THE SHOW NOTES: Fusion Energy, Surging Fentanyl, & The Latest Social Contagion

Welcome! The Mississippi State football coach is in critical condition.

MUST READ #1: The Beginning of the End of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’? - The Free Press

MUST READ #2: ‘The Merchant of Death Is Back in Action’ - Politico

HEADLINE: The No-Name Quarterback Who Just Outplayed Tom Brady - WSJ (paywall)

NEW: Inflation has peaked — but it’s not returning to pre-Covid levels in 2023, Mastercard says - CNBC

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Clip of the day: 😳

RNC Research @RNCResearch

Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout: "In actuality, his weapons might've been used to kill Americans, but he has not killed Americans."

The Leading Cause of Death

Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49 according to a disturbing new piece from The Washington Post that chronicles a litany of failures to prevent the lethal drug from spreading. The DEA, DHS, White House, and other government agencies failed to coordinate resources effectively to stop Mexican cartels from transporting the drug across the border.

How bad is the problem: President Nixon launched a full-scale war on drugs 51 years ago after 6,771 Americans lost their lives due to a drug overdose in a single year. Last year alone, that number climbed to 107,622.

Tax Payer-Funded Private Jet

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has taken 18 taxpayer-funded private flights since Joe Biden took office. Buttigieg is a leading proponent of using the power of the federal government to force individuals to shrink their carbon footprint.

Here’s more perspective from Fox News:

Buttigieg's predecessor, Elaine Chao, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, faced criticism for using the same jets on seven occasions in 2017, costing taxpayers nearly $94,000, Politico reported at the time. And Trump-appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign after reportedly taking 26 private jet flights that same year, costing taxpayers about $1.2 million.

GOP senators rave over a potential Tim Scott presidential run

This is from Politico:

Joni Ernst is “very excited” about a potential Tim Scott presidential run. John Cornyn would “advise him to go for it.” And John Barrasso said it “doesn’t get any better than Tim Scott.”

Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent much of Donald Trump’s presidency sticking to his side, said he’s intrigued by the possibility of a Scott presidential bid in 2024 and wants to see “what Tim does” before he makes any endorsements.

Scott would “bring something to the table on day one,” Graham said, adding his South Carolina colleague has “one of the most compelling stories of any Republican out there.”

Bad Sign For Housing Market

Wall Street Silver @WallStreetSilv

Housing Bubble Is Popping Cancellations of signed contracts with individual buyers have spiked. The cancellation rates topped out in the Southwest at 45%, up from a cancellation rate of 9% a year ago 🚨🚨🚨

The rest of the news:

• Parents file lawsuit saying their kids are addicted to Fortnite - Fox 5

• Non-binary Biden nuke official Sam Brinton caught on camera stealing woman’s bag - NY Post

• New Poll Shows Growing Clout of Independent Voters - RCP

• Retired Navy SEAL made famous after coming out as trans announces detransition: 'Destroyed my life' - Fox News

• Twitter Blue Set to Relaunch with Higher Price for Apple Users - National Review

• As a record 8.7% Social Security cost-of-living increase starts in 2023, here’s what beneficiaries should look for in annual statements - CNBC

• A Baptist Engagement with ‘The Case for Christian Nationalism’ - 9Marks

• Cause of death: Washington faltered as fentanyl gripped America - Washington Post (paywall)

• U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’ - Washington Post (paywall)

Tweets that caught my eye:

Bill Melugin @BillFOXLA

BREAKING: A huge migrant caravan of over 1,000 people crossed illegally into El Paso, TX last night, making it the largest single group we have ever seen. The city of El Paso reports Border Patrol now has over 5,000 in custody & has released hundreds to city streets. @FoxNews

Elon Musk @elonmusk

My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci

Darren Rovell @darrenrovell

Mike Leach is one of the few coaches who is as good on the field as off. His rants are all-time. His one five years ago on getting married might never be topped

Robbie Faulk @robbiefaulk247

Mike Leach needs a miracle, folks. Continue to pray.

Javier Blas @JavierBlas

I have written only one story about fusion energy. For my university's newspaper 25 years ago. Thankfully, it isn't online. Since then, I'm skeptical of surprisingly well-timed announcements by budget-starved laboratories about breakthroughs for technologies decades away |🧵1/10

Market snapshot: