Michael Todd, the leader of a Tulsa megachurch, sparked intense backlash after a viral clip showed him smearing spit on a person's face during a sermon illustration on Sunday.

Todd, who leads Transformation Church, literally hawked a loogie into his hand and rubbed it on a man's face. The point of the illustration, Todd claimed, was that "receiving a vision from God might get nasty."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

When Todd hawked the loogie into his hand — twice — the audience gasped and jeered. However, the reaction failed to deter Todd. In fact, he seemingly mocked the disgusting act.

"Many of you are so bothered, like literally some of y'all can't even look ... but this is what it will feel like," Todd said, later adding, "The thing about the blind man, the thing about us, if we want to see clearly, we have to allow Jesus to do it."

Todd was allegedly demonstrating his understanding of Mark 8:22-26, a story in which Jesus spit toward the eyes of a blind man, who later gained his sight.

However, the point of that story in the Gospel of Mark is not receiving nasty visions or getting outside your comfort zone, the preceding point of Todd's sermon.

In actuality, Mark 8:22-10:52 is framed by two stories of Jesus healing blind men to further emphasize a key motif in Mark's gospel: the marginalized (such as blind people) and outsiders are those who "see" and "hear," whereas those who should see and hear the truth about Jesus, like his disciples, increasingly misunderstand Jesus and become confused about the implications of his identity.

What was the reaction?

Christians spoke out in force against the disgusting act. Not only was the act itself condemned, but critics observed that Todd's combination of spirituality and the demeaning act was particularly problematic.

• "That Mike Todd video has so many layers of terribleness wrapped up in it, I don't know even where to start. The audacity. The cult energy. The spiritual and theological abusiveness. The hocking and rubbing and spitting and deflecting. I couldn't believe my eyes. Ain't no way," Christian author Danté Stewart said.
• "I don’t know who needs to hear this, but this is demonic and manipulative. Mike Todd even tried to manipulate the crowd into feeling bad over reacting to him dehumanizing a man live on stage. We’re watching abuse and humiliation to boost another’s ego and profile. Disgusting. This is big cult energy right here. I still honestly can’t believe this man had the audacity to do this. This is not of God at all. It’s hard to even try to describe how terrible this is but to say that this is really, just….satanic," Christian podcaster Ameen Hudson said.
• "If your pastor rubs spit on your face (looking at you, Mike Todd), find a new pastor," Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie said.
• "[T]hat mike todd video has been bothering me all day. it so disturbing, I can’t believe he did that. i’ve seen some things but that was so flagrant. cancel clout chasing corporate christianity cult charlatan’s charades," Alex Medina said.
• "I ain’t never seen all sides of Christian Twitter unified on an issue like this. Not Mike Todd being so unhinged it’s bringing unity to the body," one Christian noted.
• "The Mike Todd situation is exactly why we need more faithful Bible teaching churches, not entertainers who seek to go viral every Sunday. I’m all for the practicality of sermons being explained, but when is enough enough?" another person said.

Perhaps the only positive aspect of this story is that the person on the receiving end of Todd's spit was his younger brother — though that does not make the demonstration any better.

Clearly // The Vision For Invasion // Vision Sunday 2022 // Michael Todd youtu.be

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott served up a big dose of poor sportsmanship — along with some of his team's fans — after a down-to-the-wire wild-card playoff game loss Sunday to the hated San Francisco 49ers.

What did he say?

When asked at a postgame press conference about Cowboys fans at AT&T Stadium throwing trash on the field following their team's 23-17 defeat, Prescott launched into a soliloquy about how he and his teammates give their heart and soul to the game and that such a reaction from fans toward players is "sad."

Really classy of eagles fans to disguise as cowboys fans and throw trashpic.twitter.com/K7Ptm3ikhN

— Sean \ud83d\udc3c mtingO6 hater (@Sean \ud83d\udc3c mtingO6 hater) 1642383231

"I understand fans and the word 'fan' for fanatic, I get that, but to know everything that we put into this, day in and day out, try our hardest," Prescott said. "Nobody comes into the game wanting or expecting to lose, and for people to react that way when you're supposed to be a supporter and be with us through thick and thin, that's tough."

But when Prescott was informed that fans were throwing trash at the referees as they were leaving the field, the losing QB's perspective changed dramatically.

"Credit to them, then," Prescott said of hometown fans, amid reporters' laughter. "Credit to them."

"Credit to them then. Credit to them."\n\nDak Prescott voiced support for fans who threw trash at referees Sunday #DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/1jCAoZvQ3P

— Sports Illustrated (@Sports Illustrated) 1642389758

According to Michael Gehlken, Cowboys reporter for the Dallas Morning News, Prescott also said, “The fans felt the same way as us. I guess that’s why the refs took off and got out of there so fast. I think everybody is upset with the way this thing played out.”

What's the background?

Down by seven points with no timeouts and just 14 seconds remaining in the contest, Dallas appeared to have all the momentum and drove down to San Francisco's 41-yard line.

On what would ultimately be the final play, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott shockingly ran the ball instead of throwing it to a receiver who might scamper out of bounds and stop the clock, giving Dallas a reasonable final shot at the end zone.

Prescott's run netted the Cowboys another 17 yards, but seconds kept ticking away. Each team had to get set, and the ball had to be spotted so Prescott could spike it and stop the clock.

And with about six seconds left, Prescott got up after his run and handed the ball to his center, who then placed the pigskin on the turf.

Problem is, an official is supposed to spot the ball.

Crazy ending

Umpire Ramon George ran up behind Prescott and the Dallas line, made bodily contact with them as he squeezed his way through, then placed the football a yard or two backward — all as precious seconds ticked away.

But by the time the ball was snapped, the clock had run out. And it was yet another heartbreaking Dallas playoff loss.

According to Field Yates, an NFL Insider for ESPN, the Cowboys have now made 11 straight playoff appearances without reaching a conference championship game, which is the longest streak by any team in NFL history.

CHAOTIC ENDING TO COWBOYS/49ERS WILD CARD GAME🤭 | NFL Playoffs 2022 youtu.be

After the game, referee Alex Kemp said the umpire "spotted the ball correctly," ESPN said, citing a pool report.

"He collided with the players as he was setting the ball because he was moving it to the proper spot," Kemp added, the sports network said.

