The U.S. Department of Justice may be orchestrating a "retaliation" against Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker over his reporting about Jan. 6‚ 2021‚ attorneys representing Baker said Monday. "Steve’s actions on January 6 have been known to the Department of Justice for 3 years‚" Baker's attorneys said in a news release. "But it is only now — after Steve has broken two major stories greatly embarrassing to the DOJ — that he is possibly being targeted for arrest and possibly felony prosecution. Any action taken to put him in handcuffs‚ hold him in custody‚ and have him transported to court by federal law enforcement will be nothing other than retaliation for his recent reporting." Baker announced last month that the FBI said the DOJ would be charging him for his Jan. 6 reporting and that he needed to self-surrender Dec. 19. Two days after Baker's announcement‚ he noted that the FBI said his self-surrender was postponed until after Christmas. He's still waiting. Baker said last month an FBI special agent in contact with his attorney didn't know what the charges are against him — and wouldn't know until a judge signs off on a warrant. Baker also told Blaze News that if the Justice Department goes forward with charges‚ travel restrictions will be placed on him‚ which will hamper his reporting‚ as he's based in North Carolina but works a great deal in Washington‚ D.C.‚ covering trials‚ viewing Jan. 6 videos‚ and speaking face-to-face with elected officials. Given Baker has been writing Blaze News investigative stories on Jan. 6 since early October‚ he said he "cannot help but think the timing [of the possible charges] is suspect." Blaze Media editor in chief Matthew Peterson penned an op-ed last month criticizing the DOJ and demanding that it "free Steve Baker!" What we see with the government’s decision to prosecute Baker is an escalation in its weaponization of the law against its perceived political enemies. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Baker learned of his coming indictment the very same day he met with a pair of Capitol Police whistleblowers. Nor do I believe it’s a coincidence that the Justice Department decided to press ahead as Baker has spent more than a week viewing hundreds of hours of Capitol closed-circuit TV video and unearthing previously undisclosed details about the events of January 6.What else did Baker's attorneys say?Baker's attorneys in their news release expressed concern about what might be coming from the federal government."We now have information that Steve’s reporting has so agitated officials in multiple federal agencies that an effort is now underway to find a basis to charge Steve with more serious crimes and to use those more serious crimes as a pretext for early morning raids to execute search and arrest warrants on him and his family‚" his attorneys said.More from the news release:If this is true‚ and search and arrest warrants are used to drag Steve out of his house in the early morning hours someday soon‚ that will be evidence of retaliation against a journalist exercising his First Amendment rights to report information that is embarrassing to government officials. This will be ANOTHER breaking of institutional norms by the Department of Justice. Among the undersigned counsel are former prosecutors with the Department of Justice — each having served for more than 20 years — who have witnessed the breaking of other norms of DOJ policy and procedure over the past three years‚ such as using arrest warrants and SWAT raids to apprehend persons charged with only misdemeanor offenses. Now a journalist reporting facts embarrassing the government is being targeted for prosecution. There were dozens of members of the media working for various organizations — as well as numerous independent freelance journalists like Steve — present at the Capitol on January 6. Many went inside the Capitol building to capture what was happening there. We have been compiling a list of all such journalists over the past several months. We will be calling upon those journalists and their employers to publicly stand in favor of the First Amendment and denounce any effort by the Department of Justice to prosecute Steve.The Justice Department on Monday didn't immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment on the news release from Baker's attorneys.What's the background?Baker discussed his Jan. 6 legal saga in a pair of October commentary pieces for Blaze News (here and here). In them‚ Baker said he'd been under federal investigation for the better part of two years following his independent journalistic work on Jan. 6‚ which began before he joined Blaze News.From Baker's first commentary:I made no effort to hide what I was doing on January 6. I did two different interviews that same day with WUSA‚ a CBS News affiliate in Washington‚ D.C. I also uploaded a short YouTube video commentary later that same evening.Upon returning to my home in Raleigh‚ North Carolina‚ I socked myself away for five days‚ doing a frame-by-frame analysis of my own videos. I then wrote and published on January 13‚ 2021‚ a 9‚500-word opus to my blog detailing what I experienced that day‚ titled‚ “What I Saw on January 6th in Washington‚ D.C.”That piece‚ and a February 24‚ 2021‚ follow-up‚ “Who was ‘Up the Chain’ on January 6?” has been viewed and read by hundreds of thousands of readers on my blog and various social media pages.I always expected that I would be contacted by the FBI at some point‚ at the very least to acquire my videos for the bureau's investigations. I did no violence or property destruction on January 6‚ and I certainly did not interfere with the election certification‚ as I didn’t enter the Capitol Building until well after both the Senate and House of Representatives had been evacuated.After the FBI made initial contact with Baker in July 2021‚ Baker said he and his attorney met in person with FBI Special Agents Gerrit Doss and Craig Noyes in North Carolina on Oct. 18‚ 2021. At the conclusion of the interview‚ Baker said he and his attorney volunteered to turn over Baker's Jan. 6 videos‚ but nothing came of that.Baker said his attorney got a Nov. 17‚ 2021‚ email from assistant U.S. attorney Anita Eve saying that Baker could expect to be "charged within the week" — and that the charges would be interstate racketeering and property damage‚ which Baker said were bogus. With that‚ Baker said he and his attorney informed the media that he — an independent journalist — was being prosecuted for his coverage of Jan. 6.Baker noted that Eve was forwarded a copy of that news release and told his attorney that she was "not thrilled" with it. Baker's attorney replied‚ “Mr. Baker is obviously feeling threatened by the charges and is using his First Amendment right to garner support. ... Are you suggesting that he refrain from making further statements? ... He has nothing to hide. But he does have a right to speak truthfully about his experiences and share his opinions. ... It’s not fair to ask him to be silent while he endures federal prosecution.” Baker's attorney again volunteered to turn over his Jan. 6 