Category: Attack the Press

Trump’s Tirade Against Media Triggers Concerns About Authoritarianism

Donald Trump’s latest social media diatribe directed at the media unleashed a wave of condemnation, raising a potent red flag about his authoritarian tendencies. In a late-night rant on Truth Social, Trump accused MSNBC of “election interference” through “constant attacks” on him and the Republican party, labeling its CEO a “slimeball” who needs to be punished by the “so-called government.” He ominously promised “much more to come,” leaving observers deeply troubled by the implications for press freedom and democratic values.

This outburst isn’t an isolated incident. Trump’s repeated attacks on the media, his labeling of journalists as “enemies of the people,” and his efforts to undermine institutions like the judiciary paint a disturbing picture of someone comfortable with suppressing dissent and consolidating power. His language echoes tactics used by authoritarian regimes, aiming to delegitimize criticism and sow fear amongst journalists and the public.

The chilling aspect of Trump’s threat lies in his explicit call for the government to “come down hard” on his critics. This statement goes beyond mere rhetorical bluster; it’s a direct attack on a cornerstone of democracy – a free and independent press. If acted upon, such measures could cripple the ability of journalists to hold power accountable and inform the public, paving the way for unchecked abuses and undermining the very checks and balances that safeguard democratic norms.

Trump’s authoritarian inclinations aren’t merely a matter of fiery rhetoric; they represent a tangible threat to the fabric of American democracy. These latest attacks serve as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by a leader who sees dissent as an enemy and prioritizes personal vendettas over the principles of a free and open society. Recognizing and resisting these encroachments upon our fundamental rights is crucial to protecting the future of American democracy.

Shannon Bream’s Steele Dossier Defense for Biden Allegations

Skip to main content Manage SubscriptionLogin! subscribe Politics TV Interviews Entertainment Sports Podcasts Opinion UK Mediaite+ Mediaite Manage SubscriptionLogin! subscribe Politics TV Interviews Entertainment Sports Podcasts Opinion UK Mediaite+ Appeals Court Upholds Gag Order on Trump – But Allows Him To Criticize Jack Smith GOP Mega-Donor Slams ‘Disgraceful’ Last Months of Trump’s Presidency While Endorsing Haley on Fox News ‘I Am A Really Bad Person’: Michigan School Shooter Addresses Court Before Sentencing Elon Musk Trying to Get Disney Chief Bob Iger Fired After DealBook Disaster White House Dumps Council on American-Islamic Relations from Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia Materials Fox’s Shannon Bream Cites Debunked Steele Dossier as Republican Defense for Using Unverified Allegations Against Biden Colby HallJul 21st, 2023, 9:08 am Twitter share button Heretofore, we shall call this the “Steele Dossier” defense against using unverified allegations to smear a political opponent, and while Fox News anchor Shannon Bream does not get credit for coming up with it, she did cite it during a Thursday hit on Special Report. At issue is an internal document recently released by Senator Chuck Grassley that had not been made public because the FBI could not verify the information included. The specific document is a FD-1023s, and contains allegations that Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, hired Hunter Biden as a means of protecting the company through his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden. The document contains descriptions of second-hand discussions of payments made to the Biden family. According to the FBI, all information in FD-1023s include “raw, unverified reporting from confidential human sources.” To wit: FD-1023s merely document that information; they do not reflect the conclusions of investigators based on a fuller context or understanding. Recording this information does not validate it, establish its credibility, or weigh it against other information known or developed by the FBI in our investigations. As former Attorney General Bill Barr stated, the Department of Justice investigated these claims and, ostensibly, could not find any merit to the allegations. Again, this was under the Trump administration. Cut to Thursday night, Fox News guest anchor Gillian Turner noted that Democrats are claiming that “Republicans have now had years, three years to investigate this. And at this point, they’ve not come up with a smoking gun.” Bream replied, “Republicans will say, well, let people read this and see what they think it is. And now we need to know whether this DOJ, which, by the way, has all of this percolating against the backdrop of, we think, former President Trump about to be indicted again and potentially on another round of federal charges, whether they’re treating all political families the same way.” She then introduced a clip of Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin saying: The Republicans on the Oversight Committee have been on a wild goose chase since we began. They’ve basically been trying to rehabilitate and revive the completely debunked and discredited charges that Rudy Giuliani began with several years ago about the Bidens being involved in corruption in Ukraine. And nothing has ever come of that. “So he continues to link this to Rudy Giuliani; Bill Barr says there was no link,” Bream followed. “There’s nothing in this document that mentions his name. But again, as he talks about unverified allegations, Republicans say what was the Steele Dossier?” There are clear parallels here – the Steele Dossier contained outlandish and unverified information and fueled speculation surrounding the Trump campaign’s coordination with Russian intel officers. Fox News has long used the media’s eager coverage of the unverified Steele Dossier as evidence of bias against Trump. And if the argument is that the unverified allegations against Biden are effectively the same thing, what does that say about our media’s ever shifting journalistic standards? Watch above via Fox News. Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com Filed Under: Hunter BidenJoe BidenShannon BreamSteele dossier Previous PostNext Post Previous PostNext Post Colby Hall – Founding Editor Colby Hall is the Founding Editor of Mediaite.com. He is also a Peabody Award-winning television producer of non-fiction narrative programming as well as a terrific dancer and preparer of grilled meats. More Stories by Colby Hall Load Comments Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Tips Have a tip or story idea? Email us. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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Fox News says it’s okay to investigate man-not-in-government Hunter Biden with completely unverified allegations and unreliable sources because of the Steele Dossier, and it’s okay to go tit-for-tat.

