rightwingwatch--2020-10-23--Trump Administration Launches Manifesto With Coalition of Anti-Choice, Anti-Equality Regimes

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar joined representatives from Brazil , Egypt , Hungary , Indonesia , and Uganda Thursday in a virtual ceremony to launch the “ Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women ’ s Health and Strengthening the Family.
” During the Obama administration , U.S. foreign policy supported reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality , while resistance and backlash to those principles were being led by religious-right advocacy groups , often in partnership with the world ’ s most repressive regimes .
But during the Trump administration , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pompeo and Azar have been working for at least a year and a half to mobilize Thursday ’ s signing of the Geneva Consensus .
The anti-abortion and anti-choice language of the declaration is explicit while wrapped in broad language about supporting women ’ s health .
It draws language from other international agreements about the need to provide children with “ special measures of protection ” and “ safeguards … before as well as after birth.
” Speakers from the sponsoring nations all insisted that they would oppose any effort by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to abortion is recognized in international human rights law .
Pompeo praised the Trump administration ’ s “ unprecedented defense of the unborn abroad ” and said he hoped that the declaration ’ s “ moral clarity ” will embolden others .
The anti-LGBTQ agenda of the coalition is less explicit in the language of the declaration itself—which draws on language from the U.N. ’ s Universal Declaration of Human Rights to reaffirm that “ the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Minister of State for Family , Youth and International Affairs Katalin Novák was more explicit , denouncing international forces that she charged were trying to “ weaken the traditional family ” through a “ culture of indoctrination and preaching ” at the U.N. and the promotion of “ gender ideology , ” “ ideological neocolonialism , ” and sex education .
Novák said that the right-wing anti-LGBTQ governments of Hungary and Poland are playing a leading role in promoting and strengthening the “ traditional family.
” Uganda ’ s health minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support policies that “ may be contrary to our values ” and called for “ due respect for our values and sovereignty.
” Notably , the document affirms that “ universal health coverage is fundamental ” in achieving the U.N .
Sustainable Development Goals while recognizing that governments will “ determine their own path towards achieving universal health coverage ” —in the U.S. , that path seems headed in the opposite direction as the Trump administration urges the Supreme Court to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip health care coverage from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
18 Months in the Making : Pompeo and Azar Organizing at the United Nations The Geneva Consensus Declaration event was a culmination of the Trump administration ’ s intensive efforts to build opposition to any international recognition of a right to abortion—and Pompeo and Azar ’ s zeal to undermine international recognition of the rights of LGBTQ people while celebrating governmental enforcement of “ traditional ” religious values on gender , sexuality , and family .
They ’ ve been working on developing this new coalition for about a year and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar sent a letter to foreign governments asking them to “ join the United States in ensuring that every sovereign state has the ability to determine the best way to protect the unborn and defend the family as the foundational unit of society vital to children thriving and leading healthy lives.
” The letter warned that “ ambiguous ” terms like “ sexual and reproductive health and rights ” are associated with “ anti-family and pro-abortion policies.
” The July letter built on a statement distributed in May by the governments of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia , Indonesia , Haiti , Ghana , Nigeria , and Iraq making the same argument .
Since then , the U.S. has been working to expand this coalition .
In September 2019 , on the eve of Trump ’ s address to the U.N. General Assembly , Azar released a similar statement , this one endorsed by a larger number of nations : United States of America , Bahrain , Belarus , Brazil , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Egypt , Guatemala , Haiti , Hungary , Iraq , Libya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Congo , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Sudan , Uganda , United Arab Emirates , and Yemen .
Just a month later , the U.S. issued a statement arguing that governments could better work together to improve access to health care if they avoided “ divisive ” topics .
“ The United States firmly believes that we can do more for people by coming together on those broad areas of agreement on which we can achieve genuine progress , rather than pursuing divisive policies that promote abortion , diminish the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sovereignty of nations by focusing on sensitive issues where we know consensus is not possible , ” the U.S. statement said in part .
Comprehensive sex education , a target of the World Congress of Families and right-wing culture warriors around the globe , was also singled out by the U.S. government .
“ We remain deeply concerned that comprehensive sexuality education programs undermine the protective role of the family in such education and condone harmful sexual risks for young people , ” the U.S. statement said .
“ We continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men , children , and families and support programs to improve their health , life , dignity , and well-being.
” The Trump team ’ s organizing continued with a November session and statement released during the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development , which was first held in Cairo in 1994 .
And in December , the Department of Health and Human Services and the governments of Hungary and Brazil sponsored an “ International Conference on Family Policy ” that was attended by White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The event also featured anti-choice and anti-marriage-equality activists from the U.S. religious right .
In December , Hungary and Brazil cosponsored a public gathering at which HHS Special Representative for Global Women ’ s Health Valerie Huber—an abstinence education advocate—thanked countries that have demonstrated “ political will ” and “ moral courage ” and acted to “ preserve our countries and this civilization as it should be.
” Azar singled out Huber for praise at Thursday ’ s ceremony .
This year , on Jan. 16 , Azar addressed a closed-door meeting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House .
“ Together , we built a pro-life , pro-family , pro-sovereignty coalition that is a force to be reckoned with , ” Azar declared of the 2019 organizing efforts .
But , he added , “ our informal coalition needs to grow and be more active.
” Joining Azar in January were Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and representatives of two authoritarian leaders compared to and praised by President Donald Trump : Hungary ’ s Novák and Brazil ’ s deputy chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pimentel .
Azar also read a letter from Uganda ’ s Aceng , whom Azar called “ one of our strongest and most reliable partners.
” At that event , Azar encouraged countries to continue to build momentum by attending “ an upcoming global women ’ s health conference ” in Geneva , Switzerland , in May , just before the start of the World Health Assembly .
That is where the consensus declaration was to be finalized , but COVID-19 derailed that gathering .
Presumably with an eye on the U.S. elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the release of the statement before the group meets next year .
All this official business builds on the work being done by an extensive network of religious-right legal and political groups .
Hungary ’ s Novák has met with representatives of the Alliance Defending Freedom , the religious-right legal giant that opposes LGBTQ equality in the U.S. and has defended criminalization of homosexuality in other countries .
“ We agree that there is a great need for closer cooperation among international pro-family stakeholders in defending # family values , ” Novák tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relentlessly to promote anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ policies at the U.N. , cheered Azar ’ s January remarks .
And C-FAM ’ s Austin Ruse , was quick to put out a statement Thursday “ heartily ” congratulating the Trump administration and the 32 nations that have signed the new declaration .

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar joined representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda Thursday in a virtual ceremony to launch the “Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family.”
During the Obama administration, U.S. foreign policy supported reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality, while resistance and backlash to those principles were being led by religious-right advocacy groups, often in partnership with the world’s most repressive regimes. But during the Trump administration, the U.S. government has been mobilizing the reactionary forces. Pompeo and Azar have been working for at least a year and a half to mobilize Thursday’s signing of the Geneva Consensus.
The anti-abortion and anti-choice language of the declaration is explicit while wrapped in broad language about supporting women’s health. It draws language from other international agreements about the need to provide children with “special measures of protection” and “safeguards … before as well as after birth.” Speakers from the sponsoring nations all insisted that they would oppose any effort by any United Nations body to assert that access to abortion is recognized in international human rights law. Pompeo praised the Trump administration’s “unprecedented defense of the unborn abroad” and said he hoped that the declaration’s “moral clarity” will embolden others.
The anti-LGBTQ agenda of the coalition is less explicit in the language of the declaration itself—which draws on language from the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights to reaffirm that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.” But Hungary’s Minister of State for Family, Youth and International Affairs Katalin Novák was more explicit, denouncing international forces that she charged were trying to “weaken the traditional family” through a “culture of indoctrination and preaching” at the U.N. and the promotion of “gender ideology,” “ideological neocolonialism,” and sex education.
