'That's silly': Frustrated mother leaves note in her 3-year-old's lunchbox for teacher about 'good' and 'bad' foods



A frustrated mother decided to take action after her 3-year-old daughter came home from school and complained that her teacher made comments about how she ate her lunch, according to the New York Post.

Caroline — who posts on TikTok under the username @pezzi.shop — posted to the social media platform about her how 3-year-old daughter came home and said that her teacher told her to eat the "good" parts of her lunch before the "bad" parts.

The "good" parts of the girl's food were apparently a sandwich and cucumbers, and the "bad" part was the cookie Caroline packed for her daughter. The mother went on to say that the teacher's comments go against what she has tried to teach her child about food neutrality, suggesting that there are no "good" or "bad" foods.

@pezzi.shop

Here’s the story: My three-year-old came home from school yesterday, telling me that her teacher told her that she had to eat all of her “good” foods before she ate her “bad” foods. She couldn’t have her cookie before eating her sandwich and cucumbers. In this moment, I felt a little frustrated by the antiquated instruction from the teacher, but I responded saying, “Well that’s silly. There are no good foods or bad foods. Food is just food!“ I will say, this was not my internal dialogue growing up, but because of the information that I have from so many great accounts created by moms and experts, in the field of childhood and nutrition, I am armed with better responses, knowledge and practices for my kids. Three years old. At three years old someone has told her that foods are good or bad. I am so proud that she had sensed something was off - to know that was not right enough to tell me about it. We talk about it all the time at home… If you only eat carrots or broccoli your body won’t have protein it needs to grow strong muscles. If you only eat chicken, your body won’t have enough energy to do things like run and play all day long. We need little bits of everything to make sure that we are able to learn and play and grow all day long. So to the accounts that make sure we have the words, knowledge and confidence to write the note and practice it at home, I thank you, thank you, thank you. It has changed our family for the better. What you do and what you share is so important to young families. #kidsnutrition #kidseatincolor #solidstarts #kidfood #babyledweaning toddlers moms babies family @Jennifer Anderson, MSPH RD @Feeding Littles @Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN @Food Science Babe


In the description of the video, Caroline wrote: "In this moment, I felt a little frustrated by the antiquated instruction from the teacher, but I responded saying, ‘Well that’s silly. There are no good foods or bad foods. Food is just food.'"

The mother decided that the best way to address the issue was to leave a letter in her daughter's lunchbox for the teacher, which read: "Hi! Evelyn has permission to eat lunch in any order she chooses. None of her foods are 'good' or 'bad' — they are just food!"

However, some TikTokers thought the mother was being passive-aggressive with the note. One user responded: "I’m sure the teacher wasn’t trying to be cruel … maybe you could have talked to the teacher instead of a passive aggressive note on your three-year-old’s lunch."

A second user commented: “As a teacher, your response is 100 per cent right. The narrative of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food can actually encourage harmful eating habits to develop.”

Another user suggested that what the teacher said was "way too controlling. No one should tell anyone in what order to eat their food. That’s their meal to enjoy."

Caroline went on to say that the idea of food being neutral — neither "good" nor "bad" — is something she realized after she was an adult. And learning this has allowed her to make more informed choices about her own daughter.

Another user seemed to agree with Caroline, writing, “As long as my daughter is full enough to concentrate I don’t care what part of her lunch she eats first. It’s usually mostly fruit and deli turkey anyway … but she could start with Oreos for all I care.”

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Chrissy Teigen blasted for having servants carry her dress through streets to the White House Correspondents' Dinner



Chrissy Teigen was slammed for having servants carry the train of her dress through the streets on the way to the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President Joe Biden mocked the press corps at the dinner dedicated to the journalists who cover the president of the United States.

"In a lot of ways, this dinner sums up my first two years in office. I’ll talk for 10 minutes, take zero questions, and cheerfully walk away," Biden ridiculed the press to their faces as to how he doesn't field their questions.

The event was hosted by stand-up comedian Roy Wood Jr., and featured celebrities such as Kelly Ripa, Brittney Griner, Julia Fox, Rosario Dawson, Liev Schreiber, John Leguizamo, Gayle King, and Lena Headey.

Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend also attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The 37-year-old former model was caught on video having servants carry the train of her dress through the streets.

Teigen and Legend walked past climate crisis activists screaming, "The planet is dying!"

\u201cJohn Legend and Chrissy Teigen arriving at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner tonight\u201d
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager) 1682815852

The Twitter reactions lampooned Teigen for the tone-deaf display.

Podcast host Jedediah Bila said, "I'm surprised she doesn't have her peasants masked. The liberal elite is gross at every level."

Journalist Ian Miles Cheong tweeted, "These people are more important than you. You'll have to carry their dress for for them, peasant."

Podcast host Shawn Farash added, "Love the servants trailing Teigen... EQUITY!!!!"

One Twitter user wrote, "This is what peak liberalism looks like."

Author Jennifer Sey noted, "Chrissy Teigen at the White House correspondents dinner has Met Gala 2021 vibes."

\u201cChrissy Teigen at the White House correspondents dinner has Met Gala 2021 vibes.\u201d
— Jennifer Sey (@Jennifer Sey) 1682876077

Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald pointed out, "The below video reminds me of that COVID-era video of a huge team of masked servants getting AOC ready for the Met Gala by working on her hair, nails, feet, and dress while she and her boyfriend lounged around unmasked."

\u201cThe below video reminds me of that COVID-era video of a huge team of masked servants getting AOC ready for the Met Gala by working on her hair, nails, feet, and dress while she and her boyfriend lounged around unmasked:\u201d
— Glenn Greenwald (@Glenn Greenwald) 1682867889

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Top NTSB official goes on CNN, then busts narrative blaming Trump for East Palestine train derailment



Democrats and the White House are blaming former President Donald Trump for the East Palestine train derailment, accusing him of revoking regulations they say would have prevented the disaster.

But Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, made clear on Thursday that narrative is all bark and no bite.

What are the claims?

The narrative posits that Trump bears responsibility for the East Palestine train derailment because his administration rolled back regulations that critics now say would have prevented the train derailment and subsequent environmental disaster.

Specifically, critics say, for example, that electronically controlled pneumatic brakes could have prevented the derailment. The Obama administration issued the rule, and it was rolled back under Trump.

But what did Homendy say?

The top NTSB official told CNN anchor Jake Tapper unequivocally that ECP brakes would not have prevented the East Palestine train derailment.

"The NTSB has looked at electronically controlled pneumatic braking for a number of years, and we did some testing as well. Certainly, it would improve safety. But for this investigation and for this derailment, ECP brakes would not have prevented the derailment," she said.

"The wheel bearing failed on car number 23. Even with ECP brakes, the derailment would have occurred," she explained.

Tapper followed up by asking if there is "any obvious rule change" that would have prevented the derailment. But again, critics of Trump would be disappointed in Homendy's answer.

"It's too early to tell," she told Tapper. "In our analysis phase of the investigation, we'll look at just that. We'll look at what could have prevented this terrible tragedy. And it could be regulation changes. It could be recommendations to Norfolk Southern, to the Department of Transportation, or to rail car manufacturers, or to emergency responders."

\u201cThe National Transportation Safety Board releases its preliminary report on the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. @NTSB Chief Jennifer Homendy explains why she calls the wreck \u201c100 percent preventable.\u201d\u201d
— The Lead CNN (@The Lead CNN) 1677194551

It is true that, under Trump, the DOT withdrew the rule on ECP brakes for trains carrying hazardous materials. However, as Politico explained, that happened only after intervention from Congress.

That withdrawal, however, stemmed from intervention by Congress, which required regulators to put the rule through a more stringent cost-benefit analysis after the Obama administration had issued the regulation. The rule ultimately failed that analysis.

Last week, Homendy first explained why ECP brakes and the withdrawn rule would not have prevented the derailment.

"The ECP braking rule would’ve applied ONLY to HIGH HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAINS. The train that derailed in East Palestine was a MIXED FREIGHT TRAIN containing only 3 placarded Class 3 flammable liquids cars," she wrote on Twitter.

