Are you trying to make Basketball in the hit crafting game? This guide will detail how to make Basketball in Infinite Craft step-by-step. Making Basketball in Infinite Craft Players can make Basketball in Infinite Craft by combining Jordan and Plant‚ two items that aren’t handed immediately to the player. Since they aren’t instantly provided‚ your first objective is to make them. Follow the steps outlined below to make Basketball in Infinite Craft quickly. Earth + Water = Plant Plant + Plant = Tree Tree + Water = River Plant + Wind = Dandelion Dandelion + Water = Wine Wine + Water = Holy Water Holy Water + River = Jordan Jordan + Plant = Basketball That’s all there is to it: you have successfully made Basketball in Infinite Craft. If you’re a big fan of the sport‚ feel free to check out our guide on how to make Kobe Bryant in Infinite Craft. He is one of the best to ever play the sport. If football is more your speed‚ we also h...

Discover the enigmatic tale of Al Capone‚ the notorious gangster whose reign of crime captivated an era. Delve into his extravagant lifestyle‚ even amidst the harsh confines of Alcatraz‚ where luxury seemingly knew no bounds. Al Capone‚ born on January 17‚ 1899‚ in Brooklyn‚ New York‚ grew up in a tough neighborhood. His childhood experiences shaped him into the notorious gangster he would become... Source

Senate Leader Mitch McConnell Will Step Down From Leadership in November But Will Finish His Term

GOP Lawmakers Demand Mayorkas Turn Over DHS Information on Ibarra

With roughly 13 percent of the Democratic primary electorate voting “uncommitted” in Michigan the previous evening‚ the liberal ladies of ABC’s The View were in utter disarray Wednesday morning. They were at each other’s throats as they battled between condemning and accepting protest votes against President Biden during such a crucial election season. They also clashed over what the Arab protest voters wanted: Biden to abandon Israel and support for Hamas terrorists. Moderator Whoopi Goldberg opened the conversation by flaunting her frustration that Democrats were not getting in line behind Biden. She lectured the protest voters that they were “in danger of seeming like a one-issue voter.” She lashed out by suggesting they were not living in the “real” world and they were disrespecting those who had fought for the right to vote (Click “expand”): I understand you're upset‚ but either we'll fix it together or we're not. And the other guy is not going to fix it at all‚ so it is for me – [Applause] No‚ no‚ no it doesn't require that. I'm just saying‚ when you think about one issue votes‚ you have to realize that it – in the real – in our world‚ we're all sort of connected to all of this‚ so this isn't a one-issue vote. When we're talking about‚ listen‚ you don't have to like the person but you have the right to vote for the person that you want. That's all good‚ but to have a non-committed vote for me is -- is hard because I know how hard people fought to get the right to have their voices heard. Make your voice heard‚ but‚ you know‚ stand up for what you're saying. Staunchly racist and anti-Semitic co-host Sunny Hostin (the descendant of slave owners) stood with the pro-Hamas voters in Michigan. “And this is something that I have been saying on this show‚ I know that I've been a singular voice here‚ but what the Biden administration has to understand is that young voters which first-time voters are very concerned about this issue‚” she warned. Directly addressing Goldberg’s chide that they were single-issue voters‚ Hostin argued: “[T]here are women that vote single issue. There are evangelicals that vote single issue. There are African Americans that vote single issue. So‚ this is no different.”     Hostin was also very adamant that Biden abandon Israel or else risk losing Michigan in November. “There are 300‚000 of the Arab population in Michigan‚ and Trump carried Michigan in 2016 by about 11‚000 votes‚” she cautioned‚ completely ignoring how Biden could lose other critical states if he switched policies. This triggered a five-way shouting match between co-hosts Goldberg‚ Hostin‚ Joy Behar‚ Alyssa Farah Griffin‚ and Sara Haines; with the latter two essentially arguing that Biden understood their message but disagreed because Hamas was obviously not a good-faith actor (Click “expand”): GOLDBERG: Understood‚ understood. I understand all of that. I get it. That's how I feel when they put up the‚ you know‚ the nooses. That's how I feel when I hear young women -- yeah. If I then say‚ “You're not doing it fast enough for me‚ so I'm going to sit‚” that doesn't help me. No‚ no‚ but – HOSTIN: But they didn’t sit though. They voted. GOLDBERG: Yeah‚ they did. They voted -- that's the same for me as sitting. BEHAR: It’s a protest vote. GOLDBERG: I get it. It doesn't change -- I'm sorry‚ doll. It doesn't change the fact that I think you either vote or you don't. BEHAR: But how else could they get the message across to Biden? This is the way they did it. HAINES: He got the message‚ you