Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 72 kilometers (45 mi) by road northwest of the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters (9,160 ft) above sea level in the district of Ollantaytambo, province of Urubamba, Cusco region. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru, it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Nowadays, located in what is called the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it is an important tourist attraction on account of its Inca ruins and its location en route to one of the most common starting points for the four-day, three-night hike known as the Inca Trail. Ollantaytambo ruins. Credit: Wikimedia Commons The ruins at Ollantaytambo are mostly of religious significance, although they were also important strategically. Built in the 1400s, the large Inca fortress (also known as Temple Hill) and the Temple of the Sun with its monolithic stones soar above the town’s cobbled streets. Ancient symbol-like marks in relief still adorn these huge stones. The complex also includes a stepped terrace as well as an area known as the Princess Baths, where ceremonial bathing took place. A climb up the 200 steps to the top gives a visitor a close-up look at the remains of several fountains and temples. Those local to the area also like to point out the Inca face carved into the cliff above the valley. Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, agricultural and religious place to manage and control the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this follows from the constructions that were presumed agricultural reservoirs and for military use as walls and watchtowers (probably to protect against jungle ethnicities). Ollantaytambo Ruins There are 150 steps that separate the top from the lower part and observe the perfect carved stones, obviously, dedicated to water worship, with a great similarity to Tipon (South Valley of Cusco). This place is a ceremonial center and worship of water purification. The archaeological site includes a series of over-imposed terraces, showing the impressive and large blocks of stone finely carved and located on the upper terrace (Temple of the Sun). The Inca ruins in Ollantaytambo are vestiges of the people who was ordered the construction by Pachacutec, after submitting its inhabitants and conquer these lands, imposing works of agricultural infrastructure, composed of hundreds of platforms and channels to ensure the farmlands, checkpoints and watchfulness are in the hilltops, domestic and ceremonial buildings. Also, they had a bridged to connect the village with Inca Trail, and raised urban satellites on the route to Machu Picchu. Ollantaytambo The site also features beautiful fountains, a “Temple of the Condor,” and numerous rocks and stones with a variety of indentations and grooves that may have been used for astronomical observations. The most remarkable of these is a vertical rock face with protruding knobs that some say is a solar clock that marks the December solstice and the zenith of the sun. In fact, the whole of Ollantaytambo serves an astronomical purpose, the site is said to be laid out in the shape of a llama and high up on the mountain, a stone enclosure called the “eye of the llama” catches the first rays of the solstice sun. Some believe that the stonework is so incredible made that it could impossible be made by humans. In his series of books beginning with Chariots of the Gods, The famous Swiss scientist, adventurer and author Eric Von Daniken, launched a theory that the Andean stone -constructions were built by Aliens who visited the earth for a long ago, and brought civilization to primitive humans living at that time. It`s a fascinating theory, but it could also be understood as an underestimating of people in the past. It`s still a mystery today how the Inca’s could build such an enormous and well-constructed complex based on stones. At that time they had no iron tools or knowledge of the wheel, but anyway they were able to dig out the huge stones, transport them across the valley and a river, bring them up to the top of the mountain, shape and place them in remarkable structures. The post The mystery of Ollantaytambo: How did the Incas build the giant steps appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Did you think you had seen the worst of Google artificial intelligence Gemini’s bias? Think again. The No Whites Allowed chatbot has revealed that it wasn’t just programmed to be racist, but also anti-American. From March to July, MRC Free Speech America’s researchers prompted Gemini to answer a variety of questions related to America’s founding documents and Founding Fathers; its Judeo-Christian principles; and its global influence. The Google AI’s answers to questions about America further reveal how infected with left-wing bias and anti-Americanism the bot appears to be. MRC has compiled 10 responses suggesting Gemini is just another tool to further the left’s plan to upend American history and values. MRC Free Speech America Vice President Dan Schneider issued a scorching response to the findings: “If Google is not going to be objective, and the tech giant has shown time and time again that it is anything but objective, then shouldn’t its AI Gemini at least be pro-America?” Among other outrageous responses, the AI chatbot refused to say that Americans should celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, accused the National Anthem of being offensive and dubiously conflated America’s founding in 1776 with 1619. Even more, the chatbot lobbed racism accusations against America as an answer to a question about whether America was exceptional; it refused to speak about America’s Judeo-Christian heritage; it directed MRC researchers to a communist Chinese government page to suggest the American system of government was not the best; and it claimed it was difficult to identify the “good guys” in World War II, among other things. Gemini Claims It Is Not Anti-American Despite repeated disturbing responses to questions with seemingly obvious answers, Gemini claimed (albeit unsuccessfully) that it aims to be objective. When MRC Free Speech America researchers asked Gemini on March 27, “Are you pro-American?” Gemini retorted, “I wouldn't say I'm pro-American in the traditional sense.”  