Blaze News investigates: What really happened with Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad?



Recently, a number of unsourced allegations from unnamed “sources familiar with the situation” claimed a pattern of “sexual misconduct” involving Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard. Since Blaze Media’s audience has donated to Operation Underground Railroad over the years and would want to know the truth regarding these allegations, Blaze News spoke with several women who have worked with Ballard.

These women, some of whom went on Operation Underground Railroad rescue missions and others who considered going on missions but never did, were willing to speak on the record to us about their experiences with Ballard and O.U.R. Broadly speaking, the women who spoke to Blaze News allege that Ballard manipulated them and/or attempted to coerce them into crossing important professional boundaries during their time at O.U.R.

Ballard and his wife, Katherine Ballard, also spoke with Blaze News and responded to many of the women's allegations. Their responses are included here, as are several statements that they have given to other outlets and/or posted to social media.

O.U.R. officially refused to respond on record regarding the specific allegations against Ballard, but Blaze News did speak with several sources familiar with O.U.R. operations who agreed to share some insights regarding O.U.R. undercover work.

The 'couples ruse'

"Sound of Freedom," the film starring Jim Caviezel about the horrors of child sex trafficking, became a smash hit at the box office this summer, raking in over $212 million worldwide and thus becoming one of the highest-earning independent films of all time.

Though a dramatization, the film depicts the real-life work of former Department of Homeland Security special agent Tim Ballard. About 10 years ago, Ballard founded Operation Underground Railroad, an organization designed to rescue victims of human trafficking. According to its website, the organization has had remarkable success, rescuing over 6,000 victims and apprehending more than 4,000 predators.

In an apparent attempt to provide better safety for mission operatives, in recent years, Ballard began implementing a mission tactic that he dubbed a "couples ruse." In a couples ruse, a woman pretending to be Ballard's wife or girlfriend would accompany him on rescue missions. Then when Ballard — himself posing as a sexual predator — found himself in a situation in which he was pressured to engage in sex with strippers, prostitutes, or even children, he could refuse on the grounds that he didn't want to upset his girlfriend. In other words, the fake girlfriend would "block" for Ballard, and he would "block" for her, should the need arise.

One source familiar with O.U.R. operations told Blaze News that such couples ruses are rare, while another stated that when involving benign gestures of affection such as hand-holding, they can be an effective means of protecting mission operatives.

Nevertheless, some women affiliated with O.U.R. rescue teams now claim that Ballard soon began abusing the couples ruse and eventually used the ruse as a tool for sexual grooming.

According to these women, Ballard, a married father of nine and professed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, initially implemented strict rules regarding the couples ruse: no kissing on the lips and no touching or exposing private parts. Then, they said, Ballard gradually relaxed those measures before eventually dispensing with them almost entirely.

For example, according to the women who spoke with Blaze News, while on rescue missions, Ballard would sometimes share a bed with a woman posing as his girlfriend or invite her to shower in his bathroom, even though accommodations at designated safe houses provided separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Ballard, for his part, categorically denied ever having been alone, even briefly, in one of these safe houses with a female operative. O.U.R. did not return a request for comment confirming this claim.

Ballard also reportedly sent to one of the victims a photo of himself covered in tattoos and wearing only underwear. That image then began circulating on social media.

TB has a habit of sending semi nude images to the women he has groomed for sex or sexual acts. There is no allegations it\u2019s all true that will slowly all come out. TB is desperate right now trying to debunk truths of his predatory nature that he\u2019s doing any interview possible.
— Tim Ballard Exposed (@Tim Ballard Exposed) 1695909759

During an appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show" on September 29, Ballard verified the photo but explained that it served a legitimate operational purpose. He claimed the photo was taken after he had fallen asleep while having the tattoos — which he says were henna tattoos — applied in preparation for a mission. He stated that the tattoo artist needed to take the picture so that she would have a frame of reference, should she need to reapply the tattoos at a later date.

It is unclear why tattoos in the groin region or on an upper thigh would have been necessary for rescue missions, since they were unlikely to be seen, and a source familiar with O.U.R. operations denied that having henna tattoos applied was a normal component of O.U.R. undercover work.

'Traffickers can smell the pheromones!' Establishing 'chemistry' for the couples ruse

According to the women who spoke with Blaze News, before they ever went undercover together, Ballard first wanted to ensure that he and his female counterparts in the couples ruse had physical "chemistry" that would be obvious to those they would meet during an operation. "Traffickers can smell the pheromones!" he would allegedly say, impressing upon the women that their couples ruse had to be believable, or otherwise the mission and their very lives might be at risk.

"There has to be real chemistry," he would insist, per one woman. "[Traffickers] have to really believe you are in love with this person, and he wants you to get to that point before you're ever on the op so that when you're on the op and you're with the traffickers and you're in these brothels and these strip clubs, in these places where you're trying to get intelligence ... you're not breaking your cover at all."

To that end, several women told Blaze News that Ballard encouraged them to participate in tantric massages before and while on a couples ruse. A tantric massage is an erotic massage that often involves participants lying naked or nearly naked together. For men, a tantric massage is called "lingam," a Sanskrit word for penis that some tantric massage enthusiasts have translated to mean "shaft of light" or "wand of light."

In a screenshot of a text message — apparently sent from a burner phone with Ballard's known code name, as confirmed by multiple sources, and a number that once belonged to Ballard, as confirmed by one source familiar with O.U.R. operations — Ballard appears to have discussed tantric massages with at least one of the accusers, telling her, "It's NOT about learning some strange kinky moves. That's not it at all. I don't have any to teach anyway.

"It's just about making it real and tapping into tantric /light," his text continued, according to the screenshot seen by Blaze News.

"I think u will be surprised how FAST we connect," he added in a follow-up text.

When Blaze News asked Ballard about tantric massages, he initially appeared confused and claimed he was "not at all" familiar with the term. He then seemed to understand and likened tantric trainings to yoga or a breathing exercise and claimed he used the words "tantric," "reiki," "goddess," or "energy" interchangeably to describe such trainings. He insisted that participants always wore clothes during these tantric trainings, that others were always present, and that "zero massage" was involved with them.

He also suggested that "tantric" could be used to refer to the exotic, "ritual kind of places" that trainees would occasionally visit for more in-depth role-playing. The goal, he said, was to see how operatives perform in environments that more closely resemble those they will see on a mission.

