Book Recommendations Horror Read an Excerpt From Nick Medina’s Indian Burial Ground On this reservation‚ not all is what it seems… By Nick Medina | Published on April 23‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina‚ a mythological horror novel available now from Berkley. All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on—just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her—things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down.But the facts about Roddy’s death just don’t add up‚ and Noemi isn’t the only one who suspects that something menacing might be lurking within their tribal lands.After over a decade away‚ Uncle Louie has returned to the reservation‚ bringing with him a past full of secrets‚ horror‚ and what might be the key to determining Roddy’s true cause of death. Together‚ Noemi and Louie set out to find answers… but as they get closer to the truth‚ Noemi begins to wonder whether it might be best for some secrets to remain buried. Prologue She couldn’t feel her feet. Not her knees or her hips either. Running like a Thoroughbred in a race‚ no one would know that she’d been limping just thirty minutes earlier‚ from her front door to her Jeep‚ favoring her left ankle‚ swollen and plum purple. Maximus bore the blame for her sprain. If the damn dog hadn’t snatched her phone from her hand‚ she wouldn’t have chased him yesterday in the yard‚ and she wouldn’t have rolled her ankle on the knot of wood—probably chewed up by old Maximus himself—hidden in the grass. Pain had made her grimace with each tender step thereafter‚ but now‚ despite the force of her wide‚ rapid strides driving her feet hard against the asphalt‚ she didn’t feel any pain at all. Just worry and dread. He might still be alive‚ she thought. Please‚ let him be alive. It couldn’t have taken her more than a minute to run down the road to the Grand Nacre Casino and Resort‚ which was glittering in the light of the descending sun. She would have called for help from the Jeep if she could have found her phone. It’d been in the cupholder beside her when she’d set off for work‚ earlier than usual because the bum ankle would slow her down—thanks again‚ Maximus—but after she’d swerved the Jeep to the left in a desperate Hail‑Mary‑hold‑tight at‑ tempt to avoid the inevitable‚ the cupholder was empty‚ the Jeep was on its side‚ and the man she’d tried not to hit was partially wrapped around the base of the tree trunk that’d prevented him from flying into the woods that bordered the road. Sounds from the impact remained within her. Taylor Swift singing “Anti‑Hero‚” silent now. The deafening crash of the Jeep. The report of the man’s ribs meeting metal. The sickening crack of his skull against glass. Its top down‚ she’d clung to the Jeep’s steering wheel as the vehicle‚ toppling in slow motion‚ rolled onto its side like her ankle on that knot of wood. Call an ambulance‚ she’d shrieked at Caleb Guidry‚ ragged nails between his teeth‚ at the security station just beyond the casino’s sliding glass doors. What’s wrong‚ Lena&;#63; A piece of nail shot from his mouth. Used to her flirty smiles as she enticed high rollers to her blackjack table through the swing shift hours‚ he’d never seen her so worked up before. She’d shouted other things at him in response … Man… … Hit him… … Up the road… HURRY&;#33; before turning right around and pounding the pavement again. Buy the Book Indian Burial Ground Nick Medina Buy Book Indian Burial Ground Nick Medina Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget Please don’t be dead. She wondered if Caleb had summoned the ambulance yet. The resort had medics on‑site. It wouldn’t take them long to arrive. I’m alive‚ had been her first thought after the toppled Jeep touched down‚ relief and disbelief swelling within her. Her fingers made quick work of disengaging the seat belt that had kept her head from cracking against the ground‚ an old commercial surfacing in her mind. This is your brain on drugs. But it was only half an oxy she’d taken‚ for the pain in her ankle‚ and it’d worn off by the time she’d left for work. Having retched on the road’s shoulder upon spying the unmoving man‚ she’d been too terrified to scurry toward the trees to see if he still had a pulse. The blood was what kept her at bay‚ spreading through his clothes‚ his hair. His heart must have been beating‚ she thought hopefully as she returned to the Jeep‚ lying like a murdered elephant in the road. He wouldn’t be bleeding if his heart wasn’t beating. Feeling the sprint’s toll on her neglected cardiovascular system‚ she slowed to a brisk walk‚ wheezing all the way. Even when she took Maximus to the park‚ he did all the running while she stood station‑ ary‚ throwing sticks and balls for him to fetch. “Please‚” she gasped‚ then‚ “Why&;#63; WHY&;#63;” as she tried to make sense of what the man had done‚ her ears searching for sirens. Still‚ they didn’t come. Feeling wavy inside‚ as if her skin were a sack filled with water‚ she wanted to collapse like the Jeep. Maybe then someone would come along and do the things she couldn’t‚ like put pressure on an open wound or start mouth‑to‑mouth resuscitation. His back was broken‚ his spine curved the wrong way around the tree trunk. Just seeing it again in her mind’s eye made her stomach judder. She spat on the road‚ which was littered with shattered glass‚ amber bits of a