Sheriff's deputy killed while investigating a vehicle in a ditch with a possibly impaired driver

Sheriff's deputy killed while investigating a vehicle in a ditch with a possibly impaired driver



A sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed while investigating a vehicle in a ditch has been identified, WCCO reported.

Deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, of the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin, was investigating a vehicle in a ditch with a possible impaired driver when she was killed in an exchange of gunfire Saturday, according to a statement from sheriff's office.

"Our love and condolences go out to the family of Kaitie Leising and all those with whom she served," Sheriff Scott Knudsen wrote, in part.

"We will miss her infectious smile and personality. She will be missed by all she touched."

The incident took place in the Township of Glenwood around 6:15 p.m. when Leising was dispatched to a drunk driving incident, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Glenwood is about 56 miles east of Minnesota's Twin Cities.

The driver, 34-year-old Jeremiah D. Johnson, repeatedly evaded Leising's attempts to administer a sobriety test. Johnson shot the officer once and fled. Leising shot back three times, but missed her target, the outlet also reported.

People at the scene attempted to help Leising, WBAY reported. She was transported to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.

About an hour after Leising was shot, officers searching the woods near the scene "saw Johson, heard a gunshot, and saw him fall down," the outlet also reported.

The involved individual was found deceased in a wooded area with a gunshot wound, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation said in a statement. The agency did not specifically name Johnson as that individual.

Condolences from law enforcement agencies and individuals rapidly poured in after the sad news broke.

The Wisconsin DOJ's DCI is leading the investigation. They will be assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, and a DCI Crime Response Specialist. The results of their investigation, once concluded, will be turned over to the St. Croix County District Attorney.

Deputy Leising served with SCCSO since 2022. Before that, she served for two years with Pennington County Sheriff's Office in South Dakota, SCCSO reported.

WCCO's Nick Streiff shared video of officers saluting and people filling overpasses on Interstate 94 as Deputy Leising's body was returned to Wisconsin.

\u201cOfficers saluted and people filled nearly every overpass on Interstate 94 as the body of Deputy Kaitie Leising was brought back to Wisconsin this afternoon.\n\nDeputy Leising was shot and killed in the line of duty on Saturday evening.\n\nMore: https://t.co/ynzpP7U6wt @WCCO\u201d
— Nick Streiff (@Nick Streiff) 1683514472

Watch additional WCCO coverage of Deputy Kaitie Leising's death in the line of duty below.

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'Republicans fear love': Transgender surgery supporters occupy Oklahoma capitol, demand no age restrictions for operations



Approximately 150 protesters occupied the Oklahoma state Capitol to protest against an age limit for transgender surgeries in the state, which was introduced in Bill SB129 in early January 2023.

The bill bans gender transition surgeries from being performed on anyone under the age of 26, stating that "a physician or other healthcare professional shall not provide gender transition procedures to any individual under twentysix (26) years of age."

Governor Kevin Stitt gave a public State of the State address, in which he stood firmly on the position, saying, "We must protect our most vulnerable — our children."

"After all, minors can’t vote, can’t purchase alcohol, can’t purchase cigarettes … we shouldn’t allow a minor to get a permanent gender-altering surgery in Oklahoma," the governor added.

Oklahomans for Equality and Freedom Oklahoma were two of the groups present at the protest, sporting signs that read messages such as "You can't erase us," and "Things Republicans fear: love, diversity and acceptance."

On the Capitol floor, protesters are seen chanting "trans live matter" as they present their signs.

\u201cA mob of #trans activists took over the Oklahoma Capitol building to try & stop the state\u2019s Republican lawmakers from passing bills that would outlaw the transitioning of minors & require teachers to inform parents if students identify as trans.\u201d
— Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1675760948

The governor also asked legislators to ban hormone therapy for minors as well, exclaiming, "That’s why I am calling on the Legislature to send me a bill that bans all gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies on minors in the state!"

In another video from the Capitol floor, protesters chanted, "We are Oklahoma!" with one protester's sign reading, "We are not a threat, so stop making us a target."

Other protesters wore spray-painted T-shirts with "Trans lives matter" and "Stop the attack" stenciled onto them.

\u201c\u201cWe are Oklahoma\u201d\u201d
— Nick Camper (@Nick Camper) 1675706817

Gov. Stitt categorized the debate as an issue of right and wrong, saying that he will not be intimidated or persuaded by interest groups.