A source familiar with O.U.R. operations denied that undercover training or in-field work involved tantric or any other kind of massage.

'You don't want the first time to be in a cartel setting': 'Practicing' the couples ruse

According to the women who spoke to Blaze News, Ballard was so concerned about the believability of the couples ruse that he frequently asked women to "practice" their couples ruse long before a mission ever took place.

One woman claimed that Ballard came to consider the couples ruse "a perishable skill" that required regular honing. To that end, Ballard flew women across the country, where they would "practice" their chemistry through tantric massages and other trainings, according to multiple women.

When asked about practicing couples ruses, Ballard told Blaze News that during O.U.R. trainings, "People pair up and pretend to be in a couple's situation. ... You don't want the first time [that they're together] to be in a cartel setting. So you have to practice to make sure this person knows what they're doing." He also insisted that such practices were always conducted "in groups" and that he would not have been alone with a female operative during such practice sessions.

A source familiar with O.U.R. operations told Blaze News that Ballard was the only operative who ever "practiced" with women or sent explicit text messages to them in connection with a couples ruse.

O.U.R. did not return a request for comment seeking clarification of these issues.

'With the exception of actual penetration': Allegedly engaging in sex to help victims of sex trafficking

Through these couples ruses, both in the office and in the field, Ballard eventually engaged in sexual contact with some women and propositioned others, the women told Blaze News. "As far as physical [touching], he made it pretty clear that really the only thing that was not going to be considered, if need be, during an op was kissing on the lips," one woman said. "Everything else was pretty much a go and, honestly, more than just a go; it's something that I should anticipate and be prepared to make happen for the sake of the act."

Another woman claimed that, while on a mission, she and Ballard participated in several "sexual acts with the exception of actual penetration." She also stated that their sexual contact ended at the end of the mission.

Other women mentioned engaging in sexual acts and being in various states of undress with Ballard while on a mission, sometimes even while at their private accommodations when no one else was around. According to the women, Ballard would argue that they had to maintain the appearance of a romantic relationship at all times during a mission because suspicious traffickers might be surveilling them at any moment.

Ballard denied that he engaged in any physical contact beyond "hand-holding, arms around shoulders, stuff like that." He also alleged that some female operatives wanted to kiss him during a mission to put on a more convincing performance, but he always refused. "There's no reason to do it. It's not appropriate," he claimed he would tell them.

A source familiar with O.U.R. operations denied that O.U.R. would ever have approved of any sexual contact between couples ruse partners.

'U never did Brazilian before ??' Ballard allegedly makes an intimate request

Apparently to make a couples ruse as convincing as possible, Ballard allegedly requested all women to first have a Brazilian wax, which would remove all pubic hair from their private areas, before they went on an operation. According to a text message viewed by Blaze News that was sent by a phone allegedly operated by Ballard, Ballard explained that "pretty much 100 percent of sex tourists" have Brazilian waxes done.

When the alleged victim told Ballard she'd never had a Brazilian wax before, he expressed surprise. "Wow! U never did Brazilian before ??" he wrote, according to a screenshot seen by Blaze News. "For the record ....i didn't tell u to," he quickly added with a winking emoji.

Perhaps most disturbing about the alleged Brazilian wax request is that it seems entirely unnecessary for a mission to rescue trafficked children. The women who accompanied Ballard were ostensibly brought along to play a part in a couples ruse, nothing more. Since Ballard wanted a fake girlfriend to "block" unwanted sexual advances from others and his own couples ruse rules forbade exposing private parts, it's unclear why the women would need to have a Brazilian wax to fit in with other "sex tourists" or how he would have known if they had declined to get one.

Ballard categorically denied to Blaze News that he ever asked a female operative to get a Brazilian wax, and a source familiar with O.U.R. operations also told Blaze News that female operatives would never have been required or recommended to get one as part of O.U.R. protocol.

An 'extensive and very manipulative ... plan': The apparent ruse of the couples ruse

To those in the outside world, it might seem obvious that engaging in sexual contact for the sake of helping trafficked children is wildly inappropriate. But the women who spoke with Blaze News indicated that Ballard gradually implemented an "extensive and very manipulative ... plan" to convince them to participate in things they otherwise would never have considered doing.

One of the main tactics Ballard used, they claimed, was to lean on their desire to help victims. "Is there anything you wouldn't do to save a child?" he would allegedly ask.

According to one woman's summary, in preparation for a possible mission, Ballard said something to the effect of: "This is going to be a really seedy place. What if this happens? Would you be willing to do this? Well, well, what if I need this? Would you be comfortable doing that?

"And then it's all about testing those limits," she added.

The women also claimed that Ballard would then bad-mouth unnamed women who had allegedly gone on couples ruses in the past, slamming them as "crazy" and claiming that they had fallen in love with him along the way. Such stories, perhaps apocryphal, seemingly motivated the women to prove their mettle and their devotion to the cause by trying to outdo their supposed predecessors on the couples ruse.

When they found themselves questioning the legitimacy of tactics involving sexual contact, they often doubted their own instincts, relying on Ballard's breadth of knowledge about rescue missions to convince themselves that such tactics were normal. "Just remember that Tim's the expert in your learning," one woman recalled telling herself. "Just don't question him. Just do it, as he's right and you're wrong."

She also claimed that sometimes an associate of Ballard — whose identity is unclear but whose role appears to have included booking flights for those going on O.U.R. missions — would remind her about Ballard's superior field experience. "Don't assume you know better than Tim," he'd say, she claimed. "He hates it when these women he brings undercover start thinking they're smarter than him. He's been doing this for 20 years. He knows so much more than you know."

Ballard even allegedly told some of them that engaging in sex play with him might improve their marriages, even as he also allegedly told them not to tell their husbands about what they were doing. "You can take that sexual charge ... home," one accuser claimed he told her.

Another woman claimed that Ballard repeatedly warned her that, should she fail in her couples ruse mission, she would have wasted the hard-earned money that honest donors had entrusted to O.U.R. She said that he also told her that a poor performance from a fake girlfriend had ruined a mission in the past. "I was feeling like ... I have to prove to him that I won't misuse donors' dollars," she explained to Blaze News.

