theblaze--2020-08-04--Mississippi's GOP governor signs statewide mask order, argues: 'I want to see college football'

Mississippi 's GOP governor signs statewide mask order , argues : ' I want to see college football' Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ wearing masks 'more than anybody , ' but that the state needs a mandate .

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued a mandate Tuesday requiring every citizen to wear a mask at public gatherings or while shopping for the next two weeks, arguing that the statewide order is necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 — and to bring back college football.
What are the details?
Reeves held a televised press conference to announce his executive order regarding masks, where he declared, "I want to see college football. The best way for that to occur is for us all to realize is that wearing a mask — as irritating as that can be and I promise I hate it more than anyone watching today — is critical," the Mississippi Free Press reported.
According to YahooSports:
Reeves is not the first politician or public figure to cite college football as a reason for wearing a mask. Alabama coach Nick Saban even filmed a public service announcement for the school to promote wearing a mask so that the football season could happen. Saban's PSA came in May, over two months before Reeves' declaration.
The Clarion Ledger reported that up until Tuesday, Reeves had used a piecemeal approach to mask mandates, requiring them only in 38 of Mississippi's 82 counties before making a dictate covering the entire state.
The governor previously resisted issuing the statewide order, arguing that mask mandates are difficult to enforce and telling reporters last month, "I know a lot of you think we can snap our fingers and all of a sudden 100% of the people will comply and everything will be great."
Reeves also announced Tuesday a delay in school reopening for grades 7-12 in a handful of counties, saying, "We must pump the breaks in the hardest hit areas." Students and adults alike will be required to wear masks in schools.
But Reeves wants to press forward with keeping most schools open, tweeting Monday, "I've said it before and I will say it again: We cannot ignore the severe damage that extended school closures do to kids. I know that these days the public conversation favors noise over nuance — but this is nuanced."
According to the Associated Press, Mississippi's Health Department reported the state had more than 62,000 reported cases of COVID-19 as of Monday night and 1,753 deaths from the virus. Earlier this week, WTOK-TV reported that "director of the Harvard Global Health Institute Ashish K. Jha predicts that Mississippi will become number one in the nation for COVID-19."


theblaze--2020-08-04--INSANE: BLM protesters list demands for local businesses, threaten 'repercussions for non-compliance

INSANE: BLM protesters list demands for local businesses, threaten 'repercussions for non-compliance'

'Everybody knows this is wrong , but who is going to stand up against it ? '

Black Lives Matter protesters sent a shocking, threatening letter to businesses and nonprofits in Louisville, Kentucky. The letter made a series of demands related to racial reparations, and threatened consequences if the demands weren't met, The Daily Wire reported.
On the radio program Tuesday, Glenn Beck detailed the letter's list of demands and threats, and pointed out that these tactics are strikingly similar to those we've seen during some of history's darkest chapters.
The letter, which was sent to businesses in the East Market District in downtown Louisville, listed demands such as ensuring that at least 23% of staff are black, providing race and inclusion training for all employees, displaying a written statement professing support for the BLM movement, buying at least 23% of inventory from black retailers, and submitting to external audit.
"Repercussions for non-compliance" to these demands will result in sit-ins and protests being staged outside the business, social media smear campaigns, boycotts, negative media attention, and "invasive reclamation," the letter threatened.
"So, I'm making quite a charge here, but I think it absolutely fits," Glenn said on the show. "Carl Kaufman, the representation that was used by Hitler and his machine, he convinced the youth that they were the answer, they would finally take control, and they would bring equality. [Kaufman said] the Jews controlled everything, and because of the Jews, the Germans really didn't have any freedom. Because of the Jews, they couldn't do anything. They were held down by the Jews. He said, 'We're going to have to boycott those stores. And if those stores don't comply, we will keep our storm troopers outside of the doors.' And they did. They intimidated anyone who walked into those stores. They berated anyone who walked into those stores. They beat anyone who walked into those stores."
"I told you once, that if America goes dark, we'll become the darkest nation ever in the history of the world," Glenn continued. "Guys, we're allowing our nation to go dark. And we're doing it because of fear. Everybody knows this is wrong, but who is going to stand up against it?"
Watch the video below to hear more from Glenn:
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theblaze--2020-08-04--Only 42% of Americans say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if it were available

Only 42 % of Americans say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if it were available Will the government require @ @

From the get-go with the coronavirus, experts have told us that what will save us is a vaccine.
But a new poll published Tuesday reveals that a steadily decreasing share of Americans — significantly less than half — say they are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine should one ever be developed, Yahoo News reported.
What did people say about getting vaccinated?
Polling by Yahoo News and YouGov have found fewer and fewer of us are planning to get a COVID-19 vaccine once one is developed.
When the surveys first began in early May, 55% of all Americans said they would get vaccinated. That number has shrunk every time the poll has been conducted.
In late May, 50% said they would be vaccinated; by early July, that number had dropped to 46%.
Now the number is even lower. In a Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted July 28-30, pollsters found that only 42% of all Americans said they would get vaccinated "if and when a coronavirus vaccine becomes available."
Broken down politically — because every thing is nowadays — the poll reported that just 55% of Democrats and 37% of Republicans were planning to get vaccinated. Independents were even less likely than GOPers, coming in at 34%. Also, 62% of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's supporters would take the vaccine, compared to just 35% of supporters of President Donald Trump.
The number is interesting considering the share of people who say they are worried about COVID-19. According to the survey, 73% of Americans are worried about the virus, while 27% are not. However, only 42% of people think it's it is likely they'll get the virus, and 58% said it's unlikely.
Perhaps the biggest reason for not wanting to get vaccinated is concern over the safety of a fast-tracked vaccine. According to the poll, 69% of Americans are concerned about the safety factor, and 24% are not.
Only 44% of people trust the Centers for Disease Control and public health authorities to judge the risk of a COVID-19 vaccine.
So, what do people support more than vaccines?
For starters, 73% of us want wearing face masks in public to be mandatory — 27% disagree.
And 60% of our fellow citizens think another stay-at-home order would be a good idea. Only 28% disagree. Which fits with the finding that only 29% of those polled said they were worried about reopening the economy too slowly.


theblaze--2020-08-04--Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds threatens consequences for schools that refuse to reopen

Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds threatens consequences for schools that refuse to reopen ' ... not defying me , they @ @ @ @ @

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is not budging against schools that defy her mandate to open for in-person instruction at least 50% of the time, according to the Des Moines Register.
At least two school districts in Iowa have decided not to abide by Reynolds' mandate, and Reynolds made it clear Tuesday that schools that aren't open for in-person classes at least half the time won't have that excess online instruction counted toward the state-mandated number of instructional hours and days.
"Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50% in-person instruction are not defying me, they are defying the law," Reynolds said during a press conference. "If schools move to primarily remote learning without approval, according again to the law, those days do not count toward instructional time."
While Reynolds did not say that schools could lose state funding over this issue, the situation could cause students not to make the proper academic progress, and could also lead to licensure discipline for administrators.
The districts are arguing that they should have local authority to make their own decisions because of the unique public health circumstances. From the Register:
The Urbandale school board voted unanimously Monday to continue online-only learning at Rolling Green Elementary School, after the state denied the district's request to extend online learning at the school.
The Waukee school district also issued a statement Monday saying it would not follow Reynolds' guidance, asserting that state law gives school districts the power to make their own decisions about how to handle potential hazards to their students and staff.
Some other districts, including Des Moines, intend to ask for waivers for the 50% requirement or for permission to push the school year back some, and will then decide how to proceed in the event that those waivers are denied. There is hope that regardless of how much in-person instruction is needed in the fall, things could be better in the spring semester.
"While we don't know what's going to happen between now and the beginning of June, there is some degree of possibility that come spring we're at a very different point as it relates to COVID-19 and school could look a lot more like normal. Then we could easily get to the 50% number," Superintendent Tom Ahart told the Register.
Iowa has experienced 887 COVID-19 deaths, with the peak of the outbreak coming in late April through mid-May.


theblaze--2020-08-04--Billionaire media maven Oprah encourages white people to admit that they are racist in bizarre video

Oprah Winfrey said on video that white privilege and whiteness give white people a leg up over people of color in all situations.
In a recent seminar about what it means to be white, the self-made billionaire told white people that they're racist even when they might not realize that they are racist.
Her white guests agreed.
What are the details?
In a recent episode of "The Oprah Conversation," Winfrey and NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho spoke to several white guests who admitted their racism.
During the episode — titled "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: Part 1" — Winfrey said, "There are white people who are not as powerful as the system of white people — the caste system that's been put in place — but they still, no matter where they are on the rung, or the ladder of success, they still have their whiteness."
"[Whites have a] leg up," she insisted. "You still have your whiteness. That's what the term 'white privilege' is. It means that whiteness still gives you an advantage, no matter. It is the fundamental issue."
During the discussion, Winfrey spoke with her white guests, who discussed their own personal come-to-Jesus moments in admitting that they, too, might just be racist.
One man, Seth, told Winfrey that he must be racist, because he's never been actively anti-racist.
"You've become woke during this period, and realized in that awakening that you are racist, right?" Winfrey asked Seth. "I just want to know how that happened."
Seth responded by admitting that he's apparently been a racist his whole entire life, but only now does he realize how.
"I was born in the '70s," he began. "I was born and raised in Manhattan. I've always considered myself to be liberal. Now I'm not only a friend of people of color, but also an advocate ... but this movement over the last month has been powerful. ... I realized that I couldn't be not racist. I realized that I either was a racist or an anti-racist, and I wasn't — I'm not — an anti-racist."
One woman, Lisa, told Winfrey that she — a Californian — said that even she has "unconscious biases that white people have."
'If the white person is your problem, only the white person can be your solution'
Acho responded by pointing out that white parents should help bear the burden of solving racism.
"Here's what I told my friends with their white children," he began. "I said 'Y'all live in a white cul-de-sac, in a white neighborhood, in a white city, in a white state. If you were not careful, your children will live their whole white life, and at 26, 27, they'll end up being a part of the problem, because you just let them and allowed them to live a completely white, sheltered, and cultureless life."
Acho added, "As a black person, white people — the proverbial phrase of white people — they run America. CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, execs, ownership. They run America. Not an individual white person, but collective white people."
He concluded, "I firmly believe that if the white person is your problem, only the white person can be your solution."


