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Co-Founder Of Trump’s Media Company Details Truth Social’s Bitter Infighting https://digitalalaskanews.com/co-founder-of-trumps-media-company-details-truth-socials-bitter-infighting/ Will Wilkerson, then an executive at former president Donald Trump’s start-up Trump Media & Technology Group, was at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., coffee shop with company co-founder Andy Litinsky last October when Trump called Litinsky with a question: Would he give up some of his shares to Trump’s wife, Melania? Trump Media, the owner of the fledgling social network Truth Social, had just been boosted by a huge merger agreement and a flood of investment that had made the stake worth millions of dollars. Trump had already been given 90 percent of the company’s shares in exchange for the use of his name and some minor involvement, leaving everyone else to split the rest. Litinsky tried to brush it off, telling Trump “the gift would have meant a huge tax bill he couldn’t pay,” Wilkerson said in an interview. “Trump didn’t care. He said, ‘Do whatever you need to do.’ ” Five months later, Litinsky, who first met Trump in 2004 as a contestant on the TV show “The Apprentice,” was abruptly removed from the company’s board. Wilkerson said he believes it was payback for his refusal to turn over a small fortune to the former president’s wife. Litinsky thought so, too, according to an email Wilkerson and his attorneys shared with The Washington Post and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In that email, Litinsky complained that Trump was “retaliating against me” by threatening to “ ‘blow up the company’ if his demands are not met.” Litinsky did not respond to emails and phone messages. It is unknown whether he still retains his shares. The email — one of hundreds of previously unreported company messages, documents, photos and audio recordings that Wilkerson has provided to the SEC in connection with a whistleblower submission — reveals a stunning portrait of the animosity that has built up inside Trump Media since its high-profile debut last year. Promoted as the centerpiece of Trump’s post-presidential business ambitions, the company had marketed itself as a budding media empire, with enterprises planned in social media, video streaming, live events and online payments — a powerful rival not just to Twitter but Disney, Google and Amazon. But inside the company, Wilkerson said, those plans gave way to bitter infighting, technical failures and a chaotic jockeying for power among Trump allies that undermined its potential and left some employees crying at their desks. Wilkerson, who was fired from his job Thursday as a senior vice president of operations at the company after he spoke to The Post, filed the whistleblower complaint with the SEC in August. The complaint, drafted by Wilkerson’s attorneys, alleges that the company’s bid to raise money via an investment vehicle known as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, relied on “fraudulent misrepresentations … in violation of federal securities laws.” The SEC, a federal watchdog agency, allows members of the public to submit tips, complaints and referrals about suspected financial wrongdoing via a document the agency calls a Form TCR. Whistleblowers can be granted confidentiality protections and, in some cases, financial awards. Litinsky did not join in the complaint. Wilkerson is cooperating with investigations into Trump Media by the SEC and federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, said his attorneys, Phil Brewster, Patrick Mincey and Stephen Bell. Among the materials he filed with the SEC’s whistleblower office is a detailed, day-to-day computer log compiled by company co-founder Wes Moss, Litinsky and Wilkerson about their daily company-related activities. He also provided to The Post a copy of that log as well as numerous other memos, photographs and videos that chronicled the creation of Trump Media. All of the materials Wilkerson shared with The Post were previously provided to government investigators, his attorneys said. The SEC and the SDNY declined to comment. In an SEC filing in December, Digital World acknowledged that the SEC was investigating and had sought documents related to the merger with Trump Media. In another filing in June, Digital World said it had become aware that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York had issued subpoenas to its board members seeking documents related to its initial public offering filings and “communications with or about multiple individuals.” The investigations, the company said, could “impede or prevent” the merger. Wilkerson said he was still working for the company on Oct. 6 when his SEC complaint was first reported by the Miami Herald. A Trump Media attorney sent Wilkerson a letter that night suspending him for what the lawyer said was a “blatant violation” of his nondisclosure agreement. After interviewing Wilkerson alongside his attorneys, The Post on Wednesday sent a detailed list of claims and questions raised by Wilkerson’s allegations to representatives for Trump, Trump Media and the Trump Organization, Trump’s long-running family business. Only Trump Media responded, saying in a statement that Trump, as company chairman, had hired former congressman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) as CEO to “create a culture of compliance and build a world-class team to lead Truth Social.” The company said it was already a success, having launched on the Apple and Google app stores, “executed multiple feature updates” and attracted millions of users. “Ignoring these achievements, The Washington Post sent us an inquiry rife with knowingly false and defamatory statements and other concocted psychodramas.” The statement did not directly address any of Wilkerson’s claims. Trump Media fired Wilkerson on Thursday, citing his “unauthorized disclosures” to The Post. Brewster, his attorney, called the termination “patent retaliation against an SEC whistleblower of the worst kind.” Digital World Acquisition, the SPAC that is pushing to take Trump Media public, has asked shareholders to give the company more time to finalize the merger, which would unlock hundreds of millions of dollars for Trump Media but is effectively frozen pending the outcomes of the federal investigations. Digital World and its chief executive, Patrick Orlando, did not respond to requests for comment. The revelations to the SEC from Wilkerson, the most prominent company official to speak publicly about its operations, come at a turbulent time for Trump Media’s business. Investors, discouraged by the halted merger, have sent the SPAC’s share price plunging from a high of $175 to less than $18 on Friday. Roughly 4 million users follow Trump on the company’s sole product, Truth Social — far below his Twitter peak of 88 million. The company has pledged to investors it would surpass 50 million total users by 2024. In past public statements, Nunes, Orlando and Trump have argued that Trump Media will ultimately prove to be a successful business. But Wilkerson said he expects its internal problems could lead the company to fall apart. “We weren’t trying to be Trump Org 2.0,” he said. “We always saw Trump as the rocket fuel to send this thing to space. I wanted this to succeed more than anything. … But these are glaring issues, and they’re threatening me now for calling them out. I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.” Wilkerson, 38, isn’t a traditional Trump critic. When Litinsky and Moss, another former “Apprentice” contestant, first started discussing the idea of a multipronged Trump media business after Trump’s November 2020 election loss, the men had asked for his help developing the business, Wilkerson said. A former executive producer for Litinsky’s conservative radio show, Wilkerson was excited about monetizing the following of a person he considered a master marketer with 40 years as a political and household name. Wilkerson shared a photo from that time of the men sketching the original concept on a whiteboard, titled “Trump’s New Media Empire,” that would ultimately compose the company’s public pitch, including new business lines (“Trump Digital Subscription,” “Trump Documentaries”) and a chain of “Trump technologies,” including in servers and online payments. After Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and Trump was banned from major social networks, the men drew up plans for a tech platform that would be “resilient to cancel culture and the impact of bias against the right,” according to the daily log Wilkerson shared with The Post and the SEC. To meet with Trump, the men sought help from another “Apprentice” contestant, Bradford Cohen, a Florida criminal-defense attorney who represented two rappers, Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, to whom Trump had granted clemency on his final day in the White House. In late January, three weeks after the riot, Cohen, Litinsky and Moss met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his opulent home and club in Palm Beach, Fla., to discuss the idea. Over cheeseburgers, Diet Cokes and ice cream, the men offered to build Trump a media company that he would own 90 percent of without putting in any of his own money, Wilkerson said. He was interested, and Trump Media was born. Cohen and Moss did not respond to requests for comment. Raising money, however, proved to be a major challenge. The investment bankers they called rejected them because of fears over Trump’s post-election behavior, Wilkerson said. So they started cold-calling SPACs. Known as “blank-check companies,” SPACs sell shares to investors before merging with a private company, allowing the combined business to make money on the stock market without abiding by the traditional transparency requirements of a public listing. They ultimately found a willing partner in Orlando, a financier in Miami who had recently launched a SPAC, Benessere Capital Acquisition, with $100 million in its coffers. In late February, Orlando, Wilkerson and...

