When it comes to sleeping‚ the animal kingdom has a whole range of options. Some might opt for a long period of hibernation‚ and others dream the night away – but a new study on chinstrap penguins has revealed that they get around 11 hours of sleep in four-second bursts.On King George Island in Antarctica‚ a colony of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) go on foraging trips‚ guard their eggs‚ and raise their young. A predator of chinstrap penguin eggs in this area is the brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus)‚ a bird that seeks to sneak unguarded eggs from the nest mainly at the edge of the colony. Chinstrap penguin couples separate for foraging trips‚ with one member heading out to sea while the other stays to guard the offspring. The “stay-at-home” parent must therefore maintain constant vigilance guarding the eggs or young chicks to prevent predation events‚ and even protect their nest site from theft by other invading penguins. "I'm just resting my eyes"Image Credit: Won Young LeeThe penguin parent therefore faces a challenge when it comes to sleeping – nodding off for too long would leave the chicks unguarded from potential threats. So what do they do? The team examined 14 penguins with eggs in their nests and‚ using data loggers‚ measured sleep-related activity in their brains and body posture changes.        The penguins went about their foraging behavior‚ taking turns incubating the nests. The team found that sleep could occur in the penguins at the nest while they were either lying or standing‚ and nearly 72 percent of their short-wave-sleep (SWS) was in bouts lasting less than 10 seconds. The team also found that while both penguin parents had around 600 bouts of SWS per hour‚ those incubating the nest had more SWS in shorter bouts. Both parents seemed to sleep better during the middle third of the day. Another interesting finding from the study found that contrary to what the team believed‚ birds nesting at the edge of the colony actually slept better and had longer periods of SWS than those birds nesting closer to the center. This suggests that the need for vigilance against predators like the skua might not be such a pressure‚ and instead nest thieving by other penguins could be more of a direct threat. “The data reported by Libourel et al. could be one of the most extreme examples of the incremental nature by which the benefits of sleep can accrue‚” write Christian Harding and Vladyslav Vyazovskiy in a Perspective article in the same journal‚ mentioned in a statement about the new study.  “Although sleep bout duration is sensitive to many variables and differs widely among species‚ the seconds-long microsleeps of chinstrap penguins are markedly brief."Overall‚ the team found that the penguins accumulated around 11 hours of sleep by sleeping for only 4 seconds around 10‚000 times a day. They suggest that repeated microsleeps must give at least some of the benefits associated with sleeping for longer periods of time‚ providing short periods for rest and recovery. The paper is published in the journal Science.

Pro-free speech advocates showed their support for X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk after he let advertisers know how he really felt about their anti-free speech blackmail campaign.  During a Nov. 29 interview with leftist Squawk Box co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin‚ Musk made clear that he would not be deterred by advertiser boycotts. Musk told Sorkin‚ “If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising— blackmail me with money? -–‚ go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” Musk’s comment came in response to pressing questions about how some companies‚ including Walt Disney Corporation‚ pulled advertising on X. After Musk’s statement‚ past victims of censorship and proponents of free speech spoke up to support Musk. Praising Musk’s pushback‚ The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon responded‚ “This is how you handle woke bullies. You refuse to give them what they want because what they want is your integrity‚” before promising to double advertising spending on X.  This is how you handle woke bullies. You refuse to give them what they want because what they want is your integrity. The Bee is doubling our pledge to advertise on X from $250k to $500k. I wish we could do more but we spend too much on DoorDash. https://t.co/3RTkOKp6lY — Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) November 29‚ 2023 Echoing Dillon’s response‚ creator of Libs of TikTok Chaya Raichik‚ reposted the exchange‚ calling it “the most incredible clip you will watch today‚” and saying that she couldn’t stop watching it‚ before passing on Musk’s message to boycotting advertisers herself.  I literally can’t stop watching this. It may be the top video of 2023 https://t.co/UMAR2mK4YY — Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) November 30‚ 2023 The Daily Wire host Michael Knowles weighed in on the Nov. 30 edition of The Michael Knowles Show‚ to say that Musk was right to push back against advertisers. Knowles asked his listeners‚ “If the richest man in the world is not allowed to speak his mind.  