broken side marker‚ her handbag‚ empty and half‑full water bottles that she’d habitually tossed into the passenger side foot‑ well‚ the Starbucks cup that had held her Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew—ordered only minutes earlier—and the cherry‑blast‑scented Little Trees air freshener that had somehow come loose from the rear‑ view mirror. Still‚ there was no sign of her phone. And still‚ she saw no ambulance on the horizon. Dizzy and defeated‚ she staggered to the shoulder‚ then screamed and leaped back toward the middle of the road—much the way the man had seemingly leaped in front of the Jeep—at the sigh of a coyote‚ half the size of Maximus yet far more fearsome‚ standing over the man’s body. Head low‚ ears up‚ mouth open‚ glistening red teeth on display‚ the canine growled. Its muzzle was matted with blood. Excerpted from Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina Copyright © 2024 by Nick Medina. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. The post Read an Excerpt From Nick Medina’s &;lt;i&;gt;Indian Burial Ground&;lt;/i&;gt; appeared first on Reactor.

California state Sen. Shannon Grove‚ a Republican‚ blasted her Democratic colleagues for weakening a bill that would make buying a child for sex a felony offense. The California bill‚ which Grove introduced in February‚ would have made soliciting a minor for sex a felony with the potential for up to four years of prison time‚ a fine of up to $25‚000‚ and required those convicted to register as sex offenders. Democrats on the state Senate’s Public Safety Committee passed amendments to the bill last Wednesday without Grove’s approval. The changes would drop prison time upon conviction to a maximum of one year in jail and reduce the charge to a misdemeanor if the child was 16 or 17.  “When I was standing at that podium I was shocked at what was happening‚ and I said‚ ‘Are you forcing these amendments on me&;#63;’ And the chair said‚ ‘Yes.’ And the audience‚ with all of our survivors in the background‚ gasped‚” Grove told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Some of them cried out. They’re mortified. They are hurt. They feel like they’ve been assaulted all over again by what happened.” The amendments also would make it so that a person could face charges or pay a $10‚000 fine and “buy their way out of a crime” if the victim was under 16 years old‚ Grove said. “I’ve thought through this process and I thought through any rational reason that they could have‚ but I think somebody just needs to ask them why they don’t want to put people in prison for buying children‚” Grove said. “My mind cannot wrap around a rational reason not to do that.” Today‚ the Senate Public Safety Committee refused to pass my bill to send child sex buyers to prison. Instead of making the buying of kids a felony with prison time‚ the committee forced me to take amendments I didn’t agree with and watered down my bill to allow a fine or…— Senator Shannon Grove (@ShannonGroveCA) April 16‚ 2024 California is the fifth-worst state in the nation for human trafficking‚ with 3.43 cases per 100‚000‚ according to the World Population Review. Sex trafficking accounted for 89% of all human trafficking cases in California in 2021‚ according to the Public Policy Institute of California. California lawmakers‚ however‚ have pushed legislation that weakens protections for minors who have been sexually abused. In 2020‚ Gov. Gavin Newsom‚ a Democrat‚ signed a bill authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener‚ a Democrat. A member of the Public Safety Committee‚ Newsom voted in favor of the amendments to Grove’s bill relaxing sex offender registry requirements for offenders not more than 10 years older than victims who are minors. A similar amendment to Grove’s bill would remove the requirement to register as a sex offender for buying or engaging in sexual behavior with a minor 15 years old and under‚ if the perpetrator is less than 10 years older than the victim‚ according to a press release from Grove’s office. Grove said the change was “bizarre‚ convoluted‚ and confusing … but purposeful.” “I think every Californian—well‚ just about every Californian—believes that buying sex from a child should be a felony‚” Grove said. “And I don’t think that these senators wanted to take that vote or face the public backlash‚ so they watered it down hoping that I would pull the bill entirely.” Wiener’s office did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. State Sen. Craig Bradford‚ a Democrat‚ also voted in support of the amendments‚ according to the Legislature’s website. Bradford noted during Wednesday’s hearing that although he was supportive of measures to prevent human trafficking‚ he “generally” hesitated about “creating new felonies” due to their potential “consequences on communities of color.” Bradford supported a previous bill proposed by Grove to make the selling of a minor for sex a felony. However‚ he said at the hearing that he was concerned about the new bill because the offender might not have known the minor’s age at the time of the crime. Grove said she worked with the Public Safety Committee by proposing an amendment to make the sex offender registry requirement for repeat offenders only‚ but her fellow senators didn’t accept her revisions. Bradford’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to his Wednesday