In The News, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion. Keeping you informed.
In The News:
California removes most restrictions; Newsom keeps emergency powers
Even though Californians will be able to fill stadiums, concert venues, bars and restaurants, Gov. Gavin Newsom says the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over.
Newsom signed orders rescinding mask mandates, business restrictions and the tiered reopening phases that ebbed and flowed with infection and hospitalization rates, beginning Tuesday.
“The emergency remains in effect after June 15,” Newsom said at a news conference. “We’re still in a state of emergency. This disease has not been extinguished. It’s not managed. It’s not taking the summer months off.”
What Newsom gains by keeping California under a state of emergency are federal funds.
An April analysis by the Congressional Research Service said programs such as enhanced federal food assistance and other emergency functions that federal dollars wouldn’t otherwise match would be lost if the state-of-emergency lapses.
Fisherman frees great white shark from fishing net in tense video
Sean Bailey had previously spotted the shark swimming circles around the boat he and his dad were fishing in, Fox 6 Now reports. As the large animal got closer and closer to the boat, Bailey reportedly noticed that it was covered in fishing lines.
In the footage, Bailey and his father can be heard debating how to pull the line free without upsetting the shark.
Fortunately, they were able to free the shark without any unpleasant incidents.
Meanwhile, on the east coast, great white sharks are making their presence known.
MacKenzie Scott, citing wealth gap, donates $2.7 billion
Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, wrote in a Medium post that she and her husband, Dan Jewett, made the donations to enable the recipients to continue their work and as a “signal of trust and encouragement” to them and others.
“In this effort,” she said, “we are governed by a humbling belief that it would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands and that the solutions are best designed and implemented by others.”
In 2020, Scott made two similar surprise announcements, donating a combined $6 billion to COVID-19 relief, gender equity, historically Black colleges and universities and other schools.
The 286 organizations chosen for Tuesday’s announcement included “equity-oriented” nonprofits working in long-neglected areas and were selected from a rigorous process of research and analysis, Scott said.
Turtle Nesting Survey in Florida Turns Up $1.2M Worth of Cocaine
A Florida wildlife manager last month discovered dozens of packages that turned out to be about $1.2 million worth of cocaine along the beach near Cape Canaveral Space Station while conducting a survey about turtle nesting, NBC News reports.
Angy Chambers, wildlife manager and civil engineer with the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, found 24 packages, which were later identified as containing cocaine, on the beach on May 19. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office estimated the value of the packages at $1.2 million.
Chambers said that after she found the packages, she immediately sent word to Space Force’s 45th Security Forces Squadron.
Immigration Cases Have Doubled Since 2017
Over 1.3 million cases are pending, with more than 110,000 pending in New York courts alone, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).
The wait times caused by the backlog in the court system can encourage some migrants to come to the U.S. since they’ll probably be permitted to live and work in the U.S. as their case proceeds through court, according to Axios.
Immigration courts accepted nearly 127,000 cases between October 2020 and May, compared to the 68,000 cases the courts ruled on in the same time frame, according to Kocher.
Less than 4% of new cases issued deportation orders based on the migrant’s alleged criminal activity, Kocher tweeted.
The Real Story – OAN COVID-19 Concerns with Dr. Ben Carson
Dr. Ben Carson, founder of the American Cornerstone Institute, gives us The Real Story on COVID-19 and some concerns people may still have.
Roger Waters turns down ‘huge money’ for Facebook ad: ‘No f–kin’ way’
Florida couple try to run over police officer and K-9, break into mayor’s home, authorities say
Police said K-9 Officer Joseph Elam and his partner Cash tracked down the vehicle and after a short car chase, the suspect vehicle drove into a ditch.
Elam heard the doors open and deployed Cash, who was on a leash, but Swett drove the vehicle in reverse and intentionally struck the K-9 and tried to hit his handler.
A suspect, identified as 31-year-old Matthew Swett, was alerted to the officer’s presence and jumped into the car.
Police said he intentionally drove at and struck the patrol car before speeding away. A passenger, 32-year-old Kaila Ellig, was also in the suspect vehicle.
Cash was not injured and Elam managed to grab his partner and jump out of the vehicle’s path, the report said. However, Swett continued driving, striking the officer’s patrol vehicle before fleeing.
