Saturday, November 30, 2024
Friday, November 29, 2024
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Prefect of Vatican Communications: This is our time to shape the world
File photo of Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
VATICAN
Prefect of Vatican Communications: This is our time to shape the world
Inaugurating the first national Catholic media conference in India organized by Salesians, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication reflects on our responsibility to share and communicate truth and shape our time in the best of ways.
By Linda Bordoni
As a revolution takes place in the world of communications, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication asked, “Are Catholic communicators ready to respond to the challenge of creating a community, a platform, of mutual sharing and collaboration” as a means to share truth and build a better world?
Speaking at the launch of the first national Catholic media conference taking place in Bangalore, India, on 23-24 November, Paolo Ruffini noted “We live in a time of passage: A revolution is taking place in the world of communication.”
This is our time
Highlighting the urgency of action, he said: “This is our time. (…) We are shaping it through what we do and through what we fail to do.”
The event, “ILLUMINAIRE: Nurturing Digital Stewardship in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” aims to explore the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on the lives of consecrated people while promoting their responsible and ethical use.
Ruffini noted that “it is not only a matter of navigating the digital sea,” which, he said would not exist without people who have the responsibility to shape the world by telling and sharing the truth.
“Sharing is the keyword.”
He encouraged his audience to create a network in which to share stories and build relationships and to make use of artificial intelligence – which he said can be enormously useful but potentially harmful – without losing humanity, but “becoming more mature as human beings.”
He explained that the development of artificial intelligence in communication can help strengthen relationships between individuals or increase loneliness, “depriving each of us of the warmth that only true communication can provide.”
Responsibility in using AI
Ruffini expressed his confidence that AI may be used to foster equality – not “new classes based on informational dominance” grounded in new forms of exploitation thanks to “the possession of algorithms and the extraction of data from the inexhaustible mine of our lives.”
“The basic question is about humans, not machines; the relationship between humans, not algorithms,” he said.
Posing the question “Are we ready for this challenge?” Ruffini said, “We all know the power of the means of communication to draw out the best in every person.”
“Communication may be the instrument to build a better world, or it may continue to foment misunderstandings, resentments, enmity,” he said, noting that “No investment is too great for spreading the truth and triggering dynamics of good in our stories.”
Unity in diversity
Recalling Pope Francis’ encouragement never to be discouraged and to always foster synergy and collaboration between all members of the human family, Ruffini called for commitment “in building a communication based on relationship and on humanity to combat the virus of division.”
“In a time when so many are tempted to build a new tower of Babel, we are called to serve this miracle of unity in diversity,” he said, "We need to help one another to make it work."
“In a time when so many are tempted to build a new tower of Babel, we are called to serve this miracle of unity in diversity.”
Digital communication, he concluded, allows us to be connected in a way which was unheard of before, and he expressed confidence that from the gathering, “viable pathways to creating a community, a platform, of mutual sharing and collaboration,” will stem.
P.S.
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Earth tilted 31.5 inches, study finds. So whose fault is that? Humans, of course.
The pumping of groundwater could affect the climate and make sea levels rise, according to a study.
Julia Gomez
USA TODAY
Earth tilted, but it had nothing to do with weird space phenomena and everything to do with how people are pumping groundwater and shipping it across the planet, a study found.
The findings of a study from June 2023 are making headlines on Monday, over a year after it was published.
The study found that the Earth tilted over two dozen inches in 17 years, but the cause isn't a mysterious asteroid impact, the sun's gravity or solar flares.
The planet continuing to tilt is because humans are pumping and moving an obscene amount of groundwater across the planet and redistributing it, according to the study's press release.
"Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole," said Ki-Weon Seo, the geophysicist with Seoul National University who led the study, in a statement.
The movement of this water is also resulting in sea levels rising.
Fact check:Misleading data used to claim sea levels down in Sydney and across globe
How much did the Earth tilt?
From 1993 to 2010, the earth is believed to have tilted 31.5 inches east, according to the study, which was published by Geophysical Research Letters.
This is because of how much groundwater was pumped out of the planet.
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Doesn't the Earth already have a tilt?
It does! While the tilt did already exist before, the study analyzed why the tilt increased further in the 17-year time span.
It's believed that when the Earth was young, "something big," about the size of the planet Mars, known as "Theia," hit it, according to NASA. The impact was so massive that it threw our planet off its center.
That is why the North and South Poles will never be perfectly straight and will always be on an axis.
It's also thought that this impact is what led to the creation of our moon.
USA TODAY
Earth tilted, but it had nothing to do with weird space phenomena and everything to do with how people are pumping groundwater and shipping it across the planet, a study found.
The findings of a study from June 2023 are making headlines on Monday, over a year after it was published.
The study found that the Earth tilted over two dozen inches in 17 years, but the cause isn't a mysterious asteroid impact, the sun's gravity or solar flares.
The planet continuing to tilt is because humans are pumping and moving an obscene amount of groundwater across the planet and redistributing it, according to the study's press release.
"Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole," said Ki-Weon Seo, the geophysicist with Seoul National University who led the study, in a statement.
The movement of this water is also resulting in sea levels rising.
Fact check:Misleading data used to claim sea levels down in Sydney and across globe
How much did the Earth tilt?
From 1993 to 2010, the earth is believed to have tilted 31.5 inches east, according to the study, which was published by Geophysical Research Letters.
This is because of how much groundwater was pumped out of the planet.
Get the Israel-Hamas War newsletter in your inbox.
Doesn't the Earth already have a tilt?
It does! While the tilt did already exist before, the study analyzed why the tilt increased further in the 17-year time span.
It's believed that when the Earth was young, "something big," about the size of the planet Mars, known as "Theia," hit it, according to NASA. The impact was so massive that it threw our planet off its center.
That is why the North and South Poles will never be perfectly straight and will always be on an axis.
It's also thought that this impact is what led to the creation of our moon.
Why is the Earth's tilt important?
The Earth's tilt is the reason for the seasons, stated NASA. So spring, summer, winter and fall would not exist without it.
"Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays," NASA's website stated. "So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere."
The tilt is also why the southern and northern hemisphere will never experience the same season at the same time. Meaning that when it's summer in Australia, it's winter in the U.S., according to Arizona State University.
While the shifting tilt won't affect the seasons, it could impact climate, Surendra Adhikari, a research scientist from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. Adhikari was not involved in the 2023 study.
How much water was redistributed?
Using climate models, scientists previously estimated that 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, about .24 inches of sea level rise, was pumped and redistributed during the time period the study looked at.
One gigaton alone equals a billion metric tons or 2.2 trillion pounds, according to NASA.
To give an estimate on how grand the measurement of the water is, imagine if every person in the world stepped on a scale at the same time. The entire human population would weigh around 632 billion pounds, according to Huff Post.
One gigaton of the water that was distributed weighs more than three times the weight of every person on Earth combined.
Using climate models, scientists previously estimated that 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, about .24 inches of sea level rise, was pumped and redistributed during the time period the study looked at.
One gigaton alone equals a billion metric tons or 2.2 trillion pounds, according to NASA.
To give an estimate on how grand the measurement of the water is, imagine if every person in the world stepped on a scale at the same time. The entire human population would weigh around 632 billion pounds, according to Huff Post.
One gigaton of the water that was distributed weighs more than three times the weight of every person on Earth combined.
'Unexplained cause:' How did researchers discover the effects of moving groundwater?
In the study, "researchers modeled the observed changes in the drift of Earth’s rotational pole and the movement of water," the press release stated. "First, with only ice sheets and glaciers considered, and then adding in different scenarios of groundwater redistribution."
The model only reflected what was happening to Earth's tilt when researchers took groundwater redistribution into account, according to the press release. Without those calculations, the model's tilt was off by 31 inches.
In the 17 years that were analyzed, researchers found that the tilt drifted 1.7 inches each year.
It wasn't until 2016 that researchers discovered water's ability to change the planet's rotation, according to the press release. Adhikari is the researcher who published the study on how water distribution affected Earth.
However, the exact way groundwater affected the planet was not explored until this study began.
“I’m very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift,” Seo said in a statement. “On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, I’m concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise.”
Monday, November 25, 2024
Report: US and European Officials Discussed Giving Ukraine Nuclear Weapons
November 22, 2024
Kyle Anzalone
According to the New York Times, US and European officials have discussed a range of options they believe will deter Russia from taking more Ukrainian territory, including providing Kiev with nuclear weapons. The outlet reports that Western officials believe the Kremlin will not significantly escalate the war before Donald Trump is sworn in as President in January.