What else was said about the officiating?

ESPN said the Cowboys were displeased with the officiating throughout the game. Dallas was penalized 14 times — a postseason franchise record, the sports network said — for 89 yards. What's more, ESPN said the Cowboys were the most penalized team in the NFL during the regular season.

"When we were younger, we just said it was bias, you know, people just hate the Cowboys," rookie Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons said, according to the sports network. "I just think we were playing hard, you know. I think when you tend to play hard and you want to make a play, you tend to jump offsides, or you tend to put a hands to the face, or you know you might hold by accident, or even if it wasn't a hold you never know how they might perceive it. I just felt like a couple of [the penalties] were very questionable and very bias[ed] towards us. But then again, it's our fault, we shouldn't be put in that position. I'm going to take full accountability, and I hope everyone else does, too."

The Cowboys' flamboyant owner and general manager Jerry Jones added to ESPN that his team "shouldn't have been in position for that last play to be something controversial. So I'm not going to make it something bigger than it is."

What was said about Prescott's 'credit to them' comment?

As you might guess, not everyone on Twitter was in line with Prescott praising Cowboys fans for throwing trash at referees after the game:

• "And ⁦@dak⁩ is the ⁦@dallascowboys⁩ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee?" one observer wondered. "So this represents the best of the Dallas Cowboys?"
• "Saying 'credit to them' in reference to debris bring hurled at refs because he doesn't know how football works makes him look like trash," another commenter said.
• "They/He should be fined heavily for that comment for inciting future violence against people, being it players or referees," another user declared. "Such a disgrace!"
• "Typical! You made a BIG mistake, don't blame the umpire for doing his job and following the RULES!" another commenter said.

States must ban all hospitals from requiring the expired COVID shots and should offer to pay any federal fines incurred by health care institutions. It’s that simple.

In his opinion in the OSHA mandate case (National Federation of Independent Business v. Department of Labor), Justice Gorsuch wrote, "If administrative agencies seek to regulate the daily lives and liberties of millions of Americans, the [major questions] doctrine says, they must at least be able to trace that power to a clear grant of authority from Congress." Well, I would add that all these COVID policies should flow from an even more direct avenue – the state legislatures. It’s time for them to get on the playing field.

The Supreme Court rulings are nothing to celebrate. The loss in the CMS health care mandate case is devastating to the health, morale, and liberties of this country. Now, the federal government can force all health care institutions to mandate a shot that doesn’t work, likely causes more transmission, and for which there are over 1 million adverse events reported to the CDC’s own surveillance system. This is the clearest violation of the Nuremberg Code in the history of public health. It will also further exacerbate this budding culture of apartheid and lack of compassion permeating America’s hospitals. States must not allow this to stand. In a sane world, every GOP governor would unite at a conference and announce the following ideas:

• A complete ban on vaccine mandates on both employees and patients: Biden has a 33% approval rating, and we have the facts and morality on our side. It’s time for Republican governors to stop acting as if Biden holds all the cards just because he can threaten Medicare funding. The bottom line is that Biden could not win a PR fight with 20 or so states applying anti-discrimination law the way it would be enforced in any other context. These governors would explain to the American people how the shots never stopped transmission and appear to spread Omicron more and how it is completely backward for states to allow vaccinated workers with COVID to come to work but not those who are healthy without the shot, especially those with prior infection. At some point, facts have to matter.
• Pay the fines: At the same time, the states should promise to pay any federal fines that would be levied against them for not enforcing the mandate. Although the threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding is bigger than any fine, it is hard for CMS to enforce this against half the country.
• Impose workplace injury liability: Also, as part of the carrot and stick approach, states should pass a law subjecting anyone who enforces the federal mandate to workplace injury liability without any caps for damages. The reality is that the hospitals know all too well that injuries from the shot are extremely common.
• Religious and medical exemptions: At a minimum, states should force hospitals to accept this simple exemption form created by the Florida Department of Health:

• Patient Bill of Rights: The culture of cruelty in the hospitals has spilled over from staff to patients. We are hearing of hospitals engaging in maltreatment of those without the shots, confiscating medicines, denying treatment, preventing patients from leaving, and denying organ transplants based on vaccination status. We need a patients’ bill of rights to pass every state legislature, bringing anti-discrimination law into the 21^st century.

Thanks to the CMS mandate, we’ve lost tens of thousands of staffed hospital beds. States cannot allow this to continue without a response. Even the OSHA mandate is not over with. Although the court placed an injunction on the order, the Biden administration is promising to use its leverage to “convince” businesses to follow suit. Biden said that the court injunction does “not stop me from using my voice as President to advocate for employers to do the right thing.” Biden further called on Big Tech to help him censor the voices of anyone with concerns over the shots.

As such, it’s time to dispel the notion that somehow these mandates are emanating from any semblance of a free market and private-sector conditions. They are irredeemably tainted by federal coercion. The only way for states to bring back the equilibrium of the free market is to completely ban the mandates altogether. These same RINO governors who had no problem destroying small businesses with a complete shutdown or capacity regulations now want to take a hands-off approach as the federal government leverages them to engage in senseless discrimination.

The notion that our law tolerates discrimination to the point that someone is boxed out from a job and accessing vital services is unfounded. In 2017 (Packingham v. North Carolina), the Supreme Court held that protecting children from sex offenders was not a sufficient "compelling interest" to restrict a sex offender from using social media because social media is a "protected space." In the opinion, the government acknowledged that a person without access to the big social media websites cannot function in society. "By prohibiting sex offenders from using those websites, North Carolina with one broad stroke bars access to what for many are the principal sources for knowing current events, checking ads for employment, speaking and listening in the modern public square, and otherwise exploring the vast realms of human thought and knowledge."

Now if the court is willing to say that a sex offender can prowl the internet, even though there is reasonable suspicion that such access will harm children, then certainly a person without the jab has a right not to be drummed out of all of society when his choice absolutely affects nobody but himself.

Justin Haskins, co-author with Glenn Beck of “The Great Reset: Joe Biden & the Rise of 21st-Century Fascism," joined Allie Beth Stuckey on "Relatable" to explain why he believes two-time presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was snubbed by the Democratic Party.

