News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
Idaho man accused of sexually abusing 2 teen girls, held in jail on $250,000 bond
Austin Brunette is charged on suspicion of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor younger than age 16. He was arrested Wednesday.
Detectives began their investigation in February after being contacted by a third party, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Lewd conduct with a child younger than age 16 is punishable by up to life in prison.
Philly woman accused of torching police cars during protest tracked down through Etsy, LinkedIn
The FBI managed to track down the women, identified by police as Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal, 33, through purchases she made on Etsy and her LinkedIn profile.
Authorities said in a criminal complaint, obtained by ABC News, they sifted through numerous videos and photos of people setting two vehicles on fire at the Philadelphia protests on May 30, which they noted were mostly peaceful.
In some of the photos, a woman with a peace sign tattoo who wore a T-shirt that read, “Keep the immigrants deport the racists,” was seen. Her face was covered by what looked like a bandana in some photos. Others showed her face.
Aunt Jemima’s Great-Grandson Enraged Her Legacy Will Be Erased
The first “Aunt Jemima” debuted at Chicago’s World’s Fair in 1893.
Former enslaved woman Nancy Green, who worked as a cook on the South Side, was hired to wear an apron and headscarf while serving pancakes to folks who came to visit the fairgrounds known as “The White City.”
Green embodied the Aunt Jemima character until her death in 1923.
Evans says his great-grandmother — the late Anna Short Harrington — took Green’s place.
Harrington was born on a South Carolina plantation where her family worked as sharecroppers.
In 1927, a white family from New York “bought” Harrington to be their maid.
F/A-18F launched from USS Theodore Roosevelt crashes into Philippine Sea
“The incident is currently under investigation. Both aviators were assessed by the medical team on board Theodore Roosevelt and are in good condition,” said a statement from the Navy.
The Navy did not confirm which squadron the fighter was assigned to, but the only squadron on the carrier that carries the two-seat F variant is the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron 154 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The Roosevelt is underway in the Phillippine Sea. It returned to sea on June 4, after being docked in Guam for more than two months to address a COVID-19 outbreak onboard.
Google Suffers Massive Spyware Breach of Chrome Browser
Reuters reports that a newly discovered spyware attack targeted users of Google’s Chrome web browser via browser extensions which received 32 million downloads.
Google stated that it removed more than 70 malicious extensions from its Chrome Web Store after researchers at Awake Security alerted them to the issue.
Google spokesman Scott Westover told Reuters: “When we are alerted of extensions in the Web Store that violate our policies, we take action and use those incidents as training material to improve our automated and manual analyses.”
Cream of Wheat, Mrs. Butterworth confront race in packaging
The soul-searching comes in the wake of PepsiCo’s announcement Wednesday that it’s renaming its Aunt Jemima syrup brand. Mars Inc. says it’s also reviewing its Uncle Ben’s rice brand.
New York-based Colgate-Palmolive Co. said Thursday it is working with its Chinese partner, Hawley & Hazel Chemical Co., on changes to its Darlie brand toothpaste.
On Thursday, Yelp announced it was partnering with My Black Receipt, a group that is encouraging people to spend $5 million at black-owned businesses through July 4.
Yelp said it’s adding a free search function for consumers to easily find businesses that identify themselves as black owned.
Californians ordered to wear face masks in public after ‘too many people with faces uncovered’: Gov. Newsom
It’s unclear how the state’s mask requirement will be enforced or whether those who don’t adhere to the requirement will face fines.
Some people are exempt from the new mask orders, including children aged two and under, those who are hearing impaired or need to communicate with those who are, as well as people who have medical, mental health or developmental disabilities that prevent them from wearing face coverings. Inmates are also exempt from the order.
People dining at restaurants and cafes don’t have to wear face coverings while they’re eating, provided that they can keep at least six feet away from others, state officials said.
Masks are also not required while exercising outdoors, and that includes while swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling or running.
Florida to Discontinue ‘Gator Bait’ Chant Due to Racist Imagery
“While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our “Gator Bait” cheer at UF sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase. Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer.”
The cheer has frequently been used after a quick band intro, followed by fans chomping twice with their arms and cheering “Gator Bait.”
Discontinuing its use is just one of several steps Fuchs announced the university will be taking to address racism. Fuchs outlined three major areas of focus for change.
