theblaze--2020-01-07--Stampede kills more than 40 people, injures more than 200 during Soleimani funeral in Iran, accordin

Stampede kills more than 40 people, injures more than 200 during Soleimani funeral in Iran, according to reports

Stampede kills more than 40 people , injures more than 200 during Soleimani funeral in Iran , according to reports @ @ @ @ @ Kerman — Soleimani 's hometown

A Tuesday stampede in Iran claimed the lives of at least 40 people and injured more than 200 others.
The stampede took place during a funeral procession for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq last week. An estimated tens of thousands of people crowded the streets of Soleimani's hometown of Kerman on Tuesday to pay their respects to the fallen general.
What are the details?
According to Fars and ISNA news agencies, Pirhossein Koulivand — head of Iran's emergency medical services — said the stampede was horrific.
“Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions," he said.
According to Reuters, Koulivand said the incident occurred because of "heavy congestion of the crowd."
A Monday procession in Tehran drew more than 1 million people.
The late general will be laid to rest between two former Guard comrades who were killed during 1986's Operation Dawn 8.
What else?
The airstrike on Soleimani — who was responsible for the deaths of at least hundreds of Americans — has prompted Iranians to call for revenge against the U.S.
On Tuesday, Hossein Salami, leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, vowed to set areas supported by the U.S. "ablaze."
"We will take revenge. We will set ablaze where they like," he reportedly said amid a crowd's cries of "Death to Israel!"
The U.S. State Department advised all Americans abroad to leave the region immediately.
What else do we know?
The strike on Soleimani's convoy, which took place at Baghdad International Airport, was carried out by a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone, which is said to have a range of more than 1,100 miles and can reportedly reach an altitude of 50,000 feet.
The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that the airstrike was a "decisive defensive action" in order to protect U.S. personnel abroad.
"At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization," the statement read. "The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world."


theblaze--2020-01-07--Poll shows more people approve of President Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander than

Poll shows more people approve of President Trump's decision to kill Iranian military commander than those that disapprove

Poll shows more people approve of President Trump 's decision to kill Iranian military commander than those that disapprove

A new poll shows that more Americans approve of President Donald Trump's decision to approve an airstrike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani than those that disapprove.
While 43 percent of those polled say they approved, 38 percent said that they disapproved of the decision.
Soleimani was a top leader of the Iranian military and the elite Quds Force. He was killed in an airstrike on an envoy through the Baghdad airport on Thursday in Iraq.
Of the 43 percent that approved of the decision, 30 percent said that they strongly approved.
Another 19 percent said they were unsure if they approved or disapproved of the lethal airstrike.
The poll was conducted by YouGov for the Huffington Post and included responses from 1,000 U.S. adults between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5.
Critics of the airstrike say that the attack on one of Iran's top military leaders could escalate the tensions in the Middle East into a third world war. Supporters of the president counter that Soleimani was a real terror threat to U.S. citizens.
"We would have been culpably negligent had we not taken this action," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Others are accusing the president of ordering the strike to distract from the ongoing impeachment debacle.
"So what if Trump wants war, knows this leads to war and needs the distraction?" responded Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Twitter. "Real question is, will those with congressional authority step in and stop him? I know I will."
Here's more on the death of Soleimani:


theblaze--2020-01-07--Hunter Biden linked to identity theft of his dead brother by investigator in paternity suit

Hunter Biden linked to identity theft of his dead brother by investigator in paternity suit More bad news for the @ @

Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden, was linked in court documents with alleged identity theft of his deceased brother Beau Biden.
The claims were made by a private investigator acting as a third-party intervener in the paternity lawsuit against Hunter Biden. He is accused of fathering a child with an exotic dancer he met in Washington, D.C.
The investigator said that evidence obtained by police pointed to the fraudulent use of identification in order to hide the admission of Hunter Biden into an Arizona rehabilitation facility under his dead brother's name.
The claims arise from suspicious items reported to police that were discovered in a Hertz rental car in October 2018.
"A bag containing the suspicious items, a cellular telephone (Apple) belonging to Shauna Stanglr, who is also known as Puma St. Angel, and a Delaware attorney general badge belonging to Hunter Biden's deceased brother Joseph R. Beau Biden III were provided to the police officer," the filing said.
Hunter Biden came under heightened scrutiny after claims of corruption were leveled at former Vice President Joe Biden over his son's involvement with Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) officially opened a Senate investigation into claims of corruption against the Bidens in November.
"I want to know are there any transcripts or readouts of the phone calls between the vice president and the president of the Ukraine in February, after the raid on the gas company president's house," Graham explained to Sean Hannity on Fox News.
Here's more about the Bidens and Ukraine:
Joe Biden: "I don't know" what Hunter was doing for Burisma www.youtube.com
[H/T: Washington Examiner]


theblaze--2020-01-07--CNBC blasted for using photos of other people in place of both Yang and Gabbard

CNBC blasted for using photos of other people in place of both Yang and Gabbard The Democratic outsiders have each @ @ @ @ @ mainstream outlets

CNBC made what the network says was an honest mistake on Monday when they posted photos of completely different people in place of Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii).
But supporters of Yang and Gabbard were unconvinced by the network's quick apology over the incident, given that both outsider candidates have been snubbed numerous times by mainstream media outlets.
What are the details?
The blunders occurred during CNBC's "Squawk Box" program, when a graphic showing fundraising numbers for all current presidential candidates showed entirely different people above Yang and Gabbard's names.
CNBC mistakenly showed an image of Redpoint Ventures founding partner Geoff Yang instead of candidate Andrew Yang, and showed a picture of former 2020 contender Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) in place of Gabbard.
The Yang Gang was furious — and they've been keeping tabs. The hashtag #YangMediaBlackout began trending on Twitter after Yang supporter Scott Sanders tweeted screenshots documenting the errors, adding to the running tally he keeps of the times the media has snubbed Yang (often by leaving him off of graphics entirely in favor of lower-performing candidates).
Yang took the incident in stride, reacting on Twitter with a laughing emoji while the Gabbard campaign took notice by retweeting but did not issue a comment. In the past, both candidates have lambasted media outlets over being mistreated.
Fox News noted that Yang boycotted MSNBC for a time after the network repeatedly left the candidate off its on-air graphics, but he has recently returned as a guest.
Gabbard, for her part, skewered The New York Times and CNN for their treatment of her while on their own turf during a Democratic debate hosted by the two outlets, saying, "Just two days ago The New York Times put out an article saying that I'm a Russian asset and an Assad apologist, and all these different smears. This morning, a CNN commentator said on national television that I'm an asset of Russia. Completely despicable."


theblaze--2020-01-07--Muslim religious leader charged with sex crimes against children in Texas — and there was already a

Muslim religious leader charged with sex crimes against children in Texas — and there was already a deportation hold on him

Muslim religious leader charged with sex crimes against children in Texas — and there was already a deportation hold on @ @ @ @ @ differences may prevent other possible victims from speaking out

A Muslim community leader has been charged with child molestation in Fort Bend County, Texas, and police are angry that he could have been deported before the alleged crimes took place.
59-year-old Mohamed Omar Ali is a native of Somalia but he has been teaching as an Islamic leader in the United States since he entered the country in 2013.
He was arrested on Friday and charged with 3 counts of indecency with a child and one count of sexual assault of a child under the age of fourteen.
Police say that he found his alleged victims through local mosques where he taught the Koran.
Sheriff Troy Nehls said in a press conference that Ali should have been deported years ago.
"If there is a deportation order on him, why wasn't he placed into custody months ago or maybe even years ago?" Nehls asked angrily. "Because he came into Fort Bend County in 2013."
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston released a statement describing their background check policies.
"ISGH leadership takes the safety of our community very seriously and has implemented strict background check measures for all of our employees and any volunteers who work with children," the statement read.
Ali was jailed on a $150,000 bond and still faces the deportation detainer.
"This is sickening and an abuse of power," Nehls added. "If your children have had contact with this man, please talk to them. Victims' identities will be protected."
Police believe there may be more victims and are asking the public for help in the case.
Here's a local news report about the charges:


theblaze--2020-01-07--Milwaukee driver opens fire on kids throwing snowballs at cars, shooting a 12- and 13-year-old

Milwaukee driver opens fire on kids throwing snowballs at cars , shooting a 12- and 13-year-old Police are asking for @ @ @ @ @ finding the suspect .

