While Americans were preparing for Thanksgiving last Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Reserve moved forward with its "Central Bank Digital Currency" program, and that wasn't the only controversial policy that was rolled out while you weren’t watching.

On the radio program, Glenn Beck reviewed the latest financial stories you may have missed over the holiday weekend, including how Biden's pause on student loan payments may be extended again and yet another sketchy Hunter Biden investment.

"You might have missed what happened Wednesday afternoon at the Fed," Glenn began. "They started their CBDC, Central Bank Digital Currency. Yes, the Fedcoin is here. Now they rolled it out on Wednesday — I mean, that was the only day they could do it, you know, because they've been denying that any of this stuff was happening. But they could only get it [launched] when no one was paying attention. So they rolled it out, and it's in its beta test now."

"By the way, India just rolled out its retail pilot program for digital rupees as well. But don't worry," he continued. "Maybe we should start having the conversation of, 'Gosh, this looks like the mark of the beast.' I mean, doesn't it? But surely it's not. Of course not. Not from the U.S. government. They never do anything underhanded or evil. Never."

Watch the video clip below. Can't watch? Download the podcast here.

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New York County Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in hot water following recent reports that he downgraded 52% of felony cases to misdemeanors in 2022 while New Yorkers continue to face surging crime rates, Fox News Digital reported.

According to data from the DA office website, 39% of felony charges were downgraded to misdemeanors in 2019. From 2013 to 2020, under District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., the percentage of downgraded cases never exceeded 40%.

Since taking office in January, Bragg's office has won only 51% of prosecuted felony charges, compared to Vance's 68% in 2019.

Bragg has declined to prosecute 35% more felony cases this year compared to 2019.

The DA's office blamed the impact of COVID and reforms to New York's discovery laws in 2019. Bragg's office also claimed that not every felony charge was correctly classified at the time of the arrests.

In a "Day One" memo to staff on January 3, Bragg instructed prosecutors to reduce felony charges for armed robberies and drug dealing. In addition, the memo stated that the DA's office would no longer prosecute many serious charges that were not also accompanied by a felony count.

"These policy changes not only will, in and of themselves, make us safer; they also will free up prosecutorial resources to focus on violent crime," Bragg claimed.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department's latest crime statistics reported that overall crimes are up 27.6% this year. Compared to the same time last year, felony assaults are up 13.2%, rapes 10.1%, robberies 29.9%, and transit crimes 41.7%. Conversely, murders are down 13.8%, and shootings are down 14.8%.

Jeanine Pirro, a former Westchester County district attorney, slammed Bragg for his low conviction rate. Pirro stated that during her three terms as a Republican DA, her conviction rate was 94.8%.

"That's an office where we take crime seriously. We're passionate about it. ... And 84% of all defendants of those were convicted of the highest count," Pirro said on Fox News' "The Five."

Pirro's co-host Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat and former Tennessee congressman, also blamed Bragg for making Manhattan residents feel unsafe.

"[Democrats] will not enjoy this [voter registration] advantage if we continue to take in the lackadaisical and irresponsible way as we go about talking about these issues," said Ford. "I know Alvin Bragg and I like him personally. I would much rather have him – or for that matter, anyone in that office – sit back after a year and say what's working and what's not working."

A spokesperson for Bragg's office, Danielle Filson, told the New York Post, "The fact is, we have prosecuted 459 more felonies this year compared to last and we have three times as many gun convictions so far this year compared to all of 2019. … We will continue prosecuting violence drivers and prioritizing safety and fairness in every case."

Riots broke out on Sunday in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union, and spread to other European cities after Morocco's 2-0 victory over the Belgian soccer team in the World Cup.

Celebrating with mayhem

The World Cup is presently under way in Doha, Qatar. On Sunday, Morocco beat Belgium, which was ranked second in the world after Brazil and had won the previous seven games.

According to the Associated Press, this was Morocco's first win at a World Cup in 24 years and its third win ever. The north African team will go onto play against Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium.

To celebrate the victory, some of the estimated 500,000 Moroccans who live in Belgium and other bad actors reportedly took to the streets, setting fires, overturning cars, looting shops, assaulting police, and attacking police stations.

Police indicated that the "rioters used pyrotechnic material, projectiles, sticks, and set fire on the public highway" and noted that a journalist had been "injured in the face by fireworks."

Bus shelters and traffic lights were also torn down.

East of Brussels, in the city of Liege, around 50 rioters reportedly attacked a police station, bashing in windows and destroying police vehicles.

To prevent the destructive merrymaking from spreading, select public transit stations in Brussels were shut down.

Videos documenting the mayhem have since circulated online, showing vehicles transformed into infernos:

\u201cThe center of Brussels is on fire after the match. \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea\u201d

— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin Akouh) 1669565362

Cars were overturned and smashed:

\u201cBruxelles.\u201d

— AhmedMONE9\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 (@AhmedMONE9\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9) 1669560816

Incendiary devices were set off in crowded areas:

\u201cThe riots by Moroccan fans have spread from Brussels to Amsterdam tonight.\n\nMorocco won against Belgium 2-0 at the World Cup a few hours ago. \n\n\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 \nhttps://t.co/h4Z3JhHX7h\u201d

— Visegr\u00e1d 24 (@Visegr\u00e1d 24) 1669575615

The New York Times reported that police in Brussels attempted to restore order and disperse the mob using tear gas and water cannons.