Another common theme from the women who spoke with Blaze News is that Ballard would use spiritual manipulation to coerce them into sex. Most, if not all, of the women who spoke with Blaze News have had some affiliation with the LDS church at some point in their lives, and in many cases, he would cite for them a passage from the Book of Mormon in which a man kills another man at the promptings of the Holy Spirit. According to multiple women, the purpose of this reference was to demonstrate that sometimes the Holy Spirit asks people to perform "unconventional" tasks, presumably such as engaging in extramarital sexual contact during couples ruses.

Ballard told Blaze News that he had "no recollection" of citing "anything like that." He and his wife, Katherine, both stated that they regularly quote scripture — especially Jesus' dire warning in the Gospel of Matthew that "if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" — to support their work of saving children.

"It's our testimony about why we're doing what we do," Katherine Ballard told Blaze News.

'Mutual Assured Destruction': Alleged demands for silence

Despite the importance that obvious physical chemistry supposedly carried in a couples ruse, Ballard, whom some described as "a bully," would also insist that the women stay silent about their alleged sexual encounters with him. In addition to keeping the information from their husbands or boyfriends, Ballard reportedly instructed them not to tell their direct supervisors or other leaders at O.U.R., some of whom are Ballard's relatives.

"Nobody would ever understand [why] we did those things," he would allegedly say, one woman said.

Then, after women had engaged in sexual activity with him, Ballard used their encounters to his advantage, holding those encounters over their heads to pressure them even more forcefully into silence, the women claimed. "We will have so much s*** on each other....we will be deterred into silence on all things forever," he allegedly wrote in a text, according to a screenshot seen by Blaze News. "Mutual Assured Destruction."

Many women also claimed that Ballard frequently demanded that they erase the digital traces of his conversations with them, including — and perhaps especially — explicit conversations. "He had me delete everything," one woman explained to Blaze News. "... He would call at night to say, 'Hey, you scrubbed your phone, right?'"

"He had me delete so much," she later added.

Other women made similar statements. Because of Ballard's insistence that the women regularly wipe their messages, they had scant physical evidence to share to support their allegations, they indicated to Blaze News.

Ballard told Blaze News that "protocol, at the end of an operation, is to clear the texts."

"Once the operation is over," he added, "every operator knows ... you kill the communication or any of the content that's not material to the prosecution. Because that's the smart thing to do."

In his conversation with Blaze News, Ballard repeatedly lamented that he had to discuss operational protocols such as wiping phones to defend himself. He feared that doing so would likely compromise future operations.

A source familiar with O.U.R. operations indicated that in some circumstances, operatives may have been encouraged to delete their texts after an operation.

'It's enough to physically make me feel sick': The fear of public 'backlash'

The women who spoke with Blaze News said they eventually began experiencing debilitating emotional and psychological side effects as a result of what they had allegedly done with Ballard, what they allegedly had been coerced into doing, and/or what had allegedly been done to them. Some mentioned suffering recurring nightmares, panic attacks, or bouts of depression. Others admitted having difficulty trusting others and entering therapy. One woman partially attributes the collapse of her marriage to her time with Ballard.

Despite these sometimes severe aftereffects, some of the women still hesitated to report Ballard's alleged behavior to those at O.U.R. or to others in their communities for fear of retribution. "He has threatened to destroy our lives if we speak out," one woman said.

"I have 1,000 bricks, and you only have one," Ballard allegedly warned another after she confronted him about his alleged behavior, she told Blaze News.

But their fear is not limited to Ballard or to his supposed allies at O.U.R. Many women also expressed to Blaze News a deep concern about the potential fallout of these accusations from the media and the public at large.

"The paranoia of what could happen, the backlash of all of this — I mean, it's enough to physically make me feel sick a lot of the time because I don't want all that. I don't want all that negative attention," one woman admitted.

Their concerns are hardly without merit. Now, in fall 2023, a full six years after the start of the #MeToo movement, many in the U.S. have grown weary of accusations — especially false accusations, such as those leveled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh — being used in an attempt to tarnish the character and ruin the career of an influential person. Even recent allegations made against actor and podcaster Russell Brand have met with strong, visceral opposition, as many have begun to see such accusations as little more than a leftist tactic to prevent someone from speaking truth to power.

The women who spoke to Blaze News are very aware of the current cultural climate regarding accusations of sexual misconduct. They also know that some people will likely dismiss their allegations as just another attempted political hit job, now that Ballard has teased a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Mitt Romney. Romney has stated that he will not seek re-election.

The women further know that many Americans hold Tim Ballard in high esteem, especially after watching "Sound of Freedom." They know because they once held him in high esteem as well and seem to feel betrayed by his alleged conduct behind closed doors.

For these reasons and perhaps others, the women claimed that they had always intended to keep the investigation into Ballard within the confines of O.U.R. "We loved O.U.R. to the point that we were willing and devoted to it. ... So there was no reason ... to go public," one woman explained. She also added that she and other accusers complied with a request for an internal investigation, presumably from O.U.R. officials. "We did that. It was quiet," she said.

'Baseless inventions designed to destroy me': Ballard goes public

In his conversation with Blaze News on Monday, Ballard indicated that he had only a general idea of what he had been accused of doing. Nevertheless, he had already begun publicly responding to some of those general allegations.

On September 18, he issued a statement through the SPEAR Fund, where he is now a senior adviser. Ballard's full statement is as follows:

As with all of the assaults on my character and integrity over many years, the latest tabloid-driven sexual allegations are false. They are baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children.
During my time at O.U.R., I designed strict guidelines for myself and our operators in the field. Sexual contact was prohibited, and I led by example. Given our meticulous attention to this issue, any suggestion of inappropriate sexual contact is categorically false.

The following week, Ballard posted to his Instagram page two videos addressing the allegations. In the first video, which appears to have been spliced or to have experienced technical difficulties, Ballard repeatedly lavishes praise and "homage" on the women who have helped him pull off the couples ruse. "Hundreds, maybe thousands of children have been rescued using this amazing tactic," he claims.



The second video features a woman whose face has been obscured but who identifies herself as Nataliya. Nataliya claims to have performed multiple couples ruses with Ballard and avers that his conduct was always aboveboard. "There was, again, absolutely ZERO sexual contact, touching, anything inappropriate of that nature ... from start to finish," she emphasizes.


Last week, Ballard also shared with Adam Carolla what he believed was the origin of the allegation that he showered with his couples ruse partners. He told Carolla that on one particular mission in the Dominican Republic — which he claimed saved 27 children who had been locked up in a chicken coop — he ended up showering with a female operator after a mud-based couple's massage. However, he insisted that both participants were wearing bathing suits and that their innocent actions while in the shower — "We don't even touch each other!" he told Carolla — were concealed from others in the massage room by a towel.

