by Pam Martens and Russ Martens‚ Wall St On Parade: Last August‚ the Journal of Finance published a study by two finance professors that should have made bold headlines in every major business newspaper in America. It didn’t – suggesting that Americans will eventually learn about Wall Street’s chicanery in commercial real estate the same way they learned […]

from ZeroHedge: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 – the strongest earthquake in 25 years to hit the island- followed by a smaller quake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck off Taiwan’s eastern coast Wednesday‚ according to the US Geological Survey‚ prompting tsunami warnings in southern Japan. The first quake‚ with a magnitude of […]

from Bannons War Room: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Brian C. Joondeph‚ American Thinker: A handful of RINO members of Congress have either resigned or announced their intentions to do so in the coming weeks to months. They claim this is in protest to the now all but certain nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate. The latest threatened resignation is […]

by Paul Dragu‚ The New American: House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to find a way to pass a new massive Ukraine funding bill‚ a priority of the Washington political establishment. Preventing Russia from victory is also a top priority of the globalists‚ who have publicly claimed that a Russian victory would end the New […]

from Vigilant News Network: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

For the second day in a row‚ the Associated Press opened the questioning Tuesday of the ever-inept Karine Jean-Pierre by lobbing a puke-tastic softball so she could bash Donald Trump. This time‚ it was the insane claim that illegal immigration makes America...well‚ great. And‚ in contrast to all this‚ Fox’s Peter Doocy stood alone on the border crisis. AP White House reporter Will Weissert had the hot take on Monday about Sunday’s Transgender Day of Visibility‚ but it was his colleague Josh Boak who this time opened the Jean-Pierre portion by inviting her to explain why illegal immigration has helped create a roaring American economy. Boak first alluded to Trump’s latest application of the word “bloodbath” — this time‚ to describe illegal immigrant crime under President Biden — before putting a positive spin on the tens of millions who’ve illegal crossed the border and roam freely: [O]n Friday‚ we’re going to get jobs figures and past jobs reports have shown that immigrants are helping the U.S. economy. Is the view of this administration that the inflow of immigrants do more to strengthen the United States or hurt the United States? Does it do more? Yes‚ that’s right. Boak wants you to think this has made America great.     Jean-Pierre’s initial response was a classic indication that what Boak fired off was a joke: “So‚ Josh‚ I appreciate that question‚ and I think it’s an important question.” Adding there’s been “clearly awful rhetoric from the other side”‚ Jean-Pierre’s lengthy word salad also conflated illegal immigration with legal immigration as she proclaimed Biden and his regime “know immigrants strengthen our country and our economy” and said Biden believes we need “an economy that works for everyone”‚ presumably including illegals. Doocy actually set the tone before Boak and Jean-Pierre as he asked John Kirby this: “John‚ there’s another case of somebody who was in this country illegally allegedly murdering the young woman‚ this time in Michigan. Her name was Ruby Garcia. Donald Trump is out there now calling this Biden’s border bloodbath. What do you call it? Kirby did get political by invoking the Senate deal and blaming Republicans for not holding a vote‚ but he at least conceded while he hadn’t heard of Garcia‚ “that’s just terrible news and our thoughts and prayers obviously go to the family of Miss Garcia” as “that’s kind of news no family ever wants to get ever.” This led Doocy to point out the obvious‚ which was the Senate deal is dead. A brief back and forth ensued with Kirby attempting to play Captain Optimist‚ but Doocy wasn’t having it because “there are real problems at the border” with 140‚000 known gottaways posing a national security threat. Doocy wrapped with this: “[A]s the person in charge of presenting — preventing a terrorist attack in the homeland‚ does President Biden think that some of these border crossers could be in the United States right now plotting a terrorist attack against Americans?” Kirby gave the standard answer one would expect any presidential spokesman to give: “The President’s confident that....we’re doing everything we can to be as vigilant as we can to ensure the safety and security of the American people here at home.” With Jean-Pierre‚ the bloodbath hubbub returned after Boak with softballs from CBS’s Nancy Cordes (click “expand”): CORDES: Going back to the bloodbath question‚ the former President used that terminology a week or two ago‚ but is talking