theblaze--2020-09-11--Commentary: Check out the left-wing lawyers who were helping the unelected bureaucrats who sought to

Commentary: Check out the left-wing lawyers who were helping the unelected bureaucrats who sought to take down President Trump

Commentary : Check out the left-wing lawyers who were helping the unelected bureaucrats who sought to take down President Trump

One of the attorneys for the anonymous whistleblower that sparked a presidential impeachment kept a lid on his client's identity as best he could, but kept no such secret about his own intentions — as Mark Zaid openly called for a "coup" in 2017. The whistleblower's other lawyer in 2019, Andrew Bajaj, also tweeted in 2017, "we're there" for invoking the 25th Amendment.
The early intentions of Zaid and Bakaj were widely known. But they weren't the only far-left lawyers behind the unelected government bureaucrats in the attempted election nullification caper (aka impeachment), as revealed in "Abuse of Power: Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump." Most of the impeachment witnesses who testified before the House Select Committee on Intelligence in late fall 2019 were represented by lawyers steeped in Democratic politics and some associated with extremist causes.
Among the rare witnesses with direct knowledge of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was then-National Security Council official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman — who came very close during testimony to admitting he told the whistleblower about the call.
David Pressman represented Vindman. After mid-level roles in the Clinton White House and State Department, Pressman went to work in the early 2000s for the extreme left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center. While there, Pressman was involved in the center's campaign to take down a monument to the Ten Commandments outside the Alabama State Judicial Building. He returned to government in the Obama administration, and President Barack Obama eventually named Pressman as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Security Council for special political affairs in 2014.
In stark contrast to Vindman, former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch had zero direct knowledge of either the Trump-Zelensky call or Hunter Biden's work for Burisma. She seemed to be there to be a sympathetic witness. Her lawyer was Lawrence S. Robbins, who previously represented Jane Sanders (wife of Sen. Bernie Sanders) during an FBI investigation of her handling of finances when she was president of a Vermont college that went bust. Robbins also represented several associates of Bill and Hillary Clinton during the Whitewater investigation of the 1990s.
Moreover, Robbins was a public cheerleader for impeachment since at least mid-2018, as he wrote an op-ed for Politico calling for Trump's ouster from office for allegedly violating campaign finance laws in paying Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their fling. After the Mueller report's release, Robbins again demanded Trump's ouster for obstruction of justice, even though the report cleared Trump and his campaign of the underlying matter of Russia collusion.
Lee Wolosky represented former NSC official Fiona Hill. Wolosky was on the NSC for the Clinton White House and then joined the Democratic law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, famous for litigating on behalf of Al Gore in the Bush v. Gore lawsuit for Florida's electoral votes in 2000. Obama appointed Wolosky U.S. Special Envoy for Guantanamo, to lead efforts to close the U.S. detention facility for terror suspects there — which never happened.
Not all the lawyers were in the tank for Democrats. William Taylor, who became the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine after Trump fired Yovanovitch, hired Never-Trumper John B. Bellinger III, a former legal advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was among 50 former Republican national security officials who signed an August 2016 letter saying, "None of us will vote for Trump."
The assorted lawyers advising impeachment witnesses, for the most part, had a clear-cut desired outcome. That's not to say they weren't serving their clients best interest considering none of the witnesses identified a finite high crime or misdemeanor that Trump committed.
None were more up front about their motives than the whistleblower's lawyers — with the possible exception of Robbins.
On Jan. 3, 2017, weeks before Trump's inauguration, Zaid tweeted, "#coup has started. First of many steps. #rebellion. #impeachment will follow ultimately." On May 9, Zaid tweeted about Presidents Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton: "Johnson (1868), Nixon (1973), Clinton (1998) impeachment hearings. Next up @realDonaldTrump (2017)." Zaid was off by a couple of years. That June, marking 45 years since Watergate, Zaid tweeted: "And 45 years from now we might be recalling stories regarding the impeachment of @realDonaldTrump. I'll be old, but will be worth the wait."
Bakaj on August 2017 tweeted, "The 25th Amendment concerns @POTUS' inability to discharge the powers and duties of office. Says nothing about mental health. We're there." Bakaj interned as a college student for the Senate offices of Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer. He also held government jobs at the Justice Department, CIA inspector general's office, and the U.S. embassy in Kiev.
Zaid and Bakaj were involved in the project "Whistleblower Aid," co-founded in 2017 by John Tye, who also previously worked for the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as the climate change activist group Avaaz. Tye also maxed out to Hillary Clinton in 2016, giving $2,700. Whistleblowers calling out government misconduct is great, but the founding of the group in 2017 cast doubt on just how nonpartisan it was.
The fact is, just as certain members of Congress and liberal nonprofits were rather public in paving the way for a Trump impeachment for something — anything, what was less transparent is the legal community in and around the D.C. swamp was also ready to pounce. "Abuse of Power," reveals these motives and others that long preceded a Ukraine phone call.


theblaze--2020-09-11--Miami Dolphins to stay in locker room during national anthem and black national anthem pregame cerem

Miami Dolphins to stay in locker room during national anthem and black national anthem pregame ceremonies

Albert Wilson of the Miami Dolphins kneels during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the @ @ @ @ @ at FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 24 , 2019 , in Cleveland , Ohio .
( @ @ @ @ @ )

The Miami Dolphins will stay in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem and the black national anthem before their 2020 season opener Sunday against the New England Patriots, ESPN reported.
The NFL, attempting to participate in the social and racial justice demonstrations that have escalated over the past four months, will play "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," which is known as the black national anthem, as well as "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Week 1 games.
The Dolphins are opting to not participate in either ceremony, saying they're not interested in any more "empty gestures" that don't contribute toward real and lasting change.
"This attempt to unify only creates more divide," Dolphins players said in a video released Thursday. "So we'll skip this song and dance, and as a team we'll stay inside. We need changed hearts, not just a response to pressure. Enough, no more fluff and empty gestures. We need owners with influence and pockets bigger than ours to call up officials and flex political power."
In their video, Dolphins players said they want team owners to use their wealth and political influence to push for legislative change, such as prison and police reform.
Much of the conversation surrounding social justice in the NFL has been hung up on the pregame national anthem. Since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem to raise awareness about police brutality against minorities, players on numerous teams have continued that protest — a demonstration that is divisive among fans, and has turned some away from the league completely.
The Dolphins players feel the emphasis on symbolic gestures during the national anthem has become an obstacle to substantive social justice reform, so they are responding by performing a different, perhaps more dramatic symbolic gesture during the national anthem, and producing a video to announce it ahead of time.
The game is scheduled at 1 p.m. ET in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
During the NFL season opener Thursday night between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, the Chiefs players stood for the anthem, while the Texans stayed in the locker room. When the two teams locked arms on the field as social justice messages were displayed on the scoreboard before kickoff, some fans booed during a moment of silence.
"I didn't fully understand that," Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said of the booing. "There was no flag involved. There was nothing other than two teams coming together to show unity."


theblaze--2020-09-11--Billboards in Austin, Texas, warn drivers that the city defunded police: 'Enter at your own risk'

Billboards in Austin , Texas , warn drivers that the city defunded police : 'Enter at your own risk '

A pair of billboards along Interstate 35 near Austin, Texas, warn incoming drivers to take the necessary precautions after the city council voted to cut funding to the Austin police budget last month.
The billboards, put up by the Texas Municipal Police Association, state, "Warning!!! Austin defunded police. Enter at your own risk" and "Limited support next 20 miles," KXAN-TV reported.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the police group said the billboards are simply intended to raise public awareness about the Austin City Council's decision to defund police, which they call a "reckless act" and a "political stunt" that will do "nothing but endanger the people of Austin."
"As the largest police association in Texas, it is our duty and responsibility to stand up for the brave men and woman of the APD, as well as the other law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction within the city limits which will have less of APDs resources to depend on, and to raise public awareness of the dangers of defunding not just Austin, but any city across the U.S.," the group added in the post.
The billboards received praise from several Republican state leaders such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who also called the city's decision to defund police a "dangerous" one that "purposefully made our capital city less safe."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also tweeted out news with the hashtag #TexasBacksTheBlue.
Last month, the Austin City Council unanimously voted to cut its police department budget by $150 million, reallocating funds to various social programs aimed at violence prevention, food access, and abortion access.
"This budget responds to concerns expressed all over the community and embodies our values as a city. New investment is focused on the underlying causes of crime," Austin Mayor Steve Adler wrote on Twitter last month, defending the city's moves.
The decision came even as violent crime is on the rise in Austin. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Democrat-run Texas city led the nation in percentage increase in total homicides compared to last year, surpassing cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In a conversation with KXAN, Kevin Lawrence, executive director of TMPA, said, "The safety of Austin citizens and visitors has never been more at risk from dangerous policies propagated by their own locally elected officials."
He added that his organization backs supports Gov. Abbott's consideration of legislation that would place the Austin Police Department under state control.
Abbott has also weighed freezing any city's ability to increase property taxes as a way to punish its decision to defund police.


theblaze--2020-09-11--UPDATED: Netflix encourages viewers to see 'Cuties' — featuring disturbing scenes of sexualization o

UPDATED: Netflix encourages viewers to see 'Cuties' — featuring disturbing scenes of sexualization of young children — because it's a 'social commentary against the sexualization of young children'

UPDATED : Netflix encourages viewers to see 'Cuties ' — featuring disturbing scenes of sexualization of young children — because @ @ @ @ @ against the sexualization of young children '

