Elon Musk has been targeted by yet another authoritarian government for his company X’s reluctance to censor political content.  In an April 23 interview with Sky News‚ Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie appeared to threaten Elon Musk over his well-known advocacy for free speech and the way his company X handles political content on its platform‚ specifically X’s refusal to censor videos of recent attacks in Australia‚ contradicting the orders of the country’s eSafety commission.  Lambie engaged in a vitriolic spree against the tech mogul and considerably blackened his character. “So when it comes to the tech billionaire‚ like I’ve already said‚ I think he’s a social media nob with no social conscience‚” Lambie said. “He has absolutely no social conscience.” The senator then proceeded to issue explicit threats against Musk‚ advocating for him to be imprisoned. “Someone like that should be in jail‚ and the key be thrown away‚” Lambie asserted. “That bloke should not have a right to be out there on his own ideology platform and creating hatred‚ you know‚ showing all this stuff out there to our kids and all the rest.” Australian politicians want to shut down X and imprison Elon Musk because free speech is a danger to their fragile democracy that’s run by fragile‚ pathetic people. You couldn’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/mEBLqMtO6f — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 23‚ 2024 In another interview‚ Lambie made her threats even more explicit and suggested that the  Australian government should introduce new rules to target X. “And quite frankly‚ the bloke [sic] should be jailed‚ and the sooner we can bring rules in or do something about these sorts of game-playing with their social media‚ the better off we’re going to be.” Lambie did not immediately respond to MRC Free Speech America’s request for comment. She is not the first Australian political figure to try to criticize the tech mogul for protecting the free expression of X users. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also taken issue with X’s handling of what he terms “misinformation” and “disinformation.” “By and large‚ people responded appropriately to the calls by the [eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant]‚” Albanese recently commented. “They stand‚ I think … I find it extraordinary that X chose not to comply and trying to argue their case.” Albanese appeared to rationalize his stance against the rights of X users by arguing that it was simply the will of Australians. “We know‚ I think‚ overwhelmingly Australians want misinformation and disinformation to stop‚” he said.  The controversy comes after X was ordered by Grant on April 16 to take down two videos of stabbings.  One video depicted a bishop and a priest being stabbed during a live-streamed mass‚ and the other video showed a knife-wielding assailant killing six at a mall. X refused to comply with the request because its Global Government Affairs team argued that the request was not within the scope of Australian law nor did the videos violate X’s own policies.  As reported by Time Magazine‚ the orders required X to make the videos inaccessible even to users outside Australia or face a fine of $785‚000 AUD (about $500‚000 USD).               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.  

Sunday’s edition of PBS News Weekend spent 13 minutes out of its allotted 25 taking the loose liberal attitude toward homelessness (“the unhoused”) as a Supreme Court case looms. PBS found yet another liberal‚ an assistant public health professor at Cornell University‚ to make its preferred ideological case in the first segment‚ arguing an Oregon law limiting homeless camping in public spaces punishes people for being on the streets. JOHN YANG: Tomorrow‚ the Supreme Court hears arguments about whether laws limiting homeless encampments in public places are unconstitutional because they punish people for being homeless. The case is about laws in Grants Pass‚ Oregon‚ a city of about 40‚000 in the state’s southwest corner‚ but the outcome could reshape policies nationwide for years to come. CHARLEY WILLISON‚ Cornell University: ….cities generally use much more punitive policies‚ these criminalization approaches that are at the heart of Johnson vs. Grants Pass to effectively punish people who are experiencing homelessness for behaviors that are associated with the realities of homelessness. Now‚ importantly‚ the use of these punitive policies actually facilitate cycles of homelessness and does not effectively end homelessness…. (Willison would throw in another “punitive” description before she was done.) Asked about Florida’s new camping ban‚ she responded similarly: “So these camping bans and other broadly punitive responses again‚ where we see people who are experiencing homelessness being either fined through civil penalties or criminalized through criminal penalties for realities associated with homelessness….” She responded to Yang’s question about a new California law to provide more drug