Global Aerospace’s SM4 Aviation Safety Program Offers Insights on Understanding Power Within an Organization – GlobeNewswire

Morris Plains, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the world of safety management, power might not be the first word that comes to mind. However, we're going to explore an intriguing conceptthe power that safety managers possess and how we can harness it to create a significant impact within our organizations.

Safety managers are, in essence, safety leaders, and they have the ability to influence and drive change through the power of leadership. In this article, we'll break down the concept of power into a pyramid, similar to Heinrich's Pyramid, and explore the different levels of power that safety managers can wield to make a real difference.

Understanding Power Within an Organization

At the base of our power pyramid, we have Legitimate Power, Reward Power and Coercive Power. These powers are closely associated with an organization's hierarchy.

Legitimate Power comes from holding a position of authority, such as a vice president of safety. However, it's important to note that in some cases, titles like director of safety may not necessarily carry legitimate authority. Reward Power allows safety managers to provide incentives for correct actions or use rewards to influence behavior, while Coercive Power involves using punishment to steer actions. Unfortunately, many safety managers may not have easy access to these powers, even if their titles suggest otherwise.

As we move up the power pyramid, we encounter Expert Power. This level of power is driven by knowledge and expertise. Safety managers who are highly knowledgeable about safety management, risk management and related principles have the confidence and capability to lead their organizations through safety management system implementation and maintenance successfully.

At the pinnacle of the power pyramid is Referent Power. This form of power revolves around charisma and how one relates to others. Charismatic leaders have the ability to influence and inspire their teams to achieve organizational goals. While charisma may not be the primary focus for safety managers, being friendly, approachable and patient can go a long way in building positive relationships and influencing change.

Putting Power Into Perspective

So, what's the key takeaway from this power pyramid? For many safety managers, the powers associated with organizational hierarchy at the pyramid's base may not be readily available. However, this should not discourage you, because you can still be a powerful influencer by concentrating on your expertise and your ability to connect with others.

To become a safety leader, commit to continuous learning and expand your knowledge in safety management. Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices. This expertise will not only boost your confidence but also empower you to guide your organization effectively through the complexities of safety management.

Furthermore, aim to be a positive and approachable presence in your workplace. You don't have to be overly charismatic or put on a facade, but being friendly, understanding and patient can help you build trust and create an environment conducive to positive change.

Being a powerful safety leader doesn't require a fancy title or the ability to enforce punishment. Instead, focus on your knowledge and your ability to connect with others. By doing so, you can wield the power of expertise and relatability to influence change, enhance safety and truly make a difference within your organization.

Remember, knowledge and a positive attitude can be your most potent tools in the world of safety management. Embrace them, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a safety leader who transforms your organization's safety culture for the better.

About Global Aerospace SM4 Aviation Safety Program The Global Aerospace SM4 Safety Program has revolutionized the way insurance specialists help their clients achieve higher levels of operational safety. SM4 was built on the concept of integrating four critical safety components: planning, prevention, response and recovery. Its mission is to help organizations manage risk, enrich training efforts, strengthen safety culture and improve safety management systems.https://sm4.global-aero.com/

Global AerospaceSM4 Aviation Safety Program Media Contact Suzanne Keneally Vice President, Group Head of Communications +1 973-490-8588

Follow this link:

Global Aerospace's SM4 Aviation Safety Program Offers Insights on Understanding Power Within an Organization - GlobeNewswire

Oceania Cruises Announces 2026 World Voyages Aboard Vista – Porthole Cruise and Travel

Oceania Cruises is launching its newest ship,Vista,for a 180-day Around the World voyage in 2026. This voyage will visit 101 ports across 43 countries, setting a new standard for global exploration. Bookings will officially open on March 13, 2024!

After the remarkable success of our most recent world cruises, we have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to present travelers with an even more extraordinary experience for our 2026 voyage, said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. With that, we are excited to announce thatVista, Oceania Cruises pinnacle of luxury and newest ship, will circumnavigate the globe artfully intertwining diverse continents, enriching cultures, and mouthwatering cuisines, creating an unforgettable tapestry of exploration for our guests. With this new voyage, we are excited to offer a rare chance to experience the world from an entirely new perspective and further forward the future of global cruising.

Vistawill depart from Miami on January 6, crossing three oceans and 18 seas to explore Southeast Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, Europe, and South America. The journey will include exploring continental coastlines, experiencing local cultures, trying new foods, and discovering natural wonders in off-the-beaten-path locations and popular cities.

Vistaoffers 11 onboard culinary venues, including the new Aquamar Kitchen, The Bakery at Baristas, and Ember. The ship, at 791 feet long and over 67,000 tons, maintains a high staffing ratio. Guests will enjoy gourmet experiences curated by Oceania Cruises Master Chefs of France, Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale and opportunities for Culinary Discovery Tours and cooking classes. Vista provides a variety of onboard activities, such as bars, lounges, and entertainment venues like the Founders Bar, Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, and Aquamar Spa Terrace.

The World Odyssey and Global Wanderlust voyages are available in addition to the 180-day Around the World cruise onVista. These cruises provide flexibility with a 120-day voyage from San Diego to Miami and a 197-day cruise from Los Angeles to Miami. Vistas luxurious ambiance and spacious staterooms offer guests a comfortable home at sea to relax and rejuvenate during their journey.

Head to their website for more information on Oceania Cruises 2026 Around the World journeys!

Oceania Cruises provides simply MORE, which includes all-inclusive features in the voyage fare, such as free roundtrip airfare, airport transfers, a shore excursion credit of up to $1,400 per stateroom, and a beverage package available during lunch and dinner.

Will you be sailing around the world with Oceania Cruises? Let us know in the comments!

See more here:

Oceania Cruises Announces 2026 World Voyages Aboard Vista - Porthole Cruise and Travel

Oceania Cruises Announces 2026 Around the World Voyage Aboard Its Newest Ship, Vista – PR Newswire

Set sail on an epic 180-day world journey across six continents visiting 43 countries, 101 ports and 81 UNESCO World Heritage sites

MIAMI, March 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Opening up the world to a new era of global exploration,Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, welcomes guests on board its newest ship, Vista, for its highly anticipated inaugural 180-day 2026 Around the World voyage. Having set the standard for extraordinary sailings for over a decade with destination-immersive global journeys, Oceania Cruises sets a new bar with unparalleled comfort and convenience, electing Vista to host this year's circumnavigation visiting 101 ports across 43 countries. Now open for preview, bookings for this unique, all-encompassing journey officially open on March 13, 2024.

Setting sail from Miami on January 6, the boutique 1,200-guest vessel will cross three oceans and 18 seas, exploring the jewels of Southeast Asia and Australia, island-hopping in the South Pacific, calling on unique ports in Europe, and exploring favorite South American cities. Fully charting entire continental coastlines, the journey features both off-the-beaten-path secrets and impressive cities embracing cultural immersions, epicurean discoveries and breathtaking natural wonders.

"After the remarkable success of our most recent world cruises, we have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to present travelers with an even more extraordinary experience for our 2026 voyage," remarked Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "With that, we are excited to announce that Vista, Oceania Cruises' pinnacle of luxury and newest ship, will circumnavigate the globe artfully intertwining diverse continents, enriching cultures, and mouthwatering cuisines, creating an unforgettable tapestry of exploration for our guests. With this new voyage, we are excited to offer a rare chance to experience the world from an entirely new perspective and further forward the future of global cruising."

Around the World in 180 Days

The 2026 Around the World journey weaves together a lineup of destinations into a brilliant kaleidoscope of world wonders, marvelous attractions, and exceptional encounters. Vista will start its six-month sojourn with a sweeping six-week exploration of South America, fully charting the continent's western coast before continuing to Mexico and California, and then will island-hop in the dazzling South Pacific and call on unique Australian ports such as the Whitsunday Islands. Farther west, off-the-beaten-path secrets will come to life in Southeast Asia and across India. Toward the end of the voyage, Vista will call into enchanting coastal villages and iconic cities throughout the Mediterranean, British Isles and Nordic region before crossing back over to the United States.

Continuing to elevate The Finest Cuisine at Sea, Vista features 11 onboard culinary venues including the lines' newest additions: Aquamar Kitchen, offering an array of wellness-inspired dishes with a hint of indulgence; The Bakery at Baristas, serving tempting freshly baked pastries; and new signature restaurant, Ember. At 791 feet (241 meters) long and more than 67,000 tons, Vista offers a market-leading staffing ratio with two crew members for every three guests. On board, culinary aficionados will delight in the gourmet experiences curated by Oceania Cruises' two resident Master Chefs of France, Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale. From immersive Culinary Discovery Tours ashore to hands-on cooking classes back on board, guests will have the opportunity to savor the flavors of cultures from around the world alongside Director of Culinary Enrichment Kathryn Kelly, an Oceania Cruises Around the World first. Vista additionally offers an elevated variety of onboard activities including eight bars, lounges and entertainment venues, including the new Founders Bar, the luxurious Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center and Aquamar Spa Terrace.

This epic voyage features over 80 UNESCO World Heritage sites across 101 destinations, with 11 overnight stays and a series of curated complimentary special onshore events and optional multi-day overland programs. Starting at $59,699 per person for the French Veranda Stateroom category, the 180-day world cruise boasts free first-class roundtrip airfare and transfers, an array of included amenities with the Exclusive Prestige Package such as free laundry services, a free visa package, free Internet, free pre-paid gratuities, free luggage delivery, as well as inclusive simply MORE amenities including a generous shore excursion credit of $8,800 per stateroom and a comprehensive beverage package available during lunch and dinner.

World Odyssey and Global Wanderlust Voyages

In addition to Vista's Around the World in 180 days cruise, Oceania Cruises is offering more flexibility than ever by offering Global Wanderlust, a 120-day voyage from San Diego to Miami, as well as World Odyssey, a 197-day cruise from Los Angeles to Miami. While the global destinations are naturally the star attraction on this journey, the luxurious ambiance of Vista welcomes guests to the ultimate home at sea. With staterooms among the most spacious ever to be offered on a world journey, Oceania Cruises provides the space for a ritual of rejuvenation before exploring each day.

A detailed brochure for Oceania Cruises' 2026 Around the World journeys may be found here. For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About simply MOREOceania Cruises offers travelers simply MORE, with virtually everything included in the voyage fare: free roundtrip airfare; free airport transfers; a generous shore excursion credit of up to $1,400 per stateroom to be spent on tours of their choice; and a comprehensive beverage package available during lunch and dinner at onboard restaurants featuring dozens of vintage Champagnes, premium wines and international beers. Created to elevate the guest experience, simply MORE means travelers receive the greatest value in luxury cruising.

About Oceania CruisesOceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences are available aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents, on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visitOceaniaCruises.com.

SOURCE Oceania Cruises

See the original post here:

Oceania Cruises Announces 2026 Around the World Voyage Aboard Its Newest Ship, Vista - PR Newswire

America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses – The Daily Reflector

Since Hamas Oct. 7 attacks inside Israel and U.S. support for the resulting war in Gaza, protests and rallies have sprouted at college campuses across the U.S.

