Free Republic

nlike Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia, Russia, Russia, Biden’s is not imaginary but very real and in your face. Democrats could never say what exactly Trump did, what precise decision was made or what policy was changed. He “colluded”, don’t ya know,. With Biden, we can start with the Colonial pipeline hack by Russian conspirators and Biden’s non-reaction to it, Biden;s approval of a pipeline designed make our NATO allies dependent on energy from Moscow, and, of course, his day one cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. Trump promised Europe a share in our energy independence, to the oint of...

The Biden administration plans to scrap the sanctions on the Russian company responsible for the pipeline, despite initial signals that they would not. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told senators he is “determined to do whatever we can to prevent that completion” of the pipeline. The national defense bill signed by Trump in 2019 included legislation to level sanctions on companies laying pipe for the project. Several Republican Senators, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), continue opposing the pipeline’s construction, as it would give Russian President Vladimir Putin a major economic victory in the region...

The Biden administration will waive sanctions on the corporation and CEO overseeing the Nordsteam 2 pipeline construction, a source familiar tells Fox Business. But at the same time, the State Department is expected to send its 90-day report to Congress listing entities involved in the pipeline’s construction that deserve sanctions. The State Department will acknowledge that the corporate entity in charge of the project, Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO, the Putin crony and former East German intelligence officer Matthias Warnig, are engaged in sanctionable activity, according to Axios, which first reported the news. The Nord Stream 2 deal...

“Nothing will stop” Nord Stream 2, Russia has said, after new US sanctions on a pipeline that is seeing the EU side with Russia against its transatlantic ally. “Our view remains the same: nothing will stop the finalization of Nord Stream 2 [NS2]. And we leave to Germany and other EU member states to pass judgment on such US measures,” Russia’s ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told EUobserver on Monday (29 June). The Russian-owned firm building the pipe from Russia to Germany, the Nord Stream 2 consortium in Switzerland, was equally bullish. “Our shareholder and the five financial investors...

President Joe Biden will waive some American economic sanctions on Russia in order to streamline construction on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany, according to Axios. Citing “two sources briefed on the decision,” Axios reporter Jonathan Swan reports the State Department will include the Nord Stream 2 pipeline Russian company and CEO on its list of Russians who deserve sanctions, but the Biden administration will waive them, citing American interests.

NEW YORK — Colonial Pipeline is having network issues preventing shippers from planning upcoming shipments of fuel, the company said on Tuesday, just after the system reopened after a week-long ransomware attack.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a Friday interview that the only reason the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its masking rules for vaccinated Americans was to distract people from the skyrocketing gas prices. The rising gas prices were in response to high fuel demand following the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline Company. Colonial Pipeline Company operates the largest fuel pipeline in the United States — providing roughly half of all diesel and gasoline on the East Coast — and became aware of a cyberattack from hackers linked to a group called DarkSide last Friday, promptly shutting...

Brentwood said “no more” this week to an oil and natural gas pipeline that has operated in the city’s southwestern region for the past 30 years. In a move that surprised city staff, who had included the item on the consent calendar, which is usually for items with no discussion, the City Council opted not to renew a franchise for California Resources Production Corp. to use its pipeline. The transmission line runs in the city along Balfour Road, John Muir Parkway and Concord Avenue and is part of a larger system that begins in San Joaquin County and extends to...

A Canadian energy company has defied an order from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to shut down a controversial oil and gas pipeline Wednesday amid growing concern that doing so could lead to fuel disruptions similar to those resulting from last week’s cyberattack on an East Coast system. The Democratic governor gave Canadian pipeline company Enbridge until Wednesday to shut down Line 5, which runs under the Straits of Mackinac, amid fears that it could spill in a channel linking two of the Great Lakes. “These oil pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac are a ticking timebomb, and their continued presence...

Secretary of the Department of Energy Jennifer Granholm said at a press conference at the White House on Tuesday that people who are driving electric cars are not affected by the hacker-forced shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline. “I just have a question for each of you. I’ll start with you, Secretary Granholm, because ladies first,” a reporter asked. “Obviously, we have the acute issues with the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack. But looking more holistically in a macro view, how does this speed up the efforts at DOE to move in more of a renewable direction since this is going to...