One problem, those two are not the same. All of the crazy Hunter Biden allegations that have *already* been looked at by Bill Barr’s DOJ and found to be bunk, Lev Parnas who Rudy Giuliani tasked to lead the Hunter Biden investigation in Ukraine testified this was all bunk, and when the Steele Dossier was leaked it was not yet investigated but still raw intelligence, some of which turned out to be true.

[https://www.mediaite.com/tv/foxs-shannon-bream-cites-debunked-steele-dossier-as-republican-defense-for-using-unverified-allegations-against-biden/]

Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Trafficking – The New York Times

Skip to contentSkip to site index Politics Today’s Paper Politics|Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Predators https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/us/politics/trump-sound-of-freedom.html Share full article AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT Supported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENT Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Predators Hosting a screening at his private club, the former president is the most prominent Republican to embrace a film lauded by both mainstream conservatives and far-right QAnon believers. Share full article Based on real-life events, “The Sound of Freedom” stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former federal agent who sought to rescue South American children from sex traffickers.Credit…Angel Studios By Anjali Huynh July 19, 2023 Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina called it an “amazing, gut-wrenching, emotional movie.” “Wow. Wow. Wow,” Senator Ted Cruz of Texas wrote of the film, urging supporters to see it. And on Wednesday, former President Donald J. Trump hosted an event featuring a screening of the movie, “Sound of Freedom,” at his private club in New Jersey, the most striking sign yet of how the unlikely box-office hit has captured the imagination of American conservatives. The movie, released July 4, was the second most-watched film in North America last weekend, behind “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning,” and has made $90.7 million as of Monday, according to data from Comscore. Based on real-life events, the movie stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former federal agent who sought to rescue South American children from sex traffickers. Its themes have resonated with a wide range of conservatives, including mainstream Republicans who have focused heavily on education and other children’s issues, evangelicals who have responded to the movie’s religious overtones, and far-right QAnon believers who have for years spread alarmist fears of child endangerment. The plot never directly invokes QAnon, the wide-ranging, pro-Trump conspiracy theory that falsely accuses leading Democrats of orchestrating a pedophilia ring, but the movement’s supporters have embraced the film. And Mr. Caviezel himself has promoted baseless QAnon theories. Appearing on Stephen Bannon’s podcast before the movie’s release, he commented that “there is a big storm coming,” a QAnon slogan. In 2021, he spoke at a QAnon convention. Image Mr. Caviezel in the film, which has been embraced by supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement.Credit…Angel Studios The movie’s endorsement from presidential candidates echoes grass-roots energy around what Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist, called the “mainstreaming of the center of the QAnon movement, which is that this is about protecting children.” In focus groups, Ms. Longwell said, Republican voters have brought up QAnon less explicitly than in the past and more frequently express concerns about schools “indoctrinating children” and transgender athletes competing in sports. A spokesman for Angel Studios, the company that produced the film, did not respond to a request for comment. Efforts to reach Mr. Caviezel were unsuccessful, but on Wednesday, he responded to critical coverage of the movie. Appearing on a conservative podcast, he repeated a quotation from the movie that refers to a Bible verse: “Better a millstone be hung around their necks that they be cast into the sea that they should ever hurt one of these little ones,” he said. Both Mr. Caviezel and Mr. Ballard attended the screening on Wednesday at Mr. Trump’s club. Experts on misinformation expressed misgivings about the movie’s message. “I do think that human trafficking is real and child trafficking is real and these are real problems,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the role of conspiracy theories in American politics. “It’s just that this renewed, highly politicized focus on it is emblematic of increasing political polarization in our society.” The man at the center of “Sound of Freedom,” Mr. Ballard, is a former Department of Homeland Security agent who founded an anti-trafficking group and was appointed by Mr. Trump to a federal advisory panel on human trafficking. He has been accused of exaggerating his exploits. The movie depicts Mr. Ballard setting out to rescue two siblings who were sold by sex traffickers; he ultimately saves dozens of children. Daniela Peterka-Benton, the academic director for the Global Center of Human Trafficking at Montclair State University, said the movie’s focus on saviors rather than victims resulted in an incomplete, glamorized depiction of human trafficking. Most children, she said, are not “snatched away” but are trafficked by people they know. “It does a disservice to the victims; it does a disservice to people really fighting to end human trafficking and to provide services to survivors,” she said. “There’s so much more to it than just the rescue.” Nevertheless, politicians, commentators and Hollywood celebrities have praised the film. Ivanka Trump, Mr. Trump’s daughter, who has largely stayed out of politics since the 2020 election, promoted the film in June, writing on Twitter that it “sheds light on the harrowing reality” of human trafficking. Republicans — many of whom were far less worried about the Trump administration’s separation of migrant children from their parents — have also seized on the issue. Last week, Senate Republicans’ official Twitter account shared a video that pointed to New York Times reporting about migrant children forced to work dangerous jobs across the United States. The post misleadingly accused President Biden of having “created the largest child trafficking ring in U.S. history.” In liberal Manhattan, “Sound of Freedom” viewers at several theaters said they had come not for the politics, but because they wanted to see a good thriller. “I came because I believe that there’s child trafficking going on and there’s just not enough light being shed on it,” said Malaika Villamizar, 19. She was surprised to hear, however, that the movie had been promoted by Mr. Trump and other Republican politicians. She said she had heard about the film on TikTok. Anjali Huynh covers politics for The Times. More about Anjali Huynh A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 22 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Screens ‘Sound of Freedom,’ A Film Popular With Conservatives. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe Share full article AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT Site Index Site Information Navigation © 2023 The New York Times Company NYTCo Contact Us Accessibility Work with us Advertise T Brand Studio Your Ad Choices Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Sale Site Map Canada International Help Subscriptions Manage Privacy Preferences