"This means even if the rule had gone into effect, this train wouldn't have had ECP brakes," she explained.

\u201cThe ECP braking rule would\u2019ve applied ONLY to HIGH HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAINS. The train that derailed in East Palestine was a MIXED FREIGHT TRAIN containing only 3 placarded Class 3 flammable liquids cars.\u201d
— Jennifer Homendy (@Jennifer Homendy) 1676594028

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Chinese rise up against communist regime's COVID tyranny in biggest mainland protests since Tiananmen Square massacre



Protests against communist Chinese dictator Xi Jinping and his regime's draconian COVID-19 protocols erupted across China over the weekend in what has been called the "White Paper Revolution." This uprising is reportedly the biggest since 1989, when the communist regime killed thousands of Chinese in the Tiananmen Square protests.

What are the details?

Mass protests erupted in Shanghai, Beijing, and several other cities across China, condemning the communist regime's so-called "zero-COVID" policies. Chinese police have reportedly rounded up some protesters, pepper-sprayed thousands, and have altogether attempted to clamp down on the demonstrations in the authoritarian surveillance state.

The Daily Mail reported that over the weekend in Shanghai, protesters demanded that the regime "lift lockdown in Urumqi, lift lockdown for Xinjiang, lift lockdown for all of China!"

Some protesters called for Chinese dictator Xi Jinping — who extended his rule last month — to step down as well as for the CCP to relinquish power, saying, "Xi Jinping! Step down! CCP! Step down!"

\u201c\u201cTraitor #XiJinping! #XiJinping, step down! Dictatorial Government, step down! F*ck\u2026\u201d \nCrowds shouting while they gathered at #Urumqi Road in #Shanghai city today to protest against the #CCP\u2019s #ZeroCovid #lockdown.\u201d
— Jennifer Zeng \u66fe\u931a (@Jennifer Zeng \u66fe\u931a) 1669513376

Several police attempted to disappear one protester in Chongqing, who declared, "Without freedom, I would rather die!"

According to Newsweek, many protesters have taken to the streets holding blank sheets of white paper to both symbolize and denounce the Chinese regime's censorious nature, earning the movement the name "White Paper Revolution" or the "A4 revolution."

A video reportedly went viral depicting a woman at the Communication University of Nanjing holding up a blank piece of paper, which another individual then quickly took away.

A translation of one iteration of the post on Twitter stated, "Even if you hold up a blank sheet of paper, it makes them fear. It is not the power of the blank sheet of paper, but the power of awakening. Because, it is precisely because there is nothing written, so everything is written..."

\u201c\u5373\u4f7f\u4e3e\u8d77\u4e00\u5f20\u767d\u7eb8\uff0c\u4e5f\u8ba9\u5b83\u4eec\u6050\u60e7\uff0c\u4e0d\u662f\u767d\u7eb8\u7684\u529b\u91cf\uff0c\u800c\u662f\u89c9\u9192\u7684\u529b\u91cf\uff0c\u56e0\u4e3a\uff0c\u6b63\u662f\u56e0\u4e3a\u4ec0\u4e48\u90fd\u6ca1\u6709\u5199\uff0c\u6240\u4ee5\u624d\u4ec0\u4e48\u90fd\u5199\u4e86\u2026\u2026\u201d
— \u674e \u5e86 (@\u674e \u5e86) 1669473540

CNN previously underscored how open defiance of the regime is "extremely rare," particularly in a country where dissidents and perceived foes of the state are imprisoned, tortured, enslaved, and in certain cases tossed into concentration camps.

Why and why now?

After three years of COVID-19 policies and decades of murderous authoritarianism, the catalyst for the Chinese protests was a fire and a reimposition of localized lockdowns nationwide.

The new lockdowns reportedly came as a result of a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, with an estimated 40,000 people catching the virus daily (in a country of over 1.4 billion people).

