Democrat Howard Dean announces, 'If Musk takes over Twitter I will be off within a few hours'



Howard Dean announced on Monday that he would leave Twitter if Elon Musk takes the reins of the social media platform.

"Hi Twitterverse. Many thanks for the knowledge and sharing over the past ten years or so. If Musk takes over Twitter I will be off within a few hours. Might be just as well for my well being but I’ve learned a lot of valuable stuff from many of you.Thank you all. Howard," the tweet read.

Hi Twitterverse. Many thanks for the knowledge and sharing over the past ten years or so. If Musk takes over Twitter I will be off within a few hours. Might be just as well for my well being but I\u2019ve learned a lot of valuable stuff from many of you.Thank you all. Howard
— Howard Dean (@Howard Dean) 1650899322

Dean, a Democrat who served as the governor of Vermont for more than a decade, is a political figure largely remembered for a shout he let out in 2004 during a presidential bid. Dean later spent time serving as the chair of the Democratic National Committee.

2004: The scream that doomed Howard Dean www.youtube.com

"Bye Howard!! Will you please do that crazy scream that cost you the nomination back in 2004 when you go!!! THAT WAS RIDICULOUS!! IN FACT, THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER ABOUT YOU!!! Howard Dean=IRRELEVANT!! #BAHAHAHAHA," someone tweeted in response to Dean's post about leaving Twitter.

"Don’t let the TwitterVerse door hit you on the way out. Byeeeeeeeeee," Stephanie Hamill tweeted.

"User experience already improving!" Harmeet Dhillon tweeted.

"I didn’t know he was on it," Jonah Goldberg tweeted.

Twitter announced on Monday that the company "has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk, for $54.20 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $44 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, Twitter will become a privately held company."

Musk has indicated that he wants Twitter to serve as a platform where people can engage in free speech.

"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," Musk said, according to Twitter's press release.

"I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means," Musk tweeted.

But some people have been sounding the alarm about Musk's move to buy the social media giant. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who Musk called "Senator Karen" last year, warned that the "deal is dangerous for our democracy."

Shaun King claimed that Musk's desire to buy Twitter is "about white power."

Elon Musk has openly called himself a \u201cfree speech absolutist\u201d and said that he wants to create a space where anything can be said about anyone. \n\nThat\u2019s why white nationalists are giddy today. Here on Twitter and other platforms that I track daily.\n\nIt\u2019s dangerous.
— Shaun King (@Shaun King) 1650895581

Shaun King claims that Elon Musk's desire to buy Twitter is 'about white power'



While Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk has indicated that he thinks Twitter can serve as a platform that enables people around the world to engage in free speech, Shaun King has claimed that Musk's bid to buy Twitter is "about white power."

"At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right. It’s about white power. The man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist. He’s upset that Twitter won’t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That’s his definition of free speech," King tweeted.

At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right.\n\nIt\u2019s about white power.\n\nThe man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist.\n\nHe\u2019s upset that Twitter won\u2019t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That\u2019s his definition of free speech.
— Shaun King (@Shaun King) 1650891907

"Elon Musk has openly called himself a 'free speech absolutist' and said that he wants to create a space where anything can be said about anyone. That’s why white nationalists are giddy today. Here on Twitter and other platforms that I track daily. It’s dangerous," King added. "And listen, I don’t even like the Democratic Party. So for me, this isn’t about left vs right. Not at all. It’s about how the richest man in the world, a son of Apartheid, raised by a white nationalist, wants to be sure his speech, and that of other white men, isn’t censored."

Musk has previously said that he grew up in South Africa, but departed when he was 17-years-old, "in part, in order to avoid conscription" — he noted that "spending two years suppressing black people didn't seem" like a good utilization of time.

Tesla's Elon Musk meets Rainn Wilson in the Metaphysical van long before the Cybertruck was a thing youtu.be

Twitter has announced that it struck an agreement with Musk, who will acquire the social media company.

A Twitter press release noted that the company "has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk, for $54.20 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $44 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, Twitter will become a privately held company."

Some people have been critical of the platform for engaging in censorship, but it appears that Musk is poised to make free speech a priority for the big tech company.

