Target is under fire once again - this time for selling LGBTQ+ styled Christmas decorations. And conservatives are NOT having it.  One of the new items on the chain's inventory is a 2023 nutcracker decoration which features the nutcracker in a jacket with a pride flag running down the middle‚ a pride flag hat‚ and a pride flag in his hand. I say “his” hand loosely‚ as the statue also has pink hair‚ eyeshadow‚ and feminine eyelashes. Perhaps he's a drag queen as well.  Another new item this year is a Christmas snow globe with a rainbow heart in the middle and the phrase “love is love” in the center.  Target also recently collaborated with an artist named Kurt S. Adler‚ whose creations include more gay nutcrackers‚ a pride drinking glass ornament‚  a 10-inch fabergé Pride Santa‚ and a pride picture frame ornament.  Other Christmas/Pride collaborations include a rainbow “Love is Love” ornament‚ the description for which reads: “Spread love and acceptance this holiday season with this charming pride 'Love is Love' holiday ornament‚" adding‚ “Whether you're an ally‚ a member of the LGBTQ+ community‚ or simply someone who believes in love and equality for all‚ this ornament is the perfect way to showcase your support during the festive season.” A snowflake with the word “Liberal” is also for sale‚ but as far as I could see‚ there were no “Conservative” ornaments. Target also sells pride wrapping paper for Christmas in two different styles. Sounds like a good fire starter to me! Conservatives were disgusted at how “socially just” Target’s Christmas decorations are.  Fox News host Jesse Watters called the whole thing the “Dylanization” of America as a jab at Dylan Mulvaney‚ the man who parades around as a little girl who ruined Bud Light among other brands. Watters brought in some of the merchandise to his show‚ "Jesse Watters Primetime‚" pointing out that the pride decor could be a way of “sexualizing Christmas for children.” Related: Disney Provides Pronoun Pins to Epcot Janitors Riley Gaines‚ former NCAA swimmer who focuses on keeping men out of girls sports who appeared as a guest on Watters' show‚ asked‚ “Why do they keep pushing this? Who are they trying to appeal to? Because despite what the media portrays or how politicians are voting this doesn’t represent the overwhelming majority of this country‚ really how the world‚ feels on this issue.”   A user on Twitter wrote‚ “Seems @Target didn't learn their lessons from the tuck friendly promoting gay in their children's section. They're back at it for Christmas‚ I will NO longer spend a dime at Target‚ let's see if the gay/trans community can carry them” and another pointed out the hypocrisy of Target selling this woke crap when “They don't even allow their employees to say Merry Christmas.”  That user brings up a great point. This is kinda funny considering the fact that Christmas is a Christian holiday‚ and being gay or trans or anything other than straight is antithetical to the Bible’s teachings.  But leave it to the woke mob who runs Target to show how big of idiots they are once again.  Follow us on Twitter/X: Being on the ground at the March for Israel rally was a peaceful reminder of the reality of this conflict pic.twitter.com/r9lTxxtZMz — MRCTV (@mrctv) November 16‚ 2023

Having been off-the-air from covering the Israel-Hamas war for roughly three weeks‚ CBS foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tyab resurfaced to lead off Friday’s CBS Mornings and‚ as he had from the onset of the war‚ played an incredibly reliable role of a tool for the terrorist organization trashing Israel’s response to Hamas’s October 7 animalism. Tyab was somehow allowed to embed with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)‚ which co-host Tony Dokoupil said took him “to the Al-Shifa Hospital complex‚ which Israel says has been a center of operations for Hamas‚ but is now also the focus of criticism over Israel’s tactics.”     From the get-go‚ Tyab was dripping with skepticism for anything Israel said‚ whining that “central to Israel’s justifications of its devastating military campaign on Gaza is its claim that Hamas’s armed wing has been running extensive operations from within the Al-Shifa Hospital.” Along with noting the only way to get to his beloved Gaza was with the IDF‚ Tyab griped he and his camera crew “could only go where they wanted to take us and see what they wanted to show us." Tyab expressed how crestfallen he was by Israel’s response‚ fretting that the “view screen” inside an armored tank “show[ed] the ghostly wreckage of building after building and not a single person in sight” inside “what was once a vibrant city‚ home to nearly 800‚000 Palestinians”. Tyab scoffed at the bombshell that the IDF found an entrance to a tunnel inside the Al-Shifa complex‚ arguing it was only what “they say is proof Hamas fighters used the hospital as a command center.” After highlighting the vast weapons cache‚ Tyab went back and forth with two members of the IDF’s special forces with the pro-Hamas narrative that the IDF hasn’t really proven