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-140/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;68;43;60;43;Fog in the morning;SE;5;56%;25%;3 Albuquerque, NM;76;52;56;45;Windy;E;22;59%;98%;1 Anchorage, AK;40;35;43;37;Showers around;NNE;7;86%;82%;0 Asheville, NC;80;50;76;52;Mostly cloudy;NW;7;55%;85%;3 Atlanta, GA;81;52;83;58;Partly sunny;WSW;6;50%;25%;5 Atlantic City, NJ;68;55;68;56;Partly sunny;S;7;51%;93%;3 Austin, TX;92;72;90;65;A shower and t-storm;ENE;6;62%;94%;2 Baltimore, MD;78;52;71;57;Becoming cloudy;SSE;5;49%;92%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;88;60;88;66;Mostly cloudy;SE;6;62%;30%;4 Billings, MT;64;38;64;41;Sunny;S;6;50%;3%;3 Birmingham, AL;83;54;82;58;High clouds;SW;7;55%;28%;5 Bismarck, ND;59;29;46;20;Cooler;N;12;42%;4%;3 Boise, ID;76;46;77;44;Sunny and warm;E;6;28%;0%;3 Boston, MA;70;51;67;48;Some sun;SSE;6;57%;12%;3 Bridgeport, CT;68;48;66;48;Partly sunny;SW;7;51%;55%;3 Buffalo, NY;55;41;61;45;Breezy in the a.m.;WSW;11;51%;59%;3 Burlington, VT;69;42;59;42;Decreasing clouds;SE;7;59%;16%;3 Caribou, ME;65;47;61;42;Becoming cloudy;N;5;62%;21%;3 Casper, WY;55;33;60;32;Sunny;S;6;48%;2%;4 Charleston, SC;76;56;82;64;Mostly sunny;S;7;49%;9%;5 Charleston, WV;77;47;72;47;Showers around;SW;7;67%;90%;2 Charlotte, NC;79;53;82;58;Mostly cloudy;SW;7;48%;53%;3 Cheyenne, WY;59;34;57;33;Partly sunny;WNW;7;53%;0%;4 Chicago, IL;54;44;56;32;Breezy;WNW;14;53%;5%;2 Cleveland, OH;57;45;65;44;Milder;W;13;48%;57%;4 Columbia, SC;82;52;86;61;Mostly sunny;SSW;7;46%;19%;5 Columbus, OH;60;40;69;39;Mostly sunny;WNW;9;43%;11%;4 Concord, NH;70;41;65;37;Some sun;SE;6;58%;11%;3 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;93;68;74;61;A shower and t-storm;NNE;9;77%;98%;1 Denver, CO;64;41;58;40;Partly sunny;SSW;6;60%;1%;4 Des Moines, IA;64;40;57;28;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;51%;5%;4 Detroit, MI;55;41;61;40;Becoming cloudy;W;9;53%;86%;3 Dodge City, KS;78;45;68;35;Partly sunny;NNE;11;49%;3%;4 Duluth, MN;45;38;43;26;A snow squall;NNW;15;64%;57%;2 El Paso, TX;85;60;73;53;Rain and a t-storm;NE;7;67%;99%;3 Fairbanks, AK;35;27;36;24;Mostly cloudy;NNE;6;70%;72%;1 Fargo, ND;53;31;43;22;Partly sunny, breezy;NNW;17;56%;25%;3 Grand Junction, CO;74;43;71;42;Partly sunny;ENE;7;35%;0%;4 Grand Rapids, MI;50;40;53;36;Inc. clouds;WNW;9;68%;88%;2 Hartford, CT;71;47;67;46;Sun, some clouds;SSW;6;55%;26%;4 Helena, MT;63;34;66;38;Sunny and pleasant;SSW;5;48%;0%;3 Honolulu, HI;86;73;87;73;Sunshine, pleasant;ENE;10;53%;14%;7 Houston, TX;90;72;89;70;A thundershower;ESE;7;66%;92%;4 Indianapolis, IN;60;41;66;35;Mostly sunny;WNW;9;48%;6%;4 Jackson, MS;88;58;85;62;Considerable clouds;WNW;6;58%;24%;3 Jacksonville, FL;82;60;86;65;Mostly sunny;SE;6;55%;10%;5 Juneau, AK;55;49;59;49;A shower in the p.m.;ESE;7;81%;100%;1 Kansas City, MO;74;47;68;37;Abundant sunshine;N;8;44%;4%;4 Knoxville, TN;83;55;73;53;A shower in the p.m.;WSW;8;68%;96%;1 Las Vegas, NV;88;62;83;60;Sunshine;NE;6;43%;0%;4 Lexington, KY;71;45;72;41;A shower;W;8;59%;83%;3 Little Rock, AR;91;62;71;52;Rain, a thunderstorm;NNW;7;82%;83%;2 Long Beach, CA;74;63;72;61;Low clouds breaking;WNW;6;70%;6%;3 Los Angeles, CA;70;61;73;59;Low clouds breaking;SW;6;75%;7%;4 Louisville, KY;68;46;74;43;Mostly sunny;WNW;8;50%;12%;4 Madison, WI;53;35;51;27;Mostly cloudy;NW;10;60%;3%;2 Memphis, TN;76;64;74;51;Rain, a thunderstorm;NW;6;75%;83%;2 Miami, FL;85;77;85;76;Showers around;NE;11;72%;94%;3 Milwaukee, WI;54;39;52;31;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;12;59%;15%;3 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;54;36;45;26;Chilly with clearing;NW;15;55%;3%;2 Mobile, AL;83;59;84;67;Mostly cloudy;S;7;64%;31%;4 Montgomery, AL;85;51;83;59;Partly sunny;SW;5;54%;5%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;43;32;38;29;Breezy in the a.m.;SW;19;67%;13%;4 Nashville, TN;79;55;70;43;A few showers;WNW;8;70%;88%;1 New Orleans, LA;86;68;85;71;Humid;SE;8;66%;36%;5 New York, NY;70;53;66;54;Partly sunny;S;7;46%;60%;3 Newark, NJ;70;49;67;51;Clouds and sunshine;S;6;46%;61%;3 Norfolk, VA;78;54;77;60;Clouds and sun;S;5;55%;88%;4 Oklahoma City, OK;89;59;70;47;Rain, a thunderstorm;N;10;69%;64%;1 Olympia, WA;79;43;76;44;Hazy sun and smoky;WSW;5;62%;4%;3 Omaha, NE;71;42;60;29;Breezy and cooler;NNW;13;49%;6%;4 Orlando, FL;86;68;87;69;Sunshine, pleasant;ESE;8;60%;4%;5 Philadelphia, PA;74;51;69;55;Partly sunny;SSE;6;43%;83%;3 Phoenix, AZ;84;65;80;65;A t-shower in spots;WNW;5;54%;40%;4 Pittsburgh, PA;66;39;67;44;Mostly sunny;SW;7;47%;27%;4 Portland, ME;64;47;62;45;Some sun;SE;5;68%;5%;3 Portland, OR;83;56;80;50;Hazy sun and smoky;SSW;7;44%;4%;3 Providence, RI;71;48;69;45;Partly sunny;SSW;5;57%;14%;4 Raleigh, NC;78;53;81;59;Inc. clouds;SSW;6;52%;61%;4 Reno, NV;80;41;78;41;Sunny and warm;W;4;26%;0%;4 Richmond, VA;78;53;77;59;Becoming cloudy;SSW;7;56%;98%;4 Roswell, NM;85;56;59;50;Rain, a thunderstorm;N;11;74%;100%;1 Sacramento, CA;81;53;78;51;Partly sunny;S;7;56%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;73;48;73;45;Mostly sunny;ESE;7;33%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;92;71;91;67;A shower and t-storm;E;7;61%;90%;5 San Diego, CA;71;64;73;64;Low clouds breaking;NNW;7;70%;27%;2 San Francisco, CA;63;56;65;55;Low clouds breaking;W;11;67%;1%;2 Savannah, GA;81;54;83;62;Mostly sunny;S;6;53%;11%;5 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;78;56;79;52;Smoky with hazy sun;SSW;6;44%;4%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;67;35;51;23;Breezy and cooler;NNW;14;45%;4%;3 Spokane, WA;76;41;77;42;Hazy sun;E;6;45%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;58;39;65;32;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;50%;5%;4 St. Louis, MO;66;44;70;38;Sunny and pleasant;NNW;8;44%;4%;4 Tampa, FL;87;68;89;68;Sunny and humid;ESE;7;67%;11%;5 Toledo, OH;53;39;62;37;Increasing clouds;W;8;55%;64%;4 Tucson, AZ;82;60;76;57;A shower in places;NE;7;54%;40%;5 Tulsa, OK;86;57;72;44;Partly sunny, cooler;N;7;59%;18%;3 Vero Beach, FL;85;72;86;68;Sunshine, pleasant;E;10;63%;5%;6 Washington, DC;76;52;72;57;Becoming cloudy;S;6;55%;93%;4 Wichita, KS;80;50;73;38;Partly sunny;NNE;11;49%;2%;4 Wilmington, DE;74;49;69;54;Clouds and sun;SSE;6;47%;81%;3 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-141/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;68;43;60;43;Fog in the morning;SE;5;56%;25%;3 Albuquerque, NM;76;52;56;45;Windy;E;22;59%;98%;1 Anchorage, AK;40;35;43;37;Showers around;NNE;7;86%;82%;0 Asheville, NC;80;50;76;52;Mostly cloudy;NW;7;55%;85%;3 Atlanta, GA;81;52;83;58;Partly sunny;WSW;6;50%;25%;5 Atlantic City, NJ;68;55;68;56;Partly sunny;S;7;51%;93%;3 Austin, TX;92;72;90;65;A shower and t-storm;ENE;6;62%;94%;2 Baltimore, MD;78;52;71;57;Becoming cloudy;SSE;5;49%;92%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;88;60;88;66;Mostly cloudy;SE;6;62%;30%;4 Billings, MT;64;38;64;41;Sunny;S;6;50%;3%;3 Birmingham, AL;83;54;82;58;High clouds;SW;7;55%;28%;5 Bismarck, ND;59;29;46;20;Cooler;N;12;42%;4%;3 Boise, ID;76;46;77;44;Sunny and warm;E;6;28%;0%;3 Boston, MA;70;51;67;48;Some sun;SSE;6;57%;12%;3 Bridgeport, CT;68;48;66;48;Partly sunny;SW;7;51%;55%;3 Buffalo, NY;55;41;61;45;Breezy in the a.m.;WSW;11;51%;59%;3 Burlington, VT;69;42;59;42;Decreasing clouds;SE;7;59%;16%;3 Caribou, ME;65;47;61;42;Becoming cloudy;N;5;62%;21%;3 Casper, WY;55;33;60;32;Sunny;S;6;48%;2%;4 Charleston, SC;76;56;82;64;Mostly sunny;S;7;49%;9%;5 Charleston, WV;77;47;72;47;Showers around;SW;7;67%;90%;2 Charlotte, NC;79;53;82;58;Mostly cloudy;SW;7;48%;53%;3 Cheyenne, WY;59;34;57;33;Partly sunny;WNW;7;53%;0%;4 Chicago, IL;54;44;56;32;Breezy;WNW;14;53%;5%;2 Cleveland, OH;57;45;65;44;Milder;W;13;48%;57%;4 Columbia, SC;82;52;86;61;Mostly sunny;SSW;7;46%;19%;5 Columbus, OH;60;40;69;39;Mostly sunny;WNW;9;43%;11%;4 Concord, NH;70;41;65;37;Some sun;SE;6;58%;11%;3 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;93;68;74;61;A shower and t-storm;NNE;9;77%;98%;1 Denver, CO;64;41;58;40;Partly sunny;SSW;6;60%;1%;4 Des Moines, IA;64;40;57;28;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;51%;5%;4 Detroit, MI;55;41;61;40;Becoming cloudy;W;9;53%;86%;3 Dodge City, KS;78;45;68;35;Partly sunny;NNE;11;49%;3%;4 Duluth, MN;45;38;43;26;A snow squall;NNW;15;64%;57%;2 El Paso, TX;85;60;73;53;Rain and a t-storm;NE;7;67%;99%;3 Fairbanks, AK;35;27;36;24;Mostly cloudy;NNE;6;70%;72%;1 Fargo, ND;53;31;43;22;Partly sunny, breezy;NNW;17;56%;25%;3 Grand Junction, CO;74;43;71;42;Partly sunny;ENE;7;35%;0%;4 Grand Rapids, MI;50;40;53;36;Inc. clouds;WNW;9;68%;88%;2 Hartford, CT;71;47;67;46;Sun, some clouds;SSW;6;55%;26%;4 Helena, MT;63;34;66;38;Sunny and pleasant;SSW;5;48%;0%;3 Honolulu, HI;86;73;87;73;Sunshine, pleasant;ENE;10;53%;14%;7 Houston, TX;90;72;89;70;A thundershower;ESE;7;66%;92%;4 Indianapolis, IN;60;41;66;35;Mostly sunny;WNW;9;48%;6%;4 Jackson, MS;88;58;85;62;Considerable clouds;WNW;6;58%;24%;3 Jacksonville, FL;82;60;86;65;Mostly sunny;SE;6;55%;10%;5 Juneau, AK;55;49;59;49;A shower in the p.m.;ESE;7;81%;100%;1 Kansas City, MO;74;47;68;37;Abundant sunshine;N;8;44%;4%;4 Knoxville, TN;83;55;73;53;A shower in the p.m.;WSW;8;68%;96%;1 Las Vegas, NV;88;62;83;60;Sunshine;NE;6;43%;0%;4 Lexington, KY;71;45;72;41;A shower;W;8;59%;83%;3 Little Rock, AR;91;62;71;52;Rain, a thunderstorm;NNW;7;82%;83%;2 Long Beach, CA;74;63;72;61;Low clouds breaking;WNW;6;70%;6%;3 Los Angeles, CA;70;61;73;59;Low clouds breaking;SW;6;75%;7%;4 Louisville, KY;68;46;74;43;Mostly sunny;WNW;8;50%;12%;4 Madison, WI;53;35;51;27;Mostly cloudy;NW;10;60%;3%;2 Memphis, TN;76;64;74;51;Rain, a thunderstorm;NW;6;75%;83%;2 Miami, FL;85;77;85;76;Showers around;NE;11;72%;94%;3 Milwaukee, WI;54;39;52;31;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;12;59%;15%;3 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;54;36;45;26;Chilly with clearing;NW;15;55%;3%;2 Mobile, AL;83;59;84;67;Mostly cloudy;S;7;64%;31%;4 Montgomery, AL;85;51;83;59;Partly sunny;SW;5;54%;5%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;43;32;38;29;Breezy in the a.m.;SW;19;67%;13%;4 Nashville, TN;79;55;70;43;A few showers;WNW;8;70%;88%;1 New Orleans, LA;86;68;85;71;Humid;SE;8;66%;36%;5 New York, NY;70;53;66;54;Partly sunny;S;7;46%;60%;3 Newark, NJ;70;49;67;51;Clouds and sunshine;S;6;46%;61%;3 Norfolk, VA;78;54;77;60;Clouds and sun;S;5;55%;88%;4 Oklahoma City, OK;89;59;70;47;Rain, a thunderstorm;N;10;69%;64%;1 Olympia, WA;79;43;76;44;Hazy sun and smoky;WSW;5;62%;4%;3 Omaha, NE;71;42;60;29;Breezy and cooler;NNW;13;49%;6%;4 Orlando, FL;86;68;87;69;Sunshine, pleasant;ESE;8;60%;4%;5 Philadelphia, PA;74;51;69;55;Partly sunny;SSE;6;43%;83%;3 Phoenix, AZ;84;65;80;65;A t-shower in spots;WNW;5;54%;40%;4 Pittsburgh, PA;66;39;67;44;Mostly sunny;SW;7;47%;27%;4 Portland, ME;64;47;62;45;Some sun;SE;5;68%;5%;3 Portland, OR;83;56;80;50;Hazy sun and smoky;SSW;7;44%;4%;3 Providence, RI;71;48;69;45;Partly sunny;SSW;5;57%;14%;4 Raleigh, NC;78;53;81;59;Inc. clouds;SSW;6;52%;61%;4 Reno, NV;80;41;78;41;Sunny and warm;W;4;26%;0%;4 Richmond, VA;78;53;77;59;Becoming cloudy;SSW;7;56%;98%;4 Roswell, NM;85;56;59;50;Rain, a thunderstorm;N;11;74%;100%;1 Sacramento, CA;81;53;78;51;Partly sunny;S;7;56%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;73;48;73;45;Mostly sunny;ESE;7;33%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;92;71;91;67;A shower and t-storm;E;7;61%;90%;5 San Diego, CA;71;64;73;64;Low clouds breaking;NNW;7;70%;27%;2 San Francisco, CA;63;56;65;55;Low clouds breaking;W;11;67%;1%;2 Savannah, GA;81;54;83;62;Mostly sunny;S;6;53%;11%;5 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;78;56;79;52;Smoky with hazy sun;SSW;6;44%;4%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;67;35;51;23;Breezy and cooler;NNW;14;45%;4%;3 Spokane, WA;76;41;77;42;Hazy sun;E;6;45%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;58;39;65;32;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;50%;5%;4 St. Louis, MO;66;44;70;38;Sunny and pleasant;NNW;8;44%;4%;4 Tampa, FL;87;68;89;68;Sunny and humid;ESE;7;67%;11%;5 Toledo, OH;53;39;62;37;Increasing clouds;W;8;55%;64%;4 Tucson, AZ;82;60;76;57;A shower in places;NE;7;54%;40%;5 Tulsa, OK;86;57;72;44;Partly sunny, cooler;N;7;59%;18%;3 Vero Beach, FL;85;72;86;68;Sunshine, pleasant;E;10;63%;5%;6 Washington, DC;76;52;72;57;Becoming cloudy;S;6;55%;93%;4 Wichita, KS;80;50;73;38;Partly sunny;NNE;11;49%;2%;4 Wilmington, DE;74;49;69;54;Clouds and sun;SSE;6;47%;81%;3 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

D.A. To Charge Raleigh Shooting Suspect As An Adult As Chilling 911 Calls Describe Chaos, Bodies On The Ground https://digitalalaskanews.com/d-a-to-charge-raleigh-shooting-suspect-as-an-adult-as-chilling-911-calls-describe-chaos-bodies-on-the-ground/ RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina district attorney said Friday that she intends to charge the 15-year-old suspected in a mass shooting that killed five people in Raleigh as an adult.  Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said that her office had filed petitions to transfer the case “to Superior Court and to proceed against the individual as an adult.” The suspect, who has not been identified, remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday, authorities said.  Freeman’s announcement came as a neighborhood northeast of Raleigh was left reeling and families of those killed mourned their loss. In 911 calls released Friday, several people described seeing bodies on the ground and begged the operators to send help. “There’s people out front,” one man said. “I think someone just got shot. I think I heard three or four gunshots. There were people screaming.” Another caller said that two of her neighbors had been shot and that one was lying in a bush and the other on a porch. “We heard the shots and we heard them screaming,” she said. “And so we got down.” In another call, a man said an off-duty officer had been shot in the chest and described the shooter as wearing “all camouflage.” The massacre unfolded Thursday evening on the street and then along the Neuse River Greenway as people were walking their dogs or out for a run, police said. The victims ranged in age from 16 to their 50s and have been identified as Nicole Connors, 52; Susan Karnatz, 49; Mary Marshall, 35; Gabriel Torres, 29, an off-duty Raleigh police officer who was on his way to work; and James Thompson, 16.  Two people were injured in the attack: Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark, 33, who was treated and released from a hospital, and Marcille Gardner, 59, who was listed in critical condition. Saynya Jones described her family’s harrowing encounter with the gunman. “My family was outside actually walking back on the greenway where he walked down and they had to run into somebody’s house,” Jones, 32, said Friday. Jones lives a few houses down from Torres, one of the victims. “He shot somebody in the park and then came down and shot my neighbor while he was coming out to get something in the car.” “Why did a 15-year-old have access to stuff like that?” she said of the suspect’s weapon. Officials said the suspect was taken into custody after a “long standoff” with police and was in critical condition. Nicole Connors and her dog, Sami, were shot and killed.Courtesy Tracey Howard Connors was killed alongside her dog, Sami, a roughly 13-year-old Jack Russell mix. Her husband remembered her Friday as a “go-getter” and a caring person who always “looked out for” others. She was a “caregiver” who left a job in human resources to care for her mother after she had a stroke, her husband, Tracey Howard, told NBC News on Friday morning. She always knew how to “take charge of everything” in order to help her loved ones, Howard said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I always thought it would be me to go before she went,” he said. Mary Marshall, 35, was to be married at the end of the month.Mary Marshall via Facebook / via Facebook Marshall, another victim of the shooting, was set to be married in two weeks, Oct. 29, her sister Meaghan McCrickard said on Friday.  “Her fiancé Rob, he was just the love of her life,” McCrickard said. “I think we’re going to still do a celebration of life, that’s the plan, for the date of the wedding.” “She is just a light. She loved everyone. The most loyal, loving person I’ve ever known. And we just want people to know that about her,” McCrickard said. But the family is still “numb” and in “disbelief.”  Ginny Marshall, Marshall’s mother, sobbed as she spoke about the loss of her daughter.  “Mary’s birthday is next week and she was going to be married in two weeks,” she said with tears running down her cheeks. “We don’t know what to do.” McCrickard said she wants the shooter to survive his injuries and face justice.  “I want him to know what he did and how he completely shattered our lives and we are never going to be the same. I don’t want him to get off,” she said. Susan Karnatz had three boys and loved nature, her sister said.Sue Butler Karnatz via Facebook Karnatz, a wife and mother to three boys, “loved life and nature, and had the most gentle of hearts,” her sister, Sharon Butler Kaivani, wrote in a post on Facebook. “She loved her family fiercely and there is a big hole there now,” she wrote. “As is the case for so many who lose loved ones too soon, the tragedy seems so very senseless, and I just can’t understand it.”  “I know that this loss is one of many yesterday, affecting so many people. Profoundly. Other families are aching just as we are,” she wrote. Tom Karnatz, Susan’s husband, wrote a tribute to his wife describing “plans together for big adventures” and “plans together for the mundane days in between,” plans with their three children and plans to grow old together. “Now those plans are laid to waste,” he wrote.  Instead, the couple now has “memories together of joyous occasions” and “memories together of plain times in between,” memories from before their children were born and “many memories together” with their boys. Keith Richardson, principal of Knightdale High School, said in a statement Friday that Thompson, the youngest victim, was a junior at the school. “This is an incredibly difficult time for our school community as well as the broader Raleigh community,” Richardson wrote in a statement. “Our condolences, thoughts, and prayers go out to James’ family, the other victims, their families and all who have been impacted by yesterday’s events.” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called the shooting spree “the nightmare of every community.” President Joe Biden said Friday that he was grieving alongside the families of loved ones killed “in yet mass shooting in America” and called for a ban on assault weapons. “We are thinking of yet another community shaken and shattered as they mourn the loss of friends and neighbors, including an off-duty police officer,” Biden said in a statement. Daniella Silva and Marlene Lenthang reported from New York, and Jo Yurcaba reported from North Carolina. Read More Here

