There’s an online game I find myself playing way too much of‚ and I hate it. I would love to never play this game again‚ but its existence is a consequence of the deep structure of social media‚ so if I’m going to argue about things on the internet‚ then playing it is unavoidable. I call this game‚ “Where Is the Discourse?” It goes something like this: Alice opens with a few examples of an argument (or point of view‚ or sentiment‚ or whatever) that she doesn’t think much of and would like to refute. Bob counters that nobody who matters is making that argument and that Alice’s examples are cherry-picked (or “nutpicked” to use the old “blogosphere” term from the mid-2000s). Alice responds to Bob by highlighting the credentials of the people behind a few of her examples. Maybe they have large social media followings or notable institutional affiliations. Or maybe the person is a total rando‚ but the tweet or screen-cap or Forbes article with the person's byline on it has tons of shares. Bob then works his way through Alice’s response by picking apart‚ in detail‚ the qualifications and standing of each of the people she has put forth. (Optional step): Alice rebuts Bob with a defense of each individual’s standing as a qualified participant in the Discourse‚ and both parties drift further into the weeds of credentials‚ metrics‚ and bona fides. By the time they get to move #4 in this game‚ the debate has shifted entirely from a fight over the merits of the argument Alice sought to refute to a squabble over whether or not this specific list of individuals is representative of any larger group‚ movement‚ or way of thinking. In other words‚ Alice and Bob are now fighting over the location of the Discourse. Where is it? Who is and is not a participant in it? Which bylines‚ institutional affiliations‚ follower counts‚ or engagement metrics qualify an individual as a bona fide participant in the Discourse? Back in the bad old days of media monopolies‚ everyone knew where the Discourse was. If you had a local monopoly on one or more scarce channels of distribution — a slice of the electromagnetic spectrum‚ newsstand‚ library shelf space‚ or print facilities plus a fleet of delivery vehicles — then you were definitionally a site of the Discourse and could gatekeep who participated and who did not. But now that everyone with smartphone access has the ability to publish text‚ images‚ sound‚ and video instantly for the entire planet to see‚ our society has collectively lost track of the location of the Discourse in the space of about a decade and a half. No new discursive Schelling point has emerged to replace the now-dead radio‚ TV‚ and print monopolies. We are adrift. Perhaps the most corrosive effect of “Where Is the Discourse?” on our collective intellectual life is the way it reduces even the loftiest issues down to petty fights over credentials. I’m reminded of the adage‚ “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” The discourse game‚ then‚ is a powerful mechanism for turning every discussion of ideas into a discussion of people‚ thereby shrinking the mind of each player by two sizes.

New York business owners are fed up with state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) after he refused last week to back Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul's plan to strengthen penalties for violent shoplifters‚ the New York Post reported.In an effort to curb rampant theft‚ Hochul's budget proposal called for increased sentences for shoplifters who assault retail workers. Heastie rejected the plan‚ claiming that it would not be effective at preventing retail theft‚ Blaze News previously reported. "All the other times that we've raised penalties on different classes of people‚ that hasn't stopped assaults. We still need to get to the root issues of what's going on. We'd be open to talking about the organized crime rings that people have‚ but I just don't believe raising penalties is ever a deterrent on crime‚" Heastie stated last week. "You can stop anybody in the street and ask them what is the penalty for assaulting anybody‚ and they probably won't be able to give you an answer.""I don't want to make it sound like we're not concerned about stemming what's happened to retail workers‚" he continued. "We care very deeply about that. We just have other ideas of how to get there."Heastie's refusal to implement tougher jail sentences for violent shoplifters ignited outrage among New York City business owners battling the retail theft crisis.Nelson Eusebio‚ who heads the National Supermarket Association and Coalition to Save our Supermarkets‚ told the Post‚ "How do you deter crime except by penalty?""Our workers are on the front line dealing with shoplifters and criminals‚" Eusebio added. "It's open season on retail workers in the city."A CVS retail worker explained