Stembridge News Digest

  • Democrats and media try to make Joe Biden a victim of Russia Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:08:30 GMT
    As if Joe Biden weren’t looking brittle enough these days, Democrats and the national media are firing up the tried and true Russian-interference machine, warning voters that the former vice president’s reputation is under threat of further erosion by a smear campaign led by none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
  • Pennsylvania election results could take days to process Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:37:49 GMT
    YOUNGSTOWN, Pennsylvania — Pull up to what is now known as the Trump House, and it is not out of the ordinary to come face to face with a constant flow of curiosity-seekers — hundreds on a weekday, thousands on a weekend. Some go to get signs, some pose for photos in front of the massively oversized cutout of President Trump, some go to register to vote for the first time in their lives, and some are switching their registration from Democrat to Republican.
  • Halloween can easily be done without widespread coronavirus risk Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:04:38 GMT
    It being mid-September, mothers and fathers around the country are starting to look ahead to the fall plans we have in store for our children. Every fall brings a few classic moments: apple-picking, pumpkin foods, and Halloween.
  • When you hit your knees tonight, ask God to love Gale Sayers Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:10:37 GMT
    NFL Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers, who died Wednesday at age 77, left two indelible marks on the American psyche. The first one left football fans breathless. The second one turned into one of the greatest gifts any modern athlete gave to the broader culture.
  • Who's violating norms these days? Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:07:54 GMT
    Norms, we are told, matter. Violating norms, recklessly disregarding norms — these are charges on which President Trump is often arraigned in the court of public opinion.
  • Prince Harry's rather silly Joe Biden endorsement Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:06:44 GMT
    Prince Harry used to be a great maestro of an evolving British royal family. A soldier with a keen sense of humor, he seemed to embody all that is best about the British establishment: duty and tradition.
  • Cognitive dissonance: Liberals try to defend Roe and ‘democracy’ in the same breath Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:54:50 GMT
    This is a flawed and self-contradictory argument because the people making it are, in fact, dedicated to preserving the court’s power to overrule the democratic branches of government.TweetIn addition to not knowing what “majority” means, Pete Buttigieg doesn't seem to know what “undemocratic” means. Alternatively, like most of the liberal media, he doesn’t know what Roe v. Wade did.
  • China's 2060 carbon pledge is a PR stunt Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:19:53 GMT
    President Xi Jinping has won international praise and media plaudits for his announcement on Tuesday that China aims to be carbon neutral by 2060.
  • Joe Biden should at least be deeply embarrassed at his son Hunter's conduct Wed, 23 Sep 2020 15:30:40 GMT
    The story of Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and his shady dealings with a Ukrainian energy company, is convoluted enough already. But the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s report on all of it makes at least one thing clear: Biden has been humiliated by his son's conduct.
  • A new Electoral College coup Wed, 23 Sep 2020 11:00:51 GMT
    An amateurish attempt at an Electoral College coup crashed four years ago. Could a more professional one be in the works this year?
  • NYC to finally issue official ban on pooping in subways and buses Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:38:00 +0000


    New York City's government officials are reportedly ready to finally issue a formal ban on defecating in the city's subways, buses, and transit facilities this week, the New York Post reported.

    Currently, the poop ban is just a temporary rule implemented in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Wait. There wasn't already an official ban on subway pooping?

    When New York City was being hit by the coronavirus, city officials chose to lockdown the city, force social distancing, and set up a system to snitch on fellow New Yorkers who might violate quarantine regulations.

    Several weeks after the lockdown began, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) finally asked for the subway trains to be cleaned every night.

    The announcement caught many New Yorkers — and their fellow Americans — by surprise, since they likely assumed daily cleaning of the subway cars was already a practice of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — especially in light of the quickly escalating cases of COVID-19 in the city and the severe lockdown policies the local government had instituted.

    As the virus spread through the Big Apple, the MTA also issued some other temporary emergency rules for the subway, including a ban on defecating on subways and buses.

    According to the Post, the MTA is set to formally ban going No. 2 in Gotham's subway trains, buses, and transit facilities on Wednesday.

    Other "bodily expulsions" are already specifically named in the MTA's formal rules as actions that can get a person a $100 fine. This new clarification from the MTA will specifically add "defecating" to the list of no-no's.

    Nasty trains have been a problem for a while

    The Post reported that people have long been griping about the nastiness of NYC subway trains and that complaints to the MTA about the "soiled" subway surged in 2019, but the government agency simply blamed the increased notification on riders being more vigilant, not on deteriorating transit conditions.

    And it has not been just the public that has complained, the Post noted. Workers are tired of the filth, too:

    [T]ransit workers have long complained of nasty conditions on trains. The workers' union, Transport Workers Union Local 100, launched a “Trash Train" photo contest last October to highlight the filth and protest cuts to cleaning crews.

    The MTA issued a statement about the coming pooping ban and other rule changes.

    "MTA rules are periodically tweaked to enhance clarity, and that's the case with the addition of more descriptive language," MTA spokesman Tim Minton said, the Post reported. "Ensuring the transportation system provides an appropriate quality of life experience for our workforce and customers is a guiding principle and top priority."

  • Alyssa Milano's family calls 911 on a teenager hunting squirrels with an air gun. Now she's lashing out at 'rightwing media.' Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:23:00 +0000


    Actress and activist Alyssa Milano hit out at the "rightwing media" and internet "trolls" on Tuesday after she and her family went viral over the weekend for reportedly calling authorities to report an armed man in their neighborhood.

    Judging by her storied social media presence, Milano, a vocal leftist, apparently supports defunding police departments across America.

    What are the details of the incident?

    Milano, in her latest Twitter update, said that her husband and neighbor called police over the weekend to report what they believed was an armed man, clad in all black, roaming the neighborhood with a gun.

    The call brought in a massive police response, but authorities determined that the "man" was nothing more than a teen who was hunting squirrels with an airsoft gun.

    The story went viral after the Daily Mail reported it, and many social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of Milano supporting the "Defund the Police" movement when her family was so quick to call authorities for help.

    Despite Milano's assertion that her husband casually phoned authorities to see when they'd arrive, the Daily Mail reports that she and her husband "dialed 911 when they heard what they believed to be gunshots on their 1.39-acre property."

    The outlet added, "[Milano and her husband] allegedly told the emergency hotline the sound 'scared their dogs' and made them feel like a gunman was nearby. A description was given to the officers of a suspect who was 'male, 40 years old, with long rifle.'"

    A local resident told the outlet, "It turned out it was a neighborhood teen with an air gun shooting at squirrels."

    The Daily Mail also reported, "The officers then had an impromptu meeting with some of the residents in the Bell Canyon community center, confirming what they dubbed, 'Squirrelgate.'"

    A neighbor told the outlet that they weren't happy about Milano's conduct.

    "She can tweet those things [about defunding the police] because at the end of the day she lives behind gates in a gated community," the source said. "She knows the police will come to save her. But what about all those people who don't have that luxury and live in unsafe neighborhoods? She obviously doesn't care."

    The source added, "She uses her platform in hypocritical ways. Why not send your husband into the yard to find out what is actually going on before you call the police? I would guesstimate the response today from law enforcement cost taxpayers thousands of dollars."

    So what is Milano saying now?

    On Tuesday, Milano took to Twitter to defend her position, slamming the "rightwing media" in the process.

    Milano shared a lengthy statement on Twitter, captioning it, "Apparently, rightwing media & trolls have decided that they should target me because my neighbor called the police after seeing a person dressed in black holding a rifle behind my home where I live with my young children and husband. Here is my statement and what really happened."

    She proceeded to admit, however, that her husband did call 911 about the matter, and requested to know when law enforcement would be arriving on the scene to deal with the purported threat.

    In her statement, Milano explained that their neighbor saw "a man dressed in all black, walking in the woods between our properties with a gun," so they reported it to authorities.

    "We then received a call alerting us to the potential situation and that the officers had been dispatched," she continued. "My husband subsequently called 911 to check on when police would be arriving. While he was on the line, they arrived."

    She added, "These are exactly the type of situations that police officers are trained for and should be responding to, and we will always support police having the resources they need for appropriate police actions.

    “We'd love to see equally trained non-police professionals respond to addiction and mental health crises and non-violent events so that these brave officers can do the jobs they are so good at handling, as they demonstrated this weekend," Milano's statement concluded.

    You can read her full statement here, and below.

  • WATCH: Sen. Mike Lee reveals his preference for Supreme Court nominee Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:19:36 +0000


    Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Wednesday to talk about why he believes President Donald Trump will nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.

    Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will consider and vote on the nominee, also weighed in on another Supreme Court contender: Judge Barbara Lagoa. Lee said he would not be comfortable confirming Lagoa without learning more about her history as it pertains to upholding the U.S. Constitution.

