't fit the narrative
Israel passes 2 clauses of judicial reform in first reading
As the coalition and opposition members spar over two pieces of legislation, committee meeting is overshadowed by shouting matches, singing, and dramatic exits, while protesters chant outside
The Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee on Monday approved in first reading two of the bills proposed in the judicial reform, with nine lawmakers voting in support of the legislation and seven opposing it.
The two clauses will change the composition of the judge selection committee, and restrict the Supreme Court from reviewing and changing Israel's basic laws.
This legislation acts as the basis of the government's plan to virtually eliminate the High Court's ability to impose checks and balances on Israel's parliament.
The approval represents the first steps in seeing through the controversial judicial reforms, which have been the source of multiple protests across the country for several weeks.
While the coalition and opposition members sparred over the two pieces of legislation, the committee was engulfed by intense shouting matches, singing, and dramatic exits.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1xwxtvps
ok Ben fulford but what about the Greenland theory?
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Says GOP Should Nominate a Governor for President
Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox said he would prefer one of the party’s governors to be the presidential nominee in the 2024 election cycle.
In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Cox said “I prefer governors. That’s the easy call for me.” Cox appeared for the interview alongside Democrat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
Cox then spoke to a list of Republican governors that he believes would be viable options for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Cox said New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is “fantastic,” and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a “great record.” Cox also said former Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is “a good friend.”
“I like Republican governors,” Cox said.
As NBC host Chuck Todd threw out names like South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and former Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Cox said they’re “all fantastic.”
“So what you’re saying is you’ll take a governor?” Todd asked.
“I would love a governor,” Cox replied. The Utah Republican added that he would take a Republican governor over a lawmaker in Congress “every day of the week.”
Some influential donors have suggested DeSantis as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024, even over former President Donald Trump. In July, tech billionaire Elon Musk said Trump would be “too old” to run in 2024, but that DeSantis would “easily win” in a race against President Joe Biden.
In November, Haley said she was also considering a 2024 presidential run, about a week after Trump announced his 2024 candidacy, despite making a commitment in 2021 not to run if Trump does.
Governors ‘Have To Get Stuff Done’
Cox repeatedly endorsed the idea of a governor running for president after the National Governors Association met in Washington for the weekend. Murphy is the chair of the association, while Cox is the vice chair.
“We passionately disagree and we’re best friends,” Cox said of his working relationship with Murphy.
During the interview, Cox provided some hints as to his reasoning for preferring governors over other political officeholders, suggesting governors are more focused on finding solutions that eschew the extremes of the respective political parties.
“I think there is a choice between the extremes and the exhausted majority, and that’s the conversation we’ve been having this week with Republican governors and Democrat governors coming together,” Cox said. “We’re the people who have to get stuff done.”
https://www.ntd.com/utah-gov-spencer-cox-says-gop-should-nominate-a-governor-for-president_901019.html
Biden Fires Capitol Architect After Inspection Revealed Abuses
President Joe Biden has removed Capitol architect Brett Blanton from his post in the aftermath of an inspection which revealed Blanton had abused his position.
Blanton will cease to serve as the architect of the Capitol at 5:00 PM ET, the White House announced.
Biden removed the architect, who serves at the president’s pleasure, after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he had lost confidence in Blanton’s ability to perform his job.
“The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job,” McCarthy wrote in a Feb. 13 Twitter post. “He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately.”
Blanton was “terminated at the President’s direction,” the White House said on Monday.
Concerns about Blanton center around an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report finished last year that found “administrative, ethica, and policy violations.” These included abuse of his government vehicle and misrepresentation of himself as a law enforcement officer (pdf).
At the top of the document, the OIG report concludes: “J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations.”
“Prior to and throughout the OIG investigation, Blanton consistently contradicted his vehicle-use authority,” the report reads.
The report relays an ethics tip describing an encounter with Blanton’s vehicle.
The complainant spotted Blanton’s government-issue black Ford Explorer. At the time, the vehicle was reportedly “driving extremely reckless[ly]” through a parking garage. The driver, a female, was going an estimated 65 miles per hour or faster in an area with a speed limit of 30.
The driver at the time was later revealed to be Blanton’s daughter.
The report noted that while “the Architect of the Capitol (person) or their designee has the authority to determine if a compelling operational condition exists that would benefit AOC operations by using a motor vehicle for [home-to-work] use,” Blanton had not identified his daughter as an authorized driver of the vehicle.
The report goes on to list other violations committed by Blanton with other government-issue vehicles.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), who chairs the House Administration Committee, agrees with McCarthy on the need to remove Blanton.
“[The] Inspector General’s report was highly concerning,” Steil was quoted as saying on a Twitter post. “[Blanton’s] refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately.”
It was not only Republicans who are critical of Blanton—Democrats have also blasted the embattled former architect.
During a hearing, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) told Blanton she was “outraged” by his decision to work from home on Jan. 6, 2021.
Blanton chose to work from home that day, which law enforcement leaders expected could take a turn for the worst.
Citizens for Ethics, a left-leaning political oversight organization, also called for Blanton’s removal in a Jan. 18, 2023 letter to the leadership of the 118th Congress (pdf).
https://www.ntd.com/biden-fires-capitol-architect-after-inspection-revealed-abuses_901057.html