guys! GOLDBERG: He got it! He's been doing this! HAINES: He heard the message. He disagrees and so has Hillary Clinton and a lot of people who have lived and worked in the Middle East. There’s a problem here. BEHAR: Disagree with what? HAINES: Disagree with the policies. The Middle East is really complicated‚ right now. But you have a lot of rage at Israel -- the – HOSTIN: They disagree with which policies? [Crosstalk] FARAH GRIFFIN: The ceasefire without releasing hostages. BEHAR: Netanyahu's policy. The shouting eventually shifted to Haines explaining to Hostin the obvious reasons why Hamas could not be trusted and was the problem (Click “expand”): There was a ceasefire on October 6th. Every time there is a ceasefire it is attacked again by Hamas. Everyone blames Israel. Israel deserves some of the blame. There are a lot of deaths going on. Hamas is the one would will not release the hostages that they have. (…) They also have two dozen of bodies of hostages that have been killed. Hamas is the one holding Gaza completely under -- their schools are run by Hamas. (…) They have made $100 million. Hamas has made $100 million in funding‚ and they keep it for themselves. The suffering in Gaza is first and foremost due to Hamas. Throughout the segment‚ Hostin repeatedly leaned on the United Nations as some sort of moral authority in the war. “But the U.N. is saying that Israel is committing war crimes!” she ignorantly shouted at Haines at one point. She also whined about U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield vetoing resolutions to pressure Israel and not Hamas to the negotiating table. Haines dropped the boom on Hostin‚ pointing out a fact that had gone unmentioned for weeks on the show: “[T]he U.N. also had agencies that had people that participated in October 7th. So‚ a lot of things being discovered about the U.N. and their own interests in this.” “So‚ now the U.N. is under attack?!” Hostin freaked out. And amid a flare-up in crosstalk‚ Farah Griffin could be heard noting that “The U.N. is deeply anti-s[emetic]” and “has a long history of having more resolutions against Israel than North Korea and Iran and some of the worst human rights abusers on the planet.” Farah Griffin also defended Thomas-Greenfield by noting that she was “not voting for a ceasefire until the hostages are released.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: ABC’s The View February 28‚ 2024 11:03:08 a.m. Eastern (…) GOLDBERG: So‚ I mean‚ you know‚ the question people are asking is‚ what will this impact of these uncommitted voters be and have in the general election? I personally don't know‚ but I have to tell you that you're in danger of seeming like a one-issue voter‚ and that's -- I'm pretty sure not where people are at. I understand you're upset. We talked about this yesterday. I understand you're upset‚ but either we'll fix it together or we're not. And the other guy is not going to fix it at all‚ so it is for me – [Applause] No‚ no‚ no it doesn't require that. I'm just saying‚ when you think about one issue votes‚ you have to realize that it – in the real – in our world‚ we're all sort of connected to all of this‚ so this isn't a one-issue vote. When we're talking about‚ listen‚ you don't have to like the person but you the right to vote for the person that you want. That's all good‚ but to have a non-committed vote for me is -- is hard because I know how hard people fought to get the right to have their voices heard. Make your voice heard‚ but‚ you know‚ stand up for what you're saying. (…) 11:05:35 a.m. Eastern HOSTIN: I think that – and this is what I was referring to yesterday‚ that they're not sitting on the couch. They're -- these are protest votes. These are votes‚ they're uncommitted votes and they're saying‚ “Hear us‚ listen to us. Hundreds of members of my family have been killed. Yes‚ that is my issue. That is my one issue. 30 people in my immediate family were killed‚ yet the United States is providing weapons and money to the people that killed my family‚ and I am an American citizen.” That is‚ I think‚ what the message was. And this is something that I have been saying on this show‚ I know that I've been a singular voice here‚ but what the Biden administration has to understand is that young voters which first-time voters are very concerned about this issue. And when it comes to Michigan‚ if you look at the breakdown‚ 19 percent of those votes came from the University of Michigan. Young voters. In Ann Arbor – in East Lansing‚ home to Michigan State uncommitted got 15 percent of the vote. There are 300‚000 of the Arab population in Michigan‚ and Trump carried Michigan in 2016 by about 11‚000 votes. They are telling you‚ “this issue matters‚ hear us.” GOLDBERG: Understood‚ understood. I understand all of that. I get it. That's how I feel when they put up the‚ you know‚ the nooses. That's how I feel when I hear young women -- yeah. If I then say‚ “you're not doing it fast enough for me‚ so I'm going to sit‚” that doesn't help me. No‚ no‚ but – HOSTIN: But they