Novák said that the right-wing anti-LGBTQ governments of Hungary and Poland are playing a leading role in promoting and strengthening the “traditional family.” Uganda’s health minister, Jane Aceng, criticized international pressure to support policies that “may be contrary to our values” and called for “due respect for our values and sovereignty.”
Notably, the document affirms that “universal health coverage is fundamental” in achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals while recognizing that governments will “determine their own path towards achieving universal health coverage”—in the U.S., that path seems headed in the opposite direction as the Trump administration urges the Supreme Court to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip health care coverage from millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
18 Months in the Making: Pompeo and Azar Organizing at the United Nations
The Geneva Consensus Declaration event was a culmination of the Trump administration’s intensive efforts to build opposition to any international recognition of a right to abortion—and Pompeo and Azar’s zeal to undermine international recognition of the rights of LGBTQ people while celebrating governmental enforcement of “traditional” religious values on gender, sexuality, and family. They’ve been working on developing this new coalition for about a year and a half.
Last July, Pompeo and Azar sent a letter to foreign governments asking them to “join the United States in ensuring that every sovereign state has the ability to determine the best way to protect the unborn and defend the family as the foundational unit of society vital to children thriving and leading healthy lives.” The letter warned that “ambiguous” terms like “sexual and reproductive health and rights” are associated with “anti-family and pro-abortion policies.” The July letter built on a statement distributed in May by the governments of the U.S., Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Haiti, Ghana, Nigeria, and Iraq making the same argument. Since then, the U.S. has been working to expand this coalition.
In September 2019, on the eve of Trump’s address to the U.N. General Assembly, Azar released a similar statement, this one endorsed by a larger number of nations: United States of America, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Just a month later, the U.S. issued a statement arguing that governments could better work together to improve access to health care if they avoided “divisive” topics. “The United States firmly believes that we can do more for people by coming together on those broad areas of agreement on which we can achieve genuine progress, rather than pursuing divisive policies that promote abortion, diminish the role of the family, and compromise the sovereignty of nations by focusing on sensitive issues where we know consensus is not possible,” the U.S. statement said in part.
Comprehensive sex education, a target of the World Congress of Families and right-wing culture warriors around the globe, was also singled out by the U.S. government. “We remain deeply concerned that comprehensive sexuality education programs undermine the protective role of the family in such education and condone harmful sexual risks for young people,” the U.S. statement said. “We continue to be a stalwart defender of all women, men, children, and families and support programs to improve their health, life, dignity, and well-being.”
The Trump team’s organizing continued with a November session and statement released during the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, which was first held in Cairo in 1994. And in December, the Department of Health and Human Services and the governments of Hungary and Brazil sponsored an “International Conference on Family Policy” that was attended by White House domestic policy director Joe Grogan. The event also featured anti-choice and anti-marriage-equality activists from the U.S. religious right.
In December, Hungary and Brazil cosponsored a public gathering at which HHS Special Representative for Global Women’s Health Valerie Huber—an abstinence education advocate—thanked countries that have demonstrated “political will” and “moral courage” and acted to “preserve our countries and this civilization as it should be.” Azar singled out Huber for praise at Thursday’s ceremony.
This year, on Jan. 16, Azar addressed a closed-door meeting of 35 nations at Blair House, on the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. “Together, we built a pro-life, pro-family, pro-sovereignty coalition that is a force to be reckoned with,” Azar declared of the 2019 organizing efforts. But, he added, “our informal coalition needs to grow and be more active.”
Joining Azar in January were Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and representatives of two authoritarian leaders compared to and praised by President Donald Trump: Hungary’s Novák and Brazil’s deputy chief of mission] in Washington, Minister-Counselor Fernando Pimentel. Azar also read a letter from Uganda’s Aceng, whom Azar called “one of our strongest and most reliable partners.”
At that event, Azar encouraged countries to continue to build momentum by attending “an upcoming global women’s health conference” in Geneva, Switzerland, in May, just before the start of the World Health Assembly. That is where the consensus declaration was to be finalized, but COVID-19 derailed that gathering. Presumably with an eye on the U.S. elections, sponsors decided to push forward with the release of the statement before the group meets next year.
All this official business builds on the work being done by an extensive network of religious-right legal and political groups. Hungary’s Novák has met with representatives of the Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious-right legal giant that opposes LGBTQ equality in the U.S. and has defended criminalization of homosexuality in other countries. “We agree that there is a great need for closer cooperation among international pro-family stakeholders in defending #family values,” Novák tweeted last November.
C-FAM, which works relentlessly to promote anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ policies at the U.N., cheered Azar’s January remarks. And C-FAM’s Austin Ruse, was quick to put out a statement Thursday “heartily” congratulating the Trump administration and the 32 nations that have signed the new declaration.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-26--Trump Superfan Tito Ortiz and the Far-Right Political Cagefight

Town Green is one of the most charming parks in Ladera Ranch , California .
Situated near the Mercantile West shopping center , the park grounds boast a gazebo , a rose garden , a military memorial , and an old California oak tree surrounded by a black wrought-iron fence .
If you stand in front of the magnificent tree and direct your eyes on the center of the main trunk , you ’ ll even notice a collection of branches in the shape of a heart .
For many Ladera Ranch residents , Town Green is a refuge from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carve themselves out a space within nature ’ s serenity .
Yet on September 19 , 2020 , the lush oasis was transformed into a rallying point for far-right figures united behind President Donald Trump .
Known as the Orange County Title of Liberty , the rally brought together “ like-minded patriots ” to celebrate the incumbent president , the First Amendment , the military , law enforcement , and the re-opening of business and schools across California in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Find comfort in our numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” read the Facebook invitation .
Hundreds gathered to listen to a list of infamous speakers , most notably : Lenka Koloma , a California-based anti-masker behind the Freedom to Breathe Agency ( FTBA ) and the fraudulent “ mask exemption cards ” denounced by the U.S. Department of Justice ; Mark McDonald , a child psychiatrist and member of a group calling itself America ’ s Frontline Doctors and who had previously appeared on Alex Jones ’ s NewsWars website and claimed that “ if all Americans had access to hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 30 days.
” Also on the roster was Ken Williams Jr. , a member of the Orange County Board of Education , which plans to sue Gov .
Gavin Newsom over the decision to require purely online learning for counties on the state coronavirus watchlist .
Nestled within the cast of controversial conservatives was another notable figure : a mixed martial arts fighter by the name Tito Ortiz .
After being introduced—by a large man dressed in a MAGA hat and a black t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of Smoky Bear along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can Prevent Socialism ” —Ortiz appeared in a three-piece navy blue suit , sans tie , that accentuated his muscular frame .
He grabbed the microphone and roared , “ Wassup , Orange County !
Each and every one of you that carries an American flag , a Trump flag : we have a voice and let ’ s keep this voice going.
” After spending the better part of the last two decades as a prizefighter , Ortiz had traded in his MMA gloves for a shot at glory in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates running for three open seats on the Huntington Beach City Council , Ortiz spent the majority of his 10-minute speech on his life story .
He painted a tragic mosaic of a past marked by drug-addicted parents , an impoverished childhood , a troubled adolescence filled with his own bouts with drugs , and finally , his eventual salvation in the form of athletic competition .
Ortiz , 45 , is best known for his stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship , an MMA company based in Las Vegas , Nevada .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world and the most recognizable brand within the sport , with events dating back to 1993 .
It is also the sports organization with arguably the closest ties to the Trump administration .
Ortiz debuted in the UFC in 1997 , when he was still in college .
He won the light-heavyweight championship in 2000 , and defended it five times over the course of the next three years , a stint at the top which was , at that time , record-breaking .
He is considered to be one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pioneer for future generations of MMA fighters .
His most recent fight took place in December 2019 .
