'There is no evidence that Saudi Arabia and Qatar supported the airstrikes. Only a few countries‚ such as Bahrain and Australia‚ were said to have supported them'

That seems now to be a plank in the Democratic Party platform

The Next E. Jean Carroll Trial Starts Tuesday

Democrats Bray About Biden's Overflowing War Chest as He Sends Surrogates to Iowa Today

CBS Mornings co-anchor John Dickerson on Monday hijacked the usually lighthearted “Talk of the Table” segment to hyperventilate about “Our Democracy” and January 6. Using the Iowa Caucuses as a jumping-off point‚ Dickerson panicked that the people of Iowa might soon select a candidate who had “attacked the culminating sacrament of the national election in 2020.” “Talk of the Table” is a recurring segment in which each co-anchor gets a couple of minutes to talk about whatever they choose‚ be it a funny story‚ an interesting factoid‚ or an obscure news item. For example‚ Nate Burleson’s contribution on Monday was a video of a man who put on an impromptu magic show in a Portland‚ Oregon cafe. Dickerson instead kicked off the segment with a clumsy monologue about democracy‚ complete with weird pseudo-spiritual rhetoric and a heavy dose of January 6th induced pearl-clutching.     My “Talk of the Table” is about the Iowa caucuses. We’ve been talking about them. As someone who started going to Iowa almost 30 years ago to cover the Caucus‚ I still kind of swoon at the basic act of people in a room participating in democracy. But while this looks like the past‚ we can’t lose sight of how different this all is. The frontrunner‚ Donald Trump‚ three years ago was being accused by the leaders of his party in the House and Senate of promoting an attack on the Capitol. His Vice President accused him of the same. He continued: “So in Iowa‚ we have this near sacrament of democracy‚ possibly locking in a candidate who those closest to him‚ those in his party‚ say attacked the culminating sacrament of the national election in 2020. Not only on January 6th but in the months before it.” If any of that sounded familiar‚ it’s because it’s the same speech we’ve all heard a million times before from just about every talking head in the corporate TV news media. Dickerson checked all the boxes: January 6 handwringing‚ overtures to Our Democratyâ„¢‚ heavy-handed religious overtones‚  the whole shebang. He wrapped up with this dramatic clincher: Those voters‚ those votes that trump sought to overturn were cast by people putting their hopes and dreams and fears into their vote in events just like the Caucuses tonight in Iowa. Today kicks off an election unlike one we've ever had before in America‚ where‚ like what's happening in Iowa‚ it will look familiar‚ but the context is very different. Generally when writing up the idiotic diatribes of news goons we’ll try to include only the relevant or most impactful portions. But Dickerson’s tirade was so absurd that there really wasn’t any fat to trim at all. The whole mess speaks for itself. These people are just exhausting.

