A Meta Oversight Board member whined that the platform’s election-interfering 2020 censorship was “not enough.” Despite a widely cited Media Research Center poll showing that Big Tech censorship altered 2020 presidential election results‚ Meta Oversight Board member Pamela San Martín claimed Facebook’s censorship was not sufficient. San Martín called for more censorship in a January interview with WIRED. She not only demanded increased censorship but announced that the Board has made a “lot of the decisions and the case selection” with the 2024 election in mind. She also urged Meta to strike “preemptively” for its election censorship. San Martín’s suggestions for Meta include “adding labels to posts that are related to elections‚ directing people to reliable information‚ prohibiting paid advertisement when it calls into question the legitimacy of elections‚ and implementing WhatsApp forward limits.” Her advice to coordinate with election officials seems to be a direct encouragement toward tech-government censorship collusion. “No election is exactly the same as the previous one‚” San Martín confessed. “So even though we're addressing the problems that arose in prior elections as a starting point‚ it is not enough.” She suggested the Capitol protest on Jan. 6‚ 2021‚ was tied to online “misinformation.” San Martín cited the 2020 and 2022 presidential elections in the U.S. and Brazil to claim that “Meta had not done enough to address the potential misuse of its platforms through coordinated campaigns‚ people organizing‚ or using bots on the platforms to convey a message to destabilize a country‚ to create a lack of trust or confidence on electoral processes.” Is this a specific recommendation to violate the First Amendment? Despite voicing concerns about biased attempts to “silence” political opposition‚ San Martín exposed her own bias by scaremongering about Jan. 6.‚ former President Donald Trump and the contested election loss of right-wing Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. “In the Trump case‚ we recommended that Meta conduct a human rights impact assessment regarding how its algorithms play a role in amplifying the violent narratives that had been part of what led to January 6‚” San Martín said‚ griping that Meta had not taken the Board’s advice. Meta did ban Trump from the Facebook and Instagram platforms for over two years. Strikingly‚ a Media Research Center poll found in November 2020 that 17 percent of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden’s voters would not have voted for him had they known the scandals censored by Big Tech and media. Meta censorship is election interference.  Conservatives are under attack. Contact Facebook headquarters at (650) 308-7300 and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on “misinformation” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicated this week that transgender Floridians will no longer be able to change the listed gender on their drivers licenses. And the memo‚ sent to county tax collectors‚ has sparked both backlash and support. According to USA Today‚ trans Floridians used to be able to change their ID by “submitting either a court order for a name change or an official physicians letter for proof of gender transition treatment.” So if Jimmy wanted his license to reflect that he was now a she named Jamie‚ he’d just have to get proof of his legal name change or that he was going through gender transition procedures. Now‚ however‚ anyone who misrepresents their biological gender will be conducting “criminal and civil” fraud. "Permitting an individual to alter his or her license to reflect an internal sense of gender role or identity‚ which is neither immutable nor objectively verifiable‚ undermines the purpose of an identification record and can frustrate the state’s ability to enforce its laws‚” the memo sent by Florida DHSMV deputy executive director Robert Kynoch said. Good! At least Florida recognizes that these people are nuts! The state makes it clear that there are certain characteristics that simply aren’t fluid. Your eye color doesn’t change‚ you can’t pick your age‚ and your sex can't be "transitioned‚" so why would they allow you to change it on a legal document like a drivers license? Some agreed with that sentiment‚ while others were pissed. Aerie Drennen from the leftie outlet Media Matters encouraged trans people to quickly get their paperwork done.  “Change your name‚ your driver's license‚ your social security card‚ your birth certificate if you can. Get a passport if you do not have one. Start saving money if you can‚” Dewnnwn wrote on X.  In response to her tweet‚ Riley Gaines‚ former NCAA swimmer‚ wrote‚ “sex‚ like age‚ is immutable‚” and mocked Drennen’s post with sarcasm saying‚ “Trans folks: falsify all your legal government issued identification &; documents while you can!!!” Conversely‚ Florida Representative Anna Eskamani insisted the move was “shameful.” "This is another gross example of how every state agency has been weaponizes to attack trans people. Instead of addressing the property insurance crisis‚ this is what our state is doing‚” she said‚ while Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said that the Florida DHSMV is “erasing and criminalizing trans people is absolutely disgusting and can’t be allowed to stand‚” according to USA Today. Some users on X‚ however‚ were in support of the move.  “As it should be‚” one user wrote.  “Good. Because the license identifies sex‚ not gender identity‚” said another. Related: Judge Revokes Parents Custody After CPS Kidnapped &; Transitioned 14-Year-Old “State ID's are a tool that helps law enforcement‚ employers &; others confirm the physical identity of the individual who presents before them - primarily for safety reasons but also for fraud &; so on. They're not designed to affirm the magical world of make-believe. Cry harder‚” one more wrote. That last user is right. It’s not law enforcement's job to care about your feelings or “identity.” It’s their job to protect the area they work in. No cop should have to shuffle around to figure out what someone wants to be referred to as or what pronouns to use. Not to mention‚ if a woman cop pulls over a transgender woman and reads on the ID that she pulled over someone with his sex marked female‚ the cop may not call for backup whereas if she knew the driver was a man‚ she may have.  This memo simply indicates that the role of an official government document is something serious and that the delusions of these transgender folk‚ are not. Follow us on Twitter/X: Woke of The Weak: Cutting Off Genitals &; Songs About Pronouns Does anyone else feel like the pool of crazies is getting larger? These wackos are doing their best to make that argument for us. pic.twitter.com/syyaJuFPY2 — MRCTV (@mrctv) January 30‚ 2024

Of all the people who shouldn't go on national TV and mock men obsessed with proving that they're "manly‚" Scarborough's got to be near the head of the list. Wednesday's Morning Joe devoted an elongated segment to the phenomenon of some conservatives complaining about Taylor Swift showing up during NFL broadcasts‚ and the prospect that Swift‚ who endorsed Biden in 2020‚ might do so again in 2024. The show replayed an extended clip from Colin Cowherd's Fox Sports show in which he attributed much of the anger against Swift to "that 50% of men [who] never have real intimacy with a woman. And those ones that don't are angry and sad and lonely‚ and they are often misogynistic‚ and resent women who didn't give them the time they think they deserve."  Scarborough then introduced Matt Lewis of the Daily Beast‚ who has a recent column on the subject‚ saying: "You see the rise of right-wing populist movements across the world. And that is a large collection of lonely‚ isolated young men who are becoming more and more angry‚ becoming more and more misogynistic‚ becoming less and less decent‚ especially toward women."  Responded Lewis: "I also think a lot of these right-wing keyboard warrior types are obsessed with masculinity -- kind of ironically in some cases. And I think that they kind of resent Travis Kelce‚ this sort of macho guy‚ dating Taylor Swift.: Scarborough then interrupted to say: "By the way‚ that's kind of a checkmate‚ right? These snowflakes are like [puts on a nerdy voice and imitates a weakling's flex -- see screencap] "Oh‚ I'm so manly. I have on my Trump hat on. My suspenders are all red.  "And then they see Travis Kelce. It's just such a total checkmate." Scarborough‚ better known as Muy Macho Joe‚ ended by disparaging the MAGA men as "little weenies." The ironic reality is that Scarborough has his own sad history of trying to prove just how "manly" he is. As we've documented‚ Joe has: Fantasized about forcing a Capitol tourist to "eat" his camera.  Boasted he'd "die" before negotiating out of weakness like Kevin McCarthy while claiming he'd "stare down" holdout Republicans.  Declared that he'd never let someone "emasculate" him the way Donald Trump allegedly emasculated J.D. Vance. Scarborough said that letting someone emasculate him is totally "foreign to me."  Mocked men who fire AR-15s at gun ranges "to feel like real men‚ cause they obviously don't in real life." So‚ yes: Joe Scarborough knows all about men with fragile egos driven to assert their manliness. All he needs to do is look in the mirror.  MSNBC Morning Joe 1/31/24 6:34 am ET COLIN COWHERD: A talented and beautiful woman is on the air‚ one who would never pay attention to lonely men‚ and it bothers them. There is a stat out there‚ it's kind of uncomfortable for you sad guys‚ that 50% of men never have real intimacy with a woman. That means the other 50% have multiple intimate relationships with women.  And those ones that don't are angry and sad and lonely‚ and they are often misogynistic‚ and resent women who didn't give them the time they think they deserve.  . . .  MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Joining us now‚ senior columnist for the Daily Beast‚ Matt Lewis. His latest piece is entitled‚ "Far Right Snowflakes are Terrified of the Super Bowl and Taylor Swift." JOE SCARBOROUGH: Well you know‚ Matt‚ Colin‚ who's great‚ we love him‚ we love him.  MIKA: No‚ that was really good. SCARBOROUGH: I know. MIKA: Just kind of long. SCARBOROUGH: He did‚ he did bring up an underlying point that's really important‚ and it's really important as you see the rise of right-wing populist movements across the world.  