It’s been a rough week for “the Squad.” The Squad is an informal group of eight Democratic House members who represent the far left of the party. They typically receive glowing media coverage as they promote various progressive causes‚ but things haven’t gone so well for them in recent days. Not only has this gaggle of far-left legislators revealed the extent of their extremist views‚ but one even finds herself in potentially serious legal trouble. Here’s a quick rundown of the Squad’s troubles‚ as posted by A.G. Hamilton‚ a prominent conservative‚ on X‚ formerly Twitter. What a few weeks for The Squad:Cori Bush under federal investigation.Jamaal Bowman exposed as a 9/11 truther and has J-Street withdraw endorsement. Ilhan Omar leaked Somali first speech. AOC defends UNRWA after they are exposed for terrorist ties.— AG (@AGHamilton29) January 30‚ 2024 Given how much the Squad has generally been feted by left-wing and corporate media‚ I thought it was worth digging a little further into each one of their cases. Jamaal Bowman Rep. Jamaal Bowman‚ D-N.Y.‚ the socialist former high school principal who claims not to know what a fire alarm is‚ got himself in hot water for being too radical‚ even for his left-wing allies. On Monday‚ the Daily Beast reported on a blog he posted when he was a high school principal in New York. The blog was filled with 9/11 conspiracy theories and included this poem:  “Planes used as missiles / Target: The Twin Towers “30 minutes later / Both buildings collapsed / Onto themselves “Later in the day / Building 7 / Also Collaspsed [sic] / Hmm … “Multiple explosions / Heard before / And during the collapse / Hmm … “Allegedly / Two other planes / The Pentagon / Pennsylvania / Hijacked by terrorist [sic] / Minimal damage done / Minimal debris found / Hmm …” The prose isn’t exactly Wordsworth‚ but it is revealing. Bowman responded to the report saying that while he was working on his doctoral degree he “explored” books and literature across the political spectrum. He then tried to justify his ramblings by saying that he’s spent his career standing up to what he called the “far right.” That’s a common tactic for those on the left who get themselves stuck in a controversy: Just say that you will double your efforts to attack conservatives with the assumption that all will be forgiven. That tactic works sometimes‚ but it looks like Bowman has become enough of an embarrassment for his allies to cut him loose. Following the 9/11 poetry reveal‚ Bowman lost an endorsement from J Street‚ a left-wing Jewish organization‚ for being too anti-Israel and for accusing the country of genocide. “When the rhetoric‚ the framing and the approach go too far‚ that’s where we are going to hold our line‚” J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in an interview with the Forward. “And that’s when we felt that Bowman crossed the line here.” Tom von Essen‚ a former commissioner of the New York City Fire Department who held the position at the time of 9/11‚ ripped Bowman in an interview with The New York Post. “Bowman is definitely unfit to be in Congress. He’s definitely someone we don’t need‚” Von Essen said. Cori Bush Rep. Cori Bush‚ D-Mo.‚ is in a bit of trouble with federal authorities. She’s currently under investigation by the Justice Department for using taxpayer money on private security‚ paying it to a man who is now her husband. “Bush’s husband and former security guard‚ Cortney Merritts‚ who she married in February 2023‚ has pocketed more than $100‚000 in payments since Bush added him to her campaign’s payroll in January 2022 for what they marked as ‘security’ payments before switching their description to ‘wage expenses’ in April‚” Fox News reported. This is one part of a larger federal investigation triggered by a watchdog organization’s complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission. Bush has confirmed that she is under investigation‚ but she remains indignant about it. “Since before I was sworn into office‚ I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life‚” Bush said in remarks on Tuesday‚ according to NPR. “As a rank-and-file member of Congress‚ I am not entitled to personal protection by the House‚ and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services.” While Bush is allegedly using federal funds to pay for unlicensed private security—that now happens to be her husband—she’s done her best to demand that average Americans have no security of their own. Bush has been a longtime champion of the “defund the police” movement. What are the plebs supposed to do when crime spikes in their neighborhood as a result? “Suck it up‚” apparently. “I have private security because my body is worth being on this planet right now. I have private security because they‚ the white supremacist‚ racist narrative that they drive into this country‚” Bush said‚ when asked in 2021 about her use of private security. “So‚ if I end up spending $200‚000‚ if I spend 10‚ 10‚ 10 more dollars on it‚ you know what‚ I get to be here to do the work. So‚ suck it up‚ and defunding the police has to happen.” As of 2022‚ filings showed that Bush had spent more than $500‚000 on private security. Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez Perhaps the most (in)famous member of the Squad‚ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‚ D-N.Y.‚  lashed out at the Biden administration for pulling funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East‚ or UNRWA. “Cutting off support to @UNRWA—the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million+ Gazans—is unacceptable‚” the New York congresswoman posted on X. “Among an organization of 13‚000 U.N. aid workers‚ risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible. The US should restore aid immediately.” Cutting off support to @UNRWA – the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million+ Gazans – is unacceptable.Among an organization of 13‚000 UN aid workers‚ risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible.The US should restore aid immediately.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 29‚ 2024 The U.S. has sent $122 million to the agency since October‚ according to The New York Post‚ before pulling the plug. And why did the Biden administration pause the funds? A damning Wall Street Journal report revealed that employees of the agency were directly linked to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. It also found that about 10% of the 12‚000-person staff were linked to terrorist organizations in Gaza. The signs of this organization’s links to the Hamas terrorist group have been there for years‚ The Wall Street Journal later reported. That hasn’t deterred Ocasio-Cortez. Batya Ungar-Sargon‚ the opinion editor of Newsweek‚ wrote on X that Ocasio-Cortez’s digging in her heels about UNRWA at this time truly shows “where she stands on the issue.” AOC coming out strong in favor of the U.S. funding an organization that employs 1‚200 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists‚ in case there was any doubt remaining about where she stands on the issue. https://t.co/9Kzddlczbm— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) January 29‚ 2024 Ilhan Omar I wrote a bit about Rep. Ilhan Omar‚ D-Minn.‚ earlier this week. She was in the news for a speech she gave in the Somali language at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis on Jan. 27. In the speech‚ she seemed to be declaring herself Somali first‚ Muslim second. America apparently didn’t even rank in her hierarchy except for the purpose of using American power to settle political problems on behalf of Somalia. Ilhan Omar‚ an American congresswoman‚ tells Somalians that she is Somalian first‚ Muslim second‚ and… [no‚ American wasn’t even mentioned].Oh‚ and she says that her primary job in Congress is to protect Somali interests. pic.twitter.com/ex5IlkAkR2— Marina Medvin ?? (@MarinaMedvin) January 28‚ 2024 “We‚ as Somalians‚ we love each other‚” Omar said in a translation of the speech posted on X by conservative Alexandria‚ Virginia‚ lawyer Marina Medvin. “There are areas of friction … that led us to kill each other‚ but in reality‚ we are an organized society: brothers and sisters‚ people of the same blood‚ people who know they are Somalians first‚ Muslims second.” Omar later insisted that the translation of the speech wasn’t accurate‚ but it still seems like from what she said—in either version—that she feels that her primary responsibility is to Somalis‚ not the United States. Funny enough‚ Omar has criticized American Jewish supporters of Israel for having dual loyalty. “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK to push for allegiance to a foreign country‚” she said in a 2019 panel discussion about Israel. Following the speech‚ many commentators called for the Somalia-born Omar to not only be expelled from Congress‚ but deported. One such call came from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Expel from Congress‚ denaturalize and deport! https://t.co/UyjEmSSIoQ— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 30‚ 2024 Ayanna Pressley This one is less of a scandal and more of an absurdity. Rep. Ayanna Pressley‚ D-Mass.