In February, The Gateway Pundit reported that AOC launched a defamatory attack against Libs of TikTok during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
AOC accused the creator, Chaya Raichik, of pushing false information about Boston Children’s Hospital and inspiring a bomb threat against it. She claimed Raichik lied about the hospital providing “gender-affirming” care for minors, meaning gender reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers.
AOC: Despite inspiring a bomb threat due to the right wing incitement of violence against trans Americans because they cannot let go of this obsession with inciting violence against trans people.. This is the party that can’t pick on anyone their own size pic.twitter.com/V1q84EYAwL
On Thursday, Raichik finally succeeded in meeting AOC. Raichik and Heritage Foundation staffer Mike Howell went to the Cannon Office Building, where AOC’s congressional office is located, to deliver an ethics complaint Raichik filed regarding AOC’s lies.
Raichik and Howell went to AOC’s office hoping to deliver the ethics complaint to her in person. An aide answered the door and revealed AOC was not in the office.
Raichik and Howell handed the ethics complaint to the aide and walked away.
But just when it seemed Raichik’s luck ran out, she bumped into AOC.
Raichik posed for a picture with the congresswoman before revealing the real purpose for her visit.
WATCH:
BREAKING: I served @AOC with an ethics complaint after she lied about me in a committee hearing. AOC wasn’t in her office but then I bumped into her as I was leaving the Capitol!
The Best 60 Seconds you will ever see broadcast on TV.
Jason Whitlock joined Tucker Carlson tonight and he said it all in so few words. Americans don’t want what these devils are selling. We are MAGA.
Whitlock, the former sports announcer shared:
“I have never voted Tucker. I am hardcore MAGA tonight. M-A-G-A. They want to turn this country into a Communist Marxist hellhole. This is tyranny. This is BULLSHIT.”
The most powerful 60 seconds you will ever see broadcast on TV.
Jason Whitlock fighting back tears:
“I have never voted Tucker. I am hardcore MAGA tonight. M-A-G-A. They want to turn this country into a Communist Marxist hellhole. This is tyranny. This is BULLSHIT.” pic.twitter.com/8uMH5oZvIy
Earlier on Thursday the corrupt and criminal “Justice” Department under the corrupt and criminal Joe Biden DOJ announced that after 7 years they have found President Trump guilty of a crime. Never before in US history has a President gone through so much to help his country and a gang of sick criminals taken over the Justice Department and destroyed the rule of law trying to indict an innocent man, President Trump.
“These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICTED (sic) the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!”
Americans are rightly outraged by the crimes the Obama and Biden gangs are committing every day.
German lifestyle brand Adidas AG to end fashion partnership with American singer Beyonce, after years of disappointing sales for her Ivy Park clothing brand, according to Hollywood Reporter citing people familiar with the matter.
By the end of the year, Adidas will end its contract with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The move was made because of the singer’s underperforming clothing line. A 50% drop in sales was reported for the company in 2022.
Beyoncé and Adidas entered into a creative collaboration in 2019, during which she re-introduced her Ivy Park activewear line and designed new Adidas footwear and apparel.
Ivy Park is a woke collection that features inclusive sizing and gender-neutral styles.
Ivy Park has been losing money for Adidas and Beyoncé is paid around $20 million per year, according to Wall Street Journal citing documents.
“However, much of the merchandise that was produced for the brand didn’t sell, the documents show. Sales were about $40 million in 2022, below internal Adidas projections for $250 million for that year and down from $93 million in 2021, according to the documents,” the outlet reported.
Adidas also has to deal with the collapse of other famous endorsement deals.
In October, Adidas announced it would stop its partnership with Kanye West.
“After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. adidas will stop the adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect,” Adidas said in a statement.
“Adidas is the sole owner of all design rights to existing products as well as previous and new colorways under the partnership. More information will be given as part of the company’s upcoming Q3 earnings announcement on November 9, 2022.”
NFL player Damar Hamlin collapses on field in apparent heart attack this year.
After ignoring the alarming increase in heart attack deaths among children and adults for three years, the mainstream media and the government finally began to cover the story.
However, they are too blind to see the cause of these incidents.
The Heart Smart Sports Coalition, a coalition between the nation’s major sports leagues and medical advocacy institutions, held its official launch press conference on March 27, 2023.
The coalition’s goal is to have all 50 states implement policies based on scientific evidence that will reduce the number of deaths among high school students caused by Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
The American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Korey Stringer Institute, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation are all on board as well.