In certain areas of the country, the regime is constructing new detention camps for the infected. A new camp in Guangzhou, for instance, will be able to accommodate and isolate nearly 250,000 persons accused of having COVID-19.

\u201cFor the second day in a row, China has recorded an explosive increase in coronavirus infections.\n\nIn the city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, which has the largest number of cases, the construction of a quarantine center for 80,000 people has begun.\u201d
— NEXTA (@NEXTA) 1669365508

This new series of lockdowns was poorly received, particularly at the world's biggest iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, where workers staged a protest last week, partially over pay, but also over strict quarantine rules. They smashed surveillance cameras and windows and sparred with police, reported the New York Post.

Against a backdrop of tensions already boiling over and three years of punitive COVID-19 measures, the fire that set off protests in China took place in a high-rise in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province.

Residents, confined to their apartments on account of the new lockdowns and the regime's zero-COVID policy, were unable to flee when a fire spread through the building on Thursday. Quarantine protocol also hindered the efforts of first responders, who couldn't douse the flames or rescue those trapped inside the inferno in time.

At least 10 people died in the fire.

\u201cFamilies in a hi-rise in China were locked into their apartments as their building caught fire. Urumqi, in Xinjiang Province\n\nThey burned alive as they couldn't escape and no one could get to them in time \n\nThis is directly on the CCP and Xi's Zero-Covid lockdown strategy\u201d
— Jack Posobiec \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jack Posobiec \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1669601782

ABC News Australia indicated that while China's COVID protocols have inadvertently resulted in multiple casualties in recent years, this particular fire constituted the straw that broke the camel's back.

\u201cRemarkable scenes across China tonight. Feels like spite against zero COVID restrictions is boiling over. Millions online blaming lockdown measures for 10 deaths in an Urumqi high-rise fire. Students chanting "long live the people" at a university in Nanjing:\u201d
— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1669493628

The regime's response

Protesters have been arrested throughout the country. Chinese police continue to increase their street presence.

\u201cJust seen police dragging random people away from the crossroads where protests first started in Shanghai. All happening now\u201d
— Leo Lord-Jones (@Leo Lord-Jones) 1669606489

Chinese police also brutalized and arrested BBC journalist Edward Lawrence, who had been reporting on the protests. The BBC indicated that Lawrence "was held for several hours before being released. During his arrest he was beaten and kicked by police."

\u201cWitnessed a BBC journalist got sieged and dragged to the ground by several cops in Shanghai earlier tonight on the Urumqi Rd. His friend said he was targeted becuz he was filming the protest. (feel free to @ his handle if you know who this journalist is ) @BBCNews @BBCNewsAsia\u201d
— Shanghaishanghai (@Shanghaishanghai) 1669559860

The AP reported that in response to the protests, some Chinese authorities had eased certain COVID-19 protocols by Monday, but there was no indication that Beijing would back down on its overarching virus mitigation strategy.

One easement announced was that Beijing's municipal government would no longer barricade and fence in apartment compounds containing persons who had been infected.

Another easement announced was that mass testing would no longer be required for all residents in Guangzhou.

While Beijing made minor efforts to address protesters' concerns, bot accounts were weaponized online to hijack the hashtags associated with the White Paper Revolution, flooding Twitter and other social media sites with adult content (i.e., pornographic images, gambling posts, ads for escorts).

Jens Monrad, a cybersecurity analyst, told Newsweek that "using a (trending) hashtag in a spam campaign potentially hides authentic content observed during a protest or event, which can move focus away from a protest or 'drown' vital information posted on social media platforms."

Although Monrad could not confirm that this campaign was state-backed, it would nevertheless be in the CCP's interest to drown out the protesters' critiques.

When asked about the anger over the regime's pandemic policy, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "What you mentioned does not reflect what actually happened. ... We believe that with the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and cooperation and support of the Chinese people, our fight against COVID-19 will be successful."

Harvey Weinstein's defense permitted to use letter from Gov. Gavin Newsom's wife — on how to deal with husband's sex scandal — in trial



Harvey Weinstein, the 70-year-old convicted rapist who allegedly once coached former President Bill Clinton on how to navigate his Monica Lewinsky scandal, similarly gave counsel to the wife of California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, two years after he allegedly raped her.