Tempers have flared, and tensions have risen.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm%92E :?4=F56D 2 C:D6 😕 C6A@CED @7 2?E:D6>:E:D>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p?E:s672>2E:@? {628F6[ H9:49 D2H 2 be`T C:D6 😕 2?E:y6H:D9 :?4:56?ED 7C@> ~4E] f E@ y2?] f 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 J62C 28@]k^Am

kAm%96 r@F?4:= @? p>6C:42?xD=2>:4 #6=2E:@?D Wrpx#X 2=D@ D2H 2 `fgT :?4C62D6 😕 C6A@CED @7 2?E:|FD=:> 2?5 2?E:!2=6DE:?:2? :?4:56?ED 24C@DD E96 &]$] 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE E9C66 >@?E9D @7 a_ab]k^Am

kAm(2C AC@E6DED 2?5 :?46?5:2CJ C96E@C:4 @? 42>AFD6D 92G6 2=D@ DA2C<65 ?6H 5632E6D 2?5 E6?D:@?D @G6C E96 =2?5D42A6 7@C 7C66 DA6649[ H96? E92E DA6649 4C@DD6D =682= =:?6D 2?5 E96 7FEFC6 @7 5:DD6?E @? 42>AFD6D]k^Am

A pro-Israel demonstrator shouts at Palestinian supporters during a protest at Columbia University, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities face federal investigations for shared ancestry discrimination under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the wake of anti-war and anti-Israel protests on campus.

kAmkDEC@?8mq&|!* {p}s$rp!tk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 4FCC6?E =2?5D42A6 😀 3F>AJ] %96 xDC26=w2>2D H2C 😀 ;FDE E96 =2E6DE 6I2>A=6 E92E 92D 82=G2?:K65 5:D4FDD:@? 2?5 5:DAFE6D 23@FE E96 =:>:ED @? 7C66 DA6649 😕 @FC 9:89=J A@=2C:K65 D@4:6EJ[ D2:5 y2?6 z:CE=6J[ 2 AC@76DD@C @7 >65:2 6E9:4D 2?5 =2H 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:??6D@E2D wF332C5 $49@@= @7 y@FC?2=:D> 2?5 |2DD r@>>F?:42E:@?]k^Am

kAmuC66 DA6649 25G@42E6D H@CCJ 23@FE F?:G6CD:EJ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD[ 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D @G6CD66:?8 AF3=:4 4@==686D 2?5 H62=E9J 5@?@CD DBF6=49:?8 DA6649 E96J 5@?E =:<6 :? E9:D 42D6[ G:6HD @? E96 H2C[ xDC26=[ !2=6DE:?6 2?5 &]$] A@=:4J]k^Am

kAm(92E H6C6 724:?8 ?@H 😀 E92E 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D DE2E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D[ DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 2C6 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 ECJ:?8 E@ C6DEC:4E @A:?:@?D H:E9 H9:49 E96J 5:D28C66] %9:D 😀 2 AC@3=6> 7@C 6G6CJ@?6[ z:CE=6J D2:5] ~?46 H6 @A6? E96 5@@C E@ 2==@H:?8 E96 8@G6C?>6?E E@ E6== FD H92E E9@F89ED 2C6?E 2446AE23=6[ H6 CF? E96 C:D< E92E[ :? E96 7FEFC6[ :562D H:E9 H9:49 H6 28C66 4@F=5 36 DFAAC6DD65[ 2D H6==]k^Am

kAmw2=6J v=F92?:49[ AC@8C2> @77:46C 7@C 42>AFD C:89ED 25G@424J 7@C E96 u@F?52E:@? 7@C x?5:G:5F2= #:89ED 2?5 tIAC6DD:@? Wux#tX[ 92D D66? 2? :?4C62D6 😕 42==D 7C@> DEF56?ED[ 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ D:?46 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 w@=J {2?5 H2C]k^Am

kAm(6 2C6 D66:?8 6G6?ED 36:?8 42?46=65] (6 2C6 D66:?8 DEF56?E @C82?:K2E:@?D 36:?8 56492CE6C65] (6 2C6 D66:?8 DEF56?ED 2?5 724F=EJ >6>36CD 86EE:?8 5:D4:A=:?65 7@C D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED 7@C D@>6 4@>>6?ED >256 😕 4=2DD[ v=F92?:49 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 ux#t 92D C646:G65 4@>A=2:?ED 24C@DD E96 4@?E6?E:@FD A@=:E:42= DA64ECF>] xE 😀 AC6EEJ 6BF2=] r@?D6CG2E:G6D 2?5 =:36C2=D H6 2C6 D66:?8 3@E9 @7 E96> 92G:?8 E96:C DA6649 C6DEC:4E65[ v=F92?:49 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 E92E 92D :?4=F565 F?:G6CD:E:6D :>A@D:?8 9:89 :?DFC2?46 C6BF:C6>6?ED[ ECJ:?8 E@ >@G6 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 6G6?ED @?=:?6 @C E@ >@C6 C6>@E6 =@42E:@?D 2?5 4:E:?8 D64FC:EJ 4@?46C?D 😕 C6DEC:4E:?8 46CE2:? DA62<6CD 2?5 8C@FAD]k^Am

kAmz:CE=6J 2?5 v=F92?:49 C6:?7@C465 E96 :562 E92E AF3=:4 9:896C 65F42E:@? :?DE:EFE:@?D 2C6 6DA64:2==J 3@F?5 E@ u:CDE p>6?5>6?E AC@E64E:@?D 2?5 >FDE 2G@:5 5:D4C:>:?2E:?8 282:?DE 46CE2:? G:6HA@:?ED] %92E :?4=F56D 92E6 DA6649 E92E 42? 36 5:D4@>7@CE:?8]k^Am

kAm|2?J A6@A=6 5@?E C62=:K6 E92E 92E6 DA6649 H9:49 5@6D?E 92G6 2 4=62C 567:?:E:@? 😀 AC@E64E65 F?56C E96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E] %9:D 😀 G6CJ :>A@CE2?E[ 3642FD6[ 2D 2 86?6C2= CF=6[ C6DEC:4E:@?D @? DA6649 E92E 2C6 G:6HA@:?E32D65 2C6 5:D72G@C65 F?56C @FC 7C66 DA6649 ;FC:DACF56?46]k^Am

kAm%96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 92D C64@8?:K65 E92E E96 8@G6C?>6?E 42??@E 5:4E2E6 H92E 😀 @CE9@5@I 😕 E9@F89E @C DA6649[ z:CE=6J D2:5]k^Am

kAm$A6649 E92E :?4:E6D G:@=6?46 2?5 DA64:7:4 E9C62ED[ 9@H6G6C[ 5@6D ?@E 6?;@J u:CDE p>6?5>6?E AC@E64E:@?D]k^Am

American colleges have become places of anguish, with Jewish and other pro-Israel students condemning the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, while Muslim and progressive students are pressing for recognition of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza.

kAmkDEC@?8m$%&st}%$ (p}% %~ utt{ $putk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm$9:C2 v@@5>2?[ D6?:@C 5:C64E@C @7 25G@424J 7@C ps{[ D2:5 AF3=:4 4@==686D 92G6 E96 =682= C:89E E@ C6DA@?D:3=J C68F=2E6 DA6649 2?5 E@ AC@E64E DEF56?ED 2?5 DE277 7C@> 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?[ 92C2DD>6?E 2?5 9@DE:=6 65F42E:@?2= 6?G:C@?>6?ED F?56C %:E=6 'x @7 E96 `hec r:G:= #:89ED p4E]k^Am

kAm%96 8@G6C?>6?E 92D E96 C:89E E@ 92G6 E:>6[ A=246 2?5 >2??6C C6DEC:4E:@?D[ A6C>:EE:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED[ E:>6 C6DEC:4E:@?D[ D96 D2:5] (6 H2?E E9@D6 E9:?8D 6?7@C465 6BF2==J]k^Am

kAmv@@5>2? D2:5 6G6? AC@E64E65 DA6649 42? CF? :?E@ :DDF6D 😕 65F42E:@?2= D6EE:?8D C646:G:?8 7656C2= 7F?5:?8 F?56C %:E=6 'x] x E9:?< H6 7@C86E E92E E96C6 :D E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E 6G6? AC@E64E65 DA6649 42? 4C62E6 2 9@DE:=6 6?G:C@?>6?E] x E9:?< E92ED :>A@CE2?E[ v@@5>2? D2:5]k^Am

kAmv@@5>2? D2:5 y6H:D9 DEF56?ED 2?5 DE277 92G6 G@:465 4@?46C?D 23@FE A6CD@?2= D276EJ 2E D49@@=D 2?5 65F42E:@?2= H@C 2?5 492=<:?8 :?G@=G:?8 DH2DE:<2D 2?5 @E96C 92E67F= DJ>3@=D 2?5 D=@82?D]k^Am

kAm~FC =682= 42== =:?6D E96JG6 8@EE6? 9F?5C65D @7 42==D 24C@DD F?:G6CD:E:6D[ D96 D2:5] $@>6 @7 E9@D6 >:89E C6DF=E 😕 =:E:82E:@?] r=2:>D 2C6 36:?8 7:=65 H:E9 E96 s~t]k^Am

kAmp &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? DA@<6DA6CD@? C676CC65 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 2 A@DE~4E] f C:D6 :? 92C2DD>6?E %:E=6 'x 4@>A=2:?ED E@ 2 }@G6>36C AC6DD C6=62D6 😕 H9:49 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? D2:5 :E H@F=5 DE2CE C6=62D:?8 E96 ?2>6D @7 :?DE:EFE:@?D F?56C :?G6DE:82E:@? 7@C A@E6?E:2= 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? 32D65 @? D92C65 2?46DECJ]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 w2>2D 2EE24@C6 E92? c_ 4@==686D 2?5 F?:G6CD:E:6D E92E 2C6 36:?8 :?G6DE:82E65 7@C A@E6?E:2= D92C65 2?46DECJ 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 :?G6DE:82E:@? =:DE :?4=F56D D49@@=D H96C6 y6H:D9 DEF56?ED 92G6 G@:465 D276EJ 4@?46C?D 5FC:?8 2?E:H2C AC@E6DED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r@@A6C &?:@?[ r@C?6== &?:G6CD:EJ[ r@=F>3:2 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 }6H $49@@= 😕 }6H *@C<[ E96 F?:G6CD:E:6D @7 %2>A2 2?5 $@FE9 u=@C:52[ w2CG2C5 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 E96 |2DD249FD6EED x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J]k^Am

kAm%96 s~t =:DE 2=D@ :?4=F56D @E96C xGJ {628F6 2?5 6=:E6 D49@@=D W:?4=F5:?8 *2=6[ $E2?7@C5[ y@9?D w@A<:?D 2?5 qC@H?X[ D6G6C2= q:8 %6? D49@@=D W:?4=F5:?8 |:49:82?[ ~9:@ $E2E6[ #FE86CD[ }@CE9H6DE6C?[ x?5:2?2q=@@>:?8E@?[ |:??6D@E2%H:? r:E:6D 2?5 (:D4@?D:?|25:D@?X[ 2D H6== 2D |@?E2?2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 E96 F?:G6CD:E:6D @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2r92A6= w:== 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?]k^Am

kAmp ?F>36C @7 D49@@=D 4@?E24E65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED E@ 4@>>6?E 23@FE 9@H E96J 2C6 92?5=:?8 AC@E6DED[ 7C66 DA6649 2?5 D276EJ 4@?46C?D] ~77:4:2=D 2E ~9:@ $E2E6 2?5 (:D4@?D:?|25:D@? C676CC65 E@ E96:C DA6649 A@=:4:6D DFAA@CE:?8 2 7C66 6I492?86 @7 :562D 2?5 5:776C:?8 @A:?:@?D]k^Am

kAm(6 92G6 366? 8F:565 3J EH@ =@?8DE2?5:?8 AC:?4:A=6Di ~9:@ $E2E6 😀 4@>>:EE65 E@ 6?DFC:?8 7C665@> @7 DA6649 2?5 6IAC6DD:@? @? @FC 42>AFD[ 2?5 ~9:@ $E2E6 92D ?6G6C 2?5 H:== ?6G6C E@=6C2E6 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? @C 92C2DD>6?E @7 2?J@?6 32D65 @? E96:C C6=:8:@FD 36=:67D[ ?2E:@?2=:EJ @C :56?E:EJ] p==682E:@?D @7 E9C62ED[ 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? @C 92C2DD>6?E 2C6 :?G6DE:82E65 3J @FC ~77:46 @7 x?DE:EFE:@?2= tBF:EJ[ D2:5 q6? y@9?D@?[ 2? ~9:@ $E2E6 DA@<6DA6CD@?]k^Am

kAmv@@5>2? H2?ED D49@@=D E@ 5@ >@C6 E@ >2<6 DFC6 DEF56?ED :DEC62E>6?E 2?5 E@ 36 >@C6 EC2?DA2C6?E 23@FE E96:C A@=:4:6D 2?5 A@DE ~4E] f 492?86D 27E6C E96 AC6D:56?ED @7 w2CG2C5[ |x% 2?5 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 42>6 F?56C 7:C6 7@C =F<6H2C> 2?DH6CD 5FC:?8 2 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 962C:?8 C6=2E65 E@ 86?@4:52= C96E@C:4]k^Am

kAm$EF56?ED H2?E E@ 766= D276[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