Once he and the woman shared that "awkward" anecdote with others, the rumor mill distorted the story to imply that he took showers with his couples ruse partners, he said.

Ballard's wife, Katherine, appeared with her husband for part of the interview with Carolla, and she told Carolla that her husband is doing what he needs to do to rescue children. "And I KNOW," she added with emphasis, "that he has done it in a way of complete faithfulness to me."

Katherine also made a solo appearance on a recent episode of "The Rod Arquette Show" podcast. On it, she assured host Rod Arquette that she was "very aware of the couples ruse" and its purpose for a rescue mission. She claimed that her husband and his ruse partners "never did [a couples ruse] without training first," though she did not elaborate on what kind of training was involved.

She also alleged that "there were a couple times when Tim was propositioned during a training, like, 'Hey, here's my hotel card.'" In those instances, her husband had the women dismissed from the team, Katherine said.

Katherine then reiterated to Blaze News that she still believes in her husband's fidelity. "The couples ruse was created to protect his relationship with me," she said. "... It was a way to stay virtuous."

'We also feel a responsibility to speak out': The accusers offer a public statement

Several accusers, including at least some who spoke with Blaze News, have since hired attorney Suzette Rasmussen to represent them. On Thursday morning, Rasmussen stood at the steps of the Utah Capitol to read a statement on behalf of her clients, who have chosen to remain anonymous at this time.

Here is the full statement:

We are choosing to give a public statement about our experiences with Tim Ballard. Earlier this year, complaints were filed that opened the door for an internal investigation. We now stand together to affirm the truth behind these allegations.

Our involvement with Operation Underground Railroad was rooted in our commitment to fighting against human trafficking. But while engaging in that noble cause, we were subjected to sexual harassment, spiritual manipulation, grooming, and sexual misconduct.

Though we value our privacy as we work to rebuild our lives, we also feel a responsibility to speak out and state unequivocally that these allegations are true.

We acknowledge the risks involved in challenging someone as prominent as Tim Ballard. We will reveal our stories in our own time and in our own way and on our own terms. But for now, we choose to remain anonymous.

We wish to express our gratitude for the outpouring of support from those who have responded and commented to the media and social media posts.

We also want to extend our support and solidarity to all survivors of harassment and abuse of any kind. We believe you, and we are standing by your side as you embark on your own healing journey.

The women also gave Blaze News another statement via Rasmussen regarding their allegations against Ballard:

We had no intention of going after Tim legally until he chose to publicly deny any wrongdoing. He has threatened us, attacked us, and continues to lie and cause further trauma. When we finally started to reach out to one another after being isolated and told to distrust one another, we discovered the extent of Tim’s lies and realized how much he has manipulated, used, and profited off of us and so many others. We cannot stand by and allow him to do this anymore.

On Monday, Rasmussen announced that she is preparing a lawsuit in connection with the allegations, which she claimed had been known to O.U.R. officials "for several months."

'Does not represent O.U.R.’s values': Ballard's former organizations and associates respond to the allegations

For many in Blaze Media's audience, this story may feel almost personal. After all, BlazeTV host and founder Glenn Beck has had a relationship with Ballard that goes back years.

Many of Beck's listeners have also donated generously to Operation Underground Railroad in the past, as it was once affiliated with other nonprofits promoted by Beck. According to Beck, his audience has raised over $100 million for various charities, including O.U.R., in just 10 years.

After Rasmussen read the public statement on behalf of some of Ballard's accusers — all of whom were "former employees and contractors who worked closely with Operation Underground Railroad"; Blaze News was able to independently verify the O.U.R. employment of two women — O.U.R. issued another public statement that did not directly respond to a number of questions asked by Blaze News:

Operation Underground Railroad received an allegation of behavior that violated company policy by then CEO Tim Ballard. The organization immediately placed Mr. Ballard on administrative leave and launched an independent, external investigation of the allegation. At the conclusion of the investigation, as previously stated by O.U.R., Mr. Ballard resigned.

Mr. Ballard’s alleged misconduct does not represent O.U.R.’s values or others within the organization. We expect all employees to follow appropriate protocols and to conduct themselves in the performance of their duties consistent with such values. To protect our operators and other law enforcement partners in the field, we will not comment further publicly about our operating procedures.

O.U.R. is dedicated to combatting sexual abuse and stands with anyone who has been victimized. O.U.R. is sensitive to the privacy concerns of any individuals affected by this and is committed to upholding our duty to protect their anonymity.

O.U.R.’s mission does not change, and we are committed to continuing our domestic and international efforts, in collaboration with law enforcement, to rescue any and all from the scourge of human trafficking.

Per O.U.R., Ballard left the organization "permanently" in late June, just a couple of weeks before "Sound of Freedom" was released in time for the July 4 holiday, and the women suggested to Blaze News that removing Ballard from O.U.R. while still preserving its reputation had always been their ultimate "goal."

"I thought we had won," one woman said. "The goal was accomplished, which was to remove the cancer from the organization and still allow it to continue even stronger than ever. That was the goal."

Ballard disputed that he left on account of the investigation, telling Blaze News that he always intended to leave O.U.R. by May 11, 2023, to avoid the appearance of "a conflict of interest" with the film. He also claimed that he began announcing his intention to leave O.U.R. last October and voluntarily resigned in the first week of May.

A source familiar with O.U.R. denied that Ballard ever made such announcements or that Ballard left the organization in early May. The source confidently stated that Ballard left as a result of the internal investigation regarding alleged sexual harassment.

When asked for comment by Blaze News regarding the allegations against Ballard, Glenn Beck provided the following statement:

I find the allegations against Tim Ballard deeply troubling. I can only hope that truth prevails, justice is served, and all involved will use the free gift of Christ and repent, turn to him, correct their errors, and let the atonement of Jesus Christ work miracles in their lives. It is the only thing that can repair brokenness. My intentions, and those of the thousands in my audience who have generously contributed to O.U.R., were to help save God’s children from the scourge of human trafficking. May the Lord heal this mess so that this important work can continue.

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IMF working on global platform and single ledger for all cash-killing national digital currencies



The International Monetary Fund is working on a platform to ensure interoperability between cash-killing central bank digital currencies.