“The National Football League today announced the launch of The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, a collaboration among the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Korey Stringer Institute, National Athletic Trainers’ Association and Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation. TheSmart Heart Sports Coalitionis advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school students,” according to the news release.
“A conversation around health and safety at the NFL and this past season must begin with a conversation around Damar Hamlin and the heroic work that was done by the medical professionals, the trainers and the doctors on the sidelines. Not an accident that those people were there – practiced, trained with the right equipment and the right process to ensure the best possible outcome in a really challenging situation. And for that, the NFL is grateful,” Jeff Miller said during the in-person kickoff press conference.
“There are up to 23,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrests among young people aged 18 and younger in this country every year. Forty percent of them happen when kids are participating in athletics. And yet, there aren’t a lot of policies in place at schools around the country to have the foundational elements that we’re able to have at the NFL to prevent what are otherwise preventable tragedies,” he added.
The coalitionis advocating for the implementation of three best practice policies to prevent death from Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for each high school athletic venue that are widely distributed, posted, rehearsed, and updated annually;
Clearly marked automated external defibrillator (AEDs) at each athletic venue or within 1-3 minutes of each venue where high school practices or competitions are held; and,
CPR and AED education for coaches.
Currently only seven states have implemented all three best practice policies; 12 states have none. SCA is a life-threatening emergency that can quickly become fatal if proper steps are not immediately taken. As many as 23,000 people under the age of 18 experience SCA annually (out-of-hospital). It is the leading cause of death for student athletes. Sports-related SCA accounted for nearly 40% of SCAs among people under the age of 18. If implemented across all 50 states, these simple, cost-effective strategies can prevent deaths from SCA.
To mark the beginning of this effort, The Smart Heart Sports Coalition today sent letters to the Governors of 43 states where additional polices – whether through legislation or regulation – are needed. The coalition will follow up with a proactive, coordinated and sustained effort to encourage policymakers and stakeholders across the country to adopt these policies within the next three years.
As part of this campaign, the NFL Foundation has committed more than $1 million in grants to support nationwide CPR education and AED access. The NFL Foundation will make available to each NFL club $20,000 in grants to promote CPR education and training. NFL clubs may leverage these grants to partner with public or private nonprofit organizations to support CPR education wherever needed, including, for example, among youth and student athlete programs, elementary and secondary schools, and the general population. The NFL Foundation club grants will also support high schools – especially those in financially distressed communities – in purchasing and maintaining AEDs. With this targeted funding, clubs may help states meet the goal of making AEDs available in every secondary school athletic setting.
In addition to the club grants, the NFL Foundation will work alongside the American Heart Association and American Red Cross to promote and reinforce a nationwide effort to raise awareness of and prevent fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest, including through hands-only CPR education. This collaboration will ensure that CPR education and AED access remain a priority in schools and communities across the country, even beyond club markets.
“The simple goal of this effort is to save lives. These common-sense policies are simple, proven steps that are critical for student athlete safety,” said Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy. “Schools in every state should have policies in place to deliver CPR effectively, have immediate access to an AED, and know what to do in case of an emergency. Student athletes deserve it.”
In an emotional video released Tuesday, actress Melissa Joan Hart was still reeling from the impact of a chance encounter with children fleeing from the Nashville school attacked Monday.
Six people, including three children, were killed after a shooter entered The Covenant School and picked off targets until police responded and killed Audrey Hale.
In a video posted to her Instagram account, the former star of “Sabrina the Teenaged Witch” explained that she and her husband were passing the school en route to the school their children attend at the time of the shooting.
“We helped a class of kindergartners across a busy highway. They were climbing out of the woods. They were trying to escape the shooter situation at their school,” the actress said, through tears.
“So we helped all these tiny little kids cross the road and get their teachers over there, and we helped a mom reunite with her children.”
“I just don’t know what to say anymore,” she added. “Enough is enough. And just pray. Pray for the families.”
Going into today declaring that the enemy will not fear. That fear will not win! That my kids are going to head to school with love in their hearts and appreciation for every breath they take and every face they see. Hug each other a little tighter today!
Hart noted that she and her family had lived in Connecticut near the community of Newtown, which was the site of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“So this is our second experience with a school shooting with our kids being in close proximity. Luckily, we are all OK,” she said.
Jason Hoffman was driving near the school when he heard gunshots, according to WKRN-TV. His first thought was to take cover in his car. Then a teacher, with children behind her, waved him down.