‚ called the closure this week of a Walgreens drugstore in the Roxbury area of Boston a case of the company engaging in a “life-threatening act of racial and economic discrimination.” She said this in a speech she made on Tuesday. Pressley essentially called Walgreens racist for closing their locations due to crime and lack of profitability. “When a Walgreens leaves a neighborhood‚ they disrupt the entire community‚ and they take with them baby formula‚ diapers‚ asthma inhalers‚ life-saving medications‚ and‚ of course‚ jobs‚” she said. The pharmacy responded to the allegations in a comment to The New York Post. “Roxbury’s closure was due to several factors‚ including the cost of operating‚ low prescription volume and low reimbursement rates‚” a Walgreens spokesperson told The Post. While there are possibly other factors in play‚ Walgreens and other retailers have been hit hard in areas where retail theft is soaring. This has caused chaos for brick-and-mortar retail chains that have struggled to recover from COVID-19 lockdowns. Pressley‚ like most other members of the Squad‚ has called for defunding the police.  She apparently wants to live in a world without police‚ where businesses are essentially controlled by the government and routinely looted by gangsters‚ and where only the rich and well connected can afford security. Sounds like a paradise. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post ‘The Squad’ Has a Terrible‚ Horrible‚ No Good‚ Very Bad Week appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If Fani Willis Not Removed From Case Then I Have Lost Hope

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) admitted Friday that he believes White House staff — not President Joe Biden — are making decisions about Biden's immigration policy.Last weekend‚ Biden promised to "shut down" the border only if Congress passes a controversial bill — which has not yet been drafted — that Republicans believe will do little to stymie the migrant crisis. However‚ Republicans like Johnson have been urging Biden to use the authority he already possesses to alleviate the crisis.In an interview on Fox Business‚ Johnson revealed how he knows that Biden is aware of that authority: because he has personally read the law to Biden."He knows that he has the authority. We've documented it for him. I've read to him the law — myself — to the president. Read him the provisions of the law and said‚ 'Mr. President‚ please take action‚'" Johnson said."I don’t think he's allowed to do it. I'm not sure Joe Biden is actually making these decisions. I think it's staff around him‚ and they're pushing him to keep the border open‚" the speaker speculated. Earlier this week‚ Johnson listed some specific authorities that Biden could use on the border."Here are just a few of the authorities at his disposal — if only he would use them: Presidential Authority to Restrict Entry 212(f)‚ Expedited Removal 235(b)(1)‚ Discretionary Detention Authority 236(a)‚ Mandatory Detention 236(c)‚" Johnson explained.Additionally‚ Johnson has said Biden can use the Immigration and Nationality Act‚ end catch-and-release‚ cease exploitation of parole authority‚ reinstate the Remain in Mexico program‚ and expand expedited removals.The White House‚ however‚ disputes that Biden can take any action‚ which is why Biden demanded that lawmakers "just give me the power!"Meanwhile‚ as the president apparently sits on his hands and a small group of bipartisan senators negotiate a bill that will probably never become law‚ the House has already passed H.R. 2‚ which Johnson has said will provide real solutions to the crisis. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A 70-year-old mother was found guilty of murder Thursday for using a 16-inch blade hidden in a walking cane to fatally stab a man fighting her adult son outside a Philadelphia-area bar last year. As sheriff's deputies escorted a handcuffed Renee DiPietro through a hallway following the verdict‚ she was heard saying‚ "If it was their child‚ what would they do?" WPVI-TV reported. According to WPHL-TV‚ DiPietro’s "child" — her son‚ Jason‚ who was involved in the June 10 fight that led to the fatal stabbing — is 29 years old. What's the background? WPHL‚ citing the Philadelphia Inquirer‚ said Jason called his mom for a ride home after he sucker-punched a friend of the victim — 31-year-old Michael Sides — inside an Ardmore bar for kissing his girlfriend. Police said Sides was overheard saying he was going to “seek out” Jason for punching his friend‚ WPHL said. Prosecutors said soon after‚ Jason tried to get into his parents' vehicle‚ but Sides stopped him‚ and police said the two started to fight‚ WPHL said‚ adding that DiPietro and her husband were inside the vehicle. With that‚ police said DiPietro exited the vehicle and stabbed Sides in the chest with the murder weapon‚ WPHL reported‚ after which Sides died at a hospital. Investigators added that DiPietro bent the vehicle's license plate to obscure it and prevent her from