Facebook takes down Trump campaign ads
Facebook said Thursday it took down select Trump campaign ads for violating its policies regarding hate speech.
President Trump’s campaign ran ads on Facebook platforms featuring an inverted red triangle that requested the president’s supporters sign a petition opposing the far-left group “Antifa” as a terrorist organization.
Mr. Trump’s critics at liberal watchdog Media Matters labeled the triangle an “infamous Nazi symbol.”
“We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate,” a Facebook spokesperson said. “Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group’s symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol.”
People already lining up for Trump’s weekend rally in Oklahoma
Supporters have been seen lining the street since Monday.
“So you are prepared to sit out here for five-six days?” a local reporter with KFOR asked a group holding up a Trump 2020 flag this week.
“We’re here till after the rally,” one woman assured the reporter.
“I came here Sunday at 9 a.m.,” another man added.
In another video, a man who was first in line claimed to have staked his spot Monday at 2:30 a.m.
Warrant issued for man seen punching BLM protester in back of head during Ohio demonstration which got out of hand
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Johnnie Devault on Wednesday, claiming he deliberately caused, or attempted to cause, physical harm to Nicholas Rendon by hitting him in the head.
During the organized demonstration, counterprotesters–who included several motorcycle gangs, pro-police “Back the Blue” groups, and Second Amendment advocates–forced protesters from Bethel’s Solidarity with Black Lives Demonstration to move a few blocks over from where they were originally marching.
Reardon did not press charges initially after the alleged assault because he said he had not seen who hit him and he refused medical treatment at the time, police said.
Half-brother of black man found hanged from tree in California killed by deputies in shootout: sheriff
Deputies were tracking Fuller’s half-brother, identified as Terron Jammal Boone, for alleged kidnapping, spousal assault and assault with a deadly weapon.
Boone allegedly kidnapped a woman and held her against her will for several days, the sheriff’s department told FOX 11 in Los Angeles.
When authorities attempted to stop Boone’s car in Rosamond, Calif., just north of the Los Angeles County border Wednesday around 4:30 p.m., he opened the car door and started shooting at officers, the department said.
Washington state mayor now calls BLM protests ‘domestic terrorism’ after her home vandalized
“I’m really trying to process this,” Selby told the newspaper Saturday, after the rioters’ Friday night spree left her front door and porch covered with spray-painted messages.
“It’s like domestic terrorism. It’s unfair.
“It hurts when you’re giving so much to your community,” she added.
Protesters rally outside mayor’s home demanding more cuts to police budget
FOX NEWS Video: Protesters say the $15 million in department cuts are not enough; William La Jeunesse reports.
Hypocritical Hollywood cheers on protests but not in their own rich neighborhood?
FOX NEWS Video: Beverly Hills issues an emergency order banning gatherings of more than 10 people in residential areas between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.; New York Post columnist Miranda Devine sounds off.
Every Atlanta Police Officer to Receive $500 Bonus Today From Private Group Linked to Mayor and Police Chief – Day After 56% of Police Call Out
On Wednesday night as many as 56% of Atlanta police officers called off of work after Officer Garrett Rolfe was charged with felony murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks.
Several calls went unanswered in Atlanta last night do to the shortage of police officers.
The Atlanta Police Foundation is paying a $500 bonus to every Atlanta police officer today.
It will add up to more than $2 million in money the foundation has raised. No city funds will be used to pay for the bonuses.
They’ll also be purchasing 20 police cars to replace those that were destroyed in protests a few weeks ago.
Bongino blasts DA over murder charge in Rayshard Brooks shooting: ‘What they did was outrageous’
Commentary/Opinion:
“They’ve drawn absolutely no investigative conclusions whatsoever about this incident. Again, albeit tragic with Mr. Brooks. But, no conclusions whatsoever,” Bongino said. “Do you understand how unprecedented that is?
“So, now you’re telling me if you’re a police officer and you’re engaged in a use of force incident in the course of your job…that results in the death of a subject that before an investigation’s even concluded and, might I add has barely started, that you are subject to imprisonment without bail and charges that could result in the death penalty?” he asked.
“I mean, even to the most radical leftist listening to your show right now, they’re quietly acknowledging and shaking their heads…that what I’m saying on your show right now is absolutely accurate,” Bongino told Kilmeade.