"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," Musk said, according to the press release. "I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it."

Radio host Dean Obeidallah claims 'The GOP is a white supremacist, fascist movement that has rejected democracy and embraced both autocracy and violence'



Dean Obeidallah, who hosts an eponymous radio program on SiriusXM called "The Dean Obeidallah Show," is drawing a comparison between the GOP and Nazis.

"If you ever wondered what it felt like to live in 1930's Germany, you're getting a sense of it today. The GOP is a white supremacist, fascist movement that has rejected democracy and embraced both autocracy and violence. Today's GOP is how democracies die," Obeidallah tweeted.

"Reading Winston Churchill's book 'The Gathering Storm' about the rise of Nazi Germany. As he notes there were numerous times the world could've stopped the rise of the Nazis but instead simply hoped for the best. History is SCREAMING at us we can't hope for the best with this GOP," he wrote in another tweet.

Reading Winston Churchill's book "The Gathering Storm" about the rise of Nazi Germany. As he notes there were numerous times the world could've stopped the rise of the Nazis but instead simply hoped for the best. History is SCREAMING at us we can't hope for the best with this GOP
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1640181074

Obeidallah indicated that Republicans must be destroyed in order to save the country.

"Re-upping this because it triggered the fascists on the right. They think they can silence us. They have confused us for the old Democrats. We don't want common ground with these Republicans - we want to DESTROY Them to save our beloved Republic. Period," he wrote.

Re-upping this because it triggered the fascists on the right. They think they can silence us. They have confused us for the old Democrats. We don't want common ground with these Republicans - we want to DESTROY Them to save our beloved Republic. Period.https://twitter.com/DeanObeidallah/status/1473648339929513987\u00a0\u2026
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1640208660

Some on social media pushed back against Obeidallah's claims.

"These people have been saying this stuff since before I was born. Meanwhile, they're the ones constantly wanting to tear up or ignore the Constitution, abolish the Senate, pack the Court, & take one power after another from elected bodies & insulate them from popular account," tweeted National Review Online senior writer Dan McLaughlin.

These people have been saying this stuff since before I was born. Meanwhile, they're the ones constantly wanting to tear up or ignore the Constitution, abolish the Senate, pack the Court, & take one power after another from elected bodies & insulate them from popular account.https://twitter.com/DeanObeidallah/status/1473648339929513987\u00a0\u2026
— Dan McLaughlin (@Dan McLaughlin) 1640184000

"ROFL!! It amazes me that these people all think this. What party is all about taking peoples rights away and destroying the Constitution? Sure isn’t the GOP," another person tweeted.

ROFL!! It amazes me that these people all think this. What party is all about taking peoples rights away and destroying the Constitution? Sure isn\u2019t the GOP.https://twitter.com/deanobeidallah/status/1473648339929513987\u00a0\u2026
— Shaun Smith (@Shaun Smith) 1640199222

FBI arrests Black Lives Matter activist, accused of spending $200K in donations on tailored suits and property



An Atlanta-based Black Lives Matter activist faces federal charges of money laundering and wire fraud for allegedly using donation money for personal purchases such as tailored suits, guns, and a security system.

Sir Maejor Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, was arrested on Friday morning in Toledo, Ohio. Page, 32, was charged with one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Page allegedly operated a Facebook page called "Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta," a non-profit organization that accepted monetary donations under the guise of using the money to fight against racial injustice. Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta solicited donations on GoFundMe, where the organization was listed as a non-profit.

Page assured people that "none of the funds have been used for personal items," according to the FBI. "All movement related."

Authorities claim that a bank account named "Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, Inc." was opened in 2018, and Page was the only signatory on the account. Between April 2018 and May 2020, the bank account's balance never exceeded $5,000, but donations started pouring in following the death of George Floyd in late May. Officials say between June and August of this year, $467,342.18 in donations were transferred to the BLMGA bank account that Page controlled, as reported by WTOL-TV.

The FBI said Page used a debit card linked to the same bank account that was dedicated to Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta to make personal purchases. Page reportedly used the donation money to buy food, entertainment, tailored suits, furniture, guns, and a home security system.

