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Stocks Rally To Start October And A New Quarter, Dow Up Over 800 Points https://digitalarizonanews.com/stocks-rally-to-start-october-and-a-new-quarter-dow-up-over-800-points/ Chip stocks outperforming Semiconductor stocks are one of the group’s leading Monday’s broad rally, helping to cut into some of the sector’s big losses for the year. The PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index was up more than 4% in afternoon trading. Among individual names, shares of Intel were up 5.4%, while Advanced Micro Devices climbed 4.8%. Chip giant Nvidia also added more than 3%. Semiconductor stocks are often seen cyclical names, and have struggled as investors have soured on the global economic outlook. The PHLX Index is still down 39% year to date. – Jesse Pound S&P Global Market Intelligence: Surging dollars helps curb inflation in manufacturing Consumers should see lower prices within manufacturing as the surging U.S. dollars helps bat down inflation, one economist said. Manufacturers are reporting a growth in order books for the first time in four months in September while experiencing lower costs, according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Input costs rose at a slower pace in September and providers raised prices at a slower rate than earlier in the year. “While the strong dollar is curbing exports, a beneficial effect from the greenback’s strength is being seen via lower import costs,” Williamson said. “With supply chain delays also easing substantially again in September and shipping costs falling, upwards pressure on firms’ costs has moderated sharply, which will feed through to lower goods prices to consumers.” But manufacturing will still drag on the broader economy, he said, with even more demand needed to make the industry positively contribute to gross domestic product. Despite seeing more stability in the supply chain, the industry ran through pre-production inventories for the first time since February 2021. — Alex Harring Wall Street is growing confident a Fed pivot could come by December, Oanda’s Moya says It’s too early to call an end to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening cycle but Wall Street is growing increasingly confident that an end could come later this year, according to Oanda’s Ed Moya. “It is premature to say that the Fed is almost done with tightening, but it seems Wall Street is growing confident that they could be done in December,” he said in a note to clients Monday. “Investors are starting to doubt central banks globally will remain aggressive with fighting inflation as financial stability risks are growing.” Bond yields fell on Monday after topping multi-year highs in September. Moya called the move in the Treasury markets a potential sign of rising optimism among traders. “It is too early to call for a Fed pivot, but it seems the action in Treasury markets suggests traders are growing confident that the global growth slowdown is starting to drag down pricing pressures,” he said. — Samantha Subin Finding safety in the bear market: CNBC Pro’s latest stock screen It’s been a rough 2022 for Wall Street as the S&P 500 finished its third consecutive down quarter in a row on Friday for the first time since 2009 and its worst month since March 2020. It’s difficult for investors to stay hopeful in an environment consumed by surging inflation, a war in Ukraine and a Federal Reserve that shows few signs it will slow its tightening pace, but some safe havens do exist in this period of volatility. CNBC Pro conducted a screen to locate some of those names, which included a popular energy stock and semiconductor company. Subscribers to CNBC pro can check out the full list of stocks that made the cut here. — Samantha Subin Market has not hit contrarian low yet, two investment strategists say The market is likely to see a near-term bounce, but a contrarian indicator that signals an upswing hasn’t been hit yet, said two investment strategists. A bear market needs to see internal pressures cool while a handful of stocks continue going lower before a bounce usually occurs, according to Todd Sohn, a director at Strategas, and Ross Mayfield, an investment strategy analyst at Baird Private Wealth Management. The pair also pointed to the Chicago Board Options Exchange’s CBOE Volatility Index, known as the “fear gauge,” which remains around 30. It would typically be around 40 to signal the type of panic typically seen at major lows. “We’re just surprised that there’s a lack of major panic despite stocks being in a long bear market,” Sohn and Mayfield said. “Ultimately, I think you need to stay patient here.” — Alex Harring Brazil stocks rally after Bolsonaro forces run-off in presidential election Brazilian stocks rallied Monday after President Jair Bolsonaro forced a run-off vote in this year’s election against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ) popped more than 9%, led by a 21% pop in water and waste management company Companhia de Saneamento Basico. Oil giant Petrobras also popped more than 11%. The EWZ was on pace for its biggest one-day gain since March 24, 2020 — when it popped 12.1%. Bovespa, Brazil’s benchmark stock index, also rose more than 4% and was headed for its best day since May 2020. Lula, a leftist, beat out Bolsonaro by 5 percentage points in the first round of voting, which was held Sunday. However, that margin was slimmer than many expected. Bolsonaro is seen as a more market friendly candidate in Brazil, promising reform and privatizations across several sectors of the economy. — Fred Imbert Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Credit Suisse, Tesla and more These are some of the stocks making the biggest moves during midday trading on Monday. Credit Suisse — Shares of Credit Suisse rose 1.7%, reversing an earlier slump that sent the stock to a record low, after the bank over the weekend made a series of calls to calm investor fears about its financial health. Tesla — Tesla shares dropped 8.2% after the electric vehicle maker said it delivered 343,000 vehicles in the third quarter, less than analysts expected. Wall Street analysts were divided over the report, however. Peloton — Peloton shares rose more than 6% after the exercise-equipment company announced it will put bikes in all 5,400 Hilton-branded hotels in the U.S. as it tries to engineer a turnaround. Read the full list of stocks moving midday here. — Tanaya Macheel 25 S&P 500 stocks fall to fresh lows but now nearly all turn positive Twenty-five stocks in the S&P 500 breached new 52-week lows during midday trading. They’ve since nearly all turned positive on the session. Meanwhile, Nielsen was the only stock that hit a new 52-week high, trading at levels not seen since May 2021. Here are some of the other names. Carnival trading at lows not seen since Oct, 1992 (but now dipping in and out of positive territory on session) Southwest trading at lows not seen since May, 2020 (but currently up over 1% on session) Colgate-Palmolive trading at lows not seen since May, 2020 (but now positive on session) DENTSPLY trading at lows not seen since Aug, 2010 (but now up over 2% on session) Tyson Foods trading at levels not seen since Feb, 2021 (but now positive on session) BlackRock trading at lows not seen since Sep, 2020 (but now up almost 2% on session) Invesco trading at lows not seen since Nov, 2020 (but now up over 5% on session) Fidelity National Information Services trading at lows not seen since Feb, 2017 (but now up more than 1.2% on session) Nike trading at lows not seen since Apr, 2020 (but currently up over 1% on session) Aptiv trading at lows not seen since Aug, 2020 (but currently up over 4% on session) UPS trading at lows not seen since Mar, 2021 (but now up almost 1% on session) — Gina Francolla, Sarah Min Credit Suisse lowers its year-end S&P 500 target, but sees an up year for 2023 Credit Suisse is among the Wall Street firms cutting its end-of-year target on the S&P 500. The firm lowered its target to 3,850 from 4,300. The new figure still implies upside of 7.4% through the end of the year. It also initiated its 2023 target at 4,050. These forecasts are based on updated EPS estimates of $227, $230, and $240 for 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Citi also slashed its year-end target on the stock index on Sunday. — Tanaya Macheel Viasat surges after announcing deal with L3 Harris Shares of Viasat jumped 39% on Monday morning after defense contractor L3 Harris announced a deal to acquire the communications company’s tactical data links business. The deal is for just under $2 billion, the companies announced. Viasat said it would use the cash to reduce its leverage and increase liquidity. At the end of June, the company reported having about $222 million in cash and cash equivalents versus more than $2.5 billion in senior notes and other long-term debt. Prior to the announcement, Viasat’s stock was down 32% for the year. Shares of L3Harris rose 3.7% on Monday. —Jesse Pound `This is not 2008’— Credit Suisse situation not dire, according to Citigroup Though Credit Suisse is currently being buffeted by a falling stock price and widening credit default swap levels, Citigroup says they don’t believe the European bank is in dire trouble. “This Is Not 2008,” Andrew Coombs said Monday in a research note. “We would be wary of drawing parallels with banks in 2008 or Deutsche Bank in 2016.” Back in 2008, plunging share prices and widening credit default swap levels prompted a wave of consolidations in the U.S. bank sector. Stronger banks like JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo acquired weaker institutions. But Credit Suisse’s common equity Tier 1 capital, a key measure tied to the bank’s ability to absorb financial shocks, was 13.5% as of the second quarter. That is “high vs peers,” Coombs wrote. The bank’s “liquidity position is very healthy,” he added. “The market appears to b...

Trump ‘happy To Have Helped’ Bolsonaro Reach Runoff In Brazil https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-happy-to-have-helped-bolsonaro-reach-runoff-in-brazil/ Associated Press/Ross D. Franklin FILE – Former President Donald Trump points to the crowd as he arrives to speak at a rally July 22, 2022, in Prescott, Ariz. Trump is returning to Washington for the first time since leaving office to deliver a policy speech Tuesday night, July 26 before allies who have been crafting an agenda for a possible second term. Trump will address the America First Policy Institute’s two-day America First Agenda Summit. Former President Trump on Monday took some credit for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s performance in Brazil’s elections a day earlier, where the right-wing incumbent outperformed polling expectations to force a runoff. “So happy to have helped a great person and leader get into the difficult to achieve, with other Conservative candidates and certain difficult rules and regulations, run off for President of Brazil,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “The Voters made a great decision in giving such strong backing to the brilliant and very hard working current President, Jair Bolsonaro. Now, for the sake of Brazil and its future greatness, they have to get Jair over the finish line, against a Radical Left Socialist, on October 30th. Go Bolsonaro!!!” Trump posted. Trump, in a post shortly after the results came in, congratulated Bolsonaro for “greatly ‘outperforming’ inaccurate early Fake News Media polls.” Bolsonaro, who was dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” upon his election four years ago, advanced to runoff against former leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. With nearly all of the ballots counted, da Silva received roughly 48 percent of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 43 percent. Neither candidate exceeded 50 percent, meaning there will be an Oct. 30 runoff between the two men. Polls leading up to the race showed Bolsonaro facing a wide deficit and that da Silva could prevail without needing a runoff, leading Trump and his allies to compare it to recent U.S. elections where Trump over-performed polling averages. Like Trump, Bolsonaro has also cast doubt on Brazil’s election infrastructure and has not said definitively whether he will accept the results of the election. “There’s always the possibility of something abnormal happening in a fully computerized system,” Bolsonaro said Sunday, according to The New York Times. Read More Here