“When I saw the kids coming out of the woods, it just really hit me,” he said.
Hoffman then played traffic cop on the four-lane road to allow the children to cross.
“As soon as I jumped out of the car and stuck my arms out, people to the left and then in front of me were jumping out, ‘what’s going on?’ But they were concerned about the children and let’s get them across the street to safety,” Hoffman said.
“We just heard gunshots right before that as these kids are coming out. I didn’t know if there were still gunshots. I didn’t know if people were gonna shoot at us or at the kids, so the other drivers just quickly helped usher them across the road to get to the other side to make sure they were safe,” he said.
Hoffman watched one teacher hug a child in the middle of the road.
“The teacher was a hero. I was terrified for the rest of the kids that were inside and hoping and praying for the best for them,” he said.
As the parent of a 9-year-old, Hoffman said he felt the impact of the shooting even though he has no connection to the school.
“It’s very emotional and I see children that are going to remember this day for the rest of their lives and they’re going to be changed by this day forever,” he said.
“I’ve cried today. I cried yesterday. I don’t know how many times I cried today. I’m crying right now. It’s going to be something I’ll never forget and these parents I cannot even put myself in their shoes and even be able to get out of bed,” he said.
Nashville fire chief William Swann told ABC that for responders, witnesses and families, “This forever will be with them, the residue of this day.”
He noted that for EMTs and other first responders, “[T]his is unfortunately the nature of what we do. We deal with people who are in distress and we deal with people if there’s a shooting, stabbing or homicide, whatever it may be, we deal with this every day.”
“But being in this field for 28 years, I will tell you there’s nothing more gut-wrenching than responding to a child. Nothing,” he said.
“That moment changes everything for you because we all can relate to the innocence of it,” he said.
The Nashville police carried out a heroic response to the school shooting situation on Monday morning at Covenant Christian School.
If not for their quick and decisive action, many more children and adults would likely have been murdered by the crazed trans killer.
I am posting the body cam video from two of the Nashville Metro Police officers who entered the Covenant Christian School to confront and kill an active shooter for the benefit of our international readers. I applaud the Nashville Chief of Police for releasing this video. It captures the urgency, the chaos and ultimately the professionalism of the officers. Most police do not spend a lot of time training for Close Quarter Battle and learning how to clear rooms of possible threats.
What a contrast with the goat rope of Uvalde, Texas, where police lingered in school hallways and did nothing to stop the murder of children until it was too late. The Nashville Police did not wait for the SWAT team to arrive (note, SWAT is the acronym for Special Weapons And Tactics). In this kind of situation adrenaline takes over and it is easy for even trained professionals to make mistakes, such as keeping a finger on a trigger and negligently discharging the firearm or inadvertently pointing the muzzle of their gun at one of their fellow officers.
When the Nashville Police trainers watch this I see some areas that they will work on with their personnel. For example, at the 3:22 mark you will see the officer carrying his rifle on the right side of his body. When he comes to a corner and needs to turn right he should have shifted the rifle to his left shoulder. Learning this technique allows him to minimize exposing his body to the threat.
Looks like the trainers also will want to spend some time teaching their officers how to go up stairs in a high threat situation. There are some better tactics to use that will minimize the chance that an officer ascending a flight of stairs could be ambushed from above. Let me reiterate, I am not Monday morning quarterbacking. These officers did a fantastic job and I doubt most of them had any recent training in carrying out this kind of tactical assault.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: “The truth about Nord Stream will come out.”
The Biden Regime refused to support calls for an international investigation into the Nord Stream attack in the United Nations Security Council Monday. Russia says it may demand reparations for the destruction of the pipeline, which Russian President Putin says will be solved one day.
Only Russia, China and Brazil voted for an international investigation into the Nord Stream attack at the United Nations Security Council Monday evening. The other 12 nations abstained, including the permanent UNSC members the United States, UK and France, as well as Albania, Gabon, Ghana, Malta, Mozambique, the UAE, Switzerland, Ecuador and Japan. The measure thus did not reach the necessary majority of 9 votes.
“Without an objective and transparent international investigation the truth will not be uncovered as to what happened,” Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said.
“The United States was not involved in any way. Period,” said deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Robert Wood, accusing Russia of trying to “discredit the work of ongoing national investigations and prejudice any conclusions they reach that do not comport to Russia’s predetermined and political narrative.”
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Monday raised the possibility that Russia may demand compensation for the Nord Stream pipeline, which Gazprom co-owned with European energy companies.