Since early August, Page's Instagram and social media videos have featured an increased amount of new clothes, including posts about tailored suits, "nice cufflinks," and "$150 ties."

On Aug. 21, Page allegedly used the Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta bank account to purchase a residence and an adjacent vacant lot in Toledo for $112,000.

Records show that the home was purchased by an organization Hi Frequency, an organization for which Page was listed as the treasurer and general counsel. Page seemingly attempted to hide his ownership of the property by stating in the non-disclosure agreement that the transaction was to be entered "by and between Hi Frequency Ohio via Sir Maejor Page" and the seller's agent.

The home at which law enforcement is raiding in regards to Sir Maejor Page was purchased by the activist organizati… https://t.co/XoxGddEfpe
— Shaun Hegarty (@Shaun Hegarty)1601046324.0

Authorities said Page spent over $200,000 on personal items with money from donations made to his Black Lives Matter organization, but the FBI did not find any purchases or expenditures tied to social activism or racial injustice.

Page was released after posting $10,000 bond.

As part of his bond release, Page is not allowed to use Facebook. He is also barred from conducting any fundraising or obtaining any new bank accounts or lines of credit without prior approval of Pretrial Services.

GoFundMe said the company had removed fundraising accounts associated with Page and the Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta organization. Page has been banned from using the GoFundMe crowdfunding platform, and refunds are being offered to donors who request them.

"GoFundMe has taken action to ensure you can no longer start a GoFundMe for BLMGA. PayPal has also confirmed BLMGA has been removed from its database," the statement read. "Campaigns with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. Our team is working with law enforcement and assisting them in the investigation."

An IMDB listing shows "Sir Maejor" was an actor in FX's TV series "American Horror Story: Coven" as an "albino guard/henchman."

Shaun King gets torched by internet after allegedly using death of Chadwick Boseman to promote his book



Activist Shaun King triggered another wave of backlash against him on Saturday after he allegedly used the death of "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman to promote his new book.

What did King say?

In an email sent to supporters on Saturday, King wrote:

I hope you are hanging in there. Yesterday I sent an email checking in on everybody - and just a few hours later we learned of the death of Chadwick Boseman. Life is so very fragile. Tomorrow is not promised.

Over the past 6 years of the Black Lives Matter Movement I have traveled to 47 states - teaching organizing, learning, and leading. And for all 6 years, everywhere I go, people ask me, "Shaun, how do I actually use my life, my skills, my time, my energy to impact and change the world?"

My book, MAKE CHANGE, is a 272 page answer to that question.

King then directed supporters to book retailers where his book can be purchased.

Shaun King is using Chadwicks death to sell books, he claims don’t make him any money. I’m so tired of SK profiting… https://t.co/M9v5YD3PIk
— Fidelity to Facts, Science & Logic (@Fidelity to Facts, Science & Logic)1598720122.0

What was the response?

The blowback was so fierce that King's name trended on Twitter Saturday evening as tens of thousands of people condemned him for apparently leveraging the death of Boseman to promote his book.

  • "If this is the Civil Rights movement of our time, please continue to document who Shaun King actually is, a fraud," one person said.
  • "This makes me absolutely sick. What a horrible, horrible thing to do. And this part about 'being paid last year' — that's called an advance, and he got that AND will get more if more books are sold over a certain threshold. Which is what this ploy is. How disgusting. Pure filth," another person responded.
  • "Can...he just not grift for a whole 24 hours?Disgusting," another person said.
  • "There's a reason God didn't bless him with pigment, so you can see right through him," another person said.
  • "Shaun King is reaching levels of Grifting never thought possible. He is really going hard for the Grifter of the Year Award," another person responded.
  • "Do not give @shaunking your money, your time, or your respect," another person said.
  • "Hello folks, publisher here.When Shaun King says he doesn't 'make a dime' off of selling his books, and he was already paid for them 'a year ago?' If that statement is true, what it means is his book has yet to earn back his advance on royalties," one person explained.

In response, King said he did not regret sending the email, claiming he does not earn a profit from his book.