Biden Makes Late Push Across West Aiming To Deliver Votes For Democrats https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-makes-late-push-across-west-aiming-to-deliver-votes-for-democrats/ President Joe Biden strode into the telephone bank at a crowded union hall and eagerly began making calls and eating doughnuts — one frosted, one glazed — to try and deliver votes for Democrats. “What a governor does matters,” the president said, giving a pep talk to volunteers who were making Friday night calls for gubernatorial hopeful Tina Kotek and other candidates. “It matters! It matters, it matters, it matters!” Before he left Portland on Saturday, the president planned to attend a reception for Kotek and speak about his administration’s efforts to bring down costs for Americans. It was the final stop on a four-day swing through Oregon, California and Colorado that has encapsulated Biden’s strategy for turning out voters on Election Day, Nov. 8: flex the levers of government to help boost candidates, promote an agenda aimed at strengthening an uncertain economy and haul in campaign cash. And this: show up for candidates when Mr. Biden can be helpful, but steer clear of places where a visit from a president with approval ratings under 50% may not be as welcome. Throughout the trip, Mr. Biden had to compete for the spotlight and contend with a troubling new inflation report and rising gas prices. In Oregon, Democratic officials hope that the president can help consolidate the party’s support behind Kotek. The party is in danger of losing the governor’s race in the traditional Democratic stronghold as Betsy Johnson — who has quit both the Democratic and Republican parties — has run a well-financed race against Kotek and the GOP nominee Christine Drazan. The settings throughout the president’s trip were tailor-made for him. In Los Angeles on Thursday, at a construction site for an extension on the city’s subway line, he spoke about his massive infrastructure law. Giant cranes rose up behind him as he stood before bulldozers and excavators. Many on hand were hard-hat workers in construction orange. The stop neatly combined many of the president’s agenda’s successes: investments in infrastructure, job creation, fighting climate change by promoting mass transit. “When you see these projects in your neighborhood — cranes going up, shovels in the ground, lives being changed — I want you to feel the way I do: pride,” Mr. Biden said. “Pride in what we can do when we do it together. This is what I mean when I say we’re building a better America.” But his remarks came as the government reported that consumer prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, jumped 6.6% in September from a year ago — the fastest such pace in four decades. Mr. Biden acknowledged that people were being “squeezed by the cost of living. It’s been true for years, and folks don’t need a report to tell them they’re being squeezed.” IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 14: U.S. President Joe Biden (L) poses for photos after he delivered remarks on lowering costs for American families at Irvine Valley College in Orange County on October 14, 2022 in Irvine, California. Mario Tama / Getty Images Democratic candidates have been far more likely to appear with the president at official White House events underscoring their achievements than at overt campaign events. In California, Mr. Biden was joined by state lawmakers and the city’s mayor, and he called them out individually. Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, made a takeout run with Mr. Biden to a taco shop. The president raised $5 million at a fundraiser in the Brentwood backyard of TV producer Marcy Carsey. Guests included fashion designer Tom Ford and actor-filmmaker Rob Reiner. In Colorado, the president designated the first national monument of his administration at Camp Hale, a World War II-era training site, with a group of Democrats by his side. His audience in a canyon of stunning views, tall pines and bright yellow aspens included Sen. Michael Bennet, who is facing a tough reelection campaign and had worked for the new monument. Democrats hope the designation, popular in the state, will boost Bennet’s numbers. Early voting is underway in California and begins next week in Oregon and Colorado. The president notably stayed away from states where his presence could hurt Democrats, so far skipping Nevada and Arizona, where Democratic senators are tough races. Democrats are trying to retain power in the face of widespread economic uncertainty and the traditional midterm headwinds against the party in power. Republicans, aiming to regain the House and Senate, think they can capitalize on gas prices, inflation and the economy. During his taco stop, Mr. Biden’s chicken quesadilla order ran to $16.45, but he handed the clerk $60 and asked him to use the change to pay the next patron’s bill. It was the kind of personal connection the president loves. But while the moment was unfolding, the headlines in Los Angeles focused on a bitter City Council clash over racist remarks, while in Washington, it was all about how the House voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump on his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. In: Los Angeles Colorado Economy Joe Biden Oregon Gas Prices Inflation California Elections Michael Bennet Read More Here

Marin Green Home Tour Set For October 19-20 https://digitalalaskanews.com/marin-green-home-tour-set-for-october-19-20/ By Emil Guillermo In communities of color, athletes in the U.S. are practically royalty. They don’t call Lebron “King James” for nothing. Star athletes can do no wrong. Until they do. Just ask O.J. But when athletes steer clear of any of that, generally they are treated like gods who live above the rim. After all, they are our heroes because they’re winners. They may have started out regular, like the rest of us, but their god-given talents have made them rise above it all. And that makes it difficult when they start to behave like mere mortals who do some pretty regrettable things. Just look at Herschel Walker or Draymond Green. Let’s take Walker first. If you’re a Bay Area guy like me, Georgia’s Walker is not the greatest running back ever. Give me Marcus Allen. Or even Texas’ Earl Campbell. Both of them would rather run over linebackers, not Democrats. Walker is different. We know that Walker denies giving money to pay for a former partner’s abortion. But now the same female partner claims Walker wanted her to have a second abortion, though she declined and had the child. Mind you, I’m choosing to skip all the accusations about Walker’s general hypocrisy from his son, Christian. It’s important, but I’ll give Walker the benefit of the doubt considering his grandstanding son. But the woman who claims Walker has consulted her on abortion isn’t grandstanding. She’s provided proof to the news site, the Daily Beast, and appears credible. All this shouldn’t even be political talk, but Walker is running as an anti-abortion, pro-life fundamentalist. The truth is relevant if it makes Walker out to be a liar. But maybe that’s good for a politician? Coming to Walker’s defense is no less than Donald Trump, who told the NY Times’ Maggie Haberman about Walker’s abundant qualities. “He was the best football player in the nation by far,” Trump said of Walker. When asked about his “complicated personal history,” Trump was quick to dismiss any criticism. “Ten years ago would be a problem, twenty years ago a bigger problem. I don’t think it’s a problem today,” Trump said. Haberman asked “why?” Because the world is changing. In other words, outright liars are rewarded in today’s corrupt Republican politics led by Godfather Trump. Anything goes, as long as you win. Trump’s blessing has opened the way for millions in political contributions and support from conservatives who shamelessly back the unqualified and truth-compromised Walker. But this is the kind of Black man Republicans want. Controllable. Who will do what they want. Run over Democrats with political athleticism! Doesn’t seem to stack up against the incumbent Senator, Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and the current preacher of MLK’s Ebenezer Baptist church. If Walker wins, we will feel the impact in California. Democrats can rely on Kamala Harris to break a tie on upcoming legislation on key issues like gun control, immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ rights. Oh, and there’s abortion. But there will be no heroics from Harris if Republicans gain the majority and have Herschel Walker in their pocket. He will do anything they say. He’s their star athlete. He can do no wrong. At Least Draymond Green Doesn’t Want to Be Senator Draymond Green says he’s going to take some time away from the Golden State Warriors. He’s already taken some of their credibility. Of course, you’ve seen the video of Green punching his teammate Jordan Poole at a recent Warriors practice. The Warriors are mostly upset that video of the punch found its way to the public. But at least we got the truth. The punch was a clear battery, and chargeable. The Warriors preferred to keep it in house. Keep it in house? That sounds like Jeffrey Dahmer. The video shows undeniable workplace violence. Green, who is 6-ft-6-inches, 230 pounds, is punching the smaller Poole, who is two inches shorter and almost 40 pounds lighter. Sports commentators downplay the punch, saying these are men playing an aggressive game, and it’s to be expected. Not when the gym is your workplace. Punch your boss and you’ll get fired. Or sued. Is this the NBA’s message, that physical bullying is OK? Two weeks ago, the NBA fined Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver $10 million and banned him from the game for one year for “workplace misconduct,” involving anti-Black racism, as well as misogynistic and sexual comments. Is that worse than punching a teammate in practice? Green has apologized and said he’s going to take time to “work on himself.” But it’s going to take a lot more than using that meditation app LeBron James pushes. For the NBA and the Golden State Warriors, the action that must be taken is clear. They must condemn workplace violence by athletes unequivocally. Athletes shouldn’t be treated as winners when they act like losers. Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a talk show on www.amok.com Read More Here

Mother Jones’ COO Jahna Berry To Receive Bay Area Business Award https://digitalalaskanews.com/mother-jones-coo-jahna-berry-to-receive-bay-area-business-award/ By Emil Guillermo In communities of color, athletes in the U.S. are practically royalty. They don’t call Lebron “King James” for nothing. Star athletes can do no wrong. Until they do. Just ask O.J. But when athletes steer clear of any of that, generally they are treated like gods who live above the rim. After all, they are our heroes because they’re winners. They may have started out regular, like the rest of us, but their god-given talents have made them rise above it all. And that makes it difficult when they start to behave like mere mortals who do some pretty regrettable things. Just look at Herschel Walker or Draymond Green. Let’s take Walker first. If you’re a Bay Area guy like me, Georgia’s Walker is not the greatest running back ever. Give me Marcus Allen. Or even Texas’ Earl Campbell. Both of them would rather run over linebackers, not Democrats. Walker is different. We know that Walker denies giving money to pay for a former partner’s abortion. But now the same female partner claims Walker wanted her to have a second abortion, though she declined and had the child. Mind you, I’m choosing to skip all the accusations about Walker’s general hypocrisy from his son, Christian. It’s important, but I’ll give Walker the benefit of the doubt considering his grandstanding son. But the woman who claims Walker has consulted her on abortion isn’t grandstanding. She’s provided proof to the news site, the Daily Beast, and appears credible. All this shouldn’t even be political talk, but Walker is running as an anti-abortion, pro-life fundamentalist. The truth is relevant if it makes Walker out to be a liar. But maybe that’s good for a politician? Coming to Walker’s defense is no less than Donald Trump, who told the NY Times’ Maggie Haberman about Walker’s abundant qualities. “He was the best football player in the nation by far,” Trump said of Walker. When asked about his “complicated personal history,” Trump was quick to dismiss any criticism. “Ten years ago would be a problem, twenty years ago a bigger problem. I don’t think it’s a problem today,” Trump said. Haberman asked “why?” Because the world is changing. In other words, outright liars are rewarded in today’s corrupt Republican politics led by Godfather Trump. Anything goes, as long as you win. Trump’s blessing has opened the way for millions in political contributions and support from conservatives who shamelessly back the unqualified and truth-compromised Walker. But this is the kind of Black man Republicans want. Controllable. Who will do what they want. Run over Democrats with political athleticism! Doesn’t seem to stack up against the incumbent Senator, Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and the current preacher of MLK’s Ebenezer Baptist church. If Walker wins, we will feel the impact in California. Democrats can rely on Kamala Harris to break a tie on upcoming legislation on key issues like gun control, immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ rights. Oh, and there’s abortion. But there will be no heroics from Harris if Republicans gain the majority and have Herschel Walker in their pocket. He will do anything they say. He’s their star athlete. He can do no wrong. At Least Draymond Green Doesn’t Want to Be Senator Draymond Green says he’s going to take some time away from the Golden State Warriors. He’s already taken some of their credibility. Of course, you’ve seen the video of Green punching his teammate Jordan Poole at a recent Warriors practice. The Warriors are mostly upset that video of the punch found its way to the public. But at least we got the truth. The punch was a clear battery, and chargeable. The Warriors preferred to keep it in house. Keep it in house? That sounds like Jeffrey Dahmer. The video shows undeniable workplace violence. Green, who is 6-ft-6-inches, 230 pounds, is punching the smaller Poole, who is two inches shorter and almost 40 pounds lighter. Sports commentators downplay the punch, saying these are men playing an aggressive game, and it’s to be expected. Not when the gym is your workplace. Punch your boss and you’ll get fired. Or sued. Is this the NBA’s message, that physical bullying is OK? Two weeks ago, the NBA fined Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver $10 million and banned him from the game for one year for “workplace misconduct,” involving anti-Black racism, as well as misogynistic and sexual comments. Is that worse than punching a teammate in practice? Green has apologized and said he’s going to take time to “work on himself.” But it’s going to take a lot more than using that meditation app LeBron James pushes. For the NBA and the Golden State Warriors, the action that must be taken is clear. They must condemn workplace violence by athletes unequivocally. Athletes shouldn’t be treated as winners when they act like losers. Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a talk show on www.amok.com Read More Here

Abortion And Election Rule Fights Amp Up Attorney General Races https://digitalalaskanews.com/abortion-and-election-rule-fights-amp-up-attorney-general-races/ October 15, 2022 03:15 PM Running for state attorney general is often seen as a stepping stone to higher office. To the point that political wags quip the “AG” role stands for “aspiring governor.” But brewing fights over state abortion laws, how to conduct elections, and other hot-button issues have turned attorney general races into top-tier midterm elections contests. There are 30 attorney general seats on the ballot in 2022, and several are attracting media coverage and candidate spending traditionally reserved for statewide contests such as senator and governor. Voters are hiring their top law enforcement figures not just for traditional roles such as bringing lawsuits to stop corporate monopolies and trying to institute or fight environmental regulations. And Republicans say they’re primed for pickups in attorney general races. Particularly with persistently low approval ratings for President Joe Biden amid the worst inflation in 40 years and high gas prices. “As we’ve seen over the last two years, Republican AGs are the only thing standing between Americans and the radical progressive agenda — including defunding the police and overreaching government mandates that affect everything from education to energy — being pushed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress,” Peter Bisbee, executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association, told the Washington Examiner. BLACKBURN SEEKS ACTION AFTER DOCTOR TOUTS PROFITS OF TRANSGENDER SURGERIES ON VIDEO But Democrats contend the Supreme Court’s June 24 Dobbs decision is now front and center in many attorney general contests. The ruling declared that there is no constitutional right to abortion and sent the issue back to the states to decide. “Abortion is a top issue in many of our races. We have several Democratic incumbents working to protect reproductive rights and abortion access,” Geoff Burgan, communications director for the Democratic Attorneys General Association, told the Washington Examiner. The abortion issue has helped put the Georgia attorney general’s race on the national radar, in September earning a “competitive” rating from Sabato’s Crystal Ball, out of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr is drawing criticism from Democrats for working to enforce Georgia’s six-week abortion ban. On Nov. 8, Carr faces Democratic nominee Jen Jordan, a state senator and attorney. The attorney general race is likely to draw a heavy turnout as Georgia voters are also making choices for governor, senator, secretary of state, and other races. Jordan “is running a really strong race in that campaign, and Carr is on the defensive,” Burgan said. Beyond public policy issues, the way that elections are conducted also has become a central issue in attorney general races. Former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” or “stolen” have seeped into several attorney general contests. In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is defending her seat against Republican nominee Matt DePerno, a western Michigan attorney and first-time candidate who was involved in efforts to overturn Biden’s 2020 win in the Wolverine State. In Arizona, the attorney general’s office is open because incumbent Mark Brnovich is term-limited. But Brnovich is a cautionary tale for Republicans who cross Trump over election fraud claims. Brnovich lost a Senate GOP primary bid on Aug. 2 after becoming a Trump target for being insufficiently aggressive, in the former president’s view, about rooting out voter fraud and other irregularities in 2020 balloting. A report Brnovich issued on April 6 found no evidence of widespread voter fraud or irregularities in Maricopa County, Arizona’s population base and the central locale for election-related conspiracies by Trump supporters. The Republican attorney general nominee is attorney Abe Hamadeh, a former prosecutor in the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office. Hamadeh has firmly aligned himself with Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, the Arizona GOP’s nominees for governor and secretary of state, respectively, who have both repeatedly rejected the results of the 2020 election. Hamadeh has also pledged to “prosecute the crimes of the rigged 2020 election” if elected and has seemingly endorsed efforts to “decertify” his state’s 2020 presidential electors. Hamadeh is locked in a tight contest, according to polls, with Democratic nominee Kris Mayes, a former state corporation commissioner. Mayes is touting her bipartisan appeal, having been a member of that regulatory body as a Republican from 2003-2011 who also worked for former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER  “Arizona is a very independent place,” said Burgan, from the Democratic attorneys general group. Hamadeh’s “extreme Trump brand of politics does not win in Arizona.” Bisbee, the Republican attorneys general group head, said voters in those contests are likely to vote on other issues. “The woke Left wants to limit our Second Amendment rights, Washington bureaucrats are pushing unconstitutional environmental regulations, and Big Tech companies are censoring free speech,” Bisbee said. “But rest assured, in the new year, Republican AGs will continue their pursuit to protect Americans from these harmful policies and practices.” Read More Here

