The CEO of one of the most prominent leftist artificial intelligence companies in the U.S. and another company with deep ties to the Communist Chinese government were revealed to be prominent shareholders of the censorship-obsessed tech giant Reddit.   Chinese censorship company Tencent and OpenAI’s Sam Altman were listed as two of the top three shareholders in tech company Reddit‚ behind only Condé Nast’s owner Advance Publications‚ according to The Verge. The outlet cited Reddit’s IPO filing‚ revealing that Altman had more shares than Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. Reddit’s documented obsession with crushing free speech makes more sense in light of the new findings.  “While he isn’t a co-founder‚ Altman has been deeply involved in Reddit since basically the beginning‚” The Verge noted. “He quietly stepped off the board in 2022 as OpenAI was rising to prominence and Reddit was gearing up to go public. Now‚ he owns a big chunk of a company that really wants AI companies to pay for its data. Interesting times!” That’s putting it mildly. Because Altman owns 8.7 percent of Reddit’s stock‚ versus Huffman’s 3.3 percent‚ the CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI has more than twice Huffman’s voting power‚ The Verge explained. An August 2023 study found clear leftist/Democrat bias in ChatGPT. MRC Free Speech America recently uncovered how ChatGPT promoted leftist news ratings firms Ad Fontes and NewsGuard as a way to determine the quality of news organizations in the U.S. Both of those companies have documented histories of propping up leftist media while denigrating right-leaning media‚ as MRC research has emphasized. Does Altman influence Reddit to display similar bias? Meanwhile‚ Tencent’s stake could trigger even more questions about Reddit’s position toward free speech. MRC Free Speech America reported in 2019 that Tencent was involved in doing the Chinese government’s censorship dirty work‚ and had invested at least $150 million in Reddit—even though Tencent got Reddit banned in China. Then‚ last year‚ Markets Insider reported that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was buying shares in tech companies‚ including Tencent. The apparent goal was to give the CCP “special rights over certain business decisions‚” Insider explained. The anti-free speech CCP can even control the content tech companies provide‚ with rights over some company decisions‚ the outlet added. But CCP influence on Tencent goes back even further. Taiwan News covered a report in 2020 that 23 percent of Tencent employees were CCP members. Among Tencent’s companies are social media WeChat and gaming studio Riot Games. It seems Reddit is one of the multiple American companies in which Tencent has invested‚ raising questions of the extent of Chinese government involvement. For instance‚ the CCP also owns a stake in TikTok’s parent company ByteDance‚ and TikTok has censored content to please the CCP‚ while its data is reportedly accessible to ByteDance. Could key Reddit data or information also be accessible to Tencent and thus the CCP? And does Tencent import its censorship activities to American companies like Reddit? Reddit has censored thousands of pieces of content in the past for “hate”‚ including a 2022 LGBTQ-inspired effort to censor the word “groomer‚” an ominous sign.  Conservatives are under attack: Contact the Reddit admin and demand that the platform mirror the First Amendment: Tech giants should afford their users nothing less than the free speech and free exercise of religion embodied in the First Amendment as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

PBS NewsHour co-anchor Amna Nawaz worried out loud that Biden was leaning toward "very harsh" immigration policies -- Trump-like policies -- and that will hurt with "core groups" that got him elected in 2020. But New York Times columnist David Brooks gently disagreed‚ that Biden doesn't want a "bright line" on the border‚ since Trump is beating him by 39 points on immigration right now.  This was the Nawaz question/lament:  NAWAZ: We heard Laura Barron-Lopez's reporting there on some weakening among the Biden coalition and core groups there. And we know‚ David‚ that President Biden is now weighing some very harsh immigration tactics through executive action at the U.S. Southern border‚ reminiscent really of some Trump-era policies. So does it make it harder for the president‚ as a candidate‚ to draw a bright line between himself and his likely general election opponent‚ former President Trump‚ when he's coming out with some of the same policies? Nawaz had to be disappointed when Brooks broke out of that bubble‚ where advocates of an open border (or something like it) are uspet with Biden. Brooks gave this a polling reality check:  BROOKS: : Yes‚ on this issue‚ Joe Biden does not want to draw a bright line. The country is with Donald Trump. If you ask who do you approve on different issues‚ on general competency‚ Trump is up by like 12 points. On who can handle the economy better‚ Trump is up by 25. On immigration‚ he's up by 39 points. And so this is an issue where you want to fudge that line. And just on the merits‚ I'm as pro-immigration as I think it's possible to be‚ but our asylum system is meant for people seeking asylum‚ escaping repression. And a lot of the people coming across the border are coming across the border for a lot of the reasons my ancestors came across. They wanted economic opportunity. But that's not asylum. And so the system is somewhat broken down‚ and Biden is right to do something. And‚ politically‚ I do think his survival depends on it. Nawaz turned to Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart to support her worry: "Do these kinds of moves‚ Jonathan‚ further alienate members of that Biden coalition that helped get him to the White House in the first place?" So sad! Capehart agreed with Brooks on the politics:  CAPEHART: Yes‚ it does further alienate. But‚ I mean‚ I have to agree with David on this‚ that immigration is an issue that the president has to fudge this line. But what I also think he has going for him is‚ he gets to say‚ the Republicans made me do this. "There was a bipartisan Senate immigration bill that never got a vote. I was in on the negotiations. They never gave us a vote. And so we have to do something." And the election of Tom Suozzi in — on Long Island‚ gosh‚ was that a week-and-a-half ago now‚ almost two weeks ago‚ was a signal of how salient the immigration issue is. So we could consider it refreshing that the PBS pundits are less in thrall to the Left than the PBS co-anchor‚ if only because both want Biden to eke out a win. But it shows you how the NewsHour is now in control of anchors who would make it the WokeHour. 