If the richest man in the world is not even allowed to let other people speak the truth as we see it‚ then why even go on pretending that we live in anything resembling a free country anymore?" Pundits such as The Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro‚ Daily Wire host Matt Walsh‚ Louder with Crowder host Steven Crowder and Benny Johnson also chimed in to praise Musk.  Some commentators focused on Musk’s salvo against woke Disney. After Sorkin brought up a conversation he had with Disney CEO Bob Iger‚ Musk made sure the Disney CEO felt included. Following his curse-laden message‚ Musk said‚ “Hey Bob‚ if you’re in the audience.” Musk suggested that consumers would punish corporations like Disney‚ before pointing out that Disney was already suffering from a boycott. “What this advertising boycott is going to do is it is going to kill the company and the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company and we will document it in great detail‚” Musk told Sorkin. Conservatives are under attack! Contact your representatives and demand government agencies and Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on so-called hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

Former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter is on tour promoting his exciting new book about Fox News. But judging by the pitiful sales figures‚ it looks like his media blitz hasn’t had its intended effect. With just 3‚807 copies sold in the first week‚ it’s safe to call this one a flop. We decided to dig up some stats to help put that impressively low sales figure into context. Here are nine very small things that are somehow more numerous than copies sold of Stelter’s exciting new book. 1) VARIETIES OF POTATO According to the International Potato Center (yes‚ that’s a thing)‚ there are more than 4‚000 varieties of the delicious tuber. We figured it’d be appropriate to lead off a Stelter story with a potato fact.  2) CNN EMPLOYEES Even after the big round of layoffs that came during the Chris Licht era‚ there are still more people working at CNN than there are copies of Stelter’s book in circulation — approximately 4‚000 of them‚ according to the CNN Worldwide Fact Sheet. 3) ANNUAL DEATHS CAUSED BY AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY At least‚ this was the case back in 2016. The latest figures were hard to pin down. According to Business Insider‚ there were 4‚183 such deaths that year. Per that same article‚ there were also more than 10‚000 deaths caused by falling out of bed. 4) CRITICALLY ENDANGERED EASTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS If you decided to collect every copy of Stelter’s book that was purchased last week and distributed each to one of these apes‚ there would be several thousand unfortunate gorillas left with nothing to read. Depending on whose estimates you’re using‚ there are anywhere from 5‚000 to 6‚800 of these impressive creatures roaming the jungles of Sub-Saharan Africa. 5) THE POPULATION OF ANTARCTICA IN THE SUMMER Obviously the frozen continent has no permanent residents‚ but things are actually pretty busy down there during the summer months. With 66 active scientific bases running year-round‚ Antarctica’s population swells to around 4‚000 during the warm season‚ during which temperatures soar to a balmy 36 degrees Fahrenheit. 6) CHEMICALS RELEASED BY A SINGLE CIGARETTE According to the American Lung Association‚ a burning cigarette releases over 7‚000 chemicals‚ many of which are toxic. Scientists have not yet determined how many chemicals Stelter’s book emits when burned. 7) ADS SEEN PER DAY BY THE AVERAGE AMERICAN Based on the most reputable figure we could find‚ it is estimated that on average Americans see between 4‚000 and 10‚000 ads daily. Obviously that’s a pretty massive range‚ and this stat is somewhat disputed. Still more than Stelter’s book though. 8) PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE In 2022‚ the renowned pizza chain had 5‚706 physical locations scattered across the globe. That number has never seen a year-over-year decrease since 2007‚ so barring some horrible pizza-related catastrophe‚ it’s safe to assume that there will be even more Papa John’s stores in 2023. 9) DAILY USERS OF CNN+ DURING ITS FIRST (AND LAST) MONTH During the one magical month that CNN+ existed‚ the streaming service reportedly saw fewer than 10‚000 daily users. That’s low‚ which is a real shame‚ but at least it’s higher than 3‚807. In fairness to Brian‚ writing a book is an impressive feat in and of itself. And as long as we’re keeping score‚ I still have fewer than 3‚807 followers on X. That being said‚ it’s still pretty funny that there are several orders of magnitude more words in Brian Stelter’s book than there are copies of it in circulation.

