Comey Leaks, DC Crime, and California's Crisis: Solomon, Hilton, Lowry & Cooke

Comey's Classified Leaks and DOJ Inaction

• 💡 Newly declassified intelligence from FBI Director Cash Patel suggests former FBI Director James Comey used a friend at Columbia University to leak classified information to the New York Times.
• 🎯 This intermediary, Daniel Richmond, was on the taxpayer's payroll and had a top-secret security clearance, with his stated motive being to "burnish" Comey's image and set narratives like "Russia collusion."
• 🔑 Despite the FBI investigating potential leaks of classified information, the Justice Department, under both Trump and Biden administrations, declined to prosecute, citing difficulty in proving intent due to qualified denials.
• ⚠️ This contrasts sharply with the indictment of Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents, highlighting a perceived double standard in the application of the law.
• 📉 The FBI opened six criminal investigations into leaks, all with code names, but none resulted in prosecution.

Media's Role in Russia Gate and Reporting Standards

• 📰 Michael Schmidt of the New York Times, who won Pulitzers for Russia Gate reporting, is criticized for downplaying new revelations and for his role in disseminating potentially classified information.
• 🧐 Jeff Girth's re-evaluation in the Columbia Journalism Review highlights significant reporting failures by the New York Times and Washington Post regarding Russia Gate.
• 🔍 John Solomon recounts his own experience where the FBI press office initially told him there was "no there there" regarding Trump-Russia collusion claims, a stark contrast to the breathless coverage by some outlets.
• 🚫 The New York Times has not retracted a February 2017 story claiming US intelligence had proof of Trump campaign communications with Russian intelligence, despite Comey himself later stating the story wasn't true.
• 📊 Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post also published classified information, and while not necessarily a bad reporter, the lack of corrections for inaccurate reporting is a significant issue.

DC Crime and Leftist Responses

• 🚨 Judge Jeanine Pirro emphasizes the suffering of victims due to violent crime in DC, stating that crime is not down for those affected and that law enforcement needs more resources.
• 🚫 Critics argue that the left's focus on crime reduction statistics ignores the lived reality of victims and that policies are failing to address the root causes.
• 🗣️ MSNBC's Symone Sanders is criticized for suggesting more police don't make streets safer for Black women, a viewpoint deemed a "luxury belief" disconnected from the realities of crime in dangerous neighborhoods.
• 🏠 The presence of homeless encampments, particularly in public spaces like Union Station, is highlighted as a symptom of failed policies, with resistance to clearing them being framed as a defense of crime.

California's Crisis and Political Landscape

• 📉 Steve Hilton, running for California governor, points to the state's high unemployment, poverty, and cost of living as evidence of Gavin Newsom's failed leadership.
• 🏘️ The widespread homelessness and the lack of progress in rebuilding after wildfires, despite significant funds raised, are cited as examples of corruption and mismanagement.
• 🗳️ Hilton criticizes California's gerrymandered districts that favor Democrats despite a significant Republican voting bloc, vowing to restore integrity if elected.
• 🏳️‍⚧️ Extreme cultural policies, such as allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports and laws enabling adults to take custody of children with minimal vetting, are seen as indicative of the state's radical leftward shift.

Immigration and Perceived Victimhood

• ⚖️ Monica Lewinsky's comparison of her experience with paparazzi to the plight of illegal immigrants is dismissed as a "luxury belief" and an attempt to gain relevance.
• 🚶‍♂️ Legal immigrants like John Oliver and Charles C.W. Cooke express no anxiety about deportation and find the idea of illegal immigrants feeling "hunted" for breaking the law to be lunacy.
• 🇺🇸 The reduction in illegal immigrants entering the country is attributed to stricter enforcement and the fear of deportation, a trend seen as positive.

Wealth Disparity and "Luxury Beliefs"

• 🚀 The perceived "grotesque displays of wealth" by billionaires like Jeff Bezos sending celebrities into space is criticized as a "joy ride" that does not advance science or exploration.
• 🎭 Christine Baranski's critique of these space flights and the self-proclaimed "astronauts" is seen as a courageous act against the powerful tech elite.
• 💰 The disconnect between billionaires and the public's perception of their actions, particularly regarding space tourism and the Gilded Age, is highlighted as a source of public frustration.