Author name: Keith Burns

Speaker Johnson Trolls Democrats Hard with Their Own Words on Government Shutdowns
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Speaker Johnson Trolls Democrats Hard with Their Own Words on Government Shutdowns

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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is spotlighting past statements from top Democrats as negotiations over a federal funding measure remain at a standstill.

With the government set to partially shut down at midnight Tuesday if no agreement is reached, Johnson has accused Democratic leaders of hypocrisy for refusing to compromise while previously condemning shutdowns under Republican leadership.

Johnson placed a television outside his Capitol office looping a video of prominent Democrats criticizing shutdowns in prior years.

Among those featured are Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.

In one clip from 2019, Ocasio-Cortez said on the House floor, “It is not normal to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want.”

The speaker’s office noted that Democrats are now opposing GOP-backed funding measures and risking a shutdown they once condemned.

Schumer is also shown warning in September 2024 that a government shutdown would cause widespread harm.

“If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos,” Schumer said during a floor speech in which he accused Republicans of being led by “MAGA radicals.”

Other Democrats highlighted in Johnson’s video include Jeffries, who argued in December 2024 that a shutdown would harm working-class families.

“Families will be hurt. Farmers will be hurt,” Jeffries said.

Clark, speaking in September 2023, added, “It’s the service members who will work without a paycheck. It’s the firefighters who will be furloughed.”

Pressley, in a video posted on social media in 2024, said, “This shutdown — you know who’s going to feel the pain? You know who it hurts? You. Every day people, and the most vulnerable. Seniors, veterans, working families, hungry kids, y’all.”

Despite those earlier warnings, Republicans argue that Democrats are unwilling to support a continuing resolution to keep the government open beyond October 1.

Breitbart News reported that Democrats have refused to advance the GOP-led measure.

President Donald Trump addressed the issue Tuesday during a press conference from the Oval Office, insisting that Republicans are not seeking a shutdown.

“They are shutting it down. We’re not shutting it down. We don’t want it to shut down because we have the greatest period of time ever. I tell you we have $17 trillion being invested, so the last person that wants it shut down is us,” Trump said.

Republican lawmakers have said they expect Democrats to bear the responsibility if the deadline passes without a deal.

Several have pointed specifically to Schumer’s role, warning that he will be blamed for the shutdown should it move forward.

The video outside Johnson’s office will continue playing as both chambers weigh options in the hours before the deadline.

With neither side showing signs of concession, the impasse leaves federal employees, service members, and contractors awaiting word on whether they will face furloughs or delayed paychecks starting Wednesday.

GOP Early Voting Surge Narrows Democrat Advantage in Key Battlegrounds
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GOP Early Voting Surge Narrows Democrat Advantage in Key Battlegrounds

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Early voting and survey results are beginning to indicate shifts in the political landscape as two major gubernatorial contests move closer.

While Democrats continue to hold advantages in mail-in participation, Republicans are showing gains in turnout metrics that could impact outcomes in both New Jersey and Virginia.

New data released by Quantus Insights shows a smaller Democratic lead among mail voters in New Jersey compared with last year.

On the second day of mail-ballot returns, Democrats accounted for 62 percent of ballots, down from 66 percent at the same stage in 2024.

Republicans rose to 25 percent, up from 19 percent a year ago, while third-party and independent returns fell to 13 percent.

The overall margin shows Democrats leading Republicans in mail returns by 37 points, compared with a 47-point advantage at this point in 2024.

The 10-point narrowing could signal a meaningful shift in a state where Democrats have traditionally relied on early voting to establish large leads ahead of Election Day.

Even modest improvements for Republicans in early ballot returns may strengthen their position in competitive down-ballot races and reduce the Democratic cushion entering the final stretch of voting.

In Virginia, turnout figures reported by Quantus show Republicans performing strongly in areas carried by President Donald Trump.

As of September 23, counties won by Trump were outpacing turnout in Harris-won counties by about 2.5 points (61.21 percent compared with 58.67 percent).

Although the gap appears small, off-year gubernatorial elections often hinge on enthusiasm and turnout disparities.

Sustained or expanding advantages in Republican-leaning areas could become decisive in close contests, particularly in a state with both heavily Democratic urban centers and large conservative rural regions.