A driver in Milwaukee allegedly opened fire on a group of kids who were throwing snowballs at passing cars on Saturday, shooting a 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy.
The victims were hospitalized and are expected to survive, while police are asking the public for assistance in finding the suspect.
What are the details?
Milwaukee Police sent out a series of tweets on Monday to notify the public of the incident, detailing that a "preliminary investigation indicates both victims were with a group of juveniles throwing snowballs at cars passing by. One of the snowballs struck a white Toyota, no further description and the driver of the auto fired shots into the group of kids striking two victims."
Officers responded to the scene at around 7:50 p.m., first finding the girl and then discovering the injured boy minutes later. Police administered first aide to wounded children, whom authorities say suffered "non-life threatening gun shot wound(s)." The victims are both recovering at a hospital.
Anything else?
The Milwaukee Police Department asks that if anyone has information regarding the incident to call 414-935-7360, or Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.


theblaze--2020-01-07--Republicans introduce resolution to change Senate rules in order to dismiss articles of impeachment

Republicans introduce resolution to change Senate rules in order to dismiss articles of impeachment '' ... this has never been @ @ @ @

Republicans in the U.S. Senate introduced a resolution that would change the congressional rules in order to allow them to dismiss articles of impeachment that are not sent for a trial in the Senate.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.) defended the resolution in a statement on Monday, saying that the founders did not envision the eventuality of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) refusing to send articles of impeachment to the Senate.
"The Constitution gives the Senate sole power to adjudicate articles of impeachment, not the House," Hawley said in the statement.
"If Speaker Pelosi is afraid to try her case, the articles should be dismissed for failure to prosecute and Congress should get back to doing the people's business," he added.
The resolution would allow for 25 days for the House to send articles to the Senate after an impeachment vote.
After that, a simply majority could vote to dismiss the impeachment vote "with prejudice for failure by the House of Representatives to prosecute such articles."
Pelosi has indicated that House Democrats will withhold from sending the articles to the Senate until Republicans agree to rules that they say will result in a fair trial on impeachment.
"Let's be clear, this has never been done before, it's not even been thought of before!" Hawley said on the floor of the Senate about the Democratic maneuvering.
Here's Hawley's statement on the resolution:


theblaze--2020-01-06--'These are rent-a-mobs': NYT bestselling author contends the people of Iran are celebrating Soleiman

'These are rent-a-mobs': NYT bestselling author contends the people of Iran are celebrating Soleimani's death

'These are rent-a-mobs ' : NYT bestselling author contends the people of Iran are celebrating Soleimani 's death 'He is @ @ @ @ @ '

On Monday's radio program, Glenn Beck was joined by New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist Kenneth Timmerman to talk about Iranian terrorist and military leader Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani who was killed last week in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump.
Timmerman emphasized that Solemiani was every bit as bad as the Taliban's Osama Bin or ISIS' Al-Baghdadi.
"He's the chief terrorist of the Iranian regime. He runs a whole legion of overseas terror operators called the Quds Force," said Timmerman. "Their goal is to spread the Iranian ideology, and the regime itself, to foreign countries. So, they're present in Lebanon, they're present in Syria. They're present in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan. They're the ones who command terror attacks. They're the ones who were going to blow up the Saudi ambassador in the Watergate hotel in Washington, DC, plant a bomb there, because they didn't like the guy, and take out perhaps 100 people, having lunch in downtown Washington, DC in 2011. He blew up the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires that killed 86 Jews in 1994. That was also one of their operations.
"He is the worst of the worst. And in addition, he's the best that they've got. So we just took out somebody incredibly important for the regime," he added.
Timmerman went on to detail several more deadly terrorist attacks that Solemiani planned and orchestrated, including the 2012 Benghazi attack and the recent attacks on the embassy in Baghdad.
Glenn asked Timmerman to weigh in on reports of huge crowds turning out to mourn the death of the terrorist leader.
"We always knew that the regime is capable of mustering a crowd. In many cases they pay people to come. They let them get off work, they oblige government employees to attend these mass rallies and chant 'death with America.' And many times, when the cameras pan out ... there's nobody in the square," Timmerman explained.
"These are rent-a-mobs," he continued. "The people in Iran, who are sick and tired of these tyrants who've been governing them for an era of 40 years of darkness in Iran, are celebrating."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
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theblaze--2020-01-06--US Ambassador to Germany calls out European governments over Iran response

US Ambassador to Germany calls out European governments over Iran response 'You must condemn all the way up the ladder @ @ @ @ @ was not done . '

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell is not impressed with European governments' reactions to violence coordinated by Iran, and says Western countries need to make it clear that they stand united against Tehran and its attacks.
What are the details?
"When the West stands together and the West says very clearly that terrorism is wrong and terrorism should not be used, then that message is heard by the Iranians and they see a collective force of the West," Ambassador Grenell told Der Podcast on Monday, according to Politico.
He added, "We have seen the Iranians escalate over the last several months. And there has been no, or I should say little response from the European governments."
Following the United States' targeted killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week, America's European allies called for de-escalation, The Washington Post reported.
In response to that, Grenell said, "If you want to de-escalate, and you think that it's really important to de-escalate, I would say then you must condemn all the way up the ladder of escalation, and that was not done."
The U.S. Embassy in Germany noted on its Twitter account the day after Soleimani's death, "The Council of the European Union just two months ago reaffirmed its sanctions against Qasem #Soleimani for his involvement in terrorist acts."
The Jerusalem Post reported that during a separate interview with German publication Bild on Monday, Grenell said Soleimani was a "cheerleader of the genocide in Syria."
Anything else?
NATO met Monday afternoon to discuss Iran and Iraq, and Reuters reported that "all members of the Atlantic alliance stood behind the United States in the Middle East after it briefed NATO on its drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters afterward, "We are united in condemning Iran's support of a variety of different terrorist groups. At the meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no one's interest. So Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations."


theblaze--2020-01-06--Anti-Trump 'humanitarian' mocks South Carolina dad, daughter killed in hunting accident as 'MAGAbill

Anti-Trump 'humanitarian' mocks South Carolina dad, daughter killed in hunting accident as 'MAGAbillys'

'At least they died supporting their beloved 2nd Amendment '

A Seattle businesswoman — apparently a vehement opponent of President Donald Trump — posted a tweet Friday mocking a South Carolina father and his 9-year-old daughter who were killed in a hunting accident as "MAGAbillys," MyNorthwest.com reported.
MAGA, of course, refers to "Make America Great Again" — the slogan for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign — words that have repeatedly driven leftists to derangement in numerous incidents.
KTTH-AM radio host Jason Rantz noted in his piece that Lana Kiossovski is a business partner with Saint John's Bar and Eatery in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood and that her @lana_palooza29 Twitter account listed her as a "humanitarian."
You can judge that latter designation for yourself:
Image source: Twitter
There was "no indication the family supports President Donald Trump and nothing in the story mentioned politics at all," Rantz added in his piece.
The tweet in question "was deleted at some point but people had already begun to dig into other deranged, vulgar musings posted to the account," the outlet noted.
More from MyNorthwest.com:
One tweet, apparently angry that Trump ordered the targeted strike against an Iranian terrorist responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops, encouraged the Iranian government to "retaliate and take this mother out." According to another screenshot, she also mused, "I'm sure said terrorists can find [Trump] at any number of his golf resorts." And it's not just tweets decrying Trump that got some reaction. She also called Rep. Tulsi Gabbard the c-word.
Scores of users showed screenshots of their reports to Twitter for violating terms of service.
Users started to figure out who they believed the account belonged to. Then some started to dox Kiossovski's personal information and the businesses she's involved in. She appears to have reacted by going into digital hiding. Not only have her personal accounts been taken down, so too was the bar's Facebook page.
Confirmation
Val Kiossovski, owner of Saint John's Bar and Eatery, emailed Rantz's radio show confirming the tweet about the father and daughter was sent by his wife Lana, the outlet reported. He insisted to MyNorthwest that she isn't involved in the business' ownership except through proxy via their marriage. But the outlet said the "About Us" section on the restaurant's website that lists Lana Kiossovski as a business partner was taken down prior to Val Kiossovski's email to the station — and that the Puget Sound Business Journal lists her as a business partner.
Kiossovski added to the radio station that he's received a number of Twitter threats stemming from users doxxing his wife, and Rantz said he encouraged him to report threats to police, MyNorthwest added.
Here's how Rantz concluded his piece:
While I think doxxing is wrong (her home address and phone number should be off-limits), I do think it's kosher to call her out for being a garbage human being. And choosing not to contribute to a business that adds to her wealth is appropriate.
I don't believe in boycotting businesses for political positions — regrettably, that's a position progressives take. Sure, her close-minded political views triggered this reaction, but this tweet very clearly transcends a political view. This is about an utter lack of humanity, so deranged in an anti-Trump view, that anyone who hunts or lives in the south is somehow a "MAGAbilly"? And to extend that derangement to a 9-year-old girl? This is simply despicable.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Leaked DoD memo suggests US troop withdrawal from Iraq — but top military official calls document a

Leaked DoD memo suggests US troop withdrawal from Iraq — but top military official calls document a 'mistake,' says military not pulling out

Leaked DoD memo suggests US troop withdrawal from Iraq — but top military official calls document a 'mistake , ' @ @ @ @ @ Mourners surround a car carrying the coffin of Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis ( @ @ @ @ @ procession on Saturday for him and nine others in Baghdad 's district of al-Jadriya .
@ @ @ @ @ via Getty Images )

After a draft memo from the Department of Defense leaked suggesting that U.S. forces in Iraq are preparing for a withdrawal within days or weeks, at least one top military official has called it a "mistake" and said a withdrawal is not happening.
The letter, which was quickly circulated online although not confirmed as authentic by on-the-record sources, was from U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III, addressed to the Iraq Ministry of Defense, informing them of a troop "repositioning" in order to prepare for "onward movement."
"In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner," the letter states.
The Pentagon would not comment on the authenticity of the memo or the accuracy of its content when contacted by TheBlaze on Monday afternoon. The Washington Post reported that the letter had been confirmed by an unnamed U.S. military official.
However, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told reporters later in the afternoon that the draft "is a mistake" and "should not have been released."
"That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released," Milley said, according to CNN's Jake Tapper. "Poorly worded, implies withdrawal, that is not what's happening."
Milley said the letter is being circulated for input from both U.S. and Iraqi officials, according to CBS News, and that it is regarding a repositioning rather than a withdrawal.
Iraqi lawmakers voted Sunday to pass a non-binding resolution that calls for all foreign troops to leave the country.
The draft letter from Gen. Seely says the U.S. "[respects] your sovereign decision to order our departure."
All of this stems from the U.S. drone strike Friday in Baghdad that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and some Iraqi militia leaders.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Lara Logan breaks down while interviewing pimp who says he sells young teens to wealthy NYC men for

