Friday, January 17, 2025

Compromised News Network (CNN) loses defamation suit against Navy vet--punitive damages awarded



PANAMA CITY, FL – After more than eight hours of deliberation, a jury concluded that CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, holding the network accountable for punitive damages.

Young claimed that CNN damaged his reputation by suggesting he was making illegal profits by aiding people to escape Afghanistan during the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal. In a November 11, 2021, segment on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," Young was depicted as an "illegal profiteer" who exploited "desperate Afghans."

The lawsuit spanned over three years, culminating in an intense eight-day trial in Bay County, Florida, under Judge William S. Henry. The judge had previously determined that Young's actions were not illegal or criminal, contrary to CNN's broadcast.

Jake Tapper introduced the segment by cautioning viewers about "desperate Afghans still trying to escape the country being preyed on by folks demanding that they pay up big time to get out." He later reiterated the exploitation theme, highlighting the segment where reporter Alex Marquardt detailed the "black market" for evacuation.

Marquardt focused on Young, showing his image and stating his company was charging exorbitant fees for evacuation services, like $75,000 to transport a vehicle to Pakistan or $14,500 per person to the UAE. He noted these prices were "well beyond the reach of most Afghans."

CNN showed Marquardt allegedly calling Young, who didn't answer, and reported on texts where Young explained that evacuation costs were "highly volatile and based on environmental realities." Marquardt accused Young of not clarifying his profit margins, despite Young's acknowledgment of market dynamics.

The trial dissected these segments, with CNN's lawyers arguing Young wasn't central to the story, while Young's legal team argued the "black market" label was career-ruining, especially since it could lead to termination under his contract terms.

Evidence included internal CNN messages where staff expressed hostility toward Young, with terms like "s--tbag" and "a--hole" used, and Marquardt's own message about "nailing" Young. Senior national security editor Thomas Lumley, despite his doubts about the report's integrity, was called to testify.

Young, emotional during his testimony, spoke about the impact on his personal life and his efforts in rescuing 22 women from Afghanistan, which CNN did not cover.

CNN issued an apology on March 25, 2022, but internal sentiments suggested it was more for legal reasons than genuine regret. The trial also saw Judge Henry reprimanding CNN's lead counsel, David Axelrod, for wrongly branding Young a "liar" concerning his employment status post-segment.



National Security Advisor Waltz says US will support additional military ops in Gaza





President-elect Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said the US would support additional military operations in Gaza if necessary. He made it clear that Hamas must be destroyed, echoing the rhetoric of Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.

Waltz spoke with Fox News,”We’ve made it very clear to the Israelis, and I want the people of Israel to hear me on this: If they need to go back in, we’re with them,” he said. “If Hamas doesn’t live up to the terms of this agreement, we are with them.”

Waltz praised the hostage release deal currently being finalized and gave the credit for the agreement to Donald Trump. 

I disagree with the hostage deal as Hamas sees it as a victory, and I see it as a pause in the ongoing attempt for Hamas and their ilk to commit total genocide of the Jews, not only in Israel, but across the globe as Hitler had attempted to do.

“Hamas is not going to continue as a military entity and it’s certainly not going to govern Gaza,” Waltz said.

Waltz reported that he heard that about 25 of the initial 33 hostages slated for release in the first phase are alive. 

“I’m convinced they all would have died if President Trump didn’t come in and say ‘get them out,’” Waltz said.

Waltz discussed the “Trump Effect” and the President-elect’s threat that there would be “Hell to pay” if the hostages were not released before his inauguration on January 20th.

The problem is, the deal sucks, but it shows how Jews respect life and will jump through hoops to get the hostages returned to Israel, dead and alive.

“Hamas knew… they had no choice and they believed President Trump when he said there would be all hell to pay, and any deal that was on the table would just get worse once he was in office.”

“Hamas cannot have a role. ISIS doesn’t have a role. Al Qaeda doesn’t have a role,”Waltz said on a podcast. “It astounds me that people try to put them in some kind of special category. These are hostage-taking, murderous, rapist torturers that never should ever have any role in governing.”

“We shouldn’t subject the Palestinian people to that either,” he affirmed. “We’ll never get to a better future; we’ll never get to a truly stable region if we don’t carve up this cancer.”


Israel-Hamas cease fire deal signed by both sides


A cease-fire and hostage deal has officially been signed by officials from Israel, Hamas, the U.S., and Qatar.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on the agreement and has directed a convening of his political-security cabinet, followed by a government meeting to endorse the plan, according to a statement from his office, translated from Hebrew to English.

"The families of the hostages were informed a short while ago of the agreements by the Directorate for Hostages, Missing Persons, and Returnees in the Prime Minister’s Office," the statement said.

"Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed the Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons to coordinate preparations for the reception of the hostages upon their return to Israel."