anything and what they do have on Hamas “is underwhelming” (click “expand”): TYAB: The criticism is‚ is that the evidence provided so far is underwhelming‚ that it doesn’t show unequivocally that this was a Hamas command center. IDF SOLDIER #1: Well‚ it will take us time -- IDF SOLDIER #2 [FACE BLURRED]: This — just a second‚ this was not just one Hamas headquarter. This was at least three headquarters working simultaneously in the city and outside the city. TYAB [TO IDF SOLDIER #2]: This is a level of detail‚ which we’re not seeing though. If you knew there are three separate command centers‚ but we can’t see any of that. IDF SOLDIER #2 [FACE BLURRED]: This is — it’s not something you can see right now. Because of course he had to‚ Tyab invoked the terrorist-run Gaza Ministry of Health’s new talking point without a scintilla of skepticism: “According to the Gaza Ministry of Health‚ around 650 patients‚ many critically ill‚ still remain inside‚ but we were not allowed access to any of them.” Moments later‚ Dokoupil asked Tyab “what else struck you” since “Gaza is the place you’ve been before” and‚ sure enough‚ Tyab’s answer was revealing as he said he’s “been going to” Gaza “for well over a decade.” And‚ not only that‚ but he has “friends” and “former colleagues” there‚ adding “what struck me as soon as we entered was the smell” of “death in the air as bodies decompose under the rubble and then what we could see even in the darkness was destroyed buildings as far as the eye could see.” Tyab said Al-Shifa’s supposed to be “a place of refuge‚” but Israel undid that. Before wrapping‚ he thanked so-called journalists in Gaza for “sending us those pictures every single day of the devastation” (which NewsNation has pointed out is a term that should be used loosely). ABC’s Good Morning America again had national correspondent Matt Gutman on the case for Friday’s show. Like the day prior‚ he presented the Gaza/Hamas view to an IDF spokesman and fretted about the “deepening humanitarian crisis as the World Health Organization says more than half of all hospitals in Gaza are no longer functioning.”  Speaking again to IDF Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler‚ he asked if he had any “understand[ing]” of how Palestinians feel about having “been bombed” and “no longer feel safe” and stopped “listening to the Israeli military because‚ even in the south‚ the places that are supposed to be safer‚ is apparently not.” Shefler replied by noting it is “safer” given the fact that‚ in that “area — we’re bringing — allowing and pushing more humanitarian aid to come.” To see the relevant CBS transcript from November 17‚ click “expand.” CBS Mornings November 17‚ 2023 7:00 a.m. Eastern [TEASE] TONY DOKOUPIL: CBS News embeds with Israeli forces searching Gaza’s largest hospital where they believe Hamas may have held hostages. (....) 7:02 a.m. Eastern [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Israel-Hamas War; Inside Gaza’s Besieged Hospital; CBS News Gets Access to Al-Shifa Hospital at Center of War Zone] DOKOUPIL: [W]e’re going to begin with new signs that Israel’s military‚ its assault on Gaza rounding out Hamas still has a long way to go. This morning‚ Israeli Army chief-of-staff has said that he expects “more and more” regions of that tiny strip of land will be targeted as his troops get closer to “dismantling Hamas.” Imtiaz Tyab traveled with Israeli soldiers to the Al-Shifa Hospital complex‚ which Israel says has been a center of operations for Hamas‚ but is now also the focus of criticism over Israel’s tactics. And Imtiaz joins us now. Imtiaz‚ you know that region well. You’ve worked there for years. What did you learn visiting Al-Shifa? IMTIAZ TYAB: Tony‚ good morning to you. Well‚ central to Israel’s justifications of its devastating military campaign on Gaza is its claim that Hamas’s armed wing has been running extensive operations from within the Al-Shifa Hospital. Now‚ the only way for us‚ as international journalists‚ to enter Gaza is with the Israeli military. We were taken to the sprawling medical complex by one of Israel’s elite special forces unit. We could only go where they wanted to take us and see what they wanted to show us‚ but Israel’s army had no control over our final reports. We traveled deep into Gaza under the cover of darkness in one of Israel’s most sophisticated armored personnel carriers‚ called the Namer‚ the tiger. This armored personnel vehicle is the only way for us to get to the Al-Shifa Hospital‚ which is now surrounded by Israeli forces and has been the epicenter of this battle here in Gaza City. As we pass through the battered streets of what was once a vibrant city‚ home to nearly 800‚000 Palestinians‚ a view screen shows the ghostly wreckage of building after building and not a single person in sight. Back outside‚ we are met by the Sayeret Matkal‚ one of Israel’s most elite special forces unit. We’re walking through the streets of Gaza City and even in the darkness‚ you can see nearly everything is in ruins. These special forces led the raid on the Al-Shifa