to the news outlet that the thieves were "not taking one or two" items but "taking the whole shelf.""Nobody wants to deal with it‚" the employee stated‚ noting that even "low-price products" are being locked up."Now the items get locked up‚ and the people don't‚" the worker added.Kenneth Giddon‚ co-owner of Rothman's New York in Union Square‚ told the Post on Monday that a violent flash mob targeted his clothing store twice over a three-week period in December 2021. He called Heastie's stance on increased penalties "ridiculous.""I'd be glad to talk to him so he can learn what it's like firsthand dealing with these problems and getting the same people who come back over and over and over again to rob us‚" Giddon told the news outlet. "He's completely out of touch.""We've had employees punched during shoplifting instances‚" he added. "Retail jobs are important for the economy‚ but why should people work in a dangerous situation and not be protected?""Common sense says that stiffer penalties deter crime‚" Giddon continued. "People believe now that they can shoplift and not be punished for it‚ and that is really‚ really bad for our society. So what's the next crime that you're not going to be punished for?"New York retailers lost approximately $4.4 billion in 2022 due to rampant shoplifting and organized retail theft rings. Former Governor David Paterson (D) told WABC that he was "kind of surprised" Heastie did not support Hochul's plan to boost criminal sentencing."These are people who are not high wage earners. Most of them are not unionized. … When people come in to rob the stores … that there should be any leniency for this type of thing‚ I really don't understand that‚" Paterson said. "People like myself who have always been advocates for a fair trial for people — not let the deck get stacked against them as it used to be in the past — are having to recognize that there's going to have to be a greater sense of punishment than there is right now."Heastie did not respond to the Post's request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Hit pop signer Shakira is not a fan of the movie "Barbie."The 2023 film‚ which has grossed nearly $1.5 billion and won numerous awards‚ received critical acclaim. But the movie was also controversial because of its political overtones and its progressive view of men and women. The script‚ according to the Wall Street Journal's review of the movie‚ "is like a grumpier-than-average women's studies seminar."That progressive — woke‚ even — view of men and women is why Shakira's sons "hated" the movie‚ she told Allure in a new interview."My sons absolutely hated it. They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree‚ to a certain extent‚" Shakira revealed. "I'm raising two boys. I want 'em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women‚" she explained. "I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men‚ to also protect and provide. I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence‚ without losing our femininity. I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We complement each other‚ and that complement should not be lost."Shakira's perspective is not politically correct. But it's also not a surprise. The "Hips Don't Lie" singer was raised Catholic‚ and she spent her early life in Colombia‚ where she was born. She is Hispanic‚ and Hispanic culture is generally more conservative and traditional‚ honoring and celebrating the differences between men and women.Indeed‚ her traditional view of gender roles was solidified in a follow-up question from an Allure reporter."Just because a woman can do it all doesn’t mean she should?" that reporter asked Shakira."Why not share the load with people who deserve to carry it‚ who have a duty to carry it as well?" the singer responded.For most of human history‚ this view of men and women was perfectly acceptable; it was the norm‚ in fact. But only in an age when American culture finds it difficult to define‚ "What is a woman?" can Shakira's perspective be labeled "problematic."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Hillary Clinton is lecturing voters again.Speaking with "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon on Monday‚ Clinton scolded voters upset about the forthcoming rematch between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump."Get over yourself! Those are the two choices‚" Clinton lectured.The twice-failed presidential candidate then justified her position by offering a comparison of Biden and Trump. "One is old and effective and compassionate‚ has a heart‚ and really cares about people‚" Clinton said‚ referring to Biden."And one is old and has been charged with 91 felonies‚" she continued‚ referring to Trump. But notice what Clinton didn't say — because it's more important than what she did say: Clinton did not