Montana legislature formally gives trans Democrat the boot for 'encouraging an insurrection'



Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr has been booted out of the Montana legislature for the remainder of the 2023 season. While the transvestite lawmaker will be able to vote remotely, he will not be able to engage in person with those to whom he has refused to apologize.

Zephyr could have resolved the matter with an apology prior to his supporters storming the Capitol Monday, but has indicated that is outside the realm of possibility.

Zephyr's 'hate-filled testimony'

Last week, Zephyr, born Zachary Raasch, lashed out at his Republican colleagues during a debate over amendments to Senate Bill 99, the "Youth Health Protection Act" — already passed by the state House and Senate.

Zephyr said, "The only thing I will say is if you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands."

Following the remarks, made less than a month after a transgender extremist shot up a Christian school, Majority Leader Sue Vinton (R) stated, “I will note this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful, and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.”

In response to Zephyr's hateful ant-Christian comments directed at Republicans, the House voted on April 20 in favor of censure.

Montana House Speaker Matt Regier indicated that Zephyr would need to apologize before once again being recognized on the floor.

Zephyr stressed that he had no intention of apologizing.

Prior to the riot on April 24, Zephyr doubled down, once again accusing Republican lawmakers of causing deaths with their bills protecting children. He underscored, "We will not be complicit in our eradication."

\u201c"Its not enough for them to get the harmful bills through. When someone stands up and calls out their bills for the harm they cause, for the deaths they cause, they want silence. And we will not be complicit in our eradication."\n\nRep. Zephyr responds.\n\nhttps://t.co/cdpsKkfi45\u201d
— Erin Reed (@Erin Reed) 1682384348

Conducting a riot

TheBlaze previously reported that on Monday, LGBT extremists stormed the Montana Capitol in support of Zephyr.

They besieged the House doors, crowded the House gallery, and hurled obscenities at the Republican lawmakers below, who were instructed to clear the floor out of concern for their safety.

Meanwhile, Zephyr remained on the floor, holding up a microphone while his supporters swarmed the House gallery.

\u201cBREAKING: The Montana House of Reps has been shut down by left-wing protesters who are there protesting the censure of transgender Democrat Rep. Zooey Zephyr, that was led by the @MTFreedomCaucus, for telling his Republican colleagues they have "blood on their hands" for passing\u2026\u201d
— Greg Price (@Greg Price) 1682374006

Montana Highway Patrol, the Helena Police Department, and officers from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office ultimately restored order, carting away several individuals who were charged for criminal trespassing.

Republican Rep. David Bedey said that the LGBT activists had mounted "an assault on our representative democracy," reported the New York Post.

The Montana Freedom Caucus issued a statement after the incident, condemning "the actions of the violent protestors in the capitol building today."

"Representative Zephyr encouraged these actions by standing in the middle of the floor encouraging an insurrection after all members were told to move to the sides and clear the House gallery to remain in a safe location," said the Freedom Caucus. "Due to Zephyr's actions, the Montana Freedom Caucus is calling for immediate disciplinary action against Democrat Representative Zooey Zephyr of Missoula."

Sent packing

The Republican leadership notified the legislature Tuesday evening that at 1 p.m. the following day, "a motion to act with respect to the conduct of Representative Zephyr will be made on the House floor" to determine whether Zephyr had on April 24 "violated the rules, collective rights, safety, dignity, integrity, or decorum of the House of Representatives, and if so, whether to impose disciplinary consequences for those actions."

Lawmakers determined that Zephyr was indeed in violation, voting along party lines to ban the Democratic lawmaker from the House floor.

"Currently all Representatives in the Montana House are free to participate in debate while following House rules. The choice to not follow House rules is one that Rep. Zephyr has made," Regier said in a statement. "The only person silencing Rep. Zephyr is Rep. Zephyr. The Montana House will not be bullied. All 100 Representatives will be treated the same.

Zephyr continued to displace blame and remained resolute in his decision not to apologize, noting in a statement, "I stood unwaveringly in defense of my constituents, my community, and democracy itself."

Although the Democratic lawmaker can still vote remotely, he suggested that Republicans were "effectively stripping me of the ability to represent my 11,000 constituents in debate."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Snopes gets taken to the WOODSHED for 'pathetic' attempt to defend Will Smith



In the wake of the now-infamous "slap heard around the world," a video clip of actor Will Smith making a bald joke during an appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show" in 1991 has resurfaced.

Even before winning the Academy Award for best actor, Smith had already made headlines by marching onstage to smack comedian Chris Rock across the face for making a joke about his wife's hair loss.

Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, suffers from alopecia, a condition defined by the Mayo Clinic as "hair loss (that) can affect just your scalp or your entire body." This includes, among others, androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness), frontal fibrosing alopecia (a receding hairline), and alopecia areata, which is immune system-related and causes patchy hair loss.

Following Smith's unhinged reaction to Rock's joke at the Oscars, a video resurfaced on social media of Smith making a "bald joke" about Arsenio Hall’s bassist, John B. Williams, during a 1991 appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show."


That time in 1991 when Will Smith made fun of a bald man on the Arsenio Hall Show and said \u201cawe these are jokes man c\u2019mon\u201d.\n#WillAndChris #WillSmithAssault #ChrisRock #WillSmithpic.twitter.com/LMUyjwj0d8
— ThePopPunkDad (@ThePopPunkDad) 1648506144


The so called "fact-checkers" on Snopes were quick to jump to Smith's defense with an article that seriously attempted to say Smith isn't a bald-joke hypocrite because Williams, though clearly bald, does not necessarily suffer from alopecia.

Never mind that the vast majority of Twitter posts on the topic said nothing about "alopecia"; Snopes dug up the "one viral version of this video" (Snopes' own words, not ours) that was captioned, "Now this is a video of Will Smith saying a joke about someone with alopecia" to make the case.


Did Will Smith once do the exact same thing \u2014 make a bald joke directed at a person with alopecia \u2014 that led him to hit Chris Rock at the Oscars?\n\n No, and here's how we know:https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/will-smith-arsenio-hall/\u00a0\u2026
— snopes.com (@snopes.com) 1648629902

"While this clip is real, there’s no evidence that Smith’s joke was directed at someone with alopecia," wrote Snopes.

"While Smith did make a bald joke during this appearance, there’s no evidence that Williams, like Pinkett Smith, has alopecia. We looked over Williams’ bio on his website, profiles of the artist, and several interviews, and found no mention of Williams having alopecia. It appears that this claim was made up out of whole cloth in order to increase the video’s virality by making Smith’s actions appear especially hypocritical," the article added.

Many people on Twitter felt that Snopes may have entirely missed the point:

So he just had regular hair loss from a past illness?\nHunh.\nAnd not "alopecia" which is the medical term for hair loss?\nThat's... an interesting and useless claim of a difference.\n\nGood job fact hiders.\nYou've worked hard to hide another fact.
— Bert Difig (@Bert Difig) 1648653284
Another case of it's true but we don't like the narrative so we'll say it's not true
— MyOpinion (@MyOpinion) 1648650583
Q. Did Will Smith or did he not make fun of another person\u2019s lack of hair? \nA. He did. \n\nYour pathetic attempt to excuse Will Smith\u2019s unacceptable behavior is duly noted. Please dont whine because people don\u2019t take you seriously as a \u201cfact check\u201d site.
— Reine (@Reine) 1648649978


Snopes you really are a bunch of dishonest hacks. Love how you add in the qualifier \u201cwith alopecia\u201d to say the Will Smith didn\u2019t make fun of someone\u2019s hair\u2026
— RandomDragon (@RandomDragon) 1648654653
No one takes your so called journalism! Seriously.
— Sloan section 31 (@Sloan section 31) 1648654578
Snopes is a CLOWN SHOW!pic.twitter.com/PH0wbwWPcy
— Cindy (@Cindy) 1648650615


Snopes keeps posting this, but has missed that male pattern baldness called androgenic alopecia. Clearly not the same type of alopecia but still, yes Smith did make a joke at someone with alopecia.
— LatCit (@LatCit) 1648630180
Pathetic @snopes; just pathetic.
— Connie McLou \ud83c\udf40\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u2618\ufe0f (@Connie McLou \ud83c\udf40\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u2618\ufe0f) 1648656827
You're nothing more than a mouthpiece for the lefties anymore. You're lack of any research before you make an ass of yourselves is pathetic.
— Erin (@Erin) 1648651840

Liberal media turn on CNN darling Chris Cuomo after bombshell report sheds light on cable host's shocking efforts to protect disgraced brother



Liberal journalists are quickly turning on Chris Cuomo and CNN, demanding to know why the popular anchor is still employed at the network amid new revelations that appear to show just how involved the CNN staple may have been in attempting to protect his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) from scandals — including lurid sexual harassment allegations.

What's the very brief history here?

