Minnesota, under Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, prioritized non-white residents for COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic. In Minnesota, an “ethical framework” prioritized black 18-year-olds over elderly whites, even though the elderly were at a much higher risk of severe complications due to COVID, the Free Beacon reported in January 2022. The racial discrimination stemmed from the FDA’s guidance when authorizing monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals for emergency use. The FDA only authorized these treatments for “high risk” patients, and included race as a factor determining someone to be “high risk.” As the Free Beacon noted in 2022: The FDA “fact sheet” for Sotrovimab, the only monoclonal antibody effective against the Omicron variant, states that “race or ethnicity” can “place individual patients at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.” The fact sheet for Paxlovid, Pfizer’s new antiviral pill, uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of “high risk,” which states that “systemic health and social inequities” have put minorities “at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.” Even though the guidance is nonbinding, several states used it to justify race-based triage to the detriment of those at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Minnesota, for example, explicitly cited the FDA as the reason it prioritized lower-risk minorities over higher-risk white people. “The FDA has acknowledged that in addition to certain underlying health conditions, race and ethnicity ‘may also place individual patients at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19,’” Minnesota’s racial triage plan states. “FDA’s acknowledgment means that race and ethnicity alone, apart from other underlying health conditions, may be considered in determining eligibility for [monoclonal antibodies].” The FDA said race may be considered, but it never said race should be the priority when determining who should get treatment. Unsurprisingly, even though men were approximately 50% more likely to die from COVID than women – according to research from the Brookings Institution – sex was not included as a risk factor in the FDA guidance. As the Free Beacon noted, the triage in Minnesota gave non-white patients two points when determining risk, whereas comorbidities like “hypertension in a patient 55 years and older” were only worth one point. The policy followed others in Minnesota, which are getting renewed attention after Vice President Kamala Harris chose Walz as her running mate. Another policy Walz implemented was a COVID hotline that allowed Minnesotans to snitch on their neighbors for violating lockdown orders. The hotline generated thousands of reports – against people playing basketball, walking their dogs, or attending church, local outlet Alpha News reported in 2022. Walz’s administration continued to monitor the hotline until November 2020, though it remained operational until June 2022.

A Pakistani national with what FBI Director Christopher Wray called “close ties to Iran” was arrested and charged with orchestrating a scheme to reportedly assassinate former President Trump as well as other government officials. According to court documents, in April 2024, Asif Merchant, 46, who revealed he has a wife and children in both Iran and Pakistan, came to the U.S. after spending time in Iran. He contacted someone about his alleged scheme; that person, who became a confidential source (CS), then contacted the FBI. In early June in New York, Merchant met the CS and outlined his alleged plot to commit a series of assassinations in the U.S. WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI “Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official,” the Department of Justice stated. “Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified ‘party’ back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to ‘finalize’ the plan and leave the United States.” On June 21, Merchant met with undercover U.S. law enforcement officers in New York, giving them $5,000 in advance. “After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, ‘now we’re bonded,’ to which Merchant responded ‘yes.’ The UC then stated ‘Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,’ to which Merchant responded ‘Yes, absolutely,’” the DOJ stated. Merchant was arrested on July 12, 2024, the day he planned to leave the country. An attempted assassination against former President Trump was attempted on July 13. No evidence has yet been offered to connect that event with Merchant.