about it again today. What’s the White House reaction to the use of that term bloodbath? JEAN-PIERRE: I’m going to be really mindful here because it is — president — the — the — obviously‚ the former president is also a candidate here‚ so wanna follow the law with the Hatch Act — but we have to denounce our responses. We have to denounce any — any violent rhetoric that we hear‚ certainly from our leaders — right — that tears our country apart. It could tear up our country apart and puts our fellow Americans in harm’s way — in danger‚ so we have to denounce that. And look‚ you know‚ I think and we think that the American people wants [sic] to see the country coming together. that’s what they want. They want to — they want to make sure that we respect our democracy. They want to make sure that we respect the rule of law. That’s what they want. And so‚ that is what the President’s going to continue to fight for. I — we’re going to any type of violent rhetoric‚ we’re going to denounce that. It doesn’t matter who it comes from. We’re going to denounce it. CORDES: Does the White House believe that there is a bloodbath taking place or a wave of migrant crime? JEAN-PIERRE: Look — um — we’ve been very clear about — I just laid out to Josh‚ when it comes to immigrants‚ how important they are to the fabric of this country‚ how important they are to the strength of this country‚ to our economy‚ and that continues to — to be true‚ right? That’s something that this President believes‚ and we’ve always called out any — if there is any form of — of violence that — that could be caused by one person — right — that we may have seen‚ we call that out as well — and — and that is always important to do. But‚ in this instance‚ it is used to — in the way that this violent rhetoric is being used‚ it is being used to tear our country apart. That’s how it’s being used‚ and we have to — we can’t allow that‚ right? This is not what Americans want to see. Americans want to see us bringing the country together and — and so‚ that form of rhetoric it is. It’s not helpful to us‚ so we’re going to continue to call that out‚ and we’re going to be very‚ very clear about that. But this — you know‚ if — if a violent act is — it happens‚ as we have seen — um and someone is killed‚ we want to make sure that — that You know‚ we’ve got to condemn that and want to make sure that the law comes into place and we let the law enforcement on the ground deal with that‚ but to denounce entire community‚ we can’t allow that. We have to denounce that any type of violent rhetoric. Having sat through these softballs‚ Doocy dropped a devastating receipt: “So‚ when Donald Trump is talking about a bloodbath‚ it is violent rhetoric. What was it when Joe Biden said in 2020‚ we — ‘what we can’t let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath’?” Try and follow this mess of an answer from Jean-Pierre: “So‚ I’m going to be really mindful and careful about Donald Trump‚ but if you read — because he is a — he is a candidate — we’re talking about the 2024 election. You should read — hit — what he said in its context‚ so you got to read what he said in context.” Doocy clapped back with a helping of attitude: “Bloodbath is an ugly word when Trump uses it. What is it when Biden uses it?” Jean-Pierre instructed Doocy that he should have “asked me the question in context of what it was said — right — and what the — what it was said when he said that — right — in his remarks in his speech‚ right?” Thus‚ she argued‚ he was “being disingenuous.” An incredulous Doocy returned fire then showed respect by letting Jean-Pierre drone on. Her impeccably lazy defense as to why Joe Biden is allowed to use the word “bloodbath” but Donald Trump can’t? January 6 (click “expand”): DOOCY: I’m reading a direct quote from Joe Biden. “What we can’t let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath.” JEAN-PIERRE: He’s talking about — he was talking about a group of people — a group of people. That’s what he’s talking about. What the President was talking about during the primary was not to allow it to be — the words — and — and the primary and that election to become negative. Two different — two different things. DOOCY: Okay! JEAN-PIERRE: They’re not the same. They’re not the same — and your question is disingenuous. And so‚ look‚ I’m going to be really mindful here. I’ve got to be really careful. We have to denounce violent rhetoric‚ which — wherever it comes from — a former leader‚ we have to denounce that because we saw what happened on January 6. We saw what happened there — when you have a mob of 2‚000 people go to the Capitol because they didn’t believe in free — the free and fair election that just happened months prior because of violent rhetoric. You got to denounce that. That’s not what leaders should be doing. To see the relevant transcript from the April 2 briefing (as well as anti-Israel questions about the deadly strikes that left numerous World Central Kitchen workers dead)‚ click here.

