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Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Donald Trump’s Passion for America Shines Through During Townhall

Mediaite: Former President Donald Trump called his recent New York civil fraud case and $354 million fine “a form of Navalny” on Tuesday, just days after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in a penal colony at the age of 47. Trump proceeded to pull a copy of the 8th Amendment out of his pocket, before reading the section which states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted,” to applause from the audience (Mediaite). Collin Rugg: Donald Trump says his “revenge” will be success and goes on to suggest that he has multiple rallies planned in New York City after the $350M ruling against him. “My revenge will be success” (X). Benny Johnson: Trump challenges Biden to presidential debates: “I’ll do it right now on your show. I’ll challenge him right now” (X). Maga War Room: Laura Ingraham: Why not drop out instead of face all of these legal battles? President Donald Trump: “I can’t because I want to make America great again” (X).

Illegal Immigrants Assault NYPD Officers At Shelter

Katie Pavlich: Illegal immigrants in New York City assaulted a number of police officers Tuesday after refusing to comply with orders at a taxpayer funded shelter. The latest assault comes after a number of illegal immigrants violently beat two New York police officers in Times Square nearly three weeks ago (Townhall). LLN NYC: Migrants Attack NYPD Cops Making Arrest at NYC Randalls Island Migrant Shelter (X).

Russia Detains American Woman With Dual Citizenship for Supporting Ukraine

NBC: Russian authorities have detained a woman who is a Los Angeles resident and dual national on suspicion of treason for raising funds to support Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s invasion. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg said early Tuesday that the unnamed 33-year-old woman has dual Russian-American citizenship. The White House said it was working to secure consular access. Since 2022 she “was involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country,” the statement said. The statement added the suspect collected money for the Ukrainian war effort that was spent on medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition. No other details nor a description of any evidence were released. “In addition, in the United States, this citizen repeatedly took part in public actions in support of the Kiev regime,” it said (NBC). CBS: Treason is punishable by up to life in prison under legislation toughened since the start of the military offensive. Several U.S. nationals are currently imprisoned in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last year on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have rejected as baseless. Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been in prison in Russia since 2018, serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges (CBS).

Reporter Evan Gershkovich’s Most Recent Appeal Denied By Russian Court

Daily Mail: A Russian court on Tuesday rejected a complaint by U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich about the extension of his pre-trial detention until March 30 on spying charges which he denies, the court’s press service said. Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up to 20 years in prison. The decision means Gershkovich will spend at least a year in jail following his shock arrest on March 29, 2023 — the first time Russia had arrested a Western journalist on espionage charges since the fall of the Soviet Union (Daily Mail). Axios: The U.S. has designated him wrongfully detained (Axios).

Utah School Districts Advised to Not Disclose Child Transitions to Parents

National Review: Two Utah school districts are encouraging staff to conceal students’ gender transitions from parents. Policy manuals distributed to teachers and staff by the Nebo and Alpine school districts instruct teachers and staff not to notify parents or guardians after a student asks to be referred to by a name or pronouns of the opposite sex, outside of certain limited circumstances. Nebo instructs staff to heed the ACLU’s guidance, which is “very protective of a student’s right to privacy in his/her sexuality,” and adds that school employees should only notify parents if “‘a situation exists which presents a serious threat to the well-being of a student,’” pursuant to Utah state laws. Otherwise, “volunteering known information about a student’s sexuality with parents is not advised,” the district’s “Practical Tips for Interacting with Transgender Students” resource states (National Review).

Female Basketball Team Forfeits Recent Game Against Team with Trans Player Due to Injuries

New York Post: A girls high school basketball team forfeited a recent game after three players were injured, including one who was allegedly hurt during a play involving a 6-foot male player on the other team who identifies as female. The Collegiate Charter School of Lowell in Massachusetts forfeited its Feb. 8 game against the KIPP Academy at halftime, with coach Kevin Ortins deciding to end the game as his roster was getting depleted four days before a playoff game, the school said. The KIPP Academy girls team has a male player with facial hair on its roster who identifies as female, and local Massachusetts outlet the Daily Item, said “KIPP officials refused to confirm the player’s gender identification” (New York Post). Riley Gaines: Trans-identified male player for Kipp Academy in MA injured 3 girls before half time causing Lowell Collegiate Charter School to forfeit. A man hitting a woman used to be called domestic abuse. Now it’s called brave. Who watches this & actually thinks this is “compassionate, kind, and inclusive” (X)?

Alabama Supreme Court Declares Frozen Embryos are Children

Hill: Alabama’s Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are children under state law and subject to legislation dealing with the wrongful death of a minor, stating that it “applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.” The court issued this majority decision in a lawsuit brought forth by a group of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients whose frozen embryos were destroyed in December 2020 when a patient removed the embryos from a cryogenic storage unit and dropped them on the ground (Hill). ABC: Alabama voters in 2018 agreed to add language to the Alabama Constitution that state policy to recognizes the “rights of unborn children.” Supporters at the time said it would “be a declaration of voters’ beliefs and would have no impact unless states gain more control over abortion access. States gained control of abortion access in 2022. Critics at the time said it would have broad ramifications for civil and criminal law beyond abortion access and that it was essentially a “personhood” measure that would establish constitutional rights for fertilized eggs (ABC).

United States Sole Country to Veto U.N. Proposal Calling for Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

Wall Street Journal: The U.S. vetoed an Algerian proposal at the United Nations Security Council that called for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, saying that a cessation of hostilities without securing the release of hostages in Hamas’s captivity would only prolong the conflict. The U.S. circulated a draft resolution ahead of the vote calling, instead, for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza “as soon as practicable” and in tandem with the release of all hostages taken on Oct. 7, as the Biden administration increasingly clashes with the Israeli government over the conduct of the war. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council that proposals akin to the one advanced by Algeria on Tuesday aren’t conducive to a sustainable peace and would instead empower Hamas and deprive Israelis and Palestinians of the “security, dignity and freedom” they desire. The U.S. was the sole veto against the Algerian proposal (Wall Street Journal). CNN: Tuesday’s vote on Algeria’s proposed measure came ahead of an anticipated Israeli offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza where more than a million and a half Palestinians are crammed with no clear evacuation route. The negotiations over a hostage release and humanitarian pause have failed to achieve a breakthrough (CNN).

Two Additional Men Charged in Deadly Super Bowl Parade Shooting in Kansas City

BBC: Two men have been charged with murder for last week’s deadly shooting at the Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City, prosecutors said. A woman died and 22 others were injured during the shooting, which police said stemmed from the two men arguing. The charged men – identified as Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays – were both shot and wounded during the incident. Two teenagers were charged with gun and resisting arrest violations last week. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker of Jackson County said at a press conference on Tuesday that the two men had been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon (BBC). New York Post: A total of four people have now been charged in the deadly mass shooting (New York Post).

10.

Nancy Pelosi, Jen Psaki Push Debunked Russia Collusion Hoax

Katie Pavlich: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is revamping false allegations against former President Donald Trump — just in time for the 2024 presidential election. During an interview with former Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki over the weekend, Pelosi claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin “has something” on Trump, likely “financial.” She also said Trump didn’t view being president as an honor and that he failed to uphold his oath (Townhall). Inside with Jen Psaki: Jen Psaki: “We’re all wondering… What do you think Putin has on Trump?” Nancy Pelosi: “I don’t know what he has on him, but I think it’s probably financial” (X).