“If we are talking about, let’s say, sabotage by one or more state actors – and, thus far, the data indicates that such a large-scale act of sabotage and terrorist act on a critically important piece of infrastructure could not have been committed without the involvement of state actors and special state services with all the potential they can deploy – in this case, of course, that would be an entirely justified question,” Peskov said, adding this is so far only a hypothetical discussion. First it is necessary to identify the persons responsible for the attacks, Peskov said.
Peskov accused Western countries of “making every effort to whitewash this topic, to paper it over, so that it disappears from the agenda. But, of course, Russia will continue to do everything possible to prevent this from happening.”
Speaking on Russian TV Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with American journalist Seymour Hersh that the USA is behind in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. “The American journalist, who has become rather famous now worldwide, carried out such an investigation and as we know, drew a conclusion that blast on the gas pipelines was organized by the US special services. I fully agree with such conclusions,” Putin said.
Putin said the truth about the Nord Stream attack will eventually come out: “I believe that it will be hard to attain this, but someday it will come out what was done and how.”
The truth about the Nord Stream attack will come out, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “From what I understand the truth about Nord Stream will come out. I have no doubt, it’s one hundred percent,” Zakharova said, the truth “has already begun to break through”.
Let me begin by reiterating our deep concern regarding the sabotage that took place on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in September 2022. The United States categorically refutes Russia’s unfounded allegations leveled against us in relation to this act of sabotage. The United States was not involved in any way. Period.
As we have said previously, the international community cannot tolerate any deliberate actions to damage critical infrastructure.
However, let us be clear on what Russia’s draft resolution was, and what it was not. It was an attempt to discredit the work of ongoing national investigations and prejudice any conclusions they reach that do not comport to Russia’s predetermined and political narrative. It was not an attempt to seek the truth.
The competent national investigations by Sweden, Denmark, and Germany are proceeding in a comprehensive, transparent, and impartial manner. As many Council members have said, they must first be allowed to conclude. That is why we did not support this draft resolution and voted to abstain today.
We must ask why, despite having failed to make its case to the Council, Russia still chose to bring this resolution to a vote. It is difficult to accept Russia’s posturing that it only seeks an impartial, independent investigation.
Let it be clear for the record that the first draft of Russia’s resolution clearly implicated the United States, based on mischaracterizations of statements made by U.S. officials. The first draft criticized the investigations of other UN Member States. Over the course of many rounds of consultations, Russia failed to provide any credible new information to justify a UN investigation at this time.
I repeat: Russia has consistently sought to advance a political agenda based on unfounded accusations and predetermined culpability. Russia’s decision to call for a vote on a resolution that has such little support should make us all question what its true intent is.
UN resources for UN investigations should be preserved for scenarios where states fail or are unable to carry out genuine, impartial investigations. That is not the case today. We cannot allow Russia’s continued spurious allegations to distract this Council or unnecessarily divert the UN’s scarce resources from other pressing matters deserving of this Council’s attention and resources.
If Russia were truly committed to protecting civilian infrastructure, it would demonstrate this through its actions. Russia’s claim to be concerned over the sabotage of critical infrastructure belies the fact that Russia is relentlessly attacking its neighbor. It is striking cities and towns across Ukraine, damaging and destroying residential areas and medical facilities.
Russia’s attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure have left millions displaced, without power, and in need of humanitarian assistance.
Russia’s calls for accountability today ring hollow.
Thank you, Mr. President. My apologies for taking the floor. But typical of the Russian playbook is to always pose a question without really having any intent.
First and foremost, I don’t read Seymour Hersh’s articles. And frankly, I don’t base – the United States doesn’t base its policies or respond simply to charges by an individual journalist.
Let me just say that the charges that have been made by Russians – Russian officials – about U.S.’s supposed culpability for carrying out these attacks are just flat-out wrong. Plain and simple.
I would just say to my Russian colleague, that instead of playing politics with such an important issue like this that it deal with the question of critical infrastructure and responsibility.
And again, I point to the fact that Russia has no credibility when it comes to this issue of protecting critical infrastructure. Just look at what it’s doing to Ukraine.
So, I would just say to my Russian colleague, instead of asking questions about the United States and its views toward critical infrastructure, it needs to ask itself about what it’s doing in Ukraine and whether that shows responsible behavior with regard to critical infrastructure.
College students in Asbury, Kentucky, started a revival movement last month that was so strong, people came from around the world came to their tiny campus to witness what many called a miracle. One thing is clear; our youth needs Jesus, now more than ever.