    Watch the video below to hear the conversation:


    Want more from Glenn Beck?

    To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.

  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign executive order banning the sale of all gas-powered cars in the state by 2035 Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:08:00 +0000


    California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Wednesday that he planned to sign an executive order that would have the effect of banning the sale of all passenger cars that run on internal combustion by 2035, while banning the sale of light and heavy-duty vehicles that run on gasoline by 2045.

    According to a statement on the governor's website, Newsom believes that this order will "move the state further away from its reliance on climate change-causing fossil fuels while retaining and creating jobs and spurring economic growth."

    Newsom's statement also bullishly predicts, "By the time the new rule goes into effect, zero-emission vehicles will almost certainly be cheaper and better than the traditional fossil fuel powered cars." The statement also calls on the California legislature to cease issuing new fracking permits by the year 2024.

    The text of the order itself states that "the climate change crisis is happening now, impacting California in unprecedented ways, and affecting the health and safety of too many Californians." The order further explicitly states that the COVID-19 pandemic should be viewed as an opportunity to reshape the California economy in line with environmentalists' goals, claiming that "the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire transportation sector, bringing a sharp decline in demand for fuels and adversely impacting public transportation," and "as our economy recovers, we must accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral future that supports the retention and creation of high-road, high-quality jobs."

    The order also makes it clear that, while the goal is to achieve a total end to the sale of combustion-engine automobiles in 2035, the California State Air Resources Board is expected to take incremental steps beginning immediately to gradually reduce the sale of gasoline-powered engines.

    The Panglossian predictions about the ease with which Californians will be able to transition completely away from gasoline-powered vehicles should perhaps be viewed through the lens of the success of California's initiative to fuel its power grid entirely with renewable energy sources. California's grid is currently unable to provide reliable power to residents, and only federal intervention (including the use of fossil fuel-burning ship engines) has provided even moderate stability during the crisis.

  • It's official: Hallmark to run Christmas movie about a gay couple looking to adopt their first child Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:53:05 +0000


    The Hallmark Channel will for the first time ever feature a holiday movie about an LGBT couple as a part of this year's popular "Countdown to Christmas" lineup.

    What are the details?

    The movie, titled "The Christmas House," starring Jonathan Bennett of "Mean Girls," will spotlight a storyline about "a gay couple looking to adopt their first child," the network announced in a statement Wednesday, according to People.com.

    "Our holiday table is bigger and more welcoming than ever. This year's movies reflect our most diverse representation of talent, narratives, and families," said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president of programming. "Our movies are rooted in warmth and positivity, meaningful connections, family gatherings, and seasonal traditions — a winning formula we hope will bring our millions of viewers much-needed levity and holiday cheer at the end of a tough year."

    A fuller description of the movie, provided by People.com, states:

    Synopsis: Working through some difficult decisions, Mitchell family matriarch Phylis (Lawrence) and patriarch Bill (Williams), have summoned their two grown sons — TV star, Mike Mitchell (Buckley) and Brandon Mitchell (Bennett) — home for the holidays. It is their hope that bringing the family together to recreate the Christmas house, will help them find resolution and make a memorable holiday for the entire family and community. As Brandon and his husband Jake (Harder) make the trip home, they are anxiously awaiting a call about the adoption of their first child. Meanwhile, Mike reconnects with Andi (Ayora), his high school sweetheart.

    The movie is slated to premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Nov. 22.

    Why does it matter?

    Though not a surprise — Hallmark had telegraphed the coming of a holiday film featuring gay leads for months — the move nonetheless marks a major shift in the network's programming.

    Over the last several years, the channel, often considered the last beacon of conservative entertainment on cable television, became almost synonymous with traditional, family-friendly programming, especially around the holidays.

    As such, the channel's decision to show a movie with an LGBT storyline will likely be perceived as the ultimate act of caving to the cultural left.

    Last year, Hallmark Channel leadership waffled amid pressure from the left after it pulled ads featuring a same-sex wedding. The ads, produced by Zola, a wedding planning start-up, showed two women kissing during a wedding ceremony.

    The channel originally pulled the ads after a petition for their removal by One Million Moms gained more than 20,000 signatures, but after backlash from the left, the network reversed its decision and began running the ads again.