"As governor, I will never shy away from calling out right from wrong. ... I will not be intimidated by partisan interest groups or make decisions based on groupthink," he declared.

"I will continue my responsibility to lead, not follow. ... I ran for this office five years ago because I was tired of seeing other states succeed while ours got left behind.," Stitt added.

According to the Daily Mail, activists called the state bill "genocide" and claimed that Oklahomans should be able to access transgender surgery no matter their age.

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Missing British botanists reportedly murdered and fed to crocodiles in South Africa



World-renowned British botanists Rod and Rachel Saunders were reportedly kidnapped, robbed, beaten to death, and then fed to crocodiles in South Africa, according to court documents.

The couple went missing in 2018 and were last seen at a campsite in South Africa's Drakensberg mountains, where they were searching for rare gladioli seeds to sell in their mail-order business, Silverhill Seeds. According to a report in the Times, recent court documents allege that the couple was kidnapped, robbed, and beaten to death before being fed to crocodiles in the Tugela River. Remains of the victims were reportedly discovered days later by fishermen, but could not be identified until DNA testing was carried out.

The gruesome attack occurred shortly after Rod, 74, and his wife Rachel, 63, were featured on the BBC’s "Gardeners’ World." Photos of the couple with host Nick Bailey are said to be the last pictures taken of them before they disappeared.

\u201cThe amazing Rod and Rachel Saunders of Silver Hill Seeds. These guys know their South African native plants.....and vitally where to find them. They sell an incredible range of seeds online. #silverhillseeds #SouthAfrican #nativeplants #horticulture #planthunters\u201d
— Nick Bailey (@Nick Bailey) 1518111032

A court in Durban, South Africa, was told that the Saunderses were kidnapped on February 13, 2018, and "that the defendants were drawing money from various ATMs ... and there was the robbery of the Saunders’ Land Cruiser and of camping equipment.”

Sayefundeen Aslam Del Vecchio, his wife Bibi Fatima Patel, and Mussa Ahmad Jackson were arrested in connection with the kidnapping, robbery, and murder of the highly respected botanists. Jackson told the court that he was woken by Patel at their home and told to meet Del Vecchio at the Tugela River Bridge, "where they helped him remove sleeping bags from the back of the Toyota and they threw them, with human bodies inside, into the river.”



Ian downgraded to tropical storm, though 'life-threatening catastrophic flooding' will continue



Early this morning, the National Hurricane Center downgraded Ian from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Although now regarded as a weaker force, the phenomenon is still expected to produce strong wings, heavy rains, and storm surge in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

As of 8 a.m. on September 29, the storm was moving northeastward at 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph. It is presently headed toward Orlando.

The NHC noted this morning that coastal water levels continue to subside along Florida's west coast, although the danger remains of a "life-threatening storm surge" Thursday through Friday along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The NHC indicated that tropical storm-force winds will likely spread northward across the aforementioned areas through Friday. Furthermore, "life-threatening catastrophic flooding" will continue today across central Florida.

Significant flooding will also occur in the state's northern portion, southeastern Georgia, and eastern South Carolina.

Record hurricane, catastrophic damage

Ian, reportedly the fourth-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Florida, continues to trail a wake of ruination. It has left over 2.5 million in the dark. Hundreds are feared dead.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told "Good Morning America" on Thursday, "I definitely know the fatalities are in the hundreds," indicating that there are also thousands of people waiting to be rescued.

The Category 4 hurricane slammed southwestern Florida on Wednesday with 150 mph winds and a powerful storm surge.

The storm's center came ashore roughly 100 miles south of Tampa, which was last directly hit by a hurricane in 1921.

Extreme Debris Filled Winds, Placida, Florida - Hurricane Ian - 9/28/2022 youtu.be

Fierce winds transformed debris into potentially lethal projectiles, while the surge towered over previous heights, flooding massive swaths of land and carrying away entire homes.

In Fort Myers, the storm surge was 5.8 feet, 2.44 feet higher than in 2001 with Hurricane Gabrielle. The surge on Fort Myers Beach was strong enough to sweep away the Lee County sheriff's office temporary outreach center trailer.

Elsewhere along the southwest Florida coastline, from Englewood to Bonita Beach, the surge was reportedly 8 to 10 feet above ground level, accompanied by "destructive waves."