Florida Is ‘MAGA Republican Capital Of The Confederacy’: Democratic Pollster On MSNBC https://digitalalaskanews.com/florida-is-maga-republican-capital-of-the-confederacy-democratic-pollster-on-msnbc/ Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi called Florida the “MAGA Republican capital of the confederacy” during the latest episode of MSNBC’s “The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross.” The frequent MSNBC guest offered his incendiary claim as part of a panel discussion about a recent Anti-Defamation League report detailing how many of America’s domestic extremists, including those who trespassed on Capitol grounds on January 6, are from Florida. The segment clearly aimed at demonizing the Republican stronghold state governed by possible 2024 contender Ron DeSantis, a strategy that host Tiffany Cross has routinely employed on her show. Cross really leaned into it this time, introducing the discussion by calling Florida a “haven of hate” and showing photos of the state’s Republican governor. FLORIDA SHERIFF ANNOUNCES ARREST OF SEVEN MEN FOR ALLEGEDLY LOOTING AFTER HURRICANE IAN: ‘LOWEST FORM OF SCUM’  On Saturday, Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi told MSNBC host Tiffany Cross that Florida was the “capital” of the MAGA Republican confederacy. (Screenshot/MSNBC) She passed off the discussion to former FBI official turned media commentator Frank Figluizzi, who spoke about how alarming the ADL report was. Figliuzzi stated, “Florida is the third-largest state in terms of population but yet, by far, it has the most residents arrested for violence in January 6th. And, even worse, the report turns out to say that over a third of those people arrested from Florida from January 6th are actually networked with, have ties to larger extremist groups like Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.”  He added that Florida is a “safe environment” these people because “they have been given license by people like Ron DeSantis, Senator Marco Rubio.” Amandi upped the ante with his hyperbole following Figliuzzi’s statements. He began by expressing how much he agreed with his fellow panelist. “Tiffany, my experience echoes exactly what Frank Figliuzzi said.”  He claimed the state is not just a radical locale in America, it is the center of the radicalization that threatens the country. Amandi declared, “if we’re all honest with one another we have to recognize that Florida is not just a radicalized state with leadership that not only seems to be hostile to the rule of law and to American democracy, I think you can go ahead and say right now Florida is the MAGA Republican capital of the confederacy.” FLORIDA SPENDS NEARLY $1M FOR MIGRANT FLIGHTS TO DELAWARE, ILLINOIS THAT WERE POSTPONED Fl. Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers a press briefing following Hurricane Ian. He continued, calling it “the new confederacy where all of these folks are based out of.” Amandi added, “It’s no accident, as you heard Frank Figliuzzi list, all of the folks that who are part of the MAGA Republican movement consider this safe territory. Donald Trump and the Trump administration in exile, his handpicked protégé Ron DeSantis, and not to mention of all those extremist groups.” The pollster also noted that the state has a “disinformation problem,” citing conservative Spanish-language radio in the state. He concluded, “It’s no surprise that you have this as the point of the spear of the new MAGA Republican confederate movement, which unfortunately is only leading to the inevitable which I think will be a break with our American democracy.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.  (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Gabriel Hays is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.  Read More Here

It’s Election Season. Here Are 9 Local Races We’re Watching https://digitalalaskanews.com/its-election-season-here-are-9-local-races-were-watching/ It’s election season. On Oct. 18, ballots will be mailed to Utah’s registered voters — Election Day is Nov. 8, and by January, a few new faces will be sworn in to help lead the Beehive State. All eyes are on the U.S. House and Senate races, especially the high-profile matchup between incumbent GOP Sen. Mike Lee and Evan McMullin, an independent backed by the Utah Democratic Party. At the local and state level, interest isn’t as palpable as recent years, says Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, who after 32 years in office did not run for reelection this year. With midterm turnout typically lower than presidential elections and no voter referendums on the ballot, she said the county hasn’t seen a noticeable uptick in voter registration. In 2018, with issues like voting boundaries and medical marijuana on the ballot, Salt Lake County had an 82% turnout, incredibly high for a midterm. And in 2020, the county saw a whopping 90% voter turnout for the presidential election. “It was excellent,” Swensen said. “I’m always anxious to see that kind of repeat, we want to see more people engaged and participating. But so far, it has not been like that.” Even though the close race between Lee and McMullin is dominating the news, a number of important local races, including those for the Utah House and Senate, county councils and school boards, will also be on the ballot this year. “When you look at the Legislature, that’s where a lot of the important local decisions happen … this is where local government really impacts you,” said Davis County Clerk Curtis Koch, who told the Deseret News the county is expecting a 65% to 70% voter turnout this year. From a longtime Republican representative trying to keep his political career alive via a write-in campaign, to the first Navajo woman to run for the Utah Legislature, here are some of the races we’re watching. A few newcomers representing Salt Lake County Utah’s most populated county will see some new representation during this year’s legislative session. Senate District 9: Incumbent Sen. Derek Kitchen was ousted in a tight primary race by Jen Plumb, a doctor at Primary Children’s Hospital who for years has run Utah Naloxone, an advocacy organization that distributes and provides training for opioid reversal drugs. Plumb will face off against Vance Hansen, a write-in candidate who ran for the Salt Lake County Council in 2021. Senate District 13: Gene Davis, a Democrat who represented parts of Salt Lake County for over 30 years, lost his reelection to political newcomer Nate Blouin this spring. Davis has since been suspended from party events since August following sexual harassment allegations from a former intern. A renewable energy advocate, Blouin now faces off against Republican Roger Stout. Senate District 14: The district encompassing much of Millcreek, Holladay and Murray will have a new senator this year, although they might not be new to the Utah Legislature itself. That’s because Rep. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Salt Lake City, vacated her seat in the House to try her luck in the Senate. A deputy district attorney and lawmaker since 2019, Pitcher will face off against Republican Dan Sorensen, who owns Granite Insurance Agency in Murray, and United Utah candidate Dennis Roach. House District 32: With Rep. Suzanne Harrison, D-Sandy, deciding to run for Salt Lake County Council, a number of candidates stepped in hoping fill the void. Three remain: Sahara Hayes, a Millcreek County Council member and the Democratic nominee; Brittany Karzen, a Republican who currently works for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office; and United Utah candidate Adam Bean. Salt Lake County races to watch At the local level, there are a few races this year that could shake things up for Salt Lake County. Salt Lake County Council: Rep. Suzanne Harrison, D-Sandy, is challenging council member Richard Snelgrove for one of the county’s two at-large seats. Snelgrove, a Republican, was reelected to the at-large seat in 2016 and is one of six GOP members on the county’s nine-person council. His colleague, three-term council member Steve Debry, was ousted in the primary by Riverton City Council member Sheldon Stewart. Stewart does not face an opponent this November. Salt Lake County Clerk: After decades in the chair, Swensen is stepping down. She’s tapped Chief Deputy Clerk Lannie Chapman as her replacement — however, Chapman faces a challenge in Republican Goud Maragani. Maragani has faced recent criticism for old social media posts that claim Democrats stole the 2020 election and has expressed skepticism over mail-in ballots — a system that the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office has endorsed for nearly a decade. “In Goud’s opinion, the 2020 election was not stolen. Trump lost and Biden won,” reads Chapman’s website. “Goud has reviewed how the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office ran the 2020 election. The review did not show fraud, but it did find concerning shortcomings.” Davis County drama Don’t expect many surprises in Davis County this year, home to Republican strongholds including districts held by Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilson. However, the race for House District 16 could be interesting. Rep. Steve Handy has represented the Layton area for over 10 years, but in March during caucus night, he fell shy of the votes needed to qualifying for the primary. Instead, Republicans gave the nod to Trevor Lee, a staunch conservative with a background in business management and finance. Lee’s hardline views have come to light recently, stemming from an anonymous Twitter account where he called transgender people a derogatory term and said Brigham Young University was a “progressive cesspool” that “needs to be cleansed,” according to reporting by The Salt Lake Tribune. Handy is attempting a write-in campaign, a daunting challenge that has only succeeded once in the Utah Legislature. However, Handy has won recent endorsements from former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, and even Republican members of the Legislature including Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. The first Navajo woman to run for statewide office Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, has a Democratic challenger this year in Davina Smith, the first Navajo woman to run for the Utah House. The race is not without controversy, as Lyman filed a formal complaint with Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office in March, alleging Smith does not actually live in the district. Originally from Monument Valley, Smith looks to become the latest Native American politician to win voter approval in southeast Utah, following Ken Maryboy, who won his bid for San Juan County Commission in 2018. The election marked a historic shift, giving Navajo Democrats a majority on the traditionally white, Republican commission. Although Native Americans make up the majority of San Juan County’s population, public land issues often galvanize voters. Lyman, himself a former county commissioner, was elected to the House in 2019 several years after his role in a controversial protest in Recapture Canyon, home to Native American cliff dwellings. A jury found Lyman guilty of trespassing, he was later pardoned by former President Donald Trump. Read More Here

The Era Of The Paywalled Restaurants Is Upon Us https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-era-of-the-paywalled-restaurants-is-upon-us/ As long as there have been high-status, celebrity-studded restaurants, there have been people clamoring to get into them, working contacts, making phone calls, greasing palms. Lately, though, it can seem like every restaurant in New York is that kind of restaurant. In the pandemic era — with hours cut back in many cases, and a public eager to eat out once again — the competition for tables has reached a frenzied pitch on electronic reservation platforms. “Without over-embellishing, within five seconds basically all reservations are taken,” said Steve Saed, who started #FreeRezy, a free electronic forum where people could swap reservations among themselves. “It’s like winning the lottery to eat at these places,” he added. But a new generation of tactics have emerged to help would-be diners jump the line, including latter-day concierge services, NFTs granting holders special privileges, members-only credit card perks and private “clubstaurants.” What they all have in common is that they will cost you. “However many years ago, it was slip the host or hostess $20 and bypass the line,” said Alex Lee, the chief executive of Resy and vice president of American Express Dining. He runs the companies’ Global Dining Network, a program that offers a select group of Amex members (Amex owns Resy) access to certain restaurant perks through the reservation platform. The program, he suggested, is just the natural evolution of that furtive $20. For an annual credit card fee in the hundreds or sometimes thousands, Global Dining Access members can obtain priority reservations at hot restaurants across the United States. “The first thing customers want is access, right?” Mr. Lee said. But at certain members-only restaurants, a reservation alone is not enough. Haiku, a private sushi restaurant in Miami, makes a slightly different calculation. The restaurant accepts members by invitation only, for an annual fee, and asks them to commit to at least four reservations for a 10-to-12-course kaiseki-inspired omakase menu annually. The restaurant declined to discuss either the application process or the price. Jeff Zalaznick, a partner at Major Food Group, was only slightly more forthcoming about plans for the New York debut of ZZ’s Club, which will feature a members-only Carbone. Like the first ZZ’s in Miami, which offers members access to a Japanese restaurant, a sushi bar, a bar and lounge and a cigar terrace, ZZ’s Club New York will bring the Major Food Group experience to the financial and social elite. (Like Haiku, Major Food Group would not disclose the fee or the application process.) Image Carbone, run by Major Food Group, is one of New York City’s most difficult reservations.Credit…Daniel Krieger for The New York Times But given that the original Carbone — which recently lost its Michelin star — is already impossible to get into, is it really necessary to have an even more exclusive version just two miles away? “One of the great things about being a private member’s club, is the fact that you really can tailor everything on the food and beverage side to your customers at an even higher level than you can, obviously, when you’re just a public restaurant,” Mr. Zalaznick said. This means knowing what members want, and how exactly they want it: How do they take their steak? Do they prefer still or sparkling water? What is their standing order, and with which modifications? Diners can have all those things at the London import Casa Cruz, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, but for a stratospheric price tag. The top-floor dining room there is reserved for the 99 members of the restaurant’s “investor group of partners” who have paid between $250,000 and $500,000 to join. “I think there’s a demand for curation,” said Noah Tepperberg, the co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality, which next year is opening a private club in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, in collaboration with the restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You. In the grand tradition of private clubs — from New York City’s Union Club to San Francisco’s Bohemian Club to the recently rebranded ’Quin House in Boston — these exclusive clubstaurants require not only cash but status. Image At Lilia, the Brooklyn Italian restaurant from the chef Missy Robbins, reservations are routinely booked solid a month in advance.Credit…Vincent Tullo for The New York Times “Restaurants began as places to show off status,” said Andrew P. Haley, an associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi. Generally, this took place in public, where discerning diners could be seen demonstrating their discernment. The members-only clubstaurant, on the other hand, confers another kind of status, suggested Megan J. Elias, the director of the gastronomy program at Boston University: “You can be a connoisseur among a very small number of connoisseurs.” Mr. Saed said he’s not surprised that access is being monetized. “Part of it tracks to the types of people that are renting in New York now,” he said. “With rents pushing over $4,000 to $5,000, I think that the proportion of people that are living here that have the discretionary income to spend are kind of more here.” Still other restaurants — the public kind — are leaning into patronage-style programs, aiming to give certain customers premier access, while remaining open to the rest of us. Under normal circumstances, it can take weeks or months to get into Dame, the West Village fish-and-chips sensation. But there is a workaround: Front of House, a platform designed to help restaurants sell “digital collectibles,” also known as NFTs, that grant holders special access. Instead of lining up at 4:30 p.m. on a Monday, the one day Dame takes walk-in diners, a devoted diner could pay $1,000 dollars, which buys them the ability, with at least 24 hours notice, to book a table once a week through the end of 2022. (20 such tokens have been created; 11 have been sold so far.) Stephanie Dumanian, a cosmetic dentist in Manhattan and a fan of the restaurant, was trying without success to make a reservation for her husband’s birthday when she found Front of House. She bought a token in July, and has been three times since. “It’s been great,” she said. “I feel like I’m supporting a local business.” Image Dame, in Greenwich Village, only takes walk-ins one day a week.Credit…Evan Sung for The New York Times Image It can take weeks or months to get an opportunity to try Dame’s fish and chips.Credit…Evan Sung for The New York Times Colin Camac, a co-founder of Front of House, said the platform is simply expediting intimacy. “I think one of the best things in the world is going into a place just like Cheers, where everybody knows your name, where they know what you like, where your martini is sitting there as soon as you walk in,” said Mr. Camac, who is also a regional director at Resy. “It’s an easier way to be part of that community if you don’t have the time to really invest in it.” In other words, anyone can be a regular, for a price. “It’s kind of a trade secret in the concierge space that you have to build relationships, and spend a lot of time doing it, in order to deliver these very hard to get reservations,” said Peter Adams, the founder of Table Concierge. His start-up is for people with money but not time, and a would-be diner doesn’t actually have to be a regular to get treated like one. “You could do this on your own,” he said, but he streamlines the process “so you don’t have to wake up at 8 a.m. or book at midnight.” For a price — usually $50 per reservation per person, but it depends on the difficulty — Mr. Adams works his connections to open doors that appear closed to the rest of us. (White glove service means he will go as far as going to a restaurant in person to negotiate on a client’s behalf.) With a week or so warning, he puts his success rate at 90 percent. You want Lilia? He’ll get you Lilia, nevermind what Resy says. “We can get you in anywhere other than Rao’s,” he said of the exclusive Italian restaurant in East Harlem. Though he added: “But if you want to give me $10,000, I can find a way to get you into Rao’s.” / Read More Here