  • Woman goes berserk, trashes supermarket after employee tells her to follow COVID-19 store regulations Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:34:28 +0000


    A U.K. woman has gone viral after a video caught her raging about a supermarket's directional aisle markers and demolishing a wine display.

    What are the details?

    According to the Telegraph, the incident — which took place in May, but was recently released and is now going viral on the internet — featured an irate, unnamed woman, who was shopping at the Lingfield High Street Co-op grocery store in Surrey, England.

    The outlet reported that the woman went berserk after a store employee reportedly reprimanded her after she allegedly ignored the one-way system the store used to enforce social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Metro reported that the woman also began "kicking and punching" a glass divider after staff attempted to enforce the store's mandatory safety measures.

    In the video, the clearly irate woman can be seen tearing down two product shelves, leaving puddles of wine and broken glass in her angry wake.

    She can also be heard screaming, "I've done nothing wrong!" and repeatedly hammers her hands against a glass divider in the grocery store.

    What else?

    The outlet also reported that a store employee — who described the incident in detail — said that the woman also threw a basket of groceries that contained milk and eggs.

    "One day in May at the height of lockdown, a female customer became very agitated when we asked her to follow the store's one way system," the unnamed employee said. "She got very angry and started shouting at me and my colleague who were serving customers from behind the protective till screen."

    The employee noted that the woman then approached the workers, who were standing behind the protective glass, and took her anger to another level.

    "She stormed up to the till screen and just flipped out, punching and kicking it before rushing over to the alcohol aisle where she started grabbing bottles of wine, sending them smashing them to the ground," the employee added.

    The employee continued, "Two entire shelves of glass bottles came crashing down. She then picked up a basket containing milk and eggs and threw it across the store."

    Jo Whitfield, Co-op Foods chief executive, told Metro, "The role played by shop workers in serving their communities is nothing short of amazing, yet they have to contend with unprecedented levels of violence and abuse on a daily basis."

    Covid-19 rage: Customer smashes wine bottles after being asked for follow shop's one-way system www.youtube.com

  • Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says attacks on Amy Coney Barrett's faith are 'awful,' opposes packing the court Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:15:00 +0000


    Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said it's "awful" that Judge Amy Coney Barrett's religion is being attacked as rumors circulate that she's the front-runner to be President Donald Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.

    "I'm Catholic, OK. And religion should not enter into it. It sure doesn't with me," Manchin said in an interview on Fox News Wednesday. "The freedom of religion is one of the basic rights we all have as American citizens."

    Judge Barrett, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, is widely seen as President Trump's likely pick to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. She has been the subject of recent articles raising critical questions about her Christian faith as she undergoes the vetting process for the Supreme Court.

    Previously in 2017, during Senate confirmation hearings on Barrett's appointment to the Chicago-based 7th Circuit, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) caused controversy by questioning her Catholic faith, saying, "the dogma lives loudly within you."

    "It's awful to bring in religion," Manchin said in response to a question about the criticisms of Barrett's faith on "Fox & Friends."

    The moderate Democrat also declared his opposition to voting on a SCOTUS nominee before the election and also opposed packing the courts in retaliation if Republicans advance a nominee to the court.

    "We should be waiting, and if I use the words of all my colleagues, Republican colleagues with Merrick Garland, let the people decide. It's an election year, let them decide, but especially within 42 days to go," Manchin said.

    He believes having a politicized confirmation fight in the Senate before an election will increase partisan divides.

    "My goodness, everything is so political. Jurors should be picked on their qualifications, their experience level, and basically their findings. And you can say you agree or disagree because of the way they ruled on other cases," Manchin said.

    He fears holding a vote on Trump's nominee before the election will be a partisan effort that will erode the Senate's character.

    "There's no civility, there's no fairness to it, and we have to make sure we set some precedent to it," Manchin said. "The Senate is much different. The Senate was basically designed and intended to be bipartisan and every time we break away and keep pulling that cover off, there's not going to be any difference between us and that hot cup of tea that comes over from the House, as Washington said.

    "We've gotta cool that off, and the Senate's gotta cool that off, and we're not doing a very good job of that," he said.

    Manchin touted his record as the "most bipartisan person in the Senate," noting that he's voted for 161 of Trump's judicial nominations. Manchin was also the only Senate Democrat to vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

    Asked about threats made by Democrats against Republicans to pack the court after the election, Manchin suggested that would be another partisan effort akin to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) decision to eliminate the filibuster for judicial nominees and would backfire on Democrats.