didn’t sit though. They voted. GOLDBERG: Yeah‚ they did. They voted -- that's the same for me as sitting. JOY BEHAR: It’s a protest vote. GOLDBERG: I get it. It doesn't change -- I'm sorry‚ doll. It doesn't change the fact that I think you either vote or you don't. BEHAR: But how else could they get the message across to Biden? This is the way they did it. SARA HAINES: He got the message‚ you guys! GOLDBERG: He got it! He's been doing this! HAINES: He heard the message. He disagrees and so has Hillary Clinton and a lot of people who have lived and worked in the Middle East. There’s a problem here. BEHAR: Disagree with what? HAINES: Disagree with the policies. Middle East is really complicated‚ right now. But you have a lot of rage at Israel -- the – HOSTIN: They disagree with which policies? [Crosstalk] ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: The ceasefire without releasing hostages. BEHAR: Netanyahu's policy. HAINES: There was a ceasefire on October 6th. Every time there is a ceasefire it is attacked again by Hamas. Everyone blames Israel. Israel deserves some of the blame. There are a lot of deaths going on. Hamas is the one would will not release the hostages that they have. FARAH GRIFFIN: Including 6 Americans‚ right now. HAINES: I don't care what they are. 130. They also have two dozen of bodies of hostages that have been killed. Hamas is the one holding Gaza completely under -- their schools are run by Hamas. Their medial— HOSITN: But the U.N is saying that Israel is committing war crimes! HAINES: They have made $100 million. Hamas has made $100 million in funding‚ and they keep it for themselves. The suffering in Gaza is first and foremost due to Hamas. HOSTIN: But there is suffering. HAINES: There is suffering. But my point here is: Biden heard everyone. He gets it. The thing he's doing is not reverse electing himself by saying‚ “What do you want? I'm going to go do that.” Some of it is‚ “I know what's right here and I’m going to stand true to that even in an election year and I love him for it. [Crosstalk] [Applause] HOSTIN: If he doesn't get Michigan‚ if -- if he does not get Michigan because of this‚ then -- HAINES: Then those protesters will get Trump. [Crosstalk] BEHAR: Let Alyssa. FARAH GRIFFIN: I want to take a rare moment to defend Joe Biden on this. There was a ceasefire‚ to your point‚ on October – BEHAR: We just did. FARAH GRIFFIN: But‚ I don't defend Joe Biden. There was a cease-fire. Since the terrorist attack against Israelis‚ Joe Biden has been working every single day to first get hostages released and then get a ceasefire. His National Security Council‚ his State Department. This notion that he's sitting on his hands and doesn't understand that there is carnage on both sides is absurd. And I have to say‚ again we're going to agree today. Donald Trump is not an alternative for the Arab American community. They are talking about bringing back the Muslim ban. It is an absolute absurdity. And there were voters I saw interviewed last night who said‚ “I'd be willing to support Trump over him” or “I’m not going to turn out.” What Biden needs to do is not reverse policy here. He needs to communicate to these people‚ “We see you‚ we hear you‚ we are calling on the Israelis to have as few casualties – [Crosstalk] GOLDBERG: Didn't he just say – Sorry‚ go ahead HOSTIN: He just did say that he was working towards a ceasefire; Blinken has indicated that hopefully this ceasefire is going to happen next week and I think he heard these people. GOLDBERG: He's been hearing them. He's been hearing them. HOSTIN: And I think there will be a change in policy‚ but at the moment what these voters‚ these single-issue voters which there are women that vote single issue. There are evangelicals that vote single issue. GOLDBERG: And we kvetch at them every time! HOSTIN: There are African Americans that vote single issue. So‚ this is no different. And what I will say is: when you have your U.N. ambassador voting -- being the deciding vote against a ceasefire every single time‚ the world has noticed that this is happening! HAINES: Because the U.N. also had agencies that had people that participated in October 7th. So‚ a lot of things being discovered about the U.N. and their own interests in this – HOSTIN: So‚ now the U.N. is under attack?! [Crosstalk] FARAH GRIFFIN: The U.N. is deeply anti-s[emetic] [Crosstalk] FARAH GRIFFIN: The U.N. has a long history of having more resolutions against Israel than North Korea and Iran and some of the worst human rights abusers on the planet. And her point‚ the ambassador's point is: “I'm not voting for a ceasefire until the hostages are released.” (…)