The sales of Brian Stelter’s latest anti-Fox News book were so low that he made an appearance with the liberal ladies of ABC’s The View on Thursday in an attempt to bump up his numbers. Of course‚ there were the usual back-slapping conversations for him going after one of their mutual hate objects‚ but Stelter also had sweet nothings to proclaim the cast: falsely claiming the show was home to truthful conversations. Faux conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin touted Stelter’s “important book” and wanted to focus on the “intrigue” of the Murdoch family. “So‚ after decades of running the company‚ Rupert Murdoch announced he would step down‚ he’s passing the baton to Lachlan Murdoch. There’s a lot of intrigue around this family and is it going to look different under the son? Tell us what we can expect and what you learned in writing this?” she wondered. Keeping the discussion in fantasyland‚ Stelter suggested the Murdoch family was literally like the ridiculous TV show Succession: Rupert Murdoch was so cozy with Donald Trump at the start of the Trump presidency‚ they were best buds on the phone. The relationship has fallen apart‚ he hates Trump now. But Rupert’s handed it off to his son Lachlan.  And this is really real-life Succession‚ crazy billionaire Thanksgiving. As they were nearing the end of the second segment with Stelter‚ Farah Griffin finally got around to admitting “have a handful of very good reporters like Trey Yingst‚ Jennifer Griffin‚ people who cover actual news.” Lamenting: “And it's so hard for those journalists that they have to be next to basically people espousing propaganda.”     Stelter called Fox News “a very uncomfortable environment” for them and suggested that that was why The View was better. “[W]e should advocate to have a truthier‚ healthier environment. That’s why I love this show! Your guys are louder than the liars!” he praised. Moderator Whoopi Goldberg was tickled by that compliment and said he could join their “very truthy table any time.” Farah Griffin also chimed in‚ adding: “We correct ourselves all the time!” Farah Griffin’s exclamation was a tacit admission that they say false things often and that ABC’s legal department made them say things to blunt liability. As a NewsBusters study discovered‚ in 2022‚ The View was forced to issue three dozen (36) legal notes to cover themselves. In September‚ racist and anti-Semitic co-host Sunny Hostin and executive producer Brian Teta whined about the study on The View’s podcast. Hostin called the legal notes a “necessary evil” they had to put up with and Teta insisted that the notes were “not a correction” but rather “is something that as a part of ABC News we are asked to do to make sure we’re presenting all statements and sides.” He would later call them corrections. Stelter’s erroneous compliment flew in the face of The View’s more egregious lies. They once suggested that conservative Turning Point USA had invited neo-Nazis to one of their events‚ and were forced to retract their claims only after the group threatened to sue the show. They also falsely claimed Ginni Thomas‚ the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas‚ was an insurrectionist leader on January 6. Hostin also made a false racist attack against Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley‚ lying about her using a fake name to appear white. She also lied about Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) terrorizing her at a congressional hearing. Those were only a handful of The View’s lies. Stelter was right about them being loud‚ but The View cast were most definitely the liars. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: ABC’s The View November 30‚ 2023 11:30:52 a.m. Eastern (…) ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: But you’ve got this important book out and I have to ask you‚ so after decades of running the company‚ Rupert Murdoch announced he would step down‚ he’s passing the baton to Lachlan Murdoch. There’s a lot of intrigue around this family and is it going to look different under the son? Tell us what we can expect and what you learned in writing this? BRIAN STELTER: Right. Rupert Murdoch was so cozy with Donald Trump at the start of the Trump presidency‚ they were best buds on the phone. The relationship has fallen apart‚ he hates Trump now. But Rupert’s handed it off to his son Lachlan.  