White House Dossier's

Auto workers hit picket lines in three states . . . The United Auto Workers went on strike at three plants across the Big Three car manufacturers on Friday, the union’s first offensive after its existing contracts expired without a new deal. While the limited nature of the walkout will spare the economy a potentially heavy hit for the time being, it will put more pressure on President Joe Biden to work with both sides to avert a full-blown walkout by nearly 150,000 union members across several other states. Politico

International benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $93.90 a barrel on Friday morning in London, around 0.2% higher. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures, meanwhile, stood at $90.41, almost 0.3% higher for the session. CNBC

They have also "insinuated that if oil prices head lower, they may further raise the amount of the cuts or lengthen it," De Haan told FOX Business. The oil market went up on the news, which was announced last week, and has continued its rally ever since. The price of oil, which accounts for more than half of what consumers pay at the pump, is already nearing $90 a barrel as of Wednesday. Saudi Arabia will likely continue to take actions to support the oil price that would pump up prices for gasoline and diesel fuel. Fox Business

Statement from President Joe Biden Announcing the New U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery . . . Today, I am proud to announce that I am appointing Penny Pritzker to serve as the new U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery. As an accomplished public servant, former Secretary of Commerce, and transformative industry leader—with deep familial ties to Ukraine—Special Representative Pritzker brings decades of experience and expertise to this critical position. Working in lockstep with the Ukrainian government, our allies and partners, international financial institutions, and the private sector, she will drive the United States’ efforts to help rebuild the Ukrainian economy. White House

Trump, DeSantis go head-to-head at key conservative group summits in DC . . . Former President Donald Trump is set to deliver a pair of headline speeches Friday night at two socially conservative Christian groups’ gatherings in Washington, D.C., his first trip to the nation’s capital since his criminal arraignment last month. Trump’s top Republican rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is also scheduled to speak at the two summits hosted by the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee and the Family Research Council. CNBC

The Memo: DeSantis seizes on COVID uptick to attack Trump . . . COVID-19 is moving back into the news, a trend that could have a political impact on the Republican primary. In particular, the issue is being weaponized by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as he seeks to make up lost ground against former President Trump. COVID hospitalizations have been rising at a rapid clip in the United States for about six weeks.  The Hill

Biden berated for claiming he taught 'political theory' at University of Pennsylvania: 'Pretend life' . . . Social media users blasted President Biden after he claimed that he taught "political theory" at the University of Pennsylvania. Critics accused the president of making up a "pretend life" with his latest claim, as there is a lack of evidence he ever taught a class at the school, despite being named an honorary professor there in recent years. Fox News

‘One Common Possible Motive’: Jonathan Turley Breaks Down ‘Conspicuous’ Elements Of Hunter Indictment . . . George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said that what Hunter Biden was not charged with in a three-count indictment was “conspicuous.” Biden was indicted by a federal grand jury in Delaware on charges of illegally possessing a firearm while using illegal drugs and for making false statements in the course of purchasing the firearms. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden would move forward, with Republican Reps. James Comer of Kentucky, Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jason Smith of Missouri leading the probe into business dealings involving Hunter Biden. Daily Caller

Chinese shipbuilding capacity over 200 times greater than US, Navy intelligence says . . . A U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) slide that was leaked online highlights concerns over a rapidly expanding Chinese navy and the country's continued capability to produce ships at a faster rate than the United States. Fox News

VIDEO: German foreign minister: We're not just defending Ukraine, but democracy worldwide . . . German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock speaks with Bret Baier on the global partnership effort in the Ukraine War on 'Special Report.' Fox News

Here are a few questions I would have asked this lady:

Why has your country decided to pay for its security with Ukrainian blood? Why isn't Germany, the riches country in Europe paying a meager 2% of its GDP towards NATO? For how long does Germany expect the American taxpayers to foot the bill for its NATO membership obligation? Is Germany prepared to give up its Article 5 Collective Defense privileges until it starts paying for them?

See? It's not that hard. Make these people answer real questions. Why let her get away with the democracy nonsense. Ukraine is no more of a democracy than Russia is.

Germany walks back plan to meet NATO spending target on annual basis Reuters

Russia Seeks to Expand Naval Presence in the Mediterranean . . . As the U.S. and Russia vie for greater influence in Africa, Moscow is seeking access for its warships to a Mediterranean port in Libya that could expand its naval footprint in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s backyard. Senior Russian officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, met with Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar in recent weeks to discuss long-term docking rights in areas he controls in the war-torn country’s east, according to Libyan officials and advisers. The Russians have requested access to the ports of either Benghazi or Tobruk, the Libyan officials and advisers said, both of which are located less than 400 miles from Greece and Italy.   The talks with Haftar over port access come as the Kremlin seeks to deepen its influence in Africa and outmaneuver the U.S., which has been pressing African states to join the Western alliance in isolating Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. WSJ

