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Thursday, September 5, 2024

Meta Determines the Line “From the river to the sea” Is Not Hate Speech

And thus can be used in postings. NBC: The independent Oversight Board for Instagram and Facebook ruled Wednesday that the phrase “from the river to the sea” is not necessarily hate speech when addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ruling means that people on Meta-owned social media apps can continue to use the phrase in comments and posts, as long as there’s no overriding context that would otherwise be deemed problematic by Meta, such as violent language, legitimization of hate or calls for excluding others from territory, the board said (NBC). Israel Hayom: The phrase “From the River to the Sea” has been a subject of controversy, particularly in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza. While Hamas leadership and some pro-Palestinian activists have used the phrase to advocate for a Palestinian state encompassing the entire region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, others argue that it represents general solidarity or a call to return to pre-1967 borders (Israel Hayom). Washington Times: Meta’s independent oversight board on Wednesday said usage of the phrase “from the river to the sea” is not inherently hateful and shouldn’t be automatically removed (X).

Missouri AG Leads Seven States Against Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation

New York Post: President Biden is trying to sneak past Congress and “mass cancel” almost $147 billion in federally held student loans, according to a new lawsuit filed by seven Republican-led states. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota and Ohio sued Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and the Department of Education over the latest student loan forgiveness plan that they say would “unlawfully” cancel $73 billion “overnight” and $146.9 billion overall (New York Post). Hill: The new plan to forgive student debt has yet to be finalized and will be some time this fall. No debt can be forgiven before then, but the lawsuit argues the Biden administration is cutting corners to begin canceling debt “potentially this week” (Hill).

Biden Administration Warns of Russia Interfering in Election

CBS: The Biden administration accused Russia of attempting to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, including through a sophisticated influence campaign that involved the creation of fake news sites designed to covertly spread Russian propaganda. Federal agencies were set to announce Wednesday a series of actions against Russia in response to the operation, including charges filed by the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the efforts from federal investigators at the start of a meeting of the Election Threats Task Force that included FBI Director Chris Wray and top Justice Department officials (CBS). Fox News: Former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler previously told Fox News that RT and other propaganda abroad were part of the permanent cyberwarfare Russia wages on the West. “RT is 100% a Russia government-controlled channel and its sole intent is to predispose the American population and wherever they are broadcasting towards the Russian point of view and to present the events on the ground as the Russians want the rest of the world to see them, so if the United States did not want that to happen then it would be appropriate to shut down the channel,” she said in 2022 (Fox News).

Biden/Harris Administration Files Complaint Against Six Hamas Leaders

Three of whom are already dead. Daily Wire: The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Tuesday afternoon against six senior leaders in Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization based in Gaza, over their role in carrying out the October 7 massacre against U.S. and Israeli citizens last year… Of the six who were charged, three have been killed in recent months in response to the terrorist attack that they carried out. Those killed include Haniyeh, Al-Masri, and Issa. The Justice Department said all of the defendants “have orchestrated, overseen, and supported Hamas’s decades-long campaign of terrorism, including the October 7 Hamas Massacres.” The DOJ highlighted other acts of terrorism that the Palestinian terrorist group is responsible for, including suicide bombings of restaurants, markets, public transportation systems, and other public spaces (Daily Wire). National Review: Just so you grasp the cynicism here, the Justice Department well knows that the dead cannot be prosecuted… This is not a criminal case. It’s theater (National Review).

Four People Murdered in School Shooting in Atlanta

NBC: At least four people were killed and nine others were wounded in a school shooting an hour outside of Atlanta on Wednesday, authorities said. One suspect was alive and taken into custody following the gunfire at Apalachee High School, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (NBC). Townhall: The suspected shooter has been identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, authorities announced at a press conference around 4:30 p.m. local time. Gray is being charged with murder and will be tried as an adult. Law enforcement said Gray surrendered immediately upon apprehension (Townhall). Daily Mail: Apalachee High School, in Winder, Georgia, was put on lockdown on Wednesday morning following an active shooter situation. The high school, which is home to around 1,900 students, is 25 miles west of Athens (Daily Mail).