Google found itself embroiled in controversy last week after the company’s Gemini artificial intelligence demonstrated an almost comical adherence to woke ideology. Multiple users found that the AI had a peculiar bias against white people‚ removing them from almost every historical context.Gemini repeatedly rendered popes‚ Vikings‚ medieval knights‚ American founding fathers‚ and even Nazi SS soldiers without including any white people. When asked if whiteness should be eliminated‚ the AI replied that the situation was “complicated.” When it was asked if blackness should be eliminated‚ Gemini said the question was “concerning” and “harmful.” The idea of going to a library and investigating primary sources that are not constantly monitored‚ censored‚ and altered for wrongthink by a woke megacorporation is unfathomable.This intense level of ideological malice would be concerning in any institution‚ but Google is in a unique position of power. Not only is Google’s search engine the primary portal through which most people interact with the internet‚ the company has also invested heavily in controlling the flow of information in America’s public schools. Google isn’t just trying to rewrite history. It is actively working to reprogram the minds of our next generation.While most conservatives are worried about the level of ideological subversion in Big Tech companies and public education‚ few understand the degree to which these sectors work hand in hand. Slaves to ChromebookGoogle has labored intensely to make its Chromebook ubiquitous in public schools. At first‚ the affordable laptop replacement seemed like a great way to expose students to the computer skills that are critical in the modern job market. But the device has now become a mandatory part of the classroom. Teachers deliver and grade all their assignments through Google Classroom. Students write all their papers through Google Docs and create their presentations in Google Slides. Online worksheets‚ quiz programs‚ and educational games are designed to integrate with the Google suite. I am only a few years removed from teaching in a public school setting‚ and I can tell you from experience that the level to which students are reliant on the Google search engine is astonishing. Most children have already lost the ability to read a textbook and draw information from it. Students expect to be able to search any question‚ relying on an algorithm designed by the same people who programed the Gemini AI to deliver answers. Few schoolchildren even bother to click on the links provided by the search engine‚ instead taking their information from the summary Google provides at the top of its results. The idea of going to a library and manually investigating primary sources that are not constantly monitored‚ censored‚ and altered for wrongthink by a woke megacorporation would be unfathomable to them. Google now controls the entire algorithmic ecosystem through which American schoolchildren learn to gather information or judge its validity.The problems with Chromebook-based education are obvious‚ but skeptical teachers and administrators have been brought into line through institutional pressure. Students who are constantly interacting with screens lose or fail to develop basic skills. Handwriting‚ note-taking‚ reading comprehension‚ and memory recall all suffer as children become entirely reliant on technology. Students who can easily switch between dozens of browser tabs at a moment’s notice quickly lose their ability to focus. I will never forget being told that I needed to pause a video every three minutes because anything longer would tax the attention span of the students. Schoolchildren who submit and store all their work in Google Classroom lose their ability to organize and fail to develop basic skills like holding onto and keeping track of necessary items. There is a whole set of critical life skills that we rarely think about that fail to manifest if every part of the learning experience is digitized.Feeble protectionsThe number of distractions and disciplinary issues that arise from constant Chromebook use also have an incredibly deleterious impact on the classroom. Administrators will tell you the Chromebooks are locked down with safety restrictions‚ but this is an absurd lie. A school full of bored children sitting in front of computers all day can circumvent the best protections faster than any technology specialist can institute them. The result? Children are often watching movies‚ playing video games‚ and listening to music for most of their school day as teachers desperately try to keep them on task. Tragically‚ students also regularly find ways to take and share inappropriate photos‚ bully their peers‚ and access pornography by circumventing the Chromebook’s weak security restrictions.Your children’s votes will be drowned out by the millions of new voters the Democrats are importing every year who only speak English through Google translate. Teachers who were worried about the outsized dependence on Google or disciplinary issues associated with constant Chromebook usage at least had the option of refusing to make the device central to their instruction. But all of that changed once COVID-19 hit. With children confined to their homes and learning done entirely though remote Zoom meetings‚ the Chromebook became more integral than ever. Every assignment had to be completely digital throughout