The judge presiding over Weinstein's case ruled on Monday that jurors in the trial will be permitted to hear about Siebel Newsom's 2007 letter soliciting advice about her husband's sex scandal. The defense hopes to use the letter and the friendly relationship it may be perceived to imply in order to undermine Siebel Newsom's accusation.

The trial

Weinstein, already serving a 23-year prison sentence for his 2020 rape conviction, is presently on trial for four counts of rape and several sexual assault counts involving Siebel Newsom and four other women.

Four of the incidents allegedly took place during so-called Oscars week 2013, when two of the high-profile Democrat donor's films won Academy Awards.

Siebel Newsom indicated that Weinstein raped her at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2004 or 2005.

Siebel Newsom's attorney, Elizabeth Fegan, said last week, "Like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap. ... She intends to testify at his trial in order to seek some measure of justice for survivors."

Siebel Newsom has worked as an actor and a documentary filmmaker. The 48-year-old wrote an article for the Huffington Post in October 2017 discussing the media and entertainment industry's "open secret" concerning Weinstein's degeneracy. She emphasized how the industry's culture "was so entirely demeaning, disrespectful, and diminishing of women and girls."

\u201cIt's time I spoke out about Harvey Weinstein along with so many others. And its time for others to stand with us. https://t.co/eKqVi6GGod\u201d
— Jennifer Siebel Newsom (@Jennifer Siebel Newsom) 1507329968

"I was naïve, new to the industry, and didn't know how to deal with his aggressive advances―work invitations with a friend late-night at The Toronto Film Festival, and later an invitation to meet with him about a role in The Peninsula Hotel," wrote Newsom. Staff at the hotels "were present and then all of a sudden disappeared like clockwork, leaving me alone with this extremely powerful and intimidating Hollywood legend."

The letter

Siebel Newsom began dating Gavin Newsom in 2006, two years after he was elected mayor of San Francisco. She married him in 2008.

Prior to their nuptials, it was revealed that then-Mayor Newsom had an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of his reelection campaign manager. Rippey-Tourk told her husband as part of a rehabilitation program she participated in for substance abuse.

Rippey-Tourk, who had been Newsom's appointments secretary since 2004, claimed the affair began when Newsom was still married to Kimberly Guilfoyle.

After the news of Newsom's infidelity broke, Siebel Newsom reportedly emailed Weinstein, asking for advice on how to navigate the scandal.

It is unclear whether Siebel Newsom was taking Weinstein's advice when she deflected blame from Gavin Newsom, publicly denouncing Rippey-Tourk as "the culprit" and claiming the woman had a "checkered history."

Weinstein’s lawyer Mark Werksman suggested, "Of all things you'd think a woman that is raped by Harvey Weinstein wouldn't do, it's [ask him] how to deal with a sex scandal."

Werksman said, "The fact that she comes to Mr. Weinstein for that advice indicates the friendship and companionship of Jane Doe 4 and Mr. Weinstein. ... The defense will be that they had an affair, that they had consensual sex."

Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez called into question Werksman's understanding of the mindset of a rape victim, suggesting that victims "do not react in a matter how someone who has not been raped would think."

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench ruled that Weinstein's defense could introduce as evidence a 2007 email Newsom sent to Weinstein. Lench has prohibited the discussion of the issue underlying the email (i.e., Gavin Newsom's affair) in court.

Fauci denies responsibility for school closures in interview after recommending lockdown policies



Outgoing White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci denied responsibility for school closures during the pandemic, insisting in an interview on Sunday he had "nothing to do" with it.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the government's chief spokesman during the COVID-19 pandemic, was asked by ABC News' Jonathan Karl whether it was a "mistake" to keep schools closed for as long as they were.

"I don’t want to use the word ‘mistake,’ Jon, because if I do, it gets taken out of the context that you’re asking me the question on," Fauci replied. "And I don't want to do that because that's just happened too many times over the last years with me."