And that is‚ a large collection of lonely‚ isolated young men who are becoming more and more angry‚ becoming more and more misogynistic‚ becoming less and less decent‚ especially toward women. MATT LEWIS: Absolutely. You know‚ the incel phenomenon. I think it's valid‚ it's not good for society to have -- SCARBOROUGH: What is -- just explain to everybody. What is incel? LEWIS: It means involuntarily celibate. And this is a real problem! It's been a problem like in Japan. It's now a big problem in America. And look‚ I think that marriage‚ and women specifically‚ are a civilizing force on men. There's a loneliness epidemic. And I do think‚ kudos to Colin Cowherd‚ because this is part of the story. I also think a lot of these right-wing keyboard warrior types are obsessed with masculinity--kind of ironically in some cases. And I think that they kind of resent Travis Kelce‚ this sort of macho guy‚ dating Taylor Swift. And look‚ if you saw Jason Kelce -- SCARBOROUGH: By the way‚ by the ways‚ that's kind of a checkmate‚ right? Like‚ that's a kind of a checkmate. These snowflakes are like [adopts a nerdy voice‚] "oh‚ I'm so manly. I have on  Trump hat on‚ and oh‚ oh‚ my suspenders are all red."  And then they see Travis Kelce and they're trying to say‚ what? He's not a man? Like‚ it's just such a total checkmate -- LEWIS: Yeah‚ it's insane -- SCARBOROUGH: -- against all of these little weenies. These snowflakes.

After 54 years‚ Denny's has decided to permanently shutter its only Oakland‚ California‚ location‚ citing safety concerns due to the area's high crime rate‚ Fox Business reported Wednesday.The restaurant closed on Wednesday afternoon and left a sign on the door explaining it would no longer be in operation because of a lack of safety."Denny's has been honored to serve the Oakland community over the last 54 years‚" it read. "Closing a restaurant location is never an easy decision or one taken lightly. However‚ the safety and well-being of Denny's team members and valued guests is our top priority. Weighing those factors‚ the decision has been made to close this location."The note stated that some of the restaurant's employees would be relocated to other Denny's locations.A Denny's regular‚ Aloy Ekane‚ told KTVU‚ "I feel so bad for Oakland because it's like everybody's leaving."Jeff Lee‚ another resident stated‚ "Terrible that Oakland's like this.""This is probably the oldest business on the block‚ and it's closing down‚" Lee added. "I'm proud of the Bay‚ born and raised. It's sad because when I was out of state‚ I was proud [of] where I'm from … now‚ I just shake my head because of all the crime going on."KTVU noted that several other restaurants in the Democratic-led city‚ including Black Bear Diner‚ Subway‚ and Starbucks‚ have also recently closed down.Last week‚ In-N-Out Burger announced that it plans to shutter its Oakland location in March‚ Blaze News previously reported.The restaurant chain's operating officer‚ Denny Warnick‚ said‚ "Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions‚ our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins‚ property damage‚ theft‚ and armed robberies.""This location remains a busy and profitable one for the company‚ but our top priority must be the safety and well-being of our customers and associates — we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment‚" Warnick explained.Many large companies in the area‚ including Clorox‚ Kaiser Permanente‚ and Blue Shield‚ have taken additional steps to protect their employees from the increase in crime.Clorox recently hired additional security guards to escort workers from its building to parking lots‚ restaurants‚ and coffee shops‚ according to KTVU. Kaiser Permanente employees were being advised to stay on location during lunch breaks‚ and Blue Shield is providing its staff with rideshare services. KGO-TV reported early last month that robberies‚ burglaries‚ and motor vehicle thefts are up in Oakland.Retired Alameda County Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte stated that it is unacceptable that the city has not had a police chief for a year‚ pointing the blame at Democratic Mayor Sheng Thao. "It's just chaos ... and the city just cannot afford the chaos‚" Harbin-Forte said. "So you know I have to say that this mayor has blood on our hands‚ and we just can't afford to have her in office any longer."