An MSNBC legal analyst and “misinformation expert” appeared worried that the unparalleled ease of communication that the modern internet allows threatens democracy. That’s why she suggested curbing the ability of regular citizens to use social media platforms in ways they see fit.  Appearing on Studio 2‚ a WHYY NPR radio show‚ MSNBC legal analyst and University of Michigan professor Barbara McQuade lamented that there wasn’t enough government regulation of social media and accused the right of running an authoritarian playbook‚ leading to “the slow erosion of democratic norms.” McQuade claimed that “technology and social media have created the ability to create falsehoods and to spread them to millions of people at the push of a button.”  McQuade also blamed a lack of government regulation for enabling the problem. “I think we have allowed the internet and social media to grow completely unchecked‚ and in some ways it’s been wonderful‚” Mcquade argued. She blamed Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 for protecting social media companies from liability. She further complained that “it has also allowed all of this anonymity online‚ all of these manipulative algorithms online‚ all of this disinformation that can be used to exploit us as we communicate with people online.”    The professor went on to argue in favor of yet more government regulation of Big Tech platforms‚ specifically algorithms: “One is to regulate algorithms… We could control the algorithms. We could prohibit algorithms designed for the purpose of generating outrage. Or we could at least require disclosure of the algorithms so that people at least know they are being manipulated.” McQuade did not appear concerned that these regulations would at all infringe on the First Amendment. However‚ her past comments on the issue at the very least put her commitment to free speech into question.  While on The Rachel Maddow Show on Feb. 26‚ McQuade framed the First Amendment as a liability putting the United States at a disadvantage compared to other countries. As reported by the New York Post‚ McQuade explained to host Rachel Maddow‚ “So‚ for example‚ our deep commitment to free speech in our First Amendment. It is a cherished right. It is an important right in democracy‚ and nobody wants to get rid of it‚ but it makes us vulnerable to claims [that] anything we want to do related to speech is censorship.”  MSNBC’s Barbara McQuade: “Our First Amendment … makes us vulnerable to claims that anything we try to do to regulate speech is censorship.” pic.twitter.com/MvoxGQr2yz — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 29‚ 2024 Notably‚ all of McQuade’s examples of misinformation being abused in the Studio 2 podcast came from the political right. She even claimed‚ without evidence‚ that former President Donald Trump and “the far-right MAGA extremists” used disinformation because “they don’t believe they can win in a fair election‚ so through gerrymandering and through disinformation and through voter suppression‚ they are willing to seize power and give up democracy.” 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 so-called hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

The Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro exposed the threat posed by the diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) ideology in a field where competence is especially important.  Shapiro shared footage of radicals in the healthcare industry embracing DEI and actively promoting discrimination during the Jan. 26 edition of The Ben Shapiro Show. “DEI is a gun pointed at the heart of the meritocracy‚” Shapiro said‚ before adding‚ “The DEI idea innately means that people who are unqualified are going to advance in life by dints of the fact that they are considered part of a victimized group.”             DEI Could Get You Killed In The Operating Room pic.twitter.com/9Pt8TuWAD9 — The Ben Shapiro Show (@BenShapiroShow) February 26‚ 2024 Shapiro went on to play a few clips featuring Duke University surgical resident Vignesh Raman. In the video‚ Raman complained about patients watching Fox News and wearing MAGA hats. He then wholeheartedly endorsed DEI and celebrated that most of his patients were not white. Shapiro roasted Raman for using “diverse” to mean “non-white‚” before exposing his radical ideology. “So according to Raman‚ he says post-George Floyd‚ Duke actually made a concerted effort to stop hiding ‘so many‚ walls of white men’‚ and that the team even learned to abandon particular metrics and adopt holistic application practices so as to recruit more women and Latinx surgeons.” Shapiro then played an extended clip of Raman speaking on his activism‚ before blasting him again.  “He’s literally saying that we are ignoring metrics in order to look at the life story of your surgeon‚” Shapiro said. Shapiro exposed the absurdity with a hypothetical question‚ asking his audience whether they care to question a surgeon’s “life story” rather than their competence before lifesaving treatment.  The Daily Wire editor emeritus went on to blast Raman for an ugly tweet where Raman stated‚ “I would say even for academic publications… I don’t want to amplify the work of white men who only collaborate with other white men.”  Shapiro demonstrated with a few other clips that this doctor was not just one isolated DEI fanatic. He showed that the American College of Surgeons had promoted “the Ibram X Kendi definition of racism” to all of its members‚ pushing the dangerous belief that it is impossible to be racist to white people. Shapiro spelled out that this belief enables racial discrimination in the industry as a “corrective mechanism.” Ultimately‚ Shapiro said the health care system would get “fewer qualified people who are entering the system and more unqualified people going to top medical schools.” Shapiro continued to go after the American College of Surgeons‚ calling them out for bringing in a speaker who claimed patients “do better” when doctors “look like them.” Shapiro summed up the danger at hand in a post on X‚ “DEI in medicine means that even if doctors injure patients‚ they might still be protected (even promoted). It means that top hospitals are abandoning key metrics when hiring surgeons. And it means research by whites may be disregarded.” Conservatives are under attack. Contact ABC News (818) 460-7477‚ CBS News (212) 975-3247 and NBC News (212) 664-6192 and demand they report on the dangers of leftist DEI ideology infecting corporate America