Lara Logan breaks down while interviewing pimp who says he sells young teens to wealthy NYC men for sex

Former CBS News correspondent Lara Logan got very emotional while interviewing a Mexican sex trafficker and two of his young alleged sex slaves.
What are the details?
Debuting her new Fox Nation documentary show, "Lara Logan Has No Agenda," the veteran reporter discussed with the Mexican trafficker how he would bring girls younger than 15 years old to the New York City elite to receive thousands of dollars for the girls' "company."
"Where do you make the most money?" Logan asked the trafficker. "What kind of girls do you send to the U.S.?"
The trafficker responded by saying New York City is a money hot spot and that he prefers to sends girls age 15 years and younger because they bring in more profit.
"Normally [the sex slaves] are younger than 15 years old," he responds, "because they will get more profit ... than from a girl who is 17, 18 years old."
The trafficker also says that wealthy New York City men will pay between $20,000 and $25,000 for underage virgins.
Elsewhere during the interview, Logan asked the third-generation sex trafficker if he believes he has a sort of sickness to stomach his job as a sex trafficker.
"It's a kind of sickness, don't you think?" she asked. "I mean, to send girls that young for that to happen to them and to live that kind of life, right?"
He simply responded, "Yes."
What about the girls?
Logan also interviewed two of the trafficker's sex slaves, who are 17 and 25 years old. One told an emotional Logan that she began working as a slave when she was just 13 years old.
“I would like for [my mother] to explain things to me," the girl told Logan, who broke down in tears over the harrowing story.
The second sex slave told Logan that she, too, was taken from her family between the ages of 12 and 13 years old and forced into having sex with multiple men as a young teen.
Logan's new show — a four-part docu-series consisting of 16 investigative episodes —will begin this month on Mondays on Fox Nation. The subjects include immigration, media bias, socialism, and veterans. Fox Nation is a subscription streaming service and spinoff from Fox News Channel.
(H/T: Mediaite)


theblaze--2020-01-06--VIDEO: Qassem Soleimani's corpse was boxed up and transported back to Iran flying coach

VIDEO : Qassem Soleimani 's corpse was boxed up and transported back to Iran flying coach His casket was laid @ @ @

The corpse of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military leader and terrorist killed by a U.S. airstrike last Thursday, was allegedly boxed up and transported back to Iran flying coach on a Mahan Air flight.
A new video shows Soleimani's casket, along with the those of several others killed in the attack, placed across passenger seats rather than being stowed into the cargo compartments.
The video was posted to Twitter by Babak Taghvaee, who describes himself as a freelance journalist and defense analyst.
#BREAKING: An Airbus A300-603R of #MahanAir transported corpses of Qasem #Soleimani & Abu-Mahdi Al-Muhandis from #Mashhad to #Mehrabad Intl Airport, #Tehran. Their coffins were put on the passenger seats instead of being loaded in cargo/baggage compartments! pic.twitter.com/NnmKBvL8KB
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) January 5, 2020
As the video scans the interior of the plane, a tribute video is seen playing on one of the screens.
According to the New York Post, two of the coffins seen in the video bear the images of Soleimani, leader of the Iranian Quds Force, which is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-supported militia group in Iraq. Both men were killed in the rocket strike last week.
Hundreds of thousands turned out to mourn in Iran following the arrival of Soleimani's remains, BBC reports.
In Ahvaz, where the general served during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, mourners chanted, "Death to America." Similar chants were also heard from Iranian politicians during a parliamentary session in Tehran, the report adds.
In Iraq and Syria, however, celebrations have broken out in the streets following the news of Soleimani's death.
Soleimani, who was often considered to be the country's second most powerful leader, was integral in expanding Iran's sphere of influence in the Middle East.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Monty Python's Terry Gilliam says he's tired of 'mob mentality' and white men 'being blamed for ever

Monty Python's Terry Gilliam says he's tired of 'mob mentality' and white men 'being blamed for everything wrong with the world'

Monty Python 's Terry Gilliam says he 's tired of 'mob mentality ' and white men 'being blamed for everything @ @ @ @ @

Terry Gilliam, writer and director of the Monty Python troupe, says he's sick and tired of white men being "blamed for everything."
Gilliam made the remarks during a recent interview with The Independent while promoting his new film, "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote."
What did he say?
Taking aim at the #MeToo movement, the 79-year-old legend said that it's unfair men receive the brunt of the blame for abuse and that #MeToo is a "witch hunt."
Referring to embattled film mogul and accused sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, Gilliam said, "There are many victims in [his] life, and I feel sympathy for them, but then Hollywood is full of very ambitious people who are adults and they make choices. We all make choices, and I could tell you who did make the choice and who didn't."
"I hate Harvey," he insisted. "I had to work with him and I know the abuse, but I don't want people saying that all men ... I understand that men have had more power longer, but I'm tired, as a white male, of being blamed for everything that is wrong with the world."
"When you have power, you don't take responsibility for abusing others," he added. "You enjoy the power. That's the way it works in reality."
What else?
Earlier during the interview, Gilliam made clear his thoughts on the movement.
"Yeah, I said #MeToo is a witch hunt," he said. "I really feel there were a lot of people, decent people, or mildly irritating people, who were getting hammered. That's wrong. I don't like mob mentality."
The U.K.'s Women's Equality Party issued a statement condemning Gilliam's remarks.
"We're tired of white men calling 'witch hunt' and refusing to examine the societal privileges that afford them so much scope to behave poorly without consequence," the statement read, according to NBC News.


theblaze--2020-01-06--'Human Ken doll' — who spent more than $600,000 on over 70 surgeries to enhance maleness — is now a

'Human Ken doll' — who spent more than $600,000 on over 70 surgeries to enhance maleness — is now a transgender woman

'Human Ken doll ' — who spent more than $ 600,000 on over 70 surgeries to enhance maleness — is @ @ @ @ @ I was lying to myself .
I 'm a woman and have always had a @ @ @ @ @ body matches my mind . '

The images of Rodrigo Alves — the "human Ken doll" — have been known the world over for years.
Alves had over 70 surgeries to the tune of over $600,000 to enhance maleness, the Mirror UK reported, including fake six-pack abs, pectoral implants, and facial operations until the patient was unrecognizable.
But now Alves, 36, is coming out as a transgender woman, the outlet said.
“It feels amazing to finally tell the world I'm a girl," Alves told the Mirror. "I'm known as Ken, but inside I've always felt like Barbie."
What's the background?
Alves — a biological male — dressed in Mom's clothing as a child in Brazil and developed breasts due to higher-than-normal estrogen production, the outlet said.
"Growing up, I was very feminine and used to play with dolls and wear my mum's dresses and heels," Alves told the outlet. "I had an instinct toward toys and clothes designed for females. I was bullied at school because I was very feminine. Boys would play football and girls volleyball. I'd always be with the girls. I was physically abused — I had my face pushed into the urinal and was thrown down the stairs. At the age of 13 two boys at school sexually abused me. I was very feminine and weak. I couldn't defend myself. It was very traumatic."
By age 17 Alves had a breast reduction and then a nose job two years later, the Mirror said, adding that dozens of male-enhancing surgeries followed after moving to London.
"I have tried my best to behave like a man, but deep inside I was never happy. I would see a beautiful woman and feel jealous because I wanted to be like them," Alves told the outlet. "I think like a woman, I act like a woman because I have always been one deep inside."
In 2017, Alves announced plans to live as a woman. Then a year later, Alves finally decided to transition to female after being asked during a New York photo shoot to dress in women's clothes, the Mirror added.
"I began wearing the lingerie at home, and it made me feel beautiful," Alves told the outlet. "It was an awakening. It finally all became clear to me. I came back to the U.K. and made an appointment with my GP, who referred me to a psychologist and psychiatrist. Within a month I was diagnosed with gender dysmorphic disorder and given the option to start the appropriate medication to transition."
More surgeries
Last year, Alves' fake six-pack was removed — and used for a buttocks lift, the Mirror said, adding that hormone injections have given way to feminine hips and the need for a D-cup bra.
Next year, Alves — who now goes by Roddy and uses "she" and "her" pronouns — will complete the female transition with gender reassignment surgery, the outlet said.
"I will have a penile inversion and my testicles will be removed. That will be the final step," Alves added to the Mirror. "Before that I'm having silicone breast implants. I'll be able to wear dresses that show my cleavage and look sexy. I'm very excited. After that, I'm having face feminization surgery. It will be an incision at the top of my scalp, and through that the doctor will reshape my forehead, give me an eye lift, lip lift and middle face lift. I'm having my Adam's apple removed, my jawline shaved and my chin modified."
Alves also told the outlet: "I finally feel like the real me. Glamorous, beautiful, and feminine. For years I tried to live my life as a man. I had a fake six pack put in, I had fake muscles in my arms, but I was lying to myself. I'm a woman and have always had a feminine brain. Now my body matches my mind."
Alves has had a lucrative career as a TV personality in the U.K. and in Europe, the Mirror said.