The lower-level emergency room was flooded in the Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida, while winds reportedly peeled back the roof on its intensive care unit. Footage captured by Christopher Shannon shows some of the damage. He noted that the storm "clobbered" the area.

\u201cInundaci\u00f3n en el Hospital HCA Florida Fawcett en Port Charlotte por el paso del Hurac\u00e1n Ian. \n\n#MoluscoNews \n#ElMolu\ud83c\udfa7 \n\n(\ud83c\udfa5 Christopher Shannon - FB)\u201d
— Molusco (@Molusco) 1664446175

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) noted that some people remain in high-risk evacuation zones. Their calls have been logged, and there will be a response, he noted, although first responders will wait for the storm to move enough for rescue efforts to proceed safely.

\u201cHurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in homes, flooding streets and buildings, and knocking out power across the region.\n\nThe storm is one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States. https://t.co/RuksxwL7f8\u201d
— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press) 1664452380

According to Collier County officials, the roads in Naples, Florida, are impassable due to high water and tides.

\u201cInsane video shows just how deep the water is in Naples, Florida from #HurricaneIan. \n\nThe Naples Fire Rescue crew grabbing their gear as flash flooding submerged ambulances and firetrucks in feet of water.\u201d
— FOX Weather (@FOX Weather) 1664398814

While their own facility has been thoroughly flooded, Naples Fire-Rescue nevertheless continues to aid those in desperate need of help.

Parts of Kissimmee, south of Orlando, similarly saw major flooding last night.

\u201cHoly cow. Major flooding in Kissimmee. @WFTV #Ian\u201d
— Nick Papantonis WFTV (@Nick Papantonis WFTV) 1664435606

Extra to lives, homes, and memories lost in the floods and winds, the economic cost of the damage may also be significant. The estimated reconstruction cost will be $258.3 billion. The insurance industry stands to lose between $20 billion and $40 billion.

'Who do I sue?' Joy Behar laughs off dramatic face plant during live show



Joy Behar apparently missed her chair and fell rather dramatically during the opening of Thursday's episode of "The View."

In video footage from the live show, the 79-year-old co-host was seen falling forward, then on her side, before fellow co-hosts rushed over to help her back up.

"Come on just stop, just stand," laughed Whoopi Goldberg.

"Twenty-five years that has never happened to me," Behar said, adding, “Who do I sue?”

Joy Behar falls on the set of The Viewpic.twitter.com/BZoucdL7QF
— Daily Wire (@Daily Wire) 1646330435

While Behar is reported to be just fine after her fall, the mishap garnered mixed reactions on social media.

Especially given what Joy herself said about masks a week or so ago.
— Mick Porter (@Mick Porter) 1646335452


See, since she was vaccinated it wasn't as bad as it would have been if she wasn't vaccinated.
— Jon Lebold (@Jon Lebold) 1646329935


I am not a mean person, truly, but karma is a bitch.
— Lina (@Lina) 1646331556


She got that trip she's been looking forward toohttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/joy-behar-slammed-over-fear-russia-ukraine-crisis-will-impact-trip-to-italy/ar-AAUi1cS\u00a0\u2026
— Nick Restivo (@Nick Restivo) 1646339738


She's been waiting 4 years you know
— Patrick Leinweber (@Patrick Leinweber) 1646331636

Behar is no stranger to making headlines, for better or worse. Just last week, she was shredded for complaining that Russia's invasion of Ukraine might interfere with her plans to vacation in Italy. The previous week, Behar was caught maskless in public after declaring she'd keep wearing her mask indefinitely, even if the CDC eases their guidance.

BREAKING: Report says US believes Russia will invade Ukraine next week



U.S. officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and has communicated that decision to the Russian military, according a report from PBS.

PBS foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin said Friday that six Western and defense officials told him the U.S. expects the invasion to begin next week. The report has not yet been officially confirmed by the State Department.

"US officials anticipate a horrific, bloody campaign that begins with two days or aerial bombardment and electronic warfare, followed by an invasion, with the possible goal of regime change," Schifrin reports.

The US expects the invasion to begin next week, six US and Western officials tell me, as Secretary of State Antony @SecBlinken said last night.
— Nick Schifrin (@Nick Schifrin) 1644604095


Schifrin's report has not yet been confirmed. TheBlaze has reached out for comment to the State Department.