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Three New Mexico police officers will not be charged for their role in the fatal shooting of a Farmington man in April when cops responded to the wrong house. As Blaze News previously reported‚ officers with the Farmington Police Department responded to a domestic violence call around 11:30 p.m. on April 5‚ 2023. However‚ police "erroneously approached the wrong house‚" where 52-year-old Robert Dotson resided. Police bodycam footage shows the three cops knock on the front door of Dotson's house and announce themselves. After no response‚ the officers are heard on bodycam video debating whether they have the correct address or not. An officer is heard laughing on the bodycam video about the potential mix-up. Moments later‚ Dotson opens the front door while dressed in a robe and holding a handgun‚ as seen on police bodycam video.A cop screams‚ "Heads up!" Then all three officers opened fire on Dotson‚ who was later pronounced dead at the scene. CBS News reported‚ "Dotson was hit by 12 bullets. His wife‚ Kimberly‚ wearing just her robe‚ came down the stairs to find out what happened‚ the complaint says‚ and the officers fired an additional 19 bullets at her but missed.The New Mexico Department of Justice accused Kimberly Dotson of firing gunshots toward the officers‚ which "created a second imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to the officers."On Jan. 26‚ Deputy Attorney General Greer E. Staley released a letter declaring that "the State would be unable to meet this standard of proof under the circumstances of this case‚" and "determined that no criminal charges can be sustained under these circumstances" and that he considered the case to be "closed." To determine culpability‚ Staley enlisted the services of Seth Stoughton‚ a former police officer and tenured professor at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law."Professor Stoughton provided a detailed report concluding that‚ under the circumstances‚ Officers Daniel Estrada‚ Dylan Goodluck‚ and Waylon Wasson did not use excessive force when they discharged their weapons and shot Mr. Dotson‚" the letter reads. "His analysis also found that Officers Estrada and Wasson did not use excessive force under the circumstances when they discharged their weapons toward Mrs. Dotson."Stoughton said that the cops knocking at the door of the wrong house "did not foreseeably create an unnecessarily dangerous situation.""Unexpectedly‚ Mr. Dotson opened the front door and storm door‚ then partially exited the house while raising a firearm into a firing position and pointed in the direction of the officers‚" the letter states. "At that moment‚ Professor Stoughton concluded that Mr. Dotson presented an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to the officers‚ and all three reasonably fired their weapons‚ acting within the bounds of accepted police practices."After reviewing all evidence "comprehensively‚" the New Mexico Department of Justice determined that the "officers' actions were consistent with a lawful use of force because a peace officer may justifiably use deadly physical force when threatened with serious harm or deadly force."In September 2023‚ Dotson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico against the city of Farmington and the Farmington Police Department.The lawsuit accused the city of failing to properly train its police officers in the use of force and claimed the three officers "acted unreasonably" and "applied excessive‚ unnecessary force." The suit also argued that the deadly police shooting deprived the father of two of his state constitutional rights‚ including the right to enjoy life and liberty.Doug Perrin‚ an attorney for the Dotson family‚ told KRQE this week‚ "One of the disturbing things about the decision not to prosecute the police is the feeling that you may not be safe in your own home‚ because certainly Mr. Dotson was not."The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico reacted to this week's decision by saying the fatal shooting demonstrates "the need for statewide police reform.""New Mexicans should be able to trust that New Mexico law enforcement officials will do all they can to ensure their interactions with members of the public don’t end in a tragedy‚" said ACLU of New Mexico investigation and research manager Barron Jones."We hope law enforcement officials use this tragic event as a teaching moment and exercise due diligence when responding to calls and require de-escalation and rigorous use of force standards‚" Jones said of yhe deadly police shooting. "New Mexico has one of the highest per capita rate of killings by police in the nation."Farmington Police Department Chief Steve Hebbe said in a statement‚ "I appreciate the AG's office and their exhaustive look at this case. At the same time‚ this was extremely tragic‚ and I continue to say that I am extremely sorry for the Dotson family's loss."All three officers remained employed by the city of Farmington and returned to work after the fatal shooting. Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!(WARNING: Graphic content) Bodycam footage released after New Mexico officers responded to wrong home‚ fatally shot man www.youtube.com