theblaze--2020-01-06--WaPo: ‘Nobody cared’ about Ricky Gervais’ scathing monologue

Not the best hot take

WTF MSM!? is a newsletter that puts a dose of sunlight on the mainstream media and exposes how the media twist facts, selectively report, and outright lie to advance their left-wing agenda. You can sign up for the WTF MSM!? newsletter here.
Washington Post TV critic Hank Stuever proved once again that coastal elitists don't get America. After comedian Ricky Gervais' scathing Golden Globes monologue that tore apart Hollywood hypocrisy, Stuever wrote that the speech was "hardly the provocative scorching that Gervais promised with his return." The title screamed, "Nobody cared."
Never has a hot take been so cold.
Stuever focused on some of Gervais' opening material, like the joke about Leonardo DiCaprio's penchant for much younger women and the "Cats" movie. But even in that, Stuever leaves out the devastating punch line about Prince Andrew and his affiliation with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He then made a passing reference to Gervais ripping apart the industry in general as self-absorbed and more interested in making a buck than the causes they pretend to care about. These attacks, like Apple running "sweatshops in China," resonated with millions of Americans. People who know Hollywood is littered with hypocritical gasbags ate these comments up.
Elitists like those who work for the Post just don't understand because they are part of the celebrity culture that Gervais was attacking.
Gervais was provocative. He put his own career on the line Sunday night. And millions of people cared.
Links …
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theblaze--2020-01-06--Joe Biden admits nobody understood Obamacare and it was wrong to say people could keep their doctors

Joe Biden admits nobody understood Obamacare and it was wrong to say people could keep their doctors That wo n't @ @ @ @ @

Former Vice President Joe Biden was challenged on his support for Obamacare by an attendee of a campaign event in Iowa late last month, and Biden didn't even try to defend the law — in fact, he did the opposite.
"During the run-up to the passage of Obamacare, President Obama promised my father that if he likes his plan, he can keep his plan, and that his insurance will be cheaper," the questioner began. "After passage, his plan was no longer allowed and his insurance costs doubled. Since you supported the plan, were you lying to my dad? Or did you not understand the bill you supported?"
Biden's answer seems to say it was a combination: He did not understand the plan, and he was also wrong about how the plan would impact Americans.
"There's two ways people know when something is important," Biden said. "One, when it's so clear when it's passed that everybody understands it, and no one did understand Obamacare, including the way it was rolled out. And the gentleman is right, we said you could keep your doctor if you wanted to, and you couldn't keep your doctor if you wanted to, necessarily."
Despite that damning analysis of the signature legislative achievement of the Obama administration, Biden is running on a platform of keeping Obamacare and expanding it. And, he's hoping that despite the previous lie, voters will trust him when he says that everyone who likes their private health insurance plan can keep it.
"No, look, the fact is that what I'm talking about now is that when — because I get asked the question — since, what I do is I'd add a public option to the existence of Obamacare, meaning that a Medicare-like option is available if in fact you — but there's 160 million people out there who've negotiated a health care plan with their employer that they like and they don't want to have to give up like Medicare for All requires," Biden said.
Watch Biden's full response below:
Joe Biden youtu.be
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-01-06--FLASHBACK: Joe Biden says don't assume I'm not corrupt

On Monday 's episode of `` Pat Gray Unleashed , '' Pat explained why he believed that former Vice President Joe Biden would be the Democratic nominee in the 2020 election .
Pat played footage from a PBS show in 1974 called `` The Advocates , '' which began airing in 1969 .
The show featured a series of debates about international issues and moderated by Allard Lowenstein , former congressman and member of the Democratic National Committee .
In this clip , Lowenstein asked Biden , `` As the youngest member of the Senate , the one therefore who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wonder if you 'd say to us since it 's clear that you 're not corrupt and you got elected , why should people think that the system produces corrupt results when there you are ? ''
Biden replied , `` I 'm not sure you should assume I 'm not corrupt , but thank you for that , though .
The system does produce corruption , and I think implicit in the system is corruption when in fact , whether or not you can run for public office , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run for the United States Senate , even for a small state like Delaware , you have to go to those people who have money , and they always want something . ''
Pat noted the arrogance that Biden displayed since the beginning of his political career .
Watch the video below for more details .
Use code PAT to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Pat Gray ?
To enjoy more of Pat 's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America , defend the Constitution and live the American dream .

On Monday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat explained why he believed that former Vice President Joe Biden would be the Democratic nominee in the 2020 election.
Pat played footage from a PBS show in 1974 called "The Advocates," which began airing in 1969. The show featured a series of debates about international issues and moderated by Allard Lowenstein, former congressman and member of the Democratic National Committee.
In this clip, Lowenstein asked Biden, "As the youngest member of the Senate, the one therefore who may expect the longest career there, I wonder if you'd say to us since it's clear that you're not corrupt and you got elected, why should people think that the system produces corrupt results when there you are?"
Biden replied, "I'm not sure you should assume I'm not corrupt, but thank you for that, though. The system does produce corruption, and I think implicit in the system is corruption when in fact, whether or not you can run for public office, and it costs a great deal of money to run for the United States Senate, even for a small state like Delaware, you have to go to those people who have money, and they always want something."
Pat noted the arrogance that Biden displayed since the beginning of his political career.
Watch the video below for more details.
FLASHBACK: Biden Says Don't Assume I'm not Corrupt youtu.be
Use code PAT to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Pat Gray?
To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-01-06--John Bolton decides that he will testify in Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed

John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, has decided he will testify in the Senate impeachment trial if he is subpoenaed.
"Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," he said in a statement posted on his website Monday.
Why does this matter?
Rumors about Bolton's possible appearance as a witness before Congress have swirled for months following news that he allegedly possesses crucial knowledge regarding the Trump administration's dealings in Ukraine.
Democrats have sought for Bolton, along with White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, to appear as witnesses in the forthcoming Senate trial believing their testimony would be damaging to Trump. Democrats hope that Bolton's testimony would prove that Trump committed an impeachable offense in requesting that Ukraine launch investigations into the Bidens and Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma, while withholding military aid from the country.
While Republicans have not to this point agreed on calling any witnesses, Bolton's decision to testify if subpoenaed undoubtedly adds pressure for them to do so. Still, the whole matter is at a stand-still at the moment while Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) delays transferring the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
What's the background?
After his tumultuous exit from the White House, Bolton became a target witness for impeachment prosecutors due to his potential firsthand knowledge of the president's thoughts and actions.
During the House impeachment inquiry, he was invited to testify but did not attend his scheduled deposition and was not subsequently subpoenaed.
Bolton reportedly had major concerns regarding Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's involvement in Ukraine.
Fiona Hill, the White House's former top Russia adviser, testified during closed-door testimony that Bolton was so concerned about the Ukraine intervention of Giuliani that he directed Hill to inform a White House lawyer about it.
According to Hill, Bolton called the intervention a "rogue operation" and a "drug deal" conducted by Giuliani, Mulvaney, and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
"I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up," Hill recounted Bolton saying. He then allegedly called Giuliani a "hand grenade who's going to blow everybody up."
In November, a lawyer for Bolton teased that his client has information about "many relevant meetings and conversations that have not yet been discussed" in the impeachment probe.
If Bolton were to appear before Congress for questioning, he would become the closest adviser to President Trump to testify in the impeachment proceedings.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Babylon Bee founder skewers CNN 'disinformation' reporter for 'taking shots' at Christian satire sit

Babylon Bee founder skewers CNN 'disinformation' reporter for 'taking shots' at Christian satire site — while apparently enjoying the Onion

Babylon Bee founder skewers CNN 'disinformation ' reporter for 'taking shots ' at Christian satire site — while apparently enjoying @ @ @ @ @ he 's quite the fan ! '

