| When a major hurricane collides with other news, the storm prevails | | Sep 29, 2022 | | Hurricane Ian is blowing away all other news. That Jan. 6 committee hearing, scheduled for yesterday? Canceled. Other political news? Barely a blip on the radar. Harsh partisanship? Joe Biden and Ron DeSantis spoke for some time about how best to help Florida – this after a day when the president appeared to snub the governor and drew flak for it. MEDIA DISMISS TRUMP-BACKED NOMINEES AS LOSERS, BUT MANY REMAIN COMPETITIVE Some life-threatening events are so grave that the usual maneuvering and game playing has to be put on hold. Hurricane Ian is just that kind of threat. The Category 4 storm made landfall at 3:05 p.m. eastern yesterday at the town of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles south of Tampa. The 150 mph winds mounted a furious assault on the palm trees, and as it approached the state’s western coast you could already see some cars in Naples almost totally submerged. Earlier the Democratic-controlled committee played it cute by leaking the Roger Stone video, first to CNN and then to other networks, on Tuesday to build interest for yesterday’s scheduled hearing. I’ve never understood why the panel gives away its scoops in advance, but by the time the hearing takes place, the Stone video that’s been all over the airwaves is really going to seem like old news. This is the video right before the 2020 election where the longtime Donald Trump pal and GOP operative says "f*** the voting, let’s get right to the violence… Shoot to kill, see an antifa, shoot to kill" and says the president should use armed guards to turn away any Electoral College electors. Stone had cooperated with the project by two Danish filmmakers, yet is ludicrously calling the video a deep fake. As for the hurricane, the greatest danger comes not from the impact itself but from flooding and storm surges afterward. Eight months after Katrina, I went to New Orleans and was stunned by endless miles of abandoned homes, stretching out to the suburbs, children’s toys and household products still strewn across the lawns – so great was the damage by the subsequent flooding. The media had mainly moved on, but the area was changed forever by the devastation. George W. Bush took a major political hit when Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, remaining on vacation and then flying over the devastated city in Air Force One, with some people still stranded on rooftops. "I realized I had made a serious mistake," he wrote in his memoir. "The photo of me hovering over the damage suggested I was detached from the suffering on the ground." TRUMP ON THE COUCH: WHAT HE SPILLED TO MAGGIE HABERMAN His reputation was further tarnished by his "heckuva job, Brownie" remarks when FEMA was botching its handling of the storm. It’s inevitable that both Biden and DeSantis will be judged by their response to Hurricane Ian. This is a moment of testing for political leaders, just as mayors plummet in popularity for failing to clear the roads after a blizzard. At the same time, DeSantis will undoubtedly avoid Chris Christie’s political blunder in embracing Barack Obama when he came to New Jersey to look at the damage from Superstorm Sandy. SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES That reminds us of how these once-in-a-hundred-years hurricanes are becoming increasingly common, and the role of climate change in the rise of more extreme weather. Television loves the drama of extreme weather, and some storms get hyped before petering out, but that’s hardly the case here. There are times when the awesome power of Mother Nature just overwhelms all human endeavors, and every political battle we had been obsessing on suddenly seems small. What’s happening now in Florida is one of those times. | | | | | WH plays damage control yet again after Biden search for deceased Rep. Walorski adds to list of walk-backs | | Sep 29, 2022 | | The White House was again put on the defensive by President Biden on Wednesday after the president's search for deceased Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., – whose death he had previously mourned – baffled viewers and reporters alike. "The President speaks directly and candidly — straight from the shoulder, as he often says," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson told Fox News Digital in a statement, when asked about the president's long track record of saying things his staffers later corrected. "Doing so has been critical to his success in everything from rallying the world to support Ukraine to empowering Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices," Patterson added. "And when he feels the need to add context to something he said, or to direct his staff to do so - as every President has - he doesn’t hesitate to." CLEANUP OF BIDEN PANDEMIC COMMENT LATEST IN LONG STRING OF WHITE HOUSE WALK-BACKS The White House's comments came after press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to explain away his latest gaffe. On Wednesday, during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, Biden appeared to search for Walorski, who died in a car accident last month. "I want to thank all of you here, including bipartisan elected officials like … Senator Braun, Senator Booker, Representative … Jackie, Jackie are you here?" Biden said, searching for the late congresswoman. "I think she was going to be here to help make this a reality." A video tribute to the late Republican congresswoman was scheduled to play at the event but was not shown while the president and White House press pool were at the event. After the bizarre episode, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden "was naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work." "He had already planned to welcome the congresswoman’s family to the White House on Friday, there will be a bill signing in her honor this coming Friday," Jean-Pierre said. "So, of course, she was on his mind. She was at top of mind for the president." WHITE HOUSE FIELDS MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ON WHY PRESIDENT BIDEN APPEARED TO LOOK FOR DECEASED CONGRESSWOMAN Jean-Pierre doubled down on the White House’s cleanup of Biden’s fumble when pressed by reporters. Earlier this month, the White House was also forced to walk back comments Biden made to CBS News at the Detroit Auto Show about the pandemic. "The pandemic is over," the president said during an interview with "60 Minutes" anchor Scott Pelley at the Detroit auto show. "We still have a problem with Covid. We’re still doing a lot of work on it … but the pandemic is over. If you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape." CRITICS FLOOD TWITTER AFTER BIDEN DECLARES COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS OVER: 'IRRESPONSIBLE AND MISLEADING' Jean-Pierre later explained that Biden only made those comments because he was "looking around" the auto show. She noted the auto show hadn't taken place for three years. "What he really meant is that the very severe stage of the pandemic of having … 3,000 deaths a day — that stage is no longer present," Anthony Fauci, the top White House medical adviser, separately told Politico. "People should not be cavalier that we’re out of the woods." Multiple times during his presidency, Biden has seemingly confused U.S. policy regarding Taiwan. "Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack," Biden said when Pelley asked if the U.S. would intervene if China invaded Taiwan during the interview this month. Under the federal government's "one China" policy created in 1979, the U.S. doesn't recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. However, the U.S. does acknowledge the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is a part of China and has never explicitly stated it would defend the nation from attack. BIDEN WALKS BACK BOMBSHELL TAIWAN COMMENTS FOR THIRD TIME "When the President of the United States wants to announce a policy change, he will do so. He has not done so," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said after the CBS News interview, walking back Biden's comments. The president has made similar comments on at least three other occasions which have also triggered White House walk-backs. Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Biden has also made a series of comments that have earned corrections or clarifications from his White House and administration officials. In May, after Biden said sanctions imposed on Russia before the invasion were never intended to deter military action, the U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said sanctions were "obviously" meant to deter. In addition, the White House walked back several comments the president made during his trip to Europe amid the war in April. Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," apparently hinting at regime change, called Putin a war criminal in a departure from administration policy, suggested American troops would be deployed to Ukraine and said the U.S. would respond "in kind" if Russia used chemical weapons. "The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change," a White House official told Fox News Digital after the comments on Putin. "The President has been clear we are not sending U.S. troops to Ukraine and there is no change in that position," a spokesperson said addressing the potential deployment of troops. And Sullivan explained that Biden meant the U.S. would "respond accordingly" to any use of chemical weapons. In March, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki explained that Biden was merely "speaking from the heart" when he called Putin a "war criminal," but said the Department of State had yet to make an official determination. WHITE HOUSE WALKS BACK MULTIPLE BIDEN REMARKS DURING EUROPE TRIP ON PUTIN, CHEMICAL WEAPONS, TROOPS In April, Psaki also walked back remarks Biden made about masking on airplanes. The president said the decision to mask on planes was "up to" Americans following a court ruling nixing the federal mandate. "The president was answering the question quite literally," Psaki told reporters. "They’re still recommending people wear masks on airplanes; on Air Force One — which, of course, is a federal, not a private, plane," she continued, referencing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. "We all wore masks on the plane when we traveled to New Hampshire yesterday." In January, Biden implied the upcoming midterm election would be illegitimate if Congress didn't pass voting rights legislation, triggering additional clarification from Psaki. The Senate eventually failed to garner enough votes to pass the bill. "Well, it all depends on whether or not we’re able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election," Biden said during a press conference. "I’m not saying it’s going to be legit, as the increase in the prospect of being illegitimate is a direct proportion to us not being able to get these reforms passed," he added. WHITE HOUSE WALKS BACK BIDEN VOW TO USE NATIONAL GUARD TO UNTANGLE SUPPLY CHAIN In response, Psaki said Biden wasn't casting doubt on the election, but actually making the opposite point. "Lets be clear: [Biden] was not casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 election," Psaki tweeted. "He was making the opposite point: In 2020, a record number of voters turned out in the face of a pandemic, and election officials made sure they could vote and have those votes counted." Biden said "he had been there before" when asked why he hadn't visited the U.S.-Mexico border amid a migrant surge during a CNN town hall in October 2021. Psaki said the president was referring to a trip he made to the border in 14 years ago. "He did drive through the border when he was on the campaign trail in 2008," she told reporters. "And he is certainly familiar with the fact – and it stuck with him – with the fact that in El Paso, the border goes right through the center of town." During the same CNN town hall, Biden stated that he would consider activating the National Guard to assist with supply chain issues facing the country. However, Psaki then said the White House wasn't "actively pursuing the use of the National Guard on a federal level." "It is something that any president would have the capacity to do, the authority to do, but it is not something under active consideration," she said. Fox News Digital reporters Nikolas Lanum and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. | | | | | Princess Diana's heartfelt letter to man struggling with bulimia on display at Las Vegas exhibit | | Sep 29, 2022 | | Princess Diana wasn’t shy about sharing her struggles in hopes it would help others. In her lifetime, the Princess of Wales was known for the heartfelt letters and cards she wrote behind palace doors. One of them, which touched on her battle with bulimia, is now on display in Las Vegas. Royal fans unable to travel across the pond can now head to Sin City for a special exhibition dedicated to "The People’s Princess." Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of her passing, a new attraction titled, "Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition," now occupies a 10,000-square-foot space. It features more than 700 items of memorabilia. The items, many of which have not been seen before by the public, include evening gowns, personal letters Diana wrote, as well as gifts she gave to friends. "[This] is the only letter that we know on record where she publicly speaks about having bulimia and writing to someone else about the struggle she had [with it]," David Corelli, curator of the exhibition, told Fox News Digital. "This was the late ‘80s, early ‘90s. Nobody was speaking about mental health. And for her to come out publicly and start to bring up some of those issues, you start seeing a wave of people … getting actual treatment and seek help." PRINCESS DIANA’S AND MEGHAN MARKLE’S DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT OF STAFF ARE ‘STARK,’ ROYAL EXPERT SAYS "She single-handedly changed the world," Corelli added. In the letter, dated Jan. 31, 1996, Diana reached out Richard L. Saunders. "Dear Richard — Thank you very much for your letter — it is not easy for a gentleman to be open and honest about Bulimia!" she wrote. "However, you’re obviously coping extremely well in the circumstances and having Sam beside you will bring you both the support and encouragement that’s needed at this time in your lives. It was lovely to hear from you and remember if I am able to conquer Bulimia, you can too!!" Corelli said he wasn’t surprised that the princess was so candid in her note. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "That was Diana’s trademark, right?" he said. "She took that extra step. There was a line that was considered acceptable for a royal. And she said, ‘I don’t play by those rules. I set my own rules of what I feel is right and fair in the world.’ So, the fact that she would step over those lines doesn’t surprise me. When you look back at her life and legacy, she went beyond what was considered acceptable for a royal to do. "Being open about bulimia, even dispelling the myths around AIDS, a cause she supported, was considered taboo," he continued. "But she wanted to show people that if we could also just show a little bit of compassion, the world would be a better place. I think that’s her legacy and message for the world — take that extra step to show compassion." It wasn’t obvious Diana would be a royal rebel when she married the future King Charles in 1981. A member of the aristocratic Spencer family, Diana was known for her quiet nature. After spending time at a finishing school in the Swiss Alps, she worked as a nanny and a preschool teacher while living in London. Reporters and photographers quickly followed her wherever she went. While she hated the intrusion, Diana caught on that the media was also a tool that she could use to bring attention to her causes and change public perceptions. In 1995, Diana told BBC’s Martin Bashir how her tumultuous marriage impacted her mental health. PRINCESS DIANA’S KEY CAUSES RECEIVE $1.6 MILLION DONATION FROM BBC AMID ‘DECEITFUL’ INTERVIEW "I didn’t like myself, I was ashamed because I couldn’t cope with the pressures," she said. "I had bulimia for a number of years, and that’s like a secret disease… It’s a repetitive pattern, which is very destructive to yourself." "It was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage," Diana continued. "I was crying out for help but giving the wrong signals, and people were using my bulimia as a coat on a hanger: they decided that was the problem — Diana was unstable." In 2017, Diana’s eldest son, Prince William, appeared in a documentary for British broadcaster Channel 4 titled, "Wasting Away: The Truth About Anorexia." In it, the prince said he was "absolutely" proud that his mother spoke out about her struggles in hopes it would encourage others to seek treatment. But there was another side to Diana that pals witnessed. Corelli said the princess was known for her sense of humor — one she was proud to showcase in her letters. 'THE CROWN' RESUMES FILMING AFTER PRODUCTION WAS PAUSED DUE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S DEATH "As we’re going through the vast collection, the stories started to arise," said Corelli. "One that I love is Diana’s humor. Everybody knows that Diana loved to laugh. It’s what [Prince] Harry says he remembers the most that she had this infectious, childlike laughter that he could remember clearly in his head. We have this whole area where it’s all funny cards for Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries that she had given to her friends and family. She really indulged in her quirky sense of humor." "She would go to regular department stores and pharmacies and just find typical greeting cards that you could pull off the shelf," he said. "One has her face on it … another had the queen’s face on it… She had all of these funny messages for those closest to her. When you see the messages that she wrote to these people and the cards she used, there’s a layer of her personality that you can never experience in a documentary. That’s what makes it unique to be there in person, to be able to see these things up close and personal." And there are plenty of stories that have been seemingly forgotten with time, ones that audiences can learn about at the exhibition. Corelli said Diana’s friendship with bridesmaid Sarah-Jane Gaselee comes to mind. "Sarah-Jane was the daughter of Charles’ horse trainer and polo manager," Corelli said. "As Charles was spending a lot of time on the polo field, Diana started to build a little sister/big sister relationship with Sarah-Jane and asked her to be a bridesmaid. As a special gift to Sarah-Jane for being a bridesmaid, she gave her a heart locket. Sarah-Jane cut out the ‘love, Diana’ signature from the thank you letter. She folded it up, put it inside that locket and [wore it] for 16 years. We were able to acquire it directly from Sarah-Jane recently." PRINCESS DIANA: 25 YEARS AFTER HER TRAGIC PASSING, FOX NATION EXPLORES HER LIFE, DEATH AND LEGACY Corelli said the exhibition is created in partnership with Pink Ribbons Crusade. The 501(c)(3) all-volunteer charity shared its multimillion dollar collection of Diana artifacts and royal family memorabilia to raise funds to fight breast cancer. Many of the items, he said, have come from royal brokers, as well as friends and former employees of the royal family. He noted that the fascination surrounding Diana’s brief life continues to grow, especially in the U.S. The princess passed away in 1997 from injuries she sustained in a Paris car crash. She was 36. "Diana was an icon for several reasons," Corelli said. "Whether it was her love of family, her genuine care of others, her humanitarian efforts, the way her style is still emulated today … there were so many ways that she impacted the world." "I think people gravitate to that message that she left behind: the world can and will be a better place if someone’s out there to do the work. She was real. She lived that day to day." | | | | | Rooftop Revelations: Pastor Brooks and Somali imam discuss shared goal of helping their communities | | Sep 29, 2022 | | It has been nearly a year since Pastor Corey Brooks began his rooftop vigil to end gun violence and to raise funds to build his community center. So far, he has raised $20 million. On the 281st day on the roof, he hosted two guests from Twin Cities: civic leader Imam Tawakal Ismail and his friend and interpreter, Faisal Deri. They met to discuss the troubles in their communities and how they may revitalize the American dream. What follows has been lightly edited. We strongly encourage you to watch the accompanying video so you may hear the pastor and his guests in their own words. I'm still on this rooftop, but I've got incredible news. It hasn't quite been a year, but we've raised nearly $20 million. That's right. 20 million. Can you imagine where we would be if we hadn’t come up on this roof or if I had given up after the first 100 days? We haven't met our $35 million goal yet and we're still aiming for that. But guess what? We're going to break ground on Oct. 29. Our community cannot wait any longer. It is our opportunity to change O-Block into Opportunity Block, to make this the block where people's lives are changed. That is why I reached out to Fox News, which has been so incredibly supportive of our efforts, and told them I wanted to do another Rooftop Revelation. AMERICAN DREAM REALIZED: CARLOS CASTRO FLED A BLOODY CIVIL WAR TO START A NEW LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY I was recently contacted by the imam of the Somali community in Minneapolis. And I admit my first thought was, "What does the Somali community have to do with mine?" That was a very narrow way of thinking. Remember, that was only my first thought. As I spoke with the imam, I realized that the struggles that they were facing in their community were also the same struggles as we were facing here in Chicago. We are being held hostage to woke city governments more interested in pursuing so-called woke reforms instead of actual reforms. After George Floyd was murdered, many folks in the Somali community thought the promised reforms would make things better. But they soon found out, just like all of us, that violence went up, education went down, business is suffering, and on and on and on. While our problems on the South Side have been going on since the '60s, we realize that there is strength to be had in connecting with struggling communities in other cities. Perhaps this will force the leaders who feel that they can ignore us to start paying