Prosecutors in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan urged the judge on Thursday to penalize the defendant for more alleged violations of a gag order limiting what he can say about those involved in the case. Bragg’s lawyers told Judge Juan Merchan that Trump had violated Merchan’s order four more times recently. On Tuesday‚ […] The post Becoming Venezuela: Trump Faces More Violations in Manhattan appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

President Joe Biden finally spoke out on Thursday about the anti-Israel — and often anti-Semitic protests — that have swept through college campuses nationwide‚ drawing a line between peaceful protests and lawlessness. Biden’s remarks‚ which come as Democrats have begun to fret publicly about the impact that widespread and potentially violent protests could have on the 2024 presidential election‚ warned against illegal actions such as vandalism but stopped short of calling out the anti-Israel demonstrations directly. WATCH: Biden on the pro-Hamas chaos on college campuses: &;quot;So‚ let me be clear: peaceful protest in America — violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It's against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law.… pic.twitter.com/Cgn8WQJAOD — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 2‚ 2024 “This isn’t a moment for politics. This is a moment for clarity‚” Biden said. “Let me be clear‚ peaceful protest in America — violent protest is not protected‚ peaceful protest is. It’s against the law when violence occurs.” “Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law‚” he continued. “Vandalism‚ trespassing‚ breaking windows‚ shutting down campuses‚ forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations‚ none of this is a peaceful protest.” “Threatening people‚ intimidating people‚ instilling fear in people‚ is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law‚” Biden added. “Dissent is essential to democracy‚ but dissent must never lead to disorder or to deny the rights of others‚ so students can finish the semester and their college education. Look‚ it’s basically a matter of fairness. It’s a matter of what’s right.” Throughout his remarks‚ the president continued to play both sides of the issue — and while he did generically call out those who had engaged in threats‚ vandalism‚ and violence‚ he did not connect those actions to the anti-Israel sentiment that has fueled the majority of the current protests. Instead‚ he once again stated his opposition to hate of any variety – giving “equal weight to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia” in the process. “There should be no place on any campus‚ no place in America for anti-Semitism or threats of violence against Jewish students. There is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind‚ whether it’s anti-Semitism‚ Islamophobia‚ or discrimination against Arab Americans‚ or Palestinian Americans&;#33;” he said. “It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America. It’s all wrong. It’s un-American.” WATCH: Biden: &;quot;I understand people have strong feelings and deep convictions. In America‚ we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that‚ but it doesn't mean anything goes. It needs to be done without violence‚ without destruction‚ without hate‚ and within the law.… pic.twitter.com/fg0XKqwjo9 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 2‚ 2024 Critics pointed out that Biden’s statement — for good or bad — should have been made days or even weeks earlier when the protests began to ramp up. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “This statement wouldn’t have been horrible…a week ago. At this point‚ its just meaningless‚ useless‚ and makes him look impotent‚” one said. This statement wouldn't have been horrible…a week ago. At this point‚ its just meaningless‚ useless‚ and makes him look impotent. https://t.co/2wHuRRWPKM — Pradheep J. Shanker‚ M.D. (@neoavatara) May 2‚ 2024 “Biden refused to condemn them‚” the House Republicans added. Biden refused to condemn them. https://t.co/cAGAdFozMq — House Republicans (@HouseGOP) May 2‚ 2024 Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany weighed in as well‚ saying‚ “Biden makes first statement on antisemitic protests in 9 days. If you blinked‚ you might have missed it. It lasted about a minute or so. This is called LEADING FROM BEHIND&;#33;” Biden makes first statement on antisemitic protests in 9 days. If you blinked‚ you might have missed it. It lasted about a minute or so. This is called LEADING FROM BEHIND&;#33; — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) May 2‚ 2024 “Joe Biden just read off the teleprompter for a few minutes and condemned protests on campus that break the law. Then said all racism is wrong and left the podium. His polling must be worse than what we are seeing in public. He’s trying to both sides the issue and is drowning‚” Outkick’s Clay Travis added. Joe Biden just read off the teleprompter for a few minutes and condemned protests on campus that break the law. Then said all racism is wrong and left the podium. His polling must be worse than what we are seeing in public. He’s trying to both sides the issue and is drowning. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 2‚ 2024