The state-level shifts come alongside national survey data also released by Quantus on September 22.

The poll showed President Trump’s approval rating at 48.2 percent and disapproval at 49.7 percent, representing a net improvement of 1.5 points since late August.

While the movement is modest, shifts of even a few points can matter in a polarized political climate.

According to the survey, the improvement was less about new supporters and more about a decline in strong opposition.

Some respondents moved out of the disapproval category, suggesting voter fatigue with ongoing political conflict or a re-evaluation of the administration’s record.

The poll also found Republican self-identification rising to 36 percent, with Democrats at 31 percent and Independents at 33 percent.

Analysts attributed part of the increase in Republican identification to the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month, which has heightened party identity and energized the base.

Taken together, the data portrays an electorate that may be entering a period of transition.

Democrats retain clear advantages in mail voting, but those margins are showing signs of erosion.

Republicans are not only holding their base but demonstrating improved organization in early voting and turnout efforts.

For Democrats, the challenge will be to protect their established lead in early voting and prevent further erosion.

For Republicans, the focus will be on maintaining enthusiasm and converting turnout gains into Election Day strength.

National sentiment may play a role as well.

The Quantus survey found that 54.3 percent of Americans believe the country is on the “wrong track.”

That level of discontent could pose difficulties for incumbents and the party most associated with the direction of the country, potentially boosting Republican candidates in state-level races.

While the numbers do not yet indicate a sweeping realignment, they point to developments worth watching.

New Jersey shows a reduced Democratic margin in mail-in ballots, Virginia’s turnout figures favor Republicans, and national polling suggests GOP confidence is steadying after a turbulent summer.

Together, the data signals potential for Republicans to gain ground in upcoming elections.

Karoline Leavitt Just “Ended This ‘Reporter’s’ Career” After He Tried to Gaslight Her
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Karoline Leavitt Just “Ended This ‘Reporter’s’ Career” After He Tried to Gaslight Her

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During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed on President Donald Trump’s recent social media comments expressing frustration with the Department of Justice.

The exchange centered on whether Trump’s remarks contradicted his inaugural promise not to weaponize federal power against political opponents.

A reporter asked, “On a different topic, going back to the President’s social media post from over the weekend regarding the DOJ and his seeding frustration that they hadn’t taken action quickly enough, I want to point to something that the President said during his inaugural address, never again will the immense power of the state. You weaponize to persecute political opponents. You do not allow that to happen. Is the President going back on his promise?”

Leavitt responded directly, rejecting the suggestion.

“No. In fact, the President is fulfilling his promise to restore a Department of Justice that demands accountability, and it is not weaponizing the Department of Justice to demand accountability for those who weaponize the Department of Justice, and nobody knows what that looks like, more than President Trump,” she said.

The press secretary argued that critics were attempting to mislead the public.

“We are not going to tolerate gaslighting from anyone in the media or from anyone on the other side who is trying to say that it’s the president who is weaponizing the DOJ. It was Joe Biden and his attorney general who weaponized the DOJ,” Leavitt said.

She accused the prior administration of abusing federal law enforcement against political opponents.

“Joe Biden used this sacred American institution to go after his political opponent in the middle of an election year, and you look at people like Adam Schiff and like James Comey and like Letitia James who the president is rightfully frustrated. He wants accountability for these corrupt fraudsters who abuse their power, he abused their oath of office to target the former president and then candidate for the highest office in the land,” Leavitt continued.

Leavitt added that Trump’s stance reflects the expectations of the electorate.

“And I think the President is reaffirmed in those frustrations and his hope for accountability by the millions and millions of people who re elected him to this office with a mandate to demand accountability. And the President has not been shy about this,” she said.

She pointed to Trump’s public statements earlier this year as consistent with his current position.

“Gabe, in fact, when he traveled to the Department of Justice earlier this year, all of you were there to cover it, he said, quote, I demand a full and complete accountability for wrongs and abuses that have occurred. The American people gave a mandate to investigate and root the corruption out of our system, and that’s what the President wants to see done.”