Was it due to the Clinton's far-reaching political power, or was it really because the government elites were already working toward the Great Reset and Sanders simply didn't fit into their timeline? If we're talking about Hillary Clinton, she's 100% onboard with the World Economic Forum's plans that started during the Obama administration, Haskins said. And now there's chatter about Clinton potentially running again in 2024.

Watch the video clip below for more to catch more of the conversation. Can't watch? Download the podcast here.

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A Russian father suspected of killing a man who allegedly sexually abused his 6-year-old daughter won't be charged with murder, the Daily Mail reported.

What are the details?

Vyacheslav 'Slava' Matrosov, 34, reportedly stood accused of stabbing his former friend Oleg Sviridov, 32, to death in a forest near Vintai, Russia, last year after making him dig his own grave.

The incident occurred after Matrosov discovered disturbing footage on his friend's phone while they were out for drinks one night. The footage in question allegedly showed Matrosov's young daughter being forced by Sviridov to perform a sex act on him.

In the video, the young child reportedly could be heard pleading with Sviridov to stop and saying she wanted to go home.

Matrosov faced murder charges initially for his actions, but according to the Daily Mail, those charges have been dropped.

The father now faces prosecution for "inciting a person to suicide or attempted suicide by threats or abuse," which carries a lesser maximum sentence of six years in prison. Though the outlet noted the new charge is often punished without a prison term.

The murder charge was reportedly dropped after investigators obtained detailed forensic evidence that showed that Matrosov had not stabbed Sviridov where his body was later found. Matrosov has denied killing Sviridov intentionally but has maintained that the stabbing took place "during a quarrel."

Several reports claimed that Matrosov threatened Sviridov with an ultimatum, demanding that he turn himself over to police or face the father's anger.

What else?

After news broke about the incident last year, there was an outpouring of public support for Matrosov, who was employed as a rocket engine factory worker.

Members of the community reportedly signed a petition demanding that the father be acquitted and praising him for "saving our children by ridding us of a child sex attacker."

Supporters raised enough money to get Matrosov a top lawyer and pay for all of his legal fees, the New York Post reported.

At the time, the defendant's father said in a statement, “We have collected the money, thank you all. It was not friends or relatives who helped, but strangers from the village.”

In the petition, supporters argued, "Every father would have done this. This will be an example to everyone. Therefore, we demand understanding from the executive branch, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Investigative Committee."

Anything else?

Russian lawyer Vera Podkolzina reportedly said the father could still face prison time for his actions, but noted: "He has very powerful mitigating circumstances."

Sviridov was accused of abusing two other young girls in the community, the evidence of which was reportedly found on his phone also, the Daily Mail reported.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has changed its story and now says that Saturday's synagogue 11-hour hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas, was an intended targeting of the Jewish community.

The FBI initially said that the incident — which left the hostage-taker dead — was not "specifically related to the Jewish community."

What are the details?

On Monday, CNN reported that the suspect, 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram, "spoke repeatedly about a convicted terrorist who is serving an 86-year prison sentence in the United States."

Fox News host Shannon Bream tweeted the FBI's newest statement, which read, "This is a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted, and is being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force."

Newest FBI statement on Colleyville just in - per Fox\u2019s @JakeBGibson: \u201cThis is a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted, and is being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.\u201d

— Shannon Bream (@Shannon Bream) 1642395044

Following the incident, FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said, "We do believe from our engagement with this subject that he was singularly focused on one issue, and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community. But we’re continuing to work to find motive and we will continue on that path. In terms of the resolution of the incident, the hostage taker is deceased.”

Law enforcement on Saturday reported that at least four people — a Jewish rabbi and three synagogue congregants — were taken hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville.

Previous reporting stated that the suspect claimed to be the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, a terrorist who is incarcerated at Fort Worth's Carswell Air Force Base. A judge in 2010 sentenced Siddiqui to 86 years in federal prison for conspiring to kill U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

Akram during the hostage situation reportedly demanded Siddiqui's freedom in exchange for the four lives.

One hostage was released shortly before 5 p.m. local time, while the other three hostages were freed as the FBI executed a strike on Akram, killing him.

CNN reported that British authorities arrested two Manchester, England, teenagers in connection with the Texas incident.

The unnamed teenagers are being held for questioning at the time of this reporting, and it is unknown what role they may have played in planning the attack.

What else is there to know about this?

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was one of the hostages, said that the synagogue underwent "multiple security courses" in training to survive such incidents.

"In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening," Cytron-Walker said in a statement. "Without the instruction we received, we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself."

Is it really a happy Martin Luther King Day? Today, Steven Crowder presents five facts about the man you may not know. Also, Dana White defends Joe Rogan against 270 "doctors." And a shocking new poll shows just how far Democrats would go if we let them. That and more on Monday's episode of "Louder with Crowder."

Want more from Steven Crowder?

To enjoy more of Steven’s uncensored late-night comedy that’s actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.

A top official with Union Pacific revealed last week that the company could move its rail operations from Los Angeles County unless law enforcement stops thieves from raiding shipping containers.

Last week, a viral video showed how thieves are pillaging through shipping containers in the infamous Logan Heights neighborhood. Tens of thousands of destroyed packages littered the area around the rail tracks.

Keep hearing of train burglaries in LA on the scanner so went to #LincolnHeights to see it all. And\u2026 there\u2019s looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, @UPS boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens. Cargo containers left busted open on trains. @CBSLApic.twitter.com/JvNF4UVy2K

— John Schreiber (@John Schreiber) 1642116644

What are the details?

Adrian Guerrero, general director of public affairs, sent a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón demanding his office stop the "spiraling crisis of organized and opportunistic criminal rail theft."

Shockingly, Guerrero revealed that "over 90 containers are compromised per day."

"Since December 2020, UP has experienced an over 160% increase in criminal rail theft in Los Angeles County. In several months during that period, the increase from the previous year surpassed 200%. In October 2021 alone, the increase was 356% over compared to October 2020," Guerrero explained. "Not only do these dramatic increases represent retail product thefts – they include increased assaults and armed robberies of UP employees performing their duties moving trains."

However, the actual crimes are not the only issue. Guerrero explained that far-left criminal justice policies have exacerbated the problem and emboldened criminals.