Oath Keepers Trial: 'Armed Rebellion' Plan, Prosecutor Says https://digitalarizonanews.com/oath-keepers-trial-armed-rebellion-plan-prosecutor-says/ By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates planned an “armed rebellion” to keep President Donald Trump in power, a federal prosecutor contended Monday as the most serious case yet went to trial in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Stewart Rhodes and his band of extremists were prepared to go to war to stop Joe Biden from becoming president, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler told jurors. The group celebrated the Capitol attack as a battle they had won and continued their plot even after Biden’s electoral victory was certified, Nestler alleged. “Their goal was to stop, by whatever means necessary, the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the United States government,” the prosecutor said during his opening statement. “They concocted a plan for armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy.” Rhodes and the four others are the first Jan. 6 defendants to stand trial on the charge of seditious conspiracy, a rare Civil War-era charge that calls for up to 20 years behind bars. The stakes are high for the Justice Department, which last secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial nearly 30 years ago. Rhodes’ attorney painted a far different picture, describing the Oath Keepers as a “peacekeeping” force. He accused prosecutors of building their case on cherry-picked evidence from messages and videos and told jurors that the “true picture” would show that the Oath Keepers had merely been preparing for orders they expected from Trump but never came. “Stewart Rhodes meant no harm to the Capitol that day. Stewart Rhodes did not have any violent intent that day,” Rhodes’ attorney, Phillip Linder, said. “The story the government is trying to tell you today is completely wrong.” On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia, and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face several other charges as well. About 900 people have been charged and hundreds convicted in the Capitol attack. Rioters stormed past police barriers, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with officers, smashed windows and temporarily halted the certification of Biden’s electoral victory. Prosecutors told jurors the insurrection was no spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage but part of a detailed, drawn-out plot to stop Biden from entering the White House. Rhodes began plotting to overturn Biden’s victory right after the election, Nestler said. In November 2020, Rhodes sent his followers a step-by-step plan for stopping the transfer of power based on a popular uprising that brought down Yugoslavia’s president two decades earlier. As December approached, Rhodes’ rhetoric became increasingly violent and desperate, Nestler said. In messages and comments read to the jury, the Oath Keepers repeatedly warned of the prospect of violence if Biden were to become president. During a December interview, Rhodes called senators “traitors” and warned that the Oath Keepers would have to “overthrow, abort or abolish Congress.” Rhodes knew that if the Oath Keepers didn’t stop Congress from certifying the vote on Jan. 6, it would be much harder to stop Biden from taking office, Nestler said. The Oath Keepers organized training, including one session that was recorded on video and set to rock music. Before coming to Washington, they set up “quick reaction force” teams with “weapons of war” stashed at a Virginia hotel so they could get them into the capital quickly if necessary, the prosecutor said. As Oath Keepers stormed the Capitol in helmets and other battle gear, Rhodes remained on the outside, like “a general surveying his troops on a battlefield,” Nestler said. After the attack, the Oath Keepers were “elated,” the prosecutor said. “These defendants were fighting a war and they won a battle on Jan. 6 … but they planned to continue waging that war to stop the transfer of power prior to Inauguration Day. Thankfully their plans were foiled,” Nestler said. In the days between the riot and Biden’s inauguration, Rhodes spent more than $17,000 on firearm parts, ammunition and other items, prosecutors say. Around the time of the inauguration, Rhodes told others to organize local militias to oppose the Democratic administration, authorities say. “Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming,” Rhodes wrote in a message the evening of Jan. 6. Defense attorneys say the Oath Keepers came to Washington only to provide security at events for figures such as Trump ally Roger Stone before the president’s big outdoor rally behind the White House. Rhodes has said there was no plan to attack the Capitol and that the members who did acted on their own. Rhodes’ lawyer told jurors that his client will take the stand to argue that he believed Trump was going to invoke the Insurrection Act and call up a militia, which Rhodes had been calling on him to do to stop Biden from becoming president. Rhodes’ lawyers have said he was merely lobbying the president to invoke a U.S. law. Nestler took aim at the Insurrection Act claim, saying it was only an attempt to cover up Rhodes’ illegal scheme. “Rhodes, with a law degree was careful with his own words. Rather than say out loud their plan, they used a code – or shorthand – the Insurrection Act,” he said. In one message from December 2020, Rhodes wrote that Trump “needs to know that if he fails to act, then we will.” ___ For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Hackers Release Stolen LAUSD Data After District Refuses To Pay Ransom https://digitalarizonanews.com/hackers-release-stolen-lausd-data-after-district-refuses-to-pay-ransom/ LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Hackers have released data stolen in a cyberattack against the Los Angeles Unified School District, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho confirmed Sunday. “Unfortunately, as expected, data was recently released by a criminal organization,” Carvalho said in a statement. “In partnership with law enforcement, our experts are analyzing the full extent of this data release.” The data was released Saturday — two days before a deadline previously given by the hackers — after Carvalho’s stated refusal to pay ransom to an international hacking syndicate. The group claiming responsibility for the cyberattack had previously set a Monday deadline for the district pay a ransom to the organization. In a dark web post detected and reprinted by Brett Callow of the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, the hacking syndicate Vice Society listed the LAUSD as one of “our partners,” and stated, “The papers will be published by London time on October 4, 2022 at 12:00 a.m.” The post did not give any indication about what information had been obtained or what would be published. Carvalho previously acknowledged that the district received a ransom demand from the group responsible for the Labor Day weekend hack — which he declined to name. “We can acknowledge … that there has been communication from this actor (hacker) and we have been responsive without engaging in any type of negotiations,” he told reporters. “With that said, we can acknowledge at this point … that a financial demand has been made by this entity. We have not responded to that demand.” He did not provide specifics about the demand. Carvalho told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that the district would not pay the ransom demand or negotiate with the hackers. “What I can tell you is that the demand — any demand — would be absurd,” he told the Times. “But this level of demand was, quite frankly, insulting. And we’re not about to enter into negotiations with that type of entity.” A hotline will be available starting Monday at 6:00 a.m. “This hotline will assist those from our school communities who may have questions or need additional support,” Carvalho said. The telephone number for the incident response hotline is (855) 926-1129. Hours of operation will be 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays. City News Service contributed to this report. ¿Quieres leer este artículo en español? Haz clic aquí Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved. Read More Here

The LifeGuard ApproachTM Announces Rebrand – PR.com https://digitalarizonanews.com/the-lifeguard-approachtm-announces-rebrand-pr-com/ Scottsdale, AZ, October 03, 2022 –(PR.com)– The LifeGuard InitiativeTM, dental practice coaching and training company focused on “Guarding and Guiding” the patients overall health and wellness, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding. To better identify with the company’s mission and teachable practice methodology, the company will now be known as The LifeGuard ApproachTM. The LifeGuard ApproachTM focuses on creating predictably higher levels of health and wellness in today’s patient by: · Directing and focusing attention on the lifestyle, habits, and oral health of patients. · Developing long lasting relationships based on mutual trust and respect. · Focusing on what the patient wants for themselves rather than what practitioners think they need. · Offering LifeLinesTM through implementation of today’s science coupled with education that empowers new beliefs and shifts behavior. “Today’s dental and medical professionals are in a unique position to offer LifeLinesTM (lifesaving protocols) by becoming a LifeGuard for our patients,” said Cris Duval, RDH and Co-Founder of The LifeGuard ApproachTM. To further cement the commitment and mission of reshaping protocols and approaches to patient care, The LifeGuard ApproachTM is pleased to announce that along with the rebranding, Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH has joined as Co-Founder and Partner. Kim brings more than 30-years clinical dental hygiene, speaking, education and coaching experience to the team. With the rebranding and addition of Ms. Miller to the team, The LifeGuard ApproachTM is prepared to share this groundbreaking model for dental and medical patient care with healthcare professionals. About The LifeGuard ApproachTM The LifeGuard Approach believes that it’s time for dental professionals to change their mindset when it comes to patient health. The time has come for the dental industry to become proactive LifeGuardsTM to promote health and disease prevention for our patients. ​ Using a groundbreaking model, healthcare professionals can transformation their daily interactions by mastering a failsafe set of protocols that will uplift daily interactions with patients and create predictably higher levels of long-term wellness through state-of-the-art LifeLines. Cris and Kim invite you to visit www.thelifeguardapproach.com to explore the rebranded website, resources, get to know more about the team and sign up for our monthly newsletter. Rebecca Downing (248) 324-8376 www.mediawithcoffee.com Contact Categories Dentistry Read More Here

Ukrainian Troops Overrun Russian Forces, Break Through Lines In Recently Annexed Kherson: Live Updates https://digitalarizonanews.com/ukrainian-troops-overrun-russian-forces-break-through-lines-in-recently-annexed-kherson-live-updates/ A Ukrainian counteroffensive that already has reclaimed thousands of miles is breaking through Russian lines in the southern Kherson region recently annexed by Moscow, Kremlin-installed officials said Monday. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-picked head of the Kherson province, said on state television that multiple settlements about 70 miles northeast of the city of Kherson on the banks of the Dnieper River have been overrun. “It’s tense, let’s put it that way,” Saldo said in a translation by Reuters. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in his daily briefing that “with superior tank units … the enemy managed to penetrate into the depths of our defense.” But Konashenkov said Russian troops had fallen back to a defensive position and “continue to inflict massive fire damage” on Kyiv’s forces. The deputy head of the regional administration, Kirill Stremousov, said Ukraine forces “have broken through a little deeper” but wrote on Telegram that “everything is under control.” Ukraine also reported making inroads in the Luhansk province days after reclaiming the strategic eastern city of Lyman in the Donetsk province near the border with Luhansk. Developments: ►Ihor Murashov, director general of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in the Ukrainian province of Zaporizhzhia, was released from Russian custody after being detained leaving the facility Friday, according to Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. ►Russian shelling of eight Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours killed two civilians and wounded 14 others, Ukraine’s presidential office said Monday. ►The Joint Expeditionary Force group of northern European nations will meet Monday to discuss the safety of undersea pipelines and cables after blasts ruptured two natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said. Petraeus: US and NATO allies would ‘take out’ Russian forces if they used nukes There’s an important fact to keep in mind amid the concern Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised with his nuclear threats: The U.S. and its allies would crush the Russian forces, former CIA Director David Petraeus says. The retired four star general said if Putin used nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the U.S. would lead a collective response with other NATO nations “that would take out every Russian conventional force that we can see and identify on the battlefield in Ukraine and also in Crimea and every ship in the Black Sea.” Petraeus made the comments during a Sunday interview with ABC’s “This Week” in which he said Putin is not only losing the war, but “the battlefield reality he faces is, I think, irreversible.” He added: “There’s nothing he can do at this point. … and the losses have been staggering.” Petraeus noted that he hasn’t spoken with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who last week revealed the Biden administration has made it clear to the Russians that they would face “catastrophic consequences” if they used nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Even though Ukraine is not a member of NATO, Petraeus said a Russian nuclear attack would be so “horrific” that the U.S. and its allies would have no choice but to respond militarily. “But it doesn’t expand, it doesn’t — it’s not nuclear for nuclear. You don’t want to, again, get into a nuclear escalation here,” he said. “But you have to show that this cannot be accepted in any way.” Russian parliament house approves annexations The lower house of the Russian parliament on Monday approved the treaties for four regions of Ukraine to join Russia. The unanimous vote by the State Duma came days after President Vladimir Putin and Russian-installed leaders of the four regions signed the treaties. The upper house is expected to follow suit Tuesday. Ukraine, the U.S. and its western allies have dismissed the annexations as having no legal validity. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas would join Russia. He said the borders of the two other regions – Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – have not been determined. Kremlin shrugs off criticism of leadership Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said criticism of Russia’s military leadership by Chechnya’s regional leader was driven by emotions. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, scathingly criticized the Russian military command over the weekend, saying the Russian retreat from the city of Lyman in eastern Ukraine was a result of incompetence and nepotism. Kadyrov wrote on Telegram that Russian military leader Colonel-General Alexander Lapin should be fired. “If I had my way I would have demoted Lapin to private, would have deprived him of his awards and would have sent him to the front line to wash off his shame with the rifle in his hands,” Kadyrov wrote. Kadyrov also called for the use of low-yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine to reverse the momentum of the war, which has been decidedly in Ukraine’s favor in recent weeks. Contributing: The Associated Press Read More Here

