If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Elon Musk has announced a new change in policy to X. On Friday‚ his announcement established that the use of terms such as “decolonization” and “from the river to the sea”— phrases commonly thrown around by the pro-Palestine movement — would invite suspension on the platform as they imply genocide. The change came after pressure from major corporate advertisers. While these expressions have emerged as rallying cries in support of Palestinians‚ numerous individuals and groups‚ including supporters of Israel‚ Jewish advocacy teams‚ and others‚ perceive these phrases as eliminatory and anti-Semitic rhetoric that advocates the obliteration of the Jewish state and the Jewish people. Representative Rashida Tlaib faced official censure from the House of Representatives in part due to her endorsement of the phrase “from the river to the sea‚” and the phrase was chosen by Hamas as a slogan for the designated terror group’s 2017 revised charter. Musk‚ who once described himself as a “free speech absolutist” stated that phrases such as this are tantamount to “extreme violence.” He added: “At risk of stating the obvious‚ anyone advocating the genocide of *any* group will be suspended from this platform.” X has been criticized for not censoring enough speech regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict‚ with companies such as Disney‚ Apple‚ IBM‚ and Lionsgate‚ pulling advertising from the platform. X has been accused of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and it remains uncertain if the platform’s users will indeed be suspended for using the contested phrases. The post Elon Musk Announces New Policy‚ Phrases Such As “Decolonization” and “From the River to the Sea” Could Result in X Ban appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Politico was in such a state of panic over what they perceived as President Joe Biden's dwindling election chances in 2024 that they were hyping an election gimmick promoted by political author Ruy Teixeira‚ that came off as nothing more than a desperate election ploy of too little‚ too late. It was a mark of this desperation that it was the lead story of Friday's Politico Playbook‚ "The case for triangulation on immigration." After almost three years of largely putting little weight on the border crises during the current administration‚ Politico writers Ryan Lizza‚ Eugene Daniels‚ and Rachel Bade had finally‚ finally discovered that it existed... mainly because the issue was politically hurting Biden.  ...one of the most striking and consistent findings of 2023 polling is that voters give Biden especially poor marks for how he’s handling immigration‚ where his average approval rating is 34%. A Marquette Law School poll released yesterday continues the trend. Asked which 2024 candidate would handle immigration better‚ Trump holds a 50% to 27% advantage over Biden among registered voters — the largest gap between the two candidates of all the issues tested‚ just as in numerous other polls this year. The Biden campaign has a new plan to address this vulnerability: attack Trump’s extremist immigration policies. The problem with the Biden campaign plan‚ as the authors point out‚ was that 'Orange Man Bad' doesn't really work as a campaign tactic. “What did [Hillary Clinton] run on?” asked RUY TEIXEIRA‚ co-author‚ with JOHN JUDIS‚ of the new book‚ “Where Have All the Democrats Gone?” ($28.99)‚ during an interview on this week’s Playbook Deep Dive podcast. “It was all about how bad Donald Trump was‚ what a bad person he was‚ how sexist he was‚ how racist he was‚” Teixeira said. “He talked about issues. You may not have liked how he talked about issues‚ and he may not have been very specific‚ but he talked about issues‚ whereas Hillary talked about Bad Orange Man.” And now that Teixeira had been cited‚ the nervous Politico writers grasped upon his advice for a very gimmicky election ploy of triangulation by pretending to suddenly be concerned about the border after years of downplaying that crisis. In 2002‚ Teixeira and Judis famously published “The Emerging Democratic Majority‚” a book that seemed to predict the coalition of minorities‚ women‚ young people‚ knowledge workers and the party’s traditional working-class base that propelled BARACK OBAMA to the White House in 2008. Their new book‚ out this month‚ tries to explain why many of the working class voters in that coalition have since abandoned the Democrats‚ and the party’s handling of immigration policy tops their list of culprits. Teixeira and Judis argue that progressives have become victim to what they call the “Fox News Fallacy” — that if the conservative media machine seizes on an issue‚ it must be illegitimate. Teixeira sees it in the current immigration debate: “People streaming over the border who are not legal immigrants — this is not a good thing! … [Y]ou’re not going to persuade anybody against that point of view if you simply act like the problem doesn’t exist and this is all made up by the satanic‚ anti-democratic‚ quasi fascist people and the other side.” So‚ Democrats were supposed to take advice from someone who appeared to endorse lax immigration enforcement in his 2002 book as revealed by Atlantic magazine: In 2002‚ the political scientist Ruy Teixeira and the journalist John Judis published a book‚ The Emerging Democratic Majority‚ which argued that demographic changes—the browning of America‚ along with the movement of more women‚ professionals‚ and young people into the Democratic fold—would soon usher in a “new progressive era” that would relegate Republicans to permanent minority political status. The book argued‚ somewhat triumphally‚ that the new