theblaze--2020-08-04--New York City health commissioner resigns, ripping Mayor Bill de Blasio on the way out

She had clashed with the mayor and NYPD New York City health commissioner resigns , ripping Mayor Bill de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot speaks on stage during Housing Works World AIDS @ @ @ @ @ Academy of Medicine .
( Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works )

New York City health commissioner Oxiris Barbot resigned Tuesday, criticizing Mayor Bill de Blasio's handling of COVID-19 and expressing her disappointment that the health department's expertise wasn't better utilized, Fox News reported.
Barbot had clashed with de Blasio and the NYPD in recent months as the city struggled to endure the impact of the pandemic. She will be replaced by Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, a former senior leader at Health and Hospitals.
"I leave my post today with deep disappointment that during the most critical public health crisis in our lifetime, that the Health Department's incomparable disease control expertise was not used to the degree it could have been," Barbot wrote in her resignation letter. "Our experts are world renowned for their epidemiology, surveillance and response work. The city would be well served by having them at the strategic center of the response not in the background."
De Blasio took the responsibility for contact tracing away from the health department in May, and gave it to the public hospital system instead — despite the fact that the health department has been responsible for such efforts for decades.
Barbot got into a high-profile clash with the NYPD when the police department requested 500,000 N95 face masks for officers. At the time, masks were in short supply, and Barbot allegedly told a senior police official "I don't give two rats' asses about your cops."
At least 43 NYPD officers have died of COVID-19, and nearly 6,000 have contracted the virus at some point.
De Blasio has handled COVID-19 poorly. In early February, the mayor incorrectly stated publicly that people could not get COVID-19 from surfaces. Barbot, at that time, publicly agreed with de Blasio that "this is not something that you're going to contract in the subway or on the bus."
That advice was likely disastrous for New York City as passengers continued to pack themselves into crowded public transportation vehicles throughout the pandemic, and the subway system wasn't shut down to be cleaned until May.
In mid-March, right before most of the nation essentially shut down because of COVID-19, de Blasio encouraged people to continue going to restaurants and go about life normally as long as they aren't sick.
De Blasio would go on to target religious gatherings, particularly Jewish gatherings, for violating social distancing, and the NYPD earned national attention for seemingly selective and aggressive arrests of people who were out and about under the shelter-in-place order.
Nearly 24,000 NYC residents have reportedly died from COVID-19.


theblaze--2020-08-04--New York nurse who fought on front lines against COVID-19 calls on teachers to 'do their jobs' — jus

New York nurse who fought on front lines against COVID-19 calls on teachers to 'do their jobs' — just like she did

New York nurse who fought on front lines against COVID-19 calls on teachers to 'do their jobs ' — just @ @ @ @ @ and grocery store clerks are 'essential , ' then so are teachers

States and school districts around the country are debating what to do about opening schools this fall. Some teachers and their unions are threatening to strike if forced to go back to work earlier than they believe is safe.
The ongoing fight is prompting parents, policymakers, and observers to ask: Aren't teachers essential workers?
That position was laid out in an op-ed in The Atlantic on Tuesday by Kristen McConnell, a New York nurse and writer.
McConnell's "I'm a Nurse in New York. Teachers Should Do Their Jobs, Just Like I Did." piece demanded to know why teachers should not have to go back to work at the very schools our government — and the teachers from those schools — have long claimed are essential to keeping our society functioning.
What did she say?
She began by noting that her husband is a New York City public-school teacher who is adamantly against a teacher strike and "understands on a deep, personal level his duty to serve his country in the classroom." He knows, McConnell wrote, that she, as a nurse caring for COVID-19 victims, had a role fill for the nation's well-being and that he also has a similar role to play:
We have two young children, one of whom is developmentally disabled, and I'm an intensive-care nurse. Through the spring, I took care of COVID-19 patients at the hospital while he toggled between teaching on Zoom and helping our daughters through their own lessons. He knows that I did my part for society, and that now he should, too.
McConnell went on to explain that she supports teacher-led efforts to make sure safety measures are put in place by the districts and that states or cities with spikes in cases should keep schools closed for now — along with indoor businesses. But what she refuses to support, she said, is making threats to hold "safety strikes" the way the American Federation of Teachers did last week.
According to McConnell, the strike threats "run counter to the fact that, by and large, school districts are already fine-tuning social-distancing measures and mandating mask-wearing." These measures, she noted, are effective — which is why she and her fellow nurses practice them daily.
Then she noted that teachers have an obligation to "rise to the occasion even if it makes them nervous, just like health-care workers have":
Instead of taking the summer to hone arguments against returning to the classroom, administrators and teachers should be thinking about how they can best support children and their families through a turbulent time. Schools are essential to the functioning of our society, and that makes teachers essential workers. They should rise to the occasion even if it makes them nervous, just like health-care workers have.
My husband, playing devil's advocate while we discussed this (we both know how eager he is to go back), said, “Arguably health-care workers sort of signed up for this kind of risk, but teachers did not."
I replied, “Absolutely not!" Doctors and nurses sign up for work that is sometimes high-stress for us and sometimes life-or-death for our patients, not for us. Aside from those who choose to work in biocontainment or offer their services in war zones, we are not expected to do crucial medical work under potentially lethal circumstances.
Anything else?
Knowing that many defenders of teachers who refuse to return to work would surely argue that nurses and teachers are fundamentally different on the essentiality scale, McConnell noted that the country is essentially at war and the people in positions that keep our society in tact are needed at the front lines.
"This was a war, and I was a soldier," she said, then remembering when the pandemic first started. "It wasn't my choice to serve, but it was my duty; I had skills and knowledge that were needed."
Besides, she added, if grocery store clerks are "essential," certainly teachers are, too:
So I can understand that teachers are nervous about returning to school. But they should take a cue from their fellow essential workers and do their job. Even people who think there's a fundamental difference between a nurse and a teacher in a pandemic must realize that there isn't one between a grocery-store worker and a teacher, in terms of obligation. People who work at grocery stores in no way signed up to expose themselves to disease, but we expected them to go to work, and they did. If they had not, society would have collapsed. What do teachers think will happen if working parents cannot send their children to school? Life as we know it simply will not go on.
She concluded her piece with an encouragement for teachers who are concerned that maybe they don't have what it takes — a feeling she had when COVID-19 reared its ugly head: "I knew I wouldn't fail — the skills I had were the very reason I had been called upon to do this work. The same is true of teaching through a pandemic."


theblaze--2020-08-04--Possible Biden VP pick faces problems over praise for Castro and Scientology, reported attendance at

Possible Biden VP pick faces problems over praise for Castro and Scientology, reported attendance at Nation of Islam events

Possible Biden VP pick faces problems over praise for Castro and Scientology , reported attendance at Nation of Islam events @ @ @ @ @ best look

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) is under scrutiny after reports emerged that she attended Nation of Islam events.
Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, is widely reported to be on presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden's vice president short list.
Bass has also reportedly made questionable remarks about Scientology and has a troubling past relationship with Cuba and the Fidel Castro regime.
What are the details?
During a Monday interview with NBC News, Bass insisted, "I'm not a socialist. I'm not a communist. I've belonged to one party my entire life and that's the Democratic Party, and I'm a Christian."
According to Fox News, Bass traveled to Cuba in 1973 with a group called the Venceremos Brigade, which the outlet described as a "joint venture between the Castro regime and left-wing U.S. groups that organized trips for Americans to the country."
Fox reports that during the trip, Bass attended a Fidel Castro speech. When he passed in 2016, Bass reportedly referred to the dictator as "comandante en jefe" — or "commander in chief" — and lamented his death as a "great loss to the people of Cuba."
Of the remarks, she told MSNBC that she would "certainly" not make such statements again.
"I have talked to my colleagues in the House about that," she said, "and it's certainly something that I would not say again. I have always supported the Cuban people, and the relationship that Barack Obama and Biden had in their administration in terms of opening up relations."
She also told NBC News that she didn't consider herself to be a "Castro sympathizer."
She also said that a new perspective about the dictator "developed over time," and insisted that his regime was a brutal one.
Nation of Islam ties?
On Monday, the Daily Caller reported that Bass took part in Nation of Islam-related events for three years in a row beginning in 2013.
The outlet reported that a spokesperson for Bass said that she never spoke with or met Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
"Rep. Bass has never met Louis Farrakhan, has never spoken to Louis Farrakhan, and has no ties to Louis Farrakhan," the spokesperson told the news outlet.
Tony Muhammad, director of the Nation of Islam's Western division, lauded Bass and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in 2018, saying that Farrakhan would speak with either of them if they wanted to open up a dialogue about blackness in America.
Muhammad said, "I think our black politicians should stand down. Minister Farrakhan will take a call from a Maxine Waters or Karen Bass. He will stop what he's doing ... come and correct him, he's told him. But don't let anyone tell you I've done something wrong without checking."
Scientology's 'exciting' doctrines
In 2010, Bass was embroiled in a controversy after she seemingly praised the Church of Scientology.
During an opening for the "church," Bass said, "The Church of Scientology I know has made a difference, because your creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere. The words are exciting of your founder, L. Ron Hubbard, in the Creed of the Church of Scientology: that all people of whatever race, color, or creed, are created with equal rights."
In a lengthy weekend Twitter statement, Bass insisted that while she did make the remarks about Scientology, she only related to them through a lens of agreeing with equal rights sentiments.
"[I] found an area of agreement in their beliefs — where all people, of whatever race, color, or creed are created with equal rights, which is what my remarks were about," she explained.
“Since then, published first-hand accounts in books, interviews and documentaries have exposed this group," she added. "Everyone is now aware of the allegations against Scientology. Back in 2010, I attended the event knowing I was going to address a group of people with beliefs very different than my own, and spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with, and on those things — respect for different views, equality, and fighting oppression — my views have not changed."