True Crime Arizona Podcast: THE ZOMBIE HUNTER TRIAL: It Finally Begins https://digitalarizonanews.com/true-crime-arizona-podcast-the-zombie-hunter-trial-it-finally-begins/ PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Thirty years after the infamous Phoenix “Canal Murders,” the man and comic-book character accused of the killings stands trial. But Bryan Patrick Miller’s trial is unlike most – was he insane at the time, and could that let him walk free? Deciding his fate won’t be up to a jury. Hosts Briana Whitney and Morgan Loew break down why this trial is so non-traditional and what the “Zombie Hunter” is facing in a courtroom in the coming months. LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Available Now: Stream | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Stitcher | Google Podcasts RECENT EPISODES 6-year manhunt for a former Marine ends in arrest for girlfriend’s murder: In 2016, Krystal Mitchell and her boyfriend, Raymond “R.J.” McLeod headed from Phoenix to San Diego for vacation with friends. Everything takes a shocking turn when Krystal is found dead in an apartment, with Raymond nowhere to be found. Evidence pointed authorities to identity him as the prime suspect, but McLeod led the U.S. Marshalls on a 6-year international manhunt. Finally in 2022, a tip leads authorities to El Salvador, where they find Raymond McLeod, who is finally behind bars and charged with Krystal’s murder. But the person who played the biggest role in the investigation and his capture? Krystal’s mother. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 6 – Exactly What He Wanted: Briana and Serjio receive a new, unexpected tip from a former homicide detective that has them investigating more than they anticipated. Everyone interviewed this season reveals where they believe Robert Fisher is, and if he’s dead or alive, based on the new information our team uncovered during their investigation. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 5 – A Dive Bar off the Highway: Herb Greenbeck presents a new theory of where Robert Fisher went and what he did after the murders, based on strange questions he was asking during their camping trip together just weeks prior. Investigators share what they struggle with most trying to solve this case, which leads us back to the Fisher family home and their Scottsdale neighborhood. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 4 – The Underground Caves: Less than a mile from where Robert Fisher’s car was found in the woods are miles and miles of underground caves. It’s thought he may have been hiding in them at one point, and written evidence found in one of them suggests that may have been the case. We investigate written messages, and dive into the caves ourselves to find out if living in them for some time is realistic. At the same time, a tip from 2004 in Canada still perplexes people with some of the most unusual investigative techniques ever used. We get to the bottom of it. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 3 – ‘Holy Sh*t, I Was Here’: The investigation takes our crew into the woods where Robert Fisher’s car was found as they prepare to head underground for a search. Briana and Serjio assemble a full team made up of a retired detective on the case, the lead cave searcher at the time Fisher disappeared, and experienced spelunkers, who make realizations about what happened in the woods back in 2001. Meanwhile, a bombshell tip from Mexico shakes up the case – with pictures that shock detectives. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 2 – The Evidence File: Who was Robert Fisher? Details unravel about odd conversations and personality traits he displayed leading up to the murders and house explosion. Meanwhile, for the first time, we get exclusive access to the full evidence file and crime scene photos that reveal new details and tips about the investigation. Finding Robert Fisher Episode 1 – The Murders: On the morning of April 10th, 2001, residents in Scottsdale, AZ woke up to a home exploding into flames. The house belonged to the Fisher family, and investigators quickly learned there were three bodies inside, and one family member missing- Robert Fisher. After more than 20 years, the person who spent a weekend camping with Robert two weeks before the explosion reveals what Robert said and did during that trip, and why he believes there was an ulterior motive for a trip to that specific area. Murder, lies, and a storage bin: In November 2021, Claudia Moreno went missing from her Tempe, Arizona apartment. Her husband and family launched an all-out search for her, along with law enforcement. But months later, her sisters would learn somebody deceived them, and the real story revolved around a storage bin, a closet, and the desolate desert. The Art of Interrogation: How do you get a suspect to crack? Is “good cop/bad cop” a real thing? We get those answers and many more in a fascinating in-depth conversation with retired homicide detective Roger Geisler. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 6 – The Guru is Back: After serving time in prison, James Ray re-emerged in the self-help world again, selling his practices and teachings. He describes in his own words what happened in Sedona and how he feels he’s learned from the tragedy. This doesn’t sit well with the families of the victims. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 5: Angel Valley: After our first episode release this season, the owner of Angel Valley invited us to the grounds to show us where the sweat lodge tragedy happened. For the first time in a decade, she sat down to answer questions about how James Arthur Ray’s defense team tried to blame her and her husband for the deaths during the trial. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 4: The Trial: James Arthur Ray was on trial for manslaughter for the deaths of 3 participants. The testimony in the courtroom was fierce, powerful, and tense. It was the first time participants shared harrowing details while taking the stand to describe what happened to them. The 50-day trial led to an outcome nobody expected. “Little Miss Nobody” identified after 62 years: It’s been a heartbreaking mystery for more than 60 years, but thanks to a scientific DNA breakthrough, the identity of a murdered four-year-old girl known as “Little Miss Nobody” is finally known. Briana Whitney examines how authorities made the discovery and what questions remain unanswered, including who killed her. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 3: “Call 911!”: The sweat lodge activity turned into a full emergency, as participants were passing out, vomiting, and foaming from the mouth. This was supposed to be the final event to find enlightenment, but instead it led to death. Participants were looking for comfort from James Ray as the tragedy unfolded in the dark of night, but he was seemingly nowhere to be found. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 2: The Spiritual Warrior: It was the pinnacle of all James Ray events: the 5-day “Spiritual Warrior” retreat. Participants would pay thousands of dollars to head to Sedona, Arizona and participate in eccentric activities to help with personal growth. But concerns about all of it emerged years before the tragedy, especially about the final event of the retreat: the sweat lodge. The Sedona Sweat Lodge Deaths Episode 1: The Guru: In the 2000s, James Arthur Ray rose to fame as a key figure in a self-help movement that mixed elements of spirituality, “harmonic wealth,” and eccentric activities. Powered by appearances in “The Secret” and on TV with Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, he amassed a fortune and built an empire off of his thousands of followers. Ray was on top of the world until some of his followers felt things weren’t quite what they seemed… The Arrest of Mr. Rape Torture Kill: A convicted sex offender who calls himself “Mr. RTK” (short for Rape Torture Kill)—who also claims to have killed three boys and molested over 200 others—was arrested in Arizona after being free for over a year. An attempt to reach out to the mother of one of his victim’s on social media triggered the arrest. We hear from the victim’s mother and Mr. RTK as we go in-depth on this disturbing case. Safari, Sex, Money, and Murder?: An African hunting safari. A decades-long affair. Mail fraud. A mysterious death. Years after a woman’s death during a hunting trip in Africa was ruled accidental, new sordid details led the FBI to charge her husband, a prominent dentist, with her murder. THE ZOMBIE HUNTER Episode 10 – Insane? Or Destined for Death Row?: Bryan Patrick Miller is suspected in more attacks than he’s been charged with. Will we ever really know if he is responsible for those? Briana and Morgan look into how the prosecutor’s decision to pursue the death penalty could leave victims and their families with questions that are never answered. We also examine how an insanity defense could eventually set him free. THE ZOMBIE HUNTER Episode 9 – Inside His Home: Much of the Zombie Hunter’s court documents are sealed and the official police investigation was never released. But Briana Whitney and Morgan Loew glean new details and new insight about the case from those who covered Bryan Patrick Miller’s arrest and those who knew him. THE ZOMBIE HUNTER Episode 8: To catch the Canal Murders killer, Phoenix Police detective Troy Hillman assembled a team and tried unheard of—and widely doubted—tactics. His team’s innovation was the only way an arrest was made. For years, Hillman was not allowed to speak about the case. But just days after retiring, he sat down with us to discuss it for the very first time. THE ZOMBIE HUNTER: A Breaking Update: As Bryan Patrick Miller remains in jail facing charges in the deaths of 22-year-old Angela Brosso and 17-year-old Melanie Bernas, a judge just made a significant ruling that will shape how this case will play out. The strange & grisly death of Benjamin Anderson: On December 31, 2021, friends and family of Benjamin Anderson were unable to get ahold of him. A wild series of events, including a dangerous car chase on Phoenix streets, ended with the discovery of a...

Obituaries In Topeka, KS | Topeka Capital-Journal https://digitalarizonanews.com/obituaries-in-topeka-ks-topeka-capital-journal/ It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear Ron. Ron passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022 at his home in Lawrence with his wife by his side from complications of diabetes. He was 76 years old having been born on the 2nd day of August, 1946 to Cletus L. and Dorothy P. (Larison) Perry. His mother would say it was the hottest day of the year. Ron was raised in St. Marys and graduated from St. Marys High School and Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State) with a degree in Business Management. He began his banking career at Southern Arizona Bank and Trust, Tucson, AZ and moving back to Kansas worked at St. Marys State Bank and Kaw Valley Bank, Topeka. He worked for Internet Mortgage, Overland Park prior to retiring for health reasons. He married Peggy Rezac and they later divorced. On December 23, 2006 he married Carla (Reese) Hoobler and with this marriage gained a daughter. Ron was a very social guy who Carla often referred to as Mr. Never Met a Stranger. If you met him he would know everything about you and your life by the end of the conversation. Ron loved sports but his passion was baseball having played as a kid, in college and later town team men’s softball. He was fortunate to take many summer baseball trips with friends to visit numerous ball parks. Ron and Carla made several visits to Arizona for spring training and visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He loved a good single malt scotch, dirty martinis and scratcher tickets. He was a member of the St. Marys Methodist Church and attended First United Methodist Church, Lawrence where he served as usher. He was a prior board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Topeka and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Ron is survived by his wife Carla of Lawrence and daughter Sarah (Dale) Nordlund, Valley Falls. He is also survived by his sister Sheryl Dick, Berryton and his brother Dan (Linda) Perry, Emmett. Ron was blessed with lots of nieces and nephews all of whom he adored. Also surviving are brothers-in-law Rick (Mary Ellen) Reese and Ron (Leanna) Reese. He was predeceased by his parents, a niece Dana Perry and brother-in-law Gary Dick. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, October 7, 2022, at Piper Funeral Home. Interment will be in Valley View Cemetery in St. Marys. Ron will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday, October 6, 2022 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Marys Methodist Church or the Lawrence Humane Society and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences go to www.piperfuneralhome.com. He will be loved and missed forever. Posted online on October 03, 2022 Published in Topeka Capital Journal Service Information Visitation Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St, St Marys, KS 66536 October 06, 2022 at 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Funeral Service Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St, St Marys, KS 66536 October 07, 2022 at 11:00 AM Read More Here

Trump Rallies Drift To Fringe Ahead Of Potential 2024 Bid https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-rallies-drift-to-fringe-ahead-of-potential-2024-bid/ WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Paige Cole is one of the “Anons.” The mother of three from Eastpointe, Michigan, says Joe Biden is a sham president and believes Donald Trump will soon be reinstated to the White House to finish the remainder of Biden’s term. “His whole inauguration was fake. He didn’t have real military people. He had like fake badges, fake people. And Trump is actually our president,” she said while waiting in line for his latest rally on Saturday at Macomb Community College. Wearing a pink “Trump 2024” hat and draped in a large, “TRUMP WON” flag, Cole — a former Democrat who says she voted twice for Barack Obama — began to cry as she described the significance of Trump’s return and the 1,000 years of peace she believes will be ushered in with it. “It’s gonna change everything,” she says, “like we have never in humanity seen before.” Trump’s rallies have always attracted a broad swath of supporters, from first timers taking advantage of their chance to see a president in person, to devotees who camp out for days and follow him around the country like rock band groupies. But after spending much of the last two years obsessively peddling false claims of a stolen election, Trump is increasingly attracting those who have broken with reality, including adherents of the baseless QAnon conspiracy, which began in the dark corners of the internet and is premised on the belief that the country is run by a ring of child sex traffickers, satanic pedophiles and cannibals that only Trump can defeat. As he eyes another White House bid, Trump is increasingly flirting with the conspiracy. He’s reposted Q memes on his social media platform and amplified users who have have promoted the movement’s slogans, videos and imagery. And in recent weeks, he has been closing out his rally speeches with an instrumental song that QAnon adherents have claimed as their anthem and renamed “WWG1WGA” after the group’s “Where we go one, we go all” slogan. Trump and his allies often dismiss suggestions that he advances conspiracy theories or condones violence. “The continued attempts by the media to invent and amplify conspiracies, while also fanning the flames of division, is truly sick,” his spokesman, Taylor Budowich, said in a statement. “America is a nation in decline and our people are suffering, President Trump and his America First movement will not be distracted by the media’s nonsense, and he will instead continue fighting to Make America Great Again.” But interviews with more than a dozen Michigan rally-goers Saturday underscore his influence and serve as reminder that many cling to his every word and see his actions as validation. Several of those interviewed said they only began attending Trump’s rallies after the 2020 election, when they said they had become more politically engaged. Several, like Virginia Greenlee, of Holland, Michigan, said they had been in Washington on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, trying to halt the peaceful transition of power by disrupting the certification of Biden’s win. “President Trump really woke people up because I didn’t even know there was a deep state or fake media, fake news, until he started bringing light,” said Greenlee, who said she did not go inside the building, but watched from outside. She blamed the violence on leftist protesters masquerading as Trump supporters, though there is no evidence to support that claim. Meanwhile, Trump continues to elevate those who peddle conspiracies. Mike Lindell, the MyPillow salesman who has spent millions trying (and failing) to prove the election was stolen, spoke twice Saturday — once outside to attendees waiting in line to enter and again during the rally program. Also in attendance was Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Georgia congresswoman who told the crowd that, “Democrats want Republicans dead. And they’ve already started the killings.” Trump has long used angry and violent rhetoric to rile up his supporters, even after Jan. 6 made clear that some may act on that anger. As he inches closer to a possible announcement, Trump has leaned into the kind of racist and violent language that helped him clinch victory in 2016, when his ever-more-shocking statements — and the inevitable backlash — helped him dominate the news. On Friday, he again attacked Mitch McConnell, this time in a racist post on his social media site that accused the Senate Republican leader of having a “death wish” and derided McConnell’s wife, who was born in Taiwan and served in Trump’s administration as a Cabinet secretary. On Saturday, the crowd cheered enthusiastically as Trump touted plans to use the death penalty to kill drug dealers and traffickers if he returns to the White House, emulating the strongman leaders he’s often admired. And again, he empathized with the Jan 6 defendants who have been jailed for their role in the insurrection, casting the rioters — whom he has already pledged to pardon if he runs and wins — as “political prisoners” and accusing authorities of “persecuting people who just happened to be there, many of them didn’t even go in.” The crowd in turn, broke into numerous “Lock her up!” chants directed at Trump’s 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as the state’s Democratic governor, secretary of state and attorney general, whom his endorsed candidates are trying to unseat. Still, Trump aides seem to want to have it both ways. As he began to wrap up his speech, some in the crowd raised their index fingers in what has been described as a QAnon salute. But for the second week in a row, burly event staff with tattoos carefully scanned the crowd, quickly asking those who raised their fingers to put them down. “They said they didn’t want hands in the air,” one of them explained he’d been told. Still, the music is encouraging to people like Cole, who said Trump had opened her eyes “to everything, to the evil in the world.” A 55-year-old semi-retired certified nursing assistant who relies on a bevy of fringe podcasts for information since eschewing cable news, Cole believes “our money’s no good because it was controlled by the Rothschilds,” an anti-Semitic trope, that the Supreme Court has “already overturned” the 2020 election, but “they’re just sitting on it and they’re waiting for things to come about.” “We have to listen to underground news to get the truth of what’s going on, really,” she said. Trump’s decision to play the song, she said after the rally, shows the American people “and all those affiliated and committed in with the WWG1WGA bond and mission, that President Trump too is doing his best to help all involved to eradicate worldwide evil and helping to make the world better for all. It brings me strength in my mind to hold onto the hope and promises for a better life for all.” But some in the crowd voiced discomfort. Christina Whipkey, 50, who lives in Warren, Michigan, said she found Trump’s flirtations with QAnon “kind of weird” and “odd” and worried their presence at his rallies was playing into negative stereotypes. “I didn’t like that,” she said. “It’s telling people what they said about us all along, that we’re all just a bunch of QAnon supporters.” “You don’t want people to think just because you support him that you’re that far into it, that you’re one of those people,” she went on. “You don’t want people to think that about you.” A longtime Trump supporter who remembers talking about him running for president while playing his board game in high school, Whipkey also said she thinks it’s time for Trump to move on from the 2020 election, even if she has concerns about the vote. “I just wish he’d let that go now. Focus more on the future than on the past,” she said, worried he was turning off potential voters. “They’re tired of hearing it … You get to a point where it’s like, ‘Alright buddy. We heard it enough. We got it. We know.’” Laurie Letzgus, 51, a machine operator from Port Huron, Michigan, and another longtime supporter, agreed. “It is time to move on, I think,” she said. “Let’s look forward. And let’s look to 2024.” But Sharon Anderson, a member of the “Front Row Joes” group that travels the country to see Trump and was attending her 29th rally Saturday, including the one held Jan. 6, disagreed. While she doesn’t “put a lot of faith in some of their beliefs,” she took no issue with QAnon’s growing presence at the rallies. “There’s a lot of people, a big group that comes to his rallies. And they are for him too. They’re for his policies. Now whether they are trying to push their beliefs, I don’t know,” said Anderson, who lives in East Tennessee. “But I do know that everybody here that I’ve encountered supports Donald J. Trump. That’s what matters.” Read More Here

Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Colorado Voting Machine Company’s Defamation Suit Against MyPillow Head https://digitalarizonanews.com/supreme-court-wont-take-up-colorado-voting-machine-companys-defamation-suit-against-mypillow-head/ The Supreme Court says it won’t intervene in a lawsuit in which Dominion Voting Systems accused MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell of defamation for falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. As is typical, the high court did not say anything Monday about the case in rejecting it among a host of others. Monday is the first day the high court is hearing arguments after taking a summer break. Lindell is part of a case in which Dominion also accused Trump allies Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani of defamation for falsely claiming that the election was “stolen.” The Denver-based Dominion has sought $1.3 billion in damages from the trio. A lower court judge in August of last year declined to dismiss the case and instead said it could go forward. Lindell had appealed that determination, but a federal appeals court said his appeal was premature. The Supreme Court declined to take up that issue. Powell and Giuliani, both lawyers who filed election challenges on Trump’s behalf, and Lindell, who was one of Trump’s most vocal public supporters, made various unproven claims about the voting machine company during news conferences, election rallies and on social media and television. There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, including Trump’s attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden’s victory, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Dominion machines tabulated ballots in 28 states. In September, a judge in Minnesota declined to dismiss a separate defamation lawsuit by a different voting machine maker, Smartmatic, against Lindell. Smartmatic’s machines were used only in Los Angeles County during the 2020 election. MyPillow is based in Minnesota. You care. You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up.  The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! Read More Here

The Hottest American Export Is Election Denial https://digitalarizonanews.com/the-hottest-american-export-is-election-denial/ Chris Kleponis//Getty Images America has always been known for its cultural exports, and that gallery of amusements now includes “spewing insane lies when you lose an election.” In fairness, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has not yet lost his bid for re-election. He came second in the first round of voting, but leader-of-the-pack Lula failed to crack 50 percent so the two are headed to a runoff. And Bolsonaro is correct, as Donald Trump once was, that polling agencies have underestimated his support through some flaw(s) in their methodology. Still, the fact that pre-election polls undercounted Bolsonaro voters is not proof that he actually won, and actually he got 6 million fewer citizens’ votes. Now things are really starting to sound familiar, and it doesn’t stop there: Jair, you see, is definitely going to say the election was rigged if he loses. In fact, like his good pal Don in both 2016 and 2020, he started saying it before the election even happened. Bolsonaro has said it’s “easy to rig” voting machines, that votes are counted in secret rooms, that “it’s impossible to audit elections in Brazil.” There is no evidence to support any of this, but what did you expect? This is how the global right does things now. Well, they also invade their neighbors. But mostly, they like to lie to their own supporters, whom they disdain. Now, almost a third of Bolsonaro’s supporters don’t trust the electoral system “at all.” In the end, reality pales in comparison to grand narratives of victimhood and thievery, of a birthright stolen away by Those People, or the United Nations, or whoever else made today’s list of villainous traitors to the One True People. It’s no coincidence that Bolsonaro and his supporters have adopted the national soccer team’s jersey as a uniform. To support Brazil is to support Bolsonaro, just as voting for Donald Trump—and then storming the national legislature on his behalf—was to do the work of Saving America. Never mind the details. Shamelessness is the superpower, and admitting defeat—or even that you could ever, even in theory, have made a mistake—is unforgivable, a surrender to the mob of undesirables trying to destroy the nation itself. The method of choice for those people? Beating you in an election. Jack Holmes is a senior staff writer at Esquire, where he covers politics and sports. He also hosts Useful Context, a video series. This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Watch Next Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Read More Here

Barone: Are Polls Understanding Republicans’ Support? https://digitalarizonanews.com/barone-are-polls-understanding-republicans-support/ Michael Barone Over the last three months, political journalists have been reporting a trend toward Democrats. The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, they have reported, has provided increased motivation for Democrats to turn out and vote. The easing of gas prices from their springtime peak has reduced concern about out-of-control inflation. Biden administration legislative victories have raised Democrats’ morale. These are plausible points, validated by polling showing Republicans’ 3-4 percentage point advantage in the generic vote for the House collapsed to a dead heat in August, and also by summer polling showing Republicans trailing in every Democratic-held Senate race and in Republican seats in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. “Why things may really be different for this midterm election,” reads the headline of a mid-September analysis by the New York Times’ Nate Cohn. Usually, in midterm elections, the president’s party loses a few seats if his job approval is above 50% and many seats if it’s below. Structural factors are at work: The opposition party is usually better positioned to profit from local dissatisfactions. Also, it is seeking not total control but just check and balance. Cohn, who is entitled to great respect as the author of a prescient June 2016 article showing how Donald Trump’s support from non-college graduate whites could produce victory, suggested these usual factors might not apply. But developments since he wrote, and recent history, throw his tentative conclusion into doubt. Recent developments include polling in nine of 11 close Senate races moved toward Republicans in the month ending Sept. 22. Specifically, polls now have Sen. Ron Johnson ahead in Wisconsin, Republican challenger Adam Laxalt leading in Nevada, and Republican challenger Herschel Walker behind in Georgia by only 0.3 points in the averages. Each trend is plausible. Johnson won in 2016 despite trailing in 29 of 30 preelection polls. Nevada has many Hispanic voters (17% of the electorate in 2020), who have been trending Republican nationally, and its relatively downscale Asian population (7%) may be headed that way as well. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) won his seat in a January 2021 runoff in which Trump’s criticism of the state’s election system depressed Republican turnout. As for the recent history, Wisconsin is only one of many states in which polling has consistently shown Democrats running far better and Republicans far worse than they actually have when the results were counted. A chart prepared by Andrew Prokop of Vox of 48 close (within 10 points) Senate elections from 2014 to 2020 showed eight elections in which polling understated Democratic candidates’ margins by an average of 1.8 percentage points and 40 elections in which polling understated Republicans’ margins by an average of 5 percentage points. That trend seems to be continuing. And as Cohn notes, “Democratic Senate candidates are outrunning expectations in the same places where the polls overestimated Mr. Biden in 2020 and (Hillary) Clinton in 2016.” “Polls have routinely underestimated the attitudes of conservative Americans over the last twenty years,” admits G. Elliott Morris, Economist polling director, in his recent book “Strength in Numbers.” “Pre-election polls,” he goes on, “face severe and prolonged threats from partisan nonresponse.” That has gotten pollsters, as Morris notes, to massage their sampling and weighting techniques in historically unorthodox ways to try to match the actual electorate. Going far in that direction has been Republican Robert Cahaly, whose Trafalgar Research polls have shown better results for Republicans and often, but not always, numbers closer to actual results than those of other firms. This year, many firms have been surprisingly tardy in switching from registered voter to likely voter samples, even as early voting has started in some states. As is usual, the narrower group of likely voters tends to be more Republican, as is suggested by the Republican advantage this year in primary turnout. As National Review’s Jim Geraghty points out, the current generic polls that sample likely voters show Republicans ahead by 2.8 points. Similarly, the Sept. 18-21 ABC/Washington Post poll shows registered voters favoring Republican House candidates by an insignificant 47% to 46% margin, but likely voters favoring them by 51% to 46%. More startlingly, in congressional districts rated as competitive, registered voters favored Republicans by 55% to 34%. If that’s so, Republicans will make much greater gains than suggested by the currently tied generic vote. Apparently, “shy Trump” voters have been refusing to be polled — an attitude possibly fortified by the denunciation by President Joe Biden in his eerily lit Independence Hall speech on Sept. 1 of “MAGA Republicans” who “represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of the republic.” That chilling rhetoric, together with federal nonprosecution of leftist violence against pro-life pregnancy counseling centers and Supreme Court justices’ homes, might be making many Republicans unwilling to divulge their views to pollsters affiliated with media organizations or universities. We’ll have a better idea of just how many on Nov. 9. Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. Newsletter Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. Read More Here