Following the election of Trump earlier this month, the US and its NATO allies began taking steps to rush weapons to Ukraine and give Kiev the ability to strike targets inside Russian territory with long-range weapons.
American officials who were briefed on the intelligence community’s assessments told the Times that weapons will not alter the challenging situation that Kiev is currently facing. “US spy agencies have assessed that speeding up the provisions of weapons, ammunition and matériel for Ukraine will do little to change the course of the war in the short term,” the Times reports.
Desperate to bolster Ukraine’s standing in the war before the transition of power on January 20, the Biden administration is looking at a range of serious escalations. “US and European officials are discussing deterrence as a possible security guarantee for Ukraine, such as stockpiling a conventional arsenal sufficient to strike a punishing blow if Russia violates a cease-fire.” The article continues, “Several officials even suggested that Mr. Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were taken from it after the fall of the Soviet Union.”
According to some officials who spoke with the Times, the administration believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t significantly escalate the war until Trump returns to the Oval Office.
According to the New York Times, US and European officials have discussed a range of options they believe will deter Russia from taking more Ukrainian territory, including providing Kiev with nuclear weapons. The outlet reports that Western officials believe the Kremlin will not significantly escalate the war before Donald Trump is sworn in as President in January.
Following the election of Trump earlier this month, the US and its NATO allies began taking steps to rush weapons to Ukraine and give Kiev the ability to strike targets inside Russian territory with long-range weapons.
American officials who were briefed on the intelligence community’s assessments told the Times that weapons will not alter the challenging situation that Kiev is currently facing. “US spy agencies have assessed that speeding up the provisions of weapons, ammunition and matériel for Ukraine will do little to change the course of the war in the short term,” the Times reports.
Desperate to bolster Ukraine’s standing in the war before the transition of power on January 20, the Biden administration is looking at a range of serious escalations. “US and European officials are discussing deterrence as a possible security guarantee for Ukraine, such as stockpiling a conventional arsenal sufficient to strike a punishing blow if Russia violates a cease-fire.” The article continues, “Several officials even suggested that Mr. Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were taken from it after the fall of the Soviet Union.”
According to some officials who spoke with the Times, the administration believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t significantly escalate the war until Trump returns to the Oval Office.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Recriminations after COP29 agrees deal on $300bn for poorer nations
Georgina Rannard and Esme Stallard
BBC climate reporters
Reporting fromIn Baku
Getty Images
Richer countries have pledged a record $300bn (£238bn) to help the developing world fight climate change, but the deal is facing recriminations that it comes nowhere near addressing poorer countries' challenges from global warming
The talks at the UN climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan ran 33 hours late, and came within inches of collapse.
The head of the UN climate body, Simon Stiell, said it had “been a difficult journey, but we've delivered a deal.”
But the talks also failed to build on an agreement passed last year calling for nations to “transition away from fossil fuels”.
Developing nations, as well as countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, dramatically walked out of the talks on Saturday afternoon.
“I am not exaggerating when I say our islands are sinking! How can you expect us to go back to the women, men, and children of our countries with a poor deal?” said the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, Cedric Schuster.
But at 03:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT on Saturday), and after some changes to the agreement, nations finally passed the deal. It was met with cheers and applause, but a furious speech from India showed that intense frustration remained.
“We cannot accept it… the proposed goal will not solve anything for us. [It is] not conducive to climate action that is necessary to the survival of our country,” Leela Nandan told the conference, calling the sum too small.
Richer countries have pledged a record $300bn (£238bn) to help the developing world fight climate change, but the deal is facing recriminations that it comes nowhere near addressing poorer countries' challenges from global warming
The talks at the UN climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan ran 33 hours late, and came within inches of collapse.
The head of the UN climate body, Simon Stiell, said it had “been a difficult journey, but we've delivered a deal.”
But the talks also failed to build on an agreement passed last year calling for nations to “transition away from fossil fuels”.
Developing nations, as well as countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, dramatically walked out of the talks on Saturday afternoon.
“I am not exaggerating when I say our islands are sinking! How can you expect us to go back to the women, men, and children of our countries with a poor deal?” said the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, Cedric Schuster.
But at 03:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT on Saturday), and after some changes to the agreement, nations finally passed the deal. It was met with cheers and applause, but a furious speech from India showed that intense frustration remained.
“We cannot accept it… the proposed goal will not solve anything for us. [It is] not conducive to climate action that is necessary to the survival of our country,” Leela Nandan told the conference, calling the sum too small.
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:19-31.
John 20:19-31.
Friday, November 22, 2024
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The Economist launches The World Ahead 2025–forecasting a year of uncertainty and instability with Trump upending global trade, economics and geopolitics
The Economist launches The World Ahead 2025–forecasting a year of uncertainty and instability with Trump upending global trade, economics and geopolitics
London, United Kingdom
November 19, 2024
The Economist has launched The World Ahead, an annual special year-end issue from The Economist that examines important themes, trends and events that will shape the coming year. The editor’s top ten themes for 2025 and the accompanying articles are online today on http://economist.com/worldahead2025. The full edition will be available digitally from November 21st, and included in The Economist’s weekly print edition dated November 23rd. The standalone print issue will be available on global newsstands from November 29th in the UK and Asia, from December 2nd in Europe and from December 11th in the United States.
Commenting on this year’s edition of The World Ahead, its editor Tom Standage said, “Donald Trump’s decisive victory and imminent return to the White House will, more than anything else, shape the coming year, with implications in many areas of policy, not just for America, but for the world. What will this mean for global security, the clean-energy transition, international trade and governments’ efforts to cut deficits? In a year that promises an unusual degree of change and uncertainty, The World Ahead helps you see around the corner and work out what might be coming next.”
In its 39th year, The World Ahead edition discusses a broad range of topics, but its top ten themes for 2025, distilled from its pages, are as follows:
1. America’s choice. The repercussions of Mr Trump’s sweeping victory will affect everything from immigration and defence to economics and trade. His “America First” policy will have friends and foes alike questioning the solidity of America’s alliances. This could lead to geopolitical realignments, heightened tensions and even nuclear proliferation.
London, United Kingdom
November 19, 2024
The Economist has launched The World Ahead, an annual special year-end issue from The Economist that examines important themes, trends and events that will shape the coming year. The editor’s top ten themes for 2025 and the accompanying articles are online today on http://economist.com/worldahead2025. The full edition will be available digitally from November 21st, and included in The Economist’s weekly print edition dated November 23rd. The standalone print issue will be available on global newsstands from November 29th in the UK and Asia, from December 2nd in Europe and from December 11th in the United States.
Commenting on this year’s edition of The World Ahead, its editor Tom Standage said, “Donald Trump’s decisive victory and imminent return to the White House will, more than anything else, shape the coming year, with implications in many areas of policy, not just for America, but for the world. What will this mean for global security, the clean-energy transition, international trade and governments’ efforts to cut deficits? In a year that promises an unusual degree of change and uncertainty, The World Ahead helps you see around the corner and work out what might be coming next.”
In its 39th year, The World Ahead edition discusses a broad range of topics, but its top ten themes for 2025, distilled from its pages, are as follows:
1. America’s choice. The repercussions of Mr Trump’s sweeping victory will affect everything from immigration and defence to economics and trade. His “America First” policy will have friends and foes alike questioning the solidity of America’s alliances. This could lead to geopolitical realignments, heightened tensions and even nuclear proliferation.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Monday, November 18, 2024
Ex-Top Official Catherine Austin Fitts: Inside Trump’s Victory, RFK Jr.,...
Ex-Top Official Catherine Austin Fitts: Inside Trump’s Victory, RFK Jr., and the Deep State
Former Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush, Catherine Austin Fitts, shares her insights on Donald Trump’s recent victory in the U.S. presidential election, the rising influence of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the impact of the so-called ‘Deep State’ on American politics. According to Fitts, change isn’t on the horizon—it’s happening right now. She also discusses the historic surge of independent voters, a movement that could permanently reshape the future of U.S. politics as we know it.
Trump picks several Catholics for Cabinet: Kennedy, Rubio, Stefanik, Ratcliffe
Left to right: John Ratcliffe, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image; MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images; Jason Mendez/Getty Images
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 18, 2024 / 06:00 am
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen several Catholics to serve in his Cabinet and other parts of his administration, including environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., three-term Sen. Marco Rubio, and Rep. Elise Stefanik.