theblaze--2020-08-04--De Blasio reveals he skipped the city permit process for BLM murals — but he's still forcing pro-cop

De Blasio reveals he skipped the city permit process for BLM murals — but he's still forcing pro-cop, pro-Trump groups to get permits

De Blasio reveals he skipped the city permit process for BLM murals — but he 's still forcing pro-cop , @ @ @ @ @ New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Rev .
Al Sharpton help paint @ @ @ @ @ on Fifth Avenue directly in front of Trump Tower on July 9 in New York @ @ @ @ @ David Dee Delgado/Getty Images )

Americans have seen Black Lives Matter murals pop up in cities all across the country — they're painted on streets, buildings, placards, you name it. New York City has seen them on the streets around all five boroughs.
Interestingly, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted this week that he decided the BLM murals would not have to go through the normal permitting process. But he is still forcing pro-police and pro-Trump groups go through the bureaucracy to get the government's OK to put out their political messages in the same format, the New York Post first reported.
What's going on?
The city has come under fire for allegedly blocking groups the mayor disagrees with politically from creating murals in the same fashion as the BLM movement.
The conservative, pro-Trump Women for America First is suing de Blasio and the city Department of Transportation for allowing a BLM mural to be painted in front of Trump Tower but ignoring and essentially blocking their group from exercising the same form of expression, the Post reported late last month.
In the wake of the lawsuit, the mayor has faced repeated questions about an apparent double standard.
On Monday, de Blasio revealed that the city did, in fact, ignore its own application process for public art projects in order to allow Black Lives Matter to paint murals around the city while still forcing groups like Women for America and the pro-cop organization Blue Lives Matter to wade through the government process of getting a permit for a public mural.
He began by claiming that the city has not said "no" to anyone. Instead, he said the groups have been told, "If you want to apply, you can apply, but there's a process."
But then he revealed that the rules do not apply to organizations and groups that are part of a movement that he believes "transcends all normal realities." The statement was reminiscent of his claim in July defending putting Black Lives Matter murals on the streets in each of the boroughs because BLM "transcends any notion of politics" — including on the street in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, which de Blasio helped paint.
"The fact is," de Blasio attempted to explain Monday, "what I decided to do with the Black Lives Matter murals — and this came out of a meeting at Gracie Mansion weeks ago with community leaders and activists who said this would be such an important thing for this city to declare officially — that is something that again transcends all normal realities because we are at a moment of history when that had to be said and done, that's a decision I made."
So, any chance any other group will get the special treatment Black Lives Matter received?
Not according to Hizzoner: "The normal process continues for anyone who wants to apply."


theblaze--2020-08-04--Celebrity couple is devastatingly sorry they had a plantation wedding nearly a decade ago — so they'

Celebrity couple is devastatingly sorry they had a plantation wedding nearly a decade ago — so they're putting their money where their mouths are

Celebrity couple is devastatingly sorry they had a plantation wedding nearly a decade ago — so they 're putting their @ @ @ @ @

Actor Ryan Reynolds says he and his wife, Blake Lively, have felt the deep pain they caused by holding their 2012 wedding at a former plantation in South Carolina.
As such, they've decided to be more involved in activism and increase their donations to certain charities.
What are the details?
In a recent interview with Fast Company, Reynolds said that he and Lively were gutted when they realized what they'd done.
"[The wedding locale is] something we'll always be deeply and unreservedly sorry for," he admitted. "It's impossible to reconcile. What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy."
Reynolds said that he and his wife were lucky enough to learn from their mistake, which prompted them to "reframe things and move [them] into action."
The outlet said that the two donated nearly a quarter-million dollars to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education fund, which reportedly followed two previous $1 million donations to the fund and the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.
The pair shared a social media statement following one of the donations in May, writing, "We want to educate ourselves about other people's experiences and talk to our kids about everything, all of it ... especially our own complicity."
Reynolds and Lively are generally reluctant to speak out about their activism "because he worries that white celebrities too often drown out non-white voices," the outlet added.
Reynolds, who has launched his own production company and marketing agency, added that he's intent on diversifying the entertainment industry as much as he is able.
"Representation and diversity need to be completely immersive," Reynolds insisted. "Like, it needs to be embedded at the root of storytelling, and that's in both marketing and Hollywood. When you add perspective and insight that isn't your own, you grow. And you grow your company, too."


theblaze--2020-08-04--Steve Deace: 'The verdict is in. These maskholes don't know what the hell they are talking about.'

Steve Deace : 'The verdict is in .
These maskholes do n't know what the hell they are talking about @ @

On Monday's program, Steve Deace delivered game-changing commentary about mask mandates.
"I am not anti-mask. I do not believe any of us have the right not to be inconvenienced during extraordinary times," Deace began. "I do think though we are entitled to the truth."
Deace explained that the great state of Hawaii had mostly isolated itself from the mainland for months and had some form of mask mandate implemented since April 20. But, neither safety measure is working to fight the "invisible enemy."
"[Hawaii] sits over 2,000 miles away from its closest neighbor. And yet, even with 2,000 miles of social distancing, and over three months of a mask mandate, Hawaii has a 700% increase in coronavirus cases," Deace said.
Deace continued destroying the mask mandate and listed a host of mainstream media sources that for months touted Hong Kong as having been "right about coronavirus and face masks."
Media coverage dating back to March 12, gave a snapshot of the misinformation put out by Time, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, CNN, VOX, and many more. Deace read article after article and illustrated how sold the nation was on Hong Kong's use of masks. On July 29, Deace explained, CNBC reported that Hong Kong is now on the verge of an outbreak that could lead to the hospital system's collapse.
"So the masks work until they don't," Deace said. "The verdict is in. These maskholes don't know what the hell they are talking about." Watch the video for more.
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theblaze--2020-08-04--College football coach apologizes for using N-word while telling a player to stop saying it

College football coach apologizes for using N-word while telling a player to stop saying it TCU head coach Gary Patterson @ @ @ @ @ introduced before the game with the West Virginia Mountaineers at Amon G. Carter Stadium on @ @ @ @ @ , Texas .
( Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images )

Texas Christian University head football coach Gary Patterson apologized for using a racial slur Sunday while telling a player to stop saying the word, ESPN reported.
TCU linebacker Dylan Jordan publicized Patterson's use of the N-word in a Twitter post. Some players reportedly skipped Monday's practice in response to the incident.
"I met with our seniors and leadership council last night about how we move forward as a team, together," Patterson said in a statement posted on Twitter. "We are committed as individuals and as a program to fighting racial injustice of any kind.
"I apologize for the use of a word that, in any context, is unacceptable," Patterson's statement continued. "I have always encouraged our players to do better and be better and I must live by the same standards."
According to Jordan, Patterson upset him by making fun of him in front of teammates during practice for posting a picture of his girlfriend online for National Girlfriend Day. When Jordan confronted Patterson about it later, Jordan said Patterson called him a "f***ing brat" and threatened to send him back to his hometown of Pittsburg, Kansas.
In Jordan's recounting of the incident, he asked Patterson what he did wrong. That's when Patterson reportedly accused Jordan of using the racial slur in the team meeting room, and Patterson used the word in the process.
Senior tight end Artayvious Lynn posted a statement online saying that while he has experienced racism at TCU, neither Patterson nor any other coach has ever called him the N-word.
"We were in the locker [room] with Coach [Patterson] discussing ways to move forward," Lynn wrote. "I feel he understood that he couldn't say the word regardless. We also asked coach to quit saying, 'I don't see color,' because he has to see it. We living in hard times for black people right now. We must continue to demand change. … Trying to get over 400 years of trauma isn't an easy task, we must all be open minded and mindful of each other period."
There is no indication that Patterson will face any discipline for the incident. The university chancellor called it a "teachable moment."
"He said it trying to ask the players not to use it anymore," Chancellor Victor Boschini wrote, according to ESPN. "He has since apologized for doing so in this manner and said it was a teachable moment for him and many others."
TCU is located in Fort Worth, Texas.


theblaze--2020-08-04--MSNBC producer quits with scathing letter, says network's chase for ratings is a 'cancer' that 'bloc

MSNBC producer quits with scathing letter, says network's chase for ratings is a 'cancer' that 'blocks diversity of thought'

MSNBC producer quits with scathing letter , says network 's chase for ratings is a 'cancer ' that 'blocks diversity @ @ @ @ @ cancer and there is no cure '