Putin’s Useful Priests: The Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin’s Hidden Influence Campaign in the West . . . On July 23, one of Ukraine’s largest churches, the Orthodox cathedral in Odessa, was seriously damaged by a Russian missile strike. The strike highlighted one of the lingering enigmas of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine: Moscow has been waging war not only on a neighboring population but also on one that, like its own, is overwhelmingly made up of Orthodox Christians. In effect, the Russian government has been forced to target its own religion in its campaign to subdue Ukraine. Yet despite this, members of Russia’s Orthodox clergy have been among the most vocal supporters of the war. Foreign Affairs

China's economy shows signs of stabilising but property slump threatens outlook . . . China's factory output and retail sales grew at a faster pace in August, but tumbling investment in the crisis-hit property sector threatens to undercut a flurry of support steps that are showing signs of stabilising parts of the wobbly economy. Chinese policymakers face a daunting task in trying to revive growth after a brief post-COVID bounce in the wake of persistent weakness in the crucial property industry, a faltering currency and weak global demand for its manufactured goods.Reuters

China’s Defense Minister Is Removed From Post, U.S. Officials Say . . . Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was taken away last week by authorities for questioning, according to a person close to decision making in Beijing, while U.S. officials say he is being removed from his post. Li hasn’t made a public appearance since late August. The U.S. officials cited unspecified intelligence as the basis for their assessment that he has been relieved of his duties. WSJ

Money

Can Joe Biden and a fistful of cash win rural America for Democrats? . . . Rhiannon Hampson drives hundreds of miles across Maine's countryside each week as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's top rural development official in the state, and says she's never seen so many newly paved roads and rebuilt bridges as in the past year. Replacement of Maine's century-old Ticonic Bridge in Waterville and upgrades to the airport in Presque Isle are among the thousands of projects nationwide funded by President Joe Biden's bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure law. Reuters

Inside VP Biden’s linking of a loan to a Ukraine prosecutor’s ouster . . . As Vice President Biden flew to Ukraine in early December 2015, he read through his briefing materials in preparation for a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and what would be a momentous speech to the Ukrainian parliament. A key goal for the trip was to urge the government to crack down on corruption, starting with the removal of the powerful prosecutor general, viewed by U.S. and European officials as an impediment to reform. Washington Post

Ukraine Closer to Acquiring ATACMS Long-Range Missiles From U.S. This Fall . . . The U.S. is moving closer to providing Ukraine with a ground-based missile Kyiv has long sought to conduct longer-range strikes at Russian forces. Biden administration officials said they are taking a fresh look at supplying the Army’s Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, this fall to boost Ukraine’s counteroffensive as its forces make slow progress toward overcoming Russia’s extensive defenses in the south. Ukraine has long appealed for the ATACMS, a surface-to-surface missile system that can strike well behind Russian lines. WSJ

Ukraine security agency confirms new allegations against magnate Kolomoisky . . . Ukrainian business magnate Ihor Kolomoisky has been served with notice of a third set of allegations following his detention on suspicion of fraud and money laundering, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Friday. The new allegations against one of Ukraine's richest men were first reported on Thursday by Serhiy Leshchenko, a former investigative journalist and parliamentarian who now works as an adviser in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office. Reuters

Ihor Kolomoisky bankrolled Zelensky's presidential campaign. 

See here: Ukraine’s President Can’t Avoid Showdown With His Oligarch Backer

And here: The Ukrainian-born oligarch also controlled a large media empire that promoted Zelensky during his 2019 run for president and “many viewed Zelensky as Kolomoisky’s candidate,” the US think tank the Atlantic Council said in 2021. NY Post

And here:  A bank scandal, an oligarch and the IMF: Ukraine’s president has a lot to deal with right now . . . Close observers of Ukraine’s new president are keeping a close eye on whether Zelensky could be influenced by Kolomoisky with whom he has business ties. Zelensky is a former comic and actor who starred in a hit TV show called “Servant of the People” (about an ordinary man who becomes president) that was produced by his own production company but broadcast on Kolomoisky’s 1+1 TV channel, which has shown other shows featuring Zelensky. Kolomoisky was widely seen as one of Zelensky’s main backers and his channel boosted Zelensky’s visibility and popularity ahead of the April election that saw him defeat Poroshenko. CNBC

And here: Public Designation of Oligarch and Former Ukrainian Public Official Ihor Kolomoyskyy Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption. US Department of State

What are the roots of Western media's infatuation with Zelensky? When will the ostensibly free media start asking real questions about Zelensky and Ukraine? The main stream media are either drinking the cool aid or are frightened to be called pro-Putin. But there's nothing pro-Putin about seeking the truth. It's what journalism in America is supposed to be about. 

