What If FL Dems Canceled Their Prez Primary Not to Torpedo Marianne Williamson...But DeSantis?

Pro-Hamas Professor Finally Suspended but Not for That

Consequences Coming For Once in Academia?

A Detailed Look at the 'Proximal Origin' Paper Which Was Used to Dismiss the Lab Leak Theory

A Celebrity Cruises youth counselor admitted to molesting young girls while working at the ship's youth center‚ according to the FBI. Cris John Pentinio Castor‚ 35‚ was taken into custody on Friday after the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship returned to Port Everglades in Florida. Castor — who is a citizen of the Philippines — remained at Broward County’s Paul Rein Detention Facility on U.S. Marshals and immigration holds‚ according to jail records.Castor was charged with abusive sexual contact of a minor under 12.The cruise ship left Florida on Nov. 20 for a 10-day voyage in the Caribbean.On Nov. 27‚ a 6-year-old girl told her parents that the youth counselor molested her while she was at the ship's Camp at Sea youth center‚ according to a criminal complaint. The young girl said "CJ" — the name the children called Castor — inappropriately touched her "private parts‚" according to the affidavit filed in federal court in Florida on Friday.WPLG reported‚ "Upon the ship’s return to South Florida‚ she told a forensic investigator that Castor touched her 'where the pee comes from' while she played a video game‚ the complaint states."Law enforcement officials said the security camera video didn't show the alleged molestation but did show Castor's hand reaching towards the child’s lap as she was playing."(Castor) told law enforcement that he was aware and understood that he knowingly touched the minor victim in the vicinity of her vagina‚" according to the FBI complaint.The FBI said Castor confessed to molesting multiple children. "(Castor) also admitted to the inappropriate sexual touching of other minor children that were in his care at the youth center‚ on multiple occasions‚ while consciously hiding his acts from the youth center’s security cameras‚” the complaint read. “Furthermore‚ (Castor) admitted to inappropriately touching at least three additional minor children in their vaginal area‚ in some cases making skin-to-skin contact.”A Celebrity Cruises spokesperson told USA Today‚ "We have zero tolerance for this behavior. We reported this to law enforcement and terminated the crew member‚ and we will continue to fully cooperate with authorities."Castor’s attorney‚ Robert Berube‚ declined to provide a comment to the outlet. Castor had reportedly worked as a youth counselor since August.Castor is scheduled to appear in Fort Lauderdale federal court on Friday for a detention hearing.USA Today reported that there were 87 allegations of sexual assault on cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the U.S. last year‚ based on a cruise line incident report from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An anti-Israeli activist was suspended from Maryland's new hate crime task force late last month for spewing anti-Semitic vitriol and Hamas propaganda online. The suspension apparently didn't take. Maryland Democratic Attorney General Anthony Brown reinstated Zainab Chaudry to the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention Wednesday‚ noting it had not been within his power to remove her in the first place. Hate on the hate crime commission Within hours of Hamas terrorists slaughtering thousands of Israeli civilians and dozens of Americans on Oct. 7‚ Chaudry attempted to justify the attacks on Facebook‚ referring to the terror attacks as "the uprising in Palestine." She also stressed to her followers that "when you wake up to read media coverage [of the attacks]‚ keep in mind that they are a people who are illegally occupied." The hate crime commissioner compared Hamas terrorists to "Ukrainian freedom fighters" in an Oct. 9 post. In an Oct. 17 post‚ she juxtaposed a recent photo of the Israeli flag projected onto the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin‚ Germany‚ with a 1936 image of the gate adorned with the Nazi swastika‚ writing‚ "That moment when you become what you hated most." On Oct. 31‚ she wrote‚ "no halloween this year‚ the horror ISREAL." "I will never be able to understand how the world summoned up rage for 40 fake Israeli babies while completely turning a blind eye to 3‚000 real Palestinian babies‚" Chaudry wrote in an Oct. 26 Facebook post‚ drawing on disputed figures provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. On Nov. 5‚ Chaudry posted a meme stating‚ "The term 'Israel' is now defined in the Urban Dictionary as the act of claiming something that belongs to someone else as if it were your own‚ akin to theft." In a Nov. 7 post‚ she insinuated that Israel provoked the Oct. 7 terror attacks‚ stating‚ "inconvenient facts." Suspension Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced on Nov. 21 that he had suspended Chaudry from the brand-new commission‚ which has had only one meeting since its formation. Chaudry was put on the commission to represent the views of CAIR‚ a radical organization required by Maryland law to have a presence on the commission. A statement from Brown's office noted that "Ms. Chaudry's posts on her personal social media since October 7‚ in these very early days‚ have challenged the Commission's ability to do its work." The attorney general further called on all members of the commission to "exercise great care in their communications and conduct‚ considering the duties and responsibilities they assumed when joining the Commission." Jennifer Donelan‚ a spokeswoman for Brown's office‚ indicated "the views and opinions of any individual commission member do not reflect those of either the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention or the Attorney General‚" reported WMAR-TV. Donelan noted that the commission still needs to "develop policies and protocols governing ... the way in which its members engage on the issues that define its mission." Following her alleged suspension‚ Chaudry stated on X‚ "I expect the gaslighting attacks - Zionist hate will never stop my activism. Stay loud‚ stay strong‚ fight harder for a FREE PALESTINE." The Maryland House of Delegates wrote to Brown on Nov. 22 asking that Chaudry not be reinstated‚ reported WBOC-TV. "The aggressive antisemitism of this post is unseemly from any decent person but is especially objectionable from someone serving on a commission whose sole purpose is to prevent hate crimes‚" said the letter. CAIR‚ meanwhile‚ pushed a petition that claimed‚ "Chaudry's suspension is a blatant act of censorship and a betrayal of the very values that the Hate Crimes Commission is supposed to uphold. Her outspoken criticism of the Israeli government's human rights abuses and her unwavering support for Palestinian rights have made her a target for anti-Muslim extremists‚ but they should not be allowed to silence her." Back and unrepentant Brown announced Wednesday that Chaudry had been reinstated. In his statement‚ the Democratic attorney general noted that while chair of the commission‚ he was not legally able to remove a commissioner before the end of their four-year term. Chaudry's removal allegedly "can only be granted by statute‚ enacted by the General Assembly and Governor." Barring such a statute‚ the Hamas apologist will be permitted to join the commission's other 21 members when it convenes on Dec. 13. Brown indicated he will‚ however‚ distribute draft operating guidelines to members "which include personal communications and how to balance the members' right to freedom of speech and their roles as Commissioners for their review and feedback." "Once the guidelines are finalized‚ all Commission members will be expected to comply with them and I fully anticipate they will‚" said Brown. "We must all put aside our differences‚ no matter how stark they may seem‚ and find common ground on ways to respond to and prevent hate crimes in our state." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

On Thursday‚ the White House threatened to cancel and seize taxpayer-funded drug patents if the prices for those medications were deemed too high and thereby inaccessible to the public. The Biden administration stated that the move aims to lower the cost of prescription medications. “As part of the President’s Bidenomics agenda‚ the Biden-Harris Administration is cracking down on price gouging and taking on special interests to lower costs for consumers and ensure every American has access to high-quality‚ affordable health care‚” a press release from the White House stated.Biden blamed “corporate special interests and trickle-down economics” for enabling pharmaceutical giants to inflate drug prices.“Today‚ the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new actions to promote competition in health care and support lowering prescription drug costs for American families‚ including the release of a proposed framework for agencies on the exercise of march-in rights on taxpayer-funded drugs and other inventions‚ which specifies that price can be a factor in considering whether a drug is accessible to the public‚” the White House stated. “The Administration believes taxpayer-funded medications should be reasonably available and affordable.”The administration noted that 70% of the pharmaceutical industry’s revenue is generated by 25 companies. Biden blamed the “lack of competition” for driving up prices for consumers.Pharmaceutical companies have received “hundred of billions of dollars” from American taxpayers to research and develop new prescription drugs.