Likeairplanesonarunway.Trump’sapproachthistimearoundshouldbewhatheshouldhavedonelasttime:Shockandawe.Shutdowndepartments,firebureaucrats,exerciseemergencypowers,allsofastthattheestablishment’sresponsesaresaturated.JavierMillei’swhirlwindassaultinArgentinashouldbethemodel,sometimesinspecificsbutalsoingeneralapproach.Bureaucratsmoveslowly;Trumpshouldmovefast.
ElonMusksayshecancut$2trillioneasily;doit.Also,setbureaucratscompetingwitheachotherforwhatfundsremain.Divideandconquer.
TheFBI’sfilesonitspolicingofdomesticdissentshouldbeopenedup,asshouldthedetailsoftheNSA’sillegaldomesticspying.Trumpshouldhaveoutsidersinvestigatepossible(likely)prosecutorialmisconductintheJanuary6prosecutions–somethingjudgeshavealreadyraised–andfirethoseresponsible,aswellassubjectingthemtowhatotherlegalconsequencesmayapply.Thelessonthatthedeepstatecan’tinterveneindomesticpoliticsneedstobedrivenhome,andtheonlywaytodothatistoruinalotoflivesonthepartofpeoplewhodeservetohavetheirlivesruined,fromthetopoftheJusticeDepartmentandtheintelligenceagenciestothebottom.Likewisethoseinvolvedinsocialmediacensorshipprograms,“OperationChokepoint”styleeconomicwarfare,andthelike.Abuseofgovernmentpoweragainstthecitizenryshouldbetreatedasacriminalmatter,becauseitis.
Trumpshouldalsoannouncethatthefederalgovernmentiswaivingqualifiedimmunityonthepartofsuchofficials.
Therearelotsmoreideas–youcansubmityourowninthecommentsbelow,andthemuch-malignedProject2025,thoughnotactuallyaTrumpinitiative,containssome–andBloombergisalreadywarningthatifelectedTrumpwilldismantletheWhiteHouse’sguncontrolministry.Ohno!
Thespecificsaren’treallythepointhere,thoughIshouldprobablypostanotheressayjustaboutthose.Butthepointhereisrapidactionacrossawidevarietyoffronts.TrumpshouldtakeadvantageoftheprecedentsthatBidenhassetforfar-reachingexecutiveaction,thoughyoucanbetthatwhenhedoesthepresswillpretendthisisthefirsttimeanythinglikethathaseverbeendone.
ThestoryofhowHarrispocketedrecordsumswhilefailingtogainsupportfromvoterswillbestudiedbycampaignsfordecadestocome.DemocratswhosuccessfullypressuredoctogenarianPresidentJoeBidentopassthetorchtotheformerCaliforniasenatorarenowconductinganinternalautopsyofthe2024race,inwhichTrumpraisedandspenthundredsofmillionsofdollarslessthanHarris.
“AbilliondollarspaledincomparisontotheincreasedpricesAmericanswereseeingacrossthecountry,”TomFitton,presidentoftheconservativegroupJudicialWatchandalongtimeTrumpally,toldtheWashingtonExaminer.“Votersweren’tfooled.”
TheHarriscampaignanditsaffiliatedcommitteesdroppedmorethan$654milliononadvertisingfromJuly22toElectionDay,whereasTrumpspent$378million,or57%less,inthesamecategory,accordingtodatafromAdImpact.
FutureForward,the$500million“ad-testingfactory”andsuperPACthatsupportedHarris,wasareliableclearinghouseforchecksfromwealthyDemocratssuchasReidHoffman,GeorgeSoros,MichaelBloomberg,andDustinMoskovitz.Andanonymousdonations,orso-called“darkmoney,”alsobenefitedHarrisatafasterandmoresubstantialclipthanTrumpthankstolaxfederallawsthatprogressivesoftencriticizebut,nonetheless,exploitedin2024.
TheHarriscampaigndeclinedtocommentonitsfinances.Afullerportraitwillbepublicaftertheelection,astheFederalElectionCommissionmandatespost-generalelectionreportsforcandidateswithin30days.
Inmid-October,theHarriscampaigndisclosedthatithadspentover$880millionthiselection,almost$526milliongreaterthantheroughly$354millionthattheTrumpcampaignhaddisclosedspending,accordingtoaWashingtonExamineranalysisoffederalfilings.MuchoftheHarriscampaign’sspendingwasallocatedfordigitalmediaadvertising,polling,andtravelfromstatetostate,includingtoaprivatejetcompanycalledAdvancedAviation.
Payrollandthetaxesthataccompanieditaccountedfor$56.6millionoftheHarriscampaign’sspending.Incomparison,theTrumpcampaignreportedspending$9milliononpayroll—employinghundredsfewerstaffmembers.
Therewasalsothearmyofpolitical,digital,andmediaconsultantswhowerepaidover$12.8millionbytheHarriscampaign,filingsshow.
Onevendor,VillageMarketingAgency,receivedover$3.9millionandreportedlyworkedtorecruitthousandsofsocialmediainfluencerstoboostHarrisonline.OthersthatscoredlucrativeconsultinggigsfromthecampaignincludedthelikesofPrecisionStrategies,aDemocratic-alignedmarketingagency;EthosOrganizing,foundedbyformerOhioDemocraticPartydirectorMalikHubbard;andtheBiden-alliedSKDKcommunicationsfirm.
Snip.
“Eventproduction”wasalsoastaplespendingareaoftheHarriscampaign,whichnotablyhostedastar-studdedlineupofmusiciansfromLadyGagatoKatyPerryforanelectioneverally.
Thecampaignpaidmorethan$15million,accordingtofederalfilings,tocompaniesforsuchservices.
Therewas$1millionforOprahWinfrey’sHarpoProductionsonOct.15inWestHollywood,California.
Winfrey,atopHarrisally,appearedatatownhallwiththevicepresidentinSeptemberandwasatherfinalrallyinPhiladelphiabeforeElectionDay.
VivaCreative,amarketingagencythathastouteditsworkwithOprah,comedianTrevorNoah,theWashingtonNationalsbaseballteam,andAmericanExpress,scoopedup$1.8millionfromtheHarriscampaignforeventproductionfromSeptembertoOctober.AcompanycalledProductionManagementOneinMarylandreceived$1.7million,withlargepaymentsalsogoingtoVoxProductions,TempleUniversity,WizardStudiosNorth,theParkHyattChicago,andotherentitiesforeventproduction,filingsshow.
AsourcefamiliarwiththemattertoldtheWashingtonExaminerthattheHarriscampaignspentsixfiguresonbuildingasetforHarris’sappearanceonthepopularCallHerDaddypodcastwithhostAlexCooper.TheinterviewcameoutinOctoberandwasreportedlyfilmedinahotelroominWashington,D.C.
Intheend,SanFranciscomayorLondonBreed’srecenteffortstocrackdownonhomelessnessandcrimeweren’tenoughtosaveherfromthewrathofvotersfrustratedbyyearsofdisorderandtalkofa“doomloop”inthefamouslyprogressivecity.
After14roundsthroughthecity’sranked-choicevotingprocess,BreedlostdecisivelytoDanielLurie,amoremoderateDemocratandawealthyheirtotheLeviStraussfortune.
Luriewasaheadfromthefirstround,andafter14roundsledwith56.2percentofthevotetoBreed’s43.8percent,accordingtotheSanFranciscoDepartmentofElections.
OnNovember7,theBoardofRegentsunanimouslyapprovedthedeactivationoftheseprogramsbyvoicevote.
HappyDayoftheDead,AKAAllSaintsDay!
We’vepassedthepeakofwokepoliticsintheU.S.,andtheHarrisforpresidentcampaignistheleadingindicator.
OfallthethingsthatKamalaHarriswantsyoutoknowabouther—thatshegrewupinamiddle-classfamily,thatshe’snotJoeBiden,thatshehasa“to-dolist”fortheAmericanpeople—perhapsforemostamongthemisthatshe’snotwoke.
Shedoesn’thaveanyrotelineassertingthis,butachievingdistancefromthefashionableleft-wingpoliticsthatdefinedtheTrumpyearsandtheirimmediateaftermathmotivatesmuchofwhatshesaysanddoes.
ThatHarrisnowfeelscompelledtodisavowsomanyoftheideasthatsheonceembracedispowerfultestamenttotheirpoliticaltoxicity.
AnideahaswonorlostinAmericanpoliticswhenbothpartiesfavororopposeit,orsimplydon’twanttofightoveritanymore.RonaldRegan’seconomicstrulyprevailedwhentheDemocraticParty,viaBillClintonintheearly1990s,acceptedhisbasicapproach.GaymarriagewonpoliticallywhenRepublicansdecidedtostoptalkingabouttheissue.
Bythisstandard,wokeattitudesandpoliciesareinmarkeddecline,andKamalaHarrisisExhibitA.
Exceptforherabortionradicalism,she’sturnedherbackonmuchofwhatsheonceprofessedtobelieveorsympathizewith.
DefundthepoliceAbsolutelynot.
AbolishICENoway.
DEIHaven’theardofit.
MedicareforallThatwasalongtimeago.
TheGreenNewDealLet’snotgetcarriedaway.
Shehasbackedoffherextravagantpositionsonthetransissueandtheborder.Shenowinsiststhatratherthanpushingtheenvelopeoneither,shesimplywantstofollowthelaw.Youcouldbeforgivenforthinkingtheonlypronounssheknowsareshe/herandhe/him.
Harrisdoesn’tbringupidentitypoliticsatall.Notonlydoesshenottalkabouttheonce-ubiquitousconceptsofwhiteprivilegeor“equity,”shedoesn’teventalkaboutbreakingtheglassceilingorthehistory-makingnatureofhercandidacy.Listeningtohercampaign,you’dhavenoideathatthetwin-isms,racismandsexism,havebeenconsumingobsessionsoftheLeftforyearsnow.
FormerPresidentDonaldTrumpsaysthatifreelected,he’llcreateagovernmentefficiencytaskforce—andthatElonMuskhasalreadyagreedtoleadit.DuringaspeechinNewYorkonThursday,Trumpsaidthenewefficiencycommissionwouldconducta“completefinancialandperformanceauditoftheentirefederalgovernment”andmakerecommendationsfor“drasticreforms.”
ThestrikethatkilledKassabwascompletedbasedonIDFandISAintelligence.HisassistantAymanAyeshwasalsokilledinthestrike.
RecordsshowtheinvestmentarmoftwomajorTexasuniversitiesboughtsharesinmorethan50Chinesecompanies.
OnOctober17,UTIMCOPresidentandCEORichardHalltoldstatesenatorsthathewas“nothappywiththosevotes”andthefirm“woulddobetter.”
However,adeeperdiveintotherecordsAAFacquiredalsorevealedconcerninginvestments.Accordingtorecords,UTIMCOhasinvestedmoneyinChinesecompanies.
TherewereshareholdervotesforHuanengPowerInternational,Inc.,apowercompanythatboastsofbeing“oneofthelargestlistedpowerproducers”inChina.TheirparentcompanyisChinaHuanengGroupCo.,Ltd.,whichownsmorethan50percentofHPIshares.Accordingtotheirwebsite,thecompanyis“akeystate-ownedcompanyestablishedwiththeapprovalofthe[China]StateCouncil.”
AAFrecordsshowedotherinvestmentsintoChinabyUTIMCOfundmanagers,includingBOETechnologyGroupCo.,Ltd.,HaierSmartHomeCo.,Ltd.,OppleLightingCo.,Ltd.,andLONGiGreenEnergyTechnologyCo.,Ltd.
Amillion-dollarcheatingringresultedinatleast210unqualifiedteachers,includingtwosexualpredators,receivingteachercertifications.TheringwasexposedthisweekaftertheHarrisCountyDistrictAttorney’sOfficefiledchargesagainstfiveindividualsinvolved.
TheallegedringleaderisVincentGrayson,theheadboysbasketballcoachatHouston’sBookerT.WashingtonHighSchool.
AlsochargedareTywanaGilfordMason,theteachercertificationtestproctor;NicholasNewton,anassistantprincipalwhoservedastheproxytest-taker;DarianNikoleWilhite,anotherproctor;andLaShondaRoberts,anassistantprincipalatYatesHighSchoolwhohelpedrecruitwould-beteachers.
Allarechargedwithtwocountsofengaginginorganizedcriminalactivity.
Allegedly,candidatesseekingcertificationwouldpayGrayson$2,500.Hewouldthengivea20percentportiontoGilfordMason,whowouldthenallowNewtontositforthetestundertheteacher’sname.ThecandidateswouldbegivenatestingtimeandlocationbyGilfordMason,thenshowup,signin,andleave.Newtonwouldthenarriveandtakethetestforthem.
Andtimetobringbackthissliceofhistory:
AnewFoxNewspollshowsthattwo-thirdsofAmericanvotersfavordeportingillegalaliens—adramaticincreaseoverthepastdecade.
RepublicanpresidentialcandidateDonaldTrumphasmademassdeportationamajorpolicypromisethroughouthiscampaign,astheopenborderpoliciesoftheBiden-HarrisadministrationhaveallowedmillionsofillegalalienstoentertheU.S.
TheOctober2024pollofregisteredvotersshowsthatsupportfordeportationhasincreaseddramaticallysince2015.Amongnonwhitevoters,57percentnowsupportmassdeportations,whileonly33percentsaidtheydidin2015.
Additionally,91percentofRepublicansnowsaytheysupportdeportations—a21-pointincreasesince2015.Ruralvoters’supporthasrisenby20points,urbanvotersby19points,andmen’ssupportincreasedby16.
Democratsupportfordeportationshasincreasedto42percentfrom34percentin2015.
Voterswerealsoaskediftheywereinfavorofallowingillegalalienswhohavejobstoapplyforlegalstatus.While68percentsaidtheywereinfavorin2015,itdroppedto58percentinfavorthisyear.
AnotherFoxNewspollshowsthatimmigrationisvoters’secondtopissueastheyheadintotheNovemberelection.Theeconomyisthenumberoneissuefor40percentofvoters,while17percentsaidimmigrationand15percentsaidabortion.
isoutofgas.Theweatherischoppy,thenavigationsystemcompletelyunreliable,andthebestguessisthatyou’restillshortoftherunway.(Oh,andthecaptainhadastrokewhileinthecockpitafewhoursago,leavingonlyaflightattendantasthepilot.Sherefusestoreadtheinstructionmanualorlistentothepassengers.)Yes,it’seasyenoughtospinuplovinglybespokemetaphorsforhowtheHarriscampaignishandlingthelatestagesofthe2024race—aracetheyverymuchcouldstillwin,Imustalwaysemphasize—butI’llconcludethisonebysayingthatiflastnight’sKamalaHarrisCNNtownhall(withAndersonCooperhostinginthePhiladelphiasuburbs)isanyindication,theplanemayalreadybedisintegratinginmidair,beforeitevenhitstheground.
YoumayhavenoticedthatI’vehadadecidedlymutedreactiontoHarris’sotherrecent“serious”mediainterviews,whetherBretBaieratFoxNewsorBillWhitakeron60Minutes,inthesensethatwhileHarriswaspredictablyawfulinbothsit-downs(almostrelentlesslyso),shewasboringandunrevelatoryinherawfulness.Inotherwords,welearnednothingnewaboutthedepthstowhichsheiscapableofsinkingperformativelythatwedidn’talreadyknow.Theywerewater-treadingexercisesforthemostpart.
Asformyself,IfoundHarris’sanswertoAndersonCooper’spointedquestionabouttheborderfencetobeperhapsthelowestmomentofherentirepubliccareertodate,andImeanthatinthespecificsensethatnobodywhowatchesit—notevenherfiercestpartisans—willbeabletocomeawayfromitwithanythingsaveareflex-levelrevulsion.
IdidnothaveAndersonCoopercookingKamalaonmybingocardbuthereweare.
Someexcerptsofthat:
NEW:CNN’sScottJenningssaysKamalaHarrisisa“double-threat”becauseshecan’tthinkonherfeetandcan’tanswertheexpectedquestions.
CNNhasrailedonHarrisafterhertownhallevent.
Herearethetopreactions:
6.Axelrod:Sheiswordsaladcity.
Next,afterweeksofcourtingGov.JoshShapiroasherrunningmate,HarrisrejectedhimforGov.TimWalzofMinnesota–thestatethatgaveusGov.Jesse“thebody”VenturaandSaturdayNightLive’sAlFrankenasaU.S.Senator.
AnothermisstepforHarris.WhileShapiroisn’tBiden,heiswellknowningreaterPhiladelphiaandseemscomfortablecampaigninginScrantonandtownslikeitacrossthestate.
Itstillisn’tclearifHarrisrejectedShapirobecauseheisJewishandsupportsIsrael’srighttodefenditselforbecauseheisatirelesscampaigner,well-receivedonthestump,whomightshowherup.DidsherejectShapirobecausepickinghimwouldoffend“theSquad”inCongressandendangertheelectoralvotesofMichigan,hometoalargeMuslimpopulationOrdidshespurnthePennsylvaniagovernorbecauseshedidn’twanthersupportersmurmuring:“Weshould’verunhim
HarriscompoundedhermistakebypickingWalz,whorepresentstheDemocraticParty’smodernleftwing.Walzwon’thelpHarriswinvotesinPennsylvania;infact,hemakesitharder.Shepickedsomeonewhoisun-relatableeverywhere,fromPhiladelphia’sneighborhoodstosmalltownandruralPennsylvania.And,he’sjustplain“weird.”
Itgetsworse.Hermessage,agenda,andpoliciesarenotresonatinghere.
Shehastriedtostressthattheeconomyisactuallygood–“Bidenomicsisworking,”shemaintained.Theytriedcharts,graphs,and“experts.”NooneinPhiladelphia’sneighborhoodsisbuyingit,especiallyblacksandHispanics,whoarebeingcrushedbyinflationandviolentcrime.
SoHarrispivotedtoanewmessage:shewould“fix”theeconomyand“fight”inflation.Hernowcomicallyrepeatedlineaboutbeing“raisedinamiddle-classfamily”drawsblankstares,laughs,oranger,evenamongsomeinherusualbase.
