CONanna

God lover, dog lover, freedom lover. #OPLive

[Matt Whitlock @MattWhitlock]

Even if you’re brain-broken enough to excuse Nazism, downplaying rape, having no morals…

Do you want to do it for Platner who has no policy chops, no experience, and just copy/pastes Bernie’s champagne socialism?

When the alternative is effective and inoffensive Susan Collins?

[Michael Shellenberger @shellenberger]

After being fired from CBS, former “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley yesterday said that “new management has instructed me to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. I’ve been told to include assertions that are unverified.”

Those are remarkable claims for which Pelley presented no evidence. Indeed, it would be extraordinary for CBS to demand such things of a correspondent, either verbally or in writing, given the reputational risk to the network.

A more likely explanation is that Pelley disagreed with someone at CBS and then declared a difference of opinion to be a demand to lie. Support for this interpretation comes from the fact that he claimed Tuesday that CBS’s new management, led by Bari Weiss, was trying to kill “60 Minutes,” something for which he also did not provide evidence.

Moreover, the accusation makes no sense. CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss took the job to rebuild CBS News, not to wreck it, and a ruined “60 Minutes” would hurt her. Paramount’s owners did not pay billions for the network to burn its best asset for spite. So the simpler reading is that Pelley is the one stretching the truth.

Doing so appears to be a habit for Pelley. He told The New York Times, “I have been in combat in Afghanistan. I have been in combat in Iraq,” but being in a combat zone as a journalist is not the same as being “in combat.” The remark is yet more evidence of Pelley’s propensity to exaggerate to the point of lying.

For decades, mainstream liberal journalists have displayed remarkable levels of arrogance, even as they get major stories wrong.

Consider the case of CBS News’ former anchor Dan Rather. In the fall of 2004, two months before the election, Rather presented documents purporting to show favoritism in George W. Bush’s National Guard service. Experts called them forgeries. CBS apologized: “We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry,” Rather said. On air, he added, “I want to say, personally and directly, I’m sorry.”

But then, a decade later, Rather told Variety he still stands “100 percent” behind the report and reframed the apology.

Or consider NBC’s Katie Couric. In her 2016 documentary “Under the Gun,” editors inserted roughly eight to nine seconds of silence after she asked Virginia gun owners how to keep guns from felons and terrorists without background checks, making them look stumped. The raw audio revealed that they answered immediately.

Couric’s first instinct was to defend what she did, saying she was “very proud of the film.” Only after sustained backlash did she apologize.

In her 2021 memoir “Going There,” Couric admitted she cut Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s harshest anthem-kneeling comments from her 2016 interview. Ginsburg had said kneeling players showed “contempt for a government that has made it possible for their parents and grandparents to live a decent life, which they probably could not have lived in the places they came from.”

NBC’s “Meet the Press,” in the spring of 2020, aired a clip of Attorney General Bill Barr that omitted part of his answer, misleading the public.

When Catherine Herridge interviewed Barr for CBS Evening News, she asked what history would say about his decision to drop the case against a former National Security Advisor to President Trump, Michael Flynn. The Obama administration’s FBI had illegally targeted Flynn for entrapment and prosecution. Barr replied that ”history is written by the winner. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history.”

"Meet the Press'" anchor at the time, Chuck Todd, said on air that Barr “didn’t make the case that he was upholding the rule of law. He was almost admitting that, yeah, this is a political job.’” But “Meet the Press” had left out the second part of Barr’s answer to Herridge, in which he said, “But I think a fair history would say that it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law.”

The safeguards the journalism profession built against error did not work when it mattered. The corrections, the editors, the fact-checkers, and the standards desks all sat in place while the press got the border, trans medicine, climate, the sixth extinction, Russiagate, the Hunter Biden laptop, Covid and much else wrong. Gerth described how reporters sought to “shoot the messenger” rather than grapple with evidence contradicting the Russia collusion narrative...

https://t.co/K5tE372xGo

Please subscribe now to support Public's award-winning journalism and to read the full article!

[Ari Fleischer @AriFleischer]

I don’t want to hear a word by the Democrats about the Epstein files when they’re running a guy for the Senate in Maine who took a picture of himself wrapped in a towel for use on an app targeted to teens.