treatment with liberal fantasizing‚ with no opposing views from Yang: ….For example‚ having more accountability‚ where cities are required to spend a certain proportion of their budgets on housing will likely help improve the situation and require cities to engage in these evidence-based policies which are far more effective. The anchor transitioned directly to a field report from Montana‚ with reporter Joe Lesar of Montana PBS speaking to Steve and Belinda Ankney‚ “[who] have been living in their trailer on the streets of Bozeman for the past three years.” Lesar admitted “Both have struggled with addiction” and Belinda has been previously jailed‚ which she blamed on “not getting the right help‚ not being on the right meds.” Lesar: To tackle this growing issue‚ Bozeman recently implemented a new ordinance limiting camping in the same spot to 30 days with an option for filing for an extension. There are rules about keeping camps clean‚ and after three warnings $25 civil penalties will be issued…. The reporter at least provided some anecdotes from citizens helping pay for homeless upkeep‚ with the head of an environmental consulting firm noting he’d suffered thefts on his company’s property and the harassment of an employee. But he ended with the view of a hand-wringing social worker and a lecture from the trailer-living denizen: Heather Grenier‚ Human Resources Development Council: Just general sentiment that everyone deserves the safe warm place to sleep is that doesn’t really resonate with everyone anymore. Steve Ankney: “….there are good people in Bozeman‚ just the ugly overshadows the good so bad.” The segment ended with a graphic of a federal government statistic claiming a 551% increase in “individuals experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness” from 2007 to 2023‚ which is a bit vague. When even the liberal Washington Post editorial page admits “There is no constitutional right to pitch your tent on the sidewalk” -- the kind of common-sense argument absent from PBS -- it’s clear that taxpayer-supported outlets like PBS and National Public Radio are pitched far to the left of the average American taxpayer who is involuntarily supporting them. This segment was brought to you in part by Consumer Cellular‚ and taxpayers like you. A transcript is available‚ click “Expand.” PBS News Weekend 4/21/2024 7:12:56 p.m. (ET) JOHN YANG: Tomorrow‚ the Supreme Court hears arguments about whether laws limiting homeless encampments in public places are unconstitutional because they punish people for being homeless. The case is about laws in Grants Pass‚ Oregon‚ a city of about 40‚000 in the state southwest corner‚ but the outcome could reshape policies nationwide for years to come. Charley Willison teaches public health at Cornell University. She`s the author of &;quot;Ungoverned and Out of Sight: Public Health and the Political Crisis of Homelessness in the United States.&;quot; Charley‚ in the filings for this case Grants Pass as well there these laws are about public health and public safety. The two homeless people who have brought this case say it`s really about pushing homeless people out of the -- out of Grants Pass getting them to move on to go someplace else. What`s your take on that&;#63; CHARLEY WILLISON‚ Cornell University: This is such an important question. And what this case is really getting at is a deep tension that American cities face when thinking about how to respond to homelessness across the country‚ but especially in West Coast cities that have very limited shelter capacity‚ and are also in the midst of a housing crisis. And these two tensions that I`d like to emphasize are that cities generally use much more punitive policies these criminalization approaches that are at the heart of Johnson versus Grants Pass to effectively punish people who are experiencing homelessness for behaviors that are associated with the realities of homelessness. Now‚ importantly‚ the use of these punitive policies actually facilitate cycles of homelessness and does not effectively end homelessness. While the alternative addressing homelessness through the use of more housing‚ as well as housing paired with access to social and medical services‚ does successfully end homelessness. However‚ we have seen cities across the United States have much less emphasis on the use of housing and supportive services compared to these punitive policies that are at the heart of this case. JOHN YANG: But at the same time‚ these camping bans are really spreading just this spring. Governor DeSantis and Florida signed a ban statewide banning camping in public places. But you say this really doesn`t help homelessness is it‚ does it hurt it&;#63; CHARLEY WILLISON: So these camping bans and other broadly punitive responses again‚ where we see people who are experiencing homelessness being either find through civil penalties or criminalized through criminal penalties for realities associated with homelessness‚ whether it is sleeping in public sitting down in public eating public‚ things like this do