Hospital complex and have been searching it since Wednesday‚ and this is what they found‚ a tunnel they say is proof Hamas fighters used the hospital as a command center. We were then taken inside a small one-story building where we were shown a collection of grenades‚ rifles‚ and ammunition apparently taken from a vehicle also found on the hospital’s grounds. [TO IDF SOLDIER] The criticism is‚ is that the evidence provided so far is underwhelming‚ that it doesn’t show unequivocally that this was a Hamas command center. IDF SOLDIER #1: Well‚ it will take us time -- IDF SOLDIER #2 [FACE BLURRED]: This — just a second‚ this was not just one Hamas headquarter. This was at least three headquarters working simultaneously in the city and outside the city. TYAB [TO IDF SOLDIER #2]: This is a level of detail‚ which we’re not seeing though. If you knew there are three separate command centers‚ but we can’t see any of that. IDF SOLDIER #2 [FACE BLURRED]: This is — it’s not something you can see right now. TYAB: The Biden administration backs Israel’s claims the Al-Shifa Hospital was used by Hamas’s armed wing. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health‚ around 650 patients‚ many critically ill‚ still remain inside‚ but we were not allowed access to any of them. Now‚ this morning‚ the Israeli military announced that they had recovered the body of the 19-year-old soldier‚ Noa Marciano‚ who was one of the Israelis abducted on October 7. They say they found her body in a structure “adjacent to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza.” Now‚ it’s not clear whether this was the same structure where they found the body of 66-year-old hostage‚ Yuhedit Weiss‚ whose remains were also found just yesterday‚ Tony. DOKOUPIL: Yeah‚ that 66-year-old grandmother alive and at home on October 7th‚ now dead and inside Gaza‚ where she was found. Gaza is the place you’ve been before. The cost of the Israeli response are significant. You mentioned the battered streets. What else struck you as even under a cover of darkness you were able to look around a little? TYAB: Yes‚ Tony‚ Gaza is a place I’ve been going to for well over a decade. I have friends there‚ former colleagues and what struck me as soon as we entered was the smell. You can smell death in the air as bodies decompose under the rubble and then what we could see even in the darkness was destroyed buildings as far as the eye could see. Not a single building intact‚ and then there was the Al-Shifa Hospital. This is the largest hospital in Gaza. It is known as a place of refuge. It is known as a place of safety‚ But what we saw was a place of devastation‚ and a place of despair‚ but very quickly‚ I would like to add that the Palestinian journalists inside Gaza who had been sending us those pictures every single day of the devastation there continue to do so while we can only enter with Israeli forces. DOKOUPIL: They are doing important work. The question of that devastation for the world is who do you blame‚ Hamas or the IDF? Imtiaz Tyab helping us paint a picture. Imtiaz‚ thank you very much. (....) 8:01 a.m. Eastern [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Israel-Hamas War] TYAB: We’re walking through the streets of Gaza City and even in the darkness‚ you can see here that everything is in ruins. DOKOUPIL: CBS News is on the ground with the Israeli military in Gaza and gets a look at the besieged Al-Shifa Hospital.

During his recent welcome speech for the 2023 National Book Awards ceremony‚ actor LeVar Burton suggested to the crowd that he'd get physically violent with members of conservative group Moms for Liberty. "Before we get going‚ are there any Moms for Liberty in the house?" Burton asked‚ according to video from Wednesday's broadcast. "Moms for Liberty? No? Good! Then hands will not need to be thrown tonight." A number of folks in the audience — presumably consisting of individuals who wouldn't tolerate a smidgen of violence against women — hooted‚ hollered‚ and clapped following Burton's rather misogynistic declaration: 2023 National Book Awards Ceremony - featuring LeVar Burton welcome and special guest Oprah Winfrey youtu.be Guess it's all good as long as the correct women get beaten up‚ eh‚ LeVar?What's the background?The Huffington Post detailed Burton's "outspoken ... disgust" for Moms for Liberty‚ and the left-wing outlet called the group "extremist" and said Moms for Liberty "has described itself as defending 'parental rights' in government while also seeking to have books removed from libraries. During last week’s U.S. elections‚ Moms for Liberty set out to take over various school boards but ultimately wasn’t successful."HuffPost also called attention to an Esquire interview in which Burton indicated he was “thrilled” that “hardly any candidates backed by Moms for Liberty won their races.” “These are people who would rather children not know the truth‚” Burton told Esquire‚ according to the Post. “Those kids will never know what they’re missing‚ but it’s our job to stand up for them‚ to be their voices and