GO TRUMP GO ..... I LIKE CHEESESTEAKS TOO

Trump vows to 'liberate our children from Marxist lunatics and perverts who have infested our educational system' at Moms for Liberty summit in Philly - before paying a visit to iconic Pat's cheesesteaks

 

By Stephen M. Lepore

 

Daily Mail

June 30, 2023

 

During his remarks, Trump praised Moms for Liberty as 'joyful warriors' as he headlined their annual conference Friday 

 

Former President Donald Trump made an impassioned promise to his supporters at the Moms for Liberty summit in Philadelphia on Friday night in which he vowed to 'liberate our children from the Marxist lunatics and perverts who have infested our educational system.' 

Trump went on to promise to cut funding for programs that he deemed to be 'pushing critical race theory, transgender, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content' if he were elected again in 2024. 

At one point Trump remarked: 'Don't mess with America's moms. Out beloved nation is teetering on the edge of tyranny.'

The ex-president added that would leave education decisions to be made by states because of 'radical left socialism' and that his Department of Justice would investigated violations of his policies. 

'Instead of taking their children to church, they believe in taking children to drag shows. Instead of teaching them to say their prayers, they teach them to recite their pronouns,' he said. 

Trump later stopped off at Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia after his address at the 'Moms for Liberty' event where according to reports, he signed at least one copy of his bestselling book The Art of the Deal for a police supervisor. 

During his remarks, Trump praised Moms for Liberty as 'joyful warriors' as he headlined their annual conference Friday and criticized what he called an unfair depiction of the group. 

'But Moms for Liberty is no hate group,' he said. 'You are joyful warriors, you are fierce, fierce patriots. You´re not a threat to America. You´re the best thing that´s ever happened to America.'

'Joe Biden and the Democrat communists are the threat to America. And together, we are going to throw them out of office on Election Day of 2024,' the former Apprentice host added. 

Trump went on to pledge to enforce the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action while also touting his appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett during the stump address and bragging about their recent decisions. 

 'You know, many presidents never get the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court justice. I had three, they are gold! [Democrats] are not happy about that,' Trump said of his justice appointments.  

'And maybe we'll three or four more. Let's have seven or eight or maybe even nine.'

It's unclear if Trump - running for the Republican nomination again in 2024 - meant he wanted to expand the Supreme Court or merely make it so that all of the justices could be appointed by him. 

Republicans have often criticized Democrats for trying to expand the court or alter the way in which justices are appointed in the wake of decisions they have derided, including the affirmative action one and others that have ended Roe vs. Wade and set back LGBTQ+ rights.

Trump previously praised the affirmative action decision on Truth Social Thursday. 

'This is a great day for America,' he wrote. 'People with extraordinary ability and everything else necessary for success, including future greatness for our Country, are finally being rewarded. This is the ruling everyone was waiting and hoping for and the result was amazing.' 

'It will also keep us competitive with the rest of the world. Our greatest minds must be cherished and that’s what this wonderful day has brought. We’re going back to all merit-based - and that’s the way it should be!'

Pat's is one of the two major infamous cheesesteak eateries in the City of Brotherly Love, in an eternal rivalry with nearby Geno's. 

Moms for Liberty was founded during the pandemic by Florida mothers concerned about the direction of their children's education.

It has since expanded to numerous chapters across the country, including in Pennsylvania, seen as a key state for Trump to flip back in his column in 2024. 

 

Former President Donald Trump visits Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia 

Pat's is one of the two major infamous cheesesteak eateries in the City of Brotherly Love, in an eternal rivalry with nearby Geno's

 

The two-year-old group, which was founded in Florida in 2021 to fight local COVID school mask mandates and quarantine requirements, has quickly become a force in conservative politics as an advocate for 'parental rights.' 

But it has also been accused of preaching hate, with the Southern Poverty Law Center recently labeling it an 'extremist' group for allegedly harassing community members, advancing anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation and fighting to scrub diverse and inclusive material from lesson plans.

The conference, being held at a downtown Philadelphia hotel, has nonetheless drawn leading Republican presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running second to Trump and kicked off the gathering by casting 2024 as the year that parents 'finally fight back.'

DeSantis praised the group for 'coming under attack by the left,' saying it was 'a sign that we are winning this fight.' 

He ran through his efforts in Florida to ban discussions of race and sexual identity in classrooms as well as certain books from school libraries. And he pledged to 'fight the woke' as president.

'I think what we´ve seen across this country in recent years has awakened the most powerful political force in the country: Mama bears. And they´re ready to roll,' he said, predicting moms would be 'the key political force for this 2024 cycle.'

'2024 is going to be the year when the parents across the country finally fight back,' he said.

The Southern Poverty Law Center added the organization, among others, to their 'Hate Map' as part of the release of their 'Year In Hate and Extremism 2022' report. 

It has attracted national media attention for its efforts fighting COVID restrictions in schools and limiting discussions about race, sexuality, and gender in elementary school classrooms.

According to the organization's mission statement, Moms for Liberty was founded in 2021 to 'unify, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.' 

 

Trump was touting his appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett during the stump address and bragging about their recent decisions, including the one ending affirmative action at American universities, when he said he hoped he could appoint even if he wins in 2024

It's unclear if Trump - running for the Republican nomination again in 2024 - meant he wanted to expand the Supreme Court or merely make it so that all of the justices could be appointed by him

The conference, being held at a downtown Philadelphia hotel, has nonetheless drawn leading Republican presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , who is running second to Trump and kicked off the gathering by casting 2024 as the year that parents 'finally fight back'

 

Despite opposition from groups like the SPLC, Justice said that she and her fellow Moms for Liberty are not discouraged and plan to keep up the energy.

'We are joyful warriors. We're not going to stop. I mean, no one's going to fight for anything like a parent's going to fight for their child. And, you know, we are moms and dads that are concerned about the future of the country,' she said.

The SPLC report said: 'Moms for Liberty activities make it clear that the group's primary goals are to fuel right-wing hysteria and to make the world a less comfortable or safe place for certain students – primarily those who are Black, LGBTQ or who come from LGBTQ families.'