Live Updates: Raleigh Shooting Suspect May Be Tried As An Adult; Brother Among Victims https://digitalalaskanews.com/live-updates-raleigh-shooting-suspect-may-be-tried-as-an-adult-brother-among-victims/ READ MORE Raleigh shooting coverage Seven people were shot in Raleigh, NC, near the Neuse River Greenway Trail. Five were killed, including a Raleigh police officer. Check back for the latest updates from The N&O’s breaking news team. Expand All One day after the deadly shooting in Raleigh that injured two and claimed five lives, including an off-duty police officer, a suspect is in custody and the city reels from the losses. The shooting Thursday was one of the worst in North Carolina history. Friday morning, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson named the victims at the press conference. Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29 Nicole Connors, 53 Susan Karnatz, 49 Mary Marshall, 34 James Thompson, 16 READ MORE: What we know about the victims of the Raleigh shootings The Raleigh Police Department confirmed that a 15-year-old boy was in custody with life-threatening injuries, as of 9:37 p.m. Thursday night. More details about the identity of the shooter have not been released but sources have confirmed to The News & Observer that the suspect is Austin Thompson, the younger brother of James. In total, the suspect shot seven people Thursday in the Hedingham neighborhood in northeast Raleigh near Osprey Cove and Bay Harbor Drive just after 5 p.m. Two other victims shot in the incident were treated for injuries at a local hospital. One of those victims was a Raleigh police senior officer who had non-life threatening injuries, according to Raleigh Police. Another, Marcille Lynn Gardner, is still in the hospital in critical condition. As of Saturday morning, the investigation remains active. Check back here for live updates on the latest news. GoFundMe pages for victims Updated 11:03 a.m. A GoFundMe page organized by Back the Blue North Carolina, a non-profit that supports law enforcement, has garnered almost $35,000 in donations as of Saturday morning. The proceeds from the page will be given to the surviving family members of Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, according to the group. The 29-year-old officer was on the job for 18 months when he was shot and killed Thursday, on his way to work. Another fundraiser for Marcille Lynn Gardner has raised almost $8,000. Gardner was shot and severely injured in the incident and is in the ICU but is in stable condition, according to the GoFundMe page for her. The donations are intended to help with medical bills and her recovery as she has “many surgeries ahead of her,” according to the GoFundMe page. Gardner turned 60 years old on Saturday. —Kristen Johnson, @kristensuzettee A call for gun control Updated 7:04 p.m. Friday. Leaders of local civil rights and gun safety groups renewed calls on state lawmakers and city officials Friday to take action to prevent gun violence after Thursday’s mass shooting left five people dead. Becky Ceartas, executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, said she grieved with the families who had lost their loved ones. She said it was also important to remember other kinds of gun violence that impact cities like Raleigh every day, including community gun violence, homicides, suicides and domestic violence. “Gun violence is incredibly tragic because of the lives that are stolen, and because there are policies and programs that we know work, and we know must be put in place now,” Ceartas said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Ceartas and other advocates called on city officials to invest in community violence intervention strategies, which include direct intervention to help resolve conflicts and stop violence before it happens, and support services for survivors of gun violence. Advocates also called on state lawmakers to pass a red flag law, which enables authorities to temporarily confiscate an individual’s guns if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others. Such legislation has been introduced by Democratic lawmakers but hasn’t advanced in either chamber of the Republican-controlled General Assembly. “This evening, we will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter, and we’ll tell them we love them. And we’ll remind each other how much deeply we love each other,” said Gerald Givens Jr., the president of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP. “But some Raleigh families don’t get to do that tonight.” Givens also urged gun owners to make sure their firearms are stored securely, especially during the upcoming holiday season. “We have suffered too much from these tragedies over the years,” Givens said. —Avi Bajpai, @avibajpai_ Billy Graham chaplains to come to Raleigh Updated 5:53 p.m. Friday. Chaplains from Billy Graham Ministries are headed to Raleigh in response to the mass shooting. A mobile ministry center will be set up at the Hedingham Community Pool on Grand Traverse Drive as “a hub for prayer and conversation with locals.” The news release did not say when the center would be set up or how long it would stay. All of the victims lived in the neighborhood, which is adjacent to the Neuse River Greenway trail. —Anna Johnson, @Anna_M_Johnson ‘We heard them screaming’ Updated 4:08 p.m. Friday. In 911 calls received to the Raleigh Police Department Thursday night, callers are heard describing the scene to the dispatcher. Those who saw the shooter say he was dressed in camouflage and carrying a long gun that looked like a shot gun. One caller was the friend of slain Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres who said Torres was “bleeding from his chest.” Another said she heard the incident happen and saw people on the ground: “We heard the shots, and we heard them screaming. And so we got down because we heard it was a gun.” —Richard Stradling, @RStradling & Kimberly Cataudella, @kcataudella Knightdale High postpones homecoming Updated 3:58 p.m. Friday. Hours after learning 16-year-old James Thompson, a junior at Knightdale High School, was shot and killed in Raleigh, the school postponed their homecoming events that were scheduled for Friday night. The school’s football game, against Rolesville High School, is rescheduled to Monday night. The homecoming tailgate party, and homecoming court and dance are rescheduled for Oct. 28. —Martha Quillin, @MarthaQuillin Suspect identified as victim’s brother Updated 3:42 p.m. Friday. Sources have confirmed for The News & Observer that the suspect in Thursday night’s mass shooting is 15-year-old Austin Thompson, a sophomore at Knightdale High School and the brother of 16-year-old shooting victim James Thompson. Austin Thompson is hospitalized in critical condition at WakeMed, where he was taken after being captured by police Thursday night. —Anna Johnson, @Anna_M_Johnson Potential charges Updated 3:28 p.m. On Friday afternoon, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The N&O that she has begun the process of moving this case from juvenile court to Superior Court. Her office has filed petitions for a probable cause hearing, the first step in transferring the case to Superior Court. Because these petitions were filed in juvenile court, Freeman’s office has not released the suspect’s name. Pending the suspect’s health, Freeman said a probable cause hearing is typically held within 15 days of the incident. If probable cause is determined, the case will automatically be moved to superior court, per a North Carolina law that elevates Class A felonies to superior court under these circumstances. “In this situation, there’s no question the mass loss of life, in my opinion, this case be transferred and tried in superior court,” Freeman said. —Colleen Hammond, @colleenchamm ‘Enough’ President Joe Biden released a statement Friday afternoon regarding the deadly shooting in Raleigh saying, “Enough. We’ve grieved and prayed with too many families who have had to bear the terrible burden of these mass shooting.’ “Too many families have had spouses, parents, and children taken from them forever,” he said. “This year, and even in just the five months since Buffalo and Uvalde, there are too many mass shootings across America, including ones that don’t even make the national news.” The president also renewed his call for a ban on assault weapons. Raleigh Police have not confirmed if the weapon used Thursday was an assault weapon. Several elected officials released statements about the tragedy mourning the losses and some, calling for action. “Now more than ever, it’s clear we have to make real, tangible progress and make sure our communities are safe from gun violence,” said N.C. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri. —Kristen Johnson, @kristensuzettee Section of Neuse River greenway closed The City of Raleigh closed the Neuse River Greenway Trail between Buffalo Road and Anderson Point Park while the area is under investigation. The trail stretches across 27.5 miles in Wake County. The remainder of the greenway will remain open, according to a statement. The Neuse River Greenway Trail is closed between Buffaloe Road and Anderson Point Park until further notice to support the ongoing investigation, according to the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources office. Andrew Carter Andrew Carter —Kristen Johnson, @kristensuzettee What we know about the victims Updated 3:14 p.m. According to the Wake County Public School System, James Thompson was a junior at Knightdale High School. WCPSS sent a message from Lindsay Mahaffey, the board chair, and Catty Moore, the superintendent, to parents in the school system with information about how students can get help to cope with the traumatic event. “Like you, we are shocked, saddened and broken-hearted,” the message read. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ loved ones, and our community continues to seek answers around this tragedy and solutions ...

Obama Headed To Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin As Vote Nears https://digitalalaskanews.com/obama-headed-to-georgia-michigan-wisconsin-as-vote-nears/ Former President Barack Obama is headed to Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin in the closing days of the 2022 campaign to give a boost to Democrats running for governor, senator and on down the ballot. He goes first to Atlanta, where Stacey Abrams is taking on Republican Gov. Brian Kemp on Nov. 8. She lost a close race to him in 2018. As in 2020, Georgia also may once again decide which party controls the Senate. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is facing a challenge from Republican Herschel Walker, a football star making his first bid for public office. After campaigning in Atlanta on Oct. 28, Obama plans stops the following day in Detroit and Milwaukee for events to help get out the vote. In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is running against Tudor Dixon, a onetime commentator for a conservative online program who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Michigan voters also are deciding whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. In Wisconsin, Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and become the state’s first Black senator. Local Barnes, who is from Milwaukee, the state’s largest city and home to the largest group of African American voters, has been trying to energize Black voters in a race that a Marquette University Law School poll this past week showed Johnson with an apparent lead. Obama also hopes to give a boost to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is being challenged by Tim Michels, a construction company co-owner who is endorsed by Trump. Marquette polls for months have shown that race to be about even. Read More Here

Will Trump Comply With Jan. 6 Committee Subpoena? What’s Next After Thursday’s Hearing https://digitalalaskanews.com/will-trump-comply-with-jan-6-committee-subpoena-whats-next-after-thursdays-hearing/ A video showing then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., talking with then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen is played as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press WASHINGTON — After closing out what could be the final installment in a series of high-profile hearings, the House’s Jan. 6 select committee is left with decisions to make in its remaining weeks that could have profound effects for years to come. The committee will need to square whether it will play a role in the Justice Department’s investigation and determine how the raw information it has collected will be preserved and disseminated. But ultimately the panel’s largest decisions will be about what recommendations to make and what information its final report should contain. Republican leaders had fought the creation of an independent commission to review the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and what led to it. The House panel is the only government entity tasked with the inquiry, and is compiling what is expected to be the definitive historical record of what led to the insurrection. What the committee produces is likely to become the bedrock evidence in criminal and civil cases, and will be examined by historians and studied in schools much like the 9/11 commission report has been, said Grant Tudor, a policy advocate for Protect Democracy. “These types of evidence-gathering and truth-telling exercises have ramifications for other accountability efforts long after they’re done,” Tudor said. Prosecutors, journalists and government watchdog groups are clamoring for access to the more than 1,000 depositions, hundreds of hours of video and hundreds of thousands of pages of documents collected in the investigation. The committee has been guarded about how much material might be made public. “While we’re obviously anticipating this final report, that’s not the same as anticipating access to the vast body of evidence that’s gathered and the analysis of that evidence,” Tudor said. “It seems really likely that it’s going to take a pretty intentional editing hand in deciding what to include and what not to include. The committee has collected this staggering volume of records and troves of witness testimonies.” The report is all but certain to provide more detail than was possible in a hearing format. Despite early signals of what the panel intended to scrutinize, such as who was behind fundraising for the rally where then-President Donald Trump spoke before the attack, the committee ultimately focused on Trump’s role in the events and his mindset around Jan. 6, pushing some issues to the back burner. Topics raised in hearings were often not completely followed. Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday. Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is left. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press The committee’s hearings barely touched on information it had gathered on several topics key to understanding the events on and around Jan. 6, including what failures in law enforcement intelligence gathering allowed the insurrection to happen, who funded efforts to find evidence of fraud in the election, and who paid for some Trump supporters to travel to Washington to march on the Capitol. “There is potentially a huge wealth of evidence that could be coming,” Debra Perlin, policy director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told reporters Friday. Along with an account of the plans to keep Trump in power that led to the violence on Jan. 6, the report is expected to include recommendations for legislation or action by federal agencies, and possibly by state and local governments. But the potential outcome most are watching for is whether the committee will recommend criminal charges against Trump or others. Its members have been divided on whether it is appropriate to recommend criminal charges to the Justice Department, or whether the panel should refrain from doing so to prevent the potential appearance of politicizing a decision that the department is supposed to make based on facts alone. The panel has so far held itself apart from the efforts of prosecutors, including refusing requests to share depositions and other evidence with them. “We think we very, very much proved the case in a compelling way by the end of that hearing series,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., told Politico. “And now, frankly, on the criminal side, because we’re not the criminal committee, it’s up to the [Justice Department]. … They have the torch, and we’ll see where they go with it.” Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said at Thursday’s hearing that criminal referrals for multiple individuals were likely, but did not elaborate. In the spring and summer, members of the House committee publicly criticized U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, saying he was moving tentatively compared with their proceedings. But the Justice Department made increasingly aggressive moves over the summer, and appears to be conducting multiple investigations at once. Agents have seized cellphones, brought dozens of high-ranking Trump confidants before a grand jury and conducted court-approved searches of private homes, including executing a warrant at the home of former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, whom they left handcuffed outside without pants. Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds a hearing Thursday, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., look on. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press The department has been careful not to indicate whether indictments are coming, and traditionally it doesn’t make moves in the weeks before an election so as not to potentially influence the outcome. Many legal experts have expressed confidence that charges will come after the midterm elections next month. Duke University professor Asher Hildebrand, a former high-ranking Capitol Hill staffer, said regardless of whether a criminal referral comes from the committee, the hearings show the panel has done its job. “It does feel like the Jan. 6 committee’s contribution to the broader consideration of what happened on Jan. 6, and leading up to it, what crimes were committed by the president … that contribution is sort of secure. And that, at this point, is really a question of whether, when and how the Justice Department and other law enforcement authorities act on all of this information,” he said. As the report is poised to assume center stage, the committee’s investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, its members voted unanimously to subpoena Trump for documents and testimony, saying he has an obligation to answer for his actions. In a rambling 14-page response Friday, Trump didn’t commit to an interview or to sharing documents. Instead he reiterated baseless claims of election fraud and shared photos of the crowd at his rally that day. “You have not gone after the people that created the fraud, but rather great American patriots who questioned it, as is their constitutional right,” he wrote. “These people have had their lives ruined as your committee sits back and basks in the glow.” Trump is likely to fight the subpoena, or ignore it completely. With just more than two months left before the committee is set to disband, it will need to decide how much time to spend pushing for Trump to comply, or whether to consider the subpoena to be largely symbolic. The panel will also need to determine which ongoing fights for records and testimony are still worth pursuing. More than a dozen witnesses have sued to block the committee from gaining access to cellphone or email records, and others are fighting subpoenas to testify in court. Some of the cases have been ongoing for more than a year, in part because the committee has sought more time to craft a strategy. How the committee will present its final report is unclear. All that is required to issue it is a vote of its members, but after nine carefully orchestrated hearings this year, a visual presentation of some kind is expected. “It seems unlikely that it will just drop a large bound book and not say anything about it or not use it as a public platform to also make a series of closing arguments,” Tudor said. “Even if it’s out of the context of a formal hearing.” Invalid username/password. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. 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Bid To Overturn 2020 Election Looms Over Race For Lieutenant Governor https://digitalalaskanews.com/bid-to-overturn-2020-election-looms-over-race-for-lieutenant-governor/ ATLANTA – State Sen. Burt Jones was among 16 Republicans who participated as alternate electors in a bid to help then-President Donald Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. While Jones’ role in those efforts took place almost two years ago, the episode is front and center in this year’s race for lieutenant governor between Jones and Democrat Charlie Bailey. “You can’t have a more un-American act than to come in and say the people of Georgia don’t get to decide who represents them,” said Bailey, who made the ill-fated attempt to change the outcome of the election a theme of a campaign ad. Jones dismisses the assembling of a slate of alternate electors in December 2020 as a “procedural” move, essentially a place saver prompted by a series of ultimately unsuccessful lawsuits challenging the election results in Georgia. “The substitute electors were only going to have any weight to them if the court cases moved forward,” he said. “As I go around the state, rank and file Georgians aren’t asking about it.” Trump’s attempt to enlist supporters in his attempt to overturn the election in Georgia is responsible for who’s on the ballot for lieutenant governor. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who became the most outspoken Republican critic of Trump’s Georgia strategy, subsequently opted not to seek a second term. That paved the way for a spirited GOP primary for the open seat, with Jones defeating Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller and two other opponents last May to win the Republican nomination. Bailey, originally intending to reprise his 2018 run for attorney general, signed up instead to run for lieutenant governor. With a crowded Democratic field in the primary contest, he had to survive a June runoff to capture his party’s nomination over former Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall. While Jones’ role in the aftermath of the presidential election is a unique element in the race for lieutenant governor, the two candidates are taking the typical stances of their respective parties on issues including taxing and spending, abortion, guns, voting rights, and Medicaid expansion. Jones goes further than some Republican leaders in his call for eliminating the state income tax. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, and others expressed concern that getting rid of the tax entirely would blow a hole in the state budget. Jones noted the General Assembly already is well on its way toward phasing out the tax. This year, lawmakers passed a bill backed by Gov. Brian Kemp that will gradually reduce the state income tax rate from 5.49% to 4.99% over six years, starting with the 2024 tax year. “I never said you could do it in one year,” Jones said. “We need to work toward it.” Bailey said 20 years of Republican leadership in Georgia have led to a reduction in core government services. Examples include a starting salary for teachers that’s less than their peers make in Mississippi and a growing backlog in forensics testing that hampers criminal investigations, he said. “I don’t think the people of Georgia are getting out of their tax dollars what they’re putting in,” Bailey said. On abortion, Jones said he supports the “heartbeat” bill the legislature passed in 2019 banning the procedure after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, typically about six weeks into pregnancy. “It has exceptions to it: rape, incest, and the health of a woman,” Jones said. Bailey said if elected he would push to repeal the heartbeat law, pointing to public opposition to banning abortion that has surfaced in recent polls. “That’s not what the people of Georgia believe,” he said. “It’s dangerous.” Likewise, Bailey opposes legislation the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed this year allowing Georgians to carry concealed firearms without a permit. “There’s dangerous folks who have guns now who wouldn’t but for this law,” he said. “It makes our communities less safe.” Jones, who voted for the bill, said criminals are going to carry firearms regardless of what the law says. “[The law] makes it easier for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves,” he said. The two candidates also disagree on election reform legislation the General Assembly passed last year. Jones bristled at the bill being characterized as putting additional “restrictions” on voting by absentee ballot. He said “verification” was the purpose of the law. The legislation requires a photo ID to cast an absentee ballot and limits the number of ballot boxes counties may place to collect absentee ballots. “We wanted to verify that people asking for absentee ballots were these people,” Jones said. Bailey described the new law as “a solution in search of a problem” that doesn’t exist. “We don’t have voting issues in Georgia,” he said. “[Republicans] have put government in the way of the people and their right to exercise the franchise.” Bailey said it’s past time for Georgia to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act a Democratic Congress passed in 2010. Not to do so simply means Georgians through their federal taxes are helping fund expanded health-care coverage in other states while getting nothing in return. “Not only do we have 600,000 Georgians without health insurance …. we’ve had eight rural hospitals close in the last 12 years,” Bailey said. Jones said Kemp has sought to expand Medicaid coverage with a Georgia-centric plan but was turned down by the Biden administration. The governor has rejected the Obamacare version of Medicaid expansion as too expensive. “Just throwing money at something without a plan isn’t helpful,” Jones said. “That’s what the Democrats want to do.” The two candidates broadly agree on the need to boost funding for education by updating the decades-old per-pupil student funding formula and the need to raise salaries for law enforcement officers. Specifically, Jones called for an end to no-cost bail. Bailey said Georgia needs more prosecutors, judges, and public defenders. Libertarian Ryan Graham is a third candidate in the race for lieutenant governor. This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation. Read More Here

