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Presidential historian and frequent MSNBC talking head Jon Meacham traveled to HBO and Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday to wax poetic about “there is a patriotic duty” to vote for Joe Biden and that any Republican who votes for Donald Trump needs to stop and heed the words of George Washington. Maher began by reporting‚ “Bill Barr says he's voting for Trump. He said‚ ‘I think it's my duty to pick the person that I would think would do the least harm to the country. The real danger to democracy is the progressive agenda. Trump may be playing Russian roulette‚ but a continuation of Biden is national suicide.’ I think this is sincere. I don't think he's posturing. I think this is what a good part of this country believes. Discuss.”   “There’s a patriotic duty to support President Biden against Donald Trump‚ for this reason: Patriotism is allegiance to an idea. It’s not just an allegiance to your own kind. That’s nationalism. Trump is a nationalist. Present Biden is a patriot” – Jon Meacham on #RealTime pic.twitter.com/TSj3BmLNh6 — Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) April 20‚ 2024   Meacham’s schtick is to wrap himself in the Constitution‚ which he immediately did‚ “It is what part of the country believes. It’s also-- a good part of the country is wrong about that‚ as a rational matter. Now‚ politics and rationality are not complete bedfellows‚ which is part of the reason for the Constitution‚ is that we’re going to give reason a chance to stand against passion.” He further argued that “I believe‚ and I say it with care‚ that's become evident -- to me anyway -- that there is a patriotic duty to support President Biden against Donald Trump‚ for this reason: patriotism is allegiance to an idea. It's not just an allegiance to your own kind. That's nationalism. Trump is a nationalist. President Biden is a patriot‚ and I'm lucky‚ in that I don't have particular policy passions‚ particular issues. I want the constitutional order to continue to unfold and President Biden is devoted to that constitutional order.” Meacham’s claims to not have “policy passions” says more about him than it does the people he’s criticizing. For them‚ policy questions can be moral ones‚ but Meacham put himself atop the moral pedestal‚ “Donald Trump is self-evidently not and I would say to my Republican friends -- and I live in Tennessee‚ so that's redundant -- that it is in fact a moral question and I was disappointed by what Barr said‚ you know‚ he was-- he got religion for a little while.”     Later‚ Meacham addressed those conservatives who may not like Trump‚ but who are also repulsed by Biden and told them to get over it because George Washington would demand it‚ “Well‚ what if—you know‚ if ifs and buts were candy and nuts‚ we’d all have a merry Christmas as we used to say. You know‚ but this is what we have‚ and to me‚ the interesting thing about the Republican Party is‚ if you are‚ in fact‚ going to put partisanship‚ as your central organizing principle‚ if reflexive partisanship is the most important thing -- I would argue that you need to read George Washington's farewell address‚ you need to read the Founders that otherwise‚ you know‚ they love.” It’s not officially a Jon Meacham segment until he invokes Abraham Lincoln and this time Meacham used him to shame Barr: The idea that President Biden is leading us to national suicide. I'm not sure what he's talking about‚ but Lincoln used that image in his first major speech in the 1830s. He said if we have a fall‚ it's not going to be from a foreign foe: It's going to be from someone internally rising up and mastering those passions and those passions about partisanship‚ that's what is ruining us. The guy who admits to not having strong policy preferences should refrain from judging other people’s beliefs because at least they have beliefs. Here is a transcript of the April 19 show: HBO Real Time with Bill Maher 4/19/2024 10:23 PM ET BILL MAHER: However‚ now Bill Barr says he's voting for Trump. He said‚ &;quot;I think it's my duty to pick the person that I would think would do the least harm to the country. The real danger to democracy is the progressive agenda. Trump may be playing Russian Roulette‚ but a continuation of Biden is national suicide.&;quot; I think this is sincere. I don't think he's posturing. I think this is what a good part of this country believes. Discuss.  JON MEACHAM: It is what part of the country believes. It’s also-- a good part of the country is wrong about that‚ as a rational matter. Now‚ politics and rationality are not complete bedfellows‚ which is part of the reason for the Constitution‚ is that we’re going to give reason a chance to stand against passion. What Barr is doing‚ and what so many—I sometimes think of them as the Peter Millar Republicans‚ right‚ these are Republicans who are not full MAGA people‚ they’re [unintelligible] types who don't want Democrats picking judges or setting tax rates.  They talked themselves into this twice. In '16 and in '20 and then came the December and January of 2020 and 2021 and that point‚ I believe‚ and I say it with care‚ that's become evident -- to me anyway -- that there is a patriotic duty to support President Biden against Donald Trump‚ for this reason. Patriotism is allegiance to an idea. It's not just an allegiance to your own kind. That's nationalism. Trump is a nationalist. President Biden is a patriot and I'm lucky‚ in that I don't have particular policy passions‚ particular issues. I want the constitutional order to continue to unfold and President Biden is devoted to that constitutional order. Donald Trump is self-evidently not and I would say to my Republican friends -- and I live in Tennessee‚ so that's redundant -- that it is in fact a moral question and I was disappointed by what Barr said‚ you know‚ he was-- he got religion for a little while. There is a line in Tom Sawyer where Twain says that an evangelist comes through town who was so good that even Huck Finn was saved until Tuesday. You know‚ Bill Barr was saved until Tuesday. JANE FURGUSON: I wonder‚ I mean‚ I do wonder‚ again‚ we’re talking as though this were an inevitability that it would be these two. I mean‚ more moderate conservatives who perhaps feel a little bit more homeless in the Republican Party might have been tempted to cross over in the voter base and they have now been presented with this choice‚ where it‚ you know‚ was never an inevitability that it would be these men and what if there’d been a different option within the Democratic Party&;#63; MEACHAM: Well‚ what if—you know‚ if ifs ands or buts were candy and nuts‚ we’d all have a merry Christmas as we used to say. You know‚ but this is what we have and to me‚ the interesting thing about the Republican Party is‚ if you are‚ in fact‚ going to put partisanship‚ as your central organizing principle‚ if reflexive partisanship is the most important thing -- I would argue that you need to read George Washington's farewell address‚ you need to read the Founders that otherwise‚ you know‚ they love. You know‚ they love the Founders when they can move it around to agree with them. It's very clear that if party spirit became the organizing principle‚ that‚ that was going to be fatal to the Constitution‚ and it's very interesting when Barr said it's “suicide.” The idea that President Biden is leading us to national suicide. I'm not sure what he's talking about‚ but Lincoln used that image in his first major speech in the 1830s. He said if we have a fall‚ it's not going to be from a foreign foe: It's going to be from someone internally rising up and mastering those passions and those passions about partisanship‚ that's what is ruining us.

