Current Events
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Donald Trump was found to have shared a private jet flight with the architect behind Project 2025, contradicting denials of his involvement.
As more of the public has become aware of Project 2025, the policy blueprint to radically remake the United States into a more conservative image, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been distancing himself from it. “Have no idea who is in charge of it,” he wrote in a Truth Social post last month. But that has hit a snag. According to reports, Trump was recorded taking a private jet flight with Kevin Roberts, the architect of the 900-page policy. Roberts has been an infamous figure, recently saying to Steve Bannon during a recent interview: “We are in the process of the second American revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
The 45-minute private flight, according to sources familiar with the trip, took place in April 2022 when Trump flew to the Heritage Foundation’s annual conference on Amelia Island. The flight was logged by the Heritage Foundation because they chartered the plane as Trump’s jet was being serviced. Trump spoke at the conference, remarking: “With Kevin and the staff, and I met so many of them now, I took pictures with among the most handsome, beautiful people I’ve ever seen.” Roberts would also state that he talked to Trump extensively in April of this year: “I personally have talked to President Trump about Project 2025 because my role in the project has been to make sure that all of the candidates who have responded to our offer for a briefing on Project 2025 get one from me.”
When asked, a Trump campaign official stated that Project 2025 wasn’t discussed on the plane ride. However, the fallout from the increased scrutiny has led to several figures involved with Project 2025 stepping down, including its director Paul Dans. The move was reportedly due to “pressure from Trump campaign leadership.” Outside observers have noted that these moves were also due to the policy now being seen as “a disaster, a catastrophe … the wishful-thinking school is that this will all blow over.”
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Everyone is aware that air pollution has been a problem for decades now, but a new study is finding that Black and Hispanic people are more susceptible to its negative affects in New York City.
Gothamist is reporting that the toxic air in the New York City subway system is having an impact on low-income riders, who happen to be Black and Hispanic men and women, due to their longer commutes and train transfers throughout the day. With that being the case, commuters are being exposed to tiny particles, known as particle matter, which can enter the lungs and make its way into the bloodstream causing all kinds of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Masoud Ghandehari, a professor of civil and urban engineering, says that he actually tends to “hold my breath before I come out of the station because I know that’s when the concentrations are up,” whenever riding the subway as the “air quality in New York’s subway system exceeds the World Health Organization’s exposure guidelines by up to 15 times.”
But it doesn’t stop there. He also found other disturbing data.
Gothamist reports:
He said the research found that longer commutes with more transfers and time spent waiting on platforms led to higher exposure to polluted air. Black and Hispanic riders experienced 35% and 23% more polluted air, respectively, compared to Asian and white commuters, Ghandehari said.
“When the train comes by, all the metal in the bottom of the tunnel gets turned up,” he said. “Every time the door opens, concentrations in the train go up because the outdoor environment, the platforms, are higher in concentration.”
The paper showed the stations with the highest levels of particulate matter are 168th Street and 181st Street on the 1 train, Bowling Green’s 5 line, the Broadway-Lafayette B station and the High Street train.
Ghandehari’s team developed an online map so straphangers can plot their typical commute and approximate their particulate exposure.
Yeah, people might want to actually wear N95 masks again whenever riding public transportation in New York City. This time around, it’s not to protect themselves from COVID.
Still, MTA Communications Director Tim Minton didn’t agree with Ghandehari’s findings and said his research has been debunked in the past.
“This recycled ‘study’ based on years-old ‘data’ has long since been debunked,” Minton said in a statement. “Every serious person knows transit is the antidote to climate change, the one reason NYC is the greenest city around, and an engine of equity for people of all communities who need an affordable, safe way to get to jobs, schools and opportunities of every kind.”
Yeah, we’re leaning towards going with the professor on this one. No shots.
Are y’all going to take heed and wear masks when riding the subway in New York City? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Vice President Kamala Harris had a confrontational moment with Gaza war protesters at her campaign rally, with some division on social media over her response.
On Wednesday (August 7), Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a campaign rally held in Detroit, Michigan. As she spoke before the crowd of 15,000 gathered in a hangar at Detroit Metro Airport, a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters began shouting to interrupt her. “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide,” they chanted, “We won’t vote for genocide.” Harris looked to move on while acknowledging the group, saying: “I’m here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now.” The crowd cheered, and she began to talk about the threat of Donald Trump being re-elected when the protesters interrupted again. The vice president raised her hands up at that point. “You know what,” she said firmly, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” She stared directly at the protesters as the audience cheered louder, chanting “We’re not going back”. The protesters were then escorted out of the venue.