Criminals are caught and arrested, turned over to local authorities for booking, arraigned before the local courts, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offense, and the criminal is released after paying a nominal fine.These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than twenty-four hours. Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimization to UP by these same criminals. In fact, criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pled down to simple trespassing – which bears no serious consequence. Without any judicial deterrence or consequence, it is no surprise that over the past year UP has witnessed the significant increase in criminal rail theft described above.

According to Guerrero, UPS and FedEx, which utilize Union Pacific's rail services, are seeking to divert their business away from Los Angeles County — and Union Pacific may join them.

"Like our customers, UP is now contemplating serious changes to our operating plans to avoid Los Angeles County," Guerrero wrote, adding that such a "drastic change" would significantly impact the national supply chain.

Guerrero went on to say that Union Pacific understands "the well-intended social justice goals" of Gascón, but demanded he "hold these criminals accountable."

How did Gascón respond?

In response, Gascón's office claimed they are committed to ensuring the safety of Los Angeles County's infrastructure. In a statement, the office also said many cases are not prosecuted due to "insufficient evidence."

"Some cases presented to our office by Union Pacific have been filed, such as burglary and grand theft, while others have been declined due to insufficient evidence. We make charging decisions based on the evidence," the statement said.

However, Guerrero explained in his letter to Gascón that despite over 100 criminals having been arrested while actively vandalizing trains, Union Pacific "has not been contacted for any court proceedings."

DirecTV plans to drop conservative One America News Network from its lineup, Bloomberg reported.

At the time of this reporting, no other major U.S. cable providers carry OAN.

What are the details?

The nationwide satellite television broadcaster recently notified Herring Networks, OAN's owner, that it would no longer carry the company's channels.

In a statement obtained by Bloomberg, the company said, “We informed Herring Networks that, following a routine internal review, we do not plan to enter into a new contract when our current agreement expires.”

The contract with Herring Networks is set to expire in April.

At the time of this reporting, Herring Networks has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.

DirecTV began offering OAN to its customers in 2017 after Herring Networks forced the company's hand by suing the cable provider to carry its channels.

Reuters reported that the move could "financially cripple" OAN.

"The announcement by DirecTV, which is 70% owned by AT&T, comes three months after a Reuters investigation revealed that OAN’s founder testified that AT&T inspired him to create the network," the report noted, citing an October report. "Court testimony also showed that OAN receives nearly all of its revenue from DirecTV."

The news agency added that during a 2020 court proceeding, an OAN lawyer said, "If Herring Networks, for instance, was to lose or not be renewed on DirecTV, the company would go out of business tomorrow.”

What else is there to know about this?

In response to the news, former President Donald Trump said that DirecTV targeted OAN over its politics and suggested a boycott against AT&T.

"Maybe what we should do is not use AT&T," he said.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said that the news was a “victory for us and the future of democracy.”

“At a time when we are seeing our rights infringed upon, OAN only seeks to create further division," he said. "We must continually choose truth over lies and common sense over hysteria.”

OAN is currently litigating what is reported to be a billion-dollar defamation suit, which was filed by Dominion Voting Systems and argued that the network was complicit in deliberately spreading defamatory information about the company's role in the 2020 presidential election.

Meet Collette Divitto, the 31-year-old CEO of a successful cookie company. Divitto founded her sweet company – Collettey's Cookies – after struggling to find a job after college.

Divitto – who was born with the genetic disorder Down syndrome – was bullied in high school. Nevertheless, Divitto attended and graduated Clemson University. Divitto was ready to be independent after Clemson University, but hiring managers kept saying, "It was great to meet you, Collette, but at this time we feel you are not a good fit for our company."

During tough times, the one thing that always made Collette happy was baking.

"So actually, I always loved baking, since I was 4 years old. From high school, I had been taking baking classes," Divitto told CBS News. "It was a hard time for me. I had no friends, I didn't have a social life. I got bullied, I got picked on. And that's why I had been taking baking classes."

Devitto decided to turn her passion for baking into a career.

Collette's mother – Rosemary Alfredo – taught her daughter the basics of starting and running a small business. They designed a logo, created a website, and registered the business.

Divitto's signature creation is "The Amazing Cookie" – a chocolate chip cinnamon cookie, which still remains the company's most popular flavor. Collette brought samples of her amazing cookies to a local shop in Boston – and they ordered 100 12-packs of cookies.

Alfredo recalled, "We’re buying 40-pound bags of flour, bringing them into our apartment, thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

Divitto admitted she was "so scared at the very beginning," but the new venture made her feel "amazing and confident. I never, ever felt that way in my entire life."

The mother-daughter duo quickly rented a commercial kitchen and started the business for less than $20,000, so they could fulfill the fledgling company's first order.

Alfredo revealed that Collettey’s Cookies has never received outside funding despite trying. "That was our biggest challenge, people questioning [Divitto’s] abilities and the potential success of the company with her as the CEO and COO," Alfredo said.

In the first three months of business, Divitto sold 4,000 cookies. Since launching in December 2016, Collettey's Cookies have made $1.2 million in lifetime revenue, according to CNBC. Collettey's Cookies are available online, at 7-Eleven convenience stores, and at the TD Garden sports arena in Boston, Massachusetts.

Collettey's Cookies has garnered national headlines, and grown a following on social media with over 40,000 followers on Facebook and more than 28,000 on Instagram.

Nadya Rousseau – the founder and CEO of marketing and PR firm Alter New Media – was so impressed by Collette's story that she worked for the company pro bono this year.

"I just was struck with how authentic she was, and straightforward,” Rousseau revealed. "So many people have layer upon layer in front of them and they can’t just speak their truth. She’s always speaking her truth."

Collette works six days a week, and often starts her day at 4 a.m. at her commercial kitchen.

Collettte is one smart cookie, and has branched out to be the author of two children's books and was featured on "Born for Business," a reality TV docuseries about entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Devitto understands that it can be difficult to get a job when you have a disability, so her company employs many workers who have disabilities.

"Creating more jobs for people who are disabled," Collettte said. "That’s my whole mission."

See on Instagram

In 2018, Divitto and Alfredo launched a nonprofit called "Collettey’s Leadership Programs" – which offers workshops and mentorship services for people with and without disabilities. A portion of the proceeds from Collettey's Cookies goes to the nonprofit.

