Trump Gives Lesson On Negotiation Tactics To Reporter Who Asked ‘Nasty Question’ About His Tariff Strategy
'You call that chickening out?'
Reversal of FATE: Steve Baker’s update on January 6 prisoners is ‘a good sign’
January 6 started as a chance for Trump supporters to innocently protest and quickly turned into a day that would change their lives forever.
Now, however, things might be taking a turn for the better.
“One J-sixer is seeing a reversal of fate,” Jill Savage of “Blaze New Tonight” explains.
“John Strand is actually one of the more, let’s call it, infamous stories, certainly one of the more high-profile cases of all the January 6 defendants,” Steve Baker tells Savage.
Strand was friend and bodyguard of Simone Gold — a doctor and attorney who was the deplatformed founder of the Frontline American Doctors. Gold had been accused of “disinformation” for recommending alternative therapies that were not part of what Baker calls the “approved narrative” regarding COVID-19.
Gold was scheduled to speak on January 6 at one of the six legally permitted events scheduled on the Capitol property that day.
“By the time they got to the Capitol, everything had gone to hell in a handbasket, and so there was nothing but chaos by the time they arrived. The breaches had already taken place. John Strand and Simone Gold did not participate in violence, they did not participate in breaching the Capitol building whatsoever,” Baker explains.
However, their fatal flaw was going inside the Capitol peacefully.
“She actually decided to deliver her prepared remarks there in the Rotunda. She climbed up on the Eisenhower statue, with John standing guard beside her, she delivered her remarks there in the great Rotunda of the Capitol, and then they peacefully left, just as so many other hundreds and thousands of people did,” Baker says.
Both Strand and Gold were “handed that infamous 1512 obstruction of an official proceeding felony.”
The felony carried up to 20 years of imprisonment.
Gold ended up taking a plea deal and pled down to a single misdemeanor. Judge Christopher Cooper sentenced her to 60 days in prison.
“John Strand decided he was not going to take this lying down, that he was going to be a warrior, and he, despite the odds being horribly stacked against him, he was going to go to trial and he did that,” Baker explains.
He was convicted on all counts, and he was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
“Now what’s happening is that because of the Supreme Court’s overturning the 1512 obstruction of an official proceeding charge against 355 defendants, him being one of those,” Baker says, “they’re shortening their sentences or letting them go.”
If they haven’t gone to trial yet, they’re not charging them with it.
“It’s especially a good sign because the Department of Justice has already announced that they want to figure out how to continue with that charge,” Baker explains. “But the point being, is it appears that the judges are pushing back against the DOJ.”
“We’ll take this as a good sign,” he adds.
Karine Jean-Pierre throws TEMPER TANTRUM over questions about Biden's health
The White House press corps is not happy with Karine Jean-Pierre — as she just can’t seem to stop repeating lies from the White House regarding the president’s health.
“I never answered the question incorrectly,” Jean-Pierre responded to a frustrated member of the press. “That is not true. I was asked about a medical exam, I was asked about a physical, that was in the line of questions that I answered.”
“And I said ‘No, he did not have a medical exam,’ and I still stand by that. Matter of fact, the president still stands by that. He had a verbal check-in, that is something that the president has a couple times a week,” Jean-Pierre continued.
When another reporter asked the name of the doctor with whom President Biden has weekly check-ins, Jean-Pierre got angrier.
“I am telling you right now that I am not sharing, confirming names from here. It is a security reason. I am not going to do that Ed, it doesn’t matter how hard you push me, it doesn’t matter how angry you get with me. I’m not going to confirm a name,” she said.
Pat Gray is confused as to why it’s a “security reason.”
“If she mentions the guy's name, if it’s Dr. Cannard, does that mean people are going to try to kill him? Is that what the security issue is? Are you endangering his life by saying, ‘Yeah, he treated the president?’ This is BS. Come on,” Gray says.
Jean-Pierre then went on to claim that it was for the doctor’s “privacy.”
“It is inappropriate, it is not acceptable,” she added.
“He’s the president’s doctor,” Gray laughs. “That just ruins your career.”
In another press briefing, Jean-Pierre appeared to be on the brink of tears.
“We literally do everything that we can, my team does, that we can, to make sure that we get the answers to you,” she said. “And sometimes we disagree, sometimes we are not in agreement. But you know what, that’s democracy.”
“And so to say that I’m holding information, or allude to anything else, is unfair, is really, really unfair,” she continued. “And I will admit, I will be the first one to admit, sometimes I get it wrong. At least I admit that.”
Then it got worse, as Jean-Pierre told reporters sometimes she doesn’t “have the information,” but again, at least she admits it.
When she was asked whether or not Biden would submit to a cognitive test, Jean-Pierre said more of absolutely nothing.