... An Enbridge spokesperson confirmed operations Wednesday have not been impacted ... The pipeline helps deliver nearly half of the supply of light crude oil, light synthetic crude oil and natural gas liquids in Ontario and Quebec ... Enbridge, which says the pipeline is safe, is looking to build a $500-million tunnel beneath the straits it says would protect the twin lines. The company took Michigan to U.S. Federal Court, and the parties were ordered to find a resolution through mediation. They are scheduled to meet again May 18. The Democratic governor has issued a letter telling Vern Yu, Enbridge's...

Colonial Pipeline will soon resume its normal operations after being forced to shut down due to a ransomware attack. The company has announced that it has initiated its return to service at 5PM Eastern time on May 12th. Since it will take some time to deliver gasoline and diesel to all the areas it serves, some locations may continue suffering from fuel shortage. Colonial promises to "move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible," though, "until markets return to normal." The pipeline company was targeted by the DarkSide ransomware group, which demanded nearly $5 million in...

The Biden administration swung aggressively into action after a primary gasoline pipeline fell prey to a cyberattack — understanding that the situation posed a possible series of political and economic risks. The pipeline shutdown was an all-hands-on-deck situation for a young presidency that has also had to deal with a pandemic, a recession, an influx of unaccompanied children at the southern border, a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and high-stakes showdowns globally that carry the specter of war. The administration devoted the first half of the week to showcasing all the steps it was taking to get gas back to service...

President Joe Biden proposed more federal spending on education Wednesday when asked how to end the gas shortage on the East coast. “I think that this shows that I think we have to make a greater investment in education as it relates to being able to train and graduate more people proficient in cybersecurity,” Biden said when asked how to alleviate the crisis. The president spoke about the gas shortage — sparked by a ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline — after delivering remarks about fighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “I think that one of the most important things we...

Former President Donald Trump took aim at President Joe Biden in the aftermath of the Colonial Pipeline attack, asking if he put his son Hunter Biden in charge of the nation’s energy. “If there were long and horrible gas lines like this under President Trump, the Fake News would make it a national outrage!” Trump said in a statement Wednesday. “Did Joe Biden put Hunter in charge of our energy, with all of his Burisma experience? Even Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is lost!” Trump’s comments come as much of the East Coast grapples with the fallout from a cyberattack on...

Despite Gas Lines on the Eastern Seaboard because of the Colonial Pipeline Shutdown, Gretchen Whitmer wasn't satisfied, despite furious pushback from Unions in Michigan she folded to the left...and closed a pipe line in Michigan...

Colonial Pipeline initiated the restart of pipeline operations today at approximately 5 p.m. ET. Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal. As we initiate our return to service, our primary focus remains safety. As part of this startup process, Colonial will conduct a comprehensive series...

Frustrations were high on Tuesday as people rushed to gas stations to top off their tanks amid fears of a fuel shortage caused by the shutdown of a major pipeline. One man caught an intense altercation on camera at a Marathon gas station in Knightdale. Police charged Alexus Orianna Harris, 25, with simple assault and Matthew James-stark Artero, 47, with simple assault and damage to property. A man who wanted to be identified only as Rashaad said he was in line for gas when he saw a fight break out between a man and woman at one of the pumps....

Speaking to reporters at the White House Tuesday afternoon, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm admitted that pipelines are the safest way to transport fuel. Her comments come as 17 states face a major gas shortage due to a cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline system and four months after President Joe Biden stopped construction on the Keystone XL pipeline. "Can you tell us what is the feasibility of using rail cars to transport fuel into the affected areas? I know that's being looked at," a reporter asked. "The DOT [Department of Transportation] is looking at that, and so we'll have to wait...

"If during tomorrow they do not raise the price, we will release all the data," the group added, the posts read. Chats appear to show the police department making a final offer of "$100,000 to prevent the release of stolen data." "This is unacceptable from our side," the ransomware actor responds. The Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to a CNN request for comment. Ransomware groups do not typically post transcripts of the negotiations, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the security firm Emsisoft, who said it's unclear why they chose to do so in this case. "MPD...