The Republican Party continues its march into extremism as the front runner for the presidency, @[100044274887410:2048:Donald J. Trump], hosts a private screening of “Sound of Freedom”, a QAnon film being marketed directly to conservatives.

QAnon, an insane conspiracy theory that a random dude on 4chan troll board has a secret clearance nobody has heard of and has been posting for years that any day now a secret cabal of Democrats, Hollywood elites, and Jews will be exposed as belonging to a global child sex trafficking ring to harvest their blood to stay young with Donald Trump as the only person who can stop them, has been incorporated directly into the Trump campaign since 2019 and has been central to Republican political ideology for years.

The film has been a massive success among the target audience of the easily manipulated Trump supporters and has grossed about as much as the new Indiana Jones movie.

[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/us/politics/trump-sound-of-freedom.html]

Majority support Trump in 2024 GOP primary straw poll at Turning Point Action Conference | Washington Examiner

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Carney Sex trafficking victims call on judge to recuse himself in Pornhub criminal case By: Breccan F. Thies Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley blasted online for Hanukkah tweets By: Jenny Goldsberry Videos Embattled Penn President Liz Magill faces growing calls for resignation Economy defies recession predictions with 199,000 jobs in November Trump indictments boosted his polling, but conviction could cost him reelection Hunter Biden indicted on criminal tax charges in California Newsletters Sign up now to get the Washington Examiner’s breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. EXCLUSIVE — Attendees at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, overwhelmingly voted former President Donald Trump the winner of the Republican presidential primary straw poll. The results of the poll, conducted by the Trafalgar Group, were exclusively provided to the Washington Examiner. THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM DAY ONE OF TURNING POINT ACTION CONFERENCE Most conference-goers preferred Trump for the nomination, with 85.7% supporting the former president. Second, was businessman Perry Johnson with 7.8%, who spoke on day two of the event. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) followed with 4.3%. An image of former President Donald Trump covered with messages written on sticky notes is displayed at an exhibit titled “Say What You Want” featuring images of 2024 presidential candidates, during the Turning Point Action conference, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Lynne Sladky/AP DeSantis did not attend the event in his home state. His campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin said in a statement on Saturday, “Governor DeSantis spent the day with Iowans and spoke to a packed house at the Tennessee GOP Statesman Dinner later that night. This was a day after he delivered the strongest interview at the Family Leadership Summit, which Donald Trump notably skipped. Ron DeSantis is campaigning to win.” For their second preference, half of the respondents chose Vivek Ramaswamy, who also spoke at the conference, further deviating from national polling. Twenty-one percent named Trump their second pick, and 13.5% said Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). In a statement, founder and CEO Charlie Kirk said, “The straw poll demonstrates that President Trump remains the single most dominant force among the conservative grassroots. All the attacks against him have seemingly made him even stronger and more popular among the conservative faithful.” “What’s also clear is that Governor DeSantis’ decision not to come to this event probably hurt his showing in this poll. There are a lot of people here who have a lot of respect for the governor and what he’s done in Florida, but I was approached multiple times by attendees telling me they were disappointed he didn’t come, and that’s evident in the poll results,” he said. “Vivek showed up and gave a great speech, and