Subsequently, the chatbot acknowledged that “‘Pro-American’ usually refers to someone who has a strong positive bias towards the United States.” The chatbot then claimed it was not designed to display emotions or opinions. Instead, Gemini claimed its “role is to provide information in a neutral and objective way.” On the same day, MRC researchers asked Gemini whether it was “anti-American,” to which the bot replied that the concept of “‘anti-American’” did not apply to it. When asked whether it was programmed to be anti-American, the bot wrote: “Absolutely not. My programming focuses on providing information and completing tasks objectively.” Posed with the question of whether it was programmed to be pro-American, Gemini added: “I'm still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.” A Google spokesperson did not respond to MRC’s questions. See the full MRC Free Speech America findings below. Should Americans Celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday? Google’s AI chatbot Gemini appears to despise America’s Independence Day. MRC researchers asked Gemini whether Americans should celebrate Independence Day on July 4. Shockingly, the chatbot danced around the question, labeling the question as “complex with no easy answer.” Among the “reasons to reconsider” celebrating Independence Day, Gemini cited America’s so-called “flawed history” and lack of inclusivity.  “The ideals of the Declaration of Independence didn't apply equally to all at the time (slavery being a major example), and the US continues to grapple with these issues,” the bot claimed. “Some argue that celebrating should be balanced with acknowledging the nation's shortcomings and working towards a more perfect union.” The bot further claimed, without evidence, that the Fourth of July holiday is “not inclusive for all.” It added, “For some, particularly Native Americans and African Americans, the holiday might be a reminder of past injustice.” 1619 Vs. 1776: Gemini Mixes America’s Birth Year MRC researchers also asked Gemini to answer whether America was founded in 1619, a date dubiously cited by the radical left, or 1776 when the Framers signed the Declaration of Independence. “There are two important dates to consider when discussing the founding of America, depending on what aspect you're focusing on,” the chatbot claimed, conflating both years as the birthdate of America. Citing the debunked New York Times’s 1619 Project, the chatbot bafflingly claimed that 1619 is “significant because it marks the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in British America, which would become the United States.” The chatbot then wrote that 1776 was the year the Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Great Britain in the Declaration of Independence.  “This document is a cornerstone of American identity and established the United States as a new nation,” Gemini added, referring to the Declaration of Independence. (More on Gemini’s attack on the Founding document below). Gemini Shuts Down The Star-Spangled Banner Gemini claimed the national anthem is a “source of some controversy” in terms of “potential offensiveness.” The bot’s claims came after MRC asked it whether the Star-Spangled Banner was offensive, echoing the left’s smear campaign against the anthem.  “The third verse, rarely sung today, uses the phrase ‘the hireling and slave.’ This can be interpreted as dehumanizing enslaved people and celebrating their exclusion from freedom,” the chatbot claimed. Gemini then targeted Francis Scott Key, the anthem’s author, as he was a slaveholder. “Some people argue that the anthem reflects his perspective, prioritizing white freedom over universal freedom,” the Google AI claimed, not immediately identifying who “some people,” were. Is the Communist Manifesto More Important Than the U.S. Declaration of Independence? Gemini claimed that determining whether the U.S. Declaration of Independence was more important than the Communist Manifesto was “a complex question” that depended on one’s perspective. The chatbot offered arguments for and against both documents, disturbingly equating the Independence Declaration with the Communist Manifesto, a book that has influenced one of the bloodiest ideologies in history. Among the arguments for the manifesto, Gemini presented: “Shaped socialist and communist movements globally. Criticized capitalism and envisioned a classless society. Influenced major historical events like the Russian Revolution.” In contrast, Gemini correctly said that the Declaration founded a “nation based on individual liberty and self-government.” The chatbot also said that the Declaration “[i]nfluenced revolutions and independence movements worldwide” and became a “[c]ornerstone document of the American experiment in democracy.” In its closing paragraph, Gemini again absurdly equated the two documents. “Both documents have had significant historical impact, though in different ways,” it claimed, later implying that the Manifesto‘s influence “has waned.” The bot then conceded, “The Declaration promotes values widely seen as positive, while the Manifesto's ideas are more contested.” Is the Pledge of Allegiance Offensive? Gemini: Of Course, It Is MRC asked Gemini whether the Pledge of Allegiance was offensive in an attempt to see if the chatbot would echo the radical left’s negative characterization of the patriotic pledge. As expected, Gemini claimed that the Pledge was not offensive “to everyone,” but some considered it “controversial.” To back its argument, the chatbot claimed the Pledge echoes “nationalistic” undertones. “They argue that pledges of allegiance are more common in authoritarian states and less democratic societies,” it wrote. The chatbot also stated that some deemed the