the lockdown for obvious reasons‚ but once the children returned to school‚ nothing changed. Students had been trained to do all their work digitally through Google Classroom‚ and everyone had gotten used to the idea that all assignments must be available online. If a student was sick‚ or traveling‚ or just did not bother to come to school‚ administrators demanded that teachers facilitate the completion of all assignments through the Chromebook.Digital assignments also became mandatory due to the incredible number of students who did not speak English. Many states have changed their model of instruction to place non-English-speaking children in normal classrooms‚ making heavy use of digital technology to bridge the language gap. Most students learning English as a second language would have no hope of completing their assignments or communicating with their instructors without heavy use of Google Translate. Eventually‚ every public school teacher was required to make the class digital‚ and every aspect of that digital learning environment ran directly through the Google ecosystem.It’s worse than GeminiGoogle has issued a non-apology for the Gemini debacle and promised to do better‚ but let us be clear: None of this was an accident or mistake. The images and answers produced by Gemini were simply a more obvious version of the poisonous ideology coded deeply into every aspect of Google’s algorithm.We are constantly swimming in the progressive sewage that pervades our culture‚ so it can be difficult to realize how bad the situation really is. Gemini was like being able to summon a tiny stupid demon that was required to explain all the evil that the left truly believes. That demon is integrated into every aspect of the public education system and is rewriting history as we speak.It might be tempting to simply say‚ “That’s why I homeschool my kids.” That’s great! But the vote of your children will be drowned out by the millions of new voters the Democrats are importing every year who only speak English through Google Translate. Google is delivering its hateful and fictitious version of history to tens of millions of public school students and is reaping billions of dollars from American taxpayers as a result. The forced digitization of learning is also destroying the ability of children to read‚ write‚ maintain focus‚ build organizational skills‚ and do basic research. This powerful tech company already shapes the way most people interact with information on the internet and is invested heavily in altering the way the next generation learns. If we do not exorcise this ideological demon from our educational institutions now‚ it will own the way our children understand truth for generations.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has once again clearly‚ definitely‚ and unequivocally stated that his preferred candidate in the U.S. presidential election is Joe Biden. On February 21‚ at a fundraising event in San Francisco‚ Biden said: “We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin and others …” The White House posted the comment on its website. The very next day‚ Putin approved Biden as his choice for the presidency when asked by one of the Kremlin’s favorite journalists‚ Pavel Zarubin. Putin said he understands what caused Biden’s caustic words about him. Putin has special reasons for taking no offense and endorsing Biden’s re-election. “Crazy SOB” sounds tough‚ but it is used in so many ways that the Russian leader might not find it personally insulting. Putin did not indicate any displeasure. “You asked me what is best for us‚” Putin told Zarubin. “That's what I said then‚ and that's what I think now. And I can repeat: Biden!” Here is the exact dialogue‚ translated from the video in Russian: Pavel Zarubin: Can I ask one more question? I don’t know whether you have been briefed today or not‚ since you are either flying or driving. Vladimir Putin: About what? Zarubin: President Biden‚ U.S. President Biden again made a boorish statement about you. Putin: Boorish? Zarubin: Yes. I don’t want to quote‚ but still‚ since this is the president of the United States‚ I’ll say it. He said about you: “Crazy son of a bitch.” Not only have you never said anything like that to any leader‚ but you haven’t even allowed yourself to make any incorrect statements. Would you react the same way now? Putin: Listen‚ we just talked recently. And you asked me: Who is our preferred future president of the United States? I said that we will work with any president. But I believe that for us‚ for Russia‚ Biden is more preferable. And judging by what he was just talking‚ he said‚ I am absolutely right. Because this is an adequate reaction to what was said on my part. Why? Because he can’t tell me: “Volodya‚ well done‚ thank you! You helped me a lot!” We understand what is happening there from a domestic political point of view. And this reaction is absolutely adequate. And that means I was right. And what I said‚ I said primarily for our audience‚ and not for Americans. You are a Russian