President and CEO of the SPLC and SPLC Action Fund, Margaret Huang, claimed the goal of the report is to take 'the most hateful factions in our country' and ultimately dismantle white supremacy.

We are exposing a concerted effort by hate groups and extremist actors to terrorize communities and gain control of public institutions by any means necessary.

'These groups are descending on Main Street America and disrupting people's daily lives, too often with dire consequences for communities of color, Jewish people, and the LGBTQ+ community.'

Justice and fellow Moms of Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich blasted the decision to label their organization a 'hate group'

'Two-thirds of Americans think the public education system is on the wrong track today. That is why our organization is devoted to empowering parents to be a part of their child's public school education,' they said in a statement to Fox News.

 

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia

Trump accused the 'radical left' of 'slandering Moms for Liberty as a so-called hate group.'

 

'That is our fundamental goal, which began just two years ago when teacher's unions locked students out of schools during the pandemic.

'Empowering parents continues to be our mission today and that has fueled our organization's growth - like wildfire to now 45 states in the country.'

'We believe that parental rights do not stop at the classroom door and no amount of hate from groups like this is going to stop that.'

Moms for Liberty joins is one of 11 other right-wing parents rights' groups listed in the annual report.

Trump, too, accused the 'radical left' of 'slandering Moms for Liberty as a so-called hate group.'

'But Moms for Liberty is no hate group,' he said. 'You are joyful warriors, you are fierce, fierce patriots. You´re not a threat to America. You´re the best thing that´s ever happened to America.' 

'Joe Biden and the Democrat communists are the threat to America. And together, we are going to throw them out of office on Election Day of 2024.'

The high interest in the event among GOP hopefuls underscores the influence of Moms for Liberty, which has made connections with powerful GOP organizations, politicians and donors to become a major player in 2024. 

 

The high interest in the event among GOP hopefuls underscores the influence of Moms for Liberty, which has made connections with powerful GOP organizations, politicians and donors to become a major player in 2024

President Donald Trump speaks during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

 

The group has said it doesn't plan to endorse any presidential candidate in the primary election.

They have transformed from three Florida moms opposing COVID-19 mandates in 2021 to claiming 285 chapters across 45 states. 

Along the way, it has found a close ally in DeSantis, who was presented with a 'liberty sword' at the group's first annual meeting last year and has signed multiple bills that Moms for Liberty supported.

Beyond remarks from the candidates and other speakers, the summit will feature strategy sessions on such topics as 'protecting kids from gender ideology' and 'comprehensive sex education: sex ed or sexualization.'

Summit attendees said they liked what they were hearing so far.

'I love Moms for Liberty,' said Debbie McGinley, who is running for the school board in Methacton School District outside Philadelphia. 

As a parent of three kids who lost her business as a hairdresser during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she appreciated that the group is 'fighting for our kids.'

Lucy Reyna, a treasurer for a local Moms for Liberty chapter in Indiana, said she traveled to the conference to learn more about the national organization.

 

The self-labeled 'parental rights' summit is bringing school board hopefuls from across the country where attendees will receive training and hear from Republican presidential candidates

Trump discussed his nominations for Supreme Court justices during the speech

 

'What am I a part of? I need to know those things,' Reyna said, adding that if the group leaned too partisan in one direction, it would make her reconsider her participation.

Outside, roughly 100 parent activists and LGBTQ+ advocates gathered to protest, citing the Southern Poverty Law Center´s designation of the group as an 'anti-government extremist' organization. 

They chanted, 'Not in our city' and 'Let's say gay' while holding signs that read, 'Hate is not patriotic' and 'Philly is the LGBTQest city.'

Some protesters said specific incidents prompted their activism, including an Indiana Moms for Liberty chapter publishing an Adolf Hitler quote in its newsletter before apologizing and removing it, and a Tennessee chapter complaining about lessons on Black civil rights figures Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges.

'I think they stand for fear. And that turns into hate very quickly,' said Molly Roses, a Philadelphia resident who joined the protest.

In the days before the conference, several historical associations, state senators, activists and employees at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution had pleaded unsuccessfully with the museum to cancel a welcome event for the conference Thursday night. The event went on as planned.

AL SHARPTON CANNOT GRAB HIS TOOTHPASTE OFF THE SHELVE BECAUST IT'S UNDER OCK AND KEY

Shoplifting in NYC is so bad supermarkets are locking up, installing anti-theft devices on $6 ice cream: ‘This is the age we live in now’ 

 

By Joyce Cohen, Desheania Andrews, Craig McCarthy and Natalie O'Neill

 

New York Post 

June 30, 2023

 

Shops are locking up ice cream freezer with chain.

Freeze, thieves!

Shoplifters are running so wild in the Big Apple that pints of high-end ice cream now have special locked lids to thwart cold-hearted crooks.

The Fairway supermarket on the Upper West Side is guarding $6 cartons of Häagen-Dazs with bolted plastic tops — which can only be removed with a device at the register — as other shops padlocked freezers of the treats.

A sign at Fairway gives shoppers the scoop on why there’s now a barrier on the popular summertime sweets.

“To help maintain the lowest possible cost, a protective lock has been placed on some units of ice cream,” it reads.

“This lock will be removed at checkout by a store associate. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

Customers at the store, at Broadway and 74th Street, called the goodie-guarding gadget a sign of the times.

 

The Fairway supermarket on the Upper West Side uses locked ice cream lids to stop shoplifters.

 

“This is the age we live in now, unfortunately. This is the New York that we know,” said a producer, who was shopping in the freezer section Friday.

“This has nothing to do with anything other than people coming in and ripping off places that are trying to make money.”

A cashier told The Post the ice cream is delivered with the clear locked lids already in place, and that they can be popped off with a round plastic device.

 The locked lids have to be removed with a device at the register.

 

“It’s pretty easy to come off with what we use,” the worker said.