Platner is Epstein without the island.

[Iris Tao @IrisTaoTV]

My family escaped Communism to come to the U.S.

Today in the Oval Office, I asked President Trump why he's warning Americans about Communism in a new statement. His response was powerful:

“You're going to get free rent, you're going to get free houses, you're going to get free food, you're going to get free everything, but eventually that ends, and it leads to death, destruction, and squalor 100% of the time.”

On Mayor Mamdani in NYC: “I don't understand why he thinks it's okay for all these companies that pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes a year to leave, because you're not going to have any tax base.”

“Free enterprise is tougher to sell, but that's what's made our country great, and that's why it's great again now.”

[A Gene Robinson @AlBuffalo2nite]

Watching this video makes my jaw clench.

Not because I see courage. Not because I see progress. It makes my jaw clench because I see a husband standing outside a women’s restroom while his wife is inside, and another person is demanding that he ignore what his own eyes can see.

Put Democrat politics aside for a moment and think about the people you love. Imagine your wife is in that restroom. Imagine it’s your daughter, your granddaughter, your mother, or your sister. Most husbands like us, aren’t going to start debating social theories at that moment. Their first instinct is going to be the same instinct men have had for thousands of years: protect the women they love.

That isn’t hatred. It isn’t fear. It’s responsibility.

What makes this video so powerful is that it exposes a much bigger disagreement taking place across the country. One side believes that biological reality determines who belongs in male and female spaces. The other believes that personal identity should be the deciding factor. Those are fundamentally different starting points, and that’s why these encounters keep happening.

The anger you’re seeing isn’t really about a restroom. It’s about whether ordinary people are still allowed to trust their own judgment, speak honestly about what they see, and protect the people they care about without being told they’re the problem.

Millions of Americans like me, have reached the point where they are exhausted by being told that common sense is offensive. They are tired of being told that protecting women is somehow controversial. They are tired of being pressured to deny what they believe is objectively true in order to avoid criticism.

That’s why videos like this resonate with so many people. They aren’t seeing a debate about a bathroom. They’re seeing a husband doing what husbands have always done: standing watch over the people entrusted to his care.

And for many Americans, the line gets drawn right there.

Not with my wife.

Not with my daughter.

Not with my family.

#SilentMajoritySpeaks #AStoneGroove

[Zeek Arkham 🇺🇸 @ZeekArkham]

Normalize being angry about legitimate injustice, no matter who it happens to.

Henry Nowak’s life mattered.

Iryna Zarutska’s life mattered.

Anyone who was murdered where it was completely preventable; their life mattered.

No one should be thinking about furthering an agenda in order to care.

[Jesse Watters @JesseBWatters]

WOW: JILL BIDEN ADMITS SHE WHEELED HER POSSIBLY STROKING HUSBAND TO WAFFLE HOUSE INSTEAD OF A HOSPITAL— AND NOW SHE WANTS YOU TO BUY HER BOOK 🧇📚😬

[🇯🇵SAIGOU🇯🇵郷田剛士🇯🇵 @oidonhagouda]

Bro, let’s stop pretending.

Muslims make up about 25% of the entire world’s population — over 2 billion people across 50+ countries.

Japanese people? About 1.4% of the world. One single country.

Shinto exists only in Japan.

So when people say “Japan should prioritize minorities and be more accommodating to Islam,” who exactly are we talking about?

The global majority is coming to one of the world’s smallest ethnic and religious groups and demanding that Japan change its culture, food, and traditions for them.

That’s not “protecting minorities.” That’s the majority trying to colonize a tiny minority.

Japan has every right to protect its own people and culture first.

If Muslims want to live under Islamic rules, they already have dozens of countries where they can do that. They don’t need to come to Japan and turn it into another one.

[Link Lauren @itslinklauren]

My response to Congressman Andy Ogles. I have advocated for years in support of the nuclear family. I believe there is a push on the left to erode the nuclear family, and we see that birth rates are at an all-time low. However, saying “homosexuality has no place in America” is the type of intolerant rhetoric we see on the left where they exclude and silence people.

