Current Events
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Pras Michel sought a retrial in connection to his conspiracy case after noting that his former legal team used AI to offer a closing statement in the matter ahead of his 2023 conviction. A federal judge has since ruled that Pras Michel will not receive a retrial, despite findings that suggested errors were made.
As reported by The Haitian Times, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly decided on August 30 that Pras Michel’s request for a retrial would not move forward. In 2023, Michel was convicted on several charges and sought to have a new trial due to his former attorney, David Kenner, employing AI to write a closing statement but later discovering the mistakes the program made. One of those mistakes includes an incorrect attribution of Michel’s lyrics given to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In the motion filed by Michel’s attorneys, the rapper’s legal team uncovered 14 errors that were made during Michel’s time and court thus the filing of the motion for retrial. The legal team additionally argued that the jury overseeing the matter was influenced by statements made by two federal judges that named Michel as a co-conspirator in the crimes he was charged with.
The judge in the case did note the errors raised by Michel’s team and three of them were considered according to accounts. However, the judge decided that the issues raised were not enough to overturn the jury’s initial ruling.
Pras Michel faces a potential sentence that could land him 20 years in prison. He is currently free on bond. A date for his sentencing has not been announced.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Allison Joyce / Getty
Republican Senator and vice presidential nominee JD Vance added to a racist smear on Vice President Kamala Harris‘ heritage in an interview.
On Sunday (September 15), Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance was being interviewed by Kristin Welker of NBC’s Meet The Press when he doubled down on a racist smear of Vice President Kamala Harris. Welker asked Vance about the initial comment made by far-right figure Laura Loomer in a post on X, formerly Twitter last week where she said if Harris was elected, the White House “will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center.” Vance took on a dismissive tone and said he had just seen them that morning: “I knew that you’d ask me about it.”
He continued: “I make a mean chicken curry, I don’t think that it’s insulting for anybody to talk about their dietary preferences or what they want to do in the White House. Do I agree with what Laura Loomer said about Kamala Harris? No, I don’t. I also don’t think that this is actually an issue of national import. Is Laura Loomer running for president? No. Kamala Harris is running for president, and whether you’re eating curry at your dinner table or fried chicken, things have gotten more expensive thanks to her policies.”
“Senator, were you and your wife offended, and do you disavow those comments that even some Trump allies say are blatantly racist?” Welker followed up, referring to Usha Vance, who is Indian-American. “Kristen, I just told you, I don’t like those comments,” Vance replied. “I also don’t look at the internet for every single thing to get offended by.” Online commenters such as former FBI attorney Asha Rangappa were aghast, writing: “Curry or…fried chicken? Good lord, he’s like the KKK whisperer.” Others noted his avoidance of explicitly defending his wife.
As for Loomer, she posted support for Vance’s comments. “Donald Trump and JD Vance are giving those people a voice to tell the TRUTH about how they are being replaced by Kamala Harris’s invaders,” she wrote in another post on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “PS: I hope I can try the Senator’s chicken curry one of these days.” Loomer has been a fixture by former Donald Trump’s side within the past two weeks, with speculation that the two are intimately involved.
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Source: Twitter / Twitter
Rich Lowry, the editor-in-chief of conservative media outlet The National Review, was in the middle of an interview with MAGA-fav Megyn Kelly when he casually started saying the N-word before he stopped himself, barely. Listeners with sense heard what they heard, but it didn’t stop Lowry from saying that it was mispronunciation that caused it to sound like a slur.
Most everybody let out a collective “Yeah right” after that excuse.
You can listen to Lowry drop the N-word in the clip from The Megyn Kelly Show above while discussing JD Vance admitting that he amplified the Haitians are eating your pets hoax for the sake of media attention. You’ll note that Lowry basically got the whole N-word out (“Haitian n*gger…”) before stopping himself and saying “migrants.” And just in case there is any doubt, a clip of the video slowed up is making the rounds that confirms that he said what he said.
Slow it down to 0.5x pic.twitter.com/PnsUiYNxeh
— Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) September 16, 2024
Yeah, the two words in question don’t sound the same, but that was not enough to prevent Lowry from entering the spin cycle. “I began to mispronounce the word ‘migrants’ and caught myself halfway through tweeted Lowry, co-signing a tweet that suggested he had crossed up the word “immigrants” and “migrants.”