Multi-state shooting spree was racially motived, suspect was targeting White men: report
Police have accused Roberts of shooting five people in three separate assaults in Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama. All victims are expected to recover, Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon said Sunday. The chief added that police found no evidence that Roberts knew any of his victims.
Police said one person was hurt in a shooting Friday night at a hotel in Phenix City. Less than two hours later Friday, three people were shot in Columbus. A fifth person was shot Saturday afternoon.
Roberts was ultimately charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving stolen property, referring to the gun, police said.
The 39-year-old appeared in court Monday in Columbus for a preliminary hearing in one of those incidents where a man was shot in the back as he was getting into his vehicle.
VA parents furious after graduation speaker’s ‘incendiary’ warning on racism and white supremacy
The president of the student government introduced her, noting that she campaigned for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and that her father, Esam Omeish, was a “leader and board member of the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center” – the namesake of a mosque attended by two 9/11 hijackers in 2001, and the radical imam Anwar Al-Awlaki, and Nidal Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood shooter.
“I think it’s important for your viewers to know that Abrar Omeish’s comments here are incendiary comments are not the first example of divisive and anti-Semitic rhetoric,” Fairfax County Parent Gary Aiken told “Fox & Friends First” on Tuesday
Aiken said that several weeks ago, Omeish posted “vile anti-Semitic tweets on her social accounts,” which were linked to her official “non-partisan Fairfax County school board page.”
We’re in trouble if the left’s agenda isn’t challenged: Leo Terrell
Fox News contributor Leo Terrell reacts to a North Korean defector’s warning about oppression in the Ivy Leagues.
US Military Guns Keep Vanishing, Some Used in Street Crimes
Government records covering the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force show pistols, machine guns, shotguns and automatic assault rifles have vanished from armories, supply warehouses, Navy warships and elsewhere.
These weapons of war disappeared because of security failures that, until now, have not been publicly reported, including sleeping troops and a surveillance system that didn’t record.
In one case, authorities linked an Army pistol stolen from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to four shootings in New York before it was recovered. Another stolen Army pistol was used in a Boston street robbery.
The Pentagon used to share annual updates about stolen weapons with Congress, but that requirement ended years ago and public accountability has slipped.
From the start of this reporting 10 years ago, armed services have been reluctant to share information. For years, the Army suppressed the release of information.
Unlike the other branches, the Air Force has released no data at all.
Military stumped by stolen box of armor-piercing grenades
Investigators determined the waylaid grenades were last seen eight months prior on an ammunition train that rolled out from Florida.
Someone had stolen them somewhere on the rails to Pennsylvania, another example in an Associated Press investigation that shows how the military’s vast supply chain is susceptible to theft.
Awaiting the bomb unit, Atlanta police evacuated five houses in both directions, as well as neighbors across the street.
The rounds can penetrate three inches of steel and have a kill radius of nearly 50 feet.
Armed guards who accompanied the shipment reported nothing. When the train reached Letterkenny, it was shuttled for the night to Rail Yard 1, an unsecured staging area outside the installation with no surveillance.
There was just one thing. The canisters are packed with 32 rounds. This one only had 30.
Chaos in Baltimore prompts threats from local businesses
Mike Beckner, owner of Brick Oven Pizza, and former Baltimore congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik explain what conditions are like in the city and what prompted a coalition of 37 businesses to write a letter to officials.
Chicago shooting leaves 4 dead, 4 injured following argument in city’s South Side, police say
Detectives were still trying to determine if there was more than one gunman and that they were still trying to find witnesses, police spokesman Tom Ahern said.
The shooting comes a few days after a woman was killed and nine other people were injured when two men opened fire on a group standing on a sidewalk on Chicago’s South Side.
The shooting happened in Englewood, which has long been one of the most violent communities in Chicago.
It comes as the city is experiencing more homicides this year compared with the same period last year.
San Francisco Walgreens: Video shows man fill garbage bag with items, takes off
Lyanne Melendez, a reporter for KGO-TV in the city, posted the video on Twitter.
“This just happened at the @Walgreens on Gough & Fell Streets in San Francisco. #NoConsequences.”
She tagged Chesa Boudin, the city’s district attorney.
Commenters said the apparent theft is an example of the city’s lawlessness.
Tucker: Violent crime skyrockets in Atlanta suburb
Commentary/Opinion:
‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ host examines increase in Atlanta crime and why Buckhead neighborhood wants to leave.