testimony. “We negotiated a second chance for offenders before you get on a registry‚ because there were things brought to us such as if they met somebody in a bar or they’re drinking‚ you would think that they were old enough to be there but come to find out the person was only 16‚” Grove said. “You don’t want to destroy anybody’s life‚ but if you’re a repeat offender‚ I want you in prison for a long time away from our children. We negotiated in good faith‚ but the whole time they were negotiating in bad faith. And I can tell you that someone told me that in 21 years‚ they have never seen that happen.” The bill now must make its way through the state Senate’s Appropriations Committee before going to the Senate floor‚ and Grove said her team is working to strengthen the bill. This setback was extremely disheartening for victims of sex trafficking and would only embolden sex traffickers‚ she argued. “These amendments say‚ ‘Buyers‚ you have free rein‚” Grove said. “Any perpetrator that enjoys engaging in sexual activity with a child is going to just continue to do it‚ because it’s going to still be just a slap on the wrist.” Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation The post GOP Lawmaker Bashes Dems for Making It Easier to Get Away With Trafficking Minors appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Kansas university officials have spent millions of dollars on diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion (DEI)‚ in what appears to be just a jobs program for DEI staff. A state auditor could not determine what DEI means at state universities or what DEI programs produce‚ and Kansas lawmakers made a proactive decision to reinforce civil rights laws and protect everyone on state college campuses from the discriminatory effects DEI programs have had on campuses around the country. Kansas legislators last week adopted a law that prohibits state university officials from requiring prospective employees to complete a DEI statement as a condition of employment or requiring students to write a DEI statement when they apply to a university. Faculty also cannot require professors to write a DEI statement as a condition of being promoted. Research has found that such “loyalty oaths” to DEI are not uncommon. Those pledges to DEI advocate for racial preferences in college admissions and other university activities‚ though nearly all DEI offices have been silent on the recent antisemitic incidents that have occurred on campuses nationwide. Some races appear more important than others. On Friday‚ Gov. Laura Kelly‚ a Democrat‚ who has vetoed similar proposals that would have protected civil rights‚ allowed this new bill prohibiting DEI statements to become law without her signature. She said she has “concerns” about the legislation‚ but does not “believe” state universities are requiring such statements. Yet in Kansas State University job postings‚ the school’s DEI statement is stamped on the announcements. Meanwhile‚ a state auditor released a report in March finding that state universities spent $9 million in taxpayer funds on DEI in the 2022-2023 school year. The six state universities spent $45 million in total on DEI‚ money that funded more than 500 DEI staff positions and 202 training programs. At Kansas University‚ school officials spent $689 per student on DEI activities. In a legislative hearing that reviewed the report‚ audit supervisor Heidi Zimmerman said the state universities did not have “a single shared definition of what DEI activities are”—which means the audit could be underreporting the actual figures‚ according to Heartlander News. Kansas’ auditor is not the only one still searching for a definition for DEI. The Iowa Board of Regents also struggled to determine what‚ exactly‚ DEI is when it released a report calling for an end to DEI on state campuses last year. A survey of human resource officers at private businesses found that 71% of respondents said their organizations did not have a definition of DEI‚ though many have mandatory DEI training programs. While DEI staffers have failed to define their ideas‚ the offices at colleges have found time to host drag queen shows and sponsor parades advocating for radical ideas on “gender.” Kansas lawmakers have added their state to a list that includes Florida‚ Texas‚ Oklahoma‚ Alabama‚ Utah‚ Idaho‚ Wisconsin‚ and Indiana where policymakers are doubling down on state and federal civil rights laws and rejecting DEI. Officials in other states delay the condemnation of DEI at their own risk. Columbia University has resorted to online classes after antisemitic protests broke out late last week. The school has not been able to guarantee student safety—and neither have school officials at Yale‚ where similar violence is occurring‚ causing injury to at least one student. Both schools have DEI offices—so‚ if DEI staffers are not fostering a diversity of ideas‚ promoting equal treatment‚ and making students feel included‚ then how are they defining “diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion”&;#63; And in case Kansans think these problems only happen at Ivy League institutions‚ the state’s two flagship universities‚ KU and Kansas State University‚ both have DEI offices. To its credit‚ KU’s DEI office issued a statement opposing antisemitism in November 2022‚ though the office sidestepped Hamas’ terrorism in its newsletter of September-October 2023‚ following the Islamic militant group’s terrorist acts of Oct. 7.   