Molson Coors Next Company to Break From DEI

CNBC: Molson Coors is the latest addition to a growing list of companies reversing their diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In an internal memo sent Wednesday and obtained by CNBC, Molson Coors executives said the company will be getting rid of supplier diversity quotas, adding that they can be “complicated and influenced by factors outside of the company’s control.” But the brewer has said that it will continue to make sure its suppliers are representative of the company’s diverse consumer base… The company will also ensure all corporate charitable giving programs are focused on supporting “core business goals” such as alcohol responsibility, disaster relief efforts and promoting access to higher education. Molson Coors had raised more than $700,000 nationally for LGBTQ+-focused organizations through its “Tap Into Change” program since 2011 and sponsored pride festivals (CNBC). Wall Street Journal: Other companies, including farm-equipment seller Tractor Supply, tractor maker Deere and motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson, have made changes to their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies recently (Wall Street Journal).

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Sentences Up to 30 Government Officials to Death Over Floods in Country

New York Post: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered up to 30 officials to be executed over their alleged failure to prevent massive flooding and landslides in the summer that resulted in the deaths of some 4,000 people, according to South Korean media. An official under Kim’s regime said between 20 and 30 leaders in North Korea had been charged with corruption and dereliction of duty, with the state sentencing them to capital punishment (New York Post). Bloomberg: The downpours damaged about 4,100 homes, swept over roads and rail links, and wiped out about 3,000 hectares (7,410 acres) of farmland in the city of Sinuiju, a trade hub connected to China by bridge, and the nearby county of Uiju, according to North Korean state media. About 5,000 people were rescued (Bloomberg).

World Darts Federation Threatens “Disciplinary Action” Against Women Who Refuse to Compete Against Biological Men

Daily Wire: World Darts Federation has threatened female competitors with disciplinary action if they refuse to compete against trans-identifying males. Ahead of this year’s World Championship, the WDF issued a statement that made it clear the federation will not tolerate any woman who forfeits their match because they have to play against a biological male, months after British female darts player Deta Hedman did just that. “The WDF wishes to clarify its position on player withdrawals,” the statement read. “Once the first dart has been thrown in a tournament, any player that subsequently withdraws from playing a match may be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute and could face disciplinary action,” it added (Daily Wire). Daily Mail: Hedman, 64, a three-time World Championship finalist, hit the headlines in May when she forfeited a match at the Denmark Open after refusing to take to the oche to face trans player Noa-Lynn van Leuven. She defended her decision by telling German outlet Bild: ‘I’m not playing against a man in a women’s event.’ In a lengthy statement posted on Facebook, Hedman previously explained her stance on trans players, writing: ‘I have no issues with Trans but they should play in an open section IMO (Daily Mail).

Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro Decrees Christmas Be Moved to October

Guardian: The country’s strongman president, Nicolás Maduro, made the curious announcement that this year’s festivities would begin in October on Monday, in the midst of a political bleak midwinter for his crisis-stricken land. “It’s September and it already feels like Christmas. So this year – as a way of paying tribute to you and thanking you – I’m going to decree that Christmas be brought forward to 1 October,” Maduro proclaimed during one of his frequent TV appearances. Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, who is facing what experts call the greatest political challenge of his turbulent 11-year rule, promised all Venezuelans a Christmas of “peace, happiness and security.” That is unlikely given the uncertainty and anger produced by Maduro’s decision to claim victory in July’s presidential election without providing proof. A growing body of evidence suggests Maduro actually lost the election badly to his opposition rival Edmundo González – hence his refusal to release detailed voting tallies from polling stations. On Monday authorities issued a warrant for González’s arrest (Guardian). NBC: Maduro’s actions since the election have been less than festive, with critics accusing him of brutal repression against his political opponents. Hours before the Christmas announcement, an arrest warrant was issued for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González, a former diplomat (NBC).

10.

Tim Walz’s Entire Family Endorses Trump

Daily Mail: A new leaked image shows members of vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz’s family are supporting his Republican rival. The photo shared by former Nebraska GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles W. Herbster shows eight people wearing ‘Nebraska Walz’s for Trump’ t-shirts… Trump replied to the image on Wednesday by previewing he plans to ‘meet’ with another member of Walz’s family who is not in the image – the governor’s older brother Jeff, who the former president says endorses his White House bid (Daily Mail). Benny Johnson: This is the greatest troll of the 2024 election (X).