“Everything that he does day in and day out, as it relates to delivering for the American people, is a cognitive test.”
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Disney VP caught on hidden camera EXPOSING woke DEI by James O’Keefe
James O’Keefe has done it again.
The investigative journalist confirmed suspicions that Disney has “gone woke” in his latest undercover expose with his organization, the O’Keefe Media Group.
The group captured a Disney executive on camera admitting that Disney prioritizes skin color rather than merit when it comes to hiring employees.
The executive, senior vice president and team lead over at 20th Television Michael Giordano told one of OMG’s investigators that there have certainly “been times where, you know, there’s no way we’re hiring a white male for this.”
“Just kind of unspoken?” the undercover journalist says to Giordano.
“There are times when it’s spoken,” Giordano confirms, before explaining the way it’s been phrased is, “There’s no way we’re hiring a white male for this role.”
Giordano had also told the undercover journalist that a promotion was likely not in the cards for him because he is seen as a white male.
“As far as Disney is concerned I’m a white male. That’s not who they’re looking to promote at the moment,” he said.
Once the report was released, Giordano was let go from his position.
Lauren Chen is not shocked that Disney has been caught.
“For a long time, people like me have looked at Disney and wondered, okay, if they care about diversity and woke so much, why don’t they still have diverse characters but at least have a well-written, you know, well-made show?” Chen says.
“I think it’s pretty clear here that the reason why they don’t have that at least quality with the wokeness is because they’re also prioritizing skin color when it comes to the people who are making their shows, writing their films, managing their company,” she adds.
While there are obviously talented writers of color, population-wise there are not enough to hire only those of color.
“They’re having to boost up people who probably aren’t as good at their jobs as they should be, simply because they like the way they look,” Chen comments.
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Karine Jean-Pierre LIES, says Biden's NOT playing 'both sides' of pro-Palestinian protests
The Biden administration is doing its best to play both sides of the argument when it comes to the pro-Hamas protests in universities — and it’s not going unnoticed.
When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was pressed on the issue by Fox News’ Peter Doocy, it was clear she did not know how to respond.
“I understand that President Biden historically has spoken very forcefully about anti-Semitism, but this week he’s not. He’s MIA. Is he that worried about losing the youth vote with these protesters?” Doocy asked.
“I’ll speak more broadly. I can’t speak to youth and support and voters, that’s not something I can do from here,” Jean-Pierre answered.
“The president has taken a lot of policy actions here, a lot that he knows that young people care about, and a lot of those actions are popular with those young folks,” she continued, noting that the president is offering the youth “breathing room” in regard to student debt.
She then went on to ramble about the climate crisis, which of course also had nothing to do with Doocy’s original question.
When questioned about whether or not Biden is playing both sides, she said, “No, he’s not doing a both sides scenario.”
Pat Gray doesn’t buy it for a second.
“You’re going to continue to lie and not answer questions that have been asked of you. That’s what you’re going to continue to do,” Gray says, annoyed.
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Washington Post columnist defends ex-CNN photojournalist who allegedly carried grenade for Hamas terrorists
A Washington Post columnist raised eyebrows Thursday when she rushed to defend the now-fired CNN photojournalist who allegedly carried war materiel for Hamas terrorists while effectively serving as their massacre videographer.
Megan McArdle went so far as to suggest in her defense of the Hamas-kissed photojournalist that she too might have held a grenade for terrorists if they'd been giving her a ride.
What's the background?
Israeli media watchdog HonestReporting revealed Wednesday that Hamas terrorists had some of their crimes against humanity captured in real time on film by Gaza-based photojournalists who had worked with mainstream outlets, such as the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, and the New York Times. HonestReporting asked whether the journalists had coordinated with the terrorists and whether Western media outlets had signed off on their contributors embedding with Hamas.
The report named a number of photojournalists who appear to have been especially cozy with the terrorists, including Hassan Eslaiah, who served as a freelancer for CNN up until Thursday.
While a number of the Gaza-based photojournalists seemed to know just where to be and when to be there in order to capture photos of Israeli victims and Hamas destruction, Eslaiah's proximity stood out in the report.
HonestReporting indicated that Eslaiah posted now-deleted tweets with photos showing him in front of a recently destroyed Israeli tank without a press vest or markings to distinguish himself from the terrorists. While this may not have been enough to conclude that he was ethically compromised as a journalist, additional pictures emerged casting doubt on his journalistic distance from Hamas, including an image of Eslaiah being smooched by the terrorist mastermind of the Oct. 7 attacks.
— (@)
What has generated the most outrage is the indication that rather than bring warnings to the women and children in Kibbutz Kfar Azza, Eslaiah, brought his camera — and possibly a grenade.