videos.Despite the threat of charges "within the week‚" Baker said he didn't hear from Eve's office for nearly two years — and in August 2023‚ his attorney accepted service of a grand jury subpoena‚ signed by Eve‚ for all the Jan. 6 videos Baker personally recorded.Baker wrote in his second commentary that "grand juries generally are not convened for misdemeanor offenses but rather for felony charges." Curiously renewed interest from the Justice Department coincided perfectly with his discussions with Blaze News to become a contributing investigative journalist and columnist.As Baker told Blaze News last month‚ he'd been "poking the bear rather aggressively."Later that same August‚ Baker and his attorney delivered a flash drive containing his videos to FBI Special Agent Noyes.Baker concluded his second commentary with the following promise: "The truth is‚ my life hasn’t been destroyed. Yet. But many others have been. I intend to show through my investigations that many lives have been destroyed for no good reason — and that cannot stand."What has been uncovered as a result of Baker's investigations?Baker's first Jan. 6 analysis for Blaze News came last October‚ following countless hours in a House subcommittee office looking at frame after frame of Jan. 6 closed-circuit video — and it had him wondering: Did Capitol Police Special Agent David Lazarus perjure himself in the Oath Keepers trial?Soon after‚ the slow pace of getting an unrestricted look at everything recorded on video prompted Blaze Media editor in chief Matthew Peterson's appeal to House Speaker Mike Johnson to release all the videos. On Nov. 17‚ Johnson did just that.Baker's investigative efforts also resulted in two additional analyses‚ both focusing on Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn: "January 6 and the N-word that wasn't" and "Harry Dunn's account of January 6 does not add up. At all."In December‚ Baker alleged he uncovered major irregularities involving Dunn‚ Capitol Police‚ the press‚ and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland).Last week‚ Baker asserted that just-released U.S. Capitol closed-circuit TV video clips from Jan. 6 show Lazarus gave false testimony in the Oath Keepers trial. Proof of Perjury | The Truth About January 6 youtu.be Also last week‚ Baker added another analysis revealing that the individual who discovered a pipe bomb at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington‚ D.C.‚ on Jan. 6‚ 2021 — previously called a "passerby" — actually was a United States Capitol Police plainclothes officer.Anything else?Baker's attorneys concluding their news release by asking the Justice Department‚ "If you are so convinced in the strength of your case against Steve Baker that you file charges against him in the District Court for the District of Columbia‚ we invite you to join in a stipulation with the defense to have Steve’s case tried in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or the Northern District of Texas."They also wondered‚ "Are citizens of those two districts not suitable for jurors in Steve’s case? Is the federal judiciary in those two districts not able to provide a fair and impartial trial? On what basis does the United States Department of Justice believe the 'United States' can only get a fair trial in the District of Columbia and not one of those 'United' States?"As for Baker‚ he noted in the release that he won't be bullied into silence."I will not be intimidated‚" he said. "I will continue to report the findings of my investigation into the evidence being made available to me to review. I have followed and reported on dozens of trials of January 6 defendants‚ and the more I investigate‚ the greater is my unease at what is being done in the name of 'justice.'" Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Writer Andrew Sullivan told MSNBC host Ari Melber to his face on Friday that he works for a propaganda company.During a lengthy debate on Bill Maher's HBO show "Real Time" about the significance of Donald Trump's political resurgence‚ Sullivan observed how the Democratic Party's reaction to Trump is eroding American democracy."What the Democrats have done the last four years‚ which is respond to Trump by going even further to the left‚ means that we are losing the legitimacy of the system‚" Sullivan said. "When you lose that core legitimacy‚ you lose your democracy — that's where we are really going to lose our democracy because we don’t believe in it any more.The left's overreaction‚ according to Sullivan‚ is driving Americans to distrust "all the institutions" and to support "a strongman" like Trump. Sullivan‚ therefore‚ predicted Trump will defeat President Joe Biden in November.Melber‚ in response‚ told Sullivan that he made "fair points" but criticized him for sounding "a little bit both-sides-y."While the MSNBC host acknowledged problems with the Democratic Party's "overreaction to Trump‚" Melber immediately absolved Democrats by claiming "there's not equivalence here." He explained:There isn't a both-sides-ism to this decay‚ and what Trump does — and I agree at times he may draw his opponents into messy dumb feuds — but he is the one banking on a cynicism‚ an attack on democracy‚ and a complete rejection of the policy-democracy that you want because they didn’t even have a platform. So he’s saying‚ it’s just me. You don’t even know what I’m going to do. Just vote for me. No platform. And you’ve got a whole Republican Party that’s basically codifying that.Melber's response‚ according to Sullivan‚ demonstrated the exact problems with TV networks like MSNBC‚ Melber's employer."You know what would be good at MSNBC is if you actually did think about both sides and weigh the arguments and make constructive arguments against that side while respecting them‚" Sullivan said."You don't do that — it's propaganda all the time!" he exclaimed. — (@) Sullivan's observation clearly struck a nerve with Melber‚ who denied it is true. And to be fair‚ Melber hosts many Republicans and Trump supporters on his show. But Sullivan's point holds true for most of MSNBC and the legacy media in the eyes of a majority of Americans‚ which is why trust in the media remains near record lows. It's also why alternative forms of media — like independent journalism‚ podcasts‚ and subscription-based models — are overtaking traditional media. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In 1971‚ the creative director for the beverage's ad agency wrote down the words “I’d like to buy the world a Coke.” His vision for a new campaign took off The post ‘It’s the Real Thing’: When a Coke Ad Inspired 2 Hit Singles appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Palworld‚ also known as 'Pokemon with guns.' It's on your X timeline‚ your Facebook‚ your TikTok - it's absolutely everywhere. As player numbers continue to soar exponentially‚ comparisons to Nintendo's pocket monster epic are rife - but Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe thinks they're misplaced. Continue reading Palworld is “completely different” from Pokemon‚ CEO says MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements

Where can you find Palworld milk? This ingredient is essential in the cooking of cakes‚ which are required in order to facilitate breeding in Palworld. You can unlock breeding at level 19‚ but you might not have found Palworld milk in the wild just yet. Don't worry - it's easier than you might think‚ and you don't even need a cow. Of all the Palworld Pals in the game‚ relatively few will be able to help you obtain milk. Fear not though - there are other places in the Palpagos Islands that you can get this sought-after ingredient‚ and we'll direct you to the best parts of the Palworld map to find it. With that in mind‚ here's where you can find Palworld milk. Continue reading Where to get Palworld milk MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements

Where do you find Palworld pure quartz? This material is needed for crafting circuits‚ which will in turn unlock electronic machines and increase your base's productivity as a whole. You'll need to know where to head to gather it first‚ though‚ so we've got you covered. Take some Palworld Pals that know how to mine‚ as well as some Cattivas or other Pals that are known to increase your carrying capacity‚ as pure quartz isn't a light material at all. Once you've found the right spot on the Palworld map‚ you'll soon be able to find as much of the material as you need for your Palworld adventure. Continue reading Where to get Palworld pure quartz MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements

Have you ever found something weird in your house? Perhaps you go down to the basement and find a growing‚ festering mold in a damp corner. Maybe you don’t recognize that antique mirror sitting in your attic‚ or you’re sitting on your couch‚ looking around the room‚ and somehow everything just feels incorrect. Recently launched on Steam and already boasting a big‚ 9/10‚ ‘very positive’ rating‚ a fantastic new horror game imagines a warped and surreal suburban America where demons‚ cryptids‚ and malevolent‚ sentient fungi are treated like everyday household problems. Push aside the high action of Resident Evil. Take a break from Dead by Daylight. The scariest thing in the world is operating a customer service helpline during the ‘90s. This is a game that deserves a lot more attention. Continue reading New 9/10 horror game is being slept on by everybody MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games‚ Best indie games‚ Best upcoming games

Where do you get Palworld coal? Getting some of the more effective weapons and gear to fight against tougher enemies requires some hard-to-find resources‚ and some of the rarest of these include sulfur‚ iron‚ and coal. While they're far more common in the later areas of the game‚ there are ways to grab these resources early on. Of course‚ finding these Palworld resources is not the only hurdle you need to overcome in this survival game. After all‚ Palworld doesn't do the best job of telling you how to do everything‚ or even which of the Palworld element types is effective against which. If you want to upgrade your Palworld base level‚ you're going to need to know where to find Palworld coal and other rarer minerals. Continue reading Where to get Palworld coal MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements

Following on from the open beta reveal at CES‚ Nvidia's RTX Remix is now officially open to anyone who wishes to try and give some of their favorite classic games a fresh new look. As we cast our minds back to some of the best PC games ever released‚ there are a few candidates for classic games that we'd love to see get the RTX Remix treatment. Continue reading RTX Remix is live‚ here are the classic games we want to be modded MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4070 Super review‚ DLSS explained‚ Best graphics cards

How do you get carbon fiber in Palworld? This processed material is easily made at your base if you have the right resources‚ but it's not immediately obvious unless you've unlocked the right equipment on the technology tree. To craft Palworld carbon fiber‚ you'll need to use our guide on how to find Palworld coal. You might be searching the Palworld map for a while‚ but we've got you covered‚ so don't go out trekking unnecessarily. Continue reading How to get Palworld carbon fiber MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld pals‚ Palworld review‚ Palworld system requirements