Senator John Cornyn‚ one of the worst RINOs in Congress‚ immediately threw his hat in the ring for Mitch McConnell’s position as leader. He has been interviewing for this job for quite some time‚ so it was no surprise. As Punch Bowl News reported‚ he’s calling every Republican with a pulse to support him. He […] The post Sen. John ‘RINO’ Cornyn Lobbies Hard for the Leadership Position appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

The FBI arrested Turning Point’s Steve Baker for reporting on January 6‚ 2021‚ more than three years after the fact. He was handcuffed as if he were a dangerous perp. They even told him to wear shorts and sandals for his arrest today. Blaze contributor Jill Savage said he “was able to wear his dress […] The post The Arrest &; Persecution of Steve Baker for Journalism appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

A London play starring “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harrington will host two performances where only black audience members‚ or those identifying as black‚ will be permitted to view the play‚ “free from the white gaze.” “Slave Play‚” which received 12 Tony nominations in 2021‚ but won no awards‚ will run at the Noël Coward theater in London’s West End from June 29 to September 21 and feature performances on July 17 and September 17 with “Black Out nights.” “Blackout nights are the purposeful creation of an environment in which an all-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts‚ film‚ athletic and cultural spaces — free from the white gaze‚” the theater noted. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office released a statement saying‚ “The prime minister is a big supporter of the arts and he believes that the arts should be inclusive and open to everyone‚ particularly where those arts venues are in receipt of public funding. Restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive.” “I understand the subject matter of the show may have particular resonance for some but would simply question the legality of this? In other circles it would be illegal and racial discrimination. I don’t understand why this isn’t‚” one member of Parliament told The Daily Mail. The play’s producers told The BBC the “intent is to celebrate the play with the widest possible audience. We want to increase accessibility to theatre for everyone.” “The Broadway production conceived of Black Out nights and we are carefully considering how to incorporate this endeavour as part of two performances in our 13-week run. We will release further details soon. To be absolutely clear‚ no-one will be prevented or precluded from attending any performance of Slave Play.” Playwright Jeremy O. Harris told BBC Sounds: One of the things we have to remember is that people have to be radically invited into a space to know that they belong there and in most places in the west‚ poor people and black people have been told that they do not belong inside the theatre… For me‚ as someone who wants and yearns for black and brown people to be in the theatre‚ who comes from a working class environment‚ who wants people who do not make six figures to feel like theatre is a place for them‚ it is a necessity to radically invite them in with initiatives that say “you’re invited.” Specifically you. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “There are a litany of places in our country that are generally only inhabited by white people‚ and nobody is questioning that‚ and nobody is saying that by inviting black audiences here you are uninvited‚” he continued. “The idea of a Black Out night is to say this is a night that we are specifically inviting black people to fill up the space‚ to feel safe with a lot of other black people in a place where they often do not feel safe.” The play itself focuses on three modern-day interracial couples who attempt to mend tensions in their relationships by engaging in “antebellum sexual-performance therapy‚” according to The New Yorker. The black characters in the play no longer experience pleasure in their relationships with their white partners and attempt to recapture it through the racially-charged sexual roleplaying.