Businesses continue to flee various Democrat-controlled cities in the face of unrelenting crime and ruinous leftist policies. Israel critic and gun-control activist Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) recently figured out who to blame for this unfortunate trend: not the criminal elements directly responsible or the leftist in the mirror who championed "unrest in the streets‚" but rather the very businesses forced to pull up stakes on account of persistent risks to their workers and the guarantee of financial ruin. According to Pressley — a member of "the Squad" who in recent years supported defunding the police while blowing taxpayer money on her own private defense — at least one business is fleeing on account of racism contra desires to survive and thrive. Walgreens recently announced that it is permanently shutting down its location on Warren Street in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood‚ one of the most dangerous areas in the city. The Roxbury closure is the fourth Walgreens branch to shutter in Boston since November 2022‚ reported WBUR-FM. "With Walgreens' goal to be the independent partner of choice‚ not just in pharmacy but also in health care services where we can improve health care‚ lower costs‚ and help patients‚ we need the right network of stores‚" a spokesman for the company said in a statement obtained by WHDH-TV. Walgreens is reportedly planning to shut down 200 stores nationwide. "When faced with the difficult decision to close a location‚ several factors are taken into account‚ including our existing footprint of stores‚ dynamics of the local market‚ and changes in the buying habits of our patients and customers‚ among other reasons‚" added the spokesman. Areavibes indicated on the basis of FBI data released in September 2023 that Roxbury's rate of violent crime is 214% higher than the national average. Its property crime rate is 48% higher than the national average. The region has a overall crime rating of F (the lowest possible rating). The local Walgreens appears to have been a popular target for robberies and shoplifting. The Boston Globe indicated that by late 2022‚ Walgreens and similar stores had resorted to locking up everything from toothpaste to bigger-ticket items on account of massive spikes in theft. This appears to be a problem affecting businesses in Democratic cities across the country. The National Retail Federation's latest security survey indicated that "retail crime‚ violence and theft continue to impact the retail industry at unprecedented levels‚" adding that shrink represented $112.1 billion in losses in fiscal year 2022. Pressley took to the House floor Tuesday to condemn the DEI-captive company's decision. "Walgreens is planning to close yet another pharmacy in the Massachusetts 7th. This time on Warren Street in Roxbury — a community that is 85% black and Latino‚" said Pressley. "This closure is part of a larger trend of abandoning low-income communities like the previous closures in Mattapan and Hyde Park." "These closures are not arbitrary and they are not innocent‚" continued the radical leftist. "They are life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination. ... Shame on you‚ Walgreens." — (@) Democratic Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren joined Pressley earlier this month in injecting race into the matter‚ claiming that Walgreens was partaking in a trend of pharmacies "moving away from black and Latino neighborhoods to mostly white‚ higher income areas." "These closures reflect a larger legacy of historic racial and economic discrimination‚ which has created pharmacy and food deserts and a lack of access to reliable transportation‚" added the race-obsessive Democrats. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

“The whole purpose of the United States of America is that you assimilate into the culture of the United States of America‚” says Dave Rubin. “You don't forget all of your traditions. ... You don't forget where you're from. You don't forget your family‚” he says‚ “but you have it fold into this beautiful thing that is America.” That concept‚ however‚ is wholly lost on Ilhan Omar‚ who has time and time again expressed anti-American sentiments in favor of her Somali background. “The problem now is that the progressives and the elitists” — people like Omar — “tell us that this place is evil and it's racist and its founding was awful” because “they want now to turn this country into the types of countries that most of our ancestors had to flee from‚” explains Dave. In a recent speech in which Omar proclaimed her support for Somalia in its territorial dispute with Somaliland‚ the Minnesota rep. claimed that her true president is the president of Somalia. “Our president‚ the president of Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud — let us give him a warm welcome‚ Minneapolis!” Omar announced to a cheering crowd. “The president and I have a special relationship. I call him uncle‚ and he calls me his girl. Welcome to your home; our home is your home. ... We are very happy that Hassan is our president. Somalia is our home. It is home to all the people gathered here. We do not feel that it is far from us. Somalia is our heart. It is in our hearts. We always think about Somalia‚” Omar continued. This isn’t the only time Omar has boldly prioritized Somalia above the United States. She also recently went viral for claiming that “it's the Somalians’ job in the United States to make America work for Somalia.” “She is a sitting congresswoman‚” sighs Dave. “I'm fairly certain that America is our nation‚” not Somalia‚ as Omar repeatedly claimed in her speech. To see more of Omar’s speech‚ watch the clip below. 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.