The 45th and soon-to-be 47th president made more than a dozen announcements within 10 days of his electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Many of his Cabinet nominees and other administration official picks have yet to be announced.
Among the Catholics Trump has chosen for his Cabinet are Kennedy, who was nominated to be the secretary of Health and Human Services; Rubio as secretary of state; Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations; and John Ratcliffe, nominated as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
These four Cabinet-level positions require Senate confirmation.
Trump also announced he will appoint Tom Homan as the “Border Czar,” a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Homan is a Catholic and was previously the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the president-elect’s first administration.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and the son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, was nominated by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees 10 agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to public health,” Trump said in his announcement. “... HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in the country.”
A lifelong Democrat before launching an independent bid for president of the United States during the 2024 election, Kennedy dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Trump after the former president promised him a health-related role. He is Catholic and credits “a profound spiritual enlightenment” for his recovery from drug addiction in his early adulthood. However, he deviates from Church teaching on life by supporting legal abortions.
Kennedy has been critical of the childhood vaccine schedule. Kennedy has said he would not “take vaccines away from anybody” as secretary of Health and Human Services but that he would promote more inquiry into side effects. He has long been critical of large pharmaceutical companies influencing regulations and the impact that processed food has on the nation’s health.
“I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth,” Kennedy said in a statement.
Marco Rubio
Trump nominated Rubio, a one-time rival for the presidency, to serve as secretary of state.
“Marco is a highly respected leader and a very powerful voice for freedom,” a statement from the Trump transition team read. “He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.”
Rubio has served as a senator from Florida since 2011 and was previously in the Florida House of Representatives. His parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba. He was raised in the Catholic faith at an early age, but his family began attending a Mormon church during his childhood before returning to Catholicism. Although the senator is Catholic, he sometimes attends a Baptist church with his wife.
“As secretary of state, I will work every day to carry out [Trump’s] foreign policy agenda,” Rubio said in a statement after the announcement. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.”
Rubio has historically supported a hawkish foreign policy, which is at times at odds with Trump’s campaign rhetoric that is skeptical of American involvement in foreign wars. In recent years, however, he has moved closer to Trump’s view on foreign policy. He was initially in favor of the United States providing aid to Ukraine but voted against the most recent aid bill.
Elise Stefanik
The president-elect nominated Stefanik to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, which primarily represents American interests in the international organization.
“[Stefanik] was the first member of Congress to endorse me and has always been a staunch advocate,” Trump said in a statement. “... [She] led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses. She will be an incredible ambassador to the United Nations, delivering peace through strength and America First national security policies.”
Stefanik is the chair of the House Republican Conference, which makes her the fourth-ranking Republican in the chamber. She will be replaced by Rep. Lisa McClain in this role. Stefanik is a strong and vocal supporter of Israeli military action in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon. She is Catholic and is opposed to abortion but supports same-sex marriage.
“The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries,” Stefanik said in a statement.
“I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day 1 at the United Nations,” she said.
Stefanik, like Rubio, has historically been more hawkish on foreign policy but has moved closer to Trump’s views of late. She initially backed American aid to Ukraine but later opposed it. She has previously supported Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
John Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe, who briefly served as the director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is a former congressman, will head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation to catching the FBI’s abuse of civil liberties at the FISA court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for truth and honesty with the American public,” Trump said in a statement. “When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American people.”
Like Rubio and Stefanik, Ratcliffe has also been historically hawkish. He has been strongly critical of Chinese officials and Iran. He has criticized the Biden administration for not providing more intelligence and military aid to Israel.
World Leaders meet to discuss GLOBAL GOVERNANCE G20 (R$E)
Watch live as protests unfold in Rio ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders, including Biden, Starmer, Trudeau, Macron and others arrive in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the climate agenda and "Reforming Global Governance". We will be bringing you the speeches and event live today. This may start around 11am GMT / 6am EST and go on throughout the day. Th Global Governance session is at 12.30pm EST / 5.30pm GMT This video is part of our new live broadcast coverage of world events to show you what is going on, being pushed or promoted and what to be aware of in these times.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Republican senator accuses Dems, media of double standard on outrage over Trump's cabinet picks
'The Democrats are spending so much time talking about the scrutiny of President Trump’s picks and yet, did we spend this amount of time scrutinizing Biden’s picks?' Sen. Markwayne Mullin said
By Kristine Parks Fox News
Published November 17, 2024 8:00pm EST
GOP Senator rips media over scrutiny over Trump cabinet picks
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., defended President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks and hit back at the media over their lack of scrutiny over President Biden's cabinet picks.
A Republican senator clashed with NBC anchor Kristen Welker in a Sunday interview after he pushed back against the scrutiny over President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominations, compared to their treatment of President Biden's more controversial staffing picks.
Democrats in Congress and in the media have blasted Trump's cabinet nominees over their qualifications, including combat veteran Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security; Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as attorney general; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), among others.
On NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Welker pressed Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, if Kennedy's skepticism toward vaccines could be a "deal breaker" in confirming the Trump nominee to head the HHS.
Mullin denied this would be a dealbreaker for him before launching into a rebuke of Democrats and liberal voices in the media for not showing the same outrage over some of President Biden's more controversial cabinet and staffing picks at the start of his term.
DEMOCRATS' FUROR OVER ‘UNQUALIFIED' TRUMP NOMINEES PUTS BIDEN'S STAFFING DECISIONS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Friday, November 15, 2024
Thursday, November 14, 2024
‘So He Likes Them Younger’: DeVon Franklin Sparks Controversy After He Confirms New Romance With Woman 17 Years His Junior
Posted by Nicole Duncan-Smith | Published on: November 5, 2024
Movie executive DeVon Franklin is emerging from the depression that enveloped him following his split from ex-wife Meagan Good. The Seventh-day Adventist faith leader has proudly debuted his new girlfriend.
The public has observed Meagan moving forward with her new boyfriend, Jonathan Majors, while Franklin has candidly shared his emotional struggles post-divorce, notably during his sermons.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 19: DeVon Franklin attends the BET+ “Kingdom Business” Los Angeles premiere at NeueHouse Los Angeles on May 19, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
In an interview with “The Breakfast Club” in 2023, Franklin opened up about how he cried himself to sleep after the breakup.
“I can sit here before all of you and have this interview and be calm and introspective and all that, but that comes from a process,” he said. “I mean, there are nights you know I’m crying myself to sleep. You know, there are moments when I’ve been angry, but I’ve allowed myself to feel whatever I felt in order to heal.”
It appears that healing has indeed begun. The “Annie” film executive is now stepping out with a renewed sense of joy, as seen in his recent appearances with personal trainer Maria Castillo.
At The Merge Awards, Franklin proudly introduced Castillo to the Baller Alert correspondent, referring to her as his “girl.”
In an interview with “The Breakfast Club” in 2023, Franklin opened up about how he cried himself to sleep after the breakup.
“I can sit here before all of you and have this interview and be calm and introspective and all that, but that comes from a process,” he said. “I mean, there are nights you know I’m crying myself to sleep. You know, there are moments when I’ve been angry, but I’ve allowed myself to feel whatever I felt in order to heal.”
It appears that healing has indeed begun. The “Annie” film executive is now stepping out with a renewed sense of joy, as seen in his recent appearances with personal trainer Maria Castillo.
At The Merge Awards, Franklin proudly introduced Castillo to the Baller Alert correspondent, referring to her as his “girl.”
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
HHS Spent Hundreds of Millions of Dollars on DEI Initiatives Under Biden, Watchdog Finds
President Joe Biden speaks before signing executive orders at the White House, January 28, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
By Alex Welz
November 12, 2024 6:19 PM
The Department of Health and Human Services has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds carrying out President Biden’s DEI initiatives, according to a new nonprofit government watchdog report released Tuesday.
Biden issued an executive order in June 2021 calling for federal agencies to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruits and when considering promotions. DEI quickly became a dominant theme within the federal government over the next four years.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) currently employs 294 DEI employees, costing the agency $38.7 million in taxpayer funds each year, according to a report from OpenTheBooks. In Fiscal Year 2023, 247 of those workers made over $100,000, while four took home double that sum.
An additional 207 HHS employees oversee Biden’s “health equity” efforts in the Offices of Minority Health at a cost of $29.4 million for salaries alone each year.
“At the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is organized like its own corporation,” OpenTheBooks wrote in a statement. “It has separate departments for Guidance, Education & Marketing, Data Analytics & Customer Outreach, and an ostensibly redundant Diversity & Inclusion Division.”