he was the clear second-choice favorite among our people.” Kirk called Ramasamy’s results “remarkable” considering where he started, saying the 2024 hopeful is “running a great campaign, and his message is clearly resonating with primary voters. Also, the big losers in this poll are the RNC, the warmongers, and the primary debates. This event and its attendees are the pulse of the grassroots, and it’s clear there’s been a tectonic shift in the passions and priorities of base conservatives.” Presidential candidates former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also spoke during the event. According to Turning Point Action, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and DeSantis were all invited but declined the invitation. Thirty percent of respondents said Kari Lake should be vice president, 24% said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and 22% said Ramaswamy. Roughly half of the conference’s approximate 6,000 attendees were college-aged individuals between the ages of 18-21, while the other half were of varying ages. Only about half of the attendees responded to the poll. There was measurable support for the popular Florida governor from attendees, who were disappointed that they would not hear from him on this occasion, according to a source involved with the event. The source detailed enthusiasm for DeSantis from many conference-goers, some of whom posted positive thoughts and messages of support on a large cardboard cutout of his face outside the main hall. An image of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis covered with messages written on sticky notes is displayed at an exhibit titled, “Say What You Want,” featuring images of 2024 presidential candidates, during the Turning Point Action conference, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Fla.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Lynne Sladky/AP The poll also surveyed attendees on public policy issues, such as the war in Ukraine, which many of the speakers were vocally against. More than 95% said they are against United States involvement in the war in Ukraine. The southern border was voted the most important issue facing America, with nearly a quarter saying so. Just under 60% said they were excited for the Republican National Committee’s primary debate next month, which Trump notably may not attend. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Further, two-thirds said they don’t trust the RNC to get voters to the polls in 2024. A majority, 77%, also said they don’t plan to donate to the party. Interestingly, nearly 90% said the GOP should “embrace early voting and vote banking.” National polling from Morning Consult shows Trump has 56% of support among potential primary voters. Behind him is DeSantis with 17%. Latest The child tax credit keeps getting smaller By: Timothy P. Carney Sex trafficking victims call on judge to recuse himself in Pornhub criminal case By: Breccan F. Thies Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley blasted online for Hanukkah tweets By: Jenny Goldsberry Videos Embattled Penn President Liz Magill faces growing calls for resignation Economy defies recession predictions with 199,000 jobs in November Trump indictments boosted his polling, but conviction could cost him reelection Hunter Biden indicted on criminal tax charges in California Newsletters Sign up now to get the Washington Examiner’s breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. Turning Point USA News straw poll 2024 Elections Donald Trump Vivek Ramaswamy Ron DeSantis Share your thoughts with friends. Cookie Preferences About Examiner Magazine Archive Staff Policies and Standards Sitemap Terms Of Service Subscription Terms of Use Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Transparency In Coverage Advertise Contact Subscribe Newsletters Careers Facebook Twitter Copyright 2023. Washington Examiner. All Rights Reserved.

At the annual meeting of the far-right extremist group Turning Point USA, Donald Trump won their straw poll by a massive margin with 85.7%, businessman Perry Johnson with 7.8%, who spoke on day two of the event and Gov. Ron DeSantis followed with 4.3%.