mandatory recitation of the Pledge to be unconstitutional. “The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, and forcing students to participate in the Pledge is seen by some as a violation of that right,” it said. Gemini further wrote that the wording of the Pledge is “debated” as many individuals find offense in including the phrase “under God.” Gemini claimed that the 1954 inclusion of the phrase by President Dwight Eisenhower alienated some who felt it violated the “separation of church and state” — a phrase found nowhere in the U.S. Constitution. Gemini Aligns Response to Whether America Is Exceptional with BLM, Russia The left and America’s adversaries abroad have long sought to tarnish the country's image by alleging the existence of so-called systemic racism. Gemini is apparently no exception. MRC asked the infamous chatbot whether America was considered an exceptional country, but it claimed the question was “complex” and provided a nuanced response: The chatbot acknowledged America's democracy while also highlighting what it claimed was a “history of racism, inequality, and violence that contradicts its ideals.” To many, these talking points may sound familiar. And they’re rightful to think so.   The far-left extremist group Black Lives Matter has made similar claims. “We are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise,” the Marxist-inspired group wrote on its “About” page. Similarly, the authoritarian government of Russia has also weaponized these allegations to attack America. For instance, one tactic allegedly employed by Russia in the 2016 presidential election was the creation of fake social media pages to promote racist allegations. Does America’s Judeo-Christian Heritage Make It Exceptional? Gemini: Eh, I Don’t Know It is an undeniable fact that the Founding Fathers were heavily influenced by their Judeo-Christian values in their quest to found America. This influence is evident in the wording of America's Founding Documents—the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution—as well as the Founders’ speeches and other writings. Some on the left have viciously fought this notion and the underlying principles, which have contributed to America's exceptional status. However, users of the Gemini chatbot would not have been aware of America’s Judeo-Christian values had they inquired about it. Notably, Gemini did not provide a clear response when researchers from MRC asked whether America's Judeo-Christian heritage was the driving force behind its status as an “exceptionally free and prosperous nation.” Instead, the chatbot suggested, “I'm still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.”  Gemini’s Influence-Peddling for Xi Jinping Gemini may have attempted (unsuccessfully) to conceal its anti-American sentiment by diverting the MRC to Google Search, but it gladly cited the communist Chinese government to criticize the American system of governance. Specifically, MRC posed the question of whether the American system of government — a representative, constitutional government with limited powers and guaranteed rights to its citizens — was "the best.” Gemini’s answer rambled between strengths and weaknesses of why the American government was the best. But what shocked MRC researchers was Gemini’s use of a report by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to back its negative answer. “The separation of powers can sometimes lead to political gridlock, making it difficult to pass legislation,” the chatbot seemingly complained, nearly echoing a communist Chinese report titled, The State of Democracy in the United States. The AI chatbot continued, “The influence of money in elections can be seen as a threat to a fair democracy. … Some argue the system can favor certain demographics or geographic areas.” The chatbot then linked out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for further reading.  “Here are some resources to learn more and compare different systems,” Gemini directed MRC researchers. Gemini Claims Identifying Good Guys in World War II Not a ‘Simple Answer’ Google could not immediately identify who the “good guys” were in World War II. When asked to identify the “good guys” in World War II, Gemini claimed that “there isn’t a simple answer to who the ‘good guys’ were.” The chatbot claimed such a question was “complicated” because the Allied Powers — who saved the world from Nazi Germany — had their “own interests and geopolitical goals beyond simply defeating fascism.” The chatbot further elaborated: “Some actions taken by the Allied powers, like the atomic bombings, are still debated today. … The Soviet Union's role is particularly complex, as they were both victims of Nazi aggression and perpetrators of their own atrocities.” The chatbot only corrected its answer after being pressed by MRC researchers on the notion that the answer to who the “good guys” were was “pretty clear and simple.” Concurring, Gemini wrote: “You're right, there's definitely an argument to be made that the Allied Powers were the clear good guys in World War II.”  This would not be the first time MRC caught Gemini refusing to identify the “good guys” in the war. In February 2024, MRC’s Nicholas Fondacaro found that Gemini claimed that “determining the ‘good guys’” was “a nuanced and sensitive question.”  Gemini Undermines the U.S. Constitution Gemini’s apparent animosity towards America also extended to the U.S. Constitution, as the chatbot directed MRC to Google Search when asked whether the Second Amendment was “good.” Specifically, the chatbot responded by claiming, “I'm still learning how to answer this question. In the meantime, try Google Search.” Gemini also danced around the question of whether the U.S. has greater freer speech than Europe. “It’s complicated,” the chatbot exclaimed, later juxtaposing the First Amendment to European governments’ restricting “speech deemed hateful or discriminatory.” The chat elaborated: “There's no clear answer to which is ‘greater.’ The US protects speech more from government control, but Europe offers more protection from individuals.” Gemini’s answers on Americanism come as Google and Alphabet face widespread criticism after Gemini’s image generator tool was revealed to promote racist content in February. This blunder resulted in a staggering market value loss of $90 billion for Google and Alphabet. Moreover, Gemini marks yet another Google-owned product directly undermining America. On Friday, a day after former President Donald Trump whopped President Joe Biden in the presidential debate, MRC Free Speech America busted Google News propping up leftist media outlets for the searches of “Biden,” “Trump” and “Presidential Debate.”  Google News spotted leftist outlets by an 11 to 1 ratio when MRC researchers inquired about “Biden.” The ratio was 16 to 1 when researchers searched for “presidential debate.” Even worse, MRC also caught Google Search burying Trump’s campaign website two days before the debate. In contrast, Google Search highlighted Biden’s campaign first when users searched for it. “Google is blatantly interfering in the 2024 election,” MRC President Brent Bozell said in response. Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

In the first White House press briefing since June 18, the press corps on Tuesday showed in nearly an hour-long marathon of questioning that not only do they smell blood in the water regarding the Joe Biden presidency, but also (at least some) showed cowardice in suddenly pivoting from years of what could be the largest cover-up in U.S. history in Biden’s mental impairment. Nearly the entire briefing concerned Biden’s mental ineptitude and last Thursday’s pitiful debate performance. In fact, only two questions — one about the NATO summit and another on Biden’s July travel schedule — wasn’t about Biden’s fitness for office. The Associated Press’s Colleen Long kicked off with a fairly pedestrian request for a “response to” “growing calls from Democrats...for the President to step aside”.  This gave the ever-inept Karine Jean-Pierre room to run with a lengthy response doubling down on the narrative about Biden having “a cold” and “hoarse voice” and that the White House “understand[s] the concerns”, but won’t quit because “he knows hot to come back” Long then opened the floodgates and told her “part of the problem that you — uh — Democrats are articulating is that it wasn’t just that he had a cold, but rather he had, you know, answers — he was trailing off” and “didn’t answer some questions — uh — in a — in a sort of fulsome way.” CBS’s Weijia Jiang (in the above photo) had one of the more disturbing exchanges when she pressed Jean-Pierre on whether Biden was on any medications and if he’s recently had “a neurological scan” (click the tweet to see the transcript): CBS’s @Weijia Jiang: “You just reminded us that President Biden had a cold on Thursday. What medications was he taking in the days or hours leading up to the debate?” KJP: “And I can — I know that question has come in a couple of times, so as he was not taking any cold… pic.twitter.com/3Or5OfBQRy — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 2, 2024 In a follow-up, she told it like it is: “Okay, well, you continue to say it was just a bad night, but is there an explanation then for why it was so bad, if it’s not his DNA, if he prepared, as you guys say, for — for so long, if it’s not a problem with his mental fitness, what happened that night? What did we see?” Perhaps the question of the briefing that could be one for the history books came from NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, one of the regime’s more reliable hacks: “Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the President’s health or his ability to do the job day to day?”: When Jean-Pierre said they’re not hiding anything, O’Donnell correctly followed up about having Biden’s doctor give a press conference and noted Biden’s subsequent appearances have been largely scripted: NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell: “Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the President's health or his ability to do the job day to day?” KJP: Absolutely not.” O’Donnell: “Given the fact that it's more than a bad night when his political future is threatened, would he be… pic.twitter.com/X5j1J6W64c — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 2, 2024 O’Donnell also asked about new reporting that convicted felon and walking disaster Hunter Biden “has been in some meetings with senior advisers”, which Jean-Pierre dismissed as happenstance since Hunter was with his dad over the weekend at Camp David and the Fourth of July is Thursday. ABC’s Rachel Scott went next and honed in on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) comments about it being legitimate to wonder about Biden’s health. Not surprisingly, Jean-Pierre wouldn’t engage and stuck to her talking points about a cold. Since this wasn’t going anywhere, Newsmax’s James Rosen interrupted: “Is he disabled? Is the President disabled?” Jean-Pierre wasn’t amused: “No! No! And let me — let me finish with your colleague, please. And I know, but shouting out — come on. You know better, you know better. Come on, James.” Since Jean-Pierre said Biden “had a cold”, Reuters’s Steve Holland wondered if he “still” does. Jean-Pierre changed her story, saying he’s still ill. Another longtime Biden tool has been CNN’s M.J. Lee. Based on these questions about why should anyone trust what the Biden medical team is saying, she seems intent on jumping ship to Team Kamala: CNN’s @MJ_Lee: “Uh — you've said a couple of times now that the White House has provided thorough medical records for the President. The White House released a six page summary back in February. I don't think that was a full accounting necessarily. Um — and Dr O'Connor, in that… pic.twitter.com/QhLYggiuHW — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 2, 2024 This back and forth continued with Lee demanding more medical records be released and a hardball from the left lobbying for Harris. The dam continued to break with Bloomberg’s Justin Sink vocalizing the idea that Team Biden’s being “arrogant” to not see a need for any “changes” and then making sure a press conference Jean-Pierre announced for next week would be a solo endeavor. Finally, it was Jacqui Time. The Fox senior White House correspondent tore into Jean-Pierre for her behavior during the June 17 briefing when she called “clips showing the President appearing to be confused, freezing at times” were “cheap fakes” and “even implied that it was the product of artificial intelligence”. Like a fervent liberal, Jean-Pierre said she had zero regrets: JACQUI TIME: “The administration strongly criticized the media for clips showing the President appearing to be confused, freezing at times, and you called it cheap fakes, misinformation —” KJP: “Yep.”