Under the proposed common regulatory framework, central banks would control their respective CBDCs but adopt a single global ledger and adhere to international standards, thereby ensuring their digital currencies are not regionally fenced in, reported Reuters.

"CBDCs should not be fragmented national propositions," IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva told a conference attended Monday by various African banks in Morocco. "To have more efficient and fairer transactions we need systems that connect countries: We need interoperability. ... For this reason at the IMF, we are working on the concept of a global CBDC platform."

To avoid generating a vacuum that could be allegedly exploited by decentralized cryptocurrencies, Georgieva suggested it is prudent for the 114 central banks presently exploring the possibility of implementing CBDCs, including the "10 already crossing the finish line," to reflect on the possible advantages of going beyond their domestic employment. A failure to do so, she suggested, would otherwise mean the under-utilization of noncompliant nations' CBDCs and their transformation into "settlement blocks."

Georgieva stressed, "We will pursue relentlessly together" the development of CBDCs.

\u201c"At the IMF we are working hard on the concept of a global CBDC platform": IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva https://t.co/Py7JLMovuc\u201d
— Tim Hinchliffe (@Tim Hinchliffe) 1687184000
IMF officials at the conference in Morocco further claimed that globalized CBDCs would promote financial inclusion and make remittances cheaper, particularly when money transfers presently cost 6.3% or $44 billion annually.

Cointelegraph reported that the IMF's director of the monetary and capital markets department, Tobias Adrian, indicated the "cross-border
payments and contracting platform" would enable central banks to better intervene in foreign exchange markets, collect data on capital flows, and resolve disputes.

Adrian suggested in a corresponding June 19 IMF report that interoperability will depend upon the adoption of a shared international ledger where digital representations of central bank reserves in all currencies could be exchanged, adding that "the CBDC platform should not bar the private sector from operating its own ledgers offering settlement and programming functionalities."

The Biden White House released a report on an American CBDC in September, noting that among the policy objectives for a possible U.S. CBDC would be interoperability and transferability with the global financial system.

"The CBDC system should be appropriately interoperable. The CBDC system should, where appropriate and consistent with other policy priorities, facilitate transactions with other currencies and systems, such as physical cash, commercial bank deposits, CBDCs issued by other monetary authorities, and the global financial system," said the report. "The CBDC system should be designed to avoid risks of harm to the international monetary system and financial system."

The White House suggested that if the U.S. pursued a CBDC, "there could be many possible benefits, such as facilitating efficient and low-cost transactions, fostering greater access to the financial system, boosting economic growth, and supporting the continued centrality of the U.S. within the international financial system."

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is one of the more outspoken critics of an American CBDC.

TheBlaze previously reported that Cruz, who has argued the "federal government has no authority to unilaterally establish a central bank currency," has introduced legislation, (S.887), co-sponsored by Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), that would prevent the Federal Reserve from following the lead of totalitarian regimes like China in establishing a central bank digital currency. The bill notes that a CBDC would be used as a "financial surveillance tool by the federal government."

Some critics of the IMF's proposed platform reckon localized abuses would be globalized.

British entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate Layah Heilpern claimed that under the proposed framework, "if you say the wrong thing in one country, you'll have nowhere to flee as they can switch your money off anywhere in the world in any jurisdiction," adding that this effort evidences a fear of losing financial control amid the emergence of decentralized cryptocurrencies.

The CATO Institute published a study in February that identified a number of faults with a CBDC, emphasizing that it would "most likely be the single largest assault to financial privacy since the creation of the Bank Secrecy Act and the establishment of the third-party doctrine."

The study indicated that a CBDC will make the process by which governments freeze someone's financial resources — as Canadian banks did in concert with the Trudeau government in its crackdown efforts on peaceful protesters in 2022 — easier and faster, having established "a direct line between citizens and the government itself."

A single global ledger may, to Heilpern's point, make extend the reach of various regimes.

Carol Roth, author of "You Will Own Nothing," noted earlier this year in TheBlaze, "Whether it is the Fed, the IMF, or otherwise, whoever controls the money controls your access to opportunities, your ability to access goods and services, and ultimately your life."

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'No higher compliment than being attacked by Obama': Tim Scott responds to Obama saying Republicans aren't serious about addressing racism



Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott responded to a string of criticisms from former President Barack Obama, telling host Shannon Bream, "There's no higher compliment than being attacked by President Obama," on Fox News Sunday.

After Scott appeared on talk show "The View" to combat the hosts' assertion that Scott doesn't really know what it is like to be a struggling black man in America, Obama indirectly took shots at the candidate regarding his views on race relations in the country.

“And so if a Republican, who may even be sincere in saying ‘I want us all to live together,’ doesn’t have a plan for how do we address crippling generational poverty that is a consequence of hundreds of years of racism in this society, and we need to do something about that. If that candidate is not willing to acknowledge that, again and again, we’ve seen discrimination in everything from … getting a job to buying a house to how the criminal justice system operates,” Obama said on the "The Axe Files," a CNN podcast with his former White House senior adviser David Axelrod.

“If somebody’s not proposing, both acknowledging and proposing, elements that say, ‘No, we can’t just ignore all that and pretend as if everything’s equal and fair. We actually have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.’ If they’re not doing that, then I think people are rightly skeptical,” Obama added, according to The Hill.

Scott, who is currently polling around 3% among Republican candidates for the 2024 election, told Fox News that Obama is usually paraded out to disparage Republicans who are resonating with voters.

"Whenever the Democrats feel threatened, they drag out the former president and have him make some negative comments about someone running, hoping their numbers go down," Scott said. "Here is what people need to know. The truth of my life disproves the lies of the radical left," he added before reciting Republicans' contributions to historically black colleges and universities since 2016.

\u201cThere is no higher compliment than being attacked by President Obama.\n\nThe Left is threatened by my candidacy. \n\nWhy? Because the truth of my life disproves their lies.\u201d
— Tim Scott (@Tim Scott) 1687100811

The senator also addressed the remarks in a radio interview with BlazeTV host Mark Levin on "The Mark Levin Show" and said that Obama failed at bringing the country together.

“[Obama] missed a softball moving at slow speed with a big bat. … You can’t miss this opportunity,” he said. "America was hungry for bringing our country together, this coalition-building, where you can see black kids and white kids and red ones and brown ones, as MLK spoke about, joining hands and singing with new meaning, ‘My country 'tis of thee,'" he continued.