Adam Ford, founder of Christian satire site the Babylon Bee, on Monday hopped on Twitter to take issue with CNN's "disinformation" reporter for "taking shots" at the Bee over one of its viral stories that was more popular than top CNN and New York Times' pieces — and that some readers believed was true.
And in the process, Ford unearthed numerous tweets from CNN's Donie O'Sullivan that appeared to praise the Onion — another popular satire site — and directly linked to stories from the Onion.
What are the details?
Cindy Otis, a former CIA analyst specializing in disinformation and fake news, on Sunday lamented on Twitter about a Bee article titled, "Democrats Call For Flags To Be Flown At Half-Mast To Grieve Death Of Soleimani." Otis said the Bee piece "has been shared more than 500k times" and that "some family members just called [because] their Republican friends on FB are circulating it like it's legit. We have a lot of work to do, all."
With that, O'Sullivan chimed in with the following: "To put this in perspective, this is the same number of engagements the top NY Times and CNN stories on Facebook had over the past week. A lot of people sharing this 'satirical' story on Facebook don't know it is satire."
He added: "Having a disclaimer buried somewhere on your site that says it's 'satire' seems like a good way to get around a lot of the changes Facebook has made to reduce the spread of clickbait and misinformation."
O'Sullivan also added comments left by Facebook users who shared the Bee piece, such as "1/2 flag for the death of an Iranian terrorist. Seriously?" "I wish this was a joke! Half of the left has gone full Anti-America, full terrorist supporter this week!" and "I wish this was satire"
He also posted a link to last August's New York Times article, "Satire or Deceit? Christian Humor Site Feuds With Snopes."
What else did the Bee founder have to say?
In his Twitter thread, Ford — tongue fully in cheek — wondered if O'Sullivan harped on the Onion for the same thing.
"There are websites dedicated to chronicling reactions from people who think Onion stories are real," Ford noted in a subsequent tweet. "Foreign leaders have famously been fooled by Onion articles. And this guy's bio says he 'covers disinformation' for CNN. Surely he has taken the Onion to task as well, yes?"
Ford then posted results from a Twitter search of O'Sullivan's account which he said shows the CNN reporter "looks like ... quite the fan" of the Onion:
Two of O'Sullivan's tweets Ford found called an Onion piece "excellent" and that the site was "on fire this week." Ford then added more search results showing O'Sullivan directly linking to Onion pieces:
To be fair, O'Sullivan in 2014 did tweet a link to a Mashable article titled, "Facebook Testing 'Satire' Tags for Sites Like The Onion."
O'Sullivan on Monday didn't immediately respond to TheBlaze's request for comment on Ford's Twitter thread.
And regarding his tweet about having a satire "disclaimer buried somewhere on your site," TheBlaze pointed out to O'Sullivan that the Babylon Bee's "About Us" section clearly states that it's satire in the first sentence while the "About the Onion" page doesn't mention the word "satire" until after the introductory paragraphs, in the middle of the FAQs, and not nearly as explicitly. TheBlaze asked O'Sullivan, based on the latter, if he views both sites as equally revealing intent to readers.
How did folks react to Ford's assertions and discoveries?
As you might expect, Ford's Twitter thread got commenters quite riled up about the effectiveness of the Babylon Bee's satire and fake news in general:


theblaze--2020-01-06--Bedbugs 'deliberately released' in Pennsylvania Walmart, according to police

Bedbugs 'deliberately released ' in Pennsylvania Walmart , according to police Bloodsuckers are on the loose

The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating an incident that saw a release of bloodsucking bedbugs into a Walmart in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, last week.
What are the details?
Staff reportedly discovered a pill bottle full of bedbugs, which was hidden in the pocket of one of the retailer's boys coats.
The store phoned a local pest control company, which determined that the insects were bedbugs, and confirmed a second trove of bedbugs crawling around in one of the store's fitting rooms. Two days after the initial incident, a second pill bottle containing dead bedbugs was discovered in the men's clothing department.
Authorities believe that the bedbugs were deliberately released into the store, but insist that it was the only store affected at the time of this writing.
A spokesperson for Walmart told CNN that they are working with pest controllers to eradicate the issue.
"A third-party pest management service has visited the store and we are working with them to assess next steps," the Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. "In the meantime, we have blocked off the impacted area."
Walmart is 'cooperating' with investigation
The spokesperson added that Walmart is not taking the issue lightly.
"We take this seriously and are looking into this," the spokesperson added. "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement on their investigation."
Police have reportedly collected the pill bottles for fingerprint analysis and are looking through security surveillance to find suspects.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Intruder breaks into Detroit man's home. Homeowner says, 'I gotta get him before he gets me,' and he

Intruder breaks into Detroit man's home. Homeowner says, 'I gotta get him before he gets me,' and he sure does.

Intruder breaks into Detroit man 's home .
Homeowner says , ' I got ta get him before he gets @ @ @ @ @ sure does .

A victim of a Detroit home invasion got the best of the intruder during a Friday encounter.
What are the details?
A man identified only as William said that he was watching a movie when an intruder attempted to gain entry to his home through the back door.
"I heard a bang, and I knew it wasn't a sound from the headphones, so I take the headphones off and when I take my headphones off, I hear someone trying to kick in the back door," he said according to WDIV-TV.
William said he immediately phoned police and grabbed his trusty rifle to square off with the intruder, who was reportedly attempting to cut William's screen door open.
"I yelled out, 'You're about to get shot! Get away from my door!'" he recalled. "[It] didn't bother him. He got even more restless. I said, 'Well, I gotta get him before he gets me,' so I fired a shot through the door."
William said the intruder cried out in pain and insisted he was going to get a gun of his own, but police reportedly arrived before the intruder could make good on his threat.
The unnamed suspect was hospitalized in "temporary serious condition" and is expected to remain hospitalized until he recovers. He will then be transported to jail, according to the station.
What else?
William said he believes the suspect attempted to break into his home on at least one previous occasion a week earlier. The intruder has also reportedly targeted the neighborhood with intrusions in the past.
"You get terrorized in your own home, that's too much nerve," he said.
You can watch a video report on the incident here.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Surprise! Adam Schiff wants to hold more open hearings — this time about Trump, Iran, and the Soleim

Surprise! Adam Schiff wants to hold more open hearings — this time about Trump, Iran, and the Soleimani strike

Surprise !
Adam Schiff wants to hold more open hearings — this time about Trump , Iran , and the @ @

In an interview with the Washington Post Monday, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) suggested that the House hold open hearings on President Trump's decision to target and kill Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in a rocket strike last Thursday.
"I think there should be open hearings on the subject," Schiff said. "The president has put us on a path where we may be at war with Iran. That requires the Congress to fully engage."
What are the details?
To build his argument, Schiff pointed to alleged internal skepticism from the Pentagon regarding the rationale for the attack, reported by The New York Times.
Following the strike, the Pentagon had released a statement claiming the attack on Soleimani was a defensive action "aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans." The statement suggested that Gen. Soleimani, former head of the Iranian Quds force — a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — was actively planning attacks on American diplomats and service members in Iraq and the surrounding region.
Schiff told the Washington Post that he is not convinced of this: "I'm certainly not satisfied that the intelligence supports the conclusion that the killing of Soleimani was going to either prevent attacks on the United States or reduce the risk to American lives."
"If anything, that risk is going to go up, not down," Schiff argued.
The anti-Trump Democratic lawmaker also hopes open hearings would discern if Trump's recent warning that the U.S. is prepared to attack 52 Iranian sites if any Americans or American assets are harmed in retaliation reflect Pentagon planning.
"None of that could come out of the Pentagon," Schiff said regarding Trump's threats. "Absolutely no way."
Just more political theater?
The House Intelligence Committee, led by Schiff, just wrapped up their monthslong impeachment probe against President Trump last month. Before then, Schiff became a prominent voice accusing the Trump administration of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election, though such claims were ultimately debunked following a years-long special counsel investigation.
To many, then, news that Schiff wants more open hearings smacks simply of a desire for more political theater — another chance to drum up drama ahead of the 2020 election.
According to the Washington Post, Schiff hopes the hearings would allow Congress to grill Pentagon officials on whether Trump's actions and warnings are in line with Defense Department strategy or if they are rogue threats, and whether "such threats could recklessly lead to more negative consequences."


theblaze--2020-01-06--Obama's DHS secretary torpedoes Democrats' claim that President Trump needed congressional approval

Obama's DHS secretary torpedoes Democrats' claim that President Trump needed congressional approval for Soleimani strike

Jeh Johnson , the onetime Homeland Security secretary in the Obama administration , debunked Democrats ' claims that President Donald Trump needed congressional approval before authorizing the airstrike that killed top Iranian military commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
`` If you believe everything that our government is saying about General Soleimani , he was a lawful military objective , and the president , under his constitutional authority as commander in chief , had ample domestic legal authority to take him out without an additional congressional authorization , '' Johnson explained Sunday on `` Meet the Press . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general in a military force that was engaged in armed attacks against our people , he was a lawful military objective , '' he continued .
Almost immediately after the Soleimani strike last week , congressional Democrats , such as Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) for example , complained that Trump did not first seek congressional approval before ordering the strike .
However , as Johnson suggested , the U.S. government , including Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , have said Soleimani , as Iran 's chief terrorism architect , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. interests in the Middle East .
After Soleimani 's death , the Defense Department released a statement saying the strike `` was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans . ''
For his part , Trump published a tweet declaring it his notice to Congress that if Iran retaliates for the Soleimani strike , he will authorize a powerful response by the U.S. military .