Asked if the country paid "too high a price" with the government's pandemic response, Fauci said, "We should realize, and have realized, that there will be deleterious collateral consequences when you do something like that."

Fauci noted that nearly 1,500 children were killed by the coronavirus and said that public officials needed to balance safety with keeping schools open.

"You shouldn't discount that it does afflict children, so it isn't without consequence," Fauci said. "If you go back, and I ask anybody to go back over the number of times that I've said we've got to do everything we can to keep the schools open; no one plays that clip. They always come back and say, 'Fauci was responsible for closing schools.' I had nothing to do [with it]— I mean, let's get down to the facts."

"You're not the head of a school board," Karl suggested.

"Exactly," Fauci said.

\u201c"Was it a mistake...to see schools closed as long as they were?"\n\nFAUCI: "I had nothing to do with it!"\u201d
— RNC Research (@RNC Research) 1665934130

Prolonged school closures and the associated learning loss and mental health impact on children have become a source of lingering resentment for concerned parents. The reluctance of many school districts to reopen in 2020 and 2021, citing guidance from public health officials like Fauci, was politically divisive and at times led to contentious showdowns between parents and school boards.

A study from the Department of Education published in September found that average reading scores for 9-year-olds fell seven points in 2022 compared to scores in 2020, Fox News reported. The decline in reading scores was the largest drop in over three decades, and the study found the first recorded decline in math scores.

While it is true that Fauci never had direct authority to close schools, his words were influential on policymakers, and his various recommendations to keep schools closed were heeded.

In April 2020, Fauci reportedly "gave his blessing" to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to close schools citywide. He also criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for attempting to open schools, warning that doing so would lead to an increase in infections.

\u201cFauci scolded @GovRonDeSantis for opening schools in fall20. And his constant caveats - schools can only open IF - gave unions & districts cover NOT to open. His refusal to acknowledge the harm to kids earlier this month, & now, his refusal to accept accountability is pathetic.\u201d
— Jennifer Sey (@Jennifer Sey) 1665971372

Fauci also repeatedly advised through 2020 that schools in areas of high viral transmission should remain closed and children participate in virtual learning.

\u201c8/4/20 Fauci on schools: \n\n"There may be some areas where the level of virus is so high that it would not be prudent to bring children back to school."\n\nIn clip, he endorses Zoom education & school closures in areas w/ COVID transmission. Fauci has never been for full reopening.\u201d
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com (@Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com) 1606749047

Sunday's interview was not the first time Fauci has been disingenuous about his policy recommendations. In an August interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto, Fauci asserted, "I didn't shut down anything," in response to a question about COVID-19 lockdowns.

\u201cUnbelievable! Does Fauci NOT know that the Internet lives forever? HERE are the receipts:\n\nFauci: "I didn't shut anything down..."\nOh really? Roll tape!\u201d
— Justin Hart (@Justin Hart) 1661295916

He also deflected responsibility for public health guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in another interview in July.

\u201cFAUCI YESTERDAY: "I didn't recommend locking anything down."\n\nFAUCI IN OCTOBER 2020: "I recommended to the president that we shut the country down."\u201d
— Townhall.com (@Townhall.com) 1658847427

However, in October 2020 Fauci said that he recommended to President Donald Trump that "we shut the country down" in response to the pandemic.

WaPo columnist Jennifer Rubin compares the MAGA movement to the Confederacy, says that 'extreme White Christian nationalism' will result in 'violence, cruelty and lawlessness'



Washington Post opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin has drawn a parallel between the Southern Confederacy of the Civil War and the modern-day MAGA movement, and said that "extreme White Christian nationalism" which goes unchecked results in "violence, cruelty and lawlessness."

"Indeed, the MAGA movement venerates the Confederacy and managed to accomplish what the South never did: stage an assault on the U.S. Capitol bearing the Confederate flag and organize an effort to stave off the peaceful transfer of power. Both the old Confederacy and the MAGA movement pine for a fraudulent past and dress up base racism in a gauzy wrapping of honor, masculinity and military virtue. And the paranoia about an existential crisis that so many MAGA followers share tracks with the Confederacy’s fear that their way of life (slavery) was endangered by Northern forces," Rubin wrote.