An MSNBC producer revealed in an open letter on Monday why she quit her job last month, blasting her former employer's obsession with ratings as a "cancer."
Ariana Pekary — a former producer for MSNBC's "Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell," the network's second highest-rated show — accused MSNBC of hinging their editorial direction on what content will drive the best ratings, calling the strategy a "cancer."
"As it is, this cancer stokes national division, even in the middle of a civil rights crisis. The model blocks diversity of thought and content because the networks have incentive to amplify fringe voices and events, at the expense of others … all because it pumps up the ratings," Pekary wrote on her personal website.
To prove her point, Pekary explained that MSNBC has chosen to focus on President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, instead of informing viewers on how to stay safe through the chaos by providing them with the most up-to-date scientific information. She also said that MSNBC dedicates most of its election coverage to Trump and ignores presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, which she characterized as "a repeat offense from 2016."
Pekary continued:
Context and factual data are often considered too cumbersome for the audience. There may be some truth to that (our education system really should improve the critical thinking skills of Americans) – but another hard truth is that it is the job of journalists to teach and inform, which means they might need to figure out a better way to do that. They could contemplate more creative methods for captivating an audience. Just about anything would improve the current process, which can be pretty rudimentary (think basing today's content on whatever rated well yesterday, or look to see what's trending online today).
The internal environment at MSNBC is so toxic that, according to Pekary, one top producer once told her, "Our viewers don't really consider us the news. They come to us for comfort."
"[B]ehind closed doors, industry leaders will admit the damage that's being done," she wrote.
The New York City-based journalist even claimed that a "successful and insightful TV veteran" told her about the media landscape, "We are a cancer and there is no cure."
According to The Hill, Pekary joined MSNBC seven years ago after working at NPR.
The resignation comes just weeks after Bari Weiss, a high-profile opinion editor at the New York Times, also resigned from her workplace, revealing the Times' toxic workplace, which included alleged bullying, left her no choice but to leave.
In response to Pekary's letter, Weiss said, "Integrity. Eager to see what @arianapekary does next."


theblaze--2020-08-04--NFL legend Herschel Walker blasts athletes supporting Black Lives Matter movement: 'I'm for American

NFL legend Herschel Walker blasts athletes supporting Black Lives Matter movement: 'I'm for American Lives Matter because I'm an American'

NFL legend Herschel Walker blasts athletes supporting Black Lives Matter movement : ' I 'm for American Lives Matter because @ @ @ @ @ 's clear where he stands

NFL legend Herschel Walker says he fully supports "American lives matter" — because he is an American first and foremost.
Walker has also spoken out in condemnation of kneeling protests over the last several days.
What are the details?
In a Monday night social media post, Walker detailed what he referred to as a disturbing incident that he witnessed Sunday night during a workout.
He captioned the now-viral video, "America wake up ... if we love our Country, let's speak up, stand up and protect it!"
"I saw a bunch of people holding a BLM sign burning the Holy Bible, flag of the United States of America, and a cross," he said. "I started thinking, NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB — is this the people you're supporting right now? Is it the movement? Is it the organization? Because I don't think that's right."
He continued, "We cannot continue to sweep stuff underneath the rug because sooner or later we're going to stumble. People, are we being fooled?"
That same evening, Walker appeared on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," where he blasted athletes for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
He also defended Jonathan Isaac, prominent NBA player who refuses to kneel, and insists it's his duty to respect God and country.
"Why does a player need to decide who he is for?" he asked. "What BLM are you supporting? ... The organization is not something that speaks for a lot of people."
He later added, "I'm for 'American Lives Matter' because I'm an American."
'What is your endgame?'
The Heisman Trophy winner from Georgia has been very vocal about the national anthem protests over the last several days.
On Saturday, Walker told Fox News' Jeannine Pirro that it "hurts" to see professional athletes taking a knee during the national anthem.
"We were taking a knee a couple years ago and what did it accomplish? I said, 'Guys, what is your endgame? What do you want? No one is saying what they want," Walker reasoned. "I saw where they say they want justice for Breonna [Taylor] and I do too, but what does that mean? Why don't people give solutions rather than do things against the greatest country, which is the United States of America?"


theblaze--2020-08-04--[UPDATED] BREAKING: Massive explosion in Beirut rocks buildings for hundreds of feet; 'very high num

[UPDATED] BREAKING: Massive explosion in Beirut rocks buildings for hundreds of feet; 'very high number of casualties' — source remains unclear

[ UPDATED ] BREAKING : Massive explosion in Beirut rocks buildings for hundreds of feet ; 'very high number of @ @ @ @ @ unclear

A major explosion in Lebanon's capital of Beirut shattered windows and rocked buildings for hundreds of feet, according to reports.
What's happening?
Disclose shared a video on Twitter, captioning it, "Massive explosion in Beirut. Al-Mayadeen reports the explosion in Beirut is not an act of terrorism according to preliminary information. But holy moly ... what is the cause of something like this?!"
The outlet also reported "VERY HIGH number of casualties reported by the Lebanon health minister as a result of the explosion in Beirut (Sky News)."
The explosion took place Tuesday, according to The Guardian, and its source is not clear at the time of this writing.
The outlet reports that the explosion "rocked central Beirut" and "shattered windows, knocked down doors, and shook buildings several hundred feet away."
"An enormous cloud of smoke could be seen from across the city and witnesses said there were reports of a fire and several small explosions at the port preceded the large blast after 6pm on Tuesday," the outlet continued.
The BBC reported that there were several explosions — one smaller one following the massive blow that shook buildings for blocks.
The outlet reported on "unconfirmed reports" of a second blast, and points out that "A UN tribunal is due to issue its verdict in the trial of four suspects in the murder by car bomb of [Lebanon ex-PM Rafic Baha El Deen Al ]Hariri."
The four suspects are reportedly members of Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.
Reports have emerged that the possible second explosion reportedly took place at the Hariri residence in Beirut.
The verdict is due on Friday.
Local state-run media report that the explosion source was a "major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port." The report said large numbers of people were wounded.
CNN reported that "[m]any buildings were damaged by the explosion, including the headquarters of ... Hariri."
Eyewitnesses also say that residences as far as 10 kilometers away were damaged due to the blast.
Internet outages abound
Reports are also emerging about a "significant internet outage" following the blast.
A tweet read, "Confirmed: Real-time network data show significant internet outage in #Lebanon following reports of blast near #Beirut impacting ability to contact eyewitnesses; circumstance and cause remain unclear; incident ongoing; see live report for updates."
Update, 8/4/2020, 1:03 PM ET:
A CNN producer said that the scene at local emergency rooms was "chaotic" following the blast.
"Some people had broken limbs, some showered with glass," producer Ghazi Balkiz told the outlet.
"I walked in, I saw a few people lying on the floor — doctors trying to put IVs into them. A couple of people were passed out," he added.
The Lebanese Red Cross also reports thousands of calls to local emergency numbers.
More and more videos continue to flood social media channels, showing all angles of the horrific explosions.
Update 8/4/2020 1:36 PM ET:
The Guardian reports that the medical situation in the city is quickly disintegrating.
"A doctor at St Joseph's hospital, less than 2km (1.2 miles) from the blast, said dozens of injured people were being brought for treatment but were unable to be received because the hospital had been destroyed," the outlet reported.
"They're bringing people to the hospital but we can't treat them," the doctor told the outlet. "They're leaving them outside in the street. The hospital is broken, the ER is broken."
Update 8/4/2020 1:52 PM ET:
CNN reports that eyewitnesses call the aftermath of the explosion apocalyptic.
Bachar Ghattas told CNN's Becky Anderson, "You can see injured people all over the streets in Beirut, glass all over the place, cars are damaged, it is like an apocalypse."
"Beirut port is totally destroyed," he added."We don't have a port."
CNN also reported that the blast could be felt 150 miles away from Lebanon.
Israeli officials told Reuters that it denied involvement in the explosion.
"Israel has nothing to do with the incident," the official said on condition of anonymity.
CNN reports that at least 400 people have been hurt because of the explosion, citing the account of a local registered nurse.
Update 8/4/2020 2:19 PM ET:
The Guardian reports that Lebanon Interior Minister Mohamed Fehmi reportedly told the MTV Lebanon channel that the massive explosion appeared to have been caused by "huge quantities of ammonium nitrate" being stored at Beirut port, where the explosion took place.
Update 8/4/2020 2:30 PM ET:
Marwan Abboud, the governor of Beirut, tearfully told journalists on Tuesday that the country is devastated by the blast.
"[Firefighters] came to fight the fire, and then they vanished," he says. "We don't know where they are. We're here to look for them.
"This reminds me of what happened in Japan, to Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he added. "I've never seen damage of this size and width, and so catastrophic. This is a national catastrophe. This is a problem for Lebanon, and we don't know how we're going to get out of it.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi denied all suggestions that Israel could have been responsible for the explosion, saying he had "no reason not to believe the reports from Beirut that this was an accident."
Update 8/4/2020, 3:37 PM ET:
Beirut Health Minister Hamad Hassan told reporters that, at the time of this writing, least 50 people were confirmed to be dead as a result of Tuesday's massive explosion.
More than 2,750 people were injured.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the country would be sending "rescue and aid" to Lebanon in response to the medical crisis.
"I express my fraternal solidarity with Lebanese people after the explosion that caused so many casualties and so much damage tonight in Beirut," he said in a tweet. "France stands by Lebanon's sides. Always. French rescue and aid is on its way."
Lebanon's prime minister, Hassan Diab, declared Wednesday to be a national day of mourning for the victims of the blast.
Diab insisted that the warehouse from which the blast apparently originated was the subject of concern dating back to 2014.
"I promise you this catastrophe will not pass without accountability. The people who are responsible will pay a price," Diab said.
This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant


theblaze--2020-08-04--Steven Crowder: Does God answer prayers?

