Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) shocked Americans on Sunday by asserting that we must be "balanced" in our response to Hamas using rape as a weapon of war.During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union‚" host Dana Bash confronted Jayapal over the fact that progressives have been "downright silent" on the atrocities that Hamas committed against Israeli women and girls in their Oct. 7 attack.At first‚ Jayapal downplayed progressives' silence‚ which forced Bash to press harder. The CNN anchor asked Jayapal if she has condemned Hamas specifically for what the terrorist group did to women. Jayapal claimed she has‚ and then she immediately tried to steer the conversation in a different direction‚ criticizing Israel and suggesting the country is guilty of committing war crimes."With respect‚ I was just asking about the women‚ and you turned it back to Israel. I'm asking you about Hamas‚" Bash shot back."I already answered your question‚ Dana‚" Jayapal snarked. "I said it's horrific. I think that rape is horrific. Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations. Terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously are using these as tools‚" the progressive Democrat continued. "However‚ I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians."After demanding that critics be "balanced‚" Jayapal again criticized Israel‚ relying on Hamas' unverifiable claims about civilian casualties."It's horrible‚ but you don't see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women‚" Bash fired back.At no point in the interview did Jayapal specifically condemn Hamas' use of rape in their attack. The closest she came was her broad denouncement of sexual assault and her observation that Hamas uses it as a "tool." Hear Jayapal's response after Bash says some have been silent about Hamas' use of sexual violence www.youtube.com Jayapal's comments predictably earned outage from conservatives. But‚ perhaps surprisingly‚ Democrats and media personalities also voiced alarm at Jayapal's remarks."Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly‚ forcefully and without exceptions. Outrageous for anyone to 'both sides' sexual violence‚" Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) responded."I should not have to say this in 2023 but here we are: RAPE IS RAPE. Do not minimize‚ excuse‚ 'balance' or 'both sides' sexual assault — that is victim blaming we have spent decades trying to undo in the laws‚ the courts and the hearts and minds of the people‚" said Christine Pelosi‚ daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)."This is beyond f***ed up. Every single one of these Democratic primaries of the ‘progressives’ is going to be justified‚" Jessica Tarlov‚ the resident liberal commentator at Fox News‚ reacted.CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga said‚ "@RepJayapal‚ most wars don’t feature premeditated rape as part of the war plan. Individual acts of rape from lack of discipline‚ which tragically does occur in war‚ is different than 'preconceived and premeditated' rapes‚ which as one leading expert told me was Hamas’ plan."Golodryga‚ moreover‚ pointed out that Jayapal has not released a statement that specifically condemns Hamas for their use of sexual violence on Oct. 7. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Gal Gadot has come out and called on the United Nations to demand that Hamas release every woman who was abducted on October 7‚ when Hamas slaughtered 1‚200 people and abducted 240 others. The "Wonder Woman" actress‚ who was born in Israel‚ took to Instagram to voice her opinion on the women who were taken hostage by Hamas in early October‚ writing: "The world has failed the women of October 7th.""We claim we stand against rape‚ violence against women. We will not let women be victimized and then silenced. We say we believe women. Stand with women. Speak out for women." See on Instagram “On October 7th‚ the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7th attack‚ the first blood-chilling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud assailants‚” Gadot wrote on the social media platform‚ referring to Shani Louk‚ the German-Israeli tattoo artist who was kidnapped by Hamas.Gadot continued: "Yet two months later women are still hostage to these rapists and the world has failed to call this situation what it is: an urgent emergency that demands a decisive response.""This is our moment as women and allies of women to act. I am beseeching all those who have done so much for women’s rights globally – from the UN‚ to the human rights community‚ to please join in the demand that Hamas release every single woman hostage immediately – not after the next round of international mediation‚ not after another day. These women cannot survive another moment of this horror."Israel and Hamas reached a temporary truce in late November‚ which resulted in 100 hostages being released by Hamas. However‚ the fight resumed shortly after‚ with Israel carrying out airstrikes in Gaza. It does not appear that further ceasefire agreements are in the works‚ as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered officers from the Mossad intelligence agency to get out of Qatar‚ according to the Independent.Mossad released a statement following the development‚ saying: "The Hamas terror organization did not fulfill its part of the agreement‚ which included the release of all children and women according to a list that was provided to Hamas and approved by it.”Israel has suggested that there is nothing that will stop the nation from completely annihilating Hamas in Gaza‚ which has raised concerns about the number of civilian deaths in Gaza since the war began.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The soul-influenced duo was still finding their way when they recorded their second album. Superstardom would soon find them. The post Daryl Hall &; John Oates ‘Abandoned Luncheonette’: Second Chances appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