Other Manhattan stores also had ice cream under lock and key, including the Duane Reade at Broadway and 71st Street, which fastened a chain across a freezer door with a padlock.

The convenience store fastened a chain across a freezer door with a padlock to protect tubs of Breyers along with Oreo Cookie ice cream sandwiches and other frozen desserts.

“People used to come with garbage bags and fill up the garbage bags with ice cream. Clear out our freezers,” an employee at the shop said.

The Duane Reade on  East 53rd Street and Third Avenue also began padlocking a freezer to keep thieves from snatching ice cream such as Haagen-Daz and Magnum bars, a worker there told The Post.

“We had to put the locks on because people kept stealing our Red Bull and Ice cream out the fridge,” the employee said.

The CVS on Second Avenue and 51st Street in Midtown also had built-in locks placed on freezer doors last month, which customers called inconvenient.

“Having to wait for an available worker to get my ice cream is a turn off,” one shopper Martin, 53, told The Post.

 

                                  

                    Shoplifting rates have soared in NYC since the pandemic   

 

Shopkeepers are screaming over ice cream bandits as overall shoplifting rates soar citywide — with 13,738 retail thefts reported in the first quarter of 2023, the most recent available NYPD data.

By contrast, an average of just 8,750 retail thefts were reported quarterly in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the city, according to the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The shoplifting crisis was fueled in part by the state’s controversial 2019 bail reform law, which requires judges to cut loose criminals who commit misdemeanors and some nonviolent felonies, critics say.

The soft-on-crime approach encourages repeat theft, according to police — who reported that nearly a third of all shoplifting busts last year involved the same 327 people, who were rearrested thousands of times.

Sweet-toothed swindlers have pulled ice cream heists in the Big Apple for years, often loading the loot into freezer bags with dry ice, then reselling them at bodegas for cheap, police have said.

“Before you know it, all our groceries will be locked up and we’ll have to go through a security check just to buy food,” said Abby, 34, who was shopping for ice cream at Fairway Friday.

“Wow this is new,” she said, gesturing towards the locked lid. “I feel bad that they have to even do this.”

Last year, a serial ice cream thief was busted after strolling out of the upscale Morton Williams market at East 22nd Street and Park Avenue South with 20 pints of Haagen-Dazs, according to police.

 Fairway has battled shoplifters this year with devices including facial recognition tech.

 

In 2016, four suspects also snatched at least 1,249 frozen treats — including tubs of Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s — from chain stores such as Duane Reade and CVS during a 10-month period, the New York Times reported.

It got so bad that billionaire supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis even offered a $5,000 reward for information on a gang of crooks stealing ice cream — including a couple who stuffed 80 cartons into four bags and bolted from Catsimatidis’ Gristedes shop in Chelsea.

High rates of retail theft this year have prompted store owners to keep even low-priced items — ranging from dish soap to cans of tuna — in locked cabinets that require customers to ring a bell.

Fairway announced in March it would use facial recognition technology to combat crooks in its Upper West Side store.

A rep from the supermarket didn’t immediately return a request for comment Friday.

SUPREME COURT SHUTS DOWN JOE'S STUDENT LOANS BAR

Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN Biden's $400 billion student loan forgiveness: Justices rule president does not have authority to cancel debt of millions in another landmark ruling

Six justices ruled Biden should have got approval from Congress for huge plan. Plan would have eradicated $10K in debt for borrowers earning less than $125K 

 

By James Franey and Kelly Laco

 

Daily Mail

June 30, 2023

 

The Supreme Court has struck down President Joe Biden's $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in another bombshell decision.

The justices ruled 6-3 Biden's controversial plan to wipe out debts for 26 million Americans at taxpayers' expense was unconstitutional and an overreach of his executive power. 

The landmark ruling on the final day of the Supreme Court's term comes 24 hours after the justices decided colleges could no longer use race as a consideration in admissions in a case that sparked backlash from Biden.

The plan would have eradicated $10,000 in debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 and up to $20,000 for those with Pell Grants. 

But it was challenged by six Republican states and two borrowers who argued Biden should have sought approval from Congress for a plan using substantial taxpayer funds. 

Chief Justice John Roberts agreed and said in the majority opinion that a move 'requires that Congress speak clearly before a Department (of Education) Secretary can unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.' 

President Biden called the decision 'disappointing' and 'wrong' and vowed to fight back in a statement released hours after the ruling came down.

The Supreme Court has struck down President Joe Biden's $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in another bombshell decision. The justices ruled 6-3 against Biden's controversial plan to wipe out debts for around 20 million Americans

 

'This fight is not over. I will have more to announce when I address the nation this afternoon. 

'My Administration’s student debt relief plan would have been the lifeline tens of millions of hardworking Americans needed as they try to recover from a once-in-a-century pandemic. 

'Nearly 90 percent of the relief from our plan would have gone to borrowers making less than $75,000 a year, and none of it would have gone to people making more than $125,000. It would have been life-changing for millions of Americans and their families. 

'And it would have been good for economic growth, both in the short- and long-term. The hypocrisy of Republican elected officials is stunning. They had no problem with billions in pandemic-related loans to businesses – including hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars for their own businesses. 

'And those loans were forgiven. But when it came to providing relief to millions of hard-working Americans, they did everything in their power to stop it. 

'While today’s decision is disappointing, we should not lose sight of the progress we’ve made – making historic increases to Pell Grants; forgiving loans for teachers, firefighters, and others in public service; and creating a new debt repayment plan, so no one with an undergraduate loan has to pay more than 5 percent of their discretionary income. 

'I believe that the Court’s decision to strike down our student debt relief plan is wrong. But I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families. My Administration will continue to work to bring the promise of higher education to every American.'

Rooberts, in his opinion, went on to say that the HEROES Act, which the Biden administration cited as justification for the plan, actually provides 'no authorization for the Secretary's plan' and therefore there was no clear congressional authorization.

Millions of Americans haven't had to repay their loans for three-and-a-half years because of a COVID pandemic freeze. Borrowers will have to restart their payments in October, and interest will start recurring in September.