A newly released testimony from the New York State Attorney General's Office shows that the CNN anchor worked tirelessly with his brother's handlers to stave off bad publicity from sexual misconduct allegations.

The report adds that he even leaned on media sources who dared speak on his brother's purported misgivings.

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday released transcripts and exhibits from the investigation into the former governor, which include — but are not limited to — the CNN anchor's sworn testimony to investigators in which he admitted to using media contacts to attain information about his brother's sexual harassment accusers, in addition influencing those in the media who were covering the ever-developing saga.

Despite reports, Cuomo in August insisted, "I never made calls to the press about my brother's situation."

In a statement on the newly released documents, a spokesperson for CNN told the Daily Mail said, "The thousands of pages of additional transcripts and exhibits that were released today by the NY Attorney General deserve a thorough review and consideration. We will be having conversations and seeking additional clarity about their significance as they relate to CNN over the next several days."

At the time of this writing, the CNN anchor has yet to issue any public statements on the new developments.

You can read more on the background of the scandal here.

What are people saying?

Rolling Stone ran a critical story on Monday titled, "Chris Cuomo Caught Doing Something That Would Get Any Other Journalist Fired."

Roling Stone editor-in-chief Noah Schachtman added, "If this story is accurate, it describes a series of shocking ethical breaches — fireable offenses at any other news outlet."

If this story is accurate, it describes a series of shocking ethical breaches \u2014 fireable offenses at any other news outlet.https://twitter.com/schwartzbCNBC/status/1465404508473864198\u00a0\u2026
— Noah Shachtman (@Noah Shachtman) 1638218630

Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple tweeted, "And this is why @CNN should have conducted an internal investigation of all @ChrisCuomo actions vis-a-vis his brother's scandals. That should have happened months ago."

And this is why @CNN should have conducted an internal investigation of all @chriscuomo actions vis-a-vis his brother's scandals. That should have happened months ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/09/cnn-must-investigate-chris-cuomo/\u00a0\u2026https://twitter.com/memeorandum/status/1465412969378971650\u00a0\u2026
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) 1638216837

"Just to be clear, if anyone else on CNN's roster did this, they'd not only be fired but blacklisted from journalism period," MSNBC columnist Eric Michael Garcia also insisted.

Just to be clear, if anyone else on CNN's roster did this, they'd not only be fired but blacklisted from journalism period.https://twitter.com/schwartzbCNBC/status/1465404508473864198\u00a0\u2026
— Eric Michael Garcia (@Eric Michael Garcia) 1638215286

New York Times columnist Jane Coaston appeared on "The View" on Tuesday, where she said, "This is a massive ethical breach. If you work at a news agency like I do, we do, you understand that there are just basic things like if you found out that an intern did this they'd be gone a second after these text messages came in. This is an abuse of power."

She added, "The only reason that Chris Cuomo was able to do any of this, get sources on some of [his brother's] accusers ... you see in these text messages how it is not just Chris Cuomo, to be clear. You see people talking about these accusers like they are just nuisances."

Co-host Joy Behar agreed, and said, "I understand the inclination to help your brother ... but you don’t use your position in the media to help him. Whether he should be fired, that’s for [CNN president] Jeff Zucker to decide. There’s a lot in this story that doesn’t feel right, although I do appreciate the Cuomo family very much."

Slate on Tuesday published an article titled "It's Time for CNN to Can Chris Cuomo for Being Full of Crap."

The Atlantic ran an article titled "Chris Cuomo Must Go."

Matt Pearce, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, added, "This is an embarrassment to journalism."

This is an embarrassment to journalism.https://twitter.com/schwartzbCNBC/status/1465404508473864198\u00a0\u2026
— Matt Pearce \ud83e\udd85 (@Matt Pearce \ud83e\udd85) 1638220210

Erin B. Logan, a reporter for the Times, chimed in, "[A]mazing that Chris Cuomo still has a cushy job at CNN after flagrantly violating journalistic ethics."

amazing that Chris Cuomo still has a cushy job at CNN after flagrantly violating journalistic ethicshttps://twitter.com/schwartzbCNBC/status/1465404508473864198\u00a0\u2026
— Erin B. Logan (@Erin B. Logan) 1638216043

Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann also shared a report about the alleged misconduct, and added, "And now he has to be fired[.]"

And now he has to be firedhttps://twitter.com/schwartzbcnbc/status/1465404508473864198\u00a0\u2026
— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1638216949

WATCH: Erin O’Toole accuses Trudeau of cover-up involving Winnipeg laboratory

“Two scientists with ties to the Chinese military were escorted out of the Winnipeg virus laboratory. This is a level 4 laboratory that Canada uses to research some of the world’s most deadly pathogens and viruses.”