It’sevenworseinruralPennsylvania,whereWalzand“secondman”DougEmhofftrieda“realmenforKamalatour,”completewithadsandZoomcallsaboutwhymenshouldsupporther.
Thentheysent“ElmerFudd”–akaWalz–outhunting.Innewlypurchasedhuntingclothes,usingthewrongrifle(plusdemonstratingthathedidn’tknowhowtoloadit),WalzresembledsomethinglikeKingCharlesattendingtheIndianapolis500.
Harriswasagainstfracking–thatis,beforeshewasforit,asshenowclaimstobe.NooneinruralPennsylvaniaisbuyingit.Her“valueshaven’tchanged,”assheherselfsays.RuralPennsylvaniansknowthatherpreferredpolicywouldhurttheeconomyofnorthern,centralandwesternPennsylvania,tosaynothingofthenationaleconomyandnationalsecurity.
DemocratswanttowinPennsylvania,ofcourse–buttheyhaveselectedthewrongcandidate,throughthewrongmethod.Harristhendugtheholedeeperbypickingthewrongrunningmate.Andtotopitoff,they’rerunningonamisguided,ifnotdelusional,platform.
Theleft-wing,liberal,andDemocraticnarrativeaboutformerPresidentDonaldTrumpbeingaracistisfallingapart.
Foryears,labelingTrumpasaracistwasanintegralpartofDemocrats’politicalstrategy.Itwasneverreallytrue,mindyou.ItwasjustbaselesshyperbolichysteriathatwasatthefoundationoftheDemocraticpoliticalpropagandamachine.TheyhaveuseditagainsteveryRepublicanpresidentialcandidateforthelast40years.
Theyusedittobrainwash,scare,andmanipulateracialminoritiesandwhiteliberalsintheprevioustwopresidentialelections,inwhichTrumpwastheGOPnominee.TheywantedtocreateanarrativethattheonlypeoplewhosupportedTrumpwereabunchoflowly,uneducated,racistwhitepeople.Itworkedin2016,anditworkedin2020.It’snotworkingin2024.
Thesanctimonyofwhite,liberalDemocratsispredicatedontheirunhingedarroganceofmoralsuperiorityinvolvingrace.Thewhite,liberalDemocratsthinkracialminoritiescannotsucceedintheUnitedStateswithoutwhite,liberalDemocratssavingthem.Thewhite,liberalDemocratsthinktheyaremoreintelligent,enlightened,andcompassionatethanRepublicans.So,imaginetheirsurprisewhen,outsidethevenuethathostedatownhallforTrumpinLancaster,Pennsylvania,onSaturday,itwasblack,Latino,andAsianTrumpsupportersshoutingdownVicePresidentKamalaHarris’swhite,liberalsupporters.
Iwitnessed,firsthand,white,liberalHarrissupportersscreamingthatTrumpisaracistandthendemeaningthemanyblack,Latino,andAsianTrumpsupportersholdingTrumpsignsandwearingMAGAhatsandshirts.Thesesmug,arrogantwhitepeopleweretryingtotellracialminoritieswhatwasbestforthem.Itwasasighttobehold,butnotonethathasnotbecomecommonplaceinAmericansociety.Itwasareflectionofjusthowoutoftouchwithrealitywhite,liberalHarrisvotersare.DominicansforTrumpsignholdersoutsideTrumptownhallinLancaster,Pennsylvania.(PhotobyChristopherTremoglie)
Thecrowdatthetownhallwasdiverse,withalarger-than-expectedminoritypresence,giventhetalltalesofHarrissupporters’failsregardingdiversityandraceamongTrumpsupporters.Itwasimmediatelynoticeableuponarrivingatthetownhall.ThoseinattendanceweregreetedbyboisterousAsianAmericanswavingAmericanflagsinfrontofTrumpposters,wearingredMAGAhats,andchantingthename“Trump!”
Afewhundredfeetaway,agroupofDominicanTrumpvoterswerecheeringfortheformerpresidentandshoutingdownanyonewhodaredinsulttheGOPnominee.Theystoodoutsidethevenueholdingsignsthatread“DominicansforTrump”and“BoricuasforTrump.”
AHarrissupporterpassedthegroupandchastisedthem,askinghowtheycouldbeaminorityandsupportaracistandabigot.Apersonholdinga“BoricuasforTrump”signshoutedbackatthem,askingthewhiteHarrissupporterwhotheythoughttheyweretellingaDominicanwhotosupport.TheHarrissupporterkeptwalking.Otherincidentsplayedoutsimilarlynearby.
Later,thisgroupgatheredatamainintersectionneartheLancasterConventionCenterandengagedinashoutingmatchwithagroupofHarrissupporters,whohadgatheredtoprotestTrump.Theredidnotappeartobeanymentionofrace,justtwogroupsshoutingbackandforthateachother.However,again,InoticedtheHarrissupporterswerewhite,andthemostvocalTrumpsupporterswereblack,Latino,andAsian.
Adecadeago,Michigan’sleaderssetinmotionanambitiousnewD.E.I.plan,aiming“toenactfar-reachingfoundationalchangeateverylevel,ineveryunit.”Strivingtotouch“everyindividualoncampus,”astheschoolputsit,MichiganhaspouredroughlyaquarterofabilliondollarsintoD.E.I.since2016,accordingtoaninternalpresentationIobtained.A2021reportfromtheconservativeHeritageFoundationexaminingthegrowthofD.E.I.programsacrosshighereducation—theonlysuchstudythatcurrentlyexists—foundMichigantohavebyfarthelargestD.E.I.bureaucracyofanylargepublicuniversity.Tensofthousandsofundergraduateshavecompletedbiastraining.Thousandsofinstructorshavebeentrainedininclusiveteaching.
MichiganinauguratedwhatitnowcallsD.E.I.1.0,itintentionallyplaceditselfinthevanguardofarevolutionthenreshapingAmericanhighereducation.Aroundthecountry,collegeadministratorswererapidlyexpandingD.E.I.,convincedthatsuchprogramswouldhelpattractandretainamorediversearrayofstudentsandfaculty.
Todaythatrevolutionisunderwitheringattack.EnergizedbybacklashtotheBlackLivesMattermovementandtheright-wingcampaignagainst“criticalracetheory”inpublicinstitutions,atleastadozenstateshavebannedorlimitedD.E.I.programsatpublicuniversities.AftertheOct.7attacks,ascampusesacrossthecountryeruptedwithprotestsagainstIsrael,criticsaccusedD.E.I.programsoffosteringantisemitism.Inthefeverofthe2024campaign,RepublicaninfluencersandpoliticianshaverecastD.E.I.asanall-purposeboogeyman—therootcauseofdefectiveairplanes,thecollapseofaBaltimorebridgeandthenear-assassinationofDonaldJ.Trump.
ButevensomeofMichigan’speerinstitutionshavesouredonaspectsofD.E.I.Lastspring,boththeMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyandHarvard’sFacultyofArtsandSciencessaidtheywouldnolongerrequirejobcandidatestosubmitdiversity;such“compelledstatements,”M.I.T.’spresidentsaid,“impingeonfreedomofexpression.”
Michiganhasn’tjoinedtheretreat.Instead,ithasredoubleditsefforts,testingthefutureofanembattledideal.Ayearago,theuniversityinauguratedwhatitcallsD.E.I.2.0.AtMichigan’sflagshipAnnArborcampus,thenumberofemployeeswhoworkinD.E.I.-relatedofficesorhave“diversity,”“equity”or“inclusion”intheirjobtitlesincreasedby70percent,reaching241,accordingtofigurescompiledbyMarkJ.Perry,anemeritusprofessoroffinanceattheuniversity’sFlintcampusandaD.E.I.critic.(Theschool’sownfigures,whichcounttheD.E.I.workforcedifferently,showlessgrowthovertimeandamuchsmallerstaffasoflastyear.)WhenschoolbeganinAugust,brightlycoloredflagsaroundcampuspromotedthegoalsofD.E.I.2.0.
AccordingtoaconfidentialreportIobtained,acommitteeappointedbyMichigan’sprovost—andstockedwithprofessorswithD.E.I.-relatedappointments—urgedtheschoolthissummertocontinueusingdiversitystatementsinhiringandpromotion,arguingthateliminatingthem“wouldbeseenasacapitulationtothewindsofpoliticalexpediency.”
Inmanyrespects,Michigan’sentireD.E.I.initiativecanbeunderstoodasasustainedactofdefianceagainstsuchpressures.Nearlytwodecadesago,votersinMichiganbannedracialpreferencesinuniversityadmissionsandhiring.WhentheSupremeCourtoutlawedaffirmativeactionacrossthelandlastyear—strippingselectivecollegesoftheirmostpowerfultoolforbuildingraciallydiverseclasses—Michigan’spresident,SantaJ.Ono,wentonPBS’s“NewsHour”toofferhisuniversityasthemodelforachievingdiversityinapost-affirmativeactionworld.
Butovermonthsofreportingthisyear,Ifoundadifferentkindofbacklashbuilding,onethatemanatednotfromWashingtonorright-wingthinktanksbutfrominsidetheuniversity’sowndormsandfacultylounges.OnMichigan’slargelyleft-leaningcampus,fewofthepeopleImetquestionedthebroadidealsofdiversityorsocialjustice.YetthemostcommonattitudeIencounteredaboutD.E.I.duringmyvisitstoAnnArborwasakindofwarydisdain.
Michigan’sowndatasuggeststhatinstrivingtobecomemorediverseandequitable,theschoolhasalsobecomelessinclusive:Inasurveyreleasedinlate2022,studentsandfacultymembersreportedalesspositivecampusclimatethanattheprogram’sstartandlessofasenseofbelonging.Studentswerelesslikelytointeractwithpeopleofadifferentraceorreligionorwithdifferentpolitics—theexactkindofengagementD.E.I.programs,intheory,aremeanttofoster.
SocialJusticeisracistgarbagethatdestroyseverythingittouches.
LinChenpleadedguiltyinfederalcourttodaytoillegallyexportingU.S.technologytoaprohibitedenduserinChina,inviolationoftheInternationalEmergencyEconomicPowersAct(IEEPA)andtheExportAdministrationRegulations(EAR).ThepleawasacceptedbytheHon.WilliamAlsup,SeniorU.S.DistrictJudge.
Inpleadingguilty,Chen,65,acitizenofthePeople’sRepublicofChina(PRC),admittedtoactingonbehalfofJiangsuHantangInternationalTradeGroupCorp.,Ltd.(JHI),acompanyheadquarteredinNanjing,PRC,toprocureawafercuttingmachineonbehalfofChengduGaStoneTechnologyCo.,Ltd.(GaStone),anentitylocatedinChengdu,PRC.ChenadmittedtoknowingthatGaStonewasdesignatedontheU.S.DepartmentofCommerce’sEntityListonAug.1,2014.Federalregulationsrestricttheexportofcertainitemstocompanies,researchinstitutions,andotherentitiesidentifiedontheDepartmentofCommerce’sEntityList.UnderapplicableDepartmentofCommerceregulations,wafercuttingmachines,whichareusedtocutthinsemiconductorsusedinelectronics(alsoknownassiliconwafers),requirealicenseforexporttoend-userssuchasGaStone.
Accordingtothepleaagreement,bynolaterthanDec.4,2015,ChenknewthatGaStonewasprohibitedfromreceivingrestrictedexportswithoutalicense,includingaDTX-150ScribeandBreakMachine,amachineforprocessingsiliconwafermicrochips.OnapproximatelyDec.10,2015,Chenworkedwithaco-defendanttoarrangethesaleofaDTX-150toGaStonebyshippingittothePRCinthenameofJHIwithoutanexportlicensefromCommerce.ChenusedJHI’sstatusasanintermediarytoconcealGaStoneasthetrueend-userofthetechnology.
TheBiden-Harrisadministrationannounced[last]FridaythatitwasfilingalawsuitagainstthestateofVirginiaforenforcingvoterintegritylawsinthestatethataimtocurbillegalvotinginelections.
AssistantAttorneyGeneralKristenClarke,whohasahistoryofespousingracistviews,claimedwithoutevidencethatVirginia’smovetoincreaseelectionintegritywasan“eleventhhoureffort”intended,inpart,to“disenfranchisequalifiedvoters.”
TheDOJclaimedthatitwasdoingsobecauseitwas“tooclosetotheNov.5generalelection”toremovevoters:
Section8(c)(2)oftheNVRA,alsoknownastheQuietPeriodProvision,requiresstatestocompletesystematicprogramsaimedatremovingthenamesofineligiblevotersfromvoterregistrationlistsnolaterthan90daysbeforefederalelections.
However,VirginiaGovernorGlennYoungkin’sexecutiveorderrequiringthatnon-citizensberemovedfromvoterrollswassignedonAugust7,2024—exactly90daysbeforeElectionDay.
Theproblemisthepeoplewhoarebeingremovedfromthevoterrollsarenot,infact,votersbecausetheyarenotcitizens,saidYoungkin.
“Withlessthan30daysuntiltheelection,theBiden-HarrisDepartmentofJusticeisfilinganunprecedentedlawsuitagainstmeandtheCommonwealthofVirginia,forappropriatelyenforcinga2006lawsignedbyDemocratTimKainethatrequiresVirginiatoremovenoncitizensfromthevoterrolls–aprocessthatstartswithsomeonedeclaringthemselvesanon-citizenandthenregisteringtovote,”Youngkinsaid.
Youngkinsaidthatthelawsuitwasa“desperateattempttoattackthelegitimacyoftheelectionsintheCommonwealth,theverycrucibleofAmericanDemocracy.”
AtthebeginningofHarris’spoliticalcareer,intherun-uptohercampaigntoserveasCalifornia’sattorneygeneral,sheandco-authorJoanO’CHamiltonpublishedasmallvolume,entitledSmartonCrime:ACareerProsecutor’sPlantoMakeUsSafer.Thebookhelpedtoestablishhercredibilityoncriminal-justiceissues.
However,accordingtoStefanWeber,afamedAustrian“plagiarismhunter”whohastakendownpoliticiansintheGerman-speakingworld,Harris’sbookcontainsmorethanadozen“viciousplagiarismfragments.”Someofthepassageshehighlightedappeartocontainminortransgressions—reproducingsmallsectionsoftext;insufficientparaphrasing—butothersseemtoreflectmoreseriousinfractions,similarinseveritytothosefoundinHarvardpresidentClaudineGay’sdoctoralthesis.(Harrisdidnotrespondtoarequestforcomment.)
Let’sconsideraselectionoftheseexcerptsfromHarris’sbook,beginningwithoneinwhichHarrisdiscusseshighschoolgraduationrates.Here,sheliftedverbatimlanguagefromanuncitedNBCNewsreport,withtheduplicatedmaterialmarkedinitalics:
InDetroit’spublicschools,only25percentofthestudentswhoenrolledingradeninegraduatedfromhighschool,while30.5percentgraduatedinIndianapolispublicschoolsand34percentreceiveddiplomasintheClevelandMunicipalCitySchoolDistrict.Overall,about70percentoftheU.S.studentsgraduatefrompublicandprivateschoolsontimewitharegulardiploma,andabout1.2millionstudentsdropoutannually.Onlyabouthalfofthestudentsservedbypublicschoolsystemsinthenation’slargestcitiesreceivediplomas.
There’smore.Inanothersectionofthebook,Harris,withoutproperattribution,reproducedextensivesectionsfromaJohnJayCollegeofCriminalJusticepressrelease.Sheandherco-authorpassedoffthelanguageastheirown,copyingmultipleparagraphsvirtuallyverbatim.Hereistheexcerpt,withtheairliftedmaterialinitalicsandabbreviations,suchaspercentagesandstatenames,treatedasverbatimsubstitutions:
HighPointhaditsfirstface-to-facemeetingwithdrugdealers,fromthecity’sWestEndneighborhood,onMay18,2004.Thedrugmarketshutdownimmediatelyandpermanently,withasustained35percentreductioninviolentcrime.HighPointrepeatedthestrategyinthreeadditionalmarketsoverthenextthreeyears.Thereisvirtuallynoremainingpublicdrugdealinginthecity,andseriouscrimehasfallen20percentcitywide.
TheHighPointStrategyhassincebeenimplementedinWinston-Salem,Greensboro,andRaleigh,NorthCarolina;inProvidence,RhodeIsland;andinRockford,Illinois.TheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeislaunchinganationalprogramtoreplicatethestrategyintenadditionalcities.
InasectionaboutaNewYorkcourtprogram,HarrisstolelongpassagesdirectlyfromWikipedia—longconsideredanunreliablesource.Shenotonlyassumestheonlineencyclopedia’saccuracy,butcopiesitslanguagenearlyverbatim,withoutcitingthesource.HereisHarris’slanguage,withduplicatedmaterialinitalics,basedonthepageasitappearedinDecember2008,beforeshepublishedthebook:
TheMid-town[sic]CommunityCourtwasestablishedasacollaborationbetweentheNewYorkStateUnifiedCourtSystemandtheCenterforCourtInnovation.Thecourtworksinpartnershipwithlocalresidents,businesses,andsocialserviceagenciestoorganizecommunityserviceprojectsandprovideon-sitesocialservices,includingdrugtreatment,mentalhealthcounseling,andjobtraining.WhatwasinnovativeaboutMidtownCourtwasthatitrequiredlow-leveloffenderstopaybacktheneighborhoodthroughcommunityservice,whileatthesametimeitofferedthemhelpwithproblemsthatoftenunderliecriminalbehavior.
Tomakemattersworse,induplicatingWikipedia’slanguage,Harrisseemstohavemissedcriticalinformationandmisstatedarelevantdetail.Sheclaims,inproseidenticaltotheonlineencyclopedia’s,that“illegalvendingwasdown24percent”asaresultofthecourt’spolicies.Earlyintheparagraph,HarriscitestheBureauofJusticeAssistancereporttosubstantiatethefigure.Butshemadeamistake:OnWikipedia,the“24percent”figurewasapparentlytiedtoadifferentreport,whichfoundthat“arrestsforunlicensedvending,”ratherthanunlicensedvendingassuch,“fellby24percent”(emphasismine).HerrelianceonWikipedia,anunreliablesource,ledtoanunreliableconclusion.