Jeh Johnson, the onetime Homeland Security secretary in the Obama administration, debunked Democrats' claims that President Donald Trump needed congressional approval before authorizing the airstrike that killed top Iranian military commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
"If you believe everything that our government is saying about General Soleimani, he was a lawful military objective, and the president, under his constitutional authority as commander in chief, had ample domestic legal authority to take him out without an additional congressional authorization," Johnson explained Sunday on "Meet the Press."
"Whether he was a terrorist or a general in a military force that was engaged in armed attacks against our people, he was a lawful military objective," he continued.
Almost immediately after the Soleimani strike last week, congressional Democrats, such as Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) for example, complained that Trump did not first seek congressional approval before ordering the strike.
However, as Johnson suggested, the U.S. government, including Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have said Soleimani, as Iran's chief terrorism architect, was planning "imminent" attacks on U.S. interests in the Middle East.
After Soleimani's death, the Defense Department released a statement saying the strike "was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans."
The statement said:
General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more. He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel. General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week.
For his part, Trump published a tweet declaring it his notice to Congress that if Iran retaliates for the Soleimani strike, he will authorize a powerful response by the U.S. military.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Judd Apatow blasts Hollywood for kowtowing to Chinese censors for money: 'Insidious'

Judd Apatow blasts Hollywood for kowtowing to Chinese censors for money : 'Insidious '

In an interview with The New Yorker titled, "The Future of America's Contest with China," producer and comedian Judd Apatow said that Hollywood is shameful for bowing to Chinese censors in order to continue lining Hollywood's platinum-plated pockets.
What did he say?
In the interview, which was released Monday, Apatow said that film companies flat-out refuse to stir the pot and produce storylines that are "critical" of countries with a large interest in the vastly lucrative U.S. film industry.
The New Yorker's Evan Osnos wrote, "Judd Apatow, the filmmaker and comedian, told me that Americans intended to introduce freedom to China, but instead traded it for Chinese money."
"I think it happened very slowly and insidiously," Apatow told Osnos. "You would not see a major film company or studio make a movie that has storylines which are critical of countries with major markets or investors."
He continued, "The result is, there are a million or more Muslims in reeducation camps in China, and you don't really hear much about it."
Apatow also pointed to legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who refused to remarket the Chinese version of his latest film, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
China cancelled the nationwide release after complaints from Bruce Lee's family about how the actor and martial arts expert was portrayed in the 2019 film.
"Tarantino is successful enough, and has the power and final cut, but very few people are in that position of strength," Apatow said. "What you don't hear about is all of the ideas that get killed at the earliest pitch stage, at all of the studios and networks, because people don't even want to consider dealing with it."
What else?
In October, Apatow tweeted similar sentiments, pointing to the fiasco between NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and a Houston general manager's remarks about supporting the Hong Kong protesters.
In response, China announced that it would not broadcast the NBA's preseason games.
"We believe that any speech challenging a country's national sovereignty and social stability is not within the scope of freedom of speech," a statement on the decision read.
Apatow wrote, "So people should tell China to not distribute movies if they think real people are not portrayed accurately? Some movies work better than others in this respect. Who decides when something is good enough to not call China? If China is mad can they bench a specific NBA player?"


theblaze--2020-01-06--Hollywood actress Michelle Williams credits abortion for her success in Golden Globes speech

Hollywood actress Michelle Williams credits abortion for her success in Golden Globes speech ' I would n't have been able @ @ @ @ @ a woman 's right to choose '

During an awards acceptance speech at the Golden Globes on Sunday night, actress Michelle Williams credited her success to her ability to get an abortion earlier in her life.
Williams received the award for best actress in a miniseries or TV movie for her role in the FX show "Fosse/Verdon."
"I'm grateful for the acknowledgement of the choices I've made, and I'm also grateful to have lived in a moment in our society where choice exists, because as women and as girls, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice," Williams said. "I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making, not just a series of events that happened to me, but one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over, sometimes messy and scrawling, sometimes careful and precise, but one that I carved with my own hand.
"I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose, to choose when to have my children, and with whom," she continued.
Williams went on to thank "god, or whomever you pray to" that in America she can live by her faith and others can live by theirs. She encouraged women to vote in their own self-interest as men have been doing for years.
"...which is why the world looks so much like them" Williams said.
Williams said she decided to make an abortion-related political statement with her Golden Globes acceptance speech due to the positive feedback she received after using an Emmy acceptance speech to address the gender pay gap in Hollywood.
Williams is the mother of a 14-year-old girl, fathered by the late actor Heath Ledger. According to People, she is currently engaged and pregnant.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Ryan: Trump and the Louisiana funhouse

Ryan: Trump and the Louisiana funhouse

Taking a Bayou civics course on the road from a state trooper

The police car sharked onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, strobing blue and red and white and wailing like a baby with a fever.
"I don't like it when they catch me," I said, slapping the dashboard. The same way President Donald Trump slaps the dais at his rallies, glowering behind the decorous seal and the slanted glass teleprompters and the mayhem of a teenage nation.
This was outside Arcadia, Louisiana, about a potholed hour from Monroe, Louisiana, where we currently needed to be. Myself and fellow journalist Jade Byers, who needed a break from the story she'd just begun, an ethnography of Texas State Fair carneys.
Media check-in for the "Keep America Great" rally would end at 5 p.m and it was 4 p.m., and it wasn't the sort of occasion you could be late for, so in the afternoon pallor all I wanted was to keep driving, on and on and on past nowhere.
"Just slam the gas," said Jade, "ahead of that semi."
But life was no movie. Especially not in Louisiana, land of corruption and sky-high incarceration. And jail is awful. So we both shrugged, and I guided my white Subaru to the side of the bare gray highway.
We'd just been discussing the nature of justice. Was it a form of truth? Or an attempt to enforce it? I sensed that Louisiana was not just. Did you know that it has the highest murder rate in the nation?
Later, Trump would bring this up, and, because Trump is a man of superlatives, it spun all the journalists into a fact-check scramble. Sure enough. Number One.
My mind had wandered, as usual. With a blink, I snapped back. This was no time for fanciful thoughts about justice.
The state trooper pointed for me to get out of the car, then to the wooded embankment 15 yards from the road. He pointed in that way that police could point but politicians are not supposed to because it sends the wrong message. Aggressive, capable of violence
I loved it, every bit of it. Confrontation is lovely. So I strode to the cop in my white Birkenstocks and my stained white "Music for 18 Musicians" T-shirt and my white jeans, looking so much like a Millennial Big Lebowski.
The trooper had already started writing the ticket when he asked where we were going and why. His eyebrows sprouted when I told him I was a reporter for Blaze Media covering the Trump rally in Monroe, where, that very moment, Secret Service had begun letting the first round of rallygoers into the Monroe Civic Center.
"You work for Glenn Beck?" he asked. Then lowered his glasses and scoped me over again. "You're messin' with me."
At the sight of my press badge, he restrained a smile, as if fighting an eagerness to speak freely.
"I am not allowed to talk politics," he said, "being a guardian of the state and all."
Well, I'd never heard anything like that and I suspected it was horses**t, so I smiled as he proceeded, unabashedly, to talk politics.
"Glennnnn-Beck," he said, ending with a "Hm." And, right on cue, "I listen to ole Glenn in the mornings, and Stu."
They're my bosses, I said. He liked that pretty well.
"You going to Shreveport too?" he asked. So I nodded and grinned and pretended to know what he was talking about. I smiled the way you smile when everyone around is speaking a language you've never heard and it's time to get going but nobody understands you.
Trump would mention Shreveport later. "I'm coming back here on Thursday, can you believe it?" he said. "I'm doing a double — I'm doing a double."
Just six days after the Monroe rally, he would return to Louisiana, and so would I, this time with Jim Dale, an author and lifelong sailor.
Louisiana felt like a state fair house of mirrors. Some kind of warp. Too much of yourself then none of you at all. A ghost following a helium-choked balloon. The homes seemed to rise from nothing, all shadows and gray shrub as if misshapen on purpose. And a wide shaggy green overtook the bare hills. Even the sky, the way it tilted, like a petri dish of glittery dark.
Much of America has untouched land and old-world buildings, but nowhere else I'd been left me feeling so indescribably odd. Not quite sad, but certainly not happy. Like when strangers in a dream know everything about you, and nobody acknowledges why or how.
*
The trooper shifted in his tall shiny black boots. Was he still talking about Trump? Boy, I zoned out pretty hard. It was Wednesday, and I could flip a coin for days.
"He sure has done a lot for the elections here," he concluded.
Then he gave me a rundown of the political situation in Louisiana. Explained how runoffs work, and why a Republican would be good for the roads and oceans or something, and how a majority was counted a little different in Louisiana. Something like that — I don't know. It was all so boring.
How long had we been standing there? Never in my life had I been so bored.
At the time, the big meme was "OK, Boomer," which Generation Z used to disparage the Baby Boomer generation as part of a feud that popped up for no discernible reason, and which I hated because the joke was kind of mean and never funny yet all four generations kept repeating it and repeating it like big dumb squawking parrots. But in that moment, I understood it. And, may God forgive me, but I whispered that disrespectful phrase.
And I had to pretend to be interested, in case he got the urge to search my car. Whereupon he would find marijuana concentrate and sativa gummies. Paraphernalia. Not a ton. Not much, even. But enough. Some unopened beers, a flask. No guns, but a few knives. An ordinary amount of knives.
All of which would land me a night in the clink, no doubt.
And who had the time or the money for that. Not me, with a Trump rally to cover and a fiery career and a pregnant wife with our two dogs at home, waiting.
Then I felt rotten for getting bored while the trooper was talking. The man risked his life every day just so he could protect the community. Never mind the exorbitant ticket. What was $300 when this guy risked everything every day?
You were supposed to listen to people when they trusted or admired you. To care. To give them a chance, no matter their rank or stature or political affiliation. Especially the police.
Before, in situations like these, I resorted to military-style salutes, gestures I had seen as a child in cartoons. However you were meant to signify honor. I was not a military type. But I felt a great reverence for them and their service and whatnot.
Turns out, that's not how they do it at all. The salute, the hard stomp down with the heel, the huge grunt, the serious face, the violent turns of the waist, the gibberish that sounded like military phrases.
So I didn't salute anymore, but that didn't make it any easier not to salute. Usually I boiled and boiled till all of a sudden I was shouting out a long-winded, hard-to-follow story. So I told him what it's like to work at Mercury Studios.
"We've got the Forrest Gump bench," I said. "For a while it was in the dining area and, one time, I saw an intern sitting on it, eating a burrito. We have the original Darth Vader mask, too. And Dorothy's shiny red shoes that were supposed to be silver."
His face spread in all four directions, like I was a child reciting Socrates.
"And the tree from Barney, you know, that dinosaur kids show? And JFK and Robocop and an Eric Clapton video and Guns 'N' Roses, all filmed there. And a few months ago Sean Spicer stopped by. Before all the 'Dancing with the Stars' drama. Interesting people are constantly stopping by. Pat Boone told me that Elvis had stage fright. But, between you and me, I think Pat Boone has stage fright."
I don't care who you are, all of that is fascinating. So I yammered on about this election series and justice, ignoring the trooper's polite impatience. He'd stopped me so the least he could do was listen to my weird story.
Secretly, I wanted to rip the ticket from his gloved hand and wad it up and toss it into the grass below my feet. It was paper. I would litter. It would vanish and no harm done, anonymous among all the other garbage of Louisiana.
There are places where nothing is wasted, and America is not one of them.
*
Jade slumped in the car, fidgeting. We'd never talked about it but I assumed she didn't like police all that much. I get it. Usually, when the police show up, someone's day is about to plummet. But I like them, personally. Which I made sure to tell the trooper again, as he blabbed about some recent mayoral election.
Then I laughed, because this situation had gotten pretty funny. There I was on the side of a highway named after former President Ronald Reagan, on my way to see current President Donald Trump, my hair dismantled by the violent wind of a passing semitruck, as a Louisiana state trooper in a prim uniform gave me a civics lesson.
It was just barely November, and the cold had not descended. Not in the sunshine at least, all pale orange and soft still.
"Trump sure seems to be doing a lot of things right," said the state trooper. "Jobs, economy, all that. And as you know, he's a friend of the police."
Was that a wink? Best to wink back. WINK! A good one.
Oh great, now my eye was twitching into rapidfire winks. Too many winks. Veering into sexual wink territory. Oh this will not end well. This will not end will. He will misread my winking and then what? Nothing good. But it stopped, thank God.
Then I spat out some crap about Trump and NATO, something that I'd heard someone at the studio say, something about the parameters of heroism and Milton What's-his-name.
Around us, the aroma of tree bark. Deciduous perfume. A piney landscape that rose out of mud. Forested swamp lined with rivers purging toward a fat, chubby delta. That was where freshwater meets the ocean. Or the other way around.
"Well anyway, here's your ticket, Mr. Ryan. You have a nice day." Then he, a real tough guy, smiled. That was pretty neat. By habit, I was about to wink but stopped just in time.
Then, he paused, grabbed the ticket. Rip it, rip it, rip it. Be wild, my man. Rip. Rip.
But he just rewrote the station's telephone number, as if to say, "Maybe things can change." Not justice. It could not change. Not for me, not in Louisiana. Not under God and all the angels that don't have a gender.
Plus, we all know I wasn't going to pay the ticket anyway. Better to just never return to Louisiana. Drive around it if need be. Fly over. And once the police car was out of view, I stomped on the gas pedal and we were lawless again. Like a comet, friend. A comet.
Welcome back to the election series. New installments are going to be Monday through Thursday leading up to the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. Check out my Twitter. Email me at kryan@blazemedia.com