MAGA https://digitalalaskanews.com/maga/ October 15, 2022 01:08 PM Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake could assume a very large role within the “Make America Great Again” political movement if she can beat her Democratic opponent, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Lake, a 2020 election denier, likely represents former President Donald Trump’s best chance at getting one of the “ultra MAGA” candidates into office following next month’s midterm elections. David Axelrod, a former Obama adviser, told Axios that Lake’s previous career in local television prepared her well for a political campaign. HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF DISMISSES RECENT DEMOCRATIC WINS Kari Lake, who is running for the Republican nomination for Arizona governor, reacts to the crowd as she comes out to speak prior to former President Donald Trump’s speech at a Save America Rally on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Prescott, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin/AP) “If you get a candidate who has the performance skills of a major-market local TV anchor and the philosophy and thinking of Steve Bannon, that’s a potent and dangerous combination. … Look at Italy,” he said. Recent polls from CBS News, CNN, and Fox News suggest the two candidates are in a toss-up race as the election quickly approaches. They have not and will not debate one another before Election Day because Hobbs has refused, though some have questioned the strategy. She has the backing of the Arizona Republican establishment and donors, unlike fellow MAGA gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania, who is fighting an uphill battle to beat current Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “How do you debate someone who refuses to accept the truth, who doesn’t live in facts, and it doesn’t do any service to the voters in terms of deciding, looking at the contrast between us and how we’re going to govern if all she’s going to is shout over me, interrupt me, and spew lies?” she said on MSNBC this week. “You wonder as a candidate if you’re doing everything you should be doing,” Sandra Kennedy, an elected member of the state Corporation Commission who led President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in Arizona, told the outlet. “You don’t want to wait till the day after the election and think, ‘Would I have done it another way?’” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER “I can’t say to you that she should have done or shouldn’t have done certain things,” Kennedy said. “She’s the candidate. But if I were the candidate for governor, I would debate, and I would want the people of Arizona to know what my platform is. And I would lay it out — lay it out in a way so they will know the difference between me and Kari Lake.” Democrats expect Lake will have a standing invitation on Fox News and that her endorsement would be highly sought after if she wins, Axios reported. Read More Here

“We Demand Answers On The Crime Of The Century”: Donald Trump Reacts To January 6 Committee Subpoena With Lengthy Missive https://digitalalaskanews.com/we-demand-answers-on-the-crime-of-the-century-donald-trump-reacts-to-january-6-committee-subpoena-with-lengthy-missive/ After the January 6 committee voted unanimously to subpoena former President Donald Trump on Thursday, on Friday evening, Trump wrote an angry 14-page letter reacting to the House committee’s efforts. Despite the letter’s length, the former president did not address whether he would comply with the subpoena. Instead, the message began with a familiar string of words—in all-caps this time: “The presidential election of 2020 was rigged and stolen!” In the missive, Trump sank even deeper into his hole of 2020 election fraud lies and said the committee pursued the wrong people: “You have not gone after the people that created the Fraud, but rather great American Patriots who questioned it, as is their Constitutional right. These people have had their lives ruined as your Committee sits back and basks in the glow.” He concluded by saying, “We demand answers on the Crime of the Century.” The New York Times reported that sources expect the January 6 committee to issue the subpoena as soon as Monday. The hearing on Thursday was likely the panel’s last. Just before the committee members voted on the subpoena, Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said: ​​“[Trump] is the one person at the center of the story of what happened on January 6. So we want to hear from him. The committee needs to do everything in our power to tell the most complete story possible.” Footage released on Thursday showed how Trump had planned on announcing his 2020 victory months in advance. Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale told the committee that Trump had planned on declaring victory–regardless of the real results–since July 2020. Similarly, conservative activist Tom Fitton sent a memo to two White House officials on October 31, 2020–four days before Election Day–stating, “We had an election today—and I won.” One day after the vote for subpoenaing the former president, the Justice Department appealed the appointment of the special master to review the documents found at Mar-a-Lago. “Plaintiff has no plausible claim of executive privilege as to any of the seized materials and no plausible claim of personal attorney-client privilege as to the seized government records — including all records bearing classification markings,” according to the DOJ’s brief. “Accordingly, the special-master review process is unwarranted,” the DOJ wrote. Read More Here

Biden’s Late Push Across West Aims To Deliver Votes For Dems https://digitalalaskanews.com/bidens-late-push-across-west-aims-to-deliver-votes-for-dems/ PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — President Joe Biden strode into the telephone bank at a crowded union hall and eagerly began making calls and eating doughnuts — one frosted, one glazed — as he tries every page in the political playbook to deliver votes for Democrats. “What a governor does matters,” Biden said in a pep talk to volunteers who were making Friday night calls for gubernatorial hopeful Tina Kotek and other candidates. “It matters! It matters, it matters, it matters!” Before leaving Portland on Saturday, the president planned to attend a reception for Kotek and give a speech about his administration’s efforts to bring down costs for Americans. It was the final stop on a four-day swing through Oregon, California and Colorado that has encapsulated Biden’s strategy for turning out voters on Election Day, Nov. 8: flex the levers of government to help boost candidates, promote an agenda aimed at strengthening an uncertain economy and haul in campaign cash. And this: show up for candidates when Biden can be helpful, steer clear of places where a visit from a president with approval ratings under 50% isn’t necessarily a good thing. Throughout the trip, Biden had to compete for the spotlight and contend with a troubling new inflation report and rising gas prices. In Oregon, Democratic officials hope that Biden can help consolidate the party’s support behind Kotek. The party is in danger of losing the governor’s race in the traditional Democratic stronghold as Betsy Johnson — who has quit both the Democratic and Republican parties — has run a well-financed race against Kotek and the GOP nominee Christine Drazan. The settings throughout the president’s trip were tailor-made for him. In Los Angeles on Thursday, at a construction site for an extension on the city’s subway line, he spoke about his massive infrastructure law. Giant cranes rose up behind him as he stood before bulldozers and excavators. Many on hand were hard-hat workers in construction orange. The stop neatly combined many of Biden’s agenda’s successes: investments in infrastructure, job creation, fighting climate change by promoting mass transit. “When you see these projects in your neighborhood — cranes going up, shovels in the ground, lives being changed — I want you to feel the way I do: pride,” Biden said. “Pride in what we can do when we do it together. This is what I mean when I say we’re building a better America.” But his remarks came as the government reported that consumer prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, jumped 6.6% in September from a year ago — the fastest such pace in four decades. Biden acknowledged that people were being “squeezed by the cost of living. It’s been true for years, and folks don’t need a report to tell them they’re being squeezed.” Democratic candidates have been far more likely to appear with Biden at official White House events underscoring their achievements than at overt campaign events. In California, Biden was joined by state lawmakers and the city’s mayor, and he called them out individually. Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, made a takeout run with Biden to a taco shop. Biden raised $5 million at a fundraiser in the Brentwood backyard of TV producer Marcy Carsey. Guests included fashion designer Tom Ford and actor-filmmaker Rob Reiner. In Colorado, the president designated the first national monument of his administration at Camp Hale, a World War II-era training site, with a group of Democrats by his side. His audience in a canyon of stunning views, tall pines and bright yellow aspens included Sen. Michael Bennet, who is facing a tough reelection campaign and had worked for the new monument. Democrats hope the designation, popular in the state, will boost Bennet’s numbers. Early voting is underway in California and begins next week in Oregon and Colorado. The president notably stayed away from states where his presence could hurt Democrats, so far skipping Nevada and Arizona, where Democratic senators are tough races. Democrats are trying to retain power in the face of widespread economic uncertainty and the traditional midterm headwinds against the party in power. Republicans, aiming to regain the House and Senate, think they can capitalize on gas prices, inflation and the economy. During his taco stop, Biden’s chicken quesadilla order ran to $16.45, but he handed the clerk $60 and asked him to use the change to pay the next patron’s bill. It was the kind of personal connection Biden loves. But while the moment was unfolding, the headlines in Los Angeles focused on a bitter City Council clash over racist remarks, while in Washington, it was all about how the House voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump on his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. ___ Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics Read More Here

Why Is Britain Comparing Its Prime Minister To A Lettuce? https://digitalalaskanews.com/why-is-britain-comparing-its-prime-minister-to-a-lettuce/ LONDON — What do British Prime Minister Liz Truss’s political tenure and a wilting head of lettuce have in common, you might ask? They both have an expiration date. Installed by her party just last month after her predecessor Boris Johnson was dramatically ousted, Truss has been in office less than six weeks. But already some pundits say her days in the job are numbered, as she clings to her political life on a dizzying economic roller coaster she has been largely blamed for. She has also become the butt of quintessentially British jokes — most notably by being compared to a head of lettuce by both The Economist newspaper (considered one of the world’s preeminent news journals) and The Daily Star, an entertainment-focused tabloid that brands itself the “home of fun stuff” and regularly features photos of scantily-clad celebrities. The gag began in an article by The Economist which earlier this week dubbed Truss “The Iceberg Lady,” bluntly predicting her career has “the shelf-life of a lettuce.” By Friday, the Daily Star was offering its readers a live stream of a store-bought head of lettuce (worth 60 pence — just under a dollar — and with a shelf-life of around 10 days), positioned next to a framed photograph of Truss, accompanied by the question: “Day one: Which wet lettuce will last longer?” The live-streamed decay has since attracted more than 350,000 viewers, as people tune in to see whether Truss’s political career or the salad staple (which briefly donned a wig and googly eyes) will expire faster. The Daily Star accused Truss of being a “lame duck PM” following a “shambolic day,” on Friday as she fired her finance minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, after just 38 days in office and u-turned on tax policies, in a bid to steady the wobbling economy. Kwarteng, who will go down in history books as Britain’s second shortest-serving chancellor of the exchequer, was also subject to jokes from the British press — who pointed out that the shortest-serving chancellor had died (Iain Macleod in 1970 after 30 days in the job) rather than being ousted. On social media Saturday the hashtag “#lettuceliz” was gaining steam, with users unsure whether to laugh or cry at the state of national affairs. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” wrote one person on Twitter. “Brilliant,” wrote another. Some online complained they had cheese in the fridge that had lasted longer than Kwarteng’s spell in office, while one trans-Atlantic observer quipped: “In the US we measure such things in Scaramuccis,” referring to Anthony Scaramucci — the short-serving White House communications director, who lasted less than a week in the Trump administration. The British prime minister also faced criticism for holding an abnormally brief news conference after announcing Kwarteng’s departure on Friday, lasting just eight minutes and 21 seconds. The Daily Mail newspaper called the news conference a “car crash,” the Guardian front page decried “A day of chaos,” while the Mirror tabloid simply said “Time’s up.” Britain’s opposing political parties, meanwhile, are calling for a general election. “Changing the Chancellor doesn’t undo the damage made in Downing Street. Liz Truss’ reckless approach has crashed the economy, causing mortgages to skyrocket, and has undermined Britain’s standing on the world stage,” said Labour leader Keir Starmer, whose party is enjoying a boost in opinion polls. “We need a change in government.” The smaller Liberal Democrat Party echoed a similar sentiment: “Enough is enough. It started with Boris Johnson failing our country, and now Liz Truss has broken our economy. It is time for the people to have their say.” Truss’s promise to simultaneously slash taxes and maintain social programs without deep borrowing has left the market and her party members reeling over the last few weeks, plunging the pound and forcing the Bank of England to take unprecedented interventions to quell the financial revolt. She swiftly replaced Kwarteng (who had been attending a meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington before frantically flying back to the U.K.), with a former foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, who pledged Saturday to restore economic credibility. Hunt lost the Conservative Party leadership race to Johnson in 2019. Truss also walked back one of her top campaign pledges — and will now allow corporate taxes to rise from 19 percent to 25 percent in April 2023, she said. Like other nations in Europe, Britain is grappling with rising inflation, a cost of living crisis and multiple worker strikes from transport to health and postal sectors, with some predicting a possible winter of discontent on the horizon. The average price of lettuce, at least, hasn’t gone up too badly. Karla Adam and William Booth contributed to this report. Read More Here

A https://digitalalaskanews.com/a-38/ You don’t have permission to access “http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article267295657.html” on this server. Reference #18.328edc43.1665854407.1a6166a4 Read More Here

This 23-Year-Old Pays $1,100 A Month In Rent To Live In An Apartment The Size Of An Average Parking Spot https://digitalalaskanews.com/this-23-year-old-pays-1100-a-month-in-rent-to-live-in-an-apartment-the-size-of-an-average-parking-spot/ In 2020, Alex Verhaeg moved into a 95 sq. ft. apartment in Manhattan’s East Village. He pays $1,000 a month. “People might call this place just a room or a closet, but to me, it is home,” Verhaeg told CNBC Make It. The 23-year-old barber, bike messenger, and content creator found the apartment on Zillow and only got to see the space in photos before he moved in. “It was a little bit of a shock when I saw how small it was, but I really wanted to try living in this area,” he said. “Any space can be made into a home, no matter how big or how small that space is. You just gotta put some love into it.” Verhaeg’s mom co-signed his lease, and the upfront costs for his move were $2,000: $1,000 for the first month’s rent and $1,000 for the security deposit. His rent has since increased to $1100 a month. Verhaeg’s 95 sq. ft. apartment is about 16 feet x 8 feet or about the size of an average parking spot. Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Make It Verhaeg’s tiny apartment doesn’t come with bathroom. Instead, the five-story building has residents share the three bathrooms and two showers that are located on each floor. “Living here can sort of feel like you’re in the college dorms because of the shared amenities,” he said. “Sometimes you’ll see your neighbors in a towel or a bathrobe. You sort of just get used to it.” In addition to not having a bathroom, the apartment also lacks a traditional kitchen. Verhaeg has an electric cooktop that lives on top of a dresser that he uses for food storage. The apartment has a sink in the corner with medicine cabinet, which Verhaeg refers to as his bathroom area. It also has one closet and a small loft space where he stores his clothes and barber tool kit. “The main benefit of living in such a small space is that it makes you appreciate your things and be a minimalist,” he said. “You really can’t just go out and buy random things because you don’t have the space to store them.” Verhaeg’s apartment doesn’t have a traditional kitchen or bathroom setup. Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Make It Read More Here

