Thursday Afternoon Update: Hunter Biden Bombshell, Plus Elon’s Rocket Explodes And So Does Buzzfeed’s News Division

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

IRS Whistleblower Drops Hunter Biden Bombshell

An IRS agent seeking whistleblower protection claims the investigation into Hunter Biden is being deliberately mishandled by the Biden administration. In a letter yesterday, attorney Mark D. Lytle told members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate that his client has been overseeing a “high-profile, controversial” investigation since 2020 and wants to make “protected whistleblower disclosures to Congress.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the allegations in today’s briefing.

“The president has been very clear,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is something for the Department of Justice, which is independent, and we have been very clear since the campaign that this is something that they need to speak to and that’s why we refer you to the Department of Justice. We are just not going to speak … about it from here.”

Elon Musk’s Rocket Explodes

Elon Musk’s newest rocket, the SpaceX Starship, exploded this morning during a launch. The ship was not manned, so nobody was hurt. Musk and SpaceX say the launch was, in fact, successful because it gives the company new opportunities to learn. Starship was the tallest rocket ever built and exploded in midair after it apparently failed to separate from its “Super Heavy” Booster. The outcome wasn’t unexpected; last month, Musk gave the rocket a 50-50 chance of blowing apart. Video of the Starship launch showed the SpaceX crew cheering loudly even after the rocket exploded.

The tallest and most powerful rocket ever built launching. The liftoff of SpaceX Starship pic.twitter.com/meav59yVmn

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 20, 2023

Buzzfeed’s News Division Explodes

BuzzFeed is permanently shuttering its news division as part of a cost-cutting move after the digital news site reportedly lost roughly 10 million dollars a year. A letter to employees from the CEO said: “We are reducing our workforce by approximately 15 percent today,” adding that the company will now focus its news content on the profitable “HuffPost” website.

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House Passes Women And Girls In Sports Act

The House passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act — sponsored by Florida GOP Congressman Greg Steube — by a narrow party-line vote of 219-203. Zero Democrats supported the bill, which would bar federal funds from going to schools and sporting organizations that allow males to compete in women’s sports.

Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, however, says that GOP characterizations of the issue are misleading.

House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries says biological males competing on female sports teams is “an issue that doesn’t really exist” pic.twitter.com/9cQrnOwocv

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 20, 2023

Judge Rules Former Manhattan Prosector In Trump Case Can Be Subpoenaed

A judge ruled on Wednesday that Congress can in fact subpoena a former Manhattan prosecutor in the indictment of former President Donald Trump. Alvin Bragg had attempted to block the subpoena of Mark Pomerantz — the prosecutor who worked extensively on Trump’s case, but left after a disagreement with Bragg. Pomerantz has since given media interviews and even written a book about the efforts to nab the former president. The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the former prosecutor earlier this month and accused Bragg and his office of acting politically in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

Chicago Mayor-Elect Continues Excusing Rioters

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson addressed the mob of teens who rioted in downtown Chicago last weekend again on Wednesday, doubling down on his claims that the teens should not be demonized.

“Demonizing children is wrong,” he said. “Do you understand the risks that young people take just because they are young? Do you know that the home plate is at the bottom of my stairs? I found that out when my son was sliding down those stairs trying to score! They’re young, sometimes they make silly decisions! They do! So we have to make sure that we are investing so that they know they are supported.”

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson doubles down on defending the rioters:

“Demonizing children is wrong!”
“Sometimes they make silly decisions!” pic.twitter.com/26IkldAWFL

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 20, 2023

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