WhiletheBJAreportwasnotthepropersourceforthe“24percent”claim,itdidappearintheWikipediaentry’slistofcitations,andapparentlywasafruitfulresourceforHarrisandhercoauthor,astheyreproducedsubstantialportionsofitssentences.
Theentireinterviewwasatrainwreck,buttherewereparticularmomentsthatwereexceptionallycringeworthy,damaging,andprovedwithglaringcertaintywhysheisunfittolead.
Baierstartedoffwiththetopicofillegalimmigration,andyoucouldvisiblyseeHarrisdeflatelikeaballoonbeforethefirstquestionwasasked.
Baiergentlypushedbackwithdocumentedfacts,andHarrisbrieflygotthatdeerinheadlightslookshegetswhensheisdesperatelytryingtofindhertalkingpoints.ThenshejumpedonhersupposedrecordasCaliforniaAttorneyGeneral(nothercurrentpositionasVP)asproofthatsheknewhowtohandlethiscrisis.Failingtounderstandthatthefactthatacrisisexistsisproofthatyouhavenoabilitytocorrectit.
ButthemostpurelyevilanddamningpartofthistopicofillegalimmigrationwasthefactthatHarriscouldnotevenformthewordstoapologizeforallowingcriminalsintothecountrythatresultedinthesenselessdeathsofLakenRiley,JocelynNungaray,andRachelMorin.
FormerpresidentDonaldTrumppokedfunatvicepresidentKamalaHarrisduringtheAlSmithdinneronThursdayevening,criticizinghispoliticalrivalforfailingtoshowupatthecharityeventinperson.
Harrisaddressedthecrowdatthewhite-tieevent,whichraisesfundsforCatholicscharities,inapre-recordedvideo–ahighlyunusualmoveforapresidentialcandidate.IthasbecomeatraditionforpresidentialcandidatestospeakattheeventsinceRichardNixonandJohnF.Kennedyappearedtogetherin1960.
ThevicepresidentisthefirstpresidentialcontendertoskipoutonthedinnersinceWalterMondalein1984.
“IguessyoushouldhavetoldherthefundsweregoingtobailoutthelootersandriotersinMinneapolisandshewouldhavebeenhere,guaranteed,”Trumpsaid.
HewentontojokethatHarrismustbe“outreceivingcommunionfromGretchenWhitmer,”areferencetoaviralvideofromearlierthismonthoftheMichigangovernorfeedingachiptoaleftistinfluenceronherknees.
Trumpaccusedthevicepresidentofbeing“disrespectfultoCatholics.”
HealsoquippedabouttheDemocraticnominee’sodd’sofwinningtheelection,saying,“There’sagroupcalledWhiteDudesforHarrisbutI’mnotworriedaboutthem.Theirwivesandtheirwives’loversarevotingforme.”
Zing!
DoesKamalaHarrisneedameaculpainPAOrdoesherdisconnectfromvotersintheRustBeltgobeyondstatelinesandreligion
McGurnrecognizesabroaderproblem,butperhapsnotitsscope.First,heoutlinesthedirectissueswithCatholics,whocomprise30%ofPennsylvania:
AsCalifornia’sattorneygeneral,Ms.Harrissignedseveralfriend-of-the-courtbriefsopposingreligiousexemptionsforprivateemployerssuchasHobbyLobbyandreligiousnonprofitssuchastheLittleSistersofthePoor.Shesaidshewas“proud”tohaveco-sponsoredCalifornia’sReproductiveFACTAct,whichcompelledpro-lifepregnancycenterstodisplaynoticesaboutwherewomencouldgetanabortion.TheSupremeCourtin2018rejectedthelawasalikelyviolationoftheFirstAmendment.
ButperhapsMs.Harris’smostnotoriousCatholicmomentcameaftershewaselectedsenator.WhenBrianBuescherwasnominatedforafederaljudgeship,shegrilledhimabouthismembershipintheKnightsofColumbus,aCatholicmen’sfraternalorganization.AlthoughPresidentJohnF.KennedywasalsoaKnight,Ms.HarristreatedthegroupasthoughitweretheKuKluxKlan.
Shewouldlaterco-sponsortheEqualityAct,whichtheU.S.ConferenceofCatholicbishopssaidcouldforcedoctorsandhospitalstoperformabortionstheyoppose.LastmonthshesnubbedNewYork’sCardinalTimothyDolanbydecliningtoattendthisThursday’sAlSmithdinner,anelection-yearstaplethathasbroughtDemocraticandRepublicancandidatestogetherinacivilsettingfordecades.
PoliticoreportsthatMs.Harris’sprospectsare“considerablydicier”becauseofa“culturaldissonance”betweenherprogressiveSanFranciscopersonaandwhiteworking-classCatholicPennsylvanians.
TheCatholicvoteisnotasmonolithicasitusedtobe.In1928,theCatholicvotewasoverwhelminglyDemocratic,concentratedinurbancenters.By1960,theCatholicvotewasfracturingthroughintermarriageandeconomicissues,butKennedystillreceivedabout65%ofthevotefromhisco-religionists.
Today,DonaldTrumpcanexpecttogetabout60%oftheCatholicvote.InPennsylvania,TheCatholicvotemightbepivotalinastatethatHarrisabsolutely,positivelyhastowin.
CanyouputsomereallymoneybehindthatandputitonairMaybeduringcollegefootball
MeganWilliamsisafirst-gradeteacherwhoforcedher6and7-year-oldstudentsto“observe”so-calledTransgenderAwarenessDay.ThisBlackLivesMatteractivistsubjectedthesesmallchildrentonon-curricularpropagandaabout“genderidentity”andsexchanges.
Williamsdisturbinglywentsofarastotellthesekidsthattheir“parentsma[d]eaguesswhetherthey’reaboyoragirl”andmayhavebeenwrong.Parentscomplained,butWilliamswasbackedbyherschoolprincipalandsuperintendent.
ThreemothersfiredbackbyfilingalawsuitagainstWilliams,theschool,thedistrict,anddistrictofficialsinJuneof2022.Theirgoalwastoobtainamoratorium“ongenderdysphoriaandtransgendertransitioning,”parentalnoticeandopt-outrightsonthetopicabsentsuchaprohibition,compensatorydamages,andpunitivedamages.
Thankfully,JudgeJoyContioftheU.S.DistrictCourtfortheWesternDistrictofPennsylvaniajustruledlargelyinfavorofthesemothers.
JudgeContistatedthat“parentshaveaconstitutionalrighttoreasonableandrealisticadvancenoticeandtheabilitytoopttheirelementary-agechildrenofnoncurricularinstructionontransgendertopicsandtonothaverequirementsfornoticeandoptingoutofthosetopicsthataremorestringentthanthoseforothersensitivetopics.”
Issuesinthedebaterangedfromabortiontothebordercrisis,andallowingboysingirls’sports.
Onabortion,CruzsaidhesupportedTexas’pro-lifelawswhileacknowledgingthatotherstateswouldmakedifferentdecisions.
“InTexas,weoverwhelminglysupportthatparentsshouldbenotifiedandhavetoconsentbeforetheirchildgetsanabortion.InTexas,weoverwhelminglyagreethatlate-termabortionsintheeighthandninthmonths,that’stooextreme.AndI’lltellyou,inTexas,weoverwhelminglyagreethattaxpayermoneyshouldn’tpayforabortions,”saidCruz.
Hewentontoattackhisopponent’spositiononabortionasextreme,notingthatAllred“votedinfavorofstrikingdownTexas’parentalnotificationlaw.HevotedinfavorofstrikingdownTexas’parentalconsentlaw.Hevotedtolegalizelate-termabortions,includingtheeighthandninthmonths.”
Allred,meanwhile,saidhewouldfightto“restoreawoman’srighttochoose”andto“makeRoev.Wadethelawofthelandagain.”
OneofthebiggestissuesplayingoutinthecampaignthusfarhasbeenAllred’spositiononallowingboysingirls’sports.TheissuehasbeenthetargetofCruz’scampaignadsandledtoAllreddenyingtheaccusations,despitevotingagainstlegislationtoprotectgirlssports.
“Iknowalotofy’allathome,forexample,sawtwobiologicalmencompetinginwomen’sboxingattheOlympics,”saidCruz.“Thatwaswildlyunfair.Youknow,myyoungestdaughterplaysvolleyball.It’snotfairforabiologicalboyorman,ateenageboy,tospikethevolleyballather,andhehasvotedrepeatedlyinfavorofthat.”
HernandezwroteinanoteonThePostMillennial:
TheBrunswickLandingapartmentsinMainesparkedcontroversyearlierthisyearwhenitwasdiscoveredthathomelessmigrantsintheareaweregettingtheopportunitytoliveintheunitsrent-freeforuptotwoyears.Migrantslivingintheapartmentssharedthatnotonlyistherent-free,theutilitiesarepaidandwegotaninsidelookatthefurnishedapartmentsthatwouldruntheaverageAmericanabout$2,300dollars.
TheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)issupposedtobethegovernment’spremieremergencyrelieforganizationintimesofdisaster,likethesituationnowfacedbyvictimsofHurricaneHelene’saftermathinNorthCarolinaandTennessee.
ButaccordingtotheFEMAwebsite,theagencynowplaceshigherpriorityoninstitutingDiversity,EquityandInclusivityguidelinesthanoneasingthesufferingofAmericansdisplacedbydisaster.
AmongthegoalslistedinFEMA’sstrategicplanareto:
Noticehowthefocusshiftsfromdoingthegreatestamountofgoodforthegreatestamountofpeopletoensuringthattheyarepromoting“equityindisasterrelief.”
ChechenleaderRamzanKadyrovhasdeclareda“bloodfeud”againstthreefederallawmakersfromneighboringNorthCaucasusrepublicsinhisfirstcommentsonlastmonth’sdeadlyshootingoutsidetheMoscowheadquartersofRussia’slargestonlineretailerWildberries.
KadyrovhasvowedtohelpVladislavBakalchuk,theestrangedhusbandofWildberriesCEOTatianaKim—Russia’swealthiestwoman—toreturnhiswifeandblockthemergeroftheire-commercegiantwiththesmalleroutdooradvertisinggroupRuss.
ThefamilyandbusinessdisputeescalatedlastmonthwhenBakalchukledagroupofmentoWildberries’Moscowofficesandallegedlytriedtoforcetheirwayintothebuilding.Twosecurityguards,whowereethnicIngush,werekilledintheshootoutandmultiplefelonycharges,includingmurder,werefiledagainstBakalchukandseveralotherethnicChechensinvolvedintheincident.
Sinwarisonlythelatesthigh-profileterroristtomeethisfateatthehandsoftheIDF.HispredecessoratthetopofHamas’shierarchy,IsmailHaniyeh,waskilledinTehranwhenabombcovertlysmuggledintoanIraniandiplomaticsafehouseexplodedinJuly.MohammedDeif,thecommanderofHamas’smilitarywing,wasneutralizedinaJulyairstrikeaftersevenunsuccessfulIDFattemptstodeliverhimtojustice.HamasdeputycommanderMarwanIssamethisfateinMarch,twomonthsafterhisdeputy,Salehal-Arouri,wascutdowninthesuburbsofBeirutbyanIsraelidrone.
AlittleoverayearafterthewarHamasinauguratedagainstIsraelon10/7inthedeadliestone-dayslaughterofJewssincetheHolocaust,theterroristorganizationhasbeenentirelydecapitated.Itsfightersarescattered,disorganized,andreducedtochaoticrearguardactionsagainsttheIsraelitroopsbusilyrollingthemup.CriticsofIsrael’scampaignliketoinsistthatHamasisanideaandthereforecannotsimplybedispatchedlikethethousandsofitsfighterstheIDFhascutdown.Trueenough,butanideacannotshootatyouorlaunchrocketattacksonyourcities.Thatrequireswell-connected,deeplyembeddedcommanderswithyearsofexperienceconductingasymmetricalinsurgentattacksonasuperiorforce.Thosecommandersarealldead.
TheIsraeliofficialswhohavepursuedHamas’sbarbariansuntiltheendhavedonesowithoutmuchencouragementfromtheWest.Indeed,thedeathofeveryHamascommanderwasfrettedoverintheWestasthoughitcreatedanewimpedimenttopeaceandtothenegotiationsoverthehostagesHamasitselfcapturedon10/7—97ofwhomstillhavenotyetbeenlocated.JoeBiden’sadministrationwithdrewalmostallrhetoricalsupportforIsraelioperationsinplaceslikeRafah,whereSinwarhimselfwastakenout.BenjaminNetanyahu’sgovernmentdeservesthegratitudeofthecivilizedworldforrejectingtheseentreatiesseekingIsrael’ssurrenderinitsrighteouswar.
TheIsraelisdidnotchoosethewaythiswarbegan,buttheywillbetheauthorsofitsconclusion.Andtheendisnear.TheIsraelishavebroughttheGazaStripclosertoitsdayofliberationfromthetyrannyofanillegitimateterroristregimethanallthecombinedeffortsofthepeaceprocessorsintheglobaldiplomaticcorpseverachieved.ItisashamethattheAmericanadministrationthatstoodsostalwartlywithIsraelattheoutsetofthiscampaignwillinglysacrificeditsabilitytocelebratealongsideitsIsraelicounterparts.ThisshouldbeAmerica’svictory,too.ButbyspendingmonthsonendagonizingoverhowIsraelwasachievingitshonorableobjective,theBidenWhiteHouseanditsallieslostsightofoursharedstrategicgoals.
ColumbiaUniversityistemporarilysuspendingaprominentpro-Israelbusinessprofessor’saccesstocampusafterhepubliclycriticizedschoolofficialsforpermittinganti-IsraelcampusdemonstrationsontheanniversaryoftheOctober7massacre.
ColumbianotifiedIsraeli-AmericanbusinessprofessorShaiDavidaionTuesdaythathewillbebannedfromcampusforviolatinguniversitypolicyonharassingschoolemployees.
OnTuesdaynight,DavidaipostedavideoonsocialmediaaccusingColumbiaofretaliatingagainsthimforpostingavideoofhimselfaskingColumbia’schiefoperatingofficerCasHallowaywhyheallowedpro-HamasdemonstratorstoprotestontheanniversaryofOctober7.
“RightnowIwassupposedtobeattheschoolofsocialworkatColumbia,wheretheJewishstudentsareholdingtheirownmemorialserviceforthesenselessviolenceofOctober7th.ButthenIgotacallfrommylawyer,whosaystheuniversityhasdecidedtonotallowmetobeoncampusanymore,”Davidaisaid.
“WhyBecauseofOctober7th.BecauseIwasnotafraidtostanduptothehatefulmob.AndbecauseIwasnotafraidtoexposeMr.f**kingCasHollowayfornotdoinganythingaboutit.”
Davidaishouldsuethemoverequalrightsviolationformillions.Letathousandlawsuitsbloom.
Researchershaveunearthedtwosophisticatedtoolsetsthatanation-statehackinggroup—possiblyfromRussia—usedtostealsensitivedatastoredonair-gappeddevices,meaningthosethataredeliberatelyisolatedfromtheInternetorothernetworkstosafeguardthemfrommalware.
Oneofthecustomtoolcollectionswasusedstartingin2019againstaSouthAsianembassyinBelarus.AlargelydifferenttoolsetcreatedbythesamethreatgroupinfectedaEuropeanUniongovernmentorganizationthreeyearslater.ResearchersfromESET,thesecurityfirmthatdiscoveredthetoolkits,saidsomeofthecomponentsinbothwereidenticaltothosefellowsecurityfirmKasperskydescribedinresearchpublishedlastyearandattributedtoanunknowngroup,trackedasGoldenJackal,workingforanation-state.Basedontheoverlap,ESEThasconcludedthatthesamegroupisbehindalltheattacksobservedbybothfirms.
Thepracticeofairgappingistypicallyreservedforthemostsensitivenetworksordevicesconnectedtothem,suchasthoseusedinsystemsforvoting,industrialcontrol,manufacturing,andpowergeneration.Ahostofmalwareusedinespionagehackingoverthepast15years(forinstance,hereandhere)demonstratethatairgappingisn’tafoolproofprotection.Itnonethelessforcesthreatgroupstoexpendsignificantresourcesthatarelikelyobtainableonlybynation-stateswithsuperiortechnicalacumenandunlimitedbudgets.ESET’sdiscoveryputsGoldenJackalinahighlyexclusivecollectionofthreatgroups.
Also,aheartythankstoeveryonewhohasalreadydonated.
Morethan200peoplehavebeenconfirmeddeadasaresultofHurricaneHelene,andthattotalisexpectedtoriseassearch-and-rescuecrewsreachmoreremotecommunities.Roadshavebeendestroyed,manytownsarestillwithoutpower,andpeoplearebeginningtorunoutoffoodastruckscannotgetintoprovideaid.
Amidallofthis,HomelandSecuritySecretaryAlejandroMayorkas,thearchitectofthemigrantinvasion,warnsthattheFederalEmergencyManagementAgencyisrunningoutofmoneytoaidhurricanevictims.Meanwhile,thankstothemigrantcrisishiscatch-and-releasepoliciescreated,FEMAhasspentover$1billionfeeding,housing,andtransportingillegalimmigrantsacrosstheUnitedStatesinjustthelasttwoyears.
Beforehewaselected,PresidentJoeBidensaidofmigrantswantingtoentertheU.S.illegally,“Wecouldaffordtotakeinaheartbeatanother2million.”ThankstoBiden’ssubsequentpolicies,allsupportedbyVicePresidentKamalaHarris,includingtheendofformerPresidentDonaldTrump’s“RemaininMexico”program,thetemporarysuspensionofalldeportations,andthecreationoftheCBPOneappparoleprogramandtheCubans,Haitians,Nicaraguans,andVenezuelansparoleprogram,thenumberofillegalimmigrantsallowedintotheU.S.byBidenhasbeencloserto4million.