The FBI served subpoenas in the Chicago suburb on Friday where Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has faced several accusations of corruption‚ according to WFLD. She has previously been characterized as the &;quot;worse mayor in America&;quot; by her critics.Among the many misdeeds with which Henyard has been accused includes using taxpayer money to spend on luxuries in Las Vegas and weaponizing the police for raids. The most recent incident comes as the mayor has been accused of alleged sexual assault against one of her allies during a trip to Las Vegas. When the alleged victim spoke out‚ Henyard fired them‚ per reports. — (@) Four FBI agents showed up to Dolton Village Hall around 2:30 p.m. on Friday‚ where they served two federal subpoenas.Fox News Digital reported that the first one was for employment records‚ personnel files‚ and disciplinary reports for 25 employees in Dolton. Among the disciplinary reports were three for police officers and Keith Freeman‚ who is reportedly Henyard's top aide. He was charged with bankruptcy fraud on Monday.Reports mentioned that the second subpoena specifically had to do with Freeman‚ which requested records of all companies associated with him and other possible ties to the village.Dolton trustee Tammie Brown said: &;quot;Months and months and months‚ we have been begging for someone to come out here and actually investigate as to what's actually going on out here.&;quot;The FBI published a statement of their own‚ stating: &;quot;I can confirm that the FBI was conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity in that area today. Department of Justice policy prevents the FBI from commenting on the nature of any investigation that may be occurring. There is no further information available for release at this time.&;quot;Burt Odelsen‚ who serves as the Legislative Counsel for the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees‚ said that the &;quot;House of Cards are collapsing‚&;quot; adding that &;quot;I think the government is taking action.&;quot;&;quot;Since September‚ we haven’t received financials and the last time we did receive financials‚ we were informed that we were $7 million dollars in debt‚&;quot; said Brittney Norwood‚ a Dolton trustee.However‚ Odelsen said that it may be a futile effort for federal agents to get a hold of those records.&;quot;The clerk is the custodian of the records. That's the good news. The bad news is she doesn't have any records because they have taken the records away from her‚&;quot; he said.&;quot;I was being told that those documents probably have been shredded weeks ago‚&;quot; said Brown.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

A California mother was fatally shot in her home during a work call by her estranged husband‚ according to the Daily Mail. The authorities discovered the woman's body laying on the couch when they showed up to her residence in La Presa.Ashley Bird‚ 35‚ is suspected of being shot by her estranged husband Christopher Bird‚ 39. The authorities believe Christopher fatally shot Ashley before shooting himself inside his own vehicle some time later.The tragedy has left their nine-year-old son without both of his parents. The report mentioned that Ashley's sister Allison Saefong said her sister was in the middle of a Zoom call with a work colleague when the horrific incident took place.KNSD sat down with Saefong for an interview following the incident. &;quot;She was just a beautiful soul inside and out‚ in every way imaginable.&;quot;Saefong noted that her sister was a kind and loving person who was committed to her nine-year-old son.“She would absolutely give anything and everything for her son‚” Saefong added.“My sister‚ she worked from home. She was in a Zoom meeting. At that point‚ she thought someone was trying to break in‚ and she left‚ and she said‚ 'Hey‚ give me a second. Somebody is trying to break into my house‚'&;quot; Saefong said.Only‚ Bird didn't return after she disappeared from computer screen. Saefong said Ashley's co-worker tried to contact the sisters' mother‚ but when no one answered‚ the co-worked decided to call the authorities.“My mom called me just before 11 o’clock‚ and she was hysterical‚ saying‚ 'She’s gone. She’s gone.' I shouted‚ 'Who’s gone&;#63; Who’s gone&;#63;' She wasn’t giving me details. She said‚ 'Ashley. Ashley’s gone‚ I just know it‚'&;quot; Saefong said.Saefong went on to say &;quot;[w]e knew&;quot; Christopher was &;quot;volatile‚ but we never expected this.&;quot;At the time of the incident‚ Saefong said the couple were in the process of getting a divorce. But Ashley denied any form of physical abuse‚ per the report.“We asked her‚ 'Do you feel like he’s physically abusive&;#63;' 'No‚ absolutely not‚' she would say. She would say‚ 'He would never physically harm me. He’s fine‚'&;quot; Saefong said.“We think the divorce may have sent him over the edge and then along with the custody battle that was finalizing at the end too‚” Saefong said.“I wish I would have called her more. I talked to her every day‚ but I still wish I would have had that one last chance to talk to her. It didn’t have to be anything elaborate. Just say hi‚ say I love you‚ give her a hug. Just those small‚ tiny little details that I would have been able to do on a daily basis and didn’t get to do that one last day. I’d just tell her how much I love her‚” Saefong concluded.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

With the V Rising 1.0 update just weeks away after two full years in early access‚ the vampire survival game is set to introduce the most iconic blood-sucking tyrant of them all into the fold. In its latest pre-launch teaser‚ developer Stunlock Studios showcases the Ruins of Mortium‚ home to the one and only Count Dracula‚ and gives us a little taste of just what power his corrupted blood can offer us. Continue reading V Rising 1.0 will let you sip the blood of history’s greatest vampire MORE FROM PCGAMESN: V Rising system requirements‚ V Rising tips‚ The best V Rising base locations

As someone new to MMOs and MMORPGs after getting into Final Fantasy 14 a decade late‚ I’m constantly floored by how long the successful ones have been running. World of Warcraft is coming up on two decades of expansions and updates‚ even rolling back to its own Classic version due to demand‚ and Star Wars: The Old Republic has been around since 2011. Fantasy classic The Lord of the Rings Online is still kicking too‚ and it’s celebrating its 17th birthday with an annual event‚ even as a brand new LOTR MMO looms from Amazon. Continue reading Free MMORPG celebrates 17th anniversary with massive annual event MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Free MMOs‚ Lord of the Rings Online free-to-play‚ Best fantasy games

As the wait for Hollow Knight Silksong continues unabated‚ there’s no shortage of excellent 2D action platform games to keep us busy on Steam. Following on from last year’s excellent Blasphemous 2 and the more recent Ultros‚ we’ve just this month seen the arrivals of more delightful indie games such as Saviorless and BioGun. The next mark on my Metroidvania calendar‚ however‚ is Akatori‚ a beautiful pixel art adventure with a very satisfying staff mechanic that’s already hooked me following the launch of its prequel chapter‚ out now as a free Steam demo. Continue reading Gorgeous new metroidvania launches first act prologue‚ free on Steam MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best platform games‚ Best metroidvania games‚ Best indie games

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