“When an invention is made using taxpayer funds‚ under certain circumstances march-in authority under the Bayh-Dole Act enables the federal government to license the invention to another party‚” the White House explained.Drugs that are deemed “not reasonably available to Americans” based on price could be seized by the government and licensed to another manufacturer that “could sell it for less‚” Biden said.The president claimed using the march-in authority would be “good for competition‚” the economy‚ and “the millions of Americans who can’t afford their medications.” Folks‚ right now‚ 25 of the largest pharmaceutical companies in America control 70% of the market. This lack of competition drives up prices \u2013 making it harder for hardworking American families to access the health care they need.\n \nToday‚ my Administration is doing something\u2026 — (@) Following a nearly nine-month review‚ the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed framework for executive agencies regarding march-in rights on Thursday‚ declaring that the federal government can seize drug patents based on high prices.The proposed framework is open to public comment for 60 days.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra called the federal government’s march-in authority “a powerful tool” for increasing the public’s access to taxpayer-funded medications.People familiar with the matter told Politico that the Biden administration does not support the widespread use of march-in rights and does not currently have plans to seize patents from any pharmaceutical companies.In August‚ the Biden administration released a list of 10 Medicare Part D medications now subject to price negotiations. The Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies at the threat of up to 95% tax.Former National Economic Council Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti applauded Biden for being the first president to consider using the march-in authority.“What we have essentially is the U.S. taxpayer‚ in many cases‚ putting up the money upfront to finance the research and innovation that goes into creating these life-saving drugs‚” Ramamurti explained. “And then our reward for that is that we then pay two or three times as much on the back end to actually take advantage of the drugs.”Critics contend that the Biden administration is using the opportunity to expand the federal government’s control‚ expressing concerns that the move would suppress innovation.“So now dictator Biden seizes the intellectual property of hard-working Americans. He is the dictator!” Representative Mark Green (R-Tennessee) wrote on X Thursday.U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) stated‚ “The Biden administration does not have the legal authority to use the Bayh-Dole Act to seize drug patents. Prior administrations of both parties have all agreed on this‚ as have the bipartisan senators who wrote the law. They will lose in court.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed that the further "marginalization" of "trans women" is happening under the guise of women's safety and will result in making underage girls subject to genital examinations in order to prove they are eligible to play in female sports.The New York Democrat made the claims during a House Oversight Subcommittee on Health hearing that featured activist and former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines. Gaines spoke out against allowing biological males to compete in women's sports."I've spent a decent amount of my time here in Congress sitting through panels and hearings of men attempting to restrict the rights of women and telling us that it's for our own good‚" Ocasio-Cortez began before she stated there have been several proposals to limit such rights."This issue targeting trans women in sports is particularly problematic‚ not just for trans girls‚ but for all of us‚" she continued. AOC added that the "several proposals" would "further marginalize trans women in sports."After explaining how few transgender athletes there are in the United States‚ the congresswoman asked why there is "so much effort and dedication on such a tiny portion of the U.S. population when there virtually is no major issue that this is precipitating."Without appearing to consider the fact that such a small group has been able to frequently dominate in women's sports‚ Ocasio-Cortez then discussed how she believed restrictions were a cover for legislators' desire to have genital examinations performed on children."A lot of these proposals involve invasion of privacy of all women‚" she said."Under the guise of not only trying to further marginalize trans women and girls‚ we are talking about opening up all women and girls to genital examinations when they are underage‚ potentially just because someone can point to someone and say‚ 'I don’t think you are a girl.'" .@AOC lays out the new Dem talking points on men in women\u2019s spaces: \u201cWe are talking about opening up all women and girls to genital examinations when they are under age‚ potentially just because someone can point to someone and say‚ I don\u2019t think you are a girl.