Some of the spending choices that are receiving the most blowback include $5 million to “diversify the doula workforce” and another $25 million for “nursing workforce diversity.”
Since Biden assumed the Oval Office in 2021, grant applicants for the Rural Communities Opioid Response have been required to complete a “Disparate Impact Statement” that explains how systemic racism will inform their efforts in addressing the opioid crisis. Applicants remain encouraged to defer to groups that have suffered from disproportioned historical iniquities.
Another controversial program is Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST), which “awards grants to top universities to hire scientists from minority backgrounds — specifically considering a scientist’s ‘commitment to diversity’ as equally important to their academic ability.” The NIH Common Fund has committed $241 million to the program over the course of nine years.
A $102 million allocation was given to the Health Resources and Services Administration for “training for diversity.” Part of this allotment is also to be spent on the FIRST program, funding “Centers of Excellence” on campuses seeking to advance “recruitment, training, and retaining underrepresented minority students and faculty at health professions schools.”
Variations of the term “equity” could be found 829 different times in HHS’ 2025 congressional budget request, the report uncovered. OpenTheBooks also discovered 92 DEI employees working under the direct oversight of HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“One recent CDC program pushed for ‘vaccine equity’ in Atlanta, Georgia by distributing 5,500 monkeypox vaccine doses to Black ‘LGBTQ+ men who have sex with men’ to help ‘celebrate diversity and the impact of distinctly Black gay and queer culture on the community,’” the report read.
Thousands of black church leaders were even recruited to serve as “vaccine advocates and influencers.”
“Records of both vaccine equity programs have been removed from the CDC’s website,” the report claimed.
By Alex Welz
November 12, 2024 6:19 PM
The Department of Health and Human Services has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds carrying out President Biden’s DEI initiatives, according to a new nonprofit government watchdog report released Tuesday.
Biden issued an executive order in June 2021 calling for federal agencies to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruits and when considering promotions. DEI quickly became a dominant theme within the federal government over the next four years.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) currently employs 294 DEI employees, costing the agency $38.7 million in taxpayer funds each year, according to a report from OpenTheBooks. In Fiscal Year 2023, 247 of those workers made over $100,000, while four took home double that sum.
An additional 207 HHS employees oversee Biden’s “health equity” efforts in the Offices of Minority Health at a cost of $29.4 million for salaries alone each year.
“At the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is organized like its own corporation,” OpenTheBooks wrote in a statement. “It has separate departments for Guidance, Education & Marketing, Data Analytics & Customer Outreach, and an ostensibly redundant Diversity & Inclusion Division.”
Some of the spending choices that are receiving the most blowback include $5 million to “diversify the doula workforce” and another $25 million for “nursing workforce diversity.”
Since Biden assumed the Oval Office in 2021, grant applicants for the Rural Communities Opioid Response have been required to complete a “Disparate Impact Statement” that explains how systemic racism will inform their efforts in addressing the opioid crisis. Applicants remain encouraged to defer to groups that have suffered from disproportioned historical iniquities.
Another controversial program is Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST), which “awards grants to top universities to hire scientists from minority backgrounds — specifically considering a scientist’s ‘commitment to diversity’ as equally important to their academic ability.” The NIH Common Fund has committed $241 million to the program over the course of nine years.
A $102 million allocation was given to the Health Resources and Services Administration for “training for diversity.” Part of this allotment is also to be spent on the FIRST program, funding “Centers of Excellence” on campuses seeking to advance “recruitment, training, and retaining underrepresented minority students and faculty at health professions schools.”
Variations of the term “equity” could be found 829 different times in HHS’ 2025 congressional budget request, the report uncovered. OpenTheBooks also discovered 92 DEI employees working under the direct oversight of HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“One recent CDC program pushed for ‘vaccine equity’ in Atlanta, Georgia by distributing 5,500 monkeypox vaccine doses to Black ‘LGBTQ+ men who have sex with men’ to help ‘celebrate diversity and the impact of distinctly Black gay and queer culture on the community,’” the report read.
Thousands of black church leaders were even recruited to serve as “vaccine advocates and influencers.”
“Records of both vaccine equity programs have been removed from the CDC’s website,” the report claimed.
Trump taps Musk to lead a 'Department of Government Efficiency' with Ramaswamy
Updated November 12, 20249:03 PM ET
By
Camila Domonoske
Jeongyoon Han
Elena Moore
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on November 12, 2024 shows Vivek Ramaswamy (L) and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (R). President-elect Donald Trump on November said Musk will lead a so-called Department of Government Efficiency alongside American entrepreneur Ramaswamy.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds and Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new government agency focused on regulating federal spending.
In a statement released Tuesday, Trump referred to the new agency as the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE,) an acronym that is an apparent wink to the dog-themed cryptocurrency by the same name that started as a joke and skyrocketed after Musk promoted it.
While it is not yet clear whether this entity will exist within the federal government or outside, an official government agency cannot be created without an act of Congress.
"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the 'Save America' Movement," Trump wrote. "I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans."
The move by Trump marks another deviation from political tradition in assembling a new administration. It's also a continuation of Trump's relationships with Musk and Ramaswamy, businessmen who are both relatively new to politics but have become close allies of the incoming president.
On the campaign trail, Trump spoke of creating a role in the federal government for Musk, who is the richest man in the world and owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X.
Musk has become an increasingly influential voice in conservative politics. He first proposed a "government efficiency commission" that would monitor federal agencies during a conversation he had with Trump on X. Since winning the presidential election, Trump and Musk have remained in close orbit.
The appointment also brings Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, officially into Trump's administration after he was reported to have once been under consideration for vice president.
"We will not go gently," Ramaswamy said in a post on X in response to the news while tagging Musk, who commented separately in Trump's original announcement.
"This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!" Musk said.
While most department heads have to be confirmed by the Senate, it's unclear what formalities Musk and Ramaswamy will have to go through for these roles.
For Musk, having a direct role in the administration raises questions about potential conflicts of interest. He could potentially gain regulatory authority over federal agencies that oversee many of his companies that receive government funding, including Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink. Musk's companies have also been the subject of federal investigations.
Musk and Trump
Musk became a major supporter of Trump in the final leg of his presidential bid, appearing on the campaign trail and spending more than $100 million on organizing efforts through his super PAC, "America PAC." His political contributions went on to surpass the total amount of public donations from the entire oil industry.
Musk's relationship with Trump exists a world apart from the careful way most American CEOs navigate politics — although Musk already has a history of breaking from corporate tradition.
The tech mogul's support for Trump was also a surprising ideological pivot. Musk, who built his vast fortune on electric vehicles with a declared commitment to fighting climate change, is now embracing a politician who consistently dismisses concerns about carbon emissions.
That said, Trump's appreciation was public. On the campaign trail he softened some of his rhetoric against electric vehicles, saying he had "no choice" to be in favor of them after Musk's endorsement. Trump also called Musk a "super genius" in his victory speech and included Musk in a family photo after the election.
Musk went on to weigh in on spending cuts while speaking to Trump supporters at a rally in New York City ahead of Election Day, arguing the budget for the federal government could be significantly shrunk by "at least" $2 trillion.
Cutting costs in business; spending big in politics
He has a record of cutting spending within his businesses. After buying X, he conducted mass layoffs, vastly reducing the size of the company from 8,000 to 1,500 people.
Ahead of Trump's announcement, Musk also said he plans to keep his super PAC active as Republicans gear up for special elections and the midterms.
Like Musk, Ramaswamy has also called for drastic reductions in federal spending.
Until he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in January to endorse Trump, Ramaswamy vowed to reduce the role of the federal government. His policy proposals included slashing the Federal Reserve workforce by at least 90% and deporting American-born children of undocumented immigrants.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Monday, November 11, 2024
Why reviving a 2,600-year-old spiritual practice made my life better
(Illustration by Cornelia Li for The Washington Post)
Every Friday around sunset, I close my laptop. For 24 hours, my work is done. No email. No news. No social media. If it’s work-related, it waits.
What I try to do is — nothing at all. Or, rather, I spend time with people I love, usually outdoors. I swim or surf. I share a meal with friends and family. Sometimes, I just lie on my back in the park enjoying the sun.
It has rekindled a sense of joy I last felt when I was a kid with nothing to do, and gratitude for whatever miraculous series of events led me here to this moment.
For years, this one-day pause seemed untenable. For many, it’s virtually impossible to set aside an entire day for rest free from responsibilities to work and family.