The moment was a contrast to a meeting that Harris and her presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had with Uncommitted National Movement founders Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed (the sister of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib) before the rally. The Arab-American group mobilized to withhold 100,000 votes from President Joe Biden in the Michigan primary over his stance backing Israel in its 10-month war against Hamas in Gaza. Alawieh said that he “felt an openness from V.P. Harris, as well as a listening ear from Governor Walz”.In a statement, Harris’ campaign team “reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities.”
The confrontation at the rally left some on social media divided. Some felt Harris’ response was too flippant. Columnist Wajahat Ali wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that her team needed to prep her to have a better response: “You can’t mock it away. Just have a line ready that at least acknowledges you hear them.” Others noted how the protesters seemed more willing to attack Democrats but not Donald Trump and other Republicans. One X user by the name of Colorfullstory wrote: “Explain it to me like I’m 5…Why are they protesting the person calling for a ceasefire but not the person saying Israel should finish the job?”
Take a look at the responses to the campaign rally moment below.
1. Karen Attiah
2. Qasim Rashid
3. Yair Rosenberg
5. Dr. T. Anansi Wilson
6. Queen Zenobia
7. DMC0281
8. Ernest Owens
9. Roland Martin
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Elon Musk & X have filed a lawsuit against advertisers he claimed colluded to boycott the social media platform.
According to reports, tech billionaire Elon Musk and the parent company of the social media platform X, formerly Twitter filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court against the World Federation of Advertisers claiming these companies colluded to boycott the platform. The suit also names other companies such as Mars, Unilever, CVS, and Dutch clean energy firm Orsted. “This is an antitrust action relating to a group boycott by competing advertisers of one of the most popular social media platforms in the United States,” the suit reads.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino informed subscribers of the lawsuit in a video and letter posted to X, formerly Twitter, stating that the advertisers were harming “the marketplace of ideas” with their actions. The suit also named the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, or GARM as a defendant claiming they were “discontinuing entirely or substantially reducing their previously substantial advertising purchases.” The company seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages, alleging the boycott is still ongoing. “By sharply curtailing its revenues, the boycott has reduced X’s ability to invest in new or improved functionality, thus harming the consumers who use X’s platform.”
The lawsuit comes after an investigation was initiated by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee last month, which heard testimony from those companies involved. “The extent to which GARM has organized its trade association and coordinates actions that rob consumers of choices is likely illegal under the antitrust laws and threatens fundamental American freedoms,” its report read. Musk infamously told advertisers at the DealBook Summit last November who had begun to withdraw after his acquisition of X in 2022 to leave, saying: “Somebody’s going to try to blackmail me with advertising?! Blackmail me with money? Go f–k yourself. Go. F–k. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” Companies cited the rise of racist and anti-Semitic content on the platform as a major reason for their exit.
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Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance was the subject of a comical jab by Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz during a vibrant speech with Kamala Harris in Philadelphia.
On Tuesday (August 6), before a packed auditorium at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris officially introduced her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. He demonstrated how effective he was with his messaging as he attacked JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate. “Like all regular people I grew up with in the heartland,” Walz began. “JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a best seller trashing that community. Come on. That’s not what middle America is. And I gotta tell you. I can’t wait to debate the guy.” As the crowd roared, Walz then quipped: “That is if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”
The reference to an alleged passage from the first edition of Vance’s book Hillbilly Elegy made the crowd raucous, and Walz immediately acknowledged it. “You see what I did there?” he said, briefly touching his ear as he laughed. But Walz’s speech also had jabs for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as well. “Make no mistake, violent crime was up under Donald Trump,” Walz stated, “and that’s not even counting the crimes he committed.” He also added: “He doesn’t know the first thing about service – because he’s too busy serving himself.” Harris spent her speech highlighting Walz’s accomplishments, which include his decades-long career as a teacher in high school and defensive coordinator for the school’s team as well as his 24 years serving in the Army National Guard. “My promise to you is this: Our campaign will reach out to everyone, from red states to blue states, from the heartland to the coast, in rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities,” she said to the crowd.
Walz was one of two remaining candidates to be Harris’ running mate – the other was Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who pledged his support for the ticket at the rally. Walz has proven to be a highly effective communicator so far for the Democrats, having been the figure who first described the Republican candidates and their supporters as “weird,” which has become virally affixed to them in the last couple of weeks.