Yet beyond his illustrious career as a fighter , Ortiz has long used his platform to amplify Trump , associate with far-right groups , and propagate dangerous conspiracy theories such as QAnon , all while campaigning for a seat in office with the promise of “ Making Huntington Beach Safe Again.
” “ I will be the first city council member of Huntington Beach to be a professional fighter and a city council member at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his speech to applause from the crowd .
TITO ORTIZ ’ CAMPAIGN is the product of the new American age—an era of celebrity-driven populism , conspiracy-fueled stardom , and a political scene that employs cagefighting as a form of diplomacy .
A native of Huntington Beach , Ortiz was roused to enter politics following a wave of Black Lives Matter protests that took place in the town in May and June 2020 , which he attended with a group of locals under the guise of “ maintaining the peace.
” Taking inspiration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political qualifications prior to running for office—Ortiz decided to run for Huntington Beach City Council .
“ I ’ ll give a lot of credit to Donald Trump because he ’ s not a politician .
He ’ s a businessman who had a business strategy to make America great , ” Ortiz told ABC7 .
Ortiz ’ s relationship with the incumbent president dates back to 2001 , when the UFC held two consecutive events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino .
At the time , the UFC had been relegated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-Arizona senator John McCain referred to MMA as “ human cockfighting.
” The comment tarnished the UFC ’ s reputation and its ability to promote events across the United States .
Trump took a chance on the UFC and allowed the promoters to host shows at his casino .
Ortiz was one of the biggest stars the UFC had at the time .
He headlined one of the shows at the Trump Taj Mahal and won his fight in 30 seconds .
Since then , he has been pictured with Trump on numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a contestant on “ Celebrity Apprentice , ” hosted by Trump .
When Trump announced his presidential campaign , Ortiz quickly became one of his staunch supporters .
He attended a Trump rally in Anaheim , California , in May 2016 , where he was spotted behind Trump holding a sign that read , “ Hillary Clinton Killed My Friends , ” before joining the raucous crowd in a “ build the wall ” chant .
( Ortiz ’ sign references a right-wing conspiracy theory about the attack on the U.S. consulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s emphatic support for Trump is part of a much larger trend of combat-sports athletes endorsing strongmen leaders .
Countless UFC fighters have thrown their weight behind Trump , while several notable Brazilian MMA fighters and jiu-jitsu competitors helped elect Brazil ’ s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro .
In Russia , local wrestling champions and MMA fighters campaigned for long-time president Vladimir Putin , while Chechnya ’ s ruthless dictator , Ramzan Kadyrov , founded his own MMA organization , a soft-power strategy that was later replicated by Bahrain ’ s Prince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a variety of reasons for this strange union between combat sports and authoritarian leaders .
Some value the endorsements of masculine athletes , which they view as part of a larger public relations campaign .
Others use their affiliations with these sports stars to distract from ongoing human rights abuses , or even as a form of sports diplomacy between nations .
While Trump ’ s history with the UFC dates back nearly two decades , his continued attachment to the violent sport is due to an acute awareness that a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base leans conservative .
The company is also partial to Trump , and UFC President Dana White , a Trump fan , spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020 , as well as at several Trump rallies .
The UFC even went so far as to produce a documentary on its history with Trump , which was aptly named “ Combatant-in-Chief.
” Given the free marketing and eager fanbase , Trump recognizes that the UFC is an ideal platform for his political ideology .
The ripple effects of the Trump-UFC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign , which gained traction due to Ortiz ’ s celebrity status as a fighter , his ardent support for Trump ’ s presidency , and the publicity he received from the Trump family , including Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump .
He remains competitive in the race , despite running a campaign lacking any substance .
Even his “ Make Huntington Beach Safe Again ” campaign slogan is obviously Trumpian .
In his official statement of qualification , Ortiz explained that he spent most of his life “ training , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , strategizing , and succeeding.
” His campaign website , boasts a platform that the writer claims “ represents the values and Constitutional rights we as residents of our city hold dear.
” Ortiz says he believes that “ limited government is the best government , ” is a “ strong ” supporter of law enforcement , wants to lessen the “ homeless problem ” in the city , and is a “ 100 % supporter of the Second Amendment.
” According to Ortiz ’ campaign contribution forms , the fighter received more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximately $ 17,000 on hand , which is competitive given he has only been in the race since July 2020 .
As a result of his apparent popularity and well-financed campaign , Ortiz is primed to become the first former UFC champion elected to public office .
“ RIOTERS—DON ’ T LET them take over your city , ’ cause in Huntington Beach , we ain ’ t having it , ” Tito Ortiz said during the June 6 , 2020 , BLM protests in his hometown .
“ Not in our town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shirt emblazoned with the word ‘ HB Strong , ’ Ortiz—along with a group of locals , MMA fighters , and former soldiers—stood guard over the city ’ s downtown core .
Their purpose , in Ortiz ’ words , was to “ keep the peace.
” Ortiz and his makeshift group of supposed peacekeepers stood in front of the Huntington Surf and Sport and watched over the protests and counter-protests taking place minutes away from the local beach .
Approximately 500 people attended the protests , the majority of whom were demonstrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black man who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin when Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes .
Most stood in solidarity with the BLM movement , while others held up signs such as “ Stop Police Brutality.
” The former UFC fighter filmed the day ’ s events , which included shots of him shaking hands with riot police and local officers .
Then , speaking to the camera , Ortiz made several references to antifa , terrorists , and rioters .
“ I ’ m OK with protestors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is terrorists in this country , and I ’ ll fight for this city.
” The statement is a perfect encapsulation of Ortiz ’ s political and ideological stance .
Ortiz is arguably one of the athletes in the United States most driven by conspiracy theories , and has been particularly erratic since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns .
During a recent podcast appearance , he claimed that the virus was “ man-made ” and a political scam devised to suppress protests around the world .
“ Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the left , ” Ortiz said while dressed in a Trump t-shirt .
“ They ’ re trying to get rid of all the older people who are getting Social Security.
” The former UFC fighter also claimed that George Floyd did not die of suffocation but due to a heart condition .
He later added that Floyd was linked to Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign .
Ortiz has since continued to use his platform to promote conspiracy theories , and even began selling apparel marked with QAnon slogans such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Go All ) through his Punishment Athletics clothing line .
( It appears that Ortiz has since removed the QAnon apparel from his site . )
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory turned virtual cult that claims a cabal of elite pedophiles made up of Hollywood actors , Democrats , and other high-ranking officials is behind a global child sex-trafficking ring .
The group asserts that Trump is currently fighting the cabal and is planning a day of reckoning known as “ The Storm.
” The Federal Bureau of Investigation has labeled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Since learning about QAnon in December 2019 , Ortiz ’ s social media timeline has been riddled with posts linked to the movement , some of which have even been removed due to “ false information.
” Beyond his tinfoil-hat conspiracies , Ortiz has also been arrested on numerous occasions .
In 1998 , just one year into his UFC tenure , Ortiz pleaded guilty to charges of “ battery with serious bodily injury ” and was sentenced to three years probation , 29 days in prison , and more than 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 , he was arrested for felony domestic violence against then-girlfriend Jenna Jameson .
Ortiz then accused Jameson of drug addiction and claimed he never struck her .
No charges were filed against Ortiz due to “ insufficient corroboration.
” In 2014 , Ortiz was arrested on DUI charges and sentenced to three years probation , along with an undisclosed fine and mandatory alcohol education program .
Despite his criminal history and repeated trouble with the law , Ortiz has had little difficulty gaining the support of law enforcement officials .
His campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Officers Association — the association behind the police department that arrested Ortiz in 2010 .
He is also endorsed by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes , while Peter Mitchell , a political consultant and lobbyist for a handful of Orange County police unions , also contributed to his campaign .