Around the country‚ DEI offices prove to be radical operations that show little interest in civil rights or equality under the law. Kansas taxpayers should not have to pay for them. State lawmakers have taken a crucial step that protects free expression and embraces the fundamental idea that we are not defined by our skin color. The post Kansas Universities Spent $45 Million on DEI. Lawmakers Want to Know What They Paid For. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If the economy is so good‚ why do small business leaders feel so bad&;#63;  The latest Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business could hardly be more depressing. The survey finds that the men and women who run our 33 million small businesses and hire more than half of American workers are in a somber mood. It also finds that small-business confidence has reached its lowest point in 12 years.  Amazingly‚ CEOs of small companies are even more fearful of the future today than during the COVID-19 pandemic‚ when most businesses were shuttered. The confidence numbers have decreased every year President Joe Biden has been in office. Here are the numbers‚ according to the National Federation of Independent Business:   March 2020—102.0  March 2021—98.2   March 2022—93.2  March 2023—90.1  March 2024—88.5  Why are small-business owners feeling so dour at a time when the gross domestic product is growing&;#63; I asked that question of David Malpass‚ the former World Bank president who was Treasury Department undersecretary in the Trump administration. Malpass has observed‚ all over the world‚ what factors make small businesses successful and put their owners in a frame of mind to expand.  “Smaller businesses are being crowded out by complex regulations and direct competition from the $35 trillion national debt‚” Malpass concludes. “The Treasury borrowed $23 trillion in 2023 alone‚ much of it in the expensive short maturities needed by smaller businesses for working capital.”  The NFIB data is merely a survey‚ and sometimes business owners and investors act differently than they say they will. But there is more real data on how small companies are expanding. The latest Federal Reserve data through March shows that commercial and industrial loans‚ a key resource for small business dynamism‚ fell over 5% in the last year in nominal terms‚ down over 8% after adjusting for inflation. Yikes. Without investment‚ it’s hard for businesses to grow.   I asked Alfredo Ortiz‚ president and CEO of the Job Creators Network‚ which represents tens of thousands of small-business owners‚ what he sees in the business climate.   “Our members feel as though Biden has declared war on small businesses‚” Ortiz said. He also mentioned that his members are worried that a second Biden term would mean higher taxes‚ more regulations‚ and a continuation of high prices.  Meanwhile‚ the Biden administration seems frustrated and even indignant that more businesses aren’t supporting the White House program. But remember: Neither Biden nor nearly any of his top officials ever have started or even worked for a small or medium-sized business. They don’t have any feel for how their own policies impact the nation’s employers.  As an example‚ the Biden administration wants to put in serious jeopardy the franchise model where thousands of small entrepreneurs can start their own McDonald’s or Arby’s‚ or a retail store representing well-known and trusted brands. They want the parent companies to be on alert that they can be sued for violations of labor laws‚ EPA edicts‚ or federal “diversity” requirements‚ or can be on the hook for lawsuits against their franchises.  This could be the death of thousands of small‚ independent-owned franchises. The Labor Department wants small businesses to allow unions to run their stores.  What is so sinister here is that the franchise model for opening new businesses is an almost entirely unique American model of business growth. Entrepreneurial immigrants can come into the country‚ pool money as a family‚ then own and operate a Popeyes restaurant or a clothing store.  Biden also wants to nearly double the capital gains tax‚ which would scare away angel investors in small startup companies. If owners of a small or medium-sized business put the profits back into the company so it could expand‚ Biden would tax the “unrealized capital gains” on that investment.  Meanwhile‚ Biden is happy to give a big head start in the form of billions of dollars in grants and low-interest loans for large corporations such as General Motors and chipmaker Intel so they can expand operations on the taxpayers’ dime. These corporate welfare programs tilt the playing field in favor of the sharks‚ not the small-business minnows.  It’s no wonder that men and women who put their life savings on the line to build their businesses from scratch feel like they’re under assault. They are being taxed and regulated to death while too often inflation eats away their modest profits.  No one in Washington is going to be “forgiving” their loans when the business conditions get rough and high interest rates make it tough to get emergency loans. There is no safety net—and no “too big to fail” aid package—for the heroes of our economy‚ who have become the punching bag of big government.  COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM  The post Why Small Businesses Hate Bidenomics  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A kitten with a permanent head tilt had the odds against her. Now‚ she lives as though she could conquer anything. PaisleyNikki at MyFosterKittensWhen Paisley‚ a gray kitten‚ was brought to the municipal shelter‚ she was just skin and bones‚ spinning around with a severe head tilt.Nikki Martinez‚ an animal rescuer based in NV‚ found the kitten in urgent need of placement. With the support of Hearts Alive Village‚ she picked up Paisley from the shelter and opened her home to foster her.With her head tilted‚ Paisley needed to twist around to look at Nikki when she first met her. She was drawn to Nikki's voice and completely obsessed with food. When she was rescued‚ she was sick and thin and had a severe head tiltNikki at MyFosterKittens&;quot;She was battling a pretty bad upper respiratory infection and was horribly thin‚&;quot; Nikki told Love Meow. &;quot;I knew she was going to be okay as soon as I got her out of the shelter. She was a strong little girl and full of energy despite being sick and thin.&;quot;While Nikki treated and nurtured the kitten for her ailments‚ all Paisley wanted was extra food. Although she was scrawny‚ she had an insatiable appetite and a &;quot;vacuum&;quot; stomach‚ wolfing down the food‚ leaving no crumbs behind. She was always happy and had a big appetiteNikki at MyFosterKittensAn hour after feeding‚ she trotted up to her foster mom‚ demanding a refill with her tilted head‚ pleading eyes‚ and &;quot;pathetic meow.&;quot;After a few days of TLC‚ Paisley romped around with a spring in her step‚ jumping up and down and playing nonstop. She batted at toys with all her might and made the cutest chirpy meows that could soften the hardest of hearts. Nikki at MyFosterKittens&;quot;I have fostered hundreds of kittens over the last 13 years‚ and I don't remember ever having a little kitten that chirped everywhere she went.&;quot;Her head tilt was likely the result of a previous infection. &;quot;The doctor said her brain compensates (she doesn't see the world upside down). She does everything a normal kitty does‚ just with a head tilt.&;quot; Nikki at MyFosterKittensPaisley had sundry toys in her kitty &;quot;penthouse&;quot; and kept herself very busy during her waking hours. &;quot;I could hear her playing with toys all the time. She's a ball of energy and hasn't met a toy she doesn't like.&;quot;Her unbridled energy and playfulness became a source of entertainment to the resident cats. Nikki at MyFosterKittens&;quot;She is such a friendly girl‚ loves cats‚ dogs‚ people...everyone.&;quot;&;quot;My favorite thing is how she hops over the little baby gate as if she has springs on her legs. You will be constantly entertained by her cute little chirps as she jumps around the house playing.&;quot; She leaped over the baby gate like she had springs on her feetNikki at MyFosterKittensPaisley went from 1.8 pounds to over four pounds in two months‚ and her transformation was stunning.&;quot;She is a healthy‚ energetic little girl with a permanent head tilt. The head tilt does not affect her whatsoever. It's improved‚ and the doctor said it may continue to improve over time. I think it just adds to her charm.&;quot; Nikki at MyFosterKittensWhen Paisley was ready to find her forever home‚ the perfect family flew to meet her.They set up a play zone in their house and prepared an assortment of toys for her arrival. After sleeping through most of her travel‚ Paisley was ready to play the second she stepped into her new home. Paisley in her forever home@tiltedpaisleyShe's settled in beautifully with her new family and found her favorite sunbathing spot and cat TV by the window.She eats to her heart's content‚ plays until she tires out‚ and dreams about snacks while she naps. She's found her favorite sunbathing spot@tiltedpaisleyPaisley has been a ray of sunshine even when she was sick. She lives each day like a champion with a joyful spirit and a belief that she can conquer anything. @tiltedpaisleyShare this story with your friends. More on Nikki's fosters on Instagram @myfosterkittens‚ Paisley @tiltedpaisley‚ and Hearts Alive Village @heartsaliveanimalrescue.Related story: Cat Comes Home with Kind Person‚ Within 24 Hours‚ They Find Kittens Under Their Bed

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In recent days‚ the pro-Hamas gatherings at university campuses across the country have grown more violent and more brazen with their anti-Semitic rhetoric; causing Jewish students to feel unsafe and universities to advise them to stay away as they shift to virtual learning. But despite all the videos of these incidents‚ the Tuesday edition of NBC’s Today (via correspondent Erin McLaughlin) worked hard in an apparent attempt to discredit the Jewish students who were trying to get the world’s attention and expose the far-left. At the top of her report‚ McLaughlin lamented that police were cracking down on violent pro-Hamas riots. “Overnight‚ a tense scene at New York University after pro-Palestinian protesters were forced to leave a campus plaza. NYPD moving in with riot gear‚ police breaking down encampments as a sea of protesters marched through the city streets‚” she mourned. McLaughlin actively tried to discredit the accounts of Jewish students who witnessed the crowds chant anti-Semitic slogans‚ and were assaulted and chased from pro-Israel protests: MCLAUGHLIN: Students like Andrew Stein who said he was on campus late Saturday night for a pro-Israel counter-protest‚ but left terrified by an angry mob. ANDREW STEIN: They started say in Arabic: “Hamas‚ Hamas our beloved please bomb Tel Aviv.” MCLAUGHLIN: Stein says this video shows him being followed off campus. STEIN: Me and my friend had water poured – physically poured in our face. MCLAUGHLIN: At the pro-Palestinian encampment in the heart of the university‚ heated confrontations. UNNAMED FEMALE STUDENT: “Go back to Poland” is not anti-Zionism‚ it’s anti-Semitism and that’s what was said.     