their advocates. That’s what being an elder in this society means to me.”How did Moms for Liberty react to Burton's words?Moms for Liberty hopped on social media and gave Burton a piece of their collective mind over his remarks:"American moms weep as a childhood favorite‚ Reading Rainbow‚ calls for physical attacks against us because we are protecting the innocence of our children‚" the group wrote on X. "@levarburton‚ why have you sunk so low? Threatening physical violence against women?" — (@) How are other folks reacting to Burton's words?While a few individuals loved Burton's suggestion that he'd fistfight Moms for Liberty‚ quite a number of others didn't take too kindly to it:"So Mr. Reading Rainbow is violently pro-groomer. Sad‚" one commenter wrote."Are we gonna punch moms?" another user wondered."So he likes to beat women. Never liked him as an actor‚ seems less than honorable as just an everyday average person as well‚" another commenter observed."What he’s gonna hit a woman?" another user asked. "Real nice.""A man talking about beating up women over their political views?" another commenter queried. "Very bad look.""Threatening violence? Is that what you stand for?" another user asked."Hey @levarburton‚ if you’re so certain this is an acceptable stance‚ why don’t you be a real man and host a revival episode of Reading Rainbow on PBS with excerpts of the explicit scenes from 'Gender Queer'? You won’t because it wouldn’t be allowed on TV‚" another user pointed out. "You now think it’s brave to threaten women who want to protect their kids from being exposed to sexually explicit material (like the book mentioned above). You’ve betrayed every value that led you to be a part of Reading Rainbow. You’re aiding and abetting abuse of children. Enjoy watching your legacy burn down around you…you lit the match‚ bud."Burton as of Friday afternoon made no clarifying statement on his X page regarding his Moms for Liberty remarks. Fox News said Burton hasn't yet responded to its request for comment. The National Book Foundation‚ which presents the National Book Awards‚ on Friday did not immediately respond to Blaze Media's request for comment regarding Burton's Moms for Liberty remarks. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Masks or blindfolds: We're wearing one or the other. Somebody has painted the Star of David on apartment buildings to mark them as Jewish places. This is Paris‚ not in 1939 or ’40. This is today. People are going around marking Jewish businesses and Jewish buildings all over Paris. Could you imagine being a Jewish person in Paris and waking up to see one of these on your doorpost? Well‚ that would make me feel uncomfortable. Sometimes the mask slips on the bad guys‚ and we're seeing this an awful lot in the past month. I want to tell you a story about Ahed Tamimi. This curly-haired blonde‚ rosy-cheeked 20-something was a Palestinian activist who was jailed for a few months for hitting and abusing Israeli soldiers. This was a photogenic media martyrdom. She immediately was portrayed as a loving‚ peaceful Palestinian person. The media turned her into a worldwide freedom fighter and political prisoner who just wanted peace. Well‚ she let her mask down just a little bit this month. She posted this about the Jews on her social media: “We will slaughter you. And you will say what Hitler did to you‚ was a joke. We will drink your blood and eat your skull. Come on! We're waiting for you.” So why does the mask slip? And why do we ignore it? Does the mask slip because of arrogance or pride? The sudden inability to contain the glee? The deep-seated desire to proclaim the full extent of their true goals for the whole world to hear and be in awe of? I think that's what it usually is: just arrogance and pride. They want to take their masks off. Hamas says protecting civilians is for the UN and Israel Do you remember on 9/11 the images of the Palestinians dancing in the streets? The rest of the world was lighting candles. They were passing out candy. For a minute‚ the world again glimpsed the true face of Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization. Hamas leader Abu Marzook explained the other day why Gaza's resources had been used to build a network of terror tunnels instead of bomb shelters to protect civilians. On TV‚ he was asked why he built 500 kilometers of tunnels but not a single bomb shelter. He explained that the tunnels were meant to protect the Hamas fighters under the civilians who are up on the surface. Protecting civilians‚ he said‚ was the responsibility of the United Nations and Israel. Not Hamas. That's from the party that has had absolute rule of Gaza since 2006. It is important to recognize every time the masks slip — because this evil is knitted together. They don't necessarily have everything in common between all of these groups. But they do have the shared desire for the destruction of the Western way of life‚ the traditional family‚ Jews‚ and Christians. Seeking ways to make the masses comply Even more normal is when the mask slips from our