White House Dossier's

5 key takeaways from explosive witness account of Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, Joe's role . . . Hunter Biden’s former business partner Devon Archer appeared Monday on Capitol Hill, detailing what members of Congress familiar with the closed-door interview described as proof President Biden "lied" about having no knowledge of his son's business dealings.

Here are five key takeaways from Archer's hours-long interview with members of the House Oversight Committee investigating the Biden family finances:

1. Archer said Biden repeatedly spoke to Hunter's business partners to sell "the brand"

2. Archer's account appears to contradict Biden's claim to have had no knowledge of Hunter's business dealings

3. Hunter Biden, Burisma execs ‘called DC’ to get Ukrainian prosecutor fired

4. Archer's appearance will add fuel to Republicans' impeachment push

5. Democrats attempted to spin - but didn't deny - Archer's account of events Fox News

Biden, Trump deadlocked in hypothetical match-up: poll . . . President Biden and former President Trump are deadlocked in a hypothetical 2024 match-up, according to a new poll released on Tuesday. The New York Times/Siena College poll found that 43 percent of registered voters said they would support Biden in a 2024 rematch, while another 43 percent said they would back Trump in such a contest. The Hill

Ron DeSantis 'Not a Natural Candidate,' GOP Strategist Says . . . veteran Republican strategist has said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is not a "natural candidate" for president and that he isn't likely to defeat former President Donald Trump. Ed Rollins, who served as a political adviser to the late President Ronald Reagan, told CNN on Monday that DeSantis didn't seem willing to take constructive criticism and he had "makes dumb moves." Newsweek

‘Let them debate’: Trump says first meeting of GOP candidates might determine his 2024 VP pick . . . Former President Trump teased on Monday that the first Republican presidential primary debate might help him narrow down his choices for a vice presidential running mate. Fox News is hosting the first GOP presidential primary debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET. "Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!" Trump posted on his Truth Social Monday morning. Fox News

2 more Trump indictments loom. Here are all the names to know . . . The investigations of Donald Trump’s effort to subvert the 2020 election introduced America to an extensive cast of allies, enablers, detractors and victims who may soon figure into federal charges against the former president. Some were involved in multiple aspects of Trump’s disparate, increasingly desperate attempts to cling to power: assembling false slates of presidential electors; pressuring state legislators and Congress to upend the results; browbeating Mike Pence to single-handedly overturn Joe Biden’s victory; and even weighing a plan to seize voting machines. Politico

DeSantis’ presidential ambitions are in the hands of a small circle of wealthy donors . . . Bigelow, who has said he would “go without food” in order to support DeSantis’ White House ambitions, cuts an enigmatic figure. A Las Vegas real estate tycoon, he poured some of his fortune into studying the possibility of life after death and has long expressed curiosity about unidentified flying objects over a ranch he owned in Utah. Much of the money came from Florida-based business people, according to the filing that covers contributions made through June 30, including real estate developer Jay Odom, who gave $400,000 to Never Back Down. Odom was indicted in 2013 over a straw donation scheme supporting 2008 candidate Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign. Politico

Pro-Haley Group Plans $13 Million Ad Push in Iowa and New Hampshire . . . A super PAC supporting Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign said on Tuesday that it had reserved more than $13 million in television and digital ads in Iowa and New Hampshire starting in August. The outlay is the first major advertising push in support of Ms. Haley since she became the first Republican to challenge former President Donald J. Trump this year. The group, SFA Fund Inc., is pouring $7 million into ads in Iowa and $6.2 million into ads in New Hampshire that will run over the next nine weeks. New York Times

Ted Cruz grows his brand with popular tool — a podcast . . . Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has been a familiar face and voice on Fox News, right-wing talk radio and elsewhere in the conservative media ecosystem since first being elected to the Senate more than a decade ago. But these days, Cruz is getting a boost in raising his profile through a media product of his own making. The Hill