emerging majority was inexorable and inevitable. Since that plan failed to help the Democrats‚ Teixeira had a new shtick: Border Triangulation aka pretend to care about the border for purposes of the election. Biden wants $60 billion in aid for Ukraine before the end of the year‚ and Republicans in Congress are demanding border security provisions‚ including tightening asylum standards‚ in return. The White House has signaled it knows a deal is necessary. Burgess Everett reported yesterday on the most likely kind of compromise that could emerge from the current Senate talks: “[S]ome negotiators aren’t envisioning a deal they expect would appeal to progressive Democrats or conservatives who oppose funding Ukraine at all. An ideal Senate bill‚ in their view‚ would pass the chamber via the center-left and the center-right.” From the Teixeira-Judis view‚ the GOP is offering Biden a priceless opportunity: He unlocks aid to Ukraine‚ passes an immigration bill that he can campaign on to mitigate Trump’s biggest advantage‚ and he gets credit for another big bipartisan deal. A big bipartisan gimmick chock full of billions of dollars spent on a war in exchange for an immigration deal that likely would be as fully enforced as existing immigration laws by folks such as Alejandro Mayorkas. Such a deal! If only enough gullible Republicans can be found to swallow the highly laughable triangulation gimmick. Interestingly‚ there was not one mention in the story about the one person who was assigned to focus on this issue: Border Czar Kamala Harris.

On Wednesday night‚ a mob of about 150 pro-Hamas protesters -- "ceasefire advocates" -- blocked the entrances and exits at the Democratic National Committee HQ in DC. Then it got violent‚ with six police officers and about 90 protesters saying they were injured. The networks and The Washington Post hated this story‚ and tried to suppress it‚ and act "fair and balanced‚" unlike January 6.    "This rattled me more than January 6th (attack) did‚" Rep. Debbie Dingell told The Detroit News‚ as about 10 members of Congress were detained inside for about an hour. "I was scared. Someone is going to get hurt at one of these things. They can get out of control." But you couldn't find this story anywhere on the (large) Washington Post homepage on Thursday‚ and the official Twitter page of the Post never mentioned it. They reported a story...if you searched for it. On Friday‚ it appeared not on the front page of the paper‚ but on B-1‚ the front page of the Metro section. The headline was bland: "Protesters‚ police at odds over clash at DNC." Meanwhile‚ the front page began with George Santos not running for Congress again‚ and then down below‚ two negative stories about Trump and the Republican Party. The networks acknowledged the "clash" on Thursday morning‚ but also treated the violent protesters as just as plausible and as moral as the Capitol Police. On Thursday night's PBS NewsHour‚ they let the leftists claim "police initiated the confrontation." Um‚ you blocked all the entrances and exits and banged on the windows. They didn't initiate the confrontation. They responded to it.  Enjoy the podcast below‚ or wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts. Like or share‚ or you can support us at www.mrc.org/donate.   

Elon Musk has declared that the phrase "from the river to the sea" implies genocide and those who promote genocide will be suspended from X."Yes‚ 'decolonization' necessarily implies a Jewish genocide‚ thus it is unacceptable to any reasonable person‚" Musk tweeted earlier this week. Then‚ on Friday‚ he retweeted that post and wrote‚ "As I said earlier this week‚ 'decolonization'‚ 'from the river to the sea' and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide. Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension.""At risk of stating the obvious‚ anyone advocating the genocide of *any* group will be suspended from this platform‚" Musk also tweeted. — (@) While "from the river to the sea" is widely regarded as a call to wipe the Jewish state of Israel off of the map‚ Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan has claimed that it "is an aspirational call for freedom‚ human rights‚ and peaceful coexistence‚ not death‚ destruction‚ or hate."Musk has been facing backlash for agreeing with comments someone posted on X: "Jewish communties [sic] have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them. I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest s*** now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much‚" the person wrote in a tweet.Musk replied‚ "You have said the actual truth." In another post‚ he wrote‚ "The ADL unjustly attacks the majority of the West‚ despite the majority of the West supporting the Jewish people and Israel. This is because they cannot‚ by their own tenets‚ criticize the minority groups who are their primary threat. It is not right and needs to stop." — (@) The White House issued a statement of condemnation in response to Musk's tweet agreeing with the other individual's remarks. "We condemn this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms‚" spokesperson Andrew Bates declared in a statement. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Colorado judge found that former President Donald Trump had engaged in insurrection but that he should not be restricted from appearing on the primary election ballot. Progressives sued in Colorado and other states‚ arguing that Trump should be kept from running for president over his participation in the Jan. 6 rioting at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the official results of the 2020 election. On Friday‚ Colorado District Court Judge Sarah Wallace ruled against the petition to keep Trump off the ballot. "The Court finds that Petitioners have established that Trump engaged in an insurrection on January 6‚ 2021 through incitement‚ and that the First Amendment does not protect Trump’s speech‚" wrote Wallace in the 102-page decision. She said that Trump did not meet the standard of being "an officer of the United States" in order to be disqualified. “The Court holds there is scant direct evidence regarding whether the Presidency is one of the positions subject to disqualification‚” she added. The lawsuit was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington‚ which argued that the insurrection clause of the Constitution prohibited Trump from running for president again. Noah Bookbinder‚ the president of CREW‚ said they would appeal the ruling. "The court's decision affirms what our clients alleged in this lawsuit: that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection based on his role in January 6th‚" he said in a statement. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement praising the ruling. "We applaud today's ruling in Colorado‚ which is another nail in the coffin of the un-American ballot challenges‚" Cheung said. "These cases represent the most cynical and blatant political attempts to interfere with the upcoming presidential election." If the ruling is appealed‚ it could be heard by the state's supreme court and eventually the U.S. Supreme Court. A similar lawsuit was rejected in Michigan‚ though the petitioners in that case said they would also appeal the ruling. Here's more about the ruling from Colorado: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A private school teacher and married mother of two in South Carolina is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teen football player. Reagan Anderson‚ 27‚ was arrested on Nov. 15 and charged with two counts of felony sexual battery with a child 17 years of age. In South Carolina‚ the charges are punishable with up to five years in prison.Anderson was released on a $2‚500 bond‚ but a judge ordered Anderson to wear a GPS monitor and not have contact with the victim or the victim's family. Anderson was a teacher at the Holly Hill Academy — a private Christian prep school roughly 60 miles northwest of Charleston‚ South Carolina. According to the arrest warrant‚ the sexual assaults took place at a residence on Oct. 22 and at a Pizza Hut parking lot on Oct. 28. The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office was notified of the teacher sex scandal allegations on Nov. 8 after rumors started swirling at the Holly Hill Academy.Law &; Crime reported‚ "Students and a coach had reportedly noticed a photo of the suspect on the boy’s phone‚ as well as Snapchat activity that set off alarm bells. Anderson allegedly sent the student nude images on Snapchat." Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said‚ "We began investigating immediately after being notified of these allegations in order to prevent any further inappropriate contact with students. If anyone has any more information‚ they are asked to get in touch with us."When confronted by school officials‚ Anderson reportedly denied the illicit accusations. During Anderson's bond hearing on Nov. 16‚ the mother of the victim blasted the ex-teacher. “A trusted coach‚ teacher‚ and friend that abused our trust and violated her oath as an educator‚ and has ruined our son’s life‚” the mother said. “He should be 100 percent focused on being a fun-loving‚ football-playing young man‚ but this predator has robbed him of that ability.”Brandy Mullennax — the head of Holly Hill Academy — sent a letter to parents that read: "Holly Hilly Academy was made aware last week of allegations regarding an inappropriate relationship between a staff member and upper school student. The administration immediately contacted law enforcement."“As a small school community‚ we strive to always provide a safe and secure learning environment for all our students‚” Mullennax added‚ according to WCSC. “We cannot comment on this matter further at this time other than to assure you that we will continue to work with law enforcement and provide the needed support for our students and staff as we deal with this situation.”Mullennax said that students and parents would be provided with resources to help get through the situation.The statement from the school noted that Anderson is no longer employed at Holly Hill Academy. Former Holly Hill Academy staffer accused of alleged sexual relationship with a student www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Brooklyn office of U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) was vandalized with a few graffiti messages‚ such as one on the sidewalk that read‚ "BLOOD ON UR HANDS" and one on the building that said‚ "LET GAZA LIVE." "Harassing‚ intimidating‚ and outright attacking the staff of a Jewish elected official at a time of rising violence and rampant antisemitism is dangerous and unacceptable‚" Goldman communications director Simone Kanter noted‚ according to reports. — (@) Democratic lawmakers from New York‚ including Jerrold Nadler‚ Jamaal Bowman‚ Yvette Clarke‚ Adriano Espaillat‚ Hakeem Jeffries‚ Gregory Meeks‚ Grace Meng‚ Joseph Morelle‚ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‚ Pat Ryan‚ Paul Tonko‚ Ritchie Torres and Nydia Velázquez‚ issued a joint statement condemning the vandalism of their colleague's office. "We stand together to condemn the vandalism discovered this morning targeting Representative Dan Goldman's district office. While everyone has a first amendment right to peacefully protest and make their voice heard‚ that must not extend to intimidating staff or outright criminal behavior. This is a deeply personal and emotional issue for all who care about a future of peace for both the Israeli and Palestinian people‚ but we cannot let our disagreements turn us against each other and inflame violence here at home‚" their statement declared.Goldman had been in Israel at the time Hamas perpetrated heinous terror attacks in the Jewish state last month‚ but the lawmaker was able to safely return to the U.S. with his family."Congressman Goldman‚ his wife‚ and three youngest children were in Israel for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Shabbat and Simchat Torah‚ one of the holiest Jewish holidays. Congressman Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotel's interior stairwell until early Sunday morning‚ when they were able to safely depart for New York‚" Kanter noted in a statement last month.