Since the release of "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" in 2015‚ legacy sequels have been a priority for studios. Franchises ranging from "Terminator" and "Scream" to "Jurassic Park" have been resurrected‚ to varying degrees of success. Attracting new fans while still serving the old ones requires a delicate balance; 2016's all-female "Ghostbusters" reboot is mainly remembered as a case study in how not to do this. Unlike "Star Wars‚" "Ghostbusters" seems to have been placed in the hands of people who genuinely love the franchise and understand what makes it special. Sony Pictures learned from its mistakes and returned five years later with "Ghostbusters: Afterlife‚" a proper sequel to the original two films that focused on the daughter and grandchildren of Egon Spengler‚ originally played by the late Harold Ramis. The film was a respectable hit with audiences‚ raking in $204.3 million on a $75 million budget. Clear eyes‚ full ghost trap As a lifelong "Ghostbusters" fan who never thought the series would recover from its 2016 outing‚ "Afterlife" was an unexpected gift. To get another installment just three years later? I'm as happy as Slimer in a hot dog cart. And while it doesn't reach the heights of "Afterlife" or the 1984 original‚ "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" offers plenty to enjoy. The film follows the Spengler family (Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe‚ Finn Wolfhard’s Trevor‚ and Carrie Coon’s Callie) and seismologist Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) as they return to New York City to assume their role as the new Ghostbusters. After Phoebe causes extensive damage while driving the Ecto-1 in the line of duty‚ Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton) benches her until she's a legal adult. Needless to say‚ Phoebe doesn't take this well‚ and her attempts to skirt the ban on bustin' cause no shortage of tension. Meanwhile‚ Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) receives a mysterious artifact with abnormally high PKE levels. It turns out to be a holding cell for Garraka‚ an ancient being with the power to unleash a "death chill" upon the world‚ causing a second ice age. When Garraka escapes his prison‚ the Ghostbusters both new and old team up to save the world from its pending deep freeze. Crossed streams Along the way we get a coming-of-age story (Trevor wants to prove himself)‚ grappling with mortality (Ray and Ernie Hudson's Winston Zeddemore wonder how to spend their golden years) and a budding friendship between Phoebe and a ghost named Melody (Emily Alyn Lind). Herein lies the biggest problem with "Frozen Empire": There are just too many plots and too many characters for the film to do justice to. Add to this the multitude of supporting characters also vying for attention‚ including Podcast (Logan Kim)‚ Lucky (Celeste O’Connor)‚ Dr. Lars Pinfield (James Acaster)‚ Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani) and Hubert Wartzki (Patton Oswalt). That’s not to say it's a bad movie. The film manages to bring the expected mix of laughs‚ action‚ and nostalgia. Mckenna Grace's turn as Phoebe remains a standout‚ as does Rudd's portrayal of a man trying to be a strong yet loving father figure. The original "Ghostbusters" were characters who worked both comedically and dramatically; out of the overstuffed cast of "Frozen Empire‚" it is only Rudd's Grooberson who pulls it off. Speaking of the original cast‚ I was ready to let them go for good after their satisfying send-off in "Afterlife." But I have to admit seeing Aykroyd‚ Hudson‚ and especially Bill Murray (in top form) pick up the proton packs one more time was a treat I won't soon forget. Good to see Annie Potts as well — if only they'd given her more to do. Dogs and cats living together I wouldn’t take any kids under 13 to see this‚ as there are some suggestive sexual references and genuinely scary imagery throughout. While "Frozen Empire" can't resist hinting that Phoebe's and Melody's friendship might be a romance‚ it keeps it very subtle‚ especially for those not looking for it. Either way‚ it's a storyline that doesn't add much. This minor gesture at "updating" the franchise for 2024 obsessions is notable in a film that otherwise doesn't pander to the DEI brigade. Unlike "Star Wars‚" "Ghostbusters" seems to have been placed in the hands of people who genuinely love the world and understand what makes it special. No axes to grind here‚ and nothing to bait you into doing any racism‚ sexism‚ or misogyny. "Frozen Empire" also pays proper homage to its elders. Where "Star Wars" felt the need to disrespect the beloved legacy trio of Luke Skywalker‚ Han Solo‚ and Leia Organa‚ both the filmmakers and the next-generation characters clearly hold the OG cast in high regard. A little bit of humility goes a long way. For fans willing to overlook its occasional lack of focus‚ "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" delivers solid entertainment. Who would have predicted it: Four decades later‚ bustin’ can still make you feel good. Some simple pleasures never go out of style.