political elites: when then-Vice President Joe Biden used blackmail to get a Ukrainian prosecutor off the backs of his son's friends‚ or when George Soros explains on “60 Minutes” that he topples economies for fun‚ or when the World Economic Forum lets you know in an ad that you’ll own nothing and be happy. They announce that you're going to be a modern-day serf‚ dependent on those who own it all — and you better like it. The elites always let you know that yes‚ they do think they know better‚ and the task at hand is to find the most convenient way to make the masses comply. That's important. The elites are always looking for ways to make the masses comply. Many times‚ of course‚ the mask was never on in the first place. Some are never shy about telling you exactly about their intent. For instance‚ Hitler published it all in a book. It was in a book‚ for Pete's sake. If you ever read it — I recommend you do — you will know exactly that the Germans knew everything that Hitler was going to do. Now‚ maybe the Germans were using their blindfold because Hitler was maskless and they didn't want to see all of those warts. The Hamas charter is clear about genocide Iran is pretty unambiguous about its highest ideals. Death to Israel. Death to America. There's relatively little room for interpretation there‚ even if you believe that jihad means "struggle for personal benefit." It might mean that to a few Muslim friends of mine‚ but I can tell you in Iran with the current leadership‚ it certainly doesn't. Their latest proxy is the Houthis in Yemen. Their motto: "A curse on Jews." That's their motto. " A curse on Jews." Where's the room for interpretation there? ISIS also never pretended it was anything other than what it was. In Hamas' case‚ their charter is out on the internet for anyone to read. The charter is clear about what Hamas thinks the solution to the Palestinian-Arab conflict should be: genocide. There's not a mask in sight. So for the people who are wearing masks — when they slip‚ we fail to see it. When they're not wearing masks‚ we wear blindfolds. We refuse to see it. How? Why? Peace with genocidal maniacs? From the height of our enlightened intellectual arrogance‚ we pretend to know better than the people who are talking to us about what they are going to do. We think we know better. We think we know how they think better than themselves. That's how we can pretend that we could have peace with genocidal maniacs. Terror groups. If they would just be willing to talk things over tea and crumpets‚ we could arrive at peace. What a delusion. Hamas‚ Iran‚ and any other terrorist organization are not even willing to pretend in engaging the same process that we do. We think we know better‚ and if they don't catch on‚ they better do so quickly. We think that the hearts of all people want the same thing. They just want to go about their business and raise their kids in peace. Given the chance‚ all of us would choose life‚ liberty‚ and the pursuit of happiness‚ right? No! That's not true. We forget the West is unique in history. When we say these were inalienable truths that were self-evident‚ they were only self-evident because they were first taught for 40 years in the pulpits of America. We forget the West is unique in history The value to be placed on an individual — an individual human right‚ an individual freedom‚ an individual choice — that's unique. The thought that the other side may not cherish the same values‚ that they may not want what we want‚ is uncomfortable‚ frightening‚ and inconvenient. And because we're protected by oceans between us‚ we just don't believe that people could think any other way. It means we don't know it all. We don't understand everything. It means we may not have an easy or convenient solution. Because reality is messy. And we need to wake up to that. Life is hard. But it is worth it. Wake up. Grow up. Grab a good strong dose of intellectual and spiritual humility. I don't want war. And I don't want war of all against all. But we should not be so naïve as to think that what's under the mask‚ what they tell us in their own words‚ is somehow less true than what we think should be true — or wish should be true. Not all problems have easy solutions. Not everybody wants the thing that we think they should want. Not everybody agrees with us‚ nor will they agree with us if we could just sit down and talk long enough. Not all problems have easy solutions Almost 50% of Americans no longer believe in the freedom of political speech. How many Americans would be willing to go door to door to take their neighbors' guns if they were just empowered to? Here in the country built on justice for all — blind justice — we are willing to turn a blind eye to massive corruption of our legal system. Why? Political reasons. How can we know that everyone wants the same thing on the other side of the planet when we're just learning in very dangerous ways that many of our fellow Americans no longer see a place for our own country in the world? 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.