The reason for that is the current mayor, a spectacular mediocrity with unusually high self-esteem called Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Like so many big city mayors, Bottoms is an incompetent demagogue.
She has no idea what she’s doing, and she’s willing to say anything.
Politics:
Dr. Rand Paul Demands Answers on COVID
Those tied to the funding of the Wuhan lab can’t be allowed to investigate themselves.
They have a definite conflict of interest..
GOP House Reps. File Lawsuit Claiming Pelosi Targeted Republicans With Security Protocols
“Upon information and belief, Speaker Pelosi has instituted an unconstitutional policy of enforcing the Screening Rule against only members of the Republican minority in the House of Representatives, and exempting members of the Democratic majority from its enforcement, resulting in only Republican members being fined and having their congressional salaries reduced, all for the purpose of creating a false narrative for the political benefit of the House Democratic majority,” the complaint read.
Clyde also claimed that Pelosi allegedly violated protocol by avoiding metal detectors without any disciplinary action, according to the complaint.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the screening process has delayed several Republicans including Clyde as they rushed to the House chamber, causing them to miss votes. Others, the complaint says, skipped screening to cast their votes and were then fined.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Promotes “Fire Fauci” Act
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) calls for passage of the “Fire Fauci Act” at a press conference assailing Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Senate confirms progressive tech critic Lina Khan to become an FTC commissioner
The Senate confirmed President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan, the young progressive who helped launch a reckoning amongst antitrust scholars and enforcers, in a 69-28 vote.
At 32, Khan will become the youngest commissioner ever confirmed to the agency.
Her confirmation also signals a bipartisan desire to impose more regulations on Big Tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, Alphabet and Apple.
Khan received the support of several Republicans, including Commerce Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who participated in her confirmation hearing.Still, others like Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, opposed her confirmation.
Khan could end up voting on whether to bring antitrust cases against some of the very tech companies she has investigated in the past. The FTC has been probing Amazon on antitrust grounds, Bloomberg has reported.
“She Just Gives This Bizarre Laugh”: Scalise Tears Into VP Kamala Harris’s Lester Holt Interview
At today’s House GOP leadership press conference, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for not visiting the border, and mocked her interview with Lester Holt.
“The Root Causes Are Joe Biden And Kamala Harris”: Tom Cotton Slams Democrats For Border Crisis
At today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) tore into President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s immigration policies, calling them the “root causes” of the surge of migrants at the southern border.
Pentagon to start anti-radicalization training for departing personnel
The Pentagon is to start training for service members leaving the military to prevent them being radicalized by violent extremists, as part of Biden administration’s plan to combat the ‘lethal threat’ of white supremacy that was unveiled on Tuesday morning.
The White House also called the Capitol riot a ‘domestic terrorist attack’ in a report released on Tuesday and backed a ‘purge’ of extremist content online.
The strategy includes $100 million for the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security for analysts, prosecutors and investigators.
‘The Department of Defence, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Department are similarly pursuing efforts to ensure that domestic terrorists are not employed within our military or law enforcement ranks, and that they improve their screening and vetting processes,’ said the official.
Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger opens probe on ‘missing’ documents for absentee ballots
“New revelations that Fulton County is unable to produce all ballot drop box transfer documents will be investigated thoroughly, as we have with other counties that failed to follow Georgia rules and regulations regarding drop boxes.
This cannot continue,” Raffensperger, a Republican, tweeted Monday after his office opened the investigation.
However, the size and scope of the investigation or when the state will disclose its findings remains unclear.
Raffensperger’s statement and investigation flows a report Monday in the The Georgia Star News in which a state election official acknowledged that absentee ballot chain-of-custody documents were “missing” or “misplaced.”
Raymond Arroyo investigates the border crisis
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo does an overnight stakeout with Texas DPS along the Rio Grande where he encounters human smugglers and he talks to the McAllen, TX mayor.
World News:
Putin rejects spy-satellite’ delivery to Iran; Paris-Ankara agree on Libya TV7 Israel News 15.06.21
1) Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that the recent report, which was published by the Washington Post, on Moscow’s alleged preparation “to supply Iran with an advanced satellite system” that would have granted Iran the tools to monitor IDF bases and activity – is simply false.