In another video shared by reporter Yasin Akouh, rioters can be seen fleeing police as water cannons deluge the street:

\u201c#Brussels\u201d

— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin Akouh) 1669566606

The water cannons appear to have served a dual function, both chasing out the mob and snuffing out fires the rioters left in their wake:

\u201c\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea - \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6\u201d

— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin Akouh) 1669561988

The mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, voiced his condemnation of the riots online, warning soccer fans "not to come to the center," as police, in an effort to "maintain public order," were asked to make arrests.

The International Business Times reported that 11 people were ultimately arrested.

As for the rioters, Close stated, "Those are not fans, they are rioters. Moroccan fans are there to celebrate."

Police spokesman Ilse Van de Keere indicated that "around 7 p.m. calm returned and preventive patrols remain in place in the sectors concerned."

Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said, "Sad to see how a few individuals abuse a situation to run amok."

Not limited to Belgium

Moroccan riots broke out throughout the Netherlands, hitting Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and the Hague.

\u201c@maartenbrink Een elektrische deelauto wordt in de fik gestoken in Amsterdam. Maar ook in Brussel, Den Haag, Rotterdam en Utrecht, wordt op traditioneel Marokkaanse wijze #feest #gevierd door het in de fik steken van auto\u2019s en andere soorten van #vernielingen\u2026\u201d

— Maarten Brink (@Maarten Brink) 1669570989

ABC News noted that in Rotterdam, a mob of nearly 500 rioters attacked police with fireworks and glass.

\u201c#BREAKING: Riots and unrest in the dutch cities of Rotterdam, Hague and Amsterdam following Morocco's world cup win against Belgium\u201d

— Amichai Stein (@Amichai Stein) 1669574399

These soccer-related Moroccan riots were not unprecedented.

The BBC reported that in 2017, rioters celebrating Morocco's qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup injured over 20 Belgian police officers and also attacked police in the Netherlands.

\u201cRiot squad in #Brussels !\u201d

— Bekah Molony (@Bekah Molony) 1510433290

As in this most recent incident, rioters then had looted, burned at least one car, and damaged property throughout Brussels.

A man who was caught on video using a crutch to beat a 12-year-old boy on a Brooklyn street earlier this month has 23 prior arrests on his record — including one for attempted murder, sources told the New York Daily News.

What are the details?

According to WPIX-TV, the boy was headed to school on Caton Avenue around 7:40 a.m. Nov. 17 when a man came up from behind and struck him several times with the crutch while the boy was in a crosswalk.

Image source: WPIX-TV video screenshot

Before the attack, the man picked up a crutch from a garbage can, police told WPIX.

Image source: WPIX-TV video screenshot

Jamal McIlwain, 28, was arrested Wednesday after a 911 call about a man acting erratically outside an unspecified high school, the Daily News said.

When police arrived at the scene, the man spit on an officer, police added to the paper, and officers recognized him as the man wanted for the crutch assault.

Police said McIlwain was charged with two counts of assault, acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17, and menacing in connection with the attack on the boy, WPIX said.

Lengthy criminal history

The Daily News, citing sources, said McIlwain has been arrested on 23 prior occasions, including for attempted murder in connection with an incident in which he fired a gun at an individual.

McIlwain served almost two years at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Westchester County for attempted assault, the paper said, citing Department of Correction records, adding that he was released in November 2018.

Erratic in court

McIlwain behaved erratically in court Friday, noting that he works for "NCIS" — presumably the TV drama — and got a warning from the judge, the Daily News said in a separate story.

“I think it’s pretty clear based on my client’s outburst in court … that he does have mental health issues,” said defense lawyer Jonathan Fink, who also requested that McIlwain receive a psychiatric evaluation, the paper said.

Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Christian Calderon requested that McIlwain's bail be set at $75,000 cash, the Daily News said, adding that the judge ordered him held without bail and requested the psychiatric evaluation.

What did the victim have to say?

WPIX spoke on camera to the 12-year-old victim of the attack, although the boy's face wasn't shown during the interview.

“It’s weird how he ran across the street just to hit me,” he told the station.

Image source: WPIX-TV video screenshot

He added to WPIX that when the man "hit me, it took me a few seconds to process what was going on. I tried to block it with this arm and ran."

The boy was treated at an urgent care facility for a deep cut, the station said.

“I’m feeling better than a few days ago when I got hit; the eye used to be swollen very much,” he noted to WPIX. “I didn’t do anything to him, so how come he has a grudge against me?”

Typically, when we watch human rights violations across the globe from the comfort of our American homes, we are overcome with a sense of relief that we live in freedom. However, as we ominously watch the protests over lockdowns in China, let’s not forget that a large degree of this particular tyranny was implemented in America for months and that there is nothing in place to stop it from happening again. In fact, what starts in China clearly gets imported to the United States, because our elite overlords are impressed rather than horrified with the behavior of the CCP.