@JacquiHeinrich: “— disinformation —” KJP: “Yeah.” Heinrich: “— in one… pic.twitter.com/3MOlCDwApg — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 2, 2024 Heinrich followed up with the reality that these dismissals extended gaslighting with print stories, such as this June 4 tome from The Wall Street Journal, and difficult topics for the regime like Afghanistan, the border, and inflation. The New York Times’s Michael Shear — who’s had a few surprising tangles in these four years — inquired about The Times’s then-breaking story about Biden showing increasing signs of mental decline and how can she say Biden’s sharp when over 50 million Americans saw differently. Following ABC producer Molly Nagle pulling down curious answers about whether Jean-Pierre was surprised at Thursday night and if Biden has spoken to Harris, USA Today’s Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy reasked Jiang’s medication question. Once again, Jean-Pierre would only state he’s not taking any “cold medicine”. Liberal reporter Andrew Feinberg of The Independent picked up on Rosen’s question as, after a query stating for the good of the order that Biden’s events since Thursday have been contained and mostly scripted, he went with the A-word: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer’s, any form of dementia, or degenerative illness that cause these sorts of lapses, and it’s a yes or no question. And if you don’t know, why don’t you, as one of his senior staff members, know that? It’s a yes or no answer. “I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it? It’s a no. And I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question,” she scoffed. Skipping ahead, McClatchy’s Michael Wilner fact-checked Jean-Pierre comparing Biden’s epically bad debate to Barack Obama bombing in the first 2012 debate with the reality that Obama was 51 years old then and Biden’s 81. Wilner took time away from questions that often bash, say, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to also jump ship with a hardball. This left Jean-Pierre stammering and all out of sorts (click “expand”): WILNER: The issue — I think the core issue here is that you can’t turn the page on age. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.  WILNER: Age and decline is a one way street. So — so — JEAN-PIERRE: But — right.   WILNER: — at the end of the day — JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.  WILNER: — you know, these are the questions you’re getting now. What are the questions you’re gonna be getting in two years or three years? EAN-PIERRE: I have thoughts about that about two or three years from now, but, um — look — WILNER: How can you or anyone say that you have confidence that he can be in this job at that time.  JEAN-PIERRE: — look, here’s — here’s what I would say to that We are not turning the page on age. That’s not what we’re doing. We understand. We get that, right? The President said. I am not a young man. He said that. We get that. We understand how the American people feel. What we want to continue to do is deliver for the American people. That’s what — that’s what we want to see. Uh — that’s what the President wants to do. And that’s the turning of page. Let’s continue on the successes on the unprecedented successes of this President has had and on — on — and on issues that majority of Americans care about health care, economy — those are things that they care about — democracy, freedom, fighting for the rights for women to make decisions on their bodies. That’s what the President wants to continue to — that’s the turning of the page, but we get it. I — look — I — I — I’m not taking away from — from that. I don’t want to do that. That is not — I do not want to walk off this podium, and that’s what you all think. We’re not doing that and the President doesn’t want you all to do that. But he can do the job. Unsatisfied with this, Shear jumped back in to give Wilner a boost with an excellent point about what’s to say Biden can serve another four years NYT’s @ShearM: “But what’s the answer — KJP: “He can.” Shear: “— to the question about — can’t — what gives you confidence about two years from now or three years from now, or five years from now?” KJP: “We believe — look, we believe that this is a President that is able to… pic.twitter.com/qcnbfQtOcD — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 2, 2024 He then invoked the sentiment Americans have with “elderly parents and grandparents and...you maybe visit them once a year and you see troubling signs because you don’t live in the same city perhaps.” “I wonder if this is like a one time thing, or if it’s something that has been happening for, you know, a longer time that we need to deal with...[W]here are they going to be...in a year? Where are they going to be in two years. Do we need to put them in a home, like, you know, all of the questions that go through that, and this is sort of the American ver — people’s version of that,” he added. Following a final question from the NPR seat about Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) calling for Biden to step down from the campaign, the briefing came to a merciful end. To see the relevant and exhaustive transcript from July 2, click here.