Jewish Rutgers University students and community members hold a vigil in support of Israel on Oct. 25, 2023, in New Brunswick, N.J..

kAmkDEC@?8m%wx$ x$ }t)% {t't{k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr@C6J $2J=@C[ C6D62C49 2?5 25G@424J 5:C64E@C 7@C rpx#[ 😀 G6CJ 4@?46C?65 E92E D@>6 @7 E96 24E:@?D 36:?8 E2<6? @? 4@==686 42>AFD6D 2C6 2:>65 2E DFAAC6DD:?8 AC@!2=6DE:?:2? G:6HA@:?ED]k^Am

kAm%9:D 😀 ?6IE =6G6=[ $2J=@C D2:5 @7 E96 D6?E:>6?ED 2?5 AFD96D 282:?DE AC@!2=6DE:?:2? 2?5 2?E:H2C G@:46D[ H9:49 92G6 46?E6C65 @? 4@==686 42>AFD6D] %96 E2C86E:?8 @7 DEF56?ED 2?5 A6@A=6 😕 E96:C H@C

kAm$2J=@C A@:?ED E@ 8C@FAD H9@ 92G6 AF3=:4:K65 E96 ?2>6D @7 DEF56?ED[ @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 724F=EJ 2?5 6>A=@J66D H9@ 92G6 G@:465 @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 H2C 2?5 &]$] A@=:4:6D]k^Am

kAmx? E6C>D @7 E92E[ H6 92G6?E D66? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 H92E H6 2C6 H:E?6DD:?8 C:89E ?@H[ $2J=@C D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 :DDF6 4@?E6?5 D@>6 2?E:xDC26= C96E@C:4 92D 4C@DD65 E96 =:?6 :?E@ 2?E:D6>:E:D>]k^Am

kAmv=F92?:49 2?5 z:CE=6J 2=D@ H2?E 4@==686D E@ C6G:D:E 2?5[ 😕 D@>6 :?DE2?46D[ 5:E49 D@42==65 DA6649 4@56D 2?5 9@H D49@@=D 92?5=6 4@>A=2:?ED H:E9 2 7@4FD @? >2:?E2:?:?8 7C665@> @7 6IAC6DD:@?]k^Am

kAm%96J 2=D@ H@CCJ 23@FE H62=E9J 5@?@CD 6DA64:2==J 2E AC:G2E6 D49@@=D H9@ 2C6?E 2D 3@F?5 E@ E96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E 2D E96:C AF3=:4 4@F?E6CA2CED AC6DDFC:?8 25>:?:DEC2E@CD E@ 46?D@C DA6649 E96J 5@?E =:<6 27E6C E96 C6D:8?2E:@?D @7 E96 AC6D:56?ED @7 !6?? 2?5 w2CG2C5 27E6C E96:C 4@?8C6DD:@?2= E6DE:>@?J]k^Am

Pro-Palestinian protesters argue with a pro-Israel demonstrator during a protest at Columbia University in New York. Jewish students across the country worry about safety and a rise in antisemitism, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is concerned about universities squelching anti-war sentiments on campuses.

kAmkDEC@?8mp #xvw% %wp% $w~&{s qt $putv&p#stsk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmv~! =2H>2<6CD 2?5 8@G6C?@CD H9@ 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE 4@?D6CG2E:G6 G@:46D 36:?8 46?D@C65 @? =:36C2= 42>AFD6D 92G6 AFD965 282:?DE 2?E:xDC26= AC@E6DED]k^Am

kAmx? u=@C:52[ v~! v@G] #@? s6$2?E:D 32??65 $EF56?ED 7@C yFDE:46 😕 !2=6DE:?6 W$y!X 2E AF3=:4 42>AFD6D 27E6C A@DE~4E] f AC@E6DED] w6 92D 2=D@ 6=:>:?2E65 DE2E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? WstxX @77:46D 2?5 @G6C92F=65 E96 AC@8C6DD:G6 }6H r@==686 @7 u=@C:52]k^Am

kAm%96 p>6C:42? r:G:= {:36CE:6D &?:@? 2?5 @E96C 8C@FAD 2C6 492==6?8:?8 E96 5624E:G2E:@? @7 E96 AC@!2=6DE:?:2? 8C@FA @? 7C66 DA6649 8C@F?5D[ E9@F89 2 7656C2= ;F586 56?:65 E96:C C6BF6DE 7@C 2? :?;F?4E:@? 😕 E96 42D6 y2?] b`]k^Am

kAm}6H r@==686[ $y! 2?5 E96 pr{& 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am

kAmp 425C6 @7 v~! =2H>2<6CD :?4=F5:?8 s6$2?E:D 2?5 |@?E2?2 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= pFDE:? z?F5D6? 2=D@ H2?E 7@C6:8? 4@==686 DEF56?ED E@ A@E6?E:2==J =@D6 E96:C G:D2D 2?5 86E 56A@CE65 :7 E96J DFAA@CE w2>2D @C @E96C &]$]56D:8?2E65 E6CC@C 8C@FADk^Am

kAmt>:=66 r2?EC6==[ 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 |@?E2?2 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ D2:5 DA6649 C:89ED D9@F=5 36 D2768F2C565[ 3FE 2=D@ AC@>:D65 E@ 6?7@C46 92E64C:>6 =2HD[ 2D ?66565]k^Am

kAmtG6CJ p>6C:42? 92D E96 C:89E E@ 7C66 DA6649 C682C5=6DD @7 E96:C 36=:67D[ 2 C:89E E92E D9@F=5 36 D2768F2C565] w@H6G6C[ 2DD2F=E 2?5 G:@=6?46 😕 |@?E2?2 H:== ?@E 36 E@=6C2E65] %96 |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 H:== 5@ :ED A2CE E@ 6?DFC6 E92E DE2E6 =2HD[ :?4=F5:?8 92E64C:>6 =2HD[ 2C6 36:?8 7@==@H65[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

An anti-war protester interrupts President Joe Biden during a campaign event touting abortion rights on the campus of George Mason University in Virginia, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. College campuses have become epicenters for protests against U.S. (and Bidens) support for Israels war versus Hamas in Gaza.

Read more here:

America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses - The Daily Reflector

Why Online Free Speech Is Now Up to the Supreme Court – Bloomberg

Conspiracy theories, election lies and Covid misinformation before the 2020 US presidential election led social media companies to implement rules policing online speech and suspending some users including former President Donald Trump. That practice, known as content moderation, will be put to the test after two Republican-led states, Florida and Texas, passed laws in 2021 to stop what they believed were policies censoring conservatives. The fate of those social media laws now rests with the US Supreme Court, which could fundamentally reshape how platforms handle speech online in the run-up to the 2024 election and beyond.

The central issue is whether the laws violate the free speech rights of social media platforms by limiting the companies editorial control. The laws apply to companies including Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook, Alphabet Inc.s Google, X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and Reddit Inc. The justices will scrutinize provisions of the new laws that require the companies to carry content that violates their internal guidelines and to provide a rationale to users whose posts are taken down.

View original post here:

Why Online Free Speech Is Now Up to the Supreme Court - Bloomberg

MWC 2024: Microsoft to open up access to its AI models to allow countries to build own AI economies – Euronews

Monday was a big day for announcements from tech giant Microsoft, unveiling new guiding principles for AI governance and a multi-year deal with Mistral AI.

Tech behemoth Microsoft has unveiled a new set of guiding principles on how it will govern its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, effectively further opening up access to its technology to developers.

The announcement came at the Mobile World Congress tech fair in Barcelona on Monday where AI is a key theme of this years event.

One of the key planks of its newly-published "AI Access Principles" is the democratisation of AI through the companys open source models.

The company said it plans to do this by expanding access to its cloud computing AI infrastructure.

Speaking to Euronews Next in Barcelona, Brad Smith, Microsofts vice chair and president, also said the company wanted to make its AI models and development tools more widely available to developers around the world, allowing countries to build their own AI economies.

"I think it's extremely important because we're investing enormous amounts of money, frankly, more than any government on the planet, to build out the AI data centres so that in every country people can use this technology," Smith said.

"They can create their AI software, their applications, they can use them for companies, for consumer services and the like".

The "AI Access Principles" underscore the company's commitment to open source models. Open source means that the source code is available to everyone in the public domain to use, modify, and distribute.

"Fundamentally, it [the principles] says we are not just building this for ourselves. We are making it accessible for companies around the world to use so that they can invest in their own AI inventions," Smith told Euronews Next.

"Second, we have a set of principles. It's very important, I think, that we treat people fairly. Yes, that as they use this technology, they understand how we're making available the building blocks so they know it, they can use it," he added.

"We're not going to take the data that they're developing for themselves and access it to compete against them. We're not going to try to require them to reach consumers or their customers only through an app store where we exact control".

The announcement of its AI governance guidelines comes as the Big Tech company struck a deal with Mistral AI, the French company revealed on Monday, signalling Microsofts intent to branch out in the burgeoning AI market beyond its current involvement with OpenAI.

Microsoft has already heavily invested in OpenAI, the creator of wildly popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. Its $13 billion (11.9 billion) investment, however, is currently under review by regulators in the EU, the UK and the US.

Widely cited as a growing rival for OpenAI, 10-month-old Mistral reached unicorn status in December after being valued at more than 2 billion, far surpassing the 1 billion threshold to be considered one.

The new multi-year partnership will see Microsoft giving Mistral access to its Azure cloud platform to help bring its large language model (LLM) called Mistral Large.

LLMs are AI programmes that recogise and generate text and are commonly used to power generative AI like chatbots.

"Their [Mistral's] commitment to fostering the open-source community and achieving exceptional performance aligns harmoniously with Microsofts commitment to develop trustworthy, scalable, and responsible AI solutions," Eric Boyd, Corporate Vice President, Azure AI Platform at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post.

The move is in keeping with Microsoft's commitment to open up its cloud-based AI infrastructure.

In the past week, as well as its partnership with Mistral AI, Microsoft has committed to investing billions of euros over two years in its AI infrastructure in Europe, including 1.9 billion in Spain and 3.2 billion in Germany.

See the original post here:

MWC 2024: Microsoft to open up access to its AI models to allow countries to build own AI economies - Euronews

Supreme Court hears 14th Amendment challenge to Donald Trump – NPR

A banner is displayed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday as justices prepared to hear arguments in a case about whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from state ballots. The case has profound implications for the 2024 presidential election. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

A banner is displayed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday as justices prepared to hear arguments in a case about whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from state ballots. The case has profound implications for the 2024 presidential election.

Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of the effort to disqualify Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump from a state primary ballot because he allegedly engaged in an insurrection to try to cling to power after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.

The historic dispute comes from Colorado, where the state's Supreme Court threw Trump off Colorado's Republican primary ballot. But the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling could have national implications for Trump and his political fate.

The plaintiffs in the case argue that Trump's actions in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election automatically disqualify him from office. Trump's lawyers counter that the case against him is one of overreach.

The court's justices on Thursday, over more than two hours of oral arguments, broadly appeared to be searching for a way to keep Trump on ballots, leaving election decisions to voters.

Chief Justice John Roberts asked the Colorado plaintiffs' attorney Jason Murray to ponder the consequences of his side's case.

"I would expect that a goodly number of states will say whoever the Democratic candidate is, 'You're off the ballot.' For the Republican candidate, 'You're off the ballot,'" Roberts said. "It will come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election. That's a pretty daunting consequence."

Justice Elena Kagan, a liberal-leaning justice, similarly asked about the national implications of the Colorado move.

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Murray: "What about the idea that we should think about democracy? ... Because your position has the effect of disenfranchising voters to a significant degree."

To this Murray responded: "The reason we're here is [former] President Trump tried to disenfranchise 80 million Americans who voted against him."

Jason Murray (right), the lead attorney behind the lawsuit by six Colorado voters, and the lead plaintiff, Norma Anderson, speak with reporters after Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court arguments. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

The case was brought by Norma Anderson, who watched intruders storm the U.S. Capitol three years ago on television, from her home in Colorado.

"They're trying to overthrow the government is what I was thinking," Anderson recalled before Thursday's oral arguments.

Anderson, 91, is a Republican. She was the first woman to lead the Colorado House of Representatives and, later, the state's Senate. She said taking part in the lawsuit is her way of protecting democracy.