AOC Smears Charlie Kirk as “Ignorant and Uneducated” During House Floor Speech
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AOC Smears Charlie Kirk as “Ignorant and Uneducated” During House Floor Speech

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Friday spoke out against a House resolution honoring the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, quoting him repeatedly in remarks aimed at discrediting his legacy.

The New York congresswoman was one of 58 Democrats to vote against the resolution, which passed with bipartisan support.

The resolution praised Kirk as a “courageous American patriot” who “lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion.”

It condemned his assassination earlier this month and offered condolences to his wife, Erika Kirk, and their children.

Ahead of the vote, Ocasio-Cortez argued the resolution would “bring great pain” to Americans who experienced “segregation, Jim Crow and the legacy of bigotry.”

She said, “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the Civil Right Act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake. Who after the violent attack on Paul Pelosi said, ‘some amazing patriot’ should bail out his brutal assailant and accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges, it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.’ His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans far from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ asserted by the majority in this resolution.”

Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10 in Utah, had long been a prominent figure in conservative politics, founding Turning Point USA in 2012 and building it into one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the country.

His death drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, and the House resolution aimed to memorialize his contributions to political discourse.

Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks sparked pushback, as critics noted that several of the claims she cited were previously disputed or mischaracterized.

The New York Times, for instance, issued a correction after attributing to Kirk a statement he did not make regarding Jewish communities.

In reality, Kirk was criticizing a social media post that contained the statement.

The Washington Post also took disciplinary action after columnist Karen Attiah misattributed a claim to Kirk. Attiah alleged that Kirk said “black women do not have the brain processing power to be taken seriously.”

The Post later acknowledged the claim was inaccurate.

Kirk, during a July 13, 2023, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” instead criticized affirmative action policies and named several prominent figures, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and former MSNBC host Joy Reid.

Kirk said, “If we would have said three weeks ago […] that Joy Reid and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative-action picks, we would have been called racist. But now they’re comin’ out and they’re saying it for us! They’re comin’ out and they’re saying, ‘I’m only here because of affirmative action.’ Yeah, we know. You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously.”

During her floor speech, Ocasio-Cortez also accused Republicans of undermining free speech by supporting professional consequences for individuals who made public comments celebrating Kirk’s death.

She referenced ABC’s decision to cancel Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after he mocked conservatives for disputing claims about Kirk’s assassin.

The attacker, later identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was confirmed by family members to be left-wing and supportive of transgender causes.

The resolution ultimately passed with the support of 215 Republicans and 95 Democrats.

In addition to the 58 Democrats who voted against it, 38 voted “present” and 22 did not vote.

The measure now stands as the official statement of the House commemorating Charlie Kirk’s life and condemning his assassination.

Treasury Sanctions Sinaloa Cartel Faction Over Deadly Fentanyl Pipeline
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Treasury Sanctions Sinaloa Cartel Faction Over Deadly Fentanyl Pipeline

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on Thursday against the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, along with the leader of its armed wing.

The move came as part of an effort to target cartel operations linked to fentanyl production and trafficking into the United States.

The sanctions coincided with a visit by Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley to the U.S.-Mexico border.

OFAC designated five individuals and 15 companies tied to one of Los Mayos’ regional networks operating south of the border.

A separate designation targeted the leader of another Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated gang involved in fentanyl production.

“The Sinaloa Cartel is a foreign terrorist organization that continues to traffic narcotics, launder its proceeds, and corrupt local officials,” Hurley said in a statement.

Treasury officials said Los Mayos is responsible for producing and smuggling fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine from northwest Mexico into the United States.

In addition to narcotics trafficking, the faction has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, and corruption of local governments in Rosarito, Baja California.

Officials described Rosarito’s proximity to the U.S. border as strategically significant for the cartel’s smuggling operations.

The Sinaloa Cartel has been designated by the U.S. government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and is responsible for much of the illicit fentanyl trafficked into the country.

According to OFAC, the cartel has also engaged in human smuggling operations across the southern border.

Los Mayos is considered a rival to the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Both groups are active in Baja California, Sonora, and Zacatecas.

OFAC reported that turf wars between the two factions have resulted in more than 1,000 deaths in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

The new sanctions effectively block cartel members and their affiliated businesses from accessing the U.S. financial system.