Footage shared by Israeli reporter Amit Segal allegedly shows Eslaiah with a Hamas terrorist on a motorcycle and holding his grenade "on his way to the massacre of women and babies." As it appears there are at least three people on the motorcycle, it's unclear who exactly is holding the explosive device.
— (@)
Reactions
The Western press outlets implicated in the report responded with indignance, stressing they had no foreknowledge of the Oct. 7 terror attacks. Those with links to the photojournalists in the report either qualified them, cut them, or, in the New York Times' case, defended them.
"Unfortunate news," CNN CEO Mark Thompson told staff Thursday morning. "We've discovered that a stringer may have been there during the attack with Hamas on Oct. 7. CNN had no prior knowledge of the attack," reported Mediaite.
CNN said in a public statement, "Hassan Eslaiah, who was a freelance journalist working for us and many other outlets, was not working for the network on October 7th. As of today, we have severed all ties with him."
The Associated Press similarly cut Eslaiah loose, noting Thursday, "The first pictures AP received from any freelancer show they were taken more than an hour after the attacks began. No AP staff were at the border at the time of the attacks, nor did any AP staffer cross the border at any time. We are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza."
Israeli officials have indicated Eslaiah and the other photojournalists have shot their last terror reels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X, "The National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the PMO views with utmost gravity that photojournalists working with international media joined in covering the brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7th in the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip."
"These journalists were accomplices in crimes against humanity; their actions were contrary to professional ethics," added Netanyahu.
— (@)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz responded to the report, writing on X, "Journalists found to have known about the massacre, and still chose to stand as idle bystanders while children were slaughtered - are no different than terrorists and should be treated as such."
Knesset member Danny Danon noted, "Some [photojournalists] arrived together with the terrorists on motorcycles. Some even carried weapons for the terrorists. While Hamas savages murdered, raped, tortured and brutally abused our people, the vile photographers did not stop, turn away or leave the scene. Instead they filmed and participated in the crimes. We will hunt them down together with the terrorists."
'Benefit of the doubt'
McArdle took to X Thursday to denounce Israel's response to the revelations that Eslaiah likely served as terror videographer.
"I understand Israel's anger, but it is morally wrong and a political mistake to target journalists who rushed to cover a story," wrote McArdle. "Possibly some of them are complicit, I don't know. But Israel should give them the benefit of the doubt."
"We have no idea whether they were told of the attack in advance, whether they simply rushed to cover the breakthrough and followed fighters through, or whether they had any opportunity to prevent the crimes," continued McArdle.
When confronted with the apparent evidence that Eslaiah had mounted a bike with Hamas terrorists brandishing explosives, McArdle presented an excuse for the photojournalists in the form of the suggestion that they might have thought the victims were going to be Israeli soldiers.
"There were military installations in the area. How do you know that the journalists knew that civilians were the target?" wrote the columnist for Jeff Bezos' newspaper.
She later added, "If they committed war crimes, then Israel should try them, or refer them to the international court. They should not announce, in advance of an investigation, that they'll all be killed."
The Washington Post columnist also noted that if she were on her way to a massacre of civilians in the company of terrorists, she too might have held onto their munitions for them.
"If a Hamas fighter who was giving me a ride on his operation handed me a grenade, I might not risk his anger by handing it back," wrote McArdle.
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Smells like a government cover-up: Reporter claims Hawaii governor is HIDING THE WHOLE TRUTH from Maui residents
Unlike Joe Biden, who just cleared his schedule up enough to finally pay a visit to Maui, investigative journalist Nick Sortor has been on the island for some time now.
“Locals in the area say that the number of those killed is closer to 500” and that “the morgues are running out of body bags,” reports Sara Gonzales, citing the Daily Mail.
“There was one resident that told the outlet, ‘I know there are at least 480 dead here in Maui, and I don't understand why the authorities are not saying that.’ ... Have you seen anything on the ground to indicate that the government has not been truthful about the death toll so far?” Sara asks Sortor.
“I know at this point that the government has not been truthful over the death toll,” including “the death toll of the children,” Sortor says.
As for the morgues, Sortor says there’s only one official morgue in Maui, and it’s currently full with hundreds of people.
“I can't confirm that they died in the fire yet, but for whatever reason, the morgue is full, and they had to set up a temporary one over at the police station,” he says.
“They've now frozen this confirmed dead number at 114; it has not risen here in the past two days. I can't tell you why though,” Sortor continues.
But that’s not all the government is lying about, according to Sortor.
On August 18, he tweeted:
Sortor, someone who specializes in reporting on natural disasters, swears that “this is the most catastrophic failure of government that [he has] ever seen.”
Apparently authorities were “barring residents from using water to put out fires,” and “firefighters were trying to put out fires with no water.”
“And when I tried to go and confront the mayor of the town, he ran away from me,” Sortor says.
