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Feds Make New Hunter Biden Claim

Feds Make New Hunter Biden Claim

Your unbiased daily news brief

James Kratch
August 08, 2024

Good Thursday morning. Play-Doh was first invented to clean wallpaper. You learn something new every day. Have a great one!

In Today’s Brief

Coast Guard: Academy abuse
Ukraine: Incursion in Russia
Trump: Debate double-talk
Dimon: Expects recession
MLB: Game at NASCAR track

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Foreign exchange

Hunter Biden was paid by a Romanian businessman trying to influence U.S. policy while his father was vice president, according to federal prosecutors.

The news: A new filing in Biden's federal tax case alleges he was hired in a legal capacity by Gabriel Popoviciu in 2015 when President Joe Biden was still VP. Popoviciu faced corruption charges in his native Romania at the time and was seeking assistance in his case.
Go deeper: Special Counsel David Weiss' office wrote it plans to introduce evidence at trial -- but not issue new charges -- that Biden "received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the Romanian investigation" of Popoviciu. The filing also states Biden concealed his work out of fear it could have political ramifications for his father.
Big picture: There is no suggestion President Biden was aware of his son's alleged work in the filing. But this is the closest link yet prosecutors have made between Hunter Biden's business dealings and his dad’s political office; it could revive House Republicans' lengthy efforts to investigate the Biden family. The First Son is expected to go to trial in his tax case this fall in California; he will be sentenced in his Delaware gun case in mid-November. The president has said he will not pardon his son.

2) Eras threat

A trio of Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were canceled after a terrorist plot was foiled.

The news: Austrian police arrested two men allegedly planning attacks on concerts. One suspect had ties to ISIS, was focused on Swift's Eras Tour shows this weekend and had explosives in his home. Initial reports indicated the shows, scheduled for today, tomorrow and Saturday, would go on. But the concert organizer said there was "no choice" but to cancel them for safety reasons.
Past comments: Swift had not directly addressed the situation as of last night. But she said in a 2019 interview that a terror attack at one of her concerts was her biggest fear. The pop star, who has had issues with stalkers, has also said she carries first aid equipment designed for gunshot and stab wounds with her at all times.
Big picture: European concerts and music events have become a frequent Islamic terror target, with attacks in Manchester, Moscow and Paris in recent years. Swift is scheduled to play five shows at London's Wembley Stadium starting a week from today before ending the European leg of her tour.

3) Extended stay

A pair of U.S. astronauts are not coming home anytime soon.

The news: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboared the Boeing Starliner on June 5 for an eight-day mission. But a series of issues with the spacecraft has left them marooned at the International Space Station, and NASA nows says they may not return home until next February.
Plan B: NASA is considering bringing the duo home on a SpaceX aircraft set to launch in September, which would necessitate the lengthy delay into next year. Boeing insists the Starliner is safe for a return flight, but NASA has not yet signed off (and the aerospace giant's run of safety issues and scandal does little to inspire confidence). It is possible the spacecraft will attempt to return to Earth without a crew to make room for the SpaceX ship.
Big picture: Williams and Wilmore are completely safe on the ISS. They have ample supplies and are working productively; the situation has been compared to an unexpected stint in a hotel. It is just a matter of getting them back home without issue.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

Coast Guard Academy leaders ignored decades of systemic sexual assaults and harassment, according to a Senate report. Over 80 whistleblowers testified during an investigation; the report said the Coast Guard buried its own findings (More)
Abortion rates in the U.S. have risen slightly since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Laws protecting doctors who prescribe abortion drugs via telehealth to patients in states with restrictions are credited for the bump (More)
A balloon caused a Louisiana power outage that placed most of New Orleans under a boil water advisory. A water plant was impacted after the balloon hit power lines; the advisory is expected to be lifted today (More)

World News

Ukraine has launched a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. It is believed to be the first time Ukrainian troops have entered Russian's sovereign territory since the Kremlin started the war in 2022 (More)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian does not want the country to attack Israel. He reportedly asked Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to refrain from military action, arguing Israeli retaliation could cripple the nation's economy and infrastructure (More)
Bangladesh's interim government will be sworn in today. It will be led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, an economist who has also received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal (More)

Campaign News

Former President Donald Trump said he wants to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, even though he backed out of a scheduled Sept. 10 event on ABC. Trump said it is "important for the country" and implied negotiations are underway (More)
President Biden is concerned there will not be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses the general election. The comments came during an interview with CBS, the president's first since exiting the presidential race; Biden cited Trump's past rhetoric as the reason for his concern (More)
Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse appeared to finish second to fellow Republican and former NASCAR driver Jerrold Sessler in the state's 4th Congressional District jungle primary. Newhouse will advance to the general election, but Trump has targeted him after he voted for impeachment following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot (More)

Business & Markets

Major indexes closed lower yesterday. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said he expects the U.S. economy to enter a recession, giving it a 60-65% chance (Dow -0.60%, Nasdaq -1.05%, S&P 500 -0.77%).
Disney said it may have to pay $5B more to buy Comcast's minority stake in Hulu. The telecommunications company said the streaming service should be valued at $40B; an independent appraiser will set the final sale price (More)
McDonald's will offer adult Happy Meals featuring a series of collectible cups starting next week. It is the latest measure by the fast-food chain to jump-start sales amid inflation; all cups will be available from the start of the promotion with random selections in each meal (More)

Entertainment & Sports

The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play a game at Bristol Motor Speedway next season. The NASCAR track, located in Tennessee, has a seating capacity of 150K; it hosted two college football games in 2016 (More)
Longtime film agent and producer Jay Kanter died at 97. The Hollywood veteran represented stars such as Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe while working on Blade Runner, Star Wars and other movies (More)
Actor Jack Black said Tenacious D will perform again. The band has been on hiatus after partner Kyle Gass made a controversial comment about the attempted assassination of former President Trump, leading to the cancelation of its tour (More)

Quick Hitters

Feel Good: Buying a PlayStation 5 is typically not the cause for a heartwarming embrace. But it was for a cashier and customer in Argentina as the country battles significant economic hardship.
Look Back: The Olympics have witnessed some incredible moments over the years. This gallery of photos captures the most iconic ones.
Reach Out: Is there an old friend you have lost touch with, but would like to talk to again? Relationships can be complicated, but just give them a shout. They likely want to hear from you as well.
Take Note: With both presidential tickets set and primary season almost over, you may be interested in making a political donation soon. Here are some important things to keep in mind.
Life Hack: Packing for vacation is hard. This smart approach can help ensure you have what you need without overloading your suitcase.

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