Mexican government officials released a statement Thursday condemning a Texas immigration enforcement bill that would allow state and local police to detain and deport illegal immigrants.Senate Bill 4‚ legislation proposed by Republican Representative David Spiller‚ would make it a state Class B misdemeanor for individuals to enter Texas from Mexico illegally. The bill‚ if signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott‚ would enable Texas law enforcement to arrest illegal migrants. A state judge would then order those individuals to leave Texas and return to Mexico to avoid prosecution. The offense could be enhanced to a felony charge if an illegal migrant is accused of committing another crime or refuses to return to Mexico.The bill has passed both chambers‚ and Abbott indicated Wednesday that he does plan to sign the bill into law‚ calling it “historic progress for border security.”“I look forward to signing Senate Bill 4‚ which creates penalties for illegal entry into Texas &; authorizes the removal of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border‚” Abbott stated.Mexican government officials released a statement the same day saying the country “categorically rejects” the legislation.“In relation to Senate Bill 4 passed by the Texas Legislature‚ the Foreign Ministry‚ on behalf of the Government of Mexico‚ expresses its rejection of these anti-immigrant measures that aim to stop the flow of migrants by criminalizing them. This legislation will result in the separation of families‚ discrimination and racial profiling‚” the statement read.“The Government of Mexico recognizes the sovereign right of a country to determine the public policies that are implemented in its territory‚” the statement continued. “Nevertheless‚ it respectfully expresses its own legitimate right to protect the rights of its nationals in the United States‚ and to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory. Therefore‚ the Government of Mexico categorically rejects any measure that allows state or local authorities to detain and return Mexican or foreign nationals to Mexican territory.”Officials claimed that the legislation would create “hostile environments that may lead to hate acts or crimes against migrant communities.”“[T]he Government of Mexico reiterates its rejection of any measure that involves the involuntary return of migrants without respect for due process‚” the statement added.Mexico noted that it will continue to work with the United States federal government regarding immigration.Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called Senate Bill 4 “the strongest border security bill Texas has ever passed.” Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Los Angeles father and husband who earlier this month opened fire on armed intruders who ran up on him from behind — right at the front door of his home — said his concealed carry permit was taken from him in the wake of the headline-grabbing incident. "After successfully defending my home and my family and my 5-month-old child‚ California has now decided to suspend my Second Amendment [rights]‚" Vince Ricci said in an NRA video released Friday. Ricci told Fox News that the sheriff's office told him Thursday morning that his concealed carry permit was "revoked‚" and the cable network added that Ricci indicated the reason was him "yelling" at Los Angeles police officers when they visited his home to investigate the shooting three days after the incident. More from Fox News: Ricci previously railed that the LAPD — the department investigating the case — carried out "sloppy police" work‚ including allegedly not picking up the casings scattered near his home as evidence. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter‚ and it is unclear if other factors played a role in the homeowner losing his concealed carry permit. What's the background? Surveillance video shows Ricci‚ beverage in hand‚ walking toward his front door as his driveway gate closes around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4. A pair of crooks are soon seen in the video scaling the wall next to the gate. One of them hung back a tad while the other — a hooded individual with gun — followed Ricci's path‚ and the front-door surveillance camera recorded the intruder running up on Ricci. But video shows Ricci react in an instant‚ first by tossing his tea at the intruder and then pulling his gun and opening fire. The pair of intruders made it back into the driveway — one fired shots back toward Ricci — and they jumped over the wall and run off into the night. LA homeowner fights back against armed intruders youtu.be Fox News said California law allows legal U.S. residents over the age of 18 to carry firearms on private property and residences without a permit or license — and since the shooting took place on Ricci's property‚ it would seem to call into question any decision to take away his concealed carry permit. The NRA told the cable network the revocation of Ricci's CCW is "reprehensible." "His decisive actions to protect his wife and daughter embody the core principles that NRA members fight for every day‚" NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin said in a statement‚ according to Fox News. "It's reprehensible that California is shredding his Second Amendment rights after he defended his family. Governor [Gavin] Newsom and [Los Angeles County District Attorney George] Gascon's pro-criminal policies have transformed Los Angeles and the wider state into what resembles a war zone. The NRA stands with Vince and every responsible gun owner in California‚ firmly committed to defending their rights to protect their families and communities." Ricci previously called out California politicians who punish "the wrong people." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In a bizarrely ahistorical but otherwise engaging article for the Guardian‚ Moira Donegan eulogized the now-defunct website Jezebel‚ which shut down last week. For Donegan‚ Jezebel was re-radicalizing: a desperately needed revival of feminism‚ restyled for the Information Age. In Donegan’s eyes‚ Jezebel’s sensationalist first-person essays‚ known at the time as “clickbait‚” were tantamount to radical feminist consciousness-raising. Alongside websites such as xoJane and Feministing‚ Jezebel showed a strong commitment to woman-first politics and ushered in a new age of feminism. Or so Donegan claims. With its death‚ she writes‚ we are witnessing the end of feminist media itself. It would be compelling if only it were true. Like its peers‚ Jezebel wasn’t exactly the beacon of activism Donegan seems to remember it as. Jezebel was the corporatization of something we’d already seen in the blogosphere. Finally‚ the feminist websites we’d already been following on LiveJournal‚ Xanga‚ and Blogspot had enough reach to start a real conversation. It was also‚ infamously‚ one of the first websites to take advantage of accusing people of being “problematic‚” whether that meant “fatphobic‚” “transphobic‚” or just plain old “misogynistic.” For the longest time that was more a tactic of its notoriously toxic comments section (xoJane’s wasn’t exactly a walk in the park‚ either) than the contributors to the site itself. And while Jezebel is best known‚ on both the right and the left‚ for its role in the rise of the most toxic elements of wokeness‚ that isn’t an entirely fair characterization. Mostly‚ like other websites at the time‚ Jezebel’s primary goal was to drive click-through traffic. In fact‚ it was Gawker Media’s “highest generator of page views‚” which is saying something if you remember the kind of stuff that Gawker used to publish. Its writers accomplished this in a number of ways: the Jezebel-to-Twitter pipeline‚ its vicious comments section‚ its speculation about the penis sizes of various Disney princes‚ and‚ of course‚ its salacious sex stories. If Jezebel was a pioneer of outrage bait — which indeed it was‚ and this did not go unnoticed by feminist critics at the time‚ either — it was also a pioneer of “hot mess” Millennial feminism. You know‚ the often woeful oversharing about one’s sex life and vices that became such a staple of the once-popular confessional essay. Anna Holmes‚ Jezebel’s founder‚ euphemistically described this tendency as a “remarkable new openness.” (It’s also worth noting that Jane Pratt’s Sassy reboot‚ xoJane‚ would go on to sprint‚ with both out-there guest contributors and full-time staff like Cat Marnell‚ where Jezebel only walked.) Was this “remarkable new openness” really “feminist” though? That’s anybody’s guess. Is strip-mining not only your own personal life but the personal lives of others for $50 and a chance to kick-start your career as journalist turned personality “feminist”? You tell me! I wouldn’t compare it to consciousness-raising‚ as Donegan did‚ but maybe that’s what it was. Casting light on the unsavory parts of womanhood so we’d all feel less alone. The ad revenue and 15 minutes of e-fame were added bonuses. Thus‚ with the confessional essays promoted by Jezebel‚ we saw the birth of the not-quite-a-journalist culture commenter personality. To me‚ this will always be Jezebel’s real contribution to the world of digital media. Not wokeness. In a way‚ the rise of the personality over the journalist — the personalities who were uniquely attention-grabbing and not known for their mastery of the craft or uniqueness of their stories‚ like Tom Wolfe — is what killed sites like Jezebel and let social media thrive. It’s not just that the tone of their writing was uniquely Millennial. The way people consume media has changed‚ too. Some websites have persisted‚ like the one you’re reading now. But we’re one of the lucky ones. Gen Z isn’t going to blogs in the same way that Millennial readers once did. They’re coasting off vibes from platforms like TikTok and Instagram‚ picking up ideas from a confluence of different people and sources‚ or they have a handful of individual personalities they subscribe to. And they no longer want — or need — a middleman. Or‚ in the case of Jezebel‚ a middle woman.

Members of a congregation in Arkansas have found themselves in a bitter dispute with a man they call a "squatter bishop‚" claiming he has stolen their church and refuses to give it back.At the center of the conflict is an old church built in 1915 in Crossett‚ a city of about 5‚500 residents in southeastern Arkansas‚ just a few miles north of the Louisiana border. The church was first known as Allison Chapel. In the 1970s‚ it became Allen Temple CME Church‚ affiliated with the national Christian Methodist Episcopal church. And Allen Temple it stayed for decades until the pastor left the state in 2019.At that point‚ the church remained empty for a year as members searched for a new minister. Bishop Earnest Smith‚ a Crossett resident who had begun a ministry a year earlier‚ then expressed interest in the church.Rekandria Leach claimed that members of Allen Temple agreed to allow Smith to rent the building for one year in exchange for $200. During that time‚ Leach said members of Allen Temple strongly supported Smith and his burgeoning congregation. "My mother and them‚ they was very nice to him. They bought him robes. They bought him suits‚ you know‚ thinking they was doing the right thing‚" Leach stated.After the year was up‚ Smith "was supposed to pay $400 rent‚" Leach stated. However‚ Leach also said that Smith "didn’t want to sign another lease agreement or anything‚" so it is believed there is not any legal documentation in the case.Bishop Smith claimed that after the first year‚ he paid Allen Temple secretary Faye Pam $200 a month for almost three years‚ but the purpose of that monthly payment is under dispute. Smith claims it was for insurance on the building. Members of Allen Temple thought it was rent.Smith also indicated that Pam more or less promised to give him the building someday‚ so he kept sending Pam payments. "She said we are probably going to give you the building because we’re not going to use the building‚" Smith recalled. "I said okay. I said thank you. Really got excited. We paid. We’ve never been squatters. We’ve been paying all this money to her‚ and we’ve got proof that we paid the money to her."But Leach and other members of Allen Temple