"You have to remember, as old as I am, I was born in the Great Depression," she said. "I lived through World War II. I remember Hitler. I remember my cousin was with Eisenhower when they opened up the concentration camps. ... I mean, I understand protecting democracy."

Anderson and five other Colorado voters are relying on part of the 14th Amendment, passed after the Civil War to keep Confederates out of office.

"Those who drafted Section 3 of the 14th Amendment back in the 1860s were very clear that they understood this provision not just to cover former Confederates but that it would stand as a shield to protect our Constitution for all time going forward, and so this is not some dusty relic," Murray, their lawyer, said prior to Thursday's arguments.

The 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify candidates only eight times since the 1860s, most recently two years ago, in the case of a county commissioner from New Mexico who trespassed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It has never been used against a presidential candidate.

"In an ideal world, it would have been great to have years to build cases in different states and different parts of the country regarding defendants at different levels," said Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which is backing the lawsuit. "We didn't have that luxury because this person who played such a central role in making that insurrection happen, Donald Trump, was suddenly trying to put himself in a position of power again."

Murray said there's a reason to revive dormant language in the Constitution now, in this case: "No other American president has refused to peacefully hand over the reins of power after losing an election," he said.

The language in what's often called the insurrection clause is simple: Anyone who engages in insurrection after taking an oath to support the Constitution is barred from holding public office, unless two-thirds of Congress votes to grant that person amnesty.

Extending that logic to a former president would have profound consequences, said Scott Gessler, a former Republican secretary of state of Colorado who now works as a lawyer for Trump.

"If the U.S. Supreme Court allows these doors to open, what we're going to see is a constant stream of litigation," Gessler said. "You're going to see attacks on President Biden. You're going to see attacks on ... Vice President Harris. You're going to see attacks on senators, representatives, other people, trying to prevent them from being on the ballot. "

In court on Thursday, Trump's legal team argued that part of the 14th Amendment doesn't apply to the president because he was not an officer of the United States as that term is used in the Constitution.

They said Trump did not engage in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Indeed, while Trump is fighting 91 criminal charges across four jurisdictions, including for actions related to his efforts to cling to power, he hasn't been charged with violating the statute against insurrection or rebellion. And the U.S. Senate did not convict Trump in an impeachment process just weeks after the Capitol riot.

Lawyers for the former president also said Congress needs to pass a law that answers questions about how to enforce that part of the 14th Amendment.

"We have no guidance from Congress on what the proper standards are, what the proper burden of proof is, what insurrection means," Gessler added.

Another Trump lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, presented his side in court on Thursday.

The case puts the Supreme Court in the middle of the presidential election for the first time since it stopped the Florida recount and handed the White House to George W. Bush in 2000.

This time, the justices have a few options:

Not providing a clear answer before the November election or the certification in January 2025 could confuse or disenfranchise voters.

"When you have such divided opinion and you have such a volatile situation, it's just better to have some certainty about this issue as soon as possible," said Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Hasen and two other election law experts wrote a friend-of-the-court brief to say a decision by the court not to decide could "place the nation in great peril."

"We think it creates conditions for great political instability if the court leaves this issue open," Hasen said.

Murray, the Colorado voters' lawyer, also said he sees danger ahead but danger from Trump.

"If you read Trump's brief, he has a not-so-subtle threat to the court and to the country that if he loses this case, there's going to be bedlam all over the country," Murray said. "And I take that as Trump once again trying to hold this country hostage. And I don't think the country should stand for it."

Trump has pointed out he named three of the six conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Speaking Thursday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the Supreme Court arguments were "a beautiful thing" and repeated his false assertion that court cases against him amounted to election interference by his Democratic opponents.

Trump allies Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speak to reporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

Donald K. Sherman, the chief counsel at CREW, said the Supreme Court, including justices appointed by Trump, has voted against his interests in the past, including a case where the court allowed the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 siege to access documents related to Trump's conduct.

"We are fully prepared to accept the results of the court's decision, and we expect that state officials across the country are fully prepared to do that," Sherman said. "The one big question that always remains is, is Donald Trump going to follow the rule of law or is he going to do something different that endangers our democracy?"

The Supreme Court hasn't offered a timetable for its decision, but some legal experts think the justices could rule before the Super Tuesday primaries, in early March.

The court also may decide Trump's broad claims of presidential immunity, which were denied this week by an appeals court.

The question about Trump's disqualification in Colorado is playing out in different ways in dozens of other states too. Maine's secretary of state found that Trump is disqualified from appearing on Maine's primary ballot, but the decision is stayed pending Trump's appeal. Litigation is also pending in 11 other states.

Where challenges to Trump's appearance on primary ballots have already been dismissed, new challenges could be brought to his eligibility for the general election.

Hasen, of UCLA, said he thinks Chief Justice Roberts will be working hard to avoid a sharp conservative and liberal split.

"Unanimity, of course, would be best, but finding some way of reaching something where you bring in not just the Republican-appointed justices but at least some of the Democratic-appointed justices is behind the scenes going to be one of the most important things," Hasen said before Thursday's arguments.

One way might be to find that the key part of the 14th Amendment requires Congress to pass a new law before it can be used.

"I don't think that's a strong legal argument, but it's a very nice off-ramp if you're looking for one," Hasen said. "It avoids the merits and it kicks it to another body and it keeps Trump on the ballot."

NPR legal intern Elissa Harwood contributed to this story.

More:

Supreme Court hears 14th Amendment challenge to Donald Trump - NPR

Where Nikki Haley’s fundraising stands ahead of Florida visit – WPBF West Palm Beach

Nikki Haley is attending a fundraiser Wednesday night at a private residence in Palm Beach.Covering South Florida: Nikki Haley to fundraise in Palm Beach and MiamiThe event will be attended by some of the wealthiest residents in Palm Beach County, with tickets costing $10,000 per person.Between January and September of 2023, Haley's campaign raised $18,709,236.41, according to the Federal Election Commission. Donald Trump's campaign has raised $56,699,777.27 in that same amount of time. Campaigns dont end because candidates dont think they can win," said Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. "Campaigns end because candidates run out of money. So, one of the things any candidate is going to do is spend a fair amount of time trying to raise money to support their campaign, and there are few places in the country that are better to raise money than Palm Beach County, especially on the island. With only two primaries in the rearview mirror, Wagner said Haley can make a strong argument to voters that much of the race is ahead of her, despite unfavorable polling numbers.How to vote: WPBF 25 News partners with the Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach County for voter registration driveThe fundraiser in Palm Beach is a more traditional way of raising campaign funding in contrast to a recent shift to more online fundraising directly to campaign websites.We have seen a series of campaigns that manage to succeed and raise a lot of money through smaller donations by having a broader base of small donors, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor and director of the Hanley Democracy Center.Nikki Haley's visit comes just one day after President Biden attended a campaign event in Jupiter and a matter of days before Trump makes an appearance in his home county.Previous coverage: President Biden visits south FloridaThe real message for Floridians, especially the ones who live in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County is: get used to it," Wagner said. "You are going to see candidates down here a fair amount if not campaigning, then fundraising.Despite Haley falling behind Donald Trump in the polls, she has maintained that she will remain in the race.Koger said she is likely positioning herself as a viable option should Trump not be up for consideration by the time the Republican Convention happens.The process of undergoing those trials or getting an actual conviction might make him much less desirable as a Republican Party candidate, and the Republican Party might need someone to turn to, Koger said. For that reason, Nikki Haley might want to stick around in case the Republican Party needs a viable candidate on the ballot competing in primaries.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

Nikki Haley is attending a fundraiser Wednesday night at a private residence in Palm Beach.

Covering South Florida: Nikki Haley to fundraise in Palm Beach and Miami

The event will be attended by some of the wealthiest residents in Palm Beach County, with tickets costing $10,000 per person.

Between January and September of 2023, Haley's campaign raised $18,709,236.41, according to the Federal Election Commission. Donald Trump's campaign has raised $56,699,777.27 in that same amount of time.

Campaigns dont end because candidates dont think they can win," said Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. "Campaigns end because candidates run out of money. So, one of the things any candidate is going to do is spend a fair amount of time trying to raise money to support their campaign, and there are few places in the country that are better to raise money than Palm Beach County, especially on the island.

With only two primaries in the rearview mirror, Wagner said Haley can make a strong argument to voters that much of the race is ahead of her, despite unfavorable polling numbers.

How to vote: WPBF 25 News partners with the Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach County for voter registration drive

The fundraiser in Palm Beach is a more traditional way of raising campaign funding in contrast to a recent shift to more online fundraising directly to campaign websites.

We have seen a series of campaigns that manage to succeed and raise a lot of money through smaller donations by having a broader base of small donors, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor and director of the Hanley Democracy Center.

Nikki Haley's visit comes just one day after President Biden attended a campaign event in Jupiter and a matter of days before Trump makes an appearance in his home county.

Previous coverage: President Biden visits south Florida

The real message for Floridians, especially the ones who live in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County is: get used to it," Wagner said. "You are going to see candidates down here a fair amount if not campaigning, then fundraising.

Despite Haley falling behind Donald Trump in the polls, she has maintained that she will remain in the race.

Koger said she is likely positioning herself as a viable option should Trump not be up for consideration by the time the Republican Convention happens.

The process of undergoing those trials or getting an actual conviction might make him much less desirable as a Republican Party candidate, and the Republican Party might need someone to turn to, Koger said. For that reason, Nikki Haley might want to stick around in case the Republican Party needs a viable candidate on the ballot competing in primaries.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

Read the original post:

Where Nikki Haley's fundraising stands ahead of Florida visit - WPBF West Palm Beach

Amazon Discounts Apple AirTags; UK PM Impersonated on Social Media; Tech Giants Make Waves at CES 2024 – BNN Breaking

Amazon Discounts Apple AirTags; UK PM Impersonated on Social Media; Tech Giants Make Waves at CES 2024

In a notable move, Amazon is currently offering a substantial deal on a four-pack of Apple AirTags, marking a 10 percent discount on the original price of $99. This offer is fortified by an additional $10 coupon, which further slashes the price down to a mere $79. These AirTags, slightly larger than a quarter, are designed with precision, aiding Apple device owners in keeping track of their possessions effortlessly.

These Bluetooth trackers, a product of Apples innovation, operate in coordination with Apples Find My network, providing location information rapidly and efficiently. They do not require charging, boasting a life span of about a year before the battery necessitates replacing. Capable of tracking up to 32 items, AirTags carry an IP67 rating, ensuring robust resistance against water and dust.

In a startling revelation, a communications firm recently uncovered 143 different ads impersonating the UK Prime Minister on social media in the previous month. This raises serious questions about the security measures in place on these platforms.

The tech landscape continues to evolve, with the new Vision Pro headset requiring a Face ID scan to ensure a precise band fit. Pre-orders for this tech marvel commence on January 19. Meanwhile, the focus at CES 2024 saw giants like Nvidia, LG, Sony, and Samsung making significant announcements, reshaping the technological future.

Adding to the tech narrative, Microsoft momentarily overtook Apple as the most valuable company, sparking a wave of discussions about their investments and advancements in AI. This event also shed light on the implications of the declining iPhone demand in China.

On the international front, a historic decision unfolded in Victoria as Robert Farquharson, convicted of murdering his three young sons in 2005, was stripped of the right to his childrens gravesite. Concurrently, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat made a statement on national television regarding President Volodymyr Zelenskyys claim about the destruction of 26 Russian helicopters and 12 planes.

See more here:

Amazon Discounts Apple AirTags; UK PM Impersonated on Social Media; Tech Giants Make Waves at CES 2024 - BNN Breaking

Civil Rights Groups Slam Comments By Elon Musk Claiming Diversity Efforts Make Flying Less Safe – Essence

Elon Musks comments on efforts by United Airlines and Boeing to diversify their workforces have drawn swift criticism from major civil rights organizations.

Musk claimed, without evidence, that the efforts of those airlines to hire nonwhite pilots and factory workers have made air travel less safe.

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, called Musks statements abhorrent and pathetic. Morial pointed out that Tesla, where Musk is CEO, is facing a lawsuit from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for alleged abuse of Black employees, including racial slurs and nooses found in the workplace.