President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Americans remaining in Ukraine and Russia to flee both nations.

"American citizens should leave now," Biden said in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt.

“It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly,” he said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry on Friday also issued a travel warning for Ukraine and announced that embassy workers and the families of Israeli diplomats stationed in the country will be evacuated in anticipation of war, the Times of Israel reports.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Loudoun County schools chief of staff no longer has job after handling of sexual assault cases



The chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia no longer has a job following accusations that the school district violated Title IX by failing to conduct a timely investigation of multiple sexual assaults.

LCPS told Fox News in a statement Wednesday that the chief of staff position once held by Mark Smith is now "vacant." It is not immediately clear why Smith, who was also the school district's Title IX coordinator, is no longer in the position, whether he resigned or was fired.

An unnamed school board member told WJLA-TV that Smith "is gone" because he failed to meet certain "obligations" under Title IX, a federal statute that bans discrimination based on sex.

"He had obligations under Title IX and they weren’t met. He was not a Title IX expert, but it was his job,” the school board member reportedly said. "Someone had to pay and it was him."

The school board member said LCPS is looking to hire someone with Title IX experience following two sexual assaults at two different schools in Loudoun County. @7NewsDc
— Nick Minock (@Nick Minock) 1642607139

The school district is being tight-lipped about the situation. WJLA reporter Scott Taylor said that LCPS Public Information Officer Wayde Byard hung up the phone on him twice while he was trying to confirm Smith's departure.

Earlier today I was hung up on twice by Wayde Byard, Public Information Officer at Loudoun County Public Schools. Byard refused to say who is the District\u2019s current Chief of Staff. Last week it was Mark Smith. Byard said no comment if Smith is still employed. @7NewsDCpic.twitter.com/HjWkYIUb9e
— Scott Taylor 7 News I-Team (@Scott Taylor 7 News I-Team) 1642607587

Fox News reported that a LCPS web page previously listing Smith as the chief of staff was removed Wednesday.

WJLA reported that the school district is seeking to hire someone with Title IX experience.

The alleged Title IX violations are related to two sexual assaults of students at LCPS schools that were first reported by the Daily Wire and later confirmed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department.

The first assault took place in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 18, 2021. Police arrested a 14-year-old male suspect on charges of one felony count of forcible sodomy and one felony count of forcible fellatio after an investigation. The same suspect was later charged with crimes related to a second assault at Broad Run High School on Oct. 6.

Last week the suspect, now 15, was found responsible for the crimes and sentenced to a juvenile treatment facility. The court required him to register as a sex offender for life.

The school district did not disclose the sexual assaults to the public before the Daily Wire revealed what happened in its report. At a school board meeting one month after the first incident, Superintendent Scott Ziegler publicly denied that there was any record of sexual assaults taking place in school bathrooms at a contentious school board meeting where he spoke in favor of a policy that would let transgender students use the bathroom of their preference.

Outraged parents accused LCPS of covering up the sexual assaults in schools. Ziegler later apologized and claimed that federal Title IX rules prevented the schools from conducting their own investigation into the incident until police had finished their investigation.

According to the Daily Wire, this claim was contested by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, which has said, "Although a school division may need to delay temporarily the fact-finding portion of a Title IX investigation while the police are gathering evidence, once notified that the police department has completed its gathering of evidence (not the ultimate outcome of the investigation or the filing of any charges), the school division must promptly resume and complete its fact-finding for the Title IX investigation." Federal law also requires that a school is "obligated to conclude a grievance process within a reasonably prompt time frame."

Ian Prior, executive director of the parents' advocacy group Fight for Schools, said in a press release that Smith's departure shows LCPS violated Title IX in its handling of the sexual assault.

“We have been saying for months that Loudoun County Public Schools violated Title IX and this report confirms that,” Prior said Wednesday. "While it is a positive development to see that LCPS is taking action, the fact remains that the buck stopped with Superintendent Scott Ziegler and the former leadership of the school board.”

“Ziegler remaining while his subordinates take the fall only further diminishes the trust in LCPS leadership, particularly when there is a publicly funded 'independent' report on the failures of LCPS that Ziegler refuses to release to the public,” he added.

On Tuesday, an independent report on how LCPS handled the sexual assault cases was completed, but officials said the report will not be released to the public.