If the response from our government officials, celebrities, and media to the repression taking place in China appears to be muted, it’s likely because these same people had no problem with implementing some of these very policies in the supposed land of the free. In fact, according to revelations from Dr. Fauci himself during a seven-hour deposition with Missouri and Louisiana Attorneys General Eric Schmitt and Jeff Landry, Fauci himself imported the idea of inhumane lockdowns because officials were so impressed with China.

Thanks to a federal judge’s order in a lawsuit in which these two AGs are suing the Biden administration for collaborating with social media to censor opposition to the regime’s COVID policies, Fauci was forced to answer questions during a deposition with the attorneys for the censored plaintiffs last week. One of the plaintiffs, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, released key details from Fauci’s testimony. Fauci supposedly divulged that he dispatched his deputy at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Clifford Lane, to China in Feb. 2020. They were so impressed with China’s “success” that they decided to emulate the policy in the West.

“Dr. Lane was very impressed about how, from a clinical public health standpoint, the Chinese were handling the isolation, the contact tracing, the building of facilities to take care of people, and that’s what I believed he meant when he said [they] were managing this in a very structured, organized way,” said Fauci in response to a question from one of the lawyers.

So, what was the lesson he took from Dr. Lane in applying China’s policy to the West? “I believe Dr. Lane came to the conclusion that when you have a widespread respiratory disease that a very common and effective way to curtail the rapid spread of the disease is by implementing social distancing measures. … Dr. Lane is a very astute clinician, and I have every reason to believe that his evaluation of the situation was accurate and correct.”

There you have it. Not only weren’t they horrified by Chinese authorities welding people into their homes and tracking every move of every citizen, they found it to be “effective” and “very structured.” Yeah, presumably the Nazi concentration camps were quite structured and organized too.

\u201cUnreal footage shows CCP forces welding shut an exit to an apartment building during zero-COVID lockdowns\u2014 trapping desperate people inside.\n\nThis was supposed to be our ruling class\u2019 \u201cmodel?\u201d\n\n\u201d

— Benny Johnson (@Benny Johnson) 1669644503

In other words, our political elites still find nothing fundamentally wrong with what China did and have not repudiated the actions they mimicked here. We must remember that although people weren’t welded into their homes, the stay-at-home orders, masks, massive surveillance, use of AI, transhumanism, and biomedical tyranny were all made in China. And unlike everything else made there, these appear to have staying power.

Rather than engaging in an arms race with the Chinese to see who can excel more at tyranny, we need to destroy the tyranny and plow the salt of freedom into it forever.

Ironically, masks are still being shoved on rape and trauma victims or on the elderly and seriously ill in health care settings, masks made by slave labor in China. AG Schmitt reports that Fauci clearly knew that masks don’t work but promoted them anyway:

\u201cAnother tidbit from Fauci depo: In Feb \u201820 he emailed a friend advising her masks were ineffective. Confirmed again on Mar 31. On Apr 3 he\u2019s adamant masks should be worn even though he couldn\u2019t cite a single study to prove it. Mandates followed\u2014Lives ruined\n\nCOVID tyranny is born\u201d

— Eric Schmitt (@Eric Schmitt) 1669392317

Remember people like hair salon owner Shelly Luther being jailed in Texas (of all places) for opening her business? To this day, Gov. Greg Abbott has still not apologized for his COVID policies. We still have Texas doctors being punished for not having worn masks during Abbott’s mask orders. We still have universities, law schools, and medical schools in red states pushing these illogical, inhumane, immoral, and disproven mandates on the human body.

In another rich irony, the Chinese protesters were chanting “we don’t want testing, we want freedom,” yet in the U.S. we still have these mandates for many. They are on our own military.

\u201cHundreds of protesters in Beijing march with blank paper as part of the White Paper Revolution \n\nThey are chanting "We don't want testing, we want freedom"\u201d

— Jack Posobiec \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jack Posobiec \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1669644593

In other words, we have still not inoculated ourselves against this sort of tyranny at home. Republicans barely even mentioned it during either the 2020 or 2022 elections. One would think House Republicans would make their “HR1” legislation all about banning emergency powers, the Prep Act, lockdowns, masks, and vaccine mandates. Yet we barely hear a peep from them. Indeed, as Chinese citizens risk their lives to protest the CCP, we still have not rid ourselves of our own Chinese demons in the supposed land of the free and the home of the brave.

One of the government's first non-binary officials has been charged with stealing a woman's designer suitcase from the baggage claim at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in September, the New York Post reported.

Sam Brinton, the deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition at the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, initially denied taking the Vera Bradley luggage, reportedly worth $2,325, according to court filings.

"If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don't have any clothes for another individual," Brinton initially told police officers. "That was my clothes when I opened the bag."

According to the court documents, two hours after the call with authorities, Brinton called back and confessed to not being "completely honest." The non-binary official admitted to accidentally taking the designer suitcase from the baggage claim carousel due to exhaustion.

Court filings stated that Brinton realized the luggage belonged to someone else when opening the suitcase at the hotel later that day. Brinton reportedly became "nervous people would think they stole the bag and did not know what to do."

The complaint stated that Brinton was captured on the airport's surveillance camera on September 16 taking "a navy blue hard-sided roller bag" from the baggage carousel. Brinton then "removed the blue bag's tag and put the bag tag in the handbag they were carrying" and "left the area at a quick pace," the court filings added.