"No, the MAGA movement isn’t advocating for slavery. But it does seek to rewrite the history of race through its fraudulent attack on 'critical race theory,' just as Jim Crow defenders sought to refashion the Civil War by erecting monuments to traitorous secessionists. The aim is the same: to exonerate Whites and to recast them as noble victims," she continued.

MAGA is an acronym that stands for former President Donald Trump's oft-repeated campaign slogan "Make America Great Again."

"If left undisturbed, the extreme White Christian nationalism of today will inevitably lead to violence, cruelty and lawlessness," Rubin asserted.

\u201cIf left undisturbed, the extreme White Christian nationalism of today will inevitably lead to violence, cruelty and lawlessness. https://t.co/3AV7OM1R0t\u201d
— Jennifer "Pro-privacy" Rubin (@Jennifer "Pro-privacy" Rubin) 1662560198

In a piece earlier this year, Rubin claimed that the Republican Party has become devoted to instituting "White Christian nationalism."

MSNBC host Joy Reid has asserted that the GOP has been consumed by "white Christian* nationalism."

"The goal of the Republican Party today, is it to seize control of every level of government, to lock out voices of color & LGBTQ voices except those who conform to their demand that history and education uplift white Christian dominion as the one true bedrock of America," Reid tweeted in May.

"This Dominionism — this white Christian* nationalism — is cultish, sometimes violent, ugly and cruel. It has swallowed the Republican Party whole, it dominates the Supreme Court, and it’s rolling over our state legislatures, school boards, congress and governors mansions," Reid added.

\u201cThis Dominionism \u2014 this white Christian* nationalism \u2014 is cultish, sometimes violent, ugly and cruel. It has swallowed the Republican Party whole, it dominates the Supreme Court, and it\u2019s rolling over our state legislatures, school boards, congress and governors mansions.\u201d
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1652235972

Breaking: Multiple dead as violent clashes erupt in Iraq following al-Sadr announcement



Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, one of the most powerful figures in Iraq, announced Monday he would resign from Iraqi politics. The announcement sparked hundreds of al-Sadr's followers to take to the streets in protest. Protestors breached concrete barriers guarding the Green Zone — the site of Parliament, Iraqi government offices and diplomatic missions, including the U.S. Embassy.

The Associated Press reports that five people were killed in clashes with Iraqi security forces after protestors stormed the government palace. The New York Times states that an additional 20 protestors were injured by security forces.

A video posted to Twitter purports to show U.S. Embassy employees in Baghdad being evacuated by military helicopter for safety. The U.S. State Department has stated that the reports that the embassy has been evacuated are "false," but otherwise refused to comment on the situation, saying, "As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters involving internal security."

\u201cState Dept says reports the US evacuated its Embassy in Baghdad are false.\nFrom a State Department Spokesperson: \n\u2022These reports are false. \n\u2022As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters involving internal security.\u201d
— Jennifer Griffin (@Jennifer Griffin) 1661788476

Because of the ongoing violence, Iraq's Joint Operations Command has set a full curfew in Baghdad, which will begin at 15:30 local time, state news agency INA reported on Monday. The AP reports that the curfew is nation-wide.

Muqtada al-Sadr, who opposed both U.S. and Iranian influence on Iraqi politics, won election in October but withdrew all his lawmakers from parliament in June after he failed to form a government that excluded his rivals, according to Reuters.

“I have decided not to interfere in political affairs so now I announce my final retirement,” al-Sadr wrote on Twitter, according to the New York Times.

The U.N. mission in Iraq said the protests were an “extremely dangerous escalation,” and called on demonstrators to vacate all government buildings, writes the AP.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as events unfold.

Jen Rubin gets hammered online for claiming a state can now 'execute' a woman who gets an abortion



Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin was criticized and mocked online after she claimed that women could now be "executed" by a state after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.

Rubin tweeted her bizarre claim and was immediately lambasted for it.