Poll Shows Majority Of Americans Support Voter ID, Limited Mail-In Voting . . . New polling provided exclusively to The Federalist shows a vast majority of U.S. voters support election integrity initiatives such as voter ID requirements and limitations on the use of mail-in voting. Conducted by the Honest Elections Project (HEP) from July 13-16, the survey reveals widespread support among the American electorate for common-sense election integrity policies. According to the poll, 88 percent of Americans support laws mandating voters show a form of ID in order to cast their ballot, including the vast majority of black (82 percent) and Hispanic voters (83 percent). Only 9 percent of those polled opposed ID requirements. Federalist

Home to Delaware: Biden on track to set vacationing record . . . President Joe Biden is on vacation again, raising familiar questions about how much time he spends away from the White House. The first family is in the middle of a 10-day retreat at Biden's two Delaware homes, biking and reading at the beach while avoiding public appearances. That has Republicans calling him out as the vacationer in chief. "Joe Biden and Jill, Ed.D., are having a relaxing day at the beach, where Biden will remain for another week," RNC Research posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Since taking office, Biden has spent 360 days — 39% of his presidency — on vacation." Washington Examiner

Pentagon insists US weapons will stay in Ukraine as Zelenskyy eyes attacks in Russian territory . . . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that the war in his country is "returning to the territory of Russia" — a claim the Pentagon insisted to Fox News Digital will not include the use of U.S. weapons. "Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia — to its symbolic center and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process," Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine is getting stronger." The comments came after Russian officials said earlier Sunday it downed Ukrainian drones over Moscow. Fox News

Who’s buying up land around major Air Force base in California? ‘We have no idea’ . . . A mysterious investment company is buying up large tracts of land around a California Air Force base, raising questions about who is behind the firm — and its intentions — amid growing fears about Chinese businesses acquiring land near American military sites. The investment firm Flannery Associates has bought around $800 million worth of land around Travis Air Force Base in northern California’s Solano County, which is midway between Sacramento and San Francisco. The Hill

For example, the FBI tried to justify continuing to spy on Page in early 2017 by indicating to the secret FISA court that it had verified a rumor about Page receiving dirt on Hillary Clinton from the Russian government and facilitating a “well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” with the Kremlin to swing the 2016 election in Trump’s favor. But the bureau had corroborated no such thing. Its source was a front-page report in the Washington Post – one the newspaper later retracted after determining it was false, according to two former U.S. officials who have seen the original, unredacted FISA applications and described the passages to RCI. RealClearPolitics

Exactly what DIA and CIA did with my book, Putin's Playbook - redacted my criticisms about the spy agencies' incompetence and lack of expertise in Russia/Putin, claiming it's "classified information."

Order your own copy of Putin's Playbook here

Drone hits tower housing Russian ministries for second time in three days . . . A high-rise building in Moscow's business district that houses three Russian government ministries was struck by a drone for the second time in three days on Tuesday, in what Russia called an attempted Ukrainian "terrorist attack".

A Ukrainian presidential adviser said Moscow should expect more drone attacks and "more war". The building that was hit is known as the "IQ quarter", which houses the ministry of economic development, the digital ministry and the ministry of industry and trade. Video obtained by Reuters showed a section of its glass facade, high above the ground, had been destroyed by the impact. Reuters

China's Nuclear Unit Purge Sparked by Wagner Rebellion . . . China has replaced the heads of the elite unit in charge of its nuclear arsenal, in a move an expert told Newsweek was likely spurred by alarm at the Wagner rebellion in Russia. Former deputy navy chief Wang Houbin and party central committee member Xu Xisheng were named as head of the People Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force division, which controls China's nuclear and conventional missiles. Both have been promoted from the rank of lieutenant general to full general, which is China's highest rank for active service officers. Newsweek

Money

Amazon rolls out its virtual health clinic nationwide . . . Amazon is rolling out its virtual health clinic service nationwide. The e-retailer launched the service, called Amazon Clinic, last November, touting it as a virtual platform for users to connect with health-care providers to treat common conditions like sinus infections, acne, and migraines. Users select their condition, choose a provider, then answer a brief questionnaire. Depending on where they live, users can choose to connect with a clinician over video or text message. CNBC

BlackRock, MSCI Face Congressional Probes for Facilitating China Investments . . . The world’s largest asset manager and a top stock-market-index compiler are being investigated by a congressional committee for facilitating American investment in Chinese companies the U.S. government has accused of bolstering China’s military and violating human rights. The House of Representatives’ Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party notified BlackRock BLK -0.59%decrease; red down pointing triangle and MSCI on Monday of the probes into their activities, according to letters viewed by The Wall Street Journal. 

