Joe Biden

Rep. Mike Johnson's (R-LA) decision to allow Rep. James Comer (R-KY) to proceed with an investigation of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, knowing it will likely go nowhere is a sign that he is on thin ice as House Speaker with far-right members of his caucus who could send him packing like they did Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

In his column for MSNBC, analyst Hayes Brown claimed the former backbencher thrust into the speaker's seat due to GOP House dysfunction is going through the motions of allowing the investigation to ramp up and it is patently obvious who is calling the shots — and it's not Johnson.

Noting Johnson's recent assertion that the GOP "stands for the rule of law," Brown wrote, "Just at the surface level, Johnson’s implying that the House GOP’s response to the Trump impeachments shows its commitment to the rule of law is hilarious," before adding, "So, too, is his claim that in the GOP investigation into Biden, Republicans are simply following the facts wherever they may lead. But it’s a song and dance Johnson has to perform if he wants to remain speaker."

As he noted, Johnson earlier also didn't feel there was enough to proceed with impeachment hearings against Joe Biden but changed his tune following an attack by Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), after which he proclaimed that it now has his "full and unwavering support," despite having no chance of getting through the Senate.

"Johnson has two options at this point. He can hold the vote knowing it will fail, damaging the House’s credibility in court but keeping up appearances with the pro-impeachment wing. Or he can burn his capital with moderates worried about losing their seats to persuade them to be team players — and still face the risk of failing on the House floor," the analyst wrote. "All for an inquiry that he has admitted behind closed doors doesn’t have the evidence to actually justify impeachment. Not that he has the power to say that in public, of course."

You can read more here.

A Joe Biden administration proposal to save consumers from having to pay so-called "resort fees" when staying at pricey hotels will have the dual effect of taking money out of Donald Trump's pocket, and a spokesperson for the president is being upfront about how it will be used as a campaign talking point.

At issue is a fee added onto resort stay bills that shows up at the end of placing an online reservation similar to fees that are tacked on when purchasing concert tickets — another target of the administration.

In this case, Donald Trump and the Trump Organization will be impacted as the Daily Beast's Jake Lahut is reporting.

According to his report, Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, which is merely a hotel and not a resort, adds on "a one-time resort fee of $132—nearly as much as the $159 rate for one night in a king room at the hotel in January" and Trump International Hotel on Waikiki Beach charges an additional $125 per day per stay.

A stay at Trump Doral in Florida can set a visitor back $159 for each night with a one-time $135 resort fee.

According to Biden spokesperson T.J. Ducklo, Trump has been taking advantage of consumers for years.

“Joe Biden working to eliminate the sky-high junk fees Donald Trump greedily charges guests at his failing hotels perfectly encapsulates the difference in their values,” the spokesperson told The Daily Beast. “It’s Scranton vs Park Ave., middle class vs. the billionaire class and it’s why voters can’t trust Trump in the White House to fight for them.”

According to the Beast report, the Biden administration plans on making consumer gouging by Trump a talking point in the 2024 campaign.

"The Biden White House’s executive order on corporate fees would require companies to show the full cost of a product or service up front, instead of tacking on fees at checkout," the Beast's Lahut reported, after explaining, "The Biden campaign also isn’t ruling out highlighting these fees in their paid campaign ads next year."

You can read more here.