January 03, 2024 | Read Online

Good morning. It's Wednesday, Jan. 3, and we're covering corruption in the Senate, Claudine Gay's resignation letter, MLB resignations, and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

American Fact of the Day!

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Breaking Updates

Claudine Gay's Resignation Letter Has Everyone Talking

As we reported earlier, Harvard President Claudine Gay was finally forced to resign as even more allegations of plagiarism emerged.

She had only served about six months. Then came the congressional hearing where she and two other Ivy League presidents stepped in it big time when they refused to say unequivocally that calling for genocide against Jewish people would constitute a violation of their universities' codes of conduct. That turned a lot of attention to Gay and then people began asking about plagiarism — and more questions kept coming out. As our friends at our sister site, Townhall observed, her letter is "exactly what you would expect."

Instead of taking responsibility for her actions, she praises herself and talks about racism:

It is a singular honor to be a member of this university, which has been my home and my inspiration for most of my professional career. My deep sense of connection to Harvard and its people has made it all the more painful to witness the tensions and divisions that have riven our community in recent months, weakening the bonds of trust and reciprocity that should be our sources of strength and support in times of crisis. Amidst all of this, it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor—two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am—and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.

She fails to address the allegations — of the many, many alleged instances of plagiarism, despite her claim of commitment to "upholding scholarly rigor." She can't even talk straight about what she's accused of, instead choosing a weaselly way of talking about allegations of plagiarism — a serious charge. She also doesn't speak about the allegations that Harvard tried to stop the New York Post's investigation into the alleged plagiarism.

Corruption in the Senate: Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Strikes Again

New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez is in the news again, and again, it's not for a good reason: The New Jersey Democrat looks to have been caught in more of his usual shenanigans.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is facing additional bribery accusations, according to a superseding indictment unsealed Tuesday. Menendez is now accused of accepting bribes and gifts in exchange for helping to benefit Qatar as part of a yearslong corruption scheme from 2021 through 2023, one year longer than originally thought, the Justice Department said. He is already facing federal charges for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a Senator.

In this latest allegation, Senator Menendez is accused of trading "items of value," including luxury watches, in return for supporting a Senate resolution about Qatar. The new allegations accuse Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty to all prior counts, of making positive comments about Qatar in exchange for items of value, including luxury wristwatches.

Some of Menendez's fellow Democrats are starting to turn up the heat — and, once again, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is making me say, "Dammit, John, stop making me agree with you!"

American Sports & Culture

10 MLB New Year's resolutions for 2024: Moves for Yankees, Mets, more, plus a priority for the Marlins

These simple plans will start the year off right... or be completely forgotten in 10 days

Amen and Ausar Thompson mark first NBA meeting against each other with same competitive spirit

When the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets match up Monday in Houston, it'll be the first meeting between the fourth and fifth picks in the recent draft, not including the occasionally bloody backyard battles the two engaged in for years.

How Deebo can make NFL history with just 4 rushing yards vs. Rams

Deebo Samuel has the opportunity to accomplish something only one other dual-threat wideout has done before in the 49ers' Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

American Business & Markets

Many in the American business community are reconsidering their close ties to China

As China's economic growth slows and its bilateral relationship with the United States deteriorates, many in the American business community are considering their options.

American Investors Say 'No' To China

Wall Street has lined up with Washington to avoid China investments, less out of obedience to the administration or from patriotism but for its own serious reasons.

Top 10 things to know before the market opens

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,602.16 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold Rs 1,959.04 crore worth of stocks on January 2, provisional data from the NSE showed.