Ortiz has also been endorsed by former assemblymen Scott Baugh and Travis Allen , former Huntington Beach mayor , and convicted felon Dave Garofalo , anti-mask activist Dr. Jeffery Blake , the Lincoln Club of Orange County , as well as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that Ortiz was able to gather such important endorsements is a testament to how the conservative community views him .
In many ways , the MMA fighter is an extension of Trump ’ s political ideology and a personification of the modern GOP—a racially-fueled , conspiracy-theory-driven party filled with poisonous masculinity , toxic militarism , and patriotic propaganda .
Ortiz happens to meet all the aforementioned requirements in spades .
Given the UFC Hall of Famer ’ s controversial beliefs , his decision to run for office has been met with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow candidates .
Thomas LaParne has expressed his “ utmost respect ” for the former UFC fighter , while Oscar D. Rodriguez believes that candidates like Ortiz use “ their celebrity status and wild QAnon conspiracy theories to advance themselves politically and personally.
” “ I honestly didn ’ t know that Tito lived in town when he announced he was running .
Serving as chair of the planning commission , he never showed up to speak about development and I ’ ve never seen him at Bolsa Chica helping to preserve and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve seen him in recent years is on TMZ or standing on the side of known hate groups ‘ protecting ’ HB from peaceful protests , ” said fellow candidate Dan Kalmick .
The criticism is shared by some of the Black voters in Huntington Beach .
Prior to speaking at an Oktoberfest event at the Old World Village on Oct. 14 , Ortiz claimed he was “ confronted ” by Black Lives Matter protesters who questioned his decision to run for office .
Part of the exchange was captured on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressively responding to a Black woman .
“ I was ready to take a bullet for my city to protect property , ” Ortiz said during the exchange .
“ And not one other City Council member ever stood for that except me .
I have Mexican , white , Irish , and Black in me .
Stop being the victim.
” Ortiz did not respond to Right Wing Watch ’ s request for comment .

TOWN GREEN IS one of the most charming parks in Ladera Ranch, California.
Situated near the Mercantile West shopping center, the park grounds boast a gazebo, a rose garden, a military memorial, and an old California oak tree surrounded by a black wrought-iron fence. If you stand in front of the magnificent tree and direct your eyes on the center of the main trunk, you’ll even notice a collection of branches in the shape of a heart.
For many Ladera Ranch residents, Town Green is a refuge from city life—a sanctuary for those looking to carve themselves out a space within nature’s serenity. Yet on September 19, 2020, the lush oasis was transformed into a rallying point for far-right figures united behind President Donald Trump.
Known as the Orange County Title of Liberty, the rally brought together “like-minded patriots” to celebrate the incumbent president, the First Amendment, the military, law enforcement, and the re-opening of business and schools across California in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Find comfort in our numbers, and exhibit strength at the same time!” read the Facebook invitation.
Hundreds gathered to listen to a list of infamous speakers, most notably: Lenka Koloma, a California-based anti-masker behind the Freedom to Breathe Agency (FTBA) and the fraudulent “mask exemption cards” denounced by the U.S. Department of Justice; Mark McDonald, a child psychiatrist and member of a group calling itself America’s Frontline Doctors and who had previously appeared on Alex Jones’s NewsWars website and claimed that “if all Americans had access to hydroxychloroquine, the pandemic would essentially end in about 30 days.” Also on the roster was Ken Williams Jr., a member of the Orange County Board of Education, which plans to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom over the decision to require purely online learning for counties on the state coronavirus watchlist.
Nestled within the cast of controversial conservatives was another notable figure: a mixed martial arts fighter by the name Tito Ortiz.
After being introduced—by a large man dressed in a MAGA hat and a black t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of Smoky Bear along with the words, “Only You Can Prevent Socialism”—Ortiz appeared in a three-piece navy blue suit, sans tie, that accentuated his muscular frame. He grabbed the microphone and roared, “Wassup, Orange County! Each and every one of you that carries an American flag, a Trump flag: we have a voice and let’s keep this voice going.”
After spending the better part of the last two decades as a prizefighter, Ortiz had traded in his MMA gloves for a shot at glory in the U.S. political arena.
As one of 15 candidates running for three open seats on the Huntington Beach City Council, Ortiz spent the majority of his 10-minute speech on his life story. He painted a tragic mosaic of a past marked by drug-addicted parents, an impoverished childhood, a troubled adolescence filled with his own bouts with drugs, and finally, his eventual salvation in the form of athletic competition.
Ortiz, 45, is best known for his stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, an MMA company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the largest MMA entity in the world and the most recognizable brand within the sport, with events dating back to 1993. It is also the sports organization with arguably the closest ties to the Trump administration.
Ortiz debuted in the UFC in 1997, when he was still in college. He won the light-heavyweight championship in 2000, and defended it five times over the course of the next three years, a stint at the top which was, at that time, record-breaking. He is considered to be one of the sport’s earliest stars and a pioneer for future generations of MMA fighters. His most recent fight took place in December 2019.
Yet beyond his illustrious career as a fighter, Ortiz has long used his platform to amplify Trump, associate with far-right groups, and propagate dangerous conspiracy theories such as QAnon, all while campaigning for a seat in office with the promise of “Making Huntington Beach Safe Again.”
“I will be the first city council member of Huntington Beach to be a professional fighter and a city council member at the same time,” Ortiz said during his speech to applause from the crowd.
TITO ORTIZ’ CAMPAIGN is the product of the new American age—an era of celebrity-driven populism, conspiracy-fueled stardom, and a political scene that employs cagefighting as a form of diplomacy.
A native of Huntington Beach, Ortiz was roused to enter politics following a wave of Black Lives Matter protests that took place in the town in May and June 2020, which he attended with a group of locals under the guise of “maintaining the peace.” Taking inspiration from Trump—a fellow businessman who lacked any political qualifications prior to running for office—Ortiz decided to run for Huntington Beach City Council. “I’ll give a lot of credit to Donald Trump because he’s not a politician. He’s a businessman who had a business strategy to make America great,” Ortiz told ABC7.
Ortiz’s relationship with the incumbent president dates back to 2001, when the UFC held two consecutive events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino. At the time, the UFC had been relegated to small venues in states like Mississippi after then-Arizona senator John McCain referred to MMA as “human cockfighting.” The comment tarnished the UFC’s reputation and its ability to promote events across the United States. Trump took a chance on the UFC and allowed the promoters to host shows at his casino.
Ortiz was one of the biggest stars the UFC had at the time. He headlined one of the shows at the Trump Taj Mahal and won his fight in 30 seconds. Since then, he has been pictured with Trump on numerous occasions over the years and even appeared as a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Trump.
When Trump announced his presidential campaign, Ortiz quickly became one of his staunch supporters. He attended a Trump rally in Anaheim, California, in May 2016, where he was spotted behind Trump holding a sign that read, “Hillary Clinton Killed My Friends,” before joining the raucous crowd in a “build the wall” chant. (Ortiz’ sign references a right-wing conspiracy theory about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.)
Ortiz’s emphatic support for Trump is part of a much larger trend of combat-sports athletes endorsing strongmen leaders. Countless UFC fighters have thrown their weight behind Trump, while several notable Brazilian MMA fighters and jiu-jitsu competitors helped elect Brazil’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro. In Russia, local wrestling champions and MMA fighters campaigned for long-time president Vladimir Putin, while Chechnya’s ruthless dictator, Ramzan Kadyrov, founded his own MMA organization, a soft-power strategy that was later replicated by Bahrain’s Prince Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
There is a variety of reasons for this strange union between combat sports and authoritarian leaders. Some value the endorsements of masculine athletes, which they view as part of a larger public relations campaign. Others use their affiliations with these sports stars to distract from ongoing human rights abuses, or even as a form of sports diplomacy between nations.