Culture

From Court Packing to Climate Change, Teachers' Unions Push Progressive Priorities as Test Scores Plummet . . . As student achievement scores hit historic lows this summer, the nation's largest teachers' unions prepared for the upcoming school year by lecturing members on court packing, climate change, and other liberal policy priorities. During its July national conference, the National Education Association unveiled a slew of "new business items," which included calls for President Joe Biden to "expand the Supreme Court to restore American democracy" and extend "asylum to all" illegal migrants. Weeks later, the American Federation of Teachers held its own summer gathering, which saw union leaders attend training sessions centered on "integrating climate change into your teaching" and "affirming LGBTQIA+ identities in and out of the classroom." Free Beacon

Yes, family-friendly Virginia, there is a ‘pee tape,’ courtesy of Susanna Gibson . . . Democrats finally found the “pee tape” they’ve been promising. Only it does not involve hookers in a Moscow hotel room six years ago, and former President Donald Trump had nothing to do with it. “Yeah, you can watch me pee,” says Susanna Gibson, Democrat candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates and star of the newly-surfaced “pee” tape. “Y’all can watch me pee if you tip me and some tokens again I’m raising money for a good cause.” Washington Times

Media up to their eyeballs in evidence against Biden, but claim they can’t see it . . . The news media are going full Philip Bump. They should never go full Philip Bump. He, of course, is the journalist at The Washington Post who recently expressed his desire to remain ignorant of any information that could alter his view of the world. As a guest on Noam Dworman’s “Comedy Cellar” podcast, he repeatedly refused to accept evidence that connects President Biden to his family’s lucrative influence-peddling schemes. Asked about a text message from the president’s son Hunter to his adult daughter that said, “I have to give 50% of my income to Pop,” Mr. Bump seemed utterly uncurious. Washington Times

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Washington next week . . . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to travel to Washington next week after a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Zelensky’s visit to Capitol Hill is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. The trip was coordinated with the Biden administration in a joint push to reinforce the importance to Congress granting the White House’s supplemental budget request for more than $24 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. Washington Post

As Biden preps for New York, Xi, Putin and others skipping U.N. General Assembly . . . President Biden will attempt to stiffen international resolve and unity behind Ukraine and confront head-on the rising global threats of authoritarian military aggression and autocracy during a major speech at the U.N. General Assembly next week. The leaders of the two biggest states seen as posing the threats — China and Russia — won’t even be in the audience when Mr. Biden takes the stage Tuesday as the annual gathering of heads of state gets underway in the heart of New York City. Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping aren’t going. Neither is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely considered the most geopolitically consequential leader of a “Global South” developing world that is increasingly on the fence over whether to align with or against Washington’s push for allies against Moscow, Beijing and other autocracies. Washington Times

Giant ‘green’ delivery e-bikes planned by NYC DOT ‘will kill cyclists’ while crowding bike lanes, riders warn . . . Plans to bring 500-pound, 20 mph e-bikes to New York City’s streets are under fire from cyclists — who warn they are so big they will kill other riders. The cargo quadcycles are being planned by the city’s Department of Transportation in a radical shake-up, which will supersize the dimensions allowed for delivery e-bikes on the city’s 1,525 miles of bike lanes, in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The DOT is planning to allow commercial e-bikes to be 48 inches wide – compared to the current cap of 36 inches – and have a maximum speed of 20 mph. NY Post

The real data behind the new COVID vaccines the White House is pushing . . . What if I told you one in 50 people who took a new medication had a “medically attended adverse event” and the manufacturer refused to disclose what exactly the complication was — would you take it? And what if the theoretical benefit was only transient, lasting about three months, after which your susceptibility goes back to baseline? And what if we told you the Food and Drug Administration cleared it without any human-outcomes data and European regulators are not universally recommending it as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is? That’s what we know about the new COVID vaccine the Biden administration is firmly recommending for every American 6 months old and up. The push is so hard that former White House COVID coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha and CDC head Mandy Cohen are making unsupported claims the new vaccine reduces hospitalizations. long COVID and the likelihood you will spread COVID. None of those claims has a shred of scientific support. NY Post

If you want to know the truth about vaccines please invest the time and effort to listen to Joe Rogan's podcast episode with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

You'll be glad you did. Kennedy has been vilified by the democrats because they are afraid of him. He speaks the truth. You will see how incredibly intelligent this man is. And seems like a truly good person. Joe Rogan Experience Podcast on Spotify

White House Says There Is No Direct Evidence That Hunter Biden Actually Exists . . .  Amid a House impeachment inquiry and increasing questions about bribery and extortion involving Hunter Biden, the White House reminded the press that there's not any direct evidence that Hunter Biden actually exists. "When you think about it, there's not really any conclusive proof that this 'Hunter' guy is even real," said historic, gay, black Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to reporters. "Have any of you even seen him in person? Have you actually physically touched him? For all we know, Hunter is just a figment of the GOP's wild and fevered imaginations. It's sad, really."

The gathered journalists murmured and nodded in agreement at Jean-Pierre's excellent point. Babylon Bee