But on the verge of burnout a few years ago, I began to practice a Sabbath. Giving myself permission to stop doing was hard. My brain betrayed my intentions, unconsciously leading me to flick open my phone, check work emails or scurry ahead to a Monday that hadn’t yet begun. Disconnecting took practice, and still does.
What I try to do is — nothing at all. Or, rather, I spend time with people I love, usually outdoors. I swim or surf. I share a meal with friends and family. Sometimes, I just lie on my back in the park enjoying the sun.
It has rekindled a sense of joy I last felt when I was a kid with nothing to do, and gratitude for whatever miraculous series of events led me here to this moment.
For years, this one-day pause seemed untenable. For many, it’s virtually impossible to set aside an entire day for rest free from responsibilities to work and family.
But on the verge of burnout a few years ago, I began to practice a Sabbath. Giving myself permission to stop doing was hard. My brain betrayed my intentions, unconsciously leading me to flick open my phone, check work emails or scurry ahead to a Monday that hadn’t yet begun. Disconnecting took practice, and still does.
COP29 Opens in Azerbaijan With Climate Finance at Top of Agenda
Mukhtar Babayev, president of COP29, during the opening ceremony of the climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Hollie Adams—Bloomberg/Getty Images
November 11, 2024 6:53 AM EST
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Soaring rhetoric, urgent pleas and pledges of cooperation contrasted with a backdrop of seismic political changes, global wars and economic hardships as United Nations annual climate talks began Monday and got right to the hard part: money.
In Baku, Azerbaijan, where the world's first oil well was drilled and the smell of the fuel was noticeable outdoors, the two-week session, called COP29, got right to the major focus of striking a new deal on how many hundreds of billions — or even trillions — of dollars a year will flow from rich nations to poor to try to curb and adapt to climate change.
The money is to help the developing world transition their energy systems away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward clean energy, compensate for climate disasters mostly triggered by carbon pollution from rich nations and adapt to future extreme weather.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Voters Approve State Constitutional Amendments to Enshrine Abortion Rights
11.06.2024
Measures to protect abortion access approved in Colorado, Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York.
©Eric Kayne/AP Images for the Center for Reproductive Rights
Yesterday, millions of people voted to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitutions, approving amendments in seven of 10 states where measures were on the ballot.
In the states with abortion bans and severe restrictions, the amendments will provide a basis for challenging those limitations. In other states, where abortion is legal, amendments will prevent the threat of future interference by state and local governments.
Win in Missouri Could Provide Access Point in the Midwest, While the Southeast’s Abortion Desert Remains
An especially critical amendment approval came in Missouri, where abortion is banned—marking the first time voters in a state with a total abortion ban have successfully amended their constitution to protect reproductive freedom. “This is an especially historic win for Missouri. . . Voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
In Florida, which bans abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy, the measure received 57% of the vote, just short of the 60% threshold needed to pass. As a result, Floridians “must continue to live with the fear, uncertainty, and denial of care caused by the reversal of Roe,” said Northup. “So too will countless women in the southeastern U.S., which will remain for now a virtual abortion desert.”
Yesterday, millions of people voted to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitutions, approving amendments in seven of 10 states where measures were on the ballot.
In the states with abortion bans and severe restrictions, the amendments will provide a basis for challenging those limitations. In other states, where abortion is legal, amendments will prevent the threat of future interference by state and local governments.
Win in Missouri Could Provide Access Point in the Midwest, While the Southeast’s Abortion Desert Remains
An especially critical amendment approval came in Missouri, where abortion is banned—marking the first time voters in a state with a total abortion ban have successfully amended their constitution to protect reproductive freedom. “This is an especially historic win for Missouri. . . Voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
In Florida, which bans abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy, the measure received 57% of the vote, just short of the 60% threshold needed to pass. As a result, Floridians “must continue to live with the fear, uncertainty, and denial of care caused by the reversal of Roe,” said Northup. “So too will countless women in the southeastern U.S., which will remain for now a virtual abortion desert.”
Saturday, November 09, 2024
Friday, November 08, 2024
NYC to end debit card program for migrant families
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Posted: Nov 7, 2024 / 07:47 PM EST
Updated: Nov 8, 2024 / 10:32 AM EST
Editor’s note: The story in the video player aired on July 3, 2024.
NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City will end a pilot program that gave prepaid debit cards to migrant families to help them buy food.
New York City launched the pilot program earlier this year. It allowed migrant families to buy food at grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and bodegas.
“Through the immediate response cards pilot program, we were able to reduce food waste, redirect millions of dollars to our local economy, and provide more culturally relevant food to more than 2,600 migrant families in our care,” a City Hall spokesperson said Thursday.
The City Hall spokesperson said the contract for the pilot program will not be renewed when it ends in January 2025.
“As we move towards more competitive contracting for asylum-seeker programs, we have chosen not to renew the emergency contract for this pilot program once the one-year term concludes,” the City Hall spokesperson said.
The city will instead transition back to food delivery services for migrants in their care in the hotel voucher program, according to the City Hall spokesperson.
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
“For over two years, we have provided care to more than 222,000 migrants while saving $2 billion in asylum seeker-related costs. Thanks to our resettlement efforts, intensive case management, and national-leading Asylum Application Help Center, more than 160,000 migrants have left our shelter system and taken their next steps towards self-sufficiency,” the City Hall spokesperson said.
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.
Black Girl Magic Beaten by White Male Competence
Column
November 6, 2024 by Ann Coulter
In retrospect, maybe running the DEI hire for president was not a good idea.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden’s revenge plan worked perfectly. As reported by The New York Times, after his catastrophic debate, Biden’s White House staff kept presenting congressional Democrats with data proving he still had a much better chance of beating Trump than his vice president did.
Then, the moment he was defenestrated, guess who Biden endorsed? Kamala Harris, the candidate he’d told them could not win. But she was a black lady, so … checkmate!
Inasmuch as the sole motivating factor of the modern Democratic Party is identity politics, Democrats were forced to drop their plans for a stronger candidate, like Govs. Josh Shapiro or Andy Beshear. No Democrat would dare suggest that Kamala was not absolutely the most qualified person for the job. Just look at her — a woman AND a minority!
Harris’ race and gender was how Biden got stuck with her in the first place — an amazing choice for VP, considering that she’d accused him of racism during the primary, and also that she hadn’t won a single vote.
This is how Democrats ended up running a dingbat who’d cheered on the BLM riots, enthusiastically released violent criminals from prison, insisted on taxpayer-funded sex change operations for prisoners and illegal aliens, compared ICE agents to the Ku Klux Klan, completely believed Jussie Smollett’s hoax hate crime, supported defunding the police and said she wanted to decriminalize illegal immigration.
Indeed, Harris was the lead player in the administration’s decision to defy federal law and fling open the border, sending millions of foreign criminals and mental patients to every corner of America.
The Democrats’ obsession with dragging in the third world is itself part of the party’s DEI framework. Why do we have to admit tens of thousands of people from Haiti and the Congo? Because they’re black.
When Biden and Harris came in, DEI was instantly made the priority of every government organ — the military, NASA, FEMA, the judiciary and on and on. An astonishing 66% of Biden’s judicial appointees have been nonwhite. Even Barack Obama only managed to get up to 37%. Biden’s one Supreme Court appointee was, of course, a black woman, despite the fact that only 2% of nation’s lawyers are black women. But he’d promised during the primaries to exclude 98% of lawyers from his consideration.
In congressional testimony, Biden’s FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell — herself a diversity pick — stated that FEMA’s No. 1 goal was to “instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.” She boasted that she was prioritizing the hiring nonwhites. When her agency subsequently failed in its response to Hurricane Helene, Criswell attacked anyone who mentioned her “equity” agenda as spreading “disinformation.”
Earlier this year, the incompetence of the gender-feminist head of the Secret Service nearly got Donald Trump killed, the closest we’ve ever gotten to turning DEI into DOA.
Thus, Kamala is the perfect representative of today’s Democratic Party. Her entire life has been one affirmative action promotion after another. She even got into law school on the basis of her race — as the law school has bragged. And this week, she almost made it to the top on the basis of her race and gender, without doing, let alone achieving, anything.
Harris is not only a beneficiary, but a tragic casualty of affirmative action.
She can’t really be as stupid as she sounds, can she? Consider this classic Kamala philosophizing:
Harris has never had a moment of self-doubt. Why would she? No matter what she did, everyone was always telling her, You go, girl!