AP News Summary At 12:00 P.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-1200-p-m-edt/ Ukraine: Russia hits power site by Kyiv, defends seized land KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A missile strike has seriously damaged a key energy facility near Ukraine’s capital. The governor of the Kyiv region said Saturday’s strike didn’t kill or wound anyone. The country’s power system operator said repair crews were working to restore power but warned residents about possible outages. The Russian military strove to cut water and electricity in populated areas of Ukraine this week after a truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Regions of southern Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally designated as Russian territory last month remained a focus of fighting on Saturday. Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s appointment of an independent arbiter to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The appeal is the latest salvo in weeks of litigation over the scope of duties of the arbiter, also known as a special master. He was assigned last month by a judge to inspect the thousands of records taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and weed out from the investigation any that may be protected by claims of legal privilege. New UK Treasury chief: Mistakes were made, tax rises coming LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Treasury chief has acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessor and suggested that he may reverse much of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ tax-cutting plans, in order to bring stability to the country after weeks of economic and political turbulence. Jeremy Hunt was brought in Friday to replace Kwasi Kwarteng and restore order in Truss’ administration. He warned of “difficult decisions” to come, saying taxes could rise and public spending budgets would likely be squeezed further in the coming months. Truss had previously insisted that her tax-cutting plans were what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a “mini-budget” which she and Kwarteng unveiled in September sent the British pound tumbling and left her credibility in tatters. Frantic 911 callers describe bodies during Raleigh shooting Callers who dialed 911 during a fatal North Carolina shooting rampage described encountering bodies on the streets of their North Carolina neighborhood and along a trail popular with runners and bikers. The 911 calls released late Friday by the Raleigh Police Department illustrate the chaos of the scene on Thursday evening in which authorities said a 15-year-old boy began firing in a tightly packed neighborhood and then on the walking trail. killing five and wounding two others. The recordings also provide new details about the teen, with multiple callers saying that he was wearing camouflage and one caller saying he was carrying a shotgun. Violent week a grim sign as targeted killings of police rise SEATTLE (AP) — It’s been an especially violent week for police across the U.S., including the deaths of two Connecticut police officers and the wounding of a third. Even as the number of officers has dropped in the past two years, the number being targeted and killed has risen. Organizations that track violence against police say 56 officers have been killed by gunfire so far this year — a number that is up 14% from this time last year and about 45% from this time in 2020. The country is on track to approach or surpass other top annual totals of recent years, including 73 officers killed in 2011 and 67 in 2016. Musk has a ‘super app’ plan for Twitter. It’s super vague For months, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has expressed interest in creating his own version of China’s WeChat — a “super app” that does video chats, messaging, streaming and payments — for the rest of the world.. At least, that is, once he’s done buying Twitter after months of legal infighting over the $44 billion purchase agreement he signed in April. Musk has claimed on Twitter that his acquisition of the company would speed development of an “everything app” he calls X by three to five years. But there are just a few obstacles. Kemp vs. Abrams II: Republican has incumbent advantage now ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia governor’s race is a rematch of 2018, when Republican Brian Kemp narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams. But circumstances have changed. This time, it is Kemp who holds a lot of advantages as he seeks reelection. Abrams is trying to rekindle the star power that had people talking about her being president one day. Kemp became the target of Donald Trump’s wrath when the defeated president threatened retribution after Kemp certified Democrat Joe Biden’s slate of presidential electors in Georgia. But not only did Kemp maintain support among most Republican voters while defying Trump, he seems to have only grown stronger heading into his rematch with Abrams. Death toll rises to 41 in Turkey coal mine explosion AMASRA, Turkey (AP) — Funerals for the miners killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey have begun as officials raised the death toll to at least 41 people. There were 110 miners working in the mine when the explosion occurred Friday evening at the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise’s mine in Amasra. The town is in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin. Officials said 11 miners were injured and hospitalized while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the scene Saturday after tweeting that any neglect would be punished. US shift on Venezuelan migrants fuels anxiety in Mexico TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — The Biden administration’s policy shift on Venezuelan migrants may pose an enormous challenge to overstretched Mexican shelters. The U.S. has coupled plans to let up to 24,000 Venezuelans apply online to fly to the U.S. for temporary stays with a pledge to immediately turn back Venezuelans who cross the border illegally from Mexico. The rapid expulsions expand a Trump-era policy that denies rights to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Venezuelans have suddenly become the second-largest nationality at the U.S. border after Mexicans, a growing challenge to President Joe Biden and neighboring allies. Mamie Till depiction seen as tribute to Black female leaders NEW YORK (AP) — A new biopic about the mother of Emmett Till, the 14-year old Black boy whose lynching in Mississippi in 1955 catalyzed the U.S. civil rights movement, is being promoted as a tribute to Black women and Black mothers who are continuing her legacy and fight for justice, equality and equity. From civil rights and politics to business and performance art, promotional events and screenings of “Till” in select cities across the U.S. honor the courageous works of Black female leaders whose contributions have historically been overlooked, deemphasized or made a footnote. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Racist Appeals Heat Up In Final Weeks Before Midterms https://digitalalaskanews.com/racist-appeals-heat-up-in-final-weeks-before-midterms/ Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) suggested at a rally in Nevada this month that Black people are criminals. A day later in Arizona, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) appeared to refer to a conspiracy about immigrants that has been associated with white nationalists — a conspiracy that at least two GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate have echoed. And in Wisconsin and North Carolina, Democratic candidates for the Senate have faced a barrage of ads on crime that feature mug shots of Black defendants. As the campaign heats up in the final weeks before November’s midterm elections, so have overt appeals to racial animus and resentment. And the toxic remarks appear to be receiving less pushback from Republicans than in past years, suggesting that some candidates in the first post-Trump election cycle have been influenced by the ex-president’s norm-breaking example. “Anybody who’s got a title in the party could say something — senator, governor, anybody,” said Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, who noted a deafening silence in the party after Tuberville’s comment. “Anyone could stand up and say, ‘Can we stop this please?’ But they won’t.” At the Nevada rally that was staged by Trump in the town of Minden last Saturday for the state’s top Republican candidates, Tuberville called Democrats “pro crime.” “They want crime,” he continued. “They want crime because they want to take over what you got. They want to control what you have. They want reparations because they think the people that do the crime are owed that.” A debate over whether to provide reparations, or compensation, to the descendants of people enslaved in the United States has existed in the country for decades. By invoking it, Tuberville appeared to link Black people to crime in a battleground state where Republicans are fighting to gain one Senate seat — and with it potentially the majority in the chamber. The remark drew condemnations from civil rights leaders and Democrats, but most national Republicans stayed silent or offered only mild responses. “I’m not going to say he’s being racist,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when asked about the comment. “But I wouldn’t use that language, be more polite.” A spokesman for Tuberville did not respond to a request for comment. The racial invective has come at a time when Democrats are dealing with their own scandal in Los Angeles, where Democratic city council members and a labor leader were recorded making racist statements. Two of them resigned this week, after Democrats including President Biden called on them to do so. “Here’s the difference between Democrats and MAGA Republicans. When a Democrat says something racist or antisemitic, we hold Democrats accountable,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “When a MAGA Republican says something racist or antisemitic, they are embraced by cheering crowds.” A day after Tuberville’s comment, Greene appeared to invoke a version of the “replacement” conspiracy theory at a Trump rally in Arizona for GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters and other Republicans. “Joe Biden’s five million illegal aliens are on the verge of replacing you, replacing your jobs and replacing your kids in school and, coming from all over the world, they’re also replacing your culture,” she said, in what seemed to echo a white nationalist conspiracy theory that claims elites, and sometimes more specifically Jewish people, are importing immigrants to “replace” White people. “And that’s not great for America.” Republican Senate candidates, including J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona, have used language that is similar to Greene’s. Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, which works to counter antisemitism, said it has been “stunning” to see a concept akin to the one shouted by white supremacists in Charlottesville in 2017 — “Jews will not replace us!” — make its way to the political mainstream in this election cycle. “It is not new to see antisemitism or overt racism in politics,” Greenblatt said. “What is new is after years … in which it was clear that to be credible in public life politicians had to reject prejudice, it’s now been normalized in ways that are really quite breathtaking.” A spokesman for Greene disputed the validity of the ADL’s criticism, saying the organization does not know anything about illegal immigration. Greenblatt also has criticized GOP Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who has attacked his Jewish opponent for sending his children to an “elite” Jewish day school and has advertised on the far-right social media site Gab, where the man accused of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 posted an antisemitic rant. Early this month, Trump used racist language in referring Elaine Chao, the Taiwanese-born former secretary of transportation in his administration and the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), calling her “Coco Chow” in an angry statement targeting McConnell. The slur was met with relative silence by Republicans eager to avoid a fight with the former president ahead of the midterm elections. “The president likes to give people nicknames,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said on CNN when asked to respond to the attack. After he was pressed, he said that it is never acceptable to be racist and that he hoped no one would be. McConnell also declined to respond in a CNN interview this week. Trump’s use of racist language as a candidate sometimes prompted pushback from other Republicans, as when former House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) called Trump’s attacks on a judge because of his Mexican heritage “textbook” racism. But the former president’s example has inspired other candidates and pushed the boundaries of what is considered acceptable political discourse, observers say. “Trump mobilized a constituency that is partly susceptible to being riled up by racialized appeals, and politicians see that, especially on the right,” said Richard Fording, a political science professor at the University of Alabama. “And just like any other sort of competitive environment, you see what works and you copy it.” Robert C. Smith, a political scientist who has studied race and politics, said that after the civil rights movement in the United States, racist remarks tended to be met with condemnation from both parties. “Now that appears to be slipping away, and the only thing that’s of significance that’s changed since then is the emergence of Trumpism,” Smith said. For some, Tuberville’s remark linking Black people to crime felt like confirmation of what they see as the more subtle racial undertones in the crime-focused ads that Republican candidates and groups have been running to attack Democrats as soft on crime. Democrats are vulnerable on the issue, given a rise in homicides in many large, Democratic-led cities, and Republicans say they are simply highlighting a problem that affects all Americans, regardless of race. But some of the ads have drawn criticism for playing on racial fears. Cheri Beasley, a former North Carolina Supreme Court justice running for the U.S. Senate, has faced at least $2 million in attack ads calling her soft on crime, according to an AdImpact analysis. One such ad, paid for by the conservative Club for Growth PAC, features the mug shot of a Black sex offender and blames Beasley for his being unmonitored. (In 2019, Beasley joined a majority of the court in ruling that offenders cannot be subjected to GPS monitoring for life solely because they have committed multiple crimes.) Steele called the Beasley spot “dressed-up Willie Horton,” referring to an run ad in support of Republican George H.W. Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign against Democrat Michael Dukakis. That ad’s use of a Black offender’s mug shot became a classic example of “dog whistle” racism in politics. Similar ads featuring mug shots of Black defendants have targeted Democratic Senate candidate Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin, as well. (Beasley and Barnes are Black.) Fording says such ads are designed to activate racial biases subtly and arouse anger and fear, which is often more effective than overt racist messages. “There’s a lot of political science research that suggests that those appeals will work,” he said. The president of the Club for Growth PAC, David McIntosh, defended the ad in a statement. “At every level of politics, liberal Democrats in North Carolina are getting called out for being soft on pedophiles,” he said. “If they want to pretend race has anything to do with letting police track child sex predators, they’re going to be in for quite a surprise on election night.” Civil rights leaders say they are holding out hope that the environment will improve after the midterms but worry that each new attack further erodes the standards for how people in public life talk about race and religion. “I don’t know if it’ll be very easy to put the genie back in the bottle,” Greenblatt said. Read More Here

The Debrief: Conn Carroll On Whether Sending Migrants Back To Mexico Is As Good As It Sounds https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-debrief-conn-carroll-on-whether-sending-migrants-back-to-mexico-is-as-good-as-it-sounds/ Washington Examiner Commentary Editor Conn Carroll joins Sarah Westwood to discuss the Biden administration’s loopholes in how it is using Title 42 for illegal immigrants and whether it’s different from former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. Read More Here

Cal Thomas: Christian Nationalism Is Challenging https://digitalalaskanews.com/cal-thomas-christian-nationalism-is-challenging/ A file photo of a church interior. The subject of “Christian nationalism” has again appeared in our political life, establishing residence in the Republican Party. It is nothing new, though, having taken many forms in the past, including Moral Rearmament, Prohibition, Christian Reconstructionism, Moral Majority, and the Christian Coalition. Cal Thomas Commentary Tribune graphic In each incarnation, people have been told that something approaching Heaven on Earth can be accomplished through the political system and through a government led by folks who believe as they do. Each time the push has failed to achieve its stated goals. Leaving aside for a moment the flaw in Christian nationalist theology, let’s apply some pragmatism to these movements, including the latest called “ReAwaken America,” led by former Donald Trump National Security Adviser (for 22 days), Gen. Michael Flynn (retired). As the respected Pew Research Center has noted, “The decline of Christianity continues at a rapid pace.” That is reflected in the profile of people who are attending Gen. Flynn’s rallies. They appear to be mostly older and white, hardly the image of an America that will follow their generation. Several polls have shown that when asked their religious affiliation, millennials make up the highest percentage (32 percent) of “nones.” According to Pew, “sixty-five percent of Americans” self-identify as Christians, but it is a diverse group. Among them are Mainline Protestants, who generally vote for Democrats. Among Evangelicals, there are also divisions, with some voting for Democrats and others favoring Republicans. Roman Catholics, too, are divided, especially on social issues such as abortion. They also pledge allegiance to competing political parties or identify as Independents. The question then becomes: how does this minority within a minority within an even smaller minority expect to win elections in sufficient numbers to pass legislation that will reverse what they see as a moral and cultural decline? If it could be done, would it not have been done by the previously mentioned movements which enjoyed a larger percentage of like-minded people? Oklahoma entrepreneur Clay Clark heads the ReAwaken America organization. An Associated Press story about a recent rally in Batavia, New York, quotes him: “I want you to look around and you’ll see a group of people that love this country dearly. At this ReAwaken America Tour, Jesus is King (and) President Donald J. Trump is our president.” That comment sums up the attempted fusion of faith with politics. This ideology, this misplaced faith that a fallen humanity can – or should – impose a worldview through government that a majority do not share goes back to at least the time of Jesus. In the Book of Acts, the Disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6 NLT). They were looking for an earthly kingdom with themselves in charge. They wanted to throw off the Roman occupation and “take over.” Make Israel great again! Later, Jesus would respond to Pontius Pilate who asked Him if He was a king: “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36 NLT). That statement is a powerful rebuke to those who seek a kingdom that would be as flawed as they are if it ever came to fruition. I have always appreciated this observation from C.S. Lewis, which speaks to the current and past movements of “Christian soldiers” wishing to transform America into their image: “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’; aim at Earth and you will get neither.” Perhaps these well-intentioned but misguided Christian nationalists should obey the commands of the One they claim to follow (and I don’t mean Donald Trump). When that was the priority for Christians in the past, culture changed. A re-awakened America won’t come through politics and government no matter how strongly Christian nationalists wish for it. This Cal Thomas commentary is his opinion. He can be reached at cthomas@wctrib.com. Commentary logo Tribune graphic Read More Here

