Shay Bottomley

New York Democratic Candidate Suggests “Re-education Camps” For MAGA Supporters

Shay Bottomley / June 7, 2024

A Democrat who is running for Congress sparked outrage after suggesting that supporters of Donald Trump should be sent to re-education camps.

Paula Collins, the Democratic candidate for New York’s 21^st Congressional District, was addressing a public townhall held on Zoom when she made the comments.

“Even if we were to have a resounding blue wave come through, as many of us would like, putting it all back together again after we’ve gone through this MAGA nightmare and re-educating basically, which, that sounds like a rather, a re-education camp,” she said during the meeting. “I don’t think we really want call it that – I’m sure we can find another way to phrase it.”

Collins’ remarks drew criticism from social media users, with some highlighting the similarities to the barbaric regimes of dictators such as Adolf Hitler. In Nazi Germany, concentration camps which subjected millions of people to inhumane conditions, torture and often execution were described as sites of re-education by the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.

Others likened Collins’ comments to Hilary Clinton’s suggestion of “deprogramming” supporters of the Republican.

Collins later clarified her comments to Fox News, stating that the country “would need to engage in widespread civics education”. Her comments came after Trump’s repeated criticism of the judicial system following his hush money trial in New York.

The Democratic cannabis tax attorney is hoping to defeat incumbent GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik at this year’s election in November. Stefanik was first elected to Congress at the age of 30 in 2014.

LGBTQ+

“The Only Flag We Allow Is The National One” – Mexico City Workers Tear Down Rainbow Flag In Protest

Shay Bottomley / June 7, 2024

Workers at a government institution in Mexico City have revolted by tearing down a large pride flag installed inside a building.

Video footage showed employees at the National Housing Fund for Workers (Infonavit) ripping down the rainbow flag in an apparent protest.

Union leader Rafael Riva Palacio reportedly ordered the flag’s removal, calling it “unworthy” to be hung in the building’s façade which he claimed had been used for advertising purposes. Presumably to hedge against allegations of homophobia, Palacio acknowledged his support for the LGBTQ+ community and emphasized his devotion to the safety and human rights of his union’s workers.

The development comes amid an existential crisis among the most vocal members of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite widespread support for gay rights in Mexico, many feel uncomfortable with what they see as a woke agenda pushed upon them.

Workers could be heard shouting “La única bandera que permitimos es la nacional [The only flag we allow is the national one],” as they took down the rainbow flag on June 5, 2024.

Social media users pointed to the fact that Mexico is a deeply Catholic country, where social views on homosexuality are more conservative than in the United States.

Others praised the sense of national pride exhibited by the Mexican workers.

Mexico has recently elected its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who is renowned for her views which some rightly consider to be woke. While leader of Mexico City, she implemented gender-neutral school uniforms while also becoming the first Head of Government of Mexico City to attend the local pride march.

Woke

“Victory For Equality” As Atlanta-Based DEI Program Blocked

Shay Bottomley / June 6, 2024

A federal court has blocked a DEI program designed to only give grant funding to Black female business owners.

The Atlanta-based Fearless Fund was challenged in a lawsuit over concerns that it may be discriminatory. The case was brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights – a group which has waged legal battles against dozens of corporations participating in DEI programs.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Miami found that the program may violate section 1981 of the 1866 Civil Rights Act. Brought in shortly after the abolition of slavery, the law prohibits race-based discrimination in regard to contracts.

Rejecting Fearless Fund’s arguments that the grants were not contracts but charitable donations, the panel ruled that Fearless Fund “refuses to entertain applications from business owners who aren’t ‘black females.’”

The panel ruled 2-1 against Fearless Fund, with Barack Obama-appointee Judge Robin Rosenbaum voting in favor.

As a result of the decision, the Fearless Fund must now suspend its Strivers Grant Contest, which awards businesses owned by Black women $20,000 in grants. The lawsuit will now return to Atlanta where a final decision will be issued within the coming months.

which provides $20,000 to businesses that are majority owned by Black women

Social media users claimed the decision was a “victory” for equality.

Others expressed their view DEI programs are fundamentally racist as they often exclude certain groups from enjoying the benefits they offer.

What’s your view on DEI programs? Let us know in the comments below.

Media

Flashback: CNN Contradicts Their Own Reporting on Presidents and Gas Prices Within 10 Days

Shay Bottomley / June 6, 2024

An election year means that the American public must be vigilant as to where they consume their news.