100 Percent Fed Up reports – The revival didn’t end with Asbury— it’s still spreading on college campuses across America.
Last week, Texas’ Baylor University held 72 hours of continuous prayer and worship for its students, incredibly leading to the baptism of 20 people.
This event, FM72, was held with the purpose of revival and renewal throughout the Baylor campus, the city of Waco, where the university is located, and the world.
Charles Ramsey, the director of Baptist Student Ministries at Baylor, explained the purpose of FM72 to a student writer for Baylor’s website.
“The goal of FM72 is to stir a passion for Jesus Christ in the Baylor community,” Ramsey said. “It is a time to take inventory of one’s own journey, to linger in prayer, to recalibrate towards what is most important: our shared faith in Jesus Christ.”
“Simply put, the goal is that every person experiences a clear, caring, and compelling invitation to know Jesus, and to find a discipleship community where they can grow and flourish,” added Ramsey.
In 1945, Baylor held a similar event during which students prayed for renewal for 90 days.
Speaking about this event, Ramsey said, “The 1945 generation experienced revival, a spiritual awakening that brought a searing clarity about what is truly important. They understood that faith was not simply a good thing, but rather it was the vital element of a good life. Their motto, ‘I’d rather have Jesus,’ was a statement of defiance to the political, social, and economic forces whose allure was drawing them away from a life centered on Christ.”
This 1945 revival impacted the world, sparking ministries like the Journeyman mission program and the Passion Conference.
“There is a wonder, and sense of joy in discovering prayer, and for many this opens the way to an ongoing and deepening devotional, a more personal faith and a love for the church,” Ramsey said.
Another INCREDIBLE week of worship & prayer on campus during FM72.
Thank you, Lord, for the works you are doing in our students' hearts & lives! pic.twitter.com/EiEytV3qC7
While Christianity seems to be under attack in the United States these days, it is refreshing to see a university shamelessly put the religion of its students on display for the world.
Although it is a Christian-centered event, Ramsey said that anyone with any religious affiliation is welcome to participate and wander through the tents that had been put up for students to go and pray.
“We hope that any person who enters, regardless of their spiritual journey or faith tradition, could walk through these stations and have a time of silent preparation, reflection, and petition. There is no reason to be there, no pretense, and no need for an excuse. We are here to seek the Lord. It is a vulnerable and yet endearing and empowering experience to pray – to ‘get spiritual’ with your friends and colleagues.”
Due to the success of the first session, the University has announced that there will be a second 72-hour prayer revival from March 27th to March 30th.
Here is the U.S. Revival Tracker that lists the universities that have hosted revivals on their campuses:
U.S. Revival Tracker:
Asbury U
Western Kentucky U
Union College
University of the Cumberlands
Eastern Kentucky U
Lee U
Grace Christian Academy
Samford U
Cedarville U
Ohio State U
Indiana Wesleyan U.
Valley Forge C
Hannibal-LaGrange U
Texas A&M Baylor U
LSU, Oral Roberts U
Regent
President Trump held his first campaign rally of the season Saturday in Waco, Texas.
Over 25,000 supporters turned out for another MONSTER RALLY.
Ultra MAGA Party posted video of two hardcore Trump supporters who had a message for the black community.
“We know that you are out there. Maybe you’re afraid to show your support for America, for God, and for Donald Trump, and this country. Come on out. It’s OK. Come on out to the right side.”
“If you like high gas prices. If you like killing babies. If you don’t know whether you’re a man, a woman, a child, a unicorn, a frog. If you don’t know what you are or anything like that. If you think giving all your hard-earned money to a different country is what you like, this aint the party for you!”
“And guess what? If you keep voting left, you’ll have nothing left.”
Honduras has officially established diplomatic ties with China and severed them with Taiwan, ending an 82-year relationship, claiming there’s “only one China in the world.”
“Today, the Chancellor of the Republic, Eduardo Enrique Reina, fulfilling instructions from Mrs. Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, President of the Republic and accompanied by a delegation made up of Deputy Xiomara Hortencia Zelaya Castro and Ambassador Patricia Licona. Foreign Ministry Advisor, signed with Mr. Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the document official for the establishment of diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level between the
Republic of Honduras and the People’s Republic of China,” Honduras’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday.
“The two governments agreed to develop friendly ties on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, no intervention in each other’s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and coexistence peaceful.”