Oath Keepers Trial Live Updates: Openings Begin In Seditious Conspiracy Case https://digitalarizonanews.com/oath-keepers-trial-live-updates-openings-begin-in-seditious-conspiracy-case/ Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers. (Susan Walsh/AP) Updated October 3, 2022 at 11:43 a.m. EDT|Published October 3, 2022 at 10:17 a.m. EDT Opening statements are underway in the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the extremist group who face seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rhodes and four co-defendants — Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell — have pleaded not guilty to felony charges alleging that they conspired for weeks after the 2020 presidential election to unleash political violence to oppose the lawful transfer of power to Joe Biden. The defendants came from Texas, Florida, Ohio and Virginia, and allegedly led a group that traveled to Washington and staged firearms nearby before forcing entry through the Capitol Rotunda doors in combat and tactical gear. Guns, ammunition, grenades stored in Va., with quick boat access to D.C., prosecutors say Return to menu As part of the Oath Keepers’ preparation to interrupt the congressional proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, they stashed weapons, ammunition and hand grenades in a Comfort Inn in Arlington County, Va., the day before, as a “Quick Reaction Force” to be summoned as needed, federal prosecutor Jeffrey S. Nestler said. After Nestler played a video of Florida members of the group taking target practice with various weapons, he said they had received “training on unconventional warfare” with a man not on trial Monday, Jeremy Brown. Nestler said Brown drove an RV with hand grenades inside to D.C., alongside other Florida Oath Keepers, and “sure enough the FBI later recovered grenades from Jeremy Brown’s RV.” Prosecutor dismisses ‘magic words’ of Insurrection Act Return to menu Defendants in the Oath Keepers trial are arguing that they were only armed and at the Capitol in the expectation that President Donald Trump would call on them to legally prevent what they viewed as a Democratic coup. The Insurrection Act says that the president can deploy military forces domestically to quell rebellions. Trump never invoked the law, and prosecutors argue that he could not have legally deputized militias to attack their fellow citizens on Jan. 6, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler said Stewart Rhodes, who had the “impressive pedigree” of Yale Law School, was only claiming to rely on the Insurrection Act as “magic words” that hid illegal actions. The Insurrection Act was “a code, or a shorthand,” for keeping Trump in office by force, Nestler alleged. Prosecutor explains ‘weird quirk’ of presidential elections Return to menu After sketching out the alleged Oath Keepers conspiracy, prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler told jurors a brief legislative history that, until the 2020 election, was obscure. It’s “a weird quirk” of our system, he said, that the winner of the presidential election isn’t officially the winner when ballots are done being counted in November. “Under the Constitution, it is not official until Congress says so, and Congress has to say so on Jan. 6.” Moreover, “the vice president of the United States must be the person to preside over the session.” Prosecutors begin outlining Oath Keepers’ alleged roles in conspiracy Return to menu As part of the planning to interrupt the congressional proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, the Oath Keepers staged weapons in a hotel across the river from D.C., in a hotel in Arlington, “to physically prevent members of Congress from certifying the election,” federal prosecutor Jeffrey S. Nestler said in his opening statement. Making an agreement to do that, even if it wasn’t in writing or spoken specifically, qualifies as a conspiracy, Nestler said. Nestler pointed out each of the five defendants in the courtroom to the jury, starting with Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes. Nestler explained that Oath Keepers recruits largely from former members of the military and law enforcement. He said that “the term Oath Keepers derives from soldiers’ oaths to defend the constitution against all enemies, and the idea that oath must be kept for life. But Rhodes perverts that oath. He says they should disobey orders that he says are unconstitutional.” Prosecution: Oath Keepers tried ‘to shatter a bedrock of American democracy’ Return to menu The Oath Keepers tried “to stop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the U.S. government,” federal prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler said in his opening statement Monday. Nestler began by invoking history, saying that “ever since our government transferred power from George Washington to John Adams,” one president has peacefully given way to another. “These defendants tried to change that history,” he said. He then briefly introduced the five defendants, starting with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes. Rhodes “preaches to his followers they should disobey orders that he says are unconstitutional,” Nestler said. The entire group is not on trial, he said — “many did nothing wrong.” But these defendants “concocted a plan for an armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy,” Nestler said. Judge denies last-minute bid to avoid jury trial Return to menu Just before the trial session began Monday, Judge Amit P. Mehta denied multiple motions filed over the weekend in which defendants tried to keep a D.C. jury from determining their guilt or innocence. Defendant Kelly Meggs asked for Mehta to decide his fate rather than the jury, saying through his attorney that the jury could not be “fair and impartial” because “the majority of those questioned” as part of the jury pool “had negative feelings about the events of January 6, 2021.” He and the other four defendants also asked for the trial to be moved to a federal court in Virginia, for similar reasons. What new info could the Oath Keepers sedition trial reveal about Jan. 6? Return to menu The trial of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes could reveal new information about the quest to subvert the 2020 presidential election results as prosecutors continue to probe President Donald Trump’s conduct and that of his inner circle. Prosecutors’ challenge will be to prove that Rhodes, one of the most visible figures of the far-right anti-government movement, and his group intentionally conspired to use force to prevent President Biden’s swearing-in. Whether the government tips its hand in court about the Oath Keepers’ ties to other political figures, the trial is an important step in the wider probe, analysts said. Jury selected after three days of vetting Return to menu A jury of 12 members and four alternates was selected Thursday in the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the extremist group who face seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Opening statements are set for Monday. Painstaking vetting over three days revealed a political and cultural clash that posed tests both for the Justice Department — led by prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington — and defense attorneys for the leaders of the right-wing anti-government Oath Keepers, whose movement recruits members willing to prepare themselves for eventual battle to prevent federal tyranny. Read More Here

Poll: Partisan Latinos More Likely To Back Trump, Biden Than Broader Electorate https://digitalarizonanews.com/poll-partisan-latinos-more-likely-to-back-trump-biden-than-broader-electorate/ Oct. 3, 2022, 3:37 PM UTC By Ben Kamisar Latino Republicans and Democrats have been more likely than voters nationally to consider themselves supporters of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden respectively, according to data from the new national NBC News/Telemundo poll of the Latino electorate. The new numbers show affinity for both men are higher among Latinos partisans than what was found in the NBC News September national poll of the broader electorate. Forty percent of Latino Republicans (and leaners) say they are primarily a supporter of Trump over the national party, while 55% call themselves party-first Republicans, a 15-point edge for “party Republicans.” Trump had stronger support among Latinos aged 65-and-over as well as those with “blue collar” jobs and those with both parents born in the mainland U.S. By comparison, registered voters who identify or lean Republican more broadly backed the party over Trump by a margin of 58% to 33% in the September national poll, a 25-point edge for the “party Republicans.” Among Latino Democrats and Democratic leaners, 52% say were supporters of Biden during the 2020 primaries, with 26% saying they backed Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 8% saying they backed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 9% naming another candidate. That’s significantly more support for Biden among Latino Democrats than from all registered voters who identify with or lean toward the party. In the September national poll, 40% named Biden, 31% named Sanders, 12% named Warren and 13% named another candidate. Biden’s 2020 support among Latinos is more pronounced with Democrats who are older, those in the middle/upper class, and those who consider themselves more moderate or conservative. The NBC News/Telemundo poll was conducted Sept. 17-26 of 1,000 Latino registered voters, 75% of whom took the survey in English and 25% who took it in Spanish.  Respondents were contacted via landline, cell phone and text message. And the poll has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.   Ben Kamisar Ben Kamisar is a deputy political editor in NBC’s Political Unit.  Read More Here

Digital World CEO Urges Donald Trump To Push Shareholders To Vote On Merger Delay https://digitalarizonanews.com/digital-world-ceo-urges-donald-trump-to-push-shareholders-to-vote-on-merger-delay/ Posted Monday, October 3, 2022 11:35 am Jack Stebbins | CNBC Patrick Orlando, the CEO of the shell company set to take Trump Media and Technology Group public, on Friday urged Donald Trump and Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes to promote an upcoming vote to extend the merger deadline for the two companies. ″@realDonaldTrump @DevinNunes let’s get the vote awareness up,” the Digital World Acquisition Corp. chief wrote in a Truth Social post that attached information about the shareholder vote. Click here to read more. Comments No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here Scroll the Latest Job Opportunities From The Media Job Board Read More Here

Iran's Khamenei Backs Police Over Mahsa Amini Protests, May Signal Tougher Crackdown https://digitalarizonanews.com/irans-khamenei-backs-police-over-mahsa-amini-protests-may-signal-tougher-crackdown/ Growing public fury over woman’s death in police custody Khamenei says Amini’s death ‘deeply broke my heart’ Supreme leader blames foreign foes for ‘riots’ Anti-government protests spread to universities DUBAI, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader on Monday gave his full backing to security forces confronting protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, comments that could herald a harsher crackdown to quell unrest more than two weeks since she died. In his first remarks addressing the 22-year-old woman’s death after her arrest by morality police over “inappropriate attire”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said her death “deeply broke my heart” and called it a “bitter incident” provoked by Iran’s enemies. “The duty of our security forces, including police, is to ensure the safety of the Iranian nation…The ones who attack the police are leaving Iranian citizens defenceless against thugs, robbers and extortionists,” Khamenei told a group of armed forces cadets in Tehran. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Security forces, including police and the volunteer Basij militia, have been leading a crackdown on the protests, with thousands arrested and hundreds injured, according to rights groups, which put the death toll at over 130. Iranian authorities have reported many members of the security forces killed during the unrest, which has spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran’s authorities in years, with many calling for the end of more than four decades of Islamic clerical rule. Khamenei said security forces had faced “injustice” during the protests. “In recent incidents, it is above all security forces including the police and Basij, as well as the people of Iran, who were wronged,” he said. “Some people have caused insecurity in the streets,” Khamenei said, sharply condemning what he described as planned “riots”, and accusing the United States and Israel – the Islamic Republic’s arch-adversaries – of orchestrating the disturbances. ‘SCHEMES’ Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reviews armed forces during a graduation ceremony for armed Forces Officers’ Universities at the police academy in Tehran, Iran October 3, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS “I openly state that the recent riots were schemes designed by America, the fake Zionist regime (Israel) and their mercenaries inside and outside Iran,” said Khamenei, Iran’s utmost authority. Within hours after Amini’s funeral in the Kurdish town of Saqez on Sept. 17, thousands of Iranians poured into the streets across the country, with people burning pictures of Khamenei and chanting “Death to the dictator”, according to videos on social media. Still, there is little chance of a collapse of the Islamic Republic in the near term, since its leaders are determined not to show the kind of weakness they believe sealed the fate of the U.S.-backed Shah in 1979, officials and analysts told Reuters. However, the unrest calls into the question the priority that has defined Khamenei’s rule – the survival at any cost of the four-decade-old Islamic Republic and its religious elite. “Those who ignited unrest to sabotage the Islamic Republic deserve harsh prosecution and punishment,” said Khamenei. The protests have not abated despite a growing death toll and an increasingly violent crackdown by security forces using tear gas, clubs and – in some cases, according to videos on social media and rights groups – live ammunition. Protests continued across Iran on Monday, with university students staging strikes after security forces clashed with students at Tehran’s prominent Sharif University on Sunday. Dozens of students were arrested and many have been injured according to social media posts and videos. Iran’s state news agency said most of arrested students were released on Monday. Reuters could not verify the videos and posts. Authorities said only doctoral students at Sharif University would be allowed on campus until further notice, state media reported. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Writing by Tom Perry and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Toby Chopra and Mark Heinrich Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Tesla Deliveries Set A Record In Third Quarter https://digitalarizonanews.com/tesla-deliveries-set-a-record-in-third-quarter/ This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com. https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-deliveries-set-a-record-shares-should-fall-51664729513 Updated Oct. 3, 2022 11:08 am ET / Original Oct. 2, 2022 12:51 pm ET Order Reprints Print Article Tesla delivered 343,830 vehicles in the third quarter and produced 365,923. Allison Dinner/Getty Images Tesla quarterly deliveries set a new record, but the number probably won’t be good enough to support shares for the next couple of weeks. Tesla (ticker: TSLA) reported delivery figures for the third quarter on Sunday. It delivered 343,830 cars and produced 365,923 cars. Read More Here

Reba Extends 'Live In Concert' Tour Through Spring 2023 https://digitalarizonanews.com/reba-extends-live-in-concert-tour-through-spring-2023/ Reba McEntire is extending her “Reba: Live In Concert” tour after multiple sell-outs on the upcoming fall dates. The superstar has announced 14 additional dates for spring of 2023 featuring special guests Terri Clark and The Isaacs. The spring run will kick off March 9 in Jacksonville and run through April 15, wrapping at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, marking the first time McEntire has played the iconic venue. She’ll also visit Milwaukee, Reno, Salt Lake City, LA and more during the spring leg. “I am very grateful we’re continuing this tour on into 2023,” McEntire shares. “I’ve had so much fun being back out on the road and doing what I love to do most, entertaining people. And now getting to headline places like Madison Square Garden and bring my buddies Terri Clark and The Isaacs with me? Well, that’s just the extra icing on an already triple-layered, stuffed and filled, iced and frosted cake!” Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 7 with a special fan presale starting tomorrow (Oct. 4) by joining McEntire’s email list. The presale code will be emailed out on Tuesday morning prior to the presale. The fall leg of “Reba: Live In Concert” is set to kick off Oct. 13 in Lafayette, Louisiana. “Reba: Live in Concert” 2023 Tour Dates: March 9 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena March 10 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena March 11 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena March 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum March 18 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at the Mark March 23 – Reno, NV – Reno Events Center March 24 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center** March 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena March 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center March 31 – Palm Desert, CA – Acrisure Arena April 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl April 13 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena April 14 – Hershey, PA – GIANT Center April 15 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden ** On sale Friday, October 14 at 10am local time Author Recent Posts Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at [email protected] Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all) Read More…

New Arizona Drivers Seeing Updated Road Test For License https://digitalarizonanews.com/new-arizona-drivers-seeing-updated-road-test-for-license/ TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – Arizona residents trying to get a driver’s license will face new requirements. The road test has been updated and new drivers now need to show proof the vehicle is registered and insured. When the new driver and the examiner get to the car it’ll be part of the test for the driver to know where to find those two documents. Bill Lamoreaux, spokesperson for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, says it all comes to down safety. The updated road test will take between 15 and 20 minutes and it will be between 5 and 8 miles to better reflect a typical commute. The reason for this change is safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, per mile driven drivers between 16 and 19 years old are almost three times as likely as drivers aged 20 or older to be in a deadly crash. “We’re making sure the new drivers are more aware of their vehicle that they’re driving, more aware of the safety feature of that vehicle and so when they do join the streets with the rest of us they’re hopefully more safe and ready to drive in a typical commute like the rest of us,” Lamoreaux said. These changes have been part of a pilot program across the state for the past year and officials say that they’re seeing this new program is helping young drivers stay safe. The applicant also must demonstrate safety knowledge about the vehicle before the road test. In this portion of the exam, the driver will be asked to locate and demonstrate several features of the vehicle such as the windshield wipers, emergency brakes, hazard lights and high beams. Copyright 2022 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved. Read More Here