Tough times .
We 've all have them .
Those seemingly impossible life experiences have a cruel way of helping @ @ @ @ @ choose to be .
Even man-made hard times like the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 presented @ @ @ @ @ who we are — a masker or an anti-masker .
Then , when we least @ @ @ @ @ .
Monday , Steven returned from summer break and shared details about recent hardships his @ @ @ @ @ heartwarming story of an answered prayer .
But first , Steven announces an all-new Louder @ @ @ @ @ promo code LWC to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more @ @ @ @ @ enjoy more of Steven 's uncensored late-night comedy that 's actually funny , join Mug @ @ @ @ @ for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand .

Tough times. We've all have them. Those seemingly impossible life experiences have a cruel way of helping us determine the person we choose to be. Even man-made hard times like the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 presented Americans with a choice about who we are — a masker or an anti-masker. Then, when we least expect, God answers prayers. Monday, Steven returned from summer break and shared details about recent hardships his family endured, and a heartwarming story of an answered prayer. But first, Steven announces an all-new Louder with Crowder show lineup..
Does God answer prayers...
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-08-04--New York Times report: Coronavirus lockdowns may cause over 1 million deaths due to tuberculosis, ot

New York Times report: Coronavirus lockdowns may cause over 1 million deaths due to tuberculosis, other diseases

New York Times report : Coronavirus lockdowns may cause over 1 million deaths due to tuberculosis , other diseases 'Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ and taking us back to where we were 20 years ago . '

A Monday report from the New York Times is finally saying what we have been saying at TheBlaze since the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic: The lockdown measures we have instituted to save lives are inevitably going to end up costing a lot of lives. Perhaps many more than they saved.
The New York Times notes specifically that the combined effects of the coronavirus lockdowns and the diversion of medical resources to battle the pandemic will likely have deleterious effects on worldwide efforts to battle diseases that are bigger killers every year than the coronavirus has been this year, including tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV.
The Times report specifically laments that the lockdowns have caused people in areas of the world that are most stricken by these diseases to eschew traveling to clinics for testing and treatment, which is likely to cause these diseases to spread like wildfire.
According to the Times, deaths from these diseases were at historical low points in 2018, the last year for which data was available. But according to Dr. Pedro L. Alonso, the director of the World Health Organization's global malaria program, "Covid-19 risks derailing all our efforts and taking us back to where we were 20 years ago."
The report notes, "About 80 percent of tuberculosis, H.I.V. and malaria programs worldwide have reported disruptions in services, and one in four people living with H.I.V. have reported problems with gaining access to medications, according to U.N. AIDS. Interruptions or delays in treatment may lead to drug resistance, already a formidable problem in many countries."
In other words, the consequences of these lockdowns are likely to be permanent, not temporary.
According to one estimate, there are likely to be 6.3 million additional cases and 1.4 million additional deaths from tuberculosis alone due to the lockdowns. The report also quotes an estimate stating that there are likely to be 500,000 additional deaths from HIV due to medication disruptions, and another estimate stating that an additional 385,000 people might die per year due to malaria.
There have been less than 700,000 deaths due to the coronavirus globally as of the time of the writing of this article.
All of this was eminently predictable and was, in fact, predicted by many shutdown opponents. I wrote a column here at TheBlaze back in April that specifically argued that lockdowns would cause other diseases to spread more rapidly and become more deadly.
Four months later, it seems that the New York Times has finally decided that this is no longer fearmongering, but instead obvious scientific fact.


theblaze--2020-08-04--Get ready for extended shortages: Major cleaning supply company says they won't be able to keep up w

Get ready for extended shortages: Major cleaning supply company says they won't be able to keep up with demand for products until at least 2021

Get ready for extended shortages : Major cleaning supply company says they wo n't be able to keep up with @ @ @ @ @ least 2021 Supply chain literally can not keep up

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating to the United States economy overall, but one sector of the economy has been booming to the point that manufacturers cannot keep up with demand: cleaning products. And now, Clorox CEO Benno Dorer is warning Americans that shortages could get worse, and could persist well into 2021.
According to a report from Reuters, Dorer says that the supplies of most of the products his company makes have been decimated due to overwhelming customer demand since the start of the pandemic. And while he expects that some of those products (like liquid bleach) will be back in regular stock soon, others will not. In particular, the popular disinfecting wipes made by his company will not be back in full supply until at least next year.
Dorer had initially predicted in May that his company would be able to restock the shelves with those wipes by this summer, but the demand has been so overwhelming that his supply chain literally cannot keep up.
"Disinfecting wipes, which are the hottest commodity in the business right now, will probably take longer because it's a very complex supply chain to make them," Dorer said.
One challenge for the wipes in particular is that the solid component of the wipe is made with polyester spunlace, which is also used to make personal protective equipment for medical personnel.
Dorer told Reuters that his company has made "major" capital investments to ramp up output each quarter, but even so, he does not expect that he will be able to keep the wipes in particular on the shelf this year.
Clorox is not alone among cleaning companies. At grocery stores across America, the shelves of many grocery stores are either empty or nearly empty of all cleaning and disinfecting products. A recent announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that two Lysol sprays were shown to be effective in lab testing to kill the virus has caused a run on Lysol products as well.
Cleaning companies warned back in March that ramping up production for their products would take "weeks" because most disinfectant products require raw materials that were not widely available at the time. As the pandemic stretches into its fifth month, it appears that even that forecast was wildly optimistic, and that the true duration of the shortages could be "months" or even "years."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that although the coronavirus is now believed to not survive easily on surfaces and that infection from contaminated surfaces is not a "major" driver of infections, frequent cleaning of potentially contaminated surfaces is still a best practice, especially in public areas.


theblaze--2020-08-04--'Simpsons' voice actor slams show's decision to stop having white actors portray cartoon characters

'Simpsons' voice actor slams show's decision to stop having white actors portray cartoon characters of color

'Simpsons ' voice actor slams show 's decision to stop having white actors portray cartoon characters of color He does @ @ @ @ @ the move

Actor Harry Shearer — who voices characters on "The Simpsons" — says the show is wrong for its decision to stop having white actors portray cartoon characters of people of color.
In June, the long-running animated show announced it would no longer permit white voice actors to play the roles of non-white characters
What are the details?
Shearer, who voices characters ,including Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, and African American doctor Julius Hibbert, says that "the job of the actor is to play someone who they are not."
The 76-year-old actor explains that the move simply doesn't make any sense.
He told Times Radio that he will no longer be voicing Hibbert, but that it did not impact him or his income because he is not "paid by the voice."
"I have a very simple belief about acting," he said. "The job of the actor is to play someone who they are not."
Shearer has worked on the show since 1989.
'Ugly stereotypes about South Asians'
In January, actor Hank Azaria — who voices convenience store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon — announced he would no longer voice the character, which appears to be of Indian descent.
In public remarks, Azaria said that he was in favor of the move.
“All we know is I won't be doing the voice anymore, unless there's some way to transition it or something," Azaria said.
The character was later phased out of the show altogether.
Azaria added, “We all made the decision together – we all agreed on it. We all feel like it's the right thing and good about it."
In 2018, the New York Times' Vikas Bajaj wrote that the character simply "perpetuated ugly stereotypes about South Asians" when it came to the points of view of many Indian Americans and Indian immigrants.
A statement on the matter read, "Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters."


theblaze--2020-08-04--POLL: If Joe Biden refuses to debate Trump, who will?

POLL : If Joe Biden refuses to debate Trump , who will ?
Cast your vote and do n't forget @ @ @

POLL: If Joe Biden refuses to debate Trump, who will?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-08-04--Trump administration plans to announce $35 million in grants to provide housing for victims of human

Trump administration plans to announce $35 million in grants to provide housing for victims of human trafficking

Trump administration plans to announce $ 35 million in grants to provide housing for victims of human trafficking Grants would @ @ @ @ @ months of assistance for victims

According to a report from Fox News, the Trump administration is expected to announce on Tuesday that it is directing $35 million worth of grants to organizations that will provide "transitional or short-term" housing assistance to victims of human trafficking. The assistance would cover expenses like rent, utilities, security deposits, and relocation costs.
The report states that the announcement will be made during a roundtable Tuesday that will feature Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, as well as Attorney General William Barr and other Justice Department officials. The grants are expected to be issued from the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime, rather than from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the report, the grants would provide between six and 24 months of assistance for victims of human trafficking, and also help those victims find permanent housing and employment. Occupational training and counseling will also be offered.
Experts in human trafficking have stated that the conditions imposed by the coronavirus lockdowns have enabled human trafficking to flourish. The Justice Department has likewise stated its concern that human trafficking has risen sharply in the last year.
The nonprofit group, Polaris, which runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline, told CBS that the number of human trafficking reports increased by 40% in the month following the institution of lockdown orders across the United States.
According to the CEO of Polaris, Nancy McGuire Choi, "The economic upheaval, the fact that people are essentially trapped with their abusers, the desperate straits so many find themselves in, are conditions where trafficking thrive."
A senior Justice Department official told CBS that there will be "no limitations" on which survivors are eligible to receive aid through the program, and that, "They're treating everybody who comes through the door."
The Trump administration also plans to establish a national network of temporary housing for human trafficking survivors, so that victims who need to travel in order to testify against their abusers will have a place to stay.