actually promote cycles of homelessness. Now‚ the Florida law that is in question is a ban on camping. However‚ it is also using an interim solution where there are temporary shelters and that will hopefully be used‚ as opposed to criminalizing people. So banning camping as opposed to incarcerating people‚ or finding people directing people into temporary shelters‚ which appear to be sanctioned camping sites. JOHN YANG: What about the ballot proposal that narrowly passed earlier this year in California that directs counties to spend more money on housing programs and drug treatment programs&;#63; Will that help&;#63; Will that make a difference&;#63; CHARLEY WILLISON: Proposition one in California‚ which passed just about a month ago‚ this raises the issue of the housing crisis itself‚ and the need for West Coast cities in particular‚ but especially cities across the United States‚ to engage in more housing based solutions‚ which are the only solution that effectively successfully ends homelessness. Across the country having these investments and in California‚ especially where there are by far very limited or far more limited shelter and housing opportunities compared to other East Coast cities. For example‚ having more accountability‚ where cities are required to spend a certain proportion of their budgets on housing will likely help improve the situation and require cities to engage in these evidence based policies which are far more effective. JOHN YANG: From your perspective‚ what`s the public health issue or what`s the public health effect implications of homelessness&;#63; CHARLEY WILLISON: There are many‚ many grave public health effects of homelessness. If we think about homelessness‚ in general‚ people experiencing homelessness‚ whether it is short term or long term face group far greater morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. And this is both in the short term and the long term. For example‚ we know that people who are experiencing sheltered homelessness‚ so this is when they don`t have to sleep outside‚ they have a place to go their mortality rates are about three times higher than the general population. Whereas people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness‚ which is the population that is at the heart of this court case‚ have mortality rates are about 10 times higher than the general population. So when we`re thinking about population health and homelessness is absolutely a public health problem because of the grave and dire consequences for people and their health in these ways. JOHN YANG: In your view‚ what`s at stake in this case&;#63; CHARLEY WILLISON: There are many things at stake in this case‚ but I would say probably the most important thing is again‚ going back to this tension‚ where cities have placed a lot of very robust resources in these punitive responses to homelessness. Now‚ if they are allowed to continue to do this‚ the question will be whether or not cities will be incentivized to create these alternative solutions using housing paired with social medical services‚ which we know actually successfully ends homelessness. However‚ if the court rules in favor of Johnson‚ we I think this is a very big opportunity for cities to engage in these evidence based solutions and make investments especially in West Coast cities‚ where they have not previously done so‚ so that we may actually successfully reduce and end homelessness. JOHN YANG: Charley Willison of Cornell University. Thank you very much. CHARLEY WILLISON: Thank you so much. JOHN YANG: In some cities with growing numbers of homeless people‚ the issue goes beyond encampments and public places. They`re also coping with more people living in cars and RVs parked on city streets. Montana PBS`s Joe Lesar reports on how city leaders in Bozeman Montana are dealing with the tensions arising from this more visible display of homelessness. STEVEN ANKNEY‚ Bozeman resident: Terry‚ oh‚ man‚ you got to have thick skin out here. BELINDA ANKNEY‚ Bozeman resident: Oh‚ we got the windows broke out. Not went up there. It`s just completely gone. STEVEN ANKNEY: Yeah‚ that one`s had the BB come through there. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Steve and Belinda Ankney‚ have been living in their trailer on the streets of Bozeman for the past three years. STEVEN ANKNEY: We take plates around or if people are having a hard time and they`re not eating‚ they`ll stop by and ask if we can help her anyway. JOE LESAR (voice-over): The rising cost of living has only compounded issues they I`ve been facing for years.   BELINDA ANKNEY: I was raised with the drugs. I was raised with the alcohol. That`s all I knew. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Both have struggled with addiction. Belinda works full time at a restaurant. But health issues made worse by inconsistent access to care have affected Steven`s ability to work. BELINDA ANKNEY: One of the biggest misconceptions is that we want to be here that we`re not trying to get out. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Belinda`s legal troubles out another barrier to securing housing. BELINDA ANKNEY: Yeah‚ the mental health issues. The drug issues the in and out of incarceration not getting the right help not being on the right meds‚ you know‚ just as (inaudible). JOE LESAR (voice-over): Urban camping as it`s been named‚ has increased by 200 percent in the last two years‚ according to city officials. It`s a growing issue. It`s increasingly dividing Bozeman. WOMAN: If Bozeman is too expensive to live in‚ choose another place to live. MAN: But it feels more like a warzone with all these housing crises and no solutions to anything. MAN: Bozeman doesn`t owe anybody anything. MAN: I`ve never seen or been in a city where there`s so much conflict over how this homelessness thing. JOE LESAR (voice-over): To tackle this growing issue‚ Bozeman recently implemented a new ordinance limiting camping in the same spot to 30 days with an option for filing for an extension. There are rules about keeping camps clean‚ and after three warnings $25 civil penalties will be issued. If unsanitary conditions continue‚ the city can clear camp 72 hours after giving notice. But some are criticizing city leaders for putting too much of a burden on the unhoused. Others feel they`re being too lenient. Mayor Terry Cunningham says the rules about where camping will be allowed will help make the situation more manageable. MAYOR TERRY CUNNINGHAM‚ Bozeman‚ Montana: You can`t be parked in front of a business‚ you can`t be parked in front of a school‚ childcare facility‚ residence‚ et cetera. So narrowing the areas that it is acceptable to camp in front of is important so we can get some level of predictability and control. JOE LESAR (voice-over): But many camps are already in compliance with those rules. A group of businesses are suing the city alleging that it is refusing to enforce existing laws within the homeless encampments. Andrew Hinnenkamp runs one of the businesses involved in the lawsuit. ANDREW HINNENKAMP‚ Principal‚ Modulus Corporation: Early on‚ we had some thefts of services on the property. We had a little bit of a harassment interaction with an employee and one of the individuals. TERRY CUNNINGHAM: homelessness has always been on the radar. This with urban camping RV`s‚ more cars. This is a recent phenomenon. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Because of the generators‚ new model cars and TV antennas‚ there`s a sentiment in Bozeman that people are choosing to camp in order to save money on housing. City officials acknowledged that some people are doing that and will be asked to move on. But figuring out who those people are comes with challenges. TERRY CUNNINGHAM: One of the difficulties is having the discussion and saying why are you currently homeless&;#63; We -- they are not required to provide us with that information and often are uncomfortable answering those types of questions. JOE LESAR (voice-over): The population of people experiencing homelessness in Bozeman has increased by 50 percent since 2020. In the groups providing services to this growing population have struggled to meet the demand. HEATHER GRENIER‚ President‚ Human Resources Development Council: As a result of COVID there was this big uptick in demand and there was this outpouring of support. And now that outpouring of support has dropped off‚ but the demand has stayed up at this level and the resources are very insufficient to meet the need. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Heather Grenier‚ who runs the nonprofit Human Resource Development Council‚ says her organization`s caseload is at capacity. And there are not many alternatives available. HEATHER GRENIER: It`s remarkably difficult because there`s no pathway for us to help them. There`s no housing. There`s no rental assistance to help them get into housing. And even if there were a housing unit‚ there`s no transitional housing. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Usage of HRDC overnight shelter has nearly doubled since 2019. Some of that needs should be eased when they`re new 24/7 shelter opens‚ but that`s not expected until next year. Grenier believes this newer‚ more visible form of homelessness has caused a shift in attitudes around Bozeman. HEATHER GRENIER: Just general sentiment that everyone deserves the safe warm place to sleep is that doesn`t really resonate with everyone anymore. BELINDA ANKNEY: Are we out&;#63; Are we out for it&;#63; STEVEN ANKNEY: No. I`ve seen not. I don`t know. BELINDA ANKNEY: OK. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Cost between a lack of services and a frustrated community‚ are people like Steven and Belinda&;#63; STEVEN ANKNEY: There are good people in Bozeman there. Yeah. It`s just the ugly overshadows the good so bad. This is what it`s about. We are having me struggles and we are having these problems. But as soon as we get through them‚ we are going to be okay. We are going to get to the other side. JOE LESAR (voice-over): Yeah. For PBS News Weekend‚ I`m Joe Lesar in Bozeman‚ Montana.

