Lightning strike in front of the White House leaves four people with life-threatening injuries



Lightning struck outside of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and four people were critically injured.

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. on Thursday when the victims were found on Lafayette Square in front of the White House, near a statue of former President Andrew Jackson.

D.C. emergency services said in a tweet that two men and two women were hospitalized as a result of the strike and added that they all had critical life-threatening injuries.

Members of the Secret Service and U.S. Park Police administered CPR on the victims, who were unconscious when found, according to D.C. Fire and EMS Public Information Officer Vito Maggiolo.

Maggiolo could not elaborate on what injuries the four had suffered.

One video from a Fox weather camera showed a lightning strike from about the time the incident occurred.

\u201cWATCH: Fox weather camera captured this incredible lightning strike around the time the 4 people were struck near White House. https://t.co/9liRqW7tqx @fox5dc\u201d
— Lindsay Watts (@Lindsay Watts) 1659659654

CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes also posted a video of the lightning strike and added that it was so loud that it made her and a CBS producer jump up in fright.

“That’s too close — we’re shutting down," said photographer Ron Windham.

In 2020, another lightning strike injured two National Guardsmen near Lafayette Park during the protests over the death of George Floyd. They were hospitalized with non life threatening injuries.

Officials shut down a portion of the park while emergency crews remained at the scene.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Four in Critical Condition After Lightning Strikes Close to White Housewww.youtube.com

US truckers plan to 'squeeze' DC this week with Freedom Convoy



"Freedom Convoy" protesters are expected to congregate in Washington, D.C., this week as U.S. truckers opposed to President Joe Biden's federal vaccine mandates seek to emulate their Canadian brethren.

Bob Bolus, an organizer of one of the convoys, told local D.C. media that the plan is to "squeeze" the nation's capital like a "boa constrictor" and shut down the city.

"We will be along the Beltway where the Beltway will be shut down," he told WTTG-TV.

Bolus owns a truck parts and towing business in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He said he plans to leave for D.C. on Wednesday morning and head to the Capital Beltway.

There he hopes to join other trucker convoys that are making their way to D.C. this week like "The People's Convoy," which will leave from California on Wednesday.

"I'll give you an analogy of that of a giant boa constrictor," Bolus said. "That basically squeezes you, chokes you and it swallows you, and that's what we're going to do to D.C."

Bolus told WTTG he's unsure how many truckers will join him but said he's heard interest from hundreds of people.

NEW: an organizer of one of the #TruckersForFreedom convoys says the plan is not to park in DC, but to shut down the Beltway.\n\nBob Bolus says he plans to leave PA on Wed & circle DC: \u201cI\u2019ll give you an analogy of that of a giant boa constrictor.\u201d @fox5dcpic.twitter.com/BKkisxUpLD
— Lindsay Watts (@Lindsay Watts) 1645400212

The California convoy is being organized by Marueen Steele, who told Newsweek that some 1,000 truckers will begin the trip east on Feb. 23. She said more will join the convoy as they cross the nation in a movement to "restore our nation's constitution."

Steele said that the convoy will begin in Barstow, California, and then head east along Interstate 40, but she would not disclose the specific location for security.

"The Canadian convoy was pretty organic when it happened," she said. "Ours, they had a month's notice, so our concern is disruptive groups coming in. We're trying to just prepare for counter-protests and to take safety precautions for that."

A declaration on the People's Convoy website demands the immediate end to the declaration of a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To our elected officials that believe they rule us: YOU work for US. Our constitution was written to provide enough power to act on a national level, but not enough to deprive the people of fundamental rights," the website states. "The people are prepared to see this challenge through — as we have seen through all challenges to our Freedom in the past. And we will prevail and prosper."

Washington's Metropolitan Police Department said it is aware of the upcoming protests and intends to deploy 500 civil disturbance units from Feb. 23 to March 1 in anticipation of the demonstrations, WTTG reported.

"There will be disruptions to traffic, that kind of thing," Police Chief Robert Contee said Friday. "I think we need to be very candid with the public about some of the expectations based upon what we've seen in Ottawa."

Canada's "Freedom Convoy" protests converged in downtown Ottawa on Jan. 28 and remained in the capital city for three weeks demanding an end to the government's requirements that truckers crossing the U.S. border be fully vaccinated. Other protesters formed blockades at various border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared were illegal.