2) U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conclude a meeting in Brussels – on the Sidelines of a NATO summit – in what was described by both leaders as positive, sincere and productive talks.
3) French President Emmanuel Macron confirms agreements’ reached with President Erdogan regarding Libya, which has been a root-cause for tensions between Ankara and Paris.
Taiwan Reports Largest Incursion Yet by Chinese Air Force
Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by China’s air force near the self-ruled island, concentrated in the southwestern part of its air defense zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.
The latest Chinese mission involved 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighters, as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and anti-submarine, electronic warfare, and early warning aircraft, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.
It was the largest daily incursion since the ministry began regularly reporting Chinese Air Force activities in Taiwan’s ADIZ last year, breaking the previous record of 25 aircraft reported on April 12.
The ministry added that Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to intercept and warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were also deployed to monitor them.
Facebook, Big Tech Face EU Blow in National Data Watchdogs Ruling
Consumer lobbying group BEUC welcomed Tuesday’s ruling by the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), which backed the right of national agencies to act, citing enforcement bottlenecks.
Along with Google, Twitter and Apple , Facebook has its EU headquarters in Ireland, putting it under the oversight of the Irish data protection regulator under privacy rules known as GDPR, which allow for fines of up to 4% of a company’s global turnover for breaches.
“Most Big Tech companies are based in Ireland, and it should not be up to that country’s authority alone to protect 500 million consumers in the EU, especially if it does not rise to the challenge,” BEUC Director General Monique Goyens said.
Several national watchdogs in the 27-member EU have long complained about their Irish counterpart, saying that it takes too long to decide on cases.
Rescue in Russia: 3 men save children from burning building
The social media footage posted to YouTube on Sunday showed the moment several children were rescued from the third floor of the Kostroma building as black smoke billowed from the window.
Three men had climbed a pipe near the apartment and passed the kids down to those watching below.
The video was shot by residents almost directly across from the apartment and a woman can be heard exclaiming in disbelief.
“Firefighters arrived soon after and extinguished the fire, the local residents have been nominated for bravery awards for their heroic efforts,” it said.
American tourist in Cancun wounded in crossfire of jet ski gunmen: report
The tourist — identified only as Kanya N. — was relaxing under a palm-roofed hut in the Mexican resort on June 11 when the seaborne attackers opened fire, spraying 10 to 15 rounds before zooming off, according to Vice.
The two people killed in the brazen shooting were believed to be vendors who hawked products to tourists — but some of the street merchants also double as drug dealers who supply visitors with cocaine and marijuana, the news outlet reported.
The shooting at Playa Tortugas — a popular beach spot along Cancun’s Hotel Zone — was apparently the result of a territorial dispute between rival factions.
Later that day, shots were fired at the local branch of the state prosecutor’s office that combats small-scale drug trafficking, though it was unclear whether the incident was related to the previous day’s attack, according to the outlet.
Commentary/Opinion:
LOL: Watch RACIST Lecture on Critical Race Theory to White Crowd
Capitalism Myths: Part 1
Everywhere people trash capitalism. But that’s mostly because they don’t understand it
In this part of the series, Economist Dan Mitchell helps me bust ridiculous ideas about rich entrepreneurs, income inequality, and monopolies.
Sohrab Ahmari: Critical Race Theory Has Rituals of Traditional Religion—But No Forgiveness | CLIP
In the 1960s, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn secretly penned “The Gulag Archipelago,” an indictment of the Soviet system that was so profound and damning that it became a key catalyst for the downfall of Soviet communism.
Solzhenitsyn saw the evils of communism with stark clarity. But after he was exiled and moved to the United States, he would shock the world with his critique of the West, specifically the excessive freedoms he witnessed and the “abyss of human decadence.”
What does true freedom mean? Is it possible for a man in a gulag to actually be freer than a man enjoying the greatest wealth the world has to offer?
So argues Sohrab Ahmari, op-ed editor of the New York Post and author of “The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos.”
Gutfeld: Tech titans are the new censors
Gutfeld!’ panel discusses YouTube taking down content from medical professionals.
Now, this happened after YouTube also suspended the account of Sen. Ron Johnson on Friday for seven days after he posted a pro-hydroxychloroquine video; a YouTube spokesperson said it violated its “medical misinformation policies.”
They also removed a video of Dr. Kory testifying to the senate.