Chinese ambassador demands respect from Canadians, says China is 'peaceful'

Peiwu told the publication that Canada could help repair their relationship by releasing Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei CFO who was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 on a US extradition request.

Trudeau, O’Toole congratulate Biden after media declares his victory

Prominent politicians and heads of state from all over the world have congratulated Joe Biden after the mainstream media projected his victory.

Erin O'Toole SLAMS Whole Foods after they ban employees from wearing poppies

Five days before Remembrance Day, the supermarket chain Whole Foods has banned its employees from wearing poppies.

Trump campaign allegedly being prevented from watching vote count in Philadelphia despite court order allowing them to do so



Members of President Donald Trump's campaign Thursday allegedly were not being permitted to observe ballot counting in the Philadelphia Convention Center despite a court order issued earlier in the day allowing them to do so.

What are the details?

A Philadelphia court ruled Thursday morning that poll watchers were allowed to be within six feet of ballot counting at the Pennsylvania Convention Center rather than the previous 20-foot perimeter, KYW-TV reported.

Pam Bondi and Corey Lewandowski of the Trump Campaign presented the order, which went into effect at 10:30 a.m., the station said, adding that the pair said it allows them access inside and up to six feet of the vote-counters. KYW reported that they then walked inside the convention center.

Lewandowski, Bondi, and others head into the Pennsylvania Convention Center. They said they'll be observing the mai… https://t.co/7oDD5MIDfx
— Erin McCarthy (@Erin McCarthy)1604590684.0

However, two videos posted to social media show Trump campaign representatives — including Lewandowski — declaring that they were being blocked from observing the count:

The latest via @CLewandowski_ https://t.co/VRbnit2ksM
— Ron Coleman (@Ron Coleman)1604595215.0

Lewandowski said in the above clip that Philadelphia officials "refuse to honor the judge's order" giving them access and that it "flies in the face of democracy." He added that "the attorney for the city said they are going to evaluate ... the judge's order."

🚨 Here in Philadelphia with Former Democratic Candidate for Judge Michelle Hangley who is paid for by city tax paye… https://t.co/zfW5NigHeO
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@Corey R. Lewandowski)1604600457.0

A woman who said she's an attorney representing Philadelphia stated in the above clip that the city is "evaluating" the judge's order and determining "what the order means" and "when they're ready to talk to you about it, they will." The woman also said the city isn't violating the court order by its actions.

Ballot counting in Philadelphia was halted for about an hour Thursday morning due to legal challenges, KYW said in a separate story. It isn't clear if above videos were recorded when counting was paused or not.

City commissioners tweeted later that the count was back on:

The count is going forward. There was a brief pause in light of the ongoing litigation, but it has resumed in accor… https://t.co/4RpygtK4u5
— Philadelphia City Commissioners (@Philadelphia City Commissioners)1604597349.0

However, TheBlaze looked at the livestream referred to in the above tweet just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and it didn't appear to show poll watchers standing within six feet of ballot counters.

Still, Republican Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt told KYW that representatives from both the Trump campaign and from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign were watching the vote count.

"They're observing all of it," Schmidt noted to the station.

None of the three Philadelphia commissioners on Thursday immediately responded to TheBlaze's request for comment on the allegations that Trump officials were being prevented from observing the vote count despite the court order allowing them to do so.

Anything else?

The Associated Press reported late Wednesday that Trump's campaign sued to stop the Pennsylvania vote count over lack of "transparency" and was seeking to intervene in the Supreme Court case. Fox News said the lawsuit was meant to overturn a SCOTUS decision that allows Pennsylvania to continue counting mail-in ballots received after Tuesday until Friday, as long as they were postmarked by Nov. 3.

An NBC News reporter said Thursday she incorrectly tweeted that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision favoring the Trump campaign and added that the state's high court hasn't "weighed in" on the case yet.

Pennsylvania officials on Thursday were still counting mail-in ballots for Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Winning the state's 20 electoral votes would put Biden above the 270-vote threshold that determines the winner of the election.

O'Toole defends free speech in wake of terrorist attack in France

"Today, France is in mourning," O'Toole began bluntly.

WATCH: O'Toole criticizes Liberals for 'entitlement and arrogance' and nearly sparking election

Erin O'Toole addressed media today, criticizing the Liberals' "entitlement and arrogance" for nearly triggering an election "rather than just answering a few questions."