The music of MacGowan and the Pogues is some of the most urgent you’ll ever experience. That immediacy is stunning. The post The Blended Shane MacGowan: On the Death and Life of a Genius appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Every rock fan knows the classic riff but what exactly is Deep Purple's best known song about? We take you behind the scenes in 1971. The post The Inspiration For Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’ appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

The last big Cyberpunk 2077 patch is around the corner‚ as CD Projekt Red provides a colossal set of notes for update 2.1 that hide some new details and flesh out previously mentioned additions like romantic hangouts‚ cats‚ and a whole lot more. There’s a lot to dig into that you’ll already have heard about‚ but some great new stuff‚ too. Continue reading Cyberpunk 2077 2.1 patch notes detail new metro and romance hangouts MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review‚ Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods‚ Buy Cyberpunk 2077

The Meta Quest 3 is now the fifth most popular VR headset among Steam users‚ November's Hardware Survey has revealed. This might not seem noteworthy at first‚ but with the recent news of a native Steam Link app‚ and the headset only being two months old‚ it's quite the achievement for Meta's latest VR venture. I've been keeping a keen eye on the Meta Quest 3 given its vast improvements over the previous model‚ and the latest Steam findings come as no surprise to me. Jumping up to now own a 5.20% share of the hardware userbase - a 5.05% increase on October - I fully expect the Quest 3 to eventually overtake the Quest 2‚ which currently leads the way with 40.45%‚ but it might take at least another year. Continue reading Meta Quest 3 is proving popular with Steam users MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ‚ Steam family sharing‚ Steam in-home streaming

The CEO of Colossal Order‚ developer behind Cities Skylines 2 and the original CS1‚ apologizes for a “poor choice of words” following a statement on the quality of gameplay in the new building sim. Mariina Hallikainen previously told some Cities Skylines 2 players that the simulation aspect of the game “just might not be for you” following feedback about various aspects within CS2. Hallikainen now says they are sorry‚ and that their previous comments may have been “too direct.” Continue reading Cities Skylines 2 CEO apologizes for “poor choice of words” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review‚ Cities Skylines 2 roads‚ Cities Skylines 2 maps

Stellaris Nexus‚ the bitesize 4X game spinoff of the iconic strategy game‚ has been (sort of) delayed to avoid the incredibly busy week of GTA 6 and The Game Awards‚ but there's still actually a way to play on the original release date. Continue reading Stellaris Nexus delayed slightly to avoid GTA 6 and The Game Awards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games‚ Best 4X games‚ Best turn-based games

What are the best Ark Survival Ascended mods? While the reimagined version of the dino survival game is still in its infancy‚ it promises much of the same core gameplay. Build a tribe from scratch‚ either on your own or with your friends‚ and tame dinosaurs across the eras‚ from the Triassic to the Jurassic‚ and many more. When you've had your fill of what the developer had in mind with Ark Survival Ascended‚ mods can include all sorts of new stuff. Some make mundane chores a breeze‚ while others add completely new beasts or different colored variants to the dinosaur game. You may wish to ensure that your PC can handle mods on top of its otherwise hefty minimum specs‚ so check out our Ark Survival Ascended system requirements to compare for yourself. Continue reading The 10 best Ark Survival Ascended mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games‚ Best dinosaur games‚ Best co-op games