Currently, the Israeli government is scheduled to vote on the measure this Saturday, which would push the release of the first three hostages to Monday.

Government officials have cited last-minute complications with Hamas as the reason for the delay.

If the deal goes through, it will be a win psychologically for Hamas. This is a bad deal but an understandable one due to the hostage situation.


Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Pete Hegseth: "I support Israel destroying and killing every member of Hamas"



During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, former U.S. Army Major Pete Hegseth, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for US Secretary of Defense, strongly defended Israel's military actions. 

Hegseth served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan said, "I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas." He made this comment when questioned about his support for Israel and its defense.

The Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing was highly controversial, with Hegseth being interrupted by protesters who accused him of being a "Christian Zionist" and even supporting genocide. [By the way, if Israel wanted to commit genocide in Gaza, they could have finished the job in about the time it takes to get your Dominoes Pizza delivered.] 

 Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) asked Hegseth to clarify his stance on being labeled a "Christian Zionist." Cotton said, “The first one accused you of being a ‘Christian Zionist’—I’m not really sure why that is a bad thing. I’m a Christian. I’m a Zionist. Zionism is the belief that the Jewish people deserve a homeland in the ancient Holy Land where they’ve lived since the dawn of history.”

When asked by Cotton if he considered himself a Christian Zionist, Hegseth replied, "I’m a Christian, and I robustly support the State of Israel and its existential defense, and the way America comes alongside them as their great ally."

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a cease fire deal but this appears to be a huge mistake, in spite of the horrible situation whereby hostages are being held by Hamas, many of whom have been killed or otherwise died in captivity. By having a cease fire, Israel is only delaying the inevitable--Hamas and all Islamists are not going to give up on their religious duty, which is to kill the infidels--first the Jews and then the Christians. This is a hard truth nobody wants to talk about but it's true.

Pausing the fighting will only prolong it. Leaving Gaza, which the IDF will do or has already done, will only give Hamas the time and ability to prepare more IED explosives and to regroup and recruit.

When you're winning, don't stop punching.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Pam Bondi shuts Dem senator's attacking Trump nominee



During her confirmation hearing to become the U.S. Attorney General on Wednesday, Pam Bondi encountered sharp questioning from a senior Democratic senator concerning her support for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) grilled Bondi over Patel's previous statements, including his idea to close down FBI headquarters and his mention of an "enemies list." Blumenthal asked, "Is that a person who, appropriately, should be the FBI director? Aren't those comments inappropriate? Shouldn't you disavow them and ask him to recant them?"

Bondi responded, "Senator, I am not familiar with all those comments. I have not discussed those comments with Mr. Patel." She continued, despite Blumenthal's attempt to interrupt, "Excuse me. What I do know is Mr. Patel was a career prosecutor. He was a career public defender, defending people. And he also has great experience within the intelligence community."

She added, "What I can sit here and tell you is, Mr. Patel, if he works with running the FBI, if he is confirmed, and if I am confirmed, he will follow the law. If I am the attorney general of the United States of America, and I don't believe he would do anything otherwise."

Blumenthal countered, "Well, let me just submit that the response that I would have hoped to hear from you is that those comments are inappropriate, and that you will ask him to disavow or recant them when he comes before this committee, because they are indeed chilling to fair enforcement and the rule of law."

This confrontation followed similar questioning by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who also brought up what Democrats have described as Patel's "enemies list." This refers to a list of 60 individuals in Patel's book "Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy," whom he labeled as part of the "deep state."

Bondi defended Patel during Whitehouse's questions as well, while asserting that there would never be an "enemies list" at the Department of Justice under her leadership. Whitehouse, as you may know, is not the sharpest senator.


Joe and Kamala hold wildfire briefing and it sucked


President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris tried to act like leaders on Monday by talking about the horrific wildfires in California. But pretending to lead can often go wrong, and that's what happened when the clown show came to town.

While sitting at the famous Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Biden focused on his prepared speech. He talked, almost mumbling, about giving the victims a cough, "one-time payment of $770." It wasn't clear how that amount of money was supposed to help the situation. Perhaps it could pay for a few nights at a Motel 6 where they would leave the lights on, or for those who plan to rebuild their next home from scratch, it might pay for a window [without the labor cost]. 
BIDEN: "People impacted by these fires are gonna receive one-time payment of $770. One-time payment." pic.twitter.com/9E7Toj5BEo— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
Giving away a one-time payment of $770 is a cruel joke to anyone who lost their home in the wildfires. If in December the Biden administration could hand out $3,400,000,000 to Ukrainian bureaucrats and teachers who live in the safe part of Ukraine, not for the war effort, why do they rate more than Californians?

Taxpayers are obligated to finance the salaries of officials from another country, yet American disaster victims receive a mere $770 after losing everything. This is an absurd distortion of priorities, one that the public can no longer ignore.