journalist‚ so you asked me what is best for us. That's what I said then‚ and that's what I think now. And I can repeat: Biden! This might not make sense to an American audience. But as we will see‚ it makes perfect sense to the man in the Kremlin. Name-calling is theater‚ not statecraft. As he does to his own aides‚ Biden has called Putin names for years. In November 2019‚ he called the Kremlin leader a “bully.” In March 2021‚ Biden called Putin a “killer.” Those aren’t real insults to a bully who kills people. Despite the tough words‚ Biden’s policies have been extremely favorable to Putin — both before and after Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Biden’s words and actions Biden often makes harsh‚ sometimes even offensive‚ comments about Putin. But in his actions as president‚ Biden first pursued a policy of appeasement. That‚ in turn‚ encouraged Putin to become the aggressor. Days after his 2021 inauguration — just over a year before Russia invaded Ukraine — Biden extended the New START treaty‚ which limits the number of nuclear weapons both countries may deploy. Biden also lifted sanctions on Russia. As a result‚ he had no deterrence strategy to warn Putin about the harsh consequences of invading Ukraine or to help Ukraine defend itself. Even as Putin mobilized his invasion force in late 2021 and early 2022‚ Biden withdrew American naval ships from the Black Sea and also withdrew U.S. military advisers from Ukraine. Biden conducted a “strategic communication campaign” that looked to outsiders like deterrence but in fact practically invited Putin to attack Ukraine. He reinforced the public message by sending CIA Director Bill Burns to Moscow to negotiate secretly with Putin the “rules of the game” against Ukraine. The administration declared that “a small incursion of Ukraine is not an aggression.” At the same time‚ Biden refused to send additional aid to Ukraine in advance‚ even as his administration warned Kyiv of an imminent invasion. As Putin’s invasion force mobilized‚ the White House effectively urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to turn Kyiv into a free-fire zone. Biden tried to get Zelenskyy and his government to abandon the capital. He announced the closure of the U.S. embassy and its transfer to Lviv. He urged NATO allies to do the same. Biden’s administration confirmed Putin’s own inaccurate intelligence that Russian forces could conquer Kyiv within days. These actions told Putin that a Russian conquest of Ukraine’s capital would produce no collateral damage on NATO embassies and thus would not risk a NATO response. Once the invasion began in February 2022‚ it was NATO allies — chiefly the United Kingdom‚ Poland‚ and the Baltic republics — that led the example and pressed the hapless Biden administration to do something. Since then‚ Biden has delayed and limited the scope of aid to Ukraine. He did not provide the most important types of weapons‚ including aircraft‚ tanks‚ and long-range missiles. Biden has prohibited Ukraine’s armed forces from launching defensive or retaliatory strikes on Russian territory. He stopped Ukraine’s operations at critical moments for the Putin regime (during the Prigozhin mutiny‚ for example). Republicans in Congress authorized more aid to Ukraine than the Biden administration even requested. Biden has not used the Ukraine Lend-Lease Act that Congress passed. He significantly delayed and reduced military aid to Ukraine. In just the past two months‚ Biden completely blocked military support to Kyiv by holding it hostage to his real priority: his open-border policy. He then blamed the Republican-led House of Representatives for not supporting Ukraine and for the flood of illegal immigration into the United States. Hence Biden’s tough talk about Putin‚ which also reinforces the debunked Russian collusion narrative against Donald Trump. Trump’s words and actions As he has historically done with adversaries in business and in diplomacy‚ Trump’s words show a record more rhetorically benign toward Putin‚ calling him a “strong leader” and saying that he always “got along” with him. The former president has made no offensive statements about Putin. Trump often says that he can make a deal with the Kremlin dictator. Those comments fall far short of the “praise” of Putin that Trump’s critics falsely allege. Trump’s actions speak louder than his words. As president‚ he: Lifted the Obama-Biden embargo on lethal military aid to Ukraine; Imposed sanctions to stop completion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline; Included Ukraine in the NATO drills; Refused to recognize Putin’s annexation of Crimea; Annihilated the Wagner Group unit of up to 200 Russian mercenaries in Syria; Showed an unpredictable determination that threw off Kremlin calculus; during Trump’s presidency‚ Ukrainian military deaths at the contact line in the Donbass fell by 16 times compared to Obama’s last year; For the first time‚ stationed the headquarters of a U.S. division (now the V Corps) and advanced American units