NEWS AND OPINION:
There are historic personal letters — and then there are really historic personal letters. The Raab Collection — an international firm that buys and sells important historical documents — has unveiled a remarkable letter penned on Dec. 3, 1777, by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. He was in France at the time, securing clandestine supplies and troops for the American cause.
As far as historic letters go, this one is not only rare, but also features the grand and beautiful penmanship of yore — particularly Franklin’s signature itself.
The letter is now on sale, valued at $120,000. Find the details of this rare communication and more at Raabcollection.com.
Interestingly enough, Apple TV+ will release a new historical drama series titled “Franklin” — which focuses on Benjamin Franklin’s diplomatic mission to France in the 1770s and stars an effective Michael Douglas as the revered Founding Father.
“Diplomacy must never be a siege — but a seduction,” the veteran actor says during the production itself, which debuts on Friday.
Pompeo spells it out
“Donald Trump is the right person to once again be president of the United States. The security and prosperity of our children depend on it,” said Mike Pompeo in a detailed written statement shared with the Beltway.
“As CIA Director and Secretary of State, I served under President Trump to help him put America First — and he delivered amazing outcomes for the American people. He kept us safe and prosperous. Period. The four years since have demonstrated how crucial his leadership was. President Biden’s weakness and radical agenda have and will imperil the future of the American people,” Mr. Pompeo said.
“As America approaches this enormously consequential election in November, it is important that we remember where America was just four years ago because of President Donald Trump’s leadership,” he said, citing eight specific challenges to the U.S. that he says Mr. Trump addressed while in office.
His list includes fighting terrorism and countering the threat or aggression by ISIS, Iran, Hamas and Russia.
“Americans, not illegal immigrants, were protected. President Trump had built a sovereign border regime that didn’t allow millions of illegals — and dozens and dozens of terrorists — to cross our border each year only to be released and cause mayhem here. We put America first,” Mr. Pompeo said.
Mr. Trump also supported U.S. businesses, challenged China, and saw to it that NATO received funding from non-U.S. members — and that effective deterrence was in place in Eastern Europe, Mr. Pompeo said.
“President Trump deserves the support of all Americans who believe in the goodness and greatness of our nation, from machinists in Michigan, to farmers in Kansas, to people simply seeking to build a better life for their families. He has my full support, and I hope every American who cares about getting our country back on track will join me. This is not a close call,” Mr. Pompeo concluded.
Find more of his public outreach at CAVPAC.com.
The NPR headlines
A veteran editor at National Public Radio stepped forward this week to cite left-leaning bias at the broadcaster in a lengthy analysis published online by The Free Press, a media company that offers investigative stories and provocative commentary, according to its website — and found at TheFP.com.
Headlines followed. Here’s a sample:
“NPR editor rebukes own outlet’s coverage of Hunter Biden laptop, COVID lab leak and Russiagate” (Fox News); “Senior NPR editor claims public broadcaster lacks ‘viewpoint diversity’” (The Guardian); “NPR editor says network ‘turned a blind eye’ to Hunter Biden laptop story because ‘it could help Trump’” (New York Post); “NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public’s trust” (National Public Radio); “NPR journalist blows whistle on network’s obsession with DEI and progressive diktats and reveals how stories like Hunter Biden laptop were ignored: ‘Here’s how we lost America’s trust’” (Daily Mail); “NPR editor slams ‘viewpoint diversity’ lack at progressive network” (The Wrap).
How much?
The Republican National Committee continues to monitor consumer issues, checking the escalating prices of everyday items over President Biden’s time in office. Here are a few examples that the committee released Wednesday:
“Since Biden took office, overall prices have shot up by 19.4% — a massive hit on hardworking Americans,” said Jake Schneider, director of rapid response for the committee.
He has pored over the consumer price index, and here’s a sampling of what he found:
“Since President Biden arrived, eggs are up 49%, gas by 48%, flour by 34%, baby food by 31%, sugar by 29%, steak by 25% and pet food by 24%.
“Overall, grocery prices have surged by 21% since Biden took office,” Mr. Schneider said in a statement.
“That’s a massive drag on Americans who are already paying more for just about everything during the Biden administration. These unending price hikes (which Biden promised would be “transitory”) have decimated Americans’ finances. Nearly two-thirds of Americans reported living paycheck-to-paycheck last year — an increase from 2022 — as credit card debt hits record highs and savings accounts dwindle. That’s Bidenomics!” Mr. Schneider concluded, exclamation point and all.
Poll du jour
• 65% of Hispanic adults living in the U.S. support providing a path to U.S. citizenship for all people currently in the U.S. illegally.
• 64% support giving President Biden the authority to close U.S. borders if there are too many migrants trying to enter the country.
• 59% support allowing refugees fleeing crime and violence in Latin America to claim asylum in the U.S.
• 42% support building a wall or fence along the entire U.S.-Mexico border.
• 38% support sending all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. back to their country of origin.
• 29% support government policymakers basing laws and policies on their religious views.
• 29% support making all abortions illegal at any time, under any circumstance.
Source: An Axios/Ipsos poll of 1,012 Latino/Hispanic Americans conducted with Noticias Telemundo March 22-28 and released Wednesday.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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