Yep, this is exactly what happened—I began to mispronounce the word “migrants” and caught myself halfway through https://t.co/Y1wyvrkq8x
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) September 16, 2024
And let’s not even act like it as AI.
Needless to say Lowry is getting cooked, and deservedly so. But let’s see how whiteness works, since a lot of privileged white men tend to fail up. Also, and of course Megyn Kelly was unfazed.
Peep reactions to the Freudian crash out in the gallery.
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Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty / Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift officially has broken Donald Trump.
The Orange Menace, Donald Trump, is not handling the fact that Taylor Swift and her Swifties endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to succeed President Joe Biden very well.
Trump wrote on his bootleg social media platform, Truth Social, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” on Sunday morning, leaving many baffled but not shocked at his unhinged all-caps post.
The former disgraced President’s bizarre post garnered numerous responses, like this one from big-time Trump hater Liz Cheney, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Says the smallest man who ever lived.” For those who follow Swift’s music, that was a clever callback to Swift’s latest project, The Tortured Poets Department.
The View co-host, former Republican and proud Donald Trump critic Ana Navarro wrote on X, “Donald Trump has lost what little sanity he had left. Taylor Swift broke him.”
Trump’s swift meltdown came after the pop star announced she was Team Harris/Walz immediately following the VP’s dragging of the convicted felon during last week’s presidential debate.
She shared the post on her Instagram Stories along with a link to Vote.org, which led to “more than 400,000 visitors to the voter-information site in a 24-hour period,” Variety reports.
Taylor Swift Lives Rent-Free In Donald Trump’s Small Mind
Before declaring his hate for Swift on Truth Social, Trump declared his love for Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany Mahomes, who wasn’t shy about revealing her love for Orange Mussolini by liking Trump-related posts during a Fox & Friends interview.
“Well, I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better. If you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan. I was not a Taylor Swift fan,” Trump said.
Users on X clowned Brittany Mahomes for getting love from Trump after her “bestie” endorsed Kamala Harris.
Patrick Mahomes didn’t help beat any allegations that he is in the Trump boat by refusing to endorse any candidate. Instead, he dropped some lame reasoning for not having a political backbone.
In a recent turn of events, Brittany Mahomes is now questioning her support for Trump after his Truth social comments, which, according to The Daily Mail, left her “shaken to the core.”
Social media also clowned Trump for letting the world know that Taylor Swift lives rent-free in his mind.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
5. Listen to Kobe
6. Imagine that
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Source: Facebook / facebook
The circumstances around the death of Illinois truck driver Javion Magee bearing similarities to a lynching have sparked outrage and concern on social media.
A young Black truck driver from Chicago, Illinois by the name of Javion Magee was found dead in a rural area of North Carolina last Wednesday (September 11). Since then, social media users have been outraged at the way that Magee was found with a rope around his neck leaning up against a tree near his truck, suggesting that he was lynched.
“It’s a lot of holes in this case, it’s a lot of questions and not enough answers in this case,” said family spokesperson Candice Matthews in an interview with ABC7Chicago. “There’s no transparency that’s going on in this case. This family wants transparency, this family wants accountability, this family wants justice.” In a post on X, formerly Twitter, a user named Pier Jaree who states that she is Magee’s cousin accused the authorities in Henderson of preventing the family from identifying the body.
My cousin Javion Magee was found hanging from a tree in Henderson, NC. They will not let his mom identify the body due to “covid restrictions” which screams foul play. Please circulate!! @AttorneyCrump @aclu_nc @ABC11_WTVD @ABC7Chicago @nbcchicago
— Pier Jarae (@UrbanBlackGirl) September 12, 2024
Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame spoke to the media on Friday (September 13) about the incident, confirming the condition that Magee was found in. “I understand there’s over 1,000 hits on TikTok (accusing) the sheriff’s office of not being transparent, not providing information to the family and that is not true,” Brame said. “There’s been information put out there that there’s a lynching in Vance County. There is not a lynching in Vance County. The young man was not dangling from a tree. He was not swinging from a tree. The rope was wrapped around his neck. It was not a noose. There was not a knot in the rope, so therefore, it was not a lynching here in Vance County.”
Brame also confirmed that Magee’s body was sent to the medical examiner for a preliminary autopsy, where their results indicated that the body showed no signs of defensive struggle. He also said that he wouldn’t rule it a suicide despite saying there weren’t signs of foul play. Brame also confirmed that the FBI has joined the investigation. The information hasn’t convinced many on social media, who are joining Magee’s family members in calling for more law enforcement involvement and noting similarities in the police response to what occurred in the death of Sandra Bland.