Biden's loan forgiveness has been a cornerstone of his presidency, and the ruling will be a massive blow to the administration that has fought against the piling debt. The president is expected to address the nation regarding the ruling later Friday.

For months, Biden's student loan blueprint has been at the center of a legal tussle with six Republican-controlled states and two borrowers. Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina said he had no legal authority to go ahead with the plan without the sign-off from Congress first. 

Biden used the 2003 post-9/11 HEROES Act as justification for the program. It stipulates the Department of Education can waive student debt during a national emergency.

But in the majority opinion written by the chief justice, said the HEROES Act was not a legitimate basis for the plan.

'Congress did not unanimously pass the HEROES Act with such power in mind,' writes Roberts, saying such decision of 'such magnitude and consequence' on a matter of 'earnest and profound debate across the country' must go through Congress itself.

Former President Trump's Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told DailyMail.com in a statement following the decision that 'everyone knew the debt scheme was illegal,' including Biden himself.

'Today, the Supreme Court simply agreed. The President cannot spend taxpayer money without Congressional approval.'

The former secretary said the 'ploy' by the Biden administration was also 'deeply unfair to the majority of Americans who don't have student loans, and equally concerning, would have only exacerbated the problem of ever-rising college tuition.'

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., added in a tweet that Biden 'must follow the law.'

'President Biden's student loan giveaway is ruled UNLAWFUL. The 87% of Americans without student loans are no longer forced to pay for the 13% who do.

He also added 'I agree with her for once!' referring to a statement by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from July 2021 that the majority opinion cited.

'People think that the President of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness,' said then-Speaker Pelosi. 'He does not. He can postpone. He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress.' 

The majority went on to rebut the liberal justices' dissent, in which the Democrat-appointed justices argued student loans are in the education secretary's 'wheelhouse.'

The majority opinion fires back, saying that in 'light of the sweeping and unprecedented impact of the Secretary's loan forgiveness program, it would seem more accurate to describe the program as being in the 'wheelhouse' of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.' 

Roberts addressed a recent trend of criticism of the Supreme Court's decisions in a fiery standout line from the opinion.

'It has become a disturbing feature of some recent opinions to criticize the decisions with which they disagree as going beyond the proper role of the judiciary,' states Roberts on behalf of the majority.

He went on to defend their conclusion, saying 'precedent— old and new—requires that Congress speak clearly before a Department Secretary can unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy. We have employed the traditional tools of judicial decisionmaking in doing so.'

'Reasonable minds may disagree with our analysis—in fact, at least three do,' the opinion states, referring to the three dissenting justices - Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson.

''We do not mistake this plainly heartfelt disagreement for disparagement. It is important that the public not be misled either. Any such misperception would be harmful to this institution and our country.' 

The COVID national emergency in the eyes of the government came to an end in May 2023.

 

The Supreme Court was asked to rule on the scheme after a federal court issued an injunction freezing the forgiveness plan

 

The program has been on hold since November after a federal appeals court in St. Louis, Missouri, issued an injunction pausing applications and payouts. 

That forced the government to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court justices.

The six conservative justices expressed their skepticism of the plan during oral arguments in February, and gave an early indication of their decision.

Announced last August, the administration vowed to cancel some $10,000 in federal student debt for students earning less than $125,000.

Officials also promised to axe an additional $10,000 for students who received what are known as Pell Grants.

These financial aid payments are awarded to students with exceptional financial needs.

But most Republicans say those who took out loans need to repay them without a bailout. They have also argued that taxes paid by Americans who didn't attend college shouldn't be used to fund those who did.

The Senate recently passed a motion to repeal Biden's loan forgiveness plan, but the president vetoed it earlier in June.

Over 26 million people have already applied for the program, with as many as 16 million having already been provisionally approved for debt relief, according to the Department of Education. 

Student debt is the second-largest kind of consumer debt in the U.S. behind mortgages and other home loans. 

Nationwide, 45 million Americans owe $1.6 trillion in borrowed cash that they used to pay for their college education.

ADDENDUM:

 

Biden reveals NEW plan to make it easier to pay off student debt five hours after Supreme Court axed his cancellation plan: Says Justices 'misinterpreted Constitution'

 

'The 87% of Americans without student loans are no longer forced to pay for the 13% who do': Republicans celebrate SCOTUS axing Biden plan as a victory for taxpayers - while Democrats call court 'corrupt'

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: My granddaughter did not take out a student loan. She worked part-time as a correctional officer in the Texas prison system to pay her college costs during the four years she she studied to obtain her degree.

ADIOS CALIFORNIA Y NEW YORK, HOLA FLORIDA Y TEXAS

America's richest states are bleeding cash as New York and California see tax revenues plunge by 20% after exodus - while Texas and Florida are booming amid population influx

 

Daily Mail 

June 30, 2023

 

 

NEW Some of the richest US states are seeing sharp declines in their tax revenues, while others are making gains, as demographic shifts and differences in tax policies fuel diverging trends across the country. 

New York and California, which both rely heavily on taxing the incomes of their wealthiest residents, saw tax receipts plunge in the 2023 fiscal year through April, according to Urban Institute data obtained by DailyMail.com. 

Meanwhile, Texas and Florida, which rely primarily on sales taxes, saw healthy growth in tax receipts, after both states made population gains and consumer spending remained strong. 

IS PARIS BURNING? ..... YES, IT PRETTY MUCH IS

By Bob Walsh

 

Three days ago, in a highly questionable shooting, a French cop shot and killed a 17-year old boy.  The response was a wave of riots, burnings, looting and general bad behavior you would expect in L A after a basketball game.

Last night at least 875 people were arrested in these riots.  Most of them were young to very young.  The young man whose death triggered this situation is identified officially only as Nahel, who is presumably an ethnic arab.  

Curfews were imposed in many cities and a shitload of cops were called out, including GIGN antiterrorist units.  A ban on public gatherings was imposed in many areas of France, not just around Paris.

The police officer who shot him has been detained on a preliminary charge of manslaughter.