The designations also prohibit American citizens and companies from conducting transactions with the individuals or entities named by OFAC.

The rise of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl has significantly boosted cartel profits.

These organizations rely on steady supply chains for precursor chemicals imported largely from China and India.

By moving away from traditional plant-based narcotics like heroin and marijuana to synthetics, cartels have expanded their production capabilities and market reach.

Recent data illustrates the scale of the fentanyl crisis.

According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the 12 months ending in October 2024, the United States recorded 52,385 overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, representing a 33 percent decline from the previous year.

Overall overdose deaths fell by about 26 percent during the same period.

In 2023, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, accounted for 74,702 of the 107,543 total overdose deaths in the United States—nearly 69 percent of all fatal overdoses.

Drug seizures by federal agencies also declined in 2024. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported seizing 21,936 pounds of fentanyl last year, down 29 percent from 2023.

The DEA also seized 61.1 million counterfeit pills in 2024, a 24 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

Data from the El Paso Intelligence Center’s National Seizure System showed similar trends, with 23,256 kilograms of fentanyl seized in 2024, down from the prior year.

Treasury officials said the latest sanctions are part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the financial networks that enable the cartel to operate, as U.S. agencies continue to focus on combating the flow of fentanyl into the country.

Trump Administration Announces 0 Million in New Funding for HBCUs and Tribal Colleges
WASHINGTON D.C., USA - FEBRUARY 4, 2025: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference in the East Room of the White House.
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Trump Administration Announces $500 Million in New Funding for HBCUs and Tribal Colleges

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The Trump administration announced that it will direct $500 million in new funding to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges, marking one of the largest commitments to these institutions in recent years.

The plan also includes $137 million for American history and civics education programs and $60 million in additional funding for charter schools, according to a report by The New York Times.

To offset these investments, the administration has proposed reductions in other areas of the Department of Education’s budget.

The White House is requesting a 15 percent overall cut to the department next year, in line with President Donald Trump’s longstanding position that the agency should eventually be closed permanently.

The proposed cuts include $350 million from programs supporting minority students in science and engineering fields, schools with high Hispanic enrollment, and other minority-serving institutions.

Funding has also been reduced for gifted programs that the administration argues rely on racially targeted recruitment practices.

In announcing the new initiatives, Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that the changes are intended to shift resources toward programs that advance merit and measurable results.

“Today, the Department is making three massive investments – redirecting financial support away from ineffective and discriminatory programs toward those which support student success. We are proud to make the largest investment in the Charter Schools Grants Program in the Department’s history, support American history programs that will inspire young people to be active and informed citizens, and recognize Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities’ historic contributions to improving education and opportunity in our country,” McMahon said.

She added, “The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education.

The Trump Administration will use every available tool to meaningfully advance educational outcomes and ensure every American has the opportunity to succeed in life.”

The decision reflects President Trump’s continued prioritization of HBCUs.

During his first term, he secured more than $250 million in annual federal funding for these institutions and forgave over $300 million in federal relief loans owed by HBCUs.

In April, the President signed an executive order creating a White House position to oversee a new Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

While that role has yet to be filled, the administration has said it remains committed to implementing the initiative.

The $137 million allocation for American history and civics education is designed to strengthen programs that encourage student engagement with the nation’s founding principles and democratic institutions.

The $60 million in new funding for charter schools represents the largest single investment in the program’s history, intended to expand access to alternative public education models across the country.

The administration’s education budget plan is expected to draw significant debate in Congress, particularly over the proposed reductions to minority-serving institutions outside of HBCUs and tribal colleges.

However, officials have framed the new funding priorities as part of a broader strategy to emphasize programs that they argue directly support student achievement and avoid discriminatory practices in recruitment and admissions.

For HBCUs and tribal colleges, the $500 million commitment adds to a series of measures by the Trump administration that supporters say has elevated the institutions’ financial stability and long-term prospects.

The announcement signals that education policy will remain a key component of the administration’s agenda going into the next budget cycle.