being identified‚ WPHL noted. While DiPietro claimed she was defending her son‚ WPVI said video played in court showed that she‚ her husband‚ and son didn't call 911 or try to help the victim. "This defendant injected herself and a 16-inch blade into a fistfight‚ and while she had the right to defend herself and her son‚ she did not have the right to take the victim's life‚" Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood said‚ according to WPVI. "The way she behaved during the fight‚ and also immediately after the victim fell and was bleeding‚ demonstrated an indifference to the value of his life." Anything else? The jury spent several hours deliberating before finding DiPietro guilty of third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime‚ WPVI said. The judge revoked DiPietro’s bail‚ and she will stay in custody until her sentencing‚ WPHL said‚ adding that the Inquirer reported that her sentencing will be scheduled within the next few days. WPHL noted that DiPietro faces up to 20 to 40 years in prison. DiPietro’s attorney Louis Busico said she didn't commit murder‚ WPHL noted‚ citing the Inquirer — rather that she acted on a “fundamental human instinct” to protect her son and herself. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The U.S. has executed airstrikes in Iraq and Syria‚ according to U.S. Central Command. In a statement‚ President Joe Biden indicated that the move represents retaliation for the recent deaths of three U.S. service members killed in Jordan."This past Sunday‚ three American soldiers were killed in Jordan by a drone launched by militant groups backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Earlier today‚ I attended the dignified return of these brave Americans at Dover Airforce Base‚ and I have spoken with each of their families‚" Biden said in the statement. "This afternoon‚ at my direction‚ U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces‚" the president noted in the statement. "Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing."Three U.S. Army Reserve troops were recently killed in Jordan‚ according to the Pentagon‚ which reported that "a one-way unmanned aerial system (OWUAS) impacted their container housing units." Other American troops were injured due to the attack."Feb. 02‚ U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets‚ with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions‚" a CENTCOM press release noted."The facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers‚ intelligence centers‚ rockets‚ missiles‚ unmanned aerial vehicle storage‚ and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces‚" CENTCOM noted. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Addiction medicine specialist and media personality Dr. Drew Pinsky‚ better known as “Dr. Drew‚” is well aware of the impact of screens on children. “Screens are a problem‚” he tells Dave Rubin. “No doubt that screens are part of the distress that’s going on right now‚ particularly for young people.” According to Drew‚ the solution is society coming to a general consensus that screen time is not good for children. “The only way it’ll happen is if all parents in every given community do it together‚ otherwise it’ll be just sharing screens during the day and stuff‚” he says. Rubin notes that no matter how many parents say they refuse to allow their kids to have screen time‚ a lot of parents end up giving in.“You might want a quiet dinner at a restaurant one night and you hand them the iPad and then it’s five years later and then they’re just whatever they do‚ they’re making cookies‚” he tells Drew. Dr. Drew isn’t perfect either. “One of the things we did that maybe was inadvisable‚ I watched 'South Park' with my sons‚” he tells Rubin. “I always felt okay about it even though there was some inappropriate stuff in there because we discuss it all‚ and we talk about it.” Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations‚ free speech‚ and big ideas with Dave Rubin‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Every Word You Just Said Was Wrong: Philly Columnist Whines About Illegal Immigration 'Local Story'

Trailblazer‚ Legend‚ and Pop Culture Icon Carl Weathers‚ Dead at 76

If you’ve been following the news‚ you will have heard references to the use of the term Amalek which was cited by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in January 2024.  Read moreSection: NewsHistory &; ArchaeologyMyths &; LegendsAsiaRead Later 

Sen. Eric Schmitt‚ R-Mo.‚ and Rep. Mark Alford‚ R-Mo.‚ are among eight Republican lawmakers who are asking the Biden administration to investigate the planned investment in a manufacturing facility in Kansas by Cnano Technologies‚ USA Inc.‚ which has alleged ties to the...