I have felt respected and embraced by the Republican Party. I am booked to speak at Republican events often. I advocate for American values. We currently have the highest ranking gay cabinet member in history, Scott Bessent. He was not chosen because he is gay, but based off of merit. That’s how it should be.

These types of broad statements will only turn off independent and right-of-center voters heading into the midterms. I respect those who do not believe in gay marriage, as I don’t need the people around me to be 100% aligned with who I am. We have religious freedom and liberty in this country. There are folks who watch my content, but don’t agree with me on everything. That’s fine! However, saying I have “no place in America” is a mistake. It’s certainly not what President Trump or this administration believes either. 🇺🇸

[Peeja Blackbird @blackbirdpeeja]

I am forever grateful and proud to stand with each and every woman out there who knows that the female sex class cannot be bought, erased, or butchered by society as long as we continue to see past the smoke and mirrors, we will always win.

RISE UP, celebrate everything about yourself that is female.

Be a dictator of your own self, from head to toe, you are female, never compromise when it comes to the truth.

♀💜

[Western Lensman @WesternLensman]

Paul Krugman: “We really need to do a thorough purging of the United States."

“We need a deMAGAfication…similar to de-Nazification."

This deranged lunatic was employed by NYT for 20+ years.

[Congressman Gabe Evans @repgabeevans]

Colorado families are paying the price for years of failed infrastructure priorities.

Our state now has the 6th worst urban roads and 4th worst rural roads in the nation — costing drivers an estimated $1,900 a year in vehicle repairs.

Safe roads shouldn’t be partisan.

[Clay Travis @ClayTravis]

West Virginia fans and players all sing “Country Roads,” in unison after their walk off extra innings regional win. Totally awesome.

[Mark Cook @PatriotMarkCook]

Well, if they didn't want to kill me before, they really aren't going to like me now that I'm putting this out.

But it needs to be done, so enjoy! (make sure you click the link at the bottom of the article to get to the full document -- it was too long to post it all)

Download, email, print, share. It's time!

[Yasmine Mohammed 🦋 ياسمين محمد @YasMohammedxx]

The hijab is not a fun symbol of “diversity” and “inclusion” for brands to commercialize. For millions of women across the globe, it is a symbol of purity culture, r*pe culture, and religiously mandated misogyny.

To glamorize it is to spit in the face of every woman in Iran who risks execution by removing it.

Watch my full discussion on the Unveiled Book Club with @ilvalues

[A Gene Robinson @AlBuffalo2nite]

🚨And before someone says, “What about Trump?”… stop. 🚨

This is not about Trump. My wife and I were not asking Trump for land in Buffalo. We were not asking Trump to process paperwork in Buffalo. We were not asking Trump to help us turn vacant lots into recovery spaces. We were asking the Democrat-run City of Buffalo, and they gave us nothing but the runaround.

Honest question.

Do you live in a Democrat-run city? Do you have family in one?

If you do, you should pay close attention to what you’re about to see because our experience in Buffalo may not be unique.

Several years ago, my wife and I became tired of watching addiction destroy lives while hearing endless discussions about solutions. Rather than complain, we decided to invest our own money and our own labor into building tiny homes that could provide a stable environment for recovery. We weren’t asking the City of Buffalo to build them for us. We weren’t asking taxpayers to fund them. We were prepared to take the financial risk ourselves because we believed people’s lives were worth the effort.

What surprised us was how little support we received from a city government that constantly speaks about helping vulnerable people. Buffalo has thousands of vacant lots scattered throughout its neighborhoods. We weren’t asking for a gift. We wanted the opportunity to purchase land and put it to productive use. We wanted to create places where people battling addiction could rebuild their lives.

Yet despite years of talking about revitalization, recovery, and equity, the city did not help us with so much as a blade of grass. We offered to buy property with our own money. We offered to invest our own resources.

Instead, we encountered attitude, delays, roadblocks, and endless runaround. It often felt as though the city simply did not want a recovery project in its neighborhoods, regardless of who was paying for it.