Instead of demurring from Biden’s endorsement and suggesting a stronger nominee — perhaps a governor or a Democrat from a red state — Harris accepted her coronation as a matter of right. She then proceeded to run as the Angry Black Woman, backed up by other Angry Black Women, like Michelle Obama and Oprah, hectoring voters to make her president.
That always works on Democrats, so why not the electorate?
The problem with liberals using intimidation tactics to bully people into staying quiet about the incompetence of DEI hires is that the only way they ever had to register an objection was in the privacy of a voting booth. And on Tuesday, boy, did they .…
COPYRIGHT 2024 ANN COULTER
In retrospect, maybe running the DEI hire for president was not a good idea.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden’s revenge plan worked perfectly. As reported by The New York Times, after his catastrophic debate, Biden’s White House staff kept presenting congressional Democrats with data proving he still had a much better chance of beating Trump than his vice president did.
Then, the moment he was defenestrated, guess who Biden endorsed? Kamala Harris, the candidate he’d told them could not win. But she was a black lady, so … checkmate!
Inasmuch as the sole motivating factor of the modern Democratic Party is identity politics, Democrats were forced to drop their plans for a stronger candidate, like Govs. Josh Shapiro or Andy Beshear. No Democrat would dare suggest that Kamala was not absolutely the most qualified person for the job. Just look at her — a woman AND a minority!
Harris’ race and gender was how Biden got stuck with her in the first place — an amazing choice for VP, considering that she’d accused him of racism during the primary, and also that she hadn’t won a single vote.
This is how Democrats ended up running a dingbat who’d cheered on the BLM riots, enthusiastically released violent criminals from prison, insisted on taxpayer-funded sex change operations for prisoners and illegal aliens, compared ICE agents to the Ku Klux Klan, completely believed Jussie Smollett’s hoax hate crime, supported defunding the police and said she wanted to decriminalize illegal immigration.
Indeed, Harris was the lead player in the administration’s decision to defy federal law and fling open the border, sending millions of foreign criminals and mental patients to every corner of America.
The Democrats’ obsession with dragging in the third world is itself part of the party’s DEI framework. Why do we have to admit tens of thousands of people from Haiti and the Congo? Because they’re black.
When Biden and Harris came in, DEI was instantly made the priority of every government organ — the military, NASA, FEMA, the judiciary and on and on. An astonishing 66% of Biden’s judicial appointees have been nonwhite. Even Barack Obama only managed to get up to 37%. Biden’s one Supreme Court appointee was, of course, a black woman, despite the fact that only 2% of nation’s lawyers are black women. But he’d promised during the primaries to exclude 98% of lawyers from his consideration.
In congressional testimony, Biden’s FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell — herself a diversity pick — stated that FEMA’s No. 1 goal was to “instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.” She boasted that she was prioritizing the hiring nonwhites. When her agency subsequently failed in its response to Hurricane Helene, Criswell attacked anyone who mentioned her “equity” agenda as spreading “disinformation.”
Earlier this year, the incompetence of the gender-feminist head of the Secret Service nearly got Donald Trump killed, the closest we’ve ever gotten to turning DEI into DOA.
Thus, Kamala is the perfect representative of today’s Democratic Party. Her entire life has been one affirmative action promotion after another. She even got into law school on the basis of her race — as the law school has bragged. And this week, she almost made it to the top on the basis of her race and gender, without doing, let alone achieving, anything.
Harris is not only a beneficiary, but a tragic casualty of affirmative action.
She can’t really be as stupid as she sounds, can she? Consider this classic Kamala philosophizing:
“We were all doing a tour of the library here and talking about the significance of the passage of time. Right? The significance of the passage of time. So, when you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time in terms of what we need to do to lay these wires, what we need to do to create these jobs. And there is such great significance to the passage of time.”As you can see, she’s a loon, but we were required to act as if she was Zarathustra, her every utterance profound. It’s the same phenomenon that leads rich or very good-looking people to develop such terrific personalities. Except in this case, the constant flattery is being done to a whole race.
Harris has never had a moment of self-doubt. Why would she? No matter what she did, everyone was always telling her, You go, girl!
Instead of demurring from Biden’s endorsement and suggesting a stronger nominee — perhaps a governor or a Democrat from a red state — Harris accepted her coronation as a matter of right. She then proceeded to run as the Angry Black Woman, backed up by other Angry Black Women, like Michelle Obama and Oprah, hectoring voters to make her president.
That always works on Democrats, so why not the electorate?
The problem with liberals using intimidation tactics to bully people into staying quiet about the incompetence of DEI hires is that the only way they ever had to register an objection was in the privacy of a voting booth. And on Tuesday, boy, did they .…
COPYRIGHT 2024 ANN COULTER
43 escaped research monkeys still loose in South Carolina after caretaker failed to shut two doors
Locals were urged to lock windows and doors and not to interact with the monkeys.
A Rhesus macaque rescued from a research laboratory in France in 2019.Jean-Francois Monier / AFP via Getty Images file
Nov. 8, 2024, 8:59 AM EST
By Patrick Smith and Austin Mullen
Police are still searching for 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina on Wednesday, as the head of the company revealed that the outbreak happened when a staff member failed to secure a door properly.
Police in Yemassee, Beaufort County, confirmed Thursday night that the primates were in the wooded region surrounding the Alpha Genesis facility, in a rural area on the edge of Yamassee.
Locals were urged to lock windows and doors and not to interact with the monkeys and instead call 911 immediately upon spotting any of the escaped primates. "These animals are highly sensitive and easily startled, we recommend that the public avoid the area to prevent frightening them further," police said.
"The staff at Alpha Genesis are currently attempting to entice the animals back using food in order to ensure their safe capture," the police statement said.
The company hopes that one-way traps containing apples will entice the animals.
Police also said Thursday that the monkeys were very young females weighing just 6 to 7 lbs. The company told the police that the animals were too young to carry disease, although it's unclear whether this means they are incapable of contracting disease or simply hadn't been introduced into any clinical trials.
Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, told NBC News via email: "The incident yesterday involved a new enclosure, and occurred because the caretaker who was doing routine cleaning and feeding failed to secure two separate doors. It was purely human error."
It is not the first time monkeys have escaped the facility — a total of 11 managed to break out in 2022, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture documents. Westergaard said they managed to find a seam in chain link fabric, but didn't leave the property and were quickly rounded up.
Alpha Genesis carries out medical research for a range of clients for several conditions, including brain disorders. The company secured a federal contract to run a colony of 3,500 monkeys on Morgan Island off the coast of South Carolina, also known as Monkey Island.
Meanwhile, animal rights advocates have raised concerns over the ethics of using primates in medical research on such a scale.
Kathleen Conlee, VP of animal research issues for the Humane Society of the United States, a nonprofit based in Washington, previously worked at the facility in Beaufort County when it was owned by a different company and called for an end to monkey testing.
"These intelligent, social animals deserve protection, not exploitation. Congress must reject further investments in primate research infrastructure and instead focus on funding ethical, non-animal alternatives that are more effective, humane and cost taxpayers less money," she said in a statement.
Lisa Jones-Engel, a primate scientist with the animals rights pressure group PETA, said in a statement: "The monkey experimentation industry has consistently failed to improve human health, and instead their actions continue to put the public at risk."
Nov. 8, 2024, 8:59 AM EST
By Patrick Smith and Austin Mullen
Police are still searching for 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina on Wednesday, as the head of the company revealed that the outbreak happened when a staff member failed to secure a door properly.
Police in Yemassee, Beaufort County, confirmed Thursday night that the primates were in the wooded region surrounding the Alpha Genesis facility, in a rural area on the edge of Yamassee.
Locals were urged to lock windows and doors and not to interact with the monkeys and instead call 911 immediately upon spotting any of the escaped primates. "These animals are highly sensitive and easily startled, we recommend that the public avoid the area to prevent frightening them further," police said.
"The staff at Alpha Genesis are currently attempting to entice the animals back using food in order to ensure their safe capture," the police statement said.
The company hopes that one-way traps containing apples will entice the animals.
Police also said Thursday that the monkeys were very young females weighing just 6 to 7 lbs. The company told the police that the animals were too young to carry disease, although it's unclear whether this means they are incapable of contracting disease or simply hadn't been introduced into any clinical trials.
Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, told NBC News via email: "The incident yesterday involved a new enclosure, and occurred because the caretaker who was doing routine cleaning and feeding failed to secure two separate doors. It was purely human error."