In this social media age‚ governments around the world — especially our own — are struggling with what to do with the onslaught of speech that counters the government agenda. There may be some people in government acting in good faith to really figure out how to deal with the truly evil stuff that finds its way online. When it comes to Biden administration officials‚ however‚ you know their true intentions by whom they consider real threats to “democracy” and the specific viewpoints they target. They’re casting a very wide net to try to deal with genuinely bad stuff‚ but they’re scooping up legitimate speech in the process — and it just happens to be legitimate speech that they disagree with. You can’t have freedom without the option to abuse it‚ or else it wouldn’t be true freedom. The U.S. Supreme Court this term will decide an important First Amendment case. The oral argument in Murthy v. Missouri was two weeks ago. The case involves the Biden administration pressuring social media companies to block views that the White House objects to on topics including COVID-19 origins‚ masks‚ vaccines‚ lockdowns‚ the Hunter Biden laptop‚ climate change‚ mail-in voting‚ and election integrity. The Biden administration sought to censor free speech even when the social media companies knew the suppressed misinformation was true. In addition to the White House‚ the FBI‚ the Centers for Disease Control‚ and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency all engaged in this pressure campaign against social media companies. According to an amicus brief filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression‚ “Various government officials became so entangled with social media platform moderation policies that they were able to effectively rewrite the platforms’ policies from the inside.” It seems clear that‚ as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concluded last year‚ the Biden administration violated the First Amendment by meddling with what should be content moderation decisions made by private companies. Yet the Biden administration appealed this case all the way to the Supreme Court because officials argue that their free speech was being violated. The gall! During the oral argument‚ at least one Supreme Court justice‚ Ketanji Brown Jackson‚ seemed to agree with Team Biden. “My biggest concern is that your view of the First Amendment is hamstringing the government in significant ways‚” she said. She worried the government would be restricted in its response to a “threatening circumstance.” “Hamstringing” the government is kind of the whole point of the First Amendment if you think about it. The government cannot prohibit freedom of speech. Period. As interpreted by the Supreme Court over time‚ this applies across the board with very limited exceptions‚ such as defamation‚ genuine threats‚ or fraud. What’s more‚ the Constitution doesn’t include an emergency exemption clause. Unless the speech falls under one of the Supreme Court’s very limited exceptions‚ it must be allowed‚ even if the nation is in some kind of “threatening circumstance‚” as Jackson put it. Otherwise‚ what would stop a president from declaring something like a national climate emergency‚ then censoring speech that fails to prop up climate alarmism? The Constitution was designed by people who were absolutely set against unlimited government power. From the earliest Progressives to Justice Jackson‚ the left has always been convinced of the opposite: that good experts in government will be able to filter through speech and righteously determine the bad speech‚ that Americans need authorities to sift through the misinformation and disinformation to separate it from the “good speech” in which you’re allowed to engage.To have and maintain this vital First Amendment right‚ you must put up with a lot of truly evil garbage. People say and write and promote the worst stuff. They abuse this amazing freedom we have. That’s just the reality. Often‚ civil people easily agree on what speech is horrible‚ and then in the marketplace of ideas that horrible speech gets pushed to the fringes. But to keep this marketplace truly open‚ you deal with a constant barrage of stuff you disagree with. The solution to the garbage should never be worse than the garbage itself. The First Amendment isn’t conditioned upon “threatening circumstances‚” as Ketanji Brown Jackson put it. The First Amendment assumes such circumstances. You can’t have freedom without the option to abuse it‚ or else it wouldn’t be true freedom. Don’t let the Biden administration convince you of anything less during this critical Supreme Court case.Want more from Glenn Beck? Get Glenn's FREE email newsletter with his latest insights‚ top stories‚ show prep‚ and more delivered to your inbox.