And this is really real life Succession‚ crazy billionaire Thanksgiving. Lachlan Murdoch is just as conservative as his dad but is not as interested in politics; doesn't care as much about politics. So‚ I'm told he doesn't really like Trump but he’s also not doing anything to try to step in the way of this anti-democratic movement. FARAH GRIFFIN: So‚ it’s ultimately driven by the ratings. STELTER: Well‚ yes‚ that’s right. And the other brother‚ James‚ he’s on the outside. Maybe someday he can take over. I mean that's sort of the cliffhanger in the book: What's going to happen in the event of Rupert Murdoch's death? But that's awkward to say out loud and right now James is on the outside. SUNNY HOSTIN: Right. And he's less conservative‚ correct? STELTER: He definitely has more of a vision of dragging Fox back to reality. Back to the middle. SARA HAINES: That’s probably why he didn’t get the job! STELTER: Well‚ that's the thing. That’s the thing and it will be a family battle someday. (…) 11:41:22 a.m. Eastern FARAH GRIFFIN: Can I mention one thing because I have a few friends at Fox. They have a handful of very good reporters like Trey Yingst‚ Jennifer Griffin‚ people who cover actual news. And it's so hard for those journalists that they have to be next to basically people espousing propaganda. STELTER: That's what makes it a very uncomfortable environment. It’s multiple things in one. Fox though‚ it is still the beating heart of the GOP. I think it's really important to study it for that reason. We have to know how it works and how it sometimes doesn't work‚ how it goes wrong‚ because we should advocate to have a truthier‚ healthier environment. That’s why I love this show! Your guys are louder than the liars! [Applause] FARAH GRIFFIN: We correct ourselves all the time! STELTER: You got to be louder than the liars! WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Brian‚ you're welcome at this table – at this very truthy table any time. STELTER: Truthy table. Thank you. (…)

In an era of college football in which elite players can receive seven-figure NIL offers‚ one humble quarterback has decided to serve his country rather than seek fame and fortune. Levi Williams of Utah State University has chosen to forgo his final season of eligibility and start Navy SEAL training instead.On Monday‚ Williams announced his decision on Salt Lake City radio station KSL 97.5 FM‚ just two days after he led the USU Aggies to a thrilling double-overtime win over the New Mexico Lobos. "It’s something that took a lot of thought and consideration‚" he said. "I love football and it’s so great‚ but I knew eventually it was going to come to an end. With the timeline of training and stuff‚ it just works out perfectly to end it this year."Williams‚ whose mother and grandparents also served in the military‚ added that patriotic fervor played a significant part in his decision. "I just want to be in a spot where I can protect this great country‚ where we get to play football with the freedom to do that‚" he said. "I think this is the best country in the world. So I’d like to keep it that way and protect it as long as I can."In addition to his family‚ Williams claimed that he has the full support of his fiancée‚ Tatum. "I told her‚ 'Hey‚ I need to talk to you about something really serious. This is what’s on my heart and where I feel like God’s calling me‚'" Williams told KSL. “She said‚ 'That’s awesome. Let’s do it. I’m with you until the end.' Her dad was Army as well‚ so she kind of knows the military life. So she’s excited."Williams grew up in Canyon Lake‚ Texas‚ and then spent three years playing for the Cowboys of the University of Wyoming before transferring to Utah State in 2021. His two years with the Aggies didn't go as planned‚ however‚ and Williams spent much of his time on the bench as the third-string quarterback.That all changed last Saturday when injuries to fellow QBs Cooper Legas and McCae Hillstead left Coach Blake Anderson no choice but to start Williams. Williams made it count. He had 351 total yards‚ including 153 yards carrying‚ and accounted for a staggering five touchdowns against the Lobos. Even after he botched a snap in the second overtime‚ Williams picked it up and ran 13 yards for the game-winning score. His performance in that game was so remarkable that Williams was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week and one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week. The win also brought the Aggies' record to 6-6‚ making them bowl-eligible.Though listed as a junior‚ Williams has already graduated from USU and intends to begin Navy SEAL training shortly after the Aggies' bowl game. He'll certainly need to focus his efforts‚ as the qualifying fitness test is daunting: a 500-yard swim; maximum push-ups‚ pull-ups‚ and curl-ups done in separate two-minute intervals; and a 1.5-mile run. The swim and the run each must be completed within 12.5 minutes.Rather than shy away from the challenge‚ though‚ Williams seems to embrace it‚ as well as the opportunity to serve alongside other devoted patriots. "What I love about [the SEALs'] ethos and their motto is that no one guy is better than the other."It takes all of them to complete a mission."