The City of Baltimore recently blasted the owner and manager of the ship that wrought havoc in Maryland last month‚ stressing not only that they were negligent and their ship was &;quot;unseaworthy&;quot; but that they should be denied their proposed liability cap. The Dali‚ a 984-foot vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by the DEI-captive Synergy Marine Group‚ rammed into one of the piers holding up the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26‚ killing six people including a beloved father of three. Were it not for the heroism and quick work of several Baltimore police officers‚ many more lives would likely have been lost when the steel arch-shaped truss bridge that had long extended Americans 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River came crashing down. In addition to lives lost‚ the horrific incident crippled the port — the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic. Even today‚ the ruins of the bridge have limited commercial activity to roughly 15% of the port's pre-collapse level. While emergency crews were frantically searching for bodies in the harbor's frigid waters just days after the collision‚ the companies that own and manage the ship requested that they have their liabilities limited with regards to the fatal incident. The City of Baltimore made clear in court documents filed this week in the U.S. District Court in Maryland that the companies' requested $43.6 million liability cap &;quot;is substantially less than the amount that will be claimed for losses and damages arising out of the Dali's allision with the Key Bridge.&;quot; The city further underscored the companies were &;quot;grossly and potentially criminally negligent‚&;quot; reported Axios. The city made clear in court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Maryland that the ship's owner and manager &;quot;are not entitled to limit their liability in the instant case because‚ at all times relevant to this litigation‚ the Dali was operated in a willful‚ wanton‚ and reckless manner.&;quot; The city further claimed that Grace Ocean Private and the Synergy Marine Group knew that the 110‚000-ton Dali to be &;quot;unseaworthy&;quot; for‚ among other things‚ failing to properly train the crew‚ failing to follow safe work and operational procedures‚ failing to properly maintain the vessel and its appurtenances‚ failing to properly equip the vessel‚ failing to conduct adequate inspections of the vessel and it appurtenances‚ failing to properly supervise the work with competent employees‚ failing to provide a competent crew and safe equipment‚ improper management of the Dali and/or her crew‚ and/or other failure‚ acts‚ or omissions of the petitioners and of the Dali that may be shown at trial. Just hours prior to leaving port‚ the Dali — which also collided with the stone pier in the Port of Antwerp in 2016 — had experienced electrical problems‚ a person with knowledge of the situation recently told the Associated Press. Alarms on some of the ship's refrigerated containers apparently had gone off‚ suggestive of an inconsistent flow of power. Nevertheless‚ the Dali's masters carried on with their attempt to reach open waters — an attempt interrupted by another apparent loss of power‚ which sent them careening into a critical pier. While the Synergy Marine Group allegedly failed to execute the basic functions of a ship manager‚ it evidently has other top priorities. Synergy Marine Group states on its website that &;quot;issues related to diversity are a high priority at Synergy. We realize that the benefits of diversity are best achieved by fostering greater inclusion and belonging.&;quot; Whereas the City of Baltimore indicated an understanding Monday that success on the company's part would be characterized by not getting people killed and paralyzing a major port‚ Synergy Marine Group indicated its goal is a &;quot;workplace that is truly characterized by inclusion and belonging.&;quot; A jury trial might be the company's next stop on its &;quot;DEI journey in building an innovative and sustainable maritime sector which all can be proud of.&;quot; Extra to the city seeking to hold the companies financially accountable‚ it appears there may also be criminal charges on the horizon. After all‚ the FBI recently launched a criminal probe into the bridge collapse. The Washington Post indicated that a spokesman for the two companies declined to comment on the investigations and legal proceedings underway. Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

A Democrat sheriff in Texas has taken steps to ensure that at least some of the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard a year and a half ago may remain in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.In September 2022‚ Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida sent nearly 50 migrants‚ who made a brief stop in his state after crossing into the U.S. in Texas‚ to Martha's Vineyard‚ Massachusetts‚ an island with six of the wealthiest‚ most exclusive towns in America‚ all of which adopted sanctuary policies regarding illegal immigrants several years ago.Now‚ at least three of those migrants have been given &;quot;bona fide determinations&;quot; that will allow them to work legally in the U.S. as they await their U visas. U visas‚ short for U nonimmigrant status visas‚ are granted to some illegal immigrants who have been &;quot;victims of crimes&;quot; and yet have helped &;quot;law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity‚&;quot; said a website for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As U visas can eventually transition into permanent residence status and perhaps even citizenship‚ the federal government caps the number of U visas each year at 10‚000.One precondition for obtaining a U visa is confirmation from &;quot;an authorized official&;quot; from a law enforcement agency that a migrant has been &;quot;helpful‚ and [is] currently being helpful‚ or will likely be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of [a] case‚&;quot; USCIS noted.Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County‚ Texas‚ is one such authorized law enforcement official. Shortly after the migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard‚ Salazar — an identity-politics Democrat who has bragged about taking &;quot;action against government overreach toward women and minorities&;quot; — held a press conference‚ accusing DeSantis of committing &;quot;an abuse of human rights.&;quot; However‚ at the time‚ he was unable to identify the criminal statute DeSantis had violated‚ as Blaze News previously reported.Salazar quickly changed his tune and began pressuring Bexar County prosecutors to file felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint‚ arguing DeSantis and others had convinced the migrants to agree to fly to Martha's Vineyard under false pretenses. Such migrants were &;quot;exploited and hoodwinked into making this trip‚&;quot; Salazar claimed.Thus far‚ the Bexar DA has made no moves to charge anyone in connection with the Martha's Vineyard flights. Nevertheless‚ Salazar confirmed that some of the migrants assisted his office's investigation into the flights‚ thereby rendering those migrants eligible for U visas. Gov. DeSantis has long defended his decision to authorize relocating migrants from Florida to Massachusetts. &;quot;Immigrants have been more than willing to leave Bexar County after being abandoned‚ homeless‚ and 'left to fend for themselves‚'&;quot; a statement from a DeSantis representative issued at the time read in part. &;quot;Florida gave them an opportunity to seek greener pastures in a sanctuary jurisdiction that offered greater resources for them‚ as we expected.&;quot;However‚ a judge in Massachusetts seems eager to go after at least some of those who participated in the Martha's Vineyard flights. Though she dismissed DeSantis and his associates from a lawsuit filed by some of the migrants‚ U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs argued earlier this month that Vertol Systems‚ which arranged the flights‚ should be held accountable because it &;quot;specifically targeted ... Latinx immigrants.&;quot;&;quot;Vertol participated in a scheme to recruit vulnerable individuals through deceit so they could unwillingly and publicly be used as a prop in an extremely divisive national debate‚&;quot; Burroughs wrote.DeSantis did not respond to the Miami Herald's request for comment about the latest developments in this case.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

Former two-weight champion Conor McGregor hasn't fought in the UFC in almost three years‚ but he could still fight for a title if analysts‚ commentators‚ and some fighters get their way.The Irishman's last fight versus Dustin Poirier‚ which ended in an angry McGregor breaking his leg‚ seems like it was light-years ago. McGregor claimed the feud wasn't over after the July 2021 bout‚ but it was‚ for a least a few years.Since his injury‚ the fighter has been through political debates over Irish immigration policy that saw him threaten to run for office. At the same time‚ he starred in an MMA-fueled remake of &;quot;Road House&;quot; for Amazon.Even with a mid-2022 edition of &;quot;The Ultimate Fighter‚&;quot; it didn't seem like McGregor would ever return. Finally‚ a main-event clash against Michael Chandler has been set for UFC 303 in Las Vegas‚ almost three years to the date since the iconic sit-down‚ post-fight Joe Rogan interview.For months leading up to the fight‚ however‚ fans‚ fighters‚ and analysts have been looking for a way for the UFC to make McGregor's return more meaningful by making it a title fight.The undying specter that is a 165-pound division has never seemed closer‚ with many sources citing inside knowledge on the topic.&;quot;A lot of times it comes down to being at the right place at the right time‚&;quot; UFC commentator and ex-two-division champion Daniel Cormier stated. &;quot;I believe that if they're going to do a 165-pound division‚ it should have a name attached to the weight class that is so big that it draws people's attention.&;quot;&;quot;Conor McGregor being that name. Michael Chandler‚ on the other hand‚ will benefit from being in the right place at the right time‚&;quot; Cormier said on ESPN's &;quot;Good Guy / Bad Guy&;quot; podcast. &;quot;These guys would then fight for the 'super lightweight' championship. That's what I believe it is‚ and it's only 10 pounds heavier than 155. Move 170 to 175‚ move 185 to 195‚ keep 205‚ keep heavyweight‚&;quot; Cormier added.The comments came months after UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev said that it wasn't just a rumor that the company was going to start a 165-pound division; it was confirmed.&;quot;This is not a rumor‚ this is already for sure as far as I know‚&;quot; Fiziev said in Russian‚ according to BJPenn.com. &;quot;I heard that this is already true ... they even identified something there‚ I heard. Yes.