A Day To Remember Announce Fall Acoustic Tour W/ Wage War https://digitalarizonanews.com/a-day-to-remember-announce-fall-acoustic-tour-w-wage-war/ A Day to Remember have just announced that they will be heading out on a fall headlining acoustic tour. Dubbed the “Reassembled: Acoustic Theater Tour,” the band will be performing a catalog spanning acoustic set each night in theaters across the U.S. The band will be bringing out Wage War as support, who will also be performing an acoustic set each night. The acoustic tour is set to kick off on November 29th at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and wrap up on December 21st in Orlando, Florida. Special artist pre-sale tickets begin tomorrow, October 4th at 10am local time, with general on-sale tickets following on Friday, October 7th at 10am local time. A Day To Remember is currently out on their North American Just Some More Shows headline tour which features special guests The Used, The Ghost Inside (on select dates), Movements, and Magnolia Park. Just Some More Shows kicked off in Pensacola, FL over the weekend and will traverse the country through a performance on October 28th in Irvine, CA. For tickets and more information on A Day To Remember’s upcoming live dates, head here. Tour dates: 10/1 – 10/29:  JUST SOME MORE SHOWS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE USED, THE GHOST INSIDE (SELECT DATES), MOVEMENTS, AND MAGNOLIA PARK ~The Used | ^The Ghost Inside | @Movements | %Magnolia Park 11/29 – 12/21: REASSEMBLED: ACOUSTIC THEATER TOUR WITH SUPPORT FROM WAGE WAR October 4 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre [email protected]% October 7 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park [email protected]% October 8 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival October 10 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds [email protected]% October 11 – Seattle, WA – WAMU [email protected]% October 13 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino [email protected]% October 14 – Spokane, WA – The Podium [email protected]% October 16 – Grand Junction, CO – Amphitheatre at Las Colonias Park [email protected]% October 18 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater [email protected]% October 21 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl at The Palms Hotel [email protected]% October 22 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Festival October 23 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Festival October 25 – Lubbock, TX – Lonestar Amphitheater [email protected]% October 27 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheater [email protected]% October 28 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre ~^@% October 29 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Festival November 29 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium December 1 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium December 2 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy December 5 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre December 7 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Theatre December 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met December 9 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theater December 11 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit December 12 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theater December 14 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center December 15 – Memphis, TN – Cannon Center December 17 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center December 18 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theater December 20 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center December 21 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Philips Center Read More Here

A G.O.P. Test In Michigan: Is Trump A Help Or A Hindrance? https://digitalarizonanews.com/a-g-o-p-test-in-michigan-is-trump-a-help-or-a-hindrance-2/ Five days after the attack on the Capitol last year, the Republican members of the House of Representatives braced for a backlash. Two-thirds of them — 139 in all — had been voting on Jan. 6, 2021, to dispute the Electoral College count that would seal Donald J. Trump’s defeat just as rioters determined to keep the president in power stormed the chamber. Now one lawmaker after another warned during a conference call that unless Republicans demanded accountability, voters would punish them for inflaming the mob. “I want to know if we are going to look at how we got here, internally, within our own party and hold people responsible,” said Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, according to a recording of the call obtained by The New York Times. When another member implored the party to unite behind a “clarifying message” that Mr. Trump had truly lost, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, emphatically agreed: “We have to.” More than 20 months later, the opposite has happened. The votes to reject the election results have become a badge of honor within the party, in some cases even a requirement for advancement, as doubts about the election have come to define what it means to be a Trump Republican. The most far-reaching of Mr. Trump’s ploys to overturn his defeat, the objections to the Electoral College results by so many House Republicans did more than any lawsuit, speech or rally to engrave in party orthodoxy the myth of a stolen election. Their actions that day legitimized Mr. Trump’s refusal to concede, gave new life to his claims of conspiracy and fraud and lent institutional weight to doubts about the central ritual of American democracy. Yet the riot engulfing the Capitol so overshadowed the debate inside that the scrutiny of that day has overlooked how Congress reached that historic vote. A reconstruction by The Times revealed more than simple rubber-stamp loyalty to a larger-than-life leader. Instead, the orchestration of the House objections was a story of shrewd salesmanship and calculated double-talk, set against a backdrop of demographic change across the country that has widened the gulf between the parties. While most House Republicans had amplified Mr. Trump’s claims about the election in the aftermath of his loss, only the right flank of the caucus continued to loudly echo Mr. Trump’s fraud allegations in the days before Jan. 6, The Times found. More Republican lawmakers appeared to seek a way to placate Mr. Trump and his supporters without formally endorsing his extraordinary allegations. In formal statements justifying their votes, about three-quarters relied on the arguments of a low-profile Louisiana congressman, Representative Mike Johnson, the most important architect of the Electoral College objections. On the eve of the Jan. 6 votes, he presented colleagues with what he called a “third option.” He faulted the way some states had changed voting procedures during the pandemic, saying it was unconstitutional, without supporting the outlandish claims of Mr. Trump’s most vocal supporters. His Republican critics called it a Trojan horse that allowed lawmakers to vote with the president while hiding behind a more defensible case. Even lawmakers who had been among the noisiest “stop the steal” firebrands took refuge in Mr. Johnson’s narrow and lawyerly claims, though his nuanced argument was lost on the mob storming the Capitol, and over time it was the vision of the rioters — that a Democratic conspiracy had defrauded America — that prevailed in many Republican circles. That has made objecting politically profitable. Republican partisans have rewarded objectors with grass-roots support, paths to higher office and campaign money. Corporate backers have reopened their coffers to lawmakers they once denounced as threats to democracy. And almost all the objectors seeking re-election are now poised to return to Congress next year, when Republicans are expected to hold a majority in the House. Objectors are set to fill the Republican leadership posts and head a majority of the committees. All eight Republicans in the House seeking higher office voted against the Electoral College tally, while a dozen Republican lawmakers who broke with Mr. Trump have either lost primaries or chosen to retire. Playing to Trump loyalists, many across the party have made a slogan of “election integrity” — a “dog whistle” perpetuating the erroneous belief that Mr. Trump’s victory was stolen, as one dissenting Republican put it in a party meeting. More than a third of the objectors joined a new Election Integrity Caucus, which advocates stricter voter requirements and has featured speakers who supported Mr. Trump’s efforts to fight his loss. All the Republicans who objected say they were following an example set by Democrats who objected to Electoral College results in 1968, 2000, 2004 and 2016. In each case, Republicans accused Democrats of damaging democracy and “thwarting the will of the people,” though only small numbers of Democrats joined those objections, which all came after the losing Democratic presidential candidates had already conceded. (Mr. Trump only relinquished his claim to the White House the day after House Republicans — and rioters — failed to block the Electoral College count.) But several Republican lawmakers argued that the scale of their vote to object would do more to encourage legislators of either party to mimic the tactic — potentially upending the peaceful transfer of executive power if an aggrieved party controls Congress. “It is a horrible precedent,” said Representative Tom Rice, a five-term Republican representing conservative Myrtle Beach, S.C., who was the only objector to express any regrets and lost a primary this summer. Some continue to recast their objections. Legislators in Democratic-leaning territory who once thundered about defending the republic now insist they meant only a legalistic protest against certain Covid-19 rule changes — like Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor in heavily Democratic New York, who railed in a Jan. 6 floor speech about his outrage over “confirmed, evidence-filled issues” in the 2020 vote. But many have moved the other way, more fully embracing Mr. Trump’s claims than they did in the aftermath of the riot. Representative Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a former mixed martial arts fighter, experienced the center of the maelstrom. He broke off the leg of a wooden stand as a weapon to help defend the floor of the House, then watched from a few feet away as a Capitol Police officer shot and killed one of the assailants. Amid the wreckage of the violence, the congressman justified his objection by hewing closely to Mr. Johnson’s lawyerly nuance. But now, as the favored candidate for a Senate seat in Oklahoma, Mr. Mullin is more categorical. Was Mr. Trump “cheated out of the election?” a moderator asked in a recent televised debate. Mr. Mullin replied, “Absolutely.” ‘A Fig-Leaf Intellectual Argument’ The House vote to formalize presidential election results is customarily ceremonial. But in 2021 Mr. Trump changed that, demanding, like no president before, that House Republicans reject the results from several states. On the eve of the vote, Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, then chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, called an unusual meeting in the congressional auditorium. Her goal was to convince her fellow Republicans that the Constitution gave Congress no role in deciding presidential elections, and in the days before the meeting, she also distributed a 21-page summary of court rulings — many by Trump-appointed judges — that found no evidence of meaningful fraud. Representative Chip Roy, a former top official in the Texas attorney general’s office and a staunch conservative, made the same case, warning that “history will judge this moment.” “If a majority of Republicans vote to reject the electors, it will irrevocably empower Congress to take over the selection of presidential electors,” he said, according to one of several recordings included in the audio version of “This Will Not Pass,” a book by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, who covered the 2020 election for The Times. “Doing so,” Mr. Roy continued, “will almost certainly guarantee that a Democrat House would vote to reject the electors of Texas or any of your states, based on our use of voter ID, our failure to adopt mail-in ballots, our choice of voting locations or otherwise.” He also pointed out that Republicans had just voted to seat themselves, accepting the tallies of their individual congressional races, despite their suspicions. Others, however, reminded colleagues that their constituents overwhelmingly believed Mr. Trump had won in a landslide. “Don’t anybody fool themselves into thinking you are going to be able to make a constitutional argument at your Lincoln Day dinners,” said Representative Larry Bucshon of Indiana, according to the recording. Mr. Johnson of Louisiana offered a third way. Members could simply accept the results, as Ms. Cheney and Mr. Roy insisted, or they could vote to object because of the fraud concerns raised by the president and his allies. But Mr. Johnson argued that they could take a different path: object based on what he called “constitutional infirmity.” The Constitution stipulates that state legislatures set election rules. Yet some state officials, without asking their legislatures, loosened restrictions on mail-in or early voting to deal with the pandemic. That was unconstitutional and grounds to reject the election results from those states, Mr. Johnson argued. The notion that Congress might have a say about the authority of state legislatures was unorthodox, especially among conservatives who...

Supreme Court Turns Back Effort By MyPillow CEO Lindell To Toss $1.3 Billion Defamation Suit https://digitalarizonanews.com/supreme-court-turns-back-effort-by-mypillow-ceo-lindell-to-toss-1-3-billion-defamation-suit/ WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump who is trying to fend off a defamation suit from a voting company he falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election.  Michael Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a regular presence at Trump’s rallies, is fighting a $1.3 billion defamation suit filed in federal court by US Dominion, the company that manufacturers voting machines used in several battleground states.  Lindell’s effort was denied by a Trump-appointed U.S. District judge last year. When Lindell appealed, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the case was not ready for review. Lindell asked the Supreme Court to rule that he could immediately appeal in order to avoid “long and expensive” court proceedings.  Lindell argues that US Dominion hasn’t met the standard governing defamation claims set out in the court’s landmark 1964 decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. Specifically, he asserted that the company had not proved that he knew his comments were false or that they were spoken with a reckless disregard for truth or falsity. The lower federal court disagreed.  “As a preliminary matter, a reasonable juror could conclude that the existence of a vast international conspiracy that is ignored by the government but proven by a spreadsheet on an internet blog is so inherently improbable that only a reckless man would believe it,” U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols wrote in his opinion. The company, Nichols wrote, “has adequately alleged that Lindell made his claims knowing that they were false or with reckless disregard for the truth.” The case is MyPillow v. US Dominion. Read More Here

NFL World Reacts To President Trump, Brett Favre News https://digitalarizonanews.com/nfl-world-reacts-to-president-trump-brett-favre-news/ WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 26: U.S. President Donald Trump walks off Marine One, on the South Lawn of the White House on July 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump golfed with former NFL quarterback great Brett Favre over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Unsurprisingly, former United States president Donald Trump is now being mentioned in the Mississippi welfare scandal with legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre. On Monday, it was reported that Favre hired one of Trump’s former White House advisers to represent him. “Brett Favre has a hired a new, high-powered attorney to represent him in the Mississippi welfare fraud scandal: Eric Herschmann, who helped clear former Pres Trump in his first impeachment trial,” Michelle Steele tweeted. Axios first reported the big news. Favre, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and a Mississippi native, is accused of misusing state welfare funds. His new high-powered attorney will attempt to make this scandal go away. NFL fans aren’t too surprised that Favre hired one of Trump’s lawyers. Trump reportedly played golf with Favre during his presidency. Fans have taken to social media to weigh in. “Of course, sounds about right!!!” one fan wrote. “But of course. Birds of a feather,” another fan wrote. “Hiring a lawyer who happens to have been subpoenaed by the January 6th select committee seems like a poor strategy… Herschmann dropped Trump after the 2020 election, growing critical of efforts to overturn results. History usually repeats itself, no?” another fan wrote. “Of course he is… wouldn’t expect anything less from this bizarro world,” one fan added. This scandal continues to get weirder and weirder, right? Read More Here