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dozens of seniors were evicted from a New York City nursing home in order to convert the facility into a migrant shelter‚ Fox News Digital reported Wednesday.Frank Tammaro‚ a 94-year-old Army veteran and lifelong New Yorker‚ told the news outlet that he was booted from the Island Shores Senior Residence after being a resident for five years.In September 2022‚ the facility issued a notice informing its 53 residents that it was shutting down operations and that they would need to move out by March. However‚ the nonprofit Homes for the Homeless‚ which owned the senior living facility‚ said in a statement that the preferred buyer for the building "would be another senior operator."Barbara Annunziata‚ Tammaro's daughter‚ told Fox News Digital staff assured residents that the facility would likely be sold and reopened.Tammaro learned in August that the facility would no longer house seniors but instead be converted into a migrant shelter‚ now called the Midland Beach Migrant Center. SILive.com reported that Republican Councilman David Carr and Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis contacted the organization with multiple parties interested in potentially purchasing the facility. Carr stated they were met with "dead silence" from the organization and eventually told that it was no longer looking to sell the building. "What happened over the course of the previous eight to 10 months that made this institution go from wanting to sell ... to now‚ a shelter?" Carr stated. "Clearly‚ someone at Homes for the Homeless saw an opportunity. An opportunity for them to get another profitable contract and do what they do in other places."Tammaro told the news outlet that he "felt horrible" when he learned he would have to leave the nursing home. He called the situation "very scary.""I didn't know where I was going‚" he added."I do get upset when I see them handing out all this money and all these things‚ and I'm paying taxes and getting kicked out‚" Tammaro continued. "I've never got anything from the city. Or the state." "I was not in combat‚" Tammaro said‚ referring to his time in the Army. "But these boys that went over and went into combat — and now they're all settled in there with their lives and everything else — and they're all disrupted‚ it isn't fair."Tammaro moved into another senior living facility‚ but after suffering a fall that landed him in the hospital‚ he moved in with his daughter.Annunziata stated‚ "These migrants‚ they're getting everything. They're getting everything and I can't get nothing for [Tammaro]. It angers me.""I can't even get him an aide. I only could get him an aide for 30 days and then they cancel it‚" she continued. "Meanwhile‚ [migrants] get everything. And he's not entitled to anything.""They're worried about the migrants more than they're worried about the U.S. citizens‚" Annunziata declared.In September‚ a large group of protesters gathered in Staten Island to block a bus carrying migrants who were headed to the facility. Ten protesters were taken into custody after a clash with local law enforcement.New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams called the protest "an ugly display."The former Island Shores Senior Residence was one of 200 buildings in the city turned into shelters for housing migrants.Homes for the Homeless declined a request for comment from Fox News Digital.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Pittsburgh-area teenager has collected donations and supplies to stuff 3‚000 Christmas stockings for active-duty Navy personnel working on a United States aircraft carrier.Collin Arthrell‚ who has two brothers serving in the Navy‚ has fully embraced military culture with not just his family but for Christmas as well.On the Arthrells' lawn sits a vast display of military-themed Christmas decorations‚ including a replica of the USS George Washington‚ where his siblings are stationed. "It's 18 feet long‚" Arthrell told KDKA News. "The bushes are raising it up so it's like on water. You got the blue lights‚ which resembles the water."The 14-year-old boy was inspired by his brothers to start "Stockings 4 Sailors" in 2018‚ which had the teenager collecting donations and simple gifts for servicemen and women."I'm inspired by my brothers because I've looked up to them my whole childhood‚" he said. "It makes me feel warmth I can still have a connection to them.""There's candy‚ a message from someone from a school‚ you got your phone chargers‚ toothpaste‚ toothbrush‚ loofa‚" Arthrell told reporters. He added that there were items donated by military families from across the United States.A local woman named Darla Losteter stopped by the residence to give donations and said she donates because she has military in her family‚ as well."We like to give them stuff at holidays too because they are not forgotten‚" she