Microsoft was revealed to have quietly laid off a diversity, equity, and inclusion team after insiders leaked an email detailing the change at the company for the new fiscal year.While it is unclear how many employees Microsoft decided to let go, the move was reportedly made due to "changing business needs," starting on July 1, 2024."True systems-change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020," the email said, according to Business Insider.'D&I commitments remain unchanged.'Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Jones told the outlet in response that the company still has a deep commitment to DEI but failed to specifically confirm or deny the report."Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work."He added that Microsoft's "D&I commitments remain unchanged."The cuts came at the typical time for Microsoft, which is nearing the end of its fiscal year. In 2023, the company's layoffs totaled around 10,000 as leaders cited economic uncertainty and inflation as the primary reason for letting employees go.It was only a few months prior to the DEI layoffs when Microsoft was accused of celebrating race- and sex-based discrimination in its annual "Diversity and Inclusion Report."In February 2024, Microsoft proudly declared in the document that its black, Asian, and Hispanic employees earned more than their white counterparts. It also noted that female employees earned more than male coworkers operating at the same level and in the same roles.As the Daily Wire reported, Microsoft began making significant investments into its DEI programs after the death of George Floyd, pledging to spend $150 million in DEI programs and double "the number of Black and African American people managers, senior individual contributors, and senior leaders in the United States by 2025."However, trends are moving in the other direction with companies like Zoom liquifying DEI departments. A competitor to Microsoft's Skype application, Zoom said in February 2024 that the company wanted to focus on working with external consultants instead of an internal team and fired a DEI team.The consultants will work to engage "all of our employees" with a focus on "inclusion," CEO Aparna Bawa told Bloomberg at the time.Zoom also launched its DEI programs after the death of George Floyd.The name of the person who leaked the internal Microsoft email was not released.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle refused to answer questions at the Republican National Convention about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.Uproar over the failed assassination attempt is growing as more details slowly leak about what the Secret Service knew and what they did — or did not do — with that information in the hours leading up to a lone gunman opening fire on Trump at a campaign rally last Saturday.'She can run, but she cannot hide.'On Wednesday, it was revealed that law enforcement had identified the gunman as a suspicious person an hour before he opened fire. And despite the fact that a Secret Service counter-sniper team spotted the gunman 20 minutes before shots rang out, the Secret Service still allowed Trump to take the stage.It remains unclear how the 20-year-old gunman seemingly duped the Secret Service.But at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Republican senators tried on Wednesday to extract answers from the woman ultimately responsible for Secret Service operations.Video shows a group of Republican senators — including Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the No. 3 Senate Republican, and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) — dress down Cheatle. There was apparent frustration among the lawmakers after Cheatle reportedly allowed only four questions at a Senate briefing earlier in the day."Resignation or full explanation to us right now!" Barrasso told Cheatle."Why would anyone allow [Trump] to go on stage when you know you've got a potential threat?" Blackburn grilled. — (@) Cheatle, however, refused to answer the questions."I don't think this is the forum for this conversation," she told the lawmakers.The director claimed she is "happy" to answer their questions, but she answered none of them. She then tried to walk away, which angered the lawmakers. They quickly followed her and continued to grill her."This is exactly what you were doing today!" Barrasso screamed. "It's called stonewalling!""This was an assassination attempt! You owe the people answers! You owe President Trump answers!" Blackburn said. — (@) Cheatle has admitted the Secret Service "failed" its "no-fail mission" of protecting Trump, but she has thus far remained defiant.In a statement released after the tense confrontation with the senators, the Secret Service reaffirmed that Cheatle "has no intentions to step down."But that's not good enough, according to Blackburn."It is appalling that the Secret Service director refused to answer our questions. This is one of the greatest security failures in the history of the agency. She can run, but she cannot hide," the Tennessee Republican said in a statement shared with Blaze News."She is a failed leader, and she needs to immediately step down from her position," Blackburn added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In Episode 355 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the Narrow Gauge Volunteer Trail in Randolph, Maine, searching for the ghost of missing transient locals called Bicycle Larry. He went missing in October of 2004. In December of that year, a local man told his sister where they could find Larry’s body. Larry’s body was never found, but his bike-riding ghost has been seen on the old trail and around town. BECOME A LEGENDARY PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends CREDITS: Produced and hosted by: Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger Edited by: Ray Auger Theme Music by: John Judd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST FOR FREE: Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Podcasts | TuneIn | iHeartRadio JOIN OUR SUPER-SECRET: New England Legends Facebook Group

HEY-OHHHH! Trump Campaign's Response As to WHY They Can't Lock in VP Debate Dates Is Straight-FIRE

George Conway Hilariously MOCKED for Being too Dumb to See the Irony of His Brand NEW Grift/PAC's Name

Bonus Cartoon: Secret Service 'Slope Roof Test' Failure

Trump Triumphant! An Analysis of an Analysis

Don’t Believe the Hype! The GOP Can Win Yuuuge in the Senate

Moore to the Point: It's Time to Take Dad's Keys Away

Legendary professional wrestler Hulk Hogan will be speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday, according to NBC News.