Investigators reported that Brinton was also captured on camera on September 18 and October 9, traveling to Washington, D.C., with the stolen bag.

According to the criminal complaint, Brinton began working at the DOE in June but was placed on leave following the theft accusations.

Earlier this month, another official was designated as the temporary replacement, the Exchange Monitor reported.

"Sam Brinton is on leave from DOE, and Dr. Kim Petry is performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition," a DOE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Brinton is being charged with felony theft of a movable property without consent and, if convicted, faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Brinton's hearing is scheduled for December 19.

Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin (D) died Monday after a battle with colorectal cancer. He was 61 years old.

McEachin's passing came less than three weeks after he won reelection to serve his fourth term in Congress representing the commonwealth's 4th Congressional District.

"We are all devastated at the passing of our boss and friend, Congressman Donald McEachin," said McEachin's chief of staff, Tara Rountree. "Valiantly, for years now, we have watched him fight and triumph over the secondary effects of his colorectal cancer from 2013. Tonight, he lost that battle, and the people of Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District lost a hero who always, always fought for them and put them first."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mourned McEachin's death in a statement that celebrated his passion for the environment.

"Congressman McEachin understood that every family — whether in the East End of Richmond or any community across America — deserves clean air, clean water and a healthy planet," she said. "He will be deeply missed by his colleagues, and he leaves behind a legacy that will improve the lives of all of our children for generations to come."

What happens to his seat?

Rountree said McEachin's office will remain open to serve his constituents until his replacement is elected.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) — who described McEachin as a "valiant fighter" who "admirably served Virginia & worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents & Americans" — will be responsible for setting the date for a special election to fill the now-empty seat.

The winner of that special election is likely to be a Democrat.

Virginia's 4th Congressional District, which includes Richmond, was represented by Republican Randy Forbes for eight consecutive terms. But after court-ordered redistricting transformed the district into a Democratic stronghold, McEachin has easily won election since.

With the exception of the 2016 election, McEachin has won election by 20 points or more. This year, he won by 30 points.

McEachin was survived by his wife, Colette, and his three children.

Ye (Kanye West) sat down with Tim Pool to discuss his recent controversies. Instead of a discussion, Ye got upset and walked out. Crowder has the latest on why he did it. Also, both Apple and the White House hate free speech and want to take down Elon Musk. And what's with the rail strike? That and more on today's episode of "Louder with Crowder."

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Nina Jankowicz was President Joe Biden's controversial pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board for the entirety of its three-week existence. Undaunted in her desire to become a state-funded arbiter of truth, the 33-year-old self-described "Mary Poppins of disinformation" is now registered as a foreign agent so that she can combat undesirable speech abroad.

What are the disinformation-free details?

Jankowicz, who previously suggested the Hunter Biden laptop story was part of a Russian disinformation campaign, announced on Sept. 23 that she would be working with an organization allegedly "dedicated to protecting democracy, peace, and truth."

\u201cBack from maternity leave and thrilled to be working with an organization that is dedicated to protecting democracy, peace, and truth.\u00a0\n\nI will be focusing on building CIR\u2019s portfolio countering gendered disinfo and supporting CIR\u2019s ongoing work responding to foreign influence.\u201d

— Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1663939591

That organization, the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), is a U.K.-based nonprofit founded by British citizen Adam Rutland and U.K.-U.S. national Ross Burley, which claims to focus on "countering disinformation & exposing human rights abuses."

The CIR is financed in part by grants from the U.K. government, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

According to foreign agent registration documents dated Nov. 17, in this new role Jankowicz "supervises research, executes business strategy, oversees the establishment of CIR's research, communicates with the media, and briefs individuals and officials on CIR's research."

The registration documents also indicated that Jankowicz will receive £450 for 12 months and be expected to act as an ambassador for the foreign organization "on the Hill, within the Federal Government, media, among tech companies / Silicon Valley, on "K Street", and among potential philanthropic organisations."

\u201cNINA JANKOWICZ registers as a foreign agent for the U.K.'s Centre for Information Resilience, which tracks disinfo. \n\nShe'll serve as their "ambassador" to American policy makers and a media representative. https://t.co/1KrG5KrKUy\u201d

— Chuck Ross (@Chuck Ross) 1669216330

Managing disinformation overseas

The CIR suggested on Twitter that Jankowicz would lead the CIR's efforts in countering "hostile state efforts to distort the information space" and that she would be launching the Hypatia Project.

Citing claims that Vice President Kamala Harris "slept her way to the top" as an example of "online abuse and lies," Jankowicz's London-based Hypatia Project will target so-called gendered disinformation, defined as a "subset of online gendered abuse that uses false or misleading gender and sex-based narratives against women, often with some degree of coordination, aimed at deterring women from participating in the public sphere."

While various politicians and female leaders are referenced on the project's site as examples of female women who have faced swatting attacks, online abuse, or denigration by fellow politicians, not one American conservative or Republican is named.

The Hypatia Project will "advocate for private and public sector policy solutions to make the internet ... safer and more civil for everyone" and "document the relationship between gendered disinformation and coordinated hostile state activity online."

Managing disinformation at home

Jankowicz, an advocate for de-platforming former President Donald Trump, was previously executive director of the DHS' Disinformation Governance Board, which was announced on April 27. She did not last long in the role.