[https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/trump-2024-gop-straw-poll-turning-point-action]

Trump and DeSantis court Moms for Liberty in a sign of the group’s rising influence over the GOP | AP News

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Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day. twitter instagram facebook The Associated Press ap.org Careers Advertise with us Contact Us Accessibility Statement Cookie Settings Terms of Use Privacy Policy More From AP News About AP News Values and Principles AP’s Role in Elections AP Leads AP Definitive Source Blog AP Images Spotlight Blog AP Stylebook Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Israel-Hamas war Hunter Biden’s tax charges Michigan school shooter sentencing Harvard president apologizes Your weekend guide Politics Trump and DeSantis court Moms for Liberty in a sign of the group’s rising influence over the GOP An annual gathering of Moms for Liberty is drawing Republican presidential candidates and criticism from protestors outside the event. The group has quickly become a force in conservative politics advocating for “parental rights” in education. (June 30) Photos 14 1 of 14 | Former President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he visits Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 1 of 14 Former President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he visits Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 2 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 2 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 3 of 14 | Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 3 of 14 Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 4 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives to speak at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 4 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives to speak at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 5 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 5 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 6 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 6 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 7 of 14 | Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 7 of 14 Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 8 of 14 | Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) Read More 8 of 14 Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 9 of 14 | Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) Read More 9 of 14 Demonstrators gather outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 10 of 14 | Former President Donald Trump visits Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 10 of 14 Former President Donald Trump visits Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 11 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 11 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 12 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 12 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 13 of 14 | Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 13 of 14 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More 14 of 14 | Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read More 14 of 14 Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More By ALI SWENSON and JILL COLVIN Published [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The two leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination courted conservative women at the Moms for Liberty conference in Philadelphia on Friday, elevating a group that has gained substantial influence within the GOP with its fierce opposition to instruction related to race and gender identity in the nation’s classrooms. Both former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared eager to out-flank the other as they labeled gender-affirming care “mutilation” and talked up their efforts to eliminate critical race theory. DeSantis vowed to “fight the woke,” while Trump blasted what he called “the toxic poison of gender ideology” and “sick creed of woke communism.” While the graphic rhetoric resonates with the most active part of the GOP base, as evidenced by the enthusiastic reception both received, it could turn off more moderate voters in a general election. The group, which was founded in Florida in 2021 to fight local COVID school mask mandates and quarantine requirements, has quickly become a force in conservative politics. But it has also been accused of preaching hate, with the Southern Poverty Law Center recently labeling it an “extremist” organization for allegedly harassing community members, advancing anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation and fighting to scrub diverse and inclusive material from lesson plans. Other news Ex-Philadelphia labor leader convicted of embezzling from union to pay for home renovations, meals Man charged with murder in Philadelphia store stabbing that killed security guard, wounded another 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. scoffs at questions about legitimacy of his injury, calls hit-and-run serious The conference, being held at a downtown hotel, nonetheless drew a handful of leading Republican presidential candidates. DeSantis praised the group for “coming under attack by the left,” saying it was “a sign that we are winning this fight.” He ran through his efforts in Florida to ban discussions of race and sexual identity in classrooms as well as certain books from school libraries. And he pledged to “fight the woke” as president. “I think what we’ve seen across this country in recent years has awakened the most powerful political force in the country: Mama bears. And they’re ready to roll,” he said, predicting moms would be “the key political force for this 2024 cycle.” “2024 is going to be the year when the parents across the country finally fight back,” he said. Trump, too, accused the “radical left” of “slandering Moms for Liberty as a so-called hate group. “But Moms for Liberty is no hate group,” he said. “You are joyful warriors, you are fierce, fierce patriots. You’re not a threat to America.” Trump told them that if he