More than two dozen Republican attorneys general announced challenges on Wednesday to the proposed gun control rule from the Biden administration regulating private firearm sales.  Multiple suits were filed in federal court against the proposal‚ which would require individuals who “earn a profit” selling guns to conduct background checks and have a federal firearms license no matter where or how they sell their merchandise. Republicans say that the proposed regulations‚ put forth by the Justice Department‚ infringe on Second Amendment rights and would make it a felony for family members and friends to sell guns to each other without conducting background checks or having a federal license.  One effort‚ led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‚ sued the DOJ and the ATF‚ arguing that the ATF doesn’t have the statutory authority to enforce the rule and that it violates the Second and Fifth Amendments.  “Yet again‚ Joe Biden is weaponizing the federal bureaucracy to rip up the Constitution and destroy our citizens’ Second Amendment rights‚” Paxton said. “This is a dramatic escalation of his tyrannical abuse of authority. With today’s lawsuit‚ it is my great honor to defend our Constitutionally-protected freedoms from the out-of-control federal government.” The suit was joined by Louisiana‚ Mississippi‚ Utah‚ the Gun Owners of America‚ the Virginia Citizens Defense League‚ and the Tennessee Firearms Association.  A separate lawsuit‚ led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach‚ also challenges the DOJ and the ATF.  “Biden’s latest attempt to strip away the Second Amendment rights of Americans through ATF regulations will make many law-abiding gun owners felons if they sell a firearm or two to family or friends‚” Kobach said. “This rule is blatantly unconstitutional. We are suing to defend the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.” Kansas was joined by Iowa‚ Montana‚ Alabama‚ Alaska‚ Arkansas‚ Georgia‚ Indiana‚ Idaho‚ Missouri‚ Nebraska‚ New Hampshire‚ North Dakota‚ Oklahoma‚ South Carolina‚ South Dakota‚ Tennessee‚ Virginia‚ West Virginia‚ and Wyoming. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed A third lawsuit against the DOJ and ATF. The Biden administration said it had proposed the rules to implement the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act‚” which added background check stipulations and gave grants for states to enact “red flag” laws. The measure‚ which was backed by 15 Republicans in the Senate and 14 Republicans in the House‚ was the most expansive gun control law signed into law in decades.  “The challenged rule‚ in fact‚ goes far beyond the plain text of the BSCA‚” Florida’s suit says. “It purports to force thousands of law-abiding gun owners to register as federal firearms dealers and navigate a federal bureaucracy as a precondition to engaging in constitutionally protected activity. The challenged rule is unlawful.”

The Michigan Democrat-controlled Senate passed a bill earlier this week that would ban bipartisan election boards from investigating voter fraud and make it more difficult — in some circumstances — to start a recount. The legislation‚ Senate Bill 603‚ was passed along party lines on Tuesday and drew harsh criticism from Republican state lawmakers‚ who say that if the bill becomes law‚ “there’s nothing that can be done” if a board of state canvassers sees or suspects election fraud‚ Bridge Michigan reported. Democrats‚ however‚ argue that voter fraud investigations should be handled by law enforcement. “We’ve got other areas of law that talk about fraud‚ that talk about tampering‚ but when we’re talking about a recount … let’s make sure that what we’re talking about with a recount is the actual re-tally of the votes‚” said Democratic state Sen. Stephanie Chang‚ who introduced the bill. Currently‚ state boards of canvassers — made up of two Democrats and two Republicans — have the authority to investigate suspected voter fraud or ballot tampering. “Senate Bill 603 ends the ability of local officials to investigate potential fraud‚ illegal activity‚ or even ballot tampering during a recount by deleting current provisions in Michigan election law that give this authority to bipartisan county boards of canvassers‚” said Republican state Sen. Ruth Johnson‚ who previously served as Michigan’s Secretary of State. “These are time-honored checks and balances that exist in our system.” “If we want people to have faith in the electoral process‚ we should not be taking away people’s rights to have allegations of election fraud investigated during a recount‚” Johnson added. “There is a process in place now that empowers bipartisan boards of canvassers to play this role‚ and it simply should not be removed from the law.” Along with preventing boards of canvassers from looking into potential election fraud‚ the state Senate bill would also increase the cost of a recount to between $250 and $500‚ Bridge Michigan reported. Candidates are required to pay the amount if they request a recount but are refunded if the election result changes after a recount. Additionally‚ the bill would change the automatic recount threshold from a 2‚000-vote difference to a 0.1% difference‚ which in the 2022 Michigan gubernatorial race would have been 4‚391 votes‚ according to Bridge Michigan. If passed into law‚ the state Senate legislation would allow for a recount in a precinct where the poll book doesn’t balance with the total number of votes counted‚ an issue that has been especially prevalent in Detroit precincts in recent elections. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Republican state Sen. Jim Runestad took his criticism of legislation further‚ saying it would essentially “sanction the potential legal ability to cheat on elections in Michigan‚” The Midwesterner reported. “Michigan Democrats are terrified Biden will implode and drag them down‚” Runestad added. “So today they bet the bank and went all out to codify election fraud into state statute with SB 603.” Michigan is a major battleground state in the upcoming 2024 election‚ where residents will vote for president and for a candidate to fill outgoing Democratic Sen. Debbi Stabenow’s seat. President Joe Biden took the state by more than 154‚000 votes in 2020 after former President Donald Trump won the state by just 10‚000 votes against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