\u201cCat's out of the bag: here's what I've been up to the past two months, and why I've been a bit quiet on here.\n\nHonored to be serving in the Biden Administration @DHSgov and helping shape our counter-disinformation efforts. \n\nhttps://t.co/uN20vl7qqV\u201d

— Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1651058235

The board was "paused" three weeks later, culminating in its demise and with Jankowicz's resignation on May 18.

The board had been likened to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984" and faced significant opposition.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) tweeted, "The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of Truth. The Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board" is unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill to defund it."

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) called Jankowicz a "political hack" and tweeted that the board was "seriously dangerous and wholly unconstitutional."

\u201cBiden's dystopian Disinformation Governance Board is seriously dangerous and wholly unconstitutional.\n\nI'm demanding Congress investigate DHS' Ministry of Truth\u2014NOW.\u201d

— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep. Andrew Clyde) 1651156805

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) similarly denounced the board, tweeting, "The Biden administration just took one more step towards Communism. DHS’ 'Ministry of Truth' is a crackdown on our Constitutional right to Free Speech."

An opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal pointed out that in "a twist too implausible for fiction, the abbreviation [for the board] is DGB, one letter off from KGB. ... The incentives are clear. Truth experts at the DGB will proclaim grave threats around every turn even when any 'threats' are minor to nonexistent."

Taylor Lorenz, writing for the Washington Post, suggested that the widespread concern over the disinformation board's potential for abuse was itself a "textbook disinformation campaign."

Although arguing that the board was not intended to police speech, Lorenz quoted a Hill staffer who said, "Nina's role was to come up with strategies for the department to counter this type of campaign" — to counter criticism of the government.

Jankowicz, denied the opportunity to seek out such "threats" with the DGB, said in a statement obtained by Insider, "With the Board's work paused and its future uncertain, and [sic] I have decided to leave DHS to return to my work in the public sphere. ... It is deeply disappointing that mischaracterizations of the Board became a distraction from the Department's vital work."

Given Jankowicz's registration as a foreign agent and new role, it would appear "Marry Poppins" is back in London.

\u201cYou can just call me the Mary Poppins of disinformation \ud83d\udc81\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d

— Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Nina Jankowicz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1613597750

On "The News & Why It Matters," BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales, along with Grant Stinchfieldand Zuby Udezue, discussed a disturbing piece in the Washington Post that seemingly attempts to "normalize pedophilia."

Through his glowing review of the "scintillating new play, 'Downstate,'" Washington Post critic Peter Marks appears to advocate more compassionate treatment of sexual predators, whom he describes as "four men of diverse age and backgrounds ek[ing] out marginal existences in menial jobs and managed routines. The house is like an island whose shores are washed with waves of contempt. Any protest or request is treated by their harried caseworker ... as that of a passenger in steerage daring to ask for a clean blanket."

"Take a deep breath and try to ruminate calmly on the position playwright Bruce Norris takes in his scintillating new play, 'Downstate': that the punishments inflicted on some pedophiles are so harsh and unrelenting as to be inhumane," Marks wrote.

"Are you still reading? It’s almost impossible to broad-brush the perspective at the heart of this impeccably acted drama without sounding as if one is advocating some extraordinary level of consideration for individuals who have committed unspeakable crimes. And yet Norris proposes a variation on this proposition at off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons: He is questioning what degree of compassion should society fairly hold out to those who have served their time for sexual abuse, assault, or rape."

Marks goes on to argue that Norris "loaded the dice to some degree ... as the predators who’ve completed their prison terms are depicted not as monsters but rather as complicated, troubled souls."

"There’s no sweeping under the threadbare rug in 'Downstate' of the heinous offenses for which the men have been severely punished. We learn about what each of them has done, and we are in effect asked to judge for ourselves what magnitude of ongoing torment each deserves. It develops here as an agonizing moral question, one that our retributive correctional culture would rather not have to debate."

Sara, Grant, and Zuby agreed that the Washington Post piece is just the latest in a "greater agenda" to "normalize pedophilia," a topic that recently made headlines amid fashion company Balenciaga's disturbing recent ad campaign featuring pictures of children holding "bondage" teddy bears and the text of a Supreme Court case regarding child pornography.

Watch the video clip below or find full episodes of "The News & Why It Matters" here. Can't watch? Download the podcast here.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) says that he wants President Joe Biden to run for reelection in 2024. "He not only beat Trump once, I think he can beat him again," Newsom said, according to Politico. "I hope he runs, I'll enthusiastically support him." But even if Biden does not run, the Democratic governor indicated that he will not pursue the presidency during the 2024 election cycle. "The answer is no," the governor said.

The outlet reported that Newsom wants it to be known that he will not challenge Biden. "I've told everyone in the White House, from the chief of staff to the first lady," he said. "I'm all in, count me in," Newsom said he had conveyed to them.

Newsom, who survived a recall election last year, won his reelection bid during the Golden State's 2022 gubernatorial contest.

Politico reported that the governor wants to do more traveling and bring his message to places like Florida, where he noted that he will contrast his record on COVID-19, crime, and how he defines "freedom" to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Earlier this year, Newsom ran an ad in Florida, claiming that freedom is under assault in the Sunshine State, but Floridians apparently disagreed because they reelected incumbent GOP Gov. DeSantis during the 2022 election.