Jensen Family Law In Mesa AZ, A Female Divorce Attorney In Mesa, Assists Clients In Prenuptial Agreements – Digital Journal https://digitalarizonanews.com/jensen-family-law-in-mesa-az-a-female-divorce-attorney-in-mesa-assists-clients-in-prenuptial-agreements-digital-journal/ Mesa, AZ: A report by the American Psychological Association estimates that 40-50 percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce. To protect the spouse’s financial interests and simplify the property division in case of a divorce, Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ assists clients in creating a prenuptial agreement. The prenup attorney also ensures the agreement protects the client from (prior) debts and makes it easier for them to pass properties to children from previous marriages (if any). Before signing the prenup agreement, Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ divorce attorney for women helps the client identify some areas that may lead to a divorce and how they may affect their financial interests. With these insights, it is easier for the spouse to negotiate key elements in the prenuptial agreement, such as the distribution ratio and other long-term aspects of the marriage. Also, working with the prenuptial agreement lawyer allows the client to alter the Arizona Spousal Maintenance Laws and Arizona Community Property Laws. Besides negotiations, Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ prenuptial agreement lawyer assists the client in drafting a valid prenup. In Arizona, the court may declare a prenuptial agreement unenforceable or invalid, especially if the provisions and contents are unclear or unconscionable. To avoid such incidents, the team at Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ ensures the agreement meets the laid threshold and can stand in a divorce case. The female divorce attorney also protects the client’s interests in divorce cases. Besides assisting the client in understanding the Arizona laws on the dissolution of a marriage, the attorney offers hands-on assistance in dividing community assets, property, and debts. The team also ensures their parental interests are safeguarded, either through negotiating a reasonable parenting plan with the other party or using the available legal paths. Other legal services include applying for protective orders pending divorce, looking at the tax considerations in-depth, and offering legal assistance throughout the divorce process. Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ also assists clients in divorce mediation, an alternative to the stressful and time-consuming traditional process. They offer a place to find answers to the hard questions and a non-threatening place to handle all forms of disputes, especially in property division and child custody. Apart from the clients benefiting from the firm’s wealth of information, the process creates an ideal space for each party to understand their ex’s interests which is key in future engagements. Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ is located at 3740 E Southern Ave Suite 210, Mesa, AZ, 85206, US. Clients interested in an Arizona prenuptial agreement can contact the team at (480) 999-2321. Visit the website for more information. Media Contact Company Name Jensen Family Law in Mesa AZ Contact Name Kevin Jensen Phone (480) 999-2321 Address 3740 E Southern Ave Suite 210 City Mesa State AZ Postal Code 85206 Country United States Website https://www.familylawattorneymesaaz.net/mesa/ Read More Here

Britain Reverses Part Of Controversial Tax Policy That Sent Pound Plunging https://digitalarizonanews.com/britain-reverses-part-of-controversial-tax-policy-that-sent-pound-plunging/ LONDON — The British government said “we get it” as it abandoned plans to abolish the top rate of income tax for its highest earners, a key part of its centerpiece economic policy that spooked the markets and pushed the British pound to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar. In a major U-turn for the British government, Prime Minister Liz Truss said Monday that the proposed scrapping of the 45 percent rate for those earning more than 150,000 pounds ($168,000) had become a “distraction.” The reversal is a huge blow to the authority of the young Truss government, in office for less than a month. Its plans to offer Britain’s highest-paid people a tax cut — at a time when millions face a financial squeeze from a cost-of-living crisis — were widely condemned. Investors, fearing that the moves would worsen inflation, dumped the pound and government bonds. In a highly unusual move, the Bank of England intervened last week to stop a financial market revolt. Some Conservative politicians accused their own government of being tone deaf. Since Truss’s extremely conservative government came to power, it has wasted little time in proposing a tax-cutting bonanza, hoping that a kind of shock therapy would help drive growth. Analysts say that it believes that these radical plans would help to turn the ship around for the ruling Conservatives, who have been behind in the polls all year. The idea was to go big, to lean in hard and to hopefully reap benefits before the next general election, which must be held by January 2025 at the latest. We get it and we have listened. The abolition of the 45pc rate had become a distraction from our mission to get Britain moving. Our focus now is on building a high growth economy that funds world-class public services, boosts wages, and creates opportunities across the country. https://t.co/ee4ZFc7Aes — Liz Truss (@trussliz) October 3, 2022 But after 10 days of fierce criticism, threats of rebellion and economic volatility, the government changed course. Reacting to the news, the pound rebounded Monday morning against the U.S. dollar, returning to where it was before the announcement of the “mini-budget” sent it plunging. But the dramatic U-turn leaves the government hugely weakened and exposes the lack of support for Truss from her own backbenches, said Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst with Eurasia Group. Her critics “now scent weakness,” he said in a briefing note. As recently as Sunday morning, Truss was defending her economic plans, saying she was committed to the tax cuts. In comments given to journalists overnight, Kwasi Kwarteng, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, or finance minister, was expected to defend the tax cuts in his address to the Conservative Party’s annual conference later Monday. Instead, on Monday morning, he said in a statement: “We get it, and we have listened.” Truss’s government unveiled its hugely controversial economic plans in a “mini-budget” on Sept. 23 that called for the country to borrow billions to pay for tax cuts and spending to insulate consumers from soaring energy bills. Ditching the top tax rate represented just 2 billion pounds ($2.2 billion) out of the 45 billion pounds ($50.3 billion) of cuts promised, but it was by far the most controversial measure. Not only did it prompt stormy financial weather, but the Conservative Party’s popularity plummeted as well. In one breathtaking survey by YouGov, the Conservatives lagged 33 points behind the opposition Labour Party, a gap not seen since the 1990s. “Doing it in their shock-and-awe way forced the crystallization of the resistance,” said Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London. He said one of the mistakes the government made was not to seek an independent assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the financial watchdog. “The flaw in that strategy is that people in financial markets aren’t idiots. So if you say to the OBR, ‘don’t give us a forecast, because you might show our numbers don’t add up,’ obviously the markets will conclude that their numbers don’t add up, making things considerably worse than even a bad forecast would have. That level of stupidity, frankly, is difficult to explain,” he said. The government faced a growing backlash from within its own ranks as well, with several Conservative lawmakers coming out publicly to voice their opposition. “I can’t support the 45p tax removal when nurses are struggling to pay their bills,” tweeted Conservative lawmaker Maria Caulfield, who served as a minister of state for health in the previous government. Michael Gove, a senior Conservative, said that unfunded tax cuts are “not Conservative.” The plans still have to be passed by Parliament, and some commentators have questioned whether they would have made it through. Asked by the BBC if he was scrapping the plans because they would not get support in Parliament, Kwarteng said it wasn’t about “votes in the House of Commons,” it was about “listening to people, listening to constituents, who have expressed very strong views about this.” In interviews, Kwarteng said he has not considered resigning, but analysts say he is not yet out of the woods, and his Monday afternoon speech to the Conservative Party faithful will be closely watched. Truss will also address the party conference this week. In her first address to the conference as prime minister, on Wednesday morning, Truss will seek to calm those who have been furious at how her government has performed in its early days in office. Rahman, the analyst, said there could be fresh revolts on the horizon over the plans to lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses and the very real possibility of steep spending cuts necessary to deal with the dramatic loss of revenue and promised help with energy bills. Rahman said the chaos over the past 10 days will bolster the voices of those calling for a change to the rules for the Conservative Party leadership so that lawmakers, rather than the 160,000 grass-roots members, make the final decision on who becomes leader. Truss became prime minister after receiving the support of Conservative Party members around the country, while a majority of lawmakers supported her rival, Rishi Sunak. Read More Here

KUBRA Announces PayPal Is Top Sponsor Of IConnect 2022! https://digitalarizonanews.com/kubra-announces-paypal-is-top-sponsor-of-iconnect-2022/ “We couldn’t be more grateful for our close relationship with PayPal. This important collaboration allows KUBRA customers to make safe and secure bill payments using PayPal via any web browser or smartphone.” – Mark Visic, SVP, Business Development, KUBRA TEMPE, Ariz. (PRWEB) October 03, 2022 KUBRA, a leading provider of customer experience management solutions for some of the largest utility, government, and insurance organizations, is pleased to announce that PayPal is the lead sponsor of iConnect 2022 being held from October 3-5 in Scottsdale, AZ. iConnect is a one-of-a-kind event that gives North American utilities the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss the challenges they encounter in improving customer satisfaction in an informal and collaborative setting. “We couldn’t be more grateful for our close relationship with PayPal. This important collaboration allows KUBRA customers to make safe and secure bill payments using PayPal via any web browser or smartphone. Stepping up as our lead sponsor shows our clients that we’ve partnered with organizations that can help provide the solutions their customers are looking for,” said Mark Visic, Senior Vice President, Business Development at KUBRA. PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering 429 million active accounts in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. About KUBRA KUBRA provides customer experience management solutions to some of the largest utility and government entities across North America. Our portfolio includes billing and payments, mapping, mobile apps, proactive communications, and artificial intelligence solutions for customers. With more than 1.5 billion customer interactions annually, KUBRA services reach over 40% of households in the U.S. and Canada. KUBRA is an operating subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation. Visit https://www.kubra.com for more information. Share article on social media or email: Read More Here

Credit Suisse Shares Slip Despite Moves To Soothe Investor Concerns https://digitalarizonanews.com/credit-suisse-shares-slip-despite-moves-to-soothe-investor-concerns/ Credit Suisse caught in market turbulence ahead of revamp Shares fell as much as 10% in early trading on Monday Bank’s euro-denominated bonds reach record lows Swiss bank says its capital, liquidity are strong ZURICH, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) shares slid by as much as 10% on Monday, reflecting market concerns ahead of a restructuring plan due to come with third-quarter results at the end of October. Swiss regulator FINMA and the Bank of England in London, where the lender has a major hub, were monitoring the situation at Credit Suisse and working closely together, a source familiar with the situation said. Credit Suisse’s recent problems were well known and there had been no major recent developments, the source added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The Bank of England, FINMA and the Swiss finance ministry declined to comment. Chief Executive Ulrich Koerner last week told staff that Credit Suisse, whose market capitalisation had dropped to 9.73 billion Swiss francs ($9.85 billion) on Monday, has solid capital and liquidity. read more And bank executives spent the weekend reassuring large clients, counterparties and investors about its liquidity and capital, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. read more A Credit Suisse spokesman declined to comment on the FT report, which said the weekend calls followed a sharp rise in spreads on the bank’s credit default swaps (CDS), which offer protection against a company defaulting on its debt. Credit Suisse’s euro-denominated bonds dropped to record lows, with the Swiss bank’s longer-dated bonds suffering the sharpest declines. read more In July, Credit Suisse announced its second strategy review in a year and replaced its CEO, bringing in restructuring expert Koerner to scale back investment banking and cut more than $1 billion in costs. read more The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland September 2, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo It has said it was considering measures to strengthen its flagship wealth management franchise, scale back its investment bank into a “capital-light, advisory-led” business, and evaluate strategic options for the Securitized Products business. Citing people familiar with the situation, Reuters reported last month that Credit Suisse was sounding out investors for fresh cash as it attempts its overhaul. read more LIQUIDITY ‘HEALTHY’ JP Morgan analysts said in a research note that, based on its financials at the end of the second quarter, they view Credit Suisse’s capital and liquidity as “healthy”. Given the bank has indicated a near-term intention to keep its CET1 capital ratio at 13-14%, the second-quarter end ratio is well within that range and the liquidity coverage ratio is well above requirements, the analysts added. Credit Suisse had total assets of 727 billion Swiss francs ($735.68 billion) at the end of the second quarter, of which 159 billion francs was cash and due from banks, while 101 billion was trading assets, it noted. While Credit Suisse’s CDS spreads have widened, this should be seen in the context of widening credit spreads across the sector, which was expected in an environment of rising interest rates with ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, the analysts said. Over the past three quarters alone, Credit Suisse’s losses have added up to nearly 4 billion Swiss francs. Given the uncertainties, the bank’s financing costs have surged. Deutsche Bank analysts in August estimated a capital shortfall of at least 4 billion francs. Credit Suisse shares, which have fallen by more than half this year, came off their early morning lows and were down 7.4% at 3.68 Swiss francs at 0927 GMT. ($1 = 0.9882 Swiss francs) Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Michael Shields and Oliver Hirt in Zurich; Additional reporting by Lucy Raitano and Huw Jones in London; Editing by Noele Illien, David Goodman and Alexander Smith Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Michael Shields Thomson Reuters Switzerland and Austria bureau chief leading a multimedia team of journalists based in Zurich, Geneva and Vienna covering Swiss and Austrian spot news, features, pictures and video with experience reporting from dozens of countries on three continents since 1987. Read More Here