President Joe Biden called U.S. ally Japan “xenophobic” just weeks after hosting the country’s prime minister‚ Fumio Kishida‚ for talks and a ritzy state dinner in the nation’s capital. He made the comment on Wednesday during a campaign reception in Washington‚ D.C.‚ while arguing that immigration can help to create strong economies‚ according to a transcript from the White House. “You know‚ one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why&;#63; Because we welcome immigrants. We look to — the reason — look‚ think about it‚” Biden said. “Why is China stalling so badly economically&;#63; Why is Japan having trouble&;#63; Why is Russia&;#63; Why is India&;#63; Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants‚” he added. “Immigrants is [sic] what makes us strong‚” Biden continued. “Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole. Because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and just contribute.” Although Japan entered a recession amid a population decline this year‚ losing its spot at the world’s third-largest economy‚ local media reported in March how government data showed the nation hit a record of 3.4 million foreign residents in 2023 as employment-related visas rose to meet demand created by a labor shortage. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)‚ a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations‚ was among those who criticized Biden for calling Japan “xenophobic” alongside U.S. adversaries China and Russia. “That is why his staff doesn’t want him speaking without those note cards‚” Rubio quipped on X‚ alluding to concerns about Biden’s mental state as he runs for a second term in this year’s presidential election. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Last month‚ during a state dinner at the White House with Kishida and a milieu of dignitaries‚ Biden praised Japan during a toast. “Well‚ we are the same‚ Japan and the United States. Many — we may be divided by distance‚ but the — generations after generation‚ we’ve been brought together — the same hopes‚ the same values‚ the same commitment to democracy and freedom and to dignity for all‚” he said. Biden added‚ “And today‚ without question‚ our alliance is literally stronger than it has even been.”