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A week after U.S. authorities took El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada into custody, it seems like Lopez might’ve actually been working with the feds to get himself a lighter sentence.
According to Raw Story, before Lopez kidnapped Zambada and forced him onto a flight to the U.S. where they were both arrested, Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says that El Chapo’s son had been in talks with U.S. authorities before ultimately giving himself up along with a reluctant Ismael Zambada. Talk about not going down alone.
While it was rumored that Lopez was indeed working with the U.S. Department of Justice before turning himself in, no one was sure that was the case. It wasn’t until Zambada’s lawyer suggested that his client was kidnapped and forced to fly with Lopez to the U.S., that it seemed like that was actually what happened.
Now, with confirmation from Mexico’s president, it seems like Joaquin Guzman Lopez did indeed go the Tekashi 6ix9ine route on the Sinaloa Cartel.
Raw Story reports:
“What they (the Americans) told us was about Guzman Lopez, that they had talks with him and that suddenly not only Guzman Lopez arrived but Mr. Zambada arrived,” the president told his regular press briefing.
Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez previously said that US agents had received around two hours’ notice that Zambada — one of Mexico’s most-wanted drug traffickers — was on board the aircraft.
Both men were detained after disembarking at an airport near El Paso on July 25, but details of their capture remain murky.
US authorities have not officially confirmed any talks with Guzman Lopez ahead of the arrest, nor the existence of a deal under which he would turn Zambada over to US law enforcement.
Interestingly enough, the U.S. State Department had a $15 million reward on the table for the capture of 76-year-old Zambada and a $5 million reward for Lopez. You have to wonder if Lopez will get any of that bounty as he actually delivered them both. Just sayin’.
What do y’all think of this latest revelation surrounding El Chapo’s son? Fair or foul? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Politicians in Nassau County, Long Island, approved a sweeping ban on face masks, sparking heavy debate and concern.
On Monday (August 5), the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the Mask Transparency Act, which was introduced to combat “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” since the attack on Israel by Hamas last October. The bill, which passed by a 12-0 vote with all seven Democrats in the Legislature abstaining, makes wearing a mask a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. The ban allows for health and religious exemptions, and it applies to anyone over the age of 16. The bill is set to be signed into law by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. It comes as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul are weighing bans on masks in public places.
The Mask Transparency Act was introduced by Republican politician Mazi Melesa Pilip, who cited the pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza where demonstrators wore face coverings. “I have been to CUNY, Columbia, local high schools, community meetings, rallies in Great Neck,” she said. “I have heard the people speak loudly and clearly. They want this done.” Congressman Anthony D’Esposito seconded the sentiment at the Monday meeting, saying: “It is vital that these protesters remove the masks, come out of the darkness and are shown in light, which I believe will deter them from committing violence.”
Democratic politicians and civil libertarians blasted the ban. “Nassau County’s mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protestors,” wrote Nassau County Regional Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union in a statement, which ended with: The ban’s so-called health and religious exceptions are entirely inadequate: “Nassau County police officers are not health professionals or religious experts capable of deciding who needs a mask and who doesn’t.”
That sentiment was expressed by those opposed during the meeting of the legislature on Monday, where protesters verbally clashed with legislators. One unidentified woman was escorted out and arrested by Nassau County police. “You have chosen to participate in a culture war without recognizing that you are feeding right into a very dangerous demon,” said Kiana Abbady, who then had her microphone cut off and was escorted out.
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Donald Trump appeared on a livestream hosted by Adin Ross to boost his presidential campaign, but social media wasn’t too impressed.On Monday (August 5), Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had a unique event on his campaign schedule. He appeared as the special guest on a live stream hosted by streamer Adin Ross on the Kick platform, which reportedly drew an audience of over 580,000. “Today is going to be the most important stream I’ve ever done,” he said to start the interview, which was held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump walked in to 50 Cent’s hit “Many Men”, which he adopted after the thwarted attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania last month. Ross sported a “Make America Great Again” hat as he asked Trump various softball questions on supposed liberal bias in schools (“Even the teachers have been brainwashed, Trump said) to allowing Trump to give one-word reactions to images of politicians such as California Governor Gavin Newsome (who Trump called “New-scum”) to Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The interview, which lasted 90 minutes, also featured Trump repeating his attacks on Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris including his racist comments about her Black and Indian heritage. Trump also praised Ross’ deferential treatment of him, and said that his youngest son Barron was a “big fan”. Ross also brought up the racketeering case against Young Thug and asked if there was a way he could be treated fairly. “He’s gotta be treated fair,” Trump replied. Ross then gave Trump a Rolex watch valued at $300,000. The two then went outside as Ross gifted Trump a Tesla Cybertruck with a custom wrap featuring the photo of Trump after he was shot at during the Butler rally.