Musks company not only refused to investigate complaints or take any steps to end the abuse, it viciously retaliated against employees who complained or opposed the abuse, Morial told NBC News, citing allegations from the suit. The only thing anyone needs to hear from Musk about diversity in the workplace is an apology, he said.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson responded to Musk on X, stating that the real danger comes from Musks own social media site, accusing it of providing a platform for hate speech and white supremacist conspiracy theories. Johnson emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (commonly referred to as DEI) for cultivating a more inclusive society.

Reminder to @elonmusk: providing a home for the proliferation of hate speech and white supremacist conspiracy theories kills people. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion cultivate a more inclusive society, Johnsonwrote.

They are not the same. We are not the same, he added.

Musks comments on airline safety came after a panel blew off a Boeing jet while in flight. Musk began discussing the topic on X in response to a user who speculated that the IQ scores of United Airlines pilots from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were somehow lower than the average IQ of Air Force pilots.

He criticized programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, suggesting that it would take a plane crash with hundreds of casualties to change such policies.

Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening, Musk wrote.

Its important to note that commercial aviation is the safest it has ever been, with a record low number of accidents and fatalities in 2023, according to Dutch air-safety groupTo70. However, near-collisions at US airports remain a source of concern,reports NBC News.

According to the news outlet, neither United nor Boeing have commented on Musks claims.

More here:

Civil Rights Groups Slam Comments By Elon Musk Claiming Diversity Efforts Make Flying Less Safe - Essence

Sweden seeks to tighten NATO’s grip in Baltic Sea with 2 new submarines – POLITICO Europe

Press play to listen to this article

Voiced by artificial intelligence.

KARLSKRONA, Sweden Theyve been on the drawing board for more than a decade, but in the heart of a vast assembly hall in a shipyard on the Baltic Sea coast, Swedens two new A26 attack submarinesare finally coming together.

Set for launch in 2027 and 2028, the 66-meter-long diesel-electric subs, named Blekinge and Skne after two Swedish counties, are designed to patrol NATOs eastern reaches under the Baltic Sea, tracking and countering Moscows maritime moves amid ever worsening relations between Russia and Europe.

The two are Swedens first new subs to be built since the mid-1990s and will join four older vessels in the Nordic states fleet.

We have a long history of building submarines, said Mats Wicksell, the head of Kockums, a business area of Swedish military equipment manufacturer Saab which is building the A26s. But this is still a big step forward for us.

The looming Swedish launches underscore a nascent subsea renewal in Northern Europe, where the Norwegian navy recently ordered four new submarines from Germanys ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The Netherlands has received bids from TKMS, Saab Kockums and Frances Naval Group to build four submarines, while Denmark, which disposed of its fleet in 2004, recently suggested itmightreverse that move.

This expansion will partially bridge the gap to NATOs biggest European fleets, which are set for slight growth this decade, according to a report by Swedens Defense Research Agency. Six new French Barracuda class submarines are entering service and two further Type 212 subs will join an existing German fleet of six. The U.K.s fleet of Astute class submarines will total seven by the end of the decade and the Italian Todaro class submarines eight.

The European upgrades come amid a Russian PR drive about additions to its own fleet. In December, President Vladimir Putin posed on the dockside at Russias White Sea submarine production hub at Severodvinsk alongside two new vessels, the Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander the Third.

The Russian navy will have 50 submarines in 2030, according to the Swedish report.

The U.S. submarine fleet is set to shrink slightly in numerical terms to 57 by 2030, but the continued introduction of the new Virginia class will serve to maintain and even widen America's technological advantage over its rivals during the same period, the Swedish report said.

Visited on a recent weekday, the Saab shipyard in the southern Swedish naval town of Karlskrona was humming with activity.

The partially built Blekinge was shrouded in scaffolding, while metal workers prepared further steel hull sections for highly skilled welders to later stitch together into a whole capable of withstanding blasts from mines and impact with the seabed. In another area, electricians threaded seemingly endless reams of wiring into high-tech interiors.

For Sweden, the long delayed new submarines they were initially supposed to enter service in 2018 and 2019 will be a shot in the arm in a rapidly deteriorating security environment.

Sweden has seenincursionsby an unidentified submarine in its territorial waters as well as explosions crippling the Russian-built Nord Stream natural gas pipelines in its maritime exclusive economic zone in 2022 and the severing of a subsea communications cable linkto Estoniain 2023.

Sweden reinstated conscription and remilitarized its strategically placed Baltic Sea of Gotland in the wake of Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since the Kremlins full scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, it has boosted defense spending by 30 percent between 2023 and 2024 and applied to join NATO.

In early January, the Swedish government and the head of its armytoldcitizens to prepare themselves for war.

Theplan tolaunch the A26s has been a key pillar in Stockholms claim that it cancontributeto NATOs military strength,and isnt applying to join the alliance solely to benefit from its mutual defense guarantees.

Since the accession to NATO of the Baltic States in 2004 and Finland last April, the alliance has faced a headache over how to protect maritime supply lines to those states and restrict access to Russia in the event of conflict with the Kremlin.

Carl Gyhlenius, a Swedish former submarine commander and now a planner for the countrys navy, said he felt that NATO was getting a missing jigsaw piece with Sweden's NATO accession delayed by foot-dragging from Turkey and Hungary.

The Baltic Sea is hard to deal with if you don't have the necessary experience, and the fact that another country is joining NATO which has this as its backyard, with that regional expertise, that should ease operational problems, Gyhlenius said.

The Baltic is widely seen as a tricky operating environment because its varying salt levels affect sonar. It is also shallow and heavily trafficked, which increases collision risk.

On a recent visit to Stockholm, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised Swedens defense industry saying it offered advanced technology across a range of branches addingthat the NATO accession of the Nordic statewill be a big advantagefor the alliance as it seeks to maintainits technological edgeoveritsrivals.

Swedens first submarine, called the Shark, was launched in 1904, and over the decades that followed the Swedish navyexpanded its underwater capabilities as part of its broader effort to mount a credible national defense as a neutral state betweenEast andWest.

Toward the end of the last century,Swedish engineers achieved a technical breakthrough with a system called air independent propulsion (AIP) which allowed Swedish submarines to operate for longer periods without surfacing, aiding their ability to evade detection.

Following the end of the Cold War, Sweden cut back on defense spending and its submarine program was largely on hold foradecade until 2010, when Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors announced a plan to build the A26.

Through this significant renewal, we are ensuring that the Swedish submarine fleet will continue to maintain the highest international class, he said. Modern submarines represent a significant obstacle to any actor who wants to use the Baltic Sea for anything other than peaceful shipping.

In the years since, the A26 project has been criticized for delays and cost overruns.

But its defenders say the wait and extra cost will be justified by the delivery of vessels tailor-made for Baltic Sea conditions at a time when control of that waterway is geopolitically vital.

In its promotional material, Saab notes that the dimensions of the A26 as well as its updated AIP system and new sonar-defeating hull design make it ideally suited to the Baltic.

It also has a new modular design, which will allow obsolete technology to be replaced with new systems more easily and a new portal toward the front of the boat will also allow easier interaction between the crew inside the vessel and divers or unmanned vessels operating outside, Saab says.

Kockums chief Wicksell said the A26 represents value for money because its combination of stealth and advanced weapons systems can help ward off foes and reduce the risk of a costly future conflict.

If I know there is something out there but I dont know where it is and I cant defend myself against it, that is a deterrent, he said.

Read more from the original source:

Sweden seeks to tighten NATO's grip in Baltic Sea with 2 new submarines - POLITICO Europe

NATO top job should go to country that pays up on defense, Latvian FM says – POLITICO Europe

Latvian Foreign Minister Krijnis Kari, who has joined the race to become NATO's next secretary-general, thinks the job should go to someone from a country that walks the talk on defense spending.

Latvia is investing "about 2.4 percent of our GDP into defense this year, and we're heading up to 3 percent in the next three years," Kari told POLITICO's Power Play podcast.

"We sort of put our money where our mouths are," the foreign minister added. "Which is important, I think, for any secretary-general to be able to speak to those members who are not yet doing it."

Several European leaders have expressed interest in taking over as head of the military alliance after NATO's current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, announced he would step down at the end of his term, which was extended until October.

Aside from Kari, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who could become the alliance's first female boss, and the Netherlands' outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte have also said they are interested in the job.

While Rutte is considered to be the front-runner, he has faced criticism over his country's failure to meet the alliance's defense spending target, set at 2 percent of each country's gross domestic product. Estonia's spending has surpassed that mark since 2015, according to NATO. Latvia has contributed more than 2 percent of its GDP to defense since 2018.

Aside from the role of NATO chief, the race for top jobs in the European Union has otherwise already started in Brussels, after European Council President Charles Michel announced he would run in the European election in June.

If elected, Michel would take office in July, meaning that EU leaders would have to rush through what are usually lengthy negotiations to find his replacement.

Otherwise, they risk having Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbn who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin step in to temporarily chair the meetings between EU leaders as his country takes on the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1.

Kari said Michel's announcement took him "a little bit by surprise," and added it was "very difficult to imagine how an agreement could be taken before the elections."

If he doesn't get the NATO job, Kari who is a former member of the European Parliament said he would not rule out coming back to the European capital. Although he would seek to do so as an EU commissioner instead.

"Politics is a fickle business ... I can certainly close no doors today," Kari said.

"Who knows what tomorrow will bring," he concluded.

Original post:

NATO top job should go to country that pays up on defense, Latvian FM says - POLITICO Europe

‘Critical’ for NATO allies to grow defence budgets, Grant Shapps warns – as he commits UK to 2.5% spending target – Yahoo News UK

The Hill

Election officials in Virginias Prince William County have acknowledged roughly 4,000 votes were misreported in former President Trumps favor during the 2020 presidential election, when President Joe Biden went on to win the state. A release from the countys Office of Elections announced Trump incorrectly received 2,327 extra votes, while Biden was shorted 1,648 votes.

See the article here:

'Critical' for NATO allies to grow defence budgets, Grant Shapps warns - as he commits UK to 2.5% spending target - Yahoo News UK

The Darin Gap migration crisis in six graphs, and one map – The New Humanitarian

A record 520,000 migrants crossed the treacherous jungle corridor connecting Colombia and Panam known as the Darin Gap in 2023. Less than a decade ago, that figure was only a few thousand, but the number has been doubling annually in recent years, and a further surge is expected in 2024.

2023 has broken all records. It has been a huge, terrible maelstrom, Elas Cornejo, who runs Fe y Alegra, an NGO promoting education and social advancement for migrants in Panam, told The New Humanitarian. And we expect a new increase [in 2024].

Services like Fe y Alegra on both sides of the Colombia-Panama border are becoming engulfed as the needs of vast numbers of vulnerable people traversing dangerous territory overwhelm local communities and aid groups trying to help.

The migrants take the 97-kilometre jungle trek over steep and muddy terrain and along fast-flowing rivers because it is the only overland route from South America into Central America. Once in Panam, where government reception centres are overrun, most hope to head northwards through Mexico to the southern US border, but these journeys are also full of risks.

Read more: The challenges facing the humanitarian response

The few humanitarian agencies and organisations operating on the ground in and around the Darin Gap are struggling to meet the soaring needs of those crossing, not least because of the insecurity in the region.

The Colombian side of the jungle is mostly controlled by the Gulf Clan a criminal organisation involved in drug and human trafficking that made an estimated $57 million from extortion along the migration route in just 10 months last year. The cartel controls most aspects of the route, determining who can assist and therefore heavily restricting the humanitarian response. In Panam, several international organisations help the migrants who reach the Indigenous communities of Bajo Chiquito and Canan Membrillo, and in government-run reception centres at the edge of the jungle, in San Vicente and Lajas Blancas. Those facilities, however, are meant to host less than 1,000 people per day. Instead, in 2023, they were receiving up to 5,500.

Diana Romero, emergency specialist at UNICEF Panam, told The New Humanitarian that coming up with the right emergency response hasn't been easy in a high-income country that was unprepared to deal with such needs. Panama had not faced situations of disasters or crises, so they didnt have the implementation partners needed, she said. In 2019, there were no local humanitarian teams, because there never was a demand for that. There were no specialists in WASH, gender, or nutrition.