She tried to contradict them with claims from the pro-Hamas side who‚ as she put it‚ “say they have no knowledge any antisemitism on campus Saturday night.” “Anyone who makes any thread to any Jewish student‚ we oppose you‚ we do not associate with you‚” a pro-Hamas student told her. It was the same student who was confronted about the “go back to Poland” chant in the block quote above (included in the embedded video). While McLaughlin wanted to suggest there was no evidence of the antisemitism‚ over on CBS Mornings‚ correspondent Meg Oliver showed a video of the “go back to Poland” chant. “Like near Columbia University where some demonstrators chanted anti-Semitic slogans. In one video‚ a protester can be seen holding a sign near Jewish students that reads ‘Al-Qasam’s [sic] next targets.’ A-Qassam is Hamas’s military arm‚” she added. “Columbia announced that‚ to ensure safety‚ most classes on its main campus will be hybrid for the rest of the semester. It has also more than doubled security after a recent series of anti-Semitic incidents‚” Oliver reported. While McLaughlin was trying to discredit and ignore the violence and anti-Semitic incidents caught on camera‚ she was more concerned about Islamophobia: “Meanwhile at Rutgers University on Monday‚ a 24-year-old man was charged with a federal hate crime for allegedly breaking into that university's Islamic center during the Eid celebrations earlier in the month.” “Many are left wondering if this will continue to spread‚” she feared. The transcript is below. Click &;quot;expand&;quot; to read: NBC’s Today April 23‚ 2024 7:04:16 a.m. Eastern (…) ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Overnight‚ a tense scene at New York University after pro-Palestinian protesters were forced to leave a campus plaza. NYPD moving in with riot gear‚ police breaking down encampments as a sea of protesters marched through the city streets. It comes as tensions flair at Columbia University‚ now entering its seventh-consecutive day of pro-Palestinian protests; with the school announcing main campus classes will be hybrid until the end of the semester‚ stating “safety is our highest priority” after the university president's call to “de-escalate the rancor.” A massive NYPD presence was around the campus as a growing number of Jewish students report feeling unsafe. Students like Andrew Stein who said he was on campus late Saturday night for a pro-Israel counter protest‚ but left terrified by an angry mob. ANDREW STEIN: They started say in Arabic: “Hamas‚ Hamas our beloved please bomb Tel Aviv.” MCLAUGHLIN: Stein says this video shows him being followed off campus. STEIN: Me and my friend had water poured – physically poured in our face. MCLAUGHLIN: At the pro-Palestinian encampment in the heart of the university‚ heated confrontations. UNNAMED FEMALE STUDENT: “Go back to Poland” is not anti-Zionism‚ it’s anti-Semitism and that’s what was said. MCLAUGHLIN: The pro-Palestinian students we spoke to say they have no knowledge any antisemitism on campus Saturday night. SHERIF (Columbia University Student): Anyone who makes any thread to any Jewish student‚ we oppose you‚ we do not associate with you. MCLAUGHLIN: Patriots owner and Jewish alum Robert Kraft‚ a major donor‚ announcing he is pulling his support until corrective action is taken. (…) 7:06:26 a.m. Eastern MCLAUGHLIN: Meanwhile at Rutgers University on Monday‚ a 24-year-old man was charged with a federal hate crime for allegedly breaking into that university's Islamic center during the Eid celebrations earlier in the month. Many are left wondering if this will continue to spread. CBS Mornings April 23‚ 2024 7:08:05 a.m. Eastern (…) MEG OLIVER: The mood on campus is tense. Columbia announced that‚ to ensure safety‚ most classes on its main campus will be hybrid for the rest of the semester. It has also more than doubled security after a recent series of anti-Semitic incidents. But on many campuses‚ police trying to contain the demonstrations have been met with resistance. [Cuts to video] [Video of pro-Hama rioters beating police] A chaotic scene at Cal Ploy Humboldt in northern California as police in riot gear clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters. And at New York University last night‚ the NYPD broke up a pro-Palestinian encampment. The demonstrations have spread to campuses across the country with Palestinian supporters angry over Israel's war in Gaza and many Jewish students expressing fear after incidents of anti-Semitism. [Video of pro-Hamas man yelling “Go back to Poland”] Like near Columbia University where some demonstrators chanted anti-Semitic slogans. In one video‚ a protester can be seen holding a sign near Jewish students that reads “Al-Qasam’s [sic] next targets.” A-Qassam is Hamas’s military arm. UNNAMED JEWISH STUDENT: Jewish students are petrified to go onto campus. (…)