As is their wont‚ dozens of far-left‚ violent Antifa agitators shouted expletives and fired off explosives over the weekend‚ this time outside a comedy club in Portland‚ Oregon‚ to express their outrage that the establishment dared to allow far-left actor Michael Rapaport‚ who supports Israel‚ to perform there without their approval.On Friday night‚ with temperatures well below freezing‚ dozens of Antifa protesters gathered outside Helium Comedy Club‚ where Rapaport was scheduled to perform five shows over the next two days. According to videos shared by Andy Ngo‚ a journalist who has been covering Antifa's violent antics for years‚ a line of police officers protected the perimeter of the club as protesters attempted to intimidate those trying to get inside‚ even going so far as to hurl fireworks at the building to make their outrage known."PDX hates Michael Rapaport‚" reads the message emblazoned on this TikTok video originally posted by @molinacozcatracy and shared by Ngo. — (@) While firing off explosives and harassing club-goers‚ the leftist protesters also shouted various anti-Semitic chants‚ such as "[From the river to the sea‚] Palestine will be free." They also yelled‚ "F*** Michael Rapaport" and warned him to get "out of Portland." — (@) Despite the threats‚ Helium hosted all of Rapaport's shows as scheduled. The club did not respond to the Portland Mercury's request for comment.While Rapaport's history of unhinged social media tirades against former President Donald Trump would seem to put him in the far left's good graces‚ his unfettered support for Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7 have instead made him persona non grata for many in Portland.Tyrone Collins‚ co-founder of the NW Black Comedy Festival‚ was one of many "local comedians" and other "activists" who recently called for Helium to cancel Rapaport's shows‚ according to the Portland Mercury. "Some of the things he's posted on his social media — it's been hateful‚" Collins said. "For some reason‚ Helium just tells us it's OK to back this man and the hateful things he's spewing. They have no idea what he's gonna get up there and say‚ you know‚ and they're willing to take that chance. It's just — it's not a good look."Reese Hendrik of local comedy blog LaughsPDX chimed in as well. "Given recent commentary from Mr. Rapaport about the ongoing violence in Gaza‚ we do not support the platform being provided for him‚" wrote Hendrink‚ who is Jewish. "While it is not our place to police the scene or individual clubs‚ we find it necessary to voice our stance and solidarity with the Palestinian people."A couple weeks ago‚ some of Rapaport's detractors even began circulating a flier on social media demanding that Helium cancel his shows because of his supposed support for "the genocide of an entire people (including children.)" Should Helium refuse to cater to the group's whims‚ agitators will "be prepared to show up to protest‚" the flier warned. See on Instagram For his part‚ Rapaport‚ 53‚ embraced the free publicity such fliers and calls for protest brought to his shows. In fact‚ he even shared the flier on his Instagram account‚ claiming it was "fantastic" for business and promising attendees that his Helium shows would be "like a party!!!!""I will always do my Act‚" he also said in a statement to the Portland Mercury. "You always do the Act. Obviously every show is different and I talk and discuss some current events with the audience at every show. The Act is personal &; disruptive. … I’m a long time Trailblazers fan &; love the weed in Portland."He has also not backed down on his support for Israel. He has even begrudgingly admitted that‚ because of Israel‚ he may vote for Trump in the 2024 presidential election if President Joe Biden is the Democrat nominee. "If it comes down to pig d**k Donald Trump and smokin' Joe Biden‚ I'm sorry — I am sorry — voting for pig d**k Donald Trump is on the table. I'm sorry. I'm f***in' sorry. I'll still call him slob d**k Donald Trump‚ and pig d**k Donald Trump‚ and all that. But we've got to get this whole f***in' situation under control‚" he said in a social media video last November.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Supporters of former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (R) are more likely to cross party lines and vote for President Joe Biden (D) over former President Donald Trump (R)‚ according to the new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll.The poll‚ which surveyed likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa‚ found that 43% of Haley supporters said they would vote for Biden if Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination. Only 23% of Haley backers said they would cast their votes for Trump if he were the GOP nominee‚ 8% said they would support independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‚ and 19% said they would back another third-party candidate.According to 54% of Haley supporters‚ it would be nearly impossible for Trump to secure a win against Biden.Pollster J. Ann Selzer told NBC News‚ “Haley is consolidating the anti-Trump vote. She does well with the people who define themselves as anti-Trump.”Of all the 705 Republicans polled‚ 71% stated they would support Trump if he were the Republican nominee‚ 11% would vote for Biden‚ 6% for Kennedy‚ and 8% for another third-party candidate.Additionally‚ 74% of the Republicans surveyed are confident Trump can defeat Biden. Trump supporters overwhelmingly responded that they believe the former president can win an election against Biden.Rose Janssen‚ a 69-year-old minister from Waterloo and a caucus captain for the Trump campaign‚ told the Des Moines Register that the legal attacks against Trump have only energized his supporters.“I believe [the legal issues are] helping his campaign‚ because we’re angry‚” Janssen said. “This makes us more desperate to get Democrats out of office.” Fifty-six percent of Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis supporters believe Trump could win against Biden‚ while 36% believe his victory would be nearly impossible‚ according to the poll. Of the DeSantis supporters surveyed‚ 64% said they would vote for Trump if he were up against Biden‚ 5% said they would back Biden‚ 9% Kennedy‚ and 12% another third-party candidate.The poll has Trump as the clear Republican front-runner in Iowa with 48% of the vote‚ Haley in second place with 20%‚ and DeSantis in third with 16%. Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson trailed behind with 8% and 1%‚ respectively. When asked about the poll’s results‚ DeSantis told Fox News Sunday‚ “We’re going to do well on Monday.”“We’ve got large number of Iowans that have committed to caucus for us that are going to show up. They just kind of roll their eyes at these polls because the idea that you’re going to be able to poll a caucus‚ much less a caucus in negative 20‚ good luck doing that‚” he added.When asked if he would need to finish second in the Iowa caucuses‚ DeSantis responded‚ “I appreciate being the underdog.”A recent CBS News/YouGov poll‚ which surveyed 2‚870 people from January 10 through 12‚ revealed that the top three Republican presidential candidates — Trump‚ Haley‚ and DeSantis — are all leading Biden. The hypothetical matchup showed Haley with a massive eight-point victory against Biden‚ DeSantis up three points‚ and Trump up two.