on Polish territory; After a catastrophic reduction during the Obama era‚ expanded the U.S. commitment to NATO and persuaded or pressured NATO members to increase their military spending — a $139 billion increase (the United States by $61 billion; European NATO members by $56 billion); Promised Putin he would “hit Moscow” in the event of new aggression; Repeatedly stated‚ as Biden never did before the invasion‚ that he would not allow Putin's aggression against Ukraine; Warned he would not permit Putin to threaten to use nuclear weapons. Trump’s record forces Putin to take seriously his 2024 campaign statements that‚ if elected again‚ he plans to stop the war “in 24 hours” and that if Putin “refuses the deal” he will arm Ukraine “a lot — we're going to [give] more than they ever got.” Under Biden‚ the Kremlin boss has had unprecedented freedom to play the aggressor. Under Trump‚ Putin the wolf turned into Putin the sheep for four years. Putin faces the prospect of becoming a sheep once more. Vladimir Putin knows very well who these candidates really are. That is why he has sincerely‚ consciously‚ unequivocally‚ consistently‚ and unmistakably endorsed Biden — so he might continue his bloody aggression and watch as the United States diminishes its power at home and around the world.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued President Joe Biden and members of his administration last year over the ratification and implementation of the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2023. Paxton said the mammoth spending bill — which contains at least one provision affecting the Lone Star State — was unlawful and therefore unenforceable because Congress‚ using the pandemic for cover‚ violated the Constitution in order to pass it. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas agreed with Paxton in its ruling Tuesday‚ stating that the former Congress run by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had indeed violated the Constitution‚ specifically the Quorum Clause contained with Article I‚ Section 5. "Congress acted egregiously by passing the largest spending bill in U.S. history with fewer than half the members of the House bothering to do their jobs‚ show up‚ and vote in person‚" Paxton said in a statement. "Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi abused proxy voting under the pretext of COVID-19 to pass this law‚ then Biden signed it‚ knowing they violated the Constitution‚" added the Republican AG. "This was a stunning violation of the rule of law. I am relieved the Court upheld the Constitution." The lawsuit The State of Texas' original complaint noted that on Dec. 23‚ 2022‚ only 201 congressional lawmakers were present in the House's chamber — less than half of the members required for a quorum. The suit stressed that the Constitution defines absent members "as excluded from 'a Quorum to do Business' and therefore unauthorized to vote to enact legislation — by 'proxy' or otherwise." The Quorum Clause states: "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections‚ Returns and Qualifications of its own Members‚ and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day‚ and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members‚ in such Manner‚ and under such Penalties as each House may provide." While only constitutionally empowered at that stage to "adjourn from day to day" and "compel the attendance of absent Members‚" the Lone Star State's lawsuit indicated the House "nevertheless purported to accept the Senate's amendments to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 on that day" under a novel rule enabling absent members to vote by proxy. After agreeing to the latest round of Senate amendments in a 225-201 vote‚ the bill was presented to Biden on Dec. 28 then signed the next day‚ becoming law. Not only was the bill's passage unconstitutional‚ the unlawful bill adversely impacted Texas‚ according to Paxton's lawsuit. After all‚ the spending bill imposed new legal obligations on employers in the state via the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and created new programs permitting the release of illegal aliens into the homeland‚ specifically the Department of Homeland Security's Case Management Pilot Program. Various Republican congressmen joined the Mountain States Legal Foundation in filing an amicus brief to the district court last year‚ stressing that the "United States has endured for nearly 250 years because of our commitments to the Constitution and to representative government. The COVID-19 pandemic is no excuse to abandon these commitments." The ruling U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix noted in his opinion Tuesday that "[f]or over 235 years‚ Congress understood the Constitution's Quorum Clause to require a majority of members of the House or Senate to be physically present to constitute the necessary quorum to pass legislation." Judge Hendrix evidently figured the Constitution trumps the former Democrat-run Congress' 2020 House rule allowing