theblaze--2020-08-04--CNN's Brian Stelter hit with truth after claiming 'right-wing media' pushing Joe Biden from debating

CNN's Brian Stelter hit with truth after claiming 'right-wing media' pushing Joe Biden from debating President Trump

CNN 's Brian Stelter hit with truth after claiming 'right-wing media ' pushing Joe Biden from debating President Trump 'It @ @ @ @ @ tempest '

CNN host Brian Stelter was pummeled with the truth on Monday after blaming "right-wing media" for spreading claims about Joe Biden that his own network, along with the mainstream media and Democrats, are responsible for generating.
What's the background?
Democratic strategists are warning Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, against debating President Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 election.
Biden's strategy of remaining out of the spotlight while the coronavirus panic plays out in the national media has been successful, at least in the short term. Biden's reclusive campaign has allowed the media to focus on Trump, not the former vice president's gaffe-prone behavior.
On Monday, the New York Times published an essay arguing for the debates to be scrapped altogether. The op-ed was criticized as yet another ploy by the mainstream media, and its supporters, to help Biden to not have to debate the president.
What did Stelter say?
Reacting to sentiment against Biden debating Trump was Fox News radio host Guy Benson, who characterized the effort as a "media tempest."
In response, Stelter claimed the media was not responsible for pushing the Biden-debate story — instead charging the "right-wing media" as the guilty party.
"It is mostly a right-wing media tempest, fueled by hour after hour of Fox commentary (not reporting), far removed from campaign reality..." Stelter said in a tweet.
However, as Benson proved in response, the effort to push Biden from debating Trump is anything but a "right-wing media" generated story.
Benson replied to Stelter with numerous mainstream media news sources — including CNN — pushing the Biden-debate story:
New York Times: "Lets Scrap the Presidential Debates"
CNN: "Political analyst makes plea for Biden not to debate Trump"
Boston Herald: "Biden better walk back any offers to debate Trump"
Newsweek: "Supporters Urge Joe Biden Not to Debate Trump, Applaud Hosts for Canceling Over COVID-19 Concerns"
Via @ReaganBattalion, it seems as though this notion wasn't invented out of whole cloth by conservatives. It's an idea that has been floated by left-leaning figures/outlets... pic.twitter.com/Ce4s8cnPhh
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 4, 2020
Stelter responded to Benson by completely ignoring the fact that he had just blamed "right-wing media" for something that originated in Democratic circles.
"i'm well aware. but it's a mistake to spend lots of precious time yakking about what leftie columnists are suggesting in this case. obviously biden will debate. why imply otherwise to viewers, hour after hour?" Stelter said.


theblaze--2020-08-04--Mail-in voting update: Due to massive postal failures, New York will count many mailed-in ballots ev

Mail-in voting update: Due to massive postal failures, New York will count many mailed-in ballots even if they're not postmarked by the deadline, or postmarked at all

Mail-in voting update : Due to massive postal failures , New York will count many mailed-in ballots even if they @ @ @ @ @ deadline , or postmarked at all Six weeks after the primary , no result

A federal judge ruled Monday that approximately 1,000 absentee ballots that were not postmarked by the deadline — if they were even postmarked at all — must be counted in a New York congressional primary that still hasn't been decided after six weeks, according to The New York Times.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y) appears to have beaten challenger Suraj Patel in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district, but her current margin over Patel is only 3,700 votes, and there are more than 12,000 disputed ballots.
Judge Analisa Torres of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that 1,000 of the disputed ballots must be counted after failures by the postal service have undermined the election and delayed a final result by nearly two months. From the Times:
Under Judge Torres's decision, ballots received the day after Election Day — June 24 — will be counted "without regard to whether such ballots are postmarked by June 23." Mr. Patel estimates that this amounts to about 1,200 ballots, which would not be enough for him to overtake Ms. Maloney. Ballots that were received by June 25 — two days after the election deadline — would also be valid, so long as they did not have a postmark later than June 23.
In sworn testimony last week, postal officials conceded that their system of identifying and postmarking ballots — a critical element in determining whether ballots were sent by the Election Day deadline — was not foolproof, and that some ballots had not been postmarked.
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded absentee voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit New York harder than any other location in the country. However, the resulting surge in mailed ballots overwhelmed the postal service and election officials.
More than 400,000 absentee ballots were cast in New York City during the primary season, which is more than were submitted in the entire state during the 2018 election.
The troubles in the New York City congressional primary fuels concerns about what the November election might look like if much of the country is voting by mail because of continued concerns about the spread of COVID-19. President Donald Trump has even suggested delaying the election rather than using mail-in voting as the primary method of casting ballots.
The president has paid some attention to the delayed NY-12 primary, calling it "a total disaster."
"They're six weeks into it now," Trump said, according to NYT. "They have no clue what's going on."


theblaze--2020-08-04--Police draw guns on black family, force children to lie face down on the ground during mistaken traf

Police draw guns on black family, force children to lie face down on the ground during mistaken traffic stop. Now the city says it's willing to pay for therapy for kids.

Police draw guns on black family , force children to lie face down on the ground during mistaken traffic stop @ @ @ @ @ it 's willing to pay for therapy for kids .
Incident took place over the @

Police have issued an apology after accosting a family with young children in a case of mistaken identity.
What are the details?
The incident took place Sunday morning in Aurora, Colorado, according to KUSA-TV.
Members of the Gilliam family packed into their family SUV for a trip to a nearby nail salon when police stopped them, believing that the vehicle was stolen.
A spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department said that the vehicle matched the license plate number and a description that they were provided in reference to a stolen vehicle. The vehicle in question had, indeed, been stolen back in February, but it had been recovered and handed back to the Gilliam family a day after being reported stolen.
Police approached the family, which had pulled into a parking lot to see if a nail salon was open, with their guns drawn.
Officers ordered an adult out of the vehicle, and began questioning them, while another officer handcuffed the two older children.
The officer then ordered all four children, ages 6-17, to lie facedown in the parking lot next to the car.
Brittney Gilliam, the driver of the vehicle, told KUSA-TV that she and her daughter, nieces, and younger sister were headed to the salon when they realized it was closed.
Gilliam said that officers approached the vehicle with their weapons drawn, which immediately stoked fear in the family.
"He's like, something about the car being reported stolen," she recalled. "And I'm like 'This happened months ago, you guys cleared it, we got to pick up the car the next day, the very next day, so I'm not understanding what's going on."
She added, "There's no excuse why you didn't handle it a different type of way. You could have even told [the kids] 'Step off to the side, let me ask your mom or your auntie a few questions so we can get this cleared up.' There was different ways to handle it."
When officers realized the mistake, officers removed handcuffs from the family and issued an apology.
The family, still shaken, demanded to make a complaint over the frightening incident.
The Aurora Police Department is opening an investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the department said, "The Aurora Police Department understands that this is concerning and traumatic for those involved and we again offer our apologies. In a high-risk stop, weapons are drawn, and occupants are told to exit the car and lie prone on the ground. There is not a written policy regarding when/how we use this stop. Officers can use discretion based on the information they have at the time."
On Monday night, Interim Chief Vanessa Wilson said that the officers are able to deviate from the practice when they see fit.
"We have been training our officers that when they contact a suspected stolen car, they should do what is a called a high-risk stop," she said. "But we must allow our officers to have discretion and to deviate from this process when different scenarios present themselves. I have already directed my team to look at new practices and training."
She also said that she phoned the Gilliam family to personally apologize, and promised that the city would cover the cost of any age-appropriate therapy the children might need in connection with the incident.
David Lane, an attorney, is representing the Gilliam family.


theblaze--2020-08-04--Your local government has a huge, corrupt incentive to keep private schools from reopening this fall

Your local government has a huge , corrupt incentive to keep private schools from reopening this fall

If you live in or around the nation's capital, you're probably aware that a fight has been brewing in Montgomery County, Maryland over whether private schools in the county will be allowed to reopen this fall. Montgomery County is one of the most populous and wealthy counties in America, and because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., local government fights there tend to get more attention than what might be happening in your county in flyover country.
Thus it is that even Fox News and other national outlets have been covering a fight that seems local, but is in reality national. Montgomery County, you see, had issued a blanket order that private and religious schools could not offer in-person education prior to October 1st, no matter what. The county issued this order even though many private schools in the county had taken extraordinary measures — certainly much more than their public school counterparts — to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their schools.
Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan overruled Montgomery County's order on Monday, saying that it was overly broad and that it exceeded the authority granted to counties under his own emergency order. According to Hogan, counties can only close private schools if they make an individual determination on a case-by-case basis that the schools are unsafe. Seems like a case of "all's well that ends well," right?
Wrong.
As Cato Institute fellow Walter Olson has noted, county governments are not making these decisions in a vacuum. Those governments have a huge, corrupt incentive to keep private schools closed, and it's the same corrupt incentive that drives a large percentage of government decisions: money. It sure isn't public health.
Take Montgomery County, for example, which barely even tried to hide what it was doing. As Olson noted, the October 1st date seems a bit weird. It's clearly after the school year is supposed to start and the county didn't offer any compelling public health reason for choosing the date. I suppose it could be argued that the county was just picking a date out of a hat that fell on the first day of the month at some point a couple months hence.
However, it also just so happens that that date is the day after the deadline for enrollment in public schools in Maryland. On September 30th, the schools have to finalize their enrollment figures for the purposes of reporting to federal and state agencies. Those enrollment figures are then used, in turn, to determine which school districts get what share of the federal and state taxpayer pot. And it also just so happens that Montgomery County public schools were just absolutely getting killed on their enrollment figures this year, just like a lot of public schools around the country, as parents seek to avoid the uncertainty surrounding what public education will look like by either homeschooling their kids or seeking a more stable private option.
I suppose it is possible that all these things are just coincidences and that the good folks in Montgomery County government are just trying to do what's right. For, you know, the kids. I wouldn't, however, consider it to be likely.
Let's be clear: private schools, charter schools, and home schooling are competition for public schools. And if there is one thing school districts and teachers' unions have been clear about intensely disliking, it is competition. Luckily for them, in many cases they have been given the authority this year to literally shut down their competition under the guise of public health.
In the county government view of the world, every student that does not attend a public school represents lost revenue. That's a powerful incentive to do exactly what Montgomery County did. And if your local county is making a similar decision, it should be subjected to similar scrutiny.