Netflix has broken its silence on the calls for a boycott against the streaming giant for its promotion of the highly controversial film "Cuties."
In a statement to TheBlaze, a spokesperson encouraged people who care about issues such as the sexualization of children to watch the film.
What are the details?
In a statement to TheBlaze, a spokesperson for the streaming giant said, "Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. It's an award winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we'd encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie."
"Cuties" is an award-winning French film that centers around four 11-year-old girls in a "sensual dance" troupe and is rated TV-MA in the U.S. — for mature audiences only.
So far, more than 608,000 people have signed a Change.org petition titled "Cancel Netflix Subscription."
The film has also prompted hashtag #CancelNetflix to trend on social media.
'Lawfully defined as pedophilia'
The film, according to its IMDB page at one point, features "female breast nudity of a minor," "shots of breast, bums, and spread crotches of scantily clad" little girls.
Another apparently deleted parental warning added, "During one of the many highly sexualized & erotic dance scenes that purposefully exploit & objectify numerous scantily clad under age girls, one of the female child dancers lifts up her cropped top to fully display her bare breast. This is lawfully defined as pedophilia and can be extremely distressing to many viewers."
Yet another warning read, "An 11 year old [sic] girl watches a female rap music video where naked women role play through dance, both heterosexual & lesbian sex acts. An 11 year old [sic] female dance group then mimics these sexual moves on themselves and on each other while the camera zooms in on their sexual body parts as they erotically writher [sic]. This can be highly distressing to many viewers."
Company is 'desensitizing millions of viewers'
This is the second time in as many months that the film stirred up a heavy social media response.
In August, Netflix took fire after debuting a concerning trailer and poster for the film, which clearly sexualized the young actresses.
At the time, Netflix issued an apology, saying, "We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We've now updated the pictures and description."
In a Thursday statement, Parents Television Council program director Melissa Henson said, "Although there is a danger that little girls will be attracted to this film, the far greater risk is the way this film normalizes the sexualization of little girls. [Netflix] is desensitizing millions of viewers at home by asking them to be entertained by it."
Update Sept. 11, 2020 2:25 PM ET: A spokesperson for Netflix tells TheBlaze, "There is no underage nudity in this film."


theblaze--2020-09-12--'American Atheists' outraged at Betsy DeVos' new rule defending religious liberty at colleges

'American Atheists ' outraged at Betsy DeVos ' new rule defending religious liberty at colleges They want to force Christian @ @ @ @ @ atheist members

The American Atheists organization released a statement outraged at a decision made by Betsy DeVos, the secretary of Education, aimed at defending religious liberty at colleges and universities.
The group released the statement on Thursday condemning DeVos and the Trump administration.
"The regulation requires public and private colleges and universities to fund discriminatory religious groups that discriminate against would-be members. Under this new rule, the Department would especially privilege the speech and activities of religious student groups rather than applying the law neutrally," the group claimed.
Vice president for legal and policy at American Atheists Allison Gill gave an example of the discrimination they claimed would be sanctioned under the new rule.
"If it comes out that a student is LGBTQ, a single mother, or had an abortion, DeVos's rule would allow the group to eject the student, discriminating against that person, all while receiving funding from taxpayers and other students through the public university. Such a policy would silence dissenters and discourage students from being open about their different identities, weakening free speech on college campuses," said Gill.
The president of American Atheists added that the rule would allow Christians to prevent gays, atheists, and other dissidents from joining their groups.
"What DeVos is really doing is cloistering off religious students from the existence of atheists, religious minorities, and LGBTQ people, and trying to force all students to remain in their ideological bubbles," said Nick Fish.
"That's not free speech. That's a multiplication of echo chambers," he added.
"If student groups want to turn away prospective members because of who they are, they can do so on their own dime. Taxpayers and other students shouldn't be on the hook for funding this discrimination," Fish concluded.
Many religious groups and other free speech advocates praised the Devos rule.
"These regulations hold public institutions accountable for protecting the First Amendment rights of students and student organizations," said DeVos on Wednesday.
Critics of the Trump administration have also condemned DeVos for her efforts in trying to reopen schools during the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's more about religious liberty in the Trump administration:


theblaze--2020-09-13--Gallup: Americans' opinion of the sports industry has plummeted in the past year

Gallup : Americans ' opinion of the sports industry has plummeted in the past year More people had a positive @ @ @ @ @ than sports industry

Americans' opinion of the sports industry has plunged in the past year, according to a recent Gallup poll. Of the 25 U.S. industry sectors examined, only the federal government (-20) and the pharmaceutical industry (-15) had a worse net negative rating than the sports industry (-10). In fact, more people had a very positive or somewhat positive view on pharmaceuticals (34) than the sports industry (30).
A two-week polling sample from August 2019 was compared to a two-week sample in August 2020, and Americans' opinion of the sports industry declined drastically. There was a drop of 15 points in people who had a very or somewhat positive view of the sports industry, which edged out the travel industry that fell 11 points for the bottom spot.
Based on the recent survey of 1,031 American adults, only 30% of people view the sports industry in a positive light, compared to 40% of Americans who have a negative point of view. In 2019, 45% of Americans held positive feelings for the sports industry and only 25% viewed it negatively.
The nosedive in favorability comes as sports leagues have embraced social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter. The backlash is evident in political bases with positive views from Republicans crashing from +11 in 2019 to -35 in 2020, a devastating 46-point drop. Independents are also shunning sports; going from +26 in 2019 to -10 in 2020, a significant 36-point decrease. Democrats saw a slight decrease from +16 positive rating to a +11 rating.
Non-whites Americans' positive opinions of the sports industry plummeted from +51 last year to only +16 this year, a 35-point decline. White Americans went from +4 in 2019 to -22 in 2020, a 26-point drop in positive outlook.
"Sports has been acutely affected by the twin events steering news and culture in 2020: the pandemic and the renewed movement for racial justice," Gallup wrote. "The sports industry's relationship with fans has been disrupted by the need to shrink its seasons and schedules and play to empty venues as a means of keeping fans and players safe."
"At the same time, the greater social and political activism of players and, in some cases now, coaching staffs and entire leagues appears to have turned off Americans who disagree with their messages or the way they express them," the article read. "The net effect at this point has been negative for the industry's image."
TV ratings also show fans' frustrations in sports this year. The NFL suffered a double-digit ratings drop for its season opener that featured an overwhelming amount of social justice activism.
NBA ratings are down 20% during the playoffs. One poll found that 38% of fans are not watching the NBA because it's "too political."


theblaze--2020-09-13--Potential Joe Biden blunder raises questions about possible teleprompter use

During an appearance on a late-night talk show , Joe Biden may have accidentally revealed that he uses a teleprompter .
The Democratic presidential nominee appeared on `` The Late Late Show with James Corden '' on April 21 .
During the virtual appearance from Biden 's basement , an eagle-eyed viewer noticed an intriguing detail .
Biden displayed several framed photographs of his family .
Biden shared a very large framed photo of himself with his two sons , Hunter and Beau , when they were in college .
When the former vice president held up the frame to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to be the text of a teleprompter shows up on the glass of the picture frame .
GOP Rapid response Director Steve Guest shared a screen capture of the video on Twitter with the caption : `` That reflection…Joe Biden was using a teleprompter for an interview with James Corden . ''
There appears to be green and blue text in the reflection .
TheBlaze reached out to the Biden campaign to verify if the former vice president used a teleprompter in his interview with James Corden .
At the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond .
The viral video of a possible teleprompter comes only days after Biden campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo refused to answer the question if Biden uses a teleprompter during TV interviews .
Fox News ' Bret Baier asked Ducklo , `` Has Joe Biden ever used a teleprompter during local interviews or to answer Q & A with supporters ? ''
Ducklo responded , `` Bret , we 're not gon na — this is straight from the Trump campaign talking points . ''
Baier retorted , `` Well , yeah , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` What it does , Bret , is it 's trying to distract the American people . ''
`` They 're using it .
They talk about it every day , '' Baier asked Ducklo twice , `` Can you say yes or no ? ''
`` They talk about it every day because they do n't have a coherent argument for why Donald Trump deserves reelection , deserves four more years , '' Ducklo said .
`` We know that he lied to the American people , we know that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they are desperate to throw anything they can against the wall to try to distract from that fact . ''
`` I 'm not going to allow the Trump campaign to funnel their questions through Fox News and get me to respond to that , '' Ducklo said on Fox News ' `` Special Report . ''
Last week , reporters were criticized for giving Biden easy softball questions during a rare press conference .
President Donald Trump said the easy questions `` were meant for a child . ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a disgrace , '' Trump added .
`` And then I watch Biden getting asked questions that are really meant for a child to answer , anybody could answer .
And I look at the level of question that you people ask .
I mean honestly , it 's disgraceful . ''