The media is obsessed with Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial to such a degree that even Jon Stewart can’t help but mock them. On Monday’s edition of The Daily Show on Comedy Central‚ Stewart ridiculed the media for their priorities‚ with MSNBC and CNN’s Jake Tapper bearing extra scrutiny. Of course‚ it is not the first time the media has obsessed over something Trump-related‚ as Stewart recalled‚ “This trial will obviously be a test of the fairness of the American legal system. But it's also a test of the media's ability to cover Donald Trump in a responsible way‚ a task they have acknowledged they have performed poorly in the past.”   Jon Stewart mocked the media's (particularly MSNBC's) obsession with Trump's trial &;quot;it's also a test of the media's ability to cover Donald Trump in a responsible way‚ a task they have acknowledged they have performed poorly in the past.&;quot; (1/&;#63;) pic.twitter.com/u6UESghJpk — Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) April 23‚ 2024   Stewart then played a montage of several MSNBC and CNN personalities lamenting media coverage of Trump. John Heilemann claimed it was “irresponsible” to “give Donald Trump hours and hours of free air time‚” while Audie Cornish claimed‚ “All of us have learned some very valuable lessons from the last couple of years in delineating what's significant‚ what's important.” After the montage‚ Stewart returned to introduce another series of clips‚ “So brave. Well done. And I think for this trial‚ we will see the seeds of that introspection bear fruit. Or we will learn that learning curves are for pussies.” With the exception of one clip from a local news analyst‚ it was exclusively MSNBC. It included multiple claims that we are witnessing “the trial of the century” and the return of the classic‚ “The legal walls‚ closing in around Donald Trump.” The trial is obviously newsworthy‚ but Stewart suggested‚ “Perhaps if we limit the coverage to the issues at hand‚ and try not to create an all-encompassing spectacle of the most banal of details‚ perhaps that would help.” That cued yet another montage of Tapper and local news reporters following Trump’s motorcade. The last reporter waxed poetic as she claimed Trump was “arriving at this intersection of American history with defiance.”     An exasperated Stewart wondered‚ “Seriously‚ are we going to follow this guy to court every [bleep] day&;#63; Are you trying to make this O.J.&;#63; It's not even a chase&;#33; He's commuting. So‚ the media's first attempt‚ the very first attempt on the first day at self-control failed. And I'm sorry to say that it didn't -- I'm sorry‚ hold on‚ we're getting breaking news.” In the next clip‚ Tapper was interrupting his guest‚ “I'm sorry to interrupt‚ I've just-- one second. I apologize. We're just showing the first image of Donald Trump from inside the courtroom. It's a still photograph that we're showing there. Just want to make sure our viewers know what they're looking at.” Stewart wasn’t convinced viewers needed this information‚ “Yes‚ for our viewers who are just waking up from a 30-year coma‚ this is what Donald Trump has looked like every day for the past 30 years.” Later‚ after skewering MSNBC for interviewing a dismissed juror who almost saw Trump‚ Stewart teed up another clip of Tapper‚ “Anyway‚ coming up‚ more of our three-part interview with a guy who nearly saw Donald Trump in the courtroom. So‚ we have a photograph—it’s freaking me out‚ that picture— we have a photograph‚ we have eyewitness accounts‚ but do we have anything in a pastel&;#63;” Tapper marveled about “A courtroom sketch that we're getting in right now. I'm looking at the courtroom sketch and Mr. Trump looks like he is glowering [jump cut] I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a glower or just a glance [jump cut] I don't know how this -- it's art. It's not necessarily -- it's artistic journalism‚ but it's not a photograph.”     Stewart then turned to Tapper’s colleague‚ Erin Burnett‚ “Why are you showing it to us&;#63; It is a sketch… Well‚ I guess we'll never know. Unless&;#33; We could talk to the person who drew the sketch&;#33; But do we have the time&;#63; Nothing but&;#33;” Burnett was shown conversing with sketch artist Christine Cornell‚ “I want to show one of your sketches today. We're going through some of them‚ but this one‚ it appears in this one that his eyes are closed. What was happening here&;#63;” Cornell didn’t have the profound answer Burnett was looking for‚ “My apologies‚ ma'am. I was sitting 50 feet away. I was having such a struggle to try and get those eyeballs in.” If that's not a metaphor for media coverage of Trump's legal battles‚ then nothing is. Here is a transcript for the April 22 show: Comedy Central The Daily Show 4/22/2024 11:02 PM ET JON STEWART: This trial will obviously be a test of the fairness of the American legal system. But it's also a test of the media's ability to cover Donald Trump in a responsible way‚ a task they have acknowledged they have performed poorly in the past. NICOLLE WALLACE: I think to the degree that the media had lessons to learn in '16‚ they seemed to have been