The Democrats warn us almost daily that re-electing Donald Trump in 2024 will spell the end of democracy. But technically‚ do we even live in a country whose constitution established us as a “democracy”? When Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention of 1787‚ the story goes that he was greeted by a woman who asked him point-blank‚ “Well‚ doctor‚ what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin's terse response: “A republic‚ madam — if you can keep it.” Two powerful forces remain in the battle to control America through the presidency in this year’s election. Significantly‚ Franklin did not say that the form of government that the founders established was a democracy. We are‚ as most of us know — or certainly should know — a constitutional republic. We are not a country where 51% of citizens can outvote the other 49% and then tell them what they can and cannot do. We are a representative government with checks and balances built in as guaranteed safeguards against a majority of strong-willed individuals lording it over the meek‚ timid‚ and disadvantaged. Both the majority and the minority have a true say in how every citizen is governed. The First Amendment guaranteeing free speech has always been key if we hope to "keep the republic." Once that is co-opted — then controlled and censored — an unsuspecting public will be easily swayed into thinking in line with whatever ensures that an elite few can gain and maintain power. Manipulating the masses is the goal. Election season is always ripe for the misuse of our First Amendment. If the leftist elites who currently control the many facets of our culture — the press‚ academia‚ entertainment‚ business‚ and yes‚ even many religious institutions — continue unabated‚ the noble ideas and ideals upon which America was established will soon become a regrettable thing of the past. Two powerful forces remain in the battle to control America through the presidency in this year's election. On one side‚ the Democrats with their twisted definition of America as a democracy‚ aided by a deep state‚ far-left‚ globalist‚ RINO‚ and woke contingent; on the other‚ all those pushing back‚ whether part of the America First and MAGA crowd or the myriad other freedom-loving citizens of all stripes awake to the evil that has accelerated over these past three years. Since the 2020 presidential contest‚ which the powers that be declared was "the most secure election in American history‚" a growing majority of citizens have serious doubts about the validity of the result. Another percentage naively believes that sort of third-world election-stealing shenanigans could never happen here. And yet another‚ smaller group knows for a fact that the election was not secure in the least‚ because they were flat-out involved in rigging and stealing it. A group of Democratic Party operatives blatantly and quite effectively ended the concept of free and fair elections‚ thus negating one of the keystones of self-rule by “We‚ the People.” Building upon that 2020 “win‚” Democrats and their tyrannical gang have since targeted anyone who stands in the way of their fundamental transformation of this country‚ President Trump chief among their adversaries. As Trump so often reminds us‚ the left is not after him. The left is after independent‚ free-thinking‚ non-compliant Americans. He's just standing in the way. After everything the left has manufactured to take Trump out‚ every sort of imagined or concocted crime‚ Trump still stands. And‚ undeterred‚ fights back. He simply refuses to fade away. Democrats and their machine on the left roll out their revenge and retribution daily on Trump because he dared to run for president in the first place. Then he had the audacity to win. Twice! From the primary trail over the past several months‚ Trump has also highlighted that‚ besides honest elections‚ another crucial facet necessary for a country to exist as a sovereign nation is a secure border. We can all clearly see what the Biden administration has allowed to occur at the southern border. Millions of illegal aliens have simply strolled across our wide-open borders and are now who-knows-where throughout our country. Does this indicate a government that is concerned about sovereignty or security in any way‚ shape‚ or form? Other traits indicating the Democrats' brand of democracy include publicly labeling political adversaries as “domestic terrorists”; using excessive force and exaggerating charges when arresting dissenters; imprisoning protesters‚ such as those involved on January 6‚ without charges and due process; championing mob violence and looting from the progressive far left; and so many additional tactics that might more readily apply to fascism than democracy. All these destructive features touted by the Biden administration help to reveal the democracy to which the Democrats refer. And we need to squelch it sooner rather than later. November 5 would be just in the nick of time. Editor’s note: A version of this article appeared originally at American Thinker.

