Inside the Beltway: One for the lab

By Jennifer Harper - The Washington Times - Wednesday, March 27, 2024

NEWS AND OPINION:

Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Wednesday that she has secured over $415 million in funding for the Air Force Research Lab in Rome, New York, for fiscal 2024. It is a “historic amount of funding for the lab and its critical mission,” the New York Republican said in a statement.

That mission, by the way, is centered on “surveillance, reconnaissance, quantum information science and intelligence.”

Ms. Stefanik’s funding victory was praised by, among others, Jeff Lanigan, mayor of the city of Rome, and New York state Sen. Joseph Griffo.

“This is wonderful news for our region,” said Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute — a nonprofit based in Rome and focused on defense technologies — in a written statement.

“Today’s result demonstrates clearly Congress’s unwavering, bipartisan support for AFRL’s critical mission in defending our nation’s security,” Ms. Hage said.

So what kind of research goes on at this lab? Here’s just a portion of the 20 research projects that will receive a boost from the incoming funding, verbatim from the source:

Photonic chips for quantum computing, quantum entanglement distribution, cyberspace dominance technology, ion trap quantum computing, internet of things living ecosystem, C-UAS high speed imaging technology, B-52 agile pod capability, B-52 agile pod capability.

Visit the laboratory at https://www.afrl.af.mil/.

PULLING THE PLUG

Here’s a message from someone who does not mince words.

“President Biden has already destroyed border security, international stability, and Americans’ savings. Now, he’s set on destroying the U.S. auto industry, too,” said Jake Schneider, director of rapid response for the Republican National Committee.

“Biden’s latest scam is a new EPA rule requiring 70% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric or hybrid by 2032 — in other words, a ban on gas-powered vehicles. It’s an attack on working-class Americans already struggling to afford groceries and utilities under Biden.

“The average cost of a new electric vehicle is more than $52,000 and are typically purchased by higher-income Americans with generous, taxpayer-funded subsidies,” he said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“There’s a reason electric vehicles currently make up just 7% of new car sales. Electrical vehicles are prone to failing in freezing temperatures, require frequent charging and have limited hauling capacity — restricting their utility in industries like farming and construction,” he continued.

“Millions of Americans who work in the oil and natural gas and agriculture industries, as well as those who own small businesses like mechanic and auto repair shops, will be among the hardest hit while having virtually no effect on global temperatures. Meanwhile, it would increase dependence on communist China, which is already the leading global exporter of vehicles and home to 85 percent of the elements required for EV batteries,” Mr. Schneider said.

“President Trump will reverse this disaster on day one,” he concluded.

WHAT THEY’RE SERVING

Easter Sunday is a busy one at the ancestral home of one U.S. president. That would be George Washington’s Mount Vernon, which is staging a daylong Easter buffet — which is, of course, sold out.

Nevertheless, here’s a sample of what’s on the sumptuous menu, in a historic spot situated on the banks of the Potomac River: apple cider bacon, waffles with bourbon syrup, fruit topping and whipped cream; spiral-cut honey-glazed ham, braised leg of lamb with Cabernet rosemary sauce, rosemary garlic roasted pork loin and mixed berry sauce, Southern-style fried chicken, herb-crusted salmon, redskin mashed potatoes, sweet potato gratin, tomato rice pilaf, roasted vegetable medley, French green beans, Caesar salad, cornbread salad bacon spinach salad, carrot cake, brownies, fruit cobbler and lemon chess pie.

Visit the historic site (virtually) at MountVernon.org.

FOXIFIED

In the week of March 18-26, Fox News drew 1.9 million prime-time viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research — marking 10 consecutive weeks as the lead network in those all-important prime-time hours, besting the news and non-news competition alike. In comparison, MSNBC attracted 1.2 million viewers and CNN 563,000.

In the daytime, Fox News averaged 1.2 million viewers, compared with MSNBC with 816,000 and CNN with 461,000.In addition, the network also aired 73 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the week.

The most popular Fox News shows for the week were “The Five” with 2.9 million viewers and “Jesse Watters Primetime” with an audience of 2.6 million. “Hannity” followed with 2.2 million viewers. Late-night host Greg Gutfeld continued to trump his competition on broadcast networks with an audience of 2.2 million — compared with ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (1.7 million) and NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (1.4 million).

FROM THE FAR NORTH

Our old friend “Deep Woods” — a politically attuned source who indeed lives in the far northeastern woods of New England — sent along this observation about some developments this week, and a certain former president.

“Donald Trump’s Truth Social stock offering raised his wealth by $5 billion. This is us giving the middle finger to the Swamp! Republican candidates take note! Just saying,” Mr. Woods said in a written message sent to Inside the Beltway, exclamation points and all.

POLL DU JOUR

• 16% of registered voters in New Hampshire say they are concerned about illegal immigration “overwhelming resources or taking service from Americans.”

• 15% are concerned about how much illegal immigration will cost taxpayers.

• 14% are concerned illegal immigration will cause an increase in crime.

• 7% are concerned about a lack of screening of illegal immigrants.

• 6% are concerned political divisions in the U.S. will increase.

• 5% are concerned illegal immigration will cause a breakdown of law and order.

• 5% are concerned about the suffering of illegal immigrants.

• 4% are concerned about the “poor system” of immigration.

• 4% are concerned about its effect on elections.

• 3% are concerned about potential terrorism associated with illegal immigration.

• 3% are concerned about two many arrivals of illegal immigrants.

• 3% are concerned about the influx of drugs associated with illegal immigration.

Source: A Granite State Poll of 1,275 New Hampshire adults conducted online March 21-25 by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.