The kid's funeral will be tomorrow.  I expecct it will be "interesting" and not in a good way.

BIDEN IS FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OBAMA AND STABBING ISRAEL IN THE BACK

Biden is forcing Israel to attack Iran alone

The White House has reoriented its Middle East policy from an Israel-centered to an Iran-centered one.

 

By  Eric Levine 

 

JNS

June 27, 2023

 

  

When asked about the Biden administration’s reported new “arrangement” with Iran regarding its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “More than 90% of our security issues stem from Iran and its [proxies]. … Our position is clear: Israel will not be bound by any deal with Iran and will continue to defend itself.”

Clearly, the White House will do nothing to stop Iran’s march to a nuclear weapon. To the contrary, Biden’s new “arrangement”—just like his predecessor Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal—would give Iran a legal path to a nuclear weapon and a ballistic missile system to deliver it.

 

At the same time, it would hand the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism billions of dollars in sanctions relief to fund its military and global terrorist network.

Now all eyes turn to Jerusalem.

Will Israel unilaterally attack Iran? Clearly, the U.S. has decided to acquiesce to Iran’s nuclear ambitions rather than sanction its nuclear program out of existence. The Biden administration, like the Obama administration before it, has reoriented its Middle East policy from an Israel-centered to an Iran-centered one.

This means that the U.S. has left Israel with no choice but to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities alone.

Israel faces a Hobbesian choice. If it attacks, the attack will almost certainly trigger a regional war—unless the U.S. jumps in to prevent it from escalating—that will see tens of thousands of rockets launched by Iran’s terrorist proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza at the heart of Israeli cities.

Those attacks, paid for by the billions of dollars Iran will receive in sanctions relief, will result in thousands of Israeli deaths. It will be a national and humanitarian disaster.

The alternative, however, is worse. A nuclear Iran threatens the lives of nine million Israelis. If the Jews have learned anything from history, it is to believe what your enemies say. Iran continually says it will wipe Israel off the map.

This is where the Biden administration’s grotesque appeasement of Iran is leading us.

It is important to understand the key founding principle of Israel: The Jewish state exists to ensure that Jews are responsible for and can control their own destiny. It is about power.

Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, was correct that the Jewish nation is legally entitled to its own state like any other nation.

When Herzl announced that principle at the First Zionist Congress in 1897, it met resistance from Jews around the world. They felt that Jews might be entitled to their own state but, despite antisemitism in their own countries, they were living well enough in Europe and the United States. They did not want to do anything that might compromise their positions there. Pre-Holocaust Germany provides the best example of that shortsighted view.

The Holocaust changed things. Jews and their supporters around the world came to the realization that the establishment of a Jewish state was a moral imperative if the Jews were to survive as a people.

For most American Jews, Judaism is a religion and their nationality is American. In Israel, Judaism is both a religion and a nationality. Every Israeli prime minister, not just Benjamin Netanyahu, sees the survival of the Jewish people as their highest responsibility.

The question is not whether Israel will act alone against Iran. If it has the capability, it will. The better question is what America will do if Israel attacks. An immediate response in support of Israel in order to contain the conflict will be critical. But do not count on it. The Biden administration cannot even bring itself to defend American forces in Syria and Iraq when they are attacked by Iran and its proxies.

Progressives prefer their Jews as victims. That is their primary objection to Israel. The Jewish state exists precisely because Jews refused to be victims. Moreover, Israel is a regional power, which is an unpardonable sin in the eyes of progressives.

Thus, if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear program there will be tremendous handwringing in the U.S. and around the world decrying Israel for having the temerity to defend itself. But anyone who thinks Israel will put its destiny in the hands of people who share Barack Obama’s world view is delusional. Israel will be the master of its own destiny. Nothing will change that.

Israel is not looking for sympathy from folks who claim they know better than the Jews what is good for them. The last century teaches us that is a losing bet. Israel must survive. If that invites the enmity of the world, so be it.

IT APPEARS THERE IS MORE CONCERN ABOUT ISRAELI SETTLERS ATTACKING PALESTINIANS THAN THE DAILY PALESTINIAN ATTACKS ON THE SETTLERS

Does Israel Care More for Its Enemies Than for Jewish ‘Settlers’?

Is Israel hopelessly divided? For all its successes, the reborn Jewish state seems determined to tear itself apart.

 

By Ryan Jones 

 

Israel Today

Jun 30, 2023

 

Recent remarks by defense officials give the impression they are more concerned by isolated Jewish settler violence than by the incessant, daily attacks those Jewish settlers face at the hands of Palestinians.

 

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said at this week’s Officers’ Course graduation that “whoever does not prevent attacks on Palestinian property cannot be an [Israeli military] officer.”

He was referring to the recent outburst of anger by Jewish residents of the Binyamin Region against Palestinian terrorism, and the right-wing public outcry after IDF forces cracked down on local Jews.

While it is indeed the job of Israeli security forces to prevent lawlessness, those isolated violent riots by Jewish “settlers” were the result of the IDF failing to prevent daily Palestinian attacks (most of them life-threatening) against local Jews. And that–protecting the citizens of Israel against outside threats–is the IDF’s primary job.

Yes, the IDF is operating in Samaria on a daily basis, and is doing outstanding work. But still local Jewish residents face daily attacks.

Why didn’t Halevi balance his remarks by saying no one can be an IDF officer if they are not dedicated to preventing stone-throwing attacks against Jewish motorists, or mob lynchings of Jewish shepherds?

Perhaps he takes for granted that all Israeli military officers already think this way. But the recent exposure of the deep rifts in Israeli society has revealed that many secular Israelis do not see as brothers the national religious Jews, particularly those “settlers” who live in the biblical heartland, and presumably feel no obligation to defend them.

 

Not all Israeli military officials think they should risk their lives to protect the Jewish “settlers” and their property in Judea and Samaria. 

 

As evidence of this phenomenon, Jewish settlers pointed to the recent behavior of Col. Eliav Elbaz, the IDF Binyamin Regional Brigade Commander. According to eyewitnesses, during one of the recent Palestinian rampages against Jewish residents of Binyamin, Elbaz threatened not the attackers, but Jewish cattle herders who were being attacked.

