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Wednesday, October 16, 2024

U.S. Threatens to Withold Aid to Israel If Gaza Aid Does Not Improve

Bloomberg: The Biden administration warned Israel that it must improve an “increasingly dire” humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip within 30 days, suggesting the US may be compelled by law to cut the flow of US weapons if the situation doesn’t improve. The warning came from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a joint letter dated Oct. 13 that was addressed to Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The letter emphasizes that a US law requires countries receiving American weapons to “facilitate and not arbitrarily deny, restrict, or otherwise impede” humanitarian assistance provided or supported by the US. The two officials called for Israel to allow a minimum of 350 trucks of aid into Gaza daily, enhance security for aid sites and the movement of humanitarian workers and end the isolation of north Gaza, among other moves (Bloomberg). Washington Post: The Israeli military office that oversees aid distribution in Gaza, COGAT, has denied that Israel halted the “entry or coordination of humanitarian aid” in northern Gaza. U.S. officials believe that giving Israel 30 days to comply with the demands — vs. forcing a faster schedule — is reasonable, given the complexity of the response required and the schedule of U.S. weapons deliveries (Washington Post).

Kamala Harris Reveals Plan to Provide Black Entrepreneurs a Forgivable Loan

CNBC: Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled an “Opportunity Agenda” proposal for Black men Monday, which includes plans to provide 1 million forgivable loans to Black entrepreneurs and new pathways to help Black Americans succeed in the legalized marijuana industry. “This agenda is a further realization of Vice President Harris’ Opportunity Economy,” said former Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Harris campaign co-chair, in a statement. “An economy where people don’t just get by, but get ahead. Where Black men are equipped with the tools to thrive: to buy a home, provide for our families, start a business and build wealth.” Harris’ announcement is aimed at increasing her support among Black male voters, and comes in the final weeks of an extremely close race between the Democratic vice president and Republican former President Donald Trump. The plan outlined Monday would provide 1 million fully forgivable loans of up to $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business (CNBC). Marc Theissen: Um, giving government loans to people based on their race is blatantly unconstitutional (X).

Child Trafficking Has Tripled Under Biden/Harris Administration

Free Press: Deep inside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services resides a tiny agency called the Office on Trafficking in Persons. A large part of its mission is to help survivors of sex and labor trafficking “rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient.” Among other things, it offers food assistance, medical benefits, and cash to migrant minors who have been trafficked but have managed to escape. Once their eligibility to obtain benefits is approved, they receive a document called the child eligibility letter. Although the number of child eligibility letters the government issues is supposed to be public information, it became available on the trafficking office’s website only after I filed a Freedom of Information Act request. The numbers confirmed what Lisa had told me: Trafficking has increased—a lot—since Biden took office. During the four years of the Trump administration, the government issued an average of 625 letters per year to migrant minors who had managed to break free from their traffickers. But in 2021, the first year of the Biden administration, that number jumped to 1,143. In 2022 it jumped again, to 2,226. Last year, the number stood at 2,148, but that was only through September; the fourth quarter hadn’t yet been counted. To put it another way, forced labor and prostitution among underage migrants more than tripled under President Biden, reaching record highs. And that only counted the handful who had escaped—not the thousands who were still held by the traffickers, the ones Lisa was searching for (Free Press). Collin Rugg: Sex trafficking is so easy under Harris and Biden, that a child can be ordered in 15 minutes. “If I wanted to, I could order a girl within 15 minutes,” said the head of the non-profit Shepherd’s Watch… The development comes as Harris is trying to convince voters she will be tough on the border, something she ignored for 3 years (X).

Publisher of Kamala Harris’ Book Doing Damage Control Over Plagiarism Accusations

New York Post: The publisher of Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2009 book on criminal justice reform is redirecting “very sensitive” inquiries about apparently plagiarized passages to the highest levels, according to the conservative activist who revealed the copying. Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo — who first unveiled the plagiarism allegations on Monday — posted screenshots of leaked internal emails ordering publicity reps at Chronicle Books not to immediately respond to press inquiries about “Smart on Crime” (New York Post). Chris Rufo: SHE KEEPS GOING: This is a ninth instance of significant plagiarism by Kamala Harris. Although she cited the source, she copied long passages of language verbatim, without paraphrasing or putting it in quotations. It’s textbook “verbatim plagiarism”—and not an isolated incident (X).