persuade undecided voters to support Biden based on his accomplishments. That is telling. Perhaps the reason why Clinton did not try to persuade voters to support Biden on the basis of his presidential record is because polls have showed consistently that a majority of voters do not view Biden's record favorably. In fact‚ they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction‚ and they believe Biden and his policies are to blame.A recent Fox News poll‚ for example‚ found that Biden's top accomplishment to be "nothing." Later in her interview‚ Clinton fear-mongered about the "existential" nature of the 2024 election‚ suggesting that Trump threatens the existence of our republic.She said:I don't understand why this is even a hard choice. Really. I don't understand it. But we have to go through the election and hopefully people will realize what’s at stake because it's an existential question: What kind of country we're going to have; what kind of democracy we're going to have. And people who blow that off are not paying attention because it's not like Trump‚ his enablers‚ his empowers‚ his allies are not telling us what they want to do. I mean‚ they're pretty clear about what kind of country they want.It's the same existentialist rhetoric we hear from politicians every four years. And yet: American democracy always prevails.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Several illegal aliens‚ including one man accused of attempted murder‚ were apprehended in a recent raid of a home in the Bronx.Around 10 p.m. last Wednesday‚ NYPD received a call about a man wielding a firearm at a home on Hull Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx. When officers arrived‚ they spotted an armed suspect dash downstairs.A pursuit of the suspect revealed a rather chaotic scene: Eight adults and a 7-year-old child were gathered in a room in the basement of the building. In the area‚ police reportedly also found at least two other loaded weapons‚ a "ghost gun‚" ammunition‚ and a bag of ketamine mixed with cocaine.The following suspects‚ all of whom are believed to be foreign nationals‚ were arrested: Javier Alborno of Venezuela‚ 22; Johan Cardenas Silva‚ 35; Hector Desousa-Villalta of Venezuela‚ 24; Yerbin Lozado-Munoz‚ 25; Yojairo Martinez‚ 42; Jefferson Orlando Abreau‚ 39; Yoessy Pino Castillo‚ a 20-year-old female; and Miguel Vaamondes-Barrios‚ 31.All were charged with criminal possession of a weapon‚ criminal possession of a controlled substance‚ and acting in a manner injurious to a child. Neighbors say the group has been a nuisance in the area for a while. "They're squatters and the owner has been trying to get them out of the apartment for the longest period of time‚" said Alfred Munoz. "They came‚ they were a disruptive force mainly because there were a lot of them. You didn't know who was staying‚ not staying there‚ and the owner of the building had a hell of a time trying to get them out."Many of them are already well known to law enforcement as well. Some are suspected of being involved in a string of robberies in Bergen County‚ New Jersey‚ though they have not yet been charged. Vaamondes-Barrios has been accused of committing retail theft in Pennsylvania and New York. He had been held on $25‚000 bail in one of those cases and may face extradition.Alborno‚ who allegedly attempted to flee the Bronx apartment with a gun when the cops arrived‚ was also arrested last September for allegedly carrying a loaded firearm. Though the prosecutor in that case requested Alborno be held on $10‚000 bond‚ the judge released him.And in an apparently violent culmination of an argument over a woman in Yonkers‚ Desousa supposedly shot a fellow illegal immigrant in the leg last August. While Desousa was later charged with attempted murder‚ the victim later reportedly refused to cooperate in the investigation.NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell claimed that the cases against Desousa and Alborno remain "open."Desousa and Alborno now both remain in custody in connection with the most recent charges‚ but the others apprehended during the Bronx raid were released without bail.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A middle school in New Mexico was forced to implement lockdown measures multiple times in recent weeks after groups of illegal migrants entered campus while attempting to find a place to hide from Border Patrol agents‚ KFOX reported.Refugio Corrales‚ a spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection’s El Paso sector‚ stated that illegal migrants are wandering onto Gadsden Independent School District property while attempting to avoid arrest. “The Santa Teresa Middle School is one of the areas where these migrants jump into without thinking of where they’re going through because they’re trying to evade arrest‚” Corrales explained.According to the CBP agent‚ the department has ramped up officer presence during school hours to provide additional security.The El Paso Border Patrol sector stated that six migrants were apprehended outside of the middle school by Border Patrol agents on March 27. “Agents were able to locate the individuals after being advised by another law enforcement agency on site. The Santa Teresa Middle School was temporarily placed on a secure status as a precautionary measure when they observed our agents and other law enforcement in the school's proximity‚” CBP remarked. “It is common for Border Patrol Agents to receive calls from the community in the Sunland Park‚ NM area‚ especially those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside of properties‚” CBP’s statement continued. “This is due to the proximity of the border and as such‚ many migrants attempt to evade arrest from the U.S. Border Patrol. Agents are always mindful of the safety and wellbeing of not only migrants but the public at large‚ especially in and around schools in this area.”Two Sunland Park officers stayed on campus for the remainder of the school day.According to Gadsden ISD Superintendent Travis Dempsey‚ groups of migrants have wandered onto the school’s property twice within a one-week period‚ KFOX reported.“It is concerning and it does at some level interrupt our educational process when we do things of this nature‚” Dempsey noted.He added that the school uses security cameras to monitor for migrant crossings.During the initial incident‚ which occurred on March 20‚ the middle school was instructed to “get inside and lock outside doors‚" according to the district‚ KTSM reported.The school district thanked the Border Patrol agents and Sunland Park Police Department for their “swift and professional response to this situation.” Parent Maria Gallegos told KFOX‚ “We’re a little nervous because with the fear and nerves migrants have of being caught by immigration officials‚ we don’t know if they’d do something to our students.”Lorenzo Gandara‚ a grandparent of a student‚ told the news outlet that the border crisis is out of control.“It's really bad because we’re with the concern that something could happen to the kids‚” Gandara said.KFOX reported that the middle school has a resource officer on campus. If migrants are observed on school property‚ the police officer immediately reports them to Border Patrol.In fiscal year 2023‚ the El Paso sector experienced more than 427‚000 recorded migrant encounters‚ according to CBP data. From October 2023 through February 2024‚ there were more than 119‚000 encounters.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A few years ago‚ I had the pleasure of going on about a dozen dates with an autistic woman I'll call C. I had chased her on and off for three years and was quite excited that she’d begun to reciprocate. Being autistic myself‚ I thought we would be effortlessly compatible. Instead‚ it was like seeing myself from the outside‚ something I cannot do unaided‚ for the first time in my life.“What a fascinating‚ beautifully strange person I’ve discovered!” But how long can I remain enthralled by a world I can never really enter?At once‚ many mysteries of my interpersonal life were solved. Before‚ I understood I had some qualities people commonly find mildly unpleasant (outward coldness‚ insensitivity‚ difficulty giving comfort). Little stuff that’s not enough of a problem in itself to comment on‚ until the constant low-level irritation builds to a breaking point. Which‚ from my perspective‚ always seems to come out of nowhere.My time with C taught me what it’s like to be on the receiving end of those behaviors‚ as well as what makes tolerating them worth it‚ at least in the short term.C is a lovely young woman‚ a bright shining star‚ unlike any other in the night sky. Her autism made her deeply insular; by inoculating her against outside influences‚ it also made her creative and brilliant in a way utterly unique to her. Her inner world‚ insofar as she let me glimpse it‚ intoxicated me. Her mind was a vast empire of one‚ with its own language‚ currency‚ and history. C seemed to me walking "bottle world‚" a living‚ breathing wainscot society.I quickly came to realize that no matter how fascinating I found it to observe this world‚ I would always remain outside it. This wasn't going to work. Not that I left C of my own accord. It is she who moved on‚ making no bones about the fact that while she liked much of what I had to offer‚ my romantic partnership was of no interest.Still‚ the uncanny experience of dating someone like myself made me ponder my previous breakups. Unlike C‚ who was refreshingly blunt and pragmatic‚ the neurotypical women in my past were never quite able to explain why they were leaving. The usual cycle roughly follows the trajectory of one of cinema's more awkward love affairs: that between Enid and Seymour in the 2001 film "Ghost World." When alienated‚ proto-hipster high school senior Enid (Thora Birch) meets Steve Buscemi's cantankerous‚ hyper-verbal record collector‚ she becomes enamored. “What a fascinating‚ beautifully strange person I’ve discovered!” She does start to notice some disagreeable idiosyncrasies‚ but the thrill of this rare specimen's company allows her to dismiss them. Over time‚ however‚ she grows disillusioned and increasingly distant. For me‚ the beginning of the end generally comes when she broaches the subject of seeing other people. I promise to change; she counters that she doesn’t want me to. A very confusing response‚ until recently!What is especially galling about this seemingly inevitable moment is that I've worked hard to overcome my inborn social deficits. I have painstakingly transformed myself into a man of social grace and savoir faire‚ a man who might be molded into what they call boyfriend material.And I have indeed inexplicably managed to land some real stunners. Fool that I was‚ I thought passing this initial test was the hard part. In reality‚ it's where the real work begins.What was required to make them stay? Whatever it was‚ I clearly lacked it. A common refrain was their insistence that I not change. They wanted me to go on being my wonderful‚ one-of-a-kind self ... as long as I did it away from them.My experience with C gave me a new perspective. Such that I would now liken myself to a slightly more flattering cinematic avatar: Willy Wonka.Wonka's mysterious Chocolate Factory may operate via obscure and unconventional systems‚ but it is highly effective. The weird little man makes the most disruptively delicious candy on the market. No small part of its appeal is a certain magic the inscrutability imparts. Who wouldn't take the opportunity to see for oneself how these enticing confections are made?At first‚ it’s magical. A privileged feeling‚ to share in such a secret. And such a rich‚ endlessly explorable place. It seems you'll never run out of marvels to discover.Fast forward a year. You’re living full time in the factory. It's quite finite‚ after all — you've seen every room top to bottom. You drank from the chocolate river even though the fat German kid drowned in it. You tasted all the fruits on the wallpaper. You turned into a blueberry and back. You tasted every mushroom‚ flower‚ fern‚ boulder‚ and so on in the indoor park where everything is made of candy.It’s all still made of candy a year later and will be the next year. You’re quite tired of candy by now‚ but you put on a show for Willy‚ who never tires of it. He’s always delighted when he finds you in that room. “Everything is candy!” he remarks with sincere wonder every time‚ as if realizing this anew. “Hehe‚ yep. It’s aaaallll candy‚” you tepidly reply.Wonka is all candy as well; he has little interest or capacity for discussing anything else. You've also grown tired of that performative‚ doddering old-man routine‚ followed by the spritely‚ acrobatic somersault he pulls out every time you or anybody else meets with him. It's not that it's an act. He genuinely can’t not be that way.What of his more alarming offenses? Can he help those‚ you wonder? He let a kid drown in chocolate to make a point about greed‚ then had his orange-hued workers sing a jaunty song about it. About those Oompa-Loompas: Do they receive a fair day's wage? Are they free to leave? You could get Wonka to change. He'll do anything to convince you to stay at this point. Safety inspections for the great glass elevator? A DEI panel to address any Oompa-Loompa grievances? Overhauled management systems based on Six Sigma methodology? You got it‚ babe.But who'd want to visit that factory? To make the "improvements" necessary for you to thrive there would be to destroy what makes it special in the first place. Worse‚ it would become an environment hostile to Wonka's own survival. The only course of action is to depart as gracefully as you can‚ leaving it unspoiled for the kindred spirit who's bound to come along eventually. Or‚ so I imagine each former girlfriend understood our parting. Perhaps‚ I'm fooling myself‚ overthinking what were no more than a series of classic "it's not you‚ it's me" brush-offs. But I like to think they experience at least a touch of the melancholy‚ stoic acceptance I felt in losing C. Either way‚ it's not something I can afford to dwell on. I cater to a specific market‚ and I'm clearly not for everyone. Even the true connoisseurs sometimes find themselves unable to match my enthusiasm in the long run. Fair enough. All I can do is continue to maintain the standards of quality ensured by my enjoyably uncompromising way of doing things. The right collaborator‚ when she comes along‚ will expect nothing less.

A teen who died while police attempted to arrest her father was fatally shot by the arresting officers‚ audio and video of the incident now show.As Blaze News previously reported‚ in September 2022‚ an Amber Alert was issued in California after 45-year-old Anthony Graziano allegedly kidnapped his daughter‚ 15-year-old Savannah Graziano‚ after murdering her mother‚ Tracy Martinez. The following day‚ Graziano's vehicle was spotted on I-15‚ and a lengthy‚ high-speed police chase involving gunfire soon followed.Eventually‚ Graziano's disabled truck came to a stop along the I-15 shoulder in Hesperia‚ California‚ near Victorville. Graziano was behind the wheel‚ and Savannah was sitting in the passenger seat. Police had the vehicle surrounded.At that point‚ Savannah exited the vehicle‚ reportedly wearing tactical gear but apparently carrying no weapon. She then began walking toward the arresting officers. Suddenly‚ shots rang out again‚ and both Savannah and Graziano were fatally struck.According to initial reports from San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus‚ shots were fired from inside the suspect's vehicle during the incident‚ and "several rounds" pierced "the windshield of the patrol unit." There were even suggestions that at least one of the shots came from the passenger side of Graziano's truck‚ prompting speculation that Savannah may have fired at police at some point or that officers fired at her in self-defense.Now‚ 18 months after the incident‚ the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department has released police audio and video footage of the shooting‚ revealing that police shot and killed Savannah‚ though the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.Footage from a police helicopter captures an officer repeatedly stating over the radio that shots have been fired as the truck comes to a stop along the shoulder. Moments later‚ Savannah walks out of the vehicle‚ takes several steps toward police vehicles‚ crouches down on the ground‚ stands back up‚ and takes a few more steps before collapsing to the ground once again after at least one bullet strikes her‚ video shows."Oh‚ no!" an officer says‚ according to the helicopter footage.Audio captured by a deputy on the ground provides even more details about Savannah's final moments. At first‚ the deputy can be heard instructing the "passenger" in the vehicle to "get out" and walk toward him. "Come here! Come here! Come to me! Come to me!" he says. "Come‚ come‚ come‚ come! Walk‚ walk‚ walk‚ walk!"However‚ the unnamed deputy quickly changes his tune when his fellow officers began shooting at her. "Stop! Stop shooting her! He’s in the car! Stop!" he exclaims."She’s OK! He’s in the car! Stop!" he continues. Unfortunately‚ Savannah had already been mortally wounded. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene‚ and Savannah was soon taken to a nearby hospital‚ where she was pronounced dead. The sheriff's office has confirmed that both Savannah and her father died from shots fired by law enforcement.The California Department of Justice and the sheriff's office are still investigating the incident‚ and the names of the deputies involved have not been released. Authorities stated that these video and audio accounts are still considered "preliminary" and insisted that the course of the investigation could still change. Savannah's uncle CJ Wyatt‚ however‚ sees his niece's death as an avoidable tragedy. "There needs to be better training so that unarmed people aren’t killed‚" Wyatt told the Guardian. "Hopefully this video can be used for training – something has to be done differently. "She didn’t have to die." Savanna Graziano: California Amber Alert teen dies in San Bernardino County shootout 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!

A new investigation released this week suggests that an elite Russian military unit is behind the so-called Havana Syndrome attacks on U.S. officials over the last few years. The attacks consist of a range of neurological symptoms that include intense headaches‚ loss of balance‚ memory problems‚ and numerous hearing issues. In a segment on “60 Minutes‚” ex-government investigator Ed Greene claims to have run the investigation for the Defense Intelligence Agency. “We were collecting a large body of data ranging from signals intelligence‚ human intelligence‚ open-source reporting — anything regarding internet‚ travel records‚ financial records — you name it. Unfortunately‚ I can’t get into specifics based on the classification‚ but I can tell you at a very early stage‚ I started to focus on Moscow‚” Greene told "60 Minutes." Greene then said the officers affected were “being neutralized.” While the story is compelling‚ Glenn Beck isn’t buying it 100%‚ as not too long ago‚ it was reported that it was unlikely a foreign actor was at fault. “One would have to ask the government‚ were you lying then or are you lying now? Is it that these are just people within these investigations who are disagreeing with the final conclusion of the government report?” Glenn says. Another question Glenn has is why the supposed weapon isn’t being used against Zelenskyy and Ukraine. “Is it perhaps because the House is set to vote on both the massive seizing of Russian assets and the infusion of cash for the war in Ukraine?” Glenn asks‚ noting that many people involved in the story have been very vocally anti-Trump and pro-Hunter Biden. “It doesn’t make sense to me‚” he says‚ adding‚ “what does make sense is that you’re being set up and lied to cause you were either being lied to last year or you’re being lied to now.” 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.

A Georgia mayoral candidate who's accused of hitting her apartment manager in the face last year and was arrested on a battery charge said she's innocent and is claiming self-defense."We all have a past‚ for we are human‚" Shekita Maxwell — who's running for Macon-Bibb County mayor — said during a Friday press conference‚ WGXA-TV reported."I am innocent; I want you to know that in this great United States of America‚ I want you to know that I am innocent until proven guilty‚" she added‚ the station said. "Due process has to take place so that democracy is not eroded."Check out more of what Maxwell had to say: What's the background?WGXA reported in an initial story last month that Maxwell continues to face charges of battery and obstruction of an officer in connection with an August 31‚ 2023‚ incident in the clubhouse at the Bowman Station apartments in Macon.Maxwell allegedly was upset at a landscaping crew for blowing debris on her car and said her Mercedes-Benz GLB was damaged‚ the station reported‚ adding that a responding deputy said there was dust on the car but no damage.Apartment management — who also saw no damage — told deputies they offered to wash Maxwell's car‚ after which she became aggressive and started screaming‚ WGXA reported. At that point‚ management said Maxwell was told to leave the building‚ the station said.Investigators said that's when Maxwell hit the victim in the face‚ causing bleeding‚ WGXA reported. The victim was the apartment manager. Image source: YouTube screenshotThe apartment's maintenance man separated the pair‚ forced Maxwell out of the building‚ and locked the doors‚ the station said.Deputies added that surveillance video supports the victim's narrative‚ and Bibb County Assistant Solicitor Steve Knowles said‚ "The evidence is clear that the Defendant [Maxwell] was the initial aggressor‚" WGXA noted.Deputies also said Maxwell resisted arrest — until one deputy pulled out her stun gun to "gain her attention‚" the station reported‚ adding that Maxwell was not tased and eventually calmed down.'I was born black'WGXA reported in a third story that Maxwell was evicted from her apartment after the incident.More from the station:WGXA News obtained court documents showing Bowman Station apartments‚ where the incident took place‚ filed to evict Maxwell after the fight‚ asking her to only pay court fees. The eviction was approved‚ but Maxwell appealed it. In her appeal‚ Maxwell said she was "illegally evicted for an unjust cost." She added‚ "I followed the rules‚ paid rent on time‚ and I was born black. Black shouldn't be a reason for eviction."In her appeal‚ Maxwell asked for a counter-judgment of $10‚500.The eviction case resulted in a two-day long trial in which the 6-person jury found in favor of Bowman Station. Maxwell was required to pay over $10‚000 in back rent‚ attorney's fees‚ and court costs.What else? WGXA reported in a fourth story that Maxwell was arrested prior to last year's incident.Maxwell sued the United States Postal Service in 2016‚ claiming discrimination‚ the station said. But when Maxwell was deposed for that case in 2017‚ the court reporter asked Maxwell if she ever had been charged with a criminal offense — and Maxwell confirmed she had been charged with criminal trespass in 2016‚ WGXA said.She said the charges stemmed from an incident involving her daughters and a dance team of theirs‚ the station said‚ adding that Maxwell told the court reporter a judge ordered her to complete anger management courses following the incident. Maxwell also said she was placed on probation to verify she attended the counseling sessions‚ WGXA said.More from the station:In the deposition‚ Maxwell was also asked about her career in the military. She served for three years before being discharged. Maxwell says her discharge was a result of having a child with her commanding officer.Her lawsuit against the USPS was centered on claims of racial and gender discrimination while she served as a mail clerk.In Maxwell's deposition‚ the court reporter addressed accusations that she lunged at another employee during an altercation while working for the USPS. Maxwell denied the accusation saying‚ "...she lunged at me.""I just stood there because I was calling her bluff‚" Maxwell said‚ according to WGXA. "Because if she was gonna hit me‚ she was gonna hit me."Maxwell said she and the aforementioned woman had frequent altercations for several weeks‚ the station noted‚ and Maxwell said she alone was fired.In 2018‚ a judge ruled in favor of the USPS‚ awarding none of the more than $100‚000 Maxwell was asking for‚ the station said.'I'll fight for you'As for the 2023 accusation of hitting her then-apartment manager‚ Maxwell said Friday that "I'm denying it based on self-defense‚" WGXA said.Then she offered a kind of mea culpa."First and foremost‚ I apologize for my actions because a leader really shouldn't act like that‚" Maxwell said‚ according to the station. "[The manager] just really caught me off-guard. I want the confidence of the people to know that I'll fight for you‚ but I also believe in this Constitution that I have a right to defend myself."WGXA noted that Maxwell said she's running for mayor to empower the community and cut wasteful spending: "I hope that you haven't made up your mind right now 'concrete' because I would love to have your vote‚ and whatever damage has been done‚ I'm here to repair it." The station said Maxwell is the sole challenger in a race against incumbent Mayor Lester Miller; the election is in May.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!