During an appearance on a late-night talk show, Joe Biden may have accidentally revealed that he uses a teleprompter.
The Democratic presidential nominee appeared on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" on April 21. During the virtual appearance from Biden's basement, an eagle-eyed viewer noticed an intriguing detail.
Biden displayed several framed photographs of his family. Biden shared a very large framed photo of himself with his two sons, Hunter and Beau, when they were in college. When the former vice president held up the frame to the camera, a reflection of what appears to be the text of a teleprompter shows up on the glass of the picture frame.
GOP Rapid response Director Steve Guest shared a screen capture of the video on Twitter with the caption: "That reflection…Joe Biden was using a teleprompter for an interview with James Corden." There appears to be green and blue text in the reflection.
TheBlaze reached out to the Biden campaign to verify if the former vice president used a teleprompter in his interview with James Corden. At the time of publication, the Biden campaign did not respond.
The viral video of a possible teleprompter comes only days after Biden campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo refused to answer the question if Biden uses a teleprompter during TV interviews.
Fox News' Bret Baier asked Ducklo, "Has Joe Biden ever used a teleprompter during local interviews or to answer Q&A with supporters?"
Ducklo responded, "Bret, we're not gonna — this is straight from the Trump campaign talking points." Baier retorted, "Well, yeah, they're using it."
Ducklo replied, "What it does, Bret, is it's trying to distract the American people."
"They're using it. They talk about it every day," Baier asked Ducklo twice, "Can you say yes or no?"
"They talk about it every day because they don't have a coherent argument for why Donald Trump deserves reelection, deserves four more years," Ducklo said. "We know that he lied to the American people, we know that he has not shown leadership during this crisis and they are desperate to throw anything they can against the wall to try to distract from that fact."
"I'm not going to allow the Trump campaign to funnel their questions through Fox News and get me to respond to that," Ducklo said on Fox News' "Special Report."
Last week, reporters were criticized for giving Biden easy softball questions during a rare press conference. President Donald Trump said the easy questions "were meant for a child."
"I look at that and I think it's a disgrace," Trump added. "And then I watch Biden getting asked questions that are really meant for a child to answer, anybody could answer. And I look at the level of question that you people ask. I mean honestly, it's disgraceful."


theblaze--2020-09-12--29 dead including 2 children, dozens missing from West Coast wildfires; President Trump to visit fir

29 dead including 2 children, dozens missing from West Coast wildfires; President Trump to visit fire-ravaged California

Heartbreaking story of two boys dying from the devastating wildfires .

Wildfires have devastated states on the West Coast; at least 29 people have been killed, dozens of others missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.
The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 97 large fires have burned 4.7 million acres across the western states. Over 29,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the wildfires, along with 2,200 fire engines and 103 aircraft. There are evacuation orders in place due to 40 large fires in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) noted that nearly 900,000 acres had burned by Friday. "In the last 10 years, we see an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year. We've seen that nearly double in the past three days," Brown said.
Approximately 500,000 in Oregon have evacuated or have been instructed to be prepared to evacuate, which is more than 10% of the state's population.
Oregon's emergency management director, Andrew Phelps, told MSNBC that the state is preparing for a "mass fatality incident" because of the wildfires. "There are going to be a number of fatalities, folks who just couldn't get warning in time and evacuate their homes and get to safety," Phelps said.
Wyatt Tofte, a 12-year-old boy from Lyons, Oregon, and his 71-year-old grandmother Peggy Mosso died while trying to escape the fire. The boy took shelter in the family car, but the flames surrounded him. A family spokeswoman said Wyatt was found by himself in a car, and the family's dog was found dead in his lap.
A record 3.2 million acres in California have been scorched since last month, and about 4,000 structures have been destroyed. The death toll in California from the wildfires reached 20 on Saturday.
A 16-year-old boy was among those where were killed by the wildfires in California. Josiah Williams died while trying to escape a fast-moving inferno in Berry Creek in Northern California.
"He was alone, terrified, and ran for his life," the boy's mother, Jessica Williams, told KOVR reporter Velena Jones. "My son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone, and it kills me thinking about what he was going through."
Cal Fire stated that five of the 20 largest California wildfires in history have occurred in 2020, including the biggest ever, the August Complex Fire. The largest California fire in history is located about a two-hour drive northwest of Sacramento. The August Complex Fire has burned 746,000 acres after merging with other large fires. The blaze is currently 25% contained.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that he would visit fire-ravaged California. The president will travel to McClellan Park in Sacramento County on Monday to be briefed on the catastrophic wildfires.
"Since mid-August, President Trump and Governor Newsom have spoken by phone and the White House and FEMA have remained in constant contact with State and local officials throughout the response to these natural disasters. The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported emergency response," Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.
On Friday, President Trump tweeted about the wildfires obliterating the West Coast.
"THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oregon, and Washington," he wrote. "I have approved 37 Stafford Act Declarations, including Fire Management Grants to support their brave work. We are with them all the way!"
Authorities have arrested four people for suspected arson in the historic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington. Two Oregon men were arrested and accused of looting homes that were forced to evacuate.


theblaze--2020-09-12--Bill Maher shreds CNN correspondent on live television for defending riots, looting, downplaying vio

Bill Maher shreds CNN correspondent on live television for defending riots, looting, downplaying violence

Comedian Bill Maher castigated former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin on Friday after she appeared to dismiss recent violence and unrest erupting across the country following George Floyd 's death .
Yellin , author of the novel `` Savage News '' and founder of # NewsNotNoise on Instagram , appeared on the show along with Peter Hamby , host of Snapchat 's political show `` Good Luck America '' and contributing writer for Vanity Fair .
What are the details ?
Yellin appeared on Friday 's `` Real Time with Bill Maher , '' where she insisted that nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Portland , Oregon .
`` I 'm not down with this 'Property 's on the table as something we can just take because things are not right , ' '' Maher said of protests and looting .
Yellin responded , `` Where is the mass destruction of property happening right now ? ''
prompting Maher to incredulously fire back , `` Do you watch the news ? ''
`` If you look at Portland , it 's two square blocks ! ''
Yellin insisted .
From that point , it was clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a word in edgewise .
`` There is a view , it is in the media , '' he told her .
`` Please .
I know you 've seen it .
Do n't look at me like I am making this up — that somehow this is a justifiable approach . ''
Yellin refused to depart from her talking points , and feebly responded , `` Is n't pain part of protest ?
I mean , is n't that what ... `` '' So you 're part of this , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' He later added , `` I saw this guy at a Papa John 's yelling through his broken glass , 'You are going to elect Trump and I 'm just trying to feed my family . '
I do n't think his view is just , like , ' C'est la vie , it 's just property . '
'' According to Deadline , `` Real Time with Bill Maher '' is believed to be the very first talk show to bring back live audiences following the COVID-19 production shutdown earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production permitted no more than 25 audience members in the studio during a live taping .

Comedian Bill Maher castigated former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin on Friday after she appeared to dismiss recent violence and unrest erupting across the country following George Floyd's death.
Yellin, author of the novel "Savage News" and founder of #NewsNotNoise on Instagram, appeared on the show along with Peter Hamby, host of Snapchat's political show "Good Luck America" and contributing writer for Vanity Fair.
What are the details?
Yellin appeared on Friday's "Real Time with Bill Maher," where she insisted that nationwide violence was concentrated in a small area in Portland, Oregon.
"I'm not down with this 'Property's on the table as something we can just take because things are not right,'" Maher said of protests and looting.
Yellin responded, "Where is the mass destruction of property happening right now?" prompting Maher to incredulously fire back, "Do you watch the news?"
"If you look at Portland, it's two square blocks!" Yellin insisted.
From that point, it was clear that Maher wouldn't let her get a word in edgewise.
"There is a view, it is in the media," he told her. "Please. I know you've seen it. Don't look at me like I am making this up — that somehow this is a justifiable approach."
Yellin refused to depart from her talking points, and feebly responded, "Isn't pain part of protest? I mean, isn't that what ... "
"So you're part of this," he answered. "You believe it!"
He later added, "I saw this guy at a Papa John's yelling through his broken glass, 'You are going to elect Trump and I'm just trying to feed my family.' I don't think his view is just, like, 'C'est la vie, it's just property.'"
Anything else?
According to Deadline, "Real Time with Bill Maher" is believed to be the very first talk show to bring back live audiences following the COVID-19 production shutdown earlier this year.
The outlet notes that the production permitted no more than 25 audience members in the studio during a live taping.
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-09-12--Florida restaurant responds to backlash after Kamala Harris shows up for lunch

Florida restaurant responds to backlash after Kamala Harris shows up for lunch 'We do n't use the company for political @ @

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) visited Florida on Thursday, where the Democratic vice presidential nominee stirred up controversy after visiting a Latin restaurant in Doral.
What are the details?
According to WTJV-TV, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, showed up for lunch to Amaze Latin Flavors during her campaign visit.
Her visit prompted much criticism, and some local residents ended up calling for a boycott of the eatery.
The restaurant, however, said that it had no idea Harris planned to visit.
"We don't use the company for political reasons," owner Andres Garcia told the station. "In respect to our stakeholders, we would not support that. If they would ask we say no, we are not going to do it."
Garcia didn't even know Harris was at the restaurant until he saw Facebook users calling for a boycott of the eatery on the social media platform.
"I learned the hard way sometimes when we look into the social media and we take it for granted what people say on social media," he said.
A spokesperson for the Biden for President Florida campaign told WTJV, "Sen. Harris and Doug greatly appreciated the chance to stop by and pick up delicious arepas and talk to local Doralzuela residents."
According to ABC News, Harris visited the battleground state to "court black and Jewish voters" ahead of her first in-person campaign event in Wisconsin.
The outlet reported that Harris met Biden campaign surrogate Ana Navarro when she visited the restaurant.
Anything else?
During a panel discussion later in the day, Harris said that President Donald Trump acted in "political self-interest" after a panelist said her community was negatively impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris said, "[O]ur country is grieving the loss of jobs, the loss of life, the loss of normalcy, the loss of consistency, and, in many cases, the loss of hope, and Joe [Biden] and I talk about that all the time. ... [W]e need leadership that sees and recognizes the suffering and is prompted then to be guided by the truth and fact, and not what is in their political self-interest which is what we have seen in Donald Trump."


theblaze--2020-09-12--Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California, Oregon, and Washingto

Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California, Oregon, and Washington wildfires

Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California , Oregon , and Washington wildfires

Authorities have arrested at least four people for suspected arson in the massive and still growing wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.
What are the details?
According to reports, authorities in those states say that at least four of the fires are considered suspicious.
California authorities arrested suspect Anita Esquivel for allegedly intentionally setting fires along U.S. 101. She was booked into the Monterey County Jail on arson charges.
Oregon authorities also arrested Michael Jarrod Bakkela, who lived in the woods of Oregon on two counts of arson, 15 counts of criminal mischief, and 14 counts of reckless endangerment.
Oregon Live reports that Bakkela is reportedly responsible for setting one of two major wildfires in the state, which has killed dozens and displaced hundreds.
Oregon State Fire Marshal's office spokesperson Rich Tyler added that the fire Bakkela reportedly set is considered to be one of two origins of the Almeda fire.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office PIO Mike Moran told ABC News that the fire has caused "significant damage."
"There are numerous homes, many of which are burnt completely, some are just heavily damaged, that are part of the 15 counts of criminal mischief," he said.
According to Oregon Live, authorities have told area residents to prepare for a "mass fatality incident" due to the fires.
Washington authorities arrested two unrelated suspects who reportedly set small fires in the brush in two different areas of freeway.
CNN on Thursday reported that the wildfires across the western states torched more than 4 million acres, which is roughly the size of the state of New Jersey.
Anything else?
The FBI on Friday released a statement about reports that "extremists" were responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon.
"FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon," the statement rad. "With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control. Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources."


theblaze--2020-09-12--Men accused of looting homes in Oregon's wildfire evacuation zone take deputies on crazy chase throu

Men accused of looting homes in Oregon's wildfire evacuation zone take deputies on crazy chase through golf course

Men accused of looting homes in Oregon 's wildfire evacuation zone take deputies on crazy chase through golf course

Deputies have arrested two men who they believe were looting homes in Oregon that had been evacuated due to the deadly wildfires on the West Coast.
The Beachie Creek Fire, which is smoldering in Clackamas and Marion Counties south of Portland, has burned 186,856 acres. In Marion County, officials have ordered 13,764 structures to be evacuated because they are at a Level 3 evacuation, which means "evacuate now" because there is current or imminent danger for the area.
With so many homes having been evacuated because of the massive fires, two Oregon men apparently tried to capitalize on the devastating natural disaster. Anthony Travis Bodda, 21, and Alexander Justin Jones, 36, were accused by police of looting evacuated homes in Marion County and taking deputies on a wild high-speed chase.
On Thursday, firefighting crews alerted police to a suspicious van in the towns of Detroit and Idahna, and were concerned that the vehicle could be involved with recent looting in the area.
Deputies responded just after 10 a.m. on Thursday, and the van drove off "at a high rate of speed." Deputies from Marion and Linn Counties, as well as Oregon State Police, pursued the van in the Beachie Creek wildfire evacuation zone. The men attempted to ditch police by driving through a golf course.
Police used spike strips to disable the vehicle, then the men jumped out of the van and ran through the golf course. A police dog chased down the suspects. One was attempting to break into a home to escape the cops when he was apprehended. The other man was also tracked down by a K9 unit as he was entering a goat shed, according to police.
Bodda and Jones were both booked at the Marion County Jail and charged with attempted theft in the first degree, burglary in the second degree, felony elude, misdemeanor elude, reckless driving, interfering with a peace officer, possession of a burglary tool, reckless endangering, criminal mischief in the first degree, and criminal trespass in the second degree.
Sheriff officials said several stolen items were found inside the van. Bodda and Jones are also responsible for $1,500 in damage to the golf course, according to Fox News.
"I am disappointed that while in a state of emergency these people would victimize members of our community," Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said. "The women and men of the Marion County Sheriff's Office are committed to holding people accountable if they chose to victimize residents from our evacuated areas."
He added that his officers would continue to patrol the evacuated areas to prevent any looting.
People in Oregon have said that their homes were looted during the deadly wildfires.
"Everything had been rifled through," said Christy Beaver from Junction City. "Drawers were open. Stuff was all over. Credit cards and checkbooks were missing. We're not sure what else is missing because we haven't been able to go back up there."
Blue River resident Marcie Costa said that she lost her home in the Holiday Farm Fire. Her neighbor's home survived the fire, but possession worth more than $1,000 were stolen, including a generator.
"We've suffered enough these people have suffered enough," Costa said. "We don't need to be victimized anymore from someone who don't give a stuff about us."
"We understand that OSP and the Sheriff's Department are doing the best that they can," Costa said. "But they're spread so thin."
Rumors of widespread looting caused 300 people to attempt to return to their homes inside the fiery evacuation zone. The concerned residents left the Super 8 hotel in Redmond on Thursday to inspect their properties for fire damage and looting.
"All across the region, we are asking folks to please respect those closures," said Kassidy Kern, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service. "Not just for the security of your personal property, but also for firefighters working in the area."


theblaze--2020-09-12--ESPN will televise NFL players' protesting, singing of black national anthem on Monday Night Footbal

ESPN will televise NFL players' protesting, singing of black national anthem on Monday Night Football

ESPN will televise NFL players ' protesting , singing of black national anthem on Monday Night Football Not shying away @ @

ESPN will televise any NFL players protesting the national anthem beginning on Monday — and will also feature the singing of the "black national anthem," according to reports.
What are the details?
Monday Night Football's Monday debut will likely be chock-full of protesters and will have two songs.
According to Front Office Sports, ESPN — which typically shows the honor guard and the singing of the national anthem — will have a different format this season.
The network also reportedly has plans to televise the singing of the "black national anthem," a song called "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."
ESPN Executive Vice President of Event and Studio Production Stephanie Druley told reporters, "Our policy is to cover the anthem when it's newsworthy. That's not going to change. We are going to continue as we've done with the NBA and the WNBA. We will cover social justice movements, actions, as they happen. We're not going to shy away from that."
Druley added, "Look, we're going to keep our main rule, which is when it intersects with sports, we're going to cover it, and look, we don't see the social justice movement as being political. It's social justice."
When asked if viewers would be able to see the playing of the national anthem, Druley said she didn't know.
"We will make a judgment call every week," she responded. "But I can tell you that Week 1, that first game, you will see the anthem — and you will see 'Lift Ev'ry Voice.'"
'The country is going through a lot of political situations'
According to the report, NFL players will "be encouraged to salute victims of police brutality by placing details with their names on their helmets."
"The league will also stencil social justice statements such as 'End Racism' and 'It Takes All of Us' in end zones this season," the report continued. "The league will play 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' before each game during opening weekend."
On Tuesday, CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus issued similar remarks.
"We don't forget the fact that the country is going through a lot of political situations with Black Lives Matter, social justice and social injustice," he said. "We're not going to ignore that. Obviously, we're going to address it in our pregame show, with interviews and features. But the coverage of the game, once we get to our game coverage, will obviously be focusing on presenting the action on the field. But we don't forget and we don't ignore those other two elements."
McManus pointed out that a delicate balance needs to be struck with regard to this highly unique season's viewership.
"We need to thread the needle just the right way. Because there are people who are tuning in just to hear about football. So we need to make sure that we don't overdo the emphasis on what's going on in our country," McManus explained. "But we're not going to ignore it. Our announcers on-site at the games are not going to condone and they're not going to condemn what's going on. They're going to report it — and they're going to move on."
On Monday, the New York Giants will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tennessee Titans will square off against the Denver Broncos.


theblaze--2020-09-12--US federal judge orders two dozen Saudi officials and royals to testify in 9/11 attacks lawsuit

US federal judge orders two dozen Saudi officials and royals to testify in 9/11 attacks lawsuit Family members of Sept. @ @ @ @ @ if Saudi Arabia was complicit in 9/11 terror attacks

Two dozen Saudi Arabian officials, including members of the royal family, may have to testify about their knowledge of the events leading up to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A federal judge ordered 24 current and former Saudi officials to be available for depositions for a lawsuit brought by family members who lost loved ones during the 9/11 attacks.
What are the details?
Federal Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in New York unveiled the ruling on Thursday, the eve of the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The judge ordered Saudi officials to testify and reveal what they knew before the terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. Judge Netburn said that Saudi Arabia officials must provide depositions and were not protected by diplomatic immunity.
The judge asked that members of the royal family testify, including Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who was a former intelligence chief in Saudi Arabia and was the kingdom's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005.
Judge Netburn wants Bandar to testify because of his possible ties with Fahad al-Thumairy, a Saudi consular official based in Los Angeles and the imam of the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles.
According to the 9/11 Commission Report, al-Thumairy was "reputed to be an Islamic fundamentalist and a strict adherent to orthodox Wahhabi doctrine" and "appears to have associated with a particularly radical faction within the community of local worshippers, and had a network of contacts in other cities in the United States."
He also reportedly had associations with 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi.
Judge Netburn noted that court documents obtained during the course of discovery "indicates that Prince Bandar likely has firsthand knowledge … [of] the role that al-Thumairy was assigned by the kingdom and the diplomatic cover" provided to him, as reported in Yahoo News.
Judge Netburn also called for Bandar's longtime chief of staff, Ahmed al-Qattan, to testify. Court documents show that al-Qattan "likely has unique firsthand knowledge of al-Jarrah and al-Thumairy's relevant pre-9/11 activity and any post-9/11 ratification of their conduct."
Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah was a foreign ministry official within the Saudi Embassy, who oversaw the activities of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Until last year, al-Jarrah worked in the Saudi Embassy in Morocco. In May, the FBI accidentally revealed al-Jarrah's name as the Saudi official suspected of directing "crucial support" to two al-Qaeda hijackers involved in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Saleh bin Abdulaziz, who served as Minister of Islamic Affairs at the time of the attacks and still works for the Saudi government, was also asked to be available for depositions.
Some family members of Sept. 11 victims claim that Saudi officials were complicit with al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden before the commercial airliner attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks, 15 were Saudi citizens. The families are seeking billions of dollars in damages. The Saudi government has denied involvement in the terrorist attacks.
"This is the most important thing to happen other than JASTA being passed letting us sue Saudi Arabia," the plaintiffs' attorney, James Kreindler, said on Friday.
"We now get a chance to move up the totem pole of Saudi officials," Kreindler stated. "We can begin unraveling the entire plot of Saudi officials working with al-Qaeda commit mass murder. We can start uncovering what they know."
"We want to do discovery into everything Saudi officials did in the United States," he said.
Kreindler said he hopes depositions begin "as soon as possible," preferably starting within "weeks or months, not years."
"This is a game changer," said Brett Eagleson, whose father was killed in the attacks on the Twin Towers and is a spokesperson for the families involved in the 9/11 lawsuit. "This is the most significant ruling we've had to date in this lawsuit. And to have this on the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, you couldn't script this any better. The families are elated."
Michael Kellogg, an attorney for Saudi Arabia, declined to comment on Friday, according to the Washington Post.