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The brother-in-law of Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams has been arrested after he allegedly tried to hire a 16-year-old for sex and then assaulted her‚ according to police. The Tampa Police Department said that 57-year-old Jimmie Gardner met the minor girl at about 1:43 a.m. and invited her to his room at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza. Gardner allegedly offered to pay the 16-year-old for sex. “The victim initially agreed but later told Gardner that she no longer wanted to engage and he became angry‚” read a press release from police. “Gardner advised the victim that she needed to leave his hotel room‚" police added. "The two got involved in a verbal altercation that escalated to a physical dispute after Gardner placed his hands around the victim’s neck‚ impeding her breathing. After the dispute‚ Gardner left the hotel room‚ and the victim called 911.”When police arrived at the hotel‚ they said that Gardner had already left. He reported to the police station and was arrested on charges of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity (victim less than 18)‚ lewd or lascivious touching of minor 16 or 17 years of age by person 24 years of age or older‚ and a misdemeanor count of battery.“Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence‚" read a statement from state attorney Suzy Lopez. "Our attorneys will prosecute this case as we would any other offender who is alleged to have committed these crimes. We take these charges very seriously." Gardner works as a motivational speaker and is known for being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1984. He is also married to federal judge Leslie Abrams Gardner.In 2020‚ left-wing billionaire George Soros donated a million dollars to Abrams' second campaign to win the Georgia governorship. Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp decisively defeated her in that election with 53% of the vote to Abrams' 46%. Here's more about the arrest of Jimmie Gardner: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Beginning with the Spiritualist movement in the 19th century‚ the belief in communication with the spirits of the dead has significantly shaped the way Americans approach paranormal investigations. From the rise of séances and spirit photography to the modern use of scientific equipment‚ the legacy of spiritualism continues to permeate the field of ghost hunting‚ influencing methodologies‚ cultural perceptions‚ and the very nature of the quest to connect with the supernatural. Introduction Spiritualism emerged in the mid-19th century as a religious and cultural movement that claimed the ability to communicate with the spirits of the deceased. This movement played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of ghost hunting in the United States. The belief that the living could connect with the afterlife sparked widespread interest in the paranormal‚ influencing subsequent generations of ghost hunters and investigators. The Spiritualist Movement’s Impact The mid-19th century was marked by a surge in interest in the occult and paranormal phenomena. The Fox sisters‚ Margaret and Kate‚ played a central role in the development of spiritualism. In 1848‚ they claimed to communicate with a spirit through mysterious rapping sounds‚ leading to the birth of the Spiritualist movement. Séances became a common practice during this era‚ as individuals gathered to attempt communication with spirits through mediums. Spiritualist practices had a profound impact on the American psyche‚ introducing the idea that the dead could communicate with the living. This belief system laid the groundwork for future approaches to paranormal investigations‚ emphasizing the possibility of establishing contact with the other side. Séances and Spirit Photography Séances‚ characterized by a group of individuals sitting in a circle attempting to communicate with spirits‚ became a popular practice during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mediums claimed to facilitate communication with the deceased‚ often relaying messages or producing physical manifestations of ghostly activity. Séances brought a performative aspect to spiritualism‚ with participants seeking evidence of an afterlife. Spirit photography‚ another offshoot of spiritualist practices‚ emerged as a means of capturing images of spirits on photographic plates. Pioneers like William H. Mumler claimed to photograph ghostly figures alongside living subjects. While these practices were later debunked as hoaxes‚ they contributed to the cultural fascination with capturing tangible evidence of the supernatural. The American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) Founded in 1885‚ the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) marked a shift toward a more scientific approach to the study of paranormal phenomena. While not exclusively focused on ghost hunting‚ the ASPR aimed to investigate and understand various psychic and supernatural experiences. This organization laid the groundwork for a more systematic and methodical exploration of the unknown. The ASPR’s emphasis on scientific inquiry influenced the development of ghost hunting methodologies. Researchers within the society sought to apply rigorous scientific principles to the investigation of paranormal claims‚ setting the stage for future generations of ghost hunters who would blend spiritualist traditions with scientific methods. 