UnfortunatelyforcommunitiesacrosstheU.S.,theabilityofthiscountrytotakeinmillionsofillegalimmigrantshasnotbeenassmoothasBidenpredicted.Cities,manyofthemcontrolledbyDemocrats,havebeenbeggingthefederalgovernmentforassistanceinhousing,clothing,feeding,education,andprovidinghealthcareforthefloodofmigrantswhoarestrainingbudgetsintheircommunities.
Inresponse,theBidenadministrationhasspenttensofbillionsofdollarshelpingtoeasethepaincausedbytheirillegalmigrantinvasion.Localgovernmentsarerequiredtoprovideeducationtoallchildren,regardlessoflegalstatus,andtheDepartmentofEducationhelpslocalgovernmentspaytoeducatethesechildren.Hospitalsmustprovideemergencycaretoallpatients,evenillegalimmigrantswithouthealthinsurance,andsotheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServiceshelpslocalhospitalsstayafloatbyreimbursingthemthroughMedicaid.
AndtheDepartmentofHomelandSecurityhelpsprovidefood,housing,andtransportationtoillegalimmigrantsthroughFEMA’sEmergencyFoodandShelterProgramandShelterandServicesProgramAwardsprogram.Whentheinfluxofmigrantswasbankruptingcitiesacrossthecountrythispastwinter,DemocraticmayorstraveledtotheWhiteHousetobegBidenformoreFEMAmoneytohelptheircommunities“meetthegrowingneedsoftheseindividuals.”
AndtheWhiteHousegavethemtheFEMAmoneytheywanted.Injustthelasttwoyearsalone,theBidenadministrationhasspentover$1billioninFEMAfundsgivinglocalcommunitiestheresourcesneededtodealwiththemigrantcrisisthattheBidenadministrationcreated.
Beyondthewordsaladthatpeoplepointedout,CBSand60MinuteseditedouteverythingshesaysaboutprovidingaidetoIsraelinordertodefenditselffromattacks.
NowwhenyoucontrastthatwiththefalloutfromtheCoatesinterview,thisallstinks.ThisisaCBSagenda…
OnSeptember30th,anti-IsraelauthorTa-NehisiCoatessatdownforwhatturnedouttobeaspiritedsix-and-a-half-minuteinterviewonCBSMornings,duringwhichco-anchorTonyDokoupilchallengedsomeoftheclaimsmadeinCoates’newbook,“TheMessage.”
ThebookcontainsseveralessaysaboutsomeofCoates’travels,withthelongestonebeingabouthistrip“toPalestine.”ItwasclaimsmadeinthatessaythatDokoupilzeroedinonforcloserexaminationduringtheirexchange:
“Ihavetosay,whenIreadthebook,IimagineifItookyournameoutofit,tookawaytheawards,theacclaim,tookthecoveroffthebook,publishinghousegoesaway,thecontentofthatsectionwouldnotbeoutofplaceinthebackpackofanextremist,”Dokoupilsaid.
“SothenIfoundmyselfwondering,whydoesTa’NehisiCoates,whoI’veknownforalongtime,readhisworkforalongtime,verytalented,smartguy,leaveoutsomuchWhyleaveoutthatIsraelissurroundedbycountriesthatwanttoeliminateitWhyleaveoutthatIsraeldealswithterrorgroupsthatwanttoeliminateitWhynotdetailanythingofthefirstandthesecondIntifada,thecafébombings,thebusbombings,thelittlekidsblowntobits.Isitbecauseyoujustdon’tbelievethatIsraelinanyconditionhasarighttoexist”theCBSanchorcontinued.
PerhapsbecauseCoates’wordisviewedassacrosanctbywokeleftistsinthemedia,academia,andbeyonddespitehisdeeplyflawedlogiconissueslikereparations,eruptionsbeganalmostimmediatelyintheCBSnewsroom,withtensionsboilingoveraweeklaterduringaneditorialcall:
DuringitseditorialmeetingonMondayat9a.m.—themorningofOctober7—thenetwork’stopbrassallbutapologizedfortheinterviewtostaff,sayingthatitdidnotmeetthecompany’s“editorialstandards.”AfterbeingintroducedbyWendyMcMahon,theheadofCBSNews,AdrienneRoark,whoisinchargeofnewsgatheringatthenetwork,beganherremarksbysayingcoveringastorylikeOctober7“requiresempathy,respect,andacommitmenttotruth.”
Presumably,the“bias”accusationsstemfromthefactthat,accordingtotheNewYorkPost,Dokoupilis“aconverttoJudaismwhoseex-wifelivesinIsraelalongwiththeirtwochildren.”
ThoughShaltNotQuestiontheHolySocialjustice.
USDistrictCourtJudgeJeffreyHelmickoftheNorthernDistrictofOhiosentencedPageonThursdayto42monthsinfederalprison.Hewasalsoorderedtopaya$400specialassessmentfee,accordingtoapressreleasefromtheDepartmentofJustice.
ProsecutorsaccusedPageofdefrauding18,000donorswhocollectivelygavehundredsofthousandsofdollarstohisfraudulentcharity,BlackLivesMatterofGreaterAtlanta.Pagetookthedonationsandusedthemforhisownpersonalbenefit.Hepurchasedentertainment,hotelrooms,clothing,firearms,andapropertyinOhiothatheintendedtouseashispersonalresidence,courtdocumentsshowed.
Inarecentpodcastinterview,thepoliticalanalystwhofirstpredictedthatJoeBidenwouldwithdrawfromthepresidentialracerevealedthatprivatepollinghehasseenappearstosuggestthatVicePresidentKamalaHarris(D-Calif.)isinserioustroubleaheadoftheNovemberelection.
AccordingtoBreitbart,NewsmaxcommentatorandformerpoliticaldirectorforABCNewsMarkHalperingavehisanalysisonTheMorningMeetingwithSeanSpicerandDanTurrentine.HalperinsaidthatinternalpollingcouldseeHarrisloseallbutoneofthesevenswingstatesinthiselection,ashercurrentleadinthenationalpopularvoteisnotenoughtowintheelectoralcollegeagainstformerPresidentDonaldTrump.
“SothenewNewYorkTimespollshowsherupthreenationally,”Halperinexplained.“Weallknowthatthreeislikethebubblepoint,rightIfshe’supthree,she’sgotachancetowintheElectoralCollege,butthey’dratherbeatfour,andtheydon’twanttobeattwo.Sothreeisrightatthebubble.I’mnotsayingthisTimespoll’sright.Butit’sinlinewithinternationalpolls.”
“WeallknowfromourcontactsinbothcampaignsthatPennsylvaniaistoughforherrightnow.AndwithoutPennsylvania,therearepaths,buttherearen’tmany.There’snopathwithoutWisconsin,”Halperincontinued.“Soyouseehere,TammyBaldwin’sSenatecampaignpollshowsHarrisdownthreeinWisconsin.Weallsaidyesterday,WisconsinandMichiganarelookingworseforHarristhanbefore.”
WisconsinSenatorTammyBaldwin’s(D-Wisc.)campaignhadpreviouslysharedinternalpollingwithboththeWallStreetJournalandAxios,showingHarrislosingtoTrumpinthestateandBaldwinherselfwithamere2-pointleadoverherRepublicanchallenger,EricHovde(R-Wisc.).
Suchresultsinprivatepollsalignwiththetrendreflectedinpublicpolls,withpollsterssuchasQuinnipiacUniversityandEmersonCollegeshowingPresidentTrumpgainingmomentuminmostoftheswingstates,noweitherleadingHarrisortiedinenoughstatestowintheelectoralcollege.
“Ijustsawsomenewprivatepollingtodaythat’sveryrobustprivatepolling.She’sinalotoftrouble,”saidHalperin.“TheconversationI’mhavingwithTrumppeopleandDemocratswithdataareextremelybullishonTrump’schancesinthelast48hours,extremelybullish.Youthinkofthesevenbattlegroundstates;whichonesisHarrisindangeroflosingIwouldsayPennsylvania,Michigan,Wisconsin,Arizona,NorthCarolinaandGeorgia.I’mnotsayingshe’llloseallsix,butshe’sindanger.”
IfHarrisweretolosethesesixstatesbutholdtheseventhswingstate,Nevada,thentheresultwouldbeanexactrepeatofthe2016election,withPresidentTrumpwinning306electoralvotestoHarris’232.
TexasSecretaryofState(SOS)JaneNelsonissuedanadvisoryonTuesdaythatdescribes“limitedterm”driver’slicensesasanacceptableformofvoterID,thoughrecommendingotherformsofphotoidentificationifpossible.
WhiletheTexasElectionCodedoesnotspecificallydesignate“limitedterm”IDcardsasapermissibleformofvoterID,itdoesdescribe“apersonalidentificationcardissuedbytheTexasDepartmentofPublicSafety”(TxDPS)asanapprovedformofidentification.
AsNelson’sadvisoryacknowledges,TxDPSdistributes“temporaryterm”driver’slicensestononcitizens,providedtheyareanindividualwithlawfultemporarystatusintheU.S.
TheSOS’sguidanceconcedesthatifanindividualisregisteredtovoteandpresentsa“limitedterm”driver’slicenseorIDcard,theymayreceiveaballotafterbeingfullyinformedbytheelectionjudgeorclerkofthe“eligibilityrequirements”necessarytovoteinTexas.
TheissuecitedbytheSOSisthatwhilethelimitedtermIDdenotesnoncitizenstatusatonepoint,itdoesn’tmeanthattheindividualhasnotsincebeennaturalized.TransportationCodealsoincludesthelimitedtermIDasavalidformofidentification,creatingasmallwindowforapotentiallylegitimateuseofthedocumenttovote.
Additionally,ifanindividualpresentsa“limitedterm”IDcardbutisnotregisteredtovote,theymayreceiveaprovisionalballotafterelectionofficialsfullyevaluatewhattheirlackofregistrationanduniqueformofidentificationsuggests.
Nelsonrecommendedusinglanguagesuchas,“Thelimited-termdriver’slicense/identificationcardyoupresentedsuggeststhatyouarenotaUnitedStatescitizen.Yournamedoesnotappearonthelistofregisteredvoters.PertheTexasElectionCode,tobeeligibletovoteintheStateofTexas,youmustbeaqualifiedvoterofthisstate,”whenexplainingthesituationtotheunregisteredvoterandpriortodistributingaprovisionalballot.
NelsonrequestedonOctober9thatTexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxtonruleonwhetheralimitedtermdriver’slicensethat“generatesquestionsofvotereligibility”isavalidformofvoterIDandifanelectionofficialmustpresentaballottoanindividualwhoonlyprovidessuchIDinperson.Therequestisforanon-bindingopinionbytheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral.
NelsonalsoaskedPaxtonhowballotworkersoughttotreatmail-inballotsthatonlylistanIDnumberordriver’slicensecardthatis“limitedterm,”inregardsbothto“counting”thevoteandforinvestigating“instancesoffraud.”
SoPaxtonwillbeabletonipthispotentialavenueofvotingfraudinthebud.
TheissueoriginatedinoneoftheKiawebportalsusedbydealerships.LongstoryshortandaheftybitofAPIabuselater,[Sam]Curryandhisbandoffar-more-capableKiaBoyzmanagedtoregisterafakedealeraccounttogetavalidaccesstoken,whichtheywerethenabletousetocallanybackenddealerAPIcommandtheywanted.
TheagencyisbeingstretchedasitworkswithstatestoassessdamagefromHurricaneHeleneanddeliversmeals,water,generatorsandothercriticalsupplies.ThestormstruckFloridalastweek,thenplowedthroughseveralstatesintheSoutheast,floodingtownsandkillingmorethan160people.
Mayorkaswasnotspecificabouthowmuchadditionalmoneytheagencymayneed,buthisremarksonAirForceOneunderscoredconcernsvoicedbyPresidentJoeBidenandsomelawmakersearlierthisweekthatCongressmayneedtopassasupplementalspendingbillthisfalltohelpstateswithrecoveryefforts.
TheTrafalgarGroupreleasedapollonWednesdayshowingTrumphasincreasedhisleadinthevitalswingstatesofMichiganandWisconsin.
OnAugust31,theTrafalgarGrouphadTrumpbeatingHarris47%to46.6%,aleadofonly0.4%.
TheBiden-HarrisadministrationhasallowedwelloverhalfamillionillegalalienswithcriminalhistoriestoentertheUnitedStates.
U.S.Rep.TonyGonzales(R-23)publishedtheU.S.ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcementdataonsocialmediaplatformX.
Accordingtothenewlyreleasedinformation,662,566noncitizensonICE’snationaldockethavecriminalhistories.Thesenumbersinclude13,099murderconvicts,15,811sexualassaultconvicts,and13,423weaponoffenseconvicts.
“We’veknownforfartoolongthattheBiden-HarrisbordercrisisposesadirectthreattoAmericans,”Gonzalessaidinapressrelease.“Thetruthisclear—illegalimmigrantswithacriminalrecordarecomingintoourcountry.”
TheTexascongressmanassertedthatbeyondthedisturbingnewdata,itshouldalsoserveasa“wake-upcall”forthefederalgovernmentandcitiesacrosstheUnitedStatesthatkeepsanctuarypoliciesinplace.
GonzalesfirstrequestedthedataonMarch13whenhepennedaletterrequestinganswerstoseveralillegalimmigrationquestionstoPresidentJoeBidenandU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecuritySecretaryAlejandroMayorkas.
OfthesevenmillionreportedcasesonICE’sdocket,theletterrequestedinformationonhowmanynoncitizenswerechargedwithacrimebyamunicipality.Additionally,theletteraskedhowmanywerenoncitizensconvictedofacrimeandreleasedintoU.S.communities.
Oversixmonthslater,Gonzaleshasfinallyreceivedaresponse.
AnewlyleakedlawenforcementdocumentobtainedbyNewYorkPostjournalistsshowsthattheVenezuelanprisongangTrendeAraguahasexploiteddesperatemigrantwomenintosextraffickingnetworksacrosseightstates.
AtleasteightstateshaveseenanexplosioninmigrantprostitutionsincetheganglaiddownrootsintheUS,withauthoritiesinTexas,Nevada,Illinois,California,Florida,Georgia,NewJerseyandNewYorknowfightingtocurtailthesextrade,thememoshows.-NYPost
TheVenezuelangangTrendeAraguahasbeenlinkedtosextraffickingineightstatesincludingNewYork.
InNewYorkCity,policesourcestoldtheNYPostthatTrendeAraguagangstersarerecruitingtheirmembersandvictimsstraightoutofcity-runmigrantshelters.
IntheBigApple,TrendeAraguaistryingtorecruitfootsoldierstoforcewomenintosextrafficking—inthehopesthatitwillbecomeamainsourceofincomeforthegang,accordingtotheleakedmemo.
However,TheresaMorris,thedirectoroftheWomen’sandGenderStudiesProgram,saidthattheLGBTQStudiesminorwasamongthoseending.
Additionally,thedirectorofMarketingandCommunicationsintheCollegeofPerformanceconfirmedthatthecertificatesforpopularcultureandperformingsocialactivismwerealsointhedeactivationprocess.
ThiscomesafterStateRep.BrianHarrison(R-Midlothian)repeatedlycalledDEIcoursesandtheLGBTQstudiesminoran“outrageousabuseoftaxmoney”andexamplesof“taxpayer-fundedindoctrination.”
Good.Maybestudentswillbeforcedtochooseamajorthataddstotheworldratherthantearingitdownwithsocialjustice.
AlawsuitfiledinTarrantCountyisaccusingaDemocratrunningfortheTexasHouseofRepresentativesoffailingtopayhervendorsandsubcontractorsinthebusinesssheoperates.
HouseDistrict80candidateCeciliaCastellano,whooperatesAztecaDesignsandConstruction,allegedlyfailedtoprovidepropercompensationforworkdonebyoneofAzteca’ssubcontractors,theGlassDoctorofNorthTexas,accordingtothesuit.
GlassDoctorhadenteredanagreementtoworkonaprojectwithAztecainNovember2023,wherethesubcontractorwasslatedtoearn$49,643.36,accordingtothefiling.Later,GlassDoctorwastaskedwithreplacingdamagedglassinstalledbyanothersubcontractorforanadditional$18,487.77.
However,GlassDoctorsaysthepaymentsneverarrived.
PlaintiffsinsteadpaintedapictureofAztecagoingoutoftheirwaytoavoidprovidingthepayments,claimingtheprojectwas“notbuiltpursuanttowrittenplans”andback-chargingGlassDoctortofixworkdonebyathirdparty.
FortBendCountyJudgeKPGeorgehasbeenindictedonmisdemeanorchargesrelatedtofakedracistmessagesonsocialmediabutcouldfacefelonychargesoveranallegedattempttohideevidence.
AgrandjuryindictedGeorgelastThursdayinrelationtoaschemeincollaborationwithTaralPatel,hisformerchiefofstaffandnowDemocraticcandidateforcountycommissioner.Patelwasindictedonfourfelonyandfourmisdemeanorchargesafterinvestigatorstiedhimtofakesocialmediaandemailaccountsusedtomakeoffensivepostsandcirculatefalsifiedpolls.
MoreTrumpassassinationdetailsemerge,theIsrael-Hezbollahfrontremainsspicy,ahugeRussianammodumpblewuprealgood,moreopenbordersshenanigansfromtheBiden-Harrisjunta,morewokeTolkiengarbage,andChinatriestopassoffthemostadorablefakepandas.
SenatorJoshHawley(R.,Mo.)releasedawhistleblowerreportMondayonthelaw-enforcementfailuresleadinguptotheassassinationattemptonformerpresidentDonaldTrumptwomonthsago.ThereportwasreleasedonedayafterasuspectwasapprehendedinFloridafortryingtokillTrumponhisgolfcourseinFlorida.
TheSecretService’sfailurestosecureTrump’scampaignrallyinButler,Pa.,onJuly13wereextensiveandconstitutedoneofthemostconsequentialsecuritydebaclesinU.S.history.Chiefamongthemwaslawenforcement’sapparentchoicetoleavetherooftopoftheAmericanGlassResearch(AGR)buildingunguarded,allegedlybecauseofheat,beforegunmanThomasMatthewCrooksclimbedatopthebuildingtocarryouttheattack,Hawley’sreportstates.