How Republicans Cast Aside Concerns And Learned To Love Herschel Walker https://digitalalaskanews.com/how-republicans-cast-aside-concerns-and-learned-to-love-herschel-walker/ Herschel Walker, the Republican candidate for Senate, is joined onstage by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) as he speaks during a campaign rally in Carrollton, Ga., Oct. 13, 2022. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times) Since Herschel Walker launched his bid for Senate last year, Georgia voters have learned about his ex-wife’s allegations of domestic violence, his multiple children born out of wedlock and, most recently, assertions from a former girlfriend that he paid for one abortion and urged her to end a second pregnancy, while claiming to oppose abortion. Walker, a former football star and first-time candidate, has denied the latest claim and expressed shock about what he has cast as a stunning partisan broadside. But some Republicans close to him were hardly surprised: They had been discussing the arrival of this moment with the candidate for months. Walker’s team was braced to defend him against accusations that he threatened his ex-wife, a claim that’s been public for years. But some advisers also knew about the specific abortion claim made by the mother of one of Walker’s children, according to two people familiar with the conversations. Those who knew said they warned Walker to prepare for the possibility that those details would become fodder in a political campaign, but Walker refused. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The issue mostly frustrated him, these people said. Walker privately denied the abortion, but instead of discussing a strategy to handle the claim, he maintained that the details would never become public. At times he would argue that if his ex-girlfriend’s account did leak out, it would not be believed because he had a child with the woman, according to the two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Walker campaign declined to comment. Now the party is reckoning with the reality of a political gamble Republicans in Georgia and Washington made months ago. In the face of former President Donald Trump’s backing and Walker’s star power, Republican leaders, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, deemed resistance to Walker futile. In a race that could determine control of the Senate, they chose short-term political expediency over confrontation with Trump or his chosen candidate. The Georgia Senate race serves as an allegory of Trump-era Republicanism: Old-guard party leaders did not so much lead their voters as follow them; the evangelical wing was quick to compromise; Trump rewrote the conventional rules; and celebrity substituted for experience. “The most rational-minded folks were wanting to pump the brakes on what felt like a runaway train,” said Geoff Duncan, the Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, who was referring to Walker’s campaign. “Republicans were perfectly happy winning the first half of the football game, in the primary, and not paying any attention to the second half, which is the general.” Duncan, a Trump critic, said he wouldn’t vote for Sen. Raphael Warnock, the Democratic incumbent, but was not yet sure if he would support Walker. The race remains a toss-up; polls show Walker’s support dipping slightly, but in a tight race that could make the difference. Party leaders have stood by him. He continues to evince the brash confidence of a star athlete. “They don’t realize that they’ve woken a grizzly bear,” Walker told Fox News aboard his campaign bus this week. “I’ve won at everything I’ve set my mind to.” The Republican has frequently mentioned his mental health issues — he has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, he said. He has not denied the domestic violence allegations and has suggested the disorder is to blame for previous outbursts and erratic behavior. He describes himself as a once-troubled man “saved by grace.” Democrats have said Walker has “a pattern of lying” and is not qualified to serve. The race could turn on which version of Walker voters believe. “There are always risks with first-time candidates,” said David Shafer, the chair of the Georgia Republican Party. “But potential reward never comes without risk.” A Personal Connection From the beginning, Trump wanted Walker in the race. Walker’s hero status in Georgia, where he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship for the University of Georgia, made him just the sort of celebrity candidate Trump likes to promote. As a Black Republican, he was a step toward diversifying the overwhelmingly white party. But the draw was hardly just political. The two men have known each other for decades, and — just as he’s done for White House jobs and other political endorsements — Trump let his personal connection override any background checks and other research typically involved in such high-profile job searches. Walker grew close to Trump when he was a young athlete who had left college early to sign the richest contract in pro football with the New Jersey Generals franchise in the United States Football League in 1983. Trump purchased the team months later. Walker became something of a surrogate uncle to Trump’s children, who often spent stretches of their summers with him. Eric Trump and his brother, Donald Trump Jr. — whom Walker occasionally calls “Little Donald” — have spoken warmly to associates about trips with Walker to Disney World. When Walker talks about his connection to Donald Trump, he emphasizes their friendship. “He’s eaten at my home,” Walker said in a May interview with Revolt.TV. “I’ve eaten at his home. My family has eaten at his home.” Trump was even more effusive when Walker appeared as a contestant on Trump’s reality television program. “I am not a gay man — and I love you,” Trump told Walker when booting him off “Celebrity Apprentice.” ‘The World Is Changing’ As he was preparing to announce his campaign last year, Walker bristled when friends and advisers tried to ask about his past, refusing even in private to take responsibility for his actions, according to Republicans who have been close to Walker. He grew frustrated with direct questions and raised doubts about the loyalty of his own team. One Republican strategist whom Walker spoke with last year said that Walker kept repeating how easy the race was going to be. Christian Walker, Walker’s son, says he knew his father’s past would be difficult for the family and counseled him not to run, although he did not know about the abortion issue. “I absolutely tried my best to attempt to get him prepared,” Christian Walker said in an email to The New York Times. “The best way forward was honesty. That clearly didn’t happen.” Walker had reason to be optimistic about his bid. Internal polling showed that he enjoyed an approval rating of higher than 90% among Georgia Republicans. The combination of his local star power and vocal support of Trump made him virtually untouchable in a Republican primary. “If your name is Herschel Walker, and you’re a pro-life conservative, with his name ID, celebrity and impressive fundraising ability, the primary was over the day he entered the race,” said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and a former state party chair of the Georgia Republican Party. Trump, too, was unconcerned with Walker’s past. “Twenty years ago would’ve been a bigger problem. I don’t think it’s a problem today,” he said in September 2021, according to “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America” by Maggie Haberman, a Times reporter. Asked to explain, the former president — who was recorded bragging about groping women, accused of sexual assault and twice impeached — said, “Because the world is changing.” A Fleeting Resistance McConnell, the second most powerful man in Republican politics, had other ideas about who should run. From the moment two runoff losses in Georgia cost Republicans their Senate majority in January 2021, the state was at the center of McConnell’s plan to wrest back control in 2022. Even before Sen. David Perdue of Georgia had publicly conceded defeat, McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, asked him to consider running again this year, according to a person briefed on the conversation. But Perdue didn’t entertain the idea for long. In February, he flew to Florida for a visit and a round of golf with Trump. Within days, Perdue announced he would not be running and soon after Trump publicly urged in a statement, “Run Herschel, run!” McConnell did not take no for an answer. Over the summer, news stories began to reveal new details about accusations that Walker repeatedly threatened his ex-wife’s life, exaggerated claims of financial success and alarmed business associates with unpredictable behavior. (Notably, McConnell’s longtime political adviser, Josh Holmes, shared on Twitter one Associated Press article, calling it “about as comprehensive a takedown as I’ve ever read. My lord.”) Days earlier, McConnell met with Perdue at the Capitol, checking if the former senator’s decision not to run was still in effect. It was. Walker officially entered the race in August, and the two men were soon speaking frequently. McConnell grew more comfortable as Walker was solicitous of his advice, according to two people briefed on the calls. Within two months, he had formally endorsed Walker. In embracing Walker, McConnell accepted a candidate who, from the start, was sure to make the race about the Republican nominee instead of the Democratic one — anathema to his preferred strategy. By the spring of 2022, McConnell was publicly defending Walker’s tumultuous past. “Almost every candidate has had troubled periods,” McConnell said in an April interview with Axios, when asked about his ex-wife’s allegations of violence. He cut off further questions: “I think Walker is completely electable.” Others still disagreed....

Recession, Government And Trump….Mark Bouris Is On Point – NT News https://digitalalaskanews.com/recession-government-and-trump-mark-bouris-is-on-point-nt-news/ Potential automated action detected! Newscorp Australia are trialling new security software on our mastheads. If you receive “Potential automated action detected!” please try these steps first: Temporarily disable any AdBlockers / pop-up blockers / script blockers you have enabled Add this site in to the allowed list for any AdBlockers / pop-up blockers / script blockers you have enabled Ensure your browser supports JavaScript (this can be done via accessing https://www.whatismybrowser.com/detect/is-javascript-enabled in your browser) Ensure you are using the latest version of your web browser If you need to be unblocked please e-mail us at accessissues@news.com.au and provide the IP address and reference number shown here along with why you require access. News Corp Australia. Your IP address is: 170.39.76.27 | Your reference number is: 0.97382f17.1665843891.10dfd264 Read More Here

15-Year-Old Raleigh Shooting Suspect To Face Charges As An Adult – Live https://digitalalaskanews.com/15-year-old-raleigh-shooting-suspect-to-face-charges-as-an-adult-live/ Five dead, including police officer, in North Carolina shooting Five people were killed by a shooter who opened fire along a walking trail in North Carolina’s capital city on Thursday and eluded police for hours before he was cornered in a home and arrested, police said. Law enforcement officials identified the victims of the shooting on Friday. An off-duty police officer was among those killed by the suspect, whom police only described as a white, 15-year-old male. The suspect was arrested around 9.37pm after evading capture for hours and hiding inside a home, authorities said. Gunfire broke out around 5pm, along the Neuse River Greenway in a residential area northeast of downtown, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. Officers from numerous law enforcement agencies swarmed the area, closing roads and warning residents to stay inside while they searched for the shooter. Two people, including another police officer, were also taken to hospitals. “Tonight terror has reached our doorstep. The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh. This is a senseless horrific and infuriating act of violence that has been committed,” Governor Roy Cooper told reporters. Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Read More Here

B https://digitalalaskanews.com/b-21/ Picture licensed by Wikicommons. Tori Miller | News Editor President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law Thursday. The decision acts as a stepping stone for his administration to review marijuana’s drug classification — as of right now, the drug is considered legally the same as harder drugs. “The federal government currently classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance, the same as heroin and LSD and more serious than fentanyl,” Biden said. “It makes no sense.” These pardons will clear everyone convicted on federal charges of simple possession since it first became a crime in the 1970s; however, the pardons do not apply to people convicted of selling or distributing marijuana.  There are no people now serving time in federal prisons solely for marijuana possession, according to the New York Times, but the decision will help remove obstacles for people trying to get a job, find housing, apply to college or get federal benefits. “Sending people to jail for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives — for conduct that is legal in many states,” Biden said on Twitter Thursday. “That’s before you address the clear racial disparities around prosecution and conviction. Today, we begin to right these wrongs.” Extreme racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests persist throughout the country which have not improved since 2010, according to an ACLU research report, and Black people are 3.64 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession.  During his announcement, Biden encouraged governors to pardon state cannabis-related convictions — which greatly outnumber those charged at the federal level — to further his goal of striving toward decriminalizing marijuana.  Biden stopped short of calling for the complete decriminalization of marijuana, which would take an act of Congress to accomplish. But he said on Twitter that the federal government still needs “important limitations on trafficking, marketing and underage sales of marijuana,” according to the New York Times. With a month before the midterm elections, the president’s choice could represent a fundamental policy change in America’s response to the highly-debated drug. Both Republicans and Democrats reacted quickly to Biden’s announcement. “In the midst of a crime wave and on the brink of a recession, Joe Biden is giving blanket pardons to drug offenders,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) said. “This is a desperate attempt to distract from failed leadership.” Other Republican figureheads, such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott — who is in a highly visible reelection race this year — was asked his opinion but never answered whether he would follow Biden’s lead and pursue marijuana pardons in the state, the Texas Tribune reported. North Carolina’s top two Democratic officials, Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein, said that they support Biden’s move and urged the Republican-led state legislature to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, according to the Washington Post. “No one should be in jail because of marijuana. As President, I will decriminalize cannabis use and automatically expunge prior convictions,” Biden said during his presidential campaign. For more information: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/06/politics/marijuana-decriminalization-white-house-joe-biden https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/us/politics/biden-marijuana-pardon.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/07/biden-marijuana-midterm-elections/ For more news, like Flyer News on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@FlyerNews) and Instagram (@flyernews).  Read More Here

High Inflation Locked In As Major Campaign Headwind For Dems: 'Motivating Issue' https://digitalalaskanews.com/high-inflation-locked-in-as-major-campaign-headwind-for-dems-motivating-issue/ Thursday’s inflation numbers said consumer prices rose faster than expected in September, and the inflation rate remained near 40-year highs, likely cementing voter worries about the state of the economy as they head to the polls in November. It was the last report on consumer inflation voters will see before they vote Nov. 8, and election watchers said inflation seems likely to be a major issue for voters, even as other issues like abortion and democracy compete for their attention. “It’s the kind of thing that impacts everyone at every level of our social status and economic status,” Matt Germer, a resident elections fellow for the libertarian R Street Institute, told Fox News Digital.  “We all buy groceries, we buy gasoline, we pay our utility bills. And when those are going up month after month, it’s putting budgets under pressure. And that’s the kind of thing that motivates people in November.” SOARING INFLATION DRIVES MORE AMERICANS TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK DESPITE 501% INCREASE IN WAGES The Labor Department said Thursday the consumer price index, a broad measure of the price for everyday goods, including gasoline, groceries and rents, rose 0.4% in September from the previous month. Prices climbed 8.2% on an annual basis. Those figures were both higher than the 8.1% headline figure and 0.2% monthly increase forecast by Refinitiv economists. In an even more concerning development that suggests underlying inflationary pressures in the economy remain strong, core prices, which strip out the more volatile measurements of food and energy, climbed 0.6% in September from the previous month. From the same time last year, core prices jumped 6.6%, the fastest since 1982. Republicans have been attacking Democrats on the issue since last year and appear poised to keep hammering their opponents on that issue until Election Day. President Biden and top congressional Democrats backed the “Inflation Reduction Act” earlier this year in an effort to tame rising prices despite debate whether it will actually reduce inflation. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images) “Every American is dealing with the out-of-control price hikes caused by Democrats’ reckless spending. That’s why poll after poll shows inflation is the No. 1 issue headed into the midterms.” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Berg told Fox News Digital. Democrats argue that they’ve moved major pieces of legislation aimed at cutting inflation, including a bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, though Republicans dispute the claim it will actually lower inflation. YELLEN SAYS INFLATION FIGHT REMAINS TOP PRIORITY FOR BIDEN AFTER HOT SEPTEMBER REPORT “The only party with an actual economic plan is the Democratic Party,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Tommy Garcia told Fox News Digital. “We’re going to spend every day left in this campaign reminding voters that despite Republican obstruction, Democrats have taken bold action to lower costs, put millions of Americans to work and protect Americans’ reproductive freedoms.” Gas prices displayed at a station in Annapolis, Md., in March 2022 amid a surge in prices tied to the Russian war on Ukraine.  (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images) Inflation continues to remain high in voters’ minds, but other issues that may be more favorable for Democrats are registering in recent polls. In a Fox News Poll conducted last month in Arizona, inflation was tied with abortion at 17% for the third most important issue for voters. Two issues tied for first at 18% — border security and the preservation of American democracy. A Fox News Poll in Wisconsin revealed that inflation was the second most important issue among voters in that state, at 20%. The preservation of American democracy ranked first at 24%. Abortion trailed at 16%. AFTER SEPTEMBER’S HOTTER-THAN-EXPECTED CPI REPORT, GOP LAWMAKER PREDICTS ‘EVEN BIGGER TURNOUT’ IN NOVEMBER In Pennsylvania, inflation was tied at 21% for the most important issue, along with the preservation of American democracy. Abortion registered at 15%. A shopper looks at organic produce at a supermarket in Montebello, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images) But Germer says when voters go to the polls, inflation will likely be the ultimate issue driving how they cast their ballots. “For months now, Democrats have been trying to make abortion the issue in the election cycle. And there are definitely some people out there where that really is the motivating issue for them. But that’s not most people,” Germer said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS “I believe elections are important. I think there are some good ideas for reform,” Germer added. “I care very deeply about it. But that issue isn’t what’s driving people. It’s inflation.” FOX Business’ Megan Henney contributed to this report. Read More Here