20th Century Pop Culture and the Paranormal The mid-20th century witnessed a surge of interest in the paranormal‚ fueled by popular culture and media. Movies such as “The Exorcist” and “The Amityville Horror” captivated audiences with tales of supernatural occurrences. These cultural phenomena contributed to the normalization of ghost stories and haunted house narratives‚ further embedding the paranormal into American consciousness. As ghost stories gained popularity in mainstream culture‚ the idea of paranormal investigation began to transition from religious and spiritual contexts to a more secular and curiosity-driven endeavor. This shift set the stage for the modern ghost hunting movement (opens a PhD dissertation at the University of Virginia)‚ which would continue to evolve throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century. Modern Ghost Hunting The late 20th century and the early 21st century saw the emergence of organized paranormal investigation groups. Inspired by spiritualist traditions‚ these groups often incorporated scientific equipment such as electromagnetic field (EMF) meters‚ infrared cameras‚ and voice recorders into their investigations. The goal was to capture empirical evidence of ghostly activity and validate claims of hauntings. Television shows like “Ghost Hunters‚” which debuted in 2004‚ brought the world of paranormal investigation into the homes of millions. The use of technology‚ combined with a scientific approach‚ became a hallmark of these shows. Investigators‚ often with a background in technology or science‚ sought to demystify the supernatural and apply rational explanations to reported phenomena. Technology and the Paranormal Advancements in technology have played a significant role in shaping the modern practice of ghost hunting. While spiritualists once relied on séances and spirit photography‚ contemporary investigators use a range of sophisticated tools to detect and document paranormal activity. Electromagnetic field (EMF) meters‚ for example‚ measure changes in electromagnetic fields that are believed by some to be associated with the presence of spirits. Infrared cameras capture images in low-light conditions‚ potentially revealing anomalous heat signatures. Digital audio recorders and devices like the Spirit Box are used to capture electronic voice phenomena (EVP)‚ believed to be the voices of spirits. The integration of technology into ghost hunting reflects a continuation of the spiritualist desire to provide tangible evidence of the afterlife. However‚ it also marks a departure from the purely mystical and religious aspects of spiritualism‚ as investigators aim to apply a more objective and scientific lens to their work. Skepticism and Debunking While spiritualism laid the groundwork for paranormal investigation‚ the modern ghost hunting movement also emphasizes skepticism and debunking. Investigators are trained to consider natural explanations for reported phenomena before attributing them to the supernatural. This approach aligns with the scientific principles embraced by organizations like the ASPR. Skepticism has become a crucial aspect of ghost hunting ethics. The goal is not only to capture evidence of the paranormal but also to rule out mundane explanations for reported hauntings. This critical mindset is a departure from the unquestioning belief often associated with spiritualist practices. Cultural Impact Spiritualism’s influence on ghost hunting extends beyond methodologies to cultural perceptions of the paranormal. The legacy of spiritualism has contributed to a widespread fascination with ghosts and the afterlife‚ shaping the way Americans perceive and engage with the supernatural. Ghost stories‚ once rooted in spiritualist traditions‚ have become a pervasive element of American folklore. Haunted locations are often tourist attractions‚ and ghost tours capitalize on the public’s interest in the unknown. The influence of spiritualism is evident in the enduring popularity of séances‚ spirit communication‚ and the quest for proof of life beyond death. Conclusion The influence of spiritualism on ghost hunting in the United States is profound and multifaceted. From the séances of the 19th century to the modern use of scientific equipment‚ spiritualist traditions have shaped the very fabric of paranormal investigations. The blend of mysticism and science reflects the evolving nature of the quest to understand the supernatural. As ghost hunting continues to captivate the public imagination‚ it is essential to recognize the historical roots of these practices. Spiritualism’s enduring legacy serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between belief‚ science‚ and the human fascination with the mysterious realms beyond the veil. Whether one approaches the paranormal with religious reverence or scientific scrutiny‚ the influence of spiritualism on ghost hunting remains a compelling thread in the tapestry of American cultural history. The post The Influence of Spiritualism on Ghost Hunting appeared first on Ghostly Activities.