Granted “they kept schools closed that day,” “there were no sirens to tell the children to get out,” and “cell signal was out,” so it’s no surprise that people are enraged and demanding answers.
But it’s looking more and more like authorities don’t like being questioned.
“Since [Sortor] arrived and started pressing the local government, [he’s] been followed and ... threatened.”
Sara then plays a clip of Sortor being approached during an interview. A mysterious man suddenly shows up claiming he’s been trying to reach Sortor and then accuses Sortor of taking up valuable resources by being in Maui.
To hear more about what’s going on in Hawaii and the attempt to silence Nick Sortor, watch the full clip below.
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Video shows 98-year-old Kansas newspaper owner giving cops hell for 'Hitler tactics' during raid, just hours before her death
Police and sheriff's deputies in Marion, Kansas, raided the office of a local newspaper as well as the home of its co-owners, Eric Meyer and his 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, on Aug. 11. The elderly woman died of a heart attack the following day.
Before her summons to heaven, the elderly woman made sure to give the raiders hell, which was captured on camera.
What's the background?
Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody submitted three search warrant applications earlier this month, alleging a Marion County Record reporter illegally obtained Kansas Department of Revenue information concerning Kari Newell.
Newell is a local restaurateur who lost her driver's license due to a 2008 DUI and is seeking a liquor license for her establishment, according to the Kansas City Star.
TheBlaze previously reported that the Marion County Record, the Meyers' paper, was looking into Newell's past, having received a confidential tip concerning her DUI.
Bernie Rhodes, an attorney for the newspaper, suggested that the reporter had been provided with a copy of Newell's driving record, then used a public website to verify the information.
In the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant, Chief Cody claimed, "Downloading the document involved either impersonating the victim or lying about the reasons why the record was being sought," reported the Daily Beast.
Eric Meyer indicated he had not run the story because he suspected that Newell's estranged husband might have leaked the information in an attempt to hamper her efforts to obtain a liquor license.
"We thought we were being set up," said Meyer, who subsequently informed police.
Following Newell's public claim that the Record had obtained information about her past illegally, the paper then published its own version of events the day before the raid, hoping to "set the record straight."
The next morning at 9 a.m., Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant, authorizing cops to seize computers, cell phones, digital communications, servers, hard drives, and any documents connected to Newell.
While the alleged identity theft was the given reason behind the raid, some suspect Cody may have had an ulterior motive.
Chief Cody formerly worked for the Kansas City Police Department. Facing a hostile work complaint and threat of demotion, he reportedly left the force and assumed a post at the MPD in April.
According to Eric Meyer, the Record was recently investigating Cody's background and time in Kansas City. The corresponding information was allegedly stored on computers targeted in the raid.
Meyer's last stand
Video has emerged showing Joan Meyer standing tall with the aid of her walker, dressing down police officers while they searched her residence.
"Don't you touch any of that stuff," says Meyer, as officers rifle through her belongings. "This is my house! ... You a**hole."
At one point, Meyer confronts an officer, asking him point-blank, "Did your mother love you? Did you ever love your mother?"
When asked how many computers were in the house, she responds, "I'm not gonna tell you."
Before she died, Joan Meyer claimed, "These are Hitler tactics, and something has to be done."
Her son, Eric Meyer, suggested police had either been "malicious or incompetent."
Search of 98-year-old newspaper co-owner Joan Meyer's house that contributed to her deathyoutu.be
Meyer's account of the raid is detailed in the coroner's report, which notes it was "extremely upsetting to Joan and caused her to remain angry and upset throughout the day and night," reported the Star.
The 98-year-old stayed up until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. the next morning before going to bed. When she finally awoke, around 2 p.m., she reported feeling dizzy and unwell.
Shortly thereafter, she stop talking mid-sentence, then stopped responding altogether, prompting her son to call 911 and perform CPR.
Joan Meyer was pronounced dead at 3 p.m. on Aug. 12. Her funeral was held on Saturday.
The Record indicated she had been "otherwise in good health for her age" but was "stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief," reported the Wrap.
Wrongful death and insufficient evidence
The search warrants were withdrawn on Aug. 16, just days after Meyer's passing.
Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey, whose brother owns the building housing Newell's restaurant, stated there had been "insufficient evidence" to establish a "legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized."
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has since taken over the case.
Rhodes, the attorney for the Record, told the Star, "We have stopped the hemorrhaging. ... But it does nothing about taking care of the damage that has already occurred from the violation of the First Amendment in the first place."
Whereas Rhodes contends the raid was illegal, Cody has defended sending his five officers to confiscate the journalists' belongings, reported the Star.
Rhodes has indicated, "We are exploring all options, including a wrongful death claim."
The Marion County Record is also planning to file a federal lawsuit against the city.
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