“The two countries also agreed to cooperate on issues of mutual interest by which will jointly promote, in their respective instances, the signing of agreements in cooperation areas such as finance, trade, infrastructure, energy, technology, culture, tourism, education and health, among others, based on the benefit mutual and shared integral development,” the ministry added.
Honduras said it recognizes “only one China in the world.”
“The Government of Honduras recognizes that there is only one China in the world and that The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate Government that represents all of China.”
It added that: “Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and as of today, the Honduran government has informed Taiwan the severance of diplomatic relations, pledging not to have any official relationship or contact with Taiwan.”
Honduras is the ninth diplomatic ally that Taipei has lost to Beijing, bringing the total number of countries that recognize Taiwan down to 13, according to The Guardian.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry responded to Honduras’ statement on ties with China.
“Standing up for the one-China principle is the right thing to do. It has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the prevailing trend of the world. China welcomes the Honduran government’s positive statements on developing ties with China. We stand ready to establish and grow bilateral relations with Honduras on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” the post reads.
Shortly after Honduras made its announcement, Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, confirmed that ties had been officially severed.
It is with deep regret that today we end our diplomatic relations with Honduras.
For many years, we have upheld the belief that working within the full extent of our capabilities, and by taking a forward-looking and pragmatic approach, we can support the long-term, substantive development of our diplomatic allies. We will not engage in a meaningless contest of dollar diplomacy with China.
These past few years, China has persistently used any and all means to suppress Taiwan’s international participation, intensify its military intimidations against Taiwan, and disrupt regional peace and stability.
But its pressure and coercion will not change the fact that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. And they cannot erode the Taiwanese people’s staunch commitment to freedom and democracy or our determination to engage wholeheartedly with the world.
The people of Taiwan have proven to the world that we do not give in to threats. Taiwan’s connections and cooperation with our diplomatic allies and like-minded countries, and our joint efforts to advance international security and well-being, will only expand and grow stronger.
We will continue to stand with our diplomatic allies and like-minded global partners as we work toward a better future for all.
The people of #Taiwan have proven to the world that we do not give in to threats. We will continue to stand with our diplomatic allies and like-minded global partners as we work toward a better future for all. pic.twitter.com/cryJMRlRp3
Despite China’s campaign of isolation, Taiwan retains robust informal ties with more than 100 other countries, most importantly the US. The US doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but has maintained that Taipei is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan still has formal ties with 13 nations including Belize, Paraguay and Guatemala in Latin America, and Vatican City. Most of its remaining partners are island nations in the Caribbean and South Pacific, along with Eswatini in southern Africa.
Many of the allies receive financial assistance from Taiwan, or have access to Taiwan’s medical system or scholarships at Taiwanese universities. The ministry of foreign affairs confirmed on Sunday that with the ending of ties with Honduras, 170 students would lose their scholarships at the end of the current semester.
Tsai is scheduled to visit Belize and Guatemala this week. On Sunday, Wu said he didn’t have any evidence that Honduras’s announcement was timed to coincide with the trip but said it was “highly suspicious” and seemed to be intentional.
“The Chinese always try and manipulate events to distort our diplomatic relations,” he said, adding that their earlier information had been that talks between Beijing and Honduras were not nearing an end.
Have you heard of the “International Rules Based Order?” Russia, according to Washington and NATO, is violating those rules (China too) and must be punished. We can’t have “rule breakers” mucking up global tranquility can we?
Since 1945, the United States has pursued its global interests by building and maintaining various alliances, economic institutions, security organizations, political and liberal norms, and other tools — often collectively referred to as the international order. . . .
Building an international order has been a formal program of U.S. foreign policy since at least the 1940s and an aspirational goal since the nation’s founding. According to its post–World War II architects, the international order protects U.S. values by maintaining an environment in which the ideals of a free and democratic society — like that of the United States — can flourish. The United States has used both power and idealistic notions of shared interests to underwrite the rules-based order. In this sense, it employed both hard and soft power to construct the order.
https://ift.tt/rtS31do
Got it? The so-called international order basically is a systemis of rules that the United States sets and arbitrarily decides whether or not a foreign country is complying or disobeying. The bottom line? These “rules” are designed to promote U.S. interests at the expense of others.
Let’s take basketball (appropriate in light of March Madness currently underway in the United States) and look at how genuine rules are supposed to work in a competitive environment. There is a set amount of time for a college game — 40 minutes, two 20 minute halves. You, as a rules official, cannot arbitrarily give one team that you like more time to play in hopes that they score more points and finally prevail. Any player who makes a basket outside the 3 point line is awarded 3 points for his team. Any player who possesses the ball and takes more than two steps without dribbling is guilty of traveling and the ball is turned over to the other team.