The owner of a small cattle farm in the Binyamin region told religious media that Elbaz threatened to shoot all of his cattle if they weren’t removed from the area. The cattle and the herders who tend to them are easy targets for Palestinian rioters, and no doubt the source of many headaches for the IDF. Still, local residents warned that by blaming the victim, the IDF commander was only encouraging Palestinian violence.

If national religious Jews need to be reminded that as officers they must be dedicated to preventing Jewish lawlessness, then secure Israelis need to also be reminded of their obligation to fight for all fellow Israelis, including the “messianic” settlers.

But the current messages coming from the Tel Aviv elite give the impression that Israel cares more for its enemies than for Jews residing in the so-called “West Bank.” In fact, some of them outright say as much.

Is Israel hopelessly divided? For all its successes, the reborn Jewish state seems determined to tear itself apart. And this is nothing new. Internal strife brought down Israel more than once in biblical times. Now, like then, the only remedy to this problem is turning to God.

FIGHT THE FAKE

Israeli Minister Takes On Foreign Media ‘Fake News’

“Fight the fake” campaign details factually incorrect and biased reporting. Foreign journalists weren’t pleased with being called out.

 

JNS 

Jun 30, 2023 

 

Public Diplomacy Minister Galit Distel Atbaryan is taking the International mainstream media to task over its fake news reporting on Israel.

 

An English-language video calling out egregious reporting and released by Israel’s Public Diplomacy Ministry has been condemned by the Foreign Press Association as endangering the safety of journalists.

The two-minute clip posted on the ministry’s Twitter page and titled “Fight the fake: a quick guide in reading the news about Israel” details factually incorrect and biased reporting on Israel by leading international news agencies, newspapers and networks.

The factually incorrect items cited include a report by CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour on the Palestinian murder of the Dee family, which she called a “shoot-out.” Amanpour apologized on air for the report more than a week after a public outcry and subsequent threats of a civil suit.

The video also takes issues with other repeated international media distortions in reporting on Israel, by both newspapers and the wire services, such as their common practice of putting quotation marks around the word terrorist when describing Palestinian attackers, if they use the word at all.

“When someone is taking a knife, a rifle or an ax to kill innocent civilians there is no other way to call it,” the video continues.

The clip also calls out another trend in international reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, omitting the identity of Palestinian assailants in headlines on terrorist attacks and/or treating them as bystanders or victims.

“It seems like inanimate objects do the killing for them,” the clip states. “This is not journalism. And this problem must be dealt with. It must be exposed.

“Share the truth. Let’s fight the fake,” the video concludes.

In response to the video, the Foreign Press Association in Israel accused the minister of “launching an unprovoked attack on the foreign media.”

The association says it sent a letter to the ministry and other officials “expressing our objections to this language, the false impressions it could cause and our concerns that it could even promote violence against journalists.“

Not to be outdone, Israeli media reporting on the video and the FPA’s reaction Thursday ran with such headlines as “Public diplomacy minister feuds with foreign media over ‘fake news’ charges” and “The minister against the foreign press in Israel.”

NO IRON DOME FOR UKRAINE

Netanyahu Says Israel Won’t Give Iron Dome to Ukraine

The PM cited concerns the technology could fall into Iranian hands.

 

JNS 

Jun 30, 2023 

 

An Iron Dome battery in Ashkelon fires interceptor missiles at rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Aug. 7, 2022. 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out providing the Iron Dome aerial-defense system to Ukraine.

“I think it’s important to understand that we’re concerned also with the possibility that systems that we would give to Ukraine would fall into Iranian hands and could be reverse-engineered and we would find ourselves facing Israeli systems used against Israel,” the premier said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Wednesday.

Kyiv has requested Iron Dome batteries to defend itself against Russian aerial threats, including Iranian-made drones.

Israel is also preventing the United States from transferring to Ukraine two Iron Dome batteries in its possession.

“We can save more Ukrainian lives today if we transfer those batteries. However, due to serious concerns, the government of Israel has blocked the United States from transferring these batteries,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said in a letter sent to the Senate Armed Services Committee last Friday.

Israel developed Iron Dome and initially funded it. While subsequent rounds of funding were provided by the United States, Israel has veto power over any foreign transfers or sales.

Netanyahu also pushed back against accusations that Israel is not doing enough to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. He noted that Israel has provided Kyiv with a rocket and drone alert system.

“We are also helping Ukraine. We’re helping them in civilian defense, a civilian alert system that will obviate the need to get half the country in shelters for every missile fired. So we’re helping them with that.”

The prime minister also addressed accusations by the Ukrainian embassy in Israel that Jerusalem is actually taking a “pro-Russian stance” in the conflict by maintaining a neutral position.

“We’re not neutral. We’ve expressed our sympathy and position with Ukraine, but I am saying there is a limit, limitations that we have and concerns and interests that we have,” Netanyahu said.

“My first interest, regardless of sympathy and the steps that we take, is to ensure the security of the one and only Jewish state. We have the concerns that I told you. Also, our pilots are flying right next to Russian pilots in the skies over Syria in order to block the attempts of Iran to establish a second Hezbollah front in Syria.”

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem summoned Ukraine’s ambassador after he accused Israel of taking a pro-Russia stance.

The dressing down is scheduled for July 3. Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk will meet with Aliza Ben-Nun, the head of the ministry’s Strategic Affairs Directorate.

THE TACO STATE ..... THE MEXICANS HAVE FINALLY TAKEN THE ALAMO

Hispanics officially make up the biggest share of Texas’ population, new census numbers show

White people had been the state’s largest population group since at least 1850. Sometime in 2022, the Hispanic population surpassed them, new data shows.

 

by Alexa Ura  

 

The Texas Tribune

June 21, 2023

 

 

The point at which Latinos would outnumber white residents to make up the biggest share of the Texas population has been on the state’s demographic horizon for years.