Video Shows ‘steady Stream’ Leaving Trump Rally After Just 15 Minutes https://digitalarizonanews.com/video-shows-steady-stream-leaving-trump-rally-after-just-15-minutes-2/ Donald Trump supporters reportedly started leaving the venue in large numbers just 15 minutes into his speech at a rally in Michigan on Saturday night. The former president held another campaign-style rally at a community college gymnasium in Warren, Michigan and spoke for about 102 minutes in total, as he repeated unproven allegations that the 2020 election was stolen and endorsed several Republican candidates for the upcoming midterms. A reporter who was live-tweeting from the Macomb College Sports & Expo Center suggested the crowd was far from the arena’s full capacity of 6,600. One picture purportedly taken 10 minutes before the end of the rally showed sparsely populated seating towards the rear of the venue. Attendees began leaving the venue after only 15 minutes as Mr Trump launched into a list of his familiar grievances, Detroit Free Press reporter Paul Egan said in a tweet. “There’s also been a steady stream of attendees heading for the exits since about the 15-minute mark of this now hour-long and ongoing speech. Former president Trump said a few words about the #MIGOP candidates and launched into familiar grievances #TrumpRally,” he said. A video shared by him purported to show a stream of people, some dressed in red, making for the exit door as others were seen cheering and clapping. Mr Trump travelled to Michigan for the second time in six months to rouse his base ahead of the midterm elections, for an event where he was supposed to endorse Tudor Dixon for governor, Matt DePerno for attorney general, and Kristina Karamo for secretary of state. However, his speech only briefly discussed the candidates before Mr Trump veered off into a rant slamming Democrats and the FBI’s search of his Florida residence while characterising himself as a politician persecuted by his rivals. At one point he reportedly lashed out at the Democrats as “cruel and vindictive left-wing tyrants” and “sinister” as he called on his supporters to vote for Republicans. “These are dangerous people who are willing to burn every American institution to the ground,” he said. In the most notable part of his speech, he offered a shout-out to the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for continuing to parrot his lies about the 2020 election in an interview with the House January 6 select committee. “As we talk about and think of the rigged and stolen election of 2020 – the presidential election, rigged and stolen – I would like to thank a great woman named Ginni Thomas. Do you know Ginni Thomas? Great woman,” he said. Trump added: “She says that she still believes the 2020 election was stolen… She didn’t say, ‘Uh well, I’d like not to get involved, of course it was a wonderful election’… She didn’t wilt under pressure like so many others that are weak people and stupid people, because once they wilt, they end up being a witness for a long time.” He also addressed Hurricane Ian for the first time since one of the most powerful storms wreaked devastation across the state of Florida, killing more than 80 people. Mr Trump said he wanted to send “profound sympathy and our immense support to everyone back in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas who are struck by this brutal wrath of the hurricane”. “Not a good hurricane. This was a big one,” he said, adding that he wanted to “say hello to everybody” in the affected area. Read More Here

BrightStar Care Names Andrew Ray As Chief Operating Officer https://digitalarizonanews.com/brightstar-care-names-andrew-ray-as-chief-operating-officer/ Andrew Ray with IFA Chair and CEO of Propelled Brands, Catherine Monson, at IFA Convention GURNEE, Ill. (PRWEB) October 03, 2022 BrightStar Care, a nationwide home care and medical staffing franchise known for providing the highest standard of quality in-home care, announced today that Andrew (Andy) Ray has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. After successfully operating two of his own BrightStar Care agencies in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona, he is taking the next step in his career by entering the BrightStar Care C-Suite. Ray will assume the position of Chief Operating Officer beginning October 17, 2022. As COO, Ray will have direct oversight of BrightStar Care’s enterprise revenues, unit growth, enterprise EBITDA and franchisee profitability to drive the company forward. Ray will also support operations by leading the brand’s Field Support Coaches who provide resources and support to the robust network of franchisees. Ray will also leverage key learnings from the BrightStar Owned program to scale networkwide operational efficiencies for the brand. As part of this transition, Ray’s two Arizona agencies will be acquired by the BrightStar Owned organization as he moves into his new role. His agencies truly delivered a higher standard of care within the Mesa and Gilbert communities and will be great additions to the Scottsdale, Glendale, Sunrise and Surprise BrightStar Owned operations. “I am truly honored to be stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer of BrightStar Care. For the past three years, I’ve led my agencies in Arizona with resiliency and passion. However, I’m now ready to take on the next phase of my career at BrightStar Care,” said Andy Ray, Chief Operating Officer of BrightStar Care. “I’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous evolution of this company and am excited to help accelerate the trajectory of where the brand is heading.” “As we celebrate 20 years of BrightStar Care, we’re thrilled to name Andy Ray as Chief Operating Officer. Andy came to BrightStar Care three years ago with more than 30 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry. He quickly grew his agencies’ to becoming top performing locations,” said Shelly Sun, CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care. “As he transitions into the role of COO, he will offer our team invaluable insights that can only come from someone who has walked in a franchisee’s shoes.” Under Ray’s leadership over the last three years, BrightStar Care of Mesa/Gilbert, AZ, has become the provider of choice for thousands of families across the community. In March 2022, Ray was also named Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association for exemplifying excellence in the community for his agency’s outstanding work in providing a higher standard of care to the veteran community in Arizona. Before joining BrightStar Care, Ray spent many years in President and CEO level roles within the Medical Technology and Life Science Industry, leading companies ranging in size from $50 million to more than $2 billion in sustained revenue. In each of these roles he brought a relentless pursuit of profitable growth while developing world class operating teams. As an entrepreneur and former franchise owner, Ray has extensive experience and knowledge in navigating the franchise landscape and will bring that expertise to the corporate side of BrightStar Care’s operations. Moving into this new role, Ray will lead BrightStar Care through the evolution of the brand and as it aligns with where the industry is heading. About BrightStar Care (Franchise): BrightStar Care is a national home care and medical staffing franchise headquartered in Chicago with more than 365 locations nationwide that provide medical and non-medical services to clients in their homes and supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care operates with five separate revenue streams allowing franchisees uncapped earning potential. Over the last 20 years, Founder and CEO Shelly Sun has built BrightStar Care from a local business into a $639 million nationally recognized brand using a franchise model built for infinite growth. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award consecutively for the last decade. Other prestigious BrightStar Care accolades include making the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for twelve consecutive years, ranking on Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchise for 2021 list, and Franchise Times Top 400 list for 2022. For more information on BrightStar Care, please visit http://www.brightstarfranchising.com Share article on social media or email: Read More Here

Post Politics Now: Biden Heading To Puerto Rico To Survey Storm Damage, Will Visit Fla. On Wednesday https://digitalarizonanews.com/post-politics-now-biden-heading-to-puerto-rico-to-survey-storm-damage-will-visit-fla-on-wednesday/ Today, President Biden is heading to Puerto Rico on his first of two trips scheduled this week to hurricane-damaged communities. On Wednesday, he plans to visit Florida. While in Puerto Rico, Biden will announce more than $60 million in federal funding to shore up levees, strengthen flood walls and create a new flood warning system to help the island better prepare for storms. Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 18, knocking out power across the U.S. territory. Congress is in recess until after the November midterm elections. The Supreme Court is starting a new term. And opening arguments are scheduled in the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the extremist group who face seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Your daily dashboard 10:10 a.m. Eastern time: Biden departs the White House en route to Puerto Rico. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters on board Air Force One. Listen live here. 2:30 p.m. Eastern: Biden receives a briefing and delivers remarks in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Watch live here. 3:30 p.m. Eastern: Biden visits a school in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Got a question about politics? Submit it here. After 3 p.m. Eastern weekdays, return to this space and we’ll address what’s on the mind of readers. Analysis: House GOP whip race heats up in weeks before midterms Return to menu Congress has left Washington to campaign ahead of the midterm elections and while the main focus is on winning as many seats as possible, the behind-the-scenes race for leadership positions is also in full gear. Writing in The Early 202, The Post’s Leigh Ann Caldwell and Theodoric Meyer say that on the Republican side, the top two positions are probably set, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) running unopposed for speaker if Republicans regain the House and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the minority whip, running unopposed for majority leader. On our radar: Biden to announce $60 million in storm preparedness funding in Puerto Rico Return to menu President Biden, during a trip Monday to see hurricane damage in Puerto Rico, plans to announce more than $60 million in federal funding to shore up levees, strengthen flood walls and create a new flood warning system to help the island better prepare for storms. The Post’s Matt Viser reports that the funding will come from money allocated through the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that Congress approved last year, according to a White House official. Per Matt: The president and first lady Jill Biden will meet with families and community leaders affected by Hurricane Fiona. They will also participate in a community service project to help pack bags with food and other essential items — a portion of the visit that could evoke contrasting images with President Donald Trump’s trip in 2017, when he tossed rolls of paper towels into a crowd in San Juan after the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria. Biden will also receive a briefing on recovery efforts during the trip, and he will be joined by Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. You can read Matt’s full story here. On our radar: As TV doctor, Mehmet Oz provided platform for questionable products and views Return to menu As a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is putting his medical background and his popular TV show at the center of his campaign pitch. The Post’s Colby Itkowitz and Lenny Bernstein report that at a recent town hall in a Philadelphia suburb, he said his approach to medicine and politics is similar: “If you teach people on television or whatever forum you use, they actually begin to use the information and they begin to change what they do in their lives. I want to do the same thing as your senator. Empower you.” Analysis: What happens if Republicans take the House, Senate (or both) in 2023? Return to menu This November, voters will determine which party controls Congress for the last half of President Biden’s first term. Democrats control the House of Representatives and Senate now. What was once widely expected to be a wipeout for their party has turned into a competitive battle. The Post’s Amber Phillips writes that it’s possible that Republicans pick up one or both chambers of Congress — or neither. Per Amber: What happens in these elections will drastically reshape the next two years before Biden potentially runs for reelection — and potentially runs against Donald Trump again. With Congress under Democratic control, he could have another chance to pass major liberal priorities. Under split or all Republican control, his administration could spend the next two years defending itself from investigations — and maybe even impeachment. You can read Amber’s full analysis, in which she details the three likeliest scenarios for who will win Congress, here. Noted: Democrats embrace a dark midterm message Return to menu With a tough midterm election about six weeks away, many Democrats have largely settled on a campaign message, and it’s not one that simply emphasizes their accomplishments. Instead, it amounts to a stark warning: If Republicans take power, they will establish a dystopia that cripples democracy and eviscerates abortion rights and other freedoms, The Post’s Yasmeen Abutaleb reports. Yasmeen’s piece opens with these examples: Democrat Max Frost, running for U.S. Congress in Florida, has said Republicans like Gov. Ron DeSantis are trying to build “right-wing fascist power.” Rep. Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat, says America faces “a coordinated domestic attempt to undermine our Constitution.” And Rep. Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire Democrat seeking reelection in a swing district, paints an Orwellian America if his Republican opponent gets her way on abortion: “It wouldn’t be a woman’s choice — it would be the government’s choice.” You can read Yasmeen’s full story here. Take a look: On the Sunday shows, officials talk about lessons learned from Ian Return to menu On the Sunday talk shows, officials — including Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both Republicans from Florida — spoke about lessons learned from Hurricane Ian. The Post’s JM Rieger pulled together the highlights. Noted: Trump escalates attacks on McConnell with ‘DEATH WISH’ post Return to menu Former president Donald Trump is facing blowback for an online message attacking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that many viewed as a threat. “He has a DEATH WISH,” Trump posted late Friday on his Truth Social platform, criticizing McConnell for agreeing to a deal to fund the government through mid-December. The Post’s Isaac Arnsdorf reports that Trump also disparaged McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, in racist terms, calling her “his China loving wife, Coco Chow!” Chao, who served as Trump’s transportation secretary, was born in Taiwan. Read More Here