    "I do not believe that would help anybody," Manchin said. "Basically no one is working together. So if you have 11 or 13, it's going to flip the other way no matter who comes into power. So why would you go down that path? It didn't work in 2015 with the nuclear option, and I would have doubts it would work this time."

    "We've got to fight for basically who we are as the Senate," he said. "Can we represent the people in a bipartisan way, Democrats and Republicans?"

  • BREAKING: One officer charged in Breonna Taylor's death, mayor implements 72-hour curfew to limit potential riots Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:00:43 +0000


    One former Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officer was charged Wednesday in the death of Breonna Taylor, with the two other involved officers avoiding charges altogether, USA Today reported.

    Former LMPD Sgt. Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly firing his gun recklessly into Taylor's apartment on March 13 during an overnight drug raid. Hankison was fired from the department in June for his actions that night.

    The charges are reportedly not directly related to Taylor's death; rather, they were tied to the fact that Hankison allegedly shot into surrounding apartments.

    The other two officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, had been placed on administrative leave, but were still with the department.

    First degree wanton endangerment is defined as follows:

    A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person.

    The charge is a class D felony that carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

    When the three officers charged into Taylor's apartment around 1 a.m. March 13, Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired one shot at them. The officers were not in uniform, and Walker said he thought it was a home invasion. Walker shot Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire with more than 20 shots. Taylor was shot five times.

    Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that despite reports that it was a no-knock raid, the officers did knock and announce themselves before entering the apartment.

    The city of Louisville paid a settlement of $12 million to Taylor's family as part of a civil lawsuit.

    Louisville officials had been preparing for unrest after this announcement, as protesters have been calling for the firing and arrest of all three officers involved in the shooting since May. The mayor established a 72 hour curfew effective Wednesday night from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. each day. The LMPD declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, canceling officers' time off requests and extending their hours.

    There is already some indication of dissatisfaction with the charge. From the Associated Press:

    Immediately after the announcement, people were expressing frustration that the grand jury did not do more.

    "Justice has NOT been served," tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case. "Rise UP. All across this country. Everywhere. Rise up for #BreonnaTaylor."

    Protests began shortly after the announcement.


    This is a developing news story and has been updated.

  • Leftist leans half her body out car window amid traffic to flip off Trump fans. Then cops pay her a visit — and much glee ensues. Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:40:00 +0000


    We don't know when or where the video was recorded — but our funny bones sure are glad it exists.

    What are the details?

    A woman is behind the wheel of car during daytime traffic, and according to Twitter user WOP_45, she becomes enraged at attendees at a rally in support of President Donald Trump.

    So triggered was she that the motorist is heard on the clip screaming obscenities — specifically "F*** Donald Trump!" And she underscores her rage with a middle finger:

    Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WOP_45, redacted

    But the Trump fans just happily hoot and holler back at her, and then she loses it.

    You see, while her first bird-flip takes place as she sits in the driver seat in a stationary vehicle, the outraged woman's next act is offering a second message to the Trump faithful: A double middle finger as she leans half her body out the window — no seatbelt employed, natch — and while her car is in motion.

    Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WOP_45, redacted

    Oops

    At that point she apparently comes to her senses, realizes she's not paying attention to traffic, and slams on the brakes. The Twitter poster says she hit the vehicle in front of her — the Trump fans do let out a rousing yell with applause after her sudden stop — but it's not clear from the clip if she actually bumps the vehicle in front of her or not.

    Whatever actually happened in those few seconds, there's no mistaking the pair of police officers who walk up to her window. Maybe they saw her without her seatbelt on and not paying attention to traffic; maybe she did indeed hit the vehicle in front of her. Who knows?

    Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WOP_45

    Regardless, as previously stated, we're sure glad the clip exists — and it's worthy of multiple watches.

    Content warning: Language

    What did commenters have to say?

    It will come as no surprise that commenters on the video were overjoyed:

    • "That was the best thing ever," one commenter wrote. "When someone is that angry, flipping you off: you laugh and laugh. It makes them more insane. Now she has to sit and hear more laughter while the cops talk to her. Wish I had been there."
    • "Everyone knows to set parking brake before flipping double-birds," another commenter said.
    • "That scene exemplifies the entire Democrat party, everything the do because of their hated of Trump, comes back and bites them in the ass," another commenter noted.
  • CNN's Don Lemon tries to backtrack on abolishing Electoral College, claims he did not say what he literally said Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:25:00 +0000


    CNN host Don Lemon is attempting to backtrack from controversial comments he made on Monday in light of President Donald Trump having the opportunity to confirm his third Supreme Court justice.