As they cross the Darin Gap and beyond, migrants face unchecked abuses by criminal groups, rampant sexual violence, a cascade of physical and mental health impacts, and worse: Between January 2021 and March 2023, Panamanian authorities found a reported 124 bodies on the route, mostly through drowning, but thats thought to be a fraction of the real number of deaths, as many go unreported.

Many making these difficult journeys are escaping regional violence and economic crises in countries like Venezuela, Haiti, and Cuba, but increasing numbers have also been coming from countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, including China.

With no sign of a let-up in 2024, here are six graphs (and one map) that show the scale and evolving nature of the crisis, with analysis to unpack those trends.

A number of factors caused the dramatic 2023 uptick in Darin Gap crossings. Changes in migration policies across the region have made it more difficult for those trying to reach the United States from South America to cross borders legally. Several countries imposed visa restrictions on Venezuelans and Haitians, even as countries such as Chile and Peru militarised their borders, pushing migrants to leave northward. In 2023, US President Joe Bidens administration ended Title 42 a pandemic-era border restriction which motivated more people to head to the United States even though Biden soon adopted measures making it extremely difficult for them to seek asylum, and ramped up deportations. The lack of adequate integration policies has also been a driver. Among Haitians and Venezuelans in the Darin, many are migrating for the second time, from countries such as Brazil and Chile where they faced xenophobia, obstacles to regularise their status, and poor job opportunities. In April, Panam, Colombia and the United States agreed on a tripartite plan to open up new regular migration routes to stem the flow, but so far no progress has been made.

From 2019 to 2022, most migrants crossing the Darin were Haitian and Cuban, but in the past two years Venezuelans have taken the lead, and the number of Ecuadorians seeking to escape from violence and poverty has also significantly increased. However, far from all the migrants crossing the Darin are Latin American, and the growing presence of migrants from other continents is garnering the attention of humanitarians, who must now cater their responses to those who dont speak Spanish and are foreigners to the region. Chinese, Afghans, Indians, and nationals of different African countries have to confront language and cultural barriers, as well as the other dangers.

The journey through the Darin Gap usually starts in the Colombian ports of Necocl or Turbo, where local communities offer maritime transportation to the towns of Acand or Capurgan. Migrants are charged high amounts of money for every section of the trip. After crossing by boat, they must pay again to be allowed to continue through the jungle to the Panamanian side. There are three main paths leading to the government-run reception centres of Lajas Blancas and San Vicente, through the communities of Bajo Chiquito or Canan Membrillo. The crossing lasts from 5 to 15 days and total costs range from $435 to more than $1,000 per person. There is also a more expensive VIP route, mostly used by Chinese. Migrants and asylum seekers then continue their trip to the Temporary Attention Center for Migrants (CATEM) in Costa Rica, from where, since October, they are directly transferred by bus to the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border. Many, however, run out of money before starting the trek and remain stranded in Turbo and Necocl, where they are vulnerable to extortion, violence, and human trafficking.

According to Diana Romero, emergency specialist at UNICEF Panam, one in five migrants crossing the Darin is a child half of them under the age of five. Although there are no accurate figures, there are many reports of children dying during the trek. The number of unaccompanied children is of particular concern. In 2022, UNICEF assisted about 1,000 unaccompanied minors, but in 2023 that figure reached 3,300. Of those, 67% were teenagers, 21% children aged between 6 and 12, and of the rest, 10% are babies, Romero said. Often, younger children get separated from their relatives during the trek only managing to reunite later on. According to Francisco Pulido, Plan Internationals director of humanitarian action and stabilisation in Colombia, teenagers tend to travel in friend groups often motivated by misinformation shared on social media. In other cases, the entire family cannot afford to continue the trek so parents leave their children in camps, hoping to send them money to follow on later.

Most of the medical cases that aid organisations come across and treat are related to the dangers of the jungle itself, or due to the lack of access to clean water and food en route. Theres no data available, but humanitarian groups say there has also been a rising number of migrants travelling with pre-existing chronic conditions psychiatric disorders, diabetes, hypertension, or asthma. These people often require emergency assistance because their medications get lost or stolen.

The traumatic experience of those crossing the Darin is also causing high numbers of mental health consultations. According to a recent Action Against Hunger report, women bear the brunt, and are often carrying children with no support. While survivors of sexual violence may suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, and sleep disorders, others feel the emotional burdens and stress of caring for the family in such extreme conditions.

During 2022, Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) treated 232 survivors of sexual violence in the Darin Gap. Between January and November 2023, that number had soared to 462. According to what patients tell us, the modus operandi is getting crueller, Cristina Zugasti, MSF representative in Panam, told The New Humanitarian. Large groups are being kidnapped, forced to lay down face to the ground, and then robbed, physically attacked, and sexually abused. MSF figures, she added, are much lower than the reality. Many cases remain unreported because survivors don't see sexual attacks as a medical emergency, and they also don't want to delay the arrivals to their destinations. Threats from the perpetrators are another reason for survivors not to seek assistance.

Reported from Santiago, Chile by Daniela Mohor, with data visualisation from Zurich, Switzerland by Sofa Kuan.

Follow this link:

The Darin Gap migration crisis in six graphs, and one map - The New Humanitarian

Idaho White Nationalism: Inside a New Class of Republican Power – The Daily Dot

So this place is Satans temple, Dan Gookin said ironically. The cozy confines of the pub in downtown Coeur dAlene, Idaho dont bear any resemblance to a place for worshiping anything but a cold pint or bangers and mash.

Gookin explained that they used to have a poster for Menstruatin with Satan, a fundraiser for menstrual supplies organized by the Satanic Temple of Idaho. The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic organization that encourages benevolence and empathy, rejects tyranny, and advocates for bodily autonomy. In recent years, its become best known for fighting for reproductive freedom. Members dont worship or even believe in Satan.

Nevertheless, it drives conservative Christians wild.

Gookin has a frank manner and strong, clear voice. He tends to speak quickly with a serious delivery belied by the occasional flash of a dry wit. On an evening in late November, he said the poster convinced some local right-wingers that the pub is affiliated with the dark lord, a ridiculous, inaccurate assumption thats also convenient for his purposes. They wont step foot in the place.

We had campaign meetings here because we knew that there would be no spies, Gookin said. See, we can talk freely in here because we know there will never be a wacko anywhere near us.

The whackos are the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) and their allies. Gookin, a conservative best known nationally for creating the For Dummies books, is a longtime city councilman and KCRCC member. These days hes persona non grata with the committee, not that he seems to mind.

They didnt count on me calling them out, Gookin said on a recent episode of his YouTube show, Kootenai Rants.

Idaho Republicans are in the midst of a civil war between the far-right wing and relative moderates like Gookin. In recent years, far-right extremists have moved to the heavily white and conservative state as part of an ideological migration that accelerated during the pandemic. Far-right comedian Owen Benjamin now lives about an hour-and-a-half north of Coeur dAlene.

Rather than reject the extremists, some powerful Republicans have embraced the Holocaust deniers and white nationalists whove made Idaho their home. This outrages many longtime locals of the county that famously defeated the neo-Nazi Aryan Nations decades ago. Gookin and other conservatives are fighting back in the press, election booth, and courts.

Its an uphill battle; the opposition is well-funded, organized, and willing to get its hands dirty. It even has a network of print and online publications steadily pumping propaganda into the information ecosystem.

This story is part of a series exploring far-right figures and groups impact on communities theyve relocated to in Idaho, West Virginia, Florida, and Maine; and what, if anything, those communities are doing about it. The Daily Dot spent the last several months visiting these communities, talking to locals, consulting historic and public records, and interviewing experts on extremism.

As the 2024 election approaches, the far-right will become more visible and vocal.

Former President Donald Trumps 2016 victory emboldened the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who coalesced at the deadly Unite the Right rally. His 2020 defeat inspired militias, conspiracy theorists, and hate groups to attack democracy. Both corresponded with increases in hate, antisemitism, and white supremacy that came screaming from the internet into the real world.

They may have failed on Jan. 6, 2021, but theyre back, mobilized, and ready to fight. Seizing control of places like Coeur dAlene is one of the ways theyre plotting their comeback.

Gookin isnt cowed. We need to fight this.

The week after Thanksgiving, Coeur dAlene was decked out in 1.5 million holiday lights sparkling off the lake and into the darkness beyond. Business was in full swing in the town of 55,000. Each night sold-out boats took excited children to see Santa Claus while adults packed into warm bars and restaurants for a bite and a bit to take the edge off.

Washington is less than an hour west and in another political world compared to Idaho, one of the most consistently Republican states in America. More Idahoans voted for Trump in 2020 than 2016. The state hasnt voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson, and it chose Richard Nixon (R) over John F. Kennedy (D) in the election before that.

Its also a longtime harbor for racists.

From the mid-1970s to the turn of the century, the white supremacist Aryan Nations had a 20-acre compound in Kootenai County, which encompasses Coeur dAlene. Aryan Nations declared bankruptcy following a $6.3 million verdict against it in a case brought by a mother and son who were shot at and beaten by its security guards.

Fluffy white snow blanketed Coeur dAlene as Kate Bitz, 38, recalled hearing stories about all-ages punk shows turning into brawls when skinheads showed up and seeing news coverage of white supremacists marching down Sherman Avenue when she was growing up just across the border in Washington. On outings to Farragut State Park, theyd sometimes have to make a snap decision if the guys with the white power tattoos are showing up, do we leave and give them the whole beach, or stay.

Growing up in a hotbed of extremism led Bitz to a career opposing it. She works for the advocacy nonprofit Western States Center.

Bitz isnt surprised that the far-right is resurging. Idaho is the longtime home of a variety of extremists, ranging from evangelicals to neo-Nazis. People forget how multifaceted it was, she said, adding, This has all happened before in a different form.

Extremist groups have been active in Idaho for decades, Bitz said. For example, Northwest Front was described by Politico as Americas worst racists in 2015; racist mass murderer Dylann Roof highlighted the group in his manifesto. Northwest Front has been encouraging people to move to the Pacific Northwest to create a white ethno-state for years. American Redoubt, which has been described as white Christian nationalist (it identifies as a non-racist preparedness movement for Christian patriots), has been recruiting people to move to the area for over a decade. Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon is a member of the far-right John Birch Society.

Now theres a new crop of extremists.

David Reilly and Vincent James Foxx are two of the most notorious newcomers in Idaho politics. Theyre part of far-right efforts to take control from the bottom up via the precinct strategy championed by Steve Bannon. Both are affiliated with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Reilly has professed being a fan of Fuentes and reportedly attended his CPAC alternative, America First Political Action Conference. Foxx is the national treasurer of Fuentes America First organization.

Reilly became the focus of a scandal about his attendance of Unite the Right in 2017. He subsequently resigned from his fathers radio station where he was a host. InvestigateWest reports he sported a pin with the logo of the neo-Nazi Identity Evropa to the rally. In his resignation letter, Reilly denied being racist, white supremacist, or a neo-Nazi. A judge later threw out his lawsuit against a Pennsylvania-based news outlet and individuals he claimed had defamed him by calling him racist.

In recent years, Reilly called himself a Fuentes stan. Reilly is also purportedly an ally of the Unite the Right marcher best known for the catchphrase Hitler did nothing wrong. He has a lengthy history of antisemitic posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Reilly did not respond to interview requests.

Reilly made his way to Idaho a few years ago.

In 2021, Reilly sought a seat on an Idaho school board, which he lost with 47% of the vote. (KCRCC endorsed him.) During the campaign, a group from his Pennsylvania hometown urged people to vote against him because of his involvement in Unite the Right.

When Reilly left our community, he acknowledged himself, not even McDonalds would hire [him]. Please consider if you, the voter, would want to hire Reilly to create policy for your schools, Bloomsburg Stand Against Hate wrote.

He didnt have as much trouble finding employment in Idaho.

During his failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign, anti-government militant Ammon Bundy paid $30,000 to a firm the Inlander reports was linked to Reilly. KCRCC also paid Reillys company $11,000 for videos.

Bitz said of KCRCC Chair Brent Regans association with the men, I think he sees Reilly and Vincent James as his pet white nationalists who he can push consulting money to during elections.

Regan did not respond to interview requests.