theblaze--2020-08-05--Husband of LA district attorney facing charges for pulling gun on BLM protesters at his house

Husband of LA district attorney facing charges for pulling gun on BLM protesters at his house Activists showed up on @ @ @ @ @ confront her for an impromptu 'community meeting '

The husband of Los Angeles County's first black district attorney has been hit with three charges of assault with a firearm stemming from him pulling a gun when an estimated 30 Black Lives Matter activists showed up at the couple's home demanding to see his wife earlier this year.
What are the details?
The Los Angeles Times reported that David Lacey, husband of L.A. County chief prosecutor Jackie Lacey, was charged by the California attorney general's office over an incident in early March where he was recorded on video brandishing a gun at protesters who showed up on his front porch calling for a meeting with his wife.
On March 2, a Black Lives Matter representative named Melina Abdullah rang the doorbell of the Lacey household, and David Lacey came to the door. He is seen pointing a gun during the confrontation, telling the activists to get off his porch and warning them that he was prepared to shoot them.
Jackie Lacey later said that her husband was "profoundly sorry" for the exchange.
"I do not believe it is fair or right for protesters to show up at the homes of people who dedicate their lives to public service," she said. "It was just him and I in that house and we really didn't know what was about to happen."
In an interview released by CNN last month, Jackie Lacey condemned the radical views pushed by some Black Lives Matter activists, including the defunding of police.
The Hill reported that following the news of David Lacey's criminal charges, his attorney, Samuel Tyre said in a statement that he was "disappointed" that his client's actions were considered "criminal behavior."
"We disagree entirely with their assessment," Tyre argued, "but we have the utmost faith in the justice system, and we are confident that the correct result will be reached."
Anything else?
David Lacey's case has similarities to another case happening in the middle of the country that also involves a couple defending their home against protesters.
The BLM movement gained an enormous boost following the death of George Floyd in late May — two months after the incident at the Lacey household. The movement has since been joined and allegedly hijacked by affiliated groups in protests across the country, with demonstrations descending into violence, looting, and even murders.
A St. Louis couple, the McCloskeys — both of whom are attorneys — were charged last month for bringing out firearms to confront protesters who had broken down the gate to their gated community and allegedly threatened their lives.
The McCloskeys' attorney, Joel Schwartz, released a statement at the time, saying, "I, along with my clients, support the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard. This right, however, must be balanced with the Second Amendment and Missouri law, which entitle each of us to protect our home and family from potential threats."


theblaze--2020-08-05--Iran tries to intimidate the US with war simulation on aircraft carrier replica — and humiliates its

Iran tries to intimidate the US with war simulation on aircraft carrier replica — and humiliates itself instead

Simulated attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier replica by the Iranian military ostensibly to intimidate the United States backfired instead and left Iran in an embarrassing situation.
Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard ran the war games on a replica in the the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the ocean.
The military exercises were named "Prophet Mohammed 14th" and included the replica being encircled by speed boats and hit by missiles.
But the mock ship appeared to have capsized as it was being towed after the war games. And because the waterway is so shallow, the replica will likely impair shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
"The carrier itself, actually an elaborate target barge, is not intended to sink, however. It is meant to be reusable and has been symbolically 'destroyed' twice already. But now it really has sunk. And in very much the wrong place," naval expert H.I. Sutton explained to Forbes.
"The location of the sinking will likely create a serious headache for the Iranian Navy and IRGC-N," he added, using the acronym for the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"It is just outside the harbor entrance to Bandar Abbas, near to the main approach channel," Sutton said.
"It is so shallow that other ships face a very real risk of catastrophic damage if they sail over it. In fact, at least as of a couple of days ago, it was partly above water," he concluded. "This is a serious shipping hazard."
The replica intended to intimidate the U.S. has instead become a serious shipping hazard and a humiliating disaster for the Iranian regime.
'To intimidate and coerce'
Prior to the replica becoming an embarrassment for the Iranian regime, military leaders had proclaimed the drills a success.
"What was shown today in these exercises, at the level of aerospace and naval forces, was all offensive," Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami said, according to the BBC.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy called the drills an attempt to "intimidate and coerce" other countries.
"The U.S. Navy conducts defensive exercises with our partners promoting maritime security in support of freedom of navigation, whereas, Iran conducts offensive exercises, attempting to intimidate and coerce," Commander Rebecca Rebarich, spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said.
Here's more about the Iranian military drills:


theblaze--2020-08-05--Burger King worker killed allegedly after dispute over long wait time — it was his first week on the

Burger King worker killed allegedly after dispute over long wait time — it was his first week on the job @ @ @ @ @ with the heinous crime

A young man had only worked for a few days at his new job at Burger King before he was shot and killed, allegedly over a dispute about the long wait time at the restaurant.
The tragic and senseless incident occurred Saturday in Orange County, Florida.
Desmond Armond Joshua, 22, refunded a woman's money after she complained about the waiting time at the drive-thru, and he asked her to leave the restaurant.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the woman's boyfriend, Kelvis Rodriguez Tormes, 37, returned to the restaurant and got into a physical altercation with Joshua.
A witness told the police they tried to intervene in the fight when Tormes put Joshua into a headlock, according to the affidavit.
The witness pulled Tormes off Joshua, after which the man went to his truck to retrieve his gun.
"You got two seconds before I shoot you," he allegedly said to Joshua.
Police say Tormes shot Joshua, who died a short time later at the hospital.
Tormes was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, destruction of evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The woman who reportedly began the altercation has not been found by the police.
Burger King released a statement to WESH-TV NEWS about the death of their employee.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident that took place at the Burger King on 7643 E. Colonial Drive and passing of team member Desmond Joshua. At Burger King, the safety of team members and guests is our top priority. The franchisee who owns and operates the restaurant is fully cooperating with authorities on this matter.
WESH also spoke to Tammi Tillman-Edwards, a friend of the family who knew Joshua.
"Burger King was a stepping stone for him to move on to bigger things and to see his life just get cut down at 22," Tillman-Edwards said.
She said that he had only started working at the Burger King on Thursday before being killed on Saturday.
"No parent should have to bury their child, period, but especially over some foolishness like this," she added. "Over a sandwich."
Here's a local news report about the deadly incident:
Burger King worker killed over dispute www.youtube.com
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-08-06--'Kindergarten Cop' scrapped from theater lineup following claim that it 'romanticizes over-policing'

'Kindergarten Cop ' scrapped from theater lineup following claim that it 'romanticizes over-policing '

An Oregon film organization has removed 1990s action-comedy "Kindergarten Cop" from its schedule, following complaints over the movie's content including that it "romanticizes over-policing."
What are the details?
The NW Film Center in Portland announced plans to play the PG-13 rated flick this week at its drive-in theater in honor of the film's 30th anniversary and "for its importance in Oregon filmmaking history," according to a news release obtained by Willamette Week.
The movie was filmed in Astoria, Oregon, and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger who plays a police officer who goes undercover as a substitute kindergarten teacher in order to nab a drug dealer. In the film, Schwarzenegger's character, John Kimble, wins over his class and skeptical administrators after a rocky start, using his police experience and positive reinforcement.
But local author Lois Leveen said the movie sends a bad message, and rallied others online to successfully have it scrapped.
Leveen's Twitter account is now hidden, but the Daily Mail showed clips of her tweets criticizing the center's selection of "Kindergarten Cop."
Leveen wrote, "What's so funny about School-to-Prison pipeline? Kindergarten Cop-Out: Tell @nwfilmcenter there's nothing fun in cops traumatizing kids. National reckoning on overpolicing is a weird time to revive Kindergarten Cop. IRL, we are trying to end school-to-prison pipeline."
She added, "Yes, KINDERGARTEN COP is only a movie. So are BIRTH OF A NATION and GONE WITH THE WIND, but we recognize films like those are not 'good family fun.' They are relics of how pop culture feeds racist assumptions. KINDERGARTEN COP romanticizes over-policing in the U.S."
Critics who agreed with Leveen piled on, leading the NW Film Center to eventually replace "Kindergarten Cop" with a documentary about the late Rep. John Lewis (D), a leader in the civil rights movement who recently passed away.
News of NWFC bending to the mob was also met with criticism. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reacted to the cancellation by tweeting, "Nutty. Angry leftists hate Hollywood. Anyone who disagrees will be censored. Hollywood, afraid of the mob, will keep funding those trying to erase any speech/movies that don't conform."
A NWFC spokesperson told Willamette Week that it wasn't just Leveen's online criticism that caused them to change their minds on running "Kindergarten Cop," but "a dozen others, including Black community members who asked us to considered opening the Drive-In with a different movie."
Leveen was not happy with that response either, telling the outlet, "I have been a Silver Screen member for years, and an NWFC patron even longer, and I know how seldom their screenings attract substantial number of BIPOC [black, indigenous and people of color] audience members. When a white-dominant institution cannot honestly admit their error and insensitivity, it does not suggest they will avoid similar errors and insensitivities in the future."