It is not the first time monkeys have escaped the facility — a total of 11 managed to break out in 2022, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture documents. Westergaard said they managed to find a seam in chain link fabric, but didn't leave the property and were quickly rounded up.
Alpha Genesis carries out medical research for a range of clients for several conditions, including brain disorders. The company secured a federal contract to run a colony of 3,500 monkeys on Morgan Island off the coast of South Carolina, also known as Monkey Island.
Meanwhile, animal rights advocates have raised concerns over the ethics of using primates in medical research on such a scale.
Kathleen Conlee, VP of animal research issues for the Humane Society of the United States, a nonprofit based in Washington, previously worked at the facility in Beaufort County when it was owned by a different company and called for an end to monkey testing.
"These intelligent, social animals deserve protection, not exploitation. Congress must reject further investments in primate research infrastructure and instead focus on funding ethical, non-animal alternatives that are more effective, humane and cost taxpayers less money," she said in a statement.
Lisa Jones-Engel, a primate scientist with the animals rights pressure group PETA, said in a statement: "The monkey experimentation industry has consistently failed to improve human health, and instead their actions continue to put the public at risk."
'Put that everywhere': Steve Bannon admits 'Project 2025 is the agenda' after Trump wins
David Edwards
November 6, 2024 11:41AM ET
Real America's Voice/screen grab
Right-wing pundits admitted that a controversial plan to reshape the country called Project 2025 is Donald Trump's agenda after he won the 2024 presidential election.
On his daily War Room podcast, host Steve Bannon agreed with conservative pundit Matt Walsh, who made the admission on social media.
"Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda," Walsh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Right-wing pundits admitted that a controversial plan to reshape the country called Project 2025 is Donald Trump's agenda after he won the 2024 presidential election.
On his daily War Room podcast, host Steve Bannon agreed with conservative pundit Matt Walsh, who made the admission on social media.
"Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda," Walsh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Bannon sought to spread Walsh's message.
"Matt Walsh, I think, is a very smart and funny guy," Bannon said before amplifying the social media post. "Now that the election is over, I think we can finally say that, yeah, actually, Project 2025 is the agenda."
ALSO READ: 'Bloodbath': Inside the MAGA playbook for mayhem after Election Day
"Fabulous," the conservative host laughed as he instructed his staff to re-post the sentiment on social media channels.
"Put that everywhere," he said.
Watch the video below from Real America's Voice or click the link.
Thursday, November 07, 2024
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Tuesday, November 05, 2024
The Enemy From Within : The Secret Shadow Campaign That Interfered In The 2020 Election, Plotted To An Insurrection, and Pre-Planned Jan 6th---Poised To Steal The 2024 Election
The Enemy From Within : The Secret Shadow Campaign That Interfered In The 2020 Election, Plotted To An Insurrection, and Pre-Planned Jan 6th---Poised To Steal The 2024 Election
Zoom videos and internal documents evidence radical leftwing activists worked with NGO's and federal bureaucrats in a plot to overthrow President Trump during the 2020 election and pre-planned to take over the US Capitol on January 6th to disrupt the electoral count. A multi-year investigation indicates this shadow network is poised to do it all over again during the 2024 election.
Investigative journalist Millie Weaver conducted an investigation into a youth led climate activist organization called the Sunrise Movement and successfully infiltrated the organization. The Sunrise movements internal organizational structured relied heavily on a massive web of interconnected Google docs and Zoom calls meetings for plannings and trainings. This model for organizing was prolific amongst other leftist groups subsequently infiltrated by Weavers team. Once inside the Sunrise Movement, Weaver's team discovered that the Sunrise Movement was partnered with a Spokes Council, lead by a radical street activist group called ShutDownDC. The Spokes Council consisted of dozens of other organizations including most notably: ShutDown DC, BLM, Democrat Socialists of America, Extinction Rebellion, Refuse Fascism, Hold The Line, Beautiful Trouble, Spaces In Action, Feds For Democracy, and Refuse Fascism, just to name a few.
Monday, November 04, 2024
Guy Fawkes Day: A Brief History
Guy Fawkes Day: A Brief History
The British holiday, celebrated with fireworks and bonfires, commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
By: Jesse Greenspan
Updated: July 25, 2023 | Original: November 5, 2012
Teesside Archive/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Observed in the United Kingdom every year on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day—also called Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night—commemorates a failed assassination attempt from more than 400 years ago.
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of radical English Catholics tried to assassinate King James I by blowing up Parliament's House of Lords. The plot went awry and all of the conspirators were executed. Soon after, Britons began to celebrate Fawkes' demise and the survival of their king by burning effigies, lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks—a tradition that has continued to this day.
British Parliament
Background to the Gunpowder Plot
Catholicism in England was heavily repressed under Queen Elizabeth I, particularly after the pope excommunicated her in 1570. During her reign, dozens of priests were put to death, and Catholics could not even legally celebrate Mass or be married according to their own rites. As a result, many Catholics had high hopes when King James I took the throne upon Elizabeth’s death in 1603. James’ wife, Anne, is believed to have previously converted to Catholicism, and his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth’s Catholic arch-rival prior to being executed. There were even rumors, inspired by his diplomatic overtures to the pope, that James himself would become Catholic.
It soon became clear, however, that James did not support religious tolerance for Catholics. In 1604 he publicly condemned Catholicism as a superstition, ordered all Catholic priests to leave England and expressed concern that the number of Catholics was increasing. He also largely continued with the repressive policies of his predecessor, such as fines for those refusing to attend Protestant services.
English Catholics had organized several failed conspiracies against Elizabeth, and these continued under James. In 1603 a few priests and laymen hatched the so-called Bye Plot to kidnap James, only to be turned in by fellow Catholics. Another related conspiracy that year, known as the Main Plot, sought to kill James and install his cousin on the throne. Then, in May 1604, a handful of Catholic dissidents—Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby, Tom Wintour, Jack Wright and Thomas Percy—met at the Duck and Drake Inn in London, where Catesby proposed a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder. Afterward, all five men purportedly swore an oath of secrecy upon a prayer book.
Observed in the United Kingdom every year on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day—also called Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night—commemorates a failed assassination attempt from more than 400 years ago.
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of radical English Catholics tried to assassinate King James I by blowing up Parliament's House of Lords. The plot went awry and all of the conspirators were executed. Soon after, Britons began to celebrate Fawkes' demise and the survival of their king by burning effigies, lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks—a tradition that has continued to this day.
British Parliament
Background to the Gunpowder Plot
Catholicism in England was heavily repressed under Queen Elizabeth I, particularly after the pope excommunicated her in 1570. During her reign, dozens of priests were put to death, and Catholics could not even legally celebrate Mass or be married according to their own rites. As a result, many Catholics had high hopes when King James I took the throne upon Elizabeth’s death in 1603. James’ wife, Anne, is believed to have previously converted to Catholicism, and his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth’s Catholic arch-rival prior to being executed. There were even rumors, inspired by his diplomatic overtures to the pope, that James himself would become Catholic.
It soon became clear, however, that James did not support religious tolerance for Catholics. In 1604 he publicly condemned Catholicism as a superstition, ordered all Catholic priests to leave England and expressed concern that the number of Catholics was increasing. He also largely continued with the repressive policies of his predecessor, such as fines for those refusing to attend Protestant services.
English Catholics had organized several failed conspiracies against Elizabeth, and these continued under James. In 1603 a few priests and laymen hatched the so-called Bye Plot to kidnap James, only to be turned in by fellow Catholics. Another related conspiracy that year, known as the Main Plot, sought to kill James and install his cousin on the throne. Then, in May 1604, a handful of Catholic dissidents—Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby, Tom Wintour, Jack Wright and Thomas Percy—met at the Duck and Drake Inn in London, where Catesby proposed a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder. Afterward, all five men purportedly swore an oath of secrecy upon a prayer book.
The Gunpowder Plot Is Hatched—Then Foiled
Eight other conspirators would later join what became known as the Gunpowder Plot. But although Catesby was the ringleader, Fawkes has garnered most of the publicity over the past 400-plus years. Born in 1570 in York, England, Fawkes spent about a decade fighting for Spain against Protestant rebels in the Spanish-controlled Netherlands. He also personally petitioned the king of Spain for help in starting an English rebellion against James. According to writings in the Spanish archives, Fawkes believed the English king was a heretic who would drive out his Catholic subjects. Fawkes also apparently expressed strong anti-Scottish prejudices.