Students at the University of Virginia overwhelmingly voted in favor of their university divesting from the state of Israel in a campus-wide referendum on Wednesday amid accusations of anti-Semitic discrimination against Jewish students at the school. The referendum‚ sponsored by seven student groups‚ passed by a margin of 67 percent to 32 percent‚ with 30 percent of the student body participating. The referendum calls for the university’s administration to undergo an audit to determine if endowment funds are used to invest in companies “engaging in or profiting from the State of Israel’s apartheid regime.” It demands the school divest any funds identified. It also condemns the UVA administration for its failure to attack Israel in its statement that condemned Hamas days after the terror group committed the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.  “The University released an initial statement on October 11‚ 2023‚ recognizing the ‘brutal terrorist attacks on Israel’ and ‘the actions of Hamas and the horrific violence that has taken place against civilians‚’” the referendum reads. “This message failed to address the crimes committed by the Israeli government and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.” It added that “entire student populations” felt “unseen and otherized” because the statement did not use the words “Palestine” or “Gaza.” On October 9‚ UVA’s Students for Justice in Palestine group — one of the groups behind the referendum — posted a photo on Instagram of a bulldozer destroying the fence between Gaza and Israel during Hamas’ attack‚ along with the text‚ “Decolonization is not a metaphor.” In the caption‚ the group encourages their peers to attend a demonstration where they can learn how to “be in solidarity with Palestinians resisting occupation.” UVA’s SJP group posted a photo from Hamas’s October 7 attack encouraging peers to learn how to be “in solidarity with Palestinians resisting occupation.” The other sponsors of the referendum include Asian Students Union‚ Dissenters at UVA‚ DivestUVA‚ Minority Rights Coalition‚ Muslim Students Association‚ and Muslims United. The executive committee at UVA’s Hillel‚ a Jewish student organization‚ said the group was “deeply saddened” that the referendum passed‚ and that it “levels inaccurate and delegitimizing accusations about Israel.” The Jewish group also attacked the referendum for delegitimizing the only Jewish state in the world by accusing Israel of “apartheid” and “settler colonialism” and stating that Israel has been an occupier for seven decades. “This erasure of history and denial of self-determination harms many of the Jewish students on Grounds‚ making them feel unwelcome and ostracized by their peers‚” the Hillel board wrote.  Jewish students met with the UVA administration to allege multiple anti-Semitic incidents have taken place‚ including being spat on‚ shoved‚ and called anti-Semitic slurs‚ reported NBC 15 News. “Tragically there’s one kid that has been so intimidated by students in his dorm‚ for peace of mind he has to move off campus and sleep elsewhere and stop wearing his Yamika‚” said lawyer Joel Nied‚ who accompanied the students during their meeting.  “Other kids when they walk by these protests‚ they feel they need to tuck their jewelry‚ their Jewish stars into their sweaters and shirts so no one sees them.” “They’re hiding their identity‚” he added.  Nied said classes have also been canceled by professors in support of anti-Israel activism. In response‚ the school created a religious diversity task force with two of its 11 members — professors Nichole Flores and Oludamini Ogunnaike — also being signatories on an open faculty letter on October 27‚ that said they are alarmed by the lack of mention of the “context in which Oct 7 occurred.” “I don’t know how anybody can try to contextualize what happened on Oct. 7 other than looking at it for what it was‚” Nied said. “It was a barbaric horrible attack. There’s no justification.” UVA is currently under a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for “national origin discrimination involving religion.” A spokesman for UVA told The Daily Wire that it does not take positions on student referenda. “VA has a tradition of student self-governance‚ which means students are responsible for running elections like this‚” Brian Coy said. “The referendum was an expression of the opinion of the students who voted for it‚ it is not the University’s position and it is not binding on the University in any way.” The referendum also states that the school’s November 6th statement mentioning the “terrible toll the ensuing war has taken on both the Palestinian and Israeli people‚” was an issue because it failed to “condemn any of Israel’s human rights violations since October 7th.” “[A]t a minimum‚ acknowledging Israel as a victim of violence should not be separated from acknowledging Palestine as a victim of settler colonialism and apartheid‚” the referendum states. It also calls for the school to act on its commitment to diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion by “not further ignoring the pain and existence of Palestinian students and community members.” According to Hillel‚ the student organizations backing the referendum violated election rules by submitting it under a “UVA Apartheid Divest” coalition that has “no official standing with the University and is in violation of its rules for student-led organization.” Hillel also accuses the pro-divesting side of violating rules regarding pushing their campaign in classrooms‚ on UVA listservs‚ and with the help of employees. The school administration failed to take meaningful actions‚ according to the statement. “We are extremely proud of our students and grateful for their leadership‚” the statement read. “They ran a passionate‚ principled‚ and inspiring campaign encouraging their peers to vote NO on this deeply flawed and biased referendum.”

The father of Gabby Petito‚ who was murdered by her fiancé Brian Laundrie while the two were on a cross-country road trip‚ has spoken out for the first time since the family settled a civil lawsuit against the Laundries. Joe Petito sat down for an interview with WFLA‚ but said he couldn’t speak about the specifics of the settlement. “I would love to get into more details about it‚ but unfortunately at this time I just can’t‚” he said. He reiterated that the families “reluctantly” came together to settle the lawsuit‚ which the Petitos filed against the Laundries last year‚ alleging the Laundries helped their son escape law enforcement. A civil trial for the lawsuit was scheduled to begin in May but will no longer take place. Instead of discussing the settlement‚ Petito discussed a bill he has been trying to get passed in the Florida legislature‚ which would give state law enforcement training that would help them identify victims of intimate partner violence who are at risk of death or serious injury. The bill‚ according to WFLA‚ would have law enforcement ask 12 questions to help determine the risk: Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon? Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children? Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you? Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you? Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun? Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous? Does the aggressor control most of your daily activities? Does the aggressor reside in the same household with you? Is the aggressor employed? To the best of your knowledge‚ has the aggressor ever attempted suicide? Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child? Has the aggressor ever followed‚ spied on‚ or left threatening messages for you? After the settlement was released‚ Petito and Gabby’s mother‚ Nichole Schmidt‚ issued a statement. “All parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict‚” the statement said. “Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter‚ Gabby.” The Laundries also released a statement. “Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved‚” the statement said‚ according to WWSB. “The terms of the resolution are confidential‚ and we look forward to putting this matter behind us.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Petito’s parents were seeking $100‚000 for pain and suffering due to the alleged actions of the Laundries. It is unclear how much‚ if any‚ money they will receive in the settlement. Laundrie is believed to have committed suicide after he went missing following the murder of his fiancée‚ whom Laundrie admitted to killing‚ according to the FBI. His remains were found in Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in October 2021‚ and his family’s attorney released the notebook found with his body in June 2022. “I ended her life‚” Laundrie wrote‚ according to a copy of the notebook exclusively provided to Fox News. “I thought it was merciful‚ that it is what she wanted‚ but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock.” Laundrie went on to claim that Petito‚ who was 22 when Laundrie strangled her to death‚ had injured herself in a fall while they were visiting Wyoming and that he killed her to take “away her pain.” “Rushing back to our car trying to cross the streams of spread creek before it got too dark to see‚ to [sic] cold. I hear a splash and a scream‚” Laundrie wrote‚ adding that he carried her as far as he could but had to stop to make a fire to keep them warm when he couldn’t make it back to the couple’s van. He claimed Petito “had a small bump on her forehead that eventually got larger” and that she “continually made sounds of pain‚ laying next to her she said little lapsing between violent shakes‚ gasping in pain‚ begging for an end to her pain.” Laundrie also referred to Petito’s death as his “mistake” and insisted that he was not ending his life “because of a fear of punishment but rather because I cant [sic] stand to live another day without her.” Petito and Laundrie were driving across the country visiting national parks when Petito went missing. She was last seen alive in late August before her family reported her missing in early September after Laundrie returned to his parents’ home in Florida without her. Laundrie’s family then reported him missing on September 17. Petito’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19‚ 2021. Laundrie’s remains were found on October 20.