ThereportisbasedonwhistleblowerallegationsbroughttohisofficeinthewakeofCrooks’srampage.Beforethereportwaspublished,HawleysentmultipleletterstoHomelandSecuritySecretaryAlejandroMayorkas,questioninghimaboutthemostshockingdetailsfromthewhistleblowerswhocontactedhisoffice.
OverseeingtheSecretService’ssecurityoperationsattherallywasanunnamedleadagentwhoapparentlyhasahistoryofincompetenceandwhodirectedtheplacementofcertainitemsaroundthestageoftheTrumprallythatimpairedvisibility.Theindividualisallegedlyknowntobealow-qualityagentandfailedanexaminationonthewaytobecomingaSecretServiceagent.
SecretServiceintelligenceunitswerenotattheButlerrally.Iftheyhadbeenthere,theycouldhavepreventedormitigatedthecommunicationbreakdownbetweenfederalandlocallawenforcement,Hawley’sreportsays,amajorallegationthathehasnotpreviouslypublicized.
Aheadoftherally,theSecretService’scounter-surveillancedivisiondidnotconductitstypicalinspectionofthesiteanddidnothaveapresenceattheButlercampaignrally.AwhistleblowertoldHawley’sofficethatthecounter-surveillancedivisionwouldhavearrestedCrooksforcarryingarangefinder.ThesamewhistleblowerallegesthatactingdirectorRonRowepersonallyrequestedcutstothecounter-surveillancedivision,aclaimRowehasdenied.
AtacongressionalhearinginJuly,RoweadmittedtotheSecretService’smistakesonthedayoftheTrumprally,includingadecisiontorejectanofferfromlocallawenforcementfordronesupportaftertheSecretServicewasunabletoflyitsown.Hoursbeforetheshooting,CrooksflewadronearoundtheperimeteroftheTrumprallyforroughly11minutes,theFBIhasdetermined.
Accordingtothereport,awhistleblowerwithdirectknowledgeoftheButlerplanningprocesssaidthattherallywasnotslatedtoreceiveanyadditionalsecuritybecauseTrumpisnotasittingpresidentorvicepresident.Theseadditionalresourceswouldhaveincludedcounter-snipersandcounter-surveillancepersonnel.
TheTrumprallywasconsideredtobea“loose”securityenvironment,meaningthatDepartmentofHomelandSecuritypersonnelfailedtopolicetheareaimmediatelysurroundingthestageandwerenotplacedatintervalsaroundtheperimeter,Hawley’sreportasserts.ExtraDHSpersonnelwithoutthenecessarytrainingtoworkcampaignswerepulledawayfromthedepartment’sinvestigativeteamandreassignedtotheTrumprally,awhistleblowertoldHawley’soffice.
Uptothispoint,Hawleysays,theSecretServiceandDHShavenotansweredquestionsabouttheleadagentoverseeingtheTrumpcampaignrally,resourcesallocatedtotheTrumpcampaign,andtheSecretService’slackofcounter-snipercoverageontheAGRbuilding.
OnSunday,September15th,58-year-oldRyanRouthofHawaiishoweduptoTrumpInternationalGolfClubinWestPalmBeach,Florida,whereformerPresidentDonaldTrumpwasgolfing.
RouthreportedlyshovedthebarrelofascopedpolymerSKS-styleriflethroughthefencewiththeintenttofireatPresidentTrump,whowasseveralhundredyardsaway.
AuthoritiessayRouthalsohadaGoProcamera,aswellastwobackpackscontainingceramictilethathehadhungonthefence(atypeofballisticsarmorismadeofceramictile).
SecretServiceagentssawRouthandfiredathim.HeescapedinablackNissanbeforegettingarrestedbylocalpoliceonI-95thankstoaphotographtakenbyabystander.
AprofileforRyanRouthonXdatestoJanuary2020,wherehepostedarangeofpassionateopinionsonissuesincludingBlackLivesMatter,TaiwanesesovereigntyandsupportingUkraineinthewarwithRussia.
ObviouslyhesupportedPalestiniansandhatedIsrael.
AccordingtoFoxNews,RouthspentthemajorityofhislifeinNorthCarolina,whereheownedacompanycalledUnitedRoofing.
RouthreportedlydonatedtoActBlue,amajorDemocraticcampaignfund,atleast19times.
UkrainianmilitaryrecruitersappeartohavespottedalmostimmediatelythatMrRouth,whohadalongcriminalrecord,wasnotpromisingmaterial.
AccordingtoaninterviewthathelatergavetotheFinancialTimes,hewasrejectedforservicewhenhefirstreportedtoaLegionofficeonthePolishborderatthewar’soutset.
“Theysaid:‘You’re56,you’reoldandyouhavenoexperience’,”hetoldthepaper.“Sowhydon’tyourecruitandcoordinate”
Ifthatiswhattheytoldhim,theyprobablyintendedhimdoingsohavingreturnedhimselfsafelybacktotheUS.Undeterred,however,MrRouthcontinuedontoKyiv,wherehebecameafamiliar–iflessthanwelcome–faceontheLegion’sfringes.
ThereweremanysuchcranksinKyivatthetime,latchingontothewartoposeasinternationalmenofactionandboastingofhigh-levelcontactsinthePentagonorCIA.
RegularLegionnairesdidtheirbesttoavoidthem,referringtothemvariouslyas“CallofDutyWarriors”,“Volun-tourists”and“Screamers”–thelatterareferencetotheirreactionifcomingunderfire.
Buttherewaslittletostopthempromotingthemselvesonsocialmedia,asMrRouthdidprolifically,claimingtobeanactiverecruiterfortheLegionranks.
“Anygender,anyage,anyskillleveltonoskilllevel,”heclaimedtoNewsweekin2022.“Yeah,ifyouwannafight,comeandseemeandI’llputyouinaunitsoyoucangofight.”
ThePennsylvaniaSupremeCourthasdeterminedthatthetwobiggestcountiesinthestatedonothavetocountmail-inballotsthathaveeitherthewrongdateornodatewhereindicatedontheouterenvelope.Therulingwas4to3,withthose3justiceswritingadissentinthecase.
Inpractice,thismeansthatinthecomingpresidentialelection,officialswillnotcountanyballotsthatareeithermisdatedorundatedballots.Thejurisdictionissuecouldbeaddressedbytheplaintiffsinthecasebeforetheelection.TheplaintiffsarelistedasBlackPoliticalEmpowermentProject,PowerInterfaith,MaketheRoadPennsylvania,OnePAActivists,NewPAProjectEducationFund,CasaSanJose,PittsburghUnited,LeagueofWomenVotersofPennsylvaniaandCommonCausePennsylvania.
InascathingrevelationbeforeCongress,formerSanDiegoSectorBorderPatrolChiefAaronHeitkeaccusedtheBiden-HarrisadministrationofcoveringupasharpriseinencounterswithsuspectedterroristsattheU.S.-Mexicoborder.
“IwastoldIcouldnotreleaseanyinformationonthisincreaseinSIAsormentionanyofthearrests,”Heitketestified.“Theadministrationwastryingtoconvincethepublictherewasnothreatattheborder.”
AccordingtoHeitke,arrestsofindividualswithterrortiesskyrocketedunderPresidentJoeBiden’swatch.TheformerBorderPatrolchiefrevealedthatbefore2021,hissectorhadapprehendedbetween10to15SIAsannually.By2022,thatnumberhadshotuptoover100,withevenmorerecordedin2023.
“Oncewordwasoutthattheborderwasfareasiertocross,SanDiegowenttoover100SIAsin2022,welloverthatin2023,andevenmorethanthatregisteredthisyear.Theseareonlytheoneswecaught,”
Trumpistryingto"stealyourdemocracy"byrunningforoffice.
Meanwhile,Democratsare...
Importingmillionsoffakeasylumseekerstopoliticalbattlegroundstatestocreateone-partyDemocratrule.
PacktheSupremeCourttoremoveitasaseparatebranchofgovernment.…
Foryears,BeijinghasbeendeepeningitsholdonAmerica,drawingintelligencefromtheU.S.governmentwhilesilencingcriticswiththehelpofagentsembeddedinU.S.society.
TheUnitedStatesisnowhittingback—andseeingresults,accordingtoexperts.
InearlySeptember,prosecutorsarrestedLindaSun,formeraidetoNewYorkGov.KathyHochul,accusingherofactingonbehalfofBeijinginexchangeforgiftsandpayoutsvaluedinmillionsofdollarstoherfamily.
Therehasalsobeenamarkedincreaseintherateofconvictionsorpleasinrecentmonths.TheJusticeDepartmenthasbroughtforthdozensofCCP-directedespionageandforeignagentcasesinthepastfouryears,resultinginatleast13convictionsorpleas,withmorethanhalfofthosetakingplacethisyear—includingthreeinthepastmonth.anEpochTimesreviewofthecourtrecordsshow.
OnAug.6,aChineseAmericanscholarposingasapro-democracyactivistwasconvictedbyajuryforspyingondissidentsfortheCCP.
OnAug.13,aU.S.armyintelligenceanalystfromTexaspleadedguiltytosellingmilitarysecretstotheCCP.
OnAug.23,asoftwareengineerwhoworkedtwodecadesatVerizonpleadedguiltytogatheringintelligenceoncountlessdissidentsandorganizationstargetedbytheCCPsince2012.
Casedocumentsrevealabroadrangeofcriminalactionstakenbyagents,oftendifferentfromwhatmostmayimaginetobespying.Beyondindustrialespionageandcovertinfluencecampaigns,theregimehasdirectedhackerrings,includingagroupthatwaschargedandsanctionedthisyearforwaginga14-yearcampaignontheUnitedStates.
“Ifeelthatournationmusttakeeveryopportunitytostopthesethreats,”Rep.DonBacon(R-Neb.),chairofthecybersecuritysubcommitteefortheHouseArmedServicesCommittee,toldTheEpochTimes,notingthattheU.S.intelligencecommunityhasidentifiedBeijingasthenumberonethreattotheUnitedStates.
BaconhasexperiencedChineseespionageattemptsfirsthand.Lastyear,hewashackedbyCCP-linkedhackerswhoalsobrokeintoemailsystemsofStateandCommercedepartmentofficialsanddozensofothergroups.
“CanweeversaythatwhateveractionswearetakingareenoughIdon’tbelievesoasthethreatsareincreasinginfrequency,sophistication,andnationalsecurityimpact,”Baconsaid.
TheCCPhaslongtargetedpeopleofChinesedescent—ofwhomtherearemorethan60millionpeopleoutsideChina—aspotentialassetsinitsintelligenceoperations.
AmongthosechargedbytheDOJintheforeignagentcasesareofficialsoftheCCP’stopintelligencegatheringagencyMinistryofStateSecurity(MSS),ChinesecitizenstravelingtotheUnitedStatesunderfalsepretenses,hackersresidinginAsiancountries;aswellasasylees,permanentresidents,andU.S.citizensofChinesedescent.
SomeresideintheUnitedStateswhiledozensofotherschargedareknowntoresideinChina,andwillnowfacearrestiftheyeversetfootonAmericansoil.
TherearealsomanywhoareU.S.citizensthataren’tofChinesedescent.Theyincludeactivemilitarymembers,formerlawenforcement,andexpertsincompetitivefields.
AnIsraeliairstrikeinBeirutkilledseniorHezbollahmilitaryofficialIbrahimAkilonFriday,IsraeliDefenseForcesannounced.AlthoughHezbollahhasnotconfirmedthereports,Lebaneseofficialssaidearlierinthedaythatthestrikekilledatleasteightandwounded59.
IsraeliDefenseForcesreportedlytargetedtworesidentialbuildingsinsouthernBeirut.AkilistheheadofHezbollah’sRadwanForceandJihadCouncil,andissanctionedbytheU.S.DepartmentofStateforplayingaroleinthe1983bombingoftheU.S.embassyinBeirut,inwhichasuicidebombermurdered63people,including52embassyemployees.TheStateDepartmentdesignatedAkilaSpeciallyDesignatedGlobalTerroristin2019,andofferedarewardof“upto$7millionforinformation”abouttheHezbollahleader.
Good.BurninHell,terroristscumbag.
NEW:Chinazooforcedtoadmitthetruthafteroneoftheir“pandas”startedpantingandbarking.
TheShanweizooadmitstheypainteddogswhiteandblacktomakethemlooklikepandas.
HappyFridaythe13th!HarriscontinuestoslipbehindTrumpdespite(because)oftheirdebateonthenetworkofherBestFriendForever,HaitianimmigrantsinOhioaccusedofeatingroofrabbit,TexasblastsBidenAdministrationoverreach(again),ConorMcGregorstepsintoadifferentkindofring,aworsethanusualremakeidea,andAmericancatsmeetavarietyofgrislyends.
It’snotsurprisingthatthesnappolling,includingbygroupsthatconservativestrust,likeTrafalgar,isshowingthatHarris“won”thedebate.AndIthinkthat’strue.Shewasmorepolished,moreprepared;shehadhercannedbarbs.Butthere’ssomethingstrangegoingonhere.Whileshewonthedebate,Democratsalwayscomeacrossinsnappollingaswinningthedebates.IsawpeoplesharingonXthehistoryofsnappollingafterdebateswithDonaldTrump,firstwithHillaryandthenwithBiden.Ineveryoneofthosedebates—sixintotal—clearmajoritiessaidthatTrumplostthedebate.I’mnotsurewhattoreadintothat.
So,itwasangeratthemoderators,frustrationthatTrumpwasn’tmakingalotofthepointsIthoughthecouldhavemade,buthewasbeingTrump.AndI’vemisjudgedhisappealtovotersandhiselectoralsuccesssomanytimes,soitiswhatitis.
Butthere’ssomethingelseItookawayfromthis—andit’sshowingonthescreenjusttothesideofmehere.OnethingIreallynoticedthroughoutwasthefacesthatHarriswasmaking—verycondescending,verymocking,verychildish,actually.Ithinkthat’stheonethingIremembermorethananythingaboutthedebate.
Now,IthinkTrumpdidaverygoodjob,eventhoughhedidn’tmakethepointsIthoughthecouldhave,likeshowinghowsheflip-flopped.Hehithardontheborderandtheeconomy,andIthinkthatmayhavealastingimpact.
What’sshowingupinthefocusgroups—onesI’veseennotbyright-winggroups,butCNN,Reuters,NBC—thereseemstobeadisconnectbetweenwhotheythinkwonthedebateandhowthey’rereactingsubstantively.
Trafalgarwasconsistentwiththeothers,showinga15-pointwinforHarrisintermsofwhowonthedebate,butnomovementinwhopeopleweregoingtovotefor.CNNwasinteresting—theyhadanevenlarger,20-plus-pointwinforHarris,butfoundthatonthekeyissue—voters’mostimportantissue—theeconomy,Trumpactuallyimprovedoverpre-debatepolling.SimilarfindingscamefromReutersandNBC.
DanaWalden,aseniorDisneyexecutivewhoseportfolioincludesABCNews,isoneofVicePresidentKamalaHarris’“extraordinaryfriends,”accordingtoareportintheNewYorkTimes.
WaldenandHarrishaveknowneachothersince1994,whiletheirhusbands,MattWaldenandDougEmhoff,haveknowneachothersincethe1980s.
DanaWaldenhasdonatedtodozensofDemocratsandcontributedtoHarris’politicalcampaignssinceatleast2003,whensheranfordistrictattorneyinSanFrancisco.
Whilethelegacymediahasyettofindanyevidenceofpetconsumptionthatit’swillingtoaccept,therearesomemuchlargerissuesregardingthecrisisthathasbeencreatedinSpringfieldthroughtheimportationofnearly20,000Haitianillegals.
FormerOhioStateRepresentativeKyleKoehlerhassoundedawarningregardingtheconsequencesthathavefollowedtheBidenadministration’spolicythatgavetemporaryprotectedstatustomorethan100,000Haitianmigrants,includingthoserelocatedtoSpringfield.
BREAKING:
AmongtheconcernsraisedbyKoehlerarethestrainonthelocalschoolsystemwithmorethan1,600non-EnglishspeakingstudentsnowenrolledandHaitianrefugeeswhoare20yearsoldbeingplacedFreshmanHighSchoolclassroomswith13yearoldkids.
Koehleralsovoicedconcernoveranindividualwhoisrentinghis63homestotherelocatedHaitiansforaslittleas$250permonth,with20-25individualslivingineachhome.
SenatorJ.D.Vance(R-OH)hasalsoweighedinonthecontroversy,sayingthathetoohasheardfromSpringfieldresidentscomplainingthatpetsandwildlifewerebeingabductedandthathealthservicesarebeingseverelystrainedbyaninfluxofindividualswithcommunicablediseaseslikeTBandHIV.
Thecommunityof60,000residentsisclearlyfacingseriousissuesrelatedtotheopenborderpoliciesofJoeBidenandKamalaHarris.
WhentalesofHaitianimmigrantseatingcatsemergedonsocialmediathisweek,itsuddenlyfocusedattentiononthecityofSpringfield,Ohio,butnowwearelearningthere’smoretothestory:
“Those20,000Haitiansdidnotshowupovernightoruninvited.Thoughflowninbythefederalgovernment,theywerenotforcedonthecitybythefederalgovernment.Electionshaveconsequences.Springfieldvotedforthis.Theysignaledtheirvirtue,theirsignalwasseen,andvirtuearrived.Thisiswhattheywanted.Thisiswhattheygot.They’llhavetodealwiththeconsequences.”
(Hat-tip:StephenGreenatInstapundit.)Muchcommentaryhasfocusedonwhetherit’struethatpetsarebeingkilledandeatenbytheHaitians,butthat’snotreallythepoint.ThepointiswhySpringfieldbecamethedestinationforthousandsofHaitians(whomayormaynoteatcats).
It’salongstory.Firstofall,you’llfindliberalsinsistingthattheseHaitiansarenotillegalimmigrants.Researchfurther,however,andyoulearnthatmostofthementeredthecountryillegally,crossingtheU.S.-MexicoborderaftermakingtheirwaythroughCentralAmerica.AfterHaitidescendedintoitslatestcrisis,theBidenadministrationgrantedTemporaryProtectedStatus(TPS)toallHaitiansintheU.S.,soyoumaysaythattheyhavebeenretroactively(buttemporarily)“legalized.”