The man who reportedly went to Iraq after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz decided to retire early says the Democratic vice presidential candidate said “screw you” to the United States. Thomas Behrends told the New York Post following Walz’s selection as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate that the current Minnesota governor is “a traitor.” According to the outlet, Behrends went to Iraq in Walz’s place after Walz left the military. “When your country calls, you are supposed to run into battle — not the other way,” said Behrends, a retired command sergeant major. “He ran away. It’s sad.” “He had the opportunity to serve his country, and said ‘Screw you’ to the United States. That’s not who I would pick to run for vice president,” he added. Behrends previously spoke up about Walz’s service in 2018 while the latter was running for governor of Minnesota. In an open letter posted to Facebook that year, Behrends and fellow retired CSM Paul Herr wrote that Walz retired just a few months after receiving a warning order that his battalion would be deployed to Iraq – even though he told military personnel he would be going on the mission. “On May 16th, 2005, [Walz] quit, betraying his country, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war,” Behrends and Herr wrote. The pair wrote that Walz said he needed to retire to run for Congress, but this was untrue. Walz could have run for Congress and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before he entered active duty, the pair claimed. “If he had retired normally and respectfully, you would think he would have ensured his retirement documents were correctly filled out and signed, and that he would have ensured he was reduced to Master Sergeant for dropping out of the academy,” the two wrote. “Instead he slithered out the door and waited for the paperwork to catch up to him.” They noted that his official retirement document says “soldier not available for signature.” Walz’s sudden retirement complicated his selection to the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Behrends and Herr wrote. Once someone accepts enrollment, they agree to three stipulations: to serve two years after graduation from the academy or promotion, that failing the course could result in being kicked out of the military, and that they will be reduced to Master Sergeant if they don’t complete the course. WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI Walz wasn’t promoted to Command Sergeant Major until September 17, 2004. A month earlier, he was photographed holding a protest sign outside a rally for President George W. Bush’s re-election campaign, though it doesn’t seem as though the military noticed or disciplined him. Less than a year after his promotion, Walz retired, meaning his promotion was nullified since he broke the agreement he signed when entering the academy. On September 10, 2005, Walz was reduced to Master Sergeant. As Behrends and Herr wrote, “It took a while for the system to catch up to him as it was uncharted territory, literally no one quits in the position he was in, or drops out of the academy.” In November 2005, Walz reached out to his former battalion as it was preparing for war. He offered to hold a fundraiser for their bus trip home over Christmas. “The same Soldiers he had abandoned just months before, trying to buy their votes,” Behrends and Herr wrote. Behrends and Herr noted that Walz’s official Report of Separation and Record of Service stated that Walz re-enlisted on September 18, 2001, for six years. Walz said in his response to Hagen that he only re-enlisted for four years, which would have made his retirement date September 18, 2005 – four months later than when he actually retired.

Algerian Olympic and Sports Committees director Yassine Arab blamed the “Zionist lobby” for the backlash against the country’s Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who was booted from the 2023 female World Championships for reportedly having XY chromosomes. Khelif on Tuesday advanced to the women’s gold medal match after dominating female opponent Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand 5:0 in the semifinals. Thus far in the Paris Games, Khelif has won every round on every judge’s card. “The Zionist lobby, they want to break the mind of Imane,” Arab told The Sydney Morning Herald. “But now Imane is very strong.” “They don’t want that a Muslim girl or Arabic girl goes higher in the level of the rank of female boxing,” he continued. Algeria is a predominantly Muslim country. “We are all here for Imane,” Arab said. “You can see all the support of everybody from [around] the world. All the international press associations, they support Imane.” Arab also took aim at former President Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. “He wants to talk about Imane? He has many problems,” the director said. “First of all, I say to this guy, go to see the doctor. Go to see the psychologist. You are really in a very bad mood.” Trump last week posted a message online declaring his promise to keep males out of female sports if he is to again be elected president. Khelif and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan, another Olympic boxer in the women’s division, failed gender tests in 2019 and 2023, per the International Boxing Association (IBA). WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI A blood test in 2019 showed that the fighters had “inconsistent” results, suggesting that the bloodwork was inconsistent with that of a female, IBA CEO Chris Roberts said during a press conference on Monday. In 2023, another test revealed that the fighters “demonstrated the chromosomes we refer to in competition rules that make both boxers ineligible,” he added. International Olympics Committee (IOC) spokesperson Mark Adams, however, has claimed that the IBA gender tests are “not credible” because the IBA is not credible and the reasoning for the tests is not credible, ESPN reported. “There was no consideration of whether they were correct or not correct because they had no bearing for the eligibility of boxing here,” he said. Related: Boxer Who Failed Gender Tests Advances To Gold Medal Match After Dominating Another Female Opponent