attention. After all, politicians care more about numbers than they do about people — that's what some people say. So, if we can increase our numbers, maybe we can awaken them to the fact that their continual ignoring of our plight has this enormous cost. As I talked with the imam, it became clear that we both wanted the same thing: the revitalization of the American dream. We rarely hear about the American dream anymore. Where did it go? I'll tell you. It went nowhere. It's always there. We just stopped believing in it. We stopped aspiring to it. So today, I want you to welcome my guests to Rooftop Revelation. FOUR MEN SHOT ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE What an honor, and a privilege to have with us today two brothers who traveled all the way from the Twin Cities, that's right from Minnesota, to be with us today on the rooftop to talk about the issues that they are dealing with in the Twin Cities and the issues that we're dealing with, here in Chicago. And what we have discovered is that, although we have different faiths, there are so many similarities, similarities in faith, similarities in how we're trying to deal with our families, our education, with crime, all kinds of issues. And it's those issues that we want to bring to your attention today. And so I'm glad to have with us a world-renowned scholar, a civic leader, Imam Tawakal Ismail. And here to interpret with us today, our friend and brother, Faisal Deri. And welcome to the rooftop. Below is a lightly edited transcript of the exchange between Pastor Brooks and Imam Tawakal. The imam's quotes were provided through his interpreter. Imam Tawakal: Thank you very much for having us. It's an honor and a privilege, and it's also very inspirational for us to be with your congregation and with your community and to see the immensely powerful job that you all doing here. In our faith tradition, one of the key pillars is that people who are helpful to people, people who are out there uplifting their communities and their people, are the ones that Allah in our case, or God, loves the most. Pastor Brooks: Absolutely. Imam Tawakal: So it is absolutely well within our shared traditions to be engaged in something that's beneficial, not just to ourselves, but to our communities at large. Pastor Brooks: Let's give people a little history about Somalia and the Twin Cities. How did that all come about? Imam Tawakal: The Somali-American community settled first in the Twin Cities and in Minnesota from the early- to mid-'90s. It was part of that wave that arrived in the U.S. following the collapse of the central state in our country. And so people came there, one, fleeing from violence and, two, looking for opportunity for their families and for their kids. Safe streets, opportunities, good schools, good education, good jobs, stable families. Those were really the key drivers. AS WORLD VISION'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE OF FAITH FACE HARDSHIP Minnesota wasn't ideal weather-wise, but it was ideal in so many of those other things that are important. … Now it's home. Somalis in Minnesota are in every facet of our community. They're in law enforcement, they're in the business sector and they’re in all kind of professional classes. So we have a growing community, growing middle class, growing business community, but we also have quite a bit of challenges. And I think that's where it intersects with what you're doing here. Pastor Brooks: I talk a lot about the American dream and I talk a lot about opportunities. I don't really buy into people having equal outcomes, but I do believe we should have equal opportunities. And I do believe that all of us should have a right to pursue the American dream. But some things that you mentioned are the challenges. I want to talk about what are some of the challenges that the Somalian people face in the Twin Cities. Because I think when people hear your challenges, they're going to understand that some of the same challenges that are in the Twin Cities, those are the things that we're experiencing here in Chicago. Imam Tawakal: Some of the challenges that we are seeing in our community again, are very similar. We see quite a bit of violence amongst our youth, particularly the ones who really were born here in this country, that parents were so hopeful that they will be the future, right? So it's so disheartening to see that, not getting the full potential out of some of those kids. We're seeing abuse of drugs. We're seeing kids losing their identity and their culture or having some sort identity crisis, which is leading into mental health issues. I think some of the solutions that we are thinking is, number one, to connect people in their faith and God. I think once you're grounded in your faith and in God and those things, that is always a powerful thing that would help you. INNER-CITY MEMPHIS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF ON SAFETY AFTER LIVESTREAMED SHOOTING, ELIZA FLETCHER KILLING Pastor Brooks: Absolutely. Imam Tawakal: We also need to be able to connect them into resources and opportunities, to not ignore the problems that are out there, but to address them head on, to be able to provide them with opportunities. I'm so happy that part of your focus here are recreational opportunities. Kids don't have an outlet to channel all of their energies and passions and so forth. Pastor Brooks: I know you all, like us, are attempting to build a center. And I want to hear more about why. Why is there such a great need to have this center? Imam Tawakal: The idea of establishing our own center was really a necessity. It was because there was no center that is serving the community. And we have a large number of youth in our community. Our community is an extremely young community, young populations. We have a lot of youth that are lacking opportunities, creation of opportunities. That's a glaring need in our community because we don't have any center that is particularly serving in a culturally-appropriate way. That is, for example, a fitness center where women can work out on their own. … In the winter, there's really not a lot of opportunities for kids to engage in other sports activities, like indoor soccer and things like that. Also, the center can help with getting connected to resources and opportunities, for getting employment and entrepreneurship trainings. Pastor Brooks: The Twin Cities really suffered a lot during the events of George Floyd. And I know there was a lot of talk about defunding the police and a lot of messaging around that. How have you all been able to handle that dynamic of dealing with the police and building that trust back? HALF A MILLION SOMALI CHILDREN UNDER 5 AT RISK OF DYING FROM FAMINE Imam Tawakal: I'm glad you brought up defunding the police because I think that was one of the stupidest things that ever happened for our people. … And it was particularly traumatic in our community because we are coming, again, as I mentioned earlier, we're here as a result of running away from violence in our own country. So safety and security is always essential for us. And that's not to dismiss some of the consistency and systemic policing issues that this country has suffered for so long, and particularly communities of color and African Americans have suffered. But we also think that defunding the police or abolishing the police or those sort of things, were not the necessary or the right response. I would say, that as a faith leader, the safety and the protection of the life is the most important thing. … It was extremely important