Nowlet’stalkaboutSpringfield,whichisa“blue”islandofliberalisminaseaofRepublican“red.”Ohiowasonceabattlegroundstate,closelycontestedineverypresidentialelection,andthenTrumpcamealongandtheBuckeyeStatehasnowbecomeaGOPstronghold.Springfieldwasacityof58,662residentsbeforetheHaitianinflux,andthecitysitsinClarkCounty(population136,000)whichvoted61%forTrumpin2020.
Youseethat,iftheDemocratscanturntheseHaitiansintovoters,theycanmakeClarkCounty“blue,”andasimilarcalculusisbeingappliednationwidebytheBidenadministration’simmigrationpolicy.Democratsinsistthatthe“GreatReplacement”isaright-wingconspiracytheory,butwecanseethemdoingit—blatantly,deliberately,infrontofoureyes—inplaceslikeSpringfield.AndthisbringsustothelateWarrenCopeland.
Formostofthepastthreedecades,CopelandwasthemayorofSpringfield.HewasaprofessoratWittenbergUniversity,alocalinstitutionaffiliatedwiththeEvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica(ELCA).AnyonewhoknowsanythingabouttheELCAwilltellyouitisthepluperfectexampleofdegenerateliberalProtestantism.“TheELCAhasdriftedsofarintopagangoddessworshipthattocallit‘Lutheranism’isaninsulttoLuther;tocallit‘Christian’isblasphemy,”asIwrotein2016.Copelandwasaradicalobsessedwith“socialjustice,”andthefactthatSpringfieldrepeatedlyelectedhimastheirmayortellsyousomethingaboutthepoliticsofthecity.Indeed,SpringfieldeagerlywelcomedtheinfluxofHaitians.ReadthisarticlefromDecember2022:
AsurgeinthenumberofSpringfieldresidentsfromHaitihasresultedinanoutpouringoflanguageassistanceandadditionalformsofhelpfromtheSpringfieldCitySchoolDistrictandotherswhoaretryingtomeettheirneeds.
SocialJusticedestroyseverythingittouches.
ForthefirsttimeinEUhistory,Germanyisattheforefrontofimmigrationsuspension.OtherEUcountrieswillfollow.
ReutersreportsGermanyTightensControlsatAllBordersinImmigrationCrackdown.
Germany’sgovernmentannouncedplanstoimposetightercontrolsatallofthecountry’slandbordersinwhatitcalledanattempttotackleirregularmigrationandprotectthepublicfromthreatssuchasIslamistextremism.
Thecontrolswithinwhatisnormallyawideareaoffreemovement–theEuropeanSchengenzone–willstartonSept.16andinitiallylastforsixmonths,InteriorMinisterNancyFaesersaidonMonday.
ThegovernmenthasalsodesignedaschemeenablingauthoritiestorejectmoremigrantsdirectlyatGermanborders,Faesersaid,withoutaddingdetailsonthecontroversialandlegallyfraughtmove.
TherestrictionsarepartofaseriesofmeasuresGermanyhastakentotoughenitsstanceonirregularmigrationinrecentyearsfollowingasurgeinarrivals,inparticularpeoplefleeingwarandpovertyintheMiddleEast.
Recentdeadlyknifeattacksinwhichthesuspectswereasylumseekershavestokedconcernsoverimmigration.TheIslamicStategroupclaimedresponsibilityforaknifeattackinthewesterncityofSolingenthatkilledthreepeopleinAugust.
Pollsshowitisalsovoters’topconcerninthestateofBrandenburg,whichissettoholdelectionsintwoweeks.
ScholzandFaeser’scentre-leftSocialDemocrats(SPD)arefightingtoretaincontrolofthegovernmentthere,inavotebilledasatestofstrengthoftheSPDaheadofnextyear’sfederalelection.
“TheintentionofthegovernmentseemstobetoshowsymbolicallytoGermansandpotentialmigrantsthatthelatterarenolongerwantedhere,”saidMarcusEnglerattheGermanCentreforIntegrationandMigrationResearch.
Thelegislationrequiressocialmediacompaniestodisclosedetailsoftheircontentmoderationpoliciestothestateorfacecivilpenalties.
Forfreespeechadvocates,weoftenfeelthatothercitizenshavebecomepassiveobserversasananti-freespeechmovementgrowsaroundus,threateningour“indispensableright.”
OneofthemostinfamousfiguresinthismovementhasbeenformerBritishPrimeMinisterTonyBlair,whohaslongbeenthesmilingfaceofcensorship.AstheheadoftheLabourParty,BlairpushedthroughsomeoftheearlycrackdownsonfreespeechintheUnitedKingdom.Heisnowcallingforglobalcensorshiptoexpandtheseefforts.
InaninterviewonLBCRadio,Blairdeclared:
“Theworldisgoingtohavetocometogetherandagreeonsomerulesaroundsocialmediaplatforms.It’snotjusthowpeoplecanprovokehostilityandhatredbutIthink…theimpactonyoungpeopleparticularlywhenthey’vegotaccesstomobilephonesveryyoungandtheyarereadingawholelotofstuffandreceivingawholelotofstuffthatIthinkisreallymessingwiththeirmindsinabigway.”
IaminreceiptofaletterfromtheU.S.sectionoftheInternationalBoundaryandWaterCommission(IBWC)totheTexasGeneralLandOffice(GLO)…giventhatitconcernsactionstakenunderOperationLoneStartosecureTexas’southernborderaroundFrontonIslandagainsttheongoinginvasionofTexasbytransnationalcriminalcartels—acrisiscreatedandincentivizedbyyourAdministration,”Abbottwrote.
Abbottaddedthattheletter“allegesthatGLOhasalteredtheflowoftheRioGrandebyengaginginactivitiesonFrontonIslandwithoutUSIBWC’sapproval.”
“Italsoallegesthat[the]GLOtrespassedonfederallandintheprocessoffacilitatingcleanupandsecurityeffortsontheIsland…Thatagencyrespondedinaletter…detailingthatGLOhasnotengagedinconstructionactivitiesatall,and,inanyevent,FrontonIslandisstate-ownedland.”
AbbottthenrespondedtotheUnitedStatesSectionoftheInternationalBoundaryandWaterCommissionerMaria-ElenaGiner’srequestthatFrontonIslandbereturnedtoitspre-constructionconditions:“Youareeitherunawareof,orindifferentto,whatthose‘pre-constructionconditions’were.”
BeforeTexassecuredFrontonIsland,Abbottwrote,“[T]ransnationalcriminalcartelshadassumedpracticalcontrolofthedenselyvegetatedIslandandusedittoterrorizeTexascommunities.”
Herecountedoccasionswhenauthoritiesfoundthecriminalcartelstobeusingthe“thickvegetation”to“stashweapons,plantexplosives,evadeapprehension,andengageinopenwarfareagainstrivalcartelsandagainststateandfederalofficers.”
“AreyouawarethatyourappointeeisaskingTexastoreturngrenadesandrocketlaunchersalongwithIEDstotheIsland”heaskedtheBidenadministration.
Abbottcontinued,“Youropen-borderpolicieshaveallowedaninvasionatthesouthernborderandincentivizedcriminalactivitythatthreatensthelivesofTexaslawenforcement,soldiers,andcitizens.”
“Yet…thefederalgovernmenthasrefusedtoenforcefederallaws—evenindangerousareaslikeFrontonIsland.”
“IdeterminedthatTexascouldnotignoreanongoinginvasionofitssovereignterritory,”AbbottsaidofhisdecisiononOctober5,2023tomovea“heavilyarmedinvasionforce”ontoFrontonIsland.
HethenaddressedUSIBWC’scomplaintthatTexashadbuilt“twosedimentbridges.”
“YourAdministration’sletterbetraysabasicmisunderstandingoffactsontheground,anditsclaimsareunsupportedbyeitherscienceorcommonsense.”
ThefakeKamalabubbleevaporates,anotherwould-beTrumpassassinisarrested,moreChinesespiesonthestaffofhighprofileDemocrats,moreNYCcorruptionraids,UkrainiandronesheatthingsuparoundMoscow,IntelandStellantislayoffthousandseach,anotherHarrisCountyDemocratdouble-dips,abitaboutIdaho,andsomereallystupidsailorshenanigans.
Inthefriendliestpossibleformat—ajointinterviewwithVPnomineeandemotional-supportmidwesternerTimWalz,conductedbyDanaBashwiththedelicacyofanornithologistgentlyhand-feedinghatchlingchicks—Harrishasrevealedthathergaseouslymindlessword-cloudofacampaignisinfactanaccuratereflectionofherownpersonalvacuousness.
Tobesure,Harrisdidnotmemorablyself-destructtonight.Whateverherfailings,theyarenotthoseofJoeBiden,whocouldn’tevenarticulatehiswordswithoutslurringbytheend.HerinarticulatenesstonightwasofthesortalreadyknowntobeaHarristrademark,theendlessjumbleofnonsensical,comicallyvapidstocklanguage.Whenshecouldfallbackonamemorizedlistoftalkingpoints,shepresentedsomewhatnormally;thesecondshewasrequiredtoresponddirectlytoaquestion,thenshebegantospinoutotiosenonsenselikeapastachefcateringaSicilianbanquet.Youcouldpracticallyseethegearsturninginsideherheadasshecasthereyesdownward,staredlaser-beamsintothefloor,andgropedforcliches.Shewasmoremutedtonightthanusual—heraidesclearlyorderedhernevertodisplaymirthunderanycircumstances,forfeartheKamalaKacklemightemerge—andasaresult,whileshesimulatedsobrietyforthemostpart,herbodylanguagewaspronouncedlydownbeat.
Andallthroughoutsheofferednoanswerstoanypolicyquestionswhatsoever,noranyexplanationforhervariouschangesofpositionbetween2020andnow.Intheory,Bashaskedmostofthe“rightquestions”;inpractice,thewayshesolicitouslyaskedthem—sometimesevenhelpfullyofferinginadvanceamultiple-choicelistofacceptableanswersforHarristochoosefrom—turnedthemintocreampuffsthatHarrisimmediatelyusedtoserveupwordsalad.
Bash’smostpointedmomentwaswhenshepushedHarrisaboutwhyshechangedherpositiononanationalfrackingbanbetween2020andthepresentcampaign.Harris’sanswerwaslittlemorethan,“Well,becauseIchangedmymindwhenIbecameJoeBiden’sVP.”Intherealworld,anyonefamiliarwithpoliticswellunderstoodthather“position”changedbecauseJoeBiden—thepresidentialnominee—demandedit,andnootherreason.Whichofcourseiswhyit’simpossibletobelieveherwhenshesaysthisisnowhersincerelyheldview,asopposedtosomethingtolaterbediscardedonceshecansetherownpriorities.
CHRISWILLIAMSON:Whenwespokeatthestartoftheyear,IsaiditwaswaytooclosetoNovembertoswitchanybodyout.TurnsoutthatIwaswrong.
CHRISWILLIAMSON:Whatdoyoumeanbythat
ERICWEINSTEIN:Ithinkthere’saremarkablestory,andwe’reinafunnygame,whichis:areweallowedtosaywhatthatstoryisBecausetosayit,toanalyzeit,tonameit,istobringitintoview.Ithinkwedon’tunderstandwhythecensorshipisbehavingthewayitis.Wedon’tunderstandwhyit’sintheshadowsorwhyournewsisactinginabizarrefashion.Solet’sjustsetthestage,giventhatthatwasinFebruary.
ThereissomethingthatIthinkMikeBenzhasjustreferredtoastherules-basedinternationalorder.It’saninterlockingseriesofagreements,tacitunderstandings,explicitunderstandings,andclandestineunderstandingsabouthowthemostimportantstructureskeeptheworldfreeofwarandkeepmarketsopen.Therehasbeenasysteminplace,whetherunderstoodexplicitlyorbehindthescenesorimplicitly,thatsaysthepurposeofthetwoAmericanpartiesistoprunethefieldofpopulistcandidatessothatwhatevertwocandidatesexistinafaceoffarebothacceptabletothatworldorder.
Fromthepointofviewof,say,theStateDepartment,theintelligencecommunity,thedefensedepartment,andmajorcorporationsinvolvedininternationalissues—fromarmstradeto,oh,Idon’tknow,food—theyhaveaseriesofagreementsthatarefragileandcouldbeoverturnedifapresidententeredtheOvalOfficewhodidn’tagreewiththem.Andifthemoodofthecountrywas,“WhydowepaytaxesintothesestructuresWhyarewehamstrungWhyaren’tweafreepeople”Sowhatthetwopartieswoulddoisrunprimarieswithpopulistcandidatesandpre-committhepopulistcandidatestosupportthecandidateswhowontheprimaries.Aslongasthattookplaceandyouhadtwocandidatesthatwerebothacceptabletotheinternationalorder—thatis,theyaren’tgoingtorethinkNAFTAorNATOorwhathaveyou—wecalledthatdemocracy.Andsodemocracywastheillusionofchoice,what’scalledmagician’schoice,wherethechoiceisnotactually,youknow,“pickacard,anycard,”butsomehowthemagicianmakessurethatthecardthatyoupickistheonethatheknows.
Inthatsituation,youhavemagician’schoiceintheprimaries,andthenyou’dhavetheduopolyfield:twocandidates,eitherofwhichwasacceptable,andyoucouldactuallyaffordtoholdanelection.Thatway,theinternationalorderwasn’tputatriskeveryfouryearsbecauseyoucan’thavealliancesthataresubjecttothewhimofthepeopleinplebiscites.
Underthatstructure,everythingwasgoingfineuntil2016,whenthefirstcandidateevertonotholdanypositioninthemilitarynoranypositioningovernmentinthehistoryoftheRepublic,DonaldTrump,brokethroughtheprimarystructure.Thentherewasafullcourtpress:“Okay,weonlyhaveonecandidatethat’sacceptabletotheinternationalorder.DonaldTrumpwillbeunderconstantpressure—he’saloser,he’sawildman,he’sanidiot,andhe’sundercontroloftheRussians.”Andthenhewasgoingtobe,youknow,a20-to-1underdog,andthenhewins.Therewasnoprecedentforthis.Theylearnedtheirlesson:youcannotaffordtohavecandidateswhoarenotacceptabletotheinternationalorderandcontinuetohavethesealliances.Thisisanunsolvedproblem.
AMissourimanisfacingfederalchargesfollowingaseriesofallegedviolentthreatsmadeviasocialmediaagainstformerPresidentDonaldTrump,Republicansatlarge,andlawenforcementofficers,accordingtoacriminalcomplaintfiledintheWesternDistrictofMissourionAug.30.
JustinLeeWhite,36,isaccusedofusinginterstatecommunicationtospreadaslewofonlinethreatstoinjureTrump,Republicans,andlawenforcementinviolationoffederallaw,culminatinginamulti-agencyinvestigationledbytheFBI,accordingtothecomplaint.
Trumphasopenlycriticizedthepollresults.“It’sfakenews,”TrumpdeclaredduringarallyinMichigan.“Theycanmakethosepollssing.”
LindaSun,aformeraidetoNewYorkgovernorKathyHochul,actedatthedirectionofChinesegovernmentandChineseCommunistPartyofficialswhileservinginstategovernment,federalprosecutorsallegedinanindictmentTuesday.
Inastatement,theU.S.attorney’sofficeintheEasternDistrictofNewYorksaidthatSunwasarrestedTuesdaymorningwithherhusband,ChristopherHu.Theywereexpectedtobearraignedlaterintheday.
SunisaformerdeputychiefofstafftoKathyHochulandhasservedinnumerousrolesthroughoutNewYorkStategovernmentsinceherfirstpostundertheadministrationofformergovernorAndrewCuomoin2012.Beforethat,sheservedasRepresentativeGraceMeng’schiefofstaff,whentheQueensDemocratservedintheNewYorkStateassembly.
“Asalleged,whileappearingtoservethepeopleofNewYorkasdeputychiefofstaffwithintheNewYorkStateExecutiveChamber,thedefendantandherhusbandactuallyworkedtofurthertheinterestsoftheChinesegovernmentandtheCCP,”U.S.AttorneyBreonPeacesaid.
ThefederalgovernmentisallegingthatSunwasanunregisteredagentoftheChinesegovernmentandthatherhusbandengagedinmoney-launderingwhiletheybenefitedfrommillionsofdollarsinbribesfromChineseofficials.
TheindictmentdetailsashockingpatternofcollaborationwithChina’sconsulategeneralinNewYork,withSunatonepointin2020lettingaChinesediplomatlisteninonaprivateconferencecallforNewYorkofficialsregardingthestategovernment’sresponsetotheCovidpandemic.
Chinese-governmentandCCPofficialsdirectedhertoblockTaiwaneseofficialsfromengagingwithofficialsfromNewYork.BeijingviewsthecurrentgovernmentofTaiwanasatraitorousseparatistmovementandwantstoannexthecountry.
Accordingtocourtdocuments,Taiwan’sdefactoconsulateinNewYorkCityinvitedanunnamedpolitician,adescriptionthatmatchestheprofileofthen-governorAndrewCuomo,toattendabanquethonoringthen-TaiwanesepresidentTsaiIng-wenduringherstopoverinthecityin2019.SunforwardedinformationabouttheinvitetoaChineseofficial,tellingthatindividual,“Isentyouanemail/JustanFYI/Ialreadyblockedit.”ShethendeclinedtheinvitationwithoutconsultingotherNewYorkexecutivechamberofficials.
WhenSunlateraskedacolleaguetocheckifthepoliticianwasregisteredforthebanquet,thatstaffmembersaidthatitwasnotontheschedule.Sunreplied:“Perfect!”
ShealsomanipulatedmessagingfromtheNewYorkgovernor’soffice,whileconsultingChinesediplomats,theindictmentstated.
FederalagentsonWednesdayzeroedinonthehighestranksofMayorEricAdams’sadministration,searchingahomeandseizingthephonesoftheNewYorkCitypolicecommissioner,thefirstdeputymayor,theschoolschancellorandothers,accordingtopeoplewithknowledgeofthematter.