When we look at the so-called international rules to promote global order a very different picture emerges. We are essentially talking about an international casino and the United States traditionally has behaved like a crooked dealer who makes sure that friends of the casino win. Here is one example. If protestors take to the streets and try to overthrow a government the United States likes, that is bad and those protestors must be punished. However, if the government has fallen out of favor with the United States then the protestors are sanctified beings carrying out God’s will and must be supported.
Iran is a case in point. Last October, Washington cheered on protests in Iran and punished Iranian authorities for trying to quell the activity:
The United States on Wednesday imposed a slew of new sanctions against Iranian officials involved in the ongoing crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran – the latest US response to Tehran’s efforts to quash outrage after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
“It has been 40 days since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s so-called ‘Morality Police,’ and we join her family and the Iranian people for a day of mourning and reflection,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“The United States is committed to supporting the Iranian people and ensuring that those responsible for the brutal crackdown on the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran are held accountable,” Blinken said. “Today, we are announcing a joint action between the State and Treasury Departments designating 14 individuals and three entities using five different authorities, demonstrating our commitment to use all appropriate tools to hold all levels of the Iranian government to account.”
https://ift.tt/IElO1X5
Ditto for Georgia (the country not the state). When the legislature in Tbilisi passed a law intended to limit foreign interference in Georgia, protestors took to the streets and battled police in early March:
Police in the Georgian capital Tbilisi used tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades late on Wednesday as they moved to break up the second straight day of protests against a “foreign agents” law which critics say would limit press freedom and undercut the country’s efforts to become a candidate for EU membership.
https://ift.tt/Yv75Li0
And Washington’s response to that “violent insurrection?”
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price voiced solidarity with the protestors.
“We urge the government of Georgia to respect the freedom of peaceful assembly and peaceful protests,” Price said. “We are standing with the people of Georgia and the aspirations that they have.”
If you watched any of the videos of the Georgia protests, they were not peaceful.
Quite a contrast to what took place in the United States on January 6, 2021, when Donald Trump supporters surrounded the U.S. Capitol. The Trump supporters are condemned, prosecuted and imprisoned as insurrectionists bent on sedition. The evidence from that day indicates that agents of the U.S. Government (as well as a few Ukrainian members of AZOV) were in the crowd trying to stir them to violence. Once those protestors entered the Capitol, very few participated in acts of violence. But, because they opposed Joe Biden, they are treated as despicable criminals. Tucker punches back against the Biden Administration propaganda meme.
Iran, who was widely condemned in Europe for its response to protestors, is having great fun with French President Macron’s response to French citizens angry over raising the retirement age without a vote by the French legislature:
Iranian authorities commented on the mass protests and strikes in France. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, official Paris should listen to the French people and abandon the “barbaric methods of violence against people defending their democratic rights”.
https://ift.tt/vNS8taf
Rules about protests are small potatoes compared to the Big rule about not carrying out military activities in a foreign country unless you have been invited to send your forces to provide assistance or you have been attacked. The United States and NATO insist that Russia is a major violator of this rule and must be punished. Russia, for its part, argues that it is acting to protect Russian speaking Ukrainians who have been shelled relentlessly by the Government of Ukraine since 2014 and to oppose NATO’s expansion to its borders.
Neither Russia nor China give any credence to complaints and outrage from the West because of America’s own sordid record of military campaigns in Vietnam, Iraq, Syria, Panama, the former country of Yugoslavia, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Here is the harsh truth about the Rules Based International Order. It is an anachronism created in the wake of World War II by the United States, it is unraveling and the Biden Administration continues to enact policies that will hasten its demise.
Keep your eye on Israel. It is being wracked with protests over a proposed law to strip its Supreme Court of power and consolidate that power with the Executive. The rifts within Israel are profound and widening by the day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired the Defense Minister today and Israel’s Consul General resigned in protest.
Why do I bring this up? Because there is no signal yet from the Biden Administration whether it will bless these protests as “following the international rules” or condemn Netanyahu as a violator of those rules.
Laments about the “International Based Rules of Order” exposes the fact that America no longer has the strength nor the ability to impose its will on others. China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, India and South Africa, to mention a prominent few, are awake to this reality and are busy creating an alternative international order that will put the United States on the sidelines. I believe this is the most important consequence of the proxy war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine. The weak underbelly of America has been exposed and no amount of threats or sanctions from Washington will change that reality.