Russia Offers Full Military Cooperation to Iran Amid Rising Tensions with Israel August 7, 2024 – In a recent visit to Tehran, Russia’s top defense official pledged full military cooperation with Iran, signaling a potential alliance ahead of a possible conflict with Israel. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with senior Iranian military leaders, emphasizing the deepening ties between the two nations. This cooperation marks a significant escalation in their relationship, driven by mutual opposition to Western influence and sanctions. BREAKING: THE TIME IS NEAR! Russian IL-76 aircraft, known for transporting heavy weapons, has landed in Tehran, Iran. Russia is helping Iran prepare Electronic Warfare and its missile defence systems before they strike. See the latest S-500 system below capable of… pic.twitter.com/AHK8kphxNw — Truth_teller (@Truthtellerftm) August 4, 2024 Shoigu's visit comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, with Israel preparing for potential retaliatory strikes from Iran. The discussions reportedly included plans for military and technical collaboration, encompassing advanced weaponry and intelligence sharing. Russia has already supplied Iran with Shahed drones, which have been used against Ukraine, and in return, Iran seeks advanced Russian air defense systems like the S-400 to bolster its defenses against Israeli and U.S. threats​ (Breaking Defense)​ (Breaking Defense). The bilateral agreement between Russia and Iran aims to formalize their strategic partnership, potentially expanding into joint ventures in oil and gas production and infrastructure projects designed to bypass Western sanctions. Experts suggest that this deal could enhance both countries' military capabilities, allowing for the development of more sophisticated loitering munitions and ballistic missiles​ (Breaking Defense). BREAKING Iran has publicly announced that they do have Nuclear weapons.Russia has just moved in to Lebanon, one of their most effective GPS jamming systems pic.twitter.com/ruE3bL6iyO — Todd Paron (@tparon) August 4, 2024 The growing cooperation has raised alarms in the West. U.S. officials have expressed concern over the implications of this alliance, which could destabilize the region further. NATO members, particularly those in Eastern Europe, are wary of Russia's intentions, given its ongoing aggression in Ukraine and increased military collaboration with Iran​ (Breaking Defense)​ (Breaking Defense). This partnership between Moscow and Tehran is seen as a strategic maneuver to counter Western dominance and sanctions, leveraging their combined military and economic resources. The agreement, though not fully disclosed, underscores a shift from a transactional to a transformational relationship, with potential long-term impacts on global security dynamics​ (Breaking Defense)​ (Breaking Defense). The evolving alliance also reflects a shared goal of resisting Western influence and sanctions. Both nations have been working to make their economies more resilient, engaging in gray-market oil exports and illicit trade practices. This cooperation extends beyond conventional military aid, potentially including nuclear and space technology exchanges, further complicating the geopolitical landscape​ (Breaking Defense)​ (Breaking Defense). As tensions escalate, Israel remains on high alert, preparing for possible Iranian strikes. The West watches closely, concerned that this burgeoning alliance could lead to increased instability and conflict in an already volatile region. The post Russia Offers Full Military Cooperation to Iran Amid Rising Tensions with Israel appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

When Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida, it brought in a large amount of rain. This led to the kind of flooding that would cause many places to close — but not all of them. During bad weather like this, medical professionals are needed more than ever. But how do they get to work? Well, if you’re the doctor who goes by beachgem10 on social media, you paddleboard to the hospital! In a now viral video, this doctor takes us along for her journey to work after Hurricane Debby. With her car parked on higher ground about a mile away, she had quite a journey to get there. So, with her work items secure in waterproof bags, this determined doctor made her way to work via paddleboard (though temporary), foot, and car! Tag along for her journey in the video below. @beachgem10 The roads are flooded, but I still need to get to the ER to work. I have about a mile trek, half through water to get to my car on higher ground #hurricane #florida #emergency #flood #trek ♬ original sound – Beachgem10 As you can see, it wasn’t easy for this doctor to get to work, but she found a way. Plus, she had time to spare! With countless patients counting on her, it’s clear she didn’t hesitate to do whatever was needed to be there for them. As a result of sharing her journey, folks are expressing their gratitude — and enjoying the humor of the situation! When Hurricane Debby Floods Florida, This Determined ER Doctor Paddleboards to the Hospital “I would die laughing if I was on the way to the ER and saw my doctor just paddle board past me,” someone shares in the comment section of the video, with another adding, “As a mom who relies on your hospital, thank you for your care and dedication.” “You made it there because someone needed you today,” a third person writes. “I just know it.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post ER Doctor Paddles To Work On Surfboard After Hurricane Debby appeared first on InspireMore.

Garth Brooks really enjoyed the Olympics and said nothing but good things

'Just keep the costs down'