learned. JOHN HEILEMANN: It was irresponsible for cable news networks to give Donald Trump hours and hours of free air time. BRIAN STELTER: Way too much speculation and liberal wishful thinking in attempts to connect dots that did not connect. RACHEL MADDOW: It's the media's responsibility to not get distracted. NICHOLAS KRISTOF: I think we were much too busy chasing after shiny objects. AUDIE CORNISH: All of us have learned some very valuable lessons from the last couple of years in delineating what's significant‚ what's important. STEWART: So brave. Well done. And I think for this trial‚ we will see the seeds of that introspection bear fruit. Or we will learn that learning curves are for pussies. WALLACE: Here we go. MIKA BRZEZINSKI: It's on‚ it's happening‚ history will be made. ALEX WITT: Shaping up to be the trial of the century. FEMALE LOCAL NEWS ANALYST: Maybe the trial of the century. CHRIS HAYES: The trial of the century. WALLACE: What just might be the trial of the century. KATIE PHANG: The taxman is here‚ Donald Trump. AYMAN MOHYELDIN: He will finally be forced to face the music. CHRIS JANSING: The legal walls‚ closing in around Donald Trump. ANTHONY COLEY: The legal walls are starting to close in on Donald Trump. STEWART: Yes‚ this time‚ Mr. Bond‚ it truly is your doom&;#33; Now if you'll excuse me‚ I'm going to leave this room. Obviously‚ when I leave‚ I'm not going to press the button that opens all the doors and dismantles the killing machine I've established. Don't follow me‚ Mr. Bond. Perhaps if we limit the coverage to the issues at hand‚ and try not to create an all-encompassing spectacle of the most banal of details‚ perhaps that would help. JAKE TAPPER: You're looking at live pictures in New York City of Donald Trump's motorcade. MALE LOCAL NEWS REPORTER: It's about a 20-minute drive between Trump Tower and the court building. FEMALE LOCAL NEWS REPORTER: Trump leaving Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. MALE LOCAL NEWS REPORTER 2: They're now making their way across town along 57th Street. [jump cut] They just crossed Park Avenue making their way up towards Lexington Avenue. BRETT TOLMAN: He's heading down the FDR. RANJI SINHA: To the Manhattan courthouse on Chambers Street. FEMALE LOCAL NEWS REPORTER 3: Arriving at this intersection of American history with defiance. STEWART: Arriving at the intersection of American history with defiance. The brilliant juxtaposing of the gravitas of the moment with simple traffic terms was... [Chef's kiss] &;quot;He arrived at the intersection of American history‚ where he put a quarter in the parking meter of destiny. Leaving the car‚ looking to avoid stepping in the urine puddle of jurisprudence.&;quot;  Seriously‚ are we going to follow this guy to court every [bleep] day&;#63; Are you trying to make this O.J.&;#63; It's not even a chase&;#33; He's commuting. So‚ the media's first attempt‚ the very first attempt on the first day at self-control failed. And I'm sorry to say that it didn't -- I'm sorry‚ hold on‚ we're getting breaking news. WILLIAM BRENNAN: You know‚ he wanted to get a jury seated. So we had a lady – JAKE TAPPER: Will‚ I'm sorry to interrupt‚ I've just-- one second. I apologize. We're just showing the first image of Donald Trump from inside the courtroom. BRENNAN: Okay. TAPPER: It's a still photograph that we're showing there. Just want to make sure our viewers know what they're looking at. STEWART: Yes‚ for our viewers who are just waking up from a 30-year coma‚ this is what Donald Trump has looked like every day for the past 30 years. … STEWART: Anyway‚ coming up‚ more of our three-part interview with a guy who nearly saw Donald Trump in the courtroom. So‚ we have a photograph—it’s freaking me out‚ that picture— we have a photograph‚ we have eyewitness accounts‚ but do we have anything in a pastel&;#63; TAPPER: A courtroom sketch that we're getting in right now. I'm looking at the courtroom sketch and Mr. Trump looks like he is glowering [jump cut] I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a glower or just a glance [jump cut] I don't know how this -- it's art. It's not necessarily -- it's artistic journalism‚ but it's not a photograph. STEWART: Why are you showing it to us&;#63; It is a sketch. Why would anyone analyze a sketch like it was—it’d be like looking at The Last Supper and going‚ &;quot;Would you say Jesus looks sad here&;#63; What do you think&;#63; It's because of Judas&;#63; What if we interview one of the waiters at one of the tables from‚ like‚ a different section of the restaurant who maybe actually didn't see him&;#63; But you know‚ we got time to kill.&;quot;  Well‚ I guess we'll never know. Unless&;#33; We could talk to the person who drew the sketch&;#33; But do we have the time&;#63; Nothing but&;#33; ERIN BURNETT: Christine Cornell was in the courtroom today‚ the official sketch artist [jump cut] I want to show one of your sketches today. We're going through some of them‚ but this one‚ it appears in this one that his eyes are closed. What was happening here&;#63; CHRISTINE CORNELL: My apologies‚ ma'am. I was sitting 50 feet away. I was having such a struggle to try and get those eyeballs in. STEWART: Damn it‚ woman&;#33; Does Donald Trump have eyeballs or no‚ ma'am&;#63; Does he or no&;#63; You were in the room&;#33; Tell me&;#33; Or I will not come to your trinket shop in Newport&;#33;