"Don't let people bring you down. Do not focus on your disabilities," Collette said. "You only need to focus on your abilities."

CEO with Down syndrome runs successful cookie company and helps people with disabilities get jobs www.youtube.com

The fights at the UFC Vegas 46 event had ended, but there were more clashes in the post-fight press conference on Saturday night. Dana White verbally sparred with a reporter who questioned the COVID-19 treatments that the UFC president took after contracting the respiratory disease.

During the post-fight press conference, White was questioned about his friend and UFC employee Joe Rogan. A reporter asked White about the group of 270 scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators who signed an open letter demanding that Spotify adopt a policy on COVID-19 misinformation because they insisted that Rogan has a "concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic."

White was not familiar with the open letter attempting to have Spotify censor Rogan over podcasts about COVID-19. White transitioned to COVID-19 treatments by saying, "Ever since I came out and said what I did, it's almost impossible now to get monoclonal antibodies."

The fully vaccinated White contracted COVID-19 during the Thanksgiving holiday, but was "feeling like a million bucks" in less than 24 hours after receiving COVID-19 treatments recommended by Rogan.

“I get up, 9 o’clock Monday morning, and I get tested. He said get monoclonal antibodies in you as soon as possible, so I did," White told sports podcast host Jim Rome on Dec. 1. "By noon, I had the monoclonal antibodies in me. Then he told me to do a NAD drip. I did that right after."

White added that he had a dose of ivermectin and a vitamin drip.

During Saturday's press conference, White alleged, "They're making it so you can't get them. Medicine that absolutely works — they're keeping from us."

The UFC president claimed, "I don't want to get too political and start getting into all this sh**, but ivermectin and monoclonal antibodies have been around for a long time. Now all of a sudden you can't dig them up to save your life; the doctors won't give them to you."

White said that he "made one phone call" and was able to get monoclonal antibody treatment.

"And that's not some f***ing rich famous guy sh**," White added. "Like anybody could've called...Everybody could've got it back then."

He then claimed, "You can't get those things to save your life now, literally."

In late December, the federal government halted the distribution of two of the three monoclonal antibody treatments, claiming they were ineffective against the Omicron variant. According to the FDA, only the monoclonal antibody treatment called "sotrovimab" by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology is effective against Omicron. However, it is in short supply.

White called the lack of COVID-19 therapeutics "disgusting" and "one of the craziest things that I've ever witnessed in my life."

"And we're not talking about experimental drugs or things," White continued. "This stuff's been around. Ivermectin, the guy won a Nobel Peace Prize."

Then Yahoo reporter Kevin Iole interjected, "Are you a doctor?"

White replied, "No, but I took them, and they both worked for me, so why shouldn't I be able to take them again? Or other people?"

White roared back, "You want to know what's scary? I bet I can get some f***ing pain pills quicker than I can get monoclonal antibodies. Not maybe; that's a fact. They f***ing hand out pain pills like they're Tic Tacs. Pain pills kill you. Fact. And I’m not a doctor, but that’s a fact."

Content Warning: Strong language:

UFC President Dana White is asked about 200+ Doctors demanding Spotify censor Joe Rogan.pic.twitter.com/hNrJ6UVHmK

— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1642356215

The suspect accused of brutally gunning down a Burger King cashier in Harlem last week is demanding reparations for slavery.

What is the background?

Winston Glynn is accused of murdering 19-year-old Kristal Bayron-Nieves, an employee at a Burger King restaurant in East Harlem.

Police say Glynn stormed into the fast food eatery early on Jan. 9, attacking the manager and another customer. Glynn allegedly stole $100 from a cash register, but demanded that Bayron-Nieves hand over more cash. Unfortunately, the she did not have the key to open the cash drawer. Police say the young women begged for her life, but accuse Glynn of firing one shot and killing Bayron-Nieves.

"We often hear the term a senseless murder," NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said. "That is not a cliché in this case. There was no reason to shoot this young woman. Money had been handed over. She was trying to comply with the gunman’s demands. She was killed for no apparent reason."

What happened now?

While being led out of the East Harlem police station on Friday, Glynn demanded reparations and screamed obscenities at a nearby crowd.

"Where’s our reparations for 400 years of f***ing slavery!" the suspect yelled.

Video also showed Glynn scream, "F**k you all!" and "America is gonna burn," the New York Post reported.

Content Warning: This video contains strong language:

RAW: Walk of suspect in Burger King murder www.youtube.com

People in the crowd were heard calling Glynn a "piece of s***," "garbage," a "f***ing scumbag," and "basura," the Spanish word for "garbage."

Anything else?

Tragically, Bayron-Nieves had begun working at the Burger King restaurant only three weeks before her murder, and she had already requested to be moved from the late-night shift because she was scared, the New York Post reported.

The family held a memorial on Saturday, where her mother demanded justice. "The only thing I want is justice for my daughter," Kristie Nieves said.

The family reportedly moved to New York after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017.

A top House Republican revealed Sunday the investigation into the man who took four people hostage at a Texas synagogue on Saturday has gone international.

What are the details?

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN host Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" there is "something more" to the case than a lone actor.

In fact, McCaul disclosed that the FBI's investigation now extends to London and Tel Aviv.

"I know the FBI has now fanned their investigation out to London and Tel Aviv. So this has now turned into an international investigation. So there’s something more here," McCaul said. "And the fact he’s calling for Lady al Qaeda’s release from prison has been, as you said, in the jihadist world kind of a cause celebre."

"And so I think we’re going to find out a lot more in the next 24, 48 hours. He is British. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s Pakistani, just like Siddiqui. And we need to get to the bottom of this," he added. "We haven’t seen one of these radicalized attacks in a few years now, and it is disturbing to see it raise its ugly head again."

"Ukraine is a breadbasket of Russia. Putin wants to restore the glory of the old Soviet empire," says Rep. Michael McCaul.\n\n"They're very aggressive in the timetable. I think you're going to see this play out very quickly... [the United States] ought to be providing deterrents."pic.twitter.com/J9DNx9BGh3

— State of the Union (@State of the Union) 1642348317

Law enforcement identified 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram as the perpetrator, and said he traveled to the U.S. approximately five weeks ago. The motive has not been officially determined, although his choice of attacking a synagogue on a Saturday during the middle of a Sabbath service strongly suggests religious motivations.