By 1605, Fawkes was calling himself Guido rather than Guy. He also used the alias John Johnson while serving as caretaker of a cellar—located just below the House of Lords—that the plotters had leased in order to stockpile gunpowder. Under the plan, Fawkes would light a fuse on November 5, 1605, during the opening of a new session of Parliament. James, his eldest son, the House of Lords and the House of Commons would all be blown sky-high. In the meantime, as Fawkes escaped by boat across the River Thames, his fellow conspirators would start an uprising in the English Midlands, kidnap James’ daughter Elizabeth, install her as a puppet queen and eventually marry her off to a Catholic, thereby restoring the Catholic monarchy.
Gunpowder Plot
Robert Catesby What became known as the Gunpowder Plot was organized by Robert Catesby, a devout English Catholic whose father had been persecuted by Queen Elizabeth I for refusing to conform to the Church of England. Guy Fawkes, born in York in 1570, was a convert to Catholicism, and his religious zeal led him to […]
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6 Infamous Political Conspiracies
From an ancient Roman coup d’état to the Lincoln assassination, get the facts on six of history’s most notorious political plots.
Read more
On October 26, an anonymous letter advising a Catholic sympathizer to avoid the State Opening of Parliament alerted the authorities to the existence of a plot. To this day, no one knows for sure who wrote the letter. Some historians have even suggested that it was fabricated and that the authorities already knew of the Gunpowder Plot, only letting it progress as an excuse to further crack down on Catholicism.
Either way, a search party found Fawkes skulking in his cellar around midnight on November 4, with matches in his pocket and 36 barrels of gunpowder stacked next to him. For Fawkes, the plot’s failure could be blamed on “the devil and not God.” He was taken to the Tower of London and tortured upon the special order of King James. Soon after, his co-conspirators were likewise arrested, except for four, including Catesby, who died in a shootout with English troops.
Fawkes and his surviving co-conspirators were all found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death in January 1606 by hanging, drawing and quartering. A Jesuit priest was also executed a few months later for his alleged involvement, even as new laws banned Catholics from voting in elections, practicing law or serving in the military. In fact, Catholics were not fully emancipated in England until the 19th century.
Guy Fawkes Day Becomes a Holiday
After the plot was revealed, Londoners began lighting celebratory bonfires, and in January 1606 an act of Parliament designated November 5 as a day of thanksgiving. Guy Fawkes Day festivities soon spread as far as the American colonies, where they became known as Pope Day. In keeping with the anti-Catholic sentiment of the time, British subjects on both sides of the Atlantic would burn an effigy of the pope.
That tradition completely died out in the United States by the 19th century, whereas in Britain Guy Fawkes Day became a time to get together with friends and family, set off fireworks, light bonfires, attend parades and burn effigies of Fawkes. Children traditionally wheeled around their effigies demanding a “penny for the Guy” (a similar custom to Halloween trick-or-treating) and imploring crowds to “remember, remember the fifth of November.”
Guy Fawkes himself, meanwhile, has undergone something of a makeover. Once known as a notorious traitor, he is now portrayed in some circles as a revolutionary hero, largely due to the influence of the 1980s graphic novel “V for Vendetta” and the 2005 movie of the same name, which depicted a protagonist who wore a Guy Fawkes mask while battling a future fascist government in Britain.
Guy Fawkes masks even cropped up at Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City and elsewhere. “Every generation reinvents Guy Fawkes to suit their needs,” explained historian William B. Robison of Southeastern Louisiana University. “But Fawkes was just one of the flunkies. It really should be Robert Catesby Day.”
Truth Under Fire - AD's official Response to Speculations about our Beliefs
P.S.
The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.
Selected Messages Vol.1, p.204.2.
Sunday, November 03, 2024
National Guard troops on standby in Washington state, Oregon and Nevada as a precaution for ‘potential’ election unrest
By Amanda Musa, CNN
4 minute read
Published 3:08 PM EDT, Sat November 2, 2024
Washington National Guard personnel walk on the Washington State Capitol campus on January 20, 2021 in Olympia, United States. David Ryder/Getty Images
CNN —
Ahead of potential civil unrest due to Tuesday’s presidential election, the National Guard is on standby as a precaution in several states, including Washington state and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three ballot drop boxes were recently set on fire, officials say.
Almost all the ballots set ablaze on Monday were in a drop box in Vancouver, Washington, while most ballots in a drop box in Portland, Oregon, survived a fire set the same day, election officials said. The incidents are believed to be connected to a third fire on October 8, also in Vancouver. Portland police released a physical description of a suspect but said they’ve not identified him.
CNN —
Ahead of potential civil unrest due to Tuesday’s presidential election, the National Guard is on standby as a precaution in several states, including Washington state and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three ballot drop boxes were recently set on fire, officials say.
Almost all the ballots set ablaze on Monday were in a drop box in Vancouver, Washington, while most ballots in a drop box in Portland, Oregon, survived a fire set the same day, election officials said. The incidents are believed to be connected to a third fire on October 8, also in Vancouver. Portland police released a physical description of a suspect but said they’ve not identified him.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee addressed the ballot box fires in a news release Friday announcing the National Guard being placed on standby, saying, “The southwest region of Washington state has already experienced specific instances of election-related unrest.”
Texas AG says Catholic charity is smuggling migrants into US, runs ‘stash house’
By
Isabel Vincent
Published Nov. 3, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
The Texas Attorney General is demanding accountability from Annunciation House, a Catholic charity it says facilitates the illegal entry of migrants into the US.
James Breeden for NY Post
A charity run shelter in El Paso, Texas stands accused of “planning and facilitating” illegal migrants to cross over the border from Mexico into the US, according to court documents.
The accusation of brazen illegality is part of a suit filed by the state Attorney General Ken Paxton against Annunciation House, a Catholic group who run a handful of shelters providing temporary housing to migrants who have illegally crossed into the US.
Paxton launched an investigation earlier this year into the charity, demanding the immediate release of documentation about its migrant clients, which it has refused to do.
“Annunciation House publicly depicts itself as a humble organization dedicated to ‘simply liv[ing] the Good News of the Gospel’ and providing ‘compassion and freedom’ to ‘outcast[s] or alien[s],'” papers filed in year in El Paso County Court say, adding: “The actual operations of Annunciation House are quite different.
A charity run shelter in El Paso, Texas stands accused of “planning and facilitating” illegal migrants to cross over the border from Mexico into the US, according to court documents.
The accusation of brazen illegality is part of a suit filed by the state Attorney General Ken Paxton against Annunciation House, a Catholic group who run a handful of shelters providing temporary housing to migrants who have illegally crossed into the US.
Paxton launched an investigation earlier this year into the charity, demanding the immediate release of documentation about its migrant clients, which it has refused to do.
“Annunciation House publicly depicts itself as a humble organization dedicated to ‘simply liv[ing] the Good News of the Gospel’ and providing ‘compassion and freedom’ to ‘outcast[s] or alien[s],'” papers filed in year in El Paso County Court say, adding: “The actual operations of Annunciation House are quite different.
Migrants in El Paso head to a local church shelter after arriving El Paso from Colombia and Venezuela in March.
James Breeden/NY Post
“Annunciation House staff … made multiple admissions that they had assisted migrants in the past in the United States who had not surrendered to Border Patrol, had assisted persons in Mexico in crossing over to the United States in the past, and they intended to continue these activities in the future.
The shelters are run by Ruben Garcia, a Catholic activist who has been likened to a living saint for helping migrants in El Paso for nearly 50 years.
But Paxton alleges he his organization is involved in human smuggling and further accuses the group of “boasting” that it helps “migrants who avoided Border Patrol when crossing the Rio Grande, out of fear that agents would send them back to Mexico.”
“Annunciation House contracts with a local company once or twice a week to transport migrants in passenger vans in groups of approximately 15,” court papers say.
“Annunciation House staff … made multiple admissions that they had assisted migrants in the past in the United States who had not surrendered to Border Patrol, had assisted persons in Mexico in crossing over to the United States in the past, and they intended to continue these activities in the future.
The shelters are run by Ruben Garcia, a Catholic activist who has been likened to a living saint for helping migrants in El Paso for nearly 50 years.
But Paxton alleges he his organization is involved in human smuggling and further accuses the group of “boasting” that it helps “migrants who avoided Border Patrol when crossing the Rio Grande, out of fear that agents would send them back to Mexico.”
“Annunciation House contracts with a local company once or twice a week to transport migrants in passenger vans in groups of approximately 15,” court papers say.
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