wins a second term he would sign an executive order to cut federal funding for any school “pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.” He called for the direct election — and firing — of school principals by parents. Like DeSantis, he was deeply critical of gender-affirming care. He vowed to sign an executive order instructing federal agencies “to cease the promotion of sex or gender transition at any age.” He said hospitals and health care providers who provide gender-affirming care for minors should be deemed in violation of federal health and safety standards and lose federal funding, and said he would call on Congress to ban it in all 50 states. After his speech, Trump made a stop at Pat’s King of Steaks, a local Philadelphia institution, where he posed for photos and signed autographs for fans. The high interest in the event among GOP hopefuls underscores the influence of Moms for Liberty, which has made connections with powerful GOP organizations, politicians and donors to become a major political player. The group says it doesn’t plan to endorse any presidential candidate in 2024. Moms for Liberty has transformed from three Florida moms opposing COVID-19 mandates in 2021 to claiming 285 chapters across 45 states. Along the way, it has found a close ally in DeSantis, who was presented with a “liberty sword” at the group’s first annual meeting last year and has signed multiple bills that it supported. Beyond remarks from the candidates and other speakers, the summit features strategy sessions on such topics as “protecting kids from gender ideology” and “comprehensive sex education: sex ed or sexualization.” Summit attendees said they liked what they were hearing so far. “I love Moms for Liberty,” said Debbie McGinley, who is running for the school board in Methacton School District outside Philadelphia. As a parent of three kids who lost her business as a hairdresser during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she appreciated that the group is “fighting for our kids.” Lucy Reyna, a treasurer for a Moms for Liberty chapter in Indiana, said she traveled to the conference to learn more about the national organization. “What am I a part of? I need to know those things,” Reyna said, adding that if the group leaned too partisan in one direction, it would make her reconsider her participation. Outside, roughly 200 parent activists and LGBTQ+ advocates gathered to protest, citing the group’s “extremist” designation from the SPLC. They chanted, “Not in our city” and “Let’s say gay” while holding signs that read, “Hate is not patriotic” and “Philly is the LGBTQest city.” Some protesters said specific incidents prompted their activism, including an Indiana Moms for Liberty chapter publishing an Adolf Hitler quote in its newsletter before apologizing and removing it, and a Tennessee chapter complaining about lessons on Black civil rights figures Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges. “I think they stand for fear. And that turns into hate very quickly,” said Molly Roses, a Philadelphia resident who joined the protest. In the days before the conference, several historical associations, state senators, activists and employees at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution had pleaded unsuccessfully with the museum to cancel a welcome event for the conference Thursday night. The event went on as planned. The museum told The Associated Press that “because fostering understanding within a democratic society is so central to our mission, rejecting visitors on the basis of ideology would in fact be antithetical to our purpose.” In her remarks, Moms for Liberty National Director of Engagement Tia Bess rejected claims that the group is racist. “Do I look like a racist to y’all?” Bess, who is Black, told an overwhelmingly white audience. Tiffany Justice, one of the group’s co-founders, responded sarcastically to the SPLC’s “extremist” label onstage Friday, referring to herself as “the face of domestic terrorism, apparently.” Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, another GOP candidate who appeared Friday, said that, “When they mentioned that this was a terrorist organization … I said well then count me as a Mom for Liberty.” Though Moms for Liberty says it is nonpartisan, it has overwhelmingly drawn conservative support. The group also has fought to elect conservative candidates to school boards around the country. While the group’s status as a 501(c)4 nonprofit means it doesn’t have to disclose its funders, its public donors include conservative powerhouses such as the Heritage Foundation and the Leadership Institute, a national political training organization. Patriot Mobile, a far-right Christian cellphone company that paid to sponsor Trump’s remarks at the conference, has a political action committee that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to take charge of Texas school boards. Mom for Liberty’s Florida-based PAC also has received a $50,000 donation from Julie Fancelli, a Republican donor whose family owns Publix grocery stores and who helped fund Trump’s Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally, according to House Jan. 6 committee findings. Fancelli didn’t respond to a request for comment. ___ Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and video journalist David R. Martin in Philadelphia contributed reporting. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ALI SWENSON Swenson reports on election-related misinformation, disinformation and extremism for The Associated Press. twitter JILL COLVIN Colvin is an Associated Press national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential campaign. She is based in New York. mailto The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day. The Associated Press ap.org Careers Advertise with us Contact Us Accessibility Statement Cookie Settings Terms of Use Privacy Policy More From AP News About AP News Values and Principles AP’s Role in Elections AP Leads AP Definitive Source Blog AP Images Spotlight Blog AP Stylebook Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. twitter instagram facebook