McDonald’s franchisee responds after police officer feared her food was tampered with in viral video
Deputy Stacy Talbert took to Facebook Live early on Monday morning to share her side of the story in a three-minute clip that has since been viewed over 9 million times, BuzzFeed News reports.
Talbert said that she mobile-ordered an English muffin meal with a coffee and hash browns from a Richmond Hill McDonald’s on her way home from work, and became increasingly concerned as she was left “waiting and waiting and waiting” in the drive-thru to receive her breakfast.
The clip has also been widely circulated – and criticized by some – on Twitter.
Facebook Insider: Company Suspended My Account In H-1B Policy Doc Leak
Project Veritas today released a story featuring a human resources memorandum prioritizing overseas nationals to reduce the number of American employees by a Facebook Insider
The confidential Facebook memorandum explicitly stated: “Priority may be given to H-1B applicants from China and Korea to foster larger communities of diverse workers at Facebook.”
However, when asked for comment, Facebook adamantly opposed the authenticity then refused to answer any additional questions.
U.S. retail foot traffic rebounds, more staff at work, as lockdowns ease
Cellphone data from Unacast showed foot traffic at retail locations as of last Saturday was just 10% below the level of a year earlier.
Similar foot traffic estimates from Safegraph were over 90% of what they were on March 1, before a national state of emergency was declared and widespread lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Data from time management firms Homebase and Kronos both pointed to more employees at work last week from a week earlier.
Tucker: Rayshard Brooks went ‘berserk’ on police officers (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
Commentary/Opinion:
Politics:
DA who charged officer with felony murder in Brooks shooting is in tight runoff election
The Fulton County, Ga. district attorney who charged fired former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe with felony murder — an offense that can carry the death penalty — is facing a criminal investigation and a primary runoff in a difficult fight to remain in office after his challenger secured more votes than he did in the June 9 primary.
Howard, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is under criminal investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for allegedly taking at least $140,000 in Atlanta taxpayer dollars to supplement his salary through his nonprofit.
“Charging an Atlanta police officer with felony murder before the completion of the GBI’s investigation was a political decision, not a legal one,” Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., said in a statement Thursday.
“I’m calling on Attorney General Chris Carr to appoint an independent district attorney in the case of Rayshard Brooks to ensure Georgians have complete confidence that this case is devoid of any and all political influence.
Sen. Hawley on bill targeting Big Tech: They’ve ‘purchased a lot of influence’ and will fight it ‘tooth and nail’
Hawley’s bill would give Americans the ability to sue major tech companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter if they engage in selective censorship of political speech.
“Big Tech are some of the most powerful players on Capitol Hill,” Hawley noted.
He went on to say that he thinks that “as people see more and more how powerful Big Tech is and how they are using power to favor one political side over the other, I think people are going to stand up and say, ‘This is enough.’”
Oakland Mayor Launches Hate Crime Investigation Over ‘Nooses’ In Trees — Black Resident Says They Were Exercise Aids
But a black resident named Victor Sengbe explained to local CBS affiliate WKYT that the ropes were actually part of an exercise course he had helped to set up.
“Out of the dozen and hundreds and thousands of people that walked by, no one has thought that it looked anywhere close to a noose. Folks have used it for exercise.
It was really a fun addition to the park that we tried to create,” Sengbe told WKYT, adding, “It’s unfortunate that a genuine gesture of just wanting to have a good time got misinterpreted into something so heinous.”
Trump says he’ll release new list of potential Supreme Court nominees
Although conservatives hold a majority on the nine-member Court, several rulings have gone against the president recently. On Thursday, the high court ruled against the administration’s effort to revoke the Obama-era DACA program for young illegal immigrants.
Mr. Trump said of the recent rulings, “Do you get the impression that the Supreme Court doesn’t like me?”
“The recent Supreme Court decisions, not only on DACA, Sanctuary Cities, Census, and others, tell you only one thing, we need NEW JUSTICES of the Supreme Court,” Mr. Trump tweeted.
“If the Radical Left Democrats assume power, your Second Amendment, Right to Life, Secure Borders, and Religious Liberty, among many other things, are OVER and GONE!”