&;quot;Detractors have pointed to the long-held theory that the new division would be introduced at UFC 300‚ which of course did not come true‚ but that hasn't stopped the constant speculation.Former UFC referee John McCarthy claimed that he spoke to a UFC employee who said there was currently no plan to introduce the new division‚ two months after Fiziev's claim that it was &;quot;for sure.&;quot;&;quot;I recently had a conversation with a person that is a well-known employee of the UFC and stuff. I got nothing as far as this being a title fight‚ but it definitely could be‚&;quot; McCarthy teased on the &;quot;Weighing In&;quot; podcast with Josh Thomson.Two months prior‚ McCarthy said that it was UFC matchmakers who were the ones against making the new divisions‚ citing they felt the weight classes would become watered down.When asked by Ariel Helwani about the fight‚ however‚ the new weight class was never brought up by Chandler. Rather‚ he explained that 170-pound and 185-pound divisions were the main subject of discussion for the fight‚ saying that 170 pounds sounded just right‚ allowing both fighters to stay disciplined.&;quot;I think 170 is perfect. 170 is enough to keep us both disciplined enough through a training camp‚ and it's going to be a little bit of a cut‚&;quot; Chandler said.Pro fighter T.J. Laramie agreed that there should be more weight classes in the UFC and MMA in general. &;quot;Every 10 pounds would make more sense.&;quot;&;quot;McGregor/Chandler would have been a good opportunity to make it on a large scale. I think the UFC refrains from doing it for the reason that they wouldn't have enough room in their year to be able to put on more fights as it is‚&;quot; Laramie told Blaze News.Analyst and former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen disagreed that Chandler and McGregor were the right men for the job‚ though‚ stating that the two were far too unreliable to carry a new division.&;quot;There is no 165-pound belt coming‚&;quot; he promptly said. &;quot;History of the UFC and the psychology of Dana White says 'I don't give anybody a world title opportunity that's coming off losses‚ let alone multiple.' History of Dana White psychology says 'I don't give anybody a world title opportunity even if they're the number one contender if I have reason to believe they're not going to come back and defend it.' He's still upset that George St. Pierre relinquished the belt after he beat Michael Bisping‚ and that was in 2017. I mean not for nothing‚ these aren't the right guys.&;quot;Cormier related those comments to his own career.&;quot;Going back to me‚ they had no intent of giving me my first championship opportunity. But when Alexander Gustafsson got hurt‚ I stepped in‚ and I never left the title picture after. I was reliable. They could always call me and say ‘Hey‚ you want to fight this guy for the belt&;#63;'&;quot;Referee McCarthy disagrees with Sonnen‚ albeit indirectly‚ and said the details about whether Chandler or McGregor deserve to be champions of a new division don't matter.&;quot;It doesn't matter if you put it as the fight with Chandler and Conor and it makes sense because they do better with Conor being a champion. Just be honest‚ they do better. So it’s a business. And so why not say well‚ you know‚ right now we don’t have that weight class‚&;quot; McCarthy added.UFC 303 will air on pay per view June 29‚ 2024‚ from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas‚ Nevada.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

While the media suggests there’s a mountain of evidence against Donald Trump in his hush money trial‚ the actual evidence tells a different story. While Trump may have 34 counts of falsifying business records against him‚ they’re all for one payment. That payment is $130‚000 to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016‚ which he is accused of covering up. “There is no mountain of evidence that is standing in the way of anything other than a mistrial‚” Glenn Beck says. “How do you get to 34 counts when it’s basically one payment&;#63;” Stu Burguiere asks. There were a total of 11 checks written‚ which landed Trump with 11 counts‚ which Stu says is “totally stretching.” “It’s one payment broken into 11 times. Okay‚ that’s BS‚” he says‚ noting that Michael Cohen then submitted 11 invoices‚ which takes Trump to 22 counts. “So again‚ it’s still just one payment they’ve broken into 22 different charges‚” Stu explains. When the payments then went through in the general ledger for Trump’s trust‚ he used 12 entries to signify it. That represents another 12 counts against the former president. “Anyone can recognize they’re trying to blow this number up to make it look more like it was a real series of criminal activity rather than just one thing‚” Stu says‚ adding that “you can absolutely have a problem with that one payment‚ that is totally fine.” Want more from Glenn Beck&;#63;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.

Under the code of omert&;agrave;‚ anyone who spoke to the police was marked for torture and death — and so were their families. The post Omert&;agrave;: The Code Of Silence That Once Defined The Mafia appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Barnard placed dozens of students on interim suspension last week after they participated in Columbia University’s unauthorized tent encampment.

David Pecker said he warned Trump that women would try to sell salacious stories about his past escapades.

'Ivy League Has LOST Its Mind': Mike Rowe Calls Out Elite‚ Ivy League Schools As Only HE Can and BOOM