"I'm willing to take risks, I'm willing to get out and I’m telling you with certainty that I look forward to getting out more not with any grand ambition except to push back on this narrative and try to reframe this debate and get back on offense on freedom," Newsom said, according to Politico.

Newsom noted that he would like Biden to announce a reelection bid in early 2023 and to then "let me go."

"It allows me to have his back and to get out there and to make the point I made to the White House, I've been making to my party: use us, use us!" Newsom said, referring to mayors and governors, according to Politico.

Iranian authorities reportedly threatened torture and death against the families of soccer players if they misbehaved by protesting at the World Cup games.

The CNN report said members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps held a meeting with the national soccer players after they stood in silence during the performance of their national anthem at their first World Cup game against England.

The report was based on a source involved with the security of the games.

The source said the players were told by the IRGC members that their families could be tortured or executed if they refused to sing the anthem again or if they participated in other protests against the Iranian regime.

Iran has been rocked with protests across the nation after a young woman died in police custody after being detained for violating the country's religious restrictions related to women's clothing. Iranian women have protested against the government by refusing to wear the hijab, a religious headdress, in public and cutting their hair, both violations of the dress code.

The government has responded with a brutal crackdown on the demonstrations. Human rights groups estimate that more than 16,000 protesters have been arrested. The Iranian parliament voted overwhelmingly to recommend the death sentence for protesters.

The CNN source said that the IRGC is surveilling their country's soccer players to make sure they don't interact with foreigners at the games.

“There are a large number of Iranian security officers in Qatar collecting information and monitoring the players,” the source told CNN.

The international soccer tournament has been plagued with controversy since it was held in Qatar, a Muslim country. The government has banned alcohol at games, causing many fans to chant in protest during the contests.

The Iranian players sang their national anthem as usual during their second World Cup game against Wales. Their next game will be against the U.S. team on Tuesday.

Here's more about the Iranian soccer threat:

Iran threatened families of the national soccer team, security source reveals www.youtube.com

The World Health Organization is suggesting use of the term "mpox" rather than "monkeypox," citing "racist and stigmatizing language" as the rationale for recommending the language shift.

"Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term 'mpox' as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while 'monkeypox' is phased out," the WHO noted in a press release. "When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO. In several meetings, public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way forward to change the name."

"WHO will adopt the term mpox in its communications, and encourages others to follow these recommendations, to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name and from adoption of the new name," the release noted.

\u201cWhen the outbreak of #mpox (#monkeypox) expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language was observed and reported to WHO.\nSome countries and individuals asked WHO to propose a way forward to address this https://t.co/VT9DAdYrGY\u201d

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@World Health Organization (WHO)) 1669649960

Except in nations located in West and Central Africa, the illness has largely been impacting men who engage in homosexual activity, according to the WHO.

"With the exception of countries in West and Central Africa, the ongoing outbreak of monkeypox continues to primarily affect men who have sex with men who have reported recent sex with one or multiple partners. At present there is no signal suggesting sustained transmission beyond these networks," the WHO noted.

The WHO is a United Nations agency, and the U.N. has claimed that "words can be weapons. Hate speech online can lead to cruelty & violence in real life."

"Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health," according to the WHO.

\u201cWords can be weapons. \n\nHate speech online can lead to cruelty & violence in real life. \n\nGet tips for how you can say #NoToHate: https://t.co/LiLrhbvu01\u201d

— United Nations (@United Nations) 1669579260

Kim Kardashian released a statement detailing her disgust and outrage about the controversy over bizarre marketing campaigns from the Balenciaga global fashion brand.

Social media users excoriated the company after finding advertisements showing young children holding stuffed animals with bondage paraphernalia. The images also included documents related to a U.S. Supreme Court decision related to a a federal child pornography law.

It took Kardashian, who has a professional partnership with Balenciaga, about a week to release a statement about the disturbing campaign.

"I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened," Kardashian tweeted Sunday.

She went to say she was "shaken" by the disturbing images as a mother of four children.

"The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period," she added.

Kardashian said she appreciated the company removing the campaigns and apologizing for them and added that the company told her it would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

"As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children," she concluded.

The ritzy fashion company issued a short apology about the incident.

"We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bag should have been featured with children in this campaign," the company said.

It also filed a lawsuit claiming $25 million in damages against production company North Six and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins over the controversy.

The photographer said he had received hate messages and threats over the ads but claimed that he had no control over what subjects were photographers or any control over the set.

As usual for a commercial shooting, the direction of the campaign and the choice of the objects displayed are not in the hands of the photographer,” said Gabriele Galimberti.

Here's more about the Balenciaga controversy:

Balenciaga pulls controversial ad www.youtube.com

The United Nations caught flak on social media for claiming that "words can be weapons."

"Words can be weapons. Hate speech online can lead to cruelty & violence in real life. Get tips for how you can say #NoToHate," the U.N. tweeted, linking to a page on its website that discusses the topic of so-called "hate speech."

"I wish we'd defund you," conservative radio host Dana Loesch tweeted in response to the U.N.'s post.