Click to Skip Ahead Overview Why Bully Sticks Can Be Dangerous for Dogs My Dog Has Eaten a Bully Stick‚ What Do I Do Now? Signs Treatment Prevention You’re likely reading this because your dog has swallowed a bully stick and you need to know what to do next. A bully stick is a dog chew usually made from the penis of a bull. They are long thin chewy stick treats for dogs. They are designed to be chewed over a long period‚ but due to the fact they are so palatable‚ some dogs get over-excited and swallow them whole or swallow large sections of the chew. Whether your dog has swallowed a whole chew or just a larger piece of one‚ the main risk is choking and gastrointestinal tract blockages or perforation. If you are concerned that your dog may have ingested a large piece of a bully stick‚ or swallowed it whole‚ you need to contact your vet immediately. You may not have seen them eat the whole thing but have noticed that the stick got eaten in a much shorter time. You may know that they had a chew earlier in the day and now they are showing signs of choking or a blockage. Whatever the situation is‚ you need to contact your vet immediately. It is always better to be safe than sorry. What Are Bully Sticks? Image Credit: Dmitriev Mikhail‚ Shutterstock A bully stick is a long thin chewy product usually made from a dehydrated bull penis. It is a popular choice for a chew for a few reasons: It only contains one ingredient It is high in protein It is low in fat It supposedly helps with the maintenance of healthy teeth It keeps dogs occupied and can prevent them from chewing things they shouldn’t The size of the sticks varies‚ and bully sticks are suitable for dogs of any breed and size. They are a relatively hard chew treat‚ so usually dogs will gnaw at them and break small pieces off over a long period of time. Why Bully Sticks Can Be Dangerous for Dogs Larger dogs‚ dogs with very strong jaws‚ and avid chewers‚ may be able to bite off larger sections or swallow whole chews. The chews are not particularly sharp‚ however‚ if they have had parts bitten off this may leave pointy bits that could cause internal damage. Some bits that are swallowed may be pushed through the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and perforate the guts. This is a medical emergency‚ and your dog will require immediate veterinary assistance. If left untreated‚ your dog may develop septic peritonitis which is a serious condition that can result in death. The chew may not even make it past the throat as it may become lodged in this area as the dog tries to swallow. Sometimes it can be difficult to locate if it is further back and out of view. The bully sticks are designed to be swallowed by your dog. If they eat small parts over a long period of time‚ this should not cause a problem unless they ate a large amount of the chews. For example‚ if they stole a whole packet and ate them all in one sitting. There is nothing poisonous or toxic in the chews. The issue is the shape of the whole chew or a larger section of one which can potentially be a choking hazard‚ cause a blockage in the intestines‚ or even perforate them. Some dogs will manage to eat a whole bully stick and have no symptoms at all. The body will start to digest the stick as soon as the dog starts chewing it‚ so even if a really large piece is ingested‚ the body may still be capable of digesting it properly before it causes any issues. Image Credit: Dmitriev Mikhail‚ Shutterstock My Dog Has Eaten a Bully Stick‚ What Do I Do Now? Follow these simple steps if your dog has eaten a bully stick. 1. Remove any of the remaining bully stick out of their reach and ensure they don’t have access to any more. Stay with your dog to monitor them for any immediate signs of choking or distress. 2. Contact your vet straight away. Make sure you stay with your dog or have another adult supervise them and ring your vet immediately. Your vet will need to ask some questions to obtain a full clinical history and decide on what action needs to be taken next. Questions may include: Did your dog eat the whole bully stick or parts of it? Have they eaten this type of treat before? How long ago did the incident occur? What size is your dog? What breed is your dog? How much does your dog weigh? Does your dog have any current health issues? Is your dog showing any signs of distress‚ discomfort‚ or illness currently? 3. Do everything your vet tells you. Follow your vet’s instructions as your vet is likely to tell you to bring your dog down to be seen. 4. Don’t attempt to fix your dog at home. If you think your dog may have something stuck in their throat‚ trying to retrieve it yourself is dangerous. That is unless it is very obvious‚ and you have easy access to it without further injuring your dog or getting injured yourself. You may end up pushing it further down into the stomach or doing damage to surrounding tissues trying to pull out. Not to mention if your dog is in pain or stressed‚ they may bite you. Attempting to make your dog vomit at home is advised against too. If there are sharp or pointy sections of the stick‚ this could potentially cause damage on the way back out or cause it to become lodged somewhere. 