Police acted to disperse the last of the blockades last week. The remaining protesters in Ottawa were cleared out by police forces over the weekend after Trudeau invoked emergency powers to give police greater authority to issue fines and make arrests. Financial institutions were also given permission by the Canadian government to freeze protesters' accounts without a court order.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, a total of 191 protesters were arrested and 57 vehicles were towed since police took action on Friday.

Female reporter comes out with bullying, intimidation allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo



A former journalist said recently that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and his administration bullied and attempted to intimidate her, according to the New York Post.

What is a brief history here?

The woman, Lindsay Nielsen, is just one of several people who have come forward with allegations that the New York governor bullied and attempted to intimidate them.

Karen Hinton, a woman who once worked as Cuomo's press secretary, says that the New York governor is a master of "penis politics" and has a "penchant for bullying." She also insisted that Cuomo worked to undermine her and her experience on a regular basis while under his employ.

New York journalist Morgan Pehme claimed last week that Cuomo "terrorized" him for doing his job as a journalist.

Cuomo also reportedly threatened Assemblyman Ron Kim (D) for calling out Cuomo's "BS" as the state's ongoing COVID-19-nursing home scandal continues to unfold. During a phone conversation, Cuomo reportedly told Kim, "You have not seen my wrath. I have been biting my tongue for months. I can tell the whole world what a bad person you are and you will be finished. You will be destroyed."

A Cuomo senior adviser hit back at Kim's claims, alleging that the assemblyman was "lying about his conversation" with the governor, and insisted Cuomo never made those remarks.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that reports about Cuomo's purported conversation were not surprising, and that the alleged bullying was "classic Andrew Cuomo."

"A lot of people in New York state have received those phone calls," he added. "I believe Ron Kim and it's very, very sad. No public servant, no person who is telling the truth, should be treated that way. The threats, the belittling, the demand that someone change their statement right that moment — many, many times I've heard that and I know a lot of other people in the state that have heard that."

What are the details?

In a statement posted to Twitter on Sunday, Nielsen wrote, "'You have a vendetta against him don't you!' That was the last time I allowed someone connected to Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration to harass and manipulate me. It was during one of the many accusatory and threatening phone calls I received by his staff members that I realized this behavior was never going to stop."

"It was shortly thereafter that I decided to leave my job at News10," she continued. "The late night phone calls from the administration, the constant threats to call my boss, the incessant bullying to try and get me to stop doing my job and reporting specific stories ... it would never end. The tactics used were deliberate yet evasive. They skimmed the line of inappropriateness ever so delicately as to make you feel like they were acceptable."

Nielsen concluded the post, "I am writing this today to make sure that those involved in this behavior back then now know that not only was it not acceptable but also that it was damaging. I applaud those who have come forward recently with reports of similar behavior by the same administration."

I have something to say today. https://t.co/qz0EkC5cD5
— Lindsay Nielsen (@Lindsay Nielsen)1614551199.0

What else?

Nielsen told the New York Post that what she went through felt like "personal attacks" though she was simply trying to do her job as a journalist.

"It was very harassing," she added.

The Post reported, "Nielsen explained that when she'd reach out to Cuomo's office for comment on a story she often would not get a response — only to then get a barrage of phone calls demanding changes after it was published."

She told the outlet, "They would make it person, claiming I have this personal vendetta against the governor, which is absolutely bogus. I was doing my job as a journalist. All I was ever trying to do was report the story, report the facts."

Nielsen said that she decided to come forward with the accusations after other women stepped forward with what she said were similar stories.

"I don't want another reporter to have to go through that," she explained. "That's why I did it."

San Diego woman fatally shot inside US Capitol was 14-year veteran and 'strong supporter' of Trump



A woman was fatally shot Wednesday inside the U.S. Capitol building when a group of Trump supporters stormed the building following a rally protesting the outcome of the 2020 presidential election won by President-elect Joe Biden.

Graphic videos circulated on the internet showing the woman when she was struck along with the chaos of the scene, and now her identity has been revealed.

What are the details?

Ashli Babbit is the name of the victim. KUSI-TV reported that "she was a 14 year veteran, she served four tours with the U.S. Air Force, and was a high level security officer throughout her time in service."