non-present members to be included in the quorum count and deemed the defendants' counterarguments "unpersuasive." "Given the Constitution's text‚ original public meaning‚ and historical practice‚ the Court concludes that the House cannot count members voting by proxy to constitute a constitutionally compliant quorum‚" added the judge. Hendrix underscored that by "including members who were indisputably absent in the quorum count‚ the Act at issue passed in violation of the Constitution's Quorum Clause." While Hendrix indicated Texas had failed to demonstrate its entitlement to a permanent injunction of the Case Management Pilot Program‚ he noted the Lone Star State had successfully done so with regard to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The court ultimately enjoined U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland‚ the Department of Justice‚ the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission‚ and their corresponding officials from enforcing the PWFA. The Texas Public Policy Foundation‚ which served as co-counsel in the case‚ stated‚ "The Court correctly concluded that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 violated the Quorum Clause of the U.S. Constitution because a majority of House members was not physically present when the $1.7 trillion spending bill was passed. Proxy voting is unconstitutional." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A group of comedians called the Danger Cats cancelled at least eight shows after the comedy venues that were set to host them received a series of threats ranging from arson to physical violence."What started as jokes has now moved into new territory‚" Brett Forte‚ one of the comedians‚ wrote on X. "We've received death threats and so have the staff at the venues we're scheduled to perform at. Now the three of us can weather the storm but when it comes to our friends in the industry‚ it's not worth the risk to their livelihoods‚" Forte continued."We're talented performers and we look forward to showing you that when the time is right. Unfortunately‚ our opposition has decided to resort to arson‚ vandalism‚ and threats of bodily harm‚ so that time is not now‚" he concluded.Much of the controversy stems from jokes about Canadian residential schools‚ where the remains of native children were said to be buried near or underneath. The would-be revelations of the unmarked graves have yet to result in any human remains found in either Kamloops‚ British Columbia‚ or Pine Creek‚ Manitoba.Yuk Yuk's‚ an iconic international stand-up comedy chain‚ was set to host the group of comics for four shows at its Winnipeg‚ Manitoba‚ location at the end of February 2024. However‚ the club pulled the plug after a roast-battle joke from comedian Brendan Blacquier was publicized on Canada's state broadcaster‚ the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Today the sword was mightier than the pen. — (@) The CBC spoke to the woman who posted the video clip who said she was "absolutely disgusted."Another mainstream news company‚ Global News‚ then went after the group for a particular piece of merchandise that was labeled offensive. Reporter Angela Jung spoke to more offended parties who called the Danger Cats' T-shirt "disgusting" and "disturbing."The T-shirts featured Robert Pickton‚ a man who was convicted in 2007 for a series of murders. Pickton is shown with a grin while holding a slice of bacon with the caption “Pickton Farms‚ over 50 flavours of hookery smoked bacon.”The reporter sought out one of the victims' cousins for comment‚ who was predictably alarmed. Nobody tells Frank Costanza what to do. #SpiteTour — (@) On a recent podcast‚ the merchandizing controversy was addressed by the group's other member‚ Sam Walker.Walker said the joke is "meant to raise awareness to what's happening to these poor women that were killed because they they were so low on the social status that many of them weren't even noticed that they were gone for a long time." "This is the purpose of the comedy. If nobody talks about it‚ it gets forgotten. And it may be a tasteless joke to some‚ but for me‚ it is my way of being on the side of the same people that are coming after us‚" Walker explained. Walker told Blaze News that the "shows were canceled for the safety of the comedy clubs and the people that [they] work with.""We have no further comment at this moment‚" he added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

It's tough for a new soulslike to stick out in a medium already crowded with homages to FromSoftware's Elden Ring‚ Dark Souls‚ and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Nexon‚ publisher of games like Warhaven‚ Dave the Diver‚ and The Finals‚ seems to be up to the challenge‚ though. It's just announced a new entry that looks to belong to the genre‚ Vindictus: Defying Fate‚ which should stick out from the competition thanks to the fact that it's based on classic horror-themed MMORPG Vindictus. Continue reading Warhaven publisher announces new soulslike based on classic MMORPG