5. Don’t let your dog out of your sight. It is very important to monitor your dog for any signs of choking‚ abdominal pain‚ or general distress. It is also important to monitor them to ensure they don’t run off or try to escape as this would prevent or delay them receiving the treatment they need. Image Credit: Iryna Imago‚ Shutterstock Clinical Signs Your Dog Has Eaten a Bully Stick It is important to remember that some dogs will be absolutely fine after eating a bully stick as mentioned above. They will be able to digest the stick and break it down before it causes any medical issues. If there is a problem‚ some of the clinical signs may include: Coughing/retching: If there is a part of the chew lodged in your dog’s throat that they can’t remove themselves‚ they may cough and retch repeatedly Reduced appetite: Your dog may not feel like eating if they have pain associated with their gastrointestinal tract or if they have a temperature due to infection. Lethargy: Your dog may be reluctant to move around and be less interactive if they are feeling unwell. Vomiting: Your dog may vomit if they are choking or they may vomit if there is an obstruction or infection. They may also vomit if they are in pain. Adopt the praying position: Your dog may stand with the front half of their body down on the floor and their back half in the air‚ this is usually a sign of abdominal discomfort or pain. Constipation or diarrhea: Depending on whether there is inflammation‚ irritation‚ or a blockage‚ this can affect the consistency and movement of the feces in the bowels. Changes in temperament: Your dog may suddenly snap at you if they are in pain or frightened. Image Credit: Dmitriev Mikhail‚ Shutterstock How to Treat a Dog That Has Eaten a Bully Stick Depending on the size of your dog and the size of the stick‚ the first option may be to monitor the dog. This is because the stick is made of protein that the body is capable of digesting‚ so often the dog will be able to break it down despite it being whole or in a large piece. If it appears as if the stick is causing problems‚ your vet will make a treatment plan. Your vet may decide to use a piece of equipment called an endoscope. This is a small camera on a probe that is inserted down the throat to allow the vet to visualize the inside of the gastrointestinal tract. It may be used to locate the stick‚ and then another probe with a grabbing tool connected can be inserted to retrieve the stick safely. Your vet may have to perform surgery to remove the stick from your dog if it is further down the gastrointestinal tract or if there has been any damage such as perforation. How to Prevent Your Dog from Eating a Bully Stick If you are worried about your dog eating a whole bully stick‚ there are a few things you can do to prevent any harm from coming to them. Break up the stick into smaller pieces that the dog can chew on‚ but that are smaller and more manageable if swallowed whole. Change treats—there are plenty of other chewable treats on the market for dogs currently that are different shapes so potentially would be safer. Supervise your dog if you want to give them bully sticks Ensure they always have access to fresh water when chewing the sticks. Conclusion Bully sticks are a popular chew treat for dogs. They are extremely palatable to dogs and often when given one‚ dogs will become very excited and try to eat the chew whole or swallow large pieces without chewing properly. Due to their shape and size‚ bully sticks have the potential to cause problems including choking‚ gastrointestinal blockage‚ or perforation. Care must be taken when giving these treats to your dog. Sources MSD Vet Manual Pub Med NCBI NLM NIH Pub Med NCBI NLM NIH MSD Vet Manual Featured Image Credit: Dmitriev Mikhail‚ Shutterstock The post My Dog Swallowed a Bully Stick: Should I Be Worried? Our Vet Explains appeared first on Pet Keen.

Click to Skip Ahead What Is Declawing? What Is Laser Declawing? Why Do Owners Want to Declaw Their Cats? Why We Advise Against Laser Declawing Comparison With Other Declawing Methods Lots of owners are curious about using laser declawing methods to remove their cat’s claws. Are you one of these owners and would you like to know why it is advised against? Read on to hear the low down on laser declawing from a professional. What Is Declawing? Declawing (officially known as onychectomy) is a procedure where the end of the digit on a cat’s paw is removed. It can be carried out by amputation of a section of the digit‚ or by removing the whole of the last toe bone. Usually‚ the declawing methods described involve amputation of the end of the toe from the first joint after the nail bed. This is called disarticulation. The reason behind this surgery can be for medical reasons such as the presence of chronic infection or a tumor. Shockingly‚ a common reason is because the owner has requested it to be done as they dislike their cat scratching things. Image Credit: RJ22‚ Shutterstock What Is Laser Declawing? Laser declawing is a permanent way of removing cats’ claws and ensuring they don’t grow back. Laser declawing involves the use of a medical-grade CO2 laser to cut the digit at the first joint up from the nail bed. Alternative methods of declawing involve using a sharp scalpel blade to intersect the toe at the first joint‚ or bone cutters or nail trimmers to cut through the toe at the joint. With this last method‚ proper dislocation often does not occur‚ and bone fragments can be left behind which can be incredibly painful for the cat. An alternative surgical option is an operation called a Deep Digital Flexor Tendonectomy. The tendons of the deep digital flexor are cut‚ and this prevents the cat from