Donald Trump donor pours cash into Robert Kennedy Jr’s White House run . . .  A top Republican donor to Donald Trump’s past presidential campaigns is helping to bankroll Robert F Kennedy Jr’s long-shot White House bid, as conservative cash keeps flowing to Joe Biden’s main challenger for the Democratic nomination. According to federal filings released on Monday, Timothy Mellon gave $5mn to American Values, the main political action committee, or outside spending group, supporting Kennedy’s White House bid. Mellon, 81, is the grandson of Andrew Mellon, the former US Treasury secretary and senior banker, and a former executive in the transportation and infrastructure sector. Mellon’s support for Kennedy highlights the extent to which Biden’s rival is attracting money and sympathy from conservative circles as he tries to mount a credible fight for the party’s nomination. Financial Times

Trump has spent millions more than he’s raised in 2023 . . . The Save America leadership PAC, which also filed its own biannual report on Monday, reported spending more than $24.4 million in the first six months of the year, excluding transfers to related committees. By far the biggest expense from Save America was legal consulting, which accounted for more than $21 million. The leadership PAC reported paying nearly 50 distinct entities for legal work or legal consulting, with nine different firms paid at least seven figures. The group also reimbursed Red Curve Solutions — the firm of Bradley T. Crate, his longtime campaign treasurer — roughly $1.5 million for legal fees and expenses, which suggests that investigators have focused on Trump’s campaign books. Even a super PAC supporting Trump spent beyond its means. MAGA Inc. reported raising $14.6 million over the first six months of 2023. But it spent $25.6 million in addition to issuing a $12 million refund to Save America. Politico

When Hunter Biden's Art Patron Hit Federal Contribution Limits, Her Underage Children Kept the Money to Dems Flowing . . . In September 2015, Hunter Biden art patron Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali sent Hillary Clinton $2,700, the maximum amount she could give the presidential candidate for the upcoming primary election. Just days later, an unusual source stepped forward with more Clinton money: Naftali's 17-year-old daughter. Naftali's daughter—who was in high school at the time—also sent Clinton $2,700. The contribution came just 10 days after Naftali was legally barred from giving Clinton more primary campaign cash. In the years that followed, Naftali's son continued the practice, sending thousands of dollars to California congressman Mike Levin and presidential candidate Kamala Harris after Naftali contributed the legal maximum to both Democrats. Naftali's son gave Levin $1,000 at age 16 and Harris $2,000 at age 17. Free Beacon

Why Is Saudi Arabia Spending Billions on Western Sports? . . . LIV Golf. Formula 1. And now a $332 million bid for Kylian Mbappé. What we call ‘sportswashing,’ the Saudis call savvy. In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an extraordinary and record-breaking shopping spree, spending billions to acquire marquee-name players. The most recent foray is an attempt by Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal to sign French striker Kylian Mbappé, by most measures the best player in the world, for a quite staggering world record $332 million, plus a one-year contract worth $776 million. Money like this has never been seen in soccer before. Unsurprisingly, the bid was accepted by Mbappé’s club, Paris Saint-Germain, but the soccer star, so far, has refused the deal. Either Saudi Arabia really wants to be the global epicenter of soccer, or they really want to distract the world with their attempts to do so. Free Press