A troubling new peer-reviewed study‚ the largest of its kind‚ has revealed that ultra-processed food is linked to 32 harmful health conditions and can significantly increase the risk of cancer‚ diabetes‚ and an early grave. The study‚ a systematic meta-analysis published Wednesday in the BMJ‚ the British Medical Association's esteemed journal‚ found evidence pointing to "direct associations between greater exposure to ultra-processed foods and higher risks of all cause mortality‚ cardiovascular disease related mortality‚ common mental disorder outcomes‚ overweight and obesity‚ and type 2 diabetes." The fallout of ultra-processed food exposure may be far-reaching granted the global shift in recent years from unprocessed and minimally processed foods to UPFs. According to the study‚ the present "share of dietary energy derived from ultra-processed foods ranges from 42% and 58% in Australia and the United States." The study‚ involving experts from various top institutions‚ including Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sorbonne University in France‚ relies on the definition of "ultra-processed foods" advanced in the Nova food classification system. According to the Nova system‚ processed foods usually consist of a primary plant or animal substance to which one or more culinary ingredient — such as oil‚ butter‚ sugar‚ or salt — has been added. An ultra-processed food‚ alternatively‚ is not a modified primary material but rather an industrial composite of often chemically manipulated substances that have been extracted from foods‚ derived from food constituents‚ and/or cooked up in a laboratory. UPFs appear in virtually every aisle in the grocery store. They include packaged snacks‚ soft drinks‚ instant noodles‚ sweetened cereals‚ packaged baked goods‚ frozen fish sticks‚ oven-ready pizzas‚ breakfast bars‚ and ready-made meals. Researchers examined the findings of 14 meta-analysis studies published over the past three years with 45 distinct pooled analyses. In 87% of the pooled analyses‚ estimates of UPF exposure were obtained on the basis of food frequency questionnaires‚ 24-hour dietary recalls‚ and participants' dietary history. Researchers found UPF exposure was consistently associated with 32 adverse health outcomes‚ including all-cause mortality; cancer-related deaths; cardiovascular disease-related deaths; heart disease-related deaths; breast cancer; central nervous system tumors; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; colorectal cancer; pancreatic cancer; prostate cancer; adverse sleep-related outcomes; anxiety; common mental disorder outcomes; depression; asthma; wheezing; Crohn's disease; ulcerative colitis; obesity; hypertension; and type 2 diabetes. "On the basis of the random effects model‚ 32 (71%) distinct pooled analyses showed direct associations between greater ultra-processed food exposure and a higher risk of adverse health outcomes‚" said the study. "Additionally‚ of these combined analyses‚ 11 (34%) showed continued statistical significance when a more stringent threshold was applied." Heart disease-related death‚ cardiovascular disease-related death‚ all-cause mortality‚ type 2 diabetes‚ wheezing‚ and depression were among the 11 adverse health outcomes that showed continued statistical significance in the face of the more stringent threshold. The Guardian noted that evidence graded as "convincing" in the study indicated that higher UPF exposure was linked to a roughly 50% increase in cardiovascular-related death‚ a 48-53% higher risk of anxiety and mental disorders‚ and a 12% increase risk of diabetes. "Across the pooled analyses‚ greater exposure to ultra-processed foods‚ whether measured as higher versus lower consumption‚ additional servings per day‚ or a 10% increment‚ was consistently associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes‚" added the study. In a corresponding editorial in BMJ‚ a pair of Brazilian academics stressed that UPFs "are engineered to be highly desirable‚ combining sugar‚ fat‚ and salt to maximize reward‚ and adding flavors that induce eating when not hungry. Many are addictive‚ judged by the standards set for tobacco products‚ and aggressively marketed with meal deals‚ super sizing‚ and advertising." The Brazilians suggested that investment management companies and manufacturers would "likely resist" efforts to control and reduce the production and consumption of UPFs. With the tobacco parallel in mind‚ the Brazilian duo recommended rolling out national dietary guidelines cautioning against UPF consumption; prohibiting sales of junk food near schools and hospitals; and regulating UPF marketing. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After actor Terrence Howard allegedly threatened a Justice Department lawyer and said it's “immoral for the United States government to charge taxes to the descendants of slaves‚" a federal judge ordered him to pay nearly $1 million in back taxes‚ interest‚ and penalties‚ the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.What's the background?The Internal Revenue Service tried for more than a year to collect $578‚000 in income taxes the agency said Howard — star of the hit TV show "Empire" — failed to pay between 2010 and 2019‚ the paper said.After the Justice Department sued the 54-year-old actor in 2022‚ his sole response was a voicemail he allegedly left for the case's lead tax attorney in November‚ the paper said.“Four hundred years of forced labor and never receiving any compensation for it‚” Howard said in the message‚ the paper reported‚ citing a transcript of it. “Now‚ you have the gall to try and prosecute and charge taxes to the descendants of a broken people that you are responsible for causing the breakage.”According to the paper‚ he added in a subsequent message‚ “In truth‚ the entire United States should‚ by default‚ become the property of the descendants of slaves. But since you do not have the ability [or] the courage to do it‚ let’s try this in court. … We’re gonna bring you down."More from the Inquirer: Despite that vow‚ Howard never formally responded to the lawsuit. And after a court hearing last week in Philadelphia‚ U.S. District Judge John F. Murphy granted the government’s request to enter a $903‚115 default judgment against the actor‚ a ruling that was first reported by the legal news service Law360. Efforts to reach Howard at a number he left on that voicemail and through a lawyer who at one point told Justice Department lawyers that he might represent the actor in the case were unsuccessful Wednesday.Anything else?Howard said in a 2019 red carpet interview that he was ready to spread truth‚ which included "the science that Pythagoras was searching for" and building the Milky Way "without gravity."He noted‚ "I was able to open up the flower of life and find the real wave conjugations that we've been looking for for 10‚000 years. Why would I continue walking on water for tips when I've got an entire generation to teach a whole new world?"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Tomorrow morning at 7:00am‚ investigative journalist and Blaze Media correspondent Steve Baker will turn himself in to the FBI. For what crimes‚ exactly‚ nobody knows. What we do know is that Baker is facing misdemeanor charges connected to his reporting at the Capitol on January 6‚ 2021‚ but until his arrest‚ the specific charges he faces will remain a mystery. Baker was initially threatened by law enforcement two and a half years ago in November 2021. “They actually told my attorney at the time what the charges were going to be then‚ but because I’m a little outspoken and vocal about what’s happening with me‚ we were told at the time by an assistant U.S. attorney that a judge would not be happy with me‚” he explains. By going to the press after the threat‚ Baker tells Glenn Beck that he believes he’s “intensified that‚ accelerated that‚ and lit that candle brighter.” “Why would you be in trouble for defending yourself in the public square?” Glenn asks‚ disturbed. When Baker was initially threatened‚ his attorney asked the U.S. attorney if they were saying that his client should forgo his First Amendment right under the threat of persecution from the government. “And she said‚ ‘Oh‚ no‚ we’re not really saying that. It’s just that we’re concerned for him and his status‚’” Baker explains. “Fast forward two years under the current threat‚ and they won’t tell me the charges this time — literally quote unquote from the U.S. attorney‚ 'Because he’ll tweet it out‚"' he continues. Baker says that when he turns himself in tomorrow‚ he’s supposed to be wearing shorts and flip-flops because it’s easier for him to change into an orange jumpsuit and leg chains‚ but of course‚ that's not the real reason. “This is retribution‚” Baker says. “This is evil‚” Glenn adds‚ shocked. “Just evil.” Meanwhile‚ protestors who participated in riots or wreaked havoc as a part of Antifa have faced no consequences from the government. Only those who align themselves with the right wing or Donald Trump are being prosecuted‚ Steve explains‚ calling it "selective prosecution." Among the 60 documented journalists who entered through the doors or the broken windows on January 6 were two journalists — one a reporter for the New Yorker named Luke Mogelson and another journalist who had spent a lot of time working on the Latinos for Trump campaign — who entered parallel to one another. While Mogelson walked away free (presumably because he's left-leaning)‚ the Trump-affiliated journalist was given "four misdemeanors‚ swatted by over 20 agents at his home with the red dots on his wife‚ his children‚ and‚ of course‚ obviously himself at 6:30 in the morning" and was then "convicted‚” Baker explains. "There is ever more evidence of the insane corruption at the top of the Capitol Police‚" Baker tells Glenn. They're "holding back this final series of documents that we need to bring justice in those particular cases." "They are more powerful than Congress itself‚" he continues‚ adding that House Speaker Mike Johnson told him that he alone has authority over distribution of the J6 footage. However‚ considering "there's not been anything released in weeks‚" it's looking like there are other powerful forces at work. "My sources said‚ 'I told you‚ it's the Capitol Police‚'" Steve says. Why the Capitol Police? "They know where all the bodies are buried. They know who buried them. They know who's sleeping with who — they know everything‚ and they are the personal security guards of Congress. That's why they're so powerful‚" is Baker's answer to that. While he knows what he’s in for‚ Baker is keeping his head held high. “I’ve had over two years to prepare for this. I’ve game-planned it all out in my head. I’m not going to sleep tonight‚ I’m not even going to try‚” he tells Glenn. “I’m just going to prepare‚ pray‚ and then I’m going to put on my suit and tie and walk in with my head up‚” he adds. To hear more‚ watch the video below. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Residents of a wealthy neighborhood in Boston expressed outrage at a recent community meeting after they learned that a new migrant shelter would soon open up nearby.On Tuesday night‚ residents gathered to meet with General Scott Rice‚ the emergency assistance director for Democratic Gov. Maura Healey‚ to discuss their concerns about a temporary migrant shelter opening up in Fort Point‚ one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the Seaport area of Boston. The United Way of Massachusetts Bay is working with Healey's office to transform some Fort Point office space on Farnsworth Street‚ owned by the Unitarian Universalist Association‚ into a temporary shelter for approximately 80 immigrants. But it seems nobody asked the locals whether they approved."I think there's a lot of angry residents who feel the same way I do that this was being forced on us‚" said resident Brian Curley.Thomas Ready of the Fort Point Neighborhood Association expressed similar sentiments. "We will quickly pivot if in fact this is getting forced down our throats‚" Ready said. "...You have to give us a little bit of time to digest this because right now it doesn’t taste so good." During the meeting‚ area residents shared many concerns about the shelter‚ including the risk it poses to their safety. "How are you going to ensure we're safe?" one woman asked at the meeting. Rice replied that the state has already vetted the immigrants. "Our track record has been very good‚" he said.Others noted that the office space has six bathrooms but no shower facilities‚ so immigrants will likely have to be bussed to and from the area YMCA every day so they can bathe. "This is ridiculous. This is a terrible location‚" one resident remarked.Still others were frustrated that they seem to have been boxed out of the process. One man decried the lack of "compassion" from local and state leaders. An exasperated woman even wondered‚ "Why isn’t the governor here? How about we bus them to her house?"Despite all their comments and concerns‚ Rice said that the new shelter "is going to happen." He then invited the Fort Point residents to help "make this work and work well" for everyone.He didn't get much cooperation. "That sounds like complete bulls***‚" one person remarked.Paul Craney of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance told Blaze News that the shelter is likely to harm both neighborhood residents and immigrants. "There is nothing compassionate about housing migrants in facilities that are not equipped for human occupancy‚ even if it has an expensive zip code‚" he said. "Ultimately‚ the migrants will suffer‚ but so will the taxpayers who will have to pay for this never ending inadequate response by the Healey administration."The shelter is expected to open within the next week or two and remain open for 90 days. After 90 days‚ officials will have the ability "to renew for another 90 days‚" a spokesperson for Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu said. No firm deadline for closing the shelter has been given.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Whoopi Goldberg Fantasizes About President Biden Jailing All Republicans

Vice President Kamala Harris Says They're Trying to Do to DEI What They Did to 'Woke'

Last Epoch is an amazing RPG that anyone who loves hack-and-slash games should definitely pick up. It is a PC game that was developed and produced by Eleventh Hour Games and is available via Steam.