retracting its claws back into the nail sheath. Here‚ the cat’s nails remain intact‚ however‚ the cat is unable to scratch anything. This means that the cat’s nails will grow rapidly without any of the usual wear and tear they would experience if the cat was allowed to scratch. Therefore‚ the cat’s nails all need trimming regularly to prevent them from growing into the pads. This is also a controversial surgery with ethical issues. Why Do Owners Want to Declaw Their Cats? Cats scratch with their claws and scratching is part of their normal day-to-day behavior. They scratch to defend themselves and to mark their territory. When they scratch‚ they deposit important chemical messengers called pheromones. Pheromones give other cats vital bits of information. Cats use pheromones as a mark of their territory to ensure they feel safe and secure. Some cats scratch their owners or other animals and break the skin or cause considerable damage. Domesticated cats often find objects or furniture around the house to scratch as they cannot do what they would usually do in the outside world. Owners are often frustrated if cats start to scratch carpets or sofas and leave marks or rip them. Some owners request that the claws be removed from their cats to prevent them from scratching things in the house or themselves or other animals. Some people argue that if cats are going to scratch humans and destroy furniture‚ declawing is a good idea as they believe it will reduce the number of cats that are rehomed or euthanized. Image Credit: RJ22‚ Shutterstock Why We Advise Against Laser Declawing Declawing‚ regardless of the method used‚ is the equivalent of cutting the tip of the finger off at the level of the first knuckle. When put like this‚ it is understandable that most vets think it is barbaric and a form of mutilation. International Cat Care states that they consider “declawing to be an act of mutilation and unethical for anything other than genuine therapeutic medical reasons.” Declawing cats involves the amputation of part of their digit‚ it is a major operation that often causes behavioral changes‚ altered gait‚ and long-term pain. All surgical procedures come with potential risks‚ however‚ it is difficult to justify the risks if the surgery is solely for the convenience of the owner. Laser declawing comes with its own unique set of risks too: There is a risk of infection after the operation. The laser can burn the end of the bone‚ and this leads to inflammation and pain. Bone fragments can be left behind which can cause lameness‚ chronic pain‚ and gait abnormalities. Cats have to relearn how to walk as their balance is affected. If the cat alters its gait when walking‚ this in turn affects the other limbs and the back. Other reasons against laser declawing include: Cats that have had their claws removed still experience the urge to scratch. They are left with an instinct that they can’t act upon which is extremely cruel. If the cat’s claws are removed‚ they are unable to defend themselves if they have any unwanted encounters with other cats or predators; they have one less weapon in their arsenal and are more likely to become injured. Cats use their claws to climb up and down tall things such as trees and fences. If their claws have been removed‚ they are unable to do this safely and are more vulnerable to injuries. It has been suggested that if cats are experiencing chronic discomfort and pain after they have been declawed‚ this can lead to unwanted behavioral changes such as inappropriate elimination and unprovoked aggression. In many countries‚ declawing cats is already banned or heavily frowned upon for anything other than a medical reason decided by a vet. Image Credit: Evgenia Terekhova‚Shutterstock Is Laser Declawing Better Than Other Declawing Methods? Some owners think that laser declawing is a more humane way of removing the claws. They believe that there is potentially less trauma using lasers as the nerve endings get sealed off which means it is less painful and there is usually less blood loss. There are some studies stating that cats that had been declawed using the laser method experienced less pain initially (in the first 48 hours after the procedure)‚ however‚ all methods of declawing were proven to be painful. Less pain in one scenario compared to another extremely painful scenario does not justify the first scenario. These studies also stated that pain levels were the same regardless of the method of declawing used 6 days post-operation. The findings from these studies may help vets if they have a case that requires a digit amputation for a medical reason‚ it does not justify the declawing procedure for the owner’s convenience. Conclusion Laser declawing is a painful procedure that has short and long-term effects on the cat’s quality of life. If there is a medical reason for the removal of the claw‚ the risks of surgery vs. the benefits of the removal should be discussed with your vet. Cats suffer without their claws as they use them in many different ways in their day-to-day life. It is very difficult to justify the removal of claws just so that it is more convenient for owners of cats‚ therefore we strongly advise against it. Sources KJVR NCBI NLM NIH Pub Med NCBI NLM NIH Pub Med NCBI NLM NIH Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio‚ Shutterstock The post Laser Declawing Your Cat: Our Vet Explains Why We Advise Against It appeared first on Pet Keen.