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Actress America Ferrera praised Hollywood's push for diversity‚ particularly in relation to race‚ in an acceptance speech for an award at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.The "Barbie" actress was the eighth to receive the "SeeHer Award‚" which was sponsored by a conglomerate of brands with the stated mission of increasing the "representation and accurate portrayal of all women and girls in marketing‚ media‚ and entertainment.""Thank you so much to the Critics Choice Association! Your powerful voices shape how people think about and value the stories we tell. I'm deeply thankful to you for this honor‚" the 39-year-old began‚ before diving into what she felt was the importance of seeing specific races in cinema."Receiving [this award] for my contributions to more authentic portrayals of women and girls is so incredibly meaningful to me because I grew up as a first generation Honduran-American girl in love with TV‚ film‚ and theater‚ who desperately wanted to be a part of a storytelling legacy that I could not see myself reflected in‚" she continued. Ferrera then added that although she could relate to characters she saw on-screen‚ it was more important to her that they share the same ethnicity."Of course‚ I could feel myself in characters who were strong and complex‚ but these characters rarely‚ if ever‚ looked like me‚" she explained. "I yearned to see people like myself on screen as full humans. When I started working over 20 years ago‚ it seemed impossible that anyone could make a career portraying fully dimensional Latina characters‚" she added.The actress then praised Hollywood for being "daring" enough to write content specific to her race."But because of writers‚ directors‚ producers‚ and executives who were daring enough to rewrite outdated stories and to challenge deeply entrenched biases‚ I and some of my beloved Latina colleagues have been supremely blessed to bring to life some fierce and fantastic women. ... Because of that we had the chance to bring through some deeply layered Latina characters. Characters that I could not have seen growing up. But now I can see her‚" Ferrera said‚ seemingly conscious of including the award's tagline.The actress then stated she believes the primary purpose of film and television to be to affirm "humanity" and various identities."To me‚ this is the best and highest use of storytelling: to affirm one another’s full humanity‚ to uphold the truth that we are all worthy of being seen — black‚ brown‚ indigenous‚ Asian‚ trans‚ disabled‚ any body type‚ any gender. We are all worthy of having our lives richly and authentically reflected‚" Ferrera said. I am sobbing. I love America Ferrera so much. — (@) The actress concluded by thanking a number of industry members and even actors like Ryan Gosling — who also starred in the "Barbie" movie — for being "man enough to support women's work."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A driving instructor in California is now in jail and out of a job after he allegedly placed a secret camera inside his vehicle so that he could record himself fondling students during lessons.A little over a year ago‚ Richard Joseph Banks‚ 50‚ began working as a driving instructor for the American Driving School in El Cajon‚ California‚ a city of more than 100‚000 residents about 15 miles east of San Diego. ADS owner Daniel Tackett told KFMB‚ a local CBS affiliate‚ that for much of his time with the company‚ Banks received positive reviews from parents‚ who occasionally even recommended his name to other families.However‚ Tackett claimed he immediately suspended Banks last November after hearing reports that Banks had been molesting some of his underage female students as young as 15.Capt. Mike Holden of the San Diego Police Department‚ which is involved in the investigation‚ painted a harrowing picture of Banks' scheme. According to Holden‚ Banks‚ who is a father‚ secretly installed a recording device inside the vehicle used for driving lessons and angled the device so that it would capture his students' "private areas" as he fondled them."The assaults happened during … driving lessons and while the instructor secretly recorded his young victims‚" Holden said.So far‚ investigators believe that between April and November of last year‚ Banks molested 11 girls‚ though they fear that there may be other victims. Those with information about these or other allegations against Banks are encouraged to contact San Diego PD.Last Thursday‚ Banks was arrested and charged with 32 total counts‚ including six felony counts of using a minor to create obscene material. Other charges include sexual battery and invasion of privacy. He is currently being held without bail at Vista Detention Facility. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Tuesday.ADS owner Tackett‚ who has since fired Banks‚ called the alleged assaults "devastating." "We’ve been doing this for a long time and we take it very seriously so when something like this happens‚ it’s just devastating to us.""We were shocked by the allegations against Joe‚" Tackett also said. "His actions are his alone‚ and they violate the trust and policies of our company and those of the DMV regarding inappropriate behavior. He hasn’t taught any students after SDPD notified us of their investigation. We’ve always encouraged parents to ride on the lessons for observation of our teaching methods. As with all DMV licensed instructors‚ Joe passed a DOJ background check before he was hired."Further reporting from KFMB indicates that Banks was charged for a series of crimes in Texas in the 1990s. The charges against him included commercial burglary‚ forgery‚ and evading arrest. It is unclear whether he was ever convicted or whether those charges appeared in the DOJ background check ADS performed on him.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Biden administration isn’t shy when it comes to boasting about how many jobs it’s created — but maybe it should be. The administration has quietly — and conveniently — deleted 439‚000 jobs from its 2023 job reports. This means that almost a quarter of all jobs added in 2023 didn’t even exist in the first place. Former investment banker Carol Roth cites a saying attributed to Mark Twain in response: “There are three types of lies: lies‚ damn lies‚ and statistics.” “The data is bastardized‚ and I would argue not even relevant to how our country’s economy is run‚” Roth tells Glenn Beck‚ noting that this is all either odd‚ lazy‚ or nefarious. “Those are your three choices‚” she adds. Meanwhile‚ there’s a record-high number of 8.7 million people holding down multiple jobs. “Those are things that would make you scratch your head and say‚ ‘That’s moving in the wrong direction‚’” Roth says. While government jobs make up much of the recent hiring‚ Roth says it's “not sustainable.” “Those don’t have the same level of productivity because they are paid for by our tax dollars and or the printing of money‚” Roth explains. According to Glenn‚ 216‚000 jobs were added in December‚ and 52‚000 of those were government jobs. “Which brought us to an all-time high of 23 million employees for the federal government‚” Glenn says‚ shocked. “It’s an astounding‚ astounding number.” Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.