"No they can't. Just stop. You have member nations engaged in slavery & mass murder. How about you get some priorities?" PJ Media columnist Stacey Lennox tweeted.

"No they are not. The UN is useless, corrupt, hypocritical and should be disbanded and forcibly removed from United States soil," someone else tweeted.

"I can't think of a more dangerous message than this one. There is a concerted effort to make the public fear free speech. This is authoritarianism," another person commented.

\u201cI can\u2019t think of a more dangerous message than this one. There is a concerted effort to make the public fear free speech. This is authoritarianism.\u201d

— Laura Powell (@Laura Powell) 1669619595

The U.N.'s tweet linked to a webpage with suggestions about how people should react when they encounter "hate speech."

"Hate speech occurs in all societies, whether offline or online. It can sometimes be hard to assess when a comment is meant as hate speech – especially when expressed in the virtual world. It can also feel overwhelming to try to deal with obviously hateful content," the page states. "However, there are many ways you can take a stand, even if you are not personally the victim of hate speech. And you can make a difference."

"To detect false and biased information, including hate speech propaganda, be sure to check the content's origin with the help of search engines, fact-checking tools and other reliable sources," the U.N. suggested.

"One way to tackle hate speech is to spread your own counter-speech to make sure hate is not the dominant narrative. You can undermine hateful content with positive messages that spread tolerance, equality and truth in defense of those being targeted by hate," the page states. "Taking a public stand for, and extending solidarity to, people who are the targets of hate speech demonstrates that rejecting hate is the responsibility of every individual."

The White House had to issue another correction after President Joe Biden told reporters that he was seeking to ban all semi-automatic weapons.

Biden made the comments while speaking to reporters at a stop in a fire station in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving.

"The idea we still allow semiautomatic weapons to be purchased is sick. It’s just sick. It has no, no social redeeming values," said Biden.

"Zero. None. Not a single, solitary rationale for it except profit for the gun manufacturer," he added.

The comments inspired a wave of backlash from critics who decried what would be a massive and unprecedented infringement on the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a clarification walking back Biden's comments after reporter Philip Wegmann asked if he made a mistake.

"No, he was, he was talking about assault weapons," she explained. "That's what he was talking on that, on that morning or that afternoon when he was asked that question."

The latest incident of the White House mopping up after a controversial Biden statement only gave more credence to questions about his mental competency to continue in the Oval Office. The Democrats' relatively good performance in the midterm elections likely means that Biden will easily garner the presidential nomination for a reelection campaign in 2024.

Democrats were unable to pass a ban on assault weapons in the last term when they had a slim lead in the Senate, but the task will be almost impossible since Republicans were able to seize control of the House in the midterm elections.

Biden acknowledged the difficulty of passing any new gun restrictions in his Thanksgiving statement.

"I’m going to try. I’m going to try to get rid of assault weapons," said Biden at the time.

Here's more about Biden's latest fun gaffe:

Biden calls for assault weapons ban before new congressional session www.youtube.com

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk excoriated Apple after revealing that the company had threatened to strip Twitter from the Apple store and that it stopped advertising on Twitter.

Musk made the accusations on Monday through his official social media account.

\u201cApple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?\u201d

— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1669657531

"Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?" his tweet read.

Musk posted a poll asking his followers if Apple should "publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers," which garnered an overwhelmingly positive reaction. He went on to explain in further tweets that Apple had also threatened to pull the Twitter application from the Apple store.

"Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why," he added.

Apple's stock dropped by 2.63% by the close of trading Monday, partly because of the criticism from Musk and over civil unrest at manufacturing plants in China where the iPhone is produced.

Musk has previously blamed advertisers fleeing Twitter on pressure they received from activist groups who were upset that he had purchased the platform and promised to allow more free speech.

"Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue due to activist groups pressuring advertisers, even though nothing has changed with content moderation, and we did everything we could to appease the activists," Musk wrote. "Extremely messed up! They're trying to destroy free speech in America."

General Motors, General Mills, Pfizer, and Volkswagen were among the companies that paused their advertising campaigns on Twitter soon after Musk acquired the company in a $44 billion deal.

Some on social media responded to the revelation from Musk by calling on people to boycott Apple and trash all their Apple devices if they removed Twitter from their online store.

Others pointed out that Musk was criticizing the company that was reportedly the top ad revenue source for Twitter.

Here's more about the Musk-Apple feud:

Musk Says Apple Might Block Twitter in App Store www.youtube.com

BlazeTV host Chad Prather reacts to a TikTok video of a transgender male who appears to be in the throws of an emotional breakdown because they feel more people should stand up for them when their peers misgender them. Also, Vice President Kamala Harris has a turkey recipe she wants to share with you, and her delivery is what you'd expect. And Elon found a closet full of #StayWoke T-shirts on Twitter.

Video's below.

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CNN scolded Elon Musk for tweeting a satirical post mocking the media outlet.

Musk shared an image that features CNN's Don Lemon, a picture of Musk, and a chyron that reads, "ELON MUSK COULD THREATEN FREE SPEECH ON TWITTER BY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEAK FREELY." A headline similarly reads, "CNN: Elon Musk could threaten free speech on Twitter by literally allowing people to speak freely."