In his 2010 book "Jesus: A Biography from a Believer‚" the Catholic historian Paul Johnson comments on Christ's famous dictum that “greater love hath no man than this‚ that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13): But by friends he meant all without exception. There was nothing exclusive about Jesus and his teaching. His message was the most inclusive of all such communications. No one before had‚ and no one since has‚ so confidently and warmly and indeed naturally opened his arms to the entire human race. Only the Son of God could love the entire human race‚ but it's always been up to mere men to bring them together; the story of Christianity is largely the story of Christians adapting whatever means are at their disposal to spread the good news. While "He Gets Us" is not the first effort to harness the reach of mass media in communicating Jesus' message‚ it is certainly one of the most ambitious. Launched in 2022 with a budget of $100 million‚ the campaign evangelizes using all the sophisticated techniques of the modern agency. "We can treat each other with respect and dignity‚ which actually doesn't mean that we have to give up our beliefs and convictions. Jesus never deviated from his mission." After a ten-market test campaign at the end of 2021‚ "He Gets Us" went national with spots during the 2022 NCAA March Madness tournament; that summer‚ baseball fans encountered "He Gets Us" signage in stadiums across the country. Live sporting events are a crucial focus for the campaign‚ "He Gets Us" consultant and spokesman Jason Vanderground tells Align. "We're just looking at the media of today and saying‚ how can we get that message out in the places where people pay attention?" The campaign's most prominent media spend has been on the Super Bowl telecast. After making a splash with its first Super Bowl ad in 2023‚ "He Gets Us" returned to last month's game with its latest spot‚ which depicts foot washing as a symbolic gesture of humility bridging political and ideological divides. Julia Fullerton-Batten Reaction to the ad highlighted some of those divides. While the images themselves have nothing to say about sexuality‚ progressives compensated for the lack of offense by noting Come Near‚ the non-profit behind the ads‚ has links to "far-right" organizations advancing an "anti-LGBT" agenda. Even more vocal backlash came from conservatives‚ who accused the spot of presenting an overly feel-good version of Jesus. As BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey wrote on X‚ "If you've got the money and opportunity to buy a Super Bowl ad slot‚ share the gospel. Don't waste it on some ambiguous mumbo jumbo that makes Jesus into our image rather than depicting Him as the King and Savior He is." For Vanderground‚ who considers himself a "Jesus follower‚" such criticism from his fellow Christians misunderstands the purpose of the campaign. It's aimed not so much at them‚ but at "spiritually open skeptics." How to get them interested in Christianity? According to Vanderground‚ extensive preliminary research suggested the most effective course would be to lead with the person of Jesus‚ rather than doctrine or history: "[They] look at Christianity and they see they see a lot of hypocrisy. ... But when you talk with them about Jesus ... far and away‚ Jesus is the one who Americans connect with. And they say‚ there is somebody who was unconditionally loving‚ was kind‚ was forgiving‚ was gracious‚ was welcoming‚ was loving to all." These qualities are especially appealing‚ Vanderground continues‚ given the country's current atmosphere. "We need [these qualities] right now because of the anxiety‚ the loneliness‚ all of the toxicity‚ the tension. Jesus appears to them as a very good model for how to navigate [this] type of environment." Of course‚ to follow Jesus also includes heeding his call to repent‚ a call critics have pointed out is notably absent from the campaign. What's important to "He Gets Us‚" however‚ is that we all get the chance. "Jesus invited everybody‚" Vanderground says. "And many times‚ there was no prerequisite to spending time with Him‚ hearing from Him‚ interacting with Him. He didn't say you had to do anything first before you could have that." While it's fair to assume no Christian would dispute that‚ the politically charged pairings in the photos (a pro-life protester and a woman seeking an abortion‚ a suburban white mom and an immigrant‚ a priest and a gay roller-blader) have led some conservatives to see the foot washing as yet another performative capitulation to wokeness. Vanderground disagrees‚ noting that the apostles whose feet Jesus washed were hardly moral exemplars. Judas would soon betray him‚ Peter would deny him‚ and Matthew's background as a tax collector was particularly loathsome. "We can treat each other with respect and dignity‚ which actually doesn't mean that we have to give up our beliefs and convictions. Jesus never deviated from his mission." As for the campaign's mission‚ the controversy doesn't seem to have hindered it. In the days immediately following the Super Bowl‚ 1.2 million people visited the "He Gets Us" website‚ many of them lingering for longer than average durations. In that same time‚ 16‚000 people subscribed to the free‚ seven-week Bible-reading plans "He Gets Us" has shared via the popular YouVersion platform. And more than 6‚000 people signed up for smaller online discussion groups. Julia Fullerton-Batten "He Gets Us" plans to debut the next phase of the campaign this spring‚ while continuing to track audience reaction to what Vanderground likens to polite‚ friendly "sidewalk conversations." The church‚ it's often said‚ is a hospital for sinners. In other words‚ every one of us. But nobody accepts the healing it offers without first admitting that they're sick. For Vanderground and the "He Gets Us" team‚ the best guide for persuading people to consider this first step is Jesus himself‚ with his radical willingness to meet people where they are. To illustrate this‚ he refers to one of his favorite images from the ad: a daughter washing the feet of her alcoholic mother. "I think so many of us are like‚ I've been there. I've had a parent or a loved one who was hitting rock bottom and just needed help. And the best chance for that [to happen] is unconditional love‚ which does a very special thing on the inside of a person."