said.In December‚ the Arthrell family will travel to Norfolk‚ Virginia‚ to deliver the 3‚000 stuffed stockings to the military members on board the ship."It's a giving holiday‚ so I think you should give to those who are doing a much-needed support for the country. Giving them something would boost their morale and help them out‚" the boy added."I just love them‚" the younger brother said of his siblings.Brothers Carson and Christian Arthrell are aboard the USS George Washington in Virginia. The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was built in the mid-1980s and has a crew of over 6‚000.In March 2023‚ Stars and Stripes reported that the carrier has begun preparations to replace the USS Ronald Reagan in Japan.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ripped former President Donald Trump for embracing support from Black Lives Matter. Mark Fisher is an advocate for the Black Lives Matter chapter in Rhode Island. Fisher claims to be the "co-founder" of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island. However‚ that assertion is disputed by Gary Dantzler – the founder and executive director of Black Lives Matter RI‚ Inc. "Mark Fisher stated he was one of the co-founders of BLM‚" Dantzler said. "Absolutely not. He was a respected advocate for BLM. That’s it. And he was paid and somewhere he got fired and demoted."Fisher appeared on Fox News this week‚ where the BLM activist voiced his support for Trump while he also blasted Democrats for being a "racist party." "It's the duplicity of the Democrats‚ the hypocrisy‚" Fisher said during a Tuesday appearance on "Fox &; Friends." "We're not stupid. The brothers are not stupid. We understand when someone's for us and when someone is not‚ and it's obvious that the Democratic Party is not for us.""The policies actually strike at the heart of the black family and the nuclear family‚" he told host Lawrence Jones."We've been used and abused for so long by that party‚ they don't value our vote‚" Fisher said. "Their policies are basically racist policies. I believe it's a racist party. Donald Trump is just the opposite. He's going to tell you how it is. He's going to give it to you straight.""Trump has done more for the black community than I can any president I can think of in my lifetime‚" he added. The sound bite caught Trump's attention. "Spoke with Mark Fisher yesterday‚ a great guy‚ very honored to have his and BLM’s support‚" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump continued‚ "I have done more for Black people than any other President (Lincoln?)‚ including 10 year funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities‚ where they had none‚ Opportunity Zones‚ Criminal Justice Reform‚ and much more. Thank you to Mark!"Trump previously condemned Black Lives Matter. Trump said in 2015‚ "I think they're trouble. I think they're looking for trouble."In 2020‚ Trump described BLM as a "symbol of hate." DeSantis utilized Trump's new-found admiration of Black Lives Matter to attack his GOP primary opponent. "BLM praising Donald Trump — and Trump celebrating it — makes perfect sense‚" DeSantis said on the X social media platform. "When BLM was burning down cities and assaulting police officers in cities across this country‚ Trump did nothing but sit in the White House tweeting 'LAW &; ORDER!' We did it differently in Florida. I didn’t just tweet. I took action and called up the National Guard‚" DeSantis declared on Wednesday. "We were not going to let our cities burn‚" the Republican governor continued. "As President‚ I will not sit idly by and watch rioters torch American cities." — (@) Also on Wednesday‚ Trump blasted DeSantis as an "absentee governor of Florida." "Ron DeSanctimonious has become an absentee governor of Florida‚ never there‚ not working‚" Trump proclaimed. "The same thing happened to Sloppy Chris Christie. He failed in New Jersey‚ and left with an 8% approval rating‚ lowest ever for a governor. Get back to Florida‚ Ron‚ and do what you campaigned on‚ which was NOT running for President. Fix the highest in the Nation Insurance problem. Oh‚ and you’re 54 Points down!"CNN reported on Wednesday that Trump will skip the fourth Republican primary debate in Alabama next week. Instead of debating his GOP primary challengers on Dec. 6‚ Trump will reportedly attend a private fundraising event for his campaign in Hallandale Beach‚ Florida. Trump has been absent from all of the GOP primary debates. Trump has justified ducking the debates because of his commanding lead in the polls. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here! 'I STUMP FOR TRUMP': BLM leader calls out Democrats‚ endorses Trump www.youtube.com