to make sure that folks of faith and our community leaders stood up and said, "No, we're not supportive of that." And I think the Somali community, as well as other communities of color, particularly African American communities, in my understanding, came out and voted against that idea. Pastor Brooks: When we talk about these issues and all of the things that we're faced with, in the Twin Cities and Chicago and other places across America, what are the three things that you all would like to work on and find solutions to solve within your community? Imam Tawakal: Number one is addressing issues around youth with employment opportunities and education. Number two is addressing the family or the nucleus of the family. If you have a strong family, you tend to have a strong community. So that's another thing that we really think is key. If we lose our families and the strength of our families, then we are going to have problems ongoing. The third issue is building relationships. And I think that's why it was so inspirational for us to see the work that you are doing here. It was so important for you to invite us here, to learn what other communities that are facing similar challenges are doing right. And to build that network and the relationships so we can advocate and self-advocate our issues collectively. Pastor Brooks: Our goals are to make America the best country we can make it. And that means that Chicago, the South Side of Chicago, has to be better. It means that the Twin Cities have to be better. So what is the one thing that you want American people to know about the Somali people in the Twin Cities? Imam Tawakal: I would profess by saying that I think America's already great. It may be the greatest, in my opinion. We're so thankful and feel blessed that we have this opportunity and we are here and we are raising our families. But having said that, we must make sure that we support equality, that the people have the fair shake. That there's a justice and fairness in our interactions with one another, with the police, with our communities, all of those things. I think that's the foundation, that's the bedrock of stable communities and safe communities. So if people feel that there's fairness and justice and that everyone is being treated fairly and equally, I think that sort of empowers people and gives everyone hope and faith in their situation and makes them really appreciate that much more in their situation. | | | | | Top Democratic candidates seek to cash in with women-themed campaign merchandise, but won't define the term | | Sep 29, 2022 | | Several Democrats running in this year's midterm elections refuse to define the word "woman," while selling merchandise specifically designed for their women supporters. Fox News Digital raised the question to half a dozen Democrats who all use the word "woman" on an item in their campaign merchandise collection, but received zero response. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., Cheri Beasley, and Stacey Abrams were the candidates that did not provide a definition for the term "woman." Crist, the Democratic candidate running in the Florida gubernatorial race against Gov. Ron DeSantis', R-Fla., is selling stickers on his web store that read, "Women for Crist," but was unresponsive when asked what his definition of a woman is. DEM SEN. MICHAEL BENNET WON'T DEFINE THE WORD ‘WOMAN’ AFTER SELLING ‘WOMEN WITH BENNET’ TOTE BAGS ‘As a woman, I am enraged,' say t-shirts on Abrams webstore, the Democratic nominee competing in Georgia's gubernatorial race. BIDEN ADMIN AGENCIES REFUSE TO ANSWER: ‘WHAT IS A WOMAN?’ Hochul, who is running for a full term as New York governor against Rep. Lee Zeldin this fall, designed mugs and tote bags that are available for purchase on her web store. "New York Women Lead," Hochul's merchandise reads, while Demings, running in a tight matchup against Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is selling t-shirts that say, "Stop the War on Women." The candidates also refused to provide a definition of the term ‘woman.’ On Beasley's campaign web store, in an effort to help fund her midterm bid for the Senate in North Carolina, there is a photo of the Democrat holding a sign that reads, "Women for Beasley," but she too would not define the term. Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., last week, asking him the same question over his "Women with Bennet" tote bags, but the Democrat did not respond. The question has been raised on several occasions and produced mixed responses, if any were given. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., asked Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her nomination hearing in April if she could provide a definition for the word woman. Jackson answered, "I cannot." In April, Fox News Digital reached out to The National Institute of Health (NIH), who referenced their website that claimed an individual's sex is different from gender: "'Sex' refers to biological differences between females and males, including chromosomes, sex organs, and endogenous hormonal profiles," while "'gender' refers to socially constructed and enacted roles and behaviors which occur in a historical and cultural context and vary across societies and over time." Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., explained on Fox News' "Hannity" why he believes Democrats are refusing to answer the question: "Here is the modern Democrat Party today. It is that you have to say that ‘men can get pregnant,' and if you don't say it, then you are a bigot, and you are responsible for violence." Fox News' Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report. | | | | | Hurricane Ian slams Florida as schools act as shelters: 'Ready to accept anyone with open arms,' teacher says | | Sep 29, 2022 | | As Hurricane Ian hits Florida, school buildings have been cleared out and designated as shelters for evacuees and community members who are searching for safety. Educators and school staff across many counties have been pitching in as the storm, first reported as a Category 4, made landfall Wednesday and left more than a million Floridians without power. "We are all working around the clock ... to make sure everything is really running smoothly alongside the Tampa Police Department," said De'Quan Wilson, a fourth-grade teacher in Hillsborough County, where some schools have become storm shelters. LIVE UPDATES: HURRICANE IAN MAKES LANDFALL IN SOUTHWESTERN FLORIDA, MORE THAN 1M WITHOUT POWER Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had said that Hurricane Ian could be a Category 5 storm by the time it had hit the Sunshine State. "And we understand this is not just a 48-hour ordeal," the governor also said at a news conference. "This is going to be something that is going to be there for days and weeks and months. And, unfortunately, in some circumstances, even years," he added. Prior to Ian's landfall on Wednesday just south of Tampa, some 45 classrooms were packed up at the Lockhart Elementary Magnet School in Tampa, where Wilson teaches, in preparation to house evacuees. HURRICANE IAN EVACUATION: WHAT TO PACK "It looks as if we are leaving for summer [vacation]," Wilson told Fox News Digital about the empty classrooms. Families will sleep in designated areas of the school building and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the cafeteria, according to Wilson. Roughly 150 people are already sheltering in place at the school and Wilson said they are not yet at maximum capacity. "We are ready to accept anyone with open arms," he said. "We are going