theblaze--2020-01-06--George Lopez jokes about assassinating President Trump in response to report of Iranian bounty

Comedian George Lopez made (what appears to be) a joke about assassinating President Donald Trump in response to reports that Iran has placed a bounty on Trump's head, according to the Daily Caller.
Lopez made the comment in an Instagram post on a page called Chicano Worldstar. The post is a video clip with the caption "Iran 'offers $80 million bounty for Donald Trump's head' after death of general."
On the post, Lopez commented "We'll do it for half."
Lopez's comment caused outrage among conservatives, some of whom posted it on Twitter and tagged the Secret Service and others who wondered how such a comment would be received differently in mainstream media if it was directed at former President Barack Obama.
"Sick: George Lopez just publicly said he would kill the President of the United States for 40 million dollars," wrote Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Twitter. "Why are Hollywood leftists obsessed with killing the president? Hey, @SecretService—this might be worth looking into."
Kathy Griffin, another celebrity who has faced criticism for implying violence against President Trump, expressed her approval for Lopez's joke.
"Calm down Trump cult!" Griffin wrote. "[Lopez] is a professional comedian and…OH F*** OFF. THIS JOKE IS HILARIOUS & you all know it."
Griffin has said she has been blacklisted from Hollywood after she was seen in a photo holding a decapitated mannequin Trump head, and that she is "confronted on the street almost on a daily basis."
Lopez has been vocally anti-Trump for a long time, and has expressed his opposition before both on social media and in public, such as the time when he pretended to be urinating on Trump's Hollywood star in 2018.
There is no evidence at this point that the alleged $80 million bounty was endorsed by the Iranian government.


theblaze--2020-01-06--Megyn Kelly blasts Colin Kaepernick for making US airstrike about racism: 'Everything is racist ...

Megyn Kelly blasts Colin Kaepernick for making US airstrike about racism: 'Everything is racist ... even fighting back against terrorists who kill Americans'

Megyn Kelly blasts Colin Kaepernick for making US airstrike about racism : 'Everything is racist ... even fighting back against @ @ @ @ @ punches pulled in the making of Kelly 's tweet

Megyn Kelly issued a scathing tweet at former NFL player-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick on Sunday, accusing him of making every issue about race, including the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
What are the details?
On Sunday, Kaepernick tweeted, "America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad. America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism to enforce its policing and plundering of the non-white world."
He added, "There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism."
Kelly, who was ejected from the NBC "Today" show over what many people considered to be controversial remarks about wearing blackface during Halloween, fired back.
"Because everything is racist," she responded. "Everything. Even fighting back against terrorists who kill Americans. Nike, feeling proud?"
Director Ava DuVernay took issue with Kelly's remarks, and said that the former NBC anchor should be ashamed.
"Shame on you, Megyn," DuVernay wrote.
Kelly, who refused to be shut down, responded in kind, "No, I will not be shamed over calling out bulls*** claims of racism — which undermine the legitimate claims. Killing a terrorist is not about skin color; it's about protecting our country from a guy who murdered hundreds of Americans, period."
What else?
In late December, Nike launched a Kaepernick-themed shoe — the Nike Air Force 1 x Colin Kaepernick — which sold out in minutes.
The new shoes, which featured Kaepernick's face, are no longer available for purchase. The sneaker also featured the date "08 14 16," which is significant because it is the first time the football player-turned-activist refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem during the NFL regular season in 2016.
Nike did not release sales figures to the public despite the product quickly selling out.


theblaze--2020-01-08--Breaking: Iran retaliates with missile attack on numerous US facilities in Iraq

Breaking : Iran retaliates with missile attack on numerous US facilities in Iraq A top military official said they will @ @ @

Officials from the Pentagon confirmed reports to Fox News on Tuesday that Iran was retaliating against US facilities in Iraq after an airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top leader of the Iranian military.
A senior military source told Fox News' Jennifer Griffin that the attacks were "all over the country."
"Under missile attack from Iran," the short statement read. "These are either cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles. All over the country."
Griffin added that the source said the missiles were fired from the ground in Iran at multiple US bases and other targets in Iraq.
Bloomberg reported that Iran state television said the operation was named "Martyr Soleimani." Another report indicated that the response involved "tens" of missiles.
Griffin said on Fox News that when she asked the official if US forces were pulling out, they responded, "no, defending."
A retaliation was expected after President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike to take out Soleimani while he was riding in an envoy near the Baghdad airport in Iraq.
A statement from the White House indicated that the president was being briefed on the attacks.
"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq," the statement read. "The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team."
There are approximately 5,000 US troops in Iraq.
Here's the latest on the retaliatory attacks:


theblaze--2020-01-07--Border Patrol agents rescue three Mexican nationals stuck on top of San Diego border wall

Border Patrol agents rescue three Mexican nationals stuck on top of San Diego border wall US Customs and Border Protection @ @ @ @ @ found 'in a precarious situation '

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents came to the rescue for three Mexican nationals who found themselves "in a precarious situation" Sunday night — stuck at the top of San Diego's new 30-foot border wall while attempting to enter the United States illegally.
What are the details?
"A man and two women, under the cover of dense fog, tried to enter the U.S. illegally by climbing San Diego Sector's new 30-foot, steel bollard wall," USCBP said in a press release Tuesday, adding that "the trio became stuck at the top of the wet, slippery wall after smugglers abandoned them."
San Diego Sector's Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said of the ordeal, "These three were very fortunate to not have fallen from the top of the wall which could have resulted in serious injury or death. These dangers are not important considerations to smugglers, who place an emphasis on profits over safety."
The Hill reported San Diego Fire-Rescue Department officials assisted in the rescue, using a ladder truck to bring the migrants safely to the ground.
The 36-year old man and two women, ages 18 and 20, were taken to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing.
Anything else?
The Daily Caller noted that Border Patrol agents "spend a significant amount of time and resources on rescuing foreign nationals who attempt to enter the country illegally."
The outlet pointed to statistics showing that in fiscal year 2019, agents conducted roughly 4,900 rescues along the border, and escorted approximately 25,000 migrants to hospitals for treatment during the same time period.


theblaze--2020-01-07--'What world do you guys live in?' — Jake Tapper to top Democrat after Nancy Pelosi's stalling gambit

'What world do you guys live in?' — Jake Tapper to top Democrat after Nancy Pelosi's stalling gambit fails