The suspect reportedly demanded the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who is known as "Lady Al Qaeda." Siddiqui is serving an 86-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2010 of attempted murder and armed assault of U.S. military personnel. Siddiqui is incarcerated at a federal prison not far from the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue that was attacked.

"This is a disturbing case that demonstrates that anti-Semitism is unfortunately alive and well," McCaul said. "I think they chose this synagogue because she, Siddiqui, the Lady al Qaeda, they call her, is being detained in a Fort Worth prison facility."

Anything else?

After the FBI attempted to downplay the role religion played in hostage crisis at the synagogue, President Joe Biden condemned the incident as an act of terrorism.

"This was an act of terror," Biden said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan also condemned the incident as an "act of terrorism" and an "act of anti-Semitism."

Civil rights leader Bob Woodson railed against progressives who he accused of "hijacking" the 1960s movement that he was heavily involved in and helped coordinate national and local community revitalization programs.

"The Ingraham Angle" guest host Raymond Arroyo kicked off the interview by playing a video clip of Vice President Kamala Harris speaking with actress and Democratic activist Kerry Washington.

Speaking about the Democrats' voting rights legislation that flopped, Harris said, "How can we talk to other countries about human rights – autocracies – if we in our own country see an erosion of rights that have been invested in the American people?”

Woodson, 84, commented on how progressives — including the Biden administration — have used voting rights to attempt to appeal to black voters by marketing it as a civil rights issue.

"It's part of the whole process that progressives have hijacked the rich legacy of the civil rights movement and really using it as a bludgeon against the country," Woodson stated.

"And as long as they can keep black America in a constant state of agitation, anger and resentment, it means they can easily control them. In other words, they're willing to sacrifice black bodies for black votes, even as they hijack the civil rights movement," said the civil rights leader and founder of the Woodson Center, an organization self-described as having a mission to "empower community-based leaders to promote solutions that reduce crime and violence, restore families, revitalize underserved communities, and assist in the creation of economic enterprise."

"The biggest voter suppression is apathy," Woodson continued. "In many of our cities like Washington, D.C., in mayoral elections and others, the turnout is under 6% in high crime areas because they live in a banana republic."

"They're talking about voting rights as the most important issue to black America," he said. "That's not true. It may be for some elites who profit from it, but every five minutes of every day a child is shot in America, and four times that number of those children are black."

"I know one woman who lost all four of her sons to homicide before the age of 30; that's the crisis facing low-income black America, it is not voting rights," he added.

"Some of these same murders are occurring in cities that have been run by black politicians over the past 50 years," Woodson explained. "If racism were the sole culprit, then why are blacks failing in institutions run by their own people? Why are they failing in political systems where all the control is in the hands of black politicians?"

"So the way you can avoid having to address this dilemma — what I call the 'enemy within the black community' — is what we must address," Woodson concluded. "And concentrating on voting rights is a deflection away from that reality and prevents us from coming up with solutions that the Woodson Center has been promoting and will continue to promote. Restoration from within the community suffering from the problem."

A group of Senate Democrats wrote President Joe Biden's top COVID-19 pandemic adviser last week and demanded answers for obvious shortcomings in Biden's pandemic response.

The concerns outlined in the letter stand in stark contrast to Biden's October 2020 promise to "shut down the virus."

What does the letter say?

The group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeffrey Zients on Thursday, demanding answers for the Biden administration's failure to take proactive steps to increase COVID testing.

The Democrats — Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) — demanded to know "why the Administration failed to take more significant steps earlier to increase access to at-home tests."

"Across America, there are lines for city blocks long to get COVID testing, signs in pharmacies saying they are out of rapid tests, hospitals operating under crisis standards of care, health care staff and first responders falling ill, and millions of people who are exhausted from the toll this pandemic has had," the letter states.

The letter goes on to say:

While we fully recognize the productive steps this Administration has taken to encourage vaccination, ensure ready access to vaccines, and increase options to treat the virus, far too many measures – such as increasing access to home-based testing – have been reactive, rather than proactive.

This Administration either knew or should have known that testing shortages were occurring across the country over the past several months, and with the full expectation that the virus would likely mutate into a new variant steps to increase testing access should have happened before the current wave hit, not several weeks into the surge, with resources still not available until later this month or beyond.

Last month, Vanity Fair reported that Biden rejected a plan in October that outlined how to mass produce and distribute at-home COVID-19 tests before Christmas. Biden, however, denied that his administration rejected the plan.

How did the White House respond?

A White House official told CNN that administration officials "are in contact with our colleagues at the Hill about a range of issues related to our COVID-19 response, and share their goal of expanding access to free, at home testing."

However, the official also downplayed the problem around lack of tests.

"While we are not where we would like to be with at home testing, neither are most countries due to unprecedented demand," the official said.

Last month, Biden announced a plan to distribute 500 million at-home COVID tests. Last week, he announced the government would procure another 500 million for a total of 1 billion tests. However, Americans will not be able to order the tests until later this week, and the tests should arrive one to two weeks after they are ordered.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Wednesday that the consumer price index rose by an alarming 7% over a one-year period — the largest 12-month increase in nearly 40 years. A poll that was released last month found that inflation was the top concern of Americans. A new CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday shows that 70% of Americans disapprove of President Joe Biden's handling of inflation, and 65% say he hasn't paid enough attention to U.S. inflation.

When the Biden administration has been pressed about inflation in the past, he has deflected and blamed others — especially corporations.

In November, Biden said there was "mounting evidence" that higher oil and gas prices may have been caused by "anti-consumer behavior by oil and gas companies." He then called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation into energy companies.

In December, White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed skyrocketing meat prices on the "greed of meat conglomerates."

However, Jason Furman — a former top economist for President Barack Obama — shot down the Biden administration's corporate greed defense.

"Corporate greed is a bad theory of inflation," said Furman, who is now a Harvard University professor. "I think almost everything other than the Federal Reserve is a sideshow when it comes to the dynamics of inflation."

"The main reason prices go up is companies are trying to make as much as they can, they just can't make enough to satisfy everything that people want," Furman continued. "When that happens, prices go up. If they didn't go up, we'd have worse shortages right now."