\u201d — (@) She went on to say that states that have criminalized abortion also "want nothing more" than to acquire data on women about when they are getting their menstrual cycle and "who doesn't have one."At the hearing‚ former swimmer Gaines encouraged women to refuse to compete in events against biological males and offered to financially compensate those who miss out on money for taking such a stand."Any woman who doesn't compete and loses out on prize money‚ I will happily pay the fee out of my own pocket. In any sport. Stop. Playing. Their. Game‚" she wrote. Any woman who doesn't compete and loses out on prize money‚ I will happily pay the fee out of my own pocket. In any sport. \n\nStop. Playing. Their. Game. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A woman who tried to shoplift $727.86 in merchandise from a Michigan Walmart over the weekend didn't get very far — namely because 75 police officers were in the store for a "Shop with a Cop" charity event.What are the details?State troopers from the Brighton Post were participating in Saturday's event at the Walmart Store in Genoa Township‚ police said. Genoa Township is about an hour northwest of Detroit.Police said Shop with a Cop gives area children‚ through donations from local businesses‚ an opportunity to partner with police officers and shop for themselves and family."We bring children that might otherwise not have a good Christmas get to come to the store‚" Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police told WJBK-TV. "They get $100‚ sometimes a $150 gift card to go and shop for themselves or family." Amid all the good cheer — not to mention a high concentration of law enforcement personnel — one woman got the bright idea to try a bit of shoplifting.Police said a Walmart staff member notified a trooper participating in Shop with a Cop that a female was trying to steal $727.86 in merchandise from the store.The 62-year-old suspect just loaded up her cart and waltzed through self-checkout‚ WJBK said."Groceries‚ clothes‚ all kinds of stuff‚" Gonzalez told the station. "It wasn't bagged up. And then she walked out of the store with it."She ignored a clerk who asked for her receipt‚ made her way to her car‚ and then began putting items inside her vehicle‚ WJBK reported.Police said the trooper Walmart notified had another officer look after the child he was with and then caught up to the suspect in the parking lot. Police said the suspect‚ strangely enough‚ had parked her car next to a gaggle of police patrol vehicles there for the Shop with a Cop event."I do have to say it surprised me because when I'm driving a patrol car‚ people slow down‚" Gonzalez remarked to the station regarding the brazen nature of the caper. "When you see 75 cops in the store‚ I mean‚ I don't know if maybe they thought we were too busy."While the trooper was able to go back inside and finish up the event‚ WJBK said the suspect was arrested and taken to Livingston County Jail. The station added that while she bonded out‚ she will be charged with retail fraud. WJBK said court records indicates she has no priors — just some traffic tickets out of East Lansing — and that it will release her name once she’s charged. 'Shop with a Cop' shoplifter attempts $700 theft amid charity event youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

There was a clear winner at the fourth 2024 Republican presidential debate in Glenn Beck’s eyes‚ and it wasn’t any of the candidates. According to Glenn‚ moderator Megyn Kelly was “the big winner” as she stood her ground‚ asked tough questions‚ and “ran a tight ship.” “You did a fantastic job last night‚” he tells Kelly‚ who has her own idea of who the winners and losers were. “With all respect to her‚ I thought Nikki Haley lost last night‚” Kelly tells Glenn. “She shrunk away‚ like she was not really a presence.” Vivek Ramaswamy didn’t win‚ but he did well. However‚ Kelly believes that while he did not gain any new fans‚ he became “even more loveable” to those who already loved him. The clear winner in Kelly’s eyes was Ron DeSantis‚ who she says “had his best debate yet.” “I think you could probably say he’s the winner because he’s in the best poll position of the four‚ and he not only didn’t hurt himself‚ although there was one bad exchange‚ he didn’t hurt himself. He did help himself‚” she explains‚ adding‚ “He was tougher than we’ve seen‚ and I think that’s the DeSantis we fell in love with.” Chris Christie was another loser‚ who Kelly says is “too radical” on the issue of transgenderism to be a Republican nominee. “This is way out of step with where the Republican party is‚” she says. Glenn notes that when Chris Christie attempted to defend Nikki Haley‚ “it did not look good” for her. “I thought it made her look weak‚ and she’s not a weak woman‚” Glenn says. “It was her lowest moment‚” Kelly agrees. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.