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders (R) is ordering her state to follow state law over the Biden administration’s new interpretation of Title IX‚ prohibiting men from competing in women’s sports. In an executive order obtained by The Daily Wire that Sanders will unveil on Thursday afternoon‚ the governor slams the Biden administration for its attempt “to unilaterally rewrite federal law to advance its radical gender ideology against women and girls.” Sanders calls it a “plainly ridiculous change” and says it will lead to biological males “unfairly competing” against females and violating their bathroom privacy. Earlier this month‚ Biden’s Education Department unveiled new Title IX regulations blocking schools from enforcing blanket bans on transgender-identifying males in girls’ sports. Title IX is the 1972 federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The new rules are set to take effect in August. In her order‚ Sanders said female students must not be denied equal athletic opportunities or forced to risk their safety by playing with biological males. The order also says Arkansas public schools must not force students to shower or undress with members of the opposite sex‚ and should abide by state law that guarantees their privacy‚ the order says. Arkansas policy is that “sex is an immutable characteristic of the human body‚ rooted in biology and the created order‚” and “the government should celebrate‚ not erase‚ sex differences by providing proper protections for them‚” the order says. The order also says students and public school employees may not be forced to use “false pronouns‚” citing the First Amendment. Sanders ordered the Arkansas education department to provide “specific guidance” on how to enforce Arkansans’ rights “despite” Biden’s “unlawful” new Title IX rules. “At no point should Arkansas law be ignored‚” the order reads. “The Biden administration’s facially absurd redefinition of sex in Title IX turns back the clock on women’s opportunities‚ erodes student privacy‚ threatens women’s sports‚ and erases women‚” Sanders’ order reads. “The Biden administration redefines ‘sex’ to fit its own absurd political ideology — not science — and imposes it on women‚ girls‚ and children.” The administration has “rejected reality and chosen to appease their left-wing base over students’ safety and best interests‚” the order says. Riley Gaines‚ former NCAA championship swimmer‚ will speak at the executive order’s announcement. Gaines is a vocal advocate for women’s sports who argues that trans-identifying males should not be allowed to compete alongside women and girls. Sanders also warned that Arkansas is prepared to sue the Biden administration if schools lose any funding due to the new regulations. At least nine states have already filed lawsuits over the new rules. The full text of the order obtained by The Daily Wire can be read below: E.O. 24-06:       EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT ARKANSAS STUDENTS‚ WOMEN‚ AND GIRLS WHEREAS:   Title IX was signed into law in 1972 and contained a succinct 37 words; WHEREAS:    Title IX was passed to protect women‚ not harm them; WHEREAS:    The Biden administration is attempting to unilaterally rewrite federal law to advance its radical gender ideology against women and girls; WHEREAS:    On April 19‚ 2024‚ the U.S. Department of Education released its final rule‚ in a document with a staggering 459‚804 words‚ “reinterpreting” Title IX; =WHEREAS:    The new Title IX rule will unilaterally expand the long-standing prohibition based on “sex” discrimination to include “gender identity”; WHEREAS:    The Biden administration redefines “sex” to fit its own absurd political ideology—not science—and imposes it on women‚ girls‚ and children; WHEREAS:    The Government should celebrate sex differences between men and women – not erase them. See Executive Order 23-30 to Eliminate Woke‚ Anti-Women Words from State Government and Respect Women‚ signed October 19‚ 2023; WHEREAS:    The Biden administration’s facially absurd redefinition of sex in Title IX turns back the clock on women’s opportunities‚ erodes student privacy‚ threatens women’s sports‚ and erases women; WHEREAS:    The Biden administration’s rewriting of Title IX discrimination on the basis of “sex” to include discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” is a plainly ridiculous change that will lead to males unfairly competing in women’s sports; receiving access to women’s and girls’ locker rooms‚ bathrooms‚ and private spaces; and competing for women’s scholarships; WHEREAS:   The Biden administration has rejected reality and chosen to appease their left-wing base over students’ safety and best interests; WHEREAS:    “Sex” has long been understood as binary biological characteristics – male (an individual who has‚ will‚ or would but for a medical abnormality produce the male reproductive gamete) or female (an individual who has‚ will‚ or would but for a medical abnormality produce the female reproductive gamete); WHEREAS:    The Arkansas legislature has defined sex in Act 317 of 2023‚ on the basis of biology; WHEREAS:    The Arkansas legislature has enacted law‚ Act 317 of 2023‚ ensuring that public schools designate restrooms based on sex; WHEREAS:    Act 317 of 2023 further ensures that students share sleeping quarters with students of the same sex or are provided with single-occupancy sleeping quarters; WHEREAS:    The Arkansas legislature enacted law in Act 461 of 2021‚ Fairness in Women’s Sports Act‚ that mandates that when schools choose to make a designation‚ they must do so based on biological sex – male or female; WHEREAS:    The Arkansas legislature enacted law in Act 542 of 2023‚ the “Given Name Act‚” which makes clear that employees of public schools and state-supported institutions of higher education do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at work; WHEREAS:   The State of Arkansas will pursue legal action‚ to the extent available by law‚ from the Biden Administration for any financial loss‚ including loss of funding‚ incurred by the state due to the passage of the Biden administration’s unscientific agendas; NOW‚ THEREFORE‚ I‚ SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS‚ acting under the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Arkansas‚ do hereby proclaim: It is declared to be the policy of this state that sex is an immutable characteristic of the human body‚ rooted in biology and the created order. The government should celebrate‚ not erase‚ sex differences by providing proper protections for them. The educational institutions of Arkansas will continue to enforce state law guaranteeing the right of students to maintain their privacy. Students must not be forced to shower or undress with members of the opposite sex. Female students must not be denied equal athletic opportunities or forced to risk their safety by having biological males placed into female-designated sports leagues. Students and employees of Arkansas’ educational institutions may not be forced to use false pronouns. The right to refuse to speak a lie is guaranteed in the First Amendment. My administration will continue to protect this fundamental right. All accused individuals must be given robust‚ traditional due process rights if they are accused of harassment under the Biden Title IX Amendment. The Arkansas Department of Education is ordered to provide specific guidance on how to enforce the rights of Arkansans to equal opportunity‚ free speech‚ due process‚ and privacy under the U.S. Constitution‚ Title IX‚ and state law‚ despite the Biden administration’s unlawful administrative rule. At no point should Arkansas law be ignored. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF‚ I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 2nd day of May‚ in the year of our Lord 2024.

It is a really big hole

'They were created by artificial intelligence'

'Resolve our issues with Candace privately'