While Trump’s history with the UFC dates back nearly two decades, his continued attachment to the violent sport is due to an acute awareness that a significant portion of the UFC’s fan base leans conservative. The company is also partial to Trump, and UFC President Dana White, a Trump fan, spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020, as well as at several Trump rallies. The UFC even went so far as to produce a documentary on its history with Trump, which was aptly named “Combatant-in-Chief.” Given the free marketing and eager fanbase, Trump recognizes that the UFC is an ideal platform for his political ideology.

The ripple effects of the Trump-UFC connection can be seen in Ortiz’s campaign, which gained traction due to Ortiz’s celebrity status as a fighter, his ardent support for Trump’s presidency, and the publicity he received from the Trump family, including Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump. He remains competitive in the race, despite running a campaign lacking any substance. Even his “Make Huntington Beach Safe Again” campaign slogan is obviously Trumpian.
In his official statement of qualification, Ortiz explained that he spent most of his life “training, researching issues (opponents), thinking, strategizing, and succeeding.” His campaign website, boasts a platform that the writer claims “represents the values and Constitutional rights we as residents of our city hold dear.” Ortiz says he believes that “limited government is the best government,” is a “strong” supporter of law enforcement, wants to lessen the “homeless problem” in the city, and is a “100% supporter of the Second Amendment.”
According to Ortiz’ campaign contribution forms, the fighter received more than $27,700 in donations and has approximately $17,000 on hand, which is competitive given he has only been in the race since July 2020.
As a result of his apparent popularity and well-financed campaign, Ortiz is primed to become the first former UFC champion elected to public office.
“RIOTERS—DON’T LET them take over your city, ’cause in Huntington Beach, we ain’t having it,” Tito Ortiz said during the June 6, 2020, BLM protests in his hometown. “Not in our town, homie.”
Dressed in a white shirt emblazoned with the word ‘HB Strong,’ Ortiz—along with a group of locals, MMA fighters, and former soldiers—stood guard over the city’s downtown core. Their purpose, in Ortiz’ words, was to “keep the peace.”
Ortiz and his makeshift group of supposed peacekeepers stood in front of the Huntington Surf and Sport and watched over the protests and counter-protests taking place minutes away from the local beach. Approximately 500 people attended the protests, the majority of whom were demonstrating against the murder of George Floyd, the Black man who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin when Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes. Most stood in solidarity with the BLM movement, while others held up signs such as “Stop Police Brutality.”
The former UFC fighter filmed the day’s events, which included shots of him shaking hands with riot police and local officers. Then, speaking to the camera, Ortiz made several references to antifa, terrorists, and rioters.
“I’m OK with protestors … what I am not OK with is terrorists in this country, and I’ll fight for this city.”
The statement is a perfect encapsulation of Ortiz’s political and ideological stance.
Ortiz is arguably one of the athletes in the United States most driven by conspiracy theories, and has been particularly erratic since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. During a recent podcast appearance, he claimed that the virus was “man-made” and a political scam devised to suppress protests around the world.
“Once again, it’s population control by the left,” Ortiz said while dressed in a Trump t-shirt. “They’re trying to get rid of all the older people who are getting Social Security.”
The former UFC fighter also claimed that George Floyd did not die of suffocation but due to a heart condition. He later added that Floyd was linked to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
Ortiz has since continued to use his platform to promote conspiracy theories, and even began selling apparel marked with QAnon slogans such as WWG1WGA (Where We Go One We Go All) through his Punishment Athletics clothing line. (It appears that Ortiz has since removed the QAnon apparel from his site.)
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory turned virtual cult that claims a cabal of elite pedophiles made up of Hollywood actors, Democrats, and other high-ranking officials is behind a global child sex-trafficking ring. The group asserts that Trump is currently fighting the cabal and is planning a day of reckoning known as “The Storm.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation has labeled the movement a “potential domestic terror threat.”
Since learning about QAnon in December 2019, Ortiz’s social media timeline has been riddled with posts linked to the movement, some of which have even been removed due to “false information.”
Beyond his tinfoil-hat conspiracies, Ortiz has also been arrested on numerous occasions. In 1998, just one year into his UFC tenure, Ortiz pleaded guilty to charges of “battery with serious bodily injury” and was sentenced to three years probation, 29 days in prison, and more than 200 hours of community service. Then in 2010, he was arrested for felony domestic violence against then-girlfriend Jenna Jameson. Ortiz then accused Jameson of drug addiction and claimed he never struck her. No charges were filed against Ortiz due to “insufficient corroboration.”
In 2014, Ortiz was arrested on DUI charges and sentenced to three years probation, along with an undisclosed fine and mandatory alcohol education program.
Despite his criminal history and repeated trouble with the law, Ortiz has had little difficulty gaining the support of law enforcement officials. His campaign was recently endorsed by the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association — the association behind the police department that arrested Ortiz in 2010. He is also endorsed by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, while Peter Mitchell, a political consultant and lobbyist for a handful of Orange County police unions, also contributed to his campaign.
Ortiz has also been endorsed by former assemblymen Scott Baugh and Travis Allen, former Huntington Beach mayor, and convicted felon Dave Garofalo, anti-mask activist Dr. Jeffery Blake, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, as well as the Republican Party of Orange County.
The fact that Ortiz was able to gather such important endorsements is a testament to how the conservative community views him. In many ways, the MMA fighter is an extension of Trump’s political ideology and a personification of the modern GOP—a racially-fueled, conspiracy-theory-driven party filled with poisonous masculinity, toxic militarism, and patriotic propaganda. Ortiz happens to meet all the aforementioned requirements in spades.
Given the UFC Hall of Famer’s controversial beliefs, his decision to run for office has been met with a mixture of support and criticism from his fellow candidates. Thomas LaParne has expressed his “utmost respect” for the former UFC fighter, while Oscar D. Rodriguez believes that candidates like Ortiz use “their celebrity status and wild QAnon conspiracy theories to advance themselves politically and personally.”
“I honestly didn’t know that Tito lived in town when he announced he was running. Serving as chair of the planning commission, he never showed up to speak about development and I’ve never seen him at Bolsa Chica helping to preserve and restore open space. The only time I’ve seen him in recent years is on TMZ or standing on the side of known hate groups ‘protecting’ HB from peaceful protests,” said fellow candidate Dan Kalmick.
The criticism is shared by some of the Black voters in Huntington Beach. Prior to speaking at an Oktoberfest event at the Old World Village on Oct. 14, Ortiz claimed he was “confronted” by Black Lives Matter protesters who questioned his decision to run for office. Part of the exchange was captured on camera, where Ortiz can be seen aggressively responding to a Black woman.
“I was ready to take a bullet for my city to protect property,” Ortiz said during the exchange. “And not one other City Council member ever stood for that except me. I have Mexican, white, Irish, and Black in me. Stop being the victim.”
Ortiz did not respond to Right Wing Watch’s request for comment.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-26--Right Wing Round-Up: Disgraces to the Republican Party

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rightwingwatch--2020-10-26--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: We Do Not Deserve This Man


rightwingwatch--2020-10-26--Compromising Giuliani Footage, NY Post’s Suspect Story, and Cernovich and Posobeic’s Meltdown

Comedian and prankster Sacha Baron Cohen came out with a new movie Friday containing a compromising scene of Trump ’ s personal attorney and top sycophant Rudy Giuliani reclining on a bed with his hands in his pants in front of a woman playing the 15-year-old daughter of Cohen ’ s character .
Photos of the compromising scene were released in advance of the movie last Wednesday , incensing far-right activists Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec , who complained that the media was not paying enough attention to the highly suspect story they ’ ve been pushing about Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pair—who peddled the debunked 2016 “ Pizzagate ” conspiracy theory accusing top Democrats of child-sex-trafficking—accused Twitter of bias for allowing the photos of Giuliani to remain on the site and called the photos “ revenge porn.
” Neither Cernovich nor Posobiec appeared to see any irony in their meltdown over the compromising Giuliani photos .
