NEWS AND OPINION:

Longtime information correspondent and ABC News commentator John Stossel has penned a column for HotAir.com with a telling title: “President Ramaswamy?”

The newsman spent a while with Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential hopeful and entrepreneur.

“I am in this race to speak truth and to revive our missing national identity,” Mr. Ramaswamy advised the newsman, calling himself the “anti-woke” candidate, and noting that political insiders weren't keen on him.

“It’s an ideological cartel. Defect from that orthodoxy, they will punish the defector. I refuse to stand by silently,” he mentioned.

Mr. Stossel wrote that he's “glad Ramaswamy refuses to be silent. America needs candidates who speak freely.”

STEPPING UP FOR ABBOTT

A spirited group is taking care of one in every of its personal. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is main 24 Republican governors which have banded collectively to assist Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s continuous efforts to safe the southern U.S. border.

“The federal government’s response handling the expiration of Title 42 has represented a complete failure of the Biden administration. While the federal government has abdicated its duties, Republican governors stand ready to protect the U.S.-Mexico border and keep families safe,” the governors mentioned in a joint assertion.

“All states have suffered from the effects of deadly illegal drugs coming across the border, and every state is a border state due to the devastating influx of drugs in our communities. Republican governors are leading the way to address the border crisis by increasing fentanyl sentencing and increasing support for law enforcement interdiction of drugs, among other measures,” the assertion mentioned.

“Greg Abbott has exemplified leadership at a critical time, leading the way with Operation Lone Star, and deploying the Texas Tactical Border Force to prevent illegal crossings and keep the border secure. We support the efforts to secure the border led by Governor Abbott,” the assertion concluded.

Signers additionally embody Govs. Sarah Sanders of Arkansas, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia.

AND THE NUMBERS

How dire is the state of affairs on the southern border?

“According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were 211,401 border encounters with immigrants in April. Including ‘gotaways,’ there have now been over 6.6 million illegal border crossings since President Biden took office,” experiences Tommy Pigott, fast response director of the Republican National Committee, in an announcement to Inside the Beltway.

“For context, that number is larger than the individual populations of 33 states and the District of Columbia. It is also larger than the population of Los Angeles and more than double the population of Chicago. This is the worst border crisis in U.S. history, and Mr. Biden is to blame,” Mr. Pigott mentioned.

ONE FOR CIA

Here’s some social-media information of notice.

“On Monday, for the first time, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established a presence on Telegram to reach individuals in countries who have no access to other social media or independent media. CIA’s inaugural post includes a video in Russian to encourage courageous Russians to share information safely with the Agency,” CIA mentioned in an announcement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“This video follows social media posts in 2022 that provided instructions in Russian on how individuals could securely contact CIA on the Dark Web,” the Agency mentioned.

“Our global mission demands that individuals can reach us safely and securely from anywhere. Telegram is an additional tool to communicate with people, no matter where they are,” mentioned Tammy Kupperman Thorp, CIA’s director of public Affairs.

CIA established a presence on the Onion Router (TOR) in 2019 to allow folks to contact the Agency securely.

FOR THE LEXICON

“The Infant Act.”

No, this isn't a theatrical efficiency. It is an acronym for the “Improving Newborn Formula Access for a Nutritious Tomorrow Act,” which was launched within the U.S. House on Thursday by Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Mike Turner of Ohio.

The invoice, a response to the continuing nationwide scarcity of child formulation, would permit extra formulation producers to enter the market and enhance the formulation provide chain, amongst different issues.

“As the newest mom in Congress, I have been advocating for parents and families in Upstate NY and across America struggling to find baby formula since the beginning of this crisis. It’s time to pass this legislation to ensure that we put ourselves in a position where a baby formula shortage crisis never happens again,” Ms. Stefanik mentioned in an announcement shared with Inside the Beltway.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

For sale: The historic Decatur Lustron, a “space-age ranch” type residence in-built 1949 in Decatur, Georgia, from enameled metal panels equipped by a fighter aircraft manufacturing unit. Two bedrooms, one bathtub, open-floor plan, clear strains, muted pastel coloration scheme, classic design components and accent items. Unique exterior options, plantings and California-inspired landscaping, yard fireplace pit and workshop. “Curated” classic and retro furnishings accessible for a separate worth; the home is deemed “a midcentury-modern design lover’s dream.” Priced at $519,000 by means of DecaturLustron.com.

POLL DU JOUR

• 61% of “potential” Republican voters say they'd vote for former President Donald Trump within the 2024 Republican major election.

• 15% would vote for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

• 6% would vote for former Vice President Mike Pence.

• 4% would vote for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; 4% would vote for entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

• 2% would vote for former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

• 1% would vote for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott; 1% would vote for Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina; 1% would vote for former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; 1% would vote for “someone else.”

• 0% would vote for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

SOURCE: A Morning Consult ballot of three,571 ‘potential” Republican major voters carried out May 12-14.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com