The official cause of death for Rick Harrison’s son Adam has been revealed by the coroner’s office. Harrison is best known for starring on the hit History Channel series “Pawn Stars‚” which is set in his pawn shop in Las Vegas. Adam’s cause of death was ruled an accident and was caused by “fentanyl and methamphetamine toxicity‚” the Clark County Nevada coroners confirmed‚ per Fox News Digital. Adam died on January 19 at the age of 39. Per The New York Post‚ he had been in jail previously and was living in a guesthouse for several weeks and exhibiting “alarming behavior‚ including barricading himself in the house by pushing furniture against the house‚” per one of his neighbors.  Another neighbor contacted the landlord when she was unable to contact Adam. The landlord discovered him unresponsive in his bed. Harrison already suspected that fentanyl was to blame for his son’s death and made his thoughts on the drug crisis known.  “Yes‚ I can confirm Adam died from a fentanyl overdose‚” the 58-year-old reality star said shortly after Adam died‚ as The Daily Wire previously reported.  “The fentanyl crisis in this country must be taken more seriously‚” he said. “It seems it is just flowing over the borders and nothing is being done about it. We must do better.” The “Pawn Stars” celeb originally posted a tribute to his son on social media. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “You will always be in my heart! I love you‚” Harrison shared on Instagram alongside a photo of himself and Adam together. “Wax wtf I will always love you bubba‚” Adam’s brother Corey‚ 40‚ who was also a prominent cast member on “Pawn Stars‚” posted on social media alongside a throwback photo of himself with Adam from childhood. Harrison had Adam and Corey with his ex-wife‚ Kim. He is currently married to his fourth wife‚ Amanda Palmer. “Pawn Stars” is a well-known and popular reality series that boasts 21 seasons on the air. It’s based on the staff of the World Famous Gold &; Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas as they buy‚ sell‚ and pawn items in the store.  Adam was not part of the show but he may have worked at the family store‚ which has been in operation since 1989. 

New details have emerged about the 2008 death of actor Heath Ledger at the age of 28. The “10 Things I Hate About You” star died from an accidental drug overdose in January 2008‚ but now film director Stephen Gaghan is sharing some details about finding out Ledger had died‚ including his connection to the tragedy. Gaghan was working with the Australian star on the film “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking‚” which was based on a book written by Malcolm Gladwell. He recently recalled getting a call from Ledger’s father just after the actor was found dead in his home by his housekeeper. “I got a phone call‚ they were on speakerphone and it was Heath Ledger’s father‚ who I’d never met … and a guy who was really close to him. They were there with the body and our script was in bed with him‚ and your book was on the bedside table‚” he told Gladwell during an appearance on the “Revisionist History” podcast series “Development Hell‚” per People.  “I think my number was on the script‚ like written. These guys‚ as you can imagine‚ they are in shock and they dialed that number and I don’t know why‚” Gaghan continued. “I’m in an airport with my wife [Minnie Mortimer] just going from one place to another‚ and I literally just collapse‚ never happened to me before or since‚” the director said. “My feet went out from under me. I just literally sat down because I was like‚ ‘What?’ The emotion‚ what they were going through‚ I should not have been a party to in any way really‚ and yet as a human or as somebody who just cares‚ I just was there and I was listening and my wife was looking at me. I remember her face and I was just like‚ I was speechless. I just listened and listened and listened. It was just really‚ really sad. And it’s still sad. For me‚ I just had to put a pin in it.” The podcast “Development Hell” explores projects that were never made and why. Gaghan said Leonardo DiCaprio was originally attached to “Blink” but “it never got off the ground.” The director explained how he eventually decided Ledger was a better fit for the role. “I’d gotten to be very‚ very close with him instantly‚” he said. “I just had a real connection with him that was kind of unusual and really special to me. I got really excited and I started seeing him as the main character. Once I started seeing that I couldn’t unsee it‚ and obviously it was very delicate in a way. Leo’s totally cool. I mean‚ obviously‚ he has a thousand choices‚ but in my mind it was a big deal.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Blink” was never developed after Ledger’s death‚ though Gaghan said on the podcast he recently revisited the script and still thought it was “really good.”