@[100083379832534:2048:Moms for liberty] is a designated hate group by the SPLC, so of course the top Republican candidates are speaking at their convention.

According to the SPLC: Moms for Liberty is a far-right organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement. The group grew out of opposition to public health regulations for COVID-19, opposes LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curriculum, and has advocated books bans.
(Read: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/moms-liberty)

[https://apnews.com/article/moms-for-liberty-trump-desantis-2024-republicans-8e17f7587bba9cf6dd316c3ef2eb6a19]

Adam Schiff: House votes to censure congressman who led Trump investigations | CNN Politics

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, a key lawmaker in Democrats’ congressional investigations into former President Donald Trump during his presidency.

The resolution accuses Schiff of misleading the American people while pursuing the congressional investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign as the then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and for actions Schiff took leading up to the former president’s first impeachment. Schiff has dismissed the allegations as “false and defamatory.”

The vote was 213-209 along party lines. Republican members of the House Ethics Committee – Michael Guest of Mississippi, Dave Joyce of Ohio, Andrew Garbarino of New York, John Rutherford of Florida and Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota – voted present. GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado also voted present but he is not on the Ethics Committee.

As part of the censure procedure, Schiff stood in the well of the House floor, while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy repeatedly tried to read a brief rule about censure. Schiff was joined by his Democratic colleagues on the House floor who loudly cheered him on and repeatedly interrupted McCarthy.

The effort to censure Schiff, who is running for a US Senate seat in California, cleared a key procedural obstacle earlier Wednesday afternoon after a vote to kill the legislation failed.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, led the effort with a revamped measure on the House floor for his role in the Russia probe and investigating Trump after a similar measure she backed failed last week.

Luna announced Tuesday she has secured the number of votes needed to censure and refer him to the House Ethics Committee.

“I have called up my censure motion and will be bringing the vote to hold Adam Schiff accountable to the floor tomorrow,” Luna tweeted Tuesday night.

The original resolution put forward by Luna failed last week after 20 Republicans voted to table the measure and two voted “present,” but after some tweaks made by Luna in consultation with GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, including axing a $16 million fine attached to the legislation, the measure has gained more support. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who opposed the motion last week, told CNN on Tuesday that he in favor of the new version and is assisting Luna in her whip effort.

Some House Republicans voted against last week over concern of constitutionality and fear it could spark a tit-for-tat. Several House Republicans that voted to kill the resolution last week signaled they will support the new resolution, though several GOP lawmakers admitted to CNN they are concerned that the repeated attempts are boosting his fundraising for his Senate candidacy.

On Tuesday ahead of the vote, Schiff called the move “a badge of honor” and said, “They wouldn’t be going after me if they didn’t think I was effective.”

“Now Trump is threatening to primary any Republican that doesn’t vote for it. It shows you just who is behind this whole effort to distract from Trump’s legal problems is Trump,” Schiff told CNN. “But to waste the floors time on this false and defamatory resolution is a disservice to the country.”

While serving as chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff announced a sweeping investigation in February 2019 into then-President Trump’s finances and Russia.

Schiff also served as the lead House impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment. In that role, Schiff and the other impeachment managers detailed the House’s case for removing Trump from office at the Senate trial. The Senate ultimately voted to acquit.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

Republicans voting to censure Adam Schiff as retaliation for Donald Trump’s impeachment, along with Omar, Swalwell, and others as a tool of retribution, is a very strong signal of a democracy in decline because Republicans giving up on basic norms.

Earlier in the day, during a committee hearing Schiff interviewed John Durham under oath, the Trump appointed special prosecutor who was tasked with uncovering the “Deep State” and surprise found zero evidence of this conspiracy theory, and got Durham to admit, again under oath, the facts around Trump colluding with Putin to get elected which directly contradicts this censure by MAGA Republicans that he “abused this trust by saying there was evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.” Again, Schiff got Durham to admit under oath Republicans are lying
(See: https://twitter.com/acyn/status/1671561024846327808)

The story is a little deeper. See, last week MAGA Republicans tried this same censure stunt but 20 “centrist” Republicans voted it down. Donald Trump was pissed and took to Truth Social to threaten all 20 Republicans with primary challengers to replace them. This time they almost all voted for the exact same censure minus a multi-million dollar fine, and now Schiff will be referred to an ethics committee.
(See: https://www.axios.com/2023/06/16/trump-adam-schiff-censure-house-vote)

This is why I keep saying Trump is a threat. While Republicans run “Weaponization of Government” hearings which so far produced no evidence of their claims, Republicans show just how willing they are to fold under Trump’s many years of using the full force of the United States government against his enemies.

[https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/21/politics/adam-schiff-censure-vote-house/index.html]

Trump Slams Fox News for Hiring Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile: ‘Where Are You Roger Ailes?’