Another former Obama economic advisor cautioned against Biden blaming corporate greed for inflation, and went so far as to say that continuing to do so puts the U.S. at risk of a recession.

Lawrence Summers — who served as the Secretary of the Treasury under former President Bill Clinton and was the Director of the National Economic Council under Obama — warned the Biden administration, "Misdiagnosis of the problem around greed or around particular sectors raises the risk that ultimate recession will be necessary."

“Every time a Washington policymaker suggests that this is caused by corporate greed or some such, they are delaying the date at which we will achieve the credibility necessary to bring down inflation with stable employment," Summers said on Bloomberg Television's "Wall Street Week."

"I think the data flow is saying what I’ve thought for quite some time that, yes, there are transitory elements in inflation, and very likely they will recede, but we are basically moving towards higher entrenched inflation,” noted Summers, who is now a Harvard University professor. "It’s there in expectations, it’s there in wages, it’s there in labor shortages, it’s there in the pervasive pattern across many different prices."

"We have a massive, overheated labor market," Summers explained "We have the highest ratio of vacancies to unemployment in the country’s history, by a large margin. We have shortages of labor, in everything from psychotherapy, to McDonalds, in everything from investment analysts to gardeners, that suggests a surfeit of purchasing power and demand relative to the capacity of the economy to produce and unless we bring those things into balance, we’re going to have not just higher inflation, but possibly even accelerating inflation. And we need to recognize that we have an overheated economy that we are going to need to cool off.”

We're Moving Toward Higher Entrenched Inflation, Says Larry Summers www.youtube.com

A new poll from the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports surveyed 1,016 U.S. "likely voters" on Jan. 5. The eye-opening poll detailed the lengths to which a large swath of Democratic voters would go to punish fellow Americans for being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

The survey found that Republican and Democrat voters have completely polar opposite opinions on Dr. Anthony Fauci – chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden. The poll noted that 75% of likely Democratic voters had a favorable view of Fauci versus only 21% of Republicans and 38% of unaffiliated voters.

An alarming 48% of Democrats believe that the government should fine and even imprison anyone who questions the COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy on social media, television, radio, or in publications. Meanwhile, only 14% of Republicans and 18% of independent voters say there should be criminal punishments for criticizing the vaccines.

When it comes to COVID-19 policies, nearly half (47%) of Democratic voters favor a government tracking program for anyone who is unvaccinated against COVID-19. There are 66% of all voters who are against governments utilizing digital devices to track people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the survey, 55% of Democrats are in favor of the government fining Americans who do not get the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to just 19% of Republicans. There are 29% of Democratic voters who support removing children out of the custody of unvaccinated parents, while only 7% of Republicans are in favor of this punitive measure.

The poll revealed that 59% of likely Democratic voters want the government to enact a policy requiring unvaccinated Americans to be confined to their homes at all times, except for emergencies. Meanwhile, 79% of Republicans and 71% of unaffiliated voters oppose such severe actions.

There are 45% of Democrats who call for the government to round up citizens who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and force them into "designated facilities." Among voters who have a "very favorable" opinion of President Biden, 51% are in favor of putting unvaccinated Americans in designated facilities. The proposal to require unvaccinated people to be put into special camps is opposed by 71% of all voters and 95% of voters who have a "very unfavorable" impression of Biden.

But it isn't just polls that show the Democrats' desire to confine unvaccinated Americans in their homes. An opinion piece written in the Salt Lake Tribune openly calls for the military to enforce absolute confinement for unvaccinated citizens.

The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board penned an article titled "Utah leaders have surrendered to COVID pandemic" on Saturday. The editorial board calls on Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) to use the National Guard to confine unvaccinated Utahns to their homes, and would not allow them outside, even to go to the grocery store.

"We might have headed off omicron with a herd immunity-level of vaccinations, but that would have required a vaccination mandate, which our leaders refused," the article reads.

"Were Utah a truly civilized place, the governor’s next move would be to find a way to mandate the kind of mass vaccination campaign we should have launched a year ago, going as far as to deploy the National Guard to ensure that people without proof of vaccination would not be allowed, well, anywhere," writes the Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board.

The FBI and Associated Press were slammed Saturday over a bizarre tweet from the AP addressing the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday.

What did the FBI say?

After law enforcement announced the hostage-taker's death, the FBI seemingly downplayed the religious aspect of the crime.

"BREAKING: The FBI says the Texas synagogue hostage taker's demands were specifically focused on issue not connected to the Jewish community," the AP tweeted.

BREAKING: The FBI says the Texas synagogue hostage taker's demands were specifically focused on issue not connected to the Jewish community.http://apne.ws/giqEpIH

— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press) 1642308983

The AP quoted FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno as the FBI official behind the remarks.

"DeSarno said the hostage taker was specifically focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community and there was no immediate indication that the man had was part of any broader plan, but DeSarno said the agency’s investigation 'will have global reach,'" the news report said.

What was the reaction?

The AP's tweet immediately generated backlash for amplifying what DeSarno said. Critics questioned how law enforcement officials could arrive to such a conclusion when the investigation into the incident was in the earliest stages.

Others abruptly fact-checked the AP's tweet. In fact, despite attempts to downplay the religious aspect of the incident, the hostage-taker chose a synagogue on Sabbath where Jews were gathered and he allegedly demanded the release of a convicted terrorist known for being an adamant anti-Semite.

• "I am sure the FBI will clean this up shortly, but until then, worth stating the obvious: The gunman did not travel thousands of miles to terrorize some Mormons. He sought out a synagogue and took it hostage over his grievances. That's targeting Jews, and there's a word for that," Yair Rosenberg said.
• "[P]utting aside the absurdity of asking us to ignore the choice of venue, the choice of victims, that it was done on a Saturday specifically, and that it was apparently done on behalf of a rather outspoken anti-Semite ... this seems an unusually speedy determination by the FBI," Becket Adams said.
• "A Muslim terrorist travels to a Synagogue on the Sabbath and takes a Rabbi and three other Jews hostage, while demanding the release of a convicted Antisemitic terrorist. Sorry @AP but I'm pretty sure that it's DIRECTLY connected to the Jewish community," one person observed.
• "He was seeking the release of the virulent antisemite and convicted terrorist—Aafia Siddiqui. She blamed Jews for everything—likely he did too," Christina Sommers said.
• "In a society where victimhood status confers prestige, it's very important that Jews never be seen as victims," one person observed.
• "Islamic radical wandered into a synagogue in Texas by accident," David Harsanyi mocked.
• "Yeah, the release of his sister who hates Jews and wants them dead. Feels like there might be some sort of connection there anyway," Noam Blum said.
• "[O]h good I’m so glad to hear that a man who held four hostages in a synagogue for eleven hours after taking them during Shabbat services didn’t do it for any specific reason and this string of events was just a coincidence and not antisemitic at all. What a relief," another person mocked.
• "Is this the same FBI that said the Bernie Bro who shot up the Republican baseball practice just chose a random field and had no political motives whatsoever?" one person mocked.