"[A] state can now execute a woman for refusing to submit to a forced birth even if the 'abortion' is within hours of conception. barbarism," she tweeted Friday.

\u201ca state can now execute a woman for refusing to submit to a forced birth even if the "abortion" is within hours of conception. barbarism.\u201d
— Jennifer 'I stand with Ukraine' Rubin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Jennifer 'I stand with Ukraine' Rubin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1656083473

She added in a second tweet, "senators cheering the decision are supporting states' power to criminalize all abortions in all situations. This is radical, inhumane and intolerable in a free society."

Here's a sampling of the responses to Rubin's tweet:

"While I respect the enthusiasm you have thinking you can wish nonsense into existence, and I certainly hate to burst your crazy little bubble, but literally none of that is true," read one tweet.

"[I]t's wildly irresponsible for WaPo opinion writers, even less credible ones like Rubin, to spread this type of misinformation," responded Liz Wolfe of Reason.

"There’s something seriously wrong with you," replied radio talk host Jason Rantz.

Others pointed out that Rubin had previously argued against Democrats about elective abortions not being women's health.

Some just responded with confusion.

"What on God's earth are you talking about?" said David Harsanyi of the Federalist.

Many pro-abortion supporters have taken to the streets Friday to protest against the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn federal abortion rights in the United States. Some Democrats have responded by saying they will "defy" the U.S. Supreme Court while others have come very close to calling for violence to meet their political goal of defending abortion rights.

Rubin has been touted by the Washington Post as their "conservative" columnist, but many on the right reject that identification given her constant haranguing and criticism of conservative politicians and policies.

Here's more about the historic decision:

Supreme Court OVERTURNS Roe v. Wade | The News & Why It Matters | 6/24/22www.youtube.com

WaPo opinion writer Jennifer Rubin claims that the GOP 'is a movement dedicated to imposing White Christian nationalism'



Washington Post opinion writer Jennifer Rubin asserted that the Republican Party has ceased to be a political party and has instead transformed into a movement committed to implementing "White Christian nationalism."

"People might be confused about how a Republican Party that once worried about government overreach now seeks to control medical care for transgender children and retaliate against a corporation for objecting to a bill targeting LGBTQ students. And why is it that the most ambitious Republicans are spending more time battling nonexistent critical race theory in schools than on health care or inflation?" Rubin wrote.

"To explain this, one must acknowledge that the GOP is not a political party anymore. It is a movement dedicated to imposing White Christian nationalism," she continued.

Conservatives oppose radical leftist gender ideology and the concepts of critical race theory, and they do not want schools to foist these ideas on kids.

It is a movement dedicated to imposing White Christian nationalism. The media blandly describes the GOP\u2019s obsessions as \u201cculture wars,\u201d but only one side is repudiating pluralistic democracyhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/27/gop-no-longer-a-party-movement-impose-christian-nationalism/?tid=ss_tw\u00a0\u2026
— Jennifer 'I stand with Ukraine' Rubin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Jennifer 'I stand with Ukraine' Rubin \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1651072310

Rubin claimed that white Christians in the U.S. desire to cling to political power.

"The media blandly describes the GOP’s obsessions as 'culture wars,' but that suggests there is another side seeking to impose its views on others," Rubin wrote. "In reality, only one side is repudiating pluralistic democracy — White, Christian and mainly rural Americans who are becoming a minority group and want to maintain their political power."

"The MAGA crowd is offended by any attempt to identify the ongoing reality of systemic racism (evident, for example, in the criminal justice system, maternal health care, housing discrimination and gerrymandering to reduce minority voting power). The notion that institutions they refuse to reform perpetuate racism is a sort of moral challenge to their claim to be 'colorblind.' Perhaps it is simply self-interested blindness," she wrote.

Rubin also said that white U.S. Christians who view themselves as victims suffer from "moral confusion."

"Our political problems are significant, but they are minor compared with the moral confusion that is afflicting the millions of White Christian Americans who consider themselves victims. Left unaddressed, this will smother calls for empathy, tolerance and justice," she declared.