around continuously monitoring the shelter, making sure [if] the evacuees need anything, that they are OK — that they are comfortable." "This can be a very scary time, so we are checking in to make sure people feel safe," Wilson added. There are two types of shelters in Florida: general population shelters and shelters for people with special needs, according to flordiadisaster.org. "It is important to note that not every person with a disability is eligible to evacuate to a special needs shelter," the organization wrote on its website. "The best place to shelter for every Floridian is outside the evacuation area, in a safe and secure structure, with family and friends." HURRICANE IAN WEATHER TIPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE DURING A STORM Some facilities are also designated as pet friendly. Fox News Digital learned of several schools-turned-shelters that allow pets, including two out of four schools in Osceola County. "Osceola County Emergency Management, in partnership with Osceola Animal Services, the American Red Cross, and the School District of Osceola County, offers pet-friendly sheltering," the county announced on the emergency management section of its website. "Only certain shelter facilities are designated as 'pet friendly.'" "A huge shoutout to all of our staff who [are] working through the hurricane and manning the schools being used as shelters," Osceola Schools, located in central Florida, tweeted alongside a photo of staff posing in hazard vests at Harmony High School in St. Cloud. A representative of Osceola Schools told Fox News Digital that cafeterias and gymnasiums are the spaces that are primarily being used as shelters. The county noted that "deputies will be safeguarding shelters" and sex offenders will have shelter in a different location than all residents at the Osceola County Courthouse. Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS), located in central Florida, is offering shelter for the general population in five schools, two of which are pet friendly. There are two other schools open to those with special needs — and one of those schools is pet friendly. "Seminole County Public Schools takes its responsibility of collaborating with our community partners to provide shelters to our citizens very seriously," Serita Beamon, superintendent of SCPS, told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement. "Our five general population shelters and three special needs shelters are manned by school principals, teachers and staff and provide shelter guests with safe harbor from severe weather," she added. HURRICANE IAN NEARS FLORIDA: STORM SAFETY TIPS AND HOW TO PREPARE "We are committed to the safety of all Seminole County residents and are eager to support our students, families, staff and community before, during and after the passing of Hurricane Ian," Beamon also said. The Seminole County Government's website advises evacuees to bring the following items to shelters: Bedding: cot/blanket/pillow (cots are not provided at general population shelters) Personal medications Special dietary needs or foods Comfort/entertainment items Photo identification Extra clothing What will be provided at the shelter: Breakfast/lunch/dinner Personal space accommodations measuring 21 square feet (7ft x 3ft) Law enforcement presence Also, the shelters make clear that weapons, firearms, alcohol and drugs are not permitted in the county shelters. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Osceola County reminds people that anyone staying at the shelter for special needs individuals should bring "medicine and other vital supplies, including oxygen or other electrical medical devices." Wilson said his school has mattresses available for elderly people and for those who are disabled. Wilson said he and his colleagues have been answering calls at the front desk of the elementary school as Floridians inquire about the availability of shelter. He and other Lockhart employees, Wilson stressed, will continue to take in evacuees as employees handle the meals, coffee stations and custodial duties while police keep the building secure. "When the students come back on Monday, hopefully, they do come back to some sort of normality," Wilson said. | | | | | Fentanyl crisis continues to ravage US communities as border drug trafficking hits new records: memo | | Sep 29, 2022 | | FIRST ON FOX – A memo circulating among Senate Republicans this week details how the fentanyl crisis continues to worsen across U.S. communities as southern border drug seizures and encounters reach record highs. Those who have witnessed activity at the border believe the crisis at the border and the fentanyl crisis are correlated. "Yeah, I've never seen anything like this. The numbers, the organization, the movement. And the federal government is doing a masterful job of keeping it on the down-low as much as possible — santizing it as much as possible," retired Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent and Texas congressional candidate Frank Lopez Jr. told Fox News Digital. CBP agents seized an unprecedented 10,500 lbs. of the deadly drug in 2021, and seizures have already surpassed 12,000 lbs. so far this year — the most fentanyl ever seized in a single year in the United States. That much fentanyl could kill the entire U.S. population eight times over, the memo circulating among senators notes. FENTANYL IN DISGUISE: EXPERT CALLS DEADLY OPIOID'S PRESENCE A ‘SLOW-MOTION CHEMICAL WEAPON ATTACK’ Last month, border encounters surpassed 200,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, agents seized a record 2,300 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest and coastal/interior U.S. borders last month, meaning the issue continues to worsen. The number of migrants who have successfully crossed into the United States this fiscal year is on track to reach 2 million, with about 8,000 crossings per day. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told Fox News' Peter Doocey Aug. 31 the Biden administration has seen a "200% increase of fentanyl seizures, which means that we are … doing the job of catching drug traffickers." FENTANYL AWARENESS GROUP ASKS BIDEN ADMIN TO TRACK POISONING, OVERDOSE DEATHS LIKE COVID-19 DEATHS But with the increase in fentanyl seizures comes an increase in fentanyl coming into the country. In 2021, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reported seizing more than 15,000 pounds of substances containing fentanyl and more than 20.4 million fentanyl-laced prescription pills. This year, DEA agents have recovered 20,000 pounds of fentanyl in the interior. "Certainly me, having spent 30 years in Border Patrol, most of them in the Del Rio Sector, I have never seen anything like this. I've never seen, not just the number of people, but the apparatus … the organization that has gone into the structure of having everything in place to facilitate, expedite, with maximum efficiency, the number of people coming into our country," Lopez said. "We are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars … into these soft-sided facilities, [where the] sole intent is to process and push through as many people as possible." Drug overdoses led by fentanyl were the No. 1 cause of death for U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 45 between 2020 and 2021, according to an analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data by the anti-fentanyl nonprofit Families Against Fentanyl (FAF). U.S. life expectancy fell to its lowest point since 1996 in 2021 with 10% of the decline attributed to drug overdoses. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a February press release that the "unprecedented overdose epidemic" claims about 275 American lives per day. Fentanyl is a deadly opioid that is about 50 times more potent than morphine. Drug cartels have latched on to the drug because it is powerful in small doses, meaning it is easier for smugglers to transport. It is also "highly profitable" and "easily avoids detection because of its small size," the memo circulating among senators notes. FENTANYL TEST STRIPS CAN DETECT DEADLY OPIOID HIDDEN IN RECREATIONAL DRUGS Additionally, American children are dying more frequently from fentanyl poisoning because the opioid is appearing more and more frequently in disguised forms like prescription pills and "rainbow fentanyl." Kids unknowingly purchase drugs that they believe to be anything from Percocet to Xanax to even Advil that contains fentanyl. Disguising the opioid is an attempt by drug traffickers to hook kids on to the highly addictive opioid and make more money. The majority of fentanyl that makes its way into the United States is manufactured in China or Mexico and then smuggled into the U.S. through the southern border, according to the DEA. FAF founder Jim Rauh, who lost his son to fentanyl poisoning, described the fentanyl crisis to Fox News Digital earlier this month as "a slow-motion chemical weapon attack … that's being perpetrated by China and a third opium war." AMID THE FENTANYL CRISIS, TEENS IN WEST VIRGINIA GAIN LIFE SKILLS TO STAND STRONG Overdose deaths, largely driven by fentanyl, have increased significantly in a number of states between April 2021 and April 2022, including Nevada, Colorado, Georgia and New Hampshire. That's after fentanyl poisoning deaths doubled in 30 states between 2019 and 2021, according to another FAF analysis. New Hampshire overdose deaths have increased a whopping 29% between April 2021 and April of this year, according to the CDC. Colorado overdose deaths have surged nearly 16% over the same time frame. Georgia overdose deaths have risen 19%, and Nevada overdose deaths have increased 4.5%, CDC data shows. So, what is Congress doing to mitigate the fentanyl and border crises? Republicans and Democrats have come together on some legislation authored to combat the crisis, such as the bipartisan Securing America’s Borders Against Fentanyl Act, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, the HALT Fentanyl Act and the Davis Cooper Act, among others CALIFORNIA TEEN'S DEATH FROM FENTANYL UNDERSCORES DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETS "Certainly, Democrats are now starting to work with us on these fentanyl issues. We have Sen. [Kirsten] Gillibrand and Sen. [Diane] Feinstein working with us on … the Cooper Davis Act," said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, who introduced the Cooper Davis Act. That act would require social media companies to work with federal agencies to combat illicit drug sales on their platforms, told Fox News Digital. Democrats and Republicans have also come together on potentially designating the deadly opioid as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). But Marshall, who visited the border, and other Republicans are questioning why President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his designated border czar, have not visited the southern border since taking office. "Anything we can do to fight fentanyl poisoning — this epidemic — I'm for it," Marshall said. "It is just so sad that our president, though, turns his back on this. We're trying to put our fingers in the pie, do everything we can, but the root problem is that open border. Why this president won't admit that — why he won't go down there and secure this border — we have no idea." Jean-Pierre has said the Biden administration is making efforts to secure the border. "We are securing the border," she told Doocy Aug. 31. "The fact that we are securing record levels of funding from DHS so they can stop illicit drugs from entering into the country — the fact that it’s not just drug traffickers that we’re dealing with … we’re stopping … financiers. This is what’s happening … under this administration." The White House press secretary added later that Republicans are "not" working with the administration to help Americans, including "kids," stop overdosing on dangerous drugs. National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby also pointed Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich to the Biden administration's increased DHS funding when asked what is being done to secure the border on Sept. 22. "We pushed for record levels of funding for DHS. Unfortunately, there wasn't the support there on the Republican side for that," Kirby said. "We are pushing forward advanced technologies, as I mentioned earlier, to try to alleviate some of the strain on the manpower down there on the southern border. And we are … working to try to really get at the root causes for some of this migration in particularly the Northern Triangle countries … to help these countries create conditions that would help avoid people from having to flee." Experts recommend people who use any kind of drug carry Narcan, a lifesaving medicine also known as naloxone, which has the ability to reverse symptoms of an overdose and potentially save lives, according to Family First Intervention. | | | | | Progressives still haven't learned: 'Terrorist' parents will always fight back | | Sep 29, 2022 | | Today marks one year since the National School Boards Association (NSBA) ignited a firestorm by issuing a letter to President Joe Biden likening concerned parents to domestic terrorists. The letter accomplished the exact opposite of its purpose: It motivated parents and exposed the educational establishment as a paper tiger, so desperate to maintain control that it cannot tolerate legitimate criticism from moms and dads. Since then, the NSBA has lost 25 of its state affiliates. The overwhelming backlash should have been a lesson for progressives: When you wage war on parents, you will lose. Instead, the left chose to double down on a failed strategy that is galvanizing families against the educational establishment. VIRGINIA GOV. YOUNGKIN DEFENDS TRANSGENDER POLICIES AFTER STUDENT PROTESTS: PARENTS WILL NOT BE 'EXCLUDED' An early sign that Democrats learned nothing from the NSBA controversy was Terry McAuliffe’s failed campaign for Virginia governor. McAuliffe held a rally with teachers' union boss Randi Weingarten the day before Election Day. His opponent, Glenn Youngkin, embraced parental rights. McAuliffe, a Democrat, lost by two points; Biden had won the state by 10 points the year prior. Education was a major factor: Exit polls showed that it was the top issue for 14% of voters, behind the economy and COVID-19 but ahead of healthcare, immigration, and law enforcement. Education is no longer a second-tier issue. Three members of the San Francisco Board of Education learned this the hard way when they were recalled by voters in February. The recall effort had been brewing for nearly a year, after the board voted to permanently end a merit-based admissions policy at the elite Lowell High School and instead use a lottery system, all in the name of "equity." Parents were rightfully furious. The board refused to undo the policy, so parents undid the board by ousting three people, including its president. (The upheaval worked: The new board has restored merit-based admissions at Lowell.) When leftist identity politics have gone too far for San Francisco, of all places, it is safe to