Thepolicecommissioner.Theyseizedthepolicecommissioner’sphones.Wow.
Amongtheotherofficialsthefederalinvestigatorssoughtinformationfromwerethedeputymayorforpublicsafetyandasenioradvisertothemayorwhoisoneofhisclosestconfidants,thepeoplesaid.Bothmenhavehadotherlegalchallenges.
Theagentsalsosearchedthehomeandseizedthephoneofaconsultantwhoisthebrotherofboththeschoolschancellorandoneofthedeputymayors,thepeoplesaid.
Thenatureoftheinvestigationsisunclear,butitappearsthatoneisfocusedontheseniorCityHallofficialsandtheothertouchesonthepolicecommissioner,thepeoplesaid.…RepresentativesoftheCityHallofficials—thefirstdeputymayor,SheenaWright;herpartner,SchoolsChancellorDavidC.Banks;thedeputymayorforpublicsafety,PhilipBanksIII;andasenioradvisertothemayor,TimothyPearson—couldnotbereachedordeclinedtocomment.
Theconsultant,TerenceBanks,abrotherofPhilipBanksandDavidBanks,recentlyopenedagovernmentandcommunityrelationsfirmaimedatclosingagap“betweenNewYork’sintricateinfrastructureandpoliticallandscape.”He,too,couldnotbereachedforcomment.
Severaloftheofficialshadtheirphonesseizedorrecordsoftheircommunicationssubpoenaed.…Inadditiontothepolicecommissioner,EdwardA.Caban,severalotherdepartmentofficials,includingMr.Caban’schiefofstaffandtwoQueensprecinctcommanders,alsohadtheirphonestakenbyfederalagents,twoofthepeoplesaid.
TheheadofHarrisCounty’sPublicHealthDepartment,whowasfiredlastweek,hasalsobeenworkingforaCaliforniacountysincelastJanuary.QuestionsareswirlingaboutherworkinTexas,includingherroleinawardingacontractforsendingmentalhealthworkersinsteadofpoliceonsome911calls.
Sourcesalsosaythereisapendingcriminalinvestigationintothecounty’shealthdepartmentandrelatedcontracts.
CountyofficialsannouncedlastFridaythatExecutiveDirectorofHarrisCountyPublicHealthBarbieRobinsonhadbeendismissed,justdaysaftertheHoustonChroniclereportedoncommunicationssurroundinga$6millioncontractawardedtoDEMA,aCalifornia-basedcompany,torunthecounty’sHolisticAssistanceResponseTeams(HART).
TheTexanhaslearnedthatinJanuary2024,RobinsonalsocontractedwithYubaCounty,Californiatoprovideservicesforathree-yearperiod.Robinson’sworkforYubaCounty’spublichealthdepartmentprovidesherwithnearly$200,000incompensationforhundredsofhoursofwork,allwhilemanagingHarrisCounty’spublichealthdepartment.
SourcesfamiliarwiththemattersaythatRobinsonclaimedtohaveobtainedapprovalfromformerCountyAdministratorDavidBerryandtheCountyAttorney’sOfficetoengageintheadditionalwork,butthatcurrentCountyAdministratorDianaRamirezwasunabletoconfirmRobinson’sclaims.
OthersourcesindicatethattheHarrisCountyDistrictAttorney’sOffice(HCDAO)hasbeeninvestigatingRobinsonandnearlyadozenotherindividualswiththecounty,HART,andDEMAforseveralmonths.
Thisweek,theMcLennanCountyDistrictAttorney’sOfficedismissedmurderchargesagainsttwoHoustonmeninvolvedintheself-defenseincidentatapartyneartheBaylorUniversitycampus,finallydeterminingitwasajustifiablehomicide.WhilethatwasgoodnewstoCalvinNicholsJr.,ithardlymakesupforthe635daysthemanspentlockedupinjailwhiletheDA’sofficeslowlydraggeditsfeetoverthecase.
Accordingtopolicereports,onthenightinquestionNicholsandhiscousin,JaytronDamonScott,wereinvitedtoapartyattendedbyanumberofBaylorstudents,includingfootballplayers.Accordingtopartygoers,JosephCraigThomasJr.showedupuninvitedandbeganthreateningotherswithagun,includingafemalestudentwhoaskedhimtomovehiscar.
HelaterstuckagununderthechinofaBaylorfootballplayer.AndwhenScottandNicholswereleavingtheparty,ThomasbegantopistolwhipNichols.
That’swhenScott,actingindefenseofhiscousin,firedhispistolatThomas,strikinghimmultipletimesandkillinghim.MurderchargeswerethenfiledagainstScottandNichols,afactthatScott’sattorney,BryanCantrell,foundunbelievable.
“Idon’tknowhowthiscasegotindicted,”CantrelltoldKWTX.com.“Thiswastheclearestself-defensecaseIhaveeverseen.AndIthinktheproblemisalotofattorneysand,certainlythepeopleofthecommunity,don’tunderstandthelawofself-defense.”
TheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureispreparingtoimplementtheBiden-Harrisadministration’sSustainsActwhichaimstoregulatewhowillownenvironmentalservices.
Accordingtoprivatepropertyrightsadvocates,AmericanStewardsofLiberty(ASL),examplesofenvironmentalservicesinclude“theairwebreathe,photosynthesis,pollination,andeventhehealthbenefitsofopenspace.”
Specifically,thenewlawallowsprivatefundstobeusedforconservationeffortsonprivateland.TheUSDAwilloverseetheprogram,andtheSecretary,preparingitsimplementation,willalsodecidewhoownstheenvironmentalservice.
AlthoughthepublicmaystillprovidetheUSDAwithcommentsabouttheplanuntilSeptember16,2024,ASLreferstothenewlawas“criticalforproponentsoftheUnitedNations’sustainabledevelopmentagendatoachieve.”
Theprivatepropertyrightsadvocatesseetheprogramasameansto“providethepathtotransferAmerica’srealassetsfromprivatecitizenstofederalandinternationalinterests.”
ScrewboththeBidenAdministrationandtheUN.
Hetold…that,“over50%ofourrosteriswhitereligious,andGodsays,‘F—thegays.’Theirinterpretation.Idon’tbuyanyofthat.Anotherbigchunkislow-incomeAfricanAmericansthatcomesfromacommunitythatisinherentlyveryhomophobic.”
Enteenalsosaid,“Idon’tthinkthecommissioneroftheNFLhatesgaypeople,hatesblackpeople.JerryJones,whoreallyrunstheNFL,Ithinkhehatesgaypeople,blackpeople.”
MorebadBidenRecessionnews,KamalaHarriswantsa$5trilliontaxincrease,apower-madBrazilianjudgewantstopunishElonMuskforrefusingtocensorhispoliticalenemies,moreTexanssuetheBidenAdministrationforfailingtosecuretheborder,Texastrimsthevoterroles,HarrisCountygetscloserelectionsupervision,twoDEI-infectedvideogamestankharduponrelease,andtheNavyrunsputofpants.
ThatdraggedthePendinghomesalesindexto70.2%,afreshrecordlow.
ThePendingHomeSalesIndexisaleadingindicatorforthehousingsector,basedonpendingsalesofexistinghomes.Asaleislistedaspendingwhenthecontracthasbeensignedbutthetransactionhasnotclosed,thoughthesaleusuallyisfinalizedwithinoneortwomonthsofsigning.
SalesdecreasedinallfourUSregions,especiallyintheMidwestandSouth.
VicePresidentKamalaHarriswantstoextracta$5trilliontaxincreasefromAmericanhouseholdsandbusinesses,hercampaignconfirmedonMonday.
TheHarriscampaignofficiallyendorsedthelaundrylistofnewandhighertaxesincludedintheBiden-Harrisadministration’sfiscalyear2025budget,aplanthatwouldincreasetaxesby$5trillionovertenyears.
TheburdenofHarris’staxincreaseswillhithouseholdsintheformofdiminishedwagegrowthandhighercostsofgoodsandservices.TheseHarristaxincreaseswillmaketheU.S.lesscompetitivevs.ouradversaries.
Harrisalsoendorsedfurtherincreasingthesizeandpowerofthealready-supersizedIRSanderodetaxpayerrightsbywateringdownproceduresdesignedtoprotecttaxpayersfromabusiveanddishonestIRSagents(detailsbelow.)
KamalaHarris’staxincreasesinclude:
Smallbusinesstaxratehiketo39.6%
Smallbusinessownerspaybusinesstaxesontheirindividualtaxreturn.TheHarrisendorsedbudgetraisesthetopmarginalincometaxrateto39.6%fromthecurrent37%.
CorporatetaxratehigherthantheEUandcommunistChina.
KamalaHarriswantstohikethecurrent21%federalcorporateincometaxrateto28%,higherthancommunistChina’s25%andtheEUaverageof21%,hercampaignsaidMonday.
TheKamalaHarrisfederal28%rateishigherthantheAsiaaveragecorporatetaxrateof19.8%,theEUaverageof21%,theworldaverageof23.5%,andtheOECDaverageof23.7%.(SeetheTaxFoundation’scomprehensivelistinghere.)
TheHarrisfederal28%rateisalsohigherthanCanada(26.2%),theUK(25%)Sweden(20.6%),andevenRussia(20%),Afghanistan(20%),andIraq(15%).
Afteraddingstatecorporateincometaxes,thecombinedfederal-statetaxburdeninmoststateswilleasilyexceed30%undertheHarrisplan.
TheHarrisratehurtstheUSAvs.Chinawithits25%rate.Andnote:IndustrysectorsofstrategicusetotheChinesegovernmentpayanevenlowerrateof15%.
AmericanworkerswillbearthebruntofHarris’scorporatetaxincrease.
Thenon-partisanJointCommitteeonTaxationaffirmedincongressionaltestimonythatcorporatetaxratehikeshit“labor,laborers.”AstudycompiledbytheTaxFoundationfoundthat“laborbearsbetween50percentand100percentoftheburdenofthecorporateincometax,with70percentorhigherthemostlikelyoutcome.”
CapitalgainsanddividendstaxmorethantwiceashighascommunistChina
HereisadirectquotefromtheBiden-Harrisbudget:“Together,theproposalswouldincreasethetopmarginalrateonlong-termcapitalgainsandqualifieddividendsto44.6percent.“
Yes,youreadthatcorrectly:AKamalaHarriscapitalgainsanddividendstaxrateof44.6%
China’scapitalgainstaxrateis20%.IsitwisetohavehighertaxesthanChina
UndertheHarrisplan,thecombinedfederal-statecapitalgainstaxexceeds50%inmanystates.Californiawillfaceacombinedfederal-staterateof57.8%,NewJersey55.3%,Oregonat54.5%,Minnesotaat54.4%,andNewYorkstateat53.4%.
Unconstitutionalwealthtaxonunrealizedgains
TheHarris-endorsedbudgetcallsforanannual25percentminimumtaxontheunrealizedgainsofindividualswithincomeandassetsexceeding$100million.Onceinplace,itwon’tbelongbeforethethresholdisloweredtohitmoreandmoreAmericans.
Americansoverwhelminglyopposetaxesonunrealizedgains,byafactorofthreetoone,including76%ofindependents.Americansknowthata“gain”isn’t“real”untilitisactuallyrealized,inhand.
ThisHarristaxissimilartothewealthtaxespushedbyradicalprogressivessuchasSens.ElizabethWarren(D-Mass.)andBernieSanders(I-Vt.).
Capitalgainstaxesshouldonlybepaidwhenagainisrealized.Harris’swealthtaxwouldbreakwithcurrenttaxpolicyandimposetaxAmericansbasedonthevalueofanassetonaparticulararbitrarydate.
ThisunprecedentedtaxwouldgiveevenmorepowertotheIRS,encouragetaxpayerstomoveassetsoverseas,andwillonlyexpandtohitmillionsofAmericansovertime.
BREAKING
RFKJr’steamjustreleasedthisadaboutTDS.
XclaimsMediaMattersfabricatedtheresults.Fromtheoriginalcomplaint:
MediaMattershasoptedfornewtacticsinitscampaigntodriveadvertisersfromX.MediaMattershasmanipulatedthealgorithmsgoverningtheuserexperienceonXtobypasssafeguardsandcreateimagesofX’slargestadvertisers’paidpostsadjacenttoracist,incendiarycontent,leavingthefalseimpressionthatthesepairingsareanythingbutwhattheyactuallyare:manufactured,inorganic,andextraordinarilyrare.
MediaMattersexecutedthisplotinmultiplesteps,asX’sinternalinvestigationshaverevealed.
First,MediaMattersaccessedaccountsthathadbeenactiveforatleast30days,bypassingX’sadfilterfornewusers.MediaMattersthenexclusivelyfollowedasmallsubsetofusersconsistingentirelyofaccountsinoneoftwocategories:thoseknowntoproduceextreme,fringecontent,andaccountsownedbyX’sbig-nameadvertisers.Theendresultwasafeedprecision-designedbyMediaMattersforasinglepurpose:toproduceside-by-sidead/contentplacementsthatitcouldscreenshotinanefforttoalienateadvertisers.
ButthisactivitystillwasnotenoughtocreatethepairingsofadvertisementsandcontentthatMediaMattersaimedtoproduce.
MediaMattersthereforeresortedtoendlesslyscrollingandrefreshingitsunrepresentative,hand-selectedfeed,generatingbetween13and15timesmoreadvertisementsperhourthanviewedbytheaverageXuserrepeatingthisinauthenticactivityuntilitfinallyreceivedpagescontainingtheresultitwanted:controversialcontentnexttoX’slargestadvertisers’paidposts.
More:
Whenweattemptedtodefendourselvesincourt,JudgedeMoraesthreatenedourBrazilianlegalrepresentativewithimprisonment.Evenaftersheresigned,hefrozeallofherbankaccounts.Ourchallengesagainsthismanifestlyillegalactionswereeitherdismissedorignored.JudgedeMoraes’colleaguesontheSupremeCourtareeitherunwillingorunabletostanduptohim.
WeareabsolutelynotinsistingthatothercountrieshavethesamefreespeechlawsastheUnitedStates.ThefundamentalissueatstakehereisthatJudgedeMoraesdemandswebreakBrazil’sownlaws.Wesimplywon’tdothat.
Inthedaystocome,wewillpublishallofJudgedeMoraes’illegaldemandsandallrelatedcourtfilingsintheinterestoftransparency.
Unlikeothersocialmediaandtechnologyplatforms,wewillnotcomplyinsecretwithillegalorders.
ToourusersinBrazilandaroundtheworld,Xremainscommittedtoprotectingyourfreedomofspeech.
***
Today,heblockedthefinancialaccountsofMusk-ownedStarlinkHoldings,duetotheabsenceofanattorney.
AlexandredeMoraesmightbethesecond-mostpowerfulpersoninBrazil.
Hedoesnotquitehavethereachofthepresident.ButasajudgeontheSupremeCourt,untilrecentlythepresidentoftheElectoralCourt,andespeciallyasheadoftwosprawlinginvestigationsagainstgroupsspreadingdisinformation,Moraeshaswieldedararecombinationofjudicialpowers.Hehasunilaterallyhandedoutfines,orderedarrests,socialmediabansandothersanctions,andevenactedasinvestigatorandjudgeatonce.
Moraes,55,hasusedthosepowersprolifically,includingagainstseveralmembersoftheright-wingoppositiontoLuizInácioLuladaSilva’sgovernment.
Brazilianconservativeshavelongcontendedheisabusinghispower.But“Xando”(“BigAlex”),asheissemi-jokinglycalledbysupportersanddetractorsalike,earnedthegratitudeofmanymembersofBrazil’spoliticalestablishmentwhobelievedhisactionswerefundamentaltodefendingdemocracyduringandafterJairBolsonaro’stumultuous2018-22presidency.
Now,thatgoodwillisbeingputtothetest.Asinternationalvoicesaddtoaswellingdomesticchorus,criticismofMoraesisstartingtobreakthroughintothemainstreamofBraziliandiscourse.
ThemostpublicclashhasbeenbetweenMoraesandtheSouthAfricanbillionaireElonMusk,whohasvigorouslyresistedthejudge’seffortstocontrolspeechonhisXplatformandothersocialmedia.LateWednesday,MoraesusedXitselftosendMuskanultimatumtoappointanewlegalrepresentativeforhiscompanyinBrazil,andthreatenedatotalbanoftheplatforminLatinAmerica’slargestcountryunlesshecomplied.SeveralBrazilianlegalexpertstoldEstadodeS.PaulonewspaperthatMoraeswasoversteppinghispowers—thathisuseofsocialmediatodelivertheorderwasinvalid,andthatanysuspensionwouldbeillegal.
Alsorecently,reportingbyFabioSerapioandGlennGreenwald,thewell-knownAmericanjournalistwholivesinBrazil,inFolhadeS.PaulonewspaperindicatedthatMoraesandhislieutenantsskirtedofficialprocedureinpreparingsanctionsfortargetsofhisinvestigations.
Thesecontroversieshaveputrenewedfocusonseveralquestions:IsMoraescensoringtheopposition,orguardingBraziliandemocracyWhatshouldbethebalancebetweenallowingpoliticalspeechonsocialmedia—andfightingbackagainstdisinformationandotherthreatsAndfinally:HasMoraes’poweroutliveditsusefulness,placingdueprocessandtheruleoflawunderthreatinadifferentbutalsoharmfulway
“It’sclearhe’spushingthelimits,”saidConradoHübner,aprofessorofconstitutionallawattheUniversityofSoPauloandcolumnistatFolha.“There’snoprecedent,nothingremotelysimilartohavingaministerleading…investigationsthatalmostbecomepermanentinstitutions.”
“It’sbeenayearandahalfsincethe2022electionandthedepartureofapresidentwhothreatenedinstitutions,”wrotetheeditorialboardofFolhaonAugust26.“ButforministerAlexandredeMoraesandhiscolleaguesattheSupremeCourt,it’sasifitwasstillthattime—atleastasapretextformaintainingtheanomalousconcentrationofpowerinthismagistrateandhiscourt.”