Byard told WJLA that Virginia law and attorney-client privilege prevent the school district from releasing that information.

"The report is complete. It is being withheld from disclosure in its entirety under Va. Code 2.2-3705.1(2) relating to materials protected under the attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, portions of the record are being withheld from disclosure under. Code 2.2-3705.4(A)(1) relating to scholastic information and Va. Code 2.2-3705.1(1) relating to personnel information concerning identifiable individuals," he said in an email to WJLA.

"Of course, they are not going to release what happened," Scott Smith, the father of the teenage girl who was assaulted at Stone Bridge High School last May, said.

"What happened is horrific," he told WJLA. "There are so many high-up players involved in this cover-up. It’s just unbelievable."

Leftists lash out at 'cowards' in RNC for threat to prohibit Republican candidates from participating in presidential, VP debates due to bias against GOP



After the Republican National Committee on Thursday threatened the Commission on Presidential Debates that it would "prohibit future GOP nominees from participating in future CPD-sponsored debates" over what the RNC sees as unfairness and bias against Republicans, leftists predictably lashed out.

Who said what?

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison tweeted that “Republicans can’t win a fair fight and they know it":

Republicans can't win a fair fight and they know it. Regardless of the RNC\u2019s tantrum, voters can count on hearing from President Biden and Vice President Harris who are proud of their records.https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/presidential-debates-rnc.html\u00a0\u2026
— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair) 1642106460

Joy Behar — loyal leftist co-host of "The View" — asked in a tweet, "Are they afraid that their candidates can’t keep up?"

Are they afraid that their candidates can\u2019t keep up?https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1481665695322681350\u00a0\u2026
— Joy Behar (@Joy Behar) 1642098655

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki — when asked for a reaction to the news — quipped that "it's a question best posed to the RNC on what they’re so afraid of":

\u201cIt\u2019s a question best posed to the RNC on what they\u2019re so afraid of.\u201d\n\n\u2014 WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki on RNC threatening to prohibit GOP presidential candidates from participating in debates sponsored by the non-profit commission that has hosted the debates for three decades.pic.twitter.com/tS2Mk3vIzn
— The Recount (@The Recount) 1642108057

Veteran Democratic politico Jon Cooper asked, "Who agrees these Republican cowards FEAR THE TRUTH?"

BREAKING: The RNC says it will require all presidential candidates to pledge to NOT participate in any debates run by the Commission on Presidential Debates, breaking a decades-long tradition.\n\nWho agrees these Republican cowards FEAR THE TRUTH?
— Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1642094303

Journalist David Leavitt concluded that GOP candidates "don’t want to answer critical questions":

The RNC wants to stop all Republican candidates from participating in presidential debates because they don\u2019t want to answer critical questions.
— David Leavitt (@David Leavitt) 1642097606

New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen surmised that the GOP "wants out" of "a common world of fact, about which candidates for president can be questioned":

Ominous sign. The debates are full of problems and quadrennially a disappointment, but they do carry forward one key idea: there exists a common world of fact, about which candidates for president can be questioned. The RNC wants out of that.https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1481665661139140616\u00a0\u2026
— Jay Rosen (@Jay Rosen) 1642103604

Columnist Tim O'Brien tweeted that the RNC's move is "another example of Republicans’ antipathy toward public institutions and civic processes leading them to just…walk away. Doesn’t bode well for accountability or transparency":

Another example of Republicans\u2019 antipathy toward public institutions and civic processes leading them to just\u2026walk away. Doesn\u2019t bode well for accountability or transparency.https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1481665695322681350\u00a0\u2026
— Tim O'Brien (@Tim O'Brien) 1642092529

Comedian Titus attempted to summarize the RNC's stance like so: "Alright guys, our candidates can’t form complete sentences, answer questions or think on their feet, so instead of finding good candidates, let’s refuse to let the morons speak, cool?"