Fortunately, all hostages were released without injury. The suspect was killed, but law enforcement did not say who fired the fatal shot.

The new Republican leadership in Virginia — Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares — went scorched earth upon entering office, which officially happened Saturday.

Youngkin signed a host of executive orders fulfilling key campaign promises, while Miyares fired more than two dozen staff members in the AG's office the day before taking office.

What did Youngkin do?

The new governor signed nine executive orders and two executive directives to address public education, COVID restrictions, the climate, and the economy.

The first order Youngkin signed "delivers on his Day One promise to restore excellence in education by ending the use of divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, in public education."

"Political indoctrination has no place in our classrooms," the order reads, in part. "Our children deserve far better from their education than to be told what to think. Instead, the foundation of our educational system should be built on teaching our students how to think for themselves. Virginia must renew its commitment to teaching our children the value of freedom of thought and diversity of ideas."

The second order empowers parents to decide whether their children wear face masks at school, the fourth order initiates an investigation into the alleged wrongdoing by the Loudoun County School Board regarding sexual assaults, the sixth order declares Virginia open for business, orders seven and eight address human trafficking and anti-Semitism, and order nine begins the process to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Meanwhile, Youngkin's two executive directives cut "job killing regulations" by 25% and rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees.

"It’s Day One, and we are going to work just like we promised," Youngkin said in a statement.

What did Miyares do?

On Friday, Miyares informed 30 staff members in the Virginia attorney general's office, including 17 attorneys, that they would not have a job in his office, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

"During the campaign, it was made clear that now Attorney General-elect Miyares and Attorney General Herring have very different visions for the office," a spokeswoman for Miyares told the newspaper. "We are restructuring the office, as every incoming AG has done in the past."

Miyares has pledged to be tough on crime.

"Virginia is in the middle of a public safety crisis. That’s why Virginians elected pro-law enforcement statewide officials, to end the criminal-first, victim-last policies that have led to Virginia’s highest murder rate in decades," Miyares wrote in an essay last month.

Students in Chicago staged a walkout on Friday to demand safer school conditions during the surge of COVID-19 cases. The students also participated in a crowded protest where they made demands for remote learning, laptops, and COVID-19 relief stipends.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools agreed to reopen schools with in-person classes. However, hundreds of students participated in a walkout on Friday afternoon. The district-wide walkout of at least 500 students was organized by the Chicago Public Schools Radical Youth Alliance (Chi-Rads) – a self-described "organization of allied, radical CPS high schoolers from every corner of the city to organize to create an education system that best serves us."

Curie High School students walked out of school today in favor of hybrid learning, amplifying youth voices & to hold @ChicagosMayor & @ChiPubSchools accountable.\n\n1/4pic.twitter.com/RgzRWCQ4je

— Chi Student Pandemic Response (@Chi Student Pandemic Response) 1642190161

The Chicago Public Schools Radical Youth Alliance issued a list of 39 demands for the Chicago Public Schools. The organization demanded that schools shift to remote learning for two weeks. The group called on Chicago Public Schools to increase the "remote workforce" for staff members and "students whose presence isn't necessary in the building."

The organization ordered the public school system to make accessible COVID-19 testing for all students, "sufficient N-95 masks along with the other face coverings PPE & medical grade masks."

The group requested mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing, and no spectators at sporting events.

The students are also demanding Chicago Public Schools provide "every student with their own personal laptop," and the organization emphasizes that the laptops must have "4GB RAM & 512GB storage, and at least 8 hours of battery life."

The group said the students should be able to keep the laptops "during their entire duration as students, virtual or not." They also petitioned for "access to high speed wifi, that has at least 10 Mbps of download speed and 1 Mbps of upload speed."

The group also requests "personal tutors outside of school hours in every school."

The Chi-Rads claim, "There are many aspects of our everyday lives that hinder certain students from receiving quality education from inequitable structures and oppressive systems within the city."

To remedy the "inequitable structures and oppressive systems," the group demands the school to "reload EBT cards" and hire "one full-time therapist/psychologist for every 30 students."

The students also require COVID-19 relief stipends.

"Much like Covid Relief packages, students should receive covid relief stipends to help cover the necessities that families are going through during these times beyond food," the list of demands states. "Many families are living paycheck to paycheck and this pandemic affects people’s ability to work; that, unfortunately, affects our ability to live."

The group also said teachers should have the decision of whether they want to teach remotely or in the classroom. The students said teachers should be able to "take a leave of absence regarding concerns of Covid."

The Chicago Public Schools Radical Youth Alliance also called for "spaces of healing and community building."

a thread!!! 1/3chicago public school\u2019s radical youth alliance has come forth with a list of demands that we believe is the bare minimum of things that @ChiPubSchools leadership can implement in response to the crises we have seen in our communities.pic.twitter.com/NTnLsmSHWg

— Chi-RADS (@Chi-RADS) 1641868543

To show that they were serious about their demands for safer COVID-19 conditions, the hundreds of students participated in a crowded protest outside of the headquarters for Chicago Public Schools.

Here's Catlyn Savado, a freshman at Percy Julian High School on the Far South Side. She's an organizer with @chiradsCPS.pic.twitter.com/59drltPEhw

— The TRiiBE (@The TRiiBE) 1642189692

The students railed against Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot by chanting, "Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Lori Lightfoot’s got to go!"

Views from across the street.pic.twitter.com/RzqLsMNwTi

— The TRiiBE (@The TRiiBE) 1642190156