It seemed that long-awaited milestone was reached in 2021 when a closely watched data release last year was the first to reflect the culmination of decades of transformative growth.

But confirmation did not come until this week, when the U.S. Census Bureau updated its official population estimates. In new figures released Thursday, the bureau confirmed Latinos have made up the largest share of the state’s population since at least July 2022. The new population figures show Hispanic Texans made up 40.2% of the state’s population last summer, barely edging out non-Hispanic white Texans, who made up 39.8%.

The updated estimates retroactively captured a landmark moment in Texas’ demographic evolution, but it’s not much of a turning point. The new figures showing Latinos outnumbering white Texans by about 129,000 cap off a population boom that has been culturally recasting the state for several decades.

The state had a white majority from at least 1850 until 2004, when white people’s share of the state population dropped below 50%. People of color, Latinos in particular, have been powering the state's population gains for at least the last 20 years.

The state’s growth — usually close to evenly split between natural increase and net migration, including both domestic and international — has brought diversity to pockets of the state that were once nearly all white, transforming classrooms and workforces. Hispanic Texans are expected to make up a flat-out majority of the state’s population in the decades to come, and most Texas children will soon be Hispanic. Recent census estimates showed that 49.3% of Texans under the age of 18 are Hispanic. It’s been more than a decade since Hispanic students first came to make up a majority of Texas public school students.

The newly reached demographic milestone underscores the urgency with which the state must buy into its future, said Sharon Navarro, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“I think it speaks to the importance of state and local government to invest in their institutions and organizations that will train and equip Latinos with the skills that they need to obtain high-demand jobs, living wages, access to food, housing and other essentials that will allow them to participate in a robust economy and would also allow them to accumulate and pass on their wealth,” Navarro said.

But economic and political gains have not kept up with population growth. Hispanics living in Texas are disproportionately poor. Up against longstanding education disparities, they are less likely to have reached the higher levels of education that offer social mobility — and that are increasingly necessary to succeed in a flourishing Texas economy.

Hispanic Texans are more than twice as likely as white Texans to be living below the poverty level and less than half as likely to have graduated from college with bachelor’s degrees or higher. Recent estimates show 95% of white adults in Texas have at least a high school diploma, compared with only 70% of Hispanic adults. Hispanics are just as far back on income: The median income in 2021 was $81,384 for a white household but just $54,857 for a Hispanic household.

That these persistent disparities remain even as the state’s population has grown and transformed so significantly shows “the state of Latinos in Texas really hasn’t changed much” since the time of institutionalized discrimination, Navarro said.

“It also says the state is leaving out a significant portion of the population that can contribute in a number of ways in the political scape, the cultural scape and the economic scape,” Navarro said.

It should be noted that Texas is increasingly becoming a multicultural society in ways that make it harder to track its population through precise racial and ethnic categories. For example, the Census Bureau estimates the number of Texans who report more than one race is steadily increasing.

But in a state where opportunity and life outcomes so closely track with identity for Texans of color, policymakers say the new census estimates demand an emphasis on the state’s Latino growth.

“I remember as I was growing up hearing it’s going to be decades before we were the majority or before we were the largest group,” said state Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, a Dallas Democrat who chairs the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. “I think for me as a Latina legislator in a city and region that is thriving with Latino-owned businesses, it makes me proud. I think it also highlights the needs for changes in our policy.”

Texas is coming off a series of legislative sessions dominated by Republican-led initiatives that raised concerns among legislators like Neave Criado for their potential to harm Latinos. That included an effort to restrict how current events and the country’s history of racism can be taught in Texas schools. Republican lawmakers then redrew the state’s political maps in a manner that gave voters of color less say in who represents them in districts across the state.

More recently, the state Legislature banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public universities. Later this year, lawmakers are expected to take up a debate over public school funding.

The bureau’s estimates, Neave Criado said, capture the demographic reality she sees on the ground — and the need to make data-informed policy decisions.

“When you have individuals who have not walked in our shoes refusing to acknowledge that racism exists, that there have been historical barriers in our state, to me it’s a very coordinated attempt to hold onto their power for as long as possible and refusing to acknowledge that we are the state’s destiny,” Neave Criado said.

DPS DOES NOT WANT TO RELEASE THE UVALDE REPORT BECAUSE IT WILL DISHONOR THE POLICE

Judge says DPS must release documents related to Uvalde shooting response

The state police agency had been withholding nearly all of its records on law enforcement’s botched response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. DPS will have an opportunity to redact the files before they are released.

 

by William Melhado 

 

The Texas Tribune

June 29, 2023

 

Officers waited over an hour to confront Salvador Ramos who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022

 

A state district judge on Thursday ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to begin the process of releasing public records related to law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting, granting a request by The Texas Tribune and other news organizations.

Over a dozen news organizations sued DPS last year, accusing it of unlawfully withholding the records related to the May shooting at Robb Elementary School.

The records concern the botched police response, during which officers waited over an hour to confront the shooter who killed 19 children and two teachers. Nearly 400 officers had descended on the school by the time the shooting was over.

The 261st Civil District Court Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle granted a motion for summary judgment on behalf of the Tribune, its partner ProPublica and other local, state and national newsrooms. The records will not be immediately available.

"The public deserves a full accounting of what happened that day and we're glad that the judge has begun that process," said Reid Pillifant, an associate attorney with Haynes Boone who represents the plaintiffs. "We're hopeful DPS won't fight this decision and we'll begin the process of providing transparency."

Lyttle ordered DPS to produce by Aug. 31 a proposed log of redactions it wants to make to the public records. In the court order, Lyttle said that the court anticipated having a hearing to address the proposed redactions in September. DPS could choose to appeal the judgement before then. Lyttle ordered both parties to submit proposals for final judgement by July 14.

The organizations have each filed requests under the Texas Public Information Act for information detailing the response by various authorities, including law enforcement, to the massacre. The records include emails, body camera and other video footage, call logs, 911 and other emergency communications, interview notes, forensic and ballistic records, and lists of DPS personnel who responded to the tragedy, among other information. DPS did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday evening.