\u201cAlright guys, our candidates can\u2019t form complete sentences, answer questions or think on their feet, so instead of finding good candidates, let\u2019s refuse to let the morons speak, cool?\u201d\nRNC Signals a Pullout From Presidential Debates - The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/presidential-debates-rnc.html\u00a0\u2026
— Titus (@Titus) 1642109927

Writer Molly Jong-Fast said the RNC's decision "makes me think the GOP is doubling down on its anti-democratic instincts":

The RNC deciding it won\u2019t do debates anymore makes me think the gop is doubling down on its anti-democratic instincts.
— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1642094860

Nick Knudsen, executive director of nonprofit DemCast, echoed Jong-Fast's sentiments: "The GOP is fully withdrawing from democracy":

Wow. \n\nThe RNC is going to require that presidential candidates pledge to not participate in presidential debates.\n\nThe GOP is fully withdrawing from democracy.https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/republican-presidential-debate-dispute.html?referringSource=articleShare\u00a0\u2026
— Nick Knudsen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Nick Knudsen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1642091905

Anything else?

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted in regard to her letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates said that "for years" the organization that's supposed to be nonpartisan "has shown bias against Republicans. Since they continue to stonewall commonsense reforms, the RNC is leveling the playing field to make debates fair for future nominees."

Among the reforms the RNC wants:

  • term limits on the CPD's board of directors;
  • hold at least one debate prior to the start of early voting;
  • create a code of conduct for CPD officials prohibiting them from making public statements about candidates or taking part in political activities with candidates;
  • establish criteria for disqualifying debate moderators with conflict of interest regarding candidates; and
  • establish a code of conduct for debate moderators in regard to what extent they will interact with nominees.

In the 2020 debates between then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden and then-President Donald Trump, it would seem that the moderators made more headlines than they should have.

In the first debate, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News asked Trump to condemn "white supremacists and right-wing militia" even though Trump had done so repeatedly and even vowed the week before to designate the Ku Klux Klan as a terrorist organization. However, Wallace didn't ask Biden to condemn Antifa — and Biden, in fact, actually claimed during the debate that the violent leftist group is "an idea, not an organization." Interestingly, Wallace announced last month his departure from Fox News to join CNN.

The CPD tapped Steve Scully — then-political editor for C-SPAN — to moderate the second Trump-Biden debate, but it was soon reported that Scully had served as an intern for then-Sen. Joe Biden in college and later worked on the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff. What's more, C-SPAN suspended Scully after he admitted he lied about his Twitter feed being hacked in regard to a question he posted to former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci after Trump accused Scully of being a "nevertrumper." Soon the second debate was canceled after Trump complained about the format being changed to a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And despite a report that the third debate moderator, Kristen Welker — chief White House correspondent for NBC News — has deep ties to the Democratic Party, she won high praise from both sides of the aisle for her job moderating the third debate.

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Jennifer Lopez sang an inclusive song at the inaugural — now she's being blasted for its 'white ignorance'



Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez likely thought she was performing a song of inclusion at President Joe Biden's inaugural, but she's being blasted now for her "white ignorance."

Lopez sang "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie in a medley of patriotic songs she performed at the ceremony in January, and immediately faced criticism for what many say are "colonist" undertones in the song.

"The inauguration began by JLO singing a song celebrating stolen land and Indigenous genocide," tweeted Nick Estes, a historian and podcaster.

The inauguration began by JLO singing a song celebrating stolen land and Indigenous genocide.
— Nick Estes (@Nick Estes)1611161757.0

The estimation might come as a shock to those who have believed the song to be a left-wing rebuke of capitalism and property rights by Guthrie, who famously applauded communism and admired Joseph Stalin.

According to activists, the song is an affront to indigenous people because it affirms that the land "belongs to you and me."

Guthrie autobiographer Gustavus Stradler explained the problematic nature of the song at Al Jazeera:

His most famous song erases the true history of this continent, the fundamental violence and brutality of settler colonialism that made it possible for people of European ancestry to live here – facts that many white citizens of the US, across the political spectrum, would prefer not to consider. In the form in which most people encounter it, This Land Is Your Land replaces this actual past with an idealist fantasy of the "land" as an innocent place whose expanse and varied landscapes reflect Americans' glorious capacity to come together across our differences.

Other activists excoriated Lopez, whose family is of Puerto Rican descent, for her act of "performative social justice" that excluded Native Americans.

"In the time that we're in, I think that a lot of people are trying to break through the bubble of white ignorance," said activist and musician Mali Obomsawin.

"I think having J.Lo sing a song that is supposed to unite all Americans — except for Natives of course — is really just in line with that performative social justice that the government and people higher up in the American system are being called to address."

Here's J.Lo's performance at Biden's inaugural:

Jennifer Lopez performs at Joe Biden's inaugurationwww.youtube.com