Ross has a highly controversial history that includes platforming white supremacist Nick Fuentes and being buddies with alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate. The 23-year-old followed Tate to the Kick platform after being banned from Twitch for using homophobic slurs in addition to racist and anti-Semitic slurs (Ross is Jewish) and showing pornographic images and videos during his streams. Social media users derided Ross’ interview, noting he hadn’t reached the 1 million viewers he claimed it would get. They also questioned his gifts to Trump, speculating he might’ve violated campaign finance rules.“The evidence suggests that Ross made or sought to make an illegal contribution, so he could face civil penalties,” said campaign watchdog Brendan Fisher.
Check out more reactions to the interview below.
1. Elgin Barrett Eugene Smith III
2. Alex Shulz
3. PELICANS_ENTHUSIAST
4. Matt, Dad Hat Enthusiast
5. Wild Geerters
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As homeowners in Florida deal with the structural and property damage inflicted by Hurricane Debby, some of its residents might want to check their re-up supply as 70 pounds of cocaine has washed up on the shores of the Florida Keys, reportedly
According to Raw Story the surprise find happened this past Monday, August 5, after the Category 1 hurricane pounded the Sunshine State with rain and high winds—and evidently broke open someone’s supply stash somewhere and let 25 tightly wrapped packages of nose candy out into the ocean, which ultimately led to it washing up on a beach.
Interestingly enough, the person who found the packages notified the authorities instead of rounding them up and becoming the new plug on the block. He obviously was not about that life whatsoever. We would’ve at least sent a wire to Rick Ross or something, allegedly. This is sarcasm.
U.S. Border Patrol acting chief patrol Agent Samuel Briggs II confirmed the wild find on X.
Raw Story reports:
The load of drugs, which Briggs reported was valued at more than $1 million, was discovered by a good Samaritan who contacted the authorities.
In July of 2023, the mayor of Tampa, Florida similarly discovered 70 pounds (31.7 kilograms) of cocaine that had been washed ashore in the Florida Keys, while enjoying a vacation day.
In addition to bringing cocaine, Debby has killed one person, knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of people, and could produce life-threatening storm surges as well as catastrophic flooding.
A million dollars worth of a cocaine. Someone could’ve moved it for half of that and been set for life. Just sayin’.
With news of this incredible find, don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of people with SUV’s parked near beaches for “no reason” next time another hurricane hits Florida. Could be a life-changing moment for someone.
What do y’all think of this? Would you have done the same or used those packages to become the new plug in town? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Donald Trump announced that he’s dropping out of a debate on ABC and is trying to force a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News.
On Saturday (Aug. 3), Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced that he won’t be taking part in the scheduled presidential debate on ABC, and is instead, stating that he’ll only debate Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the former president insulted Harris, writing that she “doesn’t have the mental capacity to do a REAL Debate against me, scheduled for September 4th in Pennsylvania.” He went on to say that “I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all.” Representatives for Fox News haven’t responded to press inquiries.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Vice President Harris called Trump out, writing: “It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space.’ I’ll be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there.” Another post from her campaign team reiterated her stance in a stronger tone, writing that Trump was “running scared” and calling him “Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”
Trump agreed to two debates with President Joe Biden in May. The first was held in Atlanta on CNN on June 27, and the second is scheduled for ABC on Sept. 10, with its chief political anchor George Stephanopoulos as moderator. Trump said in an earlier Truth Social post that he wanted to debate Harris on Sept. 4 because of Biden withdrawing from the race and the “conflict of interest” with Stephanopoulos moderating, citing a lawsuit he filed against the network.
Trump has attacked the anchor and ABC in previous interviews, calling them “fake news” in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. Trump has been mocked on social media since Biden’s stepping down and endorsing Harris as the Democratic candidate for the election. Observers feel that Trump avoiding a debate with Harris would cost him dearly, including former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci who stated in a CNN Newsroom interview that it “would be a disaster for him if he doesn’t debate the vice president.”