theblaze--2020-09-12--Teacher under fire for controversial homework assignment about black people killed by police: 'Say t

Teacher under fire for controversial homework assignment about black people killed by police: 'Say their name'

Teacher under fire for controversial homework assignment about black people killed by police : 'Say their name' 'These students are @ @ @

An Indian Head, Maryland, school teacher is under fire after he reportedly directed students to list names of black people killed by police as a homework assignment.
What are the details?
Henry E. Lackey High School teacher John Folse — a special education teacher, according to The Southern Maryland Chronicle — reportedly issued the assignment through the Charles County Public Schools' online learning portal on Wednesday.
The homework assignment — which directed students to list the names of "black people killed by police" — drew immediate criticism.
Titled "Say Their Names," a portion of the assignment reads, "Write a list of black people killed by police since Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. You need to write their name, the date of their death, and the place."
"For extra credit," the assignment continues, "write a sentence or two about the circumstances of their deaths."
A snapshot of the assignment appeared on a local Facebook group, where it reportedly sparked a vast response.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Charles County Public Schools issued a statement on the assignment.
"A topic such as the one raise in this assignment is inappropriate as a stand-alone written assignment," the spokesperson said. "The teacher presented the assignment without background, lesson plans, or in-class discussion guided by a teacher."
The statement added, "Social justice topics are a meaningful way to engage students in the curriculum. Charles County Public Schools uses the curriculum to guide the discussion of social justice topics. Teachers write and review lesson plans with fellow educators and content specialists based on the Maryland standards. Teachers also receive training on how to engage students in discussions about current events that might involve sensitive issues."
Regardless, the district insisted that it encourages "thoughtful discussion of current events and expect teachers to approach these lessons with sensitivity for all viewpoints."
According to WUSA-TV, one parent said, "These students are still children. Yes, they are people who are about to go into the real world and that type of thing, but this is triggering for adults when these types of things happen. So, are children, although almost adults, able to handle this psychologically?"


theblaze--2020-09-12--Trevor Noah says gender reveal parties are dangerous, should only happen when kids are old enough to

Trevor Noah says gender reveal parties are dangerous, should only happen when kids are old enough to choose gender. Ted Cruz hits back with savage burn.

Trevor Noah says gender reveal parties are dangerous , should only happen when kids are old enough to choose gender @ @ @ @ @ with savage burn .

"The Daily Show" host and comedian Trevor Noah says gender reveal parties should be obsolete, as children clearly aren't able to choose their genders as babies.
What are the details?
In a Tuesday monologue, Noah pointed to the California fire sparked by pyrotechnics at a gender reveal party. The fire, dubbed the El Dorado Fire, has burned more than 13,000 acres at the time of this writing.
"At this point, 'gender reveal party' is now one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations," Noah joked during the monologue. "It's ISIS, al-Qaeda, Taylor Swift fans, and gender reveals parties."
The Comedy Central host added, "Aside from all the damage it can cause, celebrating a baby's genitalia is starting to feel very outdated. Given everything we're learning about gender, gender reveal parties should only happen when the child is old enough to know their actual gender — and to pitch in some cash for the fire damage."
He also suggested that parents "do something that helps the situation" following the fire, suggesting that expectant parents attempt to douse the El Dorado fire with pink-colored water if the child is a girl, or blue-tinted water if the child is a boy.
In response, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that many liberal men simply "never grow balls."
In a Friday tweet, Cruz on Twitter linked a tweet from The Daily Wire, which reported that Noah was apparently "offended" by gender reveal parties.
He wrote, "A fair point. Many liberal males never grow balls[.]"
'Nothing less than child abuse'
Cruz has been outspoken about his stance on biological gender, children, and parenting, and in 2019, said that parents allowing children to transition genders was a "horrifying & tragic" notion to behold.
In a tweet, the Texas Republican wrote, "This is horrifying & tragic. For a parent to subject such a young child to life-altering hormone blockers to medically transition their sex is nothing less than child abuse."


theblaze--2020-09-12--Iran executes champion wrestler despite pleas from President Trump and Dana White to spare his life

Iran executes champion wrestler despite pleas from President Trump and Dana White to spare his life The wrestler was convicted @ @ @ @ @ protests , but his family say he was tortured into making a false confession

An Iranian champion wrestler has been executed despite international outcries and pleas from President Donald Trump and UFC president Dana White to spare his life.
Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Greco-Roman wrestler, participated in anti-government protests against Iran's Shia theocracy in 2018. Iranian authorities accused Afkari of stabbing a water supply company security guard in the southern city of Shiraz during the civil unrest.
Iranian officials claim that Afkari's mobile phone had been in the area where Hassan Turkman was murdered. Authorities alleged there is surveillance footage of him walking down a street, talking on his phone, near the crime scene. Iranian authorities claimed Afkari stabbed Turkman in the back over a "personal dispute," without elaborating.
In July, Afkari was convicted in the murder of Turkman, and hit with other charges. A provincial court in Shiraz sentenced Afkari to death for the murder.
The wrestler's brothers Vahid Afkari and Habib Afkari were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison, respectively, as well as 74 lashes for each man. The Afkari brothers were charged with 20 different crimes, including "attending illegal gatherings, assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security and insulting the supreme leader." Iran's Supreme Court rejected a review of the case in late August.
Iran broadcast the wrestler's confession on state TV last week. The mother of the brothers, Behieh Namjou, claimed that the three men confessed to the killing under torture. She pleaded for mercy from authorities for her children.
Afkari's death sentence caused international outcry for the wrestler to be spared from the death penalty.
"These brothers are the latest victims of Iran's deeply flawed criminal justice system, and their case is further evidence that Iranian courts systematically rely on 'confessions' obtained under torture and other ill-treatment to secure criminal convictions, in contravention of international law," said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
"Amnesty International is calling on the international community, including UN human rights bodies and EU member states, to urgently intervene and demand the Iranian authorities immediately reveal the fate and whereabouts of these three brothers and to save Navid Afkari from execution," Eltahawy said on Friday.
Iranian actress and human rights defender Nazanin Boniadi brought awareness to Afkari's case.
UFC President Dana White wrote, "Iran, please spare Navid Afkari."
"This week the New York Times wrote a story about a very famous wrestler from Iran – his name is Navid Afkari," White says in the video. "He went to a peaceful protest in Iran, and he is gonna be executed for that."
"It was brought to my attention. This guys is – first of all he is human being," White continued. "Number two he is one of us, could be any of my fighters."
"The only I thing I thought to do is to call the President [Donald Trump] and see if he could help this man," White revealed. "He said 'let us look into it, we'll talk to my administration and see if there is something we can do to save his life.'"
President Donald Trump pleaded for Iran to not execute Afkari.
"Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai, whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets," President Trump tweeted on Sept. 3. "They were protesting the 'country's worsening economic situation and inflation' To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man's life, and not execute him. Thank you!"
On Tuesday, a global union representing 85,000 athletes called for Iran's expulsion from international sports competitions if it executed Afkari, according to Reuters.
Navid Afkari was executed on Saturday, according to Iranian state media.
"The retaliation sentence against Navid Afkari, the killer of Hassan Turkman, was carried out this morning in Adelabad prison in Shiraz," said the chief justice of Fars province, Kazem Mousavi, on Iranian state TV on Saturday. Mousavi said the execution occurred "after legal procedures were carried out at the insistence of the parents and the family of the victim."
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad wrote, "In a taped message from inside the prison, Navid said: 'If I'm hanged, know that an innocent man has been killed.'"


theblaze--2020-09-12--Burger King mascot, Ronald McDonald share passionate kiss in LGBTQ pride ad: 'We wanted to show that

Burger King mascot, Ronald McDonald share passionate kiss in LGBTQ pride ad: 'We wanted to show that in the end, love always wins'

Burger King mascot , Ronald McDonald share passionate kiss in LGBTQ pride ad : 'We wanted to show that in @ @ @ @ @ wins' That 's one way to make headlines