Senate confirms Trump judicial pick over prominent GOP defection
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican facing a tough reelection battle in November, supported Judge Walker’s confirmation to the lower court last year but voted against Judge Walker on Thursday.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer pointed to Ms. Collins’ reversal as evidence that Senate Republicans moved too quickly to elevate Judge Walker to the federal appellate court.
Mr. McConnell, who’s said his motto is to leave no judicial vacancies behind, rejected any suggestion that Congress had any reason to deny Judge Walker’s confirmation.
Large Virginia county ends immigration enforcement agreement
The Prince William County-Manassas jail board will allow its cooperation agreement with federal authorities to expire, ending a program championed by former Republican county board chairman Corey A. Stewart that made the Virginia community a national symbol of hard-line immigration enforcement.
With Stewart out of politics after a failed U.S. Senate bid last year and the county growing increasingly blue, the jail board refused to entertain a motion to renew its 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — despite arguments at the meeting from Trump administration officials that the program has been key to removing dangerous criminals from the community.
The decision, met with anger by 287(g) supporters, allows the agreement to end June 30, officials said.
World News:
Britain grants more than 3.3M EU, EEA citizens right to remain in U.K.
The office said 57 percent of those people falling in that category has been granted “settled status,” the term that describes those living in Britain for five years or more. Another 39 percent were granted “pre-settled” status.
It is estimated that 3 million to 3.8 million EU residents currently live in Britain.
“Of the total refusals, 99 percent were refused on eligibility grounds and 1 percent were refused on suitability grounds,” the Home Office said in a statement.
“In February 2020, the Home Office began refusing EU Settlement Scheme applications on eligibility grounds.”
Indians Burn Xi Jinping in Effigy, Trash Chinese Products After Border Massacre
The Twitter hashtags #BoycottChineseProducts and #ChineseProductsinDustbin were flooded with videos and commentary from Indian citizens ceremonially throwing away products made in China or joining in street protests burning Chinese products.
Multiple incidents were also recorded of groups of people gathering in Indian cities to abuse and burn effigies of Chinese dictator Xi Jinping.
China is India’s top exporter, but only its third-largest importer, sending over $90 billion in goods west across the border in 2018, the latest year for which World Bank data is available.
Indian manufacturers and political activists have launched multiple campaigns to significantly diminish this number in light of the Galwan attack.
India seeks eased tensions with China after Himalayas clash
Responding to China’s claim to the disputed Galwan Valley, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said both sides agreed to handle the situation responsibly.
“Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding,” he said in a statement.
India and China have accused each other of instigating the clash in the valley, which is part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier.
Israel-Greece to bolster security cooperation in Eastern-Mediterranean – TV7 Israel News 18.06.20
1) Greece and Israel are significantly bolstering bilateral relations in numerous sectors, including in the fields of energy and maritime security.
2) Turkey has managed to secure the survival of the Libyan government of national accord in Tripoli as the Eastern-based Libyan National Army is seeking alternative route.
3) The Israeli Navy successfully thwarted a naval smuggling attempt of weapons into the Gaza Strip from the coast of the northern Sinai Peninsula.
Commentary/Opinion:
Newt Gingrich: Three generations of brainwashing are paying off for the left
People ask me how we’ve gotten to this point.
All of this is the result of three generations of brainwashing going back at least to Herbert Marcuse, the German-born University of California, San Diego professor who taught young Americans the philosophical foundation of Marxism in the 1960s. As early as 1972,
Theodore White was warning that the liberal ideology was becoming a liberal theology and dissent was less and less acceptable to the left.
We did not think through the eventual reality that graduates who had been taught systematic falsehoods would take those falsehoods into their jobs.
As President Ronald Reagan said, “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.”
Mark Steyn pokes fun at Seattle leadership, discusses possible ‘CHOP Olympics’
Seattle’s ‘CHOP’ encampment to hold summer games event.
Author and columnist Mark Steyn on the games he’d like to see ‘CHOPians’ compete in.
Boy Scouts of America Bows to Black Lives Matter
Boy Scouts of America is endorsing Black Lives Matter and has introduced a new “Diversity and Inclusion Merit Badge” that will be REQUIRED to achieve the Eagle Scout rank.
Former Eagle Scout Will Witt is FIRED UP.