Cohen has made a career out of pranking conservative politicians , including former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore .
In “ Borat Subsequent Moviefilm , ” Cohen returns to play Borat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Semitic character from Kazakhstan who must deliver his 15-year-old daughter to Vice President Mike Pence .
After Borat fails to deliver his daughter to Pence at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference , his daughter , played by 24-year-old actress Maria Bakalova , becomes a conservative journalist and must deliver herself to Giuliani .
Here ’ s The Guardian ’ s description of the scene : In the film , released on Friday , the former New York mayor and current personal attorney to Donald Trump is seen reaching into his trousers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bed in the presence of the actor playing Borat ’ s daughter , who is posing as a TV journalist .
Following an obsequious interview for a fake conservative news programme , the pair retreat at her suggestion for a drink to the bedroom of a hotel suite , which is rigged with concealed cameras .
After she removes his microphone , Giuliani , 76 , can be seen lying back on the bed , fiddling with his untucked shirt and reaching into his trousers .
They are then interrupted by Borat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ’ s 15 .
She ’ s too old for you.
” Unsurprisingly , the images and discussion about what they mean for Rudy Giuliani , an incessant peddler of conspiracy theories , circulated over social media since their release last week .
Giuliani , who is known for making false claims about the Bidens , was a main source for the New York Post ’ s Oct. 15 story that claimed to have “ smoking-gun ” emails showing Hunter Biden was using his father ’ s position as vice president for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in on it as well .
The emails were supposedly retrieved from a laptop obtained by Giuliani after it was dropped off at a Delaware computer repair shop and never retrieved , and Giuliani supposedly learned about the existence of said emails from former Trump campaign manager and disinformation peddler Steve Bannon , who is currently under indictment for fraud .
As many journalists pointed out , the story by the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post was chock full of red flags , including that the emails were never verified , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation to use against the Bidens , and that neither Giuliani nor Bannon are trustworthy sources .
Three men allied with the president had first tried to pitch the story to the Wall Street Journal before Giuliani ’ s explosive , tabloid claims and publication of the New York Post article .
The Wall Street Journal ’ s eventual reporting on the matter stated , “ Corporate records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show no role for Joe Biden.
” Both Facebook and Twitter have limited distribution of the New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit the spread of disinformation , and Twitter initially blocked users from sharing pictures of the unverified emails or links to the New York Post ’ s stories with the unsubstantiated claims .
Nonetheless , it has been heavily pushed on conservative media and in right-wing circles , with conservatives crying of censorship .
The day before the compromising photos of Giuliani were released , Giuliani told right-wing Newsmax TV that Hunter Biden had numerous pictures of “ underage girls ” on the laptop he claimed belonged to Hunter .
Conspiracy theorists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Jones , have gone all in accusing Hunter Biden of pedophilia , and Josh Bernstein went on to accuse Joe Biden of it as well .
Both Cernovich and Posobiec peddled the debunked “ Pizzagate ” conspiracy theory , which claimed that hacked emails sent by Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign manager contained coded messages connecting several high-ranking Democratic Party officials to an alleged human trafficking and child sex ring at a Washington , D.C. pizzeria .
The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that Cernovich “ made his career on trolling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or child sex trafficking.
” The pair , normally in favor of accusing people of pedophilia , came rushing to defend Giuliani with gusto once the compromising footage was released .
Cernovich attacked Twitter for locking the New York Post out of its account for violating its hacked-materials policy .
“ The New York Post got locked out of its twitter account but Twitter is going to let everyone post revenge porn of Rudy Giuliani , a clear violation of New York law and also Twitter ’ s own terms of service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , Posobiec tweeted , “ Twitter is allowing a coordinated unlawful revenge porn campaign against Rudy Giuliani to flood their networks today.
” Claiming it met the statutory definition of revenge porn , Cernovich took to Periscope to ask , “ Why is Twitter allows reveng porn re Rudy Giuliani ?
” Revenge porn is the nonconsensual publication and distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of an individual .
“ A lot of people are saying , ‘ You ’ re defending Rudy , blah , blah , blah.
’ Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cernovich said , before going on to defend Giuliani , attack Cohen , and accuse the media of a disinformation campaign .
“ Sacha Baron Cohen said she was 15 , ” Cernovich said , referring to the moment when Borat busts into the room in pink lingerie and asks Giuliani to take him and not his 15-year-old daughter .
“ So , I think Sacha Baron Cohen should be investigated immediately.
” “ If you ’ re laying down because a woman put you on your back because you think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that you ’ re laying down on your back , because you ’ re about to get a BJ , and your hands are in your pants , is that an intimate encounter ?
” Cernovich asked .
“ That ’ s what I mean , you don ’ t have to be a constitutional lawyer to say , yeah .
Clearly.
” Posobiec agreed that the images were revenge porn , claiming , “ I didn ’ t post the Hunter Biden revenge porn photos , because I know how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rudy Giuliani Borat photo is in violation of revenge porn law.
” But that narrative didn ’ t fly with Giuliani .
About three hours after the images were shared , Giuliani shared his own narrative , arguing that the video was a complete fabrication and that he was really just reclining on the bed to tuck in his shirt after asking for Borat ’ s daughter ’ s number .
“ This is an effort to blunt my relentless exposure of the criminality and depravity of Joe Biden and his entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thread , which Posobiec promptly retweeted , seemingly forgetting the revenge porn narrative he had just helped shape .
On Friday , the day of the release of the new Borat movie , Posobiec took to Bannon ’ s “ War Room Pandemic ” to push the Hunter Biden conspiracy theory .
While there , he asked whether Child Protective Services was ever called on Hunter Biden ’ s family , presumably in reference to Giuliani ’ s pedophilia charges .

Comedian and prankster Sacha Baron Cohen came out with a new movie Friday containing a compromising scene of Trump’s personal attorney and top sycophant Rudy Giuliani reclining on a bed with his hands in his pants in front of a woman playing the 15-year-old daughter of Cohen’s character.
Photos of the compromising scene were released in advance of the movie last Wednesday, incensing far-right activists Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec, who complained that the media was not paying enough attention to the highly suspect story they’ve been pushing about Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s son Hunter. The pair—who peddled the debunked 2016 “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory accusing top Democrats of child-sex-trafficking—accused Twitter of bias for allowing the photos of Giuliani to remain on the site and called the photos “revenge porn.” Neither Cernovich nor Posobiec appeared to see any irony in their meltdown over the compromising Giuliani photos.
Cohen has made a career out of pranking conservative politicians, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. In “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” Cohen returns to play Borat, a racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic character from Kazakhstan who must deliver his 15-year-old daughter to Vice President Mike Pence. After Borat fails to deliver his daughter to Pence at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, his daughter, played by 24-year-old actress Maria Bakalova, becomes a conservative journalist and must deliver herself to Giuliani. Here’s The Guardian’s description of the scene:
In the film, released on Friday, the former New York mayor and current personal attorney to Donald Trump is seen reaching into his trousers and apparently touching his genitals while reclining on a bed in the presence of the actor playing Borat’s daughter, who is posing as a TV journalist. Following an obsequious interview for a fake conservative news programme, the pair retreat at her suggestion for a drink to the bedroom of a hotel suite, which is rigged with concealed cameras. After she removes his microphone, Giuliani, 76, can be seen lying back on the bed, fiddling with his untucked shirt and reaching into his trousers. They are then interrupted by Borat who runs in and says: “She’s 15. She’s too old for you.”
Unsurprisingly, the images and discussion about what they mean for Rudy Giuliani, an incessant peddler of conspiracy theories, circulated over social media since their release last week.