    What did Lemon say Monday?

    Speaking with fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo, who said both Republicans and Democrats are being "hypocritical" in comparison to their 2016 position on Supreme Court vacancies during an election year, Lemon advocated dismantling the American electoral system.

    "We're going to have to blow up the entire system," Lemon said.

    Specifically, Lemon said the Electoral College should be abolished — which would require a constitutional amendment — and Democrats should pack the Supreme Court with ideologically liberal judges.

    "You're going to have to get rid of the Electoral College, because the people — because the minority in this country decides who the judges are and they decide who the president is. Is that — is that fair?" Lemon said. "If Democrats, if Joe Biden wins, Democrats can stack the courts and they can do that amendment and they can get it passed."

    What is Lemon saying now?

    The CNN host claimed Tuesday that his words were taken out of context, alleging he did not mean exactly what he said.

    "I woke up and saw these headlines like, 'Don Lemon is calling for the abolishing of the Electoral College.' But let me tell you. I don't care," Lemon said, adding that he was merely responding to Cuomo's suggestion of electing politicians with integrity.

    "And I said, well then, we have to blow up the whole system. Right?" Lemon continued. "But I said here's what Democrats can do. And I said that's the danger. They can stack the court. But all of a sudden, I am calling for the abolishing of the Electoral College and what else do they say, and that I'm a Democrat because I said 'we.' I mean, the American people."

    Lemon went on to explain that he chose to respond to the criticism because the "context was so egregious." He claimed critics used an out-of-context "sound bite" against him.

    In fact, Lemon claimed he was not personally suggesting the abolition of the Electoral College — but merely repeating others who are.

    "But here's what I say, run and tell this: I do think that we need to look at the Electoral College because I think that it disenfranchises voters, both Democrats and Republicans. If you're in a blue state, and all of the electoral votes go to the Democratic person, then the Republicans' votes aren't counted, the people who voted for the Republican candidate," Lemon said.

    "So, I do think it should be looked at because I think it does disenfranchises certain people," he added. "Should it be abolished? That's not for me to say. I'm saying, this is what Democrats are saying. Stack the courts. Get rid of the Electoral College. But there is no nuance and no context anymore."

  • LeBron James denies responsibility for violent attacks on police: 'Not one time have I ever said let's act violent toward cops' Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:10:00 +0000


    Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James denied that his criticisms of police treatment of minorities have contributed to or motivated violent attacks against police officers, USA Today reported.

    James said he is just calling for accountability for police officers, but is not condoning or inciting violence against law enforcement officers.

    "Not one time have I ever said let's act violent toward cops," James told reporters after a game Tuesday. "I just said what's going on in our community is not okay. And we fear for that, and we fear for our lives. It's something that we go through every single day as a black man, a black woman, and a black kid and a black girl, we fear that moment where we're pulled over."

    James said he doesn't believe all police should be demonized, but he's seen and heard of numerous instances of racism by cops.

    "I've never in my 35 years ever condoned violence," James also said Tuesday. "I never have. But I also know what right is right and what wrong is wrong. I grew up in the inner city and the black community in what we call 'the hood' or 'the ghetto,' however you want to picture it. I've seen a lot of accounts first-hand of black people being racially profiled because of our color. I've seen it throughout my whole life. I'm not saying that all cops are bad. Throughout high school and things of that nature, and I'm around them all the time, and they're not all bad.

    "But when you see the videos of what's going on, and you see them not only in my hometown, but all over America, you continue to see the acts of violence toward my kind, I can't do nothing but speak about it and see the common denominator," James said.

    Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said James should match a $100,000 reward for the person who shot two sheriff's deputies. The two deputies were shot by a person who walked up to their car and opened fire before fleeing, in what appeared to be a targeted ambush of the deputies.

    The shooter fled, and police do not yet have a suspect in the shooting. The reward has since been increased to $675,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. James dismissed Villanueva's comments.

    "I have zero response on the sheriff," James said.

  • Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley: 'Trump is the strongest leader that we've got on the table' Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:55:00 +0000


    Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley says he likes to keep focused on making music and doesn't like to talk about politics. But in a recent interview, the 69-year-old rocker made clear he's supporting President Donald Trump for re-election in 2020.