The Burger King and his McDonald's fast food compatriot, Ronald McDonald, share a kiss in a Pride-themed ad to honor Finland's Helsinki Pride Week.
What are the details?
The Finnish campaign shows the two rivals kissing in an ad titled "Love Conquers All."
The ad, launched by Burger King Finland — partner for Helsinki Pride — is a reflection of the company's values, a spokesperson says.
Burger King Finland's brand manager, Kaisa Kasila, told Adweek, "Burger King has always stood for equality, love, and everyone's right to be just the way they are. The only instance where it might not seem so is when we're bantering with our competition."
Kasila added, "We thought, what a better way to convey our values than by portraying an all-encompassing kiss between Burger King and McDonald. We wanted to show that in the end, love always wins. And we know McDonald's stands for the values we stand for, too."
Fernando Machadao, global chief marketing officer for Restaurant Brands International — a holding company for a variety of fast food corporations including Burger King — lauded the ad in a now-viral tweet.
He wrote, "Proud to see Burger King Finland as the official partner of The Helsinki Pride. Even more proud of our 100% Corporate Equality Index. Congrats to Kaisa from the BK Finland team for such a beautiful execution."
Anything else?
Machado told Adweek that the "impossible kiss" was an illustration that love does, indeed, conquer all.
"Our brand is always bold, edgy, and fun," he said. "So showcasing this 'impossible kiss' is a way to demonstrate that love conquers all. And we hope that 'the other guys' understand that it is actually a celebration of love rather than a competitive statement."
It is unclear at the time of this reporting whether McDonald's is aware of the viral new ad campaign.
TheBlaze has reached out to McDonald's Corporate for comment, and will update the story as necessary.


theblaze--2020-09-12--Tulsi Gabbard flattens Netflix in scathing rebuke over 'Cuties': 'Netflix, you are now complicit' in

Tulsi Gabbard flattens Netflix in scathing rebuke over 'Cuties': 'Netflix, you are now complicit' in child sex trafficking

Tulsi Gabbard flattens Netflix in scathing rebuke over 'Cuties ' : 'Netflix , you are now complicit ' in child @ @ @ @ @ many others , are calling to cancel Netflix

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) says Netflix is complicit in child sex trafficking as the distributor of French award-winning film, "Cuties."
What's a brief history here?
The streaming giant is under fire after releasing the film, which many say is nothing short of pedophilia.
In a statement to TheBlaze, a Netflix spokesperson said that people who care about stomping out child sexualization should watch the film.
"Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children," the spokesperson told TheBlaze on Friday. "It's an award winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we'd encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie."
You can read more about the highly controversial film offering here.
What are the details?
Gabbard — former Democratic presidential candidate and combat veteran — writes, "[C]hild porn 'Cuties' will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade. 1 in 4 victims of trafficking are children. It happened to my friend's 13 year old daughter. Netflix, you are now complicit."
Gabbard closed the tweet with the now-viral hashtag, #CancelNetflix.
Her tweet, less than 12 hours old at the time of this reporting, has received more than 121,000 likes.
Elsewhere in the lengthy thread, Gabbard said that she put her money where her mouth is and cancelled Netflix.
At the time of this reporting, at least 623,000 people have signed a petition encouraging others to cancel Netflix amid the controversy.
A contrary viewpoint
In response to Gabbard's widely liked tweet, Dr. Eugene Gu, CEO and founder of CoolQuit — who boasts more than 500,000 Twitter followers — fired back, "The film Cuties is a social commentary AGAINST child sexualization and exploitation. But social media and the mainstream media is all about Puritanical false accusations because this is America, and this is how we roll."


theblaze--2020-09-13--San Francisco may allow 16-year-olds to vote

San Francisco may allow 16-year-olds to vote Think about how you were when you were 16 and decide if this @ @ @ @ @ not

San Francisco may allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections. The City by the Bay will let residents decide on the new proposition in the November election. Think about how you and your friends were at 16, and decide if this is a prudent decision.
If the proposition passes in November, San Francisco would become the first major American city to enable residents ages 16 and 17 suffrage in municipal elections. There are smaller cities across the country that allow younger teens to vote in local elections, including Takoma Park in Maryland, that in 2013 gave voting rights to 16-year-olds.
San Francisco presented a similar proposal in the 2016 election, but it narrowly failed to get enough votes to pass. The "Youth Voting in Local Elections" measure was denied after 52.1% of people voting against the proposition.
"I really think that Vote 16 will help youth of color in San Francisco establish the habit of voting at an earlier age, and really provide them with the support and the resources that they need to continue building on that habit as they grow older," Crystal Chan, an 18-year-old organizer for Vote 16 SF, told NBC News.
"Lowering the voting age can lead to a long-term increase in voter turnout, bringing more citizens in touch with their government and pushing the government to better serve its people," the Vote 16 SF website reads.
The site claims that factors such as "civic knowledge, political skills, and political interest" don't increase from age 16 to 18. The website also alleges that the teens are "affected by local political issues as much as anyone."
"Strong civics education and a lower voting age would mutually reinforce each other to increase civic engagement," the site alleges.
Nate Hochman, a Republican activist and senior at Colorado College, is against allowing the young teens voting because they don't have experience in knowing "what good governance looks like."
"Sixteen-year-olds — they're sophomores, juniors in high school like they're deeply impressionable. They're largely interested in learning what, you know, their friends are doing and appearing to be cool. And they're not capable of making completely rational decisions about voting," Hochman said. "When are you an adult? When do we trust you to make your own decisions about who you are in the world and making your own way?"
Many neuroscientists and child psychologists agree that the prefrontal cortex, the brain's rational part, isn't fully developed until approximately age 25.
"So the changes that happen between 18 and 25 are a continuation of the process that starts around puberty, and 18 year olds are about halfway through that process," neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt said. "Their prefrontal cortex is not yet fully developed. That's the part of the brain that helps you to inhibit impulses and to plan and organize your behavior to reach a goal."
"Adults think with the prefrontal cortex, the brain's rational part. This is the part of the brain that responds to situations with good judgment and an awareness of long-term consequences," the University of Rochester Medical Center states. "Teens process information with the amygdala. This is the emotional part."
"In teen's brains, the connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making center are still developing—and not always at the same rate," according to the university. "That's why when teens have overwhelming emotional input, they can't explain later what they were thinking. They weren't thinking as much as they were feeling."
In March 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that she was in favor of the voting age being lowered to 16.
"I, myself, personally, I'm not speaking for my caucus, I myself have always been for lowering the voting age to 16," Pelosi said. "I think it's really important to capture the kids when they're in high school, when they're interested in all of this when they're learning about government, to be able to vote."
A week before Pelosi made her comments, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) introduced an amendment to H.R. 1 — the For the People Act— to lower the federal voting age to 16. The bill only received 126 votes, failing to receive a simple majority that would have allowed it to go to the Senate.
In February 2019, Oregon state Sen. Shemia Fagan (D) proposed legislation to lower the state's voting age from 18 to 16. The proposal did not pass.


theblaze--2020-09-13--Michael Moore melts down in unhinged rant, calls Trump 'mass killer,' compares him to Osama bin Lade

Michael Moore melts down in unhinged rant, calls Trump 'mass killer,' compares him to Osama bin Laden

Michael Moore melts down in unhinged rant , calls Trump 'mass killer , ' compares him to Osama bin Laden @ @ @ @ @ allowed 200,000 Americans to die '

Liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore claimed last week that President Donald Trump is a mass murderer, comparing Trump to terrorist Osama bin Laden.
Moore's shocking comments came on the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He made them on an "emergency" episode of his podcast.
What did Moore say?
According to Moore, "no American other than Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his General Robert E. Lee has killed more Americans than Donald J. Trump."
Moore's comments came during a lengthy diatribe about Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Moore claimed Trump is directly responsible for the deaths of Americans who have died from COVID-19.
"Now you can say, 'Well, hey, you know, Trump didn't actually kill them with his own hands.' Yeah, that's true. But I can tell you with a fact that Osama bin Laden did not fly a single one of those godd**m airplanes. So he's innocent? No," Moore said.
"Trump is a mass killer," he claimed.
"Trump stood down and knowingly allowed 200,000 Americans to die," Moore said earlier in the podcast. "That is 67 9/11s. Take the dead of this day, take the dead of 9/11, and multiply it by 67 times and that's how many people have died of the coronavirus. Trump knew. So much could have been avoided."
What's the background?
Moore's unhinged rant came in response to selectively leaked excerpts from journalist Bob Woodward's upcoming book in which Trump sat with Woodward for 18 separate interviews.
During one of those interviews, Trump revealed to Woodward exactly what he knew about the coronavirus and when he knew it.
From CNN:
President Donald Trump admitted he knew weeks before the first confirmed US coronavirus death that the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious and "more deadly than even your strenuous flus," and that he repeatedly played it down publicly, according to legendary journalist Bob Woodward in his new book "Rage."
"This is deadly stuff," Trump told Woodward on February 7. In a series of interviews with Woodward, Trump revealed that he had a surprising level of detail about the threat of the virus earlier than previously known. "Pretty amazing," Trump told Woodward, adding that the coronavirus was maybe five times "more deadly" than the flu.
The comments Trump made in his interview with Woodward stood in stark contrast with those he made publicly.
In fact, in a later interview with Woodward in March, Trump admitted that he "wanted to always play it down," referring to COVID-19, because he did not "want to create a panic."


theblaze--2020-09-13--ICE assists in arrests of 5 suspected child sexual predators during 'Operation Home Alone 2'

ICE assists in arrests of 5 suspected child sexual predators during 'Operation Home Alone 2' A former sheriff 's detective @ @ @ @ @ arrested , he was out on bail for the same charges from February