"I literally do not make a penny off of sales for my book. Nothing. Got paid a year ago to write it. I had a mass email pre-scheduled to go out this morning about my book. I updated the email to also mention the death of Chadwick. And I don't regret it. At all. There's that," he wrote on Twitter.

I literally do not make a penny off of sales for my book. Nothing. Got paid a year ago to write it.I had a mass… https://t.co/nGV0bBOvmN
— Shaun King (@Shaun King)1598730843.0

King has been routinely involved in controversy and has been regularly criticized for his lack of transparency with regard to fundraising.

From Newsweek:

King has been embroiled in controversy. Though he is well-known as an activist, journalist and was one of Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) surrogates in both the 2016 and 2020 campaign, he has been accused of raising money for causes without properly accounting for where the money went, according to The Daily Beast.

In September 2019, activist DeRay Mckesson wrote a piece for Medium accusing King of a "lack of transparency" during fundraising campaigns for the anti-police violence organization Justice Together in 2015 and a Black independent media site The North Star in 2018.

King, however, denies all allegations against him.

As riots devastate Kenosha, activist Shaun King says he will not call for peace: 'Mayhem is the consequence'



Since the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday evening, Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been overtaken by riots, fires, and destruction. It has become so bad that the state's governor had to call out the National Guard to help.

These are not the "peaceful protests" the media have told Americans to expect when it comes to Black Lives Matter events. These demonstrations are full-on mayhem and chaos.

Most Americans would hope that civil rights activists would be pushing for peace, for civility, for the preservation of citizens' rights and property. But if Shaun King is their activist of choice, they will disappointed.

King is not just refusing to call for peace — he appears to be advocating for the chaos.

What did he say?

The very night that Blake was shot in the back seven times by at least one police officer and unrest began to build, King took to Twitter to essentially fan the flames and push people to take down the police.

"Nah. I'm not going to call for peace," King began. "We've tried peace. For years."

"Y'all don't understand that language," he added.

Then he made clear his and his fellow radical activists' view to take apart the police, to pull down the "system."

"We are calling for a complete dismantling of American policing," he continued. "It's NOT broken. It was built to work this way."

And then things got ominous.

"And mayhem is the consequence," King wrote. "You earned it."

Nah. I’m not going to call for peace. We’ve tried peace. For years. Y’all don’t understand that language. W… https://t.co/IFw3ypzYEB
— Shaun King (@Shaun King)1598247012.0

He doubled down less than an hour later, saying the firing and arrest of the cop who shot Blake would not be enough — "not even close."

"The cop who repeatedly shot Jacob Blake in the back in front of his babies needs to be fired and arrested in the next 24 hours. PERIOD," King said. "But what I am telling you, is that we've crossed a point where that's not even close to being all we're calling for."

"Not at all," he added.

Yeah. The cop who repeatedly shot Jacob Blake in the back in front of his babies needs to be fired and arrested i… https://t.co/t3EjVSmkU5
— Shaun King (@Shaun King)1598248824.0

Then, on Monday morning, King reiterated his call to dismantle the police.

"Last night, here in Louisville, we were literally with the family of Breonna Taylor when we learned of the horrible shooting of Jacob Blake," King wrote. "The cycle of police violence in this country must be broken. A body camera won't do it. The whole system must be dismantled.

Last night, here in Louisville, we were literally with the family of Breonna Taylor when we learned of the horrible… https://t.co/q91TnTTwGR
— Shaun King (@Shaun King)1598276029.0

In case you missed it ...

Blaze Media reporter Elijah Schaffer ran in to a Kenosha rioter late Monday night who appeared to support the King view that the police must be taken down and that peace was no longer an option.

While Schaffer was filming the chaotic goings-on in Wisconsin, an unidentified black male pulled out a gun and pointed it at Schaffer and his camera "while explaining what we would do to cops if they rolled up on us right now," the Blaze reporter said.

HOLY SH*#: while interviewing this #BLM rioter in Kinosha he pulls out a real pistol and points it at my camera whi… https://t.co/ivJR35V7Us
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598326558.0

(H/T: Newsweek)