Walgreens to Close 1,200 Stores in Next Three Years

CBS: Walgreens Boots Alliance plans to close 1,200 stores during the next three years, with 500 closures set for next year, in the face of low drug reimbursement rates and slower consumer spending. The Deerfield, Illinois-based company on Tuesday said it would shutter roughly 14% of its U.S. locations and redeploy the majority of the workers impacted (CBS). HotAir: When an outlet that has remained a regular fixture on main streets and shopping center squares for generations suddenly begins turning off the lights, people tend to notice. And “sluggish spending” and “stubborn inflation” are not hallmarks of a healthy economy. This is also the sort of news that digs much deeper than a handful of minimum-wage jobs being lost at a local outlet. Particularly in low-income areas where people are already struggling, the local pharmacy can be people’s only destination for many necessities beyond prescriptions. This can be very problematic for consumers whose only other access to such products and services requires walking or taking public transportation. People who suddenly find themselves in such a situation aren’t going to want to hear any explanations about a sluggish economy. They want the services they have come to reply upon and when those services suddenly go away, they’re going to have questions (HotAir).

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis Attempts to Halt Nathan Wade’s Testimony to Congress

Just the News: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is seeking to block former special prosecutor Nathan Wade from testifying before Congress, arguing he might “improperly divulge confidential information.” In a letter released Monday to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio., the Georgia attorney said that Wade’s testimony could violate protected privileges that are upheld by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office (Just the News). House Judiciary GOP: FANI WILLIS demands NATHAN WADE not answer questions at his deposition tomorrow before the Judiciary Committee. What is she trying to hide (X).

Radical LGBTQ Activist Behind Gretchen Whitmer’s Video

HotAir: The Democrats have recently leaned heavily into the TikTok social media style. It is weird, cringy, very effeminately gay, and only appeals to a segment of flighty Gen Z insecure boys and girls…The problem, of course, is that TikTok and the real world are fundamentally different. The currency of TikTok is being weird and mentally ill. It is the natural home of alphabet ideology, and weird memes come to life. It is about celebrating mental illness. It is where people show off their “top surgery,” their drag outfits, and play out fake Tourettes’ Syndrome. This gets us to Gretchen Whitmer, who has been leaning heavily toward building a TikTok personality to appeal to Generation Z (HotAir). Catholic Vote: How else can this be interpreted other than mockery of Catholics and the sacrament of Holy Communion, not to mention the distasteful pornographic innuendo? Gretchen Whitmer is only the latest example of the gross anti-Catholic bigotry festering inside the Democratic Party (X). Bonchie: Shocking to learn the person behind Whitmer feeding chips to a woman on her knees is a “queer content creator.” Never would have expected it (X).

Boeing Sells $10 Billion Shares in Attempt to Stop Financial Hemorrhaging

Wall Street Journal: Boeing is moving to raise at least $10 billion by selling new shares in a bid to stabilize its increasingly precarious finances. The jet maker, in a pair of regulatory filings on Tuesday, told investors it could issue up to $25 billion in shares or debt during the next three years while also entering into a new credit agreement with lenders (Wall Street Journal). Business Insider: The storied planemaker has seen its share price fall 40% since the start of the year as it battles numerous challenges. Credit ratings agencies have also warned that its bonds may be downgraded to junk status. Some 33,000 workers have been on strike since mid-September, demanding increased pay and the restoration of a traditional pension plan. Ron Epstein, a Bank of America analyst, estimated the strike is costing Boeing $50 million a day. In an analysis shared with CNN, Anderson Economic Group estimated it had cost $5 billion over the past month (Business Insider).

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Claim Trump Will Use Military Against People Who Do Not Support Him

Hill: Vice President Harris played clips of former President Trump during her rally in Erie, Pa., arguing to her supporters that he is dangerous for the country… The clips included Trump saying, “the worst people are the enemies from within” and calling for “one really violent day, one rough hour.” She also highlighted her GOP rival’s recent suggestion that they use the National Guard or the military on Election Day to combat what he described as potential chaos from people who aren’t his supporters (Hill). End Wokeness: Kamala Harris just told a crowd in PA that Trump will put them in camps (X). RedWave Press: Tim Walz said President Trump “will use the U.S. Army against people who disagree with him,” while speaking to college students at the University of Wisconsin (X).

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Trump Turns Townhall Into Concert After Two Medical Emergencies in the Crowd

Associated Press: Donald Trump ‘s town hall in the Philadelphia suburbs turned into an impromptu concert Monday after the former president was twice interrupted by medical emergencies in the room. The Republican presidential nominee paused during a question-and-answer session as a doctor in the room attended to the first person to have a medical issue. After a second emergency halted the discussion moderated by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump stopped taking questions… Trump suggested they could wrap up the evening with the audience in their seats, enjoying some musical selections rather than hearing him answer more questions (Associated Press). Greg Price: ABC News did an entire segment this morning debunking this selectively edited video from Kamala HQ, which will go down as truly one of the most pathetic lies a presidential campaign has ever tried to sell (X).