Hunter Biden's defense team struck back at prosecutors who alleged that the president's son had been using illegal drugs while buying and owning a firearm. While the prosecution alleged Biden's memoir was essentially a confession where he told stories about drug use and even the use of a firearm in a drug deal‚ the defense attorneys rejected the assertion in a footnote while suggesting federal prosecutors should attend a narcotics or alcohol addiction meeting."Perhaps the prosecution should visit an Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous meeting‚ where they will find that the sort of stories Mr. Biden recounts in his memoir are common‚" defense attorney Abbe David Lowell wrote‚ according to Just the News. "These stories are not told to gloat. Acknowledging the depraved actions that they have taken while in the throes of addiction and acknowledging responsibility for them is part of the healing process‚" the defense team added.The book‚ "Beautiful Things: A Memoir‚" was alleged by prosecutors to have revealed evidence that not only was Biden using illegal drugs when he purchased and owned a firearm‚ but also evidence of cocaine where he stored his gun."After the defendant’s then-girlfriend discovered and discarded his gun‚ and after he became aware that local authorities had seized his gun‚ speed loader‚ and ammunition‚ and after the defendant announced his awareness of a federal investigation of him in 2020‚ the defendant chose to author and sell a book in 2021 in which he made countless incriminating statements about his years-long drug usage‚ including during the time period he purchased and possessed the gun‚" prosecutors claimed in court filings."He recounted his interaction with a drug dealer who pointed a gun at him during a drug deal before he decided to buy his own gun‚" they added.The prosecution also referred to Biden allegedly "buying thousands of dollars' worth of crack" while he infamously took video of himself "weighing crack and smoking it."The legal team also stated that a chemist was able to "confirm the presence of cocaine residue on the brown leather pouch" where Biden allegedly stored his firearm.In 2023‚ Biden revealed during a court appearance that he had been to rehab facilities six times since 2003. The Daily Mail noted that on his way to a Sedona‚ Arizona‚ facility‚ he was smoking crack all the way there. He only stayed for a week.In 2022‚ the Sun posted video of the president's son appearing to smoke "drugs" while drinking alcohol.In 2021‚ Biden was allegedly heard on audio recordings from his laptop boasting that he "smoked crack" with the former mayor of Washington‚ D.C.‚ Marion Barry."Mr. Biden has been proudly sober four years now‚" his defense team asserted. "A fact the prosecution conveniently omits when it revels in discussing the more salacious details of his history of drug use."Biden's attorney also alleged that Republicans had interfered with the Department of Justice‚ prompting gun charges against him.Biden was charged with two counts related to allegedly lying on a form; attesting that he was not on illegal drugs when he bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL in October 2018‚ while the third count alleged that he possessed a firearm while using illegal drugs.He faces a possible total of 15 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A coalition of elected leaders from across the country are placing blame on car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai for the recent uptick in vehicle thefts. The group's members recently renewed calls for the federal government to force a recall.On Wednesday‚ Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales (D) joined a virtual press conference with other members of the Councilmembers Against Car Thefts coalition to urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall for the automobile manufacturers' 2011-2021 models‚ KIRO-TV reported.Morales‚ citing Seattle police statistics‚ stated that the number of Kias reported stolen increased by 363% from 2021 to 2022‚ and Hyundai thefts increased by 503%."The resolution and the lawsuit are really about corporate responsibility‚ corporate accountability for not just the theft but for the extravagant resources cities across the country have spent‚" Morales stated. "Mostly young people out stealing cars‚ driving when they may not know how to drive‚ putting them at risk‚ and then using them potentially for other crimes‚ it just sort of compounds."Philadelphia City Council member Kendra Brooks‚ the first Working Families Party member elected to the Philadelphia City Council‚ also joined the coalition‚ WPVI-TV reported."A stolen car can mean the difference between keeping a job and losing a job. And Philadelphia car theft is skyrocketing and Kia and Hyundais account for more than 60% of the problem. And working families should not be the ones bearing the burden for mistakes made by manufacturers of these cars‚" Brooks said Wednesday.Baltimore City Council member Zeke Cohen stated that the group represents cities "that are among the hardest hit by Kia and Hyundai thefts.""These companies have created a major nuisance by failing to install industry-standard