Giuliani, who is known for making false claims about the Bidens, was a main source for the New York Post’s Oct. 15 story that claimed to have “smoking-gun” emails showing Hunter Biden was using his father’s position as vice president for his own gain and that Joe Biden was in on it as well. The emails were supposedly retrieved from a laptop obtained by Giuliani after it was dropped off at a Delaware computer repair shop and never retrieved, and Giuliani supposedly learned about the existence of said emails from former Trump campaign manager and disinformation peddler Steve Bannon, who is currently under indictment for fraud.
As many journalists pointed out, the story by the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post was chock full of red flags, including that the emails were never verified, that Russian operatives had sought to feed Giuliani disinformation to use against the Bidens, and that neither Giuliani nor Bannon are trustworthy sources. Three men allied with the president had first tried to pitch the story to the Wall Street Journal before Giuliani’s explosive, tabloid claims and publication of the New York Post article. The Wall Street Journal’s eventual reporting on the matter stated, “Corporate records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show no role for Joe Biden.”
Both Facebook and Twitter have limited distribution of the New York Post story due to the unsubstantiated claims to limit the spread of disinformation, and Twitter initially blocked users from sharing pictures of the unverified emails or links to the New York Post’s stories with the unsubstantiated claims.
Nonetheless, it has been heavily pushed on conservative media and in right-wing circles, with conservatives crying of censorship.
The day before the compromising photos of Giuliani were released, Giuliani told right-wing Newsmax TV that Hunter Biden had numerous pictures of “underage girls” on the laptop he claimed belonged to Hunter. Conspiracy theorists and radical commentators like Wayne Allen Root and Alex Jones, have gone all in accusing Hunter Biden of pedophilia, and Josh Bernstein went on to accuse Joe Biden of it as well.
Both Cernovich and Posobiec peddled the debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory, which claimed that hacked emails sent by Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager contained coded messages connecting several high-ranking Democratic Party officials to an alleged human trafficking and child sex ring at a Washington, D.C. pizzeria. The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that Cernovich “made his career on trolling the liberal establishment by accusing people of pedophilia or child sex trafficking.”
The pair, normally in favor of accusing people of pedophilia, came rushing to defend Giuliani with gusto once the compromising footage was released.
Cernovich attacked Twitter for locking the New York Post out of its account for violating its hacked-materials policy. “The New York Post got locked out of its twitter account but Twitter is going to let everyone post revenge porn of Rudy Giuliani, a clear violation of New York law and also Twitter’s own terms of service,” he tweeted. About 20 minutes later, Posobiec tweeted, “Twitter is allowing a coordinated unlawful revenge porn campaign against Rudy Giuliani to flood their networks today.”
Claiming it met the statutory definition of revenge porn, Cernovich took to Periscope to ask, “Why is Twitter allows reveng porn re Rudy Giuliani?” Revenge porn is the nonconsensual publication and distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of an individual.
“A lot of people are saying, ‘You’re defending Rudy, blah, blah, blah.’ Some people are making assumptions about me,” Cernovich said, before going on to defend Giuliani, attack Cohen, and accuse the media of a disinformation campaign.
“Sacha Baron Cohen said she was 15,” Cernovich said, referring to the moment when Borat busts into the room in pink lingerie and asks Giuliani to take him and not his 15-year-old daughter. “So, I think Sacha Baron Cohen should be investigated immediately.”
“If you’re laying down because a woman put you on your back because you think you’re about to get a BJ, that you’re laying down on your back, because you’re about to get a BJ, and your hands are in your pants, is that an intimate encounter?” Cernovich asked. “That’s what I mean, you don’t have to be a constitutional lawyer to say, yeah. Clearly.”
Why is Twitter allows reveng porn re Rudy Giuliani? https://t.co/LtJ2691qVj — Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 21, 2020
Posobiec agreed that the images were revenge porn, claiming, “I didn’t post the Hunter Biden revenge porn photos, because I know how the law works” and “Everyone posting the Rudy Giuliani Borat photo is in violation of revenge porn law.”
I didn't post the Hunter Biden revenge porn photos, because I know how the law works Everyone posting the Rudy Giuliani Borat photo is in violation of revenge porn law And @TwitterSupport is allowing unlawful dissemination — Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) October 21, 2020
But that narrative didn’t fly with Giuliani.
About three hours after the images were shared, Giuliani shared his own narrative, arguing that the video was a complete fabrication and that he was really just reclining on the bed to tuck in his shirt after asking for Borat’s daughter’s number. “This is an effort to blunt my relentless exposure of the criminality and depravity of Joe Biden and his entire family,” he tweeted in a thread, which Posobiec promptly retweeted, seemingly forgetting the revenge porn narrative he had just helped shape.
The entire left spread a massive election disinfo campaign against a Trump advisor today using a doctored video @Twitter promoted it And yet @NYPost is still locked over ‘election integrity’ issues? https://t.co/3Ph9Bit29o — Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) October 21, 2020
On Friday, the day of the release of the new Borat movie, Posobiec took to Bannon’s “War Room Pandemic” to push the Hunter Biden conspiracy theory. While there, he asked whether Child Protective Services was ever called on Hunter Biden’s family, presumably in reference to Giuliani’s pedophilia charges.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-26--Sean Feucht Tour Using High-Energy Worship to Promote Right-Wing Politics Hits DC on Eve of Barrett

Sean Feucht Tour Using High-Energy Worship to Promote Right-Wing Politics Hits DC on Eve of Barrett Vote

Sean Feucht , a church musician who emerged from his unsuccessful run for Congress this year as an organizer of resistance to “ tyrannical ” pandemic-related public health restrictions on church gatherings , held a “ worship protest ” on the National Mall Sunday that began in late afternoon and ended in darkness some four hours later .
Feucht ’ s “ Let Us Worship ” tour has alarmed public health officials in one city after another with his pandemic-be-damned public gatherings .
Feucht combines the upbeat , high-energy worship style of Northern California megachurch Bethel , where Feucht is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics he is promoting with Hold the Line , a political organization he launched after failing to make it through the California congressional primary in March .
Feucht ran as a pro-Trump , culture-war Republican who was endorsed by dominionists , Christian nationalists , and Turning Point USA ’ s Charlie Kirk .
In Washington Sunday , with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop , Feucht and his fellow speakers and performers encouraged the thousands of attendees—mostly mask-less and packed closely together on a damp and dreary afternoon—to sing , shout , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just eight days away and said he wanted the country to see Christians dancing with joy .
Feucht portrays racial reconciliation as one goal of his movement , but he has denounced the Black Lives Matter movement as a “ fraud ” and “ a dark movement with hidden agendas.
” For part of the rally , Feucht shared the stage with his spiritual mentor , dominionist Lou Engle .
Longtime anti-choice activist Engle made a name for himself with a series of large-scale political prayer rallies in sports stadiums—including one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-marriage-equality Proposition 8 .
Feucht has frequently described his attendance at Engle ’ s “ The Call on the Mall ” event in D.C. in 2000—when Feucht was 17—as a turning point in his life .
Feucht and Engle believe that God orchestrated the timing of their D.C. event to come the day before the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , whom Engle and other dominionists have declared anointed by God to end abortion in the U.S .
Earlier in the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the steps of the Supreme Court .
Feucht described the Barret vote as “ a moment of history , ” adding , “ We ’ ve been praying for this since 1983 , that God would move , that he would shift the courts that would bring a change over the death decree.
” When his tour stopped in Dallas two weeks ago , participants walked to the courthouse where Roe v. Wade was first argued .
Engle , who is a member of the leadership council of the pro-Trump “ prophetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged people to pray that God would “ remove ” pro-choice Supreme Court justices to give Trump an opportunity to make good on his pledge to give the religious right a Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade .
From the stage in D.C. he recounted prophetic dreams in which God said he was raising up a women ’ s movement to confront witchcraft and “ pull down abortion.
” Engle said he had cried for the “ Esthers ” and “ Deborahs ” —prominent women figures in the Bible—to arise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a sign , let the women arise !