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement participated in a multi-agency operation to "target sexual predators who attempted to lure underage children with the intent of engaging in sexual activity."
After a "months-long proactive operation to combat child sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking" in Arizona's Pinal County, five men were arrested during the multi-day sting operation. The undercover operation, named "Operation Home Alone 2," involved local, state, and federal agencies, including ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Pinal Criminal Targeting Unit, Casa Grande Police Department, Maricopa Police Department, and the Pinal County Attorney's Office.
"HSI, working alongside our law enforcement partners, is deeply committed to pursuing alleged predators lurking within our communities seeking to harm and exploit our most vulnerable population," Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix, said. "This multi-agency effort epitomizes our ongoing mission in Arizona and is a testament to the men and woman who working these heinous cases law enforcement developed probable cause to charge five suspects. All suspects were booked into the Pinal County Jail."
Five people were arrested, including a former sheriff's detective. Christopher Butts, 44, a former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detective from Phoenix, was arrested on charges of aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation and furnishing harmful items to a minor on Sept. 2, according to the ICE news release. Butts had been on bond for an arrest in February on the same charges, officials said.
Ryan Kellerman, 36, was reportedly arrested on charges of aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation and furnishing harmful items to a minor on Sept. 3. Kellerman is also reportedly a suspect in a child pornography case with the Maricopa Police Department.
Daniel May, 40, and Matthew Salley, 38, were allegedly arrested and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation on Aug. 26, according to officials.
Jordan Holloway, 26, was arrested and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation on Aug. 27, according to officials.
All suspects were booked into the Pinal County Jail.
The arrests come on the heels of several successful operations by the U.S. Marshals that have located 72 missing and at-risk children in the past few weeks.
Last week, the U.S. Marshals announced they rescued eight "highly endangered" missing children in Indiana during "Operation Homecoming."
In late August, U.S. Marshals tracked down 39 missing children in Georgia and Florida during "Operation Not Forgotten." The U.S. Marshals Service said the children ranged in age from 3 to 17, and 15 of the children were victims of sex trafficking. U.S. Marshals cleared 26 warrants during the two-week operation.
Also last month, U.S. Marshals located 25 missing and endangered children from Ohio during "Operation Safety Net." The missing children were between the ages of 13 and 18, and were found as far away as Miami, Florida. U.S. Marshals noted that a quarter of the endangered children were victims of human trafficking and prostitution.


theblaze--2020-09-13--Virologist who fled China says Beijing is lying about COVID — and she has the evidence to prove it

Virologist who fled China says Beijing is lying about COVID — and she has the evidence to prove it 'It @ @ @ @ @ lab in Wuhan and the lab is controlled by China 's government '

A Chinese virologist who escaped to the United States earlier this year claims the coronavirus is man-made — and she says she has the evidence to prove it.
What are the details?
Dr. Li-Meng Yan, who was formerly based in Hong Kong, explained on British talk show "Loose Women" last Friday that she was one of the first Chinese scientists to conduct research on the novel virus. She claimed the Chinese government, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, is lying to the world about the origins of COVID-19.
Officially, the Chinese government claims the virus originated from a wet market in Wuhan. But Yan called the claim a "smokescreen" — and said the virus actually came from the infamous Wuhan bio lab.
"It comes from the lab— the lab in Wuhan and the lab is controlled by China's government," Yan said.
Yan, who holds both an MD and a PhD, said she obtained her intelligence about the virus from the Chinese CDC and local doctors on the ground in China.
In fact, Yan told "Loose Women" that she will soon publish "all the scientific evidence" she has to prove communist China's responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The genome sequence is like our human finger print," Yan said of the evidence. "So, based on this you can identify these things. I use the evidence … to tell people why this has come from the lab in China, why they are the only ones who made it."
"Everyone, even if you have no biology knowledge, you can read it, and you can check and identify and verify by yourself," she continued. "This is the critical thing for us to know the origin of the virus. If not, we cannot overcome it — it will be life-threatening for everyone alive."
Virologist Dr. Li-Meng Yan Claims Coronavirus Lab 'Cover-Up' Made Her Flee China | Loose Women www.youtube.com
What is the background?
Yan told Fox News earlier this year that she fled to the United States in April because she was silenced by her supervisors at the Hong Kong School of Public Health. Yan said she wants to "deliver the message of the truth of COVID."
Specifically, Yan said she tried to warn about human-to-human transmission, which the Chinese government initially denied, but was ignored by her supervisors.
Yan told Fox News that on Jan. 16 her supervisor warned her to "keep silent, and be careful."
"As he warned me before, 'Don't touch the red line,'" Yan explained. "We will get in trouble and we'll be disappeared."


theblaze--2020-09-13--California gov signs bill that will soften criminal penalty for LGBT adults who have sex with undera

California gov signs bill that will soften criminal penalty for LGBT adults who have sex with underage teens

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed a controversial bill into law on Friday that could soften the criminal punishment for LGBT adults who are convicted of sex crimes against underage teenagers.
According to KABC-TV, Newsom signed the bill without fanfare, likely due to the highly controversial nature of the legislation.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
What is the background?
The bill — SB 145 — was introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D), an openly gay man, and seeks to prevent LGBT adults who sodomize or perform oral sex with underage teenagers from being automatically placed on the California sex offender registry upon their criminal conviction.
As TheBlaze reported:
The legislation calls for a judge to use discretion on assigning an individual to the sex offender registry if their victim was between the ages of 14 to 17 and the age difference between the offender and the victim is less than 10 years.
Weiner claimed the bill "eliminates discrimination against LGBTQ youth in our criminal justice system."
The bill was passed by the California Legislature in late August, with most Democrats supporting the legislation and Republicans opposing it, the San Fransisco Chronicle reported.
What was the reaction?
Responding to the bill becoming law, Weiner continued to claim the bill's purpose is only about "ending discrimination."
"Today, California took yet another step toward an equitable society," Weiner said in a statement. "It's appalling that in 2020, California continues to discriminate against LGBTQ people, by mandating that LGBTQ young people be placed on the sex offender registry in situations where straight people aren't required to be placed on the registry. SB 145 simply ends that discrimination by treating LGBTQ young people the exact same way that straight young people have been treated since 1944."
But not every Democratic lawmaker was thrilled about the bill.
State Rep. Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat, said upon the bill's passage, "I cannot in my mind as a mother understand how sex between a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old could ever be consensual, how it could ever not be a registrable offense. We should never give up on this idea that children should be in no way subject to a predator."
Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, slammed Newsom.
"As a parent I'm appalled that last night our governor signed a law maintaining a 24-year-old can have sex with a 14-year-old and it not be considered predatory," Faulconer reacted. "An adult who commits ANY sex act on a minor 10 years younger must be registered a sex offender. Law must be changed."


theblaze--2020-09-13--NC community mourns loss of police officer Ryan Hendrix, Marine veteran and father of two, shot and

NC community mourns loss of police officer Ryan Hendrix, Marine veteran and father of two, shot and killed on duty

NC community mourns loss of police officer Ryan Hendrix , Marine veteran and father of two , shot and killed @ @ @ @ @ appeared to comply with lawful orders to show the deputies his hands ... but in @ @ @ @ @ retrieved the gun , firing one round

A North Carolina community is mourning the loss of Henderson County police Officer Ryan Hendrix, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Hendrix, 35, was a Marine veteran and father of two children, ages 6 and 9.
Henderson County Deputy Ryan Hendrix was responding to a car burglary at around 2:50 a.m. Thursday after a homeowner called 911. The suspect, Robert Ray Doss Jr., appeared to be cooperating with police officers at first.
The suspect "initially appeared to comply with lawful orders to show the deputies his hands...but in one rapid movement, he retrieved the gun, firing one round, striking [Hendrix] in the face and critically wounding him," Sheriff Lowell Griffin said during a Thursday press conference.
Two other deputies returned fire and killed Doss, a "career criminal with arrests in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia," according to Fox News. Doss had a lengthy rap sheet, including crimes for drugs, multiple arsons, and felony thefts, Griffin said.
Hendrix was taken to the hospital, but later died from his injuries.
"It is with a very heavy heart the family of Henderson County Deputy Ryan Hendrix and Sheriff Lowell Griffin announce Ryan's passing," the Henderson County Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. "Early this morning while the world slept, Ryan responded to assist a family needing help when they became innocent victims of a violent encounter."
"Even in passing Ryan continues to exemplify a servant's heart," the post read. "You see, Ryan was also an organ donor. He will continue to help strangers for a lifetime, even after making the ultimate sacrifice."
The Hendrix family released a statement that said, "Ryan was doing the job he was born to do and he died doing the job he loved."
Besides leaving behind his two young children, he leaves behind his fiancée, who he was set to marry in October.
Hendrix had been with the sheriff's department for eight years, and before that, he was a Marine.
Sheriff Griffin said Hendrix was "an exemplary officer who was also a member of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office SWAT team, serves as a field training officer, and assists in many other capacities."
North Carolina Governor Cooper (D) wrote, "Kristin and I are praying for Ryan Hendrix, who was shot and killed this morning while trying to keep his community safe. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, the Henderson County Sheriff's Dept. and the entire community."
"God bless the family of Marine veteran and Henderson County Deputy Ryan Hendrix, who was shot and killed in the line of duty," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) wrote on Twitter. "Susan and I are praying for him, his family, and his fellow Henderson County deputies."
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office teamed up with the North Carolina Police Benevolent Foundation to create a fundraising page for Hendrix's family; 100% of the proceeds will go to his family.
Zechariah Cartledge is the boy who is the face of Running 4 Heroes, an organization that raises awareness and funds for first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. On Sept. 11, Cartledge went to North Carolina to show support for Hendrix as well as the first responders who lost their lives in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Cartledge ran with Henderson County law enforcement members as they were trailed by police vehicles with their lights flashing and sirens blaring as a tribute to Hendrix.