claimed that the building was always on loan and that they are now locked out of their own church. "It’s been going on too long. It’s time for him to go. We have had our locks changed a lot of times‚ and he [comes] right back in and just [takes] over. He said he will not leave. But you will go‚ Earnest Smith‚" Leach said."How did you get in this church?" Leach continued. "Did you break in it? We allowed you to come in our church."Smith has recently renamed the church Temple of Faith Ministries and has posted a new sign out front to replace the one for Allen Temple. A spokesperson for the national CME church admitted that historical CME buildings that are no longer in use do not necessarily retain their CME affiliation. Leach countered that the church was never abandoned‚ just in search of a new minister.When asked whether he has considered finding a different church building‚ Smith confessed to feeling "tired" but then added that his attorney has advised him to stay and "the Spirit" does not want him to cave in the face of unjust persecution. "I tell my people all the time. We are going to be talked about. Criticized. They did that to Jesus Christ. We are not exempt‚" he said."But when it hits you hard‚ it hurts. Especially the people you thought you could trust."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

American taxpayers have provided $2.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan without the U.S. government knowing where that money is going‚ according to government officials.The special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction‚ John Sopko‚ reportedly told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that cooperation from the Biden administration and its State Department has been minimal. According to the Epoch Times‚ the Biden government has resisted efforts by the inspector to pin down where the foreign aid has gone."The State Department has basically obfuscated‚ delayed reports ... ordered their employees not to talk to us‚" Sopko said. "We’ve gone out of our way to work with them but we're still not getting cooperation."Sopko stated point-blank that "we do not know‚ period" how the humanitarian aid is being used. He also alleged that information from multiple sources — including the U.S. Agency for International Development — has indicated that the "Taliban is diverting or otherwise benefiting" from the aid — not the intended beneficiaries. Inspector Sopko also noted that specifically‚ the State Department's Thomas West has ignored "countless entreaties to meet" to "share information‚ learn what's going on and what their issues are so we can try to help them."Thomas' official title is Special Representative for Afghanistan and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs."Many would like to believe we are aiding Afghan people while successfully bypassing the Taliban. This can be viewed as a useful fiction‚ as it ignores the fact that it’s impossible to entirely bypass the Taliban regime‚" Sopko continued.Non-government organizations have all reported widespread misappropriation of funds by the Taliban‚ the inspector explained. He also noted that the Taliban "pressures the U.N. and other NGOs to issue contracts to Taliban-affiliated companies‚ to partner with Taliban-affiliated NGOs‚ and to not partner with other NGOs.""Our research confirms those who control the guns control the aid‚" he added.The Taliban was recently pictured celebrating the second anniversary of the United States' botched withdrawal in 2021 with crowds lining the streets and militants on vehicles showing off guns and flags.Additionally‚ Taliban soldiers were shown in November 2023 videos patrolling the streets of Kabul‚ Afghanistan‚ on rollerblades. Soldiers were riding alongside Ford pickup trucks converted into what are typically referred to as a technical‚ or a non-standard tactical vehicle."There are no good answers‚" Inspector General Sopko concluded about the situation. "There are no good alternatives when providing humanitarian assistance in an environment like Afghanistan‚ only trade-offs."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) brilliantly dismissed a pro-ceasefire protester on Thursday who was clearly not open to reason.While walking outside of the Democratic National Committee's headquarters in Washington‚ D.C.‚ Sherman was accosted by Eva Borgwardt‚ an activist who works with IfNotNow‚ an organization that helped organize the violent protest outside the DNC's HQ earlier in the week.As Borgwardt pontificated her demands for a ceasefire‚ Sherman told Borgwardt that she needs to support the disarming of Hamas. And when she continued to talk over him‚ Sherman made it clear he did not have the patience to deal with her."Excuse me! Why are you accosting me? Leave me alone! I am allowed to stand here without listening to you because you're not my constituent‚" Sherman said.Borgwardt appeared astonished at Sherman's reaction as she begged him to listen to her."Please leave me alone!" Sherman insisted. "Do I need to ask the Capitol Police for protection or will you leave me alone?" — (@) But Borgwardt was undeterred‚ and for a moment‚ Sherman entertained the activist. He confirmed that he supports a ceasefire in Gaza‚ but only if Hamas is disarmed. Borgwardt‚ however‚ refused to endorse disarming the terrorists‚ claiming they are "empowered by decades of siege and blockade" by Israel.With her refusal to endorse disarmament‚ Sherman finally had enough‚ and he walked away as Borgwardt emotionally shouted at him."Sir‚ please call for Netanyahu to stop saying they are going to raze Gaza to the ground and they'e fighting human animals as they kill over 11‚000 children. Why won't you call on Netanyahu to say that! That's what's driving this right now!" she screamed.There is no evidence that 11‚000 children in Gaza have died in the war.Sherman has not been shy in expressing his criticism of activists like Borgwardt. On Wednesday‚ Sherman referred to the pro-ceasefire activists who violently clashed with Capitol Police outside the DNC HQ as "pro-terrorist" and "pro-Hamas."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!