say that a tidal wave of change is coming. The Biden administration made the same mistake of poking the bear – mama bears and papa bears, to be exact – by proposing a Title IX rule that would codify its gender ideology into law. The rule would force schools to treat students in line with their gender identity, meaning that schools must allow boys in girls’ restrooms and locker rooms, and schools would be forced to intervene if a teacher or student declines to use someone’s preferred name or pronouns. Judging by the sheer volume of comments, a record-breaking 240,000, the Title IX rule is the most controversial rule in Education Department history. A quick perusal of the comments reads like an outcry of sanity against a radical rule. By law, the Department of Education must address the content of each comment it receives. It cannot legally ignore the tidal wave of people standing up for students and families. CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER Despite all this, some activists remain committed to icing out parents at every turn: In New York City just last week, the teachers’ union shut the schoolhouse doors in parents’ faces by announcing that parent-teacher conferences will be virtual only. Parents can request an in-person meeting, but they must be vaccinated and able to attend a meeting during the workday. For many families, this is prohibitive. For all families, it is obnoxious. All of this illustrates that liberals have learned nothing from the reaction to the NSBA letter. The people who refuse to teach also refuse to learn. Perhaps the clearest sign of this is that the Department of Justice never retracted its memo. The NSBA apologized for its letter, but the memo predicated on that letter still stands. This means that concerned parents are still operating under the threat of FBI investigation. The chilling effect the NSBA wanted, and that the Biden administration tried to facilitate, has not happened – to the benefit of our nation’s students and families. One year later, every attempt to silence parents has only made them louder. | | | | | Alliance Defending Freedom to argue Connecticut policy harms girls' sports, is 'clear violation of Title IX' | | Sep 29, 2022 | | Oral arguments are set to begin Thursday in a case involving four female athletes who challenged a Connecticut policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events. Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing track athletes Selina Soule, Alanna Smith, Chelsea Mitchell, and Ashley Nicoletti in Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, said in a press release ahead of arguments that the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s policy resulted in males who identify as female "consistently depriving" the women of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. The group argues, for instance, that the young women were denied medals and/or advancement opportunities. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit on April 25, 2021, but the plaintiffs have appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. "What we're arguing before the court tomorrow at the Second Circuit is that the court should allow this case to move forward, that girls should be able to make their case in court and demonstrate that males coming in and dominating girls' sports is a clear violation of Title IX," ADF Senior Counsel Christiana Kiefer told Fox News Digital. The ACLU is among those defending Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller, two transgender student athletes who have since graduated from Connecticut high schools. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny dismissed the lawsuit in April on procedural grounds, saying in the ruling that there was no dispute to resolve because the two transgender athletes have graduated, and the plaintiffs could not identify other female transgender athletes. ACLU of Connecticut didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. FEMALE ATHLETES, WOMEN'S SPORTS ADVOCATES, SOUND OFF ON BIDEN'S NEW TITLE IX REGULATIONS: ‘180 FOR THE WORST’ "We think everyone is protected under Title IX on the same basis, and that's based on their biological sex," Kiefer continued. "The whole reason that we have women's sports as a separate category is because there are actual physical differences between males and females. Science shows that there's anywhere from a 10 to a 50% performance advantage that males have over their female counterparts. So, if we want a future where girls like my clients, Selina, Chelsea, Alanna can continue to compete to be the best that they can to earn college scholarships, to showcase their talents, then we have to protect the integrity of women's sports." BIDEN PROPOSES NEW RULES TO SOLIDIFY ‘GENDER IDENTITY’ PROTECTIONS IN SCHOOLS UNDER TITLE IX "Males will always have inherent physical advantages over comparably talented and trained girls; Title IX’s whole purpose was to ensure that girls had equal athletic opportunities to compete—and win—in girls’ sports events," ADF Senior Counsel Roger Brooks, who will be arguing before the court on behalf of the female athletes in Thursday's oral arguments said in a press release. "And when our laws and policies fail to recognize the real physical differences between males and females, women and girls bear the brunt of the harm. It’s our hope that the 2nd Circuit will give the young women we represent the right to pursue their case and put women’s sports back on a level playing field." The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference declined to comment ahead of the hearing when Fox News Digital reached out. 'WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,' SAYS CONNECTICUT STUDENT SUING OVER TRANSGENDER POLICY On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a federal civil rights law established in 1972 designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics, in July, President Biden unveiled new draft rules that sparked the fury of many parents for how the new proposals would expand the definition of sex. The proposed regulations would sweep gender identity into the law’s protections, "strengthen[ing] protections for LGBTQIA+ students who face discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity," according to the Department of Education. Should the draft rules become law, Kiefer predicted it would have a "devastating impact" on female athletes. Other female athletes have spoken out against policies they've argued are unfair to women's sports. Notably, former All-American University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines has blasted policies allowing Lia Thomas, a former transgender athlete for the University of Pennsylvania, to compete against her in last year's NCAA tournaments. Gaines competed against Thomas in her senior year at the 200-meter race at the NCAA Championships. After tying with Thomas down to the hundredth of a second, Gaines said Thomas was given the trophy for "photo purposes" while Gaines had to wait for hers to be sent to her in the mail. She suggested the integrity of women's sports was at stake. "I think people forget that women's sports were a protected group," Gaines said on Fox Nation's "Tucker Carlson Today." "The category was made because the playing field was not level by any means when you have them competing against men," Gaines said. "And so obviously it was created to ensure that fairness. And now that we are kind of completely flipping that, it devalues what it was created for." | | | | |
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