Freedom of speech takes yet another hit as the biotechnology company Moderna has begun “monitoring celebrities for spreading anti-vaccine beliefs.” Moderna “hired a former FBI analyst to head its 'disinformation department' tasked with compiling internal reports about celebrities who criticized the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna‚” reports Glenn Beck. “If they spoke out against the vaccine mandates or shared any anti-vaccine sentiments‚” these celebrities have now been “color-coded and ranked from low-risk to high-risk based on how problematic their narratives are to vaccine confidence.” “Low-risk reports don't currently warrant any action‚ according to their own Moderna documents‚” but when a response is required‚ the company's team will "notify appropriate stakeholders with recommendations.” “Notice the word ‘stakeholders‚”’ says Glenn. “That is ESG.” You’re probably wondering whose “stakeholders” are being contacted with “recommendations” (or perhaps threats would be a better word). “Celebrities that made Moderna’s high-risk list include: Russell Brand‚ Elon Musk‚ and Novak Djokovic.” Djokovic‚ who “wasn’t even an activist” and simply advocated for autonomy‚ has been blacklisted for becoming an “anti-vaccine hero.” According to Moderna’s own report‚ “the optics of Djokovic‚ whose vaccine opposition barred him from competing in the US Open‚ returning to‚ and winning the Moderna sponsored competition‚ bolsters anti-vaccine claims that vaccines and mandates are unnecessary.” To get the full story‚ watch the clip below. 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.

Establishmentarians in the West have long harped on the need to protect democracy. Notwithstanding their rhetorical support for a politically empowered citizenry‚ it appears there are forces‚ particularly in the intelligence community‚ that are unwilling to trust Americans to determine — on their own and in concert with one another — how best to wield their civic power. On Thursday‚ investigative journalist Matt Taibbi distilled the problem down for Congress thusly: "Take away the highfalutin talk about countering hate and reducing harm‚ and anti-disinformation is just a bluntly elitist gatekeeping exercise. If you prefer to think in progressive terms‚ it's class war." Taibbi further indicated that recent censorship efforts by the Biden administration and elements of the intelligence community have tended to "drift in one direction‚" amounting in some cases to what investigative journalist Michael Shellenberg also stressed was election interference. Government weaponization Since the first Twitter Files report last November‚ the Biden administration has been outed for assuming "a role similar to an Orwellian 'Ministry of Truth'" and for leaning on social media companies to both censor and cure narratives. There have‚ however‚ been recent indications that the depths of the government's weaponization have not yet been fully plumbed. Hours after highlighting efforts by the Biden administration to pressure Google to "crack down" on undesirable communications during the pandemic‚ the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government convened a hearing to better understand the lengths to which the government has gone to mold public opinion and suppress free speech. After Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D) rushed out a comparison of former President Donald Trump to Nazis‚ the Weaponization Subcommittee heard testimony from Taibbi and Shellenberger‚ both of whom previously detailed the extent of the collusion between the American government and Twitter‚ and heard also from Rupa Subramanya‚ a Canada-based journalist. Olivia Troye‚ a former Homeland Security adviser and ardent critic of Trump‚ also spoke‚ dismissing and on at least one occasion defending censorship efforts‚ and serving ultimately as a sounding board for Democratic lawmakers' grievances against the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential election. Taibbi In his opening remarks‚ Taibbi noted that "there has been a dramatic shift in attitudes about speech in this country‚ and many politicians now clearly believe the bulk of Americans can't be trusted to digest information on their own." "This mindset imagines that if we see one clip from [Russian news]‚ we'll stop being patriots; that once exposed to hate speech‚ we'll become bigots ourselves automatically; that if we read even one Donald Trump tweet‚ we will become insurrectionists‚" said Taibbi. "Having come to this conclusion‚ the government agencies like the DHS and the FBI and the quasi-private agencies who do anti-disinformation work have taken upon themselves the paternalistic responsibility to sort out for us what is and is not safe‚" continued the journalist. "While they see great danger in allowing others to read controversial material‚ it's taken for granted that they themselves will be immune to the dangers of speech." Taibbi‚ who indicated he has voted Democrat