theft-prevention technology in their vehicles. These thefts are overburdening local law enforcement. Cleaning up this mess cannot be left to city governments alone. We need federal oversight to solve the national nightmare created by these manufacturers‚" Cohen remarked.New York City Council member Tiffany Cabán (D) slammed the auto manufacturers for building "sub-standard merchandise" despite "rak[ing] in tens of billions in profits every year."In a joint statement‚ Minneapolis Council president Elliot Payne and councilmember Jeremiah Ellison said that the "drastic increase" in car thefts has had "detrimental impacts on our economy‚ health‚ and public safety.""Multi-trillion-dollar companies‚ such as Kia and Hyundai‚ need to be held to the highest standard of due diligence‚ protection‚ and service of their products. When corporations are irresponsible in their handling of merchandise and services and are not accountable to the people they serve‚ they are endangering the lives and future livelihoods of our loved ones‚ neighbors‚ and community members‚" the statement read.In April‚ California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) sent a letter to the NHTSA‚ urging it to issue a recall on the vehicles. He argued that the cars pose "an unreasonable risk to public safety" and fail to comply with federal standards. Seventeen other state attorneys general from across the country also signed Bonta's letter.Multiple cities are currently suing the car manufacturers‚ claiming that the companies "fail[ed] to equip their vehicles with industry-standard vehicle immobilization technology‚" Blaze News previously reported.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional committee this week that hackers backed by the Chinese communist regime are preparing to "cripple" American infrastructure should Beijing decide "the time has come to strike." Wray indicated in his statement to the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Wednesday that the intelligence community has assessed that "China is attempting to pre-position on U.S. critical infrastructure—setting up back doors to cripple vital assets and systems in the event China invades Taiwan and therefore‚ limiting our ability to assist Taiwan." "China's hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities‚ if or when China decides the time has come to strike‚" Wray told lawmakers in his oral testimony. In one example‚ the FBI director noted that hackers affiliated with the Chinese military gained access to the computer networks of a major American transportation hub. Gas pipelines‚ the electric grid‚ and water treatment plants have similarly been targeted. FBI Director Wray opening statement before @committeeonccp : "The PRC has a bigger hacking program than that of every major nation combined." — (@) Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) said that "this is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges‚ water treatment facilities and power plants‚" reported CNN. "There is no economic benefit for these actions. There's no pure intelligence-gathering rationale‚" continued Gallagher. "The sole purpose is to be ready to destroy American infrastructure‚ which would inevitably result in chaos‚ confusion and potentially mass casualties." The U.S. has long known of efforts by state-backed Chinese hackers to compromise American systems and exploit vulnerabilities. These efforts in cyberspace to compromise American security come amidst similarly brazen aerial and ground operations. The regime has‚ for instance‚ sent spy craft over the mainland U.S.; operated illegal police stations on American soil; threatened diplomats; and dispatched agents to execute espionage and political destabilization missions. China does not appear to be merely posturing. The communist regime‚ which has been building up its military and preparing for war at a time when the U.S. military has been assessed as "weak‚" has made expressly clear in recent months that it intends to take the island nation of Taiwan. In the face of significant demographic‚ economic‚ and social troubles at home‚ the communist regime may increasingly see such a military adventure as an opportunity to change its fate and fortune. "[Communist China] represents the defining threat of this era‚" said Wray. "There is no country that presents a broader‚ more comprehensive threat to our ideas‚ our innovation‚ our economic security‚ and‚ ultimately‚ our national security." Wray also expressed concerns about the use of Tiktok by the Chinese regime to "control data collection on millions of users‚ which can be used for all sorts of intelligence operations or influence operations." Extra to collecting data on Americans and pushing influence operations‚ the FBI director indicated TikTok gives Beijing the ability "to control the software on millions of devices‚ which means the opportunity to technically compromise millions of devices." — (@) Gen. Paul Nakasone‚ the head of the National Security Agency‚ told lawmakers‚ "We need to have a vigilance that continues onward." "This is not an episodic threat that we're going to face. This is persistent‚" added Nakasone. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!