Thankfully, others stepped forward. The Erie County Opiates Task Force supported the vision. They stood with us. Friends I have worked alongside since 2015 in the fight against overdoses stood beside us that we developed. My friend Brooks opened his manufacturing facility and helped make possible something truly innovative and cutting-edge. While the city offered mouth, excuses, these people offered solutions.

That is why these homes exist today. They were built through faith, perseverance, sacrifice, and the support of people who cared more about saving lives than protecting bureaucracy. This video is not about political arguments.

It is about a simple question every citizen should ask: if private citizens are willing to spend their own money and devote years of their lives to helping people recover from addiction, why would a city with several thousands of vacant lots make that mission harder instead of easier?

What you are about to see is the result of ordinary people refusing to quit. The homes are real. The need is real. The recovery is real. And with God’s help, we intend to keep going.

We will not lose. We can’t lose.

#SilentMajoritySpeaks #AStoneGroove

[Sara Ghorbani @d_white_rabbit]

Yeah! Let’s not glamorize and normalize subjugation of women. She’s a human in there. That sack of potato and head covering and mask in contrast to his shorts tells you their status, their differing freedoms and dignity and humanity. Modesty is rape culture. Men can learn to control their desires and lust or don’t join society. Stop imprisoning women in body bags and pretending like it’s an honour. That’s dehumanizing as hell. The world sees your violence for what it is now, you misogynist piece of shit!

[Zeek Arkham 🇺🇸 @ZeekArkham]

Dear Ken Doll,

You’re absolutely right about how much MAGA hates black political power.

I mean, it’s not like we want a Supreme Court full of Clarence Thomases, right? Or how we’re about to elect Byron Donalds in Florida, which is a deep red state. Or how we wanted Winsome Sears to win in Virginia, but you and your folks, including the NAACP, didn’t want that. Or how we wanted Tameka Hamilton and Charlotte Bergmann to win in their respective races, but were up against Democrat white dudes.

Truth is, Democrats want “black political power” they approve of. They want black voices that further their narrative. They want black folks who are still happily on their plantation. You don’t want me and those like me. Then again, you’re a “Ken Doll” because you’re plastic, fake, and ball-less. I’m real.

No hugs. Don’t want that sludge in your hair getting on me.
Zeek

[Old Salty Marine @BamaSaltyMarine]

HISTORY LESSON ON YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD:
Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn’t know this. It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what’s what and it doesn’t matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are FACTS.

Up until the 1980's, Social Security cards expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.
Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION" message was removed.

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. His promises are in black, with updates in brackets.

1.) That participation in the Program would be completely voluntary [No longer voluntary],

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program [Now 7.65% on the first $90,000, and 15% on the first $90,000 if you’re self-employed],

3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year [No longer tax deductible]

4.) That the money the participants put into the independent ‘Trust Fund’ rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program [Under Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and spent]

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income [Under Clinton & Gore up to 85% of your Social Security can be taxed].

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month — and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to ‘put away’ — you may be interested in the following.

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the ‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US

AND MY FAVORITE:

Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

A: That’s right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments!

The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!

Now, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will evolve. Maybe not, though.

Some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn’t so but it’s worth a try.

How many people can YOU send this to?

[Sara Ghorbani @d_white_rabbit]

In my days, we used to call it Muslim, but yeah, sure, “Islamic women”! I was one. I was subjugated and dehumanized and traumatized my whole life. I was forced into hijab at age 6 to control men’s lust towards little girls’s bodies. I was told I was half a man and was half-brained and needed to have a male guardian for my whole life to decide if I can get an education or work or travel or get married. I was assaulted by Muslim men my whole life and told it was my fault for being a woman. I was educated in Islam and learned to read Quran and understand it at school. What benefits? Being dehumanized and told that it’s for my own good? Being treated as half a man with no autonomy and dignity? If you are that stupid to believe this is “appreciation” or “respect”, I have a bridge to sell you! I don’t need to “compare” because I have already survived that violence and misogyny. I know what I am talking about and your pathetic attempt at gaslighting would make me laugh if women were still subjected to the same 7th century, barbaric, violent ideology in 57 countries around the world. Keep the benefits. I keep my dignity and autonomy as a full human!