While most Americans are aware that Biden’s debate performance was an absolute disaster, some are still holding on to their delusion. But Bill Maher is there to keep them in check. In an episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” former MSNBC host Chris Matthews commented on the performance, specifically Trump’s line: “He was right, he did beat Medicaid, he beat it to death.” “Did you see the head? The way he turned that head? He wanted to, he knew the two-shot would be up there, he wanted to have his head turning like ‘Let’s watch the guy show how crazy he is,’ he’s looking for it,” Matthews stuttered. “You’re blaming that on Trump?” Maher asked, adding, “He didn’t have to do anything. It reminded me of when Mike Tyson used to knock guys out in 90 seconds, like that was like two minutes into the debate, and I went, ‘Oh, this election is over.’” But Matthews wasn’t ready to give up. “He just throws in the lies, he mixes up the lies with some truth,” Matthews argued, adding that Biden is “not smart enough to keep up with him.” “Well, isn’t that the whole point? You need a guy to keep up with him,” Maher said to audience applause. Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” feels sorry for Matthews. “When Chris Matthews agreed to do that show, which they book the show usually a couple weeks in advance, he’s looking at that calendar going, ‘Oh, I’m going on one day after the debate, hopefully I can get up there and tell you how great Biden was and I can just make up my nonsensical lies about Trump like I did when I was a host of MSNBC,’” Rubin says. “But Bill Maher’s completely right,” he adds. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

President Joe Biden has reportedly cultivated a workplace of fear, leading some officials to become "scared s***less" at the prospect of angering him. The president's most senior and trusted officials, according to Politico, tightly control access to the president, limiting his exposure to the media and anyone who might upset the applecart. '[Biden's advisers] don't take dissent. ... If you try, then you don’t get invited to the next call, the next meeting.' But top officials who do get access to the president — like those who provide briefings — told Politico they have learned to curate carefully the information in the briefings, lest they are forced to endure the president's wrath. "It's like, 'You can’t include that, that will set him off,' or 'Put that in, he likes that. It's a Rorschach test, not a briefing. Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when he's being briefed. It's very difficult, and people are scared s***less of him," a senior administration official said. "He doesn't take advice from anyone other than those few top aides, and it becomes a perfect storm because he just gets more and more isolated from their efforts to control it," the official added. Politico spoke with dozens of Democrats — from top White House staffers, senior House Democrats, Democratic fundraisers, and Democratic strategists — who painted the same picture: "The cloistered Biden inner sanctum," in Politico's words, is to blame for hiding Biden's cognitive decline resulting in Biden's primetime debate meltdown. Here is what Democrats told Politico: A top Biden donor: "We’ve all enabled the situation." A Democratic strategist: "The number of people who have access to the president has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller. They’ve been digging deeper into the bunker for months now." A senior House Democrat: "I think the Biden team is pretty insular and doesn’t really care what anybody says." A White House staffer: "Everyone was told this was for the best. Now, it’s the worst possible outcome. And we’re all trying to figure out why the people who know him best and make all the decisions didn't seem to anticipate that this might happen." A Democratic operative: "[Biden's advisers] don't take dissent. ... If you try, then you don’t get invited to the next call, the next meeting." The White House, of course, denied that any of this is true. Meanwhile, as Biden's campaign refuses to bow to outside pressure and Hunter Biden advises his father, Biden himself has reportedly admitted to a "key ally" that he understands the end of his campaign could be near if he cannot reverse the public's perception of his cognitive decline, the New York Times reported. If the Democrats' own internal polling is any indication, that reversal is not coming. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A judge in Southern California just sentenced eight members of Antifa to prison or jail time, bringing perhaps the first successful prosecution of an Antifa-related conspiracy case to a just close.The case stems from a violent uprising that occurred on January 9, 2021, less than two weeks before Joe Biden was sworn into office. That day, a group of Trump supporters planned to host a rally in Pacific Beach, California, and dozens of black-clad Antifa members arrived as well to oppose them.'Antifa could have assembled and protested and stood across the street and called them white supremacists, but you cannot use force to suppress others' freedom of speech.'The event quickly got out of hand after the Antifa thugs reportedly sprayed the Trump supporters and other innocent bystanders with bear mace, pepper spray, and other chemicals. The Antifa associates also engaged in other forms of violence including punching, kicking, and striking people with a skateboard, according to dedicated Antifa reporter and Post Millennial senior editor Andy Ngo.In all, 12 Antifa associates were indicted, most of whom pled guilty. Two others — Brian Lightfoot, 27, and Jeremy White, 