Babbit's husband spoke with the outlet, who relayed that his wife was "a strong supporter of President Trump and was a great patriot to all who knew her."

KUSI News confirms identity of woman shot and killed inside US Capitolwww.youtube.com

WTTG-TV reporter Lindsay Watts also confirmed Babbit's identity by speaking with her family. Watts tweeted out a photo of the veteran, saying Babbit "owned a business with her husband" who "did not come to DC" with her.

Babbit's mother-in-law told Watts, "I really don't know why she decided to do this."

Authorities are still investigating the incident and have not released the details surrounding Babbit's death, including who shot the victim or if anyone has been arrested.

BREAKING: Family confirms woman shot & killed at Capitol is Ashli Babbit. She owned a business in San Diego w/ her… https://t.co/FF30F9YbBN
— Lindsay Watts (@Lindsay Watts)1609984019.0

Videos of the shooting viewed by TheBlaze are too graphic to publish, but continue to circulate social media. Fox News host Tucker Carlson took the same stance in his commentary over the incident.

I encourage you all to watch this Tucker Carlson monologue about what happened in DC tonight. https://t.co/6sGHLOFcrA
— Caleb Hull (@Caleb Hull)1609982711.0

During the siege of the Capitol, protesters stormed the Senate chambers. Video footage of the shooting appears to show Babbit outside the doors of the House chamber, and shows her attempting to climb through a window into the chamber when a shot is heard and she drops to the ground.

She died later at a local hospital.

Biden supporters flood streets over reported Biden victory — but media called Trump rallies 'super spreader' events



Americans — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — flooded city streets nationwide Saturday afternoon after the media declared former Vice President Joe Biden the president-elect.

The massive crowds celebrated Biden's reported victory. Ironically, their gatherings come just one week after the media scolded President Donald Trump for allowing massive gatherings of supporters at his campaign rallies by circulating a study that claimed Trump's rallies resulted in hundreds of coronavirus deaths.

What are the details?

Immediately after news broke of Biden's projected victory, social media videos showed Biden's supporters pour into the streets to celebrate — all while in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

From Times Square in downtown Manhattan:

There are thousands of people in Times Square right now cheering, singing, dancing and celebrating the defeat of… https://t.co/14p8lcdnRN
— Liam Stack (@Liam Stack)1604772108.0

From Brooklyn:

Brooklynites dancing and singing “Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye.” ⁦@NY1⁩ https://t.co/ijGC5odWLh
— Lindsay Tuchman (@Lindsay Tuchman)1604774250.0

Social justice activist Shaun King said of the situation in Brooklyn, "I'm telling you, right now in Brooklyn it looks, feels, and sounds like we just overthrew a dictator."

Schumer even joined the celebrations in New York City — and was caught without a mask, at least temporarily.

it's ok guys. some people are wearing masks. https://t.co/nP1ZHTOF4I
— tsar becket adams (@tsar becket adams)1604772728.0

The situation in Washington, D.C., outside the White House was much of the same. Thousands gathered to mock Trump's impending election loss.

The crowd outside the White House celebrating Joe Biden’s projected victory is blaring YMCA — the song President Tr… https://t.co/wVPtV9OttL
— Kaitlan Collins (@Kaitlan Collins)1604776113.0


BREAKING: Celebrations ERUPT across US after 2020 presidential election called for Joe Biden www.youtube.com


What did the media say about Trump rallies?

The media spent much of the latter part of the election criticizing Trump for holding massive campaign rallies, and were quick to circulate a study that pinned culpability for COVID cases on Trump.

From Politico:

President Donald Trump's campaign rallies between June and September may have caused some 30,000 coronavirus infections and more than 700 deaths, according to a new study by Stanford University economists.

The working paper, released late Friday, examined the impact of 18 rallies held between June 20 and Sept. 30 by comparing spread of the virus after each event to parts of the country that didn't host rallies. The findings illustrate the risks of not heeding public health warnings to wear masks and avoid large gatherings to mitigate the risks of Covid-19, the authors — including B. Douglas Bernheim, the chair of Stanford's economics department — wrote.

Meanwhile, Vox declared, "The president is most likely a super spreader."

Saturday's massive celebrations came despite America experiencing its worst day of COVID-19 cases to date.

On Friday, the U.S. set a single day record of more than 126,000 new positive COVID-19 cases.