President Donald Trump took yet another swipe at Fox News for hiring Democratic pundits, this time former DNC Chair Donna Brazile.

Brazile trended on Twitter after getting into it with co-hosts on The Five Tuesday afternoon. In response to one tweet saying Brazile should not be on Fox News, the president went after Fox in a tweet referencing the infamous CNN debate questions controversy and invoking the late Roger Ailes.

“She gets fired by @CNN for giving Crooked Hillary the debate questions, and gets hired by @FoxNews. Where are you Roger Ailes?” Trump tweeted.

UPDATE: After some Twitter comments remarking upon how Ailes is dead, the President of the United States actually tweeted a clarification that “I know better than anyone that my friend Roger Ailes died 3 years ago”:

[Mediaite]

Trump Says, ‘Fox Is Terrible!’ After Poll Shows Biden Surge

A day after Fox News’ latest national poll showed that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden had opened up a 12-point edge over Trump, one of many such surveys in recent weeks that has Biden widening his lead, the president called the Fox poll fraudulent and claimed it was created by “haters.” 

A CNN poll released last Monday showed Biden leading by a staggering 14-point margin. Shortly after, Trump took to Twitter to announce that he had hired conservative pollster McLaughlin & Associates to analyze that poll (and others), which he said is “FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving.” Two days later, as part of an effort to refute a recent flurry of unfavorable polling, the Trump campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter to CNN, demanding they apologize and retract the poll, which CNN refused to do. Earlier this month, he criticized a Washington Post poll, which showed him down 10 points, as a “heavily biased Democrat Poll, just like 2016.” 

“CNN Polls are as Fake as their Reporting. Same numbers, and worse, against Crooked Hillary. The Dems would destroy America!” Trump tweeted on June 8, correctly pointing out that multiple polls showed that Hillary Clinton held a seemingly insurmountable lead in the run-up to the 2016 general election, which Trump won.

[Forbes]

Twitter labels video tweeted by Trump as ‘manipulated media’

Twitter labeled a video tweeted by President Donald Trump on Thursday night as “manipulated media” because it attributes to news media a nonexistent story on race.

The video depicts a fake CNN headline that states, “TERRIFIED TODDLER RUNS FROM RACIST BABY,” as a Black toddler runs ahead of a white toddler in the same direction and ominous music plays.

The video then displays the words, “WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED,” and shows the original clip of two children running toward each other on a sidewalk before embracing as Harry Connick Jr.’s version of the Carpenter’s “Close to You” plays.

“AMERICA IS NOT THE PROBLEM,” the video proclaims. “FAKE NEWS IS.”

“IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING,” it says. “ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FAKE NEWS DUMPSTER FIRES.”

The video of the toddlers went viral on social media last year. On CNN it was presented as what it was — a look at a friendship between two toddlers, identified as Maxwell and Finnegan.

“With all the racism and hate going on I just think it’s a really beautiful video,” Maxwell’s father, Michael Cisneros, said in a video CNN posted online and labeled as being from WPIX television in New York City.

CNN responded Thursday night to Trump’s post, saying on Twitter, “CNN did cover this story — exactly as it happened. Just as we reported your positions on race (and poll numbers). We’ll continue working with facts rather than tweeting fake videos that exploit innocent children. We invite you to do the same. Be better.”

The video tweeted by Trump appears to be watermarked Carpe Donktum, a Trump-supporting creator who has made other manipulated content. It comes as Trump faces criticism over his response to weeks of protests over the in-custody death of George Floyd.

[NBC News]

Trump Campaign Demands CNN Retract, Apologize for Poll Showing Joe Biden Leading

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a poll that showed Democratic candidate Joe Biden leading by 14 points. The campaign sent a cease and desist letter to CNN President Jeff Zucker Wednesday. The network immediately rejected the president’s demand. “We stand by our poll,” CNN spokesman Matt Dornic said.

In addition to showing Biden with a lead of 55 percent to 41 percent over Trump, the poll found the president’s approval rating to be 38 percent, the lowest it has been since January 2019, and his disapproval rating to be 57 percent. Trump tweeted Monday that he had hired Republican pollster McLaughlin & Associates to “analyze” the CNN poll, which he called fake. McLaughlin is regarded one of the least accurate pollsters.

[Daily Beast]

Update

CNN on Wednesday dismissed a demand from the Trump 2020 campaign that it withdraw a poll as “factually and legally baseless” and the type of threat that has “typically come from countries like Venezuela.”

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