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Soros-linked fund to acquire more than 200 local radio stations weeks before election Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) led 40 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding her recent decision to fast-track a media deal allowing the Fund for Policy Reform, a group aligned with Democratic mega-donor George Soros, to buy over 200 radio stations just weeks before the 2024 election. With a party line vote of 3-2, the decision at the Commission level by the Democratic members of the FCC to temporarily waive the required national security review and allow excessive foreign ownership of American radio stations is deeply disturbing. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “It is highly concerning that the FCC did not follow regular order for a transaction of this magnitude. Licensees and investors need certainty that the FCC will follow its rules and procedures when approving transactions so that the broadcast industry can have the resources it needs to continue serving the public.”  BACKGROUND: Audacy, Inc., a radio broadcasting group, which owns more than 200 radio-station licenses, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  Audacy’s filings revealed that a George Soros-backed group known as the Fund for Policy Reform had acquired at least 40 percent of Audacy’s debt.   Audacy estimated that, upon emerging from bankruptcy, 25 percent or more of its stock would be indirectly foreign owned, which triggers FCC review.   This review process requires national security agencies to review the transaction and offer any policy or national security concerns.   On September 30, 2024, the FCC released an Order granting a temporary waiver of this review process, delaying a national security review until after the bankruptcy process is complete and allowing foreign control of a significant number of radio stations across the entire United States, weeks before a national election. CLICK HERE to read Breitbart's exclusive coverage. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Vice Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA), and 23 other Republican Committee members sent a letter to TikTok demanding answers regarding how the Chinese Communist Party is using the app as a tool to surveil and manipulate Americans.  From the letter: “ Disturbingly, millions of TikTok users have recently viewed videos glorifying Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America,’ which attempts to justify his horrific murder of 3,000 Americans in the September 11, 2001, attacks while also perpetuating ‘the antisemitic trope claiming the Jews ‘control your policies, media and economy.’” Key excerpts from exclusive reporting by FOX NEWS : “ A group of House Republicans is demanding more transparency from TikTok about how content is amplified and how much insight China has into those processes as accusations mount against the social platform that it’s boosting antisemitic videos. “‘On October 7, the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, brutally attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people. Since this terrorist attack, disinformation related to the conflict has run rampant on your platform, stoking antisemitism, support, and sympathy for Hamas,’ they wrote to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. “The letter is being led by Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. It comes just days after TikTok was under fire for facilitating a surge in viral videos expressing support for Usama bin Laden’s 2002 'Letter to America' written in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.” […] “National security hawks have been wary of TikTok’s connection to China, with its parent company ByteDance being based in Beijing.” […] “The lawmakers are demanding to know how many employees at TikTok have connections to ByteDance, how the platform screens for misinformation and anti-Israel content amid the conflict with Hamas, and how its algorithms are curated, among other queries. “‘Given that roughly half of TikTok’s U.S. user base is under 25 years old, American youth are being exposed to extremely violent and disturbing images and videos," they wrote. "This deluge of pro-Hamas content is driving hateful antisemitic rhetoric and violent protests on campuses across the country. The CCP has already co-opted your platform, and it seems TikTok and TikTok’s employees are resigned to becoming a mouthpiece for antisemites, terrorists, and propaganda.’” ICYMI: In October, Chair Rodgers called on multiple tech companies, including TikTok, to brief the Energy and Commerce Committee on their moderation policies regarding the spread of illegal content posted by Hamas. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. CLICK HERE to read the Fox News story on the letter.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and committee Republicans have been sounding the alarm on the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to pressure Big Tech companies to censor speech it disagrees with and silence Americans. The actions taken by the Biden administration are alarming, un-American, and akin to the type of behavior we’ve seen from foreign dictators to destroy freedom and control speech.  “President Biden and his administration want to institutionalize censorship by pressuring Big Tech to silence Americans. The DHS disinformation board was just his latest attack on the First Amendment and free speech. I am glad to see these plans have been ‘paused’ and urge President Biden to permanently abandon his censorship mission. The answer to speech that we disagree with should always be more speech.”  July 2020 — 189 Republican Members of Congress urged the Biden administration to abandon their censorship mission and respond to inquiries regarding their coordination with social media companies to censor Americans.  March 2022 — Republican Leaders condemned the Surgeon General’s ongoing pressure campaign on Big Tech to silence Americans.  April 2022 — Leader Rodgers urged Democrats and President Biden to abandon their censorship mission and that the establishment of a ‘Disinformation Governance Board’ was un-American.” This week, the administration announced that it would be ‘pausing’ its efforts to establish a ‘Disinformation Governance Board’ that would attack and silence free speech online.  This board should have never existed in the first place.   Here are some reactions from E&C members. . @DHSgov announced today that their so-called 'Disinformation Board' will be put on the back burner after an outcry from those concerned about govt. censorship – including criticisms from civil liberties and human rights orgs. This is a win for Americans & the First Amendment! https://t.co/irOIre2G2M — U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (@boblatta) May 18, 2022 The so-called “Disinformation Governance Board” never should have seen the light of day in the first place. Disbanding it is good news for free speech, and the administration’s censorship mission should be scrapped once and for all. https://t.co/N2Mw1C9yli — Rep. Tim Walberg (@RepWalberg) May 18, 2022 This is great news for free speech and our Constitution. https://t.co/PjeYE91Hhi — Markwayne Mullin (@RepMullin) May 18, 2022 BREAKING: The Biden Administration has reportedly paused its Orwellian "Disinformation Governance Board" after facing heavy backlash. We are fighting back and winning! — Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) May 18, 2022 WIN FOR FREE SPEECH https://t.co/RKqksJAgzJ — Buddy Carter (@RepBuddyCarter) May 18, 2022 A potential win for freedom-loving Americans! https://t.co/vAP34xcwwd — Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) May 18, 2022 RESULTS: President Biden’s “Disinformation Governance Board” is officially on hold. Sunk by what it was designed to suppress: dissention and mockery of elites. They’ll try to resurrect it though. https://t.co/bJjCN264in — Bill Johnson (@RepBillJohnson) May 18, 2022 B/c Americans called BS on the @DHSgov Disinformation Governance Board, the Biden Admin decided to "pause" it. Maybe the Admin should also listen to the American people and take steps to end #Bidenflation , the #BidenBorderCrisis , and the #BidenGasHike . — Michael Burgess, MD (@michaelcburgess) May 18, 2022 CLICK HERE to read more about E&C Republican solutions to protecting free speech.  