‘This Isn’t Cancel Culture. This Is CONSEQUENCE Culture’: Benny Johnson on Jimmy Kimmel
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‘This Isn’t Cancel Culture. This Is CONSEQUENCE Culture’: Benny Johnson on Jimmy Kimmel

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Rob Finnerty and commentator Benny Johnson said Monday that the media landscape is undergoing a rapid shift after remarks by ABC host Jimmy Kimmel about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew sharp criticism and prompted major affiliates to remove his program from their schedules.

“Benny, this is just a monumental shake up to the media landscape. And on Monday, after all the questions we’ve gotten from the audience about Charlie Kirk and what happens now, where do we go from here? Clearly, things are changing, and it’s going to start with the media, where a reckoning is happening right now, isn’t it?” Finnerty asked during the Newsmax segment.

Johnson responded at length, accusing Kimmel of misrepresenting the motive behind Kirk’s killing and of using his platform to assign blame to conservatives.

“Yes, absolutely, Rob, and thank you for having me on I want to establish what Jimmy Kimmel did here, because the left, much like how they are trying to hide the fact that Charlie was politically assassinated by a Tran Tifa, far left wing sociopath who hated Charlie and hated conservatives, and so with hate in his heart, he inscribed Antifa and far left wing LGBT messaging on bullets and sent them down range to murder Charlie Kirk,” Johnson said.

“They have tried to cover that up, and part of the cover up was using Jimmy Kimmel’s platform to say that Charlie was killed by a MAGA conservative,” he continued.

“Now, left wingers are trying now to rewrite history and say that Jimmy Kimmel was fired for a joke that he told,” Johnson said.

“This is not a joke.”

“Jimmy Kimmel said that Charlie Kirk deserved his assassination,” Johnson added.

“Jimmy Kimmel said that Charlie Kirk shares in the blame for his own assassination.”

“This is the commentary that Jimmy Kimmel made. It is utterly and completely indefensible,” Johnson said, and then he accused Kimmel of further mocking Kirk and President Trump.

“Jimmy Kimmel went on to then make fun of Charlie Kirk and make fun of President Trump, saying that he did not care about or love his friend.”

“And so I want to establish that this is not a joke. This is a lie,” Johnson said.

Johnson framed his charges in regulatory terms, pointing to ABC’s broadcast obligations.

“Now, ABC has a lavish broadcast license that is granted to them by the American taxpayer. The American taxpayer pays money so that ABC News can be broadcast freely into millions of American homes,” he said.

“They have a responsibility to broadcast true information in the public interest. It is a legally binding contract, and so by Jimmy Kimmel misinforming his audience, not only does he victim blame Charlie Kirk and say that Charlie Kirk deserved to get politically assassinated, he’s also lying to his audience, thus creating an unsafe environment for other conservatives, other Turning Point activists, exactly for you or me.”

“He’s saying that we deserved it, and more importantly, that if you go and kill a Trump supporter, that he will cover for you, that the left can go murder Trump supporters, and Jimmy Kimmel will go and whitewash it for you so that you don’t get any blame, and his side doesn’t get any blame,” Johnson said.

“That’s what Kimmel did that accelerates the dangerous atmosphere that the left has created right now. It continues the atmosphere that got Charlie killed, and so what Jimmy Kimmel did was indefensible.”

Johnson described his response after viewing the clip and said he contacted an FCC official.

“Now I saw that clip, and I got enraged, and I said, we are going to call Brendan Carr and get him on my show, and we’re going to talk about this,” Johnson said.

“Brennan car is the FCC commissioner. Brennan car came on my show and said that ABC is going to have is going to have hell to pay for this. That is a truly sick comment, and at the FCC, they’re not going to tolerate it.”

Johnson said his team then reached out to local broadcast affiliates.

“Then we went and we called the local stations, the broadcast affiliates. And my team has been calling broadcast affiliates all day long,” he said.

“Do you agree? Do you agree with this? And the broadcast affiliates to their great credit, Nexstar and Sinclair both said, No, we are going to pull Jimmy Kimmel from the air. We’re going to take him out of 37 million American households.”

Johnson asserted the de-scheduling would harm Kimmel’s audience and force ABC’s hand.