A concealed-carrying employee of a Chicago jewelry store shot a hooded male who was caught on video bashing a display case over the weekend. The suspect reportedly was released without charges.What are the details?Surveillance video inside the store on Jeweler's Row in the city's Loop area on North Wabash Avenue shows the suspect walking around for about a minute before taking off toward the entrance just before 11 a.m. Saturday‚ WBBM-TV reported.The male then began to bash a glass case‚ after which the employee behind the counter pulled out a gun and opened fire at the suspect before he tried to get away‚ the station said. — (@) It appears the employee — who is a FOID card and concealed carry license holder‚ WBBM said — fired two shots at the male‚ who quickly fell to the sidewalk just outside the store's entrance. Image source: YouTube screenshotVideo outside the store shows the suspect getting up‚ beginning to run off‚ then stopping and turning around and going back into the store's entrance to retrieve what appears to be a a bag of some kind. Image source: YouTube screenshot Image source: YouTube screenshotHe then runs down the sidewalk before heading up a stairwell to a train platform‚ WBBM said. Image source: YouTube screenshotPolice told the station a man was placed into custody a short time later and taken to a hospital for a gunshot wound‚ where he reportedly was stabilized.WBBM‚ citing store security‚ said the employee who opened fire was in custody as police continued to investigate.While the station said charges against the robbery suspect are pending‚ WLS-TV said the suspect as well as the concealed carrier were released without charges.How are observers reacting?Commenters responding to the WBBM video on YouTube were not happy about how authorities handled things in the aftermath:"And there's Chicago's problem‚" one commenter said. "The employee is in custody for defending his business‚ and the criminal will be released back into society.""Why is the shooter in custody?" another user asked. "He wouldn't have shot if a POS hadn't tried to rob him. How is he all of a sudden a criminal?""The employee shouldn't be in custody at all!" another commenter exclaimed. "I swear many of these anti-gun cities are looking for reasons to destroy gun owners.""It's really sad what has happened to this country‚" another user noted. "The criminals and inmates are running the asylum." Robber shot by Chicago jewelry store employee youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

If Disney were still Disney‚ projects like “Adventures with Iggy and Mr. Kirk” might not be necessary.The upcoming children’s show comes to us from actor/producer Kirk Cameron‚ a culture warrior offering alternatives to the new woke order.Last year‚ Cameron traveled to libraries across the country to read from his book‚ “As You Grow” as well as Ashley St. Clair’s “Elephants Are Not Birds.” Far-Left protesters‚ some dressed in drag‚ greeted him at select stops to interrupt his readings. “For the past four years‚ kids have been guinea pigs in politics‚ a bargaining chip. You can see that clearly in kids’ programming. To me‚ I was excited to do a project that would uphold the innocence of children.”Now‚ he’s preparing a children’s show brimming with the values Disney and like-minded platforms either ignore or decry.Cameron tells Align too many shows have “brainwashed children across the nation‚” with classics like “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” replaced by tales featuring non-binary characters and other progressive themes.The former “Growing Pains” star says the new show‚ which will lean on a crowdfunding campaign via WatchBrave.com‚ promises “world-class” talent like former “Sesame Street” puppet artist John Kennedy‚ who will bring Iggy the Iguana to life.“We’re going to make the coolest kids’ show ever‚” Cameron says of “Adventures‚” which will fuse live action‚ animation‚ and puppetry.The show’s life lessons may not be familiar to parents who grew up in simpler times. Cameron says “Adventures” will teach children about the dangers of socialism and DEI while arming them on how to “spot lies in the news.”“These are not the lessons Mr. Rogers had to teach back in the day‚” he says. “For the past four years‚ kids have been guinea pigs in politics‚ a bargaining chip. You can see that clearly in kids’ programming. To me‚ I was excited to do a project that would uphold the innocence of children.”Cameron‚ 53‚ understands the role pop culture plays in society today.“We see people like Taylor Swift or Beyonce or other celebrities and influencers create culture and tell people how to vote politically‚” he says. “If you look back in history‚ we didn’t have TV and Hollywood creating the culture. It was family that created the culture or religion.”Hollywood‚ by and large‚ doesn’t mirror Cameron’s values‚ but he has faith that the industry doesn’t reflect the country at large.“There’s more of us than there are of them‚” he says. “We’re seeing signs of it everywhere.”Actress Leigh-Allyn Baker‚ best known for Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie” and recurring work on NBC’s “Will &; Grace‚” is teaming with Cameron for the project. She brings decades of acting experience and vocal work with shows like Nickelodeon’s “Back at the Barnyard.”Baker points to “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” as one inspiration behind “Adventures‚” admiring the simplicity of its approach. Like Cameron‚ she has experience reaching out to young viewers‚ and she’ll bring a similar mindset to “Adventures.”“I never once dumbed down my performances [for children]. Kids are smart. They will get it‚” Baker says of her Disney days. “I would do the same performance for a kid that I would do for an adult. The material is different‚ but you bring the same level of honesty‚ sincerity‚ commitment‚ and vulnerability.”Like Cameron‚ Baker isn’t afraid to share her Christian faith in an industry that isn’t uniformly accepting of faith-based talent. She experienced plenty of professional blowback when she spoke out against mask and vaccine mandates during the pandemic‚ though.“I couldn’t believe people consider my viewpoint radical‚” she says.Cameron doesn’t have much faith in Disney returning to the values that founder Walt Disney established and maintained for decades.“There are forces that are very great and evil out there directing some of these companies. … That doesn’t mean everyone who works for Disney is evil‚” Cameron says. “My money is not on giant corporations or super-famous people converting to the right set of values. It’s a grassroots thing ... everyday moms and dads and employees and small-business owners … average people who have hearts surrender to what is true and good and right. That’s the kind of movement that heaven gets behind.”Cameron knows “Adventures with Iggy and Mr. Kirk” is just one salvo in a larger culture war‚ but the importance of counterculture programming isn’t lost on him.“Now is the time for people to wake up‚ stand up‚ and lean in‚” he says. “It’s kind of a ‘now or never’ thing‚ and that’s not an exaggeration.”