Washington, D.C.— Energy and Commerce Committee Republican lawmakers, led by Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), today urged U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to address recent and concerning reports regarding China-based technology company Huawei's growing access to the U.S. semiconductor technology.   As reported by   Reuters :  “A group of 13 Republican lawmakers on Thursday raised concerns about U.S. approval for Chinese telecommunications company Huawei to buy chips for its growing auto business.  “The lawmakers, on the Energy and Commerce Committee, asked U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a letter seen by Reuters if he was concerned ‘Huawei will look for a foothold in developing components for future vehicles in order to gather information on Americans and our transportation infrastructure.’  “Reuters reported in August that U.S. officials have approved license applications worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the company, which is on a U.S. trade blacklist.”  […]  “The Republicans, led by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said the United States ‘must not surrender to China and its efforts to dominate our high-tech sectors, including (autonomous vehicles).’  “The letter asked Buttigieg if he believes ‘Huawei intends to do with the automotive sector what it did to the communications equipment sector?’  “Huawei told Reuters in August it was ‘positioning ourselves as a new component provider for intelligent connected vehicles’ and to help automakers ‘build better vehicles.’”  CLICK HERE  to read the story on Reuters.   CLICK HERE  to read the E&C Republican letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.    The questions asked by members in the letter to Secretary Buttigieg included:  Should Huawei have the ability to purchase semiconductors for next generation vehicles? If yes, please explain.   According to a Reuters report, automotive chips are not generally considered sophisticated when compared to chips in other sectors. The report also refers to comments made by a Huawei spokesperson who said “[They] are positioning [themselves] as a new component provider for intelligent connected vehicles. . . .” Do you believe Huawei intends to do with the automotive sector what it did to the communications equipment sector?   How will the purchase of non-Chinese automotive semiconductor technology impact the economic pressure facing Huawei, both for the company in general and its 5G telecommunications division specifically? Are you concerned that such transactions ease the pressure on China’s supply chain for the automotive sector so it may further prioritize its state-sponsored goal in winning the race to 5G?   Are you concerned that Huawei will look for a foothold in developing components for future vehicles in order to gather information on Americans and our transportation infrastructure?   Will any component designed for an intelligent automobile licensed or manufactured by Huawei be prohibited from being used in automobiles destined for the U.S.?   Will you consult and coordinate with the other cabinet secretaries and share any concerns that efforts to support Huawei will ultimately benefit the CCP at the expense of U.S. jobs and the economy, including entrenching China’s state-sponsored supply chains?   Will you commit that neither you nor NHTSA will approve such technology transfers in the future?  

189 Republican Members of Congress, including House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers and House Republican Leadership, urged the Biden Administration to abandon their censorship mission and respond to inquiries regarding their coordination with social media companies to censor Americans.  As reported by FOX Business:  EXCLUSIVE : House Republicans on Thursday called on President Biden to turn over the details of his campaign to clamp down on social media coronavirus misinformation while blasting the effort as government-sponsored censorship that rivals Communist Cuba.   Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, penned a letter to Biden on Thursday with the support of 189 of her GOP colleagues to oppose the White House’s efforts to flag posts that spread disinformation about coronavirus vaccinations to Facebook and seek their removal.    "The federal government’s ongoing efforts to pressure private companies to censor speech that it disagrees with is alarming and an affront to the First Amendment," the GOP House members wrote in a letter first obtained by Fox.    "It is the type of behavior we would expect from a Cuban dictator, not a President of the United States," the lawmakers added.    House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise and Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik were among the authors of the letter to Biden. The Republicans argue that government should not be involved in policing social media speech..."   CLICK HERE to read the full story on FOX Business.   CLICK HERE to read the GOP’s letter to President Biden.    The members ask President Biden:   “As staunch defenders of the First Amendment and free speech, our position is simple: the answer to speech you disagree with should be more speech, not less. As the President of the United States, you have a duty to defend the Constitution. Every American cherishes free speech, but your administration is attacking this fundamental right.”  Please provide a list of every social media company the Biden-Harris administration is working with to censor content your administration deems as “disinformation.”  Please provide a complete list of the social media posts and content the Biden-Harris administration has flagged for social media companies to censor and identify which company such content was requested to be removed from.  Please provide a complete list of social media users the Biden-Harris administration has requested social media companies to suspend or ban and identify which company such requests were made of.  Please produce any written policy or plan outlining the Biden-Harris administration’s censorship program.”