theblaze--2020-08-06--Mark Levin EXPOSES 'evil and totalitarian' ploy to pack Supreme Court with leftists

Mark Levin EXPOSES 'evil and totalitarian ' ploy to pack Supreme Court with leftists 'We 're seeing a complete breakdown @ @ @ @ @ a constitutional system '

Last week, CNN ran a series of "exclusive" stories that revealed the Supreme Court's private deliberations over President Donald Trump's taxes. But how did CNN reporter Joan Biskupic get a hold of such sensitive information?
On the latest episode of "LevinTV," BlazeTV host Mark Levin argued that Chief Justice John Roberts is likely the leaker.
"The chief justice of the United States ... is enormously political, and I believe he is a leaker," Levin stated. "If there's leaking going on, and there clearly is, one justice against another, it is a huge problem."
Levin referenced a Newsweek article written by Josh Blackman, South Texas College of Law professor and author of "An Introduction to Constitutional Law: 100 Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know." In his article, Blackman asserts that "the Supreme Court has turned into a sieve" and, worse, the leaks appear to be specifically designed to advance politically-motivated narratives. He then lists five steps Chief Justice Roberts can (but likely won't) take to bring the Court back in order.
"We're seeing a complete breakdown of a civil society and a constitutional system," Levin said. "This week, the Democrats have threatened to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court and pack it with leftists. This is how evil and totalitarian the Democrats are right now. They're prepared to burn down, not just cities, but burn down the whole damn country."
Watch the video below:
Want more from Mark Levin?
To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-08-06--Breaking: Twitter temporarily banned Trump campaign from tweeting, claiming they shared a false vide

Breaking: Twitter temporarily banned Trump campaign from tweeting, claiming they shared a false video about COVID-19

Breaking : Twitter temporarily banned Trump campaign from tweeting , claiming they shared a false video about COVID-19

Twitter temporarily banned the Trump 2020 campaign from tweeting on its social media platform until it deleted a video about the coronavirus on Wednesday.
Liz Kelley, a spokesperson for Twitter, told the Washington Post that the video was "in violation of the Twitter Rules on COVID-19 misinformation."
She added that the "account owner will be required to remove the Tweet before they can Tweet again."
The Trump Team tweet contained a video of President Donald Trump from an interview with Fox News where he said that children were "almost immune" from the coronavirus.
Facebook also took down a post from the president about children contracting coronavirus on Wednesday.
"This video includes false claims that a group of people is immune from COVID-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful COVID misinformation," said Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Facebook.
The account resumed tweeting after the video was deleted.
An earlier version of the report from the Washington Post claimed that Twitter had banned the president's account, but it was revised soon afterward.
Here's CNN criticizing Trump for the comments he made:


theblaze--2020-08-06--Woman in viral video deliberately coughs in face of brain tumor patient recording her. Police have c

Woman in viral video deliberately coughs in face of brain tumor patient recording her. Police have charged her with assault.

Woman in viral video deliberately coughs in face of brain tumor patient recording her .
Police have charged her with @ @ @ @ @ the altercation on her Facebook page

A woman who was caught in a viral video deliberately coughing on another shopper at Pier 1 has been charged with assault. The incident happened in June at a Pier 1 store in Jacksonville, Florida.
Heather Sprague posted the video and a description of her version of the events to her Facebook page and it quickly went viral.
"I had an appointment in the Town Center area, so I donned my mask and ducked into a store to escape the heat while I waited for my appointment time," Sprague wrote. "There were two small children wandering around the store unattended for an extended period, and the little guy was doing the potty dance."
Sprague was wearing a mask because she has a compromised immune system due to treatments she was receiving for a brain tumor.
"It became apparent that they belonged to a woman at the register who was becoming increasingly belligerent. She was screaming at, swearing, insulting, and threatening the staff as she demanded to return an item she didn't have with her, just a photo of the item on her phone. The staff were professional and respectful. But they couldn't return an item she didn't actually have with her," she claimed.
"She continued to rage, all the while her poor little boy was squirming and asking for a bathroom, which she would have needed to leave the store to find. When she positioned herself so the clerks couldn't exit the checkout area and screamed that she would stay right there, yelling as loud as she wanted, until all their customers left... I stood at a distance, pulled out my phone and wordlessly began filming," Sprague explained.
The video shows the reaction of the woman, who took notice of Sprague and walked over to cough in her face while she recorded. The woman says she's going to cough in Sprague's face before she does it.
That video was shared more than 34,000 times and had 4.2 million views.
Police later identified the woman as Debra Hunter and charged her with assault.
Here's a local news report about the incident:


theblaze--2020-08-05--Former officer who shot Rayshard Brooks sues Atlanta mayor, police chief over his firing

Former officer who shot Rayshard Brooks sues Atlanta mayor , police chief over his firing Garrett Rolfe says officials broke @ @ @ @ @ go

The former Atlanta police officer who was charged with murder after fatally shooting Rayshard Brooks during an attempted DUI arrest has sued the city's mayor and acting police chief, saying the officials illegally fired him before conducting an investigation into the incident.
What are the details?
Garrett Rolfe and his former partner Devin Brosnan responded to a call on June 12 at a Wendy's where Brooks had allegedly fallen asleep in his vehicle in the restaurant's drive-through. The officers believed Brooks was intoxicated, and when they attempted to arrest Brooks, he resisted and wrestled Brosnan's taser away from him during a scuffle.
Video footage of the incident shows that as Brooks attempted to flee, he turned around and attempted to fire the taser at Rolfe, who responded by firing three rounds from his service weapon at Brooks. Two of the shots hit Brooks in the back, killing him.
The next day, Rolfe was fired. But he says he was acting within the scope of his position and that his termination was done illegally.
LAW.com first reported that Rolfe filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lane Bottoms (D) and interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant, claiming the respondents violated the law by denying him "procedural due process protections" and his Constitutional rights because he was fired prior to the incident being investigated.
The lawsuit claims Rolfe "has suffered irreparable injury to his personal and professional reputation as a result of his unlawful dismissal" and that he has "become a public spectacle and object of ridicule," adding that "his unlawful termination was unnecessarily public and has attracted national media attention."
It also argues that Rolfe has not been treated the same as other officers who have been charged with crimes. The former officer is seeking to be reinstated to his old position at the department with full back pay.
Rolfe is currently out on bond after being charged with felony murder and 10 other charges for killing Brooks. The charges were brought by Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, who is also being criminally investigated over his handling of the case, as well as over "supplemental payments" that were allegedly given to him by former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Anything else?
Rolfe is also currently at risk of being sent back behind bars as he awaits trial.
The Associated Press reported:
Prosecutors received an email Monday afternoon from one of Rolfe's attorneys notifying them that Rolfe had traveled to Florida for vacation, according to the motion to revoke his bond. A location report from the company that owns the ankle monitor Rolfe is wearing shows that he left home early Sunday and was in Daytona Beach, the motion says.
Prosecutors aren't aware of him having been granted permission to travel and they argue that Rolfe 'has clearly shown that he will not abide by the conditions of bond imposed by the Court.'


theblaze--2020-08-05--Three teens arrested for allegedly trespassing onto Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club with an AK-47

Three teens arrested for allegedly trespassing onto Trump 's Mar-a-Lago Club with an AK-47 Police say they were lucky they @ @ @ @ @ Secret Service

Three teens were arrested for allegedly trespassing onto the Mar-a-Lago Club owned by President Donald Trump, and they were carrying an AK-47 according to police.
The startling incident occurred on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida.
Palm Beach Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick said that the teens were seen by police in a parked silver Hyundai around midnight on Friday.
When a police officer approached the car, they quickly drove away and the officer gave chase, reported WPTV.
The teens then jumped out of the car when they saw another police car in front of them, and ran towards Mar-a-Lago according to the police account. Police surrounded the club and employed a helicopter and a police dog to search for them.
They were eventually apprehended and discovered to be only fifteen years old each.
Mar-a-Lago security found a backpack carrying a Mini Draco 7.62 caliber AK-47 with a 14-round magazine. Ogrodnick said that when the teens were asked where they got the gun, one responded that they had found it.
The teen trio were charged with armed trespassing, armed burglary, and resisting arrest without violence.
The police spokesman said it was accidental that the teens ended up at the president's club, and that they did not know where they had run into.
He added that they were lucky the president or his family weren't at the club, or they likely would have been shot by the Secret Service. Mar-a-Lago is closed for the summer season.
Police did not release the identities of the underaged suspects. They were held at the the Juvenile Assessment Center in West Palm Beach.
Not the first time
Mar-a-Lago has been the scene of odd bizarre trespassing incidents prior to the three teens.
In April 2019, a former brothel owner named Cindy Yang was caught trespassing on the property, reportedly while in possession of two Chinese passports and malware.
In January, a Connecticut woman named Hannah Roemhild was arrested after allegedly ramming security checkpoints near the resort as officers gave chase. Her lawyer said that she had mental health issues and had been off of her medications at the time.
Here's a video about a previous intruder at Mar-a-Lago: