If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Foundation for Individual Rights (FIRE) has condemned a new executive order issued in Pennsylvania as unconstitutional, where that pertains to the First Amendment speech protections. Governor Josh Shapiro’s move, described by the group as a “sweeping gag order” targeting public employees, is believed to be so egregious that FIRE is at the same time urging those affected across the state to join forces and challenge it in court. The executive order prohibits anyone in the public sector – teachers, librarians, those working for utility companies among them – from making statements that can be interpreted as “scandalous” or “disgraceful.” These changes to the code of conduct were added in May, in an “under-the-radar” fashion, but with rather significant impact: the code of conduct was now being extended to cover speech as well. And these amended rules apply both to employees while at work, and off duty, FIRE remarks, bringing up a key question: who will decide what’s scandalous and disgraceful to the point that it must be punished? “Impossibly vague” is how FIRE treats the wording of the order, which it believes merits a class action suit to overturn what is condemned as unconstitutional government overreach. “No elected official can slap a gag order like this on state workers,” said FIRE’s director of public advocacy, Aaron Terr, adding that the group regards it as an abuse of power and hopes to team up with those affected for a legal battle. In August, FIRE tried to communicate to the Pennsylvania governor that the rules were violating the First Amendment, in the hope of avoiding a lawsuit. The August letter was ignored by Shapiro’s office. Back in May, those behind the contested changes made it obvious what prompted them: a war in the Middle East. We obtained a copy of the second letter for you here. In order to bring “moral clarity” into the way people are allowed to speak about that, concepts like “antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate speech” are mentioned as being on the rise in Pennsylvania, the US, and the whole world. But Tarr is unimpressed. “The state is strategically putting all the chess pieces in place to punish everyday Americans for nothing more than saying something the government doesn’t like,” is his take on the true nature of all this. And, Tarr added, “Our job is to smack those pieces off the board before someone gets fired for speaking their mind.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Free Speech Group Slams Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro’s Gag Order on Public Employees appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. In the UK, ruling Labour MP Dawn Butler has announced plans to have X owner Elon Musk over, as “a witness” to be questioned in the country’s parliament about his social platform. Misinformation, and the spread thereof, probably to the surprise of precisely nobody, is what this is all about. Butler seems to be laboring under the impression that X might be guilty. Butler told the Financial Times that it is “vital for the committee to formally examine the use of algorithms in pushing hateful material” and the moderation of such content.” While noting that this pertains to “other” social platforms as well, she only named, thus singled out, X. Butler is currently vying to become the chair of the parliamentary Science and Technology Select Committee, so the initiative is a part of her campaign. It’s not clear if this gives Butler any edge over her fellow Labour MP who is her main contender – because Chi Onwurah agrees on that point. Speaking for Politico, Onwurah parroted the point about algorithms and “hateful” content, adding her own thoughts that this could be used to spread “racial hatred” in particular. (It does not matter much, at least on this policy issue, but we will know on Wednesday which of these candidates comes out on top.) The initiative is not surprising for a number of reasons, not least of which is Musk’s open endorsement of Donald Trump in the US presidential election – something that is seen as “the cardinal sin” among the majority of Europe’s currently ruling, entrenched elites. Then there was Musk’s reaction to the recent riots in the UK when he clearly showed that he was not buying the UK authorities’ panicked explanation of the events, namely, that online platforms are to blame and that the problem originates there, and can be solved there. And then there’s Brazil, which has thus far gone the farthest to silence X – literally banning the platform, fining the company, and penalizing its other assets. As for the likelihood of Musk showing up for any British Parliament inquiry into “insufficient” moderation (aka, censorship) – that will be entirely up to him. MPs can’t force “witnesses” to come, the FT writes – even though they can be “held in contempt” should a formal summons be issued. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post UK Lawmaker Dawn Butler to Summon Elon Musk Over “Misinformation” and Algorithm Use on X appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Kamaliar: Goldman Sachs Reported 'Better' Debt Reduction Choice

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Leaders in Springfield, Ohio, appear to have dodged the media and issued only carefully crafted statements about problems associated with the recent influx of Haitian immigrants.Under the Biden-Harris administration, perhaps up to 20,000 Haitians have been relocated to Springfield, a city that normally has about 60,000 residents. In other words, the city's population has swollen by one-third in recent years, and many of the new residents apparently haven't assimilated to local ways regarding animals and housing.'I don't know how y'all can be comfortable with this.'Former President Donald Trump even raised the issue about animals at the debate on Tuesday."In Springfield, they're eating the dogs — the people that came in," Trump said. "They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame."In response, his Democrat opponent, Kamala Harris, shook her head and laughed with condescension and incredulity. ABC News moderator David Muir almost immediately jumped in to discredit Trump's assertion, quoting from a statement from Springfield city manager Bryan Heck that "there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community." - YouTube www.youtube.com 'I [saw] a group of Haitian people — there was about four of them — and all had geese in their hand.'While much of the national attention regarding Haitian immigrants and possible animal maltreatment has focused on dogs and cats, there are other disturbing allegations relating to animals in the wild. According to reports, Haitians have been taking wildlife, including ducks and geese, from public places such as parks and perhaps slaughtering them.Anthony Harris, a 28-year-old Springfield resident, claimed during a city commission meeting late last month that "they're in the park grabbing up ducks by their neck and cutting their head off and walking off with them and eating them.""I don't know how y'all can be comfortable with this," Harris said about all the problems associated with the Haitian immigrants. - YouTube The Federalist also released audio of a phone call made to Springfield police on August 26, reporting that four or so Haitian individuals had taken one goose apiece and absconded with them in a "newer-model" Toyota Tacoma."I [saw] a group of Haitian people — there was about four of them — and all had geese in their hand," the man told the dispatcher.Thus far, local leaders have provided few details about the veracity of these reports about geese and ducks, and most members of the mainstream media have more or less taken these leaders at their word.As David Muir noted, the office of Springfield city manager Bryan Heck did issue a statement insisting that "there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community." Cleveland.com also shared at least parts of Heck's statement. Whether Cleveland.com shared the full statement from Heck's office is unclear, but none of the quotations from the statement in the outlet's report made mention of the allegations regarding undomesticated animals.Heck has also recently released a video to address "narratives surrounding our city," but once again, the nearly three-minute video made no mention of the accusations regarding violence against or the stealing of wild animals. In fact, it makes no reference to animals at all.Instead, Heck spent more than a third of the video — nearly a minute and 10 seconds — discussing the city's "diverse and robust industrial base" and "workforce population."The closest Heck comes to identifying the allegations of wrongdoing within the Haitian immigrant community is when he refers vaguely to "rumors" and "misinformation ... amplified by political rhetoric in the current, highly charged presidential election cycle."Heck never clarifies what those "rumors" or "misinformation" are.Heck did note that "while we are experiencing challenges related to the rapid growth of our immigrant population, these challenges are primarily due to the pace of the growth." He also admitted that his city has endured significant "strain" on its "resources" but never directly tied this strain to the rise in the immigrant population.Megyn Kelly explained to Glenn Beck, host of "The Glenn Beck Program" on BlazeTV, that such statements from Heck hardly mean that the allegations about animals have been "debunked.""You can accept the pet testimonials or not," Kelly said, "[but] they have not, in fact, been debunked. You have one city manager who says he can't prove any of that. He hasn't found the proof of it. That does not mean it didn't happen." — (@) Allegations regarding pets aside, Blaze News wanted further answers about whether Heck or other Springfield officials had heard about the alleged attacks on wildlife. We also hoped to be furnished with a copy of Heck's full statement.Blaze News called city offices numerous times and attempted to leave messages with Heck, Mayor Rob Rue, and seven other officials who may be able to address some of our lingering questions.Of those attempts, seven of the calls were abruptly disconnected after they were diverted to "full" mailboxes. Blaze News managed to leave messages for city clerk Regina Jeffers, minority business coordinator Reggie Troutman, and communications coordinator Valerie Lowe. None of those calls were returned.CWeil · SPRINGFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICEIn addition to the allegations about animals, other disturbing reports about Haitian immigrants in Springfield relate to housing. In some cases, migrant families are reportedly renting rooms in two- or three-bedroom houses so that property owners can effectively double or triple their rental income by cramming several families into one home. — (@) Blaze News investigative reporter Julio Rosas, who went to Springfield, told Glenn Beck in another recent episode of "The Glenn Beck Program" that in some cases, Springfield landlords are apparently receiving up to $200 a week for each bed in their property, leading to overcrowded residences that may even violate state fire codes regarding building occupancy."When you have that many people crammed into ... a two-bedroom, a one-bedroom place but you have 15 people inside, that's a fire hazard," Rosas explained. "But the city has refused to enforce the codes.""The residents feel that the city commission is just not listening to their problems," Rosas continued, "or they're unwilling to do anything about it." — (@) Despite the relative silence from local officials, state-level leaders have expressed concerns about many of the problems in Springfield associated with Haitian immigrants. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) announced on Monday that his office is exploring possible legal options to limit the number of immigrants brought into Ohio by the federal government."In addition to straining available resources, locals have complained of migrants causing car crashes, stealing property — including livestock, squatting in homes and killing wildlife for food," Yost's press release noted.Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) also called out some problems with immigration and claimed in a statement posted on X that he had met with "local officials" who reported issues regarding "language barriers," infectious disease, highway safety, and health care costs. Husted did not list possible animal misuse or overcrowded housing among his list of concerns.Gov. Mike DeWine (R) obviously considers the problem of "inexperienced Haitian drivers" in Springfield so dangerous that he has authorized state troopers to assist with local traffic control. Ohio State Highway Patrol "troopers will patrol local roads with the highest crash rates and hold accountable any driver who drives erratically and risks the safety of others," DeWine said.Even with that clear acknowledgment that some Haitian immigrants pose a threat to public safety, DeWine and Major Garrett of CBS News laughed off other accusations regarding Haitians and animals.Garrett, evincing his own limited curiosity on the subject, stated on Wednesday that his organization had "found absolutely no truth" to the idea that Haitians were attacking pets. He then asked DeWine derisively: "Governor, I never thought I would ask you a question like this. Is anyone with undocumented status in Ohio, is any legal citizen [or] resident in Ohio eating dogs or cats illegally?"Trump signed a law in 2018 banning the use of dogs and cats for human consumption, so "eating dogs or cats" would in almost all cases be "illegal." The law does carve out an exception for religious or cultural practices, the Indy Star reported.Nevertheless, DeWine appeared to smirk in reply and then indicated that such allegations are mere internet bluster, nothing more. "The internet can be quite crazy sometimes," DeWine said. "And like the mayor, Mayor Rue of Springfield, says, no, there's no truth in that. They have no evidence of that at all."So I think we'll go with what the mayor says."Later in their discussion, Garrett suggested that Haitian immigrants may soon become victims, that Trump may have incited bigoted attacks on Haitians by mentioning the allegations regarding pets during his debate with Kamala Harris."Do you worry at all, Governor, that that immigrant community could be under greater jeopardy because of scapegoating language like the nation heard [at the debate]"? he asked.DeWine responded by touting the indefatigable work ethic of Haitian immigrants."These Haitians came in here to work because there were jobs, and they filled a lot of jobs," DeWine said. "If you talk to the employers, they've done a very, very good job, and they work very, very hard."DeWine did not discuss the hardworking nature of Springfield natives or other U.S. citizens in his state.DeWine and Garrett did mention problems associated with diseases and health care. DeWine even compared the massive influx of immigrants to a "natural disaster."DeWine also mentioned threats to public safety, especially regarding traffic. According to reports, some new residents are driving along city roads without a proper license or a healthy respect for speed limits and other vehicle-related regulations. A Haitian immigrant even caused the death of an 11-year-old Springfield boy on his way to school last year when the immigrant crashed into a school bus. The immigrant, 36-year-old Hermanio Joseph, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide and sentenced to prison for between nine and 13.5 years.The boy's father, Nathan Clark, recently stated at a city commission meeting that he wished a "60-year-old white man" had killed his son, Aiden Clark, rather than Joseph, a Haitian immigrant, as Blaze News previously reported."I bet you never thought anyone would ever say something so blunt," Clark said. "But if that [60-year-old white] guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A group of California small-business owners filed a lawsuit against the City of Berkeley this week for allegedly allowing the streets around their businesses to become overrun with homeless encampments littered with used syringes, human waste, and rats.The lawsuit was filed in Alameda County by eight businesses, which include a brewing company, a winery, a theater set production company, an automotive repair shop, a bagel shop, and a mobility equipment supplier. 'She left only to return two minutes later with a 10-foot metal pole swinging it at customers and employees.'The county has become a hotspot for homelessness and criminal activity in recent years, largely due to soft-on-crime progressive politicians.The owners claim that the Berkeley leaders have failed to comply with the city's nuisance laws, claiming it has "invited, permitted, and/or maintained a sprawling public encampment of tents and RVs on Harrison Street between Fifth and Ninth streets, as well as off of Harrison Street along Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Streets."The complaint noted that encampments have been allowed to take over parts of Harrison Street and the Lower Dwight Neighborhood "because of its erroneous interpretation" of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's ruling in two cases, which stated criminal charges cannot be filed against individuals camping in public when no shelter space is available. However, the lawsuit argued that the rulings did not permit the city to violate public nuisance laws. Furthermore, the business owners argued that shelter space has been available.Additionally, earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision, stating that municipalities are allowed to dismantle public encampments regardless of available shelter space. Despite that, the makeshift tent cities in Berkeley remain.The complaint included images taken after the city engaged in a so-called "clean up" effort, showing that the encampments were not dismantled. Instead, tents remained lined up against the side of the street, often obstructing sidewalk access.Emily Winston, a Berkeley resident and the owner and operator of a local bagel shop told KTVU, "It's tough. It's filthy. There's trash everywhere.""It's not safe for our customers or our staff," Winston stated. She noted that she was "not eager" to file the lawsuit. "This was certainly not my idea of a good time. I wish the city would just have cleaned it up anyway," Winston added.The business owners are concerned about the health and safety issues posed by the sprawling encampments. They fear that the unsightly and unsanitary conditions are driving away customers.Barry Braden, a brewery owner, told KTVU that a woman recently entered his establishment asking for food."When the manager on duty offered help, she left only to return two minutes later with a 10-foot metal pole swinging it at customers and employees; she was chased out of the building by customers and ultimately arrested by police," Braden explained.In 2018, the same year Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took office, there were an estimated 131,000 homeless individuals residing in California. Since then, that number has reportedly reached a projected 172,000.The city attorney did not respond to KTVU’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!

2016 Olympian and former NCAA swimmer Reka Gyorgy recalled a terrifying experience she had during an interaction with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Thomas, who previously went by Luke, was a men's NCAA swimmer who was ranked 554 against men before allegedly becoming female, after which he won an NCAA championship. Thomas sparked worldwide controversy that eventually led to rule changes that prevent men from competing against women in swimming at elite-level meets, including the Olympics. Gyorgy has since released a video detailing her experience when running into Thomas at the NCAA championships in the women's locker room. In the video, provided to Blaze News by women's advocacy group ICONS, Gyorgy recalled seeing Thomas in the change room. "I opened the locker room door and was about to turn around ... when I physically bumped into Thomas," she explained. The 5'9" swimmer said she was surprised by the stature of Thomas, whose genitals then made contact with her. "I was shocked by his size. He was about six foot, four inches tall. I was shocked that as he bumped into me, his male genitalia was touching my hand that was stuck between us as he was leaving the locker room." "I couldn't even say sorry; I froze," Gyorgy said. "He just smiled at me and said 'sorry,' in a male voice." The former All-American athlete complained that female swimmers didn't even get their own locker room at the championship event and revealed that she was "repeatedly" looking over her shoulder while she was changing. "I was terrified knowing he could walk in on me at any second as I changed into my swimsuit and the private areas of my body would be exposed to this man." Your browser does not support the video tag. Video courtesy Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) Gyorgy told Blaze News that she never spoke to Thomas again apart from that incident. The Hungarian joins other former NCAA swimmers, like Riley Gaines, who have spoken out about interactions with Thomas. "Top eight women in the entire country, and you’ve got a 6'4" man in a women's swimsuit with the bulge next to a woman wearing only a Speedo with nothing covering her top," Gaines told Joe Rogan in May 2024. Gaines added that when she actually tied Thomas in a race, there was only one trophy and it went to the male athlete. Gaines recalled asking an official why Thomas was the one getting the trophy: "His face changed, he looked sad, his voice changed. I could tell he didn't even believe what he was about to say, but this official looked at me and said, 'Riley, I am so sorry, but we have been advised as an organization that when photos are being taken, it's crucial that the trophy is in Lia's hands.'" Gyorgy is now the director of operations for the swim and dive teams at Virginia Tech. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes said he didn't believe it was his place to specifically endorse a presidential candidate despite Donald Trump claiming Mahomes' wife is a fan of his.Mahomes was asked at a press conference for his reaction to Trump's recent comments on Fox News when he said Mahomes' wife, Brittany, is "a big Trump fan."Without endorsing a candidate, Mahomes said he felt his purpose in politics was more generic:"I think I've always said I don't want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever either way," Mahomes told reporters. "I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote, is to inform people to do their own research and then make their best decision for them and their family. And so, I think every time I'm on this stage and I get asked these questions, I'm going to refer back to that because I think that's what makes America so great."In a previous Blaze News report, it was revealed that the NFL player's wife had "liked" a photo of Trump's campaign platform.After some harsh criticisms, Mrs. Mahomes made a public statement condemning her detractors:"I mean honestly, to be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood," she wrote on Instagram. "There’s no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well."Trump responded to the ordeal by posting a message on Truth Social and thanked Brittany Mahomes for "defending" him."I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country," Trump wrote.'I'm not thinking about their political views.'The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was also asked about recent interactions with teammate Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift; the musician recently endorsed Kamala Harris. A reporter's question alluded to the idea that Mahomes and his wife are of different political leanings than the other celebrity couple."Is that an important image to show? People who may have different philosophies?" the journalist asked.Mahomes said he has "grown up with people from every aspect of life and every background" and always hoped people can come together with different beliefs and achieve a common goal."I think if we can do that as a nation, I think we can get the best out of each other," Mahomes explained. "I think that's something that I do every single day, and whenever I'm hanging out with whoever, I'm not thinking about their political views. I'm thinking about the people and how they treat other people."Mahomes stated in a recent Time interview that he felt he didn't want to "pressure anyone" to vote a certain way and that the public should "do the research."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!