"This headline never appeared on CNN. Be better," the CNN Communications Twitter account replied.

"Lmaoooo," Musk responded.

\u201c@elonmusk This headline never appeared on CNN. Be better.\u201d

— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1669630162

Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that the image was from Genesius Times, a satire site. A note appended to Musk's tweet links to the AP piece. "@CommunityNotes FTW!" Musk wrote in a reply to his tweet, using an abbreviation that means "for the win."

"It's a fabricated image and not an actual report from CNN," Emily Kuhn, senior director of communications at CNN Digital Worldwide, told the AP via email.

Musk has indicated that he wants Twitter to be a forum for free speech. Since taking over the social media company, he has already reinstated some previously suspended accounts, including the account of former President Donald Trump.

Musk has indicated that he there will be a mass amnesty for suspended accounts. "Currently suspended accounts will be enabled slowly next week after manual review to determine whether they have potentially broken the law or engaged in spam. Twitter will be a forum for the peaceful exchange of views," Musk tweeted on Friday. The business tycoon had run a Twitter poll on the proposal, and a majority of the votes supported the idea of granting amnesty to accounts that had not violated the law or perpetrated "egregious spam."

\u201cThe people have spoken.\n\nAmnesty begins next week.\n\nVox Populi, Vox Dei.\u201d

— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1669225589

Musk tweeted on Monday that, "Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won't tell us why."

Last week, Musk indicated that if Apple and Google were to ban Twitter from their app stores, he would create "an alternative phone."

"If Apple & Google boot Twitter from their app stores, @elonmusk should produce his own smartphone," conservative commentator Liz Wheeler tweeted.

"I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone," Musk replied.

\u201c@Liz_Wheeler I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone\u201d

— Liz Wheeler (@Liz Wheeler) 1669404144

A Florida man who murdered a couple six years ago will not serve any jail time after a judge accepted his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

On Monday, Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer accepted that Austin Harrouff, 25, was not guilty by reason of insanity for the vicious 2016 slaying of John Stevens III, 59, and his wife, Michelle Mishcon Stevens, 53. According to reports, Harrouff, who was then 19, wore almost no clothing when he broke into the couple's garage and murdered them. At some point during the crime, Harrouff even gnawed on John Stevens' face.

There is no known connection between Harrouff and the couple, and investigators believe Harrouff attacked them at random.

Michelle Mishcon Stevens and her husband, John StevensScreen shot of WPBF-TV YouTube video

To avoid a lengthy jury trial, prosecutors and defense teams got together and agreed to allow Bauer to determine whether Harrouff met the legal threshold for insanity at the time of incident. Though all Florida defendants are presumed sane unless "clear and convincing" evidence suggests otherwise, Bauer ultimately determined that Harrouff was legally insane when he committed the offenses.

According to Fox News, two mental health experts, one hired by the state and one hired by the defense, agreed that Harrouff experienced "an acute psychotic episode" that day back in 2016. Dr. Phillip Resnick explained in a mental health report released by the Martin County State Attorney's Office in 2019 that Harrouff believed during the attack that he was "half-dog, half-man."

Other reports indicate that Harrouff believed during the attack that a demon was chasing him.

For the attacks against Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, Harrouff had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery while armed. He was also charged with attempted first-degree murder with a weapon for stabbing Jeffrey Fisher, a neighbor who had come over to assist the Stevens after they had been attacked. Fisher is said to be recovering from his injuries.

If the case had gone to trial, Harrouff would have faced life in prison, if convicted. On Monday, Bauer told the court that Harrouff would be committed to a secure mental health facility until doctors and a judge determined that he no longer posed a safety risk to the community.

"It’s a sad case, it’s an awful case. Nobody is losing sight – I tell you, I know I’m not – of the deaths and injuries that were sustained in this case," Bauer stated. "But when it all gets said and done, the state and the defense have made the determination that mental intent was not formulated. It wasn’t there, and therefore, the defendant is technically not guilty by reason of insanity."

Despite the fact that the judge ruled to commit Harrouff to a secure facility and that attorneys for the state and the defense agreed to the outcome, many of the victims' family members expressed their outrage at the hearing.

"Is it really so hard for you to understand that you are a cold-blooded murderer and not a victim?" one woman asked Harrouff rhetorically.

During her victim statement, Cindy Mishcon, the sister of Michelle Mishcon Stevens, claimed that Harrouff doesn't care about anyone but himself and that Harrouff's family cares only about "the Harrouff name."

Mishcon also claimed to have pored over various court records and determined that Harrouff, a former Florida State University student, spent much of his time abusing drugs, including alcohol and marijuana. Investigators did find that Harrouff had purchased hallucinogenic mushrooms in the days prior to the incident, but did not find any of the mushrooms in his system the day of the attack.

"I hate what you did," Mishcon added, casting blame on Harrouff and his parents alike. "I really think you deserve to die, Austin."

Harrouff's parents alleged that their son had been having problems in the weeks and months leading up to the attack. They had scheduled for him to receive an evaluation, but the murders occurred before it could take place.

University of Miami law professor Craig Trocino told Fox News that Harrouff's mental health facility confinement would likely amount to a life sentence since, in his opinion, "it’s highly unlikely" a judge would ever release a violent killer.