When George Floyd died under disputed circumstances in 2020‚ a spontaneous‚ rapturous global movement emerged to lionize him and use his death to demand changes to our policing and criminal justice system. The movement succeeded‚ and it resulted in the worst crime wave in a generation. Laken Riley‚ a young nursing student in Georgia‚ was brutally murdered last week‚ allegedly by an illegal alien from Venezuela. Where are the cries of “justice for Laken”? Where is the serendipitous political movement to use her memory to shut down the invasion at the border? The crime wave we face is unimaginable but also completely avoidable. Even if George Floyd truly died at the hands of a police officer and not from a drug overdose‚ his death was not evidence of pervasive‚ racist police violence. Police are not killing black men wantonly. The same may not be said of the prevalent and completely avoidable trend of illegal alien violence. We all saw the images of Venezuelan migrants beating police in New York City. We all watched the Venezuelan criminal released from prison and flipping the bird at the American people. We saw the four Venezuelan punks who robbed an American on a Chicago train. We’ve long endured an underreported illegal alien crime wave‚ but this wave of Venezuelan invaders is qualitatively the worst we have ever faced. According to CWB Chicago‚ Chicago police as of the end of November had arrested nearly 700 self-identified Venezuelan nationals‚ up from 26 in 2022 and just six in 2021. Which brings us to Jose Antonio Ibarra‚ 26‚ a Venezuelan national illegally paroled by Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security in 2022‚ who is now charged with the murder of Riley on UGA’s Athens campus after the nursing student’s body was found brutally beaten in the woods. Ibarra is the new face of our Venezuelan problem‚ but he’s one of thousands. As Fox News reports‚ recently arrived Tren de Aragua gang members are terrorizing cities including New York and Chicago. The Border Patrol reported roughly 335‚000 encounters with Venezuelan nationals during the 2023 fiscal year‚ in addition to the 470‚000 granted temporary protected status by Biden. This doesn’t include apprehensions from the previous two years‚ nor does it include the “gotaways.” Yet only 834 Venezuelan nationals were deported in 2023.The crime wave we face is unimaginable but also completely avoidable. Unlike some other political causes born out of a gush of emotion from a highly visible murder or death (such as Floyd’s)‚ this is a problem that is 100% redressable if our government actually met its obligation to protect citizens from foreign threats. Just consider the magnitude of what we face. According to ICE‚ as of FY 2023‚ there were a whopping 6‚199‚629 foreign nationals (mainly illegal‚ but also criminal legal aliens) in its “undetained” docket. These are people who have been targeted by ICE for removal‚ which most likely means the overwhelming majority have criminal records in addition to immigration violations. Just 37‚000 of them are currently in custody. That means more than 6 million criminal aliens who were dangerous enough to attract ICE’s attention remain in the country indefinitely without being deported. Just how prevalent is the crime problem? In fiscal year 2020‚ during Trump’s last year when we were still making an effort to deport people‚ among those arrested by ICE were illegal immigrants with criminal histories that included: more than 1‚800 homicide-related offenses‚ 1‚600 kidnappings‚ 3‚800 robberies‚ 37‚000 assaults‚ 10‚000 sex crimes. In total‚ there were more than 374‚000 criminal convictions and pending charges — an average of four per illegal alien. This is just among those authorities found with very limited resources and with sanctuary cities shielding a large number of them. And‚ of course‚ it was before Biden allowed more than 7.2 million people to invade the country. Nothing is worth fighting for if conservatives don’t make Laken Riley’s death our George Floyd moment. This means Republicans must refuse to fund the budget at the end of the week without provisions defunding the border invasions. But it must also mean states begin assuming responsibility for deportations. The Constitution itself allows states to fight an invasion. But even if it did not‚ the Constitution is not a suicide pact. With 6.2 million undetained illegal aliens that even Biden’s ICE has targeted for removal‚ there is no way states can sit by while federal authorities do nothing. Every day‚ there are millions of ticking time bombs among people who should not be here. It turns out Laken Riley’s alleged murderer was arrested by the NYPD in September and charged with “acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation‚” according to a statement by ICE. As is the case with all sanctuary cities‚ Ibarra was released by the NYPD before a detainer could be issued. Jose Antonio also has an older brother‚ Diego Ibarra‚ who is another example of Biden’s lax border policies. He was arrested three times between September and December 2023 in Athens‚ Georgia‚ for various crimes but was released every single time. The first time an illegal alien is caught for a crime should be the last time he commits a crime in this country. This is a sanctuary city problem‚ but it is also a sanctuary nation problem. But ICE often refuses to apprehend those who only committed “low-level offenses‚” such as drunk driving or theft. Given that the feds refuse to deport‚ it is incumbent upon the states to identify the citizenship of every individual arrested and ensure that deportable aliens are not released onto our streets. Justice for Laken Riley and countless others like her demands no less.

Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz will no longer target 2030 as the year it will complete its transition into manufacturing electric vehicles only.After announcing the goal in 2021‚ the German automaker blamed "market conditions" for a lack of EV sales and consumer demand not meeting expectations‚ a reality nearly every major automaker is now seeing. The company announced in its investors outlook that rather than go all-electric by 2030‚ it plans to be "in a position to cater to different customer needs‚" which include an all-electric drivetrain or an electrified combustion engine "until well into the 2030s."However‚ the brand did claim that it expects EV sales to make up half of its overall sales in the second half of the 2020s. In addition to stating that "customers and market conditions will set the pace of the transformation‚" Mercedes blamed an "exceptional degree of uncertainty" in automotive markets and cited nearly every major world conflict as its reasoning."Middle East conflict‚ the Russia-Ukraine war‚ and other regional crises" were noted‚ as well as "tensions" between the United States and China‚ and even "political relations" between the European Union and China.Supply chain issues and bottlenecks for critical production components were big risks the company stated‚ specifically for raw materials and energy. Along with inflation‚ nearly every conceivable factor was mentioned by Mercedes-Benz as a reason that EVs aren't selling through the roof.The company was much more confident when it made its ambitious announcement in 2021‚ committing $47 billion to complete an all-electric output by 2030."We are convinced we can do it with strong profitability‚ and we believe that focus on electrical is the right way to build a successful future and to enhance the value of Mercedes-Benz‚" head of Mercedes-Benz Ola Källenius said at the time. Mercedes did carve out a trap door for itself in 2021‚ however‚ when it said its sale of electric vehicles would be "where market conditions allow."Clearly that has not yet come to fruition‚ with the company saying its sales would "soften" and be "slightly lower" in 2024 compared to the previous year.The company remained confident that it is ready for the "tipping point" into the "all-electric era" and that improved efficiency in terms of battery life is on the horizon.Mercedes-Benz joins companies like Ford‚ Honda‚ and GM in its electric production slowdown‚ while the Biden administration has delayed requirements for restrictions on exhaust emissions ahead of the 2024 election.Still‚ Mercedes-Benz has faced some rather public blowouts for its electric models‚ which have been seen catching fire‚ not unlike other electric car brands.As reported by Breitbart‚ an EQB model caught fire while being charged in a Malaysian showroom on New Year's Eve 2023. The outlet also noted a Mercedes-Benz EQE350+ electric vehicle caught fire in a Florida garage‚ causing around $1 million in damage to the home.At the same time‚ Mercedes-Benz also announced it is advancing its automated driving programs and will look to "optimize its industrial footprint" as it hopes to lower costs for electric vehicle production to bring down prices.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An Illinois judge has been removed from the bench after he reversed a teenager's sexual assault conviction for raping a 16-year-old while she was asleep‚ according to the Daily Mail.Adams County Judge Robert Adrian was yanked off the bench after a three-day hearing was held in Chicago due to a complaint that was lodged against him. Adrian originally found then-18-year-old Drew Clinton guilty of sexually assaulting 16-year-old Cameron Vaughan during a graduation party in 2021.However‚ when it was time to sentence Clinton‚ Adrian said that the boy had already spent 148 days behind bars. The report noted that while Adrian could not sentence the teen to time served‚ he was able to overturn the verdict and set him free‚ per ABC News. Following the decision‚ the court commission decided that Adrian had "engaged in multiple instances of misconduct" and that he had "abused his position of power to indulge his own sense of justice while circumventing the law."As a result‚ the state Judicial Inquiry Board lodged a complaint against Adrian after he threw out Clinton's conviction in January 2022.Cameron‚ who is now 18 years old‚ said she passed out drunk in the basement and awoke to find Clinton sexually assaulting her while holding a pillow over her face. However‚ Clinton insists that the two had consensual sex and that Cameron was not as drunk as she claimed.At the time‚ Adrian said: "He [Clinton] has no prior record‚ none whatsoever. By law‚ the court is supposed to sentence this young man to the Department of Corrections. ... This court will not do that. That is not just. There is no way for what happened in this case that this teenager should go to the Department of Corrections. I will not do that."Even though he has been removed from the bench‚ Adrian insists that he did the right thing. He characterized his removal as "totally a miscarriage of justice. I did what was right. I've always told the truth about it."Court records from Adams County shows that Clinton's guilty verdict was overturned after prosecutors failed to meet the burden of proof that Clinton had committed the crime‚ per ABC News.But the commission found that Adrian's claim that "he reversed his guilty finding based on his reconsideration of the evidence and his conclusion that the State had failed to prove its case to be a subterfuge — respondent’s attempt to justify the reversal post hoc.” Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!