theblaze--2020-09-13--BlazeTV reporter assaulted by Black Lives Matter agitator pretending to be press: 'They tried to get

BlazeTV reporter assaulted by Black Lives Matter agitator pretending to be press: 'They tried to get me killed'

BlazeTV reporter assaulted by Black Lives Matter agitator pretending to be press : 'They tried to get me killed' 'Fake @ @ @ @ @ I was a white supremacist to try to get me killed '

BlazeTV host and reporter Elijah Schaffer covered the Black Lives Matter protest in Rochester on Saturday night. While covering the protests that escalated into civil unrest where at least one officer was injured and an unlawful assembly was declared, Schaffer was physically assaulted by an alleged Black Lives Matter supporter who was falsely posing as a member of the press.
"Fake press intentionally started a rumor I was a white supremacist to try to get me killed (see previous video)," Schaffer wrote on Twitter. "They turned the crowd on me & started surrounding me At the same time, police saw the escalation & moved in Fake press are terrorists & put us all in danger."
"I'm really growing weary of this violent 'fake Antifa/BLM press,'" Schaffer, who is the host of the "Slightly Offens*ve" podcast, said. "They work in conjunction to abuse and endanger real reporters doing their job They use fascist tactics and 'dress up' as press to avoid police scrutiny Then they attack you and police don't know what to do."
"Fake press is harassing me here. Assaulting me with their camera," Schaffer tweeted. "Putting me in chat rooms trying to get me jumped This is disgusting behavior Telling me they will beat me up while I do my job."
On a recent episode of the "Slightly Offens*ve" podcast, Schaffer discussed the rise of protesters and agitators pretending to be members of the press. Schaffer pointed out that Antifa supporters have posed as media members in protests across the country, including Washington, D.C., Portland, and Rochester.
Schaffer explained that the fake press label allows pretend reporters to unmask any reporters who don't cover Antifa or BLM riots in a positive light. The fake press members are also protected against the police under the guise of the First Amendment's protection of the right to the freedom of press, despite not actually being real journalists attempting to report on a news story.
There have been cases of reporters being injured by police officers during protests and riots this summer. California Democratic state Sen. Mike McGuire introduced SB 629, a bill that intends to protect journalists. The legislation would prohibit police officers from "intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing" or citing a member of the press.
"Members of the press risk their personal health and safety each time they attend protests or rallies to get the public the information they need and deserve. Rubber bullets, tear gas, and even detainment cannot be the new norm for an essential pillar of our nation's democracy. California must lead the way to ensure the right of the press and the First Amendment are protected and held to the highest standard," state Sen. McGuire said. "SB 629 - The Press Freedom Act - will help ensure journalists can perform these critical roles while being protected under the law from any law enforcement officer intentionally assaulting, obstructing or interfering with their duties while they are gathering the news."
However, Schaffer and fellow protest reporter Tayler Hansen pointed out that Antifa members pretend to be press members, which hurts real reporters on the ground and destroys any trust between law enforcement and legitimate media members. Schaffer said the fake media members use their press privileges to get closer to cops to "berate" them or "throw tear gas canisters back at the police."
During a protest in Portland last week, a press member told Hansen that he "didn't belong here," and equated him to "Fox News" because he allegedly labeled rioters as "anarchists" on social media.
After the press member exposed him, a group of Antifa members identified Hansen as an unfriendly reporter to their cause. Hansen, the founder of the pro-life "Baby Lives Matter" movement, said he was attacked by Antifa members.
"Last night in Portland I was beaten bloody by four people in Black Bloc," Hansen wrote on Twitter. "They proceeded to beat me. I was punched in the face, thrown on the ground where they began kicking me in the back and hitting me in the face again. As they fled one yelled 'Stay out of Portland b*tch!'"
You can watch the entire "Slightly Offens*ve" interview below.


theblaze--2020-09-13--'Y'all gonna die one by one': BLM activists storm hospital where ambushed officers taken, block exit

'Y'all gonna die one by one': BLM activists storm hospital where ambushed officers taken, block exits

' Y'all gon na die one by one ' : BLM activists storm hospital where ambushed officers taken , block @

After two Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies sustained multiple gunshot wounds upon being ambushed while sitting in their patrol vehicle on Saturday, alleged Black Lives Matters protesters stormed the hospital where the officers were transported to for emergency surgery.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, protesters attempted to block the entrance and exit of the hospital. Protesters also shouted that they hoped the injured officers died.
"To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling 'We hope they die' referring to 2 LA Sheriff's ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL. People's lives are at stake when ambulances can't get through," the agency said.
Video taken from outside the hospital showed one protester tell law enforcement officers standing guard outside the hospital, "I hope they f***ing die," referring to the injured officers.
(Content Warning: The following videos contains strong language):
Other video taken from outside the hospital showed the alleged BLM activists berate the officers who guarded the hospital's perimeter.
The activists told the officers, "you're next" and "y'all gonna die one by one."
"Y'all ain't s***. F*** that b***h," one activist is heard saying.
(Content Warning: The following video contains strong language):
BLM protesters trying to breach St. Francis hospital where two officers are fighting for their lives after being shot in an ambush.
"Y`all gonna die one by one" - BLM LA
Part 3 pic.twitter.com/Mc073mOpTD
— special agent viti (@selfdeclaredref) September 13, 2020
One witness told KABC-TV that he heard the protesters say "death to the police" and "kill the police."
That same witness also told the news outlet that he saw the protesters attempt to breach the hospital.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said police arrested two individuals, including one member of the press.
After deputies issued a dispersal order for the unlawful assembly of a group of protesters blocking the hospital emergency entrance & exits, a male adult protester refused to comply & cooperate. During his arrest, a struggle ensued at which time a female adult ran towards the deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back as they struggled with the male and interfered with the arrest. The female adult, who was later identified as a member of the press, did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person. Both individuals have been arrested for 148 P.C.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat, responded by condemning the protesters.
"There's no place in civilized society for anybody to draw an arm and to shoot our law enforcement officers that put their lives on the line. And I won't ever let a couple voices that not only are uncalled for, but it's abhorrent to say something like that when we have two deputies in grave condition," Garcetti said Sunday on CNN.


theblaze--2020-09-13--Black Lives Matter and NYPD clash after protest stops traffic on George Washington Bridge: 'We shut

Black Lives Matter and NYPD clash after protest stops traffic on George Washington Bridge: 'We shut s*** down!'

Black Lives Matter and NYPD clash after protest stops traffic on George Washington Bridge : 'We shut s*** down !
@ @ @ @ @ protest called the police 'pigs ' and boasted that it was 'our city ' after @ @ @ @

A Black Lives Matter protest shut down the upper level of the George Washington Bridge on Saturday. BLM supporters and NYPD clashed as police attempted to unblock the George Washington Bridge after traffic was ground to a halt.
For about an hour on Saturday night, Black Lives Matter demonstrators marched across the George Washington Bridge to the 34th precinct station house in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. About 100 protesters blocked all cars and trucks from passing. The crowd boasted that they were on the bridge to "shut s*** down!"
Agitators used construction cones to block cars from driving on the George Washington Bridge.
Hawk Newsome, leader of the Greater New York chapter of Black Lives Matter, said they shut down the bridge "for our Sisters and Brothers who had their lives stolen by AmeriKKKa."
Newsome added that three BLM agitators were arrested during the demonstration, and urged his followers on social media to call the 34th precinct for their release. "FREE THE TEAM!!! Pigs at the 34th are not picking up the phone. CALL UNTIL THEY DO FREE," he wrote. Newsome boasted "our city" during the shutdown of the bridge.
"Look how much power we had. We sat on the bridge for 20 minutes. We shut the whole city down," one protester bragged, according to the New York Post.
Nearly 300,000 vehicles used the George Washington Bridge in 2016, a double-deck suspension bridge that connects New York City with New Jersey.
After crossing the bridge, tensions between the BLM protesters and NYPD cops flared outside the 34th precinct in Manhattan. Several people were arrested during the protest in New York City.
Some protesters then set their sights on New York City diners. "Sorry to interrupt your dinner, it's a revolution," one demonstrator said to people dining on Saturday night in NYC. Last week, violent Black Lives Matter protesters vowed to prevent diners from eating at outdoor restaurants in Rochester and Pittsburgh.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) gave an interview to BlazeTV's Steven Crowder last week, where he suggested that the riots erupting in American cities are likely a coordinated effort funded by corporate America.
"We're seeing these people ... some of the same people are in Portland, Kenosha, D.C., Louisville," Paul said. "How are they getting there? They're staying at the [Willard Hotel] — the Willard Hotel might be $500 to $1,000 a night — who's paying for them to stay in the Willard Hotel? Who's paying for them to have air flight? Who's paying them to do this?"
"And here's the sad truth of it," he explained. "It's probably not going to be a sinister name like George Soros, it's going to be corporate America."
"Corporate America is giving money to Black Lives Matter, and my guess is, if we follow the money, the people who paid for the plane tickets and the hotels and the people who continue to do this, is Black Lives Matter," Paul continued. "People should not be giving money to a group that is then funding thuggery."
Paul advocated that instead of funding Black Lives Matter, people should consider giving their money to the United Negro College Fund or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.