Joe Biden’s embattled nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Phillip Washington, is withdrawing his nomination, sources told Reuters.
Washington’s withdrawal comes after he was outed earlier this month by Senator Ted Cruz during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for being named in multiple search warrants in an ongoing criminal public corruption investigation.
Senator Ted Cruz addressed Biden’s pick for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and addressed the fact that he was under investigation. Cruz went on to say that Washington was the first nominee he could recall who was entangled in an ongoing public corruption investigation while their nomination was pending.
“Unfortunately, the problems with Mr. Washington’s nomination don’t end with his lack of aviation experience. There are also serious concerns regarding outstanding allegations that Mr. Washington engaged in misconduct during his time as the head of the Los Angeles Metro. He has been named in multiple search warrants in an ongoing criminal public corruption investigation, and he’s been the subject of multiple whistleblower complaints,” said Cruz during the confirmation hearing.
“One search warrant was executed just last September, not very long ago. It contained allegations that Mr. Washington pushed forward lucrative no-bid contracts to a politically-connected nonprofit to run a sexual harassment hotline that was hardly ever used, and that he did so in order to stay in the good graces of a powerful politician on LA Metro’s board. The allegations are the kind of local corruption sadly we see far too often across this country, in both parties.”
“But a whistleblower who exposed the details of this alleged pay-to-play contracting scheme claims to have been retaliated against by Mr. Washington. After Mr. Washington left the LA Metro the agency settled these claims with the whistleblower for $625,000. I practiced law for a long time. you did as well. A $625,000 check is not a nuisance check. It’s not a “go away” check. It’s indicative that there’s a real there, there. Whistleblowers don’t get settlements for more than a half a million dollars if their claim is baseless.”
Sen. Cruz added that nobody from Biden’s regime contacted the California Attorney General’s office regarding Washington’s ongoing involvement in the investigation.
“Even more amazing, when my staff spoke with the California Attorney General’s office, the AG’s office told us that at the time they spoke they were not aware of anybody from the White House, from the FBI, or from the Senate who had even contacted them to ask about Mr. Washington’s ongoing involvement in the investigation. That’s truly stunning. That is, frankly, just not caring.
“It’s inexplicable to me that a president, that a White House would choose to nominate someone who is materially involved in a current ongoing public corruption investigation. Just imagine how damaging it would be to the FAA if Mr. Washington were confirmed and then months later he were to find himself indicted for public corruption. That would do real damage to an agency that needs serious trust in leadership.”
WATCH:
HISTORIC
Sen. Ted Cruz to Biden FAA pick Phil Washington: “You’re the first nominee I can recall who is currently entangled in an ongoing public corruption investigation right now while your nomination is pending. This investigation involves an alleged pic.twitter.com/DfirGix8Ja…
According to Reuters, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed Washington’s withdrawal late Saturday.
Buttigieg claimed the Republicans’ “attack” on Washington was the reason for the decision to pull out.
“The partisan attacks and procedural obstruction he has faced are undeserved, but I respect his decision to withdraw and am grateful for his service,” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter.
The FAA needs a confirmed Administrator, and Phil Washington’s transportation & military experience made him an excellent nominee. The partisan attacks and procedural obstruction he has faced are undeserved, but I respect his decision to withdraw and am grateful for his service.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) March 26, 2023
Another official told Reuters “an onslaught of unfounded Republican attacks on Mr. Washington’s service and experience irresponsibly delayed this process, threatened unnecessary procedural hurdles on the Senate floor, and ultimately have led him to withdraw his nomination today.”
TGP’s Joe Hoft reported that the FAA is a mess and in dire need of a competent leader to help the federal agency turn around its bad name and fix its many problems.
Tucker Carlson reported that there were signs of sinister links to wrongdoing that recently shut down the country’s air traffic for a couple of hours on an early January morning causing thousands of flights to be delayed.
This, and delays over the holidays, are real concerns. A lack of pilots due to airline vaccine mandates is also a problem. The entire agency needs an overhaul.
This is why it is so bizarre that Biden and Schumer would continue to support Phillip Washington to lead the agency.
Washington had no aviation experience until recently when he left the LA Metro and moved to Colorado to oversee the Denver International Airport.
But the more serious issue with Washington is that he was recently included in warrants looking into crimes at the LA Metro when he was there.