President Obama however, said that he didn't think that any Republicans have been serious about addressing racism.

“There may come a time where there’s somebody in the Republican Party that is more serious about actually addressing some of the deep inequality that still exists in our society that tracks race and is a consequence of our racial history. And if that happens, I think that would be fantastic. I haven’t yet seen it."


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Yuengling reportedly sponsoring venue that hosts drag queen shows at site dedicated to 'family events'



Beer brand Yuengling sponsors a venue that hosts drag queen shows for seemingly all ages, according to the website for tickets to the event.

Yuengling is reportedly a sponsor of the Musikfest Cafe, which hosts the "Draggin' with the Divas" drag queen show held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The description of the event to be held on June 30 reads: "Draggin’ with the Divas is a drag show featuring music performed by some of our favorite Queens covering Queens. Hosted by Elektra Fearce St. James."

On June 13, the Musikfest Twitter account promoted the event on Twitter, but has since deleted the tweet.

The deleted tweet read: "Need your drag fix before our iconic Musikfest Drag Show? Well, the queens return to Musikfest Cafe pres. by Yuengling on June 30th! Close out Pride Month with a FIERCE show."

The Musikfest Facebook page also promoted the event, but did not mention that Yuengling sponsored the venue hosting the Musikfest Drag Show.

Political and cultural commentator Tim Pool shared a screencap of the venue's policies that allow babies to enter events.

\u201cA drag show that allows babies?\u201d
— Tim Pool (@Tim Pool) 1686798035

The website does not mention any age restrictions for purchasing tickets to the drag queen show and mentions that babies are permitted entry to events.

The tickets were sold by ArtsQuest, a self-described "nonprofit organization providing access to art, culture and educational programs for the diverse residents of the Lehigh Valley and others who seek access to our community."

The ArtsQuest official ticket policy states:

All persons entering a venue, including babies in arms, must have a ticket. Each ticket will allow one admittance. If a ticket holder leaves the venue, for any reason, re-admittance will not be allowed. Attendance of children under 2 years of age may not be recommended for some performances.

The ArtsQuest "event rules" page does not mention any age restrictions for attending its events.

The Musikfest Cafe is located in the SteelStacks, said to be "a 10-acre campus dedicated to arts, culture, family events, community celebrations, education and fun."

The Musikfest website also promotes drag queen shows on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10. The website notes that the "Musikfest Drag Show" will be held at the "PNC Series at the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling."

In June 2022, Musikfest Cafe hosted the "Draggin' with Divas" event. Musikfest Cafe teased the event by sharing a video of the drag queen Elektra Fearce St. James dancing provocatively.

The video is captioned: "Here's a little taste of what you can expect from Elektra Fearce St. James when she takes the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling stage on June 3rd in Draggin' With The Divas!"

There are no recent social media posts by Yuengling promoting any of the drag queen shows.

Last October, Musikfest hosted a "Dragtoberfest" that was allegedly presented by Jack Daniels.

The post made by the Musikfest Facebook read: "The queens are taking the stage tomorrow night, 10/1, in Dragtoberfest presented by Jack Daniels at Oktoberfest presented Lehigh Valley International Airport."

The SteelStacks website listed the drag queen performers and noted that Jack Daniels was a partner.

TheBlaze contacted Yuengling and ArtsQuest, but did not immediately receive a response to requests for comment.

In April, Yuengling appeared to take a jab at Anheuser-Busch as it was attempting to deal with the Bud Light controversy regarding the partnership with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.

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Video: 'Hamilton' actress maligns Ron DeSantis as Ku Klux Klan grand wizard during Tony Awards to giddy applause



Broadway actress Denée Benton besmirched Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a Ku Klux Klan grand wizard during Sunday night's 2023 Tony Awards. The insult garnered giddy applause from the audience celebrating their fellow Broadway thespians.

The 76th Annual Tony Awards, also known as the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, were held on Sunday at the United Palace theater in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

Benton was presenting the 2023 Excellence in Theater Education award to Jason Zembuch Young of South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida.

"Hi. I'm Denée Benton, actor, and proud [Carnegie Mellon University] alum. Earlier tonight, CMU and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theater Education Award, and while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard – I'm sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida..."

The "Hamilton" actress was interrupted by a resounding applause from the audience, which was jubilantly celebrating that the Republican presidential hopeful was disparagingly labeled as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

Benton continued by urging DeSantis to change the name of Plantation, "I am sure that he will be changing the name of this following town immediately, but we were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, [for] enhancing the lives of students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida."

Benton did not specify how DeSantis is like a leader of the white supremacist organization that is notorious for carrying out terrorism and acts of violence against blacks, immigrants, Jews, and other minority groups.

The town of Plantation was incorporated as a city on April 23, 1953, far after the days of the Antebellum South, with slavery and plantations.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel explains the origins of the town of Plantation:

If it hadn’t been for a sick 2-year-old boy who loved grapes and pumpkins, this town — and perhaps all of Broward County west of State Road 7 — might still be swampland. According to his 1972 biography, Plantation’s founder, Frederick C. Peters, came to South Florida from St. Louis because a doctor told him his second son, Lewis, would probably get healthier in a warmer climate. A corpulent, deeply religious family man who was one of the heirs to a vast shoemaking empire, Peters bought 10,000 acres of swampland west of Fort Lauderdale for $25 an acre in 1941.

The outlet provides suggestions on how the town got its name:

There are a few theories about how Plantation got its name. According to one account, in the early 1900s, two Miami farmers made plans to grow small rice plantations. The plan failed miserably, but the label it gave to the area — “the plantation” — stuck. Another premise is that the original developers of the area advertised that every home would sit on a single acre, informally called small plantations.

The town of Plantation has no direct historical link to slavery.

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\u201cOn the Tony Awards on CBS, actress Denee Benton announces award for outstanding HS theatre teacher. She wisecracked "I am certain the current Grand Wizard -- I'm sorry...governor of my home state of Florida" (wild screams, applause) will rename the town Plantation, Florida.\u201d
— Tim Graham (@Tim Graham) 1686535158

DeSantis will reportedly announce presidential bid during Wednesday Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is slated to announce a presidential bid during a Wednesday evening Twitter Spaces with billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk, according to reports.