“Jimmy Kimmel show only does like 2 million views a night. So what is that going to do to his ratings? Of course, it’s going to collapse them,” he said.

“And then at that point, ABC News had no choice but to bow their head to suspend Jimmy Kimmel and to grant in the name of Charlie Kirk, the single greatest cultural victory for the right in a generation.”

Finnerty and Johnson framed the sequence—public outcry, contact with the FCC, affiliate pullbacks and ABC’s suspension—as evidence of intensified scrutiny on media commentary.

Dearborn’s Muslim Mayor Tells Christian Citizen He’s “Not Welcome Here”
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Dearborn’s Muslim Mayor Tells Christian Citizen He’s “Not Welcome Here”

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Tensions erupted at a Dearborn City Council meeting last week after Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud told a Christian resident that he was “not welcome” in the city for objecting to new street signs honoring Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani.

The exchange occurred when Edward “Ted” Barham, a Dearborn resident, voiced concerns about Wayne County’s decision to place signs at intersections along Warren Avenue bearing Siblani’s name.

FOX 2 Detroit reported that the signs were authorized and installed by Wayne County, not by the City of Dearborn.

Barham introduced himself as a city resident and explained his opposition to the designation.

“He’s a promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas,” Barham said, before citing past remarks from Siblani.

He quoted one of Siblani’s statements: “He talks about how the blood of the martyrs irrigates the land of Palestine … whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Yemen. Believe me, everyone should fight within his means. They will fight with stones, others will fight with guns, others fight with planes, drones, and rockets.”

Barham compared the decision to naming a road “Hezbollah Street or Hamas Street,” describing it as provocative and contrary to the values he wanted to promote as a Christian.

He closed his remarks by quoting scripture: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Several council members interrupted to caution Barham against “personal attacks” and to note that the city itself had no control over the county’s actions.

One clarified, “The sign that was placed on Warren Avenue which is a County road and that was done by the Wayne County Executive.”

Still, Barham maintained that the issue was significant to Dearborn residents because the signs were located in their city.

Mayor Hammoud then issued remarks that quickly drew attention and criticism.

“The best suggestion I have for you is to not drive on Warren Avenue or to close your eyes while you’re doing it. His name is up there and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he’s done a lot for this community,” Hammoud said.

The mayor escalated further, directly attacking Barham.

“You are a bigot, and you are racist, and you’re an Islamophobe,” Hammoud stated.

He concluded, “Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here. And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of this city.”

The controversy centers on Wayne County’s August decision to honor Siblani, who has been a prominent figure in Arab American media.

The county commission approved the designation, and Hammoud joined other officials at a ceremony marking the unveiling of the signs.

Dearborn, which has the highest percentage of Muslim residents of any city in the United States, has often wrestled with questions of cultural and political representation.

For many in attendance, the moment raised concerns about whether city leaders are prepared to hear opposing viewpoints or whether dissenting residents risk being dismissed outright.

While county officials formally authorized the street designations, the fallout from Hammoud’s comments has placed Dearborn’s political climate under renewed scrutiny.

Bomb Planted Under Fox News Vehicle, Suspects Nabbed in Salt Lake City
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Bomb Planted Under Fox News Vehicle, Suspects Nabbed in Salt Lake City

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Utah law enforcement responded to a new threat on Friday, just days after the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk and the manhunt for his alleged killer.

Authorities say an incendiary device was discovered under a news media vehicle near an occupied building in Salt Lake City.

The device, which police described as a significant threat to public safety, had been lit but failed to function.

The vehicle belonged to the Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City, according to Fox News correspondent Matt Finn.

Police arrested two men in connection with the incident: 58-year-old Adeeb Nasir and 31-year-old Adil Nasir.

The arrests followed a search of a residence in Magna, where authorities found explosives, explosive-related components, firearms, illegal narcotics, and other paraphernalia.

Court records also revealed the discovery of at least two hoax devices described as weapons of mass destruction.

During the search, neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Authorities said the materials uncovered in the home posed additional risks to the surrounding community.

The Salt Lake City Police Department stated that the suspects face multiple potential charges, including Threat of Terrorism, Possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Possessing Explosive Devices.

Police have requested that both men be held without bail.