In December, InvestigateWest reported that Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), which Regan also chairs, employs Reilly to help with its communications strategy. The piece noted that Reilly has claimed Jews invented terrorism and control the media.

In response to the story, Regan penned an op-ed claiming he has no authority over IFFs hiring decisions and claiming its Jewish president, Wayne Hoffman, interviewed Reilly. I believe it is fair to say that Wayne Hoffmans sensitivity to anti-Semitism is greater than mine so that if he is okay with Reilly, so am I and so should you, Regan wrote. He also denied that Reilly is antisemitic or a white supremacist.

Regans editorial made no mention of Unite the Right.

Last week, amid rising criticism, IFF announced that Hoffman had been replaced with a far-right former lawmaker. It did not say if Hoffman quit or was fired.

Holocaust denier Foxx is another white nationalist who found more welcoming pastures in Idaho in recent years. In 2017, ProPublica described Foxx as a 31-year-old video blogger and livestreamer with a fondness for white supremacists and radical right-wing politics. It reported that Foxx was essentially an unofficial propagandist for Rise Above Movement (RAM), a violent, racist group at the center of much of the violence at Unite the Right. Three members were convicted for violence they committed at Unite the Right.

He didnt merely document RAMs violence, per ProPublica. The outlet reports that Foxx could be heard screaming, Get that f*cking cuck! in a YouTube video he posted of a RAM member and several others pummeling a man in California. Identity Evropa founder Nathan Damigo fought alongside RAM that day.

In 2021, Foxx moved from California to Idaho.

He was photographed with then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R); Media Matters for America reported he said he had deep connections to her. Last January, he gave a speech to a group of north Idaho Republicans in which the Southern Poverty Law Center reports he echoed the racist great replacement conspiracy theory that whites are being intentionally displaced by nonwhite immigrants. In September, a former school board member who was once a KCRCC committeewoman claimed he said political leaders convinced him to move there.

Since becoming an Idahoan, Foxx has continued to espouse white nationalist talking points. He did not respond to interview requests.

Foxx is the national treasurer of Fuentes America First organization. In 2022, Foxx gushed great clip!! of a video of Ye (formerly Kanye West) praising Hitler. After Fuentes infamously had dinner with Trump, Foxx bragged, We have in fact infiltrated the mainstream flank of the GOP. Just look at what Tucker Carlson is talking about lately. We have parts of the nation talking about secession, talking about banning gay marriage. Last month, Foxx posted a video of actor Michael Rapaport claiming people would be thrown off a building for asking where to find an LGBTQ business in Gaza. Foxx captioned it, Wait a minute. Do I love Gaza now??!

Right Wing Watch unearthed a video of him saying, We are the Christian Taliban and we will not stop until The Handmaids Tale is a reality and even worse than that.

Last year, Foxx ran for chair of the Idaho Young Republicans. In his pitch for votes, he advocated using the precinct strategy to install extremists in positions throughout the state.

He lost.

People agree that Foxx and Reilly are just the tip of the spear.

Sarah Lynch is the executive director of North Idaho Pride Alliance (NIPA). Over coffee at Evans Brothers Coffee, a cheerful space on the same street where white supremacists used to march during Aryan Nations heyday, Lynch said after she and her wife moved to the area, she noticed it was a weird mix of like Nazis and granola hippies.

The darker side of the picturesque town was front and center in June 2022 when 31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front were arrested en route to Pride in the Park in Coeur dAlene.

The incident stunned the nation. Patriot Front is one of the most active white supremacist groups in America and it often posts photos of its activities in Idaho. But a few dozen men in riot gear in the back of a U-Haul is a significant escalation from sneaking around at night to spray paint stencils and hang banners, which the hate group usually sticks to.

All the men were charged with conspiracy to riot; many have been convicted or pled guilty since then. Charges were dismissed against Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau last fall.

Police officers were doxed and received death threats after the arrests. Police Chief Lee White told media that they got 100 calls afterwardhalf from supporters and half from critics.

While Patriot Front generated headlines and fear, Lynch said it couldve been much worse.

Despite all the hateful rhetoric that was going on last year, and despite the events that occurred, we still had our largest ever Pride in the Park. It was our first one back since COVID, there were over 2,500 people there, Lynch said.

Lynch, a retired veteran with a Ph.D. in public safety, said that theyd established a communication line with law enforcement before the event, which has strengthened with time. The arrests also spurred some local and state officials to publicly support LGBTQ equality. Mayor Jim Hammond (R) declared June as Pride Month. Weeks before Lynch sat down for coffee, Hammond was named a Pillar of Idaho for his public stance against extremism.

These developments may have some feeling optimistic, but it isnt all sunshine and rainbows in Kootenai County.

Lynch said some families with queer children have moved away; others have said their queer adult relatives wont even come home for Thanksgiving because they dont feel safe there.

She described the homophobic and transphobic segment of the extreme far-right as a very loud minority.

As long as nobody else stands up and says anything, then thats the only narrative thats heard, she said.

Several years ago, Army veteran Sam Rowland moved back to the area where he was born. Rowland, a musician, has a thick red beard and eyes that seem older than his 39 years. He did a couple tours in Iraq; he said Coeur dAlene reminded him of the small town in Saudi Arabia where he grew up.

Then 2020 happened and it exposed itself. He paused. It re-exposed itself.

During the civil rights protests inspired by George Floyds murder, people took to the streets of Coeur dAlene to protect the community from antifa. Photos from the publication that Reilly purportedly runs show heavily armed men, most of whom appear to be white, gathered on the sidewalk downtown.

Rowland said some wore insignias identifying themselves as members of militia-type groups like the III Percenters. Prominent white supremacists were out there, he said. I was followed home.

He and others said that churches in the area have become breeding grounds for extremism, with pastors making little to no effort to separate politics from theology.

Rowland sees whats happening in Coeur dAlene as part of a larger strategy. You have to take the little towns first, he said.

It appears that they would like to have it turned into a very conservative quasi-religious institution that still has the benefit of public funding.

A large Coeur dAlene rejects hate sign hangs in the window of Crown & Thistle Pub. Jennifer and Ben Drake spent years making plans for the British-style pub, which served its first half-pint in 2019. Every detail, from the cask ales to the 120-year-old bar and the menu, which includes bangers made by Ben and a delectable Guinness short rib pie, is designed to make you feel like youre steps away from London Bridge, albeit in a snug in northern Idaho. (A snug is an enclosed booth from when it was faux pas for women to be seen drinking alcohol in public.)

Jennifers family has been in Coeur dAlene for five generations. Running the Crown & Thistle in her hometown is the fulfillment of a dream first glimpsed attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Its come with nightmares that have nothing to do with Scotch eggs or ales.

Shes the type of person who stands up for what she thinks is right. Rejecting hate aligns with those values.

Over the din of the suppertime crowd on a snowy Friday night in December, Ben said they originally put up an 8 x 11 sign. Then, he said, We started getting hate mail.

They brushed it off, deciding to increase the size of the sign each time they received another hateful missive.

When she was a kid, Jen said the town was united against the Aryan Nations. Now theyre divided between people who fall in line and those who take a stand.

Both Drakes are Republicans. Yet theyve ended up on the opposite side of Regan and the partys radical flank.

Theyve infiltrated the community to the point that they say they are the community, Jen said.

The incidents, Jen said, escalated gradually. People call them liberals online. They dogpile the pub with one-star reviews. Insane misinformation floats from the internet to the streets.

They honestly think Im a Satan-worshiping communist witch, Jen said in a pained voice. And its too much for me. Im Lutheran. Im tired.

As chair of both IFF and KCRCC, Brent Regan is a powerful force in Idaho politics. IFF rates politicians based on their voting records; the more conservative, the higher the rating. KCRCC recruits and endorses candidates. These efforts have been effective. Various positions of power in Kootenai County are now held by people who score high on IFFs ideological purity tests and have the KCRCC stamp of approval.

Several people said that the candidates might check the right boxes, but they can struggle to govern effectively. They pointed to North Idaho College (NIC), whose board is under far-right control.

NIC has been hemorrhaging money since they took over. Worse, the 90-year-old community colleges accreditation is hanging by a thread.

A bust of Patrick Stewart circa Star Trek gazed down from the shelf in Dan Englishs office at Healing Hearts, the mental healthcare clinic he runs with his wife. A quilt hangs on the wall by his desk; English mentioned with endearing husbandly pride that his wife made it. Bagpipes softly played holiday music as English shared memories of the town where he was born and raised.

English, the lone Democrat on the city council, has been an elected official in Coeur dAlene for 30 years. He previously served on the school board and as clerk-auditor. He describes himself as an election geek who enjoys crunching data. The numbers from 2020 were extremely illuminating to him.

Eighty-five-plus [percent] had been a registered voter here less than like, you know, two years or four years or something. So its no wonder they have a hard time passing bonds for schools, he said.

English said that some of the transplants are from the extreme right and others are more traditional conservatives. The newcomers include a lot of retired police, so many from Los Angeles, in fact, that the area is sometimes called LAPD North. Theres also a contingent of liberals. The combination creates what he calls a weird melting pot.

It pains him to see his hometown torn apart by politics.

The sad part is how much time, energy, and financial resources is wasted over these ideology battles, or just peoples inflated ego, like the college, English said.

After the far-right took over NICs board, it fired the college president, who sued for wrongful termination and received a $500,000 settlement. NIC later put his replacement on leave; a court in a separate lawsuit determined this was without cause and ordered it to reinstate him and for the school to pay his attorneys fees.

Between litigation with the president it was deemed to have placed on leave without cause and a separate case the local newspaper brought over public records (NIC lost that too), attorneys fees, travel costs for officials from the accreditation agency, and training for the board itself, the Coeur dAlene Press reports that its spent $1.2 million. An Idaho Statesman columnist recently referred to this as an incompetence tax.

Now English says NIC cant afford the light bill to keep the library open a few extra hours on Sundays.

Its ironic that people get elected are a lot of those, anti-education, anti-science, and yet they want to be in positions of monitoring educators, he said. It appears that they would like to have it turned into a very conservative quasi-religious institution that still has the benefit of public funding.

Education has been thrust into the forefront of the conservative culture wars across the country.

KCRCC candidates won control of the library board last year by campaigning on reducing childrens access to sexually explicit books. During the campaign, KCRCC reportedly circulated a letter falsely accusing the incumbents of giving kids access to graphic books with text and pictures describing every imaginable sex act, books so explicit that if you were to give them to a child, you would be committing a crime.

They may have gone too far. The two women who allege they were smeareda lawyer and a longtime member of the library boardare suing Regan and KCRCC for defamation.

City councilman Gookin is also wrapped up in a defamation suit with KCRCC. Its suing him over what he characterizes as mean tweets. KCRCC claims that Regan has demonstrated profound ill will and malice toward many KCRCC officers and affiliated candidatesin particular, KCRCCs chairman, Brent Regan on his YouTube show, Kootenai Rants, and posts on X.

The KCRCC appreciates that Gookin is entitled to engage in speech that is protected by the First Amendment, the complaint states. However, his recent statements have crossed the line from protected speech into unprotected defamation because they accuse KCRCC of rigging its 2023 candidate rating and vetting process, perpetrating a fraud on its members, and violating campaign finance lawsthings which simply have not happened.

Gookin views their case as an attack on his free speech right to criticize them. He seems eager to have his day in court.

Its ping-pong time, he said in an email earlier this month.

Gookin describes the political migrants who are pushing Idaho further to the right as people who were p*ssed off living in more liberal areas. He said this migratory pattern accelerated during the pandemic because they thought theyd have more freedom there. (The libertarian Cato Institute actually ranks Idaho 49th in personal freedom.)

But it didnt absolve their anger.

They hate our governor. They hate our legislators. They hate elected officials like me, they hate people whove made it a conservative state, Gookin said. And they want to replace them with their own people who, like we see in Washington, D.C., are incompetent and incapable of governing.

Read this article:

Idaho White Nationalism: Inside a New Class of Republican Power - The Daily Dot

What those Confederate statues really symbolize – Tampa Bay Times

Here we go again. Yet another Republican legislator has proposed stringent penalties for any local officials who would have the temerity to take down monuments celebrating the Confederate States of America.