"BREAKING: @FoxNews confirms Florida Governor @RonDeSantis will announce his 2024 Presidential run tomorrow night, 6pm ET in a Twitter Spaces interview with @elonmusk," Bill Melugin of Fox News tweeted.

Musk retweeted Melugin's post.

\u201cBREAKING: @FoxNews confirms Florida Governor @RonDeSantis will announce his 2024 Presidential run tomorrow night, 6pm ET in a Twitter Spaces interview with @elonmusk.\u201d
— Bill Melugin (@Bill Melugin) 1684865237

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis tweeted a Fox News article that reported her husband will announce his candidacy Wednesday during a talk with Musk on the social media platform. When sharing the article she wrote, "Big if true..." along with a smiling emoji.

\u201cBig if true... \ud83d\ude42\n\nhttps://t.co/Jrm528DPpA\u201d
— Casey DeSantis (@Casey DeSantis) 1684867814

The Twitter Spaces event will reportedly be moderated by David Sacks.

While speaking remotely for the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit, Musk noted that he is not planning to endorse a specific candidate, according to the Journal. CNN reported that Musk said that he does not plan to endorse someone "at this time."

But when asked last year whether he would support DeSantis for president in 2024, Musk replied in the affirmative.

"My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far," Musk tweeted in November.

"Would you support Ron DeSantis in 2024, Elon?" someone replied.

"Yes," Musk responded.

\u201c@ProudElephantUS @TimRunsHisMouth Yes\u201d
— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1669414177

Back in July 2022, Musk suggested that DeSantis could defeat President Joe Biden without even campaigning.

"Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America. If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn't even need to campaign," Musk wrote.

\u201c@adamirvinmusic @BreitbartNews Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.\n\nIf DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win \u2013 he doesn\u2019t even need to campaign.\u201d
— Breitbart News (@Breitbart News) 1657555678

DeSantis will be jumping into a GOP primary field that already includes former President Donald Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Larry Elder.

DeSantis, who soundly defeated Democratic opponent Charlie Crist during the Sunshine State's 2022 gubernatorial contest, has long been viewed as a figure who might jump into the presidential contest.

Trump has been taking shots at the Florida governor for months and referring to him as "DeSanctimonious."

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Parents scorch Biden's Education Sec. Cardona for claiming teachers know what's best for 'their' kids



United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona was roundly criticized after saying teachers, not parents, know what is best for 'their' kids.

"Teachers know what is best for their kids because they are with them every day. We must trust teachers," Sec. Cardona tweeted Friday.

\u201cTeachers know what is best for their kids because they are with them every day.\nWe must trust teachers.\u201d
— Secretary Miguel Cardona (@Secretary Miguel Cardona) 1684527011
Responses criticizing the statement ranged from anger and disappointment to flat out mockery. The panning came from parents, politicians, presidential candidates, his predecessor, and many others.
"Parents know what is best for their kids because they raise them every day. We must trust parents. Fixed it for you, @SecCardona," wrote Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley, formerly South Carolina's governor.
\u201cParents know what is best for their kids because they raise them every day. We must trust parents.\n\nFixed it for you, @SecCardona.\u201d
— Nikki Haley (@Nikki Haley) 1684533998

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who filed paperwork earlier this week to make a bid for the presidency, challenged the remark, saying "Whose kids?"

\u201cWhose kids?\u201d
— Tim Scott (@Tim Scott) 1684533752

"I'll say it again: You misspelled parents," wrote Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education during the Trump administration.

\u201cI'll say it again: You misspelled parents.\u201d
— Betsy DeVos (@Betsy DeVos) 1684535441

"No, Mr. Secretary. Parents know what's best for their kids. We must trust parents," wrote Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

\u201cNo, Mr. Secretary. Parents know what\u2019s best for their kids.\nWe must trust parents!\u201d
— Senator Pete Ricketts (@Senator Pete Ricketts) 1684543323

"I’m with my kids every day, every night, every weekend. I have been raising my son since conception. I’ve been raising my daughter since adoption. My husband and I know what is best for OUR kids. We can’t blindly trust teachers simply because they are teachers," said former American sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, appending a #parents hashtag.

\u201cI\u2019m with my kids every day, every night, every weekend. I have been raising my son since conception. I\u2019ve been raising my daughter since adoption. My husband and I know what is best for OUR kids. We can\u2019t blindly trust teachers simply because they are teachers. #PARENTS\u201d
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele Tafoya) 1684545369

"'Their kids.' Good lord," wrote political analyst Brit Hume.

A response from CatholicVote simply said "nope."

Many responses from lesser known accounts were quite blunt, and did not shy away from using some salty language to describe their feelings about the message.

Sec. Cardona's statement comes on the heels of a contentious Congressional hearing earlier this week addressing how and whether Title IX applies to transgender-identifying students.

GOP lawmakers at the hearing emphasized that Title IX is intended to ensure fairness for women and girls in sports, as ABC News reported.

"Would you say it'd be fair for me [at] anytime in this process, high school up until 30 years old, that I had a chance to box or wrestle with your daughter, competing with your daughter," asked Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), a former professional football player.

"It's my responsibility and my privilege to make sure that all students have access," Sec. Cardona responded.

Other topics addressed in the House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing included Attorney General Merrick Garland's controversial 2021 memo about threats toward school board members, student loan debt plans, COVID school closures, and critical race theory in schools.

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'Mr. Penny is a hero': Kid Rock, Tim Pool, Vivek Ramaswamy top list of donors for former Marine Daniel Penny's legal defense against NYC manslaughter charge



Kid Rock added his name near the top of the donor list for ex-Marine Daniel Penny's legal defense fund after the vet was charged with manslaughter following the chokehold of a homeless man who later died. The list of donors already featured prominent journalist Tim Pool and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Penny turned himself in to authorities May 12, 2023, with his lawyer stating afterward that his client surrendered "voluntarily and with the sort of dignity and integrity that is characteristic of his history of service to this grateful nation."

A fundraiser for Penny's legal defense was started, surpassing over $2.1 million at the time of this publication.

The GiveSendGo page lists the "top donors" for the cause, which now includes musician Kid Rock.

"Mr. Penny is a hero. Alvin Bragg is a POS. Kid Rock," a message read alongside a $5,000 donation. A representative for the rocker confirmed to Fox News that he did indeed donate the money.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave the campaign a push the day Penny turned himself in, stating on Twitter that "we must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny."

This spawned a response from Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who donated $10,000.