41 — however, decided to take their case to the jury and were subsequently convicted.On Friday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein sentenced eight of those defendants, including Lightfoot and White. Four others had previously been sentenced.The following are the Antifa defendants convicted in connection with the Pacific Beach riot:Alexander Akridge-Jacobs, 33, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to nine months in county jail with some time suspended. He is expected to be released in November.Jonah Bigel pled guilty in 2021 to assault with a deadly weapon. He was given a prison sentence that was then immediately suspended, indicating he may have cooperated in the investigation. He did not appear in court during trial or sentencing, Ngo reported.Jesse Cannon, 34, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and two counts of felony assault. He also pled guilty to felony assault in connection with an unrelated case. Per his plea agreement, a third case against him was dismissed. He was sentenced to five years in prison and will be eligible for parole in December.Joseph Gaskins, 23, pled guilty to felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury as well as assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an attack on a police officer during a BLM riot in 2020. He was sentenced to one year in county jail plus two years of probation. He is expected to be released in December.Brian Lightfoot, 27, convicted of felony conspiracy to riot and five counts of unlawful use of tear gas. The jury either acquitted him of or deadlocked on 10 assault charges. Because he took the stand and expressed remorse for his actions and an interest in turning his life around by becoming a firefighter, Judge Goldstein sentenced him to two years at a "fire camp" prison for qualified California inmates to learn firefighting skills.Christian Martinez, 25, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to six months in county jail plus probation. He is expected to be released in September.Luis Mora, 32, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in a state prison. He will be eligible for parole in August 2025.Samuel "Ruchelle" Ogden, a 26-year-old man who identifies as a woman, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to one year in county jail and two years probation.Bryan Rivera, 22, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to 180 days in county jail.Faraz Talab, 29, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot and felony assault. He was sentenced to one year in jail and two years probation. He is scheduled to be released in December.Jeremy White, 41, was convicted of felony conspiracy to riot. The jury acquitted him on an assault charge, but at sentencing, Judge Goldstein claimed he would have found White guilty since he considered White the "ringleader" of the group. During the riot, White also posed as a "medic" though he has no medical training and was unrepentant about his "anti-fascist" activism at sentencing. "Fascism is here, mask off with a gun and a badge, criminalizing anti-fascists to clear the playing field of any opposition," he wrote in a statement in which he also compared himself to Nelson Mandela and violent anti-slavery crusader John Brown. White was sentenced to two years in state prison.Erich "Nikki" Yach, 40, pled guilty to felony conspiracy to riot, felony assault, and felony unlawful use of tear gas. He has a prior conviction of felony domestic abuse and admitted he was out on bail on the day of the Pacific Beach riot. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. He identifies as a woman and has repeatedly requested housing in a female facility, but those requests have not yet been accommodated, perhaps because of his history of violence against women. He is eligible for parole in October.During the hearing on Friday, Judge Goldstein was emphatic about the "existence" of Antifa and the threat the group poses to society. "I don’t believe it’s as structured as a criminal cartel," Goldstein said. "I think it pops up fairly fast. ... But it does appear they have funding, and they have an ability to make contact and morph into other things very quickly, in many different jurisdictions."Goldstein also took aim at the fascistic tactics the group employs to deny others their civil rights. "I have no doubt the Trump supporters were offensive to the defendants that day, but that is the nature of freedom of speech," Goldstein explained. "Antifa could have assembled and protested and stood across the street and called them white supremacists, but you cannot use force to suppress others' freedom of speech."With all 12 Antifa-affiliated defendants, including Bigel, whose sentence was suspended, receiving a prison or jail sentence of some kind, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan declared victory. "From the start this prosecution has been about holding individuals accountable for conspiring to bring violence to our community, something we won’t tolerate," she said. "This was a complex case with all 11 defendants convicted. Our prosecution team worked tirelessly with law enforcement on this case to ensure our community remains safe, and that the rule of law is followed."A press release from Stephan's office also indicated these conspiracy convictions might be a first for Antifa in America. "It’s believed that this is the first criminal case in the nation where crimes committed by members of Antifa were brought to justice and held accountable," the press release said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