Take a look at the responses to Magee’s death below.
1. Rebirth
2. KionnahW
4. BCherise
5. MothTongue
7. Jordan Taylyr
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Source: Pacific Press / Getty / Mayor Eric Adams / Lisa Zornberg
It’s not looking good for Mayor Mixxy, aka Eric Adams.
As the walls continue to close in on NYC Mayor Eric Adams as his people in his close inner orbit are getting visits from the feds and arrested in some cases, another sign Eric Adams is in trouble is New York City Hall’s chief counsel suddenly stepping down.
The New York Post reports that Lisa Zornberg, who has been the lead attorney for Mayor Mixxy and City Hall since July 2023, has handed in her resignation papers. Her move comes after NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban also resigned.
According to the Daily News reporting, Zornberg resigned “after the mayor rejected her advice to fire several top administration officials ensnared in federal corruption investigations rocking City Hall, according to two sources familiar with the matter.”
In a statement, Zornberg said, “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve the city, and I strongly support the work he has done and continues to do for New Yorkers.”
In response, Adams thanked Zornberg for her service and said he would swiftly find her replacement.
“We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months. These are hard jobs and we don’t expect anyone to stay in them forever,” Adams said.
It’s Not Looking Good For Eric Adams
Zornberg’s resignation comes on the heels of the homes of Caban and other members of the NYPD’s homes being raided as part of a massive corruption probe alleging influence peddling.
James Caban, Edward Caban’s twin brother, is currently under investigation by the feds for allegedly being a “fixer” for many Manhattan restaurants and clubs as part of his “consulting” work.
The hits keep on coming for Eric Adams.
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Source: Spencer Platt / Getty
New York City Mayor Eric Adams caught the wrath of numerous people online after a clumsy statement defending NYPD officers shooting wildly at a subway farebeater.
On Sunday (September 15), New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement in a post on X, formerly Twitter, after an incident where New York Police Department officers shot at an alleged farebeater at a subway station in Brooklyn. “Earlier today, one of our officers was shot while protecting our subway system. I am relieved to report he is in good condition now, and we have arrested the suspect who put so many lives in danger. I cannot thank these officers enough for their bravery,” Adams wrote. The post immediately received a correction through the platform’s Community Notes for omitting that it was NYPD officers who fired their guns, hitting a fellow officer as well as two civilians.
Earlier today, one of our officers was shot while protecting our subway system. I am relieved to report he is in good condition now, and we have arrested the suspect who put so many lives in danger. I cannot thank these officers enough for their bravery. pic.twitter.com/nSLDTyZwkj
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) September 16, 2024
The incident took place at the Sutter Avenue L train station in Brownsville, Brooklyn as two officers observed Derell Mickles enter the station without paying the fare at 3 P.M. They followed Mickles up three flights of stairs to the platform, where they confronted him. At a press conference, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey stated that the officers on the scene yelled at him to stop, at one point following him onto a waiting train and then off. “The suspect challenged the officers, saying, ‘No, you’re going to have to shoot me,’” Maddrey told the press, adding that they deployed Tasers which were “ineffective”.
The officers then opened fire as Mickles reportedly charged at them, hitting him in the stomach but also hitting bystanders on the platform. “Everyone who was struck this afternoon, we believe, was hit by our officers,” Maddrey said, saying that the Force Investigation Division and the Detective Squad will conduct further investigations.
Adams’ statement omitting the NYPD officers’ culpability angered many who saw the statement on X, blasting him for another sign of ineptitude. Others noted that the situation came a day after his attorney Lisa Zornberg resigned in a surprise move, and four days after NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned amid a federal corruption probe that has targeted several other members of Adams’ administration.
There may be no severe disciplinary action for the NYPD officers in the Brownsville subway shooting, as Caban reportedly signed off on internal disciplinary reductions before stepping down.
Check out more reactions to Adams’ statement below.
1. Nima Shiraz
2. Molly Conger
3. Shay Stewart Bouley
4. Best of TV Bots
5. Andrew Citrano
6. Luca Guadagnegro
7. ANTIFAbadgebun
8. Czarina
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Donald Trump has officially declined to participate in a second presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris and in true Trump fashion, he has defaulted to the Land of Delulu in explaining why he has refused.