all his life‚ underscored the need to defund projects like the government-linked Election Integrity Project "before it's too late." Subramanya Subramanya held up Canada as a case study in how bad censorship‚ government overreach‚ and leftist identity politics can go in the West‚ highlighting the northern nation's race-based punitive measures; online censorship efforts; de-banking of peaceful political dissenters; and selective application of speech controls‚ especially as it pertains to protesters. Subramanya indicated that what is taking place in Canada is "a gradual suffocation of free expression‚" stressing that while "draped in a cloak of niceness‚ inclusivity‚ and justice ... it is regressive‚ authoritarian‚ and illiberal." "I came here today not simply to warn you about what lies ahead‚ but to plead with you to do something about it‚" said the Canada-based journalist. "Now is not the time to be polite. Now is the time to defend‚ loudly‚ liberties and rights that have given us the greatest freedoms in human history." Subramanya later told Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) that it doesn't take long to lose free speech‚ suggesting it more or less happened in Canada in under ten years. Shellenberger In his opening remarks and answers‚ Shellenberger made repeated reference to the "CTI League files." Days ahead of the hearing‚ Shellenberger detailed damning findings from documents brought forward by a whistleblower concerning a so-called "anti-disinformation" group called the Cyber Threat Intelligence League "that officially began as the volunteer project of data scientists and defense and intelligence veterans but whose tactics over time appear to have been absorbed into multiple official projects‚ including those of the Department of Homeland Security." The whistleblower was allegedly recruited to participate in CTIL "through monthly cybersecurity meetings hosted by DHS." The documents appear to show that American‚ Israeli‚ and British intelligence contractors led by a former U.K. defense researcher‚ Sara-Jayne Terp‚ developed a sweeping censorship framework in 2019. Wired touted Terp in 2020 as a data scientist who "uses the tools of cybersecurity to track false claims like they're malware. Her goal: Stop dangerous lies from hacking our beliefs." Of course‚ "lies" might just amount to unfavorable truths or beliefs. "Beliefs can be hacked‚" Terp told the magazine. "The CTIL framework and the public-private model are the seeds of what both the U.S. and U.K. would put into place in 2020 and 2021‚ including masking censorship within cybersecurity institutions and counter-disinformation agendas; a heavy focus on stopping disfavored narratives‚ not just wrong facts; and pressuring social media platforms to take down information or take other actions to prevent content from going viral‚" Shellenberger noted further in his breakdown of the whistleblower's documents. According to the documents‚ this censorship cabal attempted to shape public opinion by discussing ways of promoting "counter-messaging"; co-opting hashtags to advance preferred narratives; actively suppressing undesired ideas and trends; astroturfing online; and infiltrating private groups. While not strictly governmental‚ Shellenberger noted that government employees were nevertheless "engaged members" of the cabal. Additionally‚ the whistleblower indicated that CTIL sought ultimately to become part of the federal government. It did not become its own agency‚ but it certainly collaborated with extant U.S. agencies. Shellenberger indicated during the hearing Thursday that government operatives who grew accustomed to "waging disinformation campaigns and psyops in foreign countries" have turned those tools against the American people. When confronted about directing these campaigns homeward‚ the journalist suggested the agencies responsible have refused accountability. For instance‚ Shellenberger noted that Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray "misled Congress" when claiming their agencies weren't involved in demanding censorship by social media platforms. Shellenberger recommended making Section 230 liability protections contingent on social media platforms allowing adult users "to moderate our own legal content through filters that we choose and whose algorithms are transparent to all of us" as well as prohibiting government officials from asking platforms to remove content. Should the Supreme Court ultimately determine in Missouri v. Biden that some government calls for censorship are permissible‚ the journalist urged Congress to require that such censorship requests are immediately reported publicly so that "such censorship demands occur in plain sight." Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government 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!