    "I don't think politics and rock and roll mix — in my opinion," Frehley told "The Cassius Morris Show" in an interview reported by Blabbermouth.net. The topic of politics came up while Frehley was discussing his new rendition of the Cream song "Politician," to appear on an upcoming covers album, "Origins Vol. 2."

    "I try to stay away from that as much as I can. I mean, once in a while, I'll make a crack," Frehley said. "I will say I'm a Trump supporter."

    "All the politicians have had skeletons in the closet," he continued. "But I think Trump is the strongest leader that we've got on the table."

    The last time Frehley spoke up about politics was in 2018, when he said Americans should support the president or "go move to another country."

    "I don't think politics and music mix," he said on a podcast. "I really frown on musicians who get up on a platform and start talking about the president or complain about — I just don't think it belongs. I'm an entertainer. There's no reason to bring up politics. Let me play my guitar and write songs and entertain people. That's my job."

    "Let me say this about Trump," he continued. "Whether you love him or hate him, if you're an American and you're a patriot, you should get behind your president. He was elected. We live under the Constitution of the United States, and you're supposed to support your president. Love him or hate him, you're supposed to support him, or go move to another country."

    Back then, Frehley said that while Americans obviously have a right to say whatever they want, entertainers shouldn't be especially vocal about politics.

    "Being American, we have the right to free speech, and I'm all for everybody putting their two cents in on everything," he said. "But when musicians or actors get really verbal and jump on a bandwagon against our government, I don't agree with that."

    At least one of Frehley's former bandmates feels differently. KISS vocalist Paul Stanley is an outspoken liberal and frequent critic of President Trump. Last month Stanley made news for criticizing Trump's comments on the November election. The president said, "The only way we're going to lose this election is if this election is rigged," at a campaign stop in Wisconsin. Stanley blasted Trump's comments in a tweet, calling them "incendiary & abhorrent."

  • Construction company gives up Utah Jazz suite, slams NBA's anthem kneeling and 'divisive' BLM 'propaganda' Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:40:00 +0000


    A construction company in Salt Lake City recently sent a letter to the Utah Jazz announcing it would no longer pay for an arena suite after the NBA essentially turned itself into "a billboard for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement."

    According to the Washington Free Beacon, the company, SME Steel Contractors, Inc., is fed up with the "divisive political propaganda" and is asking the team and league to "put a stop to all disrespectful actions during the anthem and remove the Black Lives Matter logo from the arena."

    In a letter sent to Jazz owner Gail Miller earlier this month, company leadership wrote: "The recent actions of the NBA — including the owners, coaches and players of the Utah Jazz — have converted a beloved entertainment venue into a forum for dissemination of political propaganda which is divisive and completely out of step with our company and its values."

    The letter went on to cite players kneeling during the national anthem and displaying Black Lives Matter-related slogans on their jerseys as specific reasons for the company's "disappointment and disillusionment."

    "Standing quietly and respectfully during the anthem is not merely an antiquated or courteous tradition, it is a way of honoring the many thousands who have protected this country and its unique freedoms-through their service and sacrifice," the letter states before hammering athletes and coaches for kneeling.

    "To say the least, it is ironic that pampered and exceptionally well-paid athletes cavalierly exercise the freedom bought for them through the courage, and sacrifice of this nation's servicemen and women by disrespectfully kneeling during the country's anthem," the letter reads. "By the same token, it seems odd and inappropriate for NBA players to adorn their jerseys with names and tributes for felons and politically-divisive slogans from Black Lives Matter, when true heroes like Chris Kyle and Pat Tillman go unnoticed and unremarked."

    SME claimed it has spent in excess $6 million over the 28 years that it has licensed a full suite to Jazz games and that several of its employees were "personally involved" in the construction of the arena.

    In a statement, the company added that the feedback it has received since sending the letter has been "overwhelmingly positive."

    "We have received emails and letters from individuals and companies throughout the country thanking us for standing up for the country, the national anthem, and the idea that sporting events do not need to be a venue for forcing controversial political views on patrons," SME general counsel Mark Wilkey told the Free Beacon.

    Since its restart over the summer, the NBA has struggled to attract viewers, with many fans claiming the league has "become too political." During the shortened season, the league has allowed players to kneel during the national anthem and opted to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the shared courts used in the Disney World "bubble."

    Earlier this month, President Donald Trump took notice of the ratings drop and wrote on Twitter that "people are tired of watching the highly political NBA."