Trump is out here claiming he won the first debate.
That’s right, y’all. Despite the fact that it has been widely accepted by people on both sides of the political aisle that Harris molly-whopped Trump on the debate stage Tuesday night, the commander-in-fake-dog-and-cat-recues claims he won’t accept Harris’ challenge to a second debate because “polls clearly show that I won the debate…”
“When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’ Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate, on Tuesday night, and she immediately called for a Second Debate,” Trump posted on his comically-named platform, Truth Social.”
For the record, even the most generous polls from reputable sources have Karris dog-walking Trump by double-digit percentage points. Trump keeps posting screenshots of unscientific polls from Newsmax and other online sources that erroneously have more than 90% of respondents saying the guy who claimed Harris “wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison” won the debate, but those polls clearly don’t reflect the electorate — or reality.
It’s no surprise that Trump doesn’t want to debate Harris again. He made a fool of himself by ranting about fictional post-birth abortions and equally fictional pet-eating immigrants. Trump was transparently afraid to debate Harris the first time — and she ultimately proved he had reason to be — so of course he doesn’t want to put himself through it again.
Anyway, the fine folks on X were not buying Trump’s claim that he’s only declining a second debate because he “clearly” won the first, and they have responded by calling him the chicken-sh*t that he clearly is.
Check out the reactions below.
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Source: Allison Joyce / Getty
During last week’s debate with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump put a target on the backs of legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio by baselessly claiming that they were kidnapping and eating people’s cats and dogs.
Since then not only has the town had to deal with bomb threats at schools and buildings, but the woman who started the rumor, Erika Lee publicly apologized saying she didn’t know just how hateful the public’s reaction would be to the Haitian community in Ohio.
Still, Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance continued to double down on the racist rhetoric and in a surprising admission, JD Vance said he has no problem peddling false stories as long as it brings attention to their cause. On Sunday (Sep.15), Vance was interviewed by CNN’s Dana Bash and was pressed about the growing animosity that MAGA country has towards the Haitian community over the baseless cats and dogs rumors and not only justified their divisive rhetoric but also said he’d be willing to makeup stories on the campaign trail if he has to.
“The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes… If I have to, if I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m gonna do, Dana, because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast.”
For her part, Kamala Harris isn’t singling out any specific group of America’s population to get people to pay attention to her campaign. Just sayin.’
While this was definitely the kind of thing that should’ve been dominating the news cycle for the next few days, another “attempted assassination” of Donald Trump was foiled in Florida and now we have to deal with those conspiracy theories even though it was perpetrated by a former Trump supporter with a history of mental illness.
So yeah, far-right politics in 2024.
Check out JD Vance blow up his own spot below and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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Elon Musk has long inserted himself in the culture wars that have divided political discourse similarly to the current makeup of Congress, and employing his massive X platform as a vehicle for said messaging. The wealthy businessman posted and later deleted an X reply pondering why assassination attempts against President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris have not occurred in the wake of the latest attempt on former president Donald Trump’s life.
Elon Musk asked the question in a quoted reply on X via the pro-Trump @cb_doge account, which asked on Sunday (September), “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?”
In the quoted reply, Musk wrote, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala [chin scratching emoji].”
The X reply from @cb_doge had well over a million views and several quoted replies from both supporters of Musk’s missive and detractors who felt the words were an incitement or invitation to would-be assassins. This has prompted users on X to get the #DeportElonMusk topic to trend with many replies pointing out what they feel is a divisive political stance.
Elon Musk has made no secret of his alignment with Trump after reinstating the business mogul’s once-suspended account and sharing glowing words about the presidential hopeful on his platform and beyond. Further, Musk is a strong proponent of free speech and uses his platform to freely express his views despite how unpopular they may seem to some.
A quick scan of Musk’s account shows him largely quote-replying to other accounts, especially those with favorable things to say about him or his many business endeavors. There are no signs of an apology regarding his quip about President Biden and Vice President Harris. In fact, Musk is framing the deleted tweet as an attempt at humor.
“Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on 𝕏,” reads one X reply. He followed it with, “Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.”
On X, the #DeportElonMusk has several replies calling for the deportation of Elon Musk. We’ve got those reactions below.
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Photo: Jean Catuffe / Getty