Moraesbannedthesocialmediaaccountsofright-winginfluencersRodrigoConstantinoandPauloFigueiredo,forallegedlyspreadingCovid-19misinformationandcastingdoubtontheBrazilianelectoralsystem.Healsobannedtheaccountsofdepartmentstorechainownerandright-winginfluencerLucianoHang,allegedlyforagitatingforacoupinapro-Bolsonaromessagegroup.BloggerAllandosSantos,inself-imposedexileinFlorida,hadhispassportrevokedaftercallingforthedissolutionoftheSTF,andbeingaccusedofinvolvementinan“organizedcrimenetwork”thatoperatesthroughmonetizedvideosonline.TheU.S.refusedanextraditionrequest—reportedlybecauseitdeterminedSantos’sactionsaren’tconsideredacrimeintheU.S.
“It’spersecution,pureandsimple,”Santossaid.
ThepoliticaltemperaturehasmoderatedinBraziloverthepastyear,asadegreeofinstitutionalharmonyhasreturnedunderLula’swatch.ButMoraeshasremainedontheoffensive,threateningearlierthisyeartoblockTelegram,anencryptedmessagingservice,forrefusingtocomplywithhisorders.(PavelDurov,theservice’sfounder,wasarrestedinFranceearlierthisweekforfailingtopreventillegalactivityontheplatform.)
AspartofthereportingonleakeddocumentsfromMoraes’officeinAugust,GreenwaldwrotethatformerBolsonaroadvisorFilipeMartinshadbeendetainedunderanorderbyMoraesforalmostsixmonthswithoutcharges,basedonevidencethat(Greenwaldwrote)hadbeendisproven.Lessthanaweeklater,Moraesorderedhimreleased.
Inreportingoverthelastseveralweeks,Greenwaldandaco-authorhaveusedleakedmessagestolevelaccusationsthatMoraesdirectedhisaidestocompilereportsonindividuals,settingthemupforsocial-mediabansandothersanctions,andpassoffthereportsashavingcomefromotherlegalorgansorasanonymouscomplaints.ThereportsexacerbatedconcernsthatMoraeswasblurringthelinesbetweenlegalroles—andsodidhisresponse,whichwastoorderaninquiryintothesourceoftheleaks.
HamasterroristofficialGhaziHamadsaidduringarecentinterviewthattheterrorgroupviewsitsOctober7massacreasanenormoussuccessbecauseitdamagedattemptstoestablishdiplomatictiesbetweenIsraelandtheArabstates.
Hamad,whopreviouslysaidthattheterrorgroupaimstorepeatedlycarryoutOctober7-styleattacks,saidduringaninterviewearlierthissummerthatwasonlytranslatedthisweekthattheterroristattack—inwhich1,200weremurdered,5,300+wounded,andhundredsmoretakenhostage—was“abletoslapattheprogressofthenormalizationofeffort,andthisis,ofcourse,averyimportantpoliticalsuccess.”
HesaidthattheattackhasalsobeensuccessfulincreatingdivisionsamongIsraelisandunitingotherIslamicterroristorganizationstoattackIsrael.
Cubanscontinuetofleeaworseningeconomyinrecordnumberswhiletheelderlyhavebeenleftbehind,fightingtosurviveonthecommunistregime’s$10monthlypensionandacriticallackofbasicsupplies.
Food,power,medicalequipment,andpharmaceuticalshortageshaveignitedpersistentproteststhisyearanddrivenCuba’songoingexodusofworking-ageadults.
Theresulthasbeennothingshortofdevastatingforthecountry’sretirees.
“It’sanightmareineverydirection.ThisisanSOS.Cubaisabouttocollapseinafatalway,”saidRamonSaulSanchez,along-timeanti-CubanregimeactivistandpresidentoftheDemocracyMovementinMiami.
“Peoplecan’treallyimagine,especiallyfromoutside,makingelderlypeopleliveinsuchinhumaneconditions,”SancheztoldTheEpochTimes.
“BecauseofthedeteriorationoftheeconomyandthelackofinterestoftheCubanregime,theyaren’thelpingthosewhoneedit,”hesaid.“Retirementpensionmaybeallowsyoutobuyadozeneggsamonth.That’sit.”
Agrimsceneofdeath,destruction,andcrimeisdescribedamongtheharmssufferedbytwoTexasbordercountiesinalawsuitagainsttheBidenadministration,allegingthatthe“willfulandunconstitutional”refusaltoenforcefederallawhasresultedinunprecedentedharminflictedupontheruralcommunities.
KinneyandAtascosacounties,KinneyCountySheriffBradCoe,andrancherDr.MichaelVickersaretheplaintiffsinthepetitionfiledinthefederaldistrictcourtfortheSouthernDistrictofTexasthispastweeknamingPresidentJoeBiden,DepartmentofHomelandSecurity(DHS)SecretaryAlejandroMajorkas,andotherfederalimmigrationofficialsasdefendants.
Theplaintiffsraiseduniqueargumentsnotyetseeninotherlegaldisputesoverthebordercrisis,includingthattheBidenadministrationviolatedtheU.S.Constitution’sTakeCareClauseandalawrequiringenvironmentalimpactstudies.
TheTakeCareClauseinArticleII,Section3statesthatthepresident“shalltakeCarethattheLawsbefaithfullyexecuted.”
“Immediatelyuponbeingswornintooffice,thecurrentAdministrationhaspursuedimmigrationpoliciesthatarenotonlyatoddswithCongress’sstatutoryschemeanddirectivesbutareobjectivelycalculatedtodismantleprovenbordersecurityprogramsorcraftnoveladministrativeprocessing‘pathways’topermitinadmissiblealienstoenterandremaininsidethecountry,”thelawsuitalleges.
Amongtheexamplescontainedinthecomplaint,theBidenadministrationisaccusedofabusingprosecutorialdiscretiontoeffectivelyrewriteimmigrationlaw,parolingmoreillegalaliensintothenationinthepastyearthanlawfulaliens.
Theadministrationalsoadoptedapolicyallowingillegalalienswithcriminalbackgroundstoremaininthecountry,contrarytolawsthatrequiredeportation.
“Collectively,Defendants’actionssignaledtopotentialbordercrossers—andtothehumantraffickinganddrugcartelsthatcoordinateillegalbordercrossing—thattheAdministrationisunwillingtosecureourborder,”thelawsuitstates,adding,“Defendantshavecompletelyabdicatedtheirstatutoryresponsibilities,allowedorencouragedthesouthernbordertobeoverrun,andareviolatingtheirdutytotakecarethatthelawsbefaithfullyexecuted.”
Theplaintiffsthendescribedtheharmstheyhavesufferedasaresultoftheallegedpolicies,withVickersnotingillegalalienshavecaused$50,000worthofdamagesonhisranchsince2021,notincludingtrashthealienshaveleftbehindthathasharmedbothlivestockandtheenvironment.
Vickerssaidhemustalsoconstantlyremainarmed,notingthatwiththeincreasedillegalimmigration,numerousgangmembersarealsocomingtohisranch,includingMS-13,TangoBlast,thePistoleros,andtheMexicanMafia.
Citinganothershockingresultofthepolicies,hesaidthatsince2021over270deadbodieshavebeenfoundwithin15minutesofhishome.
Thecountiesalsodescribedtheunprecedentedburdenthecrisisplacesonlocalgovernment.
Thelawsuitexplainsthatin2020,beforetheBidenadministrationimplementeditscurrentborderpolicies,KinneyCountyhandled134criminalcharges.
Fromthere,itskyrocketedwithinayearto2,708criminalcasesandcontinuedtoclimbto6,800in2022.Mostrecently,itfaced5,826casesin2023.
StateRep.ShawnThierry(D-Houston)isswitchingpartiestotheGOP,sheannouncedFridayataneventinWashington,D.C.heldbyMomsforLiberty.
“TheDemocraticPartyhasveeredsofarleft,sodeepintotheprogressiveabyss,thatitnowchampionspoliciesIcannot,ingoodconscience,support—policieslikepromotingsexchangesforvulnerablechildrenanddismantlingTitleIXprotectionsforwomeninsports.That’swhyIamleavingtheleftandjoiningthepartyoffamily,faith,andfreedom,”Thierrysaidinarelease.
“Inowstandwithcolleagues,friends,neighbors,women,andmothersintheRepublicanParty.”
ThierrylostherprimaryrunofftoLaurenSimmons,andthelegislatureisoutofsession,sonochangeinthelegislativestatusquo.
AfederaljudgehasdismissedchargesagainstaKansasmanforpossessingamachinegun,sayingprosecutorsfailedtoestablishthatafederalbanonowningsuchweaponsisconstitutional.
Thedecision,byU.S.DistrictJudgeJohnBroomesinWichitaonWednesdayappearedtomarkthefirsttimeacourthasheldthatbanningmachinegunsisunconstitutionalaftertheconservative-majorityU.S.SupremeCourtin2022issuedalandmarkrulingthatexpandedgunrights.
TheTexasSecretaryofState’sOffice(SOS)willsendmultiplestaffmemberstoHarrisCountytoinspectrecordsandproceduresandassisttheelectionsdivisionduringthe2024generalelection,citingmultipleissuesuncoveredinastateauditofthecounty’smanagementofpastelections.
AccordingtoapressreleasefromSecretaryofStateJaneNelson,theSOS“willassignstateinspectorstoHarrisCountytoperformchecksonelectionrecords,includingtapesandchain-of-custody,andwillobservethehandlingandcountingofballotsandelectronicmediaduringtheNovember2024electionperiod.”
SOSwillalsosendstafftoassistthecountyforthedurationoftheelectionperiod,fromearlyvotingtoElectionDayandthroughtabulation.
TheSOSannouncedtheplanned“enhancedpresence”alongwiththefinalresultsofanauditofthe2022elections,whichincludedfindingsthecountyhadnotfollowedstatelawinmaintainingvoterregistrationrollsandinprovidingtherequiredminimumamountsofballotpapertoallpollingsites.
BallotpapershortageshaltedvotingatmultiplelocationsonElectionDay2022.
Accordingtostatelaw,officialsmustprovideeachpollingsitewithballotsequivalentto125percentofvoterturnoutinthelastcorrespondingelection.UnderformerElectionsAdministratorCliffordTatumthecountyonlyprovided600ballotstolocationsthathadprocessedtwicethatmanyvotersin2018;aformercountyemployeehasbeenchargedwithsixfeloniesinrelationtotheballotpaperallocation.
SOSElectionsDivisionauditorsalsofoundthatthecountyhadnotprovidedadequatetrainingtoelectionworkers,whichcontributedtowidespreadequipmentfailuresacrossmultipleelections,andhadfailedtocomplywithstatepaperworkrequirements.
DuringaTexasHouseCommitteeonElectionshearingonMonday,SOSElectionsDirectorChristinaAdkinsbriefedlawmakersontheresultsoftheaudit.ShenotedthataftermovingfromapaperlesssystemtopaperballotsinMay2021,HarrisCountyhadnotprovidedhands-ontrainingforelectionjudgesandclerks.
Asaresult,AdkinssaidvotingceasedforanhourormoreatmultiplepollinglocationsduringtheNovember2021elections,with17sitesnotprocessinganyvotersuntilmorethananhourafterthescheduledopeningduetoequipmentproblems.Despitetheissues,then-CountyElectionsAdministratorIsabelLongoriadidnotrevisetrainingprocedurespriortotheMarch2022primaryelection,whichhadsimilarproblems.
AdkinsalsonotedthatHarrisCountyfailedtoinclude10,000ballotsinpreliminarycountsaftertheMarch2022primaries,adiscrepancythatwasidentifiedbyareconciliationreportrequiredbyelectionreformlegislationenactedin2021.Theballotswerekeptonathumbdrive,butAdkinsnotedthatcountiesdeveloptheirowntrackingproceduresforthedevices.
”Idon’trecallthattheyhadalotofpaperworktoshowusontrackingthatprocess,”saidAdkins.
Thecountyhasalsostruggledtomaintainvoterregistrationrolls.AdkinstoldlawmakersthatHarrisisoneof33countiesthatuseathird-partyvendorformanagementofvoterrolls,leadingtosignificantdiscrepanciesbetweenstateandlocaldatabases.
Thefinalauditnotedthatwhilethediscrepancies“mayseemminorincomparisontothetotalnumberofregisteredvoters,theinconsistenciesmakeitdifficulttovalidateelectiondata.”
InhisstatedefforttoupholdelectionintegrityinTexas,Gov.GregAbbottannouncedthatmorethanonemillionpeoplehavebeenremovedfromthestate’svoterrolls.
Aspartoftheannouncement,Abbottprovidedachartthatshowsover1.1millionvotersinvariouscategoriesareflaggedas“removed,”includingover457,000deceasedindividualsandover463,000votersonthe“suspenselist.”
Additionally,over134,000votersfailedtorespondtoanaddressconfirmationnotice,whileover6,500arenoncitizensandover6,000havefelonyconvictions.
AbbotthighlightedSenateBill(SB)1,whichwassignedintolawin2021,thataddedprovisionsdesignedtopreventfraudbyaddingcriminalstatutes,prohibitingunsolicitedmail-inballotapplications,andsettingadditionalgroundrulesforearlyvotingandvoterregistration.
“Electionintegrityisessentialtoourdemocracy,”saidAbbottinhisrecentpressrelease.
“Ihavesignedthestrongestelectionlawsinthenationtoprotecttherighttovoteandtocrackdownonillegalvoting.Thesereformshaveledtotheremovalofoveronemillionineligiblepeoplefromourvoterrollsinthelastthreeyears,includingnoncitizens,deceasedvoters,andpeoplewhomovedtoanotherstate.”
AbbottaddedthattheTexasSecretaryofStatehas“anongoinglegalrequirementtoreviewthevoterrolls,removeineligiblevoters,andreferanypotentialillegalvotingtotheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeandlocalauthoritiesforinvestigationandprosecution.”
“IllegalvotinginTexaswillneverbetolerated.”
InadditiontoSB1,Abbotthassignedmultipleotherbillstocrackdownonillegalvoting.ThisincludesHouseBill(HB)1243,whichincreasesthepenaltyforillegalvotingtoasecond-degreefelony;SB1113,whichempowerstheSecretaryofStatetowithholdfundsfromcountiesthatfailtoremovenoncitizensfromvoterrolls;andHB574,whichcriminalizesknowinglycountinginvalidvotes.
WhereasO’Rourkespentmuchofhistimeontheroaddoingaglorifiedwhistle-stoptourofthestate,Allred’scamphasoptedforcarpetbombingtheDallas,Houston,SanAntonio,CorpusChristi,Beaumont,andRioGrandeValleymediamarketswithads.
AccordingtotheCruzcampaign,thetelevisionspendbreakdownsofaris$5.9millionforAllredand$265,000forCruz;Allred’scampaigndeclinedtoconfirmanynumbers.Nationalpoliticalad-trackingfirmAdImpactputtheCruzdeficitamongallentitiesandgroupsatamuchlargerfigure:$21.7millionto$2.2million.
Athree-judgepaneloftheU.S.CourtofAppealsforthe5thCircuitheldthatanoveltypeofsearchwarrantusedtocollectdigitalrecorddataisunconstitutionalundertheFourthAmendment.
ThecasearosefromtherobberyofapostalserviceworkerinMississippi,wheresurveillancevideoshowedoneoftherobberscheckinghiscellphoneduringhisescapeaftertakingamailbagcontaining$60,706atgunpointfromthepostman.
Geofencingwarrants,thecourtexplained,aredifferentfromnormalsearchwarrantsthatarebasedonprobablecauseandallowthepolicetosearchaknownspecificpersonorthing.Instead,lawenforcementusesgeofencingwarrantswhentheidentityofthesuspectisn’tknown,suchasinthisinstance.
Thewarrantsworkinreversefromtraditionalsearchwarrants.Mostcommonly,aswiththiscase,investigatorsaskGoogletosearchadatabasecontainingdatafromeveryoneoftheiruserswhohastheirlocationhistoryenabledontheirsmartphones.
Approximatelyone-thirdofGoogle’s592millionusershavetheirlocationhistoryfeatureturnedon,whichsilentlytracksthelocationofthedevicethroughcellsignals,Wi-Fi,andBluetootheverytwominutes,uploadingthatlocationdatatoa“Sensorvault.”
WhenGooglereceivesageofencingwarrant,thecompanymustsearchallrecordsintheSensorvaultforlocationdatathatcorrespondstothewarrant—forallaccountsthatwerewithinacertaingeographiclocationatacertaintime.
Shedugdeeperintothenonprofit’sbankrecordsandfoundmuchmorethatconcernedher.Mansionrentals.Vetbills.Luxuryclothes.Finally,astayataCancunresort.Ms.BanksscrolledbackthroughFacebooktotheweekthatresortbillwaspaid.Shesawherboss,[RaheemAIpresident]BrandonD.Anderson,posinginapool.
Thephotowastagged:“Cancun.”
Theyinvestigatedandquestionedmorethan$250,000inchargessince2021alone,internaldocumentsshow.
Amongthem:Mr.Anderson—whowaspaidasalaryof$160,000—hadspent$1,500ofthecharity’smoneyatachiropractor;$5,000onveterinarycare;andanastounding$46,000onride-shareserviceslikeUberandLyft.Mostconfoundingly,thenonprofithadpaid$80,000forluxuryvacationrentals,includingaservicethatletmembersstayinluxurymansionsaroundtheworld,accordingtotheboard’saccounting.
AteacherinRoundRockIndependentSchoolDistrictwasarrestedforsexcrimesinvolvingchildren.
DomingoPerezJr.,alsoknownasDominic,wasascienceteacheratStonyPointHighSchoolthroughthe2023-2024schoolyear.
PerezwasarrestedandbookedintotheWilliamsonCountyJailonAugust21.
Heisfacingchargesofindecencywithachildbysexualcontact—asecond-degreefelonypunishableby2to20yearsinprison—andpossessionof50ormoreimagesorvideosofchildpornography,afirst-degreefelonypunishablebyuptolifeinprison.
Thisschoolistryingtodestroy"heteronormativethinking"andreplaceitwitha"queeraffirmingnetwork"