Across the nation, mainstream media corporations will carefully select what they report on for their readers and viewers. Left-wing publications will no doubt criticize Republican candidate Donald Trump, while conservative broadcasters will focus their efforts on the incapability of President Joe Biden.

CNN is no exception. Once nicknamed the “Clinton News Network” by Donald Trump, the corporation is notorious for its left-wing bias – perhaps best amusingly highlighted by the @DefiantLs account on X.

The account – which is dedicated to “exposing hypocrisy and making you smile” – shared two CNN Business articles published only ten days apart.

The first, published on November 9, 2021, is titled “Why Joe Biden can’t do much to ease gas prices”, with the article exploring further into contributing factors to rising oil prices at the time, with the purpose of downplaying any role Biden played in them.

Just ten days later, Jula Horowitz – the author of the aforementioned article – published a follow-up where readers were encouraged to “thank China and Joe Biden” for the subsequent drop in price.

As always, reporting is a “heads I win, tails you lose” game to the modern journalist.

Social media users responded to the post from June 5, 2024, with other examples of CNN’s intriguing perspective on reporting.

Others called for further scrutiny of the “partisan” mainstream media.

What’s your view on CNN? Do you still watch it? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

LGBTQ+

Nine NFL Teams Decline to Issue Pride Month Statements

Shay Bottomley / June 5, 2024

It’s looking like the ripple effects of the Bud Light boycott are still with us.

2024 marked the biggest cultural shift across the NFL with 9 franchises “boycotting” statements to mark the beginning of pride month.

Rainbow recognition often varies between the 32 teams; some will release a statement, add the rainbow colors to their profiles, or mix between the two. In course, the NFL reposts some of these messages if it doesn’t release its own.

This year, however, saw a notable absence among 9 franchises, namely the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans.

(The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, while late to the party, have since put out pro-pride posts).

It is of course important to remember that non-compliance does not mean opposition. None of the 9 franchises have stressed any objections to the virtue signaling; instead, they have simply opted not to take part in it. Regardless, in an era where putting out such statements is as certain as the sun coming up tomorrow, an absence of one is almost certainly a calculated move.

There could be a myriad of reasons for nearly one-third of the league maintaining silence. After all, the U.S. is deeply divided at present, with sports offering an escape from political debate. It’s not unreasonable to allow sports fans to enjoy the spectacle away from the day-to-day political arguments.

There’s also an argument to be made that corporations participate in pride month festivities as a form of virtue signaling. If the general trend is in favor of rainbow colors, then large companies may take part in the charade to avoid being canceled.

How has your team reacted to pride month? Do you think they should engage with it, or is it just more virtue signaling that sports could do without? Let us know in the comments below.

LGBTQ+

Resurfaced Clip Showing Joe Biden’s Flip-Flip on the Alphabet Agenda Goes Viral

Shay Bottomley / June 5, 2024

President Joe Biden has been accused of flip-flopping after a historical interview resurfaced in which he appeared to criticize a constitutional amendment on gay marriage.

The President posted a “happy pride month” graphic on his @POTUS account on June 1, 2024. However, social media personality Benny Johnson hastily responded to the message with a minute-long clip of Biden on an episode of NBC’s “Meet the Press” (below):

The clip, from around 2004 to 2005, features Biden disputing the need for a George Bush-backed constitutional amendment on banning gay marriage on the basis that it was redundant due to existing laws he supports.

“We already have a law – the Defense of Marriage Act,” says Biden in the clip. “We’ve all voted – well I’ve voted, and others said ‘look, marriage is between a man and a woman, and states must respect that.”

Highlighting the lack of challenges to the law at the time, Biden added: “Why do we need a constitutional amendment? Marriage is between a man and a woman. What’s the game going on here?”

Biden is regarded by some as the most LGTBQ+-friendly president in American history. That said, its clear that his personal position has been shaped by changing public opinion (and a desire to pander) as the former Sen. once described homosexuals as “security risks” while objecting to gay marriage in the aforementioned Defense of Marriage Act.

Some social media users responded to Johnson’s post by arguing that Biden had the right to change his mind, though the science isn’t clear on how he could change his mind considering that he no longer has one.

Nevertheless, such comments were met with backlash from those who pointed out that the President’s views have only changed in his sixties.