  • School wastes no time sending fourth grader home after he sneezes in class Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:25:00 +0000


    An Arlington, Massachusetts, school reportedly sent home a 9-year-old boy after he was caught sneezing in class.

    The child's father said that the school will not permit his son to return to the fourth-grade class until he receives a negative COVID-19 test.

    What are the details?

    Parent Thierno Keita told WBZ-TV that his son, Lancinet, was sent home from Bishop Elementary School on Tuesday after an apparently concerned teacher sent him to the nurse's office for sneezing in class.

    Lancinet told the station that after he "sneezed two times," his teacher directed him to visit the school nurse even though he felt just fine.

    Lancinet told WBZ that he had to wait in the nurse's office until his father was able to come and pick him up.

    "I was thinking I didn't have anything, just a couple sneezes," the child told WBZ.

    Keita told the station that he's not happy with the way the school behaved over a few sneezes.

    "I've been so upset about it," he admitted. "I'm so upset about sending my kid home."

    Keita also said that his son doesn't have any symptoms indicating a coronavirus infection.

    "He don't have any symptoms, no one, and he's OK," he explained. "And I checked his temperature. Everything was perfect. His temperature was OK. It's OK."

    Keita said he has no choice but to take his son for a COVID-19 test so he can go back to school.

    'An abundance of caution'

    A spokesperson for Bishop Elementary School told WBZ that school officials elected to send the child home out of an "abundance of caution."

    "A student at Bishop Elementary School was sent home early today after he displayed COVID-19 related symptoms," the statement explained. "This decision was made both out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with district protocols related to COVID-19."

    The statement continued, "This isolated incident is not indicative of any need for wider concern of COVID-19 exposure. Per district protocols, the student will either have to produce a negative COVID-19 test, written documentation from a health care provider stating it is an alternative illness or be symptom free for 10 days following the start of the symptoms."

    At the time of this reporting, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that there have been at least 127,969 confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, with at least 9,328 deaths attributed to the virus.

  • Bill Clinton reportedly had an 'intimate' dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell as recently as 2014, according to report Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:10:00 +0000


    Former President Bill Clinton reportedly had an "intimate" dinner with British socialite and accused sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014.

    Maxwell is in a New York City prison after accusations that she helped to procure underage victims for accused pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

    She was charged with two counts of conspiracy, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting minors for illegal sex acts, and two counts of perjury. She has denied all charges laid against her.

    What are the details?

    According to the Daily Beast, Clinton met Maxwell and other friends at high-end Los Angeles restaurant Crossroads Kitchen for an "intimate dinner" in 2014.

    The outlet reported that Clinton's team secured the reservation for those invited, including Maxwell.

    "Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation say [Clinton] aides had squabbled over Maxwell's invitation beforehand due to her links to Epstein," the report explained. "Even to this day, Clinton insiders continue to point fingers over who should be blamed for Maxwell's addition to the event."

    One source purported to be close to the situation told the outlet, "This is an intimate dinner with Clinton in L.A. Think of all the people he knows in L.A. and Ghislaine gets to attend."

    The outlet noted that by 2014, the media had widely reported on the lurid allegations against Epstein, and that the Clintons even knew of the allegations against Maxwell regarding her alleged connections to Epstein.

    "It's unclear why Maxwell was reintroduced into Clinton's circle — at least for one cozy meatless dinner in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2014," the report noted.

    'It's always someone else's fault'

    The outlet also reported that Maxwell was close to both the former president and first daughter Chelsea Clinton.

    "One friend of the Clintons told The Daily Beast that Ghislaine was close to Clinton and daughter Chelsea, went backstage at Clinton Global Initiative events, and even visited their homes," the report noted. "The source said the Clintons should take responsibility for spending time with Maxwell, who allegedly offered the Clintons hotel stays, air travel, and other largesse."

    The source added, "It's always someone else's fault, it's always not true. ... They're always fighting against the reporting and not that they did it. That's the problem."

    Angel Ureña, a spokesperson for the former president, pointed the outlet to a 2019 statement when pressed for comment on the allegations of the "intimate" 2014 dinner. The statement did not mention Maxwell at all.

    The 2019 statement read:

    President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York. In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation. Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg of every trip. He had one meeting with Epstein in his Harlem office in 2002, and around the same time made one brief visit to Epstein's New York apartment with a staff member and his security detail. He's not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida.

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