'What world do you guys live in ? '
— Jake Tapper to top Democrat after Nancy Pelosi 's stalling @ @ @ @ @ leverage gambit does not seem to have worked ! ''

CNN's Jake Tapper pressured Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) on the Democrats' impeachment stalling gambit failing after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that Republicans had enough votes to set their own trial rules.
"With all due respect, this leverage gambit does not seem to have worked!" said Tapper.
"Well, he should still just do the right thing," responded Swalwell, who is on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee.
"You know, having the votes is one thing, but if you have a key witness that the House was not able to obtain who is now saying he is willing to come forward, the right thing seems to be, well, let's hear from this witness," he added, referring to John Bolton, the former national security advisor to President Donald Trump.
Swalwell would not answer if the House should subpoena Bolton if the Senate refuses to call to him to testify. He also would not answer if Pelosi should send the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
"I guess I wonder just like what world do you guys live in, if you think that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is gonna get his robe dirty with the political tenor of this, or Mitch McConnell is gonna feel in any way pressured to do the trial the way House Democrats want to do it, when this is a guy that wouldn't even have a hearing for Merrick Garland," Tapper pressed.
"I understand you live in a world where things should be in a certain way but that's not the world that I live in!" he added.
"Yeah, well, I live in a world where these Senators have constituents to answer to, and my hope is that they will be calling their senators and saying in any trial when you have a witness come forward who has seen a lot, who called this Ukraine scheme a drug deal, you should allow that person to testify," Swalwell responded.
"I hope the phones are ringing right now, and senators are still persuaded by what their constituents actually think," he concluded.
Pelosi has not indicated if she will sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate, but many Democrats called for her to do just that after McConnell announced he had the votes to run the trial without their demands.
"I think the speaker should send the articles regardless. I think the time has passed," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on Tuesday. "She should send the articles over."
Here's the video of Swalwell on CNN:


theblaze--2020-01-07--Kellyanne Conway tells the media she is 'tired of the hero-worship' of US targets

Kellyanne Conway tells the media she is 'tired of the hero-worship ' of US targets

Steve Deace, host of "Steve Deace Show," reacted to White House adviser Kellyanne Conway shutting down the hysteria over Iran during a news conference Monday at the White House.
In this clip, Deace explained that in his opinion, an imminent threat is not required to take out a terrorist.
"I don't need an imminent threat to take him [Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani] out. I take him out because it is Tuesday, and we should have taken him out on Monday," Deace said.
Watch the video below for more details.
Kellyanne Conway Shuts Down Media Hysteria over Iran youtu.be
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theblaze--2020-01-07--Glenn Beck: If Obama was still in power, we'd have another Benghazi-style tragedy right now

Glenn Beck : If Obama was still in power , we 'd have another Benghazi-style tragedy right now 'There 's @ @ @ @ @ '

Based on the way former President Barack Obama conducted foreign policy with Iran, it's no wonder Iranian military leader and terrorist Qassem Soleimani thought he could get away with killing an American contractor and attacking the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Glenn Beck said on the TV program Monday.
Glenn highlighted the events that led up to last week's U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani, starting with the missile attack that killed a U.S. civilian contractor and wounded several military service members and personnel on an Iraqi military base in December.
He went on to compare the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in late December, to the 1979 siege of the U.S. Embassy in Iran and the 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans.
"If the administration of Obama was still in power, we'd probably have another Benghazi-style tragedy that we'd all be mourning right now. But now, there's a new sheriff in town," Glenn said in reference to President Donald Trump's immediate deployment of U.S. fast response forces to protect embassy personnel during the Baghdad attack.
"This is what Americans expect from our commander-in-chief, whose primary job above all others, is to protect American lives," he added.
"Barack Obama gave Iran $1.7 billion dollars in unmarked bills and relieved them of the sanctions that were bringing the Iranian terrorist regime to their knees," Glenn continued. "The Obama administration policies made us a target ... we can no longer be the target that Barack Obama turned us into. I don't want war, but I am also not willing to be another country's doormat."
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-01-07--NY Times blasted over obituary tweets for Iran terror mastermind Soleimani and NFL coach Sam Wyche,

NY Times blasted over obituary tweets for Iran terror mastermind Soleimani and NFL coach Sam Wyche, posted just hours apart

NY Times blasted over obituary tweets for Iran terror mastermind Soleimani and NFL coach Sam Wyche , posted just hours @ @ @ @ @ media bias '

Conservative journalist Stephen Miller apparently noticed something peculiar about a pair of Twitter posts coming from the New York Times' Obituaries within hours of each other.
One concerned Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a terror mastermind killed last week in a U.S. military airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump. The other focused on NFL head coach Sam Wyche, who led the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl and, well, was not a terrorist responsible for countless deaths and decades of horror all over the Middle East.
Here's what Miller saw:
Image source: Twitter
The Times saw fit to make zero reference to Soleimani's evil in its Twitter text, simply repeating the obit's stately headline that called the bloodthirsty military leader the "master of Iran's intrigue and force."
But Wyche? Well, that's a different story. The Times saw fit to call attention in its Twitter text to Wyche at one time "barring a female reporter from the team's locker room."
On your left: Sadistic killer who buddied up with terror organizations, ordered the killing of Americans, and most recently was believed to be behind the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. On your right: Former NFL coach who wanted to give his players some privacy.
And two very different sets of words describing them.
What did other observers have to say?
Readers of Miller's tweet immediately saw the disparity between the tweets and gave no quarter to the Times:
"Did Soleimani ever bar a woman from a locker room? Check mate, neocons."
"The @nytimes loves the Iranian dictatorship which kills its own people and kills hundreds of Americans."
"To be fair, Soleimani encouraged beating and killing women...but no reports of him banning them from locker rooms."
"NY Times has lost it. There are zero words for an American paper to revere the killing of a terrorist and demonize an American icon. Something is screwed up."
"An American man that had to pay a fine is written about negatively, and a foreigner that killed hundreds of Americans — positively. Another example of NYT actual[ly] being the enemy of the people."
"If only 1980's NFL locker rooms were as progressive on women's issues as....(checks notes) modern day Iran."
"If Trump had killed Wyche, the NYT would have been more complimentary. He would have been the legendary, respected ex-coach."
"Clearly Sam was on the wrong team."
"This is everything. This is the utter insanity."
It should be noted that the Twitter page for the Times' Obituaries often features more than one post on someone who's passed away, and Wyche got more lighthearted treatment later Tuesday:
So hey, there's always that.


theblaze--2020-01-07--Second LGBT student joins suit against Fuller Theological Seminary after getting expelled for enteri

Second LGBT student joins suit against Fuller Theological Seminary after getting expelled for entering into same-sex marriages

Last November, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary — the nation's largest interdenominational seminary — sued the school for discrimination after she was expelled for marrying another woman. Now, another former student is joining the lawsuit.
In the amended complaint filed Tuesday, Nathan Brittsan, an American Baptist Churches USA pastor, joined Joanna Maxon in requesting the school award them more than $1 million each to compensate for damages, Christianity Today reported.
What are the details?
According to the report, Brittsan received his letter of dismissal two days before beginning his first classes when school administrators discovered his same-sex marriage following his request to change his last name.
Maxon filed the original lawsuit in November after she was expelled only weeks aways from completing her master of arts degree in theology. Having taken mostly online classes, Maxon's marital status had flown under the radar for years until the school noticed her wife listed on her 2016 tax returns, which it accessed to assess financial aid.
"I was approaching the end and looking forward to graduation and all that stuff," Maxon, 53, told NBC News. "To have that taken away unexpectedly — I was a really good student — I was devastated by it."
However, it is difficult to imagine how the two students could have been caught by surprise, as at least Maxon alleges she was, since the school requires that students agree to comply with the statement of faith and community standards during the application process.
Fuller, like many Christian schools in the U.S., upholds the traditional definition of marriage as a "covenant union between one man and one woman" in its Sexual Standards policy, and believes "homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct to be inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture."
What are the attorneys arguing?
Paul Southwick, the attorney representing Maxon and Brittsan, is arguing that Fuller is required to comply with Title IX, which bars federally funded educational programs from discriminating based on sex. However, religiously affiliated schools are often granted exceptions from Title IX regulations in order to accommodate for religious freedom.
"It's a very important case at this time in our nation's history," Southwick said, according to Christianity Today. "This case could set an important legal precedent that if an educational institution receives federal funding, even if it's religiously-affiliated, even if it's a seminary, that it's required to comply with Title IX prohibitions on sex discrimination as applied to LGBT individuals."
Representing Fuller is the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which specializes religious liberty defense cases such as the Supreme Court cases Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in 2014 and Holt v. Hobbs in 2015.
Becket Fund attorney Daniel Blomberg warned that a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in this case could have widespread negative effects on religious liberty for faith-based institutions.
"The claims here are dangerous for faith-based institutions," Blomberg said. "If the court was to accept them, then they would be harmful to religious groups of all backgrounds and particularly minority religious groups that have beliefs that the majority and the surrounding communities might find unpopular ... we think that's unlikely that courts would accept these kinds of arguments because they're weak claims. But they're dangerous."
According to Christianity Today, Fuller's attorneys have two weeks to respond to the lawsuit and are expected to ask that the court dismiss the case.
Fuller is based in Pasadena, California, but offers classes online and at a Texas satellite campus.