LGBTQ+

BMW Admits Pride Month Posts Are Just Virtue Signaling

Shay Bottomley / June 4, 2024

It’s day four of pride month, and graphic designers around the Western World are enjoying their overtime pay having rainbowified corporate logos for social media.

For the next four weeks, corporations will proudly display their commitment to inclusivity before throwing that all out the window come July 1.

However, it’s not a universal display of support. Just ask Mercedes-Benz, or BMW, or Cisco…

Indeed, this commitment to all things inclusivity is so supported by large corporations that they simply don’t bother to change their logos for their Arabian followers. Then again, it begs the question: why not?

Well, religious beliefs and cultural traditions across the Middle East mean there are starkly different viewpoints on what people can and can’t do in their own bedrooms. Homosexuality is widely rejected across much of the Middle East to the extent where people are executed simply for their own sexuality. Alas, the pride parades you see in Washington or Denver are non-existent in places like Doha or Jeddah.

So, have the big corporations decided to tackle this injustice and promote a more inclusive society in the Middle East? Well, no, because that would hurt profits.

BMW was asked on X why it was they don’t proudly display the “pride agenda” on their Middle Eastern social media posts, to which the automaker admitted that they were basically just pandering to their western audiences, and wouldn’t bother doing it where it would backfire. “This is an established practice as the BMW Group, which also takes into consideration market-specific legal regulations and country-specific cultural aspects,” BMW said. Admittedly, it is refreshing to see a “woke corporation” admit that they don’t actually have any true principles.

It’s fair to say that such a pathetic response only appeases the shareholders. The director of Gay Men’s Network was one user who was critical of BMW’s response.

Many recognized the levels of virtue signaling corporations go to during pride month, where it’s trendy to don the rainbow colors in countries where such freedom of expression is permitted.

It does, ultimately, showcase that corporations will adapt to whatever suits the market. That’s a hardly a raging endorsement of gay rights if you ask me.

Left-wing extremism

“The Oppression Olympics Standoff” – Video Shows Moment Pride And Palestine Protests Clash

Shay Bottomley / June 3, 2024

The pro-Palestinian movement and the pride brigade are two of left-wing extremism’s fiercest components. What happens when those who ferociously support a state where gay rights are non-existent meet other leftists who are in their rainbow colors for the day?

Well, that question was answered on Sunday, June 2, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when a pride parade encountered a Free Palestine march, prompting the “oppression Olympics standoff” as one social media user put it.

The situation was handled well by the somewhat bemused cops in attendance and, against the wishes of some, the situation was resolved peacefully.

Many were quick to point out the clear differences between the two fractured elements of the Left.

It highlights the issue with left-wing extremists, who are determined to stand up and virtue signal for the issue of the day. Ultimately, supporting every cause that comes to mind leads to conflict sooner or later, with the two sides in Philly just looking silly.

As one social media user pointed out, we have a whole month of this. It’s currently day three…

Sports

Donald Trump’s UFC Appearance Was Everything You’d Thought It Would Be

Shay Bottomley / June 3, 2024

Former president Donald Trump was greeted with a rumbustious applause on Saturday, June 1 upon arrival at UFC 302 just two days after his criminal conviction.

The Republican nominee – who is an avid fan of combat sports – was welcomed to the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey to witness UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev fight former interim champion Dustin Poirier.

Entering with the anti-Woke UFC President Dana White, Trump was greeted to a standing ovation from thousands in the arena as he walked in midway through the undercard. He shook hands with UFC officials including commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan before taking his ringside seats.

Throughout the night, the pro-Trump crowd chanted “USA, USA” during the Republican’s frequent appearances on the large screen. A vocal “we want Trump” chant could also be heard during the broadcast, while the nearly 18,000-strong crowd also expressed their disproval of President Joe Biden.

Throughout the evening, several fighters, including middleweights Sean Strickland and Kevin Holland, took time immediately after their bouts to shake hands with the former president. “President Trump, you’re the man… It is a damn travesty what they are doing to you,” said Strickland in his post-fight interview.

The event marked Trump’s first non-political public appearance since conviction just ten miles away from the Prudential Center earlier in the week.

Despite the attempts to disparage the former president by some members of the media, myths spouted online were quickly dispelled by users on the platform X. In a viral post. anti-Trump political commentator Ron Flipowski claimed that Aaron Rogers snubbed Trump for a handshake – but Rogers himself later dispelled that claim, posting a photo of himself shaking hands with Trump.