Almost a year ago, a Texas House of Representatives committee released a comprehensive report that found that the state police, and other responding law enforcement agencies, failed to aggressively confront the shooter.

According to state law, records are presumed public unless a government body cites a specific exemption under the Texas Public Information Act that allows information to be withheld. DPS claimed that the records can be withheld because they are related to an ongoing investigation. The news organizations argued that there is no such investigation because the shooter's guilt is not in question and the 18-year-old acted alone.

DPS has refused to release records, even as the agency has selectively disclosed some information through public testimony, third-party analyses and news conferences.

"As officials continue to shield nearly all information related to the Uvalde tragedy, on the basis of an investigation that has already concluded and a purported prosecution that has yet to materialize, we are thrilled by the Court’s ruling that recognizes the public’s right to know what happened that day," said Laura Lee Prather, a First Amendment lawyer also with Haynes Boone who represents the news organizations, in a statement to the Tribune. "Judge [DeSeta] Lyttle’s ruling brings the Uvalde community and all Texas citizens one step closer to gaining a complete understanding of what happened that day and moving toward closure."

The other plaintiffs include The New York Times Company, The Washington Post, NBC News, CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Scripps Media and Gannett.

IF THE MEN'S TEAM WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DIVE ON THE ICE NAKED, THEIR BALLS WOULD HAVE FROZEN TO THE ICE

Harvard women's hockey team were forced to skate NAKED, leaving them with 'bleeding nipples' and ice burns: Ivy League school now vows to overhaul toxic culture one player dubbed 'mental health Hunger Games'

Katey Stone, 57, stepped down as head coach June 7 after a 29-year tenure that  was eventually dogged by accusations she'd emotionally damaged players. Multiple outlets have reported on a toxic on and off-ice culture, including allegations of hazing and naked skates at practice  

 

By Stephen M. Lepore

 

Daily Mail

June 29, 2023

 

 

Katey Stone, 57, stepped down as head coach June 7 after a 29-year tenure that included four national championship appearances, but was eventually dogged by accusations she'd emotionally damaged players

 

Harvard University has vowed to overhaul the culture of its women's hockey team after a long-time coach retired amid accusations of abusive behavior that one player compared to a 'mental health Hunger Games' in early June.

Katey Stone, 57, stepped down as head coach June 7 after a 29-year tenure that included four national championship appearances, but was eventually dogged by accusations she'd emotionally damaged players.

Multiple outlets have reported on a toxic on and off-ice culture for the program, including allegations that players felt forced to drink and perform 'sexually-charged role playing' as part of hazing rituals, according to the Boston Globe.

At practice, players were allegedly forced to do a 'Naked Skate' where players were told to dive on the ice in a Superman-pose while completely nude, often leaving skaters with ice burns and bloody nipples, The Athletic reported. 

Athletic Director Erin McDermott announced Wednesday in a statement that the school plans to revamp the culture after Stone's retirement. 

In a 2020 interview that was published on one of Harvard's official YouTube channels, Stone paid tribute to promoting a highly competitive atmosphere among her players. 'Coaching gives me the opportunity to stay competitive... [The players] have no idea what they're really capable of and if we continue to challenge them on a daily basis, the accomplish so much more. 

 

At practice, players were allegedly forced to do a 'Naked Skate' where players were told to dive on the ice in a Superman-pose while completely nude, often leaving skaters with ice burns and bloody nipples, The Athletic reported 

Harvard University is promising to overhaul the culture of it's women's hockey team after a long-time coach Katey Stone retired

 

'We now have an opportunity to end team traditions that are harmful to team culture and inconsistent with our community norms,' she said. 

McDermott did not address any specific allegations, though the school launched an independent inquiry by law firm Jenner & Block earlier this year after reports surfaced. 

No findings of the report have been published yet, despite the New York firm saying it planned to finish by the end of April, according to the Harvard Crimson. 

However, in her statement, McDermott said they found 'procedures and communications with student-athletes have led to confusion and frustration among members of our community, and there are areas where we must improve.'

The full report may never be publicized, according to a school spokesperson.

'Individuals who participated in the review were promised anonymity throughout the process,' Harvard said in a statement. 

'Releasing detailed information or documents that were received and reviewed during this work could jeopardize the privacy of those who participated.' 

New initiatives McDermott promised include annual reminders of how to report improper conduct, instructions on access to mental health services and a new leadership program. 

 

Athletic Director Erin McDermott announced Wednesday in a statement that the school plans to revamp the culture after Stone's retirement

Multiple outlets have reported on a toxic on and off-ice culture for the program, including allegations that players felt forced to drink and perform 'sexually-charged role playing' as part of hazing rituals

At practice, players were allegedly forced to do a 'Naked Skate' where players were told to dive on the ice in a Superman-pose while completely nude, often leaving skaters with ice burns and bloody nipples

 

'This program will support our collective focus on updating team traditions to align with our values and will help us move forward positively as a community,' McDermott said. 

Players anonymously told reporters of having to put condoms on bananas, simulate orgasms and perform skits mocking their sexual orientation. 

One former player said she reported the behavior to the administration but never heard back. 

Stone - who coached the silver medal-winning USA women's hockey team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics - was never directly implicated but former players said she was aware of what was going on and didn't stop it. 

In addition, the program's retention rate is one of the worst at Harvard. Only 20 percent of the freshman class stayed at the school last season, well below the rest of the athletic department's rate of 75 percent. 

 

Stone - who coached the silver medal-winning USA women's hockey team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics - was never directly implicated but former players said she was aware of what was going on and didn't stop it

Stone, who is the fourth-winningest coach in NCAA women's hockey history, has never addressed the allegations

 

McDermott claimed that the current team 'has not fostered a culture of hazing' but the school can do better. 

'However, it is clear that some traditions in recent years were experienced differently by different people and not all were comfortable with those activities or with expressing concerns relating to the program.'

Stone, who is the fourth-winningest coach in NCAA women's hockey history, has never addressed the allegations. The school is still searching for a replacement.