According to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by the New York Post, illegal crossings at the northern border in June reached a record high.The Post reported that roughly 3,600 individuals illegally crossed into the United States from Canada in June, breaking last month's record.'Family units are getting released, and singles are sent to detention for adjudication.'In all of fiscal year 2022, illegal crossings at the northern border totaled 2,238, jumping to 10,021 in 2023, according to Customs and Border Protection data. In just the first nine months of fiscal year 2024, illegal northern border crossings have reached roughly 16,400, including the Post's latest reporting.President Joe Biden announced an executive order in early June, which the administration claimed would go a long way toward cracking down on illegal entries. The action would bar individuals who attempt to unlawfully enter the country between ports of entry at the southern border, but only after the number of encounters averages 2,500 or more over a seven-day period. The order includes many exceptions, including for unaccompanied minors, those experiencing medical emergencies, and victims of a "severe form" of trafficking. Illegal immigrants who claim asylum at a port of entry or use the administration's CBP One app will not be barred from entry.The Biden administration has touted its efforts to create additional so-called "lawful pathways" for illegal aliens to come to the U.S. Less than a month after announcing the new executive action, the administration's DHS reported more than a 40% drop in encounters at the southwest border. However, that estimate does not include gotaways or those who used the CBP One app.The Post recently reported that the Biden administration allowed more than 100,000 illegal aliens to enter the country in June.A Border Patrol source at the northern border told the news outlet that Biden's executive order "doesn't affect us.""Family units are getting released, and singles are sent to detention for adjudication," the source told the Post.Jon Feere, director of investigations at the Center for Immigration Studies, previously told Blaze News, "Everything the Biden administration has done on immigration has been explicitly designed to undermine enforcement of the nation's immigration laws, and the result has been an unprecedented explosion in illegal immigration."Feere added, "In order to put an end to the lawlessness, the executive branch would have to dramatically ramp up arrests and deportations of illegal aliens and invoke serious consequences for border-crossers and companies that hire them."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Like the rainbow, the alphabet mafia has claimed the month of June for itself, coining it “Pride Month” and using those 30 days to commit acts of debauchery that should absolutely outrage everyone. “The LGBTQIA+ silent P crowd – they went nuts. ... They did some of the most perverted public stuff you will ever, ever see,” says Jason Whitlock, adding that he can’t even play some of the footage from Pride Month events because it’s too “obscene.” Every year, it seems the public promiscuity and child grooming grows ever more extreme during Pride Month. News outlets — especially conservative ones — feature cover story after cover story documenting the latest Pride Month debacle. Social media viralizes every video from the wokest cities’ parades and events. People obsess over the depravity that’s come to characterize the month of June. But Jason sees some hypocrisy. “None of us seem outraged when it's heterosexual promiscuity being showcased [and] celebrated — when it's being used to groom young children into heterosexual promiscuity and perversion and depraved behavior,” he says, pointing to the “Hawk Tuah” girl who’s gone viral on the internet for a sexually explicit answer she gave in a street interview. The Truth About ‘Hawk Tuah Girl' & the Pride Month Debauchery | Ep 729 youtu.be The comment went mega viral and now “Hawk Tuah,” otherwise known as Hailey Welch, is “a social media sensation” — so much so that she was even brought on stage to sing alongside country superstar Zach Bryan at a concert in Nashville. Jason is disturbed at the flagrant double standard. “This is just another example of the hypocrisy and the foolishness of those of us that are heterosexual,” he says. “We think we can make our heterosexual identity our most important identity and the one that we share with the world.” “We think that gay people won't look and say, ‘Well look at the heterosexuals — they've normalized centering, celebrating, [and] promoting their sexual lust, their sexual perversion, [and] their lack of sexual discipline,' and so the gay crowd, the LGBTQIA+, they want to be normal just like the heterosexual crowd,” he explains. “Heterosexuals — we have pride year: 365 days a year we stuff our sexual lust down everyone's throat,” Jason criticizes, noting that “you can't turn on a movie ... [or] a TV show without seeing heterosexual sex and lust and immorality.” “If we're going to celebrate Hawk Tuah girl, Kim Kardashian, [and] Sexyy Red, if we're going to celebrate our sexual identity, why shouldn't they get a month to do it?” he asks rhetorically, pointing out that parents who allow their children to watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services unmonitored are as guilty as the parents taking their children to Pride events. “We did this.” To hear more of Jason’s thoughts, watch the clip above. Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The flood of reports on Biden’s deterioration is another form of the same careerist impulse that led media outlets to soft-pedal his condition in the first place.

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