“FOX 13 News is working closely with law-enforcement and our risk management team, with the safety of our employees as our top priority,” FOX 13 Station Manager Leona Wood said in a statement after the discovery of the device.

While no motive has been publicly identified, the placement of the device under a Fox affiliate vehicle has raised questions about whether the news organization was specifically targeted.

 

The incident added to what has been a tumultuous week for Utah.

On Wednesday, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem.

The suspected gunman, Tyler Robinson, was arrested Friday after a 33-hour manhunt.

Federal officials said the killing appeared to have been politically motivated.

The attempted bombing in Salt Lake City has now prompted heightened security concerns.

Investigators say they are continuing to analyze the evidence seized from the Magna home to determine whether additional individuals were involved.

Residents in the neighborhood where the arrests took place described the evacuation as swift, with law enforcement directing families to leave their homes while explosives experts examined the property.

Authorities confirmed that no injuries occurred during the search.

Court filings show prosecutors intend to pursue the most serious charges available given the nature of the weapons recovered.

Officials described the seized items as capable of producing widespread harm if deployed.

The discovery of multiple devices, including hoax explosives, suggests planning beyond a single incident, investigators said.

The two suspects remain in custody as prosecutors prepare their case.

Law enforcement has not said whether federal agencies will join the investigation, though the presence of explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction charges may bring in additional federal jurisdiction.

The case remains under active investigation as officials work to determine the suspects’ motives and whether further threats remain.

Police are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

Authorities have not provided a timeline for the next court appearance for Adeeb and Adil Nasir.

Both men remain in detention as prosecutors seek to deny bail.

Democrats’ Base Now More Socialist Than Capitalist After 2024 Defeat Poll Reveals
Democrats

Democrats’ Base Now More Socialist Than Capitalist After 2024 Defeat Poll Reveals

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A new Gallup poll released in August shows that a growing share of Democrats now view socialism more favorably than capitalism, underscoring the party’s shift toward left-wing economic policies in the aftermath of its 2024 electoral defeat.

According to the survey, only 42 percent of Democrats said they had a positive view of capitalism, while 66 percent expressed a favorable opinion of socialism.

By contrast, 74 percent of Republicans reported a favorable view of capitalism, with only 14 percent saying they viewed socialism positively. The poll was conducted between August 1 and August 20 among 1,094 U.S. adults.

Overall, 54 percent of Americans said they had a positive view of capitalism, down from 60 percent in 2021 and marking the lowest level since Gallup began tracking the measure in 2010.

Favorable views of socialism rose slightly in the same period, from 36 percent to 39 percent.

Gallup noted that Democrats have viewed socialism more positively than capitalism since 2016, but the gap between the two has widened in recent years.

The findings suggest that Democratic voters are increasingly receptive to the types of policy proposals long advanced by prominent figures on the party’s progressive wing.

The shift in attitudes is evident in New York City, where Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor earlier this year.

Mamdani has proposed raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour, creating taxpayer-funded government-run grocery stores, and imposing higher taxes on what he has described as “richer and whiter” neighborhoods.

Mamdani has secured endorsements from leading progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

However, some of the party’s top leaders, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have not openly embraced his candidacy.

If elected in November, Mamdani would become the first self-described Democratic Socialist to serve as mayor of New York City.

His platform has drawn both strong support from progressives and sharp criticism from Republicans, who say his rise illustrates the Democratic Party’s drift toward socialism.

House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed to Mamdani’s win as a potential advantage for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

“Democrats, who have learned nothing from their historic defeat in 2024, are rallying around a radical, Antisemitic, abolish-ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement], defund-the-police, big-government Marxist,” Johnson told the Daily Caller News Foundation in July following Mamdani’s primary victory.

“Comrade Mamdani’s extreme views are bad news for New York City, but great news for House Republicans.”

The Gallup findings and Mamdani’s candidacy highlight the challenges Democrats face as they attempt to redefine their message and rebuild their base after significant losses.

With the party’s grassroots increasingly supportive of socialist policies and Republican leaders eager to draw attention to that shift, the debate over the future direction of the Democratic Party is likely to remain a central issue heading into the 2026 elections.


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