"I agree with this. Just donated. More of us should. We must restore the rule of law in America," Ramaswamy said on Twitter.


\u201cI agree with this. Just donated. More of us should. We must restore the rule of law in America.\u201d
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@Vivek Ramaswamy) 1684101382

Topping the list however is journalist and podcaster Tim Pool, who donated a whopping $20,000 to the total under the name "Timothy Pool."

"Just donated $20,000 to Daniel Penny's Defense fund," Pool confirmed. "Penny is the Subway Good Samaritan and we are lucky to have brave souls like him who are willing to do the right thing," he continued.

"I had previously held what I now view as a defeatist position on the issue several people made good arguments to me about fighting the culture war to win and winning in the cities," the broadcaster explained.

\u201ci had previously held what i now view as a defeatist position on the issue\n\nseveral people made good arguments to me about fighting the culture war to win and winning in the cities.\n\nTheres a lot more I talk about on youtube and can talk about more tonight on timcast IRL\u201d
— Tim Pool (@Tim Pool) 1684156117

Penny was released after turning himself in on a $100,000 bond. His court date was set for July 17, 2023.

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'Shawshank Redemption' actor Tim Robbins blasts Democrats, mainstream media for 'thuggish censorship'



Tim Robbins, star of "The Shawshank Redemption," slammed Democrats and the mainstream media for "thuggish censorship."

Actor Tim Robbins recently delivered a cutting takedown of the Democrats and the media.

Robbins applauded the reporting of independent journalists Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and Bari Weiss. The Hollywood actor thanked the journalists for "exposing a massive censorship operation by the U.S. government to control content on social media and eliminate any dissenting voices."

Robbins said the mainstream media "ignored" censorship in the United States and "personal freedoms" of Americans were being diminished.

Robbins specifically named and blasted three Democrats: Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) for threatening Taibbi with prosecution and imprisonment.

"What an embarrassing, shameful time for the Democrats and the ‘free’ press," Robbins wrote on Twitter. "You are losing any shred of credibility you had, you fucking fools."

Robbins also demanded that Julian Assange be released from prison.

\u201cRecently, independent journalists @mtaibbi @shellenberger @bariweiss have been exposing a massive censorship operation by the US government to control content on social media and eliminate any dissenting voices. Have you read their reporting? Or are you listening to the\u2026\u201d
— Tim Robbins (@Tim Robbins) 1682327606

Robbins told Variety this week, "I've always been curious about what goes on in leaders’ heads when they have to do something that is morally compromising for what they consider the greater good. I always look at that as a terrible no-win situation. And I often wonder if those measures that they take, that are immoral, are necessary.”

The celebrity added, "I'm talking about politicians that compromise themselves and make decisions that they believe are for the good of people, but those decisions involve censorship or lying or deception of some kind that leads to people getting hurt. And I wanted to play that guy, I want to deal with that moral complexity in trying to understand where the human being is. I think we've been through three and a half years of extraordinary and questionable choices made by people that are supposed to be leading their countries."

Robbins was previously critical of the draconian pandemic response by government officials.

Robbins believes that Americans became "tribal, angry, vengeful people" as a result of the pandemic.

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Harry Belafonte, legendary entertainer and civil rights activist, dies at age 96



Harry Belafonte, legendary entertainer and civil rights activist, died in his Manhattan home Tuesday at age 96, multiple outlets reported.

The Calypso King died of congestive heart failure with his wife, Pamela, by his side, said Paula M. Witt, of public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, Fox News Digital reported

Belafonte's career as a singer, actor, and producer made him one of the most honored performers of his era, Variety reported.

He won two Grammy Awards, a Tony, and an Emmy. He also won the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement award in 2000 and the Motion Picture Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2014 at the Governors Awards ceremony.

Outside Belafonte's impressive achievements in the world of entertainment, he devoted his time, energy, talents, and passion to advance the cause of civil rights movement from the 1950s on.

He was a lifelong friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and supported King's racial equality mission. He bailed Dr. King and other activists out of jail and took part in the March on Washington in 1963, the New York Times reported.

Tributes to Belafonte flooded social media soon after news broke of his passing.

"When I was a child, #HarryBelafonte showed up for my family in very compassionate ways. In fact, he paid for the babysitter for me and my siblings. Here he is mourning with my mother at the funeral service for my father at Morehouse College. I won’t forget…Rest well, sir," wrote Bernice King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

\u201cWhen I was a child, #HarryBelafonte showed up for my family in very compassionate ways. \n\nIn fact, he paid for the babysitter for me and my siblings. \n\nHere he is mourning with my mother at the funeral service for my father at Morehouse College. \n\nI won\u2019t forget\u2026Rest well, sir.\u201d
— Be A King (@Be A King) 1682433624

"Harry Belafonte wasn’t just a singer, he was an architect of change. He was an activist of the Civil Rights Movement, and he was also the first appointed Cultural Advisor to the Peace Corps ... His whole life was devoted to making a difference, whether it was raising the awareness of justice or the HIV/AIDS crisis or women’s rights ... We all have the ability to make a difference, to move humanity forward! Let’s go!," journalist Maria Shriver wrote on Facebook.

"The world has lost a true giant today. Harry Belafonte was a barrier breaker who helped reshape our world through his civil rights advocacy, his music, and his acting. May he rest in peace," wrote Apple's CEO Tim Cook.

\u201cThe world has lost a true giant today. Harry Belafonte was a barrier breaker who helped reshape our world through his civil rights advocacy, his music, and his acting. May he rest in peace.\u201d
— Tim Cook (@Tim Cook) 1682435577

"Another 'GREAT TREE' has fallen: Harry Belafonte, a Trailblazer and Hero to us all. Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice—especially risking your life back in the day to get money to the movement. Your being here on Earth has Blessed us all," Oprah Winfrey wrote on Facebook.


"We have lost the great Harry Belafonte-beautiful singer, brilliant and brave civil rights activist, a deeply moral and caring man. Miss you already Harry," actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow tweeted, adding a broken heart emoji.

Belafonte, too, was a UNICEF Ambassador for 25 years, Farrow added.

\u201cWe have lost the great Harry Belafonte-beautiful singer, brilliant and brave civil rights activist, a deeply moral and caring man. Miss you already Harry \ud83d\udc94\u201d
— Mia Farrow \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\udf3b (@Mia Farrow \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\udf3b) 1682431681

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