This time around, its state Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville. It is history, and history belongs to all Floridians (presumably including African American citizens of the Sunshine State), he said. We have started taking down statues for all sorts of things, a process he derided as cancel culture. A bad practice, admittedly, cancel culture, including things like canceling school library books, Rep. Black? Or do you want to hold that discussion for another time?

Okay, well stick with Confederate statues for the moment. Just what do these public memorials celebrate?

The best place to look for answers to this question is pretty clear: the speeches of the two most prominent leaders of the Confederate States, President Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and Vice President Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia.

Lets start with Jefferson Davis.

On April 29, 1861, the president delivered a major address to the Confederate Congress on the causes of the war. For years, northern congressional majorities had engaged in a persistent and organized system of hostile measures against the rights of the owners of slaves of the southern states, he insisted.

Davis described slavery itself in these terms: A superior race had transformed brutal savages into a docile, intelligent and civilized agricultural laborers, now numbering close to 4 million in the South. And Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party had taken dead aim at the Souths peculiar institution.

They were prompted by a spirit of ultra fanaticism, he went on. In addition, fanatical organizations in the North, that is, abolitionists, were assiduously engaged in exciting amongst the slaves a spirit of discontent and revolt. The object of this fanaticism was crystal clear, he posited: the destruction of the Souths slave system.

With interests of such magnitude imperiled, he concluded, disunion was the only course of action white Southerners could take to avert the danger with which they were openly menaced. Secession, in short, was white self-preservation, and the war came.

Vice President Stephens made the secessionist case in even starker terms in a speech delivered in Atlanta on March 13, 1861. The framers of the Confederate Constitution had solemnly discarded the pestilent heresy of fancy politicians, that all men, of all races, were equal, he openly acknowledged, and we had made African inequality and subordination, and the equality of white men, the chief cornerstone of the Southern Republic.

Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter

Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Letsgetstarted.

Not much prevarication here, Rep. Black.

So here is my question. Are you sure you want those Confederate monuments to stand? Do you want stiff fines or restoration costs (whichever is larger) levied against those public officials who think we can do better by all of our citizens if we remove the statues celebrating these words, these views, this cause? Should the governor be authorized to remove these public servants from office for their actions? Should such a law be made retroactive and all those monuments taken down since Jan. 1, 2017, restored? If your HB 395 passes both houses of our Legislature and is signed by our governor, all this becomes law.

Maybe you do want all this to come to pass, but I think you owe it to all Floridians to explain exactly where you stand on the values and issues these monuments represent: racism, bigotry, the legitimacy of human bondage and the glorification of the men who launched what turned out to be the bloodiest war in American history. A war to defend slavery and the warped racial order white Southerners had erected on this benighted institution.

Maybe you want to stand with these men, Rep. Black. But you should know with whom and for what you are standing. We certainly will.

Charles B. Dew is Ephraim Williams Professor of American History, emeritus, at Williams College. He is the author of Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War (University of Virginia Press, 2016).

See the original post:

What those Confederate statues really symbolize - Tampa Bay Times

Wisconsin was Home to a Confederate Spy, Thomas Jefferson’s Illegitimate Son and a Failed Hollywood Producer – Shepherd Express

What do a female Confederate spy, the illegitimate son of Thomas Jefferson, and a failed Hollywood tycoon have in common?

These disparate, fascinating personalities rest for all eternity in peaceful Wisconsin graveyards. Belle Boyd, the seductive Mata Hari of the Civil War, died in the Dells. Eston Hemings Jefferson, illegitimate child of President Thomas Jefferson, passed away in Madison. And Harry Aitken, the driving force behind D.W. GriffithsBirth of a Nation, eventually came home to Waukesha.

Maria Belle Boyd, born in 1844, was 16 years old when she began managing her fathers Virginia hotel. Her curvy, buxom figure enchanted Union soldiers when they arrived for lodging, or a meal and she overheard bits and pieces of private conversations as she waited on them. Belle gave General Stonewall Jackson this information on a regular basis with the help of a slave, Eliza Hopewell. The two used a hollowed-out pocket watch so Eliza could pass the messages safely across enemy lines.

When several intoxicated soldiers assaulted her mother in one of the hotels parlors, Belle pulled a pistol and killed one of the men. While awaiting trial for murder, Belle initiated a clandestine affair with Captain Daniel Kelly, and he helped her escape in the middle of the night. She was recaptured and sentenced to be hanged. Using another man, Belle escaped again, and with a set of forged documents, she arrived at the Generals camp. For her bravery, Jackson awarded her the Southern Cross of Honor. He also made her his personal aide-de-camp, which no doubt raised more than a few eyebrows.

For the next year, Belle avoided arrest by Union troops but was eventually apprehended and taken to Washington D.C.While in Old Capitol Prison, she seduced an officer named Samuel Harding and became pregnant. The couple fled to England where she supported Harding and their daughter as a music hall entertainer. Harding died unexpectedly just as Belle was finding success as an actress on Londons stages. At the end of the Civil War, she returned to the United States and earned a fortune in theaters and opera houses performing a racy melodrama of her life as a spy. She also married and divorced two ardent lovers and gave birth to four more children. Belle also published a highly fictionalized autobiography that became a bestseller. In 1900, she suffered a fatal heart attack while promoting her book in Wisconsin Dells. Only 56 years old, Belle Boyd was buried in the Dells Spring Grove Cemetery. Her autobiography and a few non-fiction books are still in print and range from $5 to $60 on eBay.

Stay on top of the news of the day Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.

In 1827, Thomas Jeffersons will stated that five of his slaves be freed. Among them were his mistress, Sally Hemings, and two of the children he fathered with her. Jeffersons 400 other slaves were sold to pay off the considerable debts against his estate. Sally was only one-quarter black, and occasionally her sons could pass for white. Jeffersons illegitimate son Eston, already a skilled carpenter and proficient violin player, was 19 years old upon his release from Monticello. He found lucrative employment in a Charlottesville, Virginia woodworking shop and built a house for his mother and older brother, Madison. Both brothers married, started families and lived with Sally until her death in 1835.

A few years later, Madison and Eston moved their families to Ohio, a free state and an important part of the Underground Railroad network. When the Fugitive Slave Act was enacted in 1850, Eston moved hiswife and three childrenfurther north to avoid capture by the bounty hunters.Settling in Madison, Wisconsin, Eston changed his surname to Hemings Jefferson, and the family lived comfortably in the white community.

When he passed away in 1856 at age 48, America was preparing for a war. In the waning years of the 19th century, Estons children and grandchildren faced public scorn from a handful of influential voices who challenged the family legend that connected Eston with his famous father, Finally, in 1998, a series on DNA tests proved once and for all that Eston Hemings was indeed the son of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Born in 1877 on a farm near Goerkes Corners in Waukesha, Harry Aitken became fascinated by the shabby, turn-of-the-century storefronts that were outfitted to show the first silent movies produced by inventor Thomas Edison. Aitken studied the business model of a nickel theater and partnered with John Freuler, a wealthy Milwaukee investor. Violating the Edison companys patents, they made their own movies and delivered them weekly to hundreds of theaters in 45 cities.

In 1908 Aitken and Freuler went to Los Angeles and built a large movie studio of their own. They offered British vaudevillian Charlie Chaplin $10,000 a week to make 20-minute comedies for their rapidly growing theater chain. When Chaplin discovered his films were grossing more than $5 million annually, the popular comedian demanded a percentage of the profit. Instead, Freuler and Aitken sold the motion picture studio, divided the considerable assets and dissolved their partnership.

Aitken used his assets to finance a groundbreaking two-hour movie proposed by a talented filmmaker, D.W. Griffith. Based on a popular racist novel,The Clansman, Griffiths epic film was titledThe Birth of a Nation, and it sold out wherever it was shown.

Without informing Aitken, Griffith made a back-door deal with Louis B. Mayer, a shrewd Boston businessman who operated a large scrap metal yard. Mayer had seen the film and immediately sensed its potential. After lining up engagements at hundreds of theaters inConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, Mayer gave$25,000 in cash to Griffith. The investment returned nearly $250,000, money that legally as well as ethically should have been used to retire Aitkens outstanding loans.

Mayer became the CEO of a tiny California movie studio that he transformed into the world-famous MGM. Unable to pay of his debts, Aitken declared bankruptcy and returned to Waukesha a defeated man. His attempts to start businesses in Wisconsin were only marginally successful. The one-time movie mogul died in 1956 and was buried in Prairie Home Cemetery near the farm where he was born.

Is Harry wandering along the freeways that devoured the streets of his childhood? Is Belle still using her charms on behalf of the Confederacy? Does a man once owned by a United States president roam the town where he became truly free? Its possible

LEARN MORE

Continued here:

Wisconsin was Home to a Confederate Spy, Thomas Jefferson's Illegitimate Son and a Failed Hollywood Producer - Shepherd Express

Project Veritas’s First Amendment Claim to the Diary of Biden’s Daughter Denied By Judge – Vanity Fair

Criminal prosecutors are expected to get their hands on nearly 1,000 documents related to the alleged theft of the diary of Ashley Biden, the only child of President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, after a judge rejected the conservative group Project Veritas's First Amendment claim.

Project Veritass attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, said Monday that the group is considering appealing the ruling, according to a report from The Associated Press. The organization has until January 5 to turn over the material.

The documents stem from November 2021 FBI raids on the homes of the organizations founder, James OKeefe, and two of his associates. Federal agents ultimately seized 47 cell phones, computers, memory sticks, and other electronic devices, according to a report from New York Magazine. OKeefe left the organization last February following a management dispute.

Since the raid, O'Keefe has maintained that the FBI investigation into Project Veritass activitieswhich he argues were legitimate attempts at newsgathering violates the First Amendment. In this effort, hes drawn support from the American Civil Liberties Union, which warned after the raid that, despite Project Veritass well-documented disgraceful deceptions, the precedent set in this case could have serious consequences for press freedom.

In its written arguments before Judge Analisa Torres, lawyers for Project Veritas and OKeefe argued the investigation seems undertaken not to vindicate any real interests of justice, but rather to stifle the press from investigating the Presidents family.

Torres ruled that Project Veritass First Amendment arguments were inconsistent with Supreme Court precedent and that the groups claim to be protecting the identities of a confidential source was voided by the fact that both people who sold the diary to the group pled guilty in August 2022.

In their guilty plea for conspiring to traffic in stolen goods, Aimee Harris and Robert Kurlanderboth of whom are currently awaiting sentencingadmitted they stole Bidens diary from a house in Florida and sold it to Project Veritas for $40,000, hoping to embarrass the then-presidential candidate as he challenged former President Donald Trump. (Before he was elected, Trump was a donor to the organization.)

Project Veritas has admitted it paid Harris and Kurlander, but OKeefe has said the group did not publish any information from the diary after it could not confirm its authenticity.

The court ruling comes two weeks after Hannah Giles, OKeefes replacement as CEO, announced on social media that she was quitting, saying she had stepped into an unsalvageable mess one wrought with strong evidence of past illegality and post-financial improprieties. Giles added that she had brought evidence of illegal behavior to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Read the original here:

Project Veritas's First Amendment Claim to the Diary of Biden's Daughter Denied By Judge - Vanity Fair

Project Veritas First Amendment – Tulsa World

FILE - President Joe Biden walks on the beach with daughter Ashley Biden, June 20, 2022, in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Criminal prosecutors may soon get to see over 900 documents pertaining to the alleged theft of a diary belonging to Ashley Biden, after a judge on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, rejected a First Amendment claim by the conservative group Project Veritas. Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said on behalf of Project Veritas on Monday, Dec. 25, that an appeal is being considered of the ruling.

Continued here:

Project Veritas First Amendment - Tulsa World

Project Veritas First Amendment | News | thedailyreview.com – Towanda Daily Review

Criminal prosecutors may soon get to see over 900 documents pertaining to the alleged theft of a diary belonging to President Joe Bidens daughter after a judge rejected a First Amendment claim by the conservative nonprofit Project Veritas to stop investigators from seeing the records. The group's attorney says Monday that Project Veritas is considering appealing last week's ruling by Manhattan federal court Judge Analisa Torres. The documents were produced from raids in which electronic devices were also seized from the residences of three members of Project Veritas, including James O'Keefe, the fired founder.

Go here to read the rest:

Project Veritas First Amendment | News | thedailyreview.com - Towanda Daily Review