” “ I believe these elections are not a referendum on the character of former Vice President Joseph Biden or a referendum on the character of President Trump .
I believe this election is a referendum on where the church will stand on the foundational biblical standard of ‘ Thou shalt not kill.
’ ” “ But America is a government of the people , by the people , for the people , ” Engle shouted .
“ Therefore , you are the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shedding of innocent blood , you ’ re part of the rebellion [ against God ] .
” “ I want you to see that there is a court above the Supreme Court , ” Engle said .
“ It ’ s the highest court in the land .
With Amy Coney Barrett , we believe we could be really at the end—or at the beginning of this end—of Roe v. Wade.
” Engle encouraged people to gather in small groups to “ pray the blood of Jesus over your state , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government.
” Sen. Josh Hawley , a religious-right wunderkind and Feucht ally , stopped by and spoke from the stage .
Hawley talked about just having voted to advance Barrett to a confirmation vote Monday night , saying to cheers , “ Tomorrow night the final vote on the floor of the Senate to confirm a justice who is not ashamed to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord … not afraid to say that abortion is wrong and every child in America has the right to life.
” He called Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life of our nation , ” adding that Barrett will be “ the most openly pro-life justice on that Supreme Court in my lifetime .
It ’ s going to be absolutely unbelievable.
” Also appearing on stage was Trump-supporting megachurch pastor Jentezen Franklin , who preached on the expressions of worship that he said create “ invisible praise vapors , ” perhaps an unfortunate metaphor at a time in which COVID-19 is invisibly but alarmingly spreading around the country .
Feucht praised the organizers of David ’ s Tent , a worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up semi-permanently on the National Mall near Feucht ’ s “ Let Us Worship ” stage .
Feucht said that when there was some discussion of moving the tent during restoration of the Mall , “ the vice president and his wife said , ‘ You can ’ t move it.
’ ” Feucht added , “ Let ’ s just thank God for elected officials that stand for righteousness.
” The event included an arm-twisting , guilt-manipulating plea for money as well as an altar call and prayers for miracles .
Feucht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our God reigns.
” D.C. ’ s event was not the final stop on Feucht ’ s tour .
Like other religious leaders aligned with the New Apostolic Reformation , Feucht believes that transforming society requires spiritual revival .
He and Engle believe they are helping to spark the rise of a new “ Jesus People ” movement—which energized Engle in the 1970s—and a spiritual Great Awakening that will transform the U.S .
The tour will continue to Las Vegas , Nevada on Halloween , and then on to Phoenix , Arizona .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be celebrating New Year ’ s Eve with a rally on Azusa Street in Los Angeles , California , site of an early 20th Century revival that is widely considered the birthplace of Pentecostalism in the U.S .

Sean Feucht, a church musician who emerged from his unsuccessful run for Congress this year as an organizer of resistance to “tyrannical” pandemic-related public health restrictions on church gatherings, held a “worship protest” on the National Mall Sunday that began in late afternoon and ended in darkness some four hours later. Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” tour has alarmed public health officials in one city after another with his pandemic-be-damned public gatherings.
Feucht combines the upbeat, high-energy worship style of Northern California megachurch Bethel, where Feucht is a worship leader, with the right-wing politics he is promoting with Hold the Line, a political organization he launched after failing to make it through the California congressional primary in March. Feucht ran as a pro-Trump, culture-war Republican who was endorsed by dominionists, Christian nationalists, and Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk.
In Washington Sunday, with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, Feucht and his fellow speakers and performers encouraged the thousands of attendees—mostly mask-less and packed closely together on a damp and dreary afternoon—to sing, shout, and dance. Feucht noted that the election was just eight days away and said he wanted the country to see Christians dancing with joy.
Feucht portrays racial reconciliation as one goal of his movement, but he has denounced the Black Lives Matter movement as a “fraud” and “a dark movement with hidden agendas.”
For part of the rally, Feucht shared the stage with his spiritual mentor, dominionist Lou Engle. Longtime anti-choice activist Engle made a name for himself with a series of large-scale political prayer rallies in sports stadiums—including one in California in 2008 to mobilize support for the anti-marriage-equality Proposition 8. Feucht has frequently described his attendance at Engle’s “The Call on the Mall” event in D.C. in 2000—when Feucht was 17—as a turning point in his life.
Feucht and Engle believe that God orchestrated the timing of their D.C. event to come the day before the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, whom Engle and other dominionists have declared anointed by God to end abortion in the U.S. Earlier in the day Sunday, Engle hosted a prayer meeting on the steps of the Supreme Court.
Feucht described the Barret vote as “a moment of history,” adding, “We’ve been praying for this since 1983, that God would move, that he would shift the courts that would bring a change over the death decree.” When his tour stopped in Dallas two weeks ago, participants walked to the courthouse where Roe v. Wade was first argued.
Engle, who is a member of the leadership council of the pro-Trump “prophetic” network POTUS Shield, has frequently urged people to pray that God would “remove” pro-choice Supreme Court justices to give Trump an opportunity to make good on his pledge to give the religious right a Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
From the stage in D.C. he recounted prophetic dreams in which God said he was raising up a women’s movement to confront witchcraft and “pull down abortion.” Engle said he had cried for the “Esthers” and “Deborahs”—prominent women figures in the Bible—to arise, saying, “As Amy Coney Barrett is a sign, let the women arise!”
“I believe these elections are not a referendum on the character of former Vice President Joseph Biden or a referendum on the character of President Trump. I believe this election is a referendum on where the church will stand on the foundational biblical standard of ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”
“But America is a government of the people, by the people, for the people,” Engle shouted. “Therefore, you are the government. And when you vote for the shedding of innocent blood, you’re part of the rebellion [against God].”
“I want you to see that there is a court above the Supreme Court,” Engle said. “It’s the highest court in the land. With Amy Coney Barrett, we believe we could be really at the end—or at the beginning of this end—of Roe v. Wade.” Engle encouraged people to gather in small groups to “pray the blood of Jesus over your state, over your city … Pray for a pro-life government.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, a religious-right wunderkind and Feucht ally, stopped by and spoke from the stage. Hawley talked about just having voted to advance Barrett to a confirmation vote Monday night, saying to cheers, “Tomorrow night the final vote on the floor of the Senate to confirm a justice who is not ashamed to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord … not afraid to say that abortion is wrong and every child in America has the right to life.” He called Barrett’s confirmation a “historic moment in the life of our nation,” adding that Barrett will be “the most openly pro-life justice on that Supreme Court in my lifetime. It’s going to be absolutely unbelievable.”
Also appearing on stage was Trump-supporting megachurch pastor Jentezen Franklin, who preached on the expressions of worship that he said create “invisible praise vapors,” perhaps an unfortunate metaphor at a time in which COVID-19 is invisibly but alarmingly spreading around the country.
Feucht praised the organizers of David’s Tent, a worship space that has been allowed to set up semi-permanently on the National Mall near Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” stage. Feucht said that when there was some discussion of moving the tent during restoration of the Mall, “the vice president and his wife said, ‘You can’t move it.’” Feucht added, “Let’s just thank God for elected officials that stand for righteousness.”
The event included an arm-twisting, guilt-manipulating plea for money as well as an altar call and prayers for miracles. Feucht ended the night with the song “Our God reigns.”
D.C.’s event was not the final stop on Feucht’s tour. Like other religious leaders aligned with the New Apostolic Reformation, Feucht believes that transforming society requires spiritual revival. He and Engle believe they are helping to spark the rise of a new “Jesus People” movement—which energized Engle in the 1970s—and a spiritual Great Awakening that will transform the U.S.
The tour will continue to Las Vegas, Nevada on Halloween, and then on to Phoenix, Arizona. A Feucht colleague announced that the group will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a rally on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California, site of an early 20th Century revival that is widely considered the birthplace of Pentecostalism in the U.S.