Culture

Conservatives Take Scalps In The Culture War . . . The cottage industry built around Diversity, Equity, Inclusive (DEI) seems to have crashed almost as quickly as it went up, The Wall Street Journal reported. While left-wing grifters made a good run of their dominance over America’s C-suite, their influence was never going to last. Their premises are too faulty and un-American; their prescriptions too radical and alienating — if something can’t go on forever, it won’t. Conservatives are rightly cheering the development, with some even going so far as to take credit for delegitimizing the corporate training programs that indict America as a racist empire and divide workers into victim and oppressor. Yet it’s unclear if this is the major victory conservatives wish it to be. Is this a sign that wokeness in the workplace — and American culture more broadly — has finally crested? Daily Caller

US colleges refashion student essay prompts after ban on affirmative action . . .  In addition to writing about their favorite songs and why they want to go to college, students applying to Emory University in Atlanta this fall will get new essay prompts aimed at teasing out details about their cultural backgrounds.

The revised questions are among the changes at Emory and other highly selective colleges after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that race-conscious admissions policies were unlawful, upending a longstanding practice for increasing minority enrollment in higher education. Universities must find new ways to create diverse student bodies and avoid the precipitous declines in admissions of Black and Latino students seen after prior bans on affirmative action in states including California and Michigan. Reuters

Looking for ways to continue brainwashing the young generation with ideas of victimhood and dependency on someone else rather than oneself for success and achievement.

First Alzheimer's disease risk assessment blood test for consumers hits market . . . Quest Diagnostics on Monday released the first blood test for consumer purchase that can help assess the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The AD-Detect Test for Alzheimer's Disease costs $399 and is available for purchase online and can assess a person's risk based on a brain protein that contributes to the condition, according to Quest. Fox Business

Cloud company assisted 17 different government hacking groups -US researchers . . . An obscure cloud service company has been providing state-sponsored hackers with internet services to spy on and extort their victims, a cybersecurity firm said in a report to be published on Tuesday. Researchers at Texas-based Halcyon said a company called Cloudzy had been leasing server space and reselling it to no fewer than 17 different state-sponsored hacking groups from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. Cloudzy CEO Hannan Nozari disputed Halcyon’s assessment, saying that his firm couldn’t be held responsible for its clients, of which he estimated only 2% were malicious. Reuters

Countries Raid Each Others’ Health Systems in Global Battle for Nurses . . . A global shortage of healthcare workers is setting off a bruising worldwide battle for talent, as rich countries raid other nations’ medical systems for staff to care for their aging populations. The competition has helped countries such as the U.S. and Australia replace some nurses who quit in record numbers during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it is also leaving hospitals in developing countries and some wealthier nations such as the U.K. worse off, as they lose staff to countries offering bigger paychecks. Wall Street Journal

Hunter Biden told Archer that Chinese chairman loved him for his 'last name,' posse of 'godlike Aryan men' . . . Hunter Biden told business partner Devon Archer that the Chinese tycoon who helped them secure a multi-million-dollar venture in the communist state loved him for his "last name" and for always traveling with "handsome godlike Aryan men." In the 2011 email thread, Hunter bragged to Archer about his relationship with Che Feng, a Chinese business tycoon who they referred to as "The Super Chairman." Fox News

Biden administration incandescent lightbulb ban takes effect . . . The Biden administration’s new lightbulb efficiency rule takes effect on Tuesday, effectively prohibiting the sale of all new incandescent bulbs in favor of more energy-friendly alternatives.

The new lightbulb efficiency regulations were announced last April by the Department of Energy and require all bulbs sold by retailers to produce a minimum of 45 lumens, the measure of light and brightness, per watt. (There are exceptions for certain appliances that utilize incandescent bulbs, however, such as microwaves.) Washington Examiner

Bear beats the heat in California home's backyard pool . . . Police were called to a California home where a bear was discovered taking a dip in the backyard pool to beat the summer heat. The Burbank Police Department posted a video to Facebook showing the bear lounging in a resident's backyard pool amid 92-degree heat. Burbank Animal Shelter personnel and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also responded to the scene, police said. The responders monitored the bear until it left the water and was seen climbing a nearby tree for a nap. UPI