"If anyone is still confused as to why Donald Trump won the 2024 election, this is one of the reasons why," critics argue. Democrats have shown care and empathy, albeit with taxpayers' money, to everyone except the citizens they are supposed to represent and protect. This critique is not about questioning Ukraine's right to defend itself, which it undeniably has; rather, it's about Americans consistently receiving less while they foot the bill.

Kamala Harris' speech was equally unhelpful. Instead of providing concrete assistance to those in need, the twice-failed presidential candidate resorted to a confusing monologue, urging victims to be "patient."
Kamala to wildfire victims: "It's critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do." pic.twitter.com/zjV2KVxr8u— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
Yes, another Kamala Harris word salad. She offers nothing in her cosplaying as Vice President. Asking the wildfire victims who lost their homes and are getting a whopping $750 should be told to be "patient" while she sits in front of the camera in the Oval Office.

At least the briefing ended somewhat quickly when our alleged President made faces at members of the press causing his handlers to yell at them to leave the room.

It's as if this clown show doesn't know that 25 people are dead and many remain unaccounted for. Oh, but he just became a great grandfather in the midst of this disaster, because everything is always about him.

The good news is that he and Harris will be out of office in five days and an actual competent president will take over. Let us hope and pray that he remains safe.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

DEI FEMA Director claims Calif. was "very prepared" for fires.


Failed FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell, was interviewed on CBS News by Margaret Brennan over the weekend. Brennan asked Criswell "why the area was so unprepared" for the fires, to which she said that in Southern California officials "were very prepared" for the fires, "I think they were very prepared," because that is the type of answer a D.E.I. hire who is thoroughly incompetent for this job would give to cover their butt. 

Criswell also claimed that it was difficult for firefighters to reach the fires due to the fact that they were in "such a populated area."

But the areas are well known to have high winds and as this is being written there are gusts of winds blowing between 60 - 70 miles per hour in one area. They knew this and they knew the areas involved in fire were highly populated. 

But California didn't have enough water, nor enough firefighters to fight the fire, but Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass refused help when the New York Fire Department offered it.

The Palisades fires at this time destroyed 23,713 acres and Eaton area lost 14, 117 acres--these are biblical proportions compared to prior wildfires. None of these fires, now and in previous years, is a surprise; it's an ongoing phenomenon as are the Santa Ana winds. Twenty-four people have been confirmed dead.

No rain is forecasted for the week so Los Angeles remains dry.

Where is Kamala Harris?

Monday, January 13, 2025

Azusa, CA police arrest homeless suspect by a brushfire


Fox News reported that police and residents of Azusa, California, a small city in Los Angeles County, worked in unison Friday to prevent a suspected arsonist from allegedly carrying out his sick goal of lighting more fires. 

At least three large wildfires threaten the area as winds are expected to pick up again.

With more cops patrolling due to the wildfire emergency, Azusa Police Department Captain Robert Landeros reported that the first responding officer arrived quickly at Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. This followed after neighbors confronted a homeless suspect, who was still at the scene when the officer arrived.

"This was intentional," Landeros stated on Monday. "Some of the neighbors confronted him, stopped him from setting an additional fire in the park."

Video footage captured an Azusa officer handcuffing a man near a rapidly spreading brush fire, which county firefighters managed to extinguish swiftly.

The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Jose Carranza-Escobar, described as "a transient" with his last known address in Azusa, confessed to igniting the brush fire.

This arrest occurs as firefighters are tackling at least three active wildfires in Los Angeles County, which have resulted in at least 24 deaths and widespread property damage.

Carranza was detained on arson charges. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman was scheduled to provide further details in a news briefing about Carranza and arrests related to fire-related looting later that Monday.

Landeros emphasized that Azusa police, along with partner agencies including Hochman's office, the county sheriff's office, neighboring department arson investigators, and the California National Guard, are adopting a "zero-tolerance" policy towards arson amid the conditions of high winds and a dry climate that exacerbate the wildfires across Southern California.

"Everybody’s out there," he said. "We’re watching. Even our citizens are."

He noted that the foothills near the town are considered a high-risk fire area with homeless encampments where fires have previously started.

"We're constantly conducting enforcement operations in that area," Landeros explained. "Residents are obviously on edge when there are major fires."

Forecasts predict strong winds returning to the region this week, which could intensify the ongoing fires and cause additional hazards by knocking down trees and branches that could catch fire.

"Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect the county," Landeros said in a weekend statement. "We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires."

Last week, another incident saw a group of Los Angeles residents intervening when they spotted a homeless man with a blowtorch. He was apprehended, but the police lacked sufficient evidence to charge him with arson.

Video from that event shows him with a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before being subdued by at least five residents who tackled him to the ground.

Compromised News Network (CNN) loses defamation suit against Navy vet--punitive damages awarded

PANAMA CITY, FL – After more than eight hours of deliberation, a jury concluded that CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, holding th...